bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Credibility Theory-Based Robust Optimization Model to Hedge Price Uncertainty of DSO with Multiple Transactions
Authors: Shao Li-Peng , Chen Jia-Jia , Pan Lu-Wen , Yang Zi-Juan
Published: November 2022

This paper addresses the deregulated electricity market arising in a distribution system with an electricity transaction. Under such an environment, the distribution system operator (DSO) with a distributed generator faces the challenge of electricity price uncertainty in a spot market. In this context, a credibility theory-based robust optimization model with multiple transactions is established to hedge the uncertain spot price of the DSO. Firstly, on the basis of credibility theory, the spot price is taken as a fuzzy variable and a risk aversion-based fuzzy opportunity constraint is proposed. Then, to exploit the resiliency of multiple transactions on hedging against uncertain spot price, the spot market, option contract and bilateral contract integrating power flow constraints are studied, because it is imperative for DSO to consider the operational constraints of the local network in the electricity market. Finally, the clear equivalence class is adopted to transform the risk aversion constraint into a deterministic robust optimization one. Under the premise of considering the expected cost of the DSO, the optimal electricity transaction strategy that maximizes resistance to uncertain spot price is pursued. The rationality and effectiveness of the model are verified with a modified 15-node network. The results show that the introduction of option contracts and bilateral contracts reduces the electricity transaction cost of DSO by USD 28.5. In addition, under the same risk aversion factor, the cost of the proposed model is reduced by USD 195.18 compared with robust optimization, which avoids the over-conservatism of traditional robust optimization.
Multi-Criteria Simulation-Optimization Analysis of Usage of Automated Parcel Lockers: A Practical Approach
Authors: Sawik Bartosz , Serrano-Hernandez Adrian , Muro Alvaro , Faulin Javier
Published: November 2022

The rapid growth of electronic commerce is having an impact on the way urban logistics are organized. In metropolitan settings, the last-mile delivery problem, i.e., the problem regarding the final stage of delivering a shipment to a consumer, is a major concern due to its inefficiency. The development of a convenient automated parcel lockers (APLs) network improves last-mile distribution by reducing the number of vehicles, the distances driven, and the number of delivery stops. Using automated parcel lockers, the last-mile issue could be overcome for the environment’s benefit. This study aimed to define and validate an APL network containing hundreds of APLs with the use of an example made up of real case study data from the city of Poznań in Poland. The goal of this research was to use mathematical programming for optimization and simulation to tackle the facility location problem for automated parcel lockers through a practical approach. Multi-criteria simulation-optimization analysis was used to assess the data. In fact, the simulation was carried out using Anylogic software and the optimization with the use of the Java programming language and CPLEX solver. Three years were simulated, allowing for comparable results for each year in terms of expenses, e-shoppers, APL users, and demand evolution, as well as achieving the city’s optimal locker usage. Finally, encouraging conclusions were obtained, such as the relationship between the demand and the number of lockers, along with the model’s limitations.
Dbar-Dressing Method and N-Soliton Solutions of the Derivative NLS Equation with Non-Zero Boundary Conditions
Authors: Zhou Hui , Huang Yehui , Yao Yuqin
Published: November 2022

The Dbar-dressing method is extended to investigate the derivative non-linear Schrödinger equation with non-zero boundary conditions (DNLSENBC). Based on a meromorphic complex function outside an annulus with center 0, a local Dbar-problem inside the annulus is constructed. By use of the asymptotic expansion at infinity and zero, the spatial and temporal spectral problems of DNLSENBC are worked out. Thus, the relation between the potential of DNLSENBC with the solution of the Dbar-problem is established. Further, symmetry conditions and a special spectral distribution matrix are presented to construct the explicit solutions of DNLSENBC. In addition, the explicit expressions of the soliton solution, the breather solution and the solution of the interaction between solitons and breathers are given.
Machine Learning for Music Genre Classification Using Visual Mel Spectrum
Authors: Cheng Yu-Huei , Kuo Che-Nan
Published: November 2022

Music is the most convenient and easy-to-use stress release tool in modern times. Many studies have shown that listening to appropriate music can release stress. However, since it is getting easier to make music, people only need to make it on the computer and upload it to streaming media such as Youtube, Spotify, or Beatport at any time, which makes it very infeasible to search a huge music database for music of a specific genre. In order to effectively search for specific types of music, we propose a novel method based on the visual Mel spectrum for music genre classification, and apply YOLOv4 as our neural network architecture. mAP was used as the scoring criterion of music genre classification in this study. After ten experiments, we obtained a highest mAP of 99.26%, and the average mAP was 97.93%.
Editorial for the Special Issue on Laser Additive Manufacturing: Design, Processes, Materials and Applications
Authors: Yin Jie , Liu Yang , Zhao Ping
Published: November 2022

Laser-based additive manufacturing (LAM) is a revolutionary advanced digital manufacturing technology developed in recent decades, which is also a key strategic technology for technological innovation and industrial sustainability [...]
Graphene Quantum Dot-Added Thin-Film Composite Membrane with Advanced Nanofibrous Support for Forward Osmosis
Authors: Saleem Haleema , Goh Pei Sean , Saud Asif , Khan Mohammad Aquib Wakeel , Munira Nazmin , Ismail Ahmad Fauzi , Zaidi Syed Javaid
Published: November 2022

Forward osmosis (FO) technology for desalination has been extensively studied due to its immense benefits over conventionally used reverse osmosis. However, there are some challenges in this process such as a high reverse solute flux (RSF), low water flux, and poor chlorine resistance that must be properly addressed. These challenges in the FO process can be resolved through proper membrane design. This study describes the fabrication of thin-film composite (TFC) membranes with polyethersulfone solution blown-spun (SBS) nanofiber support and an incorporated selective layer of graphene quantum dots (GQDs). This is the first study to sustainably develop GQDs from banyan tree leaves for water treatment and to examine the chlorine resistance of a TFC FO membrane with SBS nanofiber support. Successful GQD formation was confirmed with different characterizations. The performance of the GQD-TFC-FO membrane was studied in terms of flux, long-term stability, and chlorine resistance. It was observed that the membrane with 0.05 wt.% of B-GQDs exhibited increased surface smoothness, hydrophilicity, water flux, salt rejection, and chlorine resistance, along with a low RSF and reduced solute flux compared with that of neat TFC membranes. The improvement can be attributed to the presence of GQDs in the polyamide layer and the utilization of SBS nanofibrous support in the TFC membrane. A simulation study was also carried out to validate the experimental data. The developed membrane has great potential in desalination and water treatment applications.
Association of the Gut Microbiota with the Host’s Health through an Analysis of Biochemical Markers, Dietary Estimation, and Microbial Composition
Authors: Villaseñor-Aranguren Maite , Rosés Carles , Riezu-Boj José Ignacio , López-Yoldi Miguel , Ramos-Lopez Omar , Barceló Anna M. , Milagro Fermín I.
Published: November 2022

This study aims to analyze the relationship between gut microbiota composition and health parameters through specific biochemical markers and food consumption patterns in the Spanish population. This research includes 60 Spanish adults aged 47.3 ± 11.2 years old. Biochemical and anthropometric measurements, and a self-referred dietary survey (food frequency questionnaire), were analyzed and compared with the participant´s gut microbiota composition analyzed by 16s rDNA sequencing. Several bacterial strains differed significantly with the biochemical markers analyzed, suggesting an involvement in the participant´s metabolic health. Lower levels of Lactobacillaceae and Oscillospiraceae and an increase in Pasteurellaceae, Phascolarctobacterium, and Haemophilus were observed in individuals with higher AST levels. Higher levels of the Christensenellaceae and a decrease in Peptococcaceae were associated with higher levels of HDL-c. High levels of Phascolarctobacterium and Peptococcus and low levels of Butyricicoccus were found in individuals with higher insulin levels. This study also identified associations between bacteria and specific food groups, such as an increase in lactic acid bacteria with the consumption of fermented dairy products or an increase in Verrucomicrobiaceae with the consumption of olive oil. In conclusion, this study reinforces the idea that specific food groups can favorably modulate gut microbiota composition and have an impact on host´s health.
Deciphering the Efficacy and Mechanism of Astragalus membranaceus on High Altitude Polycythemia by Integrating Network Pharmacology and In Vivo Experiments
Authors: Liu Xiru , Zhang Hao , Yan Jinxiao , Li Xiang , Li Jie , Hu Jialu , Shang Xuequn , Yang Hui
Published: November 2022

Hypoxic exposure makes plateau migrators susceptible to high altitude polycythemia (HAPC). Astragalus membranaceus (AM) is an edible and medicinal plant with remarkable immunomodulatory activities. The purpose of this study was to discover if AM could be a candidate for the prevention of HAPC and its mechanism. Here, network pharmacology was applied to screen active compounds, key targets, and enriched pathways of AM in the treatment of HAPC. Molecular docking evaluated the affinity between compounds and core targets. Subsequently, the mechanisms of AM were further verified using the hypoxia exposure-induced mice model of HAPC. The network pharmacology analysis and molecular docking results identified 14 core targets of AM on HAPC, which were predominantly mainly enriched in the HIF-1 pathway. In the HAPC animal models, we found that AM inhibited the differentiation of hematopoietic stem cells into the erythroid lineage. It also suppressed the production of erythrocytes and hemoglobin in peripheral blood by reducing the expression of HIF-1α, EPO, VEGFA, and Gata-1 mRNA. Furthermore, AM downregulated the expression of IL-6, TNF-α, and IFN-γ mRNA, thereby alleviating organ inflammation. In conclusion, AM supplementation alleviates hypoxia-induced HAPC in mice, and TNF-α, AKT1, HIF-1α, VEGFA, IL-6, and IL-1B may be the key targets.
Blackcurrants Reduce the Risk of Postmenopausal Osteoporosis: A Pilot Double-Blind, Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial
Authors: Nosal Briana M. , Sakaki Junichi R. , Macdonald Zachary , Mahoney Kyle , Kim Kijoon , Madore Matthew , Thornton Staci , Tran Thi Dong Binh , Weinstock George , Lee Elaine Choung-Hee , Chun Ock K.
Published: November 2022

Beneficial effects of blackcurrant supplementation on bone metabolism in mice has recently been demonstrated, but no studies are available in humans. The current study aimed to examine the dose-dependent effects of blackcurrant in preventing bone loss and the underlying mechanisms of action in adult women. Forty peri- and early postmenopausal women were randomly assigned into one of three treatment groups for 6 months: (1) a placebo (control group, n = 13); (2) 392 mg/day of blackcurrant powder (low blackcurrant, BC, group, n = 16); and (3) 784 mg/day of blackcurrant powder (high BC group, n = 11). The significance of differences in outcome variables was tested by repeated-measures ANOVA with treatment and time as between- and within-subject factors, respectively. Overall, blackcurrant supplementation decreased the loss of whole-body bone mineral density (BMD) compared to the control group (p < 0.05), though the improvement of whole-body BMD remained significant only in the high BC group (p < 0.05). Blackcurrant supplementation also led to a significant increase in serum amino-terminal propeptide of type 1 procollagen (P1NP), a marker of bone formation (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that daily consumption of 784 mg of blackcurrant powder for six months mitigates the risk of postmenopausal bone loss, potentially through enhancing bone formation. Further studies of larger samples with various skeletal conditions are warranted to confirm these findings.
Hydrolyzed Collagen Induces an Anti-Inflammatory Response That Induces Proliferation of Skin Fibroblast and Keratinocytes
Authors: Brandao-Rangel Maysa Alves Rodrigues , Oliveira Carlos Rocha , da Silva Olímpio Fabiana Regina , Aimbire Flavio , Mateus-Silva José Roberto , Chaluppe Felipe Augusto , Vieira Rodolfo P.
Published: November 2022

Collagen-based products are found in different pharmaceuticals, medicine, food, and cosmetics products for a wide variety of applications. However, its use to prevent or improve the health of skin is growing dizzyingly. Therefore, this study investigated whether collagen peptides could induce fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation and activation beyond reducing an inflammatory response induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Human skin fibroblasts (CCD-1072Sk) and human keratinocytes (hKT-nh-skp-KT0026) were seeded at a concentration of 5 × 104 cells/mL. LPS (10 ng/mL) and three doses of collagen peptides (2.5 mg/mL, 5 mg/mL, 10 mg/mL) were used. The readout parameters were cell proliferation; expression of inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS); expression of pro-collagen-1α by fibroblasts; and secretion of interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), transforming growth factor β (TGF-β), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) by both cell types. The results demonstrated that all doses of collagen supplementation induced increased proliferation of both human fibroblasts (p < 0.01) and human keratinocytes (p < 0.001), while only the dose of 10 mg/mL induced an increased expression of pro-collagen-1α by fibroblasts. Similarly, only the dose of 10 mg/mL reduced LPS-induced iNOS expression in fibroblasts (p < 0.05) and keratinocytes (p < 0.01). In addition, collagen supplementation reduced the LPS-induced IL-1β (p < 0.05), IL-6 (p < 0.001), IL-8 (p < 0.01), and TNF-α (p < 0.05), and increased the TGF-β and VEGF expression in fibroblasts. Furthermore, collagen supplementation reduced the LPS-induced IL-1β (p < 0.01), IL-6 (p < 0.01), IL-8 (p < 0.01), and TNF-α (p < 0.001), and increased the TGF-β (p < 0.05) and VEGF (p < 0.05) expression in keratinocytes. In conclusion, collagen peptides were found to induce fibroblast and keratinocyte proliferation and pro-collagen-1α expression, involving increased expression of TGF-β and VEGF, as well as the suppression of an inflammatory response induced by LPS.
HPA-Axis Activity and Nutritional Status Correlation in Individuals with Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Georgakouli Kalliopi , Manthou Eirini , Fatouros Ioannis G. , Deli Chariklia K. , Koutedakis Yiannis , Theodorakis Yannis , Jamurtas Athanasios Z.
Published: November 2022

Impaired activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis (HPA-axis) is evident in alcohol use disorder (AUD), and may be implicated in various nutritional and metabolic alterations often seen in individuals with this disorder. The present study examined a possible correlation between HPA-axis activity and nutritional status components in individuals with AUD. Fourteen AUD and fourteen non-AUD males participated; anthropometric and body composition measurements were made, and fasting blood samples were analysed for plasma adrenal corticotropic hormone (ACTH), catecholamines, cortisol and beta-endorphin. Nutrient intake was estimated via a three-day diet record. Waist circumference and waist-to-hip ratio were increased in the AUD group. Thiamine and folic intake were lower in AUD group, although only folic acid intake was insufficient in both AUD and non-AUD groups. Increased epinephrine and norepinephrine were also observed in AUD group compared to non-AUD group. No clear correlation between HPA-axis activity and nutritional status components was found. This study showed that nutrient intake, body composition, and HPA-axis activity were different among AUD and non-AUD individuals. More research on the correlation between nutritional status and HPA-axis activity in AUD individuals should be conducted.
Olfactory Sensitivity Is Associated with Body Mass Index and Polymorphism in the Voltage-Gated Potassium Channels Kv1.3
Authors: Melis Melania , Tomassini Barbarossa Iole , Crnjar Roberto , Sollai Giorgia
Published: November 2022

Smell strongly contributes to food choice and its hedonistic evaluation. A reduction or loss of smell has been related to malnutrition problems, resulting in excessive weight loss or gain. Voltage-gated potassium channels Kv1.3 are widely expressed in the olfactory bulb, and contribute mainly to the value of the resting membrane potential and to the frequency of action potentials. Mutations in the Kv1.3 gene are associated with alterations in glycemic homeostasis and olfactory sensitivity. We evaluated the olfactory performance in 102 healthy subjects and its association with BMI and polymorphism in the human Kv1.3 gene. Olfactory performance, based on the olfactory threshold, discrimination and identification scores and their summed score (TDI), was measured using the “Sniffin’ Sticks” test. Subjects were genotyped for the rs2821557 polymorphism of the Kv1.3 gene, whose major allele T was associated with a super-smeller phenotype, lower plasma glucose levels and resistance to diet-induced obesity as compared with the minor allele C. Based on the Kv1.3 genotype, the TDI and I olfactory scores obtained by the subjects were the following: TT > TC > CC. Subjects who were TT homozygous or heterozygous exhibited lower BMIs and reached higher olfactory scores than those with the CC genotype. The results were sex-dependent: heterozygous females performed better than heterozygous males. These findings show an inverse relationship between olfactory function and BMI, and a significant effect of the Kv1.3 genotypes on the olfactory functions and on the BMIs of the subjects. Finally, they suggest that the sex-related differences in the olfactory function can be partially ascribed to the Kv1.3 gene’s polymorphism.
Suitability and Allocation of Protein-Containing Foods According to Protein Tolerance in PKU: A 2022 UK National Consensus
Authors: Gama Maria Inês , Adam Sarah , Adams Sandra , Allen Heather , Ashmore Catherine , Bailey Sarah , Cochrane Barbara , Dale Clare , Daly Anne , De Sousa Giana , Donald Sarah , Dunlop Carolyn , Ellerton Charlotte , Evans Sharon , Firman Sarah , Ford Suzanne , Freedman Francine , French Moira , Gaff Lisa , Gribben Joanna , Grimsley Anne , Herlihy Ide , Hill Melanie , Khan Farzana , McStravick Nicola , Millington Chloe , Moran Nicola , Newby Camille , Nguyen Patty , Purves Janet , Pinto Alex , Rocha Júlio César , Skeath Rachel , Skelton Amy , Tapley Simon , Woodall Alison , Young Carla , MacDonald Anita
Published: November 2022

Introduction: There is little practical guidance about suitable food choices for higher natural protein tolerances in patients with phenylketonuria (PKU). This is particularly important to consider with the introduction of adjunct pharmaceutical treatments that may improve protein tolerance. Aim: To develop a set of guidelines for the introduction of higher protein foods into the diets of patients with PKU who tolerate >10 g/day of protein. Methods: In January 2022, a 26-item food group questionnaire, listing a range of foods containing protein from 5 to >20 g/100 g, was sent to all British Inherited Metabolic Disease Group (BIMDG) dietitians (n = 80; 26 Inherited Metabolic Disease [IMD] centres). They were asked to consider within their IMD dietetic team when they would recommend introducing each of the 26 protein-containing food groups into a patient’s diet who tolerated >10 g to 60 g/day of protein. The patient protein tolerance for each food group that received the majority vote from IMD dietetic teams was chosen as its tolerance threshold for introduction. A virtual meeting was held using Delphi methodology in March 2022 to discuss and agree final consensus. Results: Responses were received from dietitians from 22/26 IMD centres (85%) (11 paediatric, 11 adult). For patients tolerating protein ≥15 g/day, the following foods were agreed for inclusion: gluten-free pastas, gluten-free flours, regular bread, cheese spreads, soft cheese, and lentils in brine; for protein tolerance ≥20 g/day: nuts, hard cheeses, regular flours, meat/fish, and plant-based alternative products (containing 5–10 g/100 g protein), regular pasta, seeds, eggs, dried legumes, and yeast extract spreads were added; for protein tolerance ≥30 g/day: meat/fish and plant-based alternative products (containing >10–20 g/100 g protein) were added; and for protein tolerance ≥40 g/day: meat/fish and plant-based alternatives (containing >20 g/100 g protein) were added. Conclusion: This UK consensus by IMD dietitians from 22 UK centres describes for the first time the suitability and allocation of higher protein foods according to individual patient protein tolerance. It provides valuable guidance for health professionals to enable them to standardize practice and give rational advice to patients.
Exploring the Effective Components and Mechanism of Action of Japanese Ardisia in the Treatment of Autoimmune Hepatitis Based on Network Pharmacology and Experimental Verification
Authors: Fu Tian , Chen Yifei , Li Junkui , Zhu Peili , He Huajuan , Zhang Wei , Yung Ken Kin Lam , Wu Wei
Published: November 2022

Japanese Ardisia is widely used as a hepatoprotective and anti-inflammatory agent in China. However, the active ingredients in Japanese Ardisia and their potential mechanisms of action in the treatment of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) are unknown. The pharmacodynamic substance and mechanism of action of Japanese Ardisia in the treatment of AIH were investigated using network pharmacology and molecular docking technology in this study. Following that, the effects of Japanese Ardisia were evaluated using the concanavalin A (Con A)-induced acute liver injury rat model. The active ingredients and targets of Japanese Ardisia were searched using the Traditional Chinese Medicine Systems Pharmacology database, and hepatitis-related therapeutic targets were identified through GeneCards and Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man databases. A compound–target network was then constructed using Cytoscape software, and enrichment analysis was performed using gene ontology (GO) and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) databases. Molecular docking technology was used to simulate the docking of key targets, and the AIH rat model was used to validate the expression of key targets. Nineteen active chemical components and 143 key target genes were identified. GO enrichment analysis revealed that the treatment of AIH with Japanese Ardisia mainly involved DNA–binding transcription factor binding, RNA polymerase II-specific DNA transcription factor binding, cytokine receptor binding, receptor-ligand activity, ubiquitin-like protein ligase binding, and cytokine activity. In the KEGG enrichment analysis, 165 pathways were identified, including the lipid and atherosclerotic pathway, IL-17 signaling pathway, TNF signaling pathway, hepatitis B pathway, and the AGE–RAGE signaling pathway in diabetic complications. These pathways may be the key to effective AIH treatment with Japanese Ardisia. Molecular docking showed that quercetin and kaempferol have good binding to AKT1, IL6, VEGFA, and CASP3. Animal experiments demonstrated that Japanese Ardisia could increase the expression of AKT1 and decrease the expression of CASP3 protein, as well as IL-6, in rat liver tissues. This study identified multiple molecular targets and pathways for Japanese Ardisia in the treatment of AIH. At the same time, the effectiveness of Japanese Ardisia in treating AIH was verified by animal experiments.
Influence of Hydrophobic Side-Chain Length in Amphiphilic Gradient Copoly(2-oxazoline)s on the Therapeutics Loading, Stability, Cellular Uptake and Pharmacokinetics of Nano-Formulation with Curcumin
Authors: Datta Shubhashis , Huntošová Veronika , Jutková Annamária , Seliga Róbert , Kronek Juraj , Tomkova Adriána , Lenkavská Lenka , Máčajová Mariana , Bilčík Boris , Kundeková Barbora , Čavarga Ivan , Pavlova Ewa , Šlouf Miroslav , Miškovský Pavol , Jancura Daniel
Published: November 2022

Due to the simple one-step preparation method and a promising application in biomedical research, amphiphilic gradient copoly(2-oxazoline)s are gaining more and more interest compared to their analogous block copolymers. In this work, the curcumin solubilization ability was tested for a series of amphiphilic gradient copoly(2-oxazoline)s with different lengths of hydrophobic side-chains, consisting of 2-ethyl-2-oxazoline as a hydrophilic monomer and 2-(4-alkyloxyphenyl)-2-oxazoline as a hydrophobic monomer. It is shown that the length of the hydrophobic side-chain in the copolymers plays a crucial role in the loading of curcumin onto the self-assembled nanoparticles. The kinetic stability of self-assembled nanoparticles studied using FRET shows a link between their integrity and cellular uptake in human glioblastoma cells. The present study demonstrates how minor changes in the molecular structure of gradient copoly(2-oxazoline)s can lead to significant differences in the loading, stability, cytotoxicity, cellular uptake, and pharmacokinetics of nano-formulations containing curcumin. The obtained results on the behavior of the complex of gradient copoly(2-oxazoline)s and curcumin may contribute to the development of effective next-generation polymeric nanostructures for biomedical applications.
Cannabidiol Loaded Topical Ophthalmic Nanoemulsion Lowers Intraocular Pressure in Normotensive Dutch-Belted Rabbits
Authors: Senapati Samir , Youssef Ahmed Adel Ali , Sweeney Corinne , Cai Chuntian , Dudhipala Narendar , Majumdar Soumyajit
Published: November 2022

Cannabidiol (CBD) is the major non-psychoactive and most widely studied of the cannabinoid constituents and has great therapeutic potential in a variety of diseases. However, contradictory reports in the literature with respect to CBD’s effect on intraocular pressure (IOP) have raised concerns and halted research exploring its use in ocular therapeutics. Therefore, the current investigation aimed to further evaluate CBD’s impact on the IOP in the rabbit model. CBD nanoemulsions, containing Carbopol® 940 NF as a mucoadhesive agent (CBD-NEC), were prepared using hot-homogenization followed by probe sonication. The stability of the formulations post-moist-heat sterilization, in terms of physical and chemical characteristics, was studied for three different storage conditions. The effect of the formulation on the intraocular pressure (IOP) profile in normotensive Dutch Belted male rabbits was then examined. The lead CBD-NEC formulation (1% w/v CBD) exhibited a globule size of 259 ± 2.0 nm, 0.27 ± 0.01 PDI, and 23.2 ± 0.4 cP viscosity, and was physically and chemically stable for one month (last time point tested) at 4 °C, 25 °C, and 40 °C. CBD-NEC significantly lowered the IOP in the treated eyes for up to 360 min, with a peak drop in IOP of 4.5 mmHg observed at the 150 min time point, post-topical application. The IOP of the contralateral eye (untreated) was also observed to be lowered significantly, but the effect lasted up to the 180 min time point only. Overall, topically administered CBD, formulated in a mucoadhesive nanoemulsion formulation, reduced the IOP in the animal model studied. The results support further exploration of CBD as a therapeutic option for various inflammation-based ocular diseases.
Muscle Delivery of Mitochondria-Targeted Drugs for the Treatment of Sarcopenia: Rationale and Perspectives
Authors: Bellanti Francesco , Lo Buglio Aurelio , Vendemiale Gianluigi
Published: November 2022

An impairment in mitochondrial homeostasis plays a crucial role in the process of aging and contributes to the incidence of age-related diseases, including sarcopenia, which is defined as an age-dependent loss of muscle mass and strength. Mitochondrial dysfunction exerts a negative impact on several cellular activities, including bioenergetics, metabolism, and apoptosis. In sarcopenia, mitochondria homeostasis is disrupted because of reduced oxidative phosphorylation and ATP generation, the enhanced production of reactive species, and impaired antioxidant defense. This review re-establishes the most recent evidence on mitochondrial defects that are thought to be relevant in the pathogenesis of sarcopenia and that may represent promising therapeutic targets for its prevention/treatment. Furthermore, we describe mechanisms of action and translational potential of promising mitochondria-targeted drug delivery systems, including molecules able to boost the metabolism and bioenergetics, counteract apoptosis, antioxidants to scavenge reactive species and decrease oxidative stress, and target mitophagy. Even though these mitochondria-delivered strategies demonstrate to be promising in preclinical models, their use needs to be promoted for clinical studies. Therefore, there is a compelling demand to further understand the mechanisms modulating mitochondrial homeostasis, to characterize powerful compounds that target muscle mitochondria to prevent sarcopenia in aged people.
The Application and Challenge of Binder Jet 3D Printing Technology in Pharmaceutical Manufacturing
Authors: Chen Xuejun , Wang Shanshan , Wu Jie , Duan Shuwei , Wang Xiaolong , Hong Xiaoxuan , Han Xiaolu , Li Conghui , Kang Dongzhou , Wang Zengming , Zheng Aiping
Published: November 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) printing is an additive manufacturing technique that creates objects under computer control. Owing to the rapid advancement of science and technology, 3D printing technology has been widely utilized in processing and manufacturing but rarely used in the pharmaceutical field. The first commercial form of Spritam® immediate-release tablet was approved by FDA in 2015, which promoted the advancement of 3D printing technology in pharmaceutical development. Three-dimensional printing technology is able to meet individual treatment demands with customized size, shape, and release rate, which overcomes the difficulties of traditional pharmaceutical technology. This paper intends to discuss the critical process parameters of binder jet 3D printing technology, list its application in pharmaceutical manufacturing in recent years, summarize the still-open questions, and demonstrate its great potential in the pharmaceutical industry.
Advances in Visible Light Communication Technologies and Applications
Authors: Geng Zuhang , Khan Faisal Nadeem , Guan Xun , Dong Yuhan
Published: November 2022

With the development of light emitting diode (LED) lighting technology and its wide applications, visible light communication (VLC) technology has also seen significant advancements. VLC is regarded as a supplementary technology to radio frequency (RF) due to its unregulated spectrum and extraordinarily high communication rates. In this paper, the advantages, architectures, key technologies, application scenarios and machine learning (ML) applications of VLC are reviewed and summarized.
Modulation of Surface Plasmonic Bending Beam via Nanoslit Interactions
Authors: Li Xiaoming , Wang Liang , Zhang Hang , Li Xueli , Li Hui
Published: November 2022

The discussion of resonance mechanisms for artificial structural units has always been a key to producing highly efficient, active and tunable meta-devices in the fields of controlling surface plasmon polaritons (SPPs) to generate surface plasmonic bending beams (SPBs). In this study, an array of 20 antisymmetric double V-shaped structures was designed to generate an SPB. The arms of the double V-shaped structures were panned to control the electric field intensity distributions of the SPB. The influence of the polarization states (such as polarization angles, linearly polarized (LP), left-circularly polarized (LCP) and right-circularly polarized (RCP) light) of the incident light on electric field intensity of SPB is discussed. These results can be well explained by the theory of dipole radiation. The numerical simulation results are in good agreement with the theoretical analysis. It is hoped that these results will help guide subsequent work in optimizing SPB generators.
An Improved Metamorphosis-Based Scheme of Feed Mechanism Using Configuration Synthesis
Authors: Zhang Li , Liu Yang , Zhang Yongju
Published: November 2022

In this work, the principle of metamorphic mechanism is optimized for the product design based on variable topological structures. One metamorphic element consisting of kinematic pair and kinematic size is proposed firstly and a configuration synthesis strategy for feed mechanism is performed in term of the translocation, inversion and duplication variation methods. Metamorphic elements are obtained by decomposing the source metamorphic mechanism. A novelty configuration scheme based on constraint variation features is established by the solution of the constraint relationship of metamorphic elements, and three kinds of configurations are synthesized. Comparisons with kinematic performances between source mechanism and developed mechanism configurations are modelled by the kinematic simulation. Results demonstrate that the multiple types of metamorphic mechanisms can be successfully synthesized, and the demands of functional targets are satisfied completely.
The Impact of Additive Manufacturing on Supply Chain Management from a System Dynamics Model—Scenario: Traditional, Centralized, and Distributed Supply Chain
Authors: Nuñez Rodriguez Jairo , Andrade Sosa Hugo Hernando , Villarreal-Archila Sylvia Maria , Ortiz Angel
Published: November 2022

In order to describe the impact that the appropriation of additive manufacturing (AM) has on the supply chain (SC), a validated system dynamics model representing vectorially multiple products and multiple demands in different periods was used as a basis to apply to a case study of medical implant manufacturing, configuring three chain scenarios: 1. traditional supply chain with subtractive manufacturing, 2. centralized supply chain with additive manufacturing, and 3. decentralized supply chain with additive manufacturing. It was possible to notice that the production time is longer in additive manufacturing compared to traditional manufacturing and the cycle time and total demand closure were lower in traditional manufacturing. In addition, it was observed that the AM performance is significantly better in conditions of lower demand, which can be attributed to the characteristics of customization and small batches that this type of production approach implies.
Experimental Study on the Effect of Air-Doors Control Adjacent to the Fire Source on the Characteristics of Smoke Back-Layering
Authors: Wang Haiyan , Xu Zuohui , Wang Lei , Fan Cheng , Zhang Yanwei
Published: November 2022

Air-doors are important facilities for regulating the air flow in a mine ventilation network. It is of value to study the influence of air-doors, which are adjacent to a fire source on smoke back-layering in order to build a rational ventilation system. By regulating air-doors in a mine ventilation network test platform, two typical mine ventilation networks, with parallel branches and a diagonal branch, were constructed. During the study, into the closing degree of the air-doors adjacent to a fire source in a ventilation network with parallel branches, the back-layering length is up to 3.70 m when the ventilation velocity is 1.40 m/s. When the air-door on the return side of the adjacent branch is closed, the back-layering subsides within 1 min and the upstream temperature drops rapidly to normal. When the air-door is half closed, there is still a back-layering flow within 5 min. Smoke control, with the air-door is closed, is better than when the air-door is half closed. Based on this, tests into the influence of the closing position of air-doors, which are adjacent to a fire source, were carried out in a ventilation network with a diagonal branch. Results indicate that when the ventilation velocity is 1.70 m/s, the back-layering flow spreads to the diagonal branch, and the air flow velocity of both the adjacent branch and the diagonal branch increases. When closing the air-door on the return side of the adjacent branch, the back-layering rapidly subsided. The wind velocity on the intake side of the adjacent branch is stabilized after a rapid decrease, and the wind velocity of the diagonal branch is stabilized after a rapid increase. When closing the air-door on the intake side of the adjacent branch, the smoke from the diagonal branch spreads. Compared with closing the intake side air-door, closing the air-door on the return side of the adjacent branch is more effective in preventing back-layering. This work provides a reference for preventing back-layering and guiding the evacuation of people from the upstream of a fire source.
Multi-Omics of Corynebacterium Pseudotuberculosis 12CS0282 and an In Silico Reverse Vaccinology Approach Reveal Novel Vaccine and Drug Targets
Authors: Möller Jens , Bodenschatz Mona , Sangal Vartul , Hofmann Jörg , Burkovski Andreas
Published: November 2022

Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis is an important animal pathogen, which is also able to infect humans. An optimal treatment of infections with this pathogen is not available today and consequently, more research is necessary to understand the infection process. Here, we present a combined -omics and bioinformatics approach to characterize C. pseudotuberculosis 12CS0282. The genome sequence of strain 12CS0282 was determined, analyzed in comparison with the available 130 C. pseudotuberculosis sequences and used as a basis for proteome analyses. In a reverse vaccinology approach, putative vaccine and drug targets for 12CS0208 were identified. Mass spectrometry analyses revealed the presence of multiple virulence factors even without host contact. In macrophage interaction studies, C. pseudotuberculosis 12CS0282 was highly resistant against human phagocytes and even multiplied within human THP-1 cells. Taken together, the data indicate a high pathogenic potential of the strain.
“Thou Art Skylarking with Me”: Travesty, Prophecy, and Ethical Mutuality in Moby-Dick
Authors: Bouchard Larry D.
Published: November 2022

“A Bosom Friend,” Chapter 10 of Moby-Dick, concludes with a literary travesty on the Golden Rule, a norm of obligation to others as to self. If God’s will is that we treat our neighbors as ourselves, and if the narrator, Ishmael, desires his neighbor Queequeg join him in Presbyterian worship, then he must join his new friend’s devotion to his god, Yojo: “ergo, I must turn idolator.” This is after Ishmael has heard Father Mapple’s sermon on Jonah, and after Queequeg has become his bedmate at the Spouter-Inn in New Bedford. Queequeg also heard Mapple preach, though left early to return to the inn. So the sermon scene is framed by Queequeg scenes. From one angle, putting Yojo beside the biblical God, or whale hunting with the Golden Rule, can seem to dismiss as absurd these juxtapositions’ terms and questions: of sin, the designs of God, and prophetic calling versus fate, chance, and whoever happens to be one’s neighbor. From another angle, were such terms merely ‘travestied’ as negation, little import would remain in deploying them. This essay considers how, in Chapters 7–12, 16–18, 94, and elsewhere in Moby-Dick, Melville’s juxtaposing parody, satire, travesty and the like with compelling religious and ethical concerns—a rhetoric he occasionally calls “skylarking”—contributes to the novel’s realization of a narrative ethics of mutuality.
Jewish Death in Jewish Time: The Ontological Shift Required to Understand Torah Judaism’s Indigenous Approach to Historical Trauma and Historical Memory
Authors: Katz Matthew Mordecai
Published: November 2022

Scholars regularly make the mistake of applying critical analysis to religious traditions without a sensibility that they are often describing one ontology through the lens of another. Just as cultural anthropology attempts to understand indigenous traditions by respecting their unique worldview and minimizing the foreign a priori of the ethnographer, critical scholars of religion need to be mindful of this unconscious bias when studying religious communities from ‘outside’. The traditional Jewish experience of death, mourning and historical trauma is a case in point. As such, this essay considers the indigenous ontological a priori of Torah Judaism as contrasted with the a priori of ‘Enlightenment’ as understood by Foucault. It then applies this hermeneutic to ‘Jewish death in Jewish time’.
Impact of Shifts in Vegetation Phenology on the Carbon Balance of a Semiarid Sagebrush Ecosystem
Authors: Yao Jingyu , Yuan Wenping , Gao Zhongming , Liu Heping , Chen Xingyuan , Ma Yongjing , Arntzen Evan , Mcfarland Douglas
Published: November 2022

Dryland ecosystems are critical in regulating the interannual variability of the global terrestrial carbon cycle. The responses of such ecosystems to weather and environmental conditions remain important factors that limit the accurate projections of carbon balance under future climate change. Here, we investigated how shifts in vegetation phenology resulting from changes in weather and environmental conditions influenced ecosystem carbon cycling in one semiarid ecosystem in the Hanford area of central Washington, United States. We examined two years of measurements of the phenology camera, eddy covariance, and soil chamber from an upland semiarid sagebrush ecosystem. Both years had contrasting diel and seasonal patterns of CO2 fluxes, primarily driven by differences in vegetation phenology. The net ecosystem exchange of CO2 (NEE) and evapotranspiration (ET) in 2019 were enlarged by shifted vegetation phenology, as a cold and snow-covered winter and warm and dry winter in 2020 resulted in constrained magnitudes of NEE and ET during the summer months. The annual gross primary productivity (GPP) was much higher in 2019 than in 2020 (−211 vs. −112 gC m−2), whereas ecosystem respiration was comparable in these two years (164 vs. 144 gC m−2). Thus, the annual NEE in 2019 was negative (−47 gC m−2) with the sagebrush ecosystem functioning as a carbon sink, while the positive annual NEE in 2020 indicated that the sagebrush ecosystem functioned as a carbon source. Our results demonstrate that winter snowpack can be a critical driver of annual carbon uptake in semiarid sagebrush ecosystems.
Wintertime Emissivities of the Arctic Sea Ice Types at the AMSR2 Frequencies
Authors: Zabolotskikh Elizaveta , Azarov Sergey
Published: November 2022

The surface effective emissivities of Arctic sea ice are calculated using Advanced Microwave Scanning Radiometer 2 (AMSR2) measurements. These emissivities are analyzed for stable winter conditions during the months of January–May and November and December of 2020 for several main sea ice types defined with the sea ice maps of the Arctic and Antarctic Research Institute (AARI). The sea ice emissivities are derived from the AMSR2 data using the radiation transfer model for a non-scattering atmosphere and ERA5 reanalysis data. The emissivities are analyzed only for areas of totally consolidated sea ice of definite types. Probability distribution functions are built for the emissivities and their functions for such sea ice types as nilas, young ice, thin first-year (FY) ice, medium FY ice, thick FY ice and multi-year ice. The emissivity variations with frequency are estimated for each of the considered sea ice type for all seven months. The variations are calculated both for the emissivities and for their gradients at the AMSR2 channel frequencies. Obtained emissivities turned out to be generally lower than reported previously in scientific studies, whereas the emissivity variability values proved to be much larger than was known before. For all FY ice types, at all the frequencies, an increase in the emissivity at the beginning of winter and its decrease by the end of May are observed. The emissivity gradients demonstrate noticeable decreases with sea ice age, and their values may be used in sea ice classification algorithms based on the AMSR2 data.
GNSS RTK/UWB/DBA Fusion Positioning Method and Its Performance Evaluation
Authors: Wang Shengliang , Dong Xianshu , Liu Genyou , Gao Ming , Xiao Gongwei , Zhao Wenhao , Lv Dong
Published: November 2022

As a significant space–time infrastructure, the Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) provides high-precision positioning, navigation, and timing (PNT) information to users all over the world. However, GNSS real-time kinematic (RTK) mobile receiver signal attenuation is obvious in complex environments such as under trees, urban canyons, and indoors, among others, and it is incapable of meeting the demand of multi-level mass users for indoor and outdoor seamless positioning applications. The goal of this study was to address the limitations and vulnerabilities of the GNSS RTK positioning above-mentioned. First, we propose a GNSS RTK/UWB/DBA fusion positioning model and provide detailed algorithm steps for various types of observations. The performance of the GNSS RTK/UWB/DBA fusion positioning under various occlusion environments is then thoroughly evaluated using static and dynamic cart experiments. The experiment results show that as the elevation mask angle increases, the number of available GNSS satellites decreases and the ambiguity resolution success rate decreases; in comparison to GNSS RTK, the proposed GNSS RTK/UWB/DBA fusion positioning model can significantly improve the spatial geometry distribution of observations, reduce the position dilution of precision (PDOP) value, and improve the ambiguity resolution success rate. At an elevation mask angle of 50 degrees, GNSS RTK/UWB/DBA combination positioning can improve the ambiguity resolution success rate by 20% to 60%, and a positioning error less than 5 cm by 20% to 50%. It also indicates that the GNSS RTK/UWB/DBA fusion positioning model has higher positioning accuracy and can effectively improve the availability and reliability of GNSS RTK in a local harsh environment.
Evaluating Public Sector Employees’ Adoption of E-Governance and Its Impact on Organizational Performance in Angola
Authors: Congo Sergio , Choi Sang Ok
Published: November 2022

Angola’s public sector employees’ adoption of e-governance and its impact on organizational performance was the primary objective of this study. The research employed the UTAUT model to conduct an in-depth study and analyze organizational performance, e-governance, and behavioral intention in detail, formulating four hypotheses. To test the hypotheses, a quantitative research method was used to collect data using online surveys sent by SurveyMonkey. A total of 273 individuals participated in the survey, and each survey took around 45 min to complete. Statistical analysis was performed on the acquired data using the SPSS and AMOS programs. The results of the analysis supported three hypotheses and disproved one. The statistical research that resulted in insignificant results revealed that effort expectancy had no direct effect on the behavioral intention of adopting e-governance or the influence on organizational performance. On the other hand, the accepted hypotheses demonstrated that performance expectation, social influence, and facilitating conditions had direct positive effects on organizational performance and a mediating effect on the behavioral intention to adopt e-governance in the public sector of the Angolan state.