bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Properties of the Alexidine Dihydrochloride (MMV396785) against Acinetobacter baumannii
Authors: Upmanyu Kirti , Rizwanul Haq Qazi Mohd. , Singh Ruchi
Published: July 2023

Antibiotic-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections among patients in hospital settings are rising at an alarming rate. The World Health Organization has designated carbapenem-resistant A. baumannii as a priority pathogen for drug discovery. Based on the open drug discovery approach, we screened 400 compounds provided as a Pandemic Response Box by MMV and DNDi to identify compounds with antibacterial and antibiofilm activity against two A. baumannii reference strains using a highly robust resazurin assay. In vitro screening identified thirty compounds with MIC ≤ 50μM having growth inhibitory properties against the planktonic state. Five compounds, with MMV IDs MMV396785, MMV1578568, MMV1578574, MMV1578564, and MMV1579850, were able to reduce metabolically active cells in the biofilm state. Of these five compounds, MMV396785 showed potential antibacterial and antibiofilm activity with MIC, MBIC, and MBEC of 3.125 μM, 12.5, and 25–100 µM against tested A. baumannii strains, respectively, showing biofilm formation inhibition by 93% and eradication of pre-formed biofilms by 60–77.4%. In addition, MMV396785 showed a drastic reduction in the surface area and thickness of biofilms. Further investigations at the molecular level by qRT-PCR revealed the downregulation of biofilm-associated genes when exposed to 50 µM MMV396785 in all tested strains. This study identified the novel compound MMV396785 as showing potential in vitro antibacterial and antibiofilm efficacy against A. baumannii.
Bovine Colostrum: Human and Animal Health Benefits or Route Transmission of Antibiotic Resistance—One Health Perspective
Authors: Miranda Carla , Igrejas Gilberto , Poeta Patrícia
Published: July 2023

After calving, bovine colostrum is obtained from the mammary gland of the dam in the first days and fed to newborn ruminant to prevent microbial infections. Each bovine colostrum has a unique biochemical composition with high nutraceutical value compared to milk. However, bovine colostrum is influenced by various factors, such as environmental, individual, and genetic factors, as well as processing methods. Proper colostrum management is crucial for obtaining high-quality colostrum and mitigating bacterial contamination. This is important not only for the health and survival of calves but also for the health of humans who consume colostrum and its co-products. It is essential to ensure that the consumed colostrum is free of pathogens to reap its benefits. Health-promoting products based on colostrum have gained significant interest. However, colostrum can contain pathogens that, if not eliminated, can contribute to their transmission and spread, as well as antibiotic resistance. The aim of this review was to promote the animal and human health benefits of bovine colostrum by improving its microbial quality and highlighting potential routes of dissemination of antibiotic-resistant pathogens. Implementing hygienic measures is one of the key factors in mitigating colostrum bacterial contamination and obtaining safe and high-quality colostrum. This helps reduce the exposure of pathogens to newborn calves, other animals, and humans, in a One Health analysis.
Antibacterial and Antibiofilm Effects of Lactobacilli Strains against Clinical Isolates of Pseudomonas aeruginosa under Conditions Relevant to Cystic Fibrosis
Authors: Batoni Giovanna , Catelli Elisa , Kaya Esingül , Pompilio Arianna , Bianchi Marta , Ghelardi Emilia , Di Bonaventura Giovanni , Esin Semih , Maisetta Giuseppantonio
Published: July 2023

Therapy of lung infections sustained by Pseudomonas aeruginosa in cystic fibrosis (CF) patients is challenging due to the presence of a sticky mucus in the airways and the ability of the bacterium to form biofilm, which exhibits increased antibiotic tolerance. A lung-directed bacteriotherapy through the airway administration of probiotics could represent an alternative approach to probiotic diet supplementation to improve the benefits and clinical outcomes of this kind of intervention in CF patients. This study aims to evaluate the ability of probiotic strains to grow in artificial sputum medium (ASM), mimicking the CF lung microenvironment, and to affect the planktonic and biofilm growth of CF clinical strains of P. aeruginosa in the same conditions. The results demonstrate that Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP) can grow in ASM. LP inhibited the planktonic growth of P. aeruginosa, while both lactobacilli reduced the pre-formed biofilm of P. aeruginosa. Interestingly, LP was demonstrated to reduce the amount of polysaccharides in the extracellular matrix of P. aeruginosa biofilms and to potentiate the antibiofilm effects of tobramycin. Overall, the results indicated that LP is a promising candidate as an adjuvant in the antimicrobial therapy of P. aeruginosa infections in CF patients.
Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Rates and Epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile Infection in One VA Hospital
Authors: Wright Lorinda M. , Skinner Andrew M. , Cheknis Adam , McBurney Conor , Ge Ling , Pacheco Susan M. , Leehey David , Gerding Dale N. , Johnson Stuart
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with increases in some healthcare-associated infections. We investigated the impact of the pandemic on the rates and molecular epidemiology of Clostridioides difficile infection (CDI) within one VA hospital. We anticipated that the potential widespread use of antibiotics for pneumonia during the pandemic might increase CDI rates given that antibiotics are a major risk for CDI. Hospital data on patients with CDI and recurrent CDI (rCDI) were reviewed both prior to the COVID-19 pandemic (2015 to 2019) and during the pandemic (2020–2021). Restriction endonuclease analysis (REA) strain typing was performed on CD isolates recovered from stool samples collected from October 2019 to March 2022. CDI case numbers declined by 43.2% in 2020 to 2021 compared to the annual mean over the previous 5 years. The stool test positivity rate was also lower during the COVID-19 pandemic (14.3% vs. 17.2%; p = 0.013). Inpatient hospitalization rates declined, and rates of CDI among inpatients were reduced by 34.2% from 2020 to 2021. The mean monthly cases of rCDI also declined significantly after 2020 [3.38 (95% CI: 2.89–3.87) vs. 1.92 (95% CI: 1.27–2.56); p = <0.01]. Prior to the pandemic, REA group Y was the most prevalent CD strain among the major REA groups (27.3%). During the first wave of the pandemic, from 8 March 2020, to 30 June 2020, there was an increase in the relative incidence of REA group BI (26.7% vs. 9.1%); After adjusting for CDI risk factors, a multivariable logistic regression model revealed that the odds of developing an REA group BI CDI increased during the first pandemic wave (OR 6.41, 95% CI: 1.03–39.91) compared to the pre-pandemic period. In conclusion, the incidence of CDI and rCDI decreased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. In contrast, REA BI (Ribotype 027), a virulent, previously epidemic CD strain frequently associated with hospital transmission and outbreaks, reappeared as a prevalent strain during the first wave of the pandemic, but subsequently disappeared, and overall CDI rates declined.
Phytochemical and Bioactivity Studies on Hedera helix L. (Ivy) Flower Pollen and Ivy Bee Pollen
Authors: Sen Nisa Beril , Guzelmeric Etil , Vovk Irena , Glavnik Vesna , Kırmızıbekmez Hasan , Yesilada Erdem
Published: July 2023

Bee pollen, known as a ‘life-giving dust’, is a product of honeybees using flower pollen grains and combining them with their saliva secretions. Thus, flower pollen could be an indicator of the bee pollen botanical source. Identification of bee pollen sources is a highly crucial process for the evaluation of its health benefits, as chemical composition is directly related to its pharmacological activity. In this study, the chemical profiles, contents of phenolic marker compounds and pharmacological activities of Hedera helix L. (ivy) bee pollen samples from Türkiye and Slovenia, as well as ivy flower pollen grains, were compared. High-performance thin-layer chromatography (HPTLC) analyses revealed that pollen samples, regardless of where they were collected, have similar chemical profiles due to the fact that they have the same botanical origins. Marker compounds afzelin, platanoside and quercetin-3-O-β-glucopyranosyl-(1→2)-β-galactopyranoside, common to both bee pollen and flower pollen, were isolated from bee pollen, and their structures were elucidated by nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and mass spectrometry (MS). These three compounds, as well as chlorogenic acid and 3,5-dicaffeoylquinic acid (found in flower pollen), were quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analyses. In vitro tests and effect-directed analyses were used to evaluate the xanthine oxidase inhibition and antioxidant activity of the marker compounds and extracts from flower pollen and bee pollen. This is the first report comparing chemical profiles and related bioactivities of the flower pollen and bee pollen of the same botanical origin, as well as the first report of the chemical profile and related bioactivities of ivy flower pollen.
Research on Secure Storage Technology of Spatiotemporal Big Data Based on Blockchain
Authors: Zhou Bao , Zhao Junsan , Chen Guoping , Yin Ying
Published: July 2023

With the popularity of spatiotemporal big data applications, more and more sensitive data are generated by users, and the sharing and secure storage of spatiotemporal big data are faced with many challenges. In response to these challenges, the present paper puts forward a new technology called CSSoB (Classified Secure Storage Technology over Blockchain) that leverages blockchain technology to enable classified secure storage of spatiotemporal big data. This paper introduces a twofold approach to tackle challenges associated with spatiotemporal big data. First, the paper proposes a strategy to fragment and distribute space–time big data while enabling both encryption and nonencryption operations based on different data types. The sharing of sensitive data is enabled via smart contract technology. Second, CSSoB’s single-node storage performance was assessed under local and local area network (LAN) conditions, and results indicate that the read performance of CSSoB surpasses its write performance. In addition, read and write performance were observed to increase significantly as the file size increased. Finally, the transactions per second (TPS) of CSSoB and the Hadoop Distributed File System (HDFS) were compared under varying thread numbers. In particular, when the thread number was set to 100, CSSoB demonstrated a TPS improvement of 7.8% in comparison with HDFS. Given the remarkable performance of CSSoB, its adoption can not only enhance storage performance, but also improve storage security to a great extent. Moreover, the fragmentation processing technology employed in this study enables secure storage and rapid data querying while greatly improving spatiotemporal data processing capabilities.
Knowledge-Graph- and GCN-Based Domain Chinese Long Text Classification Method
Authors: Wang Yifei , Wang Yongwei , Hu Hao , Zhou Shengnan , Wang Qinwu
Published: July 2023

In order to solve the current problems in domain long text classification tasks, namely, the long length of a document, which makes it difficult for the model to capture key information, and the lack of expert domain knowledge, which leads to insufficient classification accuracy, a domain long text classification model based on a knowledge graph and a graph convolutional neural network is proposed. BERT is used to encode the text, and each word’s corresponding vector is used as a node for the graph convolutional neural network so that the initialized vector contains rich semantic information. Using the trained entity–relationship extraction model, the entity-to-entity–relationships in the document are extracted and used as the edges of the graph convolutional neural network, together with syntactic dependency information. The graph structure mask is used to learn about edge relationships and edge types to further enhance the learning ability of the model for semantic dependencies between words. The method further improves the accuracy of domain long text classification by fusing knowledge features and data features. Experiments on three long text classification datasets—IFLYTEK, THUCNews, and the Chinese corpus of Fudan University—show accuracy improvements of 8.8%, 3.6%, and 2.6%, respectively, relative to the BERT model.
A Pathway to Hallux Valgus Correction: Intra- and Interexaminer Reliability of Hallux Alignment
Authors: Godoy Marcos Marcondes , Carvalho Filipa , Moro Antônio Renato
Published: July 2023

Hallux Valgus is an orthopedic deformity of the forefoot region characterized by a lateral deviation of the first toe by more than 15 degrees with a medial deviation of the first metatarsal, often associated with a rotational deformity of the hallux phalanges. The work presented here is part of a broader study. To assess the (mis)alignment of the hallux, computerized photogrammetry was performed with Kinovea® software. Scientific articles about the reliability of photogrammetry for the (mis)alignment of a hallux evaluation are unknown. The main objective of this work is to verify the reliability of intra- and interexaminer evaluations in the assessment of a hallux (mis)alignment using computerized photogrammetry. For the intrarater evaluation, one examiner analyzed an aleatory sample of 40 feet to measure the (mis)alignment of the hallux, repeating the analysis five or fourteen days later. For the interrater evaluation, two examiners analyzed an aleatory sample of 20 feet. An intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) and paired samples t-test were applied with a significance level of 0.05. Both inter- and intraexaminer-reliability analyses were rated as excellent (ICCs > 0.7), indicating yet another way to assess hallux (mis)alignment by nonradiological means, avoiding the radiation exposure associated with radiographs and the cost associated with the equipment acquisition.
Axial Compression Performance and Bearing Capacity Calculation of Round-Ended Concrete-Filled Aluminum Tube Column
Authors: Bu Jianqing , Liu Qin , Yu Yong , Qiu Qirong
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to investigate the axial compression performance of concrete-filled circular-end aluminum tube (RECFAT) columns, utilizing four specimens with varying parameters such as cross-sectional aspect ratio and cross-sectional aluminum content. Axial compression tests and ABAQUS finite element extended parameter analyses were conducted, with key mechanical performance indicators such as specimen failure morphology, ultimate bearing capacity, load–displacement curve, and load–strain curve being obtained. The influence of various variation parameters on the axial compression performance of the specimen was analyzed. The results indicated that the majority of specimens underwent oblique shear failure due to local bulging of the aluminum tube plane, while specimens with an aspect ratio of 4.0 experienced overall instability failure. As the aspect ratio increased, the bearing capacity improvement coefficient and ductility coefficient of the specimen decreased and the initial stiffness of the specimen gradually decreased. As the aluminum content increased, the initial stiffness decreased, with the critical aspect ratio for overall instability being between 2.0 and 2.5. The optimal aluminum content was recommended to be between 8.5% and 13.5%. When the aspect ratio was around 2.0, the lateral strain of the round-ended aluminum tube developed faster and the constraint effect was the best. The finite element model accurately reproduced the oblique shear bulging of the round-ended aluminum tube and the internal concrete V-shaped collapse, with the axial load–displacement curve being in good agreement. Improving the strength of aluminum alloy was more conducive to improving the axial compression bearing capacity of RECFAT than increasing the strength of concrete. A simplified model and calculation method for RECFAT was proposed, with an error of less than 1%.
Hippocampus Segmentation Method Applying Coordinate Attention Mechanism and Dynamic Convolution Network
Authors: Jiang Juan , Liu Hong , Yu Xin , Zhang Jin , Xiong Bing , Kuang Lidan
Published: July 2023

Precisely segmenting the hippocampus from the brain is crucial for diagnosing neurodegenerative illnesses such as Alzheimer’s disease, depression, etc. In this research, we propose an enhanced hippocampus segmentation algorithm based on 3D U-Net that can significantly increase hippocampus segmentation performance. First, a dynamic convolution block is designed to extract information more comprehensively in the steps of the 3D U-Net’s encoder and decoder. In addition, an improved coordinate attention algorithm is applied in the skip connections step of the 3D U-Net to increase the weight of the hippocampus and reduce the redundancy of other unimportant location information. The algorithm proposed in this work uses soft pooling methods instead of max pooling to reduce information loss during downsampling steps. The datasets employed in this research were obtained from the MICCAI 2013 SATA Challenge (MICCAI) and the Harmonized Protocol initiative of the Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative (HarP). The experimental results on the two datasets prove that the algorithm proposed in this work outperforms other commonly used segmentation algorithms. On the HarP, the dice increase by 3.52%, the mIoU increases by 2.65%, and the F1 score increases by 3.38% in contrast to the baseline. On the MICCAI, the dice, the mIoU, and the F1 score increase by 1.13%, 0.85%, and 1.08%, respectively. Overall, the proposed model outperforms other common algorithms.
Minimally Invasive Reconstruction of the Ankle Lateral Ligament Complex in Chronic Ankle Instability: Clinical Outcomes, Return to Sport and Recurrence Rate at Minimum Follow up of 5 Years
Authors: Usuelli Federico Giuseppe , Montagna Alice , Sangaletti Rudy , Indino Cristian , Maccario Camilla , Grassi Federico Alberto
Published: July 2023

Background: Chronic ankle instability is a common condition that develops after lateral ankle sprains. Many surgical techniques have been described in case of failure of conservative treatment. The purpose of this paper is to present the results in terms of clinical outcomes, return to sport and recurrence rate after reconstruction of the lateral ligament complex of the ankle with a minimally invasive approach at a minimum follow up of five years. Methods: This retrospective study involved forty-seven patients treated for chronic ankle instability from January 2013 to November 2017. The clinical outcomes were evaluated with the American Orthopedic Foot and Ankle Society ankle and hindfoot score (AOFAS score), the University of California–Los Angeles Rating Scale (UCLA Rating Scale), the Karlsson–Peterson ankle instability score and the Halasi scale at a mean follow up time of 80 months. Results: The mean age of the patients was 42 years (23–63). The mean VAS pain score decreased from 5.6 (2–9) pre-operatively to 0.7 (0–7) post-operatively. The mean UCLA Rating Scale score improved from 7.7 (4–8) before surgical treatment to 9.2 (6–10) afterwards. The AOFAS score increased from a pre-operative mean value of 66.5 (40–95) to a post-operative mean value of 94 (88–100) and the Halasi scale from a pre-injury mean value of 4.3 (2–8) to 4.5 post-operatively (2–8). The mean Karlsson–Peterson ankle instability score increased from 71 (40–90) pre-operatively to 87.9 (70–90) post-operatively. During this period of follow up, the procedure survival rate was 95.7%, with two cases of recurrence of ankle sprain post-operatively after twelve months in one case and forty months in the other case. Conclusions: The described technique of reconstruction of the anterior talofibular and calcaneofibular ligament with a minimally invasive approach with a semitendinosus autograft is a viable treatment option for chronic ankle instability and enables the majority of patients to regain their activity and sport level with a low recurrence rate at a mid-term follow up.
Microwave Pyrolysis of Woody Biomass: Influence of Radiation Power on the Composition of Conversion Products
Authors: Shvets Anatoliy , Vershinina Ksenia , Vinogrodskiy Kirill , Kuznetsov Geniy
Published: July 2023

Biomass is a promising resource for the production of renewable energy, liquid fuels, and chemicals. Microwave pyrolysis is one of the directions of multifunctional conversion of raw materials. In the present work, the effect of microwave power on the characteristics of sawdust pyrolysis is studied. With an increase in power, the maximum yield of combustible gases increased, and a large proportion of the total pyrolysis time included the useful time for the release of gases. An increase in power affected the yield of individual gases non-linearly and on a different scale. The average yield of CO and CO2 remained practically unchanged when the microwave power was increased from 840 to 1760 W. However, with a further increase in power to 2200 W, there was a significant increase in the average yield of CO and CO2 (2.5 and 1.4 times, respectively). An increase in power by 2.6 times contributed to an increase in the average yield of CH4 by 5 times and H2 by 3.8 times. The increased power of microwaves contributed to the degassing of wood and intensification of secondary pyrolysis reactions, which resulted in a decrease in the mass of the solid residue by 5.3 times and a decrease in the liquid product yield by 2.7 times. A comprehensive analysis using MCDA showed that an increase in energy costs with an increase in microwave power is integrally compensated by an improvement in pyrolysis performance. So, when the power was varied from 840 W to 2200 W, the pyrolysis efficiency indicator increased by 1.3–2.2 times, considering the growth in energy consumption.
Impact of a Thermally Stratified Energy Source Located in Front of a Pointed Cylinder Aerodynamic Model on the Pressure Signatures and PLdB Effect on the Ground
Authors: Kravchenko O. V. , Azarova O. A. , Knight D. D.
Published: July 2023

The problem of noise reduction in supersonic aircraft design is one of the key problems, the solution of which largely determines the speed of development of supersonic aviation as a whole. The present study examines the noise generation during flights of supersonic civil aircraft. The effect of a thermally stratified energy source (TSS) used to control the supersonic flow past a pointed cylinder aerodynamic model on the near-field and ground pressure signatures, as well as on the perceived loudness in decibels (PLdB) on the ground, is evaluated. The complex conservative difference schemes, Tomas’ waveform parameter method, and Stevens’ algorithm Mark VII are used for near-field modeling, obtaining the ground pressure signature, and the evaluation of the PLdB on the ground, accordingly. The fields of flow parameters and the dynamics of a drag force are researched at the variation of temperatures in layers of TSS and for different numbers of layers. Simulations showed that changing the surface pressure due to drag reduction does not necessarily imply a change in the PLdB on the ground. In particular, it has been shown that when performing the flow control at freestream Mach numbers 1.5–2 using TSSs with the number of layers from 2.5 to 7.5 and rarefaction parameters in the layers from 0.15 to 0.3, some weakening of the bow shock wave in the near-field pressure signature due to the effect of TSS occurs, and no additional noise impact on the ground is introduced.
Playing Football as a Risk Factor for Lower Leg Malalignment?—Comparing Lower Leg Axis of Male Adolescent Football Players and Referees
Authors: Memmel Clemens , Denzlein André , Szymski Dominik , Huber Lorenz , Achenbach Leonard , Gerling Stephan , Alt Volker , Krutsch Werner , Koch Matthias
Published: July 2023

The prevalence of varus knee malalignment among junior and adult football players (FP) has proven to be higher compared to other sports. No causal relationship has yet been found, as genu varum can be assumed to be an independent risk factor for the development of knee osteoarthritis. The purpose of this study is to compare knee alignment measurements and sport-specific data of adolescent football players and referees (REF). Knee alignment was detected by measuring the intercondylar/intermalleolar distance (ICD/IMD) as well as the Hip–Knee–Ankle angle (HKA) using a standardized digital frontal-plane photograph. Anthropometric and sports-related data (training/match exposure, seasons actively played, etc.) were collected by means of questionnaires (Clinical trial registration number: DRKS00020446). A total of 28 male FP and 29 male adolescent REF were included in the survey. The mean age was 17.4 ± 0.7 years. The two groups did not differ significantly in age, height, weight, BMI, and overall football/refereeing exposure per week (FP vs. REF: 274 vs. 285 min/week, p = 0.61). The HKA of the FP was significantly lower (toward varus) than that of the REF (177.6° ± 2.4° vs. 179.0° ± 2.4°; p < 0.001). However, ICD did not significantly differ (FP: 17 ± 25 mm, REF: 13 ± 27 mm; p = 0.55). The football environment with frequent football exposure seems to have an influence on leg axis deviation in FP compared to REF. For prevention of knee osteoarthritis in FP, an advanced understanding of leg axis development in adolescent players is essential and, therefore, needs further research.
Experimental Study of Three-Dimensional Time Domain of Water Evaporation from Goaf
Authors: Cui Chuanbo , Jiao Zhipeng , Zhou Yuying , Jiang Shuguang , Yuan Yanwei , Li Jiangjiang , Song Zhiqiang
Published: July 2023

Previous theories on coal spontaneous combustion (CSC) prevention and control mostly focused on how to improve the CSC-inhibiting effect instead of the failure of the inhibitors. Due to the influence of air leakage in the goaf, the inhibitors and the water in the coal evaporate continuously, thus making the effect of the inhibitors to inhibit coal spontaneous combustion weakened or even null. Due to the complex environment inside the goaf, it is difficult for personnel to enter and collect data such as coal moisture. Therefore, a three-dimensional model of the mining area was built to study the changes in coal moisture inside the goaf under different air leakage conditions. The analysis of the experimental results shows that the larger the air leakage volume is, the faster the moisture evaporates inside the goaf. The moisture of the coal body was reduced from 30% to about 5% in 15, 11 and 7 days when the air leakage was 0.02, 0.03 and 0.04 m3/s, respectively. The law of moisture evaporation at different times and locations in the mining area was also studied and it was found that the evaporation of moisture from the coal body in the mining area was location- and time-dependent.
Correlation between Functional Magnetic Resonance and Symptomatologic Examination in Adult Patients with Myofascial Pain Syndrome of the Masticatory Muscles
Authors: Festa Felice , Lopedote Nicla , Rotelli Chiara , Caulo Massimo , Macrì Monica
Published: July 2023

Myofascial pain syndrome is the most common cause of TMD, characterised by trigger points of skeletal muscles in the masticatory region. Patients with myofascial pain suffer from orofacial pain and headaches. Parafunctional activity such as unconscious teeth clenching predisposes a higher possibility of developing myofascial pain. We report the results of a prospective study of 10 patients with a myofascial pain diagnosis related to TMD who underwent treatment with passive aligners and biofeedback exercise. All patients underwent pain assessment (visual analogic scale and muscular palpation test), measurement of masseters thickness with Dolphin Imaging Software, nuclear magnetic resonance of the temporomandibular joint, and functional nuclear magnetic resonance of the brain before and after gnathological treatment. The same patients underwent pain assessment (VAS and palpation test) for the entire duration of their treatment. This study aimed to assess if the results obtained with the therapy were repeatable using functional magnetic resonance imaging. This enabled us to correlate a subjective datum (pain) to an objective one (variation in the functional connectivity of the networks correlated to pain perception). According to the pain assessment, the treatment considerably reduced the pain in 9 out of 10 patients. Furthermore, the functional nuclear magnetic resonance of the brain showed similar modifications in the cerebral pain and default mode networks in these nine patients. The change in the masseter muscle dimensions was not correlated with the modification of pain. Statistical analysis was performed to evaluate the effects of treatment on VAS and trigger point stimulation and on the length and width of the masseter muscle. Linear regression analysis was used to assess a correlation between the modification of the masseter muscle dimension and the amendment of VAS. A paired t-test was used to evaluate statistically significant differences in the connectivity of brain areas of the DMN and the pain network. Our results suggest that the proper treatment of myofascial pain can reduce pain and consistently modify the functional activation of the cerebral pain and default mode networks. Overall, the treatment was repeatable because brain network changes were homogeneous in all patients and did not relate to the intracapsular TMJ condition but only to pain symptoms.
Experimental Study of the Influence of the Interaction of a Conveyor Belt Support System on Belt Damage Using Video Analysis
Authors: Marasova Daniela , Andrejiova Miriam , Grincova Anna
Published: July 2023

This article describes a method of obtaining data from the examination of an impact process by capturing it with a TroubleShooter TSHRMM high-speed camera and evaluating the results of a video analysis of the impact of the load on a conveyor belt using MiDAS Player version 5.0.0.3. By using the conveyor belt deflection obtained from the video analysis and the visual damage to the conveyor belt from an impactor, damage classification models were created. This model was created for two groups of experiments that took place without the presence of a support system and with the presence of a support system, respectively. The experimental research included monitoring the deflection of the conveyor belt and the degree of damage to the conveyor belt from the selected parameters.
A Low-Cost Laser-Prototyped Microfluidic Device for Separating Cells and Bacteria
Authors: Gucluer Sinan , Guler Osman
Published: July 2023

Simple and rapid fabrication of microfluidic devices can enable widespread implementation of lab-on-chip devices in resource-limited environments. However, currently most of the microfluidic devices are fabricated in cleanroom facilities that are well-funded and not accessible to most of the researchers in developing countries. Herein, a simple, low-cost, and reliable method is shown to fabricate microfluidic devices for separating cells and bacteria-size microparticles. For this purpose, serpentine and spiral microfluidic channels are designed and fabricated using rapid laser prototyping. This single inlet microfluidic device is shown to successfully separate yeast cells and smaller microparticles with an efficiency of 85% which is very promising for many lab-on-chip applications including cell-based diagnostics and therapeutics.
A Study on the Influence Regulation of Surface Integrity on the Corrosion Resistance of Hydrogen Production Reactor Material
Authors: Zhang Shengfang , Leng Zhiyi , Wang Wenzhe , Gu Hongtao , Yin Jian , Wang Ziguang , Liu Yu
Published: July 2023

Corrosion can hurt the quality and service life of a workpiece, which could create potential safety hazards. However, improving the workpiece’s surface integrity through surface treatment could improve the effect of corrosion resistance. To study the effect of surface integrity on the corrosion resistance of low-alloy steel for hydrogen reactors, electrolytic corrosion experiments were carried out on specimens that were processed using different grit sandpapers or using different shot peening pressures using a self-built electrolytic platform. The influence regulation of initial surface roughness and surface residual stress on the corrosion rate of the low-alloy steel for a hydrogen reactor under different lengths of corrosion time, surface roughness after corrosion, and the tensile property degradation of the specimens after 4 h of corrosion were analyzed, respectively. In this paper, based on experimental research, we obtain the influence regulation of the processing parameters on the corrosion resistance of low-alloy steel for hydrogen reactors and provide processing parameters that could improve the corrosion resistance of low-alloy steel, which guides the corrosion resistance processing of hydrogen production reactors. It was found through experiments that with an increase in the initial surface roughness of the specimens, the corrosion rate of the specimen tends to decrease with the increase in corrosion duration; the surface roughness of the specimen after corrosion first increases and then decreases with the increase in corrosion time; and the tensile strength of specimen with the initial surface roughness of Ra 0.168 μm is relative good after 4 h of corrosion. With the increase in residual compressive stress on the surface of the specimen, the corrosion rate of the specimen decreases with the increase in corrosion time; the surface roughness of the specimen after corrosion first increases and then decreases with the increase in corrosion time; and the tensile strength of specimen with the surface residual stress of −335.64 MPa is relative good after 4 h of corrosion.
Characterisation of Geotechnical Properties of Residual Tropical Soils Used for Road Infrastructure: French Guiana Experience
Authors: Nait-Rabah Ouahcène , Germain Flavio , Estevez Yannick , Guiraud James , Medjigbodo Gildas , Dias Daniel , Maalouf Chadi
Published: July 2023

This paper presents the first laboratory study of four materials (three lateritic soils and one sandy soil) mainly used in road construction in French Guiana. The analysis of macroscopic behaviour by physical tests, following French standards, made it possible to classify and group the samples with respect to the rules specified in the Guide des Terrassements Routiers (GTR). According to the GTR, these raw materials could only be used as backfill materials and under very specific hydric conditions. Chemical and mineralogical characterisation by the X-ray fluorescence analysis, scanning electron microscopy observation supplemented by the X-ray microanalysis, and the infrared analysis revealed differences in the main minerals. Indeed, the presence of mineral species such as kaolinite and gibbsite and oxides such as goethite and hematite was detected. The macroscopic and microscopic characteristics of the four soils made it possible to establish a relationship between their geotechnical and mineralogical properties. Finally, the results of this study led to the conclusion that the mineralogical composition and geotechnical properties of lateritic soils must be known simultaneously to allow correct identification for their application in road construction.
Teeth Segmentation in Panoramic Dental X-ray Using Mask Regional Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Rubiu Giulia , Bologna Marco , Cellina Michaela , Cè Maurizio , Sala Davide , Pagani Roberto , Mattavelli Elisa , Fazzini Deborah , Ibba Simona , Papa Sergio , Alì Marco
Published: July 2023

Background and purpose: Accurate instance segmentation of teeth in panoramic dental X-rays is a challenging task due to variations in tooth morphology and overlapping regions. In this study, we propose a new algorithm, for instance, segmentation of the different teeth in panoramic dental X-rays. Methods: An instance segmentation model was trained using the architecture of a Mask Region-based Convolutional Neural Network (Mask-RCNN). The data for the training, validation, and testing were taken from the Tuft dental database (1000 panoramic dental radiographs). The number of the predicted label was 52 (20 deciduous and 32 permanent). The size of the training, validation, and test sets were 760, 190, and 70 images, respectively, and the split was performed randomly. The model was trained for 300 epochs, using a batch size of 10, a base learning rate of 0.001, and a warm-up multistep learning rate scheduler (gamma = 0.1). Data augmentation was performed by changing the brightness, contrast, crop, and image size. The percentage of correctly detected teeth and Dice in the test set were used as the quality metrics for the model. Results: In the test set, the percentage of correctly classified teeth was 98.4%, while the Dice score was 0.87. For both the left mandibular central and lateral incisor permanent teeth, the Dice index result was 0.91 and the accuracy was 100%. For the permanent teeth right mandibular first molar, mandibular second molar, and third molar, the Dice indexes were 0.92, 0.93, and 0.78, respectively, with an accuracy of 100% for all three different teeth. For deciduous teeth, the Dice indexes for the right mandibular lateral incisor, right mandibular canine, and right mandibular first molar were 0.89, 0.91, and 0.85, respectively, with an accuracy of 100%. Conclusions: A successful instance segmentation model for teeth identification in panoramic dental X-ray was developed and validated. This model may help speed up and automate tasks like teeth counting and identifying specific missing teeth, improving the current clinical practice.
Predicting and Evaluating Decoring Behavior of Inorganically Bound Sand Cores, Using XGBoost and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Dobmeier Fabian , Li Rui , Ettemeyer Florian , Mariadass Melvin , Lechner Philipp , Volk Wolfram , Günther Daniel
Published: July 2023

Complex casting parts rely on sand cores that are both high-strength and can be easily decored after casting. Previous works have shown the need to understand the influences on the decoring behavior of inorganically bound sand cores. This work uses black box and explainable machine learning methods to determine the significant influences on the decoring behavior of inorganically bound sand cores based on experimental data. The methods comprise artificial neural networks (ANN), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), and SHapley Additive exPlanations (SHAP). The work formulates five hypotheses, for which the available data were split and preprocessed accordingly. The hypotheses were evaluated by comparing the model scores of the various sub-datasets and the overall model performance. One sand-binder system was chosen as a validation system, which was not included in the training. Robust models were successfully trained to predict the decoring behavior for the given sand-binder systems of the test system but only partially for the validation system. Conclusions on which parameters are the main influences on the model behavior were drawn and compared to phenomenological–heuristical models of previous works.
Evaluation of the Possible Ameliorative Effects of Anemarrhena asphodeloides Extract on Liver Cirrhosis by Combining Biochemical Analysis and Electrical Tissue Conductivity
Authors: Kim Youngsung , Kim Jin Woong , Choi Bup Kyung , Katoch Nitish , Yoon Eun Ju , Kim Jong Seon , Hur Young Hoe , Song Sang Gook , Kim Hyung Joong
Published: July 2023

Anemarrhena asphodeloides extract (AAE) has been used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases and its anti-inflammatory effects have been reported. In this feasibility study, the hepato-protective effect of AAE was evaluated in a rat liver cirrhosis model by a combination of biochemical analysis and electrical tissue conductivity. Liver cirrhosis was induced by dimethylnitrosamine (DMN) injection. A total of 32 Sprague–Dawley rats were divided into four groups such as normal liver, cirrhotic liver, cirrhotic liver with AAE treatment, and cirrhotic liver with lactulose treatment. Effects of AAE were compared with those of lactulose. Cirrhotic liver with both AAE and lactulose treatments showed increased body weight, decreased levels of aspartate aminotransferase and alanine aminotransferase, and increased albumin level compared with cirrhotic liver (p < 0.05). The expression levels of α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) and cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) in immunohistochemical analysis showed reduced fibrosis and inflammatory response in both AAE and lactulose treatments compared with cirrhotic liver (p < 0.05). The levels of AAE treatment were relatively lower than those of lactulose. The western blot analysis of α-SMA and COX-2 protein in both AAE and lactulose treatments was similar to that of normal liver. When comparing electrical conductivity to normal liver, difference in conductivity was 21.2%, 11.5%, and 7.7% in cirrhotic liver, lactulose treatment, and AAE treatment, respectively. These results suggest that the anti-inflammatory effect of AAE may delay or prevent the progress from liver fibrosis to cirrhosis. In summary, a more precise analysis of tissue conditions following the induction of liver cirrhosis was possible by combining electrical tissue conductivity with conventional biochemical analysis.
Global Atmospheric δ13CH4 and CH4 Trends for 2000–2020 from the Atmospheric Transport Model TM5 Using CH4 from Carbon Tracker Europe–CH4 Inversions
Authors: Mannisenaho Vilma , Tsuruta Aki , Backman Leif , Houweling Sander , Segers Arjo , Krol Maarten , Saunois Marielle , Poulter Benjamin , Zhang Zhen , Lan Xin , Dlugokencky Edward J. , Michel Sylvia , White James W. C. , Aalto Tuula
Published: July 2023

This study investigates atmospheric δ13CH4 trends, as produced by a global atmospheric transport model using CH4 inversions from CarbonTracker-Europe CH4 for 2000–2020, and compares them to observations. The CH4 inversions include the grouping of the emissions both by δ13CH4 isotopic signatures and process type to investigate the effect, and to estimate the CH4 magnitudes and model CH4 and δ13CH4 trends. In addition to inversion results, simulations of the global atmospheric transport model were performed with modified emissions. The estimated global CH4 trends for oil and gas were found to increase more than coal compared to the priors from 2000–2006 to 2007–2020. Estimated trends for coal emissions at 30∘ N–60∘ N are less than 50% of those from priors. Estimated global CH4 rice emissions trends are opposite to priors, with the largest contribution from the EQ to 60∘ N. The results of this study indicate that optimizing wetland emissions separately produces better agreement with the observed δ13CH4 trend than optimizing all biogenic emissions simultaneously. This study recommends optimizing separately biogenic emissions with similar isotopic signature to wetland emissions. In addition, this study suggests that fossil-based emissions were overestimated by 9% after 2012 and biogenic emissions are underestimated by 8% in the inversion using EDGAR v6.0 as priors.
Automation Radiomics in Predicting Radiation Pneumonitis (RP)
Authors: Raptis Sotiris , Softa Vasiliki , Angelidis Georgios , Ilioudis Christos , Theodorou Kiki
Published: July 2023

Radiomics has shown great promise in predicting various diseases. Researchers have previously attempted to include radiomics in their automated detection, diagnosis, and segmentation algorithms, taking these steps based on the promising outcomes of radiomics-based studies. As a result of the increased attention given to this topic, numerous institutions have developed their own radiomics software. These packages, on the other hand, have been utilized interchangeably without regard for their fundamental differences. The primary purpose of this study was to explore benefits of predictive model performance for radiation pneumonitis (RP), which is the most frequent side effect of chest radiotherapy, and through this work, we developed a radiomics model based on deep learning that intends to increase RP prediction performance by combining more data points and digging deeper into these data. In order to evaluate the most popular machine learning models, radiographic characteristics were used, and we recorded the most important of them. The high dimensionality of radiomic datasets is a major issue. The method proposed for use in data problems is the synthetic minority oversampling technique, which we used in order to create a balanced dataset by leveraging suitable hardware and open-source software. The present study assessed the efficacy of various machine learning models, including logistic regression (LR), support vector machine (SVM), random forest (RF), and deep neural network (DNN), in predicting radiation pneumonitis by utilizing specific radiomics features. The findings of the study indicate that the four models displayed satisfactory efficacy in forecasting radiation pneumonitis. The DNN model demonstrated the highest area under the receiver operating curve (AUC-ROC) value, which was 0.87, suggesting its superior predictive capacity among the models considered. The AUC-ROC values for the random forest, SVM, and logistic regression models were 0.85, 0.83, and 0.81, respectively.
Information-Theoretic Approaches in EEG Correlates of Auditory Perceptual Awareness under Informational Masking
Authors: Veyrié Alexandre , Noreña Arnaud , Sarrazin Jean-Christophe , Pezard Laurent
Published: July 2023

In informational masking paradigms, the successful segregation between the target and masker creates auditory perceptual awareness. The dynamics of the build-up of auditory perception is based on a set of interactions between bottom–up and top–down processes that generate neuronal modifications within the brain network activity. These neural changes are studied here using event-related potentials (ERPs), entropy, and integrated information, leading to several measures applied to electroencephalogram signals. The main findings show that the auditory perceptual awareness stimulated functional activation in the fronto-temporo-parietal brain network through (i) negative temporal and positive centro-parietal ERP components; (ii) an enhanced processing of multi-information in the temporal cortex; and (iii) an increase in informational content in the fronto-central cortex. These different results provide information-based experimental evidence about the functional activation of the fronto-temporo-parietal brain network during auditory perceptual awareness.