bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparative Genomic Analysis of a Multidrug-Resistant Staphylococcus hominis ShoR14 Clinical Isolate from Terengganu, Malaysia, Led to the Discovery of Novel Mobile Genetic Elements
Authors: Al-Trad Esra’a I. , Che Hamzah Ainal Mardziah , Puah Suat Moi , Chua Kek Heng , Kwong Stephen M. , Yeo Chew Chieng , Chew Ching Hoong
Published: November 2022

Staphylococcus hominis is a coagulase-negative Staphylococcus (CoNS) commensal capable of causing serious systemic infections in humans. The emergence of multidrug-resistant S. hominis strains is of concern but little is known about the characteristics of this organism, particularly from Malaysia. Here, we present the comparative genome analysis of S. hominis ShoR14, a multidrug-resistant, methicillin-resistant blood isolate from Terengganu, Malaysia. Genomic DNA of S. hominis ShoR14 was sequenced on the Illumina platform and assembled using Unicycler v0.4.8. ShoR14 belonged to sequence type (ST) 1 which is the most prevalent ST of the S. hominis subsp. hominis. Comparative genomic analysis with closely related strains in the database with complete genome sequences, led to the discovery of a novel variant of the staphylococcal chromosome cassette mec (SCCmec) type VIII element harboring the mecA methicillin-resistance gene in ShoR14 and its possible carriage of a SCCfus element that encodes the fusidic acid resistance gene (fusC). Up to seven possible ShoR14 plasmid contigs were identified, three of which harbored resistance genes for tetracycline (tetK), chloramphenicol (catA7), macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B (ermC). Additionally, we report the discovery of a novel mercury-resistant transposon, Tn7456, other genomic islands, and prophages which make up the S. hominis mobilome.
The Glycosylation of Immune Checkpoints and Their Applications in Oncology
Authors: Zheng Linlin , Yang Qi , Li Feifei , Zhu Min , Yang Haochi , Tan Tian , Wu Binghuo , Liu Mingxin , Xu Chuan , Yin Jun , Cao Chenhui
Published: November 2022

Tumor therapies have entered the immunotherapy era. Immune checkpoint inhibitors have achieved tremendous success, with some patients achieving long-term tumor control. Tumors, on the other hand, can still accomplish immune evasion, which is aided by immune checkpoints. The majority of immune checkpoints are membrane glycoproteins, and abnormal tumor glycosylation may alter how the immune system perceives tumors, affecting the body’s anti-tumor immunity. Furthermore, RNA can also be glycosylated, and GlycoRNA is important to the immune system. Glycosylation has emerged as a new hallmark of tumors, with glycosylation being considered a potential therapeutic approach. The glycosylation modification of immune checkpoints and the most recent advances in glycosylation-targeted immunotherapy are discussed in this review.
A Plant Worthy of Further Study—Volatile and Non-Volatile Compounds of Portenschlagiella ramosissima (Port.) Tutin and Its Biological Activity
Authors: Vuko Elma , Radman Sanja , Jerković Igor , Kamenjarin Juraj , Vrkić Irena , Fredotović Željana
Published: November 2022

New and detailed data are presented on the phytochemical composition of the volatile and non-volatile organic compounds of the Mediterranean endemic species Portenschlagiella ramosissima (Port.) Tutin. Both the essential oil and hydrosol were obtained from the air-dried plant by hydrodistillation and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. The volatile compounds from the fresh and air-dried plants and from the hydrosol were isolated for the first time by headspace solid-phase microextraction using two fibres of different polarity. The benzene derivative group was the predominant group in all samples, with myristicin being the most abundant component of all. The non-volatile compounds of the methanol extract were analyzed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry with electrospray ionisation, and three flavonoid glycosides, one anthocyanidin glycoside, and lipid derivatives were detected. Both the chemical composition and biological activities of this plant have been described in a very limited number of publications, making it an interesting source for further study. The antiphytoviral activity of the essential oil and hydrosol showed that both extracts significantly reduced the number of lesions on the leaves of local host plants infected with tobacco mosaic virus. Moderate antiproliferative activity of the methanol extract was detected in three cancer cell lines, cervical cancer cell line, human colon cancer cell line and human osteosarcoma cell line, using the MTS-based cell proliferation assay. Based on the results, we highlight this plant as a new source of bioactive compounds and natural phytotherapeutic agent that deserves further investigation.
Thermodynamic Correlation between Liquid–Liquid Phase Separation and Crystalline Solubility of Drug-Like Molecules
Authors: Uekusa Taiga , Watanabe Tomohiro , Watanabe Daiju , Sugano Kiyohiko
Published: November 2022

The purpose of the present study was to experimentally confirm the thermodynamic correlation between the intrinsic liquid–liquid phase separation (LLPS) concentration (S0LLPS) and crystalline solubility (S0c) of drug-like molecules. Based on the thermodynamic principles, the crystalline solubility LLPS concentration melting point (Tm) equation (CLME) was derived (log10S0C=log10S0LLPS−0.0095Tm−310 for 310 K). The S0LLPS values of 31 drugs were newly measured by simple bulk phase pH-shift or solvent-shift precipitation tests coupled with laser-assisted visual turbidity detection. To ensure the precipitant was not made crystalline at <10 s, the precipitation tests were also performed under the polarized light microscope. The calculated and observed log10S0C values showed a good correlation (root mean squared error: 0.40 log unit, absolute average error: 0.32 log unit).
Exploring a Bioequivalence Failure for Silodosin Products Due to Disintegrant Excipients
Authors: González-Álvarez Isabel , Sánchez-Dengra Bárbara , Rodriguez-Galvez Raquel , Ruiz-Picazo Alejandro , González-Álvarez Marta , García-Arieta Alfredo , Bermejo Marival
Published: November 2022

Some years ago, excipients were considered inert substances irrelevant in the absorption process. However, years of study have demonstrated that this belief is not always true. In this study, the reasons for a bioequivalence failure between two formulations of silodosin are investigated. Silodosin is a class III drug according to the Biopharmaceutics Classification System, which has been experimentally proven by means of solubility and permeability experiments. Dissolution tests have been performed to identify conditions concordant with the non-bioequivalent result obtained from the human bioequivalence study and it has been observed that paddles at 50 rpm are able to detect inconsistent differences between formulations at pH 4.5 and pH 6.8 (which baskets at 100 rpm are not able to do), whereas the GIS detects differences at the acidic pH of the stomach. It has also been observed that the differences in excipients between products did not affect the disintegration process, but disintegrants did alter the permeability of silodosin through the gastrointestinal barrier. Crospovidone and povidone, both derivatives of PVP, are used as disintegrants in the test product, instead of the pregelatinized corn starch used in the reference product. Permeability experiments show that PVP increases the absorption of silodosin—an increase that would explain the greater Cmax observed for the test product in the bioequivalence study.
Exploring the Potential of High-Molar-Activity Samarium-153 for Targeted Radionuclide Therapy with [153Sm]Sm-DOTA-TATE
Authors: Vermeulen Koen , Van de Voorde Michiel , Segers Charlotte , Coolkens Amelie , Rodriguez Pérez Sunay , Daems Noami , Duchemin Charlotte , Crabbé Melissa , Opsomer Tomas , Saldarriaga Vargas Clarita , Heinke Reinhard , Lambert Laura , Bernerd Cyril , Burgoyne Andrew R. , Cocolios Thomas Elias , Stora Thierry , Ooms Maarten
Published: November 2022

Samarium-153 is a promising theranostic radionuclide, but low molar activities (Am) resulting from its current production route render it unsuitable for targeted radionuclide therapy (TRNT). Recent efforts combining neutron activation of 152Sm in the SCK CEN BR2 reactor with mass separation at CERN/MEDICIS yielded high-Am 153Sm. In this proof-of-concept study, we further evaluated the potential of high-Am 153Sm for TRNT by radiolabeling to DOTA-TATE, a well-established carrier molecule binding the somatostatin receptor 2 (SSTR2) that is highly expressed in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. DOTA-TATE was labeled with 153Sm and remained stable up to 7 days in relevant media. The binding specificity and high internalization rate were validated on SSTR2-expressing CA20948 cells. In vitro biological evaluation showed that [153Sm]Sm-DOTA-TATE was able to reduce CA20948 cell viability and clonogenic potential in an activity-dependent manner. Biodistribution studies in healthy and CA20948 xenografted mice revealed that [153Sm]Sm-DOTA-TATE was rapidly cleared and profound tumor uptake and retention was observed whilst these were limited in normal tissues. This proof-of-concept study showed the potential of mass-separated 153Sm for TRNT and could open doors towards wider applications of mass separation in medical isotope production.
ER Stress and the Unfolded Protein Response: Homeostatic Regulation Coordinate Plant Survival and Growth
Authors: Kim June-Sik , Mochida Keiichi , Shinozaki Kazuo
Published: November 2022

The endoplasmic reticulum (ER), a eukaryotic organelle, is the major site of protein biosynthesis. The disturbance of ER function by biotic or abiotic stress triggers the accumulation of misfolded or unfolded proteins in the ER. The unfolded protein response (UPR) is the best-studied ER stress response. This transcriptional regulatory system senses ER stress, activates downstream genes that function to mitigate stress, and restores homeostasis. In addition to its conventional role in stress responses, recent reports indicate that the UPR is involved in plant growth and development. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge of ER stress sensing and the activation and downstream regulation of the UPR. We also describe how the UPR modulates both plant growth and stress tolerance by maintaining ER homeostasis. Lastly, we propose that the UPR is a major component of the machinery that balances the trade-off between plant growth and survival in a dynamic environment.
Actinomycete Potential as Biocontrol Agent of Phytopathogenic Fungi: Mechanisms, Source, and Applications
Authors: Torres-Rodriguez Juan A. , Reyes-Pérez Juan J. , Quiñones-Aguilar Evangelina E. , Hernandez-Montiel Luis G.
Published: November 2022

Synthetic fungicides have been the main control of phytopathogenic fungi. However, they cause harm to humans, animals, and the environment, as well as generating resistance in phytopathogenic fungi. In the last few decades, the use of microorganisms as biocontrol agents of phytopathogenic fungi has been an alternative to synthetic fungicide application. Actinomycetes isolated from terrestrial, marine, wetland, saline, and endophyte environments have been used for phytopathogenic fungus biocontrol. At present, there is a need for searching new secondary compounds and metabolites of different isolation sources of actinomycetes; however, little information is available on those isolated from other environments as biocontrol agents in agriculture. Therefore, the objective of this review is to compare the antifungal activity and the main mechanisms of action in actinomycetes isolated from different environments and to describe recent achievements of their application in agriculture. Although actinomycetes have potential as biocontrol agents of phytopathogenic fungi, few studies of actinomycetes are available of those from marine, saline, and wetland environments, which have equal or greater potential as biocontrol agents than isolates of actinomycetes from terrestrial environments.
The Efficacy and Safety of Herbal Medicine with Pirfenidone in the Treatment of Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis: A Systematic Review
Authors: Cho Suyeon , Park Sunju , Lee Ju Ah , Jung Hee-Jae , Kim Kwan-Il , Lee Beom-Joon
Published: November 2022

Although there were randomized control trials (RCTs) that showed the considerable efficacy of herbal medicine (HM) in idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and systematic reviews on the value of some herbs in the treatment of IPF, there have been no systematic reviews comparing the combined use of complex HM against pirfenidone monotherapy in IPF. This review evaluated the efficacy of parallel administration of HM and pirfenidone in IPF treatment. We conducted a systematic review of RCTs that compared pirfenidone monotherapy against pirfenidone combined administration with HM in IPF. We searched the EMBASE, CENTRAL, PubMed, and CNKI databases for relevant RCTs published before July 2021. Six RCTs were eligible for inclusion. Compared with the control group, a greater recovery or a smaller reduction in forced vital capacity (FVC) and, in general, a valid improvement in the St. George’s Respiratory Questionnaire was observed in the treatment group. However, it should be noted that the risk of bias of the included RCTs was high or unclear in most categories. In IPF treatment, HM administered with pirfenidone effectively protected pulmonary function and improved the quality of life. However, given the number and quality of the included studies, the evidence was not strong enough to draw definitive conclusions. Well-designed future RCTs are warranted to evaluate the impact of HM on IPF.
Waste Feathers Processing to Liquid Fertilizers for Sustainable Agriculture—LCA, Economic Evaluation, and Case Study
Authors: Vavrova Kamila , Wimmerova Lenka , Knapek Jaroslav , Weger Jan , Keken Zdenek , Kastanek Frantisek , Solcova Olga
Published: November 2022

The poultry meat industry generates about 60 million tons of waste annually. However, such waste can serve as a cheap material source for sustainable liquid fertilizers or biostimulant production. Moreover, its practical potential associated with the circular economy is evident. One of the options for waste feather reprocessing is to use a hydrolysis process, whose operating parameters vary depending on the waste material used. The better the quality of the waste feathers, the less energy is needed; moreover, a higher yield of amino acids and peptides can be achieved. These are the main operational parameters that influence the overall environmental and economic performance of the hydrolysis process. The assessment of process operational environmental aspects confirmed that the environmental impacts of hydrolysate production are highly dependent on the amount of electricity required and its sources. This fact influences the midpoint and the endpoint impacts on the observed environmental impact categories. It also minimizes the pressure associated with fossil resource scarcity and the related impact on climate change. During an economic evaluation of the process, it was found that the option of processing more fine waste, such as CGF, provided a 5% saving in energy costs related to the reduction in the cost per liter of hydrolysate of 4.5%. Finally, a case study experiment confirmed the fertilizing effect of the hydrolysate on pepper plants (biometric parameters, yield). Thus, the hydrolysate produced from the waste feathers can serve as a substitute for nitrate fertilizing, which is commonly drawn from raw fossil materials.
Solubility of Biocompounds 2,5-Furandicarboxylic Acid and 5-Formylfuran-2-Carboxylic Acid in Binary Solvent Mixtures of Water and 1,4-Dioxane
Authors: Xu Linli , Fu Jianhui , Du Cunbin , Xu Qianqian , Liu Baojian , Bao Zongbi
Published: November 2022

The solubility of 2,5-furandicarboxylic acid (FDCA) and its synthetic intermediates (e.g., 5-formylfuran-2-carboxylic acid, FFCA) provides fundamental information for the preparation and purification of the value-added biocompound FDCA. We measured the solubility of FDCA and FFCA in binary water + 1,4-dioxane mixtures with different mixing ratios at 303.15 K–342.15 K. The obtained solubility values were correlated with the Jouyban-Acree-van’t Hoff model, and the preferential solvation theory was used to study the microscopic dissolution mechanism. The solubility of FDCA/FFCA increases with increasing temperature, and pure 1,4-dioxane dissolves more solutes than pure water. FFCA shows higher solubility than FDCA. In the binary solvent mixtures, the phenomenon of co-solvency exists for both FDCA and FFCA, i.e., at a 1,4-dioxane mole fraction of about 0.60, FDCA and FFCA dissolve the most. Acceptable mean percentage deviations (MPD) (5.5% and 6.9%) are obtained for FDCA and FFCA (Jouyban-Acree-van’t Hoff model). The calculated preferential solvation parameters show different dissolution mechanisms at different solvent compositions. When the 1,4-dioxane mole fraction is 0.17~0.62/0.63, FDCA/FFCA are preferentially solvated by 1,4-dioxane. Otherwise, they are preferentially solvated by water. A trend similar to the “co-solvency phenomenon” is observed in the differences in solubility of FFCA and FDCA. This study gives important guidance for the use of binary water and 1,4-dioxane solvents in practical FDCA purification.
Identifying the Predictors of Patient-Centered Communication by Machine Learning Methods
Authors: Wu Shuo , Zhang Xiaomei , Chen Pianzhou , Lai Heng , Wu Yingchun , Shia Ben-Chang , Chen Ming-Chih , Ye Linglong , Qin Lei
Published: November 2022

Patient-centered communication (PCC) quality is critical to increasing the quality of patient-centered care. Based on the nationally representative data of the Health Information National Trends Survey (HINTS) 2019–2020 (N = 4593), this study combined four machine learning methods, namely, Generalized Linear Models (GLM), Random Forests (Random Forests), Deep Neural Networks (Deep Learning), and Gradient Boosting Machines (GBM), to identify important PCC predictors through variable importance metrics. Fifteen variables were identified as important predictors, involving multiple dimensions, such as individual sociodemographic characteristics, health-related factors, and individual living habits. Among them, four novel potential associated variables are included, an individual’s level of verbal expression, exercise habits, etc., which significantly impacted respondents’ perceived PCC quality. This study revealed the value of combining feature selection with machine learning approaches to identify broad variables that could enhance PCC prediction and clinical decision-making, influence future PCC prediction research, and improve patient-centered care. In the future, other easy-to-interpret models can be combined to conduct further research on the impact direction and mechanism of important predictors on PCC.
Jesuit Rhetoric and Language Studies in Modern Shanghai
Authors: Mo Wei
Published: November 2022

From the sixteenth century onwards, the Jesuit educational model, as well as the method of evangelization propounded by the same religious Order, have been relying on the mastery of certain rhetorical techniques and, notably, in strong linguistic competency. This contribution examines how the Jesuits in modern Shanghai understood and put into application their traditional focus on rhetoric in the semi-colonial context of the time. After having recalled how Jesuits engaged with Chinese language and discourse in the Ming and early Qing dynasties, we take the 1923 Catalogue of the Jesuit publications in the missionary enclave of Zi-ka-wei as a reference point so as to describe and assess a number of trends that we summarize as follows. A privileged relationship was maintained between Latin and ancient Chinese and a growing interest in the “margins” and the way to address them efficiently triggered a renewal of ethnographic and linguistic studies; specifically, the expertise developed in dialectology testifies to the change that was occurring in the way to rhetorically address hearts and minds.
Dynamic Ethnonationalism: The Ongoing Changes in the Ethnonational Borders—Israel in a Global Perspective
Authors: Fisher Netanel
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this research is to present a new model for understanding ethnonationalism: the dynamic ethnonationalism model, which depicts ethnic nationalism as an entity comprised of inherited elements as well as selective and changing ones. According to this new concept, ethnic nationalism, which is usually thought of as a “closed” given kinship, also has a flexible and voluntary nature, similar yet not identical to civic nationalism. Ethnic nationalism is indeed based on inherited elements—innate religion, descent, language, territory, etc., that are not subject to individual choice. However, each ethnic and sub-ethnic group re-interpret and re-implement these elements differently according to changing circumstances, perceptions and competing interests. This theory is examined through changes in immigration and naturalization policies which occurred in various ethnic states. The de- and re-ethnicization processes, the inclusion and exclusion trends engendered by changing boundaries of the ethnic collective, analyzed in this research, serve to illustrate the dynamic construction of ethnonationalism, managed by its multiple interest groups and policy makers. Following a concise review of the connection between ethnonationalism and citizenship throughout the world, the research delves into the Israeli case. The evolving boundaries of the Jewish-Israeli collective and the dispute concerning its definitions (“Who is a Jew”) offer a detailed demonstration of the dynamic ethnonationalism model. The Jewish-Israeli case, which is usually viewed as the ultimate example of rigid ethnicity based on religious stringencies, exhibits how ethnicity contains competing subjective interpretations (“Sub-Jew-ctivity”) that are simultaneously exclusive and inclusive. Thus, the integration of contradictory ethnic definitions into Israel’s laws and policies exhibits a dynamic, hybrid and “soft” ethnic national identity.
Representations of the Passion of Christ in Brazil: Devotional Sculpture as Open Artwork
Authors: Brusadin Lia , Stanfield-Mazzi Maya
Published: November 2022

Sculpted representations of the Passion of Christ became widely used for popular religious devotion in Portuguese America. They comprise a variety of forms, since the Passion had so many episodes, and thus necessitated various bodily positions for Christ. In investigating the manufacture and trade of Latin American Baroque sculpture, it is possible to identify a market of whole-body carvings, items of dress, and loose body parts, such as heads, hands, feet, etc. This parts-based approach to sculpture, in effect, transformed them from “finished” works into “open” ones. The idea of an open artwork applies to objects that are not usually classified as art. This openness can be found in lifelike images that encourage the viewer to connect with them emotionally. In the case of images that show suffering, viewers respond with empathetic horror before the realistically proportioned and colored representations. The present study analyzes the idea of an open artwork by focusing on sculptural series of the Passion, especially scenes of the Agony in the Garden, that belong to Carmelite lay brotherhoods in São Paulo, Mogi das Cruzes, Itu, and Santos, cities in the state of São Paulo, Brazil. Images of the Passion existed in a constant process of transformation and, thus, openness, from their manner of construction to their uses in Holy Week rituals. By allowing viewers to interact with them on their own terms, we argue that devotional sculptures had far-reaching potential.
Patch-Based Discriminative Learning for Remote Sensing Scene Classification
Authors: Muhammad Usman , Hoque Md Ziaul , Wang Weiqiang , Oussalah Mourad
Published: November 2022

The research focus in remote sensing scene image classification has been recently shifting towards deep learning (DL) techniques. However, even the state-of-the-art deep-learning-based models have shown limited performance due to the inter-class similarity and the intra-class diversity among scene categories. To alleviate this issue, we propose to explore the spatial dependencies between different image regions and introduce patch-based discriminative learning (PBDL) for remote sensing scene classification. In particular, the proposed method employs multi-level feature learning based on small, medium, and large neighborhood regions to enhance the discriminative power of image representation. To achieve this, image patches are selected through a fixed-size sliding window, and sampling redundancy, a novel concept, is developed to minimize the occurrence of redundant features while sustaining the relevant features for the model. Apart from multi-level learning, we explicitly impose image pyramids to magnify the visual information of the scene images and optimize their positions and scale parameters locally. Motivated by this, a local descriptor is exploited to extract multi-level and multi-scale features that we represent in terms of a codeword histogram by performing k-means clustering. Finally, a simple fusion strategy is proposed to balance the contribution of individual features where the fused features are incorporated into a bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM) network. Experimental results on the NWPU-RESISC45, AID, UC-Merced, and WHU-RS datasets demonstrate that the proposed approach yields significantly higher classification performance in comparison with existing state-of-the-art deep-learning-based methods.
RSSI Fingerprint Height Based Empirical Model Prediction for Smart Indoor Localization
Authors: Arigye Wilford , Pu Qiaolin , Zhou Mu , Khalid Waqas , Tahir Muhammad Junaid
Published: November 2022

Smart indoor living advances in the recent decade, such as home indoor localization and positioning, has seen a significant need for low-cost localization systems based on freely available resources such as Received Signal Strength Indicator by the dense deployment of Wireless Local Area Networks (WLAN). The off-the-shelf user equipment (UE’s) available at an affordable price across the globe are well equipped with the functionality to scan the radio access network for hearable single strength; in complex indoor environments, multiple signals can be received at a particular reference point with no consideration of the height of the transmitter and possible broadcasting coverage. Most effective fingerprinting algorithm solutions require specialized labor, are time-consuming to carry out site surveys, training of the data, big data analysis, and in most cases, additional hardware requirements relatively increase energy consumption and cost, not forgetting that in case of changes in the indoor environment will highly affect the fingerprint due to interferences. This paper experimentally evaluates and proposes a novel technique for Received Signal Indicator (RSSI) distance prediction, leveraging transceiver height, and Fresnel ranging in a complex indoor environment to better suit the path loss of RSSI at a particular Reference Point (RP) and time, which further contributes greatly to indoor localization. The experimentation in different complex indoor environments of the corridor and office lab during work hours to ascertain real-life and time feasibility shows that the technique’s accuracy is greatly improved in the office room and the corridor, achieving lower average prediction errors at low-cost than the comparison prediction algorithms. Compared with the conventional prediction techniques, for example, with Access Point 1 (AP1), the proposed Height Dependence Path–Loss (HEM) model at 0 dBm error attains a confidence probability of 10.98%, higher than the 2.65% for the distance dependence of Path–Loss New Empirical Model (NEM), 4.2% for the Multi-Wall dependence on Path-Loss (MWM) model, and 0% for the Conventional one-slope Path-Loss (OSM) model, respectively. Online localization, amongst the hearable APs, it is seen the proposed HEM fingerprint localization based on the proposed HEM prediction model attains a confidence probability of 31% at 3 m, 55% at 6 m, 78% at 9 m, outperforming the NEM with 26%, 43%, 62%, 62%, the MWM with 23%, 43%, 66%, respectively. The robustness of the HEM fingerprint using diverse predicted test samples by the NEM and MWM models indicates better localization of 13% than comparison fingerprints.
Waveguide-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy (WERS): An Emerging Chip-Based Tool for Chemical and Biological Sensing
Authors: Wang Pengyi , Miller Benjamin L.
Published: November 2022

Photonic chip-based methods for spectroscopy are of considerable interest due to their applicability to compact, low-power devices for the detection of small molecules. Waveguide-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (WERS) has emerged over the past decade as a particularly interesting approach. WERS utilizes the evanescent field of a waveguide to generate Raman scattering from nearby analyte molecules, and then collects the scattered photons back into the waveguide. The large interacting area and strong electromagnetic field provided by the waveguide allow for significant enhancements in Raman signal over conventional approaches. The waveguide can also be coated with a molecular class-selective sorbent material to concentrate the analyte, thus further increasing the Raman signal. This review provides an overview of the historical development of WERS and highlights recent theoretical and experimental achievements with the technique.
Gamma Radiation Dose Measurement Using an Energy-Selective Method with the Help of a Drone
Authors: Molnár András
Published: November 2022

Several dose distribution maps were obtained using a gamma radiation detector mounted to a drone. Based on the results and experience of the experiments, the shortcomings of the system and the possibilities for further development were identified. The primary goal of the development was to create a more compact, easy-to-carry, and easy-to-install system with increased sensitivity, which was achieved by several different methods and their combinations. During the discrete measurement procedure, the aim was to decrease the detection threshold, +0.005 to +0.007 μS/h measured above the background radiation. The increase in sensitivity was based on the characteristic energy spectrum of radiative materials. We took advantage of the fact that the radiating samples do not evenly increase the amount of gamma radiation over the entire energy spectrum. During the processing of the measurement data, we performed a comparison with the background radiation in the vicinity of the energy peaks characteristic of the sample and its decay products. This provides a better signal-to-noise ratio, thus enabling a more sensitive detection procedure. An important feature of our method is that in the traditional intensity curve displayed as a function of flight time only noise is visible, therefore one cannot directly conclude the presence of the sample. However, our method is clearly able to identify the location of the searched source at a height of 8 m with a continuous flight speed of 2 m/s using a 500 μS/h activity sample (as measured at a distance of 0.1 m from the sample). The increase in sensitivity allows either a higher scanning height (approximately +1 to 2 m) or, in the case of the same aircraft at the same altitude, a larger area from one take-off. Of course, the scan height or scan speed can increase significantly if the activity of the source being sought is high. In our experiments, we used a natural uranium mineral (Autunite) with activity far below that of artificially produced isotopes. In the series of our experiments, we also covered the detection of several sources, which modeled the possibility of mapping scattered active sources. The main advantages of the system developed and presented by us over the survey procedures used in practice is that a large area can be mobilized easily, without the risk of a human operator in the field, and the survey of a large area can be carried out at a low cost. The purpose of the system is to detect the presence of the source and to localize it to such an extent that the localization can then be easily refined by manual or other ground procedures. As we do not aim for positioning accuracy by centimeter, standard GPS localization is sufficient for the measurements. During the measurements, the geographical coordinates are interpreted in the GWS’84 system. The coordinates of the latitude and longitude circles are also shown in this system in the figures presented.
Simulation Analysis and Comparison of New Hybrid TLI-µTESLA and Variant TESLA Protocols Using SHA-2 and SHA-3 Hash Functions
Authors: Eledlebi Khouloud , Alzubaidi Ahmed Adel , Yeob Yeun Chan , Damiani Ernesto , Mateu Victor , Al-Hammadi Yousof
Published: November 2022

The evolution of 5G and 6G networks has enhanced the ability of massive IoT devices to provide real-time monitoring and interaction with the surrounding environment. Despite recent advances, the necessary security services, such as immediate and continuous authentication, high scalability, and cybersecurity handling of IoT cannot be achieved in a single broadcast authentication protocol. This paper presents a new hybrid protocol called Hybrid Two-level µ-timed-efficient stream loss-tolerant authentication (Hybrid TLI-µTESLA) protocol, which maximizes the benefits of the previous TESLA protocol variants, including scalability support and immediate authentication of Multilevel-µTESLA protocol and continuous authentication with minimal computation overhead of enhanced Inf-TESLA protocol. The inclusion of three different keychains and checking criteria of the packets in the Hybrid TLI-µTESLA protocol enabled resistance against Masquerading, Modification, Man-in-the-Middle, Brute-force, and DoS attacks. A solution for the authentication problem in the first and last packets of the high-level and low-level keychains of the Multilevel-µTESLA protocol was also proposed. The simulation analysis was performed using Java, where we compared the Hybrid TLI-µTESLA protocol with other variants for time complexity and computation overhead at the sender and receiver sides. We also conducted a comparative analysis between two hash functions, SHA-2 and SHA-3, and assessed the feasibility of the proposed protocol in the forthcoming 6G technology. The results demonstrated the superiority of the proposed protocol over other variants in terms of immediate and continuous authentication, scalability, cybersecurity, lifetime, network performance, and compatibility with 5G and 6G IoT generations.
Deep Scattering Spectrum Germaneness for Fault Detection and Diagnosis for Component-Level Prognostics and Health Management (PHM)
Authors: Rohan Ali
Published: November 2022

Most methodologies for fault detection and diagnosis in prognostics and health management (PHM) systems use machine learning (ML) or deep learning (DL), in which either some features are extracted beforehand (in the case of typical ML approaches) or the filters are used to extract features autonomously (in the case of DL) to perform the critical classification task. In particular, in the fault detection and diagnosis of industrial robots where the primary sources of information are electric current, vibration, or acoustic emissions signals that are rich in information in both the temporal and frequency domains, techniques capable of extracting meaningful information from non-stationary frequency-domain signals with the ability to map the signals into their constituent components with compressed information are required. This has the potential to minimise the complexity and size of traditional ML- and DL-based frameworks. The deep scattering spectrum (DSS) is one of the approaches that use the Wavelet Transform (WT) analogy for separating and extracting information embedded in a signal’s various temporal and frequency domains. Therefore, the primary focus of this work is the investigation of the efficacy and applicability of the DSS’s feature domain relative to fault detection and diagnosis for the mechanical components of industrial robots. For this, multiple industrial robots with distinct mechanical faults were studied. Data were collected from these robots under different fault conditions and an approach was developed for classifying the faults using DSS’s low-variance features extracted from input signals. The presented approach was implemented on the practical test benches and demonstrated satisfactory performance in fault detection and diagnosis for simple and complex classification problems with a classification accuracy of 99.7% and 88.1%, respectively. The results suggest that, similarly to other ML techniques, the DSS offers significant potential in addressing fault classification challenges, especially for cases where the data are in the form of signals.
Concurrent Validity and Reliability of Devices to Measure Jump Height in Men’s Handball Players
Authors: Soler-López Alejandro , García-de-Alcaraz Antonio , Moreno-Villanueva Adrián , Pino-Ortega José
Published: November 2022

Although there is a wide range of validated devices to measure vertical jump height, the degree of interchangeability among them is currently unknown. Aims: The purpose of this study was to examine the concurrent validity and reliability of multiple devices to measure jump height in men’s handball players. Methods: Sixteen players (age = 24.0 ± 3.7 years old) performed three types of jumps (n= 144—squat jump (SJ), countermovement jump (CMJ) and Abalakov jump (ABK)) on a contact platform (CHRONOJUMP®) while simultaneously being measured with two inertial devices (WIMU® and VERT®) and recorded with a high-speed camera. Vertical jump height was analyzed according to each type of jump. Results: The t-test showed statistically significant differences (p = 0.001) between the contact platform (reference standard) and the rest of the tools that tended to overestimate jump height in all jumps. SJ and CMJ proved to be the jump tests with the most stable reliability values in all devices (ICC: 0.92–0.98), except in the comparison with VERT®. Conclusions: Although all the analyzed devices proved to be valid and reliable in previous studies, they are not interchangeable. Therefore, it is suggested to always use the same type of device to evaluate vertical height jump.
Co-Operative Design of a Coach Dashboard for Training Monitoring and Feedback
Authors: Goudsmit Jos , Otter Ruby T. A. , Stoter Inge , van Holland Berry , van der Zwaard Stephan , de Jong Johan , Vos Steven
Published: November 2022

Athlete development depends on many factors that need to be balanced by the coach. The amount of data collected grows with the development of sensor technology. To make data-informed decisions for training prescription of their athletes, coaches could be supported by feedback through a coach dashboard. The aim of this paper is to describe the design of a coach dashboard based on scientific knowledge, user requirements, and (sensor) data to support decision making of coaches for athlete development in cyclic sports. The design process involved collaboration with coaches, embedded scientists, researchers, and IT professionals. A classic design thinking process was used to structure the research activities in five phases: empathise, define, ideate, prototype, and test phases. To understand the user requirements of coaches, a survey (n = 38), interviews (n = 8) and focus-group sessions (n = 4) were held. Design principles were adopted into mock-ups, prototypes, and the final coach dashboard. Designing a coach dashboard using the co-operative research design helped to gain deep insights into the specific user requirements of coaches in their daily training practice. Integrating these requirements, scientific knowledge, and functionalities in the final coach dashboard allows the coach to make data-informed decisions on training prescription and optimise athlete development.
A Machine-Learning–Blockchain-Based Authentication Using Smart Contracts for an IoHT System
Authors: Gaur Rajkumar , Prakash Shiva , Kumar Sanjay , Abhishek Kumar , Msahli Mounira , Wahid Abdul
Published: November 2022

Nowadays, finding genetic components and determining the likelihood that treatment would be helpful for patients are the key issues in the medical field. Medical data storage in a centralized system is complex. Data storage, on the other hand, has recently been distributed electronically in a cloud-based system, allowing access to the data at any time through a cloud server or blockchain-based ledger system. The blockchain is essential to managing safe and decentralized transactions in cryptography systems such as bitcoin and Ethereum. The blockchain stores information in different blocks, each of which has a set capacity. Data processing and storage are more effective and better for data management when blockchain and machine learning are integrated. Therefore, we have proposed a machine-learning–blockchain-based smart-contract system that improves security, reduces consumption, and can be trusted for real-time medical applications. The accuracy and computation performance of the IoHT system are safely improved by our system.
Decolonizing Sustainability through Indigenization in Canadian Post-Secondary Institutions
Authors: Vizina Yvonne N.
Published: November 2022

Sustainability discourse indicates a need to reconsider our approaches to social, economic, and environmental issues because, without deep transformation, global human survival is in jeopardy. At the same time, post-secondary education institutions in Canada are Indigenizing their settings but have rarely taken up sustainability and Indigenization as related concepts. In this research, participants delivering Indigenous programming in ten colleges and universities across Canada contributed their insights on the relationships between Indigenous worldviews and sustainability in their territories and institutions. The five key findings that emerged from the study are: (1) Indigenous worldviews are based on a belief in the sacred, which orients Indigenous knowledges and responsibilities for sustaining life on Earth; (2) sustainability is expressed as a function of tradition linking Indigenous identity with culture, language, and environmental health; (3) entrenching Indigenous knowledges throughout institutions is to sustain cultural identity; (4) national and international standards supporting Indigenous self-determination are primary drivers for the inclusion of Indigenous knowledges and advance the underlying principle of sustainability; and (5) Indigenous holistic learning includes social, economic, and environmental aspects of sustainability.
Father–Toddler Bonding during the COVID-19 Lockdown: Qualitative Insights from 17 Families in Britain
Authors: Sheppard Paula , Brough Mikaela
Published: November 2022

The UK lockdowns brought about many domestic changes. One was that many families with young children found themselves in the largely unique situation where fathers who normally worked away and saw little of their children during the day were now at home full-time. This was coupled with the fact that grandparents were now unavailable as lockdown rules prohibited visits and travel and many elderly were especially vulnerable. This study aimed to explore how this novel family situation was regarded by parents of young children and how they thought it would affect their children’s social development. Thematic analysis of interviews with 24 mothers and fathers of toddlers revealed that most parents did not think that the lockdown negatively impacted their child’s development, although they worried about it nonetheless. Having fathers at home was overwhelmingly seen as a positive for both the dad’s attachment to the toddler and the toddler’s attachment to their dad. The narrative around grandparents was more divided; there was an almost even split between parents thinking grandparental absence had a negative impact on the grandparent–child relationship and those who thought it made no difference. This study provides qualitative insight into an unusual domestic situation suggesting that parents felt father-child bonds were strengthened by the lockdown, although it remains to be seen if father-child relationships are improved long-term.
Evaluation and Development of DHGF Model for Eco-Health Tourism Resources in Hong Kong Wetland Park
Authors: Chen Xiaolong , Cui Fangyuan , Lei Wachio , Liu Yifeng , Zhang Xiaohui
Published: November 2022

The aim was to explore the reserve of ecological and wellness tourism resources in the famous ecological and wellness base Hong Kong Wetland Park and further construct a systematic index system for the evaluation of ecological and wellness tourism resources in wetland parks. The DHGF algorithm was used to conduct hierarchical factor weighting analysis on ecotourism resource-related factors. The study showed that in terms of the index weights of ecological permaculture tourism resources in wetland parks, the highest weight was assigned to the permaculture tourism resources’ own conditions. According to the evaluation system of eco-health tourism resources, the comprehensive evaluation score of eco-health tourism resources of Hong Kong Wetland Park is 7.673, and the comprehensive evaluation level is grade II (good). Based on the in-depth analysis of the evaluation results, it is proposed to establish a standardized government management system, explore ecological and health tourism resources with the concept of “original ecology and green health”, cultivate “recreation and health tourism + ecological health” composite professionals in Hong Kong and Macao, and create the recommendations, including the establishment of a four-dimensional integration of “ecology + health + health + tourism” in the Greater Bay Area.
Analysis of the Variables Influencing Success in Elite Handball with Polar Coordinates
Authors: Font Roger , Daza Gabriel , Irurtia Alfredo , Tremps Victor , Cadens Maria , Mesas Jose Antonio , Iglesias Xavier
Published: November 2022

In today’s elite handball, coaching staff seek to know as much as possible about all the details of their sport to gain an advantage by adapting their model of play or by looking for the opponent’s weak points. Therefore, the aim of this study was to analyse which variables can influence success in each phase of the match with polar coordinates. Observational methodology was used to analyse success or failure within the nature of handball by means of an ad hoc observation instrument designed and validated for this research. A total of 14 elite men’s handball matches from the 2019–2020 season were analysed. The relationships between success and failure of all behaviours were performed with polar coordinates. The results show that one of the keys to achieving victory in matches is centred on a high level of success in the defensive phase that allows the team to recover the ball and to be able to go on the counterattack to obtain a clear option for a goal. This research allows us to see how we can achieve success in the different phases of the game and improve team performance with these indicators. These results suggest that it is necessary for teams to train at a high pace of play, linking the different phases of the game in order to recover the ball in the defensive phase and attack in the shortest possible time against an unstructured defence to achieve success in the match and the final victory.