bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Lipidomics Reveals Myocardial Lipid Composition in a Murine Model of Insulin Resistance Induced by a High-Fat Diet
Authors: Girona Josefa , Soler Oria , Samino Sara , Junza Alexandra , Martínez-Micaelo Neus , García-Altares María , Ràfols Pere , Esteban Yaiza , Yanes Oscar , Correig Xavier , Masana Lluís , Rodríguez-Calvo Ricardo
Published: February 2024

Ectopic fat accumulation in non-adipose tissues is closely related to diabetes-related myocardial dysfunction. Nevertheless, the complete picture of the lipid metabolites involved in the metabolic-related myocardial alterations is not fully characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize the specific lipid profile in hearts in an animal model of obesity/insulin resistance induced by a high-fat diet (HFD). The cardiac lipidome profiles were assessed via liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry (LC–MS)/MS-MS and laser desorption/ionization–mass spectrometry (LDI–MS) tissue imaging in hearts from C57BL/6J mice fed with an HFD or standard-diet (STD) for 12 weeks. Targeted lipidome analysis identified a total of 63 lipids (i.e., 48 triacylglycerols (TG), 5 diacylglycerols (DG), 1 sphingomyelin (SM), 3 phosphatidylcholines (PC), 1 DihydroPC, and 5 carnitines) modified in hearts from HFD-fed mice compared to animals fed with STD. Whereas most of the TG were up-regulated in hearts from animals fed with an HFD, most of the carnitines were down-regulated, thereby suggesting a reduction in the mitochondrial β-oxidation. Roughly 30% of the identified metabolites were oxidated, pointing to an increase in lipid peroxidation. Cardiac lipidome was associated with a specific biochemical profile and a specific liver TG pattern. Overall, our study reveals a specific cardiac lipid fingerprint associated with metabolic alterations induced by HFD.
Online Planning for Autonomous Mobile Robots with Different Objectives in Warehouse Commissioning Task
Authors: Warita Satoshi , Fujita Katsuhide
Published: February 2024

Recently, multi-agent systems have become widespread as essential technologies for various practical problems. An essential problem in multi-agent systems is collaborative automating picking and delivery operations in warehouses. The warehouse commissioning task involves finding specified items in a warehouse and moving them to a specified location using robots. This task is defined as a spatial task-allocation problem (SPATAP) based on a Markov decision process (MDP). It is considered a decentralized multi-agent system rather than a system that manages and optimizes agents in a central manner. Existing research on SPATAP involving modeling the environment as a MDP and applying Monte Carlo tree searches has shown that this approach is efficient. However, there has not been sufficient research into scenarios in which all agents are provided a common plan despite the fact that their actions are decided independently. Thus, previous studies have not considered cooperative robot behaviors with different goals, and the problem where each robot has different goals has not been studied extensively. In terms of the cooperative element, the item exchange approach has not been considered effectively in previous studies. Therefore, in this paper, we focus on the problem of each robot being assigned a different task to optimize the percentage of picking and delivering items in time in social situations. We propose an action-planning method based on the Monte Carlo tree search and an item-exchange method between agents. We also generate a simulator to evaluate the proposed methods. The results of simulations demonstrate that the achievement rate is improved in small- and medium-sized warehouses. However, the achievement rate did not improve in large warehouses because the average distance from the depot to the items increased.
Unveiling Insights: A Bibliometric Analysis of Artificial Intelligence in Teaching
Authors: Ivanova Malinka , Grosseck Gabriela , Holotescu Carmen
Published: February 2024

The penetration of intelligent applications in education is rapidly increasing, posing a number of questions of a different nature to the educational community. This paper is coming to analyze and outline the influence of artificial intelligence (AI) on teaching practice which is an essential problem considering its growing utilization and pervasion on a global scale. A bibliometric approach is applied to outdraw the “big picture” considering gathered bibliographic data from scientific databases Scopus and Web of Science. Data on relevant publications matching the query “artificial intelligence and teaching” over the past 5 years have been researched and processed through Biblioshiny in R environment in order to establish a descriptive structure of the scientific production, to determine the impact of scientific publications, to trace collaboration patterns and to identify key research areas and emerging trends. The results point out the growth in scientific production lately that is an indicator of increased interest in the investigated topic by researchers who mainly work in collaborative teams as some of them are from different countries and institutions. The identified key research areas include techniques used in educational applications, such as artificial intelligence, machine learning, and deep learning. Additionally, there is a focus on applicable technologies like ChatGPT, learning analytics, and virtual reality. The research also explores the context of application for these techniques and technologies in various educational settings, including teaching, higher education, active learning, e-learning, and online learning. Based on our findings, the trending research topics can be encapsulated by terms such as ChatGPT, chatbots, AI, generative AI, machine learning, emotion recognition, large language models, convolutional neural networks, and decision theory. These findings offer valuable insights into the current landscape of research interests in the field.
Exploring Multidimensional Embeddings for Decision Support Using Advanced Visualization Techniques
Authors: Kurasova Olga , Budžys Arnoldas , Medvedev Viktor
Published: February 2024

As artificial intelligence has evolved, deep learning models have become important in extracting and interpreting complex patterns from raw multidimensional data. These models produce multidimensional embeddings that, while containing a lot of information, are often not directly understandable. Dimensionality reduction techniques play an important role in transforming multidimensional data into interpretable formats for decision support systems. To address this problem, the paper presents an analysis of dimensionality reduction and visualization techniques that embrace complex data representations and are useful inferences for decision systems. A novel framework is proposed, utilizing a Siamese neural network with a triplet loss function to analyze multidimensional data encoded into images, thus transforming these data into multidimensional embeddings. This approach uses dimensionality reduction techniques to transform these embeddings into a lower-dimensional space. This transformation not only improves interpretability but also maintains the integrity of the complex data structures. The efficacy of this approach is demonstrated using a keystroke dynamics dataset. The results support the integration of these visualization techniques into decision support systems. The visualization process not only simplifies the complexity of the data, but also reveals deep patterns and relationships hidden in the embeddings. Thus, a comprehensive framework for visualizing and interpreting complex keystroke dynamics is described, making a significant contribution to the field of user authentication.
Enhancing the Damage Detection and Classification of Unknown Classes with a Hybrid Supervised–Unsupervised Approach
Authors: Stagi Lorenzo , Sclafani Lorenzo , Tronci Eleonora M. , Betti Raimondo , Milana Silvia , Culla Antonio , Roveri Nicola , Carcaterra Antonio
Published: February 2024

Most damage-assessment strategies for dynamic systems only distinguish between undamaged and damaged conditions without recognizing the level or type of damage or considering unseen conditions. This paper proposes a novel framework for structural health monitoring (SHM) that combines supervised and unsupervised learning techniques to assess damage using a system’s structural response (e.g., the acceleration response of big infrastructures). The objective is to enhance the benefits of a supervised learning framework while addressing the challenges of working in an SHM context. The proposed framework uses a Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA)/Probabilistic Linear Discriminant Analysis (PLDA) strategy that enables learning the distributions of known classes and the performance of probabilistic estimations on new incoming data. The methodology is developed and proposed in two versions. The first version is used in the context of controlled, conditioned monitoring or for post-damage assessment, while the second analyzes the single observational data. Both strategies are built in an automatic framework able to classify known conditions and recognize unseen damage classes, which are then used to update the classification algorithm. The proposed framework’s effectiveness is first tested considering the acceleration response of a numerically simulated 12-degree-of-freedom system. Then, the methodology’s practicality is validated further by adopting the experimental monitoring data of the benchmark study case of the Z24 bridge.
Impact of COVID-19 Infections among Unvaccinated Patients with Congenital Heart Disease: Results of a Nationwide Analysis in the First Phase of the Pandemic
Authors: Fischer Alicia Jeanette , Hellmann Alina Ruth , Diller Gerhard-Paul , Maser Maarja , Szardenings Carsten , Marschall Ursula , Bauer Ulrike , Baumgartner Helmut , Lammers Astrid Elisabeth
Published: February 2024

Background: The outcome data and predictors for mortality among patients with congenital heart disease (CHD) affected by COVID-19 are limited. A more detailed understanding may aid in implementing targeted prevention measures in potential future pandemic events. Methods: Based on nationwide administrative health insurance data, all the recorded in-hospital cases of patients with CHD with COVID-19 in 2020 were analyzed. The demographics, treatment details, as well as 30-day mortality rate were assessed. The associations of the patients’ characteristics with death were assessed using multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results: Overall, 403 patients with CHD were treated in- hospital for COVID-19 in 2020. Of these, 338 patients presented with virus detection but no pneumonia whilst, 65 patients suffered from associated pneumonia. The cohort of patients with pneumonia was older (p = 0.04) and presented with more cardiovascular comorbidities such as diabetes mellitus (p = 0.08), although this parameter did not reach a statistically significant difference. The 30-day mortality rate was associated with highly complex CHD (odds ratio (OR) 7.81, p = 0.04) and advanced age (OR 2.99 per 10 years, p = 0.03). No child died of COVID-related pneumonia in our dataset. Conclusions: COVID-19 infection with associated pneumonia chiefly affected the older patients with CHD. Age and the complexity of CHD were identified as additional predictors of mortality. These aspects might be helpful to retrospectively audit the recommendations and guide health politics during future pandemic events.
Causes of In-Hospital Death and Pharmaceutical Associations with Age of Death during a 10-Year Period (2011–2020) in Individuals with and without Diabetes at a Japanese Community General Hospital
Authors: Hosoki Minae , Hori Taiki , Kaneko Yousuke , Mori Kensuke , Yasui Saya , Tsuji Seijiro , Yamagami Hiroki , Kawata Saki , Hara Tomoyo , Masuda Shiho , Mitsui Yukari , Kurahashi Kiyoe , Harada Takeshi , Nakamura Shingen , Otoda Toshiki , Yuasa Tomoyuki , Kuroda Akio , Endo Itsuro , Matsuhisa Munehide , Aihara Ken-ichi
Published: February 2024

Since diabetes and its complications have been thought to exaggerate cardiorenal disease, resulting in a short lifespan, we investigated causes of death and lifespans in individuals with and without diabetes at a Japanese community general hospital during the period from 2011 to 2020. Causes of death and age of death in individuals with and those without diabetes were compared, and associations between medications used and age of death were statistically analyzed. A total of 2326 deaths were recorded during the 10-year period. There was no significant difference between the mean ages of death in individuals with and those without diabetes. Diabetic individuals had higher rates of hepato-pancreatic cancer and cardio-renal failure as causes of death. The prescription rates of antihypertensives, antiplatelets, and statins in diabetic individuals were larger than those in non-diabetic individuals. Furthermore, the use of sulfonyl urea or glinides and insulin was independently and inversely associated with the age of death. In conclusion, individuals with diabetes were treated with comprehensive pharmaceutical interventions and had life spans comparable to those of individuals without diabetes. This study’s discovery of an inverse relationship between the use of insulin secretagogues or insulin and the age of death suggests that the prevention of life-threatening hypoglycemia is crucial for individuals with diabetes.
Effects of High-Intensity Interval Training on Muscle Strength for the Prevention and Treatment of Sarcopenia in Older Adults: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Authors: Morcillo-Losa José Alfonso , Díaz-Martínez Maria del Pilar , Ceylan Halil İbrahim , Moreno-Vecino Beatriz , Bragazzi Nicola Luigi , Párraga Montilla Juan
Published: February 2024

Sarcopenia is a significant health concern primarily affecting old adult individuals, characterized by age-related muscle loss, and decreased strength, power, and endurance. It has profound negative effects on overall health and quality of life, including reduced independence, mobility, and daily activity performance, osteoporosis, increased fall and fracture risks, metabolic issues, and chronic diseases like diabetes and cardiovascular conditions. Preventive strategies typically involve a combination of proper nutrition and regular physical activity. Among strength training exercises, high-intensity interval training (HIIT) stands out as the most effective approach for improving muscle function in older adults with sarcopenia. The current review identifies and summarizes the studies that have examined the effects of HIIT on muscle strength in older adults as an element of the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia. A systematic search using several computerized databases, namely, MEDLINE/PubMed, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and Web of Science, was performed on 12 January 2023, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A total of 224 studies were initially retrieved. A total of five studies met the selection criteria. HIIT training shows improvements in body composition and functional and cardiorespiratory capacity, has benefits on muscle strength, increases muscle quality and architecture, and is associated with muscle hypertrophy in healthy older adults. Nonetheless, given the shortcomings affecting primary research in terms of the limited number of studies and the high risk of bias, further research is warranted.
Achieving Textbook Outcomes in Colorectal Cancer Surgery Is Associated with Improved Long-Term Survival: Results of the Multicenter Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Kryzauskas Marius , Bausys Augustinas , Abeciunas Vilius , Degutyte Austeja Elzbieta , Bickaite Klaudija , Bausys Rimantas , Poskus Tomas
Published: February 2024

Background: The outcomes of patients with colorectal cancer greatly depend on the quality of their surgical care. However, relying solely on a single quality indicator does not adequately capture the multifaceted nature of modern perioperative care. A new tool—“Textbook Outcome” (TO)—has been suggested to provide a comprehensive evaluation of surgical quality. This study aims to examine how TO affects the long-term outcomes of colorectal cancer patients who are scheduled for surgery. Methods: The data of all patients undergoing elective colorectal cancer resection with primary anastomosis at two major cancer treatment centers in Lithuania—Vilnius University Hospital Santaros Klinikos and National Cancer Institute—between 2014 and 2018 were entered into the prospectively maintained database. The study defined TO as a composite quality indicator that incorporated seven parameters: R0 resection, retrieval of ≥12 lymph nodes, absence of postoperative complications during the intrahospital period, hospital stay duration of fewer than 14 days, no readmission within 90 days after surgery, no reinterventions within 30 days after surgery, and no 30-day mortality. Long-term outcomes between patients who achieved TO and those who did not were compared. Factors associated with failure to achieve TO were identified. Results: Of the 1524 patients included in the study, TO was achieved by 795 (52.2%). Patients with a higher ASA score (III-IV) were identified to have higher odds of failure to achieve TO (OR 1.497, 95% CI 1.203–1.863), while those who underwent minimally invasive surgery had lower odds for similar failure (OR 0.570, 95% CI 0.460–0.706). TO resulted in improved 5-year overall—(80.2% vs. 65.5%, p = 0.001) and disease-free survival (76.6% vs. 62.6%; p = 0.001) rates. Conclusions: Elective colorectal resections result in successful TO for 52.5% of patients. The likelihood of failure to achieve TO is increased in patients with a high ASA score, while minimally invasive surgery is associated with higher TO rates. Patients who fail to achieve successful surgical outcomes experience reduced long-term outcomes.
Anaesthesia Management for Giant Intraabdominal Tumours: A Case Series Study
Authors: Grăjdieru Olga , Petrișor Cristina , Bodolea Constantin , Tomuleasa Ciprian , Constantinescu Cătălin
Published: February 2024

Background: Due to a lack of randomised controlled trials and guidelines, and only case reports being available in the literature, there is no consensus on how to approach anaesthetic management in patients with giant intraabdominal tumours. Methods: This study aimed to evaluate the literature and explore the current status of evidence, by undertaking an observational research design with a descriptive account of characteristics observed in a case series referring to patients with giant intraabdominal tumours who underwent anaesthesia. Results: Twenty patients diagnosed with giant intraabdominal tumours were included in the study, most of them women, with the overall pathology being ovarian-related and sarcomas. Most of the patients were unable to lie supine and assumed a lateral decubitus position. Pulmonary function tests, chest X-rays, and thoracoabdominal CT were the most often performed preoperative evaluation methods, with the overall findings that there was no atelectasis or pleural effusion present, but there was bilateral diaphragm elevation. The removal of the intraabdominal tumour was performed under general anaesthesia in all cases. Awake fiberoptic intubation or awake videolaryngoscopy was performed in five cases, while the rest were performed with general anaesthesia with rapid sequence induction. Only one patient was ventilated with pressure support ventilation while maintaining spontaneous ventilation, while the rest were ventilated with controlled ventilation. Hypoxemia was the most reported respiratory complication during surgery. In more than 50% of cases, there was hypotension present during surgery, especially after the induction of anaesthesia and after tumour removal, which required vasopressor support. Most cases involved blood loss with subsequent transfusion requirements. The removal of the tumor requires prolonged surgical and anaesthesia times. Fluid drainage from cystic tumour ranged from 15.7 L to 107 L, with a fluid extraction rate of 0.5–2.5 L/min, and there was no re-expansion pulmonary oedema reported. Following surgery, all the patients required intensive care unit admission. One patient died during hospitalization. Conclusions: This study contributes to the creation of a certain standard of care when dealing with patients presenting with giant intraabdominal tumour. More research is needed to define the proper way to administer anaesthesia and create practice guidelines.
The Treatment of Diabetic Retinal Edema with Intravitreal Steroids: How and When
Authors: Salvetat Maria Letizia , Pellegrini Francesco , Spadea Leopoldo , Salati Carlo , Musa Mutali , Gagliano Caterina , Zeppieri Marco
Published: February 2024

Diabetic macular edema (DME) is a common complication of diabetes mellitus and a leading cause of visual impairment worldwide. It is defined as the diabetes-related accumulation of fluid, proteins, and lipids, with retinal thickening, within the macular area. DME affects a significant proportion of individuals with diabetes, with the prevalence increasing with disease duration and severity. It is estimated that approximately 25–30% of diabetic patients will develop DME during their lifetime. Poor glycemic control, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes duration, and genetic predisposition are recognized as risk factors for the development and progression of DME. Although the exact pathophysiology is still not completely understood, it has been demonstrated that chronic hyperglycemia triggers a cascade of biochemical processes, including increased oxidative stress, inflammation, activation of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), cellular dysfunction, and apoptosis, with breakdown of the blood-retinal barriers and fluid accumulation within the macular area. Early diagnosis and appropriate management of DME are crucial for improving visual outcomes. Although the control of systemic risk factors still remains the most important strategy in DME treatment, intravitreal pharmacotherapy with anti-VEGF molecules or steroids is currently considered the first-line approach in DME patients, whereas macular laser photocoagulation and pars plana vitrectomy may be useful in selected cases. Available intravitreal steroids, including triamcinolone acetonide injections and dexamethasone and fluocinolone acetonide implants, exert their therapeutic effect by reducing inflammation, inhibiting VEGF expression, stabilizing the blood-retinal barrier and thus reducing vascular permeability. They have been demonstrated to be effective in reducing macular edema and improving visual outcomes in DME patients but are associated with a high risk of intraocular pressure elevation and cataract development, so their use requires an accurate patient selection. This manuscript aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the pathology, epidemiology, risk factors, physiopathology, clinical features, treatment mechanisms of actions, treatment options, prognosis, and ongoing clinical studies related to the treatment of DME, with particular consideration of intravitreal steroids therapy.
Surface Electromyography in Dentistry—Past, Present and Future
Authors: Zieliński Grzegorz , Gawda Piotr
Published: February 2024

Surface electromyography (sEMG) is a technique for measuring and analyzing the electrical signals of muscle activity using electrodes placed on the skin’s surface. The aim of this paper was to outline the history of the development and use of surface electromyography in dentistry, to show where research and technical solutions relating to surface electromyography currently lie, and to make recommendations for further research. sEMG is a diagnostic technique that has found significant application in dentistry. The historical section discusses the evolution of sEMG methods and equipment, highlighting how technological advances have influenced the accuracy and applicability of this method in dentistry. The need for standardization of musculoskeletal testing methodology is highlighted and the needed increased technical capabilities of sEMG equipment and the ability to specify parameters (e.g., sampling rates, bandwidth). A higher sampling rate (the recommended may be 2000 Hz or higher in masticatory muscles) allows more accurate recording of changes in the signal, which is essential for accurate analysis of muscle function. Bandwidth is one of the key parameters in sEMG research. Bandwidth determines the range of frequencies effectively recorded by the sEMG system (the recommended frequency limits are usually between 20 Hz and 500 Hz in masticatory muscles). In addition, the increased technical capabilities of sEMG equipment and the ability to specify electromyographic parameters demonstrate the need for a detailed description of selected parameters in the methodological section. This is necessary to maintain the reproducibility of sEMG testing. More high-quality clinical trials are needed in the future.
Development of Highly Ultraviolet-Protective Polypropylene/TiO2 Nonwoven Fiber
Authors: Hanif Md. Abu , Shin Hyokyeong , Chun Danbi , Kim Hong Gun , Kwac Lee Ku , Han Sang-Won , Kang Sung-Soo , Kim Young Soon
Published: February 2024

In recent decades, there has been a rise in public consciousness of the adverse effects of expanded skin contact with sunlight, particularly the ultraviolet (UV) spectrum. UV radiation causes serious health problems like skin cancer, early aging, erythema, pigmentation, etc., due to contact with the skin. Therefore, the highly efficient UV-protection materials were manufactured using polypropylene and TiO2 (PPTO) through cost-effective and easy methods. The designated 7.5 PPTO and 15 PPTO were prepared, varying the amount of TiO2, as well as without using TiO2 (PPNF), which was also manufactured as a control material. All the as-synthesized nonwoven fibers were carefully characterized employing a variety of microscopic and spectroscopic methods, such as X-ray diffraction, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, thermogravimetric analysis, field-emission scanning electron microscopy, energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy, ultraviolet–visible diffuse reflectance spectroscopy, and contact angle measurements. In conclusion, 15 PPTO showed the highest UV-protection ability (87.5%) compared to 7.5 PPTO and PPNF. In addition, 15 PPTO exhibited 1.76 and 1.32 times higher protection than 7.5 PPTO and PPNF, respectively, when exposed to UB-B radiation. The enhanced activity may be due to the amount of TiO2 because TiO2 increased the product’s absorption and reflection capability. Overall, the PPTO nonwoven fibers can be applied to block harmful UV radiation.
Unveiling the Chaos in Postural Control in Adults with Achondroplasia
Authors: Alves Inês , Castro Maria António , Tavares Sofia , Fernandes Orlando
Published: February 2024

Background: Achondroplasia is a rare genetic skeletal condition characterized by disproportionate short stature. There is limited evidence on postural control in adults with achondroplasia and how lower limb lengthening (intervention) interacts with body dynamics. This study investigated sway variability during quiet standing in adults with achondroplasia with natural growth (N) and with lower limb lengthening (LL). Methods: Sixteen adults performed bilateral/unilateral standing tasks. Linear (total excursion, amplitude, and ellipse area) and nonlinear (sample entropy and correlation dimension) center of pressure sway metrics were analyzed in the anteroposterior/mediolateral directions. Relationships between posture metrics, strength, and physical activity were explored. Between-groups statistics were calculated. Results: The LL group exhibited amplified linear sway, indicating larger postural deviations, and reduced sample entropy and correlation dimension, indicative of more rigid and repeated corrections. The N group exhibited more unpredictable and adaptive movement corrections. Numerous correlations emerged between strength and posture measures, with relationships altered by intervention. Conclusions: Adults with achondroplasia display distinct balance strategies influenced by intervention. The results indicate that LL is associated with altered variability and adaptability compared to natural development. Relationships with muscle strength spotlight a key role of muscle capacity in postural control modulation after growth alterations in this population.
Correction: Guo et al. A Siamese Transformer Network for Zero-Shot Ancient Coin Classification. J. Imaging 2023, 9, 107
Authors: Guo Zhongliang , Arandjelović Ognjen , Reid David , Lei Yaxiong , Büttner Jochen
Published: February 2024

Jochen Büttner was not included as an author in the original publication [...]
“Show Me What You Got”: The Nomological Network of the Ability to Pose Facial Emotion Expressions
Authors: Geiger Mattis , Olderbak Sally Gayle , Wilhelm Oliver
Published: February 2024

Just as receptive emotional abilities, productive emotional abilities are essential for social communication. Although individual differences in receptive emotional abilities, such as perceiving and recognizing emotions, are well-investigated, individual differences in productive emotional abilities, such as the ability to express emotions in the face, are largely neglected. Consequently, little is known about how emotion expression abilities fit in a nomological network of related abilities and typical behavior. We developed a multitask battery for measuring the ability to pose emotional expressions scored with facial expression recognition software. With three multivariate studies (n1 = 237; n2 = 141; n3 = 123), we test competing measurement models of emotion posing and relate this construct with other socio-emotional traits and cognitive abilities. We replicate the measurement model that includes a general factor of emotion posing, a nested task-specific factor, and emotion-specific factors. The emotion-posing ability factor is moderately to strongly related to receptive socio-emotional abilities, weakly related to general cognitive abilities, and weakly related to extraversion. This is strong evidence that emotion posing is a cognitive interpersonal ability. This new understanding of abilities in emotion communication opens a gateway for studying individual differences in social interaction.
Transient Tests for Checking the Trieste Subsea Pipeline: Diving into Fault Detection
Authors: Meniconi Silvia , Brunone Bruno , Tirello Lorenzo , Rubin Andrea , Cifrodelli Marco , Capponi Caterina
Published: February 2024

Fault detection in subsea pipelines is a difficult problem for several reasons, and one of the most important is the inaccessibility of the system. This criticality can be overcome by using transient test-based techniques. Such an approach is based on the execution of safe transients that result in small over pressures (i.e., on the order of a few meters of water column). In our companion paper, the procedure involving the transient tests was described in detail. This paper analyses the results of the field tests carried out and identifies wall deterioration in some sections of the pipeline. Attention is focused on the numerical procedure based on the joint use of a 1-D numerical model simulating transients in the pressurized flow and analytical relationships and providing the transient response of anomalies such as leaks and wall deterioration. The results obtained are essentially confirmed by the survey carried out by divers.
Field Determination and Spatial Distribution of Se (IV) in Coastal Seawater of China
Authors: Liu Tianzhuo , Pan Dawei , Wei Hong , Liang Yan , Li Ying , Rahman Md. Abdur
Published: February 2024

A portable electrochemical system based on rGO/AuNPs/Nafion was constructed for selenium (IV) field determination in coastal seawater of the North Yellow Sea, East China Sea and South China Sea. This system demonstrated a low determination limit (0.03 μg/L), a wide linear range of concentration (0.1–30 μg/L), exceptional reproducibility and repeatability, and excellent selectivity. Each individual, entire test could be accomplished within 8 min. In Yantai Sishili Bay, the Se (IV) concentrations ranged from 0.16–3.59 μg/L (average 1.43 μg/L). In Shengshan Island, the Se (IV) concentrations ranged from 0.20–5.18 μg/L (average 2.06 μg/L). In Zhelin Bay, the Se (IV) concentrations ranged from 0.87–4.87 μg/L (average 3.13 μg/L). The average concentrations of Se (IV) in surface seawater showcased an increasing trend from the north to the south of China, suggesting Zhelin Bay > Shengshan Island > Sishili Bay. The system develops a new, competitive method for water quality assessment, and contributes to the accurate study of the biogeochemical cycles of selenium.
Dual-Loop Integral Sliding Mode Control-Based Path Tracking with Reaction Torque for Autonomous Underwater Vehicle
Authors: Ju Yakang , Cai Wenyu , Liu Ziqiang , Zhang Meiyan
Published: February 2024

Path tracking control is an important method for a Six-Degree-Of-Freedom Autonomous Underwater Vehicle to perform specific underwater tasks. Therefore, this paper investigates a dual-loop integral sliding mode control (DLISMC)-based tracking controller for an AUV with model uncertainties and external disturbances, and introduces a new reaction torque model for static compensation in order to improve the attitude control capability for AUVs when performing path tracking. In addition, the stability of tracking control law based on DLISMC is demonstrated using the Lyapunov function. Finally, numerical simulations are carried out on MATLAB 2016/Simulink and compared with the Proportion–Integral–Differential (PID) control commonly used in industry as well as the dual-loop Proportion–Integral–Differential (DLPID). Simulation results show that the DLISMC has a smaller tracking error, faster convergence speed, and more robustness against external disturbances and reaction torque.
A Simulation Model of the Influence of LNG Ships on Traffic Efficiency at Tianjin Port
Authors: Li Yanwei , Tian Wuliu , Meng Beibei , Zhang Jinfen , Zhou Ruisai
Published: February 2024

Tianjin Port is one of the largest ports in northern China. Liquefied natural gas (LNG) ships are one of the most special ship types, and their navigation safety and efficiency has become the top concern of the port authority. There are two LNG berths at the port, and the annual arrivals, which reach more than 100, increasingly influence other ships. The objective of this study is to evaluate the influence of LNG ships on other ships in a quantitative way. To realize this, a simulation system is established by analyzing the factors affecting waterway transit efficiency. The software Arena is adopted to simulate the arrival and departure of the ships at Tianjin Port and to simulate how the average waiting time and the average queue length in the port area are affected by the LNG ships. A traffic system for the two ship types is formulated, and the mutual influences between them are expressed by the inbound and outbound waterway states. The simulations are performed under both existing and new ship traffic regulations. Cases in which the number of LNG ships gradually increases are simulated comprehensively. The simulation model as well as the results can serve as a good reference for the local port authority in the formulation of traffic regulations.
Composition and Distribution of Microeukaryotic Communities in the Surface Sediments of Five Geographic Regions of Bohai Sea Based on 18S rDNA Amplicon Sequencing
Authors: Zhang Wenquan , Ge Huameng , Song Chengbing , Li Chengcheng , Liu Shenghao
Published: February 2024

The Bohai Sea is a semi-enclosed shallow water that is influenced by both natural and anthropogenic stressors. However, the microeukaryotic communities and environmental factors that affect them in different regions remain largely unclear. We investigated microeukaryotic communities in surface sediments from five geographic regions using high-throughput sequencing of the 18S rDNA gene. The Miaodao Archipelago, Yellow River Estuary, and Central Bohai Sea had the highest Shannon and Simpson indices of the eukaryotic communities, while the Yellow River Estuary exhibited the highest Chao1 index. The microeukaryotic communities in surface sediments were mainly composed of Dinoflagellata, Bacillariophyta, Ciliophora, Cercozoa, and Protalveolata. Thalassiosira has a relatively high abundance at the Liaodong Bay and Central Bohai Sea, possessing the proportion of 41.70% and 38.10%, respectively, while Gonyaulax was the most abundant taxa in the Bohai Bay, occupying a proportion of 57.77%. Moreover, a negative correlation between diatoms and dinoflagellates was observed. Phosphorus, nitrogen, salinity, temperature, and silicate were major environmental determinants of microeukaryotic composition. Microeukaryotic communities in the surface sediments, especially for the composition and ratio of diatoms to dinoflagellates, reflected the environmental quality of marine ecosystems. Overall, these microeukaryotic community compositions provide a reliable indicator for monitoring the level of marine eutrophication in the Bohai Sea.
A Complete Coverage Path Planning Approach for an Autonomous Underwater Helicopter in Unknown Environment Based on VFH+ Algorithm
Authors: Ma Congcong , Zou Hongyu , An Xinyu
Published: February 2024

An Autonomous Underwater Helicopter (AUH) is a disk-shaped, multi-propelled Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV), which is intended to work autonomously in underwater environments. The near-bottom area sweep in unknown environments is a typical application scenario, in which the complete coverage path planning (CCPP) is essential for AUH. A complete coverage path planning approach for AUH with a single beam echo sounder, including the initial path planning and online local collision avoidance strategy, is proposed. First, the initial path is planned using boustrophedon motion. Based on its mobility, a multi-dimensional obstacle sensing method is designed with a single beam range sonar mounted on the AUH. The VFH+ algorithm is configured for the heading decision-making procedure before encountering obstacles, based on their range information at a fixed position. The online local obstacle avoidance procedure is simulated and analyzed with variations of the desired heading direction and corresponding polar histograms. Finally, several simulation cases are set up, simulated and compared by analyzing the heading decision in front of different obstacle situations. The simulation results demonstrate the feasibility of the complete coverage path planning approach proposed, which proves that AUH completing a full coverage area sweep in unknown environments with a single beam sonar is viable.
Transferable Deep Learning Model for the Identification of Fish Species for Various Fishing Grounds
Authors: Hasegawa Tatsuhito , Kondo Kei , Senou Hiroshi
Published: February 2024

The digitization of catch information for the promotion of sustainable fisheries is gaining momentum globally. However, the manual measurement of fundamental catch information, such as species identification, length measurement, and fish count, is highly inconvenient, thus intensifying the call for its automation. Recently, image recognition systems based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) have been extensively studied across diverse fields. Nevertheless, the deployment of CNNs for identifying fish species is difficult owing to the intricate nature of managing a plethora of fish species, which fluctuate based on season and locale, in addition to the scarcity of public datasets encompassing large catches. To overcome this issue, we designed a transferable pre-trained CNN model specifically for identifying fish species, which can be easily reused in various fishing grounds. Utilizing an extensive fish species photographic database from a Japanese museum, we developed a transferable fish identification (TFI) model employing strategies such as multiple pre-training, learning rate scheduling, multi-task learning, and metric learning. We further introduced two application methods, namely transfer learning and output layer masking, for the TFI model, validating its efficacy through rigorous experiments.
Marine Geological Studies of the Bay of Naples (Southern Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy): Revised Applications of the Seismo-Stratigraphic Concepts and Evolving Technologies to a Late Quaternary Volcanic Area
Authors: Aiello Gemma
Published: February 2024

Marine geological studies of Naples Bay are discussed and reviewed, focusing on the application of the seismo-stratigraphic concepts to a Late Quaternary volcanic area. The Naples Bay represents an active volcanic area in which the interactions between volcanic and sedimentary processes controlled a complex stratigraphic architecture during the Late Quaternary period. While the volcanic processes took place in correspondence with the activity of the Somma–Vesuvius, Campi Flegrei Ischia, and Procida volcanic complexes, the sedimentary processes were controlled by the fluvial processes in the Sarno-Sebeto coastal plain and by the tectonic uplift in correspondence with the Sorrento Peninsula’s structural high Key geophysical and stratigraphic studies of the three active volcanic complexes are revised and discussed. The seismo-stratigraphic concepts applied in the geological interpretation of seismic profiles of Naples Bay are reviewed and discussed: here, the classical concepts of seismic and sequence stratigraphy have been successfully applied, but only partly, due to the occurrence of several buried volcanoes and volcanic seismic units and tephra layers, calibrated by gravity cores.
Antifungal Activity and Mechanism of Xenocoumacin 1, a Natural Product from Xenorhabdus nematophila against Sclerotinia sclerotiorum
Authors: Zhang Shujing , Han Yunfei , Wang Lanying , Han Jinhua , Yan Zhiqiang , Wang Yong , Wang Yonghong
Published: February 2024

Sclerotinia sclerotiorum (Lib.) de Bary, a polyphagous necrotrophic fungal pathogen, has brought about significant losses in agriculture and floriculture. Until now, the most common method for controlling S. sclerotiorum has been the application of fungicides. Xenocoumacin 1 (Xcn1) is a potential biopesticide having versatile antimicrobial activities, generated by Xenorhabdus nematophila. This study was intended to isolate Xcn1 from X. nematophila YL001 and clarify its efficacies for S. sclerotiorum control. Xcn1 demonstrated a wider antifungal spectrum against 10 plant-pathogenic fungi. It also exhibited a strong inhibitory effect on the mycelial growth of S. sclerotiorum with an EC50 value of 3.00 μg/mL. Pot experiments indicated that Xcn1 effectively inhibited disease extension on oilseed rape and broad bean plants caused by S. sclerotiorum. Morphological and ultrastructural observations revealed that the hyphae of S. sclerotiorum became twisted, shriveled, and deformed at the growing points after treatment with Xcn1 at 3.00 μg/mL and that the subcellular fractions also became abnormal concurrently, especially the mitochondrial structure. Moreover, Xcn1 also increased cell membrane permeability and decreased the content of exopolysaccharide as well as suppressing the activities of polygalacturonase and cellulase of S. sclerotiorum, but exerted no effects on oxalic acid production. This study demonstrated that Xcn1 has great potential to be developed as a new biopesticide for the control of S. sclerotiorum.
Machine Learning Prediction of Treatment Response to Inhaled Corticosteroids in Asthma
Authors: Ong Mei-Sing , Sordillo Joanne E. , Dahlin Amber , McGeachie Michael , Tantisira Kelan , Wang Alberta L. , Lasky-Su Jessica , Brilliant Murray , Kitchner Terrie , Roden Dan M. , Weiss Scott T. , Wu Ann Chen
Published: February 2024

Background: Although inhaled corticosteroids (ICS) are the first-line therapy for patients with persistent asthma, many patients continue to have exacerbations. We developed machine learning models to predict the ICS response in patients with asthma. Methods: The subjects included asthma patients of European ancestry (n = 1371; 448 children; 916 adults). A genome-wide association study was performed to identify the SNPs associated with ICS response. Using the SNPs identified, two machine learning models were developed to predict ICS response: (1) least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) regression and (2) random forest. Results: The LASSO regression model achieved an AUC of 0.71 (95% CI 0.67–0.76; sensitivity: 0.57; specificity: 0.75) in an independent test cohort, and the random forest model achieved an AUC of 0.74 (95% CI 0.70–0.78; sensitivity: 0.70; specificity: 0.68). The genes contributing to the prediction of ICS response included those associated with ICS responses in asthma (TPSAB1, FBXL16), asthma symptoms and severity (ABCA7, CNN2, PTRN3, and BSG/CD147), airway remodeling (ELANE, FSTL3), mucin production (GAL3ST), leukotriene synthesis (GPX4), allergic asthma (ZFPM1, SBNO2), and others. Conclusions: An accurate risk prediction of ICS response can be obtained using machine learning methods, with the potential to inform personalized treatment decisions. Further studies are needed to examine if the integration of richer phenotype data could improve risk prediction.
Evaluation of Hemodynamic Changes and Fluid Response during Anesthesia in Lumbar Disc Hernias with Pleth Variability Index (PVI)
Authors: Sarihan Seda , Koyuncu Tolga , Kazancioglu Leyla , Batcik Sule , Kazdal Hizir
Published: February 2024

The study aimed to assess the pleth variability index (PVI) in patients undergoing lumbar disc herniation surgery under general and spinal anesthesia, exploring its correlation with fluid responsiveness, position, and hemodynamic parameters. Methods: This prospective study included 88 ASA 1–2 patients, aged 18–65, undergoing 1–3 h elective lumbar disc herniation surgery. Patients in groups GA and SA were observed for demographic, operative, and hemodynamic parameters at specified time points. (3) Results: PVI values were comparable between the GA and SA groups. After 250 mL of fluid loading, both groups showed a significant decrease in basal PVI at T2. Prone positions in GA exhibited higher PI values than in SA. The transition from a prone to supine position maintained PVI, while pulse and MAP decreased.; (4) Conclusions: PVI values were comparable in elective lumbar disc herniation surgery with general and spinal anesthesia. Both groups exhibited significant a PVI decrease at T2 after 250 mL of fluid loading, indicating fluid responsiveness. In general anesthesia, the prone position showed a lower MAP and higher PI values compared to spinal anesthesia. PVI and PI, sensitive to general anesthesia changes, could have beneficial additions to standard hemodynamic monitoring in spinal anesthesia management.