bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Feasibility and safety of combined laparoscopic and transvaginal oocyte retrieval in a woman with vaginal recurrence of cervical adenocarcinoma: a case report
Authors: Ingold Caroline , Navarro Paula Andrea , de Oliveira Renato , Barbosa Caio Parente , Sadalla José Carlos , Bedoschi Giuliano
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Oocyte cryopreservation is an established technique for fertility preservation in women diagnosed with cancer. However, some clinical scenarios may preclude the commonly used transvaginal approach to oocyte retrieval. In such cases, a laparoscopic approach may be required. Here, we report the feasibility and safety of a combined laparoscopic and transvaginal approach for oocyte retrieval in a woman with vaginal recurrence of cervical adenocarcinoma. This approach allowed for oocyte cryopreservation prior to cancer treatment, representing a novel application in this clinical context.

Methods

A 31-year-old woman with endocervical adenocarcinoma underwent laparoscopic radical hysterectomy and pelvic lymph node dissection. She presented with vaginal recurrence and was referred for fertility preservation by oocyte cryopreservation before chemotherapy and radiotherapy/brachytherapy. Ovarian stimulation was initiated with a gonadotropin antagonist protocol combined with aromatase inhibitors, and oocyte retrieval was performed with a combined laparoscopic and transvaginal approach.

Results

A total of 18 oocytes were retrieved and 10 mature oocytes were cryopreserved. Peritoneal fluid cytology was negative for malignancy. The patient underwent chemotherapy and radiotherapy/brachytherapy and was disease-free after oocyte retrieval.

Conclusion

The combined laparoscopic and transvaginal approach for oocyte retrieval emerges as a practical and efficacious method for fertility preservation in cases of cervical adenocarcinoma with vaginal recurrence. Further comprehensive studies are warranted to establish the reproducibility, safety, and long-term outcomes associated with this innovative approach.
Is there any truth in the myth that IVF treatments involve weight gain?
Authors: Saar-Ryss Bozhena , Shilo Michael , Friger Michael , Grin Leonti , Michailov Yulia , Meltcer Simion , Zaks Svetlana , Rabinson Jacob , Lazer Tal , Friedler Shevach
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To examine body weight change in women undergoing in vitro fertilization and embryo transfer (IVF-ET) using antagonist protocol after up to three treatment cycles.

Methods

A prospective cohort study among IVF patients treated between 2018 and 2019. Each patient underwent weight measurement three times during the treatment cycle: before treatment, at the beginning of the hormonal stimulation, and at the completion of the cycle, on the day of the pregnancy test. Data were also analyzed according to the body mass index (BMI) groups for normal weight, overweight, and obese patients. Finally, weight changes were recorded following altogether 519 treatment cycles, 240, 131, and 148 cycles, for normal weight, overweight, and obese patients, respectively.

Results

The change in the patient's weight was clinically non-significant either during the waiting period or during gonadotropin administration, and overall, during the first, second, or third treatment cycles. The recorded mean total weight change of 0.26 ± 1.85, 0.4 ± 1.81, and 0.17 ± 1.7, after the first, second, or third treatment cycles, represent a change of 0.36%, 0.56%, and 0.23% of their initial weights, respectively. This change of less than 1% of the body weight falls short of the clinically significant weight gain of 5%–7%. Analyzing the data for the various BMI groups, the changes observed in body weight were under 1%, hence with no clinical significance.

Conclusion

The findings of the study reject the myth that hormone therapy involves clinically significant weight gain, and this can lower the concerns of many patients who are candidates for treatment of assisted reproductive technology.
Biodiversity and quality of urban green landscape affect mental restorativeness of residents in Multan, Pakistan
Authors: Rehman Zainab , Zubair Muhammad , Hafiz Dalia Osama , Manzoor Syed Amir
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The influence of urban green spaces on public health is receiving unprecedented attention. Managing urban greenspaces sustainably requires an understanding of the mechanisms behind the positive effects of urban biodiversity on the wellbeing of residents. Urban parks could improve mental restoration of park users. The restoration potential may be influenced by the biophysical characteristics of the park.

Methods

This study aimed to understand two aspects of urban parks in Multan, Pakistan: (a) How does the perception of biodiversity and the quality of urban parks relate to mental restorativeness of park visitors? (b) What are the determinants of respondents' willingness to pay for the conservation and management of park biodiversity and quality in urban parks? Data were collected from October 2021 to December 2021 through a cross-sectional survey in which 550 park visitors were interviewed from six randomly selected urban parks in Multan. Multiple linear regression analysis, a binary logistic model, and a chi-square test were applied to analyze the data.

Results and discussion

The study empirically highlights the positive contribution of park visits to mental restorativeness. Biodiversity and quality were positively correlated with the mental restorativeness of park visitors. Sixty-two percent (62%) of the visitors were reluctant to pay, whereas 38% were ready to pay between Rs. 850/3.7$ and Rs. 1,700/7.4$ each year. Education, occupation, and monthly income significantly positively affected the respondent's WTP attitudes. The study highlights the importance of using urban parks as tools to promote mental restorativeness, combat social stress, and increase urban vegetation cover.
Redirected walking for exploration of unknown environments
Authors: Lutfallah Mathieu , Ketzel Marco , Kunz Andreas
Published: January 2024

Real walking is the most natural locomotion method for exploring Virtual Environments (VE), enhancing the immersion of Virtual Reality (VR). Redirected Walking (RDW) is employed to enable real walking within limited tracking spaces in large VEs by subtly manipulating the mapping between the virtual and real environments. However, the effectiveness of RDW is greatly influenced by the convex shape and size of the manually defined physical tracking space, subsequently impacting the user’s immersive experience. To improve performance, one strategy is to integrate exploration methods from mobile robotics with RDW. This will expand the usable tracking space, facilitating dynamic environments and rapid exploration. For this, we adapted a Unity framework for an RDW algorithm to facilitate simulations for such an exploration. We conducted a simulation with artificially created non-convex explorable tracking spaces and pre-recorded path elements, simulating two adapted RDW artificial potential field (APF) concepts. Three conceptualized modes were applied: repulsive APF, exploration APF, and exploration APF with a distance threshold. Additionally, one APF was extended with a frontier-based exploration approach that utilized the path between the user’s position and a targeted frontier. The analysis revealed a significant trade-off between exploration and immersion. APF combined with frontier-based the exploration technique showed the fastest exploration speed, but - however - resulted in the lowest distance between resets.
Furry Engineers: How Beavers Can Change an Entire Ecosystem
Authors: Reyes Aldana Hugo Enrique , Risse-Buhl Ute , Graeber Daniel
Published: January 2024

Every living being plays an important role on our planet. Some species create and modify the environment for others. These species can be called ecosystem engineers. By interacting with the environment and altering it, ecosystem engineers create favorable conditions for many other species. Beavers are excellent examples of ecosystem engineers. Just by building their homes and dams, these rodents modify the environment and allow other plants and animals to live in rivers and lakes. In this article, we will understand some of the ecological functions that bevers develop, how they help other species and ecosystems, and despite how helpful they are, why we should not place them everywhere.
The high energy X-ray probe (HEX-P): Resolving the nature of Sgr A* flares, compact object binaries and diffuse X-ray emission in the Galactic center and beyond
Authors: Mori Kaya , Ponti Gabriele , Bachetti Matteo , Bodaghee Arash , Grindlay Jonathan , Hong Jaesub , Krivonos Roman , Kuznetsova Ekaterina , Mandel Shifra , Rodriguez Antonio , Stel Giovanni , Zhang Shuo , Bao Tong , Bauer Franz , Clavel Maïca , Coughenour Benjamin , García Javier A. , Gerber Julian , Grefenstette Brian , Jaodand Amruta , Lehmer Bret , Madsen Kristin , Nynka Melania , Predehl Peter , Salcedo Ciro , Stern Daniel , Tomsick John
Published: January 2024

HEX-P is a probe-class mission concept that will combine high spatial resolution X-ray imaging (<10″ FWHM) and broad spectral coverage (0.2–80 keV) with an effective area far superior to current facilities’ (including XMM-Newton and NuSTAR). These capabilities will enable revolutionary new insights into a variety of important astrophysical problems. We present scientific objectives and simulations of HEX-P observations of the Galactic Center (GC) and Bulge. We demonstrate the unique and powerful capabilities of the HEX-P observatory for studying both X-ray point sources and diffuse X-ray emission. HEX-P will be uniquely equipped to explore a variety of major topics in Galactic astrophysics, allowing us to 1) investigate broad-band properties of X-ray flares emitted from the supermassive black hole (BH) at Sgr A* and probe the associated particle acceleration and emission mechanisms; 2) identify hard X-ray sources detected by NuSTAR and determine X-ray point source populations in different regions and luminosity ranges; 3) determine the distribution of compact object binaries in the nuclear star cluster and the composition of the Galactic Ridge X-ray emission; 4) identify X-ray transients and measure fundamental parameters such as black hole spin; 5) find hidden pulsars in the Galactic Center; 6) search for BH–OB binaries and hard X-ray flares from young stellar objects in young massive clusters; 7) measure white dwarf (WD) masses of magnetic CVs to deepen our understanding of CV evolution and the origin of white dwarf magnetic fields; 8) explore primary particle accelerators in the GC in synergy with future TeV and neutrino observatories; 9) map out cosmic-ray distributions by observing non-thermal X-ray filaments; 10) explore past X-ray outbursts from Sgr A* through X-ray reflection components from giant molecular clouds.
Factors driving FIFA world cup 2022 viewership ratings in mainland China: marketing outlooks for FIFA world cup 2026
Authors: Wang Zongqing , Su Lide , Agudamu  , Gong Tao , Bu Te , Zhang Yang
Published: January 2024

Introduction

The FIFA World Cup is not only the most lucrative athletic event globally, but it also functions as a platform for promoting peace owing to FIFA's new vision. Nevertheless, the determinants of TV viewership ratings, especially in the Chinese market, which is a critical revenue stream for FIFA TV broadcasting, are still unsolved. Using a distributional regression, this study aimed to quantify the dynamics of viewership ratings for the FIFA World Cup 2022 in mainland China.

Methods

The CCTV viewership ratings were modeled using 12 covariables related to Chinese TV consumer behavior. Given the data structure, a Logit Normal regression model was chosen to fit the location and dispersion parameters of viewership ratings to explanatory variables.

Results

In the fitted heteroscedastic model, the viewership ratings dynamics in mainland China were driven by the match kick-off time: μ^=logistic[−4.874+0.043×matchkick-offtime]. In addition, the model captures the factors that influence the variations in viewership ratings: σ^=exp[−14.26–1.346 (if, FIFA World Cup champion = “Yes”) + 0.004 × FIFA world ranking]. Thus, it shows that the FIFA World Cup champions tamp down such variations, leading to a more stable viewing behavior among Chinese consumers.

Conclusions

Time- and team-sensitive strategies are proposed to aid in crafting uncertainty-suppressing business decisions for the FIFA World Cup 2026. Ultimately, in the more insecure 2020s, a broader live coverage of the FIFA World Cup would be invaluable for promoting peace.
Advancing athletic assessment by integrating conventional methods with cutting-edge biomedical technologies for comprehensive performance, wellness, and longevity insights
Authors: Spanakis Marios , Fragkiadaki Persefoni , Renieri Elisavet , Vakonaki Elena , Fragkiadoulaki Irene , Alegakis Athanasios , Kiriakakis Mixalis , Panagiotou Nikolaos , Ntoumou Eleni , Gratsias Ioannis , Zoubaneas Evangelos , Morozova Galina Dmitrievna , Ovchinnikova Marina Alekseevna , Tsitsimpikou Christina , Tsarouhas Konstantinos , Drakoulis Nikolaos , Skalny Anatoly Viktorovich , Tsatsakis Aristides
Published: January 2024

In modern athlete assessment, the integration of conventional biochemical and ergophysiologic monitoring with innovative methods like telomere analysis, genotyping/phenotypic profiling, and metabolomics has the potential to offer a comprehensive understanding of athletes' performance and potential longevity. Telomeres provide insights into cellular functioning, aging, and adaptation and elucidate the effects of training on cellular health. Genotype/phenotype analysis explores genetic variations associated with athletic performance, injury predisposition, and recovery needs, enabling personalization of training plans and interventions. Metabolomics especially focusing on low-molecular weight metabolites, reveal metabolic pathways and responses to exercise. Biochemical tests assess key biomarkers related to energy metabolism, inflammation, and recovery. Essential elements depict the micronutrient status of the individual, which is critical for optimal performance. Echocardiography provides detailed monitoring of cardiac structure and function, while burnout testing evaluates psychological stress, fatigue, and readiness for optimal performance. By integrating this scientific testing battery, a multidimensional understanding of athlete health status can be achieved, leading to personalized interventions in training, nutrition, supplementation, injury prevention, and mental wellness support. This scientifically rigorous approach hereby presented holds significant potential for improving athletic performance and longevity through evidence-based, individualized interventions, contributing to advances in the field of sports performance optimization.
Serratus anterior plane block for acute pain management after pectus excavatum repair
Authors: Rim Gongmin , Park Hyung Joo , Kang Seungyoun , Jeong Jin Yong , Koo Jungmin , Jang Il-Tae , Bae Saemi
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Conventional postoperative pain management using an intravenous (IV) patient-controlled approach or thoracic epidural analgesia is suboptimal following minimally invasive repair of the pectus excavatum (MIRPE). Recently, cryoanalgesia has gained popularity owing to its superior pain control outcomes compared to those associated with conventional methods. However, because of its invasiveness, additional instrumentation requirement, and limited effect at early postoperative periods, we hypothesized that serratus anterior plane block (SAPB) could be an effective method for post-repair pain management and a possibly superior alternative.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective cohort study of pediatric patients who had undergone MIRPE between March 2022 and August 2023. We compared the efficacy of pain control in three groups among 74 patients: Group N (conventional pain management, n = 24), Group C (cryoanalgesia, n = 24), and Group S (SAPB, n = 26). Group N received IV patient-controlled analgesia (PCA) and a subcutaneous local anesthetic infusion. Group C received bilateral cryoanalgesia on the fourth and seventh intercostal nerves using a cryoprobe at −80°C for 2 min during the operation and IV-PCA postoperatively. Group S received continuous bilateral SAPB with 0.25% ropivacaine and IV-PCA. The pain levels were measured using the visual analog scale (VAS; resting and dynamic), and the total IV rescue analgesic consumption was determined.

Results

The three groups had similar baseline characteristics. Group S showed significantly less pain throughout the immediate postoperative course, resting VAS score at 3 h (Group N, 7.21 vs. Group C, 5.75 vs. Group S, 3.81; p < 0.001), and prominent less total IV rescue analgesic consumption (Group N, 116.16 mg vs. Group C, 52.75 mg vs. Group S, 16.61 mg; p < 0.001).

Conclusion

SAPB resulted in better postoperative pain control than that associated with cryoanalgesia and conventional pain management after pectus excavatum repair, As it was effective in the immediate postoperative period, achieving a VAS score of <4 points (moderate pain) at 3 h postoperatively, it may play an important role and replace invasive cryoanalgesia in the management of pain after pectus surgery.
Characterization of three predicted zinc exporters in Brucella ovis identifies ZntR-ZntA as a powerful zinc and cadmium efflux system not required for virulence and unveils pathogenic Brucellae heterogeneity in zinc homeostasis
Authors: Tartilán-Choya Beatriz , Tejedor Carmen , Conde-Álvarez Raquel , Muñoz Pilar María , Vizcaíno Nieves
Published: January 2024

Brucella ovis causes non-zoonotic ovine brucellosis of worldwide distribution and is responsible for important economic losses mainly derived from male genital lesions and reproductive fails. Studies about the virulence mechanisms of this rough species (lacking lipopolysaccharide O-chains) are underrepresented when compared to the main zoonotic Brucella species that are smooth (with O-chains). Zinc intoxication constitutes a defense mechanism of the host against bacterial pathogens, which have developed efflux systems to counterbalance toxicity. In this study, we have characterized three potential B. ovis zinc exporters, including the ZntA ortholog previously studied in B. abortus. Despite an in-frame deletion removing 100 amino acids from B. ovis ZntA, the protein retained strong zinc efflux properties. Only indirect evidence suggested a higher exporter activity for B. abortus ZntA, which, together with differences in ZntR-mediated regulation of zntA expression between B. ovis and B. abortus, could contribute to explaining why the ΔzntR mutant of B. abortus is attenuated while that of B. ovis is virulent. Additionally, B. ovis ZntA was revealed as a powerful cadmium exporter contributing to cobalt, copper, and nickel detoxification, properties not previously described for the B. abortus ortholog. Deletion mutants for BOV_0501 and BOV_A1100, also identified as potential zinc exporters and pseudogenes in B. abortus, behaved as the B. ovis parental strain in all tests performed. However, their overexpression in the ΔzntA mutant allowed the detection of discrete zinc and cobalt efflux activity for BOV_0501 and BOV_A1100, respectively. Nevertheless, considering their low expression levels and the stronger activity of ZntA as a zinc and cobalt exporter, the biological role of BOV_0501 and BOV_A1100 is questionable. Results presented in this study evidence heterogeneity among pathogenic Brucellae regarding zinc export and, considering the virulence of B. ovis ΔzntA, suggest that host-mediated zinc intoxication is not a relevant mechanism to control B. ovis infection.
New species of Delicata (Molineidae: Anoplostrongylinae) parasite of Cabassous tatouay (Desmarest, 1804) from the Atlantic Forest, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Authors: de Oliveira Simões Raquel , de Andrade Silva Beatriz Elise , Olifiers Natalie , Bueno Cecília , Maldonado Júnior Arnaldo
Published: January 2024

A new species of nematode parasite of the genus Delicata (Molineidae: Anoplostrongylinae) is described from the small intestine of a road-killed Greater Naked-tailed Armadillo Cabassous tatouay (Cingulata: Chlamyphoridae) on the BR-040 highway in Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. The genus Delicata includes 13 species of parasitizing armadillos and anteaters distributed in Brazil, Argentina, and Trinidad and Tobago. The present species is distinguished from almost all species of Delicata by the longest length of the body, except for D. khalili and D. appendiculata. However, these can be distinguished from each other by the length of the spicules. The species that closely resembles, Delicata tatouay n. sp. is D. speciosa, but it can be distinguished by a robust branch from rays 2 and 3, rays 4 larger, and rays 8 longer compared to those of the new species. The new species is the only one with a tail, characterized by a terminal spine with rattlesnake tail-like transversal striations.
Case report: First criminal conviction of dog fighting in Brazil: an international network organization
Authors: Espejo Esther , Galante Alina , Tremori Tália Missen , Kmetiuk Louise Bach , Laiola Matheus Araujo , Biondo Alexander Welker , Maiorka Paulo
Published: January 2024

Although banned in several countries worldwide, dog fighting has remained a challenge, particularly on criminal investigation, recognition, and prosecution. Besides animal cruelty, dog fighting has been controlled mostly by criminal organizations and accompanied by illegal gambling and drug trafficking. While such competitions may be impaired by advances of legislation on animal welfare and media coverage, international organized crime has been migrating to less regulated and enforced countries. The case herein reported a flagrant dog fighting investigation in an international event involving 27 Pitbull dogs in Mairiporã, located 50 km outside São Paulo City, Brazil. An international network of dog fighting was revealed at the tournament, along with presence of organizers from USA, Mexico, and Peru. Proof was obtained on-site about other similar past and future competitions in other Latin American countries. Dogs were rescued, thoroughly examined for signs of animal cruelty, surveyed for potential diseases, and tested positive for visceral canine leishmaniasis. The process conducted by the state hearing resulted in the highest criminal sentence attributed to animal cruelty in Brazil to date, serving as jurisprudence for future prosecutions. Forensic veterinary medicine was essential in this case as a specialty for police and court assistance, leading to detailed and undeniable report of animal cruelty.
Effects of α-amylase and coated α-amylase supplementation on growth performance, nutrient digestion, and rumen fermentation in Holstein bulls
Authors: Zhang Xiaoming , Xue Feng , Xu Kailin , Liu Qiang , Guo Gang , Huo Wenjie , Zhang Yawei , Wang Cong
Published: January 2024

This study evaluated the impacts of α-amylase (AM) and coated α-amylase (CAM) on bull performance, nutrient digestibility, and ruminal fermentation. This study randomized 60 Holstein bulls of 365 ± 11.5 days of age and 457.5 ± 9.35 kg body weight into three groups: without AM addition, adding AM 0.6 g/kg dry matter (DM), and adding CAM 0.6 g AM/kg DM, separately. This whole experimental period was 80 days, including a 20-day adaptation period and a 60-day data and sample acquisition period. In comparison with the unsupplemented control, dry matter intake (DMI) was unaltered; however, average daily gain (ADG) and feed efficiency (FE) were greater for AM or CAM addition. Bulls receiving AM or CAM supply had greater total-tract nutrient digestibility, ruminal total volatile fatty acids (VFA) content, propionate molar proportion, cellulolytic enzyme and AM activities, and the number of microorganisms. In addition, the activities of AM and trypsin in the jejunum and ileum and glucose, albumin, and total protein concentrations in serum were greater for AM or CAM addition compared to the control. When comparing the supplementation mode of AM, bulls receiving CAM addition had greater ADG and FE. The crude protein and starch digestibility and intestinal AM and trypsin activity were higher, while acid detergent fiber (ADF) digestibility was lower for CAM addition than for AM addition. The lower propionate molar proportion and cellobiase and carboxymethyl cellulase activities, together with Ruminococcus albus, Ruminococcus flavefaciens, and Fibrobacter succinogenes populations were observed for CAM addition compared with AM addition. However, there were greater glucose, albumin, and total protein concentrations in serum after adding CAM. According to the data, the supply of AM improved ADG, nutrient digestion, and rumen fermentation. Notably, the optimum supplementation mode was in the form of CAM in bulls.
Transplantable Murine Tumors in the Studies of Peptide Antitumor Vaccines
Authors: Ponomarev Aleksandr V. , Shubina Irina Zh. , Sokolova Zinaida A. , Baryshnikova Maria A. , Kosorukov Vyacheslav S.
Published: January 2024

Numerous studies have shown that antitumor vaccines based on synthetic peptides are safe and can induce both CD8+ and CD4+ tumor-specific T cell responses. However, clinical results are still scarce, and such approach to antitumor treatment has not gained a wide implication, yet. Recently, particular advances have been achieved due to tumor sequencing and the search for immunogenic neoantigens caused by mutations. One of the most important issues for peptide vaccines, along with the choice of optimal adjuvants and vaccination regimens, is the search for effective target antigens. Extensive studies of peptide vaccines, including those on murine models, are required to reveal the effective vaccine constructs. The review presents transplantable murine tumors with the detected peptides that showed antitumor efficacy as a vaccine compound.
Design Method of the Stroke Ring Based on Deformation Pre-Compensation
Authors: An Gaocheng , Gao Kai , Dong Hongquan , Liu Baoyu , Li Lin , Hu Zhenhua
Published: January 2024

A common consensus is that an optimized curve profile of the stroke ring in the multiple-stroke piston motor can make the output torque more stable. However, the ring generates elastic deformation during operation, which causes the piston component movement trajectory to deviate from the ideal design curve. To address this issue, first, a liquid–solid coupling simulation model was established to obtain the deformation of the ring, and the accuracy of the model was verified through experiments. Second, a stroke ring curve design method based on elastic deformation pre-compensation was proposed. Through this method, a compensated curve can be obtained to make the actual working curve more in line with the ideal curve. Finally, the dynamic characteristics of three different types of multiple-stroke piston motor curves were analyzed—the ideal design curve, the uncompensated working curve, and the compensated working curve. The results showed that the motor torque pulsation rates are 0.821%, 4.723%, and 0.986%, respectively, and the compensated working curve has a relatively reduced pulsation rate of 79.12% compared to the uncompensated working curve, which verifies that this design method can effectively improve motor performance.
Managing Cultural Diversity and Conflict in Family Businesses: An Organizational Perspective
Authors: Gavrić Tanja , Braje Ivana Načinović
Published: January 2024

This study aims to investigate the occurrence of conflicts in family businesses, particularly focusing on their impact on founder behavior and organizational culture. Conducted in Bosnia and Herzegovina, the research employs a qualitative methodology to gain an in-depth understanding of conflicts within family businesses. The study utilizes semi-structured interviews as the primary data collection tool, engaging with 5 founders and 12 successors across various family owned businesses. The sample, comprising 17 participants, offers diverse perspectives on conflict dynamics between founders and successors. The interviews, designed to explore recurring key themes, delve into the nature and characteristics of task and process-based disagreements within these family enterprises. Key findings from this study include the observation that task or process-based disagreements, commonly arising between family members, can act as catalysts for founders to re-evaluate their behavior, potentially influencing the shaping of the organizational culture. The research highlights the importance of fostering a culture of open communication, critical thinking, and respect within family firms. Such a culture can play a significant role in reducing relationship conflicts and aid in reaching constructive resolutions. Additionally, the study reveals that the features of organizational culture within family businesses can be instrumental in managing conflicts effectively. This research underscores the complexity of family relationships in business settings and emphasizes the necessity of examining these dynamics from multiple angles. Given the prevalence of family members in key positions within family firms, the study sheds light on the importance of addressing diversity and conflict among family members, considering their long-term implications on the culture and future of these firms.
Estimation of Plant Height and Biomass of Rice Using Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Song Enze , Shao Guangcheng , Zhu Xueying , Zhang Wei , Dai Yan , Lu Jia
Published: January 2024

Plant height and biomass are important indicators of rice yield. Here we combined measured plant physiological traits with a crop growth model driven by unmanned aerial vehicle spectral data to quantify the changes in rice plant height and biomass under different irrigation and fertilizer treatments. The study included two treatments: I—water availability factor (i.e., three drought objects, optimal, and excess water); and II—two levels of deep percolation and five nitrogen fertilization doses. The introduced model is extreme learning machine (ELM), back propagation neural network (BPNN), and particle swarm optimization-ELM (PSO-ELM), respectively. The results showed that: (1) Proper water level regulation (3~5 cm) significantly increased the accumulation of spike biomass, which was about 6% higher compared to that under flooded conditions. (2) For plant height inversion, the ELM model was optimal with a mean coefficient of determination of 0.78, a mean root mean square error of 0.26 cm, and a mean performance deviation rate of 2.08. For biomass inversion, the PSO-ELM model was optimal with a mean coefficient of determination of 0.88, a mean root mean square error of 3.8 g, and a mean performance deviation rate of 3.29. This study provided the possible opportunity for large-scale estimations of rice yield under environmental disturbances.
Biomechanical Characterization of Preparation for Airs above the Ground: A Mixed Approach
Authors: Biau Sophie , Leblanc Marine , Pycik Eléna , Pasquiet Benoît , Huet Benoit
Published: January 2024

Equitation in the French tradition is a school of riding that emphasizes harmonious relations between humans and horses. The best-known community is the Cadre Noir of Saumur, whose specialty is the air above the ground (AAG). No study has yet looked at the horse–rider interaction in this specific context. The purpose of this study was to identify and quantify indicators of AAGs based on the empirical perception of the écuyers expressed by a method of self-confrontation interviews. Fourteen training sessions were the subject of phenomenological and biomechanical approaches. Contact, balance, and hoof-beat, decisive for performance quality, were characterized for 49 AAGs, performed by five horses trained by two expert écuyers, with rein tension meters integrated in their double bridle (curb and snaffle reins) and six inertial measurement units fixed on the limbs, sternum, and croup. Their action was characterized by a peak of 65 ± 39 N on the inside curb rein. They considered that their horse was in balance (forehand inclined 13 ± 7° and −12 ± 9° for the hind hand). After the peak, during the 3.3 ± 2 s the horse’s trunk was stable and the écuyers released the contact until the AAG was perceived as satisfactory by the écuyer. The mixed approach allowed a pattern of action to be envisaged for the écuyer based on contact, balance, and hoof-beat in the execution of AAGs. The quantification of rein tension, trunk movements, and acceleration of the four limbs objectified the expert écuyers’ feeling of developing aptitudes for their actions in the human–horse interactions for improved transmission to young écuyers. The mixed approach used in this study has given rise to new training methods that are transferable to other equestrian activities.
The Impact of Fiber Source on Digestive Function, Fecal Microbiota, and Immune Response in Adult Dogs
Authors: Montserrat-Malagarriga Miquel , Castillejos Lorena , Salas-Mani Anna , Torre Celina , Martín-Orúe Susana M.
Published: January 2024

This study evaluated the impact of different fiber sources on intestinal function, fecal microbiota, and overall health in dogs. Twelve dogs were used in a crossover design, involving three periods of 6 weeks and three diets: a low-fiber diet (CTR), a cereal-fiber and beet-pulp-supplemented diet (BRA), and a fruit-fiber-supplemented diet (FRU). Each period included a digestibility trial and fecal and blood sampling in the last week. Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and microbiota taxonomy (16S rRNA Illumina-MiSeq) and functionality (Shotgun-NovaSeq 6000) were determined in the feces. General biochemistry, complete blood cells, and lymphocyte subsets were also analyzed. The fiber-supplemented diets showed lower digestibility without significant changes in the fecal consistency. The BRA diet showed higher total SCFA concentrations (p = 0.056), with increases in alpha diversity and particular beneficial genera, such as Lachnospira, Bifidobacterium, and Faecalibacterium. The BRA microbiota was also associated with an overabundance of genes related to carbohydrate and amino acid metabolism. The FRU diet had a distinct impact on the microbiota composition and functionality, leading to higher levels of CD8 lymphocytes. These findings emphasize the importance of selecting the right fiber source when formulating dog diets, as it can have a differential impact on gut microbiota and animal health.
Sonoporation, a Novel Frontier for Cancer Treatment: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Ricci Martina , Barbi Elisa , Dimitri Mattia , Duranti Claudia , Arcangeli Annarosa , Corvi Andrea
Published: January 2024

Sonoporation has garnered significant attention for its potential to temporarily permeabilize cell membranes through the application of ultrasound waves, thus enabling an efficient cellular uptake of molecules. Despite its promising applications, the precise control of sonoporation remains a complex and evolving challenge in the field of cellular and molecular biology. This review aims to address two key aspects central to advancing our understanding of sonoporation. Firstly, it underscores the necessity for the establishment of a standardized methodology to validate and quantify the successful entry of molecules into target cells. This entails a critical examination of existing techniques and the identification of best practices to ensure accurate, reliable, and reproducible results. By establishing a common framework for assessing sonoporation outcomes, researchers can enhance the reliability and comparability of their experiments, paving the way for more robust findings. Secondly, the review places particular emphasis on the detailed analysis of various acoustic parameters as reported in the papers selected from the literature. Among these parameters, acoustic intensity (specifically, ISPTA) emerges as a pivotal factor in sonoporation studies. Furthermore, this review delves into the exploration of the elastic modulus and its significance in sonoporation mechanisms and associated challenges. This knowledge can inform the development of more effective strategies to optimize sonoporation protocols. In summary, this review not only highlights the pressing need for a standardized approach to verify molecule entry into cells but also delves into the search for an effective frequency and acoustic intensity for in vivo and in vitro applications.
Optimizing V2X Communication: Spectrum Resource Allocation and Power Control Strategies for Next-Generation Wireless Technologies
Authors: Ibrahim Ali. M. A. , Chen Zhigang , Wang Yijie , Eljailany Hala A. , A. Ipaye Aridegbe
Published: January 2024

The upcoming wireless technology developments in the next generations are expected to substantially transform the vehicle-to-everything (V2X) communication network. The challenge of limited spectrum resources in V2X communication, caused by the need for high data rates, necessitates a thorough analysis of spectrum resource allocation and power control. This complex problem falls under the domain of mixed-integer nonlinear programming; a strategic approach is implemented to overcome these issues, which divides the main challenge into two sub-problems. The issue of resource allocation is addressed by implementing a multiaccess spectrum allocation method, which is deliberately designed to optimize the utilization of the spectrum resources that are currently accessible. Concurrently, the power control issue is resolved by employing a continuous convex approximation technique, which effectively converts non-convex power-allocation issues into convex equivalents. This approach helps to alleviate interference between users. Finally, the simulation results prove that the proposed approaches can improve vehicle performance. The algorithms proposed in this article significantly improve the system throughput and access rate of vehicular user equipment (VUEs) while ensuring the data rate of cellular user equipment (CUEs).
Revising the Noir Formula in the Chinese Context: Black Coal, Thin Ice and Beyond
Authors: Zhou Dinghui
Published: January 2024

Noir can be seen as a formula with a set of distinguishable thematic, narrative, and aesthetic elements matured in postwar Hollywood and later recycled, refined, or resisted by filmmakers worldwide. In the past decade, a handful of noirish crime films produced in People’s Republic of China particularly reworked this formula to articulate local concerns, one example being Black Coal, Thin Ice. By attempting a comparative analysis of this movie’s characterization with the noir formula’s conventional portrayal, this essay argues that Black Coal, Thin Ice revises the noir formula by drawing more attention to the noir killer’s plight as a demoralized state worker and deconstructing the formulaic presence of the femme fatale as a deadly and powerful seductress. Moving beyond the Black Coal, Thin Ice case, the essay also posits that the recent Chinese noirish crime films’ fusing of stylized chiaroscuro with color lighting to register various existential and psychological concerns enriches the chiaroscuro aesthetic of the noir formula.
Research on Chinese Nested Entity Recognition Based on IDCNNLR and GlobalPointer
Authors: Li Weijun , Liu Jintong , Gao Yuxiao , Zhang Xinyong , Gu Jianlai
Published: January 2024

The task of named entity recognition (NER) is to identify entities in the text and predict their categories. In real-life scenarios, the context of the text is often complex, and there may exist nested entities within an entity. This kind of entity is called a nested entity, and the task of recognizing entities with nested structures is referred to as nested named entity recognition. Most existing NER models can only handle flat entities, and there has been limited research progress in Chinese nested named entity recognition, resulting in relatively few models in this direction. General NER models have limited semantic extraction capabilities and cannot capture deep semantic information between nested entities in the text. To address these issues, this paper proposes a model that uses the GlobalPointer module to identify nested entities in the text and constructs the IDCNNLR semantic extraction module to extract deep semantic information. Furthermore, multiple-head self-attention mechanisms are incorporated into the model at multiple positions to achieve data denoising, enhancing the quality of semantic features. The proposed model considers each possible entity boundary through the GlobalPointer module, and the IDCNNLR semantic extraction module and multi-position attention mechanism are introduced to enhance the model’s semantic extraction capability. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model achieves F1 scores of 69.617% and 79.285% on the CMeEE Chinese nested entity recognition dataset and CLUENER2020 Chinese fine-grained entity recognition dataset, respectively. The model exhibits improvement compared to baseline models, and each innovation point shows effective performance enhancement in ablative experiments.
Impacts of a Recent Interdecadal Shift in the Summer Arctic Dipole on the Variability in Atmospheric Circulation over Eurasia
Authors: Zhang Xuanwen , Pang Xueqi , Zhang Xiang , Wu Bingyi
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the relationship between the summer Arctic Dipole (AD) anomaly and the climatic variability in Eurasia during the period 1979–2021. It was found that the summer AD anomaly experienced a phase shift from frequent negative phases before 2006 to positive phases after 2007, as manifested by the shift of the center of the positive (negative) AD anomaly to Greenland (in the Laptev Sea and East Siberian Seas) in the more recent period (2007–2021) from the vicinity of the Kara Sea and Laptev Sea (the Canadian archipelago) in the earlier period (1979–2006). Before the mid-2000s, a wave train was shown in the middle troposphere of Eurasia, and this teleconnection pattern of atmospheric circulation could have resulted in local warm and wet (cool and dry) anomalies over northern Russia and East Asia (Western Europe and the Far east). Since the mid-2000s, the wave train has experienced a notable adjustment that was conducive to East Asian and Arctic cooling, displaying anticyclonic anomalies around northern Eurasia and two cyclonic anomalies centered near the Arctic and East Asia. The presence of a cold Arctic anomaly was found to enhance westerly winds at high latitudes by modulating the meridional temperature gradient (MTG) and impeding the southward propagation of cold Arctic air. Additionally, the warmth of northern Eurasia may have also resulted in a reduction in the MTG between northern Eurasia and the mid-lower latitudes, favoring a weakening of zonal winds over the central region of Eurasia. The increased upper-level westerly winds over southern East Asia implied a weakened East Asian Summer Monsoon, which inhibited precipitation in northeast China.
Automatic Detection and Classification of Hypertensive Retinopathy with Improved Convolution Neural Network and Improved SVM
Authors: Bhimavarapu Usharani , Chintalapudi Nalini , Battineni Gopi
Published: January 2024

Hypertensive retinopathy (HR) results from the microvascular retinal changes triggered by hypertension, which is the most common leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. Therefore, it is necessary to develop an automated system for HR detection and evaluation using retinal images. We aimed to propose an automated approach to identify and categorize the various degrees of HR severity. A new network called the spatial convolution module (SCM) combines cross-channel and spatial information, and the convolution operations extract helpful features. The present model is evaluated using publicly accessible datasets ODIR, INSPIREVR, and VICAVR. We applied the augmentation to artificially increase the dataset of 1200 fundus images. The different HR severity levels of normal, mild, moderate, severe, and malignant are finally classified with the reduced time when compared to the existing models because in the proposed model, convolutional layers run only once on the input fundus images, which leads to a speedup and reduces the processing time in detecting the abnormalities in the vascular structure. According to the findings, the improved SVM had the highest detection and classification accuracy rate in the vessel classification with an accuracy of 98.99% and completed the task in 160.4 s. The ten-fold classification achieved the highest accuracy of 98.99%, i.e., 0.27 higher than the five-fold classification accuracy and the improved KNN classifier achieved an accuracy of 98.72%. When computation efficiency is a priority, the proposed model’s ability to quickly recognize different HR severity levels is significant.
MiMultiCat: A Unified Cloud Platform for the Analysis of Microbiome Data with Multi-Categorical Responses
Authors: Kim Jihun , Jang Hyojung , Koh Hyunwook
Published: January 2024

The field of the human microbiome is rapidly growing due to the recent advances in high-throughput sequencing technologies. Meanwhile, there have also been many new analytic pipelines, methods and/or tools developed for microbiome data preprocessing and analytics. They are usually focused on microbiome data with continuous (e.g., body mass index) or binary responses (e.g., diseased vs. healthy), yet multi-categorical responses that have more than two categories are also common in reality. In this paper, we introduce a new unified cloud platform, named MiMultiCat, for the analysis of microbiome data with multi-categorical responses. The two main distinguishing features of MiMultiCat are as follows: First, MiMultiCat streamlines a long sequence of microbiome data preprocessing and analytic procedures on user-friendly web interfaces; as such, it is easy to use for many people in various disciplines (e.g., biology, medicine, public health). Second, MiMultiCat performs both association testing and prediction modeling extensively. For association testing, MiMultiCat handles both ecological (e.g., alpha and beta diversity) and taxonomical (e.g., phylum, class, order, family, genus, species) contexts through covariate-adjusted or unadjusted analysis. For prediction modeling, MiMultiCat employs the random forest and gradient boosting algorithms that are well suited to microbiome data while providing nice visual interpretations. We demonstrate its use through the reanalysis of gut microbiome data on obesity with body mass index categories. MiMultiCat is freely available on our web server.
Serum Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-2 as a Prognostic Factor for COVID-19 Severity
Authors: Mester Patricia , Räth Ulrich , Schmid Stephan , Amend Pablo , Keller Dennis , Krautbauer Sabrina , Bondarenko Sofiia , Müller Martina , Buechler Christa , Pavel Vlad
Published: January 2024

Insulin-like growth factor-binding protein (IGFBP)-2 is a regulator of anabolic pathways, which become inactivated in severe illness. Here, we measured the serum IGFBP-2 levels of COVID-19 patients with moderate and severe disease as well as healthy controls to identify the associations of serum IGFBP-2 levels with disease severity. Patients with severe COVID-19 had higher serum IGFBP-2 levels than those with moderate disease and healthy controls, who had similar levels. Non-survivors of COVID-19 tended to have elevated serum IGFBP-2 levels compared to survivors. Increased serum IGFBP-2 levels were observed in patients requiring dialysis and vasopressor therapy. Serum IGFBP-2 was positively correlated with procalcitonin in both patient groups. Bacterial co-infection in severe COVID-19 patients did not influence serum IGFBP-2 levels. Patients with liver cirrhosis and obesity, showing increased and decreased serum IGFBP-2 levels, respectively, were excluded from the study. The present analysis showed that higher serum IGFBP-2 levels are associated with increased disease severity in COVID-19 patients. The similarity in serum IGFBP-2 levels between patients with moderate COVID-19 and healthy controls suggests that elevated IGFBP-2 is associated with critical illness rather than SARS-CoV-2 infection itself.