bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The
Ustilago maydis
AA10 LPMO is active on fungal cell wall chitin
Authors: Yao Roseline Assiah , Reyre Jean-Lou , Tamburrini Ketty C. , Haon Mireille , Tranquet Olivier , Nalubothula Akshay , Mukherjee Saumashish , Le Gall Sophie , Grisel Sacha , Longhi Sonia , Madhuprakash Jogi , Bissaro Bastien , Berrin Jean-Guy
Published: September 2023

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) can perform oxidative cleavage of glycosidic bonds in carbohydrate polymers (e.g., cellulose, chitin), making them more accessible to hydrolytic enzymes. While most studies have so far mainly explored the role of LPMOs in a (plant) biomass conversion context, alternative roles and paradigms begin to emerge. The AA10 LPMOs are active on chitin and/or cellulose and mostly found in bacteria and in some viruses and archaea. Interestingly, AA10-encoding genes are also encountered in some pathogenic fungi of the Ustilaginomycetes class, such as
Ustilago maydis
, responsible for corn smut disease. Transcriptomic studies have shown the overexpression of the AA10 gene during the infectious cycle of
U. maydis
. In fact,
U. maydis
has a unique AA10 gene that codes for a catalytic domain appended with a C-terminal disordered region. To date, there is no public report on fungal AA10 LPMOs. In this study, we successfully produced the catalytic domain of this LPMO (
Um
AA10_cd) in
Pichia pastoris
and carried out its biochemical characterization. Our results show that
Um
AA10_cd oxidatively cleaves α- and β-chitin with C1 regioselectivity and boosts chitin hydrolysis by a GH18 chitinase from
U. maydis
(
Um
GH18A). Using a biologically relevant substrate, we show that
Um
AA10_cd exhibits enzymatic activity on
U. maydis
fungal cell wall chitin and promotes its hydrolysis by
Um
GH18A. These results represent an important step toward the understanding of the role of LPMOs in the fungal cell wall remodeling process during the fungal life cycle.

IMPORTANCE

Lytic polysaccharide monooxygenases (LPMOs) have been mainly studied in a biotechnological context for the efficient degradation of recalcitrant polysaccharides. Only recently, alternative roles and paradigms begin to emerge. In this study, we provide evidence that the AA10 LPMO from the phytopathogen
Ustilago maydis
is active against fungal cell wall chitin. Given that chitin-active LPMOs are commonly found in microbes, it is important to consider fungal cell wall as a potential target for this enigmatic class of enzymes.
Functional role of a novel zinc finger protein, AoZFA, in growth and kojic acid synthesis in
Aspergillus oryzae
Authors: Chen Ziming , Chen Tianming , Zhang Huanxin , Li Yuzhen , Fan Junxia , Yao Lihua , Zeng Bin , Zhang Zhe
Published: September 2023

Kojic acid (KA) is a valuable secondary metabolite that is regulated by zinc finger proteins in
Aspergillus oryzae
. However, only two such proteins have been characterized to function in kojic acid production of
A. oryzae
to date. In this study, we identified a novel zinc finger protein, AoZFA, required for kojic acid biosynthesis in
A. oryzae
. Our results showed that disruption of
AozfA
led to increased expression of
kojA
and
kojR
involved in kojic acid synthesis, resulting in enhanced kojic acid production, while overexpression of
AozfA
had the opposite effect. Furthermore, deletion of
kojR
in the
AozfA
disruption strain abolished kojic acid production, whereas overexpression of
kojR
enhanced it, indicating that AoZFA regulates kojic acid production by affecting
kojR
. Transcriptional activation assay revealed that AoZFA is a transcriptional activator. Interestingly, when
kojR
was overexpressed in the
AozfA
overexpression strain, the production of kojic acid failed to be rescued, suggesting that
AozfA
plays a distinct role from
kojR
in kojic acid biosynthesis. Moreover, we found that
AozfA
was highly induced by zinc during early growth stages, and its overexpression inhibited the growth promoted by zinc, whereas its deletion had no effect, suggesting that AoZFA is non-essential but has a role in the response of
A. oryzae
to zinc. Overall, these findings provide new insights into the roles of zinc finger proteins in the growth and kojic acid production of
A. oryzae
.

IMPORTANCE

Kojic acid (KA) is an economically valuable secondary metabolite produced by
Aspergillus oryzae
due to its vast biological activities. Genetic modification of
A. oryzae
has emerged as an efficient strategy for enhancing kojic acid production, which is dependent on the mining of genes involved in kojic acid synthesis. In this study, we have characterized a novel zinc-finger protein, AoZFA, as a negative regulator of kojic acid production by affecting
kojR. AozfA
is an excellent target for improving kojic acid production without any effects on the growth of
A. oryzae
. Furthermore, the simultaneous modification of
AozfA
and
kojR
exerts a more significant promotional effect on kojic acid production than the modification of single genes. This study provides new insights for the regulatory mechanism of zinc finger proteins in the growth and kojic acid production of
A. oryzae
.
Protection against lethal sepsis following immunization with
Candida
species varies by isolate and inversely correlates with bone marrow tissue damage
Authors: Lilly Elizabeth A. , Bender Breah E. , Noverr Mairi C. , Fidel Paul L.
Published: September 2023

Protection against lethal
Candida albicans
(
Ca
)/
Staphylococcus aureus
(
Sa
) intra-abdominal infection (IAI)-mediated sepsis can be achieved by a novel form of trained innate immunity (TII) involving Gr-1+ myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) that are induced by inoculation (immunization) with low virulence
Candida
species [i.e.,
Candida dubliniensis
(
Cd
)] that infiltrate the bone marrow (BM). In contrast, more virulent
Candida
species (i.e.,
C. albicans
), even at sub-lethal inocula, fail to induce similar levels of protection. The purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the level of TII-mediated protection induced by
Ca
strains inversely correlates with damage in the BM as a reflection of virulence. Mice were immunized by intraperitoneal inoculation with several parental and mutant strains of
C. albicans
deficient in virulence factors (hyphal formation and candidalysin production), followed by an intraperitoneal
Ca/Sa
challenge 14 d later and monitored for sepsis and mortality. Whole femur bones were collected 24 h and 13 d after immunization and assessed for BM tissue/cellular damage via ferroptosis and histology. While immunization with standard but not sub-lethal inocula of most wild-type
C. albicans
strains resulted in considerable mortality, protection against lethal
Ca
/
Sa
IAI challenge varied by strain was usually less than that for
C. dubliniensis
, with no differences observed between parental and corresponding mutants. Finally, levels of protection afforded by the
Ca
strains were inversely correlated with BM tissue damage (
R
2
= −0.773). TII-mediated protection against lethal
Ca/Sa
sepsis induced by
Candida
strain immunization inversely correlates with BM tissue/cellular damage as a reflection of localized virulence.
Coronary artery bypass grafting for triple vessel disease in cardiac amyloidosis
Authors: Acharya Indira , Liang John J , Haas Christopher J
Published: September 2023

Cardiac amyloidosis is a rare condition with an estimated incidence of 18–55 per 100 000 person-years. It is associated with either immunoglobulin light chain (AL) or transthyretin amyloid (ATTR), both of which result in a restrictive cardiomyopathy complicated initially by diastolic dysfunction and subsequently followed by biventricular systolic heart failure. Untreated cardiac amyloidosis carries an extremely poor prognosis with an estimated median survival time of less than 1 year in AL and 4 years in ATTR amyloidosis. This is the sixth described report of coronary artery bypass grafting in patients with underlying cardiac amyloidosis.
Development of a joint set of database parameters for the EU-ROP and Fight Childhood Blindness! ROP Registries
Authors: Catt Caroline , Pfeil Johanna M , Barthelmes Daniel , Gole Glen A , Krohne Tim U , Wu Wei-Chi , Kusaka Shunji , Zhao Peiquan , Dai Shuan , Elder James , Heckmann Matthias , Stack Jacqueline , Khonyongwa-Fernandez Gigi , Stahl Andreas
Published: September 2023

Background/Aims

The incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) is increasing and treatment options are expanding, often without accompanying safety data. We aimed to define a minimal, patient-centred data set that is feasible to collect in clinical practice and can be used collaboratively to track and compare outcomes of ROP treatment with a view to improving patient outcomes.

Methods

A multinational group of clinicians and a patient representative with expertise in ROP and registry development collaborated to develop a data set that focused on real-world parameters and outcomes that were patient centred, minimal and feasible to collect in routine clinical practice.

Results

For babies receiving ROP treatment, we recommend patient demographics, systemic comorbidities, ROP status, treatment details, ophthalmic and systemic complications of treatment, ophthalmic and neurodevelopmental outcomes at initial treatment, any episodes of retreatment and follow-up examinations in the short and long-term to be collected for use in ROP studies, registries and routine clinical practice.

Conclusions

We recommend these parameters to be used in registries and future studies of ROP treatment, to reduce the variation seen in previous reports and allow meaningful assessments and comparisons. They form the basis of the EU-ROP and the Fight Childhood Blindness! ROP Registries.
Empowering future leaders: the value of simulation in active bystander training for medical students
Authors: Chew Cindy , Taylor Elaine , Pope Lindsey , Nazir Fozia , Paton Catherine , Colquhoun Kirsty , Hunter Ian , Lydon Emma , Young David , O'Dwyer Patrick
Published: September 2023

Disrespectful behaviour in the healthcare environment affects clinical learning, impacts those receiving such behaviour and adversely affects patient outcomes. Mandated ‘diversity training’ has minimal impact and, if poorly done, can worsen toxic work environments. Our study aimed to develop a simulation-based active bystander training (ABT) session for medical students and to evaluate the impact of this training.

Method

Sessions comprised short recap of students’ learning to date; prerecorded video vignettes; a card game and immersive simulation. Advocacy with inquiry debrief, facilitated by faculty with equality, diversity and inclusivity expertise followed each scenario. Students completed a validated questionnaire developed for this study, preintervention and postintervention.

Results

Sixty-six medical students from three teaching hospitals attended seven 3-hour sessions. The average number of students attending each session was 9 (range 7–12). The questionnaire was completed with matched pairs of preintervention and postintervention scores on a Likert scale by 58 (88%) students. There were significant deficits (p<0.001) in students’ self-rated knowledge with a mean preintervention score of 38.2 (SD 5.9) out of a maximum score of 55. This compared with postintervention score of 49.1 (SD 4.8). The mean increase in total score postintervention was 11.0 (95% C.I 9.4 to 12.5; p<0.001).

Conclusion

We found significant deficits in medical students’ self-rated knowledge of recognising disrespectful behaviour at work. Simulation in ABT was effective in reversing this. This is a timely study given the new responsibilities placed on doctors by the General Medical Council to act when witnessing discriminatory behaviour or harassment at work.
Clavipectoral fascia plane block spread: an anatomical study
Authors: Labandeyra Hipolito , Heredia-Carques Cristina , Campoy José Cros , Váldes-Vilches Luis Fernando , Prats-Galino Alberto , Sala-Blanch Xavier
Published: September 2023

Background

The clavipectoral fascia plane block (CPB) is a novel anesthetic management strategy proposed by Valdes-Vilches for clavicle fractures. This study aimed to investigate the distribution of the injected solution around the clavicle and the surrounding tissues.

Methods

Twelve clavicle samples were acquired from six cadavers. CPB was conducted using a 20 mL solution comprising methylene blue and iodinated contrast agent to improve visibility of the injected substance’s dispersion. Methylene blue spread was assessed through anatomical dissection across distinct planes (subcutaneous, superficial muscular, deep muscular, and periosteal layers of the clavicle) in five cadavers. For the purpose of comparing methylene blue distribution, CT scans were performed on three cadavers.

Results

Methylene blue was detected in the medial, intermediate, and lateral supraclavicular nerves, as well as superficial muscles including the deltoid, trapezius, sternocleidomastoid, and pectoralis major. However, no staining was observed in the deep muscle plane, including the subclavius, pectoralis minor, and clavipectoral fascia (CPF). Anterosuperior periosteum exhibited staining in 54% of surface, while only 4% of the posteroinferior surface. CT images displayed contrast staining in anterosuperior periclavicular region, consistent with observations from sagittal sections and anatomical dissections.

Conclusion

The CPB effectively distributes the administered solution in the anterosuperior region of the clavicular periosteum, superficial muscular plane, and supraclavicular nerves. However, it does not affect the posteroinferior region of the clavicular periosteum or the deep muscular plane, including the CPF.
Changes in prevalence ofMycoplasma genitaliummacrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance: notes from a 13-year retrospective survey in Dalarna County, Sweden
Authors: Drud Suhella Tulsiani , Anagrius Carin , Loré Britta , Elfving Karin , Jensen Jørgen Skov
Published: September 2023

Objective

Macrolide and fluoroquinolone resistance inMycoplasma genitalium(MG) is of emerging global concern. Compared with neighbouring countries such as Denmark, Sweden has had lower rates of macrolide resistance while fluoroquinolone resistance rates are less well documented. This study retrospectively examined macrolide, fluoroquinolone and multidrug resistance rates from Dalarna County, Sweden over a 13-year period.

Methods

MG-positive samples from 2006 to 2018 from patients examined at the Department of Venereology, Central Hospital, Falun, Sweden were tested by sequencing for macrolide resistance mutations (MRM) and fluoroquinolone resistance-associated mutations (QRAM) in theparCandgyrAsubunit regions. A subset of these samples from 2006 to 2011 have been reported on previously, although only for MRM.

Results

Of 874 samples, 98 (11.2%, 95% CI 9.1% to 13.6%) had mutations associated with resistance to macrolides and 19 of 828 (2.3%, 95% CI 8.9% to 23.1%) to quinolones. Mutations associated with resistance to both drugs were detected in 5 of 828 (0.6%, 95% CI 0.1% to 1.4%) samples overall. A significant positive linear trend (p=0.004) for an increase in the rate of macrolide resistance was observed (from 0% in 2006 to 31% in 2018) while the increase in QRAM from 0% in 2006 to 12.3% in 2018 was not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Despite a decrease in macrolide and fluoroquinolone consumption in Sweden, there was an overall increase in MG macrolide, fluoroquinolone and dual resistance from 2006 to 2018, although the difference in fluoroquinolone resistance rates was not statistically significant. In order to maintain comparably low resistance rates, resistance-guided therapy for MG infections will be crucial.
White matter disease derived from vascular and demyelinating origins
Authors: Zhang Lin-Jie , Tian De-Cai , Yang Li , Shi Kaibin , Liu Yaou , Wang Yilong , Shi Fu-Dong
Published: September 2023

Damage or microstructural alterations of the white matter can cause dysfunction of the intrinsic neural networks in a condition termed as white matter disease (WMD). Frequently detected on brain computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging scans, WMD is commonly presented in inflammatory demyelinating diseases like multiple sclerosis (MS) and vascular diseases such as cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD). Prevention of MS and CSVD progression requires early treatments with drastically different medications and approaches, as such, early and accurate diagnosis of WMD, derived from vascular or demyelinating etiologies, is of paramount importance. However, the clinical and imaging similarities between MS, especially during the early stage, and CSVD, pose a significant dilemma in differentiating these two conditions. In this review, we attempt to summarize and contrast the distinguishing features of MS and CSVD for aiding accurate diagnosis to ensure timely corresponding management in the early stages of MS and CSVD.
Field investigation on a pilot energy piled retaining wall
Authors: Zhong Yu , Narsilio Guillermo A. , Makasis Nikolas , Villegas Luis
Published: September 2023

This study presents the thermal and thermo-mechanical responses of a pilot energy wall located in Melbourne, Australia, which is believed to be one of the first instrumented energy soldier piled walls in the world. The full-scale field thermal and thermo-mechanical conditions of the wall were monitored during the period of a full-cycle thermal response test (TRT) conducted on a single soldier pile over 2 months. The monitored pile and ground temperature responses reveal the significance of the thermal condition in the excavated space on the thermal performance of such energy geostructures, which increases complexities in design and analysis. Furthermore, this study reports the profiles of axial strains and induced thermal stresses in the tested soldier pile, demonstrating how the applied thermal load from the TRT influenced the mechanical performance of the pile and wall and how the restrictive action of the support elements controlled the induced conditions. Here, we show that soldier pile responds differently from energy piles or borehole heat exchangers; however, residual axial strains were minimal and similar to those reported in energy piles foundations due to a thermo-elastic response to the imposed thermal loads and wall rigidity. Finally, the unique experimental dataset is made available for further studies.
The external time-of-flight wall for CEE experiment
Authors: Wang Botan , Xu Haoqian , Chen Xiaolong , Wang Yi , Han Dong , Zhao Lei , Guo Baohong
Published: September 2023

A heavy-ion collision facility called the cooler storage ring (CSR) external-target experiment (CEE) is scheduled in Lanzhou, China. The time measurement of the charged particles at the forward angle will be conducted by the external time-of-flight (eTOF) subsystem, which is built with multigap resistive plate chambers (MRPC). This work describes the tasks, performance criteria, detector layout, and prototype test results while outlining the technical design and development status of the CEE-eTOF wall. The effectiveness of the wall design has been validated using a FairRoot-based simulation, which is an essential part of the verification. With a $$3.2 \times 1.6~\textrm{m}^2$$

3.2
×
1.6

m
2

coverage, a 60 ps overall time resolution, and a 2.6 m distance from the collision point, the eTOF wall enables the particle identification, system triggering, and event selection in cooperation with other related detectors. A novel structure called sealed MRPC will be applied to the subsystem. The design considerations of this type, prototype test, and results are also described in this paper.
A self-gravitating system composed of baryonic and dark matter analysed from the post-Newtonian Boltzmann equations
Authors: Kremer Gilberto M. , Ourabah Kamel
Published: September 2023

We study the Jeans gravitational instability for a mixture of baryonic and dark matter particles, in the post-Newtonian approximation. We adopt a kinetic model consisting of a coupled system of post-Newtonian collisionless Boltzmann equations, for each species, coupled to the post-Newtonian Poisson equations. We derive the stability criterion, accounting for both post-Newtonian corrections and the presence of dark matter. It is shown that both effects give rise to smaller Jeans masses, in comparison with the standard Jeans criterion, meaning that a smaller mass is needed to begin the gravitational collapse. Taking advantage of that, we confront the model with the observational stability of Bok globules, and show that the model correctly reproduces the data.
Late-time evolution of the flat Friedmann universe over non-Archimedean space
Authors: Radovancevic Darko , Nesic Ljubisa
Published: September 2023

The paper discusses the classical and quantum aspects of the dynamics of the flat Friedmann model of the universe in the late phase of its evolution, predominantly determined by the cosmological constant [Formula: see text]. In the classical part, the Lagrangian of the model is expressed in the Minkowski space and in the Euclidean space in the form of the Lagrangian of the inverted oscillator and the Lagrangian of the standard linear harmonic oscillator, respectively. The classic actions and Feynman propagators were determined as well as the dependence of the scale factor on time in the case of the Minkowski-type metric. Within the quantum part, the asymptotic form of the Wheeler–DeWitt wave function of the model in the considered expanding phase was first determined, and then the vacuum [Formula: see text]-adic states with the specific conditions of their existence. In the generalized adelic approach, a vacuum adelic wave function is constructed, whose form implies minisuperspace discretization.
Proton structure functions at low x: The fractal distributions
Authors: Mohsenabadi Samira Shoeibi , Tehrani Shahin Atashbar , Taghavi-Shahri Fatemeh
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a method for extracting the parton distribution functions (PDFs) at small momentum fractions [Formula: see text] and at the next-to-leading order (NLO) accuracy in perturbative quantum chromodynamics. It turns out that the PDFs can be described by the “Fractal” or self-similar distributions at low [Formula: see text] below [Formula: see text]. To this end, a simple parametrization for the unintegrated PDFs based on the “Fractal” approach is considered. These functions have self-similar behavior at low [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] for sea quarks and have self-similar behavior at low [Formula: see text] for gluon distribution. By integration from these transverse momentum distributions (TMDs), the initial input densities are obtained and the model’s free parameters are then calculated using the experimental data released by the HERA experiment. The small-[Formula: see text] experimental datasets on electron–proton ([Formula: see text]) and positron–proton ([Formula: see text]) for natural current (NC) interactions in deep inelastic scattering (DIS) processes at HERA for the range of [Formula: see text] (GeV2) and [Formula: see text] are included in this analysis. The uncertainty estimations in this analysis are carried out using the standard “Hessian” method. Considering the overall value of [Formula: see text] and theory-to-data comparisons, the results indicate good agreements between the experimental datasets and the theoretical predictions. A detailed comparison is also presented between the model’s predictions for the relevant small-[Formula: see text] observable and recent parametrizations for the PDFs.
A Metamaterial Inspired Multiband Conformal Bandpass Filter with Improved Quality Factor for Sub-6 GHz Wireless Communication Applications
Authors: Duti Rekha Vutukuri Sarvani , Vineetha Kottapadikal Vinodan , Phani Madhav Boddapati Taraka , Islam Tanvir , Das Sudipta , El Ghzaoui Mohammed
Published: September 2023

This paper deals with the design, simulation, and practical modeling of metamaterial-based multiband conformal bandpass filter (BPF) for various wireless communication applications with improved quality factors. The novel metamaterial in the form of a split ring resonator is loaded on the ground plane face of the proposed BPF. The overall dimension of the designed BPF is only [Formula: see text]. The proposed BPF is tuned initially for quality factor enhancement based on the thickness of the substrate, physical parameters of the f transmission line, ground plane, externally loaded elements, and the gap in the metamaterial loading. The suggested filter operates at triple band covering the frequency bands from 1.4 to 2.2, 3.6 to 3.9, and 4.8 to 5.9[Formula: see text]GHz, which are suitable for sub-6[Formula: see text]GHz 5G and other wireless applications. The insertion loss is observed as 1[Formula: see text]dB, which is suitable for the proposed BPF. The conformal behavior of the filter is judged through bending deformation analysis at various bending positions like (15[Formula: see text], 30[Formula: see text], 45[Formula: see text], 60[Formula: see text], and 90[Formula: see text]). The proposed BPF retains triple pass band characteristics at various bending deformations, which makes it suitable to be used in curved structures or flexible circuitry. The theory of equivalent circuits and quality factor [Formula: see text] of the designed BPF is discussed in this paper. The results are analyzed experimentally through ANRITSU-MS2037C combinational analyzer. The proposed BPF is suitable for sub-6 GHz 5G, WLAN, and Wi-Max applications.
Multi-Branch Dilation Convolution CenterNet for Object Detection of Underwater Vehicles
Authors: Liang Chen , Zhou Mingliang , Liu Fuqiang , Qin Yi
Published: September 2023

Object detection occupies a very important position in the fishing operation and autonomous navigation of underwater vehicles. At present, most deep-learning object detection approaches, such as R-CNN, SPPNet, R-FCN, etc., have two stages and are based on anchors. However, the previous methods generally have the problems of weak generalization ability and not high enough computational efficiency due to the generation of anchors. As a well-known one-stage anchor-free method, CenterNet can accelerate the inference speed by omitting the step of generating anchors, whereas it is difficult to extract sufficient global information because of the residual structure at the bottom layer, which leads to low detection precision for the overlapping targets. Dilation convolution makes the kernel obtain a larger reception field and access more information. Multi-branch structure can not only preserve the whole area information, but also efficiently separate foreground and background. By combining the dilation convolution and multi-branch structure, multi-branch dilation convolution is proposed and applied to the Hourglass backbone network in CenterNet, then an improved CenterNet named multi-branch dilation convolution CenterNet (MDC-CenterNet) is built, which has a stronger ability of object detection. The proposed method is successfully utilized for detection of underwater organisms including holothurian, scallop, echinus and starfish, and the comparison result shows that it outperforms the original CenterNet and the classical object detection network. Moreover, with the MS-COCO and PASCAL VOC datasets, a number of comparative experiments are performed for showing the advancement of our method compared to other best methods.
Advanced Image Processing Techniques for Medical Image Retrieval Using Visual Features and Distance Measures
Authors: Krishnamoorthy Sujatha , Lakshmi S. Venkata , Janet J. , Sundararaj Vinu
Published: September 2023

Recently, there has been a rapid increase in the volume of medical image repositories because of the maximized utilization of digitized image data in hospitals. As a result, there is a complexity in querying and handling such large databases, which has led to the development of a novel Content-Based Medical Image Retrieval (CBMIR) technique. In this work, the CBMIR technique is developed using three types of visual features (i.e., color, texture and shape) along with 12 distance measures, and is optimized with the Crossover-Gravitational Search Algorithm (CRO-GSA). For ease, we named this technique Content-Based Medical Image Retrieval using Visual features with CRO-GSA (CBMIRVC). The initial step of our CBMIRVC technique is to extract three types of visual features from the images. Then, each type of feature is employed with a suitable distance measure, which is used for the computation of image similarities between the medical images in the database and a provided query image. The optimization of our proposed CBMIRVC technique is done by the CRO-GSA algorithm. This algorithm optimizes the CBMIRVC technique by identifying the optimal combinations of visual features and similarity measures. Additionally, optimal weights are computed in accordance with the three types of features for the three similarities. Experimental validations were done using retrieved cancer-related and endoscopic color images from databases holding numerous image categories. The experimental outcome shows that our proposed CBMIRVC technique outperforms other conventional image retrieval techniques by effectively retrieving similar images from large databases.
A second-order fully-balanced structure-preserving variational discretization scheme for the Cahn–Hilliard–Navier–Stokes system
Authors: Brunk A. , Egger H. , Habrich O. , Lukáčová-Medviďová M.
Published: September 2023

We propose and analyze a structure-preserving space-time variational discretization method for the Cahn–Hilliard–Navier–Stokes system. Uniqueness and stability for the discrete problem is established in the presence of concentration-dependent mobility and viscosity parameters by means of the relative energy estimates and order optimal convergence rates are established for all variables using balanced approximation spaces and relaxed regularity conditions on the solution. Numerical tests are presented to demonstrate the proposed method is fully practical and yields the predicted convergence rates. The discrete stability estimates developed in this paper may also be used to analyse other discretization schemes, which is briefly outlined in the discussion.
Alpha decay and cluster radioactivity investigation of actinide nuclei
Authors: Belhaddouf R. , Oudih M. R. , Fellah M. , Allal N. H.
Published: September 2023

Based on the Unified Fission Model with a Woods–Saxon potential (UFMWS), we have investigated alpha decay and cluster radioactivity of actinide nuclei. To ensure accuracy, we determined the most precise [Formula: see text]-values by comparing the results of four nuclear mass models: the liquid drop model (LDM), the DZ28 model, the WS4 model, and the finite range droplet model (FRDM), which were recently improved using a machine learning algorithm. Among these models, it is found that the improved WS4 (IWS4) provides the most accurate [Formula: see text]-values, enabling the UFMWS model to effectively reproduce experimental alpha and cluster decay half-lives. Consequently, the UFMWS model using IWS4 [Formula: see text]-values was employed to explore various combinations of parent nuclei and alpha particle as well as even–even emitted clusters ranging from Be to Si. The obtained results are consistent with previous study that identified minima in half-lives near corresponding to the doubly magic [Formula: see text]Pb daughter nucleus or its neighboring nuclei. It is found that neutron-deficient parent nuclei generally displayed the shortest half-lives, most of which are within the experimental range. Considering the experimental limitations, cluster decays favorable for measurement in the actinide region were identified. Interestingly, these decays did not involve the most neutron-deficient nuclei.
COMPUTATIONAL SOLUTIONS OF FRACTIONAL ELECTRIC SYMMETRIC CIRCUITS BY SUMUDU TRANSFORMATION
Authors: AKGÜL ESRA KARATAS , JAMSHED WASIM , ABDULLAEV SHERZOD SHUKHRATOVICH , BELGACEM FETHI BIN MUHAMMED , EL DIN SAYED M.
Published: September 2023

In this research, we study the Caputo fractional and constant proportional derivative numerical approximation of electrical symmetric circuits. It has been assumed that the derivative is in the order [Formula: see text]. For the fractional electrical symmetric circuits, the RC, LC, and RLC solutions are obtained by using the Sumudu transformation. We also compare the numerical simulation of each equation to its classical equivalent. We use a highly efficient integral transform to examine the impact of the power-law kernel. In our upcoming works, we will apply this to electrical circuits that are more intricate.
UNRAVELING THE COMPLEX DYNAMICS OF FLUID FLOW IN POROUS MEDIA: EFFECTS OF VISCOSITY, POROSITY, AND INERTIA ON THE MOTION OF FLUIDS
Authors: ATTIA RAGHDA A. M. , ALFALQI SULEMAN H. , ALZAIDI JAMEEL F. , KHATER MOSTAFA M. A.
Published: September 2023

This study investigates novel solitary wave solutions of the Gilson–Pickering ([Formula: see text]) equation, which is a model that describes the motion of a fluid in a porous medium. An analytical scheme is applied to construct these solutions, utilizing the extended Khater method in conjunction with the homogenous balance technique. The derived expressions for the solitary wave solutions are exact and are presented in terms of hyperbolic functions. The [Formula: see text] equation is valuable for a wide range of applications, including oil and gas reservoir engineering, groundwater flow, and flow in biological tissues. Additionally, this model is employed to describe the behavior of waves in various physical systems such as fluids and plasmas. Specifically, it models the propagation of dispersive waves in a media that exhibits both dispersion and dissipation. To ensure the accuracy of the constructed solutions, a numerical scheme is employed. The properties of the solitary wave solutions are analyzed, and their physical implications are explored. The results of this investigation reveal a rich variety of solitary wave solutions that exhibit interesting behaviors, including oscillatory and non-oscillatory behavior, which are elucidated through various types of distinct graphs. Consequently, this study provides significant insights into the behavior of fluid flow in porous media and its applications in various fields, including oil and gas reservoir engineering and groundwater flow modeling. The analytical and numerical methods employed in this investigation demonstrate their potential for studying nonlinear evolution equations and their applications in the physical sciences.
EFFECT OF AUTOBIOGRAPHICAL FALSE MEMORY ON THE COMPLEXITY OF NEURAL OSCILLATIONS
Authors: SHABANI MOHSEN , SADEGHI MASOUMEH , SALEHI JAVAD , NAMAZI HAMIDREZA , KHOSROWABADI REZA
Published: September 2023

Memory is an imperfect record of past experiences that enables us to operate in the present and think about the future. Although various factors may give a chance to a false recollection of information that may not occur. These false memories are formed based on various neuro-cognitive processes the underlying mechanism still needs to be well understood. Considering the extended searching when no memory trace is found, we hypothesized that the self-similarities in the brain activations must be higher during false memory recalls. Therefore, a language-free task based on autobiographical brand images was designed using the Deese–Roediger–McDermott (DRM) paradigm. The task was then tested on 24 healthy participants while the brain activities during the test were recorded using a 32-channel EEG system. Subsequently, the self-similarities in the brain activity pattern were estimated by taking the fractal dimension (FD) of the cleaned EEG data. Statistical analysis showed a significant increase in complexity during false memory recalls as compared to true memory recalls prominent in the frontal regions. Interestingly, the EEG findings were consistent in both genders and significantly correlated with subjects’ accuracy rates and reaction times (RTs) to recall.
INFLUENCE OF MECHANICAL AND THE CORROSION CHARACTERISTICS ON THE SURFACE OF MAGNESIUM HYBRID NANOCOMPOSITES REINFORCED WITH HAp AND rGO AS BIODEGRADABLE IMPLANTS
Authors: SOMAYAJULA VENKATA SATYA PRASAD , PRASAD SHASHI BHUSHAN , SINGH SUBHASH
Published: September 2023

Magnesium composites stay relevant for the applications of biodegradable implant as they are harmless and possess characteristics such as density and elastic modulus analogous to the cortical bone in humans. But corrosion is one major issue associated with magnesium when the biomedical applications are contemplated. Moreover, load bearing abilities are also required in case of an orthopedic implant. In this study, to achieve the desired implant characteristics, hybrid nanocomposites (HNCs) of Mg–2.5Zn binary alloys such as metal matrix, hydroxyapatite (HAp), and reduced graphene oxide (rGO) as reinforcements were fabricated via the vacuum-assisted stir casting method. The overall weight percentage of the reinforcements was fixed at 3% and both the reinforcements varied in compositions by weight to prepare the samples S0 (Pure Magnesium), S1 (Mg–2.5Zn–0.5HAp–2.5rGO), S2 (Mg–2.5Zn–1.0HAp–2.0rGO), S3 (Mg–2.5Zn–1.5HAp–1.5rGO), S4 (Mg–2.5Zn–2.0HAp–1.0rGO), and S5 (Mg–2.5Zn–2.5HAp–0.5rGO), respectively. The influence of mechanical characteristics such as tensile strength, compressive strength, and microhardness as well as the corrosion over the surface of the nanocomposite in simulated body fluid (SBF) have been assessed for their suitability as biodegradable orthopedic implants. Results suggest that the fabricated nanocomposites exhibit superior characteristics in comparison to pure magnesium. Increasing the HAp from 0.5 wt.% to 2.5 wt.% enhanced the compressive strength and reduced the corrosion rate. On the other hand, increasing the rGO from 0.5 wt.% to 1.5 wt.% increased the tensile strength. The formation of apatite layer over the composites is observed in the SBF solution. Among all the fabricated hybrid nanocomposite samples, the sample S3 (Mg–2.5Zn–1.5HAp–1.5rGO) with equal wt.% of HAp and rGO exhibited 209.60 MPa of ultimate tensile strength, 300.1 MPa of ultimate compressive strength, and a corrosion rate of 0.91 mm/year thus making it the best suited and a prospective material for biodegradable implant application.
Structural properties of the quantized matrix algebra Dq(n) established by means of Gröbner–Shirshov basis theory
Authors: Niu Lina , Tuniyaz Rabigul
Published: September 2023

Let [Formula: see text] be the quantized matrix algebra introduced by Dipper and Donkin. It is shown that some structural properties of [Formula: see text] and their modules may be established and realized by means of Gröbner–Shirshov basis theory.
Back-propagating errors through artificial neural networks for variable selection
Authors: Hu Junying , Chang Peiju , Du Fang , Fei Rongrong , Sun Kai , Zhang Jiangshe , Zhang Hai
Published: September 2023

Variable selection is one of the most important contents of machine learning research and a large number of variable selection methods have been proposed at present. From deep learning perspective, we propose a new variable selection method based on multi-layer artificial neural networks in this paper. The method propagates errors gained form a trained network model through the network from output layer to input layer and the values gained by input layer give information about the relative contribution. The variables with big contribution value are selected, which we call neural inverse propagation (NIP). Specifically, after training a neural network, the gained errors between the actual network outputs and the desired outputs go through the network from top to down and arrive at the input layer. The absolute values gained by input units provide information about the relative importance (contribution) of input units, which is that the larger the value is, the more important the corresponding input variable is. We remove k variables corresponding to the first k minimum absolute value gained by input units to the predictive variables, to perform variable selection. The efficiency of the proposed method is illustrated through its application to classification and regression tasks on a number of synthetic datasets and a real-world image classification dataset.
A nonlocal finite-dimensional integrable system related to the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger equation hierarchy
Authors: Wang Xue , Du Dianlou
Published: September 2023

Based on the Lenard gradient sequence, a hierarchy of the nonlocal nonlinear Schrödinger (NNLS) equations is obtained. Using the Lax representation, the nonlocal finite-dimensional integrable system with Lie–Poisson structure is presented. Then, under coordinate transformation, the nonlocal finite-dimensional integrable system with Lie–Poisson structure can be expressed as the canonical Hamiltonian system of the standard symplectic structures. Moreover, the parametric representation of the NNLS equation and the nonlocal complex modified Korteweg–de Vries (NcmKdV) equation are constructed. Finally, according to the Hamilton–Jacobi theory, the action–angle variables are built and the inversion problem related to the Lie–Poisson Hamiltonian systems is discussed.
Unravelling Karachi’s Seismic Potential: Estimating Maximum Ground Shaking in Various Zones
Authors: Ahmed Muhammad , Lodi Sarosh Hashmat
Published: September 2023

Karachi, a sprawling city spanning over 3500[Formula: see text]sq. km, exhibits significant variability in seismic hazard across its expanse. This study employs a deterministic approach for seismic hazard assessment due to the unavailability of a long-term seismic archive required for a probabilistic approach, given the city’s relatively young age. Furthermore, a novel methodology is employed in this study, utilizing all known faults within Karachi’s seismic vicinity for conducting Deterministic Seismic Hazard Assessment (DSHA). Individual hazards associated with each seismic source are estimated, enabling the determination of the most severe hazard for the development of a seismic zoning map. The resulting DSHA-based seismic hazard assessment categorizes Karachi into four seismic zones, ranging from Zone 2A to Zone 4. This paper concludes that for a vast city like Karachi, relying solely on a single fault source for DSHA does not accurately represent the realistic seismic hazard to the region.
On harmonic summability of order α
Authors: Kandemi̇r Hacer Şengül , Et Mi̇kai̇l
Published: September 2023

In this study, the concepts of lacunary [Formula: see text]summability of order [Formula: see text], lacunary strongly harmonic summability of order [Formula: see text], lacunary statistical logarithmic convergence of order [Formula: see text] of sequences of real numbers are introduced and relations between these concepts are investigated.
Of a couple of relaxation iterative methods suited for matrices of bounded linear operators defined over banach spaces
Authors: Lemita Samir , Mahcene Mohammed Ghaïth
Published: September 2023

By introducing matrices of linear bounded infinite-dimensional operators defined over some Banach spaces, and within the context of study, we make use of the definition of row strict diagonal dominance property to construct a generalization version of the Jacobi Under-Relaxation and the Successive Under-Relaxation iterative methods. The convergence analyses of the two new iterative methods are provided, and a numerical application to solve one Fredholm integral equation is presented to show the generalized methods’ effectiveness compared with their conventional opponents.
An inertial method for solving systems of generalized mixed equilibrium and fixed point problems in reflexive Banach spaces
Authors: Abass Hammed Anuoluwapo , Aphane Maggie , Olayiwola Morufu Oyedunsi
Published: September 2023

The Generalized mixed equilibrium problems, which includes the equilibrium and mixed equilibrium problem of monotone type mapping is considered in this paper with the fixed point of Bregman strongly nonexpansive mapping in the framework of real reflexive Banach space. We approximate the common solution of the system of generalized mixed equilibrium and fixed point problems for the finite family of Bregman strongly nonexpansive mappings using an inertial Halpern method. Using our iterative method, we prove a strong convergence result for solving the aforementioned problems. We also present some applications and numerical examples to demonstrate the performance of our iterative method. Our result improves and extends some important results presented by authors in the literature.
A Mixed-Method Exploration into the Mobile Phone Rabbit Hole
Authors: Terzimehic Nada , Bemmann Florian , Halsner Miriam , Mayer Sven
Published: September 2023

Smartphones provide various functions supporting users in their daily lives. However, the temptation of getting distracted and tuning out is high leading to so-called rabbit holes. To quantify rabbit hole behavior, we developed an Android tracking application that collects smartphone usage enriched with experience sampling questionnaires. We analyzed 14,395 smartphone use sessions from 21 participants, collected over two weeks, showing that rabbit hole sessions are significantly longer and contain more user interaction, revealing a certain level of restlessness in use. The context of rabbit hole sessions and subjective results revealed different triggers for spending more time on the phone. Next, we conduct an expert focus group (N=6) to put the gained insights into perspective and formulate a definition of the mobile phone rabbit hole. Our results form the foundation for predicting and communicating the mobile phone rabbit hole, especially when prolonged smartphone use results in regret.
An Empirical Comparison of Moderated and Unmoderated Gesture Elicitation Studies on Soft Surfaces and Objects for Smart Home Control
Authors: Chamunorwa Michael , Wozniak Mikolaj P. , Krämer Susanna , Müller Heiko , Boll Susanne
Published: September 2023

Conducting gesture elicitation studies (GES) in personal spaces such as smart homes is crucial to achieving high ecological validity of elicited gestures. However, supervising such studies is considered intrusive and negatively affects the results' quality. The alternative is to conduct unsupervised GES under similar conditions, but more side-by-side comparisons documenting the similarities and differences between both approaches are necessary. Consequently, we need more data describing the preferred approach and whether the differences or similarities in the results are so significant to cause concern. This research distributed a DIY observation kit, which 30 participants assembled and used to propose gestures for controlling elements in a smart living room using a pillow's surface, with and without supervision. Our results show that gestures from supervised and unsupervised studies differ in quantity and max-consensus but not in gesture Agreement Scores. Our results also show that participants preferred conducting unsupervised studies but proposed fewer gesture sets in this condition.