bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mitigation of Salinity Stress on Vetiver Grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) through Application of Micrococcus yunnanensis and Indole-3-Acetic Acid
Authors: Mosallanejad Negar , Zarei Mehdi , Ghasemi-Fasaei Reza , Shahriari Amir Ghaffar , Mohkami Afsaneh , Majláth Imre , Vetukuri Ramesh R.
Published: August 2024

Salinity represents an ever-challenging problem of agriculture in arid and semi-arid regions. This problem is considered a key limiting factor of agricultural production in the countries of Southwest Asia. In recent years, the use of alternative methods of chemical fertilizers has emerged as a promising approach to mitigate the negative effects of salinity on crop yield. In this research, the effect of Micrococcus yunnanensis and indole-3-acetic (IAA) acid on the growth and chemical composition of Vetiver grass (Vetiveria zizanioides) under salt stress has been investigated. Based on the results, application of IAA, M. yunnanensis and their interaction significantly increased the average plant growth, fresh and dry weight of aerial parts and root dry weight. Considering chemical properties of the plant, interaction between IAA and M. yunnanensis significantly increased shoot phosphorus, potassium and sodium absorption. Proline content, catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase activity were significantly influenced by application of IAA, M. yunnanensis and their interaction. Follow-up experiments after vetiver harvest showed that IAA and M. yunnanensis treatments improved soil microbial biomass and respiration. In total, plant biomass improved by 34% and the activities of catalase, superoxide dismutase and peroxidase enzymes decreased by −20.61, −4.70 and −8.00%, respectively, which shows that the stress pressure on the plant has decreased. This study reinforces the previous literature on the positive effects of biological treatments to improve plant performance by providing new evidence of the positive effects of IAA and M. yunnanensis on mitigating the negative effects of salinity.
Mitigating Dry–Hot–Windy Climate Disasters in Wheat Fields Using the Sprinkler Irrigation Method
Authors: Liu Haijun , Ren Yuhui , Zhou Xueqing , Liu Ronghao
Published: August 2024

The dry–hot–windy climate frequently occurs during the grain-filling stage of winter wheat on the North China Plain (NCP) and thus negatively influences wheat yield. Sprinkler irrigation can improve field temperature and humidity and can be used to mitigate dry–hot–windy climate disasters. A two-season field experiment was carried out on the NCP to test how sprinkler irrigation influences the microclimate, canopy temperature and photosynthetic traits, as well as the grain-filling process and final grain yield, when spraying 1.5–2 mm of water on dry–hot–windy days. Field experiments revealed that, compared with the no-spraying treatment, spraying with 2 mm of water each time caused the air and canopy temperatures to decrease by 2.3–7.6 °C and 4.3–9.9 °C, respectively, during and just after spraying stopped, and the temperatures returned to their previous levels approximately one hour after spraying. The air humidity increased by up to 10% during and after spraying. The photosynthesis and transpiration rates and the stomatal conductivity after spraying increased by 34–235%, 15–55% and 24–79%, respectively. The linear relationships between photosynthesis rates and transpiration rates with respect to stomatal conductivity suggest that increases in both photosynthesis and transpiration rates are the main contributors to the increase in stomatal conductivity, which is due mainly to the improved canopy temperature and humidity conditions caused by spraying practices. The grain-filling process was improved by spraying, which ultimately increased the unit grain mass by approximately 5%. One spraying event on a dry–hot–windy day influenced the field microclimate and canopy photosynthetic traits for 90 min (30 min in spraying time + 60 min after spraying). When the intensity of the dry–hot–windy climate is strong, two spraying events can be applied. Spraying 2–2.5 mm of water each time was sufficient when the leaf area index was 4–5 during the grain-filling stage of winter wheat. Spray events can have a slight effect on grain yield when a dry–hot–windy climate occurs within the last five days before harvest.
A Case–Control Study Supports Genetic Contribution of the PON Gene Family in Obesity and Metabolic Dysfunction Associated Steatotic Liver Disease
Authors: Van Dijck Evelien , Diels Sara , Fransen Erik , Cremers Tycho Canter , Verrijken An , Dirinck Eveline , Hoischen Alexander , Vandeweyer Geert , Vanden Berghe Wim , Van Gaal Luc , Francque Sven , Van Hul Wim
Published: August 2024

The paraoxonase (PON) gene family (including PON1, PON2, and PON3), is known for its anti-oxidative and anti-inflammatory properties, protecting against metabolic diseases such as obesity and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). In this study, the influence of common and rare PON variants on both conditions was investigated. A total of 507 healthy weight individuals and 744 patients with obesity including 433 with histological liver assessment, were sequenced with single-molecule molecular inversion probes (smMIPs), allowing the identification of genetic contributions to obesity and MASLD-related liver features. Polymorphisms rs705379 and rs854552 in the PON1 gene displayed significant association with MASLD stage and fibrosis, respectively. Additionally, rare PON1 variants were strongly associated with obesity. This study thereby reinforces the genetic foundation of PON1 in obesity and various MASLD-related liver features, by extending previous findings from common variants to include rare variants. Additionally, rare and very rare variants in PON2 were discovered to be associated with MASLD-related hepatic fibrosis. Notably, we are the first to report an association between naturally occurring rare PON2 variants and MASLD-related liver fibrosis. Considering the critical role of liver fibrosis in MASLD outcome, PON2 emerges as a possible candidate for future research endeavors including exploration of biomarker potential.
The Quest for Industrially and Environmentally Efficient Nanobubble Engineering: Electric-Field versus Mechanical Generation Approaches
Authors: English Niall J.
Published: August 2024

Nanobubbles (NBs) are gaseous domains at the nanoscale that can exist in bulk liquid or on solid surfaces. They are noteworthy for their high potential for real-world applications and their long (meta)stability. “Platform-wide” applications abound in medicine, wastewater treatment, hetero-coagulation, boundary-slip control in microfluidics, and nanoscopic cleaning. Here, we compare and contrast the industrial NB-generation performance of various types of commercial NB generators in both water-flow and submerged-in-water settings—in essence, comparing electric-field NB-generation approaches versus mechanical ones—finding that the former embodiments are superior from a variety of perspectives. It was found that the electric-field approach for NB generation surpasses traditional mechanical approaches for clean-water NB generation, especially when considering the energy running cost. In particular, more passive electric-field approaches are very operationally attractive for NB generation, where water and gas flow can be handled at little to no cost to the end operator, and/or submersible NB generators can be deployed, allowing for the use of photovoltaic approaches (with backup batteries for night-time and “low-sun” scenarios and air-/CO2-pumping paraphernalia).
Effect of the Printing Scenario on the Dimensional Accuracy and the Tensile Strength of Different Colored PLA Specimens Produced by Fused Deposition Modeling
Authors: Cojocaru Vasile , Turiac Raul Rusalin , Frunzaverde Doina , Trisca Gelu , Bacescu Nicoleta , Marginean Gabriela
Published: August 2024

Dimensional accuracy and mechanical properties of components printed by fused deposition modeling (FDM) are influenced by several process parameters. In this paper, the authors targeted the effect of the printing scenario and the PLA (polylactic acid) color on parts’ quality. Three scenarios were analyzed: individually printing, simultaneously printing of three, respective five specimens of natural (transparent), red, grey, and black PLA. The temperature variations of successive deposited layers were recorded for the black PLA. The dimensional accuracy of tensile specimens was evaluated, tensile tests were performed, and the results were correlated with the mesostructure of the prints. The effect of the independent variables on the measured parameters was analyzed by ANOVA. The experiments revealed differences for the same printing scenario regarding cross-section area (up to 5.71%) and tensile strength (up to 10.45%) determined by the material color. The number of specimens printed simultaneously and the position of the specimens on the build plate were found to influence too, but less than the color. Thus, increasing from one to five the number of specimens printed at a time altered both the dimensional accuracy (up to 3.93% increase of the cross-section area) and the tensile strength (up to 3.63% reduction).
Efficiency of Maintenance Activities in Aggregate Quarries: A Case Study of Wear Parts on Loaders and Excavators
Authors: Florea Vlad Alexandru , Toderaș Mihaela
Published: August 2024

Technological equipment in quarries that extract and deliver aggregates for different uses operates in a predetermined flow depending on the type of rocks exploited and the dimensional characteristics imposed on the final products. In this context, the interruptions in operation required to replace high-wear parts (such as the teeth of excavators and bucket loaders) must be limited as much as possible through technological solutions to increase their service life. The evolution of the wear of the teeth of the quarry equipment that come into direct contact with rocks was concretely established in the production process, in parallel with the wear values obtained by simulating the wear phenomenon in laboratory conditions, in order to validate the data collected during the operation of the machines. Preventive–repetitive maintenance within the activities of reconditioning the worn surfaces of the teeth, through the charging process by manual electric welding with covered electrodes, was applied directly to the machine, which led to the shortening of the interruptions in operation necessary to replace these spare parts.
Sliding Mode Integral Separation PID Control for Hydrogen Fuel Cell Systems
Authors: Yu Qingrui , Wang Jun , Huang Wenhui , Li Xiaoning , Liu Zenghui , Dong Haiying
Published: August 2024

The stability of hydrogen fuel cell system power generation is affected by key variables such as oxygen excess ratio (OER), electric stack temperature, and cathode–anode differential pressure. To increase the fuel cell’s stability, a sliding mode integral separation proportional–integral–derivative (SMC−IS−PID) control strategy was proposed by combining the four−segment integral separation PID (IS−PID) control with the switching control in the sliding mode control (SMC). The control mode is selected through the system variable error and the current variable value; if there are significant systematic variable errors, the switching control in the SMC adopts the four−segment integral separation PID control, which determines the values of the segmentation thresholds and controls the integral weights to reduce the amount of overshoot. When the error of the system variables is small, the switching control in the SMC adopts the improved convergence law control, which introduces the hyperbolic tangent exponential power term, the nonlinear function term, and the saturation function term to improve the convergence law and decrease the control’s convergence time. Experimentally verifying the effectiveness of the control strategy above, the results show that for the OER, the SMC−IS−PID overshoots 0 and realizes no overshooting with a regulation time of 5.019 s. For the temperature of the stack, the SMC−IS−PID overshoots only 0.134% with a regulation time of 40.521 s. For the pressure of the stack, the SMC−IS−PID realizes the system is basically free of oscillation.
The Rheology, Texture, and Molecular Dynamics of Plant-Based Hot Dogs
Authors: Kowalczewski Przemysław Łukasz , Smarzyński Krzysztof , Lewandowicz Jacek , Jeżowski Paweł , Ruszkowska Millena , Wróbel Martyna Maria , Kubiak Piotr , Kačániová Miroslava , Baranowska Hanna Maria
Published: August 2024

The rising demand for plant-based alternatives to traditional meat products has led to the development of plant-based sausages (PBSs) that closely mimic the texture and taste of their meat counterparts. This study investigates the rheological and textural properties, as well as proton molecular dynamics, of hot dog-type PBSs and batters used in their production. Various formulations were analyzed to understand how different ingredients and processing methods affect the characteristics of the final products. Our findings reveal that the incorporation of specific plant proteins and hydrocolloids significantly influences the rheological behavior and texture profile of sausages. The hardness of the samples ranged from 4.33 to 5.09 N/mm and was generally higher for the products with inorganic iron sources. Regarding the viscoelastic properties, all the samples showed larger values of the storage modulus than the loss modulus, which indicates their solid-like behavior. Additionally, the study utilized advanced proton nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) techniques to elucidate the molecular dynamics within plant-based matrices, providing insights into water distribution and mobility. Key findings highlight the impact of different plant proteins and additives on the texture and stability of sausage analogs.
Totally Positive Wronskian Matrices and Symmetric Functions
Authors: Díaz Pablo , Mainar Esmeralda , Rubio Beatriz
Published: August 2024

The elements of the bidiagonal decomposition (BD) of a totally positive (TP) collocation matrix can be expressed in terms of symmetric functions of the nodes. Making use of this result, and studying the relation between Wronskian and collocation matrices of a given TP basis of functions, we can express the entries of the BD of Wronskian matrices as the values of certain symmetric functions evaluated at a single node. Moreover, in the case of polynomial bases, we obtain compact formulae for the entries of the BD of their Wronskian matrices. Interesting examples illustrate the applications of the obtained formulae.
A Finite Element Method Study of Stress Distribution in Dental Hard Tissues: Impact of Access Cavity Design and Restoration Material
Authors: Boțilă Mihaela-Roxana , Popa Dragos Laurențiu , Mercuț Răzvan , Iacov-Crăițoiu Monica Mihaela , Scrieciu Monica , Popescu Sanda Mihaela , Mercuț Veronica
Published: August 2024

The design of the access cavity is an important factor in endodontic treatment for the further evolution of the tooth. The objective of this study was to highlight the most favorable access cavity design (TrussAC, UltraAC, TradAC, CariesAC, ConsAC, RestoAC) based on the stress distribution on virtual models of mandibular molars. To achieve the objectives of the study, four series of virtual models of six molars were made. The first two series of external virtual models were obtained based on the three-dimensional scanning of the molars before the access cavity preparation and after their restoration, to obtain the density of the restorative materials. Internal morphology was added to the next two series of virtual models and after that, materials were added, specific for root canal obturation and coronal restoration. The simulations were performed for two coronary restoration materials, bulk fill composite and amalgam. The results showed, based on the stress maps, that the highest values were recorded for CariesAC and the lowest values for UltraAC. Comparing the two restorative materials, the lowest level of stress, strains, and displacements was highlighted in the case of UltraAC, TradAC, and ConsAC cavities for amalgam. The results obtained in this study should guide doctors towards a conservative attitude with the preservation of as much hard tissue as possible and the differentiated use of restorative materials according to the amount of tissue lost when preparing the access cavity.
A New Chimeric Antibody against the HIV-1 Fusion Inhibitory Peptide MT-C34 with a High Affinity and Fc-Mediated Cellular Cytotoxicity
Authors: Kalinichenko Svetlana V. , Ramadan Lama , Kruglova Natalia A. , Balagurov Konstantin I. , Lukashina Marina I. , Mazurov Dmitriy V. , Shepelev Mikhail V.
Published: August 2024

Peptides from heptad repeat (HR1 and HR2) regions of gp41 are effective inhibitors of HIV-1 entry that block the fusion of viral and cellular membranes, but the generation of antibodies highly specific for these peptides is challenging. We have previously described a mouse hybridoma that recognizes MT-C34-related peptides derived from HR2. It was used for the selection of HIV-1-resistant CD4 lymphocytes engineered to express the MT-C34 peptide via a CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in into the CXCR4 locus. In this study, we cloned variable domains of this antibody and generated a recombinant chimeric antibody (chAb) by combining it with the constant regions of the humanized antibody Trastuzumab. The new chAb displayed a high specificity and two-fold higher level of affinity than the parental mouse monoclonal antibody. In addition, chAb mediated up to 27–43% of the antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity towards cells expressing MT-C34 on their surface. The anti-MT-C34 chAb can be easily generated using plasmids available for the research community and can serve as a valuable tool for the detection, purification, and even subsequent elimination of HIV-1-resistant CD4 cells or CAR cells engineered to fight HIV-1 infection.
Presepsin Levels in Infection-Free Subjects with Diabetes Mellitus: An Exploratory Study
Authors: Kouroupis Dimitrios , Zografou Ioanna , Balaska Aikaterini , Reklou Andromachi , Varouktsi Anna , Paschala Anastasia , Pyrpasopoulou Athina , Stavropoulos Konstantinos , Vogiatzis Konstantinos , Sarvani Anastasia , Doukelis Panagiotis , Karangelis Dimos , Dimakopoulos Georgios , Kotsa Kalliopi , Doumas Michael , Koufakis Theocharis
Published: August 2024

Systemic inflammation has been recognized as the cause and consequence of metabolic dysregulation in diabetes mellitus (DM). Presepsin has recently emerged as a promising biomarker for the detection of bacterial infections and sepsis. There is evidence that gut dysbiosis results in the increased circulating concentrations of Gram-negative bacteria lipopolysaccharide, the linkage of presepsin, which in turn promotes insulin resistance and correlates with the risk of diabetic complications. Thus, we hypothesized that presepsin could reflect the magnitude of systemic inflammation and metabolic decompensation in patients with DM even in the absence of infection. In this cross-sectional pilot study, we included 75 infection-free individuals with well-controlled (n = 19) and uncontrolled (n = 23) type 2 diabetes (T2D), well-controlled (n = 10) and uncontrolled (n = 10) type 1 diabetes (T1D), and normoglycemic controls (n = 13). Presepsin levels were compared between the groups and potential associations with demographic, clinical, and laboratory parameters were explored. We observed that the duration of DM was associated with presepsin values (p = 0.008). When the participants were classified into the type of DM groups, the presepsin levels were found to be lower in the patients with T2D compared to those with T1D (p = 0.008). However, significance in that case was driven by the difference between the well-controlled groups. After adjusting for the effects of DM duration, presepsin was significantly lower in the well-controlled T2D group compared to the well-controlled T1D group [1.34 (2.02) vs. 2.22 (4.20) ng/mL, p = 0.01]. Furthermore, we adjusted our findings for various confounders, including age, body mass index, and waist circumference, and found that the difference in the presepsin values between the adequately controlled groups remained significant (p = 0.048). In conclusion, our findings suggest that presepsin could potentially serve as a surrogate marker of inflammation and metabolic control in people with DM.
The Role of Body Mass Index (BMI) in Differentiated Thyroid Cancer: A Potential Prognostic Factor?
Authors: Mele Chiara , De Marchi Lucrezia , Marsan Giulia , Zavattaro Marco , Mauri Maria Grazia , Aluffi Valletti Paolo , Aimaretti Gianluca , Marzullo Paolo
Published: August 2024

Obesity has been recognized as a potential risk factor for the carcinogenesis of differentiated thyroid cancer (DTC). The aim of this observational study was to investigate the prognostic role of BMI in influencing DTC histopathological aggressiveness and the risk of tumor relapse. We enrolled 257 patients with DTC, consecutively admitted to our Institution between January 2016 and December 2023. The following variables were collected: demographic, anthropometric and clinical parameters, risk factors for DTC, surgical and radioiodine therapy, histopathological features of DTC, and biochemical markers of disease. Tumor recurrence was assessed during short-, medium- and long-term follow-up. According to BMI tertiles (e.g; I: BMI < 23.3 kg/m2; II: 23.3 ≤ BMI < 27.1 kg/m2; III: BMI ≥ 27.1 kg/m2), the clinical and histopathological characteristics did not differ between groups. The multinomial logistic regression analysis showed that BMI was not associated with clinical and histopathological aggressiveness of DTC, independently from sex, age, and risk factors for DTC onset. Moreover, BMI did not constitute a predictor of tumor recurrence during follow-up. In conclusion, BMI does not represent a predictor of clinical and histopathological aggressiveness of DTC. Since it is not a reliable marker of adiposity, BMI cannot be considered alone in evaluating the potential association between obesity and DTC prognosis.
CAF-Associated Genes in Breast Cancer for Novel Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Naito Kanako , Sangai Takafumi , Yamashita Keishi
Published: August 2024

Breast cancer (BC) is the most common cancer in women, and therapeutic strategies for it are based on the molecular subtypes of luminal BC, HER2 BC, and triple-negative BC (TNBC) because each subtype harbors different unique genetic aberrations. Recently, features of the tumor microenvironment (TME), especially cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs), have been demonstrated to play a critical role in BC progression, and we would like to understand the molecular features of BC CAFs for novel therapeutic strategies. In a recent study, 115 CAF-associated genes (CAFGs) were identified in a public database of microdissection and microarray data (GSE35602) from 13 colorectal cancer (CRC) tumors. Using a public database (GSE10797) of 28 BC tumors, a similar analysis was performed. In BC, 59 genes from the 115 CAFGs identified in CRC (CRC CAFGs) were also closely associated with a CAFs marker, SPARC (R = 0.6 or beyond), and POSTN was of particular interest as one of the BC CAFGs with the highest expression levels and a close association with SPARC expression (R = 0.94) in the cancer stroma of BC tumors. In BC stroma, POSTN was followed in expression levels by DKK3, MMP2, PDPN, and ACTA2. Unexpectedly, FAP and VIM were not as highly associated with SPARC expression in the cancer stroma of BC tumors and exhibited low expression. These findings suggested that ACTA2 might be the most relevant conventional CAFs marker in BC, and ACTA2 was actually correlated in expression with many CRC CAFGs, such as SPARC. Surprisingly, the SE ratio values of the BC CAFGs were much lower (average SE = 3.8) than those of the CRC CAFGs (SE = 10 or beyond). We summarized the current understanding of BC CAFs from the literature. Finally, in triple-negative BC (TNBC) (n = 5), SPARC expression uniquely showed a close association with COL11A1 and TAGLN expression, representing a myofibroblast (myCAFs) marker in the cancer stroma of the BC tumors, suggesting that myCAFs may be molecularly characterized by TNBC in contrast to other BC phenotypes. In summary, CAFs could have unique molecular characteristics in BC, and such TME uniqueness could be therapeutically targeted in BC.
Delayed-Action Mechanism of Buckling-Restrained Brace Using Gusset Plates with Multiple Slot Holes
Authors: Sakai Makoto , Tagawa Hiroshi , Chen Xingchen , Uehara Makoto , Nishimura Makoto
Published: August 2024

Previous research has indicated that buckling-restrained braces (BRBs) increase the lateral story stiffness, resulting in a shortening of the natural period, which leads to an increase in the seismic input into the buildings, especially in high-rise buildings. Additionally, research has also revealed that the long-period seismic motions with a long duration possibly induce a difficulty to ensure the toughness of the BRB members, owing to the large cumulative strains caused by the repeated axial forces. To overcome these issues, this paper proposed a displacement-restraint buckling-restrained brace (DR-BRB) in which no axial force appears initially, and the axial force occurs with a delay under the designated vibration amplitude. Therefore, the natural period can maintain the same level as the moment frame. This study performed five cyclic loading tests to reveal the delayed-action mechanism of BRBs, using gusset plates with multiple slot holes. The test results confirmed that the designated starting point of the brace action is accurate, and the hysteretic behavior of the brace is good. Furthermore, the design equations of the joints were formulated and verified through the test results. Finally, the joint behavior and validity of the proposed design equations were verified by finite element analyses for the single bolt model and the overall joint model.
Application and Development of Firefighting Technologies in Industrial Heritage: Experiences and Insights from Macau
Authors: Huang Linsheng , Huang Ying , Chen Yashan , Lou Senyu , Chen Yile , Jia Mengyan
Published: August 2024

Due to the irreversible nature of the consequences of fire, fire protection is a major challenge and source of problems for all types of built heritage. This study aims to establish sustainable fire protection technology strategies by generalizing fire prevention and control technologies and measures against extended burns. This study aims to explore Macau’s industrial heritage’s historical development and technological applications in the field of fire protection using literature analysis, field investigation, and spatial information visualization methods. It will be carried out using the industrial heritage of Macau as the object and systematic analyses from the screening and processing of fire protection historical data, fire risk assessment, and the migration of fire protection focus. The results show that (1) the fire protection of the industrial heritage of Macau has gone through a total of three phases: passive fire protection, transition of fire protection methods, and active fire protection, and the relied-upon fire protection technologies have been iterated and renewed continuously during this period. (2) When the fire load factors of industrial heritage increase, the fire vulnerability assessment substantially changes, and the center of gravity of heritage fire protection shifts from controlling the scope of disaster to reducing the fire risk. (3) The construction of a suitable and effective ecological model of fire protection technology can provide appropriate fire protection solutions for the preservation and reuse of Macau’s industrial heritage in a complex cultural context. Therefore, this study will help to solve the current dilemma of sustainable application and development of fire protection technology for industrial heritage. This study hopes to provide ideas and strategies for reference on industrial heritage fire protection issues in the development of similar world heritage cities.
Static and Dynamic Characteristics of 3D-Printed Orthogonal Hybrid Honeycomb Panels with Tunable Poisson’s Ratio
Authors: Zhou Yujie , Zhong Yifeng , Tang Yuxin , Liu Rong
Published: August 2024

By adjusting the two wall angles of the orthogonal hybrid honeycomb (OHH), the tunable Poisson’s ratio change from negative to positive values and the variation in stiffness can be achieved. To effectively analyze its static and dynamic characteristics, a two-dimensional equivalent Kirchhoff–Love model (2D-EKM) is established based on the variational asymptotic method (VAM).This model aids in effectively addressing the complexity arising from anisotropy. The obtained equivalent orthotropic properties are validated through unit-cell uniaxial compression tests and three-point bending experiments on 3D-printed specimens. The numerical simulation results suggest that the VAM-based 2D-EKM can predict the in-plane and out-of-plane static behaviors of OHH panels, with a maximum error below 10%. Particularly in the dynamic analysis of a four-sided fixed OHH panel, the analysis time required by 2D-EKM is only 0.37% of that needed for the 3D FE model. The OHH-ZPR panel exhibits exceptional resistance to deformation, with a maximum deformation under in-plane tension reaching only 27% of that in the OHH-PPR panel. Moreover, each 1% increase in the height–length ratio results in a respective increase of 275.62% and 281.93% in equivalent bending stiffness along both directions. This highlights that enhancing this ratio effectively boosts the fundamental frequency compared to the elastic modulus ratio, effectively prevents low-frequency resonance occurrences, and offers vital insights for the design and optimization of OHH panels.
Promoted Ru/PrOx Catalysts for Mild Ammonia Synthesis
Authors: Drummond Samuel M. , Naglic Jennifer , Onsree Thossaporn , Balijepalli Santosh K. , Allegro Alexis , Orraca Albino Stephanie N. , O’Connell Katherine M. , Lauterbach Jochen
Published: August 2024

Ammonia synthesis is one of the most important chemical reactions. Due to thermodynamic restrictions and the reaction requirements of the current commercial iron catalysts, it is also one of the worst reactions for carbon dioxide emissions and energy usage. Ruthenium-based catalysts can substantially improve the environmental impact as they operate at lower pressures and temperatures. In this work, we provide a screening of more than 40 metals as possible promoter options based on a Ru/Pr2O3 catalyst. Cesium was the best alkali promoter and was held constant for the series of double-promoted catalysts. Ten formulations outperformed the Ru-Cs/PrOx benchmark, with barium being the best second promoter studied and the most cost-effective option. Designs of experiments were utilized to optimize both the pretreatment conditions and the promoter weight loadings of the doubly promoted catalyst. As a result, optimization led to a more than five-fold increase in activity compared to the unpromoted catalyst, therefore creating the possibility for low-ruthenium ammonia synthesis catalysts to be used at scale. Further, we have explored the roles of promoters using kinetic analysis, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and in situ infrared spectroscopy. Here, we have shown that the role of barium is to act as a hydrogen scavenger and donor, which may permit new active sites for the catalyst, and have demonstrated that the associative reaction mechanism is likely used for the unpromoted Ru/PrOx catalyst with hydrogenation of the triple bond of the dinitrogen occurring before any dinitrogen bond breakage.
The Role of Diet and Physical Activity in Obesity and Overweight in Children with Down Syndrome in Developed Countries
Authors: Belleri Paola , Mazzuca Giorgia , Pietrobelli Angelo , Zampieri Nicola , Piacentini Giorgio , Zaffanello Marco , Pecoraro Luca
Published: August 2024

Down’s syndrome (DS), or Trisomy 21, represents the most common chromosomal abnormality in live births, characterized by an extra chromosome 21. Children affected by Down’s syndrome are more susceptible to the development of obesity and of becoming overweight compared with other children. Furthermore, they seem to present a more unfavorable lipid profile than the non-DS obese pediatric population. Diet and physical activity are closely related to the development of overweight and obesity, and they can be assessed using questionnaires such as the Mediterranean Diet Quality Index in children and adolescents (KIDMED) and the Godin–Shephard Leisure-Time Physical Activity Questionnaire. This review aims to undertake a comprehensive analysis of the intricate interplay between diet and physical activity in children affected by Down’s syndrome. Specifically, it seeks to deepen understanding regarding the question of how diet and exercise can influence and prevent the development of overweight and obesity in that special pediatric population.
Disciplinary Imbalances in Urology and Gynecology Research Publications within Functional Urology
Authors: Kozan Sümeyye , Rahnamai Mohammad Sajjad , Ataei Jasmin , Dombrowski Janina , Najjari Laila
Published: August 2024

(1) Background: This study aimed to quantify and evaluate the publication rate and discrepancies of functional urology abstracts from international conferences, and to explore the interdisciplinary contributions of urology and gynecology to the field. (2) Methods: A retrospective bibliometric and content analysis was conducted on abstracts presented between 2015 and 2019 at the EAU and ICS congresses, focusing on functional-urological keywords. A discrepancy scoring system ranging from 0 (minor discrepancies) to 3 (significant discrepancies) assessed the consistency between conference abstracts and full-text publications, and an in-depth analysis determined the disciplinary origin of these publications. (3) Results: Between 2015 and 2019, 53% of EAU and 57% of ICS congress abstracts were published as full-text articles, with minor discrepancies in 38% of EAU and 49% of ICS publications, and significant discrepancies in 17% from both. Urology departments dominated publications, contributing 68% at EAU and 55% at ICS, whereas gynecology contributed only 1% at EAU and 12% at ICS. (4) Conclusions: This study illuminates the need for improved reporting standards and interdisciplinary collaboration in functional urology, as well as increased gynecology research in functional urology-related fields, suggesting that addressing these issues is crucial for advancing the field and enhancing patient care.
A Survey of Practice and Factors Affecting Physiotherapist-Led Health Promotion for People at Risk or with Cardiovascular Disease in Cameroon
Authors: Ngeh Etienne Ngeh , McLean Sionnadh , Kuaban Christopher , Young Rachel , Lidster Joanne
Published: August 2024

Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and associated risk factors are a growing concern in Cameroon. Physiotherapists (PTs) can play a crucial role in prevention and management. However, the extent of Cameroonian PT involvement in health promotion (HP) activities remains unclear. This study assessed Cameroonian physiotherapists’ current HP practices for people at risk of or with CVDs (pwCVDs). Methods: A cross-sectional survey was administered online to PTs practising in Cameroon. Results: Out of 181 PT responses, 95% reported providing a variety of HP activities, including weight management (74%), dietary advice (73%), physical activity (69%), smoking cessation (69%), stress management (61%), and sleep promotion (48%). While PTs were confident in lifestyle assessments, they felt less confident about sleep interventions. Strong beliefs, confidence, team support, and time allocation enhanced HP practice. However, preference for passive modalities, patient adherence issues, organisational challenges, role ambiguity among healthcare providers, inadequate training opportunities, and the absence of established guidelines for CVD prevention negatively affect HP practice. Conclusions: These findings highlight the challenges and opportunities for enhancing HP delivery within the physiotherapy profession in Cameroon. The findings are useful for future strategies by clinical practitioners and policy makers to address barriers and leverage facilitators effectively for scaling up HP initiatives in Cameroon.
Effectiveness of ChatGPT 4.0 in Telemedicine-Based Management of Metastatic Prostate Carcinoma
Authors: Dal Emre , Srivastava Ayana , Chigarira Beverly , Hage Chehade Chadi , Matthew Thomas Vinay , Galarza Fortuna Gliceida M. , Garg Diya , Ji Richard , Gebrael Georges , Agarwal Neeraj , Swami Umang , Li Haoran
Published: August 2024

The recent rise in telemedicine, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlights the potential of integrating artificial intelligence tools in healthcare. This study assessed the effectiveness of ChatGPT versus medical oncologists in the telemedicine-based management of metastatic prostate cancer. In this retrospective study, 102 patients who met inclusion criteria were analyzed to compare the competencies of ChatGPT and oncologists in telemedicine consultations. ChatGPT’s role in pre-charting and determining the need for in-person consultations was evaluated. The primary outcome was the concordance between ChatGPT and oncologists in treatment decisions. Results showed a moderate concordance (Cohen’s Kappa = 0.43, p < 0.001). The number of diagnoses made by both parties was not significantly different (median number of diagnoses: 5 vs. 5, p = 0.12). In conclusion, ChatGPT exhibited moderate agreement with oncologists in management via telemedicine, indicating the need for further research to explore its healthcare applications.
Paper-Recorded ECG Digitization Method with Automatic Reference Voltage Selection for Telemonitoring and Diagnosis
Authors: Wang Liang-Hung , Xie Chao-Xin , Yang Tao , Tan Hong-Xin , Fan Ming-Hui , Kuo I-Chun , Lee Zne-Jung , Chen Tsung-Yi , Huang Pao-Cheng , Chen Shih-Lun , Abu Patricia Angela R.
Published: August 2024

In electrocardiograms (ECGs), multiple forms of encryption and preservation formats create difficulties for data sharing and retrospective disease analysis. Additionally, photography and storage using mobile devices are convenient, but the images acquired contain different noise interferences. To address this problem, a suite of novel methodologies was proposed for converting paper-recorded ECGs into digital data. Firstly, this study ingeniously removed gridlines by utilizing the Hue Saturation Value (HSV) spatial properties of ECGs. Moreover, this study introduced an innovative adaptive local thresholding method with high robustness for foreground–background separation. Subsequently, an algorithm for the automatic recognition of calibration square waves was proposed to ensure consistency in amplitude, rather than solely in shape, for digital signals. The original signal reconstruction algorithm was validated with the MIT–BIH and PTB databases by comparing the difference between the reconstructed and the original signals. Moreover, the mean of the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.97 and 0.98, respectively, while the mean absolute errors were 0.324 and 0.241, respectively. The method proposed in this study converts paper-recorded ECGs into a digital format, enabling direct analysis using software. Automated techniques for acquiring and restoring ECG reference voltages enhance the reconstruction accuracy. This innovative approach facilitates data storage, medical communication, and remote ECG analysis, and minimizes errors in remote diagnosis.
Empowering Female High School Students for STEM Futures: Career Exploration and Leadership Development at Scientella
Authors: Ford Simon J. , dos Santos Raquel , dos Santos Ricardo
Published: August 2024

Women remain underrepresented in STEM fields, with a major STEM pipeline leakage occurring between high school and post-secondary education. Past research suggests that providing female high school students with opportunities for problem-solving, prosocial behaviors and working towards authentic communal goals can improve their perceptions of STEM and the attractiveness of STEM careers. Building on this prior research, we investigate Scientella, a US-based, student-run organization that provides out-of-school consulting projects, mentorships and webinars to female high school students. Drawing on the direct experiences of Scientella’s co-founders and analyzing program survey data, we explore how Scientella provides these opportunities, the benefits realized by students, and the challenges faced by the organization. Survey data show that involvement in Scientella’s activities provides students with benefits related to STEM career exploration and counter-stereotypical STEM skill development, including career discovery, industry engagement and practical experience, and the development of collaboration, communication and social research skills. The admissions of Scientella student leaders to STEM majors in selective US colleges indicates the promise of Scientella’s approach, and that providing students with opportunities to engage in STEM-themed career exploration and leadership development could be an effective strategy to increase female STEM participation in post-secondary education and the pursuit of subsequent career opportunities.
Where Are the Costs? Using an Economic Analysis of Educational Interventions Approach to Improve the Evaluation of a Regional School Improvement Programme
Authors: Tiesteel Emma , Watkins Richard C. , Stringer Carys , Grigorie Adina , Sultana Fatema , Hughes J. Carl
Published: August 2024

Education systems are moving to a more evidence-informed paradigm to improve outcomes for learners. To help this journey to evidence, robust qualitative and quantitative research can help decisionmakers identify more promising approaches that provide value for money. In the context of the utilisation of scarce resources, an important source of evidence commonly used in health and social care research is an understanding of the economic impact of intervention choices. However, there are currently very few examples where these methodologies have been used to improve the evaluation of education interventions. In this paper we describe the novel use of an economic analysis of educational interventions (EAEI) approach to understand both the impact and the cost of activities in the evaluation of a formative assessment implementation project (FAIP) designed to improve teachers’ understanding and use of formative assessment strategies. In addition to utilising a mixed method quasi-experimental design to explore the impact on learner wellbeing, health utility and attainment, we describe the use of cost-consequence analysis (CCA) to help decisionmakers understand the outcomes in the context of the resource costs that are a crucial element of robust evaluations. We also discuss the challenges of evaluating large-scale, universal educational interventions, including consideration of the economic tools needed to improve the quality and robustness of these evaluations. Finally, we discuss the importance of triangulating economic findings alongside other quantitative and qualitative information to help decisionmakers identify more promising approaches based on a wider range of useful information. We conclude with recommendations for more routinely including economic costs in education research, including the need for further work to improve the utility of economic methods.
Functional Programming for the Internet of Things: A Comparative Study of Implementation of a LoRa-MQTT Gateway Written in Elixir and C++
Authors: Branch Philip , Weinstock Phillip
Published: August 2024

Networks for the Internet of Things typically use a gateway to provide connectivity between a low bit rate, low capability sensor network and the broader Internet. The gateway can be subject to very high traffic loads, many concurrent processes and needs to be highly reliable. Functional programming languages such as Erlang and Elixir have proven to be an effective programming paradigm for such scenarios, notably in large-scale telecommunications switches. In this paper, we report on our experience of developing a gateway between a LoRa network and an MQTT broker using the functional programming language Elixir and the more conventional language C++. To obtain an understanding of this approach to development, we first developed an initial prototype on a single-board computer using Elixir. We then developed the same system in C++ and ran experiments to compare the two systems’ performance. In order to understand the performance of such systems on low-end IoT devices, we then developed the same system on a low-cost ESP32 micro-controller in both C++ and Elixir. We were able to run the Elixir-based system on an ESP32 micro-controller but found that its performance was significantly poorer than the same system written in C++. We conclude that functional programming has great potential for the development of IoT systems, but work needs to be carried out to improve the supporting libraries and underlying virtual machines. We also note that learning to program in a functional programming language has quite a steep learning curve.
Regionally Adaptive Active Learning Framework for Nuclear Segmentation in Microscopy Image
Authors: Wang Qian , Wei Jing , Quan Bo
Published: August 2024

Recent innovations in tissue clearing and light-sheet microscopy allow the rapid acquisition of intact micron-resolution images in fluorescently labeled samples. Automated, accurate, and high-throughput nuclear segmentation methods are in high demand to quantify the number of cells and evaluate cell-type specific marker co-labeling. Complete quantification of cellular level differences in genetically manipulated animal models will allow localization of organ structural differences well beyond what has previously been accomplished through slice histology or MRI. This paper proposes a nuclei identification tool for accurate nuclear segmentation from tissue-cleared microscopy images by regionally adaptive active learning. We gradually improved high-level nuclei-to-nuclei contextual heuristics to determine a non-linear mapping from local image appearance to the segmentation label at the center of each local neighborhood. In addition, we propose an adaptive fine-tuning (FT) strategy to tackle the complex segmentation task of separating nuclei in close proximity, allowing for the precise quantification of structures where nuclei are often densely packed. Compared to the current nuclei segmentation methods, we have achieved more accurate and robust nuclear segmentation results in various complex scenarios.
On the Behavior of a Non-Linear Bandpass Filter with Self Voltage-Controlled Resistors
Authors: Elwakil Ahmed S. , Elamien Mohamed B. , Allagui Anis , Maundy Brent J. , Psychalinos Costas
Published: August 2024

In this work, we explore the behavior of a classical RLC resonance-based bandpass filter, which includes two resistors (one of which is associated with a non-ideal inductor), when either of these resistors is self voltage-controlled. In particular, self-feedback control is achieved by using the voltage developed across the inductor or the capacitor to dynamically change the value of the controlled resistor. This results in a multiplication-type non-linearity, which transforms the linear filter into a non-linear filter described by a set of non-linear differential equations. When gradually increasing the strength of the non-linearity, a notch-like behavior is observed at twice the resonance frequency. However, the non-linear filter can lose its stability with excessive feedback. Simulations and experimental results are provided to support the theory.