bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sensorimotor Cortical Activity during Respiratory Arousals in Obstructive Sleep Apnea
Authors: Bahr-Hamm Katharina , Koirala Nabin , Hanif Marsha , Gouveris Haralampos , Muthuraman Muthuraman
Published: December 2022

Intensity of respiratory cortical arousals (RCA) is a pathophysiologic trait in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients. We investigated the brain oscillatory features related to respiratory arousals in moderate and severe OSA. Raw electroencephalography (EEG) data recorded during polysomnography (PSG) of 102 OSA patients (32 females, mean age 51.6 ± 12 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Among all patients, 47 had moderate (respiratory distress index, RDI = 15–30/h) and 55 had severe (RDI > 30/h) OSA. Twenty RCA per sleep stage in each patient were randomly selected and a total of 10131 RCAs were analyzed. EEG signals obtained during, five seconds before and after the occurrence of each arousal were analyzed. The entropy (approximate (ApEn) and spectral (SpEn)) during each sleep stage (N1, N2 and REM) and area under the curve (AUC) of the EEG signal during the RCA was computed. Severe OSA compared to moderate OSA patients showed a significant decrease (p < 0.0001) in the AUC of the EEG signal during the RCA. Similarly, a significant decrease in spectral entropy, both before and after the RCA was observed, was observed in severe OSA patients when compared to moderate OSA patients. Contrarily, the approximate entropy showed an inverse pattern. The highest increase in approximate entropy was found in sleep stage N1. In conclusion, the dynamic range of sensorimotor cortical activity during respiratory arousals is sleep-stage specific, dependent on the frequency of respiratory events and uncoupled from autonomic activation. These findings could be useful for differential diagnosis of severe OSA from moderate OSA.
Cardiac Metabolism and MiRNA Interference
Authors: Sumaiya Krishnamoorthi , Ponnusamy Thiruvelselvan , Natarajaseenivasan Kalimuthusamy , Shanmughapriya Santhanam
Published: December 2022

The aberrant increase in cardio-metabolic diseases over the past couple of decades has drawn researchers’ attention to explore and unveil the novel mechanisms implicated in cardiometabolic diseases. Recent evidence disclosed that the derangement of cardiac energy substrate metabolism plays a predominant role in the development and progression of chronic cardiometabolic diseases. Hence, in-depth comprehension of the novel molecular mechanisms behind impaired cardiac metabolism-mediated diseases is crucial to expand treatment strategies. The complex and dynamic pathways of cardiac metabolism are systematically controlled by the novel executor, microRNAs (miRNAs). miRNAs regulate target gene expression by either mRNA degradation or translational repression through base pairing between miRNA and the target transcript, precisely at the 3’ seed sequence and conserved heptametrical sequence in the 5’ end, respectively. Multiple miRNAs are involved throughout every cardiac energy substrate metabolism and play a differential role based on the variety of target transcripts. Novel theoretical strategies have even entered the clinical phase for treating cardiometabolic diseases, but experimental evidence remains inadequate. In this review, we identify the potent miRNAs, their direct target transcripts, and discuss the remodeling of cardiac metabolism to cast light on further clinical studies and further the expansion of novel therapeutic strategies. This review is categorized into four sections which encompass (i) a review of the fundamental mechanism of cardiac metabolism, (ii) a divulgence of the regulatory role of specific miRNAs on cardiac metabolic pathways, (iii) an understanding of the association between miRNA and impaired cardiac metabolism, and (iv) summary of available miRNA targeting therapeutic approaches.
Changes in the Expression and Functional Activities of C-X-C Motif Chemokine Ligand 13 (CXCL13) in Hyperplastic Prostate
Authors: Liu Daoquan , Li Mingzhou , Fu Xun , Yang Shu , Wang Zhen , Liu Jianmin , Li Yan , Zhou Yongying , Ren Pengfei , Guo Yuhang , Wang Xinghuan , DiSanto Michael E. , Chen Ping , Zhang Xinhua
Published: December 2022

Background: C-X-C motif chemokine ligand 13 (CXCL13), a member of the CXC subtype in chemokine superfamily, affects numerous biological processes of various types of cells and the progress of a great number of clinical diseases. The purpose of the current study was to reveal the internal mechanism between CXCL13 and benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH). Methods: Human serum, prostate tissues and human prostate cell lines (BPH-1, WPMY-1) were utilized. The effect of recombinant human CXCL13 (rHuCXCL13) protein and the influences of the knockdown/overexpression of CXCL13 on two cell lines were studied. Rescue experiments by anti-CXCR5 were also conducted. In vivo, rHuCXCL13 was injected into the ventral prostate of rats. Additionally, a tissue microarray of hyperplastic prostate tissues was constructed to analyze the correlations between CXCL13 and clinical parameters. Results: CXCL13 was highly expressed in the prostate tissues and upregulated in the BPH group. It was observed that CXCL13 modulated cell proliferation, apoptosis, and the epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT) through CXCR5 via AKT and the ERK1/2 pathway in BPH-1, while it contributed to inflammation and fibrosis through CXCR5 via the STAT3 pathway in WPMY-1. In vivo, rHuCXCL13 induced the development of rat BPH. Additionally, CXCL13 was positively correlated with the prostate volume and total prostate specific antigen. Conclusions: Our novel data demonstrated that CXCL13 modulated cell proliferation, cell cycle, the EMT of epithelial cells, and induced the fibrosis of prostatic stromal cells via a variety of inflammatory factors, suggesting that CXCL13 might be rediscovered as a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of BPH.
Effects of High Irradiance and Low Water Temperature on Photoinhibition and Repair of Photosystems in Marimo (Aegagropila linnaei) in Lake Akan, Japan
Authors: Obara Akina , Ogawa Mari , Oyama Yoichi , Suzuki Yoshihiro , Kono Masaru
Published: December 2022

The green alga Aegagropila linnaei often forms spherical aggregates called “marimo” in Lake Akan in Japan. In winter, marimo are exposed to low water temperatures at 1–4 °C but protected from strong sunlight by ice coverage, which may disappear due to global warming. In this study, photoinhibition in marimo was examined at 2 °C using chlorophyll fluorescence and 830 nm absorption. Filamentous cells of A. linnaei dissected from marimo were exposed to strong light at 2 °C. Photosystem II (PSII) was markedly photoinhibited, while photosystem I was unaffected. When the cells with PSII damaged by the 4 h treatment were subsequently illuminated with moderate repair light at 2 °C, the maximal efficiency of PSII was recovered to the level before photoinhibition. However, after the longer photoinhibitory treatments, PSII efficiency did not recover by the repair light. When the cells were exposed to simulated diurnal light for 12 h per day, which was more ecological, the cells died within a few days. Our results showed new findings of the PSII repair at 2 °C and serious damage at the cellular level from prolonged high-light treatments. Further, we provided a clue to what may happen to marimo in Lake Akan in the near future.
Full-Length Transcriptome of Myotis pilosus as a Reference Resource and Mining of Auditory and Immune Related Genes
Authors: Wang Xue , Bao Mingyue , Xu Ningning , Sun Ruyi , Dai Wentao , Sun Keping , Wang Hui , Feng Jiang
Published: December 2022

Rickett’s big-footed bat, Myotis pilosus, which belongs to the family Vespertilionida, is the only known piscivorous bat in East Asia. Accurate whole genome and transcriptome annotations are essential for the study of bat biological evolution. The lack of a whole genome for M. pilosus has limited our understanding of the molecular mechanisms underlying the species’ evolution, echolocation, and immune response. In the present work, we sequenced the entire transcriptome using error-corrected PacBio single-molecule real-time (SMRT) data. Then, a total of 40 GB of subreads were generated, including 29,991 full-length non-chimeric (FLNC) sequences. After correction by Illumina short reads and de-redundancy, we obtained 26,717 error-corrected isoforms with an average length of 3018.91 bp and an N50 length of 3447 bp. A total of 1528 alternative splicing (AS) events were detected by transcriptome structural analysis. Furthermore, 1032 putative transcription factors (TFs) were identified, with additional identification of several long non-coding RNAs (lncRNAs) with high confidence. Moreover, several key genes, including PRL-2, DPP4, Glul, and ND1 were also identified as being associated with metabolism, immunity, nervous system processes, and auditory perception. A multitude of pattern recognition receptors was identified, including NLR, RLR, SRCR, the antiviral molecule IRF3, and the IFN receptor subunit IFNAR1. High-quality reference genomes at the transcriptome level may be used to quantify gene or transcript expression, evaluate alternative splicing levels, identify novel transcripts, and enhance genome annotation in bats.
Maternal Vitamin D Levels during Pregnancy and Offspring Psychiatric Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Authors: Upadhyaya Subina , Ståhlberg Tiia , Silwal Sanju , Arrhenius Bianca , Sourander Andre
Published: December 2022

Prenatal exposure to vitamin D may play a significant role in human brain development and function. Previous epidemiological studies investigating the associations between maternal vitamin D status and offspring developmental and psychiatric outcomes in humans have been inconclusive. We aimed to systematically assess the results of previously published studies that examined the associations between maternal vitamin D levels, measured as circulating 25(OH)D levels in pregnancy or at birth, and offspring neuropsychiatric and psychiatric outcomes. Systematic searches were conducted using MEDLINE, Embase, PsychINFO and Web of Science for studies published by 10 August 2022. We included human observational studies that examined associations between prenatal or perinatal vitamin D levels and offspring neuropsychiatric and psychiatric outcomes and were published in English in peer-reviewed journals. Of the 3729 studies identified, 66 studies were screened for full texts and 29 studies published between 2003 and 2022 were included in the final review. There was a small amount of evidence for the association between prenatal vitamin D deficiency and autism spectrum disorder. When studies with larger sample sizes and stricter definitions of vitamin D deficiency were considered, positive associations were also found for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder and schizophrenia. Future studies with larger sample sizes, longer follow-up periods and prenatal vitamin D assessed at multiple time points are needed.
Loss of CDKL5 Causes Synaptic GABAergic Defects That Can Be Restored with the Neuroactive Steroid Pregnenolone-Methyl-Ether
Authors: De Rosa Roberta , Valastro Serena , Cambria Clara , Barbiero Isabella , Puricelli Carolina , Tramarin Marco , Randi Silvia , Bianchi Massimiliano , Antonucci Flavia , Kilstrup-Nielsen Charlotte
Published: December 2022

CDKL5 deficiency disorder (CDD) is an X-linked neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by early-onset drug-resistant epilepsy and impaired cognitive and motor skills. CDD is caused by mutations in cyclin-dependent kinase-like 5 (CDKL5), which plays a well-known role in regulating excitatory neurotransmission, while its effect on neuronal inhibition has been poorly investigated. We explored the potential role of CDKL5 in the inhibitory compartment in Cdkl5-KO male mice and primary hippocampal neurons and found that CDKL5 interacts with gephyrin and collybistin, two crucial organisers of the inhibitory postsynaptic sites. Through molecular and electrophysiological approaches, we demonstrated that CDKL5 loss causes a reduced number of gephyrin puncta and surface exposed γ2 subunit-containing GABAA receptors, impacting the frequency of miniature inhibitory postsynaptic currents, which we ascribe to a postsynaptic function of CDKL5. In line with previous data showing that CDKL5 loss impacts microtubule (MT) dynamics, we showed that treatment with pregnenolone-methyl-ether (PME), which promotes MT dynamics, rescues the above defects. The impact of CDKL5 deficiency on inhibitory neurotransmission might explain the presence of drug-resistant epilepsy and cognitive defects in CDD patients. Moreover, our results may pave the way for drug-based therapies that could bypass the need for CDKL5 and provide effective therapeutic strategies for CDD patients.
Hepato-Protective Effects of Delta-Tocotrienol and Alpha-Tocopherol in Patients with Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease: Regulation of Circulating MicroRNA Expression
Authors: Pervez Muhammad Amjad , Khan Dilshad Ahmed , Gilani Sayed Tanveer Abbas , Fatima Safia , Ijaz Aamir , Nida Sumbal
Published: December 2022

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a key role in the regulation of genes for normal metabolism in the liver. Dysregulation of miRNAs is involved in the development and progression of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). We aimed to explore changes in circulating miRNA expression in response to delta-tocotrienol (δT3) and alpha-tocopherol (αTF) supplementation and correlate them with relevant biochemical markers in patients with NAFLD. In total, 100 patients with NAFLD were randomized to either receive δT3 (n = 50) 300 mg or αTF (n = 50) 268 mg twice/day for 48 weeks. Plasma expression of miRNA-122, -21, -103a-2, -421, -375 and -34a were determined at baseline, 24 and 48 weeks of intervention using RT-qPCR. Both δT3 and αTF significantly downregulated expression of miRNA-122, -21, -103a-2, -421, -375 and -34a. Moreover, δT3 was more effective than αTF in reducing expression of miRNA-375 and -34a. A significant correlation was observed between miRNA expression and biochemical markers of hepatic steatosis, insulin resistance (IR), oxidative stress (OS), inflammation and apoptosis. δT3 and αTF exert hepato-protective effects by downregulating miRNAs involved in hepatic steatosis, IR, OS, inflammation and apoptosis in patients with NAFLD. Furthermore, δT3 has more pronounced effects than αTF in reducing miR-375 and miR-34a, which are linked to regulation of inflammation and apoptosis.
GA-Mediated Disruption of RGA/BZR1 Complex Requires HSP90 to Promote Hypocotyl Elongation
Authors: Plitsi Panagiota Konstantinia , Samakovli Despina , Roka Loukia , Rampou Aggeliki , Panagiotopoulos Konstantinos , Koudounas Konstantinos , Isaioglou Ioannis , Haralampidis Kosmas , Rigas Stamatis , Hatzopoulos Polydefkis , Milioni Dimitra
Published: December 2022

Circuitries of signaling pathways integrate distinct hormonal and environmental signals, and influence development in plants. While a crosstalk between brassinosteroid (BR) and gibberellin (GA) signaling pathways has recently been established, little is known about other components engaged in the integration of the two pathways. Here, we provide supporting evidence for the role of HSP90 (HEAT SHOCK PROTEIN 90) in regulating the interplay of the GA and BR signaling pathways to control hypocotyl elongation of etiolated seedlings in Arabidopsis. Both pharmacological and genetic depletion of HSP90 alter the expression of GA biosynthesis and catabolism genes. Major components of the GA pathway, like RGA (REPRESSOR of ga1–3) and GAI (GA-INSENSITIVE) DELLA proteins, have been identified as physically interacting with HSP90. Interestingly, GA-promoted DELLA degradation depends on the ATPase activity of HSP90, and inhibition of HSP90 function stabilizes the DELLA/BZR1 (BRASSINAZOLE-RESISTANT 1) complex, modifying the expression of downstream transcriptional targets. Our results collectively reveal that HSP90, through physical interactions with DELLA proteins and BZR1, modulates DELLA abundance and regulates the expression of BZR1-dependent transcriptional targets to promote plant growth.
Characterization of the Rate-Limiting Steps in the Dark-To-Light Transitions of Closed Photosystem II: Temperature Dependence and Invariance of Waiting Times during Multiple Light Reactions
Authors: Magyar Melinda , Sipka Gábor , Han Wenhui , Li Xingyue , Han Guangye , Shen Jian-Ren , Lambrev Petar H. , Garab Győző
Published: December 2022

Rate-limiting steps in the dark-to-light transition of Photosystem II (PSII) were discovered by measuring the variable chlorophyll-a fluorescence transients elicited by single-turnover saturating flashes (STSFs). It was shown that in diuron-treated samples: (i) the first STSF, despite fully reducing the QA quinone acceptor molecule, generated only an F1(<Fm) fluorescence level; (ii) to produce the maximum (Fm) level, additional excitations were required, which, however, (iii) were effective only with sufficiently long Δτ waiting times between consecutive STSFs. Detailed studies revealed the gradual formation of the light-adapted charge-separated state, PSIIL. The data presented here substantiate this assignment: (i) the Δτ1/2 half-increment rise (or half-waiting) times of the diuron-treated isolated PSII core complexes (CCs) of Thermostichus vulcanus and spinach thylakoid membranes displayed similar temperature dependences between 5 and –80 °C, with substantially increased values at low temperatures; (ii) the Δτ1/2 values in PSII CC were essentially invariant on the Fk−to-Fk+1 (k = 1–4) increments both at 5 and at −80 °C, indicating the involvement of the same physical mechanism during the light-adaptation process of PSIIL. These data are in harmony with the earlier proposed role of dielectric relaxation processes in the formation of the light-adapted charge-separated state and in the variable chlorophyll-a fluorescence of PSII.
Transcriptome and Metabolite Profiling of Tomato SGR-Knockout Null Lines Using the CRISPR/Cas9 System
Authors: Kim Jin Young , Kim Jong Hee , Jang Young Hee , Yu Jihyeon , Bae Sangsu , Kim Me-Sun , Cho Yong-Gu , Jung Yu Jin , Kang Kwon Kyoo
Published: December 2022

Stay-green 1 (SGR1) protein is a critical regulator of chlorophyll degradation and senescence in plant leaves; however, the functions of tomato SGR1 remain ambiguous. Here, we generated an SGR1-knockout (KO) null line via clustered regularly interspaced palindromic repeat (CRISPR)/CRISPR-associated protein 9-mediated gene editing and conducted RNA sequencing and gas chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry analysis to identify the differentially expressed genes (DEGs). Solanum lycopersicum SGR1 (SlSGR1) knockout null line clearly showed a turbid brown color with significantly higher chlorophyll and carotenoid levels than those in the wild-type (WT) fruit. Differential gene expression analysis revealed 728 DEGs between WT and sgr#1-6 line, including 263 and 465 downregulated and upregulated genes, respectively, with fold-change >2 and adjusted p-value < 0.05. Most of the DEGs have functions related to photosynthesis, chloroplasts, and carotenoid biosynthesis. The strong changes in pigment and carotenoid content resulted in the accumulation of key primary metabolites, such as sucrose and its derivatives (fructose, galactinol, and raffinose), glycolytic intermediates (glucose, glucose-6-phosphate, and fructose-6-phosphate), and tricarboxylic acid cycle intermediates (malate and fumarate) in the leaves and fruit of the SGR-KO null lines. Overall, the SGR1-KO null lines developed here provide new evidence for the mechanisms underlying the roles of SGR1 as well as the molecular pathways involved in photosynthesis, chloroplasts, and carotenoid biosynthesis.
Numerical Modeling of the Ultimate Bearing Capacity of Strip Footings on Reinforced Sand Layer Overlying Clay with Voids
Authors: Chaabani Walid , Remadna Mohamed Saddek , Abu-Farsakh Murad
Published: December 2022

The presence of underground voids within a failure zone usually results in a reduction in the bearing capacity of footings. This paper presents results for the ultimate bearing capacity ratio, qu/γB, of a strip footing on top of a sand layer overlying a clay layer with voids, with and without the placing of geotextile reinforcement at the interface between the sand and clay layers. Using the finite difference software FLAC 2D, the bearing capacity ratio of the strip footing was calculated for voids with different depths and horizontal distance for two configurations: parallel and symmetrical. The effect of parameters on the ultimate bearing capacity ratio was also investigated, including the undrained shear stress ratio of the soil, the thickness of the top layer and the size, location, height, width and spacing of the voids, with and without placing of geotextile layers at the interface between the sand and clay layers. It was found that the influence of a void on the ultimate bearing capacity ratio of the strip footing vanished when the void was located outside the failure zone beneath the footing and increased further with reinforcement until it reached a constant limit value.
Lead-Free Multiferroic Barium-Calcium Zirconate-Titanate & Doped Nickel Ferrite Composites
Authors: Lisnevskaya Inna V. , Aleksandrova Inga A. , Savinov Artem N.
Published: December 2022

Magnetoelectric lead-free composite ceramic based on the piezoelecrtic Ba0.85Ca0.15Ti0.9Zr0.1O3 (BCZT) and magnetic NiCo0.02Cu0.02Mn0.1Fe1.8O4−d (NCCMF) has been obtained by the solid state method using preliminarily synthesized by the solid-state method precursors. X-ray diffraction measurements, microstructural, magnetic, dielectric, piezoelectric and magnetoelectric studies have been carried out. Impurity phases were not contained in the composites, and there were no signs of interfacial interaction even at the doping level. Ceramics has a high electrical resistivity at direct current (~109 Ω·cm) and, over the entire range of x studied, exhibits a combination of magnetic and piezoelectric parameters, which vary over a wide range and clearly depend on the composites composition. The maximum magnetoelectric coupling coefficient ΔE/ΔH ≈ 90 mV/(cm·Oe) at a frequency of 1 kHz has been observed for specimens with x = 60–70%.
Performance Appraisal: Reinterpreting Tropic of Orange
Authors: Bevan Greg
Published: December 2022

Karen Tei Yamashita’s third novel Tropic of Orange (1997), set in Los Angeles and featuring an all-minority cast of characters and extensive use of magical realism, has been commonly received as an indictment of global capitalism. But the present study argues that such an interpretation depends upon foregrounding the most didactic portions of the text, and that engagement with the enacted drama of the novel reveals a more fully developed and equally enduring theme, that of the performative nature of ethnic identity.
Effect of Al and La Doping on the Structure and Magnetostrictive Properties of Fe73Ga27 Alloy
Authors: Du Jinchao , Gong Pei , Li Xiao , Ning Shaoqi , Song Wei , Wang Yuan , Hao Hongbo
Published: December 2022

The changes of microstructure, magnetostriction properties and hardness of the Fe73Ga27−xAlx alloy and (Fe73Ga27−xAlx)99.9La0.1 alloy (x = 0, 0.5, 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, 4.5) were studied by doping Al into the Fe73Ga27 and (Fe73Ga27)99.9La0.1 alloy, respectively. The results show that both the Fe73Ga27−xAlx alloy and (Fe73Ga27−xAlx)99.9La0.1 alloy are dominated by the A2 phase, and the alloy grains are obvious columnar crystals with certain orientations along the water-cooled direction. A proportion of Al atoms replaced Ga atoms, which changed the lattice constant of the alloy, caused lattice distortion, and produced vacancy effects which affected the magnetostriction properties. La atoms were difficult to dissolve in the matrix alloy which made the alloy grains smaller and enhanced the orientation along the (100) direction, resulting in greater magneto-crystalline anisotropy and greater tetragonal distortion, which is conducive to improving the magnetostriction properties. Fe73Ga24.5Al2.5 alloy has a saturation magnetostrictive strain of 74 ppm and a hardness value of 268.064 HV, taking into account the advantages of saturated magnetostrictive strain and high hardness. The maximum saturation magnetostrictive strain of the (Fe73Ga24.5Al2.5)99.9La0.1 alloy is 115 ppm and the hardness is 278.096 HV, indicating that trace La doping can improve the magnetostriction properties and deformation resistance of Fe-Ga alloy, which provides a new design idea for the Fe-Ga alloy, broadening their application in the field of practical production.
Fiber Aggregation in Nanocomposites: Aggregation Degree and Its Linear Relation with the Percolation Threshold
Authors: Cui Baorang , Pan Fei , Ding Bin , Zhang Feng , Ma Yong , Chen Yuli
Published: December 2022

Fiber aggregation in nanocomposites has an important effect on macroscopic electrical performance. To quantitatively evaluate its effect, an index to characterize the degree of aggregation is imperative and, ideally, it should have three features simultaneously, i.e., (1) single-parametric, dimensionless, and physically meaningful, (2) applicable to different aggregation topologies, and (3) one-to-one, corresponding to material electrical properties. However, these features remain largely unexplored. Here, we propose a new aggregation degree that is defined as the average increment of the fiber number connecting with each one when fibers aggregate from a uniform distribution state. This index is applicable to different aggregation topologies, from lump-like to network-like aggregating clusters. By geometric probability analysis and numerical validations, we demonstrate the index can be concisely expressed by the characteristic parameters of the aggregating cluster since it only depends on the local features. Interestingly, a one-to-one linear relation between the aggregation degree and the percolation threshold is found, which is independent of the distribution law of the fibers. This work may provide a guide to the property characterization, performance prediction, and material design of nanocomposites, and give physical insight into the understanding of systems with similar non-uniform distributions.
Optimization of Wire Arc Additive Manufacturing (WAAM) Process for the Production of Mechanical Components Using a CNC Machine
Authors: Feier Anamaria , Buta Ioan , Florica Cosmina , Blaga Lucian
Published: December 2022

The paper presents a CNC component manufacturing process using the WAAM process. The study depicts all the execution steps of a component from the CAD drawing, deposition procedure (technological parameters, times, layers, etc.), examination, and economic calculation. The manufacturing of this component using WAAM is more advantageous given the fact that the execution time and delivery are significantly shorter, mainly when a single piece is required and also when discussing the raw material used, usually expensive titanium alloys. For example, for Ti-6AI-V used in the aircraft industry, for which the material price is about 90 Euro/kg, the costs for obtaining a given component using the WAAM process will be about 497 Euro/piece compared to 1657 Euro/piece when using another manufacturing process, as it is shown in this paper. In conclusion, additive manufacturing can easily become a feasible solution for several industrial applications when it replaces a classic manufacturing process of a single component or replacement products, even simple-shaped.
Development and Characterizations of Novel Aqueous-Based Ceramic Inks for Inkjet Printing
Authors: Li Haibing , Yang Linyu , Li Feng , Xian Qinglong
Published: December 2022

Stable rheological properties of ceramic ink are a key requirement for inkjet printing (IJP), which should be satisfied in terms of the Reynolds and Weber numbers. In this paper, the reverse microemulsion was introduced for the synthesis of monodispersed nanosized ceramic powders, and the average size was less than 100 nm. A comparison of two different dispersants, i.e., polyacrylic ammonium (PAANH4) and polyacrylic aid (PAA), revealed that the former exerted a good dispersion effect on the ceramic ink. The sedimentation ratio, zeta potential, surface tension, viscosity, and density of the inks were measured, and the Reynolds and Weber numbers, as well as Z value, were calculated. A stable, homogeneous, and high solid loading (20 wt%) ceramic ink could be achieved after aging for a period of 72 h. Finally, the ceramic inks showed the desired printable property in the inkjet printing process. Combining inkjet printing technology with a sintering process, Ni-Mn-O films have the potential to monitor temperature and humidity parameters for intelligent wearable devices.
Updates on Epstein–Barr Virus (EBV)-Associated Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma: Emphasis on the Latent Gene Products of EBV
Authors: Ahmed Naveed , Abusalah Mai Abdel Haleem A. , Farzand Anam , Absar Muhammad , Yusof Nik Yusnoraini , Rabaan Ali A. , AlSaihati Hajir , Alshengeti Amer , Alwarthan Sara , Alsuwailem Haifa S. , Alrumaih Zainb A. , Alsayyah Ahmed , Yean Chan Yean
Published: December 2022

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an uncommon type of malignancy/cancer worldwide. However, NPC is an endemic disease in southeast Asia and southern China and the reasons behind the underlying for such changes are unclear. Even though the Epstein–Barr infection (EBV) has been suggested as an important reason for undistinguishable NPC, the EBV itself is not adequate to source this type of cancer. The risk factors, for example, genetic susceptibility, and environmental factors might be associated with EBV to undertake a part in the NPC carcinogenesis. Normal healthy people have a memory B cell pool where the EBV persists, and any disturbance of this connection leads to virus-associated B cell malignancies. Less is known about the relationship between EBV and epithelial cell tumors, especially the EBV-associated nasopharyngeal carcinoma (EBVaNPC) and EBV-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC). Currently, it is believed that premalignant genetic changes in epithelial cells contribute to the aberrant establishment of viral latency in these tumors. The early and late phases of NPC patients’ survival rates vary significantly. The presence of EBV in all tumor cells presents prospects for the development of innovative therapeutic and diagnostic techniques, despite the fact that the virus’s exact involvement in the carcinogenic process is presently not very well known. EBV research continues to shed light on the carcinogenic process, which is important for a more comprehensive knowledge of tumor etiology and the development of targeted cancer therapeutics. In order to screen for NPC, EBV-related biomarkers have been widely used in a few high-incidence locations because of their close associations with the risks of NPC. The current review highlights the scientific importance of EBV and its possible association with NPC.
Usefulness of High-Sensitivity Troponin I in Risk Stratification and Final Disposition of Patients with Acute Heart Failure in the Emergency Department: Comparison between HFpEF vs. HFrEF
Authors: Crisanti Luca , Valli Gabriele , Cennamo Elisa , Capolino Alessandro , Fratini Paolo , Cesaro Claudio , Adducchio Gloria , De Magistris Antonio , Terlizzi Ferdinando , Ruggieri Maria Pia , Mirante Enrico , Savoriti Claudio , Sukruang Kalyarat , Valeriano Valentina , Pugliese Francesco Rocco , Travaglino Francesco , Di Somma Salvatore
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: In patients with acute heart failure (AHF), there is no definite evidence on the relationship between high-sensitivity cardiac troponin (hs-cTnI) and the left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) comparing the reduced and preserved EF conditions. Materials and Methods: Between January and April 2022, we retrospectively analyzed the data from 386 patients admitted to the emergency departments (ED) of five hospitals in Rome, Italy, for AHF. The criteria for inclusion were a final diagnosis of AHF; a cardiac ultrasound and hs-cTnI evaluations in the ED; and age > 18 yrs. We excluded patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS). Based on echocardiography and hs-cTnI evaluations, the patients were grouped for (1) preserved (HFpEF) or (2) reduced LVEF (HFrEF) and a a) negative (within the normal range value) or b) positive (above the normal range value) of hs-cTnI, respectively. Results: There was a significant negative relationship between a positive test for hs-cTnI and LVEF. When compared to the group with a negative hs-cTnI test, the patients with a positive test, both from the HFpEF and HFrEF subgroups, were significantly more likely to have an adverse outcome, such as being admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) or dying in the ED. Moreover, a reduced ejection fraction was linked with a final disposition to a higher level of care. Conclusions: In patients admitted to the ED for AHF without ACS, there is a negative relationship between hs-cTnI and a reduced LVEF, although a significant percentage of patients with a preserved LVEF also resulted to have high levels of hs-cTnI. In the absence of ACS, hs-cTnI seems to be a reliable biomarker of myocardial injury in AHF in the ED and should be considered as a risk stratification parameter for these subjects regardless of the left ventricular function. Further larger prospective studies are needed to confirm these preliminary data.
Evaluation of Macular Ganglion Cell-Inner Plexiform Layer in Children with Deprivational Amblyopia Who Underwent Unilateral Cataract Surgery
Authors: Świerczyńska Marta , Tronina Agnieszka , Filipek-Janiszewski Bartosz , Filipek Erita
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives: The aim of the study is to assess macular ganglion cell and inner plexiform layer (mGCIPL) thickness in deprivational amblyopic eyes (AE), fellow non-amblyopic eyes (FE) and normal eyes (NE) using spectral. domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Materials and Methods: Twenty two children (64% boys) who underwent surgical removal of unilateral congenital or developmental cataracts and exhibited visual impairment despite postoperative visual rehabilitation were included in the study. Cataract surgery was performed in patients aged 55.82 ± 35.85 months (range 6 to 114 months). The mean age of the study group was 9.73 ± 2.85 years (range 5 to 15 years). The comparison group consisted of 22 healthy age- and gender-matched children. The best corrected visual acuity (BCVA) after surgery was: 0.75 ± 0.27 (range 0.3 to 1.3) in AE, 0.1 ± 0.13 (range 0 to 0.5) in FE and 0.04 ± 0.07 (range 0 to 0.2) in NE. OCT scans were performed in all patients and subsequently corrected for axial length related magnification errors. Results: The average thickness of mGCIPL was 70.6 ± 11.28 μm in AE; 77.50 ± 6.72 μm in FE and 81.73 ± 5.18 μm in NE. We found that mGCIPL was statistically significantly thinner in deprivation AE compared to FE (p = 0.038) and NE (p = 0.0005). The minimum thickness of mGCIPL was respectively: 62.68 ± 13.2 μm, 70.3 ± 7.61 μm, and 74.5 ± 5.47, and also differed between AE and FE (p = 0.023) and AE and NE (p = 0.0004). Also, measurements in the inferior, inferotemporal, and superotemporal sectors showed thinning of mGCIPL in AE compared to NE. Conclusions: This analysis may suggest that deprivational amblyopia caused by unilateral congenital or developmental cataract in children may be associated with mGCIPL thinning.
Extensions of the Galperin Transformation Matrices for Triaxial Seismometers
Authors: Chui Talso C. P. , Erwin Andrew , Hahn Inseob
Published: December 2022

Since its invention in 1955, the Galperin symmetric triaxial seismometer has been widely used for seismic detection on Earth, and most recently on the planet Mars. In this paper, we present detailed physics of such seismometers, which has not yet been published in open literature. We extended Galperin’s original work, which is based on idealized geometry and assumptions, to include more practical cases, including (1) non-idealized tilt angles of its component seismometers; (2) component seismometers that are not exactly oriented 120° apart; (3) distributed mass on the boom; and (4) the case of operations at lower frequencies.
YOLOv5s-FP: A Novel Method for In-Field Pear Detection Using a Transformer Encoder and Multi-Scale Collaboration Perception
Authors: Li Yipu , Rao Yuan , Jin Xiu , Jiang Zhaohui , Wang Yuwei , Wang Tan , Wang Fengyi , Luo Qing , Liu Lu
Published: December 2022

Precise pear detection and recognition is an essential step toward modernizing orchard management. However, due to the ubiquitous occlusion in orchards and various locations of image acquisition, the pears in the acquired images may be quite small and occluded, causing high false detection and object loss rate. In this paper, a multi-scale collaborative perception network YOLOv5s-FP (Fusion and Perception) was proposed for pear detection, which coupled local and global features. Specifically, a pear dataset with a high proportion of small and occluded pears was proposed, comprising 3680 images acquired with cameras mounted on a ground tripod and a UAV platform. The cross-stage partial (CSP) module was optimized to extract global features through a transformer encoder, which was then fused with local features by an attentional feature fusion mechanism. Subsequently, a modified path aggregation network oriented to collaboration perception of multi-scale features was proposed by incorporating a transformer encoder, the optimized CSP, and new skip connections. The quantitative results of utilizing the YOLOv5s-FP for pear detection were compared with other typical object detection networks of the YOLO series, recording the highest average precision of 96.12% with less detection time and computational cost. In qualitative experiments, the proposed network achieved superior visual performance with stronger robustness to the changes in occlusion and illumination conditions, particularly providing the ability to detect pears with different sizes in highly dense, overlapping environments and non-normal illumination areas. Therefore, the proposed YOLOv5s-FP network was practicable for detecting in-field pears in a real-time and accurate way, which could be an advantageous component of the technology for monitoring pear growth status and implementing automated harvesting in unmanned orchards.
Fault Estimation Method for Nonlinear Time-Delay System Based on Intermediate Observer-Application on Quadrotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle
Authors: Huang Qingnan , Qi Jingru , Dai Xisheng , Wu Qiqi , Xie Xianming , Zhang Enze
Published: December 2022

In this paper, the problem of actuator and sensor faults of a quadrotor unmanned aerial vehicle (QUAV) system is studied. In the system fault model, time delay, nonlinear term, and disturbances of QUAV during the flight are considered. A fault estimation algorithm based on an intermediate observer is proposed. To deal with a single actuator fault, an intermediate variable is introduced, and the intermediate observer is designed for the system to estimate fault. For simultaneous actuator and sensor faults, the system is first augmented, and then two intermediate variables are introduced, and an intermediate observer is designed for the augmented system to estimate the system state, faults, and disturbances. The Lyapunov–Krasovskii functional is used to prove that the estimation error system is uniformly eventually bounded. The simulation results verify the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed fault estimation method.
A Comprehensive Experimental Emulation for OTFS Waveform RF-Impairments
Authors: Abushattal Abdelrahman , Zegrar Salah Eddine , Yazgan Ayhan , Arslan Hüseyin
Published: December 2022

The orthogonal time-frequency space (OTFS) waveform exceeds the challenges that face orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in a high-mobility environment with high time-frequency dispersive channels. Since radio frequency (RF) impairments have a direct impact on waveform behavior, this paper investigates the experimental implementation of RF-impairments that affect OTFS waveform performance and compares them to the OFDM waveform as a benchmark. Firstly, the doubly-dispersive channel effect is analyzed, and then an experimental framework is established for investigating the impact of RF-impairments, including non-linearity, carrier frequency offset (CFO), I/Q imbalances, DC-offset, and phase noise are considered. The experiments were conducted in a real indoor wireless environment using software-defined radio (SDR) at carrier frequencies of 2.4 GHz and 5 GHz based on the Keysight EXG X-Series devices. The comparison of the performances of OFDM and OTFS in the presence of RF-impairments reveals that OTFS significantly outperforms OFDM.
Supervised Machine Learning Models to Identify Early-Stage Symptoms of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Dritsas Elias , Trigka Maria
Published: December 2022

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic was caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus and began in December 2019. The virus was first reported in the Wuhan region of China. It is a new strain of coronavirus that until then had not been isolated in humans. In severe cases, pneumonia, acute respiratory distress syndrome, multiple organ failure or even death may occur. Now, the existence of vaccines, antiviral drugs and the appropriate treatment are allies in the confrontation of the disease. In the present research work, we utilized supervised Machine Learning (ML) models to determine early-stage symptoms of SARS-CoV-2 occurrence. For this purpose, we experimented with several ML models, and the results showed that the ensemble model, namely Stacking, outperformed the others, achieving an Accuracy, Precision, Recall and F-Measure equal to 90.9% and an Area Under Curve (AUC) of 96.4%.
Design, Assessment and Deployment of an Efficient Golf Game Dynamics Management System Based on Flexible Wireless Technologies
Authors: Picallo Imanol , Aguirre Erik , Lopez-Iturri Peio , Guembe Javier , Olariaga Eduardo , Klaina Hicham , Marcotegui Jose Antonio , Falcone Francisco
Published: December 2022

The practice of sports has been steadily evolving, taking advantage of different technological tools to improve different aspects such as individual/collective training, support in match development or enhancement of audience experience. In this work, an in-house implemented monitoring system for golf training and competition is developed, composed of a set of distributed end devices, gateways and routers, connected to a web-based platform for data analysis, extraction and visualization. Extensive wireless channel analysis has been performed, by means of deterministic 3D radio channel estimations and radio frequency measurements, to provide coverage/capacity estimations for the specific use case of golf courses. The monitoring system has been fully designed considering communication as well as energy constraints, including wireless power transfer (WPT) capabilities in order to provide flexible node deployment. System validation has been performed in a real golf course, validating end-to-end connectivity and information handling to improve overall user experience.
Leaf Classification for Crop Pests and Diseases in the Compressed Domain
Authors: Hua Jing , Zhu Tuan , Liu Jizhong
Published: December 2022

Crop pests and diseases have been the main cause of reduced food production and have seriously affected food security. Therefore, it is very urgent and important to solve the pest problem efficiently and accurately. While traditional neural networks require complete processing of data when processing data, by compressed sensing, only one part of the data needs to be processed, which greatly reduces the amount of data processed by the network. In this paper, a combination of compressed perception and neural networks is used to classify and identify pest images in the compressed domain. A network model for compressed sampling and classification, CSBNet, is proposed to enable compression in neural networks instead of the sensing matrix in conventional compressed sensing (CS). Unlike traditional compressed perception, no reduction is performed to reconstruct the image, but recognition is performed directly in the compressed region, while an attention mechanism is added to enhance feature strength. The experiments in this paper were conducted on different datasets with various sampling rates separately, and our model was substantially less accurate than the other models in terms of trainable parameters, reaching a maximum accuracy of 96.32%, which is higher than the 93.01%, 83.58%, and 87.75% of the other models at a sampling rate of 0.7.
Identification and Functional Characterization of the RcFAH12 Promoter from Castor Bean in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Di Jianjun , Li Guorui , Wang Xiaoyu , Huang Fenglan , Chen Yongsheng , Wang Yue , Sun Jiaxin , Zhang Chunlin , Zhang Qingbo , Wang Gang , Zhang Lijun
Published: December 2022

Castor (Ricinus communis L.) seed oil is the commercial source of ricinoleate, a valuable raw material used in many industries. Oleoyl-12-hydroxylase (RcFAH12) is a key enzyme in the biosynthesis of ricinoleate, accumulating nearly 90% of the triacylglycerol in castor seeds. Little is known about the transcriptional regulation of RcFAH12. We used rapid amplification of cDNA 5′ ends (5′RACE) to locate the transcription start site (TSS) of RcFAH12, and the sequence of a 2605 bp region, −2506~+99, surrounding the TSS was cloned. We then investigated these regions to promote β-glucuronidase (GUS) expression in transgenic Arabidopsis by the progressive 5′ and 3′ deletions strategies. The GUS staining showed that the GUS accumulation varied in tissues under the control of different deleted fragments of RcFAH12. In addition, the GUS expression driven by the RcFAH12 promoter markedly accumulated in transgenic seeds, which indicated that RcFAH12 might play an important role in the biosynthesis of ricinoleic acid. This study will lay a potential foundation for developing a tissue-specific promoter in oil-seed crops.
Predicting Underestimation of Invasive Cancer in Patients with Core-Needle-Biopsy-Diagnosed Ductal Carcinoma In Situ Using Deep Learning Algorithms
Authors: Do Luu-Ngoc , Lee Hyo-Jae , Im Chaeyeong , Park Jae Hyeok , Lim Hyo Soon , Park Ilwoo
Published: December 2022

The prediction of an occult invasive component in ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) before surgery is of clinical importance because the treatment strategies are different between pure DCIS without invasive component and upgraded DCIS. We demonstrated the potential of using deep learning models for differentiating between upgraded versus pure DCIS in DCIS diagnosed by core-needle biopsy. Preoperative axial dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) data from 352 lesions were used to train, validate, and test three different types of deep learning models. The highest performance was achieved by Recurrent Residual Convolutional Neural Network using Regions of Interest (ROIs) with an accuracy of 75.0% and area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.796. Our results suggest that the deep learning approach may provide an assisting tool to predict the histologic upgrade of DCIS and provide personalized treatment strategies to patients with underestimated invasive disease.