bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of Parameters Affecting the Occurrence of Systemic Inflammatory Response Syndrome in Patients Operated on Due to Kidney Tumors
Authors: Marcinek Mateusz , Tkocz Michał , Marczewski Kamil , Partyka Robert , Kukulski Leszek , Młynarek-Śnieżek Krystyna , Sędziak-Marcinek Bogumiła , Rajwa Paweł , Berezowski Adam , Kokocińska Danuta
Published: August 2023

The application and prognostic nature of systemic inflammatory reaction syndrome (SIRS) is still being researched, as using SIRS parameters to predict patient status is cheap, efficient, fast, and easy. The study aimed to determine SIRS markers and postoperative complications occurrence in patients undergoing kidney tumor surgery, and to verify if SIRS occurrence depends on age, sex, BMI (body mass index), comorbidities, patients’ general condition before the surgery, type of surgery, intraoperative blood loss, or intraoperative ischemia time. Body temperature, heart rate, respiratory rate, and leukocyte count were measured in patients (n = 285) operated on due to a kidney tumor on the first (T0) and third (T3) postoperative day. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression were used to analyze the factors affecting postoperative SIRS and complications occurrence. T0: SIRS developed in patients with higher BMI, >2 ASA points, and more substantial intraoperative blood loss. T3: SIRS developed in obese or overweight patients, with >2 ASA points, significantly higher relative HR change, lower relative body temperature change, respiratory rate, and leukocyte count. BMI values, preoperative general health status, and the amount of intraoperative blood loss in patients undergoing surgery due to a kidney tumor can contribute to SIRS occurrence. Patient’s sex, age, tumor size, type of surgery, operated side, and time of intraoperative ischemia do not affect SIRS occurrence.
Evaluation of Five Mammalian Models for Human Disease Research Using Genomic and Bioinformatic Approaches
Authors: Jagadesan Sankarasubramanian , Mondal Pinaki , Carlson Mark A. , Guda Chittibabu
Published: August 2023

The suitability of an animal model for use in studying human diseases relies heavily on the similarities between the two species at the genetic, epigenetic, and metabolic levels. However, there is a lack of consistent data from different animal models at each level to evaluate this suitability. With the availability of genome sequences for many mammalian species, it is now possible to compare animal models based on genomic similarities. Herein, we compare the coding sequences (CDSs) of five mammalian models, including rhesus macaque, marmoset, pig, mouse, and rat models, with human coding sequences. We identified 10,316 conserved CDSs across the five organisms and the human genome based on sequence similarity. Mapping the human-disease-associated single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from these conserved CDSs in each species has identified species-specific associations with various human diseases. While associations with a disease such as colon cancer were prevalent in multiple model species, the rhesus macaque showed the most model-specific human disease associations. Based on the percentage of disease-associated SNP-containing genes, marmoset models are well suited to study many human ailments, including behavioral and cardiovascular diseases. This study demonstrates a genomic similarity evaluation of five animal models against human CDSs that could help investigators select a suitable animal model for studying their target disease.
Computational, In Vitro, and In Vivo Models for Nose-to-Brain Drug Delivery Studies
Authors: Boyuklieva Radka , Zagorchev Plamen , Pilicheva Bissera
Published: August 2023

Direct nose-to-brain drug delivery offers the opportunity to treat central nervous system disorders more effectively due to the possibility of drug molecules reaching the brain without passing through the blood–brain barrier. Such a delivery route allows the desired anatomic site to be reached while ensuring drug effectiveness, minimizing side effects, and limiting drug losses and degradation. However, the absorption of intranasally administered entities is a complex process that considerably depends on the interplay between the characteristics of the drug delivery systems and the nasal mucosa. Various preclinical models (in silico, in vitro, ex vivo, and in vivo) are used to study the transport of drugs after intranasal administration. The present review article attempts to summarize the different computational and experimental models used so far to investigate the direct delivery of therapeutic agents or colloidal carriers from the nasal cavity to the brain tissue. Moreover, it provides a critical evaluation of the data available from different studies and identifies the advantages and disadvantages of each model.
Substrate Stiffness of Bone Microenvironment Controls Functions of Pre-Osteoblasts and Fibroblasts In Vitro
Authors: Gao Shenghan , Chen Bo , Gao Min , Xu Yue , Yang Xueyi , Yang Chun , Pan Shaoxia
Published: August 2023

The formation of bone in a bone defect is accomplished by osteoblasts, while the over activation of fibroblasts promotes fibrosis. However, it is not clear how the extracellular matrix stiffness of the bone-regeneration microenvironment affects the function of osteoblasts and fibroblasts. This study aim to investigate the effect of bone-regeneration microenvironment stiffness on cell adhesion, cell proliferation, cell differentiation, synthesizing matrix ability and its potential mechanisms in mechanotransduction, in pre-osteoblasts and fibroblasts. Polyacrylamide substrates mimicking the matrix stiffness of different stages of the bone-healing process (15 kPa, mimic granulation tissue; 35 kPa, mimic osteoid; 150 kPa, mimic calcified bone matrix) were prepared. Mouse pre-osteoblasts MC3T3-E1 and mouse fibroblasts NIH3T3 were plated on three types of substrates, respectively. There were significant differences in the adhesion of pre-osteoblasts and fibroblasts on different polyacrylamide substrates. Runx2 expression increased with increasing substrate stiffness in pre-osteoblasts, while no statistical differences were found in the Acta2 expression in fibroblasts on three substrates. OPN expression in pre-osteoblasts, as well as Fn1 and Col1a1 expression in fibroblasts, decreased with increasing stiffness. The difference between the cell traction force generated by pre-osteoblasts and fibroblasts on substrates was also found. Our results indicated that substrate stiffness is a potent regulator of pre-osteoblasts and fibroblasts with the ability of promoting osteogenic differentiation of pre-osteoblasts, while having no effect on myofibroblast differentiation of fibroblasts.
Design and Realization of a Novel Robotic Manta Ray for Sea Cucumber Recognition, Location, and Approach
Authors: Liu Yang , Liu Zhenna , Yang Heming , Liu Zheng , Liu Jincun
Published: August 2023

Sea cucumber manual monitoring and fishing present various issues, including high expense and high risk. Meanwhile, compared to underwater bionic robots, employing autonomous underwater robots for sea cucumber monitoring and capture also has drawbacks, including low propulsion efficiency and significant noise. Therefore, this paper is concerned with the design of a robotic manta ray for sea cucumber recognition, localization, and approach. First, the developed robotic manta ray prototype and the system framework applied to real-time target search are elaborated. Second, by improved YOLOv5 object detection and binocular stereo-matching algorithms, precise recognition and localization of sea cucumbers are achieved. Thirdly, the motion controller is proposed for autonomous 3D monitoring tasks such as depth control, direction control, and target approach motion. Finally, the capabilities of the robot are validated through a series of measurements. Experimental results demonstrate that the improved YOLOv5 object detection algorithm achieves detection accuracies (mAP@0.5) of 88.4% and 94.5% on the URPC public dataset and self-collected dataset, respectively, effectively recognizing and localizing sea cucumbers. Control experiments were conducted, validating the effectiveness of the robotic manta ray’s motion toward sea cucumbers. These results highlight the robot’s capabilities in visual perception, target localization, and approach and lay the foundation to explore a novel solution for intelligent monitoring and harvesting in the aquaculture industry.
A Bibliometric Analysis of Creative Cities: Research Hotspots, Trends, and Outlooks
Authors: Ren Kexin , Zhong Na , Sun Xianhua
Published: August 2023

Creative Cities (CCs) have emerged as a prominent topic of global interest, representing a novel approach to urban development that fosters sustainability. This study employed the CiteSpace bibliometric tool to conduct a knowledge mapping analysis of CC research, utilizing the Web of Science (WoS) core collection as the data source spanning from 2004 to 20 April 2023. The research provides a comprehensive overview of the historical development of CCs, supported by both theoretical foundations and empirical data. Furthermore, it identifies research hotspots, core themes, and future trends within the field. A total of 2270 articles were retrieved for this study, revealing an upward trajectory in the number of articles associated with specific keywords. The research encompasses various disciplines, including geography, economics, urban studies, sociology, and art. The key focal points of CC investigations encompass sustainable development, cultural heritage, and information technology. The advancement of CCs has primarily focused on three core areas: theoretical research, policy strategies, and developmental challenges. This study underscores the importance of addressing issues such as gentrification, embracing information technology, and bridging the gap between theory and practice in CC development. The literature suggests that there is a dearth of comprehensive frameworks, spanning from theory to practice, which could serve as guiding principles and evaluation tools for the establishment and progress of CCs. This observation carries significant theoretical implications, while also offering a springboard for further exploration of the research hotspots by other scholars in the field.
Innate Immune System in the Context of Radiation Therapy for Cancer
Authors: Boopathi Ettickan , Den Robert B. , Thangavel Chellappagounder
Published: August 2023

Radiation therapy (RT) remains an integral component of modern oncology care, with most cancer patients receiving radiation as a part of their treatment plan. The main goal of ionizing RT is to control the local tumor burden by inducing DNA damage and apoptosis within the tumor cells. The advancement in RT, including intensity-modulated RT (IMRT), stereotactic body RT (SBRT), image-guided RT, and proton therapy, have increased the efficacy of RT, equipping clinicians with techniques to ensure precise and safe administration of radiation doses to tumor cells. In this review, we present the technological advancement in various types of RT methods and highlight their clinical utility and associated limitations. This review provides insights into how RT modulates innate immune signaling and the key players involved in modulating innate immune responses, which have not been well documented earlier. Apoptosis of cancer cells following RT triggers immune systems that contribute to the eradication of tumors through innate and adoptive immunity. The innate immune system consists of various cell types, including macrophages, dendritic cells, and natural killer cells, which serve as key mediators of innate immunity in response to RT. This review will concentrate on the significance of the innate myeloid and lymphoid lineages in anti-tumorigenic processes triggered by RT. Furthermore, we will explore essential strategies to enhance RT efficacy. This review can serve as a platform for researchers to comprehend the clinical application and limitations of various RT methods and provides insights into how RT modulates innate immune signaling.
Development of an Environment-Friendly and Electrochemical Method for the Synthesis of an Oxadiazole Drug-Scaffold That Targets Poly(ADP-Ribose)Polymerase in Human Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Parameshwaraiah Sindhu , Xi Zhang , Ravish Akshay , Mohan Arunkumar , Shankarnaik Vanishree , Dukanya Dukanya , Basappa Shreeja , Preetham Habbanakuppe , Periyasamy Ganga , Gaonkar Santhosh , Lobie Peter , Pandey Vijay , Basappa Basappa
Published: August 2023

The development of environment-friendly new Poly-adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-ribose Polymerase (PARP) inhibitors are highly essential because of their involvement in the survival of cancer cells. Therefore, a library of indazolyl-substituted-1,3,4-oxadiazoles known to inhibit PARP in cancer cells was synthesized by a green protocol. Furthermore, the cytotoxic effects of these compounds were evaluated in human MCF-7 breast cancer (BC) cells, which revealed that the compound 2-(3-bromo-4-nitrophenyl)-5-(1-methyl-1H-indazol-3-yl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (8) inhibited viability with an IC50 value of 1.57 µM. Since the oxadiazole structure was extensively used in medicinal chemistry applications, the reported environment-friendly protocol was superior to the conventional method. Further, computational mechanistic studies revealed that the oxadiazole ring formation occurred spontaneously when compared to the conventional method. Additionally, the in silico bioinformatic studies of oxadiazole binding towards PARP1 showed that compound 8 could bind to PARP1 with higher binding energy (BE) of −7.29 kcal/mol when compound to compound 5s (BE = −7.17 kcal/mol), a known PARP cleavage oxadiazole structure (2-(3,4-Dimethoxybenzyl)-5-(3-(2-fluoro-3-methylpyridin-4-yl)phenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole) indicative of the improvement in the optimization process. In conclusion, a newer indazolyl-oxadiazole compound is reported, which could serve as a lead in developing PARP inhibitors in BC cells.
New Phage-Derived Antibacterial Enzyme PolaR Targeting Rothia spp.
Authors: Miernikiewicz Paulina , Barylski Jakub , Wilczak Aleksandra , Dragoš Anna , Rybicka Izabela , Bałdysz Sophia , Szymczak Aleksander , Dogsa Iztok , Rokush Kostiantyn , Harhala Marek Adam , Ciekot Jarosław , Ferenc Stanisław , Gnus Jan , Witkiewicz Wojciech , Dąbrowska Krystyna
Published: August 2023

Rothia is an opportunistic pathogen, particularly life-threatening for the immunocompromised. It is associated with pneumonia, endocarditis, peritonitis and many other serious infections, including septicemia. Of note, Rothia mucilaginousa produces metabolites that support and increase overgrowth of Pseudomonas aeruginosa, one of the ESKAPE bacteria. Endolysins are considered as antibacterial enzymes derived from bacteriophages that selectively and efficiently kill susceptible bacteria without harming human cells or the normal microbiome. Here, we applied a computational analysis of metagenomic sequencing data of the gastric mucosa phageome extracted from human patients’ stomach biopsies. A selected candidate anti-Rothia sequence was produced in an expression system, purified and confirmed as a Rothia mucilaginosa- and Rothia dentocariosa-specific endolysin PolaR, able to destroy bacterial cells even when aggregated, as in a biofilm. PolaR had no cytotoxic or antiproliferative effects on mammalian cells. PolaR is the first described endolysin selectively targeting Rothia species, with a high potential to combat infections caused by Rothia mucilaginosa and Rothia dentocariosa, and possibly other bacterial groups. PolaR is the first antibacterial enzyme selected from the gastric mucosa phageome, which underlines the biological complexity and probably underestimated biological role of the phageome in the human gastric mucosa.
Nanoscale Phytosomes as an Emerging Modality for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Kadriya Ahmad , Falah Mizied
Published: August 2023

Extracellular vesicle (EV) research has expanded substantially over the years. EVs have been identified in all living organisms and are produced and released as a means of intercellular communication or as a defense mechanism. Recently, nano-scaled vesicles were successfully isolated from edible plant sources. Plant-derived EVs, referred to here as phytosomes, are of a size reported to range between 30 nm and 120 nm in diameter, similar to small mammalian extracellular vesicles, and carry various bioactive molecules such as mRNA, proteins, miRNA and lipids. Due to the availability of many plants, phytosomes can be easily isolated on a large scale. The methods developed for EV isolation from mammalian cells have been successfully applied for isolation and purification of phytosomes. The therapeutic effects of phytosomes on different disease models, such as inflammation and autoimmune disease, have been reported, and a handful of studies have suggested their therapeutic effects on cancer diseases. Overall, the research on phytosomes is still in its infancy and requires more exploration. This review will narrate the anti-cancer activity and characteristics of phytosomes derived from edible plants as well as describe studies which have utilized phytosomes as drug delivery vehicles for cancer with the ultimate objective of significantly reducing the adverse effects associated with conventional therapeutic approaches.
Doxorubicin Changes the Spatial Organization of the Genome around Active Promoters
Authors: Stefanova Maria E. , Ing-Simmons Elizabeth , Stefanov Stefan , Flyamer Ilya , Dorado Garcia Heathcliff , Schöpflin Robert , Henssen Anton G. , Vaquerizas Juan M. , Mundlos Stefan
Published: August 2023

In this study, we delve into the impact of genotoxic anticancer drug treatment on the chromatin structure of human cells, with a particular focus on the effects of doxorubicin. Using Hi-C, ChIP-seq, and RNA-seq, we explore the changes in chromatin architecture brought about by doxorubicin and ICRF193. Our results indicate that physiologically relevant doses of doxorubicin lead to a local reduction in Hi-C interactions in certain genomic regions that contain active promoters, with changes in chromatin architecture occurring independently of Top2 inhibition, cell cycle arrest, and differential gene expression. Inside the regions with decreased interactions, we detected redistribution of RAD21 around the peaks of H3K27 acetylation. Our study also revealed a common structural pattern in the regions with altered architecture, characterized by two large domains separated from each other. Additionally, doxorubicin was found to increase CTCF binding in H3K27 acetylated regions. Furthermore, we discovered that Top2-dependent chemotherapy causes changes in the distance decay of Hi-C contacts, which are driven by direct and indirect inhibitors. Our proposed model suggests that doxorubicin-induced DSBs cause cohesin redistribution, which leads to increased insulation on actively transcribed TAD boundaries. Our findings underscore the significant impact of genotoxic anticancer treatment on the chromatin structure of the human genome.
Early Childhood Educators’ Knowledge, Self-Efficacy and Risk Tolerance for Outdoor Risky Play Following a Professional Risk Re-Framing Workshop
Authors: Szpunar Monika , Johnson Andrew M. , Driediger Molly , Tucker Patricia
Published: August 2023

Children’s outdoor risky play is important for healthy development. However, Early Childhood Educators (ECEs) concern for child safety often restricts risky play affordances during childcare. To reduce this trend, an Outdoor Play Risk Re-Framing workshop was delivered to ECEs in London, Ontario, and the immediate/short-term impact of the workshop on ECEs’ knowledge, self-efficacy, and risk tolerance for engaging children in outdoor risky play was examined. Via a natural experiment, using a quasi-experimental design, ECEs in the experimental group (n = 119) completed an Outdoor Play Risk Re-Framing workshop, while ECEs in the comparison group (n = 51) continued their typical curriculum. All ECEs completed the same survey assessing their knowledge (n = 11 items), self-efficacy (n = 15 items), and risk tolerance (n = 27 items) at baseline and 1-week post-intervention. A maximum likelihood linear mixed effects model was conducted, while deductive content analysis was used for open-ended items. The workshop intervention resulted in significant improvements in ECEs’ self-efficacy (p = 0.001); however, no significant changes were observed for knowledge (i.e., awareness and practices; p = 0.01 and p = 0.49, respectively) or risk tolerance (p = 0.20). Qualitative data revealed similar findings across both groups, highlighting physical development as a benefit to outdoor risky play and fear of liability as a barrier. In conclusion, providing ECEs with an Outdoor Play Risk Re-Framing workshop shows promise for supporting their self-efficacy to promote this behavior but does not impact ECEs’ knowledge or risk tolerance to lead outdoor risky play.
Forced Swimming-Induced Depressive-like Behavior and Anxiety Are Reduced by Chlorpheniramine via Suppression of Oxidative and Inflammatory Mediators and Activating the Nrf2-BDNF Signaling Pathway
Authors: Alamri Hasan S. , Mufti Rana , Sabir Deema Kamal , Abuderman Abdulwahab A. , Dawood Amal F. , ShamsEldeen Asmaa M. , Haidara Mohamed A. , Isenovic Esma R. , El-Bidawy Mahmoud H.
Published: August 2023

The first-generation antihistamine chlorpheniramine (CPA) is believed to have both anxiolytic and antidepressant properties. The current study sought to assess the mechanisms behind the antidepressant and anxiolytic effects of CPA therapy concerning oxidative stress, inflammation, and nuclear factor p45 for erythroid 2-Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (Nrf2-BDNF) signaling pathway in forced swimming-induced depressive-like behavior and anxiety. Eighteen male Wistar rats (180–200 gm) rats were separated into three groups (n = 6): a stressed group (acute stress) that underwent the forced swimming test (FST) and a stressed group that received pretreatment with CPA (10 mg/kg body weight) for 3 weeks (CPA + acute stress). Animals were subsequently put through the following behavioral tests after undergoing a forced swim test (FST) for 5 min: an immobility test, open field test, and elevated plus maze test. Serum cortisol levels were measured when the rats were euthanized at the end of the experiments. Brain neurotransmitters (cortisol, serotonin, and noradrenaline), oxidative stress (SOD and MDA), inflammatory (IL-6 and IL-1) biomarkers, and the Nrf2-BDNF signaling pathway in the hippocampus and cerebral cortex tissues was determined. CPA prevented stress-induced increases in cortisol levels (p < 0.0001), decreased brain neurotransmitters, and increased oxidative stress and inflammation. CPA also upregulated the Nrf2-BDNF signaling pathway. Thus, CPA mitigates depressive-like behavior and anxiety by inhibiting oxidative stress and inflammation and upregulating the Nrf2-BDNF signaling pathway in the brain tissues.
Examination of Non-Modified Carbon Fibre Bundle as an Electrode for Electrochemical Sensing
Authors: Elsakova Alexandra , Merzlikin Mark , Jafarov Ali , Zilinskaite Nemira , Sulciute Agne , Baradoke Ausra
Published: August 2023

This study presents a simple and cost-effective method for producing carbon fibre microcylinder bundle (CFMB) electrodes that are highly stable and reproducible for electrochemical sensing applications. The CFMBs were integrated into a 3D-printed electrochemical cell and tested for dopamine (DA) detection. The results demonstrated a linear increase in current with increasing DA concentration, reaching a sensitivity of 428 nAμM−1 and a limit of detection (LOD) of 8.85 μM. The CFMBs also showed high electrochemical selectivity for DA due to the similar oxidation potentials of dopamine and the chemical groups present on the surface of the CFMBs. The reproducibility of the CFMBs was also demonstrated by the low variation in background currents between different electrodes. These findings highlight the potential of CFMBs as a low-cost and effective platform for electrochemical sensing applications.
A Study on Poly(ethylene oxide)-Based Supercapacitors Doped with Various Dopants
Authors: Hui Chi-Yuen , Kan Chi-Wai , Chau Kam-Hong
Published: August 2023

In this study, different concentrations of lithium perchlorate (LiClO4) and various types of nanocarbons were applied to form poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO)-based electrochemical double-layer (EDL) supercapacitors. For samples doped with various concentrations of LiClO4, 1 g/L of LiClO4 was prepared and mixed with PEO solution in different ratios for different concentrations of PEO:Li+ mixtures for further solution casting. It was found that the maximum current density and specific capacitance of the sample prepared under the ratio of 100:1 of PEO:Li+ were 1.84 μA/cm2 with a scanning rate of 100 mV/s and 33.56 nF/cm2 at 40 Hz, respectively. These were 10 times and nearly 18 times better than the control capacitor prepared without LiClO4. In addition, nanocarbons with four different structures, including mesoporous carbon nanopowders (Meso) and multi-walled (MW), double-walled (DW) and single-walled (SW) carbon nanotubes, were mixed with PEO solution to prepare samples via solution casting. The comparison of four types of nanocarbons showed that DW contributed the highest maximum current density and the specific capacitance at 10.51 μA/cm2 under a scanning rate of 100 mV/s and 32.798 nF/cm2 at 40 Hz, 60 times and 17 times higher than that of the control sample casted without any dopants.
Uncoupling Techniques for Multispecies Diffusion–Reaction Model
Authors: Vasilyeva Maria , Stepanov Sergei , Sadovski Alexey , Henry Stephen
Published: August 2023

We consider the multispecies model described by a coupled system of diffusion–reaction equations, where the coupling and nonlinearity are given in the reaction part. We construct a semi-discrete form using a finite volume approximation by space. The fully implicit scheme is used for approximation by time, which leads to solving the coupled nonlinear system of equations at each time step. This paper presents two uncoupling techniques based on the explicit–implicit scheme and the operator-splitting method. In the explicit–implicit scheme, we take the concentration of one species in coupling term from the previous time layer to obtain a linear uncoupled system of equations. The second approach is based on the operator-splitting technique, where we first solve uncoupled equations with the diffusion operator and then solve the equations with the local reaction operator. The stability estimates are derived for both proposed uncoupling schemes. We present a numerical investigation for the uncoupling techniques with varying time step sizes and different scales of the diffusion coefficient.
Mean Heart Dose Prediction Using Parameters of Single-Slice Computed Tomography and Body Mass Index: Machine Learning Approach for Radiotherapy of Left-Sided Breast Cancer of Asian Patients
Authors: Al-Hammad Wlla E. , Kuroda Masahiro , Kamizaki Ryo , Tekiki Nouha , Ishizaka Hinata , Kuroda Kazuhiro , Sugimoto Kohei , Oita Masataka , Tanabe Yoshinori , Barham Majd , Sugianto Irfan , Shimizu Yudai , Nakamitsu Yuki , Asaumi Junichi
Published: August 2023

Deep inspiration breath-hold (DIBH) is an excellent technique to reduce the incidental radiation received by the heart during radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer. However, DIBH is costly and time-consuming for patients and radiotherapy staff. In Asian countries, the use of DIBH is restricted due to the limited number of patients with a high mean heart dose (MHD) and the shortage of radiotherapy personnel and equipment compared to that in the USA. This study aimed to develop, evaluate, and compare the performance of ten machine learning algorithms for predicting MHD using a patient’s body mass index and single-slice CT parameters to identify patients who may not require DIBH. Machine learning models were built and tested using a dataset containing 207 patients with left-sided breast cancer who were treated with field-in-field radiotherapy with free breathing. The average MHD was 251 cGy. Stratified repeated four-fold cross-validation was used to build models using 165 training data. The models were compared internally using their average performance metrics: F2 score, AUC, recall, accuracy, Cohen’s kappa, and Matthews correlation coefficient. The final performance evaluation for each model was further externally analyzed using 42 unseen test data. The performance of each model was evaluated as a binary classifier by setting the cut-off value of MHD ≥ 300 cGy. The deep neural network (DNN) achieved the highest F2 score (78.9%). Most models successfully classified all patients with high MHD as true positive. This study indicates that the ten models, especially the DNN, might have the potential to identify patients who may not require DIBH.
Comparative Effectiveness of Two Models of Point-of-Care Ultrasound for Detection of Post-Void Residual Urine during Acute Ischemic Stroke: Preliminary Findings of Real-World Clinical Application
Authors: Chang Wan-Ling , Lai Shu-Hui , Cheng Chu-Fang , Chiu Valeria , Lin Shinn-Kuang
Published: August 2023

We conducted a comparative study of two models of point-of-care ultrasound devices for measuring post-void residual urine (PVRU). We prospectively enrolled 55 stroke inpatients who underwent both real-time B-mode ultrasound (Device A) and automated three-dimensional (3D) scanning ultrasound (Device B), with a total of 108 measurements. The median PVRU volume of Device B was 40 mL larger than that of Device A. The PVRU difference between the devices was positively and linearly correlated with PVRU. The correlation of PVRU volume between the devices was strong, but the agreement level was only moderate. Measurement deviations were observed in 43 (40%) and 11 (10%) measurements with Device B and Device A, respectively. The PVRU volume was low in spherical bladder shapes but sequentially increased in triangular, undefined, ellipsoid, and cuboid bladder shapes. Further comparison of 60 sets of PVRU without measurement deviations revealed higher agreements between the devices at correction coefficients of 0.52, 0.66, and 0.81 for PVRU volumes of <100, 100–200, and >200 mL, respectively. The automated 3D scanning ultrasound is more convenient for learning and scanning, but it exhibits larger measurement deviations. Real-time B-mode ultrasound accurately visualizes the urinary bladder but tends to underestimate the urinary bladder when the PVRU volume is large. Hence, real-time B-mode ultrasound with automated PVRU-based adjustment of calculation formulas may be a better solution for estimating bladder volume.
A Multiscale Recursive Attention Gate Federation Method for Multiple Working Conditions Fault Diagnosis
Authors: Zhang Zhiqiang , Zhou Funa , Wang Chaoge , Wen Chenglin , Hu Xiong , Wang Tianzhen
Published: August 2023

Federated learning (FL) is an effective method when a single client cannot provide enough samples for multiple condition fault diagnosis of bearings since it can combine the information provided by multiple clients. However, some of the client’s working conditions are different; for example, different clients are in different stages of the whole life cycle, and different clients have different loads. At this point, the status of each client is not equal, and the traditional FL approach will lead to some clients’ useful information being ignored. The purpose of this paper is to investigate a multiscale recursive FL framework that makes the server more focused on the useful information provided by the clients to ensure the effectiveness of FL. The proposed FL method can build reliable multiple working condition fault diagnosis models due to the increased focus on useful information in the FL process and the full utilization of server information through local multiscale feature fusion. The validity of the proposed method was verified with the Case Western Reserve University benchmark dataset. With less local client training data and complex fault types, the proposed method improves the accuracy of fault diagnosis by 23.21% over the existing FL fault diagnosis.
Task-Decoupled Knowledge Transfer for Cross-Modality Object Detection
Authors: Wei Chiheng , Bai Lianfa , Chen Xiaoyu , Han Jing
Published: August 2023

In harsh weather conditions, the infrared modality can supplement or even replace the visible modality. However, the lack of a large-scale dataset for infrared features hinders the generation of a robust pre-training model. Most existing infrared object-detection algorithms rely on pre-training models from the visible modality, which can accelerate network convergence but also limit performance due to modality differences. In order to provide more reliable feature representation for cross-modality object detection and enhance its performance, this paper investigates the impact of various task-relevant features on cross-modality object detection and proposes a knowledge transfer algorithm based on classification and localization decoupling analysis. A task-decoupled pre-training method is introduced to adjust the attributes of various tasks learned by the pre-training model. For the training phase, a task-relevant hyperparameter evolution method is proposed to increase the network’s adaptability to attribute changes in pre-training weights. Our proposed method improves the accuracy of multiple modalities in multiple datasets, with experimental results on the FLIR ADAS dataset reaching a state-of-the-art level and surpassing most multi-spectral object-detection methods.
The Teacher’s Wellbeing as a Binary Asset When Working with Newly Arrived Immigrant Pupils
Authors: Norozi Sultana Ali , Ness Ottar
Published: August 2023

The influx of immigrants has led to increased cultural and ethnic diversity in classrooms, presenting unique challenges for teachers who work with pupils with varying linguistic, social, and cultural backgrounds. This paper examines the impact of these challenges on the wellbeing of teachers who work with newly arrived immigrant pupils. It is argued that a lack of knowledge and skills in this area can be educationally, socially, and psychologically demanding for teachers, negatively affecting their wellbeing. Teachers’ wellbeing can be influenced by two main factors: personal and internal factors such as perceptions and ideology and contextual and external factors such as workload, low student motivation, lack of support, conflict with colleagues, and role ambiguity. Despite the importance of teacher wellbeing, it has received less attention than pupils’ wellbeing. Using an ethnographic study that collected data over a school year in two phases, this paper investigates the perceptions and self-constructed pedagogies of the teacher working with newly arrived immigrant pupils. Findings reveal that the teacher’s emphasis on her wellbeing, as well as her pupils’ wellbeing, emerged as the center of her self-constructed approaches. We posit that ‘diversity-related teacher wellbeing’ is crucial in wellbeing pedagogy, given that diversity is one of the main elements in reception classes. For the successful education of newly arrived immigrant pupils, the wellbeing of teachers who work with this group should be prioritized. This paper contributes to the field of wellbeing education by highlighting the importance of teacher wellbeing as a part of wellbeing pedagogy for newcomer pupils. Improving teacher wellbeing may have a positive effect on the wellbeing of newly arrived immigrant pupils, creating a win-win situation. The paper concludes with suggestions for professional support and directions for future research.
A Fully Integrated 0.6 Gbps Data Communication System for Inductive-Based Digital Isolator with 0.8 ns Propagation Delay and 10−15 BER
Authors: Altoobaji Isa , Hassan Ahmad , Ali Mohamed , Nabavi Morteza , Audet Yves , Lakhssassi Ahmed
Published: August 2023

Digital isolators are implemented to protect low-voltage electronics and ensure human safety during high-voltage surge events. In this work, we present the design of an inductive-based digital isolation system that can sustain up to 1 kVrms breakdown voltage. The proposed system is designed using the pulse polarity modulation scheme and fabricated in a 0.35 μm CMOS. Two identical dies are bounded within the IC package, with one die housing the transmitter (Tx) and the isolation transformer, while the other die contains the receiver (Rx). Two different customized designs between three metal layers are implemented to form the isolation element. The transformer’s secondary coil is constructed in metal-1, while the primary coil is formed in metal-2 and metal-3 for comparing the system functionality, isolation capability, and propagation delay. The functionality has been verified by measurements for an operating frequency of 300 MHz with a 2.6 ns propagation delay and an energy consumption of 8.15 × 103 pJ/bit at 1 Mbps. The chip was tested under extreme temperatures and achieved a maximum measured common mode transient immunity (CMTI) of 500 V/μs. Jitter has been examined to ensure fast transmission at a bit error rate (BER) of 10−15 with a total jitter (TJ) of 188.18 ps.
Fish Monitoring from Low-Contrast Underwater Images
Authors: Petrellis Nikos , Keramidas Georgios , Antonopoulos Christos P. , Voros Nikolaos
Published: August 2023

A toolset supporting fish detection, orientation, tracking and especially morphological feature estimation with high speed and accuracy, is presented in this paper. It can be exploited in fish farms to automate everyday procedures including size measurement and optimal harvest time estimation, fish health assessment, quantification of feeding needs, etc. It can also be used in an open sea environment to monitor fish size, behavior and the population of various species. An efficient deep learning technique for fish detection is employed and adapted, while methods for fish tracking are also proposed. The fish orientation is classified in order to apply a shape alignment technique that is based on the Ensemble of Regression Trees machine learning method. Shape alignment allows the estimation of fish dimensions (length, height) and the localization of fish body parts of particular interest such as the eyes and gills. The proposed method can estimate the position of 18 landmarks with an accuracy of about 95% from low-contrast underwater images where the fish can be hardly distinguished from its background. Hardware and software acceleration techniques have been applied at the shape alignment process reducing the frame processing latency to less than 0.5 us on a general purpose computer and less than 16 ms on an embedded platform. As a case study, the developed system has been trained and tested with several Mediterranean fish species in the category of seabream. A large public dataset with low-resolution underwater videos and images has also been developed to test the proposed system under worst case conditions.
Evaluation of the Accuracy of the Analytical Model of a Queuing System with a Finite-Compression Mechanism in Relation to Real Service Disciplines
Authors: Hanczewski Sławomir , Weissenberg Joanna
Published: August 2023

The article presents the findings of a study that evaluates the feasibility of using an analytical model for a multi-service queuing system with a SDFIFO queuing service discipline and finite compression mechanism to approximate queuing systems with different queuing service disciplines (e.g., FIFO, cFIFO) while also incorporating finite compression. The evaluation involves comparing results obtained from an analytical model with those of simulation studies. The study considers the blocking probability and average queue length as factors. Additionally, two types of compressed traffic were analysed: elastic and adaptive. These are characteristic of modern telecommunications networks, particularly in multimedia applications. This paper is an extended version of our paper published in 4th CoBCom 2022.
Overview of Hybrid Energy Storage Systems Combined with RES in Poland
Authors: Hylla Piotr , Trawiński Tomasz , Polnik Bartosz , Burlikowski Wojciech , Prostański Dariusz
Published: August 2023

This article reviews the most popular energy storage technologies and hybrid energy storage systems. With the dynamic development of the sector of renewable energy sources, it has become necessary to design and implement solutions that enable the maximum use of the energy obtained; for this purpose, an energy storage device is suggested. The most popular methods of electric energy storage are described, with an indication of the features of each technology, along with the presentation of the advantages and disadvantages of a given storage reservoir. Next, hybrid energy storage systems are presented along with their suggested applications and advantages resulting from the hybridization of technologically diverse energy storage systems.
Review of Transition from Mining 4.0 to 5.0 in Fossil Energy Sources Production
Authors: Zhironkin Sergey , Dotsenko Elena
Published: August 2023

The problem of sustainability of energy production in the context of the expansion of renewable energy cannot be solved without a deep technological modernization of the fossil fuels extraction in line with Industry 4.0. Along with this, the expected transition to the human-centric Industry 5.0 raises the question for researchers: what core technologies of the Mining 4.0 platform will determine its transformation into Mining 5.0 in order to meet the imperative of sustainable development and the dominance of green energy. This review presents a multifaceted overview of Mining 4.0 core technologies, derived from Industry 4.0, such as smart sensors, neural networks, Big Data analytics, Internet of Things, digital twins and artificial intelligence, that form cyber-physical systems for high-performance and complete extraction of fossil energy sources. The review of works in the field of transition to Industry 5.0 is associated with Mining 5.0 core technologies—Cloud Mining, post-mining, biochemical extraction of minerals and production of green hydrogen fuel from fossil hydrocarbons, which is expected after 2050. A conclusion is made about the need for a deep analysis of harmonizing the possibilities for the innovative development of fossil fuel sources and renewable energy for sustainable energy production in the upcoming decades.
Geological Characteristics and Challenges of Marine Shale Gas in the Southern Sichuan Basin
Authors: Sun Shasha , Huang Shiwei , Cheng Feng , Bai Wenhua , Shao Zhaoyuan
Published: August 2023

After more than 10 years of exploration, development, research, and practical efforts, China has opened up new perspectives for the commercial exploitation of marine shale gas. While high shale gas production is a main driver for energy security and economic development in China, there have been few attempts to systemically scientific analysis the challenges, prospect, development strategies, and goals for shale gas. Here, we present a detailed comparison of the differences in shale gas between the Sichuan Basin and North America from multiple dimensions, explain how and to what extent recent advances have been made, discuss the current challenges, and provide strategies to deal with these challenges. We demonstrate that a total of 13 graptolite zones developed in the Wufeng–Longmaxi Formations, achieved by representative cores from 32 coring wells and 7 outcrop profiles, can establish the chronostratigraphic framework in the Sichuan Basin, which leads to the potential impact of high-quality reservoir distribution and shale gas production. Shale gas is still faced with the challenges of complex underground and surface conditions, low single-well EUR, and immature deep development engineering technology. To circumvent these issues, here, we propose several strategies, including sweet-spot optimization, low-cost drilling techniques, and efficient fracturing technologies. Our results strengthen the importance of adopting fundamental theoretical research and practical and feasible development goals to realize more commercial discoveries of shale gas of diverse types and higher growth of shale gas reserves and production.
Estimation of Free and Adsorbed Gas Volumes in Shale Gas Reservoirs under a Poro-Elastic Environment
Authors: Azim Reda Abdel , Aljehani Abdulrahman , Alatefi Saad
Published: August 2023

Unlike conventional gas reservoirs, fluid flow in shale gas reservoirs is characterized by complex interactions between various factors, such as stress sensitivity, matrix shrinkage, and critical desorption pressure. These factors play a crucial role in determining the behavior and productivity of shale gas reservoirs. Stress sensitivity refers to the stress changes caused by formation pressure decline during production, where the shale gas formation becomes more compressed and its porosity decreases. Matrix shrinkage, on the other hand, refers to the deformation of the shale matrix due to the gas desorption process once the reservoir pressure reaches the critical desorption pressure where absorbed gas molecules start to leave the matrix surface, causing an increase in shale matrix porosity. Therefore, the accurate estimation of gas reserves requires careful consideration of such unique and complex interactions of shale gas flow behavior when using a material balance equation (MBE). However, the existing MBEs either neglect some of these important parameters in shale gas reserve analysis or employ an iterative approach to incorporate them. Accordingly, this study introduces a straightforward modification to the material balance equation. This modification will enable more accurate estimation of shale gas reserves by considering stress sensitivity and variations in porosity during shale gas production and will also account for the effect of critical desorption pressure, water production, and water influx. By establishing a linear relationship between reservoir expansion and production terms, we eliminate the need for complex and iterative calculations. As a result, this approach offers a simpler yet effective means of estimating shale gas reserves without compromising accuracy. The proposed MBE was validated using an in-house finite element poro-elastic model which accounts for stress re-distribution and deformation effects during shale gas production. Moreover, the proposed MBE was tested using real-field data of a shale gas reservoir obtained from the literature. The results of this study demonstrate the reliability and usefulness of the modified MBE as a tool for accurately assessing free and adsorbed shale gas volumes.