bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
On Geometric Interpretation of Euler’s Substitutions
Authors: Cieśliński Jan L. , Jurgielewicz Maciej
Published: September 2023

We consider a classial case of irrational integrals containing a square root of a quadratic polynomial. It is well known that they can be expressed in terms of elementary functions by one of three Euler’s substitutions. It is less known that the Euler substittutions have a beautiful geometric interpretation. In the framework of this interpretation one can see that the number 3 is not the most suitable. We show that it is natural to introduce the fourth Euler substitution. By the way, it is not clear who was the first to attribute these three substitutions to Euler. In his original treatise Leonhard Euler uses two substitutions which are sufficient to cover all cases.
AI Classification of Eggs Origin from Mycoplasma synovia Infected Poultry or Not by Analysis of the Spectral Response
Authors: Pakuła Anna , Paśko Sławomir , Marć Paweł , Kursa Olimpia , Jaroszewicz Leszek R.
Published: September 2023

Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) is a highly contagious bacteria that can cause significant harm in commercial poultry populations while not prevented. Rapid detection of its presence in a flock is crucial from the perspective of animals' health and economic income. Authors propose spectral measurements strongly backed up by the AI data processing algorithms for classifying egg origin: from healthy hens or MS-infected ones. The newest obtained classification factors are F-scores for white eggshells 99% and for brown eggshells 99%—all data used for classification were taken by the portable multispectral fibre-optics reflectometer.
Ad-Hoc Lanzhou Index
Authors: Ali Akbar , Shang Yilun , Dimitrov Darko , Réti Tamás
Published: September 2023

This paper initiates the study of the mathematical aspects of the ad-hoc Lanzhou index. If G is a graph with the vertex set {x1,⋯,xn}, then the ad-hoc Lanzhou index of G is defined by Lz¯(G)=∑i=1ndi(n−1−di)2, where di represents the degree of the vertex xi. Several identities for the ad-hoc Lanzhou index, involving some existing topological indices are established. The problems of finding graphs with the extremum values of the ad-hoc Lanzhou index from the following sets of graphs are also attacked: (i) set of all connected ξ-cyclic graphs of a fixed order, (ii) set of all connected molecular ξ-cyclic graphs of a fixed order, (iii) set of all graphs of a fixed order, (iv) set of all connected molecular graphs of a fixed order.
Advances in Polymer Binder Materials for Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes and Separators
Authors: Lee Siyeon , Koo Heejin , Kang Hong Suk , Oh Keun-Hwan , Nam Kwan Woo
Published: September 2023

Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have become indispensable energy storage devices for various applications, ranging from portable electronics to electric vehicles and renewable energy systems. The performance and reliability of LIBs depend on several key components, including the electrodes, separators, and electrolytes. Among these, the choice of binder materials for the electrodes plays a critical role in determining the overall performance and durability of LIBs. This review introduces polymer binders that have been traditionally used in the cathode, anode, and separator materials of LIBs. Furthermore, it explores the problems identified in traditional polymer binders and examines the research trends in next-generation polymer binder materials for lithium-ion battery as alternatives.
Development and Evaluation of a Natural Language Processing System for curating a Trans-Thoracic Echocardiogram (TTE) database
Authors: Dong Tim , Sunderland Nicholas , Nightingale Angus K. , Fudulu Daniel P , Chan Jeremy , Zhai Ben , Freitas Alberto , Caputo Massimo , Dimagli Arnaldo , Mires Stuart , Wyatt Mike , Benedetto Umberto , Angelini Gianni
Published: September 2023

Background:
Although electronic health records (EHR) provide useful insights into disease patterns and patient treatment optimisation, their reliance on unstructured data presents a difficulty. Because of their narrative structure, echocardiography reports, which provide extensive pathology information for cardiovascular patients, are particularly challenging to extract and analyse. Although natural language processing (NLP) has been utilised successfully in a variety of medical fields, it is not commonly used in echocardiography analysis.
Objectives:
To develop an NLP-based approach for extracting and categorizing data from echocardiography reports by accurately converting continuous (e.g. LVOT VTI, AV VTI, and TR Vmax) and discrete (e.g. Regurgitation severity) outcomes in semi-structured narrative format into structured and categorized format, allowing for future research or clinical use.
Methods:
135,062 Trans-Thoracic Echocardiogram (TTE) reports were derived from 146967 baseline Echocardiogram reports and split into three cohorts: Training and Validation (n = 1075), Test Dataset (n = 98) and Application Dataset (n = 133,889). The NLP system was developed and iteratively refined using medical expert knowledge. The system was used to curate a moderate-fidelity database from extractions of 133,889 reports. A hold-out validation set of 98 reports was blindly annotated and extracted by two clinicians for comparison with the NLP extraction. Agreement, discrimination, accuracy and calibration of outcome measure extractions were evaluated.

Results:
Continuous outcomes including LVOT VTI, AV VTI, and TR Vmax exhibited perfect inter-rater reliability using intra-class correlation scores (ICC=1.00, P< 0.05) alongside high R2 values, demonstrating an ideal alignment between the NLP system and clinicians. Good level (ICC =0.75-0.9, P<0.05) of inter-rater reliability were observed for outcomes such as LVOT Diam, Lateral MAPSE, Peak E Velocity, Lateral E' Velocity, PV Vmax, Sinuses of Valsalva, and Ascending Aorta diameters. Furthermore, the accuracy rate for discrete outcome measures was 91.38% in the confusion matrix analysis, indicating effective performance.
Conclusions:
The NLP-based technique yielded good results when it came to extracting and categorising data from echocardiography reports. The system demonstrated a high degree of agreement and concordance with clinician extractions. This study contributes to the effective use of semi-structured data by providing a useful tool for converting semi-structured text to structured echo report that can be used for data management. Additional validation and implementation in healthcare settings can improve data availability and support research and clinical decision-making.
Dynamical Sensitivity of Three-Layer MEMS to the Optical Properties of the Intervening Liquid Layer
Authors: Tajik Fatemeh , Palasantzas George
Published: September 2023

Here, we investigate the actuation dynamics of a micro device with different intervening liquids between the actuating components under the influence of Casimir and dissipative hydrodynamic forces. This is enabled via phase space portraits, which demonstrate that by increasing the dielectric response of the intervening layer the device may not come into stiction due to the decreasing in magnitude Casmir force. Moreover, it is feasible to expand area of motion using intervening liquids with lower dynamic viscosity or increasing the slip length of the intervening fluid. Finally, under the influence of an external driven force, which is the realistic case for possible applications, the system can reach stable oscillation at larger separations with an amplitude higher for the liquid that lead to lower Casimir and hydrodynamic forces.
Development of Topical Formulations Containing 20% of Coated and Uncoated Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles: Stability Assessment and Penetration Evaluation by Reflectance Confocal Laser Microscopy
Authors: Cuelho Camila Helena Ferreira , Assis Georgia de , Fonseca Maria Jose Vieira , Campos Patricia Maia
Published: September 2023

The introduction on Zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnOn) in sunscreens solved the issue of poor spreadability of these formulations, which often left a white film on the skin. However, safety concerns have arisen regarding the topical application of ZnOn. Some studies employed commercial sunscreens to address the safety issues of the topical application of ZnOn; however, commercial formulations are often complex and contain a wide range of ingredients that could attenuate the potential damage caused by the ZnOn. Therefore, in this study we aimed to develop a simple stable formulation containing 20% of coated and uncoated ZnOn, characterize the formulations and the nanoparticles, and assess the skin penetration in Franz diffusion cell. The Feret's diameter for the uncoated and coated ZnOn was 137 nm and 134 nm, respectively. For the uncoated ZnOn the hydrodynamic size in water was 368 nm and for the coated ZnOn, the average hydrodynamic size in ethyl acetate was 135 nm. The incorporation of ZnOn led to formulations more consistent and easier to spread, as suggested by the lower work of shear and higher values of firmness, cohesiveness, consistency and index of viscosity compared with the vehicle. The stability assessment at 45ºC suggested that the formulations containing the ZnOn were stable for 30 days and the vehicle was stable for 90 days. The assessment off the skin penetration by reflectance confocal laser microscopy indicated that the formulations did not permeate into the deepest layers of the skin, but accumulated on the skin furrows, hair and hair follicle.
Equine endothelial Cells Show Pro-Angiogenic Behaviours in Response to FGF2 but not VEGF-A
Authors: Finding Elizabeth Jane Tessa , Faulkner Ashton , Wheeler-Jones Caroline
Published: September 2023

Understanding the factors which control endothelial cell (EC) function and angiogenesis in the horse is crucial for developing the horse as a disease model but equine ECs remain poorly studied. In this study we have optimised methods for the isolation and culture of equine aortic endothelial cells (EAoECs) and characterised their angiogenic functions in vitro. Mechanical dissociation, followed by magnetic purification using an anti-VE-cadherin antibody, resulted in EC-enriched cultures suitable for further study. Fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) increased EAoEC proliferation rate and stimulated scratch wound closure and tube formation by EAoECs on extracellular matrix. Pharmacological inhibitors of FGFR1 (SU5402) or MEK (PD184352) blocked FGF2-induced ERK1/2 phosphorylation and functional responses, suggesting that these are dependent on FGFR1/MEK-ERK signalling. In marked contrast, VEGF-A had no effect on EAoEC proliferation, migration or tubulogenesis and did not promote ERK1/2 phosphorylation, indicating a lack of sensitivity to this classical pro-angiogenic growth factor. Gene expression analysis showed that, unlike human ECs, FGFR1 is expressed by EAoECs at a much higher level than both VEGFR1 and VEGFR2. These results suggest a predominant role for FGF2 versus VEGF-A in controlling the angiogenic functions of equine ECs. Collectively, our novel data provide a sound basis for studying angiogenic processes in the horse and lay the foundations for comparative studies of EC biology in horses versus humans.
Explainable Artificial Intelligence on Social Support, Poor Self-Rated Health and Dementia
Authors: Jeong Hye Gyeong , Kim Chae-Won , Park Hyuntae , Lee Kwang-Sig
Published: September 2023

This study uses explainable artificial intelligence to analyze major predictors of poor self-rated health, dementia and their comorbidity, which include various aspects of social support. Data came from the Korean Longitudinal Study of Ageing (2016-2018), with 5527 participants aged 56 or more. The dependent variables were: (1) poor self-rated health (SRH) with 5 categories (very good, good, middle, poor, very poor); (2) dementia (no, yes); and (3) their comorbidity with 4 categories (SRH very good, good or middle, dementia no; SRH very good, good or middle, dementia yes; SRH poor or very poor, dementia no; SRH poor or very poor, dementia yes). The 49 demographic, socioeconomic and health-related predictors were included. The accuracy and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) were compared for logistic regression and the random forest. Logistic regression and the random forest registered similar AUCs with the range of 0.80-0.87. Based on random forest variable importance, 18 out of top-20 predictors were identical for SRH, dementia and their comorbidity: previous SRH, life satisfaction - health, age, body mass index, income, chronic diseases, life satisfaction - economic, life satisfaction - overall, grandchildren alive, friendship meeting, brothers/sisters alive, class identity, children alive, social activity - friendship, education, children in weekly contact, religion and drinker. However, some variations were found among the three dependent variables, i.e., previous SRH for comorbidity (1st) and SRH (1st) compared to dementia (11th), grandchildren alive for SRH (6th) and dementia (4th) compared to comorbidity (9th), chronic diseases for comorbidity (6th) compared to SRH (10th) and dementia (10th). In terms of Shapley Additive Explanation (SHAP) values, the probability of dementia is expected to decrease by 5.57% in case a predictor grandchildren alive is included to the model. This study highlights the importance of social support for the prediction of poor self-rated health, dementia and their comorbidity. Specifically, the promotion of family support and friendship activity for elders would be vital for the prevention and management of their self-rated health and dementia.
Designing Advanced Multistatic Imaging Systems with Optimal 2D Sparse Arrays
Authors: Perez-Eijo Lorena , Arias Marcos , González-Valdés Borja , Rodriguez-Vaqueiro Yolanda , Rubiños-López Oscar , Pino Antonio , Sardinero-Meirás Ignacio , Grajal Jesús
Published: September 2023

This study introduces an innovative optimization method to identify the optimal configuration of a sparse symmetric 2D array for applications in security, particularly multistatic imaging. Utilizing Genetic Algorithms (GA) in a sophisticated optimization process, the research focuses on achieving the most favorable antenna distribution while mitigating the common issue of secondary lobes in sparse arrays. The main objective is to determine the ideal configuration from specific design parameters, including hardware specifications such as number of radiating elements, minimum spacing, operating frequency range, and image separation distance. The study employs a cost function based on the the point spread function (PSF), the system response to a point source, with the goal of minimizing the secondary lobe levels and maximizing their separation from the main lobe. Advanced simulation algorithms based on Physical Optics (PO) are used to validate the presented methodology and results.
Distinct and Dynamic Changes in the Temporal Profiles of Neurotransmitters in D. melanogaster Brain following Volatilized Cocaine or Methamphetamine Administrations
Authors: Filošević Vujnović Ana , Saftić Martinović Lara , Medija Marta , Andretić Waldowski Rozi
Published: September 2023

Due to similarities in genetics, cellular response, and behavior, Drosophila is used as a model organism in addiction research. A well described behavioral response examined in flies is the induced increase in locomotor activity after a single dose of volatilized cocaine (vCOC) and volatilized methamphetamine (vMETH) known as sensitivity, and the escalation of the locomotor response after the repeated dose, known as the locomotor sensitization. However, knowledge about how vCOC and vMETH affect different neurotransmitter systems over time is scarce. We used LC-MS/MS to systematically examine changes in the concentration of neurotransmitters, metabolites and non-metabolized COC and METH in the whole head homogenates of male flies one to seven hours after single and double vCOC or vMETH administrations. vMETH leads to complex changes in the levels of examined substances over time, while vCOC strongly and briefly increases concentrations of dopamine, tyramine and octopamine followed by a delayed degradation into N-acetyl dopamine and N-acetyl tyramine. The first exposure to psychostimulants leads to significant and dynamic changes in the concentrations relative to the second administration when they are more stable over several hours. Further investigations are needed to understand neurochemical and molecular changes post-psychostimulant administration.
Diversity of Trematodes in Myotis Bats (Chiroptera, Vespertilionidae) from the Samarskaya Luka (European Russia)
Authors: Kirillova Nadezhda Yu. , Kirillov Alexander A. , Vekhnik Victoria A.
Published: September 2023

Various bat species often occupy the same habitats. Cohabitation should induce different preferences in spatial or trophic components of the bat ecological niche, to reduce their competition. This determines the differences in the trematode fauna of Myotis spp. The purpose of our research was to study the biodiversity of trematodes in syntopic populations of five Myotis species in the Samarskaya Luka National Park. In 2005–2007 we studied 867 bat specimens by the methods of complete helminthological dissection. In total, 11 trematode species were found in Myotis bats. Only three trematode species, Plagiorchis koreanus, Prosthodendrium chilostomum and Parabascus duboisi were revealed in all studied Myotis spp. Prosthodendrium cryptolecithum was recorded for the first time in Russia. Digenean species diversity is higher in Myotis daubentonii and M. dasycneme. The trematode fauna of M. brandtii, M. nattereri and M. mystacinus is less diverse. The determining factor in the infection of bats by trematodes is feeding on semi-aquatic insects, possible second intermediate hosts of these parasites. Our results confirm the data that the ecological niches of the five Myotis species partially overlap. An analysis of the trematode fauna in Myotis spp. showed that in the Samarskaya Luka there may be weak competition for food items among bats.
An Insight on the Sufficiency of Waste Eggshells in Hong Kong for Sustainable Commercial Applications in Cementitious Products
Authors: Maqsood Sohail , Eddie Lam S. S. , Ng Hei Yi , Afzal Muhammad
Published: September 2023

Hong Kong is the biggest consumer of eggs in the world and ranks on the top with an average consumption of 24.52kg/capita/year. The egg consumption trend in Hong Kong has been increasing specifically; a drastic increase of about 100% has been observed from 2008 to 2020. One of the reasons behind this significant increase is the increase in the gross national income of Hong Kong in addition to the population growth rate. However, there was a slight decline in egg consumption trend in the year 2020 amid the COVID-19 pandemic. It has been estimated that there was a bulk of 17,100 tons of recoverable waste eggshells in 2019 (pre-COVID-19 situation), having a daily yield of 47 tons per day. Based on the linear regression, it may be expected that if the pre-COVID-19 trend of egg consumption remains sustained, there will be a big bulk of more than 45,000 tons per year and up to 125 tons per day of waste eggshells till 2050. In addition, a public survey was conducted across the city targeting individuals, families, and restaurants majorly on egg consumption and reuse. The survey outcomes revealed that Chinese eggs have an extensive market in Hong Kong, and people have a positive attitude towards eggshell recycling. Also, a massive population disposes of the waste eggshells while only a trace population reuses them. Therefore, Hong Kong has a very high potential to improve the circular economy by reusing waste eggshells on a commercial level in cementitious products.
Memristive devices for metrological applications
Authors: Cabral Vitor , Cultrera Alessandro , Chen Shaochuan , Pereira João , Ribeiro Luís , Godinho Isabel , Boarino Luca , De Leo Nastacia , Callegaro Luca , Cardoso Susana , Valov Ilia , Milano Gianluca
Published: September 2023

The EMPIR project 20FUN06 MEMQuD - “Memristive devices as quantum standard for nanometrology” has as one of its fundamental goals the development of technical capability and scientific knowledge for the implementation of a quantum resistance standard based on memristive devices characterized by high scalability down to the nanometer scale, CMOS compatibility and working in air at room temperature. In this work it is presented an overview of the project, highlighted relevant characteristics and working principles of memristive devices and potential applications with focus on metrological application with framing allowed by the last revision of the International System of Units (SI) that is the motivation and background for the aim of this project
Analysis and classification of Middle Palaeolithic lithic raw materials from Teixoneres cave: Project overview and initial resultss
Authors: Muñoz del Pozo Alicia , Gómez de Soler Bruno , Bustos-Pérez Guillermo , Chacón María Gema , Picin Andrea , Blasco Ruth , Rivals Florent , Rufà Anna , Rosell Jordi
Published: September 2023

In this work, we present a new project that seeks to characterize lithic raw materials and the first results from a macroscopic and microscopic study of the archaeological material from sub-unit IIIb of Teixoneres Cave (NE Iberian Peninsula). During the late Middle Palaeolithic (MIS 3), multidisciplinary research has defined this site underwent short-term occupations by Neanderthals interspersed with visits from carnivores. The project aims to determine the procurement areas of the archaeological lithic materials discovered into the site, exploring the Neanderthals’ use of the territory. In the near future, this information will be plotted on a lithological map, along with possible procurement areas, with the aim of developing a graphic and dynamic model that will make it possible to establish routes of displacement to the site, the outcrops, and the Neanderthals’ mobility in the territory.
Analysis of Peer and Self-Assessments Using the Many-facet Rasch Measurement Model and Student Opinions
Authors: DEMİR Seda
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study is to analyze the peer and self-assessments of higher education students' oral presentation skills with the many-facet Rasch measurement model and to determine students' opinions on peer and self-assessment. In the study, convergent parallel method, one of the mixed-method research approaches, was used. The study group consisted of 11 university students studying at a state university in the 2022-2023 academic year. The FACETS program was used to analyze the data. The three facets identified in the study were the assessee (11 students), the assessor (11 students) and the items (16 items). Therefore, 11 participants scored (peer and self-assessment) on a 16-item assessment form. In addition, students' opinions on peer and self-assessment were obtained through three open-ended interview questions prepared by the researcher. According to the results of the study, it was determined that there was a statistically significant difference between the students in terms of their oral presentation skills, between the assessors in terms of their strictness/generosity in scoring, and between the criteria (items) in terms of the level of difficulty in realization. In addition, the participant opinions obtained from each interview question were analyzed through themes and sub-themes formed according to the general thoughts on peer and self-assessment, experiences, and whether the participants considered themselves as a reliable rater or not. In terms of practice, it can be suggested to provide detailed and enlightening information to students before peer and/or self-assessment in the classroom environment, and to give quick feedback to those who have not done the assessment appropriately. In addition, the reasons for the biases identified in peer and self-assessments in the current study can be investigated in future studies.
Development and characterization of ultra-high-performance concrete for the rehabilitation of navigation lock structures
Authors: Scott Dylan , Wood Stephanie , Songer Bradford , Mack Thomas , Green Brian , Hackbarth Eric , Walker Kirk , Tillotson Alexander
Published: September 2023

This report details the history of vertical lock wall repairs and the development and laboratory characterization of an ultra-high-performance concrete (UHPC) using locally sourced materials for improved durability of lock walls subjected to impact and abrasion from navigational vessels. This UHPC, referred to as Lock-Tuf, has been designed for use in a precast environment with ambient curing methods and serves as a material proof-of-concept for future lock wall rehabilitations. Mechanical properties such as unconfined compressive strength, flexural response, tensile capacity, impact resistance, and abrasion resistance have been quantified experimentally.
Static Code Analysis on The Effect of Virtual Secure Mode on Memory Acquisition with IDA
Authors: Adryana Nadja , Cahyani Niken , Jadied Erwid
Published: September 2023

Memory acquisition process is one of digital forensics act. There are several tools that support memory acquisition process. At this time, there is a feature named secure mode that can caused crash or error in memory acquisition tools system and caused the tools to be unusable, also the loss of the computer memory. This research is focusing on analyzing the acquisition tools that has error or crash when the device that is being used for memory acquisition is in secure mode. The analysis is being carried out using static code analysis method, which is one of the techniques of reverse engineering, using IDA. This study aims to find the cause of the crash or error in memory acquisition tools. The purpose of this study is to be useful for digital forensic tester in understanding the potential risk of the secure mode impact in acquisition process. The results of this study indicate that different operating system and different kernel which runs in the device are the reasons that memory acquisition tools cannot run properly on VSM environment being turned on.
A STOCK PREDICTION SYSTEM USING TEKNIKAL INDICATORS WITH THE LSTM METHOD
Authors: Saputra Revelin Angger
Published: September 2023

The capital market industry in Indonesia is developing in a better direction so that the growth of new investors is also increasing. Until the end of February 2021, operational data from the Indonesian Stock Exchange (IDX) and data from the Indonesian Central Securities Depository (KSEI) recorded that the number of new capital market investors had increased by 16.35% or 634,350 investors, from the previous 3,880,753 investors. to 4,515,103 investors. The development of the capital market industry in Indonesia, which has increased investor interest in investing, is expected to mobilize public funds to support national economic development. Some companies that are familiar to the community are BCA, BNI, BRI and MANDIRI. This study attempts to forecast banking stock prices on the LQ45 index, using the Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) method. LSTM is one of the Recurrent Neural Networks (RNN) which has good accuracy in predictions. The identified fields are Close, Open, RSI, MACD and MA. The evaluation method used in this prediction system is MAPE in the form of percent output.
Dynamics of topological phonon boundary modes in polymer chains and supramolecular lattices on surfaces
Authors: Polthier Konrad , Rondomanski Jakub , González José Cojal , Rabe Jürgen , Palma Carlos-Andres
Published: September 2023

In topological band theory, non-trivial phonon boundary modes feature desirable properties for atomically-precise technologies, such as robustness against defects, waveguiding and one-way transport. Topological phonon properties remain to be studied both theoretically and experimentally in molecular materials at the atomistic level, such as polymer chains and self-assembled supramolecular lattices, especially under thermal fluctuations. Here we show by means of molecular simulations that polymer chains and supramolecular lattices following a modified Su-Schrieffer-Heeger (SSH) phonon model, express robust topological phonon boundary modes under thermal fluctuations. Our results may find applications in the realization of Hall effect phonon analogues in macromolecular and supramolecular systems at interfaces.
Examining the effectiveness of food literacy interventions in improving food literacy behaviour and healthy eating among adults belonging to different socioeconomic groups...a systematic scoping review
Authors: Manna Arijita , Vidgen Helen , Gallegos Danielle
Published: September 2023

In high-income countries, significant diet-related health inequalities exist between people of different socioeconomic backgrounds. Individuals who face socioeconomic challenges are less likely to meet dietary guidelines, leading to increased incidence and prevalence of morbidity and mortality associated with dietary risk factors. To promote healthy eating, strategies may focus on individual-level factors (e.g., knowledge, skills and behaviour) along with broader societal factors (e.g., social determinants of health). The concept of food literacy is considered an individual-level factor and has been framed as a skill set that individuals must possess to effectively navigate the complexities of the modern food system. Food literacy interventions can be a complementary but effective tool for encouraging healthy eating behaviour among diverse populations, including those facing socioeconomic disadvantage. However, there is limited evidence to guide the design of food literacy intervention for vulnerable population groups. In the process of developing an ideal portfolio of solutions and strategies to promote food literacy and healthy eating for people experiencing socioeconomic disadvantage, this systematic scoping review aims to comprehensively examine the effects of food literacy interventions on promoting food literacy behaviours and healthy eating in adults (18 years and above) from various socioeconomic groups (SEGs) in high-income countries.
Method
The review includes both qualitative and quantitative papers obtained from academic databases, including Medline (via EBSCOhost), Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar. In addition to the electronic search, manual forward and backward citation searching will be conducted to identify additional relevant papers. Food literacy interventions will be evaluated across four domains: planning and management, selection, preparation, and consumption. Papers included in the review will be analysed for process, impact and outcome evaluation. The main outcome of a food literacy intervention is the modification in eating behaviour, while the mechanism for this action will be through impact measure of food literacy behaviours. Implementation factors will be extracted for process evaluation. This review will also include a range of dietary behaviour measures, such as diet quality index and dietary intake indicator. The screening process for all citations, full-text articles, and abstract data will be carried out by two reviewers independently. In case of any potential conflicts, they will be resolved through discussion. The quality of quantitative studies will be reviewed using ‘JBI critical appraisal checklist for analytical cross-sectional studies. The ‘Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Studies (COREQ)’ will be used to report on the quality of qualitative papers.
Modeling the cortical response elicited by wrist manipulation via a nonlinear delay differential embedding
Authors: Duran-Santos Martin , Salazar-Varas Rocio , Etcheverry Gibran
Published: September 2023

Regarding motor processes, modeling healthy people’s brains is essential to understand people with motor impairments’ brain activity. However, little research has been undertaken when external forces disturb limbs, having limited information on physiological pathways. Therefore, in this paper, a nonlinear delay differential embedding model is used to estimate the brain response elicited by externally controlled wrist movement in healthy individuals. The aim is to improve the understanding of the relationship between a controlled wrist movement and the generated cortical activity of healthy people, helping to disclose the underlying mechanisms and physiological relationships involved in the motor event. To evaluate the model, a public database from the Delft University of Technology is used, which contains electroencephalographic recordings of ten healthy subjects while wrist movement was externally provoked by a robotic system. In this work, the cortical response related to movement is identified via Independent Component Analysis and estimated based on a nonlinear delay differential embedding model. To validate the model, a cross-validation analysis is performed, achieving 90.21% ± 4.46% Variance Accounted For, and Correlation 95.14% ± 2.31%. The proposed methodology allows to select the model degree, to estimate a general predominant operation mode of the cortical response elicited by wrist movement. The obtained results revealed two facts that had not previously been reported: the movement’s acceleration affects the cortical response, and a common delayed activity is shared among subjects. Going forward, this approach may pave the way for further analysis of various treatments effectiveness for people with upper limbs motor impairments.
Effects of novel androgen receptor signaling inhibitors on PSMA PET signal intensity in patients with castrate-resistant prostate cancer: a prospective exploratory serial imaging study
Authors: Sonni Ida , Gafita Andrei , Unterrainer Lena M. , Alano Rejah M. , Lira Stephanie , Shen John , Drakaki Alexandra , Grogan Tristan , Rettig Matthew B. , Czernin Johannes , Calais Jeremie
Published: September 2023

PSMA expression is influenced by hormonal status. We evaluated changes in PSA and whole-body 68Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT (WB-PSMA PET) after initiation of androgen receptor signaling inhibitors (ARSi). Methods: Prospectively enrolled patients with metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) initiating ARSi underwent serial PSA measurements and WB-PSMA PET at baseline, 1-week, and 3-months post-ARSi. We correlated WB-PSMA PET metrics and PSA kinetics after ARSi to 1-year clinical outcome. Results: Due to low enrollment rate the study was closed before reaching the recruitment goal of 30 patients. Nine patients were enrolled. At 1-year, unfavorable outcome was documented in 6/9 (66%) patients. Nine/9 patients completed PSMA PET at 1-week, 5/9 at 3-months. Changes in PSA, PSMA-VOL, SUVmean and SUVmax were -12%, +5%, +3%, and +10% at 1-week, -42%, -16%, -15% and -17% at 3-months, respectively. Conclusions: Our prospective trial involving 9 mCRPC patients initiating ARSi did not show significant modulation of PSMA expression measured on WB-PSMA PET at 1-week. This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04279561).
Differential Smad2/3 linker phosphorylation is a crosstalk mechanism of Rho/ROCK and canonical TGF-β3 signaling in tenogenic differentiation
Authors: Melzer Michaela , Niebert Sabine , Heimann Manuela , Ullm Franziska , Pompe Tilo , Scheiner-Bobis Georgios , Burk Janina
Published: September 2023

The transforming growth factor (TGF)-β3 is a well-known inducer for tenogenic differentiation, signaling via the Smad2/3 pathway. Furthermore, other factors like extracellular matrix or mechanical force can induce tenogenic differentiation and possibly alter the response to TGF-β3 by signaling via the Rho/ROCK pathway. The aim of this work was to investigate the interplay of Rho/ROCK and TGF-β3/Smad signaling in tenogenic differentiation, with the Smad2/3 molecule hypothesized as a possible interface. Cultured as monolayers or on collagen I matrices, mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) were treated with the ROCK inhibitor Y-27632 (10 µM), TGF-β3 (10 ng/ml) or both combined. Control cells were cultured accordingly, without Y-27632 and/or without TGF-β3. At different time points, MSC were analyzed by real-time RT-PCR, immunofluorescence, and Western blot. Cultivation of MSC on collagen matrices and ROCK inhibition supported tenogenic differentiation and fostered the effect of TGF-β3. The phosphorylation of the linker region of Smad2 was reduced by cultivation on collagen matrices, but not by ROCK inhibition. The latter, however, led to increased phosphorylation of the linker region of Smad3. In conclusion, collagen matrices and the Rho/ROCK signaling pathway influence the TGF-β3/Smad2/3 pathway by regulating different phosphorylation sites of the Smad linker region.
Synthesis and surface properties study of novel fluorine-containing methacrylate polymers for applications on coating materials
Authors: zhang Jiaqing , He Lingxin , Guo Yi , Hao Jingcheng , Liu Shiyi , Zhang Ding
Published: September 2023

A fluorinated methacrylate-containing monomer (FMA) containing perfluorinated branched short chains was successfully synthesized from industrial perfluoro ethyl isopropyl ketone. The homopolymer of fluorine monomer and a series of copolymers copolymerized with methyl methacrylate (MMA) and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) were prepared by free radical polymerization and characterized by NMR, FT-IR, XRD, and GPC. Moreover, the thermal stability and surface properties of the coverslip and cotton fabrics treated with polymer solution were investigated , it was found that the introduction of MMA and HEMA reduced the preparation cost of the polymer and the adhesion to the material surface. Further, with the increase of FMA feeding, the thermal stability of the copolymer was improved, the surface energy and roughness of the material surface were affected and its hydrophobic and oleophobic ability was significantly strengthened. When the mass fraction of FMA reached 30%, the hydrophobic and oleophobic property of the copolymer tended to be the same as that of the homopolymer, which proved that the polymerization of FMA with other monomers was an excellent solution to achieve both economy and functionality.
Establishment and validation of a prognostic model associated with systemic immune inflammatory index (SII) before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer
Authors: Xiang Xiaoyong , Tang Yuan , Li Ning , Liu Wenyang , Chen Silin , Zhao Yin , Shi Jinming , Zeng Qiang , Ma Huiying , Wang Shulian , Liu Yueping , Song Yongwen , Lu Ningning , Qi Shunan , Zhou Haitao , Zhang Haizeng , Li Yexiong , Jin Jing
Published: September 2023

Purpose: The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of systemic immune inflammation index (SII) on the prognosis, and to determine whether the combination of SII and traditional risk factors could enhance prognosis prediction of locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC).
Methods and Materials: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical data of 288 patients with LARC. Clinical variables and hematological parameters of peripheral blood of patients before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy were incorporated into further analyses. The primary endpoint was overall survival (OS). According to LASSO penalized Cox and multivariate Cox regression analyses, four independent prognostic risk factors were screened to constructed tow prognostic models and have verified the role of SII in the model. The ROC curve (Receiver operating characteristic ) was applied to determine the optimal cut-off values for SII, and then according to the optimal cut-off value, LARC patients were divided into high- and low-SII groups to perform Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and log-rank tests.
Results: Multivariate cox regression (stepwise method) analysis revealed that SII, cN, radiotherapy regimen and received surgery were independent prognostic risk factors. The nomogram model based on the four factors showed that SII shared the largest contributions to prognosis, followed by surgery, cN staging and radiotherapy regimen. The nomogram including SII (AIC, 621.17; C‑index, 0.778) possessed superior prognostic value compared with the nomogram without SII (AIC, 628.35; c-index,0.756). The optimal cut-off value of SII was 587.03 for predicting OS yielded by ROC curve analysis. KM survival analysis showed that the survival of patients with low SII was significantly better than that of patients with high SII (p＜0.0001).
Conclusions: The levels of SII before neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy have important predictive value for the prognosis of patients with LARC, and combining SII with the traditional risk factors may improve predictive performance.
The Effects of Eccentric Training on Hamstring Flexibility and Strength in Young Dance Students
Authors: Liang Feng , Hongfeng Huo , Ying Zhu
Published: September 2023

Objective: The objective of this research is to examine the impact of eccentric training on hamstring flexibility and strength in young dancers during the concluding stages of their foundational dance training program.
Methods: A total of 24 female, second-year dance students from Hebei Normal University were selected as participants. They were divided into three distinct groups: Nordic hamstring exercise and single-leg deadlift group (NHE&SLD), forward bending exercises and standing leg lift group (FBE&SLL), and a control group (CG). The study was designed around a 6-week training regimen. An isokinetic dynamometer was used to measure seated knee flexor-extensor strength, while electronic goniometry was employed to measure hamstring flexibility in the supine position. Paired sample t-tests were conducted within each group, and one-way analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was utilized for comparisons between groups.
Results: In the NHE&SLD group, significant disparities were observed in both concentric (T=-5.687, P=0.001) and eccentric (T=-3.626, P=0.008) hamstring strength pre and post-intervention. The pre-intervention dominant leg concentric strength test values significantly influenced the post-intervention outcomes (F=5.313, P=0.001, η²=0.840). Similarly, the pre-intervention dominant leg eccentric strength test values impacted the post-intervention results (F=4.689, P=0.043, η²=0.190). Following the intervention, the NHE&SLD group displayed marked changes in the active straight leg raising angle on both left (T=-4.171, P=0.004) and right (T=-6.328, P=0.001) sides. The FBE&SLL group also revealed significant changes in the active straight leg raising angle on both left (T=-4.506, P=0.003) and right (T=-4.633, P=0.002) sides following the intervention. The pre-intervention left leg concentric strength test value significantly influenced the post-intervention outcomes (F=25.067, P=0.001, η²=0.556). Likewise, the pre-intervention right leg eccentric strength test value significantly influenced the post-intervention results (F=85.338, P=0.01, η²=0.810).
Conclusion: Eccentric training can effectively enhance hamstring flexibility and strength in dance students. Traditional stretching exercises mildly affect hamstring flexibility but do not create a significant impact on strength. Compared to pure stretching exercises, eccentric training provides more comprehensive training benefits. It is recommended for dance students to employ eccentric training into their habitually exercise routine.
Discriminant analysis reveals differences in breed structure in River Buffaloes of Maharashtra (India)
Authors: Ali S Sajid , Kuralkar S V , Kanadkhedkar H L , Bankar P S , Kataria R S , Vohra Vikas
Published: September 2023

Buffaloes are a major milch species of India and owning a true-to-breed buffalo herd is a reverie for livestock keepers, as it substantiates their incomes. Multivariate discriminate analysis is an efficient methodology to classify different farm animal populations based on canonical discriminant function. The present study was conducted on 392 adult buffaloes using 18 body biometric traits. Except for body height and body length, all the body characters revealed significant differences amongst the four buffalo populations. Unlike cattle, distance between horns and rump width were more discriminating factors, compared to body height, leg length, chest girth, and body length. We report the most suitable discriminate function which can discriminate with maximum between-group variation in four studied populations. Mahalanobis distances were calculated between populations and they ranged from 0.786 to 1.227. Purnathadi has revealed a distinct phenotypic structure and these buffaloes have a distinct native breeding region comprising of Akola, Amravati, and Buldhana districts of Maharashtra State. On the other hand, Elachpuri animals failed to depict physical and biometric discrimination from Nagpuri, Marathwadi, and Purnathadi buffalo populations and Elachpuri can be considered as a strain of Nagpuri buffalo.
Unveiling Intrinsic Charge Transfer Dynamics in Bone-Joint S-Scheme Heterostructures for Promoting Photocatalytic Hydrogen Peroxide Generation
Authors: Chen Peng , Liu Yuhui , Deng Xiaoxu , Song Meiyang , Song Henghui , Wang Yi , Yin Shuang-Feng
Published: September 2023

Constructing compact direct Z- and S-scheme heterostructures is an efficient strategy for realizing highly efficient charge separation and photocatalytic performance. However, the driving charge source of the built-in electric field (BEF) for internal electron-hole complexation sites remains unknown, which is a barrier to rationally design heterojunctions. Here, experimental results and theoretical research unveiled that complicated internal charges can be directly transferred to an intermediate co-crystal plane for electron–hole complexation in compact S-scheme heterostructures, called “bone-joint” heterostructures. It acted as an inner source of BEF that compels charge directed migration and exciton dissociation. Moreover, those bone joint structures adjust the inherent chemical and energetic interactions that manipulate the reactant adsorption mode and surface reaction energy. As a result, a synthesized catalyst displayed remarkable hydrogen peroxide production performance and stability. This offers a new paradigm for intrinsic charge transfer dynamics in heterostructures and a guiding philosophy for designing efficient heterostructures.
An Experimental Study on Mechanical Properties of Zero Cement Concrete
Authors: Madhumitha P. , Bhargavi K. Santhosh
Published: September 2023

The cement industry promotes global warming and energy consumption. Sustainable waste can be used as a green binder providing a unique approach to sustainability. This paper aims to study on physical and mechanical properties of zero cement mortar cubes and zero cement concrete cubes of 7 different Mix Proportions using 1:1 and 1:2 ratios of sodium hydroxide of 8Molarity & sodium silicate alkaline solution. The binder is made out of fly ash, GGBS, metakaolin, lime, and gypsum. The results of the consistency, setting time, and compression strength tests were used to calculate the percentage of the chemical constituents in the zero cement mortars. By employing the Dry Density Method to remove voids and dense the concrete mix, an approach for determining mix proportions for a desired compression strength of 60 MPa was presented based on the performance of binders. The data reveal that zero cement concrete demonstrates higher strength in compressive testing compared to standard OPC Moreover, as the percentage of GGBS increases the maximum compressive strength rises at 28 days.