bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Electrochemical Paper‐Based Microfluidics: Harnessing Capillary Flow for Advanced Diagnostics
Authors: Bezinge Léonard , Shih Chih‐Jen , Richards Daniel A. , deMello Andrew J.
Published: May 2024

Electrochemical paper‐based microfluidics has attracted much attention due to the promise of transforming point‐of‐care diagnostics by facilitating quantitative analysis with low‐cost and portable analyzers. Such devices harness capillary flow to transport samples and reagents, enabling bioassays to be executed passively. Despite exciting demonstrations of capillary‐driven electrochemical tests, conventional methods for fabricating electrodes on paper impede capillary flow, limit fluidic pathways, and constrain accessible device architectures. This account reviews recent developments in paper‐based electroanalytical devices and offers perspective by revisiting key milestones in lateral flow tests and paper‐based microfluidics engineering. The study highlights the benefits associated with electrochemical sensing and discusses how the detection modality can be leveraged to unlock novel functionalities. Particular focus is given to electrofluidic platforms that embed electrodes into paper for enhanced biosensing applications. Together, these innovations pave the way for diagnostic technologies that offer portability, quantitative analysis, and seamless integration with digital healthcare, all without compromising the simplicity of commercially available rapid diagnostic tests.
A Zwitterionic Hydrogel‐Based Heterogeneous Fenton Catalyst for Water Treatment
Authors: Gokhale Devashish , Chen Ian , Wu Wan‐Ni , Monne Gagnaire Arthur , Doyle Patrick S.
Published: May 2024

Persistent organic pollutants (POPs), including xenoestrogens and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), demand urgent global intervention. Fenton oxidation, catalyzed by iron ions, offers a cost‐effective means to degrade POPs. However, numerous challenges like acid dependency, catalyst loss, and toxic waste generation hinder practical application. Efforts to create long‐lasting heterogeneous Fenton catalysts, capable of simultaneously eliminating acid requirements, sustaining rapid kinetics, and retaining iron efficiently, have been unsuccessful. This study introduces an innovative heterogeneous zwitterionic hydrogel‐based Fenton catalyst, surmounting these challenges in a cost‐effective and scalable manner. The hydrogel, hosting individually complexed iron ions in a porous scaffold, exhibits substantial effective surface area and kinetics akin to homogeneous Fenton reactions. Complexed ions within the hydrogel can initiate Fenton degradation at neutral pH, eliminating acid additions. Simultaneously, the zwitterionic hydrogel scaffold, chosen for its resistance to Fenton oxidation, forms strong bonds with iron ions, enabling prolonged reuse. Diverging from existing designs, the catalyst proves compatible with UV‐Fenton processes and achieves rapid self‐regeneration during operation, offering a promising solution for the efficient and scalable degradation of POPs. The study underscores the efficacy of the approach by demonstrating the swift degradation of three significant contaminants—xenoestrogens, pesticides, and PFAS—across multiple cycles at trace concentrations.
Large‐Area Silicon Nitride Nanosieve for Enhanced Diffusion‐Based Exosome Isolation
Authors: Kim Gijung , Seo Mingyu , Xu Jiaxin , Park Jinhyeok , Gim Sangjun , Chun Honggu
Published: May 2024

Nanoporous membranes have a variety of applications, one of which is the size‐selective separation of nanoparticles. In drug delivery, nanoporous membranes are becoming increasingly important for the isolation of exosomes, which are bio‐nanoparticles. However, the low pore density and thickness of commercial membranes limit their efficiency. There have been many attempts to fabricate sub‐micrometer thin membranes, but the limited surface area has restricted their practicality. In this study, large‐area silicon nitride nanosieves for enhanced diffusion‐based isolation of exosomes are presented. Notably, these nanosieves are scaled to sizes of up to 4‐inch‐wafers, a significant achievement in overcoming the fabrication challenges associated with such expansive areas. The method employs a 200 nm porous sieve (38.2% porosity) for exosome separation and a 50 nm sieve (10.7% porosity) for soluble protein removal. These 300 nm thick nanosieves outperform conventional polycarbonate membranes by being 50 times thinner, thereby increasing nanoparticle permeability. The method enables a 90% recovery rate of intact exosomes from human serum and a purity ratio of 3 × 107 particles/µg protein, 4.6 times higher than ultracentrifugation methods. The throughput of the method is up to 15 mL by increasing the size of the nanosieve, making it an ideal solution for large‐scale exosome production for therapeutic purposes.
Institutional heterogeneity in the education and earnings returns to postsecondary technical education: Evidence from Missouri
Authors: Cook Maxwell J. , Koedel Cory , Reda Michael
Published: May 2024

We estimate the education and earnings returns to enrolling in technical 2‐year degree programs at community colleges in Missouri. A unique feature of the Missouri context is the presence of a highly regarded, nationally ranked technical college: State Technical College of Missouri (State Tech). We find that enrolling in a technical program in Missouri increases the likelihood of associate degree attainment and post‐enrollment earnings, but that the positive effects statewide are driven largely by students who attend State Tech. These findings demonstrate the potential for a high‐performing community college to change students' education and labor market trajectories. At the same time, they exemplify the potential for substantial institutional heterogeneity in the returns to postsecondary education.
Touch‐Driven Self‐Powered Sensing System with High‐Performance Thermoelectric Generator
Authors: Van Toan Nguyen , Tuoi Truong Thi Kim , Samat Khairul Fadzli , Toda Masaya , Van Hieu Nguyen , Ono Takahito
Published: May 2024

This letter presents a touch‐driven self‐powered sensing system utilizing a high‐performance thermoelectric generator (TEG). The TEG, employing assembly technology with a high‐performance electrodeposited thermoelectric material, is fabricated. This device is accompanied by an investigation into the associated electronic circuits, facilitating a realistic demonstration. Upon tactile interaction with one side of the TEG, the system efficiently harvests energy, accumulating 15.36 mJ in a storage capacitor. Energy consumption, inclusive sensors and Bluetooth Low Energy (BLE) communication, is evaluated at 0.75 mJ/cycle, with a 2 s interval time. Notably, the sensing system demonstrates sustained operation as long as touch interactions persist, showcasing its potential for continuous, self‐powered functionality. © 2024 Institute of Electrical Engineers of Japan and Wiley Periodicals LLC.
Carbon dioxide‐activated mesoporous date palm fronds carbon integrated with MnO2/polyaniline for highly efficient capacitive deionization of water
Authors: Hussain Humair , Jilani Asim , Salah Numan , Memić Adnan , Ansari Mohammad Omaish , Alshahrie Ahmed
Published: May 2024

The continuous population growth and drying up the freshwater reservoirs around the world are increasing the demand for fresh water. Therefore, there is an urgent need to explore newer technologies able to purify water on large scales for human usage. Capacitive deionization is one of the most promising approaches to generate fresh water by the removal of salt ions from brackish water. In this work, we prepared three different capacitive deionization electrodes using carbonized palm tree fronds (PFC). These PFC activation was achieved using CO2 at 900°C. To generate the deionization electrodes, PFC activated carbon was combined with either polyaniline (PANI), MnO2, or both (PFC‐PANI, PFC‐MnO2, and PFC‐MnO2‐PANI). The MnO2 and PANI provided additional functionality and enhanced electrical conductivity, which resulted in much higher Na+ and Cl− ions adsorption. The BET surface area of PFC‐MnO2‐PANI was estimated to be 208.56 m2/g, which is approximately three times that of PCF‐PANI and PFC‐MnO2 alone. The morphological analysis showed that the PANI and MnO2 nanorods were well dispersed throughout the PFC network. Although PANI and MnO2 is largely embedded inside the PFC network, some remnants are visible on the surface of the electrodes. The cyclic voltammetry (CV) curves showed capacitive behavior of all electrodes in which PFC‐MnO2‐PANI showed highest specific capacitance of 84 F/g, while the PFC‐MnO2 and PFC‐PANI showed 42 and 43 F/g, respectively. Owing to its enhanced functionality and CV characteristics, the PFC‐MnO2‐PANI showed maximum salt adsorption capacity of 10.5 mg/g in contrast to 3.72 and 5.64 mg/g for PFC‐MnO2 and PFC‐PANI, respectively. Moreover, the measured contact angle for PFC‐MnO2‐PANI was ~51°, which indicates the hydrophilic nature of electrode that improved ions adsorption.

Practitioner Points

Date tree fronds were converted into mesopores carbon using CO2 as activation agent.

Three composites were prepared with PANI, MnO2, and date palm fronds activated carbon (PFC‐MnO2, PFC‐MnO2‐PANI, and PFC‐PANI).

Surface area, pore profile, surface morphology, electrochemical behavior, desalination performance, and hydrophilicity of all the electrodes were investigated.

The PFC‐MnO2‐PANI showed maximum salt adsorption capacity of 10.5 mg/g in contrast to 3.72 and 5.64 mg/g for PFC‐MnO2 and PFC‐PANI, respectively.
Is routine histopathological analysis of hemorrhoidectomy specimens necessary? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Men Velia , Kaur Dilpreet , Bahl Praharsh , Jin James , Hill Andrew
Published: May 2024

Background

Hemorrhoidectomy is a common procedure used to treat symptomatic hemorrhoids. However, the necessity and cost‐effectiveness of routinely conducting histopathological analysis on excised tissue samples are uncertain.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted using MEDLINE and EMBASE up to December 2023 for studies assessing the histopathological outcomes of hemorrhoidectomy specimens. Meta‐analysis was performed on articles with combinable results to determine the pooled proportions of cancer and anal intraepithelial neoplasia (AIN) using the random effects model.

Results

From 2974 initial search results, 12 studies were included in the review, with 48,365 resected specimens from hemorrhoidectomy. Among these, there were 11 retrospective studies and one prospective study. A meta‐analysis of 11 studies revealed that the prevalence of anal cancer was low, at 0.13% (95% CI: 0.05%–0.31%). The prevalence of anal cancer and AIN combined was 1.16% (95% CI: 0.53%–2.52%).

Conclusion

This literature review estimated the probability of malignancy detection in hemorrhoid specimens sent for histopathological evaluation. The low incidence of malignant findings implies that routine analysis of hemorrhoidectomy samples may not be cost‐effective. However, existing studies have yet to establish definitive risk factors for abnormal histological diagnoses to aid in the selection of specimens for selective histopathology.
Why are our roe deer short of breath? – prevalence and promotive factors of lung parasites in roe deer Capreolus capreolus in south‐eastern Germany
Authors: Wild Tobias , Ehrmantraut Christian , Dahl Sarah‐Alica , Langer Felix , Kiess Elisabeth , Simon Kathrin , Meissner Markus , König Andreas
Published: May 2024

The existence of bronchopulmonary nematodes in German roe deer Capreolus capreolus is well documented, with two types of lung parasites that have been described previously: Dictyocaulus capreolus and Varestrongylus capreoli. However, little is known about the impact of these parasites on their host animal or which parameters influence outbreak and intensity of infection. The aim of this study was to obtain new information on the relevance of factors such as season, environmental conditions or age, sex, and body mass of the infected roe deer. To obtain our results, the respiratory tracts of 762 roe deer from south‐eastern Germany were examined.

In the sample, 42.5% of roe deer were infested with V. capreoli and 14.0% with D. capreolus, and 51.3% of animals were completely free of lung parasites. Testing for influencing variables, our regression models found both sex and age of the roe deer to statistically influence infestation, with male sex and younger age correlating with both stronger infestation and higher infestation rates. Accordingly, in male animals the infestation rates with V. capreoli and D. capreolus (45.1% and 20.1%, respectively) were higher than in females (39.4% and 8.0%, respectively).

The overall infestation rate of juvenile animals was remarkably higher (73%) than those of sub‐adults (38.3%) or adults (28.4%).

Across all age groups, infested animals showed lower body weights compared to non‐infested animals. According to our multiple linear regression model, roe deer infected with D. capreolus on average weighed 0.65 kg less than their healthy counterparts, and in the case of V. capreoli 0.72 kg less on average. While the burden on the well‐being of infested animals can only be assumed, these concrete figures (reduced body weight in infested compared to healthy animals) demonstrate the economic damage lung parasites cause to meat harvesting from bagged roe deer.
Historische Anmerkungen zur Ethik in der Psychiatrie
Authors: Schmiedebach Heinz-Peter
Published: May 2024

Mit dem Entstehen einer frühen Psychiatrie um 1800 entstand eine Reihe von Fragen zum Umgang mit einer Personengruppe, deren „fremdes“, irritierendes und störendes Verhalten als Phänomen eines Krankseins betrachtet wurde. Im Kontext der wachsenden Bedeutung der Menschenrechte erhielt der Begriff der Humanität eine hohe Bedeutung als Referenz für die frühen Psychiater. Anhand historischer Quellen wird dargelegt, dass trotz vielfachen psychiatrischen Bekenntnisses zur Humanität bis in die erste Dekade des 20. Jahrhunderts die konkrete psychiatrische Praxis von patriarchalischen Ordnungsregimes beherrscht, später von den Herausforderungen der somatisch-physiologischen und experimentellen Forschung sowie biologistisch-rassistischen Vorstellungen überlagert war. Die damit verbundenen neuen ethischen Fragen wurden zwar teilweise innerhalb der Psychiatrie thematisiert, verhinderten aber nicht eine Zunahme der Bewertung der psychiatrischen Kranken als „minderwertig“.
The Appraisal of Adults with Congenital Heart Disease: Lesson from Comparison of Surgical Outcomes
Authors: Giamberti Alessandro , Ferrero Paolo , Caldaroni Federica , Varrica Alessandro , Pasqualin Giulia , D’Aiello Fabio , Bergonzoni Emma , Ranucci Marco , Chessa Massimo
Published: May 2024

The population of adults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) is constantly growing. There seems to be a consensus that these patients are difficult to manage especially if compared to patients with acquired heart disease. The aim of this study is to compare outcomes and results of cardiac surgery in ACHD patients with a reference population of adults with acquired cardiac disease. Retrospective study of 5053 consecutive patients older than 18 years hospitalized for cardiac surgery during a 5-years period in our Institution. Two groups of patients were identified. Group I: 419 patients operated for congenital heart disease; Group II: 4634 patients operated for acquired heart disease. In each Group were identified low, medium, and high-risk patients, according to validated scores. Right ventricular outflow tract surgery was the most frequent procedure in Group I, while coronary artery by-pass grafting was the most common in Group II. Patients with ACHD were younger (37.8 vs. 67.7 years), with higher number of previous operations (32.1% vs. 6.9%), had longer post-ICU hospital stay (11 vs. 8 days) but had lower ICU stay (1 vs. 2 days), shorter assisted mechanical ventilation (12 vs. 14 h) and lower surgical mortality (1 vs. 3.7%) (all p < 0.001). No differences were found in term of post-operative complications (12.4 vs. 15%). The surgical treatment of ACHD patients can be done with excellent results and if compared with acquired cardiac disease patients they have better results with shorter ICU stay and lower mortality.
Single-level laminoplasty approach to selective dorsal rhizotomy with conus localization by rapid spine MRI
Authors: Andrews John P. , Ore Cecilia Dalle , Falcone Joseph , Hirschhorn Melessa , Sagar Courtney , Sigford Kathryn , Mitsuya Yumi , Chung Taylor , Sun Peter P.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

While selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR) was originally described as a multilevel approach, single-level approaches are now popularized. Conus localization is beneficial for operative planning in single-level selective dorsal rhizotomy. Our approach to SDR involves minimal exposure for a single-level laminoplasty, preserving one attached interspinous ligament. Pre-operative conus localization is required for this tailored approach to determine the laminoplasty level and dictate rostral or caudal division of the superior spinus ligament. While rapid MRI sequences have been popularized for pediatric cranial imaging, its utility for spinal imagining is less well-described, and specific application for conus localization has not been reported.

Objective

Illustrate that rapid MRI without sedation is sufficient to identify conus level for tailored single-level laminoplasty SDR.

Material and methods

Patients undergoing SDR from 2014 to 2022 at one institution were reviewed for type of pre-operative MRI (rapid vs full), conus level, procedural time for MRI, and radiology report. The typical rapid MRI has four sequences utilizing single-shot technique (scout, sagittal T2, axial T2, and axial T1) that typically take less than 1 min each of acquisition time, with non-single-shot sequences added periodically in cooperative patients. To include time for patient positioning, pre-scan shimming, procedural incidentals, and other patient-specific variations, MRI procedure length was recorded as documented in the electronic medical record.

Results

N = 100 patients had documentation of an MRI for pre-operative imaging. Seventy-nine of these had a rapid MRI, and 21 required a full MRI with anesthesia for their treatment plan. Mean total procedure time for rapid MRI was 21.5 min (median 17). Mean procedure time for MRI under general anesthesia was 91.2 min (median 94). Of patients with rapid MRI imaging, 2/79 had an ambiguous conus level (1 from motion artifact, 1 from spinal hardware) vs 1/21 with a full MRI under anesthesia (due to spinal hardware).

Conclusion

Rapid spinal MRI without sedation can be used for conus localization in a pediatric population. This may be routinely used as pre-operative imaging for a single-level approach to selective dorsal rhizotomy, without sedation or intubation procedures.
Predicting frequency deviation of a crystal oscillator based on long short-term memory network and transfer learning technique
Authors: Su Bo-Chen , Nguyen Duc Huy , Chao Paul C.-P.
Published: May 2024

Crystal oscillators are fundamental to an extensive range of electronic systems, spanning computers, mobile phones, and automotive electronics. Their significance is accentuated in high-precision applications such as global positioning systems (GPS) and aerospace systems where the frequency-temperature characteristics and thermal hysteresis phenomena are of paramount importance. This study introduces a groundbreaking approach for predicting frequency deviations arising from thermal hysteresis using Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) networks. Contrary to prior research which predominantly utilized cubic functions to model frequency-temperature characteristics and frequently overlooked thermal hysteresis, this investigation distinguishes itself by leveraging LSTM. The proposed methodology is aptly designed to model both time-dependent and temperature-dependent variations, consequently offering a heightened precision in predicting frequency deviations. By integrating transfer learning techniques, the model's adaptability to diverse databases is augmented, broadening its utility. Experimental evaluations with real-world data underscore the preeminence of the introduced method, registering a root mean square error (RMSE) of less than 0.05 ppm, more favorable than that by the traditional cubic functions and all the prior arts.
Stören statt streicheln – Systemische Familientherapie zwischen Vereindeutigung und Kontingenz
Authors: Schiermayr Franz , Sweet Charlotte
Published: May 2024

Der aktuelle Zeitgeist ist teils gekennzeichnet von Polarisierung und Kommunikationsverweigerung. In digitalen Sozialräumen zeigt sich insbesondere, welche Bandbreite an festen Überzeugungen genährt werden kann, die dann immer wieder aufeinanderprallen und zu Vorwürfen und Isolation führen können. Der Prozess AEye mit der Methodik OO7 setzt an unterschiedlichen Orientierungsbedürfnissen an, die in einem systemischen Kontakt – und Moderationsprozess therapeutisch genutzt werden können. Anhand der Identifikation eines aktuell präferierten Orientierungsmusters wird die Möglichkeit für systemische Familientherapeut:innen illustriert, den Blick der Kontaktpersonen auf momentan ausgelassene Orientierungsmöglichkeiten zu weiten. In einem wohldosierten Oszillationsprozess kann diese Voraussetzung für die neuerliche Ankopplung isolierter Personen erreicht werden. Therapeut:innen werden ermutigt, mit ihrem Gegenüber in Schwingung zu gehen, um dann eine geeignete Amplitude und Frequenz zur Einführung unterschiedsbildender Denkmuster zu wählen, welche Klient:innenseitig den selbstregulativen Anpassungsprozess moderiert.
Falls, fracture and frailty risk in multiple sclerosis: a Mendelian Randomization study to identify shared genetics
Authors: Jeong Sohyun , Tsai Ming-Ju , Shen Changbing , Hsu Yi-Hsiang
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Patients with multiple sclerosis (MS) commonly present musculoskeletal disorders characterized by lower bone mineral density (BMD) and muscle weakness. However, the underlying etiology remains unclear. Our objective is to identify shared pleiotropic genetic effects and estimate the causal relationship between MS and musculoskeletal disorders.

Materials and Methods

We conducted linkage disequilibrium score regression (LDSR), colocalization, and Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses using summary statistics from recent large-scale genome-wide association studies (GWAS), encompassing MS, falls, fractures, and frailty. Additional MR analyses explored the causal relationship with musculoskeletal risk factors, such as BMD, lean mass, grip strength, and vitamin D.

Results

We observed a moderate genetic correlation between MS and falls (RG = 0.10, P-value =
0.01) but not between MS with fracture or frailty in the LDSR analyses. MR revealed MS had no causal association with fracture and frailty but a moderate association with falls (OR: 1.004, FDR q-value = 0.018). We further performed colocalization analyses using nine SNPs that exhibited significant associations with both MS and falls in MR. Two SNPs (rs7731626 on ANKRD55 and rs701006 on OS9 gene) showed higher posterior probability of colocalization (PP.H4 = 0.927), suggesting potential pleiotropic effects between MS and falls. The nine genes are associated with central nervous system development and inflammation signaling pathways.

Conclusion

We found potential pleiotropic genetic effects between MS and falls. However, our analysis did not reveal a causal relationship between MS and increased risks of falls, fractures, or frailty. This suggests that the musculoskeletal disorders frequently reported in MS patients in clinical studies are more likely attributed to secondary factors associated with disease progression and treatment, rather than being directly caused by MS itself.
Cancer biotherapy: review and prospect
Authors: Liu Qi , Ma Hu
Published: May 2024

Malignant tumors pose a grave threat to the quality of human life. The prevalence of malignant tumors in China is steadily rising. Presently, clinical interventions encompass surgery, radiotherapy, and pharmaceutical therapy in isolation or combination. Nonetheless, these modalities fail to completely eradicate malignant tumor cells, frequently leading to metastasis and recurrence. Conversely, tumor biotherapy has emerged as an encouraging fourth approach in preventing and managing malignant tumors owing to its safety, efficacy, and minimal adverse effects. Currently, a range of tumor biotherapy techniques are employed, including gene therapy, tumor vaccines, monoclonal antibody therapy, cancer stem cell therapy, cytokine therapy, and adoptive cellular immunotherapy. This study aims to comprehensively review the latest developments in biological treatments for malignant tumors.
Die Integration der Wärmeplanung in die Bauleitplanung
Authors: Guckelberger Annette
Published: May 2024

Zum Erreichen einer treibhausgasneutralen Wärmeversorgung sind Wärmepläne bis zum 30.6.2026 bzw. bis zum 30.6.2028 zu erstellen und in regelmäßigen Abständen fortzuschreiben. Der nachfolgende Beitrag beleuchtet die neu eingeführte Planungsart und deren Bedeutung für die gemeindliche Bauleitplanung.
The effect of GLP-1R agonists on the medical triad of obesity, diabetes, and cancer
Authors: Ibrahim Shahad Sabaawi , Ibrahim Raghad Sabaawi , Arabi Batoul , Brockmueller Aranka , Shakibaei Mehdi , Büsselberg Dietrich
Published: May 2024

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor (GLP-1R) agonists have garnered significant attention for their therapeutic potential in addressing the interconnected health challenges of diabetes, obesity, and cancer. The role of GLP-1R in type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is highlighted, emphasizing its pivotal contribution to glucose homeostasis, promoting β-cell proliferation, and facilitating insulin release. GLP-1R agonists have effectively managed obesity by reducing hunger, moderating food intake, and regulating body weight. Beyond diabetes and obesity, GLP-1R agonists exhibit a multifaceted impact on cancer progression across various malignancies. The mechanisms underlying these effects involve the modulation of signaling pathways associated with cell growth, survival, and metabolism. However, the current literature reveals a lack of in vivo studies on specific GLP-1R agonists such as semaglutide, necessitating further research to elucidate its precise mechanisms and effects, particularly in cancer. While other GLP-1R agonists have shown promising outcomes in mitigating cancer progression, the association between some GLP-1R agonists and an increased risk of cancer remains a topic requiring more profound investigation. This calls for more extensive research to unravel the intricate relationships between the GLP-1R agonist and different cancers, providing valuable insights for clinicians and researchers alike.
Downregulation of MYBL1 in endothelial cells contributes to atherosclerosis by repressing PLEKHM1-inducing autophagy
Authors: Ding Shi-Ao , Liu Hao , Zheng Rui , Ge Yang , Fu Zheng , Mei Ju , Tang Min
Published: May 2024

MYBL1 is a strong transcriptional activator involved in the cell signaling. However, there is no systematic study on the role of MYBL1 in atherosclerosis. The aim of this study is to elucidate the role and mechanism of MYBL1 in atherosclerosis. GSE28829, GSE43292 and GSE41571 were downloaded from NCBI for differentially expressed analysis. The expression levels of MYBL1 in atherosclerotic plaque tissue and normal vessels were detected by qRT-PCR, Western blot and Immunohistochemistry. Transwell and CCK-8 were used to detect the migration and proliferation of HUVECs after silencing MYBL1. RNA-seq, Western blot, qRT-PCR, Luciferase reporter system, Immunofluorescence, Flow cytometry, ChIP and CO-IP were used to study the role and mechanism of MYBL1 in atherosclerosis. The microarray data of GSE28829, GSE43292, and GSE41571 were analyzed and intersected, and then MYBL1 were verified. MYBL1 was down-regulated in atherosclerotic plaque tissue. After silencing of MYBL1, HUVECs were damaged, and their migration and proliferation abilities were weakened. Overexpression of MYBL1 significantly enhanced the migration and proliferation of HUVECs. MYBL1 knockdown induced abnormal autophagy in HUVEC cells, suggesting that MYBL1 was involved in the regulation of HUVECs through autophagy. Mechanistic studies showed that MYBL1 knockdown inhibited autophagosome and lysosomal fusion in HUVECs by inhibiting PLEKHM1, thereby exacerbating atherosclerosis. Furthermore, MYBL1 was found to repress lipid accumulation in HUVECs after oxLDL treatment. MYBL1 knockdown in HUVECs was involved in atherosclerosis by inhibiting PLEKHM1-induced autophagy, which provided a novel target of therapy for atherosclerosis.

Graphical abstract
Biocontrol potential of cell-free supernatant of Paenibacillus chitinolyticus against Plasmodiophora brassicae in two important Brassica species
Authors: Khodashenas Rudsari Maryam , Zouhar Miloslav , Manasova Marie , Li Tongda
Published: May 2024

Plasmodiophora brassicae is a serious threat to Brassica crops worldwide, resulting in substantial economic losses for growers. Biocontrol with chitinolytic bacteria producing chitinase is gaining attention as a natural alternative to chemicals. This approach is favored due to the essential role chitinases play in protecting against chitin-containing pathogens. Given that chitin is a major component in the resting spores of P. brassicae and plays a crucial role during pathogenesis, it is probable that Paenibacillus chitinolyticus, producing a high level of chitinase, could suppress P. brassicae by targeting chitin in a critical stage of this pathogen’s life cycle. Our research aimed to evaluate the effect of various applications of P. chitinolyticus on clubroot suppression in two economically important Brassica species: Chinese cabbage and rapeseed. The effectiveness of the cell-free supernatant (CFS) of an endemic strain of P. chitinolyticus from the Czech Republic at five different time points was studied in the greenhouse by measuring the disease severity index. Early application of P. chitinolyticus decreased the disease index significantly within both plant species resulting in increased shoot dry weight. In conclusion, the CFS of P.chitinolyticus has significant antagonistic activity against clubroot in Chinese cabbage and rapeseed in the early developmental stages of clubroot occurrence and holds the potential as a biofertilizer as well as bioprotectant agent in clubroot management of P. brassicae.
Leveraging transformers architectures and augmentation for efficient classification of fasteners and natural language searches
Authors: Cauli Nino , Murgia Marco , Reforgiato Recupero Diego , Scarpi Giuseppe
Published: May 2024

A primary concern in the realm of mechanical engineering is to ensure the efficient and effective data entry of hardware devices. Fasteners are mechanical tools that rigidly connect or affix two surfaces or objects together. They are small and often different fasteners might look similar; it is therefore a long and prone-to-risk procedure to manually analyze them to classify and store their related information. With the widespread diffusion of AI frameworks in several domains, equipment manufacturers started to rely on AI technologies for these heavy tasks. Automatically classifying fasteners by type and extracting metadata from natural language questions are important tasks that fastener manufacturers and suppliers encounter. In this paper, we address these challenges. To address the first task, we introduce an augmentation methodology that starts with a small set of 3D models representing each of the 21 types of fasteners we aim to classify. This methodology efficiently generates multiple 2D images from these models. Next, we train a vision transformer using the collected data to address a single-label multi-class classification task. For the second task, we introduce a prompt-engineering technique designed for conversational agents. This technique leverages in-context knowledge to extract (metadata field, value) pairs from natural language questions. Subsequently, we tackle a question-answering task to the description fields of the extracted fasteners. Our evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of both approaches, surpassing the baselines we tested.
A Point-Cluster-Partition Architecture for Weighted Clustering Ensemble
Authors: Li Na , Xu Sen , Xu Heyang , Xu Xiufang , Guo Naixuan , Cai Na
Published: May 2024

Clustering ensembles can obtain more superior final results by combining multiple different clustering results. The qualities of the points, clusters, and partitions play crucial roles in the consistency of the clustering process. However, existing methods mostly focus on one or two aspects of them, without a comprehensive consideration of the three aspects. This paper proposes a three-level weighted clustering ensemble algorithm namely unified point-cluser-partition algorithm (PCPA). The first step of the PCPA is to generate the adjacency matrix by base clusterings. Then, the central step is to obtain the weighted adjacency matrix by successively weighting three layers, i.e., points, clusters, and partitions. Finally, the consensus clustering is obtained by the average link method. Three performance indexes, namely F, NMI, and ARI, are used to evaluate the accuracy of the proposed method. The experimental results show that: Firstly, as expected, the proposed three-layer weighted clustering ensemble can improve the accuracy of each evaluation index by an average value of 22.07% compared with the direct clustering ensemble without weighting; Secondly, compared with seven other methods, PCPA can achieve better clustering results and the proportion that PCPA ranks first is 28/33.
Hyping the Hypothetical: Talk and Temporality in US Supreme Court Oral Arguments
Authors: Gibson David R.
Published: May 2024

The US Supreme Court conducts much of its business through talk, including during oral arguments, where a central activity is the consideration of hypotheticals posed by justices. Using conversation analysis, I examine a key segment of the oral arguments for Citizens United v. FEC, one that arguably changed the course of campaign finance history. I identify the conversational devices employed to advance and contest one particular hypothetical, involving an imagined ban on books, subject to a speech-exchange system that differentially empowers justices to dictate both the terms of the discussion and the time afforded the advocate to respond to any particular question. The article offers the first disciplined qualitative analysis of interaction during oral arguments, illustrates the place of temporality in legal reasoning and argumentation, and makes several contributions to conversation analysis: it advances the study of institutional talk to a new legal setting, identifies some ways in which the machinery of talk can be harnessed for rhetorical effect, and demonstrates the analytical utility of prior knowledge of what a participant arrives to an encounter equipped to say.
A novel hybrid deep learning model for early stage diabetes risk prediction
Authors: Bülbül Mehmet Akif
Published: May 2024

Diabetes is a prevalent global disease that significantly diminishes the quality of life and can even lead to fatalities due to its complications. Early detection and treatment of diabetes are crucial for mitigating and averting associated risks. This study aims to facilitate the prompt and straightforward diagnosis of individuals at risk of diabetes. To achieve this objective, a dataset for early stage diabetes risk prediction from the University of California Irvine (UCI) database, widely utilized in the literature, was employed. A hybrid deep learning model comprising genetic algorithm, stacked autoencoder, and Softmax classifier was developed for classification on this dataset. The performance of this model, wherein both the model architecture and all hyperparameters were specifically optimized for the given problem, was compared with commonly used methods in the literature. These methods include K-nearest neighbor, decision tree, support vector machine, and convolutional neural network, utilizing tenfold cross-validation. The results obtained with the proposed method surpassed those obtained with other methods, with higher accuracy rates than previous studies utilizing the same dataset. Furthermore, based on the study’s findings, a web-based application was developed for early diabetes diagnosis.
Out of the fog: fog computing-enabled AI to support smart marketing management
Authors: Hornik Jacob , Ofir Chezy , Rachamim Matti
Published: May 2024

Marketing and consumer research use a variety of data and electronic measurement devices for research, theory-building, and applied decision-making. Managing data deluge produced by ‘smart devices’ and internet of things (IoT) actuators and sensors is one of the challenges faced by managers when using IoT systems. With the advent of the cloud-based IoT and artificial intelligence, which are advancing a ‘smart world’ and introducing automation in many application areas, such as ‘smart marketing,’ a need has arisen for various modifications to support the IoT devices that are at the center of the automation world, including recent language models like, ChatGPT and Bart, and technologies like nanotechnology. The article introduces the marketing community to a recent computing development: IoT-driven fog computing (FC)—an emerging concept that decentralizes operations, management, and data into the network utilizing a distributed and federated computing paradigm. Although numerous research studies have been published on ‘smart’ applications, none hitherto have been conducted on fog-based smart marketing. FC is considered a novel computational system, which can mitigate latency and improve bandwidth utilization for autonomous marketing applications requiring real-time processing of ‘big data’ typical of smart marketing ecosystems.
Enhancing Geosıte Accessibility Assessment: A New Mcdm Model
Authors: Bilgiç Sevgi , Karadeniz Enes , Selman Er
Published: May 2024

Geosites are significant geological heritage areas that serve as field laboratories for researchers. They offer insights into geological processes that have occurred from the past to the present and hold high potential for geotourism. To preserve and make geosites sustainable, their accessibility is a prerequisite. For this purpose, a model consisting of various parameters was developed in accordance with the Multi-Criteria Decision Making (MCDM) method, identifying 183 geosite areas that have been determined by experts and are subjects of literature. As a result, four evaluation criteria were established, including accessibility, access to service/attractiveness areas, scientific importance, and geomorphological features. Taking these parameters into account, a collective evaluation map was obtained using GIS-based AHP, drawing upon literature and expert opinions. The study concluded that the most critical parameter for accessibility to geosites is accessibility itself, accounting for 50% of the importance. Other parameters have influenced the accessibility of geosites in the following order of importance: 25% land, 15% scientific importance, and 10% service/attractiveness. Consequently, the areas where accessibility to geosites in Türkiye is most convenient are those with the highest road density. Road density, in turn, exhibits a pattern based on the characteristics of topography, population, and trade factors. Additionally, a parallel outcome emerged between areas that are more suitable in terms of these factors and the density of geosites. As a validation of the newly created model, the accessibility of Türkiye's areas recognized by UNESCO was found to be very high, indicating that the model is a suitable and convenient method that can be applied to different areas.
Monitoring changes in hydric properties of treated stone material with conservation products by time-sequential IR thermography
Authors: Perez-Ema Natalia , Alvarez de Buergo Monica , Gomez-Heras Miguel
Published: May 2024

A methodological approach for a semi-quantitative non-destructive testing (NDT) of the effects on hydric properties after the application of different conservation treatments (commercial ethylsilicate and siloxane compounds with consolidant, water repellent or consolidant + water repellent properties) is presented in this study. The NDT used for this purpose is a simplified method of time-sequential infrared thermography (IRT) on stone (granite and marble, treated and untreated) from the Roman theatre of Merida (Spain), which was listed by UNESCO as World Heritage Site in 1993.

As water evaporation modifies temperature intensely, IRT enables monitoring the response of the stone samples during water absorption-evaporation processes. The comparative analysis between treated and non-treated specimens was performed by calculating the rate of surface apparent temperature change (ΔoC/h) value. The capillary rising test, monitored by IRT, clearly showed a different response of the samples treated with water-repellent treatments, proving their efficiency. Samples treated with organosilicic compounds showed a large and rapid drop in apparent surface temperature, indicating that water accesses rapidly.

Results from the evaporation test also show this difference. The surface apparent temperature increased immediately in samples with water-repellent treatments, in which water does not enter inside stone, but remains on the surface. Samples with ethyl silicate, again, show a greater difference with respect to untreated samples, taking longer to recover surface apparent temperature, because the water is retained inside the stone for longer.

This study proved simplified time-sequential IRT as a reliable technique for assessing the efficacy of conservation treatments applied to stone materials in laboratory.
Algorithmic Decision-Making, Agency Costs, and Institution-Based Trust
Authors: Dowding Keith , Taylor Brad R.
Published: May 2024

Algorithm Decision Making (ADM) systems designed to augment or automate human decision-making have the potential to produce better decisions while also freeing up human time and attention for other pursuits. For this potential to be realised, however, algorithmic decisions must be sufficiently aligned with human goals and interests. We take a Principal-Agent (P-A) approach to the questions of ADM alignment and trust. In a broad sense, ADM is beneficial if and only if human principals can trust algorithmic agents to act faithfully on their behalf. This mirrors the challenge of facilitating P-A relationships among humans, but the peculiar nature of human-machine interaction also raises unique issues. The problem of asymmetric information is omnipresent but takes a different form in the context of ADM. Although the decision-making machinery of an algorithmic agent can in principle be laid bare for all to see, the sheer complexity of ADM systems based on deep learning models prevents straightforward monitoring. We draw on literature from economics and political science to argue that the problem of trust in ADM systems should be addressed at the level of institutions. Although the dyadic relationship between human principals and algorithmic agents is our ultimate concern, cooperation at this level must rest against an institutional environment which allows humans to effectively evaluate and choose among algorithmic alternatives.
On duration effects in non-life insurance pricing
Authors: Lindholm Mathias , Nazar Taariq
Published: May 2024

The paper discusses duration effects on the consistency of mean parameter and dispersion parameter estimators in exponential dispersion families (EDFs) that are the standard models used for non-life insurance pricing. Focus is on the standard generalised linear model assumptions where both the mean and variance, conditional on duration, are linear functions in terms of duration. We derive simple convergence results that highlight consequences when the linear conditional moment assumptions are not satisfied. These results illustrate that: (i) the resulting mean estimators always have a relevant asymptotic interpretation in terms of the duration adjusted actuarially fair premium—a premium that only agrees with the standard actuarial premium using a duration equal to one, given that the expected value is linear in the duration; (ii) deviance based estimators of the dispersion parameter in an EDF should be avoided in favour of Pearson estimators; (iii) unless the linear moment assumptions are satisfied, consistency of dispersion and plug-in variance estimators can not be guaranteed and may result in spurious over-dispersion. The results provide explicit conditions on the underlying data generating process that will lead to spurious over-dispersion that can be used for model checking. This is illustrated based on real insurance data, where it is concluded that the linear moment assumptions are violated, which results in non-negligible spurious over-dispersion.
Copyright and Open Access to Scientific Publishing
Authors: Esteve Asunción
Published: May 2024

The internet has broadened the communication of digitized journals and books among scholars and the perception that academic commercial publishers use copyright law to restrict the free circulation of scientific knowledge. Open access is changing the business model of academic publishing to the extent that copyright law is increasingly being viewed as needing to be balanced against the right to benefit from science. Some have called for copyright law to be revised to promote open access to academic publishing. The question of just how copyright law should be revised to achieve this is today more topical than ever. However, there is a need to clarify and question the role that copyright law should play and there is much to be gained from consideration of the role that competition law can play. Additionally, initiatives to implement open access have been taken by stakeholders (academic authors, publishers, universities, libraries, and research funding agencies) such as open access policies and the new “read and publish” agreements between publishers and universities’ libraries. But the transition towards sustainable universal open access will be a long, complex process since the interaction between these stakeholders can lead to conflicts of interest. This article also evaluates these initiatives and suggests the best approach.
A strategic framework for optimal decisions in football 1-vs-1 shot-taking situations: an integrated approach of machine learning, theory-based modeling, and game theory
Authors: Yeung Calvin , Fujii Keisuke
Published: May 2024

Complex interactions between two opposing agents frequently occur in domains of machine learning, game theory, and other application domains. Quantitatively analyzing the strategies involved can provide an objective basis for decision-making. One such critical scenario is shot-taking in football, where decisions, such as whether the attacker should shoot or pass the ball and whether the defender should attempt to block the shot, play a crucial role in the outcome of the game. However, there are currently no effective data-driven and/or theory-based approaches to analyzing such situations. To address this issue, we proposed a novel Shooting Payoff Computation (SPC) framework to analyze such scenarios based on game theory, where we estimate the expected payoff with machine learning (ML) models, and additional features for ML models were extracted with a theory-based shot block model. Conventionally, successes or failures (1 or 0) are used as payoffs, while a success shot (goal) is extremely rare in football. Therefore, we proposed the Expected Probability of Shot On Target (xSOT) metric to evaluate players’ actions even if the shot results in no goal; this allows for effective differentiation and comparison between different shots and even enables counterfactual shot situation analysis. In our experiments, we have validated the SPC framework by comparing it with baseline and ablated models. Furthermore, we have observed a high correlation between the xSOT and existing metrics. This alignment of information suggests that xSOT provides valuable insights. Lastly, as an illustration, we studied optimal strategies in the World Cup 2022 and analyzed a shot situation in EURO 2020.