bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Monte Carlo Simulations in Aviation Contrail Study: A Review
Authors: Bianco Davide , Marenna Elisa , Loffredo Filomena , Quarto Maria , Di Vito Vittorio , Federico Luigi
Published: June 2022

This article provides a review of the role of stochastic approaches, in particular Monte Carlo calculations, in the study of aviation-induced contrails at different characteristic lengths, ranging from micrometers to the planetary scale. Pioneered in the 1960s by Bird, Direct Simulation Monte Carlo has for long time been considered unfeasible in extended dispersed-phase systems as clouds. Due to the impressive increase in computational power, Lagrangian Monte Carlo approaches are currently available, even for studying cloud formation and evolution. Some aspects of these new approaches are reviewed after a detailed introduction to the topic of aircraft-induced cloudiness. The role of Monte Carlo approaches in reducing the different source of uncertainty about the contribution of aviation contrails to climate change is introduced. Perspectives on their role in future experimental and theoretical studies are discussed throughout the paper.
Study on the Influence of Construction Undercrossing Existing Station at Zero Distance in Confined Water
Authors: Huang Mingli , Shen Qiaofeng , Zhang Chuanyun , Meng Zhaohui
Published: June 2022

Based on the Ciqu station project of Beijing Metro Line 17, this paper studies the influence of metro proximity construction in confined water stratum on the existing station, and puts forward relevant deformation control measures to solve the technical problem of new station zero distance under the complex geological conditions. Based on the systematic study of decompression and precipitation, embedment depth of ground wall and ground load of existing station, it is found that the deformation of existing station can be well controlled by taking precise precipitation, appropriately increasing embedment depth of ground wall and ground load of existing station at the same time, so as to achieve safe construction. Studies have shown that in the case of the existing station structure with deformation joints, the internal force of the structure is reduced by 58% compared with that of the station without deformation joints, The allowable deformation of existing station structure with reserved deformation joints is more than 3 times higher than that without reserved deformation joints, The existence of deformation joints improves the anti-damage ability of existing stations.
Effect of Optical–Electrical–Thermal Coupling on the Performance of High-Concentration Multijunction Solar Cells
Authors: Shi Qi , Shu Bifen , Jiang Jingxiang , Zhang Yuqi
Published: June 2022

In the process of high-concentration photovoltaic (HCPV) power generation, multijunction cells work in the conditions of high radiation and high current. Non-uniformity of focusing, the mismatch between the focusing spectrum caused by the dispersion effect and the spectrum of multijunction solar cell design and the increase in cell temperature are the key factors affecting the photoelectric performance of the multijunction solar cell. The coupling effect of three factors on the performance of multijunction solar cell intensifies its negative impact. Based on the previous research, the light intensity and spectral characteristics under Fresnel lens focusing are calculated through the optical model, and the optical–electrical–thermal coupling model under non-uniform illumination is established. The results show that obvious changes exist in the concentration spectrum distribution, energy and non-uniformity along different optical axis positions. These changes lead to serious current mismatch and transverse current in the multijunction solar cell placed near the focal plane which decreases the output power. The lost energy makes the cell temperature highest near the focal plane. In the condition of passive heat dissipation with 500 times geometric concentration ratio, the output power of the solar cell near the focal plane decreases by 35% and the temperature increases by 15%. Therefore, optimizing the placement position of the multijunction cell in the optical axis direction can alleviate the negative effects of optical–electrical–thermal coupling caused by focusing non-uniformity, spectral mismatch and rising cell temperature, and improve the output performance of the cell. This conclusion is verified by the experimental result.
The “Sling” Technique for Horizontal Guided Bone Regeneration: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Caggiano Mario , D’Ambrosio Francesco , Giordano Francesco , Acerra Alfonso , Sammartino Pasquale , Iandolo Alfredo
Published: June 2022

The aim of this retrospective case series was to present a new technique, called the “sling technique”, for massive horizontal alveolar ridge augmentation through the innovative use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (e-PTFE) membrane to reduce the risk of biological complications related to membrane exposure. Materials and Methods: Eligible patients for implant rehabilitation with a horizontal bone defect were enrolled in our study. All patients were treated with our new GBR approach, called the “sling technique” (ST), which consisted of covering the vestibular side of the bone defect with a stretched e-PTFE membrane. This technique allowed the amplification of the membrane surface as long as the compression and the immobilization of the underlying graft material remained (1:1 autologous bone and bovine xenograft). The membrane was placed far from the surgical incision of the mucosa to avoid infective complications. Pre- and post-regenerative surgery CBCT scans were used to assess the tissue gain amount after the GBR. Results: A total of 10 patients (4 females, 6 males; age range: 45–60 years old) were enrolled in our study and 33 implants were placed in regenerated bone. An average of 4 mm bone gain was achieved using the ST. No membrane exposures or biological complications were registered during the post-operative healing period. After a 24-month follow-up, a 100% implant survival rate was observed without hard or soft tissue dehiscence. Conclusion: The e-PTFE membrane positioned with the “sling technique” gave satisfactory results in horizontal bone augmentation. Considering the small sample, further confirmations with larger studies are needed.
Knowledge-Based Automated Mechanical Design of a Robot Manipulator
Authors: Pastor Robert , Mihola Milan , Zeman Zdeněk , Boleslavský Adam
Published: June 2022

Design methods have been improving with an increasing level of algorithmic support for some time. The most recent advances include generative design and various optimization methods. However, the automated design tools are often focused on a single stage of the design process, for example, kinematics design, mechanical topology, or drive selection. In this paper, we show the whole design process of a robotic manipulator in an automated workflow. The method consisted of two main parts: a genetic optimization of the kinematic structure and an iterative automated CAD design. The method was then applied to a case study in which a manipulator with five degrees of freedom for a handling task was designed.
Visual Art and Propaganda Ecologies in the Basque Country: A Sample of Guernica Motifs from the Benedictine Sticker Archives (1978–1989)
Authors: Arranz Otaegui Iker , Moore Kevin C.
Published: June 2022

The Benedictine Archives at Lazkao contain a multitude of propaganda stickers and related visual media that provide a snapshot of the Basque region’s artful political culture in the 1970s and 1980s. Some of the most compelling examples include several items that remix Pablo Picasso’s Guernica, referencing the famous antiwar painting to become a form of mass-circulated pastiche. This move was somewhat unusual amid the strong nationalist bent of public discourse and art in the Basque Country during this period. Almost entirely unknown outside the region, these materials capture political performance during the decade-long period between the instauration of Spanish democracy (1978) and the fall of the Berlin Wall (1989), when separatist sentiment reached a peak in the Basque Country. This artful visual platform, rendered in the small, focused format of stickers, constitutes a useful index of rhetorical currents within the Basque Country and Spain, as well as an interesting analogue prototype of what we might call, in the twenty-first century, meme culture. Circulated in bars and other public places across the Basque region, and frequently worn upon clothing, the stickers demonstrate a propaganda principle described by Jonathan Auerbach and Russ Castronovo, whereby participants in movements of mass persuasion actively partake in the dissemination and consumption of propaganda. The stickers normally refer to very concrete events (for instance, a one-day celebration, a protest for a concrete situation, etc.). When organized on topics and themes, they create a nonlinear visual account of post-Franco Basque history, providing propaganda narratives that invite performative acts from the audience. This account documents the significance of the vast Benedictine collection for future scholars, analyzing, in detail, four stickers that employ Guernica in their design. It also considers several other representative items from the collections that play on other art forms, as well as pop culture, in their attempt to influence public opinion, politics, and media consumption.
Improved Surface Soil Moisture Estimation Model in Semi-Arid Regions Using the Vegetation Red-Edge Band Sensitive to Plant Growth
Authors: Lin Rencai , Chen He , Wei Zheng , Li Yinong , Zhang Baozhong , Sun Haoran , Cheng Minghan
Published: June 2022

Accurate description of surface soil moisture (SSM) in vegetation-covered areas is of great significance to water resource management and drought monitoring. To remove the effect of vegetation on SSM estimation, the vegetation index obtained from Sentinel-2 (S2) was applied for vegetation water content (VWC) estimation. The VWC model was substituted into the water cloud model (WCM), and thus, the SSM estimation model was developed based on the WCM. The methodology was tested at Daxing, Beijing, and Gu’an, Hebei, in which training and validation data of SSM were acquired by in situ measurements. The results can be described as follows: (1) For the vegetation-covered areas, the Modified Chlorophyll Absorption Ratio Index (MCARI) obtained from the B3, B4, and B5 bands of S2 was the most suitable for removing the influence of vegetation on SSM estimation; (2) Compared to Sentinel-1 (S1) vertical–horizontal (VH) polarization, vertical–vertical (VV) polarization was more suitable for SSM estimation and achieved higher accuracy; (3) The developed model could be used to estimate SSM under crop cover with high accuracy, which indicated the correlation coefficients (R2) between in situ measured and estimated SSM were 0.867, the root mean square error (RMSE) was 0.028 cm3/cm3, and the MAE was 0.023 cm3/cm3. Thus, this methodology has the potential for SSM estimation in vegetated areas.
Assessing Atmospheric Pollution and Its Impact on the Human Health
Authors: Bărbulescu Alina , Dumitriu Cristian Ștefan , Popescu-Bodorin Nicolae
Published: June 2022

In recent decades, atmospheric pollution has become a major risk for public health and ecosystems [...]
Modeling of Bi-Polar Leader Inception and Propagation from Flying Aircraft Prior to a Lightning Strike
Authors: Das Sayantan , Kumar Udaya
Published: June 2022

Lightning is one of the major environmental threats to aircraft. The lightning strikes during flying are mostly attributed to aircraft-triggered lightning. The first step toward designing suitable protective measures against lightning is identifying the attachment locations. For this purpose, oversimplified approaches are currently employed, which do not represent the associated discharge phenomena. Therefore, in this work, a suitable model is developed for simulating the inception and propagation of bi-polar leader discharge from the aircraft. Modeling of leader discharges requires field computation around the aircraft, which is carried out employing the Surface Charge Simulation Method (SCSM) combined with sub-modeling, which ensures the best accuracy of field computations near nosecone, wingtips, etc. A DC10 aircraft model is considered for the simulation. Simulations are performed for different pairs of leader inception points on aircraft using the developed model. Subsequently, corresponding ambient fields required for stable bi-polar discharge from aircraft are determined. These values are in the range of measured ambient fields reported in the literature. In summary, the present work has come up with a suitable model for simulating the bi-polar leader inception and propagation from the flying aircraft. Using the same, a detailed quantitative description of the discharge phenomena from the aircraft is provided.
Interval Type-3 Fuzzy Control for Automated Tuning of Image Quality in Televisions
Authors: Castillo Oscar , Castro Juan R. , Melin Patricia
Published: June 2022

In this article, an intelligent system utilizing type-3 fuzzy logic for automated image quality tuning in televisions is presented. The tuning problem can be formulated as controlling the television imaging system to achieve the requirements of production quality. Previously, the tuning process has been carried out by experts, by manually adjusting the television imaging system on production lines to meet the quality control standards. In this approach, interval type-3 fuzzy logic is utilized with the goal of automating the tuning of televisions manufactured on production lines. An interval type-3 fuzzy approach for image tuning is proposed, so that the best image quality is obtained and, in this way, meet quality requirements. A system based on type-3 fuzzy control is implemented with good simulation results. The validation of the type-3 fuzzy approach is made by comparing the results with human experts on the process of electrical tuning of televisions. The key contribution is the utilization of type-3 fuzzy in the image tuning application, which has not been reported previously in the literature.
DDK: The Outsourced Kinase of Chromosome Maintenance
Authors: Gillespie Peter J. , Blow J. Julian
Published: June 2022

The maintenance of genomic stability during the mitotic cell-cycle not only demands that the DNA is duplicated and repaired with high fidelity, but that following DNA replication the chromatin composition is perpetuated and that the duplicated chromatids remain tethered until their anaphase segregation. The coordination of these processes during S phase is achieved by both cyclin-dependent kinase, CDK, and Dbf4-dependent kinase, DDK. CDK orchestrates the activation of DDK at the G1-to-S transition, acting as the ‘global’ regulator of S phase and cell-cycle progression, whilst ‘local’ control of the initiation of DNA replication and repair and their coordination with the re-formation of local chromatin environments and the establishment of chromatid cohesion are delegated to DDK. Here, we discuss the regulation and the multiple roles of DDK in ensuring chromosome maintenance. Regulation of replication initiation by DDK has long been known to involve phosphorylation of MCM2-7 subunits, but more recent results have indicated that Treslin:MTBP might also be important substrates. Molecular mechanisms by which DDK regulates replisome stability and replicated chromatid cohesion are less well understood, though important new insights have been reported recently. We discuss how the ‘outsourcing’ of activities required for chromosome maintenance to DDK allows CDK to maintain outright control of S phase progression and the cell-cycle phase transitions whilst permitting ongoing chromatin replication and cohesion establishment to be completed and achieved faithfully.
Cardiomyocyte Proliferation from Fetal- to Adult- and from Normal- to Hypertrophy and Failing Hearts
Authors: Bishop Sanford P. , Zhang Jianyi , Ye Lei
Published: June 2022

The cardiomyocyte undergoes dramatic changes in structure, metabolism, and function from the early fetal stage of hyperplastic cell growth, through birth and the conversion to hypertrophic cell growth, continuing to the adult stage and responding to various forms of stress on the myocardium, often leading to myocardial failure. The fetal cell with incompletely formed sarcomeres and other cellular and extracellular components is actively undergoing mitosis, organelle dispersion, and formation of daughter cells. In the first few days of neonatal life, the heart is able to repair fully from injury, but not after conversion to hypertrophic growth. Structural and metabolic changes occur following conversion to hypertrophic growth which forms a barrier to further cardiomyocyte division, though interstitial components continue dividing to keep pace with cardiac growth. Both intra- and extracellular structural changes occur in the stressed myocardium which together with hemodynamic alterations lead to metabolic and functional alterations of myocardial failure. This review probes some of the questions regarding conditions that regulate normal and pathologic growth of the heart.
Elevated CO2 Altered Rice VOCs Aggravate Population Occurrence of Brown Planthoppers by Improving Host Selection Ability
Authors: Wang Yanhui , Li Runzhao , Wang Xiaohui , Liu Xiaowei , Chen Fajun
Published: June 2022

It is predicted that plant volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are affected by the atmospheric CO2 levels rising globally, which further affects the interaction between plants and herbivorous insects, especially the host selection behavior of herbivorous insects. In this study, the effects of elevated CO2 on the host-selection behavior of the brown planthopper (BPH) Nilaparvata lugens, and the emission of VOCs from the healthy and BPH-damaged rice plants were studied simultaneously to make clear the population occurrence of BPH under global climate change. Compared with ambient CO2, elevated CO2 significantly increased the host selection percent of BPH for the healthy (CK) and BPH-damaged rice plants, and the host selection percent of BPH for the BPH-damaged rice plants was significantly higher than that for the healthy rice plants under elevated CO2, which might be regulated by the transcription levels of OBP1, OBP2 and CSP8 in BPH due to the upregulated transcriptional levels of these three genes of BPH under elevated CO2. In addition, we analyzed and quantified the emission of VOCs in rice plants grown under ambient CO2 and elevated CO2 by GS-MS. A total of 36 VOCs from rice plants were identified into eight categories, including alkanes, alkenes, alcohols, aldehydes, ketones, esters, phenols and aromatic hydrocarbons. Elevated CO2 significantly decreased the contents of heptadecane, linalool and limonene from rice plants compared with ambient CO2. Besides, the contents of linalool, phytol, decanal, 1-methyldecalin and 2,6-diphenylphenol from BPH-damaged rice plants under ambient CO2, and undecane, hexadecane, nonanal and 2,6-diphenylphenol from BPH-damaged rice plants under elevated CO2 were all significantly higher than those from healthy rice plants. The percentage composition of phenols was positively correlated with the host selection rate of BPH. Our study indicates that elevated CO2 is beneficial to promote the host selection ability of BPH for rice plants damaged by BPHs due to the changed plant VOCs.
Neuro- and Cardiovascular Activities of Montivipera bornmuelleri Snake Venom
Authors: Sahyoun Christina , Krezel Wojciech , Mattei César , Sabatier Jean-Marc , Legros Christian , Fajloun Ziad , Rima Mohamad
Published: June 2022

The complications following snake bite envenoming are due to the venom’s biological activities, which can act on different systems of the prey. These activities arise from the fact that snake venoms are rich in bioactive molecules, which are also of interest for designing drugs. The venom of Montivipera bornmuelleri, known as the Lebanon viper, has been shown to exert antibacterial, anticancer, and immunomodulatory effects. However, the venom’s activity on the nervous system has not yet been studied, and its effect on the cardiovascular system needs further investigation. Because zebrafish is a convenient model to study tissue alterations induced by toxic agents, we challenged it with the venom of Montivipera bornmuelleri. We show that this venom leads to developmental toxicity but not teratogenicity in zebrafish embryos. The venom also induces neurotoxic effects and disrupts the zebrafish cardiovascular system, leading to heartbeat rate reduction and hemorrhage. Our findings demonstrate the potential neurotoxicity and cardiotoxicity of M. bornmuelleri’s venom, suggesting a multitarget strategy during envenomation.
Urinary Tract Infections Impair Adult Hippocampal Neurogenesis
Authors: Darwish Batoul , Chamaa Farah , Awada Bassel , Lawand Nada , Saadé Nayef E. , Abou Fayad Antoine G. , Abou-Kheir Wassim
Published: June 2022

Previous studies have suggested a link between urinary tract infections (UTIs) and cognitive impairment. One possible contributing factor for UTI-induced cognitive changes that has not yet been investigated is a potential alteration in hippocampal neurogenesis. In this study, we aim to investigate the effect of UTI on brain plasticity by specifically examining alterations in neurogenesis. Adult male Sprague Dawley rats received an intra-urethral injection of an Escherichia coli (E. coli) clinical isolate (108 CFU/mL). We found that rats with a UTI (CFU/mL ≥ 105) had reduced proliferation of neural stem cells (NSCs) at an early time point post infection (day 4) and neurogenesis at a later time point (day 34). This was associated with the decreased expression in mRNA of BDNF, NGF, and FGF2, and elevated expression of IL-1β in the hippocampus at 6 h post infection, but with no changes in optical intensity of the microglia and astrocytes. In addition, infected rats spent less time exploring a novel arm in the Y-maze test. Treatment with an anti-inflammatory drug did not revert the effect on NSCs, while treatment with antibiotics further decreased the basal level of their proliferation. This study presents novel findings on the impact of urinary tract infections on hippocampal neurogenesis that could be correlated with cognitive impairment.
A Review on Electrospun Poly(amino acid) Nanofibers and Their Applications of Hemostasis and Wound Healing
Authors: Ji Yuexin , Song Wenliang , Xu Lin , Yu Deng-Guang , Annie Bligh Sim Wan
Published: June 2022

The timely and effective control and repair of wound bleeding is a key research issue all over the world. From traditional compression hemostasis to a variety of new hemostatic methods, people have a more comprehensive understanding of the hemostatic mechanism and the structure and function of different types of wound dressings. Electrospun nanofibers stand out with nano size, high specific surface area, higher porosity, and a variety of complex structures. They are high-quality materials that can effectively promote wound hemostasis and wound healing because they can imitate the structural characteristics of the skin extracellular matrix (ECM) and support cell adhesion and angiogenesis. At the same time, combined with amino acid polymers with good biocompatibility not only has high compatibility with the human body but can also be combined with a variety of drugs to further improve the effect of wound hemostatic dressing. This paper summarizes the application of different amino acid electrospun wound dressings, analyzes the characteristics of different materials in preparation and application, and looks forward to the development of directions of poly(amino acid) electrospun dressings in hemostasis.
Analysis of Muscle Lipidome in Juvenile Rainbow Trout Fed Rapeseed Oil and Cochayuyo Meal
Authors: Quiñones John , Díaz Rommy , Beltrán Jorge F. , Velazquez Lidiana , Cancino David , Muñoz Erwin , Dantagnan Patricio , Hernández Adrián , Sepúlveda Néstor , Farías Jorge G.
Published: June 2022

This study aimed to analyze the effects on the lipidome of juvenile Oncorhynchus mykiss muscle fed 90% Brassica napus “rapeseed” oil and different amounts of Durvillaea antarctica “Cochayuyo” meal (1.5, 3 and 6%) as a replacement for cellulose. The analysis allowed for the identification of 329 lipids, mainly represented by phospholipids and fatty esters. The inclusion of Brassica napus oil significantly increased the levels of C18:2 species and fatty esters of hydroxylated fatty acids, which could play a bioactive role in human health. One of the most abundant lipids in all fillets was Phosphatidylcholine 33:6, which, according to the literature, could be considered a biomarker for the identification of Oncorhynchus mykiss. In all experimental diets, the species Phosphatidylethanolamine 15:1-18:24 showed four-fold higher levels than the control; increments of n-3- and n-6-rich phospholipids were also observed. Diets containing Durvillaea antarctica meal did not generate more significant variation in fish muscle phospholipids relative to the muscle of the rapeseed-oil-only group. These lipid species consist of medium- and long-chain fatty acids with different degrees of unsaturation. Still, it appears that the rapeseed oil masks the lipid contribution of the meal, possibly due to the low levels of total lipids in the macroalgae.
Emerging Circulating Biomarkers in Atherosclerosis: From Molecular Mechanisms to Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Mandraffino Giuseppe , Mattina Alessandro , Scicali Roberto
Published: June 2022

Atherosclerosis is a long-term damaging process, and its progression leads to cardiovascular system injury [...]
Hormonal Crosstalk and Root Suberization for Drought Stress Tolerance in Plants
Authors: Kim Gaeun , Ryu Hojin , Sung Jwakyung
Published: June 2022

Higher plants in terrestrial environments face to numerous unpredictable environmental challenges, which lead to a significant impact on plant growth and development. In particular, the climate change caused by global warming is causing drought stress and rapid desertification in agricultural fields. Many scientific advances have been achieved to solve these problems for agricultural and plant ecosystems. In this review, we handled recent advances in our understanding of the physiological changes and strategies for plants undergoing drought stress. The activation of ABA synthesis and signaling pathways by drought stress regulates root development via the formation of complicated signaling networks with auxin, cytokinin, and ethylene signaling. An abundance of intrinsic soluble sugar, especially trehalose-6-phosphate, promotes the SnRK-mediated stress-resistance mechanism. Suberin deposition in the root endodermis is a physical barrier that regulates the influx/efflux of water and nutrients through complex hormonal and metabolic networks, and suberization is essential for drought-stressed plants to survive. It is highly anticipated that this work will contribute to the reproduction and productivity improvements of drought-resistant crops in the future.
Charge-Sensitive Optical Detection of Binding Kinetics between Phage-Displayed Peptide Ligands and Protein Targets
Authors: Liang Runli , Zhang Yingnan , Ma Guangzhong , Wang Shaopeng
Published: June 2022

Phage display technology has been a powerful tool in peptide drug development. However, the supremacy of phage display-based peptide drug discovery is plagued by the follow-up process of peptides synthesis, which is costly and time consuming, but is necessary for the accurate measurement of binding kinetics in order to properly triage the best peptide leads during the affinity maturation stages. A sensitive technology is needed for directly measuring the binding kinetics of peptides on phages to reduce the time and cost of the entire process. Here, we show the capability of a charge-sensitive optical detection (CSOD) method for the direct quantification of binding kinetics of phage-displayed peptides to their target protein, using whole phages. We anticipate CSOD will contribute to streamline the process of phage display-based drug discovery.
Detection of DNA Methyltransferase Activity via Fluorescence Resonance Energy Transfer and Exonuclease-Mediated Target Recycling
Authors: Hu Tingting , Ma Changbei , Yan Ying , Chen Junxiang
Published: June 2022

In this study, a sensitive method for detecting DNA methyltransferase (MTase) activity was developed by combining the effective fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) of cationic conjugated polymers and exonuclease (Exo) III–mediated signal amplification. DNA adenine MTase targets the GATC sequence within a substrate and converts the adenine in this sequence into N6-methyladenine. In the method developed in this study, the methylated substrate is cleaved using Dpn I, whereby a single-stranded oligodeoxynucleotide (oligo) is released. Afterward, the oligo is hybridized to the 3ʹ protruding end of the F-DNA probe to form a double-stranded DNA, which is then digested by Exo III. Subsequently, due to weak electrostatic interactions, only a weak FRET signal is observed. The introduction of the Exo-III–mediated target-recycling reaction improved the sensitivity for detecting MTase. This detection method was found to be sensitive for MTase detection, with the lowest detection limit of 0.045 U/mL, and was also suitable for MTase-inhibitor screening, whereby such inhibitors can be identified for disease treatment.
Compact Smartphone-Based Laser Speckle Contrast Imaging Endoscope Device for Point-of-Care Blood Flow Monitoring
Authors: Kim Youngkyu , Choi Woo June , Oh Jungmin , Kim Jun Ki
Published: June 2022

Laser speckle contrast imaging (LSCI) is a powerful visualization tool for quantifying blood flow in tissues, providing simplicity of configuration, ease of use, and intuitive results. With recent advancements, smartphone and camera technologies are suitable for the development of smartphone-based LSCI applications for point-of-care (POC) diagnosis. A smartphone-based portable LSCI endoscope system was validated for POC diagnosis of vascular disorders. The endoscope consisted of compact LED and laser illumination, imaging optics, and a flexible fiberscope assembled in a 3D-printed hand-held cartridge for access to body cavities and organs. A smartphone’s rear camera was mounted thereto, enabling endoscopy, LSCI image acquisition, and processing. Blood flow imaging was calibrated in a perfused tissue phantom consisting of a microparticle solution pumped at known rates through tissue-mimicking gel and validated in a live rat model of BBN-induced bladder cancer. Raw LSCI images successfully visualized phantom flow: speckle flow index showed linearity with the pump flow rate. In the rat model, healthy and cancerous bladders were distinguishable in structure and vasculature. The smartphone-based low-cost portable mobile endoscope for monitoring blood flow and perfusion shows promise for preclinical applications and may be suitable for primary diagnosis at home or as a cost-effective POC testing assay.
Occlusal Disharmony—A Potential Factor Promoting Depression in a Rat Model
Authors: Zhang Sihui , Wu Ling , Zhang Mi , He Kaixun , Wang Xudong , Lin Yuxuan , Li Shuxian , Chen Jiang
Published: June 2022

Objectives: Patients with occlusal disharmony (OD) may be susceptible to depression. The hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal axis, 5-HT and 5HT2AR in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), amygdala, and hippocampus are involved in the modulation of emotion and depression. This study investigated whether OD affects the HPA axis and 5-HT system and, subsequently, produces depression-like behaviors in rats. Materials and methods: OD was produced by removing 0.5 and 0.25 mm of hard tissue from the cusps of the maxillary molars in randomly selected sides of Sprague–Dawley rats. CUS involved exposure to 2 different stressors per day for 35 days. OD-, CUS-, and OD + CUS-treated groups and an untreated control group were compared in terms of behavior, endocrine status and brain histology. Results: There were significant differences among the four groups in the behavior tests (p < 0.05), especially in the sucrose preference test, where there was a significant decrease in the OD group compared to the control group. ACTH and CORT concentrations were significantly higher in the OD + CUS group than the control group (p < 0.05). Expression of GR and 5-HT2AR in the PFC, amygdala and hippocampal CA1 was significantly higher in the OD, CUS and OD + CUS groups than the control group (p < 0.05). Conclusion: OD promotes depression-like behaviors through peripheral and central pathways via the HPA axis, GR and 5-HT system.
Prolonged Survival and Restored Useful Life by Early Induction of Intrathecal Chemotherapy in a Patient with Leptomeningeal Carcinomatosis from Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Takahara Kento , Katayama Makoto , Tamura Ryota
Published: June 2022

Leptomeningeal carcinomatosis (LMC) is a rare but devastating complication of advanced cancer. Breast cancer, lung cancer, and melanoma are the three most common causes of LMC, whereas it is rare in ovarian cancer. Here, we report the case of a 59-year-old woman who was diagnosed with LMC from ovarian cancer and was successfully treated with intrathecal chemotherapy via Ommaya reservoir and radiation therapy. The patient had an amelioration of symptoms and prolonged survival. Though LMC from ovarian cancer is thought to be rare, it is not going to remain a rare entity because the incidence of LMC in general is thought to be increasing, which is also the case with ovarian cancer. According to 31 cases whose treatment course is reported in literature, despite the absence of an established treatment for LMC, intrathecal (IT) chemotherapy whose survival benefit has been suggested in past studies might also prolong survival in patients with LMC from ovarian cancer. IT chemotherapy via Ommaya reservoir may be preferred to the lumbar puncture route. The presentation of non-specific symptoms of LMC in patients may hinder its diagnosis; however, early diagnosis and treatment induction is the key for patients’ prolonged survival and restored useful life.
The Role of the Root in Spoken Word Recognition in Hebrew: An Auditory Gating Paradigm
Authors: Oganyan Marina , Wright Richard A.
Published: June 2022

Very few studies have investigated online spoken word recognition in templatic languages. In this study, we investigated both lexical (neighborhood density and frequency) and morphological (role of root morpheme) aspects of spoken word recognition of Hebrew, a templatic language, using the traditional gating paradigm. Additionally, we compared the traditional gating paradigm with a novel, phoneme-based gating paradigm. The phoneme-based approach allows for better control of information available at each gate. We found lexical effects with high-frequency words and low neighborhood density words being recognized at earlier gates. We also found that earlier access to root-morpheme information enabled word recognition at earlier gates. Finally, we showed that both the traditional gating paradigm and gating by phoneme paradigm yielded equivalent results.
Investigation of Corticomuscular Functional Coupling during Hand Movements Using Vine Copula
Authors: Ye Fei , Ding JinSuo , Chen Kai , Xi Xugang
Published: June 2022

Corticomuscular functional coupling reflects the neuronal communication between cortical oscillations and muscle activity. Although the motor cortex is significantly involved in complex motor tasks, there is still no detailed understanding of the cortical contribution during such tasks. In this paper, we first propose a vine copula model to describe corticomuscular functional coupling and we construct the brain muscle function network. First, we recorded surface electromyography (sEMG) and electroencephalography (EEG) signals corresponding to the hand open, hand close, wrist flexion, and wrist extension motions of 12 participants during the initial experiments. The pre-processed signals were translated into the marginal density functions of different channels through the generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedasticity model. Subsequently, we calculated the Kendall rank correlation coefficient, and used the R-vine model to decompose the multi-dimensional marginal density function into two-dimensional copula coefficient to determine the structure of the R-vine. Finally, we used the normalized adjacency matrix to structure the corticomuscular network for each hand motion considered. Based on the adjacency matrix, we found that the Kendall rank correlation coefficient between EEG and EMG was low. Moreover, a significant difference was observed in the correlation between the C3 and EMG signals for the different hand-motion activities. We also observed two core nodes in the networks corresponding to the four activities when the vine copula model was applied. Moreover, there was a large difference in the connections of the network models corresponding to the different hand-motion activities. Therefore, we believe that our approach is sufficiently accurate in identifying and classifying motor tasks.
Chewing Revenge or Becoming Socially Desirable? Anger Rumination in Refugees and Immigrants Experiencing Racial Hostility: Latin-Americans in Spain
Authors: da Silva Rebelo María José , Fernández Mercedes , Meneses-Falcón Carmen
Published: June 2022

This paper explores how real scenarios of racial hostility and discrimination trigger anger rumination tendencies in refugees, asylum seekers and immigrants (hereafter RASI). Undergoing discrimination often leads to the development of negative thoughts and behaviors, and to a loss of meaning and self-worth. This could make young RASI particularly vulnerable to being recruited and exploited by extremist groups as they search for identity. We developed a picture-elicitation instrument (the PEI) to provide professionals with a tool that could identify groups of RASI according to their reactions to discrimination scenarios and explore how racial hostility might influence withdrawal levels. The tool was applied with the Anger Rumination Scale (ARS_19) to 509 RASI of Latin American origin living in Spain. Four categories were identified, according to how RASI processed anger when observing discrimination scenarios: “Social desirability”, “Chewing”, “Grudge”, and “Vengeful”. Further analyses showed that the youngest (18–29) fell under the “Grudge” and “Vengeful” categories and revealed more despair and social isolation. This study makes a positive contribution by being the first to investigate the problem of anger rumination in RASI undergoing racial hostility. Moreover, it equips professionals with two tools that, once validated, may help plan and implement strategies to reduce the impact of hostility on both RASI and their host societies.
Creating and Sustaining Service Industry Relationships and Families: Theorizing How Personal Workplace Relationships Both Build Community and Perpetuate Organizational Violence
Authors: Eger Elizabeth K. , Pollard Emily , Jones Hannah E. , Van Meter Riki
Published: June 2022

Service industry workers experience challenging labor conditions in the United States, including pay below the minimum wage, expected emotional labor, and harassment. Additionally, in part because they work long shifts in high stress environments in restaurants and bars, many build and form personal workplace relationships (PWRs). In 2021, we interviewed 38 service industry workers and managers during the COVID-19 pandemic where we examined occupational challenges they faced in the state of Texas, USA. Through our interpretive research, this essay showcases our inductive findings on how service industry workers and managers utilize communication to create and sustain PWRs. We identified how some PWRs are sustained through a unique form of occupational identification that cultivates a “service industry family”, which we term familial personal workplace relationships (familial PWRs). This extends past organizational communication scholarship on family to consider occupational identification. Furthermore, our research reveals that while PWRs may build communities through care and support, they also perpetuate organizational violence, like sexual harassment and bullying.
Personal Cell Phones among Children: Parental Perception of Content-Related Threats and Attempts to Control Them in a Lithuanian Sample
Authors: Austys Donatas , Sprudzanaitė Ausma , Stukas Rimantas
Published: June 2022

Background and Objectives: Various content-related threats such as provocative content, disinformation, cyberbullying, or sexual and commercial messages might reach children by phone and have a negative effect on their health. Amongst parents who are able to control it, we aimed to assess parental attitudes towards the use of mobile phones among children and control measures taken. Materials and Methods: A total number of 619 parents of primary school children from a middle-sized town in Lithuania participated in this study. Parents anonymously filled out our original questionnaire. Distribution of the respondents was assessed according to control measures taken, threat awareness, and sociodemographic factors. Results: Most of the respondents (79.8%) thought that personal mobile phones might be harmful to children’s health, 99.5% of the parents used at least one control measure. Further, 91.9% of the respondents did not think that children might receive messages from strangers. Respectively, 85.5% and 95.2% of the parents thought that children do not receive offensive or sexual content messages. Many parents (25.5%) helped their children register to social networks. Parents with lower education and parents of younger children had lower awareness of threats (p < 0.05). Fathers, higher educated, single, and unemployed parents indicated application of fewer control measures (p < 0.05). Other sociodemographic factors were not related with threat awareness or control measures taken (p > 0.05). Conclusions: Nearly all parents of primary school children take measures in order to control their children’s usage of mobile phones but most of them underestimate content-related threats brought by mobile phones.
A Design for Safety (DFS) Semantic Framework Development Based on Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Automated Compliance Checking Using BIM: The Case of China
Authors: Zhou Yilun , She Jianjun , Huang Yixuan , Li Lingzhi , Zhang Lei , Zhang Jiashu
Published: June 2022

For design for safety (DFS), automated compliance checking methods have received extensive attention. Although many research efforts have indicated the potential of BIM and ontology for automated compliance checking, an efficient methodology is still required for the interoperability and semantic representation of data from different sources. Therefore, a natural language processing (NLP)-based semantic framework is proposed in this paper, which implements rules-based automated compliance checking for building information modeling (BIM) at the design stage. Semantic-rich information can be extracted from safety regulations by NLP methods, which were analyzed to generate conceptual classes and individuals of ontology and provide a corpus basis for rule classification. The data on BIM was extracted from Revit to a spreadsheet using the Dynamo tool and then mapped to the ontology using the Cellfie tool. The interoperability of different source data was well improved through the isomorphism of information in the framework of semantic integration, causing data processed by the semantic web rule language to be transformed from safety regulations to achieve the purpose that automated compliance checking is implemented in the design documents. The practicability and scientific feasibility of the proposed framework was verified through a 95.21% recall and a 90.63% precision in compliance checking of a case study in China. Compared with traditional compliance checking methods, the proposed framework had high efficiency, response speed, data interoperability, and interaction.
Constructing Inclusive Infrastructure Evaluation Framework—Analysis Influence Factors on Rural Infrastructure Projects of China
Authors: Jiang Aichun , Zhang Yunchu , Ao Yibin
Published: June 2022

The theory of inclusive growth has been widely studied. However, most studies focus on the measurement of macro-field research, and no systematic research has been carried out on the realization and path of micro-field research, especially in project management. This paper clarifies the key factors which impact the inclusive growth of rural infrastructure projects through a literature review to lay a foundation for evaluation and policy formulation in rural infrastructure projects. The analysis of factors identified by a literature review is conducted based on data derived from questionnaire results received from 135 stakeholders. The universality of 41 factors was verified by the Kruskal–Wallis test to examine whether the importance of influencing factors varies in different infrastructure types or different stakeholders. Factor analysis categorized 41 factors into seven common factors, thus, an inclusive evaluation framework for project management is constructed. The evaluation framework of inclusive infrastructure is constructed from seven perspectives. The evaluation framework is proposed for the first time in the field of rural infrastructure management, and a new evaluation system is proposed for the performance evaluation of rural infrastructure.
A Conceptual Model for Selecting Early Contractor Involvement (ECI) for a Project
Authors: Rahmani Farshid , Khalfan Malik , Maqsood Tayyab
Published: June 2022

Amongst different aspects of a capital construction project, procurement is found to be the most important area and represents over 80% of the contract value. The selection of an appropriate procurement strategy is an important contributor to overall project success. Within several procurement methods, Early Contractor Involvement (ECI), a relatively new strategy to procure a construction project, is becoming more popular for infrastructure projects across Australia. However, it appears that ECI has been adopted as a preferred procurement option with little research or piloting, and decisions to select ECI for a project have been mostly judgmental, and subject to biases of the decision-makers. This paper focuses on this important issue and proposes a conceptual model for selecting ECI for a construction project. Grounded Theory research methodology is employed for this study that facilitates the generation of categories and contextualises theory. Validation of the theory was ensured by carefully practicing the theoretical coding procedures through ‘open coding’, ‘axial coding’, and ‘selective coding’. The data is collected through individual interviews with experts within client organisations who held senior management level roles in their organisations and were involved in the selection process of ECI and could provide input into their experience in that area. The proposed selection model integrates the procurement selection criteria specifically related to the project characteristics, client’s objectives, and internal and external project environments with alternative selection approaches and practices. This paper also discusses the notion of social, process, and output control by using ECI.