bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sustainable Structural System Selection Using Hybrid Fuzzy Multi-Criteria Decision Model Based on Seismic Performance
Authors: Lotfi Mohsen , Gerami Mohsen , Karakouzian Moses
Published: July 2024

In the rapidly evolving field of sustainable construction, this study aims to address the critical need for advancement in the building industry, focusing on vital indicators like energy efficiency and cost-effectiveness, as well as improving occupant comfort. This research introduces a novel approach to support the choice of suitable structural systems for mass housing projects, with a case study on Iran’s national housing scheme. This methodology involves a four-phase process, beginning with compiling a database from existing studies to outline primary and secondary indicators affecting structural system selection. It utilizes the fuzzy AHP method for criteria prioritization and the fuzzy TOPSIS technique for alternatives (LSF, 3DP, ICF, TRC, and RCCF). The study identified the light steel framing (LSF) system as the optimal choice for Iran’s housing needs based on various criteria. Then, in the final phase, the study evaluates the seismic performance of cold-formed steel (CFS) frames with various sheathing panel types (OSB, DFP, CSP, and GWB) under monotonic loads, examining key seismic parameters across 38 frame setups. The findings reveal that LSF structures can effectively withstand seismic events within the elastic behavior range, suggesting that this construction approach is viable for enhancing mass housing production in Iran’s construction sector.
Smell and Taste Alterations in Patients Receiving Curative or Palliative Chemotherapy—The CONKO 021—ChemTox Trial
Authors: Bleumer Tobias , Abel Janine , Böhmerle Wolfgang , Schröder Sebastian , Yap Soo Ann , Schaeper Nigel Dross Engelbert , Hummel Thomas , Stintzing Sebastian , Stephan Lars Uwe , Pelzer Uwe
Published: July 2024

Previous data regarding chemotherapy-induced olfactory and gustatory dysfunction (CIOGD) are heterogeneous due to inconsistent study designs and small numbers of patients. To provide consistent, reliable data, we conducted a cohort study using standardized testing. Patients diagnosed with lymphoma, leukemia, or gastrointestinal malignancies were examined up to five times (T1 to T5), beginning prior to chemotherapy. We examined patients receiving temporary treatment up to 12 months post-therapy. Clinical assessment included extensive questionnaires, psychophysical tests of olfactory and gustatory function, and measurement of peripheral neuropathy. Statistical analysis included non-parametric tests to evaluate the longitudinal development of CIOGD. Our data (n = 108) showed a significant decline in olfactory and gustatory testing during chemotherapy (p-values < 0.001). CIOGD appeared stronger among patients above 60 years, while sex did not matter significantly. However, we identified distinct associations between CIOGD and reported anorexia as well as with higher neuropathy scores. Self-assessment appeared less sensitive to chemosensory dysfunction than psychophysical testing. Post-therapy, olfactory and gustatory function regenerated, though baseline levels were not attained within 6 to 12 months. In conclusion, our data highlight the wide prevalence and slow recovery of CIOGD. Understanding CIOGD as a potential neurotoxic effect may disclose new therapeutic prospects.
Optimizing Ex Vivo CAR-T Cell-Mediated Cytotoxicity Assay through Multimodality Imaging
Authors: Foulke John G. , Chen Luping , Chang Hyeyoun , McManus Catherine E. , Tian Fang , Gu Zhizhan
Published: July 2024

CAR-T cell-based therapies have demonstrated remarkable efficacy in treating malignant cancers, especially liquid tumors, and are increasingly being evaluated in clinical trials for solid tumors. With the FDA’s initiative to advance alternative methods for drug discovery and development, full human ex vivo assays are increasingly essential for precision CAR-T development. However, prevailing ex vivo CAR-T cell-mediated cytotoxicity assays are limited by their use of radioactive materials, lack of real-time measurement, low throughput, and inability to automate, among others. To address these limitations, we optimized the assay using multimodality imaging methods, including bioluminescence, impedance tracking, phase contrast, and fluorescence, to track CAR-T cells co-cultured with CD19, CD20, and HER2 luciferase reporter cancer cells in real-time. Additionally, we varied the ratio of CAR-T cells to cancer cells to determine optimal cytotoxicity readouts. Our findings demonstrated that the CAR-T cell group effectively attacked cancer cells, and the optimized assay provided superior temporal and spatial precision measurements of ex vivo CAR-T killing of cancer cells, confirming the reliability, consistency, and high throughput of the optimized assay.
Autocatalyzed Kinetics of 6-Electron Electroreduction of Iodic Acid Studied by Rotating Disk Electrode Technique
Authors: Antipova Liliya , Tripachev Oleg , Rybakova Alexandra , Andreev Vladimir , Pichugov Roman , Sudarev George , Antipov Anatoly , Modestov Alexander
Published: July 2024

The 6-electron electrochemical reduction of IO3− to I− represents a breakthrough for the development of next-generation redox flow batteries, offering substantially higher energy densities for oxidizer storage. Our study reveals that on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode in acidic electrolytes, HIO3 undergoes an autocatalyzed electrochemical reduction to I−. This process is mediated by the formation of a thin iodine layer on the electrode, acting as an intermediate and a catalyst. Under steady-state conditions, the iodine layer forms via a comproportionation reaction (HIO3 + I− + 5H+ = I2 (s) + 3H2O). Initially, the iodine layer is generated through the slow direct electrochemical reduction of HIO3 on pristine GC. Once established, this layer significantly enhances the rate of iodate reduction. On voltammetry curves, it is clearly observable as a step-wise current surge to reach a plateau. The limiting current density on the GC seemingly aligns with the Levich equation, varying with the RDE rotation rate. Earlier, we demonstrated the electrochemical oxidation of I− back to HIO3 using an H2/HIO3 flow cell, showcasing a full cycle that underpins the feasibility of this approach for energy storage. This study advances the understanding of iodate electroreduction and underscores its role in enhancing the capacity of next-generation energy storage systems.
Advances in Transition Metal Catalysis—Preface to the Special Issue
Authors: Ciogli Alessia , Iazzetti Antonia
Published: July 2024

Over the years, transition metal catalysis has had a significant impact on science and technology [...]
Cardiomyopathy in Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy and the Potential for Mitochondrial Therapeutics to Improve Treatment Response
Authors: Gandhi Shivam , Sweeney H. Lee , Hart Cora C. , Han Renzhi , Perry Christopher G. R.
Published: July 2024

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a progressive neuromuscular disease caused by mutations to the dystrophin gene, resulting in deficiency of dystrophin protein, loss of myofiber integrity in skeletal and cardiac muscle, and eventual cell death and replacement with fibrotic tissue. Pathologic cardiac manifestations occur in nearly every DMD patient, with the development of cardiomyopathy—the leading cause of death—inevitable by adulthood. As early cardiac abnormalities are difficult to detect, timely diagnosis and appropriate treatment modalities remain a challenge. There is no cure for DMD; treatment is aimed at delaying disease progression and alleviating symptoms. A comprehensive understanding of the pathophysiological mechanisms is crucial to the development of targeted treatments. While established hypotheses of underlying mechanisms include sarcolemmal weakening, upregulation of pro-inflammatory cytokines, and perturbed ion homeostasis, mitochondrial dysfunction is thought to be a potential key contributor. Several experimental compounds targeting the skeletal muscle pathology of DMD are in development, but the effects of such agents on cardiac function remain unclear. The synergistic integration of small molecule- and gene-target-based drugs with metabolic-, immune-, or ion balance-enhancing compounds into a combinatorial therapy offers potential for treating dystrophin deficiency-induced cardiomyopathy, making it crucial to understand the underlying mechanisms driving the disorder.
Enhanced Coagulation for Algae Removal Using Composite Al-Based Coagulants: Collaborative Optimization Mechanism of Aluminum Morphology
Authors: Zhou Yangyuan , Zhang Dawei , Zhang Guosheng , Li Weiying , Zhu Ningzheng , Bo Jinpei , Meng Xiangzhou , Chen Yao , Qin Yu , Liu Huajie
Published: July 2024

The main purpose of this paper was to reveal the effect of aluminum (Al)-based coagulants on enhanced coagulation for the removal of algae and the synergistic optimization mechanism among different Al species. The formation, breakage, and regrowth processes of algal coagulation flocs formed by a series of monomeric Al-based coagulants (Al2(SO4)3, Al13, and Al30), Al13/Al30 composite coagulant and poly(diallyldimethylammonium chloride)/Al13 (PDADMAC/Al13) composite coagulant were studied. Results indicated that Al13 mainly employed a charge neutralization mechanism, which was conducive to the destabilization of algae and the regeneration of flocs, while Al30 mainly employed a sweep flocculation mechanism, which was conducive to the formation of algae and the strength of flocs. Meanwhile, the charge neutralization was the main mechanism during the algae coagulation process because it could effectively remove the soluble microbial products (SMP) component in the extracellular organic matter (EOM). Therefore, Al13 could achieve a higher coagulation performance than other monomeric Al-based coagulants. The Al13/Al30 composite coagulant could make up for the deficiency of the sweep flocculation mechanism in Al13 and charge neutralization mechanism in Al30, and achieve the best synergistic optimization performance at Al13:Al30-7:3. Additionally, PDADMAC, as a polymer, could further enhance the charge neutralization ability of Al13 at low dosages and the sweep flocculation ability of Al13 at high dosages, respectively. However, an excessive dosage would lead to charge reversal and thus reduce the coagulation effect. Therefore, controlling the dosage was key when using Al-composite coagulants. The findings of our research could offer a certain theoretical foundation for the development of inorganic polymer flocculants.
Cluster Odd-Parity Multipoles by Staggered Orbital Ordering in Locally Noncentrosymmetric Crystals
Authors: Hayami Satoru
Published: July 2024

Odd-parity multipoles in crystals manifest themselves not only in their peculiar electronic orderings but also in unconventional parity-violating physical phenomena. We here report the emergence of odd-parity multipoles by considering staggered orbital orderings in a locally noncentrosymmetric crystal system with the global inversion center but without the inversion center at each lattice site. We show that various odd-parity multipoles, such as the electric toroidal monopole, electric dipole, and electric toroidal quadrupole, are realized depending on the type of orbital orderings in the one-dimensional zigzag chain. Such odd-parity multipoles give rise to an antisymmetric spin splitting in the electronic band structure with the aid of the relativistic spin–orbit coupling. We also show that similar states with odd-parity multipoles are realized in other locally noncentrosymmetric crystals, such as the two-dimensional honeycomb and three-dimensional diamond structures.
Liquid Biopsies Based on Cell-Free DNA Integrity as a Biomarker for Cancer Diagnosis: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Rodríguez-Ces Ana María , Rapado-González Óscar , Salgado-Barreira Ángel , Santos María Arminda , Aroso Carlos , Vinhas Ana Sofia , López-López Rafael , Suárez-Cunqueiro María Mercedes
Published: July 2024

Liquid biopsies have been identified as a viable source of cancer biomarkers. We aim to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of cell-free DNA integrity (cfDI) in liquid biopsies for cancer. A comprehensive literature search was conducted through PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library up to June 2024. Seventy-two study units from forty-six studies, comprising 4286 cancer patients, were identified and evaluated. The Quality Assessment for Studies of Diagnostic Accuracy-2 (QUADAS-2) was used to assess study quality. Meta-regression analysis was employed to investigate the underlying factors contributing to heterogeneity, alongside an evaluation of publication bias. The bivariate random-effect model was utilized to compute the primary diagnostic outcomes and their corresponding 95% confidence intervals (CIs). The pooled sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative likelihood ratios of cfDI in cancer diagnosis were 0.70 and 0.77, 3.26 and 0.34, respectively. The overall area under the curve was 0.84, with a diagnostic odds ratio of 10.63. This meta-analysis suggested that the cfDI index has a promising potential as a non-invasive and accurate diagnostic tool for cancer. Study registration: The study was registered at PROSPERO (reference No. CRD42021276290).
A Qualitative Evaluation of ChatGPT4 and PaLM2’s Response to Patient’s Questions Regarding Age-Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Muntean George Adrian , Marginean Anca , Groza Adrian , Damian Ioana , Roman Sara Alexia , Hapca Mădălina Claudia , Sere Anca Mădălina , Mănoiu Roxana Mihaela , Muntean Maximilian Vlad , Nicoară Simona Delia
Published: July 2024

Patient compliance in chronic illnesses is essential for disease management. This also applies to age-related macular degeneration (AMD), a chronic acquired retinal degeneration that needs constant monitoring and patient cooperation. Therefore, patients with AMD can benefit by being properly informed about their disease, regardless of the condition’s stage. Information is essential in keeping them compliant with lifestyle changes, regular monitoring, and treatment. Large language models have shown potential in numerous fields, including medicine, with remarkable use cases. In this paper, we wanted to assess the capacity of two large language models (LLMs), ChatGPT4 and PaLM2, to offer advice to questions frequently asked by patients with AMD. After searching on AMD-patient-dedicated websites for frequently asked questions, we curated and selected a number of 143 questions. The questions were then transformed into scenarios that were answered by ChatGPT4, PaLM2, and three ophthalmologists. Afterwards, the answers provided by the two LLMs to a set of 133 questions were evaluated by two ophthalmologists, who graded each answer on a five-point Likert scale. The models were evaluated based on six qualitative criteria: (C1) reflects clinical and scientific consensus, (C2) likelihood of possible harm, (C3) evidence of correct reasoning, (C4) evidence of correct comprehension, (C5) evidence of correct retrieval, and (C6) missing content. Out of 133 questions, ChatGPT4 received a score of five from both reviewers to 118 questions (88.72%) for C1, to 130 (97.74%) for C2, to 131 (98.50%) for C3, to 133 (100%) for C4, to 132 (99.25%) for C5, and to 122 (91.73%) for C6, while PaLM2 to 81 questions (60.90%) for C1, to 114 (85.71%) for C2, to 115 (86.47%) for C3, to 124 (93.23%) for C4, to 113 (84.97%) for C5, and to 93 (69.92%) for C6. Despite the overall high performance, there were answers that are incomplete or inaccurate, and the paper explores the type of errors produced by these LLMs. Our study reveals that ChatGPT4 and PaLM2 are valuable instruments for patient information and education; however, since there are still some limitations to these models, for proper information, they should be used in addition to the advice provided by the physicians.
Analysis of the Measurement of Transportation Carbon Emissions and the Emission Reduction Path in the Yangtze River Economic Belt under the Background of “Dual Carbon” Goals
Authors: Sun Yanming , Zhang Guangzhen
Published: July 2024

Carbon emissions from the Yangtze River Economic Belt are an important element of China’s carbon emission endeavor, and a study of its emission reduction pathway can provide a reference for the country’s overall management of carbon emission reduction. From the perspective of energy consumption, this paper uses the carbon emission factor method to estimate the carbon emissions of the transportation industry in the Yangtze River Economic Belt during 2006–2020, based on the extended STIRPAT model, considering the influence of seven factors, i.e., population size, urbanization rate, GDP per capita, transportation added value, energy structure, energy intensity, and transportation intensity, on carbon emissions. Based on these factors, a scenario analysis, combined with a forecasting model, is used to predict the peak carbon performance of the transportation industry under different development scenarios. The results show that the overall carbon emissions of transportation in the YEB from 2006 to 2020 show a fluctuating upward trend, and the downstream carbon emissions are significantly higher than those in other regions. The main factors influencing carbon emissions from transportation in different upstream, midstream, and downstream regions vary, with both population and economic factors contributing to carbon emissions, while technical factors affect them differently. There are significant differences in the peak carbon performance of transportation under different development scenarios, and the government should take effective measures to work towards achieving the goals of the low-carbon or enhanced low-carbon scenarios.
Design Considerations and Experimental Testing of a Wide-Area Inductive Power Transfer (IPT) System for Body-Worn Electronics
Authors: Burrow Steve , Clare Lindsay , Stark Bernard , Beeby Steve , Grabham Neil
Published: July 2024

The provision of wireless and battery-free power is key to extending the applications of body-worn sensing electronics. This paper investigates the design of an IPT system for a body-worn scenario where the challenges include highly variable coupling, the requirement for the coil/s to be flexible, and close proximity to the body. Variable coupling results in a system that must operate with received powers ranging over orders of magnitude, whilst the use of flexible coils reduces the Q-factor and results in the potential for inductance variation. The human exposure considerations limit both the maximum field strengths that the wearer of a receiver coil might experience and the field strengths that a third party might be exposed to. In this paper, analytical models are used to identify key design variables and to guide the design synthesis of an IPT system for a wrist-worn medical sensor. Practical circuits to drive the transmit coil and to interface the receive coil with the load electronics are described. A prototype system is tested to validate the theoretical analysis, providing power greater than 2 mW to the sensor over a hemispherical region up to 250 mm in radius from the transmit coil.
Review on Advanced Storage Control Applied to Optimized Operation of Energy Systems for Buildings and Districts: Insights and Perspectives
Authors: Ferrara Maria , Bilardo Matteo , Bogatu Dragos-Ioan , Lee Doyun , Khatibi Mahmood , Rahnama Samira , Shinoda Jun , Sun Ying , Sun Yongjun , Afshari Alireza , Haghighat Fariborz , Kazanci Ongun B. , Ooka Ryozo , Fabrizio Enrico
Published: July 2024

In the context of increasing energy demands and the integration of renewable energy sources, this review focuses on recent advancements in energy storage control strategies from 2016 to the present, evaluating both experimental and simulation studies at component, system, building, and district scales. Out of 426 papers screened, 147 were assessed for eligibility, with 56 included in the final review. As a first outcome, this work proposes a novel classification and taxonomy update for advanced storage control systems, aiming to bridge the gap between theoretical research and practical implementation. Furthermore, the study emphasizes experimental case studies, moving beyond numerical analyses to provide practical insights. It investigates how the literature on energy storage is enhancing building flexibility and resilience, highlighting the application of advanced algorithms and artificial intelligence methods and their impact on energy and financial savings. By exploring the correlation between control algorithms and the resulting benefits, this review provides a comprehensive analysis of the current state and future perspectives of energy storage control in smart grids and buildings.
Genetic Parameters Estimated in the Early Growth of Dimorphandra mollis Benth. Progenies
Authors: Porfírio Kennedy de Paiva , Ribeiro Andressa , Farias Séfora Gil Gomes de , Sousa Thais Santiago de , Ciccheto Diego Felipe , Barroso Priscila Alves , Santos Fabio Sandro dos , Silva Dandara Yasmim Bonfim de Oliveira , Ferraz Filho Antonio Carlos
Published: July 2024

The extractivism of Dimorphandra mollis Benth., which is a native tree from the Brazilian Cerrado biome, popularly known as fava d’anta, combined with the reduction in native vegetation area in the country over the years may result in a decrease in the specie’s natural populations. The objective of this study was to estimate the quantitative genetic parameters in nursery, hardening, and field phases, based on a progeny test. The experimental design adopted was randomized blocks (six blocks for the nursery and hardening phases, and four blocks for the field phase with 5 plants/plot and 72 mother trees), with evaluations of the collar diameter and seedling height at 30, 90, 150, 480, and 570 days after sowing, between the production and planting phases. Among the coefficients of variance, the phenotypic and additive ones showed the highest values. Heritabilities for height ranged from moderate to high (0.15 to 0.43), indicating good genetic control of the traits, high potential for selection, and possibility of genetic gains. The genetic divergence of the progenies resulted in division into five groups, confirming the existence of genetic variability among the evaluated progenies and the potential for conservation and breeding programs.
Comparison between Measured and Predicted Resting Metabolic Rate Equations in Cross-Training Practitioners
Authors: Sordi Ana Flávia , Silva Bruno Ferrari , Silva Breno Gabriel da , Marques Déborah Cristina de Souza , Ramos Isabela Mariano , Camilo Maria Luiza Amaro , Mota Jorge , Valdés-Badilla Pablo , Peres Sidney Barnabé , Branco Braulio Henrique Magnani
Published: July 2024

This study aimed to investigate the resting metabolic rate (RMR) in cross-training practitioners (advanced and novice) using indirect calorimetry (IC) and compare it with predictive equations proposed in the scientific literature. Methods: A cross-sectional and comparative study analyzed 65 volunteers, both sexes, practicing cross-training (CT). Anthropometry and body composition were assessed, and RMR was measured by IC (FitMate PRO®), bioimpedance (BIA-InBody 570®), and six predictive equations. Data normality was tested by the Kolgomorov–Smirnov test and expressed as mean ± standard deviation with 95% confidence intervals (CI), chi-square test was performed to verify ergogenic resources, and a Bland–Altman plot (B&A) was made to quantify the agreement between two quantitative measurements. One-way ANOVA was applied to body composition parameters, two-way ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc was used to compare the RMR between groups, and two-way ANCOVA was used to analyze the adjusted RMR for body and skeletal muscle mass. The effect size was determined using Cohen’s d considering the values adjusted by ANCOVA. If a statistical difference was found, post hoc Bonferroni was applied. The significance level was p < 0.05 for all tests. Results: The main results indicated that men showed a higher RMR than women, and the most discrepant equations were Cunningham, Tinsley (b), and Johnstone compared to IC. Tinsley’s (a) equation indicated greater precision in measuring the RMR in CM overestimated it by only 1.9%, and BIA and the Harris–Benedict in CW overestimated RMR by only 0.1% and 3.4%, respectively. Conclusions: The BIA and Harris–Benedict equation could be used reliably to measure the RMR of females, while Tinsley (a) is the most reliable method to measure the RMR of males when measuring with IC is unavailable. By knowing which RMR equations are closest to the gold standard, these professionals can prescribe a more assertive diet, training, or ergogenic resources. An assertive prescription increases performance and can reduce possible deleterious effects, maximizing physical sports performance.
Exploring the Nexus between Food Systems and the Global Syndemic among Children under Five Years of Age through the Complex Systems Approach
Authors: de Carvalho Aline Martins , Garcia Leandro Martin Totaro , Lourenço Bárbara Hatzlhoffer , Verly Junior Eliseu , Carioca Antônio Augusto Ferreira , Jacob Michelle Cristine Medeiros , Gomes Sávio Marcelino , Sarti Flávia Mori
Published: July 2024

The intricate relationship between food systems and health outcomes, known as the food-nutrition-health nexus, intersects with environmental concerns. However, there’s still a literature gap in evaluating food systems alongside the global syndemic using the complex systems theory, especially concerning vulnerable populations like children. This research aimed to design a system dynamics model to advance a theoretical understanding of the connections between food systems and the global syndemic, particularly focusing on their impacts on children under five years of age. The framework was developed through a literature review and authors’ insights into the relationships between the food, health, and environmental components of the global syndemic among children. The conceptual model presented 17 factors, with 26 connections and 6 feedback loops, categorized into the following 5 groups: environmental, economic, school-related, family-related, and child-related. It delineated and elucidated mechanisms among the components of the global syndemic encompassing being overweight, suffering from undernutrition, and climate change. The findings unveiled potential interactions within food systems and health outcomes. Furthermore, the model integrated elements of the socio-ecological model by incorporating an external layer representing the environment and its natural resources. Consequently, the development of public policies and interventions should encompass environmental considerations to effectively tackle the complex challenges posed by the global syndemic.
Exploring the Nexus of Climate Change and Substance Abuse: A Scoping Review
Authors: Tomassini Luca , Lancia Massimo , Gambelunghe Angela , Zahar Abdellah , Pini Niccolò , Gambelunghe Cristiana
Published: July 2024

Introduction: The increase in average air temperature and multiple extreme weather events, such as heatwaves and droughts, pose significant health risks to humans. This scoping review aims to examine the current state of the existing literature concerning the potential relationship between substance abuse and climate change, along with the aspects it encompasses. Material and methods: The review followed PRISMA guidelines for methodological rigor, aiming to identify studies on drug abuse. Searches were conducted across the primary databases using specific search strings. Quality assessment involved evaluating the research question’s clarity, search strategy transparency, consistency in applying the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and reliability of data extraction. Results: Most studies were conducted in the USA. They included observational and retrospective quantitative studies, as well as qualitative and prospective observational ones. Research examined the correlation between extreme weather and some substance abuse. All studies analyzed the adverse effects of climate change, especially heatwaves, on both physiological and pathological levels. Conclusions: The scoping review notes the scarcity of studies about the correlation between substance abuse and climate change, and emphasizes the threats faced by individuals with substance abuse and mental health disorders due to climate change.
Privacy Preserving Human Mobility Generation Using Grid-Based Data and Graph Autoencoders
Authors: Netzler Fabian , Lienkamp Markus
Published: July 2024

This paper proposes a one-to-one trajectory synthetization method with stable long-term individual mobility behavior based on a generalizable area embedding. Previous methods concentrate on producing highly detailed data on short-term and restricted areas for, e.g., autonomous driving scenarios. Another possibility consists of city-wide and beyond scales that can be used to predict general traffic flows. The now-presented approach takes the tracked mobility behavior of individuals and creates coherent synthetic mobility data. These generated data reflect the person’s long-term mobility behavior, guaranteeing location persistency and sound embedding within the point-of-interest structure of the observed area. After an analysis and clustering step of the original data, the area is distributed into a geospatial grid structure (H3 is used here). The neighborhood relationships between the grids are interpreted as a graph. A feed-forward autoencoder and a graph encoding–decoding network generate a latent space representation of the area. The original clustered data are associated with their respective H3 grids. With a greedy algorithm approach and concerning privacy strategies, new combinations of grids are generated as top-level patterns for individual mobility behavior. Based on the original data, concrete locations within the new grids are found and connected to ways. The goal is to generate a dataset that shows equivalence in aggregated characteristics and distances in comparison with the original data. The described method is applied to a sample of 120 from a study with 1000 participants whose mobility data were generated in the city of Munich in Germany. The results show the applicability of the approach in generating synthetic data, enabling further research on individual mobility behavior and patterns. The result comprises a sharable dataset on the same abstraction level as the input data, which can be beneficial for different applications, particularly for machine learning.
Comparative Transcriptome Analysis of Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata Reveals Critical Pathways during Development
Authors: Zhang Yu-Xing , Wu Yi-Kuan , Liu Hai-Hui , Li Wen-Ze , Jin Lin , Li Guo-Qing
Published: July 2024

Henosepilachna vigintioctomaculata is distributed in several Asian countries. The larvae and adults often cause substantial economic losses to Solanaceae crops such as potato, tomato, eggplant, and Chinese boxthorn. Even though a chromosome-level genome has been documented, the expression profiles of genes involved in development are not determined. In this study, we constructed embryonic, larval, pupal, and adult transcriptomes, generated a comprehensive RNA-sequencing dataset including ~52 Gb of clean data, and identified 602,773,686 cleaned reads and 33,269 unigenes. A total of 18,192 unigenes were successfully annotated against NCBI nonredundant protein sequences, Swissprot, Eukaryotic Orthologous Groups, Gene Ontology (GO), or Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. There were 3580, 2040, 5160, 2496, 3008, and 3895 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) between adult/egg, egg/larval, larval/pupal, adult/pupal, egg/pupal, and adult/larval samples, respectively. GO and KEGG analyses of the DEGs highlighted several critical pathways associated with specific developing stages. This is the first comprehensive transcriptomic dataset encompassing all developmental stages in H. vigintioctomaculata. Our data may facilitate the exploitation of gene targets for pest control and can serve as a valuable gene resource for future molecular investigations.
The Evolving Role of Bruton’s Tyrosine Kinase Inhibitors in B Cell Lymphomas
Authors: Mehra Shefali , Nicholls Miah , Taylor Justin
Published: July 2024

Bruton’s tyrosine kinase (BTK), a non-receptor tyrosine kinase crucial for B cell development and function, acts downstream of the B cell receptor (BCR) in the BCR pathway. Other kinases involved downstream of the BCR besides BTK such as Syk, Lyn, PI3K, and Mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases also play roles in relaying signals from the BCR to provide pro-survival, activation, and proliferation cues. BTK signaling is implicated in various B-cell lymphomas such as mantle cell lymphoma, Waldenström Macroglobulinemia, follicular lymphoma, and diffuse large B cell lymphoma, leading to the development of transformative treatments like ibrutinib, the first-in-class covalent BTK inhibitor, and pirtobrutinib, the first-in-class noncovalent BTK inhibitor. However, kinase-deficient mutations C481F, C481Y, C481R, and L528W in the BTK gene confer resistance to both covalent and non-covalent BTK inhibitors, facilitating B cell survival and lymphomagenesis despite kinase inactivation. Further studies have revealed BTK’s non-catalytic scaffolding function, mediating the assembly and activation of proteins including Toll-like receptor 9 (TLR9), vascular cell adhesion protein 1 (VCAM-1), hematopoietic cell kinase (HCK), and integrin-linked kinase (ILK). This non-enzymatic role promotes cell survival and proliferation independently of kinase activity. Understanding BTK’s dual roles unveils opportunities for therapeutics targeting its scaffolding function, promising advancements in disrupting lymphomagenesis and refining B cell lymphoma treatments.
Placental Protein 13: Vasomodulatory Effects on Human Uterine Arteries and Potential Implications for Preeclampsia
Authors: Gatto Mariacarmela , Esposito Milena , Morelli Michele , De Rose Silvia , Gizurarson Sveinbjorn , Meiri Hamutal , Mandalà Maurizio
Published: July 2024

Placental protein 13 (PP13) exhibits a plasma concentration that increases gradually during normal gestation, a process that is disrupted in preeclampsia, which is characterized by elevated vascular resistance, reduced utero-placental blood flow, and intrauterine growth restriction. This study investigated PP13’s role in vascular tone regulation and its molecular mechanisms. Uterine and subcutaneous arteries, isolated from both pregnant and non-pregnant women, were precontracted with the thromboxane analogue U46619 and exposed to PP13 using pressurized myography. The molecular mechanisms were further investigated, using specific inhibitors for nitric oxide synthase (L-NAME+LNNA at 10−4 M) and guanylate cyclase (ODQ at 10−5 M). The results showed that PP13 induced vasodilation in uterine arteries, but not in subcutaneous arteries. Additionally, PP13 counteracted U46619-induced vasoconstriction, which is particularly pronounced in pregnancy. Further investigation revealed that PP13’s mechanism of action is dependent on the activation of the nitric oxide–cGMP pathway. This study provides novel insights into the vasomodulatory effects of PP13 on human uterine arteries, underscoring its potential role in regulating utero-placental blood flow. These findings suggest that PP13 may be a promising candidate for improving utero-placental blood flow in conditions such as preeclampsia. Further research and clinical studies are warranted to validate PP13’s efficacy and safety as a therapeutic agent for managing preeclampsia.
Molecular Pharmacology of Vitamin C and Relevance to Health and Obesity—A Narrative Review
Authors: Wilson Robert Beaumont , Liang Yicong , Kaushal Devesh , Carr Anitra
Published: July 2024

The role of food constituents as pharmacological agents is an important consideration in health and obesity. Vitamin C acts as a small molecule antioxidant but is also a co-factor for numerous transition metal-dependent enzymes involved in healthy weight and energy metabolism. Vitamin C cannot be manufactured by humans and is mainly obtained from the dietary intake of fresh fruit and vegetables. There is great variability between different nutritional guidelines in the recommended daily allowance of vitamin C. Vitamin C deficiency results from an inadequate intake of vitamin C-containing foods and also increased utilization by oxidative and carbonyl stress. Risk factors for vitamin C deficiency include cigarette smoking, malnutrition, obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, age, race, sex, social isolation, major surgery, and Western-type diets. Despite the common belief that vitamin C deficiency is rare in affluent countries, surveys of large populations and specific patient groups suggest otherwise. Patients with obesity typically consume highly processed, energy-dense foods which contain inadequate micronutrients. As obesity increases, larger amounts of oral vitamin C are required to achieve adequate plasma and tissue concentrations, as compared to persons with a healthy weight. This is important in the control of oxidative stress and the maintenance of homeostasis and organ function. In this narrative review, the dosage, absorption, distribution, excretion, and catabolism of vitamin C are reviewed, together with the latest findings on vitamin C pharmacology in patients with obesity.
The Role of Dopamine Neurotransmitters in Neurological Diseases: New Sight
Authors: Tian Yingfang
Published: July 2024

Dopamine (DA) is one of the most important catecholamine neurotransmitters in the central nervous system [...]
Functional Copy-Number Alterations as Diagnostic and Prognostic Biomarkers in Neuroendocrine Tumors
Authors: Vaughn Hayley , Major Heather , Kadera Evangeline , Keck Kendall , Dunham Timothy , Qian Qining , Brown Bartley , Scott Aaron , Bellizzi Andrew M. , Braun Terry , Breheny Patrick , Quelle Dawn E. , Howe James R. , Darbro Benjamin
Published: July 2024

Functional copy-number alterations (fCNAs) are DNA copy-number changes with concordant differential gene expression. These are less likely to be bystander genetic lesions and could serve as robust and reproducible tumor biomarkers. To identify candidate fCNAs in neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), we integrated chromosomal microarray (CMA) and RNA-seq differential gene-expression data from 31 pancreatic (pNETs) and 33 small-bowel neuroendocrine tumors (sbNETs). Tumors were resected from 47 early-disease-progression (<24 months) and 17 late-disease-progression (>24 months) patients. Candidate fCNAs that accurately differentiated these groups in this discovery cohort were then replicated using fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues in a larger validation cohort of 60 pNETs and 82 sbNETs (52 early- and 65 late-disease-progression samples). Logistic regression analysis revealed the predictive ability of these biomarkers, as well as the assay-performance metrics of sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve. Our results indicate that copy-number changes at chromosomal loci 4p16.3, 7q31.2, 9p21.3, 17q12, 18q21.2, and 19q12 may be used as diagnostic and prognostic NET biomarkers. This involves a rapid, cost-effective approach to determine the primary tumor site for patients with metastatic liver NETs and to guide risk-stratified therapeutic decisions.
scL-2PAM: A Novel Countermeasure That Ameliorates Neuroinflammation and Neuronal Losses in Mice Exposed to an Anticholinesterase Organophosphate
Authors: Moghe Manish , Kim Sang-Soo , Guan Miaoyin , Rait Antonina , Pirollo Kathleen F. , Harford Joe B. , Chang Esther H.
Published: July 2024

Due to their inhibition of acetylcholinesterase, organophosphates are among the most toxic of chemicals. Pralidoxime (a.k.a 2-PAM) is the only acetylcholinesterase reactivator approved in the U.S., but 2-PAM only poorly traverses the blood–brain barrier. Previously, we have demonstrated that scL-2PAM, a nanoformulation designed to enter the brain via receptor-mediated transcytosis, is superior to unencapsulated 2-PAM for reactivating brain acetylcholinesterase, ameliorating cholinergic crisis, and improving survival rates for paraoxon-exposed mice. Here, we employ histology and transcriptome analyses to assess the ability of scL-2PAM to prevent neurological sequelae including microglial activation, expression of inflammatory cytokines, and ultimately loss of neurons in mice surviving paraoxon exposures. Levels of the mRNA encoding chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2) were significantly upregulated after paraoxon exposures, with CCL2 mRNA levels in the brain correlating well with the intensity and duration of cholinergic symptoms. Our nanoformulation of 2-PAM was found to be superior to unencapsulated 2-PAM in reducing the levels of the CCL2 transcript. Moreover, brain histology revealed that scL-2PAM was more effective than unencapsulated 2-PAM in preventing microglial activation and the subsequent loss of neurons. Thus, scL-2PAM appears to be a new and improved countermeasure for reducing neuroinflammation and mitigating brain damage in survivors of organophosphate exposures.
Dupilumab Improves Facial Pain and Reduces Rescue Treatments in Patients with CRSwNP and Recalcitrant Frontal Sinusitis
Authors: De Corso Eugenio , Settimi Stefano , Penazzi Daniele , D’Agostino Giuseppe , Corbò Marco , Rigante Mario , Montuori Claudio , Rizzuti Alberta , Pacilli Maria Clara , Di Cesare Tiziana , Lo Verde Simone , Rizzi Angela , Chini Raffaella , Galli Jacopo
Published: July 2024

Recalcitrant frontal sinusitis in patients with chronic rhinosinusitis and nasal polyps (CRSwNP) has a negative impact on their quality of life due to frontal pain and a high risk of sinus occlusion, thus necessitating antibiotics, systemic corticosteroids, and multiple surgeries. The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of dupilumab in reducing frontal pain and the need for rescue treatments for recalcitrant frontal sinusitis in patients with CRSwNP. We enrolled a cohort of 10 patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP and concomitant recurrent frontal sinusitis associated with severe facial pain measured by MIDAS score who were treated with dupilumab 300 mg every 2 weeks and followed for at least 12 months. The mean MIDAS score decreased from 45.6 ± 10.7 at baseline to 1.3 ± 2.3 at 6 months (p < 0.05). VAS craniofacial pain decreased from 7.3 ± 1.6 at baseline to 1.2 ± 1.5 at 6 months (p < 0.05). No patient needed oral corticosteroids during treatment with dupilumab (p < 0.05), and the use of analgesics decreased from 9.6 ± 3.1 NSAID pills/week in the last 2 months at baseline to 0.6 ± 1.3 at 1 year of follow-up (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrated that use of subcutaneous dupilumab can improve symptom control, including recurrent severe cranio-facial pain, and reduce the need for rescue medical treatments (systemic steroids and NSAID) in patients with severe uncontrolled CRSwNP and concomitant recurrent frontal sinusitis.
Alone or Mixed? The Effect of Digital Human Narrative Scenarios on Chinese Consumer Eco-Product Purchase Intention
Authors: Huang Chaohua , Song Tong , Wang Haijun
Published: July 2024

Digital human narrative transportation has proven to be an effective green brand marketing strategy. However, there is still a lack of in-depth research on the relationship between the role of different digital human narrative scenarios in consumer perceptions and behaviors. This research examined the impact of digital human narrative scenarios on eco-product purchase intention through four studies. Study 1 found that anime-like (vs. human-like) digital human narratives led to more positive emotional arousal and higher eco-product purchase intention through the use of encephalography (EEG) experiments. Studies 2–4 examined the effect of digital human narrative scenarios on eco-product purchase intentions and explored the mediating role of narrative presence and the moderating role of narrative type. The results showed that mixed (vs. single) narratives lead to more positive consumer purchase intentions. In addition, sharing-oriented (vs. persuasion-oriented) narratives also led to a more positive perception of narrative presence. These findings provide insights for marketers using digital human narratives to promote eco-product consumption.
Biochemical Insights and Clinical Applications of Ischemia-Modified Albumin in Ischemic Conditions
Authors: Senadeera Nimesha N. , Ranaweera Chathuranga B. , Perera Inoka C. , Kottahachchi Darshana U.
Published: July 2024

Atherosclerotic coronary artery disease is a significant global health threat, impacting millions annually. Over time, plaque buildup narrows the coronary arteries, reducing blood flow to the heart muscle and resulting in myocardial ischemia. Timely diagnosis and intervention are crucial for restoring the blood flow to the heart muscle and preventing myocardial infarction. Given the limited availability of screening and diagnostic tests, the early diagnosis of myocardial ischemia remains challenging. While cardiac troponin is considered the gold standard for detecting myocardial injury, its effectiveness in identifying myocardial ischemia is limited. Ischemia-modified albumin (IMA) is a modified albumin variant that serves as a sensitive and early marker for ischemia. Despite extensive research on diagnostic applications of IMA as a biomarker for ischemia, significant gaps remain in understanding its formation, sensitive and specific detection, and precise clinical utility. This review aims to address these gaps by compiling literature on IMA discussing the latest findings on structure and formation, and detection methods. Further research is required to enhance understanding of the structure and formation of IMA, aiming to develop novel detection techniques or improve existing ones. However, currently, available sophisticated methods are associated with higher expenses and require specialized equipment and qualified personnel.
Numerical Investigation of Reinforced Concrete (RC) Columns Strengthened with Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) Jackets
Authors: Lampropoulos Andreas , Paschalis Spyridon , Tsioulou Ourania , Dritsos Stephanos
Published: July 2024

The strengthening of existing columns using additional reinforced concrete (RC) jackets is one of the most popular techniques for the enhancement of a column’s stiffness, load-bearing capacity and ductility. Important parameters affecting the effectiveness of this method are the strength of the additional concrete, concrete shrinkage and the connection between the old and the new concrete. In this study, the application of Ultra-High-Performance Fiber-Reinforced Concrete (UHPFRC) jackets for the structural upgrade of RC columns has been examined. Extensive numerical studies have been conducted to evaluate the effect of parameters such as the thickness of the jacket, concrete shrinkage and the addition of steel bars, and comparisons have been made with conventional RC jackets. The results of this study indicate that the use of UHPFRC can considerably improve the strength and the stiffness of existing reinforced concrete columns. The combination of UHPFRC and steel bars in the jacket leads to the most effective strengthening technique as a significant enhancement in the stiffness and the ultimate load capacity has been achieved.