bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Generation and Characterization of Recombinant Pseudorabies Virus Delivering African Swine Fever Virus CD2v and p54
Authors: Wei Jianhui , Liu Chuancheng , He Xinyan , Abbas Bilal , Chen Qi , Li Zhaolong , Feng Zhihua
Published: December 2023

African swine fever (ASF) leads to high mortality in domestic pigs and wild boar, and it is caused by the African swine fever virus (ASFV). Currently, no commercially available vaccine exists for its prevention in China. In this study, we engineered a pseudorabies recombinant virus (PRV) expressing ASFV CD2v and p54 proteins (PRV-∆TK-(CD2v)-∆gE-(p54)) using CRISPR/Cas9 and homologous recombination technology. PRV-∆TK-(CD2v)-∆gE-(p54) effectively delivers CD2v and p54, and it exhibits reduced virulence. Immunization with PRV-∆TK-(CD2v)-∆gE-(p54) neither induces pruritus nor causes systemic infection and inflammation. Furthermore, a double knockout of the TK and gE genes eliminates the depletion of T, B, and monocytes/macrophages in the blood caused by wild-type viral infection, decreases the proliferation of granulocytes to eliminate T-cell immunosuppression from granulocytes, and enhances the ability of the immune system against PRV infection. An overexpression of CD2v and p54 proteins does not alter the characteristics of PRV-∆TK/∆gE. Moreover, PRV-∆TK-(CD2v)-∆gE-(p54) successfully induces antibody production via intramuscular (IM) vaccination and confers effective protection for vaccinated mice upon challenge. Thus, PRV-∆TK-(CD2v)-∆gE-(p54) demonstrates good immunogenicity and safety, providing highly effective protection against PRV and ASFV. It potentially represents a suitable candidate for the development of a bivalent vaccine against both PRV and ASFV infections.
Delayed Reaction of Radiation on the Central Nervous System and Bone System in C57BL/6J Mice
Authors: Ru Yi , Zhang Xianxie , Shen Baoying , Yang Chunqi , Yu Huijing , Liu Zuoxu , Wu Xiangjun , Li Fangyang , Cui Jialu , Lai Chengcai , Wang Yuguang , Gao Yue
Published: December 2023

The aim of this study was to provide a suitable mouse model of radiation-induced delayed reaction and identify potential targets for drug development related to the prevention and treatment of radiation injury. C57BL/6J mice were subjected to singular (109 cGy/min, 5 Gy*1) and fractional (109 cGy/min, 5 Gy*2) total body irradiation. The behavior and activity of mice were assessed 60 days after ionizing radiation (IR) exposure. After that, the pathological changes and mechanism of the mouse brain and femoral tissues were observed by HE, Nissl, Trap staining micro-CT scanning and RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq), and Western blot. The results show that singular or fractional IR exposure led to a decrease in spatial memory ability and activity in mice, and the cognitive and motor functions gradually recovered after singular 5 Gy IR in a time-dependent manner, while the fractional 10 Gy IR group could not recover. The decrease in bone density due to the increase in osteoclast number may be relative to the down-regulation of RUNX2, sclerostin, and beta-catenin. Meanwhile, the brain injury caused by IR exposure is mainly linked to the down-regulation of BNDF and Tau. IR exposure leads to memory impairment, reduced activity, and self-recovery, which are associated with time and dose. The mechanism of cognitive and activity damage was mainly related to oxidative stress and apoptosis induced by DNA damage. The damage caused by fractional 10 Gy TBI is relatively stable and can be used as a stable multi-organ injury model for radiation mechanism research and anti-radiation medicine screening.
Personalized Evidence-Based Management of Patent Ductus Arteriosus in Preterm Infants
Authors: Chan Belinda , Singh Yogen
Published: December 2023

There is no universal consensus on management of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) in preterm infants and it varies significantly worldwide, even among the clinicians within units. The decision to treat requires a thorough understanding of the clinical status of the patient, clinical evaluation of PDA, echocardiographic diagnosis, and hemodynamic impact of ductal shunt on the pulmonary and systemic circulation. In this article, updated evidence on the efficacy and adverse effects of pharmacological treatment options and expectant management are presented, while highlighting the long-term benefits of PDA treatment remains equivocal and controversial. The authors propose a schematic targeted PDA treatment approach based on gestational and chronological age for practical clinical use, and they emphasize important future directions including advancement in PDA device closure techniques, diagnostic echo-parameters, hemodynamic evaluation to assess the impact on other organs, and understanding the long-term outcomes.
The Therapy of SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children
Authors: Edwards Kathryn M.
Published: December 2023

The impact of SARS-CoV-2 infections in children has fortunately been lower than what has been seen in adults. However, even previously healthy children have developed severe disease, sometimes with subsequent mortality, and those who are infants or adolescents, are from racial and ethnic minority groups, or have certain chronic conditions are at higher risk of these outcomes. During the pandemic, extensive studies of therapeutic agents, including antivirals and immunomodulators, were conducted in adults. Few trials included children, and most were in older children and adolescents. Thus, the potential benefits of therapies in children must be extrapolated from adult evidence. Despite these limitations, advisory committees of the National Institute of Health (NIH), the Infectious Disease Society of America (IDSA), and the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society (PIDS) were constituted, and expert consensus guidelines were developed. This review provides a synthesis of those comprehensive recommendations for therapy in children. These address treatment during the early infectious period with antiviral agents, including remdesivir and nirmatrelvir/ritonavir, as well as treatment in the later period of immune dysregulation with corticosteroids and immunomodulators. In addition, the therapeutic approach for multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children (MIS-C), also referred to as Pediatric Inflammatory Multisystem Syndrome temporally associated with SARS-CoV-2 (PIMS-TS), is also provided.
Combined Prognostic Value of Preprocedural Protein–Energy Wasting and Inflammation Status for Amputation and/or Mortality after Lower-Extremity Revascularization in Hemodialysis Patients with Peripheral Arterial Disease
Authors: Kumada Yoshitaka , Kawai Norikazu , Ishida Narihiro , Nakamura Yasuhito , Takahashi Hiroshi , Ohshima Satoru , Ito Ryuta , Izawa Hideo , Murohara Toyoaki , Ishii Hideki
Published: December 2023

Protein–energy wasting is associated with inflammation and advanced atherosclerosis in hemodialysis patients. We enrolled 800 patients who had undergone successful lower-extremity revascularization, and we investigated the association among the Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) as a surrogate marker of protein–energy wasting, C-reactive protein (CRP), and their joint roles in predicting amputation and mortality. They were divided into lower, middle, and upper tertiles (T1, T2, and T3) according to GNRI and CRP levels, respectively. Regarding the results, the amputation-free survival rates over 8 years were 47.0%, 56.9%, and 69.5% in T1, T2, and T3 of the GNRI and 65.8%, 58.7%, and 33.2% for T1, T2, and T3 of CRP, respectively (p < 0.0001 for both). A reduced GNRI [adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) 1.78, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.24–2.59, p = 0.0016 for T1 vs. T3] and elevated CRP (aHR 1.86, 95% CI 1.30–2.70, p = 0.0007 for T3 vs. T1) independently predicted amputation and/or mortality. When the two variables were combined, the risk was 3.77-fold higher (95% CI 1.97–7.69, p < 0.0001) in patients who occupied both T1 of the GNRI and T3 of CRP than in those who occupied both T3 of the GNRI and T1 of CRP. In conclusion, patients with preprocedurally decreased GNRI and elevated CRP levels frequently experienced amputation and mortality, and a combination of these two variables could more accurately stratify the risk.
Differences in the Clinical Manifestations and Host Immune Responses to SARS-CoV-2 Variants in Children Compared to Adults
Authors: Demirhan Salih , Goldman David L. , Herold Betsy C.
Published: December 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic challenged the medical field to rapidly identify and implement new approaches to the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of SARS-CoV-2 infections. The scientific community also needed to rapidly initiate basic, translational, clinical and epidemiological studies to understand the pathophysiology of this new family of viruses, which continues to evolve with the emergence of new genetic variants. One of the earliest clinical observations that provided a framework for the research was the finding that, in contrast to most other respiratory viruses, children developed less severe acute and post-acute disease compared to adults. Although the clinical manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 infection changed with each new wave of the pandemic, which was dominated by evolving viral variants, the differences in severity between children and adults persisted. Comparative immunologic studies have shown that children mount a more vigorous local innate response characterized by the activation of interferon pathways and recruitment of innate cells to the mucosa, which may mitigate against the hyperinflammatory adaptive response and systemic cytokine release that likely contributed to more severe outcomes including acute respiratory distress syndrome in adults. In this review, the clinical manifestations and immunologic responses in children during the different waves of COVID-19 are discussed.
Menarche in Scoliotic and Non-Scoliotic Balkan Girls and the Relationship between Menarche and the Laterality of Scoliotic Curves
Authors: Pjanic Samra , Jevtic Nikola , Grivas Theodoros B.
Published: December 2023

Background: Menarche, as an important parameter in the assessment of scoliosis progression in girls, is proven to be dependent on geographical latitude. The aim of this study was to determine whether the age of menarche differs in scoliotic and non-scoliotic Balkan girls and the relationship between menarche and the laterality of scoliotic curves. Participants and Methods: This is a retrospective study with three groups: scoliotic, non-scoliotic, and control. Patient data collection and analysis were approved by the Ethical Committee of the Institute. Statistical Analysis: The SPSS 24 program was used, and we employed One-way ANOVA, Fisher’s, and Chi-squared tests to compare different groups. Statistical significance was defined as p < 0.05. Results: No statistically significant difference was found in the age of menarche between the three groups (p = 0.168). In the scoliotic postmenarchal group, the primary right curve was dominant in 54.80%, while in the scoliotic premenarchal group, the primary left curve was dominant in 60.09% (p < 0.01). Conclusion: In Balkan girls from Bosnia and Herzegovina and Serbia, there was no significant difference in the age of menarche between scoliotic and non-scoliotic girls. A significant difference was found in the laterality of the primary curve in premenarchal and postmenarchal scoliotic girls.
Prognostic Implications of Intratumoral Budding in Colorectal Cancer: Detailed Analysis Based on Tumor-Infiltrating Lymphocytes
Authors: Pyo Jung-Soo , Choi Ji Eun , Kim Nae Yu , Min Kyueng-Whan , Kang Dong-Wook
Published: December 2023

Background: This study aims to understand the clinical and pathological importance of intratumoral budding (ITB) in colorectal cancer (CRC) and its relationship with tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs). CRCs can be classified into hot (high immunoscore (IS)) and cold (low IS) tumors. Methods: We investigated the number of ITBs in a hotspot area and categorized them into high-ITB (≥5) and low-ITB (<5) groups. The clinicopathological significance of ITB in human CRCs was evaluated, and a detailed analysis based on tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs) was also performed. Results: High ITB was identified in 59 of 266 CRC cases (22.2%). High ITB significantly correlated with a poorly differentiated tumor, lympho-vascular invasion, perineural invasion, higher pT stage, lymph node metastasis, and higher metastatic lymph node ratio. High ITB was also significantly correlated with a low IS and low CD8-positive lymphocytic infiltrate. The number of ITBs was substantially higher in the low-IS group than in the high-IS group (3.28 ± 3.31 vs. 2.19 ± 2.59; p = 0.005). High ITB significantly correlated with worse overall survival (p = 0.004). In the low-IS group, CRCs with high ITB had a significantly worse prognosis than those with low ITB (p = 0.021). However, there was no significant difference in prognosis between the high- and low-ITB groups in the high-IS group (p = 0.498). Conclusions: Taken together, high ITB was significantly correlated with aggressive tumor behaviors and worse survival in patients with CRCs. In addition, ITB can be useful for the prognostic stratification of CRCs with low IS.
Ruby Nanoparticles for Greenhouse Farming: Synthesis, Features and Application
Authors: Paskhin Mark O. , Aiyyzhy Kuder O. , Pobedonostsev Roman V. , Kazantseva Dina V. , Rakov Ignat I. , Barmina Ekaterina V. , Yanykin Denis V. , Gudkov Sergey V.
Published: December 2023

In this work, we investigated the effect of photoconversion covers based on ruby (chromium-doped alumina (Al2O3:Cr3+)) particles (PCC-R) on the growth and development of lettuce (Lactuca sativa) plants. Ruby particles (from 100 nm to 2 μm) were obtained by the sequential application of spall laser ablation and further laser fragmentation. The content of chromium ions relative to aluminum ions in the nanoparticles was 3.3 × 10−3. The covers with different densities of applied ruby particles (2 × 107 m−2 (PCC-R7), 2 × 108 m−2 (PCC-R8), 2 × 109 m−2 (PCC-R9)) were studied in the present work. The PCC-Rs had two wide bands of luminescence excitation. The first one was from 350 nm to 450 nm with a maximum at 405 nm, and the second one was from 500 nm to 600 nm with a peak at 550 nm. Synthesized covers emitted in the range of 650 nm to 750 nm, with a peak at 695 nm. It has been shown that PCC-R8, in contrast to PCC-R7 and PCC-R9, provided an increase in yield by 40% and was characterized by increased water use efficiency during dark respiration and assimilation of carbon dioxide in plants. It is assumed that the observed positive effect of PCC-R8 photoconversion covers is associated with the activation of regulatory mechanisms due to a qualitative change in the light spectrum.
When Sex Matters: Differences in the Central Nervous System as Imaged by OCT through the Retina
Authors: Nunes Ana , Serranho Pedro , Guimarães Pedro , Ferreira João , Castelo-Branco Miguel , Bernardes Rui
Published: December 2023

Background: Retinal texture has gained momentum as a source of biomarkers of neurodegeneration, as it is sensitive to subtle differences in the central nervous system from texture analysis of the neuroretina. Sex differences in the retina structure, as detected by layer thickness measurements from optical coherence tomography (OCT) data, have been discussed in the literature. However, the effect of sex on retinal interocular differences in healthy adults has been overlooked and remains largely unreported. Methods: We computed mean value fundus images for the neuroretina layers as imaged by OCT of healthy individuals. Texture metrics were obtained from these images to assess whether women and men have the same retina texture characteristics in both eyes. Texture features were tested for group mean differences between the right and left eye. Results: Corrected texture differences exist only in the female group. Conclusions: This work illustrates that the differences between the right and left eyes manifest differently in females and males. This further supports the need for tight control and minute analysis in studies where interocular asymmetry may be used as a disease biomarker, and the potential of texture analysis applied to OCT imaging to spot differences in the retina.
Analysis of Machinability on Properties of Inconel 718 Wire and Arc Additive Manufacturing Products
Authors: Quadra Vieira dos Santos Gustavo , Kaneko Jun’ichi , Abe Takeyuki
Published: December 2023

Wire and arc additive manufacturing (WAAM) is a metal deposition technique with a fast rate and the possibility of a high volume of deposition. Because of its fast deposition and high heat input, the manufactured products have poor surface quality. This paper presents a study on the machining of Inconel 718 wall-shaped additive manufacturing (AM) products, a necessary step for the improvement of surface quality. Considering the possibility that the characteristics of the milling processes of AM products might differ from those of traditionally manufactured parts, in this research, two types of Inconel 718 were studied and compared: one was manufactured using WAAM, and the other was an Inconel 718 rolled bar (Aerospace Material Specifications 5662). Using the testing procedure, a conventional two-flute cutting tool was used to assess their machinability. For this process, multiple passes were performed at three different heights of the samples. Considering the peculiarities of the AM products, such as their uneven surfaces, dendritic microstructures, and anisotropy, the results were analyzed. After the machining operation, the effects on the products were also studied by analyzing their surface quality. This study found a higher stability in the cutting process for the AMS 5662 samples relative to the WAAM parts with less variability in the cutting forces overall, resulting in better surface quality.
Transmedia Performance Research and Motion Control of Unmanned Aerial–Aquatic Vehicles
Authors: Sun Xiangren , Cao Jian , Li Yueming , Li Haipeng , Wang Weikai
Published: December 2023

This paper presents an improved motion controller based on the backstepping method to address nonlinear control challenges in unmanned aerial–aquatic vehicles (UAAVs), enabling them to navigate between two different media. The nonlinear control approach is applied to UAAV motion control, incorporating filters to improve stability. The study designs motion controllers for three UAAV phases: underwater, in the air, and transitioning between media. Fluid simulations of the emergence process of the UAAV for future field experiments were conducted. By fine-tuning the simulations, a comprehensive understanding of the vehicle’s performance is obtained, offering crucial insights for the development of subsequent control systems. Simulation results confirm the controller’s ability to achieve target trajectory tracking with control system responses that meet practical requirements. The controller’s performance in attitude control and trajectory tracking is verified in underwater gliding, transmedia transitions, and airborne phases, demonstrating its effectiveness.
Data- and Model-Driven Crude Oil Supply Risk Assessment of China Considering Maritime Transportation Factors
Authors: Wang Gangqiao , Yin Qianrong , Yu Mingzhu , Chen Jihong
Published: December 2023

Effective supply-chain risk assessment is the basis for developing sustainable supply policies, and it has received growing attention in global oil supply system management. Dynamical modeling and data-driven modeling are two main risk assessment technologies that have been applied in crude oil supply networks. Dynamical risk modeling and data-driven risk modeling offer distinct advantages in capturing the complexities and dynamics of the system. Considering their complementary strengths, a hybrid modeling framework combining system dynamics and data-driven neural networks is proposed for risk assessment of crude oil transportation network. Specifically, the system dynamics module is to capture and interpret the underlying dynamics and mechanisms of the transportation network, while the deep neural networks module is to discover the nonlinear patterns and dependencies of risk factors from various inputs. Based on joint training, the hybrid model can ultimately develop the capability of risk prediction with a small amount of data. In addition, it can consider the dynamic nature of crude oil transportation networks to interpret the predicted results of the risk level for decision-makers to make specific risk-mitigating policies. Extensive experiments based on China’s scenario have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed hybrid model, and the results show that our model achieves higher accuracy in risk prediction compared to the current state of the art. The results also present an explanation for China’s policy change of building a resilient crude oil transportation system.
Underwater Object Detection in Marine Ranching Based on Improved YOLOv8
Authors: Jia Rong , Lv Bin , Chen Jie , Liu Hailin , Cao Lin , Liu Min
Published: December 2023

The aquaculture of marine ranching is of great significance for scientific aquaculture and the practice of statistically grasping existing information on the types of living marine resources and their density. However, underwater environments are complex, and there are many small and overlapping targets for marine organisms, which seriously affects the performance of detectors. To overcome these issues, we attempted to improve the YOLOv8 detector. The InceptionNeXt block was used in the backbone to enhance the feature extraction capabilities of the network. Subsequently, a separate and enhanced attention module (SEAM) was added to the neck to enhance the detection of overlapping targets. Moreover, the normalized Wasserstein distance (NWD) loss was proportionally added to the original CIoU loss to improve the detection of small targets. Data augmentation methods were used to improve the dataset during training to enhance the robustness of the network. The experimental results showed that the improved YOLOv8 achieved the mAP of 84.5%, which was an improvement over the original YOLOv8 of approximately 6.2%. Meanwhile, there were no significant increases in the numbers of parameters and computations. This detector can be applied on platforms for seafloor observation experiments in the field of marine ranching to complete the task of real-time detection of marine organisms.
Hydrodynamic Interactions between Ships in a Fleet
Authors: Liu Zhengyuan , Dai Changming , Cui Xiaohui , Wang Yu , Liu Hui , Zhou Bo
Published: December 2023

There has always been a concern about the hydrodynamic interaction between ships in a flow field. In this study, the RANS method is utilized, and the hydrodynamic interference between two KRISO Container Ships (KCS) operating in still water with identical parameters and sailing at the same speed is investigated. Overlapping grids are used to simulate ship motion, and the VOF method is used to simulate the free surface. A KCS ship model of 1:1 size without propeller is used in the study. In order to study the change principle of the Kelvin flow field created by a single ship, the resistance coefficient and the flow field surrounding the ship are first calculated for the monohull case. Then the influence of interference between two ships is examined at various speeds and intervals and compared with the monohull case. It is discovered that the resistance coefficient of the following ship is reduced in a certain speed interval under the influence of the leading ship, where the maximum reduction can be up to 24.3%. The reason for this phenomenon may be that the wave around the following ship is superimposed on the transverse wave behind the leading ship. When the height of the wave is suppressed, the following ship’s resistance is reduced.
Post-Acquisition Changes in Agency Cost of Acquirers: Effect of Target Companies
Authors: Nanda Prateek , Gopalaswamy Arun Kumar
Published: December 2023

Acquisitions constitute substantial corporate investments, often leading to changes in ownership and top management giving rise to possible conflicts of interest. The impacts of such conflicts following an acquisition are absorbed by the acquirer and are referred to as agency costs. This study focuses on exploring the influence of the target companies on changes in the post-acquisition agency costs of acquiring companies. A panel fixed effects model is used to analyze acquisitions that took place between 2008–09 and 2019–20. The study’s findings indicate that post-acquisition changes in the agency costs of acquirers significantly vary based on the presence of domestic and foreign promoters in the target company. Further promoter groups such as domestic promoters and foreign promoters contribute to conflicting interests, exacerbating post-acquisition agency costs. The monitoring role assumed by foreign promoters of target companies plays a pivotal part in reducing the post-acquisition agency costs of acquirers. Foreign promoters also positively influence post-acquisition profitability by adversely affecting operating expenses, suggesting that they mitigate agency costs by exerting control over management through the monitoring of debt, cash, and profitability. The post-acquisition utilization of the target’s cash reserves positively correlates with the operating expenses of the acquirer. It is observed that the acquisition of larger targets magnifies agency costs.
Time-of-Day and Day-of-Week Effects on TV and OTT Media Choices: Evidence from South Korea
Authors: Choi Yun-Woo , Lee Changjun
Published: December 2023

The objective of this manuscript is to investigate the determinants influencing the selection of over-the-top (OTT) platforms as opposed to traditional television mediums—cable, Internet protocol television (IPTV), and satellite broadcasting—for the consumption of content such as television shows and films. Employing data extracted from the 2020 Media Panel comprising 423,851 observations garnered from personal media diaries, this study scrutinizes the impacts of individual attributes, environmental conditions, and temporal factors on platform choice. The findings reveal a temporal influence characterized by a “Friday effect” and a heightened preference for OTT platforms during early afternoon (12:00–16:00) and late-night hours (00:00–04:00). Notably, the likelihood of selecting OTT platforms is significantly augmented during the late-night period in comparison to other time frames. In relation to individual characteristics, variables such as male gender, younger age, higher educational attainment, and elevated income levels were positively correlated with a predilection for OTT platforms. Additionally, environmental variables such as possession of an unlimited data plan and ownership of a tablet personal computer also emerged as significant predictors for OTT preference. Furthermore, the presence of a beam projector during late-night hours and residing in a household with multiple occupants during afternoon hours also served as contributing factors for OTT utilization. In conclusion, the study offers critical insights for stakeholders in both traditional television and burgeoning OTT markets, providing data-driven recommendations for the strategic allocation of resources in consideration of day-of-week and time-of-day variables.
Analysis of Spatiotemporal Changes in the Gravitational Structure of Urban Agglomerations in Northern and Southern Xinjiang Based on a Gravitational Model
Authors: Liu Difan , Wang Yuejian , Wang Lei , Xu Liping , Chen Huanhuan , Ma Yuxiang
Published: December 2023

The urban agglomeration plays a significant role in enhancing integrated regional development. Nevertheless, the expansion of urban agglomerations has demonstrated a lackluster ability to attract cities. Presently, finding solutions to stabilize the existing urban strength and effectively extend attraction to neighboring cities has become a crucial matter. This study adopts the enhanced comprehensive attraction model, fracture point model, and radiation radius model to examine the level of city attraction, intensity of radiation, and range of radiation in the northern and southern Xinjiang city clusters between 2010 and 2020. Based on the analysis, the following conclusions are drawn: (1) the comprehensive strength and city attraction of cities in the northern Xinjiang region is higher than that of the southern Xinjiang region; (2) the intensity of spatial connection between cities in the northern and southern Xinjiang regions is gradually increasing, and the intensity of spatial connection of cities in the northern Xinjiang region is significantly greater than that in the southern Xinjiang region. The intensity of spatial connection between cities in the northern and southern Xinjiang regions is significantly greater than that in the southern Xinjiang region; (3) the central role of the central cities in the northern and southern Xinjiang regions is weakening, the development of cities in the region is gradually becoming unified and coordinated, and regional integration is gradually being strengthened. This study reveals the similarities and differences in urban development in the north and south of Xinjiang and provides important theoretical reference value for regional urban development.
Toward Evidence-Based Local Food Policy: An Agroecological Assessment of Urban Agriculture in Rome
Authors: Marino Davide , Curcio Francesca , Felici Francesca , Mazzocchi Giampiero
Published: December 2023

Recent crises have highlighted the vulnerabilities of global supply chains and, consequently, a profound need for food system transformation. In this scenario, local food policy and agroecology arise as two different but converging paradigms capable of fostering an inclusive and sustainable transition of the food systems, especially in urban contexts. The purpose of this paper is to strengthen the relationship between these two paradigms by proposing agroecological assessment as a tool for formulating evidence-based local food policies. Considering the city-region food system of Rome (Italy) as a reference context, the paper proposes an adaptation of the Tool for Agroecology Performance Evaluation (TAPE) model on a sample of 20 farms to analyse urban agriculture and understand the extent to which it contributes to the transformation of the food system. Data processing shows that, in the city-region context of Rome, agroecological principles are not fully adopted by the majority of farms considered. In addition, farms with the highest agroecological level are those driven mainly by social factors and have a lower propensity for innovation. This could be read as a constraining aspect because it hinders and slows down the transformation process of food systems. However, these data turn out to be essential to the implementation of local food policy and in identifying pathways toward sustainability.
Diverging Grammaticalization Patterns across Spanish Varieties: The Case of perdón in Mexican and Peninsular Spanish
Authors: Jansegers Marlies , Melis Chantal , Arrington Báez Jennie Elenor
Published: December 2023

This study investigates the contemporary grammaticalized uses of perdón (‘sorry’) in two varieties of Spanish, namely Mexican and Peninsular Spanish. Methodologically, the investigation is based on a taxonomy of offenses, organized around the concept of ‘face’ and based on spoken data of Spanish from Mexico and Spain. This taxonomy turns out to be a fruitful methodological tool for the analysis of apologetic markers: it does not only offer usage-based evidence for previous theorizing concerning the grammaticalization process of apologetic markers, but also leads to a refinement of these previous results from a contrastive point of view. Evidence from both corpora suggests a more advanced stage in the grammaticalization process of perdón in Mexican Spanish, where it can be used not only as a self-face-saving device geared towards the positive face of the speaker, but also in turn-taking contexts oriented towards the negative face of the interlocutor. Peninsular Spanish, on the other hand, resorts to a more varied gamut of apologetic markers in these contexts.
Women’s Sexual Dysfunctions Following Stem Cell Transplant and the Impact on Couple Relationship
Authors: Plotogea Mihaela , Zgura Anca , Mehedințu Claudia , Scurtu Francesca , Petca Aida , Varlas Valentin Nicolae , Bors Roxana Georgiana , Edu Antoine , Ionescu Oana-Maria , Andreescu Mihaela , Mateescu Radu Nicolae , Isam Al Jashi
Published: December 2023

Stem cell transplant proved its efficacy in increasing the survival rate among young patients diagnosed with hematological malignancies. A transplant conditioning regimen is particularly destructive on the genital system, often determining premature ovarian failure, accompanied by vulvovaginal atrophy and sexual dysfunctions. The aims of the present study were, first, to evaluate sexual dysfunctions among transplanted women, using clinical examination and the female sexual function index (FSFI), and second, to determine their impact on a couple’s relationship. A prospective observational comparative study was performed and included 38 patients who underwent allogenic stem cell transplant (SCT) procedures for different hematological malignancies and 38 healthy patients (control group). This study included baseline evaluation, one-year, and three-year follow-up visits. In addition to anamnesis and medically obtained information, FSFI was evaluated to determine the impact of gynecological damage in a subjective manner. In the study group, vulvovaginal atrophy was diagnosed in 76.32%, with subsequent sexual dysfunctions in 92.10% of patients, based on FSFI scoring. Even though the results improved throughout the study, at the last visit, mild vulvovaginal atrophy was diagnosed in 81.58% of patients, and the FSFI score was abnormal for 21.05%. When compared to the control group, both sexual dysfunctions and FSFI results were considerably impaired, with statistical significance. There is a confirmed negative impact of sexual dysfunctions and self-declared FSFI on couple/marital status and couple relationships, with statistical significance, at the last visit. In conclusion, anatomical, functional, and psychological difficulties are a reality of long-term survivors after a stem cell transplant. They should be addressed and assessed equally to other medical conditions, as they may determine serious consequences and impact the sexual quality of life and the couple’s relationship.
The Abundance and Dynamics of Small Mammals and Their Predators: An Editorial
Authors: Torre Ignasi , Balčiauskas Linas
Published: December 2023

Small mammals (rodents and insectivores) represent an eclectic group of numerous species of different phylogenetic origins that share similar biological/ecological characteristics derived from their small size [...]
Microstructure and Phase Composition of Ti-Al-C Materials Obtained by High Voltage Electrical Discharge/Spark Plasma Sintering
Authors: Kandrotaitė Janutienė Rasa , Syzonenko Olha , Mažeika Darius , Gegeckienė Laura , Venytė Ingrida , Torpakov Andrii
Published: December 2023

Titanium-based composite materials arouse interest in fields like aerospace, transportation, medicine, and other applications. This research project presents the analysis of phase composition of sintered Ti-Al-C composite materials under high voltage electrical discharge. The new technology, described in the previous work of the authors, allows to synthesise the composites containing various intermetallics, carbides, and nanostructures. The samples of Ti-Al-C powder composites were tested by SEM, Raman spectroscopy, and XRD. It was determined that the treatment of the powder by high voltage electrical discharge (HVED) and further sintering at high temperatures using the spark plasma sintering (SPS) method encouraged the formation of the intermetallic reinforcing phases, carbides, and different nanocarbon structures like graphene and fullerenes, as well as pure graphite. Intermetallic phases and nanocarbon structures improved the mechanical and physical properties of the composites. By using the experimental methods mentioned above, the phase composition of Ti-Al-C powder composites obtained at different sintering temperatures was determined. It was revealed that new composite materials produced by HVED and further SPS were rich with carbides, intermetallics, and MAX phases. Therefore, the carbon nanostructures (graphene and graphite) were detected existing in the structure of the produced new Ti-Al-C composite material. All these reinforcing particles improved the microstructure and the mechanical properties of the composites, as was proved in the previous research by the authors and by the different scientific resources. This project is a pilot experimental work, therefore not all peaks of Raman and XRD were detected; they will be analysed in future works.
Enhanced Toughness and Ductility of Friction Stir Welded SA516 Gr.70 Steel Joint via Post-Welding Annealing
Authors: Wang Xiuying , Miao Ziqi , Gong Wenbiao , Lu Guipeng , Sun Juncai , Wang Yuqian , Xie Guangming
Published: December 2023

The SA516 Gr.70 steel possessing excellent toughness and plasticity has been widely used in the cryogenic field. However, the appearance of coarse bainite in the heat affected zone (HAZ) of the fusion welded joint deteriorates the toughness and ductility. In this work, 4.5 mm thick SA516 Gr.70 steel was joined using shielded metal arc welding (SMAW) and friction stir welding (FSW), respectively, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of joints were investigated in detail. The Charpy energy in the HAZ in the FSW joint was 80 J/cm2, which was higher than that of the HAZ in the SMAW joint (60 J/cm2) and due to microstructure refinement. In addition, the total elongation (TE) of the SMAW joint was 17.5%, which was higher than that of the FSW joint (12.1%) and caused by a wider nugget zone with high hardness. The post-welding annealing was used to improve the toughness and ductility of the SMAW and FSW joints, and the microstructure and mechanical properties of the joints after annealing were analyzed. The toughness in the HAZ of the SMAW and FSW joints were 80 and 103 J/cm2, and the TE of the SMAW and FSW joints were 18.6% and 25.2%, respectively. Finally, the as-annealed FSW joints exhibited excellent toughness and ductility. The abovementioned excellent mechanical properties were primarily attributed to the appearance of tempering martensite, decrease in dislocation density, and fine grain.
A Static Damage Constitutive Model of Concrete Based on Microscopic Damage Mechanism
Authors: Xie Ying , Yu Zhiwu
Published: December 2023

In this article, a microscopic constitutive model is established that includes friction, plastic, and spring elements and has clear physical meaning. The friction unit reflects the mutual friction between crack surfaces, the plastic unit reflects the development of concrete plasticity, and the fracture of the spring unit reflects the formation and expansion of interior cracks in concrete. In addition, the integration of the random field theory into this model uncovers the physical underpinnings of the relationship between concrete’s nonlinearity and randomness. The multi-scale modeling of the concrete static damage constitutive model is then realized once the parameters of the random field are discovered using the macro test results. In order to apply the model’s applicability in finite element programs, a subroutine was ultimately constructed. The experimental data and the anticipated values from the numerical simulation are in good agreement, supporting the model’s realism.
Redesign of a Disc-on-Disc Computer Numerical Control Tribometer for a Wide-Range and Shudder-Resistant Operation
Authors: Hoić Matija , Hrgetić Mario , Kranjčević Nenad , Deur Joško , Tissot Andreas
Published: December 2023

The paper presents a redesign of the custom disc-on-disc-type tribometer intended for the experimental characterization of the friction and wear of automotive dry clutch friction lining. The redesign is aimed at expanding the operating range at which the machine is not sensitive to shudder vibrations. This is achieved through a set of hardware and software upgrade measures. First, the natural frequency of the normal load-generation linear axis of the machine is increased by enlarging its bending stiffness and reducing the suspended mass. The former is realized by replacing the single, two-axial force/torque piezoelectric sensor with a set of three three-axial piezoelectric force sensors, adding a set of stiff linear guides, and reducing the lengths of the cantilevers of lateral forces acting on the linear axis guide system. The latter is accomplished by reducing the overall dimensions of the cooling disc and redesigning the thermal insulation components. The shudder sensitivity resistance is further reduced through individual normal force-readings-based adjustment of parallelism between friction contact surfaces and the increase in the stiffness of eccentrically positioned water-cooling pipes. Finally, the stability of the coefficient of friction and, consequently, the wear process are boosted by adjusting the control routines to minimize the circumferential and/or radial temperature gradients. These adjustments include the introduction of a clutch lock-up interval at the end of the clutch closing cycle, a minimum cooling delay inserted between two closing cycles, and maximum normal force demand of the clutch torque controller. The performance gain of the upgraded tribometer is demonstrated through a study of the dry clutch friction plate static wear experimental characterization for a wide range of operating conditions.
Optimizing Inventory Management: A Comprehensive Analysis of Models Integrating Diverse Fuzzy Demand Functions
Authors: Mittal Mandeep , Jain Vibhor , Pandey Jayanti Tripathi , Jain Muskan , Dem Himani
Published: December 2023

This review study provides a comprehensive analysis of the classification of inventory models, with a focus on incorporating various fuzzy demand functions. The incorporation of fuzzy sets theory within inventory models is highlighted as a significant advancement in the field. The study emphasizes the importance of efficiently locating pertinent publications on this topic, rendering it a valuable resource for individuals interested in exploring inventory models that incorporate fuzzy demand functions. There was a need for a systematic and complete examination of recent breakthroughs in fuzzy inventory management. Our objective was to provide an illuminating overview of the significant developments in this field and offer insights into the probable future directions of research. Our evaluation of various model components has unveiled new and underexplored territories that may warrant further exploration. Perhaps it would be prudent to consider the possibility of establishing simpler models or incorporating qualitative methods into existing models and initiating a discourse on this topic.
Advances in Physical Unclonable Functions Based on New Technologies: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Cao Yuan , Xu Jianxiang , Wu Jichun , Wu Simeng , Huang Zhao , Zhang Kaizhao
Published: December 2023

A physical unclonable function (PUF) is a technology designed to safeguard sensitive information and ensure data security. PUFs generate unique responses for each challenge by leveraging random deviations in the physical microstructures of integrated circuits (ICs), making it incredibly difficult to replicate them. However, traditional silicon PUFs are now susceptible to various attacks, such as modeling attacks using conventional machine learning techniques and reverse engineering strategies. As a result, PUFs based on new materials or methods are being developed to enhance their security. However, in the realm of survey papers, it has come to our attention that there is a notable scarcity of comprehensive summaries and introductions concerning these emerging PUFs. To fill this gap, this article surveys PUFs based on novel technologies in the literature. In particular, we first provide an insightful overview of four types of PUFs that are rooted in advanced technologies: bionic optical PUF, biological PUF, PUF based on printed electronics (PE), and PUF based on memristors. Based on the overview, we further discuss the evaluation results of their performance based on specific metrics and conduct a comparative analysis of their performance. Despite significant progress in areas such as limited entry and regional expertise, it is worth noting that these PUFs still have room for improvement. Therefore, we have identified their potential shortcomings and areas that require further development. Moreover, we outline various applications of PUFs and propose our own future prospects for this technology. To sum up, this article contributes to the understanding of PUFs based on novel technologies by providing an in-depth analysis of their characteristics, performance evaluation, and potential improvements. It also sheds light on the wide range of applications for PUFs and presents enticing prospects for future advancements in this field.
Improved Algorithm of Partial Transmit Sequence Based on Discrete Particle Swarm Optimization
Authors: Wang Hongmei , Chen Yunbo , Dai Jiahui , Li Shiyin , Wang Faguang , Min Minghui
Published: December 2023

Orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) in 5G has many advantages; however, one of the disadvantages is that the superposition of a large number of subcarriers leads to a high peak-to-average power ratio (PAPR) of the transmit signal. A high PAPR results in high-power amplifier distortion and performance degradation. The partial transmit sequence (PTS) algorithm is commonly used for PAPR reduction. It enumerates all combinations of phase factors, weighs the signal using each phase factor combination, and finds the set of phase factors that minimizes the PAPR value of the OFDM signal. The advantage of the PTS is that it determines the optimal solution through enumeration; however, its major drawback is the higher complexity caused by the use of enumeration. Some studies have introduced the discrete particle swarm optimization (DPSO) algorithm instead of enumeration to determine the optimal solution of the PTS algorithm. As an excellent optimization method, the DPSO algorithm represents each individual as a solution during the optimization. Through iterative updates of the initial population, individuals in the population continuously move closer to the optimal solution. This approach significantly reduces complexity compared with the exhaustive enumeration used in the traditional PTS algorithm. However, the disadvantage of the general DPSO algorithm is that it can result in premature and early convergence, which leads to degradation of the PAPR reduction performance. In this study, we propose an improved method based on the general DPSO-based PTS algorithm, and the improved algorithm MDPSO-PTS adopts dynamic time-varying learning factors, which can find the optimal combination of phase factors more efficiently. The MDPSO-PTS algorithm expands the search space when seeking the optimal combination of phase factors. This avoids the drawback of premature convergence commonly observed in general DPSO-PTS algorithms, preventing early consideration of local optima as global optima. A comparative simulation of the improved MDPSO-PTS algorithm with the general DPSO-PTS algorithm shows that the improved algorithm has stronger PAPR reduction, whereas the complexity remains basically unchanged. A comparative simulation with the traditional PTS algorithm shows a significant reduction in complexity, with only a slight, acceptable loss of reduction performance.