bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unraveling the Role of Toll-like Receptors in the Immunopathogenesis of Selected Primary and Secondary Immunodeficiencies
Authors: Mertowska Paulina , Smolak Konrad , Mertowski Sebastian , Grywalska Ewelina
Published: August 2023

The human immune system is a complex network of cells, tissues, and molecules that work together to defend the body against pathogens and maintain overall health. However, in some individuals, the immune system fails to function correctly, leading to immunodeficiencies. Immunodeficiencies can be classified into primary (PID) and secondary (SID) types, each with distinct underlying causes and manifestations. Toll-like receptors (TLRs), as key components of the immune system, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of both PID and SID. In this study, we aim to unravel the intricate involvement of TLR2, TLR4, TLR3, TLR7, TLR8, and TLR9 in the immunopathogenesis of common variable immunodeficiency—CVID (as PID)—and chronic lymphocytic leukemia—CLL (as SID). The obtained results indicate a significant increase in the percentage of all tested subpopulations of T lymphocytes and B lymphocytes showing positive expression of all analyzed TLRs in patients with CVID and CLL compared to healthy volunteers, constituting the control group, which is also confirmed by analysis of the concentration of soluble forms of these receptors in the plasma of patients. Furthermore, patients diagnosed with CVID are characterized by the percentage of all lymphocytes showing positive expression of the tested TLR2, TLR4, TLR3, and TLR9 and their plasma concentrations in relation to patients with CLL. By investigating the functions and interactions of TLRs within the immune system, we seek to shed light on their critical role in the development and progression of these immunodeficiencies. Through a comprehensive analysis of the literature and presented experimental data, we hope to deepen our understanding of the complex mechanisms by which TLRs contribute to the pathogenesis of PID and SID. Ultimately, our findings may provide valuable insights into developing targeted therapeutic strategies to mitigate the impact of these disorders on those affected by immunodeficiency.
Characterization of SOD1-DT, a Divergent Long Non-Coding RNA in the Locus of the SOD1 Human Gene
Authors: Guerra Marika , Meola Lucia , Lattante Serena , Conte Amelia , Sabatelli Mario , Sette Claudio , Bernardini Camilla
Published: August 2023

Researchers studying Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) have made significant efforts to find a unique mechanism to explain the etiopathology of the different forms of the disease. However, despite several mutations associated with ALS having been discovered in recent years, the link between the mutated genes and its onset has not yet been fully elucidated. Among the genes associated with ALS, superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1) was the first to be identified, but its role in the etiopathogenesis of the disease is still unclear. In recent years, research has been focused on the non-coding part of the genome to fully understand the mechanisms underlying gene regulation. Non-coding RNAs are conserved molecules and are not usually translated in protein. A total of 98% of the human genome is composed of non-protein coding sequences with roles in the transcriptional and post-transcriptional regulation of gene expression. In this study, we characterized a divergent nuclear lncRNA (SOD1-DT) transcribed in the antisense direction from the 5′ region of the SOD1 coding gene in both the SH-SY5Y cell line and fibroblasts derived from ALS patients. Interestingly, this lncRNA seems to regulate gene expression, since its inhibition leads to the upregulation of surrounding genes including SOD1. SOD1-DT represents a very complex molecule, displaying allelic and transcriptional variability concerning transposable elements (TEs) included in its sequence, widening the scenario of gene expression regulation in ALS disease.
Capillary Dynamics Regulate Post-Ischemic Muscle Damage and Regeneration in Experimental Hindlimb Ischemia
Authors: Wirth Galina , Juusola Greta , Tarvainen Santeri , Laakkonen Johanna P. , Korpisalo Petra , Ylä-Herttuala Seppo
Published: August 2023

This study aimed to show the significance of capillary function in post-ischemic recovery from the perspective of physiological parameters, such as blood flow, hemoglobin oxygenation and tissue regeneration. Muscle-level microvascular alterations of blood flow and hemoglobin oxygenation, and post-ischemic myofiber and capillary responses were analyzed in aged, healthy C57Bl/6J mice (n = 48) and aged, hyperlipidemic LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 mice (n = 69) after the induction of acute hindlimb ischemia using contrast ultrasound, photoacoustic imaging and histological analyses, respectively. The capillary responses that led to successful post-ischemic muscle repair in C57Bl/6J mice included an early capillary dilation phase, preceding the return of arterial driving pressure, followed by an increase in capillary density that further supported satellite cell-induced muscle regeneration. Initial capillary enlargement was absent in the LDLR−/−ApoB100/100 mice with lifelong moderate hypercholesterolemia and led to an inability to recover arterial driving pressure, with a resulting increase in distal necrosis, chronic tissue damage and a delay in the overall recovery after ischemia. To conclude, this manuscript highlights, beyond arterial collateralization, the importance of the proper function of the capillary endothelium in post-ischemic recovery and displays how post-ischemic capillary dynamics associate beyond tissue blood flow to both hemoglobin oxygenation and tissue regeneration.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Reduces Depressive-like Behaviors, Modifies Dendritic Plasticity, and Generates Global Epigenetic Changes in the Frontal Cortex and Hippocampus in a Rodent Model of Chronic Stress
Authors: Meneses-San Juan David , Lamas Mónica , Ramírez-Rodríguez Gerardo Bernabé
Published: August 2023

Depression is the most common affective disorder worldwide, accounting for 4.4% of the global population, a figure that could increase in the coming decades. In depression, there exists a reduction in the availability of dendritic spines in the frontal cortex (FC) and hippocampus (Hp). In addition, histone modification and DNA methylation are also dysregulated epigenetic mechanisms in depression. Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) is a technique that is used to treat depression. However, the epigenetic mechanisms of its therapeutic effect are still not known. Therefore, in this study, we evaluated the antidepressant effect of 5 Hz rTMS and examined its effect on dendritic remodeling, immunoreactivity of synapse proteins, histone modification, and DNA methylation in the FC and Hp in a model of chronic mild stress. Our data indicated that stress generated depressive-like behaviors and that rTMS reverses this effect, romotes the formation of dendritic spines, and favors the presynaptic connection in the FC and DG (dentate gyrus), in addition to increasing histone H3 trimethylation and DNA methylation. These results suggest that the antidepressant effect of rTMS is associated with dendritic remodeling, which is probably regulated by epigenetic mechanisms. These data are a first approximation of the impact of rTMS at the epigenetic level in the context of depression. Therefore, it is necessary to analyze in future studies as to which genes are regulated by these mechanisms, and how they are associated with the neuroplastic modifications promoted by rTMS.
Alkali-Activated Brick Aggregates as Industrial Valorized Wastes: Synthesis and Properties
Authors: Boughriet Abdel , Allahdin Oscar , Poumaye Nicole , Doyemet Gildas , Tricot Grégory , Revel Bertrand , Ouddane Baghdad , Wartel Michel
Published: August 2023

In recent works, many industrial by-products were employed as solid precursors for the synthesis of alkali-activated binders and as alternatives to Portland cement for the immobilization of hazardous, toxic and nuclear wastes. Among industrial wastes, alkali-activated brick was found to be an interesting porous composite for removing very toxic heavy metals (Pb2+, Cd2+, Co2+) and radio-nuclides (Sr2+, Cs+, Rb+) from aqueous solutions. The starting material is very attractive due to the presence of metakaolinite as a geo-polymer precursor and silica for increasing material permeability and facilitating water filtration. The alkaline reaction gave rise to geo-polymerization followed by partial zeolitization. Elemental surface micro-analysis was performed by Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) equipped with an Energy-Dispersive X-ray Spectrometer (EDS). The formation of crystalline phases was corroborated by X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis. Information about 29Si, 27Al and 1H nuclei environments in crystallized and amorphous aluminosilicates was obtained by 29Si, 27Al and 1H MAS NMR. 27Al–1H dipolar-mediated correlations were investigated by employing dipolar hetero-nuclear multiple quantum coherence (D-HMQC) NMR, highlighting Al–O–H bonds in bridging hydroxyl groups (Si–OH–Al) that are at the origin of adsorptive properties. Aqueous structural stability and cationic immobilization characteristics before and after material calcination were investigated from acid-leaching experiments.
Barriers to Exclusive Breastfeeding for Mothers in Tswelopele Municipality, Free State Province, South Africa: A Qualitative Study
Authors: Quebu Simthandile Rebecca , Murray Daphne , Okafor Uchenna Benedine
Published: August 2023

Despite the numerous advantages of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), the practice remains infrequently adopted in certain countries and is also associated with context-specific obstacles. Consequently, this study explores the experiences and opinions of mothers about the barriers and support systems of exclusive breastfeeding (EBF), in a bid to promote this practice in the Tswelopele Municipality of the Free State Province of South Africa. In-depth individual, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 16 mothers, using an audio recorder after receiving their permission to record the interviews. The analysis of the collected data revealed that opinions clustered around four topics: mother-related barriers to EBF, baby-related barriers to EBF, support systems to enhance EBF, and complications caused by barriers to EBF. The findings from these themes and sub-themes imply that the maternal factor is strongly influenced by other factors regarding the success or failure of this practice. These include extreme breast discomfort, maternal illness, the fear that the mother’s milk supply is insufficient, a lack of understanding about EBF, and the influence of different cultural factors. When mothers encounter difficulties with breastfeeding, these challenges may impede their ability to practice EBF. In addition, while some participants were eager to breastfeed their babies and continued EBF for a period of six months, their infant’s health and behavioral issues prevented them from doing so. Some of these problems included infant sickness and crying. From the prenatal to the postnatal period, mothers and their families should have access to breastfeeding education and counseling, along with sufficient time to make informed infant nutrition decisions. During counseling sessions, conversations with these stakeholders should focus on fostering a realistic understanding regarding what to expect when breastfeeding for the very first time, debunking breastfeeding-related misconceptions, and addressing inaccurate information and concerns. In addition, health professionals must be empathic and respectful of the mother’s traditions and cultures and must also educate mothers and their families on the importance of EBF. Our list of themes and sub-themes could be utilized to enlighten exclusive breastfeeding challenges and potential mitigation efforts, not only in Tswelopele Municipality, South Africa but also in a number of other geographical contexts.
The Difference in the Creativity of People Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing and Those with Typical Hearing: A Scoping Review
Authors: Potměšilová Petra , Potměšil Miloň , Klugar Miloslav
Published: August 2023

The scoping review aimed to describe differences in creativity between deaf and hard of hearing and typically hearing people. The research question for the review was: what are the differences in the creativity of deaf and hard-of-hearing people in comparison with people with typical hearing? A total of eleven databases were used for the search, as well as sources of the unpublished studies/gray literature. The scoping review was prepared following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA frame as a basis for reporting scoping reviews. A total of 30 studies were analyzed concerning the selected research areas. Intrinsic creativity was the first area identified. Specific activities for the development of creativity formed the second area for analysis. The third area focused on differences in creativity between deaf and hard of hearing and typically hearing. The fourth area includes studies that call for an equitable research environment.
Avoiding High Pressure Abdominal Closure of Congenital Abdominal Wall Defects—One Step Further to Improve Outcomes
Authors: Mocanu Raluca-Alina , Cîrstoveanu Cătălin , Bizubac Mihaela , Secheli Ionuț Fernando , Ionescu Nicolae Sebastian
Published: August 2023

The main goal of surgical treatment for gastroschisis and omphalocele is the reduction of viscera in the abdominal cavity and closure of the abdomen, but the challenge is to succeed without the detrimental effects of increased intraabdominal pressure. In this regard, we performed a retrospective study for all patients admitted for gastroschisis and omphalocele to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit of ‘Marie Sklodowska Curie’ Emergency Clinical Hospital for Children, from January 2011 until June 2021. Our aim was to highlight the presence of postoperative abdominal compartment syndrome. We observed that six out of forty-seven patients developed clinical signs of abdominal compartment syndrome, five associated with primary closure and one with staged closure with a polyvinyl chloride patch. Following the results, we decided to implement the trans-bladder measurement of intraabdominal pressure to avoid closing the abdomen at pressures higher than 10 mmHg in order to prevent the development of abdominal compartment syndrome. We consider that there is still place for the improvement of congenital abdominal wall defects management and that the measurement of intraabdominal pressure might help us reach our goal.
Editorial for the Special Issue “Advanced Research in Plant Metabolomics”
Authors: Girelli Chiara Roberta
Published: August 2023

The study of plant metabolome and the role of cellular pathway end products has gained increased attention [...]
Synergistic Effect of Strontium Ions and Graphite as Dual Cocatalysts for Enhancing Photocatalytic Activity of Small Area Titania Film Stacked by One-Dimensional Nanofibers
Authors: Lu Ying , Wang Linlin , Qin Xiangge , Hong Jinzhong , Feng Yanru
Published: August 2023

Focusing on the degradation of organic dyes in wastewater, a novel titania composite nanofiber small area film photocatalyst with improvedphotocatalytic activity using strontium ions and graphite as dual cocatalysts has been synthesized by electrospinning and hydrothermal methods.Morphology control, doping causing crystal defect engineering (strontium ion doping), and heterojunction building (graphite surface modification) strategies are simultaneously applied to the synthetic design of new photocatalysts.In degradation tests of rhodamine B, methyl orange, methylene blue, and malachite green, the degradation rate constants were 2.57, 2.85, 3.06, or 3.54 times higher than those of pure titania, respectively.The composite nanofiber small area film exhibited excellent recyclability in fourrecycling tests.The improved photocatalytic activity of titania composite nanofiber small area film is attributed to the morphology of the nanofibers with the addition of more reaction sites, dopingwith more crystal defects, and heterojunctions providing channels for the transfer of photogenerated carriers.Design solutions with the synergistic effects of multiple strategies inform the use of titania in industrial applications.
Evolutions of the Microstructure and Properties of the (CrMoNbTaZr)NX Films Prepared by Reactive Magnetron Sputtering: Effects of Stoichiometry and Crystallinity
Authors: Wang Xiang , Zhang Yanhong , Zhang Xin , Lin Zhihe , Liu Dongguang , Hong Chunfu , Dai Pinqiang
Published: August 2023

(CrMoNbTaZr)NX coatings were deposited on Si (100) by magnetron sputtering under various N2/(Ar+N2) flow ratios. An X-ray diffractometer, transmission electron microscopy, scanning electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy were used to characterize the crystallinity and microstructure of the films. The elemental composition was characterized by energy dispersive spectroscopy and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The hardness and friction coefficient were respectively determined by nanoindentation and nanoscratch. The sheet resistance was studied using a four-point probe. The results suggest that the crystallinity is strongly influenced by the nitrogen content in the films. The chemical stoichiometry of nitride determines the evolutions of the microstructure, mechanical properties and resistivity. Correlations between the microstructure and the properties of the (CrMoNbTaZr)NX films were studied.
Structure and High-Temperature Oxidation Performance of Si-Co Diffusion Coatings Prepared on a TiAl-Nb Alloy
Authors: Tian Jin , Zhang Conghui , Lv Wei , Li Xuan , Tian Wei
Published: August 2023

Si-Co diffusion coatings were prepared on a Y-modified TiAl-Nb alloy using the pack cementation process. The structures of the coatings prepared at different temperatures (1050, 1080, and 1120 °C) and pack Co contents (5, 10, and 20 wt.%) were comparatively studied. The coatings possessed the typical structure of a (Ti,X)Si2+Ti5Si4 (X represents Nb and Al elements) outer layer with a Co-rich superficial zone, a Ti5Si4+Ti5Si3 middle layer, and a TiAl2 inner layer. Increasing the co-deposition temperature in the range of 1050–1120 °C led to a larger coating thickness but a more-porous coating structure, while increasing the pack Co contents in the range of 5–20 wt.% caused a lower coating growth rate. The formation of the Si-Co diffusion coating followed an orderly process of depositing Si first and then Co. The Si-Co diffusion coating had much better anti-oxidation performance than both the TiAl-Nb substrate and pure silicide coating. After undergoing oxidation at 1000 °C for 100 h, the oxidation parabolic rate of the Si-Co diffusion coating was approximately 6.16 × 10−3 mg2/cm4h1, which was lower than those of the TiAl-Nb substrate by about two orders of magnitude and pure silicide coating by about one order of magnitude.
Face Detection Using a Capsule Network for Driver Monitoring Application
Authors: Hollósi János , Ballagi Áron , Kovács Gábor , Fischer Szabolcs , Nagy Viktor
Published: August 2023

Bus driver distraction and cognitive load lead to higher accident risk. Driver distraction sources and complex physical and psychological effects must be recognized and analyzed in real-world driving conditions to reduce risk and enhance overall road safety. The implementation of a camera-based system utilizing computer vision for face recognition emerges as a highly viable and effective driver monitoring approach applicable in public transport. Reliable, accurate, and unnoticeable software solutions need to be developed to reach the appropriate robustness of the system. The reliability of data recording depends mainly on external factors, such as vibration, camera lens contamination, lighting conditions, and other optical performance degradations. The current study introduces Capsule Networks (CapsNets) for image processing and face detection tasks. The authors’ goal is to create a fast and accurate system compared to state-of-the-art Neural Network (NN) algorithms. Based on the seven tests completed, the authors’ solution outperformed the other networks in terms of performance degradation in six out of seven cases. The results show that the applied capsule-based solution performs well, and the degradation in efficiency is noticeably smaller than for the presented convolutional neural networks when adversarial attack methods are used. From an application standpoint, ensuring the security and effectiveness of an image-based driver monitoring system relies heavily on the mitigation of disruptive occurrences, commonly referred to as “image distractions,” which represent attacks on the neural network.
Influence of Doping Technology on the Stoichiometry and Features of the Localization of B3+ Cations in LiNbO3:B Single Crystals
Authors: Titov Roman , Kadetova Alexandra , Tokko Olga , Sidorov Nikolay , Palatnikov Mikhail , Teplyakova Natalija , Masloboeva Sofja , Biryukova Irina , Efremov Ilja , Manukovskaya Diana
Published: August 2023

We have established that relatively simple calculations of the Coulomb interaction in the lattice of doped lithium niobate (LN, LiNbO3) can confirm the physical properties of real crystals. We have developed a method for the double adjustment of real XRD data for calculations of Coulomb interaction in a LN cluster. The study considers two crystals doped with boron (LN:B); LN:B(1) has been grown from a charge with 0.02 mol% B2O3, boron has been introduced by homogeneous doping, LN:B(2) has been grown from a charge with 0.547 mol% B2O3, and boron has been introduced by direct solid-state doping. XRD and Rietveld method data have been obtained for these crystals. The obtained data have been used to build a model of the LN cluster; the cluster in the calculations consists of six oxygen octahedra of the LN structure. The cluster configuration has been chosen in such a way that the structure contains two tetrahedral voids. We have studied 10 variants of filling a cluster with intrinsic cations (Li, Nb), defects, and vacancies. There are 10 of them because, in addition to the basic cations in their positions, defects are present in the structure. In terms of the defects used (NbLi, NbV), we have used only those that Rietveld found for these exact LN:B crystals, and the vacancy in the niobium octahedron (VNb) compensates for these defects, according to the models known for LN. The energy of the Coulomb interaction between the cluster structure of a real crystal and the boron cation localized in it in different positions has been calculated for each of the configurations. Calculations have demonstrated that B is more likely to be embedded near a defect than in a regular structure. This means that boron positively influences the local substructure of doped LN crystals, not only structures the melt during crystal growth. Calculations have shown that the type and location of structural defects affect the position of boron in the structure of a LN crystal. Calculations have also shown that LN:B(1) has a more stable structure, including optical damage resistance. The photoinduced light scattering (PILS) patterns and conoscopic patterns confirm this conclusion for the studied LN:B crystals. The information obtained in this study may be useful for interpreting the defective structure of LN crystals co-doped with boron and metals (Mg, Zn, etc.). This will supplement the knowledge available in the literature regarding models that describe the structure of complexly doped LN crystals.
The Effects of Electrochemical Hydrogen Charging on Charpy Impact Toughness and Dry Sliding Tribological Behavior of AISI 316H Stainless Steel
Authors: Falat Ladislav , Čiripová Lucia , Petruš Ondrej , Puchý Viktor , Petryshynets Ivan , Kovaľ Karol , Džunda Róbert
Published: August 2023

In this work, solution-annealed AISI 316H grade austenitic stainless steel was studied in terms of investigating the electrolytic hydrogen charging effects on the resulting Charpy impact toughness and dry sliding tribological behavior. Conventional Charpy impact bending tests were employed to study the mechanical response of the investigated material to dynamic loading conditions, whereas dry linear sliding tribological tests were used to study material friction and wear behavior. The obtained mechanical and tribological properties were correlated with corresponding fracture and tribological mechanisms, which were determined from morphological observations of fracture surfaces and tribological tracks. The applied testing procedures were individually carried out for the non-hydrogenated, hydrogen-charged, and dehydrogenated material conditions. The observed changes in individual properties due to applied hydrogen charging were rather small, which indicated the good resistance of solution-annealed AISI 316H steel against material degradation in currently used electrolytic hydrogenation conditions.
The Effect of Microstructural Defects on High-Cycle Fatigue of Ti Grade 2 Manufactured by PBF-LB and Hydrostatic Extrusion
Authors: Majchrowicz Kamil , Chmielewska Agnieszka , Wysocki Bartłomiej , Przybysz-Gloc Sylwia , Kulczyk Mariusz , Garbacz Halina , Pakieła Zbigniew
Published: August 2023

The aim of this study was to show the effect of manufacturing defects in a commercially pure Ti Grade 2 produced by a laser beam powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) process on its high-cycle fatigue life. For this purpose, the high-cycle fatigue performance of PBF-LB Ti Grade 2 was compared to its ultrafine-grained (UFG) counterpart processed by hydrostatic extrusion exhibiting a similar mechanical properties under static tensile. The yield strength of the PBF-LB and UFG Ti Grade 2 was 740 and 783 MPa, respectively. The PBF-LB Ti Grade 2 consisted of a typical columnar of prior β grains with an acicular martensite α’ microstructure, while UFG Ti Grade 2 was mainly composed of fine, equiaxed α phase grains/subgrains with a size of 50–150 nm. A residual porosity of 0.21% was observed in the PBF-LB Ti Grade 2 by X-ray computed tomography, and, despite similar yield strength, a significantly higher endurance fatigue limit was noticed for UFG Ti Grade 2 (420 MPa) compared to PBF-LB Ti Grade 2 (330 MPa). Fatigue striation analysis showed that the fatigue crack propagation rate was not affected by manufacturing technology. In turn, the high-cycle fatigue life was drastically reduced as the size of manufacturing defects (such as pores or lack of fusion zones) increased.
Comparison of Dislocation Structures in Cu Deformed at Strain Rates from Quasi-Static to Shock Loading Using X-ray Line Profile Analysis
Authors: Fan Zhijian , Song Zhenfei , Jóni Bertalan , Ribárik Gábor , Ungár Tamás
Published: August 2023

Polycrystalline copper samples were deformed in the range of strain rate between ~10−3 and 107 s−1 using a material testing machine, split Hopkinson pressure bar and electric gun. The quasi-static and Hopkinson bar samples were compressed at the strains of 0.1 and 0.4, and the electric gun samples were compressed at the shock pressures of 19, 25, 35 and 49 GPa. The dislocation structure in the recovered samples was determined using high-resolution X-ray line profile analysis. Compared to the quasi-static and Hopkinson bar tests, different characteristics of the evolution of dislocation density and arrangement were found in the planar plate impacts of the electric gun. The correlation between the flow stresses and the dislocation densities in the samples was discussed using the Taylor equation.
Synthesis, Crystal Structure, and Antifungal Activity of Quinazolinone Derivatives
Authors: Zeng Rong , Huang Cong , Wang Jie , Zhong Yuan , Fang Qingwen , Xiao Shuzhen , Nie Xuliang , Chen Shangxing , Peng Dayong
Published: August 2023

In this paper, four new compounds with quinazolinone structure were designed and synthesized based on the special biological activity of quinazolinone. The four new compounds containing quinazolinone structures were synthesized using a one-pot method after intramolecular cyclization and dehydration catalyzed by aqueous methylamine solution. Their structures were characterized using 1H NMR, 13C NMR, FT-IR, and HRMS, and the crystal structure of 2a was characterized using X-ray diffraction. In their potential antifungal activity tests, it was found that the four newly synthesized compounds exhibited significant antifungal activity against all seven phytopathogenic fungi at concentrations of 150 and 300 mg/L. Among them, the target compound 2c showed the best inhibitory effect against Fusarium oxysporum f. sp. Niveum fungus, with 62.42% inhibition at a concentration of 300 mg/L. Compound 2c is expected to be a leading compound for the treatment of watermelon Fusarium wilt in the future, which is worth further study.
An Automated Deep Learning Approach for Spine Segmentation and Vertebrae Recognition Using Computed Tomography Images
Authors: Saeed Muhammad Usman , Dikaios Nikolaos , Dastgir Aqsa , Ali Ghulam , Hamid Muhammad , Hajjej Fahima
Published: August 2023

Spine image analysis is based on the accurate segmentation and vertebrae recognition of the spine. Several deep learning models have been proposed for spine segmentation and vertebrae recognition, but they are very computationally demanding. In this research, a novel deep learning model is introduced for spine segmentation and vertebrae recognition using CT images. The proposed model works in two steps: (1) A cascaded hierarchical atrous spatial pyramid pooling residual attention U-Net (CHASPPRAU-Net), which is a modified version of U-Net, is used for the segmentation of the spine. Cascaded spatial pyramid pooling layers, along with residual blocks, are used for feature extraction, while the attention module is used for focusing on regions of interest. (2) A 3D mobile residual U-Net (MRU-Net) is used for vertebrae recognition. MobileNetv2 includes residual and attention modules to accurately extract features from the axial, sagittal, and coronal views of 3D spine images. The features from these three views are concatenated to form a 3D feature map. After that, a 3D deep learning model is used for vertebrae recognition. The VerSe 20 and VerSe 19 datasets were used to validate the proposed model. The model achieved more accurate results in spine segmentation and vertebrae recognition than the state-of-the-art methods.
Diagnostic Accuracy of Indocyanine Green Clearance Test for Different Stages of Liver Fibrosis and Cirrhosis
Authors: Luerken Lukas , Dollinger Marco , Goetz Andrea , Utpatel Kirstin , Doppler Michael Christian , Weiss Jakob Benedikt , Uller Wibke , Ignee André , Verloh Niklas , Haimerl Michael
Published: August 2023

(1) Background: This study aimed to correlate the indocyanine green clearance (ICG) test with histopathological grades of liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis to assess its diagnostic accuracy in differentiating normal liver parenchyma from liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. (2) Methods: A total of 82 patients who received a histopathological liver examination, imaging, and ICG test within three months were included in this retrospective study. The histopathological level of fibrosis was graded using the Ishak scoring system, and the patients were divided into five categories: no liver fibrosis (NLF), mild liver fibrosis (MLF), advanced liver fibrosis (ALF), severe liver fibrosis (SLF), and liver cirrhosis (LC). The non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis test with post hoc pairwise comparison utilizing Mann–Whitney U tests and Bonferroni adjustment was used to analyze differences in the ICG test results between the patient groups. Cross correlation between the individual fibrosis/cirrhosis stages and the score of the ICG test was performed, and the sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values were calculated for each model predicting liver fibrosis/cirrhosis. (3) Results: A significant difference (p ≤ 0.001) between stages of NLF, LF, and LC was found for the ICG parameters (ICG plasma disappearance rate (ICG-PDR) and ICG retention percentage at 15 min (ICG-R15)). The post hoc analysis revealed that NLF significantly differed from SLF (ICG-PDR: p = 0.001; ICG-R15: p = 0.001) and LC (ICG-PDR: p = 0.001; ICG-R15: p = 0.001). ALF also significantly differed from SLF (ICG-PDR: p = 0.033; ICG-R15: p = 0.034) and LC (ICG-PDR: p = 0.014; ICG-R15: p = 0.014). The sensitivity for detection of an initial stage of liver fibrosis compared to no liver fibrosis (Ishak  ≥  1) was 0.40; the corresponding specificity was 0.80. The differentiation of advanced liver fibrosis or cirrhosis (Ishak ≥ 4) compared to other stages of liver fibrosis was 0.75, with a specificity of 0.81. (4) Conclusions: This study shows that the ICG test, as a non-invasive diagnostic test, is able to differentiate patients with no liver fibrosis from patients with advanced liver fibrosis and liver cirrhosis. The ICG test seems to be helpful in monitoring patients with liver fibrosis regarding compensation levels, thus potentially enabling physicians to both detect progression from compensated liver fibrosis to advanced liver fibrosis and cirrhosis and to initiate antifibrotic treatment at an earlier stage.
Identification of Radiomic Signatures in Brain MRI Sequences T1 and T2 That Differentiate Tumor Regions of Midline Gliomas with H3.3K27M Mutation
Authors: Chilaca-Rosas Maria-Fatima , Contreras-Aguilar Manuel-Tadeo , Garcia-Lezama Melissa , Salazar-Calderon David-Rafael , Vargas-Del-Angel Raul-Gabriel , Moreno-Jimenez Sergio , Piña-Sanchez Patricia , Trejo-Rosales Raul-Rogelio , Delgado-Martinez Felipe-Alfredo , Roldan-Valadez Ernesto
Published: August 2023

Background: Radiomics refers to the acquisition of traces of quantitative features that are usually non-perceptible to human vision and are obtained from different imaging techniques and subsequently transformed into high-dimensional data. Diffuse midline gliomas (DMG) represent approximately 20% of pediatric CNS tumors, with a median survival of less than one year after diagnosis. We aimed to identify which radiomics can discriminate DMG tumor regions (viable tumor and peritumoral edema) from equivalent midline normal tissue (EMNT) in patients with the positive H3.F3K27M mutation, which is associated with a worse prognosis. Patients and methods: This was a retrospective study. From a database of 126 DMG patients (children, adolescents, and young adults), only 12 had H3.3K27M mutation and available brain magnetic resonance DICOM file. The MRI T1 post-gadolinium and T2 sequences were uploaded to LIFEx software to post-process and extract radiomic features. Statistical analysis included normal distribution tests and the Mann–Whitney U test performed using IBM SPSS® (Version 27.0.0.1, International Business Machines Corp., Armonk, NY, USA), considering a significant statistical p-value ≤ 0.05. Results: EMNT vs. Tumor: From the T1 sequence 10 radiomics were identified, and 14 radiomics from the T2 sequence, but only one radiomic identified viable tumors in both sequences (p < 0.05) (DISCRETIZED_Q1). Peritumoral edema vs. EMNT: From the T1 sequence, five radiomics were identified, and four radiomics from the T2 sequence. However, four radiomics could discriminate peritumoral edema in both sequences (p < 0.05) (CONVENTIONAL_Kurtosis, CONVENTIONAL_ExcessKurtosis, DISCRETIZED_Kurtosis, and DISCRETIZED_ExcessKurtosis). There were no radiomics useful for distinguishing tumor tissue from peritumoral edema in both sequences. Conclusions: Less than 5% of the radiomic characteristics identified tumor regions of medical–clinical interest in T1 and T2 sequences of conventional magnetic resonance imaging. The first-order and second-order radiomic features suggest support to investigators and clinicians for careful evaluation for diagnosis, patient classification, and multimodality cancer treatment planning.
Artificial Intelligence in Neuroradiology: A Review of Current Topics and Competition Challenges
Authors: Wagner Daniel T. , Tilmans Luke , Peng Kevin , Niedermeier Marilyn , Rohl Matt , Ryan Sean , Yadav Divya , Takacs Noah , Garcia-Fraley Krystle , Koso Mensur , Dikici Engin , Prevedello Luciano M. , Nguyen Xuan V.
Published: August 2023

There is an expanding body of literature that describes the application of deep learning and other machine learning and artificial intelligence methods with potential relevance to neuroradiology practice. In this article, we performed a literature review to identify recent developments on the topics of artificial intelligence in neuroradiology, with particular emphasis on large datasets and large-scale algorithm assessments, such as those used in imaging AI competition challenges. Numerous applications relevant to ischemic stroke, intracranial hemorrhage, brain tumors, demyelinating disease, and neurodegenerative/neurocognitive disorders were discussed. The potential applications of these methods to spinal fractures, scoliosis grading, head and neck oncology, and vascular imaging were also reviewed. The AI applications examined perform a variety of tasks, including localization, segmentation, longitudinal monitoring, diagnostic classification, and prognostication. While research on this topic is ongoing, several applications have been cleared for clinical use and have the potential to augment the accuracy or efficiency of neuroradiologists.
Transcatheter Interventions for Neonates with Congenital Heart Disease: A Review
Authors: Meliota Giovanni , Vairo Ugo
Published: August 2023

Newborns with congenital heart disease often require interventions linked to high morbidity and mortality rates. In the last few decades, many transcatheter interventions have become the first-line treatments for some critical conditions in the neonatal period. A catheter-based approach provides several advantages in terms of procedural time, length of hospitalization, repeatability and neurodevelopmental issues (usually related to cardiopulmonary bypass). The main transcatheter procedures will be reviewed, as they are now valid alternatives to conventional surgical management.
Implicit Neural Mapping for a Data Closed-Loop Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Pose-Estimation Algorithm in a Vision-Only Landing System
Authors: Liu Xiaoxiong , Li Changze , Xu Xinlong , Yang Nan , Qin Bin
Published: August 2023

Due to their low cost, interference resistance, and concealment of vision sensors, vision-based landing systems have received a lot of research attention. However, vision sensors are only used as auxiliary components in visual landing systems because of their limited accuracy. To solve the problem of the inaccurate position estimation of vision-only sensors during landing, a novel data closed-loop pose-estimation algorithm with an implicit neural map is proposed. First, we propose a method with which to estimate the UAV pose based on the runway’s line features, using a flexible coarse-to-fine runway-line-detection method. Then, we propose a mapping and localization method based on the neural radiance field (NeRF), which provides continuous representation and can correct the initial estimated pose well. Finally, we develop a closed-loop data annotation system based on a high-fidelity implicit map, which can significantly improve annotation efficiency. The experimental results show that our proposed algorithm performs well in various scenarios and achieves state-of-the-art accuracy in pose estimation.
A Low-Illumination Enhancement Method Based on Structural Layer and Detail Layer
Authors: Ge Wei , Zhang Le , Zhan Weida , Wang Jiale , Zhu Depeng , Hong Yang
Published: August 2023

Low-illumination image enhancement technology is a topic of interest in the field of image processing. However, while improving image brightness, it is difficult to effectively maintain the texture and details of the image, and the quality of the image cannot be guaranteed. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposed a low-illumination enhancement method based on structural and detail layers. Firstly, we designed an SRetinex-Net model. The network is mainly divided into two parts: a decomposition module and an enhancement module. Second, the decomposition module mainly adopts the SU-Net structure, which is an unsupervised network that decomposes the input image into a structural layer image and detail layer image. Afterward, the enhancement module mainly adopts the SDE-Net structure, which is divided into two branches: the SDE-S branch and the SDE-D branch. The SDE-S branch mainly enhances and adjusts the brightness of the structural layer image through Ehnet and Adnet to prevent insufficient or overexposed brightness enhancement in the image. The SDE-D branch is mainly denoised and enhanced with textural details through a denoising module. This network structure can greatly reduce computational costs. Moreover, we also improved the total variation optimization model as a mixed loss function and added structural metrics and textural metrics as variables on the basis of the original loss function, which can well separate the structure edge and texture edge. Numerous experiments have shown that our structure has a more significant impact on the brightness and detail preservation of image restoration.
Analogue Hawking Radiation as a Tunneling in a Two-Level PT-Symmetric System
Authors: Bagchi Bijan , Ghosh Rahul , Sen Sauvik
Published: August 2023

In light of a general scenario of a two-level non-Hermitian PT-symmetric Hamiltonian, we apply the tetrad-based method to analyze the possibility of analogue Hawking radiation. We carry this out by making use of the conventional null-geodesic approach, wherein the associated Hawking radiation is described as a quantum tunneling process across a classically forbidden barrier on which the event horizon imposes. An interesting aspect of our result is that our estimate for the tunneling probability is independent of the non-Hermitian parameter that defines the guiding Hamiltonian.
Shannon Entropy Used for Feature Extractions of Optical Patterns in the Context of Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Garcia-González Wendy , Flores-Fuentes Wendy , Sergiyenko Oleg , Rodríguez-Quiñonez Julio C. , Miranda-Vega Jesús E. , Hernández-Balbuena Daniel
Published: August 2023

A novelty signal processing method is proposed for a technical vision system (TVS). During data acquisition of an optoelectrical signal, part of this is random electrical fluctuation of voltages. Information theory (IT) is a well-known field that deals with random processes. A method based on using of the Shannon Entropy for feature extractions of optical patterns is presented. IT is implemented in structural health monitoring (SHM) to augment the accuracy of optoelectronic signal classifiers for a metrology subsystem of the TVS. To enhance the TVS spatial coordinate measurement performance at real operation conditions with electrical and optical noisy environments to estimate structural displacement better and evaluate its health for a better estimation of structural displacement and the evaluation of its health. Five different machine learning (ML) techniques are used in this work to classify optical patterns captured with the TVS. Linear predictive coding (LPC) and Autocorrelation function (ACC) are for extraction of optical patterns. The Shannon entropy segmentation (SH) method extracts relevant information from optical patterns, and the model’s performance can be improved. The results reveal that segmentation with Shannon’s entropy can achieve over 95.33%. Without Shannon’s entropy, the worst accuracy was 33.33%.
A Comparative Study for Provision of Environmental Flows in the Tapi River
Authors: Umrigar Jaini , Mehta Darshan J. , Caloiero Tommaso , Azamathulla Hazi Md. , Kumar Vijendra
Published: August 2023

Environmental flows are defined as the flow required into a stream to maintain the river’s ecosystem. The notion of Environmental Flow Allocation (EFA) ensures that a sufficient amount of water is delivered to the stream to maintain ecological integrity. The objective of this study is to examine environmental flows and determine the best acceptable strategy for providing flows into the river in the Lower Tapi Basin. To achieve this objective, daily discharge data from three sites, Ukai (period 1975–2020), Motinaroli (period 1990–2021), and Ghala (period 1995–2005) were collected and analyzed using the Tennant, Tessman, variable monthly flow (VMF), and Smakhtin methodologies. A comparative analysis was carried out on all three sites using the four methodologies. The Tessman and VMF approaches have a strong connection with the computed environmental flow requirements (EFR), according to the results. The calculated EFR was found to be in the range of 30–35% of mean annual flows (MAF). The maximum EFR found at station Ghala is about 54.5% of MAF according to the Tessman method. Such research will help to prevent future degradation of the river by supplying flow in accordance with the EFR, and it will also be used by stakeholders and policymakers to allocate water to preserve the ecosystem.
Unintentional Recharge of Aquifers from Small Dams and Dykes in Spain: A GIS-Based Approach to Determine a Fractional Volume
Authors: Escalante Enrique Fernández , Casas José David Henao , Per Carlos Moreno de Guerra , Vera María Dolores Maza , Valverde Carles Moreno
Published: August 2023

Conducting an accurate hydrological water balance at the regional and country-wide scales is paramount to assessing available water resources and adequately allocating them. One of the main components of these balances is the anthropogenic recharge of groundwater either intentionally, through managed aquifer recharge (MAR), or unintentionally, where infiltration from dams and dykes can play a significant role. In Spain, proper management of water resources is critical due to the arid to semiarid conditions prevalent in most of the territory and the relevance of water resources for maintaining a robust agricultural sector. Previous work estimated country-wide recharge from MAR at 150 to 280 Mm3/year. Recently, water authorities pointed out that, according to hydrological water balances, the total unintentional recharge volume from water courses may exceed 500 Mm3/year. The present research aims to present a new inventory of transverse structures (also referred to as small dams and dykes) in Spain and use it to estimate country-wide unintentional recharge. The inventory, compiled by the Spanish Ministry for the Ecological Transition and the Demographic Challenge, has 27,680 structures and includes construction and impoundment characteristics, which allow for estimating the wet perimeter and the infiltration area. To this end, structural data from the inventory were crossed through map algebra in a GIS environment with thematic layers, such as lithology, permeability, the digital elevation model, the transverse structures’ wetted area, the average groundwater levels, and a clogging correction factor. Two analytical formulas to compute infiltration from small dams and dykes were tested. The resulting volume of unintentional recharge from transverse structures ranges between 812.5 and 2716.6 Mm3/year. The comparison against regional and national water balances suggests that the lowest value of the range (i.e., 812.5 Mm3/year) is probably the most realistic. Anthropogenic recharge from MAR and transverse structures is likely in the range of 1012.5–1514.8 Mm3/year. This rough figure can help close the hydrological balance at the national and river basin levels and contribute to calibrating regional models. Furthermore, they provide an order of magnitude for anthropogenic recharge at a national scale, which is difficult to obtain.