bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of Meteorological Drought under the Climate Change in the Kabul River Basin, Afghanistan
Authors: Sidiqi Massouda , Kasiviswanathan Kasiapillai S. , Scheytt Traugott , Devaraj Suresh
Published: March 2023

Kabul River Basin is one of the most significant river basins in Afghanistan from a socio-economic perspective. Since the country is located in an arid climate zone with drastically varying climatic behavior, an effective assessment of meteorological drought is very essential to managing the limited availability of water resources. For this endeavor, the outputs of three general circulation models under two representative concentration pathways (RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5) were used against the baseline period of 1961–1980. Different bias correction methods were applied, and the results show that the delta change method, quantile mapping method, and empirical quantile mapping all performed better for the precipitation, maximum temperature, and minimum temperature datasets, respectively. The ERA5-Land datasets and WorldClim Version 2 are used to validate the bias-corrected precipitation and temperature datasets, respectively, to determine their dependability, and the results were found to be promising. Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI), Reconnaissance Drought Index (RDI), Deciles Index (DI), and New Drought Index (NDI) were used to assess the drought condition in the past and forecast for the future periods of the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s. The spatial distribution of assessed drought indices was mapped using the inverse distance weighting (IDW) method. Our results revealed that moderate to extreme droughts are consistent across the entire basin. This might be because the projected annual precipitation in the river basin shows a decline of 53–65% up to the end of this century (2100), and the average annual temperature is projected to increase by 1.8 °C, 3.5 °C, and 4.8 °C, respectively, for the three future periods of the 2020s, 2050s, and 2080s. Furthermore, the results show that the drought estimated by SPI and RDI for future climate scenarios is almost the same, whereas NDI estimates frequent drought events after the 2050s. However, for moderate drought, RDI, which includes the effects of evapotranspiration, was found to be far greater than SPI under both scenarios, and NDI considering temperature and precipitation also estimates a larger number of drought years, strengthening the possibility of its occurrence in the basin. A regional comparison of drought also indicates a decrease in precipitation in future periods, predominantly in high altitudes.
ST-CenterNet: Small Target Detection Algorithm with Adaptive Data Enhancement
Authors: Guo Yujie , Lu Xu
Published: March 2023

General target detection with deep learning has made tremendous strides in the past few years. However, small target detection sometimes is associated with insufficient sample size and difficulty in extracting complete feature information. For safety during autonomous driving, remote signs and pedestrians need to be detected from driving scenes photographed by car cameras. In the early period of a medical lesion, because of the small area of the lesion, target detection is of great significance to detect masses and tumors for accurate diagnosis and treatment. To deal with these problems, we propose a novel deep learning model, named CenterNet for small targets (ST-CenterNet). First of all, due to the lack of visual information on small targets in the dataset, we extracted less discriminative features. To overcome this shortcoming, the proposed selective small target replication algorithm (SSTRA) was used to realize increasing numbers of small targets by selectively oversampling them. In addition, the difficulty of extracting shallow semantic information for small targets results in incomplete target feature information. Consequently, we developed a target adaptation feature extraction module (TAFEM), which was used to conduct bottom-up and top-down bidirectional feature extraction by combining ResNet with the adaptive feature pyramid network (AFPN). The improved new network model, AFPN, was added to solve the problem of the original feature extraction module, which can only extract the last layer of the feature information. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can accurately detect the small-scale image of distributed targets and simultaneously, at the pixel level, classify whether a subject is wearing a safety helmet. Compared with the detection effect of the original algorithm on the safety helmet wearing dataset (SHWD), we achieved mean average precision (mAP) of 89.06% and frames per second (FPS) of 28.96, an improvement of 18.08% mAP over the previous method.
On the Secure Performance of Intelligent Reflecting Surface-Assisted HARQ Systems
Authors: Wu Yue , Mu Kuanlin , Duan Kaiyu , Yin Shishu , Yang Hongwen
Published: March 2023

This paper analyzes the physical layer security performance of hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ) systems with the assistance of an intelligent reflecting surface (IRS) and aims to reveal the primary factors that enhance PLS. First, closed-form expressions for the connection outage probability (COP) and secrecy outage probability (SOP) in HARQ with chase combining (HARQ-CC) are acquired using the generalized-K (KG) distribution. Then, these two critical metrics are derived while adopting HARQ with incremental redundancy (HARQ-IR), resorting to the mixture gamma (MG) distribution and the Mellin transform. Diversity and coding gain are also addressed through an asymptotic analysis of the COP and SOP. Finally, an evaluation of the numerical results demonstrates that a greater gain in the main channel and the wiretap channel can be produced by increasing the number of meta-surfaces rather than increasing the maximum transmission number, except for the higher signal-to-noise (SNR) region of HARQ-IR where the latter is preferred. This finding provides a significant guidance for the joint configuration of IRS and HARQ to achieve secure communication.
Analyzing the Effect of Imputation on Classification Performance under MCAR and MAR Missing Mechanisms
Authors: Buczak Philip , Chen Jian-Jia , Pauly Markus
Published: March 2023

Many datasets in statistical analyses contain missing values. As omitting observations containing missing entries may lead to information loss or greatly reduce the sample size, imputation is usually preferable. However, imputation can also introduce bias and impact the quality and validity of subsequent analysis. Focusing on binary classification problems, we analyzed how missing value imputation under MCAR as well as MAR missingness with different missing patterns affects the predictive performance of subsequent classification. To this end, we compared imputation methods such as several MICE variants, missForest, Hot Deck as well as mean imputation with regard to the classification performance achieved with commonly used classifiers such as Random Forest, Extreme Gradient Boosting, Support Vector Machine and regularized logistic regression. Our simulation results showed that Random Forest based imputation (i.e., MICE Random Forest and missForest) performed particularly well in most scenarios studied. In addition to these two methods, simple mean imputation also proved to be useful, especially when many features (covariates) contained missing values.
A Dynamic Heat Pump Model for Indoor Climate Control of a Broiler House
Authors: Tyris Dimitrios , Gkountas Apostolos , Bakalis Panteleimon , Panagakis Panagiotis , Manolakos Dimitris
Published: March 2023

Environment control systems in broiler houses utilize non-renewable electricity and fuels as energy sources, contributing to the increase in greenhouse gases, while not providing optimal conditions. The heat pump (HP) is an energy-efficient technology that can continuously regulate the indoor temperature and relative humidity by combining different operation modes (heating, cooling, and dehumidifying). The current study presents an analytical numerical model developed in Simulink, capable of simulating the thermal loads of a broiler house and the dynamic operation of three heat pumps to cover its needs. Outdoor climatic conditions and broilers’ heat production are used as inputs, while all the heat exchange mechanisms with the external environment are considered. The study investigates the energy use and performance of each HP mode under different environmental conditions. A total of 7 different production periods (PPs) are simulated for a 10,000-broiler house in northern Greece, showing total energy consumption of 18.5 kWh/m2, 43.4 kWh/m2, and 58.7 kWh/m2 for heating, cooling, and dehumidifying, respectively. The seasonal coefficient of performance (SCOP) reaches above 3.1 and 4.8 for heating and dehumidifying, respectively, while the seasonal energy efficiency ratio (SEER) for cooling is above 3.7. Finally, focusing on the two warmer periods, a comparison between cooling with and without evaporative pads was performed, showing similar energy consumption.
Validation of a Method to Select a Priori the Number of Typical Days for Energy System Optimisation Models
Authors: Thiran Paolo , Jeanmart Hervé , Contino Francesco
Published: March 2023

Studying a large number of scenarios is necessary to consider the uncertainty inherent to the energy transition. In addition, the integration of intermittent renewable energy sources requires complex energy system models. Typical days clustering is a commonly used technique to ensure the computational tractability of energy system optimisation models, while keeping an hourly time step. Its capability to accurately approximate the full-year time series with a reduced number of days has been demonstrated (i.e., a priori evaluation). However, its impact on the results of the energy system model (i.e., a posteriori evaluation) is rarely studied and was never studied on a multi-regional whole-energy system. To address this issue, the multi-regional whole-energy system optimisation model, EnergyScope Multi-Cells, is used to optimise the design and operation of multiple interconnected regions. It is applied to nine diverse cases with different numbers of typical days. A bottom-up a posteriori metric, the design error, is developed and analysed in these cases to find trade-offs between the accuracy and the computational cost of the model. Using 10 typical days divides the computational time by 8.6 to 23.8, according to the case, and ensures a design error below 17%. In all cases studied, the time series error is a good prediction of the design error. Hence, this a priori metric can be used to select the number of typical days for a new case study without running the energy system optimisation model.
Solar-Thermal-Chemical Integrated Design of a Cavity-Type Solar-Driven Methane Dry Reforming Reactor
Authors: Dai Zhou-Qiao , Ma Xu , Tang Xin-Yuan , Zhang Ren-Zhong , Yang Wei-Wei
Published: March 2023

In this work, the solar-thermal-chemical integrated design for a methane dry reforming reactor with cavity-type solar absorption was numerically performed. Combined with a multiphysical reactor model, the gradient optimization algorithm was used to find optimal radiation flux distribution with fixed total incident solar energy for maximizing overall hydrogen yield, defined as the ratio of molar flow of exported hydrogen to imported methane, which can be applied for guiding the optical property design of solar adsorption surface. The comprehensive performances of the reactor under the conditions of original solar flux and optimal solar flux were analyzed and compared. The results show that for the inlet volume flow rate of 8–14 L·min−1, the hydrogen production rate was increased by up to 5.10%, the energy storage efficiency was increased by up to 5.55%, and the methane conversion rate was increased by up to 6.01%. Finally, the local absorptivities of the solar-absorptive coating on the cavity walls were optimized and determined using a genetic algorithm, which could realize the predicted optimal radiation flux distribution.
Optimal Allocation of PV-STATCOM Devices in Distribution Systems for Energy Losses Minimization and Voltage Profile Improvement via Hunter-Prey-Based Algorithm
Authors: Shaheen Abdullah M. , El-Sehiemy Ragab A. , Ginidi Ahmed , Elsayed Abdallah M. , Al-Gahtani Saad F.
Published: March 2023

Incorporating photovoltaic (PV) inverters in power distribution systems via static synchronous compensators (PV-STATCOM) during the nighttime has lately been described as a solution to improve network performance. Hunter prey optimization (HPO) is introduced in this study for efficient PV-STATCOM device allocation in distribution systems. HPO generates numerous scenarios for how animals could act when hunting, some of which have been expanded into stochastic optimization. The PV-STATCOM device allocation issue in distribution networks is structured to simultaneously minimize the electrical energy losses and improve the voltage profile while accounting for variable 24 h loadings. The impacts of varying the number of installed PV-STATCOM devices are investigated in distribution systems. It is tested on two IEEE 33-node and 69-node distribution networks. The effectiveness of the proposed HPO is demonstrated in comparison to the differential evolution (DE) algorithm, particle swarm optimization (PSO), artificial rabbits algorithm (ARA), and golden search optimizer (GSO). The simulation results demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed HPO in adequately allocating the PV-STATCOM devices in distribution systems. For the IEEE 33-node distribution network, the energy losses are considerably decreased by 57.77%, and the voltages variance sum is significantly reduced by 42.84%. The energy losses in the IEEE 69-node distribution network decreased by 57.89%, while voltage variations are reduced by 44.69%. Additionally, the suggested HPO is highly consistent than the DE, PSO, ARA, and GSO. Furthermore, throughout the day, the voltage profile at all distribution nodes surpasses the minimum requirement of 95%.
Numerical Analysis of Heat Transfer within a Rotary Multi-Vane Expander
Authors: Błasiak Przemysław , Kolasiński Piotr , Daniarta Sindu
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the results of numerical investigations on heat transfer in a multi-vane expander (MVE) are reported. MVEs are very interesting for various technological applications because of their advantages (such as, for example, low gas flow capacity and a low expansion ratio). According to a literature study, the heat exchange mechanisms occurring in these machines have not yet undergone in-depth analysis. As a result, there have been very few experimental or modeling results connected to these unquestionably significant processes from both a scientific and practical perspective. Despite the fact that several analytical models have been developed for these phenomena, there is no numerical model dedicated to an MVE. This model was developed by the authors and presented in this paper together with modeling results. Numerical simulations were executed in the ANSYS CFX and focused on defining the expander heat transfer coefficients under various flow circumstances. The results showed inside heat transfer processes in MVEs and, moreover, it was discovered that, in the gap between the vane and the cylinder, there are changes in the fluid’s velocity profile.
Mathematical Model of Heat Conduction for a Semi-Infinite Body, Taking into Account Memory Effects and Spatial Correlations
Authors: Beybalaev Vetlugin D. , Aliverdiev Abutrab A. , Yakubov Amuchi Z. , Ninalalov Said A. , Amirova Anise A.
Published: March 2023

One of the promising approaches to the description of many physical processes is the use of the fractional derivative mathematical apparatus. Fractional dimensions very often arise when modeling various processes in fractal (multi-scale and self-similar) environments. In a fractal medium, in contrast to an ordinary continuous medium, a randomly wandering particle moves away from the reference point more slowly since not all directions of motion become available to it. The slowdown of the diffusion process in fractal media is so significant that physical quantities begin to change more slowly than in ordinary media.This effect can only be taken into account with the help of integral and differential equations containing a fractional derivative with respect to time. Here, the problem of heat and mass transfer in media with a fractal structure was posed and analytically solved when a heat flux was specified on one of the boundaries. The second initial boundary value problem for the heat equation with a fractional Caputo derivative with respect to time and the Riesz derivative with respect to the spatial variable was studied. A theorem on the semigroup property of the fractional Riesz derivative was proved. To find a solution, the problem was reduced to a boundary value problem with boundary conditions of the first kind. The solution to the problem was found by applying the Fourier transform in the spatial variable and the Laplace transform in time. A computational experiment was carried out to analyze the obtained solutions. Graphs of the temperature distribution dependent on the coordinate and time were constructed.
“There’s Something There in That Hyphen”: The Lived Experiences of Asian and Asian American Higher Education Students in the Southwest Borderlands of the United States
Authors: Pedraza Chadrhyn A. A.
Published: March 2023

For centuries, Asians living in the U.S. have had to negotiate between the narratives that dominant society has imposed upon them and their understanding of what it means to be Asian and Asian American. When combined with the hierarchies of racial categories, the narratives underlying monoracialism are inherently limiting, obscuring their nuanced experiences, and stripping them of their ability to express the personal constructions of their identity The purpose of this qualitative case study was to elevate the voices of Asians and Asian Americans, their process of “inventing” their identity, and how their conceptualizations begin to deconstruct and challenge monoracialism. I argue that Asians and Asian Americans engage in a process where the interpretation and revision of meaning that emerges during interactions with others can illuminate the role of master narratives and how they negotiate between these structural factors and their ideas of what it means to be Asian or Asian American. The findings suggest a negotiation between master narratives at the macro-, meso-, and micro-societal levels that help them understand what it means to be Asian and Asian American.
Mapping Materials and Dyes on Historic Tapestries Using Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Vlachou-Mogire Constantina , Danskin Jon , Gilchrist John R. , Hallett Kathryn
Published: March 2023

Hyperspectral imaging has emerged as a promising analytical method of artwork due to its potential in combining non-invasive analytical capabilities and imaging allowing the survey of the entire (or of a large area of the) surface of an artwork, which is a highly significant application for historic tapestries. This project deployed a high-resolution ClydeHSI Art Scanner, which was used with both a push-broom visible to very-near infrared (VNIR; 400–1000 nm) and near infrared (NIR; 900–1700 nm) hyperspectral cameras. Initial testing focused on the characterisation and mapping of the different materials used on historic tapestries (wool, silk, metal threads). To facilitate the dye characterisation, a collection of wool and silk samples dyed with recipes based on medieval practices was used. The samples measured using the system and the data collected formed an external reference library including the type of the natural dyes and mordants used during their production. The outcomes of the on-site deployment of this analytical instrumentation for the characterisation and analysis of 16th century tapestries on display at Hampton Court Palace will be discussed.
Beyond Visual Assessment of Basal Ganglia Uptake: Can Automated Method and Pineal Body Uptake Assessment Improve Identification of Nigrostriatal Dysfunction on 18F-DOPA PET/CT?
Authors: Hazut Krauthammer Shir , Cohen Dan , Even-Sapir Einat , Lerman Hedva
Published: March 2023

The interpretation of 18F-DOPA PET/CT performed for assessing nigrostriatal dysfunction (NSD) is usually based on visual assessment of the uptake in the basal ganglia (VA-BG). In the present study, we evaluate the diagnostic performance of an automated method that assesses BG uptake (AM-BG) and of methods that assess pineal body uptake, and examine whether these methods can enhance the diagnostic performance of VA-BG alone. We retrospectively included 112 scans performed in patients with clinically suspected NSD who also had a subsequent final clinical diagnosis provided by a movement disorder specialist (69 NSD and 43 non-NSD patients). All scans were categorized as positive or negative based on (1) VA-BG, (2) AM-BG, and (3) qualitative and semiquantitative assessment of pineal body uptake. VA-BG, AM-BG, assessment of pineal body 18F-DOPA uptake by VA (uptake > background), by SUVmax (≥0.72), and by pineal to occipital ratio (POR ≥ 1.57) could all significantly differentiate NSD from non-NSD patients (Pv < 0.01 for all five methods). Of these methods, VA-BG provided the highest sensitivity (88.4%) and accuracy (90.2%). Combining VA-BG with AM-BG did not improve diagnostic accuracy. An interpretation algorithm that combines VA-BG with pineal body uptake assessment by POR calculation increased sensitivity to 98.5%, at the expense of decreased specificity. In conclusion, an automated method that assesses 18F-DOPA uptake in the BG and assessment of pineal body 18F-DOPA uptake can significantly separate NSD from non-NSD patients, with apparent inferior diagnostic performance when applied alone compared with VA-BG. When VA-BG categorizes a scan as negative or equivocal, assessment of the 18F-DOPA uptake in the pineal body has the potential to minimize the rate of false negative reports. Further research is essential to validate this approach and to study the pathophysiologic relationship between 18F-DOPA uptake in the pineal body and nigrostriatal dysfunction.
Triazine Herbicides Risk Management Strategies on Environmental and Human Health Aspects Using In-Silico Methods
Authors: Yao Tianfu , Sun Peixuan , Zhao Wenjin
Published: March 2023

As an effective herbicide, 1, 3, 5-Triazine herbicides (S-THs) are used widely in the pesticide market. However, due to their chemical properties, S-THs severely threaten the environment and human health (e.g., human lung cytotoxicity). In this study, molecular docking, Analytic Hierarchy Process—Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to the Ideal Solution (AHP-TOPSIS), and a three-dimensional quantitative structure-active relationship (3D-QSAR) model were used to design S-TH substitutes with high herbicidal functionality, high microbial degradability, and low human lung cytotoxicity. We discovered a substitute, Derivative-5, with excellent overall performance. Furthermore, Taguchi orthogonal experiments, full factorial design of experiments, and the molecular dynamics method were used to identify three chemicals (namely, the coexistence of aspartic acid, alanine, and glycine) that could promote the degradation of S-THs in maize cropping fields. Finally, density functional theory (DFT), Estimation Programs Interface (EPI), pharmacokinetic, and toxicokinetic methods were used to further verify the high microbial degradability, favorable aquatic environment, and human health friendliness of Derivative 5. This study provided a new direction for further optimizations of novel pesticide chemicals.
Kinetic Aspects of Benzene Degradation over TiO2-N and Composite Fe/Bi2WO6/TiO2-N Photocatalysts under Irradiation with Visible Light
Authors: Lyulyukin Mikhail , Kovalevskiy Nikita , Bukhtiyarov Andrey , Kozlov Denis , Selishchev Dmitry
Published: March 2023

In this study, composite materials based on nanocrystalline anatase TiO2 doped with nitrogen and bismuth tungstate are synthesized using a hydrothermal method. All samples are tested in the oxidation of volatile organic compounds under visible light to find the correlations between their physicochemical characteristics and photocatalytic activity. The kinetic aspects are studied both in batch and continuous-flow reactors, using ethanol and benzene as test compounds. The Bi2WO6/TiO2-N heterostructure enhanced with Fe species efficiently utilizes visible light in the blue region and exhibits much higher activity in the degradation of ethanol vapor than pristine TiO2-N. However, an increased activity of Fe/Bi2WO6/TiO2-N can have an adverse effect in the degradation of benzene vapor. A temporary deactivation of the photocatalyst can occur at a high concentration of benzene due to the fast accumulation of non-volatile intermediates on its surface. The formed intermediates suppress the adsorption of the initial benzene and substantially increase the time required for its complete removal from the gas phase. An increase in temperature up to 140 °C makes it possible to increase the rate of the overall oxidation process, and the use of the Fe/Bi2WO6/TiO2-N composite improves the selectivity of oxidation compared to pristine TiO2-N.
Counteracting Colon Cancer by Inhibiting Mitochondrial Respiration and Glycolysis with a Selective PKCδ Activator
Authors: Bessa Cláudia , Loureiro Joana B. , Barros Matilde , Isca Vera M. S. , Sardão Vilma A. , Oliveira Paulo J. , Bernardino Raquel L. , Herman-de-Sousa Carina , Costa Maria Adelina , Correia-de-Sá Paulo , Alves Marco G. , Rijo Patrícia , Saraiva Lucília
Published: March 2023

Metabolic reprogramming is a central hub in tumor development and progression. Therefore, several efforts have been developed to find improved therapeutic approaches targeting cancer cell metabolism. Recently, we identified the 7α-acetoxy-6β-benzoyloxy-12-O-benzoylroyleanone (Roy-Bz) as a PKCδ-selective activator with potent anti-proliferative activity in colon cancer by stimulating a PKCδ-dependent mitochondrial apoptotic pathway. Herein, we investigated whether the antitumor activity of Roy-Bz, in colon cancer, could be related to glucose metabolism interference. The results showed that Roy-Bz decreased the mitochondrial respiration in human colon HCT116 cancer cells, by reducing electron transfer chain complexes I/III. Consistently, this effect was associated with downregulation of the mitochondrial markers cytochrome c oxidase subunit 4 (COX4), voltage-dependent anion channel (VDAC) and mitochondrial import receptor subunit TOM20 homolog (TOM20), and upregulation of synthesis of cytochrome c oxidase 2 (SCO2). Roy-Bz also dropped glycolysis, decreasing the expression of critical glycolytic markers directly implicated in glucose metabolism such as glucose transporter 1 (GLUT1), hexokinase 2 (HK2) and monocarboxylate transporter 4 (MCT4), and increasing TP53-induced glycolysis and apoptosis regulator (TIGAR) protein levels. These results were further corroborated in tumor xenografts of colon cancer. Altogether, using a PKCδ-selective activator, this work evidenced a potential dual role of PKCδ in tumor cell metabolism, resulting from the inhibition of both mitochondrial respiration and glycolysis. Additionally, it reinforces the antitumor therapeutic potential of Roy-Bz in colon cancer by targeting glucose metabolism.
Combination Therapies Targeting Apoptosis in Paediatric AML: Understanding the Molecular Mechanisms of AML Treatments Using Phosphoproteomics
Authors: Ali Ahlam A. , Cairns Lauren V. , Clarke Kathryn M. , Blayney Jaine K. , Lappin Katrina M. , Mills Ken I.
Published: March 2023

Paediatric acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) continues to present treatment challenges, as no “standard approach” exists to treat those young patients reliably and safely. Combination therapies could become a viable treatment option for treating young patients with AML, allowing multiple pathways to be targeted. Our in silico analysis of AML patients highlighted “cell death and survival” as an aberrant, potentially targetable pathway in paediatric AML patients. Therefore, we aimed to identify novel combination therapies to target apoptosis. Our apoptotic drug screening resulted in the identification of one potential “novel” drug pairing, comprising the Bcl-2 inhibitor ABT-737 combined with the CDK inhibitor Purvalanol-A, as well as one triple combination of ABT-737 + AKT inhibitor + SU9516, which showed significant synergism in a series of paediatric AML cell lines. Using a phosphoproteomic approach to understand the apoptotic mechanism involved, proteins related to apoptotic cell death and cell survival were represented, in agreement with further results showing differentially expressed apoptotic proteins and their phosphorylated forms among combination treatments compared to single-agent treated cells such upregulation of BAX and its phosphorylated form (Thr167), dephosphorylation of BAD (Ser 112), and downregulation of MCL-1 and its phosphorylated form (Ser159/Thr 163). Total levels of Bcl-2 were decreased but correlated with increased levels of phosphorylated Bcl-2, which was consistent with our phosphoproteomic analysis predictions. Bcl-2 phosphorylation was regulated by extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) but not PP2A phosphatase. Although the mechanism linking to Bcl-2 phosphorylation remains to be determined, our findings provide first-hand insights on potential novel combination treatments for AML.
PLDLA/TPU Matrix Enriched with Cyclosporine A as a Therapeutic Platform for Immune-Mediated Keratitis (IMMK) in Horses
Authors: Padjasek Martyna , Cisło-Sankowska Anna , Lis-Bartos Anna , Qasem Badr , Marycz Krzysztof
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this study was to describe the use of PLDLA/TPU matrix enriched with cyclosporine A (CsA) as a therapeutic platform in horses with immune-mediated keratitis (IMMK) with an in vitro evaluation CsA release and degradation of the blend as well as determination of the safety and efficacy of that platform used in the animal model. The kinetics of the CsA release from matrices constructed of thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU) polymer and a copolymer of L-lactide with DL-lactide (PLDLA) (80:20) in the TPU (10%) and a PLDL (90%) polymer blend were studied. Moreover, we used the STF (Simulated Tear Fluid) at 37 °C as a biological environment to assess the CsA release and its degradation. Additionally, the platform described above was injected subconjunctival in the dorsolateral quadrant of the globe after standing sedation of horses with diagnosed superficial and mid-stromal IMMK. The obtained results indicated that the CsA release rate in the fifth week of the study increased significantly by the value of 0.3% compared to previous weeks. In all of the cases, the TPU/PLA doped with 12 mg of the CsA platform effectively reduced the clinical symptoms of keratitis, leading to the complete remission of the corneal opacity and infiltration four weeks post-injection. The results from this study showed that the PLDLA/TPU matrix enriched with the CsA platform was well tolerated by the equine model and effective in treating superficial and mid-stromal IMMK.
Characterization and Co-Adsorption Mechanism of Magnetic Clay-Biochar Composite for De-Risking Cd(II) and Methyl Orange Contaminated Water
Authors: Zhao Fengxiao , Shan Rui , Li Shuang , Yuan Haoran , Chen Yong
Published: March 2023

The application of the adsorption method in sewage treatment has recently become a hot spot. A novel magnetic clay-biochar composite (BNT-MBC) was fabricated by co-pyrolysis of bentonite and biomass after being impregnated with Fe (NO3)3·9H2O. Its adsorption capacity for Cd(II) and methyl orange was approximately doubled, reaching a maximum of 26.22 and 63.34 mg/g, and could be easily separated from the solution by using external magnets with its saturation magnetization of 9.71 emu/g. A series of characterizations including surface morphology and pore structure, elemental analysis, functional group analysis and graphitization were carried out, showing that the specific surface area was increased 50 times by loading 20 wt.% bentonite, while its graphitization and oxygen-containing functional groups were also enhanced. The isotherm fitting indicated that Cd(II) was adsorbed in multiple layers, while methyl orange was in both monolayer and multilayer adsorptions. The kinetic fitting indicated that chemisorption was the rate-limiting step of both, and it was also a complex process controlled by two steps with the fitting of intra-particle diffusion. In the binary system of Cd(II) and methyl orange, the co-existing pollutants facilitated the adsorption of the original one, and there was no competition between adsorption sites of Cd(II) and methyl orange. BNT-MBC also exhibited good reusability and can be magnetically recovered for recycling. Thus, the magnetic clay-biochar composite BNT-MBC is a cost-effective and promising adsorbent for simultaneous removing Cd(II) and methyl orange from wastewater.
Women’s Cardiovascular Health: Prioritizing the Majority Minority
Authors: Bortnick Anna E. , Pllana Edita , Wolfe Diana S. , Taub Cynthia C.
Published: March 2023

Women make up the majority of the global population, and [...]
Flexural Behaviour of Foam Cored Sandwich Structures with Through-Thickness Reinforcements
Authors: Bragagnolo Ghilané , Crocombe Andrew D. , Ogin Stephen L. , Sordon Alessandro , Mohagheghian Iman
Published: March 2023

Composite sandwich structures are well-suited for applications requiring high bending strength, flexural rigidity, crashworthiness, and light weight. However, skin–core debonding and core failure remain a barrier to optimal structural performance when polymeric foams are used as core materials. Suppressing or compartmentalising these failure modes can enhance the structural integrity of sandwich structures. In this paper, the flexural response of a sandwich structure was improved by adding carbon fibre-reinforced plastic in the form of through-thickness ribs during the manufacturing process. The effect of the position of the ribs was investigated using a quasi-static three-point bend test. A camera was used to capture failure events, while the digital image correlation technique provided the full-strain field at different stages of loading. Improved flexural performance was obtained when a reinforcement was placed on either side of the loading roller. With this configuration, skin–core debonding was restricted to a confined portion of the panel, resulting in a more localised and stable fracture process, which involved enhanced foam crushing and hardening. A simple FEA approach has been adopted in this paper and has proven to be an effective approach for capturing the details of the failure process, including the debonding in the composite foam structures, without the need for complex and computationally expensive interface modelling.
The Role of Context in Learning to Read Languages That Use Different Writing Systems and Scripts: Urdu and English
Authors: Mirza Amna , Gottardo Alexandra
Published: March 2023

Language learning involves linguistic and societal factors that interact to facilitate or hinder second language learning. Different contextual factors provide an opportunity to examine and understand the similarities and differences that occur among bilingual children who learn the same first (L1) and second language (L2) in different countries and contexts. This paper explored the role of context, learners’ profiles and linguistic differences of Urdu–English bilinguals in Canada and Pakistan. Within- and cross-linguistic comparisons were conducted for 76 Urdu–English speakers from Pakistan and 50 participants from Canada. Children, ages 8–10 years, were tested on language and literacy measures in both languages. Group comparisons of performance on language measures across languages and countries confirmed that relative strengths were based on the societal languages of each country (Urdu in Pakistan and English in Canada). Despite some similarities in relations among skills within language, differences in the language learning context provided interesting findings regarding the role of L1 skills for acquiring L2 reading skills. These findings challenge the theories developed using data from L2 learners, where learners acquire the societal language in immersion contexts, such as in North America or Europe.
Influence of Antibacterial Coating and Mechanical and Chemical Treatment on the Surface Properties of PA12 Parts Manufactured with SLS and MJF Techniques in the Context of Medical Applications
Authors: Bazan Anna , Turek Paweł , Zakręcki Andrzej
Published: March 2023

Additive manufacturing (AM) is a rapidly growing branch of manufacturing techniques used, among others, in the medical industry. New machines and materials and additional processing methods are improved or developed. Due to the dynamic development of post-processing and its relative novelty, it has not yet been widely described in the literature. This study focuses on the surface topography (parameters Sa, Sz, Sdq, Sds, Str, Sdr) of biocompatible polyamide 12 (PA12) samples made by selective laser sintering (SLS) and multi jet fusion (MJF). The surfaces of the samples were modified by commercial methods: four types of smoothing treatments (two mechanical and two chemical), and two antibacterial coatings. The smoothing treatment decreased the values of all analyzed topography parameters. On average, the Sa of the SLS samples was 33% higher than that of the MJF samples. After mechanical treatment, Sa decreased by 42% and after chemical treatment by 80%. The reduction in Sdq and Sdr is reflected in a higher surface gloss. One antibacterial coating did not significantly modify the surface topography. The other coating had a smoothing effect on the surface. The results of the study can help in the development of manufacturing methodologies for parts made of PA12, e.g., in the medical industry.
Patellofemoral Pain, Q-Angle, and Performance in Female Chinese Collegiate Soccer Players
Authors: You Songhui , Shen Yinhao , Liu Qingguang , Cicchella Antonio
Published: March 2023

Background and objective: Female sports injuries have been neglected by science, and few relevant studies have considered female subjects. Knee pain in female soccer players is more common than in male soccer players. The number of days of absence from training and competition has been shown to be higher in females than males. The reporting of knee pain is common in female soccer players, but whether knee pain is associated with morphological features is unclear. The Q-angle of the knee has been hypothesized to be a causal factor in knee pain. Asian females have shown higher levels of valgus than non-sporting Caucasian populations, but no data exist for female Chinese players. The aim of our study was to investigate whether there are associations between knee pain, the Q-angle of the lower limb, jump performance, play time, and perceived exertion in female Chinese collegiate soccer players. Materials and Methods: We measured the Q-angle, patellofemoral/anterior knee pain (SNAPPS questionnaire), and CMJ and SJ performance of 21 subjects (age: 20.09 ± 1.13 years, weight: 56.9 ± 6.26 kg, height: 164.24 ± 4.48 cm, and >10 years of practice) before and after a match; Borg scale and play time results were also recorded. Results: We found that our studied group had higher Q-angles in comparison to other ethnic groups reported in the literature, as well as an association of the Q-angle with the age, height, and weight of the players; however, contrary to other studies, we did not find any association between the Q-angle and knee pain, jumps, play time, or perceived exertion. Knee pain was not associated with any of the measured variables. Conclusions: Female Chinese soccer players showed higher Q-angles than players of other ethnic groups, a result that was associated with anthropometrics. The Q-angle was not found to be associated with knee pain, for which the sole determinant was body height.
Insulin Resistance and Bone Metabolism Markers in Women with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study on Females from the Islamic University Medical Center
Authors: Aldhafiri Fahad Khalid , Abdelgawad Fathy Elsayed , Mohamed Bakri Gihan Mohamed , Saber Tamer
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) prevails in females in the 18–40-year-old age group and varies from 5–20% depending on the demographic and diagnostic standards. It is unknown how long passes between the onset of a specific symptom and the appearance of the disease. The three most significant characteristics of PCOS include irregular menstruation, a polycystic ovarian shape found by pelvic ultrasound, and hyperandrogenism, which could possibly delay menarche. This study’s objective was to assess insulin resistance and bone bio-markers’ metabolism-involved characteristics of females with PCOS. Materials and Methods: We present a cross-sectional study carried out on 100 female patients suffering from PCOS and 100 healthy female subjects as a control living in Saudi Arabia in the Al-Madinah Al-Munawara Region between May 2021 and March 2022. The age of the studied groups ranges from 20–40 years, and patients were categorized into three groups; group I (control, n = 100), group IIa (overweight or obese females with PCOS, n = 70), and group IIb (non-obese females with PCOS, n = 30). The diagnosis of PCOS was carried out as per Rotterdam criteria as recommended for adolescent and adult subjects. All the groups were subjected to physical examination, and anthropometric measures, biochemical parameters, endocrine activity, and clinical parameters were determined. The data obtained were computerized and analyzed statistically using the SPSS program for range, mean, and standard deviation. ANOVA test with post hoc Tukey test was applied to assess the pattern and variation among the test and control groups. Results: In the present study, age, waist circumstances, systolic blood pressure, and diastolic blood pressure were reported enhanced in the PCOS over the control group. Additionally, anthropometric measures were reported slightly upregulated in group IIa over group IIb (p < 0.001). Biochemical parameters including glucose, insulin incidence, and lipids were reported higher in the PCOS over the control group, where group IIa showed slightly increased values compared to group IIb (p < 0.001). On the contrary, PTH, Ca+2, and 25(OH)D levels were reported lower in the PCOS over the control group. However, in the control groups, a slight variation was reported as higher in group IIa compared to group II. In the study, PTH and 25(OH)D were found associated with bone metabolism; a lower level of PTH and 25 (OH) D is linked with a decline in bone density. Conclusions: Lower serum levels of PINP and osteocalcin along with the 25(OH)D were associated with the PCOS compared to the control group, imposing a higher risk of the syndrome. On the contrary, an elevated level of NTx in groups IIa and IIb over the control group was associated with insulin resistance and bone metabolism.
Metabolic-Dysfunction-Associated Fatty Liver Disease and Gut Microbiota: From Fatty Liver to Dysmetabolic Syndrome
Authors: Abenavoli Ludovico , Scarlata Giuseppe Guido Maria , Scarpellini Emidio , Boccuto Luigi , Spagnuolo Rocco , Tilocca Bruno , Roncada Paola , Luzza Francesco
Published: March 2023

Metabolic-dysfunction-associated fatty liver disease (MAFLD) is the recent nomenclature designation that associates the condition of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) with metabolic dysfunction. Its diagnosis has been debated in the recent period and is generally associated with a diagnosis of steatosis and at least one pathologic condition among overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and metabolic dysregulation. Its pathogenesis is defined by a “multiple-hit” model and is associated with alteration or dysbiosis of the gut microbiota. The pathogenic role of dysbiosis of the gut microbiota has been investigated in many diseases, including obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, and NAFLD. However, only a few works correlate it with MAFLD, although common pathogenetic links to these diseases are suspected. This review underlines the most recurrent changes in the gut microbiota of patients with MAFLD, while also evidencing possible pathogenetic links.
Multidisciplinary Therapeutic Management in Complex Cervical Trauma
Authors: Severin Florentina , Rosu Andrei-Mihail , Tiglis Mirela , Checherita Laura-Elisabeta , Stegaru Gina , Cobzeanu Mihail Dan , Hainarosie Razvan , Cobzeanu Bogdan Mihail , Palade Octavian Dragos
Published: March 2023

Background and Objectives: In the current literature, mandatory surgical exploration is a controversial topic, with some advocating for it and others against it, proposing a selective conservative management. This multidisciplinary therapeutic approach is based on clinical examination and serial paraclinical explorations associated with supportive drug treatment. Materials and Methods: The study group consisted of 103 patients with complex cervical trauma pathology produced by various mechanisms such as car or domestic accidents, aggression, ballistic trauma, self-inflicted attempts, hanging or strangulation hospitalized in the Ear, Nose and Throat (E.N.T.) Clinic, at “St. Spiridon” Iași Hospital, between 2012 and 2016. Results: The universal clinical indication for urgent surgical exploration of the patient with complex cervical trauma is the presence of the following symptoms: unstable vital signs, significant pulsatile bleeding, hematoma with a substantial increase in size, shock, airway obstruction, open airway wound, hematemesis, or hemoptysis. In this context, we considered it worthwhile to research the management of complex cervical trauma in a reference university medical center, alongside the analysis of the patient’s characteristics under different aspects (demographic, pathological aspects, therapeutic). Conclusions: Complex cervical trauma has a variety of clinical aspects, with a variable evolution, which involves multidisciplinary therapeutic management. The increasing trauma rate is one of the main public health problems, requiring epidemiological studies, and the implementation of control strategies.
Preparation of Polycarbazole Nanofibers Using an Electric Field and the Investigation of Its Electrical Conductivity
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Hossein , Kazemi Amir Abbas , Hosseini Seyed Arash
Published: March 2023

In conventional chemical and electrochemical oxidation methods, it is very difficult to control the active centers, and the average prepared polymers are short and wide. The use of an electric field creates the most stable intermediate form of active centers, as well as permitting a longer half-life. Therefore, this increases the physical resistance and electrical conductivity of the polymer. In this paper, polycarbazole nanofibers were prepared using an electric field, reporting on its influences on the polymerization of carbazole. Therefore, its electrical conductivity and some physical properties were investigated. We observed the nanofibers’ shape, increasing electrical conductivity, thermal resistance and a higher molecular weight with the synthesized polycarbazole under an electric field compared to the polymer synthesized in the same conditions in the absence of an electric field. First, we chemically synthesized polycarbazole at different times. Additionally, to find the optimizing conditions, we changed certain parameters, such as the ratio of the obtained molar of initiator to monomer, the oxidant, initiator and solvent, separately, and compared the obtained results. Then, we repeated this reaction in the best conditions and under different electric fields in constant time, allowing us to characterize the shape, mass and conductivity. Next, the polymerization was carried out at the best electric field in different times. Finally, the best time and amount of electric field for polymerization were determined. The electrical conductivity of polycarbazoles was studied with the four-probe method. The conductivity of the films oxidized using FeCl3 (dry) and protonated with p-toluenesulfonic acid (PTSA) at 3 h was higher than 8.9 × 10−4 S/cm under a 12 KV/m electric field. Additionally, the results showed an enhanced thermal resistance to ageing.