bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of intermittent subchronic MK‐801 administration on dopamine synthesis capacity and responsiveness in the prefrontal cortex
Authors: Shibata Kazuro , Enomoto Kosuke , Tsutsumi Takahiro , Muraoka Hiroyuki , Fuwa Tatsu , Kawano Masahiko , Ishigooka Jun , Inada Ken , Nishimura Katsuji , Oshibuchi Hidehiro
Published: February 2024

Aim

The therapeutic potential of N‐methyl‐D‐aspartate glutamate receptor (NMDAR) antagonists, particularly ketamine, in mood disorders, is linked to their modulation of dopamine dynamics in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). However, conflicting effects of distinct NMDAR antagonists, like ketamine and phencyclidine, on mPFC dopamine levels stem from variances in their receptor affinity profiles. This study investigates the impact of intermittent subchronic administration of an NMDAR antagonist on dopamine synthesis capacity and responsiveness within the mPFC, focusing on Dizocilpine (MK‐801), a highly selective NMDAR antagonist.

Methods

In vivo microdialysis and high‐performance liquid chromatography assessed extracellular dopamine levels in the mPFC following subchronic MK‐801 treatment. Locomotor activity was measured using a computed video tracking system.

Results

Intermittent subchronic MK‐801 administration, followed by a 24‐h withdrawal, preserved both dopamine synthesis capacity and responsiveness to MK‐801 challenge in the mPFC. However, altered locomotor activity was observed, deviating from previous findings indicating impaired dopamine synthesis and responsiveness in the mPFC with twice‐daily subchronic NMDAR antagonist treatment.

Conclusion

These findings offer crucial biochemical insights into the diverse impacts of NMDAR antagonists on dopamine dynamics and the distinct therapeutic mechanisms associated with ketamine in depression treatment. However, further investigation is imperative to pinpoint potential inconsistencies stemming from variances in drug type, dosage, or administration frequency.
A simple phenomenological model for recovery behaviors of amorphous thermoset‐based shape memory polymers via a time‐varying viscosity
Authors: Tian Mingyuan , Yin Deshun , Chen Xuan , Qin Shaopeng
Published: February 2024

Shape memory polymers are a typical class of smart materials with wide potential applications. Mathematically modeling their thermomechanical behaviors with both simplicity and accuracy is challenging. In this work, a time‐varying viscosity model was introduced to investigate amorphous thermoset‐based shape memory polymers, with a special focus on recovery behaviors. This model employs only a varying viscosity to describe both the mechanism of strain storage and release during the shape memory cycle and the modulus‐temperature trend, along with a phenomenological description for the structural transition. Furthermore, the model effectively captures the effect of temperature rates and load conditions on recovery behaviors by tracking the evolution of parameter τ. This parameter shares the same dimension as time and serves as a phenomenological indicator of the chain mobility. Moreover, the parameter τ exhibits similar values among diverse materials at a specific characteristic temperature, providing a simple way to estimate the extent of recovery.

Highlights

Introduced a simple phenomenological model to reproduce recovery behaviors and depict the modulus‐temperature trend.

Both simulation and prediction results exhibit good agreement with tests.

Effects of heating rates and load conditions can be traced by the model.

The key model parameter τ possesses engineering and physical significance.
A novel HDAC6 inhibitor interferes microtubule dynamics and spindle assembly checkpoint and sensitizes cisplatin‐induced apoptosis in castration‐resistant prostate cancer
Authors: Ye Pei‐Chen , Leu Wohn‐Jenn , Yeh Tsung‐Yu , Hsu Yu‐Tung , Lin Yi‐Chin , Wei Zi‐Yuan , Chen Yi‐Chin , Chiang Yi‐Chang , Hsu Jui‐Ling , Chan She‐Hung , Hsu Lih‐Ching , Chern Ji‐Wang , Yu Chao‐Wu , Guh Jih‐Hwa
Published: February 2024

Background

Metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC), the most refractory prostate cancer, inevitably progresses and becomes unresponsive to hormone therapy, revealing a pressing unmet need for this disease. Novel agents targeting HDAC6 and microtubule dynamics can be a potential anti‐CRPC strategy.

Methods

Cell proliferation was examined in CRPC PC‐3 and DU‐145 cells using sulforhodamine B assay and anchorage‐dependent colony formation assay. Flow cytometric analysis of propidium iodide staining was used to determine cell‐cycle progression. Cell‐based tubulin polymerization assay and confocal immunofluorescence microscopic examination determine microtubule assembly/disassembly status. Protein expressions were determined using Western blot analysis.

Results

A total of 82 novel derivatives targeting HDAC6 were designed and synthesized, and Compound 25202 stood out, showing the highest efficacy in blocking HDAC6 (IC50, 3.5 nM in enzyme assay; IC50, 1.0 μM in antiproliferative assay in CRPC cells), superior to tubastatin A (IC50, 5.4 μM in antiproliferative assay). The selectivity and superiority of 25202 were validated by examining the acetylation of both α‐tubulin and histone H3, detecting cell apoptosis and HDACs enzyme activity assessment. Notably, 25202 but not tubastatin A significantly decreased HDAC6 protein expression. 25202 prolonged mitotic arrest through the detection of cyclin B1 upregulation, Cdk1 activation, mitotic phosphoprotein levels, and Bcl‐2 phosphorylation. Compound 25202 did not mimic docetaxel in inducing tubulin polymerization but disrupted microtubule organization. Compound 25202 also increased the phosphorylation of CDC20, BUB1, and BUBR1, indicating the activation of the spindle assembly checkpoint (SAC). Moreover, 25202 profoundly sensitized cisplatin‐induced cell death through impairment of cisplatin‐evoked DNA damage response and DNA repair in both ATR–Chk1 and ATM–Chk2 pathways.

Conclusion

The data suggest that 25202 is a novel selective and potent HDAC6 inhibitor. Compound 25202 blocks HDAC6 activity and interferes microtubule dynamics, leading to SAC activation and mitotic arrest prolongation that eventually cause apoptosis of CRPC cells. Furthermore, 25202 sensitizes cisplatin‐induced cell apoptosis through impeding DNA damage repair pathways.
Quantitative modeling of tumor dynamics and development of drug resistance in non‐small cell lung cancer patients treated with erlotinib
Authors: Yin Anyue , Veerman G. D. Marijn , van Hasselt Johan G. C. , Steendam Christi M. J. , Dubbink Hendrikus Jan , Guchelaar Henk‐Jan , Friberg Lena E. , Dingemans Anne‐Marie C. , Mathijssen Ron H. J. , Moes Dirk Jan A. R.
Published: February 2024

Insight into the development of treatment resistance can support the optimization of anticancer treatments. This study aims to characterize the tumor dynamics and development of drug resistance in patients with non‐small cell lung cancer treated with erlotinib, and investigate the relationship between baseline circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) data and tumor dynamics. Data obtained for the analysis included (1) intensively sampled erlotinib concentrations from 29 patients from two previous pharmacokinetic (PK) studies, and (2) tumor sizes, ctDNA measurements, and sparsely sampled erlotinib concentrations from 18 patients from the START‐TKI study. A two‐compartment population PK model was first developed which well‐described the PK data. The PK model was subsequently applied to investigate the exposure‐tumor dynamics relationship. To characterize the tumor dynamics, models accounting for intra‐tumor heterogeneity and acquired resistance with or without primary resistance were investigated. Eventually, the model assumed acquired resistance only resulted in an adequate fit. Additionally, models with or without exposure‐dependent treatment effect were explored, and no significant exposure‐response relationship for erlotinib was identified within the observed exposure range. Subsequently, the correlation of baseline ctDNA data on EGFR and TP53 variants with tumor dynamics’ parameters was explored. The analysis indicated that higher baseline plasma EGFR mutation levels correlated with increased tumor growth rates, and the inclusion of ctDNA measurements improved model fit. This result suggests that quantitative ctDNA measurements at baseline have the potential to be a predictor of anticancer treatment response. The developed model can potentially be applied to design optimal treatment regimens that better overcome resistance.
Silver Nanowires Cascaded Layered Double Hydroxides Nanocages with Enhanced Directional Electron Transport for Efficient Electrocatalytic Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Fan Jinchen , Ma Jin , Zhu Liuliu , Wang Hui , Hao Weiju , Min Yulin , Bi Qingyuan , Li Guisheng
Published: February 2024

Designing and fabricating highly efficient oxygen evolution reaction (OER) electrocatalytic materials for water splitting is a promising and practical approach to green and sustainable low‐carbon energy systems. Herein, a facile in situ growth self‐template strategy by using ZIF‐67 as a consumable layered double hydroxides (LDHs) template and silver nanowires (AgNWs) as 1D conductive cascaded substrate to controllably synthesize the target AgNWs@CoFe‐LDH composites with unique hollow shell sugar gourd‐like structure and enhanced directional electron transport effect is reported. The AgNWs exhibit the key functions of the close connection of CoFe‐LDH nanocages and the support of the directional electron transport effect in the composite catalyst inducing electrons directionally moving from CoFe‐LDH to AgNWs. Meanwhile, the CoFe‐LDH nanocages with ultrathin nanosheets and hollow structural properties show abundant active sites for electrocatalytic oxygen generation. The versatile AgNWs@CoFe‐LDH catalyst with optimized components, enhanced directional electron transport, and synergistic effect achieves high OER performance with the overpotential of 207 mV and long‐term 50 h stability at 10 mA cm−2 in an alkaline medium. Moreover, in‐depth insights into the microstructure, structure‐activity relationships, identification of key intermediate species, and a proton‐coupled four‐electron OER mechanism based on experimental discovery and theoretical calculation are also demonstrated.
Self‐Promoted Hydroxyl Radical Releasing Magnetic Zn@Fe Particles
Authors: Yi Guangshun , Gao Shujun , Armugam Arunmozhiarasi , Riduan Siti Nurhanna , Teong Siew Ping , Li Xiukai , Wang Jinquan , Chan Shook Pui , Lu Hongfang , Ying Jackie Y. , Zhang Yugen
Published: February 2024

Semiconductor photocatalysts, such as TiO2 and ZnO, have garnered significant attention for their ability to generate hydroxyl radicals, offering various practical applications. However, the reliance on UV light to facilitate electron‐hole separation for hydroxyl radical production poses limitations. In this study, a novel approach is presented utilizing Zn@Fe core/shell particles capable of generating hydroxyl radicals without external energy input. The generation process involves electron donation from Zn to O2, resulting in the formation of radical species .O2−/H2O2, followed by Fe‐catalyzed conversion of H2O2 into hydroxyl radicals through the Fenton reaction. The release of .OH imparts good antimicrobial and antiviral properties to the Zn@Fe particles. Furthermore, the inclusion of Fe confers magnetic properties to the material. This dual functionality holds promise for diverse potential applications for the Zn@Fe particles.
Ultrasound Mediated Polymerization for Cell Delivery, Drug Delivery, and 3D Printing
Authors: Debbi Lior , Machour Majd , Dahis Daniel , Shoyhet Hagit , Shuhmaher Margarita , Potter Ruth , Tabory Yael , Goldfracht Idit , Dennis Itiel , Blechman Tom , Fuchs Theodor , Azhari Haim , Levenberg Shulamit
Published: February 2024

Safe and accurate in situ delivery of biocompatible materials is a fundamental requirement for many biomedical applications. These include sustained and local drug release, implantation of acellular biocompatible scaffolds, and transplantation of cells and engineered tissues for functional restoration of damaged tissues and organs. The common practice today includes highly invasive operations with major risks of surgical complications including adjacent tissue damage, infections, and long healing periods. In this work, a novel non‐invasive delivery method is presented for scaffold, cells, and drug delivery deep into the body to target inner tissues. This technology is based on acousto‐sensitive materials which are polymerized by ultrasound induction through an external transducer in a rapid and local fashion without additional photoinitiators or precursors. The applicability of this technology is demonstrated for viable and functional cell delivery, for drug delivery with sustained release profiles, and for 3D printing. Moreover, the mechanical properties of the delivered scaffold can be tuned to the desired target tissue as well as controlling the drug release profile. This promising technology may shift the paradigm for local and non‐invasive material delivery approach in many clinical applications as well as a new printing method – “acousto‐printing” for 3D printing and in situ bioprinting.
Comprehensive evaluation of privacy policies using the contextual integrity framework
Authors: Ghahremani Shahram , Nguyen Uyen Trang
Published: February 2024

Online privacy policies are often lengthy and difficult to understand. This may lead many users to avoid reading them despite increasing concerns about how their personal information is managed. This article presents a structured approach to evaluate the transparency and comprehensiveness of privacy policies using a comprehensive set of evaluation questions within the contextual integrity (CI) framework. We use these questions to identify policies' responses to key privacy concerns. Applying the CI framework, we analyze the clarity and context of these responses, identifying any vagueness and contextual issues that could impede a user's understanding of the privacy policy. Using the CI analysis, we quantify the quality of policies' responses, thereby enabling users to make informed decisions about online services or products. We apply our methodology to two popular messaging apps, Telegram and WhatsApp, using them as case studies to systematically uncover the strengths and weaknesses of their privacy policies. The findings demonstrate that our proposed methodology can effectively identify transparency issues and assess the comprehensiveness of privacy policies. This suggests that our approach could serve as a practical alternative to subjective evaluations typically conducted by privacy experts.
Surgical stabilization of a distal tibial fracture in a jungle cat (Felis chaus) using orthogonal double plating
Authors: Farzad‐Mohajeri Saeed , Mollaei Zahra , Sari Mohammad Mahdi , Rostami Amir
Published: February 2024

The jungle cat (Felis chaus) is a member of the genus Felis within the family Felidae, native to south‐east Asia, west Asia and north Africa. A 2‐year‐old male jungle cat was referred with a history of lameness of 3 days duration. At the time of presentation, the animal had non‐weight‐bearing lameness of the right hindlimb. Examination identified crepitation and instability in the distal diaphyseal region of the right tibial bone. Radiographs confirmed the presence of fractures in the distal diaphyseal region of the right tibia and fibula. Double plating of the tibia was employed for used fixation. The animal was evaluated 2, 4 and 8 weeks post‐operatively, and the procedure was considered to have been successful with no observed surgical complications.
The unexpected social cost of inguinal hernioplasty procedures derived from the COVID‐19 pandemic: Surgical trend analysis based on an Italian hospital series
Authors: De Luca Alessandro , Gurrado Angela , Prete Francesco Paolo , Pepe Angelo Santo , De Luca Giuseppe Massimiliano , Testini Mario
Published: February 2024

Background

The majority of inguinal hernias are usually paucisymptomatic, so are restored electively. The main purpose of this study is to assess the trends in hernia repair surgery before and during the pandemic period, analyzing an Italian hospital series of 390 patients, in an attempt to quantify the negative impact regarding social costs derived from the Covid‐19 outbreak. Moreover, we want to focus on the concept of apparently minor pathology as hernioplasty which could represent a life‐threatening condition for patients.

Methods

The study population consisted of all patients operated for inguinal hernia in a General Surgery Unit from 2019 to 2021, divided into a pre‐pandemic and a pandemic period.

Results

The Covid‐19 pandemic increased urgent operations in a complicated setting. A statistically significant difference was found regarding the trend of hospitalization length as well as a strong positive correlation between the severity of hernia and the hospitalization length.

Conclusions

During the pandemic, it has been registered a mishandling of inguinal hernias to the detriment of both the healthcare system and patients, due to multifactorial issues and, in particular, to the restrictions imposed by the regional government that erroneously declassed hernia pathology as a minor problem for public health. We do believe that patients, after diagnosis of inguinal hernia, should learn the Taxis maneuver for its feasibility and ease of execution, in order to reduce access to emergencies in many cases and likewise to better pain and discomfort perceived, even in the event of unexpected worldwide healthcare scenario.
Three results on the energy conservation for the 3D Euler equations
Authors: Berselli Luigi C. , Georgiadis Stefanos
Published: February 2024

We consider the 3D Euler equations for incompressible homogeneous fluids and we study the problem of energy conservation for weak solutions in the space-periodic case. First, we prove the energy conservation for a full scale of Besov spaces, by extending some classical results to a wider range of exponents. Next, we consider the energy conservation in the case of conditions on the gradient, recovering some results which were known, up to now, only for the Navier–Stokes equations and for weak solutions of the Leray-Hopf type. Finally, we make some remarks on the Onsager singularity problem, identifying conditions which allow to pass to the limit from solutions of the Navier–Stokes equations to solution of the Euler ones, producing weak solutions which are energy conserving.
Disequilibrium reaction pathways and the twin-mediated growth of tabular forsterite during contact metamorphism of quartz-bearing dolomite
Authors: Acosta Marisa D. , Baumgartner Lukas P.
Published: February 2024

The forsterite zone of the Ubehebe Peak contact aureole, Death Valley, USA consists of an outer zone of tabular/jack-straw olivine and an inner zone of subequant polyhedral olivine. Subequant polyhedral forsterite crystals close to the intrusion are small and tabular forsterite crystals farther away are larger. To investigate the formation of the two morphologies, forsterite growth experiments were conducted in cold seal pressure vessels in the CaO-MgO-SiO2-CO2-H2O system. Forsterite precipitation follows a disequilibrium reaction pathway made of three reactions: [1] tabular forsterite growth from quartz and dolomite, [2] forsterite growth from tremolite dissolution, and [3] subequant polyhedral forsterite growth from tabular forsterite dissolution. Initially, quartz reacts with dolomite to simultaneously form twinned tabular forsterite and tremolite. As quartz reacts away, forsterite precipitation continues at a slower rate through tremolite dissolution. A second generation of forsterite then precipitates on top of some tabular forsterite but has different habit and tracht. Once all the tremolite reacts away, subequant polyhedral forsterite precipitation continues at an even slower rate through dissolution of tabular forsterite. The tabular morphology of jack-straw olivine is a consequence of twin-mediated unidirectional growth; the abundance of twins being due to rapid nucleation and growth at initially high reaction affinities. Twin junctions are preferential nucleation centers for steps, so faceted growth is enhanced on {100}. This phenomenon is the twin plane re-entrant effect. Subequant polyhedral forsterite in the Ubehebe Peak inner contact aureole recrystallized and ripened from tabular forsterite. In the outer contact aureole, conditions were not conducive to recrystallization and ripening so well-developed tabular forsterite persists.
The repeated bout effect of traditional resistance training on cycling efficiency and performance
Authors: Devantier-Thomas Baily , Deakin Glen B. , Crowther Fiona , Schumann Moritz , Doma Kenji
Published: February 2024

Purpose

This study examined the repeated bout effect of two resistance training bouts on cycling efficiency and performance.

Methods

Ten male resistance-untrained cyclists (age 38 ± 13 years; height 180.4 ± 7.0 cm; weight 80.1 ± 10.1; kg; VO2max 51.0 ± 7.6 ml.kg−1.min−1) undertook two resistance training bouts at six-repetition maximum. Blood creatine kinase (CK), delayed-onset of muscle soreness (DOMS), counter-movement jump (CMJ), squat jump (SJ), submaximal cycling and time-trial performance were examined prior to (Tbase), 24 (T24) and 48 (T48) h post each resistance training bout.

Results

There were significantly lower values for DOMS (p = 0.027) after Bout 2 than Bout 1. No differences were found between bouts for CK, CMJ, SJ and submaximal cycling performance. However, jump height (CMJ and SJ) submaximal cycling measures (ventilation and perceived exertion) were impaired at T24 and T48 compared to Tbase (p < 0.05). Net efficiency during submaximal cycling improved at Bout 2 (23.8 ± 1.2) than Bout 1 (24.3 ± 1.0%). There were no changes in cycling time-trial performance, although segmental differences in cadence were observed between bouts and time (i.e. Tbase vs T24 vs T48; p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Cyclists improved their cycling efficiency from Bout 1 to Bout 2 possibly due to the repeated bout effect. However, cyclists maintained their cycling completion times during exercise-induced muscle damage (EIMD) in both resistance training bouts, possibly by altering their cycling strategies. Thus, cyclists should consider EIMD symptomatology after resistance training bouts, particularly for cycling-specific technical sessions, regardless of the repeated bout effect.
Learning nonlinear constitutive models in finite strain electromechanics with Gaussian process predictors
Authors: Pérez-Escolar A. , Martínez-Frutos J. , Ortigosa R. , Ellmer N. , Gil A. J.
Published: February 2024

This paper introduces a metamodelling technique that employs gradient-enhanced Gaussian process regression (GPR) to emulate diverse internal energy densities based on the deformation gradient tensor $$\varvec{F}$$

F

and electric displacement field $$\varvec{D}_0$$

D

0

. The approach integrates principal invariants as inputs for the surrogate internal energy density, enforcing physical constraints like material frame indifference and symmetry. This technique enables accurate interpolation of energy and its derivatives, including the first Piola-Kirchhoff stress tensor and material electric field. The method ensures stress and electric field-free conditions at the origin, which is challenging with regression-based methods like neural networks. The paper highlights that using invariants of the dual potential of internal energy density, i.e., the free energy density dependent on the material electric field $$\varvec{E}_0$$

E

0

, is inappropriate. The saddle point nature of the latter contrasts with the convexity of the internal energy density, creating challenges for GPR or Gradient Enhanced GPR models using invariants of $$\varvec{F}$$

F

and $$\varvec{E}_0$$

E

0

(free energy-based GPR), compared to those involving $$\varvec{F}$$

F

and $$\varvec{D}_0$$

D

0

(internal energy-based GPR). Numerical examples within a 3D Finite Element framework assess surrogate model accuracy across challenging scenarios, comparing displacement and stress fields with ground-truth analytical models. Cases include extreme twisting and electrically induced wrinkles, demonstrating practical applicability and robustness of the proposed approach.
Costs of revision operations for distal junctional kyphosis following thoracic posterior spinal fusion for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis
Authors: Theologis Alekos A. , Wu Hao-Hua , Oeding Jacob F. , Diab Mohammad
Published: February 2024

Purpose

To assess direct costs and risks associated with revision operations for distal junctional kyphosis/failure (DJK) following thoracic posterior spinal instrumented fusions (TPSF) for adolescent idiopathic scoliosis (AIS).

Methods

Children who underwent TPSF for AIS by a single surgeon (2014–2020) were reviewed. Inclusion criteria were minimum follow-up of 2 years, thoracolumbar posterior instrumented fusion with a lower instrumented vertebra (LIV) cranial to L2. Patients who developed DJK requiring revision operations were identified and compared with those who did not develop DJK.

Results

Seventy-nine children were included for analysis. Of these, 6.3% developed DJK. Average time to revision was 20.8 ± 16.2 months. Comparing index operations, children who developed DJK had significantly greater BMIs, significantly lower thoracic kyphosis postoperatively, greater post-operative lumbar Cobb angles, and significantly more LIVs cranial to the sagittal stable vertebrae (SSV), despite having statistically similar pre-operative coronal and sagittal alignment parameters and operative details compared with non-DJK patients. Revision operations for DJK, when compared with index operations, involved significantly fewer levels, longer operative times, greater blood loss, and longer hospital lengths of stay. These factors resulted in significantly greater direct costs for revision operations for DJK ($76,883 v. $46,595; p < 0.01).

Conclusions

In this single-center experience, risk factors for development of DJK were greater BMI, lower post-operative thoracic kyphosis, and LIV cranial to SSV. As revision operations for DJK were significantly more costly than index operations, all efforts should be aimed at strategies to prevent DJK in the AIS population.
A comparative study of LSTM-ED architectures in forecasting day-ahead solar photovoltaic energy using Weather Data
Authors: Ekinci Ekin
Published: February 2024

Solar photovoltaic (PV) energy, with its clean, local, and renewable features, is an effective complement to traditional energy sources today. However, the photovoltaic power system is highly weather-dependent and therefore has unstable and intermittent characteristics. Despite the negative impact of these features on solar sources, the increase in worldwide installed PV capacity has made solar energy prediction an important research topic. This study compares three encoder-decoder (ED) networks for day-ahead solar PV energy prediction: Long Short-Term Memory ED (LSTM-ED), Convolutional LSTM ED (Conv-LSTM-ED), and Convolutional Neural Network and LSTM ED (CNN-LSTM-ED). The models are tested using 1741-day-long datasets from 26 PV panels in Istanbul, Turkey, considering both power and energy output of the panels and meteorological features. The results show that the Conv-LSTM-ED with 50 iterations is the most successful model, achieving an average prediction score of up to 0.88 over R-square (R2). Evaluation of the iteration counts’ effect reveals that the Conv-LSTM-ED with 50 iterations also yields the lowest Root Mean Squared Error (RMSE) and Mean Absolute Error (MAE) values, confirming its success. In addition, the fitness and effectiveness of the models are evaluated, with the Conv-LSTM-ED achieving the lowest Akaike Information Criterion (AIC) and Bayesian Information Criterion (BIC) values for each iteration. The findings of this work can help researchers build the best data-driven methods for forecasting PV solar energy based on PV features and meteorological features.
DKC1 aggravates gastric cancer cell migration and invasion through up-regulating the expression of TNFAIP6
Authors: Chen Huihua , Wu Yibo , Jiang Yancheng , Chen Zixuan , Zheng Tingjin
Published: February 2024

Gastric cancer (GC) is one hackneyed malignancy tumor accompanied by high death rate. DKC1 has been discovered to serve as a facilitator in several cancers. Additionally, it was discovered from one study that DKC1 displayed higher expression in GC tissues than in the normal tissues. Nevertheless, its role and regulatory mechanism in GC is yet to be illustrated. In this study, it was proved that DKC1 expression was upregulated in GC tissues through GEPIA and UALCAN databases. Moreover, we discovered that DKC1 exhibited higher expression in GC cells. Functional experiments testified that DKC1 accelerated cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in GC. Further investigation disclosed that the weakened cell proliferation, migration, and invasion stimulated by DKC1 knockdown can be reversed after TNFAIP6 overexpression. Lastly, through in vivo experiments, it was demonstrated that DKC1 strengthened tumor growth. In conclusion, our work uncovered that DKC1 aggravated GC cell migration and invasion through upregulating the expression of TNFAIP6. This discovery might highlight the function of DKC1 in GC treatment.
Unlabeled learning algorithms and operations: overview and future trends in defense sector
Authors: e Oliveira Eduardo , Rodrigues Marco , Pereira João Paulo , Lopes António M. , Mestric Ivana Ilic , Bjelogrlic Sandro
Published: February 2024

In the defense sector, artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) have been used to analyse and decipher massive volumes of data, namely for target recognition, surveillance, threat detection and cybersecurity, autonomous vehicles and drones guidance, and language translation. However, there are key points that have been identified as barriers or challenges, especially related to data curation. For this reason, and also due to the need for quick response, the defense sector is looking for AI technologies capable of successfully processing and extracting results from huge amounts of unlabelled or very poorly labelled data. This paper presents an in-depth review of AI/ML algorithms for unsupervised or poorly supervised data, and machine learning operations (MLOps) techniques that are suitable for the defense industry. The algorithms are divided according to their nature, meaning that they either focus on techniques, or on applications. Techniques can belong to the supervision spectrum, or focus on explainability. Applications are either focused on text processing or computer vision. MLOps techniques, tools and practices are then discussed, revealing approaches and reporting experiences with the objective of declaring how to make the operationalization of ML integrated systems more efficient. Despite many contributions from several researchers and industry, further efforts are required to construct substantially robust and reliable models and supporting infrastructures for AI systems, which are reliable and suitable for the defense sector. This review brings up-to-date information regarding AI algorithms and MLOps that will be helpful for future research in the field.
Fashion intelligence in the Metaverse: promise and future prospects
Authors: Mu Xiangyu , Zhang Haijun , Shi Jianyang , Hou Jie , Ma Jianghong , Yang Yimin
Published: February 2024

With the development of artificial intelligence (AI) and the constraints on offline activities imposed due to the sudden outbreak of the COVID epidemic, the Metaverse has recently attracted significant research attention from both academia and industrial practitioners. Fashion, as an expression of a consumer’s aesthetics and personality, has enormous economic potential in both the real world and the Metaverse. In this research, we provide a comprehensive survey of two of the most important components of fashion in the Metaverse: virtual digital humans, and tasks related to fashion items. We survey state-of-the-art articles from 2007 to the present and provide a new taxonomy of extant research topics based on these articles. We also highlight the applications of these topics in the Metaverse from the perspectives of designers and consumers. Finally, we describe possible scenes involving fashion in the Metaverse. The current challenges and open issues related to the fashion industry in the Metaverse are also discussed in order to provide guidance for fashion practitioners, and to shed some light on the future development of fashion AI in the Metaverse.
Reaction-diffusion equations on metric graphs with edge noise
Authors: Sikolya E.
Published: February 2024

We investigate stochastic reaction-diffusion equations on finite metric graphs. On each edge in the graph a multiplicative cylindrical Gaussian noise driven reaction-diffusion equation is given. The vertex conditions are the standard continuity and generalized, non-local Neumann-Kirchhoff-type law in each vertex. The reaction term on each edge is assumed to be an odd degree polynomial, not necessarily of the same degree on each edge, with possibly stochastic coefficients and negative leading term. The model is a generalization of the problem in
[14] where polynomials with much more restrictive assumptions are considered and no first order differential operator is involved. We utilize the semigroup approach from
[15] to obtain existence and uniqueness of solutions with sample paths in the space of continuous functions on the graph.
Utilization of Silybum marianum extract as a high-performance natural antioxidant for polyethylene
Authors: Pınar Ozlem , Koc Fatma Ebru , Alanalp Mine Begum , Sivri Nurcan , Ezdesir Ayhan , Durmus Ali
Published: February 2024

In this study, Silybum marianum extract powder was introduced into low density polyethylene (LDPE) as a primary polyphenolic antioxidant via melt blending method. Two synthetic and commercial polyphenol- and phosphite-based antioxidants (Irganox® 1010 and Irgafos® 168) were also used for comparing the antioxidant efficiency and performance of Silybum marianum extract with commercial ones. A systematic formulation study was achieved by varying the amount of Silybum marianum extract in the range of 0.1–1.0 wt% and the primary:secondary antioxidant ratio. Antioxidant efficiency of Silybum marianum extract was quantified with the oxygen induction time (OIT) and oxidation onset temperature values determined by thermal analysis in a differential scanning calorimeter depending on the compositional variations. Some physical properties of specimens such as transparency, color coordinates, contact angle, and degree of crystallinity values were also examined. It was found that 0.2 wt% of Silybum marianum extract and 0.2 wt% of Irgafos® 168 loaded sample showed an OIT value of 22 min. at 210 °C that could be regarded as a very successful commercial potential. Increasing amount of Silybum marianum extract and Irgafos® 168 significantly improved the oxidation stability of polyethylene under isothermal and non-isothermal conditions. It was also found that introducing Silybum marianum extract, even the loading content of 1.0 wt%, did not alter the transparency and physical properties of LDPE. It has been concluded that Silybum marianum extract can be successfully used as a natural antioxidant in polyolefins and these samples could be used in packaging film applications.

Graphical Abstract
Determination of meaningful block sizes for rockfall modelling
Authors: Illeditsch Mariella , Preh Alexander
Published: February 2024

The determination of the so-called design block is one of the central elements of the Austrian guideline for rockfall protection ONR 24810. It is specified as a certain percentile (P95–P98, depending on the event frequency) of a recorded block size distribution. Block size distributions may be determined from the detachment area (in situ block size distribution) and/or from the deposition area (rockfall block size distribution). Deposition areas, if present, are generally accessible and measurable without technical aids. However, most measuring methods are subjective, uncertain, not verifiable, or inaccurate. Also, rockfall blocks are often fragmented due to the preceding fall process. The in situ block size distribution is (also) required for meaningful rockfall modelling. The statistical method seems to be the most efficient and cost-effective method to determine in situ block size distributions with many blocks within the whole range of block sizes. In the current literature, joint properties are often described by the lognormal and exponential distribution functions. Today, we can model synthetic rock masses on the basis of discrete fracture networks. They statistically describe the geometric properties of the joint sets. This way, we can carry out exact rock mass block surveys and determine in situ block size distributions. We wanted to know whether the in situ block size distributions derived from the synthetic rock mass models can be described by probability distribution functions, and if so, how well. We fitted various distribution functions to three determined in situ block size distributions of different lithologies. We compared their correlations using the Kolmogorov–Smirnov test and the mean-squared error method. We show that the generalized exponential distribution function best describes the in situ block size distributions across various lithologies compared to 78 other distribution functions. This could lead to more certain, accurate, verifiable, holistic, and objective results. Further investigations are required.
The Effects of Conventional and Unconventional Monetary Policy Shocks on US REITs Moments: Evidence from VARs with Functional Shocks
Authors: Wang Shixuan , Gupta Rangan , Bonato Matteo , Çepni Oğuzhan
Published: February 2024

We use a vector autoregressive model with functional shocks, capturing the shift of the entire term structure of interest rates on monetary policy announcement dates, to empirically evaluate the effects of conventional and unconventional monetary policy decisions on the Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) markets of the United States (US). Using 5-min interval intraday data, we analyze not only the impact on REITs returns, but also its realized variance (RV), realized jumps (RJ), realized skewness (RSK), and realized kurtosis (RKU) over the daily period of September 2008 to June 2021. While the effects of conventional monetary policy shocks on the moments of REITs returns tend to conform with economic theories, the same is not necessarily the case with unconventional monetary policy shocks. In addition, though monetary policy shocks have the most persistent and strongest effects on RJ, the extreme behaviour of the REITs market is also observed through RSK and RKU. Moreover, when we look into 10 REITs sectors, there is indeed heterogeneity in terms of the strength of the effect, but not so much in terms of the sign of responses of the various moments compared to the overall market. Our results have important implications for REITs market participants, given its exponential growth as an asset class.
Comprehensive analysis of energy efficiency and performance of ARM and RISC-V SoCs
Authors: Suárez Daniel , Almeida Francisco , Blanco Vicente
Published: February 2024

Over the past few years, ARM has been the dominant player in embedded systems and System-on-Chips (SoCs). With the emergence of hardware platforms based on the RISC-V architecture, a practical comparison focusing on their energy efficiency and performance is needed. In this study, our goal is to comprehensively evaluate the energy efficiency and performance of ARM and RISC-V SoCs in three different systems. We will conduct benchmark tests to measure power consumption and overall system performance. The results of our study are valuable to developers and researchers looking for the most appropriate hardware platform for energy-efficient computing applications. Our observations suggest that RISC-V Instruction Set Architecture (ISA) implementations may demonstrate lower average power consumption than ARM, but this does not automatically imply a superior performance per watt ratio for RISC-V. The primary focus of the study is to evaluate and compare these ISA implementations, aiming to identify potential areas for enhancing their energy efficiency. Furthermore, to ensure the practical applicability of our findings, we will use the Computational Fluid Dynamics software OpenFOAM. This step serves to validate the relevance of our results in real-world scenarios. It allows us to fine-tune execution parameters based on the insights gained from our initial study. By doing so, we aim not only to provide meaningful conclusions but also to investigate the transferability of our results to practical applications. Our analysis will also scrutinize the capabilities of these SoCs when handling nonsynthetic software workloads, thereby broadening the scope of our evaluation.
Trends in the surgical management of proximal humerus fractures in Ireland from 2009 to 2022: An increasing usage of reverse shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: O’Driscoll Conor S. , Vukanic Danilo , Daly Tiarnán G. , Molony Diarmuid C. , Jemelik Petr , Pomeroy Eoghan , O’Briain David E. , Cleary May S.
Published: February 2024

Background

Proximal humeral fractures are a common injury accounting for a significant workload across orthopaedic departments. Though often managed non-operatively, surgical management is indicated for a proportion of patients.

Aims

The aim of this study is to examine the trends in the management of proximal humeral fractures within Ireland over the past 13 years.

Methods

A retrospective review of Irish Hospital In-Patient Enquiry (HIPE) data was performed between January 2009 and December 2022. Information regarding demographics including age and gender, along with procedure type were collated after patients with proximal humerus fractures, were identified using relevant ICD 10 codes.

Results

Demographic details remained stable with females and those within the 55–69 year age bracket accounting for the highest proportion of patients. The mean annual number of procedures performed across the study period was 365 (273–508), with an increase from 288 cases in 2009 to 441 in 2022. Open reduction and internal fixation were the most common procedures accounting for 76.4% of cases. There has been a rising usage of total shoulder arthroplasty for fixation with an increase from < 5 cases in 2016 to 84 in 2022. A decrease in the usage of hemiarthroplasty and closed reduction internal fixation was also observed.

Conclusions

There has been an increasing volume of operatively managed proximal humeral fractures in Ireland, which sustained despite the 2015 publication of the highly publicised PROPHER trial. The increasing utilisation of total shoulder arthroplasty in acute trauma management is notable and necessitates appropriate training for trauma theatre personnel.
Effects of Zinc Compounds on the Enzymatic Activities of Lysozyme and Peroxidase and Their Antifungal Activities
Authors: Kim Yongdae , Chang Ji-Youn , Kim Yoon-Young , Lee Jae Wook , Kho Hong-Seop
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to investigate the effects of zinc compounds on the enzymatic activities of lysozyme, peroxidase, and the glucose oxidase–mediated peroxidase (GO-PO) system and their antifungal activities. Four different zinc compounds (zinc chloride, gluconate, lactate, and sulfate) were incubated with hen egg-white lysozyme (HEWL), bovine lactoperoxidase (bLPO), the GO-PO system, and human unstimulated whole saliva in solution and on a hydroxyapatite surface. Enzymatic activities of lysozyme, peroxidase, and the GO-PO system were measured through the hydrolysis of Micrococcus lysodeikticus, oxidation of fluorogenic 2′,7′-dichlorofluorescin, and glucose assay, respectively. Interactions between zinc and enzymes were analyzed by surface plasmon resonance (SPR). The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and candidacidal activities of zinc compounds were examined against three Candida albicans strains. Zinc gluconate and sulfate significantly increased the enzymatic activities of salivary lysozyme in the solution assay and of HEWL and salivary lysozyme on the hydroxyapatite surface. However, all examined zinc compounds significantly decreased the enzymatic activities of bLPO and salivary peroxidase in solution and on the surface. SPR analyses revealed binding of zinc to lysozyme and peroxidase, with affinity differing according to the zinc compounds. The MIC of zinc compounds against C. albicans was 1.0–2.4 mM. Candidacidal activities were 17.7–38.8% and 23.7–47.0% at 1.0 and 10 mM concentrations, respectively. In conclusion, zinc compounds enhanced lysozyme activity but inhibited peroxidase activity. Zinc compounds exhibited concentration-dependent candidacidal activity against C. albicans. Zinc compounds are potential therapeutic agents for oral health, especially for geriatric patients.
A Bayesian sampling optimisation strategy for finite element model updating
Authors: Raviolo Davide , Civera Marco , Zanotti Fragonara Luca
Published: February 2024

Model Updating (MU) aims to estimate the unknown properties of a physical system of interest from experimental observations. In Finite Element (FE) models, these unknowns are the elements’ parameters. Typically, besides model calibration purposes, MU and FEMU procedures are employed for the Non-Destructive Evaluation (NDE) and damage assessment of structures. In this framework, damage can be located and quantified by updating the parameters related to stiffness. However, these procedures require the minimisation of a cost function, defined according to the difference between the model and the experimental data. Sophisticated FE models can generate expensive and non-convex cost functions, which minimization is a non-trivial task. To deal with this challenging optimization problem, this work makes use of a Bayesian sampling optimisation technique. This approach consists of generating a statistical surrogate model of the underlying cost function (in this case, a Gaussian Process is used) and applying an acquisition function that drives the intelligent selection of the next sampling point, considering both exploitation and exploration needs. This results in a very efficient yet very powerful optimization technique, necessitating of minimal sampling volume. The performance of this proposed scheme is then compared to three well-established global optimisation algorithms. This investigation is performed on numerical and experimental case studies based on the famous Mirandola bell tower.
Corporate social responsibility and total factor productivity: the case of European mining industry
Authors: Yousefian Mohammad , Bascompta Marc , Sanmiquel Lluís , Vintró Carla , Sidki-Rius Nor
Published: February 2024

The aim of this research is to investigate the effect of corporate social responsibility (CSR) on total factor productivity (TFP) in the European mining industry, considering micro- and macroeconomic indicators of the relationship between CSR and TFP. Employing data from 40 European mining companies from content analysis, CSR Hub, and the World Bank between 2018 and 2021, this paper utilizes a combination of Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) and panel regression techniques to test the research hypotheses. The findings suggest that the TFP of European mining firms is positively affected by CSR initiatives implemented by the companies. Also, the empirical results depict that the CSR-TFP relationship is mainly established on institutional criteria. The results also indicate that CSR-related factors, namely, transparency and reporting, training, health and safety, and resource management, are the impacting indicators. The study broadens the horizons of this line of research and can be beneficial to CEOs, managers, experts, policymakers, decision-makers, and economists in the field of mining who are willing to promote responsible and sustainable mining.