bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Quality of Life in Older Adults, Associated Factors and Its Correlation with Loneliness and Activities of Daily Living
Authors: Rostami Zahra , Abbasian Mehdi , Soleimanpour Hassan , Mortezaei Ali , Sarbazi Ehsan , Ghasemi Masouma , Nemati Mohammad Sadra
Published: November 2022

Background and objective:
Modifying the older adults lifestyle and attention to its quality may greatly increase the older adults efficiency and independence. This paper investigates the factors affecting the older adults quality of life and its relations with activities of daily living and loneliness in the city of Tabriz.
Method
This cross-sectional study was conducted on 315 older adults in the city of Tabriz. Data were collected using the questionnaires including The 12-Item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12) with six PCS-related items and six MCS- related items; the 6-item Activities of Daily Living Scale (ADL); and the 6-item De Jong Gierveld Loneliness Scale. Data were analyzed in SPSS 22 software using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression analysis.
Findings:
In this research, the mean and standard deviation of the summary of the physical component and mental component of quality of life were 49.35 ± 9.45 and 48.38 ± 11.65, respectively. The feeling of loneliness affected MCS, with an inverse significant relationship with the feeling of emotional loneliness (p=-0.38, β = 0.002), and a direct relationship with the feeling of social loneliness (p = 0.031, β = 0.27). Dependent ADL compared to independent ADL had an inverse relationship with PCS (β = -0.23, p < 0.001).
Conclusion
The emergence of restrictions in the living conditions of the older adults, such as loneliness, may have a positive effect on their health instead of a negative effect, especially if they are worried about their health. For this purpose, it is necessary to make plans related to empowerment, activities of daily lifeving, reducing the feeling of loneliness, improving the quality of life of the older adults according to their conditions, and considering the heterogeneity of the older adults.
WITHDRAWN: Relationship between NMLR and all-cause mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, 1999–2018
Authors: Wei Lu , Zhu Chuanqi , Xiao Jianhong , Song Bin , Zhan Xianghui , Guo Guohua
Published: November 2022

Background
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has one of the highest morbidity and mortality rates worldwide. COPD-related deaths are associated with inflammation and immunity. As one of the emerging indicators of inflammation and immune status, the (neutrophil + monocyte) / lymphocyte ratio (NMLR) may comprehensively reflect the inflammatory and immune status of the body. However, few studies have examined the association between the NMLR and all-cause mortality in patients with COPD.
Objective
The purpose of this study is to explore the relationship between NMLR and all-cause death in patients with COPD.
Method
Data from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) 1999–2018 with mortality follow-up through to December 31, 2019 were analyzed. A total of 2045 participants were evaluated. Patients were divided into two groups based on their median NMLR: patients with an NMLR ≤ 2.57 were assigned to the T1 group (n = 1,026), while patients with an NMLR > 2.57 were assigned to the T2 group (n = 1,019). The relationship between the NMLR and all-cause mortality in patients with COPD was assessed using survival curves based on the NHANES recommended weights.
Conclusions
The NMLR is a comprehensive assessment index of airway inflammation and patient immune status. A higher NMLR in patients with COPD is associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality.
Evaluation of the Effect of High-intensity Light Curing Device on Micro-leakage of Pits and Fissures Sealants
Authors: Alzoubi Hasan , Rajab Malek , Bshara Nada
Published: November 2022

INTRODUCTION: Reducing treatment time is one of the most important trends in modern dentistry This study provides evidence to help clinicians make choices about the appropriate light-curing system for resin sealants.
AIM: This study aimed to Compare the micro-leakage around the resin sealants when using both high and conventional intensity light-curing systems.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study sample consisted of 30 upper premolars that were divided into two equal groups according to the light-curing system used: Group 1: High-Intensity light-curing System and Group 2: The conventional light-curing System. The teeth were immersed in Methylene Blue and the degree of micro-leakage was determined according to the amount of pigment leakage.
RESULTS: The mean of micro-leakage in the high-intensity group (1.33±1.29) was less than in the conventional intensity group (1.63±1.29) without any statistically significant differences (P-value = 0.320).
CONCLUSION: The high-strength light-curing system can be a good and acceptable alternative to conventional light-curing Systems in the curing of pits and fissures sealants.
A novel sparrow search algorithm with integrates spawning strategy
Authors: Zhang Jiaxiang , Li Linwei , Zhang Huanlong , Wang Fengxian , Tian Yangyang
Published: November 2022

The sparrow search algorithm (SSA), which has recently come under more scrutiny in the intelligent optimization groups. Nevertheless, the high randomicity and local optimum problems restrict the application of the algorithm. We provide a novel mixed sparrow search algorithm (NSSA) in this study that incorporates spawning techniques. Firstly, the good point set theory is suggested as an alternative to the conventional stochastic way to find the initial individual, this method can make the initial population more uniform allocation in the search space. Secondly, the oviposition strategy of cuckoo algorithm is integrated into the discovery phase, in which the global search capability is enhanced. This allows the algorithm to avoid a sudden drop in population diversity and precocious convergence. Then we use levy flight and brownian motion to disturb the individual's position dimension by dimension, and improve the power to escape from local optimal values in the later iterations of the algorithm. Finally, by contrasting the NSSA and SSA, DE, ALO and GOA algorithms with 12 common assessment functions and CEC-2017 test functions, the efficacy superiority and of the proposed scheme are validated.
Bidirectional Dynamic Neural Networks with Physical Analyzability
Authors: Li Changjun , Zhao Fei , Lan Xuguang , Tian Zhiqiang , Tao Tao , Mei Xuesong
Published: November 2022

The rapid growth in research exploiting deep learning to predict mechanical systems has revealed a new route for system identification; however, the analytic model as a white box has not been replaced in applications because of its open physical information. In contrast, the models generated by end-to-end learning usually lack the ability of physical analysis, which makes them inapplicable in many situations. Consequently, high-accuracy modeling with physical analyzability becomes a necessity. In this paper, we introduce bidirectional dynamic neural networks, a deep learning framework that can infer the dynamics of physical systems from control signals and observed state trajectories. Based on forward dynamics, we train the neural ordinary differential equations in a trajectory backtracking algorithm. With the trained model, the inverse dynamics can be calculated and based on Lagrangian Mechanics, the physical parameters of the mechanical system can be estimated, including inertia, Coriolis and centrifugal forces, and gravity. As a result, the model can seamlessly incorporate prior knowledge, learn unknown dynamics without human intervention, and provide information as transparent as analytic models. We demonstrate our method on simulated 2-axis and 6-axis robots to evaluate model accuracy, including physical parameters and verified its applicability on real 7-axis robots. The experimental results show that this method is superior to the existing methods. This framework provides a new idea for system identification by providing interpretable, physically consistent models for physical systems.
Kannada translation and cross-cultural adaptation of the SarQol®: sarcopenia specific quality of life questionnaire
Authors: Kumar Prabal , Umakanth Shashikiran , Girish N
Published: November 2022

Background
Sarcopenia Quality of life questionnaire (SarQol) in Indian vernacular language is limited to Hindi, Marathi, and Bengali.
Objective
To translate and cross-culturally adapt the original Sarcopenia Quality of Life Questionnaire (SarQol) to the Kannada language
Methods
The rights owners of the SarQoL questionnaire granted permission for translation and cross-cultural adaption, and the translation was articulated in five stages: (i) two initial translations from English to Kannada; (ii) synthesis of the two translations; (iii) backward translations; (iv) expert committee to compare the backward translations with the original questionnaire and (v) pre-test.
Result
Six items identified in phase I were rectified in second phase. There found to be thirteen major and nine minor discrepancies between back-translated and original questionnaire. Expert committee meeting addressed the discrepancy using the liberal and literal methods to maintain the content and semantic equivalence. Nineteen participants were recruited for pilot testing. To assess for the presence of sarcopenia, participants (n = 10 sarcopenic, n = 9 non-sarcopenic) responded to the Strength, Ambulation, Rising from a chair, Stair climbing and history of Falling (SARC-F). Participants (n = 19, Males/Females: 11/8; Sarcopenic/Non-sarcopenic, mean (SD) age: 71.8 (8.48) years/68.22 (6.14) years) provided suggestions and feedback for seven items which were discussed with the experts and final SarQol-Kannada version was produced.
Conclusion
The Kannada version of the SarQol questionnaire is comparable with the original and after the validation of psychometric properties, it would be a useful tool to assess the quality of life of Kannada-speaking sarcopenic older adults in clinical and research settings.
α-lipoic acid and Propolis shield against lipopolysaccharide-induced behavioral deficits, depression and neuro-inflammation via regulating GR7M/BDNF/Homer/PI3K signaling pathways in rat model
Authors: Kadry Mai OSMAN , Abdel-Megeed Rehab M.
Published: November 2022

Copious pharmacological agents targeting monoamine neurotransmission merit the management of mental illnesses nevertheless, they possess concomitant side effects. Regulating BDNF/PI3K/GR7M/AKT/Homer pathways may constitute a vital signaling center in the subcellular integration of the synaptic neurotransmission. These pathways similarly modulate neuronal cell proliferation, plasticity and migration. As enzymes involved in cell survival and neuroplasticity are relevant to neurotrophic factor deregulation, the brain-derived neurotrophic (BDNF), Metabotropic glutamate receptor type 7 (GRM7), Phosphoinisitol kinase- 3 (PIK3), Serine/Threonine Kinase 1 (AKT), and Homer1 may afford an important signaling for neuro-protection in depression. This article summarized the involvement of PI3K/AKT/GR7M/BDNF/ Homer pathways in cell signaling of neuronal cells in mental illnesses. Depression has been identified as a ubiquitous and severe psychiatric mood neurobehavioral disorder. Neuro-inflammation and AKT/PI3K activation are known to be involved in the pathology of depression. The present study aimed to investigate the therapeutic index and potential mechanism of α-lipoic acid, Burdock and propolis in the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced depression in rat model. α-lipoic acid, Burdock and propolis were injected orally, for 1 month post LPS injection daily. RNA gene expression of BDNF/PI3K/GR7M/AKT/Homer-1 was investigated. In results, α-lipoic acid, Burdock and propolis treatment exerted preventive effects versus LPS-induced depression. The aforementioned treatments increased the expression of PI3K/AKT/GR7M/Homer1 but decreased the ROS generation levels and reduced the expression of BDNF in LPS-induced depressive behavior in rats. In conclusion: These findings suggested that α-lipoic acid, Burdock and propolis exerted a preventive effect via GRM7/BDNF/AKT/PI3K signaling pathways in LPS-induced depressive behavior in rats.
CRISPR/Cas9-assisted ssDNA recombineering for site-directed mutagenesis and saturation mutagenesis
Authors: Zhang Guoyi , Wang Junyu , Li Yiwen , Shang Guangdong
Published: November 2022

Site-directed mutagenesis and saturation mutagenesis are essential means for gene and protein studies. For plasmid-based gene mutation, PCR and overlap-extension PCR are still the most often used methods; however, the methods usually involve time-consuming and labor-intensive gene cloning steps. When the plasmid size is larger than 5 kb, PCR may fail or the yield may be too low to meet cloning demand. Still, for PCR-mediated saturation mutagenesis, one experiment may not enough to get all the 20 variants. Recombineering sidesteps the complicated cloning process by electroporating mutagenic DNA into recombinase-proficient cells followed by selection of mutational clones. However, the low recombineering efficiency makes it necessary to screen a large number of clones. Herein, we report CRISPR/Cas9-assisted ssDNA recombineering for site-directed mutagenesis (CRM) and saturation mutagenesis (CRSM) strategies. The CRM and CRSM require only the co-electroporation of target plasmid, sgRNA expression plasmid and mutagenic oligonucleotide into Escherichia coli cells with chromosome-based induced expression of recombinase and Cas9, followed by cells culture, plasmid extraction and characterization. We firstly established CRM via ampicillin resistance gene repair, then with N-acetyl‑D‑neuraminic acid aldolase as target, we performed CRM of E192N, CRM of S208G, CRM of both E192 and S208G, CRSM of E192, and CRSM of S208. Both CRM and CRSM efficiencies were as high as 100%, and all twenty saturation mutagenesis variants were obtained via single CRSM experiment. The highly efficient and straightforward CRM and CRSM approaches have the potential to be general plasmid mutagenesis tools.
ALBEDO EFFECTS IN THE ELLIPTIC RESTRICTED THREE-BODY PROBLEM UNDER AN OBLATE PRIMARY, A TRIAXIAL SECONDARY AND A POTENTIAL DUE TO BELT IN THE EARTH-MOON SYSTEM.
Authors: Singh Jagadish , Tyokyaa Richard Kanshio
Published: November 2022

We have examined the effects of Albedo in the elliptic restricted three-body problem under an oblate primary, a triaxial secondary and a potential due to belt for the Earth-Moon system. We have found that as the perturbed parameters increases, the possible boundary regions of the primary come closer to one other, allowing particles to freely travel from one region to the next and possibly merging the permissible regions. Our study has revealed that, the formation of triangular libration points depend on the Albedo effects, semi-major axis, eccentricity of the orbits, triaxiallity and the potential due to belt. As the aforementioned parameters increase, the triangular positions \({L}_{4}\) and \({L}_{5}\) move towards the centre of origin in cases 1, 2, 3, 4 and away from the centre of the origin in cases 5, 6 and 7. Considering the range of a stable and unstable libration point for the problem under study given as \(0<\mu <{\mu }_{c}\) for stable libration points and \({\mu }_{c}\le \mu \le \frac{1}{2}\) for unstable libration points, our study has established that the triangular libration points are respectively stable and unstable for cases 1, 2, 6 and cases 3, 4, 5, 7. Our study has also revealed that each set of values has at least one characteristic complex root with a positive real part. Hence, the triangular libration points for the Earth-Moon system are unstable in the sense of Lyapunov. The Earth-Moon system's Poincare Surface of Section (PSS) has demonstrated that a small change in the initial conditions, the semi-major axis, and the eccentricity of the orbits have affected the system's behavior dramatically. Further, it is seen that a chaotic dynamical behavior of the system results into either regular or irregular orbits.
Pain Trajectory after Short-Stay Anorectal Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study
Authors: Zhang Yujiao , Li Lili , Yong Yue , Zhou Yalan , Yin Zhiyu , Wang Jing , Mei Ling , Song Wei , Wang Jian , Song Jiangang
Published: November 2022

OBJECTIVE: The dense distribution of perianal nerves, having to defecate, and underappreciated analgesia make the postoperative pain of anorectal surgery significantly serious. However, the evolution of pain after anorectal surgery has not been well characterized. The main objective is to evaluate patterns in acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing short-stay anorectal surgery.The main objective is to evaluate patterns in acute postoperative pain in patients undergoing short-stay anorectal surgery.
Methods: The study included 217 patients who underwent anorectal surgery for hemorrhoids and anorectal fistula. The VAS pain scale was used to record the pain across postoperative days 1 through 10. The primary analysis used group-based trajectory modeling to estimate the trajectory of postoperative pain. Secondary analysis examined the relationships between sociodemographic, types of surgery, preoperative anxiety score and pain behavior score, and postoperative analgesics and pain trajectories.
RESULTS: Three distinct postoperative pain trajectories were determined. Many patients (57.0%) belonged to the high-low group, followed by the low group (23.3%) and the low-moderate-low group (19.7%). Moreover, 62.7% of patients reported pain stable and sustained moderate-to-high over the first 7 days after surgery, while 97% had decreased to mild pain by the 10th day. Hemorrhoidectomy (odds ratio, 0.15), higher anxiety (odds ratio, 3.26), and higher preoperative pain behavior score (odds ratio, 3.15), were associated with an increased likelihood of being in the high pain trajectory in multivariate analysis. The pain trajectory group was related to postoperative analgesic use (P<0.001), with the high-low group needing more nonsteroidal analgesics.
CONCLUSIONS: There are three obvious pain trajectories after anorectal surgery for hemorrhoids and anal fistula, including an unreported low-moderate-low type. More than 60% of patients maintained moderate and severe pain within 7 days after the operation. These postoperative pain trajectories were predominantly defined by surgery factors and patient factors.
Lessons Learnt from Emergency Online Face-to-Face when Back on Campus from Transactional Distance Theory Perspective
Authors: Kozlova Inna
Published: November 2022

In language learning, e-learning is often contrasted to on-campus face-to-face (F2F) in what is known as media studies. This approach ignores the fact that most university courses are already blended, with synchronous element accounting for approximately 1/3 of the student’s workload, with the other 2/3 being asynchronous and delivered mostly online. Focusing on the synchronous part only allows us to compare the two distinct modes of its delivery: on campus and by videoconferencing, with its corresponding effects on the rest of the course. This single-case study is conducted with a group of first-year university studying a foreign language for translators and interpreters via videoconferencing in the first semester and on campus in the second semester. The research design is cross-sectional with data proceeding from course statistics and a final questionnaire. The conceptual framework is based on Transactional Distance Theory by Moore and Zone of Proximal Development Theory by Vygotsky. Our students regarded class dialogue in online F2F as being maintained though affected by technology issues additional to those present in on-campus F2F communication. Moreover, students valued positively the fact of having more time available for study, they improved their autonomy and reported feeling more comfortable when had classes online. The traditional universities after the pandemic face a new technological panorama, with students happy to socialize on campus but already conscious of existing alternatives to on-campus teaching. Deeper research into class dialogue, on-campus, online and mixed, is urgently needed for the universities to decide whether they should adopt these alternatives.
Breast cancer spheroids can model phenotypic heterogeneity of cancer cells to evaluate targeted therapies.
Authors: mahmoud loay , cougnoux antony , bekiari christina , teba paloma araceli ruiz de castroviejo , marrahi anissa el , panneau guilhem , gsell louise , hausser jean
Published: November 2022

Breast cancer (BC) is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among women. Prognosis has improved over the years, to a large extent, owing to personalized therapy informed by molecular profiling of hormone receptors. However, there is a need for new therapeutic approaches for a subgroup of BCs lacking molecular markers, the Triple Negative Breast Cancer (TNBC) subgroup. TNBC is the most aggressive type of BC, lacks an effective standard of care, shows high levels of resistance and relapse is often inevitable. High resistance to therapy has been hypothesized to be associated with high intratumoral phenotypic heterogeneity. To characterize and treat this phenotypic heterogeneity, we optimized a whole-mount staining and image analysis protocol for three-dimensions (3D) spheroids. Applying this protocol to TNBC spheroids identifies the phenotypes of single cancer cells within their spatial context. Cells with dividing, migrating, and high mitochondrial mass phenotypes localize in the outer region of the spheroid. These phenotypes are specifically targeted by Paclitaxel, Trametinib, and Everolimus, respectively, in a dose-dependent manner. Single agents cannot target all phenotypes at the same time, or only at high concentrations which can cause adverse effects. To reduce these adverse effects, we find that targeting multiple cell phenotypes — by combining Trametinib and Everolimus for example — achieves higher cytotoxicity at lower doses. These findings suggest a rational approach to design treatments against heterogeneous tumors and potentially reduce adverse effects.
Is early bilateral compression ultrasonography and D-dimer monitoring appropriately for prophylaxis and diagnosis of deep venous thrombosis after Cesarean section women: a single-center observation study of Chinese Han population
Authors: chen xiuying , Sun yun , Jiang Haiyan , Zhou aiping , Du minmin , Zhao Ying , Zhao Baihui
Published: November 2022

Objective
Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is most common in parturient after cesarean section (CS), the purpose of this study was to explore the practical value of bilateral compression ultrasonography of the legs along with D-dimer monitoring in the prevention and early diagnosis of VTE in the Han Chinese population.
Materials and methods
742 women with ultrasound examination and D-dimer testing on the first day after CS were involved in our prospective observation study in southeast China. Except for normal and thrombosis, other ultrasonic findings were defined as abnormal. D-dimer ≥3 mg/l was used as the VTE alarm value in our study, and early ambulation and mechanical prophylaxis were recommended to all women. A sequential diagnostic strategy was based on the 2015 RCOG VTE risk-assessment tool, parturient with abnormal ultrasound and D-dimer ≥ 3 mg/l were given pharmacological VTE prophylaxis with LMWH and all high-risk women also treated with preventive LMWH. The statistical analysis was carried out using R statistical software. Two-sided P value < 0.05 was deemed statistically significant.
Result
There are 15 VTE cases and 727 women without VTE were observed, the patient age and mean D-dimer level during the day after Cesarean section were significant difference between two groups. The overall rate of VTE after CS was 2.02%, and most of them (66.7%) were asymptomatic. 10 patients were diagnosed at the first postpartum day. None maternal deaths occurred in the study cohort. 41 parturient had abnormal ultrasound and D-dimer ≥ 3 mg/l, although they had pharmacological VTE prophylaxis with LMWH, 2 (3.85%) of them in high risk group were finally diagnosed VTE. 229 parturient (30.86%) had normal ultrasound and D-dimer < 3 mg/l on the first day after CS, and no VTE occurred in the postpartum follow-up. Only 20.62% parturient had met our criterion for prophylactic anticoagulation while 78.03% according to RCOG’s recommendation.
Conclusion
The strategy of timely routine bilateral compression ultrasonography (CUS) of lower limbs and D-dimer monitoring is conductive to early diagnosis, early prevention and early treatment of VTE, and greatly reduced the use of LWMH.
Sex disparities in clinicopathological features and outcomes of patients with myeloperoxidase-ANCA-associated vasculitis: A retrospective study of 366 cases in a single Chinese center
Authors: Meng Ting , Zhu Peng , Shen Chanjuan , Ooi Joshua D. , Eggenhuizen Peter , Zhou Ya-Ou , Luo Hui , Chen Jin-Biao , Lin Wei , Xiong Qi , Gong Yizi , Tang Rong , Ao Xiang , Peng Weisheng , Xiao Zhou , Xiao Ping , Xiao Xiangcheng , Zhong Yong
Published: November 2022

There are a few studies that reported sex disparities in clinical features, pathological features and outcomes among ANCA-associated vasculitis (AAV) patients, but studies focusing on sex-specific differences of myeloperoxidase (MPO)-AAV patients are scarce. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to analyze sex differences in clinicopathological features and outcomes of MPO-AAV. Patients diagnosed with MPO-AAV in Xiangya Hospital from January 2010 to June 2021 were included in the study and separated into female and male groups. The differences in clinical manifestations, laboratory parameters, pathological features and prognosis between the two groups were retrospectively analyzed. Three hundred and sixty-six patients were included and divided into female group (n = 176) and male group (n = 190). The age of the male group was 62.41 ± 10.49 years, significantly higher than that of the female group (58.69 ± 16.39, p = 0.011). Compared with the female group, the male group had a shorter duration of disease, higher levels of hemoglobin, eosinophil count, proteinuria, serum C4, and lower levels of serum globulin, serum IgG and serum IgM (p < 0.05).No significant differences in kidney pathological features were observed between the two groups. During a median follow-up of 37.6 months, there was no significant difference in renal survival and patient survival between the two groups, but male patients had a worse composite outcome of renal and patient survival compared with the female patients (p = 0.044). This study found that male patients with MPO-AAV had a higher age of onset, shorter duration of disease, higher levels of hemoglobin, eosinophil count, proteinuria, serum C4, and lower levels of serum globulin, serum IgG and serum IgM. Male patients fared worse than female patients in terms of the composite outcome of renal and patient survival.
Detection of surface modification of polyimide containing steroidal structure as a function of storage time using second- order nonlinear optical spectroscopy
Authors: Nguyen Trinh Thi , Du Wentao , Khuat Hien Thi Thu , Mizutani Goro , Murakami Yoshitaka , Okada Takashi
Published: November 2022

The modification of a polyimide surface containing a 30% fraction of steroidal structure was studied as a function of storage time by vibrational sum frequency generation (SFG) spectroscopy and optical second-harmonic generation (SHG). The variation of the symmetric and anti-symmetric stretching modes of the CH3 isopropyl group at the end of the side chain of the rubbed polyimide was detected in the SFG spectra after 3 months storage time in a practical environment. It suggests that the isopropyl group might be reoriented. On the other hand, the SHG response of the same sample showed an insignificant storage-time dependence. As a result, the phenyl rings of the polyimide are judged to be unmodified after long-term storage time. The change is suggested to occur for two main reasons. One is the interaction between the polyimide polymers and the ambient water molecules. The other is the adsorption of unknown organic molecules on the polyimide surface.
High mechanical properties performances of woven as a satin cloth type of long Alfa, Sisal and hybrid Alfa/Sisal fibers reinforced Epoxy
Authors: Baali Besma R. , Nour Abdelkader , Gherbi Mohamed T. , Saci Rachid , Aguib Salah , Attia Nourhane
Published: November 2022

This study treats the mechanical behavior of composites, made of an epoxy resin matrix reinforced at 30% and 40% with a satin cloth type of long Alfa fibers, Sisal and hybrid Alfa/Sisal. The fibers are obtained by extraction with elimination of binders such as pectins and lignin. For each type of fibers, an appropriate and optimal chemical and thermal treatments duration are conducted within NaOH solution. FTIR, SEM and chemical decomposition of treated and untreated fibers leads to prove the efficiency of the treatment. Differential scanning calorimetry made it possible to quantify the enthalpy changes of materials as a function of temperature and TGA, DTG also showed better thermal stability. DSC showed an increase in the amount of heat as a function of the increase in volume fraction of fibers. The endothermic reaction of the studied composites containing 30wt% fiber reinforcement is lower than that containing 40wt% fiber reinforcement. The composite materials are performed by VARTM due to hydrophilic fibers nature. The results of static tensile, the 3-point bending and compression tests of different specimens were compared to those of the pure epoxy resin. It showed a significant increase in Young's modulus. Best results are shown for 40wt% woven Alfa fibers/Epoxy of about 333%, 113%, and 81% on tensile, 3-points bending and compression tests respectively. The SEM morphology analysis of both untreated and treated fiber surfaces show clean and clearly visible fibers after alkali treatment and its breaking mechanism revealed good interfacial adhesion between the treated fiber and the matrix.
Redox status of juvenile tilapia fed diets supplemented with poultry liver protein hydrolysate as feed additive
Authors: Gomes Juliana Rodrigues , Cardoso Alex Júnio Silva , Hisano Hamilton , Freitas Renata Maria Pereira , Martins Karina Ventura Boechat , Azevedo Filipe Silveira , Freitas Mariella Bontempo , Ferreira Pollyanna de Moraes França , Salaro Ana Lúcia , Zuanon Jener Alexandre Sampaio
Published: November 2022

We aimed to evaluate the effect of poultry liver protein hydrolysate (PLPH) as feed additive on the productive performance of Nile tilapia reared in a water recirculation system and investigate stress responses and redox status after an air exposure challenge. Nile tilapia juveniles were distributed in 24 aquariums and fed plant-based diets supplemented with increasing levels of PLPH (0, 10, 20, and 40 g/kg) for 45 days. At the end of the experimental period, we did not observe a significant effect of PLPH on productive performance variables or body indices. Air exposure triggered stress responses in fish, as evidenced by an increase in blood glucose; PLPH supplementation, however, did not mitigate this effect. There was a quadratic effect of PLPH supplementation on malondialdehyde level and superoxide dismutase, catalase, and glutathione S-transferase activities, with optimum PLPH values estimated at 25.14, 25.91, 22.57, and 18.83 g/kg, respectively. Increasing PLPH levels reduced carbonylated protein contents and increased hydrogen peroxide levels in gills. Although PLPH supplementation increased antioxidant enzyme activity and attenuated protein damage, it also enhanced reactive oxygen species production and lipid peroxidation. Further studies are needed to better understand the mechanisms of action of protein hydrolysates on the redox status of fish subjected to intensive management.
MVHANet: Multi-view hierarchical aggregation network for skeleton-based hand gesture recognition
Authors: Li Shaochen , Liu Zhenyu , Duan Guifang , Tan Jianrong
Published: November 2022

Skeleton-based gesture recognition (SHGR) is a very challenging task due to the complex articulated topology of hands. Previous works often learn hand characteristics from a single observation viewpoint. However, the spatial structure of the hand skeletons cannot be investigated explicitly, and various context information hidden in multiple viewpoints is disregarded. To resolve this issue, we propose a novel multi-view hierarchical aggregation network (MVHANet) for SHGR, which is composed of three parts. Firstly, two-dimensional non-uniform spatial sampling (2DNUSS), a novel strategy forming extrinsic parameter distributions of virtual cameras, is presented to enumerate viewpoints to observe hand skeletons from reasonable directions. Afterwards, we adopt coordinate transformation to generate multi-view hand skeletons and employ a multi-branch convolutional neural networks (CNNs) to further extract the multi-view features of hand skeletons. Furthermore, we exploit a novel hierarchical aggregation network including hierarchical attention architecture (HAA) and global context modeling (GCM) to fuse the multi-view features. Specifically, the HAA is composed of view level and group level for learning the local correlation and discriminative weights of multiple views; GCM is aimed to capture the global information of all the views from each level. Finally, the outputs of HAA and GCM are combined for hand gesture classification. In this way, we fully leverage the multi-view information of hand skeletons and improve the performance of recognition. We conduct extensive experiments on publicly available SHREC’17 Track dataset, DHG-14/28 dataset and First-Person Dynamic Hand Actions dataset. Experimental results demonstrate that our work can be competitive with the state-of-the-art methods.
Predicting high resolution total phosphorus concentrations for soils of the Upper Mississippi River Basin using machine learning
Authors: Dolph Christine , Cho Se Jong , Finlay Jacques C. , Hansen Amy T. , Dalzell Brent
Published: November 2022

The spatial distribution of soil phosphorus (P) is important to both biogeochemical processes and the management of agricultural landscapes, where it is critical for both crop production and conservation planning. Recent advances in the availability of large environmental datasets together with big data analytical tools like machine learning have created opportunities for evaluating and predicting spatial patterns in complex environmental variables like soil P. Here, we apply a random forest machine learning model to publicly available soil P datasets together with nearly 300 geospatial attributes summarizing aspects of soil type, land cover, land use, topography, nutrient inputs, and climate to predict total soil P at a 100m grid scale for the Upper Mississippi River Basin (UMRB), USA. The UMRB is one of the most intensively farmed regions in the world and is characterized by widespread water quality degradation arising from P-associated eutrophication. At the regional scale represented by our model, the variables with the greatest comparative importance for predicting soil P included a combination of soil sample depth, land use/land cover, underlying soil physical and geochemical properties, landscape features (such as slope, elevation and proximity to the stream network), nutrient inputs, and climate-related factors. An important product of this research is a fine-scale (100 m) raster data layer of predicted total soil P values for the UMRB for public use. This dataset can be used to improve conservation planning and modeling efforts to improve water quality in the region.
Multi-task support vector machine with generalized huber loss
Authors: Liu Qi , Zhu Wenxin , Ma Zhihong
Published: November 2022

The main goal of multi-task learning (MTL) is to improve generalization ability by utilizing domain-specific information implicit in training signals of multiple related tasks. MTL achieves this goal by training multiple tasks in parallel using shared representations. The adaptation of MTL to support vector machines (SVM) is a pretty successful example. Loss function plays a crucial role in the algorithm implementation and classification accuracy of SVM. Classical support vector machine(SVM) and multi-task learning support vector machine(MTLSVM) utilize the non-differentiable and noise sensitive hinge loss function. SVM with pinball loss which penalizes correctly classified points enhances the noise insensitivity of classical SVM, but it is also non-differentiable. Both pinball loss SVM and hinge loss SVM suffer from higher computational cost because they have to solve a quadratic programming problem (QPP) whose complexity is proportional to the cube of the dataset size. In contrast, the differentiability of huber loss function reduces the sensitivity to noise compared to hinge loss and pinball loss. The differentiability of huber loss function can greatly improve the running speed of SVM algorithm. Inspired by the recently published generalized huber SVM(GHSVM) and regularized multi-task learning(RMTL),we propose a novel multi-task support vector machine with generalized huber loss, named as GHMTSVM. The new method extends the GHSVM for single task learning to the multi-task learning SVM. To our knowledge, the application of the generalized huber loss to MTLSVM is innovative. The proposed method mainly has two advantages: on the one hand, compared with pinball loss and hinge loss, the huber loss is less sensitive to outliers and has better robustness; on the other hand, it adopts functional iterative to find the optimal solution, and does not need to solve QPP, which improves the solving speed. Numerical experiments are carried out on five real datasets and the result is compared with SVM, GHSVM and MTLSVM methods to verify the good performance of the proposed algorithm. Experimental results show that the GHMTSVM outperforms existing single-task learning SVMs and multi-task learning SVM.
Communities detection in multiplex networks using optimization. Study case: Employment in Mexico during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Montes-Orozco Edwin , Mora-Gutiérrez Roman Anselmo , de-los-Cobos-Silva Sergio Gerardo , Bernal-Jaquez Roberto , Rincón-García Eric Alfredo , Gutiérrez-Andrade Miguel Ángel , Lara-Velázquez Pedro
Published: November 2022

In this work we present a methodology based on the robust coloring problem (RCP) and the vertex cover problem (VCP) in order to find the communities in multiplex networks. For this, we consider that the RCP finds a partial detection based on the similarity of connected and unconnected nodes and using VCP we look for that number of groups (previously found) to be minimized. In order to apply this methodology, we present the characterization of the behavior and dynamics of employment in the Mexican population before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. This characterization is carried out with the use of four complex multiplex networks, where each node represents a federative entity (state) of the country and the intralayer relationships are given by the quantification of the generation and loss of jobs; while the interlayer connections are the replicas of each of the states, for each period. Specifically for this work, we contemplate the years 2018, 2019, 2020 and 2021.
Relationships between genetic vascular risk polymorphism and aging. A case-control study in Venezuela
Authors: Alvarez Carlos , Bullones Andrea , Medina María Angélica , Vargas Anna , Porco Antonietta , Méndez Juan Carlos , Pestana Carolina
Published: November 2022

Aging is an irreversible process that produces the progressive decline of physiological functions favoring the development of cardiovascular complications associated with genetic Risk Alleles (RA). A case-control study using a sample of 90 Venezuelan individuals was performed to determine the correlation between the incidence of accelerated aging for 14 polymorphisms in genes associated with blood coagulation, lipid, and cardiovascular homeostasis. Odds Ratio (OR) results showed a 41% increase in the risk of presenting accelerated aging in subjects with the rs1800790 RA in the FGB gene. The CC genotype for the rs1800775 in the CETP gene was associated with a 62% and the TT genotype for the rs1801133 in the MTHFR gene increased risk by 2 times. However, none of these results were statistically significant. Only a significant association was determined between the presence of the homozygous deletion genotype for the rs4340 RA in the ACE gene with an increased risk up to ten times (OR: 10.6; CI: 1.23 - 90.67; p<0.05). Multivariable analyses showed that gender, obesity, hypercholesterolemia, hypertriglyceridemia, smoking, age, body mass index, systolic hypertension, the rs662 RA in the APOB, rs693 RA in the PON1 and rs1801133 RA in the MTHFR genes were the main environmental and genetic factors associated with accelerated aging.
Seasonal variation in landcover estimates reveals sensitivities and opportunities for environmental models
Authors: Myers Daniel , Jones David , Oviedo-Vargas Diana , Schmit John , Ficklin Darren , Zhang Xuesong
Published: November 2022

Most readily available landuse/landcover (LULC) data are developed using growing season remote sensing images and/or annual time steps. We used new Dynamic World near real-time global LULC to compare how geospatial environmental models of water quality and hydrology respond to growing vs. non-growing season LULC data. Non-growing season LULC had more built area and less tree cover than growing season data due to seasonal impacts on classifications. We evaluated the impacts of these seasonal LULC estimate differences on water quality and quantity models that span a range of complexity, including the Soil and Water Assessment Tool (SWAT). We found that in mixed-LULC watersheds, seasonal LULC classification differences could cause large differences in model outputs depending on the LULC season used. Within reason, model parameter optimization may compensate for these differences using separate calibration for each season. These findings provide opportunities for further investigations with hydrologic, climate, biogeochemical, and ecological models.
Determination of the toxic effects of heavy metals on the morpho-anatomical responses of the leaf of Typha latifolia as a biomonitoring tool
Authors: Mamine Nedjma , Grara Nedjoud , Khaldi Fadila
Published: November 2022

This study aims to assess the water quality in a wetland of Burgas lake (North-East Algerian) subjected to heavy metal contamination and to determine the toxic effects of this polluants on the anatomical responses of the leaf of Typha latifolia as an effective biomonitoring tool. Water samples at the outlet of the constructed open water surface wetland were collected monthly in 2018 over 3 months. The assessment included physical and chemical parameters and the concentrations of Hg, Cd, Cr, and Pb were analyzed using atomic absorption spectrometry, as well as a microscopic study of the tissues and cells that compose the leaf of Typha latifolia. The results showed the physico-chemical parameters of the water of lake Burgas treated by plantations of Typha latifolia. However, despite this The short-term ability of T. latifolia to remediate this lake contaminated causes the presence of low concertations of heavy metals which are harmful pollutants. Regarding the anatomy of the leaves, the results showed anatomical changes such as irregular shapes of the cells of the spongy parenchyma tissue and shrinkage of the size of the conducting vessels, and slight deformations detected on the xylem. In the peridermic sections, no signs of variation in stomatal anatomical features were detected, compared to the plants at the control site. On the other hand, behavioral changes marked by the closure of most stomata may be related to a mechanism of tolerance to toxic conditions, for phytoremediation of metal contaminated environments.
Ejecta from the DART-produced active asteroid Dimorphos
Authors: Li Jian-Yang , Hirabayashi Masatoshi , Farnham Tony , Knight Matthew , Tancredi Gonzalo , Moreno Fernando , Murphy Brian , Opitom Cyrielle , Chesley Steven , Sunshine Jessica , Scheeres Daniel , Thomas Cristina , Fahnestock Eugene , Cheng Andrew , Dressel Linda , Ernst Carolyn , Ferrari Fabio , Fitzsimmons Alan , Ieva Simone , Ivanovski Stavro , Kareta Teddy , Kolokolova Ludmilla , Lister Tim , Raducan Sabina , Rivkin Andrew , Rossi Alessandro , Soldini Stefania , Stickle Angela , Vick Alison , Vincent Jean-Baptiste , Weaver Harold , Bagnulo Stefano , Bannister Michele , Cambioni Saverio , Bagatin Adriano Campo , Chabot Nancy , Cremonese Gabriele , Daly Ronald , Dotto Elisabetta , Glenar David , Granvik Mikael , Hasselmann Pedro , Herreros M. , Jacobson Seth , Jutzi Martin , Kohout Tomas , Forgia Fiorangela La , Lazzarin Monica , Lin Zhong-Yi , Lolachi Ramin , Lucchetti Alice , Makadia Rahil , Epifani Elena Mazzotta , Michel Patrick , Migliorini Alessandra , Moskovitz Nicholas , Ormö Jens , Pajola Maurizio , Sánchez Paul , Schwartz Stephen , Snodgrass Colin , Steckloff Jordan , Stubbs Timothy , Trigo-Rodríguez Josep
Published: November 2022

NASA’s Double Asteroid Redirection Test (DART) mission performed the first ever kinetic impact to deflect an asteroid1. The DART kinetic impact test artificially activated an asteroid with a hypervelocity impact, providing a unique opportunity for an extensive observing campaign to monitor the evolutionary process from the formation of the ejecta to its dispersion via a sustained tail. Here we report observations of the impact ejecta with the Hubble Space Telescope (HST) from impact time (T)+15 minutes to T+18.5 days at a resolution of 2.1 km per pixel. Our observations showed that the gravitational interaction between the binary system and dust under the influence of solar radiation pressure produced a complex morphology during the evolution of the ejecta. The dust ejected at speeds much higher than the escape speed of the binary system (0.25 m/s) is directly ejected out of the system. The dust moving at speeds just above the escape speed displayed signatures of gravitational interaction with the binary asteroid system, forming spirals and extended features. Slow ejecta is ultimately pushed in the antisolar direction (nearly opposite the impact direction) by solar radiation pressure to form a tail. These dynamical processes are highly dependent on particle size and ejection direction. The ejecta evolution following DART’s kinetic impact offers a framework for understanding the fundamental mechanisms acting on asteroids disrupted by natural impact2,3 for the first time.