bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influence of Transfer Plot Area and Location on Chemical Input Reduction in Agricultural Production: Evidence from China
Authors: Cui Meiling , Guo Yang , Chen Jiwei
Published: September 2023

The development of a farmland transfer market and the spatial characteristics of transfer plots are crucial factors influencing chemical input reduction in agricultural production with relation to the endowment of fragmented agricultural land resources. Through a theoretical discussion, this study analyzed the heterogeneity of transfer plots’ spatial characteristics and their effect on the intensity of chemical input in agricultural production in the process of farmland transfer. Plot-level survey data from the Heilongjiang, Henan, Zhejiang, and Sichuan provinces were used for empirical analysis. The results indicated that the values of pesticide and fertilizer input in the large plot group were CNY 10.154 and CNY 8.679 lower than those in the small plot group, respectively. Additionally, compared with non-adjacent plots, the per-unit area input was CNY 2.396 and CNY 6.691 lower in adjacent plots. This indicated that plot area expansion and location adjacence significantly reduced the intensity of pesticide application and fertilizer input in the plots. Simultaneously, location linkage reduced chemical input in agricultural production in small plots; however, the difference was unnoticeable in large plots. This study provides a theoretical basis for promoting farmland integration in China as well as introduces a specialized method for reducing agricultural chemical usage.
Assessment of Hungarian Consumers’ Exposure to Pesticide Residues Based on the Results of Pesticide Residue Monitoring between 2017 and 2021
Authors: Ambrus Árpád , Szenczi-Cseh Júlia , Bíró Lajos , Vásárhelyi Adrienn , Dobrik Henriett Szemánné
Published: September 2023

The short-term intake (ESTI) of pesticide residues in Hungarian consumers was assessed based on 2331 test results obtained during the 2017–2021 monitoring program on frequently analyzed apples, sour cherries, table grapes, peaches, nectarines, peppers, and strawberries (23.5% of all samples taken from 119 crops). The age-specific consumption data were obtained from national food consumption surveys (2009 and 2018–2020). The exposure was characterized by Hazard Quotient and Hazard Index considering the acute reference doses of pesticide residues detected in the samples. When ESTI was calculated with all detected “single” residues and a variability factor of 3.6, recommended for evaluation of monitoring results, the HI only exceeded 1 for children <3 years old eating grapes (1.50–1.81). HI was <1 when any of the six foods were eaten together within one day. Between forty and fifty percent of samples contained 2–23 residues. Though the individual residue concentrations were below the corresponding MRLs, multiple residues being present in one sample resulted in maximum HI values in apples (1.14); grapes (6.57); peaches and nectarines (2.57); strawberries (2.74); and peppers (10.44). Residues with low ARfD values contributed the most. Applying HI is simple, but provides only point estimates; therefore, it should only be used in first-tier risk assessment.
The Role of Adult Vaccines as Part of Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Scoping Review
Authors: Williams Charles Travers , Zaidi Syed Tabish Razi , Saini Bandana , Castelino Ronald
Published: September 2023

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) is a significant global health concern, causing an estimated 700,000 deaths annually. Although immunisation has been shown to significantly reduce AMR, the role of vaccines as part of antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) practices is often overlooked. Objective: To identify and examine the available literature on the role of vaccines as part of AMS practices. Method: A scoping review was conducted in the following databases: MEDLINE, Embase, Scopus, CINAHL, CCRCT, IPA, and WoS, along with grey literature sources. The review was conducted using the JBI Methodology for Scoping Reviews and reported in line with the PRISMA-SCr checklist. Results: Among the 1711 records identified, 34 met the inclusion criteria; 8 discussed only the concept, while 26 discussed both the concept and the vaccine implementation method in AMS practices. There were eight recommended and/or utilised types of AMS activities identified involving vaccines, under four key themes of vaccine-related AMS strategies: Education, Screening, Vaccination, and Monitoring. Influenza and pneumococcal vaccines had the most evidence for inclusion. Conclusion: Overall, the evidence supports the role of vaccines as part of AMS practices and the value of their inclusion in creating improved and comprehensive AMS strategies to further combat the development of AMR.
An Approach to Improve Energy Efficiency during Antimicrobial Blue Light Inactivation: Application of Pulse-Width Modulation Dimming to Balance Irradiance and Irradiation Time
Authors: Zhang Wanqing , Su Ping , Ma Jianshe , Tan Ying , Gong Mali , Ma Liya
Published: September 2023

Antimicrobial blue light (aBL) is an effective non-destructive inactivation technique and has received increasing attention. Despite its significance, the existing research has not thoroughly delved into the impacts of irradiance and irradiation time on enhancing energy efficiency during aBL inactivation and the explanation of the enhancement effect of pulse exposure. In this paper, a series of Escherichia coli inactivation experiments with different duty cycles, pulse frequencies, and irradiation times were conducted, and the relative concentrations of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured under corresponding conditions. A two-dimensional (2-D) Hom model was proposed to evaluate the effect of irradiance and irradiation time. The results show that, compared to continuous exposure, pulsed aBL (duty cycle = 25%) can save ~37% of the energy to achieve the same inactivation effect and generate a 1.95 times higher ROS concentration. The 2-D Hom model obtains the optimal combination of average irradiance and time according to the desired reduction and shows that the irradiation time has a higher weight than the irradiance (1.677 and 1.083, respectively). Therefore, using pulse exposure with a lower average irradiance for a longer period of time can achieve a better inactivation effect when consuming equivalent energy. The proposed pulse-width modulation dimming approach helps promote the application of the aBL technique.
Valorization of Citrus reticulata Blanco Peels to Produce Enriched Wheat Bread: Phenolic Bioaccessibility and Antioxidant Potential
Authors: Gómez-Mejía Esther , Sacristán Iván , Rosales-Conrado Noelia , León-González María Eugenia , Madrid Yolanda
Published: September 2023

The fortification of foods with bioactive polyphenols aims to improve their functional properties and to provide health benefits. Yet, to exert their benefits, phenolic compounds must be released from the food matrix and absorbed by the small intestine after digestion, so assessing their bioaccessibility is crucial to determine their potential role. This work aims to incorporate Citrus reticulata Blanco peel extracts into wheat bread as a promising opportunity to increase their bioactive potential, along with supporting the sustainable management of citrus-industry waste. A control and a wheat bread enriched at 2% and 4% (w/v) with a phenolic extract from mandarin peels were prepared and analyzed for antioxidant activity and phenolic composition using LC-MS and UV-Vis spectrophotometry. In addition, in vitro digestion was performed, and the digested extracts were analyzed with HPLC-MS/MS. The results showed a significant increase in total flavonoid content (TFC, 2.2 ± 0.1 mg·g−1), antioxidant activity (IC50 = 37 ± 4 mg·g−1), and contents of quercetin, caffeic acid, and hesperidin in the 4% (w/v) enriched bread. Yet, most polyphenols were completely degraded after the in vitro digestion process, barring hesperidin (159 ± 36 μg·g−1), highlighting the contribution of citrus enrichment in the development of an enriched bread with antioxidant potential.
Oxidative Status and Histological Evaluation of Wild Boars’ Tissues Positive for Zearalenone Contamination in the Campania Region, Southern Italy
Authors: Damiano Sara , Longobardi Consiglia , Ferrara Gianmarco , Piscopo Nadia , Riccio Lorenzo , Russo Valeria , Meucci Valentina , De Marchi Lucia , Esposito Luigi , Florio Salvatore , Ciarcia Roberto
Published: September 2023

Zearalenone (ZEN) is a mycotoxin produced by fungi belonging to the genera Fusarium spp. and commonly found in feed and food. It is frequently related to reproductive disorders in farm animals and, occasionally, to hyperestrogenic syndromes in humans. Nowadays, knowledge about ZEN effects on wild boars (Sus scrofa) is extremely scarce, despite the fact that they represent one of the most hunted game species in Italy. The aim of this study was to investigate how ZEN affects the liver, kidney, and muscle oxidative status and morphology of wild boars hunted in various locations throughout the province of Avellino, Campania Region, Southern Italy, during the 2021–2022 hunting season. Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activities, as well as the malondialdehyde (MDA) levels, were assessed by colorimetric assays; tissue morphology was evaluated by hematoxylin–eosin and Masson’s stains. Our data showed that ZEN contamination might result in oxidative stress (OS) and some histopathological alterations in wild boars’ livers and kidneys rather than in muscles, emphasizing the importance of developing a wildlife monitoring and management strategy for dealing not only with the problem of ZEN but the surveillance of mycotoxins in general.
Patulin Ameliorates Hypertrophied Lipid Accumulation and Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Inflammatory Response by Modulating Mitochondrial Respiration
Authors: Hong Seulmin , Park Seon Kyeong , Lee Jangho , Park Soo Hyun , Kim Young-Soo , Park Jae-Ho , Yu Seungmin , Lee Yu Geon
Published: September 2023

Patulin (PAT) is a natural mycotoxin found in decaying pome fruits. Although some toxicological studies have been conducted on PAT, recent research has highlighted its anticancer and antifungal effects. However, studies have yet to examine the effects and molecular mechanisms of PAT in other metabolic diseases. Obesity is a chronic disease caused by excessive food intake and abnormal lifestyle, leading to low-grade inflammation. Therefore, this study aimed to elucidate the effect of PAT on obesity at the cellular level. PAT treatment reduced lipid accumulation, suppressed glucose and LDL uptake, inhibited lipid deposition and triglyceride synthesis, upregulated fatty acid oxidation-related genes (Pgc1α), and downregulated adipogenic/lipogenic genes (Pparγ and C/ebpα) in hypertrophied 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Additionally, PAT treatment enhanced mitochondrial respiration and mass in differentiated adipocytes and alleviated inflammatory response in activated RAW 264.7 macrophages. Moreover, PAT treatment downregulated pro-inflammatory genes (il-6, Tnf-α, Cox-2, and inos), suppressed lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced increase in inflammatory mediators (IL-6, TNF-α, and NO), and restored mitochondrial oxidative function in LPS-stimulated macrophages by improving oxygen consumption and mitochondrial integrity and suppressing ROS generation. Overall, these findings suggest a potential for PAT in the prevention of lipid accumulation and inflammation-related disorders.
Evolutionary Algorithms for Optimization Sequence of Cut in the Laser Cutting Path Problem
Authors: Junior Bonfim Amaro , de Carvalho Guilherme Nepomuceno , Santos Marcio Costa , Pinheio Placido Rogerio , Celedonio Joao Willian Lemos
Published: September 2023

Efficiently cutting smaller two-dimensional parts from a larger surface area is a recurring challenge in many manufacturing environments. This point falls under the cut-and-pack (C&P) problems. This study specifically focused on a specialization of the cut path determination (CPD) known as the laser cutting path planning (LCPP) problem. The LCPP aims to determine a sequence of cutting and sliding movements for the head that minimizes the parts’ separation time. It is important to note that both cutting and glide speeds (moving the head without cutting) can vary depending on the equipment, despite their importance in real-world scenarios. This study investigates an adaptive biased random-key genetic algorithm (ABRKGA) and a heuristic to create improved individuals applied to LCPP. Our focus is on dealing with more meaningful instances that resemble real-world requirements. The experiments in this article used parameter values for typical laser cutting machines to assess the feasibility of the proposed methods compared to an existing strategy. The results demonstrate that solutions based on metaheuristics are competitive and that the inclusion of heuristics in the creation of the initial population benefits the execution of the evolutionary strategy in the treatment of practical problems, achieving better performance in terms of the quality of solutions and computational time.
Hybrid LSTM Model to Predict the Level of Air Pollution in Montenegro
Authors: Ratković Kruna , Kovač Nataša , Simeunović Marko
Published: September 2023

Air pollution is a critical environmental concern that poses significant health risks and affects multiple aspects of human life. ML algorithms provide promising results for air pollution prediction. In the existing scientific literature, Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM) predictive models, as well as their combination with other statistical and machine learning approaches, have been utilized for air pollution prediction. However, these combined algorithms may not always provide suitable results due to the stochastic nature of the factors that influence air pollution, improper hyperparameter configurations, or inadequate datasets and data characterized by great variability and extreme dispersion. The focus of this paper is applying and comparing the performance of Support Vector Machine and hybrid LSTM regression models for air pollution prediction. To identify optimal hyperparameters for the LSTM model, a hybridization with the Genetic Algorithm is proposed. To mitigate the risk of overfitting, the bagging technique is employed on the best LSTM model. The proposed predicitive model aims to determine the Common Air Quality Index level for the next hour in Niksic, Montenegro. With the hybridization of the LSTM algorithm and by applying the bagging technique, our approach aims to significantly enhance the accuracy and reliability of hourly air pollution prediction. The major contribution of this paper is in the application of advanced machine learning analysis and the combination of the LSTM, Genetic Algorithm, and bagging techniques, which have not been previously employed in the analysis of air pollution in Montenegro. The proposed model will be made available to interested management structures, local governments, national entities, or other relevant institutions, empowering them to make effective pollution level predictions and take appropriate measures.
Static and Modal Models of Automotive Wheel Hubs Based on Lightweight Design and Cost-Effectiveness
Authors: Cang Peng , Zhang Xilong , Cui Wanxin
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the optimization design methods for automotive wheel hub structures based on lightweight and economic considerations through static and modal analyses. A comprehensive static analysis and modal analysis of the automotive wheel hub were conducted using finite element analysis to understand its response characteristics under load. In order to optimize the structure of the wheel hub, the lightweight design is also considered on the premise of ensuring the reliability of its stiffness and strength. By appropriately setting the initial conditions and boundary conditions, the deformation and stress distributions of the optimized wheel hub were obtained for various loading positions. The modal analysis results showed that the vibration frequencies of the optimized wheel hub avoided external excitation frequencies, meeting the design requirements. Further analysis of the lightweight effect of the wheel hub was conducted, and a lightweight material replacement scheme was proposed. Ultimately, the rationality of the optimized wheel hub’s strength and vibration performance was validated through comprehensive static and modal analyses.
A Lightweight Reconstruction Model via a Neural Network for a Video Super-Resolution Model
Authors: Tang Xinkun , Xu Ying , Ouyang Feng , Zhu Ligu
Published: September 2023

Super-resolution in image and video processing has been a challenge in computer vision, with its progression creating substantial societal ramifications. More specifically, video super-resolution methodologies aim to restore spatial details while upholding the temporal coherence among frames. Nevertheless, their extensive parameter counts and high demand for computational resources challenge the deployment of existing deep convolutional neural networks on mobile platforms. In response to these concerns, our research undertakes an in-depth investigation into deep convolutional neural networks and offers a lightweight model for video super-resolution, capable of reducing computational load. In this study, we bring forward a unique lightweight model for video super-resolution, the Deep Residual Recursive Network (DRRN). The model applies residual learning to stabilize the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN) training, meanwhile adopting depth-wise separable convolution to boost the efficiency of super-resolution operations. Thorough experimental evaluations reveal that our proposed model excels in computational efficiency and in generating refined and temporally consistent results for video super-resolution. Hence, this research presents a crucial stride toward applying video super-resolution strategies on devices with resource limitations.
Transportation and Reserve of Emergency Medical Supplies during Public Health Events
Authors: An Jing , Zhuo Bingguang
Published: September 2023

When a public health event occurs, it is very difficult to guarantee a stable supply of emergency medical supplies; this has a great impact on the efficiency of emergency rescue work. Therefore, this paper takes the problem of transporting and stockpiling emergency medical supplies in modern public health events as its research theme. We use the SEIRD (susceptible, exposed, infected, recovered, and dead) system dynamics model to predict the number of infected people and the demand for emergency medical supplies and obtain a number of single-day demand of 0.3 N + 0.15 I − 0.15 R − 0.3 D. An index system based on 11 indicators was established and the demand urgency function was designed. A bi-objective vehicle routing problem with time windows (VRPWT) for emergency medical supplies considering demand urgency and response cost minimization is established and solved using particle swarm optimization (PSO). To test our approach, the model is simulated using the initial COVID-19 data of six cities in China. Finally, we obtain the prediction of these six demand points and the demand urgency, and the PSO algorithm can reach the optimal solution in this VRPTW problem. The optimal travelling distance is about 1461.45 km and the total cost is 6726.5 Yuan. This simulation confirms the model’s rational and feasibility and presents suggestions to cope with modern public health events.
Enhancing Underwater Images via Color Correction and Multiscale Fusion
Authors: Tian Ning , Cheng Li , Li Yang , Li Xuan , Xu Nan
Published: September 2023

Color distortion, low contrast, and blurry details are the main features of underwater images, which can have adverse effects on their quality. To address these issues, a novel enhancement method based on color correction and multiscale fusion is proposed to improve underwater image quality, achieving color correction, contrast enhancement, and detail sharpening at different stages. The method consists of three main steps: color correction using a simple and effective histogram equalization-based method to correct color distortion, decomposition of the V channel of the color-corrected image into low- and high-frequency components using a guided filter, enhancement of the low-frequency component using a dual-interval histogram based on a benign separation threshold strategy, and a complementary pair of gamma functions; the fusion of the two versions of the low-frequency component to enhance image contrast; and finally, the design of an enhancement function to highlight image details. Comparative analysis with existing methods demonstrates that the proposed method achieves high-quality underwater images and favorable qualitative and quantitative evaluations. Compared to the method with the highest score, the average UIQM score of our method exceeds 6%, and the average UCIQE score exceeds 2%.
A Game-Theoretical Approach to Clinical Decision Making with Immersive Visualisation
Authors: Lau Chng Wei , Catchpoole Daniel , Simoff Simeon , Zhang Dongmo , Nguyen Quang Vinh
Published: September 2023

Cancer is a disease characterised by changes in combinations of genes within affected tumour cells. The deep understanding of genetic activity afforded to cancer specialists through complex genomics data analytics has advanced the clinical management of cancer by using deep machine learning algorithms and visualisation. However, most of the existing works do not integrate intelligent decision-making aids that can guide users in the analysis and exploration processes. This paper contributes a novel strategy that applies game theory within a VR-enabled immersive visualisation system designed as the decision support engine to mimic real-world interactions between stakeholders within complex relationships, in this case cancer clinicians. Our focus is to apply game theory to assist doctors in the decision-making process regarding the treatment options for rare-cancer patients. Nash Equilibrium and Social Optimality strategy profiles were used to facilitate complex analysis within the visualisation by inspecting which combination of genes and dimensionality reduction methods yields the best survival rate and by investigating the treatment protocol to form new hypotheses. Using a case simulation, we demonstrate the effectiveness of game theory in guiding the analyst with a patient cohort data interrogation system as compared to an analyst without a decision support system. Particularly, the strategy profile (t-SNE method and DNMT3B_ZBTB46_LAPTM4B gene) gains the highest payoff for the two doctors.
Research on Detection of Rice Pests and Diseases Based on Improved yolov5 Algorithm
Authors: Yang Hua , Lin Dang , Zhang Gexiang , Zhang Haifeng , Wang Junxiong , Zhang Shuxiang
Published: September 2023

Rice pests and diseases have a significant impact on the quality and yield of rice, and even have a certain impact on and cause a loss in the national agricultural industry and economy. The timely and accurate detection of pests and diseases is the basic premise of formulating effective rice pest control and prevention programs. However, the complexity and diversity of pests and diseases and the high similarity between some pests and diseases make the detection and classification task of pests and diseases extremely difficult without detection tools. The existing target detection algorithms can barely complete the task of detecting pests and diseases, but the detection effect is not ideal. In the actual situation of rice disease and insect pest detection, the detection algorithm is required to have fast speed, high accuracy, and good performance for small target detection, and so this paper improved the popular yolov5 algorithm to achieve an ideal detection performance suitable for rice disease and insect pest detection. This paper briefly introduces the current status and influence of rice pests and diseases and several target detection algorithms based on deep learning. Based on the yolov5 algorithm, the RepVGG network structure is introduced, 3*3 convolution is combined with ReLU, a training time model with multi-branch topology is adopted, and the inference time is reduced through layer merging. To improve algorithm detection speed, the SK attention mechanism is introduced to improve the receptive field of the convolution kernel to obtain more information and improve accuracy. In addition, Adaptive NMS is replaced by Adaptive NMS, the dynamic suppression strategy is adopted, and scores for learning density are set, which greatly improves the problems of missing detection and the false detection of small targets. Finally, the improved algorithm model is combined with membrane calculation to further improve the accuracy and speed of the algorithm. According to the experimental results, the accuracy of the improved algorithm is increased by about 2.7 percentage points, and the mAP is increased by 4.3 percentage points, up to 94.4%. The speed is improved by about 2.8 percentage points, and indicators such as recall rate and AP are improved.
Innovative Design and Mechanical Analysis of Low-Resistance Fritilariae Ussuriensis Maxim Excavation Device
Authors: Li San-Ping , Lin Hai-Bin , Wu Li-Guo , Bao Wen-Quan , Qi Jia-Mei
Published: September 2023

Fritilariae ussuriensis maxim can be used as a medicine with little difficulty in its planting, but owing to its fragile characteristics, Fritilariae ussuriensis maxim is mainly collected by manual excavation. In order to solve the problems of the low working efficiency and poor environmental adaptability of the harvesting equipment of Fritilariae ussuriensis maxim, this paper designs a new excavation device, which can effectively reduce the operation resistance and improve the excavation efficiency of Fritilariae ussuriensis maxim. In this paper, the finite element method and discrete element method are used to simulate and analyze the operation performance of the excavation device. Combined with the orthogonal test and single factor test, the factors affecting the operating performance of the excavating device were explored. The excavating experimental platform was designed and built, and the simulation results were verified with experimental excavation data. This study shows that the operating speed, shovel face inclination angle, and digging depth had significant effects on the digging resistance of the shovel body, with the shovel face inclination angle having the highest influencing factor and the operating speed having the lowest influencing factor. Combined with the orthogonal test analysis and response surface design, the optimal operating parameters of the shovel body are: operating speed 0.5 m/s, shovel face inclination angle 25°, and excavation depth 120 mm.
High-Throughput Viability Testing of Microbial Communities in a Probiotic Product Using Flow Cytometry
Authors: Pereira Joanna V. , Gamage Hasinika K. A. H. , Cain Amy K. , Hayes Evan , Paulsen Ian T. , Tetu Sasha G.
Published: September 2023

There is growing scientific and commercial interest in multi-species probiotic products due to their potential benefits in maintaining gut health. Determining the viability of probiotic microorganisms in these products is essential to ensure that they confer maximal health benefits. The gold standard for enumerating probiotic viability is the plate count method. However, this may be inaccurate for enumerating mixed probiotic populations, with recognised limitations including difficulty measuring metabolically active yet unculturable, very slow growing microbes, microencapsulated, enteric coated microbes, or multi-strain formulations that require differing growth media. Here, we developed a flow-cytometry-based approach using SYTOXTM Green dye to assess the viability of probiotic microorganisms in a multi-species, fibre-containing probiotic product and compared this to the traditional plate count method. This method was suitable for enumerating both total bacterial cells and the viable cell fraction in the complete product mixture, and could also be used to assess how stressors, such as gastric digestion and exposure to bile acids, affect bacterial cell viability. Flow cytometry measurements routinely detected higher viable cell counts than plate counting. This work demonstrates that flow cytometry assays can be established as a suitable method for rapid enumeration of viable cells in complex, multi-species probiotics.
The Death of Painting and Its Afterlife in Morimura Yasumasa’s Portrait (Futago)
Authors: Matsumura Kimiko
Published: September 2023

This essay performs a close reading of Morimura’s Portrait (Futago) to establish how the artist’s multi-media approach echoes 1980s declarations about the end of painting while also proposing alternatives for its historical and material afterlife. In many ways, the artist’s performances make the crises brought on by the emerging global economy visual, and as such pointed to a number of slow deaths: of painting, of capitalism, of Japanese tradition. But the images do not merely document the demise. Instead, they present a scenario in which multiplicities define contemporary being. By considering how the work engages with photography, performance, and painting, I argue that Morimura’s approach to modality pointed out inherently Western assumptions about painting as well as its incompatibility with a holistic global identity in the 1980s and 90s. Exploiting the stereotypes of his media, Morimura makes tangible painting’s complicity with Western hegemony and destabilizes it in ways that propose a new global subject.
The Categorization of the Operetta Dance Genre in the Táncművészet Magazine between 1952 and 1956
Authors: Lengyel Emese
Published: September 2023

The aim of the Hungarian state socialist regime to renew the operetta art manifested in the transformation of operetta-playing via the setting of its main cultural objectives. Once private theatre organizations were disbanded in 1949, newly written and composed operetta pieces had to be adjusted to meet the expectations cultivated by those responsible for the drawing up of the contemporary cultural policies, not only in terms of theme, subject, and dramaturgy but also, as productions designed for stage performance. At that time, questions regarding the realm of operetta dance and choreography arose as significant professional issues. The remarkable case of operetta dance was brought to the notice of the larger professional community by an article written by choreographer Ágnes Roboz, which was published in 1952 in the Táncművészet magazine (1951). Due to its professional nature, this magazine served as a suitable platform for the discussion of the operetta dance genre. The present study reflects upon its publications from the period between 1952 and 1956. Throughout these years, 16 articles discussing the categorization of operettas were published. I aimed to analyze these primary sources according to their genre before presenting, juxtaposing, and contextualizing them. Thus, my objective is to gain a thorough understanding and comprehensive overview of professional discussions and arguments over 1950s operetta dances and choreographies.
Temperature Estimation in Lithium-Ion Cells Assembled in Series-Parallel Circuits Using an Artificial Neural Network Based on Impedance Data
Authors: Ströbel Marco , Kumar Vikneshwara , Birke Kai Peter
Published: September 2023

Lithium-ion cells are widely used in various applications. For optimal performance and safety, it is crucial to have accurate knowledge of the temperature of each cell. However, determining the temperature for individual cells is challenging as the core temperature may significantly differ from the surface temperature, leading to the need for further research in this field. This study presents the first sensorless temperature estimation method for determining the core temperature of each cell within a battery module. The accuracy of temperature estimation is in the range of ΔT≈1 K. The cell temperature is determined using an artificial neural network (ANN) based on electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) data. Additionally, by optimizing the frequency range, the number of measurement points, input neurons, measurement time, and computational effort are significantly reduced, while maintaining or even improving the accuracy of temperature estimation. The required time for the EIS measurement can be reduced to 0.5 s, and the temperature calculation takes place within a few milliseconds. The setup consists of cylindrical 18,650 lithium-ion cells assembled into modules with a 3s2p configuration. The core temperature of the cells was measured using sensors placed inside each cell. For the EIS measurement, alternating current excitation was applied across the entire module, and voltage was measured individually for each cell. Various State of Charge (SoC), ambient temperatures, and DC loads were investigated. Compared to other methods for temperature determination, the advantages of the presented study lie in the simplicity of the approach. Only one impedance chip per module is required as additional hardware to apply the AC current. The ANN consists of a simple feedforward network with only one layer in the hidden layer, resulting in minimal computational effort, making this approach attractive for real-world applications.
Determination of Lithium-Ion Battery Capacity for Practical Applications
Authors: Bašić Hrvoje , Bobanac Vedran , Pandžić Hrvoje
Published: September 2023

Batteries are becoming highly important in automotive and power system applications. The lithium-ion battery, as the fastest growing energy storage technology today, has its specificities, and requires a good understanding of the operating characteristics in order to use it in full capacity. One such specificity is the dependence of the one-way charging/discharging efficiency on the charging/discharging current. This paper proposes a novel method for the determination of battery capacity based on experimental testing. The proposed method defines battery energy capacity as the energy actually stored in the battery, while accounting for both the charging and discharging losses. The experiments include one-way efficiency determination based on multiple cycles conducted under different operational and ambient conditions, the goal of which is to acquire the charging/discharging energies. The measured energies are corrected for one-way efficiencies to obtain values actually stored in a battery during charging or actually extracted from the battery during discharging. The proposed method is tested in a laboratory and compared against two existing baseline methods at different ambient temperatures. The results indicate that the proposed method significantly outperforms the baseline methods in terms of the accuracy of the determined battery energy capacity and state-of-energy. The prime reason for the good performance of the proposed method is that it accounts for both the operational (efficiency) and the ambient (temperature) conditions.
Silicon/Carbon Nanoparticles Assembled with Multifunction Carbon Nanotubes/Sheets as High-Performance Anode of Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Yang Ruifeng , Li Canbing , Li Xinxi , Zhang Guoqing , Liu Yanlin , Deng Jian
Published: September 2023

Silicon as an electrode material in the lithium-ion battery application scenario has been hindered by its significant volumetric expansion and intricate synthesis processes. In this research, we have successfully synthesized Si@C/carbon nanotubes/carbon sheets (Si@C-CNTs/CS) composites by employing a simple one-pot method along with modified magnesium thermal reaction, which involves melamine to prevent high temperature. The resulting multifunctional Si@C-CNTs/CS composites demonstrate enhanced stability during volume change in silicon, resulting in both higher capacity compared to conventional carbon coating layer and improved conductivity of the materials. The results indicate that the Si@C-CNTs/CS composites exhibit a high discharge-specific capacity of up to 2981.64 mAh g−1 at 0.5 A g−1 current density and retain a discharge-specific capacity of 1487.71 mAh g−1 even after 300 cycles. Therefore, the double-layer carbon network structure of carbon nanotubes/carbon nanosheets can provide an efficient and simple preparation method for high-performance Si-base anode materials in practical applications.
Bio-Inspired Fiber Reinforcement for Aortic Valves: Scaffold Production Process and Characterization
Authors: Boehm Christian A. , Donay Christine , Lubig Andreas , Ruetten Stephan , Sesa Mahmoud , Fernández-Colino Alicia , Reese Stefanie , Jockenhoevel Stefan
Published: September 2023

The application of tissue-engineered heart valves in the high-pressure circulatory system is still challenging. One possible solution is the development of biohybrid scaffolds with textile reinforcement to achieve improved mechanical properties. In this article, we present a manufacturing process of bio-inspired fiber reinforcement for an aortic valve scaffold. The reinforcement structure consists of polyvinylidene difluoride monofilament fibers that are biomimetically arranged by a novel winding process. The fibers were embedded and fixated into electrospun polycarbonate urethane on a cylindrical collector. The scaffold was characterized by biaxial tensile strength, bending stiffness, burst pressure and hemodynamically in a mock circulation system. The produced fiber-reinforced scaffold showed adequate acute mechanical and hemodynamic properties. The transvalvular pressure gradient was 3.02 ± 0.26 mmHg with an effective orifice area of 2.12 ± 0.22 cm2. The valves sustained aortic conditions, fulfilling the ISO-5840 standards. The fiber-reinforced scaffold failed in a circumferential direction at a stress of 461.64 ± 58.87 N/m and a strain of 49.43 ± 7.53%. These values were above the levels of tested native heart valve tissue. Overall, we demonstrated a novel manufacturing approach to develop a fiber-reinforced biomimetic scaffold for aortic heart valve tissue engineering. The characterization showed that this approach is promising for an in situ valve replacement.
Spinal Cord Epidural Stimulation Improves Lower Spine Sitting Posture Following Severe Cervical Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Joshi Kundan , Rejc Enrico , Ugiliweneza Beatrice , Harkema Susan J. , Angeli Claudia A.
Published: September 2023

Cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) leads to impaired trunk motor control, negatively impacting the performance of activities of daily living in the affected individuals. Improved trunk control with better sitting posture has been previously observed due to neuromuscular electrical stimulation and transcutaneous spinal stimulation, while improved postural stability has been observed with spinal cord epidural stimulation (scES). Hence, we studied how trunk-specific scES impacts sitting independence and posture. Fourteen individuals with chronic, severe cervical SCI with an implanted neurostimulator performed a 5-min tall-sit task without and with trunk-specific scES. Spine posture was assessed by placing markers on five spine levels and evaluating vertical spine inclination angles. Duration of trunk manual assistance was used to assess independence along with the number of independence changes and average independence score across those changes. With scES, the sacrum-L1 inclination and number of independence changes tended to decrease by 1.64 ± 3.16° (p = 0.07; Cohen’s d = 0.53) and 9.86 ± 16.8 (p = 0.047; Cohen’s d = 0.59), respectively. Additionally, for the participants who had poor sitting independence without scES, level of independence tended to increase by 12.91% [0%, 31.52%] (p = 0.38; Cohen’s d = 0.96) when scES was present. Hence, trunk-specific scES promoted improvements in lower spine posture and lower levels of trunk assistance.
Milk Casein Inhibits Effect of Black Tea Galloylated Theaflavins to Inactivate SARS-CoV-2 In Vitro
Authors: Nakashio Maiko , Ohgitani Eriko , Shin-Ya Masaharu , Kawamoto Masaya , Ichitani Masaki , Kobayashi Makoto , Takihara Takanobu , Kinugasa Hitoshi , Ishikura Hiroyasu , Mazda Osam
Published: September 2023

Continuing caution is required against the potential emergence of SARS-CoV-2 novel mutants that could pose the next global health and socioeconomical threats. If virus in saliva can be inactivated by a beverage, such a beverage may be useful because the saliva of infected persons is the major origin of droplets and aerosols that mediate human-to-human viral transmission. We previously reported that SARS-CoV-2 was significantly inactivated by treatment in vitro with tea including green tea and black tea. Catechins and its derived compounds galloylated theaflavins (gTFs) bound to the receptor-binding domain (RBD) of the S-protein and blocked interaction between RBD and ACE2. Black tea is often consumed with sugar, milk, lemon juice, etc., and it remains unclarified whether these ingredients may influence the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect of black tea. Here, we examined the effect of black tea on Omicron subvariants in the presence of these ingredients. The infectivity of Omicron subvariants was decreased to 1/100 or lower after treatment with black tea for 10 s. One or two teaspoons of milk (4~8 mL) completely blocked the anti-viral effect of a cup of tea (125 mL), whereas an addition of sugar or lemon juice failed to do so. The suppressive effect was dose-dependently exerted by milk casein but not whey proteins. gTFs were coprecipitated with casein after acidification of milk-supplemented black tea, strongly suggesting the binding of gTFs to casein. The present study demonstrates for the first time that an addition of milk cancelled the anti-SARS-CoV-2 effect of black tea due to binding of casein to gTFs.
Isolation and Biological Evaluation of Alfa-Mangostin as Potential Therapeutic Agents against Liver Fibrosis
Authors: Liao Yi-Jen , Lee Chun-Ya , Twu Yuh-Ching , Suk Fat-Moon , Lai Tzu-Chieh , Chang Ya-Ching , Lai Yi-Cheng , Yuan Jing-Wei , Jhuang Hong-Ming , Jian Huei-Ruei , Huang Li-Chia , Chen Kuang-Po , Hsu Ming-Hua
Published: September 2023

The increased proliferation and activation of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs) are associated with liver fibrosis development. To date, there are no FDA-approved drugs for the treatment of liver cirrhosis. Augmentation of HSCs apoptosis is one of the resolutions for liver fibrosis. In this study, we extracted α-mangostin (1,3,6-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-2,8-bis(3-methyl-2-butenyl)-9H-xanthen-9-one) from the fruit waste components of mangosteen pericarp. The isolated α-mangostin structure was determined and characterized with nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and high-resolution mass spectrometry (HRMS) and compared with those known compounds. The intracellular signaling pathway activities of α-mangostin on Transforming growth factors-beta 1 (TGF-β1) or Platelet-derived growth factor subunit B (PDGF-BB) induced HSCs activation and were analyzed via Western blot and Real-time Quantitative Polymerase Chain Reaction (Q-PCR). α-Mangostin-induced mitochondrial dysfunction and apoptosis in HSCs were measured by seahorse assay and caspase-dependent cleavage. The in vivo anti-fibrotic effect of α-mangostin was assessed by carbon tetrachloride (CCl4) treatment mouse model. The data showed that α-mangostin treatment inhibited TGF-β1-induced Smad2/3 phosphorylation and alpha-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA) expression in HSCs in a dose-dependent manner. Regarding the PDGF-BB-induced HSCs proliferation signaling pathways, α-mangostin pretreatment suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular-signal-regulated kinase (ERK) and p38. The activation of caspase-dependent apoptosis and dysfunction of mitochondrial respiration (such as oxygen consumption rate, ATP production, and maximal respiratory capacity) were observed in α-mangostin-treated HSCs. The CCl4-induced liver fibrosis mouse model showed that the administration of α-mangostin significantly decreased the expression of the fibrosis markers (α-SMA, collagen-a2 (col1a2), desmin and matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP-2)) as well as attenuated hepatic collagen deposition and liver damage. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that α-mangostin attenuates the progression of liver fibrosis through inhibiting the proliferation of HSCs and triggering apoptosis signals. Thus, α-mangostin may be used as a potential novel therapeutic agent against liver fibrosis.
Special Issue on Differential Gene Expression and Coexpression
Authors: Zogopoulos Vasileios L. , Malatras Apostolos , Michalopoulos Ioannis
Published: September 2023

The most common approach in transcriptomics (RNA-seq and microarrays) is differential gene expression analysis (DGEA) [...]
d-Serine Increases Release of Acetylcholine in Rat Submandibular Glands
Authors: Yoshikawa Masanobu , Okubo Migiwa , Shirose Kosuke , Kan Takugi , Kawaguchi Mitsuru
Published: September 2023

d-serine has been observed in submandibular gland tissue in rats, but its functions remain to be clarified. Oral administration of d-serine, but not l-serine, increased its concentrations in the submandibular gland and pilocarpine-induced salivary secretion. In vivo microdialysis was used to collect the d- and l-enantiomers of amino acids from local interstitial fluid in the rat submandibular gland. The proportion of the d-form of serine in interstitial fluid was higher than that in plasma or saliva. Perfusion of the rat submandibular gland with d-serine and l-glutamic acid via the submandibular gland artery resulted in a significant increase in salivary secretion after stimulation of muscarinic receptors with carbachol. In vivo microdialysis applied to the submandibular glands of rats showed that infusion of d-serine along with l-glutamate through the microdialysis probe significantly elevated acetylcholine levels in local interstitial fluids in the submandibular glands of anesthetized rats as compared to that with l-glutamate alone in an N-methyl-d-aspartate receptor glycine site antagonist-sensitive manner. These results indicate that d-serine augments salivary secretion by increasing acetylcholine release in the salivary glands.
Bile Acid Sequestration via Colesevelam Reduces Bile Acid Hydrophobicity and Improves Liver Pathology in Cyp2c70−/− Mice with a Human-like Bile Acid Composition
Authors: Palmiotti Anna , de Vries Hilde D. , Hovingh Milaine V. , Koehorst Martijn , Mulder Niels L. , Verkade Esther , Veentjer Melany K. , van Dijk Theo H. , Bloks Vincent W. , Havinga Rick , Verkade Henkjan J. , de Boer Jan Freark , Kuipers Folkert
Published: September 2023

Bile acids (BAs) and their signaling pathways have been identified as therapeutic targets for liver and metabolic diseases. We generated Cyp2c70−/− (KO) mice that were not able to convert chenodeoxycholic acid into rodent-specific muricholic acids (MCAs) and, hence, possessed a more hydrophobic, human-like BA pool. Recently, we have shown that KO mice display cholangiopathic features with the development of liver fibrosis. The aim of this study was to determine whether BA sequestration modulates liver pathology in Western type-diet (WTD)-fed KO mice. The BA sequestrant colesevelam was mixed into the WTD (2% w/w) of male Cyp2c70+/+ (WT) and KO mice and the effects were evaluated after 3 weeks of treatment. Colesevelam increased fecal BA excretion in WT and KO mice and reduced the hydrophobicity of biliary BAs in KO mice. Colesevelam ameliorated diet-induced hepatic steatosis in WT mice, whereas KO mice were resistant to diet-induced steatosis and BA sequestration had no additional effects on liver fat content. Total cholesterol concentrations in livers of colesevelam-treated WT and KO mice were significantly lower than those of untreated controls. Of particular note, colesevelam treatment normalized plasma levels of liver damage markers in KO mice and markedly decreased hepatic mRNA levels of fibrogenesis-related genes in KO mice. Lastly, colesevelam did not affect glucose excursions and insulin sensitivity in WT or KO mice. Our data show that BA sequestration ameliorates liver pathology in Cyp2c70−/− mice with a human-like bile acid composition without affecting insulin sensitivity.