bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Distinguishing High from Low Concentrations of RNA Cancer Marker: Five‐Input DNAzyme Thresholding Gate
Authors: Nour Moustapha A. Y. , Kulikova Alexandra V. , Wanjohi Joseph , El‐Deeb Ahmed A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractRNA‐cleaving DNAzymes are promising agents for gene therapy that can overcome the low selectivity of other therapeutic nucleic acid agents, including CRISPR/Cas9, antisense oligonucleotides, and RNA interference agents, in protein‐independent RNA cleavage. To achieve this, DNAzyme gene therapy agents should accurately distinguish cancer from healthy cells. Often, cancer RNA markers are expressed in healthy tissue at lower concentrations. Previously, we developed a DNAzyme thresholding gate (DTh), which must bind to three cancer marker molecules prior to cleaving the RNA target. This article presents the next step in the development of DTh by converting a signal from five microRNA inputs into an output cleavage of the RNA model using an advanced system of molecular logic. We demonstrate that it is possible to broaden the available threshold range by increasing the number of marker recognition modules. The threshold gates can be easily adjusted to cleave a broad range of RNA targets. This approach can be used in cancer diagnostics as well as the computational component of DNA nanorobots, autonomous DNA devices for anti‐cancer gene therapy.
Peripherally Modified Poly(amido amine) Nanocomposite Hydrogel with Stimuli‐Responsive Self‐Healing, High Tensile Strength, and Selective Superadsorption Poperties
Authors: Bharathan Jeneena Kollady , Vivek Balachandran 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSmart materials with dual functionalities demonstrate considerable potential in various applications. Designing and synthesizing hydrogels with excellent stimuli‐responsive self‐healing and high mechanical strength is extremely challenging. The present study initiates the development of a new generation of smart materials with selective superadsorption capacity. Here, we introduce a novel anthracene‐modified poly (amido amine) (PAMAM)‐N‐isopropyl acrylamide hydrogel (PAMNG). The hydrogel becomes hybrid as we incorporate the silica nanoparticle. PAMAM dendrimer‐based organic/inorganic hybrid silica nanoparticles (PAMAGN) have been characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), Fourier‐transform infrared spectroscopy (FT‐IR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electrone microscopy (TEM) and rheology. The developed hybrid gel exhibited excellent near‐infrared (IR) responsive self‐healing character. The hybrid gel had excellent mechanical strength, which was as high as 106 Pa. Further, the gel was used for superadsorption studies and showed selective adsorption of methyl orange from water. The adsorption was 96 %, which is remarkable. The results taken together suggest that the PMNG gel can be a promising candidate for developing multifunctional smart materials. In the future, we aim to explore how this self‐healing mechanism applies to biological applications.
Synthesis and Antiviral Activity of 2′‐Modified L‐Nucleoside Analogues
Authors: Penjarla Srishylam , Reddy Paidi Yella , Penta Santhosh , Sanghvi Yogesh S. , Eyer Luděk , Štefánik Michal , Krátka Zuzana , Růžek Daniel , Banerjee Shyamapada 
Published: December 2023

AbstractNucleoside analogues have been the foundation of antiviral therapy over the past few decades. D‐nucleosides with natural stereochemistry occupies the lion share of the marketed antiviral agents. However, much less effort have been put towards the development of L‐nucleosides as antiviral agents. Herein, our effort towards the synthesis of 2′ ‐substituted L‐nucleoside analogues is reported as an emerging class of antiviral agents. Biological activity of the synthesized L‐nucleosided was evaluated against two viruses of importance, tick‐borne encephalitis virus (TBEV) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus‐2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) in adenocarcinomic human alveolar basal epithelial cells (A459) and Vero cells. Ring opening of L‐2, 2′‐Anhydrouridine (2) with various nucleophiles to make several 2‘‐substituted L‐nucleosides is the key synthetic outcome. This development has paved the way in the synthesis of many new analogues of 2‘‐substituted L‐nucleosides for numerous applications.
Symmetric and Dissymmetric Pseudo‐gemini Amphiphiles Based on Propoxylated Ethyl Piperazine and Fatty Acids
Authors: Hasanov Elgun E. , Rahimov Ravan A. , Abdullayev Yusif , Ahmadova Gulnara A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractNovel symmetric and dissymmetric pseudo‐gemini surfactants are synthesized using ethylpiperazine, propylene oxide and six different fatty acids (capric, lauric, myristic, palmitic, stearic, oleic) as starting materials. The synthesis follows a simple pathway excluding heating or catalyst. Important surface activity properties including critical micelle concentration (CMC), surface tension at CMC (γCMC), surface pressure at CMC (πCMC), negative logarithm of concentration to achieve 20 mN/m reduction in surface tension (pC20), minimum area at interface (Amin) and maximum surface excess concentration (Γmax) are obtained through surface tension and electrolytic conductivity measurements. Antimicrobial properties of the synthesized amphiphiles are evaluated using disk diffusion method and are compared to those of standard antibiotic agents. Particle size distribution patterns are obtained using dynamic light scattering (DLS). This work investigates the effect of dissymmetry on various surface activity and antimicrobial properties. Dissymmetric pseudo‐gemini amphiphiles have a few times higher CMC compared to analogous symmetric surfactants. However, better antimicrobial properties are observed when there is some dissymmetry between hydrophobic groups.
How is the loss of a parent in youth related to attachment and adult separation anxiety among women?
Authors: Peleg Ora , Shalev Ronit , Cohen Adva , Hadar Efrat 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis study aimed to examine attachment and adult separation anxiety (ASA) among women who lost a parent in their youth. We hypothesized that insecure attachment and increased ASA from a romantic partner would be found among women who have lost a parent in youth, compared to women whose parents were both alive. Sixty women who lost one or both parents in their youth and 60 who had living parents participated in the study (mean age: 32.3, range: 18–62 years). Participants filled out the ASA and Short Attachment questionnaires. Women who lost a parent reported higher levels of anxious attachment and ASA from partner; the two groups did not differ, however, in terms of avoidant attachment. Additionally, similar effects on ASA and attachment were found among adult women who lost a father or a mother in their youth. In conclusion, the loss of a parent early in life may be associated with an insecure attachment style and increased ASA.
Adaptation in viable systems is an evolutionary process driven by the system's political identity
Authors: Osejo‐Bucheli Camilo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis note aims to establish the influence of a system's political identity on its viability. Using an argumentative analysis of evolutionary theory, organisational cybernetics and other systems traditions, this paper demonstrates the importance of identity to the adaptability of viable systems. It demonstrates how the environment shapes viable systems and how natural selection makes certain political identities viable in systems. The conclusion of the paper presents some ideas for adaptation in viable systems and asserts that these ideas are anarchist in origin.
Consensus on safety management of novel hormonal therapy for advanced prostate cancer
Authors: Han Sujun , Cheng Shudong , Ding Degang , Guo Jianming , He Zhisong , Jin Baiye , Ji Zhigang , Lin Tianxin , Niu Yuanjie , Qin Weijun , Shi Benkang , Shao Jinkai , Sheng Xi'nan , Wei Qiang , Wang Xin , Wang Xinghuan , Xia Shujie , Xu Wanhai , Zou Qing , Zu Xiongbing , Eapen Renu , Ng Chi‐Fai , Uemura Hirotsugu , Uemura Hiroji , Kwak Cheol , Joung Jae Young , Saad Marniza , Chiong Edmund , Xing Nianzeng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractProstate cancer (PCa) is one of the most prevalent malignant tumors in men, accompanied by high incidence and mortality rates. Novel hormonal therapy (NHT) has emerged as the primary treatment for advanced PCa, providing noticeable clinical benefits. However, the diverse range of adverse events (AEs) associated with NHT may influence both treatment efficacy and patients' quality of life. In light of the latest international clinical research evidence and recommendations from domestic and foreign guidelines, this consensus aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the common AEs experienced during NHT for advanced PCa patients. Additionally, it seeks to develop a hierarchical approach to more efficiently manage AEs, presenting valuable insights for clinical medication and adverse reaction management.
Soil carbon determination for long‐term monitoring revisited using thermo‐gravimetric analysis
Authors: Lebron Inmaculada , Cooper David M. , Brentegani Michele A. , Bentley Laura A. , Dos Santos Pereira Gloria , Keenan Patrick , Cosby Jack Bernard , Emmet Bridget , Robinson David A. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSoils and the vadose zone are the major terrestrial repository of carbon (C) in the form of soil organic matter (SOM), more resistant black carbon (BC), and inorganic carbonate. Differentiating between these pools is important for assessing vulnerability to degradation and changes in the C cycle affecting soil health and climate regulation. Major monitoring programs from field to continent are now being undertaken to track changes in soil carbon (SC). Inexpensive, robust measures that can differentiate small changes in the C pools in a single measurement are highly desirable for long‐term monitoring. In this study, we assess the accuracy and precision of thermo‐gravimetric analysis (TGA) using organic matter standards, clay minerals, and soils from a national data set. We investigate the use of TGA to routinely differentiate between C pools, something no single measurement has yet achieved. Based on the kinetic nature of thermal oxidation of SC combined with the different thermodynamic stabilities of the molecules, we designed a new method to quantify the inorganic and organic SC and further separate the organic biogeochemically active SOM (as loss on ignition, LOI) from the resistant BC in soils. We analyze the TGA spectrums of a national soil monitoring data set (n = 456) and measure total carbon (TC) using thermal oxidation and also demonstrate a TC/LOI relationship of 0.55 for soils ranging from mineral soils to peat for the United Kingdom consistent with previous monitoring campaigns.
Digital Labor, Platforms, and AI
Authors: Munn Luke 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis chapter examines the role that platform labor plays in the development of contemporary AI systems. While such systems are often touted as magical innovations, they are typically propped up by vast amounts of human laborers, who clean the data, manually label key features, and moderate toxic content, among other tasks. Proponents claim these tasks offer flexibility and pay; critics counter that this work is exploitative and precarious, taking advantage of the already marginalized. This chapter surfaces this often-invisible labor, highlighting several key issues around its poor or nonexistent remuneration, exploitative mechanisms, negative impact on well-being, and extractive colonial logics. The chapter suggests several interventions, from concrete policy to corporate responsibility, that might lead to improvements. As AI technologies proliferate into many domains, the hidden labor required to develop them—and the negative impacts this has on lives and livelihoods—becomes an increasingly urgent issue.
Dismal prognosis of Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia in patients with multiple myeloma
Authors: Riedhammer C , Düll J , Kestler C , Kadel S , Franz J , Weis P , Eisele F , Zhou X , Steinhardt M , Scheller L , Mersi J , Waldschmidt J. M , Einsele H , Turnwald D , Kortüm K. M , Surat G , Rasche L 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPatients with multiple myeloma (MM) are at high risk for infections, including opportunistic infections such as Pneumocystis jirovecii pneumonia (PJP). We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with MM developing PJP over a 6-year period between January 2016 and December 2021 at the University Hospital of Würzburg by screening cases of microbiologically documented PJP. A total of 201 positive results for P. jirovecii in respiratory specimens were retrospectively retrieved through our microbiology database. Of these cases, 13 patients with MM fulfilled the definition of probable PJP according to EORTC fungal disease definitions. We observed two peaks in PJP incidence, one after stem cell transplantation during first-line treatment (n = 5) and the other in heavily pretreated patients with six or more prior lines of therapy (n = 6). There was high morbidity with nine (69%) patients admitted to the ICU, seven of whom (78%) required mechanical ventilation, and high mortality (62%, n = 8). Notably, only two of the 13 patients (15%) had received PJP prophylaxis. The main reason for discontinuation of prophylaxis with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole was grade IV neutropenia. The observed morbidity and mortality of PJP in MM patients are significant and even higher than reported for patients with other hematologic malignancies. According to most current guidelines, the use of prophylaxis would have been clearly recommended in no more than three (23%) of the 13 patients. This illustrates the need to critically reconsider the indications for PJP prophylaxis, which remain incompletely defined.
Medical graphics to improve patient understanding and anxiety in elderly and cognitively impaired patients scheduled for transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI)
Authors: Brand A. , Hornig C. , Crayen C. , Hamann A. , Martineck S. , Leistner D. M. , Dreger H. , Sündermann S. , Unbehaun A. , Sherif M. , Haghikia A. , Bischoff S. , Lueg J. , Kühnle Y. , Paul O. , Squier S. , Stangl K. , Falk V. , Landmesser U. , Stangl V. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Background
Anxiety and limited patient comprehension may pose significant barriers when informing elderly patients about complex procedures such as transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI).

Objectives
We aimed to evaluate the utility of medical graphics to improve the patient informed consent (IC) before TAVI.

Methods
In this prospective, randomized dual center study, 301 patients were assigned to a patient brochure containing medical graphics (Comic group, n = 153) or sham information (Control group, n = 148) on top of usual IC. Primary outcomes were patient understanding of central IC-related aspects and periprocedural anxiety assessed by the validated Spielberger State Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), both analyzed by cognitive status according to the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA).

Results
Patient understanding was significantly higher in the Comic group [mean number of correct answers 12.8 (SD 1.2) vs. 11.3 (1.8); mean difference 1.5 (95% CI 1.2–1.8); p < 0.001]. This effect was more pronounced in the presence of cognitive dysfunction (MoCA < 26) [12.6 (1.2) in the Comic vs. 10.9 (1.6) in the Control group; mean difference 1.8 (1.4–2.2), p < 0.001]. Mean STAI score declined by 5.7 (95% CI 5.1–6.3; p < 0.001) in the Comic and 0.8 points (0.2–1.4; p = 0.015) in the Control group. Finally, mean STAI score decreased in the Comic group by 4.7 (3.8–5.6) in cognitively impaired patients and by 6.6 (95% CI 5.8 to 7.5) in patients with normal cognitive function (p < 0.001 each).

Conclusions
Our results prove beneficial effects for using medical graphics to inform elderly patients about TAVI by improving patient understanding and reducing periprocedural anxiety (DRKS00021661; 23/Oct/2020).

Graphical Abstract
Medical graphics entailed significant beneficial effects on the primary endpoints, patient understanding and periprocedural anxiety, compared to the usual patient informed consent (IC) procedure. Patient understanding of IC-related aspects was significantly higher in the Comic group, with a more pronounced benefit in patients with cognitive impairment (p for IC method and cognitive status < 0.001, respectively; p for IC method x MoCA category interaction = 0.017). There further was a significant decline of periprocedural anxiety in patients with and without cognitive impairment (p for IC method x measuring time point < 0.001; p for IC method x MoCA category x measuring time point interaction = 0.018)
A perspective–retrospective analysis of diversity in signature-based open-source network intrusion detection systems
Authors: Asad H. , Adhikari S. , Gashi Ilir 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe signature-based network intrusion detection systems (IDSs) entail relying on a pre-established signatures and IP addresses that are frequently updated to keep up with the rapidly evolving threat landscape. To effectively evaluate the efficacy of these updates, a comprehensive, long-term assessment of the IDSs’ performance is required. This article presents a perspective–retrospective analysis of the Snort and Suricata IDSs using rules that were collected over a 4-year period. The study examines how these IDSs perform when monitoring malicious traffic using rules from the past, as well as how they behave when monitoring the same traffic using updated rules in the future. To accomplish this, a set of Snort Subscribed and Suricata Emerging Threats rules were collected from 2017 to 2020, and a labeled PCAP data from 2017 to 2018 was analyzed using past and future rules relative to the PCAP date. In addition to exploring the evolution of Snort and Suricata IDSs, the study also analyses the functional diversity that exists between these IDSs. By examining the evolutionary behavior of signature-based IDSs and their diverse configurations, the research provides valuable insights into how their performance can be impacted. These insights can aid security architects in combining and layering IDSs in a defence-in-depth deployment.
Modeling more software performance antipatterns in cyber-physical systems
Authors: Pinciroli Riccardo , Smith Connie U. , Trubiani Catia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThe design of cyber-physical systems (CPS) is challenging due to the heterogeneity of software and hardware components that operate in uncertain environments (e.g., fluctuating workloads), hence they are prone to performance issues. Software performance antipatterns could be a key means to tackle this challenge since they recognize design problems that may lead to unacceptable system performance. This manuscript focuses on modeling and analyzing a variegate set of software performance antipatterns with the goal of quantifying their performance impact on CPS. Starting from the specification of eight software performance antipatterns, we build a baseline queuing network performance model that is properly extended to account for the corresponding bad practices. The approach is applied to a CPS consisting of a network of sensors and experimental results show that performance degradation can be traced back to software performance antipatterns. Sensitivity analysis investigates the peculiar characteristics of antipatterns, such as the frequency of checking the status of resources, that provides quantitative information to software designers to help them identify potential performance problems and their root causes. Quantifying the performance impact of antipatterns on CPS paves the way for future work enabling the automated refactoring of systems to remove these bad practices.
Quantum-secured time transfer between precise timing facilities: a field trial with simulated satellite links
Authors: Picciariello Francesco , Vedovato Francesco , Orsucci Davide , Dominguez Pablo Nahuel , Zechel Thomas , Avesani Marco , Padovan Matteo , Foletto Giulio , Calderaro Luca , Dequal Daniele , Shrestha Amita , Blümel Ludwig , Furthner Johann , Vallone Giuseppe , Villoresi Paolo , Schmidt Tobias D. , Moll Florian 
Published: December 2023

AbstractGlobal Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSSs), such as GPS and Galileo, provide precise time and space coordinates globally and constitute part of the critical infrastructure of modern society. To reliably operate GNSS, a highly accurate and stable system time is required, such as the one provided by several independent clocks hosted in Precise Timing Facilities (PTFs) around the world. The relative clock offset between PTFs is periodically measured to have a fallback system to synchronize the GNSS satellite clocks. The security and integrity of the communication between PTFs is of paramount importance: if compromised, it could lead to disruptions to the GNSS service. Therefore, securing the communication between PTFs is a compelling use-case for protection via Quantum Key Distribution (QKD), since this technology provides information-theoretic security. We have performed a field trial demonstration of such a use-case by sharing encrypted time synchronization information between two PTFs, one located in Oberpfaffenhofen (Germany) and one in Matera (Italy)—more than 900 km apart. To bridge this large distance, a satellite-QKD system is required, plus a “last-mile” terrestrial link to connect the optical ground station (OGS) to the actual location of the PTF. In our demonstration, we have deployed two full QKD systems to protect the last-mile connection at both locations and have shown via simulation that upcoming QKD satellites will be able to distribute keys between Oberpfaffenhofen and Matera, exploiting already existing OGSs.
Pre-auction optimization for the selection of shared customers in the last-mile delivery
Authors: Antit Amina , Jaoua Amel , Layeb Safa Bhar , Triki Chefi 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Companies are constantly looking for new strategies to improve their logistics performance and ensure their competitiveness in the global market. This article provides a new scheme for managing the selection of shared customers for a logistics company. The new mechanism proposes the use of the auction as a tool to manage the selection of shared clients through the coalition pool. Thus, all unprofitable shared customers will be pushed to the pool for outsourcing by the other collaborating carriers. Then, some profitable auctioned ones will be selected. The selection system is designed based on solving a vehicle routing problem that aims to maximize the carrier's profit in a decentralized context. At first, a mixed integer linear programing model is derived to solve the deterministic version of the problem. Then in order to efficiently address the stochastic version of the problem, a simulation-based optimization model is developed. This model is employed to solve a real case study of a parcel delivery company, considering the travel times as a bimodal distribution. A comparative study is conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the auction approach in managing shared customers. The results of our study reveal that the proposed auction approach efficiently manages the shared customers which leads to the substantial increase of 22.65% in profits for the delivery company. These findings have significant implications for logistics companies seeking to improve their performance and competitiveness in the global market.