bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geometric and Dosimetric Evaluation of Deep Learning-Based Automatic Delineation on CBCT-Synthesized CT and Planning CT for Breast Cancer Adaptive Radiotherapy: A Multi-Institutional Study
Authors: Dai Zhenhui , Zhang Yiwen , Zhu Lin , Tan Junwen , Yang Geng , Zhang Bailin , Cai Chunya , Jin Huaizhi , Meng Haoyu , Tan Xiang , Jian Wanwei , Yang Wei , Wang Xuetao
Published: November 2021

Purpose

We developed a deep learning model to achieve automatic multitarget delineation on planning CT (pCT) and synthetic CT (sCT) images generated from cone-beam CT (CBCT) images. The geometric and dosimetric impact of the model was evaluated for breast cancer adaptive radiation therapy.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 1,127 patients treated with radiotherapy after breast-conserving surgery from two medical institutions. The CBCT images for patient setup acquired utilizing breath-hold guided by optical surface monitoring system were used to generate sCT with a generative adversarial network. Organs at risk (OARs), clinical target volume (CTV), and tumor bed (TB) were delineated automatically with a 3D U-Net model on pCT and sCT images. The geometric accuracy of the model was evaluated with metrics, including Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) and 95% Hausdorff distance (HD95). Dosimetric evaluation was performed by quick dose recalculation on sCT images relying on gamma analysis and dose-volume histogram (DVH) parameters. The relationship between ΔD95, ΔV95 and DSC-CTV was assessed to quantify the clinical impact of the geometric changes of CTV.

Results

The ranges of DSC and HD95 were 0.73–0.97 and 2.22–9.36 mm for pCT, 0.63–0.95 and 2.30–19.57 mm for sCT from institution A, 0.70–0.97 and 2.10–11.43 mm for pCT from institution B, respectively. The quality of sCT was excellent with an average mean absolute error (MAE) of 71.58 ± 8.78 HU. The mean gamma pass rate (3%/3 mm criterion) was 91.46 ± 4.63%. DSC-CTV down to 0.65 accounted for a variation of more than 6% of V95 and 3 Gy of D95. DSC-CTV up to 0.80 accounted for a variation of less than 4% of V95 and 2 Gy of D95. The mean ΔD90/ΔD95 of CTV and TB were less than 2Gy/4Gy, 4Gy/5Gy for all the patients. The cardiac dose difference in left breast cancer cases was larger than that in right breast cancer cases.

Conclusions

The accurate multitarget delineation is achievable on pCT and sCT via deep learning. The results show that dose distribution needs to be considered to evaluate the clinical impact of geometric variations during breast cancer radiotherapy.
Vitamin K2 Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation by Binding to 17β-Hydroxysteroid Dehydrogenase 4
Authors: Lu Xin , Ma Panpan , Kong Lingyu , Wang Xi , Wang Yaqi , Jiang Lingling
Published: November 2021

Our previous studies have proved that 17β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase 4 (HSD17B4) is a novel proliferation-promoting protein. The overexpression of HSD17B4 promotes hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cell proliferation. Vitamin K2 (VK2), a fat-soluble vitamin, has the function of promoting coagulation and can inhibit the progression of liver cancer. A previous study demonstrated that VK2 could bind to HSD17B4 in HepG2 cells. However, the mechanism of VK2 in inhibiting HCC cell proliferation is not clear. In this study, we investigate whether VK2 can inhibit the proliferation of HCC cell induced by HSD17B4 and the possible mechanism. We detected the effect of VK2 on HSD17B4-induced HCC cell proliferation, and the activation of STAT3, AKT, and MEK/ERK signaling pathways. We measured the effect of HSD17B4 on the growth of transplanted tumor and the inhibitory effect of VK2. Our results indicated that VK2 directly binds to HSD17B4, but does not affect the expression of HSD17B4, to inhibit the proliferation of HCC cells by inhibiting the activation of Akt and MEK/ERK signaling pathways, leading to decreased STAT3 activation. VK2 also inhibited the growth of HSD17B4-induced transplanted tumors. These findings provide a theoretical and experimental basis for possible future prevention and treatment of HCC using VK2.
Development and Validation of a Radiomics Nomogram for Differentiating Pulmonary Cryptococcosis and Lung Adenocarcinoma in Solitary Pulmonary Solid Nodule
Authors: Zhao Jiabi , Sun Lin , Sun Ke , Wang Tingting , Wang Bin , Yang Yang , Wu Chunyan , Sun Xiwen
Published: November 2021

Objective

To establish a CT-based radiomics nomogram model for classifying pulmonary cryptococcosis (PC) and lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) in patients with a solitary pulmonary solid nodule (SPSN) and assess its differentiation ability.

Materials and Methods

A total of 213 patients with PC and 213 cases of LAC (matched based on age and gender) were recruited into this retrospective research with their clinical characteristics and radiological features. High-dimensional radiomics features were acquired from each mask delineated by radiologists manually. We adopted the max-relevance and min-redundancy (mRMR) approach to filter the redundant features and retained the relevant features at first. Then, we used the least absolute shrinkage and operator (LASSO) algorithms as an analysis tool to calculate the coefficients of features and remove the low-weight features. After multivariable logistic regression analysis, a radiomics nomogram model was constructed with clinical characteristics, radiological signs, and radiomics score. We calculated the performance assessment parameters, such as sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, negative predictive value (NPV), and positive predictive value (PPV), in various models. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis and the decision curve analysis (DCA) were drawn to visualize the diagnostic ability and the clinical benefit.

Results

We extracted 1,130 radiomics features from each CT image. The 24 most significant radiomics features in distinguishing PC and LAC were retained, and the radiomics signature was constructed through a three-step feature selection process. Three factors—maximum diameter, lobulation, and pleural retraction—were still statistically significant in multivariate analysis and incorporated into a combined model with radiomics signature to develop the predictive nomogram, which showed excellent classification ability. The area under curve (AUC) yielded 0.91 (sensitivity, 80%; specificity, 83%; accuracy, 82%; NPV, 80%; PPV, 83%) and 0.89 (sensitivity, 81%; specificity, 83%; accuracy, 82%; NPV, 81%; PPV, 82%) in training and test cohorts, respectively. The net reclassification indexes (NRIs) were greater than zero (p < 0.05). The Delong test showed a significant difference (p < 0.0001) between the AUCs from the clinical model and the nomogram.

Conclusions

The radiomics technology can preoperatively differentiate PC and lung adenocarcinoma. The nomogram-integrated CT findings and radiomics feature can provide more clinical benefits in solitary pulmonary solid nodule diagnosis.
Added Value of a New Strain Elastography Technique in Conventional Ultrasound for the Diagnosis of Breast Masses: A Prospective Multicenter Study
Authors: Wei Qi , Yan Yu-Jing , Wu Ge-Ge , Ye Xi-Rong , Jiang Fan , Liu Jie , Wang Gang , Wang Yi , Wang Yu , Pan Zhi-Ping , Hu Jin-Hua , Song Juan , Dietrich Christoph F. , Cui Xin-Wu
Published: November 2021

Objective

This study aimed to explore the value of elasticity score (ES) and strain ratio (SR) combined with conventional ultrasound in distinguishing benign and malignant breast masses and reducing biopsy of BI-RADS (Breast Imaging Reporting and Data System) 4a lesions.

Methods

This prospective, multicenter study included 910 patients from nine different hospitals. The acquisition and analysis of conventional ultrasound and strain elastography (SE) were obtained by radiologists with more than 5 years of experience in breast ultrasound imaging. The diagnostic sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and area under curve (AUC) of conventional ultrasound alone and combined tests with ES and/or SR were calculated and compared.

Results

The optimal cutoff value of SR for differentiating benign from malignant masses was 2.27, with a sensitivity of 60.2% and a specificity of 84.8%. When combined with ES and SR, the AUC of the new BI-RADS classification increased from 0.733 to 0.824 (p < 0.001); the specificity increased from 48.1% to 68.5% (p < 0.001) without a decrease in the sensitivity (98.5% vs. 96.4%, p = 0.065); and the PPV increased from 52.2% to 63.7% (p < 0.001) without a loss in the NPV (98.2% vs. 97.1%, p = 0.327). All three combinations of conventional ultrasound, ES, and SR could reduce the biopsy rate of category 4a lesions without reducing the malignant rate of biopsy (from 100% to 68.3%, 34.9%, and 50.4%, respectively, all p < 0.001).

Conclusions

SE can be used as a useful and non-invasive additional method to improve the diagnostic performance of conventional ultrasound by increasing AUC and specificity and reducing the unnecessary biopsy of BI-RADS 4a lesions.
Salicylic Acid Foliar Application Increases Crop Yield and Quality Parameters of Green Pepper Fruit during Postharvest Storage
Authors: Dobón-Suárez Alicia , Giménez María J. , García-Pastor María E. , Zapata Pedro J.
Published: November 2021

The main aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of salicylic acid (SA) as a preharvest treatment on crop yield throughout the crop cycle of green pepper fruit as well as on its quality parameters, including functional quality, at harvest and during 21 days of storage at 7 °C. Thus, ‘Herminio’ pepper plants were treated with SA at 0.5, 1 and 5 mM, and higher crop yield (kg per plant, number of fruits per plant and average fruit weight) and quality parameters (firmness, green color and total acidity) at harvest were obtained with the 0.5 mM dose, as well as greater phenolic compounds content and total antioxidant activity. These quality traits and functional quality were also maintained at higher levels for this treatment than in controls during postharvest storage, leading to a delay of fruit quality losses. In addition, the decay incidence for 0.5 mM SA-treated pepper fruits reached a ca. value of 2% at the end of the storage, which was lower than untreated fruits (16.6%). These results suggest that preharvest application of SA at low doses tested on pepper plants could be a useful tool to increase crop yield and fruit quality parameters at harvest and maintain them during storage, delaying quality losses and decay incidence.
Anti-Obesity Effects of Combined Cornus officinalis and Ribes fasciculatum Extract in High-Fat Diet-Induced Obese Male Mice
Authors: Park Eunkuk , Lee Chang-Gun , Jeon Hyoju , Jeong Hyesoo , Yeo Subin , Yong Yoonjoong , Jeong Seon-Yong
Published: November 2021

Medicinal plants are widely used as supplements for the treatment of various diseases because of their few side-effects. Here, we examined the anti-obesity effects of a mixture extract of Cornus officinalis and Ribes fasciculatum (CR) in high-fat diet (HFD)-induced obese male mice. Four week old male C57BL/6J mice were fed a normal diet (ND) or 60% high-fat diet (HFD) with different concentrations of CR extracts (75, 150, and 300 mg/kg/day) by oral administration for 12 weeks. CR extract administration prevented HFD-induced weight gain, hepatic steatosis, and adipocyte enlargement through the downregulation of adipogenesis-associated genes in obese male mice. In addition, CR administration improved the impaired glucose metabolism, insulin action, biochemical obesity parameters, and metabolic profiles in HFD-induced male mice. Consequently, the CR extract exhibited beneficial effects on HFD-induced systemic metabolic challenges. Taken together, our findings suggest that CR extract may be a potent therapeutic supplement for the treatment and prevention of obesity.
Prior Forage Type Influences Ruminal Responses to a Wheat Grain Challenge in Lactating Dairy Cows
Authors: Russo Victoria M. , Leury Brian J. , Kennedy Emer , Hannah Murray C. , Auldist Martin J. , Morris Greg L. , Wales William J.
Published: November 2021

To increase the dry matter and metabolisable energy intake of cows, dairy farmers often supplement pasture with concentrates and conserved fodder. Feeding large amounts of highly fermentable concentrates to cows can result in metabolic issues, such as ruminal acidosis, and thus safer but more efficient introduction strategies are desirable. We assessed the role that forages play in ruminal, behavioural and production responses to a wheat grain challenge in dairy cows with no previous wheat adaptation. Multiparous lactating Holstein dairy cows (n = 16) were fed a forage-only diet of either lucerne (Medicago sativa) hay, perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) hay or one of two cultivars of zero-grazing fresh perennial ryegrass herbage (Bealey or Base), for 3 weeks. The forage diet was then supplemented with crushed wheat grain at 8 kg dry matter/cow day−1, with no adaptation period. Wheat comprised between 32 and 43% of total dry matter intake. Cows fed hay maintained a higher mean ruminal fluid pH than those fed herbage, on both the forage-only diet (6.43 vs. 6.17) and the forage plus wheat diet (6.03 vs. 5.58). Following supplementation of wheat, cows fed herbage exhibited minimum ruminal fluid pH levels indicative of acute ruminal acidosis, at 5.15 and 5.06 for cultivars Bealey and Base, respectively. Furthermore, for both herbage cultivars, adding wheat resulted in a ruminal fluid pH under 6 for >20 h/day. The ruminal environment of cows fed lucerne hay remained most stable throughout the grain challenge, spending the least amount of time below pH 6.0 (9.0 h/day). Hay created a ruminal environment that was better able to cope with the accumulation of acid as wheat was digested. A combination of increased ruminating time and a slower rate of fermentation, due to higher neutral detergent fiber and lower metabolisable energy concentrations in the hays, is likely responsible for the higher ruminal fluid pH values. Forage plays a critical role in wheat introduction strategies; aggressive adaptation strategies could be implemented when a hay such as lucerne is used as the base forage.
Chemerin Regulates Epithelial Barrier Function of Mammary Glands in Dairy Cows
Authors: Suzuki Yutaka , Chiba Sachi , Nishihara Koki , Nakajima Keiichi , Hagino Akihiko , Kim Won-Seob , Lee Hong-Gu , Nochi Tomonori , Suzuki Toru , Roh Sang-Gun
Published: November 2021

Epithelial barrier function in the mammary gland acts as a forefront of the defense mechanism against mastitis, which is widespread and a major disorder in dairy production. Chemerin is a chemoattractant protein with potent antimicrobial ability, but its role in the mammary gland remains unelucidated. The aim of this study was to determine the function of chemerin in mammary epithelial tissue of dairy cows in lactation or dry-off periods. Mammary epithelial cells produced chemerin protein, and secreted chemerin was detected in milk samples. Chemerin treatment promoted the proliferation of cultured bovine mammary epithelial cells and protected the integrity of the epithelial cell layer from hydrogen peroxide (H2O2)-induced damage. Meanwhile, chemerin levels were higher in mammary tissue with mastitis. Tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) strongly upregulated the expression of the chemerin-coding gene (RARRES2) in mammary epithelial cells. Therefore, chemerin was suggested to support mammary epithelial cell growth and epithelial barrier function and to be regulated by inflammatory stimuli. Our results may indicate chemerin as a novel therapeutic target for diseases in the bovine mammary gland.
The Improved Method for Determination of Orotic Acid in Milk by Ultra-Fast Liquid Chromatography with Optimized Photodiode Array Detection
Authors: Czauderna Marian , Białek Małgorzata , Molik Edyta , Zaworski Kamil
Published: November 2021

Ultra-fast liquid chromatography (UFLC) with a photodiode array detector (DAD) for simple and rapid determination of orotic acid (OAc) in milk of sheep and cows is described. Milk samples are treated with acetonitrile (1:1, v/v) and then centrifuged at 4 °C. To 1 mL of the obtained supernatant 9 mL of ultrapure water was added. Subsequently, 0.5–6 µL of the resulting solution was injected into the UFLC-DAD system. Separation and quantification of OAc in milk samples was achieved using two Kinetex C18 columns (1.7 µm, 150 mm × 2.1 mm, i.d., 100 Å; Phenomenex) fitted with a pre-column of 4 mm × 2 mm, i.d. (Phenomenex) containing C18 packing material. All separations were performed at a column temperature of 35 °C while the ambient temperature was 21–24 °C. Satisfactory separation of OAc from endogenous species of milk can be achieved using the binary gradient elution program and UV detection at wavelengths 278 nm. Our original procedure resulted in suitable separation and quantification of OAc in milk samples; OAc eluted at 6.44 ± 0.03 min. The total run time of OAc analysis (including re-equilibration) was 27 min. As expected, the OAc peak was absent from the blank when the proposed gradient elution program and UV detection at 278 nm was used. The average recoveries of OAc standards added to milk samples were satisfactory (96.7–105.3%). The low inter-and intra-assay coefficient of variation derived from the measurements of OAc in cow and ovine milk samples (i.e., 0.784%, 1.283% and 0.710%, 1.221%, respectively) and in O-Ac standards (i.e., 0.377% and 0.294%, respectively), as well as high recoveries of OAc added to ovine and cows’ milk (~100%) and the low detection (0.04 ng) and quantification (0.12 ng) limits point to satisfactory accuracy, precision and sensitivity of the reported method. OAc concentrations in ovine milk samples were within the range from 25 to 36 mg/L, while OAc levels in cows’ milk samples was found in the range of 32–36 mg/L. Our original procedure is suitable for routine quantification of OAc in milk of ewes and cows.
Study of Behavioural Traits in Can de Palleiro (Galician Shepherd Dog)
Authors: Muñiz de Miguel Susana , Diéguez Francisco Javier , da Silva-Monteiro Joao Pedro , Ferreiro-Mazón Beatriz Parra , González-Martínez Ángela
Published: November 2021

The Can de Palleiro (CP) is an autochthonous canine breed from Galicia (NW Spain). Interestingly, no previous research has been published about the behaviour of this breed. Thus, the aim of the present study was to obtain a deeper understanding of CP behavioural and temperamental traits and detect any potentially problematic behaviour by using the Canine Behavioural Assessment and Research Questionnaire (C-BARQ) and the Socially Acceptable Behaviour (SAB) test. Behavioural information was obtained from 377 dogs—177 CPs and 200 general population (GP) dogs—using the C-BARQ. Additionally, 32 dogs were enrolled to perform the SAB test (19 CPs and 13 GP dogs) in order to directly evaluate their temperament. Our results indicated that CP dogs had a lower tendency to show aggressiveness towards their owners (0.18 times lower, p = 0.033) and less fear of other dogs (by 0.43 times, p = 0.001), as well as higher trainability levels (2.56 times higher, p < 0.001) when compared to GP dogs. CP dogs also had increased odds of showing chasing behaviour (3.81 times higher, p < 0.001). Conversely, CPs had reduced odds of non-social fear, separation-related problems and excitability (by 0.42, 0.35 and 0.48 times, respectively; p < 0.001, p < 0.001 and p = 0.002). The current research represents a starting point for the study of the behaviour of CPs, which appear to be a working breed, with guarding and, especially, herding characteristics.
A Novel Multi-Objective and Multi-Constraint Route Recommendation Method Based on Crowd Sensing
Authors: Zheng Xiaoyao , Luo Yonglong , Sun Liping , Yu Qingying , Zhang Ji , Chen Siguang
Published: November 2021

Nowadays, people choose to travel in their leisure time more frequently, but fixed predetermined tour routes can barely meet people’s personalized preferences. The needs of tourists are diverse, largely personal, and possibly have multiple constraints. The traditional single-objective route planning algorithm struggles to effectively deal with such problems. In this paper, a novel multi-objective and multi-constraint tour route recommendation method is proposed. Firstly, ArcMap was used to model the actual road network. Then, we created a new interest label matching method and a utility function scoring method based on crowd sensing, and constructed a personalized multi-constraint interest model. We present a variable neighborhood search algorithm and a hybrid particle swarm genetic optimization algorithm for recommending Top-K routes. Finally, we conducted extensive experiments on public datasets. Compared with the ATP route recommendation method based on an improved ant colony algorithm, our proposed method is superior in route score, interest abundance, number of POIs, and running time.
Autonomous Learning Interactive Features for Hyperspectral Remotely Sensed Data
Authors: Dai Ling , Zhang Guangyun , Gong Jinqi , Zhang Rongting
Published: November 2021

In the field of remote sensing, most of the feature indexes are obtained based on expert knowledge or domain analysis. With the rapid development of machine learning and artificial intelligence, this method is time-consuming and lacks flexibility, and the indexes obtained cannot be applied to all areas. In order to not rely on expert knowledge and find the effective feature index with regard to a certain material automatically, this paper proposes a data-driven method to learn interactive features for hyperspectral remotely sensed data based on a sparse multiclass logistic regression model. The key point explicitly expresses the interaction relationship between original features as new features by multiplication or division operation in the logistic regression. Through the strong constraint of the L1 norm, the learned features are sparse. The coefficient value of the corresponding features after sparse represents the basis for judging the importance of the features, and the optimal interactive features among the original features. This expression is inspired by the phenomenon that usually the famous indexes we used in remote sensing, like NDVI, NDWI, are the ratio between different spectral bands, and also in statistical regression, the relationship between features is captured by feature value multiplication. Experiments were conducted on three hyperspectral data sets of Pavia Center, Washington DC Mall, and Pavia University. The results for binary classification show that the method can extract the NDVI and NDWI autonomously, and a new type of metal index is proposed in the Pavia University data set. This framework is more flexible and creative than the traditional method based on laboratory research to obtain the key feature and feature interaction index for hyperspectral remotely sensed data.
A Nondestructive Method of Measuring Zebrafish Adipose Tissue Based on Micro-Computed Tomography (Micro-CT)
Authors: Wang Xin , Wang Guangxin , Xiao Yuan , Zuo Yanxia , Zhou Fang
Published: November 2021

Due to problems such as unbalanced intake of nutrients or excessive intake of energy, cultured fish accumulate fat in places such as the abdominal cavity, liver, and muscle, resulting in fatty liver, reducing the quality of fish meat, and even causing many fish deaths, resulting in losses to aquaculture production. Therefore, research on lipid metabolism in fish is important and has attracted increasing attention. The detection of fish body fat distribution and content is a key to such research. The existing methods for detecting fat distribution and content in fish have limitations, such as cumbersome procedures and damage to fish tissues, and thus, is imperative to develop a simple, fast, nondestructive fat detection technology. Taking zebrafish as the research material, this study established an imaging technology for the rapid and nondestructive detection of the fat distribution and content of fish by micro-computed tomography (micro-CT), optimized the fat CT-scanning method, determined the steps of fat quantitation in the CTAn data processing software, and constructed a three-dimensional (3D) model of zebrafish adipose tissue. This technology reveals the distribution of fish adipose tissue in an all-round way, and thus, it will play an important role in the study of lipid metabolism in fish.
The Period of Ignition Delay for Methane-Air Mixture with Hydrogen and Ethylene Additives
Authors: Gusev Sergey Vladimirovich , Nikoporenko Andrey Viktorovich , Zakharov Vyacheslav Sergeevich , Ezhov Vasily Mikhailovich , Varaksin Alexey Yurievich , Yanovsky Leonid Samoilovich , Arefiev Konstantin Yurievich
Published: November 2021

The article is devoted to estimating the intensifying efficiency of methane-air ignition by adding a small amount of hydrogen and/or ethylene. It presents features of the experimental determination of the ignition delay period for fuel-air mixtures using shock installation and methods of processing empirical data. The testing of the known ignition kinetic models for methane, hydrogen, and ethylene with air was carried out. The results of test calculations were compared with those previously published, as well as original experiments. The kinetic model was chosen to provide the minimum discrepancy between the calculated and experimental data. The regularities of the effect of hydrogen and ethylene additives on the ignition dynamics of the methane-air mixture for the range of initial pressures from 1 to 8 bar at temperatures from 900 to 1100 K were obtained with the use of non-stationary numerical modeling. Methane-air mixtures with the mass fraction of additives not exceeding 10% were studied. The quantitative indicators of possible reduction in the ignition delay period of methane-air mixtures were detected.
Grid-Based Routing Model for Energy Efficient and Secure Data Transmission in WSN for Smart Building Applications
Authors: Sivasankarareddy V. , Sundari G. , Rami Reddy Ch. , Aymen Flah , Bortoni Edson C.
Published: November 2021

Presently, due to the establishment of a sensor network, residual buildings in urban areas are being converted into smart buildings. Many sensors are deployed in various buildings to perform different functions, such as water quality monitoring and temperature monitoring. However, the major concern faced in smart building Wireless Sensor Networks (WSNs) is energy depletion and security threats. Many researchers have attempted to solve these issues by various authors in different applications of WSNs. However, limited research has been conducted on smart buildings. Thus, the present research is focused on designing an energy-efficient and secure routing protocol for smart building WSNs. The process in the proposed framework is carried out in two stages. The first stage is the design of the optimal routing protocol based on the grid-clustering approach. In the grid-based model, a grid organizer was selected based on the sailfish optimization algorithm. Subsequently, a fuzzy expert system is used to select the relay node to reach the shortest path for data transmission. The second stage involves designing a trust model for secure data transmission using the two-fish algorithm. A simulation study of the proposed framework was conducted to evaluate its performance. Some metrics, such as the packet delivery ratio, end-end delay, and average residual energy, were calculated for the proposed model. The average residual energy for the proposed framework was 96%, which demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed routing design.
Optical In-Process Measurement: Concepts for Precise, Fast and Robust Optical Metrology for Complex Measurement Situations
Authors: Bergmann Ralf B. , Kalms Michael , Falldorf Claas
Published: November 2021

Optical metrology is a key element for many areas of modern production. Preferably, measurements should take place within the production line (in-process) and keep pace with production speed, even if the parts have a complex geometry or are difficult to access. The challenge for modern optical in-process measurements is, therefore, how to simultaneously make optical metrology precise, fast, robust and capable of handling geometrical complexity. The potential of individual techniques to achieve these demands can be visualized by the tetrahedron of optical metrology. Depending on the application, techniques based on interferometry or geometrical optics may have to be preferred. The paper emphasizes complexity and robustness as prime areas of improvement. Concerning interferometric techniques, we report on fast acquisition as used in holography, tailoring of coherence properties and use of Multiple simultaneous Viewing direction holography (MultiView), self reference used in Computational Shear Interferometry (CoSI) and the simultaneous use of several light sources in Multiple Aperture Shear Interferometry (MArS) based on CoSI as these techniques have proven to be particularly effective. The use of advanced approaches based on CoSI requires a transition of the description of light from the use of the well-known wave field to the coherence function of light. Techniques based on geometric optics are generally comparatively robust against environmental disturbances, and Fringe Projection (FP) is shown to be especially useful in very demanding measurement conditions.
Alleviation of Osteoarthritis-Induced Pain and Motor Deficits in Rats by a Novel Device for the Intramuscular Insertion of Cog Polydioxanone Filament
Authors: Lee Kilyong , Gang Geung Gyu , Kang Yun Gyu , Jung Sung Sam , Park Hee-Gon , Jang Jun Ho
Published: November 2021

The importance of skeletal muscles in the development of osteoarthritis (OA) is known. However, in OA, strengthening the muscle is arduous process. This study investigated the effects of muscle enhancement and support therapy (MEST), a novel device for the intramuscular insertion of cog polydioxanone filament intended to hold and stimulate surrounding muscles, on OA-induced symptoms. In our results, the MEST attenuated OA-induced pain and mobility limitations, as evidenced by increases in withdrawal thresholds, rearing duration and travelled distance in an open cage, and fall latency from rotarod. It further restored atrophic rectus femoris muscle (RFM) in OA animals by increasing mass, decreasing nucleus density, and increasing the cross-sectional area of muscle fibers. Decreased collagen and insulin-like growth factor 1 levels in OA animals were restored without affecting the interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha levels in RFM. No evidence of structural improvement in the knee was observed via computed tomography after MEST. These results suggest that MEST in the quadriceps is effective for relieving pain and motor impairment in knee OA animals by restoring atrophic muscles, providing a novel therapeutic strategy for OA symptom management.
MPCR-Net: Multiple Partial Point Clouds Registration Network Using a Global Template
Authors: Su Shijie , Wang Chao , Chen Ke , Zhang Jian , Yang Hui
Published: November 2021

With advancements in photoelectric technology and computer image processing technology, the visual measurement method based on point clouds is gradually being applied to the 3D measurement of large workpieces. Point cloud registration is a key step in 3D measurement, and its registration accuracy directly affects the accuracy of 3D measurements. In this study, we designed a novel MPCR-Net for multiple partial point cloud registration networks. First, an ideal point cloud was extracted from the CAD model of the workpiece and used as the global template. Next, a deep neural network was used to search for the corresponding point groups between each partial point cloud and the global template point cloud. Then, the rigid body transformation matrix was learned according to these correspondence point groups to realize the registration of each partial point cloud. Finally, the iterative closest point algorithm was used to optimize the registration results to obtain the final point cloud model of the workpiece. We conducted point cloud registration experiments on untrained models and actual workpieces, and by comparing them with existing point cloud registration methods, we verified that the MPCR-Net could improve the accuracy and robustness of the 3D point cloud registration.
Effect of Aging and Moisture Damage on Fatigue Cracking Properties in Asphalt Mixtures
Authors: Yang Sung Lin , Baek Cheolmin , Park Hee Beom
Published: November 2021

Recently, damage to asphalt pavements in South Korea has increased because of direct and indirect factors caused by abnormal climatic changes, such as torrential rains, prolonged heatwaves in summer, and heavy snowfall in winter. Additionally, the use of medium and heavy vehicles is also a contributing factor. Therefore, an experimental procedure to study the moisture damage and fracture properties of asphalt pavements considering the recent changes in precipitation properties, deterioration of road pavement, and traffic conditions in South Korea was developed in this study. Additionally, changes in material properties according to the indoor aging process and fatigue crack resistance were evaluated for hot mix and warm mix asphalt mixtures of the same grade and different initial production and construction temperatures. To evaluate the effect of aging and moisture damage on fatigue cracking, the experimental coefficient values of the predictive model were calculated for each condition. It was observed that the material properties of hot mix asphalt mixtures changed with an increase in aging and moisture damage. The service life of the pavement was reduced by approximately 40–80% owing to moisture damage, whereas aging had a greater effect on fatigue life as the service life increased.
Application of Artificial Neural Networks to Predict Insulation Properties of Lightweight Concrete
Authors: Kurpińska Marzena , Kułak Leszek , Miruszewski Tadeusz , Byczuk Marcin
Published: November 2021

Predicting the properties of concrete before its design and application process allows for refining and optimizing its composition. However, the properties of lightweight concrete are much harder to predict than those of normal weight concrete, especially if the forecast concerns the insulating properties of concrete with artificial lightweight aggregate (LWA). It is possible to use porous aggregates and precisely modify the composition of lightweight concrete (LWC) with specific insulating properties. In this case, it is advisable to determine the parameters of the components and perform preliminary laboratory tests, and then use theoretical methods (e.g., artificial neural networks (ANNs) to predict not only the mechanical properties of lightweight concrete, but also its thermal insulation properties. Fifteen types of lightweight concrete, differing in light filler, were tested. Lightweight aggregates with different grain diameters and lightweight aggregate grains with different porosity were used. For the tests, expanded glass was applied as a filler with very good thermal insulation properties and granulated sintered fly ash, characterized by a relatively low density and high crushing strength in the group of LWAs. The aim of the work is to demonstrate the usefulness of an ANN for the determination of the relationship between the selection of the type and quantity of LWA and porosity, density, compressive strength, and thermal conductivity (TC) of the LWC.
Grey Estimator-Based Tracking Controller Applied to Swarm Robot Formation
Authors: Chen Yu-Ting , Chiu Chian-Song , Lee Ya-Ting
Published: November 2021

Mobile robots are widely used in many applications, while various types of mobile robots and their control researches have been proposed in literature. Since swarm robots have higher flexibility and capacity for teamwork, this paper presents a grey estimator-based tracking controller for formation trajectory tracking of swarm robots. First, wheel-type mobile robots are used and modeled for the controller design. Then, a grey dynamic estimator is developed to estimate the environmental disturbance and model uncertainty for linear feedback compensation. As a result, the asymptotic trajectory tracking is assured, so that the application on the swarm robot formation is achieved for a multi-agent system. The computational complexity is slightly reduced by the design. Finally, in order to verify the reliability of swarm robot formation, several types of formation are maintained by the grey estimator-based feedback linearization controller.
Bovine Follicular Fluid Derived Extracellular Vesicles Modulate the Viability, Capacitation and Acrosome Reaction of Bull Spermatozoa
Authors: Hasan Mohammad Mehedi , Reshi Qurat Ul Ain , Lättekivi Freddy , Viil Janeli , Godakumara Kasun , Dissanayake Keerthie , Andronowska Aneta , Jaakma Ülle , Fazeli Alireza
Published: November 2021

While follicular fluid (FF) is known to enhance the functional properties of spermatozoa, the role of FF-derived extracellular vesicles (EVs) in this respect is unknown. We hypothesized that bovine FF EVs convey signals to spermatozoa supporting sperm viability, inducing sperm capacitation and acrosome reaction. In this study, the effects of bovine FF EVs on sperm functions are evaluated. Irrespective of the size of the follicles which FF EVs had originated from, they were capable of supporting sperm viability, inducing capacitation and acrosome reaction. These effects were specific to the source of bovine FF EVs, as human-cell-line-derived or porcine FF EVs did not affect spermatozoa viability or induced capacitation and acrosome reaction. A minimum of 5 × 105 EVs/mL was adequate to maintain sperm viability and induce capacitation and acrosome reaction in spermatozoa. Interestingly, with FF EV trypsin treatment, FF EVs lost their ability to support sperm functions. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that bovine FF EVs can support spermatozoa function and may contribute to a favorable periconceptional microenvironment. This is an important aspect of the interactions between different sexes at the earliest stages of reproduction and helps to understand molecular mechanisms modulating processes such as sperm competition and female cryptic choice.
Moderate Beer Intake Downregulates Inflammasome Pathway Gene Expression in Human Macrophages
Authors: Muñoz-Garcia Natàlia , Escate Rafael , Badimon Lina , Padro Teresa
Published: November 2021

Inflammasomes are key components of the innate immunity system that trigger the inflammatory response. Inappropriate activity of the inflammasome system has been linked to onset and perpetuation of inflammation in atherosclerotic plaques and cardiovascular disease. Low-to-moderate beer consumption is inversely associated with cardiovascular event presentation, while high levels of alcohol intake are associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Although fermented beverages have been suggested to exert their beneficial effects through their anti-oxidant and anti-inflammatory properties, little is known regarding the capacity of beer to modulate innate immunity cell responses. To this aim, primed or activated THP-1 macrophages were conditioned with human serum obtained from a prospective two-arms longitudinal crossover study to investigate the effect of a moderate and regular daily intake of beer, either alcohol-free or traditional, in the regulation of TLR-mediated inflammatory responses in healthy but overweight individuals. Conditioned macrophages with serum obtained after four-week intervention with alcohol-free beer significantly reduced the transcription of pro-inflammatory interleukins such as IL-1β and TNF. The serum of traditional beer consumers did not exhibit the same capacity as the serum of alcohol-free beer consumers to reduce gene expression of pro-inflammatory interleukins; however, serum from traditional beer consumers showed a regulatory effect at the protein level by significantly decreasing the intracellular protein levels of pro-IL-1β in primed macrophages and preventing cleaved-IL-1β protein release.
Assessment of Color Discrimination of Different Light Sources
Authors: Bustamante Pedro , Acosta Ignacio , León Jesús , Campano Miguel Angel
Published: November 2021

Light quality is a key parameter of building design, which is mainly defined by the perceived luminance and the color rendering. Nowadays, there is a wide variety of metrics that do not converge in the color rendition evaluation of current light sources. The obsolescence of the Color Rendering Index promoted the rise of new procedures to provide an accurate evaluation. However, the score provided by most of these metrics does not distinguish between color deviation and hue discrimination, giving a single value to assess the overall color perception allowed by a light source. In this context, a new study is proposed, based on the evaluation of seven different light sources, comparing the results of the most recent color rendering metrics and those observed using a Farnsworth–Munsell trial carried out with 115 participants. The results obtained show that there is a notable divergence between color rendition and hue discrimination, although there is a clear proportionality between both. Moreover, a clear relationship is observed between color discrimination and the correlative color temperature of light sources, providing a better hue distinction with cool light sources, even though the psychological preferences of the participants do not coincide with the optimal scenario for color discrimination.
A Thermal Study on Peat Oxidation Behavior in the Presence of an Iron-Based Catalyst
Authors: Khelkhal Mohammed A. , Lapuk Semen E. , Ignashev Nikita E. , Eskin Alexey A. , Glyavin Mikhail Yu. , Peskov Nikolay Yu. , Krapivnitskaia Tatiana O. , Vakhin Alexey V.
Published: November 2021

Peat is a resource used for heat and energy, particularly in countries where peat is abundant and conventional fuels are not available. Some countries have made extensive use of peat resources to produce electricity and heat in addition to light hydrocarbons. By doing so, they were able to reduce the cost of importing fossil fuels. To the best of our knowledge, there is a lack of a detailed description of the peat oxidation process in the presence of other substances. Herein, the process of peat oxidation was studied in-depth by means of thermal analysis in the presence of iron tallate acting as a catalytic agent. Differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated an oil-like oxidation behavior during the combustion of the used peat. The process of peat oxidation includes two main regions: low-temperature oxidation (LTO), which occurs during the oxidation of light hydrocarbons, followed by the so-called high-temperature oxidation (HTO), which includes the oxidation of the obtained coke-like product. Moreover, the application of non-isothermal kinetics experiments based on the isoconversional and model approach principle have confirmed the role of 2% iron tallate in peat mass by improving the oxidation rate at low- and high-temperature oxidation (HTO) regions. The results obtained from this study have proven that the added catalyst improves efficiency with regards to the energy activation in the process by leading to its significant decrease from 110.8 ± 7.8 kJ/mol to 81.8 ± 7.5 kJ/mol for LTO and from 157.8 ± 19.1 kJ/mol to 137.6 ± 9.3 kJ/mol for HTO. These findings clearly confirm the improvement in the rate of the process by shifting the LTO and HTO peaks to lower regions in the presence of the catalyst. These results further emphasize the possible impact which could be generated by the application of thermally enhanced oil recovery methods on peat development and exploitation.
GLUT1, GLUT3 Expression and 18FDG-PET/CT in Human Malignant Melanoma: What Relationship Exists? New Insights and Perspectives
Authors: Cazzato Gerardo , Colagrande Anna , Cimmino Antonietta , Abbatepaolo Caterina , Bellitti Emilio , Romita Paolo , Lospalluti Lucia , Foti Caterina , Arezzo Francesca , Loizzi Vera , Lettini Teresa , Sablone Sara , Resta Leonardo , Cormio Gennaro , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Rossi Roberta
Published: November 2021

Background: Malignant melanoma is the most aggressive of skin cancers and the 19th most common cancer worldwide, with an estimated age-standardized incidence rate of 2.8–3.1 per 100,000; although there have been clear advances in therapeutic treatment, the prognosis of MM patients with Breslow thickness greater than 1 mm is still quite poor today. The study of how melanoma cells manage to survive and proliferate by consuming glucose has been partially addressed in the literature, but some rather interesting results are starting to be present. Methods: A systematic review was conducted following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and a search of PubMed and Web of Sciences (WoS) databases was performed until 27 September 2021 using the terms: glucose transporter 1 and 3 and GLUT1/3 in combination with each of the following: melanoma, neoplasm and immunohistochemistry. Results: In total, 46 records were initially identified in the literature search, of which six were duplicates. After screening for eligibility and inclusion criteria, 16 publications were ultimately included. Conclusions: the results discussed regarding the role and expression of GLUT are still far from definitive, but further steps toward understanding and stopping this mechanism have, at least in part, been taken. New studies and new discoveries should lead to further clarification of some aspects since the various mechanisms of glucose uptake by neoplastic cells are not limited to the transporters of the GLUT family alone.
Treatment for Viral Hepatitis as Secondary Prevention for Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Alqahtani Saleh A. , Colombo Massimo
Published: November 2021

Chronic infections with either hepatitis B or C virus (HBV or HCV) are among the most common risk factors for developing hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). The hepatocarcinogenic potential of these viruses is mediated through a wide range of mechanisms, including the induction of chronic inflammation and oxidative stress and the deregulation of cellular pathways by viral proteins. Over the last decade, effective anti-viral agents have made sustained viral suppression or cure a feasible treatment objective for most chronic HBV/HCV patients. Given the tumorigenic potential of HBV/HCV, it is no surprise that obtaining sustained viral suppression or eradication proves to be effective in preventing HCC. This review summarizes the mechanisms by which HCV and HBV exert their hepatocarcinogenic activity and describes in detail the efficacy of anti-HBV and anti-HCV therapies in terms of HCC prevention. Although these treatments significantly reduce the risk for HCC in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, this risk is not eliminated. Therefore, we evaluate potential strategies to improve these outcomes further and address some of the remaining controversies.
Quantifying Remission Probability in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Kalra Sanjay , Bantwal Ganapathi , Kapoor Nitin , Sahay Rakesh , Bhattacharya Saptarshi , Anne Beatrice , Gopal Raju A , Kota Sunil , Kumar Ashok , Joshi Ameya , Sanyal Debmalya , Tiwaskar Mangesh , Das Ashok Kumar
Published: November 2021

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is a chronic progressive disorder and is associated with significant morbidity and mortality. The concept of T2DM remission and the reversal of diabetic parameters to normal levels has been gaining momentum over the past years. T2DM remission is increasingly being recognized by various global guidelines. Multiple models have been developed and validated for quantifying the extent of remission achieved. Based on favorable clinical evidence, T2DM remission can be considered as the therapeutic goal in diabetes management and, in select cases, as an alternative to expensive treatment options, which can be burdensome as T2DM progresses. This narrative review discusses the available strategies, such as lifestyle interventions, physical activity, bariatric surgery, medical nutrition therapy, and non-insulin glucose-lowering medications, for achieving T2DM remission. Although the concept of T2DM remission has emerged as a real-world option, effective implementation in routine clinical practice may not be feasible until long-term studies prove the efficacy of different approaches in this regard.