bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Smartphone‐Based Sensing of Cortisol by Functionalized Rhodamine Probes
Authors: Santonocito Rossella , Cavallaro Alessia , Puglisi Roberta , Pappalardo Andrea , Tuccitto Nunzio , Petroselli Manuel , Trusso Sfrazzetto Giuseppe 
Published: April 2024

AbstractDuring a stress condition, the human body synthesizes catecholamine neurotransmitters and specific hormones (called “stress hormones”), the most important of which is cortisol. The monitoring of cortisol levels should be extremely important to control the stress levels, and for this reason, it shows important medical applications. The common analytical methods (HPLC, GC‐MS) cannot be used in real life, due to the bulky size of the instruments and the necessity of specialized personnel. Molecular probes solve these problems due to their fast and easy use. The synthesis of new fluorescent rhodamine probes, able to interact by non‐covalent interactions with cortisol, the recognition properties in solution as well as in solid state by Strip Test, using a smartphone as detector, are here reported. DFT calculations and FT‐IR measurements suggest the formation of supramolecular complexes through hydrogen bonds as main non‐covalent interaction. The present study represents one of the first sensor, based on synthetical chemical receptors, able to detect cortisol in a linear range from 1 mM to 1 pM, based on non‐covalent molecular recognition and paves the way to the realization of practical point‐of‐care device for the monitoring of cortisol in real live.
Two‐layer dynamic economic nonlinear model predictive control for a lithium‐ion battery charge process with random disturbances
Authors: Guo Meijun , Ren Mifeng , Zhang Wenjie , Yang Zhile , Chen Junghui 
Published: April 2024

AbstractThe charging process of lithium‐ion batteries is necessary for normal operation, and improper lithium‐ion battery charging strategy can cause side reactions, significant temperature rise, performance degradation, and safety concerns. This paper proposes a two‐layer dynamic economic nonlinear model predictive control economic model predictive control (EMPC) method for lithium‐ion battery charge management in which the non‐Gaussian random noise of voltage and current signal are taken into account. In the two‐layer EMPC, the upper layer finds the optimal reference trajectory, and the power in the future prediction horizon is chosen as an economic indicator to optimize the upper layer. The lower layer tracks the optimal trajectory, and model predictive control based on generalized correntropy is used. The economic cost of the system and the dynamic changes of the process are considered to greatly reduce the computational complexity and realize rapid battery charge management. Finally, the simulation results show that the tracking error of the two‐layer EMPC method based on generalized correntropy is stable around 0, while the tracking error of the two‐layer EMPC method based on MSE is stable around 0.003. The average control action times of the proposed two‐layer EMPC and single‐layer EMPC are 0.0052 and 0.0267 s, respectively. It is verified that the proposed method performs better for the lithium‐ion battery charging process with random disturbances.
Univariate versus multivariate flood frequency analysis in tropical region: Employing two classes of hydrological models
Authors: Deb Proloy , Malakar Pragnaditya , Bora Pradip Kumar , Dubey Swatantra Kumar 
Published: April 2024

AbstractFlood frequency analysis is critical in flood planning and management and hydraulic structures design. While univariate flood frequency analysis (using the peak flow) is still widely employed in developing countries, how does it compare to the robust copula‐based bivariate flood frequency analysis remains unknown. Moreover, there is also a decade‐long critical question whether less data requiring hydrological models can be an alternate to the data‐intensive models in flood prediction, especially in a developing tropical country like India? To answer these questions, this study aims in comparing two types of hydrological models (IHACRES, a less data requiring model, and VIC‐3L, a data‐intensive model) in simulating the peak flows, following which the simulated peak flows are used in a detailed comparison of the univariate and bivariate flood frequency analysis. The results indicate that the data‐intensive fully distributed hydrological model performs poorly relative to the conceptually lumped IHACRES model at the study catchment in simulating the peak flows. Moreover, both univariate and copula‐based bivariate flood frequency analyses show similar peak flows for a given return period at the study catchment. Given that bivariate flood frequency analysis accounts for both peak flow and flood volume, it is recommended over the univariate flood frequency analysis since the results are widely applicable for flood planning and hydraulic structure designing the developing countries.
The pivotal role of irradiation‐induced apoptosis in the pathogenesis and therapy of medulloblastoma
Authors: Richard Seidu A. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundMedulloblastoma (MB) is a rare primitive neuroectodermal tumors originating from the cerebellum. MB is the most common malignant primary brain tumor of childhood. MB originates from neural precursor cells in distinctive regions of the rhombic lip, and their maturation occurs in the cerebellum or the brain stem during embryonal development. Also, apoptosis is a programmed cell death associated with numerous physiological as well as pathological regulations.Recent FindingsIrradiation (IR)‐induce apoptosis triggers cell death, with or without intervening mitosis within a few hours of IR and these share different morphologic alteration such as, loss of normal nuclear structure as well as degradation of DNA. Moreover, MB is strikingly sensitive to DNA‐damaging therapies and the role of apoptosis a key treatment modality. Furthermore, in MB, the apoptotic pathways are made up of several triggers, modulators, as well as effectors. Notably, IR‐induced apoptotic mechanisms in MB therapy are very complex and they either induce radiosensitivity or inhibit radioresistance leading to potential effective treatment strategies for MB.ConclusionThis review explicitly explores the pivotal roles of IR‐induced apoptosis in the pathogenesis and therapy of MB.
New parallelism and heuristic approaches for generating tree t‐spanners in graphs
Authors: Cunha Luís , Marciano Eriky , Moraes Anderson , Santiago Leandro , Santos Carlos 
Published: April 2024

SummaryThe ‐admissibility is a min‐max problem that concerns to determine whether a graph contains a spanning tree in which the distance between any two adjacent vertices of is at most in . The stretch index of , , is the smallest for which is ‐admissible. This problem is in P for , NP‐complete for , , and remaining open for . In a very recent development, Couto et al. (Inf Process Lett, 2022;177: 106265) introduced both sequential and parallel algorithms for constructing spanning trees. Additionally, they proposed two greedy heuristics for generating a candidate solution tree, but they left unresolved the issue of how to decide between two vertices when both have equal chances of being chosen in a greedy step. This criterion is important, since different branches can yield different stretch indexes. In response to this question, we developed nine new heuristics that use the concept of vertex importance in complex networks. Our research evaluates results on several types of graphs, including Barabási‐Albert, Erdős‐Rényi, Watts‐Strogatz, and bipartite graphs. Furthermore, we introduce a new parallel algorithm that employs a method using induced cycle of the graph to compare its performance with previously proposed algorithms. We develop a deep analysis on the proposed strategies (parallel and heuristics) comparing all of them to the other ones in the literature and as a result we obtain the best results so far in order to obtain exact values (or heuristics) of stretch indexes.
Perfectionistic Self‐Presentation and Psychopathology: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Casale Silvia , Svicher Andrea , Fioravanti Giulia , Hewitt Paul L. , Flett Gordon L. , Pozza Andrea 
Published: April 2024

ABSTRACTDecades of research implicate perfectionism as a risk factor for psychopathology. Most research has focused on trait perfectionism (i.e., needing to be perfect), but there is a growing focus on perfectionistic self‐presentation (PSP) (i.e., the need to seem perfect). The current article reports the results of a meta‐analysis of previous research on the facets of PSP and psychopathology outcomes (either clinical diagnoses of psychiatric disorders or symptoms of these disorders). A systematic literature search retrieved 30 relevant studies (37 samples; N = 15,072), resulting in 192 individual effect‐size indexes that were analysed with random‐effect meta‐analysis. Findings support the notion of PSP as a transdiagnostic factor by showing that PSP facets are associated with various forms of psychopathology, especially social anxiety, depression, vulnerable narcissism and—to lesser extent—grandiose narcissism and anorexia nervosa. The results indicated that there both commonalities across the three PSP and some unique findings highlighting the need to distinguish among appearing perfect, avoiding seeming imperfect and avoiding disclosures of imperfections. Additional analyses yielded little evidence in the results across studies including undergraduates, community samples and clinical samples. Our discussion includes a focus on factors and processes that contribute to the association between PSP and psychopathology.
USP7 inhibitors suppress tumour neoangiogenesis and promote synergy with immune checkpoint inhibitors by downregulating fibroblast VEGF
Authors: Jurisic Anamarija , Sung Pei‐Ju , Wappett Mark , Daubriac Julien , Lobb Ian T. , Kung Wei‐Wei , Crawford Nyree , Page Natalie , Cassidy Eamon , Feutren‐Burton Stephanie , Rountree J. S. Shane , Helm Matthew D. , O'Dowd Colin R. , Kennedy Richard D. , Gavory Gerald , Cranston Aaron N. , Longley Daniel B. , Jacq Xavier , Harrison Timothy 
Published: April 2024

AbstractBackgroundUnderstanding how to modulate the microenvironment of tumors that are resistant to immune checkpoint inhibitors represents a major challenge in oncology.Here we investigate the ability of USP7 inhibitors to reprogram the tumor microenvironment (TME) by inhibiting secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from fibroblasts.MethodsTo understand the role played by USP7 in the TME, we systematically evaluated the effects of potent, selective USP7 inhibitors on co‐cultures comprising components of the TME, using human primary cells. We also evaluated the effects of USP7 inhibition on tumor growth inhibition in syngeneic models when dosed in combination with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).ResultsAbrogation of VEGF secretion from fibroblasts in response to USP7 inhibition resulted in inhibition of tumor neoangiogenesis and increased tumor recruitment of CD8‐positive T‐lymphocytes, leading to significantly improved sensitivity to immune checkpoint inhibitors. In syngeneic models, treatment with USP7 inhibitors led to striking tumor responses resulting in significantly improved survival.ConclusionsUSP7‐mediated reprograming of the TME is not linked to its previously characterized role in modulating MDM2 but does require p53 and UHRF1 in addition to the well‐characterized VEGF transcription factor, HIF‐1α. This represents a function of USP7 that is unique to fibroblasts, and which is not observed in cancer cells or other components of the TME. Given the potential for USP7 inhibitors to transform “immune desert” tumors into “immune responsive” tumors, this paves the way for a novel therapeutic strategy combining USP7 inhibitors with immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs).
Photonic generation of frequency 12‐tupling millimeter‐wave based on three cascaded‐MZMs and polarization multiplexing
Authors: Rani Ankita , Kedia Deepak 
Published: April 2024

SummaryOptical millimeter‐wave generation is a predominant approach for the generation of high‐quality carrier signals for future wireless transmissions. This paper proposes an optical frequency 12‐tupling millimeter‐wave generation scheme using three cascaded‐MZMs assisted by polarization multiplexing for carrier suppression. A three‐stage MZM architecture produces the desired sixth‐order sidebands along with the undesired carrier signal. The proper adjustment of polarization direction and angle of polarization rotation lead to the effective suppression of the undesired optical carrier signal. A comprehensive mathematical analysis has been accomplished to evaluate the system's performance, and the obtained results are also validated through simulation findings. The derived results demonstrate that the proposed system is capable of operating over a broad modulation index range extending from 1.5 to 4.5, thereby relaxing the stringent requirements for a constant modulation index. The proposed system generates high‐purity mm‐wave signals with an OSSR of 62.06 dB and an RFSSR of 54.79 dB at a modulation index of 2.6. Moreover, it is also validated that even if the system parameters like modulation index, polarizer rotation angle, and phase difference among RF driving signals deviate from their ideal values to a certain degree, the system performance remains acceptable. The involvement of polarization technique, omission of wavelength‐dependent devices, and a large modulation index operating range make this methodology readily appealing for implementation in radio‐over‐fiber transmissions.
Examining the propensity and nature of criminal risk behaviours in frontotemporal dementia syndromes and Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Kumfor Fiona , Wei Grace , Ries Nola , Bennett Hayley , D'Mello Mirelle , Kaizik Cassandra , Piguet Olivier , Hodges John R. 
Published: April 2024

AbstractINTRODUCTIONSome people with dementia develop changes in behaviour and cognition that may lead to interactions with police or the legal system. However, large, prospective case–control studies examining these behaviours are lacking.METHODSOne hundred and forty‐four people with dementia and 53 controls completed the Misdemeanours and Transgressions Screener.RESULTSCriminal risk behaviours were reported in: 65.6% of behavioural‐variant frontotemporal dementia, 46.2% of right‐lateralised semantic dementia, and 27.0% of Alzheimer's disease patients. In 19.1% of patients these behaviours led to contact with police or authority figures. Compared to controls, people with dementia showed higher rates of physical assault (p = 0.024), financial/professional recklessness (p = 0.009), and inappropriate behaviours (p = 0.052).DISCUSSIONCriminal risk behaviours are common across dementia subtypes and may be one of the first clinical signs of frontotemporal dementia. Further research to understand how to balance risk minimisation with an individual's liberties as well as the inappropriate criminalisation of people with dementia is needed.Highlights
The Misdemeanours and Transgressions Screener is a new tool to assess criminal risk behaviours.
Forty‐seven percent of patients with dementia show criminal risk behaviour after dementia onset.
Behaviours included verbal abuse, traffic violations, physical assault.
New onset of criminal risk behaviours >50 years is a clinical sign for frontotemporal dementia.
Emotional dysregulation moderates the relation between perceived stress and emotional eating in adolescent military dependents
Authors: Spinner Holly , Thompson Katherine A. , Bauman Viviana , Lavender Jason M. , Thorstad Isabel , Schrag Ruby , Sbrocco Tracy , Schvey Natasha A. , Ford Brian , Ford Caitlin , Wilfley Denise E. , Jorgensen Sarah , Klein David A. , Quinlan Jeffrey , Yanovski Jack A. , Haigney Mark , Tanofsky‐Kraff Marian 
Published: April 2024

AbstractObjectiveAdolescent children of US service members (i.e., military‐dependent youth) face unique stressors that increase risk for various forms of disinhibited eating, including emotional eating. Difficulties with adaptively responding to stress and aversive emotions may play an important role in emotional eating. This study examined emotion dysregulation as a potential moderator of the association between perceived stress and emotional eating in adolescent military dependents.MethodParticipants were military‐dependent youth (N = 163, 57.7% female, Mage = 14.5 ± 1.6, MBMI‐z = 1.9 ± 0.4) at risk for adult binge‐eating disorder and high weight enrolled in a randomized controlled prevention trial. Prior to intervention, participants completed questionnaires assessing perceived stress and emotional eating. Parents completed a questionnaire assessing their adolescent's emotion dysregulation. Moderation analyses were conducted using the PROCESS macro in SPSS and adjusted for theoretically relevant sociodemographic covariates.ResultsThe interaction between adolescent perceived stress and emotion dysregulation (parent‐reported about the adolescent) in relation to adolescent emotional eating was found to be significant, such that higher emotion dysregulation magnified the association between perceived stress and emotional eating (p = .010). Examination of simple slopes indicated that associations between perceived stress and emotional eating were strongest for youth with above‐average emotion dysregulation, and non‐significant for youth with average or below‐average emotion dysregulation.DiscussionFindings suggest that greater emotion dysregulation may increase risk for emotional eating in response to stress among military‐dependent youth at risk for binge‐eating disorder or high weight. Improving emotion regulation skills may be a useful target for eating disorder prevention among youth who are at risk for emotional eating.Public SignificancePrior research has shown that adolescent military dependents are at increased risk for eating disorders and high weight. The current study found that emotion dysregulation moderated the relationship between perceived stress and emotional eating among military‐dependent youth. There may be clinical utility in intervening on emotion regulation for adolescent dependents at particular risk for emotional eating and subsequent eating disorders.
A full‐length 18S ribosomal DNA metabarcoding approach for determining protist community diversity using Nanopore sequencing
Authors: Gaonkar Chetan C. , Campbell Lisa 
Published: April 2024

AbstractProtist diversity studies are frequently conducted using DNA metabarcoding methods. Currently, most studies have utilized short read sequences to assess protist diversity. One limitation of using short read sequences is the low resolution of the markers. For better taxonomic resolution longer sequences of the 18S rDNA are required because the full‐length has both conserved and hypervariable regions. In this study, a new primer pair combination was used to amplify the full‐length 18S rDNA and its efficacy was validated with a test community and then validated with field samples. Full‐length sequences obtained with the Nanopore MinION for protist diversity from field samples were compared with Illumina MiSeq V4 and V8‐V9 short reads. Sequences generated from the high‐throughput sequencers are Amplicon Sequence Variants (ASVs). Metabarcoding results show high congruency among the long reads and short reads in taxonomic annotation at the major taxonomic group level; however, not all taxa could be successfully detected from sequences. Based on the criteria of ≥95% similarity and ≥1000 bp query length, 298 genera were identified by all markers in the field samples, 250 (84%) were detected by 18S, while only 226 (76%) by V4 and 213 (71%) by V8‐V9. Of the total 85 dinoflagellate genera observed, 19 genera were not defined by 18S dinoflagellate ASVs compared to only three among the total 52 diatom genera. The discrepancy in this resolution is due to the lack of taxonomically available 18S reference sequences in particular for dinoflagellates. Overall, this preliminary investigation demonstrates that application of the full‐length 18S rDNA approach can be successful in field studies.
Paradox of disproportionate atrial functional mitral regurgitation and survival after transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair
Authors: Doldi Philipp M. , Stolz Lukas , Kassar Mohammad , Kalbacher Daniel , Petronio Anna Sonia , Butter Christian , von Bardeleben Ralph Stephan , Iliadis Christos , Grayburn Paul , Hausleiter Jörg 
Published: April 2024

AbstractAimsThis study aims to assess the applicability of the mitral regurgitation (MR) proportionality concept in patients with atrial functional mitral regurgitation (aFMR) treated with transcatheter edge‐to‐edge repair (M‐TEER). We hypothesized that patients with disproportionate MR (higher MR relative to left ventricular size) would exhibit different outcomes compared to those with proportionate MR, despite undergoing M‐TEER.Methods and resultsWe retrospectively analysed 98 patients with aFMR from the EuroSMR registry who underwent M‐TEER between 2008 and 2019. Patients met criteria for aFMR (normal indexed left ventricular end‐diastolic volume [LVEDV], preserved left ventricular ejection fraction [LVEF] ≥ 50% without regional wall motion abnormalities, and structurally normal mitral valves). We excluded patients with missing effective regurgitant orifice area (EROA) or LVEDV data. The primary endpoint was 2‐year mortality, with an EROA/LVEDV ratio employed to differentiate disproportionate from proportionate MR. Procedural success and baseline characteristics were analysed, and multivariate Cox proportional hazards models were used to identify mortality predictors. The mean patient age was 79 ± 7.3 years, with 68.8% female, and 79% had a history of atrial fibrillation. The mean EROA was 0.27 ± 0.14 cm2, and LVEDV was 95.6 ± 33.7 mL. Disproportionate MR was identified with an EROA/LVEDV ratio >0.339 cm2/100 mL. While procedural success was similar in both groups, disproportionate MR was associated with a numerically higher estimate of systolic pulmonary artery pressures (sPAP) and rates of NYHA ≥III and TR ≥ 3+. Disproportionate MR had a significant association with increased 2‐year mortality (P < 0.001). The EROA/LVEDV ratio and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) were independent predictors of 2‐year mortality (EROA/LVEDV: HR: 1.35, P = 0.010; TAPSE: HR: 0.85, P = 0.020).ConclusionsThis analysis introduces the MR proportionality concept in aFMR patients and its potential prognostic value. Paradoxically, disproportionate MR in aFMR was linked to a 1.35‐fold increase in 2‐year mortality post‐M‐TEER, emphasizing the importance of accurate preprocedural FMR characterization. Our findings in patients with disproportionate MR indicate that a high degree of aFMR with high regurgitant volumes may lead to aggravated symptoms, which is a known contributor to increased mortality following M‐TEER. These results underline the need for further research into the pathophysiology of aFMR to inform potential preventative and therapeutic strategies, ensuring optimal patient outcomes.