bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Splice Site Variant in ADAMTS3 Is the Likely Causal Variant for Pulmonary Hypoplasia with Anasarca in Persian/Persian-Cross Sheep
Authors: Woolley Shernae A. , Hopkins Bethany , Khatkar Mehar S. , Jerrett Ian V. , Willet Cali E. , O’Rourke Brendon A. , Tammen Imke
Published: September 2024

Pulmonary hypoplasia with anasarca, or hydrops fetalis, is characterized by stillbirth, diffuse oedema, and generalized lymph node hypoplasia. The enlarged fetus frequently causes dystocia. The disease has been reported in cattle and sheep as an inherited condition with a recessive mode of inheritance. This is the first report of the disease in Persian/Persian-cross sheep in Australia. Affected fetuses were reported from three flocks, and a total of eleven affected, eleven obligate carrier, and 188 related Persian/Persian-cross animals were available for analysis, as well as unrelated control animals. SNP genotyping revealed a region of homozygosity in affected animals on ovine chromosome six, which contained the functional candidate gene ADAMTS3. Whole genome sequencing of two affected fetuses and one obligate carrier ewe revealed a single nucleotide deletion, ENSOARG00000013204:g.87124344delC, located 3 bp downstream from a donor splice site region in the ADAMTS3 gene. Sanger sequencing of cDNA containing this variant further revealed that it is likely to introduce an early splice site in exon 14, resulting in a loss of 6 amino acids at the junction of exon 14 and intron 14/15. A genotyping assay was developed, and the ENSOARG00000013204:g.87124344delC segregated with disease in 209 animals, allowing for effective identification of carrier animals.
Saturated Fatty Acids in Wool as Markers Related to Intramuscular Fat Content in Lambs
Authors: Inostroza Karla , Larama Giovanni , Díaz-Matus de la Parra Mario , Bravo Silvana , Rodríguez Romina , Guerrero Ana , Cancino-Baier David
Published: September 2024

The aim of this study was to identify Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle from lambs with high IMF content (≥3%) using wool FA. The FA composition was characterized in two sections of wool from Suffolk Down lambs, and its relationship with IMF content assessed. One hundred and forty lambs of similar body weight, body condition score, and age were selected. IMF content from LL muscle, and the wool fat and FA composition of the wool were determined. The proportions of FAs in the wool of lambs with low IMF were 51.96 ± 7.3% of saturated, 31.96 ± 7.7% polyunsaturated, and 16.08 ± 2.3% monounsaturated. Similar proportions of FAs were observed in wool samples of lambs with high IMF. Significant differences were found only in the SFA proportion between groups (p < 0.05). The predominant FAs in the wool samples were C16:0, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c and C18:2n6c, representing over 60% of total FA methyl esters. Correlations were found between the wool FAs C16:1, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1n9c, C24:0, and C22:6n3 in wool samples divided into two sections. Discriminant analysis identified SFAs, particularly FAs C22:0 and C24:0, as potential candidate for predicting lambs with high IMF content with an accuracy of over 92%. These results provide to our knowledge evidence that IMF content could potentially be determined using wool FAs as a non-invasive method.
Backward Integration of Nonlinear Shallow Water Model: Part I: Solitary Rossby Waves
Authors: Sun Wen-Yih
Published: September 2024

The inviscid, nonlinear shallow water model developed by Sun was applied to study the inverse of equatorial Rossby solitons, which can be represented by the Korteweg–De Vries equation (KdV equation). The model was integrated forward in time, then the results were used as initial conditions for backward integration by just changing time step from positive to negative. The detailed structure, secondary circulation, and propagating speed of waves from both integrations are in good agreement with analytic solutions. The total mass, energy, and enstrophy are also well conserved. The procedure is much simpler and the results are more accurate than other backward integrations of 2D nonlinear models, which require significant modification of the model and can be contaminated by unwanted diffusion in forward–backward integrations or time-consuming iterative methods. This paper is also different from the numerical method for solving the inverse of the KdV equation.
Modeling the Effect of Ionospheric Electron Density Profile and Its Inhomogeneities on Sprite Halos
Authors: Zhang Jinbo , Niu Jiawei , Xie Zhibin , Wang Yajun , Li Xiaolong , Zhang Qilin
Published: September 2024

Sprite halos are diffuse glow discharges in the D-region ionosphere triggered by the quasi-electrostatic (QES) fields of lightning discharges. A three-dimensional (3D) QES model is adopted to investigate the effect of ionospheric electron density on sprite halos. The electron density is described by an exponential formula, parameterized by reference height (h’) and sharpness (β), and the local inhomogeneity has a Gaussian density distribution. Simulation results indicate that the reference height and steepness of the nighttime electron density affect the penetration altitudes and amplitudes of normalized electric fields, as well as the altitudes and intensities of the corresponding sprite halos optical emissions. A comparison of the daytime and nighttime conditions demonstrates that the daytime electron density profile is not favorable for generating sprite halos emissions. Furthermore, the pre-existing electron density inhomogeneities lead to enhanced local electric fields and optical emissions, potentially offering a plausible explanation for the horizontal displacement between sprites and their parent lightning, as well as their clustering.
Assessing the Relationship between Urban Heat Islands and Local Climate Zones during a Winter Period in the Coastal City of Balneário Camboriú/SC, Brazil
Authors: Silva Aline Nunes da , Wollmann Cassio Arthur , Iensse Amanda Comassetto , Hoppe Ismael Luiz , Baumhardt Otavio de Freitas , Writzl Luana , Costa Iago Turba , Gobo João Paulo Assis , Galvani Emerson , Matzarakis Andreas
Published: September 2024

This research seeks to understand the link between urban heat island and urban cool island, which are the Local Climatic Zones (LCZ) and atmospheric systems during the winter season in the city of Balneário Camboriú, Southern Brazil. First, meteorological data on the urban environment was collected at 11 permanent points in the Balneário Camboriú metropolitan region. Next, a synoptic analysis of the dates was performed to understand the atmospheric systems operating in the region. Finally, the LCZs map created for the city in the World Urban Database and Access Portal Tools was used to correlate the magnitudes of the heat and cool islands found in Balneário Camboriú in the winter period. The results indicate that the increasing verticalization as a result of the construction of skyscrapers in Balneário Camboriú has a significant influence on local conditions for the occurrence of heat and cold islands. The findings indicate that LCZs with sparsely distributed buildings (LCZs 6, 8 and 9) and LCZs with dense vegetation (LCZ A) have lower intensity magnitudes of heat and cool conditions. The biggest magnitudes of heat and cool islands were reported in LCZs 1 and 3 during the timeframe. The synoptic analysis supports earlier research that points to atmospheric stability (Anticyclonic domain) as a favorable atmospheric setting for the emergence of urban heat and coolness islands.
Needle Tip Tracking through Photoluminescence for Minimally Invasive Surgery
Authors: Narayan Meenakshi , Bhowmick Mithun
Published: September 2024

Minimally invasive surgery continues to prioritize patient safety by improving imaging techniques and tumor detection methods. In this work, an all-optical alternative to the current image based techniques for in vitro minimally invasive procedures has been explored. The technique uses a highly fluorescent marker for the surgical needle to be tracked inside simulated tissues. A series of markers were explored including inorganic (Perovskite and PbS) and organic (carbon dots) nanoparticles and organic dye (Rhodamine 6G) to identify layers of different stiffnesses within a tissue. Rhodamine 6G was chosen based on its high fluorescence signal to track 3D position of a surgical needle in a tissue. The needle was tracked inside homogeneous and inhomogeneous gelatin tissues successfully. This exploratory study of tissue characterization and needle tip tracking using fluorescent markers or photoluminescence technique show potential for real-time application of robot-assisted needle insertions during in vivo procedures.
A Lightweight Multi-Mental Disorders Detection Method Using Entropy-Based Matrix from Single-Channel EEG Signals
Authors: Li Jiawen , Feng Guanyuan , Lv Jujian , Chen Yanmei , Chen Rongjun , Chen Fei , Zhang Shuang , Vai Mang-I , Pun Sio-Hang , Mak Peng-Un
Published: September 2024

Background: Mental health issues are increasingly prominent worldwide, posing significant threats to patients and deeply affecting their families and social relationships. Traditional diagnostic methods are subjective and delayed, indicating the need for an objective and effective early diagnosis method. Methods: To this end, this paper proposes a lightweight detection method for multi-mental disorders with fewer data sources, aiming to improve diagnostic procedures and enable early patient detection. First, the proposed method takes Electroencephalography (EEG) signals as sources, acquires brain rhythms through Discrete Wavelet Decomposition (DWT), and extracts their approximate entropy, fuzzy entropy, permutation entropy, and sample entropy to establish the entropy-based matrix. Then, six kinds of conventional machine learning classifiers, including Support Vector Machine (SVM), k-Nearest Neighbors (kNN), Naive Bayes (NB), Generalized Additive Model (GAM), Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), and Decision Tree (DT), are adopted for the entropy-based matrix to achieve the detection task. Their performances are assessed by accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and F1-score. Concerning these experiments, three public datasets of schizophrenia, epilepsy, and depression are utilized for method validation. Results: The analysis of the results from these datasets identifies the representative single-channel signals (schizophrenia: O1, epilepsy: F3, depression: O2), satisfying classification accuracies (88.10%, 75.47%, and 89.92%, respectively) with minimal input. Conclusions: Such performances are impressive when considering fewer data sources as a concern, which also improves the interpretability of the entropy features in EEG, providing a reliable detection approach for multi-mental disorders and advancing insights into their underlying mechanisms and pathological states.
Efficient Neural Decoding Based on Multimodal Training
Authors: Wang Yun
Published: September 2024

Background/Objectives: Neural decoding methods are often limited by the performance of brain encoders, which map complex brain signals into a latent representation space of perception information. These brain encoders are constrained by the limited amount of paired brain and stimuli data available for training, making it challenging to learn rich neural representations. Methods: To address this limitation, we present a novel multimodal training approach using paired image and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) data to establish a brain masked autoencoder that learns the interactions between images and brain activities. Subsequently, we employ a diffusion model conditioned on brain data to decode realistic images. Results: Our method achieves high-quality decoding results in semantic contents and low-level visual attributes, outperforming previous methods both qualitatively and quantitatively, while maintaining computational efficiency. Additionally, our method is applied to decode artificial patterns across region of interests (ROIs) to explore their functional properties. We not only validate existing knowledge concerning ROIs but also unveil new insights, such as the synergy between early visual cortex and higher-level scene ROIs, as well as the competition within the higher-level scene ROIs. Conclusions: These findings provide valuable insights for future directions in the field of neural decoding.
Effects of Cannabidiol (CBD) on Doxorubicin-Induced Anxiety and Depression-like Behaviors and mRNA Expression of Inflammatory Markers in Rats
Authors: Poudel Bristi , Bany Brent M. , Hales Dale Buchanan , Cheatwood Joseph L.
Published: September 2024

Background: Post-treatment side effects of chemotherapy can include cognitive deficits commonly known as Chemo-brain. The treatment of patients with Doxorubicin (DOX), one of the most widely used chemotherapeutic drugs in the treatment of cancer, can induce depression, anxiety, and impaired cognitive function. Cannabidiol (CBD) is a non-psychoactive component of Cannabis sativa that has been identified as a possible therapeutic agent against many neurodegenerative disorders, including traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Tau-protein-induced neurodegeneration, and neuropathic pain. Therefore, this study aimed to assess whether oral CBD administration could reduce DOX-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors and alter the expression of mRNA associated with neuroinflammation. Methods: Female Long Evans Hooded rats received intraperitoneal injections of DOX (6 mg/kg) or the vehicle (0.9% saline) once a week for four weeks, followed by oral administration of CBD (10 mg/kg) three times a week for the same period. Results: CBD was significantly protective against DOX-induced anxiety and depression-like behaviors, as measured by several behavioral tests. Furthermore, CBD improved DOX-induced alterations in the gene expression of biomarkers of neuroinflammation in the hippocampus and prefrontal cortex. Conclusions: This provides insights into future studies on possible mechanisms by which DOX-induced cognitive dysfunction could be alleviated by CBD.
Sidedness and Molecular Pattern in Defining the Risk of Lymph Node Metastasis in Nonmetastatic Colorectal Cancer: Single-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Muttillo Edoardo Maria , Li Causi Francesco Saverio , La Franca Alice , Lucarini Alessio , Arrivi Giulia , Di Cicco Leonardo , Castagnola Giorgio , Scarinci Andrea , Mazzuca Federica , Balducci Genoveffa , Mercantini Paolo
Published: September 2024

Background: Lymphadenectomy plays a central role in the treatment of localized colon cancer. While in left colon cancer the D3 lymphadenectomy/CME is considered the standard of care, lymphatic stations to be removed in right colon cancer are still a matter of discussion. The individuation of LNM risk factors could help in choosing the lymphadenectomy in right-sided tumors. This study aims to analyze the correlation of histopathological and molecular characteristics with lymph node metastasis, both in right- and left-sided colon cancer, and their impact on survival; Methods: We conducted a single-center observational retrospective study. The following data were collected and analyzed for each patient: demographics, histopathological and molecular data, and intraoperative and perioperative data. Statistical analyses were performed, including descriptive statistics, multivariate logistic regression and survival analysis; Results: An association between tumor size (pT, p < 0.001), grading (p = 0.013), budding (p < 0.001), LVI (79,4% p < 0.001) and LNM was observed. A multivariate analysis identified pT4 (OR 5.45, p < 0.001) and LVI+ (OR 10.7, p < 0.001) as significant predictors of LNM. Right-sided patients presented a worse OS when associated with LNM, while no significant difference was observed in N0 patients; Conclusions: histological and molecular analysis can help identify high risk patients, which could benefit from extended lymphadenectomies. These patients could be ideal candidates for the D3 lymphadenectomy/CME.
Post-Transcriptional Modifications to miRNAs Undergo Widespread Alterations, Creating a Unique Lung Adenocarcinoma IsomiRome
Authors: Cohn David E. , Souza Vanessa G. P. , Forder Aisling , Telkar Nikita , Stewart Greg L. , Lam Wan L.
Published: September 2024

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNAs) modulate the expression of oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes, functioning as significant epigenetic regulators in cancer. IsomiRs are miRNA molecules that have undergone small modifications during miRNA processing. These modifications can alter an isomiR’s binding stability with mRNA targets, and certain isomiRs have been implicated in the development of specific cancers. Still, the isomiRomes of many tissues, including the lung, have not been characterized; Methods: In this study, we analyzed small RNA sequencing data for three cohorts of lung adenocarcinoma (LUAD) and adult non-malignant lung (ANL) samples. Results: We quantified isomiR expression and found 16 A-to-I edited isomiRs expressed in multiple cohorts, as well as 213 5′ isomiRs, 128 3′ adenylated isomiRs, and 100 3′ uridylated isomiRs. Rates of A-to-I editing at editing hotspots correlated with mRNA expression of the editing enzymes ADAR and ADARB1, which were both observed to be deregulated in LUAD. LUAD samples displayed lower overall rates of A-to-I editing and 3′ adenylation than ANL samples. Support vector machines and random forest models were trained on one cohort to distinguish ANL and stage I/II LUAD samples using reads per million (RPM) and frequency data for different types of isomiRs. Models trained on A-to-I editing rates at editing hotspots displayed high accuracy when tested on the other two cohorts and compared favorably to classifiers trained on miRNA expression alone; Conclusions: We have identified isomiRs in the human lung and found that their expression differs between non-malignant and tumor tissues, suggesting they hold potential as cancer biomarkers.
Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy for Renal Cell Carcinoma—A Review of Use in the Primary, Cytoreductive and Oligometastatic Settings
Authors: Villafuerte Conrad Josef Q. , Swaminath Anand
Published: September 2024

Renal cell carcinoma (RCC) has been increasing in incidence by around 1.5% per year for several years. However, the mortality rate has been decreasing by 1.6% per year, and this can be attributed to stage migration and improvements in treatment. One treatment modality that has emerged in recent years is stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT), which is an advanced radiotherapy technique that allows the delivery of high-dose radiation to the tumor while minimizing doses to the organs at risk. SBRT has developed a role in the treatment of early-stage, oligometastatic and oligoprogressive RCC. In localized disease, phase II trials and meta-analyses have shown that SBRT provides a very high probability of long-term local control with a low risk of severe late toxicity. In oligometastatic (OMD) RCC, the same level of evidence has similarly shown good local control and minimal toxicity. SBRT could also delay the necessity to start or switch systemic treatments. Medical societies have started to incorporate SBRT in their guidelines in the treatment of localized disease and OMD. A possible future role of SBRT involves cytoreduction. It is theorized that SBRT can lower tumor burden and enhance immune-related response, but it cannot be recommended until the results of the phase II trials are published.
Advancement and Challenges in Monitoring of CAR-T Cell Therapy: A Comprehensive Review of Parameters and Markers in Hematological Malignancies
Authors: Ploch Weronika , Sadowski Karol , Olejarz Wioletta , Basak Grzegorz W.
Published: September 2024

Chimeric antigen receptor T-cell (CAR-T) therapy has revolutionized the treatment for relapsed/refractory B-cell lymphomas. Despite its success, this therapy is accompanied by a significant frequency of adverse events, including cytokine release syndrome (CRS), immune-effector-cell-associated neurotoxicity syndrome (ICANS), or cytopenias, reaching even up to 80% of patients following CAR-T cell therapy. CRS results from the uncontrolled overproduction of proinflammatory cytokines, which leads to symptoms such as fever, headache, hypoxia, or neurological complications. CAR-T cell detection is possible by the use of flow cytometry (FC) or quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) assays, the two primary techniques used for CAR-T evaluation in peripheral blood, bone marrow (BM), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). State-of-the-art imaging technologies play a crucial role in monitoring the distribution and persistence of CAR-T cells in clinical trials. Still, they can also be extended with the use of FC and digital PCR (dPCR). Monitoring the changes in cell populations during disease progression and treatment gives an important insight into how the response to CAR-T cell therapy develops on a cellular level. It can help improve the therapeutic design and optimize CAR-T cell therapy to make it more precise and personalized, which is crucial to overcoming the problem of tumor relapse.
Characterization of Vitronectin Effect in 3D Ewing Sarcoma Models: A Digital Microscopic Analysis of Two Cell Lines
Authors: López-Carrasco Amparo , Parra-Haro Karina , Vieco-Martí Isaac , Granados-Aparici Sofía , Díaz-Martín Juan , Salguero-Aranda Carmen , Acevedo-León Delia , de Álava Enrique , Navarro Samuel , Noguera Rosa
Published: September 2024

Ewing sarcoma (ES) is an aggressive bone and soft-tissue pediatric cancer. High vitronectin (VN) expression has been associated with poor prognosis in other cancers, and we aimed to determine the utility of this extracellular matrix glycoprotein as a biomarker of aggressiveness in ES. Silk fibroin plus gelatin–tyramine hydrogels (HGs) were fabricated with and without cross-linked VN and cultivated with A673 and PDX73 ES cell lines for two and three weeks. VN secretion to culture media was assessed using ELISA. Morphometric analysis was applied for phenotypic characterization. VN release to culture media was higher in 3D models than in monolayer cultures, and intracellular, intercellular, and pericluster presence was also observed. A673-HGs showed lower density of clusters but a proportion of larger clusters than PDX73-HGs, which presented low cluster circularity. The cluster density of A673-HGs without added VN was higher than with added VN and slightly lower in the case of PDX73-HGs. Furthermore, a culture time of three weeks provided no benefits in cluster growth compared to two weeks, especially in A673-HGs. These advances in 3D modeling and digital quantification pave the way for future studies in ES and other cancers to deepen understanding about intra- and intercellular heterogeneity and anti-adhesion VN therapies.
The Role of Liquid Biopsy in Gastroenteropancreatic Neuroendocrine Neoplasms
Authors: Almeida Catarina , Gervaso Lorenzo , Frigè Gianmaria , Spada Francesca , Benini Lavinia , Cella Chiara Alessandra , Mazzarella Luca , Fazio Nicola
Published: September 2024

Neuroendocrine neoplasms incidence has been increasing, arising the need for precise and early diagnostic tools. Liquid biopsy (LB) offers a less invasive alternative to tissue biopsy, providing real-time molecular information from circulating tumour components in body fluids. The aim of this review is to analyse the current evidence concerning LB in NENs and its role in clinical practice. We conducted a systematic review in July 2024 focusing on LB applications in NENs, including circulating tumour cells (CTCs), circulating tumour DNA (ctDNA), micro RNA (miRNA), messenger RNA (mRNA) and extracellular vesicles. Sixty-five relevant articles were analysed. The LB showed potential in diagnosing and monitoring NENs. While CTCs face limitations due to low shedding, ctDNA provides valuable information on high-grade neoplasms. MiRNA and mRNA (e.g., the NETest) offer high sensitivity and specificity for diagnosis and prognosis, outperforming traditional markers like chromogranin A. The LB has significant potential for NEN diagnosis and monitoring but lacks widespread clinical integration due to limited prospective studies and guidelines, requiring further validation. Advances in sequencing technologies may enhance the clinical utility of LB in NENs. Future research should focus on refining LB methods, standardising protocols and exploring applications in high-grade NENs.
The Role of Maximal TURBT in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer: Balancing Benefits in Bladder Preservation and Beyond
Authors: Sheybaee Moghaddam Farshad , Dwabe Sami , Mar Nataliya , Safdari Leila , Sabharwal Navin , Goldberg Hanan , Daneshvar Michael , Rezazadeh Kalebasty Arash
Published: September 2024

Radical cystectomy with lymph node dissection and urinary diversion is the gold-standard treatment for non-metastatic muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC). However, in patients who refuse cystectomy, or in whom cystectomy carries a high risk, bladder-preserving therapies remain potential options. Bladder preservation therapies can include maximal debulking transurethral resection of bladder tumor (TURBT), concurrent chemoradiation therapy, followed by cystoscopy to assess response. At this time, maximal TURBT is recommended for patients prior to the initiation of chemoradiation therapy or in patients with residual bladder tumors after the completion of chemoradiation therapy. That being said, TURBT carries significant risks such as bladder perforation, bleeding, and infection, ultimately risking delayed systemic treatment. Hence, understanding its role within trimodal therapy is crucial to avoid undue suffering in patients. Herein, we review the current literature on the impact of debulking TURBT in non-metastatic MIBC.
The Association between Medroxyprogesterone Acetate Exposure and Meningioma
Authors: Griffin Russell L.
Published: September 2024

Background/Objectives: Medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) is a synthetic progesterone that is most commonly used as a contraceptive. MPA acts by binding to the progesterone receptor of the hypothalamus, and this receptor has been found to be important in the pathophysiology of meningiomas. Recent research has reported an increased association between the use of MPA and intracranial meningioma, though the literature is mostly limited by low numbers of meningioma cases and low exposure to MPA. The objective of the current study is to build upon the previously published literature utilizing a large database from the United States. Methods: Utilizing a large commercial insurance database, the current matched case–control study identified meningioma cases using ICD-10 codes from hospital data and MPA exposure, as established from pharmaceutical claims data. Controls were matched 10:1 to cases based on age, year of enrollment, and duration of enrollment. A conditional logistic regression estimated odds ratios (ORs) for the association between MPA exposure and the odds of developing a meningioma. Results: Among 117,503 meningioma cases and 1,072,907 matched controls, oral MPA exposure was not associated with odds of meningioma; however, injection MPA exposure was associated with a 53% increased odds of being a case (OR 1.53, 95% CI 1.40–1.67). This association was specific to cerebral meningiomas (OR 1.68, 95% CI 1.50–1.87), an association that became stronger with a longer duration of use of injection MPA. Conclusions: The current results are consistent with the prior literature, which reports an association between injection exposures to MPA and a stronger association with increasing use of MPA. Women should be cautioned about the prolonged use of MPA, and future research should examine whether the extended use of MPA is associated with the meningioma grade.
Oxytocin Receptor Single-Nucleotide Polymorphisms Are Related to Maternal–Infant Co-Occupation and Infant Sensory Processing
Authors: Aubuchon-Endsley Nicki L. , Hudson Madeline , Banh Brittany , Opoku Emma , Gibbs Jason , Gee Bryan M.
Published: September 2024

Background: Caregiver–infant reciprocity is related to infant/toddler development and health. However, there is a dearth of research on reciprocity variables like co-occupation and developmental variables such as infant/toddler sensory processing/preferences, and it is important to understand the biopsychosocial mediators of these relations. These include novel genetic markers like maternal oxytocin receptor single-nucleotide polymorphisms (OXTR SNPs). Therefore, this study examined whether mothers carrying risk alleles for three OXTR SNPs displayed different co-occupational behaviors with their infants and whether their infants/toddlers showed different sensory processing/preferences. Methods: Data from the Infant Development and Healthy Outcomes in Mothers Study included prenatal saliva samples assayed for OXTR SNPs, 6-month postnatal behavioral observations coded for maternal–infant co-occupations (reciprocal emotionality, physicality, and intentionality), and 10-, 14-, and 18-month postnatal, maternal-reported Infant/Toddler Sensory Profiles (classified as within or outside the majority range for low registration, sensory seeking, sensory sensitivity, and sensory avoiding). Results: Mothers with rs53576 risk allele A engaged in more frequent reciprocal emotionality, while those with rs2254298 risk allele A engaged in less frequent reciprocal emotionality but more frequent reciprocal intentionality. Mothers with rs53576 risk allele A had infants with 11 times greater odds of being outside of the majority range for sensation avoiding at 10 months old. Conclusions: The results converge with the literature supporting links between OXTR SNPs, caregiver reciprocity, and infant/toddler development but extend the findings to relatively novel constructs (caregiver–infant co-occupations and infant/toddler sensory processing/preferences).
Special Issue “Microstructure, Fatigue and Wear Properties of Steels”
Authors: Long Xiaoyan
Published: September 2024

Sustainable manufacturing is a trending topic within the industry [...]
Evaluation of Two Cosmetic Products Formulated with Essential Oil Extracted from Copal Resin Obtained in Agroforestry Systems
Authors: Raymundo-Rodríguez Jorge , Buendía-Espinoza Julio , García-Núñez Rosa , Martínez-Ochoa Elisa
Published: September 2024

Forest wealth, combined with innovative cosmetic applications, allows for the use of non-timber forest products like copal resin, diversifying resource use, promoting sustainable practices, preserving ecosystems, and generating income. The aim of this study was to evaluate a facial cream and a body gel formulated with essential oil extracted from copal resin obtained from agroforestry systems to determine their quality and consumer acceptance. Copal resin was collected from a silvopastoral system in Izúcar de Matamoros, Puebla, Mexico. Protocols were developed to ensure quality, safety, and efficacy, adhering to Mexican official standards, and accelerated stability tests were conducted to determine shelf life. Microbiological and irritability tests were performed to assess safety. Hedonic tests along with a random forest model were employed to identify the most important characteristics for consumer acceptance. The results indicated that both products met quality parameters regarding color, aroma, viscosity, and pH, and exhibited a shelf life of two years. Both products were free from harmful microorganisms, making them suitable for human application. Hydration, aroma, spreadability, and irritability were the most crucial variables for achieving higher consumer acceptance. Cosmetics can be formulated with copal resin essential oil.
Biaxial Very High Cycle Fatigue Testing and Failure Mechanism of Welded Joints in Structural Steel Q345
Authors: Xue Bing , Li Yongbo , Yi Wanshuang , Shi Shoucheng , Dai Yajun , Liu Chang , Ren Maojia , He Chao
Published: September 2024

The very high cycle fatigue (VHCF) strength of welded joints made of high-strength structural materials is generally poor, which poses a serious threat to the long life and reliability of the structural components. This work employs an ultrasonic vibration fatigue testing system to investigate the biaxial fatigue failure mechanism of the welded joints. The results revealed that under uniaxial loading conditions, the propensity for fatigue failure in plate specimens was predominantly observed at the specimen surface. Regardless of whether under uniaxial or biaxial loading, the initiation of fatigue cracks in cruciform joints was consistently traced back to unfused flaws, which were primarily located at the interface between the solder and the base material. Concurrently, it was noted that the fatigue strength of cruciform joints under biaxial loading was merely 44.4% of that under uniaxial loading. The geometric peculiarities of the unfused defects led to severe stress concentrations, which significantly reduced the fatigue life of the material under biaxial loading conditions.
Effect of Primary γ′ Phase on High-Temperature Endurance Performance of GH4720Li Superalloy
Authors: Zhou Xing , Dong Ruifeng , Xie Yuchang , Hu Shuoqi , Xu Tianyuan , Li Jian , Zhang Wei
Published: September 2024

To investigate the effect of the primary γ′ phase on the high-temperature endurance performance of GH4720Li superalloy, samples with different volume fractions of the primary γ′ phase were prepared by adjusting the heat treatment process. The high-temperature endurance performance was tested, and the microstructure was examined. Results indicate that samples with a higher volume fraction of the γ′ phase exhibit a greater stress rupture life. Additionally, alloy samples with varying γ′ phase volume fractions show improved plasticity and toughness at 760 °C/530 MPa. Fracture morphology results reveal that high-volume-fraction primary γ′ phase samples primarily undergo transgranular fracture, whereas low-volume-fraction samples exhibit intergranular fracture due to grain boundary sliding. During high-temperature endurance, the secondary γ′ phase in the crystal is affected. Long-term aging refines the secondary γ′ phase, resulting in a more uniform distribution. Finally, the influence of the primary γ′ phase and the creep behavior of each material group on high-temperature endurance performance are discussed.
The Role of Liquid Crystal Elastomers in Pioneering Biological Applications
Authors: Shiralipour Faeze , Nik Akhtar Yeganeh , Gilmor Ashley , Pegorin Gisele , Valerio-Aguilar Abraham , Hegmann Elda
Published: September 2024

Liquid crystal elastomers have shown an attractive potential for various biological applications due to their unique combination of mechanical flexibility and responsiveness to external stimuli. In this review, we will focus on a few examples of LCEs used with specific applications for biological/biomedical/environmental systems. So far, areas of innovation have been concentrating on the integration of LCEs to enhance stability under physiological conditions, ensure precise integration with biological systems, and address challenges related to optical properties and spatial control of deformation. However, several challenges and limitations must still be addressed to fully realize their potential in biomedical and environmental fields, and future research should focus on continuing to improve biocompatibility, response to the environment and chemical cues, mechanical properties, ensuring long-term stability, and establishing cost-effective production processes. So far, 3D/4D printing appears as a great promise to develop materials of high complexity, almost any shape, and high production output. However, researchers need to find ways to reduce synthesis costs to ensure that LCEs are developed using cost-effective production methods at a scale necessary for their specific applications’ needs.
Crystallographic Studies on Non-Covalent Interactions in Aryl-Substituted Antimony Organometallics
Authors: Torvisco Ana , Wolf Melanie , Fischer Roland C. , Uhlig Frank
Published: September 2024

A series of novel and previously published organoantimony compounds (RnSbX3−n, X = Cl, Br; R = o-tolyl, 2,6-xylyl, 1-naphthyl, and 9-anthracenyl), were synthesized and characterized. In addition, single-crystal X-ray diffraction was employed to elucidate the molecular structures of all solid species. These compounds display non-covalent intermolecular interactions in the form of edge-to-face, π···π stacking, and CH3···π interactions, and the effects of the substituent type and substituent bulk on the nature of these interactions present will be highlighted and discussed.
High-Altitude-UAV-Relayed Satellite D2D Communications for 6G IoT Network
Authors: Wang Jie , Hong Tao , Qi Fei , Liu Lei , He Xieyao
Published: September 2024

High-altitude UAVs (HA-UAVs) have emerged as vital components in 6G communication infrastructures, providing stable relays for telecommunications services above terrestrial and aerial disturbances. This paper explores the multifaceted roles of HA-UAVs in remote sensing, data relay, and telecommunication network enhancement. A Large Language Model (LLM) framework is introduced that dynamically predicts optimal HA-UAV connectivity for IoT devices, enhancing network performance and adaptability. The study emphasizes HA-UAVs’ operational efficiency, broad coverage, and potential to transform global communications, particularly in remote and underserved areas. Our proposed satellite-HA-UAV-IoT architecture with LLM optimization demonstrated substantial improvements, including a 25% increase in network throughput (from 20 Mbps to 25 Mbps at a 20 km distance), a 40% reduction in latency (from 25 ms to 15 ms), and a 28% enhancement in energy efficiency (from 0.25 μJ/bit to 0.18 μJ/bit), significantly advancing the performance and adaptability of next-generation IoT networks. These advancements pave the way for unprecedented connectivity and set the stage for future communication technologies.
Cooling Rate and Compositional Effects on Microstructural Evolution and Mechanical Properties of (CoCrCuTi)100−xFex High-Entropy Alloys
Authors: Terry Brittney , Abbaschian Reza
Published: September 2024

This study investigates the impact of cooling rate and alloy composition on phase formations and properties of (CoCrCuTi)100−xFex (x = 0, 5, 10, 12.5, 15) high-entropy alloys (HEAs). Samples were synthesized using arc-melting and electromagnetic levitation, followed by quenching through the use of a Cu chill or V-shaped Cu mold. Cooling rates were evaluated by measuring dendrite arm spacings (DASs), employing the relation DAS = k ɛ−n, where constants k = 16 and n = ½. Without Fe addition, a microstructure consisting of BCC1 + BCC2 phases formed, along with an interdendritic (ID) FCC Cu-rich phase. However, with the addition of 5–10% Fe, a Cu-lean C14 Laves phase emerged, accompanied by a Cu-rich ID FCC phase. For cooling rates below 75 K/s, alloys containing 10% Fe exhibited liquid phase separation (LPS), characterized by globular Cu-rich structures within the Cu-lean liquid. In contrast, for the same composition, higher cooling rates of 400–700 K/s promoted a dendritic/interdendritic microstructure. Alloys with 12.5–15 at. % Fe displayed LPS irrespective of the cooling rate, although an increase in uniformity was noted at rates exceeding 700 K/s. Vickers hardness and fracture toughness generally increased with Fe content, with hardness ranging from 444 to 891 HV. The highest fracture toughness (5.5 ± 0.4 KIC) and hardness (891 ± 66 HV) were achieved in samples containing 15 at. % Fe, cooled at rates of 25–75 K/s.
Legendre Polynomial Fitting-Based Permutation Entropy Offers New Insights into the Influence of Fatigue on Surface Electromyography (sEMG) Signal Complexity
Authors: Jabloun Meryem , Buttelli Olivier , Ravier Philippe
Published: September 2024

In a recently published work, we introduced local Legendre polynomial fitting-based permutation entropy (LPPE) as a new complexity measure for quantifying disorder or randomness in time series. LPPE benefits from the ordinal pattern (OP) concept and incorporates a natural, aliasing-free multiscaling effect by design. The current work extends our previous study by investigating LPPE’s capability to assess fatigue levels using both synthetic and real surface electromyography (sEMG) signals. Real sEMG signals were recorded during biceps brachii fatiguing exercise maintained at 70% of maximal voluntary contraction (MVC) until exhaustion and were divided into four consecutive temporal segments reflecting sequential stages of exhaustion. As fatigue levels rise, LPPE values can increase or decrease significantly depending on the selection of embedding dimensions. Our analysis reveals two key insights. First, using LPPE with limited embedding dimensions shows consistency with the literature. Specifically, fatigue induces a decrease in sEMG complexity measures. This observation is supported by a comparison with the existing multiscale permutation entropy (MPE) variant, that is, the refined composite downsampling (rcDPE). Second, given a fixed OP length, higher embedding dimensions increase LPPE’s sensitivity to low-frequency components, which are notably present under fatigue conditions. Consequently, specific higher embedding dimensions appear to enhance the discrimination of fatigue levels. Thus, LPPE, as the only MPE variant that allows a practical exploration of higher embedding dimensions, offers a new perspective on fatigue’s impact on sEMG complexity, complementing existing MPE approaches.
Active Inference in Psychology and Psychiatry: Progress to Date?
Authors: Badcock Paul B. , Davey Christopher G.
Published: September 2024

The free energy principle is a formal theory of adaptive self-organising systems that emerged from statistical thermodynamics, machine learning and theoretical neuroscience and has since been translated into biologically plausible ‘process theories’ of cognition and behaviour, which fall under the banner of ‘active inference’. Despite the promise this theory holds for theorising, research and practical applications in psychology and psychiatry, its impact on these disciplines has only now begun to bear fruit. The aim of this treatment is to consider the extent to which active inference has informed theoretical progress in psychology, before exploring its contributions to our understanding and treatment of psychopathology. Despite facing persistent translational obstacles, progress suggests that active inference has the potential to become a new paradigm that promises to unite psychology’s subdisciplines, while readily incorporating the traditionally competing paradigms of evolutionary and developmental psychology. To date, however, progress towards this end has been slow. Meanwhile, the main outstanding question is whether this theory will make a positive difference through applications in clinical psychology, and its sister discipline of psychiatry.
Visualization of Injected Fuel Vaporization Using Background-Oriented Schlieren Method
Authors: Lee Jungkoo , Kim Youngkun , Kim Woongil , Lee Kihyung
Published: September 2024

In this experimental study, ethanol, an eco-friendly fuel used to reduce harmful exhaust emissions from internal combustion engines, was blended with gasoline. To optimize the combustion and the shape of the combustion chamber, the spray development and spray behavior of ethanol and gasoline were visualized and compared. Droplets of injected fuel were visualized using a high-speed camera. Because it is difficult to experimentally observe fuel vaporization using only high-speed cameras, the vaporization characteristics of the spray were compared and analyzed by using the background-oriented schlieren (BOS) method with density variation and image displacement in the spray flow field to visualize the vaporized fuel. The experimental results indicate that the fuel vaporization phenomenon could be observed during the spray development and that more fuel vaporization occurred at higher ambient temperatures and lower ambient pressures. Additionally, the dependence of the differences in the vaporization characteristics of the fuel and the wall-wetting phenomenon caused by the vaporized fuel was analyzed.
Numerical Study on the Enhanced Oil Recovery by CO2 Huff-n-Puff in Shale Volatile Oil Formations
Authors: Zheng Aiwei , Lu Wentao , Zhang Rupeng , Sun Hai
Published: September 2024

The Sichuan Basin’s Liangshan Formation shale is rich in oil and gas resources, yet the recovery rate of shale oil reservoirs typically falls below 10%. Currently, gas injection huff-n-puff (H-n-P) is considered one of the most promising methods for improving shale oil recovery. This study numerically investigates the application of the CO2 huff-n-puff process in enhancing oil recovery in shale volatile oil reservoirs. Using an actual geological model and fluid properties of shale oil reservoirs in the Sichuan Basin, the CO2 huff-n-puff process was simulated. The model takes into account the molecular diffusion of CO2, adsorption, stress sensitivity effects, and nanopore confinement. After history matching, through sensitivity analysis, the optimal injection rate of 400 tons/day, soaking time of 30 days, and three cycles of huff-n-puff were determined to be the most effective. The simulation results show that, compared with other gases, CO2 has significant potential in improving the recovery rate and overall efficiency of shale oil reservoirs. This study is of great significance and can provide valuable references for the actual work of CO2 huff-n-puff processes in shale volatile oil reservoirs of the Sichuan Basin.
Assessment of Machine Learning Techniques for Simulating Reacting Flow: From Plasma-Assisted Ignition to Turbulent Flame Propagation
Authors: Shejan Mashrur Ertija , Bhuiyan Sharif Md Yousuf , Schoen Marco P. , Mahamud Rajib
Published: September 2024

Combustion involves the study of multiphysics phenomena that includes fluid and chemical kinetics, chemical reactions and complex nonlinear processes across various time and space scales. Accurate simulation of combustion is essential for designing energy conversion systems. Nonetheless, due to its multiscale, multiphysics nature, simulating these systems at full resolution is typically difficult. The massive and complex data generated from experiments and simulations, particularly in turbulent combustion, presents both a challenge and a research opportunity for advancing combustion studies. Machine learning facilitates data-driven techniques to manage the substantial amount of combustion data that is either obtained through experiments or simulations, and thereby can find the hidden patterns underlying these data. Alternatively, machine learning models can be useful to make predictions with comparable accuracy to existing models, while reducing computational costs significantly. In this era of big data, machine learning is rapidly evolving, offering promising opportunities to explore its integration with combustion research. This work provides an in-depth overview of machine learning applications in turbulent combustion modeling and presents the application of machine learning models: Decision Trees (DT) and Random Forests (RF), for the spatio-temporal prediction of plasma-assisted ignition kernels, based on the initial degree of ionization, with model validations against DNS data. The results demonstrate that properly trained machine learning models can accurately predict the spatio-temporal ignition kernel profile based on the initial energy deposition and distribution.