bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pengembangan Video Pembelajaran Berbasis Aplikasi Kinemaster Pada Pembelajaran Tema 6 Subtema 3 di SDN Sumorame
Authors: Kurniawati Riekke , Ardiyah Miftakul
Published: October 2023

Penelitian pengembangan ini dilatarbelakangi oleh permasalahan yang ada pada peserta didik sehingga peneliti ingin membuat sebuah video pembelajaran. Penelitian pengembangan ini bertujuan untuk mengembangkan Video Pembelajaran Berbasis Aplikasi Kinemaster pada tema 6 (Panas dan perpindahannya) subtema 3 (Pengaruh kalor terhadap kehidupan) pembelajaran 1 kelas V di SDN Sumorame. Metode yang digunakan dalam penelitian ini adalah penelitian pengembangan dengan menggunakan model ADDIE milik Dick and Carry yang dilakukan melalui 3 tahapan yaitu analisis (analysis) meliputi analisis kebutuhan dan analisis materi, perancangan (design) dengan kerangka acuan berupa (a) menetapkan perangkat pembelajaran (b) pembuatan desain konsep (c) penyusunan soal dan jawaban, dan pengembangan (develop) dengan mengumpulkan bahan atau materi media pembelajaran yang berbasis video seperti (a) pemilihan gambar-gambar ilustrasi yang sesuai dengan materi (b) pengetikan teks pada materi (c) memasukkan video penunjang (d) memasukkan instrumen (e) kemudian dilanjutkan dengan bantuan aplikasi-aplikasi penunjang yang dibutuhkan, tanpa melalui tahap implementasi dan evaluasi dikarenakan adanya pandemi yang tidak dapat dilaksanakan secara tatap muka melainkan secara daring/online. Hasil penilaian dari validator ahli materi dan ahli media menunjukkan hasil presentase yakni 71 % dan 80 %. Sehingga dapat disimpulkan bahwa video pembelajaran berbasis aplikasi kinemaster pada tema 6 â€œPanas dan perpindahannyaâ€ subtema 3 â€œPengaruh kalor terhadap kehidupanâ€ pembelajaran 1 kelas V di SDN Sumorame dinyatakan â€œvalidâ€ untuk digunakan.
Câmbio Real, Mercado de Trabalho e Crescimento Econômico na América Latina
Authors: Haber Jeruza , Bornacki de Mattos Leonardo , Dias de Carvalho Luciano
Published: October 2023

O objetivo do presente trabalho é analisar empiricamente a influência da taxa de câmbio real e do mercado de trabalho sobre o crescimento econômico dos países da América Latina no período 2000 a 2014. Para tanto, é estimado um modelo “System GMM” no qual a taxa de câmbio real e as diferenças na produtividade do trabalho, em uma economia dual, interagem entre si, de modo a definir distintas trajetórias de crescimento e distribuição funcional da renda. Os resultados mostraram que o crescimento populacional, o diferencial de salários médio e mínimo - proxy para o diferencial de produtividade - e a participação dos salários na renda influenciaram positivamente o crescimento das economias latino-americanas. Ademais, a desvalorização do câmbio real tem efeito significativo e distinto no tempo sobre o crescimento das economias latino americanas. Contemporaneamente, a influência é negativa mas, de forma defasada, esta é positiva (como preconiza a condição de Marshall-Lerner). Portanto, conclui-se que a taxa de câmbio real foi relevante para o crescimento econômico da América Latina no período em estudo.
PENENTUAN UPAH INSENTIF MONTIR BENGKEL CAT BERDASARKAN OUTPUT STANDAR PRODUKSI
Authors: Christman Christman , Sumantika Arsyad
Published: October 2023

As a gesture of appreciation for successful accomplishments or performance, incentives might take the shape of higher pay, bonuses, prizes, or other rewards. Giving incentives is mostly done to boost the receivers' productivity, motivation, and performance. The Gantt Task and Bonus System method requires the workshop to spend Rp. 5,320,000 and Rp. 5,590,000 in the third and fourth weeks of May, respectively. The method used in this study is production standard output, which results in the calculation of each method being that the workshop needs to spend these amounts. The workshop must pay Rp. 4,864,000 and Rp. 5,044,500 for the Taylor Piece Wage method in the third and fourth weeks of May, respectively. The workplace only pays minimum wage to those who fall short of the goal they were assigned, and those who meet or surpass the goal are awarded an incentive worth 20% of their regular pay
ANALISIS PENGUKURAN KERJA DALAM MENENTUKAN WAKTU STANDAR PADA OPERATOR MESIN CNC DI PT TEAM METAL INDONESIA
Authors: Pamungkas Doni , Zetli Sri
Published: October 2023

PT Team Metal Indonesia is a company located in Bintang Industrial Park II Area, Tanjung Uncang, Batam City. Many targets cannot be met by operators and a lot of idle time is caused by the absence of time standards set by the company. This study aims to determine the standard time needed by CNC machine operators to complete each job and to determine the productivity of CNC machine operators. The data collection method in this study is primary data obtained directly from measurements carried out at the production site using stopwacth. While the data analysis method uses the stopwach time study method. The results of the study calculated the raw time of making 1 pcs is 1470,325 seconds. The standard time per work element for Material Installation is 150.7037 seconds, the Chip Cleaning and Tool checking process produces a standard time of 19.05648 seconds and Material Opening is 128.5649 seconds, and for the output produced by the operator in one shift can be produced as much as 14-16 pcs in one shift before the standard time is determined, and can be produced as many as 17 pcs in one shift after the standard time is set.
ANALISIS PENYUSUNAN MATERIAL DI WAREHOUSE PT XYZ
Authors: Kawidyasari Warranty , Tarigan Elsya Paskaria Loyda
Published: October 2023

Poor material preparation and untidy warehouse PT. XYZ causes difficulties for employees in picking up materials and long distances for picking up materials that have a high picking frequency. The arrangement of the material layout was redesigned to make it easier to pick up material and shorten the distance for picking up material. To improve the layout of the arrangement and tidiness of the warehousing, researchers use the ABC Classification and the application of 5S. The total distance in the initial layout is 2902 meters while the proposed layout is 2278 meters. OMH in the initial layout of Rp. 1,905,000.00 while the proposed layout is Rp. 1,685,706.00. So the total decrease in OMH is Rp. 219,000.00 / month and the distance efficiency obtained is 21.5% / month.
RANCANG BANGUN SISTEM INFORMASI KELUHAN PADA RUSUN BP BATAM BERBASIS WEB
Authors: Yanti Srimau , Arnomo Sasa Ani
Published: October 2023

ABSTRACT

BP Batam is a government agency that manages flats in Batam City which are located at several points in each sub-district, this Batam City government program really supports low-income people because they are able to provide livable housing for flat residents at affordable prices, but there are several things that become obstacles for flat occupants, one of which is a citizen complaint information system which makes flat residents uncomfortable by submitting reports of damage that has occurred to each flat that must come to the flats office to report complaints, as well as flats. admin / staff who make a report every time there is damage. Therefore we need a system that can simplify and speed up occupants and flat workers in the process of reporting complaints, the system uses the PHP my Admin programming language and My SQL database with the prototyping method. The purpose of creating this system is to make it easier for BP Batam flat occupants to submit their complaints to the admin or flat employees. In addition to facilitating and speeding up the admin work process in reporting damage to flats managed by BP Batam.
Functional imaging of deep brain stimulation in dystonia: a review
Authors: Bledsoe Ian O. , Morrison Melanie A.
Published: October 2023

Much remains to be learned about the mechanism of benefit of deep brain stimulation in movement disorders in general and dystonia specifically. A full accounting of the pathophysiology of dystonia additionally remains unclear. Given its ability to evaluate whole-brain network changes, functional neuroimaging is an important tool to advance understanding of the effects of deep brain stimulation, which in turn could offer insight into the pathophysiology of dystonia and suggest novel deep brain stimulation targets for the disorder. This review surveys the published literature of functional neuroimaging studies evaluating deep brain stimulation effects in dystonia, including PET, SPECT, and functional MRI studies. To date, study cohorts have been relatively small, though several general patterns emerge when studies are viewed collectively, including reduced functional activation patterns with stimulation turned on during motor tasks, particularly in frontal cortical regions. During rest with stimulation on, several studies showed areas of relatively decreased perfusion only in those participants who experienced clinical benefit from deep brain stimulation. Future research may benefit from larger cohorts with more homogeneous forms of dystonia, potentially enabled by multi-center initiatives. Additional benefits may result from more detailed longitudinal assessments and greater use of functional MRI, with study designs that take into account the technical limitations of this modality in the context of movement disorders and deep brain stimulation.
Prospective evaluation of echocardiographic parameters and cardiac biomarkers in healthy dogs eating four custom-formulated diets
Authors: Leach Stacey B. , Clark Stephanie D. , Baumwart Ryan D. , McCauley Sydney R. , Thomason Justin D. , Streeter Renee M. , Zumbaugh Charles A. , Lamb Ken , Quest Bradley W.
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Diet-associated dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) has been suspected in breeds that have not been previously noted to have a predisposition to the DCM phenotype. This study hypothesized that over 210 days, dogs fed diets with varying amounts of animal-sourced protein and carbohydrate sources would not be negatively impacted in terms of their cardiac parameters and function.

Methods

Thirty-two purebred beagles and 33 mixed-breed hounds were randomized into four diet groups and studied for 210 days. The diet groups were as follows: the high-animal-protein grain-free (HAGF) group, the low-animal-protein grain-free (LAGF) group, the high-animal-protein grain-inclusive (HAGI), and the low-animal-protein grain-inclusive (LAGI) group. Cardiac-specific biomarkers, endomyocardial biopsies, and linear and volumetric echocardiographic parameters were evaluated.

Results

There was a treatment-by-day-by-breed effect observed for the normalized left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole (p= 0.0387) and for the normalized left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole (p= 0.0178). On day 210, mixed-breed hounds fed the LAGI diet had a smaller normalized left ventricular internal diameter at end-diastole than on day 90. On day 210, beagles fed the LAGF diet had a larger normalized left ventricular internal diameter at end-systole than those fed the LAGI diet. Fractional shortening for beagles in the LAGF group was significantly lower (p= 0.007) than for those in the HAGI and LAGI groups. Cardiac-specific biomarkers and endomyocardial biopsies were not significantly different between breeds, diets, and various time points.

Discussion

This study did not detect the development of cardiac dysfunction throughout the study period through the echocardiographic parameters measured, select cardiac biomarkers, or endomyocardial biopsies. There were noted interactions of treatment, breed, and time; therefore, isolating a diet association was not possible. Future research should further investigate the other factors that may help to identify the variable(s) and possible mechanisms underlying suspected diet-associated DCM in dogs.
Inelastic response spectra for an integrated displacement and energy-based seismic design (DEBD) of structures
Authors: Proietti Giulio , Pedone Livio , D'Amore Simone , Pampanin Stefano
Published: October 2023

The severe socio-economic impact of recent earthquakes has further highlighted the crucial need for a paradigm shift in performance-based design criteria and objectives towards a low-damage design philosophy, in order to reduce losses in terms of human lives, repair/reconstruction costs, and recovery time (deaths, dollars and downtime). Currently, displacement-based parameters are typically adopted to design/assess the seismic performance of the structures, by limiting the maximum displacement or the maximum interstorey drift ratio (IDR) reached by the structure under different earthquake intensities. However and arguably, displacement-based quantities are characterized by inherent weaknesses, since, for instance, they are not cumulated parameters, thus not able to capture directly the effects of multiple cycles, deterioration and damage cumulation. Therefore, in the last decades, energy-based approaches were investigated and developed in order to establish alternative engineering demand parameters for the assessment of post-event damage through a dynamic energy balance. Towards the main goal of developing an integrated Displacement and Energy-Based Design/assessment procedure (DEBD) for actual use in practice, this research work proposes an innovative approach based on the use of inelastic spectra correlating the energy components with the corresponding maximum displacement response parameters of the structure. In practical terms, the proposal is to further integrate and develop the well-known Direct Displacement-Based Design, by directly adopting the hysteretic energy as an additional design parameter. The energy inelastic spectra are developed through an extensive parametric analysis of Single-Degree-of-Freedom (SDoF) systems, with different nonlinear hysteretic models. In such an approach, the maximum seismic energy demand imparted to a structure can be directly predicted and controlled, whilst distinguishing the various components of the energy balance, including the hysteretic one. The effects of near-field and far-field earthquakes are also investigated. Results show that in the first case the seismic demand is concentrated in the peak of a few large cycles that absorb the demand energy induced by the high component in peak ground velocity in the second case the higher equivalent number of plastic cycles tends to become critical for structures with inadequate structural details and prone to suffer by cumulative cycles and overall plastic fatigue mechanisms.
The role of cellular senescence in metabolic diseases and the potential for senotherapeutic interventions
Authors: Zhang Huantong , Zhou Han , Shen Xin , Lin Xingchen , Zhang Yuke , Sun Yiyi , Zhou Yi , Zhang Lei , Zhang Dayong
Published: October 2023

Cellular senescence represents an irreversible state of cell cycle arrest induced by various stimuli strongly associated with aging and several chronic ailments. In recent years, studies have increasingly suggested that the accumulation of senescent cells is an important contributor to the decline of organ metabolism, ultimately resulting in metabolic diseases. Conversely, the elimination of senescent cells can alleviate or postpone the onset and progression of metabolic diseases. Thus, a close relationship between senescent cells and metabolic diseases is found, and targeting senescent cells has emerged as an alternative therapy for the treatment of metabolic diseases. In this review, we summarize the role of cellular senescence in metabolic diseases, explore relevant therapeutic strategies for metabolic diseases by removing senescent cells, and provide new insights into the treatment of metabolic diseases.
3He spin-echo scattering indicates hindered diffusion of isolated water molecules on graphene-covered Ir(111)
Authors: Kyrkjebø Signe , Cassidy Andrew , Lambrick Sam , Jardine Andrew , Holst Bodil , Hornekær Liv
Published: October 2023

The dynamics of water diffusion on carbon surfaces are of interest in fields as diverse as furthering the use of graphene as an industrial-coating technology and understanding the catalytic role of carbon-based dust grains in the interstellar medium. The early stages of water–ice growth and the mobility of water adsorbates are inherently dependent on the microscopic mechanisms that facilitate water diffusion. Here, we use 3He spin-echo quasi-inelastic scattering to probe the microscopic mechanisms responsible for the diffusion of isolated water molecules on graphene-covered and bare Ir(111). The scattering of He atoms provides a non-invasive and highly surface-sensitive means to measure the rate at which absorbates move around on a substrate at very low coverage. Our results provide an approximate upper limit on the diffusion coefficient for water molecules on GrIr(111) of <10−12 m2/s, an order of magnitude lower than the coefficient that describes the diffusion of water molecules on the bare Ir(111) surface. We attribute the hindered diffusion of water molecules on the GrIr(111) surface to water trapping at specific areas of the corrugated moiré superstructure. Lower mobility of water molecules on a surface is expected to lead to a lower ice nucleation rate and may enhance the macroscopic anti-icing properties of a surface.
A gene expression profile-based approach to screen the occurrence and predisposed host characteristics of drug-induced liver injury: a case study of Psoralea corylifolia Linn
Authors: Zhang Ming-Liang , Li Wei-Xia , Wang Xiao-Yan , Zhang Hui , Wu Ya-Li , Yang Liu-Qing , Chen Xiao-Fei , Zhang Shu-Qi , Chen Yu-Long , Feng Ke-Ran , Tang Jin-Fa
Published: October 2023

Drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is one of the most common causes of a drug being withdrawn, and identifying the culprit drugs and the host factors at risk of causing DILI has become a current challenge. Recent studies have found that immune status plays a considerable role in the development of DILI. In this study, DILI-related differentially expressed genes mediated by immunoinflammatory cytokines were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database to predict the occurrence of DILI (named the DILI predictive gene set, DILI_PGS), and the predictability of the DILI_PGS was verified using the Connectivity Map (CMap) and LiverTox platforms. The results obtained DILI_PGS from the GEO database could predict 81.25% of liver injury drugs. In addition, the Coexpedia platform was used to predict the DILI_PGS-related characteristics of common host diseases and found that the DILI_PGS mainly involved immune-related diseases and tumor-related diseases. Then, animal models of immune stress (IS) and immunosuppressive (IP) were selected to simulate the immune status of the above diseases. Meanwhile, psoralen, a main component derived from Psoralea corylifolia Linn. with definite hepatotoxicity, was selected as an experimental drug with highly similar molecular fingerprints to three idiosyncratic hepatotoxic drugs (nefazodone, trovafloxacin, and nimesulide) from the same DILI_PGS dataset. The animal experiment results found a single administration of psoralen could significantly induce liver injury in IS mice, while there was no obvious liver function change in IP mice by repeatedly administering the same dose of psoralen, and the potential mechanism of psoralen-induced liver injury in IS mice may be related to regulating the expression of the TNF-related pathway. In conclusion, this study constructed the DILI_PGS with high accuracy to predict the occurrence of DILI and preliminarily identified the characteristics of host factors inducing DILI.
Fairness of recommender systems in the recruitment domain: an analysis from technical and legal perspectives
Authors: Kumar Deepak , Grosz Tessa , Rekabsaz Navid , Greif Elisabeth , Schedl Markus
Published: October 2023

Recommender systems (RSs) have become an integral part of the hiring process, be it via job advertisement ranking systems (job recommenders) for the potential employee or candidate ranking systems (candidate recommenders) for the employer. As seen in other domains, RSs are prone to harmful biases, unfair algorithmic behavior, and even discrimination in a legal sense. Some cases, such as salary equity in regards to gender (gender pay gap), stereotypical job perceptions along gendered lines, or biases toward other subgroups sharing specific characteristics in candidate recommenders, can have profound ethical and legal implications. In this survey, we discuss the current state of fairness research considering the fairness definitions (e.g., demographic parity and equal opportunity) used in recruitment-related RSs (RRSs). We investigate from a technical perspective the approaches to improve fairness, like synthetic data generation, adversarial training, protected subgroup distributional constraints, and post-hoc re-ranking. Thereafter, from a legal perspective, we contrast the fairness definitions and the effects of the aforementioned approaches with existing EU and US law requirements for employment and occupation, and second, we ascertain whether and to what extent EU and US law permits such approaches to improve fairness. We finally discuss the advances that RSs have made in terms of fairness in the recruitment domain, compare them with those made in other domains, and outline existing open challenges.
The geochemical characteristics of Cretaceous volcanics in southern Hainan Island and implications for tectonic evolution in the South China Sea
Authors: Liu Yang , Fang Nianqiao , Wang Zhongbo
Published: October 2023

The southeastern Eurasian plate, where the South China Sea (SCS) is located, lies in a complex tectonic setting between the Pacific and Tethys tectonic belts. It is widely accepted that the tectonics of the SCS area were influenced by subduction in the late Mesozoic, but there is still controversy over whether it was paleo-Pacific subduction or Tethyan subduction. Volcanic activity in the south of Hainan Island was intense during the Cretaceous, and geochemical analysis of the collected basaltic andesite, andesite and rhyolite samples in this study indicate those intermediate-acid series igneous rocks are high-K calc-alkaline or calc-alkaline. Some andesites have high MgO contents and Mg# values (2.04–5.34 wt% and 36.83–55.29; Mg# = 100× Mg2+/(Mg2+ + TFe2+). Light rare earth elements (LREEs) and large ion lithophile elements (LILEs) are enriched in all the samples, but high field strength elements (HFSEs) are depleted. The negative Eu anomalies are more obvious in the rhyolites than andesites. The geochemical characteristics of the volcanic arc igneous rocks show that the mid-Cretaceous tectonic setting of Hainan Island can be classified as an Andean active continental margin. During the mid-Cretaceous, intermediate volcanism occurred in Hainan Island and its adjacent areas. The zircon-saturation temperatures of the acid volcanic rocks in study area exhibit relatively low values (ranging from 746°C–790°C). Unlike igneous rocks forming in the coastal area east of the South China Block at the same time, no A-type granitoids with alkaline dark minerals appear in Hainan Island. During the late Mesozoic, the western SCS, where Hainan Island was located, may not have been affected by the subduction of the paleo-Pacific Plate, but rather Neotethyan subduction which dominated the Cretaceous magmatic and tectonic activities along the western margin of the SCS. This finding helps to understand the late Mesozoic tectonic evolution of the southeastern edge of the Eurasian plate.
Impact of SARS-CoV-2 infection on clinical outcomes of in vitro fertilization treatments: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Xue Yamei , Xiong Yuping , Cheng Xiaohong , Li Kun
Published: October 2023

The influence of SARS-CoV-2 infection on clinical outcomes in patients undergoing in vitro fertilization has been uncertain. Therefore, this systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the impact of past SARS-CoV-2 infection on IVF outcomes. A comprehensive search of PubMed, EMBASE, and Cochrane Library databases was conducted from December 2019 to January 2023. Included studies comparing IVF outcomes between patients with prior SARS-CoV-2 infection and controls without previous infection were analyzed. Study quality was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Quality Assessment Scale. Sensitivity analysis, publication bias, and heterogeneity were also examined. The review protocol was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42023392007). A total of eight studies, involving 317 patients with past SARS-CoV-2 infection and 904 controls, met the inclusion criteria. The meta-analysis revealed no significant differences between the infection group and controls in terms of clinical pregnancy rate (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.73-1.29; P = 0.82), implantation rate (OR 0.99, 95% CI 0.67-1.46; P = 0.96), or miscarriage rate (OR 0.64, 95% CI 0.15-2.65; P = 0.53). Subgroup analyses based on transfer type demonstrated comparable clinical pregnancy rates between the two groups in both fresh embryo transfer (OR 0.97, 95% CI 0.69-1.36; P = 0.86) and frozen embryo transfer (OR 0.96, 95% CI 0.38-2.44; P = 0.94). In conclusion, this meta-analysis suggests that previous SARS-CoV-2 infection does not have a detrimental impact on clinical outcomes in IVF patients. These findings provide valuable insights into assessing the influence of prior SARS-CoV-2 infection on successful pregnancy outcomes in IVF treatment. The systematic review was performed based on the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. This review was prospectively registered with the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (ID CRD42023392007) on January 16, 2023.
Skeletal muscles and gut microbiota-derived metabolites: novel modulators of adipocyte thermogenesis
Authors: Tang Yi , Wang Ya-Di , Wang Yuan-Yuan , Liao Zhe-Zhen , Xiao Xin-Hua
Published: October 2023

Obesity occurs when overall energy intake surpasses energy expenditure. White adipose tissue is an energy storage site, whereas brown and beige adipose tissues catabolize stored energy to generate heat, which protects against obesity and obesity-associated metabolic disorders. Metabolites are substrates in metabolic reactions that act as signaling molecules, mediating communication between metabolic sites (i.e., adipose tissue, skeletal muscle, and gut microbiota). Although the effects of metabolites from peripheral organs on adipose tissue have been extensively studied, their role in regulating adipocyte thermogenesis requires further investigation. Skeletal muscles and intestinal microorganisms are important metabolic sites in the body, and their metabolites play an important role in obesity. In this review, we consolidated the latest research on skeletal muscles and gut microbiota-derived metabolites that potentially promote adipocyte thermogenesis. Skeletal muscles can release lactate, kynurenic acid, inosine, and β-aminoisobutyric acid, whereas the gut secretes bile acids, butyrate, succinate, cinnabarinic acid, urolithin A, and asparagine. These metabolites function as signaling molecules by interacting with membrane receptors or controlling intracellular enzyme activity. The mechanisms underlying the reciprocal exchange of metabolites between the adipose tissue and other metabolic organs will be a focal point in future studies on obesity. Furthermore, understanding how metabolites regulate adipocyte thermogenesis will provide a basis for establishing new therapeutic targets for obesity.
Solving optimal power flow problems via a constrained many-objective co-evolutionary algorithm
Authors: Tian Ye , Shi Zhangxiang , Zhang Yajie , Zhang Limiao , Zhang Haifeng , Zhang Xingyi
Published: October 2023

The optimal power flow problem in power systems is characterized by a number of complex objectives and constraints, which aim to optimize the total fuel cost, emissions, active power loss, voltage magnitude deviation, and other metrics simultaneously. These conflicting objectives and strict constraints challenge existing optimizers in balancing between active power and reactive power, along with good trade-offs among many metrics. To address these difficulties, this paper develops a co-evolutionary algorithm to solve the constrained many-objective optimization problem of optimal power flow, which evolves three populations with different selection strategies. These populations are evolved towards different parts of the huge objective space divided by large infeasible regions, and the cooperation between them renders assistance to the search for feasible and Pareto-optimal solutions. According to the experimental results on benchmark problems and the IEEE 30-bus, IEEE 57-bus, and IEEE 118-bus systems, the proposed algorithm is superior over peer algorithms in solving constrained many-objective optimization problems, especially the optimal power flow problems.
An integrated approach of bioleaching-enhanced electrokinetic remediation of heavy metals from municipal waste incineration fly ash using Acidithiobacillus spp
Authors: Narenkumar Jayaraman , Sathishkumar Kuppusamy , Das Bhaskar , Rajasekar Aruliah , Rajakrishnan R. , Rajamohan Rajaram , Malik Tabarak
Published: October 2023

Introduction: Municipal solid waste (MSW) incineration fly ash is a harmful residue formed during the incineration process. It contains high concentrations of hazardous heavy metals, such as lead, zinc, aluminum, and iron.

Methodology: In this study, bioleaching integrated with an electrokinetic approach for heavy metal remediation from MSW incineration fly ash using Acidithiobacillus ferrooxidans and Acidithiobacillus thiooxidans bacteria was tested.

Results and discussion: The physicochemical properties of fly ash included a particle size of 26.1 μm, with the presence of heavy metals. A. ferrooxidans and A. thiooxidans produced sulphuric acid (0.0289 M and 0.0352 M) during the proliferation; this acid enhances the bioleaching of heavy metals from fly ash. The results of an integrated approach showed an 85%, 47%, 92%, 85%, 46%, 67% 11%, and 55% removal of the heavy metals K, Na, Ca, Mg, Al, Zn, Pb, and Mg, respectively, in the presence of A. ferrooxidans. Overall, these results evidenced that heavy metals were completely removed from the fly ash using an integrated approach. Therefore, this integrated approach can be used as an effective heavy metal removal method for treating fly ash in MSW.
Precise aboveground biomass estimation of plantation forest trees using the novel allometric model and UAV-borne LiDAR
Authors: Lin Jiayuan , Chen Decao , Yang Shuai , Liao Xiaohan
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Plantation forest is an important component of global forest resources. The accurate estimation of tree aboveground biomass (AGB) in plantation forest is of great significance for evaluating the carbon sequestration capacity. In recent years, UAV-borne LiDAR has been increasingly applied to forest survey, but the traditional allometric model for AGB estimation cannot be directly used without the diameter at breast height (DBH) of individual trees. Therefore, it is practicable to construct a novel allometric model incorporating the crown structure parameters, which can be precisely extracted from UAV LiDAR data. Additionally, the reduction effect of adjacent trees on crown area (Ac) should be taken into account.

Methods

In this study, we proposed an allometric model depending on the predictor variables of Ac and trunk height (H). The UAV-borne LiDAR was utilized to scan the sample plot of dawn redwood (DR) trees in the test site. The raw point cloud was first normalized and segmented into individual trees, whose Acs and Hs were sequentially extracted. To mitigate the effects of adjacent trees, the initial Acs were corrected to refer to the potential maximum Acs under undisturbed growth conditions. Finally, the corrected Acs (Acc) and Hs were input into the constructed allometric model to achieve the AGBs of DR trees.

Results and discussion

According to accuracy assessment, coefficient of determination (R2) and root mean square error (RMSE) of extracted Hs were 0.9688 and 0.51 m; R2 and RMSE of calculated AGBs were 0.9432 and 10.91 kg. The unrestricted growth parts of the tree crowns at the edge of a plantation forest could be used to derive the potential maximum Ac. Compared with the allometric models for AGB estimation relying only on trunk H or on initial Ac and H, the novel allometric model demonstrated superior performance in estimating the AGBs of trees in a plantation forest.
Macrophages and fibrosis: how resident and infiltrating mononuclear phagocytes account for organ injury, regeneration or atrophy
Authors: Long Hao , Lichtnekert Julia , Andrassy Joachim , Schraml Barbara U. , Romagnani Paola , Anders Hans-Joachim
Published: October 2023

Mononuclear phagocytes (MP), i.e., monocytes, macrophages, and dendritic cells (DCs), are essential for immune homeostasis via their capacities to clear pathogens, pathogen components, and non-infectious particles. However, tissue injury-related changes in local microenvironments activate resident and infiltrating MP towards pro-inflammatory phenotypes that contribute to inflammation by secreting additional inflammatory mediators. Efficient control of injurious factors leads to a switch of MP phenotype, which changes the microenvironment towards the resolution of inflammation. In the same way, MP endorses adaptive structural responses leading to either compensatory hypertrophy of surviving cells, tissue regeneration from local tissue progenitor cells, or tissue fibrosis and atrophy. Under certain circumstances, MP contribute to the reversal of tissue fibrosis by clearance of the extracellular matrix. Here we give an update on the tissue microenvironment-related factors that, upon tissue injury, instruct resident and infiltrating MP how to support host defense and recover tissue function and integrity. We propose that MP are not intrinsically active drivers of organ injury and dysfunction but dynamic amplifiers (and biomarkers) of specific tissue microenvironments that vary across spatial and temporal contexts. Therefore, MP receptors are frequently redundant and suboptimal targets for specific therapeutic interventions compared to molecular targets upstream in adaptive humoral or cellular stress response pathways that influence tissue milieus at a contextual level.
Non-contrast computed tomography-based radiomics for staging of connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease
Authors: Qin Songnan , Jiao Bingxuan , Kang Bing , Li Haiou , Liu Hongwu , Ji Congshan , Yang Shifeng , Yuan Hongtao , Wang Ximing
Published: October 2023

Rationale and introduction

It is of significance to assess the severity and predict the mortality of patients with connective tissue disease-associated interstitial lung disease (CTD-ILD). In this double-center retrospective study, we developed and validated a radiomics nomogram for clinical management by using the ILD-GAP (gender, age, and pulmonary physiology) index system.

Materials and methods

Patients with CTD-ILD were staged using the ILD-GAP index system. A clinical factor model was built by demographics and CT features, and a radiomics signature was developed using radiomics features extracted from CT images. Combined with the radiomics signature and independent clinical factors, a radiomics nomogram was constructed and evaluated by the area under the curve (AUC) from receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses. The models were externally validated in dataset 2 to evaluate the model generalization ability using ROC analysis.

Results

A total of 245 patients from two clinical centers (dataset 1, n = 202; dataset 2, n = 43) were screened. Pack-years of smoking, traction bronchiectasis, and nine radiomics features were used to build the radiomics nomogram, which showed favorable calibration and discrimination in the training cohort {AUC, 0.887 [95% confidence interval (CI): 0.827–0.940]}, the internal validation cohort [AUC, 0.885 (95% CI: 0.816–0.922)], and the external validation cohort [AUC, 0.85 (95% CI: 0.720–0.919)]. Decision curve analysis demonstrated that the nomogram outperformed the clinical factor model and radiomics signature in terms of clinical usefulness.

Conclusion

The CT-based radiomics nomogram showed favorable efficacy in predicting individual ILD-GAP stages.
Trained immunity: a cutting edge approach for designing novel vaccines against parasitic diseases?
Authors: Zhu Jinhang , Liu Jiaxi , Yan Chao , Wang Dahui , Pan Wei
Published: October 2023

The preventive situation of parasitosis, a global public health burden especially for developing countries, is not looking that good. Similar to other infections, vaccines would be the best choice for preventing and controlling parasitic infection. However, ideal antigenic molecules for vaccine development have not been identified so far, resulting from the complicated life history and enormous genomes of the parasites. Furthermore, the suppression or down-regulation of anti-infectious immunity mediated by the parasites or their derived molecules can compromise the effect of parasitic vaccines. Comparing the early immune profiles of several parasites in the permissive and non-permissive hosts, a robust innate immune response is proposed to be a critical event to eliminate the parasites. Therefore, enhancing innate immunity may be essential for designing novel and effective parasitic vaccines. The newly emerging trained immunity (also termed innate immune memory) has been increasingly recognized to provide a novel perspective for vaccine development targeting innate immunity. This article reviews the current status of parasitic vaccines and anti-infectious immunity, as well as the conception, characteristics, and mechanisms of trained immunity and its research progress in Parasitology, highlighting the possible consideration of trained immunity in designing novel vaccines against parasitic diseases.
The Immunology of Takotsubo Syndrome
Authors: Lim Kenji Rowel Q. , Mann Douglas L. , Kenzaka Tsuneaki , Hayashi Tomohiro
Published: October 2023

Takotsubo syndrome (TTS) is a disorder characterized by transient cardiac dysfunction with ventricular regional wall motion abnormalities, primarily thought to be caused by the effects of a sudden catecholamine surge on the heart. Although the majority of patients exhibit prompt recovery of their cardiac dysfunction, TTS remains associated with increased mortality rates acutely and at long-term, and there is currently no cure for TTS. Inflammation has been shown to play a key role in determining outcomes in TTS patients, as well as in the early pathogenesis of the disorder. There are also cases of TTS patients that have been successfully treated with anti-inflammatory therapies, supporting the importance of the inflammatory response in TTS. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of the available clinical and pre-clinical literature on the immune response in TTS, in an effort to not only better understand the pathophysiology of TTS but also to generate insights on the treatment of patients with this disorder.
Intratumor microbiota in cancer pathogenesis and immunity: from mechanisms of action to therapeutic opportunities
Authors: Wang Man , Yu Fei , Li Peifeng
Published: October 2023

Microbial species that dwell human bodies have profound effects on overall health and multiple pathological conditions. The tumor microenvironment (TME) is characterized by disordered vasculature, hypoxia, excessive nutrition and immunosuppression. Thus, it is a favorable niche for microbial survival and growth. Multiple lines of evidence support the existence of microorganisms within diverse types of cancers. Like gut microbiota, intratumoral microbes have been tightly associated with cancer pathogenesis. Intratumoral microbiota can affect cancer development through various mechanisms, including induction of host genetic mutation, remodeling of the immune landscape and regulation of cancer metabolism and oncogenic pathways. Tumor-associated microbes modulate the efficacy of anticancer therapies, suggesting their potential utility as novel targets for future intervention. In addition, a growing body of evidence has manifested the diagnostic, prognostic, and therapeutic potential of intratumoral microorganisms in cancer. Nevertheless, our knowledge of the diversity and biological function of intratumoral microbiota is still incomplete. A deeper appreciation of tumor microbiome will be crucial to delineate the key pathological mechanisms underlying cancer progression and hasten the development of personalized treatment approaches. Herein, we summarize the most recent progress of the research into the emerging roles of intratumoral microbiota in cancer and towards clarifying the sophisticated mechanisms involved. Moreover, we discuss the effect of intratumoral microbiota on cancer treatment response and highlight its potential clinical implications in cancer.
Transcriptomic analysis identifies lactoferrin-induced quiescent circuits in neonatal macrophages
Authors: Eigenschink Michael , Wessely Isabelle , Dijmarescu Marco , Förster-Waldl Elisabeth , Farr Alex , Kiss Herbert , Berger Angelika , Wisgrill Lukas
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Upon birth, a hitherto naïve immune system is confronted with a plethora of microbial antigens due to intestinal bacterial colonization. To prevent excessive inflammation and disruption of the epithelial barrier, physiological mechanisms must promote immune-anergy within the neonatal gut. As high concentrations of human lactoferrin (hLF), a transferrin glycoprotein shown to modulate macrophage function, are frequently encountered in colostrum, its direct interaction with intestinal macrophages may satisfy this physiological need. Thus, the primary objective of this study was to investigate transcriptional changes induced by human lactoferrin in neonatal monocyte-derived macrophages.

Methods

Cord blood-derived monocytes were differentiated with M-CSF in presence or absence of 500 µg/mL hLF for 7 days and afterwards stimulated with 1 ng/mL LPS or left untreated. RNA was then isolated and subjected to microarray analysis.

Results

Differentiation of cord blood-derived monocytes in presence of hLF induced a distinct transcriptional program defined by cell cycle arrest in the G2/M phase, induction of IL-4/IL-13-like signaling, altered extracellular matrix interaction, and enhanced propensity for cell-cell interaction. Moreover, near-complete abrogation of transcriptional changes induced by TLR4 engagement with LPS was observed in hLF-treated samples.

Discussion

The global transition towards an M2-like homeostatic phenotype and the acquisition of quiescence elegantly demonstrate the ontogenetical relevance of hLF in attenuating pro-inflammatory signaling within the developing neonatal intestine. The marked anergy towards proinflammatory stimuli such as LPS further underlines the glycoprotein’s potential therapeutic relevance.
Roles of insect odorant binding proteins in communication and xenobiotic adaptation
Authors: Abendroth James A. , Moural Timothy W. , Wei Hongshuang , Zhu Fang
Published: October 2023

Odorant binding proteins (OBPs) are small water-soluble proteins mainly associated with olfaction, facilitating the transport of odorant molecules to their relevant receptors in the sensillum lymph. While traditionally considered essential for olfaction, recent research has revealed that OBPs are engaged in a diverse range of physiological functions in modulating chemical communication and defense. Over the past 10 years, emerging evidence suggests that OBPs play vital roles in purifying the perireceptor space from unwanted xenobiotics including plant volatiles and pesticides, potentially facilitating xenobiotic adaptation, such as host location, adaptation, and pesticide resistance. This multifunctionality can be attributed, in part, to their structural variability and effectiveness in transporting, sequestering, and concealing numerous hydrophobic molecules. Here, we firstly overviewed the classification and structural properties of OBPs in diverse insect orders. Subsequently, we discussed the myriad of functional roles of insect OBPs in communication and their adaptation to xenobiotics. By synthesizing the current knowledge in this field, our review paper contributes to a comprehensive understanding of the significance of insect OBPs in chemical ecology, xenobiotic adaptation, paving the way for future research in this fascinating area of study.
Differential substitution: a contrastive hierarchy account
Authors: Archibald John
Published: October 2023

In this article, I tackle the question of differential substitution in L2 phonology. A classic example of the phenomenon is learners from different L1s attempting to acquire the L2 English interdental fricative /θ/. Speakers of some languages (e.g., Japanese) tend to pronounce the /θ/ as [s] while speakers of other languages (e.g., Russian) tend to pronounce the /θ/ as [t]). Since both Japanese and Russian have both /s/ and /t/ in their phonemic inventories, it is interesting to ask why one language would choose [s] and the other [t]. What I argue in this article is that it is not a local comparison of two sounds, two features, or two phonemes that will determine why one segment rather than another is substituted. Rather, I argue that we must consider the formal representation of the entire segmental inventory (represented as a contrastive hierarchy) in order to understand why the Japanese pick the [s] but the Russian the [t] as the “best” substitute for the English /θ/. What I will demonstrate is that in the languages that substitute [s], [continuant] is the highest-ranked feature that has scope over the place and voice features in the contrastive hierarchy of phonological features. In the languages that substitute [t], the place and voice features rank above [continuant].
Differential levels of anti-Mycobacterium tuberculosis-specific IgAs in saliva of household contacts with latent tuberculosis infection
Authors: Ruiz-Tagle Cinthya , Naves Rodrigo , García Patricia , Günther Anna , Schneiderhan-Marra Nicole , Balcells María Elvira
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Mucosal immunity is strongly elicited in early stages of many respiratory and enteric infections; however, its role in tuberculosis pathogenesis has been scarcely explored. We aimed to investigate Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) specific IgA levels in saliva in different stages of latent Tuberculosis Infection (TBI).

Methodology

A multiplex bead-based Luminex immunoassay was developed to detect specific IgA against 12 highly immunogenic Mtb antigens. A prospective cohort of household contacts (>14 years) of pulmonary TB cases was established in Santiago, Chile. Contacts were classified as Mtb-infected or not depending on serial interferon-γ release assay results. Saliva samples were collected and tested at baseline and at a 12-week follow-up.

Results

Mtb-specific IgA was detectable at all visits in all participants (n = 168), including the “non-Mtb infected” (n = 64). Significantly higher median levels of IgA were found in the “Mtb infected” compared to the uninfected for anti-lipoarabinomannan (LAM) (110 vs. 84.8 arbitrary units (AU), p < 0.001), anti-PstS1 (117 vs. 83 AU, p < 0.001), anti-Cell Membrane Fraction (CMF) (140 vs. 103 AU, p < 0.001) and anti-Culture Filtrate Proteins (CFP) (median 125 vs. 96 AU, p < 0.001), respectively. Nonetheless, the discriminatory performance of these specific mucosal IgA for TBI diagnosis was low.

Conclusion

Saliva holds Mtb-specific IgA against several antigens with increased levels for anti-LAM, anti-PstS1, anti-CMF and anti-CFP found in household contacts with an established TBI. The role of these mucosal antibodies in TB pathogenesis, and their kinetics in different stages of Mtb infection merits further exploring.