bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Prognostic Value of Malondialdehyde (MDA) in the Temporal Progression of Chronic Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Haro Girón Sergio , Monserrat Sanz Jorge , Ortega Miguel A. , Garcia-Montero Cielo , Fraile-Martínez Oscar , Gómez-Lahoz Ana M. , Boaru Diego Liviu , de Leon-Oliva Diego , Guijarro Luis G. , Atienza-Perez Mar , Diaz David , Lopez-Dolado Elisa , Álvarez-Mon Melchor
Published: April 2023

Background: Oxidative stress is a major signature of spinal cord injury (SCI). The altered levels of various oxidative stress markers have been demonstrated in acute and chronic SCI. However, the variation of these markers in patients with chronic SCI depending on the time since the initial injury has not been explored yet. Objective: Our aim was to measure plasma levels of malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of lipid peroxidation in patients with SCI stratified in different periods of suffering the injury (0–5 years, 5–10 years, and more than 10 years). Patients and methods: This cross-sectional study enrolled patients with SCI (N = 105) from different periods of the lesion and healthy control (HC) subjects (N = 38): short period (SCI SP, N = 31, time of evolution less than 5 years); early chronic (SCI ECP, N = 32, time of evolution 5–15 years); and late chronic (SCI LCP, N = 42, time of evolution more than 15 years). The plasma levels of MDA were measured using a commercially available colorimetric assay. Results: Patients with SCI had significantly higher plasma levels of MDA than HC subjects. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis for plasma MDA levels in patients with SCI demonstrated areas under the curve (AUC) of 1 (HC vs. SCI-SP); 0.998 (HC vs. SCI-ECP); and 0.964 (HC vs. SCI-LCP). Additionally, three ROC curves were used to compare the different concentrations of MDA between the subgroups of patients with SCI, and the resulting AUCs were: 0.896 (SCI-SP vs. SCI-ECP); 0.840 (SCI-ECP vs. SCI-LCP); and 0.979 (SCI-SP vs. SCI-LCP). Conclusion: Plasma concentration of MDA can be considered as an oxidative stress biomarker to assess the prognosis of SCI in chronic stages.
Influence of Shift Work on The Health of Nursing Professionals
Authors: Roman Pablo , Perez-Cayuela Isabel , Gil-Hernández Esther , Rodriguez-Arrastia Miguel , Aparicio-Mota Adrian , Ropero-Padilla Carmen , Rueda-Ruzafa Lola
Published: April 2023

Shift work is increasingly common in health services, subjecting healthcare professionals to work schedules that can alter circadian rhythms and eating habits with consequent repercussions for the intestinal homeostasis. The objective of this study was to describe the relationship of rotating work shifts with the intestinal health, sleep quality, and emotional dimension of nursing professionals. In March and May 2019, an observational and comparative study was conducted among 380 nursing professionals from different Spanish cities and divided into fixed shift (n = 159) and rotating shift (n = 221). To carry out the present work, the variables measured were gastrointestinal symptoms, stool consistency and shape, anxiety, depression, sleep, as well as stress and work environment. Nurses with rotating shifts reported more abdominal pain and symptoms of depersonalization, as well as worse sleep efficiency and worse nursing practice environment. In addition, overall scores of the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale and Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale were found to be significantly worse in nurses with these shifts. Rotating shift work by nursing staff may be associated with the occurrence of gastrointestinal and anxiety-related symptoms. These findings, together with the presence of negative and insensitive attitudes towards patients by nurses on rotating shifts, should be considered to maintain the quality of healthcare.
Are Bitcoin and Gold a Safe Haven during COVID-19 and the 2022 Russia–Ukraine War?
Authors: Kayral Ihsan Erdem , Jeribi Ahmed , Loukil Sahar
Published: April 2023

Our investigation strives to unearth the best portfolio hedging strategy for the G7 stock indices through Bitcoin and gold using daily data relevant to the period 2 January 2016 to 5 January 2023. This study uses the DVECH-GARCH model to model dynamic correlation and then compute optimal hedge ratios and hedging effectiveness. The empirical findings show that Bitcoin and gold were rather effective hedge assets before COVID-19 and diversifiers during the pandemic and Russia–Ukraine war. From hedging effectiveness perspectives, gold and Bitcoin are safe-haven assets, and the investment risk of G7 stock indices could be hedged by taking a short position during thepandemic period and war except for the pair Nikkei/Gold. Additionally, gold beats Bitcoin in terms of hedging efficiency. We thus demonstrate the central role of Bitcoin and gold as financial market participants, particularly during market turmoil and downward movements. Our findings can be of interest to investors, regulators, and governments to take into consideration the role of Bitcoin in financial markets.
What Makes Farmers Aware in Adopting Circular Bioeconomy Practices? Evidence from a Greek Rural Region
Authors: Papadopoulou Christina-Ioanna , Loizou Efstratios , Chatzitheodoridis Fotios , Michailidis Anastasios , Karelakis Christos , Fallas Yannis , Paltaki Aikaterini
Published: April 2023

Action 2 of the European Union’s Updated Bioeconomy Strategy, i.e., “Deploy local bioeconomies rapidly across Europe”, promotes education and training in all member states. It is a fact that Greece has not yet adopted a national bioeconomy strategy, so stakeholders and farmers cannot benefit from its potential. The adoption of bioeconomy practices is now a prerequisite for receiving funding under the Common Agricultural Policy 2023–2027. Farmers unknowingly use some bioeconomy practices on their farms, and in this study, an attempt was made to investigate how farmers in the region of Western Macedonia would like to be trained in respect of the bioeconomy, knowing the opportunities it offers. The research was conducted through a structured questionnaire answered by 412 farmers from the region. The findings from the subsequent k-means cluster analysis show that farmers can be classified into three clusters: engaged, restricted, and partially engaged. The perceptions that predominate in each cluster are influenced by age, income, and the regional unit in which the farmers reside. In addition, the decarbonization of the Western Macedonia region influences their views and how they would like to be informed about opportunities arising from the bioeconomy. Limitations in this study include the fact that the sample consists only of farmers living and operating in a particular region. In addition, there is an urgent need for political will to establish a national strategy for the bioeconomy. The importance of the present study lies in the fact that few studies have addressed the training of farmers on bioeconomy issues either in Greece or internationally.
Repurposing Pitavastatin and L-Glutamine: Replenishing β-Cells in Hyperlipidemic Type 2 Diabetes Mouse Model
Authors: Palit Sayantani Pramanik , Patel Roma , Parmar Nishant , Rathwa Nirali , Dalvi Nilay , Ramachandran A. V. , Begum Rasheedunnisa
Published: April 2023

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) is associated with obesity and declining β-cells. L-glutamine has been implicated in the amelioration of T2D by virtue of its incretin secretagogue property while, there are mixed reports on pitavastatin’s adiponectin potentiating ability. We aimed to investigate the effect of pitavastatin (P), L-glutamine (LG), and combination (P + LG) on glycemic control and β-cell regeneration in a high-fat diet (HFD) + streptozotocin (STZ)-induced T2D mouse model. C57BL6/J mice treated with HFD + STZ were divided into four groups: diabetes control (HFD + STZ), P, LG, and P + LG, while the control group (NCD) was fed with the normal-chow diet. Significant amelioration was observed in the combination therapy as compared to monotherapies in respect of (i) insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, lipid profile, adiponectin levels, and mitochondrial complexes I, II, and III activities, (ii) reduced phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase, glucose 6-phophatase, glycogen phosphorylase, and GLUT2 transcript levels with increased glycogen content in the liver, (iii) restoration of insulin receptor 1β, pAkt/Akt, and AdipoR1 protein levels in skeletal muscle, and (iv) significant increase in islet number due to β-cell regeneration and reduced β-cell death. L-glutamine and pitavastatin in combination can ameliorate T2D by inducing β-cell regeneration and regulating glucose homeostasis.
Impact of Breast Cancer and Germline BRCA Pathogenic Variants on Fertility Preservation in Young Women
Authors: Prokurotaite Elze , Condorelli Margherita , Dechene Julie , Bouziotis Jason , Lambertini Matteo , Demeestere Isabelle
Published: April 2023

Background: Several studies have suggested that breast cancer (BC) and germline BRCA pathogenic variants (gBRCA PVs) could have a deleterious impact on ovarian reserve. Nevertheless, data are limited and mixed. Our objective was to evaluate the performance of fertility preservation (FP) in terms of the number of collected mature oocytes after ovarian stimulation (OS) in young women carrying a gBRCA PV, associated or not with BC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective monocentric study at HUB-Hôpital Erasme in Brussels. All women aged between 18 and 41 years diagnosed with invasive non-metastatic BC and/or gBRCA PV carriers who underwent OS for FP or preimplantation genetic testing for monogenic disorder (PGT-M) between November 2012 and October 2021 were included. Three groups were compared: BC patients without a gBRCA PV, BC patients with a gBRCA PV, and healthy gBRCA PV carriers. Ovarian reserve was evaluated based on the efficacy of OS and AMH levels. Results: A total of 85 patients underwent 100 cycles. The mean age (32.2 ± 3.9 years; p = 0.61) and median AMH level (1.9 [0.2–13] μg/L; p = 0.22) were similar between groups. Correlations between the number of mature oocytes and AMH level (p < 0.001) and between AMH and age (p < 0.001) were observed. No differences in the number of retrieved mature oocytes were observed between groups (p = 0.41), or for other OS parameters. Conclusion: Neither BC nor a gBRCA PV significantly affects ovarian reserve and FP efficacy in terms of the number of mature oocytes retrieved.
Alterations in Oxidative Stress Markers and Na,K-ATPase Enzyme Properties in Kidney after Fructose Intake and Quercetin Intervention in Rats
Authors: Vrbjar Norbert , Vlkovicova Jana , Snurikova Denisa , Kalocayova Barbora , Zorad Stefan , Culafic Tijana , Tepavcevic Snezana , Tothova Lubomira , Radosinska Dominika , Kollarova Marta , Radosinska Jana
Published: April 2023

The study aimed to characterize the consequences of a 15-week intake of 10% fructose on the kidney, with the focus on oxidative stress markers and properties of the Na,K-ATPase enzyme. Various antioxidants naturally occurring in common food were demonstrated to be protective against fructose-induced deterioration of kidneys. Therefore, we also aimed to observe the effect of 6-week quercetin administration (20 mg/kg/day) that was initiated following the 9-week period of higher fructose intake, by determining the concentration of sodium, potassium, creatinine, urea, and glucose in blood plasma and oxidative status directly in the renal tissue. Kinetic studies of renal Na,K-ATPase were utilized for a deeper insight into the molecular principles of expected changes in this enzyme activity under conditions of presumed fructose-induced renal injury. Fructose intake led to increase in body weight gain, plasma glucose and sodium levels, and deterioration of kidney properties, although some compensatory mechanisms were observable. Quercetin administration improved glycemic control in rats exposed to fructose overload. However, an increase in plasma creatinine, a decrease in GSH/GSSG ratio in renal tissue homogenate, and a controversial effect on renal Na,K-ATPase enzyme suggest that quercetin treatment may not be beneficial in the condition of pre-existing renal pathology.
Immunohistochemical Analysis of Adhesion Molecules E-Selectin, Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1, and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 in Inflammatory Lesions of Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Marinović Kulišić Sandra , Takahashi Marta , Himelreich Perić Marta , Mužić Radović Vedrana , Jurakić Tončić Ružica
Published: April 2023

E-selectin, ICAM-1 (intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) play a role in atopic dermatitis (AD). This study aimed to evaluate their expression in skin biopsy specimens of patients diagnosed with AD using an optimized computer program. A descriptive analysis and comparison of digitally measured surface area and cell number were performed. The number of E-selectin-positive cells did not vary between the groups. In patients with AD, decreases of 1.2-fold for ICAM-1- and 1.3-fold for VCAM-1- positive cells were observed. The E-selectin-positive epidermal surface area increased (p < 0.001), while ICAM1 and VCAM1 decreased 2.5-fold and 2-fold, respectively, compared to controls. In the AD-affected skin, the E-selectin-positive endothelial area was 3.5-fold larger (p < 0.001), and the ICAM1-positive area was almost 4-fold larger (p < 0.001). E-selectin and ICAM-1 were expressed in the control dermis moderately and weakly, respectively. A strong E-selectin signal was detected in the AD-affected skin macrophages and a strong ICAM-1 signal in the dermal vessel endothelium. In the endothelial cells of AD-affected skin, no VCAM-1 signal could be found. E-selectin, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1 expression show significant disease-specific changes between AD-affected and control skin. The combination of digital analysis and a pathologist’s evaluation may present a valuable follow-up of AD activity parameters.
Association of Electrical Cardioversion with Brain Perfusion and Cognitive Function in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation
Authors: Kedžo Josip , Lovrić Kojundžić Sanja , Marinović Guić Maja , Tandara Leida , Brešković Toni , Jurišić Zrinka
Published: April 2023

Background: The association of atrial fibrillation (AF) and brain perfusion (BP) has not been well-defined. This study aimed to determine the association of persistent AF with BP and cognition, in comparison to control subjects and with regards to electrical cardioversion (ECV). Methods: This study compared 25 patients with persistent AF undergoing elective ECV with 16 age/sex-matched controls. We measured regional BP by using the magnetic resonance (MRI) arterial spin labelling technique. Cognitive function was assessed using the Patient-Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) cognitive function index. Measurements were performed at baseline and 6 weeks after ECV. Results: There was no significant difference in BP between AF patients and control subjects (p > 0.05). Following the ECV, there was a significant improvement in BP in 15 patients who maintained sinus rhythm, while there was no significant change in the recurrence group (297 ± 24 before vs. 328 ± 37 after ECV, p = 0.008, and 297 ± 22 before vs. 307 ± 24 after ECV, p = 0.45, respectively). There was no difference in the cognitive assessment between AF patients and control subjects, as well as before and after ECV within the AF group (52.2 ± 9.6 vs. 51.2 ± 6.2, p = 0.71 and 53 ± 10 vs. 54 ± 9, p = 0.46, respectively). Conclusions: This study did not show difference in BP between persistent AF patients and matched control subjects. Restoration of sinus rhythm was associated with significantly improved BP. There was no association of ECV and changes in cognitive function.
A Modified Embedded-Atom Method Potential for a Quaternary Fe-Cr-Si-Mo Solid Solution Alloy
Authors: Paul Shiddartha , Schwen Daniel , Short Michael P. , Momeni Kasra
Published: April 2023

Ferritic-martensitic steels, such as T91, are candidate materials for high-temperature applications, including superheaters, heat exchangers, and advanced nuclear reactors. Considering these alloys’ wide applications, an atomistic understanding of the underlying mechanisms responsible for their excellent mechano-chemical properties is crucial. Here, we developed a modified embedded-atom method (MEAM) potential for the Fe-Cr-Si-Mo quaternary alloy system—i.e., four major elements of T91—using a multi-objective optimization approach to fit thermomechanical properties reported using density functional theory (DFT) calculations and experimental measurements. Elastic constants calculated using the proposed potential for binary interactions agreed well with ab initio calculations. Furthermore, the computed thermal expansion and self-diffusion coefficients employing this potential are in good agreement with other studies. This potential will offer insightful atomistic knowledge to design alloys for use in harsh environments.
Optimization of the Cross-Sectional Geometry of Auxetic Dowels for Furniture Joints
Authors: Kuşkun Tolga , Kasal Ali , Çağlayan Gökhan , Ceylan Erkan , Bulca Murat , Smardzewski Jerzy
Published: April 2023

In this study, the aim was to optimize the cross-sectional geometry of auxetic dowels for furniture joints. For this purpose, two different sizes of auxetic dowels were chosen, one for frame- and the other for panel-type furniture joints for designing the cross-sectional geometry. Auxetic patterns that are created on the cross-sectional area cause deficiency of the materials, and this phenomenon decreases the modulus of elasticity (MOE) and increases the member stress. Accordingly, maximum MOE values and minimum Poisson’s ratio levels were determined for the optimum strength-auxetic behavior relation by means of a Monte Carlo method. Furthermore, Poisson’s ratio of the optimized dowel’s cross-section was confirmed with experimental tests, numerical analyses and analytical calculations. As a result, Poisson’s ratio values were obtained as negative values and confirmed, which means the dowels designed in this study had auxetic behavior. In conclusion, it could be said that studies should be conducted on the performance of auxetic dowels in both frame and panel furniture joints.
A Study on the Effect of Piezoelectric Nonlinearity on the Bending Behaviour of Smart Laminated Composite Beam
Authors: Akhlaq Adnan , Shaik Dawood Mohd Sultan Ibrahim , Jaffar Syed Mohamed Ali , Sulaeman Erwin
Published: April 2023

This paper presents a finite element analysis to model and analyze composite laminated beams with distributed piezoelectric actuators attached to the top and bottom surfaces considering nonlinear constitutive equations under a high electric field. The static response is presented for piezoelectric composite laminated beam using higher order electric field nonlinearity to assess the effect of electrostriction and elastostriction coefficient at a high electric field. A finite element approach based on higher-order shear deformation theory is applied for static analysis of composite laminated beams, varying the thickness and orientation of laminates, to verify the nonlinear effect under a high electric field. A good comparison of results is shown with the available results in the literature. The finding of the results highlights the importance of considering elastostriction term along with the electrostriction term in determining the deflection and stresses of the composite laminated beam.
Security Analysis and Improvement of Dual Watermarking Framework for Multimedia Privacy Protection and Content Authentication
Authors: Li Ming , Yue Yange
Published: April 2023

The demand for using multimedia network infrastructure for transmission grows with each passing day. Research scholars continue to develop new algorithms to strengthen the existing network security framework in order to ensure the privacy protection and content authentication of multimedia content and avoid causing huge economic losses. A new technology for multimedia image copyright protection and content authentication has been proposed. The innovations lie in the use of an inter-block coefficient difference algorithm to embed robust watermarking in the transform domain, and the same fragile watermark is embedded twice in the spatial domain so that any tiny tampering can be identified and located. A new encryption algorithm combined with Arnold transform is used to encrypt data before embedding. However, some security vulnerabilities were found, and successful cryptanalysis and attack were conducted. Subsequently, an improved scheme was proposed to improve the security and tamper detection ability of the original watermarking scheme and recover the tampered robust watermark. The results show that the improved scheme is safer and more reliable and shows good performance in tampering detection and the recovery robustness of the watermark.
Bursting Oscillations in General Coupled Systems: A Review
Authors: Zhang Danjin , Qian Youhua
Published: April 2023

In this paper, the bursting oscillation phenomenon in coupled systems with two time scales is introduced. Firstly, several types of bifurcation are briefly introduced: fold bifurcation, Hopf bifurcation, fold limit cycle bifurcation, homoclinic bifurcation, etc. The bursting oscillations of the system with two excitation terms and the bifurcation delay in the bursting oscillations are considered. Secondly, some simple bursting oscillations are introduced, such as fold/fold bursting, fold/supHopf bursting, subHopf/subHopf bursting, fold/LPC bursting, Hopf/LPC bursting, fold/homoclinic bursting, Hopf/homoclinic bursting, etc. At the same time, the system also has some complex bursting oscillations, such as asymmetric bursting, delayed bursting, bursting with hysteresis loop, etc. Finally, the practical applications of bursting oscillations, such as dynamic vibration absorbers and nonlinear vibration energy harvesting technology, are introduced.
A Linear Mixed Model Approach for Determining the Effect of Financial Inclusion on Bank Stability: Comparative Empirical Evidence for Islamic and Conventional Banks in Kuwait
Authors: Damrah Sadeq , Elian Mohammad I. , Atyeh Mohamad , Shawtari Fekri Ali , Bani-Mustafa Ahmed
Published: April 2023

Recently, financial inclusion and bank stability have gained attention among researchers, particularly since the 2008 global financial crisis. This study investigates how financial inclusion may have influenced bank stability given differences in banks’ structure based on operating principles (Islamic and conventional banks) during the period of 2003–2017, using Kuwait as a high-income economy case. The current paper assesses how bank stability responds to financial inclusion. This work adopts a Linear Mixed Model (LMM), which tracks variables over time while considering other time-invariant variables. The findings show that the adopted measures of financial inclusion, access and depth, are both significant and negatively related to bank stability. Furthermore, the results unveil a slight difference between the response of Islamic and conventional banks’ stability to the dimensions of financial inclusion. Additionally, the study concludes that the financial crisis had an inverse and significant impact on bank stability. However, the extent of the impact appears to have been greater on Islamic banks compared to their conventional counterparts. Based on this study, banking with more financial inclusion can improve stability if institutional quality in Kuwait is improved so that these banks can operate more efficiently.
Yet Another Effective Dendritic Neuron Model Based on the Activity of Excitation and Inhibition
Authors: Yang Yifei , Li Xiaosi , Li Haotian , Zhang Chaofeng , Todo Yuki , Yang Haichuan
Published: April 2023

Neuronal models have remained an important area of research in computer science. The dendritic neuron model (DNM) is a novel neuronal model in recent years. Previous studies have focused on training DNM using more appropriate algorithms. This paper proposes an improvement to DNM based on the activity of excitation and proposes three new models. Each of the three improved models are designed to mimic the excitation and inhibition activity of neurons. The improved model proposed in this paper is shown to be effective in the experimental part. All three models and original DNM have their own strengths, so it can be considered that the new model proposed in this paper well enriches the diversity of neuronal models and contributes to future research on networks models.
Intelligent Proof-of-Trustworthiness-Based Secure Safety Message Dissemination Scheme for Vehicular Ad Hoc Networks Using Blockchain and Deep Learning Techniques
Authors: Ghaleb Fuad A. , Ali Waleed , Al-Rimy Bander Ali Saleh , Malebary Sharaf J.
Published: April 2023

Vehicular ad hoc networks have emerged as the main building block for the future cooperative intelligent transportation system (cITS) to improve road safety and traffic efficiency and to provide passenger comfort. However, vehicular networks are decentralized, characterized by high mobility and dynamicity, and vehicles move in a hostile environment; such characteristics make VANET applications suffer many security and communication issues. Recently, blockchain has been suggested to solve several VANET issues including the dissemination of trustworthy life-threatening information. However, existing dissemination schemes are inefficient for safety messages and are vulnerable to malicious nodes and rely on the majority of honest assumptions. In the VANET context, adversaries may collude to broadcast false information causing serious safety threats. This study proposes an intelligent proof-of-trustworthiness-based secure safety message dissemination scheme (PoTMDS) to efficiently share only trustworthy messages. The consistency and plausibility of the message were evaluated based on a predictive model developed using a convolutional neural network and signal properties such as the received signal strength and angle of arrival. A blockchain-based data dissemination scheme was developed to share critical messages. Each vehicle calculates the proof of trustworthiness of the disseminated messages by comparing the received message with the output of the prediction model. The results showed that the proposed scheme reduced the consensus delay by 58% and improved the detection accuracy by 7.8%. Therefore, the proposed scheme can have an important role in improving the applications of future cITS.
Automatic Completion of Data Gaps Applied to a System of Water Pumps
Authors: Enguiça Ricardo , Soares Filipa
Published: April 2023

We consider a time series with real data from a water lift station, equipped with three water pumps which are activated and deactivated depending on certain starting and halting thresholds. Given the water level and the number of active pumps, both read every 5 min, we aim to infer when each pump was activated or deactivated. To do so, we build an algorithm that sets a hierarchy of criteria based on the past and future of a given interval to identify which thresholds have been crossed during that interval. We then fill the gaps between the 5 min time steps, modeling the water level continuously with a piecewise linear function. This filling takes into account not only every water level reading and every previously identified change of status, but also the fact that activation and deactivation of a pump has no immediate effect on water level. This allows for the fulfillment of the ultimate objective of the problem in its real context, which is to provide the water management company an estimate of how long each pump has been working. Additionally, our estimates correct the errors contained in the time series regarding the number of active pumps.
An Improved Relationship between the Solution and Its Corresponding Function in Fourth-Order Neutral Differential Equations and Its Applications
Authors: Moaaz Osama , Cesarano Clemente , Almarri Barakah
Published: April 2023

This work aims to derive new inequalities that improve the asymptotic and oscillatory properties of solutions to fourth-order neutral differential equations. The relationships between the solution and its corresponding function play an important role in the oscillation theory of neutral differential equations. Therefore, we improve these relationships based on the modified monotonic properties of positive solutions. Additionally, we set new conditions that confirm the absence of positive solutions and thus confirm the oscillation of all solutions of the considered equation. We finally explain the importance of the new inequalities by applying our results to some special cases of the studied equation, as well as comparing them with previous results in the literature.
Generative Design of Soft Robot Actuators Using ESP
Authors: Venter Martin Philip , Joubert Izak Johannes
Published: April 2023

Soft robotics is an emerging field that leverages the compliant nature of materials to control shape and behaviour. However, designing soft robots presents a challenge, as they do not have discrete points of articulation and instead articulate through deformation in whole regions of the robot. This results in a vast, unexplored design space with few established design methods. This paper presents a practical generative design process that combines the Encapsulation, Syllabus, and Pandamonium method with a reduced-order model to produce results comparable to the existing state-of-the-art in reduced design time while including the human designer meaningfully in the design process and facilitating the inclusion of other numerical techniques such as Markov chain Monte Carlo methods. Using a combination of reduced-order models, L-systems, MCMC, curve matching, and optimisation, we demonstrate that our method can produce functional 2D articulating soft robot designs in less than 1 s, a significant reduction in design time compared to monolithic methods, which can take several days. Additionally, we qualitatively show how to extend our approach to produce more complex 3D robots, such as an articulating tentacle with multiple grippers.
Self-Assembly Nanostructure of Myristoylated ω-Conotoxin MVIIA Increases the Duration of Efficacy and Reduces Side Effects
Authors: Ding Xiufang , Wang Yue , Zhang Sida , Zhang Ruihua , Chen Dong , Chen Long , Zhang Yu , Luo Shi-Zhong , Xu Jianfu , Pei Chengxin
Published: April 2023

Chronic pain is one of the most prevalent health problems worldwide. An alternative to suppress or alleviate chronic pain is the use of peptide drugs that block N-type Ca2+ channels (Cav2.2), such as ω-conotoxin MVIIA. Nevertheless, the narrow therapeutic window, severe neurological side effects and low stability associated with peptide MVIIA have restricted its widespread use. Fortunately, self-assembly endows the peptide with high stability and multiple functions, which can effectively control its release to prolong its duration of action. Inspired by this, MVIIA was modified with appropriate fatty acid chains to render it amphiphilic and easier to self-assemble. In this paper, an N-terminal myristoylated MVIIA (Myr-MVIIA, medium carbon chain length) was designed and prepared to undergo self-assembly. The present results indicated that Myr-MVIIA can self-assemble into micelles. Self-assembled micelles formed by Myr-MVIIA at higher concentrations than MVIIA can prolong the duration of the analgesic effect and significantly reduce or even eliminate the side effects of tremor and coordinated motor dysfunction in mice.
A Concise Diastereoselective Total Synthesis of α-Ambrinol
Authors: López-Martínez Josefa L. , Torres-García Irene , Moreno-Gutiérrez Irene , Oña-Burgos Pascual , Martínez Antonio Rosales , Muñoz-Dorado Manuel , Álvarez-Corral Míriam , Rodríguez-García Ignacio
Published: April 2023

(-)-cis-α-Ambrinol is a natural product present in ambergris, a substance of marine origin that has been highly valued by perfumers. In this paper, we present a new approach to its total synthesis. The starting material is commercially available α-ionone and the key step is an intramolecular Barbier-type cyclization induced by CpTiCl2, an organometallic compound prepared in situ by a CpTiCl3 reduction with Mn.
Radiographic Outcomes of Conservative and Operative Treatment in Isolated L1 Fractures
Authors: Schuller Andrea , Payr Stephan , Pichler Lorenz , Sator Thomas , Ploetzl Anna , Chocholka Britta , Tiefenboeck Thomas M. , Sarahrudi Kambiz
Published: April 2023

Background and Objectives: The adequate therapy of thoracolumbar fractures in the elderly population is still controversially discussed. The aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the results of conservatively and surgically treated younger (≤60a) and elderly patients (>60a) with fractures of L1. Materials and Methods: Patients (231) with isolated L1 fractures were included and treated at the University Clinic of Orthopedics and Trauma Surgery, Division of Trauma Surgery, Medical University of Vienna, during the observation period of 2012–2018. Results: Conservative treatment led to a significant increase in the vertebral and bi-segmental kyphosis angle in both age groups (young vertebral: p = 0.007; young bi-segmental: p = 0.044; old vertebral: p = 0.0001; old bis-segmental: p = 0.0001). A significant reduction in the vertebral angle in both age groups was achieved after operative treatment (young: p = 0.003, old: p = 0.007). The bi-segmental angle did not significantly improve after surgery in both age groups (≤60a: p = 0.07; >60a: p = 1.0). Conclusions: The study shows that conservative treatment does not seem to be sufficient for a correction of radiological parameters in young and elderly patients. In contrast, operative treatment led to a significant improvement of the vertebral kyphosis angle, without changing the bi-segmental kyphosis angle. These results suggest a greater benefit from operative treatment in patients ≤ 60a than in older patients.
Novel Hydrophobic Ultrafiltration Membranes for Treatment of Oil-Contaminated Wastewater
Authors: Hliavitskaya Tatsiana , Plisko Tatiana , Bildyukevich Alexandr , Liubimova Alena , Shumskaya Alena , Mikchalko Alexey , Rogachev Alexandr A. , Melnikova Galina B. , Pratsenko Svetlana A.
Published: April 2023

Cutting fluids are the main source of oily wastewater in the metalworking industry. This study deals with the development of antifouling composite hydrophobic membranes for treatment of oily wastewater. The novelty of this study is that a low energy electron-beam deposition technique was applied for a polysulfone (PSf) membrane with a molecular-weight cut-off of 300 kDa, which is promising for use in the treatment of oil-contaminated wastewater, by using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as target materials. The effect of the thickness of the PTFE layer (45, 660, and 1350 nm) on the structure, composition, and hydrophilicity of membranes was investigated using scanning electron microscopy, water contact angle (WCA) measurements, atomic force microscopy, and FTIR-spectroscopy. The separation and antifouling performance of the reference and modified membranes were evaluated during ultrafiltration of cutting fluid emulsions. It was found that the increase in the PTFE layer thickness results in the significant increase in WCA (from 56° up to 110–123° for the reference and modified membranes respectively) and decrease in surface roughness. It was found that cutting fluid emulsion flux of modified membranes was similar to the flux of the reference PSf-membrane (7.5–12.4 L·m−2·h−1 at 6 bar) while cutting fluid rejection (RCF) of modified membranes increased compared to the reference membrane (RCF = 58.4–93.3% for modified and RCF = 13% for the reference PSf membrane). It was established that despite the similar flux of cutting fluid emulsion, modified membranes demonstrate 5–6.5 times higher flux recovery ratio (FRR) compared to the reference membrane. The developed hydrophobic membranes were found to be highly efficient in oily wastewater treatment.
Dynamic Recrystallization Kinetics of As-Cast Fe-Cr-Al-La Stainless Steel during Hot Deformation
Authors: Deng Zhenqiang , Liu Jianhua , Shao Jian , McLean Alexander
Published: April 2023

To investigate the dynamic recrystallization (DRX) behavior of as-cast Fe-20Cr-5.5Al-0.64La stainless steel, a series of compression tests were carried out on a Gleeble-3500 thermal simulator in the temperature range of 1000~1150 °C and the strain rate range of 0.001~1 s−1. The true stress-true strain curves were obtained and their characteristics were analyzed. Using regression analysis, the apparent activation energy for the Fe-20Cr-5.5Al-0.64La stainless steel was estimated to be 300.19 kJ/mol, and the constitutive equation was developed successfully with a hyperbolic sine equation as: ε˙=e21.91sinh⁡0.035σ3.18exp⁡−300190RT. The critical strain, the peak strain and the strain for the maximum softening rate were identified based on the work hardening rate curves and expressed as a function of the Zener−Hollomon parameter. The kinetic model of DRX was established using the stress−strain data. According to the analysis of the kinetics model and microstructure evolution, the evolution of DRX volume could be described as follows: the volume fraction of DRX grains increased with an increase in strain; at a fixed deformation temperature, the DRX volume fraction was larger at a lower strain rate for the same strain; and the size of DRX grains increased with an increase in temperature or a decrease in strain rate.
Biochar-Mediated Control of Metabolites and Other Physiological Responses in Water-Stressed Leptocohloa fusca
Authors: Saleem Khansa , Asghar Muhammad Ahsan , Raza Ali , Javed Hafiz Hassan , Farooq Taimoor Hassan , Ahmad Muhammad Arslan , Rahman Altafur , Ullah Abd , Song Baiquan , Du Junbo , Xu Fei , Riaz Aamir , Yong Jean W. H.
Published: April 2023

We investigated biochar-induced drought tolerance in Leptocohloa fusca (Kallar grass) by exploring the plant defense system at physiological level. L. fusca plants were exposed to drought stress (100%, 70%, and 30% field capacity), and biochar (BC), as an organic soil amendment was applied in two concentrations (15 and 30 mg kg−1 soil) to induce drought tolerance. Our results demonstrated that drought restricted the growth of L. fusca by inhibiting shoot and root (fresh and dry) weight, total chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate. Under drought stress, the uptake of essential nutrients was also limited due to lower water supply, which ultimately affected metabolites including amino and organic acids, and soluble sugars. In addition, drought stress induced oxidative stress, which is evidenced by the higher production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) including hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), superoxide ion (O2−), hydroxyl ion (OH−), and malondialdehyde (MDA). The current study revealed that stress-induced oxidative injury is not a linear path, since the excessive production of lipid peroxidation led to the accumulation of methylglyoxal (MG), a member of reactive carbonyl species (RCS), which ultimately caused cell injury. As a consequence of oxidative-stress induction, the ascorbate–glutathione (AsA–GSH) pathway, followed by a series of reactions, was activated by the plants to reduce ROS-induced oxidative damage. Furthermore, biochar considerably improved plant growth and development by mediating metabolites and soil physio-chemical status.
An Optical Measuring Transducer for a Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Micro-g Accelerometer Based on the Optical Tunneling Effect
Authors: Barbin Evgenii , Nesterenko Tamara , Koleda Aleksei , Shesterikov Evgeniy , Kulinich Ivan , Kokolov Andrey
Published: April 2023

Micro-opto-electro-mechanical (MOEM) accelerometers that can measure small accelerations are attracting growing attention thanks to their considerable advantages—such as high sensitivity and immunity to electromagnetic noise—over their rivals. In this treatise, we analyze 12 schemes of MOEM-accelerometers, which include a spring mass and a tunneling-effect-based optical sensing system containing an optical directional coupler consisting of a fixed and a movable waveguide separated by an air gap. The movable waveguide can perform linear and angular movement. In addition, the waveguides can lie in single or different planes. Under acceleration, the schemes feature the following changes to the optical system: gap, coupling length, overlapping area between the movable and fixed waveguides. The schemes with altering coupling lengths feature the lowest sensitivity, yet possess a virtually unlimited dynamic range, which makes them comparable to capacitive transducers. The sensitivity of the scheme depends on the coupling length and amounts to 11.25 × 103 m−1 for a coupling length of 44 μm and 30 × 103 m−1 for a coupling length of 15 μm. The schemes with changing overlapping areas possess moderate sensitivity (1.25 × 106 m−1). The highest sensitivity (above 6.25 × 106 m−1) belongs to the schemes with an altering gap between the waveguides.
A Real-Time FPGA-Based Metaheuristic Processor to Efficiently Simulate a New Variant of the PSO Algorithm
Authors: Anides Esteban , Salinas Guillermo , Pichardo Eduardo , Avalos Juan G. , Sánchez Giovanny , Sánchez Juan C. , Sánchez Gabriel , Vazquez Eduardo , Toscano Linda K.
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, high-performance audio communication devices demand superior audio quality. To improve the audio quality, several authors have developed acoustic echo cancellers based on particle swarm optimization algorithms (PSO). However, its performance is reduced significantly since the PSO algorithm suffers from premature convergence. To overcome this issue, we propose a new variant of the PSO algorithm based on the Markovian switching technique. Furthermore, the proposed algorithm has a mechanism to dynamically adjust the population size over the filtering process. In this way, the proposed algorithm exhibits great performance by reducing its computational cost significantly. To adequately implement the proposed algorithm in a Stratix IV GX EP4SGX530 FPGA, we present for the first time, the development of a parallel metaheuristic processor, in which each processing core simulates the different number of particles by using the time-multiplexing technique. In this way, the variation of the size of the population can be effective. Therefore, the properties of the proposed algorithm along with the proposed parallel hardware architecture potentially allow the development of high-performance acoustic echo canceller (AEC) systems.
Spatial Distribution of Flagellated Microalgae Chlamydomonas reinhardtii in a Quasi-Two-Dimensional Space
Authors: Aono Tetsuo , Yamashita Kyohei , Hashimoto Masafumi , Ishikawa Yuji , Aizawa Kentaro , Tokunaga Eiji
Published: April 2023

Although the phenomenon of collective order formation by cell–cell interactions in motile cells, microswimmers, has been a topic of interest, most studies have been conducted under conditions of high cell density, where the space occupancy of a cell population relative to the space size ϕ > 0.1 (ϕ is the area fraction). We experimentally determined the spatial distribution (SD) of the flagellated unicellular green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii at a low cell density (ϕ ≈ 0.01) in a quasi-two-dimensional (thickness equal to cell diameter) restricted space and used the variance-to-mean ratio to investigate the deviation from the random distribution of cells, that is, do cells tend to cluster together or avoid each other? The experimental SD is consistent with that obtained by Monte Carlo simulation, in which only the excluded volume effect (EV effect) due to the finite size of cells is taken into account, indicating that there is no interaction between cells other than the EV effect at a low cell density of ϕ ≈ 0.01. A simple method for fabricating a quasi-two-dimensional space using shim rings was also proposed.
Lyme Neuroborreliosis—Significant Local Variations in Incidence within a Highly Endemic Region in Sweden
Authors: Nilsson Per-Olof , Tjernberg Ivar
Published: April 2023

The aim of this study was to perform a detailed epidemiological overview of Lyme neuroborreliosis (LNB) 2008–2021 in a highly Lyme borreliosis-endemic area in Sweden using a geographic information system (GIS). Diagnosis of LNB was based on clinical symptoms and analysis of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) according to European guidelines. From laboratory databases and medical records, we detected all patients with CSF pleocytosis and intrathecal anti-Borrelia antibody production and listed clinical features. The distribution of LNB cases within Kalmar County, Sweden was investigated using GIS. In total, 272 cases of definite LNB were confirmed with an average yearly incidence of 7.8/100,000. Significant differences in incidence were noted between children 0–17 years (16/100,000) and adults 18+ years (5.8/100,000) (p < 0.001), between rural (16/100,000) and urban areas (5.8/100,000) (p < 0.001) and between selected municipalities (p < 0.001). Distinct clinical differences in presentation of LNB were also noted between children and adults. Thus, the incidence of LNB varies significantly locally and in relation to age, and clinical presentation shows differences between children and adults. Surveillance of LNB and knowledge of local epidemiological conditions may facilitate preventive measures.
Insights on Novel Effectors and Characterization of Metacaspase (RS107_6) as a Potential Cell Death-Inducing Protein in Rhizoctonia solani
Authors: Kavya N. , Prasannakumar M. K. , Venkateshbabu Gopal , Niranjan Vidya , Uttarkar Akshay , Buela Parivallal P. , Banakar Sahana N. , Mahesh H. B. , Devanna Pramesh , Manasa K. G. , Shivakumara Tagginahalli N.
Published: April 2023

Effectors play an important role in host–pathogen interactions. Though an economically significant disease in rice, knowledge regarding the infection strategy of Rhizoctonia solani is obscure. In this study, we performed a genome-wide identification of the effectors in R. solani based on the characteristics of previously reported effector proteins. A total of seven novel effectors (designated as RS107_1 to RS107_7) in the disease mechanism of R. solani were identified and were predicted to be non-classically secreted proteins with functionally conserved domains. The function, reactivity, and stability of these proteins were evaluated through physiochemical characterization. The target proteins involved in the regulation of rice defense mechanisms were identified. Furthermore, the effector genes were cloned and RS107_6 (metacaspase) was heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli to obtain a purified protein of ~36.5 kDa. The MALD-TOF characterization confirmed that the protein belonged to a metacaspase of the Peptidase_C14 protein family, 906 bp in size, and encoded a polypeptide of 301 amino acids. These findings suggest that the identified effectors can potentially serve as a virulence factor and can be targeted for the management of sheath blight in rice.