bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Impact of Soft Segment Composition on Phase Separation and Crystallization of Multi-Block Thermoplastic Polyurethanes Based on Poly(butylene adipate) Diol and Polycaprolactone Diol
Authors: Gorbunova Marina , Anokhin Denis V. , Abukaev Ainur , Ivanov Dimitri
Published: September 2023

In this work, we explore the influence of soft segment structure on the crystallinity and phase separation of semicrystalline multi-block thermoplastic polyurethanes (TPUs) based on poly(butylene adipate) diol, polycaprolactone diol, and their mixture. According to thermal and structural analyses, the crystal growth rate and degree of crystallinity decrease with an increase in the PCL/PBA ratio and reach a minimum at the equimolar composition of polyesters. A reduction in crystal phase content leads to an improvement in elastomeric behavior. TPU samples with high PCL content demonstrate enhanced crystallinity but a lower melting temperature compared to TPU with PBA crystals. Crystallization of TPU below room temperature results in an enhancement of total crystallinity and a change in the phase composition of the PBA block. The difference in semicrystalline morphology and crystallization kinetics can be explained by the efficiency of phase separation and the density of hydrogen bonding between soft and hard segments. Our findings show that the ratio of the two crystallizable polyesters, combined with the choice of crystallization temperature, allows for independent control over the melting temperature and the overall degree of crystallinity of the TPUs. This significantly impacts the mechanical characteristics of the materials. The effect of adding a second crystallizable polyester on the crystallization behavior, phase composition, and mechanical properties of TPU is discussed for the first time.
Effect of Nanoplatelets Thickness on Photoluminescent, Optical, and Electronic Properties of Synthesized CdTe Semiconductor Nanoplatelets
Authors: Akhmetova Aizhan , Kainarbay Asset , Daurenbekov Dulat , Nurakhmetov Turlybek , Zhangylyssov Keleshek , Yussupbekova Bagila
Published: September 2023

Quantum-confined CdTe nanoplatelets (NPL) are synthesized in colloidal solutions. The formation, growth, and transformation of 2D NPLs are monitored using UV-visible absorption PL spectroscopy and transmission electron microscopy. The luminescence intensity of NPL dependences on the temperature and injection of precursors is shown. It is found that the luminescence spectra shift to the long-wavelength region with increasing temperature due to an increase in the thickness of the NPL. The dependence of the band gap on the thickness of the NPL is shown. The band gap is determined by the thickness and number of layers. The dependence of the concentration of precursors in the reaction mass and the kinetics of NPL growth are shown. The excitation of defect states luminescence depends on the coordinating oleic ligand. The crystal structure of the CdTe NPL was analyzed via the electron diffraction pattern (ED), which allows a comparative conclusion about the crystal structure of the obtained NPL samples.
Ferroelectric, Magnetic and Dielectric Properties of SrCo0.2Zn0.2Fe11.6O18.8 Hexaferrite Obtained by “One-Pot” Green Sol-Gel Synthesis Utilizing Citrus reticulata Peel Extract
Authors: Nikolic Maria Vesna , Ammar-Merah Souad , Ilić Nikola , Singh Charanjeet , Dojcinovic Milena P. , Jotania Rajshree B.
Published: September 2023

SrCo0.2Zn0.2Fe11.6O18.8 hexaferrite was obtained by a “one-pot” green sol-gel synthesis method utilizing aqueous mandarin orange (Citrus reticulata) peel extract as an eco-friendly reactant. The research objective was to analyze the influence of cobalt and zinc co-doping and the synthesis process on the structure, morphology, magnetic, dielectric and ferroelectric properties of strontium hexaferrite in view of future applications. Structural and morphological characterization using X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and scanning electron microscopy coupled to energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry (SEM-EDX) confirmed the formation of a Co and Zn ion incorporated M-type magnetoplumbite with c/a lattice parameter ratio of 3.919 as crystallite nanoplatelets of 32 and 53 nm in thickness and width, respectively. The magnetic hysteresis loop of the synthesized powder recorded by a vibrating sample magnetometer (VSM) at room temperature confirmed its ferromagnetic nature with a coercive field (Hc) of 2539 Oe and a saturation magnetization (Ms) and remanent magnetization (Mr) of 44.6 emu/g and 21.4 emu/g, respectively. Room temperature ferroelectric loops measured at 100 Hz showed a maximal (Pmax) and a remanent (Pr) polarization of 195.4 and 31.0 nC/cm2, respectively. Both increased when the magnitude of the applied electrical field increased in the 1–24 kV/cm range. The dielectric constant decreased with the frequency increase, in accordance with the Maxwell–Wagner model, while the conductivity changed according to the Jonscher power law. The complex impedance was modeled with an equivalent circuit, enabling identification of the dominant contribution of grain boundary resistance (272.3 MΩ) and capacitance (7.16 pF).
Beyond the Microscope: A Technological Overture for Cervical Cancer Detection
Authors: Lee Yong-Moon , Lee Boreom , Cho Nam-Hoon , Park Jae Hyun
Published: September 2023

Cervical cancer is a common and preventable disease that poses a significant threat to women’s health and well-being. It is the fourth most prevalent cancer among women worldwide, with approximately 604,000 new cases and 342,000 deaths in 2020, according to the World Health Organization. Early detection and diagnosis of cervical cancer are crucial for reducing mortality and morbidity rates. The Papanicolaou smear test is a widely used screening method that involves the examination of cervical cells under a microscope to identify any abnormalities. However, this method is time-consuming, labor-intensive, subjective, and prone to human errors. Artificial intelligence techniques have emerged as a promising alternative to improve the accuracy and efficiency of Papanicolaou smear diagnosis. Artificial intelligence techniques can automatically analyze Papanicolaou smear images and classify them into normal or abnormal categories, as well as detect the severity and type of lesions. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the recent advances in artificial intelligence diagnostics of the Papanicolaou smear, focusing on the methods, datasets, performance metrics, and challenges. The paper also discusses the potential applications and future directions of artificial intelligence diagnostics of the Papanicolaou smear.
Automated Assessment of Digital Images of Uterine Cervix Captured Using Transvaginal Device—A Pilot Study
Authors: Shamsunder Saritha , Mishra Archana , Kumar Anita , Kolte Sachin
Published: September 2023

In low-resource settings, a point-of-care test for cervical cancer screening that can give an immediate result to guide management is urgently needed. A transvaginal digital device, “Smart Scope®” (SS), with an artificial intelligence-enabled auto-image-assessment (SS-AI) feature, was developed. In a single-arm observational study, eligible consenting women underwent a Smart Scope®-aided VIA-VILI test. Images of the cervix were captured using SS and categorized by SS-AI in four groups (green, amber, high-risk amber (HRA), red) based on risk assessment. Green and amber were classified as SS-AI negative while HRA and red were classified as SS-AI positive. The SS-AI-positive women were advised colposcopy and guided biopsy. The cervix images of SS-AI-negative cases were evaluated by an expert colposcopist (SS-M); those suspected of being positive were also recommended colposcopy and guided biopsy. Histopathology was considered a gold standard. Data on 877 SS-AI, 485 colposcopy, and 213 histopathology were available for analysis. The SS-AI showed high sensitivity (90.3%), specificity (75.3%), accuracy (84.04%), and correlation coefficient (0.670, p = 0.0) in comparison with histology at the CINI+ cutoff. In conclusion, the AI-enabled Smart Scope® test is a good alternative to the existing screening tests as it gives a real-time accurate assessment of cervical health and an opportunity for immediate triaging with visual evidence.
Contemporary Features and Management of Endocarditis
Authors: Comeaux Shelby , Jamison Kiara , Voeltz Michele
Published: September 2023

Infective endocarditis is a rare but devastating disease. Morbidity and mortality rates have failed to improve despite new technological advances. The disease has evolved over time with new significant populations at risk—most notably those with prosthetic valves or implantable cardiovascular devices. These devices pose new challenges for achieving a timely and accurate diagnosis of infection. While the modified Duke criteria is accepted as the gold standard for diagnosing native valve endocarditis, it has been shown to have significantly inferior sensitivity when it comes to identifying infections related to right-heart endocarditis, prosthetic valves, and indwelling cardiac devices. Additionally, prosthetic valves and cardiovascular implantable electronic devices can exhibit shadowing and artifact, rendering transthoracic echocardiography and transesophageal echocardiography results inconclusive or even normal. Having a keen awareness of the varying clinical presentations, as well as emerging valvular imaging modalities such as F-fluorodeoxyglucose cardiac positron-emission tomography plus computed tomography, promises to improve the evaluation and diagnosis of infective endocarditis. However, indications for appropriate use of these studies and guidance on modern clinical management are still needed.
Predictive Value of Clinicopathological Factors to Guide Post-Operative Radiotherapy in Completely Resected pN2-Stage III Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer
Authors: Chien Ju-Chun , Hu Yu-Chang , Tsai Yi-Ju , Chien Yu-Ting , Feng I-Jung , Shiue Yow-Ling
Published: September 2023

Introduction: With the evolution of radiotherapy techniques and a better understanding of clinicopathological factors, we aimed to evaluate the treatment effect of post-operative radiotherapy (PORT) and associated predictive factors in patients with completely resected pN2 stage III non-small cell lung cancer (R0 pN2-stage III NSCLC). Material and Method: The cancer registration database of a single medical center was searched for R0 pN2-stage III NSCLC. Clinicopathological factors and information about post-operative therapies, including PORT and adjuvant systemic treatment, were retrospectively collected and analyzed. The Kaplan-Meier method and a Cox regression model were applied for time-to-event analysis, with disease-free survival (DFS) being the primary outcome. Results: From 2010 to 2021, 82 R0 pN2-stage III NSCLC patients were evaluated, with 70.1% of tumors harboring epidermal growth factor receptor mutations (EGFR mut.). PORT was performed in 73.2% of cases, and the median dose was 54 Gy. After a median follow-up of 42 months, the 3-year DFS and overall survival (OS) rates were 40.6% and 77.3%, respectively. Distant metastasis (DM) was the main failure pattern. In the overall cohort, DFS was improved with PORT (3-year DFS: 44.9% vs. 29.8%; HR: 0.552, p = 0.045). Positive predictive factors for PORT benefit, including EGFR mut., negative extranodal extension, positive lymphovascular invasion, 1–3 positive lymph nodes, and a positive-to-dissected lymph node ratio ≤0.22, were recognized. OS improvement was also observed in subgroups with less lymph node burden. Conclusions: For R0 pN2-stage III NSCLC, PORT prolongs DFS and OS in selected patients. Further studies on predictive factors and the development of nomograms guiding the application of PORT are highly warranted, aiming to enhance the personalization of lung cancer treatment.
ChatGPT and Generative AI: Possibilities for Its Contribution to Lesson Planning, Critical Thinking and Openness in Teacher Education
Authors: van den Berg Geesje , du Plessis Elize
Published: September 2023

Although artificial intelligence (AI) has been part of our lives for some time, the launch of the Generative Pretrained Transformer (ChatGPT) has given it renewed attention. While most of these debates are about higher education in general, this article focuses on schoolteacher education and teacher training. This research aimed to determine the contribution of generative AI tools such as ChatGPT in lesson planning, critical thinking and openness in education. The research used a qualitative approach and document analysis following an interpretative paradigm. The findings reveal that generative language models such as ChatGPT can provide specific materials and support mechanisms, such as lesson plans, to schoolteachers and student teachers. It also showed that ChatGPT has levelled the playing field by opening access to lesson plans to all teachers. However, to unleash their full potential for education, it is crucial to approach these models with caution and critically evaluate their limitations and potential biases, understanding that they are tools to support teaching and learning and do not replace teachers. The study’s contribution lies in ChatGPT-generated lesson plans’ implications and the enhancement of critical thinking for teacher education, and it also underscores the need for further research to explore best practices for integrating ChatGPT in lesson planning.
ADQE: Obtain Better Deep Learning Models by Evaluating the Augmented Data Quality Using Information Entropy
Authors: Cui Xiaohui , Li Yu , Xie Zheng , Liu Hanzhang , Yang Shijie , Mou Chao
Published: September 2023

Data augmentation, as a common technique in deep learning training, is primarily used to mitigate overfitting problems, especially with small-scale datasets. However, it is difficult for us to evaluate whether the augmented dataset truly benefits the performance of the model. If the training model is relied upon in each case to validate the quality of the data augmentation and the dataset, it will take a lot of time and resources. This article proposes a simple and practical approach to evaluate the quality of data augmentation for image classification tasks, enriching the theoretical research on data augmentation quality evaluation. Based on the information entropy, multiple dimensional metrics for data quality augmentation are established, including diversity, class balance, and task relevance. Additionally, a comprehensive data augmentation quality fusion metric is proposed. Experimental results on the CIFAR-10 and CUB-200 datasets show that our method maintains optimal performance in a variety of scenarios. The cosine similarity between the score of our method and the precision of model is up to 99.9%. A rigorous evaluation of data augmentation quality is necessary to guide the improvement of DL model performance. The quality standards and evaluation defined in this article can be utilized by researchers to train high-performance DL models in situations where data are limited.
CA-LSTM: An Improved LSTM Trajectory Prediction Method Based on Infrared UAV Target Detection
Authors: Dang Zhaoyang , Sun Bei , Li Can , Yuan Shudong , Huang Xiaoyue , Zuo Zhen
Published: September 2023

In order to improve the UAV prevention and control capability in key areas and improve the rapid identification and trajectory prediction accuracy of the ground detection system in anti-UAV early warnings, an improved LSTM trajectory prediction network CA-LSTM (CNN-Attention-LSTM) based on attention enhancement and convolution fusion structure is proposed. Firstly, the native Yolov5 network is improved to enhance its detection ability for small targets of infrared UAVs, and the trajectory of UAVs in image space is constructed. Secondly, the LSTM network and convolutional neural network are integrated to improve the expression ability of the deep features of UAV trajectory data, and at the same time, the attention structure is designed to more comprehensively obtain time series context information, improve the influence on important time series features, and realize coarse–fine-grained feature fusion. Finally, tests were carried out on a homemade UAV infrared detection dataset. The experimental results show that the algorithm proposed in this paper can quickly and accurately identify infrared UAV targets and can achieve more accurate predictions of UAV flight trajectories, which are reduced by 9.43% and 23.81% in terms of MAPE and MSE indicators compared with the native LSTM network (the smaller the values of these evaluation indexes, the better the prediction results).
Secure CAPTCHA by Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP)
Authors: Shojae Chaeikar Saman , Mirzaei Asl Fatemeh , Yazdanpanah Saeid , Zamani Mazdak , Manaf Azizah Abdul , Khodadadi Touraj
Published: September 2023

To achieve an acceptable level of security on the web, the Completely Automatic Public Turing test to tell Computer and Human Apart (CAPTCHA) was introduced as a tool to prevent bots from doing destructive actions such as downloading or signing up. Smartphones have small screens, and, therefore, using the common CAPTCHA methods (e.g., text CAPTCHAs) in these devices raises usability issues. To introduce a reliable, secure, and usable CAPTCHA that is suitable for smartphones, this paper introduces a hand gesture recognition CAPTCHA based on applying genetic algorithm (GA) principles on Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP). The proposed method improves the performance of MLP-based hand gesture recognition. It has been trained and evaluated on 2201 videos of the IPN Hand dataset, and MSE and RMSE benchmarks report index values of 0.0018 and 0.0424, respectively. A comparison with the related works shows a minimum of 1.79% fewer errors, and experiments produced a sensitivity of 93.42% and accuracy of 92.27–10.25% and 6.65% improvement compared to the MLP implementation. The range of the supported hand gestures can be a limit for the application of this research as a limited range may result in a vulnerable CAPTCHA. Also, the processes of training and testing require significant computational resources. In the future, we will optimize the method to run with high reliability in various illumination conditions and skin color and tone. The next development plan is to use augmented reality and create unpredictable random patterns to enhance the security of the method.
Integrated Volatile Metabolome and Transcriptome Analyses Provide Insights into the Formation of Benzenoid–Phenylpropanoid Aroma Substance Eugenol in the Rosa hybrida ‘Lanxing’ Flowering
Authors: Sun Pei , Yang Yuan , Wang Hua , Li Maofu , Kang Yanhui , Zhou Shuting , Jin Wanmei
Published: September 2023

Scent is the key character of the horticultural ornamental plant rose, and benzenoid–phenylpropanoid compounds are the main source of scent. However, the underlying biosynthesis mechanism of these benzenoid–phenylpropanoid scent metabolites during Rosa flowering is poorly understood. In this study, the volatile metabolome and transcriptome conjoint analysis was conducted on the six stages petals of the variety ‘Lanxing’ to investigate the synthesis of benzenoid–phenylpropanoid metabolites. A total of 25 benzenoid–phenylpropanoid volatile compounds were identified, of which eugenol possessed the highest content. Meanwhile, transcriptome analysis produced 87.9 million clean reads and 22,004 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Group pairwise comparison of gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto encyclopedia of genes and genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis found DEGs were enriched into phenylpropanoid compound synthesis related pathway. Weighted gene co-expression network analysis (WGCNA) found a MEgreenyellow gene module (650 DEGs) correlated with phenylpropanoid compounds. Based on the eugenol content variation and gene spatio-temporal expression, a key candidate gene RcEGS32 related to the synthesis of eugenol was identified. Co-expression network analysis found that five transcription factors, RcMYB1, RcBES1, RcERF2, RcbHLH1, and RcTUB, may act as regulators in the eugenol synthesis process by directly binding to RcEGS32 or forming a complex unit. This study provided key insights into the formation of the scent substance eugenol during flowering, offering a valuable volatile metabolome and transcriptome resource for the future target trait-related gene discovery of roses.
Effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum X22-2 on Biogenic Amine Formation and Quality of Fermented Lamb Sausage during Storage
Authors: Liu Ting , Zhang Taiwu , Zhai Yujia , Sun Lina , Zhai Maoqin , Kang Letian , Zhao Xin , Wang Bohui , Duan Yan , Jin Ye
Published: September 2023

In this study, the safety of fermented lamb sausage was examined. The aim was to investigate the effect of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum X22-2 (LP X22-2) on the quality of, and biogenic amine (BA) formation in, fermented lamb sausages during fermentation, maturation, and storage. The results showed that LP X-22 was effective in increasing the number of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and in significantly inhibiting the formation of putrescine, histamine, cadaverine, and tyramine in fermented lamb sausage (p < 0.05). The total volatile basic nitrogen (TVB-N) content, peroxide value (POV) of fat, pH, water activity (AW), and viscosity were lower in the LF group compared to other groups (commercial starter group—CF, and natural fermentation group—NF) (p < 0.05). Furthermore, sensory evaluation and texture profile analysis (TPA) indicated that LP X-22 significantly increased the a* value, chewiness, and hardness of the sausages (p < 0.05). Therefore, LP X-22 is recommended as a natural and safe protective culture for preserving fermented lamb sausage and maintaining the color of the sausages while improving their sensory quality and inhibiting the accumulation of BAs.
A New Approach to Web Application Security: Utilizing GPT Language Models for Source Code Inspection
Authors: Szabó Zoltán , Bilicki Vilmos
Published: September 2023

Due to the proliferation of large language models (LLMs) and their widespread use in applications such as ChatGPT, there has been a significant increase in interest in AI over the past year. Multiple researchers have raised the question: how will AI be applied and in what areas? Programming, including the generation, interpretation, analysis, and documentation of static program code based on promptsis one of the most promising fields. With the GPT API, we have explored a new aspect of this: static analysis of the source code of front-end applications at the endpoints of the data path. Our focus was the detection of the CWE-653 vulnerability—inadequately isolated sensitive code segments that could lead to unauthorized access or data leakage. This type of vulnerability detection consists of the detection of code segments dealing with sensitive data and the categorization of the isolation and protection levels of those segments that were previously not feasible without human intervention. However, we believed that the interpretive capabilities of GPT models could be explored to create a set of prompts to detect these cases on a file-by-file basis for the applications under study, and the efficiency of the method could pave the way for additional analysis tasks that were previously unavailable for automation. In the introduction to our paper, we characterize in detail the problem space of vulnerability and weakness detection, the challenges of the domain, and the advances that have been achieved in similarly complex areas using GPT or other LLMs. Then, we present our methodology, which includes our classification of sensitive data and protection levels. This is followed by the process of preprocessing, analyzing, and evaluating static code. This was achieved through a series of GPT prompts containing parts of static source code, utilizing few-shot examples and chain-of-thought techniques that detected sensitive code segments and mapped the complex code base into manageable JSON structures.Finally, we present our findings and evaluation of the open source project analysis, comparing the results of the GPT-based pipelines with manual evaluations, highlighting that the field yields a high research value. The results show a vulnerability detection rate for this particular type of model of 88.76%, among others.
Correction: Yan et al. Numerical Simulation on the Smoke Prevention Performance of Air Curtains in an Island-Type Subway Station. Fire 2023, 6, 177
Authors: Yan Xu , Yang Hongyun , Mo Huiqiang , Xie Ye , Jin Zhongfu , Zhou Yang
Published: September 2023

In the original publication [...]
Understanding the Relationship between the Molecular Structure and Physicochemical Properties of Soft Rice Starch
Authors: Zhang Congnan , Xue Wei , Li Ting , Wang Li
Published: September 2023

The relationship between the molecular structure and physicochemical properties of soft rice starch (SRS) has been investigated in this research. The amylose content of SRS ranged from 10.76% to 11.85%, classified as the very low amylose type. Compared to waxy and japonica rice starch, the largest amount of small starch granules and the highest viscosity were shown in the SRS. The results of X-ray diffraction and Fourier transform infrared proved that the SRS depicted a typical A-type pattern with a low short-range ordered structure. Additionally, SRS had a great deal of A and B1 chains. Molecular weights and density of starch from soft rice were lower than those from waxy rice but higher than those from japonica rice. Furthermore, SRS possessed a higher amount of resistant starch. Correlation analysis indicated that the amylose content and the chain-length distributions of amylopectin play a major role in influencing the molecular structure and physicochemical properties of rice starch. In conclusion, the low amylose content, highest viscosity, and other excellent properties of soft rice starch make it have bright application prospects in instant rice and rice cakes.
Volatile Organic Compounds of Scheffersomyces spartinae W9 Have Antifungal Effect against Botrytis cinerea on Strawberry Fruit
Authors: Zou Xiurong , Wei Yingying , Zhu Jianhua , Sun Jincai , Shao Xingfeng
Published: September 2023

This study aims to evaluate the antifungal effects of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) produced by a marine biocontrol yeast, Scheffersomyces spartinae W9. The results showed that the VOCs from the yeast inhibited the growth of Botrytis cinerea mycelium and spore germination by 77.8% and 58.3%, respectively. Additionally, it reduced the disease incidence and lesion diameter of gray mold on the strawberry fruit surface by 20.7% and 67.4%, respectively. Electronic micrographs showed that VOCs caused damage to the morphology and ultrastructure of the hyphae. Based on headspace solid-phase microextraction gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (HS-SPME/GC-MS), S. spartinae W9 emitted 18 main VOCs, and the pure substance of VOCs, such as 3-methyl-1-butanol, 2-methyl-1-butanol, 2-phenylethanol, and isoamyl acetate, showed antifungal effects against B. cinerea mycelium growth. Among them, 2-phenylethanol exhibited the strongest antifungal activity. It has been concluded that VOCs are the key antifungal mechanism of S. spartinae W9, and a promising strategy for controlling gray mold on strawberry fruit.
The Stability, Rheological Properties and Interfacial Properties of Oil-in-Water (O/W) Emulsions Prepared from Dielectric Barrier Discharge (DBD) Cold Plasma-Treated Chickpea Protein Isolate and Myofibrillar Protein Complexes
Authors: Zhao Dianbo , Zhou Yanfang , Sun Lixue , Tian Jinfeng , Xiang Qisen , Li Ke
Published: September 2023

In order to increase the development and utilization of chickpea protein isolate (CPI) and improve the stability of myofibrillar protein (MP) emulsions, the effect of dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma-modified CPI on the emulsifying properties of MP was investigated. Three different O/W emulsions were prepared using MP, MP + CPI complex, or MP + DBD-treated CPI complex as the emulsifier. Compared with the emulsion prepared from MP, the emulsifying activity index and stability of DBD-treated CPI and MP complex (MP + CPIDBD) were increased (p < 0.05) from 55.17 m2/g to 74.99 m2/g and 66.31% to 99.87%, respectively. MP + CPIDBD produced more stable emulsions with the lowest Turbiscan stability index (TSI) values for a given 3600 s. At shear rates from 0 to 1000−1, MP + CPIDBD-stabilized emulsions had higher viscosities, which helped to reduce the chance of aggregation between oil droplets. The optical microscope and particle size distribution of emulsions showed that MP + CPIDBD emulsions had the lowest droplet size (d4,3) and exhibited more uniform distribution. MP + CPIDBD emulsions had lower interfacial tension. DBD pretreatment increased the adsorbed protein content in the emulsion stabilized by MP + CPIDBD as compared to the MP + CPI complex and promoted the adsorption of CPI by higher ratios of adsorbed proteins as indicated by its intensity in SDS-PAGE. Scanning electron microscopy confirmed that the emulsion prepared from MP + CPIDBD had smaller particle size and more uniform dispersion. Therefore, using DBD-modified CPI could enhance the stability of MP emulsions.
Growth and DNA Methylation Alteration in Rice (Oryza sativa L.) in Response to Ozone Stress
Authors: Wang Hongyan , Wang Long , Yang Mengke , Zhang Ning , Li Jiazhen , Wang Yuqian , Wang Yue , Wang Xuewen , Ruan Yanan , Xu Sheng
Published: September 2023

With the development of urban industrialization, the increasing ozone concentration (O3) at ground level stresses on the survival of plants. Plants have to adapt to ozone stress. DNA methylation is crucial for a rapid response to abiotic stress in plants. Little information is known regarding the epigenetic response of DNA methylation of plants to O3 stress. This study is designed to explore the epigenetic mechanism and identify a possible core modification of DNA methylation or genes in the plant, in response to O3 stress. We investigated the agronomic traits and genome-wide DNA methylation variations of the Japonica rice cultivar Nipponbare in response to O3 stress at three high concentrations (80, 160, and 200 nmol·mol−1), simulated using open-top chambers (OTC). The flag leaf length, panicle length, and hundred-grain weight of rice showed beneficial effects at 80 nmol·mol−1 O3 and an inhibitory effect at both 160 and 200 nmol·mol−1 O3. The methylation-sensitive amplified polymorphism results showed that the O3-induced genome-wide methylation alterations account for 14.72–15.18% at three different concentrations. Our results demonstrated that methylation and demethylation alteration sites were activated throughout the O3 stress, mainly at CNG sites. By recovering and sequencing bands with methylation alteration, ten stress-related differentially amplified sequences, widely present on different chromosomes, were obtained. Our findings show that DNA methylation may be an active and rapid epigenetic response to ozone stress. These results can provide us with a theoretical basis and a reference to look for more hereditary information about the molecular mechanism of plant resistance to O3 pollution.
Mutations Linked to Insecticide Resistance Not Detected in the Ace-1 or VGSC Genes in Nyssorhynchus darlingi from Multiple Localities in Amazonian Brazil and Peru
Authors: Bickersmith Sara A. , Jurczynski John D. , Sallum Maria Anice Mureb , Chaves Leonardo S. M. , Bergo Eduardo S. , Rodriguez Gloria A. D. , Morante Clara A. , Rios Carlos T. , Saavedra Marlon P. , Alava Freddy , Gamboa Dionicia , Vinetz Joseph M. , Conn Jan E.
Published: September 2023

Indoor residual spray (IRS), mainly employing pyrethroid insecticides, is the most common intervention for preventing malaria transmission in many regions of Latin America; the use of long-lasting insecticidal nets (LLINs) has been more limited. Knockdown resistance (kdr) is a well-characterized target-site resistance mechanism associated with pyrethroid and DDT resistance. Most mutations detected in acetylcholinesterase-1 (Ace-1) and voltage-gated sodium channel (VGSC) genes are non-synonymous, resulting in a change in amino acid, leading to the non-binding of the insecticide. In the present study, we analyzed target-site resistance in Nyssorhynchus darlingi, the primary malaria vector in the Amazon, in multiple malaria endemic localities. We screened 988 wild-caught specimens of Ny. darlingi from three localities in Amazonian Peru and four in Amazonian Brazil. Collections were conducted between 2014 and 2021. The criteria were Amazonian localities with a recent history as malaria hotspots, primary transmission by Ny. darlingi, and the use of both IRS and LLINs as interventions. Fragments of Ace-1 (456 bp) and VGSC (228 bp) were amplified, sequenced, and aligned with Ny. darlingi sequences available in GenBank. We detected only synonymous mutations in the frequently reported Ace-1 codon 280 known to confer resistance to organophosphates and carbamates, but detected three non-synonymous mutations in other regions of the gene. Similarly, no mutations linked to insecticide resistance were detected in the frequently reported codon (995) at the S6 segment of domain II of VGSC. The lack of genotypic detection of insecticide resistance mutations by sequencing the Ace-1 and VGSC genes from multiple Ny. darlingi populations in Brazil and Peru could be associated with low-intensity resistance, or possibly the main resistance mechanism is metabolic.
Long-Term Recurrence Pattern and Stress Transfer along the Kefalonia Transform Fault Zone (KTFZ), Greece: Implications in Seismic Hazard Evaluation
Authors: Kourouklas Christos , Papadimitriou Eleftheria , Karakostas Vasileios
Published: September 2023

An effort is exerted to investigate the recurrence pattern of large earthquakes (Mw ≥ 6.0) in the Kefalonia Transform Fault Zone (KTFZ), Greece, by considering the incorporation of the 74-year (1948–2022) evolving stress field. Four earthquake occurrence models—the Poisson, Poisson with the incorporation of the static stress changes (Poisson + ΔCFF), Brownian passage time (BPT) and Brownian passage time with the incorporation of the static stress changes (BPT + ΔCFF)—have been applied to estimate the occurrence probabilities of nearly characteristic earthquakes for the seven fault segments of the study area. The mean recurrence time, Tr, is estimated using the physics-based seismic moment rate conservation method. The results show large variability depending upon fault parameters. Incorporating the state of stress into Tr results in both advanced and delayed recurrence patterns. The occurrence probability estimates for the next 10, 20 and 30 years indicate that the fault segment most likely to be ruptured is the Paliki North fault segment in all models. Overall, the occurrence probabilities, combined with the state of stress along the fault segments, emphasize the high seismic moment rate of the study area. The application of time-dependent models (BPT, BPT + ΔCFF) resulted in significant increases or decreases in the associated seismic hazard.
Experiences of Caring for Cohort-Isolated Patients among Nurses in Locked Psychiatric Units
Authors: An Hyeran , Kim Kyungmi , Lee Jongeun , Won Sunhwa
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study was to gain an understanding of the experiences of caring for cohorts of patients isolated due to coronavirus disease (COVID-19) among nurses in locked psychiatric units. A phenomenological approach was used to analyze data collected from 10 nurses with a minimum of one year of experience as a mental health nurse working in locked psychiatric units that were cohort-isolated due to COVID-19. Data collected using semi-structured one-to-one in-depth interviews were analyzed based on steps outlined by Colaizzi. Five themes and thirteen subthemes emerged. The five themes were as follows: “Challenges intensified by the nature of mental disorders”, “Concerns regarding limited mental health care”, “Escalating stress”, “Bolstered identity as a mental health nurse”, “Witnessing changes that have begun”. Environmental and institutional measures need to be implemented to identify the potential phenomena that may affect locked psychiatric units during an infectious disease epidemic and ensure the safety of health care professionals and patients from the infectious disease.
Effects of Moderate Exercise Training on Cancer-Induced Muscle Wasting
Authors: Figueira Ana Cristina Corrêa , Pereira Ana , Leitão Luís , Ferreira Rita , Oliveira Paula A. , Duarte José Alberto
Published: September 2023

Background: Muscle wasting is a common phenomenon in oncology and seems to be attenuated by exercise training. The aim of this study is to determine the degree of aggressiveness of cancer-induced muscle wasting in two different phenotypic muscles. It will also determine whether exercise training can attenuate this muscle dysfunction. Methods: Fifty Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned to four experimental groups: two breast cancer model groups (sedentary and exercise) and two control groups (sedentary and exercise). Breast cancer was induced by 1-methyl-1-nitrosoureia (MNU). After 35 weeks of endurance training, animals were sacrificed, and gastrocnemius and soleus muscles harvested for morphometric analysis. Results: In sedentary tumor-bearing animals, a significant reduction in cross-sectional area was found in both muscles (p < 0.05). Interstitial fibrosis was significantly higher in the gastrocnemius muscle of the sedentary tumor-bearing animals (p < 0.05), but not in the soleus muscle. In the gastrocnemius of sedentary tumor-bearing animals, a shift from large to small fibers was observed. This cancer-related muscle dysfunction was prevented by long-term exercise training. Conclusions: In sedentary animals with tumors, the gastrocnemius muscle showed a very pronounced reduction in cross-sectional area and a marked degree of interstitial fibrosis. There was no difference in collagen deposition between tumor groups, and the soleus muscle showed a less pronounced but significant reduction in cross-sectional area. These contrasting results confirm that cancer-induced muscle wasting can affect specific types of fibers and specific muscles, namely fast glycolytic muscles, and that exercise training can be used to improve it.
Utilization of the Fusion of Ground-Space Remote Sensing Data for Canopy Nitrogen Content Inversion in Apple Orchards
Authors: Zhang Canting , Zhu Xicun , Li Meixuan , Xue Yuliang , Qin Anran , Gao Guining , Wang Mengxia , Jiang Yuanmao
Published: September 2023

Utilizing multi-source remote sensing data fusion to achieve efficient and accurate monitoring of crop nitrogen content is crucial for precise crop management. In this study, an effective integrated method for inverting nitrogen content in apple orchard canopies was proposed based on the fusion of ground-space remote sensing data. Firstly, ground hyper-spectral data, unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) multi-spectral data, and apple leaf samples were collected from the apple tree canopy. Secondly, the canopy spectral information was extracted, and the hyper-spectral and UAV multi-spectral data were fused using the Convolution Calculation of the Spectral Response Function (SRF-CC). Based on the raw and simulated data, the spectral feature parameters were constructed and screened, and the canopy abundance parameters were constructed using simulated multi-spectral data. Thirdly, a variety of machine-learning models were constructed and verified to identify the optimal inversion model for spatially inverting the canopy nitrogen content (CNC) in apple orchards. The results demonstrated that SRF-CC was an effective method for the fusion of ground-space remote sensing data, and the fitting degree (R2) of raw and simulated data in all bands was higher than 0.70; the absolute values of the correlation coefficients (|R|) between each spectral index and the CNC increased to 0.55–0.68 after data fusion. The XGBoost model established based on the simulated data and canopy abundance parameters was the optimal model for the CNC inversion (R2 = 0.759, RMSE = 0.098, RPD = 1.855), and the distribution of the CNC obtained from the inversion was more consistent with the actual distribution. The findings of this study can provide the theoretical basis and technical support for efficient and non-destructive monitoring of canopy nutrient status in apple orchards.
Gaming in Pandemic Times: An International Survey Assessing the Effects of COVID-19 Lockdowns on Young Video Gamers’ Health
Authors: DiFrancisco-Donoghue Joanne , De las Heras Bernat , Li Orville , Middleton Jake , Jung Min-Kyung
Published: September 2023

The onset of COVID-19 coincided with the peak growth of video game usage, with 2.7 billion gamers in 2020. During the pandemic, gaming and streaming platforms offered an entertaining, social, and safe alternative to recreation during severe lockdowns and social isolations. This study aimed to examine the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on health-related outcomes in self-proclaimed video gamers based on the type of lockdown experienced and to discuss the potential role of video games during times of preventive lockdown measures. This was a cross-sectional international survey constructed by two academic institutions, NYIT (NY, USA) and McGill University (Montreal, Canada), and Adamas Esports (BC, Canada). The survey consisted of questions including demographics, multiple choice, ratings, and Likert scales relating to the periods prior to and during the COVID-19 lockdowns. There were 897 respondents from North America (72.7%), Europe (10.9%), Asia (4.9%), and other countries (11.5%), with a mean age of 22 years. Significant increases in game time were reported in casual and competitive gamers during the first months of the pandemic. The level of gaming, type of lockdown, and physical activity level prior to the pandemic were examined as potential moderating factors. Significant increases in sedentary behaviors (video game time and sitting time) were observed, while physical activity levels remained unchanged in most participants, regardless of the type of lockdown. Sleep time, but not sleep quality, increased, while mental health exhibited opposing effects, influenced by the type of lockdown and gaming competition levels. Video games, when played moderately, could offer a cost-effective, safe strategy to promote socialization and mental health and improve the overall well-being of the non-gaming and gaming population during pandemic times when strict lockdowns are in place.
The Spherical Retractable Bubble Space: An Egocentric Graph Visualization throughout a Retractable Visualization Space
Authors: Kobina Piriziwè , Duval Thierry , Brisson Laurent
Published: September 2023

In this paper, we present a new egocentric metaphor for graph visualization that consists in positioning a graph between two concentric spheres of different radii. It improves the expansion of nodes in space, contrary to 3D spatialization algorithms. The edge drawing is optimized by pushing all the edges into the area delimited by our two concentric spheres so that a user can move freely without being encumbered by edges. Our new metaphor also makes it possible to reduce the display angles in order to have a global view of the graph without leaving the egocentricity.
Geriatric Surgery Produces a Hypoactive Molecular Phenotype in the Monocyte Immune Gene Transcriptome
Authors: Oren Rachel L. , Grasfield Rachel H. , Friese Matthew B. , Chibnik Lori B. , Chi John H. , Groff Michael W. , Kang James D. , Xie Zhongcong , Culley Deborah J. , Crosby Gregory
Published: September 2023

Surgery is a major challenge for the immune system, but little is known about the immune response of geriatric patients to surgery. We therefore investigated the impact of surgery on the molecular signature of circulating CD14+ monocytes, cells implicated in clinical recovery from surgery, in older patients. We enrolled older patients having elective joint replacement (N = 19) or spine (N = 16) surgery and investigated pre- to postoperative expression changes in 784 immune-related genes in monocytes. Joint replacement altered the expression of 489 genes (adjusted p < 0.05), of which 38 had a |logFC| > 1. Spine surgery changed the expression of 209 genes (adjusted p < 0.05), of which 27 had a |logFC| > 1. In both, the majority of genes with a |logFC| > 1 change were downregulated. In the combined group (N = 35), 471 transcripts were differentially expressed (adjusted p < 0.05) after surgery; 29 had a |logFC| > 1 and 72% of these were downregulated. Notably, 21 transcripts were common across procedures. Thus, elective surgery in older patients produces myriad changes in the immune gene transcriptome of monocytes, with many suggesting development of an immunocompromised/hypoactive phenotype. Because monocytes are strongly implicated in the quality of surgical recovery, this signature provides insight into the cellular and molecular mechanisms of the immune response to surgery and warrants further study as a potential biomarker for predicting poor outcomes in older surgical patients.
Effectiveness of Colchicine or Canakinumab in Japanese Patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever: A Single-Center Study
Authors: Yoshida Shuhei , Sumichika Yuya , Saito Kenji , Matsumoto Haruki , Temmoku Jumpei , Fujita Yuya , Matsuoka Naoki , Asano Tomoyuki , Sato Shuzo , Migita Kiyoshi
Published: September 2023

Background: To investigate the clinical features of Japanese patients with Familial Mediterranean Fever (FMF), we evaluated the frequency of attacks, treatment responses, and adverse effects in 27 patients with FMF treated with colchicine or canakinumab in a real-world clinical setting. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 27 Japanese patients with FMF treated at our institute between April 2012 and June 2023. All patients were diagnosed with FMF according to the Tel-Hashomer criteria. We performed genetic analyses of the MEFV gene using targeted next-generation sequencing. The clinical response was monitored through the number of attacks, and inflammatory markers were monitored through the C-reactive protein (CRP), and serum amyloid A (SAA) concentrations. Colchicine resistance was defined as the presence of at least one attack/month despite administration of the maximum tolerated dose of colchicine for at least 6 months, and C-reactive protein and serum amyloid A levels above the normal range between attacks. Results: A total of 27 patients diagnosed with FMF were enrolled in this study and the median follow-up period was 36.4 months. The median attack frequency was 1.0 (interquartile range: 0.33–1.0) every 3 months before treatment initiation. All the patients (n = 27) were treated with colchicine. Among the 27 patients, 20 (71.8%) showed a clinical response and 7 (25.9%) showed an incomplete response with sufficient doses of colchicine (n = 5) and non-sufficient doses (n = 2). Two patients on non-sufficient doses were unable to increase colchicine to the maximum dose due to diarrhea and liver dysfunction. All seven patients achieved a reduction in attack frequency after the initiation of canakinumab. No serious adverse events associated with canakinumab treatment were observed. In these seven patients with colchicine-resistant FMF (crFMF), the MEFV exon 10 variant was not detected, and the absence ratio of the MEFV variant was significantly higher compared to those without crFMF. Conclusions: Colchicine was effective in 71.8% (20/27) of Japanese patients with FMF; however, the remaining patients (7/27) had crFMF. Canakinumab effectively controlled febrile attacks in crFMF, even in the absence of pathogenic MEFV exon 10 variants.