bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beaver Dams and Fallen Trees as Ecological Corridors Allowing Movements of Mammals across Water Barriers—A Case Study with the Application of Novel Substrate for Tracking Tunnels
Authors: Wikar Zuzanna , Ciechanowski Mateusz
Published: April 2023

Physical obstacles within animal habitats create barriers to individual movements. To cross those barriers, specific corridors are used, some of them created by keystone species such as Eurasian beavers (Castor fiber). Their dams on rivers may also increase habitat connectivity for terrestrial mammals, but the significance of that function has never been quantified. To investigate this, we placed tracking tunnels on beaver dams, fallen trees, and—as a control—on floating rafts. Additionally, we tested kinetic sand as a novel substrate for collecting tracks and found the paws of small mustelids precisely imprinted in that medium, allowing easy identification. However, we needed to lump all shrews and rodents smaller than water voles (Arvicola amphibius) into one category as they can only be detected but not identified. The highest mammalian activity was observed on dams, as they may provide shelter, offering protection from predators during a river crossing or permanent residence, and even the opportunity to hunt invertebrates. Slightly higher diversity was found on logs because of a higher proportion of mustelids, which select exposed locations for scent marking. Our results increase our body of knowledge about the beaver as an ecosystem engineer and provide a novel tool for the monitoring of mammal activity.
Bacteriophage Adsorption: Likelihood of Virion Encounter with Bacteria and Other Factors Affecting Rates
Authors: Abedon Stephen Tobias
Published: April 2023

For ideal gasses, the likelihood of collision of two molecules is a function of concentrations as well as environmental factors such as temperature. This too is the case for particles diffusing within liquids. Two such particles are bacteria and their viruses, the latter called bacteriophages or phages. Here, I review the basic process of predicting the likelihoods of phage collision with bacteria. This is a key step governing rates of phage-virion adsorption to their bacterial hosts, thereby underlying a large fraction of the potential for a given phage concentration to affect a susceptible bacterial population. Understanding what can influence those rates is very relevant to appreciating both phage ecology and the phage therapy of bacterial infections, i.e., where phages are used to augment or replace antibiotics; so too adsorption rates are highly important for predicting the potential for phage-mediated biological control of environmental bacteria. Particularly emphasized here, however, are numerous complications on phage adsorption rates beyond as dictated by the ideals of standard adsorption theory. These include movements other than due to diffusion, various hindrances to diffusive movement, and the influence of assorted heterogeneities. Considered chiefly are the biological consequences of these various phenomena rather than their mathematical underpinnings.
Personal Care Products as a Contributing Factor to Antimicrobial Resistance: Current State and Novel Approach to Investigation
Authors: Caioni Giulia , Benedetti Elisabetta , Perugini Monia , Amorena Michele , Merola Carmine
Published: April 2023

Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is one of the world’s industrialized nations’ biggest issues. It has a significant influence on the ecosystem and negatively affects human health. The overuse of antibiotics in the healthcare and agri-food industries has historically been defined as a leading factor, although the use of antimicrobial-containing personal care products plays a significant role in the spread of AMR. Lotions, creams, shampoos, soaps, shower gels, toothpaste, fragrances, and other items are used for everyday grooming and hygiene. However, in addition to the primary ingredients, additives are included to help preserve the product by lowering its microbial load and provide disinfection properties. These same substances are released into the environment, escaping traditional wastewater treatment methods and remaining in ecosystems where they contact microbial communities and promote the spread of resistance. The study of antimicrobial compounds, which are often solely researched from a toxicological point of view, must be resumed considering the recent discoveries, to highlight their contribution to AMR. Parabens, triclocarban, and triclosan are among the most worrying chemicals. To investigate this issue, more effective models must be chosen. Among them, zebrafish is a crucial study system because it allows for the assessment of both the risks associated with exposure to these substances as well as environmental monitoring. Furthermore, artificial intelligence-based computer systems are useful in simplifying the handling of antibiotic resistance data and speeding up drug discovery processes.
Inhibition of Mixed Biofilms of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus by β-Caryophyllene-Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Khan Fazlurrahman , Tabassum Nazia , Jeong Geum-Jae , Jung Won-Kyo , Kim Young-Mog
Published: April 2023

Polymicrobial biofilms, consisting of fungal and bacterial pathogens, often contribute to the failure of antimicrobial treatment. The growing resistance of pathogenic polymicrobial biofilms to antibiotics has led to the development of alternative strategies to combat polymicrobial diseases. To this end, nanoparticles synthesized using natural molecules have received significant attention for disease treatment. Here, gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) were synthesized using β-caryophyllene, a bioactive compound isolated from various plant species. The shape, size, and zeta potential of the synthesized β-c-AuNPs were found to be non-spherical, 17.6 ± 1.2 nm, and -31.76 ± 0.73 mV, respectively. A mixed biofilm of Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus was used to test the efficacy of the synthesized β-c-AuNPs. The results revealed a concentration-dependent inhibition of the initial stages of formation of single-species as well as mixed biofilms. Furthermore, β-c-AuNPs also eliminated mature biofilms. Therefore, using β-c-AuNPs to inhibit biofilm and eradicate bacterial-fungal mixed biofilms represents a promising therapeutic approach for controlling polymicrobial infections.
Development of Chitosan Particles Loaded with siRNA for Cystatin C to Control Intracellular Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Pires David , Mandal Manoj , Matos Ana I. , Peres Carina , Catalão Maria João , Azevedo-Pereira José Miguel , Satchi-Fainaro Ronit , Florindo Helena F. , Anes Elsa
Published: April 2023

The golden age of antibiotics for tuberculosis (TB) is marked by its success in the 1950s of the last century. However, TB is not under control, and the rise in antibiotic resistance worldwide is a major threat to global health care. Understanding the complex interactions between TB bacilli and their host can inform the rational design of better TB therapeutics, including vaccines, new antibiotics, and host-directed therapies. We recently demonstrated that the modulation of cystatin C in human macrophages via RNA silencing improved the anti-mycobacterial immune responses to Mycobacterium tuberculosis infection. Available in vitro transfection methods are not suitable for the clinical translation of host-cell RNA silencing. To overcome this limitation, we developed different RNA delivery systems (DSs) that target human macrophages. Human peripheral blood-derived macrophages and THP1 cells are difficult to transfect using available methods. In this work, a new potential nanomedicine based on chitosan (CS-DS) was efficiently developed to carry a siRNA-targeting cystatin C to the infected macrophage models. Consequently, an effective impact on the intracellular survival/replication of TB bacilli, including drug-resistant clinical strains, was observed. Altogether, these results suggest the potential use of CS-DS in adjunctive therapy for TB in combination or not with antibiotics.
The Plasmidomic Landscape of Clinical Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus Isolates from Malaysia
Authors: Al-Trad Esra’a I. , Chew Ching Hoong , Che Hamzah Ainal Mardziah , Suhaili Zarizal , Rahman Nor Iza A. , Ismail Salwani , Puah Suat Moi , Chua Kek Heng , Kwong Stephen M. , Yeo Chew Chieng
Published: April 2023

Methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) is a priority nosocomial pathogen with plasmids playing a crucial role in its genetic adaptability, particularly in the acquisition and spread of antimicrobial resistance. In this study, the genome sequences of 79 MSRA clinical isolates from Terengganu, Malaysia, (obtained between 2016 and 2020) along with an additional 15 Malaysian MRSA genomes from GenBank were analyzed for their plasmid content. The majority (90%, 85/94) of the Malaysian MRSA isolates harbored 1–4 plasmids each. In total, 189 plasmid sequences were identified ranging in size from 2.3 kb to ca. 58 kb, spanning all seven distinctive plasmid replication initiator (replicase) types. Resistance genes (either to antimicrobials, heavy metals, and/or biocides) were found in 74% (140/189) of these plasmids. Small plasmids (<5 kb) were predominant (63.5%, 120/189) with a RepL replicase plasmid harboring the ermC gene that confers resistance to macrolides, lincosamides, and streptogramin B (MLSB) identified in 63 MRSA isolates. A low carriage of conjugative plasmids was observed (n = 2), but the majority (64.5%, 122/189) of the non-conjugative plasmids have mobilizable potential. The results obtained enabled us to gain a rare view of the plasmidomic landscape of Malaysian MRSA isolates and reinforces their importance in the evolution of this pathogen.
A Novel Zinc (II) Porphyrin Is Synergistic with PEV2 Bacteriophage against Pseudomonas aeruginosa Infections
Authors: Geyer Jessica , Krupa Kristen A. , Harris Zachary M. , Sun Ying , Sharma Lokesh , Würstle Silvia , Hu Buqu , Stanley Gail , Rajagopalan Govindarajan , Pellot Erin , Koff Jonathan L. , Robinson Jayne B.
Published: April 2023

Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PsA) is an opportunistic bacterial pathogen that causes life-threatening infections in individuals with compromised immune systems and exacerbates health concerns for those with cystic fibrosis (CF). PsA rapidly develops antibiotic resistance; thus, novel therapeutics are urgently needed to effectively combat this pathogen. Previously, we have shown that a novel cationic Zinc (II) porphyrin (ZnPor) has potent bactericidal activity against planktonic and biofilm-associated PsA cells, and disassembles the biofilm matrix via interactions with eDNA In the present study, we report that ZnPor caused a significant decrease in PsA populations in mouse lungs within an in vivo model of PsA pulmonary infection. Additionally, when combined with an obligately lytic phage PEV2, ZnPor at its minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) displayed synergy against PsA in an established in vitro lung model resulting in greater protection of H441 lung cells versus either treatment alone. Concentrations above the minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) of ZnPor were not toxic to H441 cells; however, no synergy was observed. This dose-dependent response is likely due to ZnPor’s antiviral activity, reported herein. Together, these findings show the utility of ZnPor alone, and its synergy with PEV2, which could be a tunable combination used in the treatment of antibiotic-resistant infections.
Endophthalmitis in Silicone Oil-Filled Eyes
Authors: Ting Magdalene Yin Lin , Kim Soyang Ella , Anguita Rodrigo
Published: April 2023

Incidences of post pars plana vitrectomy (PPV) endophthalmitis vary between 0.02% and 0.13%, and infectious endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eyes is even rarer. We performed a literature review to describe the incidence, protective and predisposing factors, causative pathogens, management options, and prognosis of infectious endophthalmitis in silicone oil-filled eyes. Various studies have elucidated different aspects of this condition. Causative pathogens commonly include commensals. Traditional management involves the removal of silicone oil (SO), intravitreal antibiotics and then SO re-injection. Alternatively, injecting intravitreal antibiotics into silicone oil-filled eyes has also been reported. Visual prognoses are uniformly guarded. Due to the uncommon nature of this condition, studies are limited either by their retrospective design or by small sample sizes. However, observational studies, case series, and case reports can play an important role in rare conditions until larger studies are conducted. This comprehensive review aims to summarise the information available in the literature, to act as a good source for ophthalmologists looking for answers on this topic, and to suggest areas for future development.
Oxidative Stress, Inflammation and Colorectal Cancer: An Overview
Authors: Bardelčíková Annamária , Šoltys Jindřich , Mojžiš Ján
Published: April 2023

Colorectal cancer (CRC) represents the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths worldwide. The pathogenesis of CRC is a complex multistep process. Among other factors, inflammation and oxidative stress (OS) have been reported to be involved in the initiation and development of CRC. Although OS plays a vital part in the life of all organisms, its long-term effects on the human body may be involved in the development of different chronic diseases, including cancer diseases. Chronic OS can lead to the oxidation of biomolecules (nucleic acids, lipids and proteins) or the activation of inflammatory signaling pathways, resulting in the activation of several transcription factors or the dysregulation of gene and protein expression followed by tumor initiation or cancer cell survival. In addition, it is well known that chronic intestinal diseases such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are associated with an increased risk of cancer, and a link between OS and IBD initiation and progression has been reported. This review focuses on the role of oxidative stress as a causative agent of inflammation in colorectal cancer.
One-Step Gait Pattern Analysis of Hip Osteoarthritis Patients Based on Dynamic Time Warping through Ground Reaction Force
Authors: Ahn Sohyun , Choi Wiha , Jeong Hieyong , Oh Sehoon , Jung Tae-Du
Published: April 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) of the hip is a degenerative joint disease, which means it causes gradual damage to the joint, and its incidence rate continues to increase worldwide. Degenerative osteoarthritis can cause significant pain and gait disturbance in walking, affecting daily life. A diagnosis method for hip OA includes questioning and various walking movements to find abnormalities of gait patterns based on human observation. However, when multiple gait tests are performed to notice the gait, it can cause pain continuously, even during the examination. Suppose hip OA could be diagnosed with only a one-step gait; both patients and medical doctors would be benefited because the diagnosis time can be reduced and the burden on the patient is decreased dramatically. Therefore, in this paper, we aimed to propose a method to recognize the abnormality of the hip OA patient with a one-step gait pattern based on a dynamic time warping (DTW) algorithm through three directional ground reaction forces (GRFs). After a force plate measured three directional GRFs, the data of twenty-three hip OA patients and eighteen healthy people were classified using supervised machine learning algorithms. The results of the classification showed high accuracy and reliability. Then, the DTW algorithm was applied to compare the data of patients and healthy people to find out when patients may feel pain during the gait. By applying the DTW algorithm, it was possible to find out in which gait phase the patient’s gait showed the difference, such as when the heel first contacted the ground, in the middle of walking, or when the toe came off the ground. Through the results, the data of the one-step gait on the force plate enabled us to classify patients and healthy people with a high accuracy of over 70%, recognize the abnormal gait pattern, and determine how to relieve the pain during the gait.
Dense-FG: A Fusion GAN Model by Using Densely Connected Blocks to Fuse Infrared and Visible Images
Authors: Xu Xiaodi , Shen Yan , Han Shuai
Published: April 2023

In various engineering fields, the fusion of infrared and visible images has important applications. However, in the current process of fusing infrared and visible images, there are problems with unclear texture details in the fused images and unbalanced displays of infrared targets and texture details, resulting in information loss. In this article, we propose an improved generative adversarial network (GAN) fusion model for fusing infrared and visible images. In the generator and discriminator network structure, we introduce densely connected blocks to connect the features between layers, improve network efficiency, enhance the network’s ability to extract source image information, and construct a content loss function using four losses, including an infrared gradient, visible intensity, infrared intensity, and a visible gradient, to maintain a balance between infrared radiation information and visible texture details, enabling the fused image to achieve ideal results. The effectiveness of the fusion method is demonstrated through ablation experiments on the TNO dataset, and compared with four traditional fusion methods and three deep learning fusion methods. The experimental results show that our method achieves five out of ten optimal evaluation indicators, with a significant improvement compared to other methods.
Combined Steam and CO2 Reforming of Methane over Ni-Based CeO2-MgO Catalysts: Impacts of Preparation Mode and Pd Addition
Authors: Okhlopkova Lyudmila , Prosvirin Igor , Kerzhentsev Mikhail , Ismagilov Zinfer
Published: April 2023

The sol–gel template technique makes it possible to synthesize a stable and efficient nickel catalyst based on magnesium-modified cerium oxide Ce0.5Mg0.5O1.5 for the combined steam and CO2 reforming of methane. To stabilize dispersed forms of the active component in the matrix of the support, the catalysts were synthesized by changing the support precursor (cerium acetate and chloride), the active component composition (Ni, NiPd) and the method of introducing nanoparticles. The relationship was established between the physicochemical and catalytic characteristics of the samples. The use of cerium acetate as a support precursor provided smaller pore and crystallite sizes of the support, a stabilization of the dispersed forms of the active component, and excellent catalytic characteristics. The introduction of Pd into the Ni nanoparticles (Pd/Ni = 0.03) increased the resistance of the active component to sintering during the reaction, ensuring stable operation for 25 h of operation. The increased stability was due to a higher concentration of defective oxygen, a higher dispersion of bimetallic NiPd nanoparticles, and the Ni clusters strongly interacting with the NiO-MgO solid solution. An efficient and stable Ni0.194Pd0.006Ce0.4Mg0.4O1.4 catalyst for the conversion of CO2 into important chemicals was developed. With the optimal composition and synthesis conditions of the catalyst, the yield of the target products was more than 75%.
Analysis of Factors Affecting Strand Tension in Cable-Twisting Equipment and Method for Equilibrated Control
Authors: Chen Xiaohang , Ye Weiwei
Published: April 2023

To address the issue of tension fluctuations and deviations among the strands during cable-twisting production, it is necessary to establish a relationship model between the centrifugal force, frictional force, and tension experienced by each strand in a single span range under the state of traveling and rotating. Considering the differences of strand alignment at the distribution reel, the effects of centrifugal force and friction on strand tension under different twisting-deflection paths and cylinder-traveling paths should be analyzed. In our study, different stress states of each strand were applied to simulate and verify the tension fluctuations and deviations of every strand under various traveling and deflection paths. The experimental results show that the increasing travel path of the strand cylinder will cause an increase in the average strand tension. Different deflection paths in the distribution reel will affect the range of the strand tension fluctuation. A sliding mode controller based on a discrete system was designed in MATLAB to control the tension fluctuation and deviation among the strands. The results indicated that this control method can effectively reduce the tension deviation between strands, and the average tension fluctuation range of each strand was reduced by 79.5%.
Evaluation of Rock Brittleness Index under Dynamic Load
Authors: Li Diyuan , Han Minggang , Zhu Quanqi
Published: April 2023

Rock is a typical brittle material, and the evaluation of its brittleness index has important guiding significance for hard rock resource exploitation, unconventional oil and gas resource exploitation, mechanical driving efficiency, rock burst prediction, and dynamic disaster prevention and control. At present, brittleness index often measures the brittleness of rock under static load; thus, whether it is applicable to dynamic load is worth exploring. In this study, static and dynamic uniaxial compression tests and Brazilian splitting tests were carried out on five kinds of rocks, including fine granite, coarse granite, shale, marble, and sandstone, using the INSTRON−1346 test system and split−Hopkinson pressure bar (SHPB), respectively. The brittleness index values of different rocks under static and dynamic load were determined, and the changes in the brittleness of rocks under different loading methods and different strain rates were studied. The definition of brittleness and the applicability of existing brittleness indices were also discussed. It was found that the loading rate amplified the variation of the brittleness characteristics of rock. When static load changes to dynamic load, the brittleness of rocks increases, and the brittleness relationship between different rocks remains unchanged. The more brittle the rock is under static load, the greater the range of brittleness enhancement is under dynamic load. It was also found that the brittleness of sandstone had an obvious effect on the strain rate. The brittleness of rock increases with the increase in strain rate, and the greater the strain rate, the greater the brittleness enhancement degree. These research results can provide reference values for dynamic disaster prevention and safe construction of deep rock projects such as mines and tunnels.
Sustainable Materials from Waste Paper: Thermal and Acoustical Characterization
Authors: Liuzzi Stefania , Rubino Chiara , Martellotta Francesco , Stefanizzi Pietro
Published: April 2023

A growing research interest currently exists in the use of paper as a building material. This work aims to present the results of a measurement campaign developed on innovative waste paper-based building components. The research was carried out in Southern Italy and used some local by-product aggregates. Three different mixture designs were developed in the laboratory by adding three kinds of biomass to a pulp paper blend: fava bean residues (FB), sawdust powder (SP) and coffee grains (CG) extracted from exhausted chaffs. A physical characterization was carried out measuring the bulk density and bulk porosity. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) analysis of the single aggregates was followed by a microstructure analysis of the final components. Bulk density evaluation showed a range between 200 and 348 kg·m−3. Furthermore, thermal performances were measured; the thermal conductivity of the experimented samples ranged from 0.071 to 0.093 W·m−1·K−1, thus it is possible to classify the tested materials as thermal insulators. Moreover, the acoustic properties were evaluated and tested. The normal incidence sound absorption coefficient was measured by the impedance tube on cylindrical specimens. In general, a different behavior was observed between the upper and lower base of each specimen due to the manufacturing process and the shrinkage caused by the different interactions occurring between the aggregates and the pulp paper waste; for example, the presence of sawdust reduced shrinkage in the final specimens, with consequent smaller physical variations among the two faces. The correlation existing between the manufacturing process and the microstructural properties was also investigated by the estimation of the non-acoustical parameters using the inverse method and taking into account the JCA (Johnson, Champoux and Allard) model as a reference.
QUIC Network Traffic Classification Using Ensemble Machine Learning Techniques
Authors: Almuhammadi Sultan , Alnajim Abdullatif , Ayub Mohammed
Published: April 2023

The Quick UDP Internet Connections (QUIC) protocol provides advantages over traditional TCP, but its encryption functionality reduces the visibility for operators into network traffic. Many studies deploy machine learning and deep learning algorithms on QUIC traffic classification. However, standalone machine learning models are subject to overfitting and poor predictability in complex network traffic environments. Deep learning on the other hand requires a huge dataset and intensive parameter fine-tuning. On the contrary, ensemble techniques provide reliability, better prediction, and robustness of the trained model, thereby reducing the chance of overfitting. In this paper, we approach the QUIC network traffic classification problem by utilizing five different ensemble machine learning techniques, namely: Random Forest, Extra Trees, Gradient Boosting Tree, Extreme Gradient Boosting Tree, and Light Gradient Boosting Model. We used the publicly available dataset with five different services such as Google Drive, YouTube, Google Docs, Google Search, and Google Music. The models were trained using a different number of features on different scenarios and evaluated using several performance metrics. The results show that Extreme Gradient Boosting Tree and Light Gradient Boosting Model outperform the other models and achieve one of the highest results among the state-of-the-art models found in the literature with a simpler model and features.
Immunomodulatory Properties of Probiotics and Their Derived Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Thoda Christina , Touraki Maria
Published: April 2023

Immune system modulation is an intriguing part of scientific research. It is well established that the immune system plays a crucial role in orchestrating cellular and molecular key mediators, thus establishing a powerful defense barrier against infectious pathogens. Gut microbiota represent a complex community of approximately a hundred trillion microorganisms that live in the mammalian gastrointestinal (GI) tract, contributing to the maintenance of gut homeostasis via regulation of the innate and adaptive immune responses. However, impairment in the crosstalk between intestinal immunity and gut microbiota may reflect on detrimental health issues. In this context, many studies have indicated that probiotics and their bioactive compounds, such as bacteriocins and short chain fatty acids (SCFAs), display distinct immunomodulatory properties through which they suppress inflammation and enhance the restoration of microbial diversity in pathological states. This review highlights the fundamental features of probiotics, bacteriocins, and SCFAs, which make them ideal therapeutic agents for the amelioration of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases. It also describes their underlying mechanisms on gut microbiota modulation and emphasizes how they influence the function of immune cells involved in regulating gut homeostasis. Finally, it discusses the future perspectives and challenges of their administration to individuals.
Theoretical Approach to Predicting the Diffusion Radius of Fracture Grouting in Soil–Rock Mixtures
Authors: Zhong Zuliang , Li Jiayong , Bie Congying
Published: April 2023

Previously conducted studies have established that the soil–rock mixture in the Chongqing area has the characteristics of loose structure, poor stability, strong permeability, and so on. When building a tunnel in a soil–rock mixture stratum, it is necessary to reinforce the surface rock mass and surrounding rock by grouting to improve the safety of tunnel excavation. To study the diffusion mechanism of cement slurry (Bingham fluid) in soil–rock mixtures, based on the Bingham fluid flow equation and slurry diffusion model, the Bingham fluid fracture diffusion formula was derived, and field grouting tests and indoor model tests were carried out with soil–rock mixtures in the Chongqing area as the research object. The fracture grouting diffusion formula was verified and analyzed using the test data. The research results show that the theoretical calculation results of various working conditions are close to the actual test results (the error of indoor model test results is less than 3%, and the error of field test results is less than 5%). A Bingham fluid fracture diffusion formula has been developed that applies to various working conditions of fracture grouting of soil–rock mixtures and has a good prediction effect on the value of the fracture diffusion radius.
Multi-Objective Path Optimization of Highway-Railway Multimodal Transport Considering Carbon Emissions
Authors: Yang Luojun , Zhang Cheng , Wu Xu
Published: April 2023

With the increase in carbon emissions from railway transit, green transportation has attracted worldwide attention due to its low pollution and low consumption. In order to improve the transportation efficiency of multimodal transport and reduce carbon emissions, this paper makes a systematic study on the comprehensive optimization model and method of multiple transport tasks and transport modes considering carbon emissions. Firstly, an optimization model is established with transportation distance, transportation time, and carbon emission as transportation objectives. Secondly, an improved fuzzy adaptive genetic algorithm is designed to adaptively select crossover and mutation probabilities to optimize the path and transportation mode by using population variance. Finally, an example is designed, and the method proposed in this paper is compared with the ordinary genetic algorithm and adaptive genetic algorithm, which proves the proposed model and algorithm are effective. In conclusion, it is found that the present multi-objective optimization model based on the improved genetic algorithm can adjust multimodal transport plans and reduce carbon dioxide emissions, which provides a reference basis for logistics enterprises to carry out multimodal transport.
Understanding Seasonal Indoor Radon Variability from Data Collected with a LoRa-Enabled IoT Edge Device
Authors: Nunes Leonel J. R. , Curado António , Lopes Sérgio Ivan
Published: April 2023

The long-term assessment of radon (Rn) is a critical factor in evaluating the exposure risk faced by building occupants, and it plays a significant role in determining the implementation of Rn remediation strategies aimed at enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ). Meteorological parameters, such as temperature, relative humidity, and atmospheric pressure, as well as geological factors, such as soil properties, uranium content, rock formations, parent rock weathering, and water content, can significantly impact the assessment of Rn exposure risk and the selection of appropriate mitigation measures. A continuous monitoring campaign of a National Architectural Heritage building serving as a museum open to the public for a period of 546 consecutive days was conducted. The results of the in situ investigation revealed a broad range of seasonality in indoor Rn emission, with a negative correlation observed between Rn concentration and air temperature. The data indicated that indoor Rn concentration increases in the winter months as a result of reduced indoor air temperature and decreased air exchange, while it decreases in the summer months due to increased air temperature and enhanced natural ventilation. However, the implementation of high ventilation rates to improve IAQ may result in significant heat losses, thereby affecting the thermal comfort of building occupants during the winter months. Therefore, it is imperative to achieve a balance between ventilation practices and energy efficiency requirements to ensure both IAQ and thermal comfort for building occupants.
Configuration Origin Variants of Superior Thyroid, Lingual and Facial Arteries: A Proposal Updating of Current Classification
Authors: Zaccheo Fabrizio , Petroni Giulia , Guttadauro Alessandro , Passaretti Alfredo , Campogrande Maria Elisabetta , Tenore Gianluca , Mohsen Ahmed , Cicconetti Andrea
Published: April 2023

Background: The aim of this study was to identify variations in the origins of the anterior branches of the external carotid artery (ECA) and to propose an update of the current classification. Methods: The study included 100 carotids arteries from fifty human donors. Classification of anterior branches of external carotid artery was performed according to Vaz’quez et al. (2009). Results: The configuration origins of anterior branches were found as follows: Type I, 82%; Type II, 1%; Type III, 16%. No Type IV was observed. The study identified seven subgroups of anterior branch variations in the external carotid artery. The most frequently observed variations were Subtype Ia in 40% (n = 20) of cases on the right side and Subtype Ib in 38% (n = 19) on the left side. In addition, a rare and previously unclassified configuration was observed in a 72-year-old male donor, where the carotid artery was pentafurcated on the left side. Conclusions: In conclusion, the presence of anatomical variants not previously included in the anterior external carotid artery branching classifications supports the consideration of a revision to the present classification system.
Study on Kinematic Structure Performance and Machining Characteristics of 3-Axis Machining Center
Authors: Chan Tzu-Chi , Chang Chia-Chuan , Ullah Aman , Lin Han-Huei
Published: April 2023

The rigidity and natural frequency of machine tools considerably influence cutting and generate great forces when the tool is in contact with the workpiece. The poor static rigidity of these Vertical Machining Centre machines can cause deformations and destroy the workpiece. If the natural frequency of the machines is low or close to the commonly used cutting frequency, they vibrate considerably, resulting in poor workpiece surfaces and thus shortening the lifespan of the tool. The main objective of this study was to develop an experimental technique for measuring the effect of machine tool stiffness. The static rigidity of the X-axis was found to be 2.20 kg/μm, while the first-, second-, and third-order natural frequencies were 27.3, 34.4, and 48.3 Hz, respectively. When an external force of 1000 N was applied, the Y-axis motor load was found to be approximately 2740 N-mm. In this study, the finite element method was mainly used to analyze the structure, static force, modal, frequency spectrum, and transient state of machine tools. The results of the static analysis were verified and compared to the experimental results. The analysis model and conditions were modified to ensure that the analysis results were consistent with the experimental results. Multi-body dynamics analyses were conducted by examining the force of each component and casting of the machine tools and the load of the motor during the cutting stroke. Moreover, an external force was applied to simulate the load condition of the motor when the machine tool is cutting to confirm the feed. In this study, we used topology optimization for effective structural optimization designs. The optimal conditions for topology optimization included lightweight structures, which resulted in reduced structural deformation and increased natural frequency.
Design of OCC Indoor Positioning System Based on Flat Panel Light and Angle Sensor Assistance
Authors: Feng Man , Wang Yuru , Li Mingyang , Liu Shi , Huang Guolu , Li Ping
Published: April 2023

Visible light positioning (VLP) technology is a classic application of visible light communication (VLC), which inherits the advantages of VLC and applies it to the field of positioning. LED (light-emitting diode) is a type of light source. Because of its high brightness, aesthetically pleasing characteristics, and ease of installation, it is used in a variety of indoor lighting applications. However, most of the current VLP technology is still in the laboratory simulation stage and cannot be used in industry or life on a large scale due to various reasons, such as accuracy and cost. Because of the large size of LED flat panel lamps, there are almost no VLP applications with LED flat panel lamps as the emitting light source. Therefore, this paper proposes a VLP technology combining LED flat panel light and a barcode, with a single flat panel light at the transmitting end and a smartphone with a camera at the receiving end, to achieve fuzzy positioning. The paper further uses the angle sensor to assist in designing the “pseudo-two-light positioning” algorithm and selects 16 test points for experiments, and the average positioning error can reach a minimum of 6.5023 cm, achieving centimeter-level positioning accuracy requirements.
Electronic Life Cycle Monitoring System for Various Types of Lead Acid Batteries
Authors: Kavaliauskas Žydrūnas , Šajev Igor , Blažiūnas Giedrius , Gecevičius Giedrius
Published: April 2023

With the development of renewable sources of electricity, more and more attention is paid to electricity storage systems and their research. In order to make the research process of various types of batteries automatic, an automatic system for monitoring of the working characteristics and parameters of batteries was created. System management is based on the ATmega328 series microcontrollers. The system control program code and computer application were created using programming languages C and Delphi. The developed system is able to support the automated process of battery testing and to inform the operator about the deviations that have occurred by offering solutions. After the development of this system, a study of the charging and degradation process of four types of batteries was carried out. Four types of lead-based batteries (non-deep cycle battery, deep-cycle battery, GEL battery and AGM battery) were used for the research. Research has shown that GEL-type batteries have the highest number of life cycles, with the number of cycles reaching up to 750. This type of batteries is best suited for storing electricity obtained using renewable energy sources.
Potential Predictability of Seasonal Global Precipitation Associated with ENSO and MJO
Authors: Liu Haibo , Zheng Xiaogu , Yuan Jing , Frederiksen Carsten S.
Published: April 2023

A covariance decomposition method is applied to a monthly global precipitation dataset to decompose the interannual variability in the seasonal mean time series into an unpredictable component related to “weather noise” and to a potentially predictable component related to slowly varying boundary forcing and low-frequency internal dynamics. The “potential predictability” is then defined as the fraction of the total interannual variance accounted for by the latter component. In tropical oceans (30° E–0° W, 30° S–30° N), the consensus is that the El Nino-Southern Oscillation (ENSO, with 4–8 year cycles) is a dominant driver of the potentially predictable component, while the Madden-Julian Oscillation (MJO, with 30–90 days cycles) is a dominant driver of the unpredictable component. In this study, the consensus is verified by using the Nino3-4 SST index and a popular MJO index. It is confirmed that Nino3-4 SST does indeed explain a significant part of the potential predictable component, but only limited variability of the unpredictable component is explained by the MJO index. This raises the question of whether the MJO is dominant in the variability of the unpredictable component of the precipitation, or the current MJO indexes do not represent MJO variability well.
Disturbance Attenuation Trajectory Tracking Control of Unmanned Surface Vessel Subject to Measurement Biases
Authors: Yao Qijia , Jahanshahi Hadi , Liu Chengliang , Alotaibi Ahmed , Alsubaie Hajid
Published: April 2023

This article addresses trajectory tracking control of unmanned surface vessels (USVs) subject to position and velocity measurement biases. Unlike model uncertainties and external disturbances, measurement biases can lead to mismatched disturbances in system kinematics, rendering great difficulty to the USV control system design. To overcome this problem, a disturbance attenuation controller was recursively synthesized by incorporating two disturbance observers into the backstepping control design. The stability argument shows that all error signals in the closed-loop system can regulate to the small neighborhoods about the origin. The proposed controller has two remarkable features: (1) By adopting two disturbance observers to estimate the mismatched and matched lumped disturbances, the proposed controller is robust against model uncertainties and external disturbances and insensitive to measurement biases. (2) Meanwhile, the proposed controller is structurally simple and user friendly. Lastly, comparative simulations were conducted to validate the obtained results.
Analysis of Inertia Effect on Axisymmetric Squeeze Flow of Slightly Viscoelastic Fluid Film between Two Disks by Recursive Approach
Authors: Memon Muhammad , Shaikh Asif Ali , Shaikh Wajid A. , Siddiqui Abdul Majeed , Sahoo Soubhagya Kumar , De La Sen Manuel
Published: April 2023

In this study, we analyzed the inertia effect on the axisymmetric squeeze flow of slightly viscoelastic fluid film between two disks. A system of nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) in cylindrical coordinates, along with nonhomogenous boundary conditions, illustrates the phenomenon of fluid flow caused by squeezing with the inertia effect. The Langlois recursive approach was applied to obtain the analytical solution of the system having a stream function, axial and radial velocities, pressure distribution, normal and tangential stresses and normal squeeze force. These flow variables are also portrayed graphically to describe the effects of the Reynolds number and slightly viscoelastic parameter. The results show that by increasing the Reynolds number, the velocity profile decreases, and both the pressure distribution and shear stresses increase. Moreover, there is a small increase in normal squeeze force. When the slightly viscoelastic parameter approaches zero, the obtained solution of flow variables matches with the classical results. This study can be applied to understand the mechanism of load-bearing features in thrust bearings and in arthrodial human joint (knee and hip) diseases.
Grain Boundary Characterization and Potential Percolation of the Solid Electrolyte LLZO
Authors: Fu Shuo , Arinicheva Yulia , Hüter Claas , Finsterbusch Martin , Spatschek Robert
Published: April 2023

The influence of different processing routes and grain size distributions on the character of the grain boundaries in Li7La3Zr2O12 (LLZO) and the potential influence on failure through formation of percolating lithium metal networks in the solid electrolyte are investigated. Therefore, high quality hot-pressed Li7La3Zr2O12 pellets are synthesised with two different grain size distributions. Based on the electron backscatter diffraction measurements, the grain boundary network including the grain boundary distribution and its connectivity via triple junctions are analysed concerning potential Li plating along certain susceptible grain boundary clusters in the hot-pressed LLZO pellets. Additionally, the study investigates the possibility to interpret short-circuiting caused by Li metal plating or penetration in all-solid-state batteries through percolation mechanisms in the solid electrolyte microstructure, in analogy to grain boundary failure processes in metallic systems.
Engineering Cell–ECM–Material Interactions for Musculoskeletal Regeneration
Authors: Jones Calvin L. , Penney Brian T. , Theodossiou Sophia K.
Published: April 2023

The extracellular microenvironment regulates many of the mechanical and biochemical cues that direct musculoskeletal development and are involved in musculoskeletal disease. The extracellular matrix (ECM) is a main component of this microenvironment. Tissue engineered approaches towards regenerating muscle, cartilage, tendon, and bone target the ECM because it supplies critical signals for regenerating musculoskeletal tissues. Engineered ECM–material scaffolds that mimic key mechanical and biochemical components of the ECM are of particular interest in musculoskeletal tissue engineering. Such materials are biocompatible, can be fabricated to have desirable mechanical and biochemical properties, and can be further chemically or genetically modified to support cell differentiation or halt degenerative disease progression. In this review, we survey how engineered approaches using natural and ECM-derived materials and scaffold systems can harness the unique characteristics of the ECM to support musculoskeletal tissue regeneration, with a focus on skeletal muscle, cartilage, tendon, and bone. We summarize the strengths of current approaches and look towards a future of materials and culture systems with engineered and highly tailored cell–ECM–material interactions to drive musculoskeletal tissue restoration. The works highlighted in this review strongly support the continued exploration of ECM and other engineered materials as tools to control cell fate and make large-scale musculoskeletal regeneration a reality.
Metaverse and Healthcare: Machine Learning-Enabled Digital Twins of Cancer
Authors: Moztarzadeh Omid , Jamshidi Mohammad (Behdad) , Sargolzaei Saleh , Jamshidi Alireza , Baghalipour Nasimeh , Malekzadeh Moghani Mona , Hauer Lukas
Published: April 2023

Medical digital twins, which represent medical assets, play a crucial role in connecting the physical world to the metaverse, enabling patients to access virtual medical services and experience immersive interactions with the real world. One serious disease that can be diagnosed and treated using this technology is cancer. However, the digitalization of such diseases for use in the metaverse is a highly complex process. To address this, this study aims to use machine learning (ML) techniques to create real-time and reliable digital twins of cancer for diagnostic and therapeutic purposes. The study focuses on four classical ML techniques that are simple and fast for medical specialists without extensive Artificial Intelligence (AI) knowledge, and meet the requirements of the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) in terms of latency and cost. The case study focuses on breast cancer (BC), the second most prevalent form of cancer worldwide. The study also presents a comprehensive conceptual framework to illustrate the process of creating digital twins of cancer, and demonstrates the feasibility and reliability of these digital twins in monitoring, diagnosing, and predicting medical parameters.