bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Smart Nanoformulations for Brain Cancer Theranostics: Challenges and Promises
Authors: Ahmad Faraz , Varghese Ressin , Panda Subhrajita , Ramamoorthy Siva , Areeshi Mohammad Y. , Fagoonee Sharmila , Haque Shafiul
Published: November 2022

Despite their low prevalence, brain tumors are among the most lethal cancers. They are extremely difficult to diagnose, monitor and treat. Conventional anti-cancer strategies such as radio- and chemotherapy have largely failed, and to date, the development of even a single effective therapeutic strategy against central nervous system (CNS) tumors has remained elusive. There are several factors responsible for this. Brain cancers are a heterogeneous group of diseases with variable origins, biochemical properties and degrees of invasiveness. High-grade gliomas are amongst the most metastatic and invasive cancers, which is another reason for therapeutic failure in their case. Moreover, crossing the blood brain and the blood brain tumor barriers has been a significant hindrance in the development of efficient CNS therapeutics. Cancer nanomedicine, which encompasses the application of nanotechnology for diagnosis, monitoring and therapy of cancers, is a rapidly evolving field of translational medicine. Nanoformulations, because of their extreme versatility and manipulative potential, are emerging candidates for tumor targeting, penetration and treatment in the brain. Moreover, suitable nanocarriers can be commissioned for theranostics, a combinatorial personalized approach for simultaneous imaging and therapy. This review first details the recent advances in novel bioengineering techniques that provide promising avenues for circumventing the hurdles of delivering the diagnostic/therapeutic agent to the CNS. The authors then describe in detail the tremendous potential of utilizing nanotechnology, particularly nano-theranostics for brain cancer imaging and therapy, and outline the different categories of recently developed next-generation smart nanoformulations that have exceptional potential for making a breakthrough in clinical neuro-oncology therapeutics.
Hypoxia-Inducible Factor-1 Alpha Expression Is Predictive of Pathological Complete Response in Patients with Breast Cancer Receiving Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy
Authors: Ramírez-Tortosa César L. , Alonso-Calderón Rubén , Gálvez-Navas José María , Pérez-Ramírez Cristina , Quiles José Luis , Sánchez-Rovira Pedro , Jiménez-Morales Alberto , Ramírez-Tortosa MCarmen
Published: November 2022

To demonstrate the value of hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) in predicting response in patients with breast cancer receiving standard neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC). Methods: Ninety-five women enrolled in two prospective studies underwent biopsies for the histopathological diagnosis of breast carcinoma before receiving NAC, based on anthracyclines and taxanes. For expression of HIF-1α, EGFR, pAKT and pMAPK, tumor samples were analyzed by immunohistochemistry in tissues microarrays. Standard statistical methods (Pearson chi-square test, Fisher exact test, Kruskal–Wallis test, Mann–Whitney test and Kaplan–Meier method) were used to study the association of HIF-1α with tumor response, survival and other clinicopathologic variables/biomarkers. Results: HIF-1α expression was positive in 35 (39.7%) cases and was significantly associated to complete pathological response (pCR) (p = 0.014). HIF-1α expression was correlated positively with tumor grade (p = 0.015) and Ki-67 expression (p = 0.001) and negativity with progesterone receptors (PR) (p = 0.04) and luminal A phenotype expression (p = 0.005). No correlation was found between HIF-1α expression and EGFR, pAKT and pMAPK. In terms of survival, HIF-1α expression was associated with a significantly shorter disease-free survival (p = 0.013), being identified as an independent prognostic factor in multivariate analysis. Conclusions: Overexpression of HIF-1α is a predictor of pCR and shorter DFS; it would be valuable to confirm these results in prospective studies.
Alternatively Spliced Landscape of PPARγ mRNA in Podocytes Is Distinct from Adipose Tissue
Authors: Bryant Claire , Webb Amy , Banks Alexander S. , Chandler Dawn , Govindarajan Rajgopal , Agrawal Shipra
Published: November 2022

Podocytes are highly differentiated epithelial cells, and their structural and functional integrity is compromised in a majority of glomerular and renal diseases, leading to proteinuria, chronic kidney disease, and kidney failure. Traditional agonists (e.g., pioglitazone) and selective modulators (e.g., GQ-16) of peroxisome-proliferator-activated-receptor-γ (PPARγ) reduce proteinuria in animal models of glomerular disease and protect podocytes from injury via PPARγ activation. This indicates a pivotal role for PPARγ in maintaining glomerular function through preservation of podocytes distinct from its well-understood role in driving insulin sensitivity and adipogenesis. While its transcriptional role in activating adipokines and adipogenic genes is well-established in adipose tissue, liver and muscle, understanding of podocyte PPARγ signaling remains limited. We performed a comprehensive analysis of PPARγ mRNA variants due to alternative splicing, in human podocytes and compared with adipose tissue. We found that podocytes express the ubiquitous PPARγ Var 1 (encoding γ1) and not Var2 (encoding γ2), which is mostly restricted to adipose tissue and liver. Additionally, we detected expression at very low level of Var4, and barely detectable levels of other variants, Var3, Var11, VartORF4 and Var9, in podocytes. Furthermore, a distinct podocyte vs. adipocyte PPAR-promoter-response-element containing gene expression, enrichment and pathway signature was observed, suggesting differential regulation by podocyte specific PPARγ1 variant, distinct from the adipocyte-specific γ2 variant. In summary, podocytes and glomeruli express several PPARγ variants, including Var1 (γ1) and excluding adipocyte-specific Var2 (γ2), which may have implications in podocyte specific signaling and pathophysiology. This suggests that that new selective PPARγ modulators can be potentially developed that will be able to distinguish between the two forms, γ1 and γ2, thus forming a basis of novel targeted therapeutic avenues.
The Immediate Early Response of Lens Epithelial Cells to Lens Injury
Authors: Novo Samuel G. , Faranda Adam P. , Shihan Mahbubul H. , Wang Yan , Garg Ananya , Duncan Melinda K.
Published: November 2022

Cataracts are treated by lens fiber cell removal followed by intraocular lens (IOL) implantation into the lens capsule. While effective, this procedure leaves behind numerous lens epithelial cells (LECs) which undergo a wound healing response that frequently leads to posterior capsular opacification (PCO). In order to elucidate the acute response of LECs to lens fiber cell removal which models cataract surgery (post cataract surgery, PCS), RNA-seq was conducted on LECs derived from wild type mice at 0 and 6 h PCS. This analysis found that LECs upregulate the expression of numerous proinflammatory cytokines and profibrotic regulators by 6 h PCS suggesting rapid priming of pathways leading to inflammation and fibrosis PCS. LECs also highly upregulate the expression of numerous immediate early transcription factors (IETFs) by 6 h PCS and immunolocalization found elevated levels of these proteins by 3 h PCS, and this was preceded by the phosphorylation of ERK1/2 in injured LECs. Egr1 and FosB were among the highest expressed of these factors and qRT-PCR revealed that they also upregulate in explanted mouse lens epithelia suggesting potential roles in the LEC injury response. Analysis of lenses lacking either Egr1 or FosB revealed that both genes may regulate a portion of the acute LEC injury response, although neither gene was essential for expression of either proinflammatory or fibrotic markers at later times PCS suggesting that IETFs may work in concert to mediate the LEC injury response following cataract surgery.
PRP8-Induced CircMaml2 Facilitates the Healing of the Intestinal Mucosa via Recruiting PTBP1 and Regulating Sec62
Authors: Deng Yuequ , Xu Xiaoqing , Meng Fanze , Lou Jiaqi , Liao Yu , Li Qi , Zhuang Mengmeng , Sun Yong
Published: November 2022

Background: Multiple organ dysfunction syndrome (MODS) occurs in the gastrointestinal tract and injured intestinal mucosa is the anatomical basis for various diseases. The expression of circular RNAs (circRNAs) is implicated in many diseases; however, the role of circRNAs in intestinal mucosal injury is yet to be discovered. Our preliminary gene microarray analysis revealed a novel circular RNA, circMaml2, with a significant intestinal mucosal protection effect. Its expression was found to decrease in severely burned intestinal mucosal tissue, whereas its overexpression might facilitate the reconstruction of the injured intestinal mucous membrane. Methods: The function of circMaml2 in cell proliferation and migration was studied in MC38 cells. The repair function of circMaml2 was tested on the intestinal mucosa of mice. RNA-binding protein polypyrimidine tract-binding protein 1(PTBP1) was selected by pull-down assay and mass spectrometry (MS). RNA immunoprecipitation (RIP) was performed to confirm the binding of circMaml2 and PTBP1 and to study PTBP1 and its downstream target, early B-cell factor 1(Ebf1). Bioinformatics software forecast analysis and dual-luciferase reporter assay were performed to ascertain miR-683 and Sec62 as the downstream targets of circMaml2 and miR-683, respectively. Furthermore, PRP8 was discovered to promote the biogenesis of circMaml2. Results: CircMaml2 promotes cell proliferation and migration of MC38 cells and the repair of the intestinal mucosa of mice. This effect is brought about by combining with PTBP1 to improve Ebf1 and interacting with miR-683 to regulate Sec2. Furthermore, PRP8 was discovered to promote the biogenesis of circMaml2. Conclusions: This is the first reported study of the effect of circMaml2 on intestinal mucosal repair.
Detection of Volatile Alcohol Vapors Using PMMA-Coated Micromechanical Sensors: Experimental and Quantum Chemical DFT Analysis
Authors: Alsaigh Reem A. , Rahman Shofiur , Alfaifi Fatimah S. , Al-Gawati Mahmoud A. , Shallaa Raghad , Alzaid Fatimah , Alanazi Amal F. , Albrithen Hamad , Alzahrani Khalid E. , Assaifan Abdulaziz K. , Alodhayb Abdullah N. , Georghiou Paris E.
Published: November 2022

Micromechanical sensors, in which the sensor response is created as a result of molecular interactions on the sensors’ surfaces, have been employed as a powerful technique for rapid and sensitive detection of low concentrations of chemical and biological materials. In the study reported herein, poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA)-coated microcantilever (MCL) sensors were used to detect the vapors of volatile alcohols (methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol) at three different concentrations. A vapor generator was used to generate and flow the alcohol vapor onto the PMMA coated MCL surface in a closed system chamber. The vapor adsorption onto the MCL surface results in a rapid and measurable deflection of the MCL. No significant deflections of the uncoated MCL occurred when the different vapors were passed through into the microcantilever chamber. Linear concentration–deflection responses were observed, with the highest sensitivity shown with methanol, followed by ethanol and then isopropanol. Density functional theory (DFT) quantum chemical calculations were conducted to estimate the electronic interaction energies (ΔIE) between the alcohol molecules and MMA and two different model tetrameric segments of PMMA. The computed ΔIEs were in the same order as the experimentally observed order: methanol > ethanol > isopropanol.
Energy System Transition in the Context of NDC and Mitigation Strategies in Tunisia
Authors: Fragkos Panagiotis , Zisarou Eleftheria
Published: November 2022

The evolution of the Tunisian energy system in the next few decades will highly depend on the implementation of its Nationally Determined Contribution by 2030 and its potential long-term low-emission strategies. This study analyses the technology, emissions, energy systems and economic impacts of meeting Tunisia’s NDC targets (conditional and unconditional) and long-term transition pathways compatible with the Paris Agreement. Different climate policy targets and settings are explored using a detailed energy system model (MENA-EDS) that integrates detailed representations of energy demand and supply and their complex linkages through energy pricing. The analysis shows that in order to meet its NDC targets for 2030, current climate policies in Tunisia need substantial strengthening, based on the massive uptake of renewable energy technologies (especially solar PV and wind) and a reduction of oil and gas use. Long-term low-emission transitions leading to emission reductions of about 80% from baseline levels in 2050 is based on the further expansion of renewable energy within and beyond the electricity sector; the increased electrification of energy end-uses (especially through the uptake of electric vehicles in transport); accelerated energy efficiency improvements in transport, industries and buildings; and the emergence of low-carbon fuels. The study provides insights into the challenges to achieve the deep decarbonization of the Tunisian economy but also into the opportunities from energy sector-restructuring, including reduced energy import dependence and increased low-carbon investment.
Study on Size Effect of Surface Roughness Based on the 3D Voronoi Model and Establishment of Roughness Prediction Model in Micro-Metal Forming
Authors: Han Juanjuan , Zheng Wei , Chen Qingqiang , Sun Jie , Xu Shubo
Published: November 2022

The primary purpose of this paper is to study the size effect of surface roughness and realize the quantitative description of the surface roughness in micro-forming process. This work is a continuation of the previous work by the authors. The effects of the initial surface roughness of the specimen, the grain size, and grain orientations on the surface roughness of micro-upsetting products were investigated. The ratio of the number of grains of the surface layer to the total number of grains was adopted to characterize the size effect. The variation of the size effect on the contact normal pressure during the compression process was also analyzed. And the quantitative description of the evolution law of surface roughness for micro-formed parts was realized. The corresponding micro compression experiment was done in order to testify the prediction model.
Influence of Thermal Modification in Nitrogen Atmosphere on Physical and Technological Properties of European Wood Species with Different Structural Features
Authors: Kozakiewicz Paweł , Laskowska Agnieszka , Drożdżek Michał , Zawadzki Janusz
Published: November 2022

The wood of five European species: black poplar (Populus nigra L.), European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.), European ash (Fraxinus excelsior L.), European oak (Quercus robur L.), and Scots pine (Pinus sylvestris L.) was subjected to thermal modification in nitrogen atmosphere at 190 °C during 6 h. Native and modified wood was varnished and oiled in industrial conditions. Thermally modified (TM) wood was characterized by a greater absorption of varnish and oil when applying the first layer to the surface, which finally resulted in higher application values compared to native wood. In particular, after varnishing, there was a significant increase in gloss and radical change of colour. Regardless of the wood species, finishing process (varnishing, oiling), the ΔE values were close to or higher than 6, which proves high colour changes. Modified poplar, ash, and oak after varnishing had a different colour (ΔE higher than 12). The surface colour changes as a result of UV photoaging was individual, depending on the wood species and the method of finishing. In the case of the thickness of varnish coatings, the wood structure was important, i.e., on ring-porous hardwood and softwood they were thicker. In the case of wood species with a lower density, i.e., black poplar and pine, the thermal modification in nitrogen atmosphere process did not reduce the resistance of the varnish coat, and in the case of species with a higher density (oak, ash, beech) it decreased by one level. Thermal modification reduced the Brinell hardness of wood with wide rays (oak and beech) by 11%. The applied process of surface finishing by double varnishing or oiling did not significantly change the hardness of tested wood.
Lithium Prospection in Portugal for E-Mobility and Solar PV Expansion
Authors: Domingues Nuno
Published: November 2022

Lithium has emerged as a key commodity in the clean energy transition, with demand for the mineral set to soar as low-carbon technologies grow more advanced and widely deployed. Under the motto of the energy transition and a decarbonization of the economy, governments and mining industries seek agreements for the granting of prospecting licenses around the World, defining then the ones that will extend to exploration. New investments in photovoltaic solar exploitations, research in the fields of secondary batteries, thermonuclear power generation, and the fever of the electric car are some of the main uses and exerts pressure regarding the availability, in sufficient quantities, of lithium. Consequently, concern over environmental impacts and undefined local social benefits are alarming residents in rural areas and non-governmental organizations. Therefore, the concern for the environmental impacts and the undefined local social benefits are alarming residents in rural areas and non-governmental organizations. This article reflects on the situation in Portugal, making an economic, energic, environmental and social balance. The article uses the international experience to strengthen the study. In the absence of case studies in Portugal, an analogy with quarry exploitation will be used, whose impacts are similar. The present paper explains why Portugal is currently the key country for lithium exploration in the world, despite it being 7th in the world with regard to lithium reserves. Taking into consideration all parts and the best practices in the world, and if environmental and social concerns are resolved, mining is a good opportunity for Portugal as a Country and for the local population at risk of desertification areas, in the author’s opinion.
Design of Fast Patrol Boat for Improving Resistance, Stability, and Seakeeping Performance
Authors: Rahmaji Tri , Prabowo Aditya Rio , Tuswan Tuswan , Muttaqie Teguh , Muhayat Nurul , Baek Seung-Jun
Published: November 2022

Indonesia is the largest archipelagic country and has the potential to become the world’s maritime axis. Two-thirds of Indonesia’s territory is ocean, with a total coastline of 54,716 km. Therefore, Indonesia must have solid systems and tools to overcome the various threats in the maritime sector. One of the technologies that can be developed to protect Indonesia’s naval territory is fast patrol boats. Indonesia requires efficient patrol boats that can optimally monitor the large Indonesian sea area and various potential threats in the maritime sector. Thus, research on the hydrodynamic criteria for the hull design of patrol boats is fundamental. In this study, we aimed to evaluate the design method based on hydrodynamic characteristics to obtain the primary dimensions and shape of the ship’s hull. We designed and analysed 11 ship models in terms of the following criteria: the resistance, stability, and seakeeping performance. The 11 models included five reference models of patrol boats with varying dimensions and block coefficients between 0.42 and 0.53, three ship models with the regression method with the exact dimensions and block coefficients between 0.45 and 0.46, and three ship models with the scale method with the exact measurements and block coefficients between 0.43 and 0.45. According to the analysis results, the regression method had better total hydrodynamic criteria and greater similarity to the reference vessel. With a shorter processing time, the regression method was more efficient than the scaling method and reference ship.
Simulation of a Small Smart Greenhouse
Authors: Figueiroa Vasco , Torres João Paulo N.
Published: November 2022

This paper investigates the design and implementation of a small greenhouse, based on an estimation of the required annual electrical loads, using robust energy modelling free software, namely OpenStudio. The greenhouse optimum materials, shape and orientation were estimated from this software, using weather file data and established environmental set points. Real-world electrical load estimations for the temperature, irrigation and lighting subsystems were consequently made, resulting in a good estimation of the required solar panel and battery combination. Sensors and actuators to physically establish the environmental set points were described, controlling with a microcontroller, while minimizing power losses. To maximize power throughput to the battery, a maximum power point tracking algorithm was described and modelled in Simulink, specifically for this system, using the microcontroller to implement a Perturb and Observe algorithm.
Support Vector Machine Binary Classifiers of Home Presence Using Active Power
Authors: Varela-Aldás José , Toasa Renato Mauricio , Baldeon Egas Paul Francisco
Published: November 2022

The intelligent analysis of electrical parameters has been facilitated by the Internet of Things (IoT), with capabilities to access a lot of data with customized sampling times. On the contrary, binary classifiers using support vector machines (SVM) resolve nonlinear cases through kernel functions. This work presents two binary classifiers of presence in the home using total household active power data obtained from the automated reading of an IoT device. The classifiers consisted of SVM using kernel functions, a linear function, and a nonlinear function. The data was acquired with the Emporia Gen 2 Vue energy monitor for 20 days without interruption, obtaining averaged readings every 15 min. Of these data, 75% was for training the classifiers, and the rest of the data was for validation. Contrary to expectations, the evaluation yielded accuracies of 91.67% for the nonlinear SVM and 92.71% for the linear SVM, concluding that there was similar performance.
Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte Ratio and Clinical Outcomes in Cholangiocarcinoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Dotto-Vasquez Giuseppe , Villacorta-Ampuero Andrea K. , Ulloque-Badaracco Juan R. , Hernandez-Bustamante Enrique A. , Alarcón-Braga Esteban A. , Herrera-Añazco Percy , Benites-Zapata Vicente A. , Hernandez Adrian V.
Published: November 2022

Lymphocyte-to-Monocyte ratio (LMR) has shown an association with survival outcomes in several oncological diseases. This study aimed to evaluate the association between LMR and clinical outcomes for cholangiocarcinoma patients. A systematic review and meta-analysis were performed to assess the association between LMR values and overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), recurrence-free survival (RFS) and time to recurrence (TTR) in cholangiocarcinoma patients. We used Hazard ratio (HR) and their 95% confidence interval (CI) as a measure of effect for the random effect model meta-analysis. The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale was used for quality assessment. The Egger test and funnel plot were developed for approaching publication bias. A total of 19 studies were included in this study (n = 3860). The meta-analysis showed that cholangiocarcinoma patients with low values of LMR were associated with worse OS (HR: 0.82; 95% CI: 0.71–0.96; I2 = 86%) and worse TTR (HR: 0.71; 95% CI: 0.58–0.86; I2 = 0%). DFS and RFS also were evaluated; however, they did not show statistically significant associations. Low LMR values were associated with a worse OS and TTR.
Are Urologists Ready for Interpretation of Multiparametric MRI Findings? A Prospective Multicentric Evaluation
Authors: Mantica Guglielmo , Suardi Nazareno , Smelzo Salvatore , Esperto Francesco , Chierigo Francesco , Tappero Stefano , Borghesi Marco , La Rocca Roberto , Oderda Marco , Ennas Marco , Stabile Armando , De Cobelli Francesco , Napolitano Luigi , Papalia Rocco , Gontero Paolo , Introini Carlo , Briganti Alberto , Scarpa Roberto M. , Mirone Vincenzo , Montorsi Francesco , Gaboardi Franco , Terrone Carlo , Cardone Gianpiero
Published: November 2022

Aim: To assess urologists’ proficiency in the interpretation of multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Materials and Methods: Twelve mpMRIs were shown to 73 urologists from seven Italian institutions. Responders were asked to identify the site of the suspicious nodule (SN) but not to assign a PIRADS score. We set an a priori cut-off of 75% correct identification of SN as a threshold for proficiency in mpMRI reading. Data were analyzed according to urologists’ hierarchy (UH; resident vs. consultant) and previous experience in fusion prostate biopsies (E-fPB, defined as <125 vs. ≥125). Additionally, we tested for differences between non-proficient vs. proficient mpMRI readers. Multivariable logistic regression analyses (MVLRA) tested potential predictors of proficiency in mpMRI reading. Results: The median (IQR) number of correct identifications was 8 (6–8). Anterior nodules (number 3, 4 and 6) represented the most likely prone to misinterpretation. Overall, 34 (47%) participants achieved the 75% cut-off. When comparing consultants vs. residents, we found no differences in terms of E-fPB (p = 0.9) or in correct identification rates (p = 0.6). We recorded higher identification rates in urologists with E-fBP vs. their no E-fBP counterparts (75% vs. 67%, p = 0.004). At MVLRA, only E- fPB reached the status of independent predictor of proficiency in mpMRI reading (OR: 3.4, 95% CI 1.2–9.9, p = 0.02) after adjusting for UH and type of institution. Conclusions: Despite urologists becoming more familiar with interpretation of mpMRI, their results are still far from proficient. E-fPB enhances the proficiency in mpMRI interpretation.
Diagnostically Challenging Subtypes of Invasive Lobular Carcinomas: How to Avoid Potential Diagnostic Pitfalls
Authors: Koufopoulos Nektarios , Pateras Ioannis S. , Gouloumis Alina Roxana , Ieronimaki Argyro Ioanna , Zacharatou Andriani , Spathis Aris , Leventakou Danai , Economopoulou Panagiota , Psyrri Amanda , Arkadopoulos Nikolaos , Panayiotides Ioannis G.
Published: November 2022

Invasive lobular carcinoma is the most common special breast carcinoma subtype, with unique morphological (discohesive cells, single-cell files, targetoid pattern) and immunohistochemical (loss of E-cadherin and β-catenin staining) features. Moreover, ILC displays a poor response to neoadjuvant therapy, a different metastatic pattern compared to invasive breast carcinoma of no special type, as well as unique molecular characteristics. In addition to the classic variant of invasive lobular carcinoma, several other well-recognized variants exist, including classic, alveolar, tubulolobular, solid, pleomorphic, signet-ring, and mixed. Furthermore, three novel variants of invasive lobular carcinoma, i.e., with extracellular mucin production, papillary features, and tubular elements, have been described during the last decade. We herewith focus on the unique morphological and immunohistochemical characteristics of these novel varieties of invasive lobular carcinoma, as well as differential diagnostic considerations and potential diagnostic pitfalls, especially when dealing with biopsy specimens.
Coriaria nepalensis Stem Alkaloid as a Green Inhibitor for Mild Steel Corrosion in 1 M H2SO4 Solution
Authors: Oli Hari Bhakta , Thapa Magar Jamuna , Khadka Nawaraj , Subedee Anup , Bhattarai Deval Prasad , Pant Bishweshwar
Published: November 2022

Using natural plant extracts on metallic substances is the most frequently studied green corrosion inhibition approach in corrosion science. In this work, Coriaria nepalensis Stem Alkaloid (CNSA) has been successfully extracted and characterized by qualitative chemical (Mayer’s and Dragendroff’s) test and spectroscopic (UV and FTIR) measurement. CNSA has been employed as a green inhibitor for Mild Steel (MS) corrosion subjected to 1 M H2SO4 solution. The corrosion inhibition efficacy has been assessed by weight loss and polarization measurement methods. The effect of inhibitor concentration, immersion period, and temperature on the inhibition efficiency for the MS immersed in both acid and inhibitor solutions of different concentrations have been investigated. The maximum inhibition effect observed for CNSA is 96.4% for MS immersed in 1000 ppm inhibitor solution for 6 h at 18 °C by the weight loss measurement method. Similarly, the polarization measurement method observed a 97.03% inhibition efficiency for MS immersed for 3 h. The adsorption of inhibitor molecules on the MS surface aligns with the Langmuir model. The free energy of adsorption obtained is −28.75 kJ/mol indicating physical adsorption dominance over chemical adsorption. These findings suggested that CNSA has greater potential as an efficient green inhibitor.
3D Skeletal Volume Templates for Deep Learning-Based Activity Recognition
Authors: Keçeli Ali Seydi , Kaya Aydın , Can Ahmet Burak
Published: November 2022

Due to advances in depth sensor technologies, the use of these sensors has positively impacted studies of human-computer interaction and activity recognition. This study proposes a novel 3D action template generated from depth sequence data and two methods to classify single-person activities using this 3D template. Initially, joint skeleton-based three-dimensional volumetric templates are constructed from depth information. In the first method, images are obtained from various view angles of these three-dimensional templates and used for deep feature extraction using a pre-trained convolutional neural network. In our experiments, a pre-trained AlexNet model trained with the ImageNet dataset is used as a feature extractor. Activities are classified by combining deep features and Histogram of Oriented Gradient (HOG) features. The second approach proposes a three-dimensional convolutional neural network that uses volumetric templates as input for activity classification. Proposed methods have been tested with two publicly available datasets. Experiments provided promising results compared with the other studies presented in the literature.
LRSE-Net: Lightweight Residual Squeeze-and-Excitation Network for Stenosis Detection in X-ray Coronary Angiography
Authors: Ovalle-Magallanes Emmanuel , Avina-Cervantes Juan Gabriel , Cruz-Aceves Ivan , Ruiz-Pinales Jose
Published: November 2022

Coronary heart disease is the primary cause of death worldwide. Among these, ischemic heart disease and stroke are the most common diseases induced by coronary stenosis. This study presents a Lightweight Residual Squeeze-and-Excitation Network (LRSE-Net) for stenosis classification in X-ray Coronary Angiography images. The proposed model employs redundant kernel deletion and tensor decomposition by Depthwise Separable Convolutions to reduce the model parameters up to 48.6 x concerning a Vanilla Residual Squeeze-and-Excitation Network. Furthermore, the reduction ratios of each Squeeze-and-Excitation module are optimized individually to improve the feature recalibration. Experimental results for Stenosis Detection on the publicly available Deep Stenosis Detection Dataset and Angiographic Dataset demonstrate that the proposed LRSE-Net achieves the best Accuracy—0.9549/0.9543, Sensitivity—0.6320/0.8792, Precision—0.5991/0.8944, and F1-score—0.6103/0.8944, as well as competitive Specificity of 0.9620/0.9733.
Website Defacement Detection and Monitoring Methods: A Review
Authors: Albalawi Mariam , Aloufi Rasha , Alamrani Norah , Albalawi Neaimh , Aljaedi Amer , Alharbi Adel R.
Published: November 2022

Web attacks and web defacement attacks are issues in the web security world. Recently, website defacement attacks have become the main security threats for many organizations and governments that provide web-based services. Website defacement attacks can cause huge financial and data losses that badly affect the users and website owners and can lead to political and economic problems. Several detection techniques and tools are used to detect and monitor website defacement attacks. However, some of the techniques can work on static web pages, dynamic web pages, or both, but need to focus on false alarms. Many techniques can detect web defacement. Some are based on available online tools and some on comparing and classification techniques; the evaluation criteria are based on detection accuracies with 100% standards and false alarms that cannot reach 1.5% (and never 2%); this paper presents a literature review of the previous works related to website defacement, comparing the works based on the accuracy results, the techniques used, as well as the most efficient techniques.
A Novel Double-Sided Pulse Interval Modulation (DS-PIM) Aided SIM-OFDM for 6G Light Fidelity (LiFi) Networks
Authors: Khan Faisal , Umrani Fahim , Baqai Attiya , Ijaz Muhammad
Published: November 2022

Subcarrier Index Modulation is an OFDM variant that provides superior power and bandwidth efficiency. In this paper, we present a novel, double-sided pulse interval modulation (DS-PIM)-based SIM OFDM technique. The proposed technique exploits the variable symbol size of DPIM to provide a variable sub-block size and enable dynamic assignment of subcarriers rather than the fixed size of conventional SIM OFDM. In comparison with conventional Subcarrier Index-Modulated OFDM (SIM-OFDM), the proposed approach shows a 12.5% reduction in bandwidth usage for a 2-bit index word. On average, 3.5 subcarriers are employed by the proposed technique per sub-block, in comparison with 4 subcarriers for the conventional technique. The proposed technique provides a superior spectral efficiency compared with conventional SIM-OFDM, even for higher-order modulation.
Responses of Rhizosphere Soil Chemical Properties and Bacterial Community Structure to Major Afforestation Tree Species in Xiong’an New Area
Authors: Wang Kefan , Qiu Zhenlu , Zhang Mei , Li Xueying , Fang Xin , Zhao Mingyuan , Shi Fuchen
Published: November 2022

To explore the response of rhizosphere chemical and biological properties to eight major afforestation species in Xiong’an New Area, we measured rhizosphere soil properties in their pure stands and analyzed the bacterial community structure using a high-throughput sequencing platform. The results showed that: (1) Compared with coniferous species, broadleaved species had higher total nutrient concentration and pH in the rhizosphere but lower available nutrient concentration and soil moisture. Nitrate nitrogen deficiency was found in all stands. (2) Uncultured_bacterium_f_Longimicrobiaceae and RB41 could distinguish Platycladus orientalis (Linn.) Franco from other trees. Compared with other tree species, Sabina chinensis (Linn.) Ant., Armeniaca vulgaris Lam., and Fraxinus chinensis Roxb. gathered more Actinobacteria, Planctomycetes, and Gemmatimonadetes, respectively. Uncultured_bacterium_o_Rokubacteriales, uncultured_bacterium_f_Gemmatimonadaceae, and uncultured_bacterium_c_Subgroup_6 were major contributors to the differences in bacterial communities among most tree species. (3) Species characteristics changed soil chemical properties, further affecting the bacterial community. Total carbon, organic matter, total nitrogen, and pH were the main factors explaining these variations. In general, Sophora japonica Linn. and F. chinensis could increase soil total nutrient significantly, which meant that they were more suitable for afforestation in the studied area than the other species. P. orientalis and Pinus tabuliformis Carr. were better choices among conifers. We suggest planting more mixed forests to improve the rhizosphere nutrient status of conifers. A suitable way to alleviate prevailing nitrogen and phosphorus limitations is also required, such as introducing understory vegetation or supplementing organic fertilizers.
The Growth and Physiological Characteristics of the Endangered CAM Plant, Nadopungnan (Sedirea japonica), under Drought and Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Song Yeong Geun , Hwang Jung Eun , An Jiae , Kim Pyoung Beom , Park Hyeong Bin , Park Hwan Joon , Kim Seongjun , Lee Chang Woo , Lee Byoung Doo , Kim Nam Young , Lee Kyeong Cheol
Published: November 2022

No natural habitat of Sedirea japonica has been found in Korea for the past 20 years. This study was conducted to provide basic physiological data for the conservation strategy of this endangered plant in response to climate change. Soil fruit daylight system (SFDS) chambers were used and four treatment groups (2.6LVPD, 2.6HVPD, 8.5LVPD, and 8.5HVPD) were designed based on the RCP scenario (RCP 2.6, and 8.5) and VPD conditions (low VPD; LVPD, and high VPD; HVPD). Air dryness was induced in the HVPD groups during the daytime by increasing the atmospheric vapor pressure deficit (VPD). There was no significant difference based on the RCP scenario. However, the difference between LVPD and HVPD was considerable. Total CO2 uptake and transpiration were lower than those of LVPD due to the duration decrease of Phase I in 2.6HVPD and 8.5HVPD. There was a reduction in total biomass, leaf thickness, length, and the number of leaves. ABS/RC, DI0/RC, φD0, VK, VJ, and other chlorophyll fluorescence markers increased. φP0, RE0/RC, φE0, ψE0, φR0, RC/CS0, Sm, N, PIabs, DFabs, SFIabs, and PIabs,Total declined. Daily drought stresses impact the physiological mechanisms occurring at nighttime. The defense mechanisms against drought stress occur by conserving water by controlling the stomata, inactivating the reaction center, and increasing the dissipated energy through heat. In summary, S. japonica is flexible against drought stress.
Changes of Volatile Flavor Compounds in Sea Buckthorn Juice during Fermentation Based on Gas Chromatography–Ion Mobility Spectrometry
Authors: Wu Dan , Xia Qile , Cheng Huan , Zhang Qichun , Wang Yanbin , Ye Xingqian
Published: November 2022

Sea buckthorn is rich in polyphenolic compounds with antioxidant activities. However, it is very sour, and its odor is slightly unpleasant, so it requires flavor improvement. Fermentation is one potential method. Sea buckthorn juice was fermented at 37 °C for 72 h and then post-fermented at 4 °C for 10 days. The flavor-related properties of the sea buckthorn juice were evaluated during fermentation, including the pH, total soluble solids (TSS), color, sensory evaluation, and volatile flavors. The sea buckthorn fermented juice had a low pH. The total soluble solids decreased from 10.60 ± 0.10% to 5.60 ± 0.12%. The total color change was not more than 20%. Fermentation increased the sweet odor of the sea buckthorn juice, but the fruity flavor decreased and the bitter flavor increased. A total of 33 volatile flavors were identified by headspace gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry (GC–IMS), including 24 esters, 4 alcohols, 4 terpenes, and 1 ketone. Their total relative contents were 79.63–81.67%, 10.04–11.76%, 1.56–1.22%, and 0.25–0.55%, respectively. The differences in the characteristic volatile molecular species of the sea buckthorn juice at different fermentation stages could be visually discerned using fingerprint maps. Through principal component analysis (PCA), the total flavor difference of the sea buckthorn juice at different fermentation stages could be effectively distinguished into three groups: the samples fermented for 0 h and 12 h were in one group, the samples fermented for 36 h, 48 h, 60 h, and 72 h were in another group, and the samples fermented for 24 h were in another group. It is suggested that sea buckthorn juice be fermented for 36 h to improve its flavor. GC–IMS and PCA are effective methods of identifying and distinguishing the flavor characteristics of sea buckthorn juice. The above results can provide a theoretical basis for studying the changes in sea buckthorn’s characteristics as a result of fermentation, particularly with regard to its flavor.
Monitoring the Changes in Heat Transfer and Water Evaporation of French Fries during Frying to Analyze Its Oil Uptake and Quality
Authors: Li Ying , Guo Qi , Wang Kaili , Nverjiang Maheshati , Wu Kairong , Wang Xu , Xia Xiufang
Published: November 2022

The effect of frying temperature on heat transfer, water loss kinetic, oil uptake kinetic, and quality of French fries was evaluated. With increasing frying temperature, the core temperature of fries increased, and the Biot number and heat transfer coefficient (h) first decreased and then increased significantly (p < 0.05). The water loss rate (kw) and water effective diffusion of fries increased with the increasing frying temperature. The kw of fries fried at 150–190 °C were 0.2391, 0.2414, 0.3205, 0.3998, and 0.3931, respectively. The oil uptake rate (ko) first increased and then decreased with increasing frying temperature, and the ko of samples fried at 150–190 °C were 0.2691, 0.2564, 0.4764, 0.3387, and 0.2522, respectively. There were significant differences in the a*, L*, ΔE, and BI between fries with different temperatures (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the b* (p > 0.05). The hardness and crispness of fries increased with increased frying temperature. The highest overall acceptability scores of fries were fried at 170 °C. Therefore, the changes in color, texture overall acceptability, and oil content were due to the Maillard reaction and the formation of porous structure, which was induced by h and water evaporation of fries when they changed.
Effect of Combined Treatment with Cinnamon Oil and petit-High Pressure CO2 against Saccharomyces cerevisiae
Authors: Niu Liyuan , Liu Jingfei , Wang Xinpei , Wu Zihao , Xiang Qisen , Bai Yanhong
Published: November 2022

This study investigated the effects of the combined treatment with cinnamon oil (CIN) and petit-high pressure CO2 (p-HPCO2) against Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The results showed that CIN and p-HPCO2 exhibited a synergistic antifungal effect against S. cerevisiae. After being treated by CIN at a final concentration of 0.02% and p-HPCO2 under 1.3 MPa at 25 °C for 2 h, the S. cerevisiae population decreased by 3.35 log10 CFU/mL, which was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that of CIN (1.11 log10 CFU/mL) or p-HPCO2 (0.31 log10 CFU/mL). Through scanning electron microscopy, fluorescence staining, and other approaches, a disorder of the structure and function of the cell membrane was observed after the CIN + p-HPCO2 treatment, such as severe morphological changes, increased membrane permeability, decreased cell membrane potential, and loss of membrane integrity. CIN + p-HPCO2 also induced mitochondrial membrane depolarization in S. cerevisiae cells, which could be associated with the decrease in intracellular ATP observed in this study. Moreover, the expression of genes involved in ergosterol synthesis in S. cerevisiae was up-regulated after exposure to CIN + p-HPCO2, which might be an adaptive response to membrane damage. This work demonstrates the potential of CIN and p-HPCO2 in combination as an alternative pasteurization technique for use in the food industry.
Ball Comparison between Two Efficient Weighted-Newton-like Solvers for Equations
Authors: Argyros Ioannis K. , Regmi Samundra , Argyros Christopher I. , Sharma Debasis
Published: November 2022

We compare the convergence balls and the dynamical behaviors of two efficient weighted-Newton-like equation solvers by Sharma and Arora, and Grau-Sánchez et al. First of all, the results of ball convergence for these algorithms are established by employing generalized Lipschitz constants and assumptions on the first derivative only. Consequently, outcomes for the radii of convergence, measurable error distances and the existence–uniqueness areas for the solution are discussed. Then, the complex dynamical behaviors of these solvers are compared by applying the attraction basin tool. It is observed that the solver suggested by Grau-Sánchez et al. has bigger basins than the method described by Sharma and Arora. Lastly, our ball analysis findings are verified on application problems and the convergence balls are compared. It is found that the method given by Grau-Sánchez et al. has larger convergence balls than the solver of Sharma and Arora. Hence, the solver presented by Grau-Sánchez et al. is more suitable for practical application. The convergence analysis uses the first derivative in contrast to the aforementioned studies, utilizing the seventh derivative not on these methods. The developed process can be used on other methods in order to increase their applicability.
Complete Mitogenome Analysis of Five Leafhopper Species of Idiocerini (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae)
Authors: Tian Lili , Yang Wenxin , Si Chengyan , Guo Xianguang , Zhang Bin
Published: November 2022

Insect mitochondrial genomes (mitogenomes) are of great interest in exploring molecular evolution, phylogenetics, and biogeography. So far, only 12 mitogenomes of the leafhopper tribe Idiocerini have been released in GenBank, although the tribe comprises 488 known species including some agricultural, forestry, and horticultural pests. In order to compare and analyze the mitochondrial genome structure of Idiocerini and even the selective pressure of 13 protein-coding genes (PCGs) of the family Cicadellidae, the complete mitogenomes of five species including Nabicerus dentimus, Sahlbergotettix salicicola, Podulmorinus opacus, Podulmorinus consimilis, and a new species of a new genus were determined by next-generation sequencing. The size of the newly determined mitogenomes ranged from 14,733 bp to 15,044 bp, comprising the standard set of 13 PCGs, 22 transfer RNA genes, two ribosomal RNA genes, and a long non-coding control region (CR). The extent of purifying selection presented different pictures in the tribe and the family. The less pronounced genes (0.5 < dN/dS < 1) were nad5 and nad4l in Idiocerin, whereas in the family Cicadellidae including the sequences of Idiocerin, nad1-nad6 and cox1 genes were less pronounced. The codon encoding leucine was the most common in all species, and the codon encoding serine 1 was the most common in all species except for P. opacus. Interestingly, in P. opacus, another of the most common codons is that encoding serine 2. Among the 17 examined species of the Idiocerini, 14 species contained the tandem repeats, and 11 species of them contained the motif “TTATA”. These findings will promote research on the structure and evolution of the mitochondrial genome and highlight the need for more mitogenomes in Cicadellidae.
Genetic Variations between Youth and Professional Development Phase English Academy Football Players
Authors: McAuley Alexander B.T. , Hughes David C. , Tsaprouni Loukia G. , Varley Ian , Suraci Bruce , Baker Joseph , Herbert Adam J. , Kelly Adam L.
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study was to examine differences in the genotype frequency distribution of thirty-three single nucleotide variants (SNVs) between youth development phase (YDP) and professional development phase (PDP) academy football players. One hundred and sixty-six male football players from two Category 1 and Category 3 English academies were examined within their specific age phase: YDP (n = 92; aged 13.84 ± 1.63 years) and PDP (n = 74; aged 18.09 ± 1.51 years). Fisher’s exact tests were used to compare individual genotype frequencies, whereas unweighted and weighted total genotype scores (TGS; TWGS) were computed to assess differences in polygenic profiles. In isolation, the IL6 (rs1800795) G allele was overrepresented in PDP players (90.5%) compared to YDP players (77.2%; p = 0.023), whereby PDP players had nearly three times the odds of possessing a G allele (OR = 2.83, 95% CI: 1.13–7.09). The TGS (p = 0.001) and TWGS (p < 0.001) were significant, but poor, in distinguishing YDP and PDP players (AUC = 0.643–0.694), with PDP players exhibiting an overall more power-orientated polygenic profile. If validated in larger independent youth football cohorts, these findings may have important implications for future studies examining genetic associations in youth football.