bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sodium‐Glucose Co‐Transporter‐2 Inhibitor Empagliflozin Attenuates Sorafenib‐Induced Myocardial Inflammation and Toxicity
Authors: Liu Ching‐Han , Ho Yu‐Cheng , Lee Wen‐Chin , Huang Cheng‐Yi , Lee Yung‐Kuo , Hsieh Chung‐Bao , Huang Nan‐Chieh , Wu Cheng‐Chun , Nguyen Ngoc Uyen Nhi , Hsu Ching‐Cheng , Chen Chiu‐Hua , Chen Yao‐Chang , Huang Wei‐Chun , Lu Yen‐Yu , Fang Cheng‐Chieh , Chang Yi‐Chen , Chang Chen‐Lin , Tsai Ming‐Kai , Wen Zhi‐Hong , Li Chiao‐Zhu , Li Chiao‐Ching , Chuang Po‐Kai , Yang Shih‐Ming , Chu Tian‐Huei , Huang Shih‐Chung
Published: June 2024

Environmental antineoplastics such as sorafenib may pose a risk to humans through water recycling, and the increased risk of cardiotoxicity is a clinical issue in sorafenib users. Thus, developing strategies to prevent sorafenib cardiotoxicity is an urgent work. Empagliflozin, as a sodium‐glucose co‐transporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibitor for type 2 diabetes control, has been approved for heart failure therapy. Still, its cardioprotective effect in the experimental model of sorafenib cardiotoxicity has not yet been reported. Real‐time quantitative RT‐PCR (qRT‐PCR), immunoblot, and immunohistochemical analyses were applied to study the effect of sorafenib exposure on cardiac SGLT2 expression. The impact of empagliflozin on cell viability was investigated in the sorafenib‐treated cardiomyocytes using Alamar blue assay. Immunoblot analysis was employed to delineate the effect of sorafenib and empagliflozin on ferroptosis/proinflammatory signaling in cardiomyocytes. Ferroptosis/DNA damage/fibrosis/inflammation of myocardial tissues was studied in mice with a 28‐day sorafenib ± empagliflozin treatment using histological analyses. Sorafenib exposure significantly promoted SGLT2 upregulation in cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts. Empagliflozin treatment significantly attenuated the sorafenib‐induced cytotoxicity/DNA damage/fibrosis in cardiomyocytes and mouse hearts. Moreover, GPX4/xCT‐dependent ferroptosis as an inducer for releasing high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) was also blocked by empagliflozin administration in the sorafenib‐treated cardiomyocytes and myocardial tissues. Furthermore, empagliflozin treatment significantly inhibited the sorafenib‐promoted NFκB/HMGB1 axis in cardiomyocytes and myocardial tissues, and sorafenib‐stimulated proinflammatory signaling (TNF‐α/IL‐1β/IL‐6) was repressed by empagliflozin administration. Finally, empagliflozin treatment significantly attenuated the sorafenib‐promoted macrophage recruitments in mouse hearts. In conclusion, empagliflozin may act as a cardioprotective agent for humans under sorafenib exposure by modulating ferroptosis/DNA damage/fibrosis/inflammation. However, further clinical evidence is required to support this preclinical finding.
Introduction
Authors: Tokdoğan Nagehan
Published: June 2024

In the introduction, I put forward the questions this book seeks to answer; What lies behind the enduring success of AKP rule in Turkey? What role do the politics of emotions play in this success? What does AKP’s Neo-Ottomanist narrative, and the symbols it uses, convey to the Turkish nation? And what does it demand from its recipients? Why has the narrative been embraced by certain sections of Turkish society, and what are the emotional needs and urges behind this? And, finally, how do the emotions around the narrative bring together the past, the present and the future, while creating a new national mood in society? Through the answers to these questions, this book will interrogate two decades of the AKP rule with a specific focus on politics of emotions.
Spoken Language Change Detection Inspired by Speaker Change Detection
Authors: Mishra Jagabandhu , Prasanna S. R. M.
Published: June 2024

Spoken language change detection (LCD) refers to identifying the language transitions in a code-switched utterance. Similarly, identifying the speaker transitions in a multispeaker utterance is known as speaker change detection (SCD). Since tasks-wise both are similar, the architecture/framework developed for the SCD task may be suitable for the LCD task. Hence, the aim of the present work is to develop LCD systems inspired by SCD. Initially, both LCD and SCD are performed by humans. The study suggests humans require (a) a larger duration around the change point and (b) language-specific prior exposure, for performing LCD as compared to SCD. The larger duration requirement is incorporated by increasing the analysis window length of the unsupervised distance-based approach. This leads to a relative performance improvement of$$29.1\%$$29.1%and$$2.4\%$$2.4%, and a priori language knowledge provides a relative improvement of$$31.63\%$$31.63%and$$4.01\%$$4.01%on the synthetic and practical codeswitched datasets, respectively. The performance difference between the practical and synthetic datasets is mostly due to differences in the distribution of the monolingual segment duration.
Feasibility study of adhesively bonded drills with a small diameter for cutting of CFRP
Authors: Stribick Sascha , Wüsteney Julian , Demir Demet
Published: June 2024

Adhesively bonded cutting tools possess many advantages over classic (insert) tools due to different manufacturing processes: With reduced manufacturing temperatures, the damage to the cutting edge decreases, and the damping effects of the adhesive enhance the tool’s life. In contrast to standard joining technologies like soldering, adhesive bonding enables the joining of various cutting materials and tool base bodies, like ceramic and steel. Furthermore, the usage of expensive, abrasive-resisted cutting materials, like carbide, has to be reduced in future because of the classification of the components (cobalt, wolfram carbide) as a critical resource. Therefore, this article conducts a feasibility study of adhesively bonded drills with a ceramic tip for cutting carbon-fiber-reinforced plastics. The main contents are investigations of different surface preparation methods (laser surface texturing and SACO-blasting), examining four different adhesives for cutting tool usage, and manufacturing and validating prototype drills for cutting operations. The experimental results show a high scattering of the toughness of the joints between 2.8 MPa and 27.8 MPa, depending on the combination of surface preparation and adhesives. Also, the choice of adhesive influences the performance of the manufactured drills. The maximum number of drilled holes scatters between 15 and 67 holes before breakage. A linear relation within the analysis of axial forces and factors of the covered area is observed. For further studies, the surface preparation needs to be improved, the glass transition temperature must be maximized, and the drill geometry must be optimized. Furthermore, a cooling concept for the cutting tools needs to be investigated.
A new approach of preheating and powder sintering in electron beam powder bed fusion
Authors: Böhm Jonas , Breuning Christoph , Markl Matthias , Körner Carolin
Published: June 2024

Preheating is an essential process step in electron beam powder bed fusion. It has the purpose of establishing a sintered powder bed and maintaining an elevated temperature. The sintered powder bed reduces the risk of smoke and in combination with the elevated temperature improves the processability. Today, the line-ordering preheating scheme is widely used. This scheme does not take the previously built layers into account and results in an inhomogeneous elevated temperature and consequently in a variety of sinter degrees, which is disadvantageous for the process. The main challenge is now to modify this scheme to establish a homogeneous temperature distribution. This study addresses this challenge and analyses as well as optimises this scheme. A GPU-parallelised thermal model reveals a heterogeneous temperature distribution during preheating because of varying thermal conditions within a build job. In addition, a work-of-sintering model predicts that the sinter degree of the current powder layer on top of previously consolidated material is smaller than on top of the surrounding powder bed. This work aims to invert this trend to improve powder re-usage and material consolidation. Consequently, this work proposes an extension of the current scheme, compensating for the specific energy loss with local adjustments to the energy input. This adaption results in a uniform temperature distribution and advantageous sintering. Applying the proposed numerical model proves to be an effective method to analyse the evolving process conditions and tailor the local energy input, thereby improving the efficiency of the preheating step.
Fast solution of incompressible flow problems with two-level pressure approximation
Authors: Pestana Jennifer , Silvester David J.
Published: June 2024

This paper develops efficient preconditioned iterative solvers for incompressible flow problems discretised by an enriched Taylor–Hood mixed approximation, in which the usual pressure space is augmented by a piecewise constant pressure to ensure local mass conservation. This enrichment process causes over-specification of the pressure when the pressure space is defined by the union of standard Taylor–Hood basis functions and piecewise constant pressure basis functions, which complicates the design and implementation of efficient solvers for the resulting linear systems. We first describe the impact of this choice of pressure space specification on the matrices involved. Next, we show how to recover effective solvers for Stokes problems, with preconditioners based on the singular pressure mass matrix, and for Oseen systems arising from linearised Navier–Stokes equations, by using a two-stage pressure convection–diffusion strategy. The codes used to generate the numerical results are available online.
Biomechanical changes following corneal crosslinking in keratoconus patients
Authors: Felter Emilia , Khoramnia Ramin , Friedrich Maximilian , Son Hyeck-Soo , Auffarth Gerd U. , Augustin Victor A.
Published: June 2024

Purpose

To evaluate the biomechanical and tomographic outcomes of keratoconus patients up to four years after corneal crosslinking (CXL).

Methods

In this longitudinal retrospective-prospective single-center case series, the preoperative tomographic and biomechanical results from 200 keratoconus eyes of 161 patients undergoing CXL were compared to follow-up examinations at three-months, six-months, one-year, two-years, three-years, and four-years after CXL. Primary outcomes included the Corvis Biomechanical Factor (CBiF) and five biomechanical response parameters obtained from the Corvis ST. Tomographically, the Belin-Ambrósio deviation index (BAD-D) and the maximal keratometry (Kmax) measured by the Pentacam were analyzed. Additionally, Corvis E-staging, the thinnest corneal thickness (TCT), and the best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) were obtained. Primary outcomes were compared using a paired t-test.

Results

The CBiF decreased significantly at the six-month (p < 0.001) and one-year (p < 0.001) follow-ups when compared to preoperative values. E-staging behaved accordingly to the CBiF. Within the two- to four-year follow-ups, the biomechanical outcomes showed no significant differences when compared to preoperative. Tomographically, the BAD-D increased significantly during the first year after CXL with a maximum at six-months (p < 0.001), while Kmax decreased significantly (p < 0.001) and continuously up to four years after CXL. The TCT was lower at all postoperative follow-up visits compared to preoperative, and the BCVA improved.

Conclusion

In the first year after CXL, there was a temporary progression in both the biomechanical CBiF and E-staging, as well as in the tomographic analysis. CXL contributes to the stabilization of both the tomographic and biomechanical properties of the cornea up to four years postoperatively.
The effect of preemptive retrolaminar block on lumbar spinal decompression surgery
Authors: Peker Kevser , Aydın Gülçin , Gençay Işin , Saraçoğlu Ayşe Gizem , Şahin Ahmet Tuğrul , Öğden Mustafa , Peker Seydi Ali
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Spinal decompression surgery causes severe pain. Retrolaminar block (RLB) is block, which is done by infiltration of local anesthetic to block spinal nerves between the lamina and superior costotransversospinalis muscle. The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of RLB on postoperative analgesia in patients undergoing spinal surgery. Secondary aims are effects on additional anesthetic and analgesic consumption.

Methods

The sixty (60) patients who underwent lumbar spinal surgery between May 2020 and May 2021 under general anesthesia with or without applied preemptive RLB for postoperative analgesia were included in this prospective observational study. Group I received ultrasound-guided preemptive RLB. In Group II, no intervention was performed. Postoperative VAS scores were compared in groups as primary outcome, perioperative additional anesthetic and analgesic needs were compared as secondary outcome.

Results

There was a significant difference between the groups in favor of the RLB group in terms of postoperative VAS scores at rest [1.33 (0.33–3.509)] and movement [2.40 (1.20–4.00)] (p < 0.001). Perioperative sevoflurane consumption was significantly low in block group (p < 0.001). Postoperative tramadol consumption was lower in Group I compared with Group II [Group 1: 200 (100–300); Group 2: 37.5 (0–200); p < 0.001].

Conclusion

Preemptive RLB may be used to reduce patients' pain in lumbar decompression surgery as well as to be part of a multimodal analgesia and anesthesia regimen to reduce anesthetic and analgesic drug consumption.

Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov (No. NCT04209907).
Cannabis use by individuals with spinal cord injury in the UK: a call for improved patient education and physician awareness for pain and spasticity management
Authors: Anas Mohammad , Raja Usman , Ahmad Bilal Ibrahim , Raza Wajid A.
Published: June 2024

Study design

Prospective observational qualitative study.

Objective

Cannabis is used by patients for the treatment of chronic pain, spasticity, sleep issues or mood disorders such as anxiety and depression. Since 2018, it has been authorised in the United Kingdom for medical use as an unlicensed medicine. This study aims to determine if patients are using cannabis for the management of symptoms related to spinal cord injury, and if so, whether they are using medical or illicit cannabis.

Methods

Spinal cord injury patients from the Yorkshire Regional Spinal Injuries Centre and SPINE Community in the United Kingdom were surveyed. Participants were sent a 7-point electronic survey. All results were anonymous, and confidentiality was maintained throughout the process.

Results

In total, 223 patients completed the survey. Not all patients answered every question. Of those who responded 65.35% (n = 132) were paraplegic and 34.65% (n = 70) were tetraplegic. Patients were suffering from chronic pain (longer than 3 months), spasticity, loss of/difficulty in sleeping or anxiety/depression. Almost 15% (14.93%, n = 33 out of 221) used cannabis to manage their symptoms, out of those the majority used street cannabis (79.41%, n = 27 out of 34) were using street cannabis.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that there are spinal cord injury patients in the UK using cannabis to treat their symptoms. A majority appear to be using illicit cannabis. Given that cannabis can interact with other medications, and that the quality and content of illicit cannabis can be highly variable and at times dangerous, it is important for physicians to discuss cannabis use with their patients. This can inform prescribing and allow them to educate patients on the dangers of medical cannabis and potential alternatives.
Presentations and management of hospitalized patients with upper extremity fractures at a level 1 trauma center: a 5-year observational study
Authors: Ghouri Syed Imran , Asim Mohammad , El-Menyar Ayman , Afifi Ibrahim , Abdulrahman Yassir , Jogol Hisham , Al-Thani Hassan , Rizoli Sandro
Published: June 2024

Background

Upper extremity injuries (UEIs) are common in the emergency departments, yet they are under-reported in developing countries. This study examined the frequency, injury characteristics, and treatment approaches of upper extremity fractures (UEFs) among hospitalized trauma patients in a nationally representative population.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective, observational study including all the hospitalized patients with UEFs in the only level 1 trauma center in Qatar between July 2015 and August 2020. Comparative analyses were performed according to injury mechanisms, severity, and management approach.

Results

A total of 2,023 patients sustained UEIs with an average age of 34.4 ± 12.9 years, and 92% were males. Motor vehicle crashes (MVCs; 42.3%) were the primary cause of shoulder girdle injuries in 48.3% of cases. Fractures of the radius, ulna, and hands occurred in 30.8, 16.5 and 14.5%, respectively. Young adults were more involved in MVCs and motorcycle crashes (MCCs), while pedestrians who were typically older had a higher rate of humerus fractures. Patients with MCCs had a higher rate of clavicle and ulna fractures. Pedestrians were at risk of serious injuries, with a higher mean injury severity score and lower Glasgow Coma Scale.

Conclusion

Most UEFs patients were young males and mainly affected by MVCs. Shoulder girdle, particularly clavicle and scapula/glenoid fractures, emerged as common injury sites. The study highlighted the potential risk of pedestrian injuries, as reflected in higher injury severity, concomitant injuries, and higher mortality. Future studies are needed to optimize preventive measures by incorporating insights into specific injury mechanisms and patterns of UEIs.
Time trend analysis of Injury Severity score of adult trauma patients with emergent CT examination
Authors: Neef Stefanie , Meinel Felix G. , Lorbeer Roberto , Ammermann Felix , Weber Marc-André , Brunk Manuela , Herlyn Philipp , Beller Ebba
Published: June 2024

Purpose

Controversy exists about whole-body computed tomography (CT) as a primary screening modality for suspected multiple trauma patients. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyze time trends of CT examinations for trauma patients in relation to the Injury Severity Score (ISS).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 561 adult trauma patients (mean age = 54 years) who were admitted to the trauma room of our hospital, immediately followed by a CT examination, in 2009, 2013 und 2017. Review of electronic patient charts was performed to determine the cause of injury. ISS was either calculated upon hospital charts and CT imaging reports or documented in the TraumaRegister DGU® for trauma patients with ICU treatment or ISS ≥ 16.

Results

An increasing number of CT examinations of acute trauma patients were performed at our hospital with 117 patients in 2009 compared to 192 in 2013 and 252 in 2017. Their mean age increased (50 years in 2009, 54 in 2013 and 55 in 2017;p = 0.046), whereas their mean ISS decreased over time (15.2 in 2009 compared to 12.1 in 2013 and 10.6 in 2017;p = 0.001), especially in women (15.1 in 2009, 11.8 in 2013 and 7.4 in 2017;p = 0.001 both), younger age groups (18 to 24 years:15.6 in 2009, 6.5 in 2013 and 8.9 in 2017; p = 0.033 and 25 to 49 years:15.0 in 2009, 11.2 in 2013 and 8.3 in 2017;p = 0.001) as well as motor vehicle collision (MVC) victims (16.2 in 2009, 11.8 in 2013 and 6.1 in 2017; p < 0.001). Trauma patients with a high ISS were especially more likely of older age (OR 1.02,p < 0.001) and with the type of incident being a fall (< 3 m: OR3.84,p < 0.001;>3 m: OR6.22,p < 0.001) compared to MVC.

Conclusion

Previous studies suggesting a benefit of primary whole-body CT for trauma patients might not reflect the current patient population with decreasing ISS. Especially females, younger age groups and MVC patients might benefit from stricter selection criteria for receiving whole-body CT. Our results also emphasize the importance of prevention of fall or tumble for elderly people.
Histamine-related genes participate in the establishment of an immunosuppressive microenvironment and impact the immunotherapy response in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xianzhou , Zheng Peng , Meng Bo , Zhuang Hao , Lu Bing , Yao Jun , Han Feng , Luo Suxia
Published: June 2024

Chronic inflammation is pivotal in the pathogenesis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Histamine is a biologically active substance that amplifies the inflammatory and immune response and serves as a neurotransmitter. However, knowledge of histamine’s role in HCC and its effects on immunotherapy remains lacking. We focused on histamine-related genes to investigate their potential role in HCC. The RNA-seq data and clinical information regarding HCC were obtained from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). After identifying the differentially expressed genes, we constructed a signature using the univariate Cox proportional hazard regression and least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analyses. The signature’s predictive performance was evaluated using a receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis. Furthermore, drug sensitivity, immunotherapy effects, and enrichment analyses were conducted. Histamine-related gene expression in HCC was confirmed using quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). A histamine-related gene prognostic signature (HRGPS) was developed in TCGA. Time-dependent ROC and Kaplan–Meier survival analyses demonstrated the signature’s strong predictive power. Importantly, patients in high-risk groups exhibited a higher frequency of TP53 mutations, elevated immune checkpoint-related gene expression, and increased infiltration of immunosuppressive cells—indicating a potentially favorable response to immunotherapy. In addition, drug sensitivity analysis revealed that the signature could effectively predict chemotherapy efficacy and sensitivity. qRT-PCR results validated histamine-related gene overexpression in HCC. Our findings demonstrate that inhibiting histamine-related genes and signaling pathways can impact the therapeutic effect of anti-PD-1/PD-L1. The precise predictive ability of our signature in determining the response to different therapeutic options highlights its potential clinical significance.
In Vivo Measurement of Tidal Volume During Non-invasive Respiratory Support by Continuous-Flow Helmet CPAP
Authors: LoMauro A. , De Luca A. , Scarpazza P. , Aliverti A.
Published: June 2024

Recently, the interest in the Helmet interface during non-invasive respiratory support (NIRS) has increased due to the COVID-19 pandemic. During NIRS, positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) can be given as continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP), which maintains a positive airway pressure throughout the whole respiratory cycle with Helmet as an interface (H-CPAP). The main disadvantage of the H-CPAP is the inability to measure tidal volume (VT). Opto-electronic plethysmography (OEP) is a non-invasive technique that is not sensitive to gas compression/expansion inside the helmet. OEP acquisitions were performed on 28 healthy volunteers (14 females and 14 males) at baseline and during Helmet CPAP. The effect of posture (semi-recumbent vs. prone), flow (50 vs. 60 L/min), and PEEP (0 vs. 5 vs. 10 cmH2O) on the ventilatory and thoracic-abdominal pattern and the operational volumes were investigated. Prone position limited vital capacity, abdominal expansion and chest wall recruitment. A constant flow of 60 L/min reduced the need for the subject to ventilate while having a slight recruitment effect (100 mL) in the semi-recumbent position. A progressive increasing recruitment was found with higher PEEP but limited by the prone position. It is possible to accurately measure tidal volume during H-CPAP to deliver non-invasive ventilatory support using opto-electronic plethysmography during different clinical settings.
Is there a domestication syndrome in Vitis (Vitaceae) seed morphology?
Authors: Obón Concepción , Rivera-Obón Diego José , Valera Javier , Matilla Gonzalo , Alcaraz Francisco , Maghradze David , Kikvadze Maia , Ocete Carlos-Alvar , Ocete Rafael , Nebish Anna , Abellán Javier , Palazón Jose Antonio , Rivera Diego
Published: June 2024

Characterizing plant genetic resources and understanding the domestication process are key challenges in horticulture. This study focuses on the common grapevine (Vitis vinifera L.), employing molecular, ampelographic, and morphometric techniques to explore its domestication syndrome. We propose a combined domestication index for grape seeds, integrating six commonly used indices. Logistic regression and randomForest machine learning methods were employed to assess the probability of seed domestication. Analysis involved 4029 seeds from 783 samples, spanning live plants (cultivated, wild, feral), archaeological samples, and fossils. Results indicate a distinct domestication syndrome in grapevine seeds, notably characterized by a long stalk (> 1 mm), with combined index values ranging from 0.83 to 1 and domestication probabilities of 0.75 to 1. This syndrome is prevalent in modern cultivars but absent in wild grapevines, aiding in the differentiation of archaeological materials. While not exclusive to Vitis vinifera, the domestication syndrome is characteristic of it, distinguishing it from wild Vitis sylvestris and suggesting isolated domestication events in a few American and Asian Vitis species. Fossil and archaeological materials exhibit low domestication values, hinting at the beginnings of domestication. However, dating reliability remains a challenge.
The Question of Adequacy, from Hermeneutics to Writing Strategies
Authors: Jacob Louis
Published: June 2024

The postulate of adequacy had been extensively questioned and deepened in the area of hermeneutics and interpretive social sciences. Some of the protagonists of this ongoing debate stress that the interpretation of human action has much in common with the interpretation of semiotic objects including texts and narratives. This debate goes back to a long tradition in the philosophy of human or social sciences. Here, considering recent exchanges in the fields of the history of ideas, rhetoric, and ethnography, we address basic epistemological and methodological issues about the interpretation of meaning and its adequacy. We argue that one must ascertain performativity on both sides of the meaning process: on the side of the semiotic object (speech acts, social rituals, texts, images…) and on the side of the interpreter (second-degree understanding, description, explanation…) We also argue that this theoretical discussion is more relevant and fruitful for the humanities and social sciences when it includes the question of writing strategies. In this way, it is possible to envision the practical moment of hermeneutic understanding, embracing its material, ethical, and political dimensions.
A Multi-spectral Geometric Approach for Shape Analysis
Authors: Bensaïd David , Kimmel Ron
Published: June 2024

A solid object in $$\mathbb {R}^3$$

R

3

can be represented by its smooth boundary surface which can be equipped with an intrinsic metric to form a 2-Riemannian manifold. In this paper, we analyze such surfaces using multiple metrics that give birth to multi-spectra by which a given surface can be characterized. Their relative sensitivity to different types of local structures allows each metric to provide a distinct perspective of the shape. Extensive experiments show that the proposed multi-metric approach significantly improves important tasks in geometry processing such as shape retrieval and find similarity and corresponding parts of non-rigid objects.
Generalised Diffusion Probabilistic Scale-Spaces
Authors: Peter Pascal
Published: June 2024

Diffusion probabilistic models excel at sampling new images from learned distributions. Originally motivated by drift-diffusion concepts from physics, they apply image perturbations such as noise and blur in a forward process that results in a tractable probability distribution. A corresponding learned reverse process generates images and can be conditioned on side information, which leads to a wide variety of practical applications. Most of the research focus currently lies on practice-oriented extensions. In contrast, the theoretical background remains largely unexplored, in particular the relations to drift-diffusion. In order to shed light on these connections to classical image filtering, we propose a generalised scale-space theory for diffusion probabilistic models. Moreover, we show conceptual and empirical connections to diffusion and osmosis filters.
Investigating layer-by-layer chitosan-dextran sulfate-coated mesoporous silica as a pH-sensitive drug delivery system
Authors: Hooshyar Mohammad Reza , Raygan Shahram , Mehdinavaz aghdam Rouhollah
Published: June 2024

Mesoporous silica nanoparticles (MSNPs) coated by chitosan (CS) were shown to be a proper candidate as a carrier for drug delivery purposes. However, choosing the suitable drug-containing complexes to be applied on MSNPs-CS is of much greater importance to evaluate the possible candidate for an efficient combination of cell viability, drug release kinetics, and atherosclerosis prevention. In this regard, this study concentrates on the synthesis and assessment of coated MSNPs-CS designed for drug delivery purposes. The MSNPs are coated with polyelectrolyte complexes (PEC) composed of CS and dextran sulfate (MSNPs-CS-DX), serving as a versatile drug carrier with favorable biological characteristics. CS-DX is applied to MSNPs without requiring complex or multi-step synthesis procedures. Rosuvastatin, a cholesterol-lowering medication, is chosen for its therapeutic relevance. Additionally, CS-DX is found to relatively impede the uptake of low-density lipoproteins (LDLs) by macrophages, enhancing their potential therapeutic utility. FTIR pattern, FESEM, and TEM images prove MSNPs-CS-DX formation. DLS measurement demonstrates the average particle size of 110 nm for MSNPs, with the combined thickness of CS and DX layers ranging from 10 to 15 nm. BET test is carried out to evaluate the pore size and porosity of structure, showing outstanding results that cause an entrapment efficiency of 57% for MSNPs-CS-DX. Furthermore, the findings demonstrate the pH sensitivity of MSNPs-CS-DX on drug release kinetics. Notably, the CS-DX layer exhibits a significant enhancement in cell viability of human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by approximately 24% within a 24 h timeframe compared to MSNPs lacking CS-DX.

Graphical Abstract
Mechanical power during robotic-assisted laparoscopic prostatectomy: an observational study
Authors: Pozzi Tommaso , Coppola Silvia , Catozzi Giulia , Colombo Andrea , Chioccola Mara , Duscio Eleonora , Di Marco Fabiano , Chiumello Davide
Published: June 2024

Background

Robotic-assisted laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (RALP) requires pneumoperitoneum and steep Trendelenburg position. Our aim was to investigate the influence of the combination of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position on mechanical power and its components during RALP.

Methods

Sixty-one prospectively enrolled patients scheduled for RALP were studied in supine position before surgery, during pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position and in supine position after surgery at constant ventilatory setting. In a subgroup of 17 patients the response to increasing positive end-expiratory pressure (PEEP) from 5 to 10 cmH2O was studied.

Results

The application of pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position increased the total mechanical power (13.8 [11.6 – 15.5] vs 9.2 [7.5 – 11.7] J/min, p < 0.001) and its elastic and resistive components compared to supine position before surgery. In supine position after surgery the total mechanical power and its elastic component decreased but remained higher compared to supine position before surgery. Increasing PEEP from 5 to 10 cmH2O within each timepoint significantly increased the total mechanical power (supine position before surgery: 9.8 [8.4 – 10.4] vs 12.1 [11.4 – 14.2] J/min, p < 0.001; pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position: 13.8 [12.2 – 14.3] vs 15.5 [15.0 – 16.7] J/min, p < 0.001; supine position after surgery: 10.2 [9.4 – 10.7] vs 12.7 [12.0 – 13.6] J/min, p < 0.001), without affecting respiratory system elastance.

Conclusion

Mechanical power in healthy patients undergoing RALP significantly increased both during the pneumoperitoneum and Trendelenburg position and in supine position after surgery. PEEP always increased mechanical power without ameliorating the respiratory system elastance.
Extraction of Levulinic Acid from Aqueous Solution Using Trioctylamine at Different Temperatures
Authors: Asadzadeh Behnaz , Saad Mohammed , Uusi-Kyyny Petri , Alopaeus Ville
Published: June 2024

Levulinic acid (LA), a carboxylic acid with a keto-acid structure, has recently been gaining increasing attention as a promising biorefinery platform chemical due to its potential to be feasible and sustainable. This work focuses on using trioctylamine (TOA) to separate LA from an aqueous solution by liquid–liquid extraction. For that, binodal curves and tie lines were determined at T = (293.15, 313.15, and 333.15) K under atmospheric pressure. The slope of the determined tie lines demonstrates that higher extraction efficiencies are possible with higher acid concentrations. Furthermore, infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) was applied to better understand the behavior of phase diagrams. This study detected the acid-extractant complex formation between (LA) and (TOA). Finally, the experimental data were successfully correlated with the NRTL model at all the measured temperatures. The obtained parameters were applied using a decanter model.
New hydrogen-bonded liquid crystal supramolecular systems: role of (+ I)-alkoxy substituents in promoting molecular ordering
Authors: Sonali M. K. , Sinha Rajeev K. , Bhagavath Poornima
Published: June 2024

Novel H-bonded liquid crystals (HBLCs) are synthesized and examined for their mesomorphic behavior. The HBLCs are prepared with Schiff base proton acceptors containing 8 and 18 carbons in the alkyl chain and the proton donor with 4-substituted benzoic acids. All the compounds exhibit smectic A mesophases, with one of the compounds exhibiting LC properties below 298 K. It is interesting to note that the ethoxy-substituted HBLCs exhibit a wide range of thermal stability. Density functional theory calculations revealed the formation of two hydrogen bonds between the substituted acids and the pyridine ring based on the orientation of the donor and the acceptor moieties. There are no significant changes observed in the hydrogen bond length with the increase in the chain length of the proton acceptor moiety, indicating the dilution of the cores by the longer alkyl chain lengths is compensated with the (+ I) effect of alkoxy substituents. Quantum chemical modeling studies on these molecules revealed the reduction in the HOMO–LUMO energy gap by approximately 0.3 eV for oxy-containing compounds, making them more chemically reactive by donating electrons (+ I) into the aromatic cores. These materials provide a significant breakthrough in designing innovative LC materials. This work is in support of the SDG-9 of the United Nations.

Graphical abstract
Improvement of pear slices drying by pretreatments and microwave-assisted convective drying method: drying characteristics, modeling of artificial neural network, principal component analysis of quality parameters
Authors: Tepe Tolga Kağan , Tepe Fadime Begüm
Published: June 2024

The drying process has been widely used for the preservation of foodstuffs. Among the drying methods, convective drying is frequently preferred. Although frequently used, various techniques need to be developed to overcome the existing disadvantages. The study aimed to enhance the drying and quality parameters of the pear slices by microwave-assisted convective drying and pretreatments (citric acid, ethanol, and ultrasound) and compare thin-layer and artificial neural network modeling (ANN). Microwave-assisted convective drying and pretreatments reduced drying time compared to convective-dried samples. The lowest drying time was obtained from the samples pretreated with 100% ethanol. On the other hand, ANN modeling gave the best prediction results for drying curves. Additionally, L* values decreased, whereas a* and b* values increased after the drying process. The citric acid pretreatment provided the lowest color change. Moreover, chroma values increased; however, hue angle values of the samples decreased compared to the 90.08 value of the fresh samples. An increase in the color intensity and a decrease in the yellowness were observed after drying. Total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant activity (AA) were highly affected by drying processes and pretreatments compared to fresh samples. The highest losses of TPC and AA were determined after ethanol and ultrasound after pretreatments. According to PCA results in terms of total phenolic content, antioxidant activity, and color values, ethanol and ultrasound-pretreated samples share a similar plane, while control and citric acid-pretreated samples exhibit a similar arrangement. Additionally, fresh and microwave-assisted convective-dried samples stand apart from each other and the rest of the examples, showcasing a unique positioning. In conclusion, microwave-assisted convective drying and pretreatments had a positive effect on drying time. However, these methods need to be enhanced in terms of quality parameters. Besides, ANN may be suggested for the prediction of the drying process.
Green or grain? Impact of green space expansion on grain production in Chinese cities and its implications for national urban greening schemes
Authors: Dong Yulin , Kuang Wenhui , Ren Zhibin , Dou Yinyin , Deng Xiangzheng
Published: June 2024

Context

Expansion of urban green space (UGS) enhances greenery and its benefits in cities. However, the impacts of such expansions on regional landscape sustainability and their spatiotemporal traits across the national scale remain unclear.

Objectives

This study uncovers a trade-off between agricultural ecosystem services and urban human well-being—the loss of grain production due to UGS expansion consuming cropland—in China from 2000 to 2020. It proposes a safety boundary for UGS expansion to minimize the costs of grain production while addressing the escalating demand for UGS exposure.

Methods

UGS expansion and cropland loss are quantified using land cover products, with statistical data contributing to the established relationship between grain loss and UGS coverage. UGS expansion scenarios for 2040 are simulated through bottom-up modeling.

Results

Quadrupled UGS area growth contributed approximately one-third to urban expansion during 2000–2020 in China. Despite improvements in per capita UGS area implying enhanced UGS exposure during rapid urbanization, UGS expansion resulted in a national grain production loss of 4.2 ± 1.4 million t from 2000 to 2020, accelerating post-2010. This loss is equivalent to the annual food intake of 9.3 million Chinese people. We propose a 30.87% UGS coverage target in China by 2040 to preserve UGS access while minimizing grain loss under future urbanization.

Conclusions

Acknowledging the critical role of UGS expansion in the issue of cropland loss to urbanization is imperative. Our results offer insights into ensuring human well-being and ecosystem services through landscape and urban planning.
Simulation and design of isostatic thick origami structures
Authors: Micheletti Andrea , Tiero Alessandro , Tomassetti Giuseppe
Published: June 2024

Thick origami structures are considered here as assemblies of polygonal panels hinged to each other along their edges according to a corresponding origami crease pattern. The determination of the internal actions in equilibrium with the external loads in such structures is not an easy task, owing to their high degree of static indeterminacy, and the likelihood of unwanted self-balanced internal actions induced by manufacturing imperfections. Here, we present a method for reducing the degree of static indeterminacy which can be applied to several thick origami structures to make them isostatic. The method utilizes sliding hinges, which allow relative translation along the hinge axis, to replace conventional hinges. After giving the analytical description of both types of hinges and describing a rigid folding simulation procedure based on the integration of the exponential map, we present the static analysis of a series of noteworthy examples based on the Miura-ori pattern, the Yoshimura pattern, and the Kresling pattern. Our method, based on kinematic-static duality, provides a novel design paradigm that can be applied for the design and realization of thick origami structures with adequate strength to resist external actions.
A Random Focusing Method with Jensen–Shannon Divergence for Improving Deep Neural Network Performance Ensuring Architecture Consistency
Authors: Kim Wonjik
Published: June 2024

Multiple hidden layers in deep neural networks perform non-linear transformations, enabling the extraction of meaningful features and the identification of relationships between input and output data. However, the gap between the training and real-world data can result in network overfitting, prompting the exploration of various preventive methods. The regularization technique called ’dropout’ is widely used for deep learning models to improve the training of robust and generalized features. During the training phase with dropout, neurons in a particular layer are randomly selected to be ignored for each input. This random exclusion of neurons encourages the network to depend on different subsets of neurons at different times, fostering robustness and reducing sensitivity to specific neurons. This study introduces a novel approach called random focusing, departing from complete neuron exclusion in dropout. The proposed random focusing selectively highlights random neurons during training, aiming for a smoother transition between training and inference phases while keeping network architecture consistent. This study also incorporates Jensen–Shannon Divergence to enhance the stability and efficacy of the random focusing method. Experimental validation across tasks like image classification and semantic segmentation demonstrates the adaptability of the proposed methods across different network architectures, including convolutional neural networks and transformers.
Assessing the Effects of Workplace Contextual Factors on Turnover Intention: Evidence from U.S. Federal Employees
Authors: Hur Yongbeom
Published: June 2024

This study delves into the crucial topic of turnover intention among U.S. Federal Employees, shedding light on the workplace factors that play a pivotal role in mitigating this issue. Through the utilization of Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) regression analyses, the study meticulously examines various workplace contextual factors and their impact on turnover intention. The standout finding of the study underscores the paramount importance of opportunities for growth and development (Factor 4) in reducing turnover intention. This emphasizes the significance of investing in employees’ professional advancement and creating avenues for them to expand their skills and progress in their careers. Moreover, the study brings to the forefront additional factors that contribute to decreased turnover intention, such as longer tenure, higher salary, gender (with females exhibiting lower turnover intention), and age. These insights not only provide a nuanced understanding of the dynamics at play but also offer actionable strategies for organizations to address turnover concerns effectively. By identifying these key factors, the study equips HR professionals and decision-makers with valuable guidance for implementing tailored HRM practices aimed at curbing turnover and fostering a more stable and satisfied workforce within the U.S. Federal sector. Ultimately, these findings have the potential to drive tangible improvements in employee retention and organizational performance.
Of Mice and Mates: Automated Classification and Modelling of Mouse Behaviour in Groups Using a Single Model Across Cages
Authors: Camilleri Michael P. J. , Bains Rasneer S. , Williams Christopher K. I.
Published: June 2024

Behavioural experiments often happen in specialised arenas, but this may confound the analysis. To address this issue, we provide tools to study mice in the home-cage environment, equipping biologists with the possibility to capture the temporal aspect of the individual’s behaviour and model the interaction and interdependence between cage-mates with minimal human intervention. Our main contribution is the novel Global Behaviour Model (GBM) which summarises the joint behaviour of groups of mice across cages, using a permutation matrix to match the mouse identities in each cage to the model. In support of the above, we also (a) developed the Activity Labelling Module (ALM) to automatically classify mouse behaviour from video, and (b) released two datasets, ABODe for training behaviour classifiers and IMADGE for modelling behaviour.
Nutrient Accumulation in Silver Birch (Betula pendula Roth) Biomass in a Lignite Mining Area
Authors: Rustowska Beata , Jonczak Jerzy , Pędziwiatr Artur
Published: June 2024

The influence of lignite mining on vegetation constitutes a key issue due to the role of plants in restoring and maintaining the ecological balance of ecosystems. In this context, the identification of its impact on the functioning of silver birch (Betula pendula Roth) as a species often colonizing disturbed habitats takes on particular importance. Therefore, we aimed to determine the changes in nutrient content in silver birch overgrowing a spoil heap and in the vicinity of a fly ash settling pond and power plant. For this purpose, plant tissues (fine and coarse roots, stemwood, bark, coarse and fine branches, leaves) and soil samples (0–10, 10–20, 20–40, 20–40 cm deep) were examined. The basic soil characteristics were determined, along with the N, P, K, Ca, Mg, S, Fe, Mn, Cu, and Zn contents of the soil and plant samples. The soils varied in terms of soil pH and were poor in total organic carbon and other elements. The plant nutrient content varied strongly across the analyzed tissues, with the leaves usually containing the most and the stemwood the least nutrients. Statistical analysis indicated significant differences between the control vs spoil heap (particularly in Mn, S, and Mg) and the stand close to the settling pond (particularly in Ca, Mn, P, K, and S). We found that the chemical properties of the spoil heap and fly ash originating from the lignite mining operations are likely factors influencing nutrient accumulation in silver birch trees.