bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Research on Solving Flexible Job Shop Scheduling Problem Based on Improved GWO Algorithm SS-GWO
Authors: Zhou Kai , Tan Chuanhe , Zhao Yi , Yu Junyuan , Zhang Zhilong , Wu Yanqiang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractAs an important branch of production scheduling, the flexible job shop scheduling problem (FJSP) is a typical NP-hard problem. Researchers have adopted many intelligent algorithms to solve the FJSP problem, nonetheless, the task of dynamically adapting its essential parameters during the computational process is a significant challenge, resulting in the solution efficiency and quality failing to meet the production requirements. To this end, this paper proposes an adaptive gray wolf fast optimization algorithm (SS-GWO), which adopts the gray wolf algorithm (GWO) as the basic optimization method, and the algorithm adaptively selects the global search or local search according to the degree of agglomeration of individuals. Firstly, a non-linear convergence factor strategy is employed to control the global exploration and local exploitation capabilities of the algorithm at different stages. This enhances optimization precision and accelerates convergence speed, achieving a dynamic balance between the two. Secondly, the spiral search mechanism of Whale Optimization Algorithm is used in GWO to improve the exploration capability of Gray Wolf Optimization Algorithm. Finally, the effectiveness of SS-GWO model is verified by comparison experiments. The comparison demonstrates the superiority of SS-GWO over the other five state-of-the-art algorithms in solving the 22 classical benchmark test functions. SS-GWO is applied to solve FJSP by means of the standard test function bandimarte calculus. The optimal solution and performance of SS-GWO for solving FJSP are compared with other algorithms. The experimental results show that the SS-GWO algorithm has good optimization performance, and the maximum completion time is reduced by 19% and 37% compared with that of IGWO and GWO, respectively, and the proposed SS-GWO algorithm achieves a better solution effect on flexible job shop scheduling instances, which can satisfy the actual production scheduling needs.
Soil water availability modulates the response of grapevine leaf gas exchange and PSII traits to a simulated heat wave
Authors: Shtai W. , Asensio D. , Kadison A. E. , Schwarz M. , Raifer B. , Andreotti C. , Hammerle A. , Zanotelli D. , Haas F. , Niedrist G. , Wohlfahrt G. , Tagliavini M. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Background and aims
A better understanding of plant carbon assimilation, water status and photosystem performance responses to combined heat and drought stress would help to optimize grapevine management under such limiting conditions.

Methods
Gas exchange and chlorophyll fluorescence parameters were measured in potted grapevines, cv Sauvignon Blanc, before, during and after simulated six-day heat (Tmax = 40 °C) wave using heated well-watered (HW), heated drought-stressed (HD), non-heated well-watered (CW) and non-heated dry (CD) vines.

Results
Photosynthesis and stomatal conductance in HW vines increased during the morning and dropped in the afternoon with respect to CW vines. Daily plant transpiration in HW almost doubled that of CW vines. When grapevines were already exposed to drought, the effects of the heat wave were negligible, with HD plants showing similar leaf photosynthesis and transpiration to their CD counterparts. Heat, but not drought stress, decreased the maximum (Fv/Fm) and effective photochemical quantum yield of PSII (φPSII), and also affected the use of absorbed energy. HW plants dissipated more radiative energy as heat, a protective mechanism of the photosystem, while HD vines increased the energy dissipated by non-regulated non-photochemical pathways, which might lead to photoinhibition damages. The different behavior could be due to the enhanced transpiration rate and consequent decrease in leaf temperature in HW as compared to HD vines. After the heat wave, only HW vines recovered the afternoon values of photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and φPSII to similar levels as those in CW vines.

Conclusion
Drought had a more significant effect than heat stress on photosynthesis, stomatal conductance and transpiration. The combined heat and drought stress, however, increased the proportion of energy lost by the leaves through harmful non-regulated dissipative pathways. With adequate soil water availability, grapevines withstood the heat wave period through an increase in leaf transpiration, which decreased leaf temperature and protected the PSII from heat damage.
A biomedical perspective of pyocyanin from Pseudomonas aeruginosa: its applications and challenges
Authors: Mudaliar Samriti Balaji , Bharath Prasad Alevoor Srinivas 
Published: February 2024

AbstractPyocyanin is a bioactive pigment produced by Pseudomonas aeruginosa. It is an important virulence factor that plays a critical role in P. aeruginosa infections as a redox-active secondary metabolite and a quorum sensing (QS) signaling molecule. Pyocyanin production from chorismic acid requires the involvement of two homologous operons, phz1 and phz2, which are activated by QS regulatory proteins. Pyocyanin inhibits the proliferation of bacterial, fungal, and mammalian cells by inducing oxidative stress due to which it acts as a potent antibacterial, antifungal, and anticancer agent. Its potential role as a neuroprotectant needs further exploration. However, pyocyanin exacerbates the damaging effects of nosocomial infections caused by P. aeruginosa in immunocompromised individuals. Further, cystic fibrosis (CF) patients are highly susceptible to persistent P. aeruginosa infections in the respiratory system. The bacterial cells form colonies and three interconnected QS networks—pqs, las, and rhl—get activated, thus stimulating the cells to produce pyocyanin which exacerbates pulmonary complications. As an opportunistic pathogen, P. aeruginosa produces pyocyanin to impede the recovery of injuries like burn wounds through its anti-proliferative activity. Moreover, pyocyanin plays a vital role in compounding P. aeruginosa infections by promoting biofilm formation. This review begins with a brief description of the characteristics of pyocyanin, its activity, and the different aspects of its production including its biosynthesis, the role of QS, and the effect of environmental factors. It then goes on to explore the potential applications of pyocyanin as a biotherapeutic molecule while also highlighting the biomedical challenges and limitations that it presents.
Graphical abstract
(Re)defining expert in science instruction: a community-based science approach to teaching
Authors: Gyles Symone A. , Clark Heather F. 
Published: February 2024

AbstractInstructional practices in science education often create dichotomies of “expert” and “outsider” that produce distinct power differences in classrooms. Building upon the idea of “making present practice” to disrupt these binaries, this paper presents select findings from a year-long study investigating two urban teachers' use of community-based science (CBS) instructional practices to create relational shifts that reframe expert and expertise in science instruction. By examining how CBS instructional practices reframe power through co-learning experiences, our findings demonstrated that teachers positioned youth as knowledge constructors through three instructional practices: (a) creating space for students to share their knowledge and experiences, (b) positioning students’ lives and experiences as assets to/within science, and (c) being responsive to assets in future lessons. We use these findings to demonstrate how CBS instructional practices support shifts in relational dynamics by creating spaces of rightful presence, where students are viewed as legitimate classroom members who contribute scientific knowledge in practice and have power in the classroom space. By relinquishing traditional boundaries in science teaching to deconstruct ideas of who holds power, we position CBS instructional practices as a means to expand educational equity by legitimizing students’ diverse sensemaking and re-mediating hierarchical structures in classroom spaces.
Copper Metabolism and Cuproptosis: Molecular Mechanisms and Therapeutic Perspectives in Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Ban Xiao-xia , Wan Hao , Wan Xin-xing , Tan Ya-ting , Hu Xi-min , Ban Hong-xia , Chen Xin-yu , Huang Kun , Zhang Qi , Xiong Kun 
Published: February 2024

AbstractCopper is an essential trace element, and plays a vital role in numerous physiological processes within the human body. During normal metabolism, the human body maintains copper homeostasis. Copper deficiency or excess can adversely affect cellular function. Therefore, copper homeostasis is stringently regulated. Recent studies suggest that copper can trigger a specific form of cell death, namely, cuproptosis, which is triggered by excessive levels of intracellular copper. Cuproptosis induces the aggregation of mitochondrial lipoylated proteins, and the loss of iron-sulfur cluster proteins. In neurodegenerative diseases, the pathogenesis and progression of neurological disorders are linked to copper homeostasis. This review summarizes the advances in copper homeostasis and cuproptosis in the nervous system and neurodegenerative diseases. This offers research perspectives that provide new insights into the targeted treatment of neurodegenerative diseases based on cuproptosis.
Dieback of managed spruce stands in western Germany promotes beetle diversity
Authors: Plath Eva , Trauth Chantal , Gerhards Jan , Griebel Laura , Fischer Klaus 
Published: February 2024

AbstractBiodiversity loss is a significant problem at a global scale and may be amplified by climate change. In recent years, coniferous forests have had substantial dieback across Europe due to drought and subsequent bark-beetle outbreaks. As many studies on the consequences of disturbance and subsequent management have focused on natural stands, management implications for managed spruce stands are not well understood, even though such stands are widespread throughout Europe. In this study, beetle taxonomy, conservation value, and community composition are compared among spruce plantations and four post-disturbance management approaches: standing deadwood, lying deadwood, clear cuts, and long-term succession. Diversity and community composition differed significantly among management categories, while different beetle families responded similarly. Intact spruce stands harbored the lowest beetle diversity while the highest taxonomic diversity and conservation value was on clear cuts and stands with lying or standing deadwood. The proportion of forest specialists was highest in successional forests. In summary, different forest management categories harbored distinct beetle communities at the family-, species-, and ecological guild levels. Therefore, post-disturbance management should consider the landscape scale and include different management types. This enhances landscape heterogeneity and thus overall biodiversity but could also mitigate negative impacts of natural disturbances on ecosystem services.
Minimally invasive sacrocolpopexy: efficiency of robotic assistance compared to standard laparoscopy
Authors: Evangelopoulos Nikolaos , Nessi Aude , Achtari Chahin 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMinimally invasive abdominal sacrocolpopexy (SC) is the treatment of choice for symptomatic, high-grade, apical or multi-compartmental pelvic organ prolapse (POP), in terms of anatomical correction and treatment durability. Robot-assisted sacrocolpopexy (RASC) could be an attractive alternative to the gold standard laparoscopic sacrocolpopexy (LSC), for its ergonomic advantages in such a technically demanding procedure. However, it has not yet proven its superiority, consequently raising cost-effectiveness issues. Our primary objective was to assess if RASC can achieve better overall operative time (OOT) over LSC, with at least equivalent perioperative results. This was a single-center retrospective study including 100 patients (58 consecutive RASC cases and 42 LSC within the same time-period), with primary endpoint the OOT in both groups. Secondary results included complication rate, hospital stay, short-term anatomic results and OOT within and beyond the RASC learning curve. A multivariate linear regression was carried out for our primary outcome. The groups had comparable characteristics, except for BMI, which was lower in RASC group. The mean OOT was significantly lower in the RASC group (188 vs. 217 min, p ≤ 0.01), even after adjusting for possible confounders. Short-term anatomic results, complication rate, and blood loss were similar in the two groups. Mean hospital stay was significantly longer in the RASC group. Average RASC OOT was significantly shorter after the first 20 cases realized. This study demonstrated a significant reduction of OOT for RASC compared to LSC, with similar perioperative results, encouraging further use of the robotic technology for this indication.
Design and evaluation of a smart passive dynamic arm support for robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery
Authors: Schrijvershof Pim , Rahimi A. Masie , Leone Nicola ,   EAES TC Robotics, Bloemendaal Alexander , Daams Freek , Arezzo Alberto , Mintz Yoav , Horeman Tim 
Published: February 2024

AbstractSurgeons performing robotic-assisted laparoscopic surgery experience physical stress and overuse of shoulder muscles due to sub-optimal arm support during surgery. The objective is to present a novel design and prototype of a dynamic arm support for robotic laparoscopic surgery to evaluate its ergonomics and performance on the AdLap-VR simulation training device. The prototype was designed using the mechanical engineering design process: Technical requirements, concept creation, concept selection, 3D-design and built of the prototype. A crossover study was performed on a marble sorting task on the AdLap-VR. The first group performed four trials without the arm support, followed by four trials with the arm support, and the other group executed the sequence vice versa. The performance parameters used were time to complete (s), path length (mm), and the number of collisions. Afterward, the participants filled out a questionnaire on the ergonomic experience regarding both situations. 20 students executed 160 performed trials on the AdLap-VR Significant decreases in the subjective comfort parameters mental demand, physical demand, effort and frustration were observed as a result of introducing the novel arm support. Significant decreases in the objective performance parameters path length and the number of collisions were also observed during the tests. The newly developed dynamic arm support was found to improve comfort and enhance performance through increased stability on the robotic surgery skills simulator AdLap-VR.
An extension of localization operators
Authors: Boggiatto Paolo , Garello Gianluca 
Published: February 2024

AbstractWe review at first the role of localization operators as a meeting point of three different areas of research, namely: signal analysis, quantization and pseudo-differential operators. We extend then the correspondence between symbol and operator which characterizes localization operators to a more general situation, introducing the class of bilocalization operators. We show that this enlargement yields a quantization rule that is closed under composition. Some boundedness results are deduced both for localization and bilocalization operators. In particular for bilocalization operators we prove that square integrable symbols yield bounded operators on $$L^2$$

L
2

and that the class of bilocalization operators with integrable symbols is a subalgebra of bounded operators on every fixed modulation space.
Tebipenem and Sulopenem: Dynamic Duo or Double Trouble?
Authors: Mangum Blake R. , Pogue Jason M. , Barber Katie E. 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Purpose of Review
Antimicrobial resistance is a growing threat to public health, leading to millions of antibiotic-resistant infections and thousands of deaths annually in the USA. One concerning issue is the rise of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase (ESBL)–producing Enterobacterales. Current treatments often involve intravenous carbapenems, leading to prolonged hospital stays and financial burdens.

Recent Findings
To address this, new oral penem agents, tebipenem and sulopenem, are being investigated. They are administered as prodrugs, enhancing bioavailability before becoming active in the gastrointestinal tract, potentially treating multidrug-resistant infections in outpatient settings. Despite promise in clinical trials, challenges exist, such as tebipenem’s renal excretion, requiring dose adjustments for kidney dysfunction. Additionally, sulopenem failed noninferiority margins in trials, and neither drug has established susceptibility testing standards.

Summary
Tebipenem and sulopenem offer potential oral solutions for antimicrobial resistance, especially in urinary tract infections, but further research is needed for optimal dosing and susceptibility testing.
Rapamycin Inhibits Senescence and Improves Immunomodulatory Function of Mesenchymal Stem Cells Through IL-8 and TGF-β Signaling
Authors: Sheppard Aaron J , Delgado Kristin , Barfield Ann Marie , Xu Qinqin , Massey Patrick A , Dong Yufeng , Barton Richard S 
Published: February 2024

AbstractMesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) grown in high-density monolayers (sheets) are promising vehicles for numerous bioengineering applications. When MSC sheets are maintained in prolonged cultures, they undergo rapid senescence, limiting their downstream efficacy. Although rapamycin is a potential agent that can inhibit senescence in cell cultures, no study has investigated rapamycin’s effect on MSCs grown in high-density culture and its effect on downstream target gene expression. In this study, placental-derived MSCs (PMSCs) were seeded at high density to generate PMSC sheets in 24 hours and were then treated with rapamycin or vehicle for up to 7 days. Autophagy activity, cell senescence and apoptosis, cell size and granularity, and senescence-associated cytokines (IL-6 and IL-8) were analyzed. Differential response in gene expression were assessed via microarray analysis. Rapamycin significantly increased PMSC sheet autophagy activity, inhibited cellular senescence, decreased cell size and granularity at all timepoints. Rapamycin also significantly decreased the number of cells in late apoptosis at day 7 of sheet culture, as well as caspase 3/7 activity at all timepoints. Notably, while rapamycin decreased IL-6 secretion, increased IL-8 levels were observed at all timepoints. Microarray analysis further confirmed the upregulation of IL-8 transcription, as well as provided a list of 396 genes with 2-fold differential expression, where transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) signaling were identified as important upregulated pathways. Rapamycin both decreased senescence and has an immunomodulatory action of PMSCs grown in sheet culture, which will likely improve the chemotaxis of pro-healing cells to sites of tissue repair in future bioengineering applications.
Graphical bstract
Emerging Functional Connections Between Metabolism and Epigenetic Remodeling in Neural Differentiation
Authors: Sánchez-Ramírez Edgar , Ung Thi Phuong Lien , Stringari Chiara , Aguilar-Arnal Lorena 
Published: February 2024

AbstractStem cells possess extraordinary capacities for self-renewal and differentiation, making them highly valuable in regenerative medicine. Among these, neural stem cells (NSCs) play a fundamental role in neural development and repair processes. NSC characteristics and fate are intricately regulated by the microenvironment and intracellular signaling. Interestingly, metabolism plays a pivotal role in orchestrating the epigenome dynamics during neural differentiation, facilitating the transition from undifferentiated NSC to specialized neuronal and glial cell types. This intricate interplay between metabolism and the epigenome is essential for precisely regulating gene expression patterns and ensuring proper neural development. This review highlights the mechanisms behind metabolic regulation of NSC fate and their connections with epigenetic regulation to shape transcriptional programs of stemness and neural differentiation. A comprehensive understanding of these molecular gears appears fundamental for translational applications in regenerative medicine and personalized therapies for neurological conditions.
Academic Knowledge on Quality of Life in Urban Africa: What Do We Know?
Authors: Jacobs Niké Susan , Cornelius Selna , Claassen Carike , Niesing Christi , Cilliers Juaneé Elizelle , Burger Roelof Petrus 
Published: February 2024

Abstract
Even though vague and contested, the construct of the quality of life can play an important role in gauging the success of spatial governance. It is present in most spatial policy objectives and many scholars describe it as the ultimate goal of spatial governance. The question remains, however, whether the construct of the quality of life is explored in sufficient depth to understand its practical relevance within widely divergent African contexts. Africa is notorious for its low levels of life quality and many scholars argue that research on its difficulties is not focalized and conclusions are too often drawn without truly considering the unique African context. To discover the extent of the current knowledge base on African life quality, African-specific case study research was identified and analyzed. A systematic literature review was conducted following the textual narrative synthesis approach. The analysis revealed a geographically sparsely distributed knowledge base of urban African quality of life. Further to this, a wide variety of research themes were identified, ranging from socio-economic, physical, and environmental characteristics to strategic planning and sustainable development. This sparsely distributed knowledge base, along with the wide variety of research themes and the undefined nature of the quality of life, makes it difficult to compare the case studies. The paper, subsequently, calls for further case study research to enable a true understanding of the association and meaning of quality of life within the African context that would ultimately support appropriate development of measurements in urban Africa.
Effect of Rim and Web Thickness on Tooth Root Stress of Spur Gear
Authors: Park Jung-Ho , Chung Woo-Jin , Park Young-Jun , Kim Heung-Sub , Seo Jin Beom , Park Jong Sang 
Published: February 2024

AbstractThis study investigated the impact of spur gear rim and web thickness on root stress. A finite-element analysis model (FEM) was utilized and validated through a gear-bending test. Four gears with different rim and web specifications, including a solid gear, were designed and tested using strain gages to measure their root stress. The 3D FEM was validated by comparing the measured root stresses with that analyzed by the developed FEM. Using this model, a parametric study was conducted by varying the web position, pressure angle, and module to investigate the effect of the backup ratio on the root stress ratio of the gear. A stress-ratio map was generated based on the results. This stress-ratio map was compared with the rim thickness factor ($${Y}_{B}$$

Y
B

) for external spur gears specified in ISO 6336-3. The comparison reveals that the rim thickness factor specified in ISO 6336 is overly conservative compared to values obtained in this study. Our results suggest that the thickness of both the rim and web should be considered to reduce the weight of spur gears. These findings can be applied to the design of lightweight spur gears.