bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leisure and Leisure Education as Resources for Rehabilitation Supports for Chronic Condition Self-Management in Rural and Remote Communities
Authors: Hutchinson Susan , Lauckner Heidi , Stilwell Christie , Meisner Brad A.
Published: June 2022

The potential of leisure (enjoyable free time pursuits) to be a resource for chronic condition self-management (CCSM) is well-established. Because leisure pursuits are often self-determined, they have the potential to allow people to not only address self-management goals (e.g., managing symptoms through movements or stress-reducing activities) but meet important psychosocial needs (e.g., affiliation, sense of mastery) as well as support participation in a range of meaningful life situations. In this “Perspective” piece, we advocate for the ways leisure and leisure education can be resources for rehabilitation professionals to support CCSM, especially in rural and remote communities. In particular, we focus on aspects of the Taxonomy of Everyday Self-Management Strategies [TEDSS (1)] to highlight ways that embedding leisure and leisure education into supports for CCSM can strengthen rehabilitation services offered to rural and remote dwelling adults living with chronic conditions. Recognizing the breadth of leisure-related resources available in rural and remote communities, we recommend the following strategies to incorporate a focus on leisure-based self-management within rehabilitation services: (a) enhance the knowledge and capacity of rehabilitation practitioners to support leisure-based CCSM; (b) focus on coordinated leadership, patient navigation, and building multi-sectoral partnerships to better link individuals living with chronic conditions to community services and supports; and (c) educate individuals with chronic conditions and family/carers to develop knowledge, skills, awareness and confidence to use leisure as a self-management resource.
Considerations for Sex-Cognizant Research in Exercise Biology and Medicine
Authors: O'Bryan Samia M. , Connor Kathleen R. , Drummer Devin J. , Lavin Kaleen M. , Bamman Marcas M.
Published: June 2022

As the fields of kinesiology, exercise science, and human movement developed, the majority of the research focused on male physiology and extrapolated findings to females. In the medical sphere, basing practice on data developed in only males resulted in the removal of drugs from the market in the late 1990s due to severe side effects (some life-threatening) in females that were not observed in males. In response to substantial evidence demonstrating exercise-induced health benefits, exercise is often promoted as a key modality in disease prevention, management, and rehabilitation. However, much like the early days of drug development, a historical literature knowledge base of predominantly male studies may leave the exercise field vulnerable to overlooking potentially key biological differences in males and females that may be important to consider in prescribing exercise (e.g., how exercise responses may differ between sexes and whether there are optimal approaches to consider for females that differ from conventional approaches that are based on male physiology). Thus, this review will discuss anatomical, physiological, and skeletal muscle molecular differences that may contribute to sex differences in exercise responses, as well as clinical considerations based on this knowledge in athletic and general populations over the continuum of age. Finally, this review summarizes the current gaps in knowledge, highlights the areas ripe for future research, and considerations for sex-cognizant research in exercise fields.
More Active Intestinal Immunity Developed by Obese Mice Than Non-Obese Mice After Challenged by Escherichia coli
Authors: Cai Dongjie , Tian Bin , Liang Shuang , Cen Yao , Fang Jing , Ma Xiaoping , Zhong Zhijun , Ren Zhihua , Shen Liuhong , Gou Liping , Wang Ya , Zuo Zhicai
Published: June 2022

Obese mice presented lower mortality to non-fatal pneumonia induced by Escherichia coli (E. coli) than the non-obese mice. However, it remained obscure whether the intestine contributed to the protective effect of obese mice with infection. The 64 non-obese (NOB) mice were divided into NOB-uninfected and NOB-E. coli groups, while 64 high-fat diet-induced obesity (DIO) mice were divided into DIO-uninfected and DIO-E. coli groups. Mice in E. coli groups were intranasally instilled with 40 μl E. coli (4.0 ×109 colony-forming units [CFUs]), while uninfected groups with the same volume of phosphate buffer saline (PBS). The T subsets of Intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) in the intestine were collected for flow cytometry analysis at 0, 12, 24, and 72 h post-infection, also the duodenum and colon were harvested to survey histopathological change. The results showed that the percentage of CD3+T cells in LPLs in DIO-E. coli group was significantly lower than that in the DIO-uninfected group after infection (p < 0.05). The percentage of CD4+T cells in IELs in NOB-E. coli was significantly lower than that in DIO-E. coli after infection (p < 0.05). The percentage of CD8+T cells in LPLs in NOB-E. coli was significantly lower than that in DIO-E. coli at 12 and 24 h (p < 0.05). The immunoglobulin A (IgA)+ cells in DIO-uninfected were higher than that in NOB-uninfected at all time points (p < 0.05). The IgA+ cells in DIO-E. coli were higher than that in DIO-uninfected at 12, 24, and 72 h (p < 0.05). The results revealed that the level of intestinal mucosal immunity in obese mice was more active than that in non-obese mice.
Nanodelivery System for Ovsynch Protocol Improves Ovarian Response, Ovarian Blood Flow Doppler Velocities, and Hormonal Profile of Goats
Authors: Hashem Nesrein M. , EL-Sherbiny Hossam R. , Fathi Mohamed , Abdelnaby Elshymaa A.
Published: June 2022

Fifteen cyclic, multiparous goats were equally stratified and received the common Ovsynch protocol (GPG: intramuscular, IM, injection of 50 mg gonadorelin, followed by an IM injection of 125 µg cloprostenol 7 days later, and a further IM injection of 50 mg gonadorelin 2 days later) or the Ovsynch protocol using nanofabricated hormones with the same dosages (NGPG) or half dosages (HNGPG) of each hormone. The ovarian structures and ovarian and luteal artery hemodynamic indices after each injection of the Ovsynch protocol using B-mode, color, and spectral Doppler scanning were monitored. Levels of blood serum progesterone (P4), estradiol (E2), and nitric oxide (NO) were determined. After the first gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) injection, the number of large follicles decreased (p = 0.02) in NGPG and HNGPG, compared with GPG. HNGPG resulted in larger corpus luteum (CL) diameters (p = 0.001), and improved ovarian and luteal blood flow, compared with GPG and NGPG. Both NGPG and HNGPG significantly increased E2 and NO levels compared with GPG. HNGPG increased (p < 0.001) P4 levels compared with GPG, whereas NGPG resulted in an intermediate value. After prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) injection, HNGPG had the largest diameter of CLs (p = 0.001) and significantly improved ovarian blood flow compared with GPG and NGPG. Both NGPG and HNGPG increased (p = 0.007) NO levels, compared with GPG. E2 level was increased (p = 0.028) in HNGPG, compared with GPG, whereas NGPG resulted in an intermediate value. During the follicular phase, HNGPG increased (p = 0.043) the number of medium follicles, shortened (p = 0.04) the interval to ovulation, and increased (p < 0.001) ovarian artery blood flow and levels (p < 0.001) of blood serum P4, E2, and NO, compared with GPG and NGPG. During the luteal phase, the numbers of CLs were similar among different experimental groups, whereas the diameter of CLs, luteal blood flow, and levels of blood serum P4 and NO increased (p < 0.001) in HNGPG, compared with GPG and NGPG. Conclusively, the nanodelivery system for the Ovsynch protocol could be recommended as a new strategy for improving estrous synchronization outcomes of goats while enabling lower hormone dose administration.
The Role of Endothelial-to-Mesenchymal Transition in Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Peng Qianman , Shan Dan , Cui Kui , Li Kathryn , Zhu Bo , Wu Hao , Wang Beibei , Wong Scott , Norton Vikram , Dong Yunzhou , Lu Yao Wei , Zhou Changcheng , Chen Hong
Published: June 2022

Endothelial-to-mesenchymal transition (EndoMT) is the process of endothelial cells progressively losing endothelial-specific markers and gaining mesenchymal phenotypes. In the normal physiological condition, EndoMT plays a fundamental role in forming the cardiac valves of the developing heart. However, EndoMT contributes to the development of various cardiovascular diseases (CVD), such as atherosclerosis, valve diseases, fibrosis, and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Therefore, a deeper understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying EndoMT in CVD should provide urgently needed insights into reversing this condition. This review summarizes a 30-year span of relevant literature, delineating the EndoMT process in particular, key signaling pathways, and the underlying regulatory networks involved in CVD.
A Microglial Function for the Nerve Growth Factor: Predictions of the Unpredictable
Authors: Tiberi Alexia , Capsoni Simona , Cattaneo Antonino
Published: June 2022

Microglia are the only immune cell population present in the brain parenchyma. Their vantage position in the central nervous system (CNS) enables these myeloid cells to perform the most disparate of tasks: from the classical immune functions of fighting infections and surveilling the extracellular space for pathogens and damage, to sculpting the neuronal circuitry by pruning unnecessary synapses and assisting neurons in spine formation, aiding in the maintenance of brain homeostasis. The neurotrophin field has always been dominated by the neurocentric view that the primary target of these molecules must be neurons: this holds true even for the Nerve Growth Factor (NGF), which owes its popularity in the neuroscience community to its trophic and tropic activity towards sensory and sympathetic neurons in the peripheral nervous system, and cholinergic neurons in the CNS. The increasing evidence that microglia are an integral part of neuronal computation calls for a closer look as to whether these glial cells are capable of responding directly to NGF. In this review, we will first outline evidence in support of a role for NGF as a molecule mediating neuroimmune communication. Then, we will illustrate some of those non-immune features that have made microglial cells one of the hottest topics of this last decade. In conclusion, we will discuss evidence in support of a microglial function for NGF.
The German Cement Industry as a CO2 Source for Other Industries
Authors: Winter Christoph , Schröter Bastian , Fidaschek Stefan
Published: June 2022

Cement production is responsible for about eight percent of global CO2 emissions. A potential use for CO2 is the production of synthetic fuels through power-to-X (PtX) processes. For this purpose, a potential analysis is performed in which the possibilities for CO2 avoidance and CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) in the cement manufacturing process are evaluated. Based on the potential analysis, three scenarios for the development of the German cement industry until 2050 are developed and displayed in geo-referenced form, yielding potential locations for PtX plants. Results show that it is unlikely that cement can be fully replaced by alternative construction methods or new types of binders from today’s perspective. Measures to reduce CO2 emissions in cement production are limited, especially due to the restricted possibilities to replace limestone as feedstock. In an intermediate scenario, CO2 emissions in cement production decrease by 35% until 2050 compared to the average value from the 2014–2018 reference period. For CCU to be introduced at cement plants, the additional costs must be compensated, either through revenues from CO2 certificates or economic and regulatory incentives.
Seroprevalence of COVID-19 and Psychological Distress among Front Liners at the Universiti Malaysia Sabah Campus during the Third Wave of COVID-19
Authors: Hijazi Mohd Hanafiah Ahmad , Jeffree Mohammad Saffree , Pang Nicholas Tze Ping , Rahim Syed Sharizman Syed Abdul , Omar Azizan , Ahmedy Fatimah , Hijazi Mohd Hanafi Ahmad , Hassan Mohd Rohaizat , Hod Rozita , Nawi Azmawati Mohammed , Daim Sylvia , Wider Walton
Published: June 2022

In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic struck the globe and disrupted various aspects of psychological wellbeing, more so in frontline workers. Research on assessing the seroprevalence of COVID-19 has been scarce; in addition, there are limited studies assessing the association between the seroprevalence of COVID-19 and psychological distress. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence of COVID-19 and the prevalence of psychological distress and to determine whether sociodemographic variables, occupational information variables, coping styles, and psychological processes might contribute to the development of psychological distress. A cross-sectional study involving 168 Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) front liners was carried out to assess these issues. The Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) was employed to assess psychological distress, together with the COVID-19 Rapid Test Kit Antibody (RTK Ab) and a series of questionnaires, including a sociodemographic and occupational information questionnaire, the Balanced Index of Psychological Mindedness (BIPM) questionnaire, the Mindfulness Attention and Awareness Scale (MAAS), the Acceptance and Action Questionnaire (AAQ-II), and the Brief COPE questionnaire. The results demonstrated a seroprevalence of COVID-19 at 8.3% (95% CI = 5.0–14.0). Non-healthcare workers (HCWs) had a higher COVID-19 prevalence. Meanwhile, the prevalence of depression, anxiety, and stress among front liners was low (3.0%, 3.6%, and 1.2%, respectively). Younger people (aged 30 years old or less) and HCWs had a higher prevalence of psychological distress; being a HCW was significantly associated with a higher level of anxiety. Dysfunctional coping and psychological inflexibility were consistently found to be predictors for higher levels of the three psychological distress variables. This study suggested some alternatives that could be explored by mental health providers to address mental health issues among front liners at universities.
24 Hours on the Run—Does Boredom Matter for Ultra-Endurance Athletes’ Crises?
Authors: Weich Christian , Schüler Julia , Wolff Wanja
Published: June 2022

Sport and exercise can be boring. In the general population, thinking of sports as boring has been linked to exercising less. However, less is known about the role of boredom in people who participate in ultra-endurance competitions: Do these athletes also associate their sports with boredom, and does boredom pose a self-regulatory challenge that predicts if they encounter a crisis during an ultra-endurance competition? Here, we investigate these questions with a sample of N = 113 (n = 34 female) competitors of a 24 h hour running competition, aged M = 37.6 ± 13.8 years. In this study, n = 23 very extreme athletes competed as single starters or in a relay team of 2, and n = 84 less extreme athletes competed in relay teams of 4 or 6. Before the run, athletes completed self-report measures on sport-specific trait boredom, as well as the degree to which they expected boredom, pain, effort, and willpower to constitute self-regulatory challenges they would have to cope with. After the run, athletes reported the degree to which they actually had to deal with these self-regulatory challenges and if they had faced an action crisis during the competition. Analyses revealed that very extreme athletes displayed a significantly lower sport-specific trait boredom than less extreme athletes (p = 0.024, d=−0.48). With respect to self-regulatory challenges, willpower, pain, and effort were expected and reported at a much higher rate than boredom. However, only boredom was as a significant predictor of experiencing a crisis during the competition (odds ratio = 12.5, p = 0.02). Our results show that boredom also matters for highly active athletes. The fact that the experience of boredom—and not more prototypical competition-induced challenges, such as pain or effort—were linked to having an action crisis highlights the relevance of incorporating boredom into the preparation for a race and to the performance management during competition.
Herbal Agents versus Ethylene Diamine Tetra Acetic Acid on Removal of the Smear Layer—A Systematic Review of In Vitro Studies
Authors: Teja Kavalipurapu Venkata , Janani Krishnamachari , Alqahtani Abdullah Ali , Robaian Ali , Alhalabi Feras , Merdad Khalid A. , Alam Mohammad Khursheed , Shrivastava Deepti , Jose Jerry , Srivastava Kumar Chandan
Published: June 2022

This systematic review aimed to compare the efficacy of herbal agents with ethylene diamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA) in removing the smear layer during root canal instrumentation. The research question in the present study was to assess: “Is there a significant difference in reducing smear layer comparing EDTA and herbal agents?” Electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science) were searched from their start dates to April 2022 using strict inclusion and exclusion criteria, and reviewed following PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines. Only in vitro studies comparing herbal agents with EDTA were included in the current systematic review. Two reviewers independently assessed the included articles. A total of 625 articles were obtained from an electronic database. Eighteen papers were included for review of the full text, out of which, ten papers were excluded because they did not meet the inclusion criteria. Finally, eight articles were included in the systematic review. The present systematic review considered only in vitro studies; hence, the result cannot be completely translated to strict clinical conditions. The results of the present systematic review have shown that quixabeira, morindacitrifolia, oregano extract, and neem show better smear layer removal compared to other herbal agents, whereas they showed reduced smear layer removal when compared with EDTA. Although, it was seen that most of the included studies did not report a high quality of evidence. Hence, the present systematic review concludes that herbal agents have reported to show inferior smear layer removal when compared to EDTA. Thus, as far as herbal based alternatives are concerned, there is no highest level of evidence to state its real benefit when used as a chelating root canal irrigant.
Experimental Setup for Evaluating Rock Volume Alteration and Its Application for Studying Shale Rock Swelling in Various Fluids
Authors: Yunusov Timur I. , Smirnov Alexey V. , Mukhina Elena D. , Potapenko Dmitriy I. , Bukharov Dinar F. , Baluev Anatoly A. , Cheremisin Alexey N.
Published: June 2022

Rock swelling and rock disintegration in the presence of drilling, stimulation and completion fluids are considered to be the main reasons for operational and production problems for wells in clay-rich formations. The impact of these fluids on rock properties shall be established for the effective treatment design. This paper describes the development of the experimental setup for studying rock swelling in reservoir conditions and the application of this setup for the evaluation of swelling mechanisms of shale rock samples. Swelling quantification was performed using measuring piston displacement that was caused by rock swelling in a piston accumulator during pressure maintenance. We studied the interaction of the disintegrated rock samples with water-based and hydrocarbon-based fluids and supercritical CO2. It was found that alkaline water solution in reservoir conditions causes swelling of the used rock samples in the amount of 1–3% vol. with a direct correlation between the rock swelling magnitude and the total clay content. The change in the rock volume in the presence of the used hydrocarbon-based fluid depends on the content of organic matter, its distribution in the rock, and the clay content. The observed swelling degree in the hydrocarbon fluid and CO2 was significantly lower (0–0.5% vol.) than in water. The proposed methodology and obtained results can further be used for the optimization of various operations in clay-rich formations.
Mineralogical Fingerprint of Iron Ore Tailings in Paraopeba River Bedload Sediments after the B1 Dam Failure in Brumadinho, MG (Brazil)
Authors: Laureano Fernando Verassani , Kwitko-Ribeiro Rogerio , Guimarães Lorena , Leão Lucas Pereira
Published: June 2022

The study presents SEM-based automated mineralogy to distinguish between natural sediments and iron ore tailings deposits from the Paraopeba River, after the failure of B1 Dam in Brumadinho, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Samples were obtained from borehole cores drilled over channel bars and banks eight months after the failure. After preliminary facies description, sediments from 54 chosen intervals were subjected to density measurement, X-ray diffraction (XRD), SEM-based automated mineralogy (QEMSCAN) analysis and determination of geochemical major components. Hierarchical clustering analysis (HCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) revealed six main mineral associations governed by different contents and ratios of quartz, kaolinite and hematite. Natural sediments are predominantly composed of mineral associations containing kaolinite, quartz and quartz + hematite with density values ranging from 2.5 to 3.3 g/cm3. Tailings deposits have density values higher than 3.5 g/cm3 and are mainly composed of hematite with occasional occurrences of kaolinite + hematite. Because of geological complexity and historical terrain occupation and usage, geochemical anomalies are common in the Paraopeba River sediments. Our data suggests that mineralogical oriented studies should precede detailed geochemical investigations, to enhance the understanding of the source of such anomalies and the environmental jeopardy associated to the occurrence. In this sense, SEM-based mineralogy has an enormous potential in environment studies.
Synthesis and Anticancer Properties of New 3-Methylidene-1-sulfonyl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones
Authors: Jaskulska Agata , Gach-Janczak Katarzyna , Drogosz-Stachowicz Joanna , Janecki Tomasz , Janecka Anna Ewa
Published: June 2022

Quinolinones have been known for a long time as broad-spectrum synthetic antibiotics. More recently, the anticancer potential of this group of compounds has been investigated. Following this direction, we obtained a small library of 3-methylidene-1-sulfonyl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-ones with various substituents at positions 1, 2, 6, and 7 of the quinolinone ring system. The cytotoxic activity of the synthesized analogs was tested in the MTT assay on two cancer cell lines in order to determine the structure–activity relationship. All compounds produced high cytotoxic effects in MCF-7, and even higher in HL-60 cells. 2-Ethyl-3-methylidene-1-phenylsulfonyl-2,3-dihydroquinolin-4(1H)-one, which was over 5-fold more cytotoxic for HL-60 than for normal HUVEC cells, was selected for further tests. This analog was shown to inhibit proliferation and induce DNA damage and apoptosis in HL-60 cells.
Thermodynamic Analysis of the Adsorption and Micellization Activity of the Mixtures of Rhamnolipid and Surfactin with Triton X-165
Authors: Rekiel Edyta , Zdziennicka Anna , Szymczyk Katarzyna , Jańczuk Bronisław
Published: June 2022

The surface tension of aqueous solutions of Triton X-165 with rhamnolipid or surfactin mixtures was measured. The obtained results were applied for the determination of the concentration and composition of the Triton X-165 and biosurfactants mixture at the water–air interface as well as the contribution of the particular component of the mixtures to water surface tension reduction and the mutual influence of these components on the critical micelle concentration. The determination of these quantities was based on both the commonly used concepts and a new one proposed by us, which assumes that the composition of the mixed monolayer at the water–air interface depends directly on the pressure of the monolayer of the single mixture component and allows us to determine the surface concentration of each mixture component independently of surface tension isotherms shape. Taking into account the composition of the mixed monolayer at the water–air interface, the standard Gibbs adsorption free energy was considered. The obtained results allow us to state that the concentration of both mixture components corresponding to their saturated monolayer and the surface tension of their aqueous solution can be predicted using the surfactants’ single monolayer pressure and their mole fraction in the mixed monolayer determined in the proposed way.
Versatile Gold Telluride Iodide Monolayer as a Potential Photocatalyst for Water Splitting
Authors: Hai Bingru , Yang Zhanying , Zhou Bo , Zhang Lei , Du Aijun , Zhang Chunmei
Published: June 2022

Two-dimensional materials promise great potential for photochemical water splitting due to the abundant active sites and large surface area, but few of the known materials meet the rigorous requirements. In this work, we systematically investigate structural, electronic, and optical properties of an experimentally unexplored 2D material, i.e., gold telluride iodide (AuTeI) monolayer using density functional theory and Bethe–Salpeter equation approaches. Bulk AuTeI is a layered material and was realized in experiments a few decades ago. However, its bandgap is relatively small for water splitting. We find the exfoliation of monolayer AuTeI from the bulk phase is highly favorable, and 2D AuTeI is dynamically stable. The bandgap of 2D AuTeI becomes larger due to the quantum confinement effect. Importantly, the edge positions of the conduction band minimum and valence band maximum of 2D AuTeI perfectly fit the water oxidation and reduction potentials, enabling it a promising photocatalyst for water splitting. Additionally, the exciton binding energy of 2D AuTeI is calculated to be 0.35 eV, suggesting efficient electron-hole separation. Our results highlight a new and experimentally accessible 2D material for potential application in photocatalytic water splitting.
Randomised Clinical Trial to Analyse the Efficacy of Eggshell Membrane to Improve Joint Functionality in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Cánovas Fernando , Abellán-Ruíz María Salud , García-Muñoz Ana María , Luque-Rubia Antonio Jesús , Victoria-Montesinos Desirée , Pérez-Piñero Silvia , Sánchez-Macarro Maravilla , López-Román Francisco Javier
Published: June 2022

Osteoarthritis is a source of chronic pain and disability. Dietary supplements have been shown to be a more secure option than NSAIDS. Particularly, the eggshell membrane has demonstrated efficacy in relieving joint pain and stiffness. A clinical trial was designed in which three groups were assigned to two different doses of this supplement and compared to a placebo control group. The primary outcome variable was knee pain, which was assessed using a visual analogue scale. Secondary outcome variables were knee functional ability, quadriceps muscle strength (assessed by isometric and isokinetic trials), and quality of sleep. All groups showed a significant decrease in pain perception, although maximum values were obtained in the high-dose group. Isokinetic and isometric trials showed a significant increase in strength in the high-dose group. Eggshell membrane showed the potential to reduce pain and stiffness symptomatology. Here, for the first time, two quantitative variables (mobility and strength of knee joint) were used to accurately evaluate changes in the quality of life of subjects affected by knee joint pain. The results of this study indicate a dose-dependent response, which should be taken into account for later use in therapeutics to establish the correct dosage.
Model-Based Prediction of Acid Suppression and Proposal of a New Dosing Regimen of Fexuprazan in Humans
Authors: Kim Min-Soo , Lee Nora , Lee Areum , Chae Yoon-Jee , Chung Suk-Jae , Lee Kyeong-Ryoon
Published: June 2022

Fexuprazan is a potassium-competitive acid blocker (P-CAB). The compounds in this newly developed drug family suppress intragastric acidity. As there are already other acid-suppressing drugs on the market, such as H2 antagonists and proton pump inhibitors (PPIs), it would be informative to compare the biological effects of fexuprazan against another approved drug with the same indication. The drug concentration predicted by the pharmacokinetic (PK) model could serve as an input function for a pharmacodynamic (PD) model. The apparent pharmacokinetics of fexuprazan could be described by a simpler model. However, a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model was developed in a previous study. A one-compartment model was also proposed in the present study. Both the newly suggested model and the previously validated PBPK model were used as input functions of the PD models. Our simulation revealed that the effects of fexuprazan could be effectively simulated by the proposed PK–PD models. A PK–PD model was also proposed for the oral administration of the PPI reference drug esomeprazole. A model-based analysis was then performed for intragastric pH using several dosing methods. The expected pH could be predicted for both drugs under several dosing regimens using the proposed PK–PD models.
Research on Low-Cycle Fatigue Engineered Hybrid Sandwich Ski Construction
Authors: Božák Tomáš , Müller Miroslav , Kolář Viktor , Tichý Martin , Svobodová Jaroslava , Michna Štefan
Published: June 2022

This research is aimed at evaluating the effect of low-cycle fatigue on a newly designed hybrid sandwich ski structure to determine the changes that may occur due to cyclic loading and thus affect its use. This is primarily concerned with the fatigue behavior of the tested ski over different time intervals simulating its seasonal use and its effect on the mechanical properties of the ski, i.e., the durability and integrity of the individual layers of the sandwich ski structure. The ski was subjected to 70,000 deflections by moving the crossbar by 60 mm according to the ski deflection calculation in the arch. The results of the cyclic tests of the engineered ski design showed no significant changes in the ski during loading. The average force required to achieve deflection in the first 10,000 cycles was 514.0 ± 4.2 N. Thereafter, a secondary hardening of the structure occurred during relaxation and the force required increased slightly to 543.6 ± 1.7 N. The required force fluctuated slightly during the measurements and in the last series the value was 540.4 ± 0.8 N. Low-cycle fatigue did not have a significant effect on the mechanical properties of the ski; there was no change in shape or visual delamination of the individual layers of the structure. From the cross-section, local delamination was demonstrated by image analysis, especially between the Wood core and the composite layers E-Glass biaxial and Carbon triaxial.
Study of SPRC Impact Resistance Based on the Weibull Distribution and the Response Surface Method
Authors: Chen Song , Xu Ziling , Liu Zeli , Wang Chen , Jiang Jiuhong
Published: June 2022

Silica-fume–polyvinyl-alcohol-fiber-reinforced concrete (SPRC) is a green and environmentally friendly composite material incorporating silica fume and polyvinyl alcohol fiber into concrete. To study the impact resistance of SPRC, compressive-strength and drop hammer impact tests were conducted on SPRC with different silica-fume and polyvinyl-alcohol-fiber contents. The mechanical and impact resistance properties of the SPRC were comprehensively analyzed in terms of the compressive strength, ductility ratio and impact-energy-dissipation variation. Based on the impact resistance of the SPRC, the impact life of SPRC with different failure probabilities was predicted by incorporating the Weibull distribution model, and an impact damage evolution equation for SPRC was established. The impact life of SPRC under the action of silica-fume content, polyvinyl-alcohol-fiber content and failure probability was analyzed in depth by the response surface method (RSM). The research results show that, when the content of silica fume is 10% and the content of polyvinyl alcohol fiber is 1%, the compressive strength and impact resistance of SPRC are the best. The RSM response model can effectively predict and describe the impact life of SPRC specimens under the action of three factors.
Performance Evaluation of Cross-Linked Polyethylene Insulation of Operating 110 kV Power Cables
Authors: Ding Man , He Weifeng , Wang Jiahe , Wang Jinpeng
Published: June 2022

The ageing characteristic of XLPE insulation of operating a 110 kV power cable with different service time is studied in this paper. The microscopic morphology of XLPE films from different cables were characterized by using Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC), X-ray Diffraction method (XRD), and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) methods, and the dielectric, mechanical, and electrical properties of XLPE were also measured. The relationship of several typical property parameters with the cable service time were established, and the ageing mechanism of XLPE insulation of the operating cable was also analyzed. It was found that XLPE insulation would endure a recrystallization process in the initial operation stage during which the microscopic morphology would become more perfect with higher crystallinity and denser crystal structure. Then, the thermal oxidation would dominate the ageing process of XLPE with the molecular chains broken and more micromolecular products generated after the cable had operated for more than 10–15 years. The AC breakdown strength decreases with the increase of cable service time, with lower decreasing rate in the initial operation stage and a larger rate after 10–15 years. The Pearson correlation coefficient between the cable service time with the characteristic parameters were calculated, and some of them were found to be effective to be used as indicators for operation state detection of operating power cables.
An Improved Spatially Variant MOCO Approach Based on an MDA for High-Resolution UAV SAR Imaging with Large Measurement Errors
Authors: Ren Yi , Tang Shiyang , Dong Qi , Sun Guoliang , Guo Ping , Jiang Chenghao , Han Jiahao , Zhang Linrang
Published: June 2022

For unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) imaging, motion errors cannot be obtained accurately when high precision motion sensors are not equipped on the platform. This means that traditional data-based motion compensation (MOCO) cannot be directly implemented due to large measurement errors. In addition, classic autofocusing techniques, such as phase gradient autofocus (PGA) or map-drift algorithm (MDA), do not perform well with spatially variant errors, greatly affecting the imaging qualities, especially for high-resolution and large-swath cases. In this study, an improved spatially variant MOCO approach based on an MDA is developed to effectively eliminate the spatially variant errors. Based on the coarse and precise MDA chirp rate error estimation, motion errors are optimally acquired by the random sample consensus (RANSAC) iteration. Two-dimensional (2D) mapping is used to decouple the spatially variant residual errors into two linear independent dimensions so that the chirp-z transform (CZT) can be performed for echo data correction. Unlike traditional approaches, the spatially variant components can be compensated without any measured motion information, which indicates that the proposed approach can be applied to the common UAV SAR system with significant measurement errors. Simulations and real data experiments were used to evaluate the performance of the proposed method. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithm is able to effectively minimize spatially variant errors and generate much better imaging results.
Semantic Segmentation of Multispectral Images via Linear Compression of Bands: An Experiment Using RIT-18
Authors: Cai Yuanzhi , Fan Lei , Zhang Cheng
Published: June 2022

Semantic segmentation of remotely sensed imagery is a basic task for many applications, such as forest monitoring, cloud detection, and land-use planning. Many state-of-the-art networks used for this task are based on RGB image datasets and, as such, prefer three-band images as their input data. However, many remotely sensed images contain more than three spectral bands. Although it is technically possible to feed multispectral images directly to those networks, poor segmentation accuracy was often obtained. To overcome this issue, the current image dimension reduction methods are either to use feature extraction or to select an optimal combination of three bands through different trial processes. However, it is well understood that the former is often comparatively less effective, because it is not optimized towards segmentation accuracy, while the latter is less efficient due to repeated trial selections of three bands for the optimal combination. Therefore, it is meaningful to explore alternative methods that can utilize multiple spectral bands efficiently in the state-of-the-art networks for semantic segmentation of similar accuracy as the trial selection approach. In this study, a hot-swappable stem structure (LC-Net) is proposed to linearly compress the input bands to fit the input preference of typical networks. For the three commonly used network structures tested on the RIT-18 dataset (having six spectral bands), the approach proposed was found to be an equivalently effective but much more efficient alternative to the trial selection approach.
Detection of Aquatic Alligator Weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) from Aerial Imagery Using Random Forest Classification
Authors: Sheffield Kathryn J. , Clements Daniel , Clune Darryl J. , Constantine Angela , Dugdale Tony M.
Published: June 2022

Alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides (Mart.) Griseb) forms dense infestations in aquatic environments and is the focus of intensive management programs in many jurisdictions within Australia, including Victoria. A critical component of weed biosecurity programs is surveillance to find the location and extent of the target weed so that control strategies can be implemented. Current approaches within Victoria rely heavily on ground surveys and community reporting. However, these methods do not provide a systematic approach to surveillance across landscapes, resulting in undiscovered infestations. The aim of this study was to detect alligator weed from aerial photography and demonstrate the potential use of remote sensing data to support existing ground surveys and monitoring programs. Two random forest algorithms were trained based on data from 2010 and 2016. Both classifiers had high levels of accuracy, with an overall pixel-based classification accuracy of 96.8% in 2010 and 98.2% in 2016. The trained classifiers were then applied to imagery acquired annually between 2010 and 2016. The classification outputs were combined with class probability and water proximity data to produce a weighted, normalised alligator weed likelihood data layer. These datasets were evaluated by assessing alligator weed patch detection rates, using manually delineated areas of weed for each year. The patch detection rates for each year ranged from 76.5% to 100%. The results also demonstrate the use of this approach for monitoring alligator weed infestations at a site over time. The key outcome of the study is an approach to support existing biosecurity monitoring and surveillance efforts at a landscape scale and at known infested localised sites.
Deep-Sea Seabed Sediment Classification Using Finely Processed Multibeam Backscatter Intensity Data in the Southwest Indian Ridge
Authors: Tang Qiuhua , Li Jie , Ding Deqiu , Ji Xue , Li Ningning , Yang Lei , Sun Weikang
Published: June 2022

In 2007, China discovered a hydrothermal anomaly in the Longqi hydrothermal area of the Southwest Indian Ridge. It was the first seabed hydrothermal area discovered in the ultraslow spreading ocean ridge in the world. Understanding the types of seabed sediments in this area is critical for studying the typical topography and geological characteristics of deep-sea seabed hydrothermal areas. The traditional classification of deep-seabed sediments adopts box sampling or gravity column sampling and identifies the types of seabed sediments through laboratory analysis. However, this classification method has some shortcomings, such as the presence of discrete sampling data points and the failure of full-coverage detection. The geological sampling in deep-sea areas is particularly inefficient. Hence, in this study, the EM122 multibeam sonar data collected in the Longqi hydrothermal area, Southwest Indian Ridge, in April 2019 are used to analyze multibeam backscatter intensity. Considering various errors in the complex deep-sea environment, obtaining backscatter intensity data can truly reflect seabed sediment types. Through unsupervised and supervised classification, the seabed sediment classification in the Longqi hydrothermal area was studied. The results showed that the accuracy of supervised classification is higher than that of unsupervised classification. Thus, unsupervised classification is primarily used for roughly classifying sediment types without on-site geological sampling. Combining the genetic algorithm (GA) and the support vector machine (SVM) neural network, deep-sea sediment types, such as deep-sea clay and calcareous ooze, can be identified rapidly and efficiently. Based on comparative analysis results, the classification accuracy of the GA-SVM neural network is higher than that of the SVM neural network, and it can be effectively applied to the high-precision classification and recognition of deep-sea sediments. In this paper, we demonstrate the fine-scale morphology and surface sediment structure characteristics of the deep-sea seafloor by finely processing high-precision deep-sea multibeam backscatter intensity data. This research can provide accurate seabed topography and sediment data for the exploration of deep-sea hydrothermal resources and the assessment of benthic habitats in deep-sea hydrothermal areas.
Automated Multi-Scale and Multivariate Geological Logging from Drill-Core Hyperspectral Data
Authors: De La Rosa Roberto , Tolosana-Delgado Raimon , Kirsch Moritz , Gloaguen Richard
Published: June 2022

Hyperspectral drill-core scanning adds value to exploration campaigns by providing continuous, high-resolution mineralogical data over the length of entire boreholes. However, multivariate mineralogical data must be transformed into lithological domains such that it is compatible with interpolation techniques and be usable for geomodeling. Manual interpretation of multivariate drill-core data is a challenging, time-consuming and subjective task, and automated or semi-automated approaches are needed. However, naive machine-learning techniques that ignore the distinct spatial structure and multi-scale nature of geological systems tend to produce geologically unreasonable results. Automated geological logging and multi-scale hierarchical domaining of drill-cores has been previously addressed in several studies by means of scalograms from a wavelet transform and tessellation, albeit exploiting only univariate information. The methodology involves the extraction of the local first principal component at a neighborhood of each observation, and the segmentation of the resulting series of scores with a continuous wavelet transform for boundary detection. In this way, the correlation pattern between the variables is incorporated into the segmentation. The scalogram accurately locates the geological boundaries at depth and yields hierarchical geological domains with mineralogical composition characteristics. The performance of this approach is demonstrated on a synthetic as well as a real multivariate dataset. The real dataset consists of mineral abundances derived from drill-core hyperspectral imaging data acquired in Elvira, a shale-hosted volcanogenic massive sulfide deposit located in the Iberian Pyrite Belt, where 7000 m of drill-core were acquired along 80 boreholes. The extracted domains are sensible from a geological point of view and spatially coherent across the boreholes in cross-sections. The results at relevant scales were qualitatively validated by comparing against the lithological log. This method is fast, is appropriate for multivariate geological data along boreholes, and provides a choice of scales for hierarchical geological domains along boreholes with mineralogical composition characteristics that can be modeled in 3D. Our approach provides an automatic way to transform hyperspectral image-derived mineral maps into vertically coherent geological units that are appropriate inputs for 3D geological modeling workflows. Moreover, the method improves the boundary detection and geological domaining by making use of multivariate information.
A Discriminative Spectral-Spatial-Semantic Feature Network Based on Shuffle and Frequency Attention Mechanisms for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Liu Dongxu , Han Guangliang , Liu Peixun , Yang Hang , Chen Dianbing , Li Qingqing , Wu Jiajia , Wang Yirui
Published: June 2022

Due to end-to-end optimization characteristics and fine generalization ability, convolutional neural networks have been widely applied to hyperspectral image (HSI) classification, playing an irreplaceable role. However, previous studies struggle with two major challenges: (1) HSI contains complex topographic features, the number of labeled samples in different categories is unbalanced, resulting in poor classification for categories with few labeled samples; (2) With the deepening of neural network models, it is difficult to extract more discriminative spectral-spatial features. To address the issues mentioned above, we propose a discriminative spectral-spatial-semantic feature network based on shuffle and frequency attention mechanisms for HSI classification. There are four main parts of our approach: spectral-spatial shuffle attention module (SSAM), context-aware high-level spectral-spatial feature extraction module (CHSFEM), spectral-spatial frequency attention module (SFAM), and cross-connected semantic feature extraction module (CSFEM). First, to fully excavate the category attribute information, SSAM based on a “Deconstruction-Reconstruction” structure is designed, solving the problem of poor classification performance caused by an unbalanced number of label samples. Considering that deep spectral-spatial features are difficult to extract, CHSFEM and SFAM are constructed. The former is based on the “Horizontal-Vertical” structure to capture context-aware high-level multiscale features. The latter introduces multiple frequency components to compress channels to obtain more multifarious features. Finally, towards suppressing noisy boundaries efficiently and capturing abundant semantic information, CSFEM is devised. Numerous experiments are implemented on four public datasets: the evaluation indexes of OA, AA and Kappa on four datasets all exceed 99%, demonstrating that our method can achieve satisfactory performance and is superior to other contrasting methods.