bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Centrifuge study on the uplift behavior of spread foundation for transmission tower in sand
Authors: Gu Kyo-Young , Tran Nghiem Xuan , Han Jayne M. , Kim Kyeong-Sun , Ham Kyung-Won , Kim Sung-Ryul
Published: April 2024

Realistic simulation of in-situ stresses is an essential consideration in evaluating the bearing capacities of spread foundations. Therefore, this study aimed to investigate the uplift behavior of large spread foundations by performing a series of centrifuge tests. A total of 12 centrifuge test models were constructed considering the variation in the foundation width (3.5–6.5 m), embedment depth ratio (0.67–1.39), and relative density of dry silica sandy soil (40%, 80%). The measured load–displacement curves indicated that the uplift bearing capacity and the corresponding uplift displacement increased with the foundation width at a certain embedment depth ratio. Two sets of empirical equations were proposed by adopting genetic programming to estimate the uplift resistance factor and uplift displacement with consideration of field stress conditions. The proposed equations reasonably matched these parameters under various conditions reported in the literature. Furthermore, a simplified empirical influence zone was proposed on the basis of the measurement of the ground surface displacement. The empirical influence zone, which was a straight line with an inclination angle of ~0.9 times the soil friction angle measured from vertical, could be considered a significant reference for predicting the failure surface of the shallow foundation under uplift loading.
Improved estimation of drift coefficients using optimal local bandwidths
Authors: Wiedemann Christian , Wächter Matthias , Peinke Joachim , Freund Jan A.
Published: April 2024

Stochastic differential equations (SDEs) are commonly used to model various systems. Data-driven methods have been widely used to estimate the drift and diffusion terms of a Langevin equation. Among the most commonly used estimation methods is the Nadaraya–Watson estimator, which is a non-parametric data-driven approach. In this study, we propose a method to improve the estimation of the drift coefficient of a stochastic process using optimal local bandwidths that minimize the error of the approximation of the first conditional moments of a univariate system. This approach is compared to a global bandwidth estimation and an estimation based on a fixed number of nearest neighbors. The proposed method has the potential to reduce the error of the drift estimation, thereby improving the accuracy of the model.
Investigation of $$\Lambda (1405)$$ as a molecular pentaquark state
Authors: Azizi K. , Sarac Y. , Sundu H.
Published: April 2024

$$\Lambda (1405)$$Λ(1405)is one of the interesting particles with its unclear structure and distinct properties. It has a light mass compared to its non-strange counterpart, despite the strange quark it carries. This situation puts the investigation of this resonance among the hot topics in hadron physics and collects attention to clarify its properties. In this study, we focus on the calculation of the mass and residue of the$$\Lambda (1405)$$Λ(1405)resonance within the framework of QCD sum rules. We assign a structure in the form of a molecular pentaquark composed from admixture of$$K^-$$K-meson-proton and$$\bar{K}^0$$K¯0meson-neutron. Using an interpolating current in this form, the masses and the current coupling constant are attained as$$m=1406\pm 128~\text {MeV}$$m=1406±128MeVand$$\lambda =(3.35\pm 0.35)\times 10^{-5}~\text {GeV}^6$$λ=(3.35±0.35)×10-5GeV6for "Equation missing"and$$m=1402\pm 141~\text {MeV}$$m=1402±141MeVand$$\lambda =(4.08\pm 1.08)\times 10^{-5}~\text {GeV}^6$$λ=(4.08±1.08)×10-5GeV6forILorentz structures entering the calculations, respectively. The obtained mass values agree well with the experimental data supporting the plausibility of the considered structure.
Structural and optical properties of Eu3+-doped sol–gel silica–soda glasses
Authors: Enrichi Francesco , Mastantuoni Gabriella , Cassetta Michele , Sambugaro Alessia , Daldosso Nicola , Martucci Alessandro , Vomiero Alberto , Cattaruzza Elti , Righini Giancarlo C.
Published: April 2024

Rare earths (REs) incorporated in glasses, mostly in the form of RE3+ ions, have several applications such as lasers and optical amplifiers, spectral conversion layers for solar cells, light emitters and sensors. In this context, both the composition and the structural properties of the glass, as well as the dopant concentration play an important role in determining the optical properties and the efficiency of the system. Usually, the concentration of REs is small, below 1 at%, to avoid clustering and optical quenching. In this paper, we report the case of sol–gel Eu-doped silica–soda glass films. The addition of soda to silica can reduce RE clustering and precipitation, according to molecular dynamic simulations, but brings structural instabilities to the network. Here, sodium was varied from 10 to 30 at% and Eu from 0 to 8 at%. It was shown that Eu plays a significant role in the stabilization of the matrix, improving the transparency, the refractive index and the thickness of the films. The increase of Eu concentration provides a decrease of site symmetry and an increase of quantum efficiency (QY), reaching 71% for the highest 8 at% Eu doping, with remarkable absence of concentration quenching.
Torsors on moduli spaces of principal G-bundles on curves
Authors: Biswas Indranil , Mukhopadhyay Swarnava
Published: April 2024

Let [Formula: see text] be a semisimple complex algebraic group with a simple Lie algebra [Formula: see text], and let [Formula: see text] denote the moduli stack of topologically trivial stable [Formula: see text]-bundles on a smooth projective curve [Formula: see text]. Fix a theta characteristic [Formula: see text] on [Formula: see text] which is even in case [Formula: see text] is odd. We show that there is a nonempty Zariski open substack [Formula: see text] of [Formula: see text] such that [Formula: see text], [Formula: see text], for all [Formula: see text]. It is shown that any such [Formula: see text] has a canonical connection. It is also shown that the tangent bundle [Formula: see text] has a natural splitting, where [Formula: see text] is the restriction of [Formula: see text] to the semi-stable locus. We also produce an isomorphism between two naturally occurring [Formula: see text]-torsors on the moduli space of regularly stable [Formula: see text].
Dynamical analysis of a modified Leslie–Gower predator–prey model with disease in prey incorporating a prey refuge and treatment
Authors: Belew Basaznew , Yiblet Yalew
Published: April 2024

In this paper, we present and assess a predator–prey Leslie–Gower model including disease, refuge and treatment in prey population. There are two groups of prey: those who are susceptible and infected. It is hypothesized that prey population is affected by diseases and refuge, and grows logistically in the absence of predators. Infected prey population receives treatment. The predators’ growth rate is governed by the modified Leslie–Gower dynamics. The dynamical attributes of the resulting system are boundedness, positivity of solutions, extinction criteria, existence and (local and global) stability. Biology uses mathematical analysis to identify the possible attributes of equilibrium points. The focus of this study is to assess how treatment and refuge affect the populations of ill prey, susceptible prey, predators and treated prey. The numerical simulation indicates that the influence of treatment, and refuge change the dynamics of the system (2.1). Extensive numerical simulations were performed to validate our analytical findings by using the Mathematica and MATLAB software.
LAFL Factors in Seed Development and Phase Transitions
Authors: Gazzarrini Sonia , Song Liang
Published: April 2024

Development is a chain reaction in which one event leads to another until the completion of a life cycle. Phase transitions are milestone events in the cycle of life. LEAFY COTYLEDON1 (LEC1), ABA INSENSITIVE3 (ABI3), FUSCA3 (FUS3), and LEC2 proteins, collectively known as LAFL, are master transcription factors (TFs) regulating seed and other developmental processes. Since the initial characterization of the LAFL genes, more than three decades of active research has generated tremendous amounts of knowledge about these TFs, whose roles in seed development and germination have been comprehensively reviewed. Recent advances in cell biology with genetic and genomic tools have allowed the characterization of the LAFL regulatory networks in previously challenging tissues at a higher throughput and resolution in reference species and crops. In this review, we provide a holistic perspective by integrating advances at the epigenetic, transcriptional, posttranscriptional, and protein levels to exemplify the spatiotemporal regulation of the LAFL networks in Arabidopsis seed development and phase transitions, and we briefly discuss the evolution of these TF networks.
Investigation of the Magnetic Features of the Fullerene-Dimer-Like Nanostructure (C
60)2: A Monte Carlo Study
Authors: Kabouchi D. , Fadil Z. , El Fdil R. , Raorane Chaitany Jayprakash , Kabouchi B. , Mhirech A. , Salmani E. , Tighezza Ammar M. , Rosaiah P. , Kim Seong Cheol
Published: April 2024

The current investigation employs Monte Carlo simulations to explore the magnetic features of a Fullerene-dimer-like nanostructure (C
60)2 characterized by the spin σ−1. It explores how the coupling interaction J

σ
, the biquadratic parameter K, the external magnetic H and the crystal D fields influence the thermal and magnetic features of the nanostructure, particularly the blocking temperature (T

B
). The results also highlight the dependence of hysteresis cycles and the coercive magnetic field Hc on the values of J

σ
, K, and D, with significant variations at lower temperatures. The findings indicate the distinctive magnetic behavior of the Fullerene-dimer-like nanostructure (C
60)2 potentially useful in various technological applications.
Trends in the Development of Acupuncture-Related Technologies Based on Patents in South Korea
Authors: Lim Sung Min , Go Eunji
Published: April 2024

Background. Several studies have assessed the safety and efficacy of acupuncture, but none have reviewed patent trends related to acupuncture as an intervention. This study analyzed trends in patents for the development of acupuncture-related technologies in Korea. Methods. The Korea Intellectual Property Rights Information Service (KIPRIS) was searched for information on acupuncture-related patents registered until August 11, 2021, without any limit on the search period. Only acupuncture and electro-acupuncture were included in this review. The current status, contents, and technological characteristics of the relevant patents were analyzed systematically to identify the overall status of acupuncture-related patents. Results. Overall, 126 patents were identified from the KIPRIS database, of which 93 were unrelated to the research topic and were excluded. Finally, 33 patents were assessed. Interest in the development of acupuncture technology has increased steadily over the past decade. Patent applications reached their peak in 2018 with six instances, while patent registration peaked in 2019 with seven instances. The interval between the application and registration of an individual patent was 14.3 months (449 days). Twenty-two acupuncture-related patents were for acupuncture (66.6%) and 11 for electro-acupuncture (33.3%). The technical specifications for the patents included acupuncture devices (30.3%), acupuncture manufacturing methods and equipment (36.4%), and electro-acupuncture devices (33.3%). Conclusion. Acupuncture-related technology currently focuses on technological advancements for the safe and effective delivery of stimulation. The findings demonstrate trends toward new diverse and complex technological advancements for acupuncture devices, manufacturing methods and equipment, and electro-acupuncture devices.
Three Prospective Case Studies Examining Mifepristone’s Efficacy in Patients with Treatment-Resistant PTSD
Authors: van Minnen Agnes , Vos Lizelotte , Bet Pierre M. , de Jongh Ad , Linsen Felix , van Marle Hein J. F. , Meijer Onno C. , Otte Willem M. , Russcher Marije , Vinkers Christiaan H.
Published: April 2024

Despite the availability of various treatment approaches for patients with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), some patients do not respond to these therapies, and novel treatment approaches are needed. This study investigated the efficacy of mifepristone, a glucocorticoid receptor antagonist, in treatment-resistant PTSD patients. Three patients with PTSD who were resistant to standard psychological and pharmacological treatments were prescribed mifepristone (600–1,200 mg/day) for 1 week. A baseline-controlled single-case design was used, involving a 2-week baseline phase (no intervention), a 1-week intervention phase (mifepristone), and a 2-week postintervention phase. The primary outcome measure, self-reported PTSD symptom severity (PCL-5), was assessed daily, with participants providing their own control condition. Two of the three patients experienced a significant reduction in PTSD symptom severity after the intervention phase and no longer met the diagnostic criteria for PTSD. These positive results were maintained during long-term follow-up. These findings support the potential effectiveness of mifepristone in the treatment of patients with treatment-resistant PTSD. However, our findings must be interpreted with caution, and further studies with larger sample sizes and more rigorous designs are necessary to confirm the promising results.
Full‐Scale Pore and Microfracture Characterization of Deep Coal Reservoirs: A Case Study of the Benxi Formation Coal in the Daning–Jixian Block, China
Authors: Wang Tao , Zhou Guoxiao , Fan Liyong , Zhang Daofeng , Shao Mingli , Ding Rong , Li Yongzhou , Hu Haiyan , Deng Ze
Published: April 2024

The pore‐fracture structure of deep coal reservoirs is highly important for evaluating, exploring, and developing coalbed methane (CBM) resources. This study considers three coal samples from the DJ57 well in the Benxi Formation in the Daning–Jixian block on the eastern margin of the Ordos Basin as the research object. Based on the coal quality parameters of the coal samples, field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), gas adsorption experiments, high‐pressure mercury intrusion porosimetry (MIP), and microcomputed tomography (micro‐CT) scanning were used to quantitatively characterize the nanoscale pores and microscale fractures in deep coal reservoirs and to evaluate the pore‐fracture structure at different scales. The results reveal that the pore types in the Benxi Formation coal samples are diverse and include mainly organic matter (OM) pores, inorganic pores (intraparticle and interparticle pores), and microfractures. The organic pores are diverse in shape and mainly exhibit round, oval, and wedge shapes, while the microfractures exhibit slender stripes or serrated curves. The multiscale quantitative characterization of deep coal reservoir pores and fractures is based on a variety of pore characterization methods, and the pore and fracture volume distributions are mainly U‐shaped, revealing the coexistence of micropores and microfractures. The volumes of micropores (0.3–2 nm), mesopores (2–50 nm), macropores (50 nm to 10 μm), and microfractures (>10 μm) account for 78.00%, 6.78%, 2.08%, and 13.14%, respectively, of the total pore volume (PV). Based on a full‐scale pore‐fracture splicing calculation, the total permeability of the Benxi Formation coal samples ranges from 5.77 to 28.22 mD. The observation results indicate that the microfractures are connected to each other, forming a network structure with strong connectivity. The microfractures are mainly associated with pore diameters > 100 μm, accounting for approximately 95% of the total permeability. Moreover, micropores in deep coal reservoirs provide a large space for CBM adsorption, and microfractures enhance the seepage capacity of CBM.
Prediction of the Freshness of Grass Carp during Storage with Electric Nose Based on Signal Sequence Merging and Wavelet Transform
Authors: Zhao Guoqiang , Chen Yuanyuan , Xie Mei , Tan Yihong , Jiang Yong , Zhao Li
Published: April 2024

In order to predict the freshness of grass carp, a novel data preprocessing method was proposed for electronic nose (E-nose) signals. The signal sequences from six sensors were selected and subsequently normalized. The direct signal sequence merging (DSSM) and reversed signal sequence merging (RSSM) modes were used for signal sequence merging. Subsequently, the genetic algorithm (GA) was used to evaluate the contribution of diverse sensors, and the merged data sequence was compressed using wavelet transform (WT). Using approximation coefficient and detail coefficient based on different scales and different signal sequence merging modes, principal component analysis (PCA) discriminated successfully storage time of chilled fish fillet. The PCA plots clearly demonstrated that all extracted feature data fully retain the signal characters. The partial least squares (PLS) and artificial neural network (ANN) models were used to establish prediction models for the freshness of grass carp during storage. The DSSM-ANN-A5 and DSSM-PLS-D4 models were chosen as the TVB-N content prediction models, while the DSSM-ANN-D5 and RSSM-PLS-A0 models were selected as the K value prediction models. The R2 values of these models are higher than 0.9, and they have a good coefficient of determination. The results of this study suggest that it using E-nose signals to predict TVB-N content and K value is an effective method for assessing the freshness of grass carp during storage.
Bilateral Endophthalmitis in a Postpartum Immunocompetent Patient
Authors: Hamam Rola N. , Firmani Giulia
Published: April 2024

Purpose. The aim of this report is to present the onset of bilateral endophthalmitis negative to culture testing and vitreous tapping in a postpartum immunocompetent patient. Methods. A 33-year-old patient developed floaters and severe blurry vision in both eyes 3 weeks after childbirth. With no previous surgery, no comorbidities in her clinical history, and negative diagnostic reports, endogenous endophthalmitis was suspected. Two days later, a pars plana vitrectomy was performed in both eyes one week apart, and intravitreal antibiotics and antifungals were administered during the surgery. No infectious source was identified since the cultures from the aqueous and vitreous humor returned negative in both cases. Results. Residual fibrosis around the fovea in the right eye and on the optic disc in the left eye was described. Nevertheless, the best corrected visual acuity of the patient was 20/20 in both eyes 4 months after the onset of the presumed endogenous endophthalmitis. Conclusion. This is the first report presenting a bilateral case of postpartum endophthalmitis negative to culture testing and vitreous tapping in a healthy patient with no previous surgeries nor long-term treatment. Early pars plana vitrectomy was fundamental for the correct management of this condition.
Efficacy and Safety of Phoenix dactylifera L. Leaf Extract (WartOver®) in the Treatment of Cutaneous Warts: A Randomized, Double‐Blind, Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Ayatollahi Azin , Firooz Alireza , Shakoei Safoura , Robati Reza M. , Aramipour Nima , Sadeghi Setayesh , Tavakoli-Far Fateme , Reza Niavand Mohammad , Saber Mohammad , Fattahi Mahsa , Sadri Arash , Lashgari Naser-Aldin
Published: April 2024

Background. Cutaneous warts are caused by the human papillomavirus that can affect a patient’s quality of life. Current treatments have high cost, low efficacy, adverse effects, and recurrence. Therefore, novel therapeutic approaches are needed. Complementary and Alternative Medicines (CAMs) are gaining popularity as a therapeutic approach. Phoenix dactylifera L. (date palm) is used in folk medicine to treat warts. Antiviral effects of P. dactylifera L. have been demonstrated due to its polyphenolic compounds, especially gallic acid and tannins in various studies. So, this trial evaluates the efficacy and safety of P. dactylifera L. leaf extract (formulated as WartOver®) as a novel treatment for cutaneous warts. Study Design. Based on the results of our previously published pilot clinical trial and the CONSORT guideline, this randomized, double‐blind, and placebo‐controlled study was performed on 70 eligible patients divided into intervention and placebo groups (N = 35/per group). Every 2 weeks, patients were examined to assess the rate of complete clearance, duration of treatment, patient satisfaction (measured using a Likert scale), and occurrence of any adverse effects and recurrence in a maximum of 12 weeks of treatment and at the 6‐month follow‐up. Results. Based on the intention‐to‐treat (ITT) analysis approach, complete clearance was achieved in 24 patients in the intervention group (68.57%; confidence interval 95% = 0.51–0.81), which was significantly higher than that in the placebo group (8.57%; CI 95% = 0.02–0.23, p < 0.0001). The time to complete clearance was 7.6 weeks (mean ± SD: 53.30 ± 17.17 days). The treatment was very satisfactory (Likert score of 4.24 ± 1.15 (mean ± SD)) with no recurrence or adverse effects. Conclusion. WartOver® is a novel efficacious treatment for cutaneous warts with minimal risk for adverse events or recurrence. Due to the rising popularity of CAM approaches in medicine, including herbal medicines, WartOver® can be a valuable choice for clinicians against cutaneous warts. This trial is registered with IRCT20200509047352N2.
Walk-Through Corrosion Assessment of Slurry Pipeline Using Machine Learning
Authors: Dia Abdou Khadir , Bosca Axel Gambou , Ghazzali Nadia
Published: April 2024

The study of pipeline corrosion is crucial to prevent economic losses, environmental degradation, and worker safety. In this study, several machine learning methods such as recursive feature elimination (RFE), principal component analysis (PCA), gradient boosting method (GBM), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), K-nearest neighbors (KNN), and multilayer perceptron (MLP) were used to estimate the thickness loss of a slurry pipeline subjected to erosion corrosion. These different machine learning models were applied to the raw data (the set of variables), to the variables selected by RFE, and to the variables selected by PCA (principal components), and a comparative analysis was carried out to find out the influence of the selection and transformation of the data on the performance of the models. The results show that the models perform better on the variables selected by RFE and that the best models are RF, SVM, and GBM with an average RMSE of 0.017. By modifying the hyperparameters, the SVM model becomes the best model with an RMSE of 0.011 and an R-squared of 0.83.
ASPSCR1::TFE3 Drives Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma by Inducing Targetable Transcriptional Programs
Authors: Sicinska Ewa , Kola Vijaya S.R. , Kerfoot Joseph A. , Taddei Madeleine L. , Al-Ibraheemi Alyaa , Hsieh Yi-Hsuan , Church Alanna J. , Landesman-Bollag Esther , Landesman Yosef , Hemming Matthew L.
Published: April 2024

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare mesenchymal malignancy driven by the ASPSCR1::TFE3 fusion. A better understanding of the mechanisms by which this oncogenic transcriptional regulator drives cancer growth is needed to help identify potential therapeutic targets. In this study, we characterized the transcriptional and chromatin landscapes of ASPS tumors and preclinical models, identifying the essential role of ASPSCR1::TFE3 in tumor cell viability by regulating core transcriptional programs involved in cell proliferation, angiogenesis, and mitochondrial biology. ASPSCR1::TFE3 directly interacted with key epigenetic regulators at enhancers and promoters to support ASPS-associated transcription. Among the effector programs driven by ASPSCR1::TFE3, cell proliferation was driven by high levels of cyclin D1 expression. Disruption of cyclin D1/CDK4 signaling led to a loss of ASPS proliferative capacity, and combined inhibition of CDK4/6 and angiogenesis halted tumor growth in xenografts. These results define the ASPS oncogenic program, reveal mechanisms by which ASPSCR1::TFE3 controls tumor biology, and identify a strategy for therapeutically targeting tumor cell–intrinsic vulnerabilities.

Significance: The ASPSCR1::TFE3 fusion propels the growth of alveolar soft part sarcoma  by activating transcriptional programs that regulate proliferation, angiogenesis, mitochondrial biogenesis, and differentiation and can be therapeutically targeted to improve treatment.
Table S6 from Epithelial Expressed B7-H4 Drives Differential Immunotherapy Response in Murine and Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Wescott Elizabeth C. , Sun Xiaopeng , Gonzalez-Ericsson Paula , Hanna Ann , Taylor Brandie C. , Sanchez Violeta , Bronzini Juliana , Opalenik Susan R. , Sanders Melinda E. , Wulfkuhle Julia , Gallagher Rosa I. , Gomez Henry , Isaacs Claudine , Bharti Vijaya , Wilson John T. , Ballinger Tarah J. , Santa-Maria Cesar A. , Shah Payal D. , Dees Elizabeth C. , Lehmann Brian D. , Abramson Vandana G. , Hirst Gillian L. , Brown Swigart Lamorna , van ˈt Veer Laura J. , Esserman Laura J. , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Pietenpol Jennifer A. , Balko Justin M.
Published: April 2024

Nanostring gene expression data related to Figure 5 and Figure S5 with related metatdata tables.
Table S4 from Epithelial Expressed B7-H4 Drives Differential Immunotherapy Response in Murine and Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Wescott Elizabeth C. , Sun Xiaopeng , Gonzalez-Ericsson Paula , Hanna Ann , Taylor Brandie C. , Sanchez Violeta , Bronzini Juliana , Opalenik Susan R. , Sanders Melinda E. , Wulfkuhle Julia , Gallagher Rosa I. , Gomez Henry , Isaacs Claudine , Bharti Vijaya , Wilson John T. , Ballinger Tarah J. , Santa-Maria Cesar A. , Shah Payal D. , Dees Elizabeth C. , Lehmann Brian D. , Abramson Vandana G. , Hirst Gillian L. , Brown Swigart Lamorna , van ˈt Veer Laura J. , Esserman Laura J. , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Pietenpol Jennifer A. , Balko Justin M.
Published: April 2024

Supplementary Table 4. DE genes between EMT6 and EMT6-B7-H4+ tumors harvested at 500mm^3.
Table S2 from Epithelial Expressed B7-H4 Drives Differential Immunotherapy Response in Murine and Human Breast Cancer
Authors: Wescott Elizabeth C. , Sun Xiaopeng , Gonzalez-Ericsson Paula , Hanna Ann , Taylor Brandie C. , Sanchez Violeta , Bronzini Juliana , Opalenik Susan R. , Sanders Melinda E. , Wulfkuhle Julia , Gallagher Rosa I. , Gomez Henry , Isaacs Claudine , Bharti Vijaya , Wilson John T. , Ballinger Tarah J. , Santa-Maria Cesar A. , Shah Payal D. , Dees Elizabeth C. , Lehmann Brian D. , Abramson Vandana G. , Hirst Gillian L. , Brown Swigart Lamorna , van ˈt Veer Laura J. , Esserman Laura J. , Petricoin Emanuel F. , Pietenpol Jennifer A. , Balko Justin M.
Published: April 2024

Supplementary Table 2. DE genes between isotype treated and anti-PD-L1 treated EMT6-B7-H4+ tumors.
Late-Onset Panuveitis in a Chinese Girl with Sporadic Blau Syndrome: A Case Report
Authors: Ma Zicheng , Gao Xinxiao , Zhu Siquan
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Blau syndrome (BS) is a rare autoimmune disease. We report here an atypical case of BS. Case Presentation: We present a case of late-onset eye manifestations in a Chinese girl of 18 years old with sporadic BS, presenting with panuveitis. We performed comprehensive ocular examinations including fluorescein fundus angiography and indocyanine green angiography for her. The oral hormone plus local anti-inflammatory eye drops have well controlled the inflammation of her eyes. Conclusion: Our case highlights the necessity of systemic medical history inquiry for every eye discomfort.
Magnetic Resonance-Guided Focused Ultrasound without Anesthesiologist Support
Authors: Mueller Julia M. , Chiu Lucinda T. , Lynn Fiona , Lewis Rachel G. , Patel Shama , Wodziak Matthew , Patel Neepa , Sani Sepehr
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Magnetic resonance-guided focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) is an effective treatment option for essential tremor (ET) and tremor dominant Parkinson’s disease (TDPD), which is often performed with sedation or in the presence of an anesthesiologist in an effort to minimize adverse events and maximize patient comfort. This study explores the safety, feasibility, and tolerability of performing MRgFUS without an anesthesiologist. Methods: This is a single academic center, retrospective review of 180 ET and TDPD patients who underwent MRgFUS treatment without anesthesiologist support. Patient demographics, intra-procedural treatment parameters, peri-procedural adverse events, and 3-month Clinical Rating Scale for Tremor Part B (CRST-B) scores were compared to MRgFUS studies that utilized varying degrees of anesthesia. Results: There were no anesthesia related adverse events or unsuccessful treatments. There were no early treatment terminations due to patient discomfort, regardless of skull density ratio. 94.6% of patients would repeat the procedure again. The most common side effects during treatment were facial/tongue paresthesia (26.3%), followed by nausea (22.3%), dysarthria (8.6%), and scalp pain (8.0%). No anxiolytic, pain, or antihypertensive medications were administered. The most common early adverse event after MRgFUS procedure was gait imbalance (58.3%). There was a significant reduction of 83.1% (83.4% ET and 80.5% TDPD) of the mean CRST-B scores of the treated hand when comparing 3-month and baseline scores (1.8 vs. 10.9, n = 109, p < 0.0001). Conclusion: MRgFUS without intra-procedural anesthesiologist support is a safe, feasible, and well-tolerated option, without an increase in peri-procedural adverse events.
Guilt and Shame in Patients with Obsessive-Compulsive Disorders
Authors: Mavrogiorgou Paraskevi , Becker Sarah , Juckel Georg
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is a tremendous psychiatric illness with a variety of severe symptoms. Feelings of shame and guilt are universal social emotions that fundamentally shape the way people interact with each other. Mental illness is therefore often related to pronounced feelings of shame and guilt in a maladaptive form. Methods: A total of 62 participants (38 women and 24 men) were clinically and psychometrically investigated. Results: The OCD patients (n = 31) showed a maladaptive guilt and shame profile, characterized by increased interpersonal feelings of guilt accompanied by a stronger tendency to self-criticism and increased punitive sense of guilt with a simultaneous prevailing tendency to perfectionism, as well as an increased concern for the suffering of others. The proneness to profuse shame in OCD patients seems to be in the context of the violation of inner values and a negative self-image with persistent self-criticism. Conclusion: Although there are limitations with a small sample size in this monocentric approach, our study underlines the importance of an individual consideration of the leading obsessive-compulsive symptomatology, especially in the context of very personal feelings of guilt and shame. Further multidimensional studies on guilt and shame could contribute to their implementation more strongly in individualized psychotherapy.
miRNome Profiling Analysis Reveals Novel Hepatocellular Carcinoma Diagnostic, Prognostic and Treatment-Related Candidate Biomarkers: Post hoc Analysis of SORAMIC Trial
Authors: Morkunas Egidijus , Vaitkeviciute Evelina , Inciuraite Ruta , Kupcinskas Juozas , Link Alexander , Skieceviciene Jurgita , Alunni-Fabbroni Marianna , Schütte Kerstin , Malfertheiner Peter , Varkalaite Greta , Ricke Jens
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Early diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) as well as evaluation of prognosis and prediction of treatment efficacy remains challenging due to the missing specific non-invasive biomarkers. The aim of this study was to identify disease-specific microRNA (miRNA) patterns for diagnosis, prediction of prognosis, and treatment response in patients with HCC. Methods: The study population included 42 HCC patients from SORAMIC clinical trial: 22 patients received sorafenib monotherapy, 20 patients underwent 90Y radioembolization in combination with sorafenib. 20 individuals were included in the control group. HCC patients underwent collection of plasma samples before and 7–9 weeks after the beginning of the treatment. Isolation of circulating miRNAs, preparation of small RNA sequencing libraries and next-generation sequencing were performed. Association analysis for novel diagnostic, prognostic, and treatment-related candidate biomarkers was performed. Results: A total of 42 differentially expressed (16 up-regulated and 26 down-regulated) miRNAs were identified comparing baseline and control group plasma samples. hsa-miR-215-5p and hsa-miR-192-5p were down-regulated, while hsa-miR-483-5p and hsa-miR-23b-3p were up-regulated comparing baseline and 7–9 weeks post-sorafenib monotherapy samples. hsa-miR-215-5p was the sole down-regulated miRNA in the same combination therapy comparison. hsa-miR-183-5p, hsa-miR-28-3p, and hsa-miR-1246 were found to be significantly up-regulated comparing non-responders versus responders to sorafenib. High hsa-miR-215-5p expression was significantly associated with worse HCC patients’ prognosis. Conclusions: Systematic miRNA profiling of highly characterized samples from SORAMIC study revealed a subset of potential miRNA biomarkers for HCC diagnosis and prognosis of sorafenib-treated patients’ survival.
Collagen XIII Is the Key Molecule of Neurovascular Junctions in the Neuroendocrine System
Authors: Nakakura Takashi , Horiguchi Kotaro , Suzuki Takeshi
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Axons of magnocellular neurosecretory cells project from the hypothalamus to the posterior lobe (PL) of the pituitary. In the PL, a wide perivascular space exists between the outer basement membrane (BM), where nerve axons terminate, and the inner BM lining the fenestrated capillaries. Hypothalamic axon terminals and outer BMs in the PL form neurovascular junctions. We previously had found that collagen XIII is strongly localized in the outer BMs. In this study, we investigated the role of collagen XIII in the PL of rat pituitaries. Methods: We first studied the expression of Col13a1, the gene encoding the α1 chains of collagen XIII, in rat pituitaries via quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction and in situ hybridization. We observed the distribution of COL13A1 in the rat pituitary using immunohistochemistry and immunoelectron microscopy. We examined the expression of Col13a1 and the distribution of COL13A1 during the development of the pituitary. In addition, we examined the effects of water deprivation and arginine vasopressin (AVP) signaling on the expression of Col13a1 in the PL. Results: Col13a1 was expressed in NG2-positive pericytes, and COL13A1 signals were localized in the outer BM of the PL. The expression of Col13a1 was increased by water deprivation and was regulated via the AVP/AVPR1A/Gαq/11 cascade in pericytes of the PL. Conclusion: These results suggest that pericytes surrounding fenestrated capillaries in the PL secrete COL13A1 and are involved in the construction of neurovascular junctions. COL13A1 is localized in the outer BM surrounding capillaries in the PL and may be involved in the connection between capillaries and axon terminals.
Understanding the Korean Dialysis Cohort for Mineral, Vascular Calcification, and Fracture (ORCHESTRA) Study: Design, Method, and Baseline Characteristics
Authors: Ahn Shin Young , Ko Gang Jee , Hwang Hyeon Seok , Jeong Kyung Hwan , Jin Kyubok , Kim Yang Gyun , Moon Ju-Young , Lee Sang Ho , Lee So-Young , Yang Dong-Ho , Jung Ji Yong , Oh Kook-Hwan , Lee Young-Ki , Kim Gheun-Ho , Kim Soo Wan , Kim Yeong Hoon , Lee Dong-Young , Hong Yu Ah , Park Hyeong Cheon , Yoon Sun Ae , Choi Bum Soon , Ban Tae Hyun , Kim Hyo Jin , Kwon Young Joo ,   on behalf of the ORCHESTRA Study Investigators
Published: April 2024

Introduction: End-stage renal disease (ESRD) is a growing disease worldwide, including Korea. This is an important condition that affects patient outcome. To provide optimal management for mineral disturbance, vascular calcification, and bone disease in ESRD patients, the Korean dialysis cohort for mineral, vascular calcification, and fracture (ORCHESTRA) study was conducted by enrolling Korean dialysis patients. Methods: Sixteen university-affiliated hospitals and one Veterans’ Health Service Medical Center participated in this study. This prospective cohort study enrolled approximately 900 consecutive patients on dialysis between May 2019 and January 2021. Enrolled subjects were evaluated at baseline for demographic information, laboratory tests, radiologic imaging, and bone mineral densitometry (BMD) scans. After enrollment, regular assessments of the patients were performed, and their biospecimens were collected according to the study protocol. The primary outcomes were the occurrence of major adverse cardiovascular events, invasive treatment for peripheral artery disease, and osteoporotic fractures. The secondary outcomes were hospitalization for cerebrovascular disease or progression of abdominal aortic calcification. Participants will be assessed for up to 3 years to determine whether primary or secondary outcomes occur. Results: Between May 2019 and January 2021, all participating centers recruited 900 consecutive dialysis patients, including 786 undergoing hemodialysis (HD) and 114 undergoing peritoneal dialysis (PD). The mean age of the subjects was 60.4 ± 12.3 years. Males accounted for 57.7% of the total population. The mean dialysis vintage was 6.1 ± 6.0 years. The HD group was significantly older, had a longer dialysis vintage, and more comorbidities. Overall, the severity of vascular calcification was higher and the level of BMD was lower in the HD group than in the PD group. Conclusion: This nationwide, multicenter, prospective cohort study focused on chronic kidney disease-mineral and bone disorder and aimed to provide clinical evidence to establish optimal treatment guidelines for Asian dialysis patients.
A New Species of amphisbaena from the State of São Paulo, Brasil (Reptilia, Amphisbaenia, Amphisbaenidae)
Authors: Vanzolini P. E.
Published: April 2024

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O papel do exercício físico na melhora da qualidade de vida de mulheres menopausadas
Authors: Moreira Milena , Castello Thales Martins , Fajardo Murilo Leone Miranda , Grillo Luisa Werneck , Osugi Nataniel Kaoru , Silveira Patrick Guilherme Carvalho , Mubidila Mardoché Kikana , Tibúrcio Jacqueline Domingues
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Menopause is the last episode of menstrual bleeding. Occuring on average at 51 years of age, it is associated with hormonal changes that impact quality of life. In this sense, physical activity (PA) and physical exercise (PE) appear as alternatives to hormone therapy in order to reduce the symptoms of climacteric syndrome. Objective: To evaluate the role of PE in the perception of improved quality of life in menopausal women. Methodology: The study was carried out through the application of three questionnaires that deal with the level of PA (long IPAQ), climatic symptoms (MRS) and women's quality of life (QVM). Results: In the analysis of the classification based on MRS, there was a general tendency towards a greater menopausal symptom burden (p = 0.019) and an increase in the intensity of psychological symptoms (p = 0.035) in those women who did not practice PE. The QSM demonstrated that there are fewer climatic symptoms and better quality of life in women who practice PE, and this group had a less depressed mood (p = 0.026), somatic (p = 0.04) and cognitive (p = 0.032) symptoms than the group that does not practice PE. Final considerations: PE improves aspects of quality of life in postmenopausal women, while AF does not seem to be enough to cause symptomatic improvement.
Approximating Nonlinear Functions With Latent Boundaries in Low-Rank Excitatory-Inhibitory Spiking Networks
Authors: Podlaski William F. , Machens Christian K.
Published: April 2024

Deep feedforward and recurrent neural networks have become successful functional models of the brain, but they neglect obvious biological details such as spikes and Dale’s law. Here we argue that these details are crucial in order to understand how real neural circuits operate. Towards this aim, we put forth a new framework for spike-based computation in low-rank excitatory-inhibitory spiking networks. By considering populations with rank-1 connectivity, we cast each neuron’s spiking threshold as a boundary in a low-dimensional input-output space. We then show how the combined thresholds of a population of inhibitory neurons form a stable boundary in this space, and those of a population of excitatory neurons form an unstable boundary. Combining the two boundaries results in a rank-2 excitatory-inhibitory (EI) network with inhibition-stabilized dynamics at the intersection of the two boundaries. The computation of the resulting networks can be understood as the difference of two convex functions and is thereby capable of approximating arbitrary non-linear input-output mappings. We demonstrate several properties of these networks, including noise suppression and amplification, irregular activity and synaptic balance, as well as how they relate to rate network dynamics in the limit that the boundary becomes soft. Finally, while our work focuses on small networks (5-50 neurons), we discuss potential avenues for scaling up to much larger networks. Overall, our work proposes a new perspective on spiking networks that may serve as a starting point for a mechanistic understanding of biological spike-based computation.
The athlete gut microbiota: state of the art and practical guidance
Authors: Pérez-Castillo Í.M. , Sabag-Daigle A. , López-Chicharro J. , Mihic N. , Rueda R. , Bouzamondo H.
Published: April 2024

The gut microbiota has been proposed to grant the athlete a metabolic advantage that might be key when optimising performance. While a taxonomic core set of microorganisms characterising the athlete’s gut microbiota has not been delineated, some compositional features might be associated with improved metabolic efficiency, which appears to be driven by the production of bacterial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids. Not only long-term exercise but also dietary patterns associated with high-level sports practice contribute to this microbial environment, yet isolating the impact of individual dietary components is challenging. The present review synthetises the available evidence on the compositional aspects of the athlete’s gut microbiota, discusses mechanisms involved in the bidirectional association between exercise and the gut environment, and evaluates the role of athletes’ diet in this interplay. Additionally, a practical approach to indicators commonly reported in metagenomic and metabolomic analyses is provided to explore how these insights can translate to support dietary protocols.
4. Biased Preferences Equilibrium
Authors: Richter Michael , Rubinstein Ariel
Published: April 2024

This chapter follows Rubinstein and Wolinsky (2022) who propose a biased preferences equilibrium solution concept in which agents' preference relations are systematically biased. The bias does not affect the agents' opportunity sets, but rather their preferences, which are systematically biased in such a way that the profile of agents' biased optimal choices is feasible.

We envision biases as a mechanism for bringing harmony to a multi-agent economy. These biases, like prices, apply uniformly to all agents. Every agent's final preferences are determined by his initial preferences and the commonly shared bias.

We apply the concept to three types of economies: the give-and-take, market economies with fixed prices and housing-type economies.
Curtailing the Ambient Air Ageing Effect on Mechanical Properties of Vacuum Evaporated Al2O3 Thin Films Using Vapor Chopping Technique
Authors: Bagwan S. I. , Tamboli Saipan H. , Bargir S. M. , Abd El-Salam Nasser M. , Fouad Hassan , Tamboli Sikandar H.
Published: April 2024

Here, we studied the 30-day ambient air exposed vacuum evaporated Al2O3 thin films. The ageing effect on mechanical properties like intrinsic stress as well as adhesion was studied. Vapor chopping technique (VCT) was used during deposition. To find ageing effect
in vapor chopped (VC) and as deposited i.e. nonchopped (NC) Al2O3 thin films comparative study was done. VC and NC Al2O3 thin films’ X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns remain the same even after 30 days ageing, i.e., no structural variation was
found due to ageing. Adhesion degradation was observed in deposited films i.e. NC films showed reduction from 266±5×103 to 189±5×103 N/m2 whereas VC thin films showed 355±5×103 to 332±5×103
N/m2. Intrinsic stress increased from 41±2×107 to 61±2×107 N/m2 in NC and 31±2×107 to 39±2×107 N/m2 in VC Al2O3 thin films. Even though, overall
VC films showed higher adhesion and smaller intrinsic stress than NC Al2O3 thin films i.e., curtailing ambient air ageing effect in VC thin films was perceptible.
Dynamic Measurement and Prediction of Sulfur Hexafluoride Gas Weight Based on Non-Ideal Gas State Equation and Improved Random Forest
Authors: Zhang Lijun , Liu Kecheng , Han Hesong , Shi Rongxue
Published: April 2024

Real-time knowledge of sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) gas weight can effectively manage and maintain the power equipment using SF6. Firstly, the gas pressure and temperature sensors are utilized to measure SF6 gas pressure and temperature dynamically. Secondly,
the measured gas pressure and temperature values are converted to the SF6 gas weight using equations for calculating non-ideal gas states. Finally, the dynamic prediction model of the SF6 gas weight is developed by combining the improved chimp optimization algorithm and
random forest algorithm. The dynamic prediction model is trained using measured pressure and temperature data as inputs and the calculated SF6 gas weight as outputs. The trained prediction model enables the dynamic prediction of SF6 gas weight. The experimental results
show that the mean absolute error, root mean square error, and mean absolute percentage error of the proposed prediction model reaches 51.54 kg, 103.59 kg, and 11.62%.
Laser Melting and Surface Texture Technology: Effect on Friction Properties
Authors: Zhao Changlong , Jia Xiaoyu , Zhao Qinxiang , Ma Hongnan , Zhang Haifeng
Published: April 2024

This paper discusses the role of laser surface texturing and laser melting technology in enhancing surface lubrication and wear resistance under starved lubrication conditions. The aim is to enhance the wear resistance of laser surface texturing and to explore the role of surface texturing
in enhancing lubrication. This paper observes the microstructure of the melting zone, transition zone and matrix of the base material Cr12MoV after laser melting and condensing, detects and analyses the metallographic composition, and tests the micro-hardness. The effects of laser surface
texturing technology and laser melting technology on the coefficient of friction under different friction and wear environments were comparatively investigated. The laser melting zone consists of martensite with fine grain size and a large amount of residual austenite. After laser melting,
the hardness reaches 1.4 times the hardness of the matrix. The laser surface texture increases lubrication significantly at low rpm. The fully fusion-coagulated treatment is wear-resistant in a variety of different frictional wear environments.