bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Research on the RVE of the Calculated Strength of River Ice at the Mesoscale in the Freezing Period of the Yellow River
Authors: Deng Yu , Wang Juan , Zhou Jiao
Published: September 2023

Microscopic fabric changes are the main reason for the complex physical and material properties of Yellow River ice at the macroscale. To study the physical and material properties of Yellow River ice, Yellow River ice was taken as the research object, and definition and determination methods for the representative volume element (RVE) of the Yellow River ice based on its computed strength at the microscale were proposed. A micromechanical numerical model for Yellow River ice was built, the corresponding macromechanical properties were simulated, and the RVE size of the macromechanical strength of the Yellow River ice was determined to be 250 mm. The uniaxial compressive strength of river ice in different working conditions was simulated and analyzed, and the accuracy and effectiveness of the RVE of the calculated strength of river ice were verified. The research results provide a reference for analyzing the damage process of Yellow River ice at the microscopic level, providing a theoretical basis for studying the mechanism of Yellow River ice.
Automatic Needle Route Proposal in Preoperative Neck CT for Injection Laryngoplasty
Authors: Abdullah Al Walid , Cha Wonjae , Yun Il Dong
Published: September 2023

Transcutaneous injection laryngoplasty (TIL) is a commonly used method to treat vocal fold paresis, where the affected vocal folds are augmented through injection. Determining the injection site and route is a major step during the preprocedural planning of TIL. In this communication, we propose and investigate an automatic method for needle route computation in preoperative neck CT. Recently, deep reinforcement learning (RL) agents showed noteworthy results for localizing the vocal folds. In this work, we focus on finding the optimal needle trajectory from the neck skin to the vocal folds localized by such RL agents. Identifying critical structures and constraints in the medical routine, we propose a minimal cost-based search to find the optimal path. Furthermore, we evaluate the proposed method with neck CT volumes from 136 patients, where it is shown that our computed needle paths have high accuracy.
Apical Transportation of Apical Foramen by Different NiTi Alloy Systems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Puleio Francesco , Bellezza Ugo , Torre Alessandra , Giordano Francesco , Lo Giudice Giuseppe
Published: September 2023

Endodontic shaping can lead to canal and apical anatomical alterations, which may compromise the outcome of root canal treatment. The objective of this systematic literature review is to assess whether the use of martensitic endodontic instruments can result in less apical transportation compared to austenitic instruments during endodontic therapy. A search was conducted on PubMed, Ovid MEDLINE, and the Web of Science. The inclusion criteria were in vitro studies comparing apical transportation using endodontic instruments with austenitic or martensitic alloys. The search of the scientific databases yielded 592 results, of which only 10 were eligible for evaluation after screening. Based on the analysis of the selected articles, it can be concluded that martensitic endodontic instruments result in less apical transportation compared to austenitic instruments during the shaping phase of endodontic treatment. This behavior can be attributed to the increased flexibility of martensitic instruments. Further research is warranted to further explore this topic and provide additional evidence supporting the use of martensitic instruments in clinical practice.
Multivariate Regression Modeling for Coastal Urban Air Quality Estimates
Authors: Choi Soo-Min , Choi Hyo , Paik Woojin
Published: September 2023

Multivariate regression models for real-time coastal air quality forecasting were suggested from 18 to 27 March 2015, with a total of 15 kinds of hourly input data (three-hours-earlier data of PM and gas with meteorological parameters from Kangnung (Korea), associated with two-days-earlier data of PM and gas from Beijing (China)). Multiple correlation coefficients between the predicted and measured PM10, PM2.5, NO2, SO2, CO and O3 concentrations were 0.957, 0.906, 0.886, 0.795, 0.864 and 0.932 before the yellow sand event at Kangnung, 0.936, 0.982, 0.866, 0.917, 0.887 and 0.916 during the event and 0.919, 0.945, 0.902, 0.857, 0.887 and 0.892 after the event. As the significance levels (p) from multi-regression analyses were less than 0.001, all correlation coefficients were very significant. Partial correlation coefficients presenting the contribution of 15 input variables to 6 output variables using the models were presented for the three periods in detail. Scatter plots and their hourly distributions between the predicted and measured values showed the quite good accuracy of the modeling performance for the current time forecasting of six output values and their high applicability.
Assessment of Self-Ignition Properties of Canola Oil–n-Hexane Blends in a Constant Volume Combustion Chamber and Compression Ignition Engine
Authors: Jaworski Artur , Kuszewski Hubert , Longwic Rafał , Sander Przemysław
Published: September 2023

This article presents the results of an assessment of the combustion process of blends of n-hexane and canola oil. Tests were conducted for pure canola oil and its blends with n-hexane, with a max. n-hexane content of 20% by volume. The tests were carried out using the constant volume combustion chamber (CVCC) method as well as a diesel engine. For comparison purposes, the results for typical diesel fuel are also presented. Tests on the self-ignition properties of the n-hexane–canola oil blend, conducted in a CVCC according to the normative method for diesel fuel, showed little effect on the combustion process. However, previous tests conducted on a diesel engine of a passenger car showed a favorable effect of the n-hexane addition to canola oil on the combustion process in the engine, the performance and environmental parameters obtained. This shows that for some fuels, the evaluation of self-ignition and combustion properties in a constant volume combustion chamber, under conditions corresponding to diesel fuel tests, is not sufficient. The findings of this research may be beneficial in optimizing the diesel engine combustion systems fueled by renewable fuels. As the results of the tests have shown, the standardized method for determining the combustion process of the CVCC method does not always fully reflect the results obtained in engine tests. The results obtained by the CVCC method can be successfully used when comparing fuels, but when considering the selection of fuel for the engine, the results obtained in engine tests should be relied on first and foremost.
Human Action Recognition Based on Hierarchical Multi-Scale Adaptive Conv-Long Short-Term Memory Network
Authors: Huang Qian , Xie Weiliang , Li Chang , Wang Yanfang , Liu Yanwei
Published: September 2023

Recently, human action recognition has gained widespread use in fields such as human–robot interaction, healthcare, and sports. With the popularity of wearable devices, we can easily access sensor data of human actions for human action recognition. However, extracting spatio-temporal motion patterns from sensor data and capturing fine-grained action processes remain a challenge. To address this problem, we proposed a novel hierarchical multi-scale adaptive Conv-LSTM network structure called HMA Conv-LSTM. The spatial information of sensor signals is extracted by hierarchical multi-scale convolution with finer-grained features, and the multi-channel features are fused by adaptive channel feature fusion to retain important information and improve the efficiency of the model. The dynamic channel-selection-LSTM based on the attention mechanism captures the temporal context information and long-term dependence of the sensor signals. Experimental results show that the proposed model achieves Macro F1-scores of 0.68, 0.91, 0.53, and 0.96 on four public datasets: Opportunity, PAMAP2, USC-HAD, and Skoda, respectively. Our model demonstrates competitive performance when compared to several state-of-the-art approaches.
Experimental Study on the Active Control and Dynamic Characteristics of Electromagnetic Active–Passive Hybrid Vibration Isolation System
Authors: Zhang Qingwei , Zhu Liangming , Dong Qi , Sui Jiangbo , Sun Mingwei , Wang Jiangshan , Yu Xiang
Published: September 2023

Targeting the problems of conventional active–passive hybrid vibration isolation systems, such as low output force, poor bearing capacity, large power loss and inability to withstand strong impacts, this paper proposes an active–passive hybrid vibration isolation system combining an electromagnetic actuator, rubber passive vibration isolator and magnetorheological damper. The overall design of the hybrid vibration isolation system is first introduced. Then, a two-dimensional electromagnetic frequency-domain simulation is carried out on the electromagnetic actuator to obtain the output characteristics. A three-dimensional modeling is conducted to simulate the electromagnetic–mechanical coupling in the time–frequency domain to obtain nephograms of the magnetic flux diffusion distribution and power loss. Then, a dynamic stiffness test is carried out on the rubber vibration isolator to obtain the dynamic stiffness characteristics and the damping angle curve. At the same time, an adaptive suppression filtered-x least mean square (ASFXLMS) algorithm is proposed to adjust the update of the control weight coefficients to ensure that the current signal does not exceed the effective operating range of the actuator when the electromagnetic actuator is subjected to strong external disturbances. Finally, a hybrid vibration isolation system-based active vibration isolation experimental platform is built, and multifrequency line spectra active–passive vibration isolation experiments are carried out. The results demonstrate that the hybrid vibration isolation system has good control effects in the time–frequency domain and shows good robustness when subjected to impact.
Tooth Profile Construction and Experimental Verification of Non-Circular Gear Based on Double Arc Active Design
Authors: Wang Kang , Gao Zhenshan , Chen Guohua , Guo Meihua
Published: September 2023

The double arc pitch curve is a novel way for creating a non-circular gear tooth profile. Aiming at the problems of the rounding of non-integer teeth and the nonlinear equation system in the construction of double circular arc tooth profile, an active design method based on planetary gear transmission kinematics and gear-meshing theory is proposed. By studying the double arc pitch curve of the three engagement positions, combined with the uniform theory of the relative curvature of surfaces, the distribution characteristics of the solution of the nonlinear equation system are analyzed in depth, leading to the optimal solution of the characteristic parameter values of the pitch curve. Combined with UG modeling and ADAMS motion simulation, the gear engagement force and the angular velocity of the planetary gear around the center are compared and analyzed in the case of integer tooth ratio and non-integer tooth profile. The results show that the engagement force of the gear pair constructed by integer teeth is reduced by about 17%. The optimal combination of the numbers of teeth is determined by orthogonal experiments, on which trial production and hydraulic load tests are based. The results reveal that the torque of the product at a rated speed is about 2.6% higher than that of foreign prototypes, which verifies the effectiveness of the design method proposed in this paper.
A DDPG-Based USV Path-Planning Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Jian , Wang Pengrui , Li Baiyi , Bai Chunjiang
Published: September 2023

Path planning is crucial in the automatic navigation of USVs (unmanned underwater vehicles), which directly affects the operational efficiency and safety of USVs. In this paper, we propose a path-planning algorithm based on DDPG (Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient) and make a detailed comparison with the traditional A-Star algorithm and the recent Actor–Critical algorithm. Through a series of simulation experiments, it can be observed that the optimal path for USVs found by the DDPG-based path planning algorithm is faster and more accurate than that found by the other two methods. The experimental results show that the DDPG algorithm has a significant advantage in processing time and better performance in terms of path quality and safety. These results provide a strong reference for future research on automatic navigation for USVs and demonstrate the potential of DDPG-based path planning for USVs.
Finite State GUI Testing with Test Case Prioritization Using Z-BES and GK-GRU
Authors: Kumar Sumit , Nitin  , Yadav Mitul
Published: September 2023

To deliver user-friendly experiences, modern software applications rely heavily on graphical user interfaces (GUIs). However, it is paramount to ensure the quality of these GUIs through effective testing. This paper proposes a novel “Finite state testing for GUI with test case prioritization using ZScore-Bald Eagle Search (Z-BES) and Gini Kernel-Gated recurrent unit (GK-GRU)” approach to enhance GUI testing accuracy and efficiency. First, historical project data is collected. Subsequently, by utilizing the Z-BES algorithm, test cases are prioritized, aiding in improving GUI testing. Attributes are then extracted from prioritized test cases, which contain crucial details. Additionally, a state transition diagram (STD) is generated to visualize system behavior. The state activity score (SAS) is then computed to quantify state importance using reinforcement learning (RL). Next, GUI components are identified, and their text values are extracted. Similarity scores between GUI text values and test case attributes are computed. Grounded on similarity scores and SAS, a fuzzy algorithm labels the test cases. Data representation is enhanced by word embedding using GS-BERT. Finally, the test case outcomes are predicted by the GK-GRU, validating the GUI performance. The proposed work attains 98% accuracy, precision, recall, f-measure, and sensitivity, and low FPR and FNR error rates of 14.2 and 7.5, demonstrating the reliability of the model. The proposed Z-BES requires only 5587 ms to prioritize the test cases, retaining less time complexity. Meanwhile, the GK-GRU technique requires 38945 ms to train the neurons, thus enhancing the computational efficiency of the system. In conclusion, experimental outcomes demonstrate that, compared with the prevailing approaches, the proposed technique attains superior performance.
Opportunities and Challenges in the Smart and Comprehensive Monitoring of Complex Surface Systems
Authors: Yao Qingyu , Guo Yulong
Published: September 2023

The trade-offs between wetland and cropland generate new challenges in understanding the balance between humanity and nature regarding the global carbon cycle, biological diversity, and food supplies [...]
Experimental Study of Morphological Analyzers for Topic Categorization in News Articles
Authors: Ahn Sangtae
Published: September 2023

Natural language processing refers to the ability of computers to understand text and spoken words similar to humans. Recently, various machine learning techniques have been used to encode a large amount of text and decode feature vectors of text successfully. However, understanding low-resource languages is in the early stages of research. In particular, Korean, which is an agglutinative language, needs sophisticated preprocessing steps, such as morphological analysis. Since morphological analysis in preprocessing significantly influences classification results, ideal and optimized morphological analyzers must be used. This study explored five state-of-the-art morphological analyzers for Korean news articles and categorized their topics into seven classes using term frequency–inverse document frequency and light gradient boosting machine frameworks. It was found that a morphological analyzer based on unsupervised learning achieved a computation time of 6 s in 500,899 tokens, which is 72 times faster than the slowest analyzer (432 s). In addition, a morphological analyzer using dynamic programming achieved a topic categorization accuracy of 82.5%, which is 9.4% higher than achieve when using the hidden Markov model (73.1%) and 13.4% higher compared to the baseline (69.1%) without any morphological analyzer in news articles. This study can provide insight into how each morphological analyzer extracts morphemes in sentences and affects categorizing topics in news articles.
Lost in Translation: Tangible and Non-Tangible in Conservation
Authors: Walter Nigel
Published: September 2023

This paper addresses the special issue theme of the response of conservation practice to shifts in heritage theory towards the intangible, through exploring some specific aspects of practice and statutory process in the UK. The paper starts with an overview of conservation in the UK, and the extent to which it does or does not interface with developments in heritage theory. It explores the conventional understanding of significance—here termed ‘subtractive’—which reflects the antiquarian concerns from which conservation developed. It then considers the Ecclesiastical Exemption, a parallel consent mechanism within UK law for Christian places of worship that remain in use, which specifically recognises their need to change over time to ensure their survival. Evidence for a growing appreciation of non-tangible value and community participation in heritage is provided in recent research by The National Churches Trust into the economic and social value of church buildings to local communities across the UK. The paper concludes that a positive response to changes in heritage theory requires conservation to undertake its own theoretical work; this will involve a recognition of living buildings as central rather than peripheral both to conservation and to heritage more broadly, and a move towards a ‘generative’ understanding of significance.
Investigating the Characteristics of Tropical Cyclone Size in the Western North Pacific from 1981 to 2009
Authors: Cao Qing , Lu Xiaoqin , Chen Guomin
Published: September 2023

Tropical cyclone (TC) size is an important parameter for estimating TC risks, such as precipitation distribution, gale-force wind damage, and storm surge. This paper uses the TC size dataset compiled by the Shanghai Typhoon Institute of China Meteorological Administration (STI/CMA) to investigate the interannual, monthly variation in TC size, and the relationships between TC size and intensity in the WNP basin from 1981 to 2009. The results show that the annual mean TC size oscillated within the range of 175–210 km from 1981 to 2002, then decreased following 2003. For the monthly average TC size, there are two peaks in September and October. The TC size, overall, becomes larger with increasing intensity; the samples with an unusually large size are mainly concentrated near a 40 m s−1 intensity. After the TC intensity exceeds 40 m s−1, the number of unusually large size samples gradually decreases. About 60% of the TCs reach their maximum size after reaching the peak intensity, and the average lag time is 8.3 h.
Mitigating Ammonia Deposition Derived from Open-Lot Livestock Facilities into Colorado’s Rocky Mountain National Park: State of the Science
Authors: Brandani Carolina B. , Lee Myeongseong , Auvermann Brent W. , Parker David B. , Casey Kenneth D. , Crosman Erik T. , Gouvêa Vinícius N. , Beck Matthew R. , Bush K. Jack , Koziel Jacek A. , Shaw Bryan , Brauer David
Published: September 2023

Northeast Colorado’s livestock operations have been identified as a major contributor to reactive nitrogen deposition in the Rocky Mountains National Park (RMNP). We present a review on the state of knowledge concerning the emission, transport, deposition, and mitigation of gaseous ammonia (NH3) from open-lot cattle feeding facilities located east of the Northern Front Range of the Rocky Mountains. Gaseous NH3 mitigation strategies discussed are related to diet manipulation and management practices. Crude protein content of 11% and condensed tannins of 8% reduced the NH3 emission by 43% and 57%, respectively. Ambiguous results for NH3 mitigation by using water sprinklers have been reported—an increase in NH3 emission by 27% and decrease of 27 to 56%. Manure harvesting should be evaluated in terms of maintaining proper moisture content, and not necessarily as a mitigation option. The use of chemical and physical manure amendments has shown a wide range in NH3 mitigation effectiveness, ranging from 19 to 98% for chemical and 0 to 43% for physical amendments, respectively. The review outlined the scientific basis, practicality, and expected efficacy of each management practice. The most plausible management practices to reduce NH3 emissions from corral surfaces in cattle feedyards are presented.
The Double-Nozzle Technique Equipped with RF-Only Funnel and RF-Buncher for the Ion Beam Extraction into Vacuum
Authors: Varentsov Victor
Published: September 2023

This study is a further development of our “Proposal of a new double-nozzle technique for in-gas-jet laser resonance ionization spectroscopy” paper published in the journal Atoms earlier this year. Here, we propose equipping the double-nozzle technique with the RF-only funnel and RF-buncher placed in a gas-jet chamber at a 70 mm distance downstream of the double-nozzle exit. It allows for highly effective extraction into vacuum heavy ion beams, produced in two-steps laser resonance ionization in the argon supersonic jet. We explored the operation of this new full version of the double-nozzle technique through detailed gas dynamic and Monte Carlo trajectory simulations, with the results presented and discussed. In particular, our calculations showed that more than 80% of all nobelium-254 neutral atoms, extracted by argon flow from the gas-stopping cell, can then be extracted into vacuum in a form of pulsed ion beam having low transverse and longitudinal emittance.
Sinc Collocation Method to Simulate the Fractional Partial Integro-Differential Equation with a Weakly Singular Kernel
Authors: Li Mingzhu , Chen Lijuan , Zhou Yongtao
Published: September 2023

In this article, we develop an efficient numerical scheme for dealing with fractional partial integro-differential equations (FPIEs) with a weakly singular kernel. The weight and shift Grünwald difference (WSGD) operator is adopted to approximate a time fractional derivative and the Sinc collocation method is applied for discretizing the spatial derivative.The exponential convergence of our proposed method is demonstrated in detail. Finally, numerical evidence is employed to verify the theoretical results and confirm the expected convergence rate.
An Electrothermal Model of an NMC Lithium-Ion Prismatic Battery Cell for Temperature Distribution Assessment
Authors: Madaoui Said , Vinassa Jean-Michel , Sabatier Jocelyn , Guillemard Franck
Published: September 2023

Charge time has become one of the primary issues restricting the development of electric vehicles. To counter this problem, an adapted thermal management system needs to be designed in order to reduce the internal thermal gradient, by predicting the surface and internal temperature responses of the battery. In this work, a pseudo 3D model is developed to simulate battery cell performance and its internal states under various operational scenarios such as temperature and convection conditions as well as the applied current during charge and discharge. An original mesh of the JR is proposed where heat exchanges in the three directions (radial, orthoradial and axial) are considered. The model represents one of the solutions that enable increasing the lifespan of batteries while decreasing charging time. It offers the opportunity to optimize operating parameters to extend battery life. In this paper, attention was paid not only to the core and non-core components, but also to the experiments required to parametrize the thermal and electrochemical models (heat generation). Unlike existing approaches documented in the literature, the model developed in this work achieves an impressive balance between computational efficiency and result accuracy, making it a groundbreaking contribution in the field of electric vehicle technology.
Optimization of Annealing Process of Li6PS5Cl for All-Solid-State Lithium Batteries by Box–Behnken Design
Authors: Zhang Zhihua , Chai Yan , Ning De , Wang Jun , Zhou Dong , Li Yongli
Published: September 2023

Li6PS5Cl possesses high ionic conductivity and excellent interfacial stability to electrodes and is known as a promising solid-state electrolyte material for all-solid-state batteries (ASSBs). However, the optimal annealing process of Li6PS5Cl has not been studied systematically. Here, a Box–Behnken design is used to investigate the interactions of the heating rate, annealing temperature, and duration of annealing process for Li6PS5Cl to optimize the ionic conductivity. The response surface methodology with regression analysis is employed for simulating the data obtained, and the optimized parameters are verified in practice. As a consequence, Li6PS5Cl delivers a rather high conductivity of 4.45 mS/cm at 25 °C, and ASSB consisting of a LiNi0.6Co0.2Mn0.2O2 cathode and lithium anode shows a high initial discharge capacity of 151.7 mAh/g as well as excellent cycling performances for more than 350 cycles, highlighting the importance of the design of experiments.
Multi-Layer TiO2−x-PEDOT-Decorated Industrial Fe2O3 Composites as Anode Materials for Cycle-Performance-Enhanced Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Ma Yangzhou , Li Qi , Li Haoduo , Cai Zhenfei , Wang Shuai , Zhang Li , Li Jian , Song Guangsheng , Xu Youlong , Yi Tingfeng
Published: September 2023

An industrial submicron-sized Fe2O3 with no special shape was decorated by a multi-layer coating of oxygen-deficient TiO2−x and conducting polymer PEDOT (poly 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene). A facile sol–gel method followed by an EDOT polymerization process was adopted to synthesize the hierarchical coating composite. The microstructure and phase composition were characterized using an X-ray diffraction analysis (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). In particular, the existence state of PEDOT was determined using Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) and a thermogravimetric (TG) analysis. The characterization results indicated the dual phase was well-coated on the Fe2O3 and its thickness was nano scale. Electrochemical characterization indicated that the multi-layer coating was helpful for significantly enhancing the cycle stability of the Fe2O3, and its electrochemical performance was even better than that of the single-layer coating samples. The synergistic effects of the ceramic phase and conducting polymer were demonstrated to be useful for improving electrochemical properties. The obtained FTP-24 sample exhibited a specific discharge capacity of 588.9 mAh/g after 360 cycles at a current density of 100 mA/g, which effectively improved the intrinsic cycling performance of the Fe2O3, with a corresponding discharge capacity of 50 mAh/g after 30 cycles.
Fe3O4 Nanoparticle-Decorated Bimodal Porous Carbon Nanocomposite Anode for High-Performance Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Deka Juti Rani , Saikia Diganta , Lai Yuan-Hung , Kao Hsien-Ming , Yang Yung-Chin
Published: September 2023

A new nanocomposite system based on Fe3O4 nanoparticles confined in three-dimensional (3D) dual-mode cubic porous carbon is developed using the nanocasting and wet-impregnation methods to assess its performance as an anode for lithium-ion batteries. Several Fe3O4 precursor concentrations are chosen to optimize and determine the best-performing nanocomposite composition. The cubic mesoporous carbon CMK-9 offers a better ability for the Fe3O4 nanoparticles to be accommodated inside the mesopores, efficiently buffering the variation in volume and equally enhancing electrode/electrolyte contact for rapid charge and mass transfer. Among the prepared nanocomposites, the Fe3O4(13)@C9 anode delivers an excellent reversible discharge capacity of 1222 mA h g−1 after 150 cycles at a current rate of 100 mA g−1, with a capacity retention of 96.8% compared to the fourth cycle (1262 mA h g−1). At a higher current rate of 1000 mA g−1, the nanocomposite anode offers a superior discharge capacity of 636 mA h g−1 beyond 300 cycles. The present study reveals the use of a 3D mesoporous carbon material as a scaffold for anchoring Fe3O4 nanoparticles with impressive potential as an anode for new-generation lithium-ion batteries.
Corneal Biomechanical Measures for Glaucoma: A Clinical Approach
Authors: Elhusseiny Abdelrahman M. , Scarcelli Giuliano , Saeedi Osamah J.
Published: September 2023

Over the last two decades, there has been growing interest in assessing corneal biomechanics in different diseases, such as keratoconus, glaucoma, and corneal disorders. Given the interaction and structural continuity between the cornea and sclera, evaluating corneal biomechanics may give us further insights into the pathogenesis, diagnosis, progression, and management of glaucoma. Therefore, some authorities have recommended baseline evaluations of corneal biomechanics in all glaucoma and glaucoma suspects patients. Currently, two devices (Ocular Response Analyzer and Corneal Visualization Schiempflug Technology) are commercially available for evaluating corneal biomechanics; however, each device reports different parameters, and there is a weak to moderate agreement between the reported parameters. Studies are further limited by the inclusion of glaucoma subjects taking topical prostaglandin analogues, which may alter corneal biomechanics and contribute to contradicting results, lack of proper stratification of patients, and misinterpretation of the results based on factors that are confounded by intraocular pressure changes. This review aims to summarize the recent evidence on corneal biomechanics in glaucoma patients and insights for future studies to address the current limitations of the literature studying corneal biomechanics.
From Alpha to Omicron: How Different Variants of Concern of the SARS-Coronavirus-2 Impacted the World
Authors: Andre Mickensone , Lau Lee-Seng , Pokharel Marissa D. , Ramelow Julian , Owens Florida , Souchak Joseph , Akkaoui Juliet , Ales Evan , Brown Harry , Shil Rajib , Nazaire Valeria , Manevski Marko , Paul Ngozi P. , Esteban-Lopez Maria , Ceyhan Yasemin , El-Hage Nazira
Published: September 2023

SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, is prone to mutations and the generation of genetic variants. Since its first outbreak in 2019, SARS-CoV-2 has continually evolved, resulting in the emergence of several lineages and variants of concern (VOC) that have gained more efficient transmission, severity, and immune evasion properties. The World Health Organization has given these variants names according to the letters of the Greek Alphabet, starting with the Alpha (B.1.1.7) variant, which emerged in 2020, followed by the Beta (B.1.351), Gamma (P.1), Delta (B.1.617.2), and Omicron (B.1.1.529) variants. This review explores the genetic variation among different VOCs of SARS-CoV-2 and how the emergence of variants made a global impact on the pandemic.
Maternal Cardiovascular Responses to Position Change in Pregnancy
Authors: Clark Alys R. , Fontinha Hanna , Thompson John , Couper Sophie , Jani Devanshi , Mirjalili Ali , Bennet Laura , Stone Peter
Published: September 2023

The maternal cardiovascular-circulatory system undergoes profound changes almost from the conception of a pregnancy until the postpartum period to support the maternal adaptions required for pregnancy and lactation. Maintenance of cardiovascular homeostasis requires changes in the cardiovascular autonomic responses. Here, we present a longitudinal study of the maternal cardiovascular autonomic responses to pregnancy and maternal position. Over a normal gestation, in the left lateral position there are significant changes in both time and frequency domain parameters reflecting heart rate variability. We show that cardiovascular autonomic responses to physiological stressors (standing and supine positions in late pregnancy) became significantly different with advancing gestation. In the third trimester, 60% of the subjects had an unstable heart rate response on standing, and these subjects had a significantly reduced sample entropy evident in their heart rate variability data. By 6 weeks, postpartum function returned to near the non-pregnant state, but there were consistent differences in high-frequency power when compared to nulligravid cases. Finally, we review complementary evidence, in particular from magnetic resonance imaging, that provides insights into the maternal and fetal impacts of positioning in pregnancy. This demonstrates a clear relationship between supine position and maternal hemodynamic parameters, which relates to compression of the inferior vena cava (p = 0.05). Together, these studies demonstrate new understanding of the physiology of physiological stressors related to position.
Comparative Mitogenome Analyses Uncover Mitogenome Features and Phylogenetic Implications of the Reef Fish Family Holocentridae (Holocentriformes)
Authors: Tang Qin , Liu Yong , Li Chun-Hou , Zhao Jin-Fa , Wang Teng
Published: September 2023

To understand the molecular mechanisms and adaptive strategies of holocentrid fish, we sequenced the mitogenome of eight species within the family Holocentridae and compared them with six other holocentrid species. The mitogenomes were found to be 16,507–16,639 bp in length and to encode 37 typical mitochondrial genes, including 13 PCGs, two ribosomal RNAs, and 22 transfer RNA genes. Structurally, the gene arrangement, base composition, codon usage, tRNA size, and putative secondary structures were comparable between species. Of the 13 PCGs, nad6 was the most specific gene that exhibited negative AT-skews and positive GC-skews. Most of the genes begin with the standard codon ATG, except cox1, which begins with the codon GTG. By examining their phylogeny, Sargocentron and Neoniphon were verified to be closely related and to belong to the same subfamily Holocentrinae, while Myripristis and Ostichthys belong to the other subfamily Myripristinae. The subfamilies were clearly distinguished by high-confidence-supported clades, which provide evidence to explain the differences in morphology and feeding habits between the two subfamilies. Selection pressure analysis indicated that all PCGs were subject to purifying selection. Overall, our study provides valuable insight into the habiting behavior, evolution, and ecological roles of these important marine fish.
Coupled Electrostatic and Hydrophobic Destabilisation of the Gelsolin-Actin Complex Enables Facile Detection of Ovarian Cancer Biomarker Lysophosphatidic Acid
Authors: Davoudian Katharina , Bhattacharya Shayon , Thompson Damien , Thompson Michael
Published: September 2023

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a promising biomarker candidate to screen for ovarian cancer (OC) and potentially stratify and treat patients according to disease stage. LPA is known to target the actin-binding protein gelsolin which is a key regulator of actin filament assembly. Previous studies have shown that the phosphate headgroup of LPA alone is inadequate to bind to the short chain of amino acids in gelsolin known as the PIP2-binding domain. Thus, the molecular-level detail of the mechanism of LPA binding is poorly understood. Here, we model LPA binding to the PIP2-binding domain of gelsolin in the gelsolin-actin complex through extensive ten-microsecond atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations. We predict that LPA binding causes a local conformational rearrangement due to LPA interactions with both gelsolin and actin residues. These conformational changes are a result of the amphipathic nature of LPA, where the anionic phosphate, polar glycerol and ester groups, and lipophilic aliphatic tail mediate LPA binding via charged electrostatic, hydrogen bonding, and van der Waals interactions. The negatively-charged LPA headgroup binds to the PIP2-binding domain of gelsolin-actin while its hydrophobic tail is inserted into actin, creating a strong LPA-insertion pocket that weakens the gelsolin–actin interface. The computed structure, dynamics, and energetics of the ternary gelsolin–LPA–actin complex confirms that a quantitative OC assay is possible based on LPA-triggered actin release from the gelsolin-actin complex.
Functional, Morphological and Molecular Changes Reveal the Mechanisms Associated with Age-Related Vestibular Loss
Authors: Paplou Vasiliki Georgia , Schubert Nick M. A. , van Tuinen Marcel , Vijayakumar Sarath , Pyott Sonja J.
Published: September 2023

Age-related loss of vestibular function and hearing are common disorders that arise from the loss of function of the inner ear and significantly decrease quality of life. The underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are poorly understood and difficult to investigate in humans. Therefore, our study examined young (1.5-month-old) and old (24-month-old) C57BL/6 mice, utilizing physiological, histological, and transcriptomic methods. Vestibular sensory-evoked potentials revealed that older mice had reduced wave I amplitudes and delayed wave I latencies, indicating reduced vestibular function. Immunofluorescence and image analysis revealed that older mice exhibited a significant decline in type I sensory hair cell density, particularly in hair cells connected to dimorphic vestibular afferents. An analysis of gene expression in the isolated vestibule revealed the upregulation of immune-related genes and the downregulation of genes associated with ossification and nervous system development. A comparison with the isolated cochlear sensorineural structures showed similar changes in genes related to immune response, chondrocyte differentiation, and myelin formation. These findings suggest that age-related vestibular hypofunction is linked to diminished peripheral vestibular responses, likely due to the loss of a specific subpopulation of hair cells and calyceal afferents. The upregulation of immune- and inflammation-related genes implies that inflammation contributes to these functional and structural changes. Furthermore, the comparison of gene expression between the vestibule and cochlea indicates both shared and distinct mechanisms contributing to age-related vestibular and hearing impairments. Further research is necessary to understand the mechanistic connection between inflammation and age-related balance and hearing disorders and to translate these findings into clinical treatment strategies.
The Role of Adenosine in γδ T-Cell Regulation of Th17 Responses in Experimental Autoimmune Uveitis
Authors: Shao Hui , Kaplan Henry J. , Sun Deming
Published: September 2023

Autoimmune diseases caused by T cells can arise from either T-helper 1 (Th1) or T-helper 17 (Th17)-type pathogenic T cells. However, it is unclear whether these two T-cell subsets are influenced by distinct pathogenic factors and whether treatments that are effective for Th1 responses also work for Th17 responses. To compare these two pathogenic responses, we conducted a systematic analysis in a mouse model of experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) to identify the factors that promote or inhibit each response and to determine their responses to various treatments. Our study found that the two types of pathogenic responses differ significantly in their pathological progressions and susceptibility to treatments. Specifically, we observed that extracellular adenosine is a crucial pathogenic molecule involved in the pathogenicity of inflammation and T-cell reactivity and that reciprocal interaction between adenosine and gamma delta (γδ) T cells plays a significant role in amplifying Th17 responses in the development of autoimmune diseases. The potential effect of targeting adenosine or adenosine receptors is analyzed regarding whether such targeting constitutes an effective approach to modulating both γδ T-cell responses and the pathogenic Th17 responses in autoimmune diseases.
Silencing of Glutamine: Fructose-6-Phosphate Aminotransferase Impairs Growth and Development in Sogatella furcifera (Hemiptera: Delphacidae)
Authors: Wang Zhao , Long Guiyun , Zhu Huan , Jin Daochao , Yang Hong , Zhou Cao
Published: September 2023

Glutamine: fructose-6-phosphate aminotransferase (GFAT), the fourth enzyme in the chitin synthesis pathway, exerts wide-ranging effects on the growth and development of organisms. However, the role of GFAT in Sogatella furcifera remains unknown. In this study, the functional significance of the GFAT gene of S. furcifera was analyzed using a reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and RNA interference (RNAi) analyses. The complementary DNA sequence of SfGFAT was 3162 bp in length and contained a 2067 bp open reading frame encoding 688 amino acid residues. Structural domain analysis indicated that the SfGFAT protein consisted of one glutamine aminotransferase class 2 domain and two sugar isomerase domains. Expression profile analysis revealed that SfGFAT was expressed throughout the egg, nymph, and adult phases and was strongly expressed on the first day of each nymph stage and in the integuments of five tissues. RNAi results revealed that SfGFAT gene silencing significantly inhibited the mRNA expression of the target gene and resulted in severe mortality among S. furcifera. In summary, these findings demonstrate that SfGFAT plays a critical role in the development of S. furcifera. Moreover, these results may aid in the development of methods to control the spread of S. furcifera.
Research Progress on the Structural and Functional Roles of hnRNPs in Muscle Development
Authors: Li Zhenyang , Wei Haimei , Hu Debao , Li Xin , Guo Yiwen , Ding Xiangbin , Guo Hong , Zhang Linlin
Published: September 2023

Heterogeneous nuclear ribonucleoproteins (hnRNPs) are a superfamily of RNA-binding proteins consisting of more than 20 members. These proteins play a crucial role in various biological processes by regulating RNA splicing, transcription, and translation through their binding to RNA. In the context of muscle development and regeneration, hnRNPs are involved in a wide range of regulatory mechanisms, including alternative splicing, transcription regulation, miRNA regulation, and mRNA stability regulation. Recent studies have also suggested a potential association between hnRNPs and muscle-related diseases. In this report, we provide an overview of our current understanding of how hnRNPs regulate RNA metabolism and emphasize the significance of the key members of the hnRNP family in muscle development. Furthermore, we explore the relationship between the hnRNP family and muscle-related diseases.
NF-κB Pathway and Its Inhibitors: A Promising Frontier in the Management of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sivamaruthi Bhagavathi Sundaram , Raghani Neha , Chorawala Mehul , Bhattacharya Sankha , Prajapati Bhupendra G. , Elossaily Gehan M. , Chaiyasut Chaiyavat
Published: September 2023

The nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) pathway has emerged as a pivotal player in the pathogenesis of various diseases, including neurodegenerative illnesses like Alzheimer’s disease (AD). The involvement of the NF-κB pathway in immune system responses, inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuronal survival highlights its significance in AD progression. We discuss the advantages of NF-κB pathway inhibition, including the potential to mitigate neuroinflammation, modulate amyloid beta (Aβ) production, and promote neuronal survival. However, we also acknowledge the limitations and challenges associated with this approach. Balancing the fine line between dampening inflammation and preserving physiological immune responses is critical to avoid unintended consequences. This review combines current knowledge on the NF-κB pathway’s intricate involvement in AD pathogenesis, emphasizing its potential as a therapeutic target. By evaluating both advantages and limitations, we provide a holistic view of the feasibility and challenges of NF-κB pathway modulation in AD treatment. As the quest for effective AD therapies continues, an in-depth understanding of the NF-κB pathway’s multifaceted roles will guide the development of targeted interventions with the potential to improve AD management.
Effects of Myofascial Induction Therapy on Ankle Range of Motion and Pressure Pain Threshold in Trigger Points of the Gastrocnemius—A Clinical Trial
Authors: Martínez-Jiménez Eva María , Jiménez-Fernández Raquel , Corral-Liria Inmaculada , Rodríguez-Sanz David , Calvo-Lobo César , López-López Daniel , Pérez-Boal Eduardo , Trevissón-Redondo Bibiana , Grande-del-Arco Jessica
Published: September 2023

Background: The myofascial induction technique (MIT) has been shown to increase shoulder range of motion (ROM) in breast cancer survivors and decrease pain pressure threshold over the radial nerve in patients with epicondylalgia. To the authors’ best knowledge, no study on trigger points and MIT has been published to date. The effect on ROM of latent trigger points is also unknown. Methods: A total of 20 twins with one latent trigger point of the gastrocnemius muscle were evaluated pre- and post-MIT in the calf. We measured static footprint variables in a pre–post study. Results: We found differences in PPT (p = 0.001) and no differences in ROM with knee flexed (p = 0.420) or stretched (p = 0.069). Conclusions: After Calf MIT, latent myofascial trigger points improve PPT but no change in ankle dorsiflexion with knee bent or knee flexed were found in non-restriction healthy subjects.
Prevalence of Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome among Individuals with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: An Analysis of United States National Inpatient Sample Database
Authors: Tarar Zahid Ijaz , Farooq Umer , Nawaz Ahmad , Gandhi Mustafa , Ghouri Yezaz A. , Bhatt Asmeen , Cash Brooks D.
Published: September 2023

Background and Aim: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a functional gastrointestinal disorder associated with other somatic disorders. We studied the prevalence and predictors of fibromyalgia and chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) in IBS patients. Methods: We used the National Inpatient Sample and included hospitalization of individuals with IBS, using ICD-10 codes, from 2016–2019. The prevalence and predictors of fibromyalgia and CFS in IBS patients were studied. Univariate and multivariate patient- and hospital-level regression models were used to calculate the adjusted odds of fibromyalgia and CFS in the IBS patient population. Results: Of 1,256,325 patients with an ICD-10 code of IBS included in the study, 10.73% (134,890) also had ICD-10 codes for fibromyalgia and 0.42% (5220) for CFS. The prevalence of fibromyalgia and CFS was significantly higher in IBS patients (adjusted odds ratio (AOR) 5.33, 95% confidence interval (CI) 5.24–5.41, p < 0.001, and AOR 5.40, 95% CI 5.04–5.78, p < 0.001, respectively) compared to the general adult population without IBS. IBS-diarrhea, IBS-constipation, and IBS-mixed types were independently associated with increased odds of fibromyalgia and CFS. Increasing age (AOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.04, p 0.003; AOR 1.02, 95% CI 1.01–1.03, p 0.001), female gender (AOR 11.2, 95% CI 11.1–11.4, p < 0.001; AOR 1.86, 95% CI 1.78–1.93, p < 0.001) and white race (AOR 2.04, 95% CI 1.95–2.12, p < 0.001; AOR 1.69, 95% CI 1.34–2.13, p < 0.001) were independent predictors of increased odds of fibromyalgia and CFS, respectively. Conclusions: It appears that IBS is associated with an increased prevalence of somatic disorders such as fibromyalgia and CFS.