bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Brief Report: Single and Repeat Screening with the Modified Checklist for Autism in Toddlers-Revised in Young Children at Higher Likelihood for Autism Spectrum Disorder
Authors: Parikh Chandni , Ozonoff Sally 
Published: October 2023

AbstractPurpose: To compare the utility of single versus repeated autism screening in a sample at higher likelihood (HL) for ASD, following both screen positives and all screen negatives to diagnostic outcome. Methods: Using a prospective infant sibling design, the current study followed 135 toddlers at HL for ASD and conducted diagnostic evaluations on the full sample at 18, 24, and 36 months. The psychometric properties of the M-CHAT-R using both concurrent and predictive diagnostic evaluations were compared in a group screened once (at 18 months only, n = 60) or twice (at both 18 and 24 months, n = 75). The study also examined consistency in reporting of ASD symptoms across the M-CHAT-R and a developmental concerns interview, comparing the HL group to a group with lower likelihood (LL) for ASD (n = 88). Results: Sensitivity and specificity of the M-CHAT-R were high (75 − 95%), consistent with previous research. Positive predictive value (43 − 76%) was higher in this HL group than in previous community samples. Repeat screening improved sensitivity with little cost to specificity. At both 18 and 24 months, HL parents were more consistent in their reporting on the M-CHAT-R and a concerns interview than LL parents. Conclusion: The M-CHAT-R has strong psychometric properties when used with groups at HL for ASD, suggesting that scores over the screening cutoff of 3 should lead to prompt diagnostic evaluation referrals in children with older siblings on the spectrum.
Reinforcement Learning With Stereo-View Observation for Robust Electronic Component Robotic Insertion
Authors: Bartyzel Grzegorz , Półchłopek Wojciech , Rzepka Dominik 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn modern manufacturing, assembly tasks are a major challenge for robotics. In the manufacturing industry, a wide range of insertion tasks can be found, from peg-in-hole insertion to electronic parts assembly. Robotic stations designed for this problem often use conventional hybrid force-position control to perform preprogrammed trajectories, such as e.g. a spiral path. However, electronic parts require more sophisticated techniques due to their complex geometry and susceptibility to damage. Production line assembly tasks require high robustness to initial position and rotation variations due to component grip imperfections. Robustness to partially obscured camera view is also mandatory due to multi stage assembly process. We propose a stereo-view method based on reinforcement learning (RL) for the robust assembly of electronic parts. Applicability of our method to real-world production lines is verified through test scenarios. Our approach is the most robust to applied perturbations of all tested methods and can potentially be transferred to environments unseen during learning.
99mTc generator using molybdenum nanoparticles
Authors: Takahashi Naruto , Fujiwara Mamoru , Kurosawa Maki , Tamura Masoto , Kosuge Yoshiaki , Kubota Takumi , Abe Naoya , Takahashi Toshiharu 
Published: October 2023

AbstractA novel 99mTc generator was proposed herein using nanoparticles consisting of natural Mo and an alumina column for 99mTc scintigraphy. 99mTc was obtained from 99Mo decay produced via the irradiation of nanoparticles consisting of natural Mo with bremsstrahlung γ-rays using a 30 MeV electron beam. The irradiated nanoparticles were placed in an alumina column, and the 99mTc daughter from 99Mo decay was separated by the removal of the ion-exchanged water or saline. This separation procedure was repeated at regular intervals for one week. The maximum separation yield of 99mTc was 14.4 ± 0.7%, which is sufficiently high to produce 99mTc suitable for medical use.
Preparation and properties of PDMS elastomer cross-linked with hydrolyzate of tetraethoxysilane, hexaethoxydisiloxane, and octaethoxytrisiloxane: influence of cross-linker structure
Authors: Sato Yohei , Hayami Ryohei , Yamamoto Kazuki , Gunji Takahiro 
Published: October 2023

AbstractEthoxysilanes were hydrolyzed, and the resulting hydrolyzates were dimethylsilylated to produce Si–H terminated oligosiloxanes (CLs). These CLs were characterized using gel permeation chromatography, nuclear magnetic resonance, and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The results indicated the formation of highly condensed cyclic siloxanes, four-membered cyclic siloxanes, and linearly condensed cyclic siloxanes when derived from tetraethoxysilane, hexaethoxydisiloxane, and octaethoxytrisiloxane, respectively. The CLs were subsequently reacted with vinyl-terminated polydimethylsiloxane in the presence of the Karstedt catalyst to yield PDMS elastomers, which are comprised of di- and quadra-functional silicones. Tests for transmittance, thermal properties, tensile strength, and swelling in toluene were conducted to assess the impact of the molecular weight and microstructure of the CLs on the final products. As the number of silicon atoms in the ethoxysilanes increased, there was a rise in the secant modulus and a reduction in the degree of swelling. These findings suggest that the structure of PDMS elastomers can be tailored by varying the structure of the ethoxysilanes used as a cross-linking agent.
Graphical Abstract
The compound YK 3-237 promotes pig sperm capacitation-related events
Authors: Martín-Hidalgo David , Solar-Málaga Soraya , González-Fernández Lauro , Zamorano José , García-Marín Luis Jesús , Bragado María Julia 
Published: October 2023

AbstractBefore fertilization of the oocyte, the spermatozoa must undergo through a series of biochemical changes in the female reproductive tract named sperm capacitation. Spermatozoa regulates its functions by post-translational modifications, being historically the most studied protein phosphorylation. In addition to phosphorylation, recently, protein acetylation has been described as an important molecular mechanism with regulatory roles in several reproductive processes. However, its role on the mammal’s sperm capacitation process remains unraveled. Sirtuins are a deacetylase protein family with 7 members that regulate protein acetylation. Here, we investigated the possible role of SIRT1 on pig sperm capacitation-related events by using YK 3-237, a commercial SIRT1 activator drug. SIRT1 is localized in the midpiece of pig spermatozoa. Protein tyrosine phosphorylation (focused at p32) is an event associated to pig sperm capacitation that increases when spermatozoa are in vitro capacitated in presence of YK 3-237. Eventually, YK 3-237 induces acrosome reaction in capacitated spermatozoa: YK 3-237 treatment tripled (3.40 ± 0.40 fold increase) the percentage of acrosome-reacted spermatozoa compared to the control. In addition, YK 3-237 induces sperm intracellular pH alkalinization and raises the intracellular calcium levels through a CatSper independent mechanism. YK 3-237 was not able to bypass sAC inhibition by LRE1. In summary, YK 3-237 promotes pig sperm capacitation by a mechanism upstream of sAC activation and independent of CatSper calcium channel.
Fibrinogen in mice cerebral microvessels induces blood–brain barrier dysregulation with aging via a dynamin-related protein 1–dependent pathway
Authors: Chandra Partha K. , Panner Selvam Manesh Kumar , Castorena-Gonzalez Jorge A. , Rutkai Ibolya , Sikka Suresh C. , Mostany Ricardo , Busija David W. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe previously reported evidence that oxidative stress during aging leads to adverse protein profile changes of brain cortical microvessels (MVs: end arterioles, capillaries, and venules) that affect mRNA/protein stability, basement membrane integrity, and ATP synthesis capacity in mice. As an extension of our previous study, we also found that proteins which comprise the blood–brain barrier (BBB) and regulate mitochondrial quality control were also significantly decreased in the mice’s cortical MVs with aging. Interestingly, the neuroinflammatory protein fibrinogen (Fgn) was increased in mice brain MVs, which corresponds with clinical reports indicating that the plasma Fgn concentration increased progressively with aging. In this study, protein–protein interaction network analysis indicated that high expression of Fgn is linked with downregulated expression of both BBB- and mitochondrial fission/fusion–related proteins in mice cortical MVs with aging. To investigate the mechanism of Fgn action, we observed that 2 mg/mL or higher concentration of human plasma Fgn changed cell morphology, induced cytotoxicity, and increased BBB permeability in primary human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMECs). The BBB tight junction proteins were significantly decreased with increasing concentration of human plasma Fgn in primary HBMECs. Similarly, the expression of phosphorylated dynamin-related protein 1 (pDRP1) and other mitochondrial fission/fusion–related proteins were also significantly reduced in Fgn-treated HBMECs. Interestingly, DRP1 knockdown by shRNA(h) resulted in the reduction of both BBB- and mitochondrial fission/fusion–related proteins in HBMECs. Our results suggest that elevated Fgn downregulates DRP1, leading to mitochondrial-dependent endothelial and BBB dysfunction in the brain microvasculature.
Mathematics and interdisciplinary STEM education: recent developments and future directions
Authors: Goos Merrilyn , Carreira Susana , Namukasa Immaculate Kizito 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis special issue introduces recent research on mathematics in interdisciplinary STEM education. STEM education is widely promoted by governments around the world as a way of boosting students’ interest and achievement in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics and preparing STEM-qualified workers for twenty-first century careers. However, the role of mathematics in STEM education often appears to be marginal, and we do not understand well enough how mathematics contributes to STEM-based problem-solving or how STEM education experiences enhance students’ learning of mathematics. In this survey paper, we present a narrative review of empirical and conceptual research literature, published between 2017 and 2022. These literature sources are organised by a framework comprising five thematic clusters: (1) interdisciplinary curriculum models and approaches; (2) student outcomes and experiences; (3) teacher preparation and professional development; (4) classroom implementation and task design; and (5) policy, structures, and leadership. We use the framework to provide an overview of the papers in this issue and to propose directions for future research. These include: investigating methods and rationales for connecting the constituent STEM disciplines so as to preserve the disciplinary integrity of mathematics; clarifying what is meant by student “success” in interdisciplinary STEM programs, projects, and other educational approaches; moving beyond classroom practices that position mathematics as just a tool for solving problems in other disciplines; understanding what makes a STEM task mathematically rich; and asking how STEM education research can productively shape STEM education policy.
Sports Heart Monitors as Reliable Diagnostic Tools for Training Control and Detecting Arrhythmias in Professional and Leisure-Time Endurance Athletes: An Expert Consensus Statement
Authors: Gajda Robert , Gajda Jacek , Czuba Miłosz , Knechtle Beat , Drygas Wojciech 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThere are countless types of portable heart rate monitoring medical devices used variously by leisure-time exercisers, professional athletes, and chronically ill patients. Almost all the currently used heart rate monitors are capable of detecting arrhythmias, but this feature is not widely known or used among their millions of consumers. The aims of this paper were as follows: (1) to analyze the currently available sports heart rate monitors and assess their advantages and disadvantage in terms of heart rate and rhythm monitoring in endurance athletes; (2) to discuss what types of currently available commercial heart rate monitors are most convenient/adjustable to the needs of different consumers (including occasionally physically active adults and cardiac patients), bearing in mind the potential health risks, especially heart rhythm disturbances connected with endurance training; (3) to suggest a set of “optimal” design features for next-generation smart wearable devices based on the consensus opinion of an expert panel of athletes, coaches, and sports medicine doctors. Ninety-two experts aged 20 years and over, involved in endurance sports on a daily basis, were invited to participate in consensus-building discussions, including 56 long-distance runners, 18 cyclists, nine coaches, and nine physicians (sports medicine specialists, cardiologists, and family medicine doctors). The overall consensus endorsed by these experts indicates that the “optimal” sports heart rate monitor should be a one-piece device of the smartwatch type (with two or more electrodes), with integrated smartphone features, and able to collect and continually transmit data without exhibiting artifacts. It should continuously record at least a single-lead electrocardiography, send an alert after an unexpected fall, be of reasonable weight, come at an affordable price, and be user friendly.
Benchmarking study of 10 MW TLB floating offshore wind turbine
Authors: Ramzanpoor Iman , Nuernberg Martin , Tao Longbin 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis paper presents a benchmarking study of four floating wind platform’ motion and dynamic tension responses to verify an innovative design with the intention of overall cost reduction of a durable, reliable, safe design. An aero-hydro-servo-elastic code is applied to benchmark a 10 MW tension leg buoy (TLB) floating wind turbine to the current leading technology types for floating offshore wind platforms, specifically spar buoy, Semi-submersible and tension leg platform (TLP) floating wind turbines. This study assumes that the platforms will deploy in the northern region of the North Sea, with a water depth of 110 m under various environmental conditions, including wind field descriptions covering uniform wind to fluctuating turbulent wind. The obtained dynamic response results showed low motion responses for the TLB platform for all design load cases. More specifically, the TLB surge and pitch motion responses are insignificant under both operational and survival conditions, allowing decreased spacing between individual wind turbines and increasing wind farms' total energy generation capacity. An additional benefit is that the wind turbine systems can be installed without significant pitch modification to the control system. The TLB platform is less complex which simplifies the construction process and has the potential for significant cost reductions.
Adapting Fe–Mn–Si–Cr shape memory alloy for laser powder bed fusion by adjusting the Mn content
Authors: Gärtner Eric , Meyenborg Inga , Toenjes Anastasiya 
Published: October 2023

AbstractShape memory alloys (SMA) are functional materials exhibiting the shape memory effect. Conventional standard manufacturing technologies for shape memory alloys include melting, casting, and forming. These often require additional machining steps to achieve the final component shape, limiting the geometric design. The production of SMAs using additive manufacturing technologies opens up new possibilities, but research has been limited, especially for iron-based SMAs. The present study investigated whether an iron-based SMA alloy powder suitable for the additive manufacturing process can be produced via atomization and subsequently 3D printed with laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB/M). Two FeMnSi SMAs with varying manganese contents of 23.6% and 28.5% were successfully atomized and laser processed. The effect of the manganese content on the shape memory characteristics was investigated by means of dilatometry. A 5 wt% change in manganese content was found to impact the onset of the keyhole fusion mode for PBF-LB/M as well as the resulting shape memory characteristics. Reduced manganese content is shown to enhance the shape memory effect of FeMnSi.
Yarn ball knots and faster computations
Authors: Bar-Natan Dror , Bar-Natan Itai , Halacheva Iva , Scherich Nancy 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe make use of the 3D nature of knots and links to find savings in computational complexity when computing knot invariants such as the linking number and, in general, most finite type invariants. These savings are achieved in comparison with the 2D approach to knots using knot diagrams.
Urban planning role in environmental development, transportation potentials: Al-Baha region
Authors: Aldossary Naief A. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThis paper analyzes the potential for energy generation using the transport system in Al-Baha city by investigating its road hierarchy and evaluate traffic in selected location across the city. Urban systems to manage the transport hierarchy are important, and exploiting them to minimize CO2 emissions rates is critical. The used approach is to investigate the urban planning of Al-Baha city by referring to its approved master plan detailing the road hierarchy, and second, conducting a traffic survey at selected points across the city. The data collection process, involved accessing the master plan for Al-Baha city held by the ministry of the municipality for the Al-Baha region. Additional data related to traffic congestion and demand was gathered physically at chosen sites. The output of the study illustrates the potential for energy generation exploiting traffic mobility at six different sites across Al-Baha city. Furthermore, attractive features that effect the transport system in Al-Baha city were highlighted and the potential for energy saving employing energy generation using the transport system discussed. The research contributes on highlighting the potential for renewable energy, minimizes the need to burn fossil fuels, and can be replicated in other cities characterized by high demand transport systems.
Recognition Method with Deep Contrastive Learning and Improved Transformer for 3D Human Motion Pose
Authors: Liu Datian , Yang Haitao , Lei Zhang 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThree-dimensional (3D) human pose recognition techniques based on spatial data have gained attention. However, existing models and algorithms fail to achieve desired precision. We propose a 3D human motion pose recognition method using deep contrastive learning and an improved Transformer. The improved Transformer removes noise between human motion RGB and depth images, addressing orientation correlation in 3D models. Two-dimensional (2D) pose features are extracted from de-noised RGB images using a kernel generation module in a graph convolutional network (GCN). Depth features are extracted from de-noised depth images. The 2D pose features and depth features are fused using a regression module in the GCN to obtain 3D pose recognition results. The results demonstrate that the proposed method captures RGB and depth images, achieving high recognition accuracy and fast speed. The proposed method demonstrates good accuracy in 3D human motion pose recognition.
Economic Comparison of Spring-Calving Dates and Cold Injury in the US Southern Plains
Authors: Upton Amanda , Bir Courtney , DeVuyst Eric 
Published: October 2023

AbstractCalving date affects feed costs, calf weaning weights, marketing dates, labor availability, and, potentially, calf health. Employing recent estimates of calf weaning weights and surveys of producers, feedlot operators, and veterinarians, we model expected profits as a function of calving date. January-calving herds had the highest annualized net returns, a result driven by older weaning dates and heavier weaning weights. However, survey results show March and April were the most common calving months. This may be due to both weather and labor demand concerns. If weaning ages are restricted to 205 days, January calving was the least profitable because of higher feed costs.
The law and facts of the preliminary reference procedure: a critical assessment of the EU Court of Justice’s source of knowledge
Authors: Passalacqua Virginia , Costamagna Francesco 
Published: October 2023

AbstractThe preliminary reference procedure is today the ‘infringement procedure of the European citizen’. Although it was initially designed as a mechanism for judicial cooperation, the procedure soon became an instrument for supranational judicial review of national legislation. Such a discrepancy between the intended role of the preliminary reference procedure and its actual use in practice has important consequences that are yet to be fully explored in the literature. Indeed, how can the Court of Justice appropriately review national legislation through a procedure designed for interpreting EU law? Is the procedure governing the preliminary reference mechanism suitable to perform such a role? In this paper, we focus on one issue in particular: the way in which the Court of Justice gains information regarding the legal and factual background of the case. The Court has long recognised that appropriate knowledge of the factual and legal context of the referred case is a necessary prerequisite to performing its scrutiny and that, in accordance with the judicial cooperation model, such information is provided by the national judge. The Article critically examines the rules of procedures and the case law to show that the national judge certainly plays a key role, but other actors contribute to shaping the Court’s knowledge too. After an analysis of each actor’s role, the Article concludes that the procedure offers few guarantees as to the effective participation of individual parties to the advantage of other actors in the proceedings, increasing the risk of having partial or unbalanced information regarding the legal and factual background of the cases.
Who is chronically obese in Indonesia? The role of individual preferences
Authors: Ismail Affandi , Nuryakin Chaikal 
Published: October 2023

AbstractNumerous studies have confirmed the relationship between individual risk and time preference and obesity. Nevertheless, none has studied the effect of these attitudes on chronic (long-term) obesity. This study used Indonesia Family Life Survey (IFLS) data from 16,366 individuals. It tracked their obesity status in 2007 and 2014 by calculating body mass index, the ratio between body weight and square of height. Besides the conventional risk-averse and risk-tolerant behaviour, the IFLS sample includes people who fear uncertainty related to the status quo bias. The ordered logit regression results show that past impatience, risk tolerance, and status quo bias behaviour (in 2007) are associated with transient or chronic obesity, while only current behaviour of status quo bias (in 2014) is associated with obesity. Furthermore, our study confirms that chronic obesity in Indonesia is prevalent among highly educated, high-income, and urban-centric individuals, exacerbated by impatience, risk tolerance, and uncertainty aversion. Thus, providing information on the risk of obesity and food calories, giving the incentive to avoid obesity, and improving the quality of built environments such as public parks, public transportation, and footpath could help prevent the rising obesity prevalence.