bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Interactions between Intestinal Homeostasis and NAD+ Biology in Regulating Incretin Production and Postprandial Glucose Metabolism
Authors: Nagahisa Taichi , Kosugi Shotaro , Yamaguchi Shintaro
Published: March 2023

The intestine has garnered attention as a target organ for developing new therapies for impaired glucose tolerance. The intestine, which produces incretin hormones, is the central regulator of glucose metabolism. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) production, which determines postprandial glucose levels, is regulated by intestinal homeostasis. Nicotinamide phosphoribosyltransferase (NAMPT)-mediated nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) biosynthesis in major metabolic organs such as the liver, adipose tissue, and skeletal muscle plays a crucial role in obesity- and aging-associated organ derangements. Furthermore, NAMPT-mediated NAD+ biosynthesis in the intestines and its upstream and downstream mediators, adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase (AMPK) and NAD+-dependent deacetylase sirtuins (SIRTs), respectively, are critical for intestinal homeostasis, including gut microbiota composition and bile acid metabolism, and GLP-1 production. Thus, boosting the intestinal AMPK–NAMPT–NAD+–SIRT pathway to improve intestinal homeostasis, GLP-1 production, and postprandial glucose metabolism has gained significant attention as a novel strategy to improve impaired glucose tolerance. Herein, we aimed to review in detail the regulatory mechanisms and importance of intestinal NAMPT-mediated NAD+ biosynthesis in regulating intestinal homeostasis and GLP-1 secretion in obesity and aging. Furthermore, dietary and molecular factors regulating intestinal NAMPT-mediated NAD+ biosynthesis were critically explored to facilitate the development of new therapeutic strategies for postprandial glucose dysregulation.
The Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis: Psychoneuroimmunological Insights
Authors: Marano Giuseppe , Mazza Marianna , Lisci Francesco Maria , Ciliberto Michele , Traversi Gianandrea , Kotzalidis Georgios Demetrios , De Berardis Domenico , Laterza Lucrezia , Sani Gabriele , Gasbarrini Antonio , Gaetani Eleonora
Published: March 2023

There is growing interest in the role that the intestinal microbiota and the related autoimmune processes may have in the genesis and presentation of some psychiatric diseases. An alteration in the communication of the microbiota–gut–brain axis, which constitutes a communicative model between the central nervous system (CNS) and the gastro-enteric tract, has been identified as one of the possible causes of some psychiatric diseases. The purpose of this narrative review is to describe evidence supporting a role of the gut microbiota in psychiatric diseases and the impact of diet on microbiota and mental health. Change in the composition of the gut microbiota could determine an increase in the permeability of the intestinal barrier, leading to a cytokine storm. This could trigger a systemic inflammatory activation and immune response: this series of events could have repercussions on the release of some neurotransmitters, altering the activity of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, and reducing the presence of trophic brain factors. Although gut microbiota and psychiatric disorders seem to be connected, more effort is needed to understand the potential causative mechanisms underlying the interactions between these systems.
Special Issue: The Impact of Early Life Nutrition on Gut Maturation and Later Life Gut Health
Authors: Pieri Myrtani , Nicolaidou Vicky , Papaneophytou Christos
Published: March 2023

Nutrition during early life plays a crucial role in determining a child’s long-term health [...]
The Association between Advanced Liver Fibrosis and Mortality Is Modified by Dietary Quality among Korean Adults: Results from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey with Mortality Data
Authors: Lee Juhee , Jo Garam , Park Dahyun , Jun Hee Ju , Bae Jae Hyun , Shin Min-Jeong
Published: March 2023

Advanced fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is associated with an increased risk of mortality; however, an independent association of liver fibrosis with mortality is not well defined. We aimed to investigate the association between advanced liver fibrosis and all-cause and cardiovascular mortality and the mediation effect of diet quality. We analyzed 35,531 participants with suspected NAFLD, excluding competing etiologies of chronic liver disease, from the Korea National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 2007–2015, and followed up until 31 December 2019. The severity of liver fibrosis was assessed using the NAFLD fibrosis score (NFS) and the fibrosis-4 index (FIB-4). The Cox proportional hazards model was used to examine the association of advanced liver fibrosis with mortality. During a mean 8.1 years of follow-up, 3426 deaths occurred. Advanced liver fibrosis determined by NFS and FIB-4 was associated with increased risks of all-cause and cardiovascular mortality after adjusting for confounders. When NFS and FIB-4 were combined, the high NFS + high FIB-4 group was significantly associated with higher risks of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.85, 95% CI 1.42–2.43) and cardiovascular mortality (HR 2.04, 95% CI 1.23–3.39), respectively, compared with the low NFS + low FIB-4 group. However, these associations were attenuated in people with high diet quality. Advanced liver fibrosis is an independent risk factor for all-cause and cardiovascular mortality in people with NAFLD, and the association between advanced liver fibrosis and mortality is modified by a high-quality diet.
Associations between Body Mass Index and Probable Sarcopenia in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: Curtis Molly , Swan Lauren , Fox Rebecca , Warters Austin , O’Sullivan Maria
Published: March 2023

(1) Background/Objectives: The relationship between body mass index (BMI) and probable sarcopenia, a precursor to sarcopenia diagnosis, is unclear. While low BMI has been associated with sarcopenia risk, some evidence suggests that obesity may confer protection. We aimed to investigate the association between probable sarcopenia and BMI and, furthermore, to explore associations with waist circumference (WC). (2) Methods: This cross-sectional study included 5783 community-dwelling adults (mean age 70.4 ± 7.5 years) from Wave 6 of the English Longitudinal Study of Ageing (ELSA). Probable sarcopenia was defined using the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2) criteria for low hand grip strength and/or slow chair rise. Associations between BMI and probable sarcopenia were examined using multivariable regression analysis and were similarly performed for WC. (3) Results: Our overall findings show that an underweight BMI was significantly associated with an increased likelihood of probable sarcopenia [OR (CI) 2.25 (1.17, 4.33), p = 0.015]. For higher BMI categories, the findings were conflicting. Overweight and obesity were associated with an increased likelihood of probable sarcopenia when defined by lower limb strength alone, [OR (CI), 2.32 (1.15, 4.70), p = 0.019; 1.23 (1.02, 1.49), p = 0.35, and 1.49 (1.21, 1.83), p < 0.001, respectively]. In contrast, overweight and obesity appeared protective when probable sarcopenia was assessed by low hand grip strength alone [OR (CI) 0.72 (0.60, 0.88), p = 0.001, and 0.64 (0.52, 0.79), p < 0.001, respectively]. WC was not significantly associated with probable sarcopenia on multivariable regression analysis. (4) Conclusion: This study supports the evidence that low BMI is associated with an increased likelihood of probable sarcopenia, highlighting an important at-risk group. The findings for overweight and obesity were inconsistent and may be measurement dependent. It seems prudent that all older adults at risk of probable sarcopenia, including those with overweight/obesity, are assessed to prevent underdetection of probable sarcopenia alone or with the double burden of obesity.
Alternative Protein Sources and Novel Foods: Benefits, Food Applications and Safety Issues
Authors: Quintieri Laura , Nitride Chiara , De Angelis Elisabetta , Lamonaca Antonella , Pilolli Rosa , Russo Francesco , Monaci Linda
Published: March 2023

The increasing size of the human population and the shortage of highly valuable proteinaceous ingredients has prompted the international community to scout for new, sustainable, and natural protein resources from invertebrates (e.g., insects) and underutilized legume crops, unexploited terrestrial and aquatic weeds, and fungi. Insect proteins are known for their nutritional value, being rich in proteins with a good balance of essential amino acids and being a valuable source of essential fatty acids and trace elements. Unconventional legume crops were found rich in nutritional, phytochemical, and therapeutic properties, showing excellent abilities to survive extreme environmental conditions. This review evaluates the recent state of underutilized legume crops, aquatic weeds, fungi, and insects intended as alternative protein sources, from ingredient production to their incorporation in food products, including their food formulations and the functional characteristics of alternative plant-based proteins and edible insect proteins as novel foods. Emphasis is also placed on safety issues due to the presence of anti-nutritional factors and allergenic proteins in insects and/or underutilized legumes. The functional and biological activities of protein hydrolysates from different protein sources are reviewed, along with bioactive peptides displaying antihypertensive, antioxidant, antidiabetic, and/or antimicrobial activity. Due to the healthy properties of these foods for the high abundance of bioactive peptides and phytochemicals, more consumers are expected to turn to vegetarianism or veganism in the future, and the increasing demand for such products will be a challenge for the future.
What Makes Bangladeshi Pregnant Women More Compliant to Iron–Folic Acid Supplementation: A Nationally Representative Cross-Sectional Survey Result
Authors: Sanin Kazi Istiaque , Alam Shaun Mahbubul , Rita Razia Sultana , Hasan Md. Khaledul , Khanam Mansura , Haque Md. Ahshanul
Published: March 2023

Background: Iron–Folic Acid Supplementation (IFAS) is an effective strategy to prevent iron deficiency anemia during pregnancy. We aimed to explore the key factors associated with compliance to IFA tablets in Bangladesh. Methods: This study analyzed the 2017–2018 Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey data of 3828 pregnant women aged 15–49 years. We categorized compliance into two categories; at least 90 days and full 180 days of consumption. We performed multivariable logistic regression to identify the association between key factors and IFAS compliance. Results: The prevalence of consumption of IFA tablets for at least 90 days was 60.64%, and only 21.72% of women consumed the IFA for the full 180 days. About three-quarters of the women (73.36%) having at least four antenatal care visits (ANC) consumed IFA for at least 90 days, whereas only three in ten women (30.37%) consumed IFA for a minimum of 180 days. For compliance with IFA for at least 90 days, respondent’s age of 20–34 years (aOR 1.26, 95% CI 1.03–1.54), respondent’s educational qualification of secondary (aOR 1.77, 95% CI 1.16–2.70) or higher (aOR 2.73, 95% CI 1.65–4.53), husband’s educational qualification of secondary (aOR 1.33, 95% CI 1.00–1.77) or higher (aOR 1.75, 95% CI 1.22–2.52), and having received at least four antenatal care (ANC) visits from medically skilled providers (aOR 2.53, 95% CI 2.14–3.00) were significantly associated with higher odds of compliance. For compliance with IFA for at least 180 days, respondent’s educational qualification of higher (aOR 2.45, 95% CI 1.34–4.48), and having received at least four ANC visits from medically skilled providers (aOR 2.43, 95% CI 1.97–3.00) were significantly associated with higher odds of compliance. Intimate partner violence was negatively associated with compliance with IFA for at least 180 days (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.48–0.81). Conclusions: The full compliance to IFAS is still sub-optimal in Bangladesh. Further precise context-specific intervention strategies must be developed and implemented with fidelity.
Microbiology of Maxillary Sinus Infections: Systematic Review on the Relationship of Infectious Sinus Pathology with Oral Pathology
Authors: Areizaga-Madina María , Pardal-Peláez Beatriz , Montero Javier
Published: March 2023

The main objective of this systematic review was to evaluate the microbiology of maxillary sinus infections and to determine whether an odontogenic origin of the infection can be established. The PIE question posed was the following: In patients with sinus and dental symptomatology who come for ENT or dental assessment and who undergo a microbiological study of the maxillary sinus and are found to have infectious sinus pathology, is the infectious sinus pathology related to an odontogenic origin? The literature review was carried out in PubMed, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. A total of 2769 articles were identified in the three databases used. Inclusion and exclusion criteria were applied, and after eliminating duplicates, 55 full-text publications were identified as suitable for inclusion. After reading this series of publications, four articles were excluded due to lack of data in the article. Finally, 51 studies were included in the qualitative analysis. In this study, the microorganisms were classified into three groups: group 1 (microorganisms of the oral microbiome related in the literature to oral pathology, namely caries and periodontal disease), group 2 (microorganisms found in the oral microbiome but not related to oral disease), and group 3 (microorganisms not identified in the microbiome). This review included 51 articles and a total of 6415 patients who underwent surgery in 7051 sinuses. Most sinus infections were caused by group 2 (63.51%) or group 1 (24.21%) bacteria. Within group 1, the most frequent bacteriological agents in sinus infections were Peptostreptococcus spp. (35.22%) and St. Viridans spp. (39.89%). In group 2, the most frequent bacteriological agents in sinus infections were H. influenzae (29%) and Streptococcus spp. (23.63%). In group 3, the most frequent cause of sinusitis of dental origin was dental caries, followed by foreign bodies (implants) and sinus elevation. Different studies have shown that certain species of bacteria isolated from maxillary sinus cultures are more frequently associated with rhinosinusitis of odontogenic origin. The results of this systemic review show that, among the bacterial species most frequently found, anaerobic species predominate over aerobic species, especially Peptostreptococcus and Staphylococcus aureus, which are part of the oral microbiome, suggesting an odontogenic origin of maxillary sinus infection. Therefore, bacterial cultures of maxillary sinus aspirate can be of great use to clinicians in the differential diagnosis of odontogenic sinusitis.
Persistence of Tembusu Virus in Culex tritaeniorhynchus in Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Hu Danhe , Wu Chao , Wang Ruichen , Yao Xiaohui , Nie Kai , Lv Quan , Fu Shihong , Yin Qikai , Su Wenzhe , Li Fan , Xu Songtao , He Ying , Liang Guodong , Li Xiangdong , Wang Huanyu
Published: March 2023

The Tembusu virus (TMUV), a member of the Flaviviridae family, can be transmitted via mosquitoes and cause poultry disease. In 2020, a strain of TMUV (YN2020-20) was isolated from mosquito samples collected in Yunnan province, China. In vitro experiments showed that TMUV-YN2020-20 produced a significant cytopathic effect (CPE) in BHK, DF-1, and VERO cells, while the CPE in C6/36 cells was not significant. Phylogenetic analysis revealed that the strain belonged to Cluster 3.2 and was closely related to the Yunnan mosquito-derived isolates obtained in 2012 and the Shandong avian-derived isolate obtained in 2014. Notably, TMUV-YN2020-20 developed five novel mutations (E-V358I, NS1-Y/F/I113L, NS4A-T/A89V, NS4B-D/E/N/C22S, and NS5-E638G) at loci that were relatively conserved previously. The results of this study demonstrate the continuous circulation and unique evolution of TMUV in mosquitoes in Yunnan province and suggest that appropriate surveillance should be taken.
Understanding the Mechanisms and Treatment of Heart Failure: Quantitative Systems Pharmacology Models with a Focus on SGLT2 Inhibitors and Sex-Specific Differences
Authors: Ndiaye Jean François , Nekka Fahima , Craig Morgan
Published: March 2023

Heart failure (HF), which is a major clinical and public health challenge, commonly develops when the myocardial muscle is unable to pump an adequate amount of blood at typical cardiac pressures to fulfill the body’s metabolic needs, and compensatory mechanisms are compromised or fail to adjust. Treatments consist of targeting the maladaptive response of the neurohormonal system, thereby decreasing symptoms by relieving congestion. Sodium–glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors, which are a recent antihyperglycemic drug, have been found to significantly improve HF complications and mortality. They act through many pleiotropic effects, and show better improvements compared to others existing pharmacological therapies. Mathematical modeling is a tool used to describe the pathophysiological processes of the disease, quantify clinically relevant outcomes in response to therapies, and provide a predictive framework to improve therapeutic scheduling and strategies. In this review, we describe the pathophysiology of HF, its treatment, and how an integrated mathematical model of the cardiorenal system was built to capture body fluid and solute homeostasis. We also provide insights into sex-specific differences between males and females, thereby encouraging the development of more effective sex-based therapies in the case of heart failure.
Derivatives of Amaryllidaceae Alkaloid Ambelline as Selective Inhibitors of Hepatic Stage of Plasmodium berghei Infection In Vitro
Authors: Breiterová Kateřina Hradiská , Ritomská Aneta , Fontinha Diana , Křoustková Jana , Suchánková Daniela , Hošťálková Anna , Šafratová Marcela , Kohelová Eliška , Peřinová Rozálie , Vrabec Rudolf , Francisco Denise , Prudêncio Miguel , Cahlíková Lucie
Published: March 2023

The incidence rate of malaria and the ensuing mortality prompts the development of novel antimalarial drugs. In this work, the activity of twenty-eight Amaryllidaceae alkaloids (1–28) belonging to seven different structural types was assessed, as well as twenty semisynthetic derivatives of the β-crinane alkaloid ambelline (28a–28t) and eleven derivatives of the α-crinane alkaloid haemanthamine (29a–29k) against the hepatic stage of Plasmodium infection. Six of these derivatives (28h, 28m, 28n and 28r–28t) were newly synthesized and structurally identified. The most active compounds, 11-O-(3,5-dimethoxybenzoyl)ambelline (28m) and 11-O-(3,4,5-trimethoxybenzoyl)ambelline (28n), displayed IC50 values in the nanomolar range of 48 and 47 nM, respectively. Strikingly, the derivatives of haemanthamine (29) with analogous substituents did not display any significant activity, even though their structures are quite similar. Interestingly, all active derivatives were strictly selective against the hepatic stage of infection, as they did not demonstrate any activity against the blood stage of Plasmodium infection. As the hepatic stage is a bottleneck of the plasmodial infection, liver-selective compounds can be considered crucial for further development of the malaria prophylactics.
A Novel α-BaTeMo2O9 Acousto-Optic Switch for Generating Stable 639 nm Pulsed Laser
Authors: Zhang Ke , Guo Feifei , Jin Yicheng , Li Kuan , Meng Lihua , Wang Peifu , Liu Shande , Gao Zeliang , Tao Xutang
Published: March 2023

In this paper, an acousto-optic (AO) Q-switch based on α-BaTeMo2O9 (α-BTM) crystal is designed and further applied to generate a laser pulse at 639 nm for the first time. The α-BTM AO Q-switch demonstrates a large diffraction angle of 0.93° and a high diffraction efficiency of 85% at 639 nm. In the experiment, a maximum AO Q-switched output power of 362 mW is achieved at a repetition rate of 30 kHz, under a maximum absorbed pump power of 3.60 W, corresponding to a slope efficiency of 15.2%. With transmittance of T = 3%, the shortest Q-switching pulse width of 54.7 ns is generated at a repetition rate of 1 kHz. Meanwhile, the beam quality factor M2 of the above laser is measured, presenting the magnitude of 1.14 at both x and y directions. Our findings indicate that α-BTM AO Q-switch could act as an excellent switching device at 639 nm which may help to explore potential applications in the visible field.
Simulation and Design of a PIC-Based Heterodyne Optical Phase Locked Loop
Authors: Yang Xiu , Luo Chanchan , Zhang Ben , Qiu Bocang , Zhang Ruiying
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we report on our simulation and design of a photonic integrated circuits (PIC)-based heterodyne optical phase-locked loop (OPLL). Our simulation reveals that the OPLL operation can be in one of three states, i.e., absolutely stable, metastable, and unstable states, depending on the relative position of the initial phase reversal point to the loop bandwidth. By systematically optimizing all of the loop parameters involved, the loop bandwidth of 247.8 MHz and the residual phase noise variance of 0.012 rad2 are theoretically obtained in such a PIC-OPLL system, which are better than any reported counterparts. In addition, the lowest required power of the master laser is also evaluated, assuming that the largest acceptable residual phase noise variance is 0.02 rad2, and it is found that the lowest master laser power is −54 dBm in our current OPLL system, and this value can be reduced to −56 dBm, providing that the summed linewidth is reduced to 10 kHz.
Pyramiding of Multiple Genes to Improve Rice Blast Resistance of Photo-Thermo Sensitive Male Sterile Line, without Yield Penalty in Hybrid Rice Production
Authors: Peng Pei , Jiang Haoyu , Luo Lihua , Ye Changrong , Xiao Yinghui
Published: March 2023

Rice blast caused by pathogenic fungus Magnaporthe oryzae is one of the most serious diseases in rice. The pyramiding of effective resistance genes into rice varieties is a potential approach to reduce the damage of blast disease. In this study, combinations of three resistance genes, Pigm, Pi48 and Pi49, were introduced into a thermo-sensitive genic male sterile (PTGMS) line Chuang5S through marker-assisted selection. The results showed that the blast resistance of improved lines increased significantly compared with Chuang5S, and the three gene pyramiding lines (Pigm + Pi48 + Pi49) had higher rice blast resistance level than monogenic line and digenic lines (Pigm +Pi48, Pigm + Pi49). The genetic backgrounds of the improved lines were highly similar (>90%) to the recurrent parent Chuang5S by using the RICE10K SNP chip. In addition, agronomic traits evaluation also showed pyramiding lines with two or three genes similar to Chuang5S. The yields of the hybrids developed from improved PTGMS lines and Chuang5S are not significantly different. The newly developed PTGMS lines can be practically used for the breeding of parental lines and hybrid varieties with broad spectrum blast resistance.
Photocured Poly(Mannitol Sebacate) with Functional Methacrylic Monomer: Analysis of Physical, Chemical, and Biological Properties
Authors: Hevilla Víctor , Sonseca Águeda , Echeverría Coro , Muñoz-Bonilla Alexandra , Fernández-García Marta
Published: March 2023

In this work, we described the formation of polymeric networks with potential antimicrobial character based on an acrylate oligomer, poly(mannitol sebacate) (PMS), and an enzymatically synthesized methacrylic monomer with thiazole groups (MTA). Networks with different content of MTA were prepared, and further physico-chemically characterized by microhardness, water contact angle measurements, and differential scanning calorimetry. Monomer incorporation into the networks and subsequent quaternization to provide thiazolium moieties affected the mechanical behavior and the surface wettability of the networks. Moreover, the introduction of permanent cationic charges in the network surface could give antimicrobial activity to them. Therefore, the antibacterial behavior and the hemotoxicity were analyzed against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria and red blood cells, respectively.
Agrivoltaic, a Synergistic Co-Location of Agricultural and Energy Production in Perpetual Mutation: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sarr Aminata , Soro Y. M. , Tossa Alain K. , Diop Lamine
Published: March 2023

Agrivoltaic systems, which consist of the combination of energy production by means of photovoltaic systems and agricultural production in the same area, have emerged as a promising solution to the constraints related to the reduction in cultivated areas due to solar panels used in agricultural production systems. They also enable optimization of land use and reduction in conflicts over land access, in order to meet the increasing demand for agricultural products and energy resulting from rapid population growth. However, the selected installation configurations, such as elevation, spacing, tilt, and choice of panel technology used, can have a negative impact on agricultural and/or energy production. Thus, this paper addresses the need for a review that provides a clear explanation of agrivoltaics, including the factors that impact agricultural and energy production in agrivoltaic systems, types of panel configurations and technologies to optimize these systems, and a synthesis of modelling studies which have already been conducted in this area. Several studies have been carried out in this field to find the appropriate mounting height and spacing of the solar panels that optimize crop yields, as this later can be reduced by the shade created with the solar panels on the plants. It was reported that yields have been reduced by 62% to 3% for more than 80% of the tested crops. To this end, an optimization model can be developed to determine the optimal elevation, spacing, and tilt angle of the solar panels. This model would take into account factors that influence crop growth and yield, as well as factors that affect the performance of the photovoltaic system, with the goal of maximizing both crop yield and energy production.
Modeling of a Wind Power System Using the Genetic Algorithm Based on a Doubly Fed Induction Generator for the Supply of Power to the Electrical Grid
Authors: Guediri Abdelkarim , Hettiri Messaoud , Guediri Abdelhafid
Published: March 2023

This paper is interested in studying a system consisting of a wind turbine operating at variable wind speeds, and a two-feed asynchronous machine (DFIG) connected to the grid by a stator and fed by a transducer at the side of the rotor. The conductors are separately controlled for active and reactive power flow between the stator (DFIG) and the grid. The proposed controllers generate reference voltages for the rotor to ensure that the active and reactive power reaches the required reference values, to ensure effective tracking of the optimum operating point and to obtain the maximum electrical power output. Dynamic analysis of the system is performed under variable wind speeds. This analysis is based on active and reactive energy control. The new work in this paper is to introduce theories of genetic algorithms into the control strategy used in the switching chain of wind turbines in order to improve performance and efficiency. Simulation results applied to genetic algorithms give greater efficiency, impressive results, and stability to wind turbine systems are compared to classic PI regulators. Then, artificial intelligent controls, such as genetic algorithms control, are applied. Results obtained in the Matlab/Simulink environment show the efficiency of this proposed unit.
The Paradox of Nuclear Power Plants (NPPs) between High-Efficiency Energy and Waste Management Concerns in the Context of Disasters Worldwide
Authors: Naghi Laura Elly , Păvălașcu Narcis Sebastian , Gabor Manuela Rozalia
Published: March 2023

With the uncertainty concerning the future use of natural resources due to depletion and lack of access caused by the pandemic and recent political events that led to increased prices, nuclear energy may become an alternative efficient energy. NPPs raise serious concerns, including waste management, and any case of an NPP accident has the potential to disrupt the positive impact of energy production in terms of circular economies. Our research analyzed the impact of nuclear incidents as examples of disasters worldwide to decide whether any of the different forms of insurance coverage could be useful in future events. By using 2533 historical records of incidents from 1901 to June 2022, we set out to find the best predictor of damage causes and further observe whether the validation of current forms of insurance may be possible. The disaster subtype and declaration represent the best predictor of the total damage value (adjusted or not) for all types of disasters, including nuclear. The results are important inputs for underwriters working in insurance, including in radioactive waste management, which must consider historical data in order to tailor future contracts, adjusting the cost and coverage to the type of disaster. Our results highlight that with an increase of only one event involving a nuclear source, the total adjusted damages will increase by USD 1,821,087.09 thousand, representing 75% of the damage costs of the rest of the disaster subtypes. The results are useful for public entities to evaluate nuclear energy as a new solution and can help further adapt existing policies to include better responses for waste prevention, reuse and recycling.
Evaluation Techniques for Shale Oil Lithology and Mineral Composition Based on Principal Component Analysis Optimized Clustering Algorithm
Authors: Cai Wenyuan , Deng Rui , Gao Chengquan , Wang Yingjie , Ning Weidong , Shu Boyu , Chen Zhanglong
Published: March 2023

Shale oil reservoirs are characterized by complex lithology, complex mineral composition and strong heterogeneity. This causes great difficulty in lithologic evaluation. In this paper, a method of lithology identification is proposed by means of intersection plot method and machine learning method, and lithology evaluation is carried out by combining the calculation of mineral content with a multi-mineral optimization model. The logging response characteristics of five lithologies are analyzed by using the logging curves selected by principal component analysis (PCA) discriminant analysis. In lithology identification, the system clustering algorithm is selected to identify shale oil reservoir lithology through layer-by-layer subdivision of sample lithology classification. Logging data has high vertical resolution and good continuity, and mineral prediction using logging data can ensure high accuracy. In this paper, the method of calculating mineral content by using multi-mineral optimization model has achieved good results in practice.
Neural Network Modulation of Ayahuasca: A Systematic Review of Human Studies
Authors: Santos Guilherme Henrique de Morais , Rodrigues Lucas Silva , Rocha Juliana Mendes , Rossi Giordano Novak , Ona Genís , Bouso José Carlos , Hallak Jaime Eduardo Cecilio , dos Santos Rafael Guimarães
Published: March 2023

Background: Ayahuasca is a serotoninergic hallucinogen that plays a central role in the Amazonian traditional medicine. Its psychoactive effects are associated with the presence of N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), and monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAO-A). Advances in neuroimaging investigations have provided insight into ayahuasca’s neurobiological mechanisms of action. Methods: Selecting only studies with neuroimaging results related to human ayahuasca consumption, we included six articles from a previous systematic review of serotoninergic hallucinogen neuroimaging studies up to 2016. Furthermore, we updated the data with a new systematic search from 2016 to 2022. We searched the PubMed, SciELO, and LILACS databases using the search terms “(ayahuasca OR DMT) AND (MRI OR fMRI OR PET OR SPECT OR imaging OR neuroimaging)”. Results: Our updated search provided five new articles for a total of 11 included in this review. The results on the Default Mode Network (DMN) are evident and may indicate a path to short term neuromodulation. Acutely, local neural networks appeared to become expanded, while overall brain connectivity declined. On chronic consumers, anatomical changes were reported, most notably related to cingulate cortex. Conclusion: Ayahuasca seems to change acute brain connectivity similarly to other psychedelics. The results are preliminary and further studies are warranted.
A Model for Risk Adjustment (IFRS 17) for Surrender Risk in Life Insurance
Authors: Carlehed Magnus
Published: March 2023

We propose a model for risk adjustment, in the context of IFRS 17, for surrender risk. Surrender rates are assumed to follow a stochastic process, underpinned by data. The distribution of the present value of future individual cash flows is calculated. Using well-known techniques from the theory of convex ordering of stochastic variables, we present closed formula approximations of risk measures, such as quantiles, for the total portfolio. These formulas are easy to program and enable an insurance company to calculate its risk adjustment without time-consuming simulations.
Hyperspectral Anomaly Detection Based on Regularized Background Abundance Tensor Decomposition
Authors: Shang Wenting , Jouni Mohamad , Wu Zebin , Xu Yang , Dalla Mura Mauro , Wei Zhihui
Published: March 2023

The low spatial resolution of hyperspectral images means that existing mixed pixels rely heavily on spectral information, making it difficult to differentiate between the target of interest and the background. The endmember extraction method is powerful in enhancing spatial structure information for hyperspectral anomaly detection, whereas most approaches are based on matrix representation, which inevitably destroys the spatial or spectral information. In this paper, we treated the hyperspectral image as a third-order tensor and proposed a novel anomaly detection method based on a low-rank linear mixing model of the scene background. The obtained abundance maps possessed more distinctive features than the raw data, which was beneficial for identifying anomalies in the background. Specifically, the low-rank tensor background was approximated as the mode-3 product of an abundance tensor and endmember matrix. Due to the distinctive features of the background’s abundance maps, we characterized them by tensor regularization and imposed low rankness through CP decomposition, smoothness, and sparsity. In addition, we utilized the ℓ1,1,2-norm to characterize the tube-wise sparsity of the anomaly, since it accounted for a small portion of the scene. The experimental results obtained using five real datasets demonstrated the outstanding performance of our proposed method.
TPH-YOLOv5++: Boosting Object Detection on Drone-Captured Scenarios with Cross-Layer Asymmetric Transformer
Authors: Zhao Qi , Liu Binghao , Lyu Shuchang , Wang Chunlei , Zhang Hong
Published: March 2023

Object detection in drone-captured images is a popular task in recent years. As drones always navigate at different altitudes, the object scale varies considerably, which burdens the optimization of models. Moreover, high-speed and low-altitude flight cause motion blur on densely packed objects, which leads to great challenges. To solve the two issues mentioned above, based on YOLOv5, we add an additional prediction head to detect tiny-scale objects and replace CNN-based prediction heads with transformer prediction heads (TPH), constructing the TPH-YOLOv5 model. TPH-YOLOv5++ is proposed to significantly reduce the computational cost and improve the detection speed of TPH-YOLOv5. In TPH-YOLOv5++, cross-layer asymmetric transformer (CA-Trans) is designed to replace the additional prediction head while maintain the knowledge of this head. By using a sparse local attention (SLA) module, the asymmetric information between the additional head and other heads can be captured efficiently, enriching the features of other heads. In the VisDrone Challenge 2021, TPH-YOLOv5 won 4th place and achieved well-matched results with the 1st place model (AP 39.43%). Based on the TPH-YOLOv5 and CA-Trans module, TPH-YOLOv5++ can further increase efficiency while achieving comparable and better results.
Analysis of Intentional Electromagnetic Interference on GENEC Model Using Cylindrical Mode Matching
Authors: Kang Wonjune , Kang No-Weon , Lee Woosang , Cheon Changyul , Chung Young-Seek
Published: March 2023

In recent times, due to the high operating frequency and low operating voltage of modern electronic devices, intended electromagnetic interference (IEMI) has been the cause of increasing damage. In particular, targets with precision electronics such as aircrafts or missiles have shown that a high-power microwave (HPM) may cause malfunction or partial destruction of the GPS or the avionic control system. Analysis of the effects of IEMI requires electromagnetic numerical analyses. However, there are limitations to conventional numerical techniques, such as the finite element method, method of moment, or finite difference time domain method, due to the complexity and large electrical length of a real target system. In this paper, we proposed a new cylindrical mode matching (CMM) technique to analyze IEMI of the generic missile (GENEC) model, which is a hollow metal cylinder with multiple apertures. Using the CMM, we can quickly analyze the effect of the IEMI inside the GENEC model from 1.7 to 2.5 GHz. The results were compared with those of the measurements and, for verification, with the FEKO, a commercial software program developed by Altair Engineering, and showed good agreement. In this paper, the electro-optic (EO) probe was used to measure the electric field inside the GENEC model.
Visible-Image-Assisted Nonuniformity Correction of Infrared Images Using the GAN with SEBlock
Authors: Mou Xingang , Zhu Tailong , Zhou Xiao
Published: March 2023

Aiming at reducing image detail loss and edge blur in the existing nonuniformity correction (NUC) methods, a new visible-image-assisted NUC algorithm based on a dual-discriminator generative adversarial network (GAN) with SEBlock (VIA-NUC) is proposed. The algorithm uses the visible image as a reference for better uniformity. The generative model downsamples the infrared and visible images separately for multiscale feature extraction. Then, image reconstruction is achieved by decoding the infrared feature maps with the assistance of the visible features at the same scale. During decoding, SEBlock, a channel attention mechanism, and skip connection are used to ensure that more distinctive channel and spatial features are extracted from the visible features. Two discriminators based on vision transformer (Vit) and discrete wavelet transform (DWT) were designed, which perform global and local judgments on the generated image from the texture features and frequency domain features of the model, respectively. The results are then fed back to the generator for adversarial learning. This approach can effectively remove nonuniform noise while preserving the texture. The performance of the proposed method was validated using public datasets. The average structural similarity (SSIM) and average peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR) of the corrected images exceeded 0.97 and 37.11 dB, respectively. The experimental results show that the proposed method improves the metric evaluation by more than 3%.
A Review of Clothing Components in the Development of Wearable Textile Antennas: Design and Experimental Procedure
Authors: Tsolis Aris , Bakogianni Sofia , Angelaki Chrysanthi , Alexandridis Antonis A.
Published: March 2023

Wearable antenna systems have attracted significant research efforts during the last decade and a rich pool of review papers can be found in the literature. Each scientific work contributes to various fields of wearable technology focusing, mainly, on constructing materials, manufacturing techniques, targeting applications, and miniaturization methods. In this review paper, we examine the use of clothing components in wearable antenna technology. By the term “clothing components” (CC), dressmaking accessories/materials such as buttons, snap-on buttons, Velcro tapes, or zips are considered. In light of their utilization in the development of wearable antennas, the clothing components can play a triple role: (i) that of a clothing item, (ii) that of an antenna part or the main radiator, and (iii) that of an integration means of the antennas into clothes. One of their advantages is that they consist of conductive elements, integrated into the clothes, which can be effectively exploited as operating parts of wearable antennas. This review paper includes classification and description of the clothing components used so far in the development of wearable textile antennas with an emphasis on designs, applications and performance. Furthermore, a step-by-step design procedure for textile antennas that use clothing components as a functional part of their configuration is recorded, reviewed, and described in detail. The design procedure takes into account the detailed geometrical models required for the clothing components and the way they are embedded into the wearable antenna structure. In addition to the design procedure, aspects of experimental procedures (parameters, scenarios, and processes) that should be followed in wearable textile antennas with an emphasis on antennas that use clothing components (e.g., repeatability measurements) are presented. Finally, the potential of textile technology through the application of clothing components into wearable antennas is outlined.
2D/3D Wound Segmentation and Measurement Based on a Robot-Driven Reconstruction System
Authors: Filko Damir , Nyarko Emmanuel Karlo
Published: March 2023

Chronic wounds, are a worldwide health problem affecting populations and economies as a whole. With the increase in age-related diseases, obesity, and diabetes, the costs of chronic wound healing will further increase. Wound assessment should be fast and accurate in order to reduce possible complications and thus shorten the wound healing process. This paper describes an automatic wound segmentation based on a wound recording system built upon a 7-DoF robot arm with an attached RGB-D camera and high-precision 3D scanner. The developed system represents a novel combination of 2D and 3D segmentation, where the 2D segmentation is based on the MobileNetV2 classifier and the 3D component is based on the active contour model, which works on the 3D mesh to further refine the wound contour. The end output is the 3D model of only the wound surface without the surrounding healthy skin and geometric parameters in the form of perimeter, area, and volume.
Three Level Recognition Based on the Average of the Phase Differences in Physical Wireless Parameter Conversion Sensor Networks and Its Effect to Localization with RSSI
Authors: Ito Toshi , Oda Masafumi , Takyu Osamu , Ohta Mai , Fujii Takeo , Adachi Koichi
Published: March 2023

In recent years, there have been increased demands for aggregating sensor information from several sensors owing to the spread of the Internet of Things (IoT). However, packet communication, which is a conventional multiple-access technology, is hindered by packet collisions owing to simultaneous access by sensors and waiting time to avoid packet collisions; this increases the aggregation time. The physical wireless parameter conversion sensor network (PhyC-SN) method, which transmits sensor information corresponding to the carrier wave frequency, facilitates the bulk collection of sensor information, thereby reducing the communication time and achieving a high aggregation success rate. However, when more than one sensor transmits the same frequency simultaneously, the estimation accuracy of the number of accessed sensors deteriorates significantly because of multipath fading. Thus, this study focuses on the phase fluctuation of the received signal caused by the frequency offset inherent to the sensor terminals. Consequently, a new feature for detecting collisions is proposed, which is a case in which two or more sensors transmit simultaneously. Furthermore, a method to identify the existence of 0, 1, 2, or more sensors is established. In addition, we demonstrate the effectiveness of PhyC-SNs in estimating the location of radio transmission sources by utilizing three patterns of 0, 1, and 2 or more transmitting sensors.
Evaluation of the Wound Healing Potential of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra: An Experimental Animal Study and Histopathological Examination
Authors: El-Elimat Tamam , El-Qaderi Haya S. , Hananeh Wael M. , Abu AlSamen Mahmoud M. , Al Sharie Ahmed H. , Alshehabat Musa A. , Al-Gharaibeh Mohammad , Alali Feras Q.
Published: March 2023

The wound healing potential of the aerial parts of Hypericum triquetrifolium Turra (Hypericaceae) was evaluated using an in vivo excision wound model in rats. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats were randomly assigned into seven groups; blank vehicles (olive oil and petroleum jelly), negative control, treatments [H. triquetrifolium ethanolic extract in petroleum jelly (5% and 10%) and H. triquetrifolium olive oil macerate (100 and 200 g/L)], and positive control (MEBO). Treatments were applied topically once daily until the wounds had completely healed. Wound areas and contraction rates were calculated, and full-thickness samples of the healed skin were collected for histopathological examination. H. triquetrifolium ointment (5%) showed the best wound healing activity with statistically significant differences when compared with the MEBO, petroleum jelly, and the negative control groups. Tissue sections were histopathologically examined in terms of re-epithelialization, granulation tissue development, collagen deposition, inflammatory cell infiltration, angiogenesis, and ulcer formation to support the in vivo excision wound model findings. H. triquetrifolium ointment (5%) showed the best histopathological scores in both re-epithelialization and ulcer formation. For quality control purposes, a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) method was used to quantify key marker compounds in the extract, namely hypericin and rutin which showed a content of 0.64% and 4.46% (w/w), respectively. Based on the experimental results, H. triquetrifolium ointment (5%) exhibits remarkable wound healing properties at various stages of the wound healing process. Further investigations to prove its safety and efficacy in different types of wounds and to uncover its cellular mechanisms are warranted.
Managing Collaborative Risks of Integrated Open-Innovation and Hybrid Stage-Gate Model by Applying Social Network Analysis—A Case Study
Authors: Nunes Marco , Bagnjuk Jelena , Abreu António , Cardoso Edgar , Smith Joane , Saraiva Célia
Published: March 2023

It is often argued that efficient collaboration is the key to success. However, research shows that if collaboration is not properly managed, collaborative risks may emerge, threatening business success. Furthermore, research shows that there is a lack of models to support the management of collaborative initiatives in organizations. To address this lack, presented in this work is a model to manage collaborative risks in organizations that work under the open innovation and the hybrid stage-gate development frameworks (two of the most popular collaborative frameworks in product and process development). The model presented in this work is a novel approach to manage collaborative risks in the open innovation and the hybrid stage-gate frameworks, and was developed based on network graph-theory to be used to identify informal collaborative interactions that may lead to the emergence of three major collaborative risks: (1) partner choice risks, (2) task assignment risks, and (3) behavioral risks. The results of the application of the proposed model in a real organizational collaborative context illustrated in the case study show that such collaborative risks can be identified in a timely manner, enabling an organization to efficiently and preventively act to minimize or eliminate the undesired effects of the mentioned collaborative risks.