bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Rise and Fall of Continents
Authors: Whitney Donna L. , Vanardois Jonas , Taylor Jennifer M. , Teyssier Christian
Published: November 2023

Continents are constantly moving, and sometimes they collide. When continents collide, they crumple, and thicken. Mountain ranges form in this “crash zone.” Deep rocks at the bottom of a crash zone are hot because they are so deep. Hot materials—even rocks—become weak. Hot rocks deep underground can move by flowing, even though they are mostly solid. First, they flow sideways and then upwards in large blobs. When upward-moving blobs are only a few kilometers below the surface of the Earth, they cool and harden into bell shapes (domes). Flowing rocks cause the crash zone to collapse and spread out. Continents go back to their pre-collision thickness. They are not exactly the same as before collision, though: some rocks that used to be at the bottom of the continents are now at the top! We can see these formerly deep parts of continents in rock domes all over the world.
A Changing Antarctica: How Computer Models Help Scientists Look Into the Future
Authors: Nowicki Sophie , Felikson Denis , Nias Isabel
Published: November 2023

As the temperature of the Earth warms, ice in Antarctica melts. As ice flows off the land and into the sea around the edges of Antarctica, warm ocean waters melt the ice from below. Warm air also melts ice at the surface. This melting ice raises sea levels around the world, flooding our coasts and causing serious damage to our buildings and roads. We do not know exactly how much warmer our world might get in the future, but we can use computer models to predict how much Antarctic ice could melt, and how much sea-level rise might happen. Our models suggest that the future of Antarctica is unclear, and we need more scientists helping to solve this problem. To avoid the worst impacts of sea-level rise, we must keep temperatures as low as possible and reduce greenhouse gas emissions as much, and as quickly, as we can.
Is Earth in a New Time Period: The Plasticene?
Authors: Rangel-Buitrago Nelson , Neal William , Nicoll Kathleen
Published: November 2023

Earth has a special calendar called the geologic time scale that helps us understand its long history. We are currently in the Holocene Epoch, but some scientists believe we have entered a new time called the Anthropocene or the “Age of Humans” because of our impact on the planet. One of the biggest changes humans have made is inventing and using plastic, which has now become a major pollutant. Because plastic is now found everywhere, some scientists, like us, think we have entered a new stage in Earth’s history called the Plasticene. Plastic can now be found in many places on Earth, even in rocks! Scientists are trying to understand the various types of plastic rocks and how they form, which might help us to better manage plastic pollution. Plastic waste is leaving a mark on our planet’s history, but there are ways we can help.
Physical predictors for retention and dismissal of professional soccer head coaches: an analysis of locomotor variables using logistic regression pipeline
Authors: Sousa Honorato , Musa Rabiu Muazu , Clemente Filipe Manuel , Sarmento Hugo , Gouveia Élvio R.
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Soccer has enormous global popularity, increasing pressure on clubs to optimize performance. In failure, the tendency is to replace the Head coach (HC). This study aimed to check the physical effects of mid-season replacements of HCs, investigating which external load variables can predict retention or dismissal.

Methods

The data was collected in training and matches of a professional adult male soccer team during three complete seasons (2020/21-2022/2023). The sample included 6 different HCs (48.8 ± 7.4 years of age; 11.2 ± 3.9 years as a HC). The 4 weeks and 4 games before and after the replacement of HCs were analysed. External load variables were collected with Global Positioning System (GPS) devices. A logistic regression (LR) model was developed to classify the HCs' retention or dismissal. A sensitivity analysis was also conducted to determine the specific locomotive variables that could predict the likelihood of HC retention or dismissal.

Results

In competition, locomotor performance was better under the dismissed HCs, whereas the new HC had better values during training. The LR model demonstrated a good prediction accuracy of 80% with a recall and precision of 85% and 78%, respectively, amongst other model performance indicators. Meters per minute in games was the only significant variable that could serve as a potential physical marker to signal performance decline and predict the potential dismissal of an HC with an odd ratio of 32.4%.

Discussion

An in-depth analysis and further studies are needed to understand other factors' effects on HC replacement or retention.
Psychological Impact of Living Kidney Donation: A Systematic Review by the EAU—YAU Kidney Transplant Working Group
Authors: Cazauvieilh Valentine , Moal Valérie , Prudhomme Thomas , Pecoraro Alessio , Piana Alberto , Campi Riccardo , Hevia Vital , Territo Angelo , Boissier Romain
Published: November 2023

We performed a systematic literature review of the psychological impact on donors of living kidney donation. We conducted a literature review in PubMed/Medline according to PRISMA guidelines which included both qualitative (based on interviews) and quantitative studies (based on standardized questionnaire). There were 15 quantitative studies and 8 qualitative studies with 2,732 donors. Given that the methodologies of qualitative and quantitative studies are fundamentally different, we narratively synthetized results of studies according to four axes: quality of life, anxiety/depression, consequences of donation on the donor/recipient relationship, overall satisfaction and regret. The quantitative studies reported that donor quality of life remained unchanged or improved. Donor regret rates were very low and donor-recipient relationships also remained unchanged or improved. Qualitative studies reported more complex donation experiences: one can regret donation and still decide to recommend it as in a social desirability bias. In both study types, donor-recipient relationships were closer but qualitative studies reported that post-donation rebonding was required. The qualitative studies therefore highlighted the psychological complexity of donation for donors, showing that living donation impacts the donor’s life whether it is successful or not. A better understanding of the impact of donation on donors could provide better care for donors.
Productividad del sector transporte en el Ecuador, un análisis empírico del periodo 2012 – 2021
Authors: Mocha-Ayavaca Karla Dayanna , Pinos-Luzuriaga Luis Gabriel , Mejía-Matute Silvia Raquel
Published: November 2023

La productividad puede verse afectada por distintos factores como la intensidad de uso de los factores capital, trabajo e insumos intermedios. El objetivo de esta investigación fue establecer las brechas productivas a través de la Productividad Total de los Factores (PTF) del sector transporte durante el periodo 2012-2021. Para ello, se estima la función de producción Cobb-Douglas, utilizando indicadores como activo fijo neto, trabajo e insumos intermedios. Se utilizó el Método Generalizado de Momentos (GMM-SYS) que permite la reducción de la simultaneidad y endogeneidad de las variables. Los resultados muestran que la variable insumos intermedios como: los gastos en combustibles y lubricantes, gastos de mantenimiento y reparación, entre otros son los que contribuyen más a la producción de las empresas (medido con la variable ingresos operacionales). Los factores trabajo y capital (calculados a través de los activos fijos netos) contribuyen en menor proporción que los insumos intermedios a la producción total en la actividad del transporte, además se evidencia que la PTF tiene una relación positiva con el tamaño de la empresa. También, se ha podido evidenciar que este sector es muy competitivo o cercano a la competencia perfecta donde la mayoría de las empresas son micro; sin embargo, existen brechas de productividad entre las empresas por su tamaño siendo las grandes las más productivas y, entre estas y las microempresas se muestra la mayor brecha a pesar de que las microempresas son las que absorben la mayor cantidad de empleo.
Inteligencia artificial en motores de búsqueda: percepciones de los docentes universitarios y su impacto en el proceso de enseñanza y aprendizaje
Authors: Juca-Maldonado Fernando Xavier
Published: November 2023

Este estudio cuantitativo y descriptivo de diseño no experimental se enfocó en evaluar el conocimiento y las percepciones de los docentes de la Universidad Metropolitana, sede Machala, respecto a la inteligencia artificial (IA) y su influencia en la búsqueda de información para actividades académicas y de investigación. Para lo cual, se empleó una muestra de 47 docentes a quienes se les aplicó una encuesta mediante Google Forms. Se aplicó un enfoque de muestreo probabilístico con selección aleatoria simple, calculando el tamaño de la muestra con un margen de error del 5% y un nivel de confianza del 95%. Los resultados indican que el 77% de los docentes conocía la IA, pero únicamente el 47% comprendía su aplicabilidad en los procesos educativos. Notablemente, la mayoría (97%) no había utilizado motores de búsqueda que empleen IA como Chat GPT. Sin embargo, un significativo 81% de los participantes expresó su creencia en que los motores de búsqueda con IA podrían mejorar el proceso educativo. Además, el 75% anticipó la necesidad de replantear el proceso de evaluación debido a las respuestas personalizadas y a los desafíos relacionados con la detección de plagio que los motores de búsqueda con IA podrían presentar. Se concluye en la importancia de la actualización constante y la ética en el uso de la IA en el contexto educativo. A pesar de los posibles beneficios relacionados con la eficiencia y la personalización que la IA ofrece en los motores de búsqueda, tanto docentes como estudiantes deben adoptar una postura crítica al evaluar la información obtenida y estar dispuestos a colaborar para adaptarse efectivamente a las nuevas tecnologías.
CMAG: A Mission to Study and Monitor the Inner Corona Magnetic Field
Authors: Orozco Suárez David , del Toro Iniesta Jose Carlos , Bailén Martínez Francisco Javier , Balaguer Jiménez María , Álvarez García Daniel , Serrano Daniel , Peñin Luis F. , Vázquez-Ramos Alicia , Bellot Rubio Luis Ramón , Atienzar Julia , Pérez Grande Isabel , Torralbo Gimeno Ignacio , Sanchis Kilders Esteban , Gasent Blesa José Luis , Hernández Expósito David , Ruiz Cobo Basilio , Trujillo Bueno Javier , Erdélyi Robertus , Davies Jackie A. , Green Lucie M. , Matthews Sarah A. , Long David M. , Mathioudakis Michail , Kintziger Christian , Leenaarts Jorrit , Fineschi Silvano , Scullion Eamon
Published: November 2023

Measuring magnetic fields in the inner corona, the interface between the solar chromosphere and outer corona, is of paramount importance if we aim to understand the energetic transformations taking place there, and because it is at the origin of processes that lead to coronal heating, solar wind acceleration, and of most of the phenomena relevant to space weather. However, these measurements are more difficult than mere imaging because polarimetry requires differential photometry. The coronal magnetograph mission (CMAG) has been designed to map the vector magnetic field, line-of-sight velocities, and plane-of-the-sky velocities of the inner corona with unprecedented spatial and temporal resolutions from space. This will be achieved through full vector spectropolarimetric observations using a coronal magnetograph as the sole instrument on board a spacecraft, combined with an external occulter installed on another spacecraft. The two spacecraft will maintain a formation flight distance of 430 m for coronagraphic observations, which requires a 2.5 m occulter disk radius. The mission will be preferentially located at the Lagrangian L5 point, offering a significant advantage for solar physics and space weather research. Existing ground-based instruments face limitations such as atmospheric turbulence, solar scattered light, and long integration times when performing coronal magnetic field measurements. CMAG overcomes these limitations by performing spectropolarimetric measurements from space with an external occulter and high-image stability maintained over time. It achieves the necessary sensitivity and offers a spatial resolution of 2.5″ and a temporal resolution of approximately one minute, in its nominal mode, covering the range from 1.02 solar radii to 2.5 radii. CMAG relies on proven European technologies and can be adapted to enhance any other solar mission, offering potential significant advancements in coronal physics and space weather modeling and monitoring.
Mild Detonation Initiation in Rotating Detonation Engines: An Experimental Study of the Deflagration-to-Detonation Transition in a Semiconfined Flat Slit Combustor with Separate Supplies of Fuel and Oxidizer
Authors: Shamshin Igor O. , Ivanov Vladislav S. , Aksenov Viktor S. , Gusev Pavel A. , Avdeev Konstantin A. , Frolov Sergey M.
Published: November 2023

Rotating detonation engines (RDEs) are considered to be promising thrusters for aerospace propulsion. Detonation initiation in RDEs can be accompanied by a destructive explosion of an excess volume of the fuel mixture in the combustor. To exclude this phenomenon, a “mild” rather than “strong” initiation of detonation is required. For the mild initiation of detonation in RDEs, it is necessary to ignite a mixture of a certain minimum volume sufficient for deflagration-to-detonation transition (DDT). In this study, the critical conditions for detonation initiation through DDT in a semiconfined slit combustor simulating the RDE combustor with a separate supply of ethylene and oxygen diluted with nitrogen (from 0 to 40%) were obtained experimentally. It turned out that for the mild initiation of detonation, it is necessary to ignite the mixture upon reaching the critical (minimum) height of the combustible mixture layer. Thus, for the mild initiation of detonation in the undiluted C2H4 + 3O2 mixture filling such a slit combustor, the height of the mixture layer must exceed the slit width by approximately a factor of 12. In terms of the transverse size of the detonation cell λ the minimum layer height of such mixtures in experiments is ~150λ. Compared to the experiments with the premixed composition, the critical height of the layer is 20% larger, which is explained by the finite rate of mixing. As the degree of oxygen dilution with nitrogen increases, the critical height of the layer increases, and the role of finite rate mixing decreases: the results no longer depend on the method of combustible mixture formation.
GDMR-Net: A Novel Graphic Detection Neural Network via Multi-Crossed Attention and Rotation Annotation for Agronomic Applications in Supply Cyber Security
Authors: Xue Zhangchi , Zhao Xueqi , Xiu Yucheng , Hua Chenghao , Kong Jianlei
Published: November 2023

The development of smart agriculture holds great significance in ensuring the supply and cyber security of agricultural production. With the advancement of intelligent technologies, unmanned robots collaborating with the Internet of Things (IoT) play increasingly crucial roles in the realm of smart agriculture; they have become effective means to ensure agricultural safety and supply security. However, in the pursuit of unmanned agronomic applications, there is an urgent challenge: these intelligent systems generally show low accuracy in target detection when relying on visual perception due to fine-grained changes and differing postures of crops. To solve this issue, we proposed a novel multi-target detection approach via incorporating graph representation learning and multi-crossed attention techniques. The proposed model first utilizes a lightweight backbone network to accurately identify the characteristics and conditions of crops. Then, the higher-order graphic feature extractor is designed to comprehensively observe fine-grained features and potential graphic relationships among massive crops, enabling better perception capabilities of agricultural robots, allowing them to adapt to complex environments. Additionally, we can address bilevel routing by combining ghost attention and rotation annotations to handle continuous posture changes during crop growth and mutual occlusion. An extensive set of experiments demonstrated that our proposed approach outperforms various advanced methods of crop detection, achieving identification accuracies up to 89.6% (mAP) and 94.7% (AP50). Ablation studies further proved the preferable stability, of which the parameter size is only 628 Mbyte, while maintaining a high processing speed of 89 frames per second. This provides strong support for application of the technique in smart agriculture production and supply cyber security.
The Occurrence of Cattle Tick Fever in a Region of the Atlantic Forest on the Border with the Caatinga in Brazil
Authors: Puentes Juan Dario , Carvalho Vitor Santiago de , Caymmi Lais Gouveia , Mendonça Múcio Fernando Ferraro de , Riet-Correa Franklin
Published: November 2023

The Atlantic Forest biome is considered an area in which tick fever is endemic, while the Caatinga biome is considered an area in which tick fever is non-endemic. A survey on cattle tick fever was carried out in 448 cattle farms located in an area of the Atlantic Forest biome which borders the Caatinga biome. A retrospective study of five years, conducted from January 2018 to October 2022, allowed for the identification of the occurrence of tick fever in 44 out of the 448 herds visited. In 70.5% (31/44) of the herds involved, the disease was caused by Anaplasma marginale; in 6.8% (3/44), the disease was caused by Babesia spp.; and in 22.7% (10/44), the disease was caused by a coinfection of Babesia spp. and A. marginale. The disease mainly occurred from August to November (23/44). Bos taurus or B. taurus crossbreed animals were most affected (29/44) in an area in which 94% of the cattle were Bos indicus and 6% were B. taurus and B. taurus crossbreeds. In 24 herds (with adults affected in 17 and calves in 7), the implicated animals had recently been moved to the Atlantic Forest. In the other 20 herds (calves with heavy tick infestations were affected in 17 and adults in 3), tick fever occurred in non-moved cattle. Even though it is an endemic zone, tick fever is common and mainly affects B. taurus cattle, including adults moved from areas with enzootic instability and calves under nine months old with high tick loads.
Effect of Farming System and Season on Proximate Composition, Fatty Acid Profile, Antioxidant Activity, and Physicochemical Properties of Retail Cow Milk
Authors: Kasapidou Eleni , Stergioudi Roxani-Aikaterini , Papadopoulos Vasileios , Mitlianga Paraskevi , Papatzimos Georgios , Karatzia Maria-Anastasia , Amanatidis Michail , Tortoka Vasiliki , Tsiftsi Ekaterini , Aggou Antonia , Basdagianni Zoitsa
Published: November 2023

Consumers differentiate milk-quality characteristics in relation to the production system, but data on retail milk composition are limited. This study investigated how farming methods and seasons affect proximate composition, fatty acid profile, antioxidant activity, and physicochemical characteristics of commercial cow’s milk. Milk samples, both conventional (n = 84, 7 manufacturers) and organic (n = 24, 2 manufacturers), were collected monthly over a year. Farming system did not significantly affect milk composition other than fat content, whereas seasonal effects were notable, impacting the contents of ash, protein, and added water. Fatty acid composition exhibited variations influenced by both production system and season. Compared to conventionally produced milk, organically produced milk exhibited higher levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids (4.54 vs. 3.88, p < 0.01) and a lower atherogenicity index (2.23 vs. 2.50, p < 0.05). The antioxidant activity showed that conventionally produced milk exhibited better radical-scavenging activity (DPPH) (14.54 vs. 12.30 μM TE/mL, p < 0.01). Seasonal variations were evident in both free radical-scavenging activity (DPPH), with values of 12.29 μM TE/mL in winter and 15.58 μM TE/mL in spring (p < 0.05), and ferric reducing-antioxidant power (FRAP), with levels of 21.81 μM TE/mL in autumn and 27.94 μM TE/mL in spring (p < 0.05). Season significantly affected (p < 0.001) milk pH, electrical conductivity, refractive index, and freezing-point depression. In conclusion, this study showed that the farming system has a limited impact on retail milk quality compared to the significant influence of season.
The Prevalence and Genetic Diversity of Porcine Circoviruses (PCVs) during 2017–2023 in Guangdong Province, China
Authors: Lv Wenke , Cao Lihua , Yang Lulu , Wang Nina , Li Zhili , Huang Shujian , Wen Feng , Guo Jinyue
Published: November 2023

Porcine circovirus disease poses a significant threat to the pig farming industry. Globally, four genotypes of porcine circovirus are circulating, with porcine circovirus type 2 and 3 (PCV2 and PCV3) being most strongly associated with clinical manifestations. The recently discovered porcine circovirus type 4 (PCV4) exhibits clinical symptoms resembling porcine dermatitis nephropathy syndrome. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and genetic characteristics of PCVs in Guangdong province, China. A comprehensive analysis was conducted on 193 samples collected from 83 distinct pig farms during the period of 2017–2023. A conventional PCR was employed to investigate the presence of PCV2, PCV3, and PCV4. Among the samples, 56.48%, 8.81%, and 8.81% tested positive for PCV2, PCV3, and PCV2/3 co-infection, respectively. Interestingly, PCV4 was not detected. Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 80 PCV2 isolates and 7 PCV3 isolates. A phylo-genetic analysis revealed that 12 strains belonged to PCV2a, 8 strains belonged to PCV2b, and 60 strains belonged to PCV2d, indicating the prevailing presence of PCV2d in Guangdong province, China. Furthermore, two PCV3 isolates were classified as PCV3a and five strains as PCV3b. Notably, an in-depth analysis of the Cap protein sequence of the PCV2 and PCV3 isolates identified high-frequency mutation sites located in predicted epitope regions. Overall, this study provides valuable insights into the prevalence and evolution of PCV2 and PCV3 during the period of 2017–2023 in Guangdong province, China, thereby contributing to the development of effective prevention and control measures.
Molecular and Functional Characterization of α Chain of Interleukin-15 Receptor (IL-15Rα) in Orange-Spotted Grouper (Epinephelus coioides) in Response to Vibrio harveyi Challenge
Authors: Zhang Yilin , Wu Fan , Yang Guanjian , Jian Jichang , Lu Yishan , Wang Zhiwen
Published: November 2023

Interleukin-15 (IL15) is a proinflammatory cytokine that could induce the production of inflammatory cytokines. In this study, the α chain of the IL15 receptor of Epinephelus coioides (Ec-IL15Rα), a natural regulator of IL15, was identified, and immune response functions of fish were determined and characterized. Ec-IL15Rα contains a 720 bp open reading frame that encodes 239 amino acids, including four typical conserved cysteine residues with a highly conserved sushi domain. Ec-IL15Rα is closely related to Epinephelus lanceolatus and is the most clustered with teleost. Subcellular localization studies showed that Ec-IL15Rα was situated in the cytoplasm and cell membrane. Ec-IL15Rα was detected in 11 tissues, with the highest expression in the liver and blood. Meanwhile, the Ec-IL15Rα transcriptional levels substantially increased in nine tissues after Vibrio harveyi infection. Ec-IL15Rα was significantly up-regulated in HKLs by ConA, PHA, LPS and poly I:C stimulation. In vitro analysis, the recombinant protein of rEc-IL15Rα stimulates HKL proliferation and IL1R, IL6R, IL10, and IL16 expression. Challenge experiments revealed that IL15Rα protein showed an increase of 6.67–10% survival protection rate after V. harveyi infection. This study provides a better understanding of the immune protection of IL15Rα in vertebrate fish.
Lactate Dehydrogenase Gene Family in Spirometra mansoni (Cestoda: Diphyllobothriidea)—Phylogenetic Patterns and Molecular Characteristics
Authors: Liu Shasha , Zhou Ke , Gao Fei , Li Wen , Wang Zhongquan , Zhang Xi
Published: November 2023

The plerocercoid of Spirometra mansoni can parasitize both human and animals, resulting in sparganosis. Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) is an important enzyme in parasites. However, our knowledge of the LDH family in S. mansoni is still inadequate. This work identified 19 new LDH members in S. mansoni. Clustering analysis demonstrated that all SmLDHs were divided into two main groups, which is consistent with the patterns of conserved motif organization. According to RT-qPCR, 2 LDHs were highly expressed in the plerocercoid stage and 17 LDHs were highly expressed in the adult stage. The evolutionary tree showed a high level of diversity of both cestode and trematode LDHs. SmLDHs contained both conserved family members and members in the process of further diversification. rSmLDH has a NAD-binding domain and a substrate-binding domain. The protein was immunolocalized in the epidermis of the pleroceroid and in the tegument, uterus and egg shell of adult worms. The optimum activity for rSmLDH in the pyruvate reduction reaction was found to be pH 4.5 and 37 °C. In the oxidation reaction, optimal values for pH and temperature were 9.0 and 30 °C, respectively. Gossypol was found to be the most powerful inhibitor in both reduction and oxidation reactions. The results provide a basis for the further study of the biological roles of LDHs in S. mansoni and other LDH-containing taxa.
Owner’s Anthropomorphic Perceptions of Cats’ and Dogs’ Abilities Are Related to the Social Role of Pets, Owners’ Relationship Behaviors, and Social Support
Authors: Bouma Esther M. C. , Dijkstra Arie , Arnt Rosa Stella
Published: November 2023

Background: For sustainable and healthy relationships with pets, attributing some degree of human abilities to the pet (anthropomorphization) might be necessary. We hypothesize that the tendency to anthropomorphize pet animals is related to relationship behaviors (communication and making up) and the experience of social support. Perceiving the pet in a human social role (e.g., family member or friend) might mediate this relationship. Method: Associations were tested in a mixed sample of cat and dog owners by means of multiple linear regression, moderation, and (moderated) mediation analyses. The differences between cat and dog owners were examined with pet type as the moderator in a moderated mediation analysis. Results: Dog owners anthropomorphize their pets more than cat owners. The social role of the pet mediates the association between anthropomorphization and relationship behavior and social support. The mediation effects were stronger for cat owners than for dog owners. Moreover, our newly developed comparative anthropomorphism measure was a better predictor than the commonly used general anthropomorphism measure (IDAQ).
Unlocking Insights into Folding, Structure, and Function of Proteins through Circular Dichroism Spectroscopy—A Short Review
Authors: Linhares Leonardo A. , Ramos Carlos H. I.
Published: November 2023

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy has emerged as a powerful tool in the study of protein folding, structure, and function. This review explores the versatile applications of CD spectroscopy in unraveling the intricate relationship between protein conformation and biological activity. A key advantage of CD spectroscopy is its ability to analyze protein samples with minimal quantity requirements, making it an attractive technique for studying proteins that are scarce or difficult to produce. Moreover, CD spectroscopy enables the monitoring of physical and chemical environmental effects on protein structures, providing valuable insights into the dynamic behavior of proteins in different conditions. In recent years, the use of synchrotron radiation as a light source for CD measurements has gained traction, offering enhanced sensitivity and resolution. By combining the advantages of CD spectroscopy, such as minimal sample requirements and the ability to probe environmental effects, with the emerging capabilities of synchrotron radiation (SRCD), researchers have an unprecedented opportunity to explore the diverse aspects of protein behavior. This review highlights the significance of CD spectroscopy in protein research and the growing role of synchrotron radiation in advancing our understanding of protein behavior, aiming to provide novel insights and applications in various fields, including drug discovery, protein engineering, and biotechnology. A brief overview of Solid-State Circular Dichroism (SSCD) is also included.
Landscape Urbanism—Retrospective on Development, Basic Principles and Application
Authors: Balon Nika , Hrdalo Ines , Mrđa Ana , Kamenečki Monika , Tomić Reljić Dora , Pereković Petra
Published: November 2023

The urban and landscape professions of the 21st century are developing diverse theoretical and practical models that they apply in solving the problems of the modern city. One of these models is landscape urbanism, which can be understood as a newer way of looking at the city and its infrastructure again, incorporating the relationship between the city and nature, and ecological and landscape principles into its fundamental core. In a theoretical but also a practical sense, it suggests new modalities that are considered to be able to contribute to the current problems of modern cities, especially those related to the ecology of the city. By reviewing the development stages, methodological framework and practical applications, this paper determines the potentials and limitations of the concept of landscape urbanism and suggests modalities of application in the modern city.
A Refined Zenith Tropospheric Delay Model Based on a Generalized Regression Neural Network and the GPT3 Model in Europe
Authors: Wei Min , Yu Xuexiang , Ke Fuyang , He Xiangxiang , Xu Keli
Published: November 2023

An accurate model of the Zenith Tropospheric Delay (ZTD) plays a crucial role in Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) precise positioning, water vapor retrieval, and meteorological research. Current empirical models (such as the GPT3 model) can only reflect the approximate change trend of ZTD but cannot accurately reflect nonlinear changes such as rapid fluctuations in ZTD. In recent years, the application of machine learning methods in the modeling and prediction of ZTD has gained prominence, yielding commendable results. Utilizing the ZTD products from 53 International GNSS Service (IGS) stations in Europe during the year 2021 as a foundational dataset, a Generalized Regression Neural Network (GRNN) is employed to model IGS ZTD while considering spatiotemporal factors and its association with GPT3 ZTD. This endeavor culminates in the development of a refined GRNN model. To verify the performance of the model, the prediction results are compared with two other ZTD values. One is obtained based on the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts Reanalysis 5 (ERA5) data, and the other is obtained by the GPT3 model. The results show that the bias of the GRNN refined model is almost 0 mm, and the average Root-Mean-Square Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) are 18.33 mm and 14.08 mm, respectively. Compared with ERA5 ZTD and GPT3 ZTD, the RMSE of GRNN ZTD has decreased by 19.5% and 63.4%, respectively, and the MAE of GRNN ZTD has decreased by 24.8% and 67.1%. Compared with the other two models, the GRNN refined model has better performance in reflecting the rapid fluctuations of ZTD. In addition, also discussed is the impact of spatial factors and time factors on modeling. The findings indicate that modeling accuracy within the central region of the modeling area surpasses that at the periphery by approximately 17.8%. The period from June to October is associated with the lowest accuracy, whereas the optimal accuracy is typically observed from January to April. The most substantial differences in accuracy were observed at station OP71 (Paris, France), with the highest accuracy recorded (9.51 mm) in April and the lowest (24.00 mm) in September.
Freestanding Carbon Nanofibers Derived from Biopolymer (Kraft Lignin) as Ultra-Microporous Electrodes for Supercapacitors
Authors: Dias Yasmin J. , Silva Vinícius D. , Pourdeyhimi Behnam , Medeiros Eliton S. , Yarin Alexander L.
Published: November 2023

Lignin-derived carbon nanofibers (LCNFs) formed via the solution blowing of a biopolymer are developed here as a promising replacement for polyacrylonitrile (PAN)-derived carbon nanofibers (PCNFs) formed via electrospinning for such applications as supercapacitor (SC) electrodes. Accordingly, it is demonstrated here that a biopolymer (kraft lignin, which is, essentially, a waste material) can substitute a petroleum-derived polymer (PAN). Moreover, this can be achieved using a much faster and safer fiber-forming method. The present work employs the solution blowing of lignin-derived nonwovens and their carbonization to form electrode materials. These materials are characterized and explored as the electrodes in supercapacitor prototypes. Given the porosity importance of carbon fibers in SC applications, N2 gas adsorption tests were performed for characterization. LCNFs revealed the specific surface area (SSA) and capacitance values as high as 1726 m2/g and 11.95 F/g, which are about one-half of those for PCNFs, 3624 m2/g and 25.5 F/g, respectively. The capacitance values of LCNFs are comparable with those reported in the literature, but the SSA observed here is much higher. Moreover, no further post-carbonization activation steps were performed here in comparison with those materials reported in the literature. It was also found here that fiber pre-oxidation in air prior to carbonization and the addition of zinc chloride affect the SSA and capacitance values of both LCNFs and PCNFs. The electrochemical tests of the SCs prototypes were used to evaluate their capacitance at different charging rates, voltage windows, and the number of cycles. The capacitance of PCNFs decreased by about 47% during fast charging, while the capacitance of LCNFs improved during fast charging, bringing them to the level of only 21% below that of PCNFs. These changes were correlated with the packing density of the electrodes. It should be emphasized that LCNFs revealed a much higher mass yield, which was 4–5 times higher than that of PCNFs. LCNFs also possess a higher packing density, a lower price, and cause a significantly lower environmental impact than PCNFs. The best cell supercapacitor delivered a maximum specific energy of 1.77 Wh/kg and a maximum specific power of 156 kW/kg, surpassing conventional electrochemical supercapacitors. Remarkably, it retained 95.2% of its initial capacitance after 10,000 GCD cycles at a current density of 0.25 A/g, indicating robust stability. Accordingly, kraft lignin, a bio-waste material, holds great promise as a raw material for supercapacitor electrodes.
Differential Study of Retinal Thicknesses in the Eyes of Alzheimer’s Patients, Multiple Sclerosis Patients and Healthy Subjects
Authors: Garcia-Martin Elena , Jimeno-Huete Daniel , Dongil-Moreno Francisco J. , Boquete Luciano , Sánchez-Morla Eva M. , Miguel-Jiménez Juan M. , López-Dorado Almudena , Vilades Elisa , Fuertes Maria I. , Pueyo Ana , Ortiz del Castillo Miguel
Published: November 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cause retinal thinning that is detectable in vivo using optical coherence tomography (OCT). To date, no papers have compared the two diseases in terms of the structural differences they produce in the retina. The purpose of this study is to analyse and compare the neuroretinal structure in MS patients, AD patients and healthy subjects using OCT. Spectral domain OCT was performed on 21 AD patients, 33 MS patients and 19 control subjects using the Posterior Pole protocol. The area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve was used to analyse the differences between the cohorts in nine regions of the retinal nerve fibre layer (RNFL), ganglion cell layer (GCL), inner plexiform layer (IPL) and outer nuclear layer (ONL). The main differences between MS and AD are found in the ONL, in practically all the regions analysed (AUROCFOVEAL = 0.80, AUROCPARAFOVEAL = 0.85, AUROCPERIFOVEAL = 0.80, AUROC_PMB = 0.77, AUROCPARAMACULAR = 0.85, AUROCINFERO_NASAL = 0.75, AUROCINFERO_TEMPORAL = 0.83), and in the paramacular zone (AUROCPARAMACULAR = 0.75) and infero-temporal quadrant (AUROCINFERO_TEMPORAL = 0.80) of the GCL. In conclusion, our findings suggest that OCT data analysis could facilitate the differential diagnosis of MS and AD.
Cardiovascular Prognosis in Patients with Peripheral Artery Disease and Approach to Therapy
Authors: Curcio Antonio , Panarello Alessandra , Spaccarotella Carmen , Indolfi Ciro
Published: November 2023

Peripheral artery disease (PAD), the pathophysiologic narrowing of the arterial blood vessels of the lower limbs due to atherosclerosis, is estimated to affect more than 200 million people worldwide and its prevalence ranges from 0.9 to 31.3% in people aged ≥50 years. It is an established marker of systemic obstructive atherosclerosis, which depicts patients at higher risk of myocardial infarction and stroke, due to the involvement of coronary and cerebral arteries in the atherosclerotic process. Therefore, identifying PAD, particularly in patients with coronary artery disease, is important to assess the cardiovascular risk score and implement specific therapies and prevention strategies. Since PAD emerged as an important clinical cardiovascular predictor, even more than other typical cardiovascular risk factors, an aggressive strategy to identify and treat PAD patients should be pursued by general practitioners, cardiologists, and vascular surgeons; similarly, preventive strategies should be implemented to improve prognosis and outcomes, particularly in patients suffering from both coronary artery disease and PAD. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology, including limb vasoconstriction after coronary angioplasty, the diagnosis of PAD, prognosis according to cardiovascular events, coronary artery disease, and heart failure. Furthermore, a large section of this review is on management, which spans from risk factors’ modification to antithrombotic therapy, and revascularization is provided. Finally, considerations about newer therapeutic options for the “desert foot” are discussed, including gene therapy.
Role of rs873601 Polymorphisms in Prognosis of Lung Cancer Patients Treated with Platinum-Based Chemotherapy
Authors: Zou Ting , Liu Jun-Yan , Qin Qun , Guo Jie , Zhou Wen-Zhi , Li Xiang-Ping , Zhou Hong-Hao , Chen Juan , Liu Zhao-Qian
Published: November 2023

Background: Lung cancer is still the most lethal malignancy in the world, according to the report of Cancer Statistics in 2021. Platinum-based chemotherapy combined with immunotherapy is the first-line treatment in lung cancer patients. However, the 5-year survival rate is always affected by the adverse reactions and drug resistance caused by platinum-based chemotherapy. DNA damage and repair system is one of the important mechanisms that can affect the response to chemotherapy and clinical outcomes in lung cancer patients. Objective: The objective of this study is to find the relationship between the polymorphisms of DNA repair genes with the prognosis of platinum-based chemotherapy in lung cancer patients. Patients and Methods: We performed genotyping in 17 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of Excision Repair Cross-Complementation group (ERCC) genes and X-ray Repair Cross-Complementing (XRCC) genes of 345 lung cancer patients via Sequenom MassARRAY. We used Cox proportional hazard models, state, and plink to analyze the associations between SNPs and the prognosis of lung cancer patients. Results: We found that the ERCC5 rs873601 was associated with the overall survival time in lung cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy (p = 0.031). There were some polymorphisms that were related to the prognosis in specific subgroups of lung cancer. Rs873601 showed a great influence on the prognosis of patients more than 55 years, Small Cell Lung Cancer (SCLC), and smoking patients. Rs2444933 was associated with prognosis in age less than 55 years, SCLC, metastasis, and stage III/IV/ED patients. Rs3740051 played an important role in the prognosis of SCLC and metastasis patients. Rs1869641 was involved in the prognosis of SCLC patients. Rs1051685 was related to the prognosis in non-metastasis patients. Conclusion: The ERCC5 rs873601 (G>A) was a valuable biomarker for predicting the prognosis in lung cancer patients treated with platinum-based chemotherapy.
Women with Schizophrenia Have Difficulty Maintaining Healthy Diets for Themselves and Their Children: A Narrative Review
Authors: Seeman Mary V.
Published: November 2023

Severe psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia are inevitably linked to unemployment, meagre per capita income, and residence in disadvantaged, poorly resourced neighbourhoods. This means difficult access to healthy food and is particularly problematic for pregnant women and mothers with children to feed. The necessity of taking antipsychotic drugs is an additional barrier to healthy eating because these drugs are associated with serious cognitive, psychological, behavioural, and metabolic sequelae. Being ill with psychosis makes it extremely difficult to maintain a healthy diet; nutritional deficiencies result, as do medical complications. The results of present literature review confirm the gravity of the problem and suggest a number of potentially useful clinical interventions.
Breast Cancer Risk and Prevention: A Step Forward
Authors: Vidali Sofia , Susini Tommaso
Published: November 2023

Breast cancer (BC) is a leading topic in medical research as it is the most common cancer occurring in women worldwide; its incidence is progressively increasing in all age groups [...]
Near-Infrared Fluorescence Imaging with Indocyanine Green for Robot-Assisted Partial Nephrectomy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Giulioni Carlo , Mulawkar Prashant Motiram , Castellani Daniele , De Stefano Virgilio , Nedbal Carlotta , Gadzhiev Nariman , Pirola Giacomo Maria , Law Yu Xi Terence , Wroclawski Marcelo Langer , Keat William Ong Lay , Tiong Ho Yee , Somani Bhaskar Kumar , Galosi Andrea Benedetto , Gauhar Vineet
Published: November 2023

Background: We aimed to analyze the influence of near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) using indocyanine green (ICG) with standard robot-assisted partial nephrectomy (RAPN) in patients with a kidney tumor (KT). Methods: We performed a literature search on 12 September 2023 through PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus. The analysis included observational studies that examined the perioperative and long-term outcomes of patients with a KT who underwent RAPN with NIRF. Results: Overall, eight prospective studies, involving 535 patients, were eligible for this meta-analysis, with 212 participants in the ICG group and 323 in the No ICG group. For warm ischemia time, the ICG group showed a lower duration (weighted Mean difference (WMD) = −2.05, 95% confidence interval (CI) = −3.30–−0.80, p = 0.011). The postoperative eGFR also favored the ICG group (WMD = 7.67, 95% CI = 2.88–12.46, p = 0.002). No difference emerged for the other perioperative outcomes between the two groups. In terms of oncological radicality, the positive surgical margins and tumor recurrence rates were similar among the two groups. Conclusions: Our meta-analysis showed that NIRF with ICG during RAPN yields a favorable impact on functional outcomes, whereas it exerts no such influence on oncological aspects. Therefore, NIRF should be adopted when preserving nephron function is a paramount concern.
TIL-Derived CAR T Cells Improve Immune Cell Infiltration and Survival in the Treatment of CD19-Humanized Mouse Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Zhu Can , Zhao Yuanyuan , He Jiaheng , Zhao Huan , Ni Li , Cheng Xinyi , Chen Yida , Mu Liqian , Zhou Xiaojun , Shi Qin , Sun Jie
Published: November 2023

Chimeric antigen receptor-engineered T cells (CAR Ts) targeting CD19 have shown unprecedented prognosis in treating hematological cancers. However, the lack of a tumor-specific antigen as the target and an inhospitable tumor environment limit the clinical application of CAR T in solid tumors. Tumor-infiltrating T lymphocytes (TIL) exhibit diverse T cell receptor clonality and superior tumor-homing abilities. Therefore, in our study, human CD19-target TIL CAR-Ts armed with CD3ζ and 4-1BB signaling domains were constructed. Mouse colorectal cancer CT26 cells expressing human CD19 (hCD19+-CT26) were developed to assess the anti-tumor activity of TIL CAR-T cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Compared with splenic CAR T adoptive transfer, TIL CAR-T administration showed superior tumor suppression ability in hCD19+-CT26 tumor-bearing mice. Furthermore, more T cells were found at the tumor site and had lower exhaustion-related inhibitory receptor (T cell immunoglobulin and mucin domain-containing protein 3, Tim3) expression and higher immune memory molecule (CD62L) expression. Overall, we provided an artificial tumor-specific antigen in solid tumors and demonstrated that combined CAR-expressing TIL-Ts (TIL CAR-Ts) exhibited strong anti-tumor activity, with improved T cell infiltration and immune memory. Our humanized tumor antigen presented platform of mice suggests that TIL CAR-T-based adoptive therapy could be a promising strategy for solid cancer treatment.
Quality of Life and Independent Factors Associated with Poor Digestive Function after Ivor Lewis Esophagectomy
Authors: Dirr Valerian , Vetter Diana , Sartoretti Thomas , Schneider Marcel André , Da Canal Francesca , Gutschow Christian A.
Published: November 2023

Transthoracic esophagectomy results in a radical change in foregut anatomy with multiple consequences for digestive physiology. The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with poor functional outcomes by assessing multiple dimensions of digestive performance and health-related quality of life (HRQL). Patients with cancer-free survival after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy were included. Four functional syndromes (dysphagia, gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), delayed gastric conduit emptying (DGCE), and dumping syndrome (DS)) and HRQL were assessed using specifically designed questionnaires. Patient outcomes were compared with healthy controls. Independent factors associated with poor digestive performance were identified through multivariable analysis. Sixty-five postoperative patients and 50 healthy volunteers participated in this study. Compared with controls, patients had worse outcomes for dysphagia, GERD, DS, and HRQL, but not for DGCE. A multivariate analysis showed a significant correlation of reduced digestive performance with ASA score, squamous cell carcinoma, open or hybrid surgical approach, and (neo)adjuvant therapy. In contrast, no individual patient factor was found to be associated with dumping syndrome. Digestive function and HRQL are substantially impaired after Ivor Lewis esophagectomy for cancer. Comorbid patients undergoing multimodal treatment and open access surgery for squamous cell carcinoma have the highest risk of poor functional outcome.