bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Can Soil Improvers (Biochar, Compost, Insect Frass, Lime, and Zeolite) Achieve Phytostabilization of Potentially Toxic Elements in Heavily Contaminated Soil with the Use of Purslane (Portulaca oleracea)?
Authors: Thalassinos Giorgos , Levizou Efi , Antoniadis Vasileios
Published: November 2023

In soil with extremely high contents of Cd (101.87), Pb (26,526.44), and Zn (17,652.63 mg kg−1), we aimed to test the phytostabilization capacity of purslane (Portulaca oleracea) with the use of various soil improvers, both organic (biochar, compost, insect frass) and inorganic (lime and zeolite). Thus, in a 60-day pot experiment, we amended this heavily contaminated soil with the five materials at two rates, 2% and 4%, resulting in 11 treatments (control plus five materials × two rates) replicated 10 times. We found that soil extractions of Cd with DTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid) were not affected by any of the amendments, as there was no recorded significant reduction in soil Cd. In the case of Pb, there were even significant increases in its extractability with added biochar, and so was the case for compost at 4%. The reason may be the formation of organometallic complexes with organic substances of low molecular weight eluted by the organic amendments. Similarly, Zn extractability increased significantly compared to the control in the compost and frass treatments. As for purslane shoots, Cd decreased from 61 μg kg−1 fresh weight (FW) at control to 39 at biochar 4%, but the reduction was non-significant. As for Pb, it decreased with biochar but not significantly, while it exhibited a significant decrease in all other treatments. However, in all cases the content of Pb in purslane was well above the European regulation limit of 0.100 mg kg−1 FW (fresh weight) for vegetables and fresh herbs, while Cd fell below the regulation limit of 50 μg kg−1 FW at biochar 4%, compost 4%, and frass 2% and 4% (with control being 62.5 μg kg−1 FW). We conclude that in heavily contaminated soils, although biochar, along with compost and frass, was not entirely unsuccessful, the tested amendments did not reduce satisfactorily toxic elements to sufficiently low levels both in soil and in the test plant (here, purslane) in order to achieve phytostabilization. However, further research is necessary to identify exact mechanisms and to elucidate the role of different biochars.
CERNAS—Current Evolution and Research Novelty in Agricultural Sustainability
Authors: Guiné Raquel P. F.
Published: November 2023

Climate changes have overwhelming impacts on primary production and, consequently, on agricultural and animal farming [...]
Who Needs External References?—Text Summarization Evaluation Using Original Documents
Authors: Foysal Abdullah Al , Böck Ronald
Published: November 2023

Nowadays, individuals can be overwhelmed by a huge number of documents being present in daily life. Capturing the necessary details is often a challenge. Therefore, it is rather important to summarize documents to obtain the main information quickly. There currently exist automatic approaches to this task, but their quality is often not properly assessed. State-of-the-art metrics rely on human-generated summaries as a reference for the evaluation. If no reference is given, the assessment will be challenging. Therefore, in the absence of human-generated reference summaries, we investigated an alternative approach to how machine-generated summaries can be evaluated. For this, we focus on the original text or document to retrieve a metric that allows a direct evaluation of automatically generated summaries. This approach is particularly helpful in cases where it is difficult or costly to find reference summaries. In this paper, we present a novel metric called Summary Score without Reference—SUSWIR—which is based on four factors already known in the text summarization community: Semantic Similarity, Redundancy, Relevance, and Bias Avoidance Analysis, overcoming drawbacks of common metrics. Therefore, we aim to close a gap in the current evaluation environment for machine-generated text summaries. The novel metric is introduced theoretically and tested on five datasets from their respective domains. The conducted experiments yielded noteworthy outcomes, employing the utilization of SUSWIR.
Calculation of Dangerous Driving Index for Two-Wheeled Vehicles Using the Analytic Hierarchy Process
Authors: Lee Suyun , Kim Dongbeom , Jun Chulmin
Published: November 2023

Given the high incidence of traffic accidents and fatalities on two-wheeled vehicles, there is a growing need for safety management. However, studies on evaluating two-wheeled vehicle driving in a quantitative and comprehensive form are insufficient. In this study, 11 items were defined for the first step to evaluate two-wheeled vehicle driving: signal violation, central line violation, helmet violation, pedestrian close driving, sidewalk driving, reverse lane driving, speed violation, rapid acceleration, rapid deceleration, rapid turn, and rapid lane change. The items were classified into three categories (traffic violation, pedestrian threat, and reckless driving), and their weights were derived using the AHP technique. For rapid acceleration, rapid deceleration, rapid turn, and rapid lane change, a high-performance driving simulator was used to establish risk criteria and calculate the weight based on the degree of risk. The calculated weight of each item indicates its importance in evaluating two-wheeled vehicle driving, with helmet violation (0.158), speed violation (0.124), and pedestrian close driving (0.122) having the highest weights. Finally, the dangerous driving index for two-wheeled vehicles was calculated by the weights of each evaluation item and applied to the driving trajectory data.
Performance Analysis of Polymer Additive Manufactured Gear Bearings
Authors: Moldovan Cristian , Sticlaru Carmen
Published: November 2023

Bearings in general, and in this case rotational bearings, are important elements in many machines. The main objective of this study was to find out the load-bearing capacity of 3D-printed gear bearings under various rotational speeds, test the bearings to failure and estimate their lifetime. An interesting note on the gear bearing is its uncommon geometric configuration, because the rolling elements are gears, which allows for a rolling-sliding motion between the constituting elements, minimizing the sliding effect. The material used is PLA (poly lactic acid), a common thermoplastic polyester, and the printing technology was FDM (fused deposition modeling). Considering the PLA’s temperature sensitivity, this was also monitored but had no influence on the failure of the bearing, as experiments show. The rotational speed range for the experiment is 250–1500 RPM (revolutions per minute) in increments of 250 RPM, and the loads are 18 N (Newton) and 45 N for a gear bearing with 51 mm diameter and 15 mm thickness. The results of this study can be used as a reference for application limitations or to design gear bearings using 3D printing methods.
Toward Lightweight Diabetic Retinopathy Classification: A Knowledge Distillation Approach for Resource-Constrained Settings
Authors: Islam Niful , Jony Md. Mehedi Hasan , Hasan Emam , Sutradhar Sunny , Rahman Atikur , Islam Md. Motaharul
Published: November 2023

Diabetic retinopathy (DR), a consequence of diabetes, is one of the prominent contributors to blindness. Effective intervention necessitates accurate classification of DR; this is a need that computer vision-based technologies address. However, using large-scale deep learning models for DR classification presents difficulties, especially when integrating them into devices with limited resources, particularly in places with poor technological infrastructure. In order to address this, our research presents a knowledge distillation-based approach, where we train a fusion model, composed of ResNet152V2 and Swin Transformer, as the teacher model. The knowledge learned from the heavy teacher model is transferred to the lightweight student model of 102 megabytes, which consists of Xception with a customized convolutional block attention module (CBAM). The system also integrates a four-stage image enhancement technique to improve the image quality. We compared the model against eight state-of-the-art classifiers on five evaluation metrics; the experiments show superior performance of the model over other methods on two datasets (APTOS and IDRiD). The model performed exceptionally well on the APTOS dataset, achieving 100% accuracy in binary classification and 99.04% accuracy in multi-class classification. On the IDRiD dataset, the results were 98.05% for binary classification accuracy and 94.17% for multi-class accuracy. The proposed approach shows promise for practical applications, enabling accessible DR assessment even in technologically underdeveloped environments.
Exopolysaccharides Synthesized by Rhizospheric Bacteria: A Review Focused on Their Roles in Protecting Plants against Stress
Authors: Carezzano María Evangelina , Alvarez Strazzi Florencia Belén , Pérez Verónica , Bogino Pablo , Giordano Walter
Published: November 2023

Plants are constantly exposed to a wide range of environmental factors that cause different kinds of stress, such as drought, salinity, heat, frost, and low nutrient availability. There are also biotic sources of stress, which include pathogens (bacteria, viruses, pests), herbivores, and plant competitors. These various types of stress affect normal plant physiology and development, and may lead to significantly lower yields. However, certain microorganisms (MOs), known as plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR), can interact with and benefit plants in stressful environments. They do so through a series of mechanisms which contribute to minimizing the negative effects of plants’ responses to stress. This review summarizes current knowledge about those mechanisms, with a focus on the production of exopolysaccharides (EPSs). These compounds can act as osmoprotectants, promote the production of phytohormones, prevent the entry of pathogens through roots, bioremediate metals, and improve soil structure and permeability, among many other beneficial effects. This makes them suitable alternatives to guarantee food security while reducing the excessive use of chemical agricultural inputs and their harmful consequences for the environment.
A Brave New World: Maneuvering the Post-Digital Art Market
Authors: Quiñones Vilá Claudia Sofia
Published: November 2023

The digital revolution has launched myriad new technologies in the field of art and cultural heritage law, including digital art, NFTs (non-fungible tokens), artificial intelligence (AI)-generated art, virtual reality and reality augmentation, online viewing rooms and auctions, holograms, immersive experiences, and more. As a $67.8 billion industry, the art market is a global driver of innovation, international collaboration, and national economies, given its cross-border transactions. However, given the extremely rapid development of these new technologies, regulators have struggled to keep pace and implement legal measures that are fit for purpose in this field. Limited oversight has resulted in several claims that have the potential to change the legal landscape. For instance, claims over the theft/misappropriation of NFTs and the related fraud and money laundering that may ensue, as well as a recent class action copyright infringement suit against the creators of a popular AI algorithm and infringement claims over immersive installation and light technologies, demonstrate how new ways of thinking are required to assess cases involving digital property (distinguished from other types of non-tangible property). Moreover, the US Supreme Court has issued a landmark ruling on fair use within the copyright context, which will be relied upon in the future to determine whether (and to what extent) the appropriation of existing copyrighted material is permitted. This includes both the digital use of physical artworks and the use of born-digital works. Although jurisprudential decisions are made on a case-by-case basis, factual patterns involving online media, digital art, and related technologies could serve as guidance for legislators and other decision-makers when considering what limits should be imposed on Web 3.0. This article will focus on recent US-based claims and regulations and dovetail with existing art market regulations in this jurisdiction (e.g., anti-money-laundering statutes) to determine their impact on new technologies, whether directly or indirectly. Finally, the article highlights ongoing trends and preoccupations to provide an overview of the shifting legal landscape.
Extension of the Pt III Analysis
Authors: Ryabtsev Alexander
Published: November 2023

Using a sliding spark and a 6.65 m normal incidence vacuum spectrograph, the third spectrum of platinum was analyzed. The transitions involving high-lying levels were studied. A total of 241 Pt III lines of the transitions from the levels of the 5d76p + 5d66s6p configurations in the region 728–2062 Å were classified, increasing the number of known Pt III lines to more than 1000. Ninety-one energy levels belonging mostly to the 5d66s6p configuration were added to Pt III. The odd Pt III levels were theoretically interpreted by means of multiconfiguration Dirak–Fock calculations and a least-squares fit of the calculated to the observed levels in the framework of the orthogonal parameters technique.
Assessment of the Water Distribution Networks in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia: A Mathematical Model
Authors: Albarakati Aiman , Tassaddiq Asifa , Srivastava Rekha
Published: November 2023

Graph theory is a branch of mathematics that is crucial to modelling applicable systems and networks using matrix representations. In this article, a novel graph-theoretic model was used to assess an urban water distribution system (WDS) in Saudi Arabia. This graph model is based on representing its elements through nodes and links using a weighted adjacency matrix. The nodes represent the points where there can be a water input or output (sources, treatment plants, tanks, reservoirs, consumers, connections), and links represent the edges of the graph that carry water from one node to another (pipes, pumps, valves). Four WDS benchmarks, pumps, tanks, reservoirs, and external sources were used to validate the framework at first. This validation showed that the worst-case scenarios for vulnerability were provided by the fault sequence iterating the calculation of the centrality measurements. The vulnerability framework’s application to the Saudi Arabian WDS enabled the identification of the system’s most vulnerable junctions and zones. As anticipated, the regions with the fewest reservoirs were most at risk from unmet demand, indicating that this system is vulnerable to the removal of junctions and pipes that are intricately associated with their neighbours. Different centrality metrics were computed, from which the betweenness centrality offered the worst vulnerability prediction measures. The aspects and zones of the WDS that can more significantly impact the water supply in the event of a failure were identified by the vulnerability framework utilising attack tactics.
Mathematical and Machine Learning Models of Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Review
Authors: Sofia Dilruba , Zhou Qilu , Shahriyari Leili
Published: November 2023

This review explores the multifaceted landscape of renal cell carcinoma (RCC) by delving into both mechanistic and machine learning models. While machine learning models leverage patients’ gene expression and clinical data through a variety of techniques to predict patients’ outcomes, mechanistic models focus on investigating cells’ and molecules’ interactions within RCC tumors. These interactions are notably centered around immune cells, cytokines, tumor cells, and the development of lung metastases. The insights gained from both machine learning and mechanistic models encompass critical aspects such as signature gene identification, sensitive interactions in the tumors’ microenvironments, metastasis development in other organs, and the assessment of survival probabilities. By reviewing the models of RCC, this study aims to shed light on opportunities for the integration of machine learning and mechanistic modeling approaches for treatment optimization and the identification of specific targets, all of which are essential for enhancing patient outcomes.
The Combination of Radiation with PARP Inhibition Enhances Senescence and Sensitivity to the Senolytic, Navitoclax, in Triple Negative Breast Tumor Cells
Authors: Softah Abrar , Alotaibi Moureq R. , Alhoshani Ali R. , Saleh Tareq , Alhazzani Khalid , Almutairi Mashal M. , AlRowis Raed , Alshehri Samiyah , Albekairy Norah A. , Harada Hisashi , Boyd Rowan , Chakraborty Eesha , Gewirtz David A. , As Sobeai Homood M.
Published: November 2023

Despite significant advances in the treatment of triple-negative breast cancer, this disease continues to pose a clinical challenge, with many patients ultimately suffering from relapse. Tumor cells that recover after entering into a state of senescence after chemotherapy or radiation have been shown to develop a more aggressive phenotype, and to contribute to disease recurrence. By combining the PARP inhibitor (PARPi), talazoparib, with radiation, senescence was enhanced in 4T1 and MDA-MB-231 triple-negative breast cancer cell lines (based on SA-β-gal upregulation, increased expression of CDKN1A and the senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP) marker, IL6). Subsequent treatment of the radiation- and talazoparib-induced senescent 4T1 and MDA-MB231 cells with navitoclax (ABT-263) resulted in significant apoptotic cell death. In immunocompetent tumor-bearing mice, navitoclax exerted a modest growth inhibitory effect when used alone, but dramatically interfered with the recovery of 4T1-derived tumors induced into senescence with ionizing radiation and talazoparib. These findings support the potential utility of a senolytic strategy in combination with the radiotherapy/PARPi combination to mitigate the risk of disease recurrence in triple-negative breast cancer.
Monitoring the Efficacy of High-Flow Nasal Cannula Oxygen Therapy in Patients with Acute Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure in the General Respiratory Ward: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Zhao Zhanqi , Chang Mei-Yun , Zhang Tingting , Gow Chien-Hung
Published: November 2023

High-flow nasal cannula (HFNC) is widely used to treat hypoxemic respiratory failure. The effectiveness of HFNC treatment and the methods for monitoring its efficacy in the general ward remain unclear. This prospective observational study enrolled 42 patients who had acute hypoxemic respiratory failure requiring HFNC oxygen therapy in the general adult respiratory ward. The primary outcome was the all-cause in-hospital mortality. Secondary outcomes included the association between initial blood test results and HFNC outcomes. Regional ventilation distributions were monitored in 24 patients using electrical impedance tomography (EIT) after HFNC initiation. Patients with successful HFNC treatment had better in-hospital survival (94%) compared to those with failed HFNC treatment (0%, p < 0.001). Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratios of ≥9 were more common in patients with failed HFNC (70%) compared to those with successful HFNC (52%, p = 0.070), and these patients had shorter hospital survival rates after HFNC treatment (p = 0.046, Tarone-Ware test). Patients with successful HFNC treatment had a more central ventilation distribution compared to those with failed HFNC treatment (p < 0.05). Similarly, patients who survived HFNC treatment had a more central distribution compared to those who did not survive (p < 0.001). We concluded that HFNC in the general respiratory ward may be a potential rescue therapy for patients with respiratory failure. EIT can potentially monitor patients receiving HFNC therapy.
Antipsychotics: 70 Years
Authors: Lentini Giovanni , Mignani Serge
Published: November 2023

To Davide [...]
Development of 2′-O-Methyl and LNA Antisense Oligonucleotides for SMN2 Splicing Correction in SMA Cells
Authors: Maretina Marianna , Il’ina Arina , Egorova Anna , Glotov Andrey , Kiselev Anton
Published: November 2023

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a devastating neurodegenerative disease caused by mutations in the SMN1 gene. Existing therapies demonstrate positive results on SMA patients but still might be ameliorated in efficacy and price. In the presented study we designed antisense oligonucleotides (AONs), targeting intronic splicing silencer sites, some were modified with 2′-O-methyl, others with LNA. The AONs have been extensively tested in different concentrations, both individually and combined, in order to effectively target the ISS-N1 and A+100G splicing silencer regions in intron 7 of the SMN2 gene. By treating SMA-cultured fibroblasts with certain AONs, we discovered a remarkable increase in the levels of full-length SMN transcripts and the number of nuclear gems. This increase was observed to be dose-dependent and reached levels comparable to those found in healthy cells. When added to cells together, most of the tested molecules showed a remarkable synergistic effect in correcting splicing. Through our research, we have discovered that the impact of oligonucleotides is greatly influenced by their length, sequence, and pattern of modification.
miRNA Expression Patterns in Early- and Late-Stage Prostate Cancer Patients: High-Throughput Analysis
Authors: Gilyazova Irina , Ivanova Elizaveta , Gupta Himanshu , Mustafin Artur , Ishemgulov Ruslan , Izmailov Adel , Gilyazova Gulshat , Pudova Elena , Pavlov Valentin , Khusnutdinova Elza
Published: November 2023

Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common types of cancer among men. To date, there have been no specific markers identified for the diagnosis and prognosis or response to treatment of this disease. Thus, there is an urgent need for promising markers, which may be fulfilled by small non-coding RNAs known as microRNAs (miRNAs). Therefore, the present study aimed to investigate the miRNA profile in tissue samples obtained from patients with PCa using microarrays, followed by reverse transcriptase quantitative PCRs (RT-qPCRs). In the discovery phase, 754 miRNAs were screened in tissues obtained from patients (n = 46) with PCa in early and late stages. Expression levels of miRNA-324-3p, miRNA-429, miRNA-570, and miRNA-616 were found to be downregulated, and miRNA-423-5p expression was upregulated in patients with early-stage cancer compared to the late-stage ones. These five miRNAs were further validated in an independent cohort of samples (n = 39) collected from patients with PCa using RT-qPCR-based assays. MiRNA-324-3p, miRNA-429, miRNA-570, and miRNA-616 expression levels remained significantly downregulated in early-stage cancer tissues compared to late-stage tissues. Remarkably, for a combination of three miRNAs, PSA levels and Gleason scores were able to discriminate between patients with early-stage PCa and late-stage PCa, with an AUC of 95%, a sensitivity of 86%, and a specificity close to 94%. Thus, the data obtained in this study suggest a possible involvement of the identified miRNAs in the pathogenesis of PCa, and they may also have the potential to be developed into diagnostic and prognostic tools for PCa. However, further studies with a larger cohort are needed.
Feasibility of DNA Methylation Age as a Biomarker of Symptoms and Resilience among Cancer Survivors with Multiple Chronic Conditions
Authors: Lukkahatai Nada , Park Jongmin , Jia Hejingzi Monica , Martin Daniel , Li Junxin , Sheng Jennifer Yeong-Shin , Gill Jessica , Saligan Leorey N. , Stearns Vered , Carducci Michael
Published: November 2023

This study aims to examine the feasibility of DNA methylation age as a biomarker for symptoms and resilience in cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions (MCCs). We included ten participants from our parent study, an ongoing randomized control trial study. Participants’ symptoms and resilience were assessed, and peripheral blood was collected. DNA methylation age calculation was performed using DNAge® analysis. Data were analyzed using Spearman’s correlation analysis and the Mann–Whitney U test. Participants in the intervention group tended to have a decrease in DNA methylation age and age acceleration after completing an exercise program (mean difference = −0.83 ± 1.26). The change in DNA methylation age was significantly correlated with the change in resilience score (r = −0.897, p = 0.015). The preliminary results suggest that DNA methylation age can be a potential biomarker for improving resilience in cancer survivors with multiple chronic conditions. This finding is limited by the small sample size, and a larger study is needed.
Fabrication of an Azithromycin Sensor
Authors: Niyitanga Theophile , Khan Mohd Quasim , Ahmad Khursheed , Khan Rais Ahmad
Published: November 2023

Azithromycin (AZY) is a well-known top-prioritized antibiotic and is used by humans in strong concentrations. However, the side effects of the AZY antibiotic may cause some serious and significant damage to humans and the environment. Thus, there is a need to develop effective and sensitive sensors to monitor accurate concentrations of AZY. In the last decade, electrochemistry-based sensors have received enormous attention from the scientific community because of their high sensitivity, selectivity, cost-effectiveness, fast response, rapid detection response, simple fabrication, and working principle. It is important to mention that electrochemical sensors rely on the properties of electrode modifiers. Hence, the selection of electrode materials is of great significance when designing and developing efficient and robust electrochemical sensors. In this study, we fabricated an AZY sensor by utilizing a molybdenum disulfide/titanium aluminum carbide (MoS2@Ti3AlC2) composite as the electrode material. The MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite was synthesized via a simple sonication process. The synthesized MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite was characterized using a powder X-ray diffraction (XRD) method to examine the phase purity and formation of the MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was used to study the surface morphological features of the prepared MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite, whereas energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDAX) was adopted to determine the elemental composition of the prepared MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite. The glassy carbon (GC) electrode was modified with the prepared MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite and applied as the AZY sensor. The sensing performance of the MoS2@Ti3AlC2 composite-modified GC electrode was studied using linear sweep voltammetry. The sensor demonstrated excellent performance when determining AZY and showed a good detection limit of 0.009 µM with a sensitivity of 6.77 µA/µM.cm2.
The 10-Item Short Form of the German Experiences in Close Relationships Scale (ECR-G-10)—Model Fit, Reliability, and Validity
Authors: Neumann Eva , Rohmann Elke , Sattel Heribert
Published: November 2023

The aim of the present work was the development and validation of a short form of the Experiences in Close Relationship Scale (ECR) in German. Three studies were conducted. In study 1, the best items for the short form were selected from the item pool of the original version based on ant colony optimization (ACO), a recently developed probabilistic approach. Data from three samples collected at a university, an online portal, and a psychosomatic clinic with a total of 1470 participants were analyzed. A 10-item solution resulted, measuring avoidance and anxiety with five items each. This solution showed a good model fit and acceptable reliability in all three samples. The two new short scales were independent of each other. In study 2, the 10-item solution was validated by correlating the new short scales with external criteria. Data from previous studies that included student, community, and clinical samples were reanalyzed. Both short scales showed expected correlations with measures of romantic relationships, personality, psychopathology, and childhood trauma, indicating convergent and discriminant validity. The significant correlations were moderate to strong. In study 3, the selected ten items alone and several content-related scales were presented online to 277 participants, most of them students. The good results in terms of model fit, reliability, and validity observed in studies 1 and 2 could be replicated here. The new short form, called ECR-G-10, allows the measurement of attachment avoidance and anxiety in an economic way in research and clinical practice.
A Meta-Analysis of Social Skills Interventions for Preschoolers with or at Risk of Early Emotional and Behavioral Problems
Authors: Dong Xin , Burke Mack D. , Ramirez Gilbert , Xu Zhihong , Bowman-Perrott Lisa
Published: November 2023

Early social–behavioral intervention that emphasizes social skill training is critical to addressing emotional and behavioral problems in early childhood. In this meta-analysis review, we examined all the social skills intervention studies for preschoolers with, or at risk of, emotional and behavioral problems using group designs. This review included 25 studies that met the inclusion criteria. The robust variance estimation method was used to calculate the overall effect size of all the included studies, as this method can count for the pre-existing difference between the experiment and control groups. The included studies yielded an overall effect of 0.54 from the 151 effect sizes that were obtained for the 3484 preschool participants. Curriculum, integration, and treatment fidelity were identified as significant moderators of effects.
The Design of Façade-Integrated Vertical Greenery to Mitigate the Impacts of Extreme Weather: A Case Study from Hong Kong
Authors: Xiang Changying , Tao Lulu
Published: November 2023

Vertical greenery not only helps to cool the surfaces of buildings but, more importantly, it can also mitigate the Urban Heat Island effect. The growth of vertical greenery is highly dependent on ongoing maintenance, such as irrigation. Wind-driven rain serves as a natural source of irrigation for vertical greenery. Wind-driven rain simulation was conducted on a typical high-density and high-rise case in Hong Kong to first classify the wind-driven rain harvesting potential on the façade with very high, high, moderate, low, and very low levels. Then, Scenario 1 (very high potential), Scenario 2 (very high + high potential), and Scenario 3 (very high + high + moderate potential) regarding vertical greenery in locations with three levels of wind-driven rain harvesting potential were simulated in ENVI-met to assess its Urban Heat Island mitigation effect. The maximum temperature reduction on the street occurs between 12 p.m. and 3 p.m., indicating the greatest mitigation of the Urban Heat Island effect. Scenario 1, Scenario 2, and Scenario 3 achieve a maximum temperature reduction of 0.76 °C, 0.88 °C, and 1.06 °C, respectively, during this time period.
Research on Vibration Suppression of Nonlinear Tuned Mass Damper System Based on Complex Variable Average Method
Authors: Liu Junfeng , Hu Yujun , Yao Ji , Zhang Qing
Published: November 2023

Tuned mass dampers (TMDs) are widely used as vibration damping devices in engineering practice. However, during use, TMDs inevitably exhibit some nonlinear characteristics that may negatively impact engineering applications. To improve the practical performance of TMDs, the cubic nonlinear stiffness of the TMD is considered, and a nonlinear design is implemented. A numerical model of a single-degree-of-freedom main structure controlled by an NTMD is developed, and the steady-state amplitude solution of the system is obtained using the complex variable averaging method. The results show that a jump phenomenon may occur in the structure. To address this, a multivalued solution discrimination formula based on the complex variable averaging method is proposed. The discriminant formula for the jump phenomenon obtains the frequency ratio and nonlinear coefficient curves of the critical jump state, and four different system response areas are obtained. This helps the structure avoid the jump phenomenon while ensuring stability of the main structure and improving the control performance of the NTMD.
The Potential Preventive and Therapeutic Roles of NSAIDs in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Maghsoudi Hossein , Sheikhnia Farhad , Sitarek Przemysław , Hajmalek Nooshin , Hassani Sepideh , Rashidi Vahid , Khodagholi Sadaf , Mir Seyed Mostafa , Malekinejad Faezeh , Kheradmand Fatemeh , Ghorbanpour Mansour , Ghasemzadeh Navid , Kowalczyk Tomasz
Published: November 2023

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second most common type of cancer and the leading cause of death among men worldwide. Preventing the progression of cancer after treatments such as radical prostatectomy, radiation therapy, and hormone therapy is a major concern faced by prostate cancer patients. Inflammation, which can be caused by various factors such as infections, the microbiome, obesity and a high-fat diet, is considered to be the main cause of PC. Inflammatory cells are believed to play a crucial role in tumor progression. Therefore, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs along with their effects on the treatment of inflammation-related diseases, can prevent cancer and its progression by suppressing various inflammatory pathways. Recent evidence shows that nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are effective in the prevention and treatment of prostate cancer. In this review, we discuss the different pathways through which these drugs exert their potential preventive and therapeutic effects on prostate cancer.
Ring Chromosomes in Hematological Malignancies Are Associated with TP53 Gene Mutations and Characteristic Copy Number Variants
Authors: Boyd Rachel J. , Murry Jaclyn B. , Morsberger Laura A. , Klausner Melanie , Chen Suping , Gocke Christopher D. , McCallion Andrew S. , Zou Ying S.
Published: November 2023

Ring chromosomes (RC) are present in <10% of patients with hematological malignancies and are associated with poor prognosis. Until now, only small cohorts of patients with hematological neoplasms and concomitant RCs have been cytogenetically characterized. Here, we performed a conventional chromosome analysis on metaphase spreads from >13,000 patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies at the Johns Hopkins University Hospital and identified 98 patients with RCs—90 with myeloid malignancies and 8 with lymphoid malignancies. We also performed a targeted Next-Generation Sequencing (NGS) assay, using a panel of 642 cancer genes, to identify whether these patients harbor relevant pathogenic variants. Cytogenetic analyses revealed that RCs and marker chromosomes of unknown origin are concurrently present in most patients by karyotyping, and 93% of patients with NGS data have complex karyotypes. A total of 72% of these individuals have pathogenic mutations in TP53, most of whom also possess cytogenetic abnormalities resulting in the loss of 17p, including the loss of TP53. All patients with a detected RC and without complex karyotypes also lack TP53 mutations but have pathogenic mutations in TET2. Further, 70% of RCs that map to a known chromosome are detected in individuals without TP53 mutations. Our data suggest that RCs in hematological malignancies may arise through different mechanisms, but ultimately promote widespread chromosomal instability.
Determining Optimal Cut-Off Value of Pancreatic-Cancer-Induced Total Cholesterol and Obesity-Related Factors for Developing Exercise Intervention: Big Data Analysis of National Health Insurance Sharing Service Data
Authors: Jee Hyunseok , Won Kim Sang
Published: November 2023

This study aimed to examine the effects of multiple parameters on the incidence of pancreatic cancer. We analyzed data from 1,108,369 individuals in the National Health Insurance Sharing Service Database (NHISS DB; birth to death; 2002 to 2015) and identified 2912 patients with pancreatic cancer. Body mass index, systolic/diastolic blood pressure, and fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol concentrations were lower in women with than without pancreatic cancer (p < 0.01). Fasting blood glucose and total cholesterol concentrations were significantly different between men with and without pancreatic cancer (p < 0.05). In the logistic regression analysis, the total cholesterol concentration (odds ratio (OR), 1.007; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.005–1.010) was significantly higher in men than women with pancreatic cancer (p < 0.05). Pancreatic cancer rates were highest in men who smoked for 5–9 years or more (OR, 5.332) and in women who smoked for 10–19 years (OR, 18.330). Daily intensive exercise reduced the risk of pancreatic cancer by 56% in men (95% CI, 0.230–0.896). Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis revealed a total cholesterol concentration cut-off point of 188.50 mg/dL (p < 0.05) in men with pancreatic cancer, with a sensitivity and specificity of 53.5% and 54.6%, respectively. For women, the cut-off values for weight and gamma glutamyl transpeptidase concentration were 58.5 kg and 20.50 U/L, respectively. The sex-specific differences in patients with pancreatic cancer identified herein will aid in the development of individualized evidence-based prognostic and preventive programs for the treatment of pancreatic cancer.
LCMR1 Promotes Large-Cell Lung Cancer Proliferation and Metastasis by Downregulating HLA-Encoding Genes
Authors: Liu Lu , Li Chunsun , Wu Zhen , Li Yanqin , Yu Hang , Li Tao , Wang Yueming , Zhao Wei , Chen Liangan
Published: November 2023

Lung cancer is notorious for its high global morbidity and mortality. Here, we examined whether the LCMR1 gene, which we previously cloned from a human large-cell lung carcinoma cell line, contributes to the proliferation and metastasis of large-cell lung carcinoma. To this end, we performed pan-cancer and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell line-based LCMR1 expression profiling. Results revealed that LCMR1 was expressed at high levels in most solid tumors, including NSCLC. LCMR1 expression was the highest in the 95D large cell lung cancer cell line. Functional studies using lentivirus-based knockdown revealed that LCMR1 was critical for the proliferation, migration, and invasion of cultured large cell lung cancer cells. Moreover, blocking this gene significantly reduced tumor growth in a 95D cell xenograft mouse model. A multiple sequence-based assay revealed a mechanism by which LCMR1 diminished the RNA Pol II occupancy at the promoter of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-encoding genes to prevent their transcription. The HLA genes play vital roles in cancer-specific antigen presentation and anticancer immunity. A correlation assay using TCGA database identified a negative relationship between the expression levels of LCMR1 and HLA coding genes. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that LCMR1 is required for large cell lung cancer cell growth and invasion and suggest its potential as a valid target in clinical treatment.
Comprehensive Review on Multifaceted Carbon Dot Nanocatalysts: Sources and Energy Applications
Authors: Singh Anju , Kafle Saroj Raj , Sharma Mukesh , Kim Beom Soo
Published: November 2023

In recent decades, several studies have been conducted on sustainability progress with high efficiency of renewable energies by utilizing advanced nano-module catalysts. Some collaborative studies advocate the unique characteristics of unconventional materials, including carbon nanotubes, nanosheets, nanoparticles, conducting polymers, integrated nano polymers, nano enzymes, and zero-dimensional nanomaterials/carbon dots (CDs) at the atomic and molecular level to generate efficient energy from various biomass substrates. Nanotechnology-based catalysts are considered a crucial tool for revolutionizing various energy-related applications. This review article addresses the sustainable and scarce biomass resources to synthesize CDs, properties, mechanisms, and insights with the advancement of research on CDs as nanocatalysts in the field of energy applications. These materials possess exceptional and rapidly expanding features such as being non-toxic, biocompatible, having excellent electrocatalytic activity and photoluminescence, and being highly dispersible in water. Because of these advantages, they are appealing for use in energy conversion and as storage material. Moreover, the emphasis is placed on the function of CDs as nanocatalysts for energy storage devices, and relevant instances are provided to clarify the concepts. These advanced strategies of nanotechnology for energy storage and conversion are expected to play a vital role in promoting sustainability.
ATF4 May Be Essential for Adaption of the Ocular Lens to Its Avascular Environment
Authors: Xiang Jiawen , Pompetti Anthony J. , Faranda Adam P. , Wang Yan , Novo Samuel G. , Li David Wan-Cheng , Duncan Melinda K.
Published: November 2023

The late embryonic mouse lens requires the transcription factor ATF4 for its survival although the underlying mechanisms were unknown. Here, RNAseq analysis revealed that E16.5 Atf4 null mouse lenses downregulate the mRNA levels of lens epithelial markers as well as known markers of late lens fiber cell differentiation. However, a comparison of this list of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) with other known transcriptional regulators of lens development indicated that ATF4 expression is not directly controlled by the previously described lens gene regulatory network. Pathway analysis revealed that the Atf4 DEG list was enriched in numerous genes involved in nutrient transport, amino acid biosynthesis, and tRNA charging. These changes in gene expression likely result in the observed reductions in lens free amino acid and glutathione levels, which would result in the observed low levels of extractable lens protein, finally leading to perinatal lens disintegration. These data demonstrate that ATF4, via its function in the integrated stress response, is likely to play a crucial role in mediating the adaption of the lens to the avascularity needed to maintain lens transparency.
Fetal-Type Rhabdomyoma of the Cheek: A Conservative Management
Authors: Troisi Angela , Pelliccia Valentina , Malta Bruna , Domenichelli Vincenzo , Marchetti Federico
Published: November 2023

Extracardiac rhabdomyomas are rare benign mesenchymal tumors diagnosed upon radiological and hystologic investigations and the treatment of choice is surgical exertion. There aren’t any similar cases managed conservatively reported in literature as in our case, to the best of our knowledge. We present a rare case of fetal cheek rhabdomyoma diagnosed in a healthy 2 months-old boy, with asymptomatic mass over the left masseter. The lesion could not be removed, due to the size and dimensions and the young age of the patient. However, the lesion did not show signs of spreading or progression over a 36 months follow-up. Fetal rhabdomyoma is a benign tumor, often located in the head and neck district, where surgery, especially in very young children, is associated with a high risk of complications and long-term sequelae. Our case report demonstrates the possibility to manage these lesions conservatively in the first years of life with close sonographic and clinical follow-up.
Anomalous Solute Transport Using Adsorption Effects and the Degradation of Solute
Authors: Khuzhayorov B. Kh. , Viswanathan K. K. , Kholliev F. B. , Usmonov A. I.
Published: November 2023

In this work, anomalous solute transport using adsorption effects and the decomposition of solute was studied. During the filtration of inhomogeneous liquids, a number of new phenomena arise, and this is very important for understanding the mechanisms of the filtration process. Recently, issues of mathematical modeling of substance transfer processes have been intensively discussed. Modeling approaches are based on the law of matter balance in a certain control volume using additional phenomenological relationships. The process of anomalous solute transport in a porous medium was modeled by differential equations with a fractional derivative. A new mobile—immobile model is proposed to describe anomalous solute transport with a scale-dependent dispersion in inhomogeneous porous media. The profiles of changes in the concentrations of suspended particles in the macropore and micropore were determined. The influence of the order of the derivative with respect to the coordinate and time, i.e., the fractal dimension of the medium, was estimated based on the characteristics of the solute transport in both zones. The hydrodynamic dispersion was set through various relations: constant, linear, and exponential. Based on the numerical results, the concentration fields were determined for different values of the initial data and different relations of hydrodynamic dispersion.
Enhancing Algorithm Selection through Comprehensive Performance Evaluation: Statistical Analysis of Stochastic Algorithms
Authors: Amin Azad Arif Hama , Aladdin Aso M. , Hasan Dler O. , Mohammed-Taha Soran R. , Rashid Tarik A.
Published: November 2023

Analyzing stochastic algorithms for comprehensive performance and comparison across diverse contexts is essential. By evaluating and adjusting algorithm effectiveness across a wide spectrum of test functions, including both classical benchmarks and CEC-C06 2019 conference functions, distinct patterns of performance emerge. In specific situations, underscoring the importance of choosing algorithms contextually. Additionally, researchers have encountered a critical issue by employing a statistical model randomly to determine significance values without conducting other studies to select a specific model for evaluating performance outcomes. To address this concern, this study employs rigorous statistical testing to underscore substantial performance variations between pairs of algorithms, thereby emphasizing the pivotal role of statistical significance in comparative analysis. It also yields valuable insights into the suitability of algorithms for various optimization challenges, providing professionals with information to make informed decisions. This is achieved by pinpointing algorithm pairs with favorable statistical distributions, facilitating practical algorithm selection. The study encompasses multiple nonparametric statistical hypothesis models, such as the Wilcoxon rank-sum test, single-factor analysis, and two-factor ANOVA tests. This thorough evaluation enhances our grasp of algorithm performance across various evaluation criteria. Notably, the research addresses discrepancies in previous statistical test findings in algorithm comparisons, enhancing result reliability in the later research. The results proved that there are differences in significance results, as seen in examples like Leo versus the FDO, the DA versus the WOA, and so on. It highlights the need to tailor test models to specific scenarios, as p-value outcomes differ among various tests within the same algorithm pair.
Topological Gauge Theory of Josephson Junction Arrays: The Discovery of Superinsulation
Authors: Diamantini Maria Cristina
Published: November 2023

We review the topological gauge theory description of Josephson junction arrays (JJA), fabricated systems which exhibit the superconductor-to-insulator transition (SIT). This description revealed the topological nature of the phases around the SIT and led to the discovery of a new state of matter, the superinsulator, characterized by infinite resistance, even at finite temperatures, due to linear confinement of electric charges. This discovery is particularly relevant for the physics of superconducting films with emergent granularity, which are modeled with JJAs and share the same phase diagram.