bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor-Infiltrating CD8-Positive T-Cells Associated with MMR and p53 Protein Expression Can Stratify Endometrial Carcinoma for Prognosis
Authors: Munakata Satoru , Ito Takahiro , Asano Takuya , Yamashita Tsuyoshi
Published: June 2023

Background: Inspired by the molecular classification of endometrial carcinoma (EC) proposed by The Cancer Genome Atlas Research Network (TCGA), we investigated tumor-infiltrating CD8-positive T-cell as well as DNA mismatch repair (MMR) protein and p53 protein expression, and we developed a new classification system for ECs to predict patients’ prognosis using immunohistochemical methods. Methods: The study included 128 patients with ECs who underwent surgery. Paraffin-embedded tissue sections of the tumor were stained using antibodies against MMR protein, p53, and CD8. Cases were stratified into four classes by a sequential algorithm. An immunohistochemical classification system for ECs (ICEC) was created, including HCD8, MMR-D, LCD8, and p53 LCD8. Results: In ICEC, 16 cases (12.5%), 27 cases (21.09%), 67 cases (52.34%), and 18 cases (14.06%) belonged to HCD8, MMR-D, LCD8, and p53 LCD8, respectively. ICEC did not show any correlation with clinical stage, lymphovascular space invasion, or lymph node metastasis. However, the p53 LCD8 class contained a significantly higher proportion of G3 ECs and serous carcinoma (p < 0.0001). ICEC showed prognostic significance in overall survival (OS) (p < 0.0001) and disease-free survival (DFS) (p < 0.0001). The class of p53 LCD8 showed the worst prognosis among the classes. Conclusions: ICEC classification is useful in predicting the prognosis of ECs.
High-Field Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Temporomandibular Joint Low Agreement with Clinical Diagnosis in Asymptomatic Females
Authors: Knezevic Milica , Knezevic Aleksandar , Boban Jasmina , Maletin Aleksandra , Milekic Bojana , Koprivica Daniela , Puskar Tatjana , Semnic Robert
Published: June 2023

(1) Background: The aim of this study was to investigate the agreement between a clinical diagnosis based on research diagnostic criteria/temporomandibular disorders (RDC/TMD) and high-field magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of temporomandibular joints (TMJs) in asymptomatic females. (2) Methods: A prospective study on 100 females (200 TMJs) was performed, using clinical examinations (RDC/TMD) and same-day MRIs of TMJs on a 3T MR unit. The inclusion criteria were as follows: females, age > 18, the presence of upper and lower incisors, and an understanding of the Serbian language. Descriptive statistics (means and standard deviations) and ANOVA with a post hoc Tukey test for differences among the patient subgroups was performed. The agreement between the clinical and MRI findings was determined using Cohen’s kappa coefficient (k < 0.21 slight, 0.21–0.4 fair, 0.41–0.6 moderate, 0.61–0.8 substantial, and 0.81–1 almost perfect). The statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. (3) Results: Normal findings were observed in 86.7%, disc dislocation (DD) was observed in 9.2%, and arthralgia/osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis was observed in 2.6% of TMJs using RDC/TMD. On the MRI, normal findings were observed in 50.5%, disc dislocation was observed in 16.3%, and arthralgia/osteoarthritis/osteoarthrosis was observed in 23.5% of TMJs. The anterior DD with reduction showed fair agreement of the clinical and MRI findings (k = 0.240, p < 0.001) compared with the DD without reduction (k = 0.355, p < 0.001). Both showed high specificity (94.9% and 99.4%) but low sensitivity (24.2% and 25.0%). The sensitivity in osteoarthritic changes was low (4.8%), but the specificity remained high (96.2%). (4) Conclusions: The sensitivity of the clinical examination remains low compared with 3T MRI, especially in osteoarthritic changes and anterior DD with reduction. However, the number of false positive diagnoses using RDC/TMD is low in asymptomatic patients. RDC/TMD remains a sensible method for establishing a clinical diagnosis and avoiding the overtreatment of asymptomatic patients.
Lung Ultrasound to Determine the Effect of Lower vs. Higher PEEP on Lung Aeration in Patients without ARDS—A Substudy of a Randomized Clinical Trial
Authors: Zimatore Claudio , Algera Anna Geke , Botta Michela , Pierrakos Charalampos , Serpa Neto Ary , Grasso Salvatore , Schultz Marcus J. , Pisani Luigi , Paulus Frederique ,   on behalf of the RELAx–Investigators
Published: June 2023

Background: Ventilation with lower positive end–expiratory pressure (PEEP) may cause loss of lung aeration in critically ill invasively ventilated patients. This study investigated whether a systematic lung ultrasound (LUS) scoring system can detect such changes in lung aeration in a study comparing lower versus higher PEEP in invasively ventilated patients without acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Methods: Single center substudy of a national, multicenter, randomized clinical trial comparing lower versus higher PEEP ventilation strategy. Fifty–seven patients underwent a systematic 12–region LUS examination within 12 h and between 24 to 48 h after start of invasive ventilation, according to randomization. The primary endpoint was a change in the global LUS aeration score, where a higher value indicates a greater impairment in lung aeration. Results: Thirty–three and twenty–four patients received ventilation with lower PEEP (median PEEP 1 (0–5) cm H2O) or higher PEEP (median PEEP 8 (8–8) cm H2O), respectively. Median global LUS aeration scores within 12 h and between 24 and 48 h were 8 (4 to 14) and 9 (4 to 12) (difference 1 (–2 to 3)) in the lower PEEP group, and 7 (2–11) and 6 (1–12) (difference 0 (–2 to 3)) in the higher PEEP group. Neither differences in changes over time nor differences in absolute scores reached statistical significance. Conclusions: In this substudy of a randomized clinical trial comparing lower PEEP versus higher PEEP in patients without ARDS, LUS was unable to detect changes in lung aeration.
Literature Review of Accreditation Systems in Higher Education
Authors: Duarte Nelson , Vardasca Ricardo
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the accreditation processes in higher education across various countries, focusing on the time and bureaucratic burden associated with accrediting new courses. The aim is to identify strategies to accelerate the accreditation process for new courses in higher education institutions. A comprehensive literature review was conducted to achieve this objective, examining the accreditation processes in Portugal, Spain, the United States, France, China, Japan, Sweden, the United Kingdom, India, and Germany. The study’s key findings revealed that the accreditation process is generally efficient in most countries, with courses receiving accreditation within a reasonable timeframe. However, the process can be more complex and time-consuming for institutions seeking accreditation for the first time or offering new or innovative courses. Institutions must meet all established criteria and promptly provide all required documentation to expedite the accreditation process. The implications of these findings suggest that higher education institutions should collaborate closely with relevant accrediting agencies to ensure a streamlined accreditation process. Institutions should also consider agency requirements and course specialization when developing new courses. Furthermore, governments play a crucial role in promoting transparency and competition among higher education institutions, which can lead to enhanced quality assurance and increased customer satisfaction in the education sector.
A Backprojection-Based Autofocus Imaging Method for Circular Synthetic Aperture Radar
Authors: Li Bingxuan , Ma Yanheng , Chu Lina , Hou Xiaoze , Li Wei , Shi Yuanping
Published: June 2023

Circular synthetic aperture radar (CSAR) can obtain higher image resolution and more target information through 360° observation of the target. However, CSAR is often subject to motion errors due to the sensor’s accuracy limitations and the unique trajectory of the system. The autofocusing back projection algorithm based on the optimization of image sharpness compensates for motion errors through phase-error estimation. This method can attain relatively good performance while assuming the same error for all pixels; it ignores the spatial variance of motion errors. In order to solve this problem, this paper proposes an autofocusing method based on the Prewitt operator and particle swarm optimization (PSO), which first extracts the subaperture image feature points as a new dataset using the Prewitt operator, estimates the radar slope error on the new dataset using PSO, and subsequently compensates the subaperture image. Finally, the subaperture images are synthesized using an image-alignment method. The results of both the simulated experiments and the measured data validate the effectiveness of this method.
Fault Identification of U-Net Based on Enhanced Feature Fusion and Attention Mechanism
Authors: Sun Qifeng , Wang Xin , Ni Hongsheng , Gong Faming , Du Qizhen
Published: June 2023

Accurate fault identification is essential for geological interpretation and reservoir exploitation. However, the unclear and noisy composition of seismic data makes it difficult to identify the complete fault structure using conventional methods. Thus, we have developed an attentional U-shaped network (EAResU-net) based on enhanced feature fusion for automated end-to-end fault interpretation of 3D seismic data. EAResU-net uses an enhanced feature fusion mechanism to reduce the semantic gap between the encoder and decoder and improve the representation of fault features in combination with residual structures. In addition, EAResU-net introduces an attention mechanism, which effectively suppresses seismic data noise and improves model accuracy. The experimental results on synthetic and field data demonstrate that, compared with traditional deep learning methods for fault detection, our EAResU-net can achieve more accurate and continuous fault recognition results.
A Blockchain-Centric IoT Architecture for Effective Smart Contract-Based Management of IoT Data Communications
Authors: Albulayhi Abdulsalam S. , Alsukayti Ibrahim S.
Published: June 2023

The exponential growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) is being witnessed nowadays in different sectors. This makes IoT data communications more complex and harder to manage. Addressing such a challenge using a centralized model is an ineffective approach and would result in security and privacy difficulties. Technologies such as blockchain provide a potential solution to enable secure and effective management of IoT data communication in a distributed and trustless manner. In this paper, a novel lightweight blockchain-centric IoT architecture is proposed to address effective IoT data communication management. It is based on an event-driven smart contract that enables manageable and trustless IoT data exchange using a simple publish/subscribe model. To maintain system complexity and overhead at a minimum, the design of the proposed system relies on a single smart contract. All the system operations that enable effective IoT data communication among the different parties of the system are defined in the smart contract. There is no direct blockchain–IoT-device interaction, making the system more useable in wide IoT deployments incorporating IoT devices with limited computing and energy resources. A practical Ethereum-based implementation of the system was developed with the ability to simulate different IoT setups. The evaluation results demonstrated the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed architecture. Considering varying-scale and varying-density experimental setups, reliable and secure data communications were achieved with little latency and resource consumption.
Cooperative Multitask Planning Strategies for Integrated RF Systems Aboard UAVs
Authors: Xue Hui , Zhang Tao , Wang Rui , Liu Xinghua
Published: June 2023

Limited by the load capacity of UAVs, it is difficult for an integrated radio frequency (RF) system aboard a single platform to have both wide-area and comprehensive battlefield sensing capabilities. One possible approach to solve this dilemma is to use multiple UAVs to perceive the scene cooperatively and simultaneously. To this end, this paper mainly discusses the cooperative task planning strategies facing cooperative UAVs with integrated RF systems when performing several tasks simultaneously. First, considering the complexity of the planning problem, the physical model for UAV formation cooperation is discussed. Then, based on the irregular and ad hoc characteristics of cooperative UAV networks, the essential compositions for UAVs cooperation are formulated that includes input information and planning constraints as well as evaluation indicators. Furthermore, to solve the given task planning problem, four new planning strategies are targeted designed for different planning purposes. Finally, a simulated cooperative UAV multitask planning scenario including cooperative detection, cooperative localization, and jamming is designed. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of these strategies as well as their advantages, disadvantages, and the multiscenario adaptability of each strategy.
Quantitative Analysis of Steel Alloy Elements Based on LIBS and Deep Learning of Multi-Perspective Features
Authors: Gu Yanhong , Chen Zhiwei , Chen Hao , Nian Fudong
Published: June 2023

The Si and Mn contents in steel alloys are important characteristic indexes that influence the plasticity and welding properties of these alloys. In this work, the quantitative analysis methods for trace elements under complex alloy matrices by laser-induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS) are studied, which provide a foundation for utilizing LIBS technology in the rapid online detection of steel alloy properties. To improve the quantitative analysis accuracy of LIBS, deep learning algorithm methods are introduced. Given the characteristics of LIBS spectra, we explore multi-perspective feature extraction and backward differential methods to extract the spatio-temporal characteristics of LIBS spectra. The Text Convolutional Neural Network (TextCNN) model, combined with multi-perspective feature extraction, displays good stability and lower average relative errors (6.988% for Si, 6.280% for Mn) in the test set compared to the traditional quantitative analysis method and deep neural network (DNN) model. Finally, the backward differential method is employed to optimize the two-dimensional LIBS spectral input matrix, and the results indicate that the average relative errors of Si and Mn elements in the test set decrease to 5.139% and 3.939%, respectively. The method proposed in this work establishes a theoretical basis and technical support for precise prediction and online quality monitoring.
An Extended Reality System for Situation Awareness in Flood Management and Media Production Planning
Authors: Symeonidis Spyridon , Samaras Stamatios , Stentoumis Christos , Plaum Alexander , Pacelli Maria , Grivolla Jens , Shekhawat Yash , Ferri Michele , Diplaris Sotiris , Vrochidis Stefanos
Published: June 2023

Flood management and media production planning are both tasks that require timely and sound decision making, as well as effective collaboration between professionals in a team split between remote headquarter operators and in situ actors. This paper presents an extended reality (XR) platform that utilizes interactive and immersive technologies and integrates artificial intelligence (AI) algorithms to support the professionals and the public involved in such incidents and events. The developed XR tools address various specialized end-user needs of different target groups and are fueled by modules that intelligently collect, analyze, and link data from heterogeneous sources while considering user-generated content. This platform was tested in a flood-prone area and in a documentary planning scenario, where it was used to create immersive and interactive experiences. The findings demonstrate that it increases situation awareness and improves the overall performance of the professionals involved. The proposed XR system represents an innovative technological approach for tackling the challenges of flood management and media production, one that also has the potential to be applied in other fields.
Indicator Method for Determining the Emissivity of Road Transport Means from the Point of Supplied Energy
Authors: Pryciński Piotr , Wawryszczuk Róża , Korzeb Jarosław , Pielecha Piotr
Published: June 2023

Recently, many activities have been undertaken to reduce the negative impact of transport on the environment, e.g., using propulsion sources and consumed energy. Electric and hybrid vehicles are becoming more and more popular. Methods of measuring the emissivity of the means of transport as well as devices for determining measurements are being developed. This work presents an indicator method (IM) for determining the emissivity of road transport, while omitting the use of quite complicated and expensive research equipment. For typical road vehicles, it is possible to determine the emissivity means of transport, taking into account statistical data. The values of the indicators selected, based on statistical data analysis, were verified by comparing their values with the results of the actual emissivity of air pollutants. As part of the research work, the emissivity values of selected means of transport in a distribution company were determined using the IM method. The results were compared with the actual emissivity measurements. The method of indicative determination of emissivity makes it possible to estimate the initial emissivity level, knowing the type of vehicle and the distance performed as part of the transport work. Thanks to a simple and uncomplicated method, delivery planning can become more sustainable, and the selection of less emissive means of transport can contribute to reducing the negative impact of transportation on the environment.
A Hybrid Chaotic-Based Multiobjective Differential Evolution Technique for Economic Emission Dispatch Problem
Authors: Almalaq Abdulaziz , Guesmi Tawfik , Albadran Saleh
Published: June 2023

The economic emission dispatch problem (EEDP) is a nonconvex and nonsmooth multiobjective optimization problem in the power system field. Generally, fuel cost and total emissions of harmful gases are the problem objective functions. The EEDP decision variables are output powers of thermal generating units (TGUs). To make the EEDP problem more practical, valve point loading effects (VPLEs), prohibited operation zones (POZs), and power balance constraints should be included in the problem constraints. In order to solve this complex and constrained EEDP, a new multiobjective optimization technique combining the differential evolution (DE) algorithm and chaos theory is proposed in this study. In this new multiobjective optimization technique, a nondomination sorting principle and a crowding distance calculation are employed to extract an accurate Pareto front. To avoid being trapped in local optima and enhance the conventional DE algorithm, two different chaotic maps are used in its initialization, crossover, and mutation phases instead of random numbers. To overcome difficulties caused by the equality constraint describing the power balance constraint, a slack TGU is defined to compensate for the gap between the total generation and the sum of the system load and total power losses. Then, the optimal power outputs of all thermal units except the slack unit are determined by the suggested optimization technique. To assess the effectiveness and applicability of the proposed method for solving the EEDP, the six-unit and ten-unit systems are used. Moreover, obtained results are compared with other new optimization techniques already developed and tested for the same purpose. The superior performance of the ChMODE is also evaluated by using various metrics such as inverted generational distance (IGD), hyper-volume (HV), spacing metric (SM), and the average satisfactory degree (ASD).
Influence of Ventilation Openings on the Energy Efficiency of Metal Frame Modular Constructions in Brazil Using BIM
Authors: Najjar Mohammad K. , De Araujo Luis Otávio Cocito , Oladimeji Olubimbola , Khalas Mohammad , Figueiredo Karoline V. , Boer Dieter , Soares Carlos A. P. , Haddad Assed
Published: June 2023

Construction projects demand a higher amount of energy predominantly for heating, ventilation, and illumination purposes. Modular construction has come into the limelight in recent years as a construction method that uses sustainable building materials and optimizes energy efficiency. Ventilation openings in buildings are designed to facilitate air circulation by naturally driven ventilation and could aid in reducing energy consumption in construction projects. However, a knowledge gap makes it difficult to propose the best dimensions of ventilation openings in buildings. Hence, the aim of this work is to empower the decision-making process in terms of proposing the best ventilation opening dimensions toward sustainable energy use and management in buildings. A novel framework is presented herein to evaluate the impact and propose the best dimensions of ventilation openings for metal frame modular construction in Brazil, using building information modeling. The ventilation openings were constructed and their dimensions evaluated in eight Brazilian cities, based on the bioclimatic zone (BioZ) classification indicated in ABNT NBR 15220: Curitiba (1st BioZ); Rio Negro (2nd BioZ); São Paulo (3rd BioZ); Brasília (4th BioZ); Campos (5th BioZ); Paranaíbe (6th BioZ); Goiás (7th BioZ); and Rio de Janeiro (8th BioZ). The study results show that the energy consumption of the same building model would vary based on the dimensions of ventilation openings for each BioZ in Brazil. For instance, modeling the same modular construction unit in the city of Rio Negro could consume around 50% of the energy compared to the same unit constructed in the city of Rio de Janeiro, using the small opening sizes based on the smallest dimensions of the ventilation openings. Similarly, modeling the construction unit in Curitiba, São Paulo, Brasília, Campos, Paranaíba, and Goiás could reduce energy consumption by around 40%, 34%, 36%, 18%, 20%, and 16%, respectively, compared to constructing the same building in the city of Rio de Janeiro, using the small opening sizes based on the smallest dimensions of the ventilation openings. This work could help practitioners and professionals in modular construction projects to design the best dimensions of the ventilation openings based on each BioZ towards increasing energy efficiency and sustainability.
Evaluation of the Antifungal Activity of Polysubstituted Cyclic 1,2-Diketones against Colletotrichum gloeosporioides
Authors: Wang Qiuyue , Meng Xiangtai , Sun Meiling , Wang Zhi , He Jiao , Huang Shenlin , Huang Lin
Published: June 2023

(1) Anthracnose caused by Colletotrichum damages crops, ornamentals, and forest trees severely, resulting in enormous economic losses to agricultural and forestry systems. Overusing traditional chemical fungicides leads to fungicide resistance, environmental pollution, and potential risks to public health. Therefore, priorities should be given to developing efficient and environmentally friendly approaches to phytopathogens management, including anthracnose. (2) In this study, the antifungal activity of botanical derivative polysubstituted cyclic 1,2-diketones (FPL001) against C. gloeosporioides was examined. (3) FPL001 significantly inhibited the vegetative growth of C. gloeosporioides with an EC50 of 160.23 µg/mL. When the concentration of FPL001 reached 30 µg/mL, the conidial germination and appressorium formation of C. gloeosporioides were completely inhibited. FPL001 also significantly suppressed the invasive hyphae development and plant infection of C. gloeosporioides. FPL001 did not exhibit toxicity to model organisms such as alfalfa and silkworm larvae. (4) These results indicate that compound FPL001 is a potential and efficient agent for green control of C. gloeosporioides.
Post-Fire Evolution of Soil Nitrogen in a Dahurian Larch (Larix gmelinii) Forest, Northeast China
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Zhang Yun , Kang Jia , Cui Xiaoyang
Published: June 2023

This study investigates the evolution of soil nitrogen (N) contents and forms along a 17-year wildfire chronosequence in the Daxing’an Mountains. Surface soil and subsoil samples were collected during different recovery periods after wildfires. Then, the mineral N (i.e., NH4+-N and NO3−-N) and amino acid-N (AAN) contents in the soil extracts were measured and used to calculate the different ratios as indicators of the N forms. The results showed that the NH4+-N, NO3−-N, and AAN contents increased immediately after the wildfire. With vegetation restoration, the NH4+-N and NO3−-N contents became similar to those of unburned forests nine years and two months after the wildfire, respectively. The AAN content was mostly recovered one year post-fire. The wildfire did not lead to substantial changes in the mineral N form, but the ratio significantly increased and recovered after nine years. The soil available N form was altered by wildfires. After the wildfire, the dominant available N form changed from equivalent AAN and mineral N to a predominance of AAN in the growing season, and the predominance of AAN decreased to varying degrees in the non-growing season. With the recovery of the white birch and Dahurian larch, AAN again became the dominant N form, but the predominance of AAN was low before the freeze-up. Our study demonstrates that wildfires directly affect the soil N contents and forms, and such effects could be diminished by the restoration of the soil environment and vegetation over time.
Calculating and Mapping the Naturalness of Peri-Urban Greenways
Authors: Àvila Callau Aitor , Pérez-Albert Yolanda , Vías Martínez Jesús
Published: June 2023

Peri-urban forests often have extensive greenway networks that allow for outdoor recreation. However, information associated with these greenways often does not include their degree of naturalness, which is usually reduced to descriptions of the flora and fauna and often overlooks the factors that reduce naturalness. Therefore, in some cases, the naturalness of these greenways is lower than expected. Quantifying their naturalness would be helpful, especially for hikers interested in appreciating and enjoying nature. Additionally, this information would help outdoor recreation managers to design trails or decide which ones to promote as “greenways”. The objectives of this study are (1) to design a method to calculate and map the naturalness of greenways using two approaches, one based on perceptual fieldwork and the other on geographic information systems (GIS); (2) to apply the designed method to a specific greenway; and (3) to compare both methodological approaches. The results show that, for the greenway studied, the naturalness scores obtained are low in all three types of analyses used. Around 70% of the greenway sections in the GIS visibility analysis and 80% in the GIS proximity analysis have a low naturalness index. In comparison, this value is reduced to 40% with the fieldwork analysis. Although the results of the GIS approach (proximity and visibility) generate naturalness indices and spatial patterns that are very similar, they differ significantly from those derived from the fieldwork analysis. The discussion of the results suggests that the three methodologies used are valid for analyzing the degree of naturalness of the trails. However, if used together, it could add flexibility to the type of variables incorporated in the analysis.
Profiling a New Postbiotic Product for Its Application in Fish Aquaculture
Authors: Quintanilla-Pineda Mario , Díaz Jesús , Gutiérrez-Falcon Ana , Ibañez Francisco C. , Marzo Florencio
Published: June 2023

Weissella cibaria is a lactic acid bacteria that has been receiving great interest in the last decade; however, its research into aquaculture remains insufficient. In this context, the resistance to pH 3–5, bile salts (10–20%), hydrophobicity, and carbohydrate metabolisms of two W. cibaria strains isolated from rainbow trout were evaluated. At the same time, the postbiotic products of both W. cibaria were produced under different conditions, and their stability to heat (95–130 °C) and proteolytic enzymes were determined. The low pH sensitivity of two pathogens (Aeromonas salmonicida subsp. salmonicida and Yersinia ruckeri) was also recorded. Both strains of W. cibaria survived pH and bile salt treatments. Neither expressed enzymatic activity or hydrophobic characteristics with the executed methods. Treatment with heat, enzymes, and transfer to vegetal broth significantly reduced (p < 0.05) the postbiotic product’s antibacterial activity. On the other hand, no significant difference (p < 0.05) was reported in antibacterial characteristics when postbiotics were produced by coculturing both strains. Low pH does not significantly influence pathogen growth (p < 0.05). Our findings suggest that the studied strains do not adjust as probiotics, but the postbiotic product obtained from them could become a promising tool as a supplement food for fish aquaculture applications.
The Population Development of the Invasive Round Goby Neogobius melanostomus in Latvian Waters of the Baltic Sea
Authors: Kruze Eriks , Avotins Andris , Rozenfelde Loreta , Putnis Ivars , Sics Ivo , Briekmane Laura , Olsson Jens
Published: June 2023

The invasive round goby (Neogobius melanostomus) was established in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea in the early 1990s. The first observation of the species in Latvian waters was in 2004. In the intervening period, the population grew, the species became of significance for local fisheries, and it likely impacted the local ecosystem in the Baltic Sea. In this study, we characterize the spatial–temporal population development of round goby in Latvian coastal waters using data from three different scientific and fisheries-independent surveys. We also include data from commercial fisheries landings to describe the fisheries targeting the species. Our results suggest an exponential increase in population numbers of round goby in Latvian waters, peaking in 2018, followed by a sharp decline. This observation is also supported by data from commercial fisheries landings. We suggest that intensive commercial fishing had a considerable impact on the rapid decline of the species, but that the decline was potentially amplified through a wider scale decline, as observed in many areas of the Baltic Sea. The results of this study contribute to the knowledge base on the species and how fisheries can aid in limiting the development of invasive fish populations. Based on the results of the study, we also provide recommendations for better future monitoring of the species in the coastal waters of the Baltic Sea.
Elevated Carbon Dioxide and Its Impact on Growth, Blood Properties, and Vertebral Column of Freshwater Fish Mahseer, Tor tambroides Juveniles
Authors: Iskandar Nur Syuhada , Noor Noorashikin Md , Cob Zaidi Che , Das Simon Kumar
Published: June 2023

The level of carbon dioxide, which resembles water acidification, is critical to the success of juvenile fish production. The growth, skeletal deformities, and blood parameters of the economically important freshwater fish mahseer, Tor tambroides, were assessed in different concentrations of pCO2 (400, 700, and 1000 µatm pCO2). The highest growth properties (survival rate, body weight gain (BWG), specific growth rate (SGR)) in mahseer were observed at 400 µatm, whereas the lowest growth indices were found in the treatment of 1000 µatm pCO2. The lowest pCO2 concentration was found to be within the optimum healthy blood parameter range. The fish exposed to acidic conditions (700 and 1000 µatm) exhibited considerably higher levels of haemoglobin and haematocrit compared to the control fish. Glucose levels were significantly lower in the acidic conditions, while total cholesterol levels in mahseer fish exposed to acidic conditions were higher. The fish displayed skeleton malformations as the concentration of pCO2 was elevated. The findings from this research could be set as a standard technique in the juvenile rearing of mahseer fish under acidified conditions.
Sunflower Oil Winterization Using the Cellulose-Based Filtration Aid—Investigation of Oil Quality during Industrial Filtration Probe
Authors: Nedić Grujin Katarina , Lužaić Tanja , Pezo Lato , Nikolovski Branislava , Maksimović Zoran , Romanić Ranko
Published: June 2023

Waxes, phospholipids, free fatty acids, peroxides, aldehydes, soap, trace metals and moisture present in crude sunflower oil have a negative effect on the oil quality and are, therefore, removed during the refining process. Waxes crystallizing at low temperatures are removed during winterization by cooling and filtration. Waxes have poor filtration characteristics and an industrial filtration process must be enhanced by the use of filtration aids, which improve filter cake structure and properties, and consequently prolong the filtration cycle. Today, traditional filtration aids (diatomite, perlite, etc.) being used in the industry are frequently replaced by cellulose-based aids. The aim of this study is to examine the effect of oil filtration assisted by two cellulose-based filtration aids on the chemical parameters (wax, moisture, phospholipids, soaps, and fatty acids), oil transparency, carotenoids, and Fe and Cu content of sunflower oil obtained in an industrial horizontal pressure leaf filter. In order to investigate the mentioned parameters, the following techniques were used: gravimetric (waxes and moisture content), spectrophotometric (phospholipids and carotenoid content and oil transparency), volumetric (soaps and free fatty acids content) as well as inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for Fe and Cu content. An artificial neural network model (ANN) was employed for the prediction of removal efficiency based on the chemical quality, oil transparency, Fe and Cu content in oils before filtration, as well as filtration aid quantity and filtration time. Cellulose-based filtration aids had multiple beneficial effects; on average, 99.20% of waxes, 74.88% of phospholipids, 100% of soap, 7.99% of carotenoids, 16.39% of Fe and 18.33% of Cu were removed.
Approximate Controllability of Fractional Stochastic Evolution Inclusions with Non-Local Conditions
Authors: Abuasbeh Kinda , Niazi Azmat Ullah Khan , Arshad Hafiza Maria , Awadalla Muath , Trabelsi Salma
Published: June 2023

This article investigates the approximate controllability of non-linear fractional stochastic differential inclusions with non-local conditions. We establish a set of sufficient conditions for their approximate controllability and provide results in terms of controllability for the fractional stochastic control system. Our approach relies on using fractional calculus and the fixed-point theorem for multiple-valued operators. Finally, we present an illustrative example to support our findings.
Feedback Data Processing for Maintenance Optimization and Grouping—An Application to Road Markings
Authors: Najeh Ikram , Daucher Dimitri , Redondin Maxime , Bouillaut Laurent
Published: June 2023

In recent years, the maintenance of multicomponent systems has been discussed in many papers. The aim of these studies is to use the maintenance duration of one component for the maintenance of other components to minimize the total maintenance cost of the system. The complexity of the maintenance of this kind of system is due to its structure and its large number of components. The present paper suggests a grouped maintenance policy for multicomponent systems in a finite planning horizon based on the systemic inspection feedback data. The system considered is periodically inspected. Then, the collected data are triply censored (left, right, and interval censored). The proposed grouped maintenance strategy starts by clustering the components into g clusters according to their degradation model. Then, an expectation minimization algorithm is applied to correct the censorship in the data and to associate a Weibull distribution with each cluster. The proposed grouped maintenance strategy begins by specifying an individual maintenance plan for each cluster by identifying an optimal replacement path. Then, this step is followed by finding an optimal grouping strategy using a genetic algorithm. The aim is to identify a point in time when the components can be maintained simultaneously. To illustrate the proposed strategy, the grouped maintenance policy is applied to the feedback data of the road markings of French National Road 4 (NR4) connecting Paris and Strasbourg.
Robust, Fire-Retardant, and Water-Resistant Wood/Polyimide Composite Aerogels with a Hierarchical Pore Structure for Thermal Insulation
Authors: Zhao Lu , Chen Junyong , Pan Defang , Hou Yan
Published: June 2023

The use of energy-saving materials is an effective strategy for decreasing energy consumption and carbon emission. Wood is a type of biomass material with a natural hierarchical structure, which results in its high thermal insulation. It has been widely used in construction. However, developing wood-based materials without flammability and dimensional instability is still a challenge. Herein, we developed a wood/polyimide composite aerogel with a well-preserved hierarchical pore structure and dense hydrogen bonds inside, resulting in its excellent chemical compatibility and strong interfacial interactions between its two components. This novel wood-based composite was fabricated by removing most hemicellulose and lignin from natural wood, followed by the fast impregnation using an ‘in situ gel’ process. The introduction of polyimide into delignified wood substantially improved its mechanical properties, with the compression resistance being improved by over five times. Notably, the thermal conductivity coefficient of the developed composite was approximately half that of natural wood. Furthermore, the composite exhibited excellent fire-retardancy, hydrophobicity, thermal insulation, and mechanical properties. This study provides a novel method for wood modification, which not only aids interfacial compatibility between wood and polyimide but also retains the properties of the two components. The developed composite can effectively reduce energy consumption, making it promising for practical and complex thermal insulation applications.
Geochemical Behavior of Lanthanides and Actinides in an Old Uranium Mine, Portugal
Authors: Cardenas Andrés , Dias Maria I. , Diamantino Catarina , Carvalho Edgar , Russo Dulce , Marques Rosa
Published: June 2023

New insights about the geochemical behavior of actinides and lanthanides in an old uranium mine are provided for the first time in this work. Fifteen samples (water, soil, and sediments) were collected inside and outside the Quinta do Bispo old mine (Portugal) in order to better understand the lanthanide and actinide behavior in the soil–water system. The chemical and mineralogical composition was obtained via ICP-MS, INAA, and XRD. The water sample from the open pit exhibits a higher U and REE dissolved concentration when compared to the other water samples. A positive Eu anomaly is found in this sample. The soil samples collected inside the mine area, including mine waste rocks and the minesoils surrounding the open pit, show uranium mineral phases, higher U contents, an enrichment of LREE relative to HREE, and a lower Th/U. This heterogeneity may be due to the open pit extraction and ore processes, as well as the percolation and water infiltration through the waste rock piles. Soils from outside the mine area have a similar mineralogical and chemical composition, despite their different geological context, which could be related to the influence of the granitic geological unit during the alluvial unit deposition. The sediments have similar REE patterns, negative Eu anomaly, and a high (La/Yb)N.
Risk Factors for Death or Cardiovascular Events after Acute Coronary Syndrome in Patients with Myeloproliferative Neoplasms
Authors: Leiva Orly , Jenkins Andrew , Rosovsky Rachel P. , Leaf Rebecca K. , Goodarzi Katayoon , Hobbs Gabriela
Published: June 2023

Patients with myeloproliferative neoplasms (MPNs) are at increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD), including acute coronary syndrome (ACS). However, data on long-term outcomes of patients with MPN who have had ACS and risk factors for all-cause death or CV events post-ACS hospitalization are lacking. We conducted a single-center study of 41 consecutive patients with MPN with ACS hospitalization after MPN diagnosis. After a median follow-up of 80 months after ACS hospitalization, 31 (76%) experienced death or a CV event (myocardial infarction, ischemic stroke, or heart failure hospitalization). After multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression, index ACS within 12 months of MPN diagnosis (HR 3.84, 95% CI 1.44–10.19), WBC ≥ 20 K/µL (HR 9.10, 95% CI 2.71–30.52), JAK2 mutation (HR 3.71, 95% CI 1.22–11.22), and prior CVD (HR 2.60, 95% CI 1.12–6.08) were associated with increased death or CV events. Further studies are warranted to improve cardiovascular outcomes in this patient population.
Selection of Salt-Tolerant Jojoba (Simmondisa chinensis L.) Cultivars via In Vitro Culture
Authors: Alyousif Nouf Ali , El Sherif Fadia , Yap Yun-Kiam , Khattab Salah
Published: June 2023

Jojoba (Simmondsia chinensis L.) is a perennial shrub adapted to dry and hot climates. It produces high-quality seed oil that is widely used in the industrial, cosmetic, and pharmaceutical sectors. Soil salinity is often a constraint to plants grown under dry and hot desert conditions. Thus, in the present study, we aim to select and establish salt tolerant-jojoba cultivars using in vitro culture. Jojoba seeds were sown on germination media that were supplemented with various amounts of seawater to achieve the final solute concentrations of 2000-, 3000-, and 5000 ppm. Shoot tips from seedlings selected on germination media with different solute levels were subsequently cultured on multiple-shoot induction media, followed by root induction media at the same solute levels as the germination media from which the explants were selected. We germinated, multiplied, rooted, and acclimatized cultivars that could sustain solute levels up to 3000 ppm. Among all cultivars selected at different salinity levels, those selected at 2000 ppm were found to have the highest growth and multiplication parameters during the multiple-shoot induction and rooting stages. In addition, these cultivars also contained high levels of chlorophyll a, b, and carotenoid contents.
To What Extent Can Satellite Cities and New Towns Serve as a Steering Instrument for Polycentric Urban Expansion during Massive Population Growth?—A Comparative Analysis of Tokyo and Shanghai
Authors: Gu Runzhu , Xie Zhiqiu , Takatori Chika , Herold Hendrik , Xie Xiaoping
Published: June 2023

In response to the call of the New Urban Agenda—Habitat III for a reinvigoration of long-term and integrated planning towards sustainable urban development, this paper presents an empirical comparative study of planning practices based on the “satellite city” and “new town” concepts in Tokyo and Shanghai to examine from a long-term perspective how well they have guided polycentric urban development at a time of massive population growth. We aim to deliver evidence-based contributions to boost the knowledge transfer between the Global North and the Global South. The paper adopts a multi-dimensional framework for the comparative analysis, including a review of long-term urban development policies and an inspection of the population distribution and extent of built-up areas using time-specific categorizations to map the spatiotemporal changes based on GHSL data. The comparative analysis shows that urban plans in Tokyo and Shanghai based on satellite cities and new towns as steering instruments for polycentric urban growth management have not lived up to the original aspirations. In fact, the intended steering of population distribution has essentially failed, despite the practical steps undertaken.
Assessing the Status of National Spatial Data Infrastructure (NSDI) of Bangladesh
Authors: Rahman Md. Mostafizur , Szabó György
Published: June 2023

National spatial data infrastructure (NSDI) is an essential framework for managing and sharing geospatial data across different sectors and organizations. In Bangladesh, the development of NSDI is still in its early stages, and there are several challenges that need to be addressed to ensure its effective implementation. This paper provides a comprehensive assessment of the status of NSDI implementation in Bangladesh using Eelderink’s fourteen key variables. The paper examines the current state of NSDI implementation in Bangladesh, identifies strengths and weaknesses, and suggests recommendations for improvement. The findings suggest that while some progress has been made in establishing NSDI in Bangladesh, there are still significant challenges, such as limited funding; weak coordination among stakeholders; and a lack of skilled manpower, awareness, and capacity among users. To address these challenges, in this paper, we recommend several measures to improve the NSDI framework in Bangladesh. These include increasing funding support for NSDI development and maintenance, improving coordination among stakeholders through the establishment of a national coordinating body, enhancing awareness and capacity-building programs for NSDI users, and promoting the use of open data standards to improve data quality and interoperability. It is hoped that these recommendations will be taken into consideration by policymakers and other stakeholders to further enhance the development of NSDI in Bangladesh.
The Thyroid Hormone Axis and Female Reproduction
Authors: Brown Ethan D. L. , Obeng-Gyasi Barnabas , Hall Janet E. , Shekhar Skand
Published: June 2023

Thyroid function affects multiple sites of the female hypothalamic-pituitary gonadal (HPG) axis. Disruption of thyroid function has been linked to reproductive dysfunction in women and is associated with menstrual irregularity, infertility, poor pregnancy outcomes, and gynecological conditions such as premature ovarian insufficiency and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Thus, the complex molecular interplay between hormones involved in thyroid and reproductive functions is further compounded by the association of certain common autoimmune states with disorders of the thyroid and the HPG axes. Furthermore, in prepartum and intrapartum states, even relatively minor disruptions have been shown to adversely impact maternal and fetal outcomes, with some differences of opinion in the management of these conditions. In this review, we provide readers with a foundational understanding of the physiology and pathophysiology of thyroid hormone interactions with the female HPG axis. We also share clinical insights into the management of thyroid dysfunction in reproductive-aged women.