bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Differential distribution of macroinvertebrate associated with water quality
Authors: Thakur Yojana , Grover Aseem , Sinha Reshma
Published: January 2023

Streams and rivers are the major source of drinking water and irrigation in many developing countries. Stream health is a major criterion and regulator of the health of its dependents (invertebrates, aquatic flora, fishes, animals, and humans). For the sustenance of a balanced ecosystem, a mutual existence between flora and fauna along with other abiotic factors is a prerequisite. Benthic fauna lying on the riverbed serves as a food source for fish, larger insects, birds, etc. Nowadays, most freshwater bodies are getting polluted through various anthropogenic activities like mining, land‐use practices (fertilizers and insecticides), industrial effluent, and sewage inlet. Due to the water contamination, there have been observed changes in the physicochemical parameters of the water. The macroinvertebrate species being sensitive to these changes play an important role not only in determining the health of the water body but also in regulating the ecosystem. After review, it was observed that order like Diptera dominated in various locations, comprising of family Ceratopogonidae and Chironomidae, followed by order Trichoptera and Coleoptera. Species belonging to family Baetidae and Chironomidae possess pollution tolerance capabilities; additionally, these species can survive at a wide range of temperatures. Species from families such as Simuliidae showed their existence at varying water velocities. Families like Limnephilidae, Simuliidae, and Glossosomatidae exhibited their survival in fast moving water whereas Notonectidae, Hydrophilidae Gomphidae, Coenagrionidae, Libellulidae, Aeshnidae, and Dryopidae indicated species of low waterflow. Species of the family Tipulidae have been related to areas of high conductivity, whereas Gomphidae, Dryopidae, and Glossomatidae as species of low conductivity. Hydrophilidae and Notonectidae dominated high temperature areas. The present study will put forth before the government, current scenario of macroinvertebrate structure depending on the different characteristics of the water. This will help in regulating and controlling water pollution.
The impoverishment of political discourse and legal rights in transboundary Teesta water management
Authors: Momen Md Nurul , Rahman Md Mostafijur
Published: January 2023

Bangladesh has consistently claimed an equitable distribution of Teesta river water sharing. However, it consistently has a lower use and share than India. This qualitative article investigates the issues to the unresolved Teesta water agreement which challenges to transboundary water management between the two riparian countries. The political debates between India and Bangladesh and how riparian water rights are understood in light of the international law are the scope of this article. This article also uses and exemplifies global empirical pieces of evidence to relate to the case of Teesta water sharing. In the findings, this article highlights a new quest of water diplomacy for sustainable Teesta water sharing. These questions are discussed and debated throughout the article. The methodology of this article is confined to two sources: primary data from international conventions, laws, regulations, and court judgments; and secondary data, which are gathered from journals, newspapers, websites, periodicals, dissertations, research reports, and other documents related to the research topic. The descriptive and suggestive nature of the qualitative data analysis method has been highlighted.
Veneziano variations: how unique are string amplitudes?
Authors: Cheung Clifford , Remmen Grant N.
Published: January 2023

Abstract

String theory offers an elegant and concrete realization of how to consistently couple states of arbitrarily high spin. But how unique is this construction? In this paper we derive a novel, multi-parameter family of four-point scattering amplitudes exhibiting i) polynomially bounded high-energy behavior and ii) exchange of an infinite tower of high-spin modes, albeit with a finite number of states at each resonance. These amplitudes take an infinite-product form and, depending on parameters, exhibit mass spectra that are either unbounded or bounded, thus corresponding to generalizations of the Veneziano and Coon amplitudes, respectively. For the bounded case, masses converge to an accumulation point, a peculiar feature seen in the Coon amplitude but more recently understood to arise naturally in string theory [1]. Importantly, our amplitudes contain free parameters allowing for the customization of the slope and offset of the spin-dependence in the Regge trajectory. We compute all partial waves for this multi-parameter class of amplitudes and identify unitary regions of parameter space. For the unbounded case, we apply similar methods to derive new deformations of the Veneziano and Virasoro-Shapiro amplitudes.
An Inequality for the Convolutions on Unimodular Locally Compact Groups and the Optimal Constant of Young’s Inequality
Authors: Satomi Takashi
Published: January 2023

Let $$\mu $$
μ
be the Haar measure of a unimodular locally compact group G and m(G) as the infimum of the volumes of all open subgroups of G. The main result of this paper is that $$\begin{aligned} \int _{G}^{} f \circ \left( \phi _1 * \phi _2 \right) \left( g \right) dg \le \int _{\mathbb {R}}^{} f \circ \left( \phi _1^* * \phi _2^* \right) \left( x \right) dx \end{aligned}$$

∫

G

f
∘

ϕ
1

∗

ϕ
2

g

d
g
≤

∫

R

f
∘

ϕ
1
∗

∗

ϕ
2
∗

x

d
x

holds for any measurable functions $$\phi _1, \phi _2 :G \rightarrow \mathbb {R}_{\ge 0}$$

ϕ
1

,

ϕ
2

:
G
→

R

≥
0

with $$\mu ( \textrm{supp} \; \phi _1 ) + \mu ( \textrm{supp} \; \phi _2 ) \le m(G)$$

μ

(
supp

ϕ
1

)

+
μ

(
supp

ϕ
2

)

≤
m

(
G
)

and any convex function $$f :\mathbb {R}_{\ge 0} \rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

f
:

R

≥
0

→
R

with $$f(0) = 0$$

f
(
0
)
=
0

. Here $$\phi ^*$$

ϕ
∗

is the rearrangement of $$\phi $$
ϕ
. Let $$Y_O(P,G)$$

Y
O

(
P
,
G
)

and $$Y_R(P,G)$$

Y
R

(
P
,
G
)

denote the optimal constants of Young’s and the reverse Young’s inequality, respectively, under the assumption $$\mu ( \textrm{supp} \; \phi _1 ) + \mu ( \textrm{supp} \; \phi _2 ) \le m(G)$$

μ

(
supp

ϕ
1

)

+
μ

(
supp

ϕ
2

)

≤
m

(
G
)

. Then we have $$Y_O(P,G) \le Y_O(P,\mathbb {R})$$

Y
O

(
P
,
G
)

≤

Y
O

(
P
,
R
)

and $$Y_R(P,G) \ge Y_R(P,\mathbb {R})$$

Y
R

(
P
,
G
)

≥

Y
R

(
P
,
R
)

as a corollary. Thus, we obtain that $$m (G) = \infty $$

m
(
G
)
=
∞

if and only if $$H (p,G) \le H (p, \mathbb {R})$$

H
(
p
,
G
)
≤
H
(
p
,
R
)

in the case of $$p' := p/(p-1) \in 2 \mathbb {Z}$$

p
′

:
=
p
/

(
p
-
1
)

∈
2
Z

, where H(p, G) is the optimal constant of the Hausdorff–Young inequality.
Ältere Menschen im ersten Jahr der COVID-19-Pandemie: Gesundheitsrelevante Befunde aus dem Deutschen Alterssurvey (DEAS)
Authors: Wünsche Jenna , Spuling Svenja M. , Nowossadeck Sonja , Stuth Stefan
Published: January 2023

Das vorliegende narrative Review führt Befunde des Deutschen Alterssurveys (DEAS) zur gesundheitlichen Lage von Menschen in der zweiten Lebenshälfte im ersten Pandemiejahr zusammen und beantwortet die Frage, ob Ältere, das heißt Menschen im späten Erwachsenenalter, im Vergleich zu Jüngeren, das heißt Menschen im mittleren Erwachsenenalter, in den Anfängen der COVID-19-Pandemie tatsächlich so vulnerabel waren wie vielfach befürchtet. Dabei werden Erkenntnisse zu den folgenden Gesundheitsindikatoren präsentiert: wahrgenommene Bedrohung durch die Corona-Pandemie, erlebte Altersdiskriminierung, selbstberichtete Veränderungen der körperlichen Aktivität, Einsamkeit und subjektive Gesundheit.

Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass ein höheres Lebensalter nicht pauschal als Risikofaktor für besonders schwerwiegende indirekte Gesundheitsfolgen durch die Corona-Pandemie erachtet werden sollte. Die meisten älteren Menschen haben sich in den Anfängen der Corona-Pandemie kaum durch die Pandemie bedroht gefühlt und nur selten Diskriminierung aufgrund ihres Alters erlebt. Es kam jedoch bei vielen älteren und jüngeren Menschen zu einem selbstberichteten Rückgang an körperlicher Aktivität und zu einem altersunabhängigen Zuwachs an Einsamkeit. Eine Verschlechterung der subjektiven Gesundheit im Vergleich zum präpandemischen Niveau zeichnete sich dagegen nur bei den Älteren ab. Die Verschlechterung der subjektiven Gesundheit scheint jedoch eher auf das individuelle Älterwerden als auf die pandemische Lage zurückführbar zu sein.

Insgesamt wird also deutlich: Bei älteren Menschen in Privathaushalten lässt sich im Vergleich zu jüngeren keine besonders ungünstige gesundheitliche Lage im ersten Jahr der Corona-Pandemie erkennen.
Exploring telediagnostic procedures in child neuropsychiatry: addressing ADHD diagnosis and autism symptoms through supervised machine learning
Authors: Grazioli Silvia , Crippa Alessandro , Rosi Eleonora , Candelieri Antonio , Ceccarelli Silvia Busti , Mauri Maddalena , Manzoni Martina , Mauri Valentina , Trabattoni Sara , Molteni Massimo , Colombo Paola , Nobile Maria
Published: January 2023

Recently, there has been an increase in telemedicine applied to child neuropsychiatry, such as the use of online platforms to collect remotely case histories and demographic and behavioral information. In the present proof-of-concept study, we aimed to understand to what extent information parents and teachers provide through online questionnaires overlaps with clinicians’ diagnostic conclusions on attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Moreover, we intended to explore a possible role that autism spectrum disorders (ASD) symptoms played in this process. We examined parent- and teacher-rated questionnaires collected remotely and an on-site evaluation of intelligence quotients from 342 subjects (18% females), aged 3–16 years, and referred for suspected ADHD. An easily interpretable machine learning model—decision tree (DT)—was built to simulate the clinical process of classifying ADHD/non-ADHD based on collected data. Then, we tested the DT model’s predictive accuracy through a cross-validation approach. The DT classifier’s performance was compared with those that other machine learning models achieved, such as random forest and support vector machines. Differences in ASD symptoms in the DT-identified classes were tested to address their role in performing a diagnostic error using the DT model. The DT identified the decision rules clinicians adopt to classify an ADHD diagnosis with an 82% accuracy rate. Regarding the cross-validation experiment, our DT model reached a predictive accuracy of 74% that was similar to those of other classification algorithms. The caregiver-reported ADHD core symptom severity proved the most discriminative information for clinicians during the diagnostic decision process. However, ASD symptoms were a confounding factor when ADHD severity had to be established. Telehealth procedures proved effective in obtaining an automated output regarding a diagnostic risk, reducing the time delay between symptom detection and diagnosis. However, this should not be considered an alternative to on-site procedures but rather as automated support for clinical practice, enabling clinicians to allocate further resources to the most complex cases.
Differential effects of renal denervation on skin and muscle sympathetic nerve traffic in resistant and uncontrolled hypertension
Authors: Dell’Oro Raffaella , Quarti-Trevano Fosca , Seravalle Gino , Cuspidi Cesare , Grassi Guido
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Renal denervation (RDN) exerts sympathoinhibitory effects. No information is available, however, on whether these effects have a regional or a more generalized behavior.

Methods

In 14 patients with resistant hypertension (RHT, age 58.3 ± 2.2 years, mean ± SEM), we recorded muscle and skin sympathetic nerve traffic (MSNA and SSNA, respectively) using the microneurographic technique, before, 1 month, and 3 months after RDN. Measurements included clinic blood pressure (BP), heart rate (HR), 24-h BP and HR, as well as routine laboratory and echocardiographic variables. Ten age-matched RHT patients who did not undergo RDN served as controls.

Results

MSNA, but not SSNA, was markedly higher in RHT. RDN caused a significant reduction in MSNA 1 month after RDN, with this reduction increasing after 3 months (from 68.1 ± 2.5 to 64.8 ± 2.4 and 63.1 ± 2.6 bursts/100 heartbeats, P < 0.05). This effect was not accompanied by any significant change in SSNA (from 13.1 ± 0.5 to 13.4 ± 0.6 and 13.3 ± 0.4 bursts/min, P = NS). No quantitative or, in some cases, qualitative relationship was found between BP and the MSNA reduction induced by RDN. No significant changes in various sympathetic markers were detected in the control group who did not undergo RDN and were followed for 3-months observation.

Conclusions

These data provide the first evidence that RDN exerts heterogeneous effects on sympathetic cardiovascular drive, inducing a marked reduction in MSNA but not in SSNA, which appears to be within the normal range in this condition.These effects may depend on the different reflex modulation regulating neuroadrenergic drive in these cardiovascular districts.
Reassessing the problem of time of quantum gravity
Authors: Mozota Frauca Álvaro
Published: January 2023

In this paper I raise a worry about the most extended resolutions of the problem of time of canonical quantizations of general relativity. The reason for this is that these resolutions are based on analogies with deparametrizable models for which the problem can be solved, while I argue in this paper that there are good reasons for doubting about these resolutions when the theory is not deparametrizable, which is the case of general relativity. I introduce an example of a non-deparametrizable model, a double harmonic oscillator system expressed by its Jacobi action, and argue that the problem of time for this model is not solvable, in the sense that its canonical quantization doesn’t lead to the quantum theory of two harmonic oscillators and the standard resolutions of the problem of time don’t work for this case. I argue that as general relativity is strongly analogous to this model, one should take seriously the view that the canonical quantization of general relativity doesn’t lead to a meaningful quantum theory. Finally, I comment that this has an impact on the foundations of different approaches to quantum gravity.
Orbit closed permutation groups, relation groups, and simple groups
Authors: Grech Mariusz , Kisielewicz Andrzej
Published: January 2023

A permutation group G on a set $$\Omega $$
Ω
is called orbit closed if every permutation of $$\Omega $$
Ω
preserving the orbits of G in its action on the power set $$P(\Omega )$$

P
(
Ω
)

belongs to G. It is called a relation group if there exists a family $$R \subseteq P(\Omega )$$

R
⊆
P
(
Ω
)

such that G is the group of all permutations preserving R. We prove that if a finite orbit closed permutation group G is simple, or is a subgroup of a simple group, then it is a relation group. This result justifies our general conjecture that with a few exceptions every finite orbit closed group is a relation group. To obtain the result, we prove that most of the finite simple permutation groups are relation groups. We also obtain a complete description of those finite simple permutation groups that have regular sets, and prove that (with one exception) if a finite simple permutation group G is a relation group, then every subgroup of G is a relation group.
Molecular characterization of extracellular vesicles derived from follicular fluid of women with and without PCOS: integrating analysis of differential miRNAs and proteins reveals vital molecules involving in PCOS
Authors: Yang Yuqin , Lang Peng , Zhang Xiaolan , Wu Xun , Cao Shanren , Zhao Chun , Shen Rong , Ling Xiufeng , Yang Ye , Zhang Junqiang
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To elucidate the characterization of extracellular vesicles (EVs) in the follicular fluid-derived extracellular vesicles (FF-EVs) and discover critical molecules and signaling pathways associating with the etiology and pathobiology of PCOS, the differentially expressed miRNAs (DEmiRNAs) and differentially expressed proteins profiles (DEPs) were initially explored and combinedly analyzed.

Methods

First, the miRNA and protein expression profiles of FF-EVs in PCOS patients and control patients were compared by RNA-sequencing and tandem mass tagging (TMT) proteomic methods. Subsequently, Gene Ontology and the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes were used to analyze the biological function of target genes of DEmiRNAs and DEPs. Finally, to discover the functional miRNA-target gene-protein interaction pairs involved in PCOS, DEmiRs target gene datasets and DEPs datasets were used integratedly.

Results

A total of 6 DEmiRNAs and 32 DEPs were identified in FF-EVs in patients with PCOS. Bioinformatics analysis revealed that DEmiRNAs target genes are mainly involved in thiamine metabolism, insulin secretion, GnRH, and Apelin signaling pathway, which are closely related to the occurrence of PCOS. DEPs also closely related to hormone metabolism processes such as steroid hormone biosynthesis. In the analysis integrating DEmiRNAs target genes and DEPs, two molecules, GRAMD1B and STPLC2, attracted our attention that are closely associated with cholesterol transport and ceramide biosynthesis, respectively.

Conclusion

Dysregulated miRNAs and proteins in FF-EVs, mainly involving in hormone metabolism, insulin secretion, neurotransmitters regulation, adipokine expression, and secretion, may be closely related to PCOS. The effects of GRAMD1B and STPLC2 on PCOS deserve further study.
Applying MAPE-K control loops for adaptive workflow management in smart factories
Authors: Malburg Lukas , Hoffmann Maximilian , Bergmann Ralph
Published: January 2023

Monitoring the state of currently running processes and reacting to ad-hoc situations during runtime is a key challenge in Business Process Management (BPM). This is especially the case in cyber-physical environments that are characterized by high context sensitivity. MAPE-K control loops are widely used for self-management in these environments and describe four phases for approaching this challenge: Monitor, Analyze, Plan, and Execute. In this paper, we present an architectural solution as well as implementation proposals for using MAPE-K control loops for adaptive workflow management in smart factories. We use Complex Event Processing (CEP) techniques and the process execution states of a Workflow Management System (WfMS) in the monitoring phase. In addition, we apply automated planning techniques to resolve detected exceptional situations and to continue process execution. The experimental evaluation with a physical smart factory shows the potential of the developed approach that is able to detect failures by using IoT sensor data and to resolve them autonomously in near real time with considerable results.
Influence of manganese ions in calcium silicate glass–ceramics on optical, mechanical, and magnetic properties
Authors: Mahdy Manal A. , Hamzawy Esmat M. A. , El-Bassyouni Gehan T. , Zawawi I. K. El , Sherif H. H. A.
Published: January 2023

Nanocrystalline calcium silicate powder was synthesized by adding different ratios of MnO2 ranging from 0.00 to 2.00 wt% to detect its effect on the structure and physical properties. The pseudowollastonite triclinic and low combeite of hexagonal phase with nanocrystallite size less than 85.0 nm were confirmed by the XRD technique and average particle size ranging from 7.8 to 27.9 nm as detected by HR-TEM micrograph images. Stretching and bending vibration of the O–Si–O band were shifted to higher values upon the addition of MnO2 were verified by FT-IR. Increasing both the density and ultimate strength with a reduction in the porosity leads to an improvement in the mechanical properties with the addition of MnO2. Additionally, the increasing MnO2 content showed an improvement in magnetic and optical properties, which exhibited a decrement in the optical band gap Eg from 3.9 to 1.6 eV. Hence, the MnO2 acts as a structural network modifier of calcium silicate glass–ceramics. Furthermore, the estimated values of the Lande g-factor (2.01534–2.01731) for the d5 system of the Mn2+ displayed a negative shift from the free electron (2.0023), and the hyperfine splitting constant A value was 87 × 10−4 cm−1, indicating that the Mn2+ ions are in an ionic environment.
ZnO/Ag multilayer for enhancing the catalytic activity against 4-nitrophenol
Authors: Mostafa Ayman M. , Mwafy Eman. A. , Khalil Ahmed M. , Toghan Arafat , Alashkar Emad A.
Published: January 2023

A multilayer thin film from zinc oxide and silver (ZnO/Ag multilayer thin film) has been synthesized via the technique of pulsed infrared laser deposition at 600 °C to be used as a portable catalyst for the degradation of 4-nitrophenol. The multilayer thin film was formed by two steps; the first one was making a thin film with a 300 nm thickness, followed by a 100 nm thin film from Ag, which was characterized by different characterization techniques. The XRD data demonstrated the presence of hexagonal Ag on ZnO in the formation of ZnO thin films and ZnO/Ag thin films. Also, it showed that crystallite size is decreasing as the Ag concentration rises because of the difference in atomic radius between Zn and Ag atoms in the crystal structure formation of ZnO coated with Ag. The crystal quality of ZnO and Ag was evaluated using photoluminescence (PL). The optical investigation showed the decrease in transmittance after coating ZnO film with Ag was due to ZnO films including more voids than ZnO/Ag films. From SEM images, the morphology of ZnO films was modified by the appearance of brilliant spots, which was related to the coating of the Ag layer as confirmed by elemental analysis. Then, based on the findings of catalytic experiments against 4-nitrophenol, the ZnO/Ag multilayer thin film shows an exceptional potential enhancement in compared to that of ZnO thin film.
An oracle-based framework for robust combinatorial optimization
Authors: Bettiol Enrico , Buchheim Christoph , De Santis Marianna , Rinaldi Francesco
Published: January 2023

We propose a general solution approach for min-max-robust counterparts of combinatorial optimization problems with uncertain linear objectives. We focus on the discrete scenario case, but our approach can be extended to other types of uncertainty sets such as polytopes or ellipsoids. Concerning the underlying certain problem, the algorithm is entirely oracle-based, i.e., our approach only requires a (primal) algorithm for solving the certain problem. It is thus particularly useful in case the certain problem is well-studied but its combinatorial structure cannot be directly exploited in a tailored robust optimization approach, or in situations where the underlying problem is only defined implicitly by a given software. The idea of our algorithm is to solve the convex relaxation of the robust problem by a simplicial decomposition approach, the main challenge being the non-differentiability of the objective function in the case of discrete or polytopal uncertainty. The resulting dual bounds are then used within a tailored branch-and-bound framework for solving the robust problem to optimality. By a computational evaluation, we show that our method outperforms straightforward linearization approaches on the robust minimum spanning tree problem. Moreover, using the Concorde solver for the certain oracle, our approach computes much better dual bounds for the robust traveling salesman problem in the same amount of time.
Quantum similarity and QSPR in Euclidean-, and Minkowskian–Banach spaces
Authors: Carbó-Dorca Ramon
Published: January 2023

This paper describes first how Euclidian- and Minkowskian–Banach spaces are related via the definition of a metric or signature vector. Also, it is discussed later on how these spaces can be generated using homothecies of the unit sphere or shell. Such possibility allows for proposing a process aiming at the dimension condensation in such spaces. The condensation of dimensions permits the account of the incompleteness of classical QSPR procedures, independently of whether the algorithm used is statistical bound or AI-neural network related. Next, a quantum QSPR framework within Minkowskian vector spaces is discussed. Then, a well-defined set of general isometric vectors is proposed, and connected to the set of molecular density functions generating the quantum similarity metric matrix. A convenient quantum QSPR algorithm emerges from this Minkowskian mathematical structure and isometry.
The Gestural Misinformation Effect in Child Interviews in Switzerland
Authors: Meyer Kendra Rita , Blades Mark , Krähenbühl Sarah
Published: January 2023

Gestures embody concepts in the form of universal representations. Researchers have highlighted that social communication often embodies nonverbal behavior. A forensic interviewer’s nonverbal behavior, such as gesturing during an interview, could communicate misleading information and may cause inaccuracies in the interviewees’ testimonies. The current study was conducted in Switzerland and included 108 child participants, in three age groups (a younger sample aged 6–9 years, n = 32) (a middle sample aged 10–11 years, n = 40) and an older sample aged 12–13 years, n = 36). Participants viewed a video and completed an interview about the video, individually, immediately after. During the questioning, the interviewer deliberately misled the interviewees with nonverbal gestures. The results showed that 95 children were misled by at least one gesture and that gestures led to a significant decrease in accuracy. Children also incorporated misleading gestures and reported false information; adding to existing evidence that misinformation can also be communicated through nonverbal gestures. Our findings demonstrate the negative influence of misleading gestures in child eyewitness interviews and provide more evidence for the robustness of the gestural misinformation effect, reported in previous research.
Autoencoding slow representations for semi-supervised data-efficient regression
Authors: Struckmeier Oliver , Tiwari Kshitij , Kyrki Ville
Published: January 2023

The slowness principle is a concept inspired by the visual cortex of the brain. It postulates that the underlying generative factors of a quickly varying sensory signal change on a different, slower time scale. By applying this principle to state-of-the-art unsupervised representation learning methods one can learn a latent embedding to perform supervised downstream regression tasks more data efficient. In this paper, we compare different approaches tounsupervised slow representation learningsuch as$$L_p$$Lpnorm based slowness regularization and the SlowVAE, and propose a new term based on Brownian motion used in our method, the S-VAE. We empirically evaluate these slowness regularization terms with respect to their downstream task performance and data efficiency in state estimation and behavioral cloning tasks. We find that slow representations show great performance improvements in settings where only sparse labeled training data is available. Furthermore, we present a theoretical and empirical comparison of the discussed slowness regularization terms. Finally, we discuss how the Fréchet Inception Distance (FID), commonly used to determine the generative capabilities of GANs, can predict the performance of trained models in supervised downstream tasks.
Curcumin-resveratrol nano-formulation counteracting hyperammonemia in rats
Authors: Nasr Maha , Ahmed-farid Omar A.H. , Ahmed Rania F.
Published: January 2023

Malnutrition and low dietary protein intake could be risk factors for developing peripheral and central hyperammonemia, especially in pediatrics. Both curcumin and resveratrol proved to be effective against several hepatic and cerebral injuries. They were reported to be beneficial in lowering circulating ammonia levels, yet both are known for their low bioavailability. The use of pharmaceutical nano-formulations as delivery systems for these two nutraceuticals could solve the aforementioned problem. Hence, the present study aimed to investigate the valuable outcome of using a combination of curcumin and resveratrol in a nanoemulsion formulation, to counteract protein-deficient diet (PDD)-induced hyperammonemia and the consequent complications in male albino rats. Results revealed that using a nanoemulsion containing both curcumin and resveratrol at a dose of (5 + 5 mg/kg) effectively reduced hepatic and brain ammonia levels, serum ALT and AST levels, hepatic and brain nitric oxide levels, oxidative DNA damage as well as disrupted cellular energy performance. In addition, there was a substantial increase in brain levels of monoamines, and a decrease in glutamate content. Therefore, it can be concluded that the use of combined curcumin and resveratrol nanoemulsion is an effective means of ameliorating the hepatic and cerebral adverse effects resulting from PDD-induced hyperammonemia in rats.
A Systematic Review of Cognition in Cervical Dystonia
Authors: O’Connor Sarah , Hevey David , Burke Tom , Rafee Shameer , Pender Niall , O’Keeffe Fiadhnait
Published: January 2023

Growing evidence points to a spectrum of non-motor symptoms, including cognitive difficulties that have a greater impact on functional outcomes and quality of life than motor symptoms in cervical dystonia (CD). Some cognitive impairments have been reported; however, findings are inconsistent, and described across mixed groups of dystonia. The current review aimed to examine the evidence for cognitive impairments in CD. MEDLINE, EMBASE, PsychINFO and Web of Science databases were searched. Studies were included if they met the following criteria (i) cross-sectional or longitudinal studies of adults with CD, (ii) where the results of standardised measures of cognitive or neuropsychological function in any form were assessed and reported, (iii) results compared to a control group or normative data, and (iv) were published in English. Results are presented in a narrative synthesis. Twenty studies were included. Subtle difficulties with general intellectual functioning, processing speed, verbal memory, visual memory, visuospatial function, executive function, and social cognition were identified while language, and attention and working memory appear to be relatively spared. Several methodological limitations were identified that should be considered when interpreting the evidence to describe a specific profile of cognitive impairment in CD. Clinical and research implications are discussed.
Models for Reactions in Confined Space: Can Surface Science Contribute? A Review and Perspective
Authors: Gura L. , Soares E. A. , Paier J. , Stavale F. , Freund H.-J.
Published: January 2023

This paper reports and discusses some of our recent advances in surface science research on a silica film supported on a Ru(0001) substrate. This system is unique, as the silica is bound to the metal surface by dispersive forces only, and thus opens the possibility to study reactions in the confined space between the metal substrate and the silica film, acting as a permeable membrane. We demonstrate that this system allows for detailed insights into the complexity of reactions in confined space, including phenomena due to the response of the confined space to the presence of the reactants, and direct comparison to the situation when the same reaction occurs in open space.
A Preliminary Study on the Sustainability of Metallization of Polymer Matrix Composites through Cold Spray
Authors: Viscusi Antonio , Perna Alessia Serena , Astarita Antonello
Published: January 2023

The cold spray (CS) process is the latest solid-state deposition method that has gained significant awareness for the metallization of polymer matrix composites (PMCs) materials to modify their surface properties, including electrical or thermal conductivity and electromagnetic shielding. In comparison with other coating processes, CS allows for the production of metallic coatings without the necessity to reach the melting temperature of the sprayed particles and provides a way to deposit resistant materials with improved properties onto various components to minimize wear, erosion and corrosion. For the first time in the literature, this work has the innovative goal of applying the life cycle assessment methodology to the case study of the CS production process in order to ascertain whether CS could be framed in the realm of green technologies offering interesting opportunities to improve manufacturing sustainability. In particular, the environmental impact of CS associated with the metallization process of PMCs was considered in terms of energy consumption and CO2, NOx and SO2 emissions, which are used as indicators in the life cycle assessment. When compared to different coating processes, the results suggest that CS has a large potential to reduce the environmental effects connected with the products in terms of the amount of CO2 and hazardous emissions created throughout the process.
Exploring Miniaturized HVOF Systems for the Deposition of Ti-6Al-4V
Authors: Oberste-Berghaus J. , Aghasibeig M. , Burgess A. , Khamsepour P. , Moreau C. , Dolatabadi A.
Published: January 2023

The exceptional properties of Ti-6Al-4V of high strength, lightweight, corrosion resistance and machinability make it one of the most widely used alloys in in the aerospace industry. Significant efforts are underway to establish powder bed additive manufacturing technologies for Ti-6Al-4V. There are also increasing attempts to use thermal and cold spray to build near-net-shaped parts with buildup rates orders of magnitude higher than powder bed. Thermal spraying, such as HVOF, can oxidize and degrade the alloy due to the high processing temperature. Lowering the flame temperature through inert gas addition in full-size HVOF systems is a possible approach to retain solid-state deposition of the feedstock particles, thereby limiting oxidation and detrimental α-case formation, while providing sufficient heat input for particle softening and plastic deformation at impact. Novel miniaturized HVOF systems, with spray jets of only a few millimeters in width, may further offer the possibility to improve the spatial resolution of the buildup for near-net shape forming. The process parameter range for solid-state deposition of Ti-6A-4V using the liquid-fuelled TAFA Model 825 JPid and the novel hydrogen-fuelled Spraywerx ID-NOVA MK-6 with the addition of nitrogen is shown. Buildups at over 80% deposition efficiency generally yield as-sprayed porosities below 3% and hardness above 200 HV100gf. Attainable microstructures and oxygen content as a function of spray parameters are delineated. Recrystallization and beta-annealing of selected samples lower the residual porosity and can create equiaxed α and intergranular ß-phases. Ultimate tensile strengths of up to 1100 MPa were attained; however, the residual oxygen content of above 0.7% was found to limit β-phase formation, which contributes to a limited elongation to failure.
Role of Arterial Hypertension and Hypertension-Mediated Organ Damage in Cardiotoxicity of Anticancer Therapies
Authors: Tini Giacomo , Tocci Giuliano , Battistoni Allegra , Sarocchi Matteo , Pietrantoni Camilla , Russo Domitilla , Musumeci Beatrice , Savoia Carmine , Volpe Massimo , Spallarossa Paolo
Published: January 2023

Purpose of the Review

Arterial hypertension (AH) is the most common cardiovascular (CV) risk factor in the community and in oncologic patients. It also represents the most important CV condition predisposing to anticancer treatment-related cardiotoxicity. This risk is heightened in the presence of cardiac AH-mediated organ damage (HMOD). Influence of AH and HMOD on the development of cardiotoxicity will be reviewed, with a focus on specific scenarios and implications for management of oncologic patients.

Recent Findings

Not adequately controlled AH before or during anticancer treatments and/or development of AH during or after completion of such therapies have detrimental effects on the clinical course of oncologic patients, particularly if HMOD is present.

As overlooking CV health can jeopardize the success of anticancer treatments, the goal for clinicians caring for the oncologic patient should include the treatment of AH and HMOD.
Extracellular Vesicles from NMN Preconditioned Mesenchymal Stem Cells Ameliorated Myocardial Infarction via miR-210-3p Promoted Angiogenesis
Authors: Pu Yanan , Li Chunyu , Qi Xin , Xu Rui , Dong Liyang , Jiang Yi , Gong Qingyun , Wang Di , Cheng Rong , Zhang Cheng , Chen Yan
Published: January 2023

Mesenchymal stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles (MSCs-EVs) possess cardioprotection in acute myocardial infarction. Nevertheless, the therapeutic intervention potential and the molecular mechanism of EVs from NMN (Nicotinamide mononucleotide) preconditioned hUCMSCs (N-EVs) in acute myocardial infarction remains unknown. In the present study, EVs from hUCMSCs (M-EVs) and N-EVs were identified by electron microscopy, immunoblotting and nanoparticle tracking analysis. Compared with M-EVs, N-EVs significantly increased the proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis of HUVECs. Meanwhile, N-EVs markedly reduced apoptosis and cardiac fibrosis and promoted angiogenesis in the peri-infarct region in the MI rats. A high-throughput miRNA sequencing and qPCR methods analysis revealed that miR-210-3p was abundant in N-EVs and the expression of miR-210-3p was obviously upregulated in HUVECs after N-EVs treated. Overexpression of miR-210-3p in HUVECs significantly enhanced the tube formation, migration and proliferative capacities of HUVECs. However, downregulation of miR-210-3p in HUVECs markedly decreased the tube formation, migration and proliferative capacities of HUVECs. Furthermore, bioinformatics analysis and luciferase assays revealed that EphrinA3 (EFNA3) was a direct target of miR-210-3p. Knockdown of miR-210-3p in N-EVs significantly impaired its ability to protect the heart after myocardial infarction. Altogether, these results indicated that N-EVs promoted the infarct healing through improvement of angiogenesis by miR-210-3p via targeting the EFNA3.

Graphical Abstract

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Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Anthozoa: Octocorallia) in NE Sardinia (Mediterranean Sea): distribution and growth patterns
Authors: Canessa Martina , Bavestrello Giorgio , Trainito Egidio
Published: January 2023

Distribution and occurrence data of the sea fan Leptogorgia sarmentosa (Esper, 1791) in the Mediterranean Sea were updated thanks to new photographic surveys, highlighting the presence of the species off NE Sardinia and, in particular, in the Tavolara-Punta Coda Cavallo Marine Protected Area (TPCCMPA). The estimated average distance among colonies strongly suggests that they are not able to sexually reproduce and that they probably can be considered a sterile pseudo-population supported by inputs of larvae from the Italian mainland coast towards Sardinia. The putative conveyor belt for larval input to this area is a small permanent gyre (the North-Tyrrhenian Gyre) counterclockwise moving from the Italian to the Sardinian coasts. In TPCCMPA, the growth of one colony settled at 30 m depth was investigated across 7 years (2016–2022). The morphometric parameters indicated a linear development of the colony, in terms of branch development and 3D complexity estimated through the fractal dimension. The observed growth rates were not regular but were reached through a highly variable positive and negative oscillation. A significant correlation was obtained between growth rate and average Autumn and Winter water temperature, suggesting that somatic growth occurs in these periods. In the context of long-lasting elevated seawater temperatures and local damage linked to fishing activities, L. sarmentosa was confirmed to be a resilient species compared with other erect seascape components, like other gorgonians and sponges.
‘Two-faces’ of hyaluronan, a dynamic barometer of disease progression in tumor microenvironment
Authors: Liu Ying , Li Li , Wang Li , Lu Lu , Li Ying , Huang Guolin , Song Jinjing
Published: January 2023

Hyaluronan (HA) is a linear polysaccharide consisting of disaccharide units which are thed-glucuronic acid andn-acetyl-d-glucosamine. As the largest component of the extracellular matrix in microenvironment, HA polymers with different molecular weights vary in properties to molecular biology function. High molecular weight HA (HMW-HA) is mainly found in normal tissue or physiological condition, and exhibits lubrication and protection properties due to its good water retention and viscoelasticity. On the other hand, an increase in HA catabolism leads to the accumulation of low molecular weight HA (LMW-HA) under pathological circumstances such as inflammation, pre-cancerous and tumor microenvironment. LMW-HA acts as extracellular signals to enhance tumorigenic and metastatic phenotype, such as energy reprogramming, angiogenesis and extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling. This review discusses the basic properties of this simplest carbohydrate molecule in ECM with enormous potential, and its regulatory role between tumorigenesis and microenvironmental homeostasis. The extensive discoveries of the mechanisms underlying the roles of HA in various physiological and pathological processes would provide more information for future research in the fields of biomimetic materials, pharmaceutical and clinical applications.
Additive manufacturing for the automotive industry: on the life-cycle environmental implications of material substitution and lightweighting through re-design
Authors: Priarone Paolo C. , Catalano Angioletta R. , Settineri Luca
Published: January 2023

The automotive sector has recently been taking measures to reduce fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions for the mobility of ground vehicles. Light-weighting, via material substitution, and the re-designing of components or even a combination of the two, have been identified as a crucial solution. Additive manufacturing (AM) can be used to technologically complement or even replace conventional manufacturing in several industrial fields. The enabling of complexity-for-free (re) designs is inherent in additive manufacturing. It is expected that certain benefits can be achieved from the adoption of re-design techniques, via AM, that rely on topological optimisation, e.g., a reduced use of resources in both the material production and use phases. However, the consequent higher specific energy consumption and the higher embodied impact of feedstock materials could result in unsustainable environmental costs. This paper investigates the case of the light-weighting of an automobile component to quantify the outcomes of the systematic integration of re-designing and material substitution. A bracket, originally cast in iron, has been manufactured by means of a powder bed-based AM technique in AlSi10Mg through an optimized topology. Both manufacturing routes have been evaluated through a comparative Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) within cradle-to-grave boundaries. A 69%-lightweighting has been achieved, and the carbon dioxide emissions and energy demands of both scenarios have been compared. Besides the use-phase-related savings in terms of both energy and carbon footprint due to the lightweighting, the results highlight the environmental trade-offs and prompt the consideration of such a manufacturing process as an integral part of sustainable product development.
Measuring the effect of collaborative filtering on the diversity of users’ attention
Authors: Godinot Augustin , Tarissan Fabien
Published: January 2023

While the ever-increasing emergence of online services has led to a growing interest in the development of recommender systems, the algorithms underpinning such systems have begun to be criticized for their role in limiting the variety of content exposed to users. In this context, the notion of diversity has been proposed as a way of mitigating the side effects resulting from the specialization of recommender systems. In this paper, using a well-known recommender system that makes use of collaborative filtering in the context of musical content, we analyze the diversity of recommendations generated through the lens of the recently proposed information network diversity measure. The results of our study offer significant insights into the effect of algorithmic recommendations. On the one hand, we show that the musical selections of a large proportion of users are diversified as a result of the recommendations. On the other hand, however, such improvements do not benefit all users. They are in fact mainly restricted to users with a low level of activity or whose past musical listening selections are very narrow. Through more in-depth investigations, we also discovered that while recommendations generally increase the variety of the songs recommended to users, they nonetheless fail to provide a balanced exposure to the different related categories.
A numerical study on effect of underground cavities on seismic ground response due to Rayleigh wave propagation
Authors: Alielahi Hamid , Nadernia Zia addin , Entezari Mohsen Mahmoudzadeh
Published: January 2023

Recent studies found that some structural damage can be attributed to the effect of surface waves. A shallow underground structure may be heavily influenced by surface waves, which makes to lose energy over distance more slowly than body waves. This study deals with evaluating the effect of Rayleigh waves (R-waves) interaction with underground cavities on the seismic ground response and amplification pattern using the Finite Element Method (FEM). First, the FEM model was verified to ensure its accuracy. Then, the influences of the effective parameters, such as cavity burial depth, distance from the cavity axis, and dimensionless incident frequency were investigated. Parametric studies revealed that the amplitude of ground motion is greater in the presence of a cavity with respect to that in the free-field condition. It was indicated that shallow cavities cause more amplification than cases with a larger depth ratio. By moving away from the wave source, the response of receiver points has a declining trend. Due to the complex interaction of R-waves with a cavity, the right side of the cavity has less amplitude than the left side. Finally, by increasing the dimensionless incident frequency, the distribution of the surface displacements and wave diffraction patterns gradually becomes more complicated while the peak displacement components decrease. Consequently, in light of the importance of the R-wave interaction with subsurface spaces, the findings of this study can help improve seismic design procedures and seismic microzonation guidelines.