bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Review of the Underutilized Indigenous Portulacaria afra (Spekboom) as a Sustainable Edible Food Source
Authors: du Toit Alba , MacDonald Rozanne , Steyn Elmay , Mahlanza Zamancwane P. , Zulu Ayanda B. , de Wit Maryna
Published: April 2023

Southern Africa faces numerous challenges, such as increasing biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. Additionally, poor and vulnerable communities suffer from undernourishment and are food insecure. Therefore, Southern Africa must adopt inclusive, sustainable food systems that support food security, even under harsh climatic conditions. Wild edible plants can potentially strengthen South African communities’ diets, as they are nutritious, freely available and adapted to survive in marginal conditions. Portulacaria afra, colloquially known as spekboom, is an indigenous succulent to South Africa. This edible plant is resilient even when exposed to weather extremes and is exceptionally easy to grow. Spekboom can potentially contribute to food security since food-insecure communities can access the plant in a socially acceptable way. However, spekboom awaits culinary development to increase its consumption. This review presents the current knowledge of spekboom. As there is limited published research, the review aims to stimulate research in food science and nutrition on this undervalued plant and introduce it as a new food and ingredient.
Applicability of Smart Tools in Vegetable Disease Diagnostics
Authors: Ovesná Jaroslava , Kaminiaris Michail D. , Tsiropoulos Zisis , Collier Rosemary , Kelly Alex , De Mey Jonathan , Pollet Sabien
Published: April 2023

Various diseases and pests cause serious damage to vegetable crops during the growing season and after harvesting. Growers attempt to minimize losses by protecting their crops, starting with seed and seedling treatments and followed by monitoring their stands. In many cases, synthetic pesticide treatments are applied. Integrated pest management is currently being employed to minimize the impact of pesticides upon human health and the environment. Over the last few years, “smart” approaches have been developed and adopted in practice to predict, detect, and quantify phytopathogen occurrence and contamination. Our review assesses the currently available ready-to-use tools and methodologies that operate via visual estimation, the detection of proteins and DNA/RNA sequences, and the utilization of brand-new innovative approaches, highlighting the availability of solutions that can be used by growers during the process of diagnosing pathogens.
Potential Source of Resistance in Introgressed, Mutant and Synthetic Brassica juncea L. Lines against Diverse Isolates of White Rust Pathogen, Albugo candida
Authors: Mehta Samridhi , Dhawi Faten , Garg Pooja , Rao Mahesh , Bhattacharya R. C. , Akthar Jameel , Yadav Rashmi , Singh Mamta , Singh Kartar , Nallathambi P. , Maheswari C. Uma , Meena P. D. , Meena Hari Singh , Rai P. K. , Pant Usha , Harun Mohd. , Choudhary Ravish , Matic Slavica , Gupta Ashish Kumar
Published: April 2023

The existing resistance genes against white rust disease are often ineffective due to racial variation of the causal fungal pathogen, Albugo candida. Therefore, new sources of resistance effective against multiple races are needed for durable resistance. Large-scale phenotyping of advanced introgressed (ILs), mutant, and resynthesized (RBJ) lines of Brassica juncea L., under artificial inoculation at cotyledonary and true leaf stages, against thirteen diverse isolates of Albugo candida and simultaneously at the adult plant stage under multi-location field evaluation from 2019–2022, revealed significant differences in white rust reactions. Amongst 194 introgressed lines, three lines, namely ERJ 39, ERJ 12, and ERJ 15, and three lines among 90 resynthesized and 9 mutant lines, including RBJ 18, DRMR 18-36-12, and DRMR 18-37-13, were identified as potential sources of resistance against multiple isolates at all three developmental stages of the plant. Furthermore, correlation and principal component analysis revealed a positive correlation between white rust resistance at true leaf and adult plant stages for ILs as well as mutant and RBJ lines. These novel sources of host resistance will play vital roles are required for the mustard improvement program and to establish a strong genetic and molecular foundation for identifying white rust resistance linked marker(s), QTLs, or gene(s) for sustainable disease management in India.
First Report of Resistance to Glyphosate in Several Species of the Genus Echinochloa in Argentina
Authors: Cortés Eduardo , Schneider Ana , Panigo Elisa , Perreta Mariel , De Prado Rafael , Dellaferrera Ignacio
Published: April 2023

The genus Echinochloa consists of about 33 species worldwide; some of these are weeds that are very difficult to control in Argentina, and only E. colona was reported as resistant to glyphosate. The objective of this work is to determine if one or more populations of E. colona, E. crus-galli, E. oryzoides, and E. chacoensis are resistant to or less susceptible to glyphosate. Between 2015 and 2017, seeds of different Echinochloa populations were collected from the provinces of Córdoba, Santa Fe, Buenos Aires, and Entre Ríos, all from fields with a history of at least 10 consecutive years of glyphosate application and complaints from farmers due to failures in control. With these populations, survival, dose–response, and shikimic acid quantification tests were carried out to determine their level of susceptibility to glyphosate. The results obtained allow us to report the first worldwide case of resistance to glyphosate in populations of E. crus-galli, E. oryzoides, and E. chacoensis and expand the information on E. colona.
Comparative Proteomics Analysis of Pig Muscle Exudate through Label-Free Liquid Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Di Luca Alessio , Ianni Andrea , Bennato Francesca , Martino Camillo , Henry Michael , Meleady Paula , Martino Giuseppe
Published: April 2023

Capital-driven animal husbandry systems undertaken in the last century led to the abandoning of many pig breeds that were not profitable. These local pig breeds and their respective production systems have great potential as they are able to respond to the high criteria and needs of modern society concerning some environmental aspects, animal-welfare, healthiness, etc. This is the case of the black pigs of Italy. The Apulo-Calabrese is a breed of black pig, known by many other names such as Nero d’Abruzzo. In order to further understand the biological differences between different types of porcine genetics (Nero d’Abruzzo and commercial-hybrid) we used a label-free LC-MS strategy and Western-blot to characterize the proteomes of muscle-exudate collected from these pigs. This proteomics approach identified 1669 proteins of which 100 changed significantly in abundance between breeds. Bioinformatics functional analysis indicated that differentially expressed proteins were involved in several biological processes related to energy-metabolism and response to oxidative stress, suggesting that these functions might distinguish between these pigs. Fatty-acid synthase, catalase and glutathione-peroxidase, involved in enzymatic activity were found to be more represented in samples obtained from the Nero d’Abruzzo. This biological information can potentially provide new biological factors that could determine the different production performances of these pigs, distinguished by their different genetic backgrounds.
Surgical Repair of Luxation of the Superficial Digital Flexor Tendon in Dogs Using a Calcaneal Chondroplastic-like Technique—Three Cases
Authors: Botto Riccardo , Sassaroli Sara , Pennasilico Luca , Palumbo Piccionello Angela
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this report is to describe the technique and the clinical outcome of three dogs affected by superficial digital flexor (SDF) tendon luxation treated using a calcaneal chondroplastic-like technique. A German Pinscher with bilateral and lateral SDF tendon luxation, a Griffon Nivernais with medial SDF tendon luxation following self-mutilation of the IV toe, and an American Staffordshire Terrier with a lateral luxation and having undergone calcaneal chondroplasty and primary repair of the retinacular tissues. A fibrocartilage flap covering the calcaneal groove was elevated, the subchondral bone was removed from beneath it, and the flap was pressed back into the deepened sulcus, keeping its distal attachment as a hinge point. The SDF tendon was reduced, and its tracking along the deepened groove was ensured. Furthermore, the torn retinacular attachment was repaired. Clinical follow-ups at 4 and 8 weeks and 1 year apart showed no signs of lameness and no SDF tendon re-luxation. The calcaneal chondroplastic-like technique led to a satisfactory outcome with no complications. This technique is relatively straightforward, requires no implants, and is also successful without postoperative immobilization of the tarsal joint. Further cases are required to determine its benefits and its risks compared to conventional surgery.
Epimedium Aqueous Extract Ameliorates Cerebral Ischemia/Reperfusion Injury through Inhibiting ROS/NLRP3-Mediated Pyroptosis
Authors: Wu Xiaoyu , Wei Jiajia , Yi Yang , Shu Guotao , He Zhixu , Gong Qihai , Gao Jianmei
Published: April 2023

Cerebral ischemia/reperfusion causes exacerbated neuronal damage involving excessive neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. ROS is considered a signal molecule to activate NLRP3; thus, the ROS/NLRP3/pyroptosis axis plays a vital role in the pathogenesis of cerebral ischemia/reperfusion injury (CIRI). Therefore, targeting the inhibition of the ROS/NLRP3/pyroptosis axis may be a promising therapeutic tactic for CIRI. Epimedium (EP) contains many active ingredients (ICA, ICS II, and ICT), which have a wide range of pharmacological activities. However, whether EP can protect against CIRI remains unknown. Thus, in this study, we designed to investigate the effect and possible underlying mechanism of EP on CIRI. The results showed that treatment with EP dramatically mitigated brain damage in rats following CIRI, which was achieved by suppressing mitochondrial oxidative stress and neuroinflammation. Furthermore, we identified the ROS/NLRP3/pyroptosis axis as a vital process and NLRP3 as a vital target in EP-mediated protection. Most interestingly, the main compounds of EP directly bonded with NLRP3, as reflected by molecular docking, which indicated that NLRP3 might be a promising therapeutic target for EP-elicited cerebral protection. In conclusion, our findings illustrate that ICS II protects against neuron loss and neuroinflammation after CIRI by inhibiting ROS/NLRP3-mediated pyroptosis.
Numerical Investigation of the Heat Transfer Characteristics and Wall Film Formation of Spray Impingement in SCR Systems
Authors: Bai Chuanxin , Liu Kai , Zhao Tong , Liu Jinjin
Published: April 2023

This work established a numerical model to investigate the heat transfer characteristics and wall film formation of spray impinging on the wall in the selective catalytic reduction (SCR) system. The model is developed by the Eulerian–Lagrangian approach, where the Lagrangian approach is used to represent the spray generated by a commercial non-air-assisted pressure-driven injector and the Eulerian approach is adopted to represent exhaust gas. The Stochastic Kuhnke Model is applied to spray/wall interaction. The model considers relevant processes, which include mass transfer, momentum transfer, heat transfer, droplet phase change, spray/wall interaction, and wall film formation. The numerical results compared with that of the experiment indicate that the model can accurately estimate the heat transfer characteristics of the wall surface during the spray impingement. Based on the numerical results, the causes of the spray local cooling effect and the rapid cooling effect are analyzed. The correlation between the critical transition temperature and the critical heat flux temperature for wall film formation is derived from the trends of wall temperature and heat flux. In this work, the Stochastic Kuhnke Model is applied and compared with the Kuhnke Model, which proves that it can improve the disadvantage of sudden change during the wall film formation. When the wall temperature is below the critical transition temperature, the wall film mass is sensitive to the wall temperature and increases as the wall temperature decreases.
The Effect of Sleep Disorder Diagnosis on Mortality in End-Stage Renal Disease Patients
Authors: Mixson Andrew , Waller Jennifer L. , Bollag Wendy B. , Taskar Varsha , Baer Stephanie L. , Padala Sandeep , Healy William J.
Published: April 2023

Increased risk of all-cause mortality not accounted for by traditional cardiovascular risk factors has been linked to chronic kidney disease. This study tested the hypothesis that mortality may be greater in patients with end-stage renal disease (ESRD) and a sleep disorder diagnosis. The United States Renal Data System database was queried to determine the effect of sleep disorder diagnoses on mortality in ESRD patients enrolled between 2004 and 2015. Sleep disorders were identified using International Classification of Diseases-9 and -10 codes. Mortality risk associated with sleep disorders was examined using Cox proportional hazards (CPH) modeling. In the final CPH model, sleep disorder diagnoses were associated with decreased risk of mortality, with hazard ratios (and 95% confidence intervals) for insomnia, hypersomnolence, restless leg syndrome, and obstructive/central sleep apnea of 0.76 (0.75–0.76), 0.81 (0.78–0.84), 0.79 (0.77–0.80), and 0.82 (0.81–0.82), respectively. Black or other race and Hispanic ethnicity, and to a small extent, female sex and increasing Charlson comorbidity index, were also associated with decreased risk, whereas increasing age, hemodialysis (versus peritoneal dialysis) and catheter or graft access type were associated with increased risk. This study suggests that the diagnosis of a sleep disorder may be associated with improved survival in ESRD patients.
Multifunctional Integrated Underwater Sound Absorption Materials: A Review
Authors: Chen Xianmei , Meng Lei , Liu Zibo , Yang Feiran , Jiang Xin , Yang Jun
Published: April 2023

Rapid improvements in underwater vehicle technology have led to a significant increase in the demand for underwater sound absorption materials. These materials, unlike their counterparts utilized in air, must have high hydrostatic pressure resistance, corrosion resistance, and other advantageous attributes. This necessitates the development of innovative, composite sound-absorbing materials with multifunctional properties, which presents substantial challenges for researchers. In this comprehensive review, we systematically analyze and categorize the mechanisms governing underwater sound absorption, hydrostatic pressure resistance, and corrosion prevention while considering related research advances. Furthermore, we provide an extensive overview of research advancements, existing challenges, and potential solutions pertaining to multifunctional and integrated underwater sound-absorbing materials. This review aims to serve as a valuable resource for future investigations into the development and optimization of multifunctional integrated underwater sound-absorbing materials, thereby contributing to the advancement of underwater vehicle technology.
Numerical Simulation of the Taylor Impact Test for Laser Powder Bed Fusion Parts Based on Microstructural Internal State Variables
Authors: Muiruri Amos , Maringa Maina , du Preez Willie
Published: April 2023

The response of any engineering design components to stresses should be predictable, While the response of a material to complex loading, such as high strain rates experienced during service, is difficult to represent with simple tests, the Taylor impact test is one of a number of tests devised for high strain rate complex loading. To expedite the acceptance of LPBF Ti6Al4V (ELI) for use in demanding structural applications, there is a need to develop numerical models based on the internal microstructural state variables to predict the performance of the alloy over a wide range of high strain rates using such complex tests. This paper documents the numerical simulation of Taylor impact tests for direct metal laser-sintered and post-processed Ti6Al4V (ELI—Extra Low Interstitial) alloy. A microstructural variable-based constitutive model was used to predict the mechanical properties (stresses and evolution of plastic strains) of the material. The corresponding material parameters of the model were based on the specific microstructure obtained upon post-process heat treatment. The model was first implemented as a user material subroutine in the explicit finite element program ABAQUS using the VUHARD subroutine. Subsequently, the symmetrical Taylor impact tests of Laser Powder Bed Fusion (LPBF) Ti6Al4V (ELI) parts were numerically simulated using the VUHARD subroutine at different impact velocities. The equivalent von Mises stress and plastic strain obtained from numerical simulations were compared with the analytical solutions based on the strain rates obtained. It was shown that the instantaneous and average absolute errors between the numerical and analytical values of the model were generally less than 5%. The mushroom end, commonly observed in a Taylor test specimen, was also seen in the numerical model.
Contactless Real-Time Eye Gaze-Mapping System Based on Simple Siamese Networks
Authors: Ahn Hoyeon , Jeon Jiwon , Ko Donghwuy , Gwak Jeonghwan , Jeon Moongu
Published: April 2023

Human–computer interaction (HCI) is a multidisciplinary field that investigates the interactions between humans and computer systems. HCI has facilitated the development of various digital technologies that aim to deliver optimal user experiences. Gaze recognition is a critical aspect of HCI, as it can provide valuable insights into basic human behavior. The gaze-matching method is a reliable approach that can identify the area at which a user is looking. Early methods of gaze tracking required users to wear glasses with a tracking function and limited tracking to a small monitoring area. Additionally, gaze estimation was restricted to a fixed posture within a narrow range. In this study, we proposed a novel non-contact gaze-mapping system that could overcome the physical limitations of previous methods and be applied in real-world environments. Our experimental results demonstrated an average gaze-mapping accuracy of 92.9% across 9 different test environments. Moreover, we introduced the GIST gaze-mapping (GGM) dataset, which served as a valuable resource for learning and evaluating gaze-mapping techniques.
Wind Speed Measurement via Visual Recognition of Wind-Induced Waving Light Stick Target
Authors: Zhou Wei , Kasimu Aliyu , Wu Yitong , Tang Mingzan , Liang Xifeng , Jiang Chen
Published: April 2023

Wind measurement in confined spaces is a challenge due to the influence of the dimensions of anemometers in intrusive flow-field measurements where the anemometer probes directly contact and influence the near-probe flow field. In this work, a new wind speed detection methodology is proposed based on wind-induced motion of a stick via vision-based recognition. The target’s displacement in pixel coordinates is mapped to its angular displacement in world coordinates to derive wind speed and direction information by applying the calibration coefficients. Simulation experiments were carried out to validate the model, the error of which was within an angular displacement of 4.0° and 3.0° for wind speed and direction detections, respectively. When applied to the measurement of wind speed in the inner equipment cabin of a stationary high-speed train, the error was within ±1.1 m/s in terms of average RMSE. Thus, the proposed method provides an accurate and economic option for monitoring 2D wind in a confined space.
Improving Postural Ergonomics during Human–Robot Collaboration Using Particle Swarm Optimization: A Study in Virtual Environment
Authors: Omidi Mohsen , Van de Perre Greet , Kumar Hota Roshan , Cao Hoang-Long , Saldien Jelle , Vanderborght Bram , El Makrini Ilias
Published: April 2023

Musculoskeletal disorders caused by poor work posture are a serious concern in the industry since they lead to absenteeism and medical leave from work. In the context of human–robot collaboration, this issue can be mitigated if collaborative robots support human workers to perform their tasks more ergonomically. In this work, we propose a method to optimize human posture during human–robot collaboration using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. Our approach involves assigning an appropriate location to the robot’s end-effector to minimize the distance between the optimized posture of the human and their current posture in the working space. To measure human posture, we use the Rapid Entire Body Assessment score (REBA) calculated from body joint angles captured by a Kinect camera. To validate the effectiveness of our proposed method, we conducted a user study with 20 participants in a virtual reality environment. The PSO algorithm could position the robot end-effector to the optimal position close to real time. Our results showed that our method could improve ergonomics by 66%, indicating its potential for use in human–robot collaborative applications.
Redirection and Protocol Mechanisms in Content Delivery Network-Edge Servers for Adaptive Video Streaming
Authors: Taha Miran , Ali Aree
Published: April 2023

Redirection and protocol techniques are key components of the infrastructure for Content Delivery Networks (CDNs) that aid in the delivery of Multimedia Internet services to end-consumers. Redirection methods are used to route the user’s request to the nearest edge server, minimizing distance, improving delivery times, and lowering latency. Protocol mechanisms, such as HTTP Live Streaming (HLS), Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH), and Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), are used to deliver adaptive video streaming. These protocols are designed to transfer the adaptive streaming and provide high-quality video playback. They also allow the system to adjust the video quality based on the network conditions of the Quality of Service (QoS). Inadequate transmission protocols and poorly designed redirection algorithms are two major challenges that might degrade Cloud–CDN performance. These challenges lead to excessive latency, poor quality of service, and significant packet loss that have potential influences on the user experience. In this paper, firstly, three protocols are proposed by preparing a case study on selecting the optimal protocol for replicating adaptive video streaming content. Secondly, a redirection algorithm based on the Modified Cuckoo Search Algorithm (MCSA) is proposed to provide an accurate redirecting process of selected edge servers to end-users. Test results indicate that, when hybrid FASP/HTTP protocols were chosen (from original server to replicate server and to end-users), the delivery of adaptive video streaming segments was fast with lower latency. The average estimated time needed for replicating video content based on FASP is 25% better than that needed for File catalyst and Signiant protocols. Therefore, the Cuckoo search method presents more efficient results for selecting the optimal edge server for 100 servers, which is 0.296 s, compared to the conventional algorithm, which was 13 s.
Cloud–Edge Hybrid Computing Architecture for Large-Scale Scientific Facilities Augmented with an Intelligent Scheduling System
Authors: Ye Jing , Wang Chunpeng , Chen Jige , Wan Rongzheng , Li Xiaoyun , Sepe Alessandro , Tai Renzhong
Published: April 2023

Synchrotron radiation sources are widely used in interdisciplinary research, generating an enormous amount of data while posing serious challenges to the storage, processing, and analysis capabilities of the large-scale scientific facilities worldwide. A flexible and scalable computing architecture, suitable for complex application scenarios, combined with efficient and intelligent scheduling strategies, plays a key role in addressing these issues. In this work, we present a novel cloud–edge hybrid intelligent system (CEHIS), which was architected, developed, and deployed by the Big Data Science Center (BDSC) at the Shanghai Synchrotron Radiation Facility (SSRF) and meets the computational needs of the large-scale scientific facilities. Our methodical simulations demonstrate that the CEHIS is more efficient and performs better than the cloud-based model. Here, we have applied a deep reinforcement learning approach to the task scheduling system, finding that it effectively reduces the total time required for the task completion. Our findings prove that the cloud–edge hybrid intelligent architectures are a viable solution to address the requirements and conditions of the modern synchrotron radiation facilities, further enhancing their data processing and analysis capabilities.
Experimental Investigation on the Granite Erosion Characteristics of a Variable Cross-Section Squeezed Pulsed Water Jet
Authors: Zhang Yangkai , Long Haiyang , Tang Jiren , Ling Yuanfei
Published: April 2023

The exploitation of deep resources and energy needs to break hard rock. Aiming at the problem of deep hard rock fragmentation, this paper proposes a variable cross-section squeezing pulsed water jet technology (SPWJ). SPWJ was generated under pump pressures of 5.2, 6.8, 8.5, 10, 11.9, and 13.8 MPa to carry out erosion experiments. Features such as rock spalling area, erosion depth, volume loss, and decomposition per unit inlet pressure are used to characterize the erosion performance of SPWJ. The results show that SPWJ can effectively crush granite under low input pressure. Granite crushing modes caused by SPWJ are mainly divided into three types: I: drilling type, II: erosion type, and III: cracking type. Compared with continuous water jet (CWJ), SPWJ has better overall erosion ability than CWJ when the erosion pressure is higher than 60 MPa, the dimensionless target distance is greater than 200, and the erosion time is less than 90 s. In addition, the erosion ability of SPWJ is better than that of CWJ under the condition of unit input pressure. The research results provide a reference for further optimizing the performance of SPWJ crushed granite in the future.
Chinese News Text Classification Method via Key Feature Enhancement
Authors: Ge Bin , He Chunhui , Xu Hao , Wu Jibing , Tang Jiuyang
Published: April 2023

(1) Background: Chinese news text is a popular form of media communication, which can be seen everywhere in China. Chinese news text classification is an important direction in natural language processing (NLP). How to use high-quality text classification technology to help humans to efficiently organize and manage the massive amount of web news is an urgent problem to be solved. It is noted that the existing deep learning methods rely on a large-scale tagged corpus for news text classification tasks and this model is poorly interpretable because the size is large. (2) Methods: To solve the above problems, this paper proposes a Chinese news text classification method based on key feature enhancement named KFE-CNN. It can effectively expand the semantic information of key features to enhance sample data and then combine the zero–one binary vector representation to transform text features into binary vectors and input them into CNN model for training and implementation, thus improving the interpretability of the model and effectively compressing the size of the model. (3) Results: The experimental results show that our method can significantly improve the overall performance of the model and the average accuracy and F1-score of the THUCNews subset of the public dataset reached 97.84% and 98%. (4) Conclusions: this fully proved the effectiveness of the KFE-CNN method for the Chinese news text classification task and it also fully demonstrates that key feature enhancement can improve classification performance.
Effect of Control Parameters on Hybrid Electric Propulsion UAV Performance for Various Flight Conditions: Parametric Study
Authors: Benmoussa Amine , Gamboa Pedro Vieira
Published: April 2023

Nowadays, great efforts of ongoing research are devoted to hybrid-electric propulsion technology that offers various benefits, such as reduced noise and pollution emissions and enhanced aircraft performance and fuel efficiency. The ability to estimate the performance of an aircraft in any flight situation in which it may operate is essential for aircraft development. In the current study, a simulation model was developed that allows estimating the flight performance and analyzing the mission of a fixed-wing multi-rotor Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) with a hybrid electric propulsion system (HEPS), with both conventional and Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) capabilities. The control is based on the continuous specification of pitch angle, propulsion thrust, and lift thrust to achieve the required conditions of a given flight segment. Six different missions were considered to analyze the effect of control parameters exhibiting the most influence on the UAV mission performance. An appropriate set of control parameters was selected through a multidimensional parametric study. The results show that the control parameters, if not well tuned, affect the mission performance: for example, in the deceleration transition, a longer time to reduce the cruise speed to stand still may be the result because the controller struggles to adjust the pitch angle. In addition, the implemented methodology captures the effects of transient maneuvers, unlike typical quasi-static analysis without the complexity of full simulation models.
Survival Time, Mortality Rate, and Feeding Damage of Adult Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) Exposed to Biopesticides in Laboratory Bioassays
Authors: Neal Anita S. , Avery Pasco B. , Cave Ronald D.
Published: April 2023

Survival time, percentage mortality, and feeding behavior were evaluated for adults of the weevil Myllocerus undecimpustulatus undatus Marshall (Coleoptera: Curculionidae) exposed to biopesticides by using a Petri dish plant-based bioassay system. Treatments consisted of three registered entomopathogenic fungal formulations (BotaniGard ES, PFR-97 20% WDG, and Met52 EC) and three biochemical formulations (AzaMax, Entrust, and PyGanic EC); a synthetic chemical insecticide (Sevin SL) and distilled water served as control treatments. Thirty adult M. undecimpustulatus undatus (ten per bioassay cage replicate, three replicates per treatment) were given cocoplum leaves sprayed to the point of runoff with a treatment. Survivorship of weevils was checked daily for 15 days. Five trials (15 total replicates per treatment) were performed. Survival times of weevils in all product treatments were shorter than those of weevils in the water control treatment. Percentages of beetle mortality in the Entrust and BotaniGard treatments were about two-fold higher than in the other treatments. Mean percentages of mycosis for beetles in the BotaniGard, PFR-97, and Met 52 treatments were 90%, 8%, and 5%, respectively. Weevils that consumed BotaniGard-treated leaves caused significantly more leaf damage than weevils that consumed leaves with PFR-97 or Met52. Weevils on leaves treated with Entrust, PyGanic, AzaMax, and Sevin consumed significantly less than those in the fungal and water only treatments. The high mortality rates caused by Entrust and BotaniGard suggest that populations of adult M. undecimpustulatus undatus might be well-managed using these two commercially available biopesticides. Additional testing is needed in the field to corroborate our results obtained under controlled laboratory conditions.
Application of a Three-Dimensional Wind Field from a Phased-Array Weather Radar Network in Severe Convection Weather
Authors: Li Cailing , Tan Haobo , Wang Guorong , Chan Pakwai , Huang Jincan , Luo Yun
Published: April 2023

In 2019–2020, an array weather radar (AWR) network consisting of seven X-band phased-array radars (PARs), with a detection spatial resolution of 30 m and a temporal resolution of 30 s, was built in the city of Foshan in China’s Guangdong Province. The detection time deviation in the same space is within 5 s. Through variational data assimilation, the three-dimensional wind field inside the storm can be obtained. This study selected instances of hail, thunderstorms, strong winds, and short-duration heavy precipitation in 2020 to conduct a detailed analysis. The results show the following: (1) The fine detection ability enables phased-array radars to detect the complete evolution process of convective storms, including development, strengthening, and weakening, providing a useful reference for judging the future variation trends of convective storms. (2) Through evolutionary analysis of the three-dimensional wind field, the dynamic mechanisms of storm strengthening and weakening could be obtained, which could serve as a reference to predict the development of storms. The gust wind index and convection index calculated based on the three-dimensional wind field could provide advanced warning for nowcasting. When the gust wind index was greater than 263, the probability of gale-force wind (above 17.0 m/s) was determined to be high. Moreover, the warning could be provided 10–20 min in advance. A convection index greater than 35 and the presence of concentrated contour lines were found to be conducive to the strengthening and formation of a convection, and the warning could be provided 20 min in advance. These results show that the application of PAR can provide important technical support for nowcasting severe convective weather.
Statistical Fuzzy Reliability Assessment of a Blended System
Authors: Chachra Aayushi , Kumar Akshay , Ram Mangey , Triantafyllou Ioannis S.
Published: April 2023

Fuzzy sets have been proven to constitute an asset in the evolution of reliability theory in recent decades. Their contribution in addressing the possibility of errors, insufficiency of data, randomness, or fuzziness, either in the system or in the accumulation of any data for the respective system, which is overlooked in the traditional reliability assessment, seems to be quite crucial. The present work deals with the statistical fuzzy reliability evaluation of a blended system that comprises two subsystems. One system contains two components aligned in a parallel configuration, and the other is a 3-out-of-5 system. The reliability of this model is assessed using two approaches to intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IFS), namely, traditional IFS and interval-valued intuitionistic fuzzy sets (IVIFS). Three cases are considered in each approach, which are compared individually as well as with each other. It was established that the IVIFS yield better results than the IFS. The obtained results are displayed in both tabular and graphical forms for better assessment.
Monoparametric Families of Orbits Produced by Planar Potentials
Authors: Kotoulas Thomas
Published: April 2023

We study the motion of a test particle on the xy−plane. The particle trajectories are given by a one-parameter family of orbits f(x,y) = c, where c = const. By using the tools of the 2D inverse problem of Newtonian dynamics, we find two-dimensional potentials that produce a pre-assigned monoparametric family of regular orbits f(x,y)=c that can be represented by the “slope function” γ=fyfx uniquely. We apply a new methodology in order to find potentials depending on specific arguments, i.e., potentials of the form V(x,y)=P(u) where u=x2+y2,xy,x3−y3,xy (x,y≠ 0). Then, we establish one differential condition for the family of orbits f(x,y) = c. If it is satisfied, it guarantees the existence of such a potential, generating the above family of planar orbits. Then, the potential function V=V(x,y) is found by quadratures. For known families of curves, e.g., ellipse, the logarithmic spiral, the lemniscate of Bernoulli, and circles, we find homogeneous and polynomial potentials that are compatible with this family of orbits. We offer pertinent examples that cover all of the cases, and we examine which of these potentials are integrable. We also study one-dimensional potentials. The families of straight lines in 2D space are also examined.
Mechanical Regulation of Oral Epithelial Barrier Function
Authors: Lee Eun-Jin , Kim Yoontae , Salipante Paul , Kotula Anthony P. , Lipshutz Sophie , Graves Dana T. , Alimperti Stella
Published: April 2023

Epithelial cell function is modulated by mechanical forces imparted by the extracellular environment. The transmission of forces onto the cytoskeleton by modalities such as mechanical stress and matrix stiffness is necessary to address by the development of new experimental models that permit finely tuned cell mechanical challenges. Herein, we developed an epithelial tissue culture model, named the 3D Oral Epi-mucosa platform, to investigate the role mechanical cues in the epithelial barrier. In this platform, low-level mechanical stress (0.1 kPa) is applied to oral keratinocytes, which lie on 3D fibrous collagen (Col) gels whose stiffness is modulated by different concentrations or the addition of other factors such as fibronectin (FN). Our results show that cells lying on intermediate Col (3 mg/mL; stiffness = 30 Pa) demonstrated lower epithelial leakiness compared with soft Col (1.5 mg/mL; stiffness = 10 Pa) and stiff Col (6 mg/mL; stiffness = 120 Pa) gels, indicating that stiffness modulates barrier function. In addition, the presence of FN reversed the barrier integrity by inhibiting the interepithelial interaction via E-cadherin and Zonula occludens-1. Overall, the 3D Oral Epi-mucosa platform, as a new in vitro system, will be utilized to identify new mechanisms and develop future targets involved in mucosal diseases.
Experimental Models to Study the Functions of the Blood–Brain Barrier
Authors: Łach Andrzej , Wnuk Agnieszka , Wójtowicz Anna Katarzyna
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this paper was to discuss the achievements of in vitro modeling in terms of the blood–brain barrier [BBB] and to create a clear overview of this research area, which is useful in research planning. The text was divided into three main parts. The first part describes the BBB as a functional structure, its constitution, cellular and noncellular components, mechanisms of functioning and importance for the central nervous system, in terms of both protection and nourishment. The second part is an overview of parameters important in terms of establishing and maintaining a barrier phenotype that allows for formulating criteria of evaluation of the BBB in vitro models. The third and last part discusses certain techniques for developing the BBB in vitro models. It describes subsequent research approaches and models, as they underwent change alongside technological advancement. On the one hand, we discuss possibilities and limitations of different research approaches: primary cultures vs. cell lines and monocultures vs. multicultures. On the other hand, we review advantages and disadvantages of specific models, such as models-on-a-chip, 3D models or microfluidic models. We not only attempt to state the usefulness of specific models in different kinds of research on the BBB but also emphasize the significance of this area of research for advancement of neuroscience and the pharmaceutical industry.
Development of PCL PolyHIPE Substrates for 3D Breast Cancer Cell Culture
Authors: Jackson Caitlin E. , Ramos-Rodriguez David H. , Farr Nicholas T. H. , English William R. , Green Nicola H. , Claeyssens Frederik
Published: April 2023

Cancer is a becoming a huge social and economic burden on society, becoming one of the most significant barriers to life expectancy in the 21st century. In particular, breast cancer is one of the leading causes of death for women. One of the most significant difficulties to finding efficient therapies for specific cancers, such as breast cancer, is the efficiency and ease of drug development and testing. Tissue-engineered (TE) in vitro models are rapidly developing as an alternative to animal testing for pharmaceuticals. Additionally, porosity included within these structures overcomes the diffusional mass transfer limit whilst enabling cell infiltration and integration with surrounding tissue. Within this study, we investigated the use of high-molecular-weight polycaprolactone methacrylate (PCL–M) polymerised high-internal-phase emulsions (polyHIPEs) as a scaffold to support 3D breast cancer (MDA-MB-231) cell culture. We assessed the porosity, interconnectivity, and morphology of the polyHIPEs when varying mixing speed during formation of the emulsion, successfully demonstrating the tunability of these polyHIPEs. An ex ovo chick chorioallantoic membrane assay identified the scaffolds as bioinert, with biocompatible properties within a vascularised tissue. Furthermore, in vitro assessment of cell attachment and proliferation showed promising potential for the use of PCL polyHIPEs to support cell growth. Our results demonstrate that PCL polyHIPEs are a promising material to support cancer cell growth with tuneable porosity and interconnectivity for the fabrication of perfusable 3D cancer models.
Exerting Forces and Wall Load during Duodenoscopy for ERCP: An Experimental Measurement in an Artificial Model
Authors: Schneider Julian , Duckworth-Mothes Benedikt , Schweizer Ulrich , Königsrainer Alfred , Fisch Jakob , Wichmann Dörte
Published: April 2023

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is crucial to the treatment of biliopancreatic diseases with iatrogenic perforation as a potential complication. As of yet, the wall load during ERCP is unknown, as it is not directly measurable during an ERCP in patients. Methods: In a life-like, animal-free model, a sensor system consisting of five load cells was attached to the artificial intestines (sensors 1 + 2: pyloric canal–pyloric antrum, sensor 3: duodenal bulb, sensor 4: descending part of the duodenum, sensor 5: distal to the papilla). Measurements were made with five duodenoscopes (n = 4 reusable and n = 1 single use). Results: Fifteen standardized duodenoscopies were performed. Peak stresses were found at the antrum during the gastrointestinal transit (sensor 1 max. 8.95 N, sensor 2 max. 2.79 N). The load reduced from the proximal to the distal duodenum and the greatest load in the duodenum was discovered at the level of the papilla in 80.0% (sensor 3 max. 2.06 N). Conclusions: For the first time, intraprocedural load measurements and exerting forces obtained during a duodenoscopy for ERCP in an artificial model were recorded. None of the tested duodenoscopes were classified as dangerous for patient safety.
A Review on Integrated ZnO-Based SERS Biosensors and Their Potential in Detecting Biomarkers of Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Colniță Alia , Toma Vlad-Alexandru , Brezeștean Ioana Andreea , Tahir Muhammad Ali , Dina Nicoleta Elena
Published: April 2023

Surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) applications in clinical diagnosis and spectral pathology are increasing due to the potential of the technique to bio-barcode incipient and differential diseases via real-time monitoring of biomarkers in fluids and in real-time via biomolecular fingerprinting. Additionally, the rapid advancements in micro/nanotechnology have a visible influence in all aspects of science and life. The miniaturization and enhanced properties of materials at the micro/nanoscale transcended the confines of the laboratory and are revolutionizing domains such as electronics, optics, medicine, and environmental science. The societal and technological impact of SERS biosensing by using semiconductor-based nanostructured smart substrates will be huge once minor technical pitfalls are solved. Herein, challenges in clinical routine testing are addressed in order to understand the context of how SERS can perform in real, in vivo sampling and bioassays for early neurodegenerative disease (ND) diagnosis. The main interest in translating SERS into clinical practice is reinforced by the practical advantages: portability of the designed setups, versatility in using nanomaterials of various matter and costs, readiness, and reliability. As we will present in this review, in the frame of technology readiness levels (TRL), the current maturity reached by semiconductor-based SERS biosensors, in particular that of zinc oxide (ZnO)-based hybrid SERS substrates, is situated at the development level TRL 6 (out of 9 levels). Three-dimensional, multilayered SERS substrates that provide additional plasmonic hot spots in the z-axis are of key importance in designing highly performant SERS biosensors for the detection of ND biomarkers.
Improved Spatial Knowledge Acquisition through Sensory Augmentation
Authors: Schmidt Vincent , König Sabine U. , Dilawar Rabia , Sánchez Pacheco Tracy , König Peter
Published: April 2023

Sensory augmentation provides novel opportunities to broaden our knowledge of human perception through external sensors that record and transmit information beyond natural perception. To assess whether such augmented senses affect the acquisition of spatial knowledge during navigation, we trained a group of 27 participants for six weeks with an augmented sense for cardinal directions called the feelSpace belt. Then, we recruited a control group that did not receive the augmented sense and the corresponding training. All 53 participants first explored the Westbrook virtual reality environment for two and a half hours spread over five sessions before assessing their spatial knowledge in four immersive virtual reality tasks measuring cardinal, route, and survey knowledge. We found that the belt group acquired significantly more accurate cardinal and survey knowledge, which was measured in pointing accuracy, distance, and rotation estimates. Interestingly, the augmented sense also positively affected route knowledge, although to a lesser degree. Finally, the belt group reported a significant increase in the use of spatial strategies after training, while the groups’ ratings were comparable at baseline. The results suggest that six weeks of training with the feelSpace belt led to improved survey and route knowledge acquisition. Moreover, the findings of our study could inform the development of assistive technologies for individuals with visual or navigational impairments, which may lead to enhanced navigation skills and quality of life.
Assessment of Thermal Comfort and Indoor Air Quality in Library Group Study Rooms
Authors: Ameen Arman , Bahrami Alireza , Elosua Ansa Ibai
Published: April 2023

Human performance and health are among the most relevant topics in modern society, especially at young ages, when academic performance is indispensable. Thus, as humans spend most of their life inside a building, thermal comfort and indoor air quality are essential aspects of a room. The aim of the current study is to numerically evaluate the main thermal comfort parameters such as PMV and PPD as well as indoor air quality, i.e., CO2 concentration, in library group study rooms at the University of Gävle in Sweden. Rotroninc Measurement Solutions CL11 sensors were utilized for temperature measurements. Simulation models were created and validated based on building data as well as temperature measurements. Several simulations were conducted throughout the year, covering different periods. The results show that even though the ventilation system, with only temperature control, works as intended for maintaining thermal comfort, the CO2 concentration rises above 1000 ppm when more than one student occupies the rooms, which is not recommended by different thermal comfort ruling institutions. Consequently, a modification to the ventilation system control is recommended, changing it from temperature control to CO2 and temperature control.