bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On time-memory trade-offs for password hashing schemes
Authors: Saran Ayse Nurdan
Published: February 2024

A password hashing algorithm is a cryptographic method that transforms passwords into a secure and irreversible format. It is used not only for authentication purposes but also for key derivation mechanisms. The primary purpose of password hashing is to enhance the security of user credentials by preventing the exposure of plaintext passwords in the event of a data breach. As a key derivation function, password hashing aims to derive secret keys from a master key, password, or passphrase using a pseudorandom function. This review focuses on the design and analysis of time-memory trade-off (TMTO) attacks on recent password hashing algorithms. This review presents a comprehensive survey of TMTO attacks and recent studies on password hashing for authentication by examining the literature. The study provides valuable insights and strategies for safely navigating transitions, emphasizing the importance of a systematic approach and thorough testing to mitigate risk. The purpose of this paper is to provide guidance to developers and administrators on how to update cryptographic practices in response to evolving security standards and threats.
Comparison of diagnostic efficacy between 99mTc-methylene diphosphate SPECT/CT and MRI for bone and joint infections: a multicenter retrospective analysis
Authors: Gao Hao , Li Guoquan , Fu Congxiao , Ren Jun , Kang Fei , Luo Wen , Yin Qian , Zhou Cheng , Li Bo , Lu Shuaikun , Wang Hu , Zhang Yong , Zhang Yunfei
Published: February 2024

Objective

There is currently no non-invasive examination that can fully determine the diagnosis of osteomyelitis. SPECT/CT tomographic fusion imaging can provide both local metabolic activity and anatomical information to determine the condition and location. This study evaluates the diagnostic efficacy of 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT in bone infections, compared to MRI.

Methods

In this multicenter retrospective study, 363 patients with suspected bone and joint infections or osteomyelitis were included. Participants underwent 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT and/or MRI examinations, supplemented by pathogenic bacterial cultures and histopathological analysis.

Results

Only SPECT/CT was tested in 169 patients, and only MRI was used in 116. 78 people have implemented both inspections and have detailed information. The diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of SPECT/CT for infection were 96% and 92% respectively, with an accuracy of 96%. For MRI, these figures were 88%, 84%, and 87% respectively.

Conclusion

This represents the largest global study to date evaluating osteomyelitis and bone infection diagnosis using 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT tomographic fusion imaging. The findings indicate that 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT fusion imaging offers superior diagnostic accuracy compared to MRI. This is particularly evident in cases involving metallic implants and chronic infections. 99mTc-MDP SPECT/CT fusion imaging emerges as a highly suitable non-invasive diagnostic modality, facilitating enhanced clinical follow-up and treatment.
Megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts: a variant update and review of the literature
Authors: Passchier Emma M. J. , Bisseling Quinty , Helman Guy , van Spaendonk Rosalina M. L. , Simons Cas , Olsthoorn René C. L. , van der Veen Hieke , Abbink Truus E. M. , van der Knaap Marjo S. , Min Rogier
Published: February 2024

The leukodystrophy megalencephalic leukoencephalopathy with subcortical cysts (MLC) is characterized by infantile-onset macrocephaly and chronic edema of the brain white matter. With delayed onset, patients typically experience motor problems, epilepsy and slow cognitive decline. No treatment is available. Classic MLC is caused by bi-allelic recessive pathogenic variants in MLC1 or GLIALCAM (also called HEPACAM). Heterozygous dominant pathogenic variants in GLIALCAM lead to remitting MLC, where patients show a similar phenotype in early life, followed by normalization of white matter edema and no clinical regression. Rare patients with heterozygous dominant variants in GPRC5B and classic MLC were recently described. In addition, two siblings with bi-allelic recessive variants in AQP4 and remitting MLC have been identified. The last systematic overview of variants linked to MLC dates back to 2006. We provide an updated overview of published and novel variants. We report on genetic variants from 508 patients with MLC as confirmed by MRI diagnosis (258 from our database and 250 extracted from 64 published reports). We describe 151 unique MLC1 variants, 29 GLIALCAM variants, 2 GPRC5B variants and 1 AQP4 variant observed in these MLC patients. We include experiments confirming pathogenicity for some variants, discuss particularly notable variants, and provide an overview of recent scientific and clinical insight in the pathophysiology of MLC.
New insights into the role of immunity and inflammation in diabetic kidney disease in the omics era
Authors: Hu Xinrong , Chen Sixiu , Ye Siyang , Chen Wei , Zhou Yi
Published: February 2024

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is becoming the leading cause of chronic kidney disease, especially in the industrialized world. Despite mounting evidence has demonstrated that immunity and inflammation are highly involved in the pathogenesis and progression of DKD, the underlying mechanisms remain incompletely understood. Substantial molecules, signaling pathways, and cell types participate in DKD inflammation, by integrating into a complex regulatory network. Most of the studies have focused on individual components, without presenting their importance in the global or system-based processes, which largely hinders clinical translation. Besides, conventional technologies failed to monitor the different behaviors of resident renal cells and immune cells, making it difficult to understand their contributions to inflammation in DKD. Recently, the advancement of omics technologies including genomics, epigenomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics has revolutionized biomedical research, which allows an unbiased global analysis of changes in DNA, RNA, proteins, and metabolites in disease settings, even at single-cell and spatial resolutions. They help us to identify critical regulators of inflammation processes and provide an overview of cell heterogeneity in DKD. This review aims to summarize the application of multiple omics in the field of DKD and emphasize the latest evidence on the interplay of inflammation and DKD revealed by these technologies, which will provide new insights into the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of DKD and lead to the development of novel therapeutic approaches and diagnostic biomarkers.
SKAP2 acts downstream of CD11b/CD18 and regulates neutrophil effector function
Authors: Bouti Panagiota , Klein Bart J. A. M. , Verkuijlen Paul J. H. , Schornagel Karin , van Alphen Floris P. J. , Taris Kees-Karel H. , van den Biggelaar Maartje , Hoogendijk Arie J. , van Bruggen Robin , Kuijpers Taco W. , Matlung Hanke L.
Published: February 2024

Background

The importance of CD11b/CD18 expression in neutrophil effector functions is well known. Beyond KINDLIN3 and TALIN1, which are involved in the induction of the high-affinity binding CD11b/CD18 conformation, the signaling pathways that orchestrate this response remain incompletely understood.

Method

We performed an unbiased screening method for protein selection by biotin identification (BioID) and investigated the KINDLIN3 interactome. We used liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry as a powerful analytical tool. Generation of NB4 CD18, KINDLIN3, or SKAP2 knockout neutrophils was achieved using CRISPR-Cas9 technology, and the cells were examined for their effector function using flow cytometry, live cell imaging, microscopy, adhesion, or antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC).

Results

Among the 325 proteins significantly enriched, we identified Src kinase-associated phosphoprotein 2 (SKAP2), a protein involved in actin polymerization and integrin-mediated outside-in signaling. CD18 immunoprecipitation in primary or NB4 neutrophils demonstrated the presence of SKAP2 in the CD11b/CD18 complex at a steady state. Under this condition, adhesion to plastic, ICAM-1, or fibronectin was observed in the absence of SKAP2, which could be abrogated by blocking the actin rearrangements with latrunculin B. Upon stimulation of NB4 SKAP2-deficient neutrophils, adhesion to fibronectin was enhanced whereas CD18 clustering was strongly reduced. This response corresponded with significantly impaired CD11b/CD18-dependent NADPH oxidase activity, phagocytosis, and cytotoxicity against tumor cells.

Conclusion

Our results suggest that SKAP2 has a dual role. It may restrict CD11b/CD18-mediated adhesion only under resting conditions, but its major contribution lies in the regulation of dynamic CD11b/CD18-mediated actin rearrangements and clustering as required for cellular effector functions of human neutrophils.
A phase I trial of SON-1010, a tumor-targeted, interleukin-12-linked, albumin-binding cytokine, shows favorable pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety in healthy volunteers
Authors: Kenney Richard T. , Cini John K. , Dexter Susan , DaFonseca Manuel , Bingham Justus , Kuan Isabelle , Chawla Sant P. , Polasek Thomas M. , Lickliter Jason , Ryan Philip J.
Published: February 2024

Background

The benefits of recombinant interleukin-12 (rIL-12) as a multifunctional cytokine and potential immunotherapy for cancer have been sought for decades based on its efficacy in multiple mouse models. Unexpected toxicity in the first phase 2 study required careful attention to revised dosing strategies. Despite some signs of efficacy since then, most rIL-12 clinical trials have encountered hurdles such as short terminal elimination half-life (T½), limited tumor microenvironment targeting, and substantial systemic toxicity. We developed a strategy to extend the rIL-12 T½ that depends on binding albumin in vivo to target tumor tissue, using single-chain rIL-12 linked to a fully human albumin binding (FHAB) domain (SON-1010). After initiating a dose-escalation trial in patients with cancer (SB101), a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, single-ascending dose (SAD) phase 1 trial in healthy volunteers (SB102) was conducted.

Methods

SB102 (NCT05408572) focused on safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetic (PK), and pharmacodynamic (PD) endpoints. SON-1010 at 50-300 ng/kg or placebo administered subcutaneously on day 1 was studied at a ratio of 6:2, starting with two sentinels; participants were followed through day 29. Safety was reviewed after day 22, before enrolling the next cohort. A non-compartmental analysis of PK was performed and correlations with the PD results were explored, along with a comparison of the SON-1010 PK profile in SB101.

Results

Participants receiving SON-1010 at 100 ng/kg or higher tolerated the injection but generally experienced more treatment-emergent adverse effects (TEAEs) than those receiving the lowest dose. All TEAEs were transient and no other dose relationship was noted. As expected with rIL-12, initial decreases in neutrophils and lymphocytes returned to baseline by days 9-11. PK analysis showed two-compartment elimination in SB102 with mean T½ of 104 h, compared with one-compartment elimination in SB101, which correlated with prolonged but controlled and dose-related increases in interferon-gamma (IFNγ). There was no evidence of cytokine release syndrome based on minimal participant symptoms and responses observed with other cytokines.

Conclusion

SON-1010, a novel presentation for rIL-12, was safe and well-tolerated in healthy volunteers up to 300 ng/kg. Its extended half-life leads to a prolonged but controlled IFNγ response, which may be important for tumor control in patients.

Clinical trial registration

https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05408572, identifier NCT05408572.
Approaches of dengue control: vaccine strategies and future aspects
Authors: Akter Runa , Tasneem Faria , Das Shuvo , Soma Mahfuza Afroz , Georgakopoulos-Soares Ilias , Juthi Rifat Tasnim , Sazed Saiful Arefeen
Published: February 2024

Dengue, caused by the dengue virus (DENV), affects millions of people worldwide every year. This virus has two distinct life cycles, one in the human and another in the mosquito, and both cycles are crucial to be controlled. To control the vector of DENV, the mosquito Aedes aegypti, scientists employed many techniques, which were later proved ineffective and harmful in many ways. Consequently, the attention shifted to the development of a vaccine; researchers have targeted the E protein, a surface protein of the virus and the NS1 protein, an extracellular protein. There are several types of vaccines developed so far, such as live attenuated vaccines, recombinant subunit vaccines, inactivated virus vaccines, viral vectored vaccines, DNA vaccines, and mRNA vaccines. Along with these, scientists are exploring new strategies of developing improved version of the vaccine by employing recombinant DNA plasmid against NS1 and also aiming to prevent the infection by blocking the DENV life cycle inside the mosquitoes. Here, we discussed the aspects of research in the field of vaccines until now and identified some prospects for future vaccine developments.
Rhizosphere microbial community enrichment processes in healthy and diseased plants: implications of soil properties on biomarkers
Authors: Deng Yong , Kong Wuyuan , Zhang Xiaoming , Zhu Yi , Xie Tian , Chen Ming , Zhu Li , Sun Jingzhao , Zhang Zhihua , Chen Chaoyong , Zhu Chongwen , Yin Huaqun , Huang Songqing , Gu Yabing
Published: February 2024

Plant health states may influence the distribution of rhizosphere microorganisms, which regulate plant growth and development. In this study, the response of rhizosphere bacteria and fungi of healthy and diseased plants compared to bulk microbes was analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. Plant adaptation strategies of plants under potato virus Y (PVY) infection have been studied from a microbial perspective. The diversity and community structure of bacteria and fungi varied between bulk and rhizosphere soils, but not between healthy and diseased rhizosphere soils. A LEfSe analysis revealed the significant differences between different treatments on bacterial and fungal community compositions and identified Roseiflexaceae, Sphingomonas, and Sphingobium as the bacterial biomarkers of bulk (BCK), healthy rhizosphere (BHS), and diseased rhizosphere (BIS) soils, respectively; Rhodotorula and Ascomycota_unidentified_1_1 were identified as the fungal biomarkers of bulk (FCK) and healthy rhizosphere (FHS) soils. Bacterial networks were found to be more complex and compact than fungal networks and revealed the roles of biomarkers as network keystone taxa. PVY infection further increased the connectedness among microbial taxa to improve rhizosphere microbial community stability and resistance to environmental stress. Additionally, water content (WC) played an apparent influence on bacterial community structure and diversity, and pH showed significant effects on fungal community diversity. WC and pH greatly affected the biomarkers of bacterial rhizosphere communities, whereas the biomarkers of bulk bacterial communities were significantly affected by soil nutrients, especially for Sphingobium. Overall, the rhizosphere microbial community enrichment processes were different between healthy and diseased plants by changing the community compositions and identifying different biomarkers. These findings provide insight into the assemblage of rhizosphere microbial communities and soil physicochemical properties, which contributes to a deeper understanding of the establishment of an artificial core root microbiota to facilitate plant growth and bolstering resistance mechanisms. This knowledge contributes to a deeper understanding of the establishment of an artificial core root microbiota, thereby facilitating plant growth and bolstering resistance mechanisms.
Appetitively motivated tasks in the IntelliCage reveal a higher motivational cost of spatial learning in male than female mice
Authors: Nigri Martina , Bramati Giulia , Steiner Adrian C. , Wolfer David P.
Published: February 2024

The IntelliCage (IC) permits the assessment of the behavior and learning abilities of mice in a social home cage context. To overcome water deprivation as an aversive driver of learning, we developed protocols in which spatial learning is motivated appetitively by the preference of mice for sweetened over plain water. While plain water is available at all times, only correct task responses give access to sweetened water rewards. Under these conditions, C57BL/6J mice successfully mastered a corner preference task with the reversal and also learned a more difficult time-place task with reversal. However, the rate of responding to sweetened water decreased strongly with increasing task difficulty, indicating that learning challenges and reduced success in obtaining rewards decreased the motivation of the animals to seek sweetened water. While C57BL/6J mice of both sexes showed similar initial taste preferences and learned similarly well in simple learning tasks, the rate of responding to sweetened water and performance dropped more rapidly in male than in female mice in response to increasing learning challenges. Taken together, our data indicate that male mice can have a disadvantage relative to females in mastering difficult, appetitively motivated learning tasks, likely due to sex differences in value-based decision-making.
Vestibular function in cases of posterior semicircular canal canalolithiasis and cupulolithiasis
Authors: Wenyan Xu , Lifeng Yue , Jing Wu , Hui Jiang
Published: February 2024

Objective

To analyze and compare the vestibular function of posterior canal cupulolithiasis and canalolithiasis.

Methods

The results of posterior cupulolithiasis in 45 cases, posterior canalolithiasis in 122 cases and 19 healthy controls were analyzed retrospectively.

Results

The abnormal rates of vHIT in the canalolithiasis group and the cupulolithiasis group were 42.6 and 37.8%, respectively, both higher than those in the control group (both p < 0.05); there was no statistically significant difference between two BPPV groups (p = 0.573). The abnormal vHIT in 76.9% of the canalolithiasis cases and 82.4% of the cupulolithiasis cases showed normal gain with saccades, with no difference between the groups (p = 0.859). The lesion location of vHIT in the two groups did not show a correlation with the affected side of BPPV (both p > 0.05). 84.4% of canalolithiasis and 65.0% of cupulolithiasis had abnormal VEMP results, with no significant differences in abnormality rates or sides (both p > 0.05). Abnormal results of VEMPs did not show any correlation with side (p > 0.05). The results of pc-ca and pc-cu were both abnormal in 14 cases and 7 cases, and there was no correlation between the site and side of the injury (all p > 0.05).

Conclusion

The results of vHIT and VEMP in pc-cu and pc-ca were partially abnormal, but they did not show any correlation with side of BPPV. It can be considered that there are scattered vestibular peripheral organ damage in both groups.
Association of brain–autonomic activities and task accuracy under cognitive load: a pilot study using electroencephalogram, autonomic activity measurements, and arousal level estimated by machine learning
Authors: Sazuka Naoya , Katsumata Koki , Komoriya Yota , Oba Takeyuki , Ohira Hideki
Published: February 2024

The total amount of mental activity applied to working memory at a given point in time is called cognitive load, which is an important factor in various activities in daily life. We have proposed new feature quantities that reflect the time-series changes in the power of typical frequency bands in electroencephalogram (EEG) for use in examining the relationship between brain activity and behavior under cognitive load. We also measured heart rate variability (HRV) and spontaneous skin conductance responses (SCR) to examine functional associations among brain activity, autonomic activity, and behavior under cognitive load. Additionally, we applied our machine learning model previously developed using EEG to the estimation of arousal level to interpret the brain–autonomic–behavior functional association under cognitive load. Experimental data from 12 healthy undergraduate students showed that participants with higher levels of infra-slow fluctuations of alpha power have more cognitive resources and thus can process information under cognitive load more efficiently. In addition, HRV reflecting parasympathetic activity correlated with task accuracy. The arousal level estimated using our machine learning model showed its robust relationship with EEG. Despite the limitation of the sample size, the results of this pilot study suggest that the information processing efficiency of the brain under cognitive load is reflected by time-series fluctuations in EEG, which are associated with an individual's task performance. These findings can contribute to the evaluation of the internal state of humans associated with cognitive load and the prediction of human behaviors in various situations under cognitive load.
Sensorimotor content of multi-unit activity recorded in the paramedian lobule of the cerebellum using carbon fiber microelectrode arrays
Authors: Cetinkaya Esma , Lang Eric J. , Sahin Mesut
Published: February 2024

The cerebellum takes in a great deal of sensory information from the periphery and descending signals from the cerebral cortices. It has been debated whether the paramedian lobule (PML) in the rat and its paravermal regions that project to the interpositus nucleus (IPN) are primarily involved in motor execution or motor planning. Studies that have relied on single spike recordings in behaving animals have led to conflicting conclusions regarding this issue. In this study, we tried a different approach and investigated the correlation of field potentials and multi-unit signals recorded with multi-electrode arrays from the PML cortex along with the forelimb electromyography (EMG) signals in rats during behavior. Linear regression was performed to predict the EMG signal envelopes using the PML activity for various time shifts (±25, ±50, ±100, and ± 400 ms) between the two signals to determine a causal relation. The highest correlations (~0.5 on average) between the neural and EMG envelopes were observed for zero and small (±25 ms) time shifts and decreased with larger time shifts in both directions, suggesting that paravermal PML is involved both in processing of sensory signals and motor execution in the context of forelimb reaching behavior. EMG envelopes were predicted with higher success rates when neural signals from multiple phases of the behavior were utilized for regression. The forelimb extension phase was the most difficult to predict while the releasing of the bar phase prediction was the most successful. The high frequency (>300 Hz) components of the neural signal, reflecting multi-unit activity, had a higher contribution to the EMG prediction than did the lower frequency components, corresponding to local field potentials. The results of this study suggest that the paravermal PML in the rat cerebellum is primarily involved in the execution of forelimb movements rather than the planning aspect and that the PML is more active at the initiation and termination of the behavior, rather than the progression.
Linear association of compound dietary antioxidant index with hyperlipidemia: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Zhou Haoran , Li Tianshu , Li Jie , Zheng Dongdong , Yang Jie , Zhuang Xin
Published: February 2024

Background

There is growing evidence that antioxidant-rich diets may prevent hyperlipidemia. However, the relationship between the Composite Dietary Antioxidant Index (CDAI) and hyperlipidemia is unclear. The CDAI is a composite score reflecting the antioxidant content of an individual’s diet, and this study aimed to investigate the relationship between CDAI and hyperlipidemia.

Methods

The study used the 2003–2018 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) database for cross-sectional analyses and included 27,626 participants aged 20 years and older. The CDAI, which includes vitamins A, C, and E, zinc, selenium, and carotenoids, was calculated based on dietary intake reported in a 24-h recall interview. Hyperlipidemia was defined by the National Cholesterol Education Program (NCEP). Covariates included age, sex, race, education, marriage, household poverty-to-income ratio (PIR), glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), body mass index (BMI), energy, carbohydrates, total fat, cholesterol, smoking, alcohol consumption, hypertension, diabetes mellitus, coronary heart disease, and lipid-lowering medications. The association between CDAI and hyperlipidemia was explored through multiple logistic regression analyses and smoothed curve fitting. We also performed subgroup analyses and interaction tests to verify the relationship’s stability.

Results

After adjusting for potential confounders, CDAI was negatively associated with the risk of developing hyperlipidemia (OR 0.98, 95% CI 0.96–0.99, p < 0.01). The results of weighted regression models stratified by quartiles of CDAI (−8.664 ≤ Q1 ≤ −2.209, −2.209 < Q2 ≤ −0.002, −0.002 < Q3 ≤ 2.774, 2.774 < Q4 ≤ 124.284), fully adjusted for confounding variables, indicated that compared with the bottom quartile (Q1) of the CDAI, Q2, Q3, and Q4 of participants had a lower advantage ratio (Q2: OR 0.91, 95% CI 0.78–1.06, p < 0.21; Q3: OR 0.85, 95% CI 0.73–1.00, p < 0.05; and Q4: OR 0.77, 95% CI 0.64–0.94, p < 0.01), which was confirmed by a test for trend (p < 0.05). Smoothed curve fit analysis showed linearity (p for non-linear = 0.0912). In summary, there is a linear negative relationship between CDAI and the risk of developing hyperlipidemia. Subgroup analyses by age, sex, ethnicity, education level, marriage, tobacco status, alcoholic drinking, body mass index (BMI), hypertension, and diabetes did not indicate strong interactions.

Conclusion

In this large cross-sectional study, there was a linear negative association between CDAI and hyperlipidemia among US adults. Therefore increase antioxidant rich foods in your life as a prevention of hyperlipidemia.
Ultrasound combined with microbubble mediated immunotherapy for tumor microenvironment
Authors: Wu Yunfeng , Li Jiajia , Shu Linfeng , Tian Zhaoyu , Wu Siru , Wu Zuohui
Published: February 2024

The tumor microenvironment (TME) plays an important role in dynamically regulating the progress of cancer and influencing the therapeutic results. Targeting the tumor microenvironment is a promising cancer treatment method in recent years. The importance of tumor immune microenvironment regulation by ultrasound combined with microbubbles is now widely recognized. Ultrasound and microbubbles work together to induce antigen release of tumor cell through mechanical or thermal effects, promoting antigen presentation and T cells’ recognition and killing of tumor cells, and improve tumor immunosuppression microenvironment, which will be a breakthrough in improving traditional treatment problems such as immune checkpoint blocking (ICB) and himeric antigen receptor (CAR)-T cell therapy. In order to improve the therapeutic effect and immune regulation of TME targeted tumor therapy, it is necessary to develop and optimize the application system of microbubble ultrasound for organs or diseases. Therefore, the combination of ultrasound and microbubbles in the field of TME will continue to focus on developing more effective strategies to regulate the immunosuppression mechanisms, so as to activate anti-tumor immunity and/or improve the efficacy of immune-targeted drugs, At present, the potential value of ultrasound combined with microbubbles in TME targeted therapy tumor microenvironment targeted therapy has great potential, which has been confirmed in the experimental research and application of breast cancer, colon cancer, pancreatic cancer and prostate cancer, which provides a new alternative idea for clinical tumor treatment. This article reviews the research progress of ultrasound combined with microbubbles in the treatment of tumors and their application in the tumor microenvironment.
Bringing into focus the central domains C3-C6 of myosin binding protein C
Authors: Doh Chang Yoon , Schmidt Alexandra V. , Chinthalapudi Krishna , Stelzer Julian E.
Published: February 2024

Myosin binding protein C (MyBPC) is a multi-domain protein with each region having a distinct functional role in muscle contraction. The central domains of MyBPC have often been overlooked due to their unclear roles. However, recent research shows promise in understanding their potential structural and regulatory functions. Understanding the central region of MyBPC is important because it may have specialized function that can be used as drug targets or for disease-specific therapies. In this review, we provide a brief overview of the evolution of our understanding of the central domains of MyBPC in regard to its domain structures, arrangement and dynamics, interaction partners, hypothesized functions, disease-causing mutations, and post-translational modifications. We highlight key research studies that have helped advance our understanding of the central region. Lastly, we discuss gaps in our current understanding and potential avenues to further research and discovery.
Prediction of potential suitable habitats in the 21st century and GAP analysis of priority conservation areas of Chionanthus retusus based on the MaxEnt and Marxan models
Authors: Wang Yongji , Wu Kefan , Zhao Ruxia , Xie Liyuan , Li Yifan , Zhao Guanghua , Zhang Fen-Guo
Published: February 2024

Chionanthus retusus (C. retusus) has a high economic and medicinal value, but in recent years it has been included in the list of China's major protected plants and China's Red List of Biodiversity due to the serious destruction of its wild germplasm resources. Based on 131 sample points of C. retusus, this study simulated potential habitats and spatial changes of C. retusus in the 21st century using the Maxent model combined with the geographic information system ArcGIS, predicted prioritized protected areas by the Marxan model, and assessed current conservation status through GAP analysis. The results showed that (1) when the regularization multiplier was 1.5 and the feature combinations were linear, quadratic, and fragmented, the area under the curve of the subjects in the training and test sets were both above 0.9, the true skill statistic value was 0.80, and the maximum Kappa value was 0.62, meaning that the model had high accuracy; (2) Temperature seasonality, annual precipitation, min temperature for coldest month, and precipitation of wettest month had relatively strong influences on species' ranges. (3) The moderately and optimally suitable habitats of C. retusus were primly located in the areas of southwestern Shanxi, central Hebei, western Henan, Shandong, Shaanxi, Anhui and Hubei; (4) Under different future climate scenarios, the area of each class of suitable habitat will increase for varied amounts compared to the current period, with a general trend of expansion to the south; (5) The C. retusus priority protected areas were mainly located in most of Shandong, southern Liaoning, southwestern Shanxi, western Henan, and central Hebei, and its conservation vacancy area was relatively large compared to its protected area. These results will provide scientific strategies for implementing long-term conservation of C. retusus in China and similar regions under warming conditions in the 21st century.
An evaluation of Astragali Radix with different growth patterns and years, based on a new multidimensional comparison method
Authors: Wang Yapeng , Yuan Changsheng , Zhao Jiachen , Liu Yunxiang , Tian Chunfang , Qian Jinxiu , Nan Tiegui , Kang Liping , Liu Yanmeng , Zhan Zhilai , Huang Luqi
Published: February 2024

Introduction

With the depletion of wild Astragali Radix (WA) resources, imitated-wild Astragali Radix (IWA) and cultivated Astragali Radix (CA) have become the main products of Astragali Radix. However, the quality differences of three growth patterns (WA, IWA, CA) and different growth years of Astragali Radix have not been fully characterized, leading to a lack of necessary scientific evidence for their use as substitutes for WA.

Methods

We innovatively proposed a multidimensional evaluation method that encompassed traits, microstructure, cell wall components, saccharides, and pharmacodynamic compounds, to comprehensively explain the quality variances among different growth patterns and years of Astragali Radix.

Results and discussion

Our study showed that the quality of IWA and WA was comparatively similar, including evaluation indicators such as apparent color, sectional structure and odor, thickness of phellem, diameter and number of vessels, morphology of phloem and xylem, and the levels and ratios of cellulose, hemicellulose, lignin, sucrose, starch, water-soluble polysaccharides, total-saponins. However, the content of sucrose, starch and sorbose in CA was significantly higher than WA, and the diameter and number of vessels, total-flavonoids content were lower than WA, indicating significant quality differences between CA and WA. Hence, we suggest that IWA should be used as a substitute for WA instead of CA. As for the planting years of IWA, our results indicated that IWA aged 1-32 years could be divided into three stages according to their quality change: rapid growth period (1-5 years), stable growth period (6-20 years), and elderly growth period (25-32 years). Among these, 6-20 years old IWA exhibited consistent multidimensional comparative results, showcasing elevated levels of key active components such as water-soluble polysaccharides, flavonoids, and saponins. Considering both the quality and cultivation expenses of IWA, we recommend a cultivation duration of 6-8 years for growers. In conclusion, we established a novel multidimensional evaluation method to systematically characterize the quality of Astragali Radix, and provided a new scientific perspective for the artificial cultivation and quality assurance of Astragali Radix.
An evaluation of the German version of the Sensory Perception Quotient from an expert by experience perspective
Authors: Bierlich Afton M. , Bloch Carola , Spyra Timo , Lanz Christian , Falter-Wagner Christine M. , Vogeley Kai
Published: February 2024

Sensory processing is often altered in individuals with autism; thus, it is essential to develop reliable measurement tools to assess sensory perception. The Sensory Perception Quotient (SPQ) quantifies basic sensory sensitivities in adults via self-report. Adopting an expert by experience perspective, this study aimed to evaluate a German translation of the SPQ for its use in clinical and research applications, especially for autistic adults. 108 adults (n = 54 autistic) completed the German SPQ in an online assessment. A 92-item and a 35-item version of the German SPQ were analyzed for group differences and internal consistency. Our results show that adults with autism reported greater sensory sensitivity compared to non-autistic adults. Results further suggest good to excellent internal consistency for the 95-item and 35-item SPQ translations. This finding was supported by the correlative relationship between sensory sensitivity and autistic traits. These findings confirm the reliability of our SPQ translation, making it a suitable German assessment tool for basic sensory sensitivity in autistic adults.
What keeps historical theme park visitors coming? Research based on expectation confirmation theory
Authors: Yuan Li , Marzuki Azizan
Published: February 2024

Culture is one of the most important factors in attracting tourists and influencing the tourist experience. In China, “theme park” is a new field of tourism research, an excellent theme park can not only drive the development of a city’s tourism industry, but also help it better publicize its history and culture. The article takes Kaifeng, China as the background, and selects the Song Dynasty historical and cultural theme park, which was established based on the traditional ink painting Qingming Riverside Drawing, as an example, to study the factors affecting tourists’ travel experience in historical and cultural theme parks, and based on which it explores the reasons for the formation of tourists’ satisfaction and post-trip behavioral intentions, to provide references and suggestions for the development of cultural theme parks from the point of view of travel experience. Based on the expectation confirmation theory, this essay introduces five constructs, namely, expectation (tourism motivation), performance (service quality), confirmation (tourism experience), satisfaction, and post-trip behavior intention, to construct a model of the factors influencing tourists’ satisfaction by tourism experience in historical theme parks and analyze the intrinsic correlation among the factors within the model. It is found that tourists’ tourism experience is mainly affected by tourism motivation and service quality, satisfaction and post-trip behavior intention are jointly determined by the above three. According to the research results, this study believes that tourism motivation, service quality, and tourism experience should be the focus of attention of the current tourist destinations, therefore, focusing on tourists’ motivation to optimize the quality of service, helping tourists to enhance the sense of tourism experience, and improving based on the above focuses is of great significance to promote the development of historical and cultural theme parks.
Complexity of mentalization
Authors: Arabadzhiev Zlatoslav , Paunova Rositsa
Published: February 2024

The ability to understand other people’s emotions, thoughts, and behaviors is associated with an individual’s ability and his attitude in the context of relationships. The development of this process is associated with different psychosocial factors: parental competence, building a secure attachment and reduced risk of violence in the family as well as the future intrapersonal relationships and social reality of one person Mentalization is empirically associated with resolving psychological tasks in normative dilemmas and also, can influence on the outcome of personal and situational crises. And so forth, passing through the different stages of life and prevention of dysfunctional patterns in the family is facilitated. This text aims to investigate the main characteristics of mentalization, its connection with the etiopathogenesis of some main mental disorders, their course and prognosis. Several studies in recent years confirmed that these connections can enroll mentalization to prevention and psychological therapy in some mental disorders and dysfunctional thinking patterns. On the other hand, it serves as a basis for psychotherapeutic competence expressed in the ability to connect, differentiate, and separate, as the main interactional stages of the psychotherapeutic process.
Associations between internet addiction and school engagement among Turkish college students: mediating role of psychological distress
Authors: Öztekin Gülçin Güler
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Internet addiction has become a subject of growing concern with adverse consequences. This study aimed to investigate the mediating effect of psychological distress in the relationship between internet addiction and school engagement.

Methods

Data were obtained from 732 Turkish college students (M = 20.98, SD = 2.58). The data were collected through Young’s Internet Addiction Test, Depression, Stress and Anxiety Scale (DASS21)-Short Form, and University Student Engagement Inventory. Mediation analysis was performed to investigate the mediating effects of depression, anxiety, and stress in the association between internet addiction and school engagement.

Results

The results of the study showed that internet addiction was positively associated with psychological distress and negatively associated with school engagement, whereas psychological distress had a negative relationship with school engagement. This study also found that depression, anxiety, and stress acted as mediators in the relationship between internet addiction and behavioral engagement, emotional engagement, and cognitive engagement.

Conclusion

This study has provided evidence that young adults with tendency of internet addiction may experience school engagement problems as well as psychological problems. Our findings underscore the need for special educational intervention programs aimed at encouraging college youth to limit their internet use for their future due to its negative consequences and raising awareness in this vulnerable group and their families.
Commonsense knowledge in cognitive robotics: a systematic literature review
Authors: Töberg Jan-Philipp , Ngonga Ngomo Axel-Cyrille , Beetz Michael , Cimiano Philipp
Published: February 2024

One of the big challenges in robotics is the generalization necessary for performing unknown tasks in unknown environments on unknown objects. For us humans, this challenge is simplified by the commonsense knowledge we can access. For cognitive robotics, representing and acquiring commonsense knowledge is a relevant problem, so we perform a systematic literature review to investigate the current state of commonsense knowledge exploitation in cognitive robotics. For this review, we combine a keyword search on six search engines with a snowballing search on six related reviews, resulting in 2,048 distinct publications. After applying pre-defined inclusion and exclusion criteria, we analyse the remaining 52 publications. Our focus lies on the use cases and domains for which commonsense knowledge is employed, the commonsense aspects that are considered, the datasets/resources used as sources for commonsense knowledge and the methods for evaluating these approaches. Additionally, we discovered a divide in terminology between research from the knowledge representation and reasoning and the cognitive robotics community. This divide is investigated by looking at the extensive review performed by Zech et al. (The International Journal of Robotics Research, 2019, 38, 518–562), with whom we have no overlapping publications despite the similar goals.
Direction of arrival estimation using the rotating equatorial microphone
Authors: Lawrence Jeremy , Ahrens Jens , Peters Nils
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Direction of arrival (DOA) estimation of sound sources is an essential task of sound field analysis which typically requires two or more microphones. In this study, we present an algorithm that allows for DOA estimation using the previously designed Rotating Equatorial Microphone prototype, which is a single microphone that moves rapidly along a circular trajectory, introducing DOA-dependent periodic distortions in the captured signal.

Methods: Our algorithm compensates for the induced spectral distortions caused by the REM’s circular motion for multiple DOA candidates. Subsequently, the best DOA candidate is identified using two distortion metrics. We verify our approach through numerical simulations and practical experiments conducted in a low-reverberant environment.

Results: The proposed approach localizes unknown single-frequency sources with a mean absolute error of 23 degrees and unknown wideband sources with a mean absolute error of 5.4 degrees in practice. Two sources are also localizable provided they are sufficiently separated in space.

Conclusion: Whilst previous work only allowed for DOA estimation of a single monochromatic sound source with a known frequency, our DOA estimation algorithm enables localization of unknown and arbitrary sources with a single moving microphone.
Dynamic phasor measurement algorithm based on high-precision time synchronization
Authors: Zhang Jie , Li Fuxin , Chang Zhengwei , Hu Chunhua , Liu Chun , Tang Sihao
Published: February 2024

Ensuring the swift and precise tracking of power system signal parameters, especially the frequency, is imperative for the secure and stable operation of power grids. In instances of faults within the distribution network, abrupt changes in frequency may occur, presenting a challenge for existing algorithms that struggle to effectively track such signal variations. Addressing the need for enhanced performance in the face of frequency mutations, this paper introduces an innovative approach—the Covariance Reconstruction Extended Kalman Filter (CREKF) algorithm. Initially, the dynamic signal model of electric power is meticulously analyzed, establishing a dynamic signal relationship based on high-precision time source sampling tailored to the signal model’s characteristics. Subsequently, the filter gain, covariance matrix, and variance iteration equation are determined based on the signal relationship among three sampling points. In a final step, recognizing the impact of the covariance matrix on algorithmic tracking ability, the paper proposes a covariance matrix reset mechanism utilizing hysteresis induced by output errors. Through extensive verification with simulated signals, the results conclusively demonstrate that the CREKF algorithm exhibits superior measurement accuracy and accelerated tracking speed when confronted with mutating signals.
Sociocultural predictors of immigrant adjustment and well-being
Authors: Shekriladze Ia , Javakhishvili Nino
Published: February 2024

Introduction

Research shows that culture change may pose risks to immigrant wellbeing. Our study examined adult Georgians (N = 431) residing in Greece, Italy, and Germany, and explored associations between their demographic characteristics, sociocultural adjustment, and psychological well-being outcomes.

Methods

Conducted via electronic self-report survey, the cross-sectional study measured participants’ levels of sociocultural adjustment, psychological adjustment, and depression along with the willingness to interact with host nationals, perceived sense of discrimination, history of being undocumented, age and length of relocation, and fluency in host language. The study also examined differences in three subsamples from the standpoint of intercultural distance. Sociocultural Adjustment Scale, Brief Psychological Adaptation Scale, Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale and Host Interaction Scale were used to measure the corresponding variables. Perceived history of discrimination was measured by a Likert-scale question about discrimination in a host country. Intercultural distance was established by Hofstede cultural compass and was estimated to be the smallest with Greece and the largest with Germany.

Results

Depression was positively predicted by histories of discrimination and illegal immigration, host language fluency upon relocation, and was negatively predicted by sociocultural adjustment. Psychological adjustment was positively predicted by sociocultural adjustment, willingness to interact with host nationals, and ongoing language fluency, while perceived sense of discrimination, age, and poor financial state acted as negative predictors. Finally, sociocultural adjustment acted as the strongest determinant of wellbeing predicting both lower depression and higher psychological adjustment.

Discussion

Our findings suggested that adjustment in diverse sociocultural domains was the most critical for the immigrants’ psychological well-being along with the lack of perceived discrimination. Additional factors associated with the better adaptation outcomes included younger age, willingness to interact with host nationals, language fluency, better financial standing and no history of being undocumented. The results also indicated that host language proficiency upon relocation may contribute to migrant susceptibility, whereas intercultural distance may be overshadowed in importance by acculturation conditions. The findings illustrate the complexity of migration and culture change and point to the superiority of wholistic policies and practices in promoting smooth transition of immigrant populations.