bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
N7-Methylguanosine Regulatory Genes Profoundly Affect the Prognosis, Progression, and Antitumor Immune Response of Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Zhou Kexiang , Yang Jiaqun , Li Xiaoyan , Xiong Wei , Zhang Pengbin , Zhang Xuqing
Published: June 2022

Background

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is a common abdominal cancer with poor survival outcomes. Although there is growing evidence that N7-methylguanosine (m7G) is closely associated with tumor prognosis, development, and immune response, few studies focus on this topic.

Methods

The novel m7G risk signature was constructed through the Lasso regression analysis. Its prognostic value was evaluated through a series of survival analyses and was tested in ICGC-LIRI, GSE14520, and GSE116174 cohorts. CIBERSORT, ssGSEA, and ESTIMATE methods were applied to explore the effects of the m7G risk score on tumor immune microenvironment (TIM). The GSEA method was used to evaluate the impacts of the m7G risk score on glycolysis, ferroptosis, and pyroptosis. The human protein atlas (HPA) database was used to clarify the histological expression levels of five m7G signature genes. The biofunctions of NCBP2 in hepatocellular cancer (HC) cells were confirmed through qPCR, CCK8, and transwell assays.

Results

Five m7G regulatory genes comprised the novel risk signature. The m7G risk score was identified as an independent prognostic factor of HCC and could increase the decision-making benefit of traditional prognostic models. Besides, we established a nomogram containing the clinical stage and m7G risk score to predict the survival rates of HCC patients. The prognostic value of the m7G model was successfully validated in ICGC and GSE116174 cohorts. Moreover, high m7G risk led to a decreased infiltration level of CD8+ T cells, whereas it increased the infiltration levels of Tregs and macrophages. The glycolysis and pyroptosis processes were found to be enriched in the HCC patients with high m7G risk. Finally, overexpression of NCBP2 could promote the proliferation, migration, and invasion of HC cells.

Conclusions

The m7G risk score was closely related to the prognosis, antitumor immune process, glycolysis, and malignant progression of HCC. NCBP2 has pro-oncogenic abilities, showing promise as a novel treatment target.
Complex Feline Disease Mapping Using a Dense Genotyping Array
Authors: Hernandez Isabel , Hayward Jessica J. , Brockman Jeff A. , White Michelle E. , Mouttham Lara , Wilcox Elizabeth A. , Garrison Susan , Castelhano Marta G. , Loftus John P. , Gomes Filipe Espinheira , Balkman Cheryl , Brooks Marjory B. , Fiani Nadine , Forman Marnin , Kern Tom , Kornreich Bruce , Ledbetter Eric C. , Peralta Santiago , Struble Angela M. , Caligiuri Lisa , Corey Elizabeth , Lin Lin , Jordan Julie , Sack Danny , Boyko Adam R. , Lyons Leslie A. , Todhunter Rory J.
Published: June 2022

The current feline genotyping array of 63 k single nucleotide polymorphisms has proven its utility for mapping within breeds, and its use has led to the identification of variants associated with Mendelian traits in purebred cats. However, compared to single gene disorders, association studies of complex diseases, especially with the inclusion of random bred cats with relatively low linkage disequilibrium, require a denser genotyping array and an increased sample size to provide statistically significant associations. Here, we undertook a multi-breed study of 1,122 cats, most of which were admitted and phenotyped for nine common complex feline diseases at the Cornell University Hospital for Animals. Using a proprietary 340 k single nucleotide polymorphism mapping array, we identified significant genome-wide associations with hyperthyroidism, diabetes mellitus, and eosinophilic keratoconjunctivitis. These results provide genomic locations for variant discovery and candidate gene screening for these important complex feline diseases, which are relevant not only to feline health, but also to the development of disease models for comparative studies.
Neurostimulation as a Method of Treatment and a Preventive Measure in Canine Drug-Resistant Epilepsy: Current State and Future Prospects
Authors: Nowakowska Marta , Üçal Muammer , Charalambous Marios , Bhatti Sofie F. M. , Denison Timothy , Meller Sebastian , Worrell Gregory A. , Potschka Heidrun , Volk Holger A.
Published: June 2022

Modulation of neuronal activity for seizure control using various methods of neurostimulation is a rapidly developing field in epileptology, especially in treatment of refractory epilepsy. Promising results in human clinical practice, such as diminished seizure burden, reduced incidence of sudden unexplained death in epilepsy, and improved quality of life has brought neurostimulation into the focus of veterinary medicine as a therapeutic option. This article provides a comprehensive review of available neurostimulation methods for seizure management in drug-resistant epilepsy in canine patients. Recent progress in non-invasive modalities, such as repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation and transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation is highlighted. We further discuss potential future advances and their plausible application as means for preventing epileptogenesis in dogs.
Single and Synergistic Effects of Fenbendazole and Metronidazole Against Subclinical Infection by Giardia duodenalis in Non-Human Primates in a Zoological Garden in Southern Italy
Authors: Capasso Michele , Ciuca Lavinia , Procesi Isabel Guadano , Zinno Francesco , Berrilli Federica , Cringoli Giuseppe , Rinaldi Laura
Published: June 2022

The aim of this study was to assess the single and synergistic effects of fenbendazole (Fenb) and metronidazole (Metro) for the treatment of Giardia duodenalis infection in different species of non-human primates (NHPs) housed in a zoological garden of southern Italy. Moreover, the study also aimed to better define the circulation of G. duodenalis zoonotic assemblages in NHP and the potential occurrence of zoonotic transmission between the staff from the zoo and NHP. Briefly, six species that belonged to four families (Lemuridae, Cercopithecidae, Atelidae, and Hylobatidae) of NHP and housed in six cages (CG) were identified as Giardia positive and divided into two groups. Group F (N = 16 animals) was treated with Fenb (50 mg/kg, every 24 h for 5 consecutive days) and Group M (N = 7 animals) was treated with Metro (25 mg/kg, two times a day for 5 consecutive days). After the first round of therapy, all the animals were retreated for 5 days by inverting the drugs in each group. On each sampling day [study days (SDs) 3–24], the samples were tested for the presence of Giardia cysts using the FLOTAC technique. Multiple fecal tests for the antigen detection of Giardia, such as rapid ELISA and direct immunofluorescence (IFA), were performed at each sampling point only on samples that resulted in positive for Giardia cysts with FLOTAC. The efficacy of Fenb ranged from 30 to 67% and for Metro ranged from 82 to 96%. The results showed the synergistic effects of Metro and Fenb (98–100%) over the combination of Fenb and Metro (52–90%) against the infection by Giardia in NHPs. The overall k agreement between FLOTAC and IFA was reached 0.858 (p = 0.0001). In contrast, all the samples had a negative antigen result when using ELISA. At molecular analysis, six samples were confirmed positive for Giardia by nested PCR. Only two positive samples were successfully sequenced that showed 100% of identity with assemblage B. All the samples from the humans included in the study resulted in negative for Giardia cysts. Overall, the study emphasizes the need for regular monitoring of Giardia infections in NHP housed in zoos by traditional diagnostic tools combined with molecular characterization of the parasite.
A metformin hatása a szájüregi elváltozásokra
Authors: Somogyi Kata Sára , Németh Zsolt , Ujpál Márta
Published: June 2022

A metformin egy biguanid antidiabetikum, melyet a 2. típusú diabetes kezelésére alkalmaznak. Kedvezően befolyásolja az inzulinrezisztenciát, de emellett több támadásponton is csökkenti a daganatsejtek onkogenetikus hatását, mérsékli az oxidatív stresszt és a szervezet gyulladásos reakcióit.Tanulmányunkban arra a kérdésre kerestük a választ a szakirodalom áttekintése alapján, hogy a metformin befolyásolja-e és milyen módon a szájüregi elváltozásokat. A PubMed és a Google Scholar adatbázisából 26 tanulmány képezi publikációnk alapját, melyek elsősorban a metformin parodontiumra és fej-nyak malignomákra gyakorolt hatásáról számolnak be, illetve tárgyalják az összefüggéseket ezen betegségek és a diabetes között. Klinikai, többéves követéses vizsgálatok eredményeként megállapították, hogy krónikus parodontitises nem diabeteseseknél az 1%-os metformin helyi alkalmazásával javultak a páciensek gyulladásos tünetei, és csökkent a csontvesztés mértéke. Cukorbetegeknél a metformin szisztémás alkalmazása kedvezően befolyásolta a parodontális státuszt. A metformin szisztémás adásakor különböző jelátviteli útvonalakon keresztül csökkenti a daganatsejtek onkogenetikus hatását. A publikációk igazolták, hogy a szisztémásan alkamazott metformin fej-nyak tumoros páciensek körében is csökkenti a malignus daganatok kialakulásának gyakoriságát, fokozza a sugár- és kemoterápiák hatékonyságát és javítja a daganatos túlélést diabeteses és nem diabeteses betegeknél egyaránt. Több szerző javasolja a metformin komplementer kezelésként való alkalmazását a hagyományos daganatterápiás eljárások támogatására.
Lokalizált frontfogkopás adhezív rehabilitációja Dahl-koncepcióval kombinálva
Authors: Lempel Edina , Gyulai Sarolta , Németh Kinga Dorottya
Published: June 2022

A harapási magasság csökkenésével járó lokalizált frontfogkopás komplex ellátást igényel.Esetsorozat-tanulmányunkban felső frontfogkopás ellátására – megemelt harapási magasságban, a poszterior fogak restaurálása nélkül – alkalmazott palatinális direkt kompozit és labiális kerámiahéjak túlélését vizsgáltuk.Nyolc betegnél 48 palatinális direkt héj készült nanohibrid kompozitból, megnövelt vertikális magasságban. A poszterior fogak kompenzatorikus erupcióját követően 54 labiális kerámiahéjjal történt az esztétikai helyreállítás. A szendvicshéjakat 35,1 hónap megfigyelés után értékeltük a USPHS-kritériumrendszer segítségével. A poszterior érintkezések helyreállása, a betegelégedettség és a funkció is értékelésre kerültek.A szendvicshéjak túlélése 100%. A kerámiahéjak sikeressége kiváló, míg a palatinális kompozithéjak esetén kisebb hibák előfordultak. Széli elszíneződés (70,8%), kopás (45,8%), felszíni érdesség (20,8%) és széli résképződés (12,5%) voltak a leggyakoribb eltérések. Szoros poszterior érintkezések 4 hét alatt alakultak ki. A funkció és esztétika tekintetében a betegelégedettség kiváló.Dahl-koncepcióval kombinált nem invazív kezelési lehetőség rövid távú eredményei kedvezőek, az eljárás ígéreteslokalizált anterior fogkopás ellátásában.
Investigation on the Opposing Jet in the Hypersonic Rarefied Flow over a Vehicle Based on the DSMC Method
Authors: Shen Yi , Zhang Jun , Xu Xiao , Liu Jing , Zhang Zhaoming , Jiao Yanmei
Published: June 2022

In this paper, an opposing jet is applied to the space shuttle arc leading edge and the lifting body cone leading edge in the hypersonic condition of the rarefied flow field. The DSMC numerical algorithm is used to simulate and analyze the underlying working physics of the opposing jet. The results provide a reference for designing hypersonic vehicles in near space that reduce drag and protect against heat.
Cleaved Amplified Polymorphic Sequences (CAPS) Markers for Characterization of the LuFAD3A Gene from Various Flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) Cultivars
Authors: Walkowiak Magdalena , Matuszczak Marcin , Spasibionek Stanisław , Liersch Alina , Mikołajczyk Katarzyna
Published: June 2022

Depending on the variety, flax (Linum usitatissimum L.) provides an oil rich in omega-3 acids (especially 50% α-linolenic acid) with proven health properties, and is used as a raw industrial material. Alpha-linolenic acid is a polyunsaturated fatty acid easily subject to oxidative transformation. The auto-oxidation of α-linolenic acid is the main process contributing to off-flavor, color loss, and change in the nutritional value of flax oil. We used six flax genotypes differing in fatty acid content in our research. For all the DNA samples extracted from the leaf tissue of the studied flax, the new, cleaved amplified polymorphic sequences (CAPS) markers specific to the LuFAD3A desaturase gene were applied. A specific PCR product from the LuFAD3A flax gene comprising fragments of exon 5, exon 6, and the intron between these exons was digested using six various restriction enzymes. These experiments could differentiate between some of the studied varieties of flax. We also proved that the LuFAD3A gene mutation previously detected by other authors in the low-linolenic forms of flax (solin line 593–708) was absent in the low-linolenic forms of flax that we studied (Linola KLA and Linola KLB).
Physiological, Metabolic and Transcriptional Responses of Basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth.) to Heat Stress
Authors: Qin Lei , Li Chengyuan , Li Dongbin , Wang Jiayan , Yang Li , Qu Aili , Wu Qingfei
Published: June 2022

As a medicinal and edible plant, basil (Ocimum basilicum Linn. var. pilosum (Willd.) Benth.) has rich nutrition and significant economic value. The increase in heat stress caused by global warming adversely affects the growth and yield of plants. However, the response mechanism of basil to heat stress is poorly understood. This work investigated the changes in phenotype, metabolome, and transcriptome in basil under heat stress. The results showed that heat stress triggered severe oxidative damage and photosynthesis inhibition in basil. Metabonomic analysis showed that, compared to the control group, 29 significantly differentially accumulated metabolites (DAMs) were identified after 1 d of heat treatment, and 37 DAMs after the treatment of 3 d. The DAMs were significantly enriched by several pathways such as glycolysis or gluconeogenesis; aminoacyl-tRNA biosynthesis; and alanine, aspartate, and glutamate metabolism. In addition, transcriptomic analysis revealed that 15,066 and 15,445 genes were differentially expressed after 1 d and 3 d of heat treatment, respectively. Among them, 11,183 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were common response genes under 1 d and 3 d heat treatment, including 5437 down-regulated DEGs and 6746 up-regulated DEGs. All DEGs were significantly enriched in various KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) pathways, most dominated by glyoxylate and dicarboxylate metabolism, followed by starch and sucrose metabolism, and by the biosynthesis and metabolism of other secondary metabolites. Overall, all the above results provided some valuable insights into the molecular mechanism of basil in response to heat stress.
A Mutation in Endogenous saRNA miR-23a Influences Granulosa Cells Response to Oxidative Stress
Authors: Wang Siqi , Li Yuqi , Zeng Qiang , Yang Liu , Du Xing , Li Qifa
Published: June 2022

Phenotypes are the result of the interaction between the gene and the environment, so the response of individuals with different genotypes to an environment is variable. Here, we reported that a mutation in miR-23a influences granulosa cells (GCs) response to oxidative stress, a common mechanism of environmental factors affecting female reproduction. We showed that nuclear miR-23a is a pro-apoptotic miRNA in porcine GCs through the activation of the transcription and function of NORHA, a long non-coding RNA (lncRNA) induces GC apoptosis and responses to oxidative stress. Mechanistically, miR-23a acts as an endogenous small activating RNA (saRNA) to alter histone modifications of the NORHA promoter through the direct binding to its core promoter. A C > T mutation was identified at −398 nt of the miR-23a core promoter, which created a novel binding site for the transcription factor SMAD4 and recruited the transcription repressor SMAD4 to inhibit miR-23a transcription and function in GCs. Notably, g.−398C > T mutation in the miR-23a promoter reduced GCs response to oxidative stress. In addition, g.−398C > T mutation was significantly associated with sow fertility traits. In short, our findings preliminarily revealed the genetic basis of individual differences in the response to oxidative stress from the perspective of a single mutation and identified miR-23a as a candidate gene for the environmental adaptation to oxidative stress.
Gender-Specific Metabolic Responses of Crassostrea hongkongensis to Infection with Vibrio harveyi and Lipopolysaccharide
Authors: Ma Lijuan , Lu Jie , Yao Tuo , Ye Lingtong , Wang Jiangyong
Published: June 2022

Gender differences in the hemocyte immune response of Hong Kong oyster Crassostrea hongkongensis to Vibrio harveyi and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) infection exist. To determine if a gender difference also exists, we use a 1H NMR-based metabolomics method to investigate responses in C. hongkongensis hepatopancreas tissues to V. harveyi and LPS infection. Both infections induced pronounced gender- and immune-specific metabolic responses in hepatopancreas tissues. Responses are mainly presented in changes in substances involved in energy metabolism (decreased glucose, ATP, and AMP in males and increased ATP and AMP in LPS-infected females), oxidative stress (decreased glutathione in males and decreased tryptophan and phenylalanine and increased choline and proline in LPS-infected females), tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle (decreased α-ketoglutarate acid and increased fumarate in LPS-infected males, and decreased fumarate in LPS-infected females), and osmotic regulation (decreased trigonelline and increased taurine in V. harveyi-infected males and decreased betaine in V. harveyi-infected females). Results suggest that post-spawning-phase male oysters have a more significant energy metabolic response and greater ability to cope with oxidative stress than female oysters. We propose that the impact of oyster gender should be taken into consideration in the aftermath of oyster farming or oyster disease in natural seas.
Comparison of Methods for Reconstructing MODIS Land Surface Temperature under Cloudy Conditions
Authors: Chen Dong , Zhuang Qifeng , Zhu Liang , Zhang Wenjie
Published: June 2022

Land surface temperature (LST) is a vital parameter associated with the land–atmosphere interface. The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) LST product can provide precise LST with high time resolution, and is widely applied in various remote sensing temperature research. However, due to its inability to penetrate the cloud and fog, its quality is not able to meet the requirements of actual research. Hence, obtaining continuous and cloudless MODIS LST datasets remains challenging for researchers. The critical point is to reconstruct missing pixels. To compare the performance of different methods, first, three kinds of methods were used to reconstruct the missing pixels, namely, temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal methods. The predicted values using these methods were validated by the automatic weather system data (AWS) in the Heihe river basin of China. The results demonstrated that, compared with other methods, linear temporal interpolation using Aqua data had the best performance in MODIS LST reconstruction in the Heihe river basin, with an RMSE of 7.13 K and an R2 of 0.82, and the NSE and PBias were 0.78 and −0.76%, respectively. Furthermore, the interpolation method was improved using adaptive windows and robust regression. First, the international Geosphere–Biosphere Program (IGBP) classification was employed to distinguish the different land surface types. Then, the invalid LST values were reconstructed using adjacent days’ effective LST values combined with a robust regression. Finally, a mean filter was applied to eliminate outliers. The overall results combined with ERA5 data were validated by AWS, with an RMSE of 6.96 K and an R2 of 0.79 and the NSE and PBias were 0.77 and −0.20%, respectively. The validation demonstrated that the scheme proposed in this paper is able to accurately reconstruct the missing values and improve the accuracy of the interpolation method to a certain extent when reconstructing MODIS LST.
A New Fourth-Order Predictor–Corrector Numerical Scheme for Heat Transfer by Darcy–Forchheimer Flow of Micropolar Fluid with Homogeneous–Heterogeneous Reactions
Authors: Nawaz Yasir , Arif Muhammad Shoaib , Shatanawi Wasfi
Published: June 2022

This paper proposes a numerical scheme for solving linear and nonlinear differential equations obtained from the mathematical modeling of a flow phenomenon. The scheme is constructed on two grid points. It is a two-stage, or predictor–corrector type, scheme whose first stage (the predictor stage) comprises a forward Euler scheme. The stability region of the proposed scheme is larger than that of the first-order forward Euler scheme. A problem is constructed, comprised of a mathematical model for the Darcy–Forchheimer flow of micropolar fluid over a stretching sheet, and is modified using partial differential equations (PDEs) by incorporating the effects of homogeneous–heterogeneous reactions. A set of PDEs is further reduced into ordinary differential equations (ODEs) by several transformations and is solved using the proposed numerical scheme. By comparing the results obtained using the proposed scheme with those obtained using the existing forward Euler scheme, it can be observed that the proposed scheme achieved a smaller absolute error. The obtained results show that the angular velocity profile displayed dual behavior according to increases in the values of the microrotation and coupling constant parameters. As part of our research, we conducted a comparison with other existing schemes. The findings of this study can serve as a helpful guide for future investigations into fluid flow in closed-off industrial settings.
Prostaglandin D2 Attenuates Lipopolysaccharide-Induced Acute Lung Injury through the Modulation of Inflammation and Macrophage Polarization
Authors: Almatroudi Ahmad , Alsahli Mohammed A. , Syed Mansoor Ali , Khan Amjad Ali , Rahmani Arshad Husain
Published: June 2022

Acute lung injury (ALI) is a well-known respiratory disease and a leading cause of death worldwide. Despite advancements in the medical field, developing complete treatment strategies against this disease is still a challenge. In the current study, the therapeutic role of prostaglandin D2 (PGD2) was investigated on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced lung injury in mice models and RAW264.7 macrophages through anti-inflammatory, histopathology, immunohistochemistry, and TUNEL staining. The overproduction of cytokines by RAW264.7 macrophages was observed after stimulation with LPS. However, pretreatment with PGD2 decreased the production of cytokines. The level of inflammatory markers was significantly restored in the PGD2 treatment group (TNF-α = 58.6 vs. 78.5 pg/mL; IL-1β = 29.3 vs. 36.6 pg/mL; IL-6 = 75.4 vs. 98.2 pg/mL; and CRP = 0.84 vs. 1.14 ng/mL). The wet/dry weight ratio of the lungs was quite significant in the disease control (LPS-only treatment) group. Moreover, the histological changes as determined by haematoxylin and eosin (H&E) staining clearly showed that PGD2 treatment maintains the lung tissue architecture. The iNOS expression pattern was increased in lung tissues of LPS-treated animals, whereas, in mice treated with PGD2, the expression of iNOS protein decreased. Flow cytometry data demonstrated that LPS intoxication enhanced apoptosis, which significantly decreased with PGD2 treatment. In conclusion, all these observations indicate that PGD2 provides an anti-inflammatory response in RAW264.7 macrophages and in ALI, and they suggest a therapeutic potential in lung pathogenesis.
Convolutional Neural Network for Measurement of Suspended Solids and Turbidity
Authors: Lopez-Betancur Daniela , Moreno Ivan , Guerrero-Mendez Carlos , Saucedo-Anaya Tonatiuh , González Efrén , Bautista-Capetillo Carlos , González-Trinidad Julián
Published: June 2022

The great potential of the convolutional neural networks (CNNs) provides novel and alternative ways to monitor important parameters with high accuracy. In this study, we developed a soft sensor model for dynamic processes based on a CNN for the measurement of suspended solids and turbidity from a single image of the liquid sample to be measured by using a commercial smartphone camera (Android or IOS system) and light-emitting diode (LED) illumination. For this, an image dataset of liquid samples illuminated with white, red, green, and blue LED light was taken and used to train a CNN and fit a multiple linear regression (MLR) by using different color lighting, we evaluated which color gives more accurate information about the concentration of suspended particles in the sample. We implemented a pre-trained AlexNet model, and an MLR to estimate total suspended solids (TSS), and turbidity values in liquid samples based on suspended particles. The proposed technique obtained high goodness of fit (R2 = 0.99). The best performance was achieved using white light, with an accuracy of 98.24% and 97.20% for TSS and turbidity, respectively, with an operational range of 0–800 mgL−1, and 0–306 NTU. This system was designed for aquaculture environments and tested with both commercial fish feed and paprika. This motivates further research with different aquatic environments such as river water, domestic and industrial wastewater, and potable water, among others.
Making Optimal Location-Sizing Decisions for Deploying Hybrid Renewable Energy at B&Bs
Authors: Trihardani Luki , Wang Chi-Tai , Hsieh Ying-Jiun
Published: June 2022

The adoption of renewable energy (RE) is a promising business strategy for bed and breakfasts (B&Bs) to mitigate climate change while maintaining a competitive edge. However, there is still a lack of analytical studies to determine an optimal RE mix for tourism accommodations. This study thus proposes a practical approach to enable all B&Bs to make optimal RE decisions for their facility. A mixed-integer programming (MIP) model is developed and tested in a case study. The model successfully identifies an optimal hybrid energy system for two scenarios, the base case that generates 116,942 kWh of electricity annually at the cost of USD 21,499, and the unconventional technology case that generates 114,474 kWh of electricity annually at the cost of USD 24,670. Compared to purchasing all the required electricity from the power grid, both scenarios can save more than 26 tons of CO2e/year. The analysis provides valuable information for B&Bs to initiate a smooth energy transition with affordable costs. This study considers various energy components, including hybrid RE, batteries, the power grid, self-sufficiency targets, and various RE technologies. Therefore, B&Bs can choose a preferred self-sufficiency target where RE satisfies a specific portion of the energy demands and the power grid satisfies the rest. The model can also evaluate the tradeoff between investing in RE technologies and purchasing larger batteries. These findings will assist B&Bs in accelerating the adoption of RE globally.
A Stigmergy-Based Differential Evolution
Authors: Osuna-Enciso Valentín , Guevara-Martínez Elizabeth
Published: June 2022

Metaheuristic algorithms are techniques that have been successfully applied to solve complex optimization problems in engineering and science. Many metaheuristic approaches, such as Differential Evolution (DE), use the best individual found so far from the whole population to guide the search process. Although this approach has advantages in the algorithm’s exploitation process, it is not completely in agreement with the swarms found in nature, where communication among individuals is not centralized. This paper proposes the use of stigmergy as an inspiration to modify the original DE operators to simulate a decentralized information exchange, thus avoiding the application of a global best. The Stigmergy-based DE (SDE) approach was tested on a set of benchmark problems to compare its performance with DE. Even though the execution times of DE and SDE are very similar, our proposal has a slight advantage in most of the functions and can converge in fewer iterations in some cases, but its main feature is the capability to maintain a good convergence behavior as the dimensionality grows, so it can be a good alternative to solve complex problems.
Birds Detection in Natural Scenes Based on Improved Faster RCNN
Authors: Xiang Wenbin , Song Ziying , Zhang Guoxin , Wu Xuncheng
Published: June 2022

To realize the accurate detection of small-scale birds in natural scenes, this paper proposes an improved Faster RCNN model to detect bird species. Firstly, the model uses a depth residual network to extract convolution features and performs multi-scale fusion for feature maps of different convolutional layers. Secondly, the K-means clustering algorithm is used to cluster the bounding boxes. We improve the anchoring according to the clustering results. The improved anchor frame tends toward the real bounding box of the dataset. Finally, the Soft Non-Maximum Suppression method is used to reduce the missed detection of overlapping birds. Compared with the original model, the improved model has faster effect and higher accuracy.
Gyrotrons as High-Frequency Drivers for Undulators and High-Gradient Accelerators
Authors: Sabchevski Svilen , Di Palma Emanuele , Spassovsky Ivan , Dattoli Giuseppe
Published: June 2022

Gyrotrons are used as high-power sources of coherent radiation operating in pulsed and CW regimes in many scientific and technological fields. In this paper, we discuss two of their numerous applications. The first one is in gyrotron-powered electromagnetic wigglers and undulators. The second one is for driving high-gradient accelerating structures in compact particle accelerators. The comparison, between the requirements imposed by these two concepts on the radiation sources on one hand and the output parameters of the currently available high-performance gyrotrons on the other hand, show that they match each other to a high degree. We consider this as a manifestation of the feasibility and potential of these concepts. It is believed that after the first successful proof-of-principle experiments they will find more wide usage in the advanced FEL and particle accelerators.
Investigation of the Effect of Leachate on Permeability and Heavy Metal Removal in Soils Improved with Nano Additives
Authors: Özçoban Mehmet Şükrü , Acarer Seren
Published: June 2022

Soils with low permeability are widely used in solid waste landfills to prevent leakage of leachate into groundwater. By adding nanomaterials to clay soils, the permeability of the clay can be reduced as well as the retention of pollutants in the leachate. In this study, three different nanomaterials, iron oxide, aluminum oxide, and Oltu clay, were added to kaolin at two different rates (1% and 5%), and the effect of nanomaterials on permeability and heavy metal (iron, manganese, zinc, copper, and lead) removal rate was investigated. According to the experimental results, permeability decreased, and the heavy metal removal rate increased with increasing nanomaterial content in kaolin. With the addition of 5% iron oxide, 5% aluminum oxide, and 5% Oltu clay to kaolin, the average permeability decreased by 63%, 81%, and 96%, respectively. Iron (90–93%), manganese (47–75%), zinc (39–50%), copper (33–41%), and lead (36–49%) removal rates of nanomaterial-added kaolin samples were found to be higher than the removal rates of kaolin without nanomaterial addition. Oltu clay, which has the smallest size and high surface area, performed better than aluminum oxide and iron oxide in reducing the permeability of kaolin and retaining heavy metals.
Study on the Source Profile Characteristics of Carbon Plant
Authors: Li Sen , Liang Danni , Wu Jianhui
Published: June 2022

In the background of carbon neutrality, carbon emissions are basked in the attention. As a significant source of carbon emissions, the emission characteristics of carbon plant should be known. Particulate matter in flue gas was collected in a carbon plant in Tongliao. The chemical components in PM10 and PM2.5 were analyzed, and source profile of carbon plant was established. The results showed that the mass fractions of EC, Ca, Ca2+, S, Al, Si and Fe were higher in particles than other components. The chemical marker of carbon plant was EC, and the trace carbonaceous components of carbon plant were EC1 and EC2, which were very different from other carbon emission sources. In the absence of other chemical composition information, eight carbonaceous components can be used to identify the sources of particle.
Revisiting Polytetrafluorethylene Binder for Solvent-Free Lithium-Ion Battery Anode Fabrication
Authors: Zhang Yang , Huld Frederik , Lu Song , Jektvik Camilla , Lou Fengliu , Yu Zhixin
Published: June 2022

Solvent-free (SF) anodes with different carbon materials (graphite, hard carbon, and soft carbon) were fabricated to investigate the stability of different anodes with polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE) degradation. The graphite anode with large volume variation during the charge/discharge process showed poor cycle life performance, while hard carbon and soft carbon with low-volume expansion showed good cycle life. The SF hard carbon electrodes with a high loading of 10.7 mg/cm2 revealed good long-term cycling performance similar to conventional slurry-casting (CSC) electrodes. It demonstrated nearly 90% capacity retention after 120 cycles under a current of 1/3 C with LiNi0.5Co0.2Mn0.3O2 (NCM523) as cathode in coin cell. The rate capability of the high-loading SF electrodes also is comparable to the CSC electrodes. The high stability of SF hard carbon and soft carbon anodes was attributed to its low-volume variation, which could maintain their integrity even though PTFE was defluorinated to amorphous carbon irreversibly. However, the reduced amorphous carbon cannot tolerate huge volume variation of graphite during cycling, resulting in poor stability.
Airway Eosinophilia on Bronchoalveolar Lavage and the Risk of Exacerbations in COPD
Authors: Ho Chunman Germain , Milne Stephen , Li Xuan , Yang Chen Xi , Leitao Filho Fernando Sergio , Cheung Chung Yan , Yang Julia Shun Wei , Hernández Cordero Ana I , Yang Cheng Wei Tony , Shaipanich Tawimas , van Eeden Stephan F , Leung Janice M , Lam Stephen , Sin Don D
Published: June 2022

The associations between airway eosinophilia, measured in sputum or peripheral blood, and acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) are inconsistent. We therefore aimed to determine the association between eosinophilia in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) fluid and AECOPD in a clinical cohort. We analyzed differential cell counts from baseline BAL fluid in participants in the DISARM clinical trial (Clinicaltrials.gov #NCT02833480) and classified participants by the presence or absence of BAL eosinophilia (>1% of total leukocytes). We determined the association between BAL eosinophilia and AECOPD over 1 year of follow-up using negative binomial regression and Cox proportional hazards test. N = 63 participants were randomized, and N = 57 had BAL differential cell counts available. Participants with BAL eosinophilia (N = 21) had a significantly increased rate of acute exacerbations (unadjusted incidence rate ratio (IRR) 2.0, p = 0.048; adjusted IRR 2.24, p = 0.04) and a trend toward greater probability of acute exacerbation (unadjusted hazard ratio (HR) 1.74, p = 0.13; adjusted HR 2.3, p = 0.1) in the year of follow-up compared to participants without BAL eosinophilia (N = 36). These associations were not observed for BAL neutrophilia (N = 41 participants), BAL lymphocytosis (N = 27 participants) or peripheral blood eosinophilia at various threshold definitions (2%, N = 37; 3%, N = 27; 4%, N = 16). BAL may therefore be a sensitive marker of eosinophilic inflammation in the distal lung and may be of benefit for risk stratification or biomarker-guided therapy in COPD.
Narrative Review of Synergistics Effects of Combining Immunotherapy and Stereotactic Radiation Therapy
Authors: Lucia François , Geier Margaux , Schick Ulrike , Bourbonne Vincent
Published: June 2022

Stereotactic radiotherapy (SRT) has become an attractive treatment modality in full bloom in recent years by presenting itself as a safe, noninvasive alternative to surgery to control primary or secondary malignancies. Although the focus has been on local tumor control as the therapeutic goal of stereotactic radiotherapy, rare but intriguing observations of abscopal (or out-of-field) effects have highlighted the exciting possibility of activating antitumor immunity using high-dose radiation. Furthermore, immunotherapy has revolutionized the treatment of several types of cancers in recent years. However, resistance to immunotherapy often develops. These observations have led researchers to combine immunotherapy with SRT in an attempt to improve outcomes. The benefits of this combination would come from the stimulation and suppression of various immune pathways. Thus, in this review, we will first discuss the immunomodulation induced by SRT with the promising results of preclinical studies on the changes in the immune balance observed after SRT. Then, we will discuss the opportunities and risks of the combination of SRT and immunotherapy with the preclinical and clinical data available in the literature. Furthermore, we will see that many perspectives are conceivable to potentiate the synergistic effects of this combination with the need for prospective studies to confirm the encouraging data.
The Potential Application and Promising Role of Targeted Therapy in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension
Authors: Hsieh Meng-Chien Willie , Wang Wei-Ting , Yeh Jwu-Lai , Lin Chuang-Yu , Kuo Yur-Ren , Lee Su-Shin , Hou Ming-Feng , Wu Yi-Chia
Published: June 2022

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a rare yet serious progressive disorder that is currently incurable. This female-predominant disease unfolds as a pan-vasculopathy that affects all layers of the vessel wall. Five classes of pharmacological agents currently exist to target the three major cellular signaling pathways identified in PAH but are incapable of effectively reversing the disease progression. While several targets have been identified for therapy, none of the current PAH specific therapies are curative and cost-effective as they fail to reverse vascular remodeling and do not address the cancer-like features of PAH. Our purpose is to review the current literature on the therapeutic management of PAH, as well as the molecular targets under consideration for therapy so as to shed light on the potential role and future promise of novel strategies in treating this high-mortality disease. This review study summarizes and discusses the potential therapeutic targets to be employed against PAH. In addition to the three major conventional pathways already used in PAH therapy, targeting PDGF/PDGFR signaling, regulators in glycolytic metabolism, PI3K/AKT pathways, mitochondrial heat shock protein 90 (HSP90), high-mobility group box-1 (HMGB1), and bromodomain and extra-terminal (BET) proteins by using their specific inhibitors, or a pharmacological induction of the p53 expression, could be attractive strategies for treating PAH.
Real-Time Phase-Contrast MRI to Monitor Cervical Blood and Cerebrospinal Fluid Flow Beat-by-Beat Variability
Authors: Baselli Giuseppe , Fasani Federica , Pelizzari Laura , Cazzoli Marta , Baglio Francesca , Laganà Maria Marcella
Published: June 2022

Beat-by-beat variability (BBV) rhythms are observed in both cardiovascular (CV) and intracranial (IC) compartments, yet interactions between the two are not fully understood. Real-Time Phase-Contrast (RT-PC) MRI sequence was acquired for 30 healthy volunteers at 1st cervical level on a 3T scanner. The arterial (AF), venous (VF), and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) flow (CSFF) were computed as velocity integrals over the internal carotid artery, internal jugular vein, and CSF. AF, VF, and CSFF signals were segmented in inspiration and expiration beats, to assess the respiration influence. Systolic and diastolic BBV, and heart period series underwent autoregressive power spectral density analysis, to evaluate the low-frequency (LF, Mayer waves) and high frequency (HF, respiratory waves) components. The diastolic VF had the largest BBV. LF power was high in the diastolic AF series, poor in all CSFF series. The pulse wave analyses revealed higher mean amplitude during inspiration. Findings suggests a possible role of LF modulation of IC resistances and propagation of HF waves from VF to AF and CCSF. PC-RT-MRI could provide new insight into the interaction between CV and IC regulation and pave the way for a detailed analysis of the cerebrovascular effects of varied respiration patterns due to exercise and rehabilitation.
A Brief Introduction to Magnetoencephalography (MEG) and Its Clinical Applications
Authors: Fred Alfred Lenin , Kumar Subbiahpillai Neelakantapillai , Kumar Haridhas Ajay , Ghosh Sayantan , Purushothaman Bhuvana Harishita , Sim Wei Khang Jeremy , Vimalan Vijayaragavan , Givo Fredin Arun Sedly , Jousmäki Veikko , Padmanabhan Parasuraman , Gulyás Balázs
Published: June 2022

Magnetoencephalography (MEG) plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of brain disorders. In this review, we have investigated potential MEG applications for analysing brain disorders. The signal-to-noise ratio (SNRMEG = 2.2 db, SNREEG < 1 db) and spatial resolution (SRMEG = 2–3 mm, SREEG = 7–10 mm) is higher for MEG than EEG, thus MEG potentially facilitates accurate monitoring of cortical activity. We found that the direct electrophysiological MEG signals reflected the physiological status of neurological disorders and play a vital role in disease diagnosis. Single-channel connectivity, as well as brain network analysis, using MEG data acquired during resting state and a given task has been used for the diagnosis of neurological disorders such as epilepsy, Alzheimer’s, Parkinsonism, autism, and schizophrenia. The workflow of MEG and its potential applications in the diagnosis of disease and therapeutic planning are also discussed. We forecast that computer-aided algorithms will play a prominent role in the diagnosis and prediction of neurological diseases in the future. The outcome of this narrative review will aid researchers to utilise MEG in diagnostics.
Medical Students and Professionals Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Cross-Sectional Survey Study about Similarities and Differences
Authors: De Micheli Giacomo , Marton Giulia , Mazzoni Davide , Vergani Laura
Published: June 2022

This study aimed at exploring the emotional reaction that medical students (MS) and professionals have faced during the COVID-19 pandemic and investigating the differences between the two groups. A total of 362 MS and 330 professionals filled in an online survey during the second outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in Italy. The outcome measures were psychological distress with the General Health Questionnaire, stress, fear for themselves, fear for family members and cohabitants, perceived control, anger, loneliness, and feeling abandoned by institutions with Visual Analog Scales (VAS) and two open-ended questions about their perceived difficulties and the perceived consequences of the pandemic. The results showed that the level of distress among the two groups was above the threshold (MS mean: 21.85; professionals mean: 21.25). The means of the VAS of MS and professionals showed different results for the two groups, and we analyzed them with independent samples t-tests and linear regressions. MS reported higher levels of perceived loneliness (t(673.177) = −1.970, p < 0.05), while physicians reported more fear for themselves (t(655.183) = 4.799, p < 0.001), anger (t(690) = 2.096, p < 0.05), and feeling abandoned by the institutions (t(690) = 7.296, p < 0.001). The open questions were analyzed considering the most frequent words used to describe their perceived difficulties and consequences; the specificity analysis emphasizes the differences in the words used by the two groups. In conclusion, MS and physicians reported similar levels of psychological symptoms. Physicians were mostly worried about themselves, they were afraid of getting infected, while MS suffered from loneliness and the missed possibilities concerning their education.
Considering Consumers’ Green Preferences and Government Subsidies in the Decision Making of the Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Supply Chain: A Stackelberg Game Approach
Authors: Han Yating , Zheng Haoxuan , Huang Yicheng , Li Xingwei
Published: June 2022

Resource utilization of construction and demolition waste (CDW) is regarded to be an important means of achieving the sustainable development of the economy and the environment. However, previous research has not fully considered the green degree of products in the demand function of CDW remanufactured products. This study aimed to clarify how consumers’ green preferences and government subsidies affect decision making in the supply chain. First, a CDW resource utilization supply chain model composed of building materials manufacturers and retailers was constructed using consumer behavior theory. Second, the optimal decision making of members under conditions of decentralized and centralized decision making was analyzed using the Stackelberg game solution. Finally, the validity of the model and conclusions were verified by numerical simulation. The main conclusions are as follows. Government subsidies have a different impact on the pricing of new building materials products and CDW remanufactured products. Under decentralized decision making, the optimal profit of the CDW resource utilization supply chain with government subsidies is higher. However, under centralized decision making, the optimal profit is also related to consumers’ green preferences. According to consumers’ green preferences, choosing different decision-making models can not only improve the total profit of the CDW resource utilization supply chain, but also improve the reuse rate of CDW.
Genetic Algorithm for Optimal Placement of Steel Plate Shear Walls for Steel Frames
Authors: He Jianian , Lin Shuhong , Li Yicheng , Dong Xian , Chen Shizhe
Published: June 2022

Frame structures equipped with steel plate shear walls (SPSWs) have been widely used in high-rise buildings due to their good seismic performance. In this study, the strip model and combined strip model were used to analyze the performance of SPSWs. Furthermore, an improved genetic algorithm (IGA) was established to optimize the steel frame for 5, 10, and 20 stories. For each layer, layout optimization was conducted to determine the best configurations of the SPSWs, and two cases of size optimizations of conventional SPSW configurations in the frame were conducted. Results indicate the following: (i) the total weight of the five-story steel frame of layout optimization to determine the best SPSW configuration was approximately 10% lighter than those of the size optimization of conventional SPSW configurations, and this proportion gap expanded to approximately 15–25% for the 10-story and 20-story steel frames; (ii) the steel frame weight could be significantly reduced if the average percentages of story shear resisted by web plates are increased; and (iii) in the steel frame of layout optimization, the structural elements, especially the plate elements, were better utilized than those of size optimization when their inter-story drift ratios met the specification requirements. These results highlight the prominent performances of some important indicators of the design of an SPSW system with the layout optimized using IGA.