bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Disease-Specific α-Synuclein Seeding in Lewy Body Disease and Multiple System Atrophy Are Preserved in Formaldehyde-Fixed Paraffin-Embedded Human Brain
Authors: Kim Ain , Martinez-Valbuena Ivan , Li Jun , Lang Anthony E. , Kovacs Gabor G.
Published: June 2023

Recent studies have been able to detect α-synuclein (αSyn) seeding in formaldehyde-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues from patients with synucleinopathies using seed amplification assays (SAAs), but with relatively low sensitivity due to limited protein extraction efficiency. With the aim of introducing an alternative option to frozen tissues, we developed a streamlined protein extraction protocol for evaluating disease-specific seeding in FFPE human brain. We evaluated the protein extraction efficiency of different tissue preparations, deparaffinizations, and protein extraction buffers using formaldehyde-fixed and FFPE tissue of a single Lewy body disease (LBD) subject. Alternatively, we incorporated heat-induced antigen retrieval and dissociation using a commercially available kit. Our novel protein extraction protocol has been optimized to work with 10 sections of 4.5-µm-thickness or 2-mm-diameter micro-punch of FFPE tissue that can be used to seed SAAs. We demonstrated that extracted proteins from FFPE still preserve seeding potential and further show disease-specific seeding in LBD and multiple system atrophy. To the best of our knowledge, our study is the first to recapitulate disease-specific αSyn seeding behaviour in FFPE human brain. Our findings open new perspectives in re-evaluating archived human brain tissue, extending the disease-specific seeding assays to larger cohorts to facilitate molecular subtyping of synucleinopathies.
The Role of Female Reproductive Hormones in the Association between Migraine and Breast Cancer: An Unanswered Question
Authors: Tiberio Paola , Viganò Alessandro , Ilieva Mariya Boyanova , Pindilli Sebastiano , Bianchi Anna , Zambelli Alberto , Santoro Armando , De Sanctis Rita
Published: June 2023

Accumulating epidemiological studies have investigated a possible interconnection between migraine (Mi) and breast cancer (BC) because of the strong link between these diseases and female reproductive hormones. This review aims to consolidate findings from epidemiological studies and explore biologically plausible hypothetical mechanisms related to hormonal pathways. Current evidence suggests a protective role of Mi in BC development, particularly in case–control studies but not in cohort ones. The inconsistency among studies may be due to several reasons, including diagnostic criteria for Mi and the age gap between the development of these two diseases. Furthermore, recent research has challenged the concept of a net beneficial effect of Mi on BC, suggesting a more complex relationship between the two conditions. Many polymorphisms/mutations in hormone-related pathways are involved in at least one of the two conditions. The most promising evidence has emerged for a specific alteration in the estrogen receptor 1 gene (rs2228480). However, the possible specific mutation or polymorphism involved in this association has not yet been identified. Further studies with robust methodologies are needed to validate the protective role of Mi in BC and fully elucidate the precise nature of this causal relationship.
Forging New Therapeutic Targets: Efforts of Tumor Derived Exosomes to Prepare the Pre-Metastatic Niche for Cancer Cell Dissemination and Dormancy
Authors: Bhatia Ranvir , Chang Joanna , Munoz Jessian L. , Walker Nykia D.
Published: June 2023

Tumor-derived exosomes play a multifaceted role in preparing the pre-metastatic niche, promoting cancer dissemination, and regulating cancer cell dormancy. A brief review of three types of cells implicated in metastasis and an overview of other types of extracellular vesicles related to metastasis are described. A central focus of this review is on how exosomes influence cancer progression throughout metastatic disease. Exosomes are crucial mediators of intercellular communication by transferring their cargo to recipient cells, modulating their behavior, and promoting tumor pro-gression. First, their functional role in cancer cell dissemination in the peripheral blood by facilitating the establishment of a pro-angiogenic and pro-inflammatory niche is described during organotro-pism and in lymphatic-mediated metastasis. Second, tumor-derived exosomes can transfer molecular signals that induce cell cycle arrest, dormancy, and survival pathways in disseminated cells, promoting a dormant state are reviewed. Third, several studies highlight exosome involvement in maintaining cellular dormancy in the bone marrow endosteum. Finally, the clinical implications of exosomes as biomarkers or diagnostic tools for cancer progression are also outlined. Understanding the complex interplay between tumor-derived exosomes and the pre-metastatic niche is crucial for developing novel therapeutic strategies to target metastasis and prevent cancer recurrence. To that end, several examples of how exosomes or other nanocarriers are used as a drug delivery system to inhibit cancer metastasis are discussed. Strategies are discussed to alter exosome cargo content for better loading capacity or direct cell targeting by integrins. Further, pre-clinical models or Phase I clinical trials implementing exosomes or other nanocarriers to attack metastatic cancer cells are highlighted.
Medical Prospect of Melatonin in the Intervertebral Disc Degeneration through Inhibiting M1-Type Macrophage Polarization via SIRT1/Notch Signaling Pathway
Authors: Dou Xinyu , Luo Qipeng , Xie Linzhen , Zhou Xuchang , Song Chunyu , Liu Meijuan , Liu Xiao , Ma Yunlong , Liu Xiaoguang
Published: June 2023

The study aims to explore the medical prospect of melatonin (MLT) and the underlying therapeutic mechanism of MLT-mediated macrophage (Mφ) polarization on the function of nucleus pulposus (NP) in intervertebral disc degeneration (IDD). RAW 264.7 Mφs were induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) to simulate Mφ polarization and the inflammatory reaction of Mφs with or without MLT were detected. Conditioned medium (CM) collected from these activated Mφs with or without MLT treatment were further used to incubate NP cells. The oxidative stress, inflammation and extracellular matrix (ECM) metabolism in NP cells were determined. Then, the changes in SIRT1/Notch signaling were detected. The agonist (SRT1720) and inhibitor (EX527) of SIRT1 were used to further explore the association among MLT. The interaction between SIRT1 and NICD was detected by immunoprecipitation (IP). Finally, puncture-induced rat IDD models were established and IDD degrees were clarified by X-ray, MRI, H&E staining and immunofluorescence (IF). The results of flow cytometry and inflammation detection indicated that LPS could induce M1-type Mφ polarization with pro-inflammatory properties. MLT significantly inhibited the aforementioned process and inhibited M1-type Mφ polarization, accompanied by the alleviation of inflammation. Compared with those without MLT, the levels of oxidative stress, pro-inflammatory cytokines and ECM catabolism in NP cells exposed to CM with MLT were markedly downregulated in a dose-dependent manner. The inhibition of SIRT1 and the enhancement of Notch were observed in activated Mφs and they can be reversed after MLT treatment. This prediction was further confirmed by using the SRT1720 and EX527 to activate or inhibit the signaling. The interaction between SIRT1 and NICD was verified by IP. In vivo study, the results of MRI, Pfirrmann grade scores and H&E staining demonstrated the degree of disc degeneration was significantly lower in the MLT-treated groups when compared with the IDD control group. The IF data showed M1-type Mφ polarization decreased after MLT treatment. MLT could inhibit M1-type Mφ polarization and ameliorate the NP cell injury caused by inflammation in vitro and vivo, which is of great significance for the remission of IDD. The SIRT1/Notch signaling pathway is a promising target for MLT to mediate Mφ polarization.
Impact of Social Identity Complexity in Unfair Events on Intergroup Bias in Third-Party Fairness Maintenance
Authors: Li Zhuang , Hu Gengdan , Li Qiangqiang
Published: June 2023

The intergroup bias in third-party fairness maintenance includes two components: ingroup love and outgroup hate. Previous studies revealed that intergroup bias could be alleviated by high social identity complexity. This study explored the influence of the social identity complexity of parties in unfair events on intergroup bias in third-party fairness maintenance. Participants were divided into two groups and asked to choose from retention and punishment (Experiment One)/compensation (Experiment Two) to respond to unfair events presented by dictator games. To separate the components, we introduced additional unaffiliated members. Social identity complexity included single identity, presented as ingroup vs. outgroup sides of unfair events, and multiple identities, which included group identity and five additional identities. The results demonstrated that third parties tended to impose less punishment and more compensation on outgroup members under multiple than single identity conditions; however, the punishment and compensation to ingroup members exhibited no significant difference between the identity conditions. These results indicated that the multiple identities of the two sides in unfair events can reduce intergroup bias in third-party fairness maintenance, which can be achieved by reducing the outgroup hate rather than ingroup love.
Individual and Contextual Variables as Predictors of MRI-Related Perceived Anxiety
Authors: Farinha Margarida N. , Semedo Carla S. , Diniz António M. , Herédia Vasco
Published: June 2023

Background: Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) generates patient anxiety (PA) and, therefore, it is important to understand individual and contextual variables that may cause it. In study one, we explored those anxiety predictors. In study two, we examined the effect of the experience of MRI on PA comparing anxiety pre- to post-MRI. Methods: PA was measured with an anxiety and stress scale in an interview format. Data collection occurred at a public hospital with MRI outpatients aged 18 or older. In study one (n = 204), participants answered the questionnaire immediately after experiencing the MRI and the data were analyzed through structural equation modeling. In study two (n = 242), participants answered the questionnaire before and after the examination and the data were analyzed through Bayesian statistics. Results: Being female, having a higher education level (EL), and not receiving information about the examination predicts higher PA after MRI. Patients with prior information have a decrease in PA from pre- to post-MRI. Those who do not have no change in PA. In low-educated patients, PA also decreases and no changes occur in highly educated patients. Conclusion: This study provides health professionals with valuable indicators about patients who are more likely to perceive and express anxiety during MRI.
Exploring the Spatial Dimensions of Social Sustainability in the Workplace through the Lens of Interior Architects in Jordan
Authors: Altamimi Shrouq , Iranmanesh Aminreza , Denerel Simge Bardak
Published: June 2023

In both industry and academia, sustainability has become a priority in the interior design and architecture industry, having a significant impact on society. However, most recent studies on building sustainability focus mainly on environmental and economic issues, with social sustainability often being complicated and overlooked in relevant research. This paper argues that there is a need for workplace design guidance that prioritizes parameters at the intersection of twenty-first-century workforce–corporate interests, embodying the notion of social sustainability within the built environment. Through this perspective, the physical environment is considered the container of its social content, and its features and characteristics have a direct impact on the quality of life and work for office workers. Although international currents in the age of globalization have stimulated tangible progress in the context of sustainability, the interior design of most design and architecture offices in Jordan suffers from an underrepresentation of the distinctive features of socially sustainable, user-welcoming interior spaces and environments. The current study explores the experiences of interior design professionals in Jordan through four windows of “Physiological Health and Comfort”, “Efficiency and Ergonomics”, “Privacy and Social Interaction”, and “Spatial Organization (Design)” from a quantitative perspective. A survey was developed to investigate these criteria and was administered among 145 full-time design professionals working in offices in Amman, Jordan. The study aimed to investigate the experiences of these practitioners in relation to their office work environment, with a focus on exploring Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), Quality of Work Life (QWL), and Quality of Life (QoL) from the perspective of social sustainability. Descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression models were employed to analyze the survey data and evaluate the findings. Overall, the study highlights the need for theoretical and practical incentives to promote the adoption of socially sustainable development in workplace design, particularly in the context of interior design in Jordan. By focusing on the experiences of interior design professionals with their workplace environment, this study provides valuable insights for the development of workplace design guidelines that prioritize social sustainability parameters within the built environment.
Correlation Analysis of Health Factors of Elderly People in Traditional Miao Dwellings in Western Hunan
Authors: Liu Zhezheng , Li Zhe , Zhang Fupeng , Yang Guanglei , Xie Liang
Published: June 2023

Under the macro context of severe global aging, the typical villages and dwellings of the Miao ethnic group in western Hunan were selected, and the daily life and health status of the local elderly were evaluated through behavioral observation, interviews, and questionnaires (e.g., physiological, psychological, and residential environments). In addition, the health status and relevant evaluation factors of the respondents were correlated and then analyzed using SPSS software. As indicated by the results of this study, the local elderly used all the spaces and functions of the existing dwellings and were satisfied with the spaces except for the toilet. In addition, their physiological functions had declined, and their daily behaviors were affected by a wide variety of physical diseases. From a psychological perspective, more than 60% of the elderly had significant feelings of loneliness and frustration. As indicated by the correlation results, the health status of the elderly in traditional Miao dwellings in western Hunan was positively correlated with family, income, daily acts, dwellings, and infrastructure, and negatively correlated with age. They showed linear correlations with all impact factors: Health = 157.44 − 5.242 ∗ Gender − 1.611 ∗ Age − 0.606 ∗ Education level − 0.411 ∗ Family + 0.001 ∗ Income − 7.191 ∗ Daily acts + 13.621 ∗ Dwelling + 4.682 ∗ Infrastructure + 17.198 ∗ Natural. Based on the results of study, targeted improvement strategies were proposed for the elderly in traditional Miao dwellings in western Hunan from four aspects—infrastructure, traditional dwellings, mental health, and policy support—to improve the health status of the elderly in traditional Chinese villages and towns.
Effect of Ruthenium Modification of g-C3N4 in the Visible-Light-Driven Photocatalytic Reduction of Cr(VI)
Authors: Xuan Truong Nguyen , Thi Dien Nguyen , Ngoc Tue Nguyen , Quoc Khanh Dang , Németh Miklós , Mukhtar Shoaib , Horváth Ottó
Published: June 2023

Graphitic carbon nitride (g-C3N4) is a promising heterogeneous photocatalyst in the visible range. It can be used, among others, for reductive conversion of the toxic hexavalent chromium occurring in various wastewaters. Its photocatalytic efficiency, however, has to be improved, which can be realized by modification with different dopants or co-catalysts forming heterojunctions. In our work, ruthenium-modified g-C3N4 has been prepared by ultrasonic impregnation of the pristine g-C3N4, which was synthesized from thiourea. The morphology, microstructure, and optical properties of the photocatalysts were characterized by XRD, SEM, FT-IR, TEM, XPS, and DRS. Their compositions were analyzed by EDS and XPS measurements, indicating 0.5% and 1.4% Ru, due to the different penetrating depths. XPS study showed mainly +2 for the oxidation state of Ru. DRS analysis indicated a slight change in both the CB (from −1.14 to −1.22 eV) and the VB (from 1.49 to 1.56 eV) energies of Ru/g-C3N4, compared to those of g-C3N4. The photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction efficacy increased from 50.1 to 96.8%. Low pH (=2) was preferred for the photocatalytic Cr(VI) reduction due to the favorable surface charge and E(Cr(VI)/Cr(III)) redox potential. Ru modification proved to be promising for improving the photocatalytic performance of g-C3N4.
Corneal Edema in Inducible Slc4a11 Knockout Is Initiated by Mitochondrial Superoxide Induced Src Kinase Activation
Authors: Ogando Diego G. , Kim Edward T. , Li Shimin , Bonanno Joseph A.
Published: June 2023

Purpose: Inducible Slc4a11 KO leads to corneal edema by disruption of the pump and barrier functions of the corneal endothelium (CE). The loss of Slc4a11 NH3-activated mitochondrial uncoupling leads to mitochondrial membrane potential hyperpolarization-induced oxidative stress. The goal of this study was to investigate the link between oxidative stress and the failure of pump and barrier functions and to test different approaches to revert the process. Methods: Mice which were homozygous for Slc4a11 Flox and Estrogen receptor –Cre Recombinase fusion protein alleles at 8 weeks of age were fed Tamoxifen (Tm)-enriched chow (0.4 g/Kg) for 2 weeks, and controls were fed normal chow. During the initial 14 days, Slc4a11 expression, corneal thickness (CT), stromal [lactate], Na+-K+ ATPase activity, mitochondrial superoxide levels, expression of lactate transporters, and activity of key kinases were assessed. In addition, barrier function was assessed by fluorescein permeability, ZO-1 tight junction integrity, and cortical cytoskeleton F-actin morphology. Results: Tm induced a rapid decay in Slc4a11 expression that was 84% complete at 7 days and 96% complete at 14 days of treatment. Superoxide levels increased significantly by day 7; CT and fluorescein permeability by day 14. Tight junction ZO-1 distribution and the cortical cytoskeleton were disrupted at day 14, concomitant with decreased expression of Cldn1, yet with increased tyrosine phosphorylation. Stromal lactate increased by 60%, Na+-K+ ATPase activity decreased by 40%, and expression of lactate transporters MCT2 and MCT4 significantly decreased, but MCT1 was unchanged at 14 days. Src kinase was activated, but not Rock, PKCα, JNK, or P38Mapk. Mitochondrial antioxidant Visomitin (SkQ1, mitochondrial targeted antioxidant) and Src kinase inhibitor eCF506 significantly slowed the increase in CT, with concomitant decreased stromal lactate retention, improved barrier function, reduced Src activation and Cldn1 phosphorylation, and rescued MCT2 and MCT4 expression. Conclusions: Slc4a11 KO-induced CE oxidative stress triggered increased Src kinase activity that resulted in perturbation of the pump components and barrier function of the CE.
Mustard Gas Exposure Actuates SMAD2/3 Signaling to Promote Myofibroblast Generation in the Cornea
Authors: Sinha Nishant R. , Tripathi Ratnakar , Balne Praveen K. , Suleiman Laila , Simkins Katherine , Chaurasia Shyam S. , Mohan Rajiv R.
Published: June 2023

Sulfur mustard gas (SM) is a vesicating and alkylating agent used as a chemical weapon in many mass-casualty incidents since World War I. Ocular injuries were reported in >90% of exposed victims. The mechanisms underlying SM-induced blindness remain elusive. This study tested the hypothesis that SM-induced corneal fibrosis occurs due to the generation of myofibroblasts from resident fibroblasts via the SMAD2/3 signaling pathway in rabbit eyes in vivo and primary human corneal fibroblasts (hCSFs) isolated from donor corneas in vitro. Fifty-four New Zealand White Rabbits were divided into three groups (Naïve, Vehicle, SM-Vapor treated). The SM-Vapor group was exposed to SM at 200 mg-min/m3 for 8 min at the MRI Global facility. Rabbit corneas were collected on day 3, day 7, and day 14 for immunohistochemistry, RNA, and protein lysates. SM caused a significant increase in SMAD2/3, pSMAD, and ɑSMA expression on day 3, day 7, and day 14 in rabbit corneas. For mechanistic studies, hCSFs were treated with nitrogen mustard (NM) or NM + SIS3 (SMAD3-specific inhibitor) and collected at 30 m, 8 h, 24 h, 48 h, and 72 h. NM significantly increased TGFβ, pSMAD3, and SMAD2/3 levels. On the contrary, inhibition of SMAD2/3 signaling by SIS3 treatment significantly reduced SMAD2/3, pSMAD3, and ɑSMA expression in hCSFs. We conclude that SMAD2/3 signaling appears to play a vital role in myofibroblast formation in the cornea following mustard gas exposure.
Adenoviral Transfer of Human Aquaporin-8 Gene to Mouse Liver Improves Ammonia-Derived Ureagenesis
Authors: Capiglioni Alejo M. , Capitani María C. , Marrone Julieta , Marinelli Raúl A.
Published: June 2023

We previously reported that, in cultured hepatocytes, mitochondrial aquaporin-8 (AQP8) channels facilitate the conversion of ammonia to urea and that the expression of human AQP8 (hAQP8) enhances ammonia-derived ureagenesis. In this study, we evaluated whether hepatic gene transfer of hAQP8 improves detoxification of ammonia to urea in normal mice as well as in mice with impaired hepatocyte ammonia metabolism. A recombinant adenoviral (Ad) vector encoding hAQP8, AdhAQP8, or a control Ad vector was administered via retrograde infusion into the bile duct of the mice. Hepatocyte mitochondrial expression of hAQP8 was confirmed using confocal immunofluorescence and immunoblotting. The normal hAQP8-transduced mice showed decreased plasma ammonia and increased liver urea. Enhanced ureagenesis was confirmed via the NMR studies assessing the synthesis of 15N-labeled urea from 15N-labeled ammonia. In separate experiments, we made use of the model hepatotoxic agent, thioacetamide, to induce defective hepatic metabolism of ammonia in mice. The adenovirus-mediated mitochondrial expression of hAQP8 was able to restore normal ammonemia and ureagenesis in the liver of the mice. Our data suggest that hAQP8 gene transfer to mouse liver improves detoxification of ammonia to urea. This finding could help better understand and treat disorders with defective hepatic ammonia metabolism.
Short-Term Exposure to Bisphenol A Does Not Impact Gonadal Cell Steroidogenesis In Vitro
Authors: Roy Neena , Lazzaretti Clara , Paradiso Elia , Capponi Chiara , Ferrari Tommaso , Reggianini Francesca , Sperduti Samantha , Baschieri Lara , Mascolo Elisa , Perri Carmela , Varani Manuela , Canu Giulia , Trenti Tommaso , Nicoli Alessia , Morini Daria , Iannotti Francesca , Villani Maria Teresa , Vicini Elena , Simoni Manuela , Casarini Livio
Published: June 2023

Bisphenol A (BPA) is a ubiquitous, synthetic chemical proven to induce reproductive disorders in both men and women. The available studies investigated the effects of BPA on male and female steroidogenesis following long-term exposure to the compound at relatively high environmental concentrations. However, the impact of short-term exposure to BPA on reproduction is poorly studied. We evaluated if 8 and 24 h exposure to 1 nM and 1 µM BPA perturbs luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin (LH/hCG)-mediated signalling in two steroidogenic cell models, i.e., the mouse tumour Leydig cell line mLTC1, and human primary granulosa lutein cells (hGLC). Cell signalling studies were performed using a homogeneous time-resolved fluorescence (HTRF) assay and Western blotting, while gene expression analysis was carried out using real-time PCR. Immunostainings and an immunoassay were used for intracellular protein expression and steroidogenesis analyses, respectively. The presence of BPA leads to no significant changes in gonadotropin-induced cAMP accumulation, alongside phosphorylation of downstream molecules, such as ERK1/2, CREB and p38 MAPK, in both the cell models. BPA did not impact STARD1, CYP11A1 and CYP19A1 gene expression in hGLC, nor Stard1 and Cyp17a1 expression in mLTC1 treated with LH/hCG. Additionally, the StAR protein expression was unchanged upon exposure to BPA. Progesterone and oestradiol levels in the culture medium, measured by hGLC, as well as the testosterone and progesterone levels in the culture medium, measured by mLTC1, did not change in the presence of BPA combined with LH/hCG. These data suggest that short-term exposure to environmental concentrations of BPA does not compromise the LH/hCG-induced steroidogenic potential of either human granulosa or mouse Leydig cells.
High Sensitivity Low-Temperature Hydrogen Sensors Based on SnO2/κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn Heterostructure
Authors: Almaev Aleksei , Yakovlev Nikita , Kopyev Viktor , Nikolaev Vladimir , Butenko Pavel , Deng Jinxiang , Pechnikov Aleksei , Korusenko Petr , Koroleva Aleksandra , Zhizhin Evgeniy
Published: June 2023

The structural and gas-sensitive properties of n-N SnO2/κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn heterostructures were investigated in detail for the first time. The κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn and SnO2 films were grown by the halide vapor phase epitaxy and the high-frequency magnetron sputtering, respectively. The gas sensor response and speed of operation of the structures under H2 exposure exceeded the corresponding values of single κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn and SnO2 films within the temperature range of 25–175 °C. Meanwhile, the investigated heterostructures demonstrated a low response to CO, NH3, and CH4 gases and a high response to NO2, even at low concentrations of 100 ppm. The current responses of the SnO2/κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn structure to 104 ppm of H2 and 100 ppm of NO2 were 30–47 arb. un. and 3.7 arb. un., correspondingly, at a temperature of 125 °C. The increase in the sensitivity of heterostructures at low temperatures is explained by a rise of the electron concentration and a change of a microrelief of the SnO2 film surface when depositing on κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn. The SnO2/κ(ε)-Ga2O3:Sn heterostructures, having high gas sensitivity over a wide operating temperature range, can find application in various fields.
Improving Concrete Infrastructure Project Conditions by Mitigating Alkali–Silica Reactivity of Fine Aggregates
Authors: Akhnoukh Amin K.
Published: June 2023

Alkali–silica reactivity (ASR) is one of multiple reactions responsible for premature loss in concrete infrastructure service life. ASR results in the formation of expansive, white-colored gel-like material which results in internal stresses within hardened concrete. ASR-induced stresses result in concrete cracking, spalling, and increased reinforcement steel corrosion rates. The main objective of this research is to improve the conditions of concrete infrastructure projects by mitigating ASR’s damaging effect. The expansion of accelerated mortar bars poured using fine aggregates collected from different sources is measured versus time to evaluate the aggregates’ reactivity. Different percentages of supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs), including class C fly ash and microsilica, were used in remixing mortar bars to evaluate the efficiency of different types of SCMs in mitigating mortar bar expansion. The research findings showed that SCMs can mitigate ASR, thus decreasing mortar bar expansion. The efficiency of SCMs in ASR mitigation is highly dependent on the incorporated SCM percentage and particle fineness. Silica fume, having the smallest particle size, displayed higher rates of ASR mitigation, followed by fly ash. The outcomes of this research will assist design engineers in avoiding future losses due to ASR cracking in concrete infrastructure projects, and reduce the excessive need for maintenance, repair, and replacement activities.
Senotherapeutic Effect of Retinaldehyde and Hyaluronate Fragments in Dermatoporosis
Authors: Kaya Aysin , Saurat Jean-Hilaire , Kaya Gürkan
Published: June 2023

Cellular senescence is one of the important mechanisms of skin aging. In a recent study, we have shown that in patients with dermatoporosis, an extreme senescence condition of the skin, cells positive for p16Ink4a, a biomarker of senescence, were significantly increased in the epidermis. Senescent cells can develop a senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) comprising pro-inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and other soluble factors, leading to chronic inflammation and tissue dysfunction. These senescent cells and SASP pathways represent therapeutic targets for the development of senotherapeutics either by inducing selective cell death of senescent cells called senolytics, or suppressing markers of the SASP, called senomorphics. In this study where we conducted a retrospective immunohistochemical analysis of p16Ink4a expression in the skin samples of dermatoporosis patients included in a previous clinical study, we describe the senotherapeutic effect of retinaldehyde (RAL) and intermediate-size hyaluronate fragments (HAFi). Topical application of RAL and HAFi significantly reduced the number of p16Ink4a-positive cells in the epidermis and dermis in dermatoporosis patients which also showed a significant clinical improvement.
Establishing Sex-Dependent Reference Intervals for KL-6 in Danish Adults
Authors: Bruun Stine Bakkensen , Madsen Jeppe Buur , Brasen Claus Lohman
Published: June 2023

Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) is a promising biomarker for the diagnosis and prognosis of interstitial lung disease. However, reference intervals in Northern Europeans remain to be established using a latex-particle-enhanced turbidimetric immunoassay. The participants were Danish blood donors subjected to strict health requirements. Analyses were performed using the Nanopia KL-6 reagent on the cobas 8000 module c502. Sex-partitioned reference intervals were determined using a parametric quantile approach according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute guideline EP28-A3c. The study included 240 participants—121 females and 119 males. The common reference interval was 59.4–398.5 U/mL (95% confidence intervals (CI) for the lower and upper limits were 47.3–71.9 and 369.5–430.1, respectively). For females, the reference interval was 56.8–324.0 U/mL (95% CIs for the lower and upper limits were 36.1–77.6 and 303.3–344.7, respectively). For males, the reference interval was 51.5–448.7 U/mL (95% CIs for the lower and upper limits were 32.8–71.2 and 397.3–508.1, respectively). These results emphasize the importance of sex partitioning when evaluating KL-6 reference intervals. The reference intervals increase the clinical applicability of the KL-6 biomarker and provide a basis for future scientific studies of its utility in patient management.
Investigation of Progressive Learning within a Statics Course: An Analysis of Performance Retention, Critical Topics, and Active Participation
Authors: Ahmed Naveed , Park JeeWoong , Arteaga Cristian , Stephen Haroon
Published: June 2023

Previous research has demonstrated a link between prior knowledge and student success in engineering courses. However, while course-to-course relations exist, researchers have paid insufficient attention to internal course performance development. This study aims to address this gap—designed to quantify and thus extract meaningful insights—by examining a fundamental engineering course, Statics, from three perspectives: (1) progressive learning reflected in performance retention throughout the course; (2) critical topics and their influence on students’ performance progression; and (3) student active participation as a surrogate measure of progressive learning. By analyzing data collected from 222 students over five semesters, this study draws insights on student in-course progressive learning. The results show that early learning had significant implications in building a foundation in progressive learning throughout the semester. Additionally, insufficient knowledge on certain topics can hinder student learning progression more than others, which eventually leads to course failure. Finally, student participation is a pathway to enhance learning and achieve excellent course performance. The presented analysis approach provides educators with a mechanism for diagnosing and devising strategies to address conceptual lapses for STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) courses, especially where progressive learning is essential.
Blind Matching Filtering Algorithm for Spectrum Sensing under Multi-Path Channel Environment
Authors: Zhang Changqing , Li Jin , Li Bingbing , Ma Wenping
Published: June 2023

Matching filtering has been proven to be the optimal spectrum sensing algorithm under Gaussian white noise. However, the application of this algorithm is limited because of its dependence on prior information. In this paper, we propose a spectrum sensing algorithm based on blind matching filtering (BMF) by using the correlation between adjacent received signals under dispersive channels. Theoretical analysis shows that the proposed algorithm can achieve a performance comparable to that of the matching filtering algorithm without requiring the prior information of the primary user. Thus, this algorithm shows superior detection performance. Moreover, an improved BMF (IBMF) algorithm is proposed on the basis of the correlation between different time-delay signals. IBMF utilizes more comprehensive correlation information of the received signals and achieves better detection performance compared to BMF. Furthermore, the two proposed algorithms have lower computational complexity than the classical approaches based on the covariance matrix of the received signals. Numerical simulations confirm the superior performance of the proposed detectors and validate the theoretical analysis.
A Blockchain-Based Federated-Learning Framework for Defense against Backdoor Attacks
Authors: Li Lu , Qin Jiwei , Luo Jintao
Published: June 2023

Federated learning (FL) is a technique that involves multiple participants who update their local models with private data and aggregate these models using a central server. Unfortunately, central servers are prone to single-point failures during the aggregation process, which leads to data leakage and other problems. Although many studies have shown that a blockchain can solve the single-point failure of servers, blockchains cannot identify or mitigate the effect of backdoor attacks. Therefore, this paper proposes a blockchain-based FL framework for defense against backdoor attacks. The framework utilizes blockchains to record transactions in an immutable distributed ledger network and enables decentralized FL. Furthermore, by incorporating the reverse layer-wise relevance (RLR) aggregation strategy into the participant’s aggregation algorithm and adding gradient noise to limit the effectiveness of backdoor attacks, the accuracy of backdoor attacks is substantially reduced. Furthermore, we designed a new proof-of-stake mechanism that considers the historical stakes of participants and the accuracy for selecting the miners of the local model, thereby reducing the stake rewards of malicious participants and motivating them to upload honest model parameters. Our simulation results confirm that, for 10% of malicious participants, the success rate of backdoor injection is reduced by nearly 90% compared to Vanilla FL, and the stake income of malicious devices is the lowest.
A Novel 4H–SiC/Si Heterojunction IGBT Achieving Low Turn–Off Loss
Authors: Wang Erjun , Tian Xiaoli , Lu Jiang , Wang Xinhua , Li Chengzhan , Bai Yun , Yang Chengyue , Tang Yidan , Liu Xinyu
Published: June 2023

In this paper, a novel silicon carbide (SiC) insulated gate bipolar transistor (IGBT) with a 4H–SiC/Si heterojunction in the buffer layer (HBL) is proposed to improve the turn–off characteristic. Compared with the conventional 4H–SiC IGBT, the polysilicon region is integrated in the buffer layer to form a natural potential well, which can help to store excess carriers in the turn–off process. The simulation results indicate that the turn–off time (toff) was reduced from 325 ns to 232 ns, and the turn–off loss (Eoff) was decreased from 2.619 mJ to 1.375 mJ, while a similar on–state ability was maintained. This means that reductions of 28.6% in toff and 47.5% in Eoff were achieved. The Eoff of the two devices at different forward voltages (VF) was compared by changing the carrier lifetime. As a result, a better trade–off between Eoff and VF was also achieved by the proposed HBL–IGBT. Moreover, the heterojunction of the HBL–IGBT can be formed with the plasma–activated direct bonding technology, which is compatible with the conventional fabrication process.
Analysis of Cyber Security Aspects of Data Transmission in Large-Scale Networks Based on the LoRaWAN Protocol Intended for Monitoring Critical Infrastructure Sensors
Authors: Czeczot Grzegorz , Rojek Izabela , Mikołajewski Dariusz
Published: June 2023

Cyber security is nowadays synonymous with the reliability of elements connected to the internet. Better control of factories, security systems or even individual sensors is possible through the use of Internet of Things technology. The security of the aforementioned structures and the data they transmit has been a major concern in the development of IoT solutions for wireless data transmission. If we add to this prospect of low-cost end devices, we can seriously consider implementing such solutions in critical infrastructure areas. This article aims to assess the state of the art and experience and identify the main risks and directions for further development in order to improve the cyber security situation of LoRaWAN-based networks. LoRaWAN meets the three key requirements of IoT applications (low cost, large-scale deployability, high energy efficiency) through an open standard and the construction of autonomous networks without third-party infrastructure. However, many research issues remain to be solved/improved such as resource allocation, link coordination, transmission reliability, performance and, above all, security. Thus, we have defined a research gap in the area of LoRaWAN security. The contribution of this work is to structure the knowledge in the field of LoRaWAN security, based on previous publications and our own experience, in order to identify challenges and their potential solutions. This will help move LoRaWAN security research to the next stage.
An Entanglement-Based Protocol for Simultaneous Reciprocal Information Exchange between 2 Players
Authors: Andronikos Theodore , Sirokofskich Alla
Published: June 2023

Let us consider a situation where two information brokers, whose currency is, of course, information, need to reciprocally exchange information. The two brokers, being somewhat distrustful, would like a third, mutually trusted entity to be involved in the exchange process so as to guarantee the successful completion of the transaction and also verify that it indeed took place. Can this be completed in such a way that both brokers receive their information simultaneously and securely, without the trusted intermediary knowing the exchanged information? This work presents and rigorously analyzes a new quantum entanglement-based protocol that provides a solution to the above problem. The proposed protocol is aptly named the entanglement-based reciprocal simultaneous information exchange protocol. Its security is ultimately based on the assumption of the existence of a third, trusted party. Although the reciprocal information flow is between our two information brokers, the third entity plays a crucial role in mediating this process by being a guarantor and a verifier. The phenomenon of quantum entanglement is the cornerstone of this protocol, as it makes its implementation possible even when all entities are spatially separated and ensures that, upon completion, the trusted third party remains oblivious to the actual information that was exchanged.
A Period Training Method for Heterogeneous UUV Dynamic Task Allocation
Authors: Xie Jiaxuan , Yang Kai , Gao Shan , Bao Shixiong , Zuo Lei , Wei Xiangyu
Published: June 2023

In the dynamic task allocation of unmanned underwater vehicles (UUVs), the schemes of UUVs need to be quickly reallocated to respond to emergencies. The most common heuristic allocation method uses predesigned optimization rules to iteratively obtain a solution, which is time-consuming. To quickly assign tasks to heterogeneous UUVs, we propose a novel task allocation algorithm based on multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) and a period training method (PTM). The period training method (PTM) is used to optimize the parameters of MARL models in different training environments, improving the algorithm’s robustness. The simulation results show that the proposed methods can effectively allocate tasks to different UUVs within a few seconds and reallocate the schemes in real time to deal with emergencies.
A Fast Cold-Start Solution: Container Space Reuse Based on Resource Isolation
Authors: Li Bin , Zhan Yuzhuo , Ren Shenghan
Published: June 2023

With the emergence of cloud-native computing, serverless computing has become a popular way to deploy intensive applications due to its scalability and flexibility, and it has been increasingly applied in the field of big data processing on service platforms. Currently, the development momentum of cloud-native computing is strong, and serverless computing has become more attractive to the growing number of Internet services. However, how to more effectively address the issues of container resource usage and service startup time for serverless computing remains a huge challenge when exploring its potential. Our research is based on the complete life cycle of serverless functions and improves the performance of serverless computing by changing the original method of exchanging space for time or time for space. We focus on how to shorten the cold-start time of serverless computing while maximizing the usage of container resources. The research innovation is the dynamic control of functions and container pools, which mainly includes three aspects. First, we create a container pool with the classification identification based on the usage rate of functions. Then, we use namespace technology to achieve container resource reuse in the security isolated state. Next, we adaptively match the correspondence between functions and reusable container resources through system resource monitoring. Finally, the test results prove that converting the remaining space resources of the container into a prewarm container for new functions can effectively reduce the resource waste caused by idle function-containers, and container resource reuse can further shorten the cold-start time while ensuring the safety and isolation of functions. Compared to other open-source serverless platforms, our solution can reduce the cold-start time of general function calls to less than 20 ms and improve the ability to alleviate cold starts by 90% without enabling container prewarming.
Improving the Accuracy of Lane Detection by Enhancing the Long-Range Dependence
Authors: Liu Bo , Feng Li , Zhao Qinglin , Li Guanghui , Chen Yufeng
Published: June 2023

Lane detection is a common task in computer vision that involves identifying the boundaries of lanes on a road from an image or a video. Improving the accuracy of lane detection is of great help to advanced driver assistance systems and autonomous driving that help cars to identify and keep in the correct lane. Current high-accuracy models of lane detection are mainly based on artificial neural networks. Among them, CLRNet is the latest famous model, which attains high lane detection accuracy. However, in some scenarios, CLRNet attains lower lane detection accuracy, and we revealed that this is caused by insufficient global dependence information. In this study, we enhanced CLRNet and proposed a new model called NonLocal CLRNet (NLNet). NonLocal is an algorithmic mechanism that captures long-range dependence. NLNet employs NonLocal to acquire more long-range dependence information or global information and then applies the acquired information to a Feature Pyramid Network (FPN) in CLRNet for improving lane detection accuracy. Using the CULane dataset, we trained NLNet. The experimental results showed that NLNet outperformed state-of-the-art models in terms of accuracy in most scenarios, particularly in the no-line scenario and night scenario. This study is very helpful for developing more accurate lane detection models.
A Hybrid Forecast Model of EEMD-CNN-ILSTM for Crude Oil Futures Price
Authors: Wang Jingyang , Zhang Tianhu , Lu Tong , Xue Zhihong
Published: June 2023

Crude oil has dual attributes of finance and energy. Its price fluctuation significantly impacts global economic development and financial market stability. Therefore, it is necessary to predict crude oil futures prices. In this paper, a hybrid forecast model of EEMD-CNN-ILSTM for crude oil futures price is proposed, which is based on Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition (EEMD), Convolutional Neural Network (CNN), and Improved Long Short-Term Memory (ILSTM). ILSTM improves the output gate of Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) and adds important hidden state information based on the original output. In addition, ILSTM adds the learning of cell state at the previous time in the forget gate and input gate, which makes the model learn more fully from historical data. EEMD decomposes time series data into a residual sequence and multiple Intrinsic Mode Functions (IMF). Then, the IMF components are reconstructed into three sub-sequences of high-frequency, middle-frequency, and low-frequency, which are convenient for CNN to extract the input data’s features effectively. The forecast accuracy of ILSTM is improved efficiently by learning historical data. This paper uses the daily crude oil futures data of the Shanghai Energy Exchange in China as the experimental data set. The EEMD-CNN-ILSTM is compared with seven prediction models: Support Vector Regression (SVR), Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP), LSTM, ILSTM, CNN-LSTM, CNN-ILSTM, and EEMD-CNN-LSTM. The results of the experiment show the model is more effective and accurate.
Managing Digital Transformation: A Case Study in a Higher Education Institution
Authors: Díaz-Garcia Vicente , Montero-Navarro Antonio , Rodríguez-Sánchez José-Luis , Gallego-Losada Rocío
Published: June 2023

The new paradigms derived from technological innovations lead to the digital transformation of organisations. Higher Education Institutions cannot ignore these changes, which affect them like any other organisation, but especially because of their activity: training professionals who need to learn to manage and lead organisations in this new information society. This article aims to identify the main factors that can drive and facilitate the digital transformation of Higher Education Institutions from the point of view of internal stakeholders. In terms of methodology and due to the complexity of this phenomenon, the case method was considered the most appropriate for this study. As the results show, it is necessary to implement technological innovations according to the needs, establish adequate channels to communicate the process and transform the current traditional culture into a digital one. Data-driven decision-making and the development of a participative leadership style will allow the organisation to adapt to changes over time. It will also enable the retention of digital talent, which is critical to the success of the organisation’s transformation. This will ensure the development and survival of the institution.