bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Design of a Phase Calibrator to Evaluate Non-Matched Microphones for Intensity Probes
Authors: Russo Nicola , Monaco Ernesto , Esposito Andrea
Published: November 2023

Intensity measurements represent a well-established method to determine the sound power of an emitting object. The principal strength of this technique relies upon the possibility of performing the measurements in situ, with no special required conditions concerning the surrounding sound field. Commercially available sound intensity probes rely on two phase-matched microphones properly spaced concerning the desired frequency range. Given the physical and mathematical principles behind the intensity method, phase differences between the signals assume a crucial role. This report aims to study the possibility of designing a cost-effective acoustic phase calibrator to extract the intrinsic phase mismatch of standard class-1 microphones. A phase calibrator has been designed to identify phase mismatches between the microphones and provide the required corrections at specific frequencies. Numerical acoustical Finite Element Method (FEM). models of the calibrator configurations have been implemented. The results of the numerical models have lately led to three calibrator prototypes that have been produced by 3D-printing and tested. They have shown good results when compared to a commercially available and much more expensive acoustic coupler.
Oral Cavity Mucocele and Different Surgical Treatment Strategies: Is Laser Excision Effective? A Scoping Review
Authors: Scribante Andrea , Pellegrini Matteo , Pulicari Federica , De Martino Francesca , Li Vigni Giacomo , Ghizzoni Martina , Spadari Francesco
Published: November 2023

Mucocele is a common lesion localized in the oral cavity; it originates from the lesion of a salivary duct and the consequent accumulation of mucin in soft tissues. It is a common lesion of young patients and is frequently associated with areas subject to traumas. Surgical treatment is needed especially if it reaches considerable dimensions, as it can cause discomfort in the patient and tends to increase in size if subjected to further traumatism. This scoping review aims to investigate which treatments are used for this type of lesion, which are the most suitable to prevent recurrence, and if laser-assisted surgery is considered more efficient than other methods. An electronic search was performed within the PubMed (MEDLINE) and Scopus databases. Articles published in the years 2010 to 2023 were selected. Techniques like marsupialization and laser-assisted excision effectively treat mucoceles, with no clear prevalence between them. Laser surgery offers speed, precision, and minimal post-operation discomfort, but randomized trials are needed for conclusive comparisons.
Optimizing Point Source Tracking in Awake Rat PET Imaging: A Comprehensive Study of Motion Detection and Best Correction Conditions
Authors: Arias-Valcayo Fernando , Galve Pablo , Manuel Udías Jose , Vaquero Juan José , Desco Manuel , Herraiz Joaquín L.
Published: November 2023

Preclinical PET animal studies require immobilization of the animal, typically accomplished through the administration of anesthesia, which may affect the radiotracer biodistribution. The use of 18F point sources attached to the rat head is one of the most promising methods for motion compensation in awake rat PET studies. However, the presence of radioactive markers may degrade image quality. In this study, we aimed to investigate the most favorable conditions for preclinical PET studies using awake rats with attached point sources. Firstly, we investigate the optimal activity conditions for the markers and rat-injected tracer using Monte Carlo simulations to determine the parameters of maximum detectability without compromising image quality. Additionally, we scrutinize the impact of delayed window correction for random events on marker detectability and overall image quality within these studies. Secondly, we present a method designed to mitigate the influence of rapid rat movements, which resulted in a medium loss of events of around 30%, primarily observed during the initial phase of the data acquisition. We validated our study with PET acquisitions from an awake rat within the acceptable conditions of activity and motion compensation parameters. This acquisition revealed an 8% reduction in resolution compared to a sedated animal, along with a 6% decrease in signal-to-noise ratio (SNR). These outcomes affirm the viability of our method for conducting awake preclinical brain studies.
Pile Arrangement for Minimizing Plastic Deformation in Pile-Supported Immersed Tunnel under Seismic Loads
Authors: Fan Hu , Zhuang Yan , Li Jinxin , Chen Zhi
Published: November 2023

The plastic region of piles under seismic loads is a crucial concern in seafloor improvement design. This paper establishes a physical model of the sand compaction pile-immersed tunnel–water pressure system. This research studies pile arrangements that minimize the sand compaction pile plastic region under seismic loads. The experiments were validated through numerical simulations. The results show that “X-shaped” and rectangular pile groups increase the Energy Residual Index (ERI) due to differences in pile spacing and the instability of the quadrilateral prism damping units formed by piles and soil. In this scenario, piles are limited to heavy and mild plastic regions, with boundary depths at L = 2.25 D and L = 2.08 D (L represents the pile length, and D is the pile diameter). Furthermore, increased water pressure amplifies the structural resonance injury, increasing ERI. In conjunction with the soil, hexagonal pile groups create triangular prism damping units that counteract seismic wavefronts. The total kinetic energy and strain energy of the piled foundation are lower than those of the “X-shaped” and rectangular pile groups. The boundaries between the heavy plastic region, the moderate plastic region, and the mild plastic region are located at depths of L = 4 D and L = 8 D, respectively. This study also reveals that a top-heavy mass distribution in the structure leads to maximum deformation in the heavy plastic region. Pile–soil damping units primarily operate within the moderate plastic region.
Mining Top-k High Average-Utility Sequential Patterns for Resource Transformation
Authors: Cao Kai , Duan Yucong
Published: November 2023

High-utility sequential pattern mining (HUSPM) helps researchers find all subsequences that have high utility in a quantitative sequential database. The HUSPM approach appears to be well suited for resource transformation in DIKWP graphs. However, all the extensions of a high-utility sequential pattern (HUSP) also have a high utility that increases with its length. Therefore, it is difficult to obtain diverse patterns of resources. The patterns that consist of many low-utility items can also be a HUSP. In practice, such a long pattern is difficult to analyze. In addition, the low-utility items do not always reflect the interestingness of association rules. High average-utility pattern mining is considered a solution to extract more significant patterns by considering the lengths of patterns. In this paper, we formulate the problem of top-k high average-utility sequential pattern mining (HAUSPM) and propose a novel algorithm for resource transformation. We adopt a projection mechanism to improve efficiency. We also adopt the sequence average-utility-raising strategy to increase thresholds. We design the prefix extension average utility and the reduced sequence average utility by incorporating the average utility into the utility upper bounds. The results of our comparative experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm can achieve sufficiently good performance.
Identification of Hydrodynamic Coefficients of the SUBOFF Submarine Using the Bayesian Ridge Regression Model
Authors: Xiang Guo , Ou Yongpeng , Chen Junjie , Wang Wei , Wu Hao
Published: November 2023

Maneuverability is one of the submarine’s most important features, and is closely related to hydrodynamic coefficients. The submarine standard motion equation is the most commonly used hydrodynamic mathematical model, estimating more than 100 hydrodynamic coefficients. This paper applies the Bayesian ridge regression model to identify a submarine’s hydrodynamic coefficients. Specifically, the proposed approach combines the URANS equation with a six-degree-of-freedom motion model and a body force propeller model, and uses overset grid technology to simulate the underwater six-degree-of-freedom navigation motion of the SUBOFF submarine. The submarine’s required hydrodynamic coefficients are obtained by collecting relevant velocity and angular velocity data and applying the Bayesian ridge regression model for data identification. Meanwhile, CFD simulation of the restraint model test for the SUBOFF submarine is conducted to obtain the related hydrodynamic coefficients. Through comparative experiments, we validate that the proposed Bayesian ridge regression model identification method is effective and reliable; most of the errors in the hydrodynamic coefficients were within 10%, with a maximum error of −43.26%, providing more comprehensive and timely hydrodynamic coefficients than traditional CFD restraint model tests. Furthermore, the hydrodynamic coefficient identification results were used to invert the submarine’s spatial motion, and we demonstrated that the resulting trajectory, velocity, and angular velocity curves all fit well.
Comparison of Condition Rating Systems for Bridges in Three European Countries
Authors: Matos José C. , Nicoletti Vanni , Kralovanec Jakub , Sousa Hélder S. , Gara Fabrizio , Moravcik Martin , Morais Maria J.
Published: November 2023

Europe faces many problems connected to ageing infrastructure which was built in the second half of the 20th century. Bridges are one of the crucial elements of these infrastructures. In recent years, European countries have witnessed many failures of bridges across the continent. For example, the collapse of Viadotto Polcevera in Genoa caught the attention of society regarding its tragic consequences. Therefore, engineers must deal with the assessment of existing bridges which is essential for proper decision-making. Condition rating systems for bridges vary from country to country. Consequently, these differences in the methodology can lead to different conclusions related to the future service of assessed structures. For these reasons, this paper briefly describes condition rating systems for road bridges in Italy, Slovakia, and Portugal and defines the differences in the methodology. Subsequently, the obtained conclusions are compared and discussed. The aim of the paper is to encourage standardization in the assessment of bridge health conditions within European countries, highlighting the differences in the current systems adopted by various countries.
A Four-Stage Mahalanobis-Distance-Based Method for Hand Posture Recognition
Authors: Warchoł Dawid , Kapuściński Tomasz
Published: November 2023

Automatic recognition of hand postures is an important research topic with many applications, e.g., communication support for deaf people. In this paper, we present a novel four-stage, Mahalanobis-distance-based method for hand posture recognition using skeletal data. The proposed method is based on a two-stage classification algorithm with two additional stages related to joint preprocessing (normalization) and a rule-based system, specific to hand shapes that the algorithm is meant to classify. The method achieves superior effectiveness on two benchmark datasets, the first of which was created by us for the purpose of this work, while the second is a well-known and publicly available dataset. The method’s recognition rate measured by leave-one-subject-out cross-validation tests is 94.69% on the first dataset and 97.44% on the second. Experiments, including comparison with other state-of-the-art methods and ablation studies related to classification accuracy and time, confirm the effectiveness of our approach.
Chitosan Films with Caffeine and Propolis as Promising and Ecofriendly Packaging Materials
Authors: Stefanowska Karolina , Woźniak Magdalena , Majka Jerzy , Sip Anna , Mrówczyńska Lucyna , Kozak Wojciech , Dobrucka Renata , Ratajczak Izabela
Published: November 2023

This study addresses challenges faced by the packaging industry in finding suitable natural and biodegradable materials that can replace plastics while preserving the superior quality and freshness of the items contained within. Chitosan, a biodegradable natural polymer, shows great potential as a matrix for ecofriendly and biodegradable composite materials. In the present study, bioactive substances such as caffeine (CAF) and propolis extract (EP) were used for the enhancement of the bioactivity of chitosan-based films. Two acidic solvents, acetic acid and citric acid, were used to produce chitosan films. The study examined the antioxidant capabilities of the solutions used for film formation; similarly, the characteristics of the resultant films were also examined, encompassing antimicrobial, barrier, and mechanical characteristics. The findings suggested that the use of additives exhibiting antioxidant activity, such as CAF and EP in the chitosan matrix can be an effective method to counteract oxidative stress in food packaging. The study also showed that films produced with citric acid exhibit antimicrobial activity against many strains of bacteria, including foodborne pathogens. In addition, the antimicrobial activity of chitosan/citric acid film can be increased by adding CAF and EP. The results confirmed that both the additives and the acids used affect the mechanical and barrier features of the obtained chitosan-based films. This study suggests that chitosan films supplemented with natural bioactive substances have the potential to serve as viable replacements for traditional plastics in the packaging sector.
Meat Analogues from Pea Protein: Effect of Different Oat Protein Concentrates and Post Treatment on Selected Technological Properties of High-Moisture Extrudates
Authors: Gaber Sara M. , Knezevic Dejan , Saldanha do Carmo Cátia , Zobel Hanne , Knutsen Svein H. , Sahlstrøm Stefan , Dessev Tzvetelin
Published: November 2023

The effect of using oat protein concentrates from different sources on the techno/functional properties of pea protein high-moisture extrudates (HME) have been investigated. The oat protein fractions were commercially produced by wet milling (OP) or produced by dry fractionation (OA) in our pilot plant facilities. The texture cutting force of HME was significantly increased by the inclusion of OP and had higher anisotropy, while addition of OA did not influence the texture. Addition of both oat sources to the pea mixture led to higher water and oil binding ability on both initial dry ingredients and extrudates. The color of the meat analogues was significantly affected by the type of oat added. CLSM image analysis of the extrudates showed that the type of oat used influenced fiber alignment and apparent porosity of the protein network. Post-extrusion treatment with water at 80 °C/20 min of the extrudates significantly reduced the cutting strength of the meat analogues and significantly caused a shift toward a lighter color. The reduction of texture strength of extrudates with OP rendered it similar to cooked chicken samples, while extrudates with OA showed a more resilient fiber strength to the hot water treatment.
Instability of Vibrations of Mass(es) Moving Uniformly on a Two-Layer Track Model: Parameters Leading to Irregular Cases and Associated Implications for Railway Design
Authors: Dimitrovová Zuzana
Published: November 2023

Ballasted railway tracks can be modeled using reduced/simplified models composed of several layers of discrete components. This paper deals with the two-layer model, which is very popular due to its computational efficiency. In order to provide some recommendations for track design, it is necessary to identify which set of parameters leads to some irregular/unexpected behavior. In this paper, irregularities are investigated at three levels, namely, (i) the critical velocity of a moving constant force, (ii) the instability of one moving mass, and (iii) the instability of two moving masses. All results are presented in a dimensionless form to cover a wide range of real parameters. Irregular cases are identified by sets of parameters leading to them, which is the main finding of this paper; then, general conclusions are drawn. Regarding the method, all results are obtained analytically or semi-analytically, where “semi” refers to solving the roots of a given polynomial using predefined numerical procedures in symbolic software. No numerical integration is involved in any of the results presented. This means that the results are highly accurate and refer to exact values, so any kind of parametric or sensitivity analyses is readily possible.
Enhancing Cloud Security—Proactive Threat Monitoring and Detection Using a SIEM-Based Approach
Authors: Tuyishime Emmanuel , Balan Titus C. , Cotfas Petru A. , Cotfas Daniel T. , Rekeraho Alexandre
Published: November 2023

With the escalating frequency of cybersecurity threats in public cloud computing environments, there is a pressing need for robust security measures to safeguard sensitive data and applications. This research addresses growing security concerns in the cloud by proposing an innovative security information and event management system (SIEM) that offers automated visibility of cloud resources. Our implementation includes a virtual network comprising virtual machines, load balancers, Microsoft Defender for Cloud, and an application gateway that functions as a web application firewall (WAF). This WAF scans incoming Internet traffic and provides centralized protection against common exploits and vulnerabilities, securing web applications within the cloud environment. We deployed the SIEM system to automate visibility and incident response for cloud resources. By harnessing the power of this employed SIEM, the developed system can continuously monitor, detect security incidents, and proactively mitigate potential security threats. Microsoft Defender for Cloud consistently assesses the configuration of cloud resources against industry standards, regulations, and benchmarks to ensure compliance requirements are met. Our findings highlight the practicality and effectiveness of deploying such solutions to safeguard cloud resources, offering valuable insights to organizations and security professionals seeking sustainable and resilient security measures in the cloud computing environment.
AI Classification of Eggs’ Origin from Mycoplasma synoviae-Infected or Non-Infected Poultry via Analysis of the Spectral Response
Authors: Pakuła Anna , Paśko Sławomir , Marć Paweł , Kursa Olimpia , Jaroszewicz Leszek R.
Published: November 2023

Rapid detection of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) in a flock is crucial from the perspective of animals’ health and economic income. MS are highly contagious bacteria that can cause significant losses in commercial poultry populations when its prevalence is not limited. MS infections can cause losses associated with a range of clinical symptoms related to the respiratory, mobility and reproductive systems. Lesions related to the reproductive system and changes in the eggshell result in losses associated with infection or embryo death or complete destruction of the eggs. The authors propose using spectral measurements backed up by an AI data processing algorithm to classify eggs’ origin: from healthy hens or MS-infected ones. The newest obtained classification factors are F-scores for white eggshells of 99% and scores for brown eggshells of 99%—all data used for classification were obtained using a portable multispectral fibre-optics reflectometer. The proposed method may be used directly on the farm by staff members with limited qualifications, as well as by veterinary doctors, assistants, or customs officers. Moreover, this method is scalable to mass production of eggs. Standard methods such as serological tests require either specialized staff or laboratory equipment. Implementation of a non-destructive optical measurement method, which is easily adapted for use on a production line, is economically reasonable.
Study on Service Vibration Characteristics of High-Speed Train Disc Brake under Thermo-Solid Coupling
Authors: Yin Jian , Zhou Qi , Fang Xingbin , Liu Ziyuan , Liu Yu , Zhang Shengfang , Sha Zhihua
Published: November 2023

This paper examines the effects of thermo-solid coupling and the influence of braking parameter changes on the vibration characteristics of high-speed train disc brakes. A multi-flexible body dynamics model of high-speed train disc brakes considering thermo-solid coupling was established to study the vibration characteristics of high-speed train disc brakes during service. The results show that the uneven distribution of temperature and stress produced during the brake disc’s service was the primary cause of the warping deformation of the brake disc, which prevented the brake disc and the brake pads from making sufficient contact and caused vibration while braking. By comparing the analytical findings of whether the model was subject to the coupling effect or not, the influence of thermo-solid coupling on the braking procedure was demonstrated from the standpoint of energy distribution. The severity of the high-speed train brake disc vibration gradually increased along with the braking pressure and initial speed. In addition, vibration aggravated the instability of the braking process, which could lead to thermoelastic instability and is harmful to the braking performance of the brake. These findings provide theoretical support for designing and manufacturing disc brakes for high-speed trains.
Time-Dependency in the Corrosion Process of Reinforced Concrete Subjected to a Chloride Solution
Authors: Park Sangki , Seo Dong-Woo , Kim Jaehwan
Published: November 2023

The corrosion of steel in reinforced concrete exposed to marine environments or winter de-icing poses a significant threat. However, evaluation of it is challenging due to variables such as environmental conditions and concrete properties. Many studies in concrete engineering have introduced a performance-based approach, evaluating structures with experimental data by considering the environmental conditions. Electrochemical techniques, including half-cell potential (HP), electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and galvanostatic pulse (GP), are widely used for studying steel corrosion in concrete. Despite the widespread use, corrosion measurements have still limitations due to ambiguous impedance results from concrete presence, equipment sensitivity, and analysis flexibility. The corrosion of steel in chloride-laden concrete was assessed in well-controlled laboratory conditions using EIS and GP before field application. The results showed that measured values for corrosion parameters were consistent with each other (within 10% discrepancy). Corrosion initiation times varied from 171 to 319 days depending on the techniques, the differences attributed to measurement periods, and the condition of the steel. In addition, it was confirmed that the corrosion potential for HP was significantly correlated with the time constant for GP. This study demonstrated these techniques to improve both the understanding of the corrosion process and the accuracy of the calculated corrosion rate.
DeAPIR: Efficient and Enhanced Dental Arch-Guided Panoramic Image Reconstruction from CBCT Data
Authors: Fawad  , Moon Seong-Yong
Published: November 2023

Dental CBCT and panoramic imaging play a pivotal role in dental diagnosis and treatment planning, alongside the indispensable use of computed tomography (CT) and X-ray imaging in dentistry, particularly for surgical planning. Given the widespread adoption of dental cone beam CT in clinics today, we explore a novel approach in this study—utilizing CT’s three-dimensional (3D) data to reconstruct a two-dimensional (2D) panoramic dental image. This method eliminates the requirement for an extra panoramic scan. In this work, we propose a novel framework to generate an enhanced and extended 2D panoramic view by using the dental arch extracted from 3D CBCT. Our method involves segmenting the patient’s dental arch from their 3D CBCT image by identifying horizontal slices with above-average intensity, followed by morphological operations, including dilation, Gaussian filtering, and skeletonization, to delineate the dental arch line. Additionally, we extend the dental arch beyond the wisdom teeth using quadratic curve fitting. Finally, we employ Maximum Intensity Projection on rotated cubic segments aligned with the dental arch curve to produce captivating panoramic images. The panoramic view produced using our proposed method, when compared to the results obtained from BlueSky and OpenInventor, exhibited superior enhancements and greater accuracy in panoramic visualization.
A Numerical Study on the Influence of Transverse Grooves on the Aerodynamic Performance of Micro Air Vehicles Airfoils
Authors: Li Zhiping , Zuo Yueren , Zhang Haideng , He Long , Sun Enbo , Long Yuhan , Zhang Lifu , Zhang Peng
Published: November 2023

Micro Air Vehicles (MAVs) airfoils usually operate at low Reynolds number conditions, where viscous drag will consume a large amount of propulsion power. Due to the small dimensions, many drag reduction methods have failed, resulting in limited current research. To develop an effective method of reducing viscous drag, transverse grooves were placed on the surface of MAVs airfoils in this study, and a numerical investigation was implemented to uncover the corresponding flow control law as well as the mechanism. Research has shown that transverse grooves have an impact on the drag and lift of airfoils. For drag, properly sized transverse grooves have the effect of reducing drag, but under high adverse pressure gradients or when the continuous arrangement of grooves is excessive, the optimal drag reduction effect achieved by the grooves is weakened, and even the drag increases due to the significant increase in pressure difference. In severe cases, it may also cause strong flow separation, which is not conducive to MAV flight. For lift, the boundary vortex in the groove has the ability to reduce the static pressure near the groove. However, high adverse pressure gradients or too many grooves will thicken the boundary layer and increase the blockage effect, resulting in a large static pressure on the grooved side of the airfoil (with an increase in drag). From the perspective of circulation, the static pressure changes on the suction and pressure surfaces have opposite effects on lift. Considering the comprehensive aerodynamic performance of the airfoil, we designed a high lift-to-drag ratio airfoil with grooves, which increased the lift-to-drag ratio by 33.747% compared to the smooth airfoil. Based on the conclusions, we proposed preliminary design criteria for grooved airfoils, providing guidance for subsequent research and applications.
Crosslinked PVA/Citric Acid Nanofibrous Separators with Enhanced Mechanical and Thermal Properties for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Cai Shuangyang , Liang Yuexi , Wu Jialu , Chen Haizhen , Wei Zhenzhen , Zhao Yan
Published: November 2023

Electrospinning polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) nanofibrous membranes have gained increased attention for their uses as separators for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their high porosity and excellent electrolyte wettability, but their poor mechanical and thermal properties have limited their further development. In this work, a crosslinked PVA composite separator (PVA/CA-H) was first prepared via the electrospinning of the PVA and citric acid (CA) mixed solution and then the heating of the nanofibrous membrane, and the effects of the amount of CA on the structure and performance of the PVA/CA-H separator were investigated. The hydroxyl group of PVA and the carboxyl group of CA were crosslinked under the heat treatment, resulting in a slight reduction in the porosity and pore size of the composite separator compared to pure PVA, and to compensate for this issue, the mechanical strengths, as well as the thermal dimensional stability of the PVA/CA-H separator, were significantly improved. Meanwhile, the PVA/CA-H separator exhibited good electrolyte uptake (158.1%) and high ionic conductivity (1.63 mS cm−1), and, thus, the battery assembled with the PVA/CA-H separator exhibited a capacity retention of 96.3% after 150 cycles at 1 C. These features mean that the crosslinked PVA composite separator can be considered as a prospective high-safety and high-performance separator for LIBs.
Controlled-Release Hydrogel Microspheres to Deliver Multipotent Stem Cells for Treatment of Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Hamilton Megan , Wang Jinxi , Dhar Prajnaparamita , Stehno-Bittel Lisa
Published: November 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of joint disease affecting articular cartilage and peri-articular tissues. Traditional treatments are insufficient, as they are aimed at mitigating symptoms. Multipotent Stromal Cell (MSC) therapy has been proposed as a treatment capable of both preventing cartilage destruction and treating symptoms. While many studies have investigated MSCs for treating OA, therapeutic success is often inconsistent due to low MSC viability and retention in the joint. To address this, biomaterial-assisted delivery is of interest, particularly hydrogel microspheres, which can be easily injected into the joint. Microspheres composed of hyaluronic acid (HA) were created as MSC delivery vehicles. Microrheology measurements indicated that the microspheres had structural integrity alongside sufficient permeability. Additionally, encapsulated MSC viability was found to be above 70% over one week in culture. Gene expression analysis of MSC-identifying markers showed no change in CD29 levels, increased expression of CD44, and decreased expression of CD90 after one week of encapsulation. Analysis of chondrogenic markers showed increased expressions of aggrecan (ACAN) and SRY-box transcription factor 9 (SOX9), and decreased expression of osteogenic markers, runt-related transcription factor 2 (RUNX2), and alkaline phosphatase (ALPL). In vivo analysis revealed that HA microspheres remained in the joint for up to 6 weeks. Rats that had undergone destabilization of the medial meniscus and had overt OA were treated with empty HA microspheres, MSC-laden microspheres, MSCs alone, or a control vehicle. Pain measurements taken before and after the treatment illustrated temporarily decreased pain in groups treated with encapsulated cells. Finally, the histopathological scoring of each group illustrated significantly less OA damage in those treated with encapsulated cells compared to controls. Overall, these studies demonstrate the potential of using HA-based hydrogel microspheres to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of MSCs in treating OA.
mRNA and Synthesis-Based Therapeutic Proteins: A Non-Recombinant Affordable Option
Authors: Niazi Sarfaraz K. , Magoola Matthias
Published: November 2023

Recombinant technology has been around for nearly three quarters of a century and has revolutionized protein therapy. However, the cost of developing recombinant therapeutic proteins and the manufacturing infrastructure keeps their cost unaffordable for most patients. Proteins are produced in the body via messenger RNA (mRNA) translation. This process can be readily replicated through administering a chemical nucleic acid product to manufacture the same protein recombinantly. The progress made in creating these proteins ex vivo in a cell-free system also offers a lower-cost option to produce therapeutic proteins. This article compares these alternative methods for recombinant protein production, assessing their respective advantages and limitations. While developers and regulatory agencies may encounter significant challenges in navigating product approval, including many unresolved intellectual property issues, these technologies are now proven and offer the most logical solution to making therapeutic proteins accessible to most patients.
Effect of Fly Maggot Protein as Dietary on Growth and Intestinal Microbial Community of Pacific White Shrimp Litopenaeus vannamei
Authors: Li Xintao , Yang Lishi , Jiang Shigui , Zhou Falin , Jiang Song , Li Yundong , Chen Xu , Yang Qibin , Duan Yafei , Huang Jianhua
Published: November 2023

As the intensive development of aquaculture persists, the demand for fishmeal continues to grow; however, since fishery resources are limited, the price of fishmeal remains high. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop new sources of protein. They are rich in proteins, fatty acids, amino acids, chitin, vitamins, minerals, and antibacterial substances. Maggot meal-based diet is an ideal source of high-quality animal protein and a new type of protein-based immune enhancer with good application prospects in animal husbandry and aquaculture. In the present study, we investigated the effects of three different diets containing maggot protein on the growth and intestinal microflora of Litopenaeus vannamei. The shrimp were fed either a control feed (no fly maggot protein added), FM feed (compound feed with 30% fresh fly maggot protein added), FF feed (fermented fly maggot protein), or HT feed (high-temperature pelleted fly maggot protein) for eight weeks. The results showed that fresh fly maggot protein in the feed was detrimental to shrimp growth, whereas fermented and high-temperature-pelleted fly maggot protein improved shrimp growth and survival. The effects of different fly maggot protein treatments on the intestinal microbiota of L. vannamei also varied. Fermented fly maggot protein feed and high-temperature-pelleted fly maggot protein feed increased the relative abundance of Ruegeria and Pseudomonas, which increased the abundance of beneficial bacteria and thus inhibited the growth of harmful bacteria. In contrast, fresh fly maggot proteins alter the intestinal microbiome, disrupting symbiotic relationships between bacteria, and causing invasion by Vibrio and antibiotic-resistant bacteria. These results suggest that fresh fly maggot proteins affect the composition of intestinal microorganisms, which is detrimental to the intestinal tract of L. vannamei, whereas fermented fly maggot protein feed affected the growth of L. vannamei positively by improving the composition of intestinal microorganisms.
Automatic Diagnosis of Major Depressive Disorder Using a High- and Low-Frequency Feature Fusion Framework
Authors: Wang Junyu , Li Tongtong , Sun Qi , Guo Yuhui , Yu Jiandong , Yao Zhijun , Hou Ning , Hu Bin
Published: November 2023

Major Depressive Disorder (MDD) is a common mental illness resulting in immune disorders and even thoughts of suicidal behavior. Neuroimaging techniques serve as a quantitative tool for the assessment of MDD diagnosis. In the domain of computer-aided magnetic resonance imaging diagnosis, current research predominantly focuses on isolated local or global information, often neglecting the synergistic integration of multiple data sources, thus potentially overlooking valuable details. To address this issue, we proposed a diagnostic model for MDD that integrates high-frequency and low-frequency information using data from diffusion tensor imaging (DTI), structural magnetic resonance imaging (sMRI), and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI). First, we designed a meta-low-frequency encoder (MLFE) and a meta-high-frequency encoder (MHFE) to extract the low-frequency and high-frequency feature information from DTI and sMRI, respectively. Then, we utilized a multilayer perceptron (MLP) to extract features from fMRI data. Following the feature cross-fusion, we designed the ensemble learning threshold voting method to determine the ultimate diagnosis for MDD. The model achieved accuracy, precision, specificity, F1-score, MCC, and AUC values of 0.724, 0.750, 0.882, 0.600, 0.421, and 0.667, respectively. This approach provides new research ideas for the diagnosis of MDD.
Exploring Neurophysiological Mechanisms and Treatment Efficacies in Laryngeal Dystonia: A Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Approach
Authors: Rogić Vidaković Maja , Šoda Joško , Kuluva Joshua Elan , Bošković Braco , Dolić Krešimir , Gunjača Ivana
Published: November 2023

Laryngeal dystonia (LD), known or termed as spasmodic dysphonia, is a rare movement disorder with an unknown cause affecting the intrinsic laryngeal muscles. Neurophysiological studies point to perturbed inhibitory processes, while conventional genetic studies reveal fragments of genetic architecture in LD. The study’s aims are to (1) describe transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) methodology for studying the functional integrity of the corticospinal tract by stimulating the primary motor cortex (M1) for laryngeal muscle representation and recording motor evoked potentials (MEPs) from laryngeal muscles; (2) evaluate the results of TMS studies investigating the cortical silent period (cSP) in LD; and (3) present the standard treatments of LD, as well as the results of new theoretical views and treatment approaches like repetitive TMS and laryngeal vibration over the laryngeal muscles as the recent research attempts in treatment of LD. Neurophysiological findings point to a shortened duration of cSP in adductor LD and altered cSP duration in abductor LD individuals. Future TMS studies could further investigate the role of cSP in relation to standard laryngological measures and treatment options. A better understanding of the neurophysiological mechanisms might give new perspectives for the treatment of LD.
Neurocognitive Adaptations for Spatial Orientation and Navigation in Astronauts
Authors: Burles Ford , Iaria Giuseppe
Published: November 2023

Astronauts often face orientation challenges while on orbit, which can lead to operator errors in demanding spatial tasks. In this study, we investigated the impact of long-duration spaceflight on the neural processes supporting astronauts’ spatial orientation skills. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), we collected data from 16 astronauts six months before and two weeks after their International Space Station (ISS) missions while performing a spatial orientation task that requires generating a mental representation of one’s surroundings. During this task, astronauts exhibited a general reduction in neural activity evoked from spatial-processing brain regions after spaceflight. The neural activity evoked in the precuneus was most saliently reduced following spaceflight, along with less powerful effects observed in the angular gyrus and retrosplenial regions of the brain. Importantly, the reduction in precuneus activity we identified was not accounted for by changes in behavioral performance or changes in grey matter concentration. These findings overall show less engagement of explicitly spatial neurological processes at postflight, suggesting astronauts make use of complementary strategies to perform some spatial tasks as an adaptation to spaceflight. These preliminary findings highlight the need for developing countermeasures or procedures that minimize the detrimental effects of spaceflight on spatial cognition, especially in light of planned long-distance future missions.
Alzheimer’s Disease CSF Biomarkers as Possible Indicators of Tap-Test Response in Idiopathic Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus
Authors: Pyrgelis Efstratios-Stylianos , Paraskevas George P. , Constantinides Vasilios C. , Boufidou Fotini , Papaioannou Myrto , Stefanis Leonidas , Kapaki Elisabeth
Published: November 2023

The aim of the present study is the evaluation of established Alzheimer’s disease (AD) cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) biomarkers in patients with idiopathic normal-pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH), both individually and as a total profile, and the investigation of their use as potential predictors of Tap-test responsiveness. Fifty-three patients with iNPH participated in the study. Aβ42, Aβ40, total Tau and phospho-Tau proteins were measured in duplicate with double-sandwich ELISA assays. Clinical evaluation involved a 10 m timed walk test before an evacuative lumbar puncture (LP) and every 24 h for three consecutive days afterwards. Neuropsychological assessment involved a mini-mental state examination, frontal assessment battery, 5-word test and CLOX drawing test 1 and 2, which were also performed before and 48 h after LP. Response in the Tap-test was defined as a 20% improvement in gait and/or a 10% improvement in neuropsychological tests. The Aβ42/Aβ40 ratio was found to be significantly higher in Tap-test responders than non-responders. Total Tau and phospho-Tau CSF levels also differed significantly between these two groups, with Tap-test responders presenting with lower levels compared to non-responders. Regarding the AD CSF biomarker profile (decreased amyloid and increased Tau proteins levels), patients with a non-AD profile were more likely to have a positive response in the Tap-test than patients with an AD profile.
Negative Parenting Styles and Psychological Crisis in Adolescents: Testing a Moderated Mediating Model of School Connectedness and Self-Esteem
Authors: Zhao Jinguo , Zhao Haiyan , Zhou Aibao
Published: November 2023

Little is known about how rejecting and controlling parenting styles may influence adolescent psychological crisis and what conditions may buffer the detrimental effects of psychological crisis. By integrating multiple theories, this study investigated self-esteem as an underlying mediator and school connectedness as a potential moderator to explain the link between negative parenting and the two psychological crises among Chinese adolescents. In this study, the questionnaire method is adopted to examine the combined mechanism of rejecting parenting style and controlling parenting style on the psychological crisis of adolescents. In total, 1863 adolescents were involved in this study, ranging from 13 to 17 years old. The results showed that both the rejecting parenting style and the controlling parenting style can significantly and positively predict the level of psychological crisis of adolescents, but the predictive power of the rejecting parenting style was stronger. Self-esteem partially mediates the relationship between rejecting parenting style, controlling parenting style, and psychological crisis. School connectedness moderates both the effects of rejecting parenting styles on self-esteem and the effects of self-esteem on the psychological crisis. This study identifies the internal mechanisms by which negative parenting styles affect adolescents’ psychological crisis, and reveals the mediating and moderating roles of self-esteem and school connectedness, providing additional explanatory paths for the mechanisms of adolescents’ psychological crisis.
Pursuing Harmony and Fulfilling Responsibility: A Qualitative Study of the Orientation to Happiness (OTH) in Chinese Culture
Authors: Dong Rong , Wang Yunxi , Wei Chenguang , Hou Xiangling , Ju Kang , Liang Yiming , Xi Juzhe
Published: November 2023

Happiness is the ultimate life goal for most people, and the pursuit of happiness serves as the fundamental motivation driving human behavior. Orientation to Happiness (OTH) represents the aspect that individuals seek when making decisions or engaging in activities, including values, priorities, motivations, ideals, and goals. Nevertheless, existing research has predominantly approached OTH from an individualistic perspective, emphasizing an individual’s internal emotional state and personal goals, thereby neglecting the significant influence of a collectivist cultural background on the pursuit of happiness. To address this research gap, our study employs qualitative research methods, enabling us to delve deeply into the intricate interplay between cultural context, societal influences, and individual motivations that collectively shape OTH. Our research is dedicated to understanding the structure of OTH within the Chinese cultural context. Through semi-structured interviews with 26 Chinese adults and the utilization of an inductive style of thematic analysis, we have identified two core themes within the OTH of Chinese adults: Self-focused and Other-focused. Notably, the “Other-focused” theme emphasizes the pursuit of group harmony and the fulfillment of group responsibilities, highlighting the paramount role of “relationships” in the study of happiness within collectivist cultures. This insight forms a robust foundation for future research in this area.
Dynamic Response Measurement and Finite Element Analysis of Large-Span Pedestrian Corridor
Authors: Xie Zhen , Zhang Yongshan
Published: November 2023

The natural frequency of the long-span steel structure corridor is close to the pedestrian step frequency, which makes it very easy to cause resonance. This paper aims to study crowd-induced vibration control of long-span steel pedestrian corridors with different dynamic characteristics by combining methods of site measurement and numerical simulation. First, based on the steel structure corridor project of a multi-tower structure, the field modal test and the acceleration response under pedestrian load excitation are measured, and the dynamic characteristics and acceleration response under different frequency pedestrian loads are studied. Then, the finite element model of the large-span corridor is established, and the results of the measured and numerical simulation are compared and analyzed. Finally, with the relevant norms, a reasonable evaluation of pedestrian comfort is carried out. The results show that this paper’s measured and finite element results have a certain accuracy. The damping characteristics of humans can absorb the vibration energy of the structure to reduce the vibration acceleration of the structure, and the results are conservative when human action is not considered. After installing the TMD system, the acceleration response of the corridor is significantly reduced, and the vibration reduction effect reaches 54%, which meets the comfort control requirements of the large-span corridor under pedestrian load excitation. The research results and methods in this paper can have particular engineering practical values for carrying out field measurements and comfort control in similar projects and provide a reference for engineering designers.
Developing an Inspector-Centric Blockchain-Enabled Conceptual Framework for BIM Management in Mars Buildings
Authors: Javaherikhah Amirhossein , Valiente Lopez Mercedes , Mohandes Saeed Reza
Published: November 2023

Due to the unique atmospheric conditions on Mars, the management of essential information in Mars buildings is of great importance. Even the smallest error or manipulation of data can create irreparable risks for residents. Martian buildings require a strong security shield to ensure accurate and unaltered data processing. In this article, the factors affecting the buildings of Mars and the lives of the inhabitants of Mars were identified and analyzed, and seven key factors were identified. These factors were then integrated into Mars building information systems using blockchain technology, defining four distinct alert levels for specific building conditions. This research is based on the simulation of Martian buildings, and there has been no laboratory case to test the proposed method until now. The findings showed that the proposed framework for Martian buildings was better than similar studies based on Earth, and there was no similar case to compare the results in Martian buildings. The ground-breaking integration of blockchain and building information modeling (BIM) on Mars opens up new opportunities for extraterrestrial building control methods and marks the beginning of the evolution of this field, but given that there is still no construction in the field of buildings on Mars, organizations and bodies that work in this field can use the results of this research to check the compatibility of the proposed method with Martian buildings.