bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quality of virtual-non-contrast phases derived from arterial and delayed phases of fast-kVp switching dual-energy CT in patients after endovascular aortic repair
Authors: Kazimierczak Wojciech , Kazimierczak Natalia , Serafin Zbigniew 
Published: June 2023

AbstractObjective of this study is: to analyze CT numbers in arteries and endoleaks in true non-contrast (TNC) and virtual non-contrast phases derived from arterial (VNCa) and delayed (VNCd) phases of dual-energy CT (DECT) in patients after endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR); to assess the impact of image noise on subjective image quality parameters and the degree of subtraction of calcifications; to calculate effective dose (ED) reduction following replacement of TNC with VNC. The study included 97 patients after EVAR procedure. An initial single-energy TNC acquisition was followed by two DECT acquisitions. CT numbers of TNC, VNCa, VNCd were analyzed statistically. VNCd images were assessed qualitatively. The mean densities in endoleaks were 46.19 HU in TNC, 51.24 HU in VNCa, 42.24 HU in VNCd. The differences between them were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The mean signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) measured in the aorta and endoleaks was highest in VNCa, lowest in TNC images. No correlation between image noise, the results of qualitative analysis of VNCd, and the degree of subtraction of calcifications was found. Omitting TNC led to mean 6.54 ± 1.63 (SD) mSv (23.28% of total examination) ED reduction. VNC images have a higher SNR compared to TNC images with significant differences in the CT numbers between the TNC and VNC reconstructions. Image noise has no impact on the subjective image quality and the degree of subtraction of calcifications in VNCd images. The findings show a high diagnostic value of VNC images and suggest that VNCd images are optimal in the assessment of endoleaks with possible substantial ED reduction.
Inhibiting PI3K/Akt-Signaling Pathway Improves Neurobehavior Changes in Anti-NMDAR Encephalitis Mice by Ameliorating Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption and Neuronal Damage
Authors: Gong Zhuowei , Lao Dayuan , Wu Yu , Li Taiyan , Lv Sirao , Mo Xuean , Huang Wen 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe disruption of the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is hypothesized to be involved in the progression of anti-N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) encephalitis, but its mechanism is still unclear. Recently, the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/threonine kinase (Akt) pathway is involved in the regulation of the BBB in various diseases. This study is aimed to investigate the mechanism of BBB damage and neurobehavior changes in anti-NMDAR encephalitis mice. Female C57BL/6J mice were actively immunized to establish an anti-NMDAR encephalitis mouse model and evaluate the neurobehavior changes of mice. To study its potential mechanism, LY294002 (PI3K inhibitor, 8 mg/kg) and Recilisib (PI3K agonist, 10 mg/kg) were treated by intraperitoneal injection, respectively. Anti-NMDAR encephalitis mice showed neurological deficits, increased BBB permeability, open endothelial tight junctions (TJs), and decreased expression of TJ-related proteins zonula occludens (ZO)-1 and Claudin-5. However, administration of PI3K inhibitor significantly reduced the expression of p-PI3K and p-Akt, improved neurobehavior function, decreased BBB permeability, and upregulated the expressions of ZO-1 and Claudin-5. Furthermore, PI3K inhibition reversed the decline of NMDAR NR1 in the membranes of hippocampal neurons, which reduced the loss of neuron-specific nucleoprotein (NeuN) and microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2). In contrast, administration of the PI3K agonist Recilisib showed a tendency to exacerbate BBB breakdown and neurological deficits. Our results showed that the activation of PI3K/Akt, along with the changes in TJ-related proteins ZO-1 and Claudin-5, may be closely related to BBB damage and neurobehavior changes in anti-NMDAR encephalitis mice. PI3K inhibition attenuates BBB disruption and neuronal damage in mice, thereby improving neurobehavior.
Assessment of formal proceedings and out-of-court reorganisation: results from a survey among turnaround professionals in Austria
Authors: Mayr Stefan , Duller Christine , Baschinger Matthias 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis study analyses the decision criteria for a specific form of reorganisation in a creditor-friendly bankruptcy system such as that of Austria. From a neoinstitutional perspective, we present different forms of bankruptcy law and the specifics of reorganisation in Austria. Next, we show several distinctive criteria and influencing factors for formal reorganisation and workouts. We group these factors into constitutions and institutional settings, process and handling, and implementation of the reorganisation. Using a sample of 411 survey responses from turnaround professionals, our empirical study analyses the decision criteria for a specific form of reorganisation. We apply a multivariate approach comprising two-sided paired samples Wilcoxon tests to assess the derived hypotheses and a hierarchical cluster analysis. Our results indicate significant differences in the valuation of the two forms: the turnaround professionals rate public perception much higher for out-of-court reorganisation, whereas legal certainty is rated significantly better for formal proceedings. Regarding process and handling, transparency and the handling of blocking positions are arguments for formal reorganisation, whereas flexibility is valuated better for workouts. In terms of implementation, respondents see advantages for out-of-court reorganisation, as it facilitates the implementation of both financial and operational measures. Taxation, the handling of blocking positions, and the improvement of public perception were identified as key development aspects for the legal framework conditions of the various reorganisation forms.
Novel Green Synthesis of UV-Sunscreen ZnO Nanoparticles Using Solanum Lycopersicum Fruit Extract and Evaluation of Their Antibacterial and Anticancer Activity
Authors: Elbrolesy Aya , Abdou Y. , Elhussiny F. A. , Morsy Reda 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThis work aimed at the green synthesis of multifunctional zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO NPs) using Solanum Lycopersicum (SL) fruit juice to act as antibacterial/cancer/UV sunscreens. The obtained ZnO NPs were examined for optical properties, cytotoxicity of human lung fibroblast (WI-38) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HePG2) cell lines, and antibacterial activity against Gram-negative Escherichia coli and Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus. The antioxidant activity and in vitro sun protection factor (SPF) of the synthesized nanoparticles were carried out by spectrophotometric methods. The formation of pure phase structure and characteristic functional group of the synthesized ZnO NPs were confirmed by XRD, FTIR, and UV–Vis diffuse reflectance analysis. SEM image showed that the ZnO NPs have a quasi-spherical shape with a size of about 39 ± 12 nm. ZnO NPs showed high potency as sunscreens (in vitro SPF = 16.8) and as mild antioxidant agents. Notably, ZnO NPs enhanced the cytotoxic activity against hepatocellular carcinoma cells and confirmed their antibacterial activity against pathogenic bacteria. SL fruit juice can play a triple role by acting as a solvent, reducing agent and stabilizer which facilitates the synthesis of ZnO NPs sunscreen that has antibacterial and anti-carcinogenic properties.
Differentially Private Recurrent Variational Autoencoder For Text Privacy Preservation
Authors: Wang Yuyang , Meng Xianjia , Liu Ximeng 
Published: June 2023

AbstractDeep learning techniques have been widely used in natural language processing (NLP) tasks and have made remarkable progress. However, training the deep learning model relies on a large amount of data which may involve sensitive information like electronic medical records. The attacker can infer sensitive information from the model, which leads to privacy leakage. To solve this problem, we propose a Differentially Private Recurrent Variational AutoEncoder (DP-RVAE) that can generate simulated data in place of the sensitive dataset to preserve privacy. To generate high utility synthetic text, a part of sensitive text data is employed as the conditional input of the model and uses a dropout and noise perturbing mechanism to preserve differential privacy. In addition, we expand the proposed DP-RVAE to a federated learning setting and design a novel training paradigm for NLP tasks. Specifically, DP-RVAE is deployed to the client-side to train and generate personalized text. These DP-RVAE models would be aggregated and updated through the Federated Optimisation (FedOPT) algorithm so that personal information can be well preserved. We evaluate our proposed DP-RVAE through a text classification task on the Tweets depression sentiment and IMDB reviews datasets. Our DP-RVAE achieves a higher average test accuracy by 5.90% and 3.94% compared to the typical centralized training and federated learning approach, respectively. We also perform the keywords inference attack experiment on the medical description dataset collected from the real world. Compared to the typical differentially private preserving approach, the DP-RVAE decreases by 15.2% in average attack accuracy. The experimental results demonstrate that DP-RVAE can be applied to the NLP models to leverage accuracy while preserving sensitive privacy.
Defining the Middle Corona
Authors: West Matthew J. , Seaton Daniel B. , Wexler David B. , Raymond John C. , Del Zanna Giulio , Rivera Yeimy J. , Kobelski Adam R. , Chen Bin , DeForest Craig , Golub Leon , Caspi Amir , Gilly Chris R. , Kooi Jason E. , Meyer Karen A. , Alterman Benjamin L. , Alzate Nathalia , Andretta Vincenzo , Auchère Frédéric , Banerjee Dipankar , Berghmans David , Chamberlin Phillip , Chitta Lakshmi Pradeep , Downs Cooper , Giordano Silvio , Harra Louise , Higginson Aleida , Howard Russell A. , Kumar Pankaj , Mason Emily , Mason James P. , Morton Richard J. , Nykyri Katariina , Patel Ritesh , Rachmeler Laurel , Reardon Kevin P. , Reeves Katharine K. , Savage Sabrina , Thompson Barbara J. , Van Kooten Samuel J. , Viall Nicholeen M. , Vourlidas Angelos , Zhukov Andrei N. 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe middle corona, the region roughly spanning heliocentric distances from 1.5 to 6 solar radii, encompasses almost all of the influential physical transitions and processes that govern the behavior of coronal outflow into the heliosphere. The solar wind, eruptions, and flows pass through the region, and they are shaped by it. Importantly, the region also modulates inflow from above that can drive dynamic changes at lower heights in the inner corona. Consequently, the middle corona is essential for comprehensively connecting the corona to the heliosphere and for developing corresponding global models. Nonetheless, because it is challenging to observe, the region has been poorly studied by both major solar remote-sensing and in-situ missions and instruments, extending back to the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) era. Thanks to recent advances in instrumentation, observational processing techniques, and a realization of the importance of the region, interest in the middle corona has increased. Although the region cannot be intrinsically separated from other regions of the solar atmosphere, there has emerged a need to define the region in terms of its location and extension in the solar atmosphere, its composition, the physical transitions that it covers, and the underlying physics believed to shape the region. This article aims to define the middle corona, its physical characteristics, and give an overview of the processes that occur there.
Correctness conditions for property nominalists
Authors: Båve Arvid 
Published: June 2023

AbstractNominalists need some account of correctness for sentences committed to the existence of abstract objects. This paper proposes a new statement of such conditions specifically for properties. The account builds on an earlier proposal of mine, but avoids the counter-examples against the latter pointed out by Thomas Schindler, particularly, the sentence ‘There are inexpressible properties’. I argue that the new proposal is independently motivated and more faithful to the spirit of the kind of error-theoretic nominalism that the original proposal was part of. Along the way, I also propose novel treatments of Arthur Pap’s and W.V.O. Quine’s notoriously hard-to-paraphrase sentences about abstracta.
Assessing failure of transfer of passive immunity by gamma-glutamyl-transferase activity and serum refractometry in holstein-friesian calves affected by neonatal diarrhea
Authors: Sala Giulia , Bronzo Valerio , Boccardo Antonio , Gazzonis Alessia Libera , Moretti Pierangelo , Ferrulli Vincenzo , Belloli Angelo Giovanni , Filippone Pavesi Laura , Pesenti Rossi Gaia , Pravettoni Davide 
Published: June 2023

AbstractHardly published data are available to diagnose the failure of transfer of passive immunity (FTPI) in calves affected by neonatal calf diarrhea (NCD). This study evaluated the diagnostic performance and differences among optical serum total protein (STP) concentration and gamma-glutamyl-transferase (GGT) activity for assessing FTPI in diarrheic Holstein Friesian calves. 72 diarrheic and 19 healthy Holstein Friesian calves aged 1 to 10 days were enrolled. Each calf underwent a complete clinical examination and dehydration assessment. The effect of dehydration status and age on the correlation between the two methods under study (STP and GGT) and the gold standard (Immunoglobulin G [IgG] measured with RID) was investigated with Spearman’s correlation index R for ranks. Serum total protein concentration and GGT activity were analyzed by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis to identify the optimal cut-off point to distinguish between diarrheic calves with or without FTPI, also considering the effects of dehydration and age. The results show that GGT activity was affected by the age of calves, while STP was influenced by dehydration. The cut-offs to distinguish calves with IgG < 10 g/L were < 52 g/L of STP in normohydrated calves, < 58 g/L of STP in dehydrated calves, and < 124 IU/L of GGT in calves with aged between 3 and 10 days. In nondehydrated diarrheic calves, the STP refractometer showed better diagnostic accuracy.In dehydrated calves aged between 3 and 10 days, however, its accuracy drops, and it is advisable to use GGT activity.
The utility of using a top-down conduct-of-life-based approach for explaining energy consumption behaviour: evidence from Switzerland
Authors: Tomic Uros , Schubert Iljana , Burger Paul 
Published: June 2023

AbstractProgrammes for reducing household energy consumption have so far shown only minor effects. The literature offers many explanations for this, such as rebound effects, efficiency paradox and culturally rooted daily routines. In addition, interventions are often designed in a one-size-fits-all manner and do not account for societal differences through segmentation and tailored interventions. One of the challenges associated with the implementation of tailored interventions is the lack of agreement on how to identify societal segments, and the lack of clarity on which segment should be addressed by which type of intervention. Against this backdrop, we explore the applicability of the theory-driven Otte conduct of life segmentation with three energy consumption behaviours. Utilizing survey data from 5015 respondents, we demonstrate that there are significant conduct-of-life-specific differences in showering, endowment with information and entertainment electronics and air travel. The only two conduct of life groups who demonstrate consistent behavioural patterns across the three behaviours are the reflexives, who consistently over-consume, and conventionalists, who consistently under-consume energy. We put forward suggestions on how to apply our findings to tailor interventions.
Normothermic frozen elephant trunk without circulatory arrest
Authors: Berretta Paolo , Galeazzi Michele , Malvindi Pietro Giorgio , Bifulco Olimpia , Buratto Beatrice , Cefarelli Mariano , Alfonsi Jacopo , Capestro Filippo , Gatta Emanuele , Di Eusanio Marco 
Published: June 2023

AbstractWe describe our technique for total aortic arch replacement with stenting of the descending thoracic aorta allowing normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass and avoiding hypothermic circulatory arrest.
Revealing the interaction mechanism of pulsed laser processing with the application of acoustic emission
Authors: Liu Weinan , Rong Youmin , Yang Ranwu , Wu Congyi , Zhang Guojun , Huang Yu 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe mechanisms of interaction between pulsed laser and materials are complex and indistinct, severely influencing the stability and quality of laser processing. This paper proposes an intelligent method based on the acoustic emission (AE) technique to monitor laser processing and explore the interaction mechanisms. The validation experiment is designed to perform nanosecond laser dotting on float glass. Processing parameters are set differently to generate various outcomes: ablated pits and irregular-shaped cracks. In the signal processing stage, we divide the AE signals into two bands, main and tail bands, according to the laser processing duration, to study the laser ablation and crack behavior, respectively. Characteristic parameters extracted by a method that combines framework and frame energy calculation of AE signals can effectively reveal the mechanisms of pulsed laser processing. The main band features evaluate the degree of laser ablation from the time and intensity scales, and the tail band characteristics demonstrate that the cracks occur after laser dotting. In addition, from the analysis of the parameters of the tail band very large cracks can be efficiently distinguished. The intelligent AE monitoring method was successfully applied in exploring the interaction mechanism of nanosecond laser dotting float glass and can be used in other pulsed laser processing fields.
Graphical Abstract
Future climate conditions alter biomass of salt marsh plants in the Wadden Sea
Authors: Koop-Jakobsen Ketil , Dolch Tobias 
Published: June 2023

AbstractUnderstanding how the salt marsh vegetation will evolve under future climate conditions is essential for predicting the role of marsh ecosystem services in a warmer climate with higher CO2-concentrations. In a mesocosm experiment in the northern Wadden Sea, the impact of increased temperature (+ 3 °C) and CO2 (800 ppm) on salt marsh vegetation was investigated, assessing biomass production in the pioneer zone and low marsh. The pioneer zone, which was dominated by Spartina anglica and exposed to natural tidal inundations, demonstrated a differentiated response between belowground and aboveground biomass. Aboveground biomass increased in response to enhanced CO2 availability, and belowground biomass increased in response to raised temperatures. Other plant species accounted for less than 18% of the aboveground biomass, and their biomass was suppressed under high CO2 availability. Increased biomass by Spartina anglica may improve resilience toward sea level rise. Hence, the pioneer zone is expected to maintain its coastal protection and blue carbon storage capacity under future climate conditions. The low marsh, which was dominated by Elymus athericus, was exposed to higher than usual tidal inundations and resembled a scenario with increased sea level. The low marsh showed no response in biomass to increased CO2 or temperature, which may be due to the increased flooding. The positive response of Spartina anglica (C4 plant) and the lack of response in Elymus athericus (C3 plant) counter the notion that C3 plants are more productive under future climate conditions and demonstrate that C4 plants can also thrive in future salt marshes.
The Middle Stone Age Sequence at Klipfonteinrand 1 (KFR1), Western Cape, South Africa
Authors: Mackay Alex , Saktura Rosaria B. K. , O’Driscoll Corey A. , Boyd Kelsey C. , Marwick Ben , Moffat Ian , Jacobs Zenobia 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe rock shelter site Klipfonteinrand 1 (KFR1), located on the edge of southern Africa’s Fynbos biome, was initially excavated by John Parkington in 1969. Due to difficulties resolving the stratigraphic sequence, the lack of age estimates, and generally poor organic preservation, the Middle Stone Age (MSA) components of the site have received limited attention. In this paper we report on the re-excavation, dating, palaeoecology, and cultural sequence recovered from a trench placed adjacent to Parkington’s original excavation. The refined sequence includes three stratigraphically distinct MSA components: a Howiesons Poort component dating to ~69 ka, and two earlier MSA components dating to ~85 ka and ~156 ka. These are overlain by two younger components dated to the late Pleistocene and early Holocene. Bedrock morphology at the site is complex, and the oldest component appears to be restricted to a small area of relatively deep (1.9 m) sediment accumulation towards the centre of the sheltered area. Phytoliths suggest limited change in floral communities near the site across the lowest three units—which include parts of marine isotope stages (MIS) 6, 5, and 4—reflecting the characteristic stability of the Fynbos biome. The stone artefacts in the oldest MSA component include large blades that are absent from the overlying strata, and that may be a distinct element of late MIS 6 technology in the area. Interestingly, neither the early MSA nor early Holocene components we describe here were encountered in the rear trench at the site, 3 m away, which instead produced a sequence dominated by marine isotope stage 2 occupation. KFR1 presents new insights into the archaeology of the earlier MSA in southern Africa, while also providing a cautionary note on the discontinuous and spatially variable nature of rock shelter occupation in the region.
Investigation approaching flow to bridge and prediction of bridge pier scour with floodplain vegetation in compound channels under pressurized flow conditions
Authors: Dankoo Ali , Yonesi Hojjat Allah , Torabipoudeh Hasan , Saneie Mojtaba , Rahimi Hamidreza 
Published: June 2023

AbstractThe local scouring around the pier, is one of major cause of the bridges failure worldwide. Compared to the flow hydraulics in single channels, the flow pattern in compound channels is completely different with flood plains covered with vegetation and this issue can affect the amount of scouring in the area of bridge piers. However, the combined effect of these factors has not been systematically investigated. Therefore, due to the complex nature of the local scouring phenomenon and the absence one of an accurate prediction model, in this research, an experimental study on the hydraulic characteristics of the flow approaching the bridge deck in compound channels with floodplain vegetation in pressurized flow conditions, has been done. It was found that increasing vegetation density on average will reduce scour depth by 15% for the same floodplain width and relative depth. In free-flow conditions, increasing the vegetation density on average will increase the scour depth. The aim is to develop an optimized model to estimate the bridge pier scour in consideration of the combined effect. The newly developed relationship shows a good correlation coefficient of more than 92% with the experimental data and yielded better results than the previous equations. The finding of this study will have potential applications for the prediction of the bridge pier scour in clear water conditions.