bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Motor-cognitive coupling is impaired in children with mild or severe forms of developmental coordination disorder
Authors: Abdollahipour Reza , Valtr Ludvík , Banátová Kamila , Bizovská Lucia , Klein Tomáš , Svoboda Zdeněk , Steenbergen Bert , Wilson Peter Henry
Published: October 2023

Children with developmental coordination disorder (DCD) show deficits in motor-cognitive coupling. However, it remains unclear whether such deficits depend on the severity of DCD. The aim of this study was to examine cognitive-motor coupling under different levels of inhibitory control in children with severe (s-DCD) or moderate DCD (m-DCD), compared with typically-developing children (TDC). The performance of 29 primary-school children aged 6–12 years with s-DCD (Mage = 9.12 ± 1.56 years), 53 m-DCD (Mage = 8.78 ± 1.67 years), and 201 TDC (Mage = 9.20 ± 1.50 years) was compared on a double jump reaching task (DJRT) paradigm, presented on a large 42-inch touchscreen. The task display had a circular home-base, centred at the bottom of the display, and three target locations at radials of −20°, 0°, and 20°, 40 cm above the home-base circle. For the standard double-jump reaching task (DJRT), children moved their index finger from home-base circle to touch the target stimulus as fast as possible; 20% were jump trials where the target shifted left or right at lift-off. For the anti-jump reaching task (AJRT), 20% of trials required an anti-jump movement, touching the contralateral target location. While no group differences were shown on the DJRT, the DCD group were slower to complete reaching movements than the TDC group on AJRT; on the latter, the two DCD sub-groups were not shown to differ. Results confirm the presence of motor inhibition deficits in DCD which may not be dependent on the motor severity of the disorder.
Analysis of damage-associated molecular patterns in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis based on ScRNA-seq and bulk RNA-seq data
Authors: Shi Yue , Zhu Ruixia
Published: October 2023

Background

Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of motor neurons. Despite extensive research, the exact etiology of ALS remains elusive. Emerging evidence highlights the critical role of the immune system in ALS pathogenesis and progression. Damage-Associated Molecular Patterns (DAMPs) are endogenous molecules released by stressed or damaged cells, acting as danger signals and activating immune responses. However, their specific involvement in ALS remains unclear.

Methods

We obtained single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) data of ALS from the primary motor cortex in the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database. To better understand genes associated with DAMPs, we performed analyses on cell–cell communication and trajectory. The abundance of immune-infiltrating cells was assessed using the single-sample Gene Set Enrichment Analysis (ssGSEA) method. We performed univariate Cox analysis to construct the risk model and utilized the least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) analysis. Finally, we identified potential small molecule drugs targeting ALS by screening the Connectivity Map database (CMap) and confirmed their potential through molecular docking analysis.

Results

Our study annotated 10 cell types, with the expression of genes related to DAMPs predominantly observed in microglia. Analysis of intercellular communication revealed 12 ligand-receptor pairs in the pathways associated with DAMPs, where microglial cells acted as ligands. Among these pairs, the SPP1-CD44 pair demonstrated the greatest contribution. Furthermore, trajectory analysis demonstrated distinct differentiation fates of different microglial states. Additionally, we constructed a risk model incorporating four genes (TRPM2, ROCK1, HSP90AA1, and HSPA4). The validity of the risk model was supported by multivariate analysis. Moreover, external validation from dataset GSE112681 confirmed the predictive power of the model, which yielded consistent results with datasets GSE112676 and GSE112680. Lastly, the molecular docking analysis suggested that five compounds, namely mead-acid, nifedipine, nifekalant, androstenol, and hydrastine, hold promise as potential candidates for the treatment of ALS.

Conclusion

Taken together, our study demonstrated that DAMP entities were predominantly observed in microglial cells within the context of ALS. The utilization of a prognostic risk model can accurately predict ALS patient survival. Additionally, genes related to DAMPs may present viable drug targets for ALS therapy.
Abnormal phase entrainment of low- and high-gamma-band auditory steady-state responses in schizophrenia
Authors: Nakanishi Shoichiro , Tamura Shunsuke , Hirano Shogo , Takahashi Junichi , Kitajima Kazutoshi , Takai Yoshifumi , Mitsudo Takako , Togao Osamu , Nakao Tomohiro , Onitsuka Toshiaki , Hirano Yoji
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Gamma-band oscillatory deficits have attracted considerable attention as promising biomarkers of schizophrenia (SZ). Notably, a reduced auditory steady-state response (ASSR) in the low gamma band (40 Hz) is widely recognized as a robust finding among SZ patients. However, a comprehensive investigation into the potential utility of the high-gamma-band ASSR in detecting altered neural oscillations in SZ has not yet been conducted.

Methods

The present study aimed to assess the ASSR using magnetoencephalography (MEG) data obtained during steady-state stimuli at frequencies of 20, 30, 40, and 80 Hz from 23 SZ patients and 21 healthy controls (HCs). To evaluate the ASSR, we examined the evoked power and phase-locking factor (PLF) in the time-frequency domain for both the primary and secondary auditory cortices. Furthermore, we calculated the phase-locking angle (PLA) to examine oscillatory phase lead or delay in SZ patients. Taking advantage of the high spatial resolution of MEG, we also focused on the hemispheric laterality of low- and high-gamma-band ASSR deficits in SZ.

Results

We found abnormal phase delay in the 40 Hz ASSR within the bilateral auditory cortex of SZ patients. Regarding the 80 Hz ASSR, our investigation identified an aberrant phase lead in the left secondary auditory cortex in SZ, accompanied by reduced evoked power in both auditory cortices.

Discussion

Given that abnormal phase lead on 80 Hz ASSR exhibited the highest discriminative power between HC and SZ, we propose that the examination of PLA in the 80 Hz ASSR holds significant promise as a robust candidate for identifying neurophysiological endophenotypes associated with SZ. Furthermore, the left-hemisphere phase lead observed in the deficits of 80 Hz PLA aligns with numerous prior studies, which have consistently proposed that SZ is characterized by left-lateralized brain dysfunctions.
ITC study on the interaction of some bile salts with tragacanth, Arabic, and guar gums with potential cholesterol-lowering ability
Authors: Massa Michele , Compari Carlotta , Fisicaro Emilia
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The urge of designing new safe and natural functional foods to control blood lipids and dispensable without the need of physician supervision, has increased especially after the coming into effect of the recent EU Commission regulation 2022/860, that regulates the consumption of “red yeast rice,” made by fermentation of rice with Monascus purpureus, and perceived as a natural functional food, due to a health risk for frail consumers. The results of the present work are a part of the systematic study we are carrying out of the binding ability of some soluble dietary fibers (SDF) from different natural sources toward selected bile salts (BS).

Methods

Measurements were carried out by isothermal titration calorimetry (ITC) with the idea to shed light on the mechanism, if any, by which they show cholesterol-lowering activity.

Results and discussion

Epidemiological studies are sometimes conflicting and offer only hypothesis about the mechanism of action, the most accredited being the reduction of reabsorption of BS in the gut. Previous measurements done on negatively charged pectin and alginate, showed specific binding interaction with monomer NaDC for pectin and no interaction at all for alginate. Chitosan, positively charged and soluble only at low pH, in 100 mM acetate buffer at pH = 3 shows strong exothermic interactions with NaTC and NaTDC. Here we considered two plant exudates (Arabic gum and tragacanth gum) and guar gum, extracted from guar beans, and their interaction with the same bile salts. ITC measurements do not evidence specific interactions between gums and the studied BS, so that their cholesterol lowering ability, if any, is due to a different mechanism very probably bound to the viscosity increase. Moreover, the addition of NaC, the most abundant BS in the bile, at very low concentration (under the cmc) causes a structural change of the solution. The obtained results seem to corroborate the hypothesis that the cholesterol lowering activity is related to the increase in viscosity of guar solution favored by NaC, the major component of the bile.
Current and future therapies to treat impaired awareness of hypoglycemia
Authors: Macon Erica L. , Devore Micah H. , Lin Yu Kuei , Music Megan B. , Wooten Mason , McMullen Colleen A. , Woodcox Andrea M. , Marksbury Ashlee R. , Beckner Zachary , Patel Bansi V. , Schoeder Lily A. , Iles Ashley N. , Fisher Simon J.
Published: October 2023

In order to achieve optimal glycemic control, intensive insulin regimes are needed for individuals with Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) and insulin-dependent Type 2 Diabetes (T2D). Unfortunately, intensive glycemic control often results in insulin-induced hypoglycemia. Moreover, recurrent episodes of hypoglycemia result in both the loss of the characteristic warning symptoms associated with hypoglycemia and an attenuated counterregulatory hormone responses. The blunting of warning symptoms is known as impaired awareness of hypoglycemia (IAH). Together, IAH and the loss of the hormonal response is termed hypoglycemia associated autonomic failure (HAAF). IAH is prevalent in up to 25% in people with T1D and up to 10% in people with T2D. IAH and HAAF increase the risk of severe hypoglycemia 6-fold and 25-fold, respectively. To reduce this risk for severe hypoglycemia, multiple different therapeutic approaches are being explored that could improve awareness of hypoglycemia. Current therapies to improve awareness of hypoglycemia include patient education and psychoeducation, the use of novel glycemic control technology, pancreas/islet transplantation, and drug therapy. This review examines both existing therapies and potential therapies that are in pre-clinical testing. Novel treatments that improve awareness of hypoglycemia, via improving the counterregulatory hormone responses or improving hypoglycemic symptom recognition, would also shed light on the possible neurological mechanisms that lead to the development of IAH. To reduce the risk of severe hypoglycemia in people with diabetes, elucidating the mechanism behind IAH, as well as developing targeted therapies is currently an unmet need for those that suffer from IAH.
Analysis of the COVID-19 vaccine willingness and hesitancy among parents of healthy children aged 6 months–4 years: a cross-sectional survey in Italy
Authors: Postiglione Mario , Miraglia del Giudice Grazia , Della Polla Giorgia , Angelillo Italo Francesco
Published: October 2023

Introduction

In Italy, since December 2022, the COVID-19 vaccination has been extended to children aged 6 months–4 years with conditions of fragility and to those healthy at the request of the parent. The purposes of the cross-sectional survey were to determine the willingness and hesitancy of the parents/guardians to have their healthy children vaccinated against COVID-19.

Methods

The survey was performed among 389 parents/guardians with a child aged 6 months–4 years randomly selected from seven kindergartens and eight nursery schools in the geographic area of Naples, Italy.

Results

Only 10.5% were very concerned about the risk of infection, and the mean values regarding the perceived utility and safety of the COVID-19 vaccine were 3.3 and 3.2, respectively. Only 13.7% of participants were willing to consent to vaccinate the selected child against COVID-19, while 20.1% were uncertain and 66.2% did not intend. Parents/guardians of older children, those who received information about the COVID-19 vaccine from physicians or pediatricians, those who believed that the COVID-19 vaccine was useful, and those with lower hesitancy regarding the COVID-19 vaccine were more willing to vaccinate their child. The mean Parent Attitudes About Childhood Vaccines (PACV-5) score was 5.6, with 33.1% of respondents who were identified as highly hesitant toward COVID-19 vaccination (score ≥ 7). Parents/guardians with a lower perceived safety of the COVID-19 vaccine were more likely to be highly hesitant.

Discussion

The findings reveal the need to improve community-based education campaigns and effective promotion of the COVID-19 vaccination to increase willingness and address parental safety concerns.
Implementation of California COVIDNet – a multi-sector collaboration for statewide SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance
Authors: Wadford Debra A. , Baumrind Nikki , Baylis Elizabeth F. , Bell John M. , Bouchard Ellen L. , Crumpler Megan , Foote Eric M. , Gilliam Sabrina , Glaser Carol A. , Hacker Jill K. , Ledin Katya , Messenger Sharon L. , Morales Christina , Smith Emily A. , Sevinsky Joel R. , Corbett-Detig Russell B. , DeRisi Joseph , Jacobson Kathleen ,   the COVIDNet Consortium
Published: October 2023

Introduction

The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic represented a formidable scientific and technological challenge to public health due to its rapid spread and evolution. To meet these challenges and to characterize the virus over time, the State of California established the California SARS-CoV-2 Whole Genome Sequencing (WGS) Initiative, or “California COVIDNet”. This initiative constituted an unprecedented multi-sector collaborative effort to achieve large-scale genomic surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 across California to monitor the spread of variants within the state, to detect new and emerging variants, and to characterize outbreaks in congregate, workplace, and other settings.

Methods

California COVIDNet consists of 50 laboratory partners that include public health laboratories, private clinical diagnostic laboratories, and academic sequencing facilities as well as expert advisors, scientists, consultants, and contractors. Data management, sample sourcing and processing, and computational infrastructure were major challenges that had to be resolved in the midst of the pandemic chaos in order to conduct SARS-CoV-2 genomic surveillance. Data management, storage, and analytics needs were addressed with both conventional database applications and newer cloud-based data solutions, which also fulfilled computational requirements.

Results

Representative and randomly selected samples were sourced from state-sponsored community testing sites. Since March of 2021, California COVIDNet partners have contributed more than 450,000 SARS-CoV-2 genomes sequenced from remnant samples from both molecular and antigen tests. Combined with genomes from CDC-contracted WGS labs, there are currently nearly 800,000 genomes from all 61 local health jurisdictions (LHJs) in California in the COVIDNet sequence database. More than 5% of all reported positive tests in the state have been sequenced, with similar rates of sequencing across 5 major geographic regions in the state.

Discussion

Implementation of California COVIDNet revealed challenges and limitations in the public health system. These were overcome by engaging in novel partnerships that established a successful genomic surveillance program which provided valuable data to inform the COVID-19 public health response in California. Significantly, California COVIDNet has provided a foundational data framework and computational infrastructure needed to respond to future public health crises.
Reporting reimbursement price decisions for onco-hematology drugs in Spain
Authors: Elvira David , Torres Ferran , Vives Roser , Puig Gemma , Obach Mercè , Gay Daniel , Varón Daniel , de Pando Thais , Tabernero Josep , Pontes Caridad
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Even using well-established technology assessment processes, the basis of the decisions on drug price and reimbursement are sometimes perceived as poorly informed and sometimes may be seen as disconnected from value. The literature remains inconclusive about how Health Technology Assessment Bodies (HTAb) should report the determinants of their decisions. This study evaluates the relationship between oncology and hematology drug list prices and structured value parameters at the time of reimbursement decision in Spain.

Methods

The study includes all new onco-hematological products (22), with a first indication authorized between January 2017 and December 2019 in Spain and pricing decisions published up until October 2022. For each product, 56 contextual and non-contextual indicators reflecting the structured multiple criteria decision analysis (MCDA) – Evidence-based Decision-Making (EVIDEM) framework were measured. The relationship between prices and the MCDA-EVIDEM framework was explored using univariate statistical analyses.

Results

Higher prices were observed when the standard of care included for combinations, if there were references to long-lasting responses, for fixed-duration treatment compared to treatment until progression and treatment with lower frequencies of administration; lower prices were observed for oral administration compared to other routes of administration. Statistically significant associations were observed between prices and the median duration of treatment, the impact on patient autonomy, the ease of use of the drug, and the recommendations of experts.

Discussion

The study suggests that indicators related to the type of standard of care, references to long-lasting responders, the convenience of the use of the drug, and the impact of treatment on patient autonomy, as well as contextual indicators such as the existence of previous clinical consensus, are factors in setting oncology drug prices in Spain. The implementation of MCDA-EVIDEM methodologies may be useful to capture the influence on pricing decisions of additional factors not included in legislation or consolidated assessment frameworks such as the European Network for Health Technology Assessment (EunetHTA) core model. It may be opportune to consider this in the upcoming revision of the Spanish regulation for health technology assessments and pricing and reimbursement procedures.
A Novel Algorithm for Directional Scattering in Acoustic Ray Tracers
Authors: Autio Hanna , Nilsson Erling
Published: October 2023

It is vital to consider acoustic scattering when using geometrical acoustic simulation techniques, such as ray tracing. However, there are few methods for modelling scattering, and most rely on strong assumptions of uniformity on the distribution of scattered energy. In this paper, a model for directional scattering in ray tracers is presented. The model is based on an idealized model of a 1D scatterer, which is then used to extend the most commonly used scattering algorithm in ray tracers today. The developed algorithm is implemented in a ray tracer and tested to evaluate its performance compared to existing methods. It is found that the directional scattering algorithm can be used to replicate measured effects on room acoustic parameters caused by changes in the orientation of 1D scatterers.
On the Influence of Scattered Errors over Full-Field Receptances in the Rayleigh Integral Approximation of Sound Radiation from a Vibrating Plate
Authors: Zanarini Alessandro
Published: October 2023

Spatially dense operative deflection shapes and receptances, acquired in broad frequency bands, increase the detail in the spatial and frequency domains of the responses of parts in actual dynamic loading, manufacturing and mounting conditions. This work remarks the potential benefits of greater spatial resolution in the Rayleigh integral approximation of sound pressure—here reformulated to exploit the increased quality output from experiment-based optical full-field technologies in contactless structural dynamics—radiated by a vibrating surface in a broad frequency band. But in some cases the noise that is scattered over the estimated receptance maps might be heavier, or with different patterns, than expected, with potential repercussions on the sound pressure simulations that come thereof. This work covers this specific latter issue with insight over examples from experiment-based receptances of a lightweight vibrating plate. The effects of error spreading are analysed in the space and frequency domains, with special attention to the contribution of the experiment-based full-field receptance maps to the accuracy of the vibro-acoustic frequency response function maps.
A Case Study of Farmers’ Behavioral Motivation Mechanisms to Crack the Fractal Multidimensional Relative Poverty Trap in Shaanxi, China
Authors: Zhang Yao , Huai Jianjun
Published: October 2023

China’s approach to addressing rural poverty has evolved from a thorough resolution of absolute poverty to a focus on providing essential support for vulnerable individuals and improving the income and welfare conditions of those who are relatively poor, taking into account multiple dimensions. This study utilizes a dataset consisting of 526 research sets collected from the central region of Shaanxi Province. The research employs structural equation modeling to examine the fractal multidimensional relative poverty trap experienced by farm households. Additionally, the study investigates the behavior motivation mechanism that can potentially alleviate the multidimensional relative poverty trap at the farm household level. The study found that (1) farm households in the central Shaanxi region are caught in a multidimensional relative poverty trap, with education poverty and health poverty having a conduction and amplification effect; health poverty and education poverty amplify employment poverty; and consumption poverty amplifies education poverty and health poverty, and education poverty further amplifies information poverty. (2) Multidimensional relative poverty in farming households creates a self-reinforcing poverty trap, and community relative poverty amplifies the multidimensional poverty trap in farming households. (3) Farmers can overcome the multidimensional relative poverty trap through the behavior motivation mechanism.
Cost Analysis of Using UAV Sprayers for Olive Fruit Fly Control
Authors: Cavalaris Chris , Tagarakis Aristotelis C. , Kateris Dimitrios , Bochtis Dionysis
Published: October 2023

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) are a novel up-and-coming technology with wide applicability and great potential to be used in agricultural systems for spraying applications. However, the cost-effectiveness of this application is still rather uncertain. The present study utilized actual data from field applications to analyze the critical components and parameters in the potential case of using UAV sprayers for the control of olive fruit flies in order to assess the operational costs. The results are compared with the costs of two traditional spraying methods: manual spaying by workers using backpack sprayers and manual spraying assisted by a tractor. The case of the olive fruit fly was selected because it involves costly, time consuming, and laborious manual spraying. Furthermore, the bait character of spraying in these applications does not require full canopy coverage, making it ideal for UAV applications. A parameterized computational model was developed to assess the costs of labor, capital spending, repair and maintenance, energy, licensees, fees and taxes, and storage for each of the three methods. In addition, the cost for surveillance was also accounted for with the UAV method. Consequently, a sensitivity analysis was performed to examine the impact of the most crucial parameters. The results showed that the cost of spraying with a UAV was 1.45 to 2 times higher than the traditional methods, mainly due to the high capital spending resulting from a low economic life. There are opportunities, however, of improving the economic performance, making it compatible to the traditional methods, by using a smaller UAV with longer lasting batteries and by expanding its annual use beyond the needs of olive fruit fly control.
Improved YOLOv7-Tiny Complex Environment Citrus Detection Based on Lightweighting
Authors: Gu Bo , Wen Changji , Liu Xuanzhi , Hou Yingjian , Hu Yuanhui , Su Hengqiang
Published: October 2023

In complex citrus orchard environments, light changes, branch shading, and fruit overlapping impact citrus detection accuracy. This paper proposes the citrus detection model YOLO-DCA in complex environments based on the YOLOv7-tiny model. We used depth-separable convolution (DWConv) to replace the ordinary convolution in ELAN, which reduces the number of parameters of the model; we embedded coordinate attention (CA) into the convolution to make it a coordinate attention convolution (CAConv) to replace the ordinary convolution of the neck network convolution; and we used a dynamic detection head to replace the original detection head. We trained and evaluated the test model using a homemade citrus dataset. The model size is 4.5 MB, the number of parameters is 2.1 M, mAP is 96.98%, and the detection time of a single image is 5.9 ms, which is higher than in similar models. In the application test, it has a better detection effect on citrus in occlusion, light transformation, and motion change scenes. The model has the advantages of high detection accuracy, small model space occupation, easy application deployment, and strong robustness, which can help citrus-picking robots and improve their intelligence level.
Atypical Asparagine Deamidation of NW Motif Significantly Attenuates the Biological Activities of an Antibody Drug Conjugate
Authors: Cao Mingyan , Hussmann G. Patrick , Tao Yeqing , O’Connor Ellen , Parthemore Conner , Zhang-Hulsey Diana , Liu Dengfeng , Jiao Yang , Mel Niluka de , Prophet Meagan , Korman Samuel , Sonawane Jaytee , Grigoriadou Christina , Huang Yue , Umlauf Scott , Chen Xiaoyu
Published: October 2023

Asparagine deamidation is a post-translational modification (PTM) that converts asparagine residues into iso-aspartate and/or aspartate. Non-enzymatic asparagine deamidation is observed frequently during the manufacturing, processing, and/or storage of biotherapeutic proteins. Depending on the site of deamidation, this PTM can significantly impact the therapeutic’s potency, stability, and/or immunogenicity. Thus, deamidation is routinely monitored as a potential critical quality attribute. The initial evaluation of an asparagine’s potential to deamidate begins with identifying sequence liabilities, in which the n + 1 amino acid is of particular interest. NW is one motif that occurs frequently within the complementarity-determining region (CDR) of therapeutic antibodies, but according to the published literature, has a very low risk of deamidating. Here we report an unusual case of this NW motif readily deamidating within the CDR of an antibody drug conjugate (ADC), which greatly impacts the ADC’s biological activities. Furthermore, this NW motif solely deamidates into iso-aspartate, rather than the typical mixture of iso-aspartate and aspartate. Interestingly, biological activities are more severely impacted by the conversion of asparagine into iso-aspartate via deamidation than by conversion into aspartate via mutagenesis. Here, we detail the discovery of this unusual NW deamidation occurrence, characterize its impact on biological activities, and utilize structural data and modeling to explain why conversion to iso-aspartate is favored and impacts biological activities more severely.
Novel Iron Chelators, Super-Polyphenols, Show Antimicrobial Effects against Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans
Authors: Shinoda-Ito Yuki , Omori Kazuhiro , Ito Takashi , Nakayama Masaaki , Ikeda Atsushi , Ito Masahiro , Ohara Toshiaki , Takashiba Shogo
Published: October 2023

Dental caries are an oral infectious disease that can affect human health both orally and systemically. It remains an urgent issue to establish a novel antibacterial method to prevent oral infection for a healthy life expectancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate the inhibitory effects of novel iron chelators, super-polyphenols (SPs), on the cariogenic bacterium Streptococcus mutans, in vitro. SPs were developed to reduce the side effects of iron chelation therapy and were either water-soluble or insoluble depending on their isoforms. We found that SP6 and SP10 inhibited bacterial growth equivalent to povidone-iodine, and viability tests indicated that their effects were bacteriostatic. These results suggest that SP6 and SP10 have the potential to control oral bacterial infections such as Streptococcus mutans.
The Combined Effects of Toxic Microcystis aeruginosa and Thermal Stress on the Edible Clam (Corbicula fluminea): Insights into Oxidative Stress Responses and Molecular Networks
Authors: Zhang Jingxiao , Wang Ning , Zhang Zehao , Gao Yunni , Dong Jing , Gao Xiaofei , Yuan Huatao , Li Xuejun
Published: October 2023

Cyanobacterial blooms (CYBs) have become a global environmental issue, posing risks to edible bivalves. Toxic cyanobacteria and thermal stress represent the two key co-occurring stressors to bivalves experiencing CYBs. To investigate the combined effects of these stressors on the edible bivalve Corbicula fluminea, the responses to oxidative stress and the molecular mechanisms of physiological adaptations in C. fluminea were examined under co-exposure to toxic Microcystis aeruginosa and thermal stress. The activity of antioxidant enzymes, including GST, SOD, CAT, GPx and GR, was significantly influenced by the interaction between temperature and M. aeruginosa (p < 0.05). A positive correlation was observed between toxic M. aeruginosa exposure and elevated SOD and GPx activities at 30 °C, demonstrating that SOD and GPx may help C. fluminea defend effectively against MCs under thermal stress. Furthermore, significant interactive effects between toxic M. aeruginosa and temperature were also observed in ROS and MDA (p < 0.05). The results of the PCA and IBR index also evidenced the apparent influence of toxic M. aeruginosa and thermal stress on oxidative stress responses of C. fluminea. The eggNOG and GO annotations confirmed that a substantial portion of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) exhibited associations with responses to oxidative stress and transporter activity. Additionally, KEGG analysis revealed that abundant DEGs were involved in pathways related to inflammatory responses, immune functions and metabolic functions. These findings improve our understanding of the mechanism of the physiological adaptation in bivalves in response to cyanotoxins under thermal conditions, potentially enabling the evaluation of the viability of using bivalves as a bioremediation tool to manage CYBs in eutrophic waters.
Teucrium montanum L.—Unrecognized Source of Phenylethanoid Glycosides: Green Extraction Approach and Elucidation of Phenolic Compounds via NMR and UHPLC-HR MS/MS
Authors: Mandura Jarić Ana , Čikoš Ana , Pocrnić Marijana , Aladić Krunoslav , Jokić Stela , Šeremet Danijela , Vojvodić Cebin Aleksandra , Komes Draženka
Published: October 2023

Health-oriented preferences, a demand for innovative food concepts, and technological advances have greatly influenced changes in the food industry and led to remarkable development of the functional food market. Incorporating herbal extracts as a rich source of bioactive compounds (BC) could be an effective solution to meet the high demand of consumers in terms of expanding the high-quality range of functional foods. The aim of this study is the valorization of the bioactive potential of T. montanum L., an understudied Mediterranean plant species, and the in-depth elucidation of a polyphenolic profile with a UHPLC-HR MS/MS and NMR analysis. The total phenolic content (TPC) and antioxidant capacity (AC) were determined on heat-assisted (HAE), microwave-assisted (MAE) and subcritical water (SWE) extracts. In terms of antioxidant capacity, SWE extracts showed the most notable potential (ABTS: 0.402–0.547 mmol eq Trolox g−1 dw, DPPH: 0.336–0.427 mmol eq Trolox g−1 dw). 12 phenolic compounds were identified in the samples of T. montanum from six microlocations in Croatia, including nine phenylethanoid glycosides (PGs) with total yields of 30.36–68.06 mg g−1 dw and 25.88–58.88 mg g−1 dw in HAE and MAE extracts, respectively. Echinacoside, teupolioside, stachysoside A, and poliumoside were the most abundant compounds HAE and MAE extracts, making T. montanum an emerging source of PGs.
State-of-the-Art Structural Health Monitoring in Civil Engineering
Authors: Zinno Raffaele , OBrien Eugene J.
Published: October 2023

In the past, when structures contained elements which were prone to deterioration over time [...]
Nano-/Microcapsules, Liposomes, and Micelles in Polysaccharide Carriers: Applications in Food Technology
Authors: Janik Magdalena , Hanula Monika , Khachatryan Karen , Khachatryan Gohar
Published: October 2023

An up-to-date overview of the current state of the art of polysaccharide-based spherical particles as carriers of active/bioactive substances, with a particular emphasis on their applications in the food industry, is provided. Owing to the rapid advances in nanotechnology, much effort has been dedicated to the synthesis and potential uses of these particles. This review outlines recent research on the preparation of spherical nanoparticles, including micro-/nanoencapsulates, micelles, and liposomes, that utilise polysaccharides as carriers and stabilisers. It also discusses the potential application of these nanostructures to the field of food technology. The review aims to provide an objective assessment of the current state of research on this topic. Owing to the distinctive characteristics of spherical nanostructures and the requirement to investigate and scrutinise their potential employment in diverse aspects of the food sector, there are significant opportunities for researchers worldwide to devise innovative solutions.
Energy-Efficient Power Scheduling Policy for Cloud-Assisted Distributed PV System: A TD3 Approach
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Fuhao , Ma Baichao , Zhang Shengfang , Peng Yuxin , Gu Rentao , Miao Jiansong
Published: October 2023

To cope with climate change and other environmental problems, countries and regions around the world have begun to pay attention to the development of renewable energy under the drive of achieving the global carbon emission peak and carbon neutrality goal. The distributed photovoltaic (PV) power grid is an effective solution that can utilize solar energy resources to provide clean a energy supply. However, with the continuous grid connection of distributed energy, it poses great challenges to the power supply stability and security of the grid. Therefore, it is particularly important to promote the local consumption of distributed energy and the construction of the energy internet. This paper aims to study the cooperative operation and energy optimization scheduling problem among distributed PV power grids, and proposes a new scheme to reduce the electricity cost under the constraint of power supply and demand balance. The optimization problem is modeled as a Markov decision process (MDP), and a Twin Delayed Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (TD3) algorithm is used to solve the MDP problem. Simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms other benchmark algorithms in terms of reducing electricity cost, convergence and stability, and verifies its effectiveness.
Data Collecting and Monitoring for Photovoltaic System: A Deep-Q-Learning-Based Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Assisted Scheme
Authors: Zhang Hao , Liu Yuanlong , Meng Jian , Yao Yushun , Zheng Hao , Miao Jiansong , Gu Rentao
Published: October 2023

Nowadays, massive photovoltaic power stations are being integrated into grid networks. However, a large number of photovoltaic facilities are located in special areas, which presents difficulties in management. Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV)-assisted data collection will be a prospective solution for photovoltaic systems. In this paper, based on Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL), we propose a UAV-assisted scheme, which could be used in scenarios without awareness of sensor nodes’ (SNs) precise locations and has better universality. The optimized data collection work was formulated as a Markov Decision Process (MDP), and the approximate optimal policy was found by Deep Q-Learning (DQN). The simulation results show efficiency and convergence and demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed scheme compared with other benchmarks.
Particle Swarm Optimization Method for Stand-Alone Photovoltaic System Reliability and Cost Evaluation Based on Monte Carlo Simulation
Authors: Quiles-Cucarella Eduardo , Marquina-Tajuelo Adrián , Roldán-Blay Carlos , Roldán-Porta Carlos
Published: October 2023

In rural regions with limited access to the power grid, self-reliance for electricity generation is paramount. This study focuses on enhancing the design of stand-alone photovoltaic installations (SAPV) to replace conventional fuel generators thanks to the decreasing costs of PV modules and batteries. This study presents a particle swarm optimization (PSO) method for the reliable and cost-effective sizing of SAPV systems. The proposed method considers the variability of PV generation and domestic demand and optimizes the system design to minimize the total cost of ownership while ensuring a high level of reliability. The results show that for the PSO method with 500 iterations, the error is around 2%, and the simulation time is approximately 2.25 s. Moreover, the PSO method allows a much lower number of iterations to be used in the Monte Carlo simulation, with a total of 100 iterations used to obtain the averaged results. The optimization results, encompassing installed power, battery capacity, reliability, and annual costs, reveal the effectiveness of our approach. Notably, our discretized PSO algorithm converges, yielding specific parameters like 9900 W of installed power and a battery configuration of five 3550 Wh units for the case study under consideration. In summary, our work presents an efficient SAPV system design methodology supported by concrete numerical outcomes, considering supply reliability and installation and operational costs.
A Novel Fused Multi-Class Deep Learning Approach for Chronic Wounds Classification
Authors: Aldoulah Zaid A. , Malik Hafiz , Molyet Richard
Published: October 2023

Chronic wounds affect the lives of millions of individuals globally, and due to substantial medical costs, treating chronic injuries is very challenging for the healthcare system. The classification of regular wound type is essential in wound care management and diagnosis since it can assist clinicians in deciding on the appropriate treatment method. Hence, an effective wound diagnostic tool would enable clinicians to classify the different types of chronic wounds in less time. The majority of the existing chronic wound classification methods are mainly focused on the binary classification of the wound types. A few approaches exist that classify chronic wounds into multiple classes, but these achieved lower performances for pressure and diabetic wound classification. Furthermore, cross-corpus evaluation is absent in chronic wound type classification, in order to better evaluate the efficacy of existing methods on real-time wound images. To address the limitations of the current studies, we propose a novel Swish-ELU EfficientNet-B4 (SEEN-B4) deep learning framework that can effectively identify and classify chronic wounds into multiple classes. Moreover, we also extend the existing Medetec and Advancing the Zenith of Healthcare (AZH) datasets to deal with the class imbalance problem of these datasets. Our proposed model is evaluated on publicly available AZH and Medetec datasets and their extended versions. Our experimental results indicate that the proposed SEEN-B4 model has attained an accuracy of 87.32%, 88.17%, 88%, and 89.34% on the AZH, Extended AZH, Medetec, and Extended Medetec datasets, respectively. We also show the effectiveness of our method against the existing state-of-the-art (SOTA) methods. Furthermore, we evaluated the proposed model for the cross-corpora scenario to demonstrate the model generalization aptitude, and interpret the model’s result through explainable AI techniques. The experimental results show the proposed model’s effectiveness for classifying chronic wound types.
A Simple and Effective Method to Evaluate Seismic Maximum Floor Velocities for Steel-Framed Structures with Supplementary Dampers
Authors: Kosmidou Alexia , Konstandakopoulou Foteini , Pnevmatikos Nikos , Asteris Panagiotis G. , Hatzigeorgiou George
Published: October 2023

A new method to evaluate the maximum seismic story velocities for steel buildings is examined here. It is well known that story velocities are vital parameters for the design of steel structures with supplementary dampers. It has been recognized that nonlinear time history analysis is required to achieve an accurate evaluation of actual velocities, but this approach seems to be complicated and time-consuming for practical engineers. For this reason, this paper investigates the inelastic velocity ratio, which can be defined as the ratio of the maximum inelastic velocity to the maximum elastic one for steel buildings. The knowledge of this ratio, a unique factor for the whole structure, can be used to evaluate the maximum inelastic story velocities directly from the elastic counterparts. The proposed study is general and can be used in both ordinary steel structures as well as steel structures with supplemental damping devices. Widespread parametric studies are executed to achieve simple yet effective expressions for inelastic velocity ratios.
Collaborative Mapping as a Tool for Citizen Participation: A Case of Cultural Heritage Management in Rural Areas
Authors: Del Espino Hidalgo Blanca , Rodríguez Díaz Virginia
Published: October 2023

The role of citizens in the construction of knowledge is undergoing a clear transformation from a passive position, as mere observers and/or receivers, to an increasingly participatory role. This issue, which is directly related to governance policies as well as to the ICT revolution, can be seen in the field of cultural heritage and particularly architectural heritage management. The present paper aims to generate methodologies to involve citizens as active agents who must be involved in a real way in decision making concerning the protection and enhancement of cultural heritage. The results present the creation of a rural heritage interactive cartographic viewer as a collaborative mapping tool. The conclusions drawn position the citizens of rural, dispersed, or vulnerable areas as informers and builders of knowledge about the cultural and architectural heritage of their environment in terms of citizen science. At the same time, it strengthens the development of innovation strategies in the intervention, management, and communication of the existing dispersed heritage in rural areas.
An Advanced Physiological Control Algorithm for Left Ventricular Assist Devices
Authors: Bakouri Mohsen
Published: October 2023

Left ventricular assist devices (LVADs) technology requires developing and implementing intelligent control systems to optimize pump speed to achieve physiological metabolic demands for heart failure (HF) patients. This work aimed to design an advanced tracking control algorithm to drive an LVAD under different physiological conditions. The pole placement method, in conjunction with the sliding mode control approach (PP-SMC), was utilized to construct the proposed control method. In this design, the method was adopted to use neural networks to eliminate system uncertainties of disturbances. An elastance function was also developed and used as an input signal to mimic the physiological perfusion of HF patients. Two scenarios, ranging from rest to exercise, were introduced to evaluate the proposed technique. This technique used a lumped parameter model of the cardiovascular system (CVS) for this evaluation. The results demonstrated that the designed controller was robustly tracking the input signal in the presence of the system parameter variations of CVS. In both scenarios, the proposed method shows that the controller automatically drives the LVAD with a minimum flow of 1.7 L/min to prevent suction and 5.7 L/min to prevent over-perfusion.
Correction: Liebig et al. Parameterization and Validation of an Electrochemical Thermal Model of a Lithium-Ion Battery. Batteries 2019, 5, 62
Authors: Liebig Gerd , Gupta Gaurav , Kirstein Ulf , Schuldt Frank , Agert Carsten
Published: October 2023

Mr. O. Zahid was not included in the acknowledgement section with respect toillustrations created from geometric and thermal battery cell data he generated during his master’s thesis study independent of the original publication [...]
Assessment of Rheological Models Applied to Blood Flow in Human Thoracic Aorta
Authors: Fuchs Alexander , Berg Niclas , Fuchs Laszlo , Prahl Wittberg Lisa
Published: October 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to assess the importance of non-Newtonian rheological models on blood flow in the human thoracic aorta. Methods: The pulsatile flow in the aorta is simulated using the models of Casson, Quemada and Walburn–Schneck in addition to a case of fixed (Newtonian) viscosity. The impact of the four rheological models (using constant hematocrit) was assessed with respect to (i) magnitude and deviation of the viscosity relative to a reference value (the Newtonian case); (ii) wall shear stress (WSS) and its time derivative; (iii) common WSS-related indicators, OSI, TAWSS and RRT; (iv) relative volume and surface-based retrograde flow; and (v) the impact of rheological models on the transport of small particles in the thoracic aorta. Results: The time-dependent flow in the thoracic aorta implies relatively large variations in the instantaneous WSS, due to variations in the instantaneous viscosity by as much as an order of magnitude. The largest effect was observed for low shear rates (tens s−1). The different viscosity models had a small impact in terms of time- and spaced-averaged quantities. The significance of the rheological models was clearly demonstrated in the instantaneous WSS, for the space-averaged WSS (about 10%) and the corresponding temporal derivative of WSS (up to 20%). The longer-term accumulated effect of the rheological model was observed for the transport of spherical particles of 2 mm and 2 mm in diameter (density of 1200 kg/m3). Large particles’ total residence time in the brachiocephalic artery was 60% longer compared to the smaller particles. For the left common carotid artery, the opposite was observed: the smaller particles resided considerably longer than their larger counterparts. Conclusions: The dependence on the non-Newtonian properties of blood is mostly important at low shear regions (near walls, stagnation regions). Time- and space-averaging parameters of interest reduce the impact of the rheological model and may thereby lead to under-estimation of viscous effects. The rheological model affects the local WSS and its temporal derivative. In addition, the transport of small particles includes the accumulated effect of the blood rheological model as the several forces (e.g., drag, added mass and lift) acting on the particles are viscosity dependent. Mass transport is an essential factor for the development of pathologies in the arterial wall, implying that rheological models are important for assessing such risks.