bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of Artificial Intelligence in Combating High Antimicrobial Resistance Rates
Authors: Rabaan Ali A. , Alhumaid Saad , Mutair Abbas Al , Garout Mohammed , Abulhamayel Yem , Halwani Muhammad A. , Alestad Jeehan H. , Bshabshe Ali Al , Sulaiman Tarek , AlFonaisan Meshal K. , Almusawi Tariq , Albayat Hawra , Alsaeed Mohammed , Alfaresi Mubarak , Alotaibi Sultan , Alhashem Yousef N. , Temsah Mohamad-Hani , Ali Urooj , Ahmed Naveed
Published: June 2022

Artificial intelligence (AI) is a branch of science and engineering that focuses on the computational understanding of intelligent behavior. Many human professions, including clinical diagnosis and prognosis, are greatly useful from AI. Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is among the most critical challenges facing Pakistan and the rest of the world. The rising incidence of AMR has become a significant issue, and authorities must take measures to combat the overuse and incorrect use of antibiotics in order to combat rising resistance rates. The widespread use of antibiotics in clinical practice has not only resulted in drug resistance but has also increased the threat of super-resistant bacteria emergence. As AMR rises, clinicians find it more difficult to treat many bacterial infections in a timely manner, and therapy becomes prohibitively costly for patients. To combat the rise in AMR rates, it is critical to implement an institutional antibiotic stewardship program that monitors correct antibiotic use, controls antibiotics, and generates antibiograms. Furthermore, these types of tools may aid in the treatment of patients in the event of a medical emergency in which a physician is unable to wait for bacterial culture results. AI’s applications in healthcare might be unlimited, reducing the time it takes to discover new antimicrobial drugs, improving diagnostic and treatment accuracy, and lowering expenses at the same time. The majority of suggested AI solutions for AMR are meant to supplement rather than replace a doctor’s prescription or opinion, but rather to serve as a valuable tool for making their work easier. When it comes to infectious diseases, AI has the potential to be a game-changer in the battle against antibiotic resistance. Finally, when selecting antibiotic therapy for infections, data from local antibiotic stewardship programs are critical to ensuring that these bacteria are treated quickly and effectively. Furthermore, organizations such as the World Health Organization (WHO) have underlined the necessity of selecting the appropriate antibiotic and treating for the shortest time feasible to minimize the spread of resistant and invasive resistant bacterial strains.
Clinical Determinants Predicting Clostridioides difficile Infection among Patients with Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Lis Łukasz , Konieczny Andrzej , Sroka Michał , Ciszewska Anna , Krakowska Kornelia , Gołębiowski Tomasz , Hruby Zbigniew
Published: June 2022

The majority of recently published studies indicate a greater incidence rate and mortality due to Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) in patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). The aim of this study was to assess the clinical determinants predicting CDI among hospitalized patients with CKD and refine methods of prevention. We evaluated the medical records of 279 patients treated at a nephrological department with symptoms suggesting CDI, of whom 93 tested positive for CDI. The survey showed that age, poor kidney function, high Padua prediction score (PPS) and patients’ classification of care at admission, treatment with antibiotics, and time of its duration were significantly higher or more frequent among patients who suffered CDI. Whereas BMI, Norton scale (ANSS) and serum albumin concentration were significantly lowered among CDI patients. In a multivariate analysis we proved the stage of CKD and length of antibiotics use increased the risk of CDI, whereas higher serum albumin concentration and ANSS have a protective impact.
Genomic Analysis of Two MDR Isolates of Salmonella enterica Serovar Infantis from a Spanish Hospital Bearing the blaCTX-M-65 Gene with or without fosA3 in pESI-like Plasmids
Authors: Vázquez Xenia , Fernández Javier , Rodríguez-Lozano Jesús , Calvo Jorge , Rodicio Rosaura , Rodicio M. Rosario
Published: June 2022

Salmonella enterica serovar Infantis (S. Infantis) is a broiler-associated pathogen which ranks in the fourth position as a cause of human salmonellosis in the European Union. Here, we report a comparative genomic analysis of two clinical S. Infantis isolates recovered in Spain from children who just returned from Peru. The isolates were selected on the basis of resistance to cefotaxime, one of the antibiotics of choice for treatment of S. enterica infections. Antimicrobial susceptibility testing demonstrated that they were resistant to eight classes of antimicrobial agents: penicillins, cephalosporins, phenicols, aminoglycosides, tetracyclines, inhibitors of folate synthesis, (fluoro)quinolones and nitrofurans, and one of them was also resistant to fosfomycin. As shown by whole-genome sequence analysis, each isolate carried a pESI-like megaplasmid of ca. 300 kb harboring multiple resistance genes [blaCTX-M-65, aph(4)-Ia, aac(3)-IVa, aph(3′)-Ia, floR, dfrA14, sul1, tet(A), aadA1 ± fosA3], as well as genes for resistance to heavy metals and disinfectants (mer, ars and qacEΔ1). These genes were distributed in two complex regions, separated by DNA belonging to the plasmid backbone, and associated with a wealth of transposable elements. The two isolates had a D87Y amino acid substitution in the GyrA protein, and truncated variants of the nitroreductase genes nfsA and nsfB, accounting for chromosomally encoded resistances to nalidixic acid and nitrofurantoin, respectively. The two S. Infantis isolates were assigned to sequence type ST32 by in silico multilocus sequence typing (MLST). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that they were closely related, differing only by 12 SNPs, although they were recovered from different children two years apart. They were also genetically similar to blaCTX-M-65-positive ± fosA3 isolates obtained from humans and along the poultry production chain in the USA, South America, as well as from humans in several European countries, usually associated with a travel history to America. However, this is the first time that the S. Infantis blaCTX-M-65 ± fosA3 MDR clone has been reported in Spain.
Enhanced Antibacterial Activity of Dermaseptin through Its Immobilization on Alginate Nanoparticles—Effects of Menthol and Lactic Acid on Its Potentialization
Authors: Hazime Noura , Belguesmia Yanath , Barras Alexandre , Amiche Mohamed , Boukherroub Rabah , Drider Djamel
Published: June 2022

Dermaseptin B2 (DRS-B2) is an antimicrobial peptide secreted by Phyllomedusa bicolor, which is an Amazonian tree frog. Here, we show that the adsorption of DRS-B2 on alginate nanoparticles (Alg NPs) results in a formulation (Alg NPs + DRS-B2) with a remarkable antibacterial activity against Escherichia coli ATCC 8739 and E. coli 184 strains, which are sensitive and resistant, respectively, to colistin. The antibacterial activity, obtained with this new formulation, is higher than that obtained with DRS-B2 alone. Of note, the addition of lactic acid or menthol to this new formulation augments its antibacterial activity against the aforementioned Gram-negative bacilli. The safety of DRS-B2, and also that of the new formulation supplemented or not with a small molecule such as lactic acid or menthol has been proven on the human erythrocytes and the eukaryotic cell line types HT29 (human) and IPEC-1 (animal). Similarly, their stability was determined under the conditions mimicking the gastrointestinal tract with different conditions: pH, temperature, and the presence of digestive enzymes. Based on all the obtained data, we assume that these new formulations are promising and could be suggested, after in vivo approval and completing regulation aspects, as alternatives to antibiotics to fight infections caused by Gram-negative bacilli such as E. coli.
Chemical Composition and Antioxidant Properties of Pecan Shell Water Extracts
Authors: Dunford Nurhan Turgut , Gumus Zinar Pinar , Gur Canan Sevimli
Published: June 2022

This study examined the chemical composition and antioxidant properties of the extracts obtained from two byproduct streams generated at a commercial pecan nut shelling operation. Byproduct stream F contained more pecan nut meat pieces and packing material than stream S, consisting of mainly hard outer shell pieces. Samples from Native variety nuts were processed using subcritical, sonication aided and microwave heating, using water as a solvent. Ferric reducing capacity (FRAP), Total Phenolic Content (TPC), 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH), and ABTS [2,2′-azinobis-(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)] assays were used to determine antioxidant properties of the extracts. The experimental results clearly demonstrated that the chemical composition of the industrial byproducts was significantly different from the hand-separated shells. All the water extracts exhibited significant DPPH, ABTS and FRAP activity. The highest antioxidant capacity was obtained with the extracts obtained via subcritical water at 80 °C. This is the first report published in the literature on the antioxidant properties of water extracts obtained from industrial byproducts from a pecan nut shelling operation processing Native variety. New data generated in this study expand our knowledge of the properties of industrial nut shelling industry byproducts and help to evaluate the potential use of the shell extracts as antioxidants in various applications.
Extracellular Signal-Regulated Kinase 1 Alone Is Dispensable for Hyperoxia-Mediated Alveolar and Pulmonary Vascular Simplification in Neonatal Mice
Authors: Menon Renuka T. , Thapa Shyam , Shrestha Amrit Kumar , Barrios Roberto , Shivanna Binoy
Published: June 2022

Bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) is a morbid lung disease distinguished by lung alveolar and vascular simplification. Hyperoxia, an important BPD causative factor, increases extracellular signal-regulated kinases (ERK)-1/2 expression, whereas decreased lung endothelial cell ERK2 expression reduces angiogenesis and potentiates hyperoxia-mediated BPD in mice. However, ERK1′s role in experimental BPD is unclear. Thus, we hypothesized that hyperoxia-induced experimental BPD would be more severe in global ERK1-knockout (ERK1-/-) mice than their wild-type (ERK1+/+ mice) littermates. We determined the extent of lung development, ERK1/2 expression, inflammation, and oxidative stress in ERK1-/- and ERK1+/+ mice exposed to normoxia (FiO2 21%) or hyperoxia (FiO2 70%). We also quantified the extent of angiogenesis and hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) production in hyperoxia-exposed neonatal human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMECs) with normal and decreased ERK1 signaling. Compared with ERK1+/+ mice, ERK1-/- mice displayed increased pulmonary ERK2 activation upon hyperoxia exposure. However, the extent of hyperoxia-induced inflammation, oxidative stress, and interrupted lung development was similar in ERK1-/- and ERK1+/+ mice. ERK1 knockdown in HPMECs increased ERK2 activation at baseline, but did not affect in vitro angiogenesis and hyperoxia-induced H2O2 production. Thus, we conclude ERK1 is dispensable for hyperoxia-induced experimental BPD due to compensatory ERK2 activation.
NADPH Oxidases Connecting Fatty Liver Disease, Insulin Resistance and Type 2 Diabetes: Current Knowledge and Therapeutic Outlook
Authors: Nascè Alberto , Gariani Karim , Jornayvaz François R. , Szanto Ildiko
Published: June 2022

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), characterized by ectopic fat accumulation in hepatocytes, is closely linked to insulin resistance and is the most frequent complication of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). One of the features connecting NAFLD, insulin resistance and T2DM is cellular oxidative stress. Oxidative stress refers to a redox imbalance due to an inequity between the capacity of production and the elimination of reactive oxygen species (ROS). One of the major cellular ROS sources is NADPH oxidase enzymes (NOX-es). In physiological conditions, NOX-es produce ROS purposefully in a timely and spatially regulated manner and are crucial regulators of various cellular events linked to metabolism, receptor signal transmission, proliferation and apoptosis. In contrast, dysregulated NOX-derived ROS production is related to the onset of diverse pathologies. This review provides a synopsis of current knowledge concerning NOX enzymes as connective elements between NAFLD, insulin resistance and T2DM and weighs their potential relevance as pharmacological targets to alleviate fatty liver disease.
Is There an Optimal Combination of AREDS2 Antioxidants Zeaxanthin, Vitamin E and Vitamin C on Light-Induced Toxicity of Vitamin A Aldehyde to the Retina?
Authors: Różanowska Małgorzata B. , Czuba-Pełech Barbara , Różanowski Bartosz
Published: June 2022

Vitamins C and E and zeaxanthin are components of a supplement tested in a large clinical trial—Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2)—and it has been demonstrated that they can inhibit the progression of age-related macular degeneration. The aim of this study was to determine the optimal combinations of these antioxidants to prevent the phototoxicity mediated by vitamin A aldehyde (ATR), which can accumulate in photoreceptor outer segments (POS) upon exposure to light. We used cultured retinal pigment epithelial cells ARPE-19 and liposomes containing unsaturated lipids and ATR as a model of POS. Cells and/or liposomes were enriched with lipophilic antioxidants, whereas ascorbate was added just before the exposure to light. Supplementing the cells and/or liposomes with single lipophilic antioxidants had only a minor effect on phototoxicity, but the protection substantially increased in the presence of both ways of supplementation. Combinations of zeaxanthin with α-tocopherol in liposomes and cells provided substantial protection, enhancing cell viability from ~26% in the absence of antioxidants to ~63% in the presence of 4 µM zeaxanthin and 80 µM α-tocopherol, and this protective effect was further increased to ~69% in the presence of 0.5 mM ascorbate. The protective effect of ascorbate disappeared at a concentration of 1 mM, whereas 2 mM of ascorbate exacerbated the phototoxicity. Zeaxanthin or α-tocopherol partly ameliorated the cytotoxic effects. Altogether, our results suggest that the optimal combination includes upper levels of zeaxanthin and α-tocopherol achievable by diet and/or supplementations, whereas ascorbate needs to be at a four-fold smaller concentration than that in the vitreous. The physiological relevance of the results is discussed.
Polyphenols and IUGR Pregnancies: Effects of the Antioxidant Hydroxytyrosol on the Hippocampus Proteome in a Porcine Model
Authors: Yeste Natalia , Pérez-Valle Jorge , Vázquez-Gómez Marta , García-Contreras Consolación , González-Bulnes Antonio , Bassols Anna
Published: June 2022

Supplementation of a mother’s diet with antioxidants such as hydroxytyrosol (HTX) has been proposed to ameliorate the adverse phenotypes of foetuses affected by intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR). Our previous studies showed, in a porcine model of IUGR, an effect of maternal HTX supplementation on the neurotransmitter profile of several brain areas and the morphology of the hippocampus in 100 days old foetuses. The present study analyzed the impact of maternal HTX supplementation on the hippocampus proteome at this foetal age by TMT10plex labelling. Eleven differentially abundant proteins were identified by comparing both conditions, and eight of them downregulated and three upregulated in the HTX-treated group. The downregulated proteins were mainly involved in protein synthesis and RNA metabolism and may explain the differences in neuron differentiation in the HTX-treated group. The upregulated proteins were related to cell detoxification and could represent a potential mechanism to explain the neuroprotective effect of HTX.
The Impact of the Fermentation Method on the Pigment Content in Pickled Beetroot and Red Bell Pepper Juices and Freeze-Dried Powders
Authors: Janiszewska-Turak Emilia , Tracz Kacper , Bielińska Patrycja , Rybak Katarzyna , Pobiega Katarzyna , Gniewosz Małgorzata , Woźniak Łukasz , Gramza-Michałowska Anna
Published: June 2022

The beetroot and red bell pepper are vegetables rich in active ingredients, and their potential for health benefits are crucial. Both presented raw materials are rich in natural pigments, but are unstable and seasonal; thus, it was decided to take steps to extend their durability. Lactic fermentation has been recognized as a food preservation method, requiring minimal resources. The activities undertaken were also aimed at creating a new product with a coloring and probiotic potential. For this reason, the study aimed to evaluate the impact of the method of fermentation on the content of active compounds (pigments) in pickled juices and freeze-dried powders. The lactic acid fermentation guided in two ways. The second step of the research was to obtain powders in the freeze-drying process. For fermentation, Levilactobacillus brevis and Limosilactobacillus fermentum were used. In juices and powders, pigments, color, and dry matter were tested. In this research, no differences in fermented juice pigment contents were seen; however, the color coefficient differed in raw juices. The freeze-drying process resulted in lowering the pigment content, and increasing dry matter and good storage conditions (glass transition temperatures 48–66 °C). The selection of vegetable methods suggested the use of fermentation and mixing it with a marinade (higher pigments and lactic acid bacteria content). All powders were stable and can be used as a colorant source, whereas for probiotic properties, a higher number of bacteria is needed.
Oral Health in Migrants: An Observational Study on the Oral Health Status of a Migrant Cohort Coming from Middle- and Low-Income Countries
Authors: Lauritano Dorina , Moreo Giulia , Martinelli Marcella , Campanella Vincenzo , Arcuri Claudio , Carinci Francesco
Published: June 2022

Introduction. The oral health conditions of migrants coming from middle- and low-income countries to developed countries have been shown to be poorer than those of the host population. Since the phenomenon of migration has continued to grow over the past five decades, the oral health status of migrant populations should be an issue of great concern. Objectives. The objective of our observational study was to analyse the periodontal health status and the prevalence of dental caries and lesions of the oral mucosa in a migrant cohort resident in Italy, assessing the association between the oral health status and the educational level of the included patients. Materials and Methods. Our research was conducted at the dental department of Policlinico Tor Vergata (Rome, Italy). A sample of 200 migrants coming from middle- and low-income countries, aged between 3 and 37, was included in our study. Each patient underwent a physical examination of the oral cavity, recording the DMFT/dmft index, Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs (CPI), and lesions of the oral mucosa. The one-way ANOVA test was used to establish the correlation between the oral health status and the educational level of the participants. Results. Many participants (62.5%) showed a DMFT/dmft Index ≥ 4; only 27% of the migrants had a DMFT/dmft Index lower than 4, and only 21 of them (10.5%) were recorded at 0. A CPI equal to 0 or 1 was observed in 131 patients (65.5%), while only 30 participants presented a CPI equal to or higher than 4 (15%), and 19.5% (39 patients) were assigned to code 2 and 3. Significant statistical differences were found in the CPI after adjusting data for the educational level of the included participants (p-value < 0.01). Conclusions. The data obtained in our research highlighted poor oral conditions among the analysed migrant population, recording a high prevalence of dental caries and inadequate oral hygiene habits.
Modelling Nannochloropsis gaditana Growth in Reactors with Different Geometries, Determination of Kinetic Parameters and Biochemical Analysis in Response to Light Intensity
Authors: Lima Serena , Brucato Alberto , Caputo Giuseppe , Schembri Luca , Scargiali Francesca
Published: June 2022

Microalgae are unicellular and photosynthetic microorganisms which grow thanks to inorganic salts, CO2 and light, and find applications in several fields thanks to their variety. The industrial application of microalgae has not often been fully exploited because of a lack of information about how microalgae respond to inputs and to different growth environments. In the present work a model able to predict the microalgae growth in reactors with different geometries was developed. We combined a Monod-like model for the specific growth rate with the Lambert-Beer law of homogeneous light distribution in thick photobioreactors. Kinetic parameters related to the cultivation of the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana were obtained, for the first time through batch cultivation under different photon flux densities inside a quasi-isoactinic photobioreactor, in order to obtain a practically homogeneous light distribution. The maximum specific growth rate and saturation constant resulted, respectively as µmax = 0.0256 h−1 and Ik = 15.28 µE s−1m−2. These parameters were applied to the model to obtain data on microalgae growth in different geometries. Model simulation results are presented and discussed. Furthermore, biochemical analysis was performed on the biomass obtained at the end of each batch cultivation, grown both under different light intensities and in reactors with different configurations. Results indicated that lipid content increases with increasing average photon flux density. The fatty acid and carotenoids profiles markedly shift when the average light intensity varies: the PUFA content decreases and the SFA content increases when the average light intensity rises, and an accumulation of carotenoids at lower photon flux densities is observed. In conclusion, the model resulted in a useful tool, able to predict the growth of the microalga Nannochloropsis gaditana in reactors with different configurations.
Comparison and Analysis of Acoustic Features of Western and Chinese Classical Music Emotion Recognition Based on V-A Model
Authors: Wang Xin , Wang Li , Xie Lingyun
Published: June 2022

Music emotion recognition is increasingly becoming important in scientific research and practical applications. Due to the differences in musical characteristics between Western and Chinese classical music, it is necessary to investigate the distinctions in music emotional feature sets to improve the accuracy of cross-cultural emotion recognition models. Therefore, a comparative study on emotion recognition in Chinese and Western classical music was conducted. Using the V-A model as an emotional perception model, approximately 1000 pieces of Western and Chinese classical excerpts in total were selected, and approximately 20-dimension feature sets for different emotional dimensions of different datasets were finally extracted. We considered different kinds of algorithms at each step of the training process, from pre-processing to feature selection and regression model selection. The results reveal that the combination of MaxAbsScaler pre-processing and the wrapper method using the recursive feature elimination algorithm based on extremely randomized trees is the optimal algorithm. The harmonic change detection function is a culturally universal feature, whereas spectral flux is a culturally specific feature for Chinese classical music. It is also found that pitch features are more significant for Western classical music, whereas loudness and rhythm features are more significant for Chinese classical music.
Photoreactor-Initiated Acetaldehyde Conversion Rate of a TiO2-Surface-Treated Alumina Photocatalyst Prepared Using the Sol–Gel Method
Authors: Kim Su Jin , Kim Eun Mi , Jeon Hee Kyung , Kale Shital Bhaskar , Choi Jeong Yeon , Kim Jin Hyeok
Published: June 2022

In this study, a TiO2–alumina photocatalyst was manufactured by coating a surface-treated alumina substrate with TiO2 sol using the sol–gel method, and the photolysis and conversion of acetaldehyde in the gas phase were evaluated. The effects of acetaldehyde flow rate (i.e., retention time), ultraviolet wavelength, moisture, and catalyst heat-treatment temperature on the conversion of acetaldehyde were investigated. The experiments confirmed that a decrease in flow rate (i.e., increase in retention time), increase in moisture level, and decrease in the ultraviolet wavelength of the light source increased the conversion rate of the gaseous acetaldehyde. Among the three heat-treatment temperatures (450, 650, and 850 °C) used in the catalyst manufacturing process, the catalyst treated at 650 °C had the highest acetaldehyde conversion rate. As a result of its increased acetaldehyde decomposition and photoefficiency, the newly manufactured TiO2–alumina photocatalyst is expected to be used alongside a photoreactor as an air-purifying filter. Furthermore, the photocatalyst surface treatment demonstrated herein can be adopted to fabricate various environmentally friendly materials in the future.
Centrifugal Modeling of the Relationship between Tunnel Face Support Pressure and Ground Deformation in Water-Rich Sandy Soil
Authors: Luo Weiping , Yuan Dajun , Jin Dalong , Lu Ping , Chen Jian , Yang Gongbiao
Published: June 2022

To investigate the ground deformation induced by the variation of excess/insufficient support pressure in water-rich sandy soil, a series of centrifuge tests in tunnels located at cover over diameter (C/D) ratios equal to 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5 were carried out. The soil pressure, pore pressure, maximum surface displacement and the ground movement induced by reduced/increased support pressure were investigated. The results show that when the burial depth is large (≥1.5 D), the ground deformation caused by the support pressure is difficult to extend to the surface. When the burial depth is shallow (<1.5 D), the ground disturbance range induced by excess support pressure is approximately fishtail-shaped while it is approximately chimney-shaped induced by insufficient support pressure. For the former, the surface disturbance range can extend horizontally to about twice the buried depth beyond the front of the face and the maximum heave occurred at a distance of approximately buried depth beyond the front of the excavation face. For the latter, the surface disturbance range can extend horizontally to about buried depth beyond the front of the face which was larger than that in dry sandy soil. Based on the centrifuge test, the ground deformation mechanism was analyzed compared with previous studies and a supporting pressure control coefficient was proposed to conduct quantitative analysis of surface displacement induced by support pressure. Finally, the control of support pressure based on the surface displacement was discussed to provide some advice for practical engineering.
Intersectional Study of the Gender Gap in STEM through the Identification of Missing Datasets about Women: A Multisided Problem
Authors: Vargas-Solar Genoveva
Published: June 2022

This paper discusses the problem of missing datasets for analysing and exhibiting the role of women in STEM with a particular focus on computer science (CS), artificial intelligence (AI) and data science (DS). It discusses the problem in a concrete case of a global south country (i.e., Mexico). Our study aims to point out missing datasets to identify invisible information regarding women and the implications when studying the gender gap in different STEM disciplines. Missing datasets about women in STEM show that the first step to understanding gender imbalance in STEM is building women’s history by “completing” existing datasets.
Effects of Auditory Pre-Stimulation on Cognitive Task Performance in a Noisy Environment
Authors: An Sehee , Kim Kyeongtae , Ahn Dohun , Lee Haehyun , Son Minseok , Beck Donghyun
Published: June 2022

The accident rate due to human errors in industrial fields has been consistently high over the past few decades, and noise has been emerging as one of the main causes of human errors. In recent years, auditory pre-stimulation has been considered as a means of preventing human errors by improving workers’ cognitive task performance. However, most previous studies demonstrated the effectiveness of the auditory pre-stimulation in a quiet environment. Accordingly, studies on the effects of pre-stimulation in a noisy environment are still lacking. Therefore, this study aimed to empirically investigate: (1) the effects of noisy environments on the performances of cognitive tasks related to different functions of working memory and (2) the effects of auditory pre-stimulation on the performances of cognitive tasks in a field-noise environment. To accomplish these research objectives, two major experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, a total of 24 participants performed each of three basic short-term/working memory (STM/WM) tasks under two different experimental conditions (quiet-noise environment and field-noise environment) depending on the presence or absence of field noise. In the second experiment, the participants performed each of the three basic STM/WM tasks in a field-noise environment after they were provided with one of four different auditory pre-stimulations (quiet noise, white noise, field noise, and mixed (white and field) noise). The three STM/WM tasks were the Corsi block-tapping, Digit span, and 3-back tasks, corresponding to the visuospatial sketchpad, the phonological loop, and the central executive of WM, respectively. The major findings were that: (1) the field-noise environment did not affect the scores of the Corsi block-tapping and 3-back tasks, significantly affecting only the Digit span task score (decreased by 15.2%, p < 0.01); and (2) the Digit span task performance in the field-noise environment was improved by 17.9% (p < 0.05) when mixed noise was provided as a type of auditory pre-stimulation. These findings may be useful for the work-space designs that prevent/minimize human errors and industrial accidents by improving the cognitive task performance of workers in field-noise environments.
A Machine Learning and Radiomics Approach in Lung Cancer for Predicting Histological Subtype
Authors: Brunetti Antonio , Altini Nicola , Buongiorno Domenico , Garolla Emilio , Corallo Fabio , Gravina Matteo , Bevilacqua Vitoantonio , Prencipe Berardino
Published: June 2022

Lung cancer is one of the deadliest diseases worldwide. Computed Tomography (CT) images are a powerful tool for investigating the structure and texture of lung nodules. For a long time, trained radiologists have performed the grading and staging of cancer severity by relying on radiographic images. Recently, radiomics has been changing the traditional workflow for lung cancer staging by providing the technical and methodological means to analytically quantify lesions so that more accurate predictions could be performed while reducing the time required from each specialist to perform such tasks. In this work, we implemented a pipeline for identifying a radiomic signature composed of a reduced number of features to discriminate between adenocarcinomas and other cancer types. In addition, we also investigated the reproducibility of this radiomic study analysing the performances of the classification models on external validation data. In detail, we first considered two publicly available datasets, namely D1 and D2, composed of n = 262 and n = 89 samples, respectively. Ten significant features, according to univariate AUC evaluated on D1, were retained. Mann–Whitney U tests recognised three of these features to have a statistically different distribution, with a p-value < 0.05. Then, we collected n = 51 CT images from patients with lung nodules at the Azienda Ospedaliero—Universitaria “Policlinico Riuniti” in Foggia. Resident radiologists manually annotated the lung lesions in images to allow the subsequent analysis of the malignancy regions. We designed a pipeline for feature extraction from the Volumes of Interest in order to generate a third dataset, i.e., D3. Several experiments have been performed showing that the selected radiomic signature not only allowed the discrimination of lung adenocarcinoma from other cancer types independently from the input dataset used for training the models, but also allowed reaching good classification performances also on external validation data; in fact, the radiomic signature computed on D1 and evaluated on the local cohort allowed reaching an AUC of 0.70 (p<0.001) for the task of predicting the histological subtype.
Analysis of Recent Mean Temperature Trends and Relationships with Teleconnection Patterns in California (U.S.)
Authors: González-Pérez Alejandro , Álvarez-Esteban Ramón , Penas Ángel , del Río Sara
Published: June 2022

The global mean surface temperature has risen since the late 19th century. However, temperatures do not increase uniformly in space or time and few studies have focused on that peculiarity in the State of California. The aim of this research is to deepen our knowledge of the evolution of mean temperatures in the State of California on monthly, seasonal and annual time scales. The period under study comprises 40 years (from 1980 to 2019) and data from 170 meteorological stations were analysed. Statistical techniques, including Sen’s slope and Mann-Kendall, were applied to each of the stations to establish the sign and slopes of trends and their statistical significance. The spatial distribution of monthly, seasonal and annual trends was analysed using the Empirical Bayesian Kriging (EBK) geostatistical technique. The trend analysis was also carried out for the State as a whole. This research also studies the relationships between mean temperatures and nine teleconnection patterns with influence on the Californian climate. To find out these links, a correlation analysis was performed using the partial non-parametric Spearman Test at a 95% confidence level. The study reveals a positive trend of +0.01 °C year−1 for the whole state and that Southern California is getting warmer than Northern California for the study period. On a seasonal scale, the local temperature increased significantly both in autumn and summer (+0.06 °C and +0.035 °C year−1 respectively) from 1980 to 2019. On a monthly scale, the largest increases are found in November at +0.04 °C year−1. Temperatures in February, March, April and May are highly correlated with most of the teleconnection patterns studied in the State of California. West Pacific Oscillation (WPO) teleconnection pattern has shown the highest negative correlation. However, The Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) has a positive correlation with mean temperatures in coastal areas such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Monterey. Moreover, Antarctic Oscillation (AAO) and Arctic Oscillation patterns (AO) are unlikely to show great influence on average temperature trends in California.
Identification of Mobility Patterns of Clusters of City Visitors: An Application of Artificial Intelligence Techniques to Social Media Data
Authors: Orama Jonathan Ayebakuro , Huertas Assumpció , Borràs Joan , Moreno Antonio , Anton Clavé Salvador
Published: June 2022

In order to enhance tourists’ experiences, Destination Management Organizations need to know who their tourists are, their travel preferences, and their flows around the destination. The study develops a methodology that, through the application of Artificial Intelligence techniques to social media data, creates clusters of tourists according to their mobility and visiting preferences at the destination. The applied method improves the knowledge about the different mobility patterns of tourists (the most visited points and the main flows between them within a destination) depending on who they are and what their preferences are. Clustering tourists by their travel mobility permits uncovering much more information about them and their preferences than previous studies. This knowledge will allow DMOs and tourism service providers to offer personalized services and information, to attract specific types of tourists to certain points of interest, to create new routes, or to enhance public transport services.
The Use of Collaborative Practices for Climate Change Adaptation in the Tourism Sector until 2040—A Case Study in the Porto Metropolitan Area (Portugal)
Authors: Lopes Hélder Silva , Remoaldo Paula , Ribeiro Vítor , Martín-Vide Javier
Published: June 2022

When climate change became a global concern in the 1980s, mitigation was considered the best strategy to address all challenges. For a long time, it was thought possible to stabilize atmospheric concentrations of greenhouse gases (GHGs), which, according to many experts, brought on an unfit adaptation. There are international agreements designed to significantly reduce CO2 emissions and achieve carbon neutrality by 2050, but the policy measures taken so far are insufficient to achieve this goal. In addition, the crisis caused by the COVID-19 pandemic highlighted the relevance of placing this issue at the core of international policies and the need for bottom-up measures and options. The purpose of this paper is to explore how collaborative planning can contribute to adapting the urban tourism sector to climate change in the Porto Metropolitan Area (PMA), located in the northern region of mainland Portugal. In this investigation, we used mixed methods based on the following: (1) the discussion of urban tourism’s adaptation planning to climate change with undergraduate students; (2) the application of a modified Delphi questionnaire survey, to 47 international researchers and technicians in the first round and 35 international researchers and technicians in the second round, about the predictability of the adaptation measures; and (3) a theoretical-practical workshop aimed to discuss the main action intentions and ways of adaptation in the short and medium term. All empirical data were collected during the year of 2021. This research highlights the need for more detailed information, the weak interaction between stakeholders and the limitation of resources. Our research identifies the main impacts and local vulnerabilities and determines priorities for adaptation and implementation of actions, aimed at mitigating the effects of climate change and maintaining tourism attractiveness in urban areas. In addition, this investigation allowed the definition of a research agenda, which seeks to guide the area of tourism climatology regarding the new challenges imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Multi-Objective Optimization Design of 6-UPS Parallel Mechanism Based on Taguchi Method and Entropy-Weighted Gray Relational Analysis
Authors: Song Hao , Chen Xiaoliang , Zhang Shuai , Xu Liyou
Published: June 2022

Nowadays, parallel mechanisms are widely used in many fields because of their excellent structural performance. In order to improve the comprehensive performance of 6-UPS parallel mechanism, this article proposes a multi-objective optimization design method for parallel mechanism based on the Taguchi method and entropy-weighted gray relational analysis (EGRA) method. By establishing a parametric model of the 6-UPS parallel mechanism, taking the peak force on the drive pair of the drive branch chain of the mechanism, the minimum value of the projection angle of the body-fixed coordinate system (BCS) relative to the inertial coordinate system (ICS), and the minimum value of the average projected angle of the BCS relative to the ICS as the objective functions, the relationship between the design variables and the objective function is investigated under the condition that the constraints are satisfied. Using the optimization method proposed in this article, the multi-objective optimization problem is transformed into a single-objective optimization problem based on gray relational grade (GRG). Compared with the non-optimized 6-UPS parallel mechanism, the simulation results show that the peak force on the drive pair of the drive branch chain is reduced by 17.73%, and the minimum value of the projected angle and the minimum value of the average projected angle of the BCS relative to the ICS are increased by 27.36% and 36.17%, respectively, which effectively improves the load-bearing capacity and motion range of the 6-UPS parallel mechanism and verifies the reliability of the optimized design method.
Fiber Model Considering the Local Instability Effect and Its Application to the Seismic Analysis of Eccentrically Compressed Steel Piers
Authors: Zhuge Hanqing , Zheng Xianglong , Song Fangyuan , Tang Zhanzhan
Published: June 2022

To propose a seismic response calculation model for eccentrically compressed steel piers that can consider the local instability effect and horizontal bidirectional earthquake actions, in-plane and out-of-plane pseudo-static numerical simulation and bidirectional seismic response analysis are performed to study the applicability of the improved fiber model. The comparison results with the refined hybrid-element model show that the improved fiber model can accurately simulate the hysteretic performance of eccentrically compressed steel piers in the in-plane or out-of-plane directions and can be used to calculate the structural seismic requirements under the bidirectional action of rarely met earthquakes.
Uncovering the Use of Fucoxanthin and Phycobiliproteins into Solid Matrices to Increase Their Emission Quantum Yield and Photostability
Authors: Dias Lília M. S. , Kovaleski Gabriela , Fu Lianshe , Dias Tânia R. , Macário Inês P. E. , Correia Sandra F. H. , Pereira Joana L. , Coutinho João A. P. , Ventura Sónia P. M. , Ferreira Rute A. S.
Published: June 2022

In the search for a better and brighter future, the use of natural luminescent renewable materials as substitutes for synthetic ones in the energy field is of prime importance. The incorporation of natural pigments (e.g., xanthophylls and phycobiliproteins) is a fundamental step in a broad spectrum of applications that are presently marred by their limited stability. The incorporation of bio-based luminescent molecules into solid matrices allows the fabrication of thin films, which may dramatically increase the range of applications, including sustainable photovoltaic systems, such as luminescent solar concentrators or downshifting layers. In this work, we incorporated R-phycoerythrin (R-PE), C-phycocyanin (C-PC), and fucoxanthin (FX) into poly(vinyl alcohol) (PVA) and studied their optical properties. It was found that the emission and excitation spectra of the phycobiliproteins and FX were not modified by incorporation into the PVA matrix. Moreover, in the case of FX, the emission quantum yield (η) values also remained unaltered after incorporation, showing the suitability of the PVA as a host matrix. A preliminary photostability study was performed by exposing the solid samples to continuous AM1.5G solar radiation, which evidenced the potential of these materials for future photovoltaics.
Bacterial Disinfection of Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) Resin Polymer Using Low Level Microwave Irradiation and Denture Cleaning Agent
Authors: Choudhry Ziaullah , Kazmi Syed M. R. , Malik Sofia , Mirani Zulfiqar A. , Ahmed Shahbaz , Rehman Qazi Fazal Ur , Ahmed Muhammad Adeel , Alrabiah Mohammed , AlAali Khulud A. , Vohra Fahim , Abduljabbar Tariq
Published: June 2022

The aim was to evaluate the disinfection of E. coli, S. aureus and S. mutans cultured on Polymethyl Methacrylate (PMMA) resin polymer using microwave disinfection and sodium perborate (DC). Biofilms of E. coli, S. aureus and S. mutans were cultured on the PMMA denture base for 24, 36, 48 and 96 h. Specimens were subjected to three disinfection protocols, including microwave disinfection in distilled water (MW-DW), sodium perborate (denture cleaning tablet) with distilled water (DC-DW) and a combination of MW-DC-DW for 1 to 5 min. Colony-forming units among the study groups were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Mann–Whitney tests. For E. coli and S. aureus cultured on PMMA, the MW-DC-DW group displayed complete disinfection at 2 min of exposure. However, for both bacteria, the MW-DW disinfection group showed zero CFU at 3 min. DC disinfection for E. coli and S. aureus displayed zero CFU at 5 min of exposure (p ≤ 0.05). For S. mutans, MW-DC-DW and MW-DW displayed zero CFU count at 1 min and 2 min, respectively. In DC-treated samples, CFU were significantly zero at 4 min when compared with the control at each growth time. A combination of MW irradiation with DC (sodium perborate) showed higher disinfection percentage of bacterial species on PMMA polymer denture bases compared to MW and DC alone. PMMA disinfection using DC displayed a lower antimicrobial disinfection percentage than the combined use of MW and DC as well as MW alone at 1 min or 2 min disinfection for E. coli, S. aureus and S. mutans.
Thermodynamic Properties of Electrolyte Solutions, Derived from Fluctuation Correlations: A Methodological Review
Authors: Petsev Dimiter N.
Published: June 2022

This article presents a review of an approach for studying solution thermodynamics, which is based the on hydrodynamic fluctuation correlations analysis method suggested by Landau and Lifshitz. We show that the method is very general, and its applicability goes beyond hydrodynamics. It starts with examining the entropy production and fluctuating transport fluxes, which are related to concentration fluctuations and molecular interactions. The approach can be successfully applied to compute a wide range of thermodynamic properties such as the osmotic pressure (i.e., equation of state) and provides information about the interactions between the dissolved species. Using dilute electrolyte solutions as a case study, we reproduce results from the Debye and Huckel theory while starting from a very different physical perspective.
Automatic Intersection Extraction Method for Urban Road Networks Based on Trajectory Intersection Points
Authors: Gao Lei , Wei Lu , Yang Jian , Li Jinhong
Published: June 2022

Automatic intersection identification and extraction are an important foundation for urban road network updates and traffic network analysis and modeling. Existing intersection extraction methods based on steering angles and stopping points suffer from inadequate sampling amounts and threshold settings. To address this problem, we propose a road network intersection automatic extraction method based on vehicle trajectory intersection clustering. First, the continuous trajectory segments are extracted from trajectory data based on the sampling interval. Second, the maximum reconstruction error method is developed to extract straight-line trajectory segments from continuous trajectory segments. The overlapped straight-line trajectory segments belonging to the same direction are merged to reduce the number of segments and enhance road network patterns. To further improve the calculation efficiency of the intersection points of straight-line segments, bounding box filtering and orthogonal filtering are used to filter the straight-line trajectory segments that do not have an intersection relationship. Finally, the obtained straight-line segment intersection points are clustered using a density peak clustering algorithm. The road intersections are automatically extracted using the clustering center. The experimental results on real vehicle trajectories in Lianyungang City show that the proposed method performs well on intersection recognition and calculation efficiency.
Computer-Algebra-Software-Assisted Calculus Instruction, Not Calculus for Dummies: Bespoke Applications Necessitate Theory
Authors: Griffith Daniel A.
Published: June 2022

Today, calculus frequently is taught with artificial intelligence in the form of computer algebra systems. Although these software packages may reduce tedium associated with the mechanics of calculus, they may be less effective if not supplemented by the accompanying teaching of calculus theory. This paper presents two examples from spatial statistics in which computer software in an unsupervised auto-execution mode fails, or can fail, to yield correct calculus results. Accordingly, it emphasizes the need to teach calculus theory when using software packages such as Mathematica and Maple.