bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Closed-Form Sum-Rate Analysis of Interference Alignment with Limited Feedback Based on Scalar Quantization and Random Vector Quantization
Authors: Suo Long , Liu Fei
Published: June 2022

Interference alignment (IA) is a promising interference management technique to achieve the theoretical optimal degree of freedom (DoF) performance in multi-user cooperation scenarios. However, the effective achievable sum-rate performance of IA is largely affected by the feedback overhead and accuracy of channel state information (CSI) and decoding information (DI). Therefore, it is critical to establish the exact relationship between feedback overhead and the achievable sum-rate of IA to obtain the optimal effective performance. Most existing IA performance analysis approaches focus on the vector quantization (VQ)-based feedback strategy, but the implementation complexity of VQ will be excessive when more quantization bits are required to achieve the expected quantization accuracy for larger-sized matrices or higher signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regimes. Moreover, the obtained achievable sum-rate formulas are too complicated for quick performance evaluation. In this paper, a new sum-rate performance analysis method for IA under different quantization and feedback strategies is proposed to achieve a trade-off between accuracy and complexity, and the closed-form achievable sum-rate expressions are derived. First, in the IA case with random vector quantization (RVQ)-based CSI feedback, the quantization error of RVQ is transformed into the equivalent VQ error of the Gaussian channel error, based on which the achievable sum-rate formula is obtained. Second, in the IA case with scalar quantization (SQ)-based CSI feedback, the relationship between the effective sum-rate and SQ bits is established. Third, in the IA case with SQ-based CSI feedback and RVQ-based DI feedback, the achievable sum-rate formula is derived by combining these two kinds of quantization errors. Finally, the simulation results confirm that the theoretical results are accurate enough, which can help to determine the optimal CSI feedback overhead in practical channel conditions. Moreover, the theoretical and simulation results demonstrate that RVQ may be more applicable to IA scenarios with fewer receiving antennas and low SNR regimes.
Robust Fingerprint Minutiae Extraction and Matching Based on Improved SIFT Features
Authors: Bakheet Samy , Alsubai Shtwai , Alqahtani Abdullah , Binbusayyis Adel
Published: June 2022

Minutiae feature extraction and matching are not only two crucial tasks for identifying fingerprints, but also play an eminent role as core components of automated fingerprint recognition (AFR) systems, which first focus primarily on the identification and description of the salient minutiae points that impart individuality to each fingerprint and differentiate one fingerprint from another, and then matching their relative placement in a candidate fingerprint and previously stored fingerprint templates. In this paper, an automated minutiae extraction and matching framework is presented for identification and verification purposes, in which an adaptive scale-invariant feature transform (SIFT) detector is applied to high-contrast fingerprints preprocessed by means of denoising, binarization, thinning, dilation and enhancement to improve the quality of latent fingerprints. As a result, an optimized set of highly-reliable salient points discriminating fingerprint minutiae is identified and described accurately and quickly. Then, the SIFT descriptors of the local key-points in a given fingerprint are matched with those of the stored templates using a brute force algorithm, by assigning a score for each match based on the Euclidean distance between the SIFT descriptors of the two matched keypoints. Finally, a postprocessing dual-threshold filter is adaptively applied, which can potentially eliminate almost all the false matches, while discarding very few correct matches (less than 4%). The experimental evaluations on publicly available low-quality FVC2004 fingerprint datasets demonstrate that the proposed framework delivers comparable or superior performance to several state-of-the-art methods, achieving an average equal error rate (EER) value of 2.01%.
Decision-Making Problems in Construction Projects Executed under the Principles of Sustainable Development—Bridge Construction Case
Authors: Górecki Jarosław , Núñez-Cacho Pedro
Published: June 2022

The high environmental impact of bridge construction causes numerous dilemmas in decision making related to the choice of the best material and technological solutions and their consequences in subsequent phases. These decisions adopt from the management condition the successful investment in this type of project. A bridge construction project includes consecutive stages: design, construction, operation/maintenance, and decommissioning. The latter usually involves the demolition of the infrastructure, generating elements that cannot be reused. This waste-generating linear production process must be urgently replaced by closed-loop production, framed within the Circular Economy (CE) philosophy that provides a practical response to the challenges related to sustainable development goals (SDGs). This document performs an analysis of case studies in an attempt to sort out the management challenges related to the construction, operation and decommissioning of bridges. The research is based on a questionnaire carried out among civil engineering project managers and explores the possibility of adapting the principles of the Circular Economy in bridge construction projects, especially in the context of the traceability of construction materials used for the construction.
Microstructure, Mechanical and Ignition Characteristics of Si3N4 Reinforced Magnesium Matrix Nanocomposites
Authors: Pasha Mahammod Babar , Rao Rajamalla Narasimha , Ismail Syed , Gupta Manoj
Published: June 2022

Lightweight magnesium-based materials have received attention in the automobile sector as a solution to minimize fuel consumption and greenhouse gas emissions. Magnesium has great weight-reduction potential in the aerospace sector, but its low ignition temperature limits its utilization. Improving magnesium’s ignition resistance is critical for aerospace applications. The present study developed Mg/Si3N4 nanocomposites to improve the ignition resistance to address this limitation. The nanocomposites were prepared by ultrasonically-assisted stir casting with 0.5, 1, and 1.5 vol% Si3N4 nanoparticles. The effect of Si3N4 nanoparticles on the ignition and compression characteristics was examined. SEM micrographs showed the homogeneous dispersion of Si3N4 nanoparticles with negligible clustering. Notably, the nanocomposites’ ignition resistance was increased by increasing the vol% of the Si3N4 nanoparticles. Adding 1.5 vol% Si3N4 nanoparticles resulted in the highest ignition temperature of 614 °C, 34 °C higher than pure magnesium. Similarly, the compressive properties were enhanced with the progressive addition of Si3N4 nanoparticles. The inclusion of 1.5 vol% Si3N4 nanoparticles resulted in a maximum compressive yield strength of 118 MPa and ultimate compressive strength of 323 MPa.
Automatic Failure Modes and Effects Analysis of an Electronic Fuel Injection Model
Authors: Lee Dongwoo , Lee Dongmin , Na Jongwhoa
Published: June 2022

In the development of safety-critical systems, it is important to perform failure modes and effects analysis (FMEA) to identify potential failures. However, traditional FMEA activities tend to be considered difficult and time-consuming tasks. To compensate for the difficulty of the FMEA task, various types of tools are used to increase the quality and the effectiveness of the FMEA reports. This paper explains an automatic FMEA tool that integrates the model-based design (MBD), FMEA, and simulated fault injection techniques in a single environment. The automatic FMEA tool has the following advantages compared to the existing FMEA analysis tool: First, the automatic FMEA tool automatically generates FMEA reports, unlike the traditional spreadsheet-based FMEA tools. Second, the automatic FMEA tool analyzes the causality between the failure modes and the failure effects by performing model-based fault injection simulation. In order to demonstrate the applicability of the automatic FMEA, we used the electronic fuel injection system (EFI) Simulink model. The results of the automatic FMEA were compared to those of the legacy FMEA.
MUSIC: Cardiac Imaging, Modelling and Visualisation Software for Diagnosis and Therapy
Authors: Merle Mathilde , Collot Florent , Castelneau Julien , Migerditichan Pauline , Juhoor Mehdi , Ly Buntheng , Ozenne Valery , Quesson Bruno , Zemzemi Nejib , Coudière Yves , Jaïs Pierre , Cochet Hubert , Sermesant Maxime
Published: June 2022

The tremendous advancement of cardiac imaging methods, the substantial progress in predictive modelling, along with the amount of new investigative multimodalities, challenge the current technologies in the cardiology field. Innovative, robust and multimodal tools need to be created in order to fuse imaging data (e.g., MR, CT) with mapped electrical activity and to integrate those into 3D biophysical models. In the past years, several cross-platform toolkits have been developed to provide image analysis tools to help build such software. The aim of this study is to introduce a novel multimodality software platform dedicated to cardiovascular diagnosis and therapy guidance: MUSIC. This platform was created to improve the image-guided cardiovascular interventional procedures and is a robust platform for AI/Deep Learning, image analysis and modelling in a newly created consortium with international hospitals. It also helps our researchers develop new techniques and have a better understanding of the cardiac tissue properties and physiological signals. Thus, this extraction of quantitative information from medical data leads to more repeatable and reliable medical diagnoses.
Relationship between Phenolic Compounds, Antioxidant Activity and Color Parameters of Red Table Grape Skins Using Linear Ordering Analysis
Authors: Muzolf-Panek Małgorzata , Waśkiewicz Agnieszka
Published: June 2022

Color, being one of the most important sensory characteristics, could be associated to the phenolic compound content and/or the antioxidant activity of fruits and vegetables. In this study, linear ordering was used to build quality rankings of red table grapes based on color parameters or phenolic compounds. First, the principle component analysis (PCA) was used to show the association between color of red grape skins (evaluated in CIE L*a*b* and L*C*h systems) and their individual phenolic compounds (investigated by the HPLC), total polyphenol content (TPC), total anthocyanins (ACNs), as well as the antioxidant activity (DPPH) of five table grape varieties. It could be observed that the lightness (L*) and hue angle (h) are the color coordinates strongly related to some phenolic compounds and ACN, whereas a* was related to DPPH and TPC. Five distinct clusters could be observed from PCA analysis with dark-colored grape varieties showing high levels of ACN (3.48–5.83 mg/g), low lightness (47.8–53.0), and high h values (353.7–359.8°). L*, a*, and h color coordinates were used to build table grape ranking. The second ranking was built based on phenolic compound content. Results of the two rankings were correlated. High Tau Kendall correlation coefficient (0.51, p = 0.000) indicated that linear ordering analysis, based on the simple color measurements, could be a useful tool for rapid screening of the quality of grapes. This could be valuable information for producers and consumers of the fruit making decision on the market.
How to Create and 3D Print a Model of the Skull and Orbit for Craniomaxillofacial Surgeons
Authors: Bergeron Léonard , Gornitsky Jordan , Bonapace-Potvin Michelle
Published: June 2022

Three-dimensional (3D) anatomical models are used in many ways in cranio-maxillo-facial (CMF) surgery, including being used to press-fit plates, mold splints, and for student teaching. Their use has many advantages, including the possibility of lowering operative time and allowing for more precise reconstructions with personalized plates, meshes, and splints. This can now be done in-house to speed up model availability for trauma surgery as well. Three-dimensional printers and software are quickly evolving—printers now are easily accessible, and the models are inexpensive to print. However, for a surgeon with no IT training, 3D printing even a simple anatomic model may be a challenge. The purpose of this article is to offer simple, step-by-step video tutorials demonstrating the process of extracting a CMF model from a patient CT scan, doing basic manipulation to the model, and then printing it in-house with a prosumer grade 3D printer. It is our hope that this user-friendly article will allow more surgeons and scientists to use 3D printing and its advantages.
Finite Element Methods for Modeling the Pressure Distribution in Human Body–Seat Interactions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Alawneh Obidah , Zhong Xianzhi , Faieghi Reza , Xi Fengfeng
Published: June 2022

The objective of this systematic review is to investigate the various approaches that have been undertaken in finite element analysis (FEA) of human–seat interactions and synthesize the existing knowledge. With advances in numerical simulation and digital human modeling, FEA has emerged as a powerful tool to study seating comfort and discomfort. FEA employs various biomechanical factors to predict the contact stress and pressure distribution in a particular seat design. Given the complexity of human–seat interaction, several modeling and processing steps are required to conduct realistic FEA. The steps of how to perform an FEA simulation on human–seat interactions, the different models used, the model mesh compositions, and the material properties are discussed and reviewed in this paper. This can be used as a guideline for future studies in the context of FEA of human–seat interactions.
Adjustable Stiffness-Based Supination–Pronation Forearm Physical Rehabilitator
Authors: Camacho-Ramirez Adrian , Ávila-Vilchis Juan Carlos , Saldivar Belem , Vilchis-González Adriana H. , Jacinto-Villegas Juan Manuel
Published: June 2022

This paper reports a new medical device together with a control strategy that focuses on the following tasks: (1) a trajectory tracking problem associated with the supination–pronation motion of the wrist–forearm for purposes of rehabilitation and (2) the adjustment of the system’s stiffness associated with the applied torque guaranteeing the angular motion of the rehabilitator as well as the resistance that potential users must overcome. These two tasks are oriented to regain the range of motion (ROM) of the wrist–forearm and to improve the strength of the associated muscles. It is worth mentioning that this device has not been clinically validated. However, the performance of the closed-loop medical device is validated with preliminary experiments with a healthy subject based on movement patterns involving passive, assisted-resisted, and active phases of rehabilitation protocols.
Novel Dual-Threaded Pedicle Screws Provide Fixation Stability That Is Comparable to That of Traditional Screws with Relative Bone Preservation: An In Vitro Biomechanical Study
Authors: Hsieh Ming-Kai , Li Yun-Da , Hsu Yun-Ja , Tsai Tsung-Ting , Lai Po-Liang , Lee De-Mei , Tai Ching-Lung
Published: June 2022

Replacement with larger diameter screws is always used in pedicle screw loosening but carries a risk of pedicle wall violation. A pedicle screw with more preserved bone stock is the preferred primary fixation choice. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether a newly designed proximal-conical dual-thread screw with less bone occupancy provides fixation strength comparable to that of a traditional screw. Six types of pedicle screws based on three different shapes (cylindrical, conical, and proximal-conical) and two thread profiles (single-thread and dual-thread) were grouped. Conical and proximal-conical screws differed mainly in the slope of the outer diameter from the hub to the tip. Conical screws had an outer diameter (6.5 mm) that differed from the hub and tapered by 30% to an outer diameter (4.5 mm) at the tip and proximal-conical screws had the same outer diameter from the hub and tapered by 30% (4.5 mm) at 20 mm from the hub and then maintained the outer diameter (45 mm) to the tip. A total of 36 L4 Sawbones® vertebrae were used in the study and six trials for each screw group. The results of the imaging, screw volume in bone, insertion torque, and pullout force were analyzed. For screws with the same shape, insertion torque and pullout force were significantly higher for those in the dual-thread groups than for those in the single-thread groups (p < 0.05). For screws with the same thread profile, there was no significant difference in either biomechanical test between the different screw shapes (p > 0.05). Our results demonstrated that these proximal-conical dual-thread screws, with the property of relative bone stock preservation, display a comparable biomechanical performance to traditional dual-thread screws and a better performance than single-thread screws. This screw design could serve as the primary pedicle screw choice to reduce revision difficulty.
Meniscal Tear Management Associated with ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Roman Mihai Dan , Mohor Cosmin Ioan , Melinte Petru Razvan , Chicea Radu , Georgeanu Vlad Alexandru , Hasegan Adrian , Boicean Adrian Gheorghe , Fleacă Sorin Radu
Published: June 2022

Meniscal lesions often occur in association with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears at the moment of the injury or, secondarily, as a consequence of knee instability. Both ACL and meniscus lesions are associated with a higher risk of osteoarthritis. Adequate treatment of these lesions reduces the rate of degenerative changes in the affected knee. Meniscal tears should be addressed concomitantly with ACL reconstruction and the treatment must be oriented towards preserving the meniscal tissue anytime this is possible. Several options for approaching a meniscus tear are available. The meniscal suture should always be considered, and, if possible, meniscectomy should be the last choice. “Masterly neglect” is a valuable option in selected cases.
The Influence of the Quality of Digital Elevation Data on the Modelling of Terrain Vehicle Movement
Authors: Rybansky Marian , Rada Josef
Published: June 2022

This study investigated digital terrain models and options for their evaluation and effective usage. The most important result of this study was the introduction of the slope reduction method for low-detail elevation models. It enabled accurate results of passability analyses by performing adjustments of slopes. In addition, the goal was to determine the strengths and weaknesses of selected data for use in cross-country mobility analyses, followed by recommendations on how to use these databases efficiently to obtain accurate results. The selection of elevation databases (1 m, 5 m, 10 m, 30 m) was determined by the focus of data development projects of NATO and current scientific research projects of the Ministry of Defence of the Czech Republic. Key findings showed potential for use in practise for all tested elevation models. Efficient usage of low-detail models in CCM analyses is limited; nevertheless, they can be augmented with additional vector data or automated remote-sensing technologies.
Experimental Research on Vortex-Induced Force Characteristics of Flexible Riser with Buoyancy Module and Strakes
Authors: Jia Lusheng , Liu Yi , Zhang Mengmeng , Fu Shixiao , Ren Haojie
Published: June 2022

In this paper, the vortex-induced force characteristics of a flexible riser with buoyancy modules and strakes were experimentally investigated. The strain information caused by vortex-induced vibration (VIV) at different cross-sections on the flexible cylinder was measured in the model test. Combined with the modal superposition method and inverse analysis method for vortex-induced force, the vortex-induced forces on the flexible cylinder were inverted, including the excitation force in phase with velocity and added mass force in phase with acceleration. Then, the excitation coefficients and added mass coefficients at each time step were identified via a least-squares method. The results show that the added mass coefficient and excitation coefficient of the flexible riser covering buoyancy modules present a “sawtooth” distribution along the length of the pipe, while the total mass (sum of structural mass and added mass) is consistent along the pipe. The strake has little effect on the added mass coefficient of the buoyancy module and the bare pipe section, but when it covers the bare pipe section, the excitation coefficient of the bare pipe section decreases to a negative value, showing a damping effect. In addition, when the bare pipe section of the flexible riser is completely covered with helical strakes, only the vortex-shedding frequency component of the buoyancy modules remains in the VIV response of the pipe. The reason for this phenomenon is that helical strakes completely suppress the vortex shedding of the bare pipe section, resulting in the reduction in the VIV excitation energy of the original bare pipe section to 0.
Bond Graph-Based Approach to Modeling Variable-Speed Gearboxes with Multi-Type Clutches
Authors: Wu Jiangming , Yan Hongzhi , Liu Shuangqi , Zhang Yin , Tan Wuzhong
Published: June 2022

The modeling and simulation of gearboxes is important for analyzing the dynamic characteristics and designing control strategies of transmission systems. Variable-speed gearboxes include compound planetary gear trains and clutches, which complicates dynamic modeling. Here, a procedural bond graph-based modeling method that considers many uncertainties is proposed. The proposed method yields a constant system–structure model. First, bond graph models of the two most common planetary gears were summarized, and were used as sub-models of a compound planetary gear train. Then, the Karnopp friction sub-model of the friction clutch and a relative angular displacement sub-model of the one-way clutch were constructed. Based on the dynamic coupling between the sub-models, the modeling steps of the gearbox, including the compound planetary gear train friction clutch one-way clutch coupling system, are described in detail. Next, the main sources of uncertainties of gearbox were analyzed and the simulation methods were given. Finally, the novel uncertain bond graph model was used to simulate the double planetary gearbox; the transmission ratio before and after the shift was 2.42 and 1.72, compared with the design values of 2.41 and 1.71, respectively; the deviation is within 5.8%; The average rotating speeds of the output shaft fluctuated by 6 and 2.5% respectively, which was within a reasonable range, so the effectiveness of the method is verified.
Wetting Front Expansion Model for Non-Ponding Rainfall Infiltration in Soils with Uniform and Non-Uniform Initial Moisture Content
Authors: Yao Maohong , Chen Tielin , Wei Xueda , Tao Wenbin , Fan Rong , Liu Jingjing
Published: June 2022

The rainfall infiltration model plays a key role in the fields of seepage theory and geological hazard evaluation. To reflect the change in the moisture content in soil during rainfall infiltration, the infiltration process was segmented into stages, and an improved unsaturated wetting front extension model was proposed by introducing unsaturated soil parameters on the basis of the traditional infiltration model. The variation rules of surface moisture content and wetting front depth were revealed under the condition of uniform or non-uniform moisture content distribution in soil. The results indicate that the surface moisture content and wetting front depth increase nonlinearly with time during the infiltration process, and the proposed model is in good agreement with the numerical simulation results, the maximum error is less than 5%, while the growth rate under two hypotheses shows obvious differences for different rainfall intensities. Moreover, due to the variation in the moisture content with time, the proposed model calculates a lower moisture content than that of the traditional model under the same conditions, but the expansion depth of the wetting front is higher and the range of influence on soil is greater.
Adapting Mechanisms for In-Pipe Inspection Robots: A Review
Authors: Rusu Calin , Tatar Mihai Olimpiu
Published: June 2022

In-pipe inspection robots have proven useful in examining the inside of pipes without affecting their structure, therefore, the interest in researching these robots has constantly increased over time. There are many different types of inspection robots, but the most commonly used are the wall pressed type. This paper proposes a review of the wall pressed type inspection robots in terms of adapting mechanisms. By adapting mechanism is meant a simple linkage or a combination of linkages, with an active or passive force generation system used to adapt the robot to variations in pipe diameter. The characteristics of the different adaptation mechanisms are compared and analyzed regarding the type of linkages used, how the pressure force on the pipe wall is obtained, and the possibility of ensuring the movement through inclined or vertical pipes with elbows and branches.
Existence Results for a Multipoint Fractional Boundary Value Problem in the Fractional Derivative Banach Space
Authors: Boucenna Djalal , Chidouh Amar , Torres Delfim F. M.
Published: June 2022

We study a class of nonlinear implicit fractional differential equations subject to nonlocal boundary conditions expressed in terms of nonlinear integro-differential equations. Using the Krasnosel’skii fixed-point theorem we prove, via the Kolmogorov–Riesz criteria, the existence of solutions. The existence results are established in a specific fractional derivative Banach space and they are illustrated by two numerical examples.
Screening the Antioxidant Activity of Thermal or Non-Thermally Treated Fruit Juices by In Vitro and In Vivo Assays
Authors: Odriozola-Serrano Isabel , Bellí Gemma , Puigpinós Judit , Herrero Enric , Martín-Belloso Olga
Published: June 2022

The health benefits of fruit juices have been associated with their high content of antioxidant compounds. Commercial juice has been traditionally heat-processed to destroy microorganisms and enzymes. However, high temperatures induce undesirable changes in the nutritional value of the juice. High-intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF) are being studied as an alternative to heat treatments. In addition, in vitro and in vivo methods have been recommended to determine the antioxidant potential of juices in a complementary manner. Thus, the antioxidant activity of untreated, high-intensity pulsed electric fields (HIPEF) or heat-treated fruit juices (tomato, apple, pineapple and orange) was studied using in vitro (TEAC, DPPH, FRAP and Folin-Ciocalteu) and in vivo assays (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). Vitamin C and total phenolic compounds in these juices were determined. The highest antioxidant activities (12.01 mmol of Trolox/L) were obtained through the Folin-Ciocalteu assay in orange juices. The lowest values (0.119 mmol of Trolox/L) were found in apple juice analysed by the FRAP assay. Vitamin C content varied from 10 mg/L (orange juice) to 344 mg/L (orange juice). The highest concentration of total phenolic compounds was determined in orange juice (1238 mg/L), whereas the lowest value was found in tomato juices (149 mg/L). The effect of HIPEF and thermal processing on the antioxidant potential of juices depended on the fruits used to prepare the juices and the antioxidant activity assay conducted. Vitamin C concentration was directly related to the antioxidant activity analysed by Folin-Ciocalteu and FRAP methods and the S. cerevisiae growth rate. S. cerevisiae yeast can be used as a feasible in vivo assay to further determine the antioxidant activity of fruit juices.
Realising the Environmental Potential of Vertical Farming Systems through Advances in Plant Photobiology
Authors: de Carbonnel Matthieu , Stormonth-Darling John M. , Liu Weiqi , Kuziak Dmytro , Jones Matthew Alan
Published: June 2022

Intensive agriculture is essential to feed increasing populations, yet requires large amounts of pesticide, fertiliser, and water to maintain productivity. One solution to mitigate these issues is the adoption of Vertical Farming Systems (VFS). The self-contained operation of these facilities offers the potential to recycle agricultural inputs, as well as sheltering crops from the effects of climate change. Recent technological advancements in light-emitting diode (LED) lighting technology have enabled VFS to become a commercial reality, although high electrical consumption continues to tarnish the environmental credentials of the industry. In this review, we examine how the inherent use of electricity by VFS can be leveraged to deliver commercial and environmental benefits. We propose that an understanding of plant photobiology can be used to vary VFS energy consumption in coordination with electrical availability from the grid, facilitating demand-side management of energy supplies and promoting crop yield.
Grape-Seed Procyanidin Extract (GSPE) Seasonal-Dependent Modulation of Glucose and Lipid Metabolism in the Liver of Healthy F344 Rats
Authors: Rodríguez Romina M. , Colom-Pellicer Marina , Blanco Jordi , Calvo Enrique , Aragonès Gerard , Mulero Miquel
Published: June 2022

Seasonality is gaining attention in the modulation of some physiological and metabolic functions in mammals. Furthermore, the consumption of natural compounds, such as GSPE, is steadily increasing. Consequently, in order to study the interaction of seasonal variations in day length over natural compounds’ molecular effects, we carried out an animal study using photo-sensitive rats which were chronically exposed for 9 weeks to three photoperiods (L6, L18, and L12) in order to mimic the day length of different seasons (winter/summer/and autumn-spring). In parallel, animals were also treated either with GSPE 25 (mg/kg) or vehicle (VH) for 4 weeks. Interestingly, a seasonal-dependent GSPE modulation on the hepatic glucose and lipid metabolism was observed. For example, some metabolic genes from the liver (SREBP-1c, Gk, Acacα) changed their expression due to seasonality. Furthermore, the metabolomic results also indicated a seasonal influence on the GSPE effects associated with glucose-6-phosphate, D-glucose, and D-ribose, among others. These differential effects, which were also reflected in some plasmatic parameters (i.e., glucose and triglycerides) and hormones (corticosterone and melatonin), were also associated with significant changes in the expression of several hepatic circadian clock genes (Bmal1, Cry1, and Nr1d1) and ER stress genes (Atf6, Grp78, and Chop). Our results point out the importance of circannual rhythms in regulating metabolic homeostasis and suggest that seasonal variations (long or short photoperiods) affect hepatic metabolism in rats. Furthermore, they suggest that procyanidin consumption could be useful for the modulation of the photoperiod-dependent changes on glucose and lipid metabolism, whose alterations could be related to metabolic diseases (e.g., diabetes, obesity, and cardiovascular disease). Furthermore, even though the GSPE effect is not restricted to a specific photoperiod, our results suggest a more significant effect in the L18 condition.
Skeletal Muscle Cells Derived from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Platform for Limb Girdle Muscular Dystrophies
Authors: Bruge Celine , Geoffroy Marine , Benabides Manon , Pellier Emilie , Gicquel Evelyne , Dhiab Jamila , Hoch Lucile , Richard Isabelle , Nissan Xavier
Published: June 2022

Limb girdle muscular dystrophies (LGMD), caused by mutations in 29 different genes, are the fourth most prevalent group of genetic muscle diseases. Although the link between LGMD and its genetic origins has been determined, LGMD still represent an unmet medical need. Here, we describe a platform for modeling LGMD based on the use of human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSC). Thanks to the self-renewing and pluripotency properties of hiPSC, this platform provides a renewable and an alternative source of skeletal muscle cells (skMC) to primary, immortalized, or overexpressing cells. We report that skMC derived from hiPSC express the majority of the genes and proteins that cause LGMD. As a proof of concept, we demonstrate the importance of this cellular model for studying LGMDR9 by evaluating disease-specific phenotypes in skMC derived from hiPSC obtained from four patients.
Molecular Pathophysiological Mechanisms in Huntington’s Disease
Authors: Jurcau Anamaria
Published: June 2022

Huntington’s disease is an inherited neurodegenerative disease described 150 years ago by George Huntington. The genetic defect was identified in 1993 to be an expanded CAG repeat on exon 1 of the huntingtin gene located on chromosome 4. In the following almost 30 years, a considerable amount of research, using mainly animal models or in vitro experiments, has tried to unravel the complex molecular cascades through which the transcription of the mutant protein leads to neuronal loss, especially in the medium spiny neurons of the striatum, and identified excitotoxicity, transcriptional dysregulation, mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, impaired proteostasis, altered axonal trafficking and reduced availability of trophic factors to be crucial contributors. This review discusses the pathogenic cascades described in the literature through which mutant huntingtin leads to neuronal demise. However, due to the ubiquitous presence of huntingtin, astrocytes are also dysfunctional, and neuroinflammation may additionally contribute to Huntington’s disease pathology. The quest for therapies to delay the onset and reduce the rate of Huntington’s disease progression is ongoing, but is based on findings from basic research.
Cell Death-Related Ubiquitin Modifications in Inflammatory Syndromes: From Mice to Men
Authors: Peltzer Nieves , Annibaldi Alessandro
Published: June 2022

Aberrant cell death can cause inflammation and inflammation-related diseases. While the link between cell death and inflammation has been widely established in mouse models, evidence supporting a role for cell death in the onset of inflammatory and autoimmune diseases in patients is still missing. In this review, we discuss how the lessons learnt from mouse models can help shed new light on the initiating or contributing events leading to immune-mediated disorders. In addition, we discuss how multiomic approaches can provide new insight on the soluble factors released by dying cells that might contribute to the development of such diseases.
The Integration of Gold Nanoparticles with Polymerase Chain Reaction for Constructing Colorimetric Sensing Platforms for Detection of Health-Related DNA and Proteins
Authors: Wang Wanhe , Wang Xueliang , Liu Jingqi , Lin Chuankai , Liu Jianhua , Wang Jing
Published: June 2022

Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) is the standard tool in genetic information analysis, and the desirable detection merits of PCR have been extended to disease-related protein analysis. Recently, the combination of PCR and gold nanoparticles (AuNPs) to construct colorimetric sensing platforms has received considerable attention due to its high sensitivity, visual detection, capability for on-site detection, and low cost. However, it lacks a related review to summarize and discuss the advances in this area. This perspective gives an overview of established methods based on the combination of PCR and AuNPs for the visual detection of health-related DNA and proteins. Moreover, this work also addresses the future trends and perspectives for PCR–AuNP hybrid biosensors.
Behavior of Rats in a Self-Paced Risky Decision-Making Task Based on Definite Probability
Authors: Yang Minzhe , Fu Qiangpei , Hu Xu , Li Baoming , Ma Chaolin
Published: June 2022

Risky decision-making (RDM) is when individuals make choices based on the definite cognition for the probabilities of the options. Risk is embodied in the certainty of reward, and the smaller the probability is, the greater the risk will be. As simulated in human behavior paradigms, RDM scenarios in real life are often guided by external cues that inform the likelihood of receiving certain rewards. There are few studies on the neural basis of RDM behavior guided by external cues, which is related to the relative paucity of the animal behavioral paradigms. Here, we established a cue-guided RDM task to detect the behavior of rats making a decision between a small certain reward and a large uncertain reward in a naturalistic manner. The reward of the risk option could be adjusted to observe the change of choice. Our results showed that: (1) rats were able to master the operation of the cue-guided RDM task; (2) many rats were inclined to choose risk rather than the safe option when the reward expectations were equal; (3) rats were able to adjust the decision strategy in time upon a change in risk, suggesting that they have the ability to perceive risk indicated by the external cues.
Hypogonadism in Male Patients with Pituitary Adenoma and Its Related Mechanism: A Review of Literature
Authors: Yan Zisheng , Lei Ting
Published: June 2022

Maintaining normal gonadal axis hormone levels is important for improving the condition of male patients with pituitary adenoma. The current literature is somewhat divided on the results of evaluations of gonadal axis function in male patients with pituitary adenoma before and after treatment, and the increasing demand for better quality of life has provided motivation for this research to continue. In this article, we summarize the feasibility of using testosterone as an indicator for assessing male function and discuss the changes reported in various studies for gonadal hormones before and after treatment in male patients with pituitary adenoma. It is important for clinicians to understand the advantages of each treatment option and the effectiveness of assessing gonadal function. The rationale behind the theory that pituitary adenomas affect gonadal function and the criteria for evaluating pituitary–gonadal axis hormones should be explored in more depth.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for the Treatment of Resistant Depression: A Scoping Review
Authors: Adu Medard Kofi , Shalaby Reham , Chue Pierre , Agyapong Vincent I. O.
Published: June 2022

Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) is associated with significant disability, and due to its high prevalence, it results in a substantive socio-economic burden at a global level. TRD is the inability to accomplish and/or achieve remission after an adequate trial of antidepressant treatments. Studies comparing repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) with electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) and pharmacotherapy have revealed evidence of the therapeutic efficacy of rTMS in TRD. These findings suggest a crucial role for rTMS in the management of TRD. This article aims to conduct a comprehensive scoping review of the current literature concerning the use of rTMS and its therapeutic efficacy as a treatment modality for TRD. PubMed, PsycINFO, Medline, Embase, and Cinahl were used to identify important articles on rTMS for TRD. The search strategy was limited to English articles within the last five years of data publication. Articles were included if they reported on a completed randomized controlled trial (RCT) of rTMS intervention for TRD. The exclusion criteria involved studies with rTMS for the treatment of conditions other than TRD, and study and experimental protocols of rTMS on TRD. In total, 17 studies were eligible for inclusion in this review. The search strategy spanned studies published in the last five years, to the date of the data search (14 February 2022). The regional breakdown of the extracted studies was North American (n = 9), European (n = 5), Asian (n = 2) and Australian (n = 1). The applied frequencies of rTMS ranged from 5 Hz to 50 Hz, with stimulation intensities ranging from 80% MT to 120% MT. Overall, 16 out of the 17 studies suggested that rTMS treatment was effective, safe and tolerated in TRD. For patients with TRD, rTMS appears to provide significant benefits through the reduction of depressive symptoms, and while there is progressive evidence in support of the same, more research is needed in order to define standardized protocols of rTMS application in terms of localization, frequency, intensity, and pulse parameters.
Critical Factors Influencing the Performance of Highway Projects: An Empirical Evaluation
Authors: Deep Shumank , Banerjee Shankar , Dixit Saurav , Vatin Nikolai Ivanovich
Published: June 2022

Highway construction projects have always suffered from cost overruns due to extended project delivery, causing a loss of public funds. Since highways are the backbone of a nation, the purpose of this study is to measure the criticality of the factors that influence the performance of highway projects. A survey instrument was prepared and distributed to 185 project managers. To achieve the aim of the study, exploratory factor analysis was used and the standard factor loading was the criteria to measure the criticality. From the analysis, it was identified that the factors were grouped under four categories: (a) Execution constraints (b) Operational factors, (c) Stakeholder and political constraints, (d) Design Constraints. Further, it was concluded that the complexity of the sub-contractor’s performance, frequent modification in alignment, project design, loopholes in safety, and ambiguities in specifications are the main factors that impact the performance of highway projects. Therefore, it was recommended to develop an efficient project planning methodology which is a continuum of project management skills and tacit knowledge of managing a site which operates efficiently.
Modelling of Cyclic Load Behaviour of Smart Composite Steel-Concrete Shear Wall Using Finite Element Analysis
Authors: Najm Hadee Mohammed , Ibrahim Amer M. , Sabri Mohanad Muayad , Hassan Amer , Morkhade Samadhan , Mashaan Nuha S. , Eldirderi Moutaz Mustafa A. , Khedher Khaled Mohamed
Published: June 2022

In recent years, steel-concrete composite shear walls have been widely used in enormous high-rise buildings. Due to their high strength and ductility, enhanced stiffness, stable cycle characteristics and large energy absorption, such walls can be adopted in auxiliary buildings, surrounding the reactor containment structure of nuclear power plants to resist lateral forces induced by heavy winds and severe earthquakes. The current study aims to investigate the seismic behaviour of composite shear walls and evaluate their performance in comparison with traditional reinforced concrete (RC) walls when subjected to cyclic loading. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed using ANSYS by emphasising constitutive material modelling and element type to represent the real physical behaviour of complex shear wall structures. The analysis escalates with parametric variation in reinforcement ratio, compressive strength of the concrete wall, layout of shear stud and yield stress of infill steel plate. The modelling details of structural components, contact conditions between steel and concrete, associated boundary conditions and constitutive relationships for the cyclic loading are explained. The findings of this study showed that an up to 3.5% increase in the reinforcement ratio enhanced the ductility and energy absorption with a ratio of 37% and 38%, respectively. Moreover, increasing the concrete strength up to 55 MPa enhanced the ductility and energy absorption with ratios of 51% and 38%, respectively. Thus, this improves the contribution of concrete strength, while increasing the yield stress of steel plate (to 380 MPa) enhanced the ductility (by a ratio of 66%) compared with the reference model. The present numerical research shows that the compressive strength of the concrete wall, reinforcement ratio, layout of shear stud and yield stress of infill steel plate significantly affect ductility and energy absorption. Moreover, this offers a possibility for improving the shear wall’s capacity, which is more important.
Is the Efficacy of Adding Ramucirumab to Docetaxel Related to a History of Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors in the Real-World Clinical Practice?
Authors: Nishimura Tadashi , Fujimoto Hajime , Okano Tomohito , Naito Masahiro , Tsuji Chikashi , Iwanaka Soichi , Sakakura Yasumasa , Yasuma Taro , D’Alessandro-Gabazza Corina N. , Oomoto Yasuhiro , Gabazza Esteban C. , Kobayashi Tetsu , Ibata Hidenori
Published: June 2022

Reports on the efficacy of second-line treatment with cytotoxic agents after treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors are limited. Here, we retrospectively evaluated patients in the real-world clinical practice treated with docetaxel or docetaxel plus ramucirumab. Ninety-three patients treated with docetaxel or docetaxel plus ramucirumab as a second- or later-line therapy were included. The patients were categorized into the following four treatment groups: docetaxel group (n = 50), docetaxel/ramucirumab group (n = 43) and pretreated (n = 45) and untreated (n = 48) with immune checkpoint inhibitor groups. The docetaxel/ramucirumab group showed an overall response rate of 57.1% in patients pretreated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and 20% in untreated patients. The docetaxel group showed an overall response rate of 15.4% in patients pretreated with immune checkpoint inhibitors and 5.0% in untreated patients. The median time-to-treatment failure and the median survival time were longer in the docetaxel/ramucirumab group than in the docetaxel group in both immune checkpoint inhibitor-pretreated and -untreated groups. There was no difference in time-to-treatment failure and overall survival between immune checkpoint inhibitor-pretreated and -untreated groups in each docetaxel and docetaxel/ramucirumab treatment group. In conclusion, our real-world data show that the addition of ramucirumab to docetaxel was superior to docetaxel monotherapy for improving time-to-treatment failure and overall survival, irrespective of previous treatment with immune checkpoint inhibitors.
Role of the Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index in Patients with Metastatic Renal Cell Carcinoma Treated with First-Line Ipilimumab plus Nivolumab
Authors: Stühler Viktoria , Herrmann Lisa , Rausch Steffen , Stenzl Arnulf , Bedke Jens
Published: June 2022

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) in patients with metastatic renal cell carcinoma (mRCC) treated with first-line ipilimumab plus nivolumab. Methods: This retrospective study included forty-nine mRCC patients treated with first-line ipilimumab plus nivolumab at the Department of Urology of the University of Tuebingen, Germany. SII was assessed before starting ipilimumab plus nivolumab therapy at the time of first imaging and at tumor progression. Optimal SII cut-off was stratified by ROC-analysis. Univariable and multivariable Cox regression analyses were used to evaluate the predictive and prognostic value of SII. Results: Optimal SII cut-off was 788. Twenty-nine/forty-nine patients had high SII (≥788) before initiation of ipilimumab plus nivolumab. High SII was an independent prognostic factor for worse progression-free (HR 2.70, p = 0.014) and overall survival (HR 10.53, p = 0.025). The clinical benefit rate was higher for patients with low SII if compared to high SII (80% vs. 32.1%). An increase in SII > 20% from baseline after twelve weeks of therapy was associated with progression at first imaging (p = 0.003). Conclusions: SII is both prognostic and predictive and could refine decision making in patients with unclear imaging on therapy with ipilimumab plus nivolumab.