bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effectiveness of Decentralized Federated Learning Algorithms in Healthcare: A Case Study on Cancer Classification
Authors: Subramanian Malliga , Rajasekar Vani , V. E. Sathishkumar , Shanmugavadivel Kogilavani , Nandhini P. S.
Published: December 2022

Deep learning-based medical image analysis is an effective and precise method for identifying various cancer types. However, due to concerns over patient privacy, sharing diagnostic images across medical facilities is typically not permitted. Federated learning (FL) tries to construct a shared model across dispersed clients under such privacy-preserving constraints. Although there is a good chance of success, dealing with non-IID (non-independent and identical distribution) client data, which is a typical circumstance in real-world FL tasks, is still difficult for FL. We use two FL algorithms, FedAvg and FedProx, to manage client heterogeneity and non-IID data in a federated setting. A heterogeneous data split of the cancer datasets with three different forms of cancer—cervical, lung, and colon—is used to validate the efficacy of the FL. In addition, since hyperparameter optimization presents new difficulties in an FL setting, we also examine the impact of various hyperparameter values. We use Bayesian optimization to fine-tune the hyperparameters and identify the appropriate values in order to increase performance. Furthermore, we investigate the hyperparameter optimization in both local and global models of the FL environment. Through a series of experiments, we find that FedProx outperforms FedAvg in scenarios with significant levels of heterogeneity.
Energy-Efficient Edge Caching and Task Deployment Algorithm Enabled by Deep Q-Learning for MEC
Authors: Ma Li , Wang Peng , Du Chunlai , Li Yang
Published: December 2022

Container technology enables rapid deployment of computing services, while edge computing reduces the latency of task computing and improves performance. However, there are limits to the types, number and performance of containers that can be supported by different edge servers, and a sensible task deployment strategy and rapid response to the policy is a must. Therefore, by jointly optimizing the strategies of task deployment, offloading decisions, edge cache and resource allocation, this paper aims to minimize the overall energy consumption of a mobile edge computing (MEC) system composed of multiple mobile devices (MD) and multiple edge servers integrated with different containers. The problem is formalized as a combinatorial optimization problem containing multiple discrete variables when constraints of container type, transmission power, latency, task offloading and deployment strategies are satisfied. To solve the NP-hard problem and achieve fast response for sub-optimal policy, this paper proposes an energy-efficient edge caching and task deployment policy based on Deep Q-Learning (DQCD). Firstly, the pruning and optimization of the exponential action space consisting of offloading decisions, task deployment and caching policy is completed to accelerate the training of the model. Then, the iterative optimization of the training model is completed using a deep neural network. Finally, the sub-optimal task deployment, offloading and caching policies are obtained based on the training model. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed algorithm is able to converge the model in very few iterations and results in a great improvement in terms of reducing system energy consumption and policy response delay compared to other algorithms.
Artificial-Intelligence-Assisted Activities of Daily Living Recognition for Elderly in Smart Home
Authors: Onthoni Djeane Debora , Sahoo Prasan Kumar
Published: December 2022

Activity Recognition (AR) is a method to identify a certain activity from the set of actions. It is commonly used to recognize a set of Activities of Daily Living (ADLs), which are performed by the elderly in a smart home environment. AR can be beneficial for monitoring the elder’s health condition, where the information can be further shared with the family members, caretakers, or doctors. Due to the unpredictable behaviors of an elderly person, performance of ADLs can vary in day-to-day life. Each activity may perform differently, which can affect the sequence of the sensor’s raw data. Due to this issue, recognizing ADLs from the sensor’s raw data remains a challenge. In this paper, we proposed an Activity Recognition for the prediction of the Activities of Daily Living using Artificial Intelligence approach. Data acquisition techniques and modified Naive Bayes supervised learning algorithm are used to design the prediction model for ADL. Our experiment results establish that the proposed method can achieve high accuracy in comparison to other well-established supervised learning algorithms.
A 1.25 MHz, 108 dB Chopped Sampling-Mixer-Based Impedance Spectroscopy SoC in 0.18-μm CMOS
Authors: Kim Hyeonsik , Lee Heejune , Kim Jintae
Published: December 2022

This paper presents an electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) system-on-chip in 0.18-μm CMOS, achieving a wide scan frequency range of 1.25 MHz. An on-chip direct digital frequency synthesizer generates a digital sine wave as well as in-phase and quadrature-phase clocks that are synchronized to the sinewave. A chopped sampling mixer realizes lock-in detection without requiring quadrature sinewaves while suppressing low-frequency noise and offset. The receive utilizes a 12-bit pipelined SAR ADC operating in 5 MS/s in combination with a digital averaging filter to maximize the dynamic range. The measured performance shows that the prototype EIS chip achieves the highest frequency scan range with a comparable dynamic range of 108 dB and power consumption of 14 mW when compared with the previous state-of-the-art prototypes.
Performance Evaluation of SiC-Based Two-Level VSIs with Generalized Carrier-Based PWM Strategies in Motor Drive Applications
Authors: Lin Hedi , Xu Junzhong
Published: December 2022

Currently, silicon carbide (SiC) MOSFETs are several times higher in cost than the equivalent silicon (Si)-IGBTs; however, the gains in power conversion efficiency, simplification of thermal management, and energy savings in general bring the advantages of lower total cost of ownership. The implementation of discontinuous PWM (DPWM) techniques for controlling the motor drive brings further reductions for the semiconductor switching losses; however, most existing techniques have limited performance on the optimized clamping region, particularly at a low power factor, which is a common operation condition for motor drives employing the widely used V/f control, particularly at partial- or low-load conditions. This paper evaluates the performance of a SiC-based two-level voltage-source inverter (2L-VSI) motor drive operated with generalized carrier-based PWM methods. Theoretical analysis and experimental measurements are conducted in a 2.2 kW heatsink-less 2L-VSI prototype and induction machine, which demonstrates that the minimum switching losses DPWM (MSL-DPWM) is the most favorable solution in practice in terms of the achievable power conversion efficiency and harmonic distortions and also produces the least common-mode current, which is critical in motor drives.
Optimal Multi-Mode Flexibility Operation of CHP Units with Electrode Type Electric Boilers: A Case Study
Authors: Dong Yuliang , Yu Songyuan , He Chengbing , Yu Qingbin , Fang Fang
Published: December 2022

With the in-depth development of flexibility retrofit in combined heat and power (CHP) units, the unit commitment mode of energy supply equipment in CHP plants is more flexible. This paper presents a multi-mode flexible operation method for CHP plants with electrode electric boilers. Firstly, a simulation model of the operation characteristics of each unit in different operation modes is established, and the corresponding features of electrical and thermal outputs are obtained. Subsequently, a decision-making model of the unit commitment mode of energy supply equipment is set up, and the selection rules of the unit commitment mode of the unit under low heat load, medium heat load, and high heat load are achieved. Finally, under different unit operation combinations, a plant-level optimum load dispatch model is obtained, and the actual operating data of the CHP plant is used for optimization and comparison analysis. The results show that compared to the unit commitment mode of high back pressure and low-pressure cylinder cutting-off (HBP + LPCC), the unit commitment mode of high back pressure and extraction heating (HBP + EH) has more room for energy-saving optimization. Under the premise of safe and reliable operation, the high back pressure (HBP) unit can be loaded as much as possible. While in the combined operating of HBP + EH, the energy-saving space for optimized load dispatching is not large, so a fixed proportion of the electrical load may be considered; under the auxiliary service subsidy policy, the input power of the electric boiler can be appropriately increased; the greater the heat load of the whole plant, the more pronounced the energy-saving effect of optimum load dispatch.
A Review of Hybrid Converter Topologies
Authors: Afshari Hossein , Husev Oleksandr , Matiushkin Oleksandr , Vinnikov Dmitri
Published: December 2022

There is a growing interest in solar energy systems with storage battery assistance. There is a corresponding growing interest in hybrid converters. This paper provides a comprehensive review of hybrid converter topologies. The concept of a hybrid inverter is introduced and then classified into isolated and non-isolated structures based on using a galvanic transformer. The classification and description of each type are presented based on the features and applications. Furthermore, the most popular commercial solutions are investigated in terms of their simplicity, flexibility, efficiency, and battery technology. The summarizing features are presented through tables, and future trends for researchers to follow to develop efficient hybrid converters are discussed. This review paper is intended as a convenient reference for hybrid converter users.
Effect of Tube Bundle Arrangement on the Performance of PCM Heat Storage Units
Authors: Fabrykiewicz Maciej , Cieśliński Janusz
Published: December 2022

The results of a comprehensive study on the charging and discharging of latent heat storage systems (LHSS) are presented. Multi-tube shell-and-tube units with variable layouts of tube bundles are examined. Two tube arrangements—in-line and staggered—are tested. A variable number of tubes and different tube positions in a bundle are investigated. Moreover, two pitch ratios are studied. Three commercially available substances are used as phase change materials (PCM). The results show that increasing the number of tubes reduces both the charging and discharging times. It is found that for a bundle of seven tubes with a pitch ratio s/d = 4.5, the in-line tube arrangement results in a shorter charging time, but the discharging time is shorter for a staggered tube arrangement.
ZnMn2O4 Nanopyramids Fabrication by Hydrothermal Route: Effect of Reaction Time on the Structural, Morphological, and Electrochemical Properties
Authors: Aouini Souha , Bardaoui Afrah , Ferraria Ana , Santos Diogo , Chtourou Radhouane
Published: December 2022

ZnMn2O4 spinels are prepared by a simple hydrothermal route with control of the reaction time, ranging from 6 h to 18 h. The evolution of the structural and morphological parameters under the effect of time was analyzed by XRD, ATR-FTIR, XPS, and SEM-EDS. The XRD results show that for longer reaction times (18 h), the ZnMn2O4 spinel samples present a tetragonal structure with high crystallinity and an average crystallite size of 32.3 ± 1.7 nm, larger than those obtained for 6 h and 12 h. The ATR-FTIR spectra confirm the structural results, with well-defined peaks related to stretching vibrations of M-O (M = Zn, Mn) functional groups. XPS reveals the co-existence of several metal oxides and hydroxides at the outermost surface. SEM analysis shows that the samples present a pyramid morphology, better defined at 18 h, with an average particle size of 6.2 ± 1.5 µm. EDS analysis of ZnMn2O4 (18 h) reveals atomic ratios of 0.45, 0.22, and 0.50 for Zn/Mn, Zn/O, and Mn/O, respectively, in good agreement with the expected values. Based on the CVs, the synthesized ZnMn2O4 samples formed at 18 h showed the most promising electrochemical properties, with a specific capacity of 102 F g−1, offering great potential in supercapacitor applications.
Study on Characteristics of Overburden Strata Structure above Abandoned Gob of Shallow Seams—A Case Study
Authors: Jiang Ning , Lv Ke , Gao Zhiyou , Di Huixin , Ma Junbiao , Pan Tianyi
Published: December 2022

To understand the change in overburden structure after coal seam group mining, we investigated the overburden characteristics and bearing capacity of abandoned coal mines in a coal seam group. We provide a theoretical basis for the construction and utilization of a coal mining subsidence area under a complex geological environment. This paper takes the construction project of Zhongtie Huizhi Square in Zhangqiu District, Jinan City, Shandong Province as the engineering background. According to the occurrence conditions of the study area, theoretical analysis, similar simulation, numerical simulation, and engineering practice verification are used. The overburden structure characteristics of abandoned mines in a shallow-buried coal seam group were studied. The results show that the development height of the water-carrying fractured zone after the mining of the 3#, 4#, and 9# coal seams is 17 m, 19.5 m, and 27.1 m, respectively, which shows that the height of water flow in the fractured zone is proportional to the buried depth of the coal seam after coal seam mining. After the model is set aside for three months, the degree of development of the residual fracture in the goaf is analyzed, and the distribution law of residual porosity in the longwall old goaf of a shallow-buried multiple coal seam is obtained. The development rate of residual fissures on both sides of the goaf is between 20.31% and 42.31%. The residual fracture development rate in the middle is relatively small, being between 8.21% and 18.53%. We comprehensively analyzed the characteristics of overlying strata in the abandoned mine under actual stratum conditions, and compared the empirical calculation results, theoretical research, similar simulation, and numerical simulation results in the specification with the engineering practice to prove the reliability of the research.
The Direct Effect of Enriching the Gaseous Combustible with 23% Hydrogen in Condensing Boilers’ Operation
Authors: Calotă Răzvan , Antonescu Nicolae N. , Stănescu Dan-Paul , Năstase Ilinca
Published: December 2022

Following the international trend of using hydrogen as combustible in many industry branches, this paper investigates the impact of mixing methane gas with 23% hydrogen (G222) on condensing boilers’ operation. After modeling and testing several boilers with heat exchange surface different designs, the authors gathered enough information to introduce a new concept, namely High-Performance Condensing Boiler (HPCB). All the boilers that fit into this approach have the same operational parameters at nominal heat load, including the CO2 concentrations in flue gases. After testing a flattened pipes condensing boiler, a CO2 emission reduction coefficient of 1.1 was determined when converting from methane gas to G222 as combustible. Thus, by inserting into the national grid a G222 mixture, an important reduction in greenhouse gases can be achieved. For a 28 kW condensing boiler, the annual reduction in CO2 emissions averages 1.26 tons, value which was experimentally obtained and is consistent with the theoretical evaluation.
Optimization of the Control of Electromagnetic Brakes in the Stand for Tuning Internal Combustion Engines Using ID Regulators of Fractional Order
Authors: Busher Victor , Zakharchenko Vadim , Shestaka Anatoliy , Kuznetsov Valeriy , Kuznetsov Vitalii , Nader Stanislaw
Published: December 2022

This work is aimed at developing a stand for tuning the fuel system of an internal combustion engine based on two electromagnetic retarders connected to the driving wheels of a car to simulate a load, and a microprocessor-based torque control system for each brake. In accordance with the terms of reference from the specialists of the automotive service center, such a stand should provide two main modes of operation: (1) stabilization of the speed of the drive wheels in the entire range of loads (fuel supply); (2) engine acceleration and deceleration according to linear tachograms in the range from minimum to maximum speed to determine the dependence of engine power and torque on speed. The purpose of this research is the synthesis of controllers, testing, the choice of the structural scheme, and the parameters of the control and data processing system in the stand for the precision tuning of internal combustion engines. Based on a preliminary analysis of the system, taking into account the mechanical connection of the wheels through the main gear and the car differential, the nonlinear dependence of the electromagnetic torque on the current and retarder speed, and subsequent experimental results, we obtained two types of controller—a third-order aperiodic transfer function and a fractional aperiodic transfer function of order 1.6. This made it possible to synthesize a family of controllers that ensure the operation of the stand in the required modes: synchronization of wheel speeds during engine acceleration; stabilization of the reference speed when the engine torque is changed from minimum to maximum due to fuel supply; measurement of the maximum power and torque of the internal combustion engine during the formation of a triangular tachogram with a given acceleration to compensate for the dynamic component of the torque due to mechanical inertia. The system with the PID controller configured in MATLAB in the “Tune” package has the best performance, but the smallest overshoot and the best dynamic accuracy are ensured by the PIDIγIµ fractional–integral controller, where the system is characterized by a fractional order of astaticism 1.6. Such a controller for each electromagnetic retarder serves as the basis of the microprocessor-based control, data acquisition, processing, graphical display system, and will also be used to develop a similar bench for tuning four-wheel-drive vehicles.
Analysis of Energy Consumption of Novel Re-Liquefaction System Integrated with Fuel Supply System (FSS) for LPG-Fuelled LPG Carrier to Conventional Systems
Authors: Seo Youngkyun , Kim Jintae , Park Eunyoung , Lee Jinkwang , Cho Meangik , Han Seongjong
Published: December 2022

This study analysed a novel re-liquefaction system integrated with a fuel supply system (FSS) for an LPG carrier to conventional systems. The re-liquefaction system and FSS were installed independently in a conventional LPG carrier, while those systems were combined in the novel system. The condensed LPG in the re-liquefaction system was directly transferred to the FSS without the cooling and expansion process in the novel system. 84,000 m3 LPG carrier equipped with a 10 MW engine at normal continuous rating (NCR) was selected as a target ship. Aspen HYSYS ver.12.1 was employed for process simulation. The results showed that the energy consumption for the novel system was reduced by 38%. The energy for re-liquefaction was decreased because the flow rate recirculated was decreased, and the energy for FSS was reduced as the temperature of the stream supplied to the FSS was relatively high in the novel system. A sensitivity analysis was conducted to investigate the effect of the parameters on the results. The investigated parameters were LPG compositions, seawater temperature, compressor efficiency, and pump efficiency. The energy consumption for the system was significantly different depending on the LPG composition, and the energy consumption was changed by 2.5% for conventional systems and 0.9% for the novel systems with the variation of 4 °C seawater temperature. The energy for the novel system was reduced by 2.8% for conventional systems and 2.3% for the novel systems with the 5% increment of compressor efficiency, whereas pump efficiency had little effect on the results.
A General Pattern-Based Design Optimization for Asymmetric Spoke-Type Interior PM Machines
Authors: Huang Jiahui , Fu Weinong , Niu Shuangxia , Zhao Xing , Bi Yanding , Qiao Zhenyang
Published: December 2022

A novel asymmetric spoke-type interior permanent magnet (AS-IPM) machine is proposed in this paper. It utilizes the magnetic-field-shifting (MFS) effect to improve the torque performance, which achieves a high utilization ratio of both permanent magnet (PM) torque and reluctance torque. In addition, a general pattern of rotor topologies is proposed to represent all possible machine structures. Various rotor structures can be obtained by changing the design parameters of the general pattern. A non-dominated sorting genetic algorithm II (NSGA-II) is adopted to automatically search for optimal rotor configurations. With the aid of the optimization program, an asymmetric spoke-type rotor structure with improved performance is obtained. To showcase the advantages of the proposed machine, the electromagnetic performance is compared between a conventional spoke-type interior permanent magnet (S-IPM) machine and a proposed AS-IPM machine. The finite-element simulation results show that the optimal design of the AS-IPM performs a 7.7% higher output torque ripple due to the MFS effect while the total PM volume remains the same. Meanwhile, the torque ripple of the proposed structure is significantly reduced by 82.1%.
Novel Yield Model of Pinus patula Schltdl. & Cham. Growth near the Ecological Limit in Northwestern Peruvian Andes
Authors: Ortega-Rodriguez Daigard Ricardo , Hevia Andrea , Sánchez-Salguero Raúl , Bermudez Dobbertin Santiago , Rosero-Alvarado Jedi , Chavesta Manuel , Tomazello-Filho Mario
Published: December 2022

Forest plantations with exotic species in the northwestern Peruvian Andes have brought different ecosystem benefits. The wood productivity in this Páramo region is directly related to the great availability of water from abundant rainfall compared to other regions of the semi-arid Andes. To address the lack of information on forest inventories of plantations in the Páramo region, this study used annual growth rings (dendrochronology) to build new models of tree growth and wood productivity and compared 22-year-old Pinus patula plots with thinning and unthinning treatments. Our results show that late thinning, removing 63% of stem density in the 15th year, does not have significant effects on the diameter increase or stand-level productivity. For these plantations, we propose a management rotation of 21 years with a first thinning treatment (35%) at 5 years and a second thinning treatment (50%) at 12 years. Production at 21 years is expected to be between 194.6 m3 ha−1 and 504.6 m3 ha−1 for stands with low and high wood productivity, respectively. Tree-ring studies are potentially useful for monitoring forest plantations and provide an alternative method for forest managers who use allometric equations to predict silvicultural treatments and to propose management guides for plantations.
King Khufu’s Second Boat: Scientific Identification of Wood Species for Deckhouse, Canopy, and Forecastle
Authors: Abdrabou Ahmed , Zidan Eissa , Nishisaka Akiko , Kurokochi Hiromasa , Yoshimura Sakuji
Published: December 2022

Very little published information is available on the scientific identification of wood species used in the construction of boats in ancient Egypt. This paper deals with the scientific identification of wood species used in the construction of the deckhouse, canopy, and forecastle of King Khufu’s second wooden boat (4th Dynasty—Old Kingdom) in detail. This paper also discusses the principal technological characteristics of the identified woods, considering specifically their utilization for construction of the deckhouse, canopy, and forecastle. Almost all the woods used in the boat’s deckhouse, canopy, and forecastle were made of two imported species of wood (Cedrus libani A.Rich. and Juniperus sp.), with two native species (Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. and Vachellia sp.) also identified. The analysis most surprisingly revealed the presence of Ziziphus spina-christi (L.) Willd. in 25% of the analyzed forecastle samples, which was discovered for the first time for making cross beams in the construction of boats in ancient Egypt. Another intriguing aspect of the boat’s construction is the presence of Juniperus sp., which surprisingly showed that almost 85% of the analyzed samples were Juniperus sp., used in the deckhouse’s boards, frames, and cross beams. The data let us examine the specific employment of the wood species used in the parts of the boat, which evidenced that the identified woods were suitably used for the construction of the different parts of the deckhouse, canopy, and forecastle of the boat.
Assessing the Fragmentation, Canopy Loss and Spatial Distribution of Forest Cover in Kakamega National Forest Reserve, Western Kenya
Authors: Osewe Erick O. , Niţă Mihai Daniel , Abrudan Ioan Vasile
Published: December 2022

Kakamega National Forest Reserve is a tropical forest ecosystem at high risk of irreplaceable biodiversity loss due to persistent human-induced pressures. The aim of this paper is to assess the effect of fragmentation and forest cover loss on forest ecosystems in Kakamega National Forest Reserve, with the objectives: (1) to quantify the forest cover loss and analyse fragmentation in the Kakamega forest ecosystem and (2) to analyse the effect of forest cover loss on the spatial distribution of the Kakamega forest ecosystem at different timescales. Hansen global forest change data was used as an input training dataset on the Google Earth Engine platform (GEE) to estimate the area of forest cover loss by aggregating the sum of pixel values, and to provide a time series visualization of forest change by the extent of cover loss using Sentinel-2 and Landsat 7 false colour composites (RBG) in QGIS software. Fragmentation analysis was performed using reclassified forest loss and distribution data from the Hansen product as binary raster input in Guidos software. Total forest cover loss over 20 years was estimated at 826.60 ha. The first decade (2000–2010) accounted for 146.31 ha of forest cover loss, and the second decade (2010–2020) accounted for 680.29 ha of forest cover loss. Forest area density (FAD) analysis depicted an increase in the dominant layer by 8.5% and a 2.5% decrease in the interior layer. Morphological spatial pattern analysis (MSPA) illustrated a change in the core layer of 96% and a 14% increase in the openings class layer. Therefore, this study demonstrates that forest cover loss and landscape pattern alteration changed the dynamics of species interaction within ecological communities. Fragmented habitats adversely affected the ecosystem’s ability to recover the loss of endemic species, which are at risk of extinction in the backdrop of climate change. Anthropogenic drivers i.e., the clearing of natural forest and conversion of forest land for non-forest use, have contributed significantly to the loss of forest cover in the study area.
FCDM: An Improved Forest Fire Classification and Detection Model Based on YOLOv5
Authors: Xue Qilin , Lin Haifeng , Wang Fang
Published: December 2022

Intense, large-scale forest fires are damaging and very challenging to control. Locations, where various types of fire behavior occur, vary depending on environmental factors. According to the burning site of forest fires and the degree of damage, this paper considers the classification and identification of surface fires and canopy fires. Deep learning-based forest fire detection uses convolutional neural networks to automatically extract multidimensional features of forest fire images with high detection accuracy. To accurately identify different forest fire types in complex backgrounds, an improved forest fire classification and detection model (FCDM) based on YOLOv5 is presented in this paper, which uses image-based data. By changing the YOLOv5 bounding box loss function to SIoU Loss and introducing directionality in the cost of the loss function to achieve faster convergence, the training and inference of the detection algorithm are greatly improved. The Convolutional Block Attention Module (CBAM) is introduced in the network to fuse channel attention and spatial attention to improve the classification recognition accuracy. The Path Aggregation Network (PANet) layer in the YOLOv5 algorithm is improved into a weighted Bi-directional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) to fuse and filter forest fire features of different dimensions to improve the detection of different types of forest fires. The experimental results show that this improved forest fire classification and identification model outperforms the YOLOv5 algorithm in both detection performances. The mAP@0.5 of fire detection, surface fire detection, and canopy fire detection was improved by 3.9%, 4.0%, and 3.8%, respectively. Among them, the mAP@0.5 of surface fire reached 83.1%, and the canopy fire detection reached 90.6%. This indicates that the performance of our proposed improved model has been effectively improved and has some application prospects in forest fire classification and recognition.
The Effects of Thermal Treatment on Lipid Oxidation, Protein Changes, and Storage Stabilization of Rice Bran
Authors: Rashid Muhammad Tayyab , Liu Kunlun , Han Simeng , Jatoi Mushtaq Ahmed
Published: December 2022

Rice bran is a nutrient-rich and resource-dense byproduct of rice milling. The primary cause of rice bran utilization limitation is oxidative deterioration and inadequate storage facilities. Improving stability to extend the shelf-life of rice bran has thus become an utmost necessity. This study aimed to stabilize raw fresh rice bran (RB) by using dry heat methods at 120 °C (233, 143, and 88 min) and 130 °C (86, 66, and 50 min). The results indicated that after dry heat pretreatment, peroxidase levels were at 90%, and the storage stability of dry-heat-stabilized RB was better. However, with an increase in treatment temperature and time, the peroxidase activity improved while the lipase activity decreased to a certain extent without significant changes. The total saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were significantly unchanged during storage, while oleic/linoleic acid increased substantially by 1% at 120 °C for 88 min. The increase in treatment time and temperature was beneficial in controlling the fatty acid values. However, extended treatment time caused an increase in the peroxide value and MDA. The essential and non-essential amino acid ratios, which evaluate a protein’s nutritional value, remained relatively stable. The essential subunit of rice bran protein was not affected by the temperature and time of dry heat treatment and storage time.
Intake of Food Supplements, Caffeine, Green Tea and Protein Products among Young Danish Men Training in Commercial Gyms for Increasing Muscle Mass
Authors: Pilegaard Kirsten , Uldall Anne Sophie Majgaard , Ravn-Haren Gitte
Published: December 2022

Sixty-three men (15–35 years of age) regularly training in Danish gyms and supplement users were interviewed about the use of supplemental protein and food supplements, intake of caffeine- and (-)-epigallocathechin-3-gallate (EGCG)-containing supplements and beverages and any experienced adverse effects. Protein powder (60%), fish oil (54%) and multivitamin/mineral supplements (41%) were the most popular products. The daily supplementary protein intake (mean 0.42 g/kg body weight, users only) in adult men contributed substantially to their protein intake and exceeded the recommended allowance (0.83 g/kg body weight) for six adult participants (14%). Thirty-eight percent of the adult men exceeded the daily caffeine intake presumed to be safe (400 mg) with coffee as the main contributor. Thirty percent drank green tea and among this percentage, two participants had an extreme daily intake (1.5 and 2 -L). EGCG intake could not be estimated from the food supplements due to the lack of label information. Eighteen participants (29%) reported having experienced adverse effects but seventeen did not consult a physician or report the adverse effect to the Danish food authority. The most common adverse effects were insomnia, shaking, headache and palpitations, itching of the skin and stinging. Pre-workout products accounted for 53% of the adverse effects. Three adverse effects came after intake of two brands of supplements known to have contained substances such as 1,3-dimethylamine or derivatives of phenylethylamines previously having caused serious adverse effects.
Nutritional Assessment of Ready-to-Eat Salads in German Supermarkets: Comparison of the nutriRECIPE-Index and the Nutri-Score
Authors: Schlarbaum Laura , Forner Frank , Bohn Kristin , Amberg Michael , Mäder Patrick , Lorkowski Stefan , Meier Toni
Published: December 2022

Globally, an unbalanced diet causes more deaths than any other factor. Due to a lack of knowledge, it is difficult for consumers to select healthy foods at the point of sale. Although different front-of-pack labeling schemes exist, their informative value is limited due to small sets of considered parameters and lacking information on ingredient composition. We developed and evalauated a manufacture-independent approach to quantify ingredient composition of 294 ready-to eat salads (distinguished into 73 subgroups) as test set. Nutritional quality was assessed by the nutriRECIPE-Index and compared to the Nutri-Score. The nutriRECIPE-Index comprises the calculation of energy-adjusted nutrient density of 16 desirable and three undesirable nutrients, which are weighted according to their degree of supply in the population. We show that the nutriRECIPE-Index has stronger discriminatory power compared to the Nutri-Score and discriminates as well or even better in 63 out of the 73 subgroups. This was evident in groups where seemingly similar products were compared, e.g., potato salads (Nutri-Score: C only, nutriRECIPE-Index: B, C and D). Moreover, the nutriRECIPE-Index is adjustable to any target population’s specific needs and supply situation, such as seniors, and children. Hence, a more sophisticated distinction between single food products is possible using the nutriRECIPE-Index.
Strong Hereditary Predispositions to Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Hryhorowicz Szymon , Kaczmarek-Ryś Marta , Lis-Tanaś Emilia , Porowski Jakub , Szuman Marcin , Grot Natalia , Kryszczyńska Alicja , Paszkowski Jacek , Banasiewicz Tomasz , Pławski Andrzej
Published: December 2022

Cancer is one of the most common causes of death worldwide. A strong predisposition to cancer is generally only observed in colorectal cancer (5% of cases) and breast cancer (2% of cases). Colorectal cancer is the most common cancer with a strong genetic predisposition, but it includes dozens of various syndromes. This group includes familial adenomatous polyposis, attenuated familial adenomatous polyposis, MUTYH-associated polyposis, NTHL1-associated polyposis, Peutz–Jeghers syndrome, juvenile polyposis syndrome, Cowden syndrome, Lynch syndrome, and Muir–Torre syndrome. The common symptom of all these diseases is a very high risk of colorectal cancer, but depending on the condition, their course is different in terms of age and range of cancer occurrence. The rate of cancer development is determined by its conditioning genes, too. Hereditary predispositions to cancer of the intestine are a group of symptoms of heterogeneous diseases, and their proper diagnosis is crucial for the appropriate management of patients and their successful treatment. Mutations of specific genes cause strong colorectal cancer predispositions. Identifying mutations of predisposing genes will support proper diagnosis and application of appropriate screening programs to avoid malignant neoplasm.
Ploidy Status, Nuclear DNA Content and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) Genetic Homogeneity Assessment in Digitalis purpurea L., Regenerated In Vitro
Authors: Bansal Yashika , Mujib A. , Siddiqui Zahid H. , Mamgain Jyoti , Syeed Rukaya , Ejaz Bushra
Published: December 2022

Digitalis purpurea L. is a therapeutically important plant that synthesizes important cardiotonics such as digitoxin and digoxin. The present work reports a detailed and efficient propagation protocol for D. purpurea by optimizing various PGR concentrations in Murashige and Skoog (MS) medium. The genetic homogeneity of in vitro regenerants was assessed by the flow cytometric method (FCM) and Start Codon Targeted (SCoT) marker technique. Firstly, the seeds inoculated in full MS medium added with 0.5 mg/L GA3 produced seedlings. Different parts such as hypocotyl, nodes, leaves and apical shoots were used as explants. The compact calli were obtained on BAP alone or in combinations with 2, 4-D/NAA. The hypocotyl-derived callus induced somatic embryos which proliferated and germinated best in 0.75 mg/L BAP-fortified MS medium. Scanning electron microscopic (SEM) images confirmed the presence of various developmental stages of somatic embryos. Shoot regeneration was obtained in which BAP at 1.0 mg/L and 2.0 mg/L BAP + 0.5 mg/L 2,4-D proved to be the best treatments of PGRs in inducing direct and indirect shoot buds. The regenerated shoots showed the highest rooting percentage (87.5%) with 24.7 ± 1.9 numbers of roots/shoot in 1.0 mg/L IBA augmented medium. The rooted plantlets were acclimatized in a greenhouse at a survival rate of 85–90%. The genome size and the 2C nuclear DNA content of field-grown, somatic embryo-regenerated and organogenic-derived plants were estimated and noted to be 3.1, 3.2 and 3.0 picogram (pg), respectively; there is no alteration in ploidy status and the DNA content, validating genetic uniformity. Six SCoT primers unveiled 94.3%–95.13% monomorphic bands across all the plant samples analyzed, further indicating genetic stability among in vitro clones and mother plants. This study describes for the first time successful induction of somatic embryos from hypocotyl callus; and flow cytometry and SCoT marker confirmed the genetic homogeneity of regenerated plants.
Differential Allele-Specific Expression Revealed Functional Variants and Candidate Genes Related to Meat Quality Traits in B. indicus Muscle
Authors: Bruscadin Jennifer Jessica , Cardoso Tainã Figueiredo , da Silva Diniz Wellison Jarles , de Souza Marcela Maria , Afonso Juliana , Vieira Dielson , Malheiros Jessica , Andrade Bruno Gabriel Nascimento , Petrini Juliana , Ferraz José Bento Sterman , Zerlotini Adhemar , Mourão Gerson Barreto , Coutinho Luiz Lehmann , de Almeida Regitano Luciana Correia
Published: December 2022

Traditional transcriptomics approaches have been used to identify candidate genes affecting economically important livestock traits. Regulatory variants affecting these traits, however, remain under covered. Genomic regions showing allele-specific expression (ASE) are under the effect of cis-regulatory variants, being useful for improving the accuracy of genomic selection models. Taking advantage of the better of these two methods, we investigated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in regions showing differential ASE (DASE SNPs) between contrasting groups for beef quality traits. For these analyses, we used RNA sequencing data, imputed genotypes and genomic estimated breeding values of muscle-related traits from 190 Nelore (Bos indicus) steers. We selected 40 contrasting unrelated samples for the analysis (N = 20 animals per contrasting group) and used a beta-binomial model to identify ASE SNPs in only one group (i.e., DASE SNPs). We found 1479 DASE SNPs (FDR ≤ 0.05) associated with 55 beef-quality traits. Most DASE genes were involved with tenderness and muscle homeostasis, presenting a co-expression module enriched for the protein ubiquitination process. The results overlapped with epigenetics and phenotype-associated data, suggesting that DASE SNPs are potentially linked to cis-regulatory variants affecting simultaneously the transcription and phenotype through chromatin state modulation.
Influence of Melatonin Treatment on Cellular Mechanisms of Redox Adaptation in K562 Erythroleukemic Cells
Authors: Torres Flaviene Felix , Bernardo Victoria Simões , de Paula Carla Peres , da Silva João Pedro Maia de Oliveira , de Almeida Eduardo Alves , da Cunha Anderson Ferreira , da Silva Danilo Grünig Humberto
Published: December 2022

Melatonin (MEL) presents well-documented pleiotropic actions against oxidative stress (OS), acting indirectly through activation of transcription factors, e.g., FoxO3 and Nrf2. Thus, this study aimed to investigate the possible modulating effects of MEL on the redox signaling pathways PI3K/AKT/FoxO3 and Keap1/Nrf2/ARE in K562 erythroleukemic cells subjected to OS induction. For this, the viability, and transcript levels of genes involved in redox adaptation were evaluated in K562 cells in different periods of erythroid differentiation: under OS induction by hydrogen peroxide (100 µM H2O2); treated with 1 nM (C1) and 1 mM (C2) MEL; and associated or not with stress induction. We observed a restoration of physiological levels of Nrf2 in both MEL concentrations under OS. The C1 was related to enhanced expression of antioxidant and proteasome genes through the Nrf2-ARE pathway, while C2 to the induction of FOXO3 expression, suggesting an involvement with apoptotic pathway, according to BIM transcript levels. The effects of MEL administration in these cells showed a period and dose-dependent pattern against induced-OS, with direct and indirect actions through different pathways of cellular adaptation, reinforcing the importance of this indolamine in the regulation of cellular homeostasis, being a promising therapeutic alternative for diseases that present an exacerbated OS.
In Silico and In Vivo Evaluation of microRNA-181c-5p’s Role in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Abd ElAziz Omnia Nasser , Elfiky Asmaa M. , Yassin Mohamed A. , Abd El-Hakam Fatma El-Zahraa , Saleh Eman M. , El-Hefnawi Mahmoud , Mohamed Rania Hassan
Published: December 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a fatal disease, accounting for 75–85% of primary liver cancers. The conclusive research on miR-181c-5p’s role in hepatocarcinogenesis, whether it has oncogenic effects or acts as a tumor repressor, is limited and fluctuating. Therefore, the current study aimed to elucidate the role of miR-181c-5p in HCC in silico and in vivo. The bioinformatics analysis of miR-181c-5p expression data in HCC using several databases strongly shed light on its involvement in HCC development, but also confirmed the fluctuating data around its role. miR-181c-5p was proven here to have an oncogenic role by increasing HepG2 cells’ viability as confirmed by MTT analysis. In addition, miR-181c-5p was upregulated in the HCC positive control group and progressed the HCC development and malignant features by its forced expression in an HCC mouse model by targeted delivery using a LA-PAMAM polyplex. This is indicated by the cancerous gross and histological features, and the significant increase in liver function biomarkers. The functional enrichment bioinformatics analyses of miR-181c-5p-downregulated targets in HCC indicated that miR-181c-5p targets were significantly enriched in multiple pathways and biological processes involved in HCC development. Fbxl3, an example for miR-181c-5p potential targets, downregulation and its correlation with miR-181c-5p were validated by qPCR. In conclusion, miR-181c-5p is upregulated in HCC and has an oncogenic role enhancing HCC progression.
Detection of Association Features Based on Gene Eigenvalues and MRI Imaging Using Genetic Weighted Random Forest
Authors: Hu Zhixi , Wang Xuanyan , Meng Li , Liu Wenjie , Wu Feng , Meng Xianglian
Published: December 2022

In the studies of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), jointly analyzing imaging data and genetic data provides an effective method to explore the potential biomarkers of AD. AD can be separated into healthy controls (HC), early mild cognitive impairment (EMCI), late mild cognitive impairment (LMCI) and AD. In the meantime, identifying the important biomarkers of AD progression, and analyzing these biomarkers in AD provide valuable insights into understanding the mechanism of AD. In this paper, we present a novel data fusion method and a genetic weighted random forest method to mine important features. Specifically, we amplify the difference among AD, LMCI, EMCI and HC by introducing eigenvalues calculated from the gene p-value matrix for feature fusion. Furthermore, we construct the genetic weighted random forest using the resulting fused features. Genetic evolution is used to increase the diversity among decision trees and the decision trees generated are weighted by weights. After training, the genetic weighted random forest is analyzed further to detect the significant fused features. The validation experiments highlight the performance and generalization of our proposed model. We analyze the biological significance of the results and identify some significant genes (CSMD1, CDH13, PTPRD, MACROD2 and WWOX). Furthermore, the calcium signaling pathway, arrhythmogenic right ventricular cardiomyopathy and the glutamatergic synapse pathway were identified. The investigational findings demonstrate that our proposed model presents an accurate and efficient approach to identifying significant biomarkers in AD.