bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Analysis of Usability and Accessibility of Kiosks for People with Disabilities
Authors: Lee Yuryeon , Park Sunyoung , Park Jaehyun , Kim Hyun K.
Published: February 2023

Owing to technological advancements, kiosks have become more prevalent in public places. When using such kiosks, elderly persons and people with disabilities face problems related to accessibility and usability, such as difficulties in kiosk operations such as menu selection and in accessing the kiosk space. Previous studies have usually included accessibility as a subset of usability. However, in this study, we aim to redefine the relationship between these two concepts with a focus on newly emerging kiosk devices. First, we performed a literature review to thoroughly analyze these concepts. Then, we conducted a focus group interview (FGI) targeting people with visual, hearing, and physical impairments to learn about the difficulties that these people face when using kiosks. Finally, we analyzed the characteristics of accessibility and usability related to kiosks and designed a diagram that illustrated the relationship between them. While accessibility and usability shared similarities regarding consistency and user control, they differed deeply regarding their subcategory items; many opinions on accessibility were related to essential functions, whereas many on usability were related to psychological factors such as additional functions or personal preferences. These results can be useful when creating laws and guidelines regarding the accessibility and usability of kiosks or when developing kiosk functions.
A Fast and Accurate Real-Time Vehicle Detection Method Using Deep Learning for Unconstrained Environments
Authors: Farid Annam , Hussain Farhan , Khan Khurram , Shahzad Mohsin , Khan Uzair , Mahmood Zahid
Published: February 2023

Deep learning-based classification and detection algorithms have emerged as a powerful tool for vehicle detection in intelligent transportation systems. The limitations of the number of high-quality labeled training samples makes the single vehicle detection methods incapable of accomplishing acceptable accuracy in road vehicle detection. This paper presents detection and classification of vehicles on publicly available datasets by utilizing the YOLO-v5 architecture. This paper’s findings utilize the concept of transfer learning through fine tuning the weights of the pre-trained YOLO-v5 architecture. To employ the concept of transfer learning, extensive data sets of images and videos of the congested traffic patterns were collected by the authors. These datasets were made more comprehensive by pointing various attributes, for instance high- and low-density traffic patterns, occlusions, and different weather circumstances. All of these gathered datasets were manually annotated. Ultimately, the improved YOLO-v5 structure becomes accustomed to any difficult traffic patterns. By fine-tuning the pre-trained network through our datasets, our proposed YOLO-v5 has exceeded several other traditional vehicle detection methods in terms of detection accuracy and execution time. Detailed simulations performed on the PKU, COCO, and DAWN datasets demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method in various challenging situations.
Manufacturer Channel Encroachment and Evolution in E-Platform Supply Chain: An Agent-Based Model
Authors: Ma Rong , Yang Tianjian
Published: February 2023

Manufacturer channel encroachment is a common phenomenon in the current e-commerce supply chain, which has been well studied. This study develops a multi-agent-based model of the e-platform supply chain to analyse manufacturers’ channel encroachment strategies and supply chain evolution. Through both direct sales channels and e-commerce platforms, manufacturers can sell two complementary products of varying quality. Consumers who have preferences compare the pricing information gathered from manufacturers through different channels before selecting the one that generates the best utility. At the end of each period, the manufacturers make a price adjustment using the genetic algorithm. We look at the supply chain evolution process through multi-period simulations and discuss the factors that influence encroachment decisions. We find that manufacturers’ channel encroachment is detrimental to the profitability of the e-commerce platform. Consumers’ channel preferences and quality preferences benefit the e-commerce platform and can discourage manufacturers’ encroachment decisions. In addition, increases in encroachment costs and commission rates can reduce manufacturers’ propensity for channel encroachment.
The Use of Copper Terephthalate for the Determination and Separation of Organic Dyes via Solid-Phase Extraction with Spectrophotometric Detection
Authors: Chernomorova Maria A. , Khrabrova Natali S. , Zhinzhilo Vladimir A. , Uflyand Igor E.
Published: February 2023

In this work, a metal–organic framework (MOF), copper benzene dicarboxylate (Cu-MOF), was tested for the adsorptive recovery of organic dyes (Sunset Yellow FCF, Tartrazine, Orange II, and Methyl Orange) from aqueous solutions. Studies were also carried out to determine the effects of various parameters, and isothermal and kinetic models were proposed. The adsorption capacity of Cu-MOF was much higher than that of activated carbon. The experimental data are best described by the Langmuir isotherm model (R2 > 0.997) and show the ability of Cu-MOF to adsorb 435 mg/g of the dye under optimal conditions. The study of the kinetics of the dye adsorption process followed a pseudo-second-order kinetic model indicating the coexistence of physical and chemisorption, with diffusion within the particles being the rate-limiting step. Thermodynamic studies were also carried out, and they led to the conclusion that the adsorption of the dye was a feasible, spontaneous, and exothermic process (−25.53 kJ mol−1). The high organic dye recovery shows that Cu-MOF can be used as an efficient and reusable adsorbent for the extraction of dyes from aqueous solutions. These studies may lead to economic interest in this adsorbent material for environmental purposes.
The Fading Memory Formalism with Mittag-Leffler-Type Kernels as A Generator of Non-Local Operators
Authors: Hristov Jordan
Published: February 2023

Transient heat conduction problems are systematically applied to the fading memory formalism with different Mittag-Leffler-type memory kernels. With such an approach, using various memories naturally results in definitions of various fractional operators. Six examples are given and interpreted from a common perspective, covering the most well-liked versions of the Mittag-Leffler function. The fading memory approach was used as a template and demonstrated that, if the constitutive equations are correctly built, it is also possible to directly determine where the hereditary terms are located in the models.
Deep Contrastive Learning-Based Model for ECG Biometrics
Authors: Ammour Nassim , Jomaa Rami M. , Islam Md Saiful , Bazi Yakoub , Alhichri Haikel , Alajlan Naif
Published: February 2023

The electrocardiogram (ECG) signal is shown to be promising as a biometric. To this end, it has been demonstrated that the analysis of ECG signals can be considered as a good solution for increasing the biometric security levels. This can be mainly due to its inherent robustness against presentation attacks. In this work, we present a deep contrastive learning-based system for ECG biometric identification. The proposed system consists of three blocks: a feature extraction backbone based on short time Fourier transform (STFT), a contrastive learning network, and a classification network. We evaluated the proposed system on the Heartprint dataset, a new ECG biometrics multi-session dataset. The experimental analysis shows promising capabilities of the proposed method. In particular, it yields an average top1 accuracy of 98.02% on a new dataset built by gathering 1539 ECG records from 199 subjects collected in multiple sessions with an average interval between sessions of 47 days.
Correlation between Temporo-Mandibular Pain and Gender
Authors: Maspero Cinzia , Segù Marzia , Abate Andrea , Lanteri Valentina
Published: February 2023

The international literature, in restricted contexts but of considerable significance, has begun to highlight this issue, pointing out that in clinical trials of many diseases, there is often a tendency not to take adequate account of the numerical prevalence of the female sex in the general population, in addition to the biological differences between men and women [...]
SingMonitor: E-bike Charging Health Monitoring Using Sound from Power Supplies
Authors: Jian Xiangyong , Yang Lanqing , Li Yijie , Chen Yi-Chao , Xue Guangtao
Published: February 2023

In recent years, fire disasters caused by charging electric bicycles/moped (e-bikes) have been increasing, causing catastrophic loss of life and property; Worse still, existing fire warning systems are costly to install and maintain, and they work after the accident occurs. Some existing works propose using power meters or similar sensors in the power grid to monitor e-bike charging health. However, the use of additional equipment makes them challenging to deploy. Others can use the sound or electromagnetic signals emitted by e-bikes for monitoring, but they suffer from limited monitoring distance. To solve this problem, we propose SingMonitor, a scheme to remotely monitor e-bike charging status using mobile devices’ microphones. The charging e-bike generates a unique current signal, which is then transmitted through the power grid and drives the mobile devices’ power supply to generate sound, which is then captured by a microphone. Based on this principle and the proposed template matching method, SingMonitor can identify the e-bike charging status. Experiments show SingMonitor achieves an F1 score of 0.94 in identifying 10 e-bikes’ charging status, with a detection distance of 9m+.
Impact of Interdependencies: Multi-Component System Perspective toward Predictive Maintenance Based on Machine Learning and XAI
Authors: Gashi Milot , Mutlu Belgin , Thalmann Stefan
Published: February 2023

Taking the multi-component perspective in Predictive Maintenance (PdM) is one promising approach to improve prediction quality. Therefore, detection and modeling of interdependencies within systems are important, especially as systems become more complex and personalized. However, existing solutions in PdM mostly focus on a single-component perspective, neglecting the dependencies between components, even if interdependencies can be found between most components in the real world. The major reason for this lost opportunity is the challenge of identifying and modeling interdependencies between components. This paper introduces a framework to identify interdependencies and explain their impact on PdM within a Multi-Component System (MCS). The contribution of this approach is two-fold. First, it shows the impact of modeling interdependencies in predictive analytics. Second, it helps to understand which components interact with each other and to which degree they affect the deterioration state of corresponding components. As a result, our approach can identify and explain the existence of interdependencies within components. In particular, we demonstrate that time from last change of component is a valuable feature to quantify interdependencies. Moreover, we show that taking into account the interdependencies provides a statistically significant improvement of f1-score by 7% on average compared to the model where interdependencies are neglected. We expect that our findings will improve maintenance scheduling in the industry while improving prediction models in general.
Numerical Analysis of Seismic Pounding between Adjacent Buildings Accounting for SSI
Authors: Uz Mehmet Eren , Jakubczyk-Gałczyńska Anna , Jankowski Robert
Published: February 2023

The structural pounding caused by an earthquake may damage structures and lead to their collapse. This study is focused on the pounding between two adjacent asymmetric structures with different dynamic properties resting on the surface of an elastic half-space. An exploration of the relationship between the effects of the seismic analysis with the impact response to the torsional pounding between adjacent buildings under different SSI effects has been presented. In this paper, the authors have proposed a procedure for analyzing the response for adjacent buildings subjected to the pounding effects, considering systems with multiple degrees of freedom and modal equations of motion with four types of soil. All the calculations have been performed based on the fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. The novelty of the present study is related to the fact that the rigorous and approximate methods are used to examine the effects of pounding and SSI simultaneously. As a result, these two methods have been thoroughly investigated for both effects and the results have been compared. The results show that the approximate method produces results that are slightly different from those obtained by the rigorous direct integration method in the case of small SSI effects due to an increase in the pounding force. The efficiency of the method is also validated using numerical examples.
Air to Water Generator Integrated System Real Application: A Study Case in a Worker Village in United Arab Emirates
Authors: Cattani Lucia , Cattani Paolo , Magrini Anna
Published: February 2023

The water crisis is currently affecting billions of people. To mitigate the issue, unconventional water sources should be taken into account. Among them, atmosphere is a promising possibility, but it is still considered a novel source, and more studies, based on real results concerning the behaviour of the Atmospheric/Air-to Water Generator (AWG) systems, also known as Atmospheric Water Harvesting (AWH) systems, are needed to prove the water extraction sustainability. The current research work describes the real application of an integrated AWG system, based on a thermodynamic reverse cycle, designed to extract water from air and take advantage of the other useful effects of the cycle at the same time. The integrated machine was placed in Dubai, in a worker village, and tested. The machine is able to provide, at the same time, with the same energy consumption, water, heating and cooling energy. On the basis of onsite measurements, calculations about the efficiencies, using the Water Energy Transformation (WET), plastic savings, due to bottled water avoidance, and economic sustainability were carried out. The work answers to research questions concerning the potentiality of integrated systems in Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning (HVAC) plants revamping, the economic sustainability of water extraction from air and the lack of tests on real AWG machines of thousand-litre production capability (large size).
Effects of Repeated Sprints on Hamstring Active Shear Modulus Pattern and Neuromuscular Parameters in Football Players with and without Hamstring Strain Injury History—A Retrospective Study
Authors: Pimenta Ricardo , Lopes Tomás , Bruno Paula , Veloso António
Published: February 2023

The aim of the present study is to compare the effects of a (i) repeated sprint protocol on the sprint performance, hamstrings shear modulus pattern, and neuromuscular parameters between players with and without previous hamstring strain injury (HSI); and (ii) between limbs with HSI and their healthy contralateral limbs on the hamstrings shear modulus pattern and neuromuscular parameters. One-hundred-and-five professional and semiprofessional football field players were invited to participate in this study during the pre-season 2021/2022 (June–July), resulting in a sample size of 210 limbs with 46 sustaining HSI in the previous 2 years. No differences were seen between previously injured and healthy control players regarding their sprint performance, hamstrings shear modulus pattern, and neuromuscular parameters, except for the early rate of torque development (0–50 ms) with previously injured limbs in the biceps femoris long head (BFlh) displaying higher rates than their contralateral muscle (injured: 496.93 ± 234.22 Nm/s; contralateral 422.72 ± 208.29 Nm/s; p = 0.005; η2p = 0.469). Overall, the present study provides evidence for no differences regarding sprint performance, hamstrings load sharing pattern, and major neuromuscular parameters between players with previous HSI in the last 2 years and healthy control players. Therefore, the results can possibly suggest that the duration between injury and screening could recover the differences between injured-control and injured-contralateral groups.
Overview of Voice Conversion Methods Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Walczyna Tomasz , Piotrowski Zbigniew
Published: February 2023

Voice conversion is a process where the essence of a speaker’s identity is seamlessly transferred to another speaker, all while preserving the content of their speech. This usage is accomplished using algorithms that blend speech processing techniques, such as speech analysis, speaker classification, and vocoding. The cutting-edge voice conversion technology is characterized by deep neural networks that effectively separate a speaker’s voice from their linguistic content. This article offers a comprehensive overview of the development status of this area of science based on the current state-of-the-art voice conversion methods.
Does the Nature of Added Bioactive Lipids Affect the Biological Properties of Yogurts?—Case Study Coconut and Avocado Oils
Authors: Machado Manuela , Rodríguez-Alcalá Luís M. , Maria Gomes Ana , Pintado Manuela
Published: February 2023

Bioactive lipids play an important role in human health and their benefits are linked to their chemical nature; for example, medium-chain fatty acids can have an important contribution to body weight management. This work aimed to test a strategy to enhance the quality profile and gastrointestinal tract resistance of previously developed vegetable oil-functionalized yogurts and further probe the biological potential of functionalized yogurts. Fortification with coconut and avocado vegetable oils led to increased nutritional value through an increase in essential fatty acids content, particularly in yogurts with vegetable oil bigels. One of the main problems with bioactive fatty acids fortification is their poor stability during in vitro digestion and consequently poor bioavailability. Despite this, the digested samples decreased lipid accumulation in Hep G2 and 3T3-L1 cells Functionalized yogurts were also responsible for high improvements in adiponectin secretion (35% for COY, 46% for CBY, 53% for AOY, and 48% ABY) compared with control yogurt. Moreover, in the inflammatory model, a reduction between 30% (for control yogurt) and 70% (for CBY) was observed for IL-6 secretion in LPS-stimulated cells. Considering these results, yogurt’s fortification with vegetable oils can be a viable alternative strategy to be scaled up for obesity management.
Security Establishment in ADS-B by Format-Preserving Encryption and Blockchain Schemes
Authors: Habibi Markani Jamal , Amrhar Abdessamad , Gagné Jean-Marc , Landry René Jr
Published: February 2023

In the next generation modernization plan, the automatic dependent surveillance-broadcast (ADS-B) system plays a pivotal role. However, the ADS-B’s low level of security and its vulnerabilities have raised valid concerns. The main objectives of this paper are to highlight the limitations of legacy ADS-B systems and to assess the feasibility of using Format-preserving (F), Feistel-based encryption (F), with multiple implementation variances (X) (FFX) algorithms, for enhancing ADS-B’s security. The offered solution is implemented in a standard software-defined radio (SDR) ADS-B to be utilized in real-time applications. Furthermore, a new proposed blockchain scheme is used as a secured database to manage the cipher key. The metric of message entropy is used to assess an algorithm’s ability to confuse and diffuse predictable ADS-B messages; correlation and serial correlation of plain data and cipher data are deployed to evaluate the proposed method’s security level. The authors provide both MATLAB simulations and flight test outcomes to demonstrate the feasibility of this approach. Based on our security analysis, ADS-B information can be kept confidential through our scheme. The performance evaluation results reveal that the proposed scheme is achievable, compatible, and efficient for the avionics industry.
Power Electronic Applications in Power and Energy Systems
Authors: Anvari-Moghaddam Amjad , Davari Pooya , Hegazy Omar
Published: February 2023

Modern environmental policies, carbon emission reduction targets, stimulus funding for economy recovery, end-use energy efficiency, objectives for higher reliability, and service quality in energy systems are a few of the factors driving forces behind the integration of advanced control and communication technologies into energy systems [...]
Uncovering Bacterial Diversity during Mesophilic and Thermophilic Phases of Biowaste Composting through Next-Generation Sequencing
Authors: Chopkova Vasilka , Petkova Mariana , Shilev Stefan
Published: February 2023

The accumulation of biowastes is one of the main concerns of modern society. One of the most environmentally friendly solutions to convert biowaste into a product is composting. Biowastes may contain unknown substances that are persistent in the final compost, thus contributing to soil contamination and salinization. The effectiveness of the composting process depends on the microbial communities involved, which is the number of investigations’ targets. The present work studied the bacterial diversity of mesophilic and thermophilic phases of composting developed in two different sites. The study was conducted through next-generation Illumina HiSeq sequencing and phylogenetic communities, revealing the dynamics and changes in specific mesophilic and thermophilic habitats of composting piles. The results showed a higher number of bacterial species in the mesophilic phase than in the thermophilic one, proved by the Shannon and Chao indices. In addition, the diversity of bacterial species expressed by the operational taxonomic units was much higher at the site of Harmanli than at the Yasno pole. Higher abundance was found of the genera Sphingobacterium, Sphingomonas, Paracoccus, Pseudomonas, and Halomonas in both studied sites. In the compost of Harmanli genera Streptomyces, Truepera, and Flavobacterium were found to be much more abundant compared to the compost of the Yasno pole. Finally, we conclude that the two plots show relatively significant differences in the diversity of bacteria during biowaste composting. Substantial differences were also observed between the mesophilic and thermophilic phases, with the first showing a significantly higher degree of species richness.
Effects of Psychological Skills Training on Brain Quotient and Perceived Performance of High School Rapid-Fire Pistol Athletes
Authors: Jun Mun-Gyu , Kim Jeong-Ho , Choi Chulhwan
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of psychological skills training on the brain quotient and perceived performance of high school rapid-fire pistol athletes and to provide basic data to overcome the psychological difficulties experienced in practice and competition situations. Using the non-probability sampling method, four rapid-fire pistol athletes were selected as subjects for the study. To verify the effects of the psychological skills training program (10 weeks), data collected through electroencephalography and a survey were analyzed. First, through psychological skills training, the psychological tension and physical stress of the left brain among the players’ brain function index significantly improved. Furthermore, the perceived performance of the study participants improved. Therefore, it was confirmed that through psychological technology training, participants increased their faith and confidence in shooting skills; thus, the level of perceived performance also increased. In addition, if the effectiveness of the psychological skills training conducted in this study is developed with a wider range of sports or athletes, this study will be valuable for athletes who always have to demonstrate outstanding performance.
Synchromodal Supply Chains for Fast-Moving Consumer Goods
Authors: Jackson Ilya , Saenz Maria Jesus , Li Yulu , Moreno Michelle Stephanie Ramirez
Published: February 2023

Synchromodality is an emerging concept in supply chain management. A synchromodal supply chain can be defined as a multimodal transportation planning system, wherein the different agents work in an integrated and flexible way that enables them to dynamically adapt the transport mode based on real-time information from stakeholders, customers, and the logistic network. The potential of synchromodality for the fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) industry is related to the nature of business. The FMCG market is characterized by relatively low margins and high turnover, which is especially important in export supply chains. However, for a company, it may be challenging to objectively evaluate the costs and benefits, not to mention the design of a synchronized supply chain. In order to facilitate the adoption of the concept and guide the practitioners, our study put forward the following research questions: What should be considered in incorporating synchromodality in the export supply chain for FMCG? How should companies approach tradeoffs among factors affecting the supply chain? To answer these questions, we propose an adaptable framework, which should be considered a primary contribution of our study. The framework incorporates the center of gravity model, mixed integer linear programming, and sensitivity analysis. The framework is validated using a real-world problem from a multinational FMCG company. The problem involves the optimal volume allocation and the selection of the most efficient transportation mode for inland freight. Our study demonstrates that incorporating synchromodality in the export supply chain could reduce the overall cost by 9% and enhance flexibility by allowing multiple modes of transportation.
Measurements of Ice Crystal Fluxes from the Surface at a Mountain Top Site
Authors: Schledewitz Waldemar , Lloyd Gary , Bower Keith , Choularton Thomas , Flynn Michael , Gallagher Martin
Published: February 2023

New observations of anomalously high cloud ice crystal concentrations at the Jungfraujoch research station (Switzerland, 3.5 km a.s.l.) are presented. High-resolution measurements of these ice crystals using a high-speed 2D imaging cloud particle spectrometer confirm that the concentrations far exceed those expected from any known primary ice production mechanisms and are at temperatures well below those for known secondary ice production processes to contribute. The most likely explanation is due to a strong surface source generated by the interaction of turbulent deposition of supercooled droplets to fragile ice-covered snow surfaces. This process enhances the detachment of crystal fragments wherein the smaller size mode is turbulently re-suspended even at low wind speeds below expected blowing snow thresholds. These then continue to grow, adding significantly to the ice crystal number concentrations whose size and habit is determined by the transport time between the ice crystal source and measurement location and liquid water profile within the cloud. We confirm, using eddy covariance measurements of ice particle number fluxes, that the likely source is significantly far upwind to preclude flow distortion effects such that the source plume has homogenised by the time they are measured at the mountain top summit.
Investigation of Spatiotemporal Variation and Drivers of Aerosol Optical Depth in China from 2010 to 2020
Authors: Wang Yiting , Yang Lixiang , Xie Donghui , Hu Yuhao , Cao Di , Huang Haiyang , Zhao Dan
Published: February 2023

China has experienced rapid economic growth and serious control of aerosol emissions in the past decade. Thus, the spatiotemporal variations and driving factors of aerosol optical depth (AOD) are urgently needed to evaluate the effectiveness of aerosol control activities. The innovation of this study is a detailed spatial and temporal analysis of aerosol pollution in eight major regions of China from 2010 to 2020 using the MERRA-2 AOD reanalysis product and the driving mechanism based on the Granger causality test, sensitivity, and contribution analysis. The results show that the spatial distribution of AOD varied across the areas. Divided by the Hu Line, the AOD values of the Eastern areas were significantly higher than those of the Western areas. The temporal trend in the last eleven years was dominated by a continuous decline and moderate fluctuations at both annual and seasonal scales. The relationship between socioeconomic factors and AOD drivers was more significant in economically developed regions, suggesting that China pays more attention to haze control while developing its economy. The driving relationship between AOD and temperature was weak, while wind speed and relative humidity were more influential. For vegetation factors, Granger effects were mainly observed in the Northeast, Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei, Guangdong, Central China, and Southwest regions. In the Guangdong and Southwest regions, vegetation and economic factors were the more influential drivers. This study provides a scientific basis for the detection of aerosol changes, driving mechanisms and pollution management in China.
A Fractional Rheological Model of Viscoanelastic Media
Authors: Ciancio Armando , Ciancio Vincenzo , Flora Bruno Felice Filippo
Published: February 2023

The mechanical behaviour of materials can be described by a phenomenological relationship that binds strain to stress, by the complex modulus function: M(ω), which represents the frequency response of the medium in which a transverse mechanical wave is propagated. From the experimental measurements of the internal friction obtained when varying the frequency of a transverse mechanical wave, the parameters that characterize the complex module are determined. The internal friction or loss tangent is bound to the dissipation of the specific mechanical energy. The non-equilibrium thermodynamics theory leads to a general description of irreversible phenomena such as relaxation and viscosity that can coexist in a material. Through the state variables introduced by Ciancio and Kluitenberg, and applying the fractional calculation due to a particular memory mechanism, a model of a viscoanelastic medium is obtained in good agreement with the experimental results.
Mathematical Description of the Aerodynamic Characteristics of Stationary Flows in a Vertical Conical Diffuser When Air Is Supplied through Various Tube Configurations
Authors: Plotnikov Leonid
Published: February 2023

Conical diffusers of various configurations are used in many kinds of technical equipment and manufacturing processes. Therefore, it is a relevant objective to obtain reliable experimental and mathematical data on the aerodynamic characteristics of diffusers. This article presents experimental data on the aerodynamics of stationary flows in a vertical conical diffuser when air is supplied through tubes with various cross sections (circle, square, and triangle). Instantaneous values of air flow velocity are measured with a constant-temperature hot-wire anemometer. Data are obtained on the velocity fields and turbulence intensity along the height and the diameter of the diffuser’s cylindrical part when air is supplied through tubes of various configurations. It is established that air supply through profiled tubes has a significant effect on the shape of the velocity field and turbulence intensity in a vertical conical diffuser. For example, higher values of turbulence intensity are typical of air supplied through profiled tubes (the differences reach 50%). A mathematical formulation (linear and exponential equations) of the change in the average speed and intensity of air flow turbulence along the height of the diffuser’s cylindrical part for various initial conditions and supply tube configurations is presented. The obtained findings will make it possible to refine mathematical models and update algorithms for engineering the design of diffusers for various engineering processes and pieces of technical equipment.
NIPUNA: A Novel Optimizer Activation Function for Deep Neural Networks
Authors: Madhu Golla , Kautish Sandeep , Alnowibet Khalid Abdulaziz , Zawbaa Hossam M. , Mohamed Ali Wagdy
Published: February 2023

In recent years, various deep neural networks with different learning paradigms have been widely employed in various applications, including medical diagnosis, image analysis, self-driving vehicles and others. The activation functions employed in deep neural networks have a huge impact on the training model and the reliability of the model. The Rectified Linear Unit (ReLU) has recently emerged as the most popular and extensively utilized activation function. ReLU has some flaws, such as the fact that it is only active when the units are positive during back-propagation and zero otherwise. This causes neurons to die (dying ReLU) and a shift in bias. However, unlike ReLU activation functions, Swish activation functions do not remain stable or move in a single direction. This research proposes a new activation function named NIPUNA for deep neural networks. We test this activation by training on customized convolutional neural networks (CCNN). On benchmark datasets (Fashion MNIST images of clothes, MNIST dataset of handwritten digits), the contributions are examined and compared to various activation functions. The proposed activation function can outperform traditional activation functions.
3D Printing and Its Current Status of Application in Obstetrics and Gynecological Diseases
Authors: Hu Caihong , Zhang Weishe , Li Ping
Published: February 2023

3D printing technology is a novel method of utilizing computer-generated three-dimensional models for drawing, assembling special bioinks, and manufacturing artificial organs and biomedical products. In recent years, it has evolved into a relatively mature therapeutic approach and has been widely used in clinical and basic research. In the field of obstetrics and gynecology, 3D printing technology has been applied for various purposes, including disease diagnosis, treatment, pathogenesis research, and medical education. Notably, researchers have gained significant application experience in common gynecological and obstetrical disorders, such as intrauterine adhesions, uterine tumors, congenital malformations, and fetal congenital abnormalities. This review aims to provide a systematical summary of current research on the application of 3D bioprinting technology in the field of obstetrics and gynecology.
The Effect of Fatigue on Postural Control and Biomechanical Characteristic of Lunge in Badminton Players
Authors: Du Yanyan , Fan Yubo
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the effects of fatigue on postural control and biomechanical characteristic of lunge. A total of twelve healthy male collegiate badminton players (21.1 ± 2.2 years; 180.8 ± 4.0 cm; 72.5 ± 8.4 kg; 8.9 ± 3.5 years of experience) performed repeating lunges until exhausted. Postural stability was evaluated through a single-leg balance test using the dominant lower limb on a pressure plate with eyes opened (EO) and eyes closed (EC). The center of pressure (CoP) sway in the entire plantar and sub-regions of the plantar was measured. Kinematic and kinetic data of lunge motion were collected. The postural control was impaired after fatigue. In plantar sub-regions, the area, displacement and distance in the medial–lateral (ML) and anterior–posterior directions of CoP increased significantly (p < 0.05), especially the distance in ML. The medial region of the forefoot is the most sensitive to fatigue. Compared to pre-fatigue, participants experienced a significantly longer phase of pre-drive-off (p < 0.01), less peak moment and peak power of the knee and hip for drive-off (p < 0.01) and less peak moment of the ankle during braking phase (p < 0.05). These findings indicate that, within the setting of this investigation, the different responses to fatigue for CoP sway in plantar sub-regions and the consistency between postural control and biomechanical characteristic of lunge may be beneficial for developing and monitoring a training plan.
MRI Liver Imaging Integrated with Texture Analysis in Native Liver Survivor Patients with Biliary Atresia after Kasai Portoenterostomy: Correlation with Medical Outcome after Surgical Treatment
Authors: Caruso Martina , Stanzione Arnaldo , Ricciardi Carlo , Di Dato Fabiola , Pisani Noemi , Delli Paoli Gregorio , De Giorgi Marco , Liuzzi Raffaele , Mollica Carmine , Romeo Valeria , Iorio Raffaele , Cesarelli Mario , Brunetti Arturo , Maurea Simone
Published: February 2023

Kasai portoenterostomy (KP) plays a crucial role in the treatment of biliary atresia (BA). The aim is to correlate MRI quantitative findings of native liver survivor BA patients after KP with a medical outcome. Thirty patients were classified as having ideal medical outcomes (Group 1; n = 11) if laboratory parameter values were in the normal range and there was no evidence of chronic liver disease complications; otherwise, they were classified as having nonideal medical outcomes (Group 2; n = 19). Liver and spleen volumes, portal vein diameter, liver mean, and maximum and minimum ADC values were measured; similarly, ADC and T2-weighted textural parameters were obtained using ROI analysis. The liver volume was significantly (p = 0.007) lower in Group 2 than in Group 1 (954.88 ± 218.31 cm3 vs. 1140.94 ± 134.62 cm3); conversely, the spleen volume was significantly (p < 0.001) higher (555.49 ± 263.92 cm3 vs. 231.83 ± 70.97 cm3). No differences were found in the portal vein diameter, liver ADC values, or ADC and T2-weighted textural parameters. In conclusion, significant quantitative morpho-volumetric liver and spleen abnormalities occurred in BA patients with nonideal medical outcomes after KP, but no significant microstructural liver abnormalities detectable by ADC values and ADC and T2-weighted textural parameters were found between the groups.
The Diagenetic Alterations of Historic Skeletons from the Crown Mines Cemetery, South Africa
Authors: Lander Stacey L. , Hosie Margot , Brits Desiré
Published: February 2023

Human skeletons associated with early gold mining in Johannesburg, South Africa are investigated. An unmarked cemetery was buried beneath a mine dump which resulted in macroscopically stained and poorly preserved bones. Histological assessments were conducted to understand the postmortem treatment of the remains, determine the extent of bone degradation, and understand how this environment affected the bone’s microstructure. Various diagenetic alterations and the general histological index were assessed using normal and polarized light microscopy of thin anterior midshaft femur sections (n = 50). Degradation was identified in the periosteal and endosteal regions, while the intra-cortical region remained well-preserved. Bacterial bioerosion, microcracks, infiltrations, inclusions, and staining were found throughout the sample. Numerous non-Wedl micro-foci of destruction were observed, filled with exogenous material. The degradation suggested that the remains were buried in neutral soil that was subsequently covered by acidic mine dumps which resulted in a corrosive environment. Although the skeletons were poorly preserved, their histological integrity was more promising, especially the intra-cortical area. This is important for future investigations of archaeological bone, as this area can lead to more accurate descriptions of skeletal assemblages. Targeted sampling of this region could produce promising estimates of age, descriptions of pathology, and biomolecular results, which require further study.
Can Probiotics, Particularly Limosilactobacillus fermentum UCO-979C and Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus UCO-25A, Be Preventive Alternatives against SARS-CoV-2?
Authors: Valdebenito-Navarrete Héctor , Fuentes-Barrera Victor , Smith Carlos T. , Salas-Burgos Alexis , Zuniga Felipe A. , Gomez Leonardo A. , García-Cancino Apolinaria
Published: February 2023

COVID-19, an infection produced by the SARS-CoV-2 virus in humans, has rapidly spread to become a high-mortality pandemic. SARS-CoV-2 is a single-stranded RNA virus characterized by infecting epithelial cells of the intestine and lungs, binding to the ACE2 receptor present on epithelial cells. COVID-19 treatment is based on antivirals and antibiotics against symptomatology in addition to a successful preventive strategy based on vaccination. At this point, several variants of the virus have emerged, altering the effectiveness of treatments and thereby attracting attention to several alternative therapies, including immunobiotics, to cope with the problem. This review, based on articles, patents, and an in silico analysis, aims to address our present knowledge of the COVID-19 disease, its symptomatology, and the possible beneficial effects for patients if probiotics with the characteristics of immunobiotics are used to confront this disease. Moreover, two probiotic strains, L. fermentum UCO-979C and L. rhamnosus UCO-25A, with different effects demonstrated at our laboratory, are emphasized. The point of view of this review highlights the possible benefits of probiotics, particularly those associated with immunomodulation as well as the production of secondary metabolites, and their potential targets during SARS-CoV-2 infection.
Peptidomics as a Tool to Assess the Cleavage of Wine Haze Proteins by Peptidases from Drosophila suzukii Larvae
Authors: Albuquerque Wendell , Ghezellou Parviz , Lee Kwang-Zin , Schneider Quintus , Gross Phillip , Kessel Tobias , Omokungbe Bodunrin , Spengler Bernhard , Vilcinskas Andreas , Zorn Holger , Gand Martin
Published: February 2023

Thermolabile grape berry proteins such as thaumatin-like proteins (TLPs) and chitinases (CHIs) promote haze formation in bottled wines if not properly fined. As a natural grapevine pest, the spotted-wing fly Drosophila suzukii is a promising source of peptidases that break down grape berry proteins because the larvae develop and feed inside mature berries. Therefore, we produced recombinant TLP and CHI as model thermolabile wine haze proteins and applied a peptidomics strategy to investigate whether D. suzukii larval peptidases were able to digest them under acidic conditions (pH 3.5), which are typically found in winemaking practices. The activity of the novel peptidases was confirmed by mass spectrometry, and cleavage sites within the wine haze proteins were visualized in 3D protein models. The combination of recombinant haze proteins and peptidomics provides a valuable screening tool to identify optimal peptidases suitable for clarification processes in the winemaking industry.
Computational and Preclinical Analysis of 2-(4-Methyl)benzylidene-4,7-dimethyl Indan-1-one (IPX-18): A Novel Arylidene Indanone Small Molecule with Anti-Inflammatory Activity via NF-κB and Nrf2 Signaling
Authors: Gahtani Reem M. , Shaikh Ahmad , Kamli Hossam
Published: February 2023

Background: The adverse effects of anti-inflammatory drugs urges the search for new anti-inflammatory agents. This study aims at the preclinical analysis of the in-house synthesized small molecule IPX-18. Human whole blood (HWB), peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs), and neutrophils were used. Rat basophil cells (RBL-2H3) were used to assess degranulation. Binding stability to NF-κB-p50 was predicted using computational docking and molecular dynamic simulations. Essential signaling proteins were evaluated through flow cytometry. Results: IPX-18 inhibited the release of TNF-α with an IC50 value of 298.8 nM and 96.29 nM in the HWB and PBMCs, respectively. The compound depicted an IC50 value of 217.6 nM in the HWB and of 103.7 nM in the PBMCs for IFN-γ inhibition. IL-2 release and IL-8 release were inhibited by IPX-18 in the HWB and PBMCs. The compound controlled the migration of and the elastase in the activated neutrophils. The IC50 value for basophil activation through the FcεRI receptor assay was found to be 91.63 nM. IPX-18 inhibited RBL-2H3-degranulation with an IC50 value of 98.52 nM. The computational docking analysis predicted that IPX-18 would effectively bind NF-κB-p50. NF-κB-phosphorylation in the activated RBL-2H3 cells was decreased, and the levels of nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) were increased with IPX-18 treatment. Conclusions: IPX-18 demonstrated efficacy in mediating the effector cells’ inflammatory responses through NF-κB/Nrf2 signaling.
Long-Term Tamoxifen Effects in the Cyclic Interaction of the Endocannabinoid and Endocrine System in the Rat Central Nervous System
Authors: Fonseca Bruno M. , Bhowmick Niloy , Cunha Sara , Maia João , Correia-da-Silva Georgina , Teixeira Natércia , Sá Susana I.
Published: February 2023

Steroid hormones can modulate the endocannabinoid system (ECS). Within the female reproductive tract, estrogen increases the expression of the cannabinoid receptors CB1 and CB2, and modifies the levels of anandamide (AEA), the major endocannabinoid, by altering the expression of both AEA synthesis (NAPE-PLD) and catabolic enzymes (FAAH). Here, we addressed the mechanisms involved in ECS fluctuations within the central nervous system and evaluated the effects of tamoxifen (TAM), a selective estrogen receptor modulator, in central AEA regulation. The current results suggest that the hypothalamic and pituitary AEA levels change differently according to the brain area and phase of the estrous cycle. In TAM-treated rats, there is a disruption of the cyclic fluctuation and reduction of the AEA levels in all brain areas. In the pituitary gland, NAPE-PLD expression increases in the metestrus phase, whereas throughout the rat cycle their expression remained constant, even upon TAM treatment. The fluctuations of pituitary AEA levels result from altered FAAH and NAPE-LPD expression. In contrast, no differences in FAAH or NAPE-PLD hypothalamic expression were observed. Overall, this study presents a broad view of the distribution and expression of ECS elements in the central nervous system and a way to suggest possible brain areas involved in the interaction of the endocannabinoid and neuroendocrine systems to induce several behavioral responses.
Extracellular Vesicles, Cell-Penetrating Peptides and miRNAs as Future Novel Therapeutic Interventions for Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Keighron Cameron Noah , Avazzadeh Sahar , Goljanek-Whysall Katarzyna , McDonagh Brian , Howard Linda , Ritter Thomas , Quinlan Leo R.
Published: February 2023

Neurodegeneration is hallmarked by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons and/or a significant increase in protein aggregates in the brain. Neurodegenerative diseases are a leading cause of death worldwide with over 15 million people currently suffering from either Parkinson’s disease (PD) or Alzheimer’s disease (AD). PD is often characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms, including muscle rigidity, tremors and bradykinesia, with AD displaying symptoms of confusion and dementia. The current mainstay of therapeutics includes pharmacological approaches such as levodopa to replace dopamine in PD patients, deep brain stimulation in affected regions of the brain and physical therapy. However, these treatments are typically not disease-modifying, though they do help at least for some time with symptom management. These treatments often also fail due to their inability to cross the blood–brain barrier. There is a need to develop new strategies to target neurodegeneration in an ever-ageing population. First, we review the current PD and AD treatments and their limitations. Second, we review the current use of extracellular vesicles (EVs), cell-penetrating peptides (CPPs) and miRNAs as neuroprotective agents. Finally, we discuss the possibility of exploiting these as a combinatory therapeutic, alongside some potential drawbacks.