bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genotypic Characterization of Orientia tsutsugamushi Isolated From Acute Encephalitis Syndrome and Acute Febrile Illness Cases in the Gorakhpur Area, Uttar Pradesh, India
Authors: Nanaware Nikita , Desai Dipen , Banerjee Anwesha , Zaman Kamran , Mittal Mahim , Mittal Mahima , Kulkarni Smita
Published: July 2022

Scrub typhus infections caused by Orientiatsutsugamushi (OT), continue to remain underdiagnosed globally, due to the lack of distinctive symptoms. The elusive nature of the Acute Encephalitis Syndrome (AES) outbreak in Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh that claimed numerous pediatric lives was the driving force of this study which involved serological diagnosis (IgM–ELISA), isolation of OT in cell culture, confirmation by PCR, and characterization by Sanger sequencing. In total, 12 out of 36 patients were seropositive, of which 4 were positive by PCR. Upon enrichment in cell culture, additional 3 patients (including two seronegative) were detected positive by PCR. In total, three of these 7 patients were found to be infected with two strains of OT. Taken together, this study for the first time reports the occurrence of dual infections in addition to three circulating OT genotypes (Gilliam, Kato, and Karp-like) and highlights the significance of enriching OT in cell culture systems for efficient molecular detection.
Real-Time Image Processing Toolbox for All-Optical Closed-Loop Control of Neuronal Activities
Authors: Sheng Weihao , Zhao Xueyang , Huang Xinrui , Yang Yang
Published: July 2022

The development of in vivo imaging and optogenetic tools makes it possible to control neural circuit activities in an all-optical, closed-loop manner, but such applications are limited by the lack of software for online analysis of neuronal imaging data. We developed an analysis software ORCA (Online Real-time activity and offline Cross-session Analysis), which performs image registration, neuron segmentation, and activity extraction at over 100 frames per second, fast enough to support real-time detection and readout of neural activity. Our active neuron detection algorithm is purely statistical, achieving a much higher speed than previous methods. We demonstrated closed-loop control of neurons that were identified on the fly, without prior recording or image processing. ORCA also includes a cross-session alignment module that efficiently tracks neurons across multiple sessions. In summary, ORCA is a powerful toolbox for fast imaging data analysis and provides a solution for all-optical closed-loop control of neuronal activity.
Application of Medial Ganglionic Eminence Cell Transplantation in Diseases Associated With Interneuron Disorders
Authors: Li Danping , Wu Qiongfang , Han Xiaohua
Published: July 2022

Excitatory projection neurons and inhibitory interneurons primarily accomplish the neural activity of the cerebral cortex, and an imbalance of excitatory-inhibitory neural networks may lead to neuropsychiatric diseases. Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic interneurons mediate inhibition, and the embryonic medial ganglionic eminence (MGE) is a source of GABAergic interneurons. After transplantation, MGE cells migrate to different brain regions, differentiate into multiple subtypes of GABAergic interneurons, integrate into host neural circuits, enhance synaptic inhibition, and have tremendous application value in diseases associated with interneuron disorders. In the current review, we describe the fate of MGE cells derived into specific interneurons and the related diseases caused by interneuron loss or dysfunction and explore the potential of MGE cell transplantation as a cell-based therapy for a variety of interneuron disorder-related diseases, such as epilepsy, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder, and Alzheimer’s disease.
Rapid Effects of Vagus Nerve Stimulation on Sensory Processing Through Activation of Neuromodulatory Systems
Authors: Rodenkirch Charles , Carmel Jason B. , Wang Qi
Published: July 2022

After sensory information is encoded into neural signals at the periphery, it is processed through multiple brain regions before perception occurs (i.e., sensory processing). Recent work has begun to tease apart how neuromodulatory systems influence sensory processing. Vagus nerve stimulation (VNS) is well-known as an effective and safe method of activating neuromodulatory systems. There is a growing body of studies confirming VNS has immediate effects on sensory processing across multiple sensory modalities. These immediate effects of VNS on sensory processing are distinct from the more well-documented method of inducing lasting neuroplastic changes to the sensory pathways through repeatedly delivering a brief VNS burst paired with a sensory stimulus. Immediate effects occur upon VNS onset, often disappear upon VNS offset, and the modulation is present for all sensory stimuli. Conversely, the neuroplastic effect of pairing sub-second bursts of VNS with a sensory stimulus alters sensory processing only after multiple pairing sessions, this alteration remains after cessation of pairing sessions, and the alteration selectively affects the response properties of neurons encoding the specific paired sensory stimulus. Here, we call attention to the immediate effects VNS has on sensory processing. This review discusses existing studies on this topic, provides an overview of the underlying neuromodulatory systems that likely play a role, and briefly explores the potential translational applications of using VNS to rapidly regulate sensory processing.
A Novel Systemic Inflammation Prognostic Score to Stratify Survival in Elderly Patients With Cancer
Authors: Ruan Guo-Tian , Xie Hai-Lun , Deng Li , Ge Yi-Zhong , Zhang Qi , Wang Zi-Wen , Zhang Xi , Zhang He-Yang , Tang Meng , Song Meng-Meng , Zhang Xiao-Wei , Yang Ming , Pan Lei , Wang Kun-Hua , Cong Ming-Hua , Gong Yi-Zhen , Wang Meng-Yan , Shi Han-Ping
Published: July 2022

Background

Elderly patients with cancer face the challenge of systemic inflammation, which can lead to a poor prognosis. Existing inflammatory indices cannot fully reflect the immune-inflammatory status of patients. This study aimed to develop a new scoring system to predict the survival of elderly patients with cancer using inflammatory indices, namely, the systemic inflammation prognostic score (SIPS).

Materials and Methods

This prospective multicenter study included a total of 1,767 patients with cancer, with a mean age of 70.97 ± 5.49 years, of whom 1,170 (66.2%) were men. We performed the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression to screen inflammatory indicators to include in constructing SIPS. Prognostic analysis of SIPS was performed using univariate and multivariate survival analyzes. The prognostic value of SIPS and its components were compared using the prognostic receiver operating characteristic curve and concordance index. The population was divided into the training cohort and the validation cohort in a 7:3 ratio and a SIPS prognostic analysis was performed.

Results

The LASSO regression selected C-reactive protein (CRP) (≤ 9.81, “0”; > 9.81, “1”), geriatric nutritional risk index (GNRI) (≤ 93.85, “1”; 93.85, “0”), advanced lung cancer inflammation index (ALI) (≤ 23.49, “1”; > 23.49, “0”), and lymphocyte to C-reactive protein ratio (LCR) (≤ 2523.81, “1”; > 2523.81, “0”) to develop SIPS. Patients were divided into the three groups based on the total SIPS: low-risk (0), moderate-risk (1–2), and high-risk (3–4). On the multivariate survival analysis, patients in the moderate-risk [P < 0.001, hazard ratio (HR) = 1.79, 95% CI: 1.47–2.17] and high-risk groups (P < 0.001, HR = 2.40, 95% CI: 1.98–2.92) showed a worse prognosis than those in the low-risk group. The total cohort, training cohort, and validation cohort all showed that SIPS had better survival prediction than CRP, GNRI, ALI, and LCR. The HRs were 2.81 times higher in patients in the high-risk group with malnutrition than in patients in the low-risk group without malnutrition.

Conclusion

SIPS was an independent prognostic indicator in elderly patients with cancer. Malnutrition in the high-risk group increased the mortality risk.
Quartz Tube Enhanced Raman Scattering Spectroscopy
Authors: Si Ganshang , Liu Jiaxiang , Li Zhengang , Ning Zhiqiang , Fang Yonghua
Published: July 2022

Raman spectroscopy is widely used in many fields with the advantages of simultaneous species detection and molecular fingerprint characteristics, but the low detection sensitivity limits its further development, especially for highly scattering or turbid mediums. In this consideration, a new method called quartz tube enhanced Raman scattering spectroscopy was proposed for the first time in this paper. A quartz tube was inserted into the powder sample to improve the coupling of light into the medium and increase the interaction volume of the laser with the sample (“volume-excitation”), multiple scattering of the light within the turbid medium resulted in an increased Raman signal. In this paper, the effect of different sizes of quartz tubes on the sensitivity enhancement was studied. The results show that the enhancement factor of the signal intensity was nearly 5.37 (the Raman signal of HCO3−) compared to traditional Raman spectroscopy technology. Furthermore, the method was successfully applied to improve the Raman signal intensity of the mixed sample (1:5, m (PO43−):m (HCO3−)) and detect the baking soda powder buried under a 6 mm thick layer of potassium dihydrogen phosphate powder. The results show that the technology will open a new way for the quantitative analysis and detection of powder samples.
Age Dependent Partitioning Patterns of Essential Nutrients Induced by Copper Feeding Status in Leaves and Stems of Poplar
Authors: Hunter Cameron , Stewart Jared J. , Gleason Sean M. , Pilon Marinus
Published: July 2022

Copper (Cu) is an essential micronutrient, and its deficiency can cause plants to undergo metabolic changes at several levels of organization. It has been shown that leaf age can play a role in nutrient partitioning along the shoot axis of poplar. In this study, we investigated the effect of Cu deficiency on the altered partitioning of essential macro and micronutrients in leaves and stems of different age. Cu deficiency was associated with higher concentrations of calcium, magnesium, sulfur, iron, zinc, manganese, and molybdenum in leaves and relatively higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, iron, and zinc in stems. Leaf and stem age had significant effects on nutrient partitioning. Principal component analyses revealed patterns that point to inverse influences in leaves and stems on nutrient partitioning. Specifically, these analyses revealed that nutrient partitioning in leaves was influenced by Cu feeding status more than developmental stage, whereas nutrient partitioning in stems was influenced by developmental stage more than Cu feeding status. These results suggest that Cu deficiency and developmental stage can significantly influence the partitioning and homeostasis of macro and micronutrients in poplar organs.
Antifungal Activities of Pure and ZnO-Encapsulated Essential Oil of Zataria multiflora on Alternaria solani as the Pathogenic Agent of Tomato Early Blight Disease
Authors: Akhtari Arezou , Davari Mahdi , Habibi-Yangjeh Aziz , Ebadollahi Asgar , Feizpour Solmaz
Published: July 2022

The utilization of plant essential oils (EOs) and nanomaterials due to their safety compared with synthetic chemicals has been considered in the management of plant diseases. In this study, the inhibitory effects of Zataria multiflora, Nepeta haussknechtii, Artemisia sieberi, and Citrus aurantifolia EOs in pure and Zinc Oxide (ZnO) nanocapsulated formulations were evaluated on the mycelial growth of Alternaria solani to find a suitable alternative for synthetic chemicals. The crystal structure and morphological properties of the fabricated nanomaterials were assessed via X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscope (SEM) analyses. The textural features of the prepared nanoparticles were investigated with Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) analysis, and the presence of elements in the samples was studied with energy-dispersive X-ray (EDX) technique. The mycelial growth inhibitory (MGI) was performed in the laboratory by mixing with potato dextrose agar (PDA) medium at concentrations of 100, 300, 600, 1,000, 1,500, and 2,000 ppm. Based on the results, major differences were monitored between different concentrations. At the highest studied concentration, the inhibition of Z. multiflora EO was 100%, which was 43.20, 42.37, and 21.19% for N. haussknechtii, A. sieberi, and C. aurantifolia, respectively, and the inhibition of their nanocapsules was 100, 51.32, 55.23, and 26.58%, respectively. In the greenhouse study, Z. multiflora EO and its nanocapsule (ZnO-ZmEO) were compared with the ZnO and chlorothalonil fungicide based on the highest inhibitory of Z. multiflora in vitro. The highest antifungal effect was related to the ZnO-ZmEO by 53.33%. Therefore, the ZnO-ZmEO formulation can be recommended as a biofungicide for managing and controlling tomato early blight disease after further research.
Parameters for Change in Offline Gambling Behavior After the First COVID-19 Lockdown in Germany
Authors: Kalke Jens , Schütze Christian , Lahusen Harald , Buth Sven
Published: July 2022

Introduction

In spring 2020, the first nationwide lockdown in response to the spreading COVID-19 pandemic came into effect in Germany. From March to May, gambling venues, casinos, and betting offices were forced to close. This study explores how land-based gamblers respond to short-term closures of higher-risk forms of gambling. Which gamblers are particularly susceptible to switching to online gambling? Which are more likely to use the lockdown as an opportunity to quit or pause gambling? Potential parameters for these switching or cessation processes are identified using multivariate multinomial logistic regression analysis.

Methods

The research questions are analyzed on the basis of quantitative data. For this purpose, a survey was conducted among members of a comparatively large German online access panel (“PAYBACK panel”). The sample of analysis consisted of 612 gamblers who had participated in at least one higher-risk form of gambling and had done so exclusively offline before the first lockdown (January and February 2020).

Results

A total of 37.1% of sports bettors ceased participation in higher-risk forms of gambling, compared to 64.1% of casino gamblers. Switching to online gambling, on the other hand, was a rather rare event, regardless of the form of gambling: the proportions differ between 7.7% (slot machines) and 10.9% (sports betting). In the multivariate model female gender, younger age, and a lower frequency of gambling before the first lockdown were found to be significant factors for quitting (instead of continuing) higher-risk offline gambling forms. Secondly, the analysis revealed that individuals with more pronounced cognitive distortions had an increased risk of switching to online gambling rather than staying offline.

Discussion

A key finding of this study is that the temporary closure of offline venues does not result in a significant shift towards the online market. Instead, the results of this study show that these short, temporary closures of gambling venues were an appropriate opportunity to give individual groups of gamblers the opportunity to reflect, reduce or quit gambling. It is worth considering implementing such temporary closures as a preventive measure in the future – this should be investigated in advance in further evaluation studies.
Antecedents and Consequences of Grit Among Working Adults: A Transpersonal Psychology Perspective
Authors: Agrawal Devanshi , Chukkali Surekha , Singh Sabah
Published: July 2022

Positive psychology has paved the way for newer and more informed ideas of living a meaningful, integrated and well-rounded quality of living. The current era of the pandemic has also moulded the ways in which individuals perceive their quality of life and how they want to integrate a holistic approach towards their well-being. The workplace settings have seen tremendous changes in terms of how employers, employees and the organisations at large function and operate. The pre-pandemic concept of success has shifted its focus from hard work to developing grit among employees to increase the overall efficiency of the organisations. Grit has revolutionised the conventional standards of success, meaning in life and has impacted personal as well as occupational welfare. This integration of positive psychology and transpersonal psychology has catalysed the purpose for the current study. To help organisations and individuals thrive in their professional endeavours at the workplace and to provide them with relevant psychological tools to enhance their occupational growth, the present study has been conducted empirically to investigate the antecedents and consequences of grit among 209 working professionals in India. The results of this study indicate that the transpersonal capital of metacognition, flow, optimism and empathy have a significant role to play in developing grit among the participants. The findings have implications for enhancing job satisfaction and job performance of participants. The current research also provides a framework to organisations towards designing interventions for improving efficiency at the workplace.
Individual and Organizational Factors in Coping With COVID-19 in Soldier Students
Authors: Talić Irma , Einhorn Alina , Renner Karl-Heinz
Published: July 2022

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed significant burden across different industrial sectors. Generally, an increase in psychological stress experiences has been reported, while the stress and coping responses of specific, potentially burdened populations have received less attention thus far. Thus, the present study investigated relations between individual (i.e., extraversion, neuroticism, conscientiousness) and organizational (i.e., organizational commitment and study satisfaction) factors, indicators of psychological health (i.e., loneliness, life satisfaction, COVID-19-related stress), and possible mediating effects of four broad coping dimensions (active coping, avoidant coping, social support, positive cognitive restructuring) in a specific sample of soldier students who engage in a double-role being military affiliates and students of non-military subjects. To this end, we assessed data of soldier students at two measurement points (N = 106 at t1 and N = 63 at t2) shortly after the second national lockdown in Germany (20. May 2021 to 11. July 2021) during the COVID-19 pandemic. Personality traits showed expected associations with indicators of psychological health, i.e., positive relations between neuroticism and social loneliness, between extraversion and COVID-19 stress, and negative relations between neuroticism and life satisfaction. Remarkably, organizational variables showed effects above and beyond personality traits on loneliness and life satisfaction. Neither individual, nor organizational factors could predict change in psychological health over time. We found evidence for mediation effects through active coping, avoidant coping, and the use of social support, but not through positive cognitive restructuring. Findings highlight the relative importance of organizational factors besides personality traits for psychological health in a military student sample, holding important implications for designing efficient support systems in the military.
A Novel Prognostic Signature Associated with Immunotherapeutic Response for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Jin Xinmin , Wang Jinhuan
Published: July 2022

Background

Although accumulating literature has validated that necroptosis plays a prominent role in the tumorigenesis and progression of various malignant cancer, its mechanism in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is poorly understood. Therefore, in the present study, we want to study the impact of necroptosis-related genes on the prognosis and microenvironment-infiltrating immunocytes and the effect of immunotherapy on patients with HCC.

Methods

The necroptosis-related genes were obtained by reviewing the available published literature; we then evaluated the effects of the prognostic genes on the relative abundance of microenvironment infiltrated immunocytes. After construction of the Risk Score Signature, we evaluated the prognostic value and the effects on immune cells infiltrating the tumor microenvironment (TME). Combining the available data on immunotherapy, we also investigated the impact on anti-PD-L1-based immunotherapy.

Results

A comprehensive study of the published literature confirmed that 22 genes are related to necroptosis. Among them, 10 genes were related to the prognosis of the HCC cohort in The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) and had a multifaceted influence on TME. We obtained the Risk Score Signature by Lasso regression. Furthermore, we also corroborated the correlation between the Risk Score Signature and tumor-infiltrating immune cells in the TME. Next, in the study of the correlation between the Signature and immunotherapy, we found that the Signature was significantly correlated with the reactivity of anti-PD-L1 immunotherapy. We also confirmed that the Risk Score Signature is a reliable and efficient independent prognostic marker of HCC.

Conclusion

We established a novel and effective prognostic model for patients with HCC, which is markedly related to the TME and immune infiltration in HCC and can also predict immunotherapeutic response and prognosis.
The Real-World Impact of Vaccination on COVID-19 Cases During Europe’s Fourth Wave
Authors: Jain Vageesh , Serisier Aimee , Lorgelly Paula
Published: July 2022

Objectives: Disease control is important to limit the social, economic and health effects of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of novel variants emerging. Evidence suggests vaccines are less effective against the Omicron variant, but their impact on disease control is unclear.

Methods: We used a longitudinal fixed effects Poisson regression model to assess the impact of vaccination on COVID-19 case rates across 32 countries in Europe from 13th October to 01st January 2022. We controlled for country and time fixed effects and the severity of public health restrictions.

Results: Full vaccination coverage increased by 4.2%, leading to a 54% reduction in case rates across Europe (p < 0.001). This protection decreased over time but remained significant at 5 weeks after the detection of Omicron. Mean booster vaccination rates increased from 2.71% to 24.5% but provided no significant additional benefit. For every one-unit increase in the severity of public health restrictions, case rates fell by a further 2% (p = 0.019).

Conclusion: Full vaccination significantly limited the spread of COVID-19 and blunted the impact of the Omicron variant, despite becoming less useful over time.
Antioxidant and Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ethanol Extract from Whole Onion (Allium cepa L.) with Leaves
Authors: Kim Ju-Hui , Kim Ji-Su , Kim Si-Hyun , Jeong Su-Hyeon , Jeong Un-Yul , Jung Ji-Eun , Lee Sun-Kyung , Lee Sung-Hyen
Published: July 2022

This study was conducted to evaluate and to increase the usage of the whole onion (Allium cepa L.), which is composed of a small bulb and many leaves that are discarded as by-products before the bulbs grow. Whole onions are harvested early in immature condition, which allows the other onion bulbs to grow well. We compared its functional activities with those of quercetin, which is one of its major components. The antioxidant activities of ethanol extract from the whole onion (WOEE) were measured by DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT) activities. The anti-inflammatory effects of WOEE were investigated in RAW 264.7 macrophages treated with LPS by analyzing cytokine levels and expressions using ELISA kits and RT-PCR assays, respectively. WOEE showed high antioxidant effects on DPPH and ABTS radical scavenging activities, and SOD and CAT activities. WOEE significantly reduced the production of nitric oxide, IL-1β, IL-6, and TNF-α, and/or their mRNA expressions in a dose-dependent manner. The results indicated that whole onions had antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects, which were comparable with quercetin and may be used as a novel potential therapeutic candidate.
Seed-Filling Characteristics of a Centralized Seed-Metering Device for Rapeseed Caused by Vibration
Authors: Wu Wencheng , Chang Cheng , Li Tao , Hu Hongji , Zhou Zhonglin , Yang Wenhao , Guo Jinyue , Zhu Peixu , Li Ju , Hu Jianfeng , Cheng Hong , Tao Youfeng , Zhou Wei , Deng Fei , Chen Yong , Ren Wanjun , Lei Xiaolong
Published: July 2022

Sowing quality is directly influenced by the seed-filling characteristics of a centralized seed-metering device, and vigorous seed-motion status deteriorates seeding performance resulting from field surface roughness, seeder vibration, etc. However, the relationship between vibration and seed-filling properties remains unclear. This study measured the vibration characteristics of a seed-metering device, examined unmeasurable seed-motion characteristics based on DEM simulation, and used bench tests to determine the seed-filling characteristics under vibration conditions. The frequency distribution of the rapeseed seeder was 0–180 Hz. The simulation results revealed that the vibration mainly changed the level of seed in the seed-filling area; moreover, it significantly increased the seed-filling angle, ranging from 56.00°–59.00° to 69.78°–91.40°, which affected the seed-filling performance. A vibration frequency of 10–40 Hz resulted in a target seed rate within 88.67–99.44%, but when there is no vibration, the target seed rate reached 100%. The bench test results demonstrated that the seed-filling angle under vibration will increase with an increase in longitudinal distance, and will change between 15.49°–102°. The seed-filling performance affected by longitudinal distance was larger than that affected by lateral distance. By adjusting the longitudinal distance to range from 0–20 mm, the target seed rate could be maintained above 91%. The findings help to improve our knowledge of seed-filling characteristics under vibration conditions, and should be conducive to improving seeding performance by adjusting the seed layer height to reduce the impact of vibration on field operations.
Effects of 2-Year Nutritional and Lifestyle Intervention on Oxidative and Inflammatory Statuses in Individuals of 55 Years of Age and over at High Cardiovascular Risk
Authors: Monserrat-Mesquida Margalida , Quetglas-Llabrés Magdalena , Bouzas Cristina , García Silvia , Mateos David , Gómez Cristina , Gámez José M. , Poulsen Henrik E. , Tur Josep A. , Sureda Antoni
Published: July 2022

Obesity and overweight are disorders with high impact on the morbidity and mortality of chronic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cardiovascular diseases (CVD). We aim to assess the effects of 2-year nutritional and lifestyle intervention on oxidative and inflammatory status in individuals of 55 years of age and over at high CVD risk. Participants (n = 100 individuals of 55 years of age and over living in the Balearic Islands, Spain) were randomized into control and intervention group. Anthropometric and haematological parameters, blood pressure and physical activity were measured before and after the intervention. Oxidative and inflammatory biomarkers in plasma, urine, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) and neutrophils were determined. A higher reduction in abdominal obesity, blood pressure and triglycerides levels was observed after a 2-year intervention. An improvement of oxidative stress and proinflammatory status was demonstrated with a significant reduction in myeloperoxidase, xanthine oxidase, malondialdehyde and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP1) levels, and an increase in polyphenols in plasma was observed. A decrease in reactive oxygen species production in PBMCs and neutrophils levels after zymosan and lipopolysaccharide activation was found in the intervention group with respect to the control group. The intervention with hypocaloric Mediterranean Diet and customized physical activity improves oxidative stress and proinflammatory status and could contribute to decreasing the CVD risk.
Classroom Behavior Detection Based on Improved YOLOv5 Algorithm Combining Multi-Scale Feature Fusion and Attention Mechanism
Authors: Tang Longyu , Xie Tao , Yang Yunong , Wang Hong
Published: July 2022

The detection of students’ behaviors in classroom can provide a guideline for assessing the effectiveness of classroom teaching. This study proposes a classroom behavior detection algorithm using an improved object detection model (i.e., YOLOv5). First, the feature pyramid structure (FPN+PAN) in the neck network of the original YOLOv5 model is combined with a weighted bidirectional feature pyramid network (BiFPN). They are subsequently processed with feature fusion of different scales of the object to mine the fine-grained features of different behaviors. Second, a spatial and channel convolutional attention mechanism (CBAM) is added between the neck network and the prediction network to make the model focus on the object information to improve the detection accuracy. Finally, the original non-maximum suppression is improved using the distance-based intersection ratio (DIoU) to improve the discrimination of occluded objects. A series of experiments were conducted on our new established dataset which includes four types of behaviors: listening, looking down, lying down, and standing. The results demonstrated that the algorithm proposed in this study can accurately detect various student behaviors, and the accuracy was higher than that of the YOLOv5 model. By comparing the effects of student behavior detection in different scenarios, the improved algorithm had an average accuracy of 89.8% and a recall of 90.4%, both of which were better than the compared detection algorithms.
Augmented Reality and Gamification in Education: A Systematic Literature Review of Research, Applications, and Empirical Studies
Authors: Lampropoulos Georgios , Keramopoulos Euclid , Diamantaras Konstantinos , Evangelidis Georgios
Published: July 2022

This study scrutinizes the existing literature regarding the use of augmented reality and gamification in education to establish its theoretical basis. A systematic literature review following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement was conducted. To provide complete and valid information, all types of related studies for all educational stages and subjects throughout the years were investigated. In total, 670 articles from 5 databases (Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, IEEE, and ERIC) were examined. Based on the results, using augmented reality and gamification in education can yield several benefits for students, assist educators, improve the educational process, and facilitate the transition toward technology-enhanced learning when used in a student-centered manner, following proper educational approaches and strategies and taking students’ knowledge, interests, unique characteristics, and personality traits into consideration. Students demonstrated positive behavioral, attitudinal, and psychological changes and increased engagement, motivation, active participation, knowledge acquisition, focus, curiosity, interest, enjoyment, academic performance, and learning outcomes. Teachers also assessed them positively. Virtual rewards were crucial for improving learning motivation. The need to develop appropriate validation tools, design techniques, and theories was apparent. Finally, their potential to create collaborative and personalized learning experiences and to promote and enhance students’ cognitive and social–emotional development was evident.
Spectroscopic Characterization of an Atmospheric Pressure Plasma Jet Used for Cold Plasma Spraying
Authors: Mrotzek Julia , Viöl Wolfgang
Published: July 2022

Cold plasma spray, a powder deposition method by means of an atmospheric pressure plasma jet is a promising coating technology for use on temperature sensitive surfaces. For further improvement of this coating process, a deeper understanding of its thermokinetic properties is required. By means of optical emission spectroscopy, the plasma effluent of an atmospheric pressure nitrogen arc jet is characterized by different distances from the nozzle and different gas flow rates of 35 Lmin−1 and 45 Lmin−1. A Boltzmann plot of N2+(B-X) was used to determine rotational temperatures, which were found to be around 4000 K at the nozzle exit. Excitation temperatures, analyzed using atomic nitrogen lines, were around 6000 K for all distances. Stark broadening of the Hα-line was too weak for determination of electron density for both gas flow rates. Overall no influence on gas flow rate was found.
APT-Attack Detection Based on Multi-Stage Autoencoders
Authors: Neuschmied Helmut , Winter Martin , Stojanović Branka , Hofer-Schmitz Katharina , Božić Josip , Kleb Ulrike
Published: July 2022

In the face of emerging technological achievements, cyber security remains a significant issue. Despite the new possibilities that arise with such development, these do not come without a drawback. Attackers make use of the new possibilities to take advantage of possible security defects in new systems. Advanced-persistent-threat (APT) attacks represent sophisticated attacks that are executed in multiple steps. In particular, network systems represent a common target for APT attacks where known or yet undiscovered vulnerabilities are exploited. For this reason, intrusion detection systems (IDS) are applied to identify malicious behavioural patterns in existing network datasets. In recent times, machine-learning (ML) algorithms are used to distinguish between benign and anomalous activity in such datasets. The application of such methods, especially autoencoders, has received attention for achieving good detection results for APT attacks. This paper builds on this fact and applies several autoencoder-based methods for the detection of such attack patterns in two datasets created by combining two publicly available benchmark datasets. In addition to that, statistical analysis is used to determine features to supplement the anomaly detection process. An anomaly detector is implemented and evaluated on a combination of both datasets, including two experiment instances–APT-attack detection in an independent test dataset and in a zero-day-attack test dataset. The conducted experiments provide promising results on the plausibility of features and the performance of applied algorithms. Finally, a discussion is provided with suggestions of improvements in the anomaly detector.
A Son of Nikon or Nikon Victorious: A New Inscription on a Fragment of a Pseudo Panathenaic Amphora
Authors: Mannack Thomas
Published: July 2022

Recently, an inscribed fragment of a closed vase made of buff pinkish clay, covered with a red-orange wash, 11.8 cm wide and 8.4 cm high, and decorated with black, lustrous clay-paint surfaced briefly on the Swiss art market. It preserves a small section of the black tongue pattern on the shoulder and a wide black strip separating ornament and a panel with a straight glossy black line angled upwards; and the incomplete inscription TONIKONO[… . This paper endeavours to place the inscription and the name Nikon in a wider context and to examine the use of Pseudo-Panathenaic Amphorae.
Saquinavir: From HIV to COVID-19 and Cancer Treatment
Authors: Pereira Mariana , Vale Nuno
Published: July 2022

Saquinavir was the first protease inhibitor developed for HIV therapy, and it changed the standard of treatment for this disease to a combination of drugs that ultimately led to increased survival of this otherwise deadly condition. Inhibiting the HIV protease impedes the virus from maturing and replicating. With this in mind, since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, the research for already approved drugs (mainly antivirals) to repurpose for treatment of this disease has increased. Among the drugs tested, saquinavir showed promise in silico and in vitro in the inhibition of the SARS-CoV-2 main protease (3CLpro). Another field for saquinavir repurposing has been in anticancer treatment, in which it has shown effects in vitro and in vivo in several types of cancer, from Kaposi carcinoma to neuroblastoma, demonstrating cytotoxicity, apoptosis, inhibition of cell invasion, and improvement of radiosensibility of cancer cells. Despite the lack of follow-up in clinical trials for cancer use, there has been a renewed interest in this drug recently due to COVID-19, which shows similar pharmacological pathways and has developed superior in silico models that can be translated to oncologic research. This could help further testing and future approval of saquinavir repurposing for cancer treatment.
N-3 PUFA Ameliorates the Gut Microbiota, Bile Acid Profiles, and Neuropsychiatric Behaviours in a Rat Model of Geriatric Depression
Authors: Tung Te-Hsuan , Chen Yang-Ching , Lin Ya-Tin , Huang Shih-Yi
Published: July 2022

The brain−gut−microbiome (BGM) axis affects host bioinformation. N-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) alleviate cognitive impairment and depression in older adults. This study investigated altered microbiota−bile acid signalling as a potential mechanism linking fish oil-induced gut changes in microbiota to alleviate psychological symptoms. Sprague Dawley rats were fed a fish oil diet and administered D-galactose combined with chronic unpredictable mild stress (CUMS) to simulate geriatric depression. The cognitive function, psychological symptoms, microbiota compositions, and faecal bile acid profiles of the rats were assessed thereafter. A correlation analysis was conducted to determine whether the fish oil-induced alteration of the rats’ microbiota and bile acid profiles affected the rats’ behaviour. D-galactose and CUMS resulted in lower concentrations of Firmicutes, significantly altered bile acid profiles, and abnormal neurobehaviours. Fish oil intake alleviated the rats’ emotional symptoms and increased the abundance of Bacteroidetes, Prevotellaceae, Marinifilaceae, and Bacteroidesuniformis. It also elevated the concentrations of primary bile acids and taurine-conjugated bile acids in the rats’ faeces. The rats’ taurine-conjugated bile acid levels were significantly correlated with their behavioural outcomes. In short, fish oil intake may alleviate psychological symptoms by altering the microbial metabolites involved in the BGM axis, especially in the conjugation of bile acids.
Molecular Mechanisms of Autophagy in Cancer Development, Progression, and Therapy
Authors: Vitto Veronica Angela Maria , Bianchin Silvia , Zolondick Alicia Ann , Pellielo Giulia , Rimessi Alessandro , Chianese Diego , Yang Haining , Carbone Michele , Pinton Paolo , Giorgi Carlotta , Patergnani Simone
Published: July 2022

Autophagy is an evolutionarily conserved and tightly regulated process that plays an important role in maintaining cellular homeostasis. It involves regulation of various genes that function to degrade unnecessary or dysfunctional cellular components, and to recycle metabolic substrates. Autophagy is modulated by many factors, such as nutritional status, energy level, hypoxic conditions, endoplasmic reticulum stress, hormonal stimulation and drugs, and these factors can regulate autophagy both upstream and downstream of the pathway. In cancer, autophagy acts as a double-edged sword depending on the tissue type and stage of tumorigenesis. On the one hand, autophagy promotes tumor progression in advanced stages by stimulating tumor growth. On the other hand, autophagy inhibits tumor development in the early stages by enhancing its tumor suppressor activity. Moreover, autophagy drives resistance to anticancer therapy, even though in some tumor types, its activation induces lethal effects on cancer cells. In this review, we summarize the biological mechanisms of autophagy and its dual role in cancer. In addition, we report the current understanding of autophagy in some cancer types with markedly high incidence and/or lethality, and the existing therapeutic strategies targeting autophagy for the treatment of cancer.
Metal-Based Nanostructured Therapeutic Strategies for Glioblastoma Treatment—An Update
Authors: Gawel Agata M. , Singh Ravi , Debinski Waldemar
Published: July 2022

Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most commonly diagnosed and most lethal primary malignant brain tumor in adults. Standard treatments are ineffective, and despite promising results obtained in early phases of experimental clinical trials, the prognosis of GBM remains unfavorable. Therefore, there is need for exploration and development of innovative methods that aim to establish new therapies or increase the effectiveness of existing therapies. One of the most exciting new strategies enabling combinatory treatment is the usage of nanocarriers loaded with chemotherapeutics and/or other anticancer compounds. Nanocarriers exhibit unique properties in antitumor therapy, as they allow highly efficient drug transport into cells and sustained intracellular accumulation of the delivered cargo. They can be infused into and are retained by GBM tumors, and potentially can bypass the blood–brain barrier. One of the most promising and extensively studied groups of nanostructured therapeutics are metal-based nanoparticles. These theranostic nanocarriers demonstrate relatively low toxicity, thus they might be applied for both diagnosis and therapy. In this article, we provide an update on metal-based nanostructured constructs in the treatment of GBM. We focus on the interaction of metal nanoparticles with various forms of electromagnetic radiation for use in photothermal, photodynamic, magnetic hyperthermia and ionizing radiation sensitization applications.
Mass Customization of Housing: A Framework for Harmonizing Individual Needs with Factory Produced Housing
Authors: Eid Mohamed Basem , Carbone Carlo
Published: July 2022

Integrated processes for design and fabrication have guided mass customization of architectural systems and components. Providing affordable and accessible housing, a vital segment of the building industry, is a multifaceted process that witnessed various manifestations towards individualization over the past few decades. Design flexibility in housing systems is becoming a crucial aspect, informed by consumers’ lifestyles, demographic patterns, and lifecycles change at a rapid pace. As the housing market demands more personalized, efficient, and agile strategies, prefabricated building systems have always presented a viable alternative for flexibility and customization, following a rise of interest in the last decade focused on new modes of digitized design and production. This paper presents an overview and appraisal of various practices to implement customization in the housing industry, with specific focus on empowering a systemic approach. We then propose an open framework that could accommodate emergent design technologies and production protocols, with the aim of taking advantage of advanced research efforts, and coupled with current industry application.
Improved Metaheuristic Algorithm Based Finite Element Model Updating of a Hybrid Girder Cable-Stayed Railway Bridge
Authors: Qin Shiqiang , Yuan Yonggang , Gan Yaowei , Wang Qiuping
Published: July 2022

This study proposes a generally applicable improvement strategy for metaheuristic algorithms, improving the algorithm’s accuracy and local convergence in finite element (FE) model updating. Based on the idea of “survival of the fittest” in biological evolution, the improvement strategy introduces random crossover and mutation operators into metaheuristic algorithms to improve the accuracy and stability of the solution. The effectiveness of the improvement strategy with three typical metaheuristic algorithms was comprehensively tested by benchmark functions and numerical simulations of a space truss structure. Meanwhile, the initial FE model of a railway hybrid girder cable-stayed bridge was updated to examine the effect of the improved metaheuristic algorithm within the FE model, updating for complex engineering structures. The results show that the accuracy and stability of the improved metaheuristic algorithm were improved by this process. After the initial FE model of the hybrid girder cable-stayed bridge was updated, the calculated frequencies and displacements were closer to the measured values, better representing the actual structure, and showing that this process can be used for baseline FE models of bridges.
A Predictive Analytics Framework for Mobile Crane Configuration Selection in Heavy Industrial Construction Projects
Authors: Azami Ramtin , Lei Zhen , Hermann Ulrich , Zubick Travis
Published: July 2022

Predictive analytics have been used to improve efficiency and productivity in the construction industry by leveraging the insights from historical data with a variety of applications in project management. In the planning process of heavy industrial construction projects, mobile crane selection plays a critical role in the project’s success, and poor choice of mobile crane configurations can lead to unnecessary cost-overrun and delayed schedules. In this research, the authors propose a predictive analytics framework for crane configuration selection using combined heuristic search and artificial neural network (ANN) approaches for heavy industrial construction projects. The heuristic search allows the practitioners to select the crane configurations based on engineering rules, while the ANN model utilizes the historical project data to help select crane configurations. The K-fold cross-validation is conducted to validate the designed ANN model and improve the accuracy of predictions. The results from the cross-validation test set have shown 70% accuracy.
Enose Lab Made with Vacuum Sampling: Quantitative Applications
Authors: Teixeira Guilherme G. , Peres António M. , Estevinho Letícia , Geraldes Pedro , Garcia-Cabezon Cristina , Martin-Pedrosa Fernando , Rodriguez-Mendez Maria Luz , Dias Luís G.
Published: July 2022

A lab-made electronic nose (Enose) with vacuum sampling and a sensor array, comprising nine metal oxide semiconductor Figaro gas sensors, was tested for the quantitative analysis of vapor–liquid equilibrium, described by Henry’s law, of aqueous solutions of organic compounds: three alcohols (i.e., methanol, ethanol, and propanol) or three chemical compounds with different functional groups (i.e., acetaldehyde, ethanol, and ethyl acetate). These solutions followed a fractional factorial design to guarantee orthogonal concentrations. Acceptable predictive ridge regression models were obtained for training, with RSEs lower than 7.9, R2 values greater than 0.95, slopes varying between 0.84 and 1.00, and intercept values close to the theoretical value of zero. Similar results were obtained for the test data set: RSEs lower than 8.0, R2 values greater than 0.96, slopes varying between 0.72 and 1.10, and some intercepts equal to the theoretical value of zero. In addition, the total mass of the organic compounds of each aqueous solution could be predicted, pointing out that the sensors measured mainly the global contents of the vapor phases. The satisfactory quantitative results allowed to conclude that the Enose could be a useful tool for the analysis of volatiles from aqueous solutions containing organic compounds for which Henry’s law is applicable.