bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Particle profiling of EV‐lipoprotein mixtures by AFM nanomechanical imaging
Authors: Ridolfi Andrea , Conti Laura , Brucale Marco , Frigerio Roberto , Cardellini Jacopo , Musicò Angelo , Romano Miriam , Zendrini Andrea , Polito Laura , Bergamaschi Greta , Gori Alessandro , Montis Costanza , Panella Stefano , Barile Lucio , Berti Debora , Radeghieri Annalisa , Bergese Paolo , Cretich Marina , Valle Francesco 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe widely overlapping physicochemical properties of lipoproteins (LPs) and extracellular vesicles (EVs) represents one of the main obstacles for the isolation and characterization of these pervasive biogenic lipid nanoparticles. We herein present the application of an atomic force microscopy (AFM)‐based quantitative morphometry assay to the rapid nanomechanical screening of mixed LPs and EVs samples. The method can determine the diameter and the mechanical stiffness of hundreds of individual nanometric objects within few hours. The obtained diameters are in quantitative accord with those measured via cryo‐electron microscopy (cryo‐EM); the assignment of specific nanomechanical readout to each object enables the simultaneous discrimination of co‐isolated EVs and LPs even if they have overlapping size distributions. EVs and all classes of LPs are shown to be characterised by specific combinations of diameter and stiffness, thus making it possible to estimate their relative abundance in EV/LP mixed samples in terms of stoichiometric ratio, surface area and volume. As a side finding, we show how the mechanical behaviour of specific LP classes is correlated to distinctive structural features revealed by cryo‐EM. The described approach is label‐free, single‐step and relatively quick to perform. Importantly, it can be used to analyse samples which prove very challenging to assess with several established techniques due to ensemble‐averaging, low sensibility to small particles, or both, thus providing a very useful tool for quickly assessing the purity of EV/LP isolates including plasma‐ and serum‐derived preparations.
Prostate Age Gap: An MRI Surrogate Marker of Aging for Prostate Cancer Detection
Authors: Fernandez‐Quilez Alvaro , Nordström Tobias , Jäderling Fredrik , Kjosavik Svein Reidar , Eklund Martin 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundAging is the most important risk factor for prostate cancer (PC). Imaging techniques can be useful to measure age‐related changes associated with the transition to diverse pathological states. However, biomarkers of aging from prostate magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) remain to be explored.PurposeTo develop an aging biomarker from prostate MRI and to examine its relationship with clinically significant PC (csPC, Gleason score ≥7) risk occurrence.Study TypeRetrospective.PopulationFour hundred and sixty‐eight (65.97 ± 6.91 years) biopsied males, contributing 7243 prostate MRI slices. A deep learning (DL) model was trained on 3223 MRI slices from 81 low‐grade PC (Gleason score ≤6) and 131 negative patients, defined as non‐csPC. The model was tested on 90 negative, 52 low‐grade (142 non‐csPC), and 114 csPC patients.Field Strength/Sequence3‐T, axial T2‐weighted spin sequence.AssessmentChronological age was defined as the age of the participant at the time of the visit. Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA), prostate volume, Gleason, and Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) scores were also obtained. Manually annotated prostate masks were used to crop the MRI slices, and a DL model was trained with those from non‐csPC patients to estimate the age of the patients. Following, we obtained the prostate age gap (PAG) on previously unseen csPC and non‐csPC cropped MRI exams. PAG was defined as the estimated model age minus the patient's age. Finally, the relationship between PAG and csPC risk occurrence was assessed through an adjusted multivariate logistic regression by PSA levels, age, prostate volume, and PI‐RADS ≥ 3 score.Statistical TestsT‐test, Mann–Whitney U test, permutation test, receiver operating characteristics (ROC), area under the curve (AUC), and odds ratio (OR). A P value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.ResultsAfter adjusting, there was a significant difference in the odds of csPC (OR = 3.78, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.32–6.16). Further, PAG showed a significantly larger bootstrapped AUC to discriminate between csPC and non‐csPC than that of adjusted PI‐RADS ≥ 3 (AUC = 0.981, 95% CI: 0.975–0.987).Data ConclusionPAG may be associated with the risk of csPC and could outperform other PC risk factors.Level of Evidence3Technical EfficacyStage 3
Ultrasound‐Induced Tumor Perfusion Changes and Doxorubicin Delivery
Authors: Bai Luhua , Luo Tingting , Tang Jiawei , Zhang Jing , Tan Xi , Tang Junhui , Huang Leidan , Dong Xiaoxiao , Li Ningshan , Li Peijing , Liu Zheng 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesTo investigate the appropriate combination of pulse length (PL) and pulse repetition frequency (PRF) when performing ultrasound stimulated microbubble (USMB) to enhance doxorubicin (DOX) delivery to tumors.MethodsA total of 48 tumor‐bearing mice were divided into four groups, namely groups A–D. The mice in groups B–D were treated with chemotherapy and USMB treatment with different combinations of PL and PRF, and group A was control. Contrast‐enhanced ultrasound imaging was conducted to analyze tumor blood perfusion. Fluorescence microscopy and high‐performance liquid chromatography were used to qualitatively and quantitatively analyse DOX release. The structural changes of tumors were observed under light microscope and transmission electron microscope. Furthermore, another 24 tumor‐bearing mice were treated with sonochemotherapy and some related inflammatory factors were measured to explore the underlying mechanism.ResultsWith PL of three cycles and PRF of 2 kHz, the tumor perfusion area ratio increased by 26.67%, and the DOX concentration was 4.69 times higher than the control (P < .001). With PL of 34.5 cycles and PRF of 200 Hz, the tumor perfusion area ratio decreased by 12.7% and DOX did not exhibit increased extravasation compared with the control. Microvascular rupture and hemorrhage were observed after long PL and low PRF treatment. While vasodilation and higher levels of some vasodilator inflammatory factors were found after treatment with short PL and high PRF.ConclusionsUSMB treatment using short PL and high PRF could enhance tumor blood perfusion and increase DOX delivery, whereas long PL and low PRF could not serve the same purpose.
Richardson extrapolation method for solving the Riesz space fractional diffusion problem
Authors: Qi Ren‐jun , Sun Zhi‐zhong 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe Richardson extrapolation is widely utilized in numerically solving the differential equations since it enjoys both high accuracy and ease of implementation. For the Riesz space fractional diffusion equation, the fractional centered difference operator is employed to approximate the fractional derivative, then the Richardson extrapolation methods for two difference schemes are constructed with the help of the asymptotic expansions of the discrete solutions. Specifically, for the Crank–Nicolson difference scheme, the extrapolation method contains two extrapolation formulae that achieve the fourth order and the sixth order both in the temporal and spatial directions, respectively. The extrapolation method for the compact difference scheme involves one extrapolation formula by which the sixth order can be obtained when the time step size is proportional to the squares of the space step size. The maximum norm error estimates of the extrapolation solutions are proved by the discrete fractional Sobolev embedding inequalities. The extension to the high dimensional and nonlinear cases is also demonstrated. Numerical results verify the theoretical convergence orders and efficiency of our methods.
Remaining useful life prediction for degradation processes based on the Wiener process considering parameter dependence
Authors: Guan Qingluan , Wei Xiukun , Zhang Huixian , Jia Limin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRemaining useful life prediction (RUL) is a critical procedure in the application of prognostics and health management for devices or systems. It is difficult to predict the RUL in a time‐varying external environment. Specifically, many mechanical systems typically experience various operating conditions, which have impacts on the degradation process and degradation rate. In particular, the linear degradation modeling of the Wiener process‐based RUL prediction method has attracted considerable attention recently. However, the dependency of degradation rate and operating conditions is generally ignored in the current degradation modeling, which leads to inaccurate issues in the RUL prediction. Therefore, to solve the above issues, a novel RUL prediction method based on the Wiener process considering parameter dependence is proposed in this paper. At first, a linear Wiener process degradation model considering parameter dependence is constructed to describe the dependency of the drift coefficient and operating conditions. Secondly, the probability density function of RUL is derived under the concept of first hit time. After that, the collaboration between the Bayesian update and expectation maximization algorithm is introduced to update and estimate the model parameters. Finally, the validity and applicability of the proposed method are verified by a numerical simulation and three case studies of bearings.
Reversible MnO to Mn3O4 Oxidation in Manganese Oxide Nanoparticles
Authors: de Boer Roos M. , van Huis Marijn A. , Mendes Rafael G. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractManganese is an attractive element for sustainable solutions. It is largely available in the earth's crust, making it ideal for cost‐effective and large‐scale applications. Especially MnO nanoparticles have recently received attention for applications in battery technology. However, manganese has many oxidation states that are energetically very similar, indicating that they may easily transform from one to the other. Herein, the reversible oxidation of MnO nanoparticles to Mn3O4 studied with in situ transmission electron microscopy is shown. The oxygen sublattices of MnO and Mn3O4 are found to be perfectly aligned, and an atomic mechanism where the transformation is facilitated by the migration of Mn cations on the shared O sublattice is proposed. Even when protected with an amorphous carbon layer, MnO particles are highly unstable and oxidize to Mn3O4 in ethanol. The poor stability of MnO lacks discussion in many battery‐related works, and strategies aimed at avoiding this should be developed.
Dynamics of thermal radiation and Lorentz force on the hybrid nanofluid (Ethylene Glycol + Graphene + Copper) flow via an exponentially stretching sheet with chemical reaction: An irreversibility analysis
Authors: Kathyayani Gandrakota , Gowd Poojari Prakash 
Published: October 2023

AbstractAn exciting new class of heat transmission fluids, nanofluids, has been developed as an alternative to traditional fluids in manufacturing. Fuel cells, heat exchangers and pharmaceutical processes are just a few of the many uses for them. When compared to monofluids, the heat transmission properties of hybrid fluids are superior. These are findings used in an extensive diversity of fields, from solar energy to air conditioning. The objective of this paper is to examine how Lorentz force and chemical reaction parameters affect the characteristics of a couple stress hybrid nanofluid (Ethylene Glycol + Graphene + Copper) flow via an exponentially stretching surface. The heat transport phenomenon is studied using viscous dissipation, exponential heat source and thermal radiation parameters. Furthermore, irreversibility analysis is provided in this paper. Governing equations are transformed into a set of nonlinear ordinary differential equations using suitable similarity transformations. The bvp4c solver in MATLAB is used to solve the transformed system. Engineering parameters of interest, including skin friction coefficient, are described using bar diagrams. It has been noted that the magnetic field and volume fraction of graphene nanoparticles (ϕ1) reduce the skin friction coefficient. At , the skin friction coefficient decreases at a rate of 4.68187. It is observed that there is an increment in the fluid temperature with the rise in the exponential heat source parameter, and the velocity profile increases with the increase in the mixed convection parameter. It is detected that, while Eckert number () was set to , Nusselt number was reduced by 6.29239. It is noticed that, while the chemical reaction () is set to , the mass transfer rate rises at a Rate of 0.349644. It has been observed that as the Brinkmann number and magnetic field parameters increase, so does the rate of entropy production. It is also detected that as the porosity parameter increases, the fluid momentum decreases. Furthermore, increasing the couple stress parameter decreases the fluid velocity.
Effect of global and regional SST biases on the East Asian Summer Monsoon in the MetUM GA7 and GC3 configurations
Authors: Franco-Díaz Armenia , Klingaman Nicholas P. , Turner Andrew G. , Dong Buwen , Guo Liang 
Published: October 2023

AbstractClimate-length experiments of the Met Office Unified Model Global Atmosphere 7.0 (GA7) and Global Coupled 3.0 (GC3) configurations are evaluated against observations and reanalyses for the simulation of the East Asian summer monsoon (EASM). The results show systematic model biases, such as overestimated rainfall over southern China and underestimated rainfall over northern China, suggesting a monsoon that does not penetrate northward enough. We evaluate the effects on the EASM of regional errors in sea-surface temperature (SST) conditions in three regions: the Pacific, the Indian, and the Atlantic Oceans. The global SST biases in GC3 configuration substantially shift the EASM seasonal cycle: a late northward progression of the EASM in the early/mid-monsoon season, and an early retreat of the monsoon that also reduces rainfall over most of northern China. The EASM seasonal rainfall bias in the EASM region is linked to changes in the locations and strength of the western North Pacific subtropical high, which is associated with biases in local evaporation and moisture transport towards South China. GC3 biases in the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO) and the Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) teleconnection pathways also influence the EASM biases. GC3 biases weaken the ENSO teleconnection to the EASM and cause a strong dry bias in southeast China during developing El Niño.
Optimization over the Pareto front of nonconvex multi-objective optimal control problems
Authors: Kaya C. Yalçın , Maurer Helmut 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSimultaneous optimization of multiple objective functions results in a set of trade-off, or Pareto, solutions. Choosing a, in some sense, best solution in this set is in general a challenging task: In the case of three or more objectives the Pareto front is usually difficult to view, if not impossible, and even in the case of just two objectives constructing the whole Pareto front so as to visually inspect it might be very costly. Therefore, optimization over the Pareto (or efficient) set has been an active area of research. Although there is a wealth of literature involving finite dimensional optimization problems in this area, there is a lack of problem formulation and numerical methods for optimal control problems, except for the convex case. In this paper, we formulate the problem of optimizing over the Pareto front of nonconvex constrained and time-delayed optimal control problems as a bi-level optimization problem. Motivated by existing solution differentiability results, we propose an algorithm incorporating (i) the Chebyshev scalarization, (ii) a concept of the essential interval of weights, and (iii) the simple but effective bisection method, for optimal control problems with two objectives. We illustrate the working of the algorithm on two example problems involving an electric circuit and treatment of tuberculosis and discuss future lines of research for new computational methods.
Potential ecotoxicological effects of silver nanoparticles and silver sulphide on the endogeic earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa (Savigny 1826)
Authors: Kister Jeannette M. , Lowe Christopher N. , Butt Kevin R. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractSilver nanoparticles (AgNPs) are increasingly used in consumer products and subsequently arrive in wastewater systems, accumulating as silver sulphide (Ag2S) in the resulting biosolids, which are commonly spread onto agricultural fields as a fertiliser. Experiments were performed to investigate the effect of AgNPs, using the endogeic earthworm Aporrectodea caliginosa as a test organism. In an acute toxicity experiment, A. caliginosa were exposed to soil containing different concentrations of AgNPs (0, 1, 5, 10, 50, 100, 250, 500, 750, and 1000 mg kg−1 dry soil) and Ag2S (0, 10, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg kg−1 dry soil). Earthworm biomass and mortality were monitored. Earthworms exposed to 500, 750 and 1000 mg kg−1 fresh AgNPs had mortality rates of 20%, 60% and 70%, respectively. Changes in biomass were directly related to AgNP concentration. Exposure to Ag2S did not affect biomass or mortality. Further experiments used 0, 10, 50, 100 and 250 mg kg−1 AgNPs and 0, 50, 100, 500, and 1000 mg kg−1 Ag2S to evaluate sublethal effects on A. caliginosa. Avoidance behaviour in a linear gradient was evaluated after 14 days. Earthworms significantly preferred soil that was free of either AgNPs or Ag2S. The same concentrations were used to assess effects on cocoon production of A. caliginosa exposed to AgNPs and Ag2S. In the first 3 months of AgNP exposure, higher concentrations had a negative effect on cocoon production, but this effect diminished thereafter. Ag2S had no discernible effect on reproduction. Overall, introduction of AgNPs into the soil through the application of biosolids appears to be of low concern to the tested endogeic earthworm.
Digital Facilitation of Group Work to Gain Predictable Performance
Authors: Gimpel Henner , Lahmer Stefanie , Wöhl Moritz , Graf-Drasch Valerie 
Published: October 2023

AbstractGroup work is a commonly used method of working, and the performance of a group can vary depending on the type and structure of the task at hand. Research suggests that groups can exhibit "collective intelligence"—the ability to perform well across tasks—under certain conditions, making group performance somewhat predictable. However, predictability of task performance becomes difficult when a task relies heavily on coordination among group members or is ill-defined. To address this issue, we propose a technical solution in the form of a chatbot providing advice to facilitate group work for more predictable performance. Specifically, we target well-defined, high-coordination tasks. Through experiments with 64 virtual groups performing various tasks and communicating via text-based chat, we found a relationship between the average intelligence of group members and their group performance in such tasks, making performance more predictable. The practical implications of this research are significant, as the assembly of consistently performing groups is an important organizational activity.
Retail Markups and Discount-Store Entry
Authors: Chenarides Lauren , Gómez Miguel I. , Richards Timothy J. , Yonezawa Koichi 
Published: October 2023

Abstract“Hard discounters” are retail formats that set retail food prices even lower than existing discount formats, such as Walmart and Target. Offering limited assortments and focusing on store-brands, these formats promise to change the competitive landscape of food retailing. In this paper, we study the effect of entry of one hard-discount format on markups earned by existing retail stores, focusing on several important grocery markets across the Eastern U.S. Focusing on establishment-level profitability, we estimate store-level markups using the production-side approach of De Loecker and Warzynski (Am Econ Rev 102(6):2437–2471). We find that hard-discounter entry reduced markups for incumbment retailers by 7.3% relative to markups in non-entry markets. These results indicate that the net effect of hard-discounter entry reduces the overall level of store profitability—despite the somewhat higher sales realized by incumbent retailers.
Weighted directed graph-based automatic seizure detection with effective brain connectivity for EEG signals
Authors: Sun Qi , Liu Yuanjian , Li Shuangde 
Published: October 2023

AbstractEpileptic seizure is one of the most common neurological disorders characterized by sudden abnormal discharge of neurons in the brain. Automated seizure detection using electroencephalograph (EEG) recordings would improve the quality of treatment and reduce medical overhead. The purpose of this paper is to design an automated seizure detection framework that can effectively identify seizure and non-seizure events by discovering connectivity between brain regions. In this work, a weighted directed graph-based method with effective brain connectivity (EBC) is proposed for seizure detection. The weighted directed graph is built by analyzing the correlation among the different regions of the brain. Then, graph theory-based measures are used to extract features for classification. Furthermore, we illustrate the ability of the proposed method to achieve seizure detection for the patient-specific model and the cross-patient model. The results show that the proposed method achieves accuracy values of 99.97% and 98.29% for the patient-specific model and the cross-patient model in the CHB-MIT dataset, respectively. These results demonstrate that the proposed method achieves an effective classification performance and can be used to provide assistance for automatic seizure detection and clinical diagnosis.
Pseudomonas taiwanensis VLB120 als Plattform für die Biotechnologie
Authors: Wynands Benedikt , Wierckx Nick , Heipieper Hermann J. , Eberlein Christian 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe microbial production of fine chemicals that can be used as pharmaceuticals or chemical building blocks is an important cornerstone of the sustainable bio-based economy. However, the efficient production of many chemicals is often hampered by limited tolerance of the bacterial hosts towards the substrates, products, or process conditions. Robust platform organisms are needed for economically viable biotechnological applications as an alternative to classical chemical synthesis.
Zelluläre Lichtschalter für die Biotechnologie
Authors: Hochrein Lena 
Published: October 2023

DeOptogenetics is an efficient method for controlling cellular processes in living organisms by light and a promising tool for biotechnology. Optogenetic switches can regulate the production of recombinant proteins or entire biosynthetic pathways in a reversible, time- and dose-dependent manner without influencing the cultivation condition. By combining light-driven regulation of native and heterologous genes, the growth and production phases of cells can be decoupled, maximizing product yield.