bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Identification and functional analysis of rare HECTD1 missense variants in human neural tube defects
Authors: Oxman Elias , Li Huili , Wang Hong-Yan , Zohn Irene E. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNeural tube defects (NTDs) are severe malformations of the central nervous system that arise from failure of neural tube closure. HECTD1 is an E3 ubiquitin ligase required for cranial neural tube closure in mouse models. NTDs in the Hectd1 mutant mouse model are due to the failure of cranial mesenchyme morphogenesis during neural fold elevation. Our earlier research has linked increased extracellular heat shock protein 90 (eHSP90) secretion to aberrant cranial mesenchyme morphogenesis in the Hectd1 model. Furthermore, overexpression of HECTD1 suppresses stress-induced eHSP90 secretion in cell lines. In this study, we report the identification of five rare HECTD1 missense sequence variants in NTD cases. The variants were found through targeted next-generation sequencing in a Chinese cohort of 352 NTD cases and 224 ethnically matched controls. We present data showing that HECTD1 is a highly conserved gene, extremely intolerant to loss-of-function mutations and missense changes. To evaluate the functional consequences of NTD-associated missense variants, functional assays in HEK293T cells were performed to examine protein expression and the ability of HECTD1 sequence variants to suppress eHSP90 secretion. One NTD-associated variant (A1084T) had significantly reduced expression in HEK293T cells. All five NTD-associated variants (p.M392V, p.T801I, p.I906V, p.A1084T, and p.P1835L) reduced regulation of eHSP90 secretion by HECTD1, while a putative benign variant (p.P2474L) did not. These findings are the first association of HECTD1 sequence variation with NTDs in humans.
Generalized minimum 0-extension problem and discrete convexity
Authors: Dvorak Martin , Kolmogorov Vladimir 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Given a fixed finite metric space

$$(V,\mu )$$

(
V
,
μ
)

, the minimum 0-extension problem, denoted as

$$\mathtt{0\hbox {-}Ext}[{\mu }]$$

0
-
Ext
[
μ
]

, is equivalent to the following optimization problem: minimize function of the form

$$\min \nolimits _{x\in V^n} \sum _i f_i(x_i) + \sum _{ij} c_{ij}\hspace{0.5pt}\mu (x_i,x_j)$$

min

x
∈

V
n

∑
i

f
i

(

x
i

)

+

∑

ij

c

ij

μ

(

x
i

,

x
j

)

where

$$f_i:V\rightarrow \mathbb {R}$$

f
i

:
V
→
R

are functions given by

$$f_i(x_i)=\sum _{v\in V} c_{vi}\hspace{0.5pt}\mu (x_i,v)$$

f
i

(

x
i

)

=

∑

v
∈
V

c

vi

μ

(

x
i

,
v
)

and

$$c_{ij},c_{vi}$$

c

ij

,

c

vi

are given nonnegative costs. The computational complexity of

$$\mathtt{0\hbox {-}Ext}[{\mu }]$$

0
-
Ext
[
μ
]

has been recently established by Karzanov and by Hirai: if metric

$$\mu $$

μ

is orientable modular then

$$\mathtt{0\hbox {-}Ext}[{\mu }]$$

0
-
Ext
[
μ
]

can be solved in polynomial time, otherwise

$$\mathtt{0\hbox {-}Ext}[{\mu }]$$

0
-
Ext
[
μ
]

is NP-hard. To prove the tractability part, Hirai developed a theory of discrete convex functions on orientable modular graphs generalizing several known classes of functions in discrete convex analysis, such as

$$L^\natural $$

L
♮

-convex functions. We consider a more general version of the problem in which unary functions

$$f_i(x_i)$$

f
i

(

x
i

)

can additionally have terms of the form

$$c_{uv;i}\hspace{0.5pt}\mu (x_i,\{u,v\})$$

c

u
v
;
i

μ

(

x
i

,

{
u
,
v
}

)

for

$$\{u,\!\hspace{0.5pt}\hspace{0.5pt}v\}\in F$$

{
u
,

v
}
∈
F

, where set

$$F\subseteq \left( {\begin{array}{c}V\\ 2\end{array}}\right) $$

F
⊆

V

2

is fixed. We extend the complexity classification above by providing an explicit condition on

$$(\mu ,F)$$

(
μ
,
F
)

for the problem to be tractable. In order to prove the tractability part, we generalize Hirai’s theory and define a larger class of discrete convex functions. It covers, in particular, another well-known class of functions, namely submodular functions on an integer lattice. Finally, we improve the complexity of Hirai’s algorithm for solving

$$\mathtt{0\hbox {-}Ext}[{\mu }]$$

0
-
Ext
[
μ
]

on orientable modular graphs.
Feature engineering impact on position falsification attacks detection in vehicular ad-hoc network
Authors: Abdelkreem Eslam , Hussein Sherif , Tammam Ashraf 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe vehicular ad-hoc network is a technology that enables vehicles to interact with each other and the surrounding infrastructure, aiming to enhance road safety and driver comfort. However, it is susceptible to various security attacks. Among these attacks, the position falsification attack is regarded as one of the most serious, in which the malicious nodes tamper with their transmitted location. Thus, developing effective misbehavior detection schemes capable of detecting such attacks is crucial. Many of these schemes employ machine learning techniques to detect misbehavior based on the features of the exchanged messages. However, the studies that identify the impact of feature engineering on schemes’ performance and highlight the most efficient features and algorithms are limited. This paper conducts a comprehensive literature survey to identify the key features and algorithms used in the literature that lead to the best-performing models. Then, a comparative study using the VeReMi dataset, which is publicly available, is performed to assess six models implemented using three different machine learning algorithms and two feature sets: one comprising selected and derived features and the other including all message features. The findings show that two of the suggested models that employ feature engineering perform almost equally to existing studies in identifying two types of position falsification attacks while exhibiting performance improvements in detecting other types. Furthermore, the results of evaluating the proposed models using another simulation exhibit a substantial improvement achieved by employing feature engineering techniques, where the average accuracy of the models is increased by 6.31–47%, depending on the algorithm used.
Theoretical-methodological approaches and textbook design: analysis of arithmetic word problems in Spanish textbooks
Authors: Vicente Santiago , Sánchez Rosario , Sánchez-Barbero Beatriz , Rodríguez-Sánchez Mercedes , Ramos Marta 
Published: March 2024

AbstractPrimary school textbooks can enhance the acquisition of arithmetic word problem solving skills by offering diverse problems based on their semantic-mathematical structure with targeted reasoning aids, including schematics highlighting their mathematical structure. While certain countries, such as the USA and Singapore, have made progress in improving the problems and aids found in their textbooks through the use of specific theoretical-methodological approaches, textbooks from other countries, such as Spain, have included a very limited variety of problems, with hardly any aids to reasoning. Recently, however, two of the most widely used Spanish publishers have released textbooks that adhere to these theoretical-methodological approaches. To assess whether these textbooks progressed past their predecessors in relevant aspects related to the resolution of arithmetic word problems, we conducted an analysis of the quantity of problems and their variety in terms of semantic-mathematical structure and level of difficulty, as well as the inclusion of schematic representations of their mathematical structure. The study demonstrated improvements among textbooks when publishers adopted a theoretical framework, suggesting that a reference framework could enhance textbook design. This is particularly relevant in countries such as Spain, where there are no applicable standards or official curricula for designing textbooks related to solving arithmetic word problems.
Terrain-Shape-Adaptive Coverage Path Planning With Traversability Analysis
Authors: Qiu Wenwei , Zhou Dacheng , Hui Wenbo , Kwabena Afimbo Reuben , Xing Yubo , Qian Yi , Li Quan , Pu Huayan , Xie Yangmin 
Published: March 2024

AbstractCoverage path planning (CPP) is in great demand with applications in agriculture, mining, manufacturing, etc. Most research in this area focused on 2D CPP problems solving the coverage problem with irregular 2D maps. Comparatively, CPP on uneven terrains is not fully solved. When there are many slopy areas in the working field, it is necessary to adjust the path shape and make it adapt to the 3D terrain surface to save energy consumption. This article proposes a terrain-shape-adaptive CPP method with three significant features. First, the paths grow by themselves according to the local terrain surface shapes. Second, the growth rule utilizes the 3D terrain traversability analysis, which makes them automatically avoid entering hazardous zones. Third, the irregularly distributed paths are connected under an optimal sequence with an improved genetic algorithm. As a result, the method can provide an autonomously growing terrain-adaptive coverage path with high energy efficiency and coverage rate compared to previous research works. It is demonstrated on various maps and is proven to be robust to terrain conditions.
Unique Psychological Mechanisms Underlying Psilocybin Therapy Versus Escitalopram Treatment in the Treatment of Major Depressive Disorder
Authors: Weiss Brandon , Roseman Leor , Giribaldi Bruna , Nutt David J. , Carhart-Harris Robin L. , Erritzoe David 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe mechanisms by which Psilocybin Therapy (PT) improves depression remain an important object of study, with scientists actively exploring acute psychological experiences and neurobiological processes as candidates. In a phase 2, double-blind, randomized, active comparator controlled trial involving patients with moderate-to-severe major depressive disorder, we investigated whether acute psychological experiences could meaningfully account for the unique efficacy of PT versus Escitalopram Treatment over a core 6-week trial period. An exploratory-factor-analysis-derived single-factor of depression was used as the outcome. Among a comprehensive set of acute experiences related to psilocybin, so-called “mystical experience” and “ego dissolution” were unique in mediating the effect of treatment condition on depressive response with high specificity. Higher reported levels of mystical experience, emotional breakthrough, and intense responses to music-listening were furthermore associated with greater antidepressant response. These results provide qualified support for the causal mechanistic role of acute psychological experiences in the treatment of depression via PT.
The Impact of the Pandemic on Health and Quality of Life of Informal Caregivers of Older People: Results from a Cross-National European Survey in an Age-Related Perspective
Authors: Socci Marco , Di Rosa Mirko , Quattrini Sabrina , Lamura Giovanni , Hanson Elizabeth , Magnusson Lennart , Yghemonos Stecy , Cavrini Giulia , Teti Andrea , Santini Sara 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDuring the COVID-19 outbreak, the care services interruption/delay resulted in increased amount of care for informal caregivers of older people with long-term care needs. This study aimed at understanding how the Pandemic affected physical health, mental well-being and quality of life of older people’ informal caregivers of different ages and to what extent starting caregiving affected such life realms among new caregivers. An online survey was carried out in Winter 2020–2021 targeted to informal caregivers living in 16 European countries. A sub-sample of 848 adult (aged 18–64) was compared to another of 542 older (over 65) informal caregivers. People who started caring during the Pandemic were also identified and the impact of the Pandemic on the three life realms of this group were analysed separately by gender and age. The differences between the two groups of adult and older caregivers were estimated using logistic regression, adjusted for potential confounders. Analyses were repeated after propensity score matching. During the second Pandemic wave hitting Europe in Winter 2020-21, regardless of age, being female entailed a worsening in physical health, mental well-being and quality of life, in line with previous research Also new caregivers were mostly females and their physical health and quality of life were worsened by caregiving. Gender-specific work-life balance policies and measures are needed to support female working caregivers. More attention should be paid to older female caregivers through scheduled physical and mental health screenings and home visits. Future studies on the topic in a gender and intergenerational perspective are encouraged.
Success Predictors of Endoscopic Sleeve Gastroplasty
Authors: Matteo Maria Valeria , Bove Vincenzo , Ciasca Gabriele , Carlino Giorgio , Di Santo Riccardo , Vinti Laila , Polidori Giulia , Pontecorvi Valerio , Papi Massimiliano , Spada Cristiano , Boškoski Ivo 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Objective
Endoscopic sleeve gastroplasty (ESG) is a minimally invasive procedure that proved to be safe and effective in obesity treatment. However, not all subjects respond to treatment in the same way, and, with a view to personalized care, it is essential to identify predictors of success or failure.

Methods
A retrospective 2-year followed-up cohort of ESG subjects was analyzed to investigate the presence of any baseline or early indicators of long-term optimal or suboptimal ESG outcomes.

Results
A total of 315 subjects (73% women) were included, with 73% of patients exhibiting an Excess weight loss percentage (%EWL) >25% at the 24 months. Neither demographic parameters (age and sex), smoking habits, and menopause in women nor the presence of comorbidities proved potential predictive value. Interestingly, the %EWL at 1 month after ESG was the strongest predictor of 24-month therapeutic success. Subsequently, we estimated an “early threshold for success” for 1 month-%EWL by employing Youden’s index method.

Conclusions
ESG is a safe and effective bariatric treatment that can be offered to a wide range of subjects. Early weight loss seems to impact long-term ESG results significantly and may allow proper early post-operative care optimization.

Graphical Abstract
Asia’s Growing Contribution to Obesity Surgery Research: A 40-year Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Liu Ziyun , Wang Haiqin , Fan Dazhi , Xu Tingting , Wan Fuzhen , Xia Qing 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBariatric metabolic surgery’s global research interest is growing, particularly in Asia due to its high obesity rates. This study focuses on Asia, especially China, analyzing 3904 publications (1221 from China) from 1980 to 2022. Research output accelerated until the COVID-19 pandemic, driven by economic growth and rising obesity rates. China led contributions from 2010, but Western Asia led when adjusted for population. An intra-regional research collaboration network emerged, driven by geographic proximity and similar economic environments. Keyword analysis highlighted emerging topics like “laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy” and “non-alcoholic fatty liver disease,” indicating a shift in focus. The study recommends disseminating research in top-tier journals to enhance visibility and impact.
Graphical Abstract
Heavy rainfall induced colony fission and nest relocation in nocturnal bull ants (Myrmecia midas)
Authors: Deeti Sudhakar , Tjung Isaac , Freas Cody , Murray Trevor , Cheng Ken 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIn recent years the bull ant Myrmecia midas Clark, 1951, has attracted attention for its impressive visual navigation during its nocturnal activity. Still, a basic understanding of this species’ ecology is lacking. Nest relocation and colony fissions are rarely observed and largely undocumented in M. midas colonies. In the current study, we quantified the nest-relocation and colony-splitting behaviour of suburban populations of M. midas in response to flooding in its habitat, caused by record rainfalls in eastern Australia in 2022. The flooding caused the destruction of nest chambers and disrupted colony activities. We documented nine relocations of the fifty observed colonies with another four split into 12 different colonies. Most relocations occurred a few days after one period of especially heavy rains. We collected several characteristics of these relocations: the distance of a nest from the nearest tree, the elevation of the nest above ground level and the diameter of the nest entrance, with all of these metrics predicting whether a colony moved after heavy rains. Moreover, we conducted excavations of some abandoned colonies, uncovering evidence of an internal collapse of nest chambers due to heavy flooding, which likely induced the nest relocation and colony fission in M. midas. In normal weather, we have not observed any colony relocating, suggesting that moving may bear a fitness cost.
Metronomic Chemotherapy in Elderly Patients
Authors: Bandini Arianna , Calabrò Pasquale Fabio , Banchi Marta , Orlandi Paola , Bocci Guido 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Purpose of Review
This review describes the most relevant studies found in the scientific literature regarding metronomic chemotherapy (MCT) in the geriatric oncology population to support its use as a feasible treatment of care in the frail elderly patients.

Recent Findings
Recent years have seen a reevaluation of cancer chemotherapeutic drugs and MCT is an emerging schedule in phase II and III clinical trials.

Summary
Ageing is one of the risk factors for the development of cancer, the incidence of whom increases dramatically in people who live longer. To date, standard oncological protocols involve chemotherapeutic drugs in short cycles of therapy at the maximum tolerated dose (MTD). Although these therapeutic regimens may be successful, they can cause important adverse drug reactions, especially in elderly or frail patients. MCT is a different modality of delivery of chemotherapeutic drugs (frequent low dose for prolonged time) and it looks at the overcoming of the limitations and disadvantages of MTD, in particular the toxicity aspect. We reviewed the experience of clinicians who have used MCT in clinical trials enrolling elderly patients with different cancer types.
Understanding human–robot interaction forces: a new mechanical solution
Authors: Pippo Irene , Albanese Giulia Aurora , Zenzeri Jacopo , Torazza Diego , Berselli Giovanni 
Published: March 2024

AbstractNowadays, robots hold crucial roles in an increasing number of different fields, highlighting an ongoing transition to ever-closer collaboration between humans and machines. In this context, this new technological era has brought out safety issues and, consequently, robots need to be monitored with an appropriate control architecture and human–machine interaction forces should be correctly estimated. For this purpose, friction, inertia, external perturbation, and the intrinsic dynamic of the robots should be monitored. This specific work starts from the need to monitor human–robot interaction forces to ensure safety for users. A successful case study concerning the integration of additional sensors on a wrist robot that directly interacts with humans is shown. Its limits have been the inability to directly measure forces applied by users and the impossibility to know accurately the end-effector position. Firstly, introducing a force/torque sensor, the detection of the forces applied by the user to the robot has been enabled. The user’s force data have been used to measure force dissipation and, together with the smoothness of operation, to compare three different embeddable mechanisms. Moreover, the integration of a linear encoder allowed measuring the instantaneous end-effector position on a non-actuated linear guideway, consequently knowing the motor torque value and the force applied by the robot to the user. This has been compared to the interaction force estimated from the motor torques without the linear sensor. The error assessed between the force measured with the encoder and estimated without it is about 12.9%. These results demonstrate the importance of this new embedded system to detect human–machine interaction forces in an accurate way and prevent safety issues.
M1 Macrophage-Derived Exosome LncRNA PVT1 Promotes Inflammation and Pyroptosis of Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells in Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm by Inhibiting miR-186-5p and Regulating HMGB1
Authors: Zhang Jinhui , Zhang Xili , Liu Xunqiang , Chen Huanjun , Wang Jifeng , Ji Min 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAbdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a chronic vascular degenerative disease. Vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) are essential for maintaining the integrity of healthy blood vessels. Macrophages play an important role in the inflammatory process of AAA. However, the effect of macrophage-derived exosome LncRNA PVT1 on VSMCs is unclear. Exosomes from M1 macrophages (M1φ-exos) were isolated and identified. The expression of LncRNA PVT1 in M1φ-exos was determined. AAA cell model was constructed by treating VSMCs with Ang-II. AAA cell model was treated with M1φ exosomes transfected with si-LncRNA PVT1 (M1φsi–LncRNA PVT1-exo). VSMCs were transfected with miR-186-5p mimic and oe-HMGB1. Cell viability was detected by CCK-8. The accumulation of LDH was detected by ELISA. Western blot was used to detect the expression of HMGB1, inflammatory factors (IL-6, TNF-α and IL-1β) and pyroptosis-related proteins (GSDMD, N-GSDMD, ASC, NLRP3, Caspase-1 and Cleaved-Capase-1). Cell pyroptosis rate was detected by flow cytometry. At the same time, the targeting relationship between miR-186-5p and LncRNA PVT1 and HMGB1 was verified by double fluorescein experiment. Exosomes from M1φ were successfully extracted. The expression of LncRNA PVT1 in M1φ-exos was significantly increased. M1φ-exo promotes inflammation and pyroptosis of VSMCs. M1φsi−LncRNA PVT1-exos inhibited the inflammation and pyroptosis of VSMCs. LncRNA PVT1 can sponge miR-186-5p mimic to regulate HMGB1 expression. MiR-186-5p mimic further inhibited inflammation and pyroptosis induced by M1φsi−LncRNA PVT1-exos. However, oe-HMGB1 could inhibit the reversal effect of miR-186-5p mimic. LncRNA PVT1 in exosomes secreted by M1φ can regulate HMGB1 by acting as ceRNA on sponge miR-186-5p, thereby promoting cell inflammatory and pyroptosis and accelerating AAA progression.
Exploring Bioactive Potential of Streptomyces thinghirensis WAE1 from Wadi El-Natron, Egypt
Authors: Osman Mohamed E. , Abo-Elnasr Amany A. , Mohamed Eslam T. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study aimed to investigate the bioactive metabolites produced by Streptomyces thinghirensis WAE1, an actinomycete isolated from El-Hamara Lake in Egypt. The discovery of new bioactive compounds from natural sources is crucial for the advancement of therapeutic treatments, and this study aimed to contribute to this field by exploring the potential of Streptomyces thinghirensis WAE1 as a source of such compounds. Streptomyces thinghirensis WAE1 was screened for its ability to produce antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory metabolites. The results revealed that S. thinghirensis WAE1 exhibited strong antimicrobial activity against Streptococcus pneumoniae and moderate activity against Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, and Candida albicans. Streptomyces thinghirensis WAE1 also displayed antioxidant activity through scavenging free radicals and chelating iron, and moderate anti-inflammatory activity as determined by its IC50 value. The isolate's demonstration of L-asparaginase activity suggests that S. thinghirensis WAE1 is a promising source of bioactive compounds with potential therapeutic uses. The high salinity and alkalinity of El-Hamara Lake, which create favorable conditions for the production of bioactive metabolites, further add to its potential as a source of actinomycetes strains with bioactive properties. These findings make both S. thinghirensis WAE1 and El-Hamara Lake valuable subjects for further exploration in the field of bioactive compounds.