bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy of Transcutaneous 4.4 MHz Radiofrequency Diathermy versus Therapeutic Ultrasound for Pain Relief and Functional Recovery in Patients with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Randomized Controlled Study
Authors: Jang Yookyung , Je Lee Gyeong , Lee Sunhee , Na Donghyun , Shin Hyekyung , Choi Jong Bum , Koh Jae Chul
Published: September 2023

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a prevalent common cause of disability and pain among adults. Transcutaneous radiofrequency (RF) diathermy and therapeutic ultrasound (US) are commonly employed treatments for addressing musculoskeletal conditions. This study aims to evaluate and compare the clinical effectiveness of transcutaneous 4.4 MHz RF diathermy and therapeutic US therapy in individuals diagnosed with KOA. A total of 108 patients with KOA were randomly assigned to either the RF or US groups. Each participant underwent a series of 10 treatment sessions over four weeks and was evaluated at different time points. The assessments included physical evaluations, vital sign measurements, the Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) for pain, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores, the Lequesne index, gait analysis, the 36-Item Short Form Health Survey (SF-36), and analysis of adverse responses. Both groups showed significant differences in NRS, WOMAC scores, and Lequesne index compared to baseline values at both the 10th treatment session and the one-month follow-up assessment. However, no significant disparities were observed between the two groups at each assessment point. In the gait analysis, following the 10th treatment, the RF group showed significant changes in stride length and stride velocity compared to baseline. Four weeks after the completion of treatment, both groups exhibited significant alterations in stride length and stride velocity when compared to baseline measurements. However, regarding cadence, only the RF group exhibited a significant difference compared to baseline. The findings suggest that transcutaneous 4.4 MHz RF diathermy displays a comparable effectiveness to therapeutic US in reducing pain and enhancing functional capacity among individuals with KOA. Further research endeavors are warranted to advance the efficacy of noninvasive treatments for KOA.
Using Different Types of Artificial Neural Networks to Classify 2D Matrix Codes and Their Rotations—A Comparative Study
Authors: Karrach Ladislav , Pivarčiová Elena
Published: September 2023

Artificial neural networks can solve various tasks in computer vision, such as image classification, object detection, and general recognition. Our comparative study deals with four types of artificial neural networks—multilayer perceptrons, probabilistic neural networks, radial basis function neural networks, and convolutional neural networks—and investigates their ability to classify 2D matrix codes (Data Matrix codes, QR codes, and Aztec codes) as well as their rotation. The paper presents the basic building blocks of these artificial neural networks and their architecture and compares the classification accuracy of 2D matrix codes under different configurations of these neural networks. A dataset of 3000 synthetic code samples was used to train and test the neural networks. When the neural networks were trained on the full dataset, the convolutional neural network showed its superiority, followed by the RBF neural network and the multilayer perceptron.
Fast Reconstruction Model of the Ship Hull NURBS Surface with Uniform Continuity for Calculating the Hydrostatic Elements
Authors: Zhu Kaige , Shi Guoyou , Liu Jiao , Shi Jiahui
Published: September 2023

The fast reconstruction of the ship hull nonuniform rational B-spline (NURBS) surface with uniform continuity is essential for calculating hydrostatic elements such as waterplane area and molded volume in real time. Thus, this study proposes a fast reconstruction model with uniform continuity to solve the problem of uniform continuity and splicing in the separate model of hull bow and stern surfaces. The proposed model includes the NURBS curve generation (UCG) algorithm with uniform continuity and the hybrid NURBS surface generation (HSG) algorithm. The UCG algorithm initially fits the feature points using the global interpolation algorithm and then precisely constructs straight-line segments in the curve using the improved flattening algorithm. In comparison, the HSG algorithm adaptively selects the surface knot vectors according to the parameters of the section curves. In this study, the profile of discontinuous compartments is uniformly expressed, effectively avoiding various articulation problems in separation modeling. The results of comparative experiments show that the NURBS surface generated using the HSG algorithm can accurately express the characteristics of various parts of the hull with uniform continuity, and the calculation speed of the proposed model can be increased by up to 8.314% compared with the existing best-performing algorithms. Thus, the proposed model is effective and can improve computational efficiency to a certain extent. The NURBS surfaces generated by the proposed model can be further applied to calculating the hydrostatic elements of hulls and compartments.
Kelp Aquaculture as a Nature-Based Solution for Coastal Protection: Wave Attenuation by Suspended Canopies
Authors: Bodycomb Roma , Pomeroy Andrew W. M. , Morris Rebecca L.
Published: September 2023

Suspended kelp canopies have the potential to provide a coastal protection service in addition to their primary function of generating a sustainable resource. In this study, the attenuation of incident waves by kelp suspended from the surface was quantified. We adapted an analytical 1D cross-shore wave attenuation model and tested the effect of (1) water depth, (2) vegetation density, and (3) longline density. The results show that as the percentage of vegetation in the water column increases, wave attenuation by the canopy also increases. However, this attenuation is affected by seasonal variations in kelp growth as well as harvesting strategies. Careful choice of the adopted harvesting strategy was found to be important to maintain optimal wave attenuation by kelp aquaculture farms throughout the year. Partial and targeted removal of the vegetation along longlines is preferred to harvesting all laterals on longlines. This study demonstrates that there is an opportunity for the emerging global kelp aquaculture industry to provide a coastal protection service in addition to resource production, which will help to affect how coastal protection is realized and scaled globally.
Numerical Simulations of Effects of the Layout of Permeable Pile Groin Systems on Longshore Currents
Authors: Zhang Rong , Chen Yongping , Yao Peng , Stive Marcel J. F. , Zeng Jian
Published: September 2023

Coastal permeable groins have been used to protect beaches from erosion for centuries. However, the hydraulic functioning of permeable groins has not been fully understood and their design heavily depends on engineering experiences. In this study, numerical experiments were executed to investigate the effects of layout configurations of a permeable groin system on longshore currents. The non-hydrostatic SWASH (Simulating WAve till SHore) model was employed to carry out the numerical simulations. Two data sets obtained from physical laboratory experiments with different permeable groin layouts on different slopes are used to validate the accuracy of the model. Then, the longshore current reduction by the permeable groin system with varying configuration parameters (e.g., groin spacing, groin length) was numerically investigated under different environmental conditions (e.g., a slight or a moderate wave climate). From the calculation results of numerical experiments, it is indicated that permeable groins function efficiently to reduce the maximal longshore current velocity under the condition that the groin length ranges from 84% and 109% of the wave breaker zone width. The longshore current reduction rate monotonously decreases with the increase in groin spacing; permeable pile groin functions best to reduce longshore current with the minimal groin spacing-groin length ratio 1:1 among the range between 1:1 and 2:1. When the groin spacing–groin length ratios are 1:1 and 1.5:1, the longshore current reduction is not sensitive to the investigated wave conditions in this study. When the spatial ratio is 2:1, the permeable pile groin system functions worse under a moderate wave climate than under a slight wave climate, from the view of longshore current reduction.
Alternative Non-Mammalian Animal and Cellular Methods for the Study of Host–Fungal Interactions
Authors: Fusco-Almeida Ana Marisa , de Matos Silva Samanta , dos Santos Kelvin Sousa , de Lima Gualque Marcos William , Vaso Carolina Orlando , Carvalho Angélica Romão , Medina-Alarcón Kaila Petrolina , Pires Ana Carolina Moreira da Silva , Belizario Jenyffie Araújo , de Souza Fernandes Lígia , Moroz Andrei , Martinez Luis R. , Ruiz Orville Hernandez , González Ángel , Mendes-Giannini Maria José Soares
Published: September 2023

In the study of fungal pathogenesis, alternative methods have gained prominence due to recent global legislation restricting the use of mammalian animals in research. The principle of the 3 Rs (replacement, reduction, and refinement) is integrated into regulations and guidelines governing animal experimentation in nearly all countries. This principle advocates substituting vertebrate animals with other invertebrate organisms, embryos, microorganisms, or cell cultures. This review addresses host–fungus interactions by employing three-dimensional (3D) cultures, which offer more faithful replication of the in vivo environment, and by utilizing alternative animal models to replace traditional mammals. Among these alternative models, species like Caenorhabditis elegans and Danio rerio share approximately 75% of their genes with humans. Furthermore, models such as Galleria mellonella and Tenebrio molitor demonstrate similarities in their innate immune systems as well as anatomical and physiological barriers, resembling those found in mammalian organisms.
Notes on the Present and Future Research on World Literary Journalisms
Authors: Bak John S.
Published: September 2023

This review article offers a glimpse into the problems and promises of current research on world literary journalism. It discusses the rise and spread of press cultures via colonialism, the contentious nature and taxonomy of the fact—its subjectivism, accessibility, and veracity—within an inconsistent global press, and how the porous divide between fiction and nonfiction genres is affecting the production and consumption of literary journalism around the world. The article concludes by offering nine areas of research (from canon-building and historiographies to digital news platforms and gendered media) still under-represented in international and transnational literary journalism studies.
Catheter Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation in Patients with Heart Failure: Current Evidence and Future Opportunities
Authors: Suzuki Sho , Kitai Takeshi , Skoularigis John , Spiliopoulos Kyriakos , Xanthopoulos Andrew
Published: September 2023

Atrial fibrillation (AF) and heart failure (HF) are highly prevalent cardiac disorders worldwide, and both are associated with poor prognosis. The incidence of AF and HF has been increasing substantially in recent years, mainly due to the progressive aging of the population. These disorders often coexist, and may have a causal relationship, with one contributing to the development or progression of the other. AF is a significant risk factor for adverse outcomes in HF patients, including mortality, hospitalization, and stroke. Although the optimal treatment for AF with HF remains unclear, catheter ablation (CA) has emerged as a promising treatment option. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current scientific evidence regarding the efficacy of CA for managing AF in HF patients. In addition, the potential benefits and risks associated with CA are also discussed. We will also explore the factors that may influence treatment outcomes and highlight the remaining gaps in knowledge in this field.
Personalized Medicine in Oral Oncology: Imaging Methods and Biological Markers to Support Diagnosis of Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma (OSCC): A Narrative Literature Review
Authors: Menditti Dardo , Santagata Mario , Imola Gianmaria , Staglianò Samuel , Vitagliano Rita , Boschetti Ciro Emiliano , Inchingolo Angelo Michele
Published: September 2023

For decades, oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) has been one of the most prevalent and mortal cancers worldwide. The gold standard for OSCC diagnosis is still histopathology but this narrative multidisciplinary review has the aim to explore the literature about conventional OSCC prognostic indicators related to the pTNM stage at the diagnosis such as the depth of invasion and the lymphovascular invasion associated with distant metastasis as indicators of poor life expectancy. Despite its multifactorial nature and recognizable precursors, its diagnosis at the early stages is still challenging. We wanted to highlight the importance of the screening as a primary weapon that a stomatologist should consider, intercepting all at-risk conditions and lesions associated with OSCC and its early stages. This narrative review also overviews the most promising imaging techniques, such as CT, MRI, and US-echography, and their application related to clinical and surgical practice, but also the most-investigated prognostic and diagnostic tissue and salivary biomarkers helpful in OSCC diagnosis and prognostic assessment. Our work highlighted remarkable potential biomarkers that could have a leading role in the future. However, we are still far from defining an appropriate and concrete protocol to apply in clinical practice. The hope is that the present and future research will overcome these limitations to benefit patients, clinicians, and welfare.
RFCT: Multimodal Sensing Enhances Grasping State Detection for Weak-Stiffness Targets
Authors: Ruan Wenjun , Zhu Wenbo , Zhao Zhijia , Wang Kai , Lu Qinghua , Luo Lufeng , Yeh Wei-Chang
Published: September 2023

Accurate grasping state detection is critical to the dexterous operation of robots. Robots must use multiple modalities to perceive external information, similar to humans. The direct fusion method of visual and tactile sensing may not provide effective visual–tactile features for the grasping state detection network of the target. To address this issue, we present a novel visual–tactile fusion model (i.e., RFCT) and provide an incremental dimensional tensor product method for detecting grasping states of weak-stiffness targets. We investigate whether convolutional block attention mechanisms (CBAM) can enhance feature representations by selectively attending to salient visual and tactile cues while suppressing less important information and eliminating redundant information for the initial fusion. We conducted 2250 grasping experiments using 15 weak-stiffness targets. We used 12 targets for training and three for testing. When evaluated on untrained targets, our RFCT model achieved a precision of 82.89%, a recall rate of 82.07%, and an F1 score of 81.65%. We compared RFCT model performance with various combinations of Resnet50 + LSTM and C3D models commonly used in grasping state detection. The experimental results show that our RFCT model significantly outperforms these models. Our proposed method provides accurate grasping state detection and has the potential to provide robust support for robot grasping operations in real-world applications.
A Family of Holomorphic and m-Fold Symmetric Bi-Univalent Functions Endowed with Coefficient Estimate Problems
Authors: Sabir Pishtiwan Othman , Srivastava Hari Mohan , Atshan Waggas Galib , Mohammed Pshtiwan Othman , Chorfi Nejmeddine , Vivas-Cortez Miguel
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a new general subfamily NΣmu,v(η,μ,γ,ℓ) of the family Σm that contains holomorphic normalized m-fold symmetric bi-univalent functions in the open unit disk D associated with the Ruscheweyh derivative operator. For functions belonging to the family introduced here, we find estimates of the Taylor–Maclaurin coefficients am+1 and a2m+1, and the consequences of the results are discussed. The current findings both extend and enhance certain recent studies in this field, and in specific scenarios, they also establish several connections with known results.
Optimal Base-Stock Inventory-Management Policies of Cement Retailers under Supply-Side Disruptions
Authors: Debnath Manik , Mazumder Sanat Kr. , Hossain Md Billal , Garai Arindam , Illes Csaba Balint
Published: September 2023

The current study aims to identify some optimal base-stock inventory-management policies that maximize the expected long-run profitability of cement retailers under potential supply-side disruptions. Unlike existing articles, the proposed economic order-quantity model considers periodically varying random demand rates of deteriorating items together with partially back-ordered shortages in the face of those random disruptions. This study computes the global concavity to execute the exemplary aspect for the optimal base-stock level under a slew of cost components and a fixed cycle length. Regarding the optimal pricing-related policies, this study proposes that cement retailers should stock from nearby supplier points. Unlike existing articles, we find that changes to either the unit-holding cost or the unit-lost sales cost have hardly any determining effect on the long-run profitability of retailers. When supply-side disruptions are more likely to occur during peak seasons, this study advocates for a planned capacity addition and higher base-stock levels of cement bags.
Meigs Syndrome and Elevated CA-125: Case Report and Literature Review of an Unusual Presentation Mimicking Ovarian Cancer
Authors: Iavarone Irene , Padovano Michela , Pasanisi Francesca , Della Corte Luigi , La Mantia Elvira , Ronsini Carlo
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives: Meigs syndrome is represented by a benign adnexal tumor, ascites, and hydrothorax. Even though the ovarian mass is often characterized by a fibroma-like origin, cancer antigen-125 (CA-125) serum levels could be elevated as in the development of ovarian cancer. Here, we present the case of a patient with Meigs syndrome and increased CA-125. Materials and Methods: We performed systematic research for articles including similar cases in PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus in February 2023, adopting the string of idioms: “Meigs syndrome AND Cancer antigen 125”, and following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) statement. Results: Eligible records were 25. Hydrothorax was right-sided in 10 cases over 25; left-sided in two patients over 25. Concerning ascites, two patients showed more than 6 L of ascitic fluid, whereas three patients had 6 L or less. CA-125 elevation ranged from 149 IU/mL to 3803 IU/mL. Adnexal mass histotypes were: struma ovarii (12 cases), thecomas (two cases), fibrothecomas (five cases), fibromas (five cases), and one sclerosing stromal tumor (SST). Conclusions: In postmenopausal women with elevated CA-125 serum levels and an adnexal mass suspicious for malignancy at ultrasound (US), ascites and pleural effusion, surgery, and histopathological examination are necessary. MS is a diagnostic option, with an excellent prognosis after exeresis of the mass.
Graphite/Epoxy-Coated Flaky FeSiCr Powders with Enhanced Microwave Absorption
Authors: Zhang Haonan , Zhong Xichun , Hu Jinwen , He Na , Xu Hanxing , Liao Xuefeng , Zhou Qing , Liu Zhongwu , Ramanujan Raju V.
Published: September 2023

Flake-shaped FeSiCr (FFSC) material is expected to be a promising microwave absorbent due to its excellent magnetic properties and environmental resistance. By introducing carbon-based materials through suitable coatings, the electromagnetic parameters and energy loss can be tuned to improve the performance of FFSC. A facile solution-blending method was deployed to prepare graphite- and epoxy resin-encapsulated FFSC (FFSC@G/E) powders with a core–shell structure. FFSC@G2000/E showed excellent performance in the X band (8–12 GHz), a minimum reflection loss (RLmin) of −42.77 dB at a thickness of 3 mm and a maximum effective absorption bandwidth (EABmax, RL < −10 dB) that reached 4.55 GHz at a thickness of 2.7 mm. This work provides a route for the production of novel high-performance microwave absorbers.
Enhancing the Biodiesel Production by Improving the Yield of Lipids in Wild Strain by Inducing Nitrogen Ion Mutation in Rhodotorula mucilaginosa
Authors: Sundarsingh Tensingh Joseph Antony , Shankar Vijayalakshmi
Published: September 2023

The overconsumption of energy results in the depletion of fossil fuels. Generally, biodiesels are produced from wastes of animal fats and vegetable oils. In this study, we have tried to produce biodiesel from both the wild strain and ion beam mutated strain and compared the concentration of lipids produced from both the strains and their properties. Lipids were extracted from microbes using the Bligh and Dyer method and analyzed using gas chromatography and mass spectrophotometry (GCMS) and Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. Extracted lipids (free fatty acids) were converted into biodiesel (fatty acid methyl esters) using a base catalyst. The end product biodiesel was characterized and analyzed based on ASTM standards.
Postbiotics of the Lactiplantibacillus plantarum EIR/IF-1 Strain Show Antimicrobial Activity against Oral Microorganisms with pH Adaptation Capability
Authors: Karaca Basar , Gursoy Mervi , Kiran Fadime , Loimaranta Vuokko , Söderling Eva , Gursoy Ulvi Kahraman
Published: September 2023

Postbiotics offer better properties than probiotics. This study investigated the antimicrobial activity of Lactiplantibacillus plantarum EIR/IF-1 postbiotics against pH-adaptive bacteria, namely Prevotella denticola, Fusobacterium nucleatum, and Streptococcus sanguinis. Cell-free culture media of L. plantarum EIR/IF-1 were used as postbiotics in either crude (acidic) or neutralized form to also understand non-pH-dependent antimicrobial potential. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), and viable cell counts were determined for crude and neutralized postbiotics. Culture media adjusted to different pH values were also compared to adjusted media with postbiotics to understand the strength of organic acids in postbiotics. Antibiofilm activity of postbiotics was determined against polymicrobial biofilm formation. Finally, the toxicity of crude postbiotics was tested on human periodontal ligament fibroblast cells (hPDLFCs). MIC values of crude postbiotics were 12.5 mg/mL for all strains. F. nucleatum and P. denticola strains were sensitive to neutralized postbiotics after 48 h of incubation. Moreover, 12.5 and 25 mg/mL postbiotics inhibited biofilm formation and 2.5 mg/mL and lower concentrations of crude postbiotics showed no cytotoxicity in hPDLFCs. This study showed that postbiotics have antimicrobial activity against pH-adaptive oral bacteria and no cytotoxic effect on hPDLFCs depending on the dose. The non-acidic antimicrobial components of postbiotics could also enable their safe use in the oral cavity.
Myco-Synthesized Selenium Nanoparticles as Wound Healing and Antibacterial Agent: An In Vitro and In Vivo Investigation
Authors: El-Sayed Heba , Morad Mostafa Y. , Sonbol Hana , Hammam Olfat A. , Abd El-Hameed Rehab M. , Ellethy Rania A. , Ibrahim Amina M. , Hamada Marwa A.
Published: September 2023

Bacterial-associated wound infections are an obstacle for individuals and the medical industry. Developing versatile, antibiotic-free therapies helps heal wounds more quickly and efficiently. In the current study, fungal metabolites were employed as a reducing agent in fabricating selenium nanoparticles (SeNPs) for improved antibacterial and wound healing properties. Utilizing UV-visible spectroscopy, dynamic light scattering (DLS), zeta potential, X-ray diffraction (XRD), and electron microscopic examination, the properties of the synthesized nanoparticles were extensively evaluated. Myco-synthesized SeNPs demonstrated strong antibacterial activity against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 with a minimum inhibitory concentration of 0.3125 mg/mL, reducing cell number and shape distortion in scanning electron microscope (SEM) images. SeNPs’ topical administration significantly reduced wound area and healing time, exhibiting the least bacterial load after six days compared to controls. After six and 11 days of treatment, SeNPs could decrease proinflammatory cytokines IL-6 and TNF-α production. The histopathological investigation showed a healed ulcer with moderate infiltration of inflammatory cells after exposing mice’s skin to SeNPs for six and 11 days. The docking interaction indicated that SeNPs were highly efficient against the IL-6 and TNF-α binding receptors. These findings imply that myco-fabricated SeNPs might be used as topically applied antimicrobial agents for treating skin infections and wounds.
Analysis of Tianeptine in Dietary Supplements
Authors: Seale Jared T. , Garden Emily A. , French John M. T. , McDougal Owen M.
Published: September 2023

In the United States (US), tianeptine is sold as a dietary supplement under the trade name Tianaa™. Tianeptine is a synthetic drug prescribed by physicians as an antidepressant in parts of Europe, Asia and South America. The drug is not permitted for use by physicians in the US, because it is a μ-opioid receptor agonist with a propensity for severe addiction. As the incidence of Tianaa™-related opioid addiction across the southern US escalates, the current study aimed to quantify tianeptine in over-the-counter Tianaa™ White, Red, and Green products. The results of this investigation measured tianeptine levels between 3.1 and 10.9 mg per 531 mg capsules. Tianaa™ White capsules consistently contained the least tianeptine, while Green had the most. The close inspection of Tianaa™ products showed that capsule mass varied by as much as 16% from label claim, and the amount of tianeptine per capsule varied by as much as 35% from the average measured amount for each product. Tianaa™ Red contains kava leaf extract, which led to the identification of four kavapyrone components by mass spectrometry. The data presented provide insight into tianeptine quantity and capsule mass variation for Tianaa™ supplements sold to customers naive to the risk of addiction.
Proline Dehydrogenase and Pyrroline 5 Carboxylate Dehydrogenase from Mycobacterium tuberculosis: Evidence for Substrate Channeling
Authors: Kumar Santosh , Sega Steven , Lynn-Barbe Jamie K. , Harris Dannika L. , Koehn Jordan T. , Crans Debbie C. , Crick Dean C.
Published: September 2023

In Mycobacterium tuberculosis, proline dehydrogenase (PruB) and ∆1-pyrroline-5-carboxylate (P5C) dehydrogenase (PruA) are monofunctional enzymes that catalyze proline oxidation to glutamate via the intermediates P5C and L-glutamate-γ-semialdehyde. Both enzymes are essential for the replication of pathogenic M. tuberculosis. Highly active enzymes were expressed and purified using a Mycobacterium smegmatis expression system. The purified enzymes were characterized using natural substrates and chemically synthesized analogs. The structural requirements of the quinone electron acceptor were examined. PruB displayed activity with all tested lipoquinone analogs (naphthoquinone or benzoquinone). In PruB assays utilizing analogs of the native naphthoquinone [MK-9 (II-H2)] specificity constants Kcat/Km were an order of magnitude greater for the menaquinone analogs than the benzoquinone analogs. In addition, mycobacterial PruA was enzymatically characterized for the first time using exogenous chemically synthesized P5C. A Km value of 120 ± 0.015 µM was determined for P5C, while the Km value for NAD+ was shown to be 33 ± 4.3 µM. Furthermore, proline competitively inhibited PruA activity and coupled enzyme assays, suggesting that the recombinant purified monofunctional PruB and PruA enzymes of M. tuberculosis channel substrate likely increase metabolic flux and protect the bacterium from methylglyoxal toxicity.
Characterization of Bovine Intraepithelial T Lymphocytes in the Gut
Authors: Hada Akanksha , Li Lei , Kandel Anmol , Jin Younggeon , Xiao Zhengguo
Published: September 2023

Intraepithelial T lymphocytes (T-IELs), which constitute over 50% of the total T lymphocytes in the animal, patrol the mucosal epithelial lining to defend against pathogen invasion while maintaining gut homeostasis. In addition to expressing T cell markers such as CD4 and CD8, T-IELs display T cell receptors (TCR), including either TCRαβ or TCRγδ. Both humans and mice share similar T-IEL subsets: TCRγδ+, TCRαβ+CD8αα+, TCRαβ+CD4+, and TCRαβ+CD8αβ+. Among these subsets, human T-IELs are predominantly TCRαβ+ (over 80%), whereas those in mice are mostly TCRγδ+ (~60%). Of note, the majority of the TCRγδ+ subset expresses CD8αα in both species. Although T-IELs have been extensively studied in humans and mice, their profiles in cattle have not been well examined. Our study is the first to characterize bovine T-IELs using flow cytometry, where we identified several distinct features. The percentage of TCRγδ+ was comparable to that of TCRαβ+ T-IELs (both ~50% of CD3+), and the majority of bovine TCRγδ+ T-IELs did not express CD8 (CD8−) (above 60%). Furthermore, about 20% of TCRαβ+ T-IELs were CD4+CD8αβ+, and the remaining TCRαβ+ T-IELs were evenly distributed between CD4+ and CD8αβ+ (~40% of TCRαβ+ T-IELs each) with no TCRαβ+CD8αα+ identified. Despite these unique properties, bovine T-IELs, similar to those in humans and mice, expressed a high level of CD69, an activation and tissue-retention marker, and a low level of CD62L, a lymphoid adhesion marker. Moreover, bovine T-IELs produced low levels of inflammatory cytokines such as IFNγ and IL17A, and secreted small amounts of the immune regulatory cytokine TGFβ1. Hence, bovine T-IELs’ composition largely differs from that of human and mouse, with the dominance of the CD8− population among TCRγδ+ T-IELs, the substantial presence of TCRαβ+CD4+CD8αβ+ cells, and the absence of TCRαβ+CD8αα+ T-IELs. These results provide the groundwork for conducting future studies to examine how bovine T-IELs respond to intestinal pathogens and maintain the integrity of the gut epithelial barrier in animals.
Study on Nanomaterials with Inhibitory Effects on the Growth of Aspergillus niger
Authors: Qin Ziqi , Peng Yiyuan , Pu Yiting , Liu Tao , Qian Kun , Tang Huan
Published: September 2023

In this paper, the inhibitory effect of various nanomaterials on the growth of Aspergillus niger was studied. Among them, copper nanorods had the most obvious inhibitory effect on the growth of Aspergillus niger. The phase of copper nanorods was modified by chitosan, and its inhibitory effect on the expansion of Aspergillus niger was measured. 1. Preparation of copper nanorods and chitosan@copper nanorods: Copper nanorods with a diameter of about 300–350 nm and a length of about 100–800 nm were prepared by the liquid-phase reduction method. The chitosan solution was prepared by using the characteristics of chitosan dissolved in dilute acid to prepare chitosan@copper nanorods and modify the phase of copper nanorods. 2. Determination of the inhibitory effect of various copper nanomaterials on the growth of Aspergillus niger, including Cuprous Oxide nanoparticles, copper nanorods, nano copper oxide, and copper hydroxide, which have certain inhibitory effects on the growth of Aspergillus niger. Among them, copper nanorods have a better effect. On this basis, chitosan@copper nanorods are obtained by modifying the phase of copper nanorods with chitosan. The measured antibacterial effect is that the EC50 value is 344 mg/L.
Low-Carbon Economic Dispatch of Electricity and Cooling Energy System
Authors: Wang Yubo , Hao Ling , Zheng Libin , Chen Lei , Xu Fei , Chen Qun , Min Yong
Published: September 2023

In response to the issue of the hydropower consumption of run-of-river hydropower stations in Southwest China, the district cooling system can provide regulation capacity for hydropower utilization and suppress fluctuations caused by the uncertainty of hydropower. The innovative method is to utilize the thermal characteristics of pipelines and buildings, as well as the thermal comfort elasticity to shift the cooling and electricity loads, which helps to consume the surplus hydroelectric power generation. Taking the minimum total cost of coal consumption in thermal power units, hydropower abandonment penalty, and the carbon trading cost as the objective function, models were established for power supply balance constraints, heat transport constraints, and unit output constraints. The hybrid integer linear programming algorithm was used to achieve the low-carbon economic dispatch of the electric-cooling system. The calculation examples indicate that compared to the traditional real-time balance of cooling supply, the comprehensive consideration of thermal characteristics in a cooling system and flexible thermal comfort have a better operational performance. The carbon trading cost, coal consumption cost, and abandoned hydropower rate of a typical day was reduced by 4.25% (approximately CNY 7.55 × 104), 4.47% (approximately CNY 22.23 × 104), and 3.66%, respectively. Therefore, the electric-cooling dispatch model considering the thermal characteristics in cooling networks, building thermal inertia, and thermal comfort elasticity is more conducive to the hydropower utilization of run-of-river stations.
Machine Learning in Forecasting Motor Insurance Claims
Authors: Poufinas Thomas , Gogas Periklis , Papadimitriou Theophilos , Zaganidis Emmanouil
Published: September 2023

Accurate forecasting of insurance claims is of the utmost importance for insurance activity as the evolution of claims determines cash outflows and the pricing, and thus the profitability, of the underlying insurance coverage. These are used as inputs when the insurance company drafts its business plan and determines its risk appetite, and the respective solvency capital required (by the regulators) to absorb the assumed risks. The conventional claim forecasting methods attempt to fit (each of) the claims frequency and severity with a known probability distribution function and use it to project future claims. This study offers a fresh approach in insurance claims forecasting. First, we introduce two novel sets of variables, i.e., weather conditions and car sales, and second, we employ a battery of Machine Learning (ML) algorithms (Support Vector Machines—SVM, Decision Trees, Random Forests, and Boosting) to forecast the average (mean) insurance claim per insured car per quarter. Finally, we identify the variables that are the most influential in forecasting insurance claims. Our dataset comes from the motor portfolio of an insurance company operating in Athens, Greece and spans a period from 2008 to 2020. We found evidence that the three most informative variables pertain to the new car sales with a 3-quarter and 1-quarter lag and the minimum temperature of Elefsina (one of the weather stations in Athens) with a 3-quarter lag. Among the models tested, Random Forest with limited depth and XGboost run on the 15 most informative variables, and these exhibited the best performance. These findings can be useful in the hands of insurers as they can consider the weather conditions and the new car sales among the parameters that are considered to perform claims forecasting.
Multi-Factor Collaborative Analysis of Conservation Effectiveness of Nature Reserves Based on Remote Sensing Data and Google Earth Engine
Authors: Zhang Jin , Ju Cunyong , Cai Tijiu , Sheng Houcai , Jing Xia
Published: September 2023

Protected areas (PAs) play a crucial role in safeguarding biological resources and preserving ecosystems. However, the lack of standardized and highly operational criteria for evaluating their conservation effectiveness, particularly across different ecological types, remains a significant gap in the literature. This study aims to address this gap by constructing a conservation effectiveness evaluation model for two distinct types of PAs in Heilongjiang Province, China: the Zhalong National Nature Reserve (ZlNNR), a wetland ecological reserve; and the Mudanfeng National Nature Reserve (MdfNNR), a forest ecological reserve. We employed various methods, including land use dynamic index, visual analysis of landscape patterns, remote sensing inversion, and a multi-factor comprehensive assessment model, to assess changes in conservation effectiveness from 2000 to 2020. Our findings reveal a contrast between the two PAs. In the ZlNNR, croplands and water bodies increased significantly by 4069.4 ha (K = 1.5820%) and 2541.58 ha (K = 3.2692%). In the MdfNNR, impervious lands increased greatly by 65.35 ha (K = 7.4021%), whereas forest lands decreased by 125 ha (K = −0.067%). The core area of the two PAs displayed increased landscape regularity, whereas the experimental area showed heightened landscape diversity. In ZlNNR, the MPSL value increased by 134.91%, whereas the PDL value decreased by 57.43%, indicating a more regular landscape pattern. In MdfNNR, the SHDIL value decreased by 110.7%, whereas the PDL value increased by 52.55%, indicating a more fragmented landscape pattern. The area with improved vegetation trends in ZlNNR was 8.59% larger than in MdfNNR, whereas the area with degraded vegetation trends was 4.86% smaller than in MdfNNR. In all years, the high effectiveness area was larger in ZlNNR than in MdfNNR, whereas the medium and low effectiveness areas were smaller in ZlNNR compared to MdfNNR. This study provides a scientifically rigorous assessment method for evaluating the conservation effectiveness of different types of PAs, laying a solid theoretical foundation and practical guidance for future conservation strategies.
The Dynamic Relationship between Carbon Emissions, Financial Development, and Renewable Energy: A Study of the N-5 Asian Countries
Authors: Xu Xu , Dai Wensheng , Muhammad Tufail , Zhang Tao
Published: September 2023

As a critical component of primary production and consumption activities worldwide, renewable energy is a necessary source of economic development and social prosperity. The main emphasis of the current research is to investigate how five Asian countries are leveraging financial resources and renewable energy to address carbon emissions and achieve Sustainable Development Goals. It explores the relationship between the environmental impacts of financial development and renewable energy under external moderation. To address this aim, a secondary quantitative research method was used, considering the period from 2010 to 2020. For data analysis, a cross-sectional dependence test, second-generation unit root test, co-integration, and CS-ARDL model were used. The research findings revealed that renewable energy induces a short-term influence on CO2 emissions. In contrast, renewable energy and financial development, when moderated by institutional quality and globalisation, have posed long-term influences on CO2 emissions. Our empirical research offers fresh insights to policymakers and governments, aiding in the development policies that safeguard environmental quality while simultaneously achieving sustainable economic objectives. This study suggests the significance of enacting adequate policies for endorsing the usage of renewable energy and the minimisation of CO2 emissions for sustainable development.
Fostering Fashion Ecosystems: A Quadruple Helix-Based Model for European Sustainable Innovation
Authors: D’Itria Erminia , Colombi Chiara
Published: September 2023

Industrial sectors’ innovative and sustainable development relies not only on solid government, society, academia, and industry but also on how they interact to set and implement strategic goals. In the fashion industry context, the new sociocultural scenario is increasingly driven by pressures from stakeholders to limit the impacts of industrial practices and to move toward new open ecosystems to create and maintain sustainable innovation. This article explores how such innovation can be enabled by design-driven actions in the context of the quadruple helix. Such a model aims to revitalize the areas of technological innovation and gradually advance the construction of the infrastructure needed for sustainable fashion growth, combining and integrating different knowledge. An initial literature review, complemented by case studies analysis, identifies the European fashion industry dynamics of innovation and the roles of industry, government, university, and society. In particular, the government is transforming from a mere controller to a facilitator of innovation synergies. Society relies on citizens revising their consumption habits by shifting toward a performative economy. Industry understands the need for collaboration and adopts new closed-loop supply chains to create and maintain its sustainable development. Universities enable new open system flows to make innovations concerning knowledge, technologies, and systems thrive, from technology transfer to knowledge co-creation. Based on the analysis, we propose a conceptual framework to understand the micro- and macro-dynamics of open innovation with a quadruple helix model to implement sustainability practices in the fashion sector through design-driven actions—reuse, repair, recycle, and refashion—that aim to eliminate the concept of waste to support local ecosystems toward establishing a closed-loop chain.
Digital Transformation, Firm Boundaries, and Market Power: Evidence from China’s Listed Companies
Authors: Xu Yang , Li Chengming
Published: September 2023

Digital transformation is seen as an “elixir” for companies to improve their economic performance and expand their market power in the digital economy. Therefore, how does digital transformation affect enterprises’ market power? This paper used machine learning to construct a digital transformation index and used panel data of listed enterprises from 2008 to 2020 to study the impact of digital transformation on market power and its mechanism of action. The findings showed that digital transformation significantly increases market power, and this conclusion still holds after considering potential endogeneity issues and conducting robustness tests. The results of mechanism analysis revealed that digital transformation facilitates endogenous scale expansion and promotes merger and acquisition (M&A), which reshapes firm boundaries and, thus, enhances market power. This paper revealed new changes in the micro-organization of enterprises in the context of digital transformation and provided micro-evidence for the industrial organization effect of digital transformation.
Impacts of Charge Air Parameters on Combustion and Emission Characteristics of a Diesel Marine Engine
Authors: Nguyen Duy Trinh , Vu Minh Thai , Le Van Vang , Pham Van Chien
Published: September 2023

In this study, the operating processes of a four-stroke diesel marine engine from the intake valve closing (IVC) to the exhaust valve opening (EVO) at numerous different charge air conditions were simulated with the AVL FIRE code. The CFD models were validated with engine shop-test technical data. The results showed that increasing the charge air pressure without cooling decreased the actual amount of air supplied to the cylinder. As a result, the combustion process was suboptimal, resulting in a reduction in engine power and an increase in specific fuel oil consumption (SFOC). In addition, less air to cool the combustion chamber coupled with elevated charge air temperatures increased the in-cylinder peak temperature, leading to a significant increase in thermal nitric oxide (NO) emissions. In contrast, by cooling the charge air after turbocharging, the actual amount of air entering the engine cylinders was increased. The abundant charge air helped to cool the combustion chamber better, significantly reducing the in-cylinder peak temperature and then the thermal NO formation. Better combustion also increased engine power, which, in turn, reduced SFOC. In addition, carbon dioxide (CO2) and soot emissions were also reduced.
Simultaneous Branch Retinal Artery and Central Retinal Vein Occlusion Improved with No Ocular Therapy: A Case Report
Authors: Vitiello Livio , Salerno Giulio , Coppola Alessia , Abbinante Giulia , Gagliardi Vincenzo , Pellegrino Alfonso
Published: September 2023

A rarely described condition known as branch retinal artery occlusion (BRAO) with concurrent obstruction of the central retinal vein (CRVO) is characterized by diffuse retinal hemorrhages, dilated and tortuous retinal veins, macular and disc edema, cotton wool spots, and a generalized delay in arteriovenous transit on fluorescein angiography, together with a retinal whitening in the area of the affected retinal arterial branch. Although BRAO and CRVO may share underlying systemic risk factors, the pathogenesis of combined BRAO + CRVO is still unknown. We present a BRAO + CRVO case report concerning a 63-year-old white male who came to our observation complaining of sudden vision loss in his right eye. An increased risk for thrombotic event was revealed in this case, and the patient improved only with systemic anticoagulant therapy and in the absence of ocular therapy. We also explain all the clinical findings that are detectable using different diagnostic devices and analyze the scientific literature for other, similar clinical cases.
A Review of Tibial Shaft Fracture Fixation Methods
Authors: Tamburini Lisa , Zeng Francine , Neumann Dillon , Jackson Casey , Mancini Michael , Block Andrew , Patel Seema , Wellington Ian , Stroh David
Published: September 2023

Tibial shaft fractures are a commonly seen injury in orthopedic trauma patients. Fractures commonly occur following high energy mechanisms, such as motor vehicle collisions. There are multiple ways to stabilize tibial shaft fractures. Knowledge of the indications, contraindications, techniques, and complications associated with each technique allows the orthopedic surgeon to make the appropriate decision for each patient by providing both fracture and patient characteristics. This review discusses the indications, techniques, outcomes, and complications associated with intramedullary nailing, minimally invasive percutaneous plate osteosynthesis, and external fixation of tibial shaft fractures.
Performance Evaluation of You Only Look Once v4 in Road Anomaly Detection and Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping for Autonomous Vehicles
Authors: Bala Jibril Abdullahi , Adeshina Steve Adetunji , Aibinu Abiodun Musa
Published: September 2023

The proliferation of autonomous vehicles (AVs) emphasises the pressing need to navigate challenging road networks riddled with anomalies like unapproved speed bumps, potholes, and other hazardous conditions, particularly in low- and middle-income countries. These anomalies not only contribute to driving stress, vehicle damage, and financial implications for users but also elevate the risk of accidents. A significant hurdle for AV deployment is the vehicle’s environmental awareness and the capacity to localise effectively without excessive dependence on pre-defined maps in dynamically evolving contexts. Addressing this overarching challenge, this paper introduces a specialised deep learning model, leveraging YOLO v4, which profiles road surfaces by pinpointing defects, demonstrating a mean average precision (mAP@0.5) of 95.34%. Concurrently, a comprehensive solution—RA-SLAM, which is an enhanced Visual Simultaneous Localisation and Mapping (V-SLAM) mechanism for road scene modeling, integrated with the YOLO v4 algorithm—was developed. This approach precisely detects road anomalies, further refining V-SLAM through a keypoint aggregation algorithm. Collectively, these advancements underscore the potential for a holistic integration into AV’s intelligent navigation systems, ensuring safer and more efficient traversal across intricate road terrains.