bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The physio-biochemical characterization reflected different calcium utilization efficiency between the sensitive and tolerant peanut accessions under calcium deficiency
Authors: Tang Kang , Liu Dengwang , Liu Na , Zeng Ningbo , Wang Jianguo , Li Lin , Luo Zinan
Published: August 2023

Peanut yield in southern China is usually limited by calcium deficiency in soil. Most previous studies have found that small-seed varieties showed higher tolerance than large-seed varieties (e.g. Virginia type) under calcium deficiency, however, our preliminary research found that sensitive varieties also existed in small-seed counterparts. Few studies have been conducted to characterize low-calcium tolerance among small-seed germplasms with genetic diversity, and the differences in physiological characteristics between sensitive and tolerant varieties has not been reported yet. Thus, in order to better understand such differences, the current study firstly collected and characterized a diversity germplasm panel consisting of 50 small-seed peanut genotypes via a 2-year field trial, followed by the physiological characterization in sensitive (HN032) and tolerant (HN035) peanut genotypes under calcium deficiency. As a result, the adverse effects brought by calcium deficiency on calcium uptake and distribution in HN032 was much larger than HN035. In details, calcium uptake in the aboveground part (leaves and stems) was reduced by 16.17% and 33.66%, while in the underground part (roots and pods), it was reduced by 13.69% and 68.09% under calcium deficiency for HN035 and HN032, respectively; The calcium distribution rate in the pods of HN035 was 2.74 times higher than HN032. The utilization efficiency of calcium in the pods of HN035 was 1.68 and 1.37 times than that of HN032 under calcium deficiency and sufficiency, respectively. In addition, under calcium deficiency conditions, the activities of antioxidant enzymes SOD, POD, and CAT, as well as the MDA content, were significantly increased in the leaves of HN032, peanut yield was significantly reduced by 22.75%. However, there were no significant changes in the activities of antioxidant enzymes, MDA content, and peanut yield in HN035. Therefore, higher calcium absorption and utilization efficiency may be the key factors maintaining peanut yield in calcium-deficient conditions for tolerant genotypes. This study lays a solid foundation for selecting low-calcium tolerant varieties in future peanut breeding.
Development and application of Single Primer Enrichment Technology (SPET) SNP assay for population genomics analysis and candidate gene discovery in lettuce
Authors: Tripodi Pasquale , Beretta Massimiliano , Peltier Damien , Kalfas Ilias , Vasilikiotis Christos , Laidet Anthony , Briand Gael , Aichholz Charlotte , Zollinger Tizian , Treuren Rob van , Scaglione Davide , Goritschnig Sandra
Published: August 2023

Single primer enrichment technology (SPET) is a novel high-throughput genotyping method based on short-read sequencing of specific genomic regions harboring polymorphisms. SPET provides an efficient and reproducible method for genotyping target loci, overcoming the limits associated with other reduced representation library sequencing methods that are based on a random sampling of genomic loci. The possibility to sequence regions surrounding a target SNP allows the discovery of thousands of closely linked, novel SNPs. In this work, we report the design and application of the first SPET panel in lettuce, consisting of 41,547 probes spanning the whole genome and designed to target both coding (~96%) and intergenic (~4%) regions. A total of 81,531 SNPs were surveyed in 160 lettuce accessions originating from a total of 10 countries in Europe, America, and Asia and representing 10 horticultural types. Model ancestry population structure clearly separated the cultivated accessions (Lactuca sativa) from accessions of its presumed wild progenitor (L. serriola), revealing a total of six genetic subgroups that reflected a differentiation based on cultivar typology. Phylogenetic relationships and principal component analysis revealed a clustering of butterhead types and a general differentiation between germplasm originating from Western and Eastern Europe. To determine the potentiality of SPET for gene discovery, we performed genome-wide association analysis for main agricultural traits in L. sativa using six models (GLM naive, MLM, MLMM, CMLM, FarmCPU, and BLINK) to compare their strength and power for association detection. Robust associations were detected for seed color on chromosome 7 at 50 Mbp. Colocalization of association signals was found for outer leaf color and leaf anthocyanin content on chromosome 9 at 152 Mbp and on chromosome 5 at 86 Mbp. The association for bolting time was detected with the GLM, BLINK, and FarmCPU models on chromosome 7 at 164 Mbp. Associations were detected in chromosomal regions previously reported to harbor candidate genes for these traits, thus confirming the effectiveness of SPET for GWAS. Our findings illustrated the strength of SPET for discovering thousands of variable sites toward the dissection of the genomic diversity of germplasm collections, thus allowing a better characterization of lettuce collections.
Socio-demographic and mental health correlates of internet addiction amongst Hong Kong university students under COVID-19
Authors: Shek Daniel T. L. , Chai Wenyu , Dou Diya , Tan Lindan , Wong Tingyin , Zhou Kaiji
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Regarding the problem of Internet addiction (IA) amongst university students under the pandemic, there are several research gaps. Firstly, few studies have examined IA of university students in Hong Kong, which is a Chinese society heavily influenced by Western values. In addition, findings on the socio-demographic correlates and psychological well-being predictors of IA in university students are unclear. Finally, researchers have not systematically examined the interaction effects of socio-demographic factors (particularly gender and personal infection of COVID-19) and psychological morbidity on IA. This pioneer study aimed to investigate the predictive role of socio-demographic factors and psychological morbidity in IA, and the moderating effects of gender and personal infection of COVID-19 on the relationship between psychological morbidity and IA.

Methods

We conducted an online survey (N = 1,020 university students) during the ending phase of Wave 5 of the pandemic in Hong Kong (late 2022 to early 2023). Socio-demographic correlates included age, gender, living status, personal and family financial situation, student status, personal and family infection of COVID-19. Participants responded to validated measures of psychological morbidity, including depression, suicidal behavior, and hopelessness. Hierarchical regression and simple slope analyses were used to examine the predictive role of socio-demographic variables and psychological morbidity in IA and the interactive effect of gender and personal infection of COVID-19 with psychological morbidity on IA.

Results

Personal financial difficulty was a significant socio-demographic predictor of IA. Depression, suicidal behavior, and hopelessness positively predicted IA. We also found a significant interaction effect of gender and psychological morbidity on IA. While the predictive relationship between depression and IA was stronger in males than in females, hopelessness was more strongly related to IA in females than in males. Finally, there was a significant interaction effect of personal infection of COVID-19 and suicidal behavior on IA.

Conclusion

Personal financial difficulty was a socio-economic correlate of IA. Psychological morbidity also predicted IA. Gender and personal infection of COVID-19 moderated the linkage between psychological morbidity and IA. The findings of the study enhance our understanding of individual differences in IA in university students during the pandemic, particularly concerning different ecological risk factors.
Risk of neurodegenerative disease or dementia in adults with attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder: a systematic review
Authors: Becker Sara , Chowdhury Mohammad , Tavilsup Pattara , Seitz Dallas , Callahan Brandy L.
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review

Several psychiatric disorders have been associated with an increased risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease and/or dementia. Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), a neurodevelopmental disorder, has been understudied in relation to dementia risk. We summarized existing literature investigating the risk of incident neurodegenerative disease or dementia associated with ADHD.

Recent findings

We searched five databases for cohort, case–control, and clinical trial studies investigating associations between ADHD and neurodegenerative diseases/dementia in May 2023. Study characteristics were extracted by two independent raters, and risk of bias was assessed using the Newcastle Ottawa Scale. Search terms yielded 2,137 articles, and seven studies (five cohort and two case–control studies) ultimately met inclusion criteria. Studies examined the following types of neurodegeneration: all-cause dementia, Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s and Lewy body diseases, vascular dementia, and mild cognitive impairment. Heterogeneity in study methodology, particularly covariates used in analyses and types of ratios for risk reported, prevented a meta-analysis and data were therefore summarized as a narrative synthesis. The majority of studies (4/7) demonstrated an overall low risk of bias.

The current literature on risk of developing a neurodegenerative disease in ADHD is limited. Although the studies identified present evidence for a link between ADHD and subsequent development of dementia, the magnitude of the direct effect of ADHD on neurodegeneration is yet to be determined and better empirically designed studies are first needed. Furthermore, the mechanism of how or why ADHD is associated with an increased risk of developing a neurocognitive disorder is still unclear and should be explored in future studies.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42022348976, the PROSPERO number is CRD42022348976.
Suicide ideation in older people: a qualitative review and Meta-aggregation of Asian studies
Authors: Christensen Martin , Chan Hiu Yin , Chan Yuen Yi , Cheng Ka Yee , Cheung Tsz Yan , Li Tsz Yan , Situ Jia Ling , Tam Po Lam , Tse Cheuk Chi , Ma Haixia
Published: August 2023

Aims

To appraise and synthesize qualitative studies examining older Asian people’s experiences of suicidal ideation.

Design

Qualitative review and meta-aggregation.

Data sources

Four databases were accessed to retrieve papers published between 1990 and 2022 including the grey literature, hand-searching of reference lists of retrieved papers and key journals. The phenomenon of interest included participants older than 60 years old, must have experienced a form of suicidal ideation and/or an unsuccessful attempt, had actively thought about harming themselves and be of Asian ethnicity.

Review methods

This review was conducted according to Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research and the Joanna Briggs Institute’s System for the Unified Management of the Assessment and Review of Information.

Results

Of the 289 potential studies, seven papers met the inclusion criteria. Two synthesized findings resulted from this review–The Suffering Situation: A Life without Meaning in Older Age and The Healing Situation: A Life Worth Living. The experiences of older Asian people varied from feelings of loneliness, despair and isolation to wanting to live a fruitful life into old age.

Conclusion

Suicidal ideation in the older person is a growing concern especially with the rise in suicide in this age group. Rising health care costs and erosion of traditional family values means that the older person views themselves as a burden. However, because of the limited number of qualitative studies from an Asian perspective it is difficult to ascertain the full extent of the issues surrounding suicide in older people.
Pediatric emergency department visits for pedestrian injuries in relation to the enactment of Complete Streets policy
Authors: Wells Jordee M. , Yi Honggang , Yang Jingzhen , Mooney Stephen J. , Quistberg Alex , Leonard Julie C.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to evaluate the rate of pediatric emergency department (ED) visits for pedestrian injuries in relation to the enactment of the Complete Streets policy.

Methods

The National Complete Streets policies were codified by county and associated with each hospital's catchment area and date of enactment. Pedestrian injury-related ED visits were identified across 40 children's hospitals within the Pediatric Health Information System (PHIS) from 2004 to 2014. We calculated the proportion of the PHIS hospitals' catchment areas covered by any county policy. We used a generalized linear model to assess the impact of the proportion of the policy coverage on the rate of pedestrian injury-related ED visits.

Results

The proportion of the population covered by Complete Streets policies increased by 23.9%, and pedestrian injury rates at PHIS hospitals decreased by 29.8% during the study period. After controlling for years, pediatric ED visits for pedestrian injuries did not change with increases in the PHIS catchment population with enacted Complete Streets policies.

Conclusion

After accounting for time trends, Complete Streets policy enactment was not related to observed changes in ED visits for pedestrian injuries at PHIS hospitals.
Detection of OFDM modulations based on the characterization in the phase diagram domain
Authors: Digulescu Angela , Sârbu Annamaria , Stanescu Denis , Nastasiu Dragoș , Despina-Stoian Cristina , Ioana Cornel , Mansour Ali
Published: August 2023

Signal modulation identification is of high interest for applications in military communications, but is not limited only to this specific field. Some possible applications are related to spectrum surveillance, electronic warfare, quality services, and cognitive radio. Distinguishing between multi-carrier signals, such as orthogonal frequency division multiplexing (OFDM) signals, and single-carrier signals is very important in several applications. Conventional methods face a stalemate in which the classification accuracy process is limited, and, therefore, new descriptors are needed to complement the existing methods. Another drawback is that some features cannot be extracted using conventional feature extraction techniques in practical OFDM systems. This paper introduces a new signal detection algorithm based on the phase diagram characterization. First, the proposed algorithm is described and implemented for simulated signals in MATLAB. Second, the algorithm performance is verified in an experimental scenario by using long-term evolution OFDM signals over a software-defined radio (SDR) frequency testbed. Our findings suggest that the algorithm provides good detection performance in realistic noisy environments.
Retrospective Evaluation of Gastrointestinal Signs in Hypothyroid Dogs
Authors: Gori Eleonora , Gianella Paola , Lippi Ilaria , Marchetti Veronica
Published: August 2023

Few observations about gastrointestinal (GI) signs in hypothyroid dogs (hypo-T dogs) are available. We aimed to evaluate the prevalence and characteristics of concurrent GI signs in hypo-T dogs, describe clinicopathological, hepato-intestinal ultrasound findings in hypo-T dogs, investigate changes in GI signs after thyroid replacement therapy (THRT). Medical records of suspected hypo-T dogs from two hospitals were retrospectively reviewed. The inclusion criteria were: (1) having symptoms and clinicopathological abnormalities related to hypothyroidism (i.e., mild anemia, hyperlipemia); (2) not being affected by systemic acute disease; (3) not having received any treatment affecting thyroid axis. Hypothyroidism had to be confirmed using low fT4 or TT4 with high TSH and/or inadequate TSH-stimulation test response; otherwise, dogs were assigned to a euthyroid group. Clinical history, GI signs, hematobiochemical parameters, and abdominal ultrasound findings were recorded. Hypo-T dogs were assigned to the GI group (at least 2 GI signs) and not-GI group (1 or no GI signs). Follow-up information 3–5 weeks after THRT was recorded. In total, 110 medical records were screened: 31 dogs were hypo-T, and 79 were euthyroid. Hypo-T dogs showed a higher prevalence of GI signs (44%), especially constipation and diarrhea (p = 0.03 and p = 0.001), than euthyroid dogs (24%) (p = 0.04). Among hypo-T dogs, no difference in hematological parameters between GI and non-GI groups was found. Hypo-T dogs had a higher prevalence of gallbladder alterations than euthyroid dogs (20/25; 80% and 32/61; 52% p = 0.04). The hypo-T GI group showed a significant improvement in the GI signs after THRT (p < 0.0001). Specific investigation for concurrent GI diseases in hypo-T dogs was lacking; however, improvement in GI signs following THRT supports this association between GI signs and hypothyroidism.
Cultivating the Acceptance of Assistance Dogs in Aged Care through Deliberative Democracy
Authors: Salmon Amanda J. , Pachana Nancy A.
Published: August 2023

Assistance dogs provide significant benefits to older adult owners. However, despite protective legislation, aged care facilities continue to not allow owners to retain their dogs on relocation. The purpose of the current study was to explore whether older adults should be allowed to retain their dog on relocation to an aged care facility, and what factors should impact this decision. Further, if allowed to retain their dog, what would be the best practice to allow for this? A deliberative democracy methodology was used, with a range of key stakeholders recruited. Focus groups were held, with follow-up questionnaires to establish deliberation for all questions. Results indicated that with sufficient objective measurement, fair decisions can be made to ensure the welfare and well-being of the owner and dog. Key policy and procedure changes would also be necessary to ensure ongoing support, such as training, care plans, and emergency directives. By ensuring sufficient policies and procedures are in place, training and support could lead to an ideal outcome where facilities could be at the forefront of a better future for aged care.
Antimicrobial Effect of Low-Fluoride Toothpastes Containing Polyphosphate and Polyols: An In Vitro Assessment of Inhibition Zones
Authors: Zen Igor , Delbem Alberto Carlos Botazzo , Hosida Thayse Yumi , Sampaio Caio , de Morais Leonardo Antônio , Martins Tamires Passadori , Monteiro Douglas Roberto , Pessan Juliano Pelim
Published: August 2023

This study evaluated the antimicrobial effect of toothpastes containing 200 ppm fluoride (200F), xylitol (X, 16%), erythritol (E, 4%), and sodium trimetaphosphate (TMP, 0.25%), alone or in different associations, against Streptococcus mutans (SM), Lactobacillus casei (LC), Actinomyces israelii (AI), and Candida albicans (CA). Suspensions of the micro-organisms were added to a BHI Agar medium. Five wells were made on each plate to receive toothpaste suspensions at different dilutions. Toothpastes containing no actives (placebo) or 1100 ppm F (1100F) were used as negative and positive controls. Two-way ANOVA and Tukey’s HDS test were used (p < 0.05). For SM, the largest halo was for 200F+TMP at all dilutions, followed by the 200F+X+E toothpaste (p < 0.001). For LC, the overall trend showed that the polyols effectively inhibited microbial growth, and the association with the other compounds enhanced such effects (p < 0.001). For AI, a less-defined trend was observed. For CA, the experimental toothpaste (200F+X+E+TMP) was consistently more effective than the other treatments, followed by 200F+X+E (p < 0.001). The association of polyols and TMP in a low-fluoride toothpaste effectively reduced the growth of cariogenic micro-organisms (SM, CA, and LC), suggesting that this formulation could be an interesting alternative for children due to its low fluoride content.
Corrosion Damage Detection in Headrace Tunnel Using YOLOv7 with Continuous Wall Images
Authors: Kubo Shiori , Nakayama Nobuhiro , Matsuda Sadanori , Chun Pang-jo
Published: August 2023

Infrastructure that was constructed during the high economic growth period of Japan is starting to deteriorate; thus, there is a need for the maintenance and management of these structures. The basis of maintenance and management is the inspection process, which involves finding and recording damage. However, in headrace tunnels, the water supply is interrupted during inspection; thus, it is desirable to comprehensively photograph and record the tunnel wall and detect damage using the captured images to significantly reduce the water supply interruption time. Given this background, the aim of this study is to establish an investigation and assessment system for deformation points in the inner walls of headrace tunnels and to perform efficient maintenance and management of the tunnels. First, we develop a mobile headrace photography device that photographs the walls of the headrace tunnel with a charge-coupled device line camera. Next, we develop a method using YOLOv7 for detecting chalk marks at the damage locations made during cleaning of the tunnel walls that were photographed by the imaging system, and these results are used as a basis to develop a system that automatically accumulates and plots damage locations and distributions. For chalking detection using continuous wall surface images, a high accuracy of 99.02% is achieved. Furthermore, the system can evaluate the total number and distribution of deteriorated areas, which can be used to identify the causes of change over time and the occurrence of deterioration phenomena. The developed system can significantly reduce the duration and cost of inspections and surveys, and the results can be used to select priority repair areas and to predict deterioration through data accumulation, contributing to appropriate management of headrace tunnels.
The Contact Phase in Vehicle–Pedestrian Accident Reconstruction
Authors: Benea Bogdan , Soica Adrian
Published: August 2023

The need for continuous research to refine the models used in forensic accident reconstruction appears with the development of new car models that satisfy consumer complaints. This paper analyzed a sub-sequence of car and pedestrian accidents from the perspective of the distance traveled by them in the contact phase with the aim of improving the information regarding the reconstruction of road accidents. This research included the analysis of some real tests with pedestrian dummies, as well as simulations of the impact between different classes of vehicles and pedestrians in two different walking positions. Specialized software was used with complex multibody models of pedestrians, modifying the speed and deceleration parameters of the car at the time of the collision. For pedestrian characteristics, the friction coefficients of the ground, car and its mass were modified. The research results highlight the differences between the bilinear models used in accident reconstruction and the proposed study. They can also be used to determine the distance traveled by the vehicle in the first phase of a collision with pedestrians.
Deep Reinforcement Learning for Intelligent Penetration Testing Path Design
Authors: Yi Junkai , Liu Xiaoyan
Published: August 2023

Penetration testing is an important method to evaluate the security degree of a network system. The importance of penetration testing attack path planning lies in its ability to simulate attacker behavior, identify vulnerabilities, reduce potential losses, and continuously improve security strategies. By systematically simulating various attack scenarios, it enables proactive risk assessment and the development of robust security measures. To address the problems of inaccurate path prediction and difficult convergence in the training process of attack path planning, an algorithm which combines attack graph tools (i.e., MulVAL, multi-stage vulnerability analysis language) and the double deep Q network is proposed. This algorithm first constructs an attack tree, searches paths in the attack graph, and then builds a transfer matrix based on depth-first search to obtain all reachable paths in the target system. Finally, the optimal path for target system attack path planning is obtained by using the deep double Q network (DDQN) algorithm. The MulVAL double deep Q network(MDDQN) algorithm is tested in different scale penetration testing environments. The experimental results show that, compared with the traditional deep Q network (DQN) algorithm, the MDDQN algorithm is able to reach convergence faster and more stably and improve the efficiency of attack path planning.
Chiroscript: Transcription System for Studying Hand Gestures in Early Modern Painting
Authors: Dimova Temenuzhka
Published: August 2023

The main goal of this article is to introduce a new method for the analysis of depicted gestures in painting, namely a transcription system called chiroscript. Based on the model of transcription and annotation systems used in linguistics of co-speech gestures and sign languages, it is intended to provide a more systematic and objective study of pictorial gestures, revealing their modes of combination inside chirographic accords. The place of chirograms (depicted hand gestures) within pictorial semiotics will be briefly discussed in order to better explain why a transcription system is very much needed and how it could expand art historical perspectives. Pictorial gestures form an understudied language-like system which has the potential to increase the intelligibility of paintings. We argue that even though transcription is not a common practice in art history, it may contribute and even transform semiotic analyses of figurative paintings.
Analysis of the Temporal and Spatial Characteristics of PWV and Rainfall with the Typhoon Movement: A Case Study of ‘Meihua’ in 2022
Authors: Li Zhikun , Wang Jin , Wei Changhao , Yu Jiaye
Published: August 2023

The serious and frequent typhoon activities can easily cause extreme precipitation weather in the eastern coastal area of China, which is affected by land and sea differences. To explore the temporal and spatial characteristics of Precipitable Water Vapor (PWV) and rainfall during the typhoon period, the data of the conspicuous case named ‘Meihua’ in 2022 is adopted in analysis. In this paper, firstly, the accuracy of the PWV retrieved by ERA5 was evaluated, which met the experimental analysis requirements, compared with the conference value of the Radiosonde (RS). Secondly, the correlation between PWV, rainfall and the typhoon path were analyzed qualitatively and quantitatively, using 16 meteorological stations in the typhoon path. The results indicated that PWV reached its peak value 2–6 h than rainfall, which was an important reference for rainfall forecasting. Then, the ‘Pearson correlation coefficient’ method was used for the quantitative evaluation of the correlation between PWV and the distance of the ‘weather station-typhoon’. The results showed that PWV had an obvious upward trend, with a decrease in the distance between the ‘weather station-typhoon’. The variation in PWV is intense at a reduced distance, and can reach its peak 16 h before the arrival of the typhoon. A strong negative correlation was demonstrated, with an average value of −0.73 for the Pearson correlation coefficient. Analyzing the temporal and spatial changes of the typhoon track, PWV and rainfall, the results show that before the typhoon passes through the region, both the PWV and rainfall certainly reach their maximum. The variation trends of PWV and rainfall in the period of the typhoon are significantly consistent. The center of PWV and rainfall is mainly located on the northwest side of the typhoon center, which showed obvious asymmetry.
Responses to the Preparation of the 2021 M7.4 Madoi Earthquake in the Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere System
Authors: Wang Yali , Ma Weiyu , Zhao Binbin , Yue Chong , Zhu Peiyu , Yu Chen , Yao Li
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this work is to investigate the responses of multiple parameters to the Madoi earthquake preparation. A new method is employed to extract anomalies in a geomagnetic field. The results show that there were abnormal changes in the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere near the epicenter before the earthquake. Despite the differences in spatial and temporal resolutions, the increase in geomagnetic residuals in the lithosphere exhibits similar temporal characteristics to the enhancement of thermal infrared radiation in the atmosphere. Two high–value regions are present in the ground–based geomagnetic high residuals and the ionospheric disturbances. The northern one is around the epicenter of the Madoi earthquake. Near the southern one, an M6.4 Yangbi earthquake occurred four hours before the Madoi earthquake. In this study, we have observed almost all of the physical phenomena that can occur during the preparation of an earthquake, as predicted using the electrostatic channel model. It can be inferred that the electrostatic channel is a possible mechanism for coupling between the lithosphere, atmosphere, and ionosphere during the Madoi earthquake.
Microclimate Multivariate Analysis of Two Industrial Areas
Authors: Arruda Angela Maria de , Lopes António , Masiero Érico
Published: August 2023

Most of the existing studies on the increase in air temperature (AT) in industrial neighborhoods (UIs) approach the subject from the analysis of the land surface temperature (LST). Therefore, the objective of this study was to analyze, in addition to LST, the variables of air temperature, relative and specific humidity, wind speed and direction, sky view factor and the albedo of the material surfaces, and to verify which of them has a greater impact on the urban microclimate of the UIs of two cities, Sintra/PT and Uberlândia/BR. To develop this analysis, representative sections of industrial urban areas in the previously mentioned cities were selected and computational simulations were carried out with the ENVI-met software to obtain results related to the studied variables. The results of the simulations, analyzed using multivariate analysis, showed that even though the Udia UI has materials with lower albedo (−45%), lower percentages of vegetation (−20%) and lower WS (−40%) than the Sin UI, the AT inside it may be lower than in the unshaded surroundings around 1.3 °C. For Sin UI, a difference in WS of −1.9 m/s, compared to the control points, caused a peak of +1.5 °C in the industrial environment at 13 h, contrary to what happened in Udia UI.
Relationship between Body Center of Mass Velocity and Lower Limb Joint Angles during Advance Lunge in Skilled Male University Fencers
Authors: Chida Kenta , Inami Takayuki , Yamaguchi Shota , Yoshida Yasumasa , Kohtake Naohiko
Published: August 2023

We investigated the influence of advance lunging in fencing from the perspective of velocity and lower limb joint angles to identify how the joint angles contribute to the peak velocity in a lunge with advance (LWA). Fourteen skilled athletes (age: 19.6 ± 0.9 years, height: 171.2 cm ± 5.2 cm, weight: 63.7 kg ± 5.3 kg, and fencing experience: 9.7 ± 3.1 years) participated by performing two types of attacking movements, and data were collected with a 3D movement analysis system. A correlation between the peak velocity of the body center of mass (CoM) in an advance lunge and several joint angle variables (rear hip peak flexion angle (r = 0.63), rear ankle peak dorsiflexion angle (r = −0.66), rear ankle range of motion (r = −0.59), and front hip peak extension angle (r = 0.54)) was revealed. In addition, the joint angle variables that significantly predicted peak CoM velocity during an LWA were the rear knee peak flexion angle (β = 0.542), rear knee peak extension angle (β = −0.537), and front knee peak extension angle (β = −0.460). Our findings suggest that the rear leg hip joint, rear leg ankle joint, and front leg hip joint may control the acceleration generated by an LWA. Furthermore, more flexion of the rear leg knee joint in the early phase of the lunge and greater extension of the rear and front leg knee joints at the end of the lunge phase may help increase peak velocity.
IDSNN: Towards High-Performance and Low-Latency SNN Training via Initialization and Distillation
Authors: Fan Xiongfei , Zhang Hong , Zhang Yu
Published: August 2023

Spiking neural networks (SNNs) are widely recognized for their biomimetic and efficient computing features. They utilize spikes to encode and transmit information. Despite the many advantages of SNNs, they suffer from the problems of low accuracy and large inference latency, which are, respectively, caused by the direct training and conversion from artificial neural network (ANN) training methods. Aiming to address these limitations, we propose a novel training pipeline (called IDSNN) based on parameter initialization and knowledge distillation, using ANN as a parameter source and teacher. IDSNN maximizes the knowledge extracted from ANNs and achieves competitive top-1 accuracy for CIFAR10 (94.22%) and CIFAR100 (75.41%) with low latency. More importantly, it can achieve 14× faster convergence speed than directly training SNNs under limited training resources, which demonstrates its practical value in applications.
Screening for Mild Cognitive Impairment with Speech Interaction Based on Virtual Reality and Wearable Devices
Authors: Wu Ruixuan , Li Aoyu , Xue Chen , Chai Jiali , Qiang Yan , Zhao Juanjuan , Wang Long
Published: August 2023

Significant advances in sensor technology and virtual reality (VR) offer new possibilities for early and effective detection of mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and this wealth of data can improve the early detection and monitoring of patients. In this study, we proposed a non-invasive and effective MCI detection protocol based on electroencephalogram (EEG), speech, and digitized cognitive parameters. The EEG data, speech data, and digitized cognitive parameters of 86 participants (44 MCI patients and 42 healthy individuals) were monitored using a wearable EEG device and a VR device during the resting state and task (the VR-based language task we designed). Regarding the features selected under different modality combinations for all language tasks, we performed leave-one-out cross-validation for them using four different classifiers. We then compared the classification performance under multimodal data fusion using features from a single language task, features from all tasks, and using a weighted voting strategy, respectively. The experimental results showed that the collaborative screening of multimodal data yielded the highest classification performance compared to single-modal features. Among them, the SVM classifier using the RBF kernel obtained the best classification results with an accuracy of 87%. The overall classification performance was further improved using a weighted voting strategy with an accuracy of 89.8%, indicating that our proposed method can tap into the cognitive changes of MCI patients. The MCI detection scheme based on EEG, speech, and digital cognitive parameters proposed in this study provides a new direction and support for effective MCI detection, and suggests that VR and wearable devices will be a promising direction for easy-to-perform and effective MCI detection, offering new possibilities for the exploration of VR technology in the field of language cognition.
Relevance of ATM Status in Driving Sensitivity to DNA Damage Response Inhibitors in Patient-Derived Xenograft Models
Authors: Karmokar Ankur , Sargeant Rebecca , Hughes Adina M. , Baakza Hana , Wilson Zena , Talbot Sara , Bloomfield Sarah , Leo Elisabetta , Jones Gemma N. , Likhatcheva Maria , Tobalina Luis , Dean Emma , Cadogan Elaine B. , Lau Alan
Published: August 2023

Ataxia-telangiectasia mutated gene (ATM) is a key component of the DNA damage response (DDR) and double-strand break repair pathway. The functional loss of ATM (ATM deficiency) is hypothesised to enhance sensitivity to DDR inhibitors (DDRi). Whole-exome sequencing (WES), immunohistochemistry (IHC), and Western blotting (WB) were used to characterise the baseline ATM status across a panel of ATM mutated patient-derived xenograft (PDX) models from a range of tumour types. Antitumour efficacy was assessed with poly(ADP-ribose)polymerase (PARP, olaparib), ataxia- telangiectasia and rad3-related protein (ATR, AZD6738), and DNA-dependent protein kinase (DNA-PK, AZD7648) inhibitors as a monotherapy or in combination to associate responses with ATM status. Biallelic truncation/frameshift ATM mutations were linked to ATM protein loss while monoallelic or missense mutations, including the clinically relevant recurrent R3008H mutation, did not confer ATM protein loss by IHC. DDRi agents showed a mixed response across the PDX’s but with a general trend toward greater activity, particularly in combination in models with biallelic ATM mutation and protein loss. A PDX with an ATM splice-site mutation, 2127T > C, with a high relative baseline ATM expression and KAP1 phosphorylation responded to all DDRi treatments. These data highlight the heterogeneity and complexity in describing targetable ATM-deficiencies and the fact that current patient selection biomarker methods remain imperfect; although, complete ATM loss was best able to enrich for DDRi sensitivity.
Effects of Scaffolds on Urine- and Urothelial Carcinoma Tissue-Derived Organoids from Bladder Cancer Patients
Authors: Walz Simon , Pollehne Paul , Vollmer Philipp , Aicher Wilhelm K. , Stenzl Arnulf , Harland Niklas , Amend Bastian
Published: August 2023

Organoids are three-dimensional constructs generated by placing cells in scaffolds to facilitate the growth of cultures with cell–cell and cell–matrix interactions close to the in vivo situation. Organoids may contain different types of cells, including cancer cells, progenitor cells, or differentiated cells. As distinct culture conditions have significant effects on cell metabolism, we explored the expansion of cells and expression of marker genes in bladder cancer cells expanded in two different common scaffolds. The cells were seeded in basement membrane extract (BME; s.c., Matrigel®) or in a cellulose-derived hydrogel (GrowDex®, GD) and cultured. The size of organoids and expression of marker genes were studied. We discovered that BME facilitated the growth of significantly larger organoids of cancer cell line RT112 (p < 0.05), cells from a solid tumor (p < 0.001), and a voiding urine sample (p < 0.001). Expression of proliferation marker Ki76, transcription factor TP63, cytokeratin CK20, and cell surface marker CD24 clearly differed in these different tumor cells upon expansion in BME when compared to cells in GD. We conclude that the choice of scaffold utilized for the generation of organoids has an impact not only on cell growth and organoid size but also on protein expression. The disadvantages of batch-to-batch-variations of BME must be balanced with the phenotypic bias observed with GD scaffolds when standardizing organoid cultures for clinical diagnoses.
Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Intervention on the Degenerated Intervertebral Disc: From Molecular Mechanisms to Animal Models
Authors: Lin Song-Shu , Ueng Steve W. N. , Chong Kowit-Yu , Chan Yi-Sheng , Tsai Tsung-Ting , Yuan Li-Jen , Liu Shih-Jung , Yang Chuen-Yung , Hsiao Hui-Yi , Hsueh Yi-Jen , Chen Chung-An , Niu Chi-Chien
Published: August 2023

MicroRNA (miRNA) 107 expression is downregulated but Wnt3a protein and β-catenin are upregulated in degenerated intervertebral disc (IVD). We investigated mir-107/Wnt3a-β-catenin signaling in vitro and in vivo following hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) intervention. Our results showed 96 miRNAs were upregulated and 66 downregulated in degenerated nucleus pulposus cells (NPCs) following HBO treatment. The 3′ untranslated region (UTR) of the Wnt3a mRNA contained the “seed-matched-sequence” for miR-107. MiR-107 was upregulated and a marked suppression of Wnt3a was observed simultaneously in degenerated NPCs following HBO intervention. Knockdown of miR-107 upregulated Wnt3a expression in hyperoxic cells. HBO downregulated the protein expression of Wnt3a, phosphorylated LRP6, and cyclin D1. There was decreased TOP flash activity following HBO intervention, whereas the FOP flash activity was not affected. HBO decreased the nuclear translocation of β-catenin and decreased the secretion of MMP-3 and -9 in degenerated NPCs. Moreover, rabbit serum KS levels and the stained area for Wnt3a and β-catenin in repaired cartilage tended to be lower in the HBO group. We observed that HBO inhibits Wnt3a/β-catenin signaling-related pathways by upregulating miR-107 expression in degenerated NPCs. HBO may play a protective role against IVD degeneration and could be used as a future therapeutic treatment.
Characterization and Corrosion Behavior of Zinc Coatings for Two Anti-Corrosive Protections: A Detailed Study
Authors: Pop Alina Bianca , Iepure Gheorghe , Titu Aurel Mihail , Ravai-Nagy Sandor
Published: August 2023

The purpose of this research is to characterize and evaluate the corrosion behavior of zinc coatings used for corrosion protection, with a special focus on the S235 steel material. The introduction highlights the need for corrosion protection in industrial settings, as well as the importance of understanding corrosion processes and the development of corrosion products to develop more effective solutions. The study’s goals are to undertake an extensive analysis of corrosion products formed on the zinc coating’s surface, to evaluate the performance of these coatings under atmospheric circumstances, and to investigate the effect of deposition parameters on coating quality. The essential message provided to readers is the critical significance of knowing corrosion product formation mechanisms and zinc coating corrosion behavior in developing long-lasting and effective protection measures. The study methodology includes cycle testing, morphological and chemical examination of corrosion products, as well as optical and electron microscopy and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. Corrosion resistance is assessed using accurate measurements. The results show that zinc coatings have exceptional corrosion resistance under air settings, with the produced corrosion products offering further protection to the underlying material. Furthermore, the study demonstrates that the surface roughness of S235 steel has a substantial impact on the quality and corrosion behavior of hot-dip galvanized coatings. The findings emphasize the necessity of detailed characterization of corrosion products, the effect of depositional factors on zinc coating performance, and the need for novel corrosion protection methods. These discoveries have significant implications for the corrosion protection sector, providing the potential to improve the longevity and efficiency of protective systems used in industrial applications.
Investigation of Structural and Tribological Characteristics of TiN Composite Ceramic Coatings with Pb Additives
Authors: Lozovan Aleksandr , Savushkina Svetlana , Lyakhovetsky Maksim , Nikolaev Ilya , Betsofen Sergey , Kubatina Ekaterina
Published: August 2023

Solid lubricating composite TiN coatings with Pb additives were obtained on steel and titanium substrates in the process of reactive magnetron sputtering of separate cathodes. Columnar, columnar nanostructured and composite nanostructured TiN coatings with different contents (3–13%) of a lubricating component (Pb) were obtained by deposition onto rotating and stationary substrates. It was found that deposition at a rotating substrate and 3% Pb content in the TiN matrix led to a columnar crystallite coating structure. With an increase in its content to 8%, columnar crystallites in the structure become less pronounced, and the coating becomes columnar nanostructured. In nanostructured composite coating with 12% Pb, the soft component is distributed both in the matrix and in the form of inclusions. XRD analysis of the composite nanostructured TiN–Pb coating indicates a textureless state. In this case, the diffraction lines of all present phases (Pb, PbO, TiN) are characterized by a significant broadening, indicating that the size of the subgrains are in range of 10–20 nm. Tribological tests of the coatings were carried out at room temperature and under conditions of stepwise heating. The nanostructured composite coating showed the best tribological characteristics due to a high Pb content, a relatively high microhardness (817 HV) and a textureless state with a low grain size. This coating had a low friction coefficient (~0.1) over 50,000 test cycles, both at room temperature and under conditions of stepwise heating up to 100 °C and 200 °C.
Analysis and Kinetics Modeling of the Isothermal Oxidation Behavior of Silicide Coatings
Authors: An Dongyang , Zhang Jingsheng , Liang Zhipeng , Xie Yunji , Gao Mingyu , Sun Deshun , Xiao Peng , Dai Jingmin
Published: August 2023

In this paper, an online apparatus was developed for isothermal thermogravimetric measurement of silicide coatings within a wide temperature range (from −180 °C to 2300 °C) based on thermogravimetric analysis. Firstly, the measuring principle and method regarding silicide coatings of this apparatus were studied. Secondly, on the basis of oxidation kinetics analysis, the intrinsic mechanism and kinetic parameters of three stages (oxidation, diffusion, and fall-off) of silicide coatings were studied, and the oxidation kinetics features were also analyzed. In addition, according to mathematical physics methods, a kinetics model of silicide coatings in different stages of oxidation was established, including parameters such as weight change, oxidation rate, oxidation time, etc. Finally, online isothermal experiments from −180 °C to 2300 °C werecarried out and analyzed. The results showed that the kinetic model established in this paper was in good agreement with the oxidation process of silicide coatings. In this paper, a complete kinetics model including different oxidation stages is proposed for the entire oxidation process of a silicide coating, revealing its oxidation mechanism. The research will play a significant role in the study of preparation technology improvement and high-temperature environment application. This paper studied two measuring methods: weight gain and weight loss measuring methods. Also, an experiment was carried out on the silicide coatings to explore the physical oxidation process between −180 °C and 2300 °C. The results proved the perfect consistency of the kinetics model proposed by this paper and the oxidation process of silicide coatings. This paper will play a significant role in the study of preparation technology enhancement and high-temperature environment application. It also provides a theoretical foundation for accelerated aging and life evaluation methods.
A Polished-D-Shape SPR-Based Photonic Crystal Fiber Sensor with High Sensitivity for Measuring Refractive Index
Authors: Li Wangyoyo , Jiang Menglin , Xu Jianjie , Chen Yu , Zou Hui
Published: August 2023

In the correspondence, a novel polished-D-shape photonic crystal fiber sensor structure on the basis of surface plasmon resonance is proposed for measuring analyte refractive index. With the help of the finite element method, sensing performances of the structure have been analyzed through numerical simulations along with a step-by-step optimization . In this design, different capillaries are gathered and processed to form a D-shape silica structure and nano-scale gold material is coated on the flattened surface. With utilization of a thin gold film and solid silica background, the resonance effect is excited and the loss curve has red shift along with an increase in refractive index, which is applied for sensing. From the simulation and calculation results, the final sensor structure achieves the optimal performance where values of maximum and average sensitivity reach 32,000 and 12,167 nm/RIU along with a sensing coverage of refractive index from 1.26 to 1.32. Also, the proposed design obtains a range of resonant wavelength from 1810 to 2540 nm. We believe the proposed sensor can be a potential candidate for organic and biological detection and related applications.