bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Imaginary Speech Recognition Using a Convolutional Network with Long-Short Memory
Authors: Rusnac Ana-Luiza , Grigore Ovidiu
Published: November 2022

In recent years, a lot of researchers’ attentions were concentrating on imaginary speech understanding, decoding, and even recognition. Speech is a complex mechanism, which involves multiple brain areas in the process of production, planning, and precise control of a large number of muscles and articulation involved in the actual utterance. This paper proposes an intelligent imaginary speech recognition system of eleven different utterances, seven phonemes, and four words from the Kara One database. We showed, during our research, that the feature space of the cross-covariance in frequency domain offers a better perspective of the imaginary speech by computing LDA for 2D representation of the feature space, in comparison to cross-covariance in the time domain and the raw signals without any processing. In the classification stage, we used a CNNLSTM neural network and obtained a performance of 43% accuracy for all eleven different utterances. The developed system was meant to be a subject’s shared system. We also showed that, using the channels corresponding to the anatomical structures of the brain involved in speech production, i.e., Broca area, primary motor cortex, and secondary motor cortex, 93% of information is preserved, obtaining 40% accuracy by using 29 electrodes out of the initial 62.
Deposition of Different Metallic Coatings as Repair Materials for Concrete by Using a Twin-Wire Arc Thermal Spray Process
Authors: Kim Sang Youl , Lee Han-Seung , Park Jin-Ho
Published: November 2022

Using a concrete surface, the ingress of aggressive ions and the initiation of the corrosion reaction of an embedded steel rebar were studied. To reduce the corrosion reaction of the embedded steel rebar, either a coating on the steel rebar or a repair material was used on the concrete surface. Therefore, in the present study, 200 µm thick Cu, Ti, and 85Zn-15Al were used as repair materials, and their coatings were deposited on the concrete surface using a twin-wire arc thermal spray process. Different experiments such as bond adhesion, water permeability, immersion in a 5 wt.% NaCl solution, and accelerated carbonation were performed to assess the durability of the coatings, and the characterization of the coatings was performed by using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The Cu and 85Zn-15Al coatings exhibited severe defects and porosity; therefore, these coatings exhibited very low bond adhesion, whereas the Ti coating showed a dense and compact morphology, and its bond adhesion value was 11 times greater than that of the Cu coating. The NaCl immersion results can be used to determine the extent of the deterioration of different coatings in coastal areas; based on these results, the Cu coating exhibited delamination, while 85Zn-15Al showed white rust deposition. By contrast, there was no detrimental effect of NaCl immersion on the Ti coating during the 28 days under study, and the coating exhibited characteristics identical to those observed after deposition. The Ti coating reduced the carbonation depth by 1.5–2 times that of the Cu and 85Zn-15Al coatings after four and eight weeks of exposure. The present study suggests that Ti can be the potential metal used as a repair material for concrete to enhance the durability of buildings and infrastructure.
Large-Eddy Simulation of Hydrodynamic Structure in a Strongly Curved Bank
Authors: Ma Miao , Li Guodong , Ning Jian
Published: November 2022

Advances in computer technology have facilitated the use of large-eddy simulation (LES) as a numerical simulation method in fluid mechanics. In this study, LES was used for the numerical simulation of curved water flow with a large curvature. The simulation results show that water separation occurs near the convex bank of the bend transverse section while the separation area increases and then decreases along the water depth direction, where the peak is at half-depth. As the water surface is affected by air shear stress, the velocity decreases. However, as the gradient increases, the vorticity is larger and the vorticity distribution is more even. Reflux occurs in the inlet and outlet sections of the bend but does not occur on the surfaces of z/H = 0.5 and z/H = 0.2, where the vorticity distribution is uneven. In the narrow corridor of the concave and convex banks, notably near the curved top, vorticity distribution is concentrated with a high intensity. At the center of the curve, the vorticity intensity is weak but 10 times higher at the concave and convex banks. A strong correlation exists between circulation structure and vorticity distribution: the vorticity is large where the circulation is intense and the structure is complex.
Recognition of Continuous Face Occlusion Based on Block Permutation by Using Linear Regression Classification
Authors: Xue Jianxia , Chen Xiaojing , Xie Zhonghao , Ali Shujat , Yuan Leiming , Chen Xi , Shi Wen , Huang Guangzao
Published: November 2022

Face occlusion is still a key issue in the study of face recognition. Continuous occlusion affects the overall features and contour structure of a face, which brings significant challenges to face recognition. In previous studies, although the Representation-Based Classification Method (RBCM) can better capture the differences in different categories of faces and accurately identify human face images with changes in light and facial expressions, it is easily affected by continuous occlusion. For face recognition, there is a situation where face error recognition occurs. The RBCM method frequently learns to cover the characteristics of face recognition and then handle face error recognition. Therefore, the elimination of occlusion information from the image is necessary to improve the robustness of such models. The Block Permutation Linear Regression Classification (BPLRC) method proposed in this paper includes image block permutation and Linear Regression Classification (LRC). The LRC algorithm belongs to the category of nearest subspace classification and uses the Euclidean distance as a metric to classify images. The LRC algorithm is based on one of the classification methods that is susceptible to outliers. Therefore, block permutation was used with the aim of establishing an image set that does not contain much occlusion information and constructing a robust linear regression model. The BPLRC method first modulates all the images and then lists the schemes that arrange all segments, enters the image features of various schemes into linear models, and classifies the result according to the minimum residual of the person’s face image and reconstruction image. Compared to several state-of-the-art algorithms, the proposed method effectively solves the continuous occlusion problem for the Extended Yale B, ORL, and AR datasets. The proposed method recognizes the AR data concentration scarf to cover the accuracy of human face images to 93.67%. The dataset recognition speed is 0.094 s/piece. The arrangement method can be combined not only with the LRC algorithm, but also other algorithms with weak robustness. Due to the increase in the number of blocks and the increase in the calculation index of block arrangement methods, it is necessary to explore reasonable iteration methods in the future, quickly find the optimal or sub-best arrangement scheme, and reduce the calculation of the proposed method.
Imputation of Missing PM2.5 Observations in a Network of Air Quality Monitoring Stations by a New kNN Method
Authors: Belachsen Idit , Broday David M.
Published: November 2022

Statistical analyses often require unbiased and reliable data completion. In this work, we imputed missing fine particulate matter (PM2.5) observations from eight years (2012–2019) of records in 59 air quality monitoring (AQM) stations in Israel, using no auxiliary data but the available PM2.5 observations. This was achieved by a new k-Nearest Neighbors multivariate imputation method (wkNNr) that uses the correlations between the AQM stations’ data to weigh the distance between the observations. The model was evaluated against an iterative imputation with an Ensemble of Extremely randomized decision Trees (iiET) on artificially and randomly removed data intervals of various lengths: very short (0.5–3 h, corresponding to 1–6 missing values), short (6–24 h), medium-length (36–72 h), long (10–30 d), and very long (30 d–2 y). The new wkNNr model outperformed the iiET in imputing very short missing-data intervals when the adjacent lagging and leading observations were added as model inputs. For longer missing-data intervals, despite its simplicity and the smaller number of hyperparameters required for tuning, the new model showed an almost comparable performance to the iiET. A parallel Python implementation of the new kNN-based multivariate imputation method is available on github.
The Relationship between Elemental Carbon and Volatile Organic Compounds in the Air of an Underground Metal Mine
Authors: Szczurek Andrzej , Przybyła Marcin , Maciejewska Monika
Published: November 2022

Elemental carbon (EC) content in air is considered a proxy for the diesel exhaust impact at workplaces. This paper examines the possibility of estimating EC content in mine air on the basis of measurements of volatile organic compounds (VOC). The measurement study was carried out in an underground metal mine. Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) was applied for VOC determination, and thermal-optical analysis (TOA) with an FID detector was utilized for EC measurements. A correlation was found between the measurements of EC and total VOC (TVOC) as well as the content of individual hydrocarbons C12–C14 in the air of an extraction zone in the mine. A regression model was developed which predicts EC based on C12, C13, and C14, considered individually, and the remaining VOCs detected with GC/MS taken in total. The model was statistically significant (p = 0.053), and it offered an EC prediction error of RMSE = 4.60 µg/sample. The obtained result confirms the possibility of using VOC measurements for the preliminary estimation of EC concentrations in mine air. This approach is feasible given the availability of portable GC/MS and offers easy and fast measurements providing qualitative and quantitative information.
Usage of Needle and Branches in the Applications of Bioindicator, Source Apportionment and Risk Assessment of PAHs
Authors: Caliskan Eleren Sevil , Tasdemir Yücel
Published: November 2022

Biomonitoring studies have enormous benefits providing a fruitful and cost-efficient means of measuring environmental exposure to toxic chemicals. This study collected ambient air and pine tree components, including needles and 1-year-old and 2-year-old branches, for one year. Concentrations, potential sources and temporal variations of atmospheric polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were investigated. In general, lower concentration levels were observed in the warmer months. Ambient PAHs pose a serious public health threat and impose a need for calculating cancer risks. It was also intended to define the best tree component reflecting the ambient air PAHs. The consideration of the representative tree component minimizes the unnecessary laboratory processes and expenses in biomonitoring studies. The coefficient of divergence (COD), diagnostic ratio (DR) and principal component analysis (PCA) were employed to specify the PAH sources. As a result of the DR and PCA evaluations, the effect of the industrial area has emerged, besides the dominance of the pollutants originating from traffic and combustion. The results have shown that pine needles and branches were mainly affected by similar sources, which also influenced air concentrations. Inhalation cancer risk values were also calculated and they varied between 1.64 × 10−6 and 3.02 × 10−5. A potential risk increases in the colder season depending on the ambient air PAH concentrations.
The Vertical Distribution of VOCs and Their Impact on the Environment: A Review
Authors: Chen Da , Xu Yanhong , Xu Jingcheng , Lian Meiling , Zhang Wei , Wu Wenhao , Wu Mengying , Zhao Jingbo
Published: November 2022

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) play an important role in atmospheric chemistry. Primary VOCs take part in chemical and photochemical reactions, contributing to ozone (O3) and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation, which may cause air pollution problems. High VOC concentrations might lead to dizziness, nausea, headaches, genotoxicity, reproductive weakness, and other diseases harmful to human health. Several studies have been performed to analyze the components, variations, or sources of VOCs at the ground level. In contrast, studies of the vertical distribution characteristics of VOCs are scarce, and the VOC potential for O3 formation in the boundary layer is not yet well understood. To better understand the VOC vertical variation regularities and related reasons in temporal and spatial dimensions, thus to deepen the understanding of their effects on O3 and SOA formation in the vertical direction and to identify the existing gaps in VOC vertical distributions, this study reviewed VOC sampling techniques, VOC vertical distribution characteristics, VOC diffusion models, and effects caused by VOCs. This work can be a valuable reference for decision making regarding environmental and health problems.
Multi-Criteria Group Decision-Making Models in a Multi-Choice Environment
Authors: Ahmad Qazi Shoeb , Khan Mohammad Faisal , Ahmad Naeem
Published: November 2022

The best–worst method (BWM) has recently demonstrated its applicability in addressing various decision-making problems in a practical setting. The traditional BWM method is based on deterministic information gathered from experts as pairwise comparisons of several criteria. The advantage of BWM is that it uses fewer calculations and analyses while maintaining good, acceptable consistency ratio values. A multi-choice best–worst method (MCBWM), which considers several options for pairwise comparison of preferences between the criteria, has recently been developed. The experts are given the option to select values from several comparison scales. The MCBWM technique has been shown to be better. Presenting the options for which an optimal solution has been found simplifies the calculation and establishes the ideal weight values. This study proposes two different mathematical programming models for solving multi-criteria decision-making problems having multiple decision-makers. The two methods are proposed considering the multi-choice uncertainty assumption in pairwise criteria comparisons. Additionally, it considers the best–worst method as the base model. The multi-choice uncertainty is applied to determine the best choice out of multiple choices. It gives a real-life scenario to the decision-making problems. Although there are many other forms of uncertainty, such as fuzzy, intuitionistic fuzzy, neutrosophic, probabilistic, etc., it focuses on choices instead of ambiguity in terms of the probabilistic or fuzzy nature of parameters. The parameter considered as multi-choice is the pairwise comparison. These parameters are handled by applying the Lagrange interpolating polynomial method. The proposed models are novel in terms of their mathematical structure and group decision-making approach. The models are formulated and further validated by solving numerical examples. It provides a framework for solving mcdm problems where the weightage to the decision-makers is also incorporated. The CR values for all the models of example 1 and 2, and the case study has been found acceptable.
Are Panoramic Images a Good Tool to Detect Calcified Carotid Atheroma? A Systematic Review
Authors: Prados-Privado María , García Villalón Javier , Blázquez Torres Antonio , Martínez-Martínez Carlos Hugo , Prados-Frutos Juan Carlos , Ivorra Carlos
Published: November 2022

To investigate the reliability of panoramic dental images to detect calcified carotid atheroma, electronic databases (PubMed, IEEE/Xplore and Embase) were searched. Outcomes included cerebrovascular disease events, cardiovascular disease events, patient previous diseases, and combined endpoints. Risk of bias was evaluated using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Hence, 15 studies were selected from 507 potential manuscripts. Five studies had a low risk of bias, while the remaining nine studies were found to have a moderate risk. Heterogeneous results were obtained but showed that patients with risk factors, such as obesity, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, and smoking, and with calcified carotid atheroma on panoramic images, have a higher prevalence than healthy patients. The evidence in the literature was found to be equivocal. However, the findings of this systematic review exhibit that panoramic radiographs can be used for dental diagnosis and treatment planning, as well as to detect calcified carotid artery atheroma.
Processing of Fluorescent Proteins May Prevent Detection of Prion Particles in [PSI+] Cells
Authors: Matveenko Andrew G. , Ryzhkova Varvara E. , Zaytseva Natalia A. , Danilov Lavrentii G. , Mikhailichenko Anastasia S. , Barbitoff Yury A. , Zhouravleva Galina A.
Published: November 2022

Yeast is a convenient model for studying protein aggregation as it is known to propagate amyloid prions. [PSI+] is the prion form of the release factor eRF3 (Sup35). Aggregated Sup35 causes defects in termination of translation, which results in nonsense suppression in strains carrying premature stop codons. N-terminal and middle (M) domains of Sup35 are necessary and sufficient for maintaining [PSI+] in cells while preserving the prion strain’s properties. For this reason, Sup35NM fused to fluorescent proteins is often used for [PSI+] detection and investigation. However, we found that in such chimeric constructs, not all fluorescent proteins allow the reliable detection of Sup35 aggregates. Particularly, transient overproduction of Sup35NM-mCherry resulted in a diffuse fluorescent pattern in the [PSI+] cells, while no loss of prions and no effect on the Sup35NM prion properties could be observed. This effect was reproduced in various unrelated strain backgrounds and prion variants. In contrast, Sup35NM fused to another red fluorescent protein, TagRFP-T, allowed the detection of [PSI+] aggregates. Analysis of protein lysates showed that Sup35NM-mCherry is actively degraded in the cell. This degradation was not caused by vacuolar proteases and the ubiquitin-proteasomal system implicated in the Sup35 processing. Even though the intensity of this proteolysis was higher than that of Sup35NM-GFP, it was roughly the same as in the case of Sup35NM-TagRFP-T. Thus, it is possible that, in contrast to TagRFP-T, degradation products of Sup35NM-mCherry still preserve their fluorescent properties while losing the ability to decorate pre-existing Sup35 aggregates. This results in diffuse fluorescence despite the presence of the prion aggregates in the cell. Thus, tagging with fluorescent proteins should be used with caution, as such proteolysis may increase the rate of false-negative results when detecting prion-bearing cells.
Acetylcholine Reduces L-Type Calcium Current without Major Changes in Repolarization of Canine and Human Purkinje and Ventricular Tissue
Authors: Verkerk Arie O. , Doszpod Illés J. , Mengarelli Isabella , Magyar Tibor , Polyák Alexandra , Pászti Bence , Efimov Igor R. , Wilders Ronald , Koncz István
Published: November 2022

Vagal nerve stimulation (VNS) holds a strong basis as a potentially effective treatment modality for chronic heart failure, which explains why a multicenter VNS study in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction is ongoing. However, more detailed information is required on the effect of acetylcholine (ACh) on repolarization in Purkinje and ventricular cardiac preparations to identify the advantages, risks, and underlying cellular mechanisms of VNS. Here, we studied the effect of ACh on the action potential (AP) of canine Purkinje fibers (PFs) and several human ventricular preparations. In addition, we characterized the effects of ACh on the L-type Ca2+ current (ICaL) and AP of human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) and performed computer simulations to explain the observed effects. Using microelectrode recordings, we found a small but significant AP prolongation in canine PFs. In the human myocardium, ACh slightly prolonged the AP in the midmyocardium but resulted in minor AP shortening in subepicardial tissue. Perforated patch-clamp experiments on hiPSC-CMs demonstrated that 5 µM ACh caused an ≈15% decrease in ICaL density without changes in gating properties. Using dynamic clamp, we found that under blocked K+ currents, 5 µM ACh resulted in an ≈23% decrease in AP duration at 90% of repolarization in hiPSC-CMs. Computer simulations using the O’Hara–Rudy human ventricular cell model revealed that the overall effect of ACh on AP duration is a tight interplay between the ACh-induced reduction in ICaL and ACh-induced changes in K+ currents. In conclusion, ACh results in minor changes in AP repolarization and duration of canine PFs and human ventricular myocardium due to the concomitant inhibition of inward ICaL and outward K+ currents, which limits changes in net repolarizing current and thus prevents major changes in AP repolarization.
Enhanced Efficacy of Radiopharmaceuticals When Using Technetium-99m-Labeled Liposomal Agents: Synthesis and Pharmacokinetic Properties
Authors: Alkandari Anfal M. , Alsayed Yasser M. , El-Hanbaly Atallah M.
Published: November 2022

Challenges posed by the retention of radiopharmaceuticals in unintended organs affect the quality of patient procedures when undergoing diagnostics and therapeutics. The aim of this study was to formulate a suitable tracer encapsulated in liposomes using different techniques and compounds to enhance the stability, uptake, clearance, and cytotoxic effect of the radiopharmaceutical. Cationic liposomes were prepared by a thin-film method using dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) and cholesterol. Whole-body gamma camera images were acquired of intravenously injected New Zealand rabbits. Additionally, liposomes were assessed using stability, toxicity, zeta potential, and particle size tests. In the control cases, Technetium-99m (99mTc)-sestamibi exhibited the lowest heart uptake the blood pool and delayed images compared to both 99mTc-liposomal agents. Liver and spleen uptake in the control samples with 99mTc-sestamibi increased in 1-h-delayed images, unlike with 99mTc-liposomal agents, which were decreased in delayed images. The mean maximum count in the bladder for 99mTc-sestamibi loaded liposomes 1 h post-injection was 2354.6 (±2.6%) compared to 178.4 (±0.54%) for 99mTc-sestamibi without liposomes. Liposomal encapsulation reduced the cytotoxic effect of the sestamibi. 99mTc-MIBI-cationic liposomes exhibited excellent early uptake and clearance compared to 99mTc-MIBI without liposomes. Adding cholesterol during liposome formation enhanced the stability and specificity of the targeted organs.
Cannabinoid CB2 Receptors in Neurodegenerative Proteinopathies: New Insights and Therapeutic Potential
Authors: Vuic Barbara , Milos Tina , Tudor Lucija , Konjevod Marcela , Nikolac Perkovic Matea , Jazvinscak Jembrek Maja , Nedic Erjavec Gordana , Svob Strac Dubravka
Published: November 2022

Some of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders, including Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease, are proteinopathies characterized by the accumulation of specific protein aggregates in the brain. Such misfolded protein aggregates can trigger modulation of the innate and adaptive immune systems and subsequently lead to chronic neuroinflammation that drives the onset and progression of neurodegenerative diseases. Since there is still no effective disease-modifying treatment, new therapeutic targets for neurodegenerative proteinopathies have been sought. The endocannabinoid system, and in particular the cannabinoid CB2 receptors, have been extensively studied, due to their important role in neuroinflammation, especially in microglial cells. Several studies have shown promising effects of CB2 receptor activation on reducing protein aggregation-based pathology as well as on attenuating inflammation and several dementia-related symptoms. In this review, we discuss the available data on the role of CB2 receptors in neuroinflammation and the potential benefits and limitations of specific agonists of these receptors in the therapy of neurodegenerative proteinopathies.
Gradient Micropillar Array Inspired by Tree Frog for Robust Adhesion on Dry and Wet Surfaces
Authors: Liu Quan , Meng Fandong , Tan Di , Shi Zhekun , Zhu Bo , Xiao Kangjian , Xue Longjian
Published: November 2022

The strong adhesion on dry and wet surfaces and the durability of bioinspired hierarchical fibrillar adhesives are critical for their applications. However, the critical design for the strong adhesion normally depends on fine sub-micron structures which could be damaged during repeat usage. Here, we develop a tree frog-inspired gradient composite micropillars array (GP), which not only realizes a 2.3-times dry adhesion and a 5.6-times wet adhesion as compared to the pure polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) micropillars array (PP), but also shows excellent durability over 200 repeating cycles of attachment/detachment and self-cleaning ability. A GP consists of stiffer tips and softer roots by incorporating gradient dispersed CaCO3 nanoparticles in PDMS micropillar stalks. The modulus gradient along the micropillar height facilitates the contact formation and enhances the maximum stress during the detaching. The study here provides a new design strategy for robust adhesives for practical applications in the fields of robotics, electronics, medical engineering, etc.
Recent Progress of Biomimetic Tactile Sensing Technology Based on Magnetic Sensors
Authors: Man Jiandong , Chen Guangyuan , Chen Jiamin
Published: November 2022

In the past two decades, biomimetic tactile sensing technology has been a hot spot in academia. It has prospective applications in many fields such as medical treatment, health monitoring, robot tactile feedback, and human–machine interaction. With the rapid development of magnetic sensors, biomimetic tactile sensing technology based on magnetic sensors (which are called magnetic tactile sensors below) has been widely studied in recent years. In order to clarify the development status and application characteristics of magnetic tactile sensors, this paper firstly reviews the magnetic tactile sensors from three aspects: the types of magnetic sensors, the sources of magnetic field, and the structures of sensitive bodies used in magnetic tactile sensors. Secondly, the development of magnetic tactile sensors in four applications of robot precision grasping, texture characterization, flow velocity measurement, and medical treatment is introduced in detail. Finally, this paper analyzes technical difficulties and proposes prospective research directions for magnetic tactile sensors.
Mechanical Force-Induced Blue-Shifted and Enhanced Emission for AIEgens
Authors: Guo Chang-Sheng , Su Xiao-Long , Yin Yu-Ting , Zhang Bo-Xuan , Liu Xin-Yi , Wang Rui-Peng , Chen Pu , Feng Hai-Tao , Tang Ben-Zhong
Published: November 2022

Mechanochromic (MC) luminescence of organic molecules has been emerging as a promising smart material for optical recording and memory devices. At the same time, pressure-induced blue-shifted and enhanced luminescence are rarely reported now. Herein, a series of cyanostilbene-based AIEgens with different substituents were synthesized to evaluate the influence of morphology transformation and push-pull electronic effect on the MC luminescence. Among these luminophores, compound 1 with one cyano group and diethylamino group was more susceptible to mechanical stimuli and obtained blue-shifted and enhanced fluorescence in response to anisotropic grinding. Powder X-ray diffraction patterns indicated that the MC behaviors were ascribed to the solid-state morphology transition from crystal-to-crystal. Analysis of crystal structures revealed that loose molecular packing is a key factor for high high-contrast MC luminescence. The smart molecular design, together with the excellent performance, verified that luminophores with twisted structures are ideal candidates for MC luminogens.
Theta Band (4–8 Hz) Oscillations Reflect Online Processing of Rhythm in Speech Production
Authors: Yan Qin , Zhang Qingfang
Published: November 2022

How speech prosody is processed in the brain during language production remains an unsolved issue. The present work used the phrase-recall paradigm to analyze brain oscillation underpinning rhythmic processing in speech production. Participants were told to recall target speeches aloud consisting of verb–noun pairings with a common (e.g., [2+2], the numbers in brackets represent the number of syllables) or uncommon (e.g., [1+3]) rhythmic pattern. Target speeches were preceded by rhythmic musical patterns, either congruent or incongruent, created by using pure tones at various temporal intervals. Electroencephalogram signals were recorded throughout the experiment. Behavioral results in 2+2 target speeches showed a rhythmic priming effect when comparing congruent and incongruent conditions. Cerebral-acoustic coherence analysis showed that neural activities synchronized with the rhythmic patterns of primes. Furthermore, target phrases that had congruent rhythmic patterns with a prime rhythm were associated with increased theta-band (4–8 Hz) activity in the time window of 400–800 ms in both the 2+2 and 1+3 target conditions. These findings suggest that rhythmic patterns can be processed online. Neural activities synchronize with the rhythmic input and speakers create an abstract rhythmic pattern before and during articulation in speech production.
Exploring the Sensitivity of Prodromal Dementia with Lewy Bodies Research Criteria
Authors: Phillips Joseph R. , Matar Elie , Ehgoetz Martens Kaylena A. , Moustafa Ahmed A. , Halliday Glenda M. , Lewis Simon J. G.
Published: November 2022

Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) is an insidious neurodegenerative disease characterised by a precipitous decline in cognition, sleep disturbances, motor impairment and psychiatric features. Recently, criteria for prodromal DLB (pDLB) including clinical features and biomarkers have been put forward to aid the classification and research of this ambiguous cohort of patients. Researchers can use these criteria to classify patients with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) with Lewy bodies (MCI-LB) as either possible (either one core clinical feature or one biomarker are present) or probable pDLB (at least two core clinical features, or one core clinical feature and at least one biomarker present). However, as isolated REM sleep behaviour disorder (iRBD) confirmed with polysomnography (PSG) can be included as both a clinical and a biomarker feature, potentially reducing the specificity of these diagnostic criteria. To address this issue, the current study classified a cohort of 47 PSG-confirmed iRBD patients as probable prodromal DLB only in the presence of an additional core feature or if there was an additional non-PSG biomarker. Thirteen iRBD patients demonstrated MCI (iRBD-MCI). In the iRBD-MCI group, one presented with parkinsonism and was thus classified as probable pDLB, whilst the remaining 12 were classified as only possible pDLB. All patients performed three tasks designed to measure attentional deficits, visual hallucinations and visuospatial impairment. Patients also attended clinical follow-ups to monitor for transition to DLB or another synucleinopathy. Findings indicated that the only patient categorised by virtue of having two core clinical features as probable pDLB transitioned over 28 months to a diagnosis of DLB. The performance of this probable pDLB patient was also ranked second-highest for their hallucinatory behaviours and had comparatively lower visuospatial accuracy. These findings highlight the need for more stringent diagnostic research criteria for pDLB, given that only one of the 13 patients who would have satisfied the current guidelines for probable pDLB transitioned to DLB after two years and was indeed the patient with two orthogonal core clinical features.
Seismic Vulnerability and Consolidation by FRP/FRCM Systems of a Masonry School Building in the District of Naples
Authors: Piccolo Assunta Paola , Longobardi Giovanna , Formisano Antonio
Published: November 2022

The paper discusses the seismic vulnerability of structures susceptible to overcrowding due to their intended use. Specifically, it addresses the analysis towards earthquake actions of a masonry school located in the Municipality of San Giorgio a Cremano, within the neighbourhood of Naples, providing different reinforcement interventions to ensure its seismic consolidation. After a brief introduction, the description of the analysis representative of the current condition of the structure is performed considering both static and seismic actions. The analysis results determine the seismic risk class of the building, allowing to identify its deficiencies, so to design structural consolidation interventions following the standard code indications. In particular, two retrofit techniques, namely, FRP and FRCM systems, are proposed with the purpose to evaluate their benefits to the school building from a seismic viewpoint. Finally, a comparison between the proposed intervention techniques is made to establish which one guarantees the best upgrading of the seismic condition of the examined building.
Analytical and Numerical Study on the Performance of the Curved Surface of a Circular Tunnel Reinforced with CFRP
Authors: Yang Fan , Qin Gan , Liu Kang , Xiong Feng , Liu Wu
Published: November 2022

Pasting carbon fiber reinforced polymer (CFRP) has become an effective method to reinforce the circular tunnel. For this reinforcement method, the mechanical performance of the curved substrate is important to keep the coordinated deformation of CFRP and the lining concrete. To investigate the effect of interface curvature on the stresses of the reinforced interface, an analytical model is proposed for the curved reinforced interface with the consideration of the interface bond–slip relationship. Additionally, a 3D numerical model is established to further investigate the effects of some important parameters (CFRP’s layer, length, elastic modulus, thickness and the adhesive’s elastic modulus, thickness) on the reinforced interface stresses. The results reveal that the stress state of the curved reinforced interface is more complex than that of the plane reinforced interface. With decreasing the radius of the curved reinforced interface, the interface radial stresses are increased significantly, while the circumferential stresses hardly change. For the adhesive, decreasing the elastic modulus and thickness of the adhesive layer can significantly improve the stress state of the reinforced interface. For the CFRP, decreasing the thickness, elastic modulus and layer number of CFRP is conducive to full utilization of materials and long-term combined work of the concrete and CFRP.
Quantifying the Effect of Index-Based Operation Logic for Building Environmental Control System—Taking Shading as Example
Authors: Zhu Han , Lian Xiangchao , Li Zhengrong , He Bin
Published: November 2022

Dynamic control of building environment control systems (BECSs) is an important procedure to realize energy consumption reduction while ensuring the occupant’s comfort. Two types of BECSs operation logic exist: parameter-based and index-based. This research concluded that based on the literature review and argumentation, index-based operation logic, advanced from parameter-based operation logic, can better fit the dynamic and complex needs of occupants. However, existing index-based operation logic is generally based on a single performance index, while the BECS operation affects the indoor environment in multiple dimensions, thus, a single index cannot describe the operation comprehensively and accurately. Therefore, this study takes shading as an example, summarizes the performance indices of index-based operation logic for shading from two dimensions, and sorts out six typical control strategies according to different control objectives. The operation effect was analyzed and quantified through simulation. The results demonstrate that the index-based operation strategy has positive effects. It is not sensitive to changes in boundary conditions and the control effect is not affected by individual factors. Meanwhile, advice on the index selection for shading is proposed.
Activated Carbon from Stipa tenacissima for the Adsorption of Atenolol
Authors: Madani Nesrine , Moulefera Imane , Boumad Souad , Cazorla-Amorós Diego , Gandía Francisco José Varela , Cherifi Ouiza , Bouchenafa-Saib Naima
Published: November 2022

The Stipa tenacissima S. is an endemic species of the Western Mediterranean countries, which grows on the semi-arid grounds of North Africa and South Spain. This biomass offers an abundant, renewable, and low-cost precursor for the production of activated carbon (AC). In that context, ACs were prepared by chemical activation of Stipa tenacissima leaves (STL) using phosphoric acid (H3PO4). The effects of activation temperature and impregnation ratio on the textural and chemical surface properties of the prepared activated carbons were investigated. Activation temperatures of 450 and 500 °C turned out to be the most suitable to produce activated carbons with well-developed porous textures. The best results in terms of developed surface area (1503 m2/g) and micropore volume (0.59 cm3/g) were observed for an STLs to phosphoric acid ratio of 1:2 and a carbonization temperature of 450 °C. The adsorption capacity of the optimal activated carbon was found to be 110 mg/g for the atenolol drug. The adsorption equilibrium was well explained by the pseudo-second-order model and Langmuir isotherm. This study showed that the chemical activation method using H3PO4 as an activating agent was suitable for developing STL-based activated carbon prepared for the removal of atenolol drug in an aqueous solution and compared with commercial activated carbon supplied by Darco.
ONX-0914 Induces Apoptosis and Autophagy with p53 Regulation in Human Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Chang Hsin-Han , Lin Yi-Hsuan , Chen Tzu-Min , Tsai Yu-Ling , Lai Chien-Rui , Tsai Wen-Chiuan , Cheng Yu-Chen , Chen Ying
Published: November 2022

Glioblastoma is believed to be one of the most aggressive brain tumors in the world. ONX-0914 (PR957) is a selective inhibitor of proteasome subunit beta type-8 (PSMB8). Previous studies have shown that inhibiting PSMB8 expression in glioblastoma reduces tumor progression. Therefore, this study aimed to determine whether ONX-0914 has antitumor effects on human glioblastoma. The results indicated that ONX-0914 treatment inhibited survival in LN229, GBM8401, and U87MG glioblastoma cells. Cell cycle analysis showed that ONX-0914 treatment caused cell cycle arrest at the G1 phase and apoptosis in glioblastoma cells. The protein expression of BCL-2 was reduced and PARP was cleaved after ONX-0914 treatment. Furthermore, the levels of p53 and phosphorylated p53 were increased by ONX-0914 treatment in glioblastoma cells. ONX-0914 also induced autophagy in glioblastoma cells. Furthermore, the p53 inhibitor pifithrin attenuated apoptosis but enhanced autophagy caused by ONX-0914. In an orthotopic mouse model, TMZ plus ONX-0914 reduced tumor progression better than the control or TMZ alone. These data suggest that ONX-0914 is a novel therapeutic drug for glioblastoma.
Insights into Biochemical Sources and Diffuse Reflectance Spectral Features for Colorectal Cancer Detection and Localization
Authors: Saito Nogueira Marcelo , Maryam Siddra , Amissah Michael , McGuire Andrew , Spillane Chloe , Killeen Shane , Andersson-Engels Stefan , O’Riordain Micheal
Published: November 2022

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is the third most common and second most deadly type of cancer worldwide. Early detection not only reduces mortality but also improves patient prognosis by allowing the use of minimally invasive techniques to remove cancer while avoiding major surgery. Expanding the use of microsurgical techniques requires accurate diagnosis and delineation of the tumor margins in order to allow complete excision of cancer. We have used diffuse reflectance spectroscopy (DRS) to identify the main optical CRC biomarkers and to optimize parameters for the integration of such technologies into medical devices. A total number of 2889 diffuse reflectance spectra were collected in ex vivo specimens from 47 patients. Short source-detector distance (SDD) and long-SDD fiber-optic probes were employed to measure tissue layers from 0.5 to 1 mm and from 0.5 to 1.9 mm deep, respectively. The most important biomolecules contributing to differentiating DRS between tissue types were oxy- and deoxy-hemoglobin (Hb and HbO2), followed by water and lipid. Accurate tissue classification and potential DRS device miniaturization using Hb, HbO2, lipid and water data were achieved particularly well within the wavelength ranges 350–590 nm and 600–1230 nm for the short-SDD probe, and 380–400 nm, 420–610 nm, and 650–950 nm for the long-SDD probe.
Epidemiological Study of p16 Incidence in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma 2005–2015 in a Representative Northern European Population
Authors: Mylly Mari , Nissi Linda , Huusko Teemu , Routila Johannes , Vaittinen Samuli , Irjala Heikki , Leivo Ilmo , Ventelä Sami
Published: November 2022

The incidence of human papillomavirus (HPV)-associated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCC) has increased globally. Our research goal was to study HNSCC incidence in a representative Northern European population and evaluate the utility of the HPV surrogate marker p16 in clinical decision-making. All new HNSCC patients diagnosed and treated in Southwest Finland from 2005–2015 (n = 1033) were identified and analyzed. During the follow-up period, the incidence of oropharyngeal (OPSCC) and oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) increased, while the incidence of laryngeal squamous cell carcinoma (LSCC) decreased. This clinical cohort was used to generate a population-validated tissue microarray (PV-TMA) archive for p16 analyses. The incidence of p16 positivity in HNSCC and OPSCC increased in southwest Finland between 2005 and 2015. p16 positivity was mainly found in the oropharynx and was a significant factor for improved survival. p16-positive OPSCC patients had a better prognosis, regardless of treatment modality. All HNSCC patients benefited from a combination of chemotherapy and radiotherapy, regardless of p16 expression. Our study reaffirms that p16 expression offers a prognostic biomarker in OPSCC and could potentially be used in cancer treatment stratification. Focusing on p16 testing for only OPSCC might be the most cost-effective approach in clinical practice.
Roles of Mitochondria in Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma Therapy: Friend or Foe?
Authors: Bai Junqiang , Wu Luping , Wang Xinmiao , Wang Yifan , Shang Zhengjun , Jiang Erhui , Shao Zhe
Published: November 2022

Oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) therapy is unsatisfactory, and the prevalence of the disease is increasing. The role of mitochondria in OSCC therapy has recently attracted increasing attention, however, many mechanisms remain unclear. Therefore, we elaborate upon relative studies in this review to achieve a better therapeutic effect of OSCC treatment in the future. Interestingly, we found that mitochondria not only contribute to OSCC therapy but also promote resistance, and targeting the mitochondria of OSCC via nanoparticles is a promising way to treat OSCC.
Advances in Radiation Oncology for Pancreatic Cancer: An Updated Review
Authors: Liu Jason , Lee Percy , McGee Heather M. , Chung Vincent , Melstrom Laleh , Singh Gagandeep , Raoof Mustafa , Amini Arya , Chen Yi-Jen , Williams Terence M.
Published: November 2022

This review aims to summarize the recent advances in radiation oncology for pancreatic cancer. A systematic search of the MEDLINE/PubMed database and Clinicaltrials.gov was performed, focusing on studies published within the last 10 years. Our search queried “locally advanced pancreatic cancer [AND] stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) [OR] hypofractionation [OR] magnetic resonance guidance radiation therapy (MRgRT) [OR] proton” and “borderline resectable pancreatic cancer [AND] neoadjuvant radiation” and was limited only to prospective and retrospective studies and metanalyses. For locally advanced pancreatic cancers (LAPC), retrospective evidence supports the notion of radiation dose escalation to improve overall survival (OS). Novel methods for increasing the dose to high risk areas while avoiding dose to organs at risk (OARs) include SBRT or ablative hypofractionation using a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) technique, MRgRT, or charged particle therapy. The use of molecularly targeted agents with radiation to improve radiosensitization has also shown promise in several prospective studies. For resectable and borderline resectable pancreatic cancers (RPC and BRPC), several randomized trials are currently underway to study whether current neoadjuvant regimens using radiation may be improved with the use of the multi-drug regimen FOLFIRINOX or immune checkpoint inhibitors.
The Expanding Spectrum of FLNC Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Monda Emanuele , Caiazza Martina , Limongelli Giuseppe
Published: November 2022

Mutations in gene encoding filamin C (FLNC) have been historically associated with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) and myofibrillar myopathy [...]
Preconditioned Mesenchymal Stromal Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles (EVs) Counteract Inflammaging
Authors: Gorgun Cansu , Africano Chiara , Ciferri Maria Chiara , Bertola Nadia , Reverberi Daniele , Quarto Rodolfo , Ravera Silvia , Tasso Roberta
Published: November 2022

Inflammaging is one of the evolutionarily conserved mechanisms underlying aging and is defined as the long-term consequence of the chronic stimulation of the innate immune system. As macrophages are intimately involved in initiating and regulating the inflammatory process, their dysregulation plays major roles in inflammaging. The paracrine factors, and in particular extracellular vesicles (EVs), released by mesenchymal stromal cells (MSCs) retain immunoregulatory effects on innate and adaptive immune responses. In this paper, we demonstrate that EVs derived from MSCs preconditioned with hypoxia inflammatory cytokines exerted an anti-inflammatory role in the context of inflammaging. In this study, macrophages isolated from aged mice presented elevated pro-inflammatory factor levels already in basal conditions compared to the young counterpart, and this pre-activation status increased when cells were challenged with IFN-γ. EVs were able to attenuate the age-associated inflammation, inducing a decrease in the expression of TNF-α, iNOS, and the NADase CD38. Moreover, we demonstrate that EVs counteracted the mitochondrial dysfunction that affected the macrophages, reducing lipid peroxidation and hindering the age-associated impairment of mitochondrial complex I activity, oxygen consumption, and ATP synthesis. These results indicate that preconditioned MSC-derived EVs might be exploited as new anti-aging therapies in a variety of age-related diseases.