bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construction and validation of a prognosis signature based on the immune microenvironment in gastric cancer
Authors: Wu Li-Hong , Wang Xiang-Xu , Wang Yan , Wei Jing , Liang Zi-Rong , Yan Xi , Wang Jun
Published: March 2023

Background

Gastric cancer (GC) is an aggressive malignant tumor with a high degree of heterogeneity, and its immune microenvironment is closely associated with tumor growth, development and drug resistance. Therefore, a classification system of gastric cancer based explicitly on the immune microenvironment context might enrich the strategy for gastric cancer prognosis and therapy.

Methods

A total of 668 GC patients were collected from TCGA-STAD (n = 350), GSE15459 (n = 192), GSE57303 (n = 70) and GSE34942 (n = 56) datasets. Three immune-related subtypes (immunity-H, -M, and -L) were identified by hierarchical cluster analysis based on the ssGSEA score of 29 immune microenvironment-related gene sets. The immune microenvironment-related prognosis signature (IMPS) was constructed via univariate Cox regression, Lasso-Cox regression and multivariate Cox regression, and nomogram model combining IMPS and clinical variables was further constructed by the “rms” package. RT-PCR was applied to validate the expression of 7 IMPS genes between two human GC cell lines (AGS and MKN45) and one normal gastric epithelial cell line (GES-1).

Results

The patients classified as immunity-H subtype exhibited highly expressed immune checkpoint and HLA-related genes, with enriched naïve B cells, M1 macrophages and CD8 T cells. We further constructed and validated a 7-gene (CTLA4, CLDN6, EMB, GPR15, ENTPD2, VWF and AKR1B1) prognosis signature, termed as IMPS. The patients with higher IMPS expression were more likely to be associated with higher pathology grade, more advanced TNM stages, higher T and N stage, and higher ratio of death. In addition, the prediction values of the combined nomogram in predicting 1-year (AUC = 0.750), 3-year (AUC = 0.764) and 5-year (AUC = 0.802) OS was higher than IMPS and individual clinical characteristics.

Conclusions

The IMPS is a novel prognosis signature associated with the immune microenvironment and clinical characteristics. The IMPS and the combined nomogram model provide a relatively reliable predictive index for predicting the survival outcomes of gastric cancer.
Reproduction and viscera organ characteristics of MSTN and FGF5 dual-gene knockout sheep
Authors: Chen Mingming , Zhao Yue , Li Yao , Chen Tiantian , Zhou Wendi , Zhang Xiaosheng , Deng Shoulong , Xu Xueling , Wu Sujun , Liu Zhimei , Qi Shiyu , Wang Luyu , Li Yan , Yu Kun , Lian Zhengxing
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Myostatin (MSTN) negatively regulates skeletal muscle development. However, its function in reproductive performance and visceral organs has not been thoroughly investigated. Previously, we prepared a MSTN and fibroblast growth factor 5 (FGF5) double-knockout sheep, which was a MSTN and FGF5 dual-gene biallelic homozygous (MF−/−) mutant.

Methods

To understand the role of MSTN and FGF5 in reproductive performance and visceral organs, this study evaluated the ejaculation amount, semen pH, sperm motility, sperm density, acrosome integrity, rate of teratosperm, and seminal plasma biochemical indicators in adult MF−/− rams. We also compared the overall morphology, head, head-neck junction, middle segment and the transection of middle segment of spermatozoa between wildtype (WT) and MF−/− rams.

Results

Our results showed that the seminal plasma biochemical indicators, sperm structure and all sperm indicators were normal, and the fertilization rate also has no significant difference between WT and MF−/− rams, indicating that the MF−/− mutation did not affect the reproductive performance of sheep. Additional analysis evaluated the histomorphology of the visceral organs, digestive system and reproductive system of MF+/− sheep, the F1 generation of MF−/−, at the age of 12 months. There was an increased spleen index, but no significant differences in the organ indexes of heart, liver, lung, kidney and stomach, and no obvious differences in the histomorphology of visceral organs, digestive system and reproductive system in MF+/− compared with WT sheep. No MF+/− sheep were observed to have any pathological features.

Discussion

In summary, the MSTN and FGF5 double-knockout did not affect reproductive performance, visceral organs and digestive system in sheep except for differences previously observed in muscle and fat. The current data provide a reference for further elucidating the application of MSTN and FGF5 double-knockout sheep.
Design and Experimental Study of the Key Components of a Rape (Brassica campestris) Shoots (Changxiangtai 603) Flexible Clamping Harvester
Authors: Xiong Dengyu , Wu Mingliang , Xie Wei , Luo Haifeng
Published: March 2023

In view of the current situation of the low degree of mechanized harvesting of rape shoots, combined with the study of the material characteristics of rape shoots, the core components of the harvester were designed and analyzed, and a rape shoots harvester was designed and manufactured. The front-end cutter of the harvester cuts the stalks of rape shoots, while the clamping and conveying device transports and steers the stalks flexibly to achieve low damage and orderly harvesting. The forward speed of the machine, the speed of the clamping belt and the clamping gap were selected as the test factors, while the rate of missed cut, missed clamping, and plant damage were selected as the evaluation indexes for the single-factor and response surface optimization tests. Field validation test showed that the machine could effectively cut and transport rape shoots at a forward speed, clamping belt speed and clamping gap of 0.42 m/s, 0.89 m/s and 11.43 mm, respectively (missed cut rate, 2.63%; missed clamp rate, 4.84%; and plant damage rate, 5.22%). This study provides a reference for the research and optimization of the flexible harvesting device for rape shoots.
Changes in Speciation and Bioavailability of Trace Elements in Sewage Sludge after the Ozonation Process
Authors: Szostek Małgorzata , Matłok Natalia , Kosowski Patryk , Ilek Anna , Balawejder Maciej
Published: March 2023

This work aimed to detect changes in trace element chemical speciation in sewage sludge (SS) after the ozonation process. The modified Community Bureau of Reference (BCR) sequential extraction procedure was performed to determine the chemical speciation of trace elements in SS after the ozonation process. To assess potential soil contamination with trace elements from sewage sludge after the ozonation process, the risk assessment code (RAC) coefficient was used. The bioaccumulation factor (BAF) and translocation factor (TF) values were also calculated to characterize the efficiency of trace element accumulation in the studied plant species from soil fertilized with sludges after the ozonation process. Generally, the mean concentration of total trace elements in the SS after the ozonation process was higher, but the differences were statistically significant only in the case of Mn, Cu, Pb, and Cd. The dominant fraction of Fe, Cr, Pb, and Cd was the residual fraction F4, while the extractable/exchangeable fraction F1 was present in the smallest amount. Therefore, in the case of Mn, Zn, and Ni, the ozonation process had a significant impact on the increase in the content of these elements in the F1 fraction. The application of the SS stabilized by ozonation process for maize and wheat fertilization did not significantly affect the bioaccumulation of most of the analyzed metals in aboveground biomass. Higher values of BAF coefficients after the application of ozonated SS were found only in the case of Cu and Ni. In turn, the determined TF coefficients were lower than 1 in most cases. The obtained results showed that the slight change in the concentration of Zn, Mn, and Ni in fraction F1 causes a specific risk of their mobility in the soil environment. It should be noted that due to the variable composition of sewage sludge, an analysis of the content of individual trace elements in chemical fractions should be carried out to assess its actual impact on the environment. This can help to indicate further actions that should be undertaken to limit their negative impact on the environment.
Optimizing the Amount of Nitrogen and Seed Inoculation to Improve the Quality and Yield of Soybean Grown in the Southeastern Baltic Region
Authors: Panasiewicz Katarzyna , Faligowska Agnieszka , Szymańska Grażyna , Ratajczak Karolina , Sulewska Hanna
Published: March 2023

The cultivation of soybeans, especially where this species has not been grown in large areas, requires the determination of the optimal mineral nitrogen fertilization and seed inoculation with Bradyrhizobium japonicum. The purpose of the study was to determine the optimal dose of mineral N fertilization and seed inoculation treatments with B. japonicum under field conditions in the southeastern Baltic region. The objective of this study was to achieve nitrogen supply and/or inoculation with B. japonicum: check-0 kg N ha−1, 30 kg N ha−1, 60 kg N ha−1, HiStick® Soy + 0 kg N ha−1, Nitroflora + 0 kg N ha−1, HiStick® Soy + 30 kg N ha−1, HiStick® Soy + 60 kg N ha−1, Nitroflora + 30 kg N ha−1, Nitroflora + 60 kg N ha−1. Higher yields of seeds, protein and fat were found after application HiStick® Soy compared to Nitorflora. The inoculation with B. japonicum together with nitrogen fertilization improved crude protein content in seeds, biometrical features, yield components and especially the seed yield of ‘Aldana’ soybean. The highest seed yield was found after the application of HiStick® Soy and nitrogen fertilization in doses 30 kg N ha−1 or 60 kg N ha−1. Compared to the control, combined B. japonicum inoculation and nitrogen fertilization in soybean cultivation proved to be a significant factor in improving the productivity of this species in southeastern Baltic conditions.
Decision Support System for Selecting Mung Bean Cultivation Sites in Central Thailand Based on Soil Suitability Class
Authors: Phankamolsil Napaporn , Chungopast Sirinapa , Sonsri Kiattisak , Duangkamol Kridsopon , Polfukfang Suwicha , Somta Prakit
Published: March 2023

Information to aid the selection of suitable cultivated areas remains meager for mung bean, despite it being a socio-economically important legume crop in Thailand. Hence, a user-friendly soil assessment tool is required to help properly choose planting areas. We aimed to provide a decision support system for mung bean cultivation in central Thailand. Soil suitability classes were performed using relevant factors and data essential for mung bean cultivation in 22 provinces in central Thailand. A decision support system was developed as soil map and mobile phone application using data based on soil suitability classes. Information of mung bean growth and yield grown in experimental fields with different soil suitability classes was used for preliminary validation. The main areas were very suitable (S1) and moderately suitable (S3) for mung bean plantation, accounting for 1,319,841 and 1,327,804 ha, respectively. The number of pods per plant and yield per plant of mung bean were higher in S1 areas (12.83–16.65 pods per plant and 8.35–12.43 g/plant, respectively) than in S3 areas. The mung bean yield was also greater in S1 areas (1613.8–2158.7 kg/ha) than in S3 areas (735.8–1138.6 kg/ha). The findings suggest the possibility of using developed decision support system.
Effect of Prior Antibiotic Use on Culture Results in People with Diabetes and Foot Osteomyelitis
Authors: Gramberg Meryl Cinzía Tila Tamara , Van Hattem Jarne Marijn , Dijkstra Jacob Albert , Dros Emma , Nieuwdorp Max , Sabelis Louise Willy Elizabeth , Peters Edgar Josephus Gerardus
Published: March 2023

Background: Antibiotic use prior to biopsy acquisition in people with diabetes and osteomyelitis of the foot (DFO) might influence bacterial yield in cultures or induce bacterial resistance. Obtaining reliable culture results is pivotal to guide antibiotics for conservative treatment of DFO. Methods: We prospectively analysed cultures of ulcer bed and percutaneous bone biopsies of people with DFO and investigated if antibiotics administered prior to (<2 months up to 7 days) biopsy acquisition led to more negative cultures or increased resistance in virulent bacteria. We calculated relative risks (RR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). We stratified analyses according to biopsy type (ulcer bed or bone). Results: We analysed bone and ulcer bed biopsies of 64 people, of whom 29 received prior antibiotics, and found that prior antibiotics did not lead to a higher risk of at least one negative culture (RR 1.3, (CI 0.8–2.0), nor did prior treatment increase the risk of a specific type of negative culture (RR for bone cultures 1.15, (CI 0.75–1.7), RR for ulcer bed cultures 0.92 (CI 0.33–2.6)) or both cultures (RR 1.3 (CI 0.35–4.7), and neither did it increase the risk of antibiotic resistance in the combined bacterial results of ulcer bed and bone cultures (RR 0.64, (CI 0.23–1.8)). Conclusions: Antibiotics administered up to 7 days before obtaining biopsies in people with DFO do not influence culture yield regardless of biopsy type, nor are they associated with more antibiotic resistance.
A Meta-Analysis of Preclinical Studies to Investigate the Effect of Panax ginseng on Alcohol-Associated Liver Disease
Authors: Yang Keungmo , Ryu Tom , Chung Beom Sun
Published: March 2023

Alcohol-associated liver disease (ALD) has become a major global concern, but the development of effective drugs remains a challenge despite numerous preclinical and clinical pieces of research on the effects of natural compounds. To address this, a meta-analysis was conducted on the efficacy of Panax ginseng for ALD based on preclinical studies. We identified 18 relevant studies from PubMed, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library database and evaluated their methodological quality using the Systematic Review Centre for Laboratory animal Experimentation tool. We analyzed the data using I2, p-values, and fixed effects models to assess overall efficacy and heterogeneity. The results of the meta-analysis suggested that Panax ginseng treatment is effective in reducing the levels of inflammatory markers associated with hepatic injury caused by ALD in animal experiments. Additionally, the administration of Panax ginseng was found to down-regulate inflammatory cytokines and attenuate lipid metabolism in ALD. Moreover, Panax ginseng markedly improved the antioxidant systems in ALD. Therefore, we concluded that Panax ginseng has the potential to be a promising therapeutic agent for ALD. Further research is needed to confirm these findings and to determine the optimal dosage and duration of treatment for patients with ALD.
Rhodanese-Fold Containing Proteins in Humans: Not Just Key Players in Sulfur Trafficking
Authors: Alsohaibani Razan , Claudel Anne-Lise , Perchat-Varlet Romain , Boutserin Séverine , Talfournier François , Boschi-Muller Sandrine , Selles Benjamin
Published: March 2023

The Rhodanese-fold is a ubiquitous structural domain present in various protein subfamilies associated with different physiological functions or pathophysiological conditions in humans. Proteins harboring a Rhodanese domain are diverse in terms of domain architecture, with some representatives exhibiting one or several Rhodanese domains, fused or not to other structural domains. The most famous Rhodanese domains are catalytically active, thanks to an active-site loop containing an essential cysteine residue which allows for catalyzing sulfur transfer reactions involved in sulfur trafficking, hydrogen sulfide metabolism, biosynthesis of molybdenum cofactor, thio-modification of tRNAs or protein urmylation. In addition, they also catalyse phosphatase reactions linked to cell cycle regulation, and recent advances proposed a new role into tRNA hydroxylation, illustrating the catalytic versatility of Rhodanese domain. To date, no exhaustive analysis of Rhodanese containing protein equipment from humans is available. In this review, we focus on structural and biochemical properties of human-active Rhodanese-containing proteins, in order to provide a picture of their established or putative key roles in many essential biological functions.
An Image Recommendation Algorithm Based on Target Alternating Attention and User Affiliation Network
Authors: Wan Shanshan , Yang Shuyue , Liu Ying , Ding Jiaqi , Qiu Dongwei , Wei Chuyuan
Published: March 2023

Currently, how to exploit the deep features of images in image recommender systems to achieve image enhancement still needs further research. In addition, little research has explored the implicit and increasing preferences of users by using the affiliation generated by indirect users and virtual users of the main users, which leads to the phenomenon of information cocoon. An Image Recommendation Algorithm Based on Target Alternating Attention and User Affiliation Network (TAUA) is proposed in this paper that addresses the problems of inadequate extraction of semantic features in an image and information cocoon in image recommender systems. First, to complete the multi-dimensional description of the image, we extract the category, color, and style features of the image through a multi-channel convolutional neural network (MCNN), and we then perform migration and integration on these features. Then, to enhance the pixel-level representation ability of the image and achieve image feature enhancement, we propose target alternating attention to capture the information of surrounding pixels alternately from inside to outside. Finally, a user affiliation network, including indirect users and virtual users, is established according to the user behavior and transaction record, and the users’ increasing preferences and affiliated users are mined through the implicit interaction relationship of users. Experimental results show that compared with baselines on the Amazon dataset, the results of F@10, NDCG@10, and AUC of the proposed algorithm are 4.02%, 5.00%, and 2.14% higher than those of ACF, and 5.76%, 0.86% and 1.16% higher than those of VPOI. On the Flickr dataset, our algorithm outperforms ACF by 5.74%, 5.12%, and 3.68% in F@10, NDCG@10, and AUC, respectively, and outperforms VPOI by 0.45%, 0.47%, and 0.49%. TAUA has better recommendation performance and can significantly improve the recommendation effect.
Feasibility of Conventional Non-Destructive Testing Methods in Detecting Embedded FRP Reinforcements
Authors: Malla Pranit , Khedmatgozar Dolati Seyed Saman , Ortiz Jesus D. , Mehrabi Armin B. , Nanni Antonio , Dinh Kien
Published: March 2023

Fiber-Reinforced Polymer (FRP) bars/strands are the most promising alternative to their steel counterparts for reinforcing concrete elements due to their resistance to corrosion, lighter weight, higher strength and better durability. However, very limited research has been conducted in relation to non-destructive testing (NDT) methods that are applicable to damage detection in FRP bars or the detection of FRP reinforcements embedded in concrete. The ability to assess the condition of the relatively new and unique FRP reinforcements will increase the confidence of the construction industry in their use as a reliable substitute for steel reinforcements. This paper investigates the ability of two of the most commonly used NDT methods, Ground Penetrating Radar (GPR) and Phased Array Ultrasonic (PAU), in detecting FRP bars/strands embedded in concrete elements. GPR and PAU tests were performed on two slab specimens reinforced with GFRP (Glass-FRP) bars, the most commonly used FRP bar, with variations in their depth, size and configuration, and a slab specimen with different types of available FRP reinforcements. The results show that GPR devices can detect GFRP bars/strands and CFRP (Carbon-FRP) strands to some extent, and their detectability increases with the increase in their antenna center frequency. On the contrary, PAU is only capable of detecting GFRP and CFRP strands. The results of this paper also emphasize the need for further research and developments related to NDT applications to embedded FRP bars.
Multiscale Design of Graded Stochastic Cellular Structures for the Heat Transfer Problem
Authors: Chen Lianxiong , Zhang Ran , Chu Xihua , Liu Hui
Published: March 2023

Advancesin additive manufacturing technology have expanded the development prospect of structures with complex configurations. Cellular structures have been a hot research topic in recent years for their superior performance and characteristics, such as being lightweight and having high specific strength and good permeability. With a high specific surface area, cellular structures perform noticeably well in heat transfer applications when subjected to a body heat source. In this paper, a scale-separated multiscale design of theVoronoi graded stochastic cellular structure (Voronoi-GSCS) that considers the heat transfer problem is proposed. The design method is composed of three steps: the offline calculation on the microscale, the online optimization on the macroscale, and geometry reconstruction on the full scale. Numerical examples are given to show the effectiveness and superiority of the developed method for designing the Voronoi-GSCS. The results obtained by the solid isotropic material with penalization (SIMP) approach are used for comparison. The size effect analysis was conducted to research the influence of the size of the microstructure on the Voronoi-GSCS. It should be stressed that the smallest struts were larger than the minimum print size of the additive manufacturing so that the Voronoi-GSCS could be conveniently exploited in heat transfer applications.
Synthetized Multilanguage OCR Using CRNN and SVTR Models for Realtime Collaborative Tools
Authors: Biró Attila , Cuesta-Vargas Antonio Ignacio , Martín-Martín Jaime , Szilágyi László , Szilágyi Sándor Miklós
Published: March 2023

Background: Remote diagnosis using collaborative tools have led to multilingual joint working sessions in various domains, including comprehensive health care, and resulting in more inclusive health care services. One of the main challenges is providing a real-time solution for shared documents and presentations on display to improve the efficacy of noninvasive, safe, and far-reaching collaborative models. Classic optical character recognition (OCR) solutions fail when there is a mixture of languages or dialects or in case of the participation of different technical levels and skills. Due to the risk of misunderstandings caused by mistranslations or lack of domain knowledge of the interpreters involved, the technological pipeline also needs artificial intelligence (AI)-supported improvements on the OCR side. This study examines the feasibility of machine learning-supported OCR in a multilingual environment. The novelty of our method is that it provides a solution not only for different speaking languages but also for a mixture of technological languages, using artificially created vocabulary and a custom training data generation approach. Methods: A novel hybrid language vocabulary creation method is utilized in the OCR training process in combination with convolutional recurrent neural networks (CRNNs) and a single visual model for scene text recognition within the patch-wise image tokenization framework (SVTR). Data: In the research, we used a dedicated Python-based data generator built on dedicated collaborative tool-based templates to cover and simulated the real-life variances of remote diagnosis and co-working collaborative sessions with high accuracy. The generated training datasets ranged from 66 k to 8.5 M in size. Twenty-one research results were analyzed. Instruments: Training was conducted by using tuned PaddleOCR with CRNN and SVTR modeling and a domain-specific, customized vocabulary. The Weight & Biases (WANDB) machine learning (ML) platform is used for experiment tracking, dataset versioning, and model evaluation. Based on the evaluations, the training dataset was adjusted by using a different language corpus or/and modifications applied to templates. Results: The machine learning models recognized the multilanguage/hybrid texts with high accuracy. The highest precision scores achieved are 90.25%, 91.35%, and 93.89%. Conclusions: machine learning models for special multilanguages, including languages with artificially made vocabulary, perform consistently with high accuracy.
A Case Series on Intraoral Blue Nevi with a Literature Review-Based Clinico-Pathologic Comparison of Intraoral Blue Nevi with Other Oral Melanocytic Nevi
Authors: Jayasooriya Primali. R. , Mendis B. Ranjit. R. N. , Lombardi Tommaso
Published: March 2023

Nevi are pigmented lesions of bluish-black colour that may occasionally occur in the oral cavity. Out of several oral melanocytic nevi (OMN), blue nevi are significant as some variants are diagnostically challenging due to histopathological overlap with malignant melanoma. The aim of the present report was to present the clinico-pathologic characteristics of 8 new cases of intraoral common blue nevi and 22 OMN. A literature review-based comparison of the clinico-pathological characteristics of intraoral blue nevi with intramucosal nevi is presented. Analysis of the clinico-pathologic characteristics of eight common blue nevi revealed that they are generally small lesions of less than 1 cm in size and are of bluish-black colouration. These lesions were commonly identified in adults (88%), with a female predilection. The hard palate was the most common site of occurrence. These findings could be collaborated with the findings observed in the literature review. It was also revealed that a common blue nevus was the second most common lesion among all OMN. The intraoral common blue nevi included in the present series did not show recurrences or undergo malignant transformation after being followed up for up to 15 years. Unlike a common blue nevus, the literature reveals that a cellular blue nevus or its atypical variant is more diagnostically challenging, while a diagnosis of an epithelioid blue nevus should be followed up with investigations to exclude Carney complex. In conclusion, this case series and literature review reveal that OMN, including intraoral common blue nevi, are small indolent lesions with extremely low malignant transformation potential. A significantly smaller size, well-defined margins and lack of variegations in colour are all features that could be used as clues to differentiate intraoral common blue nevi from mucosal malignant melanoma. However, the diagnosis needs to be confirmed with histopathology.
A Robust and Effective Two-Factor Authentication (2FA) Protocol Based on ECC for Mobile Computing
Authors: Liu Kaijun , Zhou Zhou , Cao Qiang , Xu Guosheng , Wang Chenyu , Gao Yuan , Zeng Weikai , Xu Guoai
Published: March 2023

The rapid development of mobile computing (e.g., mobile health, mobile payments, and smart homes) has brought great convenience to our lives. It is well-known that the security and privacy of user information from these applications and services is critical. Without the prevention provided by an authentication mechanism, safety vulnerabilities may accumulate, such as illegal intrusion access resulting in data leakage and fraudulent abuse. Luckily, the two-factor authentication (2FA) protocols can secure access and communication for mobile computing. As we understand it, existing 2FA authentication protocols weaken security in the pursuit of high efficiency. How efficiency can be achieved while preserving the protocol’s security remains a challenge. In this study, we designed a robust and effective 2FA protocol based on elliptic curve cryptography (ECC) for authentication of users and service providers. We proved the robustness (respectively, the effectiveness) of the presented protocol with the heuristic analysis and security verification provided by the ProVerif tool (respectively, with a performance comparison based on six schemes). Performance comparisons in terms of message rounds, communication, and computation overheads showed that our scheme was superior to the exiting schemes or comparable as a whole; i.e., only two rounds, 1376 bits, and 1.818 ms were required in our scheme, respectively. The evaluation results showed that the proposed 2FA protocol provides a better balance between security and availability compared to state-of-the-art protocols.
EM Scattering of A Target above Canyon/Valley Environment Based on Composite Rough Surface Modeling Method and Modified SBR-FBSSA Algorithm
Authors: Wang Yijin , Tong Chuangming , Wang Tong , Li Ximin , Wang Qingkuan , Wang Zhaolong
Published: March 2023

The composite electromagnetic (EM) scattering characteristics from a target above a canyon/valley environment are significant. Aiming to acquire the composite EM scattering efficiently and accurately, the framework of the canyon/valley environment modeling method and modified shooting and bouncing rays (SBR) hybrid with facet-based small slope approximation (FBSSA) algorithm is investigated. Firstly, the canyon/valley environment containing two slopes and a bottom modeling method is proposed. Then, considering the environment’s roughness, the modified SBR algorithm introduced by the high-order reflection model is proposed. Combined with the FBSSA, the modified SBR-FBSSA algorithm is an efficient and accurate method to predict composite EM scattering based on numerical verification. Finally, the effects of different surface types, roughness, slope angles, and incident-pitch and azimuth angles on the composite EM scattering characteristics are further analyzed. The work presented in this article provides a way to study the composite EM scattering from a target above the canyon/valley environment. Meanwhile, the complex scattering mechanism is revealed, and some valuable conclusions are put forward based on the physical phenomena.
Translational Echocardiography: The Dog as a Clinical Research Model of Cardiac Dysfunction
Authors: Flores Dueñas Cesar Augusto , Cordero Yañez Ignacio Alonso , González Roberto Mujica , Herrera Ramírez José Carlomán , Montaño Gómez Martín Francisco , Gaxiola Camacho Soila Maribel , García Reynoso Issa Carolina
Published: March 2023

Heart disease is a major contributor to mortality and disability on a global scale. Hence, there is a need for research to improve non-invasive diagnostic techniques. Diseases in dogs with characteristics very similar to those of human pathologies hold promise as a source of data for evaluating and developing echocardiographic techniques and devices. Methods: We conducted a structured literature search from June 2022 to January 2023 to evaluate the relevance of dogs as a translational model for echocardiographic clinical research. We searched various academic databases, including PubMed Central (PMC), Core, DIGITAL.CSIC, DOAB, DOAJ, EBSCO host, Elsevier B.V, Redib, Scopus, and Web of Science, available through the Academic Information System of the Autonomous University of Baja California. Results: Out of the 243 articles initially screened, we identified 119 relevant articles that met our inclusion criteria for further analysis. This review is an introduction to the canine model by analyzing the cardiovascular anatomical similarities between the two species, the pathophysiological overlaps in some diseases, the parallels in echocardiographic techniques in dogs compared to humans, and the suitability of dogs with a naturally occurring cardiac disease as a model for translational clinical research compared to other animal species. Conclusions: This review emphasizes the importance of canine patients as an ideal cardiac disease symmetrical clinical model since they share common heart diseases with humans. Furthermore, dogs have a shorter lifespan, leading to the relatively rapid evolution of these diseases, which makes studying these pathologies and developing echocardiographic techniques more feasible. The results strongly indicate the need for interdisciplinary collaboration and translational medical research to create innovative echocardiographic technologies and improve the connection between veterinary and human cardiac imaging research.
Stability Study of the Roof Plate of the Yuanjue Cave Based on the Equivalent Support Stiffness Method
Authors: Hou Yongli , Zhang Jiabing , Li Bin , Gong Yifei , Xu Yingze , Wang Meng , Zhu Chun
Published: March 2023

As precious cultural heritage sites, the state of preservation of cave temples is closely related to the geological and climatic conditions in which they are located. This paper constructed an analytical method of sized slate stability based on the equivalent support stiffness method. The stability analysis of the roof slab of Yuanjue Cave was carried out by establishing a three-dimensional numerical calculation model. Through comparative analysis of the results of stress and displacement fields under different conditions, the stress and deformation characteristics of the roof slab of Yuanjue Cave were revealed, as well as the study of the main factors affecting the stability of the roof slab of Yuanjue Cave and the key slate to be monitored. The main research results are as follows. The stress deformation of the roof plate of Yuanjue cave is mainly divided into the initial uniform change stage, the medium-term stable change stage or the medium-term accelerated change stage, and the later rapid change stage. With the increase in the number of overhanging and broken slates and the increase in the damage factor of cracked slates, the vertical stress extremum of the stones increases continuously, and the equivalent support stiffness decreases, which aggravates the uneven stress deformation of the roof of the Yuanjue Cave. This study provides a reliable reference basis for the stability analysis and evaluation of the roof slab of a large number of cave temples existing in the Sichuan and Chongqing areas in China.
Weld Cross-Section Profile Fitting and Geometric Dimension Measurement Method Based on Machine Vision
Authors: He Weilong , Zhang Aihua , Wang Ping
Published: March 2023

A visual measurement method based on a key point detection network is proposed for the difficulty of fitting the cross-sectional profile of ultra-narrow gap welds and the low efficiency and accuracy of manual measurement of geometric parameters. First, the HRnet (High-Resolution Net) key point detection algorithm was used to train the feature point detection model, and 18 profile feature points in a “measurement unit” were extracted. Secondly, the feature point coordinates are transformed from the image coordinate system to the weld coordinate system, and the weld profiles are fitted by the least squares method. Finally, the measurement system is calibrated with a coplanar linear calibration algorithm to perform pixel distance to actual distance conversion for quantitative detection of geometric dimensions. The experimental results show that the accuracy of the proposed method for key point localization is 95.6%, the mean value of the coefficient of determination R-square for curve fitting is greater than 94%, the absolute error of measurement is between 0.06 and 0.15 mm, and the relative error is between 1.27% and 3.12%. The measurement results are more reliable, and the efficiency is significantly improved compared to manual measurement.
The Application of Fuzzy Mathematics in the Optimization of the Recipe of Filling Paste for Coal Mine Backfill
Authors: Lian Fengmei , Jin Jiaxu , Zhao Jihe
Published: March 2023

Backfill is a very important technology that can be used to reduce the environmental footprints resulting from coal mining. The selection of proper filling materials is of great significance to the operation cost and the stability of the goaf. This paper investigated the feasibility of using the coal gangue as the main component of the filling paste so as to reuse the byproducts in coal mining to the maximum extent. The filling pastes were composed of coal gangue as the aggregates, cement or gypsum as cementitious materials, and some additives. In order to determine the optimal recipe, the performances of filling pastes were first comprehensively evaluated according to their fluidity, mechanical properties, shrinkage, and permeability. The results showed that cement content was the most influential factor, while the fly ash addition was the weakest factor for the performance of filling pastes. Moreover, the appropriate use of a water reducer and expansion agent improved the working performance of the paste. Based on the performances of filling pastes, the fuzzy mathematics evaluation method was then used to establish the weight vector and index vector. The principle of maximum membership degree and the principle of maximum closeness were used to identify the identified objects and find the best recipe for the filling paste. The results showed that this evaluation method could fully reflect the influence of various factors and provide accurate evaluation results.
Short-Term Power Load Forecasting Based on an EPT-VMD-TCN-TPA Model
Authors: Zan Shifa , Zhang Qiang
Published: March 2023

Accurate short-term load forecasting is the key to ensuring smooth and efficient power system operation and power market dispatch planning. However, the nonlinear, non-stationary, and time series nature of load sequences makes load forecasting difficult. To address these problems, this paper proposes a short-term load forecasting method (EPT-VMD-TCN-TPA) based on the hybrid decomposition of load sequences, which combines ensemble patch transform (EPT), variational modal decomposition (VMD), a temporal convolutional network (TCN), and a temporal pattern attention mechanism (TPA). In which, the trend component (Tr(t)) and the residual fluctuation component (Re(t)) of the load series are extracted using EPT, and then the Re(t) component is decomposed into intrinsic modal function components (IMFs) of different frequencies using VMD. The Tr(t) and IMFs components of the fused meteorological data are predicted separately by the TCN-TPA prediction model, and finally, the prediction results of each component are reconstructed and superimposed to obtain the final predicted value of the load. In addition, experiments after reconstructing each IMF component according to the fuzzy entropy (FE) values are discussed in this paper. To evaluate the performance of the proposed method in this paper, we used datasets from two Areas of the 9th Mathematical Modeling Contest in China. The experimental results show that the predictive precision of the EPT-VMD-TCN-TPA model outperforms other comparative models. More specifically, the experimental results of the EPT-VMD-TCN-TPA method had a MAPE of 1.25% and 1.58% on Area 1 and Area 2 test sets, respectively.
Physicochemical Characteristics of Pork Liver Pâtés Containing Nonthermal Air Plasma-Treated Egg White as an Alternative Source of Nitrite
Authors: Marcinkowska-Lesiak Monika , Alirezalu Kazem , Stelmasiak Adrian , Wojtasik-Kalinowska Iwona , Onopiuk Anna , Szpicer Arkadiusz , Poltorak Andrzej
Published: March 2023

The use of nonthermal air plasma is rapidly becoming a novel technology as an alternative source of nitrites in the meat industry. As egg white is a versatile and cost-effective ingredient commonly used to improve the texture of meat products, the effect of its addition after plasma treatment (PTEW) on the yield, pH, residual nitrite, nitrosyl hemochrome, TBARS, color, texture parameters, and aroma profile of pork liver pâtés was studied. The nitrite ion content of plasma-activated egg whites was adjusted to the positive controls containing 60 ppm (PC1) and 120 ppm (PC2) sodium nitrite by modifying the duration of their plasma treatment (PTEW1 and PTEW2, respectively). A group without the addition of nitrites was also manufactured (NC). Each treatment (NC, PC1, PC2, PTEW1, PTEW2) was analyzed on days 1, 3, 5, and 7 of storage at 4 °C. The results showed that liver pâtés containing plasma-treated egg whites had a similar nitrite and nitrosyl hemochrome content compared to samples containing the same amount of nitrite ions derived from sodium nitrite (p ≥ 0.05). In addition, 40 ppm nitrite ions, regardless of the source, was sufficient to achieve the desired reddish-pink color of the product over the entire storage period. Both nitrites from sodium nitrite and plasma-treated egg whites also significantly reduced lipid oxidation compared to the NC group (between 10% and 23% reduction on the last day), but had no significant effect on yield, pH, and texture parameters of the products. Based on the principal component analysis (PCA), the aroma profile of pâtés differed significantly between the groups with and without nitrites, with the largest differences observed on the first day (approx. 88%). Importantly, PTEW1 and PTEW2 aroma after production was similar to group PC2. The results of our study suggest that plasma-activated egg whites can be used as a potential source of nitrite in liver pâté production without adversely affecting the technological properties and shelf life of the final product.
Physicochemical and Sensory Properties of Bahulu and Chocolate Mousse Developed from Canned Pulse and Vegetable Liquids
Authors: Donatus Floris , Sintang Mohd Dona Bin , Julmohammad Norliza , Pindi Wolyna , Ab Wahab Noorakmar
Published: March 2023

Egg white is the most commonly used foaming agent in various aerated foods. Malaysia has been experiencing an egg crisis due to lower production and increased egg consumption rates since the COVID-19 restrictions were lifted. Thus, finding an alternative functional ingredient to address the egg shortage is essential. Liquids discarded from commercially plant-based canned foods have the potential to replace eggs in food products as an alternative foaming agent. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the physicochemical and sensory properties of bahulu and chocolate mousse using canned liquids of green peas (pulses N and P), lentils (pulse R), chickpeas (pulse X), button mushrooms (vegetable A), and straw mushrooms (Vegetable D). Canned liquids were incorporated into bahulu and mousse formulations to replace egg whites. The developed bahulu and mousse were baked for 25 min at 180 °C and chilled for 3 hours at 4 °C, respectively. The texture profile of bahulu and the viscosity properties of the chocolate mousse were determined in this study. Furthermore, the research examines the proximate analysis and sensory acceptance of both products. According to the findings, bahulu A, produced from canned vegetable liquids, had the lowest hardness, springiness, and chewiness (p < 0.05) levels. In contrast, canned pulse liquid, which was used in bahulu N, produced comparable hardness, fracturability, adhesiveness, springiness, cohesiveness, and chewiness with the control sample (p > 0.05). Moreover, the viscosity values of mousses A (2238.33 ± 2.89 cP) and D (2778.33 ± 2.89 cP) were lower than the control mousse (8005.00 ± 0.00 cP) (p < 0.05). Bahulu and mousse contain 6.58–6.83% and 1.52–1.90% of protein, respectively. The protein content of canned pulse liquid products was higher than that of canned vegetable liquids (p < 0.05). The lowest taste acceptance was observed in samples Bahulu N and P as well as mousses N and P (p < 0.05). This outcome could be due to the saltiness derived from the canned green pea liquid. The appearance, odor, and overall acceptability of the bahulu and mousse were comparable to the control samples and well-accepted by the panelists (p > 0.05). The findings demonstrate that canned pulse liquids (green peas, lentils, and chickpeas) can potentially mimic egg white in the development of bahulu and chocolate mousse.
Measurement Repeatability of Rail Wheel Loads Caused by Rolling Surface Damages
Authors: Vaičiūnas Gediminas , Bureika Gintautas , Steišūnas Stasys
Published: March 2023

The repeatability of rail wheel damage measurements is considered in this study. The authors investigated the measurement repeatability of vertical force dependence on wheel-rolling surface damage nature and suggested ways to reach higher repeatability. To investigate wheel-rolling surface damage impact on vertical force measurement repeatability, the results of measuring forces with different measurement systems were compared first. Another critical issue was estimating the deviation field for the measured force values. The box and whisker principles were used. Different types (shapes) of rail wheel damages and rolling stock operating conditions were examined by field tests. The article presents the dependence determined by the authors, and how the repeatability of the wheel damage measurement depends on the speed of the rolling stock.
Evaluating the Impact of Urban Microclimate on Buildings’ Heating and Cooling Energy Demand Using a Co-Simulation Approach
Authors: Tsoka Stella
Published: March 2023

The current research proposes an integrated computational method to consider the effect of the urban microclimate and the higher urban air temperatures on the assessment of urban building energy demands on an annual basis. A one-way coupling procedure is established to generate datasets on typical weather years that can capture the particularities of the urban microclimate as a function of their morphological and geometrical characteristics, thus providing a global perspective of the annual building energy performance at a reasonable computational cost. The proposed simulation method, here applied for an energy performance analysis of generic, non-insulated building units located in four different urban sites of Thessaloniki, Greece, is based on the three tools: (a) the ENVI-met v.4 microclimate model, (b) the Meteonorm weather generator and (c) the dynamic BEPS tool EnergyPlus. The obtained simulation results indicate a decrease in the annual heating energy needs of the examined building units of 8.2–11.5% when the effect of urban warming was accounted for, along with a rise in the annual cooling energy needs of between 13.4 and 28.2%, depending on the case study area.
Reliability of Retinal Layer Annotation with a Novel, High-Resolution Optical Coherence Tomography Device: A Comparative Study
Authors: von der Emde Leon , Saßmannshausen Marlene , Morelle Olivier , Rennen Geena , Holz Frank G. , Wintergerst Maximilian W. M. , Ach Thomas
Published: March 2023

Optical coherence tomography (OCT) enables in vivo diagnostics of individual retinal layers in the living human eye. However, improved imaging resolution could aid diagnosis and monitoring of retinal diseases and identify potential new imaging biomarkers. The investigational high-resolution OCT platform (High-Res OCT; 853 nm central wavelength, 3 µm axial-resolution) has an improved axial resolution by shifting the central wavelength and increasing the light source bandwidth compared to a conventional OCT device (880 nm central wavelength, 7 µm axial-resolution). To assess the possible benefit of a higher resolution, we compared the retest reliability of retinal layer annotation from conventional and High-Res OCT, evaluated the use of High-Res OCT in patients with age-related macular degeneration (AMD), and assessed differences of both devices on subjective image quality. Thirty eyes of 30 patients with early/intermediate AMD (iAMD; mean age 75 ± 8 years) and 30 eyes of 30 age-similar subjects without macular changes (62 ± 17 years) underwent identical OCT imaging on both devices. Inter- and intra-reader reliability were analyzed for manual retinal layer annotation using EyeLab. Central OCT B-scans were graded for image quality by two graders and a mean-opinion-score (MOS) was formed and evaluated. Inter- and intra-reader reliability were higher for High-Res OCT (greatest benefit for inter-reader reliability: ganglion cell layer; for intra-reader reliability: retinal nerve fiber layer). High-Res OCT was significantly associated with an improved MOS (MOS 9/8, Z-value = 5.4, p < 0.01) mainly due to improved subjective resolution (9/7, Z-Value 6.2, p < 0.01). The retinal pigment epithelium drusen complex showed a trend towards improved retest reliability in High-Res OCT in iAMD eyes but without statistical significance. Improved axial resolution of the High-Res OCT benefits retest reliability of retinal layer annotation and improves perceived image quality and resolution. Automated image analysis algorithms could also benefit from the increased image resolution.