bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary profile of pediatric obstructive sleep apnea patients, effects of routine educational counseling, and predictors for outcomes
Authors: Chuang Hai-Hua , Lin Rong-Ho , Hsu Jen-Fu , Chuang Li-Pang , Li Hsueh-Yu , Fang Tuan-Jen , Huang Yu-Shu , Yang Albert C. , Lee Guo-She , Kuo Terry B. J. , Yang Cheryl C. H. , Lee Li-Ang
Published: June 2023

Background

Dietary behavior is a main contributing yet modifiable factor to the body weight status of children and may be involved in the pathophysiology of childhood obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). This study aimed to investigate the dietary profile of pediatric OSA patients, effects of educational counseling after adenotonsillectomy, and predictor for disease resolution.

Methods

This observational study included 50 pediatric OSA patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy with routine educational counseling (Group 1), 50 pediatric OSA patients undergoing adenotonsillectomy without formal educational counseling (Group 2), and 303 healthy children without OSA (Control). The three groups were matched by age. The consumption frequency of 25 food items/groups was assessed by the Short Food Frequency Questionnaire. Quality of life was evaluated by the OSA-18 questionnaire. Sleep architecture and OSA severity were measured by standard polysomnography. Between- and within-group comparisons were analyzed by non-parametric approaches and generalized estimating equations. Prediction of disease recovery was performed by multivariable logistic regression models.

Results

Group 1 children consumed fruit drinks with sugar, vegetables, sweets, chocolate, rice, and noodles more frequently than Control Group children. At baseline, the distributions of sex, weight status, OSA-18 scores, and polysomnographic variables were comparable between Group 1 and Group 2. After a 12-month follow-up, Group 1 had better improvements in physical suffering, caregiver concerns, sleep architecture, and mean peripheral oxygen saturation compared to Group 2. Furthermore, Group 1 no longer had excessive consumption of fruit drinks with sugar, chocolate, and noodles; however, food consumption frequencies did not change significantly. Notably, younger age and reduced intake of butter/margarine on bread and noodles were independent predictors of cured OSA in Group 1.

Conclusion

The present study preliminarily characterized an unhealthy dietary profile among pediatric OSA patients and suggested that routine educational counseling in addition to adenotonsillectomy yielded some clinical benefits. Certain items/groups of food frequencies may be associated with disease recovery and further investigations are warranted.
Healthy immigration effect among internal migrants in megacities: a cross-sectional study in Shanghai, China
Authors: Dong Enhong , Xu Ting , Shi Jiahua , Ba Dongjiao , Zhou Haiwang , Li Zhijian , Huang Cheng
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To verify the healthy immigration effect on self-rated health (SRH) among Chinese internal migrants, identify the determinants of SRH, and provide recommendations for the Chinese government to formulate effective intervention strategies to improve population governance and health management in megacities.

Methods

A sample comprising 1,147 white-and blue-collar migrant workers was randomly selected through an online survey conducted in Shanghai from August to December 2021. Multivariate logistic regression models were used to verify the healthy immigration effect as well as determinants of the effect among internal migrants in Shanghai.

Results

Among 1,024 eligible internal migrants, 864 (84.4%) were aged between 18 and 59 years, 545 (53.2%) were men, and 818 (79.9%) were married. When confounders in the logistic regression models were adjusted, the odds ratio of SRH for internal migrants who had lived in Shanghai for 5–10 years was 2.418 (p < 0.001), whereas the odds ratio for those who had lived there for ≥10 years was not statistically significant. Additionally, marital status, a postgraduate or higher degree, income level, number of physical examinations in the past 12 months, and the number of critical diseases they were suffering from, were significant contributing factors for favorable SRH among the internal migrants. Furthermore, a cross-sectional analysis revealed that SRH demonstrated a healthy immigration effect among blue-collar internal migrants from the manufacturing industry but not among white-collar internal migrants.

Conclusion

A healthy immigration effect was observed among internal migrants in Shanghai. The migrant population that had lived in Shanghai for 5–10 years had more health advantages than the locals, whereas those who had lived there for ≥10 years did not. The Chinese government should understand this effect and enact measures accordingly, such as implementing physical examinations, improving acculturation, addressing individual characteristics, and improving socioeconomic conditions to improve the physical and mental health of internal migrants. Enacting such changes could facilitate the integration of migrants into the local culture of megacities.
Genetic deletion of Kvβ2 (AKR6) causes loss of muscle function and increased inflammation in mice
Authors: Manickam Ravikumar , Virzi Jazmine , Potti Anish , Cheng Feng , Russ David W. , Tipparaju Srinivas M.
Published: June 2023

The voltage-gated potassium channels (Kv) are complex ion channels with distinct roles in neurotransmission, electrical conductivity of the heart, and smooth and striated muscle functions. Previously, we demonstrated that deletion of Kvβ2 in mice results in decreased Pax7 protein levels, hindlimb muscles and body weights, and fiber type switching. In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that Kvβ2 regulates skeletal muscle function in mice. The young and old Kvβ2 knockout (KO) and wildtype (WT) mice were utilized to test the aging phenotype and skeletal muscle function. Consistent with our previous finding, we found a significant reduction in hindlimb skeletal muscles mass and body weight in young Kvβ2 KO mice, which was also significantly reduced in old Kvβ2 KO mice compared with age-matched WT mice. Forelimb grip strength, and the hindleg extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles force-frequency relations were significantly decreased in young and old Kvβ2 KO mice compared to age-matched WT mice. Analysis of transmission electron microscopy images of EDL muscles in young mice revealed a significant reduction in the sarcomere length for Kvβ2 KO vs. WT. Hematoxylin and eosin-stained tibialis anterior muscles cryosections displayed a significant decrease in the number of medium (2,000–4,000 µm2) and largest (>4,000 µm2) myofibers area in young Kvβ2 KO vs. WT mice. We also found a significant increase in fibrotic tissue area in young Kvβ2 KO mice compared with age-matched WT mice. Analysis of RNA Seq data of the gastrocnemius muscles (GAS) identified significant increase in genes involved in skeletal muscle development, proliferation and cell fate determination, atrophy, energy metabolism, muscle plasticity, inflammation, and a decrease in circadian core clock genes in young Kvβ2 KO vs. WT mice. Several genes were significantly upregulated (384 genes) and downregulated (40 genes) in young Kvβ2 KO mice compared to age-matched WT mice. Further, RT-qPCR analysis of the GAS muscles displayed a significant increase in pro-inflammatory marker Il6 expression in young Kvβ2 KO mice compared to age-matched WT mice. Overall, the present study shows that deletion of Kvβ2 leads to decreased muscles strength and increased inflammation.
Navigation with minimal occupation volume for teleoperated snake-like surgical robots: MOVE
Authors: Berthet-Rayne Pierre , Yang Guang-Zhong
Published: June 2023

Master-Slave control is a common mode of operation for surgical robots as it ensures that surgeons are always in control and responsible for the procedure. Most teleoperated surgical systems use low degree-of-freedom (DOF) instruments, thus facilitating direct mapping of manipulator position to the instrument pose and tip location (tip-to-tip mapping). However, with the introduction of continuum and snake-like robots with much higher DOF supported by their inherent redundant architecture for navigating through curved anatomical pathways, there is a need for developing effective kinematic methods that can actuate all the joints in a controlled fashion. This paper introduces the concept of navigation with Minimal Occupation VolumE (MOVE), a teleoperation method that extends the concept of follow-the-leader navigation. It defines the path taken by the head while using all the available space surrounding the robot constrained by individual joint limits. The method was developed for the i2Snake robot and validated with detailed simulation and control experiments. The results validate key performance indices such as path following, body weights, path weights, fault tolerance and conservative motion. The MOVE solver can run in real-time on a standard computer at frequencies greater than 1 kHz.
Mechanical recycling of acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer and high impact polystyrene from waste electrical and electronic equipment to comply with the circular economy
Authors: Teixeira Flávia da Silva Müller , Peres Augusto Cesar de Carvalho , Pacheco Elen Beatriz Acordi Vasques
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Acrylonitrile-butadiene-styrene copolymer (ABS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) are plastics typically found in waste electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE or e-waste). As such, recycling is a beneficial method for reintroducing polymeric materials from electrical and electronic equipment to the same production cycle. This study aimed to investigate mechanical recycling of ABS and HIPS from WEEE reprocessed six times, totaling 24 cycles.

Methods

Reprocessing was performed by extrusion and test specimens were obtained by injection. The technical aspects assessed before and after reprocessing were mechanical properties (tensile, flexural and impact strength), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) and melt flow index (MFI), compared with those of reprocessed virgin polymeric materials. The environmental aspect was evaluated by monitoring energy consumption and solid waste generation during each reprocessing cycle.

Results

Average energy consumption per extrusion and injection cycle was 0.7 and 2.0 kW/kg, respectively. There was a 30% increase in MFI from the first to sixth reprocessing cycle for virgin HIPS (5.5 g/10 min in 200°C and 5 kg), the largest among the polymers. The values for virgin ABS (6.0 g/10 min in 200°C and 5 kg) and ABS and HIPS from WEE increased by 11–15% from the first to sixth cycle. Impact strength was affected from the second reprocessing cycle onwards for ABS e-waste (14% decrease) and in the fifth cycle (16% decrease) for HIPS e-waste.

Discussion

The thermal, tensile and flexural properties of the virgin and post-consumer materials remained almost unchanged as the number of reprocessing cycles increased, indicating that these materials have the potential and properties for reintroduction into the same production cycle.
Organizational culture and the individuals' discretionary behaviors at work: a cross-cultural analysis
Authors: Fernandes Pedro , Pereira Rúben , Wiedenhöft Guilherme
Published: June 2023

Stating “how things are done here,” organizations are defining their culture. Organizational Culture (OC) is the set of values, norms, goals, and expectations shared by all members of an organization that aids in improving their commitment and performance. On the organizational level, it impacts behavior, productivity, and long-term survival by influencing organizational capability. Due to employee behavior being a competitive differential, this study examines how specific OCs influence individual behavior. In particular, how the different cultures in the Organizational Culture Assessment Instrument (OCAI) affect employees' main dimensions of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB). A descriptive-confirmative ex post facto research was conducted by surveying 513 employees from over 150 organizations worldwide. The Kruskal–Wallis H-test was used to validate our model. The general hypothesis was confirmed, showing that the predominant organizational culture type affects the level and the kind of OCBs individuals demonstrate. It is possible to provide organizations with a breakdown of their employees' OCBs based on their OC type and which changes they can make to their organization's culture to increase the employees' OCB and, consequently, the efficiency of their organization.
Beyond the big city: using a systems approach to cultivate a cycling culture in small cities and towns in Ireland
Authors: Corr Caitriona , Murphy Niamh , Lambe Barry
Published: June 2023

Urban mobility and how people move in our towns and cities is garnering more attention, as solutions are sought to multiple challenges faced by residents; health and physical inactivity, climate change, air quality, urbanisation and accessibility. Traditional, siloed approaches limit impact and collaborative, systems approaches hold promise. However, systems approaches often remain theoretical and few practical applications of their added value have been demonstrated. This study illustrates how a systems approach can be used to underpin the development of a 9-step process to generate solutions for action on active mobility. The development of a systems map and a theory of change framework are key outputs of this 9-step process. The purpose of this paper is to describe how a systems map was developed in an Irish town utilising broad stakeholder engagement to map the variables that influence cycling in the town and to identify the leverage points for transformational interventions.
Subgroup analysis of scientific performance in the field of arthroplasty
Authors: Wolf Milan Anton , Goebel Lars , Winter Philipp , Landgraeber Stefan , Orth Patrick
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Arthroplasty is the final treatment option for maintaining mobility and quality of life in many primary degenerative and (post-) traumatic joint diseases. Identification of research output and potential deficits for specific subspecialties may be an important measure to achieve long-term improvement of patient care in this field.

Methods

Using specific search terms and Boolean operators, all studies published since 1945 to the subgroups of arthroplasty listed in the Web of Science Core Collection were included. All identified publications were analysed according to bibliometric standards, and comparative conclusions were drawn regarding the scientific merit of each subgroup.

Results

Most publications investigated the subgroups of septic surgery and materials followed by approach, navigation, aseptic loosening, robotic and enhanced recovery after surgery (ERAS). In the last 5 years, research in the fields of robotic and ERAS achieved the highest relative increase in publications In contrast, research on aseptic loosening has continued to lose interest over the last 5 years. Publications on robotics and materials received the most funding on average while those on aseptic loosening received the least. Most publications originated from USA, Germany, and England, except for research on ERAS in which Denmark stood out. Relatively, publications on aseptic loosening received the most citations, whereas the absolute scientific interest was highest for the topic infection.

Discussion

In this bibliometric subgroup analysis, the primary scientific outputs focused on septic complications and materials research in the field of arthroplasty. With decreasing publication output and the least financial support, intensification of research on aseptic loosening is urgently recommended.
Detection of intercontinental reassortant H6 avian influenza viruses from wild birds in South Korea, 2015 and 2017
Authors: Kim Ji-Yun , Lee Sun-Hak , Kim Da-Won , Lee Dong-Wook , Song Chang-Seon , Lee Dong-Hun , Kwon Jung-Hoon
Published: June 2023

Avian influenza viruses (AIVs) in wild birds are phylogenetically separated in Eurasian and North American lineages due to the separated distribution and migration of wild birds. However, AIVs are occasionally dispersed between two continents by migratory wild birds flying across the Bering Strait. In this study, we isolated three AIVs from wild bird feces collected in South Korea that contain gene segments derived from American lineage AIVs, including an H6N2 isolated in 2015 and two H6N1 in 2017. Phylogenetic analysis suggests that the H6N2 virus had American lineage matrix gene and the H6N1 viruses had American lineage nucleoprotein and non-structural genes. These results highlight that novel AIVs have continuously emerged by reassortment between viruses from the two continents. Therefore, continuous monitoring for the emergence and intercontinental spread of novel reassortant AIV is required to prepare for a possible future outbreak.
Assessment of the Effects of the Herbicide Aclonifen and Its Soil Metabolites on Soil and Aquatic Environments
Authors: Caraba Marioara , Roman Diana , Caraba Ion , Isvoran Adriana
Published: June 2023

Aclonifen is an herbicide with a global market that is expected to grow in the period 2021–2027. This study focuses on revealing the effects of both aclonifen and of its soil metabolites on aqueous and soil environments. The soil’s physicochemical parameters and activities of enzymes found in the soil (urease, dehydrogenase, catalase, alkaline phosphatase) were evaluated in laboratory conditions for soil treated with various doses of aclonifen (from half of a normal dose, 2.1 g/ha, to three times the normal dose) every 7 days for a period of 28 days. A computational approach was used to calculate the acute toxicity of aclonifen and of its soil metabolites on aqueous organisms and to evaluate the possible interactions of these compounds with soil enzymes. The results obtained in the experimental study showed a significant inhibitory effect of the herbicide aclonifen on the investigated enzymes; those activities were not recovered after 28 days in the presence of high doses of aclonifen. Statistically significant effects of the herbicide dose and exposure duration on enzymes’ activities were observed using post hoc analysis at the p < 0.001 level. Pearson’s correlations revealed that the investigated enzyme activities were usually strongly (p < 0.001) influenced by the organic matter, available phosphorus content, and nitrogen level. The outcomes of the computational study revealed moderate acute aqueous toxicity of aclonifen and of its metabolites. All metabolites were also able to bind to the investigated enzymes and may have an inhibitory effect on their activities.
Boron Fertilization Alleviates the Adverse Effects of Late Sowing in Wheat under Different Tillage Systems
Authors: Ijaz Muhammad , Ul-Allah Sami , Sher Ahmad , Sattar Abdul , Mahmood Khalid , Alamri Saud , Ali Yasir , Rafiq Farhan , Shaharyar Syed Muhammad , Ijaz Bader , Hussain Ijaz
Published: June 2023

Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) is a staple and the most important food crop around the world. The growth and productivity of wheat are influenced by different factors, viz., sowing time, tillage system and nutrient application. The current field experiment consists of different boron (B) application rates, viz., B0 = No application (Control), B1 = soil applied (2 kg ha−1), B2 = foliar applied (2 kg ha−1), B3 = water spray; two tillage systems, viz., zero tillage (ZT) and conventional tillage (CT); and three sowing dates (S1 = 15 November; S2 = 5 December and S3 = 25 December). It was conducted during the years 2019–2020 and 2020–2021 under a split-split plot arrangement. The results showed that sowing dates and boron had beneficial impacts on the growth and productivity of wheat. The wheat crop sown on 15 November showed the highest plant height, chlorophyll contents, grains per spike, and grains’ boron content. Similarly, the application of boron under late sown conditions also improved the plant height (83.8 cm), chlorophyll contents (45.6), biological (5418 kg ha−1) and grain (4018 kg ha−1) yield as compared to control during both years. Furthermore, the higher crop growth and yield parameters were noted with the foliar application of boron at 2 kg ha−1. However, wheat crop growth and yield characteristics were not significantly affected by tillage techniques, h. In conclusion, the application of boron @ 2 kg ha−1 could be a suitable option for achieving higher wheat grain yield and productivity under late-sown conditions.
Oxidative Stress-Induced Cellular Senescence: Is Labile Iron the Connecting Link?
Authors: Nousis Lambros , Kanavaros Panagiotis , Barbouti Alexandra
Published: June 2023

Cellular senescence, a cell state characterized by a generally irreversible cell cycle arrest, is implicated in various physiological processes and a wide range of age-related pathologies. Oxidative stress, a condition caused by an imbalance between the production and the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in cells and tissues, is a common driver of cellular senescence. ROS encompass free radicals and other molecules formed as byproducts of oxygen metabolism, which exhibit varying chemical reactivity. A prerequisite for the generation of strong oxidizing ROS that can damage macromolecules and impair cellular function is the availability of labile (redox-active) iron, which catalyzes the formation of highly reactive free radicals. Targeting labile iron has been proven an effective strategy to counteract the adverse effects of ROS, but evidence concerning cellular senescence is sparse. In the present review article, we discuss aspects of oxidative stress-induced cellular senescence, with special attention to the potential implication of labile iron.
Nutritional Characteristics of New Generation Extruded Snack Pellets with Edible Cricket Flour Processed at Various Extrusion Conditions
Authors: Combrzyński Maciej , Oniszczuk Tomasz , Wójtowicz Agnieszka , Biernacka Beata , Wojtunik-Kulesza Karolina , Bąkowski Maciej , Różyło Renata , Szponar Jarosław , Soja Jakub , Oniszczuk Anna
Published: June 2023

As new sources of proteins, edible insects may be excellent additives in a new generation of environmentally friendly food products that are nutritionally valuable, safe, sustainable, and are needed in today’s world. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the application of cricket flour on extruded wheat-corn-based snack pellets’ basic composition, fatty acids profile, nutritional value, antioxidant activity and selected physicochemical properties. Results showed that the application of cricket flour had a significant impact on the composition and properties of snack pellets based on wheat-corn blends. In newly developed products, the enhanced level of protein and almost triple increase in crude fiber was found as an insect flour supplementation reached 30% level in the recipe. The level of cricket flour and the applied processing conditions (various moisture contents and screw speeds) significantly affect the water absorption and water solubility index and texture and color profile. Results revealed that cricket flour application significantly increased the total polyphenols content in the assessed samples in comparison to plain wheat-corn bases. Antioxidant activity was also noted to be elevated with increasing cricket flour content. These new types of snack pellets with cricket flour addition may be interesting products with high nutritional value and pro-health properties.
Adenosine Deaminase Inhibitory Activity of Medicinal Plants: Boost the Production of Cordycepin in Cordyceps militaris
Authors: Turk Ayman , Lee Solip , Yeon Sang Won , Ryu Se Hwan , Han Yoo Kyong , Kim Young Jun , Ko Sung Min , Kim Beom Seok , Hwang Bang Yeon , Lee Ki Yong , Lee Mi Kyeong
Published: June 2023

Cordycepin, also known as 3′-deoxyadenosine, is a major active ingredient of Cordyceps militaris with diverse pharmacological effects. Due to its limited supply, many attempts have been conducted to enhance the cordycepin content. As part of this study, eight medicinal plants were supplemented with cultivation substrates of Cordyceps to increase the cordycepin content. Cordyceps cultivated on brown rice supplemented with Mori Folium, Curcumae Rhizoma, Saururi Herba, and Angelicae Gigantis Radix exhibited increased cordycepin content compared to a brown rice control. Among them, the addition of 25% Mori Folium increased the cordycepin content up to 4 times. Adenosine deaminase (ADA) modulates the deamination of adenosine and deoxyadenosine, and the inhibitors have therapeutic potential with anti-proliferative and anti-inflammatory properties. As ADA is also known to be involved in converting cordycepin to 3′-deoxyinosine, the inhibitory activity of medicinal plants on ADA was measured by spectrophotometric analysis using cordycepin as a substrate. As expected, Mori Folium, Curcumae Rhizoma, Saururi Herba, and Angelicae Gigas Radix strongly inhibited ADA activity. Molecular docking analysis also showed the correlation between ADA and the major components of these medicinal plants. Conclusively, our research suggests a new strategy of using medicinal plants to enhance cordycepin production in C. militaris.
A Low-Complexity Deep Learning Model for Predicting Targeted Sequencing Depth from Probe Sequence
Authors: Feng Yibo , Guo Quan , Chen Weigang , Han Changcai
Published: June 2023

Targeted sequencing has been widely utilized for genomic molecular diagnostics and the emerging DNA data storage paradigm. However, the probe sequences used to enrich regions of interest have different hybridization kinetic properties, resulting in poor sequencing uniformity and setting limitations for the large-scale application of the technology. Here, a low-complexity deep learning model is proposed for prediction of sequencing depth from probe sequences. To capture the representation of probe and target sequences, we utilized a sequence-encoding model that incorporates k-mer and word embedding techniques, providing a streamlined alternative to the intricate computations involved in biochemical feature analysis. We employed bidirectional long short-term memory (Bi-LSTM) to effectively capture both long-range and short-range interactions within the representation. Furthermore, the attention mechanism was adopted to identify pivotal regions in the sequences that significantly influence sequencing depth. The ratio of the predicted sequencing depth to the actual sequencing depth was in the interval of 1/3—3 as the evaluation metric of model accuracy. The prediction accuracy was 94.3% in the human single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) panel and 99.7% in the synthetic DNA information storage sequence (SynDNA) panel. Our model substantially reduced data processing time (from 334 min to 4 min of CPU time in the SNP panel) and model parameters (from 300 k to 70 k) compared with the baseline model.
The Role of Sediment Records in Environmental Forensic Studies: Two Examples from Italy of Research Approaches Developed to Address Responsibilities and Management Options
Authors: Bellucci Luca Giorgio , Giuliani Silvia
Published: June 2023

The coupling of scientific evidence from sediment cores with historical information represents an effective way to reconstruct and quantify recent anthropogenic impacts in transitional and marine-coastal areas. These are both key points pertaining to studies that aim at establishing the responsibility for envi ronmental pollution. Good practices for the selection of sampling sites and specific survey techniques are fundamental to understand pollution histories and dynamics, together with reliable dating methods and analytical procedures. In addition, a certain degree of flexibility and willingness to explore different research pathways is necessary, particularly when unexpected questions arise from scientific data or from requests posed by authorities in charge of preliminary investigations or court debates. In this paper, two different study cases are reviewed, and the approaches developed to tackle with specific issues are presented. Its main purpose is both to explain study paths undertaken to answer challenging scientific-legal questions and to provide examples for developing countries that present similar risks of uncontrolled industrialization. Results were used in preliminary investigations or court debates for the attribution of responsibility for environmental pollution to past or present industrial managements. In addition, they were fundamental for other studies aiming at implementing models that simulate the fate and distribution of contaminants and human exposure. In the Augusta Harbor, an integrated approach merged archive information, bathymetry, and high-resolution seismic profiles with the results of an independent tracer (hexachlorobenzene, HCB). This approach helped attribute the presence of high surficial Hg concentrations to resuspension and redistribution of deep sediments caused by dredging and maritime traffic and not to active outfalls. In the Venice Lagoon, an extensive literature search supported analytical results for the correct identification of industrial processes responsible for the contamination by polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furans (PCDD/Fs) in the canals of the Porto Marghera Industrial Area. In addition, sedimentary profiles of PCDD/Fs in local salt marshes (“barene”) recorded well the events relative to the industrial development and management of the area reported by historical documents, confirming their potential for this kind of investigation.
Combined Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory with Mel-Frequency Cepstral Coefficients Using Autoencoder for Speaker Recognition
Authors: Chen Young-Long , Wang Neng-Chung , Ciou Jing-Fong , Lin Rui-Qi
Published: June 2023

Recently, neural network technology has shown remarkable progress in speech recognition, including word classification, emotion recognition, and identity recognition. This paper introduces three novel speaker recognition methods to improve accuracy. The first method, called long short-term memory with mel-frequency cepstral coefficients for triplet loss (LSTM-MFCC-TL), utilizes MFCC as input features for the LSTM model and incorporates triplet loss and cluster training for effective training. The second method, bidirectional long short-term memory with mel-frequency cepstral coefficients for triplet loss (BLSTM-MFCC-TL), enhances speaker recognition accuracy by employing a bidirectional LSTM model. The third method, bidirectional long short-term memory with mel-frequency cepstral coefficients and autoencoder features for triplet loss (BLSTM-MFCCAE-TL), utilizes an autoencoder to extract additional AE features, which are then concatenated with MFCC and fed into the BLSTM model. The results showed that the performance of the BLSTM model was superior to the LSTM model, and the method of adding AE features achieved the best learning effect. Moreover, the proposed methods exhibit faster computation times compared to the reference GMM-HMM model. Therefore, utilizing pre-trained autoencoders for speaker encoding and obtaining AE features can significantly enhance the learning performance of speaker recognition. Additionally, it also offers faster computation time compared to traditional methods.
Shapley Values as a Strategy for Ensemble Weights Estimation
Authors: Drungilas Vaidotas , Vaičiukynas Evaldas , Ablonskis Linas , Čeponienė Lina
Published: June 2023

This study introduces a novel performance-based weighting scheme for ensemble learning using the Shapley value. The weighting uses the reciprocal of binary cross-entropy as a base learner’s performance metric and estimates its Shapley value to measure the overall contribution of a learner to an equally weighted ensemble of various sizes. Two variants of this strategy were empirically compared with a single monolith model and other static weighting strategies using two large banking-related datasets. A variant that discards learners with a negative Shapley value was ranked as first or at least second when constructing homogeneous ensembles, whereas for heterogeneous ensembles this strategy resulted in a better or at least similar detection performance to other weighting strategies tested. The main limitation being the computational complexity of Shapley calculations, the explored weighting strategy could be considered as a generalization of performance-based weighting.
Global and Local Knowledge Distillation Method for Few-Shot Classification of Electrical Equipment
Authors: Zhou Bojun , Zhao Jiahao , Yan Chunkai , Zhang Xinsong , Gu Juping
Published: June 2023

With the increasing utilization of intelligent mobile devices for online inspection of electrical equipment in smart grids, the limited computing power and storage capacity of these devices pose challenges for deploying large algorithm models, and it is also difficult to obtain a substantial number of images of electrical equipment in public. In this paper, we propose a novel distillation method that compresses the knowledge of teacher networks into a compact few-shot classification network, employing a global and local knowledge distillation strategy. Central to our method is exploiting the global and local relationships between the features exacted by the backbone of the teacher network and the student network. We compared our method with recent state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods on three public datasets, and we achieved superior performance. Additionally, we contribute a new dataset, namely, EEI-100, which is specifically designed for electrical equipment image classification. We validated our method on this dataset and demonstrated its exceptional prediction accuracy of 94.12% when utilizing only 5-shot images.
Through-Thickness Inhomogeneity of Microstructures and Mechanical Properties in an As-Quenched Thin Specification High Strength NM450TP Steel Plate
Authors: Li Guannan , Lu Shuqing , Ren Jie , Zhou Zheng
Published: June 2023

The inhomogeneity of microstructures and mechanical properties in an as-quenched thin specification NM450TP wear-resistant steel plate were quantitatively investigated. The results show that the microstructures exhibit inhomogeneous distribution through the thickness and the area percentage of martensite and ferrite grains varies regularly through the thickness, and the content of ferrite on the top surface of the plate is found to be two times that of ferrite at the core location and more than that of ferrite at the bottom surface. In addition, the steel plate exhibits the obvious anisotropy of tensile properties, the tensile strength paralleling to the rolling direction is lower than that along the transverse direction while the elongation paralleling to the rolling direction is better than that along the transverse direction. The result indicates that the deformation degree of prior austenite grains during hot rolling and the content of martensite after quenching dominate the mechanical properties while the ferrite content is not the main factor affecting the plasticity. The findings provide experimental evidences and lay a theoretical foundation for analyzing the subsequent processing.
State of the Art of Lean Six Sigma and Its Implementation in Chemical Manufacturing Industry Using a Bibliometric Perspective
Authors: Alarcón Francisco José , Calero Mónica , Pérez-Huertas Salvador , Martín-Lara María Ángeles
Published: June 2023

In recent years, the application of Lean models in manufacturing processes has received significant attention due to the successful implementation of relatively simple measures to eliminate or reduce waste. Similarly, Six Sigma has attracted the interest of the industry for reducing production costs through statistical methods and data analysis tools. The combination of both techniques constitutes a powerful management model known as Lean Six Sigma (LSS), whose application has been unevenly spread across the different services and industrial sectors. Despite the multiple studies conducted on the use of LSS methodologies in manufacturing processes, few studies have focused on its direct application in chemical manufacturing are less numerous. Consequently, many chemical companies still face major challenges in implementing the LSS model. This study explores the state of the art, current trends, and perspectives of Lean and Six Sigma integration in the chemical manufacturing sector. For this purpose, a bibliometric analysis was conducted covering topics from the implementation of the LSS on a global scale, i.e., non-manufacturing and manufacturing environments, to its application in the manufacturing of chemical products. The literature search was carried out in the Scopus and Web of Science databases using a different sequence of terms. The findings of this study revealed the most important contributions in terms of publications, authors, countries, and institutions over the past two decades. Additionally, avenues for future research are discussed.
Probabilistic Seismic Sensitivity Analyses of High-Speed Railway Extradosed Cable-Stayed Bridges
Authors: Xie Mingzhi , Yuan Jinglian , Jia Hongyu , Yang Yongqing , Huang Shengqian , Sun Baolin
Published: June 2023

It is known that the extradosed cable-stayed bridge, a hybrid bridge, possesses the virtues of both classic cable-stayed bridges and girder bridges in mechanical behaviors. In this paper, the sensitivity of seismic fragility demand parameters (SFDP) of a high-speed railway extradosed cable-stayed bridge is studied systematically along with the consideration of structural parameter uncertainty. Based on the probability distribution and correlation of random parameters, the Latin hypercube sampling method is adopted herein. The dynamic 3D finite element model of the employed bridge is established by using powerful and attractive OpenSEES nonlinear software. A nonlinear incremental dynamic analysis is performed to consider the randomness of structural parameters using sampling analysis. Some important conclusions are drawn indicating that the structural design parameter uncertainty predominantly has influence on the SFDP for fragility analysis of bridge structures. The design parameters of extradosed cable-stayed bridges are categorized and identified as primary, secondary and insensitive parameters. The high sensitivity parameters of extradosed cable-stayed bridges for fragility analysis include friction coefficient of bearing, concrete bulk density, damping ratio, peak compressive strength of confined concrete, component size and peak strain of confined concrete. Additionally, the strength and strain of unconfined concrete cannot be ignored. Furthermore, the uncertainty of structural design parameters fails to be responsible for the cable force responses due to larger girder stiffness. The structural design parameter uncertainty has a significant influence on the responses of extradosed cable-stayed bridges for seismic fragility analysis.
Neutrosophic Mean Estimation of Sensitive and Non-Sensitive Variables with Robust Hartley–Ross-Type Estimators
Authors: Alomair Abdullah Mohammed , Shahzad Usman
Published: June 2023

Under classical statistics, research typically relies on precise data to estimate the population mean when auxiliary information is available. Outliers can pose a significant challenge in this process. The ultimate goal is to determine the most accurate estimates of the population mean while minimizing variance. Neutrosophic statistics is a generalization of classical statistics that deals with imprecise, uncertain data. Our research introduces the neutrosophic Hartley–Ross-type ratio estimators for estimating the population mean of neutrosophic data, even in the presence of outliers. We also incorporate neutrosophic versions of several robust regression methods, including LAD, Huber-M, Hampel-M, and Tukey-M. Our approach assumes that the study variable is both non-sensitive and sensitive, meaning that it can cause discomfort to participants during personal interviews, and measurement errors can occur due to dishonest responses. To address potential measurement errors, we propose the use of neutrosophic scrambling response models. Our proposed neutrosophic robust estimators are more effective than existing classical estimators, as confirmed by a computer-based numerical study using real data and simulation.
Some Stability Results and Existence of Solutions for a Backward Differential Equation with Time Advance via ζ—Caputo Fractional Derivative
Authors: Ben Makhlouf Abdellatif , Mchiri Lassaad , Rhaima Mohamed
Published: June 2023

In this paper, using a fixed point method, we proved the existence and uniqueness of solutions for a backward differential equation with time advance via ζ−Caputo fractional derivative. Furthermore, the Ulam–Hyers–Rassias and the Ulam–Hyers stabilities of the backward differential equation with time advance via ζ−Caputo fractional derivative are investigated. Finally, some experiments are given to illustrate the theoretical results.
Sex and Age Differences in a Progressive Synucleinopathy Mouse Model
Authors: Lamontagne-Proulx Jérôme , Coulombe Katherine , Morissette Marc , Rieux Marie , Calon Frédéric , Di Paolo Thérèse , Soulet Denis
Published: June 2023

The mutation and overexpression of the alpha-synuclein protein (αSyn), described as synucleinopathy, is associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD)-like pathologies. A higher prevalence of PD is documented for men versus women, suggesting female hormones’ implication in slowing PD progression. The nigrostriatal dopamine (DA) neurons in rodent males are more vulnerable to toxins than those in females. The effect of biological sex on synucleinopathy remains poorly described and was investigated using mice knocked out for murine αSyn (SNCA-/-) and also overexpressing human αSyn (SNCA-OVX) compared to wildtype (WT) mice. All the mice showed decreased locomotor activity with age, and more abruptly in the male than in the female SNCA-OVX mice; anxiety-like behavior increased with age. The SNCA-OVX mice had an age-dependent accumulation of αSyn. Older age was associated with the loss of nigral DA neurons and decreased striatal DA contents. The astrogliosis, microgliosis, and cytokine concentrations increased with aging. More abrupt nigrostriatal DA decreases and increased microgliosis were observed in the male SNCA-OVX mice. Human αSyn overexpression and murine αSyn knockout resulted in behavioral dysfunctions, while only human αSyn overexpression was toxic to DA neurons. At 18 months, neuroprotection was lost in the female SNCA-OVX mice, with a likely loss of estrus cycles. In conclusion, sex-dependent αSyn toxicity was observed, affecting the male mice more significantly.
Acetate-Mediated Odorant Receptor OR51E2 Activation Results in Calcitonin Secretion in Parafollicular C-Cells: A Novel Diagnostic Target of Human Medullary Thyroid Cancer
Authors: Lee Hyeon Jeong , Ku Cheol Ryong , Cho Arthur , Cho TaeHo , Lee ChaeEun , Kang Chan Woo , Kim Daham , Cho Yoon Hee , Koo JaeHyung , Lee Eun Jig
Published: June 2023

Medullary thyroid cancer originates from parafollicular C-cells in the thyroid. Despite successful thyroidectomy, localizing remnant cancer cells in patients with elevated calcitonin and carcinoembryonic antigen levels remains a challenge. Extranasal odorant receptors are expressed in cells from non-olfactory tissues, including C-cells. This study evaluates the odorant receptor signals from parafollicular C-cells, specifically, the presence of olfactory marker protein, and further assesses the ability of the protein in localizing and treating medullary thyroid cancer. We used immunohistochemistry, immunofluorescent staining, Western blot, RNA sequencing, and real time-PCR to analyze the expression of odorant receptors in mice thyroids, thyroid cancer cell lines, and patient specimens. We used in vivo assays to analyze acetate binding, calcitonin secretion, and cAMP pathway. We also used positron emission tomography (PET) to assess C11-acetate uptake in medullary thyroid cancer patients. We investigated olfactory marker protein expression in C-cells in patients and found that it co-localizes with calcitonin in C-cells from both normal and cancer cell lines. Specifically, we found that OR51E2 and OR51E1 were expressed in thyroid cancer cell lines and human medullary thyroid cancer cells. Furthermore, we found that in the C-cells, the binding of acetate to OR51E2 activates its migration into the nucleus, subsequently resulting in calcitonin secretion via the cAMP pathway. Finally, we found that C11-acetate, a positron emission tomography radiotracer analog for acetate, binds competitively to OR51E2. We confirmed C11-acetate uptake in cancer cells and in human patients using PET. We demonstrated that acetate binds to OR51E2 in C-cells. Using C11-acetate PET, we identified recurrence sites in post-operative medullary thyroid cancer patients. Therefore, OR51E2 may be a novel diagnostic and therapeutic target for medullary thyroid cancer.
Structural Performance of Internally Stiffened Double-Skinned Profiled Composite Walls with Openings
Authors: Hilo Salam J. , Hamood Mohammed J. , Al-Zuhairi Alaa Hussein , Zand Ahmed W. Al , Kaish A. B. M. A. , Ali Mustafa M. , Faris Marwah M. , Badaruzzaman Wan Hamidon W.
Published: June 2023

The double-skin profiled composite wall (DSPCW) system, filled with concrete material, is favorable in modern structures due to its high strength and ductility. Openings may be required within this composite wall (DSPCW) for various reasons, similar to a conventional bearing wall, which can lead to a reduction in bearing capacity. Therefore, to avoid changes in the geometry, materials, and thickness of this DSPCW wall, a new internally stiffening concept has been suggested by providing embedded cold-formed steel tube (CFST) columns. For this purpose, two full-scale DSPCW specimens were tested under static axial load, one of which was fabricated with a large opening size and stiffened with two octagonal CFST columns, while the other was designed without an opening and served as a control wall specimen. The results showed that the stiffened DSPCW with an opening achieved a slightly lower ultimate bearing strength (−9.4%) than the control wall specimen, with no reduction in the ductility behavior. Furthermore, several finite element models of DSPCW have been analyzed and designed to investigate additional parameters that were not experimentally tested, including the effects of the embedded CFST column’s shape and different types of internal stiffeners longitudinally provided inside these columns. The numerical investigation confirmed that the embedded CFST column with an octagonal cross-section was more efficient compared to the hexagonal and rectangular shapes by about 11% and 18.4%, respectively. Furthermore, using internal steel stiffeners for embedded tubes with a T-shape improved the axial bearing capacity of the DSPCW with an opening slightly higher than the corresponding stiffened walls with other investigated stiffener shapes (V-shaped, U-shaped, and L-shaped).