bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of Novel N-Heterocyclic Carbene-Ruthenium (II) Complexes, “Precious” Tools with Antibacterial, Anticancer and Antioxidant Properties
Authors: Ceramella Jessica , Troiano Rubina , Iacopetta Domenico , Mariconda Annaluisa , Pellegrino Michele , Catalano Alessia , Saturnino Carmela , Aquaro Stefano , Sinicropi Maria Stefania , Longo Pasquale
Published: April 2023

Ruthenium N-heterocyclic carbene (Ru-NHC) complexes show interesting physico-chemical properties as catalysts and potential in medicinal chemistry, exhibiting multiple biological activities, among them anticancer, antimicrobial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory. Herein, we designed and synthesized a new series of Ru-NHC complexes and evaluated their biological activities as anticancer, antibacterial, and antioxidant agents. Among the newly synthesized complexes, RANHC-V and RANHC-VI are the most active against triple-negative human breast cancer cell lines MDA-MB-231. These compounds were selective in vitro inhibitors of the human topoisomerase I activity and triggered cell death by apoptosis. Furthermore, the Ru-NHC complexes’ antimicrobial activity was studied against Gram-positive and -negative bacteria, revealing that all the complexes possessed the best antibacterial activity against the Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus, at a concentration of 25 µg/mL. Finally, the antioxidant effect was assessed by DPPH and ABTS radicals scavenging assays, resulting in a higher ability for inhibiting the ABTS•+, with respect to the well-known antioxidant Trolox. Thus, this work provides encouraging insights for further development of novel Ru-NHC complexes as potent chemotherapeutic agents endowed with multiple biological properties.
Antimicrobial Photodynamic Inactivation: An Alternative for Group B Streptococcus Vaginal Colonization in a Murine Experimental Model
Authors: Pierański Michał K. , Kosiński Jan G. , Szymczak Klaudia , Sadowski Piotr , Grinholc Mariusz
Published: April 2023

Background: Streptococcus agalactiae, referred to as Group B Streptococcus (GBS), is a prominent bacterium causing life-threatening neonatal infections. Although antibiotics are efficient against GBS, growing antibiotic resistance forces the search for alternative treatments and/or prevention approaches. Antimicrobial photodynamic inactivation (aPDI) appears to be a potent alternative non-antibiotic strategy against GBS. Methods: The effect of rose bengal aPDI on various GBS serotypes, Lactobacillus species, human eukaryotic cell lines and microbial vaginal flora composition was evaluated. Results: RB-mediated aPDI was evidenced to exert high bactericidal efficacy towards S. agalactiae in vitro (>4 log10 units of viability reduction for planktonic and >2 log10 units for multispecies biofilm culture) and in vivo (ca. 2 log10 units of viability reduction in mice vaginal GBS colonization model) in microbiological and metagenomic analyses. At the same time, RB-mediated aPDI was evidenced to be not mutagenic and safe for human vaginal cells, as well as capable of maintaining the balance and viability of vaginal microbial flora. Conclusions: aPDI can efficiently kill GBS and serve as an alternative approach against GBS vaginal colonization and/or infections.
Interdependencies of Gene Expression and Function between Two Redox Enzymes and REG Family Proteins in Murine Pancreatic Islets and Human Pancreatic Cells
Authors: Wang Hong , Vatamaniuk Marko Z. , Zhao Zeping , Lei Xin Gen
Published: April 2023

Our laboratory previously revealed that regenerating islets-derived protein 2 (REG2) was diminished in pancreatic islets of glutathione peroxidase-1-overexpressing mice (Gpx1-OE). It remained unknown if there is an inverse relationship between the expression and function of all Reg family genes and antioxidant enzymes in the pancreatic islets or human pancreatic cells. This research was to determine how altering the Gpx1 and superoxide dismutase-1 (Sod1) genes alone or together (dKO) affected the expression of all seven murine Reg genes in murine pancreatic islets. In Experiment 1, Gpx1-/-, Gpx1-OE, their wild-type (WT), Sod1-/-, dKO, and their WT (male, 8-wk old, n = 4–6) were fed a Se-adequate diet and their islets were collected to assay the mRNA levels of Reg family genes. In Experiment 2, islets from the six groups of mice were treated with phosphate-buffered saline (PBS), REG2, or REG2 mutant protein (1 µg/mL), and/or GPX mimic (ebselen, 50 µM) and SOD mimic (copper [II] diisopropyl salicylate, CuDIPS, 10 µM) for 48 h before the proliferation assay using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). In Experiment 3, human pancreatic cells (PANC1) were treated with REG2 (1 µg/mL) and assayed for REG gene expression, GPX1 and SOD1 activities, viability, and responses to Ca2+. Compared with the WT, knockouts of Gpx1 and/or Sod1 up-regulated (p < 0.05) the mRNA levels of most of the murine Reg genes in islets whereas the Gpx1 overexpression down-regulated (p < 0.05) Reg mRNA levels. REG2, but not the REG2 mutant, inhibited islet proliferation in Gpx1 or Sod1-altered mice. Such inhibition was abolished by co-incubation the Gpx1-/- islets with ebselen and the Sod1-/- islets with CuDIPS. Treating PANC1 cells with murine REG2 protein induced expression of its human orthologue REG1B and three other REG genes, but decreased SOD1 and GPX1 activities and cell viability. In conclusion, our results revealed an interdependence of REG family gene expression and/or function on intracellular GPX1 and SOD1 activities in murine islets and human pancreatic cells.
Effects of Resveratrol on Vascular Function in Retinal Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury
Authors: Chronopoulos Panagiotis , Manicam Caroline , Zadeh Jenia Kouchek , Laspas Panagiotis , Unkrig Johanna Charlotte , Göbel Marie Luise , Musayeva Aytan , Pfeiffer Norbert , Oelze Matthias , Daiber Andreas , Li Huige , Xia Ning , Gericke Adrian
Published: April 2023

Ischemia-reperfusion (I/R) events are involved in the development of various ocular pathologies, e.g., retinal artery or vein occlusion. We tested the hypothesis that resveratrol is protective against I/R injury in the murine retina. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was elevated in anaesthetized mice to 110 mm Hg for 45 min via a micropipette placed in the anterior chamber to induce ocular ischemia. In the fellow eye, which served as control, IOP was kept at a physiological level. One group received resveratrol (30 mg/kg/day p.o. once daily) starting one day before the I/R event, whereas the other group of mice received vehicle solution only. On day eight after the I/R event, mice were sacrificed and retinal wholemounts were prepared and immuno-stained using a Brn3a antibody to quantify retinal ganglion cells. Reactivity of retinal arterioles was measured in retinal vascular preparations using video microscopy. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) and nitrogen species (RNS) were quantified in ocular cryosections by dihydroethidium and anti-3-nitrotyrosine staining, respectively. Moreover, hypoxic, redox and nitric oxide synthase gene expression was quantified in retinal explants by PCR. I/R significantly diminished retinal ganglion cell number in vehicle-treated mice. Conversely, only a negligible reduction in retinal ganglion cell number was observed in resveratrol-treated mice following I/R. Endothelial function and autoregulation were markedly reduced, which was accompanied by increased ROS and RNS in retinal blood vessels of vehicle-exposed mice following I/R, whereas resveratrol preserved vascular endothelial function and autoregulation and blunted ROS and RNS formation. Moreover, resveratrol reduced I/R-induced mRNA expression for the prooxidant enzyme, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidase 2 (NOX2). Our data provide evidence that resveratrol protects from I/R-induced retinal ganglion cell loss and endothelial dysfunction in the murine retina by reducing nitro-oxidative stress possibly via suppression of NOX2 upregulation.
Zn Supplementation Mitigates Drought Effects on Cotton by Improving Photosynthetic Performance and Antioxidant Defense Mechanisms
Authors: Anik Touhidur Rahman , Mostofa Mohammad Golam , Rahman Md. Mezanur , Khan Md. Arifur Rahman , Ghosh Protik Kumar , Sultana Sharmin , Das Ashim Kumar , Hossain Md. Saddam , Keya Sanjida Sultana , Rahman Md. Abiar , Jahan Nusrat , Gupta Aarti , Tran Lam-Son Phan
Published: April 2023

Drought is recognized as a paramount threat to sustainable agricultural productivity. This threat has grown more severe in the age of global climate change. As a result, finding a long-term solution to increase plants’ tolerance to drought stress has been a key research focus. Applications of chemicals such as zinc (Zn) may provide a simpler, less time-consuming, and effective technique for boosting the plant’s resilience to drought. The present study gathers persuasive evidence on the potential roles of zinc sulphate (ZnSO4·7H2O; 1.0 g Kg−1 soil) and zinc oxide (ZnO; 1.0 g Kg−1 soil) in promoting tolerance of cotton plants exposed to drought at the first square stage, by exploring various physiological, morphological, and biochemical features. Soil supplementation of ZnSO4 or ZnO to cotton plants improved their shoot biomass, root dry weight, leaf area, photosynthetic performance, and water-use efficiency under drought stress. Zn application further reduced the drought-induced accumulations of H2O2 and malondialdehyde, and electrolyte leakage in stressed plants. Antioxidant assays revealed that Zn supplements, particularly ZnSO4, reduced reactive oxygen species (ROS) accumulation by increasing the activities of a range of ROS quenchers, such as catalase, ascorbate peroxidase, glutathione S-transferase, and guaiacol peroxidase, to protect the plants against ROS-induced oxidative damage during drought stress. Increased leaf relative water contents along with increased water-soluble protein contents may indicate the role of Zn in improving the plant’s water status under water-deficient conditions. The results of the current study also suggested that, in general, ZnSO4 supplementation more effectively increased cotton drought tolerance than ZnO supplementation, thereby suggesting ZnSO4 as a potential chemical to curtail drought-induced detrimental effects in water-limited soil conditions.
The 4-Hydroxynonenal–Protein Adducts and Their Biological Relevance: Are Some Proteins Preferred Targets?
Authors: Milkovic Lidija , Zarkovic Neven , Marusic Zlatko , Zarkovic Kamelija , Jaganjac Morana
Published: April 2023

It is well known that oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation (LPO) play a role in physiology and pathology. The most studied LPO product with pleiotropic capabilities is 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE). It is considered as an important mediator of cellular signaling processes and a second messenger of reactive oxygen species. The effects of 4-HNE are mainly attributed to its adduction with proteins. Whereas the Michael adducts thus formed are preferred in an order of potency of cysteine > histidine > lysine over Schiff base formation, it is not known which proteins are the preferred targets for 4-HNE under what physiological or pathological conditions. In this review, we briefly discuss the methods used to identify 4-HNE–protein adducts, the progress of mass spectrometry in deciphering the specific protein targets, and their biological relevance, focusing on the role of 4-HNE protein adducts in the adaptive response through modulation of the NRF2/KEAP1 pathway and ferroptosis.
Intra-Species Variations of Bioactive Compounds of Two Dictyota Species from the Adriatic Sea: Antioxidant, Antimicrobial, Dermatological, Dietary, and Neuroprotective Potential
Authors: Martić Ana , Čižmek Lara , Ul’yanovskii Nikolay V. , Paradžik Tina , Perković Lucija , Matijević Gabrijela , Vujović Tamara , Baković Marija , Babić Sanja , Kosyakov Dmitry S. , Trebše Polonca , Čož-Rakovac Rozelindra
Published: April 2023

The marine environment has a significant impact on life on Earth. Organisms residing in it are vital for the ecosystem but also serve as an inexhaustible source of biologically active compounds. Herein, the biodiversity of two brown seaweeds, Dictyota dichotoma and Dictyota fasciola from the Adriatic Sea, was evaluated. The aim of the study was the determination of differences in compound composition while comparing their activities, including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and enzyme inhibition, in connection to human digestion, dermatology, and neurological disorders. Chemical analysis revealed several terpenoids and steroids as dominant molecules, while fucoxanthin was the main identified pigment in both algae. D. dichotoma had higher protein, carbohydrate, and pigment content. Omega-6 and omega-3 fatty acids were identified, with the highest amount of dihomo-γ-linolenic acid and α-linolenic acid in D. dichotoma. Antimicrobial testing revealed a dose-dependent inhibitory activity of methanolic fraction against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus. Moderate antioxidant activity was observed for both algae fractions, while the dietary potential was high, especially for the D. fasciola dichloromethane fraction, with inhibition percentages of around 92% for α-amylase and 57% for pancreatic lipase at 0.25 mg/mL. These results suggest that Dictyota species might be a potent source of naturally derived agents for obesity and diabetes.
Synthesis of Sulfides and Persulfides Is Not Impeded by Disruption of Three Canonical Enzymes in Sulfur Metabolism
Authors: Zainol Abidin Qamarul Hafiz , Ida Tomoaki , Morita Masanobu , Matsunaga Tetsuro , Nishimura Akira , Jung Minkyung , Hassan Naim , Takata Tsuyoshi , Ishii Isao , Kruger Warren , Wang Rui , Motohashi Hozumi , Tsutsui Masato , Akaike Takaaki
Published: April 2023

Reactive sulfur species, or persulfides and polysulfides, such as cysteine hydropersulfide and glutathione persulfide, are endogenously produced in abundance in both prokaryotes and eukaryotes, including mammals. Various forms of reactive persulfides occur in both low-molecular-weight and protein-bound thiols. The chemical properties and great supply of these molecular species suggest a pivotal role for reactive persulfides/polysulfides in different cellular regulatory processes (e.g., energy metabolism and redox signaling). We demonstrated earlier that cysteinyl-tRNA synthetase (CARS) is a new cysteine persulfide synthase (CPERS) and is responsible for the in vivo production of most reactive persulfides (polysulfides). Some researchers continue to suggest that 3-mercaptopyruvate sulfurtransferase (3-MST), cystathionine β-synthase (CBS), and cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) may also produce hydrogen sulfide and persulfides that may be generated during the transfer of sulfur from 3-mercaptopyruvate to the cysteine residues of 3-MST or direct synthesis from cysteine by CBS/CSE, respectively. We thus used integrated sulfur metabolome analysis, which we recently developed, with 3-MST knockout (KO) mice and CBS/CSE/3-MST triple-KO mice, to elucidate the possible contribution of 3-MST, CBS, and CSE to the production of reactive persulfides in vivo. We therefore quantified various sulfide metabolites in organs derived from these mutant mice and their wild-type littermates via this sulfur metabolome, which clearly revealed no significant difference between mutant mice and wild-type mice in terms of reactive persulfide production. This result indicates that 3-MST, CBS, and CSE are not major sources of endogenous reactive persulfide production; rather, CARS/CPERS is the principal enzyme that is actually involved in and even primarily responsible for the biosynthesis of reactive persulfides and polysulfides in vivo in mammals.
Analysis of the Thermodynamic Characteristics of a Hyper-Compressor through Numerical Simulation and Experimental Investigation
Authors: Yang Lanlan , Jia Xiaohan , Peng Xueyuan
Published: April 2023

Hyper-compressors play an important role in polymer production. However, due to the extremely high pressure and complex geometries, it is difficult to monitor and calculate the thermodynamic characteristics and pressure pulsation. In this research, a three-dimensional (3D) computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model of a hyper-compressor with a central valve and piston movements based on a real gas model (RGM) was developed to analyze the thermodynamic performance and pressure pulsation. Then, the p−θ diagram of the working chamber and the dynamic pressure internal pipe were constructed using a nondestructive testing approach and showed a strong correlation with the pressure sensor data. The 3D-CFD model’s results correlated well with the experimental data. The deviation error between simulation values and experimental data of the indicated power was 1.77%. Lastly, the numerical model was used to analyze the hyper-compressor’s performance, power loss, dynamic features of the central valve and pressure pulsation.
Application of Machine Learning Algorithms for the Validation of a New CoAP-IoT Anomaly Detection Dataset
Authors: Vigoya Laura , Pardal Alberto , Fernandez Diego , Carneiro Victor
Published: April 2023

With the rise in smart devices, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been established as one of the preferred emerging platforms to fulfil their need for simple interconnections. The use of specific protocols such as constrained application protocol (CoAP) has demonstrated improvements in the performance of the networks. However, power-, bandwidth-, and memory-constrained sensing devices constitute a weakness in the security of the system. One way to mitigate these security problems is through anomaly-based intrusion detection systems, which aim to estimate the behaviour of the systems based on their “normal” nature. Thus, to develop anomaly-based intrusion detection systems, it is necessary to have a suitable dataset that allows for their analysis. Due to the lack of a public dataset in the CoAP-IoT environment, this work aims to present a complete and labelled CoAP-IoT anomaly detection dataset (CIDAD) based on real-world traffic, with a sufficient trace size and diverse anomalous scenarios. The modelled data were implemented in a virtual sensor environment, including three types of anomalies in the CoAP data. The validation of the dataset was carried out using five shallow machine learning techniques: logistic regression, naive Bayes, random forest, AdaBoost, and support vector machine. Detailed analyses of the dataset, data conditioning, feature engineering, and hyperparameter tuning are presented. The evaluation metrics used in the performance comparison are accuracy, precision, recall, F1 score, and kappa score. The system achieved 99.9% accuracy for decision tree models. Random forest established itself as the best model, obtaining a 99.9% precision and F1 score, 100% recall, and a Cohen’s kappa statistic of 0.99.
Urban Traffic Signal Control under Mixed Traffic Flows: Literature Review
Authors: Majstorović Željko , Tišljarić Leo , Ivanjko Edouard , Carić Tonči
Published: April 2023

Mixed traffic flows are opening up new areas for research and are seen as key drivers in the field of data and services that will make roads safer and more environmentally friendly. Understanding the effects of Connected Vehicles (CVs) and Connected Autonomous Vehicles (CAVs), as one of the vehicle components of mixed traffic flows, will make it easier to avoid traffic congestion and contribute to the creation of innovative applications and solutions. It is notable that the literature related to the analysis of the impact of mixed traffic flows on traffic signal control in urban areas rarely considers mixed traffic flow containing CVs, CAVs, and Human Driven Vehicles (HDVs). Therefore, this paper provides an overview of the relevant research papers covering the topic of urban Traffic Signal Control (TSC) and mixed traffic flows. Best practices for intersection state estimation and TSC in the case of mixed traffic flows in an urban environment are summarized and possible approaches for utilizing CVs and CAVs as mobile sensors and actuators are discussed.
Nutritional, Antioxidant and Sensory Characteristics of Bread Enriched with Wholemeal Flour from Slovakian Black Oat Varieties
Authors: Ivanišová Eva , Čech Matej , Hozlár Peter , Zaguła Grzegorz , Gumul Dorota , Grygorieva Olga , Makowska Agnieszka , Kowalczewski Przemysław Łukasz
Published: April 2023

This paper is a report on the nutritional composition (dry matter, total protein, fat, crude fibre, ash, β-glucan content, and selected mineral compounds), antioxidant (antioxidant activity with the DPPH method and total anthocyanin content), physical properties, and sensory profiles of prepared bread enriched with black oat flours (variety Norik and Hucul) in amounts of 3, 6, and 9%. In the enriched breads (especially with 9% addition), there was a significantly higher (p < 0.05) content of protein (~13.00%), fat (~1.35%), crude fibre (~0.55%), ash (~1.25%), and β-glucan (~0.17%) with comparison to the control bread (12.01%; 0.87%; 0.47%; 0.92%; 0.07%, respectively). Among mineral compounds, the amount of manganese (~73.00 mg/100 g), iron (~45.00 mg/100 g), and calcium (~40.00 mg/100 g) were the highest in enriched breads with 9% of oat flours. In the case of antioxidant potential and total anthocyanin content, the same tendency was observed, and the values obtained were the highest in the case of 9% addition, especially with the Hucul variety (1.98 mg TEAC/g; 21.01 µg/g). The sensory properties of the prepared enriched breads were overall evaluated as good with the best score in smell, taste, colour, and properties of bread crumb (soft and flexible) compared to the control sample. Consumption of enriched breads with black oat can also increase the assortment of bakery products in markets, which is now popular for consumers.
Monocular Camera-Based Robotic Pick-and-Place in Fusion Applications
Authors: Yin Ruochen , Wu Huapeng , Li Ming , Cheng Yong , Song Yuntao , Handroos Heikki
Published: April 2023

Robotic pick-and-place represents a nascent but swiftly evolving field in automation research. Most existing research relies on three-dimensional (3D) observations obtained directly from the 3D sensor or recovered by the two-dimensional (2D) camera from multiple perspectives. In this paper, we introduce an end-to-end pick-and-place neural network that solely leverages simple yet readily accessible data, namely, monocular camera and forward kinematics, for fusion applications. Additionally, our approach relies on the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm to facilitate robots in comprehending and completing tasks. The entire process is data-driven, devoid of any artificially designed task sessions, which imbues our approach with enhanced flexibility and versatility. The proposed method exhibits excellent performance in our experiment.
Mechanical and Thermophysical Properties of Epoxy Nanocomposites with Titanium Dioxide Nanoparticles
Authors: Bukichev Yurii S. , Bogdanova Lyudmila M. , Lesnichaya Valentina A. , Chukanov Nikita V. , Golubeva Nina D. , Dzhardimalieva Gulzhian I.
Published: April 2023

The introduction of nanoparticles and their homogeneous distribution in the polymer matrix, as well as their size, can have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of composite materials. In this work, we studied the mechanical characteristics of TiO2/epoxy nanocomposites with different contents and sizes of nanoparticles. The preparation of nanocomposites was carried out by a stepwise curing (at 90 and 160 °C) of ED-20 dianic epoxy resin in the presence of an aromatic hardener with the addition of titanium (IV) dioxide nanoparticles preliminarily synthesized by the plasma-chemical method. Ultrasonic dispersion was used to achieve a uniform distribution of nanoparticles in the polymer matrix. The chemical and phase composition, the structure of the as-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles, and the resulting epoxy nanocomposites were characterized by elemental analysis, X-ray diffraction, transmission and scanning electron microscopy, and infrared spectroscopy. The mechanical properties of the nanocomposites were determined by the static tensile test, and the impact toughness was determined by the Charpy method. The glass transition temperature and thermal stability of the TiO2/epoxy nanocomposites were studied by thermal analysis methods. The formation of an interfacial layer between the TiO2 nanoparticles and an epoxy matrix has been shown for the first time by spectral methods. It is shown that the mode of curing and ultrasonic dispersion used, as well as varying the content and dispersity of the TiO2 nanoparticles, make it possible to obtain epoxy nanocomposites with simultaneously improved deformation-strength characteristics and impact strength values.
A Screening Model of Antibacterial Agents Based on Escherichia coli Cell-Division Protein
Authors: Fan Qiuyu , Wu Jianwen , Xi Bolin , Li Chunxiao , Wang Xiumin , Li Huanrong
Published: April 2023

Pathogenic Escherichia coli cannot be killed by most antibiotics (including colistin, a last-resort drug) due to the rapid development of antibiotic resistance. A highly conserved prokaryotic mitotic protein, filamenting temperature-sensitive protein Z (FtsZ) with GTPase activity, plays a key role in cell division and has become a promising target for screening novel antibacterial agents. In this study, the amplified ftsZ gene was inserted into cloning/expression vectors and recombinantly produced in E. coli; the recombinant FtsZ protein was purified by the Ni2+-NTA affinity column and then was used to screen for natural antibacterial agents. The results showed that the ftsZ gene with a size of 1170 bp was successfully amplified from E. coli and inserted into the pET-28a expression vector. After induction with 0.2 mM isopropyl β-D-1-thiogalactopyranoside (IPTG), FtsZ was expressed in E. coli BL21 as inclusion bodies. After purification, the recombinant FtsZ protein showed GTPase activity. The highest GTPase activity (0.998 nmol/mL/min) of FtsZ was observed at a GTP concentration of 1.25 mM. Several alkaloids were screened by a constructed model of FtsZ inhibitors. Sanguinarine chloride exhibited higher antibacterial activity against E. coli and Salmonella enteritidis (with minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 0.04–0.16 mg/mL and minimum bactericidal concentrations (MBCs) of 0.16–0.32 mg/mL) than tetrandrine (0.16–0.32 mg/mL) and berberine hydrochloride (0.32–0.64 mg/mL). Berberine hydrochloride prevented FtsZ polymerization in a concentration-dependent manner and bound to FtsZ protein by hydrogen bonding interaction. This study suggested that the FtsZ-based E. coli screening model could be exploited for the development of novel antibacterial agents for clinical applications.
Measurement of Waveplate Parameters over Entire Clear Aperture Based on Differential Frequency Modulation with Dual Photoelastic Modulators
Authors: Li Kewu , Wang Shuang , Wang Zhibin
Published: April 2023

To obtain highly sensitive, accurate, fast, and repeatable measurements of waveplate parameters over an entire clear aperture, a novel measurement method using dual differential frequency photoelastic modulations is proposed. Simple polarimetry is conducted based on two photoelastic modulators, which operate at different frequencies. The fast-axis azimuth and retardance parameters of the waveplate are loaded into the modulation signals. Employing digital phase-locked technology, the fundamental and differential frequency harmonic terms are extracted, and then the two parameters of the waveplate are demodulated. The principle is analyzed, and the measurement system is built for verification experiments. The experimental results reveal that the two parameters of the waveplate are simultaneously measured over the entire clear aperture. The standard deviations of the fast-axis azimuth and retardance are 0.02° and 0.03 nm, respectively, and the maximum relative deviations of the fast-axis azimuth and retardance are 0.6% and 0.06%, respectively. The single-point data measurement time is only 200 ms. The proposed method exhibits high precision and speed, and provides an effective quality inspection and calibration method for waveplates.
Preoperative Anatomical Variables Affecting the Outcome of Surgical Correction in Class III Face Asymmetry
Authors: Li Yi-Ting , Chen Ying-An , Lin Cheng-Hui , Ko Ellen Wen-Ching
Published: April 2023

Objective: The study investigated the preoperative anatomical variables that affect the outcome of surgical correction in patients with Class III facial asymmetry. Methods: The study recruited 37 consecutive patients with facial asymmetry who had 2-jaw orthognathic surgery. They were divided into two groups based on the surgical outcome: symmetrical (S group) or asymmetrical (A group), according to the asymmetry index. The CBCT images were obtained before surgery (T0) and after debond (T1). The 3D dentofacial measurements were compared between groups S and A by the Mann–Whitney test. Spearman correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship of all dentoskeletal variables in T0 with the facial symmetry outcome. Results: Significant between-group differences were observed in preoperative time, including maxillary anterior occlusal canting, maxillary posterior occlusal canting, the gonion–Frankfort horizontal plane (FHP) distance, the mandibular ramus axis–FHP distances, and sagittal and transverse of condyle position. Conclusions: For patients with severe skeletal Class III asymmetry, preoperative anatomical variables, particularly preoperative “roll” and “yaw” discrepancies and anatomical limitations of the mandible, should be considered for favorable asymmetry correction. Based on the anatomic variables that affect the outcomes of facial asymmetry correction, prognosis and treatment limitation could be predicted before treatment.
Integrating Spherical Fuzzy Sets and the Objective Weights Consideration of Risk Factors for Handling Risk-Ranking Issues
Authors: Chang Kuei-Hu
Published: April 2023

Risk assessments and risk prioritizations are crucial aspects of new product design before a product is launched into the market. Risk-ranking issues involve the information that is considered for the evaluation and objective weighting considerations of the evaluation factors that are presented by the data. However, typical risk-ranking methods cannot effectively grasp a comprehensive evaluation of this information and ignore the objective weight considerations of the risk factors, leading to inappropriate evaluation results. For a more accurate ranking result of the failure mode risk, this study proposes a novel, flexible risk-ranking approach that integrates spherical fuzzy sets and the objective weight considerations of the risk factors to process the risk-ranking issues. In the numerical case validation, a new product design risk assessment of electronic equipment was used as a numerically validated case, and the simulation results were compared with the risk priority number (RPN) method, improved risk priority number (IRPN) method, intuitionistic fuzzy weighted average (IFWA) method, and spherical weighted arithmetic average (SWAA) method. The test outcomes that were confirmed showed that the proposed novel, flexible risk-ranking approach could effectively grasp the comprehensive evaluation information and provide a more accurate ranking of the failure mode risk.
Hygro-Thermo-Mechanical Analysis of Brick Masonry Walls Subjected to Environmental Actions
Authors: Ramirez Rafael , Ghiassi Bahman , Pineda Paloma , Lourenço Paulo B.
Published: April 2023

Masonry walls comprise an important part of the building envelope and, thus, are exposed to environmental effects such as temperature and moisture variations. However, structural assessment usually neglects the influence of these hygro-thermal loads and assumes ideal conditions. This paper presents a hygro-thermo-mechanical model and its application to simulate the impact of temperature- and moisture-related phenomena on the structural behavior of masonry walls. A fully coupled heat and mass transfer model is presented and a 2D finite element model is prepared to simulate the behavior of a brick masonry wall under various hygro-thermal scenarios. Two different mortars are considered: namely, cement mortar and natural hydraulic lime mortar. The results are evaluated in terms of temperature and moisture content distribution across the wall thickness. The hygro-thermal model is further extended to incorporate mechanical effects through the total strain additive decomposition principle. It is shown that the hygro-thermo-mechanical response of the brick masonry wall is a complex 2D phenomenon. Moreover, the environmental loads change the natural stress distribution caused by gravitational loads alone. Finally, the wall with cement mortar develops higher levels of stress when compared to the one with lime mortar, due to the dissimilar hygro-thermal behavior between the constituent materials.
Inverse Kinematics for Serial Robot Manipulators by Particle Swarm Optimization and POSIX Threads Implementation
Authors: Danaci Hasan , Nguyen Luong A. , Harman Thomas L. , Pagan Miguel
Published: April 2023

Inverse kinematics is a fundamental problem in manipulator robotics: a set of joint angles must be calculated so that the robot arm can be manipulated to the corresponding desired end effector position and orientation (also known as “pose”). Traditional solution techniques include analytical kinematics solvers, which provide the closed-form expressions for the joint positions as functions of the end-effector pose. When analytical inverse kinematics solvers are not possible due to the manipulator structure, numerical methods such as Newton–Raphson or Jacobian inverse can be used to achieve the task, but at a much slower speed due, to the iterative nature of the computation. Recent swarm intelligence technology has also contributed to manipulator inverse kinematics solutions. In this paper, the use of the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) approach in solving the inverse kinematics problem is investigated for the general serial robotic manipulators. Many of the reviewed robotic manipulator inverse kinematics solvers using swarm intelligence only deal with end effector position and not its orientation. Our PSO approach provides the convergence of a complete end-effector pose and will be demonstrated using the Baxter Research Robot, which has two seven-joint arms, although the method is applicable to any general serial robotic manipulator. For computational efficiency, the inverse kinematic calculations were implemented in parallel using Portable Operating Interface (POSIX) threads to take advantage of the independent swarm particle dynamics.
Candidate Term Boundary Conflict Reduction Method for Chinese Geological Text Segmentation
Authors: Tang Yu , Deng Jiqiu , Guo Zhiyong
Published: April 2023

Though Chinese word segmentation (CWS) relies heavily on arithmetic power to train huge models and human work to label corpora, models and algorithms are still less accurate, especially for segmentation in a specific domain. In this study, a high-degree-of-freedom-priority candidate term boundary conflict reduction method (HFCR) is proposed to solve the problem of manually setting thresholds on segmentation based on information entropy. We quantify the uncertainty of left and right character connections of candidate terms and then arrange them in descending order for local comparisons to determine term boundaries. Dynamic numerical comparisons are adopted instead of setting a threshold manually and randomly. Experiments show that the average F1-value of CWS for Chinese geological text is higher than 95% and the F1-value for Chinese general datasets is higher than 87%. Compared with representative tokenizers and the SOTA model, our method performs better, which solves the term boundary conflict problem well and has excellent performance on single geological text segmentation without any samples or labels.
A CNN-Based Method for Heavy-Metal Ion Detection
Authors: Zhang Jian , Chen Feng , Zou Ruiyu , Liao Jianjun , Zhang Yonghui , Zhu Zeyu , Yan Xinyue , Jiang Zhiwen , Tan Fangzhou
Published: April 2023

Data processing is an essential component of heavy-metal ion detection. Most of the research now uses a conventional data-processing approach, which is inefficient and time-consuming. The development of an efficient and accurate automatic measurement method for heavy-metal ions has practical implications. This paper proposes a CNN-based heavy-metal ion detection system, which can automatically, accurately, and efficiently detect the type and concentration of heavy-metal ions. First, we used square-wave voltammetry to collect data from heavy-metal ion solutions. For this purpose, a portable electrochemical constant potential instrument was designed for data acquisition. Next, a dataset of 1200 samples was created after data preprocessing and data expansion. Finally, we designed a CNN-based detection network, called HMID-NET. HMID-NET consists of a backbone and two branch networks that simultaneously detect the type and concentration of the ions in the solution. The results of the assay on 12 sets of solutions with different ionic species and concentrations showed that the proposed HMID-NET algorithm ultimately obtained a classification accuracy of 99.99% and a mean relative error of 8.85% in terms of the concentration.
An Experimental Investigation of the Impact of Surface Tension and Viscosity on the Atomization Effect of a Solid Cone Nozzle
Authors: Li Ming , Yang Huaizhen , Wang Junjian , Li Gang , Tang Jiao
Published: April 2023

To investigate the influence of surface tension and viscosity on the atomization performance of solid cone nozzles and improve their dust reduction efficiency in industrial and mining enterprises, this study employed a self-built PDPA dust-fog coupling experimental system to explore the effects of different surface tension and viscosity solutions on atomization performance from three aspects: axial, radial, and fog field distribution. The experimental results indicate that compared with surface tension, surface tension has a greater influence on droplet size and velocity in the axial direction. In the radial direction, increasing surface tension and reducing viscosity within a certain range can make the droplet size and velocity distribution more uniform. Additionally, surface tension and viscosity significantly affect the fog field distribution. It was found that a decrease in surface tension can result in a closer proximity of the droplet velocity and size expansion area to the nozzle, while an increase in viscosity can lead to a more prolonged stable area. Furthermore, optimizing the surface tension and viscosity can significantly enhance the efficacy of dust reduction for respirable dust. Consequently, the application of the aforementioned atomization principles to regulate the fog field characteristics of solid cone nozzles can effectively mitigate dust in the production process and augment the dust reduction rate of industrial and mining enterprises.
Chinese Event Detection without Triggers Based on Dual Attention
Authors: Wan Xu , Mao Yingchi , Qi Rongzhi
Published: April 2023

In natural language processing, event detection is a critical step in event extraction, aiming to detect the occurrences of events and categorize them. Currently, the defects of Chinese event detection based on triggers include polysemous triggers and trigger-word mismatches, which reduce the accuracy of event detection models. Therefore, event detection without triggers based on dual attention (EDWTDA), a trigger-free model that can skip the trigger identification process and determine event types directly, is proposed to fix the problems mentioned above. EDWTDA adopts a dual attention mechanism, integrating local and global attention. Local attention captures key semantic information in sentences and simulates hidden event trigger words to solve the problem of trigger-word mismatch, while global attention digs for the context of documents, fixing the problem of polysemous triggers. Besides, event detection is transformed into a binary classification task to avoid problems caused by multiple tags. Meanwhile, the sample imbalance brought about by the transformation is settled with the application of the focal loss function. The experimental results on the ACE 2005 Chinese corpus show that, compared with the best baseline model, JMCEE, the accuracy rate, recall rate, and F1-score of the proposed model increased by 3.40%, 3.90%, and 3.67%, respectively.
A New Model to Calculate Contributions of the Distributed Power
Authors: Lin Whei-Min , Zhan Tung-Sheng
Published: April 2023

Besides metering, a more transparent load with known power distribution is valuable to draft energy strategies, especially in a deregulated power market. Thus, the usage-of-transmission can be considered properly. There are many studies published on related subjects and every research tried to solve a particular part of the problem. There are three basic categories for discussing power distributions: (i) the real power distribution, (ii) the reactive power distribution, and (iii) the loss allocation. These categories were very often treated separately, with the mutual coupling terms, counter flows, and line charging largely neglected. However, we know that these entities are non-separable. These are inter-related entities; the change of one entity will cause the change to every other entity. A good method should consider these entities altogether, while satisfying all electrical theories. This study developed a method to solve the above problem, with all electrical entities solved, satisfying all electrical circuit theories. With several matrix formulations, this method is capable of solving and tracing all electrical entities, including the current flow, the real and reactive power, the counter flow, and the couplings between the active and reactive power. The algorithm can also allocate power distributions and loss among participants effectively. Besides, a line usage idea is formed to allocate the loss to each generator, where counter flows are not necessarily penalized. It can be awarded sometimes. The idea can integrate with the existent tariffs in a deregulated market.
Improved Design of LNG Marine Loading Arm Docking Method Based on TRIZ Theory
Authors: Mei Jie , Feng Wuwei , Liang Zirong
Published: April 2023

The LNG marine loading arm is a critical component for transferring LNG from vessels to onshore receiving stations. However, currently, the operation of LNG marine loading arms is still faced with issues such as a slow docking speed and significant environmental impacts from waves and wind. In this paper, we propose a set of feasible improvement schemes for the traditional LNG marine loading arm based on the theory of inventive problem solving (TRIZ). We utilized tools such as functional models, causal chain analysis, contradiction analysis, and Su-Field model analysis to develop these schemes. Our proposed improvements include using machine vision and automatic control to replace manual work, conducting finite element analysis and topology optimization of the LNG marine loading arm to improve its structure, and innovating the design of the end structure of the LNG discharge arm.
Mechanisms and Models of Attenuation of Shock Waves through Rock Formations
Authors: Zhao Shifan , Gao Mingshi , Xu Dong , Yu Xin , Zhao Hongchao
Published: April 2023

Rock bursts have become one of the worst disasters in deep mines, and the safety of roadways is affected by stress waves generated when hard roofs fracture. Pictures of a mine site were collected using the Hujiahe mine as a case study. The damage characteristics of the roadway were analyzed and the damage process was reproduced using numerical simulation software. The attenuation characteristics of the strength of the shock wave as it passes from the impact shock source to the roadway are summarized. Based on the stress wave transmission mechanism and geological characteristics, a “shock wave attenuation model through rock formations“ was established to analyze the transmission characteristics of impact stress under the composite roof structure. The strength criterion and energy balance equation for roadway damage under the action of shock waves are derived. This work provides a reference for roadway support under similar conditions and can be generalized and applied elsewhere.
How Far Are We from Research That Is Independent of the Use of Animal Models? A Comparative Analysis between Animal and 3D/On-a-Chip Models for the Study of Respiratory Diseases
Authors: Burgio Stefano , Manna Olga Maria , Intili Giorgia , Cappello Francesco , Bucchieri Fabio
Published: April 2023

Over the last ten years, with the progress of in vitro culture methods, it has been possible to build increasingly reliable models to effectively mimic in vivo ones. The translational methodological approach that combined biotechnology and biomedical engineering has produced remarkable results, such as the development of ex vivo 3D culture models, the construction of on-a-chip organoids, and the construction of complex systems capable of bypassing the static nature of the two-dimensional cultural models that have been typical of in vitro studies conducted to date. However, nowadays, there is still reluctance to completely abandon the animal model as an essential reference or as an integrated step for the validation of a model or a proposed study. This is due to the partially correct conviction of the impossibility of reproducing, in vitro or ex vivo, the complexity of pathological models or the spatial communication between different cytotypes, as well as, more generally, the lack of systems capable of mimicking the dynamism of a complex in vivo system. In this study, we will compare different methodological approaches in the study of the three most common types of respiratory diseases: chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), asthma, and lung carcinomas. The purpose of this comparative study is to evaluate the most current methodological approaches to understand how far research is from being independent from animal models. Animal studies are generally considered necessary, but are still questioned because of the ethics and the cost–benefit ratio involved.
A Sequence of Cohen–Macaulay Standard Graded Domains Whose h-Vectors Have Exponentially Deep Flaws
Authors: Miyazaki Mitsuhiro
Published: April 2023

Let K be a field. In this paper, we construct a sequence of Cohen–Macaulay standard graded K-domains whose h-vectors are non-flawless and have exponentially deep flaws.