bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tissue-engineered anterior segment eye cultures demonstrate hallmarks of conventional organ culture
Authors: Waxman Susannah , Strzalkowska Alicja , Wang Chao , Loewen Ralitsa , Dang Yalong , Loewen Nils A. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundGlaucoma is a blinding disease largely caused by dysregulation of outflow through the trabecular meshwork (TM), resulting in elevated intraocular pressure (IOP). We hypothesized that transplanting TM cells into a decellularized, tissue-engineered anterior segment eye culture could restore the outflow structure and function.MethodsPorcine eyes were decellularized with freeze–thaw cycles and perfusion of surfactant. We seeded control scaffolds with CrFK cells transduced with lentiviral vectors to stably express eGFP and compared them to scaffolds seeded with primary TM cells as well as to normal, unaltered eyes. We tracked the repopulation behavior, performed IOP maintenance challenges, and analyzed the histology.ResultsTransplanted cells localized to the TM and progressively infiltrated the extracellular matrix, reaching a distribution comparable to normal, unaltered eyes. After a perfusion rate challenge to mimic a glaucomatous pressure elevation, transplanted and normal eyes reestablished a normal intraocular pressure (transplanted = 16.5 ± 0.9 mmHg, normal = 16.9 ± 0.9). However, eyes reseeded with eGFP-expressing CrFK cells could not regulate IOP, remaining high and unstable (27.0 ± 6.2 mmHg) instead.ConclusionTissue-engineered anterior segment scaffolds can serve as readily available, scalable ocular perfusion cultures. This could reduce dependency on scarce donor globes in outflow research and may allow engineering perfusion cultures with specific geno- and phenotypes.
Developing a primary tumor and lymph node 18F-FDG PET/CT-clinical (TLPC) model to predict lymph node metastasis of resectable T2-4 NSCLC
Authors: Wang Meng , Liu Liu , Dai Qian , Jin Mingming , Huang Gang 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Purpose
The goal of this study was to investigate whether the combined PET/CT radiomic features of the primary tumor and lymph node could predict lymph node metastasis (LNM) of resectable non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) in stage T2-4.

Methods
This retrospective study included 192 NSCLC patients who underwent tumor and node dissection between August 2016 and December 2017 and underwent 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT scanning 1–3 weeks before surgery. In total, 192 primary tumors (> 3 cm) and 462 lymph nodes (LN > 0.5 cm) were analyzed. The pretreatment clinical features of these patients were recorded, and the radiomic features of their primary tumor and lymph node were extracted from PET/CT imaging. The Spearman’s relevance combined with the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator was used for radiomic feature selection. Five independent machine learning models (multi-layer perceptron, extreme Gradient Boosting, light gradient boosting machine, gradient boosting decision tree, and support vector machine) were tested as classifiers for model development. We developed the following three models to predict LNM: tumor PET/CT-clinical (TPC), lymph PET/CT-clinical (LPC), and tumor and lymph PET/CT-clinical (TLPC). The performance of the models and the clinical node (cN) staging was evaluated using the ROC curve and confusion matrix analysis.

Results
The ROC analysis showed that among the three models, the TLPC model had better predictive clinical utility and efficiency in predicting LNM of NSCLC (AUC = 0.93, accuracy = 85%; sensitivity = 0.93; specificity = 0.75) than both the TPC model (AUC = 0.54, accuracy = 50%; specificity = 0.38; sensitivity = 0.59) and the LPC model (AUC = 0.82, accuracy = 70%; specificity = 0.41; sensitivity = 0.92). The TLPC model also exhibited great potential in predicting the N2 stage in NSCLC (AUC = 0.94, accuracy = 79%; specificity = 0.64; sensitivity = 0.91).

Conclusion
The combination of CT and PET radiomic features of the primary tumor and lymph node showed great potential for predicting LNM of resectable T2-4 NSCLC. The TLPC model can non-invasively predict lymph node metastasis in NSCLC, which may be helpful for clinicians to develop more rational therapeutic strategies.
$$\mathcal {A}$$-caloric approximation and partial regularity for parabolic systems with Orlicz growth
Authors: Foss Mikil , Isernia Teresa , Leone Chiara , Verde Anna 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe prove a new $$\mathcal {A}$$
A
-caloric approximation lemma compatible with an Orlicz setting. With this result, we establish a partial regularity result for parabolic systems of the type $$\begin{aligned} u_{t}- {{\,\textrm{div}\,}}a(Du)=0. \end{aligned}$$

u
t

-

div

a

(
D
u
)

=
0
.

Here the growth of a is bounded by the derivative of an N-function $${\varphi }$$
φ
. The primary assumption for $${\varphi }$$
φ
is that $$t{\varphi }''(t)$$

t

φ

′
′

(
t
)

and $${\varphi }'(t)$$

φ

′

(
t
)

are uniformly comparable on $$(0,\infty )$$

(
0
,
∞
)

.
On the spectrum of a mixed-type operator with applications to rotating wave solutions
Authors: Kübler Joel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe study rotating wave solutions of the nonlinear wave equation $$\begin{aligned} \left\{ \begin{array}{ll} \partial _{t}^2 v - \Delta v + m v = |v|^{p-2} v &{} \text {in }{\mathbb {R} \times {\textbf{B}}} \\ v = 0 &{} \hbox {on }\mathbb {R} \times \partial {\textbf{B}} \end{array} \right. \end{aligned}$$

∂

t

2

v
-
Δ
v
+
m
v
=

|
v
|

p
-
2

v

in

R
×
B

v
=
0

on

R
×
∂
B

where $$2<p<\infty $$

2
<
p
<
∞

, $$m \in \mathbb {R}$$

m
∈
R

and $${\textbf{B}} \subset \mathbb {R}^2$$

B
⊂

R

2

denotes the unit disk. If the angular velocity $$\alpha $$
α
of the rotation is larger than 1, this leads to a semilinear boundary value problem on $$\textbf{B}$$
B
involving a mixed-type operator, whose spectrum is related to the zeros of Bessel functions and could generally be badly behaved. Based on new estimates for these zeros, we find values of $$\alpha $$
α
such that the spectrum only consists of eigenvalues with finite multiplicity and has no accumulation point. Combined with suitable spectral estimates, this allows us to formulate an appropriate indefinite variational setting and find ground state solutions of the reduced equation for $$p \in (2,4)$$

p
∈
(
2
,
4
)

. Using a minimax characterization of the ground state energy, we ultimately show that these ground states are nonradial and thus yield nontrivial rotating waves, provided m is sufficiently large.
A variational setting for an indefinite Lagrangian with an affine Noether charge
Authors: Caponio Erasmo , Corona Dario 
Published: December 2022

AbstractWe introduce a variational setting for the action functional of an autonomous and indefinite Lagrangian on a finite dimensional manifold M. Our basic assumption is the existence of an infinitesimal symmetry whose Noether charge is the sum of a one-form and a function on M. Our setting includes different types of Lorentz–Finsler Lagrangians admitting a timelike Killing vector field.
Yam Seep at Four-Way Closure Ridge: a prominent active gas seep system at the accretionary wedge SW offshore Taiwan
Authors: Tseng Yiting , Römer Miriam , Lin Saulwood , Pape Thomas , Berndt Christian , Chen Tzu-Ting , Paull Charles K. , Caress David W. , Bohrmann Gerhard 
Published: December 2022

AbstractHydroacoustic surveys at the accretionary wedge southwest of Taiwan reveal a confined active hydrocarbon seepage area of ~ 49,000 m2 in ~ 1350 m water depth on the northern crest of the Four-Way Closure Ridge, which we call Yam Seep. In this study, multibeam and side-scan sonar data acquired during surveys with an autonomous underwater vehicle during an expedition with R/V Ocean Researcher I in 2017 showed that the area is characterized by rough topography and high seafloor backscatter. Seafloor observations with a video sled and sediment sampling with gravity corers and the MeBo seafloor drill rig during an expedition with R/V SONNE in 2018 revealed that the area is almost entirely covered by intensely fractured methane-derived carbonates, which indicate that seepage has been ongoing for thousands of years. Hydroacoustic anomalies (‘flares’) in the water column indicated the presence of several gas bubble emission sites mostly at the center and eastern flank of the area in 2019. Drilling through massive carbonates in the northwestern part of Yam Seep induced free gas escape from a depth of ~ 5.1 m. This suggests the presence of gas hydrates in the subsurface as the seep area is located well within the gas hydrate stability zone. The inter-disciplinary investigations of the Yam Seep demonstrate that upward migration of light hydrocarbons and seafloor discharge has a considerable influence on the seabed properties.
Growth of the perfect sequence covering array number
Authors: Iurlano Enrico 
Published: December 2022

AbstractIn this note we answer positively an open question posed by Yuster in 2020 [14] on the polynomial boundedness of the perfect sequence covering array number$$g(n,k)$$

g
(
n
,
k
)

(PSCA number). The latter determines the (renormalized) minimum row-count that perfect sequence covering arrays (PSCAs) can possess. PSCAs are matrices with permutations in $$S_n$$

S
n

as rows, such that each ordered k-sequence of distinct elements of $$[n]$$

[
n
]

is covered by the same number of rows. We obtain the result after illuminating an isomorphism between this structure from design theory and a special case of min-wise independent permutations. Afterwards, we point out that asymptotic bounds and constructions can be transferred between these two structures. Moreover, we sharpen asymptotic lower bounds for g(n, k) and improve upper bounds for g(n, 4) and g(n, 3), for some concrete values of n. We conclude with some open questions and propose a new matrix class being potentially advantageous for searching PSCAs.
Software variability in service robotics
Authors: García Sergio , Strüber Daniel , Brugali Davide , Di Fava Alessandro , Pelliccione Patrizio , Berger Thorsten 
Published: December 2022

AbstractRobots artificially replicate human capabilities thanks to their software, the main embodiment of intelligence. However, engineering robotics software has become increasingly challenging. Developers need expertise from different disciplines as well as they are faced with heterogeneous hardware and uncertain operating environments. To this end, the software needs to be variable—to customize robots for different customers, hardware, and operating environments. However, variability adds substantial complexity and needs to be managed—yet, ad hoc practices prevail in the robotics domain, challenging effective software reuse, maintenance, and evolution. To improve the situation, we need to enhance our empirical understanding of variability in robotics. We present a multiple-case study on software variability in the vibrant and challenging domain of service robotics. We investigated drivers, practices, methods, and challenges of variability from industrial companies building service robots. We analyzed the state-of-the-practice and the state-of-the-art—the former via an experience report and eleven interviews with two service robotics companies; the latter via a systematic literature review. We triangulated from these sources, reporting observations with actionable recommendations for researchers, tool providers, and practitioners. We formulated hypotheses trying to explain our observations, and also compared the state-of-the-art from the literature with the-state-of-the-practice we observed in our cases. We learned that the level of abstraction in robotics software needs to be raised for simplifying variability management and software integration, while keeping a sufficient level of customization to boost efficiency and effectiveness in their robots’ operation. Planning and realizing variability for specific requirements and implementing robust abstractions permit robotic applications to operate robustly in dynamic environments, which are often only partially known and controllable. With this aim, our companies use a number of mechanisms, some of them based on formalisms used to specify robotic behavior, such as finite-state machines and behavior trees. To foster software reuse, the service robotics domain will greatly benefit from having software components—completely decoupled from hardware—with harmonized and standardized interfaces, and organized in an ecosystem shared among various companies.
De Giorgi Argument for Weighted $$L^2\cap L^\infty $$ Solutions to the Non-cutoff Boltzmann Equation
Authors: Alonso R. , Morimoto Y. , Sun W. , Yang T. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThis paper gives an affirmative answer to the question of the global existence of Boltzmann equations without angular cutoff in the $$L^\infty $$

L
∞

-setting. In particular, we show that when the initial data is close to equilibrium and the perturbation is small in $$L^2 \cap L^\infty $$

L
2

∩

L
∞

with a polynomial decay tail, the Boltzmann equation has a unique global solution in the weighted $$L^2\cap L^\infty $$

L
2

∩

L
∞

-space. In order to overcome the difficulties arising from the singular cross-section and the low regularity, a De Giorgi type argument is crafted in the kinetic context with the help of the averaging lemma. More specifically, we use a strong averaging lemma to obtain suitable $$L^p$$

L
p

-estimates for level-set functions. These estimates are crucial for constructing an appropriate energy functional to carry out the De Giorgi argument. Similar as in Alonso et al. (Rev Mat Iberoam, 2020), we extend local solutions to global ones by using the spectral gap of the linearised Boltzmann operator. The convergence to the equilibrium state is then obtained as a byproduct with relaxations shown in both $$L^2$$

L
2

and $$L^\infty $$

L
∞

-spaces.
A global systematic review of forest management institutions: towards a new research agenda
Authors: Kimengsi Jude Ndzifon , Owusu Raphael , Charmakar Shambhu , Manu Gordon , Giessen Lukas 
Published: December 2022

AbstractContextGlobally, forest landscapes are rapidly transforming, with the role of institutions as mediators in their use and management constantly appearing in the literature. However, global comparative reviews to enhance comprehension of how forest management institutions (FMIs) are conceptualized, and the varying determinants of compliance, are lacking. And so too, is there knowledge fragmentation on the methodological approaches which have and should be prioritized in thenew research agendaon FMIs.ObjectivesWe review the regional variations in the conceptualization of FMIs, analyze the determinants of compliance with FMIs, and assess the methodological gaps applied in the study of FMIs.MethodsA systematic review of 197 empirically conducted studies (491 cases) on FMIs was performed, including a directed content analysis.ResultsFirst,FMIs literature is growing; multi-case and multi-country studies characterize Europe/North America, Africa and Latin America, over Asia.Second, the structure-process conceptualization of FMIs predominates in Asia and Africa.Third, global south regions report high cases of compliance with informal FMIs, while non-compliance was registered for Europe/North America in the formal domain.Finally, mixed-methods approaches have been least employed in the studies so far; while the use of only qualitative methods increased over time, the adoption of only quantitative approaches witnessed a decrease.ConclusionFuture research should empirically ground informality in the institutional set-up of Australia while also valorizing mixed-methods research globally. Crucially, future research should consider multidisciplinary and transdisciplinary approaches to explore the actor and power dimensions of forest management institutions.
Genetic advances in Meniere Disease
Authors: Dai Qingqing , Long Lili , Zhao Hui , Wang Ruikai , Zheng Hong , Duan Maoli 
Published: December 2022

AbstractMeniere Disease (MD) is an idiopathic inner ear disease with complex etiology and pathogenesis, which is still unclear. With the development in gene analysis technology, the genetic research of MD has attracted extensive attention, resulting in a large number of studies on the research of the relationship between human genes and MD. This paper aims to review the studies on this topic in recent years. The studies mainly focused on the genetics of familial MD and the correlation between MD and potentially related functional genes. The results of these studies have demonstrated the complexity and diversity of the pathogenesis of MD with both genetic and epigenetic alterations, suggesting that MD might be related to inflammation, immunity, aqua and ion balance in the lymphatic fluid, virus infection, metabolism, and abnormal function of nerve conduction. The finding of rare mutations in TECTA, MYO7A and OTOG genes and other genes such as CDH23, PCDH15 and ADGRV1 in the same families suggest that the integrity of the stereocilia and their interaction with the tectorial and otolithic membranes could be involved in the pathophysiology of familial MD.
Exploring employees’ beliefs regarding the potential benefits of virtual worlds for group cohesion: gather town
Authors: Palos-Sanchez Pedro R. , Baena-Luna Pedro , Silva-O’Connor Daniel 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAs a consequence of advances in Information and Communication Technologies, teleworking is becoming more and more common in organizations. These new ways of working create new challenges for companies such as team cohesion despite working in different locations. This article aims to analyze the effect of the use of so-called “virtual worlds” on the group cohesion of employees in organizations. The focus group methodology has made it possible to gather the beliefs and opinions of company employees about the use of these resources and tools. The results obtained show the positive effect of the use of virtual worlds on the cohesion of the teleworking team.
Calcium Preparation Aided Bioremediation of Fluoranthene-Contaminated Soil
Authors: Gnida Anna , Turek-Szytow Jolanta 
Published: December 2022

AbstractSince natural bioremediation is a lengthy process, new bioremediation techniques should be developed to accelerate and optimize the removal of soil contaminants such as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). One of the substances that can be used to enhance PAH removal is calcium peroxide, applied as an oxidizing agent to improve soil aeration. Here, we investigated the bioremediation of soil contaminated with fluoranthene. Two doses of calcium preparation (CP), 0.29 and 0.58 g/kg, composed of calcium peroxide and calcium hydroxide, and increasing the soil pH by one and two units, respectively, were used. Fluoranthene decline was 83% and 95% for CP-aided soils, and 80% for soil without calcium preparation. During the remediation process, dynamic changes in the sorption complex of soils were found, mainly due to changes in the sum of base exchangeable cations. These changes in the first experiment period were significantly influenced by the presence of calcium preparation while in the second period by the presence of fluoranthene. The presence of calcium preparation caused changes in the microbiocenosis, especially at the higher dose. There was no effect of calcium preparation on plant growth.
Biodegradation of ochratoxin A by endophytic Trichoderma koningii strains
Authors: Ismaiel Ahmed A. , Mohamed Hala H. , El-Sayed Manal T. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractOchratoxin A (OTA) is a mycotoxin produced by Aspergillus spp. and Penicillium spp. that causes a threat to food safety and human health. Fungal biodegradation might be a promising strategy for reducing the OTA contamination in the future. In this study, the ability of Trichoderma koningii strains to degrade OTA produced by Aspergillus niger T2 (MW513392.1) isolated from tomato seeds was investigated. Among T. koningii strains tested, three strains; AUMC11519, AUMC11520 and AUMC11521 completely eliminated OTA from the culture medium, while AUMC11522 strain eliminated only 41.82% of OTA. OTα-amide, 3-phenylpropionic acid, OTα and phenylalanine were assayed as degradation products by FTIR analysis and LC–MS/MS spectra. Carboxypeptidase A (CPA) was found responsible for OTA degradation when a metal ion chelator, EDTA, was added to cell free supernatants of the three effective strains. OTA detoxification by T. koningii could present new prospective strategies for a possible application in food commodities intoxicated with ochratoxin.
Emerging industry 4.0 and Internet of Things (IoT) technologies in the Ghanaian construction industry: sustainability, implementation challenges, and benefits
Authors: Maqbool Rashid , Saiba Mohammed Rayan , Ashfaq Saleha 
Published: December 2022

Abstract
Future construction projects will need the implementation of industry 4.0 and Internet-of-Things (IoT) technologies. The construction sector has, however, falling behind other industries in the application of these technologies and is currently facing considerable challenges. One of the industries that lag behind in the use of new innovative technological tools is the construction industry. This study reviews the research work in industry 4.0 and the Internet of Things as they relate to construction and examines key Ghana-based construction professionals and firms to ascertain their level of understanding of these emerging innovative technologies, including the challenges and benefits associated with their implementation. An extensive review of pertinent literature was done to help identify the important paradigms and variables which were cautiously tested. Adopting a quantitative research approach, the attained variables were used to design into a close-ended questionnaire. The sample frame was a survey of people from 154 construction experts and researchers with good standing by using the purposive sampling. Relative importance index (RII) analysis was used to analyzed the data. It was discovered from the findings that smart construction was the most popular industry 4.0 technology in the Ghanaian construction industry. The most important benefit of these technologies is that they will add sustainable policy requirements to tendering, with the most pressing technology being the lack of talent and skills in using industry 4.0 and IoT technologies. The scope of this research is based on the questionnaire survey, proving a sustainable pathway to the construction industry community, which creates its own significance by including key stakeholders and those affected by these technologies.