bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Feature Engineering in Colposcopy Image Recognition: A Comparative Study
Authors: Tawalbeh Shefa , Alquran Hiam , Alsalatie Mohammed
Published: January 2023

Feature fusion techniques have been proposed and tested for many medical applications to improve diagnostic and classification problems. Specifically, cervical cancer classification can be improved by using such techniques. Feature fusion combines information from different datasets into a single dataset. This dataset contains superior discriminant power that can improve classification accuracy. In this paper, we conduct comparisons among six selected feature fusion techniques to provide the best possible classification accuracy of cervical cancer. The considered techniques are canonical correlation analysis, discriminant correlation analysis, least absolute shrinkage and selection operator, independent component analysis, principal component analysis, and concatenation. We generate ten feature datasets that come from the transfer learning of the most popular pre-trained deep learning models: Alex net, Resnet 18, Resnet 50, Resnet 10, Mobilenet, Shufflenet, Xception, Nasnet, Darknet 19, and VGG Net 16. The main contribution of this paper is to combine these models and then apply them to the six feature fusion techniques to discriminate various classes of cervical cancer. The obtained results are then fed into a support vector machine model to classify four cervical cancer classes (i.e., Negative, HISL, LSIL, and SCC). It has been found that the considered six techniques demand relatively comparable computational complexity when they are run on the same machine. However, the canonical correlation analysis has provided the best performance in classification accuracy among the six considered techniques, at 99.7%. The second-best methods were the independent component analysis, least absolute shrinkage and the selection operator, which were found to have a 98.3% accuracy. On the other hand, the worst-performing technique was the principal component analysis technique, which offered 90% accuracy. Our developed approach of analysis can be applied to other medical diagnosis classification problems, which may demand the reduction of feature dimensions as well as a further enhancement of classification performance.
SPIM-Flow: An Integrated Light Sheet and Microfluidics Platform for Hydrodynamic Studies of Hydra
Authors: Hedde Per Niklas , Le Brian T. , Gomez Erika L. , Duong Leora , Steele Robert E. , Ahrar Siavash
Published: January 2023

Selective plane illumination microscopy (SPIM), or light sheet microscopy, is a powerful imaging approach. However, access to and interfacing microscopes with microfluidics have remained challenging. Complex interfacing with microfluidics has limited the SPIM’s utility for studying the hydrodynamics of freely moving multicellular organisms. We developed SPIM-Flow, an inexpensive light sheet platform that enables easy integration with microfluidics. We used SPIM-Flow to investigate the hydrodynamics of a freely moving Hydra polyp via particle tracking in millimeter-sized chambers. Initial experiments across multiple animals, feeding on a chip (Artemia franciscana nauplii used as food), and baseline behaviors (tentacle swaying, elongation, and bending) indicated the organisms’ health inside the system. Fluidics were used to investigate Hydra’s response to flow. The results suggested that the animals responded to an established flow by bending and swaying their tentacles in the flow direction. Finally, using SPIM-Flow in a proof-of-concept experiment, the shear stress required to detach an animal from a surface was demonstrated. Our results demonstrated SPIM-Flow’s utility for investigating the hydrodynamics of freely moving animals.
Adonis fucensis (A. sect. Adonanthe, Ranunculaceae), a New Species from the Central Apennines (Italy)
Authors: Conti Fabio , Oberprieler Christoph , Dorfner Marco , Schabel Erik , Nicoară Roxana , Bartolucci Fabrizio
Published: January 2023

Adonis fucensis is herein described as a new species based on morphological and molecular analyses. It is endemic to one locality of the Central Apennines between Amplero and Fucino plains within the NATURA 2000 network in the SAC IT7110205 (Central Italy). The only discovered population is composed of 65 individuals and is at risk of extinction. The conservation status assessment according to IUCN categories and criteria is proposed and discussed. The new species belongs to A. sect. Adonanthe and is morphologically similar to A. volgensis (incl. A. transsilvanica), a species distributed in Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria, and Turkey as well as eastward to SW Siberia and Central Asia. Adonis fucensis can be distinguished from A. volgensis by larger cauline leaves, pentagonal with lobes lanceolate, larger stipules with more lobes and teeth, and larger flowers. Finally, an analytical key to Adonis species belonging to sect. Adonanthe distributed in Europe is presented.
Advancing Environmental Justice through the Integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into Environmental Policy
Authors: Rasmussen Jennifer B.
Published: January 2023

As our planet faces more frequent and severe environmental threats due to climate change (including threats to biodiversity), environmental justice will be essential to ensure that the costs and burdens of combating these threats are shared equally, borne by all people worldwide in a fair and equitable manner. If the past is any indicator, however, environmental problems—and their “solutions”—disproportionately affect poor communities and communities of color, including Indigenous communities. Despite these past injustices, Indigenous lands, which make up only 20 percent of the Earth’s territory, contain 80 percent of the world’s remaining biodiversity—evidence that Indigenous peoples are among the most effective stewards of the environment. A primary reason for this remarkable statistic is the use and practice of Indigenous Traditional Ecological Knowledge; ecological wisdom which has been passed down for generations and has been shown to strengthen community resilience in response to the multiple stressors of global environmental change. While the United States government has been slow to acknowledge the value of Traditional Ecological Knowledge, it has recently begun to incorporate that knowledge into environmental policy in response to the worldwide climate crisis. Continuing the integration of Traditional Ecological Knowledge into government environmental policy will ensure that such policies will be more effective at the federal, state, and local levels and more equitable in their application. Western scientists, government officials, and global leaders need to build trusting and co-equal relationships with Indigenous communities by actively listening to all cultures and respecting the many kinds of knowledge systems required to conserve the natural world and all living beings. This paper will address how incorporating Traditional Ecological Knowledge into U.S. policy would help safeguard the environment from further biodiversity loss and other ecological destruction, and advance environmental justice to ensure the fair treatment of all.
Effect of Intermediate Airway Management on Ventilation Parameters in Simulated Pediatric Out-of-Hospital Cardiac Arrest: Protocol for a Multicenter, Randomized, Crossover Trial
Authors: Stuby Loric , Mühlemann Elisa , Jampen Laurent , Thurre David , Siebert Johan N. , Suppan Laurent
Published: January 2023

Most pediatric out-of-hospital cardiac arrests (OHCAs) are caused by hypoxia, which is generally consecutive to respiratory failure. To restore oxygenation, prehospital providers usually first use basic airway management techniques, i.e., bag-valve-mask (BVM) devices. These devices present several drawbacks, most of which could be avoided using supraglottic airway devices. These intermediate airway management (IAM) devices also present significant advantages over tracheal intubation: they are associated with higher success and lower complication rates in the prehospital setting. There are, however, few data regarding the effect of early IAM in pediatric OHCA. This paper details the protocol of a trial designed to evaluate the impact of this airway management strategy on ventilation parameters through a simulated, multicenter, randomized, crossover trial. The hypothesis underlying this study protocol is that early IAM without prior BVM ventilations could improve the ventilation parameters in comparison with the standard approach, which consists in BVM ventilations only.
In Vitro Antiviral Evaluations of Coldmix®: An Essential Oil Blend against SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Başer Kemal Hüsnü Can , Karadağ Ayşe Esra , Biltekin Sevde Nur , Ertürk Murat , Demirci Fatih
Published: January 2023

Coldmix® is a commercially available Eucalyptus aetheroleum and, Abies aetheroleum blend for medicinal applications. In this present study, the in vitro antiviral potential of Coldmix®, and its major constituents 1,8-cineole and α-pinene were evaluated by using the in vitro ACE2 enzyme inhibition assay as well as the direct contact test against SARS-CoV-2. The observed ACE2 enzyme inhibitory activity of Coldmix®, 1,8-cineole, and α-pinene were 72%, 88%, and 80%, respectively; whereas in the direct contact test in the vapor phase, the destruction of the virus was 79.9% within 5 min and 93.2% in the 30th min, respectively. In a similar Coldmix® vapor phase setup using the in vitro cytotoxicity cell assay, E6 VERO healthy cells were experimentally not affected by toxicity. According to the promising initial antiviral results of Coldmix® and the individually tested constituents, detailed further in vivo evaluation using different virus classes is suggested.
Acknowledgment to the Reviewers of Clinics and Practice in 2022
Authors:   Clinics and Practice Editorial Office
Published: January 2023

High-quality academic publishing is built on rigorous peer review [...]
Cestode Diversity of Shrews on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Paramushir Island
Authors: Kornienko Svetlana A. , Dokuchaev Nikolai E.
Published: January 2023

The aim of this study was to assess the taxonomic diversity and prevalence of shrew cestodes on the Kamchatka Peninsula and Paramushir Island on the basis of current understanding of cestode taxonomy. The diversity of shrew cestodes included 22 species from three families: Hymenolepididae, Dilepididae, and Mesocestoididae. In Paramushir, the diversity of shrew cestodes was substantially lower than in Kamchatka (14 and 22, respectively). In Kamchatka, three genera of cestodes (Novobrachylepis, Mathevolepis, Ditestolepis) were not found, but three species from genera Lineolepis, Staphylocystis, and Monocercus are possibly new species. The potential for endemic species and the unique characteristics of the cestode fauna on Kamchatka suggest that the peninsula may have been a refugium for shrews and their parasites in the last glacial maximum. In Kamchatka and Paramushir, two Nearctic species (Lineolepis parva and L. pribilofensis) were found, which indicates potential dispersal from North America. Most cestode species in Kamchatka were associated with the host shrew Sorex caecutiens, while in Paramushir most cestodes were associated with Sorex isodon. In Paramushir, shrews had higher prevalence of infection with cestodes than in Kamchatka. The dominant cestode taxa in shrews on Paramushir Island were species rare in Kamchatka. Conversely, the most abundant cestode species in shrews on Kamchatka were absent from the island fauna.
UIBVFED-Mask: A Dataset for Comparing Facial Expressions with and without Face Masks
Authors: Mascaró-Oliver Miquel , Mas-Sansó Ramon , Amengual-Alcover Esperança , Roig-Maimó Maria Francesca
Published: January 2023

After the COVID-19 pandemic the use of face masks has become a common practice in many situations. Partial occlusion of the face due to the use of masks poses new challenges for facial expression recognition because of the loss of significant facial information. Consequently, the identification and classification of facial expressions can be negatively affected when using neural networks in particular. This paper presents a new dataset of virtual characters, with and without face masks, with identical geometric information and spatial location. This novelty will certainly allow researchers a better refinement on lost information due to the occlusion of the mask.
Airborne Spectral Reflectance Dataset of Submerged Plastic Targets in a Coastal Environment
Authors: Papakonstantinou Apostolos , Moustakas Argyrios , Kolokoussis Polychronis , Papageorgiou Dimitris , de Vries Robin , Topouzelis Konstantinos
Published: January 2023

Among the emerging applications of remote sensing technologies, the remote detection of plastic litter has observed successful applications in recent years. However, while the number of studies and datasets for spectral characterization of plastic is growing, few studies address plastic litter while being submerged in natural seawater in an outdoor context. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of hyperspectral characterization of submerged plastic litter in less-than-ideal conditions. We present a hyperspectral dataset of eight different polymers in field conditions, taken by an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) on different days in a three-week period. The measurements were carried out off the coast of Mytilene, Greece. The team collected the dataset using a Bayspec OCI-F push broom sensor from 25 m and 40 m height above the water. For a contextual background, the dataset also contains optical (RGB) high-resolution orthomosaics.
DNA G-Quadruplex-Binding Proteins: An Updated Overview
Authors: Sanchez-Martin Victoria
Published: January 2023

DNA G-quadruplexes (G4s) are non-canonical secondary structures formed in guanine-rich sequences. Within the human genome, G4s are found in regulatory regions such as gene promoters and telomeres to control replication, transcription, and telomere lengthening. In the cellular context, there are several proteins named as G4-binding proteins (G4BPs) that interact with G4s, either anchoring upon, stabilizing, and/or unwinding them. These proteins may play different key roles in the regulation of the endogenous G4 landscape and its associated functions. The present review summarizes the current literature on G4BPs in terms of their targets and functions, providing updated insights into the regulation of G4s in living organisms.
Dual Observer Based Adaptive Controller for Hybrid Drones
Authors: Dalwadi Nihal , Deb Dipankar , Ozana Stepan
Published: January 2023

A biplane quadrotor (hybrid vehicle) benefits from rotary-wing and fixed-wing structures. We design a dual observer-based autonomous trajectory tracking controller for the biplane quadrotor. Extended state observer (ESO) is designed for the state estimation, and based on this estimation, a Backstepping controller (BSC), Integral Terminal Sliding Mode Controller (ITSMC), and Hybrid Controller (HC) that is a combination of ITSMC + BSC are designed for the trajectory tracking. Further, a Nonlinear disturbance observer (DO) is designed and combined with ESO based controller to estimate external disturbances. In this simulation study, These ESO-based controllers with and without DO are applied for trajectory tracking, and results are evaluated. An ESO-based Adaptive Backstepping Controller (ABSC) and Adaptive Hybrid controller (AHC) with DO are designed, and performance is evaluated to handle the mass change during the flight despite wind gusts. Simulation results reveal the effectiveness of ESO-based HC with DO compared to ESO-based BSC and ITSMC with DO. Furthermore, an ESO-based AHC with DO is more efficient than an ESO-based ABSC with DO.
Strapdown Celestial Attitude Estimation from Long Exposure Images for UAV Navigation
Authors: Teague Samuel , Chahl Javaan
Published: January 2023

Strapdown celestial imaging sensors provide a compact, lightweight alternative to their gimbaled counterparts. Strapdown imaging systems typically require a wider field of view, and consequently longer exposure intervals, leading to significant motion blur. The motion blur for a constellation of stars results in a constellation of trails on the image plane. We present a method that extracts the path of these star trails, and uses a linearized weighted least squares approach to correct noisy inertial attitude measurements. We demonstrate the validity of this method through its application to synthetically generated images, and subsequently observe its relative performance by using real images. The findings of this study indicate that the motion blur present in strapdown celestial imagery yields an a posteriori mean absolute attitude error of less than 0.13 degrees in the yaw axis, and 0.06 degrees in the pitch and roll axes (3 σ) for a calibrated wide-angle camera lens. These findings demonstrate the viability of low-cost, wide-angle, strapdown celestial attitude sensors on lightweight UAV hardware.
Semi-Supervised k-Star (SSS): A Machine Learning Method with a Novel Holo-Training Approach
Authors: Birant Kokten Ulas
Published: January 2023

As one of the entropy-based methods, the k-Star algorithm benefits from information theory in computing the distances between data instances during the classification task. k-Star is a machine learning method with a high classification performance and strong generalization ability. Nevertheless, as a standard supervised learning method, it performs learning only from labeled data. This paper proposes an improved method, called Semi-Supervised k-Star (SSS), which makes efficient predictions by considering unlabeled data in addition to labeled data. Moreover, it introduces a novel semi-supervised learning approach, called holo-training, against self-training. It has the advantage of enabling a powerful and robust model of data by combining multiple classifiers and using an entropy measure. The results of extensive experimental studies showed that the proposed holo-training approach outperformed the self-training approach on 13 out of the 18 datasets. Furthermore, the proposed SSS method achieved higher accuracy (95.25%) than the state-of-the-art semi-supervised methods (90.01%) on average. The significance of the experimental results was validated by using both the Binomial Sign test and the Friedman test.
Live Field Validation of an Islanded Microgrid Based on Renewables and Electric Vehicles
Authors: Heredero-Peris Daniel , Chillón-Antón Cristian , Girbau-Llistuella Francesc , González-Fontderubinat Paula , Gomis-Bellmunt Oriol , Pagès-Giménez Marc , Sudrià-Andreu Antoni , Galceran-Arellano Samuel , Montesinos-Miracle Daniel
Published: January 2023

This paper presents a live field experience of creating an isolated microgrid for the Expoelectric fair during 2018 and 2019. The islanded microgrid comprises a Master Inverter with grid-forming capabilities and fault management. The Master Inverter and stationary batteries, and EVs with V2G capabilities provide storage. A PV generation system supplies the microgrid. The loads are the fair booths, mainly lighting and chargers for personal mobility vehicles. All the equipment used in the experimental microgrid is from different manufacturers. The operation and control of the islanded microgrid are based on the VDE-AR-N-4105 standard. The paper also presents the operation of the Master Inverter during faults. The live field experience shows that the proposed operation method is valid for operating different converters from different manufacturers without needing any communication layer between them. The experimental results also show that faults can be handled correctly by the Master Inverter to operate the entire microgrid safely. In conclusion, islanded microgrids based on power electronics are feasible to replace diesel generators in faires, conventions or temporary events.
Substitution of Natural Gas by Biomethane: Operational Aspects in Industrial Equipment
Authors: Carvalho Felipe Solferini de , Reis Luiz Carlos Bevilaqua dos Santos , Lacava Pedro Teixeira , Araújo Fernando Henrique Mayworm de , Carvalho Jr. João Andrade de
Published: January 2023

Global gas markets are changing as natural gas (NG) is replaced by biomethane. Biomethane is produced by upgrading biogas, which can have a molar concentration of methane to over 98%. This renewable energy has been injected into the pipeline networks of NG, which offers the possibility to increase its usage in industrial and residential applications. However, the expectation of the increase in biomethane proportion on the NG grids could increase the fluctuations on the composition of the NG–biomethane mixture in amplitude and frequency. In this context, the injection of biomethane into the existing network of NG raises a discussion about the extent to which variations in gas quality will occur and what permissible limits should exist, as variations in combustion characteristics can affect the operation of the combustion processes, with consequences for consumers, distributors and gas producers. This study describes a gas quality analysis with regard to the use of biomethane in industrial equipment, mixed or not mixed with NG, taking into account the indicators for gas interchangeability and provides a discussion on the necessary gas quality level to be achieved or maintained for efficient combustion in equipment originally designed to operate with NG. NG and biomethane real data collected for 92 consecutive days in 2022 and provided by two different companies in Brazil were used for this study. It is shown that the maximum deviation of the Wobbe Index (WI) of 5%, which is allowed for industrial plants, does not work for the operation of furnaces at temperatures of 1200 °C or more. In addition, it is shown that the WI, as defined in relation to the calorific value of the fuel, may allow inappropriate substitution of fuel gases, which is likely to reduce the range of blending of biomethane in NG pipelines. The results can be assessed to analyze how the addition of biomethane to NG grids will impact the WI and the equipment operation parameters such as the air-to-gas ratio, products-to-gas ratio, adiabatic flame temperature and furnace temperature.
Analysis of the Operation of Smoke Exhaust Ventilation in the Metro’s Technological Corridor Based on Numerical Simulation of Selected Locations of Fire
Authors: Jędrzejuk Hanna , Orzełowska Faustyna
Published: January 2023

The aim of the paper is to analyze the effectiveness of smoke exhaust ventilation for the protection of metro technical personnel. Therefore, the specified technological corridor as a part of the underground station was chosen. The Fire Dynamics Simulator (FDS) was used to carry out numerical simulations. Due to the low fire hazard, the heat release rate (HRR) was set at 1 MW after 250 s. Four cases were analyzed: three differing in the location of the fire source and a reference case in which the smoke exhaust ventilation is turned off. The analysis took into account temperature distributions and gas flow speeds, and qualitative verification of visibility. It was shown that the variant in which the fire source was located in the middle of the corridor turned out to be the most unfavorable variant in terms of the effectiveness of smoke exhaust ventilation. The operation of the smoke exhaust ventilation improved visibility, and reduced the temperature from 270 °C to 120–155 °C, depending on the variant, with local maximum flow speeds not exceeding 10 m/s. It was shown that properly designed smoke exhaust ventilation enables the evacuation of employees within the required safe evacuation time (RSET).
Evaluating the Determinants of Consumer Adoption of Autonomous Vehicles in Thailand—An Extended UTAUT Model
Authors: Chaveesuk Singha , Chaiyasoonthorn Wornchanok , Kamales Nayika , Dacko-Pikiewicz Zdzislawa , Liszewski Wiesław , Khalid Bilal
Published: January 2023

This study explores the effects of autonomous cars and how they may affect the design of transportation systems. The research investigated the determinants of consumer adoption of autonomous vehicles in Thailand. The research was driven by increasing environmental protection awareness and the need to conserve it through revolutionary technology. The study adopted the extended UTAUT model, where a quantitative method was adopted using primary data from 381 respondents. The results indicated that consumer adoption of autonomous vehicles in Thailand is influenced by performance expectancy, effort expectancy, facilitating conditions, environmental benefits, and purchase subsidy. The recommendations developed were that, to enhance the consumers’ intention to adopt autonomous vehicles, the concerned stakeholders should improve on aspects, such as the ability to improve job performance, increase productivity, ease of use, flexibility, clarity, and understanding, as well as improve social status. The government should also consider subsidizing autonomous vehicles as this would encourage consumption. A limitation of the study is the generalization of the findings as it is limited to Thailand.
On-Farm Renewable Energy Systems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Pestisha Albiona , Gabnai Zoltán , Chalgynbayeva Aidana , Lengyel Péter , Bai Attila
Published: January 2023

Over the years, energy is becoming an essential factor with an impact on social, economic, and environmental aspects. More than 2.5 billion people are connected to agriculture worldwide, so the importance of agricultural energy production has become increasingly important. This study provides a comprehensive review of renewable energy, environment, and farm publication trends. Two hundred articles from 1988 to 2022 were analyzed, with special attention devoted to the last three extreme years, using the Scopus database and the Bibliometrix tool for analysis and visualization. Research on this topic experienced significant developments after 2008, with many fluctuations being revealed. Historically, China and the USA were the most productive countries in agricultural energy production advancements. However, in the last three years, the research center’s respective contributions have undergone major changes. China maintained its dominance, but the importance of the USA fell sharply, and new centers (India, Poland) appeared. Biogas is the most popular method which is used and searched in this area between 1988–2022 since it includes both sustainability and locality. However, between 2020–2022, the importance of the circular economy has been highlighted in the literature. Complex energy systems, dual use of land, and energy storage might be the most important challenges for future research.
On the Integration of CO2 Capture Technologies for an Oil Refinery
Authors: Fetisov Vadim , Gonopolsky Adam M. , Zemenkova Maria Yu. , Andrey Schipachev , Davardoost Hadi , Mohammadi Amir H. , Riazi Masoud
Published: January 2023

This study determines and presents the capital and operating costs imposed by the use of CO2 capture technologies in the refining and petrochemical sectors. Depending on the refining process and the CO2 capture method, CO2 emissions costs of EUR 30 to 40 per ton of CO2 can be avoided. Advanced low-temperature CO2 capture technologies for upgrading oxyfuel reformers may not provide any significant long-term and short-term benefits compared to conventional technologies. For this reason, an analysis was performed to estimate the CO2 reduction potential for the oil and gas industries using short- and long-term ST/MT technologies, was arriving at a reduction potential of about 0.5–1 Gt/yr. The low cost of CO2 reduction is a result of the good integration of CO2 capture into the oil production process. The results show that advanced gasoline fraction recovery with integrated CO2 capture can reduce the cost of producing petroleum products and reduce CO2 emissions, while partial CO2 capture has comparative advantages in some cases.
Energy Consumption Analysis of a Continuous Flow Ohmic Heater with Advanced Process Controls
Authors: Oluwole-ojo Oluwaloba , Zhang Hongwei , Howarth Martin , Xu Xu
Published: January 2023

This paper presents an analysis of the energy consumption of a continuous flow ohmic heater (CFOH) with advanced process controls for heating operations in the food and drinks industry. The study was carried out by using operational data collected from a CFOH pilot plant that was designed and constructed at the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering (NCEFE), Sheffield Hallam University. The CFOH is controlled by a PC and includes an onboard Programmable Logic Controller (PLC) and a Human Machine Interface (HMI) so that it can be operated as a stand-alone unit with basic on/off and power setting control but without any advanced control features. The technical solution presented in this paper for heating foods demonstrates significant energy saving compared with conventional heating methods. Using the CFOH, the electric current generated in the food products by the Joule effect produces a rapid temperature increase with very high energy efficiency. This technique eliminates the low efficiency of heat transfer from the surface of vessels typically used to heat and cook food products. The analysis presented in this paper describes the energy consumption of the CFOH and compares the efficiency of the CFOH when different advanced process control techniques are used. Experimental results and analysis have shown that the CFOH can achieve an energy efficiency conversion of at least 87.9%. It has also shown that the energy conversion percentage can be increased by applying advanced controllers such as model predictive control (MPC) or adaptive model predictive control (AMPC).
Energy Harvesting and Storage Devices through Intelligent Flexographic Technology: A Review Article
Authors: Al Habis Nuha , Khushaim Muna , Nabat Al-Ajrash Saja M.
Published: January 2023

Smart and mechanically flexible energy harvesting/storage devices are attractive for the immensely growing electronic, automobile, medical, and aerospace markets. The leading challenges with current devices are their limitations regarding installation on curvy design, high-manufacturing cost, and lower production rate. Therefore, new design strategies in terms of new materials, cost, and ability to scale up fabrication are imperative to meet the contemporary and future demands of these fast-growing markets. Flexographic printing is one of the newest technologies that promises cost-effective energy devices with better energy harvesting and high storage performance. Current knowledge, selection of suitable materials, and methods of flexographic printing for solar cell and battery construction are reviewed and summarized in this paper in comparison to existing printing technologies. The main purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive idea of flexographic printing for energy devices.
Safety Occurrence Reporting amongst New Zealand Uncrewed Aircraft Users
Authors: Walton Claire Natalie , Henderson Isaac Levi
Published: January 2023

Safety reporting has long been recognised as critical to reducing safety occurrences by identifying issues early enough that they can be remedied before an adverse outcome. This study examines safety occurrence reporting amongst a sample of 92 New Zealand civilian uncrewed aircraft users. An online survey was created to obtain the types of occurrences that these users have had, how (if at all) these are reported, and why participants did or did not report using particular systems. This study focussed on seven types of occurrences that have been highlighted by the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand as being reportable using a CA005RPAS form, the template for reporting to the authority for uncrewed aircraft occurrences. The number of each type of occurrence was recorded, as well as what percentage of occurrences were reported using a CA005RPAS form, an internal reporting system, or were non-reported. Qualitative questions were used to understand why participants did or did not report using particular systems. Categorical and numerical data were analysed using Chi-Squared Tests of Independence, Kruskal–Wallis H Tests, and Mann–Whitney U Tests. Qualitative data were analysed using thematic analysis. The findings reveal that 85.72% of reportable safety occurrences went unreported by pilots, with only 2.74% of occurrences being self-reported by pilots using a CA005RPAS form. The biggest reason for non-reporting was that the user did not perceive the occurrence as serious enough, with not being aware of reporting systems and not being legally required to report also being major themes. Significant differences were observed between user groups, providing policy implications to improve safety occurrence reporting, such as making reporting compulsory, setting minimum training standards, having an anonymous and non-punitive reporting system, and through working with member-based organisations.
The Effect of Food Deprivation on Foraging Behavior and Digestive and Metabolic Capacities of the Chinese Mitten Crab, Eriocheir sinensis
Authors: Long Qiaolin , Liu Jian , Sun Yunfei , Yang Zhigang , Tang Boping , Cheng Yongxu
Published: January 2023

Food deprivation is a common stress in crustaceans that can affect their behavior and physiology. In this study, a video recording analysis system was used to compare the predation rate and behavior of the Chinese mitten crab, Eriocheir sinensis, foraging on the freshwater snail, Bellamya quadrata, under different degrees of food deprivation. The activities of lactate dehydrogenase, α-amylase, pepsin, and lipase in the hepatopancreas of crabs were determined after food deprivation for 0, 3, 9, and 15 days. The results showed that the predation and encounter rates of E. sinensis increased and then decreased with an increase in food deprivation time. The proportion of stationary time of E. sinensis initially decreased and then increased, whereas the proportion of searching and handling time increased initially and then decreased. There was a significant difference in the probability of capture upon encountering; however, food deprivation did not significantly affect the probability of consumption upon capture. Under food deprivation, the proportion of E. sinensis crushing tactics after nine-day food deprivation was significantly lower than that in the first nine days. Lactate dehydrogenase activity in the E. sinensis hepatopancreas after food deprivation was significantly higher than that in those not subjected to food deprivation, and the activities of α-amylase and pepsin in the hepatopancreas were consistent with the predation rate trend, showing an initial increase followed by a decrease. In conclusion, different degrees of food deprivation significantly affected the predation cycle of E. sinensis on B. quadrata. These results lay a solid foundation for further studies on the foraging behavioral ecology of E. sinensis and provide important information for improving E. sinensis production.
Conservative Continuous-Stage Stochastic Runge–Kutta Methods for Stochastic Differential Equations
Authors: Li Xiuyan , Wang Zhenyu , Ma Qiang , Ding Xiaohua
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we develop a new class of conservative continuous-stage stochastic Runge–Kutta methods for solving stochastic differential equations with a conserved quantity. The order conditions of the continuous-stage stochastic Runge–Kutta methods are given based on the theory of stochastic B-series and multicolored rooted tree. Sufficient conditions for the continuous-stage stochastic Runge–Kutta methods preserving the conserved quantity of stochastic differential equations are derived in terms of the coefficients. Conservative continuous-stage stochastic Runge–Kutta methods of mean square convergence order 1 for general stochastic differential equations, as well as conservative continuous-stage stochastic Runge–Kutta methods of high order for single integrand stochastic differential equations, are constructed. Numerical experiments are performed to verify the conservative property and the accuracy of the proposed methods in the longtime simulation.
Mini-Mental State Examination: Optimal Cut-Off Levels for Mild and Severe Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Salis Francesco , Costaggiu Diego , Mandas Antonella
Published: January 2023

Considering the need to intercept neurocognitive damage as soon as possible, it would be useful to extend cognitive test screening throughout the population. Here, we propose differential cut-off levels that can be used to identify mild and severe cognitive impairment with a simple and widely used first-level neurocognitive screening test: the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). We studied a population of 262 patients referred for cognitive impairment testing using the MMSE and Repeatable Battery for the Assessment of Neuropsychological Status (RBANS), a neuropsychological battery. The sample consisted of 262 participants with mean age 73.8 years (60–87), of whom 154 (58.8%) women. No significant gender-related differences in cognitive ability were identified. The two tests (MMSE and RBANS) showed a moderate correlation in identifying cognitive deficit. We used RBANS as a categorial variable to identify different degrees of cognitive impairment. Youden’s J indexes were used to consider the better sensitivity/specificity balance in the 24-point cut-off score for severe cognitive deficit, 29.7-point score for mild cognitive deficit, and 26.1-point score for both mild and severe cognitive deficit. The study shows that the MMSE does not identify early cognitive impairment. Though different cut-offs are needed to discriminate different impairment degrees, the 26.1-point score seems to be preferable to the others.
Effects and Mechanism of the Mycelial Culture Temperature on the Growth and Development of Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm
Authors: Hu Yanru , Xue Fangfang , Chen Yujie , Qi Yuancheng , Zhu Wei , Wang Fengqin , Wen Qing , Shen Jinwen
Published: January 2023

Pleurotus ostreatus (Jacq.) P. Kumm is the second most cultivated edible mushroom worldwide. Temperature is one of the main environmental factors affecting the growth and fructification of mushrooms. However, the effects of ambient temperature on the growth, development, and production of bag-cultured P. ostreatus are still unclear. In this study, eight ambient temperatures (15 °C, 18 °C, 20 °C, 22 °C, 25 °C, 28 °C, 30 °C, and 32 °C) were used to cultivate P. ostreatus mycelia with cottonseed hull as substrate. Then, the agronomic traits and the activities of substrate-degrading and antioxidant enzymes were determined. The mycelial growth and fructification of P. ostreatus differed significantly under different temperatures, and 22 °C was the optimum temperature for mycelial culture when we comprehensively analyzed all the agronomic traits. The mycelial growth rate and the biological efficiency under 22 °C were 0.56 cm/d and 99.53%, respectively. Furthermore, there were also significant differences in the activities of substrate-degrading enzymes and antioxidant enzymes under different ambient temperatures. The highest activities of lignocellulose-degrading enzymes (laccase, xylanase, and cellulase), amylase, and proteinase at the vegetative growth stage occurred at 15–22 °C, 20–22 °C, and 22–30 °C, respectively. The highest activities of superoxide dismutase, peroxidase, and catalase at the vegetative growth stage occurred at 28–30 °C. This study provides a reference temperature for bag-cultured P. ostreatus.
Identification of Potential Druggable Targets and Structure-Based Virtual Screening for Drug-like Molecules against the Shrimp Pathogen Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei
Authors: Paria Prasenjit , Tassanakajon Anchalee
Published: January 2023

Enterocytozoon hepatopenaei (EHP) causes slow growth syndrome in shrimp, resulting in huge economic losses for the global shrimp industry. Despite worldwide reports, there are no effective therapeutics for controlling EHP infections. In this study, five potential druggable targets of EHP, namely, aquaporin (AQP), cytidine triphosphate (CTP) synthase, thymidine kinase (TK), methionine aminopeptidase2 (MetAP2), and dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR), were identified via functional classification of the whole EHP proteome. The three-dimensional structures of the proteins were constructed using the artificial-intelligence-based program AlphaFold 2. Following the prediction of druggable sites, the ZINC15 and ChEMBL databases were screened against targets using docking-based virtual screening. Molecules with affinity scores ≥ 7.5 and numbers of interactions ≥ 9 were initially selected and subsequently enriched based on their ADMET properties and electrostatic complementarities. Five compounds were finally selected against each target based on their complex stabilities and binding energies. The compounds CHEMBL3703838, CHEMBL2132563, and CHEMBL133039 were selected against AQP; CHEMBL1091856, CHEMBL1162979, and CHEMBL525202 against CTP synthase; CHEMBL4078273, CHEMBL1683320, and CHEMBL3674540 against TK; CHEMBL340488, CHEMBL1966988, and ZINC000828645375 against DHFR; and CHEMBL3913373, ZINC000016682972, and CHEMBL3142997 against MetAP2.The compounds exhibited high stabilities and low binding free energies, indicating their abilities to suppress EHP infections; however, further validation is necessary for determining their efficacy.
Diclofenac Disrupts the Circadian Clock and through Complex Cross-Talks Aggravates Immune-Mediated Liver Injury—A Repeated Dose Study in Minipigs for 28 Days
Authors: Selvaraj Saravanakumar , Oh Jung-Hwa , Yoon Seokjoo , Borlak Jürgen
Published: January 2023

Diclofenac effectively reduces pain and inflammation; however, its use is associated with hepato- and nephrotoxicity. To delineate mechanisms of injury, we investigated a clinically relevant (3 mg/kg) and high-dose (15 mg/kg) in minipigs for 4 weeks. Initially, serum biochemistries and blood-smears indicated an inflammatory response but returned to normal after 4 weeks of treatment. Notwithstanding, histopathology revealed drug-induced hepatitis, marked glycogen depletion, necrosis and steatosis. Strikingly, the genomic study revealed diclofenac to desynchronize the liver clock with manifest inductions of its components CLOCK, NPAS2 and BMAL1. The > 4-fold induced CRY1 expression underscored an activated core-loop, and the dose dependent > 60% reduction in PER2mRNA repressed the negative feedback loop; however, it exacerbated hepatotoxicity. Bioinformatics enabled the construction of gene-regulatory networks, and we linked the disruption of the liver-clock to impaired glycogenesis, lipid metabolism and the control of immune responses, as shown by the 3-, 6- and 8-fold induced expression of pro-inflammatory CXCL2, lysozyme and ß-defensin. Additionally, diclofenac treatment caused adrenocortical hypertrophy and thymic atrophy, and we evidenced induced glucocorticoid receptor (GR) activity by immunohistochemistry. Given that REV-ERB connects the circadian clock with hepatic GR, its > 80% repression alleviated immune responses as manifested by repressed expressions of CXCL9(90%), CCL8(60%) and RSAD2(70%). Together, we propose a circuitry, whereby diclofenac desynchronizes the liver clock in the control of the hepatic metabolism and immune response.
Sphingosine 1-Phosphate as Essential Signaling Molecule in Inflammatory Skin Diseases
Authors: Kleuser Burkhard , Bäumer Wolfgang
Published: January 2023

Sphingolipids are crucial molecules of the mammalian epidermis. The formation of skin-specific ceramides contributes to the formation of lipid lamellae, which are important for the protection of the epidermis from excessive water loss and protect the skin from the invasion of pathogens and the penetration of xenobiotics. In addition to being structural constituents of the epidermal layer, sphingolipids are also key signaling molecules that participate in the regulation of epidermal cells and the immune cells of the skin. While the importance of ceramides with regard to the proliferation and differentiation of skin cells has been known for a long time, it has emerged in recent years that the sphingolipid sphingosine 1-phosphate (S1P) is also involved in processes such as the proliferation and differentiation of keratinocytes. In addition, the immunomodulatory role of this sphingolipid species is becoming increasingly apparent. This is significant as S1P mediates a variety of its actions via G-protein coupled receptors. It is, therefore, not surprising that dysregulation in the signaling pathways of S1P is involved in the pathophysiological conditions of skin diseases. In the present review, the importance of S1P in skin cells, as well as the immune cells of the skin, is elaborated. In particular, the role of the molecule in inflammatory skin diseases will be discussed. This is important because interfering with S1P signaling pathways may represent an innovative option for the treatment of inflammatory skin diseases.
Antifibrotic Effects of Caffeine, Curcumin and Pirfenidone in Primary Human Keratocytes
Authors: Talpan Delia , Salla Sabine , Seidelmann Nina , Walter Peter , Fuest Matthias
Published: January 2023

We evaluated the small molecules (AFM) caffeine, curcumin and pirfenidone to find non-toxic concentrations reducing the transformation of activated human corneal stromal keratocytes (aCSK) to scar-inducing myofibroblasts (MYO-SF). CSK were isolated from 16 human corneas unsuitable for transplantation and expanded for three passages in control medium (0.5% FBS). Then, aCSK were exposed to concentrations of caffeine of 0–500 μM, curcumin of 0–200 μM, pirfenidone of 0–2.2 nM and the profibrotic cytokine TGF-β1 (10 ng/mL) for 48 h. Alterations in viability and gene expression were evaluated by cell viability staining (FDA/PI), real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) and immunocytochemistry. We found that all AFMs reduced cell counts at high concentrations. The highest concentrations with no toxic effect were 100 µM of caffeine, 20 µM of curcumin and 1.1 nM of pirfenidone. The addition of TGF-β1 to the control medium effectively transformed aCSK into myofibroblasts (MYO-SF), indicated by a 10-fold increase in α-smooth muscle actin (SMA) expression, a 39% decrease in lumican (LUM) expression and a 98% decrease in ALDH3A1 expression (p < 0.001). The concentrations of 100 µM of caffeine, 20/50 µM of curcumin and 1.1 nM of pirfenidone each significantly reduced SMA expression under TGF-β1 stimulation (p ≤ 0.024). LUM and ALDH3A1 expression remained low under TGF-β1 stimulation, independently of AFM supplementation. Immunocytochemistry showed that 100 µM of caffeine, 20 µM of curcumin and 1.1 nM of pirfenidone reduce the conversion rate of aCSK to SMA+ MYO-SF. In conclusion, in aCSK, 100 µM of caffeine, 20 µM of curcumin and 1.1 nM of pirfenidone significantly reduced SMA expression and MYO-SF conversion under TGF-β1 stimulation, with no influence on cell counts. However, the AFMs were unable to protect aCSK from characteristic marker loss.