bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Ribbing of Mechanical Crank Press Cast C-Frames over the Stress State in Critical Areas
Authors: Pisarciuc Cristian , Dan Ioan , Cioară Romeo
Published: June 2022

The research presented is directed to identify the ways to reduce stress state in critical areas of the C-frame of mechanical presses. Ribbing is a way to increase rigidity and a means to reduce energy consumption in operation. Hence, the objective is to design new frame models that would ensure that presented features are obtained. Starting from a reference model that was maintained as such, within the conducted study, an important part of the new solutions resulted by ribbing the lateral walls of the frame and determining three different distances between the ribs, as well as their various orientations. The finite element-FEM study of the resulted stress states was conducted for all devised models. FEA revealed that, in the new models with ribbed lateral walls, the maximum values of the stress have different evolutions for each of the three critical areas considered. In most new models, the maximum stress decreased by 2–5% in two of the critical areas and increased in the third. The study carried out allows the selection of the most performant of the new solutions and provides valuable information for application and further studies.
Research on Meshing Characteristics of Trochoidal Roller Pinion Rack Transmission
Authors: Wang Haiwei , Li Lulu , Liu Geng
Published: June 2022

As a precision transmission mechanism, the trochoidal roller pinion rack has been paid more and more attention in recent years, but its meshing characteristics have not been deeply explored. In order to investigate the meshing characteristics of the trochoidal roller pinion rack transmission, it is particularly important to research its line of action and meshing stiffness. The equation of the line of action of the trochoidal roller pinion rack is deduced by using its tooth profile formation principle. The motion simulation of the trochoidal roller pinion rack transmission is carried out to verify the correctness of the theoretical derivation of the equation of the line of action, and the influence of the basic parameters on the line of action is summarized. The meshing stiffness of the trochoidal roller pinion rack is calculated based on the energy method used for gear meshing stiffness, and the meshing stiffness is defined considering the time-varying characteristics of its pressure angle, and the influence of each basic parameter on the meshing stiffness is studied. The results shows that the meshing stiffness increases first and then decreases in the double tooth meshing area, while the meshing stiffness gradually decreases in the single tooth meshing area. The basic parameters including number of roller pins, the module, the rack tooth profile offset coefficient, the diameter coefficient of roller pin, and the addendum coefficient of rack have different effects on the line of action and meshing stiffness. The research conclusion can provide reference for the parameter design of the trochoidal roller pinion rack, and provide the meshing stiffness calculation method for the dynamic analysis of the transmission.
Class II Treatment in Growing Patients: Preliminary Evaluation of the Skeletal and Dental Effects of a New Clear Functional Appliance
Authors: Cremonini Francesca , Cervinara Francesca , Siciliani Giuseppe , Lombardo Luca
Published: June 2022

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective preliminary study was to analyze the skeletal and dentoalveolar effects of a new clear functional appliance in a sample of patients close to growth spurt with class II malocclusion attributable to mandibular retrusion. Materials and methods: A sample of growing patients underwent functional Class II correction using F22® (Sweden and Martina, Due Carrare (PD), Italy) Young, realized combining the aesthetic characteristics of the F22® clear aligner with the structural features of a functional appliance. For each patient, a digital setup was performed by a single operator to plan a mandibular advancement to the therapeutic position. Cephalometric analysis before and after treatment was performed. The purpose of the statistical analysis was to evaluate dental and skeletal changes associated with F22® Young device, and whether there were statistically significant differences in anatomical measurements between the beginning and end of treatment. Results: 15 patients, 7 females and 8 males of average age 10.3, were treated with the F22® Young appliance for an average period of 10 months ± 0.5 (maximum 11.5 months, minimum 10.5 months). The data showed that the SNB angle increase was statistically significant from T0 to T1, leading to a reduction in the ANB angle. Values for the mandible length, both total (Co-Gn) and at the base (Go-Pg), significantly increased. Conclusions: According to this preliminary study, F22® Young appliance is effective in promoting mandibular advancement when used near the pubertal growth peak. The device is comfortable and aesthetic, which certainly promoted patient compliance, a key factor for treatment success.
A Situational Analysis of Current Speech-Synthesis Systems for Child Voices: A Scoping Review of Qualitative and Quantitative Evidence
Authors: Terblanche Camryn , Harty Michal , Pascoe Michelle , Tucker Benjamin V.
Published: June 2022

(1) Background: Speech synthesis has customarily focused on adult speech, but with the rapid development of speech-synthesis technology, it is now possible to create child voices with a limited amount of child-speech data. This scoping review summarises the evidence base related to developing synthesised speech for children. (2) Method: The included studies were those that were (1) published between 2006 and 2021 and (2) included child participants or voices of children aged between 2–16 years old. (3) Results: 58 studies were identified. They were discussed based on the languages used, the speech-synthesis systems and/or methods used, the speech data used, the intelligibility of the speech and the ages of the voices. Based on the reviewed studies, relative to adult-speech synthesis, developing child-speech synthesis is notably more challenging. Child speech often presents with acoustic variability and articulatory errors. To account for this, researchers have most often attempted to adapt adult-speech models, using a variety of different adaptation techniques. (4) Conclusions: Adapting adult speech has proven successful in child-speech synthesis. It appears that the resulting quality can be improved by training a large amount of pre-selected speech data, aided by a neural-network classifier, to better match the children’s speech. We encourage future research surrounding individualised synthetic speech for children with CCN, with special attention to children who make use of low-resource languages.
A PCA-LSTM-Based Method for Fault Diagnosis and Data Recovery of Dry-Type Transformer Temperature Monitoring Sensor
Authors: Zheng Mingze , Yang Kun , Shang Chunxue , Luo Yi
Published: June 2022

The failure that occurs during the dry-type transformer temperature monitoring sensor working will result in wrong data output, which may cause the monitor and monitoring background to respond incorrectly. To solve this problem, a fault diagnosis and data recovery algorithm based on principal component analysis (PCA), long short-term memory neural network (LSTM), and decision tree is proposed. It can realize the fault sensor location, fault diagnosis, and data recovery under dynamic processes. First, a set of temperature monitors was designed to collect the temperature inside the dry-type transformer in real-time by using the collected temperature data to build a PCA-based fault diagnosis model and a LSTM-based data recovery model. A fault location model based on a decision tree was constructed for five typical sensor fault types. Finally, the three models were constructed to obtain the sensor fault diagnosis and recovery algorithm. We then transplanted the algorithm to the temperature monitor. The experimental results showed that the recognition rate of the algorithm for different fault diagnoses of single- or multiple-sensors was above 96%. The diagnosis time was less than 1 ms. The recovery error was within 0.1 °C. The field experiments verified that the algorithm could significantly improve the stability of the monitor. Even if the sensor fails, it can also ensure that the dry-type transformer works within the normal range.
New Possibilities in Heart Failure: The Effects of Tadalafil on Diastolic Function in Patients Undergoing Robot-Assisted Radical Prostatectomy
Authors: Crocetto Felice , Cuomo Vittoria , Santoro Ciro , Fiorillo Ludovica , Barone Biagio , Arcaniolo Davide , Fedele Teresa , Imbimbo Ciro , Esposito Roberta
Published: June 2022

Inhibitors of phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5i) are the first-line treatment for erectile dysfunction and are also used to treat pulmonary hypertension. PDE5i impedes the breakdown of nitric oxide (NO)-driven cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) in smooth muscle cells of the vascular bed, acting as a potent vasodilator. In heart failure, cGMP signaling is altered. The modulation of cGMP has therefore emerged as a potential therapeutic option for heart failure. In this prospective observational study, we aim to investigate whether tadalafil, a long-acting PDE5i used for erectile dysfunction, could also improve diastolic function assessed by cardiac ultrasound. A total of 23 patients were enrolled, undergoing nerve-sparing robot-assisted radical prostatectomy for prostate cancer and treated with 20 mg tadalafil on alternate days to recover erectile function. All patients underwent tadalafil treatment for at least 6 months. Participants underwent a clinical and cardiac ultrasound with color Doppler assessment at baseline, after 3 months, and after 6 months. At 6 months, no significant difference was found apart from lower E/e’ ratio (7.4 ± 2.7 vs. 6.3 ± 1.3; p < 0.03), peak velocity of TR jet (2.4 ± 0.2 vs. 2.1 ± 0.2; p < 0.001), and PAPs (27.3 ± 3.6 vs. 22.9 ± 5.7; p < 0.005). Our prospective study shows that 6 months of erectile dysfunction therapy for secondary to radical prostatectomy is associated with a favorable effect on diastolic function, improving the E/e’ ratio and peak velocity of the TR jet.
Experimental Investigation into Failure Modes of Low-Yield-Point Steel Plate Shear Walls
Authors: Liu Qinglan , Shao Jianhua , Tang Baijie , Wang Zhanguang
Published: June 2022

Two specimens of low-yield-point steel plate shear walls used for the experimental investigation into different failure modes of the structure were respectively carried out by the horizontal and vertical loading tests in this paper. The results derived from the horizontal loading test for specimen 1 demonstrated that both the infill panel and the frame column were seriously damaged as the loading level increased with continuous and steady strain growth, in which maximum out-of-plane displacement and strain of the infill panel reached 31.8 mm and 11,735 με respectively, whereas the strain of the frame column reached 13,117 με. Moreover, the structural bearing capacity decreased extremely slowly and the specimen still had a high strength when the controlled displacement of the specimen exceeded 3.28 times the yield displacement, which indicated that the ductility of the structure was excellent. The results of a vertical loading experiment for specimen 2 indicated that the maximum deformation of both the infill panel and frame column occurred in the middle-upper part of the members, with a maximum out-of-plane displacement of 95 mm and 70 mm, respectively. The dramatic out-of-plane bulging phenomenon along the width of the infill plate under the vertical load and the seriously torsional deformation of the frame column were observed.
IHSSAO: An Improved Hybrid Salp Swarm Algorithm and Aquila Optimizer for UAV Path Planning in Complex Terrain
Authors: Yao Jinyan , Sha Yongbai , Chen Yanli , Zhang Guoqing , Hu Xinyu , Bai Guiqiang , Liu Jun
Published: June 2022

In this paper, we propose a modified hybrid Salp Swarm Algorithm (SSA) and Aquila Optimizer (AO) named IHSSAO for UAV path planning in complex terrain. The primary logic of the proposed IHSSAO is to enhance the performance of AO by introducing the leader mechanism of SSA, tent chaotic map, and pinhole imaging opposition-based learning strategy. Firstly, the tent chaotic map is utilized to substitute the randomly generated initial population in the original algorithm to increase the diversity of the initial individuals. Secondly, we integrate the leader mechanism of SSA into the position update formulation of the basic AO, which enables the search individuals to fully utilize the optimal solution information and enhances the global search capability of AO. Thirdly, we introduce the pinhole imaging opposition-based learning in the proposed IHSSAO to enhance the capability to escape from the local optimization. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed IHSSAO algorithm, we tested it against SSA, AO, and five other advanced meta-heuristic algorithms on 23 classical benchmark functions and 17 IEEE CEC2017 test functions. The experimental results indicate that the proposed IHSSAO is superior to the other seven algorithms in most cases. Eventually, we applied the IHSSAO, SSA, and AO to solve the UAV path planning problem. The experimental results verify that the IHSSAO is superior to the basic SSA and AO for solving the UAV path planning problem in complex terrain.
An Approach for Selecting the Most Explanatory Features for Facial Expression Recognition
Authors: Marrero-Fernandez Pedro D. , Buades-Rubio Jose M. , Jaume-i-Capó Antoni , Ing Ren Tsang
Published: June 2022

The objective of this work is to analyze which features are most important in the recognition of facial expressions. To achieve this, we built a facial expression recognition system that learns from a controlled capture data set. The system uses different representations and combines them from a learned model. We studied the most important features by applying different feature extraction methods for facial expression representation, transforming each obtained representation into a sparse representation (SR) domain, and trained combination models to classify signals, using the extended Cohn–Kanade (CK+), BU-3DFE, and JAFFE data sets for validation. We compared 14 combination methods for 247 possible combinations of eight different feature spaces and obtained the most explanatory features for each facial expression. The results indicate that the LPQ (83%), HOG (82%), and RAW (82%) features are those features most able to improve the classification of expressions and that some features apply specifically to one expression (e.g., RAW for neutral, LPQ for angry and happy, LBP for disgust, and HOG for surprise).
Influence of Concrete–Rock Bonds and Roughness on the Shear Behavior of Concrete–Rock Interfaces under Low Normal Loading, Experimental and Numerical Analysis
Authors: Badika Menes , El Merabi Bassel , Capdevielle Sophie , Dufour Frederic , Saletti Dominique , Briffaut Matthieu
Published: June 2022

Direct shear tests were performed to study the influence of concrete–rock bonds and roughness on the shear behavior of concrete–rock interfaces. The results of these tests show that the shear behavior of concrete–hardrock interfaces depends on the micro-roughness driving the formation of strong concrete–rock bonds and on the macro-roughness accounting for the influence of the surfaces interlocking. Based on this outcome and recent literature, a cohesive frictional model is used to simulate direct shear tests of bonded concrete–granite interfaces with the explicit representation of naturally rough interfaces. The results of these simulations show that the model has good prediction capability compared to the experimental results, opening up the pathway to numerically based robust statistical analysis.
Trends of Tropical Cyclone Translation Speed over the Western North Pacific during 1980−2018
Authors: Gong Danyi , Tang Xiaodong , Chan Johnny C. L. , Wang Qiuyun
Published: June 2022

Tropical cyclone (TC) translation speed often affects the time of strong wind attacks and precipitation accumulation in the areas that TCs pass through. Therefore, the trend of TC translation speed has important implications for TC-related risks in the current and future climate. In this paper, the trends of TC translation speed over the Western North Pacific (WNP) from 1980 to 2018 are analyzed, and TC lifetime maximum intensity (LMI) is proposed as a factor related to the interdecadal change of translation speed. During the periods with accurate data, 1980–1997 shows a decreasing trend in TC translation speed while an increasing trend was found in 1998–2018. The main lifetime period contributing to a TC translation speed change is before the occurrence of the LMI. The change in the trend is related to both the TC’s characteristics itself and the environmental factors. For the period 1998–2018, an increasing trend of TC intensity has a significant influence on the trend of translation speed. For the environmental factors, a trend of east wind enhancement at and above 500 hPa as the steering flow is found mostly correlated in the active TC region of the WNP with westward translation before reaching LMI, accompanied by a weakening trend of 200–850 hPa vertical wind shear, and an increasing trend of potential intensity.
Future Climate Projections Using SDSM and LARS-WG Downscaling Methods for CMIP5 GCMs over the Transboundary Jhelum River Basin of the Himalayas Region
Authors: Munawar Saira , Rahman Ghani , Moazzam Muhammad Farhan Ul , Miandad Muhammad , Ullah Kashif , Al-Ansari Nadhir , Linh Nguyen Thi Thuy
Published: June 2022

Climate change is one of the leading issues affecting river basins due to its direct impacts on the cryosphere and hydrosphere. General circulation models (GCMs) are widely applied tools to assess climate change but the coarse spatial resolution of GCMs limit their direct application for local studies. This study selected five CMIP5 GCMs (CCSM4, HadCM3, GFDL-CM3, MRI-CGCM3 and CanESM2) for performance evaluation ranked by Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NSE) and Kling–Gupta Efficiency (KGE). CCSM4 and HadCM3 large-scale predictors were favored based on ranks (0.71 and 0.68, respectively) for statistical downscaling techniques to downscale the climatic indicators Tmax, Tmin and precipitation. The performance of two downscaling techniques, Statistical Downscaling Methods (SDSM) and Long Ashton Research Station Weather Generator (LARS-WG), were examined using the Mean Absolute Error (MAE), Root Mean Square Error (RMSE), bias, NSE and KGE with weights (Wi) for the validation period. The results of statistical measures proved SDSM more efficient (0.67) in comparison to the LARS-WG (0.51) for the validation time for the Jhelum River basin. The findings revealed that the SDSM simulation for Tmax and Tmin are more comparable to the reference data for the validation period except simulation of extreme events by precipitation. The 21st century climatic projections exhibited a significant rise in Tmax (2.37–4.66 °C), Tmin (2.47–4.52 °C) and precipitation (7.4–11.54%) for RCP-4.5 and RCP-8.5, respectively. Overall, the results depicted that winter and pre-monsoon seasons were potentially most affected in terms of warming and precipitation, which has the potential to alter the cryosphere and runoff of the Jhelum River basin.
Polarization Spectroscopy Applied to Electromagnetically Induced Transparency in Hot Rydberg Atoms Using a Laguerre–Gaussian Beam
Authors: Duarte Gomes Naomy , da Fonseca Magnani Bárbara , Massayuki Kondo Jorge Douglas , Marcassa Luis Gustavo
Published: June 2022

In this work, we have applied polarization spectroscopy to study electromagnetically induced transparency involving hot Rb85 Rydberg state in a vapor cell using a Laguerre–Gaussian mode beam. Such spectroscopy technique generates a dispersive signal, which allows a direct measurement of the transition linewidth. Our results show that the measured transition linewidth for a Laguerre–Gaussian mode control beam is narrower than for a Gaussian mode. Besides, it can be well reproduced by a simplified Lindblad master equation model.
Quality Management of Pulmonary Nodule Radiology Reports Based on Natural Language Processing
Authors: Fei Xiaolu , Chen Pengyu , Wei Lan , Huang Yue , Xin Yi , Li Jia
Published: June 2022

To investigate the feasibility of automated follow-up recommendations based on findings in radiology reports, this paper proposed a Natural Language Processing model specific for Pulmonary Nodule Radiology Reports. Unstructured findings used to describe pulmonary nodules in 48,091 radiology reports were processed in this study. We established an NLP model to extract information entities from findings of radiology reports, using deep learning and conditional random-field algorithms. Subsequently, we constructed a knowledge graph comprising 168 entities and four relationships, based on the export recommendations of the internationally renowned Fleischner Society for pulmonary nodules. These were employed in combination with rule templates to automatically generate follow-up recommendations. The automatically generated recommendations were then compared to the impression part of the reports to evaluate the matching rate of proper follow ups in the current situation. The NLP model identified eight types of entities with a recognition accuracy of up to 94.22%. A total of 43,898 out of 48,091 clinical reports were judged to contain appropriate follow-up recommendations, corresponding to the matching rate of 91.28%. The results show that NLP can be used on Chinese radiology reports to extract structured information at the content level, thereby realizing the prompt and intelligent follow-up suggestion generation or post-quality management of follow-up recommendations.
Assessment of Heavy Metal Accumulation in Soil and Garlic Influenced by Waste-Derived Organic Amendments
Authors: Akhter Pervaiz , Khan Zafar Iqbal , Hussain Muhammad Iftikhar , Ahmad Kafeel , Farooq Awan Muhammad Umer , Ashfaq Asma , Chaudhry Usman Khalid , Fahad Ullah Muhammad , Abideen Zainul , Almaary Khalid S. , Alwahibi Mona S. , Elshikh Mohamed Soliman
Published: June 2022

In South Asia, the high costs of synthetic fertilizers have imposed research on alternative nutrient inputs. We aimed to identify potential trace elements (PTE) present in some organic manure that might be a source of environmental pollutions and risk to public health following consumption. The study aims to evaluate how different organic waste (poultry waste, PW; press mud, PM; and farmyard manure, FYM) influences the heavy metal migration in soil, the accumulation in garlic, and their potential health risks. Organic waste caused a higher accumulation of certain metals (Zn, Cu, Fe, and Co), whereas Mn, Cd, Cr, and Pb were in lower concentrations in soil. Amendments of soil with PM revealed a higher accumulation of Cd, Cr, Fe, and Pb, whereas PW resulted in Cu and Zn accumulation in garlic. Treatment of soil with FYM exhibited higher metal concentration of Co and Mn. An environmental hazard indices study revealed that pollution load index (PLI) was highest for Cu following treatment with PM. The health risk index (HRI) was greater for Cd following amendment with PM. Maximum daily intake of metals (DIM) was observed for Zn after treatment with PW. The Pb exhibited maximum bioconcentration factor (BCF) in PM-amended plants. Based on these findings, we concluded that garlic grown on contaminated soil with organic waste may pose serious health hazards following consumption.
Effects of Electric-Toothbrush Vibrations on the Expression of Collagen and Non-Collagen Proteins through the Focal Adhesion Kinase Signaling Pathway in Gingival Fibroblasts
Authors: Nakai Kumiko , Tanaka Hideki , Fukuzawa Kyoko , Nakajima Jyunya , Ozaki Manami , Kato Nobue , Kawato Takayuki
Published: June 2022

Electric-toothbrush vibrations, which remove plaque, are transmitted to the gingival connective tissue via epithelial cells. Physical energy affects cell function; however, the effects of electric-toothbrush vibrations on gingival extracellular matrix (ECM) protein expression remain unknown. We aimed to examine the effects of these vibrations on the expression of ECM proteins—type I collagen (col I), type III collagen (col III), elastin, and fibronectin (FN)—using human gingival fibroblasts (HGnFs). HGnFs were seeded for 5 days in a six-well plate with a hydrophilic surface, exposed to electric-toothbrush vibrations, and cultured for 7 days. Subsequently, the mRNA and protein levels of col I, col III, elastin, and FN were examined. To investigate the role of focal adhesion kinase (FAK) signaling on ECM protein expression in vibration-stimulated cells, the cells were treated with siRNA against protein tyrosine kinase (PTK). Electric-toothbrush vibrations increased col I, col III, elastin, and FN expression; promoted collagen and non-collagen protein production; and enhanced FAK phosphorylation in HGnFs. Moreover, PTK2 siRNA completely blocked the effects of these vibrations on the expression of col I, col III and elastin mRNA. The results suggest that electric-toothbrush vibrations increase collagen, elastin, and FN production through the FAK-signaling pathway in fibroblasts.
Neurodynamic Treatment Promotes Mechanical Pain Modulation in Sensory Neurons and Nerve Regeneration in Rats
Authors: Carta Giacomo , Fornasari Benedetta Elena , Fregnan Federica , Ronchi Giulia , De Zanet Stefano , Muratori Luisa , Nato Giulia , Fogli Marco , Gambarotta Giovanna , Geuna Stefano , Raimondo Stefania
Published: June 2022

Background: Somatic nerve injuries are a rising problem leading to disability associated with neuropathic pain commonly reported as mechanical allodynia (MA) and hyperalgesia. These symptoms are strongly dependent on specific processes in the dorsal root ganglia (DRG). Neurodynamic treatment (NDT), consisting of selective uniaxial nerve repeated tension protocols, effectively reduces pain and disability in neuropathic pain patients even though the biological mechanisms remain poorly characterized. We aimed to define, both in vivo and ex vivo, how NDT could promote nerve regeneration and modulate some processes in the DRG linked to MA and hyperalgesia. Methods: We examined in Wistar rats, after unilateral median and ulnar nerve crush, the therapeutic effects of NDT and the possible protective effects of NDT administered for 10 days before the injury. We adopted an ex vivo model of DRG organotypic explant subjected to NDT to explore the selective effects on DRG cells. Results: Behavioural tests, morphological and morphometrical analyses, and gene and protein expression analyses were performed, and these tests revealed that NDT promotes nerve regeneration processes, speeds up sensory motor recovery, and modulates mechanical pain by affecting, in the DRG, the expression of TACAN, a mechanosensitive receptor shared between humans and rats responsible for MA and hyperalgesia. The ex vivo experiments have shown that NDT increases neurite regrowth and confirmed the modulation of TACAN. Conclusions: The results obtained in this study on the biological and molecular mechanisms induced by NDT will allow the exploration, in future clinical trials, of its efficacy in different conditions of neuropathic pain.
Lactobacillus acidophilus Mitigates Osteoarthritis-Associated Pain, Cartilage Disintegration and Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis in an Experimental Murine OA Model
Authors: O-Sullivan InSug , Natarajan Anbazhagan Arivarasu , Singh Gurjit , Ma Kaige , Green Stefan J. , Singhal Megha , Wang Jun , Kumar Anoop , Dudeja Pradeep K. , Unterman Terry G. , Votta-Velis Gina , Bruce Benjamin , van Wijnen Andre J. , Im Hee-Jeong
Published: June 2022

To test probiotic therapy for osteoarthritis (OA), we administered Lactobacillus acidophilus (LA) by oral gavage (2×/week) after induction of OA by partial medial meniscectomy (PMM). Pain was assessed by von Frey filament and hot plate testing. Joint pathology and pain markers were comprehensively analyzed in knee joints, spinal cords, dorsal root ganglia and distal colon by Safranin O/fast green staining, immunofluorescence microscopy and RT-qPCR. LA acutely reduced inflammatory knee joint pain and prevented further OA progression. The therapeutic efficacy of LA was supported by a significant reduction of cartilage-degrading enzymes, pain markers and inflammatory factors in the tissues we examined. This finding suggests a likely clinical effect of LA on OA. The effect of LA treatment on the fecal microbiome was assessed by 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing analysis. LA significantly altered the fecal microbiota compared to vehicle-treated mice (PERMANOVA p < 0.009). Our pre-clinical OA animal model revealed significant OA disease modifying effects of LA as reflected by rapid joint pain reduction, cartilage protection, and reversal of dysbiosis. Our findings suggest that LA treatment has beneficial systemic effects that can potentially be developed as a safe OA disease-modifying drug (OADMD).
Meal and Physical Activity Detection from Free-Living Data for Discovering Disturbance Patterns of Glucose Levels in People with Diabetes
Authors: Askari Mohammad Reza , Rashid Mudassir , Sun Xiaoyu , Sevil Mert , Shahidehpour Andrew , Kawaji Keigo , Cinar Ali
Published: June 2022

Objective: The interpretation of time series data collected in free-living has gained importance in chronic disease management. Some data are collected objectively from sensors and some are estimated and entered by the individual. In type 1 diabetes (T1D), blood glucose concentration (BGC) data measured by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) systems and insulin doses administered can be used to detect the occurrences of meals and physical activities and generate the personal daily living patterns for use in automated insulin delivery (AID). Methods: Two challenges in time-series data collected in daily living are addressed: data quality improvement and the detection of unannounced disturbances of BGC. CGM data have missing values for varying periods of time and outliers. People may neglect reporting their meal and physical activity information. In this work, novel methods for preprocessing real-world data collected from people with T1D and the detection of meal and exercise events are presented. Four recurrent neural network (RNN) models are investigated to detect the occurrences of meals and physical activities disjointly or concurrently. Results: RNNs with long short-term memory (LSTM) with 1D convolution layers and bidirectional LSTM with 1D convolution layers have average accuracy scores of 92.32% and 92.29%, and outperform other RNN models. The F1 scores for each individual range from 96.06% to 91.41% for these two RNNs. Conclusions: RNNs with LSTM and 1D convolution layers and bidirectional LSTM with 1D convolution layers provide accurate personalized information about the daily routines of individuals. Significance: Capturing daily behavior patterns enables more accurate future BGC predictions in AID systems and improves BGC regulation.
Osteoblast-like Cell Differentiation on 3D-Printed Scaffolds Using Various Concentrations of Tetra-Polymers
Authors: Wattanaanek Nattanan , Suttapreyasri Srisurang , Samruajbenjakun Bancha
Published: June 2022

New bone formation starts from the initial reaction between a scaffold surface and the extracellular matrix. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of various amounts of calcium, phosphate, sodium, sulfur, and chloride ions on osteoblast-like cell differentiation using tetra-polymers of amorphous calcium phosphate (ACP), calcium sulfate hemihydrate (CSH), alginic acid, and hydroxypropyl methylcellulose. Moreover, 3D-printed scaffolds were fabricated to determine the ion distribution and cell differentiation. Various proportions of ACP/CSH were prepared in ratios of 0%, 13%, 15%, 18%, 20%, and 23%. SEM was used to observe the morphology, cell spreading, and ion complements. The scaffolds were also examined for calcium ion release. The mouse osteoblast-like cell line MC3T3-E1 was cultured to monitor the osteogenic differentiation, alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity, total protein synthesis, osteocalcin expression (OCN), and calcium deposition. All 3D-printed scaffolds exhibited staggered filaments, except for the 0% group. The amounts of calcium, phosphate, sodium, and sulfur ions increased as the amounts of ACP/CSH increased. The 18%ACP/CSH group significantly exhibited the most ALP on days 7, 14, and 21, and the most OCN on days 14 and 21. Moreover, calcium deposition and mineralization showed the highest peak after 7 days. In conclusion, the 18%ACP/CSH group is capable of promoting osteoblast-like cell differentiation on 3D-printed scaffolds.
Correlations between Persistent Olfactory and Semantic Memory Disorders after SARS-CoV-2 Infection
Authors: Fiorentino Julie , Payne Magali , Cancian Elisa , Plonka Alexandra , Dumas Louise-Émilie , Chirio David , Demonchy Élisa , Risso Karine , Askenazy-Gittard Florence , Guevara Nicolas , Castillo Laurent , Robert Philippe , Manera Valeria , Vandersteen Clair , Gros Auriane
Published: June 2022

Background: One of the main symptoms of COVID-19 is hyposmia or even anosmia. Olfactory identification is most often affected. In addition, some cognitive disorders tend to appear following the infection, particularly regarding executive functions, attention, and memory. Olfaction, and especially olfactory identification, is related to semantic memory which manages general knowledge about the world. The main objective of this study was to determine whether semantic memory is impaired in case of persistent post COVID-19 olfactory disorders. Methods: 84 patients (average age of 42.8 ± 13.6 years) with post COVID-19 olfactory loss were included after consulting to the ENT department. The clinical evaluation was carried out with the Pyramid and Palm Tree Test, the word-retrieval task from the Grémots, the Sniffin’ Sticks Test and the Computerised Olfactory Test for the Diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease. Results: Semantic memory was impaired in 20% (n = 17) of patients, especially in the 19–39 age-group. The olfactory threshold was only significantly correlated with the semantic memory scores. Conclusions: Similar to all cognitive disorders, semantic disorders can have a negative impact on quality of life if left untreated. It is essential to carry out specific assessments of post COVID-19 patients to accurately determine their disorders and to put in place the best possible rehabilitation, such as speech and language therapy, to avoid quality-of-life impairment.
Correction: Chow, J.W. and Stokic, D.S. Longitudinal Changes in Temporospatial Gait Characteristics during the First Year Post-Stroke. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 1648
Authors: Chow John W. , Stokic Dobrivoje S.
Published: June 2022

The authors have made some changes in response to the reviewer’s comments after the manuscript was published in December 2021 [...]
Semantic Self-Images and Well-Being in Young and Older Adults: Does the Accessibility Matter?
Authors: Vannucci Manila , Chiorri Carlo , Pelagatti Claudia , Favilli Laura
Published: June 2022

In the present study we investigated whether and how age group, dimensions of well-being and their interactions predicted the phenomenological properties of semantic self-images, taking also into account the different levels of accessibility of self-images (i.e., order of generation). Results on the first self-image revealed that, independently of age, higher levels of life satisfaction predicted higher likelihood of positive than negative statement and higher levels of negative affect and life satisfaction predicted higher levels of personal relevance of the self-image. When all self-images were considered, for higher levels of life satisfaction neutral and positive self-images were more likely than negative ones, and for lower levels of positive affect, neutral images were more likely than negative ones. Moreover, young adults were more likely than older adults to report neutral rather than negative self-images and, for higher levels of positive affect, they were more likely to report neutral and positive images instead of negative ones. These results suggest that the accessibility of semantic self-images should be taken into account in the investigation of the complex association between well-being and semantic self-images. Theoretical and practical implications of these results are discussed.
Keeping the Aging Brain Healthy through Exercise
Authors: Müller Notger G.
Published: June 2022

The interaction of physical activity and brain function with respect to what we now call successful aging has been and remains extensively studied [...]
Broadband Amplification as Tinnitus Treatment
Authors: Joergensen Mie Laerkegaard , Hyvärinen Petteri , Caporali Sueli , Dau Torsten
Published: June 2022

This study investigated the effect of broadband amplification (125 Hz to 10 kHz) as tinnitus treatment for participants with high-frequency hearing loss and compared these effects with an active placebo condition using band-limited amplification (125 Hz to 3–4 kHz). A double-blinded crossover study. Twenty-three participants with high-frequency (≥3 kHz) hearing loss and chronic tinnitus were included in the study, and 17 completed the full treatment protocol. Two different hearing aid treatments were provided for 3 months each: Broadband amplification provided gain in the frequency range from 125 Hz to 10 kHz and band-limited amplification only provided gain in the low-frequency range (≤3–4 kHz). The effect of the two treatments on tinnitus distress was evaluated with the Tinnitus Handicap Inventory (THI) and the Tinnitus Functional Index (TFI) questionnaires. The effect of the treatment on tinnitus loudness was evaluated with a visual analog scale (VAS) for loudness and a psychoacoustic loudness measure. Furthermore, the tinnitus annoyance was evaluated with a VAS for annoyance. The tinnitus pitch was evaluated based on the tinnitus likeness spectrum. A statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment groups (broadband vs. band-limited amplification) for the treatment-related change in THI and TFI with respect to the baseline. Furthermore, a statistically significant difference was found between the two treatment conditions for the annoyance measure. Regarding the loudness measure, no statistically significant differences were found between the treatments, although there was a trend towards a lower VAS-based loudness measure resulting from the broadband amplification. No changes were observed in the tinnitus pitch between the different conditions. Overall, the results from the present study suggest that tinnitus patients with high-frequency hearing loss can experience a decrease in tinnitus-related distress and annoyance from high-frequency amplification.
Relationship between PSD of Park Green Space and Attention Restoration in Dense Urban Areas
Authors: Zhu Zhixian , Hassan Ahmad , Wang Weijue , Chen Qibing
Published: June 2022

Research shows that stress, a common problem in densely populated cities, can be relieved by exposure to the natural environment. As great significance has been attached to the relationship between the urban environment and public health, this paper aims to study the relationship and interaction between the perceived sensory dimensions of urban park green space, attention restoration, and state empathy. Therefore, we conducted an on-site questionnaire (PSD Scale) survey in four typical parks in Chengdu and recorded age, sex, daily stress, frequency of visits to parks, and other basic information from the respondents. In the survey and visit, we found that the group structure in the recreation area comprises chiefly of a few transient unfamiliar travelers and most long-haul neighborhood sightseers. Among long-haul vacationers, the greater part of them are moderately aged and older individuals in the encompassing local locations, whose lives are, for the most part, quick and proficient. Hence, to mirror the populace attributes of high-thickness metropolitan parks and to feature the agent bunches that have lived in the parks from here onward, indefinitely quite a while, the chosen bunches are somewhere in the range of 35 and 65 years old (half male and half female), so make sure there are no ailments, no drinking, and no late evenings in the earlier days, so a specific actual fundamental belief is kept up with. The main part of the exercise focused on the perceived dimension, state empathy, and attention restoration. The software SPSS24.0 was applied to the test of the validity and reliability of the perceived sensory dimension (PSD) Scale, and then the important correlation between the perceived sensory dimensions in the parks and visitors’ attention restoration was analyzed through multiple linear regression. Finally, the moderating effect of state empathy was tested by PROCESS. The findings show that (1) only seven dimensions in the PSD Scale are effective; (2) Serene and Refuge in the perceived sensory dimensions have a significant effect on the restorative components of attention. (3) Except for the dimensions of Rich in Species and Refuge, empathy enhanced the moderation effect in the interaction between the other five dimensions of the Perceived Restorative Scale (PRS), especially in the interaction between the Social and PRS dimensions. However, this topic needs to be further explored to provide a scientific basis and design strategy for research on the restoration potential of urban park green space in high-density urban areas.
Simulating the Benefits of Nature Exposure on Cognitive Performance in Virtual Reality: A Window into Possibilities for Education and Cognitive Health
Authors: Léger Michel T. , Mekari Said
Published: June 2022

Purpose: This one-group pretest–posttest, designed within a subject study, looks to compare the effects of an outdoor nature walk (ONW) to those of a virtual nature walk (VRW) on memory and cognitive function. Implications are discussed for education as well as for the world of virtual reality. Methods: Sixty-four healthy university students were asked to complete an ONW and a VRW, which was created using 3D video of the same nature trail used for the ONW. The VRW condition involved a five-minute walk on a treadmill, while wearing a virtual reality mask (Oculus, San Francisco, USA) that projected a previously recorded three-dimensional capture of the same nature walk they experienced outdoors. Both experimental conditions lasted approximately 5 min and were counterbalanced between participants. A Digit Span Test (Digit) for working memory and a Trail Test (TMT) for executive function were administered to all study participants, immediately before and after each type of walk. Results: For executive function testing (Trail Making Test), our results demonstrate that both the ONW and VRW condition improved the TMT time, when compared to a baseline (ONW 37.06 ± 1.31 s vs. 31.75 ± 1.07 s, p < 0.01 and VRW 36.19 ± 1.18 s vs. 30.69 ± 1.11 s, p < 0.01). There was no significant difference between the ONW and VRW groups. Similarly, for the Digit memory task, both conditions improved compared to the baseline (ONW 54.30 ± 3.01 vs. 68.4 ± 2.66, p < 0.01 and VRW 58.1 ± 3.10 vs. 67.4 ± 2.72, p < 0.01). There was a difference at the baseline between the ONW and VRW conditions (54.3 ± 3.01 vs. 58.1 ± 3.10, p < 0.01), but this baseline difference in memory performance was no longer significant post exercise, between groups at follow-up (68.4 ± 2.66 vs. 67.4 ± 2.72, p < 0.08). Conclusions: Our results suggest that both a virtual reality protocol and a nature walk can have positive outcomes on memory and executive function in younger adults.
Frequency-Specific Analysis of the Dynamic Reconfiguration of the Brain in Patients with Schizophrenia
Authors: Yang Yanli , Zhang Yang , Xiang Jie , Wang Bin , Li Dandan , Cheng Xueting , Liu Tao , Cui Xiaohong
Published: June 2022

The analysis of resting-state fMRI signals usually focuses on the low-frequency range/band (0.01–0.1 Hz), which does not cover all aspects of brain activity. Studies have shown that distinct frequency bands can capture unique fluctuations in brain activity, with high-frequency signals (>0.1 Hz) providing valuable information for the diagnosis of schizophrenia. We hypothesized that it is meaningful to study the dynamic reconfiguration of schizophrenia through different frequencies. Therefore, this study used resting-state functional magnetic resonance (RS-fMRI) data from 42 schizophrenia and 40 normal controls to investigate dynamic network reconfiguration in multiple frequency bands (0.01–0.25 Hz, 0.01–0.027 Hz, 0.027–0.073 Hz, 0.073–0.198 Hz, 0.198–0.25 Hz). Based on the time-varying dynamic network constructed for each frequency band, we compared the dynamic reconfiguration of schizophrenia and normal controls by calculating the recruitment and integration. The experimental results showed that the differences between schizophrenia and normal controls are observed in the full frequency, which is more significant in slow3. In addition, as visual network, attention network, and default mode network differ a lot from each other, they can show a high degree of connectivity, which indicates that the functional network of schizophrenia is affected by the abnormal brain state in these areas. These shreds of evidence provide a new perspective and promote the current understanding of the characteristics of dynamic brain networks in schizophrenia.
Working Memory Models and Measures in Language and Bilingualism Research: Integrating Cognitive and Affective Perspectives
Authors: Wen Zhisheng (Edward) , Teng Mark Feng , Han Lili , Zeng Yong
Published: June 2022

Although emotional or affective working memory (WM) is quite well established in general psychology, not much research has looked into its potential implications for the language sciences and bilingualism and second language acquisition (SLA) research until recently. To fill this gap, this paper aims to propose that WM has not just cognitive implications, but its affective dimension may also make complementary and unique contributions to language and bilingualism/SLA research. Towards this end, we first briefly synthesize the cognitive views of WM conceptions and assessment procedures in the current language sciences and bilingualism/SLA research. Next, we turn to discuss the theoretical models and assumptions of affective WM and explore their theoretical implications for bilingualism/SLA research based on emerging empirical evidence. Then, we propose a conceptual framework integrating cognitive and affective WM perspectives and further provide guidelines for designing affective WM span tasks that can be used in future affective WM–language research, focusing on the construction procedures of several emotion-based affective WM span tasks (e.g., the emotional reading span task, the emotional operation span task, and the emotional symmetry span task) as examples. Overall, we argue that affective feelings are also an integral part of the mental representations held in WM and future research in the language sciences and bilingualism/SLA should incorporate both cognitive and affective WM dimensions.