bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing the risk factors associated with sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis: a case–control study
Authors: Xiao LeYao , Dai Mei , Zhao Fei , Shen YouShu , KWAN Rick Yiu Cho , Salvador Jordan Tovera , Zhang Li , Luo YaWen , Liu Qian , Yang Ping
Published: December 2023

Sarcopenia is a disease characterized by decreased muscle mass and strength, affecting 20–70% of patients with cirrhosis, and is associated with poor prognosis, complications, and high mortality. At present, the epidemiological investigation of sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis is relatively limited, and because of the differences in population characteristics, regions, diagnostic criteria and diagnostic tools, the prevalence of sarcopenia in various studies varies greatly. The definition of sarcopenia in this study adopted the criteria of the Asian Working Group on Sarcopenia (AWGS 2019), including muscle mass and muscle strength / physical performance. A total of 271 patients with liver cirrhosis were included in this cross-sectional study to explore the influencing factors of sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 27.7%, 27.3% in male and 28.4% in female. The results of binary logistic regression analysis showed that age, physical activity, BMI, mid-upper arm muscle circumference, hepatic encephalopathy, nutritional status, alkaline phosphatase, albumin and total cholesterol were significantly correlated with the occurrence of sarcopenia in patients with liver cirrhosis. After adjusting for the potential influencing factors, it was found that the correlation between age and sarcopenia was weakened (OR = 0.870, 95% CI 0.338–2.239). The current findings show that sarcopenia is common in patients with cirrhosis and is independently associated with age, physical activity, BMI, nutritional status, and albumin, and serum alkaline phosphatase and total cholesterol are associated with the development of sarcopenia. Regular exercise may help maintain the grip strength of patients with cirrhosis and delay the deterioration of liver function.
Unravelling the impact of fat content on the microbial dynamics and spatial distribution of foodborne bacteria in tri-phasic viscoelastic 3D models
Authors: Purk Lisa , Kitsiou Melina , Ioannou Christina , El Kadri Hani , Costello Katherine M. , Gutierrez Merino Jorge , Klymenko Oleksiy , Velliou Eirini G.
Published: December 2023

The aim of the current study is to develop and characterise novel complex multi-phase in vitro 3D models, for advanced microbiological studies. More specifically, we enriched our previously developed bi-phasic polysaccharide (Xanthan Gum)/protein (Whey Protein) 3D model with a fat phase (Sunflower Oil) at various concentrations, i.e., 10%, 20%, 40% and 60% (v/v), for better mimicry of the structural and biochemical composition of real food products. Rheological, textural, and physicochemical analysis as well as advanced microscopy imaging (including spatial mapping of the fat droplet distribution) of the new tri-phasic 3D models revealed their similarity to industrial food products (especially cheese products). Furthermore, microbial growth experiments of foodborne bacteria, i.e., Listeria monocytogenes, Escherichia coli, Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Lactococcus lactis on the surface of the 3D models revealed very interesting results, regarding the growth dynamics and distribution of cells at colony level. More specifically, the size of the colonies formed on the surface of the 3D models, increased substantially for increasing fat concentrations, especially in mid- and late-exponential growth phases. Furthermore, colonies formed in proximity to fat were substantially larger as compared to the ones that were located far from the fat phase of the models. In terms of growth location, the majority of colonies were located on the protein/polysaccharide phase of the 3D models. All those differences at microscopic level, that can directly affect the bacterial response to decontamination treatments, were not captured by the macroscopic kinetics (growth dynamics), which were unaffected from changes in fat concentration. Our findings demonstrate the importance of developing structurally and biochemically complex 3D in vitro models (for closer proximity to industrial products), as well as the necessity of conducting multi-level microbial analyses, to better understand and predict the bacterial behaviour in relation to their biochemical and structural environment. Such studies in advanced 3D environments can assist a better/more accurate design of industrial antimicrobial processes, ultimately, improving food safety.
Application of Yang homotopy perturbation transform approach for solving multi-dimensional diffusion problems with time-fractional derivatives
Authors: Liu Jinxing , Nadeem Muhammad , Iambor Loredana Florentina
Published: December 2023

In this paper, we aim to present a powerful approach for the approximate results of multi-dimensional diffusion problems with time-fractional derivatives. The fractional order is considered in the view of the Caputo fractional derivative. In this analysis, we develop the idea of the Yang homotopy perturbation transform method (YHPTM), which is the combination of the Yang transform (YT) and the homotopy perturbation method (HPM). This robust scheme generates the solution in a series form that converges to the exact results after a few iterations. We show the graphical visuals in two-dimensional and three-dimensional to provide the accuracy of our developed scheme. Furthermore, we compute the graphical error to demonstrate the close-form analytical solution in the comparison of the exact solution. The obtained findings are promising and suitable for the solution of multi-dimensional diffusion problems with time-fractional derivatives. The main advantage is that our developed scheme does not require assumptions or restrictions on variables that ruin the actual problem. This scheme plays a significant role in finding the solution and overcoming the restriction of variables that may cause difficulty in modeling the problem.
Optimization and intelligent power management control for an autonomous hybrid wind turbine photovoltaic diesel generator with batteries
Authors: Rekioua D. , Mokrani Z. , Kakouche K. , Rekioua T. , Oubelaid A. , Logerais P. O. , Ali Enas , Bajaj Mohit , Berhanu Milkias , Ghoneim Sherif S. M.
Published: December 2023

In this paper, a critical issue related to power management control in autonomous hybrid systems is presented. Specifically, challenges in optimizing the performance of energy sources and backup systems are proposed, especially under conditions of heavy loads or low renewable energy output. The problem lies in the need for an efficient control mechanism that can enhance power availability while protecting and extending the lifespan of the various power sources in the system. Furthermore, it is necessary to adapt the system's operations to variations in climatic conditions for sustained effectiveness. To address the identified problem. It is proposed the use of an intelligent power management control (IPMC) system employing fuzzy logic control (FLC). The IPMC is designed to optimize the performance of energy sources and backup systems. It aims to predict and adjust the system's operating processes based on variations in climatic conditions, providing a dynamic and adaptive control strategy. The integration of FLC is specifically emphasized for its effectiveness in balancing multiple power sources and ensuring a steady and secure operation of the system. The proposed IPMC with FLC offers several advantages over existing strategies. Firstly, it showcases enhanced power availability, particularly under challenging conditions such as heavy loads or low renewable energy output. Secondly, the system protects and extends the lifespan of the power sources, contributing to long-term sustainability. The dynamic adaptation to climatic variations adds a layer of resilience to the system, making it well-suited for diverse geographical and climatic conditions. The use of realistic data and simulations in MATLAB/Simulink, along with real-time findings from the RT-LAB simulator, indicates the reliability and practical applicability of the proposed IPMC strategy. Efficient load supply and preserved batteries further underscore the benefits of the fuzzy logic-based control strategy in achieving a well-balanced and secure system operation.
Magnetized radiative flow of propylene glycol with carbon nanotubes and activation energy
Authors: Ali Ghazwani Hassan , Saleem Muzher , Haq Fazal
Published: December 2023

Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have gained significant attention in the field of fluid dynamics and fluid flows due to their unique properties and the potential to enhance various aspects of fluid transport features. This article explores the behavior of Darcy–Forchheimer flow of Propylene glycol $$\left( {C_{3} H_{8} O_{2} } \right)$$

C
3

H
8

O
2

submerged single wall carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) and multi-wall carbon nanotubes (MWCNT). The flow features are examined over stretched preamble surface of sheet. Energy relation is acquired in manifestation of thermal radiation and Joule heating. Aspects of Arrhenius kinetics and chemical reaction are assimilated in mass transport relation. Furthermore, effects of intermolecular fluid friction is accounted. Flow prevailing mathematical model is acquired by implementing boundary layer assumptions. Transformations procedure is adapted to alter the dimensional model into non-dimensional one and then tackled through Runge–Kutta–Fehlberg method (RKF-45) in Mathematica. Effective consequences of influential flow controlling parameters on fluid velocity, thermal transport and concentration are inspected by plotting. Numerical computations for interesting engineering quantities like skin friction coefficient, mass and heat transfer rates are tabulated and investigated. It is noticed that thermal field boosts versus curvature variable, Eckert and Hartmann numbers. Retardation in mass concentration is noticed via Schmidt number and activation energy variable. Velocity field shows decreasing trend through porosity parameter, Hartmann number and Darcy–Forchheimer variable. Furthermore, it is noticed that magnitude of skin friction coefficient is higher for SWCNT as compared to MWCNT.
COVID-19 infection analysis framework using novel boosted CNNs and radiological images
Authors: Khan Saddam Hussain , Alahmadi Tahani Jaser , Alsahfi Tariq , Alsadhan Abeer Abdullah , Mazroa Alanoud Al , Alkahtani Hend Khalid , Albanyan Abdullah , Sakr Hesham A.
Published: December 2023

COVID-19, a novel pathogen that emerged in late 2019, has the potential to cause pneumonia with unique variants upon infection. Hence, the development of efficient diagnostic systems is crucial in accurately identifying infected patients and effectively mitigating the spread of the disease. However, the system poses several challenges because of the limited availability of labeled data, distortion, and complexity in image representation, as well as variations in contrast and texture. Therefore, a novel two-phase analysis framework has been developed to scrutinize the subtle irregularities associated with COVID-19 contamination. A new Convolutional Neural Network-based STM-BRNet is developed, which integrates the Split-Transform-Merge (STM) block and Feature map enrichment (FME) techniques in the first phase. The STM block captures boundary and regional-specific features essential for detecting COVID-19 infectious CT slices. Additionally, by incorporating the FME and Transfer Learning (TL) concept into the STM blocks, multiple enhanced channels are generated to effectively capture minute variations in illumination and texture specific to COVID-19-infected images. Additionally, residual multipath learning is used to improve the learning capacity of STM-BRNet and progressively increase the feature representation by boosting at a high level through TL. In the second phase of the analysis, the COVID-19 CT scans are processed using the newly developed SA-CB-BRSeg segmentation CNN to accurately delineate infection in the images. The SA-CB-BRSeg method utilizes a unique approach that combines smooth and heterogeneous processes in both the encoder and decoder. These operations are structured to effectively capture COVID-19 patterns, including region-homogenous, texture variation, and border. By incorporating these techniques, the SA-CB-BRSeg method demonstrates its ability to accurately analyze and segment COVID-19 related data. Furthermore, the SA-CB-BRSeg model incorporates the novel concept of CB in the decoder, where additional channels are combined using TL to enhance the learning of low contrast regions. The developed STM-BRNet and SA-CB-BRSeg models achieve impressive results, with an accuracy of 98.01%, recall of 98.12%, F-score of 98.11%, Dice Similarity of 96.396%, and IOU of 98.85%. The proposed framework will alleviate the workload and enhance the radiologist's decision-making capacity in identifying the infected region of COVID-19 and evaluating the severity stages of the disease.
Insights from the 2-year-long human confinement experiment in Grand Cayman reveal the resilience of coral reef fish communities
Authors: Johnson Jack V. , Chequer Alex D. , Goodbody-Gringley Gretchen
Published: December 2023

In March 2020, the world went into lockdown to curb the spread of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), with immediate impacts on wildlife across ecosystems. The strict 2-year long lockdown in Grand Cayman provided an unprecedented opportunity to assess how the ‘human confinement experiment’ influenced the community composition of reef fish. Using a suite of multivariate statistics, our findings revealed a stark increase in reef fish biomass during the 2 years of lockdown, especially among herbivores, including parrotfish, with drastic increases in juvenile parrotfishes identified. Additionally, when comparing baseline data of the community from 2018 to the 2 years during lockdown, over a three-fold significant increase in mean reef fish biomass was observed, with a clear shift in community composition. Our findings provide unique insights into the resilience of reef fish communities when local anthropogenic stressors are removed for an unprecedented length of time. Given the functional role of herbivores including parrotfish, our results suggest that reductions in human water-based activities have positive implications for coral reef ecosystems and should be considered in future management strategies.
Comprehensive modeling of cell culture profile using Raman spectroscopy and machine learning
Authors: Tanemura Hiroki , Kitamura Ryunosuke , Yamada Yasuko , Hoshino Masato , Kakihara Hirofumi , Nonaka Koichi
Published: December 2023

Chinese hamster ovary (CHO) cells are widely utilized in the production of antibody drugs. To ensure the production of large quantities of antibodies that meet the required specifications, it is crucial to monitor and control the levels of metabolites comprehensively during CHO cell culture. In recent years, continuous analysis methods employing on-line/in-line techniques using Raman spectroscopy have attracted attention. While these analytical methods can nondestructively monitor culture data, constructing a highly accurate measurement model for numerous components is time-consuming, making it challenging to implement in the rapid research and development of pharmaceutical manufacturing processes. In this study, we developed a comprehensive, simple, and automated method for constructing a Raman model of various components measured by LC–MS and other techniques using machine learning with Python. Preprocessing and spectral-range optimization of data for model construction (partial least square (PLS) regression) were automated and accelerated using Bayes optimization. Subsequently, models were constructed for each component using various model construction techniques, including linear regression, ridge regression, XGBoost, and neural network. This enabled the model accuracy to be improved compared with PLS regression. This automated approach allows continuous monitoring of various parameters for over 100 components, facilitating process optimization and process monitoring of CHO cells.
Appraising the role of circulating concentrations of micronutrients in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder: a Mendelian randomization study
Authors: Sui Xiaohui , Liu Tingting , Zou Zhiyun , Zhang Baoqing
Published: December 2023

Previous observational researches have discovered a connection between circulating concentrations of micronutrients and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). However, the results may be influenced by confounding factors and reverse causation. This study aims to explore the causal relationship between circulating concentrations of micronutrients and ADHD using Mendelian randomization (MR). In a two-sample MR context, we used summary data from the major European genome-wide association studies (GWAS) for these illnesses to assess the genetically anticipated effects of circulating concentrations of micronutrients on ADHD risk. In order to achieve this, we took single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from the GWAS that were highly related with concentrations of nine micronutrients. The corresponding data for ADHD were extracted from the Psychiatric Genomics Consortium. Inverse-variance weighted (IVW) method was used as the main MR analysis, and the reliability of the study’s conclusions was assessed using sensitivity analyses. Our MR analyses showed that the copper level may be associated with a reduced risk of ADHD. However, the significance of the research results is weak. There were no clear relationships between other micronutrients and ADHD. Our sensitivity studies confirmed the findings of the primary IVW MR analyses. According to this study, there may be some association between copper level and ADHD, but the significance of the research results is weak, and it is recommended that copper level should be used as a long-term monitoring indicator for further research. The results provide a new idea for the further study of ADHD, and provide guidance for the prevention and treatment of ADHD.
Altered cortical thickness of the superior frontal gyrus and fusiform gyrus in individuals with subthreshold social anxiety
Authors: Kim Byoung-Ho , Park So-Young , Park Chun Il , Bang Minji , Kim Hyun-Ju , Lee Sang-Hyuk
Published: December 2023

Subthreshold social anxiety (SSA) is a condition in which individuals experience social anxiety that does not reach the threshold required for a clinical diagnosis of a social anxiety disorder (SAD). Although SSA may not impair lives as severely as SAD, it can affect social functioning. However, only a few studies focused on structural neural correlates of SSA. We recruited 65 individuals with SSA and used the Leibowitz Social Anxiety Scale to assess their social and performance anxiety levels and other relevant measures of social anxiety. Voxel-wise whole-brain correlational analyses showed a positive association between the cortical thickness (CT) of the superior frontal gyrus (SFG) and social anxiety levels and a negative correlation between the CT of the fusiform gyrus (FG) and performance anxiety levels in individuals with SSA. Exploratory Pearson’s correlation analyses showed significant positive correlations between the CT of the SFG and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 total scores and negative associations between the CT of the FG and Beck Anxiety Inventory total scores. Our study provides insight into the neural basis of SSA, particularly performance anxiety, by highlighting the association between CT in specific brain regions and SSA characteristics.
PNO1 promotes the progression of osteosarcoma via TGF-β and YAP/TAZ pathway
Authors: Fang Long , Wang Baolong , Yang Zengkun , Zhao Tingbao , Hao Wei
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to explore the potential role and mechanisms of the partner of NOB1 homolog (PNO1) in osteosarcoma. The expression of PNO1 in tumor and adjacent tissue samples was examined using western blotting. Lentiviral transfection was used to establish sh-Ctrl and sh-PNO1 osteosarcoma cell lines. MTT assay, Celigo cell cytometer count, and cell colony formation assay were used to investigate the proliferation of osteosarcoma cells in vitro, whereas xenotransplantation assay was performed for in vivo experiments. Wound-healing and Transwell assays were chosen to verify the migration and invasion of osteosarcoma cells. Flow cytometry assay and caspase-3/7 activity analysis were adopted for the analysis of cell apoptosis and cell cycle. Finally, transcriptome sequencing and bioinformatics analysis were adopted to explore the acting mechanisms. The expression of PNO1 was higher in osteosarcoma tissues than that in adjacent tissues. Down-regulation of PNO1 inhibited the proliferation, migration, and invasion, and induced cell apoptosis and cell cycle arrest of osteosarcoma cells. Furthermore, according to transcriptome sequencing and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes pathway analysis, we found that PNO1 might affect the progression of osteosarcoma via TGF-β and YAP/TAZ signaling pathways. PNO1 could be a potential target for osteosarcoma treatment.
Large spread in interannual variance of atmospheric CO2 concentration across CMIP6 Earth System Models
Authors: Martín-Gómez Verónica , Ruprich-Robert Yohan , Tourigny Etienne , Bernardello Raffaele , Ortega Pablo , Donat Markus G. , Cabré Margarida Samsó
Published: December 2023

Numerical Earth System Models (ESMs) are our best tool to predict the evolution of atmospheric CO2 concentration and its effect on Global temperature. However, large uncertainties exist among ESMs in the variance of the year-to-year changes of atmospheric CO2 concentration. This prevents us from precisely understanding its past evolution and from accurately estimating its future evolution. Here we analyze various ESMs simulations from the 6th Coupled Model Intercomparison Projects (CMIP6) to understand the origins of the inter-model uncertainty in the interannual variability of the atmospheric CO2 concentration. Considering the observed period 1986-2013, we show that most of this uncertainty is coming from the simulation of the land CO2 flux internal variability. Although models agree that those variations are driven by El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO), similar ENSO-related surface temperature and precipitation teleconnections across models drive different land CO2 fluxes, pointing to the land vegetation models as the dominant source of the inter-model uncertainty.
Activation of the glutamatergic cingulate cortical-cortical connection facilitates pain in adult mice
Authors: Li Xu-Hui , Shi Wantong , Chen Qi-Yu , Hao Shun , Miao Hui-Hui , Miao Zhuang , Xu Fang , Bi Guo-Qiang , Zhuo Min
Published: December 2023

The brain consists of the left and right cerebral hemispheres and both are connected by callosal projections. Less is known about the basic mechanism of this cortical-cortical connection and its functional importance. Here we investigate the cortical-cortical connection between the bilateral anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) by using the classic electrophysiological and optogenetic approach. We find that there is a direct synaptic projection from one side ACC to the contralateral ACC. Glutamate is the major excitatory transmitter for bilateral ACC connection, including projections to pyramidal cells in superficial (II/III) and deep (V/VI) layers of the ACC. Both AMPA and kainate receptors contribute to synaptic transmission. Repetitive stimulation of the projection also evoked postsynaptic Ca2+ influx in contralateral ACC pyramidal neurons. Behaviorally, light activation of the ACC-ACC connection facilitated behavioral withdrawal responses to mechanical stimuli and noxious heat. In an animal model of neuropathic pain, light inhibitory of ACC-ACC connection reduces both primary and secondary hyperalgesia. Our findings provide strong direct evidence for the excitatory or facilitatory contribution of ACC-ACC connection to pain perception, and this mechanism may provide therapeutic targets for future treatment of chronic pain and related emotional disorders.
Substitution of arginine 219 by glycine compromises stability, dimerization, and catalytic activity in a G6PD mutant
Authors: Zgheib Omar , Chamchoy Kamonwan , Nouspikel Thierry , Blouin Jean-Louis , Cimasoni Laurent , Quteineh Lina , Boonyuen Usa
Published: December 2023

Glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency is one of the most common enzymopathies in humans, present in approximately half a billion people worldwide. More than 230 clinically relevant G6PD mutations of different classes have been reported to date. We hereby describe a patient with chronic hemolysis who presents a substitution of arginine by glycine at position 219 in G6PD protein. The variant was never described in an original publication or characterized on a molecular level. In the present study, we provide structural and biochemical evidence for the molecular basis of its pathogenicity. When compared to the wild-type enzyme, the Arg219Gly mutation markedly reduces the catalytic activity by 50-fold while having a negligible effect on substrate binding affinity. The mutation preserves secondary protein structure, but greatly decreases stability at higher temperatures and to trypsin digestion. Size exclusion chromatography elution profiles show monomeric and dimeric forms for the mutant, but only the latter for the wild-type form, suggesting a critical role of arginine 219 in G6PD dimer formation. Our findings have implications in the development of small molecule activators, with the goal of rescuing the phenotype observed in this and possibly other related mutants.
Single-cell map of dynamic cellular microenvironment of radiation-induced intestinal injury
Authors: Lu Hao , Yan Hua , Li Xiaoyu , Xing Yuan , Ye Yumeng , Jiang Siao , Ma Luyu , Ping Jie , Zuo Hongyan , Hao Yanhui , Yu Chao , Li Yang , Zhou Gangqiao , Lu Yiming
Published: December 2023

Intestine is a highly radiation-sensitive organ that could be injured during the radiotherapy for pelvic, abdominal, and retroperitoneal tumors. However, the dynamic change of the intestinal microenvironment related to radiation-induced intestine injury (RIII) is still unclear. Using single-cell RNA sequencing, we pictured a dynamic landscape of the intestinal microenvironment during RIII and regeneration. We showed that the various cell types of intestine exhibited heterogeneous radiosensitivities. We revealed the distinct dynamic patterns of three subtypes of intestinal stem cells (ISCs), and the cellular trajectory analysis suggested a complex interconversion pattern among them. For the immune cells, we found that Ly6c+ monocytes can give rise to both pro-inflammatory macrophages and resident macrophages after RIII. Through cellular communication analysis, we identified a positive feedback loop between the macrophages and endothelial cells, which could amplify the inflammatory response induced by radiation. Besides, we identified different T cell subtypes and revealed their role in immunomodulation during the early stage of RIII through inflammation and defense response relevant signaling pathways. Overall, our study provides a valuable single-cell map of the multicellular dynamics during RIII and regeneration, which may facilitate the understanding of the mechanism of RIII.
Siliceous zeolite-derived topology of amorphous silica
Authors: Masai Hirokazu , Kohara Shinji , Wakihara Toru , Shibazaki Yuki , Onodera Yohei , Masuno Atsunobu , Sukenaga Sohei , Ohara Koji , Sakai Yuki , Haines Julien , Levelut Claire , Hébert Philippe , Isambert Aude , Keen David A. , Azuma Masaki
Published: December 2023

The topology of amorphous materials can be affected by mechanical forces during compression or milling, which can induce material densification. Here, we show that densified amorphous silica (SiO2) fabricated by cold compression of siliceous zeolite (SZ) is permanently densified, unlike densified glassy SiO2 (GS) fabricated by cold compression although the X-ray diffraction data and density of the former are identical to those of the latter. Moreover, the topology of the densified amorphous SiO2 fabricated from SZ retains that of crystalline SZ, whereas the densified GS relaxes to pristine GS after thermal annealing. These results indicate that it is possible to design new functional amorphous materials by tuning the topology of the initial zeolitic crystalline phases.
Carbohydrates and carbohydrate degradation gene abundance and transcription in Atlantic waters of the Arctic
Authors: Priest Taylor , Vidal-Melgosa Silvia , Hehemann Jan-Hendrik , Amann Rudolf , Fuchs Bernhard M
Published: December 2023

Carbohydrates are chemically and structurally diverse, represent a substantial fraction of marine organic matter and are key substrates for heterotrophic microbes. Studies on carbohydrate utilisation by marine microbes have been centred on phytoplankton blooms in temperate regions, while far less is known from high-latitude waters and during later seasonal stages. Here, we combine glycan microarrays and analytical chromatography with metagenomics and metatranscriptomics to show the spatial heterogeneity in glycan distribution and potential carbohydrate utilisation by microbes in Atlantic waters of the Arctic. The composition and abundance of monomers and glycan structures in POM varied with location and depth. Complex fucose-containing sulfated polysaccharides, known to accumulate in the ocean, were consistently detected, while the more labile β-1,3-glucan exhibited a patchy distribution. Through ‘omics analysis, we identify variations in the abundance and transcription of carbohydrate degradation-related genes across samples at the community and population level. The populations contributing the most to transcription were taxonomically related to those known as primary responders and key carbohydrate degraders in temperate ecosystems, such as NS4 Marine Group and Formosa. The unique transcription profiles for these populations suggest distinct substrate utilisation potentials, with predicted glycan targets corresponding to those structurally identified in POM from the same sampling sites. By combining cutting-edge technologies and protocols, we provide insights into the carbohydrate component of the carbon cycle in the Arctic during late summer and present a high-quality dataset that will be of great value for future comparative analyses.
First-in-human diagnostic study of hepatic steatosis with computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode
Authors: Stähli Patrick , Becchetti Chiara , Korta Martiartu Naiara , Berzigotti Annalisa , Frenz Martin , Jaeger Michael
Published: December 2023

Background

Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease is rapidly emerging as the leading global cause of chronic liver disease. Efficient disease management requires low-cost, non-invasive techniques for diagnosing hepatic steatosis accurately. Here, we propose quantifying liver speed of sound (SoS) with computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode (CUTE), a recently developed ultrasound imaging modality adapted to clinical pulse-echo systems. CUTE reconstructs the spatial distribution of SoS by measuring local echo phase shifts when probing tissue at varying steering angles in transmission and reception.

Methods

In this first-in-human phase II diagnostic study, we evaluated the liver of 22 healthy volunteers and 22 steatotic patients. We used conventional B-mode ultrasound images and controlled attenuation parameter (CAP) to diagnose the presence (CAP≥ 280 dB/m) or absence (CAP < 248 dB/m) of steatosis in the liver. A fully integrated convex-probe CUTE implementation was developed on the ultrasound system to estimate liver SoS. We investigated its diagnostic value via the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis and correlation to CAP measurements.

Results

We show that liver CUTE-SoS estimates correlate strongly (r = −0.84, p = 8.27 × 10−13) with CAP values and have 90.9% (95% confidence interval: 84–100%) sensitivity and 95.5% (81–100%) specificity for differentiating between normal and steatotic livers (area under the ROC curve: 0.93–1.0).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that liver CUTE-SoS is a promising quantitative biomarker for diagnosing liver steatosis. This is a necessary first step towards establishing CUTE as a new quantitative add-on to diagnostic ultrasound that can potentially be as versatile as conventional ultrasound imaging.
Pre-crosslinking enables a promising cyclodextrin-derived carbon anode with large plateau capacity for sodium ion batteries
Authors: Ding Haifeng , Yue Liang , Liu Yonghang , Zhang Yi , Zhao Qing , Zhi Peipei , Qi Yuruo , Xu Maowen
Published: December 2023

The cross-linking reaction tends to produce more sp3-hybrid carbon, which finally results in more curved and shorter carbon layers as well as much more closed pores. Therefore, we can regulate the closed pores and platform capacity.
Ultrafine AuCu nanowires for electrocatalytic nitrogen fixation
Authors: Wang Hongjing , Cui Lin , Liu Songliang , Yu Hongjie , Deng Kai , Xu You , Li Xiaonian , Wang Ziqiang , Wang Liang
Published: December 2023

We report a simple strategy to synthesize one-dimensional ultrafine AuCu nanowires for highly efficient electrocatalytic reduction of nitrogen to ammonia.
Comment on “What resources do high school students activate to link energetic and structural changes in chemical reactions? – A qualitative study” by B. Pölloth, D. Diekemper and S. Schwarzer, Chem. Educ. Res. Pract., 2023, 24, 1153
Authors: Taber Keith S.
Published: December 2023

A recent study in Chemistry Education Research and Practice highlights the common pattern of student thinking known as ‘the octet framework’, and notes how it seems to relate to, but be inconsistent with, the octet rule: an idea commonly taught in introductory chemistry classes. The study noted the common feature of learners extending the octet rule into ‘a driving force’ for chemical change, but analysis also noted two other features of the alternative conceptual framework. It is argued here that these research findings reflect a key problem in chemistry education: one that the research community should prioritise for further investigation.
Deep network with double reuses and convolutional shortcuts
Authors: Liu Qian , Wang Cunbao
Published: December 2023

The authors design a novel convolutional network architecture, that is, deep network with double reuses and convolutional shortcuts, in which new compressed reuse units are presented. Compressed reuse units combine the reused features from the first 3 × 3 convolutional layer and the features from the last 3 × 3 convolutional layer to produce new feature maps in the current compressed reuse unit, simultaneously reuse the feature maps from all previous compressed reuse units to generate a shortcut by an 1 × 1 convolution, and then concatenate these new maps and this shortcut as the input to next compressed reuse unit. Deep network with double reuses and convolutional shortcuts uses the feature reuse concatenation from all compressed reuse units as the final features for classification. In deep network with double reuses and convolutional shortcuts, the inner‐ and outer‐unit feature reuses and the convolutional shortcut compressed from the previous outer‐unit feature reuses can alleviate the vanishing‐gradient problem by strengthening the forward feature propagation inside and outside the units, improve the effectiveness of features and reduce calculation cost. Experimental results on CIFAR‐10, CIFAR‐100, ImageNet ILSVRC 2012, Pascal VOC2007 and MS COCO benchmark databases demonstrate the effectiveness of authors’ architecture for object recognition and detection, as compared with the state‐of‐the‐art.
A penta‐band microstrip slot antenna for S‐, C‐ and X‐band applications
Authors: Rahman Muhammad Asad , Islam MD Shahidul , Hossain MD Shakil , Hasan Maodudul , Nishiyama Eisuke , Toyoda Ichihiko
Published: December 2023

This letter presents a compact penta‐band microstrip slot antenna. The proposed antenna comprises a microstrip feed line on the top plane, a polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) substrate, and a slotted ground plane. Different shapes of slots and two pairs of horizontal strips on the ground are introduced to achieve five frequency bands. A prototype is fabricated and measured to demonstrate the validity of the design. According to the measured result, the fabricated antenna can operate at five operating frequencies with an impedance bandwidth of 2.41–2.55 GHz (5.65%) for Bluetooth and WLAN, 3.31–3.58 GHz (8.14%) for WiMAX and Sub‐6 GHz 5G applications, 4.52–4.76 GHz (5.17%) for radiometry, 5.10–6.20 GHz (19.47%) for WLAN and ITS, and 10.14–12.40 GHz (20.10%) for radar applications. Moreover, the proposed antenna shows a bi‐directional radiation pattern at each operating band.
Accurate voltage regulation for a DC microgrid using nonlinear state feedback controller
Authors: Arabshahi Mohammadreza , Saeidinia Younes , Torkaman Hossein
Published: December 2023

The high penetration of distributed generation systems poses challenges in effectively managing both DC bus voltage and power‐sharing in DC microgrids (MGs). To ensure precise voltage regulation across various distributed generation systems and maintain overall system stability, this paper studies the modelling and control of an islanded DC MG described by a set of nonlinear‐nonaffine differential equations. In the proposed DC MG, a battery storage, a photovoltaic (PV) power plant, and a back‐end power converter with DC loads have been connected to a common DC bus. First, a dynamic model of a DC MG was developed. Then, to find the maximum power point of solar PV, a straightforward method based on an artificial neural net is employed. Afterward, a nonlinear local state feedback controller through output regulation theory is applied to achieve voltage stability, overcoming the drawbacks of droop‐based techniques. Moreover, partial state feedback capability simplifies controller design. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach, various scenarios, including sudden load variation, illumination change, and changes in the MG configuration, have been examined. Finally, numerical studies were carried out in a simulation environment to demonstrate the superiority of the proposed nonlinear control scheme over constant feedback control.
Effective fusion module with dilation convolution for monocular panoramic depth estimate
Authors: Han Cheng , Cai Yongqing , Pan Xinpeng , Wang Ziyun
Published: December 2023

Depth estimation from monocular panoramic image is a crucial step in 3D reconstruction, which is a close relationship with virtual reality and metaverse technologies. In recent years, some methods, such as HRDFuse, BiFuse++, and UniFuse, have employed a two‐branch neural network leveraging two common projections: equirectangular and cubemap projections (CMPs). The equirectangular projection (ERP) provides a complete field of view but introduces distortion, while the CMP avoids distortion but introduces discontinuity at the boundary of the cube. In order to address the issue of distortion and discontinuity, the authors propose an efficient depth estimation fusion module to balance the feature mapping of the two projections. Moreover, for the ERP, the authors propose a novel inflated network architecture to extend the receptive field and effectively harness visual information. Extensive experiments show that the authors’ method predicts more clear boundaries and accurate depth results while outperforming mainstream panoramic depth estimation algorithms.
Lane‐level short‐term travel speed prediction for urban expressways: An attentive spatio‐temporal deep learning approach
Authors: Tang Keshuang , Chen Siqu , Cao Yumin , Zang Di , Sun Jian
Published: December 2023

Numerous efforts have been made to address the section‐level travel speed prediction problem. However, section‐level predictions can hardly be used for fine‐grained applications, such as lane management and lane‐level navigation. The main reason for this is that significant speed heterogeneity exists among the lanes within one section. Thus, this study proposes a three‐dimensional (3D) dual attention convolution‐based deep learning model for predicting the lane‐level travel speed. 3D convolutions are designed to learn high‐dimensional spatiotemporal traffic flow features, that is, the relationships between different sections, lanes, and periods. Dual attention modules are used to focus on the traffic flow propagation patterns and to explain the model's mechanisms. To evaluate the proposed model, an indicator is introduced to assess the spatio‐temporal learning ability, based on targeting the lane‐level case. Evaluation experiments are conducted based on loop detector data in Shanghai, China. The results show that high accuracy is obtained by the proposed model, with a 2.9 km/h mean absolute error, thereby outperforming several existing methods. Finally, an in‐depth analysis is provided regarding the attention coefficients and interpretation of real‐world lane‐level traffic flow propagation patterns, so as to gain insights into the model's mechanism when capturing dynamic lane‐level traffic flow.
Wireless charging technologies for electric vehicles: Inductive, capacitive, and magnetic gear
Authors: Mohamed Ahmed A. S. , Shaier Ahmed A. , Metwally Hamid , Selem Sameh I.
Published: December 2023

Wireless charging technologies have emerged as a promising solution for electric vehicle (EV) charging, offering convenience and automation. This paper provides a comprehensive review of the three key wireless charging technologies: inductive, capacitive, and magnetic gear. For inductive and capacitive technologies, the working principle, architectures, topologies, advantages, and challenges are discussed and analyzed considering both stationary and dynamic modes of operation. In addition, the paper introduces and analyzes the concept of mixed wireless power transfer, which combines inductive and capacitive charging systems. Additionally, the study explores the magnetic gear wireless power transfer technology, which leverages the interaction between synchronous permanent magnets to transmit power wirelessly. Various research and development efforts related to these technologies are reviewed considering academia, research labs and industry. A comparative analysis among different technologies is presented, considering key performance metrics such as power transfer, efficiency, cost, and operating frequency was presented. This review paper serves as a comprehensive resource for researchers, engineers, and industry professionals interested in wireless charging technologies for EV charging. It highlights the advancements, trade‐offs, and potential synergies among inductive, capacitive, and magnetic gear systems, paving the way for the widespread adoption of wireless charging and the development of self‐charging and self‐driving EVs.
A new soft‐switching high gain DC/DC converter with bipolar outputs
Authors: Hasanpour Sara , Siwakoti Yam Prasad , Blaabjerg Frede
Published: December 2023

This paper introduces a new single‐input multi‐output step‐up DC/DC converter with soft‐switching performance and low input current for renewable energy applications. The proposed topology uses a three‐winding coupled‐inductor (TWCI) and voltage multiplier circuits to achieve high voltage gains. The bipolar output voltages of the proposed converter can be varied independently by tuning the turns ratios of the TWCI. Due to the semi‐trans‐inverse specification of the suggested topology, high voltage gains can be obtained under a lower number of turns ratio in the magnetic device. Furthermore, a regenerative passive clamp technique mitigates the voltage stress on the single power switch. Additionally, the power dissipations are further reduced by considering a resonant tank in the circuit. In the converter, the parasitic leakage inductances of the TWCI windings help to provide the soft‐switching conditions for the switch and also to eliminate the reverse‐recovery loss for all converter diodes. The operating mode of the presented converter has been introduced and the steady state, along with the main operating equations have also been derived. Finally, the theoretical analysis is verified by a sample prototype 235 W at the input voltage 25 V and outputs of 200 V and −200 V.
Variable DC voltage based reactive power enhancement scheme for MMC‐STATCOM
Authors: Yu Lujie , Wang Guoyan , Wu Tong , Zhu Jiebei , Booth Campbell D.
Published: December 2023

Constrained by the AC voltage amplitude modulated by a modular multilevel converter‐based static synchronous compensator (MMC‐STATCOM), its reactive power output may be subject to oscillations under grid contingencies, posing a threat to the grid stable operation. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a variable DC voltage (VDCV)‐based reactive power enhancement scheme for MMC‐STATCOM. In this scheme, a novel variable DC voltage control is designed, which can increase the DC voltage in a transient state for relaxing the constraint of the AC voltage amplitude modulated by MMC‐STATCOM and improving its reactive power output capability (RPC). At the same time, to make full use of the improved RPC of MMC‐STATCOM, a VDCV scheme also proposes an optimisation algorithm of its reactive current‐AC voltage droop coefficient using the established reactive power model of the MMC‐STATCOM. Based on small signal modelling and analysis, the key parameters of the proposed VDCV scheme are optimised. The performance and reactive power enhancement of the VDCV scheme is evaluated through the hardware‐in‐the‐loop experiment under grid disturbances.
Das Perikard – sein Umfeld und seine besondere Beziehung zum Zwerchfell
Authors: Corts Magga
Published: December 2023

In dieser DHZ-Ausgabe beschäftigt sich die Rubrik „Funktionelle Anatomie“ mit dem Perikard und seinen Verbindungen unter anderem zum Zwerchfell.
Prüfungsthema: Gesetzeskunde
Authors: Schmid Eva C.
Published: December 2023

Liebe Heilpraktikeranwärter – mit diesen Karteikarten wollen wir Sie bei der Vorbereitung auf die mündliche Heilpraktikerüberprüfung unterstützen. Viel Erfolg beim Lernen wünscht Ihnen HP Eva C. Schmid!
Die Hauptorgane in der Anthroposophie
Authors: Löwensprung Stefan von
Published: December 2023

Die dem anthroposophischen Menschenbild zugrunde liegende „Viergliedrigkeit der menschlichen Wesenheit“ beschreibt die Organisationsebenen, die im Gesamtorganismus wirksam sind. Die einzelnen Wesensglieder lassen sich dabei direkt mit einzelnen Organen in Verbindung bringen. Als zentrale Organe werden hier Herz, Niere, Leber und Lunge ausgemacht. Diese haben unterschiedliche Bezüge zum Innen und zum Außen, stehen im Gesamtorganismus aber auch in enger Beziehung zueinander. Der Heilbedarf dieser Hauptorgane ergibt sich aus den Abhängigkeiten innerhalb des Wesensgliedergefüges des Menschen, und Therapien müssen immer Krankheitstendenzen im Gesamtorganismus in den Fokus nehmen.
Reflux beim Säugling: Was tun?
Authors: Schwarz Christine
Published: December 2023

Nach einer unkomplizierten Schwangerschaft und langwierigen Geburt stellten sich beim behandelten Kind in den ersten Lebensmonaten Bauchkrämpfe, Verdauungsstörungen, Stuhlverhalt, gastroösophagealer Reflux und eine allgemeine Entwicklungsverzögerung ein. Im 11. Lebensmonat begann die anthroposophische Therapie mit Nicotiana comp., Cichorium/Pancreas comp. und Calcium carbonicum C30 in Verbindung mit manuellen Techniken wie Akupunktmassage, später gefolgt von Bolus alba, Robinia, Bryophyllum/ Conchae und Organmitteln. Nach einer Zeit mit schwankenden Symptomen und Infekten stellte sich im 15. Monat eine vollständige Remission ein, der nach einem kurzfristigen Wiederaufflammen der Symptome im 22. Monat eine grundsätzliche Stabilisierung und Entspannung folgten.