bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
High temporal resolution data reveal low bat and insect activity over managed meadows in central Europe
Authors: Dietzer Melina T. , Keicher Lara , Kohles Jenna E. , Hurme Edward R. , Ruczyński Ireneusz , Borowik Tomasz , Zegarek Marcin , Choiński Mateusz , Dechmann Dina K. N. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIncreasing agriculture and pesticide use have led to declines in insect populations and biodiversity worldwide. In addition to insect diversity, it is also important to consider insect abundance, due to the importance of insects as food for species at higher trophic levels such as bats. We monitored spatiotemporal variation in abundance of nocturnal flying insects over meadows, a common open landscape structure in central Europe, and correlated it with bat feeding activity. Our most important result was that insect abundance was almost always extremely low. This was true regardless of management intensity of the different meadows monitored. We also found no correlation of insect abundance or the presence of insect swarms with bat feeding activity. This suggests that insect abundance over meadows was too low and insect swarms too rare for bats to risk expending energy to search for them. Meadows appeared to be poor habitat for nocturnal flying insects, and of low value as a foraging habitat for bats. Our study highlights the importance of long-term monitoring of insect abundance, especially at high temporal scales to identify and protect foraging habitats. This will become increasingly important given the rapid decline of insects.
Investigating diagnostic potential of long non-coding RNAs in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma using TCGA database and clinical specimens
Authors: Lan Ting , Yan Yuxiang , Zheng Dali , Ding Lincan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractHead and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is a prevalent and prognostically challenging cancer worldwide. The role of long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) in cancer regulation is progressively being understood. This study aims to identify lncRNAs with diagnostic potential as biomarkers for HNSCC. Statistical analysis was performed on expression data from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database to identify potential lncRNAs associated with HNSCC. Four selected lncRNAs were validated using real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction and correlated with clinical factors. Functional roles were further investigated. A total of 488 differentially expressed lncRNAs were identified in TCGA-HNSC. After rigorous evaluation based on p-values, survival analysis, and ROC analysis, 24 lncRNAs were prioritized for additional investigation. LINC00460, LINC00941, CTC-241F20.4, and RP11-357H14.17 were established as candidate diagnostic biomarkers. These lncRNAs exhibited elevated expression in HNSCC tissues and were associated with poor prognosis. Combining them showed high diagnostic accuracy. Notably, LINC00460 and CTC-241F20.4 demonstrated a significant elevation in the advanced stages of HNSCC. We constructed an lncRNA-mRNA regulatory network, and the array of significant regulatory pathways identified included focal adhesion, regulation of epithelial cell migration, and others. Additionally, these lncRNAs were found to influence immune responses by modulating immune cell infiltration in the HNSCC microenvironment. Our research indicates that LINC00460, LINC00941, RP11-357H14.17, and CTC-241F20.4 may have diagnostic and prognostic importance in HNSCC. Furthermore, we have gained insights into their potential functional roles, particularly about immune responses and interactions in the microenvironment.
Secondhand smoke increases the risk of developing chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Authors: Su Wen-Chi , Juan Huai-Lei , Lee Jia-In , Huang Shu-Pin , Chen Szu-Chia , Geng Jiun-Hung 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSmoking is the most important risk factor for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), however evidence from large-scale studies on whether secondhand smoke (SHS) increases the risk of COPD is still lacking. We conducted this large longitudinal study to investigate the association between SHS and the development of COPD. This is a longitudinal study. Data on 6519 subjects who were never-smokers, had no history of COPD, and had complete lung function records were extracted from the Taiwan Biobank. They were divided into two groups according to SHS exposure: no exposure and exposure groups. Data were collected when participants enrolled in the study and during regular follow-up. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate the relative risk (RR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for the association between SHS and the risk of developing COPD. At 48 months of follow-up, 260 (4%) participants in the no exposure group and 34 (7%) participants in the exposure group developed COPD. The RR of incident COPD development was significantly higher in the exposure group than that in the no exposure group after adjusting for confounders (RR = 1.49; 95% CI 1.04 to 2.14; P value = 0.031). There is a dose–response relationship between the duration of exposure to SHS and the risk of incident COPD, which demonstrates that an additional hour of exposure to SHS per week was associated with a 1.03-fold increased likelihood of developing COPD after adjusting for confounders (RR = 1.03; 95% CI 1.00 to 1.05; P value = 0.027). SHS exposure contributes to the development of COPD. This finding can help raise awareness of the harms of SHS and provide a reference for formulating anti-smoking policies.
Control of breathing by orexinergic signaling in the nucleus tractus solitarii
Authors: Wang Yakun , Deng Tianjiao , Zhao Xue , Shao Liuqi , Chen Jinting , Fu Congrui , He Wei , Wang Xiaoyi , Wang Hanqiao , Yuan Fang , Wang Sheng 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOrexin signaling plays a facilitatory role in respiration. Abnormalities in orexin levels correlate with disordered breathing patterns and impaired central respiratory chemoreception. Nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS) neurons expressing the transcription factor Phox2b contribute to the chemoreceptive regulation of respiration. However, the extent to which orexinergic signaling modulates respiratory activity in these Phox2b-expressing NTS neurons remains unclear. In the present study, the injection of orexin A into the NTS significantly increased the firing rate of the phrenic nerve. Further analysis using fluorescence in situ hybridization and immunohistochemistry revealed that orexin 1 receptors (OX1Rs) were primarily located in the ventrolateral subdivision of the NTS and expressed in 25% of Phox2b-expressing neurons. Additionally, electrophysiological recordings showed that exposure to orexin A increased the spontaneous firing rate of Phox2b-expressing neurons. Immunostaining experiments with cFos revealed that the OX1R-residing Phox2b-expressing neurons were activated by an 8% CO2 stimulus. Crucially, OX1R knockdown in these NTS neurons notably blunted the ventilatory response to 8% CO2, alongside an increase in sigh-related apneas. In conclusion, orexinergic signaling in the NTS facilitates breathing through the activation of OX1Rs, which induces the depolarization of Phox2b-expressing neurons. OX1Rs are essential for the involvement of Phox2b-expressing NTS neurons in the hypercapnic ventilatory response.
Blood-inspired random bit generation using microfluidics system
Authors: Yoon Inkwon , Han Jong Hyeok , Park Byeong Uk , Jeon Hee-Jae 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe development of random number generators (RNGs) using speckle patterns is pivotal for secure encryption key generation, drawing from the recent statistical properties identified in speckle-based imaging. Speckle-based RNG systems generate a sequence of random numbers through the unpredictable and reproducible nature of speckle patterns, ensuring a source of randomness that is independent of algorithms. However, to guarantee their effectiveness and reliability, these systems demand a meticulous and rigorous approach. In this study, we present a blood-inspired RNG system with a microfluidics device, designed to generate random numbers at a rate of 5.5 MHz and a high-speed of 1250 fps. This process is achieved by directing a laser beam through a volumetric scattering medium to procure speckle patterns. Additionally, designed microfluidic device requires only a minimal blood sample of 5 µl to capture these speckle patterns effectively. After implementing the two-pass tuple-output von Neumann debiasing algorithm to counteract statistical biases, we utilized the randomness statistical test suite from the National Institute of Standards and Technology for validation. The generated numbers successfully passed these tests, ensuring their randomness and unpredictability. Our blood-inspired RNG, utilizing whole blood, offers a pathway for affordable, high-output applications in fields like encryption, computer security, and data protection.
Inkjet printed IGZO memristors with volatile and non-volatile switching
Authors: Franco Miguel , Kiazadeh Asal , Deuermeier Jonas , Lanceros-Méndez S. , Martins Rodrigo , Carlos Emanuel 
Published: March 2024

AbstractSolution-based memristors deposited by inkjet printing technique have a strong technological potential based on their scalability, low cost, environmentally friendlier processing by being an efficient technique with minimal material waste. Indium-gallium-zinc oxide (IGZO), an oxide semiconductor material, shows promising resistive switching properties. In this work, a printed Ag/IGZO/ITO memristor has been fabricated. The IGZO thickness influences both memory window and switching voltage of the devices. The devices show both volatile counter8wise (c8w) and non-volatile 8wise (8w) switching at low operating voltage. The 8w switching has a SET and RESET voltage lower than 2 V and − 5 V, respectively, a retention up to 105 s and a memory window up to 100, whereas the c8w switching shows volatile characteristics with a low threshold voltage (Vth < − 0.65 V) and a characteristic time (τ) of 0.75 ± 0.12 ms when a single pulse of − 0.65 V with width of 0.1 ms is applied. The characteristic time alters depending on the number of pulses. These volatile characteristics allowed them to be tested on different 4-bit pulse sequences, as an initial proof of concept for temporal signal processing applications.
Rethinking multi‐spatial information for transferable adversarial attacks on speaker recognition systems
Authors: Zhang Junjian , Tan Hao , Wang Le , Qian Yaguan , Gu Zhaoquan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAdversarial attacks have been posing significant security concerns to intelligent systems, such as speaker recognition systems (SRSs). Most attacks assume the neural networks in the systems are known beforehand, while black‐box attacks are proposed without such information to meet practical situations. Existing black‐box attacks improve transferability by integrating multiple models or training on multiple datasets, but these methods are costly. Motivated by the optimisation strategy with spatial information on the perturbed paths and samples, we propose a Dual Spatial Momentum Iterative Fast Gradient Sign Method (DS‐MI‐FGSM) to improve the transferability of black‐box attacks against SRSs. Specifically, DS‐MI‐FGSM only needs a single data and one model as the input; by extending to the data and model neighbouring spaces, it generates adversarial examples against the integrating models. To reduce the risk of overfitting, DS‐MI‐FGSM also introduces gradient masking to improve transferability. The authors conduct extensive experiments regarding the speaker recognition task, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of their method, which can achieve up to 92% attack success rate on the victim model in black‐box scenarios with only one known model.
Kontinuierliches Literaturreview zur Surveillance der psychischen
Gesundheit in Deutschland während der COVID-19-Pandemie – Methode, ausgewählte
Ergebnisse und Lessons Learned
Authors: Eicher Sophie Christine , Wilhelm Julia , Mauz Elvira , Junker Stephan , Hölling Heike , Schmid Lorenz , Thom Julia 
Published: March 2024

ZusammenfassungFür einen stets aktuellen Überblick über Veränderungen der psychischen Gesundheit
der Bevölkerung während der COVID-19-Pandemie wurde ein kontinuierliches
Literaturreview durchgeführt. Auf Basis eines Rapid Reviews wurden
Veröffentlichungen bis 31.12.2022 monatlich systematisch und händisch
recherchiert. Je Datenerhebung wurden Beobachtungszeiträume,
Verzerrungsanfälligkeit und untersuchte Merkmale ausgewertet. Trends depressiver
Symptomatik bei Erwachsenen wurden mit Vote Counting zusammengefasst. 102
Veröffentlichungen aus 62 Datenerhebungen in der erwachsenen Bevölkerung wurden
eingeschlossen. Datenerhebungen nahmen im Pandemieverlauf ab. 37% der Erhebungen
und 56% der Veröffentlichungen können bevölkerungsbezogene Trends verlässlich
abbilden. Unter Trends depressiver Symptomatik überwogen zuletzt
Verschlechterungen. Der bis Ende 2022 publizierte heterogene Forschungsstand
limitiert Evidenzsynthesen. Hinweise auf Verschlechterungen erfordern weitere
Beobachtung. Eine kontinuierliche Recherche kann frühzeitig auf Evidenzlücken
hinweisen.
Warum entscheiden sich Männer für Geheimhaltung und gegen Offenlegung
einer depressiven Erkrankung? Eine qualitative Studie
Authors: Nickel Paul , Stiawa Maja , Götzl Christian , Krieg Gironimo , Mayer Lea , Krumm Silvia 
Published: March 2024

Zusammenfassung
Ziel der Studie Diese qualitative Studie untersucht aus Sicht von Männern
mit Depression, aus welchen Gründen und in welchen Situationen sie die
depressive Erkrankung geheim halten.
Methodik Fünf Fokusgruppen mit 16 Männern wurden inhaltsanalytisch
ausgewertet.
Ergebnisse Es wurden vier Motive für Geheimhaltung herausgearbeitet: 1.
Berufliche Kontinuität sicherstellen, 2. Akzeptanz und soziale Zugehörigkeit
sichern, 3. Kontrolle über soziale Identität gewinnen, 4. Belastungen des
privaten Umfelds vermeiden. Stereotype traditioneller Männlichkeit werden im
Allgemeinen abgelehnt, bilden jedoch im Arbeitskontext einen Referenzrahmen für
beruflichen Erfolg.
Schlussfolgerung Die Ergebnisse verweisen auf die Präsenz von Normen
traditioneller Männlichkeit insbesondere im Arbeitskontext sowie auf
Öffentliches Stigma und Selbststigma von Männern mit Depression. Betroffene
könnten von Maßnahmen profitieren, die der öffentlichen Stigmatisierung von
psychischen Erkrankungen im Arbeitsumfeld entgegenwirken.
Standard screening high-definition colonoscopy without any optimization device is no longer relevant: Time to move to optimized screening colonoscopy
Authors: Karsenti David 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOptimizing the adenoma detection rate (ADR) is a major goal in colorectal cancer (CCR)
screening, as it has long been established that ADR is inversely proportional to the risk of
post-colonoscopy CRC occurrence. To achieve this goal, many optimization devices have been
developed, and numerous randomized controlled trials have been conducted to evaluate the
benefits of these devices compared with a "standard arm," which corresponds to date to
high-definition white light (HD-WLI) colonoscopy. Numerous studies have confirmed the positive
impact of various optimization devices, such as caps, computer-aided detection, and
contrast-enhanced technologies. Moreover, the different ways in which the devices can impact
ADR make them complementary. However, despite substantial and consistent data, practices
remain unchanged, and HD-WLI colonoscopy, considered the "standard," is still routinely
performed without any optimization devices. The objective of this viewpoint is to understand
the barriers to change and to show why standard screening colonoscopy without the use of any
optimization devices should no longer be considered relevant in 2024.
Bone Metastasis from Renal Cancer Coinciding with the Same Anatomical Position as a Vertebral Hemangioma: A Collision Lesion Case Report
Authors: Ribeiro André Marcondes Braga , Borin Amanda Silles , Mello Guilherme Dias Rocha de , Chojniak Rubens 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCollisions lesions are rare neoplasms where two histologically distinct tumors coexist in the same organ or anatomical site. Vertebral hemangiomas (VHs) are the most common lesions involving the vertebral bodies and imaging findings of typical and atypical hemangiomas, variant forms of hemangioma such as aggressive hemangiomas are well known, but collision lesions involving VHs are extremely rare. This article presents a case report of a 73-year-old male patient diagnosed with clear cell renal cancer in a rare presentation of a bone metastasis coinciding with the same anatomical position as a VH (collision lesion). This required a multidisciplinary approach involving various diagnostic techniques to determine the best therapeutic management.
Chinese college students’ post-traumatic growth during the COVID-19: a grounded theory study
Authors: Ma Yining , Wang Hui , Chai Hao , Zhu Jian , Lin Xinyi , Huang Hui , Sun Zaoyi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDuring the Corona Virus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, both high levels of post-traumatic stress and positive personal changes, a phenomenon known as post-traumatic growth (PTG), were experienced by some people. What remains unknown are the constructs and facilitators of PTG during the COVID-19 pandemic. Therefore, this study uses a grounded theory methodology to elucidate the behavioral and cognitional dimensions of PTG in Chinese college students. Twenty-four individual semi-structured interviews were conducted with Chinese college students who had positive experiences during the epidemic. Transcripts were analyzed using initial and focused coding to identify themes that explained the PTG model. The coding results revealed that the Chinese college students’ PTG consisted of four core themes: reflections on the country and society, self-awareness changes, increased social behavior, and lifestyle modifications. Additionally, participants described external factors such as information input and patriotism, which were identified as influencing their PTG during the pandemic. Findings from this study extend prior theory and research by conceptualizing a novel theoretical model for PTG among college students during the pandemic and provide important implications for research and practice.
After nudging: the ethical challenge of post-pandemic policymaking in the UK
Authors: Degerman Dan , Johnson Elliott , Flinders Matthew , Johnson Matthew 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis article explores the interplay between crises, opportunities and democratic change in the United Kingdom. A vast body of scholarship underlines that crises open ‘windows of opportunity’ that can occasionally lead to radical shifts in the role of the state and the design of public policy. Even when a radical shift occurs, however, it has often proved temporary, with relationships and processes quickly reverting to pre-crisis modes once the immediacy of the crisis abates. This may not be true of our present period of crisis following the COVID-19 pandemic. The consequences of decades of underinvestment in infrastructure and increasing concentration of resources in a small minority of individuals and organisations are being exacerbated by climate change, geopolitical conflict and new waves of disease. The challenge for policymakers in the UK now is heightened by evidence that suggests that nudging, a libertarian paternalist means of promoting certain ends, is ineffective. Policymakers who have long used state neutrality between conceptions of the good as the justification for not promoting certain ends now have to confront a real ethical dilemma: coerce to achieve specific outcomes or invest in addressing the social determinants that actually affect behaviour. This article suggests that contrary to decades of opposition to redistribution among UK policymakers, only the latter is consistent with libertarian paternalism.
Organic food production among Chinese urban botanists
Authors: Yang Qing , Wu Mengling , Al Mamun Abdullah , Gao Jingzu , Masud Muhammad Mehedi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOrganic food production is recognized by most countries and regions worldwide as a method of ecological and environmental protection because traditional agricultural practices significantly use pesticides and other chemicals, creating severe issues regarding the ecological, environmental, and food safety issues. Most research on organic production focuses on large-scale organic production. This study focuses on growing noncommercial, small-scale urban organic food using the value-belief-norm (VBN) model to explore the pro-environmental behavior regarding organic food production from a psychological perspective. We employed nonprobability sampling because of the absence of a sampling framework for the target population. We obtained a sample of 621 respondents from noncommercial urban botanists in China followed by quantitative methods to examine the relationships among variables using partial least squares structural equation modeling. This study focused on organic food behavior by modifying the VBN theory, which built trust in organic food production methods and developed a structural equation model to explain the underlying motivational factors that influenced the propensity to grow organic food. Finally, the path analysis results demonstrated that all hypothesized associations were statistically significant, except for the ecological worldview on personal norms and trust in organic food production, and personal norms on intention toward organic food production. Overall, the results of this study verify the validity of the VBN theory in the context of organic food consumption as a pro-environmental behavior. Therefore, relevant departments and governments should take measures to promote organic food production in China from a psychological perspective.
Marine magnetotelluric and controlled source electromagnetics signal simulative generator
Authors: Gong Yixuan , Wu Peng , Chen Kai 
Published: March 2024

Ocean bottom electromagnetic receivers (OBEMs) are invaluable tools for observing seafloor electromagnetic signals, primarily used in magnetotelluric (MT) sounding and marine controlled source electromagnetics (MCSEM). However, the high operational costs of deploying OBEMs require thorough pre-deployment testing to enhance the data reliability and quality. Commercial signal generators used for MT and controlled source electromagnetic (CSEM) testing often fall short of the restricted terms of the frequency range, signal-to-noise ratio, storage depth, time synchronization, and amplitude dynamics. To address these limitations, we developed a specialized marine MT and CSEM signal simulative generator. The generator employs pseudorandom number code-based white noise to simulate MT signals and uses multi-frequency synthesis and amplitude modulation (AM) to generate CSEM signals. The system is developed using a low-power microcontroller unit and a field programmable gate array platform, integrating various circuits such as power, clock, encoding, control, data storage, chopper, and amplification circuits. The generator simultaneously outputs four-channel white noise and AM signals. The white noise feature provides a wide and adjustable frequency band and amplitude, while the AM feature provides a large dynamic amplitude range and multi-frequency synthesis at various carrier frequency points. Comprehensive testing verified the performance of the proposed simulative generator. The test results demonstrate that the MT simulated signals cover a frequency range from 1 E4s to 100 Hz, providing adjustable amplitudes between 10 μVpp and 10 mVpp. The CSEM simulated signals include standard square waves, third harmonic waves, and seventh harmonic waves, with amplitudes adjustable from 10 mVpp to 10 Vpp. The proposed simulative generator enhances the efficiency of OBEM functional testing and provides essential equipment support for maintaining the quality of marine data.