bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
iPSC Technology: An Innovative Tool for Developing Clean Meat, Livestock, and Frozen Ark
Authors: Verma Rajneesh , Lee Younghyun , Salamone Daniel F.
Published: November 2022

Induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) technology is an emerging technique to reprogram somatic cells into iPSCs that have revolutionary benefits in the fields of drug discovery, cellular therapy, and personalized medicine. However, these applications are just the tip of an iceberg. Recently, iPSC technology has been shown to be useful in not only conserving the endangered species, but also the revival of extinct species. With increasing consumer reliance on animal products, combined with an ever-growing population, there is a necessity to develop alternative approaches to conventional farming practices. One such approach involves the development of domestic farm animal iPSCs. This approach provides several benefits in the form of reduced animal death, pasture degradation, water consumption, and greenhouse gas emissions. Hence, it is essentially an environmentally-friendly alternative to conventional farming. Additionally, this approach ensures decreased zoonotic outbreaks and a constant food supply. Here, we discuss the iPSC technology in the form of a “Frozen Ark”, along with its potential impact on spreading awareness of factory farming, foodborne disease, and the ecological footprint of the meat industry.
Effects of N-acetylcysteine on Growth, Viability, and Ultrastructure of In Vitro Cultured Bovine Secondary Follicles
Authors: Nascimento Danisvânia R. , Azevedo Venância A. N. , Barroso Pedro A. A. , Barrozo Laryssa G. , Silva Bianca R. , Silva Anderson W. B. , Donato Mariana A. M. , Peixoto Christina A. , Silva José R. V.
Published: November 2022

This study aimed to investigate the effects of different concentrations of N-acetylcysteine (NAC) on the growth, antrum formation, viability, and ultrastructure of bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro for 18 days. To this end, the follicles were cultured in TCM-199+ medium alone or supplemented with 1.0, 5.0, or 25.0 mM NAC. Follicular growth, antrum formation, viability (calcein-AM and ethidium homodimer-1) and ultrastructure were evaluated at the end of culture period. The results showed that 1.0 mM NAC increased the percentage of growing follicles and the fluorescence intensity for calcein-AM when compared to other treatments (p < 0.05). On the other hand, follicles cultured with 25.0 mM NAC had higher fluorescence intensity for ethidium homodimer-1, which is a sign of degeneration. Ultrastructural analysis showed that oocytes from follicles cultured in control medium alone or with 1 mM NAC had intact zonae pellucidae in close association with oolemmae, but the ooplasm showed mitochondria with a reduced number of cristae. On the other hand, oocytes from follicles cultured with 5 or 25 mM NAC had extremely vacuolated cytoplasm and no recognizable organelles. In conclusion, 1 mM NAC increases cytoplasmic calcein staining and the growth rate in bovine secondary follicles cultured in vitro, but the presence of 5 or 25 mM NAC causes damage in cellular membranes and organelles, as well as reducing the percentages of growing follicles.
Impact of Freeze Storage on the Estimation of Phenotypic Antimicrobial Resistance Prevalence in Escherichia coli Collected from Faecal Samples from Healthy Humans and Chickens
Authors: Kiet Bach Tuan , Nhung Nguyen Thi , Yen Nguyen Thi Phuong , Phu Doan Hoang , Dung Nguyen Thi Thuy , Yen Lam Kim , Thu Ho Thi Viet , Carrique-Mas Juan J.
Published: November 2022

Many studies on phenotypic antimicrobial resistance (AMR) of bacteria from healthy populations are conducted on freeze-stored samples. However, the impact of this practice on phenotypic AMR is not known. We investigated the prevalence of phenotypic AMR in Escherichia coli from chicken (n = 10) and human (n = 11) faecal samples collected from healthy subjects, subject to freeze storage (−20 °C and −80 °C) for 1, 2, 3, and 6 months. We compared counts of E. coli and prevalence of phenotypic resistance against five antimicrobials commonly used in chicken farming (ciprofloxacin, enrofloxacin, doxycycline, gentamicin, and florfenicol) with samples processed within 24 h of collection. Prevalence of phenotypic AMR was estimated by performing differential counts on agar media with and without antimicrobials. At −20 °C, there was a considerable reduction in E. coli counts over time, and this reduction was greater for human samples (−0.630 log10 units per 100 days) compared with chicken samples (−0.178 log10 units per 100 days). For most antimicrobials, AMR prevalence estimates decreased in freeze-stored samples both in humans and chickens over time. Based on these results, we conclude that results on the prevalence of phenotypic AMR on samples from freeze-stored samples are unreliable, and only fresh samples should be used in such studies.
Chenodeoxycholic Acid (CDCA) Promoted Intestinal Epithelial Cell Proliferation by Regulating Cell Cycle Progression and Mitochondrial Biogenesis in IPEC-J2 Cells
Authors: Xu Lei , Li Yanpin , Wei Zixi , Bai Rong , Gao Ge , Sun Wenjuan , Jiang Xianren , Wang Junjun , Li Xilong , Pi Yu
Published: November 2022

Chenodeoxycholic acid (CDCA), a primary bile acid (BA), has been demonstrated to play an important role as a signaling molecule in various physiological functions. However, the role of CDCA in regulating intestinal epithelial cell (IEC) function remains largely unknown. Herein, porcine intestinal epithelial cells (IPEC-J2) were used as an in vitro model to investigate the effects of CDCA on IEC proliferation and explore the underlying mechanisms. IPEC-J2 cells were treated with CDCA, and flow cytometry and transcriptome analysis were adopted to investigate the effects and potential molecular mechanisms of CDCA on the proliferation of IECs. Our results indicated that adding 50 μmol/L of CDCA in the media significantly increased the proliferation of IPEC-J2 cells. In addition, CDCA treatment also hindered cell apoptosis, increased the proportion of G0/G1 phase cells in the cell cycle progression, reduced intracellular ROS, and MDA levels, and increased mitochondrial membrane potential, antioxidation enzyme activity (T-AOC and CAT), and intracellular ATP level (p < 0.05). RNA-seq results showed that CDCA significantly upregulated the expression of genes related to cell cycle progression (Cyclin-dependent kinase 1 (CDK1), cyclin G2 (CCNG2), cell-cycle progression gene 1 (CCPG1), Bcl-2 interacting protein 5 (BNIP5), etc.) and downregulated the expression of genes related to mitochondrial biogenesis (ND1, ND2, COX3, ATP6, etc.). Further KEGG pathway enrichment analysis showed that CDCA significantly enriched the signaling pathways of DNA replication, cell cycle, and p53. Collectively, this study demonstrated that CDCA could promote IPEC-J2 proliferation by regulating cell cycle progression and mitochondrial function. These findings provide a new strategy for promoting the intestinal health of pigs by regulating intestinal BA metabolism.
Reciprocating System for Secondary Root Canal Treatment of Oval Canals: CBCT, X-rays for Remnant Detection and Their Identification with ESEM and EDX
Authors: Spinelli Andrea , Zamparini Fausto , Buonavoglia Alessio , Pisi Paolo , Gandolfi Maria Giovanna , Prati Carlo
Published: November 2022

Aim of the study: to evaluate root filling remnants after secondary root canal treatments (SRCTs) of oval-shaped canals with X-rays and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The SRCTs were performed using reciprocating NiTi instruments. Methods: Single-rooted teeth (N = 64) were randomly treated with Reciproc Blue (RB) and filled with AH Plus/single cone (SC group) or AH Plus/Guttafusion (GF group). After seven days of storage in HBSS (Hanks balanced salt solution), Gates Glidden burs #2/3 and RB #25 and #40 were used for the SRCTs. The time to complete the procedure was measured. X-rays and CBCT were used to calculate, respectively, the area and the volume occupied by the remnants in the coronal, middle, and apical thirds of each canal. Environmental scanning electron microscopy (ESEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX) were used for qualitative evaluation and morphology composition of the remnants in sectioned roots. A statistical analysis was performed using Sigma Plot (version 13, IBM, Armonk, NY, USA). The study was designed according to PRILE guidelines. Results: After the SRCTs, the middle thirds of the root canals showed the presence of remnants in both groups, as demonstrated by X-rays and CBCT. The GF group showed a statistically significant higher volume of remnants than the SC Group only in the middle third. The ESEM supported by the EDX revealed the remnant composition by the detection of trace elements of sealer and gutta-percha in all root canals. Conclusion: The study demonstrated that the middle third of root canals is a critical region where remnants were packed and spread in the buccal-lingual sides of canals. ESEM-EDX detected a fine layer of filling remnants in all root thirds, suggesting a larger canal contamination than the X-rays and CBCT examinations revealed.
Condition Assessment and Adaptation of Bailey Bridges as a Permanent Structures
Authors: Kusimba Barasa Anthony , Rinzin Tshewang , Banno Yuki , Kinoshita Koji
Published: November 2022

The present study assessed the Bailey Bridge’s condition and investigated its adaptation as a permanent structure, targeted the Acrow Bailey Bridge in Japan. Field diagnostic loading experiments were performed under various loading conditions, such as dynamic and static loading tests. The onsite data were obtained using a transducer, friction strain gauge, target measurements for the image processing approach, and accelerometer. From the field measurements, the deflection and stresses of the bridge were found to operate within the linear elastic region. The bridge was then accurately modeled based on the in situ geometric configuration of the bridge, and Finite Element Analysis was performed. The model’s accuracy was validated with the onsite data under the linear elastic domain. The model was deployed to check for resistance of critical members. A nonlinear analysis based on the linear and nonlinear buckling method was performed to determine the subject bridge’s Serviceability Limit State and Ultimate Limit State. The results showed that the first out-of-plane eigenvalue buckling analysis could monolithically assess bridge members. Further, the study established digital twin models resolve for historical data through in situ modeling measurements. Therefore, the findings obtained in this study highlight the bridge’s Structural Health Condition, bearing capacity, and propose a framework for adaptation as a permanent structure.
Geometric Parameter Self-Calibration Based on Projection Feature Matching for X-Ray Nanotomography
Authors: Yang Shuangzhan , Han Yu , Li Lei , Xi Xiaoqi , Tan Siyu , Zhu Linlin , Liu Mengnan , Yan Bin
Published: November 2022

The mismatch of geometric parameters in a nanotomography system bears a significant impact on the reconstructed images. Moreover, projection image noise is increased due to limitations of the X-ray power source. The accuracy of the existing self-calibration method, which uses only the grayscale information of the projected image, is easily affected by noise and leads to reduced accuracy. This paper proposes a geometric parameter self-calibration method based on feature matching of mirror projection images. Firstly, the fast extraction and matching feature points in the mirror projection image are performed by speeded-up robust features (SURF). The feature triangle is then designed according to the stable position of the system’s rotation axis to further filter the feature points. In turn, the influence of the mismatched points on the calculation accuracy is reduced. Finally, the straight line where the rotation axis is located is fitted by the midpoint coordinates of the filtered feature points, thereby realizing geometric parameter calibration of the system. Simulation and actual data from the experimental results show that the proposed method effectively realizes the calibration of geometric parameters, and the blurring and ghosting caused by geometric artifacts are corrected. Compared with existing methods, the image clarity can be improved by up to 14.4%.
Thermal Resilience of Citizens: Comparison between Thermal Sensation and Objective Estimation in Outdoor Spaces: A Case Study in Seville, Spain
Authors: Sánchez Ramos José , Toulou Aurore , Guerrero Delgado Mcarmen , Palomo Amores Teresa Rocío , Castro Medina Daniel , Álvarez Domínguez Servando
Published: November 2022

Sanitary issues, combined with the effects of climate change, emphasize the comfort of outdoor spaces in cities. Numerous comfort models exist and can predict thermal sensation. However, these comfort indices need to be validated in hot zones and quantify the neutral range considering people’s thermal resilience. The present study investigates the outdoor thermal comfort of people who live in hot areas and are accustomed to this and quantifies this effect. For that, predictions provided by the COMFA thermal comfort model were compared with the occupants’ perceptions given in the field campaigns’ questionnaires. The field campaigns were associated with on-site monitoring of local climate variables. It was observed that during the survey period, the entire space was predicted to be uncomfortable by the COMFA model. On the contrary, the results of the questionnaires showed that the most frequently encountered thermal sensations were distributed between the comfort zone and the hot zone. The proposed methodology has been designed to be used by other researchers, and it is adaptable to other outdoor thermal comforts such as PET or ITS. The comparison between the model’s predictions and the users’ responses to space highlighted the tendency of the COMFA to overestimate the thermal sensations. This work’s results allow extending the neutral comfort band from 50 W/m2 (value of literature) to 80 W/m2. So, the paper quantifies that the effect of the thermal resilience of the people increases the thermal band of comfort by around 60%. These results will allow an accurate assessment of the effectiveness of future mitigation solutions implemented to improve outdoor thermal comfort in other world areas. It is due to the propose of a higher neutrality range researchers or designers could achieve outdoor thermal comfort in effective and reliable ways, even in hot climates.
Time Following a Gluten-Free Diet, Ultra-Processed Food Consumption and Quality of Life in Children with Celiac Disease
Authors: Martín-Masot Rafael , Labella Ana , Baena-García Laura , Flor-Alemany Marta , López-Frías Magdalena , de la Higuera Magdalena , Maldonado José , Nestares Teresa
Published: November 2022

Maintaining a strict gluten-free diet (GFD) may affect the quality of life of children with celiac disease (CD) and promote a less healthy diet by substituting gluten-containing foods with ultra-processed foods. We aimed to assess the influences of the GFD and ultra-processed food consumption on parents’ perception of the quality of life of children with CD. Fifty-eight children (mean age 8.6 ± 4.1 years) were included. The participants were divided into groups based on the time following a GFD: <6 months (n = 18) versus ≥12 months (n = 37). Their dietary consumption was assessed through a three-day food record. The 20-item Celiac Disease Quality Of Life survey (CD-QOL), which contains four subscales (limitations, dysphoria, health concerns, and inadequate treatment) was used to assess the quality of life. The children who followed a GFD for ≥12 months presented poorer scores in the limitations subscale than those who followed a GFD for <6 months (p = 0.010). The mean % of the energy intake from ultra-processed foods was 47.3 ± 13.5. Children with CD consuming more than 50% of their total energy from ultra-processed foods showed poorer scores for the limitation and inadequate treatment (both, p = 0.019) subscales than their counterparts. According to parents’ perceptions, those children who consumed more than 50% of their energy through ultra-processed foods had more limitations, and their treatment was perceived as less effective.
Optimal Design of Droplet Ejection for PZT Printhead Based on Surrogate Model
Authors: Lei Ting , Liu Hong , Ma Cong , Han Jiang
Published: November 2022

Droplet ejection technology is widely used in green and intelligent manufacturing. A stable jetting can be defined as no obvious satellite droplets during the whole ejection process, which is of great importance to ensure the quality and efficiency of the printed products; However, due to the multi-parameter features and the interaction between different physics, using traditional analytical-based approaches to analyze and/or optimize is usually difficult and even unfeasible. Experimental tests using a PZT printhead design-optimization method based on surrogate modeling are proposed in this paper to overcome this challenge, which can synthesize the advantages of numerical simulation. The basic data for surrogate model construction was obtained by the Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) numerical-based model, which was developed to predict the flow characteristic under different parameter settings of the printhead. The accuracy of the developed numerical model was validated by performing experimental tests; thereby, the predictive ability of the numerical model in droplet ejection was verified. With the validated numerical model, the Design of Experiments (DoE) was performed to generate the necessary training and validation sample dataset required by the surrogate modeling. Thereafter, four surrogate modeling methods were adopted to construct the relationship between the design parameters and flow features, where the Kriging (KRG) was identified as the optimal modeling method. Based on the developed KRG model, global sensitivity analysis (GSA) of the parameters was carried out with Sobol’s method; thereby, the influence of different parameters can be quantified. Finally, a genetic algorithm (GA) was used to optimize the structure of the droplet printhead. Through validation, the optimized design model increases the droplet ejection speed by 20.84% while keeping no satellite droplet formation, confirming the efficient and stable printhead ejection, and verifying the feasibility and effectiveness of the analysis/optimization method proposed in this paper.
Machine Learning-Based Classification of Mushrooms Using a Smartphone Application
Authors: Lee Jae Joong , Aime M. Catherine , Rajwa Bartek , Bae Euiwon
Published: November 2022

Worldwide, a large number of cases of harmful mushroom exposure and consumption result in hallucinations, sickness, and death. One contributing factor is that certain poisonous mushrooms closely resemble their edible counterparts, making it difficult for general public collectors to distinguish one from the other. We propose a method to classify mushroom types from field-collection images using a smartphone application based on a convolutional neural network. The application helps people without proper mycology background or training to distinguish poisonous mushrooms from edible ones with which they may be confused. We showed three case studies to classify two-, three-, and five-class models by optimizing their training steps by cross-validation. An android app was developed by transferring the server-based trained model and allowing users to obtain probability scores for the correct genus classification. Our experiments showed that this method could provide sensitivity and specificity of two-, three-, and five-class mushroom models ranging from 89% to 100% using an image from the field with diverse backgrounds and objects.
CASVM: An Efficient Deep Learning Image Classification Method Combined with SVM
Authors: Tan Shuqiu , Pan Jiahao , Zhang Jianxun , Liu Yahui
Published: November 2022

Recent advances in convolutional neural networks (CNNs) for image feature extraction have achieved extraordinary performance, but back-propagation algorithms tend to fall into local minima. To alleviate this problem, this paper proposes a coordinate attention-support vector machine-convolutional neural network (CASVM). This proposed to enhance the model’s ability by introducing coordinate attention while obtaining enhanced image features. Training is carried out by back-propagating the loss function of support vector machines (SVMs) to improve the generalization capability, which can effectively avoid falling into local optima. The image datasets used in this study for benchmark experiments are Fashion-MNIST, Cifar10, Cifar100, and Animal10. Experimental results show that compared with softmax, CASVM can improve the image classification accuracy of the original model under different image resolution datasets. Under the same structure, CASVM shows better performance and robustness and has higher accuracy. Under the same network parameters, the loss function of CASVM enables the model to realize a lower loss value. Among the standard CNN models, the highest accuracy rate can reach 99%, and the optimal number of accuracy indicators is 5.5 times that of softmax, whose accuracy rate can be improved by up to 56%.
Software Risk Prediction: Systematic Literature Review on Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Mahmud Mahmudul Hoque , Nayan Md. Tanzirul Haque , Ashir Dewan Md. Nur Anjum , Kabir Md Alamgir
Published: November 2022

The Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) includes the phases used to develop software. During the phases of the SDLC, unexpected risks might arise due to a lack of knowledge, control, and time. The consequences are severe if the risks are not addressed in the early phases of SDLC. This study aims to conduct a Systematic Literature Review (SLR) and acquire concise knowledge of Software Risk Prediction (SRP) from the published scientific articles from the year 2007 to 2022. Furthermore, we conducted a qualitative analysis of published articles on SRP. Some of the key findings include: (1) 16 articles are examined in this SLR to represent the outline of SRP; (2) Machine Learning (ML)-based detection models were extremely efficient and significant in terms of performance; (3) Very few research got excellent scores from quality analysis. As part of this SLR, we summarized and consolidated previously published SRP studies to discover the practices from prior research. This SLR will pave the way for further research in SRP and guide both researchers and practitioners.
Improved Mask R-CNN Combined with Otsu Preprocessing for Rice Panicle Detection and Segmentation
Authors: Hong Shilan , Jiang Zhaohui , Liu Lianzhong , Wang Jie , Zhou Luyang , Xu Jianpeng
Published: November 2022

Rice yield is closely related to the number and proportional area of rice panicles. Currently, rice panicle information is acquired with manual observation, which is inefficient and subjective. To solve this problem, we propose an improved Mask R-CNN combined with Otsu preprocessing for rice detection and segmentation. This method first constructs a rice dataset for rice images in a large field environment, expands the dataset using data augmentation, and then uses LabelMe to label the rice panicles. The optimized Mask R-CNN is used as a rice detection and segmentation model. Actual rice panicle images are preprocessed by the Otsu algorithm and input into the model, which yields accurate rice panicle detection and segmentation results using the structural similarity and perceptual hash value as the measurement criteria. The results show that the proposed method has the highest detection and segmentation accuracy for rice panicles among the compared algorithms. When further calculating the number and relative proportional area of the rice panicles, the average error of the number of rice panicles is 16.73% with a minimum error of 5.39%, and the error of the relative proportional of rice panicles does not exceed 5%, with a minimum error of 1.97% and an average error of 3.90%. The improved Mask R-CNN combined with Otsu preprocessing for rice panicle detection and segmentation proposed in this paper can operate well in a large field environment, making it highly suitable for rice growth monitoring and yield estimation.
Voltammetric and Spectroscopic Investigation of Electrogenerated Oligo-Thiophenes: Effect of Substituents on the Energy-Gap Value
Authors: Pilo Maria I. , Masolo Elisabetta , Maidich Luca , Manca Paola , Sanna Gavino , Spano Nadia , Zucca Antonio
Published: November 2022

Oligothiophenes are especially appealing due to their promising applications in different fields, including photosensitive devices. In this context, anchoring a selected substituent on the main structure of the starting material can induce changes in redox and spectroscopic features, according to the nature of the substituent and its position on central or terminal rings. Here, an electrochemical and spectroscopic comparison between 2,2′:5′,2″-terthiophene (2), 5-Br-terthiophene (3) and 5-ethynyl-terthiophene (5-ET) is reported, aimed at elucidating the effect of the nature of the substituent on the energy gap value of the terthiophene skeleton. Furthermore, in order to understand the influence of a selected substituent in varying its position on the terthiophene backbone, 5-ET is compared to the previously described 3′-ethynyl-terthiophene (3′-ET). Experimental results are confirmed by DFT calculations, showing a higher extension of the electron density in 5-ET compared to 2 and 3, as well as to 3′-ET. In addition, as a consequence of the presence of the unsaturated fragment on the C-5-position, the energy gap value of poly-5-ET (the electrogenerated film from 5-ET) appears significantly lower than poly-2 and poly-3. Finally, the higher conjugation effect of a terminal acetylene fragment compared to a central one is confirmed by the energy gap values of poly-5-ET and poly-3′-ET.
Robust and High-Fidelity 3D Face Reconstruction Using Multiple RGB-D Cameras
Authors: Peng Haocheng , Yang Li , Li Jinhui
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we propose a robust and high-fidelity 3D face reconstruction method that uses multiple depth cameras. This method automatically reconstructs high-quality 3D face models from aligned RGB-D image pairs using multi-view consumer-grade depth cameras. To this end, we mainly analyze the problems in existing traditional and classical multi-view 3D face reconstruction systems and propose targeted improvement strategies for the issues related. In particular, we propose a fast two-stage point cloud filtering method that combines coarse filtering and fine filtering to rapidly extract the reconstructed subject point cloud with high purity. Meanwhile, in order to improve the integrity and accuracy of the point cloud for reconstruction, we propose a depth data restoration and optimization method based on the joint space–time domain. In addition, we also propose a method of multi-view texture alignment for the final texture fusion session that is more conducive for fusing face textures with better uniformity and visual performance. The above-proposed methods are reproducible and can be extended to the 3D reconstruction of any subject. The final experimental results show that the method is able to robustly generate 3D face models having high geometric and visual quality.
Effects of Outdoor Air Pollutants on Indoor Environment Due to Natural Ventilation
Authors: Tamuro Ayame , Kuwahara Ryoichi , Kim Hyuntae
Published: November 2022

This study measured ventilation volumes and particle concentrations in indoor environments with open windows and doors. In addition, the effect of the airflow mode of the air conditioner on the ventilation volume and indoor particle concentration variations was also measured. The ventilation fan could only provide approximately 43% of the ventilation volume during the design phase. The amount of ventilation differed depending on the opening area in windows and doors. The ventilation volume was increased by opening multiple windows or doors, even when the area of the opening was the same. No significant change in the ventilation rate was observed, although the air conditioner was expected to promote the ventilation rate in the room when set on blow mode. It was confirmed that both 0.3 and 1 μm particles could enter through the gaps around the windows and doors. Although most of the 5 μm particles were from the outdoor air, when the air conditioner was operated in airflow mode, the removal of 5 μm particles was performed by the air conditioner filter. The use of medium-performance or HEPA filters is expected to remove smaller particulates.
Extreme Value Analysis of NOx Air Pollution in the Winter Seaport of Varna
Authors: Garbatov Yordan , Georgiev Petar , Fuchedzhieva Ivet
Published: November 2022

The work studies extreme pollution events and their return period in the winter seaport of Varna, providing information for decision-makers, government agencies and civil society on how the intensity of shipping traffic may impact the air pollution in the vicinity of the port. Extreme value analysis employing the Weibull distribution is applied to investigate air pollution and the probability of higher concentrations of oxides of nitrogen (NOx) generated by ships while queuing in the winter seaport. Potential cleaning of the air pollution generated by the anchored ships is introduced to meet the acceptable level of air pollution concentrations in coastal zones. The employed ship pollution cleaning and overall ship service costs are minimised to satisfy cleaner environmental conditions. The developed approach is adopted to analyse the air pollution of a port without a monitoring system to control and prevent pollution and with limited information on ship traffic and air pollution.
Postoperative Impact of Pontocerebellar Angle Surgery on the Quality of Life in Patients with Vestibular Schwannoma
Authors: Foscolo Valentina , de Gennaro Luigi , Murri Alessandra , Speranzon Luca , Signorelli Francesco , Quaranta Nicola , Messina Raffaella
Published: November 2022

Background: Vestibular Schwannomas are benign tumors arising from the VIII CN. Surgical treatment is indicated in case of tumors larger than 2.5 cm in the cerebellopontine angle or in the case of cranial nerve dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the QoL by means of the PANQOL questionnaire in a group of surgically treated patients mainly affected by large and giant VS Methods: All patients underwent preoperative and postoperative otoneurological evaluation and gadolinium enhanced MRI and they completed, independently, the PANQOL questionnaire at last follow up. Results: 70% of patients presented with large Koos III or IV VS Each domain of PANQOL showed a strong correlation with the total PANQOL score. In relation to the postoperative facial nerve function, patients with poorer function showed significantly lower score in the facial dysfunction and pain, patients with postoperative balance problems showed a significantly lower PANQOL score for domains of balance and pain. Conclusions: This study showed that postoperative QoL of patients was acceptable even if there were some domains that were more affected, such as hearing and balance domains; therefore, the lowest scores suggest the need for vestibular rehabilitation programs and strategies that improve postoperative hearing.
Methods, Applications, and Limitations of Somatic Maneuvers for the Modulation of Tinnitus
Authors: Lee Sumin , Jin Tae-Jun , Jin In-Ki
Published: November 2022

The modulation of tinnitus through somatic maneuvers is a well-documented phenomenon in tinnitus patients with somatic disorders. The purpose of this study was to review the methods, applications, and limitations of somatic maneuvers. First, 35 somatic maneuvers proposed by various research groups were summarized according to four body areas (jaw, head and neck, eye, and limbs), following which their applications and limitations were assessed. Although some studies have shown that somatic maneuvers can aid in screening for somatic tinnitus and may help alleviate symptoms with repeated practice, the limited number of studies and inconsistent results among studies make it difficult to draw definitive conclusions. Therefore, follow-up studies are required to overcome these limitations and determine whether the treatment of somatic disorders can also aid in alleviating somatic tinnitus.
The Role of Serotonergic Gene Methylation in Regulating Anxiety-Related Personality Traits in Chimpanzees
Authors: Staes Nicky , Guevara Elaine E. , Hopkins William D. , Schapiro Steven J. , Eens Marcel , Sherwood Chet C. , Bradley Brenda J.
Published: November 2022

While low serotonergic activity is often associated with psychological disorders such as depression, anxiety, mood, and personality disorders, variations in serotonin also contribute to normal personality differences. In this study, we investigated the role of blood DNA methylation levels at individual CpG sites of two key serotonergic genes (serotonin receptor gene 1A, HTR1A; serotonin transporter gene, SLC6A4) in predicting the personalities of captive chimpanzees. We found associations between methylation at 9/48 CpG sites with four personality dimensions: Dominance, Reactivity/Dependability, Agreeableness, and Openness. Directionality of effects were CpG location-dependent and confirmed a role of serotonergic methylation in reducing anxiety (Dominance) and aggression-related personality (Reactivity/Undependability) while simultaneously promoting prosocial (Agreeableness) and exploratory personalities (Openness). Although early-life adversity has been shown to impact serotonergic methylation patterns in other species, here, atypical early social rearing experiences only had a modest impact on CpG methylation levels in this chimpanzee sample. The precise environmental factors impacting serotonergic methylation in chimpanzees remain to be identified. Nevertheless, our study suggests a role in shaping natural variation in animal personalities. The results of this study offer a basis for future hypothesis-driven testing in additional populations and species to better understand the impact of ecology and evolution on complex behavioral traits.
Dimorphilus gyrociliatus (Annelida: Dinophiliformia) Dwarf Male Nervous System Represents a Common Pattern for Lophotrochozoa
Authors: Fofanova Elizaveta
Published: November 2022

Dinophiliformia is a newly revealed clade within Annelida that is a sister group to Pleistoannelida. Dimorphilus gyrociliatus is a representative of this clade that has fascinated scientists with its high degree of sexual dimorphism. Both males and females are small, worm-like creatures that have specific ciliary structures: anterior ventral, posterior ventral, and dorsal ciliary fields in males, and prototroch, metatroch, and ventral ciliary fields in females. There are data on the morphology and development of the nervous system in Oweniidae, Sipunculida, Pleistoannelida, and even Dinophiliformia. However, data on the neuromorphology and development of D. gyrociliatus dwarf males are limited. Here, we present data on the distribution of cilia, sensory neurons, and the 5-HT-like immunoreactive system in 3D reconstructions and cross-sections. Immunochemical labeling with anti-acetylated tubulin and anti-5-HT antibodies and confocal microscopy were used to visualize the ciliary structures and neurons. The male has three ciliary fields: anterior ventral, posterior ventral, and dorsal. These include frontal ganglia, five commissures, two ventral and two dorsal bundles, and penial nerves. A total of fifty-seven neurons and only five 5-HT-like immunoreactive cells were described. Although the sensory neurons were not 5-HT-like immunoreactive, they had 5-HT innervation, which may indicate the role of 5-HT in perception. There may be homology between male and female ciliary structures. The dwarf male of D. gyrociliatus may have a reduced apical organ consisting of two sensory neurons and a 5-HT-like immunoreactive cell.
First Anti-Inflammatory Peptide AnmTX Sco 9a-1 from the Swimming Sea Anemone Stomphia coccinea
Authors: Kalina Rimma S. , Gladkikh Irina N. , Klimovich Anna A. , Kozhevnikova Yulia V. , Kvetkina Aleksandra N. , Rogozhin Eugene A. , Koshelev Sergey G. , Kozlov Sergey A. , Leychenko Elena V.
Published: November 2022

A novel peptide AnmTX Sco 9a-1 with the β-hairpin fold was isolated from the swimming sea anemone Stomphia coccinea (Actinostolidae family). The peptide consists of 28 amino acid residues, including modified hydroxyproline residue, and its measured molecular mass is 2960 Da. The peptide was not toxic on mice; however, it stimulated their exploratory motivation and active search behavior, and demonstrated an anti-anxiety effect. AnmTX Sco 9a-1 at doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg reduced the volume of edema during 24 h better than the nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, Diclofenac, at dose of 1 mg/kg in a model of acute local λ-carrageenan-induced inflammation. ELISA analysis of the animal’s blood showed that peptide at a dose of 1 mg/kg reduced the content of tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), a pro-inflammatory mediator responsible in the edema development, up to the level of TNF-α in the intact group. Besides, AnmTX Sco 9a-1 demonstrated a significant analgesic effect on acute pain sensitivity in the carrageenan-induced thermal hyperalgesia model at doses of 0.1 and 1 mg/kg. Activity of AnmTX Sco 9a-1 was shown not to be associated with modulation of nociceptive ASIC channels.
Phosphatidic Acid Accumulates at Areas of Curvature in Tubulated Lipid Bilayers and Liposomes
Authors: Bills Broderick L. , Knowles Michelle K.
Published: November 2022

Phosphatidic acid (PA) is a signaling lipid that is produced enzymatically from phosphatidylcholine (PC), lysophosphatidic acid, or diacylglycerol. Compared to PC, PA lacks a choline moiety on the headgroup, making the headgroup smaller than that of PC and PA, and PA has a net negative charge. Unlike the cylindrical geometry of PC, PA, with its small headgroup relative to the two fatty acid tails, is proposed to support negatively curved membranes. Thus, PA is thought to play a role in a variety of biological processes that involve bending membranes, such as the formation of intraluminal vesicles in multivesicular bodies and membrane fusion. Using supported tubulated lipid bilayers (STuBs), the extent to which PA localizes to curved membranes was determined. STuBs were created via liposome deposition with varying concentrations of NaCl (500 mM to 1 M) on glass to form supported bilayers with connected tubules. The location of fluorescently labeled lipids relative to tubules was determined by imaging with total internal reflection or confocal fluorescence microscopy. The accumulation of various forms of PA (with acyl chains of 16:0-6:0, 16:0-12:0, 18:1-12:0) were compared to PC and the headgroup labeled phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), a lipid that has been shown to accumulate at regions of curvature. PA and PE accumulated more at tubules and led to the formation of more tubules than PC. Using large unilamellar liposomes in a dye-quenching assay, the location of the headgroup labeled PE was determined to be mostly on the outer, positively curved leaflet, whereas the tail labeled PA was located more on the inner, negatively curved leaflet. This study demonstrates that PA localizes to regions of negative curvature in liposomes and supports the formation of curved, tubulated membranes. This is one way that PA could be involved with curvature formation during a variety of cell processes.
Special Issue: “Telomerase: Role in Health and Aging”
Authors: Yegorov Yegor E.
Published: November 2022

We would like to introduce the new volume: “Telomerase and Telomeres: Its Role in Health and Aging 2 [...]
Demonstrating a Filter-Free Wavelength Sensor with Double-Well Structure and Its Application
Authors: Choi Yong-Joon , Nakano Kakeru , Ide Tomoya , Sakae Tsugumi , Ichikawa Ryosuke , Hizawa Takeshi , Akai Daisuke , Takahashi Kazuhiro , Noda Toshihiko , Sawada Kazuaki
Published: November 2022

This study proposed a filter-free wavelength sensor with a double-well structure for detecting fluorescence without an optical filter. The impurity concentration was optimized and simulated to form a double-well-structured sensor, of which the result was consistent with the fabricated sensor. Furthermore, we proposed a novel wavelength detection method using the current ratio based on the silicon absorption coefficient. The results showed that the proposed method successfully detected single wavelengths in the 460–800 nm range. Additionally, we confirmed that quantification was possible using the current ratio of the sensor for a relatively wide band wavelength, such as fluorescence. Finally, the fluorescence that was emitted from the reagents ALEXA488, 594, and 680 was successfully identified and quantified. The proposed sensor can detect wavelengths without optical filters, which can be used in various applications in the biofield, such as POCT as a miniaturized wavelength detection sensor.
Environmental Monitoring: A Comprehensive Review on Optical Waveguide and Fiber-Based Sensors
Authors: Butt Muhammad A. , Voronkov Grigory S. , Grakhova Elizaveta P. , Kutluyarov Ruslan V. , Kazanskiy Nikolay L. , Khonina Svetlana N.
Published: November 2022

Globally, there is active development of photonic sensors incorporating multidisciplinary research. The ultimate objective is to develop small, low-cost, sensitive, selective, quick, durable, remote-controllable sensors that are resistant to electromagnetic interference. Different photonic sensor designs and advances in photonic frameworks have shown the possibility to realize these capabilities. In this review paper, the latest developments in the field of optical waveguide and fiber-based sensors which can serve for environmental monitoring are discussed. Several important topics such as toxic gas, water quality, indoor environment, and natural disaster monitoring are reviewed.
Advances in Materials, Sensors, and Integrated Systems for Monitoring Eye Movements
Authors: Ban Seunghyeb , Lee Yoon Jae , Kim Ka Ram , Kim Jong-Hoon , Yeo Woon-Hong
Published: November 2022

Eye movements show primary responses that reflect humans’ voluntary intention and conscious selection. Because visual perception is one of the fundamental sensory interactions in the brain, eye movements contain critical information regarding physical/psychological health, perception, intention, and preference. With the advancement of wearable device technologies, the performance of monitoring eye tracking has been significantly improved. It also has led to myriad applications for assisting and augmenting human activities. Among them, electrooculograms, measured by skin-mounted electrodes, have been widely used to track eye motions accurately. In addition, eye trackers that detect reflected optical signals offer alternative ways without using wearable sensors. This paper outlines a systematic summary of the latest research on various materials, sensors, and integrated systems for monitoring eye movements and enabling human-machine interfaces. Specifically, we summarize recent developments in soft materials, biocompatible materials, manufacturing methods, sensor functions, systems’ performances, and their applications in eye tracking. Finally, we discuss the remaining challenges and suggest research directions for future studies.
Biosensor Based on Peroxidase-Mimetic Nanozyme and Lactate Oxidase for Accurate L-Lactate Analysis in Beverages
Authors: Smutok Oleh , Kavetskyy Taras , Prokopiv Tetiana , Serkiz Roman , Šauša Ondrej , Novák Ivan , Švajdlenková Helena , Maťko Igor , Gonchar Mykhailo , Katz Evgeny
Published: November 2022

Precision analysis of the key biological metabolites such as L-lactate has great practical importance for many technological processes in food technology, including beverage production. Here we describe a new, highly selective, and sensitive biosensor for accurate L-lactate assay based on a combination of peroxidase-mimetic nanozymes with microbial lactate oxidase (LOx) immobilized onto the surface of a graphite-rod electrode (GE). The peroxidase-like nanozymes were synthesized using the debris of carbon microfibers (CFs) functionalized with hemin (H) and modified with gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) or platinum microparticles (PtMPs). The nanozyme formed with PtMPs as well as corresponding bioelectrodes based on it (LOx-CF-H-PtMPs/GE) is characterized by preferable catalytic and operational characteristics, so it was selected for the analysis of L-lactate content in real samples of grape must and red wine. The results of the L-lactate analysis obtained by the developed biosensors are highly correlated with a very selective spectrophotometric approach used as a reference. The developed biosensor, due to its high selectivity and sensitivity, is very prospective not only for the beverage industry and food technology, but also for clinical diagnostics and medicine, as well as in other applications where the accurate analysis of L-lactate is highly important.
Intrinsic Organization of Occipital Hubs Predicts Depression: A Resting-State fNIRS Study
Authors: Xu You , Wang Yajie , Hu Nannan , Yang Lili , Yu Zhenghe , Han Li , Xu Qianqian , Zhou Jingjing , Chen Ji , Mao Hongjing , Pan Yafeng
Published: November 2022

Dysfunctional brain networks have been found in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD). In this study, to verify this in a more straightforward way, we investigated the intrinsic organization of brain networks in MDD by leveraging the resting-state functional near-infrared spectroscopy (rs-fNIRS). Thirty-four MDD patients (24 females, 38.41 ± 13.14 years old) and thirty healthy controls (22 females, 34.43 ± 5.03 years old) underwent a 10 min rest while their brain activity was recorded via fNIRS. The results showed that MDD patients and healthy controls exhibited similar resting-state functional connectivity. Moreover, the depression group showed lower small-world Lambda (1.12 ± 0.04 vs. 1.16 ± 0.10, p = 0.04) but higher global efficiency (0.51 ± 0.03 vs. 0.48 ± 0.05, p = 0.03) than the control group. Importantly, MDD patients, as opposed to healthy controls, showed a significantly lower nodal local efficiency at the left middle occipital gyrus (0.56 ± 0.36 vs. 0.81 ± 0.20, pFDR < 0.05), which predicted the level of depression in MDD (r = 0.45, p = 0.01, R2 = 0.15). In sum, we found a more integrated brain network in MDD patients with a lower nodal local efficiency at the occipital hub, which could predict depressive symptoms.
Free Your Mind: Creative Thinking Contributes to Overcoming Conflict-Related Biases
Authors: Fahoum Nardine , Pick Hadas , Ivancovsky Tal , Shamay-Tsoory Simone
Published: November 2022

Conflicts between groups are difficult to resolve, partly because humans tend to be biased in judging outgroup members. The aim of the current article is to review findings on the link between creativity and conflict-related biases and to offer a model that views creative cognition as an ability that may contribute to overcoming conflict-related biases. Our proposed model conforms to the twofold model of creativity. According to this model, creativity involves a generation phase and an evaluation phase, and these phases correspond to the neural mechanisms that underlie conflict-related biases. Specifically, we contend that the generation phase of creativity affects conflict-related biases by exerting an influence on stereotypes and prejudice, outgroup-targeted emotions, and ingroup empathy biases, all of which rely on the default mode network. Conversely, the evaluation phase of creativity, which is usually associated with activation in the executive control network and action-observation system, may be related to herding behaviors. Building on the shared mechanisms of creativity and conflicts, we propose that studies examining creativity-based interventions may be effective in promoting reconciliation.