bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Influence of Co-Firing Coal with Biomass Syngas on the Thermodynamic Parameters of a Boiler
Authors: Wang Jin , Yao Qiaopeng , Jin Xiaoling , Deng Lei
Published: October 2023

Biomass syngas can be considered as a supplementary fuel to partially substitute coal, which is beneficial to CO2 emission reduction. For the case study, the influences of co-firing typical biomass syngas (gasification from palm, straw, and wood) with coal on the thermodynamic parameters of a 300 MW tangentially fired boiler are evaluated through a thermal calculation based on the principles of mass conservation, heat conservation, and heat transfer. The effects of boiler loads, biomass syngas species, and consumption rates are discussed. The results show that the introduction of biomass syngas weakens the radiative characteristics of the flame and reduces the furnace exit flue-gas temperature. As 3 × 104 m3 h−1 of wood syngas is introduced, the decrement of thermal efficiency reaches 0.4%, while that of the coal consumption rate is 5.1%. The retrofitting of the boiler was not necessary and the corrosion of the low-temperature heating surface did not appear. The CO2 annual emission reduction could achieve 0.001 to 0.095 million tons for palm syngas, 0.005 to 0.069 million tons for straw syngas, and 0.013 to 0.107 million tons for wood syngas with increasing biomass syngas consumption rates under the full load. Moreover, the main thermodynamic parameters changed more significantly under the low loads.
Enhancing Surface Characteristics and Combustion Behavior of Black Poplar Wood through Varied Impregnation Techniques
Authors: Beram Abdullah
Published: October 2023

The objective of this work was to improve the thermal stability, flame resistance, and surface properties of black poplar (Populus nigra L.) wood via different impregnation methods. The impregnation methods were employed through two distinct modalities: vacuum impregnation and immersion impregnation. Here, poplar wood was impregnated with calcium oxide solutions (1%, 3% and 5%). Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopic analysis revealed a shift in the typical peaks of cellulose, hemicellulose, and lignin depending on the impregnation method and solution ratio. Thermogravimetric analysis and the limiting oxygen index indicated that the samples impregnated with lime solutions exhibited higher thermal stability than the unimpregnated wood. Both impregnation methods caused a decrease in water absorption and thickness swelling of the sample groups. Using a scanning electron microscope, the effect of the impregnation process on the structure of the wood was examined. In terms of surface properties, it was determined that the surface roughness value increased. On the contrary, it was observed that the contact angle value also increased. A significant difference emerged between the applied methods. In conclusion, the applied lime minerals are suitable substances to increase the flame resistance and thermal stability of black poplar wood.
Special Issue on New Techniques, Materials and Technologies in Dentistry
Authors: Alves Ricardo Castro , Mendes José João , Azul Ana Cristina Mano
Published: October 2023

Dentistry has seen significant technical and technological advances in recent years [...]
Long-Jawed Spider Moves across Water with and without the Use of Silk
Authors: Gould John , Valdez Jose. W.
Published: October 2023

Among spiders, movement in aquatic environments, including below the water’s surface or on the surface film, is completed using a variety of techniques that do not involve the use of silk, including swimming, walking, and rowing. The use of silk to assist with aquatic locomotion has been explored only to a limited extent. In this study, we report on observations of a long-jawed spider (Family: Tetragnathidae) from Australia, Tetragnatha nitens, moving across the surface film in two different manners, one of which involves the use of silk. The first observation was of a female T. nitens walking across the water’s surface when prompted by a predation attempt: the spider used its front three pairs of legs for propulsion while the back pair remained motionless on the water, likely for stabilization. The second observation featured a male T. nitens utilizing a silk line to reel itself towards emergent vegetation while gliding across the water. Our findings support work on other long-jawed spiders, revealing that individual species can exploit several strategies for moving across water, including those that involve the use of silk. This study sheds light on the remarkable adaptability of spider silk and its potential use in aquatic systems.
Existence of Multiple Weak Solutions to a Discrete Fractional Boundary Value Problem
Authors: Moradi Shahin , Afrouzi Ghasem A. , Graef John R.
Published: October 2023

The existence of at least three weak solutions to a discrete fractional boundary value problem containing a p-Laplacian operator and subject to perturbations is proved using variational methods. Some applications of the main results are presented. The results obtained generalize some recent results on both discrete fractional boundary value problems and p-Laplacian boundary value problems. Examples illustrating the results are given.
The Role of the Transforming Growth Factor-β Signaling Pathway in Gastrointestinal Cancers
Authors: Matsuoka Tasuku , Yashiro Masakazu
Published: October 2023

Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) has attracted attention as a tumor suppressor because of its potent growth-suppressive effect on epithelial cells. Dysregulation of the TGF-β signaling pathway is considered to be one of the key factors in carcinogenesis, and genetic alterations affecting TGF-β signaling are extraordinarily common in cancers of the gastrointestinal system, such as hereditary nonpolyposis colon cancer and pancreatic cancer. Accumulating evidence suggests that TGF-β is produced from various types of cells in the tumor microenvironment and mediates extracellular matrix deposition, tumor angiogenesis, the formation of CAFs, and suppression of the anti-tumor immune reaction. It is also being considered as a factor that promotes the malignant transformation of cancer, particularly the invasion and metastasis of cancer cells, including epithelial-mesenchymal transition. Therefore, elucidating the role of TGF-β signaling in carcinogenesis, cancer invasion, and metastasis will provide novel basic insight for diagnosis and prognosis and the development of new molecularly targeted therapies for gastrointestinal cancers. In this review, we outline an overview of the complex mechanisms and functions of TGF-β signaling. Furthermore, we discuss the therapeutic potentials of targeting the TGF-β signaling pathway for gastrointestinal cancer treatment and discuss the remaining challenges and future perspectives on targeting this pathway.
Ultrasound-Driven Healing: Unleashing the Potential of Chondrocyte-Derived Extracellular Vesicles for Chondrogenesis in Adipose-Derived Stem Cells
Authors: Wang Yikai , Liu Zibo , Pan Chuqiao , Zheng Yi , Chen Yahong , Lian Xiang , Jiang Yu , Chen Chuhsin , Xue Ke , Zhang Yuanyuan , Xu Peng , Liu Kai
Published: October 2023

Repairing cartilage defects represents a significant clinical challenge. While adipose-derived stem cell (ADSC)-based strategies hold promise for cartilage regeneration, their inherent chondrogenic potential is limited. Extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from chondrocytes (CC-EVs) have shown potential in enhancing chondrogenesis, but their role in promoting chondrogenic differentiation of ADSCs remains poorly understood. Moreover, the clinical application of EVs faces limitations due to insufficient quantities for in vivo use, necessitating the development of effective methods for extracting significant amounts of CC-EVs. Our previous study demonstrated that low-intensity ultrasound (LIUS) stimulation enhances EV secretion from mesenchymal stem cells. Here, we identified a specific LIUS parameter for chondrocytes that increased EV secretion by 16-fold. CC-EVs were found to enhance cell activity, proliferation, migration, and 21-day chondrogenic differentiation of ADSCs in vitro, while EVs secreted by chondrocytes following LIUS stimulation (US-CC-EVs) exhibited superior efficacy. miRNA-seq revealed that US-CC-EVs were enriched in cartilage-regeneration-related miRNAs, contributing to chondrogenesis in various biological processes. In conclusion, we found that CC-EVs can enhance the chondrogenesis of ADSCs in vitro. In addition, our study introduces ultrasound-driven healing as an innovative method to enhance the quantity and quality of CC-EVs, meeting clinical demand and addressing the limited chondrogenic potential of ADSCs. The ultrasound-driven healing unleashes the potential of CC-EVs for chondrogenesis possibly through the enrichment of cartilage-regeneration-associated miRNAs in EVs, suggesting their potential role in cartilage reconstruction. These findings hold promise for advancing cartilage regeneration strategies and may pave the way for novel therapeutic interventions in regenerative medicine.
Reelin Signaling in Neurodevelopmental Disorders and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Joly-Amado Aurelie , Kulkarni Neel , Nash Kevin R.
Published: October 2023

Reelin is an extracellular matrix glycoprotein involved in neuronal migration during embryonic brain development and synaptic plasticity in the adult brain. The role of Reelin in the developing central nervous system has been extensively characterized. Indeed, a loss of Reelin or a disruption in its signaling cascade leads to neurodevelopmental defects and is associated with ataxia, intellectual disability, autism, and several psychiatric disorders. In the adult brain, Reelin is critically involved in neurogenesis and synaptic plasticity. Reelin’s signaling potentiates glutamatergic and GABAergic neurotransmission, induces synaptic maturation, and increases AMPA and NMDA receptor subunits’ expression and activity. As a result, there is a growing literature reporting that a loss of function and/or reduction of Reelin is implicated in numerous neurodegenerative diseases. The present review summarizes the current state of the literature regarding the implication of Reelin and Reelin-mediated signaling during aging and neurodegenerative disorders, highlighting Reelin as a possible target in the prevention or treatment of progressive neurodegeneration.
Imaging in Upper Tract Urothelial Carcinoma: A Review
Authors: Tsikitas Lucas A. , Hopstone Michelle Diamond , Raman Alex , Duddalwar Vinay
Published: October 2023

Medical imaging is a critical tool in the detection, staging, and treatment planning of upper urinary tract urothelial carcinoma (UTUC). This article reviews the strengths and weaknesses of the different imaging techniques and modalities available clinically. This includes multidetector computed tomography (CT), multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound (US), and positron emission tomography (PET) for the detection, staging, and management of UTUC. In addition, we review the imaging techniques that are being developed and are on the horizon but have not yet made it to clinical practice. Firstly, we review the imaging findings of primary UTUC and the techniques across multiple modalities. We then discuss imaging findings of metastatic disease. Lastly, we describe the role of imaging in the surveillance after resection of primary UTUC based upon current guidelines.
Photodynamic Therapy Combined with Ferroptosis Is a Synergistic Antitumor Therapy Strategy
Authors: Huang Yunpeng , Li Xiaoyu , Zhang Zijian , Xiong Li , Wang Yongxiang , Wen Yu
Published: October 2023

Ferroptosis is a programmed death mode that regulates redox homeostasis in cells, and recent studies suggest that it is a promising mode of tumor cell death. Ferroptosis is regulated by iron metabolism, lipid metabolism, and intracellular reducing substances, which is the mechanism basis of its combination with photodynamic therapy (PDT). PDT generates reactive oxygen species (ROS) and 1O2 through type I and type II photochemical reactions, and subsequently induces ferroptosis through the Fenton reaction and the peroxidation of cell membrane lipids. PDT kills tumor cells by generating excessive cytotoxic ROS. Due to the limited laser depth and photosensitizer enrichment, the systemic treatment effect of PDT is not good. Combining PDT with ferroptosis can compensate for these shortcomings. Nanoparticles constructed by photosensitizers and ferroptosis agonists are widely used in the field of combination therapy, and their targeting and biological safety can be improved through modification. These nanoparticles not only directly kill tumor cells but also further exert the synergistic effect of PDT and ferroptosis by activating antitumor immunity, improving the hypoxia microenvironment, and inhibiting the tumor angiogenesis. Ferroptosis-agonist-induced chemotherapy and PDT-induced ablation also have good clinical application prospects. In this review, we summarize the current research progress on PDT and ferroptosis and how PDT and ferroptosis promote each other.
Mucosal Microbiome in Patients with Early Bowel Polyps: Inferences from Short-Read and Long-Read 16S rRNA Sequencing
Authors: Welham Zoe , Li Jun , Engel Alexander F. , Molloy Mark P.
Published: October 2023

Numerous studies have correlated dysbiosis in stool microbiota with colorectal cancer (CRC); however, fewer studies have investigated the mucosal microbiome in pre-cancerous bowel polyps. The short-read sequencing of variable regions in the 16S rRNA gene has commonly been used to infer bacterial taxonomy, and this has led, in part, to inconsistent findings between studies. Here, we examined mucosal microbiota from patients who presented with one or more polyps, compared to patients with no polyps, at the time of colonoscopy. We evaluated the results obtained using both short-read and PacBio long-read 16S rRNA sequencing. Neither sequencing technology identified significant differences in microbial diversity measures between patients with or without bowel polyps. Differential abundance measures showed that amplicon sequence variants (ASVs) associated with Ruminococcus gnavus and Escherichia coli were elevated in mucosa from polyp patients, while ASVs associated with Parabacteroides merdae, Veillonella nakazawae, and Sutterella wadsworthensis were relatively decreased. Only R. gnavus was consistently identified using both sequencing technologies as being altered between patients with polyps compared to patients without polyps, suggesting differences in technologies and bioinformatics processing impact study findings. Several of the differentially abundant bacteria identified using either sequencing technology are associated with inflammatory bowel diseases despite these patients being excluded from the current study, which suggests that early bowel neoplasia may be associated with a local inflammatory niche.
A Case for the Conservative Management of Stage IA Cervical Cancer
Authors: Blackman Alexandra , Creasman William
Published: October 2023

Cervical cancer remains a significant public health concern within the United States and across the world. Cervical cancer is most frequently diagnosed in women between the ages of 35 and 44 and therefore affects a younger patient population than many other cancers. The management of early-stage disease has frequently utilized radical hysterectomy with the associated increased surgical morbidity, without clear evidence of any benefits. In stage IA disease, there are retrospective pathologic data supporting the safety of conservative surgery and lymphadenectomy over radical hysterectomy. There are also emerging prospective studies supporting conservative management. This editorial presents the evidence for conservative management of stage IA cervical cancer by reviewing the existing retrospective studies as well as the ongoing prospective studies.
Characterization of Age-Associated, Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (NLR) and Systemic Immune-Inflammatory Index (SII) as Biomarkers of Inflammation in Geriatric Patients with Cancer Treated with Immune Checkpoint Inhibitors: Impact on Efficacy and Survival
Authors: Choucair Khalil , Nebhan Caroline , Cortellini Alessio , Hentzen Stijn , Wang Yinghong , Liu Cynthia , Giusti Raffaele , Filetti Marco , Ascierto Paolo Antonio , Vanella Vito , Galetta Domenico , Catino Annamaria , Al-Bzour Nour , Saeed Azhar , Cavalcante Ludimila , Pizzutilo Pamela , Genova Carlo , Bersanelli Melissa , Buti Sebastiano , Johnson Douglas B. , Fulgenzi Claudia Angela Maria , Pinato David J. , Radford Maluki , Kim Chul , Naqash Abdul Rafeh , Saeed Anwaar
Published: October 2023

Background: Geriatric patients (≥80 years) are underrepresented in immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICIs) clinical trials. However, their unique biology may affect their response to ICIs. There are currently no established biomarkers of the response to ICIs in adult patients with cancer that can help with patient selection. Methods: We built a multicenter, international retrospective study of 885 patients (<80 years: n = 417, 47.12%; ≥80 years: n = 468, 52.88%) with different tumor types treated with ICIs between 2011 and 2021 from 11 academic centers in the U.S. and Europe. The main outcome measures were objective response rates (ORR), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) stratified by age and circulating inflammatory levels (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and systemic immune-inflammatory index (SII)). Results: Patients ≥80 years with low NLR (NLR-L) and SII (SII-L) had significantly higher ORR (vs. high NLR [NLR-H], p < 0.01 and SII-H, p < 0.05, respectively). At median follow-ups (13.03 months), and compared to SII-H, patients with SII-L had significantly longer median PFS and OS in patients <80 (p < 0.001), and ≥80 years (p < 0.001). SII-L was independently associated with longer PFS and OS (HR: 0.61 and 0.62, respectively, p < 0.01). Conclusion: Lower inflammation pre-ICI initiation may predict an improved response and survival in geriatric patients with cancer.
Noble Metal Single-Atom Coordinated to Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Carbon as Electrocatalysts for Oxygen Evolution
Authors: Wang Jianhua , Bai Jiangdong , Cang Yaqi , Li Qing , Fan Xing , Lin Haiping
Published: October 2023

Tuning the coordination environment centering metal atoms has been regarded as a promising strategy to promote the activities of noble metal single-atom catalysts (SACs). In the present work, first-principle calculations are employed to explore the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) performance of Ir and Ru SACs with chemical coordination being nitrogen (M-N4-C), oxygen (M-O4-C), and carbon (M-C4-C) in graphene, respectively. A “three-step” strategy was implemented by progressively investigating these metrics (stability, catalytic activity, structure–activity relationship). A volcano plot of reactivity is established by using the adsorption-free energy of O* (∆GO*) as a theoretical descriptor. The intrinsic OER activity is IrN4-C > IrO4-C > RuO4-C > RuN4-C > IrC4-C > RuC4-C. The in-depth tuning mechanism of ∆GO* can be indicated and interpreted by the d-band centers of the active sites and the crystal orbital Hamilton population analysis of metal-oxygen bonds, respectively.
Research Progress of the Selective Catalytic Reduction with NH3 over ZSM-5 Zeolite Catalysts for NOx Removal
Authors: Pan Wangxiang , He Jingping , Huang Guanlin , Zhang Wentao , Fang De
Published: October 2023

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) are very common air pollutants that are harmful to the environment and human bodies. Selective catalytic reduction with ammonia (NH3-SCR) is considered an effective means to remove NOx emissions due to its good environmental adaptability, high catalytic activity, and remarkable selectivity. In this paper, the preparation methods, types, advantages, and challenges of ZSM-5 catalysts are reviewed. Special attention is paid to the catalytic properties and influence factors of ZSM-5 catalysts for NH3-SCR. The SCR performances of ZSM-5 catalysts doped with single or multiple metal ions are also reviewed. In addition, the environmental adaptabilities (sulfur resistance, alkali resistance, water resistance, and hydrothermal stability) of ZSM-5 catalysts are discussed, and the development of ZSM-5 catalysts in denitrification is summarized.
Recent Trends in the Antidiabetic Prominence of Natural and Synthetic Analogues of Aurones
Authors: Aluru Rammohan , Mukherjee Anindita , Zyryanov Grigory V. , Majee Adinath , Santra Sougata
Published: October 2023

Natural products are a boundless source for the development of pharmaceutical agents against a wide range of human diseases. Accordingly, naturally occurring aurones possess various biological benefits, such as anticancer, antioxidant, antimicrobial, antidiabetic, anti-inflammatory, antiviral and neuroprotective effects. In addition, various studies have revealed that aurones are potential templates for the regulation of diabetes mellitus and its associated complications. Likewise, certain aurones and their analogues have been found to be remarkable kinase inhibitors of DARK2, PPAR-γ, PTPM1, AGE, α-amylase and α-glucosidase, which represents a promising approach for the treatment of chronic metabolic disorders such as diabetes. Therefore, in our present study, we provide a detailed account of the advances in aurones as antidiabetic agents over the past decade.
Safety and Efficacy of Hepatic Artery Embolization in Heavily Treated Patients with Intrahepatic Cholangiocarcinoma: Analysis of Clinicopathological and Radiographic Parameters Associated with Better Overall Survival
Authors: Velayati Sara , Elsakka Ahmed , Zhao Ken , Erinjeri Joseph P. , Marinelli Brett , Soliman Mohamed , Chevallier Olivier , Ziv Etay , Brody Lynn A. , Sofocleous Constantinos T. , Solomon Stephen B. , Harding James J. , Abou-Alfa Ghassan K. , D’Angelica Michael I. , Wei Alice C. , Kingham Peter T. , Jarnagin William R. , Yarmohammadi Hooman
Published: October 2023

The safety and efficacy of hepatic artery embolization (HAE) in treating intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (IHC) was evaluated. Initial treatment response, local tumor progression-free survival (L-PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated in 34 IHC patients treated with HAE. A univariate survival analysis and a multivariate Cox proportional hazard analysis to identify independent factors were carried out. Objective response (OR) at 1-month was 79.4%. Median OS and L-PFS from the time of HAE was 13 (CI = 95%, 7.4–18.5) and 4 months (CI = 95%, 2.09–5.9), respectively. Tumor burden < 25% and increased tumor vascularity on preprocedure imaging and surgical resection prior to embolization were associated with longer OS (p < 0.05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis demonstrated that tumor burden < 25% and hypervascular tumors were independent risk factors. Mean post-HAE hospital stay was 4 days. Grade 3 complication rate was 8.5%. In heavily treated patients with IHC, after exhausting all chemotherapy and other locoregional options, HAE as a rescue treatment option appeared to be safe with a mean OS of 13 months. Tumor burden < 25%, increased target tumor vascularity on pre-procedure imaging, and OR on 1 month follow-up images were associated with better OS. Further studies with a control group are required to confirm the effectiveness of HAE in IHC.
Ultrasound Features and Clinical Outcome of Patients with Ovarian Masses Diagnosed during Pregnancy: Experience of Single Gynecological Ultrasound Center
Authors: Bruno Matteo , Capanna Giulia , Stanislao Veronica , Ciuffreda Raffaella , Tabacco Sara , Fantasia Ilaria , Di Florio Christian , Stabile Guglielmo , D’Alfonso Angela , Guido Maurizio , Ludovisi Manuela
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: The number of adnexal masses detected during pregnancy has increased due to the use of first-trimester screening and increasingly advanced maternal age. Despite their low risk of malignancy, other risks associated with these masses include torsion, rupture and labor obstruction. Correct diagnosis and management are needed to guarantee both maternal and fetal safety. Adnexal masses may be troublesome to classify during pregnancy due to the increased volume of the uterus and pregnancy-related hormonal changes. Management should be based on ultrasound examination to provide the best treatment. The aim of this study was to describe the ultrasound features of ovarian masses detected during pregnancy and to optimize and personalize their management with the expertise of gynecologists, oncologists and sonographers. (2) Methods: Clinical, ultrasound, histological parameters and type of management (surveillance vs. surgery) were retrospectively retrieved. Patient management, perinatal outcomes and follow-up were also evaluated. (3) Results: according to the literature, these masses are most frequently benign, ultrasound follow-up is the best management, and obstetric outcomes are not considerably influenced by the presence of adnexal masses. (4) Conclusions: the management of patients with ovarian masses detected during pregnancy should be based on ultrasound examination, and a centralization in referral centers for ovarian masses should be considered.
T Lymphoblastic Lymphoma Hiding in Mature Plasmacytoid Dendritic Cell Proliferation: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Deng Cong , Gao Beibei , Wang Tianli , Chang Xiaona , Xiao Guixiang , Xia Qin , Pan Huaxiong , Nie Xiu
Published: October 2023

To the best of the author’s knowledge, studies of mature plasmacytoid dendritic cell proliferation associated with T lymphoblastic lymphoma were extremely rare in the literature. Here, we report a patient who underwent both mature plasmacytoid dendritic cell proliferation and T lymphoblastic lymphoma. With the findings of lymph node biopsy taken from the right cervical and inguinal regions, we identified eye-catching mature plasmacytoid dendritic cells that were considered to be responsible for this lesion at the beginning, until the immunostaining of Ki67 and TDT showed a small group of positive cells hiding in these plasmacytoid dendritic cells. A bone marrow biopsy was also performed on this patient. Microscopically, the hematopoietic tissue was almost completely replaced by lymphoblastoid cells with condensed chromatin, inconspicuous nucleoli and scanty cytoplasm, which were basically the same as those seen in the lymph nodes in morphology. However, there was no sign of plasmacytoid dendritic cells or Langerhans cells in the bone marrow biopsy. With the help of bone marrow biopsy, our final diagnosis of the lymph node was T lymphoblastic lymphoma coexisting with mature plasmacytoid dendritic cell proliferation. Although accumulations of plasmacytoid dendritic cells may occur in some infections or reactive lymphadenopathy, the presence of extensive nodules or infiltration of plasmacytoid dendritic cells strongly reminds the pathologist to carefully evaluate the bone marrow or peripheral blood status of the patient to exclude a hidden myeloid or other neoplasm.
Digital Learning and Self-Regulation in Students with Special Educational Needs: A Systematic Review of Current Research and Future Directions
Authors: Stalmach Aleksandra , D’Elia Paola , Di Sano Sergio , Casale Gino
Published: October 2023

Self-regulation plays a crucial role in the overall well-being of students, including those with learning disabilities (LD) and social, emotional, and behavioral disorders (SEBD). Conceptually, digital learning offers great potential for supporting students with special educational needs (SEN) in learning and social-emotional development at inclusive schools and can effectively promote self-regulation processes. This systematic review aims to shed light on the potential of digital learning to promote the self-regulation of students with SEN in inclusive contexts. A systematic literature search was conducted on selected databases. Seven studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed regarding the empirical evidence, characteristics of digital learning methods, and factors influencing their effectiveness. The results showed that digital learning methods can foster improvements in academic outcomes, e.g., students’ persuasive writing skills, and in enhancing emotion regulation in students. The effectiveness of the digital learning methods depends mostly on their implementation by teachers.
Multicultural Diversity in the Spanish Public University: An Ethnographic Case Study of Latin American, Latino, and Afro-Latin American Students
Authors: Olmos Alcaraz Antonia , Vaillant Cruz Glenda , Padilla Beatriz
Published: October 2023

This article presents the preliminary findings of an ethnographic study about the presence and experiences of students of Latin American origin in Spanish universities. Our aim is to better understand the self-identification and ethnoracial formation processes observed in university-level students. We first reviewed the statistics on students with non-Spanish nationalities enrolled in public Spanish universities. We then analyze how the self-identification processes of Latin American, Latino, and Afro-Latin American students take place in public Spanish universities. We use an ethnographic approach that includes in-depth interviews and participant observation over a period of 9 months. We identified relevant identity markers such as accents and linguistic expressions, cultural practices, and color, as well as the coping and resistance strategies that these students developed to navigate these spaces when facing discrimination, racism, and othering.
A Network Traffic Intrusion Detection Method for Industrial Control Systems Based on Deep Learning
Authors: Jin Kai , Zhang Lei , Zhang Yujie , Sun Duo , Zheng Xiaoyuan
Published: October 2023

The current mainstream intrusion detection models often have a high false negative rate, significantly affecting intrusion detection systems’ (IDSs) practicability. To address this issue, we propose an intrusion detection model based on a multi-scale one-dimensional convolutional neural network module (MS1DCNN), an efficient channel attention module (ECA), and two bidirectional long short-term memory modules (BiLSTMs). The proposed hybrid MS1DCNN-ECA-BiLSTM model uses the MS1DCNN module to extract features with a different granularity from the input data and uses the ECA module to enhance the weight of important features. Finally, the model carries out sequence learning through two BiLSTM layers. We use the dung beetle optimizer (DBO) to optimize the hyperparameters in the model to obtain better classification results. Additionally, we use the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) to fill several samples to reduce the local false negative rate. In this paper, we train and test the model using accurate network data from a water storage industrial control system. In the multi-classification experiment, the model’s accuracy was 97.04%, the precision was 97.17%, and the false negative rate was 2.95%; in the binary classification experiment, the accuracy and false negative rate were 99.30% and 0.7%. Compared with other mainstream methods, our model has a higher score. This study provides a new algorithm for the intrusion detection of industrial control systems.
EDKSANet: An Efficient Dual-Kernel Split Attention Neural Network for the Classification of Tibetan Medicinal Materials
Authors: Qi Jindong , Wangdui Bianba , Jiang Jun , Yang Jie , Zhou Yanxia
Published: October 2023

Tibetan medicine has received wide acclaim for its unique diagnosis and treatment methods. The identification of Tibetan medicinal materials, which are a vital component of Tibetan medicine, is a key research area in this field. However, traditional deep learning-based visual neural networks face significant challenges in efficiently and accurately identifying Tibetan medicinal materials due to their large number, complex morphology, and the scarcity of public visual datasets. To address this issue, we constructed a computer vision dataset with 300 Tibetan medicinal materials and proposed a lightweight and efficient cross-dimensional attention mechanism, the Dual-Kernel Split Attention (DKSA) module, which can adaptively share parameters of the kernel in both spatial and channel dimensions. Based on the DKSA module, we achieve efficient unification of convolution and self-attention under the CNN architecture and develop a new lightweight backbone architecture, EDKSANet, to provide enhanced performance for various computer vision tasks. As compared to RedNet, the top-1 accuracy is improved by 1.2% on an ImageNet dataset, and a larger margin of +1.5 box AP for object detection and an improvement of +1.3 mask AP for instance segmentation on MS-COCO dataset are obtained. Moreover, EDKSANet achieved excellent classification performance on the Tibetan medicinal materials dataset, with an accuracy of up to 96.85%.
Resource-Efficient Optimization for FPGA-Based Convolution Accelerator
Authors: Ma Yanhua , Xu Qican , Song Zerui
Published: October 2023

Convolution forms one of the most essential operations for the FPGA-based hardware accelerator. However, the existing designs often neglect the inherent architecture of FPGA, which puts forward an austere challenge on hardware resource. Even though some previous works have proposed approximate multipliers or convolution acceleration algorithms to deal with this issue, the inevitable accuracy loss and resource occupation easily lead to performance degradation. Toward this, we first propose two kinds of resource-efficient optimized accurate multipliers based on LUTs or carry chains. Then, targeting FPGA-based platforms, a generic multiply–accumulate structure is constructed by directly accumulating the partial products produced by our proposed optimized radix-4 Booth multipliers without intermediate multiplication and addition results. Experimental results demonstrate that our proposed multiplier achieves a maximum 51% look-up-table (LUT) reduction compared to the Vivado area-optimized multiplier IP. Furthermore, the convolutional process unit using the proposed structure achieves a 36% LUT reduction compared to existing methods. As case studies, the proposed method is applied to DCT transform, LeNet, and MobileNet-V3 to achieve hardware resource saving without loss of accuracy.
Shallow Clock Tree Pre-Estimation for Designing Clock Tree Synthesizable Verilog RTLs
Authors: Kwon Nayoung , Park Daejin
Published: October 2023

Clock tree synthesis (CTS) is an important process in determining overall chip timing and power consumption. The CTS is also a time-consuming process for checking the clock tree. If the chip design and specification do not match, the CTS result will be wrong. Many users use licensed electronic design automation (EDA) tools like Synopsys, and Cadence to carry out accurate chip verification. However, when using a licensed EDA tool, it is difficult to change the function and confirm the overall process in detail. If the design is wrong, the expected cost is doubled, as it will be necessary to modify the design and check all processes for verification. Currently, it cannot check the synthesizability of the clock tree on the placement and route process using only RTL. The main purpose of this study is to predict the CTS result of pre-estimation roughly using an RTL source placing temporary logics using random buffer insertion before the route process: then the incorrectly designed part can be freely modified because the CTS result can be known in advance. Experimental results showed that this research achieves an increase in inserted buffer area by about 10%, the standard deviation of clock skew achieves zero clock skew after shallow CTS, and clock frequency increases by about 10%. This paper contributes to optimizing clock tree implementation by conducting the pre-route process before using the CTS tool. Also, our approach not only minimizes resource usage but also optimizes CTS for the RTL structure. It holds considerable value in enhancing the efficiency and performance of integrated circuits.
Research on the Use of Potassium Formate in the Indirect Contact Freezing System Used in Food Preservation
Authors: Sydow Zuzanna , Bieńczak Krzysztof , Górny Kasper , Bernat Tomasz , Perz Karolina , Gaszek Krzysztof
Published: October 2023

Low-temperature contact freezing refrigeration solutions available on the market typically contain refrigerants inside the plates, which may result in harmful emissions into the atmosphere and the contamination of food products in case of failure. However, a concept for a refrigeration plant with new coolant—a solution of potassium formate—is introduced in this paper. It comprises two systems: the primary one, where the compressor system is cooling down the coolant in the evaporator (as a heat and mass exchanger), and the secondary one, where the pump system is responsible for coolant circulation. As a coolant in the intermediate system, a 48% aqueous solution of potassium formate was utilized due to its numerous benefits. This liquid is neutral to the pump circuit installation materials and does not pose a threat to the food product in case of leakage, as it is also used as a food preservative additive. The use of liquid coolant ensures that any malfunction results in a visible leak, allowing for prompt intervention, unlike refrigerants that escape unnoticed into the atmosphere. Moreover, a refrigerant with a lower GWP than traditional solutions was chosen, making the system more eco-friendly.
Energy Consumption, Energy Analysis, and Solar Energy Integration for Commercial Building Restaurants
Authors: Gunasegaran Muthu Kumaran , Hasanuzzaman Md , Tan ChiaKwang , Bakar Ab Halim Abu , Ponniah Vignes
Published: October 2023

In the domain of energy consumption in restaurant-type commercial buildings, traditional energy audits tend to concentrate mainly on electrical loads, often neglecting the specifics of the restaurant sector, especially regarding liquified petroleum gas fuel consumption. This research employs a comprehensive energy audit framework specifically designed for the commercial building restaurant sector. Using energy data from 130 restaurants, we computed the building energy index that ranged in between 650 and 1000 kWh/m2/year. Using linear regression, we assessed the relationship between building energy index and restaurant area, uncovering a low R2 value, suggesting the unsuitability of the building energy index as an exclusive measure for restaurants. Concurrently, our detailed comparative study showed that liquified petroleum gas-fueled equipment uses about 38% more energy than electric fueled equipment but is 0.5% cheaper and significantly less polluting. Investigating renewable energy potentials, we found solar PV application as a viable option for restaurants. The results showed that solar PV installation could produce approximately 11,064,898 kWh, translating to utility savings of RM 7,381,929 and reductions of 7,108,327 kgCO2, 68,959 kgSO2, and 31,823 kgCO emissions. Conclusively, our findings underline the need for a diversified energy assessment in restaurants and the tangible benefits of renewable energy integration.
Characterization of the Bacterial Composition of 47 Fermented Foods in Sweden
Authors: Palmnäs-Bédard Marie , de Santa Izabel Aline , Dicksved Johan , Landberg Rikard
Published: October 2023

Fermentation has long been utilized to preserve and enhance the flavor and nutritional value of foods. Recently, fermented foods have gained popularity, reaching new consumer groups due to perceived health benefits. However, the microbial composition of many fermented foods re-mains unknown. Here, we characterized the bacterial composition, diversity, and richness of 47 fermented foods available in Sweden, including kombucha, water kefir, milk kefir, yogurt, plant-based yogurt alternatives, kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented vegetables. Via 16S rRNA gene sequencing, we identified 2497 bacteria (amplicon sequence variants). The bacterial composition was strongly associated with the type of fermented food, and lactic acid bacteria and/or acetic acid bacteria dominated most samples. However, each fermented food had a unique composition, with kombucha and water kefir having the highest diversity across and within samples. Few bacteria were abundant in multiple foods and food groups. These were Streptococcus thermophilus in yogurts and plant-based yoghurts; Lactococcus lactis in milk kefirs and one water kefir; and Lactiplantibacillus plantarum in kimchi, sauerkraut, and fermented cucumber. The broad range of fermented foods included in this study and their diverse bacterial communities warrant further investigation into the implications of microbial compositions for product traits and potential impact on human health.
Microbiological Quality of Australian Beef, Sheep and Pork Carcases, Cuts and Offals
Authors: Jolley Jessica , Kiermeier Andreas , Sumner John
Published: October 2023

A one-year survey was undertaken of the microbiological quality of carcases and the derived primal cuts, manufacturing meat and offals at twelve Australian export establishments (six beef, three sheep/lamb and three pork). A total of 27,157 microbiological results for aerobic plate count (APC) and generic Escherichia coli were gathered, 15,155 from beef, 8405 from sheep and 3597 from pig establishments. The mean log10 APCs on beef, sheep and pig carcases were 0.84, 1.60 and 1.30 log10 cfu/cm2, respectively. For primals, the mean log10 APC was higher for beef but was similar for sheep and pork primals, with ‘outside’ cuts having higher counts. For manufacturing meat, the concentration was 2–3 log10 cfu/g, irrespective of species. The prevalence (%) of generic E. coli from beef, sheep and pork was 2.3, 28.4 and 5.4 on carcases; 7.0, 20.6 and 3.2 on primals; and 5.8, 33.6 and 6.1 on manufacturing meat, respectively. The mean log10 APCs of beef, sheep and pork offal were 3.23, 3.18 and 3.37 log10 cfu/g, with tripes and tongues having APCs 1–2 log10 units higher than organ offals. The results reflect improvements in total bacterial loadings compared with previous national baseline surveys.
Antimicrobial Peptides and Their Assemblies
Authors: Carmona-Ribeiro Ana Maria
Published: October 2023

Antibiotic resistance requires alternatives to fight multi-drug resistant strains. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) act by disrupting or solubilizing microbial cell walls or membranes in accordance with mechanisms difficult to counteract from the microbe’s point of view. In this review, structure–activity relationships for AMPs and their assemblies are discussed, considering not only their self-assembly but also their interactions with their carriers for optimal delivery or their combinations with other complementary antimicrobials or moieties covalently bound to their chemical structure. The effect of the formulations on AMP activity is also evaluated, revealing a myriad of possibilities. Depending on the interaction forces between the AMP, the carrier, or the elements added to the formulations, AMP activity can be reduced, enhanced, or remain unaffected. Approaches protecting AMPs against proteolysis may also reduce their activity.
Effects of Online Pilates and Face-to-Face Pilates Intervention on Body Composition, Muscle Mechanical Properties, Cardiometabolic Parameters, Mental Health, and Physical Fitness in Middle-Aged Women with Obesity
Authors: Park Hun-Young , Jung Kyounghwa , Jung Won-Sang , Kim Sung-Woo , Kim Jisu , Lim Kiwon
Published: October 2023

With the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019, individuals have been participating in online exercises to maintain their health while avoiding infection. Among these online exercises, Pilates intervention is a popular modality. This study aimed to examine the differences between online and face-to-face Pilates interventions in terms of various physiological parameters and included 30 middle-aged individuals (age 43.3 ± 5.5 years) with obesity. These individuals were randomly divided into a face-to-face Pilates group (FPG), an online Pilates group (OPG), and a control group (CG). The FPG and OPG performed a 60-min mat Pilates program with a Borg scale of 11–17, three times a week for 12 weeks. The participants in the CG maintained their daily routines. Body composition, mechanical muscle properties, cardiometabolic parameters, mental health, and physical fitness were assessed before and after 12 weeks of intervention. No significant differences in body composition or cardiometabolic parameters were observed between groups. However, the FPG and OPG showed greater improvements than the CG in terms of muscle mechanical properties, cardiometabolic parameters, mental health, and physical fitness. In addition, the FPG showed greater improvement than the OPG. In conclusion, face-to-face Pilates is a more effective modality than online Pilates, although both modalities improve health-related parameters.
Patient-Safety Culture among Emergency and Critical Care Nurses in a Maternal and Child Department
Authors: Fuseini Abdul-Karim Jebuni , Teixeira da Costa Emília Isabel Martins , Matos Filomena Adelaide Sabino de , Merino-Godoy Maria-de-los-Angeles , Nave Filipe
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The quality of healthcare has multiple dimensions, but the issue of patient safety stands out due to the impact it has on health outcomes, particularly on the achievement of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), expressly SDG3. In the services that we propose to study, the patient-safety culture had never been evaluated. Aim: To evaluate nurses’ perceptions of the patient-safety culture in the Emergency and Critical Care Services of the Maternal and Child Department of a University Hospital and to identify strengths, vulnerabilities, and opportunities for improvement. Methods: This an exploratory, cross-sectional study with a quantitative approach, using the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture as an instrument for data collection. The population were all nurses working in the emergency and critical care services of the maternal and child-health department, constituted, at the time of writing, by 184 nurses, with a response rate of 45.7%. Results: Applying the guidelines from the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ), only teamwork within units had a score greater than 75%. For this reason, it is considered the strength (fortress) in the study. The lowest-rated were non-punitive responses to errors and open communication. Conclusion: The overall average percentage score is below the benchmark of the AHRQ, indicating that issue of patient safety is not considered a high priority, or that the best strategies to make it visible have not yet been found. One of the important implications of this study is the opportunity to carry out a deep reflection, within the organization, that allows the development of a non-punitive work environment that is open to dialogue, and that allows the provision of safe nursing care.