bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study protocol: Developing telephone follow-up scale for patients with disorders of consciousness
Authors: Shou Fangfang , Wang Jing , Laureys Steven , Cheng Lijuan , Huang Wangshan , Di Haibo
Published: March 2023

Background

The significant lack of rehabilitation prognostic data is the main reason that affects the treatment decision-making and ethical issues of patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC). Currently, the clinic's consciousness assessment tools cannot satisfy DoC patients' follow-up needs.

Objective

The purpose of this study is to construct a sensitive, professional, and simple telephone follow-up scale for DoC patients to follow up on the prognosis, especially the recovery of consciousness, of prolonged DoC patients transferred to community hospitals or at home.

Methods

This study is to adopt expert consultation to construct and to verify the validity and feasibility of the scale on-site.

Conclusion

At present, there is a strong demand for portable, accurate, and easily operated scales. It is helpful to improve the rehabilitation data of prolonged DoC patients and provide more basis for their treatment and rehabilitation.
Prevalence of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease and the related risk factors among healthy adults: A cross-sectional study in Chongqing, China
Authors: Kong Lingxi , Yang Yang , Li Haidong , Shan Youlan , Wang Xin , Shan Xuefeng
Published: March 2023

Background

Epidemiological characteristics of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) in Chongqing, a west-central city of China, remain unclear. The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of NAFLD and the related risk factors among healthy adults for physical examination in Chongqing.

Methods

A total of 110,626 subjects were enrolled in the present study. Each of the participants underwent physical examination, laboratory measurements, and abdominal ultrasonography. The chi-square test was employed to compare differences in the NAFLD prevalence, and logistic regression analysis was used to estimate the odds ratio for risk factors of NAFLD.

Results

The prevalence of NAFLD in individuals in the population of Chongqing was 28.5%, and the prevalence in men (38.1%) was significantly higher than that in women (13.6%) (OR = 2.44; 95% CI: 2.31–2.58). NAFLD was more common in men aged 51–60 years and women over 60 years. Approximately 79.1% of the people with obesity and 52.1% of the people with central obesity had NAFLD. The prevalence of NAFLD in people with hypertension and cholelithiasis was 48.9 and 38.4%, respectively. Logistic regression showed that gender, age, body max index (BMI), central obesity, hypertension, impaired fasting glucose/diabetes mellitus (DM), triglyceride (TG), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), hyperuricemia (HUA), alanine transaminase (ALT), and cholelithiasis were independently associated with the presence of NAFLD.

Conclusion

The prevalence of NAFLD among healthy adults in Chongqing was high. To improve the prevention and management of NAFLD, special attention should be paid to the factors associated with the presence of NAFLD, including higher BMI, higher waist circumference, higher blood glucose, hypertension, hypertriglyceridemia, hyperuricemia, cholelithiasis, and elevated ALT.
High-risk HPV prevalence and genotype distribution among women in Liaocheng, Shandong Province, China from 2016 to 2022
Authors: Zheng Li-li , Chen Shuang-feng , Yang Fei , Wang Wei-hua , Xu Cong , Zheng Li-yuan
Published: March 2023

Human papilloma virus (HPV) infection and its associated disease are major problems affecting millions of individuals around the world. The distribution of HPV genotypes is specific to different areas and different populations. Therefore, understanding the prevalence and genotype distribution of HPV in different populations in different geographical regions is essential to optimize HPV vaccination strategies and to maximize vaccine effects. In this study, 34,076 women from January 2016 to July 2022 were retrospectively analyzed at Liaocheng People's Hospital. Of these, 7540 women were high-risk HPV positive and the infection rate was 22.13%. The top ten genotypes were as follows in descending order: HPV16, HPV52, HPV58, HPV53, HPV39, HPV59, HPV66, HPV51, HPV18, and HPV56 and the least frequent genotypes were, in order, HPV 26, HPV45, and HPV82. The HPV16 positive infection rate was 25.37% and was reduced with the increase in the number of individuals who had undergone HPV screening. The HPV52 infection rate increased with increasing numbers of individuals undergoing HPV screening, and then remained unchanged. The proportion of 20–29-year-olds among all positive women began to decrease since the vaccine was available in 2018. The 30–39-year-old group accounted for the highest percentage of positive women, and the 50–59-year-old group of HPV-positive women with cervical cancer accounted for most infections. This study confirmed that HPV16, HPV52, HPV 58, and HPV53 is widely distributed in this population and the total HR-HPV infection rate remains high in this region. Our findings indicate that prevention of HPV infection in this region still faces important challenges.
Common gene signatures and molecular mechanisms of diabetic nephropathy and metabolic syndrome
Authors: Zhang Chengyu , Li Han , Wang Shixiang
Published: March 2023

Background

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal disease. Multiple metabolic toxicities, redox stress, and endothelial dysfunction contribute to the development of diabetic glomerulosclerosis and DN. Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a pathological state in which the body’s ability to process carbohydrates, fats, and proteins is compromised because of metabolic disorders, resulting in redox stress and renal remodeling. However, a causal relationship between MetS and DN has not been proven. This study aimed to provide valuable information for the clinical diagnosis and treatment of MetS with DN.

Methods

Here, transcriptome data of DN and MetS patients were obtained from the Gene Expression Omnibus database, and seven potential biomarkers were screened using bioinformatics analysis. In addition, the relationship between these marker genes and metabolism and immune infiltration was explored. Among the identified marker genes, the relationship between PLEKHA1 and the cellular process, oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS), in DN was further investigated through single-cell analysis.

Results

We found that PLEKHA1 may represent an important biomarker that perhaps initiates DN by activating B cells, proximal tubular cells, distal tubular cells, macrophages, and endothelial cells, thereby inducing OXPHOS in renal monocytes.

Conclusion

Overall, our findings can aid in further investigation of the effects of drug treatment on single cells of patients with diabetes to validate PLEKHA1 as a therapeutic target and to inform the development of targeted therapies.
Preferred product attributes of a multipurpose vaginal ring: Findings from a phase 1 trial
Authors: Tolley Elizabeth E. , Hanif Homaira , Thurman Andrea , Brache Vivian , Doncel Gustavo F.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Most women face multiple and co-occurring risks from unwanted pregnancy, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and other sexually transmitted infections (STIs) at some point during their lifetime. While a range of contraceptive methods exist and options for HIV prevention are increasing, to date, only male and female condoms provide multipurpose protection from both pregnancy and disease.

Methods

From September 2017 to December 2018, 60 women from the United States and the Dominican Republic, randomized 1:1 to continuous or interrupted use and 4:1 to active vs. placebo ring, participated in a Phase I trial to assess the safety and tolerability of a three-month multipurpose intravaginal ring (IVR) containing the antiviral tenofovir and the contraceptive levonorgestrel. This study examines survey responses from all participants and qualitative data from a subset of 17 women to assess acceptability of and preferences for IVR characteristics.

Results

Overall, women liked the concept of a multipurpose IVR and found it easy to insert and remove. Initial concerns about the size or thickness of the ring generally disappeared with use experience. Women weighed trade-offs between the ease of continuous use for a longer duration against concerns about hygiene and discoloration of the ring when left in place during menses. Whether randomized to continuous or interrupted use, most women found ring attributes (size, thickness, flexibility) very acceptable. They provided recommendations via survey and qualitative interviews for ring modifications that would further increase acceptability. Insights into women's use experiences also suggest the need for clear counseling messages and introduction strategies that can facilitate women's choice and use of prevention methods.

Discussion

Study findings suggest that a multipurpose IVR would make a valuable contribution to women's sexual and reproductive health options, and that both continuous and interrupted use strategies may be preferred.
Seeing In a Changing World: How the Retina Responds to Changes in the Environment
Authors: Rivlin-Etzion Michal , Ankri Lea
Published: March 2023

The retina is the thin layer in the back of the eyeball where vision begins, and it is actually considered part of the brain. Despite its small size, nerve cells in the retina carry complex information about the colors, edges, and motion that we see. The retina is easier to study than other brain areas, so not only can retinal research help us understand vision, it can even teach us how other brain areas work. The brain is adaptable—it can change its activity as changes happen in the environment, but the activity of retinal cells was thought to be fixed and stable even in the presence of changes in the visual environment of the animal. In our research, we discovered that the retina, too, can change its activity. Therefore, retinal research can teach us about other brain areas, including how they adapt to changes in the environment.
Diabetes—Tuberculosis Care in Eswatini: A Qualitative Study of Opportunities and Recommendations for Effective Services Integration
Authors: Williams Victor , Vos-Seda Alinda G. , Haumba Samson , Mdluli-Dlamini Lindiwe , Calnan Marianne , Grobbee Diederick E. , Otwombe Kennedy , Klipstein-Grobusch Kerstin
Published: March 2023

Objective: This study describes the availability of basic services, equipment, and commodities for integrated DM–TB services, best practices by healthcare workers, and opportunities for better integration of DM–TB care in Eswatini.

Methods: A qualitative design was used. Twenty-three healthcare workers participated in a survey and key informant interview.

Results: Most respondents indicated DM and TB care are integrated and clients access blood pressure and fasting/random blood glucose assessment. Few respondents indicated they provide visual assessment, hearing assessment, and HbA1c testing. Respondents experienced stockouts of urinalysis strips, antihypertensive drugs, insulin, glucometer strips, and DM drugs in the previous 6 months before the interview. Four main themes emerged from the qualitative interviews—quality and current standards of care, best practices, opportunities, and recommendations to improve integrated services delivery.

Conclusion: While DM care is provided for TB patients, the implementation of integrated DM–TB services is suboptimal as the quality and current standards of care vary across health facilities due to different patient-level and health system challenges. Some identified opportunities must be utilized for a successful DM–TB integration.
Temporal Multimodal Data-Processing Algorithms Based on Algebraic System of Aggregates
Authors: Pester Andreas , Sulema Yevgeniya , Dychka Ivan , Sulema Olga
Published: March 2023

In many tasks related to an object’s observation or real-time monitoring, the gathering of temporal multimodal data is required. Such data sets are semantically connected as they reflect different aspects of the same object. However, data sets of different modalities are usually stored and processed independently. This paper presents an approach based on the application of the Algebraic System of Aggregates (ASA) operations that enable the creation of an object’s complex representation, referred to as multi-image (MI). The representation of temporal multimodal data sets as the object’s MI yields simple data-processing procedures as it provides a solid semantic connection between data describing different features of the same object, process, or phenomenon. In terms of software development, the MI is a complex data structure used for data processing with ASA operations. This paper provides a detailed presentation of this concept.
Exploration of Piezo Channels in Bread Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Kaur Amandeep , Madhu  , Sharma Alok , Singh Kashmir , Upadhyay Santosh Kumar
Published: March 2023

Piezo channels belong to an important class of cell membrane-bound, Ca2+-permeable, mechanosensitive channels consisting of a pore and multiple transmembrane helices. In plants, the functional aspects of Piezo channels have been less studied than other mechanosensitive channels. However, a few studies that have been carried out indicate the involvement of Piezo channels in stress response and developmental processes. In our analysis, we identified a total of three Piezo genes in the Triticum aestivum genome. The phylogenetic analysis revealed the monocot and dicot-specific clustering of Piezo proteins. The gene and protein structure analysis indicated their conserved architecture. The promoter region of each of the three Piezo genes contained light-, growth-and development-, hormone-, and stress-responsive cis-regulatory elements. Moreover, the differential expression of Piezo genes in tissue developmental stages and under abiotic and biotic stress conditions indicated their probable role in plant growth and development and various stresses. The quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR) analysis suggested that TaPiezo1-D might be involved in Ca2+ homeostasis. In addition, protein–protein interaction indicated their precise role in glucose, hormone and stress responses. The miRNA interaction analysis further suggested their participation in signaling cascades and biological processes. The present study will extend our understanding about Piezo channels in Ca2+ mediated signaling in plants under various stresses and provide a path for the functional validation of TaPiezo genes in future research.
Precision Nutrient Management in Zero-Till Direct-Seeded Rice Influences the Productivity, Profitability, Nutrient, and Water Use Efficiency as Well as the Environmental Footprint in the Indo Gangetic Plain of India
Authors: Sadhukhan Rahul , Kumar Dinesh , Sen Suman , Sepat Seema , Ghosh Avijit , Shivay Yashbir Singh , Meena Mahesh Chand , Anand Anjali , Kumar Rajesh , Sharma Laimayum Devarishi , Patra Kiranmoy , Pratap Vijay , Alsuhaibani Amnah Mohammed , Gaber Ahmed , Hossain Akbar
Published: March 2023

Conventional tillage practices coupled with irrational use of fertilizer in the rice-wheat cropping system (RWCS) often leads to poor productivity, low nutrient use efficiency, and cause environmental pollution. Conservation tillage with surface residue retention in combination with intelligent nutrient management might improve productivity and use efficiency of water as well as nutrients in zero-till direct-seeded rice (ZTDSR). Keeping this in mind, during the kharif season of 2018 and 2019, a trial was carried out at the ICAR-IARI in New Delhi to investigate the varying nutrient management approaches following a precise manner in DSR. The treatments consisted of soil-test-based NPK (STB-NPK) and Nutrient Expert® (+LCCN) based NPK (NE-NPK) applications, Fertilizer applied at the recommended dose (RDF) [120-60-40 kg/ha NPK], the state recommended NPK (110-50-40 kg/ha) and omission plot technique of NPK [i.e., STB (N0PK, NP0K & NPK0); SR (N0PK, NP0K & NPK0) and NE-(N0PK, NP0K & NPK0)]. The results indicated that STB NPK application led to a 12% higher grain yield over RDF. However, NE-NPK resulted in a 7% and 35% increase in N (AEN) agronomic efficiency and P (AEP) over the STB-NPK application respectively. In contrast, AEk was 24% higher in STB-NPK over NE-NPK treatment. The comparison of two years’ results that the first year performed better than the succeeding year in these respect (productivity and AE) except in the case of AEk. The N2O emission in NE-NPK treatment was also significantly reduced (49%) over the control (no N). STB-NPK treatment also improved profitability by 22% over RDF. Precision nutrient management (PNM) increased the crop yield, income, and use efficiency of nutrients and water and reduced greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions of DSR in Southeast Asia.
High-Voltage Electrostatic Fields Adversely Affect the Performance of Diamondback Moths over Five Consecutive Generations
Authors: Jia Li , Xu Shicai , Shang Huanzhang , Guo Jiao , Yan Xia , Liu Changhai , Li Guangwei , Luo Kun
Published: March 2023

Changing electrical environments can influence the performance of herbivorous insects and adversely affect their control strategies. The diamondback moth, Plutella xylostella (L.), is a pest that devastates cruciferous vegetables. An age–stage, two-sex life table of P. xylostella over multiple generations was established to describe the effect of varying high-voltage electrostatic field (HVEF) exposure on their performance after the age-cohort eggs were exposed to HVEF at an intensity of 5.0 kV/cm for different durations. The results show that direct HVEF exposure adversely affected the population dynamics parameters of P. xylostella over multiple generations. In particular, the net reproduction rate, intrinsic natural increase rate, and finite increase rate of the P. xylostella population significantly decreased in the third and fifth generations under HVEF exposure for 10 min, while the mean generation time and doubling time significantly increased. Similarly, HVEF exposure for 10 min rapidly reduced the survival rate of adult P. xylostella in the first generation, and subsequently, it declined evenly and slowly. Meanwhile, the fecundity parameters of P. xylostella revealed that HVEF exposure for 10 min had the strongest inhibition effect on reproduction over five consecutive generations. In addition, HVEF exposure significantly increased the superoxide dismutase activity to produce extra hydrogen peroxide; however, increased catalase and peroxidase activity or reduced peroxidase activity triggered the accumulation of malondialdehyde in instar P. xylostella, especially after 10 min of treatment. The present findings provide experimental evidence and a theoretical basis for developing control strategies for P. xylostella under new HVEF environments.
Characterization of Alternaria Species Associated with Black Spot of Strawberry in Dandong, China
Authors: Sun Xiaozhe , Wang Cuiyan , Gao Xu , Wu Xuehong , Fu Yu
Published: March 2023

Dandong has become the largest strawberry production and export base in China. Strawberry black spot disease is widespread and causes significant economic losses to strawberry growers in both the growing and harvest seasons. Until now, no study has reported the presence of the Alternaria species, the pathogen of strawberry black spot disease, in Dandong, Liaoning province, China. In 2020–2022, 108 isolates were obtained from strawberry leaves with typical symptoms of strawberry black spot disease from 56 major professional growing operations. Combined with morphological and molecular characteristics, the majority of isolates were identified as A. tenuissima (78 isolates, 72.2%), which had established total supremacy, followed by A. alternata (30 isolates, 27.8%). The pathogenicity results show that A. tenuissima and A. alternata are the two main pathogenic factors of strawberry black spot disease, the disease indexes of which were designated as 49.6–100.0% and 20.4–59.5%. To our knowledge, this paper is the first to identify A. tenuissima and A. alternata as causing black spot disease in strawberries in Dandong, China.
Non-Invasive Sex Determination of Nestlings and Adult Bonelli’s Eagles Using Morphometrics
Authors: Estellés-Domingo Irene , López-López Pascual
Published: March 2023

Biometric analysis allows the sexing of most vertebrates, particularly birds. Birds of prey, and, especially, the Bonelli’s eagle (Aquila fasciata), show reverse sexual dimorphism (i.e., females are usually larger than males). In contrast to blood sampling, the use of morphometrics allows sex determination using a non-invasive method, and, therefore, it facilitates fieldwork. By means of a linear discriminant analysis of biometric variables, we obtained different equations that allow the sexing of nestlings and adult Bonelli’s eagles. We sampled 137 Bonelli’s eagles, 82 nestlings and 55 adults in eastern Spain during the period 2015–2022. The sexes obtained after linear discriminant analysis were compared with their molecular sexing. The validation procedure of the linear discriminant equations facilitated the reduction of the number of variables used and, consequently, optimised working time and sexing accuracy. After validation, some equations showed a 100% sexing efficiency for Bonelli’s eagles, particularly for adults. Our results showed that the variables with smaller overlap between the sexes were the lateral tarsus length and dorso-ventral tarsus length, particularly in nestlings. The rest of the variables showed some overlap between the sexes in both age classes. The results we obtained enable the sexing of juvenile and adult Bonelli’s eagles in the field using just these two measurements. Hence, this is an easy, accurate, quick and non-invasive method with multiple applications, including in studies on population dynamics, survival analysis or extinction risk assessments, which, ultimately, could contribute to the improvement of the conservation status of this endangered species.
Staphylococcus capitis: Review of Its Role in Infections and Outbreaks
Authors: Heath Victoria , Cloutman-Green Elaine , Watkin Samuel , Karlikowska Magdalena , Ready Derren , Hatcher James , Pearce-Smith Nicola , Brown Colin , Demirjian Alicia
Published: March 2023

In June 2021, a national incident team was formed due to an increased detection of Staphylococcus capitis in samples from hospitalised infants. Staphylococcus capitis has been known to cause outbreaks in neonatal units across the globe, but the extent of the UK spread was unclear. A literature review was undertaken to support case identification, clinical management and environmental infection control. A literature search was undertaken on multiple databases from inception to 24 May 2021, using keywords such as “Staphylococcus capitis”, “NRCS-A”, “S. capitis”, “neonate”, “newborn” and “neonatal intensive care unit” (NICU). After screening, 223 articles of relevance were included. Results show incidences of S. capitis outbreaks have frequently been associated with the outbreak clone (NRCS-A) and environmental sources. The NRCS-A harbours a multidrug resistance profile that includes resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and aminoglycosides, with several papers noting resistance or heteroresistance to vancomycin. The NRCS-A clone also harbours a novel SCCmec-SCCcad/ars/cop composite island and increased vancomycin resistance. The S. capitis NRCS-A clone has been detected for decades, but the reasons for the potentially increased frequency are unclear, as are the most effective interventions to manage outbreaks associated with this clone. This supports the need for improvements in environmental control and decontamination strategies to prevent transmission.
Considerations for Developing Robot-Assisted Crisis De-Escalation Practices
Authors: Pierce Kathryn , Pepler Debra J. , Craig Stephanie G. , Jenkin Michael
Published: March 2023

Robots are increasingly entering the social sphere and taking on more sophisticated roles. One application for which robots are already being deployed is in civilian security tasks, in which robots augment security and police forces. In this domain, robots will encounter individuals in crisis who may pose a threat to themselves, others, or personal property. In such interactions with human police and security officers, a key goal is to de-escalate the situation to resolve the interaction. This paper considers the task of utilizing mobile robots in de-escalation tasks, using the mechanisms developed for de-escalation in human–human interactions. What strategies should a robot follow in order to leverage existing de-escalation approaches? Given these strategies, what sensing and interaction capabilities should a robot be capable of in order to engage in de-escalation tasks with humans? First, we discuss the current understanding of de-escalation with individuals in crisis and present a working model of the de-escalation process and strategies. Next, we review the capabilities that an autonomous agent should demonstrate to be able to apply such strategies in robot-mediated crisis de-escalation. Finally, we explore data-driven approaches to training robots in de-escalation and the next steps in moving the field forward.
Impurity Behavior in Plasma Recovery after a Vacuum Failure in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak
Authors: Zhao Zihang , Zhang Ling , Zhou Ruijie , Yang Yang , Zhang Wenmin , Cheng Yunxin , Morita Shigeru , Ti Ang , Hu Ailan , Sun Zhen , Zhang Fengling , Zhao Weikuan , Li Zhengwei , Cao Yiming , Zuo Guizhong , Liu Haiqing
Published: March 2023

After a vacuum failure in a tokamak, plasma runaway or plasma disruptions frequently occur during plasma recovery, causing difficulties in rebuilding a well-confined collisional plasma. In this work, the impurity behavior during plasma recovery after a vacuum failure in the 2019 spring campaign of the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) was studied by analyzing the spectra recorded by fast-time-response extreme ultraviolet (EUV) spectrometers with 5 ms/frame. During the plasma current ramp-up in recovery discharges, a high content of the low-Z impurities of oxygen and carbon was found, i.e., dozens of times higher than that of normal discharges, which may have caused the subsequent runaway discharges. The electron temperature in the recovery discharge may have dropped to less than 75 eV when the collisional plasma quenched to the runaway status, based on the observable impurity ions in the two cases. Therefore, the lifetime of collisional plasma in the recovery discharge, τc, was deduced from the lifetime of H- and He-like oxygen and carbon ions identified from EUV spectra. It was found that, after several discharges with real-time lithium granule injection, the runaway electron flux and O+ influx reduced to 45% and 20%, respectively. Meanwhile, the lifetime of confined plasma was extended from 113 ms to 588 ms, indicating the effective suppression of impurities and runaway electrons and improvement in plasma performance by real-time lithium granule injection. The results in this work provide valuable references for the achievement of first plasma in future superconducting fusion devices such as ITER and CFETR.
Vehicle Rollover Warning and Control Based on Attitude Detection and Fuzzy PID
Authors: Wang Ruiyang , Xu Xiangbo , Chen Shao , Guo Ningyan , Yu Zhibin
Published: March 2023

Car rollovers are a class of serious traffic accidents that can easily cause heavy casualties and property damage, particularly for special operation vehicles. To enhance the driving stability of vehicles on forest roads, we developed a control strategy for wire-controlled auxiliary braking based on body-attitude detection and the overall design of the system. Moreover, the control system was further investigated and developed. A three-degrees-of-freedom (3-DOF) vehicle dynamics model with longitudinal, lateral, and lateral tilt was developed based on actual-vehicle test data. The lateral load-transfer rate (LTR) of the vehicle was selected as the early warning algorithm for vehicle rollover; the differential braking of the vehicle was realized by adjusting the pressure of the wheel cylinders; and automatic speed reduction was achieved according to the rollover attitude of the vehicle by combining the fuzzy-PID control algorithm. Finally, a vehicle dynamics model was developed, and the results verified the effectiveness of the anti-rollover control strategy under extreme operating conditions.
Anti-Sexism Alert System: Identification of Sexist Comments on Social Media Using AI Techniques
Authors: Díaz Redondo Rebeca P. Díaz , Fernández Vilas Ana Fernández , Ramos Merino Mateo Ramos , Valladares Rodríguez Sonia María Valladares , Torres Guijarro Soledad Torres , Hafez Manar Mohamed
Published: March 2023

Social relationships in the digital sphere are becoming more usual and frequent, and they constitute a very important aspect for all of us. Violent interactions in this sphere are very frequent, and have serious effects on the victims. Within this global scenario, there is one kind of digital violence that is becoming really worrying: sexism against women. Sexist comments that are publicly posted in social media (newspaper comments, social networks, etc.), usually obtain a lot of attention and become viral, with consequent damage to the persons involved. In this paper, we introduce an anti-sexism alert system, based on natural language processing (NLP) and artificial intelligence (AI), that analyzes any public post, and decides if it could be considered a sexist comment or not. Additionally, this system also works on analyzing all the public comments linked to any multimedia content (piece of news, video, tweet, etc.) and decides, using a color-based system similar to traffic lights, if there is sexism in the global set of posts. We have created a labeled data set in Spanish, since the majority of studies focus on English, to train our system, which offers a very good performance after the validation experiments.
Equalization of the Occlusal State by Wearing a Mouthguard Contributes to Improving Postural Control Function
Authors: Takahashi Mutsumi , Bando Yogetsu , Fukui Takuya , Maruyama Akiko , Sugita Masaaki
Published: March 2023

The aim of this study was to clarify the effect on the postural control function of equalizing the occlusal contact state by wearing a mouthguard. Method: Participants included 23 untrained adults, 11 gymnasts, and 10 weightlifters. Custom mouthguards were fabricated and adjusted so that all teeth were in even contact with light clenching. The standing postural control function was evaluated by the displacement of the center of foot pressure (COP) measured using a gravity center fluctuation meter. Measurement conditions were with and without a mouthguard. Statistical analyses were performed on the differences in COP displacement among participant groups and between mouthguard conditions and the difference in the reduction rate of COP displacement when wearing a mouthguard among participant groups. Results: COP significantly decreased in the order of untrained adults to weightlifters to gymnasts, irrespective of the mouthguard condition. The reduction rate in COP displacement after wearing a mouthguard was greatest in gymnasts. Conclusions: The effect of the mouthguard on postural control function was more pronounced in gymnasts than in untrained adults and weightlifters, and this study suggests that equalization of the occlusal state by wearing a mouthguard contributes to improving postural control function.
Laser Irradiation on Limestone and Cracking: An Experimental Approach
Authors: Liu Jiawei , Xin Yongan , Lv Weiping , Zhu Ye , Ren Bin , Pan Haizeng , Hu Yi
Published: March 2023

Using mechanical drilling to obtain energy resources stored in deep and hard rock layers is becoming increasingly challenging. Therefore, laser irradiation has emerged as a new and promising drilling method. In this study, the effects of immersion conditions on rock-breaking by laser irradiation on the temperature, hole size, rock-breaking efficiency, and macro-fracture after laser irradiation were investigated. Furthermore, the mineral changes and thermogravimetric analysis of rocks were studied. As indicated by the results, the temperature area over 100 °C increases with the increase of irradiation time, and the temperature range of between 2.27 cm2 and 13.20 cm2 varies with the change of laser power at between 90 W and 135 W. The hole-diameter value of the soaked sample was smaller than that of the dried sample. In addition, the hole depth of the soaked sample reduced by 15% at a power of 90 W and 45% at a power of 135 W, compared with that of the dried sample. The value of the modified specific energy of the soaked sample increased, which was particularly noticeable at low power. The soaked sample had a larger effect on the rate of perforation at high power and a smaller effect at low power. The cracks on the surface of the rock samples became larger after being placed for one month. Fracture length increased from 0.61 to 5.09 mm for dried samples and from 2.24 to 8.7 mm for soaked samples at a laser power of 90 W. Fracture length increased from 6.30 to 9.85 mm for dried samples and from 9.04 to 11.38 mm for soaked samples at a laser power of 135 W. The soaked sample began to show differences when heated at 100 °C, which was caused by the evaporation of some free water molecules in the rock. The main weight loss temperatures of the samples occurred in the range of 640 °C to 900 °C.
Feature Identification, Solution Disassembly and Cost Comparison of Intelligent Driving under Different Technical Routes
Authors: Liu Zongwei , Zhang Wang , Tan Hong , Zhao Fuquan
Published: March 2023

Technical route decision making of intelligent driving has always been the focus of attention of automotive enterprises and even the industry. Firstly, this study combs the main technical routes of intelligent driving at different levels from three dimensions: development strategy, intelligence allocation and sensor combination. Then, the methodology of technical component combination is designed to disassemble different technical routes into corresponding technical component combinations. Finally, an improved evaluation model of total cost of ownership of intelligent driving is developed and the total cost of ownership of intelligent driving system under different technical routes is compared. For the development strategy, even if the function superposition can follow some research and development achievements of low-level intelligent driving, scenario-driven is still the option with lower cost and better sustainability. For intelligence allocation, collaborative intelligence can effectively reduce the cost of the vehicle compared with single-vehicle intelligence by up to 46%, but the cost reduction depends on the original on-board hardware. For sensor combination, the multi-source fusion always has the cost advantage compared with vision-only, but the advantage is more obvious in the medium-level and high-level stage of single-vehicle intelligence.
Static Strength and Buckling Analysis of an Aircraft Support
Authors: Zhang Daqian , Zhang Guoxiong , Chen Yueyang
Published: March 2023

At the initial stage of design, the structural strength and stability of the load-bearing structural members of the aircraft are mainly considered. In this paper, the structural strength and stability of a support of aircraft assembly are analyzed. First, structural strength analysis, under the design load of 30.151 KN, and numerical analysis shows that, in the stress concentration area, the stress peak value is 571.9 Mpa. The experimental value of the strain sensor S6 position is compared with the numerical results, and the error is within 2.5%, which verifies the validity of the numerical model and the structural strength to meet the design requirements. Second, structural stability adopts the method of buckling analysis. Linear buckling analysis shows that the first six order buckling modes and critical loads. The first order critical load is 464.9 KN. Risk arc length method is used in the nonlinear buckling analysis. Considering the geometric imperfection of the support, 1% and 10% initial imperfection values are used. Nonlinear buckling critical load values—without imperfection and considering the initial imperfection—are obtained, which are 110.6 KN, 108.4 KN, and 106.2 KN, respectively. There is little difference between the three values, indicating that the geometric imperfection of the support is not obvious to the nonlinear buckling, and they have structural stability. In the case of no imperfection, the maximum deformation of the main area reaches 21.4 mm, and the support enters the instability state. This paper comprehensively discusses the results of structural strength and structural stability analysis, which can provide reference for the design and optimization of bearing components.
Modelling of Electric Bus Operation and Charging Process: Potential Contribution of Local Photovoltaic Production
Authors: Dougier Nathanael , Celik Berk , Chabi-Sika Salim-Kinnou , Sechilariu Manuela , Locment Fabrice , Emery Justin
Published: March 2023

The transition from diesel to electric buses allows the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions. However, the impacts of charging strategies on the quality of bus services and the utility grid must be assessed to ensure the feasibility of the energy transition in the public transportation sector. This study investigates the performances of different locations and sizes of charging infrastructures by presenting the comprehensive modelling of a bus network. It also estimates the potential benefits of a local photovoltaic (PV) production to reduce negative impacts on the utility grid. The presented approach is used for modelling one urban bus line in Compiègne, France, and simulations are performed for various case studies. The results demonstrate that the proposed method allows analysing the impact of the charging process on the quality of bus services by determining the delays of arrivals. The simulations also show the impacts of charger placement on bus on-board battery capacity, total peak power demand of battery charging, and PV self-consumption ratio. The amount of PV energy used directly to charge buses remains low, although it varies between scenarios. PV energy during winter is not sufficient to fully charge buses; however, it can be enough with additional stationary storage in the summer.
Statistical Modeling of Arctic Sea Ice Concentrations for Northern Sea Route Shipping
Authors: Wu Da , Tian Wuliu , Lang Xiao , Mao Wengang , Zhang Jinfen
Published: March 2023

The safe and efficient navigation of ships traversing the Northern Sea Route demands accurate information regarding sea ice concentration. However, the sea ice concentration forecasts employed to support such navigation are often flawed. To address this challenge, this study advances a statistical interpolation method aimed at reducing errors arising from traditional interpolation approaches. Additionally, this study introduces an autoregressive integrated moving average model, derived from ERA5 reanalysis data, for short-term sea ice concentration forecasts along the Northern Sea Route. The validity of the model has been confirmed through comparison with ensemble experiments from the Coupling Model Intercomparison Project Phase 5, yielding reliable outcomes. The route availability is assessed on the basis of the sea ice concentration forecasts, indicating that the route will be available in the upcoming years. The proposed statistical models are also shown the capacity to facilitate effective management of Arctic shipping along the Northern Sea Route.
Pathological Findings in Male and Female Semi-Professional Football Players from 11 to 14 Years—A Report of the Bavarian Football Association’s Pre-Participation Screening Program
Authors: Memmel Clemens , Lehner Lisa , Loose Oliver , Gündisch Christian , Krutsch Volker , Huber Lorenz , Alt Volker , Krutsch Werner , Gerling Stephan
Published: March 2023

Pre-participation screening (PPS) in professional junior football is common practice. However, football players (FP) from non-professional football clubs may also be exposed to health risks, both internal and musculoskeletal. Therefore, the Bavarian Football Association (BFV) implemented a cardiological and orthopedic screening program for semi-professional FP in 2014. The purpose of this study was to obtain and present epidemiological data of pre-adolescent and adolescent semi-professional FP, including cardiac pathologies, past injuries, and orthopedic disorders. This study represents a retrospective analysis of semi-professional FP aged 11 to 14 years participating in the PPS program from 2014 to 2018, including their medical history, cardiac risk profiles, and the results of undergoing orthopedic and sports cardiology examinations. Overall, 362 male and 162 female FP could be included. More than 20% of the FP indicated suffering from one or more medical conditions. Cardiac abnormalities were reported in 30 (5.7%) FP. Further cardiological diagnostics were recommended for 3% of the FP due to findings while undergoing the PPS. Orthopedic disorders could be detected in 51 (9.7%) FP. Of the reported injuries, 44.3% could be categorized as overuse injuries. In order to guarantee extensive preventive sports medical care for semi-professional junior FP, a PPS concept should include a basic orthopedic examination in addition to cardiological screening due to a high rate of overuse injuries and cardiac abnormalities among pre-adolescent and adolescent FP. Further studies are needed in junior football to gain epidemiological data on injury occurrence and cardiac abnormalities on an amateur level to evaluate possible PPS programs, even on an amateur level.
Design and Analysis of an Inductive Coupling System for the Early Detection of Heart Failure
Authors: Krishnamurthy Venkataramani Raghavendiran , Mohanarangam Krithikaa , Lim Jongmin , Yu Ke , Gonuguntla Venkateswarlu , Choi Jun Rim
Published: March 2023

Heart failure is a common, complex clinical syndrome with high morbidity and mortality. Hemodynamic parameter evaluation is useful for early detection, clinical outcome monitoring, timely treatment, and the overall prognosis of heart failure patients. Therefore, continuous monitoring of hemodynamic parameters helps in the evaluation of patients with suspected heart failure. The hemodynamic parameters change with respect to the contraction and expansion of the heart. Hence, in this research, two circuit-less 30 mm spherical receiver coils were implanted in both the left and right sides of the heart and an external transceiver coil was placed above the chest. The changes in the reflection coefficient of the transceiver coil at the resonant frequency changed depending on the distance between the implanted coils, allowing the contraction and expansion of the heart to be determined. This work was carried out at 13.56 MHz, considering the safety limits imposed by the FCC. The proposed reflection coefficient monitoring technique may distinguish healthy patients from heart failure and heart attack patients. The reflection coefficients at a maximum distance of 50 mm for simulation and measurement are −10.3 dB and −10.6 dB, respectively, at the resonant frequency.
Inferring Gene Regulatory Networks from RNA-seq Data Using Kernel Classification
Authors: Al-Aamri Amira , Kudlicki Andrzej S. , Maalouf Maher , Taha Kamal , Homouz Dirar
Published: March 2023

Gene expression profiling is one of the most recognized techniques for inferring gene regulators and their potential targets in gene regulatory networks (GRN). The purpose of this study is to build a regulatory network for the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae genome by incorporating the use of RNA-seq and microarray data represented by a wide range of experimental conditions. We introduce a pipeline for data analysis, data preparation, and training models. Several kernel classification models; including one-class, two-class, and rare event classification methods, are used to categorize genes. We test the impact of the normalization techniques on the overall performance of RNA-seq. Our findings provide new insights into the interactions between genes in the yeast regulatory network. The conclusions of our study have significant importance since they highlight the effectiveness of classification and its contribution towards enhancing the present comprehension of the yeast regulatory network. When assessed, our pipeline demonstrates strong performance across different statistical metrics, such as a 99% recall rate and a 98% AUC score.
Conservation Genetics of the Critically Endangered Southern River Terrapin (Batagur affinis) in Malaysia: Genetic Diversity and Novel Subspecies Distribution Ranges
Authors: Salleh Mohd Hairul Mohd , Esa Yuzine , Pau Suriyanti-Su Nyun
Published: March 2023

A population genetics study was carried out on the Southern River terrapin (Batagur affinis) from four places in Peninsular Malaysia: Pasir Gajah, Kemaman (KE), Terengganu; Bukit Pinang (BP), Kedah; Bota Kanan (BK), Perak; and Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu. The goal of this study is to identify genetic differences in two subspecies of B. affinis in Malaysia. No previous reports were available on the genetic diversity, phylogenetic relationships and matrilineal hereditary structure of these terrapin populations in Malaysia. The sequencing identified 46 single nucleotide polymorphisms that defined six mitochondrial haplotypes in the Southern River terrapins. Tajima’s D test and Fu’s Fs neutrality tests were performed to evaluate the signatures of recent historical demographic events. Based on the tests, the B. affinis edwardmolli was newly subspecies identified in the west coast–northern region of Kedah state. In addition, the B. affinis edwardmolli in Bukit Paloh, Kuala Berang (KB), Terengganu (Population 4), was shown to have a single maternal lineage compared to other populations. Low genetic diversity, but significant genetic differences, were detected among the studied Southern River terrapin populations.
Spt3 and Spt8 Are Involved in the Formation of a Silencing Boundary by Interacting with TATA-Binding Protein
Authors: Kamata Kazuma , Ayano Takahito , Oki Masaya
Published: March 2023

In Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a heterochromatin-like chromatin structure called the silencing region is present at the telomere as a complex of Sir2, Sir3, and Sir4. Although spreading of the silencing region is blocked by histone acetylase-mediated boundary formation, the details of the factors and mechanisms involved in the spread and formation of the boundary at each telomere are unknown. Here, we show that Spt3 and Spt8 block the spread of the silencing regions. Spt3 and Spt8 are members of the Spt-Ada-Gcn5-acetyltransferase (SAGA) complex, which has histone acetyltransferase activity. We performed microarray analysis of the transcriptome of spt3Δ and spt8Δ strains and RT-qPCR analysis of the transcript levels of genes from the subtelomeric region in mutants in which the interaction of Spt3 with TATA-binding protein (TBP) is altered. The results not only indicated that both Spt3 and Spt8 are involved in TBP-mediated boundary formation on the right arm of chromosome III, but also that boundary formation in this region is DNA sequence independent. Although both Spt3 and Spt8 interact with TBP, Spt3 had a greater effect on genome-wide transcription. Mutant analysis showed that the interaction between Spt3 and TBP plays an important role in the boundary formation.