bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Ni moro ni cristiano: el descreimiento del héroe romántico en Martín Gil , de Manuel Fernández y González
Authors: de Morales Galiana Javier Muñoz
Published: May 2024

RESUMEN: Las novelas del Romanticismo español han destacado frente a las equivalentes en el extranjero por tener como protagonistas a héroes de actitudes más ateas y materialistas. Pero se ha considerado que esto desaparece en el momento en el que se impone la moda de la novela de folletín, con el caso paradigmático de Fernández y González; a partir de ahí, el héroe romántico quedaría disuelto. Pero lo tocante a ese novelista es más complejo, dado que nos muestra en uno de sus primeros textos, Martín Gil (1850–1851), cierta persistencia en el uso de un protagonista descreído hasta el extremo. Si bien la intertextualidad de esa con otras novelas suyas impide negar que este discurso está integrado en otro plenamente católico, la utilización del personaje nihilista que aquí se plantea entronca también con elementos de la tradición picaresca, que en este caso se reivindican como algo característico de la literatura hispana frente a las demás. Abstract: The novels of Spanish Romanticism have been contrasted against their equivalents abroad for having protagonists with more atheistic and materialistic attitudes. But it has been proposed that this paradigm ends when the serial novel comes into fashion, with the paradigmatic case of Fernández and González; from then on, the romantic hero is dissolved. But what concerns this novelist is more complex, since he develops in one of his earliest texts, Martín Gil (1850–1851), a certain persistence in the use of a protagonist who is an unbeliever to the extreme. Although the intertextuality of that with other of his novels prevents denying that this discourse is integrated into another fully Catholic one, the use of the nihilistic character that arises here also connects with elements of the picaresque tradition, which in this case are claimed as something characteristic of Hispanic literature compared to the others.
Trazando alambradas de metal: Animación y memoria en Gurs, historia y memoria (2017) de Verónica Sáenz Giménez
Authors: Sedano Nagore
Published: May 2024

RESUMEN: Este artículo examina las intersecciones entre memoria, documental y animación a través del análisis fílmico de Gurs, historia y memoria (2017). El documental de Verónica Sáenz incorpora secuencias animadas del reconocido dibujante Paco Roca para recuperar la memoria de los exiliados republicanos españoles en el campo francés Gurs. Si bien la novela gráfica de la guerra civil española ha despertado el interés de la crítica académica, son escasos los estudios consagrados a los cruces entre este género y la animación. En este artículo, propongo que los segmentos animados de Gurs, historia y memoria funcionan a modo de membrana reflexiva que regula la respuesta afectiva del espectador. Argumento que la animación modula el afecto del espectador en base a la estructura afirmativa y futuro-céntrica de la esperanza con el fin reconstruir una memoria multidireccional del campo de Gurs destinada a promover solidaridad hacia los refugiados sirios. Abstract: This article examines the intersections between memory, documentary, and animation through an analysis of the film Gurs, historia y memoria (2017). Verónica Sáenz’s documentary incorporates animated sequences by the renowned cartoonist Paco Roca to recuperate the memories of Spanish Republican exiles in the French camp Gurs. Although the graphic novel of the Spanish Civil War has piqued the interest of academics and critics, there are few studies devoted to the intersections between this genre and animation. In this article, I propose that the animated segments of Gurs, historia y memoria function as a reflective membrane that regulates the viewer’s affective response based on the affirmative and future-centric structure of hope, with the goal of reconstructing a multidirectional memory of the Gurs camp aimed at promoting solidarity with Syrian refugees.
Average capacity and bit error rate of vortex gamma beams propagating in non-Kolmogorov atmospheric turbulence
Authors: Bai Yang , Zhu Yun , Wang Jicheng , Li Mengmeng , Khakhomov Sergei , Dahu Zheng
Published: May 2024

In recent years, free-space optical communication based on various vortex beams has gained significant attention due to its high channel capacity and low bit error rate (BER). To investigate a novel type of vortex beam (termed as gamma beam) and its application in free-space optical communication (FSO), a comprehensive analysis of its transmission performance in weak-to-strong non-Kolmogorov turbulence has been conducted for the first time. Based on the extended Rytov method, the propagation behaviors of the gamma beam via weak-to-strong non-Kolmogorov turbulent atmosphere is explored, revealing that gamma beams may outperform LG beams and HyGG beams in certain short links. Numerical calculations are performed to analyze the effects of transmission distance, rms beam radius, receiver aperture, and other parameters on the average capacity and BER. Our results are potentially significant for free-space optical communication based on orbital angular momentum.
Multispectral imaging through metasurface with quasi-bound states in the continuum
Authors: Shao Yujie , Su Zhaoxian , He Haoyang , Jing Xiaoli , Liu Yin , Geng Guangzhou , Li Junjie , Wang Yongtian , Huang Lingling
Published: May 2024

By controlling light fields in subwavelength scales, metasurfaces enable novel ways for miniaturization and integration of spectral imaging system. Metasurfaces supporting quasi bound states in the continuum (quasi-BICs) can control the quality factor and spectral response by changing structural parameters. In this work, we present an ultra-compact multispectral imaging device, whereby spectral modulation is achieved by meta-atoms arrays supporting quasi-BICs. The designed meta-atom array can serve as filters over a wide range of wavelengths, which enables the device capable of a large operating range and high-fidelity spectral reconstruction with a fine spectral resolution. The microspectrometers composed of BIC metasurfaces also can work as imaging pixels to achieve computational imaging spectroscopy through periodic arrangement, which successfully resolves images with spatial aliasing in different channels. This spectrometer device can meet the market demand for miniaturization for rapidly object recognition and appropriate spatial spectral resolution at low cost.
Optimum core structural design of the polymer optical waveguides as edge couplers for co-packaging
Authors: Kinoshita Ryota , Ishigure Takaaki
Published: May 2024

We simulate the optical properties of polymer optical waveguides with different refractive index profiles in their cores as coupling components (edge couplers) between single-mode fiber and SiOx waveguides. In this paper, we focus on the single-mode operation of graded-index (GI) core polymer waveguides, for which we previously demonstrated low propagation loss under multimode operation. We design the optimum core structure (size and index contrast) for different refractive index profiles, and then demonstrate the unique optical properties of GI waveguides contributing to the low optical loss compared to the step-index counterparts, in particular, mode field diameter variation and taper angle tolerance.
Weak signal detection based on pulse width counting method for underwater wireless optical communication with an analog mode PMT detector
Authors: Ge Wenmin , Song Guangbin , Qin Sitong , Zhang YuFan , Du Zihao , Xu Jing
Published: May 2024

This work proposes a weak signal detection method based on pulse width counting (PWC) for the on-off keying (OOK) underwater wireless optical communication (UWOC) system with an analog mode photomultiplier tube (PMT) detector. The signal output model of the analog mode PMT in weak light communication and the influence of pulse overlap are investigated. We experimentally evaluate the proposed algorithm under different sampling rates, detection thresholds, data rates as well as received optical powers (ROPs), and compare the performance of the proposed approach with that of pulse amplitude detection and pulse peak counting. A 10-Mbps OOK UWOC link is realized with a sensitivity of -71.5 dBm in a 7-meter tank, which is 1.1-dB and 3.8-dB lower than that of pulse peak counting (PPC) and pulse amplitude detection (PAD) methods, respectively, and the total link attenuation is 94.8 dB. This system utilizes the analog mode PMT with larger dynamic range than photon-counting mode PMT to achieve weak light signal detection, which benefits design long-range UWOC systems.
Resource-constrained narrowband optoelectronic oscillator-based reservoir computing for classification of modulated signals
Authors: Klimko Benjamin H. , Dai Haoying , Chembo Yanne K.
Published: May 2024

We experimentally investigate the performance of narrowband optoelectronic oscillator (OEO) reservoir computers using the standard 10th-order nonlinear autoregressive-moving-average (NARMA10) task. Because comparing results from differently parameterized photonic time-delay systems can be difficult, we introduce a new, to the best of our knowledge, metric that accounts for system size, computational accuracy, and training effort overhead in order to provide an “at-a-glance” method to holistically determine a reservoir computer’s performance. We then demonstrate the first experimental effort of narrowband OEO-based reservoir computing for the RADIOML dataset, which consists of recognizing and classifying IQ-modulated radio signals including analog and digital modulations. Our results indicate that narrowband OEOs are capable of achieving reasonable accuracies with exceptionally small training sets, thereby paving the way to real-time machine learning for radio frequency signals.
A comprehensive protocol for quantitative magnetic resonance imaging of the brain at 3 Tesla
Authors: Radunsky Dvir , Solomon Chen , Stern Neta , Blumenfeld-Katzir Tamar , Filo Shir , Mezer Aviv , Karsa Anita , Shmueli Karin , Soustelle Lucas , Duhamel Guillaume , Girard Olivier M. , Kepler Gal , Shrot Shai , Hoffmann Chen , Ben-Eliezer Noam
Published: May 2024

Quantitative MRI (qMRI) has been shown to be clinically useful for numerous applications in the brain and body. The development of rapid, accurate, and reproducible qMRI techniques offers access to new multiparametric data, which can provide a comprehensive view of tissue pathology. This work introduces a multiparametric qMRI protocol along with full postprocessing pipelines, optimized for brain imaging at 3 Tesla and using state-of-the-art qMRI tools. The total scan time is under 50 minutes and includes eight pulse-sequences, which produce range of quantitative maps including T1, T2, and T2* relaxation times, magnetic susceptibility, water and macromolecular tissue fractions, mean diffusivity and fractional anisotropy, magnetization transfer ratio (MTR), and inhomogeneous MTR. Practical tips and limitations of using the protocol are also provided and discussed. Application of the protocol is presented on a cohort of 28 healthy volunteers and 12 brain regions-of-interest (ROIs). Quantitative values agreed with previously reported values. Statistical analysis revealed low variability of qMRI parameters across subjects, which, compared to intra-ROI variability, was x4.1 ± 0.9 times higher on average. Significant and positive linear relationship was found between right and left hemispheres’ values for all parameters and ROIs with Pearson correlation coefficients of r>0.89 (P<0.001), and mean slope of 0.95 ± 0.04. Finally, scan-rescan stability demonstrated high reproducibility of the measured parameters across ROIs and volunteers, with close-to-zero mean difference and without correlation between the mean and difference values (across map types, mean P value was 0.48 ± 0.27). The entire quantitative data and postprocessing scripts described in the manuscript are publicly available under dedicated GitHub and Figshare repositories. The quantitative maps produced by the presented protocol can promote longitudinal and multi-center studies, and improve the biological interpretability of qMRI by integrating multiple metrics that can reveal information, which is not apparent when examined using only a single contrast mechanism.
Quantitative evidence for dimorphism suggests sexual selection in the maxillary caniniform process of Placerias hesternus
Authors: Pinto James L. , Marshall Charles R. , Nesbitt Sterling J. , Varajão de Latorre Daniel
Published: May 2024

Placerias hesternus, a Late Triassic dicynodont, is one of the last megafaunal synapsids of the Mesozoic. The species has a tusk-like projection on its maxillary bone, known as the caniniform process. This process has been hypothesized to be sexually dimorphic since the 1950s, however this claim has not been thoroughly investigated quantitatively. Here, we examined maxillae, premaxillae, quadrates, and fibulae from a single population from the Placerias Quarry in the Blue Mesa Member of the Chinle Formation, near St. Johns, Arizona, USA to determine if the caniniform process is dimorphic. We made a total of 25 measurements from the four bones and used a maximum likelihood framework to compare the fit of unimodal versus bimodal distributions for each set of measurements. Our results from complete maxillae reveal that the caniniform process has two distinct morphs, with a shorter and longer form. This interpretation is substantiated both by strong statistical support for bimodal distribution of caniniform lengths, and by clustering analysis that clearly distinguishes two morphs for the maxillae. Clustering analysis also shows support for potential dimorphism in the shape of the quadrate. However, no measurements from elements other than the maxilla have a strong likelihood of bimodal distribution. These results support the long-standing hypothesis that the caniniform in Placerias was dimorphic. Alternative explanations to sexual dimorphism that could account for the dimorphism among these fossils include the presence of juveniles in the sample or time-averaged sampling of a chronospecies, but both have been previously rejected for the Placerias Quarry population. The lack of strong dimorphism in non-maxilla elements and increased variation in caniniform length of the large-caniniform morph suggest that the caniniform is a secondary sexual trait, possibly used in intraspecific competition.
Genetic association of serum lipids and lipid-modifying targets with endometriosis: Trans-ethnic Mendelian-randomization and mediation analysis
Authors: Zhang Hongling , Fan Yawei , Li Huijun , Feng Xiaoqing , Yue Daoyuan
Published: May 2024

Background

Prior observational research identified dyslipidemia as a risk factor for endometriosis (EMS) but the causal relationship remains unestablished due to inherent study limitations.

Methods

Genome-wide association study data for high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and total cholesterol (TC) from European (EUR) and East Asian (EAS) ancestries were sourced from the Global Lipids Genetics Consortium. Multi-ancestry EMS data came from various datasets. Univariable Mendelian randomization (MR) examined causal links between serum lipids and EMS. Multivariable and mediation MR explored the influence of seven confounding factors and mediators. Drug-target MR investigates the association between lipid-lowering target genes identified in positive results and EMS. The primary method was inverse-variance weighted (IVW), with replication datasets and meta-analyses reinforcing causal associations. Sensitivity analyses included false discovery rate (FDR) correction, causal analysis using summary effect estimates (CAUSE), and colocalization analysis.

Results

IVW analysis in EUR ancestry showed a significant causal association between TG and increased EMS risk (OR = 1.112, 95% CI 1.033–1.198, P = 5.03×10−3, PFDR = 0.03), supported by replication and meta-analyses. CAUSE analysis confirmed unbiased results (P < 0.05). Multivariable and mediation MR revealed that systolic blood pressure (Mediation effect: 7.52%, P = 0.02) and total testosterone (Mediation effect: 10.79%, P = 0.01) partly mediated this relationship. No causal links were found between other lipid traits and EMS (P > 0.05 & PFDR > 0.05). In EAS ancestry, no causal relationships with EMS were detected (P > 0.05 & PFDR > 0.05). Drug-target MR indicated suggestive evidence for the influence of ANGPTL3 on EMS mediated through TG (OR = 0.798, 95% CI 0.670–0.951, P = 0.01, PFDR = 0.04, PP.H4 = 0.85%).

Conclusions

This MR study in EUR ancestry indicated an increased EMS risk with higher serum TG levels.
Dynamic natural components and morphological changes in nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis in patients with acute coronary syndrome and mild chronic kidney disease at the 1-year follow-up and clinical significance at the 5-year follow-up
Authors: Nong Jia-cong , You Wei , Wang Yi-fei , Xu Yi , Xu Tian , Meng Pei-na , Wu Xiang-qi , Wu Zhi-ming , Kong Xiao-han , Jia Hai-bo , Yin De-lu , Li Lang , Ye Fei
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The natural outcome of coronary plaque in acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is unique, which can be analyzed quantitatively by optical flow ratio (OFR) software.

Methods

A total of 184 ACS patients with at least one nonculprit subclinical atherosclerosis (NSA) detected by optical coherence tomography (OCT) at baseline and 1-year follow-up were divided into non-CKD group (n = 106, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR)> 90 mL/(min×1.73 m2)) and mild CKD group (n = 78, 60≤eGFR<90 mL/(min×1.73 m2)). Changes of normalized total atheroma volume (TAVn) of NSA was the primary endpoint at the 1-year follow-up.

Results

Patients with mild CKD showed more TAVn progression of NSA than non-CKD (p = 0.019) from baseline to the 1-year follow-up, which was mainly due to an increase in calcium TAVn (p<0.001). The morphological change in the maximal calcification thickness (p = 0.026) was higher and the change in the distance from the calcified surface to the contralateral coronary media membrane (ΔC-to-M) at the maximal cross-sectional calcium area was lower (p<0.001) in mild CKD group than in non-CKD group. Mild CKD had more NSA related MACEs at the 5-year follow-up than non-CKD (30.8% vs. 5.8%, p = 0.045).

Conclusions

Mild CKD patients had more plaque progression of NSA which showed the increase of calcium component with more protrusion into the lumen morphologically at the 1-year follow-up and a higher corresponding incidence of NSA-related MACEs at the 5-year follow-up.

Trial registration

Clinical Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov. NCT02140801. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02140801.
Performance enhancement of short-term wind speed forecasting model using Realtime data
Authors: Ashraf Maria , Raza Bushra , Arshad Maryam , Khan Bilal Muhammad , Zaidi Syed Sajjad Haider
Published: May 2024

The ever-increasing demand for electricity has presented a grave threat to traditional energy sources, which are finite, rapidly depleting, and have a detrimental environmental impact. These shortcomings of conventional energy resources have caused the globe to switch from traditional to renewable energy sources. Wind power significantly contributes to carbon-free energy because it is widely accessible, inexpensive, and produces no harmful emissions. Better and more efficient renewable wind power production relies on accurate wind speed predictions. Accurate short-term wind speed forecasting is essential for effectively handling unsteady wind power generation and ensuring that wind turbines operate safely. The significant stochastic nature of the wind speed and its dynamic unpredictability makes it difficult to forecast. This paper develops a hybrid model, L-LG-S, for precise short-term wind speed forecasting to address problems in wind speed forecasting. In this research, state-of-the-art machine learning and deep learning algorithms employed in wind speed forecasting are compared with the proposed approach. The effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model is tested using real-world wind speed data from a wind turbine located in the city of Karachi, Pakistan. Moreover, the mean square error (MSE), root mean square error (RMSE), and mean absolute error (MAE) are used as accuracy evaluation indices. Experimental results show that the proposed model outperforms the state-of-the-art legacy models in terms of accuracy for short-term wind speed in training, validation and test predictions by 98% respectively.
Motives matter: The psychological experience of ostracizing among sources
Authors: Iannuzzelli Rose , Gonsalkorale Karen , Williams Lisa A.
Published: May 2024

Individuals ostracize others for myriad reasons, yet the influence of those reasons on the psychological experience of ostracizing is yet unknown. Two studies aimed to determine the emotional and behavioral sequelae of ostracizing for different motives, directly comparing punitive to defensive motives. We focused our examination on a suite of emotions expected to arise as a function of (1) the situations that give rise to ostracizing for punitive and defensive reasons (anger, fear, anxiety, and sadness) and (2) the act of ostracizing itself (i.e., pride and guilt). The research employed a novel paradigm to induce the experience of ostracizing for defensive or punitive motives. Study 1 (N = 372) investigated sources’ experienced emotion as a function of motive. Study 2 (N = 743) expanded consideration to behavioral intentions, including intentions to continue ostracizing and to recruit others to join in ostracizing the target. Across both studies and supported by an internal meta-analysis, ostracizing for defensive reasons was associated with higher levels of guilt, fear, and anxiety, and lower levels of anger, compared to ostracizing for punitive reasons. Neither sadness nor positive emotion (pride or happiness) differed significantly according to motive in either study. Moreover, guilt and anger mediated the impact of motive on intentions to continue ostracizing and recruit others to join them in ostracizing. To the extent that punitive sources experienced anger relative to defensive sources, they expressed greater intentions to continue ostracizing the target and to recruit others to join in ostracizing the target. To the extent that defensive sources experienced guilt relative to punitive sources, they reported reduced intentions to continue ostracizing the target. Findings add to a growing literature on ostracism sources, and highlight the mediating role of sources’ emotion in guiding future actions.
How does climate change affect potential yields of four staple grain crops worldwide by 2030?
Authors: Cai Chengzhi , LV Linyu , WEI Sha , ZHANG Lin , CAO Wenfang
Published: May 2024

Global food security basically depends on potential yields of staple grain crops worldwide, especially under climate change. However, most scholars use various models of production function in which climatic factors are often considered to estimate crop yield mostly at local or regional level. Therefore, in this paper: Potential yields of rice, wheat, maize and soybean worldwide by 2030 are projected creatively using Auto-regressive Integrated Moving Average and Trend Regressed (ARIMA-TR) model in which actual yields in recent two years are used for testing the reliability of projection and Gray System (GS) model for validating the test; Especially individual impacts of climate change on the productions of rice, wheat, maize and soybean worldwide since 1961 are analyzed by using unary regression model in which global mean temperature and land precipitation are independent variable while the yield of crop being dependent one, respectively. Results show that: by 2030, the ratio between average and top yields of world rice is projected to be 50.6% increasing, while those of world wheat, world maize and world soybean are projected to be 38.0% increasing, 14.7% decreasing and 72.5% increasing, respectively. Since 1961 global warming has exerted a negative impact on average yield of world rice less than on its top, a positive effect on average yield of world wheat while a negative impact on its top, a positive effect on average yield of world maize less than on its top, and a positive influence on average yield of world soybean while a negative one on its top, which might be slightly mitigated by ‘Carbon Peak’ target. The fluctuation of global rainfall contributes to the productions of these crops much less than global warming during same period. Our findings indicate that: to improve global production of four staple grain crops by 2030, the priorities of input should be given to either rice or wheat in both high and low yield countries, whereas to maize in high yield countries and to soybean in low yield countries. These insights highlight some difference from previous studies, and provide academia with innovative comprehension and policy-decision makers with supportive information on sustainable production of these four staple grain crops for global food security under climate change in the future.
Retrospective evaluation of udder recovery of cows with subclinical mastitis following treatment with acoustic pulse technology (APT) on commercial dairy farms and its economic impact
Authors: Merin Uzi , Gilad Dani , Jacoby Shamay , Keynan Benny , Hefer Yochai , Lavon Yaniv , Leitner Gabriel
Published: May 2024

Retrospective evaluation of udder recovery following treatment of the inflamed quarter with acoustic pulse technology (APT) of cows with subclinical mastitis was done on 4 Israeli commercial dairy farms. Here, we evaluated the APT treatment as a tool to manage subclinical mastitis and its economic consequences in commercial farms. Recovery of the infected glands following APT treatment was compared to the customary no-treatment (NT) for cows with subclinical mastitis. Over 2 years, 467 cows with subclinical mastitis were identified. Subclinical mastitis was defined by elevated somatic cell count (SCC; >1 × 106 cells/mL) in the monthly test-day milk sample; 222 cows were treated with APT and 245 cows were not treated and served as control. Differences between treatment groups in culling, milk quality, milk yield and bacterial elimination were analyzed. After treatment, cure from bacteria was calculated only for cows with pre-isolated bacteria. The percentage of sampled cows determined as cured (no bacterial finding) in the NT group was 32.7% (35/107) (30.9% Gram negative; 32.4% Gram positive) and in the APT-treated group, 83.9% (42/55) (89.4% Gram negative; 80.6% Gram positive). Culling rate due to mastitis was significantly lower (>90%) in the APT-treated vs. NT group. Recovery was 66.0% in the APT group compared to 11.5% in the NT group at 90 d post-treatment. Average milk volume per cow in the APT-treated group was 16.1% higher compared to NT cows. Based on the study, savings incurred by using APT to treat only subclinical cows per 100-cow herd can total $15,106/y, or $309 per treated subclinically infected cow.
Do all roads lead to Rome? An ideal-type study on trajectories of resilience in advanced cancer caregiving
Authors: Opsomer Sophie , De Clercq Luca , De Lepeleire Jan , Joossens Sofie , Luyten Patrick , Pype Peter , Lauwerier Emelien
Published: May 2024

Objective

Studies on resilience in advanced cancer caregiving typically focus on the interplay between resilience-promoting resources and coping strategies that may be associated with resilience. However, no studies have investigated the emergence of trajectories of resilience and distress in individuals confronted with a cancer diagnosis of a loved one.

Methods

Ideal-type analysis, a method for constructing typologies from qualitative data, was used to identify trajectories involving resilience or the lack thereof based on fifty-four interviews conducted with seventeen partners of patients recently diagnosed with advanced cancer over a period of three years.

Findings

Six trajectories could be distinguished, three of which involved resilience (rapidly adapting resilience, gradually adapting resilience, and slowly adapting resilience), while the other three trajectories (continuing distress, delayed distress, and frozen disconnection) reflected a less optimal adjustment. These different trajectories seemed to be rooted in the individual characteristics of partners, the behavior of a support network, and interactions between the two.

Conclusion

The differentiation between these trajectories in partners of patients diagnosed with cancer not only furthers research on resilience in the face of adversity, but also promises to assist healthcare professionals in optimizing support for this often-neglected group of partners of patients diagnosed with cancer.
Unveiling factors influencing judgment variation in sentiment analysis with natural language processing and statistics
Authors: Kellert Olga , Gómez-Rodríguez Carlos , Uz Zaman Mahmud
Published: May 2024

TripAdvisor reviews and comparable data sources play an important role in many tasks in Natural Language Processing (NLP), providing a data basis for the identification and classification of subjective judgments, such as hotel or restaurant reviews, into positive or negative polarities. This study explores three important factors influencing variation in crowdsourced polarity judgments, focusing on TripAdvisor reviews in Spanish. Three hypotheses are tested: the role of Part Of Speech (POS), the impact of sentiment words such as “tasty”, and the influence of neutral words like “ok” on judgment variation. The study’s methodology employs one-word titles, demonstrating their efficacy in studying polarity variation of words. Statistical tests on mean equality are performed on word groups of our interest. The results of this study reveal that adjectives in one-word titles tend to result in lower judgment variation compared to other word types or POS. Sentiment words contribute to lower judgment variation as well, emphasizing the significance of sentiment words in research on polarity judgments, and neutral words are associated with higher judgment variation as expected. However, these effects cannot be always reproduced in longer titles, which suggests that longer titles do not represent the best data source for testing the ambiguity of single words due to the influence on word polarity by other words like negation in longer titles. This empirical investigation contributes valuable insights into the factors influencing polarity variation of words, providing a foundation for NLP practitioners that aim to capture and predict polarity judgments in Spanish and for researchers that aim to understand factors influencing judgment variation.
Heat-killed Limosilactobacillus reuteri ATCC PTA 6475 prevents bone loss in ovariectomized mice: A preliminary study
Authors: Ribeiro Jaqueline Lemes , Santos Thaís Aguiar , Garcia Maíra Terra , Carvalho Bruna Fernandes do Carmo , Esteves Juan Emmanuel Costa Sant’Ana , Moraes Renata Mendonça , Anbinder Ana Lia
Published: May 2024

Osteoporosis is an important health problem that occurs due to an imbalance between bone formation and resorption. Hormonal deficiency post-menopause is a significant risk factor. The probiotic Limosilactobacillus reuteri has been reported to prevent ovariectomy (Ovx)-induced bone loss in mice and reduce bone loss in postmenopausal women. Despite the numerous health benefits of probiotics, as they are live bacteria, the administration is not risk-free for certain groups (e.g., neonates and immunosuppressed patients). We evaluated the effects of L. reuteri (ATCC PTA 6475) and its heat-killed (postbiotic) form on Ovx-induced bone loss. Adult female mice (BALB/c) were randomly divided into four groups: group C—control (sham); group OVX-C—Ovx; group OVX-POS—Ovx + heat-killed probiotic; group OVX-PRO—Ovx + probiotic. L. reuteri or the postbiotic was administered to the groups (1.3x109 CFU/day) by gavage. Bacterial morphology after heat treatment was accessed by scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The treatment started one week after Ovx and lasted 28 days (4 weeks). The animals were euthanized at the end of the treatment period. Bone microarchitecture and ileum Occludin and pro-inflammatory cytokines gene expression were evaluated by computed microtomography and qPCR techniques, respectively. The Ovx groups had lower percentage of bone volume (BV/TV) and number of bone trabeculae as well as greater total porosity compared to the control group. Treatment with live and heat-killed L. reuteri resulted in higher BV/TV and trabecular thickness than the Ovx group. The heat treatment caused some cell surface disruptions, but its structure resembled that of the live probiotic in SEM analysis. There were no statistical differences in Occludin, Il-6 and Tnf-α gene expression. Both viable and heat-killed L. reuteri prevented bone loss on ovariectomized mice, independently of gut Occludin and intestinal Il-6 and Tnf-α gene expression.
Application of a transparent artificial intelligence algorithm for US adults in the obese category of weight
Authors: Huang Alexander A. , Huang Samuel Y.
Published: May 2024

Objective and aims

Identification of associations between the obese category of weight in the general US population will continue to advance our understanding of the condition and allow clinicians, providers, communities, families, and individuals make more informed decisions. This study aims to improve the prediction of the obese category of weight and investigate its relationships with factors, ultimately contributing to healthier lifestyle choices and timely management of obesity.

Methods

Questionnaires that included demographic, dietary, exercise and health information from the US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES 2017–2020) were utilized with BMI 30 or higher defined as obesity. A machine learning model, XGBoost predicted the obese category of weight and Shapely Additive Explanations (SHAP) visualized the various covariates and their feature importance. Model statistics including Area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC), sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value and feature properties such as gain, cover, and frequency were measured. SHAP explanations were created for transparent and interpretable analysis.

Results

There were 6,146 adults (age > 18) that were included in the study with average age 58.39 (SD = 12.94) and 3122 (51%) females. The machine learning model had an Area under the receiver operator curve of 0.8295. The top four covariates include waist circumference (gain = 0.185), GGT (gain = 0.101), platelet count (gain = 0.059), AST (gain = 0.057), weight (gain = 0.049), HDL cholesterol (gain = 0.032), and ferritin (gain = 0.034).

Conclusion

In conclusion, the utilization of machine learning models proves to be highly effective in accurately predicting the obese category of weight. By considering various factors such as demographic information, laboratory results, physical examination findings, and lifestyle factors, these models successfully identify crucial risk factors associated with the obese category of weight.
Understanding the genetic sex-determining mechanism in Hyla eximia treefrog inferred from H-Y antigen
Authors: Ruiz Aidet , Cárdenas Guadalupe , Velasco Desiderio , Ramos Luis
Published: May 2024

Genetic sex-determining mechanisms have been extensively elucidated in mammals; however, the sex chromosomes, sex-determining genes, and gene regulatory networks involved in sex differentiation remain poorly understood in amphibians. In this study, we investigated the sex-determining mechanism in the Hyla eximia treefrog based on karyotypic analysis and identification of H-Y antigen, a sex-linked peptide that is present in the gonads of the heterogametic sex (XY or ZW) in all vertebrates. Results show a diploid chromosome number 2n = 24 with homomorphic sex chromosomes. The heterogametic sex, ZW-female, were hypothesized based on H-Y antigen mRNA expression in female gonads (24,ZZ/24,ZW). The treefrog H-Y peptide exhibited a high percentage of identity with other vertebrate sequences uploaded to GenBank database. To obtain gene expression profiles, we also obtained the coding sequence of the housekeeping Actb gene. High H-Y antigen expression levels were further confirmed in ovaries using real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) during non-breeding season, we noted a decrease in the expression of the H-Y antigen during breeding season. This study provides evidence that sex hormones might suppress H-Y antigen expression in the gonads of heterogametic females 24,ZW during the breeding season. These findings suggest that H-Y gene expression is a well-suited model for studying heterogametic sex by comparing the male and female gonads.
Did the COVID-19 pandemic delay treatment for localized breast cancer patients? A multicenter study
Authors: Zhou Ke , Robert Marie , Seegers Valérie , Blanc-Lapierre Audrey , Savouroux Stéphane , Bigot Frédéric , Frenel Jean-Sébastien , Campone Mario , Conroy Thierry , Penault-Llorca Frédérique , Raoul Jean-Luc , Bellanger Martine M.
Published: May 2024

Background

Longer times between diagnosis and treatments of cancer patients have been estimated as effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, relatively few studies attempted to estimate actual delay to treatment at the patient level.

Objective

To assess changes in delays to first treatment and surgery among newly diagnosed patients with localized breast cancer (BC) during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

We used data from the PAPESCO-19 multicenter cohort study, which included patients from 4 French comprehensive cancer centers. We measured the delay to first treatment as the number of days between diagnosis and the first treatment regardless of whether this was neoadjuvant chemotherapy or surgery. COVID-19 pandemic exposure was estimated with a composite index that considered both the severity of the pandemic and the level of lockdown restrictions. We ran generalized linear models with a log link function and a gamma distribution to model the association between delay and the pandemic.

Results

Of the 187 patients included in the analysis, the median delay to first treatment was 42 (IQR:32–54) days for patients diagnosed before and after the start of the 1st lockdown (N = 99 and 88, respectively). After adjusting for age and centers of inclusion, a higher composite pandemic index (> = 50 V.S. <50) had only a small, non-significant effect on times to treatment. Longer delays were associated with factors other than the COVID-19 pandemic.

Conclusion

We found evidence of no direct impact of the pandemic on the actual delay to treatment among patients with localized BC.
Hit by the wave: The experiences of adult males living with lymphoedema
Authors: Scerri Josianne , Cilia Vincenti Sarah , Galea Michael , Cefai Carmel , Grech Paulann , Sammut Alexei , Attard Christie
Published: May 2024

Lymphoedema arises when the lymphatic system has been damaged and may occur secondary to cancer treatment. While much of the extant literature focuses on quality of life in females with breast cancer- related lymphoedema, this study explores the impact of living with lymphoedema secondary to cancer treatment in males. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 13 male participants, aged between 50 to 85 years. Data collected were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis. The super-ordinate theme ‘Hit by a wave’ encompasses the profound impact of lymphoedema on the participants’ quality of life. The males expressed body image concerns and struggled with feelings of frustration, anger, anxiety and depression. Physical changes such as weight increase, disrupted sleep, pain, swollen genitals and urinary difficulties were experienced. Changes in lifestyle were also expressed, such as an increased dependence on carers; work-related and role changes. Nevertheless, many participants endorsed the need to focus on the present moment and expressed a heightened appreciation of authenticity in life. By understanding the unique narratives of males with lymphoedema, health care practitioners together with patients can formulate care plans that truly resonate with the needs, concerns, and experiences of males living with lymphoedema.
MAD-FC: A fold change visualization with readability, proportionality, and symmetry
Authors: Corliss Bruce A. , Wang Yaotian , Driscoll Francis P. , Shakeri Heman , Bourne Philip E.
Published: May 2024

We propose a fold change transform that demonstrates a combination of visualization properties exhibited by log and linear plots of fold change. A fold change visualization should ideally exhibit: (1) readability, where fold change values are recoverable from datapoint position; (2) proportionality, where fold change values of the same direction are proportionally distant from the point of no change; (3) symmetry, where positive and negative fold changes of the same magnitude are equidistant to the point of no change; and (4) high dynamic range, where datapoint values are distinguishable across orders of magnitude within a fixed plot area and pixel resolution. A linear visualization has readability and partial proportionality but lacks high dynamic range and symmetry (because negative direction fold changes are bound between [0, 1] while positive are between (1, ∞)). Log plots of fold change have partial readability, high dynamic range, and symmetry, but lack proportionality because of the log transform. We outline a new transform, named mirrored axis distortion of fold change (MAD-FC), that extends a linear visualization of fold change data to exhibit readability, proportionality, and symmetry (but still has the limited dynamic range of linear plots). We illustrate the use of MAD-FC with biomedical data using various fold change plots. We argue that MAD plots may be a more useful visualization than log or linear plots for applications that do not require a high dynamic range (less than 8 units in log2 space).
Association between physical activity duration and depressive symptoms in adolescents: A longitudinal study in a rural city in Japan
Authors: Kawai Toshinobu , Yamagata Zentaro
Published: May 2024

In Japan, physical activity duration in junior high schools is substantially higher than that in elementary schools. Using longitudinal data, this study examined the association between changes in physical activity duration and depressive symptoms in 1225 adolescents without depressive symptoms at baseline (51.2% female) from a rural city in Japan. Adolescents in the group that changed from "Active" (physical activity duration ≥7 h /week) in the fifth-grade of elementary school (age 11 years) to "Inactive" in the second-grade of junior high school (age 14 years) had a higher odds ratio of being rated as having depressive tendencies at age 14 years than adolescents in the Active–Active group. Additionally, the results of the cross-lagged effects model analysis suggested that depressive symptoms may be a factor in the reduced physical activity duration.
β-glucans from Euglena gracilis or Saccharomyces cerevisiae effects on immunity and inflammatory parameters in dogs
Authors: de Souza Theodoro Stephanie , Gonçalves Tozato Maria Eduarda , Warde Luis Letícia , Goloni Camila , Bassi Scarpim Lucas , Bortolo Marcelino , Cavalieri Carciofi Aulus
Published: May 2024

Considering the differences in molecular structure and function, the effects of β-1,3-glucans from Euglena gracilis and β-1,3/1,6-glucans from Saccharomyces cerevisiae on immune and inflammatory activities in dogs were compared. Four diets were compared: control without β-glucans (CON), 0.15 mg/kg BW/day of β-1,3/1,6-glucans (Β-Y15), 0.15 mg/kg BW/day of β-1,3-glucans (Β-S15), and 0.30 mg/kg BW/day of β-1,3-glucans (Β-S30). Thirty-two healthy dogs (eight per diet) were organized in a block design. All animals were fed CON for a 42-day washout period and then sorted into one of four diets for 42 days. Blood and faeces were collected at the beginning and end of the food intake period and analysed for serum and faecal cytokines, ex vivo production of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) and nitric oxide (NO), phagocytic activity of neutrophils and monocytes, C-reactive protein (CRP), ex vivo production of IgG, and faecal concentrations of IgA and calprotectin. Data were evaluated using analysis of covariance and compared using Tukey’s test (P<0.05). Dogs fed Β-Y15 showed higher serum IL-2 than dogs fed Β-S30 (P<0.05). A higher phagocytic index of monocytes was observed in dogs fed the B-S15 diet than in those fed the other diets, and a higher neutrophil phagocytic index was observed for B-S15 and B-Y15 than in dogs fed the CON diet (P<0.05). Monocytes from dogs fed B-S15 and B-S30 produced more NO and less H2O2 than those from the CON and B-Y15 groups (P<0.05). Despite in the reference value, CRP levels were higher in dogs fed B-S15 and B-S30 diets (P<0.05). β-1,3/1,6-glucan showed cell-mediated activation of the immune system, with increased serum IL-2 and neutrophil phagocytic index, whereas β-1,3-glucan acted on the immune system by increasing the ex vivo production of NO by monocytes, neutrophil phagocytic index, and serum CRP. Calprotectin and CRP levels did not support inflammation or other health issues related to β-glucan intake. In conclusion, both β-glucan sources modulated some immune and inflammatory parameters in dogs, however, different pathways have been suggested for the recognition and action of these molecules, reinforcing the necessity for further mechanistic studies, especially for E. gracilis β-1,3-glucan.
Onion Seed Essential Oil-Grafted Zerovalent Copper Nanoparticles as Promising Material for Supercapacitor Electrodes in Energy Storage Device
Authors: Kongara Ramanjaneyulu , Usha Rani N. , Prasad Rao T.S.R.K.
Published: May 2024

Nanobiotechnology was considered as unique branch of contemporary science that facilitates paradigm shift in the field of material research. This study utilizes easy, convenient and cost-effective essential oil isolated from the onion seed as reducing agent for fabrication of copper nanoparticles and applicability of synthesized nanoparticles as supercapacitor electrodes. In the synthesis process, solution colour turned from pale blue to green and then it reach reddish brown colour due to reduction in Cu2+ in copper sulphate in to Cu0 nanoparticles that exhibit characteristic wavelength maxima of 292 nm on UV-visible spectrophotometer. The GCMS analysis confirms the involvement of 2-phenylethanol, 1-hexanol, α-phellandrene, 2-pentylfuran, palmitic acid and trimethylbenzene from essential oil in the formation of nanoparticles. The particles were in spherical shape with most abundant particle size of ~ 17 nm having monoclinic phase crystal structure with 80.95% copper content. The supercapacitor application of the synthesized nanoparticles was investigated through electrochemical investigation. The specific conductance of synthesized nanoparticles was assessed through cyclic voltammetry that exhibit an impressive response of 364, 332, 311, 255 and 206 F/g, respectively at 10, 20, 40, 60 and 100 mV/s. The specific capacitance of nanoparticles was confirmed as 364 F/g with 97.1% retention capacity after 6000 cycles. The findings indicate that copper oxide nanoparticles, obtained biologically, exhibit promising applicability with well-suitability for use in the energy storage devices. Overall, the results of the current study show that the biologically produced copper oxide nanoparticles have intriguing uses as supercapacitor electrodes.