bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Immunotherapy and Hepatocellular Cancer: Where Are We Now?
Authors: Valery Marine , Cervantes Baptiste , Samaha Ramy , Gelli Maximiliano , Smolenschi Cristina , Fuerea Alina , Tselikas Lambros , Klotz-Prieux Caroline , Hollebecque Antoine , Boige Valérie , Ducreux Michel
Published: September 2022

Immunotherapy has demonstrated its effectiveness in many cancers. In hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), promising results shown in the first phase II studies evaluating anti-PD-1 or anti-PD-L1 monotherapies resulted in their approval in the United States. Approval was not obtained in Europe; subsequent randomized studies in first- or second-line treatment did not confirm these initial results. However, first data with immunotherapy plus antiangiogenic treatments or dual immunotherapy combinations were positive. In this context, the combination of bevacizumab and atezolizumab took the lead. The IMbrave150 trial revealed an improved objective response rate (ORR), progression-free survival, and overall survival with this combination versus the previous standard, sorafenib. Subsequent results of dual immunotherapy with the anti-CTLA-4 and anti-PD-1 monotherapies tremelimumab and durvalumab (also superior to sorafenib monotherapy) confirmed the value of using a combination in first-line treatment. These significant therapeutic advances, and the increase in ORR, raise two main questions. Whereas response was very limited with previous treatments, the ORR reported with these new combinations are between 20% and 30%. This raises the question of whether immunotherapy (ICI single agent, combination of ICI with antiangiogenic agent or other antitumoral treatment) can be used in patients beyond those in BCLC group C, the traditional candidate group for systemic therapy. We have thus seen an increasing number of patients previously treated with trans-arterial chemoembolization (BCLC group B) receiving these new treatments, and we develop the results of several studies combining loco-regional therapies and immunotherapy-based systemic treatments. The other major question is that of how and when to use these medical treatments as “adjuvants” to interventional radiology or surgery; the results of several works are discussed for this purpose. In this review, we cover all of these points in a fairly comprehensive manner.
Design of a Multi-Tubular Catalytic Reactor Assisted by CFD Based on Free-Convection Heat-Management for Decentralised Synthetic Methane Production
Authors: Alarcón Andreina , Busqué Raquel , Andreu Teresa , Guilera Jordi
Published: September 2022

A simple reactor design for the conversion of CO2 methanation into synthetic methane based on free convection is an interesting option for small-scale, decentralised locations. In this work, we present a heat-management design of a multi-tubular reactor assisted by CFD (Ansys Fluent®) as an interesting tool for scaling-up laboratory reactor designs. The simulation results pointed out that the scale-up of an individual reactive channel (d = 1/4′, H = 300 mm) through a hexagonal-shaped distribution of 23 reactive channels separated by 40 mm allows to obtain a suitable decreasing temperature profile (T = 487–230 °C) for the reaction using natural convection cooling. The resulting heat-management configuration was composed of three zones: (i) preheating of the reactants up to 230 °C, followed by (ii) a free-convection zone (1 m/s air flow) in the first reactor section (0–25 mm) to limit overheating and, thus, catalyst deactivation, followed by (iii) an isolation zone in the main reactor section (25–300 mm) to guarantee a proper reactor temperature and favourable kinetics. The evaluation of the geometry, reactive channel separation, and a simple heat-management strategy by CFD indicated that the implementation of an intensive reactor cooling system could be omitted with natural air circulation.
Versatile Bifunctional and Supported IrNi Oxide Catalyst for Photoelectrochemical Water Splitting
Authors: Zavahir Sifani , Hafsa Umme , Park Hyunwoong , Han Dong Suk
Published: September 2022

Designing a high-performance electrocatalyst that operates with photon-level energy is of the utmost importance in order to address the world’s urgent energy concerns. Herein, we report IrNi nanoparticles uniformly distributed on cost-effective activated carbon support with a low mass loading of 3% by weight to drive the overall water splitting reaction under light illumination over a wide pH range. The prepared IrNi nanomaterials were extensively characterized by SEM/EDX, TEM, XRD, Raman, and UV-visible absorption spectroscopy. The experimental results demonstrate that when the Ir:Ni ratio is 4:1, the water splitting rate is high at 32 and 25 mA cm−2 for hydrogen (at −1.16 V) and oxygen evolution reactions (at 1.8 V) in alkaline electrolyte, respectively, upon the light irradiation (100 mW cm−2). The physical and electrochemical characterization of metal and alloy combinations show that the cumulative effect of relatively high crystallinity (among the materials used in this study), reduced charge recombination rate, and improved oxygen vacancies observed with the 4Ir1Ni@AC electrode is the reason for the superior activity obtained. A high level of durability for hydrogen and oxygen evolution under light illumination is seen in the chronoamperometric study over 15 h of operation. Overall water splitting examined in 0.1 M of NaOH medium at a 50 mV s−1 scan rate showed a cell voltage of 1.94 V at a 10 mA cm−2 current density.
Links of Cytoskeletal Integrity with Disease and Aging
Authors: Kim Yu Jin , Cho Min Jeong , Yu Won Dong , Kim Myung Joo , Kim Sally Yunsun , Lee Jae Ho
Published: September 2022

Aging is a complex feature and involves loss of multiple functions and nonreversible phenotypes. However, several studies suggest it is possible to protect against aging and promote rejuvenation. Aging is associated with many factors, such as telomere shortening, DNA damage, mitochondrial dysfunction, and loss of homeostasis. The integrity of the cytoskeleton is associated with several cellular functions, such as migration, proliferation, degeneration, and mitochondrial bioenergy production, and chronic disorders, including neuronal degeneration and premature aging. Cytoskeletal integrity is closely related with several functional activities of cells, such as aging, proliferation, degeneration, and mitochondrial bioenergy production. Therefore, regulation of cytoskeletal integrity may be useful to elicit antiaging effects and to treat degenerative diseases, such as dementia. The actin cytoskeleton is dynamic because its assembly and disassembly change depending on the cellular status. Aged cells exhibit loss of cytoskeletal stability and decline in functional activities linked to longevity. Several studies reported that improvement of cytoskeletal stability can recover functional activities. In particular, microtubule stabilizers can be used to treat dementia. Furthermore, studies of the quality of aged oocytes and embryos revealed a relationship between cytoskeletal integrity and mitochondrial activity. This review summarizes the links of cytoskeletal properties with aging and degenerative diseases and how cytoskeletal integrity can be modulated to elicit antiaging and therapeutic effects.
Ionic Plasticity: Common Mechanistic Underpinnings of Pathology in Spinal Cord Injury and the Brain
Authors: Hudson Kelsey E. , Grau James W.
Published: September 2022

The neurotransmitter GABA is normally characterized as having an inhibitory effect on neural activity in the adult central nervous system (CNS), which quells over-excitation and limits neural plasticity. Spinal cord injury (SCI) can bring about a modification that weakens the inhibitory effect of GABA in the central gray caudal to injury. This change is linked to the downregulation of the potassium/chloride cotransporter (KCC2) and the consequent rise in intracellular Cl− in the postsynaptic neuron. As the intracellular concentration increases, the inward flow of Cl− through an ionotropic GABA-A receptor is reduced, which decreases its hyperpolarizing (inhibitory) effect, a modulatory effect known as ionic plasticity. The loss of GABA-dependent inhibition enables a state of over-excitation within the spinal cord that fosters aberrant motor activity (spasticity) and chronic pain. A downregulation of KCC2 also contributes to the development of a number of brain-dependent pathologies linked to states of neural over-excitation, including epilepsy, addiction, and developmental disorders, along with other diseases such as hypertension, asthma, and irritable bowel syndrome. Pharmacological treatments that target ionic plasticity have been shown to bring therapeutic benefits.
Ablation of Sphingosine Kinase 1 Protects Cornea from Neovascularization in a Mouse Corneal Injury Model
Authors: Wilkerson Joseph L. , Basu Sandip K. , Stiles Megan A. , Prislovsky Amanda , Grambergs Richard C. , Nicholas Sarah E. , Karamichos Dimitrios , Allegood Jeremy C. , Proia Richard L. , Mandal Nawajes
Published: September 2022

The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of sphingosine kinase 1 (SphK1), which generates sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P), in corneal neovascularization (NV). Wild-type (WT) and Sphk1 knockout (Sphk1−/−) mice received corneal alkali-burn treatment to induce corneal NV by placing a 2 mm round piece of Whatman No. 1 filter paper soaked in 1N NaOH on the center of the cornea for 20 s. Corneal sphingolipid species were extracted and identified using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC/MS). The total number of tip cells and those positive for ethynyl deoxy uridine (EdU) were quantified. Immunocytochemistry was done to examine whether pericytes were present on newly forming blood vessels. Cytokine signaling and angiogenic markers were compared between the two groups using multiplex assays. Data were analyzed using appropriate statistical tests. Here, we show that ablation of SphK1 can significantly reduce NV invasion in the cornea following injury. Corneal sphingolipid analysis showed that total levels of ceramides, monohexosyl ceramides (HexCer), and sphingomyelin were significantly elevated in Sphk−/− corneas compared to WT corneas, with a comparable level of sphingosine among the two genotypes. The numbers of total and proliferating endothelial tip cells were also lower in the Sphk1−/− corneas following injury. This study underscores the role of S1P in post-injury corneal NV and raises further questions about the roles played by ceramide, HexCer, and sphingomyelin in regulating corneal NV. Further studies are needed to unravel the role played by bioactive sphingolipids in maintenance of corneal transparency and clear vision.
Diabetic Proteinuria Revisited: Updated Physiologic Perspectives
Authors: Heyman Samuel N. , Raz Itamar , Dwyer Jamie P. , Weinberg Sibony Roni , Lewis Julia B. , Abassi Zaid
Published: September 2022

Albuminuria, a hallmark of diabetic nephropathy, reflects not only injury and dysfunction of the filtration apparatus, but is also affected by altered glomerular hemodynamics and hyperfiltration, as well as by the inability of renal tubular cells to fully retrieve filtered albumin. Albuminuria further plays a role in the progression of diabetic nephropathy, and the suppression of glomerular albumin leak is a key factor in its prevention. Although microalbuminuria is a classic manifestation of diabetic nephropathy, often progressing to macroalbuminuria or overt proteinuria over time, it does not always precede renal function loss in diabetes. The various components leading to diabetic albuminuria and their associations are herein reviewed, and the physiologic rationale and efficacy of therapeutic interventions that reduce glomerular hyperfiltration and proteinuria are discussed. With these perspectives, we propose that these measures should be initiated early, before microalbuminuria develops, as substantial renal injury may already be present in the absence of proteinuria. We further advocate that the inhibition of the renin–angiotensin axis or of sodium–glucose co-transport likely permits the administration of a normal recommended or even high-protein diet, highly desirable for sarcopenic diabetic patients.
Special Issue: Surface Modification of Magnesium, Aluminum Alloys, and Steel
Authors: Titu Aurel Mihail , Miao Bin , Pop Alina Bianca
Published: September 2022

The subject of coatings is mainly analyzed in different fields [...]
Special Issue: Advanced Semiconductor Materials and Films: Properties and Applications
Authors: Shen Xia , Lv Qihang , Guo Pengfei
Published: September 2022

Advanced semiconductor materials and films are building blocks for multifunctional devices and circuits, integrated optoelectronic chips, and high-throughput communications, which have proved basic material platforms for nanoscience and technologies [...]
Feature Encoding and Selection for Iris Recognition Based on Variable Length Black Hole Optimization
Authors: Saraf Tara Othman Qadir , Fuad N. , Taujuddin N. S. A. M.
Published: September 2022

Iris recognition as a biometric identification method is one of the most reliable biometric human identification methods. It exploits the distinctive pattern of the iris area. Typically, several steps are performed for iris recognition, namely, pre-processing, segmentation, normalization, extraction, coding and classification. In this article, we present a novel algorithm for iris recognition that includes in addition to iris features extraction and coding the step of feature selection. Furthermore, it enables selecting a variable length of features for iris recognition by adapting our recent algorithm variable length black hole optimization (VLBHO). It is the first variable length feature selection for iris recognition. Our proposed algorithm enables segments-based decomposition of features according to their relevance which makes the optimization more efficient in terms of both memory and computation and more promising in terms of convergence. For classification, the article uses the famous support vector machine (SVM) and the Logistic model. The proposed algorithm has been evaluated based on two iris datasets, namely, IITD and CASIA. The finding is that optimizing feature encoding and selection based on VLBHO is superior to the benchmarks with an improvement percentage of 0.21%.
Effects of Sb Doping on Electrical Conductivity Properties in Fine-Grain KNN-Based Ferroelectric Ceramics
Authors: Jiang Jiahao , Chen Shuaimin , Zhao Chunlin , Wu Xiao , Gao Min , Lin Tengfei , Fang Changqing , Lin Cong
Published: September 2022

In this work, the effects of Sb doping on the electrical conductivity of fine-grain 0.9(K0.5Na0.5)(Nb1−xSbx)O3-0.1Bi(Ni2/3Nb1/3)O3 (KNNSx-BNN) ceramics were systemically investigated. It was found that the grain size decreases from ~900 nm (x = 0) to ~340–400 nm (x = 0.06–0.08), and then increases again to ~700 nm (x = 0.10). This is because the solubility limit of Sb doping is about 0.08 in this ceramic, and more Sb doping will facilitate the grain growth as the sintering aids. Impedance and conductivity analyses reveal that the grain resistance and its activation energy show a similar changing tendency with grain size, while grain boundary conductivity steadily increases after Sb doping. In this process, the grain contribution on ceramic conductivity changes with grain size variation, and grain boundary contribution becomes more obvious with increasing doping content. The reduction in grain size, improvement in grain boundary density and doping ions entering into the grain boundary should contribute to the evolution of electrical conductivity properties after Sb doping in KNN-based ferroelectric ceramics.
Probing Optoelectronic and Thermoelectric Properties of Lead-Free Perovskite SnTiO3: HSE06 and Boltzmann Transport Calculations
Authors: Goumri-Said Souraya
Published: September 2022

In order to develop a useful material for the optoelectronic sector with a variety of uses in thermoelectric and optical properties at a reasonable price, we researched SnTiO3, a Pb-free and Sn-based perovskite. We used the most recent density functional theory (DFT) methods, such as the gradient approximation (GGA) approach and the screened hybrid functional (HSE06). The calculated electronic structure yields to an indirect band gap of 2.204 eV along with two different K-points such as (X-Γ) using HSE06. The accomplished optical properties have been examined by dispersion, absorption, reflection, optical conductivity, and loss function against photon energy. The thermoelectric properties and electronic fitness function (EFF) were predicted DFT along with the Boltzmann transport theory. The Seebeck coefficient (S) and related thermoelectric properties such as electronic/thermal conductivity and the Hall coefficient were calculated as a function of chemical potential and carrier density (electrons and holes concentration) for room temperature. It was established that the temperature increases the Seebeck coefficient (S) at every hole carrier concentration. SnTiO3 has good EFF at 300, 500, and 800 K as well. The discovered EFF suggests that this material’s thermoelectric performance rises with temperature and can also be improved through doping. These findings demonstrated the potential of SnTiO3 as an n-type or p-type thermoelectric material depending on the doping.
Characterizing Crustose Lichen Communities—DNA Metabarcoding Reveals More than Meets the Eye
Authors: Henrie Jacob R. , Thomson Brenden M. , Yungfleisch Andrew August , Kerr Michael , Leavitt Steven D.
Published: September 2022

Biodiversity inventories are important for informing land management strategies, conservation efforts, and for biomonitoring studies. For many organismal groups, including lichens, comprehensive, accurate inventories are challenging due to the necessity of taxonomic expertise, limitations in sampling protocols, and the commonplace occurrence of morphologically cryptic species and other undescribed species. Lichen communities in arid regions are often dominated by crustose lichens, which have been particularly difficult to incorporate into biodiversity inventories. Here, we explore the utility of DNA metabarcoding for characterizing the diversity of lichen-forming fungi at a typical crustose lichen-dominated site on the Colorado Plateau in the southwestern USA. We assessed the consistency of independent sampling efforts to comprehensively document lichen diversity, evaluated the capability of minimally trained technicians to effectively sample the lichen communities, and provide a metagenomic-based inventory of lichen diversity, including representative sequence data, for a diverse, crustose-dominate lichen community on the Colorado Plateau. Our results revealed that crustose lichen communities in the southwestern USA are more diverse than traditionally thought, and community metabarcoding is a promising strategy for characterizing the lichen-forming fungal diversity more thoroughly than other methods. However, consistently sampling the diversity of crustose lichen communities, even at small spatial scales, remains difficult. Interpreting these results within a traditional taxonomic context remains challenging without the use of vouchers.
Comparative Assessment of the Sensitivity of Ten Commercial Rapid Diagnostic Test Kits for the Detection of Plasmodium
Authors: Gendrot Mathieu , Madamet Marylin , Fonta Isabelle , Benoit Nicolas , Amalvict Rémy , Mosnier Joel ,   French National Reference Centre for Imported Malaria Study Group, Pradines Bruno
Published: September 2022

Malaria is one of the most common tropical diseases encountered by members of the French military who are deployed in operations under constrained conditions in malaria-endemic areas. Blood smear microscopy—the gold standard for malaria diagnosis—is often not available in such settings, where the detection of malaria relies on rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs). Ten RDTs (from Biosynex, Carestart, Humasis, SD Bioline, and CTK Biotech), based on the detection of the Plasmodium falciparum histidine-rich protein 2 (HRP2) or lactate dehydrogenase (pLDH, PfLDH, or PvLDH), were assessed against 159 samples collected from imported malaria cases, including 79 P. falciparum, 37 P. vivax, 22 P. ovale, and 21 P. malariae parasites. Samples had been previously characterised using microscopy and real-time PCR. The overall sensitivities for the Plasmodium test ranged from 69.8% (111/159) to 95% (151/159). There was no significant difference for the specific detection of P. falciparum (96.2% to 98.7%, p = 0.845). No significant difference was found between sensitivities to P. vivax by pan LDH or pvLDH (81.1% (30/37) to 94.6% (35/37) (p = 0.845)). Some of the RDTs missed most of P. ovale and P. malariae, with sensitivities for all RDTs ranging respectively from 4.5% (1/22) to 81.8% (18/22) and 14.3% (3/21) to 95.2% (20/21). Carestart Malaria Pf/Pan (pLDH) Ag G0121, a pLDH-based RDT (PfLDH and pLDH), showed the highest sensitivities to P. falciparum (98.7%, 78/79), P. vivax (94.6%, 35/37), P. ovale (81.8%, 18/22), and P. malariae (95.2%, 20/21) and meets the requirements for military deployments in malaria-endemic areas.
Cellular Concentration of Survivin and Caspase 3 in Habitual Tobacco Chewers with and without Oral Squamous Cell Carcinoma in South Indian Rural Population—A Case Control Study
Authors: Yesupatham Susanna Theophilus , Dayanand C. D. , Azeem Mohiyuddin S. M.
Published: September 2022

Background: There is paucity of data on tissue levels of Survivin and Caspase 3 in south Indian tobacco chewers with oral Squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Oral cancer is a rapidly growing, highly prevalent head and neck malignancy; it involves a mucosal epithelium of a buccal cavity exposed to tobacco and other carcinogens. The basis of the survival of a tumor cell or transformed normal cell into a neoplastic cell is by the suppression of apoptosis regulation. Recently, researchers have focused on Survivin, an inhibitor of apoptosis family of proteins (IAP), involved in apoptosis regulation in cancer cells targeting the executioner Caspase 3. The current study aims to quantify the cellular levels of Survivin and Caspase 3 in tobacco chewers with OSCC and in habitual tobacco chewers without OSCC, in comparison to controls. Methods: A single centric case control study included 186 study subjects, categorized into: Group I (n = 63), habitual tobacco chewers with OSCC; Group 2 (n = 63), habitual tobacco chewers without OSCC; and Group 3 (n = 63), the controls. Resected tumor tissue from Group 1 and buccal cell samples from Groups 2 and 3 were collected into phosphate buffer saline (PBS) and assayed for Survivin and Caspase 3 levels by the ELISA sandwich method. Results: The mean ± SD of the Survivin protein in Group 1 was (1670.9 ± 796.21 pg/mL); in Group 2, it was (1096.02 ± 346.17 pg/mL); and in Group 3, it was (397.5 ± 96.1 pg/mL) with a significance of p < 0.001. Similarly, the level of Caspase 3 in Group 1 was (7.48 ± 2.67 ng/mL); in Group 2, it was (8.85 ± 2.41 ng/mL); and in Group 3, it was (2.27 ± 2.24 ng/mL) with a significance of p < 0.001. Conclusion: The progressive transformation of buccal cells to neoplastic cells is evident; in the case of OSCC, this indicates that the over-expression of Survivin compared to Caspase 3 confirms the suppression and dysregulation of apoptosis.
Foreign-Trained Dentist vs. International Medical Graduate: What Can We Learn from International Medical Graduate Literature?
Authors: Yuan Judy Chia-Chun , Touloumi Foteini , Afshari Fatemeh , Spector Michael , Sukotjo Cortino
Published: September 2022

The United States of America has traditionally attracted people from various countries, including physicians and dentists, who wish to further their education and career in the U.S. international medical graduates’ (IMGs) role has been shown to be vital in medical academics and healthcare delivery systems. IMGs’ demographics, contribution to the U.S. healthcare system, education and research, and challenges in the U.S. medical system have been extensively investigated. However, similar data are limited to foreign-trained dentists (FTDs). This study reviews the current literature related to IMGs and FTDs and proposes some recommendations for future studies.
HW-Flow-Fusion: Inter-Layer Scheduling for Convolutional Neural Network Accelerators with Dataflow Architectures
Authors: Valpreda Emanuele , Morì Pierpaolo , Fasfous Nael , Vemparala Manoj Rohit , Frickenstein Alexander , Frickenstein Lukas , Stechele Walter , Passerone Claudio , Masera Guido , Martina Maurizio
Published: September 2022

Energy and throughput efficient acceleration of convolutional neural networks (CNN) on devices with a strict power budget is achieved by leveraging different scheduling techniques to minimize data movement and maximize data reuse. Several dataflow mapping frameworks have been developed to explore the optimal scheduling of CNN layers on reconfigurable accelerators. However, previous works usually optimize each layer singularly, without leveraging the data reuse between the layers of CNNs. In this work, we present an analytical model to achieve efficient data reuse by searching for efficient scheduling of communication and computation across layers. We call this inter-layer scheduling framework HW-Flow-Fusion, as we explore the fused map-space of multiple layers sharing the available resources of the same accelerator, investigating the constraints and trade-offs of mapping the execution of multiple workloads with data dependencies. We propose a memory-efficient data reuse model, tiling, and resource partitioning strategies to fuse multiple layers without recomputation. Compared to standard single-layer scheduling, inter-layer scheduling can reduce the communication volume by 51% and 53% for selected VGG16-E and ResNet18 layers on a spatial array accelerator, and reduce the latency by 39% and 34% respectively, while also increasing the computation to communication ratio which improves the memory bandwidth efficiency.
A Smart Evacuation Guidance System for Large Buildings
Authors: Nguyen Van-Quyet , Vu Huy-The , Nguyen Van-Hau , Kim Kyungbaek
Published: September 2022

In large buildings, during the situation of fire or other hazards, a smart evacuation guidance system needs to fully consider manifold aspects of hazards to guide evacuees through exit gates as fast as possible by dynamic and safe routes. In this paper, we propose a smart evacuation guidance system with a dynamic evacuation routing approach by using the LCDT (Length-Capacity-Density-Trustiness) weighted graph model and partial view (PV) information which represents the hazard intensity and the crowd congestion information of a group of sections/floors in the building. The proposed system is designed as a distributed system with multiple layers of computing by using smart indicators. Given such a system, we develop an efficient distributed approach, so-called LCDT&PV, to find out effective evacuation routes dynamically. We then propose an estimating congestion strategy in order to improve the efficiency of dynamic evacuation routes. To validate the proposed system, we implement a simulator to compare the proposed evacuation routing approach with baseline approaches. Experimental results show that the proposed approach reduces up to 30% of the total evacuation time compared with others. Furthermore, through the results of initial smart indicator implementation, which can interact with the simulator, we show the viability of the proposed system.
Energy-Efficient Edge Optimization Embedded System Using Graph Theory with 2-Tiered Security
Authors: Saba Tanzila , Rehman Amjad , Haseeb Khalid , Bahaj Saeed Ali , Jeon Gwanggil
Published: September 2022

The development of the Internet of Things (IoT) network has greatly benefited from the expansion of sensing technologies. These networks interconnect with wireless systems and collaborate with other devices using multi-hop communication. Besides data sensing, these devices also perform other operations such as compression, aggregation, and transmission. Recently, many solutions have been proposed to overcome the various research challenges of wireless sensor networks; however, energy efficiency with optimized intelligence is still a burning research problem that needs to be tackled. Thus, this paper presents an energy-efficient enabled edge optimization embedded system using graph theory for increasing performance in terms of network lifetime and scalability. First, minimum spanning trees are extracted using artificial intelligence techniques to improve the embedded system for response time and latency performance. Second, the extracted routes are provided with full protection against anonymous access in a two-tiered system. Third, the IoT systems collaborate with mobile sinks, and they need to be authenticated using lightweight techniques for the involvement in routing sensed information. Moreover, edge networks further provide the timely delivery of data to mobile sinks with less overhead on IoT devices. Finally, the proposed system is verified using simulations, revealing its significance to existing approaches.
Super-Resolution-Empowered Adaptive Medical Video Streaming in Telemedicine Systems
Authors: Han Hangcheng , Lv Jian
Published: September 2022

Due to influence of COVID-19, telemedicine is becoming more and more important. High-quality medical videos can provide a physician with a better visual experience and increase the accuracy of disease diagnosis, but this requires a dramatic increase in bandwidth compared to that required by regular videos. Existing adaptive video-streaming approaches cannot successfully provide high-resolution video-streaming services under poor or fluctuating network conditions with limited bandwidth. In this paper, we propose a super-resolution-empowered adaptive medical video streaming in telemedicine system (named SR-Telemedicine) to provide high quality of experience (QoE) videos for the physician while saving the network bandwidth. In SR-Telemedicine, very low-resolution video chunks are first transmitted from the patient to an edge computing node near the physician. Then, a video super-resolution (VSR) model is employed at the edge to reconstruct the low-resolution video chunks into high-resolution ones with an appropriate high-resolution level (such as 720p or 1080p). Furthermore, the neural network of VSR model is designed to be scalable and can be determined dynamically. Based on the time-varying computational capability of the edge computing node and the network condition, a double deep Q-Network (DDQN)-based algorithm is proposed to jointly select the optimal reconstructed high-resolution level and the scale of the VSR model. Finally, extensive experiments based on real-world traces are carried out, and the experimental results illustrate that the proposed SR-Telemedicine system can improve the QoE of medical videos by 17–79% compared to three baseline algorithms.
A New Approach to Power Distribution by a Dual-Gate MOSFET for Controlling a Smart Actuator Array
Authors: Lee Seok-Hyun , Kim Jaehwan
Published: September 2022

Remotely driven smart actuator technology by microwave is attractive since it simplifies and reduces the complexity and weight of the remote system. A rectifying antenna (rectenna) array receives and converts microwave power into DC power for actuators, and the power collected from the rectenna array should be accurately allocated and distributed to each actuator. In this research, a new power distribution (PD) logic circuit is studied to control an actuator array effectively. The PD logic circuit was designed and tested to validate it. The preliminary design was tested for a 4 × 4 piezoelectric actuator array with a 16 dual-gate MOSFET array and a computer-controlled 16-channel DAC board. Additionally, power compensation as a remedial approach for a partial power failure of the array was integrated. This PD scheme with a new logic device simplifies the thousands of control cables required for connecting each array element. The performance and limitations of the designed PD circuit are discussed.
Discussion of the Distribution Pattern and Driving Factors of 2 Large Old Tree Resources in Beijing
Authors: Fu Qingcheng , Qiu Erfa , Zhang Yuan , Huang Lanhong , Wang Huichao , Jiang Shasha
Published: September 2022

Known as “living fossils”, large old trees play an important role in ecology, landscape, and culture and are an important part of ecosystems and human settlements. The aim of this paper is to provide suggestions for the protection of urban large old tree resources and the selection of large old tree backup resources. First, we conducted a statistical analysis on the composition, distribution, and important values of large old tree species in Beijing and used Downtrend correspondence analysis (DCA) to analyze the composition of different types of habitat tree species. Second, we created a 3 km × 3 km grid within the administrative scope of Beijing, extracted the number of large old trees and tree species richness in the grid, and used geographic detectors to determine the driving factors of the spatial distribution of large old trees, as well as tree species richness differences and their interactions. A total of 40,590 large old trees in Beijing were found, belonging to 72 species, 52 genera, and 29 families. Platycladus orientalis (L.) Franco was the dominant tree species, with an importance value of 0.51. Among the different habitats, the large old trees were found in parks and temples, and the greatest tree species number of old trees were found in communities and the countryside; meanwhile, microgreen spaces had the lowest number of trees and tree species. The distribution of large old trees and tree species was mainly concentrated in the center of the city and the northwest. The distribution pattern of large old tree resources in Beijing is affected by the interaction of various factors. Social factors were the dominant in the distribution of large old tree resources in Beijing. The spatial distribution of large old trees was mainly affected by the scenic resort and historic site (SRHS), and the SRHS and gross domestic product (GDP) level were the most important factors influencing the richness of large old tree species. In addition, the functional value and characteristics of tree species determined the distribution of large old tree habitats. Therefore, the protection of large old tree resources requires developing scientific management and planning by managers, increasing investment in management and protection, and strengthening ecological culture publicity.
Predicting the Potential Distribution of the Endangered Plant Cremastra appendiculata (Orchidaceae) in China under Multiple Climate Change Scenarios
Authors: Li Wen-Na , Zhao Qian , Guo Ming-Hao , Lu Chan , Huang Fei , Wang Zhe-Zhi , Niu Jun-Feng
Published: September 2022

Cremastraappendiculata (Orchidaceae) is a perennial medicinal herb, which is included in the national second-class protected plant catalog in China. Due to the influences of climate change and anthropogenic activities, in conjunction with soaring commercial prices, the wild sources of C.appendiculata have been drastically reduced and are in danger of extinction. Consequently, it is important to predict the distribution of potentially suitable growth/propagation areas for C.appendiculata under the backdrop of climate change for its protection and sustainable use. For this study, an optimized maximum entropy model was employed to analyze the distribution patterns and changes of potentially suitable regions for C.appendiculata during different periods since the Last Glacial Maximum (LGM, 18–24 ka). Based on multiple climate change scenarios (SSP1-2.6, SSP2-4.5, SSP3-7.0, and SSP5-8.5), the distribution range of C. appendiculata was predicted for the 2050s (average for 2041–2060), 2070s (average for 2061–2080), and 2090s (average for 2081–2100). The results revealed that during the LGM period, the highly suitable growth area for C.appendiculata was 0.28 × 104 km2, which accounted for only 3.26% of the current highly suitable growth area. During the mid-Holocene (MH, 6 ka) period, the area of highly suitable regions increased to 8.38 × 104 km2, which accounted for 99.30% of the present highly suitable growth area. Further, the cumulative existing potentially suitable growth area for C. appendiculata is 213.9 × 104 km2, which accounts for 22.28% of China’s territory. Of these lands, the low, medium, and high suitable areas are 147.76 × 104 km2, 57.71 × 104 km2, and 8.44 × 104 km2, respectively. The highly suitable areas are primarily distributed across Sichuan, Gansu, Shaanxi, Chongqing, Guizhou, Hubei, and Anhui Provinces. Moreover, in the future the potentially suitable growth areas for C. appendiculata will decrease to varying degrees. Further, the results of this study found that the relatively low impact areas for C. appendiculata were mainly distributed across Shaanxi, Sichuan, Chongqing, and Guizhou Provinces. Centroid transfer analysis indicated that the center of potentially suitable growth areas for C.appendiculata shifted to the northwest in SSP2-4.5 and SSP3-7.0, while they initially shifted to the northwest and then to the southeast in SSP1-2.6 and SSP5-8.5.
Maximum Rooting Depth of Pinus thunbergii Parl. Estimated with Depth at the Center Point of Rotation in a Tree-Pulling Experiment in a Coastal Forest in Japan
Authors: Todo Chikage , Yamase Keitaro , Ikeno Hidetoshi , Tanikawa Toko , Ohashi Mizue , Hirano Yasuhiro
Published: September 2022

Tree resistance to uprooting can be estimated as the critical turning moment in tree-pulling experiments. The depth at the center point of rotation (Dcp) in tree-pulling experiments is measured as an indicator of below-ground traits and is related to this critical turning moment. However, few researchers have investigated the relationship between the Dcp and maximum root depth. Our objective in this study was to clarify whether the Dcp in tree-pulling experiments can be estimated as the maximum root depth of Pinus thunbergii Parl. in sandy soils. We also estimated which position of displacement of the center of rotation (Cp) can be applied as the Dcp. We conducted tree-pulling experiments, and compared the Dcp obtained from images with the measured maximum root depth. We found significant positive correlations between the Dcp and maximum root depth. The Cp displacement concentrated immediately below the stem when the maximum critical turning moment was reached. This position should be measured as the Dcp, which is related to the maximum root depth. We found that the Dcp can serve as a parameter, preventing the need for uprooting, when tree-pulling experiments are performed to obtain an important below-ground trait for understanding the critical turning moment.
The Interrelationship between Latitudinal Differences and Metabolic Differences in the Natural Distribution Area of Tilia amurensis Rupr.
Authors: Liu Yang , Chang Qiu-Yang , Tang Zhong-Hua , Wu Ke-Xin , Abozeid Ann , Mu Li-Qiang
Published: September 2022

Tilia amurensis Rupr. is a crucial species widely used in our life, because its wood is easy to process due to its low specific gravity and good elasticity. To understand the effect of the latitudinal gradients on T. amurensis metabolites profiles, we collected data from six different latitudes about physiological indicators such as temperature, light, and precipitation, then analyzed the differences in T. amurensis metabolite profiles from these different latitudes. The metabolomes of the six latitudes (SFS 49°28′53.26″ N, WY 48°06′51.314″ N, LS 47°11′1.71″ N, BL 45°7′55″ N, BH 43°50′16.8″ N, and TS 40′30.89″ N) were compared using GC–MS/LC–MS, and significant differences in primary and secondary metabolites were found. A total of 29 primary metabolites were screened by orthogonal partial least squares discriminant analysis (OPLS-DA), and 34 flavonoids were determined using the targeted metabolomics methods. A total of 11 flavonoids in secondary metabolites were significantly different in the LS region compared with other areas. The main physiological indicator that differs between the LS region and other regions was the annual sunshine percentage. This indicates that the metabolic differences in T. amurensis at different latitudes may be affected by environmental factors such as annual sunshine percentage. As a vital species, T. amurensis metabolites change with different environmental factors, indicating that this species has different adaptability to the environment of different latitudes.
Morphological Characteristics of Bamboo Panel Milling Dust Derived from Different Average Chip Thicknesses
Authors: Cui Yunqi , Yin Jian , Cai Yitong , Wang Huimin , Ding Tao , Zhu Nanfeng
Published: September 2022

The massive amounts of dust formed during bamboo CNC milling presents serious risks to human health and equipment. The present study aimed to determine the particle size distribution (PSD) and shape characteristics of bamboo milling dust derived from different average chip thicknesses. Spindle speed and feed rate were varied in combination, in setting up two experimental groups having the same average chip thicknesses. Sieving and flatbed scanning image analyses were collectively utilized for the morphological analysis of bamboo dust. The results showed that less than 5% of the particles were below 100 μm in terms of mass, but represented more than 83% in number. Average chip thickness was positively correlated with a mass proportion of bamboo dust with large size, which was preferably generated when reducing spindle speed instead of increasing feed rate. Spindle speed and feed rate individually affected the particle size and particle size distribution instead of average chip thickness. The aspect ratio, roundness and convexity of bamboo milling dust were augmented with a reduction in particle size, indicating that bamboo milling dust with smaller size had more a regular shape, a smoother profile and fewer corners. These findings provide a theoretical basis for better understanding bamboo milling dust and its related control in the bamboo processing industry.
Giant Trees Exhibited Great Cooling Effect in Residential Area Southwest of China
Authors: Zhang Rongfei , Zhao Ziyan
Published: September 2022

In recent years, extreme weather has become more and more frequent. The extreme heat in summer is a serious threat to human health. Chongqing is one of the hottest cities in China, and the high temperature in summer can cause skin cancer and heat stroke. Green plants in residential areas play a great role in cooling down air temperature. However, there are no accurate numerical references for which plants have a better cooling effect. Therefore, seven species of trees with the highest planting rate were selected in seven residential areas as research objects in this study. By measuring the temperature under the trees and related control factors, this study was conducted to clarify the following: (1) Which species of tree has the best cooling effect? (2) Whether tree species and size matter with the cooling effect. (3) What are the controlling factors and principles that affect the tree cooling effect? The results showed that: (1) Giant trees have the best cooling effect. (2) The cooling effects of Ficus virens, Camphor tree, and Ficus macrocarpa were significantly better than the other four species of trees. (3) The high rate of water replenishment in plants gives giant trees a greater cooling effect. This study is of great practical significance to the selection of plants in the green belt of residential communities, and has great theoretical significance to understand the principle of the plant cooling effect.
Joint Scalable Video Coding and Transcoding Solutions for Fog-Computing-Assisted DASH Video Applications
Authors: Nafeh Majd , Bozorgchenani Arash , Tarchi Daniele
Published: September 2022

Video streaming solutions have increased their importance in the last decade, enabling video on demand (VoD) services. Among several innovative services, 5G and Beyond 5G (B5G) systems consider the possibility of providing VoD-based solutions for surveillance applications, citizen information and e-tourism applications, to name a few. Although the majority of the implemented solutions resort to a centralized cloud-based approach, the interest in edge/fog-based approaches is increasing. Fog-based VoD services result in fulfilling the stringent low-latency requirement of 5G and B5G networks. In the following, by resorting to the Dynamic Adaptive Streaming over HTTP (DASH) technique, we design a video-segment deployment algorithm for streaming services in a fog computing environment. In particular, by exploiting the inherent adaptation of the DASH approach, we embed in the system a joint transcoding and scalable video coding (SVC) approach able to deploy at run-time the video segments upon the user’s request. With this in mind, two algorithms have been developed aiming at maximizing the marginal gain with respect to a pre-defined delay threshold and enabling video quality downgrade for faster video deployment. Numerical results demonstrate that by effectively mapping the video segments, it is possible to minimize the streaming latency while maximising the users’ target video quality.
Second-Price Auctions with Private Entry Costs
Authors: Kaplan Todd , Sela Aner
Published: September 2022

We study asymmetric second-price auctions under incomplete information. The bidders have two potentially different, commonly known, valuations for the object and private information about their entry costs. The seller, however, does not benefit from these entry costs. We calculate the equilibrium strategies of the bidders and analyze the optimal design for the seller in this environment in terms of expected entry and the number of potential bidders.
SR Splicing Factors Promote Cancer via Multiple Regulatory Mechanisms
Authors: Wan Ledong , Deng Min , Zhang Honghe
Published: September 2022

Substantial emerging evidence supports that dysregulated RNA metabolism is associated with tumor initiation and development. Serine/Arginine-Rich proteins (SR) are a number of ultraconserved and structurally related proteins that contain a characteristic RS domain rich in arginine and serine residues. SR proteins perform a critical role in spliceosome assembling and conformational transformation, contributing to precise alternative RNA splicing. Moreover, SR proteins have been reported to participate in multiple other RNA-processing-related mechanisms than RNA splicing, such as genome stability, RNA export, and translation. The dysregulation of SR proteins has been reported to contribute to tumorigenesis through multiple mechanisms. Here we reviewed the different biological roles of SR proteins and strategies for functional rectification of SR proteins that may serve as potential therapeutic approaches for cancer.