bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Adolescents' perceptions and user experiences with a virtual reality-based alcohol prevention tool in Germany: A focus group study
Authors: Hrynyschyn Robert , Prediger Christina , Lyk Patricia , Majgaard Gunver , Helmer Stefanie Maria , Stock Christiane
Published: March 2023

Background

Excessive alcohol consumption is a major public health problem, with substance use early in life contributing to higher levels of use later in life. Virtual reality (VR) is an innovative technology for alcohol prevention among adolescents that could solve the problem of insufficient outreach to the target group of young people. The co-created German Virtual LimitLab simulation is one of the few examples of VR-based alcohol prevention tools and consists of a virtual house party simulation. The aims of Virtual LimitLab are to increase the users' awareness of how social pressure can influence their own decision-making as well as to enable various actions and communication strategies in order to train competencies when dealing with alcohol. The present study thus aims to explore adolescents' content- and technique-specific perceptions of Virtual LimitLab in order to gain insights into user experiences and to test the prototype with the German target group.

Methods

Four semi-structured focus groups with adolescents aged 15–18 years (n = 13) were conducted and analyzed using thematic analyses. A user experience questionnaire (UEQ–S) was applied in order to quantitatively assess adolescents' satisfaction with Virtual LimitLab.

Results

Three main themes were identified (VR experience, content, and technical aspects). Participants positively assessed both the content and the technical aspects of Virtual LimitLab. This trend was also seen by the UEQ–S data, which yielded positive ratings for both pragmatic and hedonic quality. The broad variety of options in the simulation that allow the user to try new behaviors was perceived particularly positively. In general, Virtual LimitLab was regarded as an innovative tool that encourages adolescents to think critically about their personal alcohol consumption. Technical errors in the simulation and users' difficulties in identifying with the simulation were the main points of criticism.

Conclusions

Feedback from adolescent users revealed positive and therefore promising results when using Virtual LimitLab as a gaming alcohol-prevention tool. Some technical aspects still need to be improved in order to further refine the prototype, and suggestions for expanding the content of the application have already been made.
Associations of brominated flame retardants exposure with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: A US population-based cross-sectional analysis
Authors: Han Lu , Wang Qi
Published: March 2023

Backgrounds

Whether there existed an association between brominated flame retardants (BFRs) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) prevalence in humans is still a mystery.

Objective

To investigate the association between serum single or mixture BFRs and COPD prevalence.

Methods

Data of 7,591 participants from NHANES 2007–2016 was utilized. Serum BFRs, including PBDE-28, PBDE-47, PBDE-85, PBDE-99, PBDE-100, PBDE-154, PBDE-183, PBDE-209, and PBB-153 were enrolled. The survey-weighted generalized logistic regression model, restricted cubic splines (RCS), weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression, and quantile-based g-computation (QGC) analysis were performed.

Results

After adjustment for all confounding factors, log-transformed continuous serum PBDE-28 (OR: 1.43; 95% CI: 1.10–1.85; P = 0.01), PBDE-47 (OR: 1.39; 95% CI: 1.11–1.75; P = 0.005), PBDE-85 (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.09–1.57; P = 0.005), PBDE-99 (OR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.05–1.54; P = 0.02), PBDE-100 (OR: 1.33; 95% CI: 1.08–1.66; P = 0.01), PBDE-154 (OR: 1.29; 95% CI: 1.07–1.55; P = 0.01), PBDE-183 (OR: 1.31; 95% CI: 1.04–1.66; P = 0.02), and PBB-153 (OR: 1.25; 95% CI: 1.03–1.53; P = 0.03) were positively correlated with the prevalence of COPD. Restricted cubic splines curves displayed that PBDE-209 was significantly associated with CPOD in an inverted U-shape (P = 0.03). A significant interaction between being male and a high prevalence of COPD was observed for PBDE-28 (P for interaction <0.05), PBDE-47 (P for interaction <0.05), PBDE-85 (P for interaction <0.05), PBDE-99 (P for interaction <0.05), PBDE-100 (P for interaction <0.05), and PBB-153 (P for interaction < 0.05). Mixture BFRs exposure was positively associated with COPD prevalence in WQS regression (OR: 1.40; 95% CI: 1.14–1.72, P = 0.002) and in QGC analysis (OR: 1.49; 95% CI: 1.27–1.74, P < 0.001).

Conclusions

Our study confirms that individual and mixture BFRs had positive associations with COPD, and further studies are required in larger-scale populations.
Acellular dermal matrix in reconstructive surgery: Applications, benefits, and cost
Authors: Mohammadyari Fatemeh , Parvin Sadaf , Khorvash Mohsen , Amini Amirhasan , Behzadi Amirhossein , HajEbrahimi Reyhaneh , Kasaei Fatemeh , Olangian-Tehrani Sepehr
Published: March 2023

Modern tissue engineering has made substantial advancements that have revolutionized plastic surgery. Acellular dermal matrix (ADM) is an example that has gained considerable attention recently. ADM can be made from humans, bovines, or porcine tissues. ADM acts as a scaffold that incorporates into the recipient tissue. It is gradually infiltrated by fibroblasts and vascularized. Fortunately, many techniques have been used to remove cellular and antigenic components from ADM to minimize immune system rejection. ADM is made of collagen, fibronectin, elastin, laminin, glycosaminoglycans, and hyaluronic acid. It is used in critical wounds (e.g., diabetic wounds) to protect soft tissue and accelerate wound healing. It is also used in implant-based breast reconstruction surgery to improve aesthetic outcomes and reduce capsule contracture risk. ADM has also gained attention in abdominal and chest wall defects. Some studies have shown that ADM is associated with less erosion and infection in abdominal hernias than synthetic meshes. However, its higher cost prevents it from being commonly used in hernia repair. Also, using ADM in tendon repair (e.g., Achilles tendon) has been associated with increased stability and reduced rejection rate. Despite its advantages, ADM might result in complications such as hematoma, seroma, necrosis, and infection. Moreover, ADM is expensive, making it an unsuitable option for many patients. Finally, the literature on ADM is insufficient, and more research on the results of ADM usage in surgeries is needed. This article aims to review the literature regarding the application, Benefits, and costs of ADM in reconstructive surgery.
A novel reverse transcription recombinase polymerase amplification assay for rapid detection of GI.1 genotype of rabbit hemorrhagic disease virus
Authors: Zhang Lianzhi , Zhao Qiaoya , Tian Ye , Tang Yi , Wang Yixin , Huang Bing
Published: March 2023

Rabbit Viral Hemorrhagic Disease (RHD) is a highly contagious and fatal infection, resulting in considerable economic losses to the rabbit industry. Consequently, it is essential to develop a fast and accurate diagnostic method for RHDV GI.1. In this study, a rapid simple reverse transcriptase recombinase polymerase amplification (RTRPA) for RHDV GI.1 was successfully developed using specific primers to RHDV GI.1 VP60 gene. Results indicated that the entire amplification process could be achieved in an isothermal condition at 40°C for 30 minutes, with good specificity and no reaction to other common rabbit disease pathogens, and a high sensitivity of upto 0.1LD50 of RHDV GI.1. Then, RT-RPA method was used to detect 1144 clinical samples, and the positive rates were 0.95%, 1.29% and 2.50% in Zaozhuang, Linyi, and Liaocheng in Shandong Province, respectively (the Fisher's exact test, P = 0.413), suggesting that there is no significant difference in RHDV GI.1 infection among the different regions. In conclusion, this study established a RT-RPA assay which is suitable for quick detection and monitoring of RHDV GI.1, thus making it a viable option for epidemiological surveillance.
Analysis of Rollover Characteristics of a 12 kW Automatic Onion Transplanter to Reduce Stability Hazards
Authors: Chowdhury Milon , Ali Mohammod , Habineza Eliezel , Reza Md Nasim , Kabir Md Shaha Nur , Lim Seung-Jin , Choi Il-Su , Chung Sun-Ok
Published: March 2023

The rollover tendency of upland farm machinery needs to be carefully considered because upland crop fields are typically irregular, and accidents frequently result in injuries and even death to the operators. In this study, the rollover characteristics of an underdeveloped 12 kW automatic onion transplanter were determined theoretically and evaluated through simulation and validation tests considering the mounting position of the transplanting unit and load conditions. The center of gravity (CG) coordinates for different mass distributions, and static and dynamic rollover angles were calculated theoretically. Simulation and validation tests were conducted to assess the static rollover angle under different mounting positions of the transplanting unit and load conditions of the onion transplanter. The dynamic rollover tendency was evaluated by operating the onion transplanter on different surfaces and at different speeds. According to the physical properties and mass of the onion transplanter, the theoretical rollover angle was 34.5°, and the coordinates of the CG gradually moved back to the rear wheel axle after attaching the transplanting part and under upward riding conditions. The average simulated rollover angle was 43.9°. A turning difference of 4.5° was observed between the right and left sides, where a 3° angle difference occurred due to the load variation. During the dynamic stability test, angle variations of 2~4° and 3~6° were recorded for both high and low driving speeds in the vehicle platform and transplanting unit, respectively. The overturning angles also satisfied the ISO standard. This study provides helpful information for ensuring the safety of upland crop machinery operating under rough and sloped field conditions.
Mineralization and Fixed Stable Carbon Isotopic Characteristics of Organic Carbon in Cotton Fields with Different Continuous Cropping Years
Authors: Ma Xinyu , Gong Lu , Yang Yuxin , Ding Zhaolong , Li Xinzhu
Published: March 2023

The oasis carbon pool in arid zones is an important part of the global carbon pool. There is a soil organic carbon (SOC)–soil–CO2–soil inorganic carbon (SIC) balanced system in the soil, which facilitates the change from soil organic carbon to soil inorganic carbon. A small change in the soil carbon pool can affect the overall global carbon balance, thus affecting the conversion of soil carbon in terrestrial ecosystems. In this study, the change from soil organic carbon to soil inorganic carbon (SIC) was obtained by measuring the δ13C values of SIC and CO2 in combination with stable carbon isotope techniques in cotton fields with different continuous cropping years, in the Alar Reclamation Area. Additionally, this was combined with redundancy analysis to reveal the effects of different physicochemical factors on the change amount. The results showed that the soil inorganic carbon content along the soil profile showed an increasing trend, while the soil organic carbon content was the opposite; the δ13C of SIC in the 0–20 and 60–80 cm soil layers were the highest in the 10a continuous cotton field soil, which were −22.24 and −21.86‰, respectively, and significantly different to other types (p < 0.05). The fixed carbon values in the barren, 5a, 10a, 20a, and 30a continuous cotton fields were 0.53, 0.17, 0.11, 0.13 and 0.33 g·kg−1, respectively; the corresponding amounts of CO2 fixed from soil respiration were 0.33, 0.11, 0.08, 0.05, and 0.25 g·kg−1; the amounts of CO2 from the atmosphere were 0.20, 0.06, 0.03, 0.02, and 0.09 g·kg−1; and the oxidative decomposition of CO2 by SOC were 0.17, 0.06, 0.04, 0.26, and 0.12 g·kg−1, respectively, indicating that the contribution of SOC was more in the barren field and 30a cotton field. Comparing the sources of fixed CO2, we found that the amount of fixed soil from barren fields and 30a was high from atmospheric CO2, while the contribution of SOC was low. Furthermore, the amount of fixed CO2 of 20a from SOC was high, and the atmospheric contribution was low. The main physicochemical factors that affecting the amount of soil SOC changed to SIC were soil water content, readily available carbon dioxide, and microbial biomass carbon.
Comparative Analysis of Root Transcriptome of High-NUE Mutant and Wild-Type Barley under Low-Nitrogen Conditions
Authors: Gao Runhong , Zhou Longhua , Guo Guimei , Li Yingbo , Chen Zhiwei , Lu Ruiju , Liu Chenghong , Chen Jianmin
Published: March 2023

Although nitrogen (N) deficiency greatly affects N absorption and metabolism in barley, the global transcriptomic changes in morphological and physiological adaptation to altered N availability remains largely unclear. We conducted a comparative transcriptome analysis of roots in A9-29 (low N tolerant line of barley) and Hua 30 (low N-sensitive variety of barley) under low N conditions to elucidate the responses and the underlying molecular mechanism. The results demonstrated that the root architecture was strongly influenced and that the root morphological indexes (total root length, total root area surface, and root volume) were remarkably promoted in A9-29 compared to Hua30 under low N stress. The transcriptome analysis of roots identified 1779 upregulated differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and 1487 downregulated DEGs specifically expressed in A9-29 under low N stress. Specific DEGs in A9-29 were largely enriched in energy metabolism, lipid metabolism, and the metabolism of other amino acids. In addition, transcription factor genes ERFs and IAA-related genes were specifically expressed in A9-29. To conclude, this study could provide a foundation for improving low N tolerance in barley.
Estimation of Carbon Stocks and Stabilization Rates of Organic Matter in Soils of the «Ladoga» Carbon Monitoring Site
Authors: Polyakov Vyacheslav , Abakumov Evgeny , Nizamutdinov Timur , Shevchenko Evgeny , Makarova Maria
Published: March 2023

The establishment of a network of monitoring sites (term in Russian—«carbon polygons») for monitoring climatic processes as well as the emission and deposition of carbon compounds in various ecosystems is one of the priority tasks in the field of climate and biosphere conservation in the world. This paper presents the results of the study of the soil sections of the «Ladoga» carbon monitoring site. Folic Podzol (Arenic) and Fibric Histosol were considered. These soils are widely represented in the southern taiga subzone and can be used as benchmark monitoring soil sections. As a result of the analysis of chemical parameters, it was revealed that Fibric Histosol and Folic Podzol (Arenic) are characterized by an acidic reaction of pH, pronounced podsolization, and peat accumulation. Fibric Histosol stores a significant amount of soil organic matter (SOM) up to 42.95 kgC/m2. In the analysis of the molecular composition of humic acids (HAs) extracted from the studied soils, it was found that HAs from Fibric Histosol were characterized by a relatively high content of aromatic structural fragments (27–41%), while in Folic Podzol (Arenic), aliphatic structural fragments prevailed (up to 70%). The increase of aromatic structural fragments in the HAs composition indicates the stabilization and conservation of SOM. The creation of a monitoring network will make it possible to identify the main trends of SOM accumulation, determine the conditions under which accumulation occurs, and calculate its contribution to climate change on the planet.
Using Geospatial Information to Map Yield Gain from the Use of Azospirillum brasilense in Furrow
Authors: Martins George Deroco , Xavier Laura Cristina Moura , de Oliveira Guilherme Pereira , de Lourdes Bueno Trindade Gallo Maria , de Abreu Júnior Carlos Alberto Matias , Vieira Bruno Sérgio , Marques Douglas José , da Silva Filipe Vieira
Published: March 2023

The application of biological products in agricultural crops has become increasingly prominent. The growth-promoting bacterium Azospirillum brasilense has been used as an alternative to promote greater yield in maize crops. In the context of precision agriculture, interpreting geospatial data has allowed for monitoring the effect of the application of products that increase the yield of corn crops. The objective of this work was to evaluate the potential of Kriging techniques and spectral models through images in estimating the gain in yield of maize crop after applying A. brasilense. Analyses were carried out in two commercial areas treated with A. brasilense. The results revealed that models of yield prediction by Kriging with a high volume of training data estimated the yield gain with a root-mean-square error deviation (RMSE%), mean absolute percentage error (MAPE%), and R2 to be 6.67, 5.42, and 0.88, respectively. For spectral models with a low volume of training data, yield gain was estimated with RMSE%, MAPE%, and R2 to be 9.3, 7.71, and 0.80, respectively. The results demonstrate the potential to map the spatial distribution of productivity gains in corn crops following the application of A. brasilense.
Genetic Diversity of Global Faba Bean Germplasm Resources Based on the 130K TNGS Genotyping Platform
Authors: Zhang Hongyan , Liu Yujiao , Zong Xuxiao , Teng Changcai , Hou Wanwei , Li Ping , Du Dezhi
Published: March 2023

Novel germplasm resources are the key to crop breeding, with their genetic diversity and population structure analysis being highly significant for future faba bean breeding. We genotyped 410 global faba bean accessions using the 130K targeted next-generation sequencing (TNGS) genotyping platform, resulting in a total of 38,111 high-quality SNP loci by high-standard filtering. We found the polymorphism information content (PIC) and Nei’s gene diversity were 0.0905–0.3750 and 0.0950–0.5000, with averages of 0.2471 and 0.3035, respectively. After evaluating the genetic diversity of 410 accessions using Nei’s gene diversity and PIC, on the basis of their geographical origin (continent) and structure-analysis-inferred subpopulations, we found that the faba bean accessions from Asia (except China) and Europe had rich genetic diversity, while those from the winter sowing area of China were low. The 410 faba bean accessions were divided into four subpopulations according to population structure analysis and clustering analysis based on Nei’s (1972) genetic distance using the neighbor-joining (NJ) method. However, the same subpopulation contained materials from different geographical origins, thereby indicating that the gene flow or introgression occurred among the accessions. Results from NJ clustering based on shared allele genetic distance indicated that the 410 accessions were divided into three groups according to their dissemination routes. The genetic diversity analysis results demonstrated that the genetic relationships among the faba bean groups with similar ecological environments and geographic origins in neighboring regions or countries were closer and frequently found within the same group, while genetic variation among individuals was the main source of their total genetic variation.
Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum, Its Root-Associated Microorganisms, and Wood Chips Represent an Integrated Green Technology for the Remediation of Petroleum Hydrocarbon-Contaminated Soils
Authors: Mandaresu Melinda , Dessì Ludovica , Lallai Andrea , Porceddu Marco , Boi Maria Enrica , Bacchetta Gianluigi , Pivetta Tiziana , Lussu Raffaela , Ardu Riccardo , Pinna Marika , Meloni Federico , Sanjust Enrico , Tamburini Elena
Published: March 2023

Phytoremediation and the use of suitable amendments are well-known technologies for the mitigation of petroleum hydrocarbon (PHC) contaminations in terrestrial ecosystems. Our study is aimed at combining these two approaches to maximize their favorable effects. To this purpose, Helichrysum microphyllum subsp. tyrrhenicum, a Mediterranean shrub growing on sandy and semiarid soils, was selected. The weathered PHC-polluted matrix (3.3 ± 0.8 g kg−1 dry weight) from a disused industrial site was employed as the cultivation substrate with (WCAM) or without (UNAM) the addition and mixing of wood chips. Under the greenhouse conditions, the species showed a survival rate higher than 90% in the UNAM while the amendment administration restored the totality of the plant survival. At the end of the greenhouse test (nine months), the treatment with the wood chips significantly increased the moisture, dehydrogenase activity and abundance of the microbial populations of the PHC degraders in the substrate. Cogently, the residual amount of PHCs was significantly lower in the UNAM (3–92% of the initial quantity) than in the WCAM (3–14% of the initial quantity). Moreover, the crown diameter was significantly higher in the WCAM plants. Overall, the results establish the combined technology as a novel approach for landscaping and the bioremediation of sites chronically injured by PHC-weathered contaminations.
Antimicrobial Peptides Designed against the Ω-Loop of Class A β-Lactamases to Potentiate the Efficacy of β-Lactam Antibiotics
Authors: Biswal Sarmistha , Caetano Karina , Jain Diamond , Sarrila Anusha , Munshi Tulika , Dickman Rachael , Tabor Alethea , Rath Surya , Bhakta Sanjib , Ghosh Anindya
Published: March 2023

Class A serine β-lactamases (SBLs) have a conserved non-active site structural domain called the omega loop (Ω-loop), in which a glutamic acid residue is believed to be directly involved in the hydrolysis of β-lactam antibiotics by providing a water molecule during catalysis. We aimed to design and characterise potential pentapeptides to mask the function of the Ω-loop of β-lactamases and reduce their efficacy, along with potentiating the β-lactam antibiotics and eventually decreasing β-lactam resistance. Considering the Ω-loop sequence as a template, a group of pentapeptide models were designed, validated through docking, and synthesised using solid-phase peptide synthesis (SPPS). To check whether the β-lactamases (BLAs) were inhibited, we expressed specific BLAs (TEM-1 and SHV-14) and evaluated the trans-expression through a broth dilution method and an agar dilution method (HT-SPOTi). To further support our claim, we conducted a kinetic analysis of BLAs with the peptides and employed molecular dynamics (MD) simulations of peptides. The individual presence of six histidine-based peptides (TSHLH, ETHIH, ESRLH, ESHIH, ESRIH, and TYHLH) reduced β-lactam resistance in the strains harbouring BLAs. Subsequently, we found that the combinational effect of these peptides and β-lactams sensitised the bacteria towards the β-lactam drugs. We hypothesize that the antimicrobial peptides obtained might be considered among the novel inhibitors that can be used specifically against the Ω-loop of the β-lactamases.
Loss of Peroxiredoxin IV Protects Mice from Azoxymethane/Dextran Sulfate Sodium-Induced Colorectal Cancer Development
Authors: Thapa Pratik , Jiang Hong , Ding Na , Hao Yanning , Alshahrani Aziza , Lee Eun Y. , Fujii Junichi , Wei Qiou
Published: March 2023

Peroxiredoxin IV (Prx4), a typical two-cysteine-containing member of the peroxidase family, functions as an antioxidant to maintain cellular redox homeostasis through the reduction of reactive oxygen species (ROS) via cycles of oxidation–reduction reactions. Under oxidative stress, all Prxs including Prx4 are inactivated as their catalytic cysteines undergo hyperoxidation, and hyperoxidized two-cysteine Prxs can be exclusively repaired and revitalized through the reduction cycle catalyzed by sulfiredoxin (Srx). Previously, we showed that Prx4 is a preferred substrate of Srx, and knockout of Srx in mice leads to resistance to azoxymethane/dextran sulfate sodium (AOM/DSS)-induced colon carcinogenesis. To further understand the significance of the Srx/Prx4 axis in colorectal cancer development, Prx4−/− mice were established and subjected to standard AOM/DSS protocol. Compared with wildtype littermates, mice with Prx4−/− genotype had significantly fewer and smaller tumors. Histopathological analysis revealed that loss of Prx4 leads to increased cell death through lipid peroxidation and lower infiltration of inflammatory cells in the knockout tumors compared to wildtype. Treatment with DSS alone also showed decreased infiltration of macrophages and lymphocytes in the colon of knockout mice, suggesting a role for Prx4 in inflammatory response. In addition, loss of Prx4 caused alterations in plasma cytokines and chemokines after DSS and AOM/DSS treatments. These findings suggest that loss of Prx4 protects mice from AOM/DSS-induced colon tumorigenesis. Thus, targeting Prx4 may provide novel strategies for colon cancer prevention and treatment.
Analytical and Numerical Study of the Axial Stiffness of Fiber-Reinforced Elastomeric Isolators (FREIs) under Combined Axial and Shear Loads
Authors: Galano Simone , Calabrese Andrea
Published: March 2023

Fiber-reinforced elastomeric isolators (FREIs) are rubber-based seismic devices introduced as a low-cost alternative to steel-reinforced elastomeric isolators (SREIs). They are generally used in unbonded applications, i.e., friction is used to transfer the lateral loads from the upper to the lower structure. Under combined axial and shear loads, the lateral edges of the unbonded bearings detach from the top and bottom supports resulting in a rollover deformation. Due to increasing horizontal displacement, the overlap area of the bearing decreases; thus, the vertical properties of the device are a function of the imposed lateral deformation. This paper introduces a closed-form solution to derive the vertical stiffness of the bearings as a function of the horizontal displacement. The variations of the vertical stiffness and of the effective compressive modulus of square-shaped FREIs are given in this work. The analytical results are then validated through a comparison with the outputs of a parametric finite element analysis of FREIs, including different mechanical and geometric parameters.
A Simple and Low-Cost Technique for 5G Conservative Human Exposure Assessment
Authors: Schettino Fulvio , Chirico Gaetano , D’Elia Ciro , Lucido Mario , Pinchera Daniele , Migliore Marco Donald
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this paper is to introduce a simple, low-cost methodology for estimating a conservative value of the maximum field level that can be radiated by a 5G base station useful for human exposure assessment. The method is based on a Maximum Power Extrapolation (MPE) approach and requires the measurement of a reference quantity associated with the SS-PBCH, such as Primary Synchronization Signal (PSS), Secondary Synchronization Signal (SSS), Physical Broadcast CHannel (PBCH), or PBCH Demodulation Reference Signal (PBCH-DMRS). This step requires a simple spectrum analyzer and allows one to obtain the Resource Element (RE) power of a signal transmitted through broadcast beams. In the second phase, the RE power of the signal transmitted through the traffic beam is estimated using the Cumulative Distribution Function (CDF) of the antenna boost factor obtained from the broadcast and the traffic envelope radiation patterns made available by the base station vendor. The use of the CDF allows us to mitigate the problems related to the exact estimation of the direction of the measurement point with respect to the beam of the 5G antenna. The method is applied to a real 5G communication system, and the result is compared with the value given by other MPE methods proposed in the literature.
AWEncoder: Adversarial Watermarking Pre-Trained Encoders in Contrastive Learning
Authors: Zhang Tianxing , Wu Hanzhou , Lu Xiaofeng , Han Gengle , Sun Guangling
Published: March 2023

As a self-supervised learning paradigm, contrastive learning has been widely used to pre-train a powerful encoder as an effective feature extractor for various downstream tasks. This process requires numerous unlabeled training data and computational resources, which makes the pre-trained encoder become the valuable intellectual property of the owner. However, the lack of a priori knowledge of downstream tasks makes it non-trivial to protect the intellectual property of the pre-trained encoder by applying conventional watermarking methods. To deal with this problem, in this paper, we introduce AWEncoder, an adversarial method for watermarking the pre-trained encoder in contrastive learning. First, as an adversarial perturbation, the watermark is generated by enforcing the training samples to be marked to deviate respective location and surround a randomly selected key image in the embedding space. Then, the watermark is embedded into the pre-trained encoder by further optimizing a joint loss function. As a result, the watermarked encoder not only performs very well for downstream tasks, but also enables us to verify its ownership by analyzing the discrepancy of output provided using the encoder as the backbone under both white-box and black-box conditions. Extensive experiments demonstrate that the proposed work enjoys quite good effectiveness and robustness on different contrastive learning algorithms and downstream tasks, which has verified the superiority and applicability of the proposed work.
Quality Assessment of Banana Ripening Stages by Combining Analytical Methods and Image Analysis
Authors: Sinanoglou Vassilia J. , Tsiaka Thalia , Aouant Konstantinos , Mouka Elizabeth , Ladika Georgia , Kritsi Eftichia , Konteles Spyros J. , Ioannou Alexandros-George , Zoumpoulakis Panagiotis , Strati Irini F. , Cavouras Dionisis
Published: March 2023

Currently, the evaluation of fruit ripening progress in relation to physicochemical and texture-quality parameters has become an increasingly important issue, particularly when considering consumer acceptance. Therefore, the purpose of the present study was the application of rapid, nondestructive, and conventional methods to assess the quality of banana peels and flesh in terms of ripening and during storage in controlled temperatures and humidity. For this purpose, we implemented various analytical techniques, such as attenuated total reflection-Fourier transform infrared (ATR-FTIR) spectroscopy for texture, colorimetrics, and physicochemical features, along with image-analysis methods and discriminant as well as statistical analysis. Image-analysis outcomes showed that storage provoked significant degradation of banana peels based on the increased image-texture dissimilarity and the loss of the structural order of the texture. In addition, the computed features were sufficient to discriminate four ripening stages with high accuracy. Moreover, the results revealed that storage led to significant changes in the color parameters and dramatic decreases in the texture attributes of banana flesh. The combination of image and chemical analyses pinpointed that storage caused water migration to the flesh and significant starch decomposition, which was then converted into soluble sugars. The redness and yellowness of the peel; the flesh moisture content; the texture attributes; Brix; and the storage time were all strongly interrelated. The combination of these techniques, coupled with statistical tools, to monitor the physicochemical and organoleptic quality of bananas during storage could be further applied for assessing the quality of other fruits and vegetables under similar conditions.
Exploring the Influencing Factors on User Experience in Robot-Assisted Health Monitoring Systems Combining Subjective and Objective Health Data
Authors: Neef Caterina , Linden Katharina , Richert Anja
Published: March 2023

As the population ages, the demand for care for older adults is increasing. To maintain their independence and autonomy, even with declining health, assistive technologies such as connected medical devices or social robots can be useful. In previous work, we introduced a novel health monitoring system that combines commercially available products with apps designed specifically for older adults. The system is intended for the long-term collection of subjective and objective health data. In this work, we present an exploratory user experience (UX) and usability study we conducted with older adults as the target group of the system and with younger expert users who tested our system. All participants interacted with a social robot conducting a health assessment and tested sensing devices and an app for data visualization. The UX and usability of the individual components of the system were rated highly in questionnaires in all sessions. All participants also said they would use such a system in their everyday lives, demonstrating the potential of these systems for self-managing users’ health. Finally, we found factors such as previous experience with social robots and technological expertise to have an influence on the reported UX of the users.
Joint Syntax-Enhanced and Topic-Driven Graph Networks for Emotion Recognition in Multi-Speaker Conversations
Authors: Yu Hui , Ma Tinghuai , Jia Li , Al-Nabhan Najla , Wahab M. M. Abdel
Published: March 2023

Daily conversations contain rich emotional information, and identifying this emotional information has become a hot task in the field of natural language processing. The traditional dialogue sentiment analysis method studies one-to-one dialogues and cannot be effectively applied to multi-speaker dialogues. This paper focuses on the relationship between participants in a multi-speaker conversation and analyzes the influence of each speaker on the emotion of the whole conversation. We summarize the challenges of emotion recognition work in multi-speaker dialogue, focusing on the context-topic switching problem caused by multi-speaker dialogue due to its free flow of topics. For this challenge, this paper proposes a graph network that combines syntactic structure and topic information. A syntax module is designed to convert sentences into graphs, using edges to represent dependencies between words, solving the colloquial problem of daily conversations. We use graph convolutional networks to extract the implicit meaning of discourse. In addition, we focus on the impact of topic information on sentiment, so we design a topic module to optimize the topic extraction and classification of sentences by VAE. Then, we use the combination of attention mechanism and syntactic structure to strengthen the model’s ability to analyze sentences. In addition, the topic segmentation technology is adopted to solve the long-term dependencies problem, and a heterogeneous graph is used to model the dialogue. The nodes of the graph combine speaker information and utterance information. Aiming at the interaction relationship between the subject and the object of the dialogue, different edge types are used to represent different interaction relationships, and different weights are assigned to them. The experimental results of our work on multiple public datasets show that the new model outperforms several other alternative methods in sentiment label classification results. In the multi-person dialogue dataset, the classification accuracy is increased by more than 4%, which verifies the effectiveness of constructing heterogeneous dialogue graphs.
Investigation of Heavy-Duty Vehicle Chassis Dynamometer Fuel Consumption and CO2 Emissions Based on a Binning-Reconstruction Model Using Real-Road Data
Authors: Ren Shuojin , Li Tengteng , Li Gang , Liu Xiaofei , Liu Haoye , Wang Xiaowei , Gao Dongzhi , Liu Zhiwei
Published: March 2023

Global warming is directly related to heavy-duty vehicle fuel consumption and greenhouse gas (CO2 mainly) emissions, which, in China, are certified on the vehicle chassis dynamometer. Currently, vast amounts of vehicle real-road data from the portable emission measurement system (PEMS) and remote monitoring are being collected worldwide. In this study, a binning-reconstruction calculation model is proposed, to predict the chassis dynamometer fuel consumption and CO2 emissions with real-road data, regardless of operating conditions. The model is validated against chassis dynamometer and PEMS test results, and remote monitoring data. Furthermore, based on the proposed model, the fuel consumption levels of 1408 heavy-duty vehicles in China are analyzed, to evaluate the challenge to meet the upcoming China fourth stage fuel consumption limits. For accumulated fuel consumption based on the on-board diagnostic (OBD) data stream, a predictive relative error less than 5% is expected for the present model. For bag sampling results, the proposed model’s accuracy is expected to be within 10%. The average relative errors between the average fuel consumption and the China fourth stage limits are about 3%, 8%, and 0.7%, for current trucks, tractors, and dump trucks, respectively. The urban operating condition, with lower vehicle speeds, is the main challenge for fuel consumption optimization.
How Rare Are Argonautoidea Octopuses in the Mediterranean? New Data from Stranding Events, Stomach Contents and Genetics
Authors: Battaglia Pietro , Pedà Cristina , Rizzo Carmen , Stipa Maria Giulia , Arcadi Erika , Longo Francesco , Ammendolia Giovanni , Cavallaro Mauro , Rao Ignazio , Villari Alberto , Calogero Rosario , Consoli Pierpaolo , Sinopoli Mauro , Andaloro Franco , Romeo Teresa
Published: March 2023

The present paper represents the first all-encompassing study on all Mediterranean holopelagic octopods belonging to Argonautoidea (Argonauta argo, Ocythoe tuberculata, Tremoctopus gracilis, Tremoctopus violaceus). Argonautoidea octopuses were collected by different sampling methods in the Strait of Messina and southern Tyrrhenian Sea. The aim of this paper was to improve knowledge, using information from different data sources, such as the study of stranded individuals or accidental caught specimens, as well as the analysis of stomach content of large pelagic fishes. Moreover, we investigated their taxonomic profile through the amplification of the mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I (COI). Overall, 47 fresh holopelagic octopods were collected, including valuable records of rare males. Moreover, 330 Argonautoidea octopuses were found in the stomachs of 800 predators. The results provided evidence that these cephalopods are more abundant than thought in the past. The molecular approach supported the ecological results with interesting insights. The similarity-based identifications and tree-based methods indicated that three females could be identified as Tremoctopus violaceus in agreement with their morphological classifications. The sequences obtained from the two T. gracilis individuals were clustered with the sequences of Tremoctopus violaceus from the Gulf of Mexico and were differentiated from the sequences attributed to T. gracilis and T. robsoni. The study represents a valuable contribution to the genetic characterization of Mediterranean individuals of the genera Tremoctopus, Argonauta and Ocythoe.
Inhibition of Acid-Sensing Ion Channels by KB-R7943, a Reverse Na+/Ca2+ Exchanger Inhibitor
Authors: Sun Hua-Wei , Chu Xiang-Ping , Simon Roger P. , Xiong Zhi-Gang , Leng Tian-Dong
Published: March 2023

KB-R7943, an isothiourea derivative, is widely used as a pharmacological inhibitor of reverse sodium–calcium exchanger (NCX). It has been shown to have neuroprotective and analgesic effects in animal models; however, the detailed molecular mechanisms remain elusive. In the current study, we investigated whether KB-R7943 modulates acid-sensing ion channels (ASICs), a group of proton-gated cation channels implicated in the pathophysiology of various neurological disorders, using the whole-cell patch clamp techniques. Our data show that KB-R7943 irreversibly inhibits homomeric ASIC1a channels heterologously expressed in Chinese Hamster Ovary (CHO) cells in a use- and concentration-dependent manner. It also reversibly inhibits homomeric ASIC2a and ASIC3 channels in CHO cells. Both the transient and sustained current components of ASIC3 are inhibited. Furthermore, KB-R7943 inhibits ASICs in primary cultured peripheral and central neurons. It inhibits the ASIC-like currents in mouse dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons and the ASIC1a-like currents in mouse cortical neurons. The inhibition of the ASIC1a-like current is use-dependent and unrelated to its effect on NCX since neither of the other two well-characterized NCX inhibitors, including SEA0400 and SN-6, shows an effect on ASIC. Our data also suggest that the isothiourea group, which is lacking in other structurally related analogs that do not affect ASIC1a-like current, may serve as a critical functional group. In summary, we characterize KB-R7943 as a new ASIC inhibitor. It provides a novel pharmacological tool for the investigation of the functions of ASICs and could serve as a lead compound for developing small-molecule drugs for treating ASIC-related disorders.
Purtscher-like Retinopathy in a Patient with Systemic Sclerosis: A Case Report and Narrative Review
Authors: Pieklarz Barbara , Gińdzieńska-Sieśkiewicz Ewa , Zawadzka Izabela , Bagrowska Magdalena , Daniluk Joanna , Konopińska Joanna , Kowal-Bielecka Otylia , Dmuchowska Diana Anna
Published: March 2023

Purtscher-like retinopathy (PLR) is an uncommon occlusive microangiopathy associated with various systemic conditions. We report a case of PLR related to severe progressive systemic sclerosis (SSc), an autoimmune disease characterized by widespread angiopathy and fibrosis, in a 44-year-old Caucasian male diagnosed with early diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dSSc). Upon ophthalmological examination, pathognomonic fundoscopy abnormalities were found. Spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT), angio-OCT, and visual field results are documented at initial diagnosis and follow-up visits. The detailed ophthalmological assessment is juxtaposed with rheumatological evaluation and treatment. Current literature on probable pathophysiological mechanisms is reviewed in accordance with the described case. The PLR seems to be connected to severe SSc-related angiopathy initiated by capillary endothelial damage, with ultimate arteriolar precapillary occlusion in the inner retinal layer. Although this is not routinely recommended, we suggest that ophthalmological examinations may be advantageous in patients with SSc, as serious eye pathology may be present despite the lack of symptoms reported by the patient. Patients with PLR require a differential diagnosis and regular follow-up. Proper treatment of the underlying disease may have beneficial effects on the natural course of PLR.
Impact of Ovarian Endometrioma and Surgery on Reproductive Outcomes: A Single-Center Spanish Cohort Study
Authors: Hernández Alicia , Sanz Angela , Spagnolo Emanuela , Lopez Ana , Martínez Jorge Paloma , Iniesta Silvia , Rodríguez Elena , Fernández Prada Sara , Ramiro-Cortijo David
Published: March 2023

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) and antral follicular count (AFC) decrease in women with ovarian endometrioma (OMA) and in vitro fertilization (IVF). In addition, these parameters drop even further when women with OMA undergo surgery. In this study, the primary aim was to compare the reproductive variables in IVF-treated women with and without endometriosis. The secondary aim was to explore if the reproductive variables were modified by endometrioma surgery. In this retrospective study, 244 women undergoing IVF were enrolled at the Hospital Universitario La Paz (Madrid, Spain). Women were categorized as OMA not surgically treated (OMA; n = 124), OMA with surgery (OMA + S; n = 55), and women with infertility issues not related to OMA (control; n = 65). Demographic and clinical variables, including age, body mass index (BMI), and reproductive (AMH, AFC, number of extracted oocytes, and transferred embryos) and obstetrical data (biochemical pregnancy and fetal heart rate at 6 weeks) were collected. Adjusted logistic regression models were built to evaluate reproductive and pregnancy outcomes. The models showed that women with OMA (with and without surgery) had significantly decreased levels of AMH and AFC and numbers of cycles and C + D embryos. Women with OMA + S had similar rates of pregnancy to women in the control group. However, women with OMA had lower biochemical pregnancy than controls (aOR = 0.08 [0.01; 0.50]; p-value = 0.025). OMA surgery seems to improve pregnancy outcomes, at least until 6 weeks of gestation. However, it is important to counsel the patients about surgery expectations due to the fact that endometrioma itself reduces the quality of oocytes.
Online Running-Gait Generation for Bipedal Robots with Smooth State Switching and Accurate Speed Tracking
Authors: Meng Xiang , Yu Zhangguo , Chen Xuechao , Huang Zelin , Dong Chencheng , Meng Fei
Published: March 2023

Smooth state switching and accurate speed tracking are important for the stability and reactivity of bipedal robots when running. However, previous studies have rarely been able to synthesize these two capabilities online. In this paper, we present an online running-gait generator for bipedal robots that allows for smooth state switching and accurate speed tracking. Considering a fluctuating height nature and computational expediency, the robot is represented by a simplified variable-height inverted-pendulum (VHIP) model. In order to achieve smooth state switching at the beginning and end of running, a segmented zero moment point (ZMP) trajectory optimization is proposed to automatically provide a feasible and smooth center-of-mass (CoM) trajectory that enables the robot to stably start or stop running at the given speed. To accurately track online the desired speed during running, we propose an iterative algorithm to compute target footholds, which allows for the robot to follow the interactive desired speed after the next two steps. Lastly, a numerical experiment and the simulation of online variable speed running were performed with position-controlled bipedal robot BHR7P, and the results verified the effectiveness of the proposed methods.
Preparation of a Red−Emitting, Chitosan−Stabilized Copper Nanocluster Composite and Its Application as a Hydrogen Peroxide Detection Probe in the Analysis of Water Samples
Authors: Lu Jiaojiao , Wang Dawei , Li Xin , Guo Wei , Tian Chunyuan , Luan Feng , Zhuang Xuming
Published: March 2023

Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is an important reactive oxygen species that mediates a variety of physiological functions in biological processes, and it is an essential mediator in food, pharmaceutical, and environmental analysis. However, H2O2 can be dangerous and toxic at certain concentrations. It is crucial to detect the concentration of H2O2 in the environment for human health and environmental protection. Herein, we prepared the red-emitting copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) by a one-step method, with lipoic acid (LA) and sodium borohydride as protective ligands and reducing agents, respectively, moreover, adding chitosan (CS) to wrap LA−Cu NCs. The as-prepared LA−Cu NCs@CS have stronger fluorescence than LA−Cu NCs. We found that the presence of H2O2 causes the fluorescence of LA−Cu NCs@CS to be strongly quenched. Based on this, a fluorescent probe based on LA−Cu NCs@CS was constructed for the detection of H2O2 with a limit of detection of 47 nM. The results from this research not only illustrate that the as--developed fluorescent probe exhibits good selectivity and high sensitivity to H2O2 in environmental water samples but also propose a novel strategy to prepare red-emitting copper nanoclusters (Cu NCs) by a one-step method.