bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Matching an Old Marine Paradigm: Limitless Connectivity in a Deep-Water Fish over a Large Distance
Authors: Ferrari Alice , Spiga Martina , Rodriguez Miriam Dominguez , Fiorentino Fabio , Gil-Herrera Juan , Hernandez Pilar , Hidalgo Manuel , Johnstone Carolina , Khemiri Sana , Mokhtar-Jamaï Kenza , Nadal Irene , Pérez Montse , Sammartino Simone , Vasconcellos Marcelo , Cariani Alessia
Published: August 2023

Investigations of population structuring in wild species are fundamental to complete the bigger picture defining their ecological and biological roles in the marine realm, to estimate their recovery capacity triggered by human disturbance and implement more efficient management strategies for fishery resources. The Blackspot Seabream (Pagellus bogaraveo, Brünnich 1768) is a commercially valuable deep-water fish highly exploited over past decades. Considering its exploitation status, deepening the knowledge of intraspecific variability, genetic diversity, and differentiation using high-performing molecular markers is considered an important step for a more effective stock assessment and fishery management. With one of the largest efforts conceived of and completed by countries overlooking the Atlantic and Mediterranean coasts in recent years, a total of 320 individuals were collected from different fishing grounds in the Mediterranean Sea and Atlantic Ocean and analysed using 29 microsatellite loci. We applied multiple statistical approaches to investigate the species’ connectivity and population structure across most of its described distribution area. Considering the incomplete knowledge regarding the migratory behaviour of adults, here we suggest the importance of egg and larval dispersal in sustaining the observed genetic connectivity on such a large geographical scale.
Feasibility, Effectiveness and Safety of Elastomeric Pumps for Delivery of Antibiotics to Adult Hospital Inpatients—A Systematic Review
Authors: Spencer-Jones Joseph , Luxton Timothy , Bond Stuart E. , Sandoe Jonathan
Published: August 2023

Elastomeric infusion pumps (EMPs) have been implemented in many fields, including analgesia, chemotherapy and cardiology. Their application in antimicrobials is mainly limited to the outpatient setting, but with a need to optimise inpatient antimicrobial treatment, the use of EMPs presents a potential option. This review aimed to identify if the use of EMPs within an inpatient setting is feasible, effective and safe for antimicrobial use. Criteria for inclusion were human studies that involved the treatment of an infection with intravenous antimicrobial agents via an EMP. A search strategy was developed covering both the indexed and grey literature, with all study designs included. The review found 1 eligible study enrolling 6 patients. There was strong patient preference for EMPs (6/6), and daily tasks were easily completed whilst attached to the EMP. Nurses (5/5) also preffered the pumps, and the majority reported them as easy to use. The review has identified the need for further research in the area. Evidence for the use of EMPs to administer antibiotics in the inpatient setting is scarce, and more work is needed to understand the advantages to patients, to healthcare workers and from an antimicrobial stewardship perspective. Potential disadvantages that may put patients at risk also need investigating.
Novel NADPH Oxidase-2 Inhibitors as Potential Anti-Inflammatory and Neuroprotective Agents
Authors: Juric Matea , Rawat Varun , Amaradhi Radhika , Zielonka Jacek , Ganesh Thota
Published: August 2023

A family of seven NADPH oxidase enzymes (Nox1-5, Duox1-2) has been implicated in a variety of diseases, including inflammatory lung diseases, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and cancer. Here, we report the results of our studies aimed at developing novel brain-permeable Nox2 inhibitors with potential application as neuroprotective agents. Using cell-based assays, we identified a novel Nox2 inhibitor, TG15-132, that prevents PMA-stimulated oxygen consumption and reactive oxygen species (superoxide radical anion and hydrogen peroxide) formation upon acute treatment in differentiated HL60 cells. Long-term treatment with TG15-132 attenuates the induction of genes encoding Nox2 subunits, several inflammatory cytokines, and iNOS in differentiated THP-1 cells. Moreover, TG15-132 shows a relatively long plasma half-life (5.6 h) and excellent brain permeability, with a brain-to-plasma ratio (>5-fold) in rodent models. Additionally, TG15-132 does not cause any toxic effects on vital organs or blood biomarkers of toxicity in mice upon chronic dosing for seven days. We propose that TG15-132 may be used as a Nox2 inhibitor and a potential neuroprotective agent, with possible further structural modifications to increase its potency.
Computational Intelligence Approach for Optimising MHD Casson Ternary Hybrid Nanofluid over the Shrinking Sheet with the Effects of Radiation
Authors: Zeeshan Ahmad , Khan Muhammad Imran , Ellahi Rahmat , Marin Marin
Published: August 2023

The primary goal of this research is to present a novel computational intelligence approach of the AI-based Levenberg–Marquardt scheme under the influence of backpropagated neural network (LMS-BPNN) for optimizing MHD ternary hybrid nanofluid using Casson fluid over a porous shrinking sheet in the existence of thermal radiation (Rd) effects. The governing partial differential equations (PDEs) showing the Casson ternary hybrid nanofluid are converted into a system of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) with suitable transformations. The numerical data is constructed as a reference with bvp4c (MATLAB built-in function used to solve a system of ODEs) by varying Casson fluid parameters (β), magnetic field (M), porosity (S), nanoparticle concentrations (ϕ1=ϕ2=ϕ3), and thermal radiation (Rd) effects across all LMS-BPNN scenarios. The numerical data-sheet is divided into 80% of training, 10% of testing, and 10% of validation for LMS-BPNN are used to analyze the estimated solution and its assessment with a numerical solution using bvp4c is discussed. The efficiency and consistency of LMS-BPNN are confirmed via mean squared error (MSE) based fitness curves, regression analysis, correlation index (R) and error histogram. The results show that velocity decreases as β grows, whereas velocity increase as M increases. The concentrations of nanoparticles and thermal radiations have increasing effects on θ0. To comprehend the dependability and correctness of the data gained from numerical simulations, error analysis is a key stage in every scientific inquiry. Error analysis is presented in terms of absolute error and it is noticed that the error between the numerical values and predicted values with AI is approximately 10−6. The error analysis reveals that the developed AI algorithm is consistent and reliable.
Few-Shot Knowledge Graph Completion Model Based on Relation Learning
Authors: Li Weijun , Gu Jianlai , Li Ang , Gao Yuxiao , Zhang Xinyong
Published: August 2023

Considering the complexity of entity pair relations and the information contained in the target neighborhood in few-shot knowledge graphs (KG), existing few-shot KG completion methods generally suffer from insufficient relation representation learning capabilities and neglecting the contextual semantics of entities. To tackle the above problems, we propose a Few-shot Relation Learning-based Knowledge Graph Completion model (FRL-KGC). First, a gating mechanism is introduced during the aggregation of higher-order neighborhoods of entities in formation, enriching the central entity representation while reducing the adverse effects of noisy neighbors. Second, during the relation representation learning stage, a more accurate relation representation is learned by using the correlation between entity pairs in the reference set. Finally, an LSTM structure is incorporated into the Transformer learner to enhance its ability to learn the contextual semantics of entities and relations and predict new factual knowledge. We conducted comparative experiments on the publicly available NELL-One and Wiki-One datasets, comparing FRL-KGC with six few-shot knowledge graph completion models and five traditional knowledge graph completion models for five-shot link prediction. The results showed that FRL-KGC outperformed all comparison models in terms of MRR, Hits@10, Hits@5, and Hits@1 metrics.
Factors and Underlying Mechanisms That Influence the Repetitive Breakdown Characteristics of Corona-Stabilized Switches
Authors: Li Longjie , Wang Biao , Yi Chen , Xu Xianfeng , Xu Guimin , Feng Yu
Published: August 2023

The corona-stabilized switch has the potential to be a high repetition rate pulsed-power switching device, but there has been limited investigation into its repetitive breakdown stability and insulation recovery characteristics. Repetitive breakdowns of gas are characterized by a memory effect, where the subsequent breakdown process is inevitably influenced by the preceding one. However, there are still some issues that require further exploration in the current research on the mechanism of memory effect on repetitive breakdown characteristics. To clarify the factors and mechanisms that affect the repetitive breakdowns of corona-stabilized switches, this paper introduced optical observation methods into the experimental investigation. Through optical–electrical coupled diagnosis, the repetitive breakdown stability and insulation recovery performance of corona-stabilized switches under different working conditions and repetition frequencies were analyzed. The monotonic promoting effect of corona stabilization on switch insulation strength recovery is proposed as well as the non-monotonic and complex regulatory mechanism of corona stabilization on repetitive breakdown stability. The research results provide a theoretical and practical basis for clarifying the mechanism of repetitive corona-stabilized breakdowns and optimizing the design of corona-stabilized switches.
Thermal Stress Compensation for an Aircraft Engine Duct System Based on a Structural Redesign of Tie Rods
Authors: Li Xinghai , Feng Kai , Yuan Jie , Wang Rui , Yang Kaijie , Zheng Rentong , Wang Yansong
Published: August 2023

The reliability of the aircraft engine duct system is of paramount importance as it directly affects the safety of the aircraft, particularly under high-temperature and high-pressure cycles. In this study, ANSYS Workbench was used for finite element analysis, and a sleeve-type tie rod structure was proposed to address the critical problem of tie rod tearing during the operation of the duct system, thereby optimizing thermal stress compensation for the duct system. The research results show the following: (1) The anchor of the traditional tie rod imposes displacement constraints on the thermal deformation of the duct system, leading to stress concentration and even structural failure in the connection area between a duct and a tie rod. (2) The improved sleeve-type tie rod provides greater axial displacement freedom for the duct, effectively mitigating stress concentration phenomena. (3) Taking a worst-case scenario of 537.78 °C and 2 MPa as an example, the sleeve-type tie rod proposed in this paper can reduce the stress at the tie rod connection from 757.61 MPa to less than 25 MPa, a reduction of more than 96%. The original tie rod tearing problem is solved, and the maximum stress of the whole duct system is reduced to 459.25 MPa, which is below the yield strength.
Simulation and Experiment Study on Cone End Billet Method in Upsetting Billet with a Large Height-to-Diameter Ratio
Authors: Fan Junkai , Liu Zhenpeng , Liu Wei , Wang Chengpeng
Published: August 2023

A novel upsetting method, called Cone End Billet Upsetting (CEBU), is proposed in this paper to control bulging during the upsetting of large height-to-diameter ratio (LHDR) billets. This new upsetting method is mainly characterized by prefabricating a conical shape at the billet end, which aims to reduce the friction effect between the billet end and the anvil. In order to validate CEBU, the metal flow characteristics during upsetting of LHDR billets with traditional upsetting (TU) and CEBU were analyzed and compared by the finite element method. Experiments were also carried out to examine the deformation characteristics and microstructure of pure copper samples. The results show that, compared with TU, CEBU has a great advantage in restraining bulging and enhancing the compaction effect of upsetting. Meanwhile, bulging can be eliminated in CEBU with a 50% reduction ratio. In addition, aided by the cone end, the metal flow is no longer sensitive to the friction effect at the billet end. From the point of view of restraining bulging, a small taper angle is necessary prior to use. Furthermore, to avoid instability deformation, the height-to-diameter ratio of the billet should be below 3.0. CEBU is effective in suppressing the generation of bulging, but it also increases the pre-forming process for the end of the billet. The study on CEBU in this article is under laboratory conditions, and exploring the industrial application of CEBU will be the focus of our future research.
Optimisation of Buffer Allocations in Manufacturing Systems: A Study on Intra and Outbound Logistics Systems Using Finite Queueing Networks
Authors: Amjath Mohamed , Kerbache Laoucine , Smith James MacGregor , Elomri Adel
Published: August 2023

Optimal buffer allocations can significantly improve system throughput by managing variability and disruptions in manufacturing or service operations. Organisations can minimise waiting times and bottlenecks by strategically placing buffers along the flow path, leading to a smoother and more efficient production or service delivery process. Determining the optimal size of buffers poses a challenging dilemma, as it involves balancing the cost of buffer allocation, system throughput, and waiting times at each service station. This paper presents a framework that utilises finite queueing networks for performance analysis and optimisation of topologies, specifically focusing on buffer allocations. The proposed framework incorporates a finite closed queuing network to model the intra-logistics material transfer process and a finite open queueing network to model the outbound logistics process within a manufacturing setup. The generalised expansion method (GEM) is employed to calculate network performance measures of the system, considering the blocking phenomenon. Discrete event simulation (DES) models are constructed using simulation software, integrating optimisation configurations to determine optimal buffer allocations to maximise system throughput. The findings of this study have significant implications for decision-making processes and offer opportunities to enhance the efficiency of manufacturing systems. By leveraging the proposed framework, organisations can gain valuable insights into supply chain performance, identify potential bottlenecks, and optimise buffer allocations to achieve improved operational efficiency and overall system throughput.
Impact of Exercise Guidance Timing on Physical and Cognitive Function in Older Adults: A Pilot Study
Authors: Lampropoulou Sofia , Kellari Anthi , Sakellari Vasiliki
Published: August 2023

Guidance through an exercise program improves balance and gait in older adults, but the efficacy of the timing these are given is unclear. The objective of this study is to evaluate the effects of guidance delivery time on balance, gait, falls, and cognitive functions. In a single (participants)-blinded clinical trial, a convenient sample of 24 older adults (aged 74 ± 6 years) were separated in two age-matched groups, both of which received a progressive 12-week Otago Exercise Program (OEP) for strength and balance. Group 1 received visual and verbal guidance before the performance of each of the exercises, while group 2 received the visual and verbal guidance only synchronously with the exercises. Balance, gait, fear of falling, and cognitive function were evaluated at baseline, week 6, and week 12 of the program. Fall incidence and exercise adherence were also documented. Significant improvements (p < 0.05) were revealed in all assessed variables post intervention, regardless of the guidance delivery time. Only the mental function and the adherence to the exercise tended to be better when the guidance was given in advance of the exercise execution, but further studies of a bigger sample size and with a control group should be conducted before safe conclusions are extracted.
Deep Learning within a DICOM WSI Viewer for Histopathology
Authors: Vallez Noelia , Espinosa-Aranda Jose Luis , Pedraza Anibal , Deniz Oscar , Bueno Gloria
Published: August 2023

Microscopy scanners and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques have facilitated remarkable advancements in biomedicine. Incorporating these advancements into clinical practice is, however, hampered by the variety of digital file formats used, which poses a significant challenge for data processing. Open-source and commercial software solutions have attempted to address proprietary formats, but they fall short of providing comprehensive access to vital clinical information beyond image pixel data. The proliferation of competing proprietary formats makes the lack of interoperability even worse. DICOM stands out as a standard that transcends internal image formats via metadata-driven image exchange in this context. DICOM defines imaging workflow information objects for images, patients’ studies, reports, etc. DICOM promises standards-based pathology imaging, but its clinical use is limited. No FDA-approved digital pathology system natively generates DICOM, and only one high-performance whole slide images (WSI) device has been approved for diagnostic use in Asia and Europe. In a recent series of Digital Pathology Connectathons, the interoperability of our solution was demonstrated by integrating DICOM digital pathology imaging, i.e., WSI, into PACs and enabling their visualisation. However, no system that incorporates state-of-the-art AI methods and directly applies them to DICOM images has been presented. In this paper, we present the first web viewer system that employs WSI DICOM images and AI models. This approach aims to bridge the gap by integrating AI methods with DICOM images in a seamless manner, marking a significant step towards more effective CAD WSI processing tasks. Within this innovative framework, convolutional neural networks, including well-known architectures such as AlexNet and VGG, have been successfully integrated and evaluated.
Non-Uniform-Illumination Image Enhancement Algorithm Based on Retinex Theory
Authors: Ji Xiu , Guo Shuanghao , Zhang Hong , Xu Weinan
Published: August 2023

To address the issues of fuzzy scene details, reduced definition, and poor visibility in images captured under non-uniform lighting conditions, this paper presents an algorithm for effectively enhancing such images. Firstly, an adaptive color balance method is employed to address the color differences in low-light images, ensuring a more uniform color distribution and yielding a low-light image with improved color consistency. Subsequently, the image obtained is transformed from the RGB space to the HSV space, wherein the multi-scale Gaussian function is utilized in conjunction with the Retinex theory to accurately extract the lighting components and reflection components. To further enhance the image quality, the lighting components are categorized into high-light areas and low-light areas based on their pixel mean values. The low-light areas undergo improvement through an enhanced adaptive gamma correction algorithm, while the high-light areas are enhanced using the Weber–Fechner law for optimal results. Then, each block area of the image is weighted and fused, leading to its conversion back to the RGB space. And a multi-scale detail enhancement algorithm is utilized to further enhance image details. Through comprehensive experiments comparing various methods based on subjective visual perception and objective quality metrics, the algorithm proposed in this paper convincingly demonstrates its ability to effectively enhance the brightness of non-uniformly illuminated areas. Moreover, the algorithm successfully retains details in high-light regions while minimizing the impact of non-uniform illumination on the overall image quality.
Numerical Simulation of Ground Subsidence Factors Resulting from Unpressurized Pipeline Rupture Below the Water Table
Authors: Cui Jing-Yu , Liu Feng-Yin , Geng Yi-Wei , Pu Cheng , Miao Meng
Published: August 2023

The rupture of an unpressurized pipeline below the water table can lead to the leakage of groundwater along with soil particles into the pipeline. This not only causes blockages in the pipeline but, more critically, can result in ground subsidence. Understanding the factors influencing this phenomenon is a subject of great interest. To delve into this matter, this study employs the DEM-CFD methodology to synergistically encompass particle dynamics and interactions within the flow domain. It introduces an innovative framework for simulating water and soil erosion subsequent to the rupture of subaqueous unpressurized pipelines. This pioneering approach introduces a novel modeling and simulation paradigm catering to the analysis of intricate phenomena of this nature. Upon validating the flow field, our investigation specifically focused on three key factors: particle friction coefficient, groundwater level, and particle size distribution. We conducted a thorough examination of the process and mechanism of water and soil loss at the pipeline leakage point and the subsequent development of stratum subsidence. Our results indicate that particles with a friction coefficient of 0.6 had a reduced maximum displacement by 8.9%, compared to particles with a friction coefficient of 0.3. Similarly, a groundwater depth of 2 m resulted in a 29.6% decrease in maximum displacement compared to a 4 m depth, with a corresponding 160.9% increase in maximum force chain strength. Discontinuous particle gradation, in contrast to continuous gradation, yielded a notable 40.3% reduction in maximum displacement and a substantial 495.1% increase in maximum force chain strength. This underscores the noteworthy influence of particle friction coefficient, groundwater table elevation, and soil particle diameter on the stability of the overlying soil strata in the vicinity of a compromised unpressurized conduit.
On the Use of Asset Administration Shell for Modeling and Deploying Production Scheduling Agents within a Multi-Agent System
Authors: Siatras Vasilis , Bakopoulos Emmanouil , Mavrothalassitis Panagiotis , Nikolakis Nikolaos , Alexopoulos Kosmas
Published: August 2023

Industry 4.0 (I4.0) aims at achieving the interconnectivity of multiple industrial assets from different hierarchical layers within a manufacturing environment. The Asset Administration Shell (AAS) is a pilar component of I4.0 for the digital representation of assets and can be applied in both physical and digital assets, such as enterprise software, artificial intelligence (AI) agents, and databases. Multi-agent systems (MASs), in particular, are useful in the decentralized optimization of complex problems and applicable in various planning or scheduling scenarios that require the system’s ability to adapt to any given problem by using different optimization methods. In order to achieve this, a universal model for the agent’s information, communication, and behaviors should be provided in a way that is interoperable with the rest of the I4.0 assets and agents. To address these challenges, this work proposes an AAS-based information model for the description of scheduling agents. It allows multiple AI methods for scheduling, such as heuristics, mathematical programming, and deep reinforcement learning, to be encapsulated within a single agent, making it adjustable to different production scenarios. The software implementation of the proposed architecture aims to provide granularity in the deployment of scheduling agents which utilize the underlying AAS metamodel. The agent was implemented using the SARL agent-oriented programming (AOP) language and deployed in an open-source MAS platform. The system evaluation in a real-life bicycle production scenario indicated the agent’s ability to adapt and provide fast and accurate scheduling results.
A New Technique for the Passive Monitoring of Particulate Matter: Olive Pollen Grains as Bioindicators of Air Quality in Urban and Industrial Areas
Authors: Selvaggi Roberta , Tedeschini Emma , Pasqualini Stefania , Moroni Beatrice , Petroselli Chiara , Cappelletti David
Published: August 2023

A new technique for the passive monitoring of particulate matter was developed, exploiting olive pollen as a bioindicator. We tested the pollen bioaccumulation efficiency when exposed to atmospheric particulate at three different sites in the Umbria region (Central Italy). Pollen grains, placed into sampling holders, were exposed in Perugia, a polluted town impacted by traffic emissions; in Terni, an industrial hotspot; and at Monte Martano, a regional rural site. At the end of the exposure period, the daily deposition fluxes of the soluble and insoluble elements and soluble molecular ions present in particulate were determined, and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and bioaccumulation index over time (BAIt) were derived to validate the passive monitoring system, distinguish the deposition contribute from natural pollen composition, and interpret the temporal dependence of the pollen exposure to pollutants. We observed BAFs greater than 1, which means that bioaccumulation occurs, and pollen can be considered a good passive sampler for several crustal and anthropic ions and toxic elements at all sites. BAIt values greater than 1 were detected only for some of the ions and metals previously present in the pollen, like Ca, Cr, and Mn at Terni; and nitrate, Ca, and Mn at Monte Martano and Perugia.
Thermal Comfort Assessment in University Classrooms: A Discriminant Analysis for Categorizing Individuals According to Gender and Thermal Preferences
Authors: Niza Iasmin Lourenço , da Luz Inaiele Mendes , Broday Evandro Eduardo
Published: August 2023

The concern with the well-being of users in buildings has become increasingly essential, covering aspects related to health, energy efficiency, and productivity. The thermal environment evaluation in buildings has become more frequent due to the time people spend inside them. In this context, this study aimed to analyze thermal comfort in classrooms at a Brazilian University. During the autumn, 50 measurements were performed, resulting in 519 valid responses. The results of the linear regression analysis revealed that the thermal comfort range for females was 20.39–22.19 °C, while for males it was 19.47–22.56 °C. Through discriminant analysis, participants were classified based on their thermal sensation vote (TSV), predicted mean vote (PMV), and thermal preference votes (PREF), achieving a success rate of 76.1% for females and 81.6% for males in forming the groups, which demonstrates the effectiveness of discriminant functions in predicting thermal comfort for both groups. These results highlight the importance of considering gender differences in the search for thermal comfort conditions and providing guidelines that promote the well-being of occupants and the conscious use of energy. This implies adjusting the thermal conditions according to the specific needs of males and females in classrooms, always seeking to provide a suitable environment for activities, and considering energy efficiency and users’ productivity.
Variations in Key Factors at Different Explosive Development Stages of an Extreme Explosive Cyclone over the Japan Sea
Authors: Zhang Shuqin , Tang Yuan , Zhang Liwen , Liao Qinghua , Zhang Tianyu
Published: August 2023

Explosive cyclones (ECs) occur frequently over the Japan Sea. The most rapidly intensifying EC over the Japan Sea during the 44-year period 1979–2022, in the cold season (October–April), was examined to reveal the variations in the key factors at different explosive development stages. The EC deepened at a maximum deepening rate of 3.07 bergerons and explosive development lasted for 15 h. At the initial moment of explosive development, the EC had distinctive low-level baroclinicity, the low-level water vapor convergence was weak, and mid-level cyclonic vorticity advection was far away from the EC’s center. At the moment at which the EC reached the maximum deepening rate, the low-level water vapor convergence and mid-level cyclonic vorticity advection increased distinctly and approached the EC’s center. A diagnostic analysis using the Zwack–Okossi equation showed that the main contributor to the initial explosive development was warm-air advection. Through the evolutionary process of the explosive development, the non-key factors of the cyclonic vorticity advection and diabatic heating at the initial explosive development stage increased quickly and became key factors contributing to the maximum explosive development. The key factors contributing to the explosive development varied with the stage of explosive development. The cross-section and vertical profile of each term suggested that the cyclonic vorticity advection was enhanced in the upper troposphere and diabatic heating increased in the middle troposphere.
Left and Right Operator Rings of a Γ Ring in Terms of Rough Fuzzy Ideals
Authors: Pushpanathan Durgadevi , Devarasan Ezhilmaran
Published: August 2023

The relationship between Rough Set (RS) and algebraic systems has been long studied by mathematicians. RS is a growing research area that encourages studies into both real-world applications and the theory itself. In RS, a universe subset is characterized by a pair of ordinary sets called lower and upper approximations. In this study, we look attentively at the use of rough sets when the universe set has a ring structure. The main contribution of the paper is to concentrate on the study of rough fuzzy ideals concerning the gamma ring and to describe some properties of its lower and upper approximations. This paper deals with the connection between Rough Fuzzy Sets (RFS) and ring theory. The goal of this paper is to present the notion of Left Operator Rings (LOR) and Right Operator Rings (ROR) in the gamma ring structure. We introduce some basic concepts of rough fuzzy left and right operator rings. Furthermore, we investigate some characterizations of left and right operator rings and prove some theorems based on these results.
A Solitonic Study of Riemannian Manifolds Equipped with a Semi-Symmetric Metric ξ-Connection
Authors: Haseeb Abdul , Chaubey Sudhakar Kumar , Mofarreh Fatemah , Ahmadini Abdullah Ali H.
Published: August 2023

The aim of this paper is to characterize a Riemannian 3-manifold M3 equipped with a semi-symmetric metric ξ-connection ∇˜ with ρ-Einstein and gradient ρ-Einstein solitons. The existence of a gradient ρ-Einstein soliton in an M3 admitting ∇˜ is ensured by constructing a non-trivial example, and hence some of our results are verified. By using standard tensorial technique, we prove that the scalar curvature of (M3,∇˜) satisfies the Poisson equation ΔR=4(2−σ−6ρ)ρ.
Differential Geometry and Its Application
Authors: Stanković Mića S.
Published: August 2023

We have launched a Special Issue of Axioms which focuses on the generalization of Riemannian spaces and their mappings [...]
On the Electrochemical Properties of Carbon-Coated NaCrO2 for Na-Ion Batteries
Authors: Shi Zhepu , Wang Ziyong , Shaw Leon L. , Ashuri Maziar
Published: August 2023

NaCrO2 is a promising cathode for Na-ion batteries. However, further studies of the mechanisms controlling its specific capacities and cycle stability are needed for real-world applications in the future. This study reveals, for the first time, that the typical specific capacity of ~110 mAh/g reported by many researchers when the charge/discharge voltage window is set between 2.0 and 3.6 V vs. Na/Na+ is actually controlled by the low electronic conductivity at the electrode/electrolyte interface. Through wet solution mixing of NaCrO2 particles with carbon precursors, uniform carbon coating can be formed on the surface of NaCrO2 particles, leading to unprecedented specific capacities at 140 mAh/g, which is the highest specific capacity ever reported in the literature with the lower and upper cutoff voltages at the aforementioned values. However, such carbon-coated NaCrO2 with ultrahigh specific capacity does not improve cycle stability because with the specific capacity at 140 mAh/g the Na deintercalation during charge is more than 50% Na ions per formula unit of NaCrO2 which leads to irreversible redox reactions. The insights from this study provide a future direction to enhance the long-term cycle stability of NaCrO2 through integrating carbon coating and doping.
Understanding and Mitigating the Dissolution and Delamination Issues Encountered with High-Voltage LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4
Authors: Wang Bingning , Son Seoung-Bum , Badami Pavan , Trask Stephen E. , Abraham Daniel , Qin Yang , Yang Zhenzhen , Wu Xianyang , Jansen Andrew , Liao Chen
Published: August 2023

In our initial study on the high-voltage 5 V cobalt-free spinel LiNi0.5Mn1.5O4 (LNMO) cathode, we discovered a severe delamination issue in the laminates when cycled at a high upper cut-off voltage (UCV) of 4.95 V, especially when a large cell format was used. This delamination problem prompted us to investigate further by studying the transition metal (TM) dissolution mechanism of cobalt-free LNMO cathodes, and as a comparison, some cobalt-containing lithium nickel manganese cobalt oxides (NMC) cathodes, as the leachates from the soaking experiment might be the culprit for the delamination. Unlike other previous reports, we are interested in the intrinsic stability of the cathode in the presence of a baseline Gen2 electrolyte consisting of 1.2 M of LiPF6 in ethylene carbonate/ethyl methyl carbonate (EC/EMC), similar to a storage condition. The electrode laminates (transition metal oxides, transition metal oxides, TMOs, coated on an Al current collector with a loading level of around 2.5 mAh/cm2) or the TMO powders (pure commercial quality spinel LNMO, NMC, etc.) were stored in the baseline solution, and the transition metal dissolution was studied through nuclear magnetic resonance, such as 1H NMR, 19F NMR, scanning electron microscope (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Significant electrolyte decomposition was observed and could be the cause that leads to the TM dissolution of LNMO. To address this TM dissolution, additives were introduced into the baseline electrolyte, effectively alleviating the issue of TM dissolution. The results suggest that the observed delamination is caused by electrolyte decompositions that lead to etching, and additives such as lithium difluorooxalato borate and p-toluenesulfonyl isocyanate can alleviate this issue by forming a firm cathode electrolyte interface. This study provides a new perspective on cell degradation induced by electrode/electrolyte interactions under storage conditions.
Stress Effect in the Knee Joint Based on the Fibular Osteotomy Level and Varus Deformity: A Finite Element Analysis Study
Authors: Kang Yeokyung , Kim Jungsung , Sim Jae Ang , Moon Myeong , Park Jong-Chul , Cho Sung Ha , Lee Byung Hoon
Published: August 2023

Proximal fibular osteotomy (PFO) was found to relieve pain and improve knee function in patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis (OA). Therapy redistributes the load applied from the inside to the outside and alleviates the load applied on the inside through fibula osteotomy. Therefore, the clinical effect of fibular osteotomy using the finite element (FE) method was evaluated to calculate the exact change in stress inside a knee joint with varus deformity. Using CT and MRI images of a patient’s lower extremities, 3D models of the bone, cartilage, meniscus, and ligaments were constructed. The varus angle, representing the inward angulation of the knee, was increased by applying a force ratio in the medial and lateral directions. The results showed that performing proximal fibular osteotomy led to a significant reduction in stress in the medial direction of the meniscus and cartilage. The stress reduction in the lateral direction was relatively minor. In conclusion, the study demonstrated that proximal fibular osteotomy effectively relieves stress and redistributes the load in the knee joints of patients with medial compartment knee osteoarthritis. The findings emphasize the importance of considering force distribution and the position of fibular osteotomy to achieve optimal clinical outcomes.
Evaluation of Linear Programming and Optimal Contribution Selection Approaches for Long-Term Selection on Beef Cattle Breeding
Authors: Zheng Xu , Wang Tianzhen , Niu Qunhao , Wu Jiayuan , Zhao Zhida , Gao Huijiang , Li Junya , Xu Lingyang
Published: August 2023

The optimized selection method can maximize the genetic gain in offspring under the premise of controlling the inbreeding level of the population. At present, genetic gain has been largely improved by using genomic selection in multiple farm animals. However, the design of the optimal selection method and assessment of its effects during long-term selection in beef cattle breeding are yet to be fully explored. In this study, a simulated beef cattle population was constructed, and 15 generations of simulated breeding were carried out using the linear programming breeding strategy (LP) and optimal contribution selection strategy (OCS), respectively. The truncation selection strategy (TS−I and TS−II) was used as the control. During the breeding process, genetic parameters including genetic gain, average kinship coefficient, QTL effect variance, and average observed heterozygosity were calculated and compared across generations. Our results showed that the LP method can significantly improve the genetic gain in the population, especially the genetic performance of the traits with high heritability and the traits with high weight in the breeding process, but the inbreeding level of the population is higher under LP strategy. Although the genetic gain in the population under the OCS strategy is lower than the TS−II strategy, this method can effectively control the inbreeding level of the population. Our findings also suggest that the LP and OCS method can be used as an effective means to improve genetic gain, while the OCS method is a more ideal method to obtain sustainable genetic gain during long-term selection.
The Ca2+ Sensor STIM in Human Diseases
Authors: Berna-Erro Alejandro , Sanchez-Collado Jose , Nieto-Felipe Joel , Macias-Diaz Alvaro , Redondo Pedro C. , Smani Tarik , Lopez Jose J. , Jardin Isaac , Rosado Juan A.
Published: August 2023

The STIM family of proteins plays a crucial role in a plethora of cellular functions through the regulation of store-operated Ca2+ entry (SOCE) and, thus, intracellular calcium homeostasis. The two members of the mammalian STIM family, STIM1 and STIM2, are transmembrane proteins that act as Ca2+ sensors in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and, upon Ca2+ store discharge, interact with and activate the Orai/CRACs in the plasma membrane. Dysregulation of Ca2+ signaling leads to the pathogenesis of a variety of human diseases, including neurodegenerative disorders, cardiovascular diseases, cancer, and immune disorders. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms underlying Ca2+ signaling pathways is crucial for developing therapeutic strategies targeting these diseases. This review focuses on several rare conditions associated with STIM1 mutations that lead to either gain- or loss-of-function, characterized by myopathy, hematological and immunological disorders, among others, and due to abnormal activation of CRACs. In addition, we summarize the current evidence concerning STIM2 allele duplication and deletion associated with language, intellectual, and developmental delay, recurrent pulmonary infections, microcephaly, facial dimorphism, limb anomalies, hypogonadism, and congenital heart defects.
Glucocorticoid Receptor Signaling in NSCLC: Mechanistic Aspects and Therapeutic Perspectives
Authors: Papavassiliou Kostas A. , Anagnostopoulos Nektarios , Papavassiliou Athanasios G.
Published: August 2023

Recent advances in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) biology and the discovery of novel therapeutic targets have led to the development of new pharmacological agents that may improve the clinical outcome of patients with NSCLC. The glucocorticoid receptor (GR) is an evolutionarily conserved protein belonging to the nuclear receptor superfamily of transcription factors and mediates the diverse actions of glucocorticoids in cells. Data suggest that the GR may play a relevant role in the molecular mechanisms of NSCLC tumorigenesis and malignant progression. Additionally, evidence indicates that glucocorticoids may affect the efficacy of standard treatment, including chemotherapy, immune checkpoint inhibitors, and targeted therapy. Furthermore, several findings show that GR expression may probably be associated with NSCLC patient survival. Finally, glucocorticoids may be used as therapeutic agents for the clinical management of NSCLC patients. Here, we briefly review the latest advances on the biological role of GR signaling in NSCLC and discuss the potential use of the GR as a prognostic and predictive biomarker. Importantly, we explore the therapeutic potential of glucocorticoids and the effect of adding such drugs to standard therapies for NSCLC.
Plumbagin: A Promising In Vivo Antiparasitic Candidate against Schistosoma mansoni and In Silico Pharmacokinetic Properties (ADMET)
Authors: Silva Lucas M. N. , França Wilza W. M. , Santos Victor H. B. , Souza Renan A. F. , Silva Adriana M. , Diniz Emily G. M. , Aguiar Thierry W. A. , Rocha João V. R. , Souza Mary A. A. , Nascimento Wheverton R. C. , Lima Neto Reginaldo G. , Cruz Filho Iranildo J. , Ximenes Eulália C. P. A. , Araújo Hallysson D. A. , Aires André L. , Albuquerque Mônica C. P. A.
Published: August 2023

Schistosomiasis, a potentially fatal chronic disease whose etiological agents are blood trematode worms of the genus Schistosoma spp., is one of the most prevalent and debilitating neglected diseases. The treatment of schistosomiasis depends exclusively on praziquantel (PZQ), a drug that has been used since the 1970s and that already has reports of reduced therapeutic efficacy, related with the development of Schistosoma-resistant or -tolerant strains. Therefore, the search for new therapeutic alternatives is an urgent need. Plumbagin (PLUM), a naphthoquinone isolated from the roots of plants of the genus Plumbago, has aroused interest in research due to its antiparasitic properties against protozoa and helminths. Here, we evaluated the in vivo schistosomicidal potential of PLUM against Schistosoma mansoni and the in silico pharmacokinetic parameters. ADMET parameters and oral bioavailability were evaluated using the PkCSM and SwissADME platforms, respectively. The study was carried out with five groups of infected mice and divided as follows: an untreated control group, a control group treated with PZQ, and three groups treated orally with 8, 16, or 32 mg/kg of PLUM. After treatment, the Kato–Katz technique was performed to evaluate a quantity of eggs in the feces (EPG). The animals were euthanized for worm recovery, intestine samples were collected to evaluate the oviposition pattern, the load of eggs was determined on the hepatic and intestinal tissues and for the histopathological and histomorphometric evaluation of tissue and hepatic granulomas. PLUM reduced EPG by 65.27, 70.52, and 82.49%, reduced the total worm load by 46.7, 55.25, and 72.4%, and the female worm load by 44.01, 52.76, and 71.16%, for doses of 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg, respectively. PLUM also significantly reduced the number of immature eggs and increased the number of dead eggs in the oogram. A reduction of 36.11, 46.46, and 64.14% in eggs in the hepatic tissue, and 57.22, 65.18, and 80.5% in the intestinal tissue were also observed at doses of 8, 16, and 32 mg/kg, respectively. At all doses, PLUM demonstrated an effect on the histopathological and histomorphometric parameters of the hepatic granuloma, with a reduction of 41.11, 48.47, and 70.55% in the numerical density of the granulomas and 49.56, 57.63, and 71.21% in the volume, respectively. PLUM presented itself as a promising in vivo antiparasitic candidate against S. mansoni, acting not only on parasitological parameters but also on hepatic granuloma. Furthermore, in silico, PLUM showed good predictive pharmacokinetic profiles by ADMET.
Association of miR-149 T>C and miR-196a2 C>T Polymorphisms with Colorectal Cancer Susceptibility: A Case-Control Study
Authors: Bayramov Bayram , Bayramov Nuru , Aslanov Hazi , Karimova Nigar , Gasimov Karim , Shahmuradov Ilham , Reißfelder Christoph , Yagublu Vugar
Published: August 2023

The principal aim of the current study was to investigate the relationship between miR-149 T>C (rs2292832) and miR-196a2 C>T (rs11614913) small non-coding RNA polymorphisms and the risk of developing CRC in the Azerbaijani population. The study included 120 patients diagnosed with CRC and 125 healthy individuals. Peripheral blood samples were collected from all the subjects in EDTA tubes and DNA extraction was performed by salting out. Polymorphisms were determined using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) method. While comparing without gender distinction no statistical correlation was found between the heterozygous TC (OR = 0.66; 95% CI = 0.37–1.15; p = 0.142), mutant CC (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 0.62–2.45; p = 0.550), and mutant C (OR = 1.03; 95% CI = 0.72–1.49; p = 0.859) alleles of the miR-149 gene and the CT (OR = 1.23; 95% CI = 0.69–2.20; p = 0.485), mutant TT (OR = 1.29; 95% CI = 0.67–2.47; p = 0.452), and mutant T (OR = 1.17; 95% CI = 0.82–1.67; p = 0.388) alleles of the miR-196a2 gene and the risk of CRC. However, among women, miR-149 TC (OR = 0.43; 95% CI = 0.19–1.01; p = 0.048) correlated with a reduced risk of CRC, whereas miR-196a2 CT (OR = 2.77; 95% CI = 1.13–6.79; p = 0.025) correlated with an increased risk of CRC. Our findings indicated that miR-149 T>C (rs2292832) might play a protective role in the development of CRC in female patients, whereas the miR-196a2 (rs11614913) polymorphism is associated with an increased risk of CRC in women in the Azerbaijani population, highlighting the importance of gender dimorphism in cancer etiology.
Evaluation of a Commercial Point-of-Care RT-LAMP Assay for Rapid Detection of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Law Janet Hei Yin , Chan Wai Sing , Chan Tsun Leung , Ma Edmond Shiu Kwan , Tang Bone Siu Fai
Published: August 2023

The goal of this study was to evaluate the performance of a commercial reverse transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) assay (Detect COVID-19 Test) in the detection of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). A total of 202 human respiratory and viral culture specimens were tested retrospectively. The performance of the Detect COVID-19 Test was comparable to that of commercial real-time polymerase chain reaction assays (sensitivity: 93.42%; specificity: 100%), and better than that of the rapid antigen test (sensitivity: 48.00%; specificity: 100%) for specimens with threshold cycle (Ct) values of less than 30. The Beta, Delta, and Omicron variants of concern were successfully detected. With their simplicity of use and good assay sensitivity, point-of-care RT-LAMP assays may be a viable option for SARS-CoV-2 testing at home, or in regions without sophisticated laboratory facilities.