bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rice β-Glucosidase 4 (Os1βGlu4) Regulates the Hull Pigmentation via Accumulation of Salicylic Acid
Authors: Xu Peizhou , Wu Tingkai , Ali Asif , Wang Jinhao , Fang Yongqiong , Qiang Runrun , Liu Yutong , Tian Yunfeng , Liu Su , Zhang Hongyu , Liao Yongxiang , Chen Xiaoqiong , Shoaib Farwa , Sun Changhui , Xu Zhengjun , Xia Duo , Zhou Hao , Wu Xianjun
Published: September 2022

Salicylic acid (SA) is a stress hormone synthesized in phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and the branching acid pathway. SA has two interconvertible forms in plants: SAG (SA O-β-glucoside) and SA (free form). The molecular mechanism of conversion of SA to SAG had been reported previously. However, which genes regulate SAG to SA remained unknown. Here, we report a cytoplasmic β-glucosidase (β-Glu) which participates in the SA pathway and is involved in the brown hull pigmentation in rice grain. In the current study, an EMS-generated mutant brown hull 1 (bh1) displayed decreased contents of SA in hulls, a lower photosynthesis rate, and high-temperature sensitivity compared to the wild type (WT). A plaque-like phenotype (brown pigmentation) was present on the hulls of bh1, which causes a significant decrease in the seed setting rate. Genetic analysis revealed a mutation in LOC_Os01g67220, which encodes a cytoplasmic Os1βGlu4. The knock-out lines displayed the phenotype of brown pigmentation on hulls and decreased seed setting rate comparable with bh1. Overexpression and complementation lines of Os1βGlu4 restored the phenotype of hulls and normal seed setting rate comparable with WT. Subcellular localization revealed that the protein of Os1βGlu4 was localized in the cytoplasm. In contrast to WT, bh1 could not hydrolyze SAG into SA in vivo. Together, our results revealed the novel role of Os1βGlu4 in the accumulation of flavonoids in hulls by regulating the level of free SA in the cellular pool.
The Role of Sex in Acute and Chronic Liver Damage
Authors: Sayaf Katia , Gabbia Daniela , Russo Francesco Paolo , De Martin Sara
Published: September 2022

Acute and chronic hepatic damages are caused by xenobiotics or different diseases affecting the liver, characterized by different etiologies and pathological features. It has been demonstrated extensively that liver damage progresses differently in men and women, and some chronic liver diseases show a more favorable prognosis in women than in men. This review aims to update the most recent advances in the comprehension of the molecular basis of the sex difference observed in both acute and chronic liver damage. With this purpose, we report experimental studies on animal models and clinical observations investigating both acute liver failure, e.g., drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and chronic liver diseases, e.g., viral hepatitis, alcoholic liver disease (ALD), non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), autoimmune liver diseases, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
Nutritional Interventions for Patients with Mitochondrial POLG-Related Diseases: A Systematic Review on Efficacy and Safety
Authors: Pedersen Zandra Overgaard , Holm-Yildiz Sonja , Dysgaard Tina
Published: September 2022

Ketogenic diet is recommended as a treatment to reduce seizure frequency in patients with intractable epilepsy. The evidence and safety results are sparse for diet interventions in patients with pathogenic polymerase gamma (POLG) variants and intractable epilepsy. The aim of this systematic review is to summarize the efficacy of diet treatment on seizure frequency, clinical symptoms, and potential deleterious effect of liver involvement in patients with mitochondrial diseases caused by pathogenic POLG variants. Literature was searched in PubMed, Embase; and Cochrane in April 2022; no filter restrictions were imposed. The reference lists of retrieved studies were checked for additional literature. Eligibility criteria included verified pathogenic POLG variant and diet treatment. Overall, 880 studies were identified, providing eight case-reports representing nine patients eligible for inclusion. In eight of nine cases, clinical symptoms were improved; six out of nine cases reported improvements in seizure frequency. However, increasing levels of liver enzymes after initiating ketogenic diet were found in four of the nine cases, with one case revealing decreased levels of liver enzymes after initiating long-chain triglyceride restriction. Viewed together, the studies imply that ketogenic diet can have a positive impact on seizure frequency, but may induce progression of liver impairment in patients with pathogenic POLG variants.
Effects of Chronic Kidney Disease on Nanomechanics of the Endothelial Glycocalyx Are Mediated by the Mineralocorticoid Receptor
Authors: Fels Benedikt , Beyer Arne , Cazaña-Pérez Violeta , Giraldez Teresa , Navarro-González Juan , Alvarez de la Rosa Diego , Schaefer Franz , Bayazit Aysun , Obrycki Łukasz , Ranchin Bruno , Holle Johannes , Querfeld Uwe , Kusche-Vihrog Kristina
Published: September 2022

Endothelial mechanics control vascular reactivity and are regulated by the mineralocorticoid receptor (MR) and its downstream target, the epithelial Na+ channel (ENaC). Endothelial dysfunction is a hallmark of chronic kidney disease (CKD), but its mechanisms are poorly understood. We hypothesized that CKD disrupts endothelial mechanics in an MR/ENaC-dependent process. Methods: Primary human endothelial cells were cultured with uremic serum derived from children with stage 3–5 (predialysis) CKD or adult hemodialysis (HD) patients or healthy controls. The height and stiffness of the endothelial glycocalyx (eGC) and cortex were monitored by atomic force microscopy (AFM) using an ultrasensitive mechanical nanosensor. Results: In a stage-dependent manner, sera from children with CKD induced a significant increase in eGC and cortex stiffness and an incremental reduction of the eGC height. AFM measurements were significantly associated with individual pulse wave velocity and serum concentrations of gut-derived uremic toxins. Serum from HD patients increased MR expression and mechanical stiffness of the endothelial cortex, an effect reversed by MR and ENaC antagonists, decreased eNOS expression and NO bioavailability, and augmented monocyte adhesion. Conclusion: These data indicate progressive structural damage of the endothelial surface with diminishing kidney function and identify the MR as a mediator of CKD-induced endothelial dysfunction.
Implantation Failure in Endometriosis Patients: Etiopathogenesis
Authors: Boucher Astrid , Brichant Géraldine , Gridelet Virginie , Nisolle Michelle , Ravet Stéphanie , Timmermans Marie , Henry Laurie
Published: September 2022

Embryo implantation requires adequate dialogue between a good quality embryo and a receptive endometrium. This implantation is still considered as the black box of reproductive medicine. Endometriosis is a highly prevalent chronic inflammatory disease, concerning about 10% of women of reproductive age and is one of the major causes of female infertility. The mechanisms involved in endometriosis-related infertility, an event not yet completely understood, are multifactorial and include anatomical changes, reduction in ovarian reserve, endocrine abnormalities, genetic profile, immunity markers, inflammatory mediators, or altered endometrial receptivity. In this article, we will focus on the impact of endometriosis on embryo quality and on endometrial receptivity. Results: Poor oocyte and embryo quality seem to promote a lower pregnancy rate, more than the endometrium itself in women with endometriosis. Other studies report the contrary. In addition, hormonal imbalance observed in the endometrium could also alter the embryo implantation. Conclusions: Controversial results in the literature add difficulties to the understanding of the mechanisms that lead to embryo implantation disorders. Furthermore, either oocyte/embryo impairment, altered endometrium, or both may cause impaired implantation. New prospective, randomized, and controlled studies are necessary to determine the origin of the defects that make conception more difficult in the case of endometriosis and adenomyosis.
Sex Differences in Temporal Trends in Hospitalizations and In-Hospital Mortality in Patients with Sarcoidosis in Spain from 2001 to 2020
Authors: López-Muñiz Ballesteros Belén , Noriega Concepción , Lopez-de-Andres Ana , Jimenez-Garcia Rodrigo , Zamorano-Leon Jose J. , Carabantes-Alarcon David , de Miguel-Díez Javier
Published: September 2022

(1) Background: We aimed to analyze temporal trends in hospitalization and in-hospital mortality (IHM) in patients with sarcoidosis in Spain from 2001–2020. (2) Methods: Using the Spanish National Hospital Discharge Database, we included patients (aged ≥ 20 years) hospitalized with a sarcoidosis code in any diagnostic field. (3) Results: We included 44,195 hospitalizations with sarcoidosis (56.34% women). The proportion of women decreased over time, from 58.76% in 2001 and 2002 to 52.85% in 2019 and 2020 (p < 0.001). The crude rates per 100,000 inhabitants increased by 4.02% per year among women and 5.88% among men. These increments were confirmed using Poisson regression analysis, which yielded an IRR of 1.03; 95% CI 1.01–1.04 for women and 1.04; 95% CI 1.02–1.06 for men. During the study period, no significant sex differences in IHM were recorded. Older age, COVID-19, respiratory failure, and the need for mechanical ventilation were independent predictors of IHM in men and women hospitalized with sarcoidosis, with IHM remaining stable over time. (4) Conclusions: The number of hospital admissions among patients with sarcoidosis in Spain increased threefold from 2001 to 2020. Although the incidence rates were higher in women, the trend followed that the incidence rates between sexes became closer. IHM was similar among men and women, with no significant change over time in either sex after multivariable analysis.
Liver Fibrosis Indices Predict the Severity of SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Crudele Lucilla , Novielli Fabio , Petruzzelli Stefano , Battaglia Stefano , Giuliano Antonio Francesco Maria , Melodia Rosa , Morano Chiara Maria , Dell’Aquila Paola , Moretti Renata , Castorani Luigi , Salvia Roberto , Inglese Gianfranco , Susca Nicola , dell’Olio Lucrezia , Falcone Francesca , Castaldo Mariapaola , Matteis Carlo De , Sabbà Carlo , Moschetta Antonio
Published: September 2022

Discovering novel risk and prognostic factors for COVID-19 may help not only in reducing severity and mortality but also in creating targeted therapies considering patients’ individual features. Liver fibrosis is considered a complication in Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD), it is a feature of steatohepatitis (NASH), and it has already been related to an increased risk for a wide range of diseases. Here, we aimed to define if any parameter assessing metabolic status has predictive power in identifying inpatients at risk for poorer prognosis and an increased mortality from COVID-19. This retrospective study was conducted at the Sub-Intensive Medicine Care Unit of the Presidio Maxi-Emergenze Fiera del Levante, Azienda Ospedaliero-Universitaria Policlinico di Bari, Italy. We evaluated 271 inpatients with moderate-to-severe SARS-CoV-2-related respiratory failure by comparing biochemical features and non-invasive liver fibrosis scores among discharged, transferred to Intensive Care Units (ICU) and non-survivor patients. Moreover, by performing ROC curves, we defined cut-off values to predict mortality and disease severity for each score. We found that non-invasive scores of liver fibrosis, obtained at day of admission, such as AAR (p < 0.001), FIB-4 and mFIB-4, FORNS, and AARPRI (p < 0.05) strongly predict not only in-hospital mortality but also the length of hospitalization and eventual admission to ICU. FIB-4 was the best score to identify non-survivor patients (sensitivity of 80% and specificity of 63%) and predict the need for ICU or mortality (71% of sensitivity and 65% of specificity), with a cut-off value of 1.94. Therefore, we present the predictive power and the cut-off values of several liver fibrosis scores here for disease severity and mortality in SARS-CoV-2 in-patients and we proposed the use of the present scores to identify ab initio the clinical therapeutic and diagnostic protocols for high-risk patients.
The Positive Association between Muscle Mass and Bone Status Is Conserved in Men with Diabetes: A Retrospective Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Study
Authors: Moon Hyun Uk , Han Seung Jin , Kim Hae Jin , Chung Yoon-Sok , Kim Dae Jung , Choi Yong Jun
Published: September 2022

Bone and muscle are known to be correlated and interact chemically each other. Diabetes affects the health status of these two types of organ. There has been lack of studies of men on this topic. This study aims to investigate the relationship between bone and muscle status in men with and without diabetes. This study enrolled 318 and 88 men with and without diabetes, respectively, between April 2007 and December 2017. The appendicular skeletal muscle index (ASMI) was correlated with femoral neck bone mineral density (BMD), total hip BMD, and the trabecular bone score (TBS) in both groups (p < 0.001–0.008). In analysis of the changes in muscle mass and bone-related parameters over the 3 years, the ASMI was correlated with total hip BMD only in diabetes group (p = 0.016) and the TBS in both groups (p < 0.001–0.046). This study showed that the positive correlation between muscle mass and bone status was largely conserved in diabetic group in men. Moreover, in a long-term perspective, muscle mass might be more correlated with the bone microarchitecture or bone quality than bone density, and the association between muscle mass and total hip BMD could be stronger in the diabetic group.
Clinical Efficacy of Catheter Ablation in the Treatment of Vasovagal Syncope
Authors: Xu Lingping , Zhao Yixin , Duan Yichao , Wang Rui , Hou Junlong , Wang Jing , Chen Bin , Yang Ye , Xue Xianjun , Zhao Yongyong , Zhang Bo , Sun Chaofeng , Guo Fengwei
Published: September 2022

Catheter ablation of ganglionated plexi (GPs) performed as cardioneuroablation in the left atrium (LA) has been reported previously as a treatment for vasovagal syncope (VVS). However, the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation in the treatment of VVS remains unclear. The objective of this study is to explore the efficacy and safety of catheter ablation in the treatment of VVS and to compare the different ganglion-mapping methods for prognostic effects. A total of 108 patients with refractory VVS who underwent catheter ablation were retrospectively enrolled. Patients preferred to use high-frequency stimulation (HFS) (n = 66), and anatomic landmark (n = 42) targeting is used when HFS failed to induce a positive reaction. The efficacy of the treatment is evaluated by comparing the location and probability of the intraoperative vagal reflex, the remission rate of postoperative syncope symptoms, and the rate of negative head-up tilt (HUT) results. Adverse events are analyzed, and safety is evaluated. After follow-up for 8 (5, 15) months, both HFS mapping and anatomical ablation can effectively improve the syncope symptoms in VVS patients, and 83.7% of patients no longer experienced syncope (<0.001). Both approaches to catheter ablation in the treatment of VVS effectively inhibit the recurrence of VVS; they are safe and effective. Therefore, catheter ablation can be used as a treatment option for patients with symptomatic VVS.
Paget Disease as Common Pitfall on PET with Different Radiopharmaceuticals in Oncology: Not All That Glitters Is Gold!
Authors: Dondi Francesco , Albano Domenico , Treglia Giorgio , Bertagna Francesco
Published: September 2022

Paget’s disease (PD) is a benign but chronic condition characterized by the presence of abnormal homeostasis and remodeling of the bone, resulting in high osteoblastic and osteoclastic activity [...]
Virtual Underwater Datasets for Autonomous Inspections
Authors: Polymenis Ioannis , Haroutunian Maryam , Norman Rose , Trodden David
Published: September 2022

Underwater Vehicles have become more sophisticated, driven by the off-shore sector and the scientific community’s rapid advancements in underwater operations. Notably, many underwater tasks, including the assessment of subsea infrastructure, are performed with the assistance of Autonomous Underwater Vehicles (AUVs). There have been recent breakthroughs in Artificial Intelligence (AI) and, notably, Deep Learning (DL) models and applications, which have widespread usage in a variety of fields, including aerial unmanned vehicles, autonomous car navigation, and other applications. However, they are not as prevalent in underwater applications due to the difficulty of obtaining underwater datasets for a specific application. In this sense, the current study utilises recent advancements in the area of DL to construct a bespoke dataset generated from photographs of items captured in a laboratory environment. Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs) were utilised to translate the laboratory object dataset into the underwater domain by combining the collected images with photographs containing the underwater environment. The findings demonstrated the feasibility of creating such a dataset, since the resulting images closely resembled the real underwater environment when compared with real-world underwater ship hull images. Therefore, the artificial datasets of the underwater environment can overcome the difficulties arising from the limited access to real-world underwater images and are used to enhance underwater operations through underwater object image classification and detection.
Extended State Observer-Based Parameter Identification of Response Model for Autonomous Vessels
Authors: Zhu Man , Sun Wuqiang , Wen Yuanqiao , Huang Liang
Published: September 2022

Identification of parameters involved in the linear response model with high precision is a highly cost-effective, as well as a challenging task, in developing a suitable model for the verification and validation (V+V) of some key techniques for autonomous vessels in the virtual testbed, e.g., guidance, navigation, and control (GNC). In order to deal with this identification problem, a novel identification framework is proposed in this paper by introducing the extended state observer (ESO), and the well-evaluated robust weighted least square support vector regression algorithm (RW-LSSVR). A second-order linear response model is investigated in this study due to its wide use in controller designs. Considering the highly possible situation that only limited states could be measured directly, the required but immeasurable states in identifying parameters contained in the response model are approximately estimated by the ESO. Theoretical analysis of the stability is given to show and improve the applicability of the ESO. Simulation studies based on linear response models with predefined parameter values of a cargo vessel and a patrol vessel maneuvering in an open water area are carried out, respectively. Results show that the proposed approach not only estimates immeasurable states with high accuracy but also ensures good performance on the parameter identification of the response model with very close values to the nominal ones. The proven identified approach is economic because it only requires limited kinds of low-cost sensors.
Diagnosis of Fungal Keratitis in Low-Income Countries: Evaluation of Smear Microscopy, Culture, and In Vivo Confocal Microscopy in Nepal
Authors: Hoffman Jeremy J. , Yadav Reena , Sanyam Sandip Das , Chaudhary Pankaj , Roshan Abhishek , Singh Sanjay Kumar , Arunga Simon , Hu Victor H. , Macleod David , Leck Astrid , Burton Matthew J.
Published: September 2022

Clinically diagnosing fungal keratitis (FK) is challenging; diagnosis can be assisted by investigations including in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM), smear microscopy, and culture. The aim of this study was to estimate the sensitivity in detecting fungal keratitis (FK) using IVCM, smear microscopy, and culture in a setting with a high prevalence of FK. In this cross-sectional study nested within a prospective cohort study, consecutive microbial keratitis (MK) patients attending a tertiary-referral eye hospital in south-eastern Nepal between June 2019 and November 2020 were recruited. IVCM and corneal scrapes for smear microscopy and culture were performed using a standardised protocol. Smear microscopy was performed using potassium hydroxide (KOH), Gram stain, and calcofluor white. The primary outcomes were sensitivities with 95% confidence intervals [95% CI] for IVCM, smear microscopy and culture, and for each different microscopy stain independently, to detect FK compared to a composite referent. We enrolled 642 patients with MK; 468/642 (72.9%) were filamentous FK, 32/642 (5.0%) were bacterial keratitis and 64/642 (10.0%) were mixed bacterial-filamentous FK, with one yeast infection (0.16%). No organism was identified in 77/642 (12.0%). Smear microscopy had the highest sensitivity (90.7% [87.9–93.1%]), followed by IVCM (89.8% [86.9–92.3%]) and culture (75.7% [71.8–79.3%]). Of the three smear microscopy stains, KOH had the highest sensitivity (85.3% [81.9–88.4%]), followed by Gram stain (83.2% [79.7–86.4%]) and calcofluor white (79.1% [75.4–82.5%]). Smear microscopy and IVCM were the most sensitive tools for identifying FK in our cohort. In low-resource settings we recommend clinicians perform corneal scrapes for microscopy using KOH and Gram staining. Culture remains an important tool to diagnose bacterial infection, identify causative fungi and enable antimicrobial susceptibility testing.
Identification of Genes Promoting Growth of Ustilago maydis on Biomolecules Released from Cells Killed by Oxidation
Authors: Malesevic Jelena , Kojic Milorad , Stanovcic Stefan , Azanjac Natalija , Milisavljevic Mira
Published: September 2022

Much headway has been made in understanding the numerous strategies that enable microorganisms to counteract various types of environmental stress, but little is known about how microbial populations recover after a massive death caused by exposure to extreme conditions. Using the yeast-like fungus Ustilago maydis as a model, our recent post-stress regrowth under starvation (RUS) studies have demonstrated that this organism reconstitutes devastated populations with remarkable efficiency. Subsequently, we have identified four RUS-gene products. Two of these, Did4 and Tbp1, play parallel roles in protecting the genome. To identify additional molecular components, we took a molecular-genetic and a transcriptomic approach. By employing a simple and novel screening method, we identified five RUS-deficient mutants (snf8, slm1, vrg4, snf5, hsf1), three of which (snf8, slm1, and hsf1) displayed sensitivity to different genotoxic agents, indicating that the corresponding gene products have roles in genome protection. The global transcriptomic changes of cells grown in supernatants derived from peroxide-treated cell suspensions revealed sets of uniquely expressed genes. Importantly, among the genes induced by the substrates was Chk1, which encodes a protein kinase required for checkpoint-mediated cell cycle arrest in response to DNA damage. Mutants of U. maydis deleted of Chk1 are severely incapacitated in RUS.
In Vitro Assessment of Azole and Amphotericin B Susceptibilities of Malassezia spp. Isolated from Healthy and Lesioned Skin
Authors: Chebil Wissal , Haouas Najoua , Eskes Elja , Vandecruys Paul , Belgacem Sameh , Belhadj Ali Hichem , Babba Hamouda , Van Dijck Patrick
Published: September 2022

Malassezia yeasts have recently gained medical importance as emerging pathogens associated with a wide range of dermatological and systemic infections. Since standardized methods for in vitro antifungal susceptibility testing have not yet been established for Malassezia spp., related diseases are always treated empirically. As a result, a high rate of recurrence and decreased antifungal susceptibility have appeared. Thus, the aims of the study were to assess and analyze the in vitro susceptibility of Malassezia isolated from pityriasis versicolor (PV) lesions and healthy controls. A total of 58 Malassezia strains isolated from PV patients and healthy controls were tested. In vitro antifungal susceptibility testing was conducted using the CLSI broth microdilution with some modifications. Candida spp. criteria established in accordance with CLSI guidelines were used for data interpretation. Ketoconazole and posaconazole seemed to be the most effective molecules against Malassezia species. However, considerable percentages of itraconazole, fluconazole, and amphotericin B ‘‘resistant’’ strains (27.6%, 29.3%, and 43.1%, respectively) were revealed in this study. Malassezia furfur, M. sympodialis, and M. globosa showed different susceptibility profiles to the drugs tested. These results emphasize the importance of accurately identifying and evaluating the antifungal susceptibility of Malassezia species in order to guide a specific and effective treatment regimen.
Assessing the Potential for Private Sector Engagement in Integrated Landscape Approaches: Insights from Value-Chain Analyses in Southern Zambia
Authors: Upla Pauliina , Reed James , Moombe Kaala B. , Kazule Benjamin J. , Mulenga Brian P. , Ros-Tonen Mirjam , Sunderland Terry
Published: September 2022

Agricultural and forested landscapes in Africa are changing rapidly in response to socio-economic and environmental pressures. Integrated landscape approaches provide an opportunity for a more holistic and coordinated resource management strategy through the engagement of multiple stakeholders. Despite their influence as landscape actors, participation of private businesses in such initiatives has thus far been limited. This study focuses on the Kalomo District in southern Zambia, which provides an example of a rural landscape characterized by high levels of poverty, low agricultural productivity, and widespread deforestation and forest degradation. The study applied a value-chain analysis approach to better understand how the production of four locally important commodities (maize, tobacco, cattle, and charcoal) impacts land use, local livelihoods, and environmental objectives in this landscape, focusing on the role and influence of private sector actors. Data were collected through focus group discussions and key informant semi-structured interviews. Qualitative content analysis was employed to analyze the data and contextualize the findings. Results indicate three key potential entry points for increased private sector engagement: (1) improving water security for smallholders; (2) empowering small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) as private sector actors; and (3) collective planning for sustainable landscape activities with deliberate measures to involve private sector actors. We discuss options for optimizing benefits from the identified entry points.
Weakening of Coastlines and Coastal Erosion in the Gulf of Guinea: The Case of the Kribi Coast in Cameroon
Authors: Mbevo Fendoung Philippes , Tchindjang Mesmin , Hubert-Ferrari Aurélia
Published: September 2022

For more than four decades, the Gulf of Guinea’s coasts have been undergoing a significant phenomenon of erosion, resulting from the pressures of both anthropogenic and marine weather forcings. From the coasts of West Africa (Senegal, Ivory Coast, Ghana, Benin, Togo, and Nigeria) to those of Central Africa (Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, and Cameroon), the phenomenon has been growing for more than four decades. The southern Cameroonian coastline from Kribi to Campo has become the scene of significant environmental dynamics that render it vulnerable to coastal erosion, which appears to be the major hazard of this coastal territory and causes a gradual degradation of the vegetative cover, thereby leading to the degradation of the coast’s land/ground cover and human-made infrastructure. The objective of this work is to analyze the kinematics of the Kribian coastline between 1973 and 2020; to quantify the levels of retreat, accretion, and stability; and finally, to discuss the factors influencing the evolution of the coastline. The methodological approach is based on the large-scale processing of Landsat images with a spatial resolution of 30 m. Then, small-scale processing is carried out around the autonomous port of Kribi using Pléiades and Google Earth images from the years 2013, 2018, and 2020 with a 0.5 m spatial resolution. The Digital Shoreline Analysis System (DSAS) version 5 and ArcMap 10.5® tool are used to model coastal kinematics. In addition, the dynamics of the agro-industrial plantations are assessed via satellite images and landscape perception. Environmental degradation is measured with respect to the entire Cameroonian coastline through the supervised classification of Landsat images (1986–2020). The results show that erosion is in its initial phase in Kribi because significant retreats of the coastline are noticeable over the period from 2015–2020. Thus, between 1973 and 2020, the linear data present a certain stability. In total, +72.32% of the line remained stable, with values of +1.3% for accretion and +26.33% for erosion—obtained from Landsat images of 30 m resolution—with an average retreat of +1.3 m/year and an average accretion of 0.9 m/year between 1973–2020. Based on high-resolution images, between 2013 and 2019, the average retreat of the coastline on the Kribian coast was −8.5 m/year and the average accretion was about 7 m/year. Agro-industrial plantations are responsible for environmental degradation. Thus, at SOCAPALM in Apouh, there has been a clear growth in plantations, which has fallen from 53% in 1990 to 78% in 2020, i.e., an increase of 25% of its baseline area. This is linked to the fact that plantations are growing significantly, with increases of 16% in 1990, 28% in 2000, and 29% in 2020, for old plantations.
Colloidal Nanosilica Treatments for Sealing Cracks in Mortar
Authors: Sánchez-Moreno M. , García-Calvo J.L. , Tavares-Pinto F.
Published: September 2022

Presence of microcracks in concrete can diminish the service life of a structure. The injection of materials for filling the crack is proposed for facing this problem. The traditional materials used for sealing cracks present some drawbacks, such as the difficulties of inorganic materials for flowing to all the depth of the crack and the lack of compatibility with the cementitious matrix in the case of organic materials. In this work, the injection of colloidal nanosilica dispersed in water is proposed for filling microcracks in mortars. The effect of the injection procedure on the sealing performance of the colloidal nanosilica has been assessed. The ability of colloidal nanosilica for penetrating through the crack and its posterior gelification-solidification inside the crack after a curing period have been confirmed. The microscopic analysis of a cross-section of the crack indicates that the sealing ability of the nanosilica seems to be not only due to the filling of the crack but also to chemical interactions with the cementitious phases of the surrounding crack sides.
Design and Optimization of the Surface Texture at the Hydrostatic Bearing and the Spindle for High Precision Machining
Authors: Shang Youyun , Cheng Kai , Ding Hui , Chen Shijin
Published: September 2022

Hydrostatic bearing spindles are widely applied in high precision grinding and turning machines due to their good dynamic stability and rotational accuracy. However, under the condition of high-speed rotations, the heat generated by the friction of the oil film will cause the shear thinning effect. It not only reduces the rotation accuracy of the spindle but also reduces the service life of the spindle. The surface texture structure and configuration between the planes play the role of homogenizing oil film temperature and preventing the bearing surface wear caused by excessive concentration of temperature, which can change the relative motion from the inside of the oil film and thus improve the performance of the hydrostatic spindle more effectively. In this paper, the influence of the surface texture shape and height on the thrust bearing performance of the hydrostatic spindle is systematically investigated by comparative analysis. The CFD simulations are developed to analyze the computational results based on the theory of viscosity-temperature characteristics. The results show that when the height of the surface structure is 1 ~ 2 times the oil film thickness, the spindle bearing performance is the best. The average temperature in the bearing region is the lowest and the accuracy of the simulations was verified by experimental results.
Using a Separable Mathematical Entropy to Construct Entropy-Stable Schemes for a Reduced Blood Flow Model
Authors: Valbuena Sonia , Vega Carlos A.
Published: September 2022

The aim of this paper is to derive a separable entropy for a one-dimensional reduced blood flow model, which will be used to treat the symmetrizability of the model in full generality and for constructing entropy conservative fluxes, which are one of the essential building blocks of designing entropy-stable schemes. Time discretization is conducted by implicit–explicit (IMEX) Runge–Kutta schemes, but solutions for nonlinear systems will not be required due to the particular form of the source term. To validate the numerical schemes obtained, some numerical tests are presented.
Oppositional Pigeon-Inspired Optimizer for Solving the Non-Convex Economic Load Dispatch Problem in Power Systems
Authors: Ramalingam Rajakumar , Karunanidy Dinesh , Alshamrani Sultan S. , Rashid Mamoon , Mathumohan Swamidoss , Dumka Ankur
Published: September 2022

Economic Load Dispatch (ELD) belongs to a non-convex optimization problem that aims to reduce total power generation cost by satisfying demand constraints. However, solving the ELD problem is a challenging task, because of its parity and disparity constraints. The Pigeon-Inspired Optimizer (PIO) is a recently proposed optimization algorithm, which belongs to the family of swarm intelligence algorithms. The PIO algorithm has the benefit of conceptual simplicity, and provides better outcomes for various real-world problems. However, this algorithm has the drawback of premature convergence and local stagnation. Therefore, we propose an Oppositional Pigeon-Inspired Optimizer (OPIO) algorithm—to overcome these deficiencies. The proposed algorithm employs Oppositional-Based Learning (OBL) to enhance the quality of the individual, by exploring the global search space. The proposed algorithm would be used to determine the load demand of a power system, by sustaining the various equality and inequality constraints, to diminish the overall generation cost. In this work, the OPIO algorithm was applied to solve the ELD problem of small- (13-unit, 40-unit), medium- (140-unit, 160-unit) and large-scale (320-unit, 640-unit) test systems. The experimental results of the proposed OPIO algorithm demonstrate its efficiency over the conventional PIO algorithm, and other state-of-the-art approaches in the literature. The comparative results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm provides better results—in terms of improved accuracy, higher convergence rate, less computation time, and reduced fuel cost—than the other approaches.
Dual-Channel Interactive Graph Convolutional Networks for Aspect-Level Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Lan Zhouxin , He Qing , Yang Liu
Published: September 2022

Aspect-level sentiment analysis aims to identify the sentiment polarity of one or more aspect terms in a sentence. At present, many researchers have applied dependency trees and graph neural networks (GNNs) to aspect-level sentiment analysis and achieved promising results. However, when a sentence contains multiple aspects, most methods model each aspect independently, ignoring the issue of sentiment connection between aspects. To address this problem, this paper proposes a dual-channel interactive graph convolutional network (DC-GCN) model for aspect-level sentiment analysis. The model considers both syntactic structure information and multi-aspect sentiment dependencies in sentences and employs graph convolutional networks (GCN) to learn its node information representation. Particularly, to better capture the representations of aspect and opinion words, we exploit the attention mechanism to interactively learn the syntactic information features and multi-aspect sentiment dependency features produced by the GCN. In addition, we construct the word embedding layer by the BERT pre-training model to better learn the contextual semantic information of sentences. The experimental results on the restaurant, laptop, and twitter datasets show that, compared with the state-of-the-art model, the accuracy is up to 1.86%, 2.50, 1.36%, and 0.38 and the Macro-F1 values are up to 1.93%, 0.61%, and 0.4%, respectively.
A New Fuzzy Robust Control for Linear Parameter-Varying Systems
Authors: Chen Fenghua , Qiu Xinguo , Alattas Khalid A. , Mohammadzadeh Ardashir , Ghaderpour Ebrahim
Published: September 2022

The linear parameter-varying (LPV) models have broad applications in advanced mathematics and modern control systems. This paper introduces a new method for controlling the LPV systems. This method includes the gain-scheduled state-feedback technique and a fuzzy system to calculate the state-feedback gain. The main goal of the control system is to stabilize the system and bring its states to equilibrium points. Linear matrix inequalities calculate feedback gains to stabilize the system. On the other hand, a fuzzy control system also produces a combined signal with the primary controller signal to speed up this operation. Lyapunov’s theory is used to guarantee the control system’s stability. Finally, to evaluate the performance of the proposed control system, the inverted pendulum has been investigated as a case study. The results show that the proposed method has good efficiency and performance.
Theorems of Common Fixed Points for Some Mappings in b2 Metric Spaces
Authors: Zhang Mengyi , Zhu Chuanxi
Published: September 2022

In this research paper, we concentrate on the existence and uniqueness of common fixed points of various mappings in b2 metric space under generalized (ϕ,f)λ-expansive conditions and implicit contractive conditions. Additionally, we derive a progression of noteworthy approaches and ideas extending the conclusions on the real metric space to the b2 metric space, which advances the investigation of the b2 metric space will be able to advance.
A Review of Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning for Incident Detectors in Road Transport Systems
Authors: Olugbade Samuel , Ojo Stephen , Imoize Agbotiname Lucky , Isabona Joseph , Alaba Mathew O.
Published: September 2022

Road transport is the most prone to accidents, resulting in significant fatalities and injuries. It also faces a plethora of never-ending problems, such as the frequent loss of lives and valuables during an accident. Appropriate actions need to be taken to address these problems, such as the establishment of an automatic incident detection system using artificial intelligence and machine learning. This article explores the overview of artificial intelligence and machine learning in facilitating automatic incident detector systems to decrease road accidents. The study examines the critical problems and potential remedies for reducing road traffic accidents and the application of artificial intelligence and machine learning in road transportation systems. More, new, and emerging trends that reduce frequent accidents in the transportation sector are discussed extensively. Specifically, the study organized the following sub-topics: an incident detector with machine learning and artificial intelligence and road management with machine learning and artificial intelligence. Additionally, safety is the primary concern of road transport; the internet of vehicles and vehicle ad hoc networks, including the use of wireless communication technologies such as 5G wireless networks and the use of machine learning and artificial intelligence for road transportation systems planning, are elaborated. Key findings from the review indicate that route optimization, cargo volume forecasting, predictive fleet maintenance, real-time vehicle tracking, and traffic management are critical to safeguarding road transportation systems. Finally, the paper summarizes the challenges facing the application of artificial intelligence in road transport systems, highlights the research trends, identifies the unresolved questions, and highlights the essential research takeaways. The work can serve as reference material for road transport system planning and management.
A Cross-Sectional Questionnaire-Based Survey on Blood-Borne Infection Control among Romanian Dental Students
Authors: Saveanu Catalina Iulia , Dărăbăneanu Gianina , Bobu Livia Ionela , Anistoroaei Daniela , Bamboi Irina , Ciortescu Irina , Saveanu Alexandra Ecaterina
Published: September 2022

Background and Objectives: According to the CDC estimates, 5.6 million healthcare workers worldwide are exposed to the risk of occupationally contracting blood-borne pathogens, including human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and others. The aim of the present study was to assess the knowledge level on blood-borne infection control (IC) among Romanian undergraduate dental students. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey with 21 items was conducted from May 2022 to June 2022. The study had α = 0.620 and Cronbach’s Alpha = 0.660. The Chi-square test was used for data comparison. The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS version 26 (IBM, Armonk, NY, USA), and p ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. Results: The study sample included 207 subjects with a mean age of 21.38 (±1.9) years, 59.9% F (female), 40.1% M (male), 38.2% students from year II and 61.8% from year III. Most of the subjects did not have knowledge on the indirect mode of IC, the persistence of HBV, HCV, or HIV, or the existence of rapid tests (p < 0.05). PEP (post-exposure prophylaxis) was known as follows: HBV, 32.36% (67); HCV, 25.60% (53); and HIV, 36.71% (76); p < 0.05. Only 50.24% (104) had knowledge on the recommended testing moments (p = 0.019 by gender, p = 0.752 by year of study). The optimal time to access PEP was considered by 28.01% (58), p ˃ 0.05. Only 37.68% (78) strongly agreed that the one-hand covering technique of the needle was efficient in IC (p < 0.05). Conclusions: The evaluation of the knowledge regarding IC highlighted major gaps in the perception of the subjects, which underlined the need to implement sustained forms of continuing medical education on this topic.
Are Dental Caries Associated with Oxidative Stress in Saliva in Children and Adolescents? A Systematic Review
Authors: de Sousa Né Yago Gecy , Frazão Deborah Ribeiro , Bittencourt Leonardo Oliveira , Fagundes Nathalia Carolina Fernandes , Marañón-Vásquez Guido , Crespo-Lopez Maria Elena , Maia Lucianne Cople , Lima Rafael Rodrigues
Published: September 2022

This systematic review aimed to assess whether dental caries is associated with oxidative salivary stress. The searches were carried out in electronic databases, including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, the Cochrane Library, LILACS, OpenGrey, and Google Scholar, without restrictions on the date of publication and language. The acronym PECO was used, in which the participants (P) were children and adolescents exposed (E) to dental caries compared (C) to those without dental caries, with the outcome (O) of modulation of oxidative biochemical parameters. After the search retrieval, the duplicates were removed, and the articles were evaluated by title and abstract, following the inclusion and exclusion criteria. Then, the papers were read and thoroughly assessed. After selection, the risk of bias assessment and qualitative synthesis were performed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale (NOS) for observational studies. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) tool was used to assess the level of evidence. A total of 5790 studies were found, and 30 articles were considered eligible and were included for the qualitative synthesis and the level of evidence assessment. The studies showed an imbalance of the antioxidant and pro-oxidant parameters in individuals with dental caries, with primarily increases in both total antioxidant capacity and lipid peroxidation. Most articles showed a low risk of bias, having comparability as the main issue. When exploring through GRADE, a very low level of evidence was found. It was possible to observe an association between oxidative stress and dental caries, showing a disbalance of antioxidants and pro-oxidants, but the evidence level was still very low.
A Cantilever-Based Piezoelectric MEMS for Arbitrary XY Path Generation
Authors: Botta Fabio , Rossi Andrea , Belfiore Nicola Pio
Published: September 2022

This work pertains to the design of a cantilever-based piezoelectric MEMS device that is capable of generating arbitrary paths of its tip. The conceived device consists of a pair of rigidly coupled piezoelectric bimorph cantilevers, and a theoretical model is developed for the analytical evaluation of the proper voltage distribution to be supplied to the inner and outer electrodes of each piezoelectric actuator, in order to drive the tip along any desired trajectory. Such a device could be appealing in some microsurgical operations, i.e., the unclogging of arteries, endoluminal treatment of obstructive lesions, but also as a 2D micropositioning stage, etc. Theoretical predictions of voltage versus time that allow several pathways such as circles, ellipses, spirals, etc., to be accomplished have been verified with multiphysics FEM simulations and the numerical outcomes seem to corroborate the proposed model.
How to Shut Down Transcription in Archaea during Virus Infection
Authors: Pilotto Simona , Werner Finn
Published: September 2022

Multisubunit RNA polymerases (RNAPs) carry out transcription in all domains of life; during virus infection, RNAPs are targeted by transcription factors encoded by either the cell or the virus, resulting in the global repression of transcription with distinct outcomes for different host–virus combinations. These repressors serve as versatile molecular probes to study RNAP mechanisms, as well as aid the exploration of druggable sites for the development of new antibiotics. Here, we review the mechanisms and structural basis of RNAP inhibition by the viral repressor RIP and the crenarchaeal negative regulator TFS4, which follow distinct strategies. RIP operates by occluding the DNA-binding channel and mimicking the initiation factor TFB/TFIIB. RIP binds tightly to the clamp and locks it into one fixed position, thereby preventing conformational oscillations that are critical for RNAP function as it progresses through the transcription cycle. TFS4 engages with RNAP in a similar manner to transcript cleavage factors such as TFS/TFIIS through the NTP-entry channel; TFS4 interferes with the trigger loop and bridge helix within the active site by occlusion and allosteric mechanisms, respectively. The conformational changes in RNAP described above are universally conserved and are also seen in inactive dimers of eukaryotic RNAPI and several inhibited RNAP complexes of both bacterial and eukaryotic RNA polymerases, including inactive states that precede transcription termination. A comparison of target sites and inhibitory mechanisms reveals that proteinaceous repressors and RNAP-specific antibiotics use surprisingly common ways to inhibit RNAP function.