bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Immersive Virtual Work Integrated Learning: A Development of an Interactive Learning Environment for Rail Components Manufacturing
Authors: Dlamini Nokulunga Zamahlubi , Mpofu Khumbulani , Ramatsetse Boitumelo , Makinde Olusambo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractUndergraduate students pursuing their studies in the engineering discipline in higher education institutions (HEI) are expected to complete their work integrated learning (WIL) component as part of their curriculum. This is a compulsory module traditionally performed in the workplace environment over a specified time. However, with the scarcity of placement-based WIL, as well as the Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a reduction in the intake of students to accomplish their studies. This paper presents, a human centered design (HCD) model for developing an immersive virtual reality (IVR) rendered with an HTC Vive Pro head mounted display (HMDs) platform capable of training industrial engineering undergraduate students on the manufacturing procedure of rail components using a reconfigurable guillotine shear and bending press machine (RGS&BPM) as part of the set of immersive virtual work integrated learning (IVWIL) activities. The study explores current literature and the HCD approach to designing and developing the immersive interactive training platform. It highlights the important aspects of the development of the immersive virtual environment and recommends future work.
Adjoint Majorana QCD2 at finite N
Authors: Dempsey Ross , Klebanov Igor R. , Lin Loki L. , Pufu Silviu S. 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
The mass spectrum of 1 + 1-dimensional SU(N) gauge theory coupled to a Majorana fermion in the adjoint representation has been studied in the large N limit using Light-Cone Quantization. Here we extend this approach to theories with small values of N, exhibiting explicit results for N = 2, 3, and 4. In the context of Discretized Light-Cone Quantization, we develop a procedure based on the Cayley-Hamilton theorem for determining which states of the large N theory become null at finite N. For the low-lying bound states, we find that the squared masses divided by g2N, where g is the gauge coupling, have very weak dependence on N. The coefficients of the 1/N2 corrections to their large N values are surprisingly small. When the adjoint fermion is massless, we observe exact degeneracies that we explain in terms of a Kac-Moody algebra construction and charge conjugation symmetry. When the squared mass of the adjoint fermion is tuned to g2N/π, we find evidence that the spectrum exhibits boson-fermion degeneracies, in agreement with the supersymmetry of the model at any value of N.
Topology of closure systems in algebraic lattices
Authors: Schwartz Niels 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAlgebraic lattices are spectral spaces for the coarse lower topology. Closure systems in algebraic lattices are studied as subspaces. Connections between order theoretic properties of a closure system and topological properties of the subspace are explored. A closure system is algebraic if and only if it is a patch closed subset of the ambient algebraic lattice. Every subset X in an algebraic lattice P generates a closure system $$\langle X \rangle _P$$

⟨
X
⟩

P

. The closure system $$\langle Y \rangle _P$$

⟨
Y
⟩

P

generated by the patch closure Y of X is the patch closure of $$\langle X \rangle _P$$

⟨
X
⟩

P

. If X is contained in the set of nontrivial prime elements of P then $$\langle X \rangle _P$$

⟨
X
⟩

P

is a frame and is a coherent algebraic frame if X is patch closed in P. Conversely, if the algebraic lattice P is coherent then its set of nontrivial prime elements is patch closed.
Differenzierte Herangehensweise und Testung seltener genetischer Erkrankungen im Kindes- und Jugendalter
Authors: Bachmann Nadine , Auber Bernd , Das Anibh , Distelmaier Felix , Gabriel Heinz , Himmelreich Nastassja , Lemke Johannes , Bergmann Carsten 
Published: April 2023

ZusammenfassungGenetische Diagnostik hat mittlerweile praktisch alle Bereiche der Kinderheilkunde erreicht. Immer häufiger stellt die Humangenetik ein wichtiges Instrument ergänzend zur klinischen Diagnostik dar und nimmt zunehmend eine zentrale Funktion für die Einschätzung des Krankheitsverlaufs und die Entscheidung über eine individuelle Therapie ein. Genetische Diagnostik dient der frühzeitigen Erkennung und Spezifizierung von Erkrankungen und ermöglicht etwa auch die Identifikation krankheitsursächlicher Veränderungen mittels reverser Phänotypisierung (Diagnosestellung/Korrektur einer vorherigen Verdachtsdiagnose durch genetische Diagnostik). Genetische Diagnostik wird hierzulande weithin noch recht zurückhaltend eingesetzt, oftmals erscheint ein früherer Einsatz jedoch durchaus sinnvoll. Eine differenzierte Herangehensweise in enger interdisziplinärer Absprache ist dabei von Vorteil. Die in der genetischen Diagnostik angewandten Verfahren haben sich in den letzten Jahren rasant weiterentwickelt, was zu verbesserten Diagnoseraten führt, aber auch neue Fragen und Herausforderungen aufwirft. Die Dynamik des Feldes und eine Vielzahl oft verwirrender Begrifflichkeiten lassen die Genetik für viele Kolleg(inn)en als gewisse „Blackbox“ erscheinen. Was versteht man unter einem Exom oder einem Panel? Darf ich als „normaler“ Kinderarzt überhaupt genetische Diagnostik in Auftrag geben? Habe ich Nachteile zu befürchten, und wie interpretiere ich später den Befund? Diese und andere Aspekte haben wir versucht, in diesem Artikel aufzuarbeiten und verständlich darzustellen. Eine enge interdisziplinäre Zusammenarbeit zwischen betreuendem Kinderarzt, Facharzt für Humangenetik und Labor ist essenziell, um die für die vorliegende Fragestellung sinnvollste Methode auszuwählen und bestmögliche Betreuung des Patienten zu gewährleisten.
Evaluation of wave configurations in corrugated boards by experimental analysis (EA) and finite element modeling (FEM): the role of the micro-wave in packaging design
Authors: Di Russo Franco Maria , Desole Maria Maria , Gisario Annamaria , Barletta Massimiliano 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe aim of this paper is to study the mechanical behavior of corrugated board boxes, focusing attention on the strength that the boxes are able to offer in compression under stacking conditions. A preliminary design of the corrugated cardboard structures starting from the definition of each individual layer, namely the outer liners and the innermost flute, was carried out. For this purpose, three distinct types of corrugated board structures that include flutes with different characteristics, namely the high wave (C), the medium wave (B), and even the micro-wave (E), were comparatively evaluated. More specifically, the comparison is able to show the potential of the micro-wave which would eventually allow a significant saving of cellulose in the fabrication process of the boxes, thus reducing the manufacturing costs and causing a lower environmental footprint. First, experimental tests were carried out to determine the mechanical properties of the different layers of the corrugated board structures. Tensile tests were performed on samples extracted from the paper reels used as base material for the manufacturing of the liners and flutes. Instead, the edge crush test (ECT) and box compression test (BCT) were directly performed on the corrugated cardboard structures. Secondly, a parametric finite element (FE) model to allow, on a comparative basis, the study of the mechanical response of the three different types of corrugated cardboard structures was developed. Lastly, a comparison between the available experimental results and the outputs of the FE model was carried out, with the same model being also adapted to evaluate additional structures where the E micro-wave was usefully combined with the B or C wave in a double-wave configuration.
Assessment of geometrical dimensions and puncture feasibility of microneedles manufactured by micromilling
Authors: Tamez-Tamez Jeanette I. , Vázquez-Lepe Elisa , Rodriguez Ciro A. , Martínez-López J. Israel , García-López Erika 
Published: April 2023

AbstractMicroneedles are an emerging technology designed to deliver drugs into human tissue. In this work, we assess the microneedle’s manufacturability by employing micromilling with a minimum quantity lubrication (MQL) system. A set of AISI 316L square pyramidal microneedles was fabricated and characterized using dimensional and surface metrology. Needle height (Hn), base length (Lb), tip radius (Rt), and the tip’s angle (θ) were studied. Additionally, surface roughness was quantified to correlate surface topography damage with tool wear (Dr). Experimental data shows tip truncation after manufacturing 30 needles (i.e., a tip radius between ~32 μm and 49 μm for manufacturing 10 and 30 needles, respectively). Additionally, to evaluate the effect of the tip’s morphology on the proficiency of the microneedles for a puncture, a numerical analysis to study the impact of tip truncation length (Tt) on puncture with an in silico assessment using COMSOL Multiphysics was performed. Data and insights from this work suggest that micromilling microneedle arrays is viable, considering the number of needles machined according to the cutting parameters selected to ensure functionality.
Cantharidin increases the force of contraction and protein phosphorylation in isolated human atria
Authors: Schwarz R. , Hofmann B. , Gergs U. , Neumann J. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractCantharidin, an inhibitor of protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) and protein phosphatase 2A (PP2A), is known to increase the force of contraction and shorten the time to relaxation in human ventricular preparations. We hypothesized that cantharidin has similar positive inotropic effects in human right atrial appendage (RAA) preparations. RAA were obtained during bypass surgery performed on human patients. These trabeculae were mounted in organ baths and electrically stimulated at 1 Hz. For comparison, we studied isolated electrically stimulated left atrial (LA) preparations and isolated spontaneously beating right atrial (RA) preparations from wild-type mice. Cumulatively applied (starting at 10 to 30 µM), cantharidin exerted a positive concentration-dependent inotropic effect that plateaued at 300 µM in the RAA, LA, and RA preparations. This positive inotropic effect was accompanied by a shortening of the time to relaxation in human atrial preparations (HAPs). Notably, cantharidin did not alter the beating rate in the RA preparations. Furthermore, cantharidin (100 µM) increased the phosphorylation state of phospholamban and the inhibitory subunit of troponin I in RAA preparations, which may account for the faster relaxation observed. The generated data indicate that PP1 and/or PP2A play a functional role in human atrial contractility.
Combining the amplification refractory mutation system and high-resolution melting analysis for KRAS mutation detection in clinical samples
Authors: Oliveira Beatriz B. , Costa Beatriz , Morão Barbara , Faias Sandra , Veigas Bruno , Pereira Lucília Pebre , Albuquerque Cristina , Maio Rui , Cravo Marília , Fernandes Alexandra R. , Baptista Pedro Viana 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe success of personalized medicine depends on the discovery of biomarkers that allow oncologists to identify patients that will benefit from a particular targeted drug. Molecular tests are mostly performed using tumor samples, which may not be representative of the tumor’s temporal and spatial heterogeneity. Liquid biopsies, and particularly the analysis of circulating tumor DNA, are emerging as an interesting means for diagnosis, prognosis, and predictive biomarker discovery. In this study, the amplification refractory mutation system (ARMS) coupled with high-resolution melting analysis (HRMA) was developed for detecting two of the most relevant KRAS mutations in codon 12. After optimization with commercial cancer cell lines, KRAS mutation screening was validated in tumor and plasma samples collected from patients with pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC), and the results were compared to those obtained by Sanger sequencing (SS) and droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR). The developed ARMS-HRMA methodology stands out for its simplicity and reduced time to result when compared to both SS and ddPCR but showing high sensitivity and specificity for the detection of mutations in tumor and plasma samples. In fact, ARMS-HRMA scored 3 more mutations compared to SS (tumor samples T6, T7, and T12) and one more compared to ddPCR (tumor sample T7) in DNA extracted from tumors. For ctDNA from plasma samples, insufficient genetic material prevented the screening of all samples. Still, ARMS-HRMA allowed for scoring more mutations in comparison to SS and 1 more mutation in comparison to ddPCR (plasma sample P7). We propose that ARMS-HRMA might be used as a sensitive, specific, and simple method for the screening of low-level mutations in liquid biopsies, suitable for improving diagnosis and prognosis schemes.
Graphical Abstract
Identification of a novel immune checkpoint molecule V-set immunoglobulin domain-containing 4 that leads to impaired immunity infiltration in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Jiang Yongsheng , Han Lijie , Yang Jian , Yang Minwei , Zhang Jian , Xue Meilin , Zhu Youwei , Xiong Cheng , Shi Minmin , Zhao Shiwei , Shen Baiyong , Xu Zhiwei , Jiang Lingxi , Chen Hao 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Background
Checkpoint-based immunotherapy has failed to elicit responses in the majority of patients with pancreatic cancer. In our study, we aimed to identify the role of a novel immune checkpoint molecule V-set Ig domain-containing 4 (VSIG4) in pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods
Online datasets and tissue microarray (TMA) were utilized to analyze the expression level of VSIG4 and its correlation with clinical parameters in PDAC. CCK8, transwell assay and wound healing assay were applied to explore the function of VSIG4 in vitro. Subcutaneous, orthotopic xenograft and liver metastasis model was established to explore the function of VSIG4 in vivo. TMA analysis and chemotaxis assay were conducted to uncover the effect of VSIG4 on immune infiltration. Histone acetyltransferase (HAT) inhibitors and si-RNA were applied to investigate factors that regulate the expression of VSIG4.

Results
Both mRNA and protein levels of VSIG4 were higher in PDAC than normal pancreas in TCGA, GEO, HPA datasets and our TMA. VSIG4 showed positive correlations with tumor size, T classification and liver metastasis. Patients with higher VSIG4 expression were related to poorer prognosis. VSIG4 knockdown impaired the proliferation and migration ability of pancreatic cancer cells both in vitro and in vivo. Bioinformatics study showed positive correlation between VSIG4 and infiltration of neutrophil and tumor-associated macrophages (TAMs) in PDAC, and it inhibited the secretion of cytokines. According to our TMA panel, high expression of VSIG4 was correlated with fewer infiltration of CD8+ T cells. Chemotaxis assay also showed knockdown of VSIG4 increased the recruitment of total T cells and CD8+ T cells. HAT inhibitors and knockdown of STAT1 led to decreased expression of VSIG4.

Conclusions
Our data indicate that VSIG4 contributes to cell proliferation, migration and resistance to immune attack, thus identified as a promising target for PDAC treatment with good prognostic value.
Tigecycline as salvage treatment of febrile neutropenia in patients with haematological malignancies—a retrospective single-centre analysis of 200 cases
Authors: Geßner Daniel , Berisha Mirjeta , Esser Torben , Schalk Enrico 
Published: April 2023

AbstractTigecycline has been used to treat patients with febrile neutropenia (FN). This study aims to analyse the effectiveness of tigecycline as salvage treatment of FN. Patients records from 09/2004 to 04/2019 were reviewed. Cases were eligible if fever persisted/recurred (p/r-FN) after 3 days of second-line treatment with a carbapenem, and were divided into three groups: switch to tigecycline (TGC group), switch to other antibiotics (OAB group), and no switch (W&W group). The primary endpoint was response rate (defervescence for ≥ 7 days or at least until discharge); the key secondary endpoint was 30-day mortality rate. Two hundred cases from 176 patients (median 59 years; 53.5% men) treated were included, mostly acute myeloid leukaemias (61.0%). 45.5% of cases were in the TGC group (in combination with an anti-pseudomonal antibiotic, mostly ceftazidime [95.6%]); 35.5% were in the OAB and 19.0% in the W&W group. There was no significant difference in response rates (TGC, 73.6%; OAB, 62.0%; W&W, 78.9%; p = 0.12) or 30-day mortality rates (TGC, 7.7%; OAB, 7.0%; W&W, 5.3%; p = 0.94). Tigecycline plus an anti-pseudomonal antibiotic does not improve response or 30-day mortality rate compared to other antibiotics in patients with p/r-FN. Also, in some cases, no switch in antibiotics may be necessary at all.
Dynamic parameterization of a modified SEIRD model to analyze and forecast the dynamics of COVID-19 outbreaks in the United States
Authors: Davarci Orhun O. , Yang Emily Y. , Viguerie Alexander , Yankeelov Thomas E. , Lorenzo Guillermo 
Published: April 2023

AbstractThe rapid spread of the numerous outbreaks of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has fueled interest in mathematical models designed to understand and predict infectious disease spread, with the ultimate goal of contributing to the decision making of public health authorities. Here, we propose a computational pipeline that dynamically parameterizes a modified SEIRD (susceptible-exposed-infected-recovered-deceased) model using standard daily series of COVID-19 cases and deaths, along with isolated estimates of population-level seroprevalence. We test our pipeline in five heavily impacted states of the US (New York, California, Florida, Illinois, and Texas) between March and August 2020, considering two scenarios with different calibration time horizons to assess the update in model performance as new epidemiologic data become available. Our results show a median normalized root mean squared error (NRMSE) of 2.38% and 4.28% in calibrating cumulative cases and deaths in the first scenario, and 2.41% and 2.30% when new data are assimilated in the second scenario, respectively. Then, 2-week (4-week) forecasts of the calibrated model resulted in median NRMSE of cumulative cases and deaths of 5.85% and 4.68% (8.60% and 17.94%) in the first scenario, and 1.86% and 1.93% (2.21% and 1.45%) in the second. Additionally, we show that our method provides significantly more accurate predictions of cases and deaths than a constant parameterization in the second scenario (p < 0.05). Thus, we posit that our methodology is a promising approach to analyze the dynamics of infectious disease outbreaks, and that our forecasts could contribute to designing effective pandemic-arresting public health policies.
Consistency of the regional response to global warming levels from CMIP5 and CORDEX projections
Authors: Diez-Sierra Javier , Iturbide Maialen , Fernández Jesús , Gutiérrez José M. , Milovac Josipa , Cofiño Antonio S. 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAssessing the regional responses to different Global Warming Levels (GWLs; e.g. + 1.5, 2, 3 and 4 ºC) is one of the most important challenges in climate change sciences since the Paris Agreement goal of keeping global temperature increase well below 2 °C with respect to the pre-industrial period. Regional responses to global warming were typically analyzed using global projections from Global Climate Models (GCMs) and, more recently, using higher resolution Regional Climate Models (RCMs) over limited regions. For instance, the IPCC AR6 WGI Atlas provides results of the regional response to different GWLs for several climate variables from both GCMs and RCMs. These results are calculated under the assumption that the regional signal to global warming is consistent between the GCMs and the nested RCMs. In the present study we investigate the above assumption by evaluating the consistency of regional responses to global warming from global (CMIP5) and regional (CORDEX) projections. The dataset aggregated over the new IPCC reference regions, available from the IPCC AR6 WGI Atlas repository, is analyzed here for temperature and precipitation. The existing relationships between the regional climate change signals and global warming are compared for both CMIP5 and CORDEX. Our results show significant linear scaling relationships between regional changes and global warming for most of the regions. CORDEX and CMIP5 show remarkably similar scaling relationships and similar robustness in the emergence of the climate change signal for most of the regions. These results support the use of regional climate models in the context of global warming level studies.
Antibiotic therapy in patients with amniotic fluid sludge and risk of preterm birth: a meta-analysis
Authors: Sapantzoglou I. , Pergialiotis V. , Prokopakis I. , Douligeris A. , Stavros S. , Panagopoulos P. , Theodora M. , Antsaklis P. , Daskalakis G. 
Published: April 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Amniotic Fluid Sludge (AFS) has been theorized to be sonographic evidence of an underlying infection/inflammation and studies have concluded that approximately 10% of the patients who show signs of preterm labor with intact membranes have an underlying intraamniotic infection, mostly subclinical, carrying an increased risk for preterm birth with its subsequent neonatal and maternal complications. The purpose of the present systematic review is to evaluate the impact of antibiotic therapy on preterm birth rates of women diagnosed with AFS.

Methods
We searched Medline, Scopus, the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials CENTRAL, Google Scholar, and Clinicaltrials.gov databases for relevant articles published until the 30th of September 2022. Observational studies (prospective and retrospective) that evaluated the impact of antibiotics on preterm delivery rates of patients with AFS were considered eligible for inclusion. Statistical meta-analysis was performed with RStudio and we calculated pooled risk ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). To evaluate the information size, we performed trial sequential analysis (TSA) and the methodological quality of the included studies was assessed using RoBINS tools.

Results
Overall, four retrospective cohort studies were included in the present systematic review and 369 women were enrolled. We demonstrated that preterm delivery prior to 34, 32 and 28 weeks of gestational age was comparable among the groups of women that had antibiotics and those that did not (OR: 0.34, 95% CI 0.05, 2.14, 0.40 [0.09, 1.66], 0.35 [0.08, 1.58], respectively) but the statistical heterogenicity of the studies included was high for every gestational period that was examined.

Conclusions
According to our study, we cannot conclude that the use of antibiotics in women with amniotic fluid sludge benefit the prognostic risk to deliver prematurely. It is quite clear that data from larger sample sizes and more well adjusted and designed studies are needed.