bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surfactant‐Templated Synthesis of High‐Performance Noble Metal Electrocatalysts: A Case of Dioctadecyldimethylammonium Chloride
Authors: Fan Dongping , Lv Hao , Sun Lizhi , Xu Dongdong , Liu Ben
Published: February 2024

Mesoscopic structures of noble metal (NM) nanomaterials are important parameters that remarkably affect physicochemical properties and electrocatalytic performances. To date, various synthesis strategies have been proposed to prepare NM nanomaterials with well‐defined mesoscopic structures. Specifically, amphiphilic surfactants that chemically composed of hydrophobic tail(s) and hydrophilic head(s) have been utilized as functional templates to precisely engineer mesoscopic structures of NM nanomaterials and further optimize their electrochemical performance. Compared with traditional surfactants, dioctadecyldimethylammonium chloride (DODAC) is a functional amphiphilic surfactant that can assemble into vesical and cylinder micelles and thus template precise synthesis of NM nanomaterials with various advanced structures. In this review, recent developments in DODAC‐templated synthesis of high‐performance NM electrocatalysts with a specific focus on the findings in the group are presented. Three kinds of advanced NM mesoscopic structures, including one‐dimensional (1D) nanowires, three‐dimensional (3D) mesoporous nanospheres (MSs), and sophisticated hollow/asymmetric MSs, are described in detail. Meanwhile, the applications in various electrocatalytic reactions are presented to highlight high activity, selectivity, and stability of NM electrocatalysts. This review provides some insights into both synthesis and application exploration of high‐performance NM electrocatalysts by templated synthesis of amphiphilic surfactants.
Investigating the impact of transient hardware faults on deep learning neural network inference
Authors: Rahman Md Hasanur , Laskar Sabuj , Li Guanpeng
Published: February 2024

Safety‐critical applications, such as autonomous vehicles, healthcare, and space applications, have witnessed widespread deployment of deep neural networks (DNNs). Inherent algorithmic inaccuracies have consistently been a prevalent cause of misclassifications, even in modern DNNs. Simultaneously, with an ongoing effort to minimize the footprint of contemporary chip design, there is a continual rise in the likelihood of transient hardware faults in deployed DNN models. Consequently, researchers have wondered the extent to which these faults contribute to DNN misclassifications compared to algorithmic inaccuracies. This article delves into the impact of DNN misclassifications caused by transient hardware faults and intrinsic algorithmic inaccuracies in safety‐critical applications. Initially, we enhance a cutting‐edge fault injector,TensorFI, for TensorFlow applications to facilitate fault injections on modern DNN non‐sequential models in a scalable manner. Subsequently, we analyse the DNN‐inferred outcomes based on our defined safety‐critical metrics. Finally, we conduct extensive fault injection experiments and a comprehensive analysis to achieve the following objectives: (1) investigate the impact of different target class groupings on DNN failures and (2) pinpoint the most vulnerable bit locations within tensors, as well as DNN layers accountable for the majority of safety‐critical misclassifications. Our findings regarding different grouping formations reveal that failures induced by transient hardware faults can have a substantially greater impact (with a probability up to 4 higher) on safety‐critical applications compared to those resulting from algorithmic inaccuracies. Additionally, our investigation demonstrates that higher order bit positions in tensors, as well as initial and final layers of DNNs, necessitate prioritized protection compared to other regions.
Integration of machine learning for developing a prognostic signature related to programmed cell death in colorectal cancer
Authors: Xu Qi‐Tong , Qiang Jian‐Kun , Huang Zhi‐Ye , Jiang Wan‐Ju , Cui Xi‐Mao , Hu Ren‐Hao , Wang Tao , Yi Xiang‐Lan , Li Jia‐Yuan , Yu Zuoren , Zhang Shun , Du Tao , Liu Jinhui , Jiang Xiao‐Hua
Published: February 2024

Background

Colorectal cancer (CRC) presents a significant global health burden, characterized by a heterogeneous molecular landscape and various genetic and epigenetic alterations. Programmed cell death (PCD) plays a critical role in CRC, offering potential targets for therapy by regulating cell elimination processes that can suppress tumor growth or trigger cancer cell resistance. Understanding the complex interplay between PCD mechanisms and CRC pathogenesis is crucial. This study aims to construct a PCD‐related prognostic signature in CRC using machine learning integration, enhancing the precision of CRC prognosis prediction.

Method

We retrieved expression data and clinical information from the Cancer Genome Atlas and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) datasets. Fifteen forms of PCD were identified, and corresponding gene sets were compiled. Machine learning algorithms, including Lasso, Ridge, Enet, StepCox, survivalSVM, CoxBoost, SuperPC, plsRcox, random survival forest (RSF), and gradient boosting machine, were integrated for model construction. The models were validated using six GEO datasets, and the programmed cell death score (PCDS) was established. Further, the model's effectiveness was compared with 109 transcriptome‐based CRC prognostic models.

Result

Our integrated model successfully identified differentially expressed PCD‐related genes and stratified CRC samples into four subtypes with distinct prognostic implications. The optimal combination of machine learning models, RSF + Ridge, showed superior performance compared with traditional methods. The PCDS effectively stratified patients into high‐risk and low‐risk groups, with significant survival differences. Further analysis revealed the prognostic relevance of immune cell types and pathways associated with CRC subtypes. The model also identified hub genes and drug sensitivities relevant to CRC prognosis.

Conclusion

The current study highlights the potential of integrating machine learning models to enhance the prediction of CRC prognosis. The developed prognostic signature, which is related to PCD, holds promise for personalized and effective therapeutic interventions in CRC.
Phase 1 study of latozinemab in progranulin‐associated frontotemporal dementia
Authors: Ward Michael , Carter Lawrence P. , Huang Julie Y. , Maslyar Daniel , Budda Balasubrahmanyam , Paul Robert , Rosenthal Arnon
Published: February 2024

INTRODUCTION

Heterozygous mutations in the GRN gene lead to reduced progranulin (PGRN) levels in plasma and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and are causative of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with > 90% penetrance. Latozinemab is a human monoclonal immunoglobulin G1 antibody that is being developed to increase PGRN levels in individuals with FTD caused by heterozygous loss‐of‐function GRN mutations.

METHODS

A first‐in‐human phase 1 study was conducted to evaluate the safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics (PK), and pharmacodynamics (PD) of multiple‐dose intravenous administration of latozinemab in eight symptomatic participants with FTD caused by a heterozygous loss‐of‐function GRN mutation (FTD‐GRN).

RESULTS

Latozinemab demonstrated favorable safety and PK/PD profiles. Multiple‐dose administration of latozinemab increased plasma and CSF PGRN levels in participants with FTD‐GRN to levels that approximated those seen in healthy volunteers.

DISCUSSION

Data from the first‐in‐human phase 1 study support further development of latozinemab for the treatment of FTD‐GRN.

Highlights

GRN mutations decrease progranulin (PGRN) and cause frontotemporal dementia (FTD).

Latozinemab is being developed as a PGRN‐elevating therapy.

Latozinemab demonstrated a favorable safety profile in a phase 1 clinical trial.

Latozinemab increased PGRN levels in the CNS of symptomatic FTD‐GRN participants.
Evolution of Military Design
Authors: Trew Jason , Zweibelson Ben , Riggs Daniel
Published: February 2024

The origins of design are linked to humanity’s strategic ability to leverage imagination for advantages. Furthermore, the link between the design discipline and security affairs is reinforced by how design (in its various forms) co-evolved with military art and science. Their tangled relationship is particularly evident during the so-called modern period in which design became its own discipline, when military power and industrialization melded into the new character of politics, and all of it was reflected in the shifting character of warfare.
Open Battery Systems
Authors: Diéz Eduardo Sanchez , Poli Federico , Soavi Francesca
Published: February 2024

Global battery demand for stationary storage is expected to increase up to more than 2500 GWh in the next 10 years. In this scenario, the redox flow batteries (RFBs) and metal–oxygen (air) batteries (MABs) represent a strategic alternative to LIBs.

RFBs and MABs share a unique feature: unlike conventional LIBs and conventional batteries that are made by two solid electrodes, separated by an electrolyte/separator assembly, and that are hermetically sealed, RFBs and MABs can be considered as “open systems.” Besides the specific electrochemical processes that drive RFB and MAB operation and that will be discussed in the next sections, the open architecture of RFBs and MABs provides an inherent advantage vs. the closed batteries in terms of safety. Indeed, dangerous internal pressure and/or temperature rise that accidentally take place in case of battery failure can be mitigated.

In the following, the most recent developments of novel open battery architectures are presented, while promises and challenges of these open systems are discussed.
Methodological Challenges of Prospective Assessments
Authors: Cerdas Felipe , Baars Joris , Ali Abdur-Rahman , von Drachenfels Nicolas
Published: February 2024

Traditionally, environmental, economic, and social impact assessments of technological innovations have been conducted retrospectively, which means assessing the present or past impacts of products and services. However, for the evaluation of future aspects of technological developments, alternative assessment methods are needed. Prospective assessment is a future-oriented method that can be used to assess environmental, economic, and social impacts. Prospective assessments, like retrospective assessments, provide guidance to decision-makers, including technology developers, policymakers, and manufacturers. Despite the benefits offered by such assessments, a standard method to follow when conducting a prospective assessment presently does not exist.

This section focuses on the methodological challenges of prospective assessments for the evaluation of the impacts of emerging technologies, with a particular focus on emerging battery technologies. Four key challenges of prospective assessments are defined and discussed, being data availability and quality, scaling issues, uncertainty management and variability, and comparability. Each of these challenges is described, and existing methods are suggested to mitigate the challenges. The section concludes by emphasising the need for harmonised and standardised methods when communicating results related to prospective LCAs. In addition, studies need to address the key challenges identified to improve the wider acceptance of results amongst stakeholders and decision-makers.
Batteries: Advantages and Importance in the Energy Transition
Authors: Colombo Cristian Giovanni , Longo Michela , Zaninelli Dario
Published: February 2024

With the growing push toward decarbonization of the electricity generation sector, more attention is paid to storage systems that can assist renewable energy sources (RES). Due to their variability, intermittent RES (such as wind or solar radiation) do not allow a power production distributed uniformly over the short term up to the mid- and long term. Storage of renewable electricity can significantly contribute to mitigate these issues, enhancing power system reliability and, thus, RES penetration. Among energy storage technologies, the potential applications of battery are discussed in this chapter. Focus is placed on applications related to battery energy systems integration in both power systems and electric transportation means.

For grid integration, bulk energy services, transmission and distribution network support, and capacity firming coupled to highly variable RES plants are addressed. Regarding transportation applications, electric mobility and perspectives on the interaction of electric vehicles (EVs) with the electric infrastructure are presented and discussed. Finally, this chapter addresses issues related to EVs’ battery aging and their dismission and exploitation as second life batteries in stationary applications.
Battery Market Segmentation
Authors: Wolf Stefan , Olarte Javier
Published: February 2024

Batteries play a key role in the electrification of many applications, covering a wide range from mobility to stationary (including grid-integrated utility) and portable batteries in consumer electronics. As different as these application areas are, the suitable battery technologies are also very different. It is hence not surprising that the battery market is highly fragmented into segments with different technological requirements and growth dynamics. This chapter provides an overview of the growing battery market and its segments and outlines the specific requirements for battery technology in each segment, including cost parameters. Also, the current technological advances and driving forces for market development (most of them connected to transformation of energy systems toward renewable-based electricity) in each segment are discussed.
Automatische Modellgenerierung für die Virtuelle Inbetriebnahme bei HOMAG
Authors: Albrecht Ludwig , Seeger Patrick , Kübler Lukas
Published: February 2024

Die HOMAG Group verwendet Digitale Zwillinge entlang des Entwicklungs- und Herstellungsprozesses ihrer Produkte. Hierbei werden unter anderem Digitale Zwillinge in Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulationen eingesetzt. Die Simulationsmodelle der HOMAG-Maschinen und -Anlagen werden in einen modularen, mechatronischen Engineering-Baukasten integriert und können aus diesem zur Anwendung gebracht werden. Zur massiven Reduzierung von Modellierungszeiten bei individuellen Kundenmaschinen und -anlagen werden für einen wirtschaftlichen Einsatz der Virtuellen Inbetriebnahme bei HOMAG Digitale Zwillinge von kundenindividuellen Maschinen und Anlagen über einen größtenteils automatisierten Produktionsprozess generiert und sind dadurch unmittelbar für verschiedene Anwendungsfälle einsetzbar.
Simulationsmodelle der Virtuellen Inbetriebnahme als Lernumgebung für Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Jaensch Florian , Verl Alexander
Published: February 2024

Die steigenden Anforderungen der Produktionstechnik nach flexiblen und trotzdem wirtschaftlich effizienten Anlagen stellt die Automatisierungstechnik vor große Herausforderungen. Die Umstellung von beispielsweise einer Roboterzelle auf ein neues Produkt muss dabei schnell und aufwandsarm möglich sein. Die Steuerungssysteme, sowie die zugehörigen Engineering Methoden, müssen zunehmend intelligent und lernfähig werden, um möglichst viele der bisher manuellen Aufwände selbstständig zu übernehmen. Die Simulationsumgebung für eine Virtuelle Inbetriebnahme stellt eine geeignete Lernumgebung dar, in der das Steuerungssystem, mit Methoden des maschinellen Lernens, automatisch trainiert werden kann. Dafür müssen die Simulationswerkzeuge erweitert und möglichst standardisierte Schnittstellen geschaffen werden.
Digital Twin as a Service
Authors: von Bergen Timm , Schnierle Marc , Röck Sascha
Published: February 2024

Im mechatronischen Entwicklungsprozess des Maschinen- und Anlagenbaus entstehen Digitale Zwillinge, die zur Entwicklungsunterstützung und Virtuellen Inbetriebnahme von Steuerungssoftware sowie -hardware eingesetzt werden. Jedoch werden die Digitalen Zwillinge über den Entwicklungsprozess hinaus bislang kaum einer systematischen Weiterverwendung zugeführt. Dies ist auf die hohen Anforderungen einer standort- und endgeräteunabhängigen Verfügbarkeit und Vernetzungsfähigkeit der Digitalen Zwillinge zurückzuführen. Paradigmen der Cloud- und Webtechnologien bieten in diesen Anforderungsfeldern Lösungen an, die neue Anwendungspotenziale eröffnen. In diesem Beitrag wird dazu das Konzept des Digital Twin as a Service präsentiert, das die Grundprinzipien der Cloud- und Webtechnologien auf die Anwendung und Bereitstellung von Digitalen Zwillingen überträgt.
Lernpotenziale und -herausforderungen Digitaler Zwillinge in der Betriebsphase
Authors: Franz Julia , Wehnert Camilla
Published: February 2024

Mit der Entwicklung und dem Einsatz Digitaler Zwillinge in Industrieunternehmen wird eine Veränderung der Lernumwelten prognostiziert. Insbesondere für formale und non-formale Formate der betrieblichen Weiterbildung können daraus sowohl Potenziale als auch Herausforderungen abgeleitet werden. Vor diesem Hintergrund werden im folgenden Beitrag Lernpotenziale und -herausforderungen für Lernende und Lehrende in den Blick genommen und aus erwachsenenpädagogischer Perspektive reflektiert. Abschließend wird der Frage nachgegangen, inwiefern didaktische Prinzipien als Reflexionsmöglichkeit zum Umgang mit Herausforderungen genutzt werden können.
ISG-virtuos – der Digitale Zwilling für die Praxis
Authors: Scheifele Christian , Scheifele Dieter , Eger Ulrich , Daniel Christian , Buchal Edmund , Röck Sascha
Published: February 2024

Das in verschiedenen Forschungsarbeiten am Institut für Steuerungstechnik der Werkzeugmaschinen und Fertigungseinrichtungen (ISW, Universität Stuttgart) entwickelte Konzept einer Softwarelösung zur Hardware-in-the-Loop Simulation für die Virtuelle Inbetriebnahme von industriellen Steuerungssystemen stellt die wissenschaftliche Grundlage für das kommerzielle Simulationswerkzeug ISG-virtuos der Firma ISG Industrielle Steuerungstechnik GmbH dar. Dieser Beitrag stellt die Simulationsplattform ISG-virtuos und deren praktische Anwendung im Maschinen- und Anlagenbau vor. ISG-virtuos deckt die Erstellung und den Einsatz von Simulationsmodellen entlang des gesamten Lebenszyklus einer Automatisierungslösung vom digitalen Engineering über die Virtuelle Inbetriebnahme bis in den Vertrieb und in die Betriebsphase, beispielsweise zur Schulung und Qualifizierung des Betreiberpersonals, für die Produktionsoptimierung, für innovative Service-Anwendungen oder das Retrofit, ab. Der Funktionsumfang dieser Simulationsplattform resultiert aus Anforderungen, die aus der Schlüsseldisziplin der Automatisierung von Maschinen und Anlagen – der Steuerungsentwicklung – kommen.
Herausforderungen bei der Abbildung der Prozess-Maschine Interaktion am Beispiel der Umformsimulation
Authors: Schenke Christer , Penter Lars , Heiland Stefan , Ihlenfeldt Steffen
Published: February 2024

Dieser Beitrag weist die Notwendigkeit der numerischen Abbildung von Prozess-Maschine Interaktionen in der Umformtechnik nach und stellt aktuelle Ansätze zu deren Modellierung und Berechnung vor. Dabei werden sowohl steigende Anforderungen hinsichtlich Modellkomplexität und -genauigkeit adressiert als auch auf die wachsenden Herausforderungen an eine Echtzeitfähigkeit ausgehend von virtuellen Werkzeuginbetriebnahmen hin zu modellbasierten Regelungsansätzen eingegangen. Abschließend werden beispielhafte Umsetzungen vorgestellt.
Automatische Modellgenerierung aus Engineering-Daten
Authors: Scheifele Stefan , Verl Alexander
Published: February 2024

Vom modernen Maschinen – und Anlagenbau wird erwartet individuelle Kundenwünsche hinsichtlich Funktionalität, Qualität und Wirtschaftlichkeit zu erfüllen. Dies gelingt durch ein mechatronisches Engineering, das kundenindividuelle Maschinen und Anlagen auf Basis eines Baukastens aus wiederverwendbaren Komponenten realisieren kann. Dieser Beitrag stellt dar, wie auch der Digitale Zwilling für die Virtuelle Inbetriebnahme ebenso modular und auf denselben Prinzipien beruhend automatisiert generiert werden kann. Durch Integration der Virtuellen Inbetriebnahme (VIBN) in den mechatronischen Engineeringprozess lässt sich die VIBN wirtschaftlich in der Praxis einsetzen. Dies wird anhand einer modularen Fertigungsanlage für die vollautomatisierte Möbelfertigung gezeigt.
Christoph Kölers Übersetzung von Joseph Halls Heaven upon Earth (1632)
Authors: Jabłecki Tomasz
Published: February 2024

Called “our English Seneca” in his time, Joseph Hall (1574–1656), Bishop of Exeter and Norwich, author of theological and moral treatises, wrote one of his most famous and important works Haeven upon Earth in 1606. This treatise was translated into German in 1632 by the Breslau poet, professor and librarian Christoph Köler (1602–1658). The subtitle of Hall’s work Of True Peace and Tranquillity of Mind places his philosophical-religious reflections in the succession of the Senecan and Lipsian “tranquillity of mind”, a philosophical standpoint that Köler, the resolute representative of Lipsian Neo-Stoicism in Silesia, held dear in a special way. The article examines the scope, aim and function of Köler’s translation for education, culture and literary history.
John Bunyans Pilgerreise von London über Amsterdam nach Hamburg: Niederländisch als Intermediärsprache für Übersetzungen aus dem Englischen in der Frühen Neuzeit
Authors: Eickmans Heinz
Published: February 2024

The first part of this article is devoted to the origins of the early German translations of John Bunyan’s works that appeared until the end of the 17th century, especially his major workThe Pilgrim’s Progress(1678, dt.Eines Christen Reise nach der Seeligen Ewigkeit1685). By means of some textual examples it will be shown that this translation – like all other early translations of Bunyan’s works – is not based on the English original but on the Dutch translation, therefore that it is an ‘indirect translation’ which reached German by way of an intermediary language. The second part of the article first examines the general question of the proportion of indirect translations in the early modern period and then devotes itself specifically to the hitherto insufficiently considered importance of Dutch, which is hardly inferior to French as an intermediary language for indirect translations from English and even occupies first place for the field of English devotional literature of the 17th century.
Autorschaft und Übersetzen: Gryphius’ Cardenio und Celinde im Verhältnis zu einem verlorenen Drama Shakespeares
Authors: Jobez Romain
Published: February 2024

This article analyses cultural exchange processes in early modern Europe using the example of the circulation of the Cardenio and Celinde material, the original text of which can be found in Cervantes’ Don Quixote. However, comparative research often reaches its limits because the history of reception is difficult to reconstruct due to the lack of sources: What, for example, connects Gryphius’ tragedy with Shakespeare’s lost drama The History of Cardenio? What did both playwrights know about the literature of the Siglo de Oro? An answer to these questions is provided by a consideration of the author as a cultural mediator in the sense of Roger Chartier. In case of the Silesian poet, it also makes it possible to draw conclusions about his knowledge of foreign-language literatures that go far beyond his actual translation work.
Undergraduate Research for Preservice Teachers: Navigating Its Rich Complexity and Novel Possibilities
Authors: Palmer Ruth J.
Published: February 2024

Learners grapple with ways of responding to the uncertainties that currently permeate their academic experiences. In that environment, preservice teachers (PSTs) strive to cultivate complex thinking to master their learning; simultaneously, teacher educators (TEs) wrestle to create instructional designs that facilitate meaningful outcomes. Both groups’ success occurs when they adopt frameworks and strategies that enhance the teaching/learning experiences. This chapter reports the results of a qualitative study, which aimed first, to uncover the features of one TE’s approach to the design undergirding a research-integrated preclinical secondary education course; and second, to analyze the implementation progression to illuminate those features that facilitated PSTs’ engaged learning. The findings uncovered the TE’s capacity to anchor the course redesign on elements of the RSD Framework, and PSTs’ capacity to persist across learning environments that integrated research thinking into habits of mind routines. These have implications for the responsive and thoughtful adoption of curriculum-based undergraduate research experiences, TEs’ role extension into curriculum design, and faculty-student partnership for academic success.
Quantified treatment effect at the individual level is more indicative for personalized radical prostatectomy recommendation: implications for prostate cancer treatment using deep learning
Authors: Pan Huiqing , Wang Jiayi , Shi Weizhong , Xu Ziqin , Zhu Enzhao
Published: February 2024

Background

There are potential uncertainties and overtreatment existing in radical prostatectomy (RP) for prostate cancer (PCa) patients, thus identifying optimal candidates is quite important.

Purpose

This study aims to establish a novel causal inference deep learning (DL) model to discern whether a patient can benefit more from RP and to identify heterogeneity in treatment responses among PCa patients.

Methods

We introduce the Self-Normalizing Balanced individual treatment effect for survival data (SNB). Six models were trained to make individualized treatment recommendations for PCa patients. Inverse probability treatment weighting (IPTW) was used to avoid treatment selection bias.

Results

35,236 patients were included. Patients whose actual treatment was consistent with SNB recommendations had better survival outcomes than those who were inconsistent (multivariate hazard ratio (HR): 0.76, 95% confidence interval (CI), 0.64–0.92; IPTW-adjusted HR: 0.77, 95% CI, 0.61–0.95; risk difference (RD): 3.80, 95% CI, 2.48–5.11; IPTW-adjusted RD: 2.17, 95% CI, 0.92–3.35; the difference in restricted mean survival time (dRMST): 3.81, 95% CI, 2.66–4.85; IPTW-adjusted dRMST: 3.23, 95% CI, 2.06–4.45). Keeping other covariates unchanged, patients with 1 ng/mL increase in PSA levels received RP caused 1.77 months increase in the time to 90% mortality, and the similar results could be found in age, Gleason score, tumor size, TNM stages, and metastasis status.

Conclusions

Our highly interpretable and reliable DL model (SNB) may identify patients with PCa who could benefit from RP, outperforming other models and clinical guidelines. Additionally, the DL-based treatment guidelines obtained can provide priori evidence for subsequent studies.
Laienreanimationstraining in Österreich: Eine Übersicht und Annäherung
Authors: Veigl Christoph , Orlob Simon , Kloimstein Thomas , Schnaubelt Benedikt , Krammel Mario , Draxl Markus , Feurhuber Lukas , Wittig Johannes , Schlieber Joachim , Schnaubelt Sebastian
Published: February 2024

Das frühzeitige Eingreifen von Laien bei einem außerklinischen Herzstillstand verbessert die Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit und das neurologische Outcome erheblich. In Österreich gibt es einige Organisationen und Initiativen, die durch Reanimationsschulungen für Laien einerseits- und Awarenessbildung für den plötzlichen Herztod andererseits versuchen, die aktuell niedrige Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit des plötzlichen Herztodes zu steigern. Um eine Übersicht über die verschiedenen Organisationen zu erhalten, wurden Fragebögen versandt. Fünfzehn von 26 Organisationen (58 %) beantworteten den Fragebogen. Die geografische Verteilung der Organisationen zwischen ländlichem und städtischem Gebiet wurde anhand einer Karte dargestellt. Ein großer Teil der Organisationen ist in Universitätsstädten aktiv. Dies führt zu einer unterschiedlichen Erreichbarkeit von Personen im ländlichen und urbanen Raum. Die Schulung von Laien in der Reanimation ist größtenteils von ehrenamtlichem Engagement abhängig. Die verwendete Zeit für das praktische Üben der Herzdruckmassage in Reanimationskursen variiert zwischen 25 und 90 % der gesamten Zeit eines Kurses. Weiters konnten Gründe für ein fehlendes wissenschaftliches Engagement exploriert werden. Durch die Vernetzung der verschiedenen Organisationen und Initiativen sollen in Zukunft noch mehr Laien geschult werden als bisher, um dadurch die Überlebenswahrscheinlichkeit des außerklinischen Kreislaufstillstands in Österreich zu steigern. Eine entsprechende Unterstützung durch die Politik und öffentliche Instanzen sollte selbstverständlich sein bzw. werden.
Increasing Winter Temperatures Stimulate Scots Pine Growth in the North German Lowlands Despite Stationary Sensitivity to Summer Drought
Authors: Diers Marco , Leuschner Christoph , Dulamsuren Choimaa , Schulz Thore Christian , Weigel Robert
Published: February 2024

More than half of the forest area of the North German Lowlands is stocked with Scots pine-dominated forests, mostly plantations. Climate change suggests a declining suitability of Europe’s temperate zone for conifer plantations, but only a few studies have examined the long-term growth trends of Scots pine in relation to environmental and site factors in this region. We studied the radial growth patterns of Scots pine over the last 60 years at ten sites along a precipitation gradient (830–530 mm mean annual precipitation) from an oceanic to a subcontinental climate, analyzing the spatial and temporal variability of the climate sensitivity of growth to identify the main climatic factors influencing pine growth across this gradient, which covers a large part of the species’ tolerated precipitation range. Annual radial increment was sensitive to late-winter temperatures (February, March) and summer drought and heat (June–August), with sensitivity increasing from the oceanic to the drier continental sites. Warmer late-winter periods apparently have stimulated growth during the last decades, while the sensitivity to summer-drought has remained fairly stable. Until recently, the negative impact of warming summers on growth has been compensated by the positive effect of late-winter warming, resulting in stable (or increasing) growth trends. However, our comparison of the climate sensitivity across sites suggests that the drought effect compensation through winter warming will in future be limited by increasing drought exposure. Thus, future productivity declines are likely in the northern German lowlands despite warming winters, discouraging large-scale pine plantations in the face of climate warming.
Automated abdominal adipose tissue segmentation and volume quantification on longitudinal MRI using 3D convolutional neural networks with multi-contrast inputs
Authors: Kafali Sevgi Gokce , Shih Shu-Fu , Li Xinzhou , Kim Grace Hyun J. , Kelly Tristan , Chowdhury Shilpy , Loong Spencer , Moretz Jeremy , Barnes Samuel R. , Li Zhaoping , Wu Holden H.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Increased subcutaneous and visceral adipose tissue (SAT/VAT) volume is associated with risk for cardiometabolic diseases. This work aimed to develop and evaluate automated abdominal SAT/VAT segmentation on longitudinal MRI in adults with overweight/obesity using attention-based competitive dense (ACD) 3D U-Net and 3D nnU-Net with full field-of-view volumetric multi-contrast inputs.

Materials and methods

920 adults with overweight/obesity were scanned twice at multiple 3 T MRI scanners and institutions. The first scan was divided into training/validation/testing sets (n = 646/92/182). The second scan from the subjects in the testing set was used to evaluate the generalizability for longitudinal analysis. Segmentation performance was assessed by measuring Dice scores (DICE-SAT, DICE-VAT), false negatives (FN), and false positives (FP). Volume agreement was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC).

Results

ACD 3D U-Net achieved rapid (< 4.8 s/subject) segmentation with high DICE-SAT (median ≥ 0.994) and DICE-VAT (median ≥ 0.976), small FN (median ≤ 0.7%), and FP (median ≤ 1.1%). 3D nnU-Net yielded rapid (< 2.5 s/subject) segmentation with similar DICE-SAT (median ≥ 0.992), DICE-VAT (median ≥ 0.979), FN (median ≤ 1.1%) and FP (median ≤ 1.2%). Both models yielded excellent agreement in SAT/VAT volume versus reference measurements (ICC > 0.997) in longitudinal analysis.

Discussion

ACD 3D U-Net and 3D nnU-Net can be automated tools to quantify abdominal SAT/VAT volume rapidly, accurately, and longitudinally in adults with overweight/obesity.
Mapping landslides from space: A review
Authors: Novellino Alessandro , Pennington Catherine , Leeming Kathryn , Taylor Sophie , Alvarez Itahisa Gonzalez , McAllister Emma , Arnhardt Christian , Winson Annie
Published: February 2024

Landslide hazards have significant social, economic, and environmental impact. This work provides a critical review of the main existing literature using satellite data for mapping landslides. We created and examined an extensive bibliographic database from Web of Science (WoS) consisting in 291 outputs from > 1,000 authors who studied almost 700,000 landslides across all continents, for a total of 52 countries represented with China and Italy on top of the list with more authors. The outputs are equivalent to ~ 5% of the whole landslide-related production for the period 1996–2022, with a 600% increase in the number of papers after 2014 driven by the availability of Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data. Analysis of the geographical location across the 66 different countries analysed shows that, within the total number of contributions, the satellite imagery was used to detect and map two main types of landslides: flows and slides. When specified in the manuscripts, the events have been triggered by rainfall (104 cases), earthquakes (32 cases), or both (17 cases). Slope instabilities in these areas were predominantly identified through manual detection (40%); but since 2020, the advent of artificial intelligence is suppressing all other techniques. Despite the undisputed progress of EO-based landslide mapping over the last 26 years, which makes it a consolidated tool for many landslide-related applications, challenges still remain for an effective and operational use of EO images for landslide detection and mapping, and we provide a perspective for future applications considering the existing and the planned SAR satellite missions.
Artificial intelligence powered Metaverse: analysis, challenges and future perspectives
Authors: Soliman Mona M. , Ahmed Eman , Darwish Ashraf , Hassanien Aboul Ella
Published: February 2024

The Metaverse, a virtual reality (VR) space where users can interact with each other and digital objects, is rapidly becoming a reality. As this new world evolves, Artificial Intelligence (AI) is playing an increasingly important role in shaping its development. Integrating AI with emerging technologies in the Metaverse creates new possibilities for immersive experiences that were previously impossible. This paper explores how AI is integrated with technologies such as the Internet of Things, blockchain, Natural Language Processing, virtual reality, Augmented Reality, Mixed Reality, and Extended Reality. One potential benefit of using AI in the Metaverse is the ability to create personalized experiences for individual users, based on their behavior and preferences. Another potential benefit of using AI in the Metaverse is the ability to automate repetitive tasks, freeing up time and resources for more complex and creative endeavors. However, there are also challenges associated with using AI in the Metaverse, such as ensuring user privacy and addressing issues of bias and discrimination. By examining the potential benefits and challenges of using AI in the Metaverse, including ethical considerations, we can better prepare for this exciting new era of VR. This paper presents a comprehensive survey of AI and its integration with other emerging technologies in the Metaverse, as the Metaverse continues to evolve and grow, it will be important for developers and researchers to stay up to date with the latest developments in AI and emerging technologies to fully leverage their potential.
An efficient multimodal sentiment analysis in social media using hybrid optimal multi-scale residual attention network
Authors: Subbaiah Bairavel , Murugesan Kanipriya , Saravanan Prabakeran , Marudhamuthu Krishnamurthy
Published: February 2024

Sentiment analysis is a key component of many social media analysis projects. Additionally, prior research has concentrated on a single modality in particular, such as text descriptions for visual information. In contrast to standard image databases, social images frequently connect to one another, making sentiment analysis challenging. The majority of methods now in use consider different images individually, rendering them useless for interrelated images. We proposed a hybrid Arithmetic Optimization Algorithm- Hunger Games Search (AOA-HGS)-optimized Ensemble Multi-scale Residual Attention Network (EMRA-Net) technique in this paper to explore the modal correlations including texts, audio, social links, and video for more effective multimodal sentiment analysis. The hybrid AOA-HGS technique learns complementary and comprehensive features. The EMRA-Net uses two segments, including Ensemble Attention CNN (EA-CNN) and Three-scale Residual Attention Convolutional Neural Network (TRA-CNN), to analyze the multimodal sentiments. The loss of spatial domain image texture features can be reduced by adding the Wavelet transform to TRA-CNN. The feature-level fusion technique known as EA-CNN is used to combine visual, audio, and textual information. The proposed method performs significantly better than the existing multimodel sentimental analysis techniques of HALCB, HDF, and MMLatch when evaluated using the Multimodal Emotion Lines Dataset (MELD) and EmoryNLP datasets. Also, even though the size of the training set varies, the proposed method outperformed other techniques in terms of recall, accuracy, F score, and precision and takes less time to compute in both datasets.
Identification and Functional Mechanism Verification of Novel MicroRNAs Associated with the Fibrosis Progression in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: He Kaiying , Zhou Xiaochun , Zhao Jing , Du Hongxuan , Guo Juan , Deng Rongrong , Wang Jianqin
Published: February 2024

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a serious threat to human health worldwide, and its incidence is increasing annually. A growing amount of information is emerging about the role of micoRNAs (miRNAs) in the regulation of renal fibrosis, which has aroused interest in the development of drugs that block pathogenic miRNAs or restore protective miRNAs levels. To clarify the role of miRNAs in CKD, we selected patients with significant renal fibrotic disease (diabetic nephropathy (DN) and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis (FSGS)) as the disease group, and patients with little or no renal fibrotic disease (minimal change disease (MCD) and renal carcinoma adjacent to normal kidney) as controls. Significantly differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained by human kidney tissue sequencing, subsequently verified in mice models of DN and FSGS, and subsequently inhibited or overexpressed in human renal tubular epithelial cells (HK-2) stimulated by high glucose (HG) and TGF-β1 in vitro. Therefore, the mechanism of its action in renal fibrosis was further elaborated. Finally, the downstream target genes of the corresponding miRNAs were verified by bioinformatics analysis, qRT-PCR, western blot and double luciferase report analysis. Two novel miRNAs, hsa-miR-1470-3p (miR-1470) and hsa-miR-4483-3p (miR-4483), were detected by renal tissue sequencing in the disease group with significant renal fibrosis (DN and FSGS) and the control group with little or no renal fibrosis (MCD and normal renal tissue adjacent to renal carcinoma). Subsequent human renal tissue qRT-PCR verified that the expression of miR-1470 was significantly increased, while the expression of miR-4483 was markedly decreased in the disease group (p < 0.05). Moreover, in vivo DN and FSGS mice models, the expression levels of miR-1470 and miR-4483 were consistent with the results of human kidney tissue. In vitro, miR-4483 was suppressed, whereas miR-1470 was induced by treatment with TGF-β1 or HG. Inhibition of miR-1470 or overexpression of miR-4483 promoted HG or TGF-β1-induced fibrosis in HK-2 cells. Further study revealed that MMP-13 and TIMP1 were the target genes ofmiR-1470 and miR-4483, respectively. Our study identifies newly dysregulated miRNA profiles related to fibrosis kidneys. miR-1470 and miR-4483 are demonstrated to participate in kidney fibrosis by regulation of MMP-13, TIMP1 respectively. Our results may represent a promising research direction for renal disorders and help identify new biomarkers and therapeutic targets for CKD.
Cortical Correlates of Visuospatial Switching Processes Between Egocentric and Allocentric Frames of Reference: A fNIRS Study
Authors: Orti Renato , Coello Yann , Ruotolo Francesco , Vincent Marion , Bartolo Angela , Iachini Tina , Ruggiero Gennaro
Published: February 2024

Human beings represent spatial information according to egocentric (body-to-object) and allocentric (object-to-object) frames of reference. In everyday life, we constantly switch from one frame of reference to another in order to react effectively to the specific needs of the environment and task demands. However, to the best of our knowledge, no study to date has investigated the cortical activity of switching and non-switching processes between egocentric and allocentric spatial encodings. To this aim, a custom-designed visuo-spatial memory task was administered and the cortical activities underlying switching vs non-switching spatial processes were investigated. Changes in concentrations of oxygenated and deoxygenated haemoglobin were measured using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). Participants were asked to memorize triads of geometric objects and then make two consecutive judgments about the same triad. In the non-switching condition, both spatial judgments considered the same frame of reference: only egocentric or only allocentric. In the switching condition, if the first judgment was egocentric, the second one was allocentric (or vice versa). The results showed a generalized activation of the frontal regions during the switching compared to the non-switching condition. Additionally, increased cortical activity was found in the temporo-parietal junction during the switching condition compared to the non-switching condition. Overall, these results illustrate the cortical activity underlying the processing of switching between body position and environmental stimuli, showing an important role of the temporo-parietal junction and frontal regions in the preparation and switching between egocentric and allocentric reference frames.
Information needs in breast reconstruction after mastectomy: a qualitative analysis of free-text responses from 2077 women
Authors: Wuyts Kim , Durston Vicki , Morstyn Lisa , Mills Sam , White Victoria
Published: February 2024

Background

For many, breast reconstruction following mastectomy (BR) forms an integral part of breast cancer survivorship. For those considering BR, provision of information is essential to allow informed decisions. Using free-text responses from a survey of breast cancer survivors, this study aims to understand current gaps in information regarding BR.

Method

At the end of an online survey assessing BR experiences, participants were asked the open-ended question: “Thinking about women who may experience BR in the future, is there anything you think needs to change so that they have a better experience?”. Responses were analysed to identify common themes.

Results

3384 people completed the survey with 2,077 (61%) responding to the open-ended question. Three themes were identified: (1) content of information, (2) managing expectations, and (3) information sources, each associated with multiple subthemes. Information wanted in theme (1) covered a range of topics including BR options, risks, recovery and ‘going flat.’ Information on BR’s psychological impact was also needed, with comments indicating many were not prepared for this. Theme (2) stressed the importance of realistic information about BR outcomes and processes to reduce discrepancies between expectations and experiences. In theme (3), peer insights and photos were important sources of realistic information.

Conclusion

Multiple gaps exist in BR-related information available to women. BR information needs to be comprehensive, realistic, and provided at the right time to allow informed decision-making. Developing strategies to strengthen existing information provision as well as new resources to fill information gaps might enhance BR experiences.
Circular RNA circFCHO2(hsa_circ_0002490) promotes the proliferation of melanoma by directly binding to DND1
Authors: Yang Yang , Li Jianrui , Wei Chuanyuan , Wang Lu , Gao Zixu , Shen Kangjie , Li Yinlam , Ren Ming , Zhu Yu , Ding Yiteng , Wei Chenlu , Zhang Tianyi , Zheng Shaoluan , Lu Nanhang , Gu Jianying
Published: February 2024

Circular RNAs (circRNAs) have been documented to play crucial roles in the biology of various cancers. However, their investigation in melanoma is still at an early stage, particularly as a broader mechanism beyond acting as miRNA sponges needs to be explored. We report here that circFCHO2(hsa_circ_0002490), a circRNA encompassing exons 19 and 20 of the FCHO2 gene, exhibited a consistent overexpression in melanoma tissues. Furthermore, elevated circFCHO2 levels demonstrated a positive correlation with the malignant phenotype and poor prognosis among the 158 melanoma patients studied. Besides, we observed that heightened levels of circFCHO2 promoted melanoma cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, along with contributing to tumor growth in vivo. Furthermore, we found differences in the secondary structure of circFCHO2 compared to most other circular RNA structures. It has fewer miRNA binding sites, while it has more RNA binding protein binding sites. We therefore speculate that circFCHO2 may have a function of interacting with RNA binding proteins. Mechanistically, it was confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH), RNA-pull down, RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP), and western blotting assays that circFCHO2 interacts with dead end protein homolog 1 (DND1) and reverses the inhibition of the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway by binding to DND1. Our findings reveal that circFCHO2 drives melanoma progression by regulating the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway through direct binding to DND1 and may serve as a potential diagnostic biomarker and therapeutic target for the treatment of melanoma.

Graphical Abstract

Headlights: CircFCHO2 is highly expressed in melanoma. High circFCHO2 levels were positively correlated with poor prognosis in 158 melanoma patients. CircFCHO2 is involved in the regulation of the PI3K/AKT signalling pathway by binding to DND1. CircFCHO2 could serve as a potential biomarker and therapeutic target for the management of melanoma.