bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gold Fluorescence Nanoparticles for Enhanced SERS Detection in Biomedical Sensor Applications: Current Trends and Future Directions
Authors: Kalashgrani Masoomeh Yari , Mousavi Seyyed Mojtaba , Akmal Muhammad Hussnain , Gholami Ahmad , Omidifar Navid , Chiang Wei‐Hung , Althomali Raed H. , Lai Chin Wei , Rahman Mohammed M.
Published: February 2024

Nanotechnology has emerged as a pivotal tool in biomedical research, particularly in developing advanced sensing platforms for disease diagnosis and therapeutic monitoring. Since gold nanoparticles are biocompatible and have special optical characteristics, they are excellent choices for surface‐enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) sensing devices. Integrating fluorescence characteristics further enhances their utility in real‐time imaging and tracking within biological systems. The synergistic combination of SERS and fluorescence enables sensitive and selective detection of biomolecules at trace levels, providing a versatile platform for early cancer diagnosis and drug monitoring. In cancer detection, AuNPs facilitate the specific targeting of cancer biomarkers, allowing for early‐stage diagnosis and personalized treatment strategies. The enhanced sensitivity of SERS, coupled with the tunable fluorescence properties of AuNPs, offers a powerful tool for the identification of cancer cells and their microenvironment. This dual‐mode detection not only improves diagnostic accuracy but also enables the monitoring of treatment response and disease progression. In drug detection, integrating AuNPs with SERS provides a robust platform for identifying and quantifying pharmaceutical compounds. The unique spectral fingerprints obtained through SERS enable the discrimination of drug molecules even in complex biological matrices. Furthermore, the fluorescence property of AuNPs makes it easier to track medication distribution in real‐time, maximizing therapeutic effectiveness and reducing adverse effects. Furthermore, the review explores the role of gold fluorescence nanoparticles in photodynamic therapy (PDT). By using the complementary effects of targeted drug release and light‐induced cytotoxicity, SERS‐guided drug delivery and photodynamic therapy (PDT) can increase the effectiveness of treatment against cancer cells. In conclusion, the utilization of gold fluorescence nanoparticles in conjunction with SERS holds tremendous potential for revolutionizing cancer detection, drug analysis, and photodynamic therapy. The dual‐mode capabilities of these nanomaterials provide a multifaceted approach to address the challenges in early diagnosis, treatment monitoring, and personalized medicine, thereby advancing the landscape of biomedical applications.
Technological barriers to creating regional resilience in digital platform‐based firms: Compound of performance sensitivity analysis and BIRCH algorithm
Authors: Salamzadeh Aidin , Dana Leo‐Paul , Ebrahimi Pejman , Hadizadeh Morteza , Mortazavi Samira
Published: February 2024

Entrepreneurial ventures face various problems contributing to the regional resilience of their districts. Among such firms are digital platform‐based businesses that could have exponential impacts—indeed, if they succeed in overcoming the barriers. Thus, this study aims to identify the major technological barriers to creating regional resilience in Iran's innovation districts. This study uses the analytical hierarchy process method and an unsupervised machine learning algorithm, as well as the Delphi technique. Online panel surveys are conducted to collect data from experts in the field of online social platforms. The findings show that digital literacy barriers and cultural barriers are the criteria with the uppermost and lowermost importance. Performance sensitivity analysis illustrates that considering the C1 and C4 criteria, the Digikala platform is more resistant to technological barriers compared to other platforms. Furthermore, based on C2 and C3 criteria, it can be stated that the Snapp platform reveals better resistance than the other platforms. The importance‐performance matrix also shows that all platforms need more attention in terms of performance. Besides, the results of the BIRCH analysis show that the present model's accuracy is 88%. Meanwhile, outputs show that experts are divided into four groups or four different thoughts.
LINC01572 promotes triple‐negative breast cancer progression through EIF4A3‐mediated β‐catenin mRNA nuclear exportation
Authors: Zheng Bowen , Zhou Baian , Ye Danrong , Wang Yuying , Zheng Wenfang , Wang Xuehui , Liu Diya , Qian Fengyuan , Zhou Xiqian , Yan Tao , Li Yating , Fang Lin
Published: February 2024

Long noncoding RNAs have been reported to be involved in the development of breast cancer. LINC01572 was previously reported to promote the development of various tumors. However, the potential biological function of LINC01572 in breast cancer remains largely unknown. R language was used to perform bioinformatic analysis of The Cancer Genome Atlas data. The expression level of RNAs was examined by RT‐qPCR. The effect of knocking down or overexpression LINC01572 in triple‐negative breast cancer (TNBC) cell lines was evaluated by detecting cell proliferation, migrant action. RNA immunoprecipitation assay and RNA pull‐down assay were performed to explore the regulatory relationship between LINC01572, EIF4A3, and β‐catenin. Bioinformatics analysis identifies LINC01572 as an oncogene of breast cancer. LINC01572 is over‐expressed in TNBC tissues and cell lines, correlated with poor clinical prognosis in BC patients. Cell function studies confirmed that LINC01572 facilitated the proliferation and migration of TNBC cells in both vivo and vitro. Mechanistically, β‐catenin mRNA and EIF4A3 combine spatially to form a complex, LINC01572 helps transport this complex from the nucleus to the cytoplasm, thereby facilitating the translation of β‐catenin. Our findings confirm that LINC01572 acts as a tumor promoter and may act as a biomarker in TNBC. In addition, novel molecular regulatory relationships involving LINC01572/EIF4A3/β‐catenin are critical to the development of TNBC, which led to a new understanding of the mechanisms of TNBC progression and shows a new target for precision treatment for TNBC.
How to achieve good catheter care
Authors: Gaddah Mariam , Moore Katie , Aljamal Sa'id
Published: February 2024

Urinary catheterisation is a common procedure, but it puts patients at risk of infection and associated morbidity and mortality. Improving catheter care, ensuring timely review and discontinuing unnecessary catheterisation, as well as effective monitoring, could change that.
Students as Partners: Using an Equity‐Oriented Critical Assessment Practices (CAPS) Approach in Reading to Empower Students and Inform Instruction
Authors: Forzani Elena E. , Dobbs Christina , Leider Christine , Malik Emily , Gragg Melanie , Greszczuk Clara , Jesberger Courtney
Published: February 2024

This article offers a framework for more equitable classroom reading assessment known as a Critical Assessment Practices (CAPS) approach. CAPS includes a set of four principles that teachers can use to partner with, and to empower, students to support more equitable and informative classroom‐based reading assessment. Teachers can apply the CAPS approach to examine and adjust existing classroom reading assessment to make it more equitable and productive for students. The authors first describe a CAPS approach, then outline five stages teachers can use as they partner with students throughout assessment. Finally, the authors offer an example of how one first grade teacher applied a CAPS approach to adjust her existing assessment.
Identification of solar halo terms in observations recorded in historical Korean documents
Authors: Hyun Jae Yeon , Mihn Byeong‐Hee , Lee Ki‐Won , Kim Sang Hyuk , Bahk Uhn Mee
Published: February 2024

We investigate solar halo terms in observations recorded in the Crown Prince Sohyeon’s Donggung‐Ilgi (Seventeenth century) and identify their equivalent terminologies in modern atmospheric optics. We refer to related historical Korean and Chinese materials (e.g. Pungun‐Gi, Observation Log for Wind and Clouds, for 6 December 1748), analyse the distributions of each term according to the sun elevation and consult modern studies on halo simulations. Then, we compare our findings with the results of previous works. This study will contribute to the understanding of halo events recorded in historical East Asian documents.
Das Unterrichtsprojekt
Authors: Barton Daniel
Published: February 2024

In diesem Kapitel wird das Unterrichtsvorhaben, welches in dieser Studie untersucht wird, vorgestellt. Das geplante Lernarrangement wird in Form eines Projekts im Fach Mathematik in der 9. Jahrgangsstufe am Gymnasium umgesetzt und beinhaltet den übergeordneten Arbeitsauftrag der Produktion eines Erklärvideos in Gruppen zum Thema Raumgeometrie bzw. geometrische Körper der Sekundarstufe I.
Empirische Studie
Authors: Barton Daniel
Published: February 2024

Mit der quasi-experimentellen Studie soll das beschriebene Unterrichtsprojekt wissenschaftlich begleitet und dessen Wirkung auf emotionale und motivationale Parameter sowie die Entwicklung der Mathematikleistung bei den ProjektteilnehmerInnen überprüft werden. In diesem Kapitel werden dazu zunächst die Forschungsfragen und entsprechende Hypothesen, welche sich aus den theoretischen Ausführungen der vorherigen Kapitel ableiten lassen, herausgestellt. Die umfassende empirische Begleitung des Projekts wird mithilfe von verschiedenen Datenerhebungsinstrumenten durchgeführt, welche anschließend beschrieben werden. Danach wird im Forschungsdesign der Aufbau der empirischen Studie erläutert. Darauf folgen die Beschreibung der Probandengruppe sowie der Auswertungsmethoden und abschließend werden die Ergebnisse der empirischen Erhebung dargestellt.
Bifidobacterial GH146 β-l-arabinofuranosidase for the removal of β1,3-l-arabinofuranosides on plant glycans
Authors: Fujita Kiyotaka , Tsunomachi Hanako , Lixia Pan , Maruyama Shun , Miyake Masayuki , Dakeshita Aimi , Kitahara Kanefumi , Tanaka Katsunori , Ito Yukishige , Ishiwata Akihiro , Fushinobu Shinya
Published: February 2024

l-Arabinofuranosides with β-linkages are present in several plant molecules, such as arabinogalactan proteins (AGPs), extensin, arabinan, and rhamnogalacturonan-II. We previously characterized a β-l-arabinofuranosidase from Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum JCM 1217, Bll1HypBA1, which was found to belong to the glycoside hydrolase (GH) family 127. This strain encodes two GH127 genes and two GH146 genes. In the present study, we characterized a GH146 β-l-arabinofuranosidase, Bll3HypBA1 (BLLJ_1848), which was found to constitute a gene cluster with AGP-degrading enzymes. This recombinant enzyme degraded AGPs and arabinan, which contain Araf-β1,3-Araf structures. In addition, the recombinant enzyme hydrolyzed oligosaccharides containing Araf-β1,3-Araf structures but not those containing Araf-β1,2-Araf and Araf-β1,5-Araf structures. The crystal structures of Bll3HypBA1 were determined at resolutions up to 1.7 Å. The monomeric structure of Bll3HypBA1 comprised a catalytic (α/α)6 barrel and two β-sandwich domains. A hairpin structure with two β-strands was observed in Bll3HypBA1, to extend from a β-sandwich domain and partially cover the active site. The active site contains a Zn2+ ion coordinated by Cys3-Glu and exhibits structural conservation of the GH127 cysteine glycosidase Bll1HypBA1. This is the first study to report on a β1,3-specific β-l-arabinofuranosidase.

Key points

• β1,3-l-Arabinofuranose residues are present in arabinogalactan proteins and arabinans as a terminal sugar.

• β-l-Arabinofuranosidases are widely present in intestinal bacteria.

• Bll3HypBA1 is the first enzyme characterized as a β1,3-linkage-specific β-l-arabinofuranosidase.
Lung Mean Dose Prediction in Transarterial Radioembolization (TARE): Superiority of [166Ho]-Scout Over [99mTc]MAA in a Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Wagemans Martijn E. H. M. , Braat Arthur J. A. T. , van Rooij Rob , Smits Maarten L. J. , Bruijnen Rutger C. G. , Prince Jip F. , Bol Guus M. , de Jong Hugo W. A. M. , Lam Marnix G. E. H.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Radiation pneumonitis is a serious complication of radioembolization. In holmium-166 ([166Ho]) radioembolization, the lung mean dose (LMD) can be estimated (eLMD) using a scout dose with either technetium-99 m-macroaggregated albumin ([99mTc]MAA) or [166Ho]-microspheres. The accuracy of eLMD based on [99mTc]MAA (eLMDMAA) was compared to eLMD based on [166Ho]-scout dose (eLMDHo-scout) in two prospective clinical studies.

Materials and Methods

Patients were included if they received both scout doses ([99mTc]MAA and [166Ho]-scout), had a posttreatment [166Ho]-SPECT/CT (gold standard) and were scanned on the same hybrid SPECT/CT system. The correlation between eLMDMAA/eLMDHo-scout and LMDHo-treatment was assessed by Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient (r). Wilcoxon signed rank test was used to analyze paired data.

Results

Thirty-seven patients with unresectable liver metastases were included. During follow-up, none developed symptoms of radiation pneumonitis. Median eLMDMAA (1.53 Gy, range 0.09–21.33 Gy) was significantly higher than median LMDHo-treatment (0.00 Gy, range 0.00–1.20 Gy; p < 0.01). Median eLMDHo-scout (median 0.00 Gy, range 0.00–1.21 Gy) was not significantly different compared to LMDHo-treatment (p > 0.05). In all cases, eLMDMAA was higher than LMDHo-treatment (p < 0.01). While a significant correlation was found between eLMDHo-scout and LMDHo-treatment (r = 0.43, p < 0.01), there was no correlation between eLMDMAA and LMDHo-treatment (r = 0.02, p = 0.90).

Conclusion

[166Ho]-scout dose is superior in predicting LMD over [99mTc]MAA, in [166Ho]-radioembolization. Consequently, [166Ho]-scout may limit unnecessary patient exclusions and avoid unnecessary therapeutic activity reductions in patients eligible for radioembolization.

Trail registration: NCT01031784, registered December 2009. NCT01612325, registered June 2012.

Graphical Abstract
Drug-Coated Balloons for Treatment of Internal Carotid Artery Restenosis After Stenting: A Single-Center Mid-Term Outcome Study
Authors: Hajiyev Kamran , Henkes Hans , Khanafer Ali , Bücke Philipp , Hennersdorf Florian , Bäzner Hansjörg , von Gottberg Philipp
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Endovascular and surgical treatments of stenosis of the extracranial internal carotid artery (ICA) are common procedures, yet both introduce a risk of restenosis due to endothelial hyperplasia. Drug-coated balloons (DCBs) are designed to decrease neointimal hyperplasia, however rarely used in the neurovascular setting. This study retrospectively analyzes mid-term results of DCB-treated in-stent restenosis (ISR) of the ICA.

Materials and Methods

The medical history, comorbidities, and periprocedural data of patients receiving DCB treatment for > 50% ISR of the ICA after carotid artery stenting were analyzed. Follow-up after DCB treatment was performed with Doppler ultrasound. Suspicious cases were checked with CT- or MR-angiography and—if there was agreement between the modalities—validated with digital subtraction angiography. Potential risk factors for restenosis and differences in outcomes after PTA with three types of DCB balloons were evaluated.

Results

DCB treatment was performed in 109 cases, 0.9% of which involved in-hospital major stroke; no minor strokes occurred. A total of 17 patients (15.6%) had recurrent ISR after DCB treatment, after a mean time of 30.2 months (7–85 months). Tobacco use was significantly associated with a higher incidence of recurrent ISR.

Conclusion

DCB angioplasty for ISR is an effective treatment that may delay and decrease restenosis. Treating comorbidities and adopting lifestyle changes may additionally help prevent ISR.

Graphical Abstract
Multipermutations and Stirling Multipermutations
Authors: Brualdi Richard A. , Dahl Geir
Published: February 2024

We consider multipermutations and a certain partial order, the weak Bruhat order, on this set. This generalizes the Bruhat order for permutations, and is defined in terms of containment of inversions. Different characterizations of this order are given. We also study special multipermutations called Stirling multipermutations and their properties.
Prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea after treatment for advanced T-stage head and neck cancer
Authors: Karsten R. T. , Rijken J. A. , Toprak I. , Kant E. , de Bree R. , Smeele L. E. , van den Brekel M. W. M. , de Vries N. , Ravesloot M. J. L.
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Treatment of head and neck cancer (HNC) may lead to obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), but conclusive results on the prevalence of OSA are lacking. The objective of this study is to investigate the prevalence of OSA in a cohort of patients treated for advanced T-stage HNC.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted in two tertiary cancer care centers including patients at least 1 year after treatment with curative intent with surgery and/or (chemo)radiotherapy ((C)RT) for advanced T-staged (T3-4) cancer of the oral cavity, oropharynx, hypopharynx, or larynx. A polysomnography (PSG) was performed in all participants. OSA was defined as an apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) of 15 events/h or higher or an AHI of 5 events/h and higher with OSA related symptoms, such as sleeping problems, daytime dysfunction and/or cardiac/metabolic comorbidities collected through file review and questionnaires.

Results

Of the 67 participants, 48 (72%, 95% CI 59–82%) were diagnosed with OSA. Possible risk factors are male gender, higher BMI, greater neck circumference, more nicotine pack years, cardiometabolic comorbidities, use of medication with sleepiness as side effect, present tonsils, lower T-stage (T3 vs. T4 stage), higher AJCC stage and a HPV-negative tumor.

Conclusion

In this population of advanced T-stage HNC patients, the prevalence of OSA was 72%, which is considerably higher than in the general population (2–50%). Given the high prevalence, screening of this entire subgroup for OSA may be indicated. Future studies to identify high risk factors and develop an OSA screening protocol are needed.
MILSDeM: Guiding immersive learning system development and taxonomy evaluation
Authors: Mat Sanusi Khaleel Asyraaf , Majonica Daniel , Iren Deniz , Fanchamps Nardie , Klemke Roland
Published: February 2024

Developing immersive learning systems is challenging due to their multidisciplinary nature, involving game design, pedagogical modelling, computer science, and the application domain. The diversity of technologies, practices, and interventions makes it hard to explore solutions systematically. A new methodology called Multimodal Immersive Learning Systems Design Methodology (MILSDeM) is introduced to address these challenges. It includes a unified taxonomy, key performance indicators, and an iterative development process to foster innovation and creativity while enabling reusability and organisational learning. This article further reports on applying design-based research to design and develop MILSDeM. It also discusses the application of MILSDeM through its implementation in a real-life project conducted by the research team, which included four initiatives and eight prototypes. Moreover, the article introduces a unified taxonomy and reports on the qualitative analysis conducted to assess its components by experts from different domains.
Settlement growth and military conflict in early colonial New England 1620–1700
Authors: Wilhelm Eric H.
Published: February 2024

Property rights are secure, and violence over land can be attenuated when the treatment and delineation of the property are consistent, stable, and interpreted similarly by each party. In the absence of a mutual understanding of property rights, land-use stability becomes strained as the area of contested land between two rival parties expands—when one party (or group) is perceived as asymmetrically and rapidly accumulating land at another’s expense. While relations between Algonquian tribes and English settlers were generally peaceful in the first half of the 17th century, subsequent colonial growth accelerated and lead to violent conflict. The latter half of the 17th century experienced some of the most devastating conflicts during early colonial American development—beginning with Pequot’s War, peaking during King Philip’s War, and ending with a European proxy war in North America during King William’s War. Using probate data for 72 settlements in New England to measure the growth of farmers as a proxy for colonial territorial growth, I find a general pattern that English settlements with higher rates of population and territorial growth experienced more violent conflict during King Philip’s War. The same relationship between territorial growth and violent conflict was not as strong for wars that preceded and succeeded King Philip’s War.
The Fakeability of Personality Measurement with Graded Paired Comparisons
Authors: Schulte Niklas , Kaup Lucas , Bürkner Paul-Christian , Holling Heinz
Published: February 2024

This study compares the faking resistance of Likert scales and graded paired comparisons (GPCs) analyzed with Thurstonian IRT models. We analyzed whether GPCs are more resistant to faking than Likert scales by exhibiting lower score inflation and better recovery of applicants’ true (i.e., honest) trait scores. A total of $$N=573$$

N
=
573

participants completed either the Likert or GPC version of a personality questionnaire first honestly and then in an applicant scenario. Results show that participants were able to increase their scores in both the Likert and GPC format, though their score inflation was smaller in the GPC than the Likert format. However, GPCs did not exhibit higher honest–faking correlations than Likert scales; under certain conditions, we even observed negative associations. These results challenge mean score inflation as the dominant paradigm for judging the utility of forced-choice questionnaires in high-stakes situations. Even if forced-choice factor scores are less inflated, their ability to recover true trait standings in high-stakes situations might be lower compared with Likert scales. Moreover, in the GPC format, faking effects correlated almost perfectly with the social desirability differences of the corresponding statements, highlighting the importance of matching statements equal in social desirability when constructing forced-choice questionnaires.
Degrees of vulnerability to poverty: a low-income dynamics approach for Chile
Authors: Prieto Joaquín
Published: February 2024

I propose an empirical framework to identify different degrees of vulnerability to poverty using two vulnerability lines that classify currently non-poor people into risk groups: high, moderate and low risk of falling into poverty in the next period. The latter corresponds to the income secure middle class. My approach makes two contributions. First, it extends recent research that defines the middle class using a vulnerability threshold by introducing a new subdivision of the vulnerable group that would be useful in practice for public policy objectives. Second, it uses two models to predict both the probability of entering poverty and household income as part of the estimation procedures. The former controls for initial conditions effects and attrition bias, and the latter addresses the retransformation problem. I apply my approach to Chile using longitudinal data from the P-CASEN 2006–2009. The resulting vulnerability cut-offs (using the upper-middle-income country poverty line) are $20.0 per person per day for the low vulnerability line and $9.9 pppd for the high vulnerability line (both in 2011 PPP). My vulnerability lines differ significantly from those estimated in previous research on vulnerability and the middle class in Latin America. I argue that previous research has underestimated the size of the population at risk of falling into poverty and overestimated the growth of the middle class. Misclassifying the vulnerable as middle class limits their access to anti-poverty policies.
Emerging roles for the ADAMTS-like family of matricellular proteins in cardiovascular disease through regulation of the extracellular microenvironment
Authors: Rypdal Karoline Bjarnesdatter , Apte Suneel S. , Lunde Ida G.
Published: February 2024

Dysregulation of the extracellular matrix (ECM) occurs widely across cardiovascular pathologies. Recent work has revealed important roles for the «a disintegrin-like and metalloprotease domain with thrombospondin-type 1 motifs like” (ADAMTSL) family of secreted glycoproteins in cardiovascular tissues during development and disease. Key insights in this regard have come from naturally occurring gene mutations in humans and animals that result in severe diseases with cardiovascular manifestations or aortopathies. Expression of ADAMTSL genes is greatly increased in the myocardium during heart failure. Genetically modified mice recapitulate phenotypes of patients with ADAMTSL mutations and demonstrate important functions in the ECM. The novel functions thus disclosed are intriguing because, while these proteins are neither structural, nor proteases like the related ADAMTS proteases, they appear to act as regulatory, i.e., matricellular proteins. Evidence from genetic variants, genetically engineered mouse mutants, and in vitro investigations have revealed regulatory functions of ADAMTSLs related to fibrillin microfibrils and growth factor signaling. Interestingly, the ability to regulate transforming growth factor (TGF)β signaling may be a shared characteristic of some ADAMTSLs. TGFβ signaling is important in cardiovascular development, health and disease and a central driver of ECM remodeling and cardiac fibrosis. New strategies to target dysregulated TGFβ signaling are warranted in aortopathies and cardiac fibrosis. With their emerging roles in cardiovascular tissues, the ADAMTSL proteins may provide causative genes, diagnostic biomarkers and novel treatment targets in cardiovascular disease. Here, we discuss the relevance of ADAMTSLs to cardiovascular medicine.
Treatment outcome of IDH1/2 wildtype CNS WHO grade 4 glioma histologically diagnosed as WHO grade II or III astrocytomas
Authors: Keric Naureen , Krenzlin Harald , Kalasauskas Darius , Freyschlag Christian F. , Schnell Oliver , Misch Martin , von der Brelie Christian , Gempt Jens , Krigers Aleksandrs , Wagner Arthur , Lange Felipa , Mielke Dorothee , Sommer Clemens , Brockmann Marc A. , Meyer Bernhard , Rohde Veit , Vajkoczy Peter , Beck Jürgen , Thomé Claudius , Ringel Florian
Published: February 2024

Background

Isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH)1/2 wildtype (wt) astrocytomas formerly classified as WHO grade II or III have significantly shorter PFS and OS than IDH mutated WHO grade 2 and 3 gliomas leading to a classification as CNS WHO grade 4. It is the aim of this study to evaluate differences in the treatment-related clinical course of these tumors as they are largely unknown.

Methods

Patients undergoing surgery (between 2016–2019 in six neurosurgical departments) for a histologically diagnosed WHO grade 2–3 IDH1/2-wt astrocytoma were retrospectively reviewed to assess progression free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and prognostic factors.

Results

This multi-center study included 157 patients (mean age 58 years (20–87 years); with 36.9% females). The predominant histology was anaplastic astrocytoma WHO grade 3 (78.3%), followed by diffuse astrocytoma WHO grade 2 (21.7%). Gross total resection (GTR) was achieved in 37.6%, subtotal resection (STR) in 28.7%, and biopsy was performed in 33.8%. The median PFS (12.5 months) and OS (27.0 months) did not differ between WHO grades. Both, GTR and STR significantly increased PFS (P < 0.01) and OS (P < 0.001) compared to biopsy. Treatment according to Stupp protocol was not associated with longer OS or PFS compared to chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone. EGFR amplification (P = 0.014) and TERT-promotor mutation (P = 0.042) were associated with shortened OS. MGMT-promoter methylation had no influence on treatment response.

Conclusions

WHO grade 2 and 3 IDH1/2 wt astrocytomas, treated according to the same treatment protocols, have a similar OS. Age, extent of resection, and strong EGFR expression were the most important treatment related prognostic factors.
Predefined-Time Stability-Based Zeroing Neural Networks and Their Application in Solving the Lyapunov Equation
Authors: Yue Yuanda , Mi Ling , Chen Chuan , Yang Yanqing
Published: February 2024

Lyapunov equation is extensively applied in engineering areas, and zeroing neural networks (ZNN) are very effective in solving this kind of equation. In this paper, two predefined-time stability theorems are used to devise new activation functions. Then, we obtain two new ZNN models, which are applied in solving the Lyapunov equation. This type of model is called the predefined-time stability-based zeroing neural network model. Compared with the ZNN models which have existed, the proposed model retains the noise-tolerant virtue and gains a new advantage: predefined-time convergence. Lastly, we verify that the model developed in this paper is superior to the known models in solving the time-variant Lyapunov equation via numerical simulations.
Status in a psychological statistics class: The
role of academic and status-based identities in college students’ subjective social
status
Authors: Rahal Danny , Shaw Stacy T. , Tucker Mary C. , Stigler James W.
Published: February 2024

Great effort has been invested in increasing STEM achievement among
students, but feelings of low status among underrepresented or otherwise vulnerable
students may be creating additional challenges. The present study assessed how
perceptions of social status within the classroom—termed subjective social
status—aligned with objective course performance and differed by sex, first-generation
status, work status, and race/ethnicity among 713 students enrolled across three
introductory statistics classes. Findings indicated that final exam score was moderately
related to ratings of subjective social status, suggesting that factors besides
objective course performance may influence classroom subjective social status. When
asked to explain how they evaluated their standing in the course, students reported five
main themes, including both academic achievement with respect to exam scores and their
understanding of course content. When examining differences by status-based identities
in subjective social status, we found that female and first-generation students had
lower subjective social status compared to their male and continuing-generation peers,
although results were less robust for first-generation status. Likewise, working
students reported lower subjective social status relative to non-working students,
despite showing no difference in final exam score. In contrast, although Asian/Asian
American students outperformed Latine students, there were no differences in reports of
subjective social status between Asian/Asian American, Latine, and white students. Taken
together, results suggest that factors beyond course performance may relate to students’
subjective social status, and subjective social status may contribute to disparities in
academic performance, especially by sex and work status.
On the parallelization of multipacting simulation codes for the design of particle accelerator components
Authors: Navaridas Javier , Pascual Jose A. , Galarza Julen , Romero Txomin , Muñoz Juan L. , Bustinduy Ibon
Published: February 2024

Particle trajectory and collision simulation is a critical step of the design and construction of novel particle accelerator components. However it requires a huge computational effort which can slow down the design process. We started from a sequential simulation program which is used to study an event called Multipacting. Our work explains the physical problem that is simulated and the implications it can have on the behavior of the components. Then we analyze the original program’s operation to find the best options for parallelization. We first developed a parallel version of the Multipacting simulation and were able to accelerate the execution up to $$\sim 35\times $$

∼
35
×

with 48 or 56 cores. In the best cases, parallelization efficiency was maintained up to 16 cores ($$\sim 95$$

∼
95

%) and the speed-up plateaus at around 40–48 cores. When this first parallelization effort was tried for multi-power simulations, we found that parallelism was severely limited with a maximum of $$20\times $$

20
×

speed-up. For this reason, we introduced a new method to improve the parallelization efficiency for this second use case. This method uses a shared processor pool for all simulations of electrons (OnePool). OnePool improved scalability by pushing the speed-up to over $$32\times $$

32
×

.
Cloning of sft-4 and its influence on vitality and virulence of pine wood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus
Authors: Liu Shuisong , Wang Linsong , Li Ronggui , Chen Mengyu , Deng Wenjun , Wang Chao , Du Guicai , Guo Qunqun
Published: February 2024

In our previous screening of the transcriptome of the causal agent of the devastating pine wilt disease, pine wood nematode (PWN, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus), after treatment with the nematicide fomepizole, Surfeit locus gene sft-4, which encodes a regulatory factor, was found to be downregulated. In situ hybridization results showed that the sft-4 was continuously expressed from egg to adult and was especially high in the reproductive system. Here in a study of the effect of RNA interference (RNAi) of sft-4 and recombinant SFT-4 on PWN activity, treatment with sft-4 dsRNA inhibited feeding, reproduction, oviposition and egg hatching of PWN with the greatest inhibition on reproduction and oviposition, whereas recombinant SFT-4 had the opposite effect. In addition, RNAi of sft-4 changed the female–male ratio and lifespan of PWN. In bioassays of PWNs, with RNAi of sft-4 on seedlings and 2-year-old Pinus thunbergii trees, none of the treated plants developed symptoms during the monitoring period, indicating that virulence of PWNs was either significantly weakened. These results indicate that the influence of sft-4 on PWN pathogenicity may be mainly through regulating reproductive function of PWN and its lifespan.
A modular framework for a dynamic residential building stock model with energy retrofit forecasts
Authors: Aldenhoff Dennis , Kurzrock Björn-Martin
Published: February 2024

Building retrofits are strongly dependent on the individual refurbishment/rehabilitation cycles of buildings. In order to achieve the targeted climate goals for the building sector, it is necessary to make the best possible use of refurbishment opportunities for energy retrofits. Furthermore, it must be considered that the younger the building, the lower the potential for energy savings. The most challenging, yet required, energy retrofits are all yet to come. Given the importance of the refurbishment cycle, the question arises as to what the theoretical refurbishment rate is, what the actual energy retrofit rate is, and what it needs to be in order to meet the climate targets for the residential building stock. The aim of this paper is to model the evolution of the size and retrofit status of national building stocks. This is to be done against the background of the deviation from the actual and theoretical refurbishment cycle. Using current statistics and the past development of the German residential building stock, central parameters like living space, new construction, deconstruction, and the retrofit rate are modeled endogenously. For the latter, influences of economic conditions are implemented through an exogenously set black box variable. The retrofit rate represents a deep energy retrofit and thus allows an easy connection of the model with energy parameters for building classes defined in the web database TABULA for 20 European countries. The results are of relevance for modeling the energy efficiency status of the building stock and deriving suitable conditions for increasing retrofit rates also in other countries. The results show that increasing the energy retrofit rates to 2%/a or more is largely unrealistic. Instead, the focus should be on weak points, especially where short-term savings are concerned. This applies in particular to facades, basement ceilings, and heating systems as well as the efficient use of energy in buildings.
A numerical model for calculating velocity distribution in cross-section of an open channel
Authors: Kakavandi Hanieh , Heidari Mohammad Mehdi , Ghobadian Rasool
Published: February 2024

Flow velocity in open channels is a fundamental hydraulic parameter with wide-ranging applications, including the development of rating curves and the study of sediment transport. While some river engineering projects may only require the calculation of average flow velocity, others, such as the design of hydraulic structures and stable channels, as well as the assessment of boundary shear stress, necessitate a more comprehensive understanding of flow dynamics, including the two-dimensional velocity distribution within open channels. To address this, various mathematical models have been proposed for estimating the two-dimensional distribution of flow velocity across transverse and depth directions. However, these models often come with complexities that hinder their practical application. In this research, we introduce a simplified numerical model that combines simplified Navier–Stokes equations with an eddy viscosity formula. This innovative approach aims to estimate velocity distribution in both rectangular and trapezoidal channels. The accuracy of our developed model hinges on the momentum transfer coefficient used in the eddy viscosity formula. Through the execution of the numerical model and the utilization of observational data, we determined the optimal value of the momentum transfer coefficient to be 0.241. To validate the effectiveness of our numerical model, we compared its predictions with laboratory data encompassing diverse hydraulic conditions. The results demonstrated a high level of accuracy, with the calculated velocity distribution and flow discharge differing by no more than 7.6% and 6.8%, respectively.
Effekte einer Classroom-Management-Intervention in unterschiedlichen Lehrformaten (Präsenz, Online, Hybrid) zur Vorbereitung auf das Allgemeine Schulpraktikum
Authors: Uhde Gesa , Thies Barbara
Published: February 2024

Zur Vorbereitung auf ihr Schulpraktikum absolvieren Bachelorstudierende eine Classroom-Management-Veranstaltung (Präsenztraining, Onlineliteraturkurs), welche aufgrund positiver Evaluationen als Pflichtelement etabliert wurde. Pandemiebedingt wurde im Wintersemester 2020/21 zusätzlich ein Hybridtraining konzipiert und durchgeführt. Die vorliegende Studie evaluiert die Effekte der CM-Veranstaltung in drei unterschiedlichen Lehrformaten (Präsenztraining, Onlineliteraturkurs, Hybridtraining) auf das selbsteingeschätzte Wissen zum CM, die selbsteingeschätzten CM-Kompetenzen und die Lehrkraft-Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung. Teilnehmende aller Lehrformate weisen zum Post-Messzeitpunkt höhere Werte in nahezu allen untersuchten Bereichen auf. Sowohl die Präsenz- als auch die Hybridtrainingsgruppe ist der Onlineliteraturkursgruppe in nahezu allen Wissensbereichen überlegen. Bezogen auf die Lehrkraft-Selbstwirksamkeitserwartung erwies sich das Präsenztrainingsformat sowohl dem Onlineliteraturkurs als auch dem Hybridtrainingsformat gegenüber als wirksamer. Für die selbsteingeschätzten CM-Kompetenzen weist das Präsenztrainingsformat nur gegenüber dem Onlineliterurkurs in fünf der neun untersuchten Kompetenzbereiche günstigere Werte nach der Intervention auf.

Die Ergebnisse zeigen die Wirksamkeit aller drei untersuchten Lehrformate mit deutlichen Hinweisen auf die Überlegenheit des Präsenztrainingsformats.
A Common Data Dictionary and Common Data Model for Additive Manufacturing
Authors: Kuan Alexander , Aggour Kareem S. , Li Shengyen , Lu Yan , Mohr Luke , Kitt Alex , Macdonald Hunter
Published: February 2024

Additive manufacturing (AM) leverages emerging technologies and well-adopted processes to produce near-net-shape products. The advancement of AM technology requires data management tools to collect, store, and share information through the product development lifecycle and across the material and machine value chain. To address the need for sharing data among AM developers and practitioners, an AM common data dictionary (AM-CDD) was first developed based on community consensus to provide a common lexicon for AM, and later standardized by ASTM International. Following the AM-CDD work, the development of a common data model (AM-CDM) defining the structure and relationships of the key concepts, and terms in the AM-CDD is being developed. These efforts have greatly facilitated system integrations and AM data exchanges among various organizations. This work outlines the effort to create the AM-CDD and AM-CDM, with a focus on the design of the AM-CDM. Two use cases are provided to demonstrate the adoption of these efforts and the interoperability enabled by the AM-CDM for different engineering applications managed by different types of database technology. In these case studies, the AM-CDM is implemented in two distinct formats to curate AM data from NIST—the first in XML from their additive manufacturing material database and the second in OWL from their 2022 AM bench database. These use cases present the power of the AM-CDM for data representation, querying, and seamless data exchange. Our implementation experiences and some challenges are highlighted that can assist others in future adoptions of the AM-CDM for data integration and data exchange applications.
Solvent and alkyl substitution effects on charge-transfer mediated triplet state generation in BODIPY dyads: a combined computational and experimental study
Authors: Dai Yasi , Dellai Angela , Bassan Elena , Bellatreccia Caterina , Gualandi Andrea , Anselmi Michele , Cozzi Pier Giorgio , Ceroni Paola , Negri Fabrizia
Published: February 2024

Donor–acceptor dyads based on BODIPYs have been recently employed to enhance the formation of triplet excited states with the process of spin–orbit charge transfer intersystem crossing (SOCT-ISC) which does not require introduction of transition metals or other heavy atoms into the molecule. In this work we compare two donor–acceptor dyads based on meso-naphthalenyl BODIPY by combining experimental and computational investigations. The photophysical and electrochemical characterization reveals a significant effect of alkylation of the BODIPY core, disfavoring the SOCT-ISC mechanism for the ethylated BODIPY dyad. This is complemented with a computational investigation carried out to rationalize the influence of ethyl substituents and solvent effects on the electronic structure and efficiency of triplet state population via charge recombination (CR) from the photoinduced electron transfer (PeT) generated charge-transfer (CT) state. Time dependent-density functional theory (TD-DFT) calculations including solvent effects and spin–orbit coupling (SOC) calculations uncover the combined role played by solvent and alkyl substitution on the lateral positions of BODIPY.

Graphical abstract
Avian trematodes of central European corvids are heterogeneous regarding preferences for host species and age
Authors: Sitko J. , Heneberg P.
Published: February 2024

Corvids are highly adaptive birds that respond well to anthropogenic changes in their environment. Trematode communities of corvids were studied mainly in the 1950s through 1970s in regularly flooded parts of the Volga River delta in Russia; more recent studies and data from other regions where the corvids are in less contact with postflooding habitats are limited. Data for Corvus corax were lacking. Using our samples obtained from 1963 to 2023, we performed a large-scale analysis of trematode species composition and community structure in Corvus frugilegus, Corvus cornix, C. corax, Coloeus monedula, Pica pica, and Garrulus glandarius; all originated from the Czech Republic. We identified corvids as hosts of mutually overlapping component communities of only a few species of trematodes (Brachylecithum lobatum, Lyperosomum petiolatum, Lyperosomum longicauda, Tamerlania zarudnyi, Urogonimus macrostomus), with the presence of many rare and incidental findings of other trematode species. Only a few species used corvids as their core hosts (L. longicauda and B. lobatum). Trematode component communities in first-year birds included Prosthogonimus cuneatus, Prosthogonimus ovatus, Plagiorchis asperus, and Morishitium dollfusi due to an increased share of insects (intermediate hosts of Prosthogonimus and Plagiorchis) and snails (intermediate hosts of Morishitium) in the diet of juveniles. The trematode component communities of corvid species overlapped but were heterogeneous at the level of host individuals, likely reflecting differences in food sources related to the respective host ages and nesting sites.
Interferometric study of the class I methanol masers at 104.3 GHz
Authors: Voronkov M. A. , Breen S. L. , Ellingsen S. P. , Sobolev A. M. , Ladeyschikov D. A.
Published: February 2024

The Australia Telescope Compact Array (ATCA) has been used for an interferometric follow up observation at 104.3 GHz of the targets where either this or the 9.9-GHz maser was previously detected. We confirm the significant difference (by more than 1.5 orders of magnitude) from source to source of the flux density ratio for these two maser transitions. Based on the morphology and location of continuum sources, the most likely explanation of this discrepancy is the difference in the flux density of the seed radiation at the two frequencies. We also report absolute positions (with arcsec accuracy) for all detected 104.3 GHz masers.
Water Masers in the Galactic Center
Authors: Ward Dylan , Ott Jürgen , Meier David S.
Published: February 2024

The Central Molecular Zone (CMZ) makes up roughly the inner 500 pc of the Milky Way and has a large amount of dense hot gas, strong magnetic fields, and highly energetic particles. The Survey of Water and Ammonia in the Galactic Center (SWAG) is a major imaging line survey using the Australia Telescope Compact Array with the goal to map out the molecular content in the entire CMZ. SWAG data includes the 22 GHz H2O maser transition which is typically used as a tracer for phases of star formation, including both young stellar objects (YSOs) and evolved stars, such as asymptotic giant branch (AGB) stars. The SWAG H2O survey is significantly deeper with better resolution than existing surveys that cover the entire CMZ. The goal is to create a robust catalog of the maser positions, spectral properties, and the sources they trace. The H2O maser catalog shows 703 H2O masers which increases the amount of detected H2O masers in the CMZ by more than an order of magnitude. The H2O masers have a more symmetric distribution in the Galactic center than that of the gas. Cross-correlation with other observations and catalogs will provide information relating maser properties to YSOs and AGB stars, for which multiple maser components will provide outflow properties. We will also connect the surrounding molecular gas to the YSO maser velocities.
Feature prospects of IRAS 20126+4104 maser studies
Authors: Aberfelds Artis , Bartkiewicz Anna , Šteinbergs Jānis , Shmeld Ivar
Published: February 2024

IRAS 20126+4104 is an extensively studied high-mass star-forming region with many astrophysical maser lines from methanol and water molecules. The brightest and highly variable is the 6.7 GHz methanol maser transition. We present follow-up studies on this target including the monitoring with the Irbene radio telescope with high-cadence data and European VLBI Network imaging extending the VLBI monitoring to 19 years. We also plan to study the target in the future based on its variability, both in the radio domain (EVN observations are planned for June 2023) and in infra-red with the 1 meter Kagoshima University Telescope operated by Amanogawa Galaxy Astronomy Research Center (AGARC).