bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
DNA metabarcoding complements but does not replace direct observations of penguin predation by corvids
Authors: Tan Laura X. L. , Gan Han M. , van Dongen Wouter F. D. , Dann Peter , Sutherland Duncan R. , Weston Michael A.
Published: December 2023

Establishing methods that allow for more focused management of wildlife under predator pressure may increase the efficiency of managing problematic predators. Non‐invasive dietary analysis and identification of conservation‐sensitive prey in the diet of ‘culprit’ predator individuals could help to facilitate this and is worthy of exploration. Recently on Phillip Island, Australia, Little Ravens Corvus mellori have emerged as a prominent predator on the clutches of burrow‐nesting Little Penguins Eudyptula minor. We tested the feasibility of using non‐invasive PCR approaches targeting the penguin mitochondrial 16S rRNA marker gene to establish whether penguin DNA could be detected in raven faecal samples, potentially enabling the identification of culprit ravens missed by extensive field observation. Using a metabarcoding approach, we examined the feasibility of non‐invasively establishing other dietary items via high‐throughput amplicon sequencing. We documented components of raven diet using the universal mitochondrial 16S rRNA, insect‐specific ‘Chiar’ 16S rRNA and plant ITS2. The assemblage of dietary items did not differ with raven culprit status (i.e. a raven previously observed preying upon penguin), sex or date. Penguin was detected in the diet of some individuals classified observationally as non‐culprits. Although some cases may conceivably have been false detections, other explanations include missed depredation events, consumption via scavenging or through secondary consumption (e.g. eating invertebrates that have consumed penguin). While this study found metabarcoding unreliable for unambiguous assigning of raven culprit status, at least as we implemented it, it may hold promise complementing observations if consumption via scavenging can be distinguished from direct depredation.
Facets of functional diversity support niche‐based explanations for Australian biodiversity gradients
Authors: Andrew Margaret E. , Bolton Douglas K. , Rickbeil Gregory J. M. , Coops Nicholas C.
Published: December 2023

Aim

There is widespread support that species richness increases with the available energy of an ecosystem, but the mechanisms underlying this driver of biodiversity patterns remain elusive. We evaluated gradients of functional diversity to test whether the higher species richness of productive, structurally diverse environments is due to a greater range of niches being supported by the abiotic conditions present (environmental filtering), greater availability of biotic resource and habitat niches (more niches) or increasing functional similarity of species (niche packing).

Location

Australia.

Taxon

Birds and mammals.

Methods

We used structural equation modelling to evaluate the relative contributions of climatic harshness (actual evapotranspiration, AET) and the availability of resource (gross primary productivity, GPP) and habitat (tree height) niches on taxonomic richness and functional richness, dispersion and evenness. We performed parallel analyses within 15 bioclimatic zones and continentally to evaluate the scaling of biodiversity gradients and the shifting balance between niche‐based mechanisms along environmental gradients.

Results

All continental diversity gradients were primarily associated with energy variables, but while species richness of both taxa and all functional diversity measures of bird assemblages increased with AET, mammal functional diversity was more strongly associated with GPP gradients. Results were more variable at the regional scale, but species richness gradients along tree height (birds and mammals) and GPP (mammals) within bioclimatic zones tended not to be paralleled by increases in functional richness or dispersion.

Main Conclusions

The niche‐based explanations of biodiversity gradients varied in importance with scale, position on environmental gradients and taxonomic group. At the continental extent, bird biodiversity gradients were structured by environmental filtering by climatic harshness, while mammal biodiversity was related to the increasing availability of resource niches with increasing productivity. Niche packing was more prominent at the regional scale, especially in bioclimatic zones where productivity and vegetation height were less limiting, and in mammal assemblages, suggesting that biodiversity patterns scale differently for birds and mammals.
Susceptibility of adult Phlyctinus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) to entomopathogens: A first look at potential differences in a newly revised species complex
Authors: Hansen Steffan P. , Malan Antoinette P. , Haran Julien M. , Addison Pia
Published: December 2023

Phlyctinus callosus and P. xerophilus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) are two cryptic species of native entimine weevils, previously grouped together under the P. callosus sensu lato concept, that are pests of economic importance to the deciduous fruit and vine industry in the Western Cape province of South Africa. Laboratory bioassays were conducted using entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) isolates of Beauveria and entomopathogenic nematodes (EPNs), Heterorhabditis indica and Steinernema yirgalemense, to determine differences in susceptibility of adult P. callosus and P. xerophilus to potential biological control agents. The test arena used was 24‐well bioassay plates with an inoculation rate of 200 infective juveniles (IJs)/insect for EPNs and 5 × 105 conidia/insect for EPF. Insects were inoculated using a 12.7 mm filter paper impregnated with 50 μL of entomopathogen suspension. Infection was determined after 96 h incubation for EPNs through dissection of cadavers. Insects inoculated with EPF were incubated in the wells for 18 days and mortality recorded daily. Cadavers were surface sterilized and observed for overt mycosis. Differential susceptibility between P. callosus and P. xerophilus was observed in EPF but not in EPN bioassays. Differential susceptibility to EPF could be due to methodology. Low adult weevil pathogenicity was found for all entomopathogens, with variable results obtained from different bioassay batches.
Association between HNF4A rs1800961 polymorphisms and gallstones in a Taiwanese population
Authors: Lin Ying‐Cheng , Chen I‐Chieh , Chen Yen‐Ju , Lin Ching‐Tsai , Chang Jui‐Chun , Wang Tsai‐Jung , Chen Yi‐Ming , Lin Ching‐Heng
Published: December 2023

Background and Aim

A large genetic effect of a novel gallstone‐associated genetic variant, the hepatocyte nuclear factor 4α (HNF4A) rs1800961 polymorphism, has been identified through recent genome‐wide association studies. However, this effect has not been validated in Asian populations. We investigated the association between the rs1800961 variant and gallstones among a Taiwanese population.

Methods

A total of 20 405 participants aged between 30 and 70 years voluntarily enrolled in the Taiwan Biobank. Self‐report questionnaires, physical examinations, biochemical tests, and genotyping were used for analysis. The association of the HNF4A rs1800961 variant and other metabolic risks with gallstone disease was analyzed using multiple logistic regression models.

Results

The minor T allele of HNF4A rs1800961 was associated with an increased risk of gallstone, and the association remained significant even after adjustment for other risk factors including age, body mass index (BMI), diabetes, hyperlipidemia, hypertension, and cigarette smoking (adjusted odds ratio [OR] = 1.90, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.31 to 2.75) in male participants. When further stratified by BMI and age, the lithogenic effect was the most significant in male participants with obesity (adjusted OR = 3.55, 95% CI = 1.92 to 6.56) and who were younger (adjusted OR = 2.45, 95% CI = 1.49 to 4.04).

Conclusion

The novel gallstone‐associated HNF4A rs1800961 variant was associated with the risk of gallstone in the Taiwanese men. Screening for the rs1800961 polymorphism may be particularly useful in assessing the risk of gallstone formation in younger or obese men.
Internal structural analysis of the nasomaxillary complex in patients with skeletal class III asymmetry: A study on asymmetry patterns
Authors: Ahn Sung Jea , Park Song E. , Choi Jin‐Young , Min Jin Young , Kim Kyung‐A , Kim Su‐Jung
Published: December 2023

Objectives

To investigate the internal structure of the nasomaxillary complex, including the maxillary sinus, nasal cavity and nasal septum according to the facial asymmetry pattern and to evaluate its correlation with external maxillomandibular asymmetry in Class III patients based on cone‐beam computerized tomography (CBCT) images.

Materials and Methods

Facial asymmetry was analysed in a total of 100 Class III patients aged 16 years or older using CBCT scans. Patients were categorized into subgroups based on asymmetry pattern. Measurements of the nasomaxillary complex were obtained from the CBCT scans, including the volume and width of the maxillary sinuses and nasal cavities on deviated and non‐deviated sides, as well as the displacement of the nasal septum. Statistical analysis was performed to compare the internal nasomaxillary variables within and between groups, and regression analysis was conducted to evaluate the correlation between facial asymmetry and the internal nasomaxillary variables.

Results

Group comparisons showed that there were no significant differences in the volume of the maxillary sinus and nasal cavity. However, the direction and extent of nasal septum deviation, as well as the width of the nasal cavity, varied depending on the maxillary asymmetry pattern. Regression analysis indicated a correlation between nasal septum deviation and the difference in maxillary height, while the difference in nasal cavity width was correlated with the difference in maxillary width.

Conclusion

A comprehensive evaluation of the internal nasal anatomy is vital for understanding the intricate relationship between nasal structure and maxillary growth.
The microfoundations of mission‐led interdisciplinary collaborations: The role of design principles
Authors: Rabello Rafaela Costa Camoes , Ruckstuhl Katharina , Woodfield Paul , Kokshagina Olga , Sandretto Susan
Published: December 2023

Mission‐oriented (MO) research aims to address social, economic and policy goals through an agreed and evidence‐based set of ‘missions’. Vital to achieving a mission are bottom‐up and cross‐organisational interdisciplinary collaborations. However, these collaborations are often time and resource intensive. Paying attention to microfoundation behaviours can elucidate the individual capabilities required for mission‐oriented science. Design‐driven approaches have proven useful in supporting the microfoundations of interdisciplinary collaborations. However, we know little about what design principles support MO research. To understand this, we conducted a workshop built on a Concept‐Knowledge (C‐K) design principles as part of a longitudinal study of a mission‐oriented interdisciplinary science innovation programme in New Zealand. Our results indicated that the C‐K principles of knowledge mapping, concept exploration and mindful deviation enhanced workshop participants' willingness to creatively experiment across disciplines, provided a shared research directionality and addressed many of the barriers identified in the longitudinal study. We argue that our findings complement and deepen empirically driven microfoundational research by unpacking the specific role of design principles in inducing the behaviours that are essential to advancing large‐scale mission‐oriented research collaborations.
From Moral Therapy to Political Defiance: Public Self‐Reflections on Russian YouTube
Authors: Lerner Julia , Novikova Anna
Published: December 2023

During the first months of the Russian war in Ukraine, millions of Russian‐language viewers both within Russia and elsewhere, including ourselves, became addicted to a type of YouTube format that presented 1–2‐hour videos staged as dialogues between a journalist and prominent figures in the public life of contemporary Russia. The interviews are grounded in personal reflexive accounts of broad national rupture and rifts in identity resulting from the recent political events and Russian military aggression. This format is formed by an overlap between the personal and the public, and it combines private conversation with political expression in a manner novel for Russian‐language media. In this essay we follow the emergence of the format as a particular genre of public self‐reflection, focusing on the YouTube channel “Skazhi Gordeevoi.” Interpreting a contemporary script of personal reflection of the public Self coming from a liberal antiwar milieu in Russia, we discuss the role of emotional expressions in moral political accounts of collective ruptures. We find that this format of emotional self‐reflection serves as collective “moral therapy” for those in this milieu, both real and imaginary, and simultaneously creates a community of dissenters, thereby becoming an act of defiant talk and civil dissent.
Integrally Bladed Rotor Modal Identification Under Traveling Wave Excitation With High Density Measurement Points
Authors: Beck Joseph A. , Brown Jeffrey M. , Gillaugh Daniel L.
Published: December 2023

Vibration testing of an integrally bladed rotor (IBR) is often completed through traveling wave excitation (TWE) bench tests composed of multiple, simultaneously excited inputs. Often, each blade has many output locations. For IBRs with many blades, as often found in the high pressure compressor, the total number of outputs can be several orders of magnitude. Formulation of a full output spectral density matrix from all measurements will then contain an exponential number of values at each frequency bin that can be detrimental to computational resources during the spectral density matrix formulation as well as down-stream system identification algorithms. An online algorithm is proposed for collecting and analyzing TWE data to reduce the large, computationally burdensome datasets into a manageable number of subsets for subsequent system identification. Furthermore, a frequency domain decomposition technique is also proposed for system identification that also attempts to reduce the data size through singular value decomposition. Identified system poles can be averaged from each subset, but mode shapes require stitching each subset together to identify the full mode shape at all output locations. The developed approaches are tested on synthetic TWE data and compared to baseline system identification results obtained using the full spectral density matrix. Results indicate the data subsets accurately compare to the baseline without much loss in accuracy.
Parameter Identification Problem for Drying of Solid Propellants: Effective Diffusivity
Authors: Kulish Vladimir , Phan Bui Thanh , Horák Vladimír
Published: December 2023

In the manufacture of propellants, drying is a crucial step in which liquid solvents are extracted from the propellants' microstructure in order to impart the desired physical and chemical qualities. Therefore, the prediction of the effective diffusivity, a fundamental characteristic defining the rate of solvent transfer during vacuum drying of propellants, is particularly valuable for determining optimal drying conditions in the operation of drying systems and optimizing the drying process. This paper presents an elegant way to estimate the lumped value of the effective diffusivity for the mass transfer process in the course of drying propellants. Analytical solutions for the effective diffusivity at planar, cylindrical, and spherical geometries are obtained. These solutions are used to investigate effects of the propellant geometry on the drying process. Using experimental data for the transient moisture content, it becomes possible to determine geometries, which should be preferred for a given function of the mass flux.
Computational Design of 2D Lattice Structures Based on Crystallographic Symmetries
Authors: Leuenberger Alfred , Birner Eliott , Lumpe Thomas S. , Stanković Tino
Published: December 2023

The design representations of lattice structures are fundamental to the development of computational design approaches. Current applications of lattice structures are characterized by ever-growing demand on computational resources to solve difficult optimization problems or generate large datasets, opting for the development of efficient design representations which offer a high range of possible design variants, while at the same time generating design spaces with attributes suitable for computational methods to explore. In response, the focus of this work is to propose a parametric design representation based on crystallographic symmetries and investigate its implications for the computational design of lattice structures. The work defines design rules to support the design of functionally graded structures using crystallographic symmetries such that the connectivity between individual members in a structure with varying geometry is guaranteed and investigates how to use the parametrization in the context of optimization. The results show that the proposed parametrization achieves a compact design representation to benefit the computational design process by employing a small number of design variables to control a broad range of complex geometries. The results also show that the design spaces based on the proposed parametrization can be successfully explored using a direct search-based method.
Food waste initiatives in the tertiary sector in Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Mills Briar , O'Brien Ray , Mirosa Miranda , Skeaff Sheila
Published: December 2023

Food waste is a global issue; 30 to 40% of all food is wasted. Despite a growing body of research, information on food waste in the tertiary education sector is lacking. The variety and size of foodservice operations at tertiary institutes provides an opportunity to address food waste and work towards Sustainable Development Goal Target 12.3. We investigated food waste initiatives at 13 tertiary institutes in Aotearoa and identified challenges to further initiative implementation. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with staff working in sustainability at each institute. The most common initiatives included worm farms (n=11), solutions for leftover foods (n=11), and composting (n=9). Challenges to the initiatives included: the Covid-19 pandemic; contamination of organic food waste destined for composting; attitudes of individuals and institutes; and funding and resources. Although a range of initiatives are in place, these approaches are near the bottom of the waste hierarchy. New initiatives should be developed to reduce the volume of excess food, focusing on prevention and avoidance rather than recycling and recovery. Tertiary institutes in Aotearoa should also adopt the “Target, Measure, Act” approach to tackle food waste, through setting formal goals, regularly measuring food waste, and acting by implementing a wide variety of initiatives.
Community Development and Public Transport
Authors: Hawthorne Georgia
Published: December 2023

When discussing sustainability, the first thing that might come to mind is environmental sustainability. However, a truly sustainable community is active in social and environmental sustainability. To enable social sustainability, having a reliable transport system is fundamental, especially accessible public transport. However, in Dunedin, there is a significant demographic gap in taking public transportation.  According to the 2022 student travel survey, 50.1% of Otago University students own a Bus Card; however, 84.2% of students have never taken a bus. This report aims to delve into the transportation needs of Otago University students via the use of persona archetypes and evaluate the current transportation system with student needs and concerns. Through the use of personas and running them through the Dunedin Bus system, there is an argument that the current public transport system is not accessible to university students and thus needs a revamp to enable social sustainability within the university student population. University-run shuttles influenced by Penn State and the University of North Dakota and creating a student-friendly bus environment are some proposed changes needed to allow student engagement in the Dunedin community.
Food Waste
Authors: Lawrence Demi
Published: December 2023

This research project explored solutions for food waste reduction and mitigation across Te Whatu Ora / New Zealand Public Hospital systems. Directly relating and supporting Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 12.3, to halve global food waste at consumer and retail levels by 2030. This research was done by analysing appropriate literature exploring food and organic waste management strategies in national and international hospital service sectors and systems, further using the Food Recovery Hierarchy as a framework, which ranks the effects of these strategies when looking at them financially, environmentally and socially. Furthermore, this research looks at the barriers and enablers of the suggested organic waste management strategies. A food waste audit was conducted at Dunedin Public Hospital to assess and quantify the current organic waste within the system. The audit method was developed using the Food Loss and Waste Protocol Waste Composition Analysis Guide. The key questions of this study are: How do we prevent organic waste in the first place (preparation strategies)?  What can we do with the organic waste produced to prevent it from going to landfills? What items in the food system are the most wasted? How much Greenhouse gas (GHG) is produced by this organic waste going to landfill? Organic waste produces methane, occupies land mass and has the potential for groundwater contamination. Ten per cent of total global GHG Emissions come from food waste, 22% of which is occurring at the consumption level. The key impact of this research is to mitigate organic waste going to landfills to reduce further climate change, thus benefiting environmentally, socially and economically.
The relationship between body size and stridulatory sound production in loricariid catfishes
Authors: Webb McAdams Amanda L. , Smith Michael E.
Published: December 2023

Sound production capabilities and characteristics in Loricariidae, the largest catfish family, have not been well examined. Sounds produced by three loricariid catfish species, Otocinclus affinis, Pterygoplichthys gibbiceps, and Pterygoplichthys pardalis, were recorded. Each of these species produces pulses via pectoral-fin spine stridulation by rubbing the ridged condyle of the dorsal process of the pectoral-fin spine base against a matching groove-like socket in the pectoral girdle. Light and scanning electron microscopy were used to examine the dorsal process of the pectoral-fin spines of these species. Mean distances between dorsal process ridges of O. affinis, P. gibbiceps, and P. pardalis were 53, 161, and 329 μm, respectively. Stridulation sounds occurred during either abduction (type A) or adduction (type B). O. affinis produced sounds through adduction only and P. pardalis through abduction only, whereas P. gibbiceps often produced pulse trains alternating between abduction and adduction. In these species, dominant frequency was an inverse function of sound duration, fish total length, and inter-ridge distance on the dorsal process of the pectoral-fin spine and sound duration increased with fish total length. While stridulation sounds are used in many behavioral contexts in catfishes, the functional significance of sound production in Loricariidae is currently unknown.
Improving equity in patent inventorship
Authors: Chien Colleen V. , Ouellette Lisa Larrimore
Published: December 2023

Expanding who gets credit for invention may boost participation in innovation
Increasing diversity on spacecraft mission teams reduces risk
Authors: Mandt Kathleen E.
Published: December 2023

Many of the NASA spacecraft sent into Earth orbit and throughout the Solar System are competitively selected and led by principal investigators (PIs). These senior scientists are responsible for directing research activities, managing the use of funds, and reporting to the funding agency. Additionally, the European Space Agency (ESA) has competitively selected missions that are led by ESA-nominated project scientists and include instruments that are overseen by PIs. Usually, the PIs and project scientists form a science working team that provides scientific leadership of the mission. These NASA and ESA PI roles require a deep understanding of the mission’s scientific goals and engineering design aspects. And, importantly, these roles also require skills in team management.
Controlling precision on the ring
Authors: Berionni Guillaume
Published: December 2023

Desired borylation of fluoroaromatic compounds is achieved with cobalt catalysts
In Other Journals
Authors: Yeston Jake S. , Lopez Bianca , Simonti Corinne , Ash Caroline , Lempriere Sarah A. , Smith Keith T. , Lavine Marc S.
Published: December 2023

Editors’ selections from the current scientific literature
Deadliest mpox outbreak ever sparks a new worry
Authors: Cohen Jon
Published: December 2023

Congo cases suggest viral strain there is spreading sexually, like less lethal one that triggered last year’s global outbreak
Estimating the contribution of the porcine fecal core microbiota to metabolite production via mathematical modeling and
in vitro
fermentation
Authors: Galgano Salvatore , Kettle Helen , Free Andrew , Houdijk Jos G. M.
Published: December 2023

The swine gut microbiota is a complex ecosystem found throughout the gastrointestinal tract, with multiple exchanges with the host and whose composition is linked to both external and internal factors, such as diet or breed. Diet, probiotic, or prebiotic interventions have been designed to boost beneficial host-microbiota interactions, such as the production of anti-inflammatory molecules, or the fermentation of otherwise undigested resources. In parallel, a smaller microbial population, shared among the same host species, independent of external or internal factors, has been described and defined as the “core microbiota.” Therapies targeting the core microbiota could possibly lead to more precise and long-lasting effects. However, the metabolic role of the porcine core microbiota, especially in relation to the rest of the microbial community, is currently missing. We present here the first dynamic model of the porcine core microbiota, which we used to estimate the core-microbiota metabolite production and to forecast the effect of a synbiotic intervention targeting the core genera of the core microbiota. We developed a community model in which a total of 17 microbial groups were established based on culture-based information of representative species. First, the model parameters were estimated, and the resulting model simulations were compared favorably with
in vitro
experimentation. The model was then used to predict the microbial dynamics of the core and non-core members under different experimental conditions. Therefore, it was able to theorize the main-metabolite core microbiota contribution, hypothesizing that it could be mainly responsible for acetate and propionate, but not for butyrate production.

IMPORTANCE

Currently, little information is present in the literature to describe the generic metabolic role of the porcine core microbiota or to inform on the effect of interventions targeting the core genera. Moreover, both
in vitro
and
in vivo
experimentations aiming to explore the core microbiota dynamics are technically demanding, expensive, or restricted by ethical considerations. Modeling approaches can be used as an initial exploratory tool to develop hypotheses for targeted experimentation. Our mathematical model provides initial information on the microbial and metabolite dynamics of the core microbiota in relation to diet and therapeutic intervention.
Supplemental Material: A far-traveled basalt lava flow in north-central Oregon
Authors: Pivarunas Anthony F. , et al.
Published: December 2023

Tables with field, geochemical, and geochronological data.
Late history of glacial Lake Agassiz in northwestern Ontario, Canada: a case study in the Sandy Lake basin
Authors: Gao Cunhai
Published: December 2023

The Sandy Lake basin in northwestern Ontario is a potentially important area for insights into the late history of glacial Lake Agassiz because of its extensive glaciolacustrine deposits and well-preserved shoreline features of this geological episode. However, little information is available on its deglaciation history. Recent mapping shows the withdrawal of the ice from the basin center and subsequent deposition of extensive varved clay in the lake with an optically stimulated luminescence-dated maximum age at 11.4 ± 0.9 ka. With its further recession, the ice constructed the Opasquia moraine on the northern rim of the basin sometime before the development on the moraine of the first major shoreline of the lake (the The Pas, inferred at 10.1 ka). Lowering of the lake level formed many strandlines on the moraine and elsewhere in the basin, which can be correlated with those in the main Agassiz basin based on projected water planes (the The Pas to Ponton). Radiocarbon dating on basal wood remains of surface peat in a former strait defined by the Ponton shoreline and a nearby site on the former lake floor indicates the abandonment of this shoreline and hence the withdrawal of Lake Agassiz from the Sandy Lake basin by 8.3 ± 0.1 cal ka (UOC-7883). The date, although a minimum-limiting age, provides the hitherto best possible age constraint for the Ponton–Kinojévis shorelines, which many hypothesize represent one of the major lake levels during the final drainage of Lake Agassiz into Hudson Bay but have never been adequately dated before.
Assessing exogenous carbohydrate intake needed to optimize human endurance performance across sex: insights from modeling runners pursuing a sub-2-h marathon
Authors: Lukasiewicz Cole J. , Vandiver Kayla J. , Albert Elizabeth D. , Kirby Brett S. , Jacobs Robert A.
Published: December 2023

This study scrutinizes the upper limit of exogenous carbohydrate (CHO) recommendations for elite male and female marathoners by modeling sex-specific needs across an extreme metabolic challenge lasting ∼2 h, a sub-2-h marathon. Contemporary nutritional guidelines to optimize marathon performance appear inadequate for most elite marathon runners but appear more appropriate for males over their female counterparts. Future research examining possible benefits of exogenous CHO intakes > 90 g·h−1 should prioritize female athlete study inclusion.
Aspect-Based Sentiment Analysis for Afaan Oromoo Movie Reviews Using Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Horsa Obsa Gelchu , Tune Kula Kekeba
Published: December 2023

Aspect-based sentiment analysis (ABSA) is the subfield of natural language processing that deals with essentially splitting data into aspects and finally extracting the sentiment polarity as positive, negative, or neutral. ABSA has been widely investigated and developed for many resource-rich languages such as English and French. However, little work has been done on indigenous African languages like Afaan Oromoo both at the document and sentence levels. In this paper, ABSA for Afaan Oromoo movie reviews was investigated and developed. To achieve the proposed objective, 2800 Afaan Oromoo movie reviews were collected from YouTube using YouTube Data API. Following the data preprocessing, predetermined aspects of the Afaan Oromoo movie were extracted and labeled into positive or negative aspects by domain experts. For implementation, different machine learning algorithms including random forest, logistic regression, SVM, and multinomial naïve Bayes in combination with BoW and TF-IDF were applied. To test and measure the proposed system, accuracy, precision, recall, and f1-score were used. In the case of random forest, the accuracy obtained in combination with both BoW and TF-IDF was 88%. Using the SVM, the accuracy generated with BoW and TF-IDF was 88% and 87%, respectively. Applying logistic regression, the accuracy generated with both BoW and TF-IDF was 87%. Using multinomial naïve Bayes, the accuracy generated in combination with both BoW and TF-IDF was 88%. To improve the optimal performance evaluation parameters, different hyperparameter tuning settings were applied. The implementation result shows that the optimal values of models’ performance evaluation parameters were generated using different hyperparameter tuning settings.
Feature Line Extraction from Building Façade Point Clouds by Exploring Spatial Topological Relationship
Authors: Xiong Feng , Li Zongchun , Fu Yongjian , Wang Wenqi , He Hua , Huang Zhekun , Min Jie , Ran Jiahuan
Published: December 2023

After using a terrestrial laser scanner to acquire building facade point clouds, the extraction of feature lines can simplify the expression of building objects, thereby contributing to the accurate construction of building facade geometric models. To address the problems of missing extraction and low accuracy in existing methods, this study proposes a feature line extraction method for building facade point clouds by exploring the different spatial topological relationship between feature and non‐feature points. The method comprises three steps: feature point extraction, feature line generation, and feature line merging and optimization. First, feature points are extracted using the convex hull distance value and relative angle, as defined in this study. Thereafter, feature points are clustered by combining the random sample consensus and region growing algorithms, and the feature lines are obtained by utilizing the iterative weighted least squares method based on the IGGIII weight function. Finally, the feature lines are merged and optimized using an endpoint search method to improve the discontinuity and missing common endpoints of the original feature lines. The experimental results obtained using simulated and measured point cloud data show that this method can accurately extract feature points, and the extracted feature lines obtained from building facade point clouds have better accuracy and completeness, which is more practical than the existing methods and can be used in many applications such as building facade measurement and urban three‐dimensional modeling.
Comparative Study on the Biochemical Profile and Antioxidant Activity of Picrorhiza kurrooa Rolye ex Benth. Obtained from Uttarakhand
Authors: Pokhriyal Anshika , Prakash Soban , Patni Babita
Published: December 2023

Picrorhiza kurrooa Royle ex Benth. is one of the well‐established herbal plants with an exceptional therapeutic potential. It belongs to the Scrophulariaceae family and is commonly called as kutki. The drug obtained from the plant is a bitter tonic due to the presence of kutkin in it. Over 61 secondary metabolites from the plants have been identified, including iridoid glycosides, flavonoids, cucurbitacins, and phenolic chemicals. However, picrosides are the major phytochemicals in this species that are responsible for its well‐known hepatoprotective properties. The present study was conducted to compare Picrorhiza kurrooa (dried rhizomes) obtained from local traders from the markets of three different districts of Uttarakhand, i.e., the Dewal block of Chamoli, Ukhimath block of Rudraprayag, and Dharchula block of Pithoragarh. Biochemical analysis was conducted on the powder of dried rhizomes for alkaloids, phenolics, tannins, flavonoids, and antioxidant activity. Based on analysis, it was found that the total phenolic content, total flavonoid content, total alkaloid content, and radical scavenging activity of P. kurrooa rhizomes purchased from Darma valley, Pithoragarh district of Uttarakhand, were the highest, followed by rhizomes collected from the Dewal block of Chamoli district and the least were found in rhizomes obtained from the Ukhimath block of Rudraprayag district of Uttarakhand. The maximum tannin content was found in Picrorhiza kurrooa rhizomes obtained from the Dewal block of Chamoli, while total reducing power was observed the highest in rhizomes from the Ukhimath block of Rudraprayag. The results provided evidence that P. kurrooa obtained from Darma valley, Pithoragarh, are the potential source of phenolics, flavonoids, and tannins and have the highest DPPH‐scavenging activity and therefore could be served as the basis for future drugs and food materials.
The Potential Therapeutic Effects of Platelet-Derived Biomaterials on Osteoporosis: A Comprehensive Review of Current Evidence
Authors: Amiri Mohammad Amin , Farshidfar Nima , Miron Richard J. , Dziedzic Arkadiusz , Hamedani Shahram , Daneshi Sajad , Tayebi Lobat
Published: December 2023

Osteoporosis is a chronic multifactorial condition that affects the skeletal system, leading to the deterioration of bone microstructure and an increased risk of bone fracture. Platelet-derived biomaterials (PDBs), so-called platelet concentrates, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF), have shown potential for improving bone healing by addressing microstructural impairment. While the administration of platelet concentrates has yielded positive results in bone regeneration, the optimal method for its administration in the clinical setting is still debatable. This comprehensive review aims to explore the systemic and local use of PRP/PRF for treating various bone defects and acute fractures in patients with osteoporosis. Furthermore, combining PRP/PRF with stem cells or osteoinductive and osteoconductive biomaterials has shown promise in restoring bone microstructural properties, treating bony defects, and improving implant osseointegration in osteoporotic animal models. Here, reviewing the results of in vitro and in vivo studies, this comprehensive evaluation provides a detailed mechanism for how platelet concentrates may support the healing process of osteoporotic bone fractures.
Table S1 from Integrin-αvβ3 is a Therapeutically Targetable Fundamental Factor in Medulloblastoma Tumorigenicity and Radioresistance
Authors: Echavidre William , Durivault Jérôme , Gotorbe Célia , Blanchard Thays , Pagnuzzi Marina , Vial Valérie , Raes Florian , Broisat Alexis , Villeneuve Rémy , Amblard Régis , Garnier Nicolas , Ortholan Cécile , Faraggi Marc , Serrano Benjamin , Picco Vincent , Montemagno Christopher
Published: December 2023

List of the primers used for qPCR analysis in this study.
Figure S5 from Integrin-αvβ3 is a Therapeutically Targetable Fundamental Factor in Medulloblastoma Tumorigenicity and Radioresistance
Authors: Echavidre William , Durivault Jérôme , Gotorbe Célia , Blanchard Thays , Pagnuzzi Marina , Vial Valérie , Raes Florian , Broisat Alexis , Villeneuve Rémy , Amblard Régis , Garnier Nicolas , Ortholan Cécile , Faraggi Marc , Serrano Benjamin , Picco Vincent , Montemagno Christopher
Published: December 2023

Cilengitide led to DAOY apoptotic cell death. (A)Cell death was determined by the PI staining method. DAOY cells were treated with cilengitide (20 μM) for 48 h, then non-adherent and adherent cells were collected, and cell viability was assessed. Three independent experiments were performed, and data are presented as mean ± SEM. (B) The effect of cilengitide on PARP cleavage. DAOY cells were treated with cilengitide (20 μM) for 48 h. Cell lysates were analyzed by western blot with an anti-PARP antibody. Three independent experiments were performed, with representative blots shown. Key: *, p < 0.05; **, p < 0.01. vs control or indicated conditions; #, p < 0.05 vs Cil_1 μM.
Figure S1 from Integrin-αvβ3 is a Therapeutically Targetable Fundamental Factor in Medulloblastoma Tumorigenicity and Radioresistance
Authors: Echavidre William , Durivault Jérôme , Gotorbe Célia , Blanchard Thays , Pagnuzzi Marina , Vial Valérie , Raes Florian , Broisat Alexis , Villeneuve Rémy , Amblard Régis , Garnier Nicolas , Ortholan Cécile , Faraggi Marc , Serrano Benjamin , Picco Vincent , Montemagno Christopher
Published: December 2023

Measurement of integrin-αvβ3 expression in MDB-derived cell lines performed by FACS. DAOY- and HD-MB03-derived cells were seeded in 6-well dishes for 24h. After detachment with accutase, cells were collected and incubated with an anti-αvβ3 antibody (ab190147, Abcam®) followed by a goat anti-mouse secondary antibody coupled to AlexaFluorTM488. Data were analyzed per sample using a BD FACSMelodyTM cytometer. Data were analyzed using FlowJoTM software.
The Rate of Clinically Significant Prostate Cancer on Repeat Biopsy after a Diagnosis of Atypical Small Acinar Proliferation: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Ji Wen-Tong , Jin Xue-Fei , Wang Yao
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Atypical small acinar proliferation (ASAP) is detected in approximately 5% of prostate biopsies. Current guidelines recommend a repeat biopsy within 3–6 months after the initial diagnosis. However, clinical significance and outcomes of repeat biopsy are conflicting. Based on this situation, we conducted a meta-analysis to report the rate of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa) on repeat biopsy after a diagnosis of ASAP to determine the safety and validity of deferring repeat biopsy. Methods: We searched PubMed, Medline, Web of Science, and Embase databases for articles published until July 2023. Two reviewers independently screened the literature, extracted the data, and assessed the risk of bias for the included studies. Pooled ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using Stata 17. Results: Sixteen studies and 1,796 patients were included in the meta-analysis. A total of 553 patients were diagnosed with prostate cancer, and 204 had csPCa. The pooled rate of csPCa on repeat biopsy after ASAP diagnosis was 12.1% (95% CI: 0.09, 0.15), which is a relatively low progression rate. However, we observed heterogeneity among the 16 articles. Subgroup analysis was performed, and patients who underwent repeat biopsy within 6 months according to the guidelines had a lower csPCa incidence (effective size [ES] = 0.09, 95% CI: 0.060, 0.120) than those who underwent biopsy after more than 6 months (ES = 0.221, 95% CI: 0.094, 0.349). Conclusion: Repeat biopsy can be safely deferred for patients diagnosed with ASAP. We believe our results may help improve management strategies and encourage clinicians to choose more patient-friendly or non-invasive diagnostic evaluations.
Laser speckle contrast imaging for intraoperative assessment of intestinal microcirculation in normo- and hypovolemic circulation in a porcine model
Authors: Paramasivam Rupan , Kristensen Nickolai Malte , Ambrus Rikard , Stavsetra Marie , Ørntoft Mai-Britt , Madsen Anders Husted
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Healing is essential for successful colorectal surgery. Optimal microcirculation is needed to ensure this; however, this is only subjectively assessed by the surgeon. Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging (LSCI) is an objective non-contact, image-based method to quantify microcirculation in bowel ends. This study aimed to evaluate the application of LSCI in an open surgery porcine model, determine differences between normal and impaired microcirculation, and test the LSCI applicability to repeated measurements.
Method: A midline laparotomy was made in ten healthy female pigs to expose the colon and small intestine. Subsequently, baseline measurements were conducted. A local arteria supplying the colonic or small intestine mesentery was clamped for 5 min. and LSCI measures were made again. After an hour’s rest, LSCI measurements were done in two unaffected areas on the colon and the small intestine, and baseline values were recorded. Hypotension was induced with rapid bleeding and LSCI measurements were done. After the mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) dropped to 50-60 mmHg, norepinephrine infusion was started. At a stable MAP of 85-100 mmHg, LSCI measurements were repeated at 0 min. and 30 min. during continuous norepinephrine infusion.
Results: Cross-clamping caused LSCI levels to drop equally in both the colon and small intestine by 60% in the entire the clamped zone. Compared to baseline, the microcirculation measured by LSCI in the unclamped adjacent transition zone was diminished by 33% and 40%, colon and small intestines, respectively. During hypotension due to bleeding, LSCI decreased as expected. When MAP was stabilized by norepinephrine infusion, LSCI values dropped further: compared to baseline, measurements decreased with 24% and 20% in colon and small intestines, respectively.
Conclusion: LSCI can be used as a quantitative, real-time, non-contact method to detect changes in the microcirculation during open intestinal surgery with large changes in microcirculation due to e.g., hypovolemic and norepinephrine infusion. It is simple to use and in contrast to the existing intraoperative microcirculation assessment techniques, LSCI stands out primarily for its elimination of the requirement for a dye. As our study has shown, this feature allows us to perform time-independent measurements and repeat them indefinitely in nearby regions without compromising the effectiveness of the method.
Early Manifestation of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo: A Case Report
Authors: Ebel Matyas , Jahodova Alena , Jerabek Jaroslav
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) is an inner ear disorder with a heterogeneous etiology, often linked to preceding infections, head injuries, or vestibular neuronitis. While it is commonly observed in the elderly, its occurrence in the pediatric population is rare. To our knowledge, there have been no reported cases of BPPV in patients younger than 5 years. Case Presentation: A 4.5-month-old female infant was admitted with episodes of paroxysmal nystagmus. Parents reported fast horizontal eye movements lasting up to 30 s, with one episode accompanied by vomiting. Comprehensive differential diagnosis was considered from epileptic nystagmus to intoxications and both central and peripheral vestibular etiologies. During the observation on ward, connection between the baby’s positioning and nystagmus was identified. The diagnostic roll test confirmed a transient positional geotropic nystagmus. The diagnosis aligned with BPPV characteristics, pointing to the right lateral semicircular canal canalolithiasis. A successful Lempert roll maneuver was performed with prompt effect. To further support the diagnosis and research, we introduced a semiautomatic video-oculography method. Conclusion: This case highlights a rare instance of BPPV in an infant. The clinical findings combined with the effectiveness of the repositioning maneuvers support the diagnosis of right lateral semicircular canal lithiasis. Despite the rarity of this condition in such a young-age group, the need for thorough diagnostic evaluations is emphasized. In order to document the case, we also present a semiautomatic video analysis pipeline for analyzing abnormal eye movements in a home setting.