bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The influence of physical education courses integrated with civic education on prosocial behavior among college students: the chain mediating effect of cultural confidence and self-esteem
Authors: Huang Changchang , Li Geng , Zhang Yuantong , Aphichaithawon Nalatporn , Deng Zhile , Zhang Zhihua , Zhang Yihan , Ding Jianjun
Published: November 2023

Objective

This study sought to uncover the relationship between physical education courses integrated with civic education (PECICE) and prosocial behavior among university students. Additionally, we aimed to decipher the mediating roles of cultural confidence and self-esteem within this relationship.

Methods

Employing a questionnaire-based approach, we assessed the relationship among PECICE, cultural confidence, self-esteem, and prosocial behavior in university students. The instrument comprised four distinct scales: the Perceived Effectiveness Scale for PECICE, the Cultural Confidence Scale, the Self-Esteem Scale, and the Prosocial Behavior Scale. Our sample encompassed 293 Chinese college students, consisting of 137 men and 156 women, with an average age of 21.39 years (SD = 2.1).

Results

PECICE demonstrated significant positive associations with cultural confidence (r = 0.29, p < 0.001), self-esteem (r = 0.35, p < 0.001), and prosocial behavior (r = 0.40, p < 0.001). The influence of PECICE on prosocial behavior among university students was mediated through three channels: solely via cultural confidence (mediating effect value: 0.14), solely via self-esteem (mediating effect value: 0.22), and through the combined influence of both cultural confidence and self-esteem (mediating effect value: 0.2).

Conclusion

The intertwined mediating roles of cultural confidence and self-esteem highlight their pivotal significance in enhancing the efficacy of PECICE. These insights offer a valuable reference for both educators and policymakers striving to augment prosocial behavior in university students.
The health perception of urban green spaces and its emotional impact on young adults: an empirical study from three cities in China
Authors: Wang Jinsong , Liu Nan , Zou Jiaying , Guo Yanlong , Chen Hong
Published: November 2023

Introduction

Exposure to green space can bring many benefits to physical and mental health, but in China, the attractiveness of green space to youth groups seems to be not significant. The question of how to encourage young people to go out of the house to better perceive green space, enjoy nature, and promote physical and mental health is on our minds.

Methods

This study combines young people’s green space perception, green space use, and purpose of visit to explore its impact on the emotional health of youth groups, combined with the PANAS psychological data scale, an online questionnaire survey of 426 residents (18–35  years old) in three Chinese cities, and was used to construct a multiple regression model and AMOS structural equations.

Results and discussion

The results of the study showed that, firstly, environmental attractiveness, environmental odor, and number of facilities were the key factors influencing adolescents’ landscape perception evaluation, while activity space, environmental odor, and environmental attractiveness had a greater impact on adolescents’ emotional well-being. Second, among adolescents’ visit purposes, socializing and fitness were more likely to help them generate positive emotions while resting and viewing activities were effective in helping them alleviate negative emotions. In addition, in terms of usage, residents who took public transportation as well as those who arrived on foot were the most emotionally healthy. The findings of this paper provide insights for public policymakers, urban planners, and landscape architects to better encourage youth participation in green spaces when they are installed.
Robotic world models—conceptualization, review, and engineering best practices
Authors: Sakagami Ryo , Lay Florian S. , Dömel Andreas , Schuster Martin J. , Albu-Schäffer Alin , Stulp Freek
Published: November 2023

The term “world model” (WM) has surfaced several times in robotics, for instance, in the context of mobile manipulation, navigation and mapping, and deep reinforcement learning. Despite its frequent use, the term does not appear to have a concise definition that is consistently used across domains and research fields. In this review article, we bootstrap a terminology for WMs, describe important design dimensions found in robotic WMs, and use them to analyze the literature on WMs in robotics, which spans four decades. Throughout, we motivate the need for WMs by using principles from software engineering, including “Design for use,” “Do not repeat yourself,” and “Low coupling, high cohesion.” Concrete design guidelines are proposed for the future development and implementation of WMs. Finally, we highlight similarities and differences between the use of the term “world model” in robotic mobile manipulation and deep reinforcement learning.
Metabolic processes control carbon dioxide dynamics in a boreal forest ditch affected by clear-cut forestry
Authors: Zannella Alberto , Eklöf Karin , Lannergård Emma , Laudon Hjalmar , Maher Hasselquist Eliza , Wallin Marcus B.
Published: November 2023

Boreal watercourses are large emitters of carbon dioxide (CO2) to the atmosphere. For forestry intensive areas of the Nordic and Baltic countries, a high share of these watercourses are man-made ditches, created to improve drainage and increase forest productivity. Previous studies have suggested that terrestrial sources sustain the CO2 in these ditches and variability in hydrology is the main temporal control. However, few studies have explored ditch CO2 dynamics and its associated controls in catchments being exposed to forest harvest. An altered hydrology, increased nutrient export and light availability following forest harvest are all factors that potentially can change both levels, dynamics, and source controls of ditch CO2. Here, high-frequency (30 min) CO2 concentration dynamics together with other hydrochemical variables were studied in a forest ditch draining a fully harvested catchment in the Trollberget Experimental Area, northern Sweden. We collected data during the snow-free season from May to October. Ditch CO2 concentrations displayed a clear seasonal pattern with higher CO2 concentrations during summer than in spring and autumn. Concentrations ranged from 1.8 to 3.5 mg C L−1 (median: 2.4 mg C L−1, IQR = 0.5 mg C L−1). Strong diel cycles in CO2 developed during early summer, with daily amplitudes in CO2 reaching up to 1.1 mg C L−1. These pronounced daily cycles in CO2 were closely related to the daily sum of shortwave radiation and water temperature. Variations in hydrology had generally a low impact on the CO2 dynamics but did vary among seasons and between individual hydrological events. It was evident from our study that growing season CO2 concentrations in a forest ditch affected by clear-cut harvest were highly variable and mainly controlled by light and temperature induced metabolism. These high dynamics and the associated controls need to be considered when scaling up ditch CO2 emissions across boreal landscapes affected by intensive forestry.
TyroFill–Titanium Implant Constructs for the Coordinated Repair of Rabbit Mandible and Tooth Defects
Authors: Zhang Weibo , Kohn Joachim , Yelick Pamela
Published: November 2023

Currently used methods to repair craniomaxillofacial (CMF) bone and tooth defects require a multi-staged surgical approach for bone repair followed by dental implant placement. Our previously published results demonstrated significant bioengineered bone formation using human dental pulp stem cell (hDPSC)-seeded tyrosine-derived polycarbonate scaffolds (E1001(1K)-bTCP). Here, we improved upon this approach using a modified TyroFill (E1001(1K)/dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD)) scaffold-supported titanium dental implant model for simultaneous bone–dental implant repair. TyroFill scaffolds containing an embedded titanium implant, with (n = 3 each time point) or without (n = 2 each time point) seeded hDPCs and Human Umbilical Vein Endothelial Cells (HUVECs), were cultured in vitro. Each implant was then implanted into a 10 mm full-thickness critical-sized defect prepared on a rabbit mandibulee. After 1 and 3 months, replicate constructs were harvested and analyzed using Micro-CT histological and IHC analyses. Our results showed significant new bone formation surrounding the titanium implants in cell-seeded TyroFill constructs. This study indicates the potential utility of hDPSC/HUVEC-seeded TyroFill scaffolds for coordinated CMF bone–dental implant repair.
Postural Control Behavior in a Virtual Moving Room Paradigm
Authors: Freeman Hannah R. , Chander Harish , Kodithuwakku Arachchige Sachini N. K. , Turner Alana J. , Jones J. Adam , Pan Zhujun , Hudson Christopher , Knight Adam C.
Published: November 2023

Background: Taking inspiration from the classical 1974, “moving room experiment” by Lee and Aronson, a “virtual moving room paradigm (Vroom)” was designed using virtual reality (VR) to assess postural control behavior. Methods: Thirty healthy adults (age: 21 ± 1 years; height: 166.5 ± 7.3 cm; mass: 71.7 ± 16.2 kg) were tested for postural stability in a virtual moving room paradigm (Vroom). The Vroom consisted of randomized virtual and visual perturbations of the virtual room moving toward and away from the individual, during both unexpected and expected trials. Objective postural sway variables and subjective experiences to VR using the simulator sickness questionnaire as well as balance confidence scale were also assessed and analyzed using a two way (2 × 2 [2 moving room direction (Toward vs. Away) and 2 knowledge of moving room (unexpected vs. expected)] repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA), and a one-way repeated measures ANOVA and paired sample t-test, respectively at an alpha level of 0.05. Results: Significantly greater postural sway was observed when the virtual room moved toward the participant than when moving away, and when it moved unexpectedly, compared with the expected moving room. Significantly improved balance confidence with realistic immersion and without simulator sickness was also observed. Conclusions: Our findings provide evidence indicating that the virtual moving room induces postural perturbations that challenge the postural control system, especially when the moving room is unexpected and moves toward the individual. Additionally, increased balance confidence and realistic immersion in the virtual environment with no adverse effects of simulator sickness were observed, providing evidence for the beneficial effects of the Vroom. Thus, the Vroom can be an easy and cost-effective method to expose individuals to realistic, virtual, and visual perturbations that challenge the postural control system and increase balance confidence, with realistic immersion and without adverse effects.
Clinical Applicability of Tissue Polypeptide Antigen and CA-125 in Gynecological Malignancies
Authors: Schröder Lars , Domroese Christian M. , Rupp Alexander B. A. , Gihr Kathrin M. E. , Niederau Christoph , Mallmann Michael R. , Holdenrieder Stefan
Published: November 2023

Background: Nowadays there still is no sufficient screening tool for ovarian and uterine cancer. Objective: The current study aimed to investigate whether cancer antigen 125 (CA-125), tissue polypeptide antigen (TPA) or the combination of both markers are able to act as screening tools for ovarian or uterine cancer. Methods: A total of 275 blood samples from different cohorts (ovarian cancer, uterine cancer, benign control group) were prospectively drawn and analyzed. Results: Established biomarkers TPA and CA-125 showed elevated serum concentrations in patients with malignant tumors as compared to healthy women and women with benign diseases. In ROC curve analyses, both biomarkers were well able to discriminate between malignant and healthy, benign or overall non-malignant cases in the whole sample, with AUCs of 0.842 and above. While TPA was the best diagnostic marker in patients with uterine cancer, CA 125 was the best in patients with ovarian cancer. Conclusions: TPA and CA-125 both showed promising results for the detection of gynecologic malignancies. The combination of CA-125 and TPA did not improve sensitivity in comparison to single markers.
Enhancing Fetal Anomaly Detection in Ultrasonography Images: A Review of Machine Learning-Based Approaches
Authors: Yousefpour Shahrivar Ramin , Karami Fatemeh , Karami Ebrahim
Published: November 2023

Fetal development is a critical phase in prenatal care, demanding the timely identification of anomalies in ultrasound images to safeguard the well-being of both the unborn child and the mother. Medical imaging has played a pivotal role in detecting fetal abnormalities and malformations. However, despite significant advances in ultrasound technology, the accurate identification of irregularities in prenatal images continues to pose considerable challenges, often necessitating substantial time and expertise from medical professionals. In this review, we go through recent developments in machine learning (ML) methods applied to fetal ultrasound images. Specifically, we focus on a range of ML algorithms employed in the context of fetal ultrasound, encompassing tasks such as image classification, object recognition, and segmentation. We highlight how these innovative approaches can enhance ultrasound-based fetal anomaly detection and provide insights for future research and clinical implementations. Furthermore, we emphasize the need for further research in this domain where future investigations can contribute to more effective ultrasound-based fetal anomaly detection.
Whole-Body Imaging for the Primary Staging of Melanomas—A Single-Center Retrospective Study
Authors: Mayer Kristine E. , Gaa Jochen , Wasserer Sophia , Biedermann Tilo , Persa Oana-Diana
Published: November 2023

Background: Melanoma staging at diagnosis predominantly depends on the tumor thickness. Sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) is a common tool for primary staging. However, for tumors of >4 mm with ulceration, 3D whole-body imaging and, in particular, Fluor-18-Deoxyglucose positron emission tomography combined with computed tomography (18F-FDG-PET/CT), is recommended beforehand. This study aimed to investigate the real-world data of whole-body imaging for initial melanoma staging and its impact on the subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic procedures. Methods: In this retrospective single-center study, 94 patients receiving 18F-FDG-PET/CT and six patients with whole-body computed tomography (CT) scans were included. The clinical characteristics, imaging results, and histologic parameters of the primary tumors and metastases were analyzed. Results: Besides the patients with primary tumors characterized as pT4b (63%), the patients with pT4a tumors and pT3 tumors close to 4 mm in tumor thickness also received initial whole-body imaging. In 42.6% of the patients undergoing 18F-FDG-PET/CT, the imaging results led to a change in the diagnostic or therapeutic procedure following on from this. In 29% of cases, sentinel lymph node biopsy was no longer necessary. The sensitivity and specificity of 18F-FDG-PET/CT were 66.0% and 93.0%, respectively. Conclusion: Whole-body imaging as a primary diagnostic tool is highly valuable and influences the subsequent diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in a considerable number of patients with a relatively high tumor thickness. It can help avoid the costs and invasiveness of redundant SLNB and simultaneously hasten the staging of patients at the time of diagnosis.
The Proinflammatory Role of ANGPTL8 R59W Variant in Modulating Inflammation through NF-κB Signaling Pathway under TNFα Stimulation
Authors: Abu-Farha Mohamed , Madhu Dhanya , Hebbar Prashantha , Mohammad Anwar , Channanath Arshad , Kavalakatt Sina , Alam-Eldin Nada , Alterki Fatima , Taher Ibrahim , Alsmadi Osama , Shehab Mohammad , Arefanian Hossein , Ahmad Rasheed , Thanaraj Thangavel Alphonse , Al-Mulla Fahd , Abubaker Jehad
Published: November 2023

Background: Angiopoietin-like protein 8 (ANGPTL8) is known to regulate lipid metabolism and inflammation. It interacts with ANGPTL3 and ANGPTL4 to regulate lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity and with IKK to modulate NF-κB activity. Further, a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) leading to the ANGPTL8 R59W variant associates with reduced low-density lipoprotein/high-density lipoprotein (LDL/HDL) and increased fasting blood glucose (FBG) in Hispanic and Arab individuals, respectively. In this study, we investigate the impact of the R59W variant on the inflammatory activity of ANGPTL8. Methods: The ANGPTL8 R59W variant was genotyped in a discovery cohort of 867 Arab individuals from Kuwait. Plasma levels of ANGPTL8 and inflammatory markers were measured and tested for associations with the genotype; the associations were tested for replication in an independent cohort of 278 Arab individuals. Impact of the ANGPTL8 R59W variant on NF-κB activity was examined using approaches including overexpression, luciferase assay, and structural modeling of binding dynamics. Results: The ANGPTL8 R59W variant was associated with increased circulatory levels of tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) and interleukin 7 (IL7). Our in vitro studies using HepG2 cells revealed an increased phosphorylation of key inflammatory proteins of the NF-κB pathway in individuals with the R59W variant as compared to those with the wild type, and TNFα stimulation further elevated it. This finding was substantiated by increased luciferase activity of NF-κB p65 with the R59W variant. Modeled structural and binding variation due to R59W change in ANGPTL8 agreed with the observed increase in NF-κB activity. Conclusion: ANGPTL8 R59W is associated with increased circulatory TNFα, IL7, and NF-κB p65 activity. Weak transient binding of the ANGPTL8 R59W variant explains its regulatory role on the NF-κB pathway and inflammation.
Global Properties of Cytokine-Enhanced HIV-1 Dynamics Model with Adaptive Immunity and Distributed Delays
Authors: Dahy Elsayed , Elaiw Ahmed M. , Raezah Aeshah A. , Zidan Hamdy Z. , Abdellatif Abd Elsattar A.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we study a model that enhances our understanding of cytokine-influenced HIV-1 infection. The impact of adaptive immune response (cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) and antibodies) and time delay on HIV-1 infection is included. The model takes into account two types of distributional delays, (i) the delay in the HIV-1 infection of CD4+T cells and (ii) the maturation delay of new virions. We first investigated the fundamental characteristics of the system, then found the system’s equilibria. We derived five threshold parameters, ℜi, i = 0, 1,…, 4, which completely determine the existence and stability of the equilibria. The Lyapunov method was used to prove the global asymptotic stability for all equilibria. We illustrate the theoretical results by performing numerical simulations. We also performed a sensitivity analysis on the basic reproduction number ℜ0 and identified the most-sensitive parameters. We found that pyroptosis contributes to the number ℜ0, and then, neglecting it will make ℜ0 underevaluated. Necrosulfonamide and highly active antiretroviral drug therapy (HAART) can be effective in preventing pyroptosis and at reducing viral replication. Further, it was also found that increasing time delays can effectively decrease ℜ0 and, then, inhibit HIV-1 replication. Furthermore, it is shown that both CTLs and antibody immune responses have no effect on ℜ0, while this can result in less HIV-1 infection.
Proteasome Inhibitors against Glioblastoma—Overview of Molecular Mechanisms of Cytotoxicity, Progress in Clinical Trials, and Perspective for Use in Personalized Medicine
Authors: Gozdz Agata
Published: November 2023

Proteasome inhibitors are moieties targeting the proteolytic activity of a proteasome, with demonstrated efficacy in certain hematological malignancies and candidate drugs in other types of cancer, including glioblastoma (GBM). They disturb the levels of proteasome-regulated proteins and lead to the cell cycle inhibition and apoptosis of GBM cells. The accumulation of cell cycle inhibitors p21 and p27, and decreased levels of prosurvival molecules NFKB, survivin, and MGMT, underlie proteasome inhibitors’ cytotoxicity when used alone or in combination with the anti-GBM cytostatic drug temozolomide (TMZ). The evidence gathered in preclinical studies substantiated the design of clinical trials that employed the two most promising proteasome inhibitors, bortezomib and marizomib. The drug safety profile, maximum tolerated dose, and interaction with other drugs were initially evaluated, mainly in recurrent GBM patients. A phase III study on newly diagnosed GBM patients who received marizomib as an adjuvant to the Stupp protocol was designed and completed in 2021, with the Stupp protocol receiving patients as a parallel control arm. The data from this phase III study indicate that marizomib does not improve the PFS and OS of GBM patients; however, further analysis of the genetic and epigenetic background of each patient tumor may shed some light on the sensitivity of individual patients to proteasome inhibition. The mutational and epigenetic makeup of GBM cells, like genetic alterations to TP53 and PTEN, or MGMT promoter methylation levels may actually determine the response to proteasome inhibition.
Novel Approaches to Possible Targeted Therapies and Prophylaxis of Uterine Fibroids
Authors: Kuznetsova Maria V. , Tonoyan Narine M. , Trubnikova Elena V. , Zelensky Dmitry V. , Svirepova Ksenia A. , Adamyan Leila V. , Trofimov Dmitry Y. , Sukhikh Gennady T.
Published: November 2023

Uterine leiomyomas are the most common benign tumors in women of childbearing age. They may lead to problems of conception or complications during the gestational period. The methods of treatment include surgical (myomectomy and hysterectomy, embolization of arteries) and therapeutic treatment (ulipristal acetate, leuprolide acetate, cetrorelix, goserelin, mifepristone). Both approaches are efficient but incompatible with pregnancy planning. Therefore, there is a call for medical practice to develop therapeutical means of preventing leiomyoma onset in patients planning on becoming pregnant. Based on the analysis of GWAS data on the search for mononucleotide polymorphisms associated with the risk of leiomyoma, in meta-transcriptomic and meta-methylomic studies, target proteins have been proposed. Prospective therapeutic treatments of leiomyoma may be based on chemical compounds, humanized recombinant antibodies, vaccines based on markers of the uterine leiomyoma cells that are absent in the adult organism, or DNA and RNA preparations. Three different nosological forms of the disease associated with driver mutations in the MED12, HMGA2, and FH genes should be considered when developing or prescribing drugs. For example, synthetic inhibitors and vaccines based on matrix metalloproteinases MMP11 and MMP16 are expected to be effective only for the prevention of the occurrence of MED12-dependent nodules.
Degree-Aware Graph Neural Network Quantization
Authors: Fan Ziqin , Jin Xi
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we investigate the problem of graph neural network quantization. Despite the great success on convolutional neural networks, directly applying current network quantization approaches to graph neural networks faces two challenges. First, the fixed-scale parameter in the current methods cannot flexibly fit diverse tasks and network architectures. Second, the variations of node degree in a graph leads to uneven responses, limiting the accuracy of the quantizer. To address these two challenges, we introduce learnable scale parameters that can be optimized jointly with the graph networks. In addition, we propose degree-aware normalization to process nodes with different degrees. Experiments on different tasks, baselines, and datasets demonstrate the superiority of our method against previous state-of-the-art ones.
Keeping Things Positive: Affect as a Mediator between Physical Activity and Psychological Functioning
Authors: Foroughi Aliakbar , Henschel Nils T. , Shahi Hassan , Hall Scott S. , Meyers Lawrence S. , Sadeghi Kheirollah , Parvizifard Aliakbar , Boehnke Klaus , Brand Serge
Published: November 2023

Higher physical activity is generally associated with more favorable psychological functioning. However, the role of positive and negative affect in such associations is unclear. Accordingly, this cross-sectional study explored whether affect mediated the relationship of physical activity with psychological well-being (PWB) and psychological dysfunctioning (PD). Young Iranian adults (N = 200) completed self-rating questionnaires covering physical activity, positive and negative affect, and proxies of PWB and PD. Regression analyses indicated that higher physical activity levels and higher positive and lower negative affect predicted proxies of PWB. The same (albeit in the opposite direction) applied to proxies of PD. Structural equation modeling indicated that positive and negative affect mediated the relationship between physical activity and PWB/PD. Accordingly, change in affect might be an important mechanism behind the association of physical activity and PWB/PD. Future research should further explore this across target populations and cultural contexts. Longitudinal and/or experimental studies are needed to disentangle causality.
Definition and Criteria for the Assessment of Expertise in Psychotherapy: Development of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ)
Authors: Gori Alessio , Topino Eleonora , Cacioppo Marco , Schimmenti Adriano , Caretti Vincenzo
Published: November 2023

Therapist expertise is a complex, multifaceted, and continually evolving concept. Defining this construct and its constituent components can yield a substantial contribution to the field of psychotherapy, consequently enhancing the comprehension of the fundamental factors that underlie its effectiveness. Within this framework, the present research aimed at developing and assessing the psychometric properties of the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ), a self-report measure to assess therapist expertise. A sample of 260 psychotherapists of various theoretical orientations were involved in this research. They completed a survey that included the PEQ as well as other self-reported measures aimed at evaluating personality traits, self-efficacy, self-esteem, and insight orientation. The analysis provided evidence of a good fit for both a correlational model with eight factors and a higher-order model, where the eight subdimensions were grouped into subjective (performance; cognitive functioning; personal and relational qualities of the therapist; therapist self-assessment) and objective (experience; reputation with clients and colleagues; training and professional updating; deontological ethics and setting rules) factors. The eight dimensions, two higher-order factors, and total score all showed excellent levels of internal consistency. Furthermore, significant associations were found between PEQ scores and insight orientation, general self-efficacy, self-esteem, personality traits, and time exercising clinical practice. To conclude, the Psychotherapy Expertise Questionnaire (PEQ) is a valuable, theoretically guided, and psychometrically robust self-report measure designed to assess therapist expertise and its constitutive dimensions. This measure can have practical applications in guiding tailored training and customised supervision.
Inventive Activity for Climate Change Mitigation: An Insight into the Maritime Industry
Authors: Wagner Natalia
Published: November 2023

Climate change mitigation is one of the most important challenges facing the modern world. It is necessary to monitor the development of new concepts and technologies and take a stab at identifying disruptive innovations, which have the potential of becoming real climate-friendly game changers. The aim of this paper is to examine the patterns of inventive activity aimed at mitigating climate change in the maritime industry with respect to other transport modes. Appropriate research tools in the area of patent analysis were selected and utilised. A new class of patents related to climate change in maritime transport (CPC-Y02T70/00) was used as a data source. The original value of the study consists of offering a complete picture of the efforts made in patenting activity in climate change mitigation in the maritime transport, with a look at leading applicants and countries, knowledge flows, the most robustly developed and underdeveloped technical fields. A map of technical knowledge flows for climate change mitigation in transport was constructed. The research results show that inventions for the maritime industry are less hermetic than those for air and road transport; however, they are not as much linked with previously developed solutions. The most intensively developed technical fields include the design and construction of watercraft hulls (1) and measures to reduce greenhouse gas emissions related to the propulsion system (2). Among the technologies whose further development merits close attention are solutions related to electrical propulsion and wave energy. At the same time, inventive activity in the area of climate change adaptation dedicated to ports is insignificant and definitely needs more support from the community of scientists and inventors. Building knowledge based on patent information can help universities, research institutions, shipyards, manufacturers of marine equipment and other business entities to identify the technologies of the greatest potential for further development.
RETRACTED: Simani et al. Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition for Fault Diagnosis of Wind Turbines via Deep Transfer Learning. Energies 2023, 16, 3644
Authors: Simani Silvio , Farsoni Saverio , Castaldi Paolo
Published: November 2023

The journal retracts the article entitled “Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition for Fault Diagnosis of Wind Turbines via Deep Transfer Learning” [...]
Stress and DNA Methylation of Blood Leukocytes among Pregnant Latina Women
Authors: Barcelona Veronica , Abuaish Sameera , Lee Seonjoo , Harkins Sarah , Butler Ashlie , Tycko Benjamin , Baccarelli Andrea A. , Walsh Kate , Monk Catherine E.
Published: November 2023

Latinas experience physical and psychological stressors in pregnancy leading to increased morbidity and higher risk for adverse birth outcomes. Epigenetic changes, including DNA methylation (DNAm), have been proposed as markers to create more refined risk stratification, yet few of these studies have examined these changes in Latinas. We conducted a secondary analysis of stored blood leukocytes of Latina women (n = 58) enrolled in a larger National Institutes of Health funded R01 project (2011–2016). We examined DNAm on eight candidate stress genes to compare physically and psychologically stressed participants to healthy (low stress) participants. We found unique CpGs that were differentially methylated in stressed women early- and mid-pregnancy compared to the healthy group, though none remained significant after FDR correction. Both physical and psychological stress were associated with hypomethylation at two consecutive CpG sites on NR3C1 in early pregnancy and one CpG site on NR3C1 in mid-pregnancy before adjustment. Stress was also associated with hypomethylation at two CpG sites on FKBP5 in early and mid-pregnancy but were no longer significant after FDR adjustment. Though we did not find statistically significant differences in DNAm during pregnancy between stressed and healthy women in this sample, signals were consistent with previous findings. Future work in larger samples should further examine the associations between stress and DNAm in pregnancy as this mechanism may explain underlying perinatal health inequities.
Optimizing Drone-Based Surface Models for Prescribed Fire Monitoring
Authors: Mestre-Runge Christian , Ludwig Marvin , Sebastià Maria Teresa , Plaixats Josefina , Lobo Agustin
Published: November 2023

Prescribed burning and pyric herbivory play pivotal roles in mitigating wildfire risks, underscoring the imperative of consistent biomass monitoring for assessing fuel load reductions. Drone-derived surface models promise uninterrupted biomass surveillance but require complex photogrammetric processing. In a Mediterranean mountain shrubland burning experiment, we refined a Structure from Motion (SfM) and Multi-View Stereopsis (MVS) workflow to diminish biases in 3D modeling and RGB drone imagery-based surface reconstructions. Given the multitude of SfM-MVS processing alternatives, stringent quality oversight becomes paramount. We executed the following steps: (i) calculated Root Mean Square Error (RMSE) between Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) checkpoints to assess SfM sparse cloud optimization during georeferencing; (ii) evaluated elevation accuracy by comparing the Mean Absolute Error (MAE) of six surface and thirty terrain clouds against GNSS readings and known box dimensions; and (iii) complemented a dense cloud quality assessment with density metrics. Balancing overall accuracy and density, we selected surface and terrain cloud versions for high-resolution (2 cm pixel size) and accurate (DSM, MAE = 57 mm; DTM, MAE = 48 mm) Digital Elevation Model (DEM) generation. These DEMs, along with exceptional height and volume models (height, MAE = 12 mm; volume, MAE = 909.20 cm3) segmented by reference box true surface area, substantially contribute to burn impact assessment and vegetation monitoring in fire management systems.
Discarded but Not Dismissed: A Comprehensive Study of the Feeding Habits of the Brown Comber (Serranus hepatus, (Linneaus 1758)) in the Gulf of Cádiz (NE Atlantic)
Authors: Madera-Santana Sara , Rodríguez-García Carlos , Castro-Gutiérrez Jairo , Domínguez-Bustos Ángel Rafael , Cabrera-Castro Remedios
Published: November 2023

The brown comber (Serranus hepatus) is a small benthopelagic species with no commercial value, primarily caught by bottom trawls as a by-catch. In this work, we studied the feeding habits of this species. For this purpose, samples were obtained from the trawl fleet within the different editions of the ECOFISH project carried out between 2019 and 2022. A total of 1534 individuals were analyzed. In the diet analysis, various factors were considered, such as the season, the depth, and the time of day of the capture, as well as the size range of the individuals caught. For the feeding analysis, different indexes were calculated, such as the vacuity index (%Vi) and index of relative importance (%IRI). The size range of the specimens was between 3.2–16.3 cm, and the weight was between 1.02–39.73 g. Of the stomach content analyzed, 49.7% of the stomachs were found to be empty. The resources with the greatest importance in the diet of the brown comber were from the crustacean group, especially mysidaceans and decapods. There were differences in the diet according to season, depth, and size; however, there was no variation in diet by the time of day.
Analysis of Flow Characteristics of Window-Combination-Type Ventilation System Using CFD
Authors: Cho Mok-Lyang , Choi Hyeon-Ji , Kim Seo-Jin , Ha Ji-Soo
Published: November 2023

In this study, we analyze the performance of ventilation modules to improve air quality in educational facilities. Using (CFD), we examine the flow design variables of a window-mounted ventilation module. Using computational analysis, we analyze various flow design characteristics of window-mounted ventilation modules and review optimal conditions. First, we measure the carbon dioxide concentration in the classroom and use CFD to analyze the internal air characteristics according to the ventilation module’s inflow speed, inflow angle, and indoor temperature conditions. According to classroom air quality management standards, the concentration of carbon dioxide must be managed below 1000 ppm. When the ventilation module’s inflow velocity was 2.0 m/s, a carbon dioxide concentration of less than 1000 ppm was measured in the classroom. Additionally, an air filter was selected to prevent the inflow of external fine dust through the ventilation module. The suitability of HEPA H14 was reviewed to design the weight concentration of fine dust flowing from the ventilation module to be less than 50 μg/m3. Through research, flow design conditions for a window-mounted ventilation module were presented to reduce carbon dioxide concentration inside the classroom. The analysis of the ventilation system flow characteristics proposed in this study derived primary data for improving the classroom ventilation system.
Existence of Solutions for Coupled System of Sequential Liouville–Caputo-Type Fractional Integrodifferential Equations
Authors: Murugesan Manigandan , Muthaiah Subramanian , Vadivel Rajarathinam , Unyong Bundit
Published: November 2023

The present investigation aims to establish the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a system containing sequential fractional differential equations. Furthermore, boundary conditions that include the Riemann–Liouville fractional integral are taken into consideration. The existence of unknown functions, fractional derivatives, and fractional integrals at lower orders are necessary for the nonlinearity to exist. In order to provide proofs for the results presented in this study, the Leray–Schauder alternative and the Banach fixed-point theorem are utilised. Finally, examples are used to support the main results.
Parallel Algorithm for Solving the Inverse Two-Dimensional Fractional Diffusion Problem of Identifying the Source Term
Authors: Akimova Elena N. , Sultanov Murat A. , Misilov Vladimir E. , Nurlanuly Yerkebulan
Published: November 2023

This paper is devoted to the development of a parallel algorithm for solving the inverse problem of identifying the space-dependent source term in the two-dimensional fractional diffusion equation. For solving the inverse problem, the regularized iterative conjugate gradient method is used. At each iteration of the method, we need to solve the auxilliary direct initial-boundary value problem. By using the finite difference scheme, this problem is reduced to solving a large system of a linear algebraic equation with a block-tridiagonal matrix at each time step. Solving the system takes almost the entire computation time. To solve this system, we construct and implement the direct parallel matrix sweep algorithm. We establish stability and correctness for this algorithm. The parallel implementations are developed for the multicore CPU using the OpenMP technology. The numerical experiments are performed to study the performance of parallel implementations.
A High-Quality Reference Genome Assembly of Prinsepia uniflora (Rosaceae)
Authors: Zhang Lei , Zhang Chaopan , An Yajing , Zhu Qiang , Wang Mingcheng
Published: November 2023

This study introduces a meticulously constructed genome assembly at the chromosome level for the Rosaceae family species Prinsepia uniflora, a traditional Chinese medicinal herb. The final assembly encompasses 1272.71 megabases (Mb) distributed across 16 pseudochromosomes, boasting contig and super-scaffold N50 values of 2.77 and 79.32 Mb, respectively. Annotated within this genome is a substantial 875.99 Mb of repetitive sequences, with transposable elements occupying 777.28 Mb, constituting 61.07% of the entire genome. Our predictive efforts identified 49,261 protein-coding genes within the repeat-masked assembly, with 45,256 (91.87%) having functional annotations, 5127 (10.41%) demonstrating tandem duplication, and 2373 (4.82%) classified as transcription factor genes. Additionally, our investigation unveiled 3080 non-coding RNAs spanning 0.51 Mb of the genome sequences. According to our evolutionary study, P. uniflora underwent recent whole-genome duplication following its separation from Prunus salicina. The presented reference-level genome assembly and annotation for P. uniflora will significantly facilitate the in-depth exploration of genomic information pertaining to this species, offering substantial utility in comparative genomics and evolutionary analyses involving Rosaceae species.
Unraveling the Genetic Threads of History: mtDNA HVS-I Analysis Reveals the Ancient Past of the Aburra Valley
Authors: Uricoechea Patiño Daniel , Collins Andrew , Romero García Oscar Julián , Santos Vecino Gustavo , Aristizábal Espinosa Pablo , Bernal Villegas Jaime Eduardo , Benavides Benitez Escilda , Vergara Muñoz Saray , Briceño Balcázar Ignacio
Published: November 2023

This article presents a comprehensive genetic study focused on pre-Hispanic individuals who inhabited the Aburrá Valley in Antioquia, Colombia, between the tenth and seventeenth centuries AD. Employing a genetic approach, the study analyzed maternal lineages using DNA samples obtained from skeletal remains. The results illuminate a remarkable degree of biological diversity within these populations and provide insights into their genetic connections with other ancient and indigenous groups across the American continent. The findings strongly support the widely accepted hypothesis that the migration of the first American settlers occurred through Beringia, a land bridge connecting Siberia to North America during the last Ice Age. Subsequently, these early settlers journeyed southward, crossing the North American ice cap. Of particular note, the study unveils the presence of ancestral lineages from Asian populations, which played a pivotal role in populating the Americas. The implications of these results extend beyond delineating migratory routes and settlement patterns of ancient populations. They also enrich our understanding of the genetic diversity inherent in indigenous populations of the region. By revealing the genetic heritage of pre-Hispanic individuals from the Aburrá Valley, this study offers valuable insights into the history of human migration and settlement in the Americas. Furthermore, it enhances our comprehension of the intricate genetic tapestry that characterizes indigenous communities in the area.
Short-Term Predictions of Evaporation Using SoilCover at the Near-Surface of a Mine Waste Pile following Heavy Rainfall Events
Authors: Kabwe Louis Katele , Wilson Ward Gordon
Published: November 2023

Accurate measurements and predictions of near-surface soil drying and evaporation following heavy rainfall events are often needed for research in agriculture and hydrology. However, such measurements and predictions at mine waste pile and tailing settings are limited. The prediction of evaporation at mine waste piles is essential for many problems in geotechnical engineering, including the design of soil cover systems for the long-term closure of hazardous waste sites, and thus mitigates, for example, the generation of acid mine drainage (AMD) and metal leaching. AMD is one of mining’s most serious threats to the environment. This study investigated the short-term (8 days) and medium-term (27 days) drying rates and evaporative fluxes at the surface and near-surface of the Deilmann South waste-rock (DSWR) pile at the Key Lake uranium mine, northern Saskatchewan, using the gravimetric (GV) method and SoilCover (SC) model, respectively, during and following heavy rainfall events for the environment. The SC simulation results showed that during the weather-controlled stage (Stage I) of the first 5-day period of rainfall events, while the surface was wet, the potential evaporation (PE) was equal to the actual evaporation (AE) (i.e., AE/PE = 1). As the surface became drier on Day 6, the cumulative PE began to separate from the cumulative AE and the surface’s drying rate rapidly diverged from those at the deeper depths. This occurrence signaled the onset of the soil profile property-controlled stage (Stage II). As the drying continued, the surface became desiccated and the slow-rate drying stage (Stage III) was established from Day 7 onward. The SC-simulated AE results were compared to those measured using the eddy covariance (EC) method for the same test period at the DSWR pile in a different study. The comparison showed that the two methods yielded similar AE results, with 18% relative errors. The results of this study provided the opportunity to validate the SC model using actual data gathered under field conditions and to ascertain its ability to accurately predict the PE and AE at the surfaces of mine waste piles.
Unlocking Happiness: Assessing the Monetary Value of Leisure Activities on Subjective Well-Being
Authors: Choe Yeongbae , Baek Jooa
Published: November 2023

Improving the level of subjective well-being or happiness is often the primary goal for the government and its policy. Thus, knowing the value of leisure activities in improving the subjective well-being would hugely contribute to the policy-making process. This study explores the impact of participation in leisure activities on individual subjective happiness by applying the well-being valuation method to the national survey data collected in South Korea. Among the five leisure activities, participation in culture and arts, participation in sports, and tourism activities emerged as significant determinants of subjective happiness at the significant level of 0.05. At the individual level, participation in culture and arts exhibited the highest monetary value, while tourism activities have the highest monetary value at the national level, factoring in the total population and the participation rate across the country. These findings confirm the effect of leisure participation in improving subjective well-being and its corresponding monetary value and suggest that government should be appropriately utilizing the leisure policy to increase the frequency and type of leisure participation, thereby enhancing the level of happiness across the society. Results have significant implications for policy makers, practitioners, and academics in the domains of leisure and tourism.
Diet-Related Attitudes, Beliefs, and Well-Being in Adolescents with a Vegetarian Lifestyle
Authors: Benedetto Loredana , Sabato Ilenia , Costanza Carola , Gagliano Antonella , Germanò Eva , Vetri Luigi , Roccella Michele , Parisi Lucia , Scaffidi Abbate Costanza , Ingrassia Massimo
Published: November 2023

Vegetarianism can meet healthy, ethical, or ecological values (such as equality and protection of animals or the environment). At the same time, it can represent a response to the need for self-determination in adolescence. Furthermore, some studies show vegetarians have greater depressive risk and a lower sense of body satisfaction. Considering the spread of non-meat diets in the Western world, researchers have investigated the benefits and risks to physical and psychological health. Despite this, few studies have been conducted on factors influencing adolescent’s vegetarian diet-related attitudes. Through self-administered loosely structured interviews, this research investigated factors potentially associated with vegetarian choices in adolescence. It checked (a) gender differences in vegetarian choices; (b) religious, familial, ethical, or health factors implied in vegetarian choices; and (c) indicators of well-being among young vegetarians. The findings suggest that for our sample, non-vegetarians have lower scores on health-related questions than others, while for vegetarian adolescents, the benefits of vegetarianism mainly depend on their ethical stances, beliefs, and values. Conversely, it is unrelated to factors such as the desire to lose weight, dissatisfaction about one’s body shape, or depressive feelings.