bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
CCR6 as a Potential Target for Therapeutic Antibodies for the Treatment of Inflammatory Diseases
Authors: Gómez-Melero Sara , Caballero-Villarraso Javier
Published: April 2023

The CC chemokine receptor 6 (CCR6) is a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) involved in a wide range of biological processes. When CCR6 binds to its sole ligand CCL20, a signaling network is produced. This pathway is implicated in mechanisms related to many diseases, such as cancer, psoriasis, multiple sclerosis, HIV infection or rheumatoid arthritis. The CCR6/CCL20 axis plays a fundamental role in immune homeostasis and activation. Th17 cells express the CCR6 receptor and inflammatory cytokines, including IL-17, IL-21 and IL-22, which are involved in the spread of inflammatory response. The CCL20/CCR6 mechanism plays a crucial role in the recruitment of these pro-inflammatory cells to local tissues. To date, there are no drugs against CCR6 approved, and the development of small molecules against CCR6 is complicated due to the difficulty in screenings. This review highlights the potential as a therapeutic target of the CCR6 receptor in numerous diseases and the importance of the development of antibodies against CCR6 that could be a promising alternative to small molecules in the treatment of CCR6/CCL20 axis-related pathologies.
Exposure to Non-Antimicrobial Drugs and Risk of Infection with Antibiotic-Resistant Enterobacteriaceae
Authors: Elbaz Meital , Stein Esther , Raykhshtat Eli , Weiss-Meilik Ahuva , Cohen Regev , Ben-Ami Ronen
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) has consistently been linked to antibiotic use. However, the roles of commonly prescribed non-antimicrobial drugs as drivers of AMR may be under-appreciated. Here, we studied a cohort of patients with community-acquired pyelonephritis and assessed the association of exposure to non-antimicrobial drugs at the time of hospital admission with infection with drug-resistant organisms (DRO). Associations identified on bivariate analyses were tested using a treatment effects estimator that models both outcome and treatment probability. Exposure to proton-pump inhibitors, beta-blockers, and antimetabolites was significantly associated with multiple resistance phenotypes. Clopidogrel, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, and anti-Xa agents were associated with single-drug resistance phenotypes. Antibiotic exposure and indwelling urinary catheters were covariates associated with AMR. Exposure to non-antimicrobial drugs significantly increased the probability of AMR in patients with no other risk factors for resistance. Non-antimicrobial drugs may affect the risk of infection with DRO through multiple mechanisms. If corroborated using additional datasets, these findings offer novel directions for predicting and mitigating AMR.
Comparison of Intravenous Microdialysis and Standard Plasma Sampling for Monitoring of Vancomycin and Meropenem Plasma Concentrations—An Experimental Porcine Study
Authors: Lilleøre Johanne Gade , Vittrup Sofus , Tøstesen Sara Kousgaard , Hanberg Pelle , Stilling Maiken , Bue Mats
Published: April 2023

Microdialysis is a catheter-based method suitable for dynamic sampling of unbound antibiotic concentrations. Intravenous antibiotic concentration sampling by microdialysis has several advantages and may be a superior alternative to standard plasma sampling. We aimed to compare concentrations obtained by continuous intravenous microdialysis sampling and by standard plasma sampling of both vancomycin and meropenem in a porcine model. Eight female pigs received 1 g of both vancomycin and meropenem, simultaneously over 100 and 10 min, respectively. Prior to drug infusion, an intravenous microdialysis catheter was placed in the subclavian vein. Microdialysates were collected for 8 h. From a central venous catheter, plasma samples were collected in the middle of every dialysate sampling interval. A higher area under the concentration/time curve and peak drug concentration were found in standard plasma samples compared to intravenous microdialysis samples, for both vancomycin and meropenem. Both vancomycin and meropenem concentrations obtained with intravenous microdialysis were generally lower than from standard plasma sampling. The differences in key pharmacokinetic parameters between the two sampling techniques underline the importance of further investigations to find the most suitable and reliable method for continuous intravenous antibiotic concentration sampling.
Maternal Supplementation with N-Acetylcysteine Modulates the Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis in Offspring of the Poly I:C Rat Model of Schizophrenia
Authors: Romero-Miguel Diego , Casquero-Veiga Marta , Fernández Javier , Lamanna-Rama Nicolás , Gómez-Rangel Vanessa , Gálvez-Robleño Carlos , Santa-Marta Cristina , Villar Claudio J. , Lombó Felipe , Abalo Raquel , Desco Manuel , Soto-Montenegro María Luisa
Published: April 2023

The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a complex interconnected system altered in schizophrenia. The antioxidant N-acetylcysteine (NAC) has been proposed as an adjunctive therapy to antipsychotics in clinical trials, but its role in the microbiota-gut-brain axis has not been sufficiently explored. We aimed to describe the effect of NAC administration during pregnancy on the gut-brain axis in the offspring from the maternal immune stimulation (MIS) animal model of schizophrenia. Pregnant Wistar rats were treated with PolyI:C/Saline. Six groups of animals were studied according to the study factors: phenotype (Saline, MIS) and treatment (no NAC, NAC 7 days, NAC 21 days). Offspring were subjected to the novel object recognition test and were scanned using MRI. Caecum contents were used for metagenomics 16S rRNA sequencing. NAC treatment prevented hippocampal volume reduction and long-term memory deficits in MIS-offspring. In addition, MIS-animals showed lower bacterial richness, which was prevented by NAC. Moreover, NAC7/NAC21 treatments resulted in a reduction of proinflammatory taxons in MIS-animals and an increase in taxa known to produce anti-inflammatory metabolites. Early approaches, like this one, with anti-inflammatory/anti-oxidative compounds, especially in neurodevelopmental disorders with an inflammatory/oxidative basis, may be useful in modulating bacterial microbiota, hippocampal size, as well as hippocampal-based memory impairments.
Scale-up and Economic Assessment of Biofunctional Particles Synthesis for Bilirubin Removal
Authors: del Prado Garrido María , Rodriguez Juan Francisco , Ramos Maria Jesús , Carmona Manuel , Redondo Calvo Francisco Javier , Borreguero Ana Maria
Published: April 2023

The scale-up and the economic feasibility of the synthesis of St-MMA-GMA-PEGMA particles biofunctionalized with HSA were studied. First, the geometrical similarity of laboratory and pilot plant reactors was checked to develop the scale up of the process according to a criterion of partial similarity. The selected criterion was constant Re number. Then, a reaction in the pilot plant scale was carried out, confirming the suitability of the scale-up criterion, since particles with similar characteristics (same particle size with a deviation of just 6%) and functional groups were obtained. Finally, the design of an industrial plant able to produce 581 Tm/year of HSA functionalized St-MMA-GMA-PEGMA particles was addressed. The economic feasibility of this plant was confirmed by a value of internal rate of return (IRR) of 14.8% and a net present value (NPV) of 5452 M€, with a payback time between six and seven years, for the price of a cartridge 25% lower than that from the current treatments for bilirubin removal from patients with liver failure.
A Novel Digital Signature Scheme for Advanced Asymmetric Encryption Techniques
Authors: Lalem Farid , Laouid Abdelkader , Kara Mostefa , Al-Khalidi Mohammed , Eleyan Amna
Published: April 2023

Digital signature schemes are practical mechanisms for achieving message integrity, authenticity, and non-repudiation. Several asymmetric encryption techniques have been proposed in the literature, each with its proper limitations. RSA and El Gamal prove their robustness, but are unsuitable in several domains due to their computational complexity. Other asymmetric encryption schemes have been proposed to provide a cloud homomorphic encryption service, where the researchers focused only on how to ensure the homomorphic property. This paper proposes a new digital signature scheme dedicated to a family of encryption techniques. The proposal consists of two parts: the first focused on the secret key, and the second focused on the public key. Signature validity checking was performed by multiplying these two parts to reform again the sender’s public key, then comparing the result with the decrypted message. The validation of the decrypted message guarantees data integrity, where the signer public key is used to ensure authenticity. The proposed scheme takes a shorter execution time for the entire signature operation, including signing and verification, compared to other modern techniques. The analysis showed its robustness against private key recovery and forgery attacks. The implementation results of the proposed scheme showed promising performance in terms of complexity and robustness. The results confirmed that the proposed scheme is efficient and effective for signature generation and verification.
Laboratory Investigation of the Composite Influence of Rock Asphalt and Montmorillonite on the Performance of Bio-Asphalt
Authors: Mu Minghao , Liu Chaochao , Liu Zhengnan
Published: April 2023

To improve the rutting resistance and anti-aging performance of bio-asphalt, the composite modifier of rock asphalt and montmorillonite is used to modify the bio-asphalt. The optimum content of each component was determined by orthogonal tests based on the results from penetration, softening point, ductility and viscosity tests. The rheological properties and anti-aging performance of rock asphalt and montmorillonite composite-modified bio-asphalt (RAMB) with the optimum content were evaluated as compared to those of matrix asphalt (MA), untreated/treated bio-asphalt (UBA/TBA) and rock asphalt-/montmorillonite-modified bio-asphalt (RMB/MMB). The test results illustrated that the optimum content of each component in the rock asphalt/montmorillonite composite-modified bio-asphalt—as determined by orthogonal experimental design and penetration, softening point, ductility and viscosity tests—was 7% bio-oil treated by thermostatic water bath, 5% rock asphalt and 30% montmorillonite. The high-temperature performance, low-temperature performance and anti-aging performance of RAMB were studied by comparison to those of matrix asphalt, UBA, TBA, RMB and MMB. Additionally, the composite modification mechanism was studied by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). The results suggested that the high-temperature of TBA was obviously improved compared with UBA. The reason, as seen from infrared spectrum tests, was that the amount of ester compounds decreased after water bath treatment. The light components and soluble substances in bio-oil decreased. Compared to UBA, the unrecoverable creep compliance (Jnr) of RAMB decreased by 66.6% and the recovery rate (R) increased by 75.9% at 0.1 KPa. The stiffness modulus (S) of RAMB was 0.87 times that of matrix asphalt and the creep rate (m) was 1.03 times that of base asphalt. Compared to single-modified asphalt, the high- and low-temperature performance of RAMB was good. Meanwhile, the complex modulus aging index (CMAI) and stiffness modulus aging index (SAI) of RAMB were lower than all other asphalt studied, while the phase angle aging index (PAAI) and creep rate aging index (mAI) of RAMB were the largest. The results of infrared spectroscopy also suggest that the mixing of rock asphalt, montmorillonite, bio-oil and matrix asphalt is a physical blending process. During the process, no functional groups are formed. Pretreatment and addition of rock asphalt and montmorillonite can improve high-temperature performance, low-temperature performance and anti-aging performance of the bio-asphalt.
Numerical Performance of a Buoy-Type Wave Energy Converter with Regular Short Waves
Authors: Sosa Carlos , Mariño-Tapia Ismael , Silva Rodolfo , Patiño Rodrigo
Published: April 2023

The numerical performance of a buoy-type wave energy converter (WEC) under regular wave conditions is described in this paper. The open-source computational fluid dynamics software OpenFOAM® was used to couple a grid for the solid body motion of the WEC, with the grid designed for wave propagation, in order to calculate buoy movement parameters. The buoy has a horizontal, cylindrical structure, with a pivot point for semi-axis rotation. Five buoy-radiuses were analyzed, as this parameter considerably increases the efficiency of the WEC point absorber. To better understand the interaction of the WEC with the waves, the transmission and reflection coefficients were calculated, along with two non-linear parameters: skewness and asymmetry. The results indicate that, with this system, more power can be extracted from shorter waves, T = 4 s, compared to T = 8 s of the same wave height. This implies that a small buoy could be employed at sites with this prevailing wave regime, without a decrease in efficiency and with considerable cost reductions. Finally, this WEC increases the values of wave skewness, which is linked to onshore sediment transport; therefore, if appropriately designed, WEC arrays installed near the coast could also promote onshore sediment transport.
Analysis of a Motocross Knee Brace: From the Real Model to the Numerical Finite Element Model via 3D Scanning and Reverse Engineering
Authors: Lazzarini Lucrezia , Civera Marco , Burgio Vito , Rodriguez Reinoso Mariana , Antonaci Paola , Surace Cecilia
Published: April 2023

Musculoskeletal injuries often occur when performing motocross; almost half of the overall ligamentous injuries (42%) are knee ligaments injuries. Lesions can be greatly reduced with knee braces. Commercial knee braces are expected to oppose and limit unwanted and potentially harmful movements such as hyperextension and excessive rotation of the knee joint. However, this aspect has not been fully investigated from a biomechanical point of view. This would require proper Finite Element Modelling (FEM) and Analysis (FEA). However, to perform FEA and evaluate the efficacy of the brace simulating sportive conditions, numerical models need to be built. It requires a dedicated setup and several preprocessing steps, for which no industrial standard or widely accepted better practise is available as of today. Firstly, the brace and the lower limb are scanned using a 3D scanner. The geometry is reconstructed using reverse engineering techniques. These allow us to obtain a smooth, reliable 3D model starting from the points cloud acquired during scanning. A lower limb model was created using a mixed approach, combining MRI data and 3D scanning. Finally, a simulation of the impact condition after a jump using the developed model was carried out.
Leveraging Causal Reasoning in Educational Data Mining: An Analysis of Brazilian Secondary Education
Authors: Silva Filho Rogério Luiz Cardoso , Brito Kellyton , Adeodato Paulo Jorge Leitão
Published: April 2023

This study presents an approach to investigating the main interventions related to gains on performance using a combination of educational data mining (EDM) techniques and traditional theory-driven models. The goal is to overcome the limitation of previous EDM studies that lack of causal reasoning, which is a critical concern for educational specialists. We use large-scale assessment data from Brazil and map the main sources of unobserved confounders using causal graphs. We then use a two-way logistic regression fixed effects to account for these confounding factors. The model is evaluated for its predictive ability and further investigated through classification rules and decision trees, resulting in the proposition of new insights into the data. The findings of the study underline the importance of socio-economic factors and showcase the significant impact of faculty education policies as well as the vital role of Brazilian states in these policies.
A Two-Stage Framework for Time-Frequency Analysis and Fault Diagnosis of Planetary Gearboxes
Authors: Zhang Pinyang , Chen Changzheng
Published: April 2023

In the operation and maintenance of planetary gearboxes, the growth of monitoring data is often faster than its analysis and classification. Careful data analysis is generally considered to require more expertise. Rendering the machine learning algorithm able to provide more information, not just the diagnosis conclusion, is promising work. This paper proposes an analysis and diagnosis two-stage framework based on time-frequency information analysis. In the first stage, a U-net model is used for the semantic segmentation of vibration time-frequency spectrum to highlight faulty feature regions. Shape features are then calculated to extract useful information from the segmented image. In the second stage, the decision tree algorithm completes the health state classification of the planetary gearboxes using the input of shape features. The real data of wind turbine planetary gearboxes and augmented data are utilized to verify the proposed framework’s effectiveness and superiority. The F1-score of segmentation and the classification accuracy reach 0.942 and 97.4%, respectively, while in the environmental robustness experiment, they reached 0.747 and 83.1%. Equipping the two-stage framework with different analytical methods and diagnostic algorithms can construct flexible diagnostic systems for similar problems in the community.
Electromyographic Activity of the Pectoralis Major Muscle during Traditional Bench Press and Other Variants of Pectoral Exercises: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: López-Vivancos Abraham , González-Gálvez Noelia , Orquín-Castrillón Francisco Javier , Vale Rodrigo Gomes de Souza , Marcos-Pardo Pablo Jorge
Published: April 2023

The popularity of the bench press (BP) is justified by being one of the most effective exercises to improve strength and power in the upper body. The primary aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to compare the electromyography activity (EMG) of pectoralis muscle between BP and other variants of pectoral exercises (OP). Methods: This study was conducted according to the PRISMA. Original research articles published by March 2023, were located using an electronic search of four databases and yielded 951 original publications. This review included studies that compared the EMG activity of pectoralis muscle between BP and OP. Data were extracted and independently coded by three researchers. Finally, 23 studies were included for systematic review and meta-analysis. Meta-analysis with fixed or random effect model was performed to infer the pooled estimated standardized mean difference, depending on the heterogeneity. The studies were grouped according to the type of the comparison: grip widths, type of grip, inclination of the bench, stability, or exercise type. Results: The original option of BP activates the sternal portion significantly more than the variant with the inclined bench (SMD = 1.80; 95%CI 0.40 to 3.19; p = 0.017). Performing the exercise in an unstable situation produced significantly more activation during the concentric phase than performing the exercise in a stable situation (SMD = −0.18; 95%CI −0.33 to 3.74; p = 0.029). When comparing by type of exercise, greater activations are also seen in the original bench press vs. the comparisons (p = 0.023 to 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that the traditional bench press performed with the bench in a horizontal position, with a bar and a grip width between 150% and 200% of the biacromial distance (BAD) results from a greater EMG involvement of the pectoralis major in most variations with the same relative load. However, the sternal portion of pectoralis major showed greater activation with the declined variant of bench press.
Effects of Rearing Density, Substrate Height, and Feeding Frequency on Growth and Biomass Production of Hediste diversicolor
Authors: Rasines Inmaculada , Martín Ignacio Eduardo , Aguado-Giménez Felipe
Published: April 2023

The polychaete Hediste diversicolor is a suitable species for industrial aquaculture; however, cost-effective culture techniques need to be developed for its intensive production. The aim of this study is to evaluate the effects of worm density and substrate height and their interaction, as well as feeding frequency, on the rearing performance of H. diversicolor. Two trials were conducted. In trial 1, the effects of two substrate heights—6 and 12 cm—and two rearing densities—1000 and 4000 individuals m−2—were assessed in terms of worm growth and biomass production. Worm initial wet weight was 48 mg, and specimens were fed with commercial fish feed during a 70-day assay. The results show no interaction between rearing density and substrate height, and confirm density as a key factor in growth; however, a density of 4000 individuals m−2 results in a significant increase in production (final biomass three times higher for the highest rearing density) without affecting survival. In trial 2, the effect of three levels of feeding frequency—seven days a week; three times a week; and once a week—on growth in individuals of three weight classes—small (25–50 mg); medium (100–150 mg); large (250–350 mg)—was evaluated in a 15-day growing assay. Feeding frequency showed a major influence on the smallest size class, with the best growth indicators obtained at the highest feeding frequency. This study shows that Hediste diversicolor can be reared at a high stocking density to obtain a higher biomass production, and that feeding frequency must be considered as an important factor and adapted to the culture phase.
Assessing the Impacts of Land Use/Land Cover Changes on Water Resources of the Nile River Basin, Ethiopia
Authors: Gedefaw Mohammed , Denghua Yan , Girma Abel
Published: April 2023

Land use/land cover change and climate change have diverse impacts on the water resources of river basins. This study investigated the trends of climate change and land use/land cover change in the Nile River Basin. The climate trends were analyzed using the Mann–Kendall test, Sen’s slope estimator test and an innovative trend analysis method. Land use/land cover (LULC) change was examined using Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM) and Landsat Enhanced Thematic Mapper (ETM+) with a resolution of 30 m during 2012–2022. The findings revealed that forestland and shrub land area decreased by 5.18 and 2.39%, respectively. On the other hand, area of grassland, cropland, settlements and water bodies increased by 1.56, 6.18, 0.05 and 0.11%, respectively. A significant increasing trend in precipitation was observed at the Gondar (Z = 1.69) and Motta (Z = 0.93) stations. However, the trend was decreasing at the Adet (Z = −0.32), Dangla (Z = −0.37) and Bahir Dar stations. The trend in temperature increased at all stations. The significant changes in land use/land cover may be caused by human-induced activities in the basin.
The Roles of Atmospheric and Air–Sea Interaction Processes in Causing the Eastward Extension of the Western North Pacific Monsoon Trough in Boreal Summer
Authors: Qin Chi , Li Tim
Published: April 2023

What causes the eastward extension of the climatological monsoon trough over the western North Pacific in the boreal summer was investigated through both observational analyses and numerical simulations. It was found that the highest SST is always located to the east of maximum precipitation, and this asymmetric SST pattern favors the eastward extension of the monsoon trough through SST induced boundary layer convergence. A mixed-layer heat budget analysis further indicates that the SST asymmetry arises primarily from the asymmetric pattern of cloud-modified downward shortwave radiation. In addition, two internal atmospheric mechanisms are identified. Firstly, there is a zonal asymmetry in the lower-tropospheric moisture advection. Southeasterlies to the east of the convection, in association with the subtropical high advect high mean moisture from south, leads to low-level moistening to the east of the convective center. Secondly, the heating-induced Kelvin wave response leads to a boundary layer convergence ahead of the convection. Both the processes lead to the setup of a convectively unstable stratification to the east, favoring the eastward extension of the monsoon trough. Two sets of the WRF model experiments that specify a fixed and a time-dependent SST field confirm the roles of the aforementioned atmospheric internal processes as well as the air–sea interaction process in causing the eastward progression of the climatological monsoon trough over the western North Pacific.
Variations of Cooling and Dehumidification Degree Days in Major Climate Zones of China during the Past 57 Years
Authors: Cao Jingfu , Shi Jun , Li Mingcai , Zhai Zhihong , Zhang Ruixue , Wang Min
Published: April 2023

In previous studies, the concept of degree days has been widely used to indicate heating or cooling energy requirements, but it does not consider the dehumidification effect. In the present study, the concept of dehumidification degree days based on moisture content is used, and the degree days over the past 57 years for temperature decreasing and dehumidification in 4 cities belonging to major climate zones of China are analyzed. The results showed that the number of cooling degree days showed a significant increase (1.2–4.6 days/10 a) in all the selected cities, corresponding to the warming climate. In contrast, the degree days of dehumidification accounted for 19%–45% of the total days in summer and showed significant decreases (2.0–3.7 days/10 a) in the cold, hot summer and cold winter, and hot summer and warm winter climate zones. Comfortable days, i.e., days requiring no cooling and no dehumidification, accounting for 8–45% of the total days in summer, decreased significantly in the extreme cold and cold zones (0.9–1.8 days/10 a) but showed no apparent changes in the hot summer and cold winter and hot summer and warm winter climate zones. This study suggests that energy consumption for cooling increases linearly with climate warming, and only the energy consumed for dehumidification had an apparent decrease. The degree days of dehumidification, as well as those requiring no cooling and no dehumidification, should be fully considered in the capacity design of air-conditioning units, especially air-conditioning systems with temperature- and humidity-independent control (THIC). This study indicates that the assessment of energy consumption for requests for air-conditioning in relation to climate change should be carried out after separating energy consumption for cooling from energy consumption for dehumidification to improve building energy efficiency and indoor comfort.
Assessment of Mechanical Draft Cooling Tower Thermal Emissions from Visual Images of Plumes
Authors: Sobecki Christopher , Garrett Alfred , d’Entremont Brian , Connal Ryan , Aleman Sebastian
Published: April 2023

Using a one-dimensional code, we computed the power (enthalpy discharge rate) of a twelve-cell mechanical draft cooling tower (MDCT) using over two hundred visible condensed water vapor plume volume measurements derived from images, weather data, and tower operating conditions. The plume images were simultaneously captured by multiple stationary digital cameras surrounding the cooling tower. An analysis technique combining structure from motion (SfM), a neural-network-based image segmentation algorithm, and space carving was used to quantify the volumes. Afterwards, the power output was computed using novel techniques in the one-dimensional code that included cooling tower exhaust plume adjacency effects implemented with a modified version of the entrainment function, weather data averaged from eleven stations, and fan operations at the times when plume volumes were measured. The model was then compared with the averaged observed power output, and it validated well with an average error ranging from 6 to 12%, depending on the meteorological data used in the simulations. This methodology can possibly determine power plant fuel consumption rates by applying visible imagery.
Preparation and Characterization of a LiFePO4- Lithium Salt Composite Cathode for All-Solid-State Li-Metal Batteries
Authors: Mohanty Debabrata , Huang Pin-Hsuan , Hung I-Ming
Published: April 2023

This study develops a composite cathode material suitable for solid-state Li-ion batteries (SSLIB). The composite cathode consists of LiFePO4 as the active material, Super P and KS-4 carbon materials as the conductive agents, and LiTFSI as the lithium salt. An LiFePO4/LATP-PVDF-HFP/Li all-solid-state LIB was assembled using Li1.3Al0.3Ti1.7(PO4)3 (LATP)/ poly(vinylidenefluoride-co-hexafluoropropylene (PVDF-HFP) as the solid-state electrolyte and lithium metal as the anode. The structure of the synthesized LATP was analyzed using X-ray diffraction, and the microstructure of the composite cathode and solid electrolyte layer was observed using a field emission scanning electron microscope. The electrochemical properties of the all-solid-state LIB were analyzed using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) and a charge–discharge test. The effect of the composition ratio of the fabricated cathode on SSLIB performance is discussed. The results reveal that the SSLIB fabricated using the cathode containing LiFePO4, Super P, KS-4, PVDF, and LiTFSI at a weight ratio of 70:10:10:7:3 (wt.%) and a LATP/PVDF-HFP solid electrolyte layer containing PVDF-HFP, LiTFSI, and LATP at a weight ratio of 22:33:45 (wt.%) exhibited the optimal performance. Particularly, the SSLIB fabricated using the cathode containing 3% LiTFSI exhibited a discharge capacity of 168.9 mAhg−1 at 0.1 C, which is close to the theoretical capacity (170 mAhg−1), and had very good stability. The findings of this study suggests that the incorporation of an appropriate amount of LiTFSI can significantly enhance the electrochemical performance of SSLIB batteries.
Point-of-Interest Preference Model Using an Attention Mechanism in a Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Kasgari Abbas Bagherian , Safavi Sadaf , Nouri Mohammadjavad , Hou Jun , Sarshar Nazanin Tataei , Ranjbarzadeh Ramin
Published: April 2023

In recent years, there has been a growing interest in developing next point-of-interest (POI) recommendation systems in both industry and academia. However, current POI recommendation strategies suffer from the lack of sufficient mixing of details of the features related to individual users and their corresponding contexts. To overcome this issue, we propose a deep learning model based on an attention mechanism in this study. The suggested technique employs an attention mechanism that focuses on the pattern’s friendship, which is responsible for concentrating on the relevant features related to individual users. To compute context-aware similarities among diverse users, our model employs six features of each user as inputs, including user ID, hour, month, day, minute, and second of visiting time, which explore the influences of both spatial and temporal features for the users. In addition, we incorporate geographical information into our attention mechanism by creating an eccentricity score. Specifically, we map the trajectory of each user to a shape, such as a circle, triangle, or rectangle, each of which has a different eccentricity value. This attention-based mechanism is evaluated on two widely used datasets, and experimental outcomes prove a noteworthy improvement of our model over the state-of-the-art strategies for POI recommendation.
Loss of the Novel Mitochondrial Membrane Protein FAM210B Is Associated with Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Yuanqin , Pan Xianzhu , Liu Yakun , Li Xiaofei , Lin Keqiong , Zhu Jicheng , Zhan Li , Kan Chen , Zheng Hong
Published: April 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is an aggressive and challenging disease to treat. Due to the lack of effective early diagnosis and therapy for the illness, it is crucial to identify novel biomarkers that can predict tumor behavior in HCC. In such cases, family with sequence similarity 210 member B (FAM210B) is abundant in various human tissues, but its regulatory mechanisms and role in various tissues remain unclear. In this study, we analyzed the expression pattern of FAM210B in HCC using public gene expression databases and clinical tissue samples. Our results confirmed that FAM210B was dysregulated in both HCC cell lines and HCC paraffin section samples. FAM210B depletion significantly increased the capacity of cells to grow, migrate, and invade in vitro, while overexpression of FAM210B suppressed tumor growth in a xenograft tumor model. Furthermore, we identified FAM210B’s involvement in MAPK signaling and p-AKT signaling pathways, both of which are known oncogenic signaling pathways. In summary, our study provides a rational basis for the further investigation of FAM210B as a valuable biological marker for diagnosing and predicting the prognosis of HCC patients.
Sensor Fusion-Based Teleoperation Control of Anthropomorphic Robotic Arm
Authors: Yang Xiaolong , Chen Furong , Wang Feilong , Zheng Long , Wang Shukun , Qi Wen , Su Hang
Published: April 2023

Sensor fusion is a technique that combines information from multiple sensors in order to improve the accuracy and reliability of the data being collected. In the context of teleoperation control of an anthropomorphic robotic arm, sensor fusion technology can be used to enhance the precise control of anthropomorphic robotic arms by combining data from multiple sensors, such as cameras, data gloves, force sensors, etc. By fusing and processing this sensing information, it can enable real-time control of anthropomorphic robotic arms and dexterous hands, replicating the motion of human manipulators. In this paper, we present a sensor fusion-based teleoperation control system for the anthropomorphic robotic arm and dexterous hand, which utilizes a filter to fuse data from multiple sensors in real-time. As such, the real-time perceived human arms motion posture information is analyzed and processed, and wireless communication is used to intelligently and flexibly control the anthropomorphic robotic arm and dexterous hand. Finally, the user is able to manage the anthropomorphic operation function in a stable and reliable manner. We also discussed the implementation and experimental evaluation of the system, showing that it is able to achieve improved performance and stability compared to traditional teleoperation control methods.
Organic Semiconducting Nanoparticles for Biosensor: A Review
Authors: Wang Zheng , Han Dongyang , Wang Hongzhen , Zheng Meng , Xu Yanyi , Zhang Haichang
Published: April 2023

Highly bio-compatible organic semiconductors are widely used as biosensors, but their long-term stability can be compromised due to photo-degradation and structural instability. To address this issue, scientists have developed organic semiconductor nanoparticles (OSNs) by incorporating organic semiconductors into a stable framework or self-assembled structure. OSNs have shown excellent performance and can be used as high-resolution biosensors in modern medical and biological research. They have been used for a wide range of applications, such as detecting small biological molecules, nucleic acids, and enzyme levels, as well as vascular imaging, tumor localization, and more. In particular, OSNs can simulate fine particulate matters (PM2.5, indicating particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter less than or equal to 2.5 μm) and can be used to study the biodistribution, clearance pathways, and health effects of such particles. However, there are still some problems that need to be solved, such as toxicity, metabolic mechanism, and fluorescence intensity. In this review, based on the structure and design strategies of OSNs, we introduce various types of OSNs-based biosensors with functional groups used as biosensors and discuss their applications in both in vitro and in vivo tracking. Finally, we also discuss the design strategies and potential future trends of OSNs-based biosensors. This review provides a theoretical scaffold for the design of high-performance OSNs-based biosensors and highlights important trends and future directions for their development and application.
Polymorphisms in Oxytocin and Vasopressin Receptor Genes as a Factor Shaping the Clinical Picture and the Risk of ASD in Males
Authors: Wilczyński Krzysztof M. , Stasik Aleksandra , Cichoń Lena , Auguściak-Duma Aleksandra , Janas-Kozik Małgorzata
Published: April 2023

Autism spectrum disorders (ASD) are a heterogeneous group of disorders affecting virtually every population, regardless of their ethnic or socioeconomic background. Their pathogenesis is multifactorial, based on interactions between genetic and environmental factors. The key symptom of ASD are deficits in social communication, which are the basis of many difficulties in everyday functioning. The aim of the presented study was to analyze the clinical picture of social cognition deficits in boys with autism spectrum disorders and to relate its elements with the frequency of alleles of selected polymorphisms within the oxytocin receptor (OXTR) and vasopressin receptor 1A (AVPR1A) genes. The study included 58 boys with IQ > 90, who were divided into two groups based on a confirmed or excluded ASD diagnosis based on the DSM-5 and ICD-10 criteria and then using the ADOS-2 protocol. The results indicated that polymorphism rs10877969 (T) within the AVPR1a gene was the only one to show a statistically significant association with a higher risk of autism spectrum disorders and has an impact on clinical presentation in the ADOS-2 study, primarily in terms of the social affect subscale. Polymorphisms in the OXTR gene showed no significant association with ASD risk and severity of autistic traits in the ADOS-2 study. In the group of people with ASD and those who are neurotypical, the rs53572 (A) genotype in the OXTR gene significantly increased the severity of the clinical picture of social cognition disorders in reading mind in the eyes test (RMiE) and empathy quotient (EQ) studies.
Increased Functional Connectivity Involving the Parahippocampal Gyrus in Patients with Schizophrenia during Theory of Mind Processing: A Psychophysiological Interaction Study
Authors: Qin Xucong , Huang Huan , Liu Ying , Zheng Fanfan , Zhou Yuan , Wang Huiling
Published: April 2023

Background: Theory of Mind (ToM) is an ability to infer the mental state of others, which plays an important role during social events. Previous studies have shown that ToM deficits exist frequently in schizophrenia, which may result from abnormal activity in brain regions related to sociality. However, the interactions between brain regions during ToM processing in schizophrenia are still unclear. Therefore, in this study, we investigated functional connectivity during ToM processing in patients with schizophrenia, using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). Methods: A total of 36 patients with schizophrenia and 33 healthy controls were recruited to complete a ToM task from the Human Connectome Project (HCP) during fMRI scanning. Psychophysiological interaction (PPI) analysis was applied to explore functional connectivity. Results: Patients with schizophrenia were less accurate than healthy controls in judging social stimuli from non-social stimuli (Z = 2.31, p = 0.021), and displayed increased activity in the right inferior frontal gyrus and increased functional connectivity between the bilateral middle temporal gyrus and the ipsilateral parahippocampal gyrus during ToM processing (AlphaSim corrected p < 0.05). Conclusions: Here, we showed that the brain regions related to sociality interact more with the parahippocampal gyrus in patients with schizophrenia during ToM processing, which may reflect a possible compensatory pathway of ToM deficits in schizophrenia. Our study provides a new idea for ToM deficits in schizophrenia, which could be helpful to better understand social cognition of schizophrenia.
Numerical Simulation Analyses on Envelope Structures of Economic Passive Buildings in Severe Cold Region
Authors: Liu Chao , Sun Chunhai , Li Guangyuan , Yang Wenjia , Wang Fang
Published: April 2023

The present study provides comprehensive analyses of a newly constructed passive energy-efficient building located in Harbin, China, which is a prime example of how to design a passive building that withstands the severe cold climate in northeast Asia. Conduction transfer functions of heat flux equilibrium are employed to simulate energy consumption characteristics of the paradigm passive building. The climatic conditions in severe cold region are analyzed, and the energy-saving designs in the studied engineering cases are summarized for their practical applications. Building physical models are established to perform numerical simulation analyses on the passive building paradigm in northeast Asian frigid zone. The dominant technical parameters of envelope structure affecting energy consumption in severe cold region, including thermal insulation thickness and heat transfer coefficient of building envelope, as well as window-to-wall ratio for each building facade, are taken into consideration as simulation variables to calculate cooling load, heating load, electricity consumption, and CO2 emission, which account for energy efficiency of passive buildings. The simulation results demonstrate the high energy-saving potential of the proposed passive building design and render the optimal energy-efficient parameters suitable for severe cold regions, which can reduce energy consumption and CO2 emission while ensuring comfort for occupants. The present study provides a theoretical reference for envelope structures of passive buildings in severe cold regions, which is of great significance to the development of green buildings and relevant policies.
Efficient Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Ethylbenzene over K/CeO2 with Exceptional Styrene Yield
Authors: Sun He , Zhang Juping , Li Kongzhai , Wang Hua , Zhu Xing
Published: April 2023

Oxidative dehydrogenation (ODH) is an alternative for styrene (ST) production compared to the direct dehydrogenation process. However, ODH with O2 or CO2 suffers from either over-oxidation or endothermic property/low ethylbenzene conversion. Herein, we proposed an ODH process with a CO2-O2 mixture atmosphere for the efficient conversion of ethylbenzene (EB) into styrene. A thermoneutral ODH is possible by the rationalizing of CO2/O2 molar ratios from 0.65 to 0.66 in the temperature range of 300 to 650 °C. K modification is favorable for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation, and 10%K/CeO2 achieved the highest ethylbenzene dehydrogenation activity due to the enhanced oxygen mobility and CO2 adsorbability. The catalyst achieved 90.8% ethylbenzene conversion and 97.5% styrene selectivity under optimized conditions of CO2-4O2 oxidation atmosphere, a temperature of 500 °C, and a space velocity of 5.0 h−1. It exhibited excellent catalytic and structural stability during a 50 h long-term test. CO2 induces oxygen vacancies in ceria and promotes oxygen exchange between gaseous oxygen and ceria. The ethylbenzene dehydrogenation in CO2-O2 follows a Mars-van Krevelen (MvK) reaction mechanism via Ce3+/Ce4+ redox pairs. The proposed ODH strategy by using oxygen vacancies enriched catalysts offers an important insight into the efficient dehydrogenation of ethylbenzene at mild conditions.
The Antiepileptic Drug Oxcarbazepine Inhibits the Growth of Patient-Derived Isocitrate Dehydrogenase Mutant Glioma Stem-like Cells
Authors: Dao Trong Philip , Jungwirth Gerhard , Unterberg Andreas , Herold-Mende Christel , Warta Rolf
Published: April 2023

Patients diagnosed with isocitrate dehydrogenase mutant (IDHmut) gliomas suffer frequently from seizures. Although the clinical course is less aggressive than that of its IDH wildtype counterpart, recent discoveries have shown that epileptic activity can promote tumor proliferation. However, it is not known if antiepileptic drugs confer additional value by inhibiting tumor growth. In this study, the antineoplastic properties of 20 FDA-approved antiepileptic drugs (AEDs) were tested in six patient-derived IDHmut glioma stem-like cells (GSCs). Cell proliferation was assessed using the CellTiterGlo-3D assay. Two of the screened drugs (oxcarbazepine and perampanel) demonstrated an antiproliferative effect. A subsequent eight-point dose–response curve proved the dose-dependent growth inhibition for both drugs, but only oxcarbazepine reached an IC50 value below 100 µM in 5/6 GSCs (mean 44.7 µM; range 17.4–98.0 µM), approximating the possible cmax for oxcarbazepine in patient serums. Furthermore, the treated GSC spheroids were 82% smaller (mean volume 1.6 nL vs. 8.7 nL; p = 0.01 (live/deadTM fluorescence staining)), and the apoptotic events increased by more than 50% (caspase-3/7 activity; p = 0.006). Taken together, this drug screen of a large series of antiepileptic drugs identified oxcarbazepine as a potent proapoptotic drug in IDHmut GSCs, which combines antiepileptic and antineoplastic properties to treat this seizure-prone patient population.
The Multifaceted Role of WNT Signaling in Alzheimer’s Disease Onset and Age-Related Progression
Authors: Kostes William W. , Brafman David A.
Published: April 2023

The evolutionary conserved WNT signaling pathway orchestrates numerous complex biological processes during development and is critical to the maintenance of tissue integrity and homeostasis in the adult. As it relates to the central nervous system, WNT signaling plays several roles as it relates to neurogenesis, synaptic formation, memory, and learning. Thus, dysfunction of this pathway is associated with multiple diseases and disorders, including several neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by several pathologies, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive decline. In this review, we will discuss the various epidemiological, clinical, and animal studies that demonstrate a precise link between aberrant WNT signaling and AD-associated pathologies. In turn, we will discuss the manner in which WNT signaling influences multiple molecular, biochemical, and cellular pathways upstream of these end-point pathologies. Finally, we will discuss how merging tools and technologies can be used to generate next generation cellular models to dissect the relationship between WNT signaling and AD.