bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A translational murine model of aseptic loosening with osseointegration failure
Authors: Thomson Andrew L. , Suhardi Vincentius J. , Niu Yingzhen , Oktarina Anastasia , Döring Kevin , Chao Christina , Greenblatt Matthew B. , Ivashkiv Lionel B. , Bostrom Mathias P. G. , Yang Xu
Published: June 2024

An in vivo animal model of a weight‐bearing intra‐articular implant is crucial to the study of implant osseointegration and aseptic loosening caused by osseointegration failure. Osseointegration, defined as a direct structural and functional attachment between living bone tissue and the surface of a load‐carrying implant, is essential for implant stability and considered a prerequisite for the long‐term clinical success of implants in total joint arthroplasty. Compared to large animal models, murine models offer extensive genetic tools for tracing cell differentiation and proliferation. The 18‐ to 22‐week‐old C57BL/6J background mice underwent either press‐fitted or loose implantation of a titanium implant, achieving osseointegration or fibrous integration. A protocol was developed for both versions of the procedure, including a description of the relevant anatomy. Samples were subjected to microcomputed tomography and underwent biomechanical testing to access osseointegration. Lastly, samples were fixed and embedded for histological evaluation. The absence of mineralized tissue and weakened maximum pull‐out force in loose implantation samples indicated that these implants were less mechanically stable compared to the control at 4 weeks postoperation. Histological analysis demonstrated extensive fibrotic tissue in the peri‐implant area of loose implantation samples and excellent implant osseointegration in press‐fitted samples at 4 weeks. Both mechanically stable and unstable hemiarthroplasty models with either osseous ingrowth or a robust periprosthetic fibrosis were achieved in mice. We hope that this model can help address current limitations for in vivo study of aseptic loosening and lead to necessary translational benefits.
Unlocking Novel Anticancer Strategies: Bioactive Hydrogels for Local Delivery of Plasma‐Derived Oxidants in an In Ovo Cancer Model
Authors: Espona‐Noguera Albert , Živanić Milica , Smits Evelien , Bogaerts Annemie , Privat‐Maldonado Angela , Canal Cristina
Published: June 2024

Cold atmospheric plasma (CAP) is a tool with the ability to generate reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (RONS), which can induce therapeutic effects like disinfection, wound healing, and cancer treatment. In the plasma oncology field, CAP‐treated hydrogels (PTHs) are being explored for the local administration of CAP‐derived RONS as a novel anticancer approach. PTHs have shown anticancer effects in vitro, however, they have not yet been studied in more relevant cancer models. In this context, the present study explores for the first time the therapeutic potential of PTHs using an advanced in ovo cancer model. PTHs composed of alginate (Alg), gelatin (Gel), Alg/Gel combination, or Alg/hyaluronic acid (HA) combination are investigated. All embryos survived the PTHs treatment, suggesting that the in ovo model could become a time‐ and cost‐effective tool for developing hydrogel‐based anticancer approaches. Results revealed a notable reduction in CD44+ cell population and their proliferative state for the CAP‐treated Alg‐HA condition. Moreover, the CAP‐treated Alg‐HA formulation alters the extracellular matrix composition, which may help combat drug‐resistance. In conclusion, the present study validates the utility of in ovo cancer model for PTHs exploration and highlights the promising potential of Alg‐based PTHs containing HA and CAP‐derived RONS for cancer treatment.
Influence of the Crosslinker Hydrophobicity on the Swelling Kinetics of Poly(Acrylic Acid) Microgels
Authors: Linder Torsten Gereon , Heinzelmann Alima , Kamphus Juliane , Seiffert Sebastian
Published: June 2024

Superabsorbent polymer gels are widely used in commercial areas, such as in hygiene products. A key aspect in these and other applications is the gel swelling kinetics, and a key factor of influence on that is the hydrophobicity of the gel. This paper reports on the synthesis of superabsorbent polymer microgel particles with four differently hydrophobic crosslinkers: N,N’‐methylenebisacrylamide (MBAA), N,N’‐ethylenebisacrylamide (EBAA), N,N’‐propylenebisacrylamide (PBAA), and N,N’‐butylenebisacrylamide (BBAA). This work uses droplet‐based microfluidics to produce uniform and well‐defined microgel specimen and study the influence of the crosslinker hydrophobicity on the swelling kinetics. In particular, this work determines swelling constants and their dependencies on the temperature of the swelling medium as well as the activation energies of swelling in relation to the crosslinker hydrophobicity. This work finds two competing effects, leading to a narrow window in which the activation energy of the swelling of the microgels decreases with increasing crosslinker hydrophobicity.
Lessons from COVID‐19: Aspects of prevention, therapeutics, and diagnostics against SARS‐CoV‐2 with special focus on JN.1 and XBB sublineages
Authors: Jaishwal Puja , Gyaneshwari Upagya , Jha Kisalay , Pandey Brijesh , Yadav Thakur P. , Singh Satarudra P.
Published: June 2024

The end of second decade in the 21st century witnessed a prominent disease outbreak caused by the novel coronavirus SARS‐CoV‐2 (including most diverse omicron subvariants), where the death toll crossed the boundary of 6.9 million across the globe by December 19, 2023. All spheres of central dogma of molecular biology and host‒pathogen interaction was explored to find ways in diagnostics, isolation, curtailment, and therapy. Above all, diagnostics and therapeutics against COVID‐19 took an enormous jump, which needs to be evaluated for accuracy and feasibility and requires serious compilation for current and future generations. With the same objective, this review encompasses the diverse ways including prevention practiced and proposed during the handling of this pandemic across the globe. It involves the role of mutations in viruses and subsequent epitope mapping with potential immune escape mechanisms of SARS‐CoV‐2 variants including the conservancy of T‐cell epitopes has also been highlighted. The efficacy in antigen/antibody‐based diagnostics, RT‒PCR‐ and NGS‐based confirmation of pathogen presence, and imaging (X‐ray/CT‐scan) for symptoms and damage assessment has been thoroughly filtered. The possibility of errors in diagnostics and their cause and consequences have also been presented for the ease of readers and further improvisers.
A database of videos of physical exercise and sedentary behaviours to investigate automatic processes and perceptions related to physical exercise
Authors: Cascino Giammarco , Di Lodovico Laura , Ceres Rossella , Monteleone Alessio Maria , Gorwood Philip , Monteleone Palmiero
Published: June 2024

Objective

The Videos of Physical Exercise and Sedentary Behaviours (VPESB) database is a novel database designed to experimentally investigate neural reactivity to physical exercise. The aim of this database is to provide a variety of dynamic images with a minimum of confounding factors.

Methods

A total of 196 healthy participants were recruited to evaluate 10 clips of sedentary activities and 10 clips of physical exercise. Each activity was performed by a male and female performer, resulting in a total of 40 video clips of 10 s each.

Results

The validation procedure confirmed the ability of these videoclips to accurately represent both sedentary and physical activity. In addition, video clips of physical activity were associated with higher effort ratings than sedentary activities (p < 0.01).

Conclusions

The VPESB is a versatile, rapid and easy‐to‐use tool that can be used to understand emotional and behavioural approaches to physical activity and to better disentangle some clinical conditions in which physical activity plays a central role.
Multiphoton simultaneous multislice imaging
Authors: Ipek Tanya Deniz , Han Victor , Maravilla Julian Adolfo , Lustig Michael , Liu Chunlei
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To develop multiphoton excitation techniques for simultaneous multislice (SMS) imaging and evaluate their performance and specific absorption rate (SAR) benefit. To improve multiphoton SMS reconstruction quality with a novel CAIPIRINHA (controlled aliasing in parallel imaging results in higher acceleration) design.

Theory and Methods

When a conventional single‐slice RF field is applied together with an oscillating gradient field, the two can combine to generate multiphoton excitation at multiple discrete spatial locations. Because the conventional RF is reused at multiple spatial locations, multiphoton excitation offers reduced SAR for SMS applications. CAIPIRINHA shifts are often used to improve parallel‐imaging acceleration. Interestingly, CAIPIRINHA‐type shifts can be obtained for multiphoton SMS by updating the oscillating gradient phase at every phase encode. In this work, both a gradient‐echo and a spin‐echo sequence with multiphoton CAIPIRINHA‐SMS excitation pulses are implemented for in vivo human imaging at 3 T.

Results

For three slices, multiphoton SMS provides a 51% reduction in SAR compared with conventional superposition SMS, whereas for five slices, SAR is reduced by 66%. Multiphoton SMS outperforms PINS (power independent of number of slices) and MultiPINS in terms of SAR reduction especially when the pulse duration is short, slices are thin, and/or the slice spacing is large. A custom CAIPIRINHA phase‐encoding design for multiphoton SMS significantly improves reconstruction quality.

Conclusion

Multiphoton SMS excitation can be obtained by combining conventional single‐slice RF pulses with an oscillating gradient and offers significant SAR benefits compared with conventional superposition SMS. A novel CAIPIRINHA design allows higher multiband factors for multiphoton SMS imaging.
A review of bioplastics as an alternative to petrochemical plastics: Its types, structure, characteristics, degradation, standards, and feedstocks
Authors: Swetha T. Angelin , Bora Abhispa , Ananthy V. , Ponnuchamy Kumar , Muthusamy Govarthanan , Arun A.
Published: June 2024

Plastic is a widely available material in every aspect of life, and its long‐term usage is an important threat to the environment. An enormous quantity of plastic waste has been discharged into the environment throughout the world, resulting in global white pollution. The weathering of accumulated plastic waste in the environment, which can further break down into small fragments like microplastics and nanoplastics, will harm the ecosystem and humans. Therefore, the production and disposal of plastics need to be considered. Bioplastics are increasingly being used as an alternative to conventional plastics; their primary purpose is to solve pollution‐related problems with plastics. Bioplastics (BPs) are an adequate substitute for traditional plastics since they have less carbon footprint and are readily biodegradable, but not all bioplastics can degrade entirely in the natural environment. Due to less environmental impact, bioplastics are defined as polymers produced by using renewable feedstocks or by microorganisms. BP has a wide range of applications in the medical, automotive, and food packaging industries, and it has the potential impact on effect of development of low‐carbon environment. The standards bioplastics must meet to be called compostable or biodegradable are determined by certified worldwide standard processes. The primary purpose of this review is to focus on bioplastics as an alternative tool to plastic—its types, structure, characteristics, degradation behavior, standard techniques, feedstock used for the production of bioplastic, process for its development, and limitation of bioplastics.
Preparation of benzothiocyanine‐carboxymethyl cellulose composite film and its antimicrobial properties
Authors: Wang Long , Li Chaojie , Li Xue , Xia Zi'ang , Yang Jingxue , Xu Baoming , Zhang Heng
Published: June 2024

Cellulose has a wide range of uses. It could be modified to create cellulose‐based hydrophobic materials and cellulose‐based conductive and stable flexible films, but it did not have antibacterial properties and was susceptible to bacterial erosion. In order to improve the utilization of cellulose materials and broaden the application of cellulose materials, cellulose could be given certain antibacterial properties by combining it with antimicrobial agents. This study focused on creating an organic antimicrobial agent, Benzothiocyanine (TCMTB), from CH2ClBr, and then developing a TCMTB‐CMC composite antimicrobial film by combining TCMTB with CMC. The successful synthesis of TCMTB was confirmed through NMR hydrogen spectroscopy testing. By varying the proportions of TCMTB in CMC, three types of composite antimicrobial cellulose film were produced. The study also assessed the impact of TCMTB on the mechanical strength of CMC film and tested the antimicrobial effectiveness of the composite film using the plate counting method. Results showed that the composite film had high inhibition rates, with 96.2% against Escherichia coli and 98.6% against Staphylococcus aureus. To establish a theoretical foundation for its use in seed encapsulation, leather preservation, and other applications.
Proposal for standardized prenatal assessment of fetal open dysraphisms by the European reference network for Intellectual disability, TeleHealth, Autism and Congenital Anomalies (ITHACA) and eUROGEN
Authors: Guilbaud Lucie , Carreras Elena , Garel Catherine , Maiz Nerea , Dhombres Ferdinand , Deprest Jan , Jouannic Jean‐Marie ,   Workgroup Spina Bifida and other Dysraphisms (SBoD), ITHACA‐eUROGEN European reference networks
Published: June 2024

Open dysraphisms, that is, myelomeningocele and myeloschisis, are rare diseases associated with a risk of severe disability, including lower limb motor and sensory deficiency, sphincter deficiency, and potential intellectual deficiency. Open dysraphism is diagnosed in Europe in 93.5% of cases. In case of suspicion of fetal open dysraphism, a detailed fetal morphologic assessment is required to confirm the diagnosis and exclude associated structural anomalies, as well as genetic assessment. In case of isolated fetal open dysraphism, assessment of prognosis is based on fetal imaging including the level of the lesion, the presence or not of a sac, the presence and nature of intra cranial anomalies, and the anatomical and functional evaluation of the lower extremities. Based on these biomarkers, a personalized prognosis as well as comprehensive information about prenatal management alternatives will allow parents to decide on further management options. Standardization of prenatal assessment is essential to compare outcomes with benchmark data and make assessment of surgical innovation possible. Herein, we propose a protocol for the standardized ultrasound assessment of fetuses with isolated open dysraphism.
Cultivating sustainable development in corporate internal matters: Nexus among high‐performance work systems, creativity, and impersonal trust from normative stakeholder theory
Authors: Yu Yi
Published: June 2024

Sustainable development is crucial for organizational internal matters since it supports fostering long‐term resilience and efficiency of the organizations. Sustainable development practices enhance resource management, reduce costs, and attract environmentally conscious stakeholders. This study attempts to understand the importance of sustainable development (SD) concerning high‐performance work systems (HPWS), creativity (CRV), and impersonal trust (IT) drawing on the normative perspective of stakeholder theory. First, the study investigates the connection between high work performance and sustainable development within three major levels such as social, economic, and environmental development. Second, this study examines the mediation of creativity among the nexus of HPWS and sustainable development. Finally, the study explores a moderating influence of impersonal trust between HPWS and sustainable development, respectively. Using structural equation modeling (SEM) statistical method employing SmartPls, this study assured the directions among the nexus of HPWS, creativity, impersonal trust, and SD. The study confirmed a positive association between HPWS and sustainable development. Similarly, a mediating sway of creativity and moderation of impersonal trust was observed between the connection of HPWS and sustainable development. This study furnishes insights into creativity that drives innovation, interpersonal skills foster collaboration, and HPWS optimizes efficiency and employee engagement that together optimize the sustainable development of the corporation. Besides, the study discusses certain drawbacks that generate new work prospects for scholars.
Robust inference methods for meta‐analysis involving influential outlying studies
Authors: Noma Hisashi , Sugasawa Shonosuke , Furukawa Toshi A.
Published: June 2024

Meta‐analysis is an essential tool to comprehensively synthesize and quantitatively evaluate results of multiple clinical studies in evidence‐based medicine. In many meta‐analyses, the characteristics of some studies might markedly differ from those of the others, and these outlying studies can generate biases and potentially yield misleading results. In this article, we provide effective robust statistical inference methods using generalized likelihoods based on the density power divergence. The robust inference methods are designed to adjust the influences of outliers through the use of modified estimating equations based on a robust criterion, even when multiple and serious influential outliers are present. We provide the robust estimators, statistical tests, and confidence intervals via the generalized likelihoods for the fixed‐effect and random‐effects models of meta‐analysis. We also assess the contribution rates of individual studies to the robust overall estimators that indicate how the influences of outlying studies are adjusted. Through simulations and applications to two recently published systematic reviews, we demonstrate that the overall conclusions and interpretations of meta‐analyses can be markedly changed if the robust inference methods are applied and that only the conventional inference methods might produce misleading evidence. These methods would be recommended to be used at least as a sensitivity analysis method in the practice of meta‐analysis. We have also developed an R package, robustmeta, that implements the robust inference methods.
Trag‐ und Ermüdungsverhalten von Stumpfnähten in Blechen unterschiedlicher Dicken
Authors: Rauch Marion , Röscher Stefanie , Knobloch Markus
Published: June 2024

Der Querschnitt weitgespannter Konstruktionen aus Stahl wird üblicherweise an den Biegemomentenverlauf angepasst. Hierzu wird im Bereich von Stumpfstößen in Flanschen von I‐förmigen Trägern ein Dickenübergang ausgebildet. Das Ermüdungsverhalten dieses Konstruktionsdetails ist komplex und unterscheidet sich von einem Stumpfstoß in Blechen gleicher Dicke. In diesem Beitrag werden die Ergebnisse von 30 Kerbdetailversuchen präsentiert und das Verhalten von Stumpfstößen in Blechen mit einem Dickenübergang demjenigen gleicher Dicke gegenübergestellt. Die statistische Auswertung der Versuche zeigt einen höheren Ermüdungswiderstand für Stumpfstöße mit einem Dickenübergang im Vergleich zu Stößen in Blechen gleicher Dicke. Die Einordnung des letztgenannten Details in Kerbfall 90 nach FprEN1993‐1‐9:2024 kann bestätigt werden. Die Nachrechnung der Kerbdetailversuche mit dem Zwei‐Phasen‐Modell bestätigt dessen Anwendbarkeit für die analytisch‐numerische Prognose der Lebensdauer komplexer geschweißter Konstruktionsdetails. Zudem belegt die Anwendung des Modells den Einfluss des Blechdicken‐ und Spannungsverhältnisses auf die Lebensdauer von Stumpfstößen mit Dickenübergang.
Construction of Power Line Inspection System Using a Quadrotor Helicopter
Authors: Takaya Kenta , Ohta Hiroshi , Shibayama Keishi , Inoue Akira , Kroumov Valeri
Published: June 2024

This work presents a construction of a novel system for autonomous inspection of power transmission lines using a quadrotor helicopter. The aircraft follows the power lines at a constant distance and acquires high‐resolution images of the conductors, dampers, and towers. Monitoring of the vegetation under the power lines is also performed. The traditional inspection is carried out by helicopters equipped with high‐resolution cameras or by direct visual examination by personnel climbing over de‐energized power lines. However, visual inspection is time‐consuming, labor‐intensive, and dangerous, and often, helicopter cameras cannot capture the acute details needed for accurate and comprehensive examinations. This work successfully evaluates a mathematical model for the quadrotor helicopter used in autonomous inspection through simulations and flight experiments. Two control strategies for power line tracking are compared: a classical PID and a fuzzy PD control. Several simulations and experimental results confirm the efficiency of both control laws, but the fuzzy controller performs better under strong wind disturbances. The results of this work will be implemented by an electric power company to inspect electrical transmission facilities regularly. © 2024 The Author(s). IEEJ Transactions on Electrical and Electronic Engineering published by Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Hand and Wrist Movements Classification Using Surface Electromyogram
Authors: Le Thuy Nguyen Thi , Van Huynh Tuan , Phan Thuan Nguyet
Published: June 2024

Myoelectric is a biological signal produced from physiological variations in muscle fibers when they contract and relax. The study of muscle activity through the recording and analysis of myoelectric signals is called electromyography. Electromyography can provide a comprehensive view of the operation and performance of internal muscle groups and cells. The objective of this study is an investigation into hand movement classification using surface electromyography (sEMG) signals. For training and evaluating the proposed model, two data sets from the Ninapro project, a publicly available database for prosthetic hand control, were used: DB5 with low‐cost 16 channels and 200 Hz sampling rate setting and DB10 with 12 channels and 1926 kHz sampling rate setup. First, we divided the EMG data into segments using the windowing technique. These segments were then used to extract a set of time features. Finally, the retrieved feature information was loaded into a simple pattern recognition model: Artificial Neural Network. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Augmenting Explainable Data-Driven Models in Energy Systems: A Python Framework for Feature Engineering
Authors: Wilfling Sandra
Published: June 2024

Data-driven modeling is an approach in energy systems modeling that has been gaining popularity. In data-driven modeling, machine learning methods such as linear regression, neural networks or decision-tree based methods are applied. While these methods do not require domain knowledge, they are sensitive to data quality. Therefore, improving data quality in a dataset is beneficial for creating machine learning-based models. The improvement of data quality can be implemented through preprocessing methods. A selected type of preprocessing is feature engineering, which focuses on evaluating and improving the quality of certain features inside the dataset. Feature engineering includes methods such as feature creation, feature expansion, or feature selection. In this work, a Python framework containing different feature engineering methods is presented. This framework contains different methods for feature creation, expansion and selection; in addition, methods for transforming or filtering data are implemented. The implementation of the framework is based on the Python libraryscikit-learn. The framework is demonstrated on a use case from energy demand prediction. A data-driven model is created including selected feature engineering methods. The results show an improvement in prediction accuracy through the engineered features.
Deploying Machine Learning in High Pressure Resin Transfer Molding and Part Post Processing: A Case Study
Authors: Steffens Jasper , Kühnast-Benedikt Robin , Leber Florian , Rosenberg Philipp , Henning Frank
Published: June 2024

High pressure resin transfer molding (HP-RTM) is well suited to medium volume automated production of composites. The process complexities of HP-RTM however often make its application insular. Data is not carried forward along the production chain and process reliability is assessed as a unified indicator with minimal granular consideration of individual contributing factors. Cause and effect relationships spanning the process chain remain undetected. Predator (10/2020–09/2023) is an ongoing Eurostars project aiming to bridge this divide by developing an intelligent data processing system across the industrial process chain of composite production. The consortium has already developed an approach to acquire and transfer meaningful process related data from molding to post-processing of parts. The data collection merges RTM tooling, equipment sensors, structure-borne sound data and tool wear measurements during the milling process. Unique part identifiers allow traceability of production parameters for online quality assurance and data-based optimization across the process chain. The developed approach enables tool wear monitoring as well as tailored predictive maintenance and enhanced remote customer support in addition to a data-driven understanding of the production process.
Operators with a non-trivial closed invariant affine subspace
Authors: Bračič Janko
Published: June 2024

We are concerned with the question of the existence of an invariant proper affine subspace for an operator A on a complex Banach space. It turns out that the presence of the number 1 in the spectrum of A or in the spectrum of its adjoint operator $$A^*$$

A
∗

is crucial. For instance, an algebraic operator has an invariant proper affine subspace if and only if 1 is its eigenvalue. For an arbitrary operator A, we show that it has an invariant proper hyperplane if and only if 1 is an eigenvalue of $$A^*$$

A
∗

. If A is a power bounded operator, then every invariant proper affine subspace is contained in an invariant proper hyperplane, moreover, A has a non-trivial invariant cone.
Hidden secrets of the cancer genome: unlocking the impact of non-coding mutations in gene regulatory elements
Authors: Iñiguez-Muñoz Sandra , Llinàs-Arias Pere , Ensenyat-Mendez Miquel , Bedoya-López Andrés F. , Orozco Javier I. J. , Cortés Javier , Roy Ananya , Forsberg-Nilsson Karin , DiNome Maggie L. , Marzese Diego M.
Published: June 2024

Discoveries in the field of genomics have revealed that non-coding genomic regions are not merely "junk DNA", but rather comprise critical elements involved in gene expression. These gene regulatory elements (GREs) include enhancers, insulators, silencers, and gene promoters. Notably, new evidence shows how mutations within these regions substantially influence gene expression programs, especially in the context of cancer. Advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies have accelerated the identification of somatic and germline single nucleotide mutations in non-coding genomic regions. This review provides an overview of somatic and germline non-coding single nucleotide alterations affecting transcription factor binding sites in GREs, specifically involved in cancer biology. It also summarizes the technologies available for exploring GREs and the challenges associated with studying and characterizing non-coding single nucleotide mutations. Understanding the role of GRE alterations in cancer is essential for improving diagnostic and prognostic capabilities in the precision medicine era, leading to enhanced patient-centered clinical outcomes.
Short-term load forecasting method based on fuzzy optimization combined model of load feature recognition
Authors: Xie Yigong , Zhu Xinchun , Wu Yang , Liu Shuangquan , Lin Shengzhen , Xie Yuxing , Xie Min
Published: June 2024

With the continuous development of smart grid construction and the gradual improvement of power market operation mechanisms, the importance of power load forecasting is continually increasing. In this study, a short-term load prediction method based on the fuzzy optimization combined model of load feature recognition was designed to address the problems of weak generalization ability and poor prediction accuracy of the conventional feedforward neural network prediction model. First, the Douglas–Peucker algorithm and fuzzy optimization theory of load feature recognition were analyzed, and the combined prediction model was constructed. Second, data analysis and pre-processing were performed based on the actual historical load data of a certain area and the corresponding meteorological and calendar rule information data. Finally, a practical example was used to test and analyze the short-term load forecasting effect of the fuzzy optimization combined model. The calculation results proved that the presented fuzzy optimization combined model of load feature recognition outperformed the conventional model in terms of computational efficiency and specific performance; therefore, the proposed model supports further development of actual power load prediction.
Recognition of Seifert fibered spaces with boundary is in NP
Authors: Jackson Adele
Published: June 2024

We show that the decision problem of recognising whether a triangulated 3-manifold admits a Seifert fibered structure with non-empty boundary is in NP. We also show that the problem of deciding whether a given triangulated Seifert fibered space with non-empty boundary admits certain Seifert data is in $${{{\textbf {NP}}}{}}\cap \text {co-}{} {\textbf {NP}}$$

NP

∩
co-

NP

. We do this by proving that in any triangulation of a Seifert fibered space with boundary there is both a fundamental horizontal surface of small degree and a complete collection of normal vertical annuli whose total weight is bounded by an exponential in the square of the triangulation size.
Developing a prognostic model for skin melanoma based on the persistent tumor mutation burden and determining IL17REL as a therapeutic target
Authors: Xu Mingze , Ma Xinyi , Wang Yuchong , Yu Ziqin , Zheng Xiaoli , Dai Haiying , Xue Chunyu
Published: June 2024

Background

One popular and well-established marker for the immune checkpoint blockade (ICB) response is tumor mutation burden (TMB). Persistent TMB (pTMB), a subset of TMB, provides a better indicator to predict patient ICB therapy outcomes, as shown by some studies. Immune checkpoint drugs have significantly changed how melanoma is treated in recent years.

Methods

In this study, we integrated the TCGA-SKCM database and data of pTMB of TCGA from the paper that first mentioned pTMB and analyzed mutational and Immune characteristics associated with pTMB level in SKCM. Next, the predictive DEGs were identified the subgroups of pTMB by Cox regression and LASSO analyses to construct a pTMB-related signature. Finally, the expression and Biological functions of signature genes was detected, and further validated in vitro assay.

Results

In the current research, we explored the mutational and immunological features related to the level of TMB in cutaneous melanoma (CM). The high-pTMB subgroup exhibited an increasing incidence of gene changes and higher levels of immune cell infiltration. Subsequently, we established a pTMB-related signature based on the predictive DEGs and found the biological features and immune-associated variables between two distinct risk groups. Lastly, the results of the clinical sample validation demonstrated that the expression of IL17REL was down-regulated in the collected samples of individuals with CM. The in vitro assay results indicated that IL17REL effectively suppressed the proliferation, clonality, and migration of CM cells.

Conclusion

In conclusion, we have developed a prediction model associated with TMB and subsequently validated the potential influence of IL17REL on Overall Survival (OS) in patients diagnosed with melanoma.
Unregulated introduced fish (Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758) is host to zoonotic parasites in a small Mediterranean island
Authors: Esposito Anaïs , Denys Gaël P. J. , Haÿ Vincent , Agostini Paul-Jean , Foata Joséphine , Quilichini Yann
Published: June 2024

Introduced species have a major impact on freshwater ecosystems, particularly on islands. Numerous fish species have been introduced in Corsica (Mediterranean island, southern France) as part of planned programs or clandestinely. The introduction of non-native freshwater fish species can have a range of impacts on the recipient ecosystem, including through the co-introduction of its pathogens. A sample of introduced perch Perca fluviatilis Linnaeus, 1758 from the artificial reservoir of Padula was examined following a report of parasites by an angler. The analyses revealed the occurrence of Eustrongylides sp. (Nematoda) and Clinostomum complanatum (Digenea), two zoonotic parasites in P. fluviatilis. Both parasites are reported for the first time in France. Eustrongylides sp. and C. complanatum may have been introduced with their fish intermediate hosts or through their final bird hosts. The occurrence of the two parasites raises concerns from both a veterinary and human health perspective as they can use a wide range of amphibians as intermediate hosts and can be acquired in humans through the consumption of raw or undercooked fish.
Impact of pancreatic ductal occlusion on postoperative outcomes in pancreatic head cancer patients undergoing neoadjuvant therapy
Authors: Hidaka Yoshifumi , Tanoue Shiroh , Ayukawa Takuro , Takumi Koji , Noguchi Hirotsugu , Higashi Michiyo , Idichi Tetsuya , Kawasaki Yota , Kurahara Hiroshi , Mataki Yuko , Ohtsuka Takao , Koriyama Chihaya
Published: June 2024

Background

Pancreatic ductal occlusion can accompany pancreatic head cancer, leading to pancreatic exocrine insufficiency (PEI) and adverse effects on nutritional status and postoperative outcomes. We investigated its impact on nutritional status, body composition, and postoperative outcomes in patients with pancreatic head cancer undergoing neoadjuvant therapy (NAT).

Methods

We analyzed 136 patients with pancreatic head cancer who underwent NAT prior to intended pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD) between 2015 and 2022. Nutritional and anthropometric indices (body mass index [BMI], albumin, prognostic nutritional index [PNI], Glasgow prognostic score, psoas muscle index, subcutaneous adipose tissue index [SATI], and visceral adipose tissue index) and postoperative outcomes were compared between the occlusion (n = 78) and non-occlusion (n = 58) groups, in which 61 and 44 patients, respectively, ultimately underwent PD.

Results

The occlusion group showed significantly lower post-NAT BMI, PNI, and SATI (p = 0.011, 0.005, and 0.015, respectively) in the PD cohort. The occlusion group showed significantly larger main pancreatic duct, smaller pancreatic parenchyma, and greater duct–parenchymal ratio (p < 0.001), and these morphological parameters significantly correlating with post-NAT nutritional and anthropometric indices. Postoperative 3-year survival and recurrence-free survival (RFS) rates were significantly poorer (p = 0.004 and 0.013) with pancreatic ductal occlusion, also identified as an independent postoperative risk factor for overall survival (hazard ratio [HR]: 2.31, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.08–4.94, p = 0.030) and RFS (HR: 2.03, 95% CI 1.10–3.72, p = 0.023), in multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

Pancreatic ductal occlusion may be linked to poorer postoperative outcomes due to PEI-related malnutrition.
Welche Entscheidungs- und Beurteilungshilfen können Notfallsanitäter:innen beim prähospitalen geriatrischen Einsatz unterstützen?
Authors: Elsenbast Christian , Brandt Heike , Rauscher Maria , Dahlmann Philipp
Published: June 2024

Hintergrund

Notfallsanitäter:innen, Fachkrankenpfleger:innen für Notfallpflege und Notärzt:innen müssen sich ständig auf neue Herausforderungen im täglichen Versorgungsgeschehen einstellen. Dabei kann die Ersteinschätzung von älteren Patient:innen aufgrund von Kommunikationsbarrieren, limitierten diagnostischen Möglichkeiten und verfügbaren Informationen bei Polypharmazie und Multimorbidität von Herausforderungen geprägt sein.

Ziel der Arbeit

Mit dieser Arbeit sollen praxisnahe Anregungen zur Beurteilung von geriatrischen Patient:innen im Rettungsdienst gegeben werden.

Ergebnisse

Geriatrische Symptome sind vielfältig. Das Delir ist eine häufige und teils schwerwiegende Bedrohung, die Fallstricke in der Einschätzung generiert. Die Akronyme „KEIM“ (kardiale Ereignisse, Elektrolytentgleisung, Infektion, Medikamente) und „GEMS“ (geriatrischer Patient, Eindrücke der Umgebung, medizinische Beurteilung, soziale Beurteilung) sind als Hilfsbuchstaben in der Ersteinschätzung geriatrischer Patient:innen zu verstehen. Mit dem ISAR-Screening und weiteren Screeninginstrumenten, wie dem 4A-, 6CIT- oder O3DY-Test, stehen spezifische Hilfsmittel zur Risikoeinschätzung zur Verfügung.

Diskussion

„KEIM“, „GEMS“ und ISAR-Screening, als Erweiterung von X‑ABCDE, sind auch außerklinisch bei der Einschätzung geriatrischer Patient:innen hilfreich und sollten bedarfsgerecht durch den 4A-Test zum Delirscreening ergänzt werden. Diese Aspekte sind in der Aus- und Weiterbildung der versorgenden Berufsgruppen zu adressieren. Assessment- und Screeninginstrumente digital während des Einsatzes nutzen zu können, ist wünschenswert.
Distribution of natural radioactivity in different geological formations and their environmental risk assessment in Malaysia
Authors: Seow Sheng Qin , Mohan Viswanathan Prasanna , Dodge-Wan Dominique
Published: June 2024

Labuan, Miri, Kundasang and Raub regions of Malaysia have very different geological formations and settings that could result in different levels of natural radioactivity. Hence, this study determines the influence of different geological formations on radioactivity in these locations using field measurements, petrology and geochemistry. A total of 141 gamma dose rates and 227 beta flux measurements were collected using Polimaster survey meters (PM1405) in these four regions. The gamma dose rate values range from 0.37 to 0.05 µSv/h with a mean value of 0.11 µSv/h. Beta flux values range from 3.46 to 0.12 CPS with a mean value of 0.57 CPS. Mineralogy and elemental composition of the different rock types were analysed using thin-section petrography, XRD, ICP and pXRF methods. Felsic igneous rocks such as syenite and granite have higher natural radioactivity and contain more radionuclide-bearing minerals such as apatite, zircon, allanite, K-feldspar, titanite, muscovite and biotite. Metamorphic rocks have the second highest natural radioactivity and contain fewer radioactive minerals. The natural radioactivity of sedimentary rocks mostly depends on their clay content. The gamma dose rate maps show that igneous and metamorphic regions around Raub have higher radioactivity compared to the sedimentary-dominated regions around Miri and Labuan. Annual effective dose (AED) and excess lifetime cancer risk (ELCR) were calculated to evaluate the potential health risk for inhabitants of these regions. Labuan and Miri are considered to be safe zones with respect to natural radioactivity as the results show little to no risk for the public, compared with the Raub region, which is medium to high risk.
Enhanced passivation of thallium, vanadium and arsenic in contaminated soils: critical role of Fe–Mn-biochar
Authors: Deng Pengyuan , Yuan Wenhuan , Wang Jin , Li Liangzhong , Zhou Yuchen , Beiyuan Jingzi , Xu Haofan , Jiang Shunlong , Tan Zicong , Gao Yurong , Chen Diyun , Liu Juan
Published: June 2024

Thallium (Tl), vanadium (V) and arsenic (As) are considered as typical toxic elements of increased interest. Their accumulation in soils can pose a substantial health threat to human beings. In this study, Fe–Mn modified biochar (FMBC) was chemically constructed to immobilize Tl, V and As in contaminated soils. The results showed that compared with pristine biochar (BC), FMBC can achieve significantly higher passivation effects for the studied contaminated soils, which reduced the bioavailable Tl, V and As contents by 83.9%, 71.09% and 71.92%, respectively. The passivation of Tl, As, and V via FMBC application was partially attributed to a notable increase in pH, which enhances the availability of adsorptive sites. Further, the newly formed minerals, including cancrinite, gibbsite and Fe–Mn (hydr)oxides, serve as additional adsorbents, substantially reducing the mobility of Tl, V and As. Additionally, the oxidation of Tl(I) to Tl(III) by the Fe–Mn (hydr)oxide of FMBC significantly enhanced Tl immobilization, consequently diminishing its bioavailability. The findings suggest that significant environmental threats could be alleviated through the potential application of FMBC in treating Tl-As-V dominated contamination in soils, providing a new perspective for the sustainable utilization of industrially polluted soils.

Graphical Abstract
Sustainability in the arctic: a bibliometric analysis
Authors: Ahmed Fatma , Zapata Oscar , Poelzer Greg
Published: June 2024

This paper examines the literature on the Sustainability in the Arctic region, using a bibliometric analysis of 213 English-language articles published between 1980 and 2022 exploiting Bibliometrix, an R package. To find relevant literature using the Web of Science (WOS) database, we searched for documents using mesh terms based on the query of two terms, “Arctic & Sustainability”. We used the Boolean operator “AND” to combine the two terms and the Boolean operator “OR” to include synonyms of the terms. The articles retrieved were authored by 724 researchers, published in 98 journals, representing 132 countries, and growing at 5.08% annually. The findings reveal that a substantial portion of the Arctic sustainability literature placed significant emphasis on the examination of climate change, adaptation, and vulnerabilities affecting local communities. Furthermore, the more recent publications in this field concentrate predominantly on exploring perceptions and governance.
Solving Nonlinear Wave Equations Based on Barycentric Lagrange Interpolation
Authors: Yuan Hongwang , Wang Xiyin , Li Jin
Published: June 2024

In this paper, we deeply study the high-precision barycentric Lagrange interpolation collocation method to solve nonlinear wave equations. Firstly, we introduce the barycentric Lagrange interpolation and provide the differential matrix. Secondly, we construct a direct linearization iteration scheme to solve nonlinear wave equations. Once again, we use the barycentric Lagrange interpolation to approximate the (2+1) dimensional nonlinear wave equations and (3+1) dimensional nonlinear wave equations, and describe the matrix format for direct linearization iteration of the nonlinear wave equations. Finally, the comparative experiments show that the barycentric Lagrange interpolation collocation method for solving nonlinear wave equations have higher calculation accuracy and convergence rate.
A Flow‐Curvature‐Based Model for Channel Meandering in Tidal Marshes
Authors: Mariotti Giulio , Finotello Alvise
Published: June 2024

Channel meandering is ubiquitous in tidal marshes, yet it is either omitted or weakly implemented in morphodynamic models. Here we propose a novel numerical method to simulate channel meandering in tidal marshes on a Cartesian grid. The method calculates a first‐order flow by considering the balance between pressure gradient and bed friction. To account for flow momentum shift toward meander outer banks, the flow is empirically modified. Unlike previous simplified methods that relied on the curvature of the bank, this modification is based on the curvature of the flow, making the model suitable for use in dendritic channel networks. The modified flow intrinsically accounts for the topographic steering effect, which tends to deflect the momentum toward the outer bank. As a result, the outer bank becomes steeper and erodes due to soil creep. Additionally, the outer bank experiences erosion proportional to the flow curvature. This mechanism parameterizes the direct erosion caused by flow impacting the bank through a proportionality coefficient, which modulates the rate of channel lateral migration. Deposition on the inner bank is automatically simulated by the model, triggered by reduced bed shear stress in that area. The model accurately reproduces channel lateral migration and sinuosity development, and associated processes such as meander cutoffs, channel piracies, and network reorganizations. The model provides an efficient tool for predicting marsh landscape evolution from decades to millennia, and will enable exploring how lateral migration and meandering of tidal channels affect marsh ecomorphodynamics, carbon and nutrient cycling, drainage efficiency, and pond dynamics.
Temperature and Composition Disturbances in the Southern Auroral Region of Jupiter Revealed by JWST/MIRI
Authors: Rodríguez‐Ovalle Pablo , Fouchet Thierry , Guerlet Sandrine , Cavalié Thibault , Hue Vincent , López‐Puertas Manuel , Lellouch Emmanuel , Sinclair James A. , de Pater Imke , Fletcher Leigh N. , Wong Michael H. , Harkett Jake , Orton Glenn S. , Hueso Ricardo , Sánchez‐Lavega Agustín , Stallard Tom S. , Bockelee‐Morvan Dominique , King Oliver , Roman Michael T. , Melin Henrik
Published: June 2024

Jupiter's South Polar Region (SPR) was observed by James Webb Space Telescope/Mid‐Infrared Instrument in December 2022. We used the Medium Resolution Spectrometer mode to provide new information about Jupiter's South Polar stratosphere. The southern auroral region was visible and influenced the atmosphere in several ways: (a) In the interior of the southern auroral oval, we retrieved peak temperatures at two distinct pressure levels near 0.01 and 1 mbar, with warmer temperatures with respect to non‐auroral regions of 12 ± 2 K and 37 ± 4 K respectively. A cold polar vortex is centered at 65°S at 10 mbar. (b) We found that the homopause is elevated to km above the 1‐bar pressure level inside the auroral oval compared to km at neighboring latitudes and with an upper altitude of 350 km in regions not affected by auroral precipitation. (c) The retrieved abundance of C2H2 shows an increase within the auroral oval, and it exhibits high abundances throughout the polar region. The retrieved abundance of C2H6 increases toward the pole, without being localized in the auroral oval, in contrast with previous analysis (Sinclair et al., 2018, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.icarus.2017.09.016). We determined that the warming at 0.01 mbar and the elevated homopause might be caused by the flux of charged particles depositing their energy in the SPR. The 1‐mbar hotspot may arise from adiabatic heating resulting from auroral‐driven downwelling. The cold region at 10 mbar may be caused by radiative cooling by stratospheric aerosols. The differences in spatial distribution seem to indicate that the hydrocarbons analyzed are affected differently by auroral precipitation.