bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Human umbilical cord mesenchymal stem cell-derived TGFBI attenuates streptozotocin-induced type 1 diabetes mellitus by inhibiting T-cell proliferation
Authors: Wu Chushan , Liu Weijiang , Liu Yuanlin , Xu Tingting , Li Man , Li Xue , Wang Yang , Meng Guangyu , Li Lu , Zheng Rongxiu , Zhang Yi 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMSCs have been demonstrated to have a great benefit for type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) due to their strong immunosuppressive and regenerative capacity. However, the comprehensive mechanism is still unclear. Our previous study indicated that transforming growth factor beta induced (TGFBI) is highly expressed in human umbilical cord-derived mesenchymal stem or stromal cells (hUC-MSCs), which are also implicated in T1DM. In this study, we found that infusion of TGFBI knockdown hUC-MSCs displayed impaired therapeutic effects in T1DM mice and decreased immunosuppressive capability. TGFBI knockdown hUC-MSCs could increase the proportion of T-cell infiltration while increasing the expression of IFN-gamma and interleukin-17A in the spleen. In addition, we also revealed that hUC-MSC-derived TGFBI could repress activated T-cell proliferation by interfering with G1/S checkpoint CyclinD2 expression. Our results demonstrate that TGFBI plays a critical role in MSC immunologic regulation. TGFBI could be a new immunoregulatory molecule controlling MSC function for new treatments of T1DM.
Graphical Abstract
Schematic Representation of the Immunosuppression capacity of hUC-MSC by TGFBI
Short High-Intensity Interval Exercise for Workplace-Based Physical Activity Interventions: A Systematic Review on Feasibility and Effectiveness
Authors: Amatori Stefano , Ferri Marini Carlo , Gobbi Erica , Sisti Davide , Giombini Germana , Rombaldoni Rosalba , Rocchi Marco B. L. , Lucertini Francesco , Federici Ario , Perroni Fabrizio , Calcagnini Giorgio 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Background
Workplace exercise interventions showed good results, but lack of time was often reported as a barrier to participation. To overcome this problem, several studies attempted to implement short high-intensity interval training (HIT) within the workplace.

Objectives
The aim of this systematic review is to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of HIT interventions within the workplace setting.

Data sources
A systematic literature search was conducted in PubMed and SPORTDiscus to identify articles related to HIT within the workplace.

Study eligibility criteria
Only interventions that consisted of HIT programmes within the workplace and tested at least one physiological, psychological, or work-related outcome were included.

Results
Seven studies (317 participants) met the inclusion criteria. HIT interventions lasted 6–12 weeks, with a frequency of 2–4 sessions/week and a duration of 8–30 min per session. Feasibility was qualitatively investigated in four studies, with key positive aspects reported for HIT time-appeal, the sense of competence driven by individual intensity, and improved intention to exercise; five studies reported adherence rates > 80%. Small-to-large effect sizes were reported for improvements in cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness. Small-to-medium effect sizes were reported for blood parameters and health-related quality of life.

Conclusions
HIT interventions in the workplace showed limited effectiveness in improving health-related outcomes, while promising results regarding feasibility were reported, mainly due to the time-efficiency and the positive post-exercise psychosocial responses. However, further high-quality studies involving more participants are still needed to make firm conclusions on HIT effectiveness and feasibility compared to other types of exercise in this context.
An Overview of Stochastic Quasi-Newton Methods for Large-Scale Machine Learning
Authors: Guo Tian-De , Liu Yan , Han Cong-Ying 
Published: February 2023

AbstractNumerous intriguing optimization problems arise as a result of the advancement of machine learning. The stochastic first-order method is the predominant choice for those problems due to its high efficiency. However, the negative effects of noisy gradient estimates and high nonlinearity of the loss function result in a slow convergence rate. Second-order algorithms have their typical advantages in dealing with highly nonlinear and ill-conditioning problems. This paper provides a review on recent developments in stochastic variants of quasi-Newton methods, which construct the Hessian approximations using only gradient information. We concentrate on BFGS-based methods in stochastic settings and highlight the algorithmic improvements that enable the algorithm to work in various scenarios. Future research on stochastic quasi-Newton methods should focus on enhancing its applicability, lowering the computational and storage costs, and improving the convergence rate.
Asthma Exacerbations in Severe Asthma: Why Systemic Corticosteroids May not Always Be the Best Treatment Option
Authors: McDowell P. Jane , Busby J. , Heaney Liam G. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Advances in the management of severe, eosinophilic asthma have improved, but asthma exacerbations continue to occur. This review aims to look at the evidence we have about why exacerbations may occur; their phenotype and why oral corticosteroids may not always be the best treatment option for all exacerbation of symptoms in individuals with severe asthma.

Recent findings
Studies dating back to the 1990s showed that asthma exacerbations across the spectrum of asthma severity were of different inflammatory endotypes. In addition, there is a wealth of evidence suggesting that eosinophilic inflammation is very responsive to corticosteroid therapy, but that non-eosinophilic inflammation is less so. Two recent UK-based studies have undertaken systematic phenotyping of exacerbations in severe asthma and have shown that there are a significant minority of exacerbation events with an increase in asthma symptoms, fall in lung function, but without evidence of raised T2 biomarkers.

Summary
The evidence to date would suggest that T2 biomarker low asthma exacerbations do not benefit from the administration of oral corticosteroids; in fact, the effect of the oral corticosteroids is harmful. However, there is a paucity of data to answer this question directly. Further research is needed to assess the evolution of non-T2 exacerbations not treated with OCS in a randomised, placebo-controlled, manner.
In Graves’ disease, thyroid autoantibodies and ultrasound features correlate with distinctive histological features
Authors: Brancatella A. , Torregrossa L. , Viola N. , Sgrò D. , Casula M. , Basolo F. , Materazzi G. , Marinò M. , Marcocci C. , Santini F. , Latrofa F. 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Laboratory, imaging, and pathological features of Graves’ disease (GD), although well characterized, have been barely correlated each other. Aim of the study was to link laboratory and ultrasound characteristics of GD with its pathological features.

Methods
We correlated laboratory and ultrasound data at the time of diagnosis in 28 consecutive GD patients who underwent thyroidectomy with their pathological features, i.e., lymphocytic infiltration and follicular hyperplasia (both classified as mild or severe).

Results
Thyroid volume correlated positively with the levels of FT4 (P = 0.002, r2 = 0.42), FT3 (P = 0.011, r2 = 0.22), autoantibodies to thyroglobulin (TgAbs) (P = 0.016, r2 = 0.32), autoantibodies to thyroid peroxidase (TPOAbs) (P = 0.011, r2 = 0.34) and the extent of lymphocytic infiltration (P = 0.006 comparing mild to severe lymphocytic infiltration) but not with the levels of autoantibodies to the thyrotropin receptor (TRAbs) and to follicular hyperplasia. Compared to subjects with mild lymphocytic infiltration, those with severe lymphocytic infiltration showed higher levels of TgAbs (316 vs 0.0 IU/mL, P < 0.0001) and TPOAbs (295 IU/mL vs 14 IU/mL, P < 0.0001) and similar levels of TRAbs (7.5 vs 13 IU/mL, P = 0.68). Compared to patients with mild, those with severe follicular hyperplasia had similar levels of TgAbs (76 vs 30 IU/mL, P = 0.31) and TPOAbs (251 IU/mL vs 45 IU/mL, P = 0.26) but higher levels of TRAbs (39 vs 7.2 IU/mL, P < 0.001).

Conclusion
In GD, TgAbs and TPOAbs levels correlate with the extent of lymphocytic infiltration, TRAbs levels with the degree of follicular hyperplasia. Thyroid volume, the main factor influencing the severity of hyperthyroidism, is related to lymphocytic infiltration and not to follicular hyperplasia.
Multiphysics simulation of VVER-1200 fuel performance during normal operating conditions
Authors: Yassin Khaled M. , Hassan Mohamed H. , Ghoneim Mohammad M. , Elkolil Mostafa S. , Alyan Adel , Agamy Said A. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractNuclear fuel performance modeling and simulation are critical tasks for nuclear fuel design optimization and safety analysis under normal and transient conditions. Fuel performance is a complicated phenomenon that involves thermal, mechanical, and irradiation mechanisms and requires special multiphysics modules. In this study, a fuel performance model was developed using the COMSOL Multiphysics platform. The modeling was performed for a 2D axis-symmetric geometry of a UO2 fuel pellet in the E110 clad for VVER-1200 fuel. The modeling considers all relevant phenomena, including heat generation and conduction, gap heat transfer, elastic strain, mechanical contact, thermal expansion, grain growth, densification, fission gas generation and release, fission product swelling, gap/plenum pressure, and cladding thermal and irradiation creep. The model was validated using a code-to-code evaluation of the fuel pellet centerline and surface temperatures in the case of constant power, in addition to validation of fission gas release (FGR) predictions. This prediction proved that the model could perform according to previously published VVER nuclear fuel performance parameters. A sensitivity study was also conducted to assess the effects of uncertainty on some of the model parameters. The model was then used to predict the VVER-1200 fuel performance parameters as a function of burnup, including the temperature profiles, gap width, fission gas release, and plenum pressure. A compilation of related material and thermomechanical models was conducted and included in the modeling to allow the user to investigate different material/performance models. Although the model was developed for normal operating conditions, it can be modified to include off-normal operating conditions.
Grey Relational Analysis–Based MADM Strategy Under Possibility Environment and Its Application in the Identification of Most Important Parameter Affecting Climate Change and the Impact of Urbanization on Hydropower Plants
Authors: Shil Bimal , Sinha Prasenjit , Das Suman , Tripathy Binod Chandra , Poojary Prasanna 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
This paper aims to establish the notion of Hamming distance under the possible environment and propose a multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) strategy based on grey relational analysis (GRA) under the Possibility environment. This study identified the most critical parameter or factors affected by climate change, urbanization, and machine failures. Furthermore, we validate the proposed MADM strategy by solving a real-world numerical example, namely, “identification of the most important parameters affecting climate change and the impact of urbanization on hydropower plants.”
Determination of the Temperature-Dependent Resonance Behavior of Ultrasonic Transducers Using the Finite-Element Method
Authors: Wellendorf Axel , von Damnitz Lukas , Nuri Abdul Wahab , Anders Denis , Trampnau Sebastian 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Purpose
Langevin transducers are ultrasonic transducers that convert electrical into mechanical energy through the piezoelectric effect. This class of transducers achieves the highest efficiency in their mechanical resonance. Studies have shown that the resonant frequency changes with temperature. The aim of this contribution is to reproduce this temperature-dependence resonance frequency as accurately as possible with FEM simulations.

Methods
Therefore, the temperature-dependent resonance behavior of Langevin transducers is examined experimentally. A FEM model is created on the basis of temperature-dependent measured material coefficients. Using parameter correlations and optimization algorithms, the FEM model is fitted and validated by experimental results. Six variants of Langevin transducers are examined in the range from 30 °C to 80 °C with resonance frequencies between 34 and 38 kHz. They differ in three geometries and two materials.

Results
The experimental results show that the resonance frequencies decrease with increasing temperatures by 5.0–19.4 Hz/°C, depending on the material and geometry. As decisive parameters for the model fitting of the FEM results, three function-dependent stiffness coefficients of the piezoelectric material PZT8 and the Young’s moduli of the metallic materials are determined by parameter correlation.

Conclusion
Through the targeted fitting of these function-dependent parameters, the calculation of the resonance frequencies of Langevin transducers can be qualitatively and quantitatively improved, independent of shape and material.
Effect of thermoplastic impregnation on the mechanical behaviour of textile reinforcement for concrete
Authors: Heins Kira , Lesker Sophie , Pütz Julius , Hüntemann Michael , Gries Thomas 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIn recent decades, textile reinforced concrete (TRC) has become increasingly important, both in research and the construction industry. It is a resource-efficient material alternative to conventional, steel reinforced concrete due to the use of non-corroding high-performance textile reinforcements and the resulting material savings. Typically, thermoset polymer materials are used as impregnation for the textile reinforcement to improve the mechanical behaviour. However, due to their chemically crosslinking behaviour, these materials prevent subsequent product-specific shaping of the reinforcement. The use of thermoplastic impregnation materials shows potential to allow shaping by utilizing the thermal forming behaviour, provided that the resulting properties of the reinforcement system in terms of mechanical performance are not inferior to those of the already available impregnations. In this study, four impregnation systems are investigated on AR-glass textiles with regard to their effect on the mechanical behaviour of the reinforcement and classified in comparison to the current benchmark epoxy and styrene butadiene rubber (SBR) by conducting single yarn tensile tests and supporting microscopy analysis. The thermoplastic impregnation increased the tensile strength of the AR glass fibre to values in the range of around 1200 MPa with a low coating content to 1500 MPa with a high coating content. A strong dependence of the impregnation efficiency on the impregnation composition, in this case the solid content of the dispersion, was demonstrated as a result of pore formation. In conclusion, thermoplastic impregnation materials achieve strengths comparable to those of commonly used materials.
The role of entrepreneurship policy and culture in transitional routes from entrepreneurial intention to job creation: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Qin Shuai , Chen Xiaolan 
Published: February 2023

AbstractIt has long been assumed that entrepreneurship has significant social and economic benefits, including the creation of jobs. Based on the literature, however, small businesses have often had difficulty expanding to recruit and even surviving due to their plight. In spite of this, little is known about how institutional factors facilitate and constrain the path from entrepreneurial intention to create jobs. Therefore, we develop and test a moderated mediation model to examine how the government's policymaking and national entrepreneurship culture regulate entrepreneurship-based job creation. With the Adult population survey and the National expert survey of the Global Entrepreneurship Monitor (GEM), this study compiled 417 observations from 39 European and North American countries between 2002 and 2020. We prove the partial mediation effect of entrepreneurial behaviour on the relationship between individuals' entrepreneurial intention and job creation. The findings of our study suggest that institutional changes should be mobilised to relieve the pressures on small business owners instead of residing on size-neutral approaches. Furthermore, a progressive, contextually based entrepreneurial culture serves as a critical stimulant to the growth of latent entrepreneurs and early-stage start-ups. Therefore, the study not only describes a new path that underpins entrepreneurship-based job creation, but also highlights a new motive for necessary institutional change.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: How Have the COVID-19 Pandemic and Market Sentiment Affected the FX Market? Evidence from Statistical Models and Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Luo Hang , Luo Xiaoyu , Gu Shuhao 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThis paper attempts to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and market sentiment on the dynamics of USD/JPY, GBP/USD, and USD/CNY. We compose the market sentiment variable and incorporate the newly confirmed COVID-19 cases and sentiment variable into the traditional exchange rate forecasting model. We find that confirmed COVID-19 cases and sentiment variables in the US, Japan, UK, and China in the period of January 23rd, 2020 to September 14th, 2021 are significant in explaining the bilateral exchange rate movement. Recurrent neural network (RNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) models outperform the other deep learning models and vector autoregressive (VAR) model in forecasting the bilateral exchange rate movement during the COVID-19 pandemic period. Further analysis using high-frequency intraday data and ensemble models shows that ensemble models significantly improve the accuracy of exchange rate prediction, as they are better at coping with the nonlinear and nonstationary features of exchange rate time series.
Effects of High Temperature on COVID‐19 Deaths in U.S. Counties
Authors: Chu Bowen , Chen Renjie , Liu Qi , Wang Haikun 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe United States of America (USA) was afflicted by extreme heat in the summer of 2021 and some states experienced a record‐hot or top‐10 hottest summer. Meanwhile, the United States was also one of the countries impacted most by the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic. Growing numbers of studies have revealed that meteorological factors such as temperature may influence the number of confirmed COVID‐19 cases and deaths. However, the associations between temperature and COVID‐19 severity differ in various study areas and periods, especially in periods of high temperatures. Here we choose 119 US counties with large counts of COVID‐19 deaths during the summer of 2021 to examine the relationship between COVID‐19 deaths and temperature by applying a two‐stage epidemiological analytical approach. We also calculate the years of life lost (YLL) owing to COVID‐19 and the corresponding values attributable to high temperature exposure. The daily mean temperature is approximately positively correlated with COVID‐19 deaths nationwide, with a relative risk of 1.108 (95% confidence interval: 1.046, 1.173) in the 90th percentile of the mean temperature distribution compared with the median temperature. In addition, 0.02 YLL per COVID‐19 death attributable to high temperature are estimated at the national level, and distinct spatial variability from −0.10 to 0.08 years is observed in different states. Our results provide new evidence on the relationship between high temperature and COVID‐19 deaths, which might help us to understand the underlying modulation of the COVID‐19 pandemic by meteorological variables and to develop epidemic policy response strategies.
Has There Been a Recent Shallowing of Tropical Cyclones?
Authors: Lai Tsz‐Kin , Toumi Ralf 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMany aspects of tropical cyclone (TC) properties at the surface have been changing but any systematic vertical changes are unknown. Here, we document a recent trend of high thick clouds of TCs. The global inner‐core high thick cloud fraction measured by satellite has decreased from 2002 to 2021 by about 10% per decade. The TC inner‐core surface rain rate is also found to have decreased during the same period by a similar percentage. This suppression of high thick clouds and rain has been largest during the intensification phase of the strongest TCs. Hence, these two independent and consistent observations suggest that the TC inner‐core convection has weakened and that TCs have become shallower recently at least. For this period, the lifetime maximum intensity of major TCs has not changed and this suggests an increased efficiency of the spin‐up of TCs.
Electron Energization by Inertial Alfvén Waves in Density Depleted Flux Tubes at Jupiter
Authors: Damiano P. A. , Delamere P. A. , Kim E.‐H. , Johnson J. R. , Ng C. S. 
Published: February 2023

AbstractJuno satellite observations have illustrated substantial examples of broadband electron energization up to 105–106 eV levels. In order to explain these observations, we use a hybrid gyrofluid kinetic‐electron model in an untilted dipolar topology to illustrate energization to high levels in weak current conditions by inertial Alfvén waves close to the Jupiter ionosphere for ambient plasma densities and magnetic field perturbations inferred from Juno satellite observations. The key to the high energization is the extremely low densities evident in the observations which necessitates the acceleration of electrons to very high velocities in order to carry the field‐aligned current.
Iceland Kinematics From InSAR
Authors: Cao Yunmeng , Jónsson Sigurjón , Hreinsdóttir Sigrún 
Published: February 2023

AbstractLarge‐scale ground deformation in Iceland is dominated by extensional plate‐boundary deformation, where the Mid‐Atlantic Ridge crosses the island, and by uplift due to glacial isostatic adjustment (GIA) from thinning and retreat of glaciers. While this deformation is mostly steady over multiple years, it is modulated by smaller‐scale transient deformation associated with, for example, earthquakes, volcanic unrest, and geothermal exploitation. Here, we combine countrywide Sentinel‐1 interferometric synthetic aperture radar (InSAR) data (from six tracks) from 2015 to 2021 with continuous Global Navigation Satellite System observations to produce time series of displacements across Iceland. The InSAR results were improved in a two‐step tropospheric mitigation procedure, using (a) global atmospheric models to reduce long‐wavelength and topography‐correlated tropospheric signals, and (b) modeling of the stochastic properties of the residual troposphere. Our results significantly improve upon earlier countrywide InSAR results, which were based on InSAR stacking, as we use more data, better data weighting, and advanced InSAR corrections to produce time series of ground displacements instead of just velocities. We fuse the three ascending and three descending track results to estimate maps of East and Up velocities, which clearly show the large‐scale extension and GIA deformation. Using revised plate‐spreading and GIA models, based on these new ground velocity maps, we remove the large‐scale and steady deformation from the InSAR time series and analyze the remaining transient deformations. Our results demonstrate the importance of (a) mitigating InSAR tropospheric signals over Iceland and of (b) solving for time series of deformation, not just velocities, as multiple transient deformation processes are present.