bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Peak-Frequency Histogram Similarity of Bowel Sounds for the Evaluation of Intestinal Conditions
Authors: Haraguchi Takeyuki , Emoto Takahiro , Hirayama Takahiro , Imai Yuki , Kato Masahiro , Hirano Tomoya
Published: January 2023

Many patients worldwide suffer from constipation, which reduces their quality of life (QOL) over the long term. Carbonated water intake is expected to improve constipation by improving intestinal motility. Conversely, carbonated water intake is believed to alter bowel status via the intestinal contents (gas and liquid) and intestinal distension, and these changes may be reflected in bowel sound (BS) peak-frequency histograms. In this study, to identify changes in intestinal conditions before and after the ingestion of liquid (i.e., water/carbonated water intake), we used a novel evaluation index, namely peak-frequency histogram similarity (PFHS), which measures the changes in the peak-frequency histogram before and after liquid intake. We considered 13 subjects who participated in a liquid intake test, and PFHS values before and after carbonated water intake were found to be significantly lower than those before and after cold water intake (p < 0.01). However, when using conventional frequency-domain features, this difference was not identified. The results obtained in this study suggest that PFHS can identify changes in bowel status (including intestinal gas and distension) that could not be found using conventional BS frequency domain features. Our findings provide a novel method of research for investigators to non-invasively monitor and evaluate intestinal conditions such as the intestinal gas volume and intestinal distention, which are associated with constipation, using a BS-based approach.
ATC Human Factors Involved in RPAS Contingency Management in Non-Segregated Airspace
Authors: Reyes-Muñoz Angelica , Barrado Cristina , Pastor Enric , Royo Pablo
Published: January 2023

Objectives: The overall approach towards Remotely Piloted Aerial System integration into a non-segregated airspace is that the unmanned vehicles should be able to fit into the current air traffic management system, thus meeting all the technical and regulatory requirements to be treated similar to any other airspace user. Such a requirement implies that unmanned aircraft operations should behave as close as possible to manned aviation or at least generate the most negligible possible negative impact on the system. From the air traffic management point of view, this implies that air traffic controllers should be capable of effectively handling different types of RPAS operating in a nominal state but also when suffering a potential contingency. This paper aims to analyse how air traffic controllers involved in managing unmanned aircraft integration into non-segregated airspace are impacted when an unmanned vehicle suffers a contingency. Participants: Six air traffic controllers were the test subjects, complemented by one RPAS pilot and several pseudo-pilots controlling the simulated manned traffic. The project collected real-time simulation data to develop specific indicators to determine how the controllers’ workload increases while managing complex traffic scenarios, including a single RPAS. Study Method: We conducted exhaustive traffic flight simulations, recreating complex airspace scenarios, including various RPAS types and mission-oriented trajectories. The involved RPAS were subjected to two of the most relevant contingencies: loss of the command-and-control link and engine failure. The experiments were evaluated in different operational scenarios, including using autonomous communication technologies to help air traffic controllers track the RPAS operation. Findings: The results indicate that the air traffic controller’s perception and workload are not affected beyond reason by the introduction of an unmanned aircraft as a new element into the non-segregated airspace, even when that aircraft suffers a contingency. The flight-intent technology increases situational awareness, leading to more efficient and safe airspace management. Additional simulations may need to be performed to evaluate the impact on airspace capacity, safety, and workload when various unmanned vehicles are simultaneously inserted.
Structural Multi-Tooth Modification of Hybrid-Excited Doubly Salient Dual-PM Machine for Torque Production Improvement
Authors: Sriwannarat Warat , Phuangpornpitak Napaporn , Thasnas Natakorn , Butkaew Authumporn , Seangwong Pattasad , Khunkitti Pirat , Siritaratiwat Apirat
Published: January 2023

A hybrid-excited doubly salient dual-PM machine (HE-DSDPM) was presented by using the structural multi-tooth modification for an improvement of torque production. The multi-tooth structure modification of HE-DSDPM was clearly described. The PM and stator arcs were further examined for structural optimization. The electromagnetic performance including magnetic flux distribution, flux linkage, back-electromotive force (back-EMF), total harmonic distortion (THD), cogging torque and electromagnetic torque, was investigated with various field current under the same structural constraint. The simulation based on 2-D finite element analysis was used to validate all electromagnetic performance. The results showed that the proposed multi-tooth HE-DSDPM provides the best stator/rotor combination, the appropriate PM characteristics and the enlarged winding slot area. This proposed structure produces better overall electromagnetic performance because of its improved symmetrical magnetic flux path and greater flux regulation quality. In particular, it can generate a larger average torque of 26.18% with the lower ripple torque of about 4% compared to the conventional structure at no field current since the good back-EMF profile and low cogging torque. The largest variance of the torque percentage is occurred when excited by different field currents for the proposed multi-tooth HE-DSDPM. Hence, modification of multi-tooth structure could be beneficial in the electrical machine design of other types of doubly salient structures.
Research on Fault Diagnosis of Wind Turbine Gearbox with Snowflake Graph and Deep Learning Algorithm
Authors: Wang Meng-Hui , Chen Fu-Hao , Lu Shiue-Der
Published: January 2023

Wind power generation is one of the important development projects for renewable energy worldwide. As wind turbines operate in harsh environments, failure of the wind turbines often occurs, thus leading to lower power generation efficiency and high maintenance cost. Earlier detection of the fault type can reduce the maintenance cost. This study proposed a hybrid recognition algorithm based on the symmetrized dot pattern (SDP) and convolutional neural network (CNN) for wind turbine gearbox fault diagnoses. In addition to a fault-free type, four fault types were discussed in this paper, including gear rustiness, broken tooth, wear, and aging. A vibration sensor was used for measurement. The original vibration signals of the gearbox were captured by a NI-9234 high-speed data acquisition card, filtered by a fast Fourier transform, and imported into the SDP to create the snowflake image features. Afterward, CNN diagnosed the gearbox fault type. There were 1500 test data in this study. A total of 200 data items for each fault type were used as training samples, and 100 data of each type were used as test samples. The test result shows that the training accuracy was 98.8%. The proposed method can diagnose the fault condition of the gearbox effectively and identify the fault type of the gearbox accurately. This is favorable for the quick maintenance of wind turbines.
Reconfigurable Multi-Beam Receiver Based on Microwave Photonics Technology
Authors: Lin Yue , Su Jun , Qiu Qi , Fan Zhiqiang , Shi Shuangjin , Wang Yunxiang , Jiang Di , Chen Yuan , Li Xiang
Published: January 2023

A novel multi-beam photonic receiver with a variable beam count has been proposed. The reconfigurable characteristic of the system is enabled with the variable splitters and optical switch arrays. According to the number of beams it is due to receive, the splitter with suitable ports is chosen to split by controlling the optical switch in order to configure the optical path. After splitting, the multi-wavelength optical carriers are sent to the wavelength division multiplexer to combine and complete the multi-beamforming process. Two structures have been designed to realize the reconfigurable function, while the optimized structure is proved by using several benchmarks for comparison. The operation step of the reconfigurable multi-beam receiver is then given. The first simulations validate that the proposed architecture can dynamically receive the multi-beam with a variable number by reconfiguring the state of the optical switch. The second simulation of the influence on the received beam pattern was performed under a different amplitude and phase inconsistency random values. The results show that the amplitude and phase inconsistency will decline the quality of the multi-beam. When the amplitude and phase inconsistency are within limits, the difference in the optical path within the outputs must be balanced and compensated during the proposed system’s fabrication and deployment.
Fuzzy Evaluation and Improvement Decision-Making Model for Machining Operation Performance
Authors: Chen Kuen-Suan , Wu Chih-Feng , Tsaur Ruey-Chyn , Huang Tsun-Hung
Published: January 2023

Taiwan is a major exporter and producer of machinery and machine tools in the world. There are at least hundreds of components for various machining machines. According to the concept of Taguchi loss function, when the process quality of the spare parts of machining machines is not good, the failure rate will increase after the product is sold, resulting in an increase in maintenance costs and carbon emissions. As the environment of the Internet of Things (IoT) becomes more common and mature, it is beneficial for manufacturers of machining machines to collect relevant information about process data from outsourcers, suppliers, and machining machine factories. Effective data analysis and application can help the machining machine industry move towards smart manufacturing and management, which can greatly reduce the average number of failures per unit time for all sold machines. Therefore, this paper developed a practical evaluation and improvement decision-making model for the machining operation performance to help machining machine manufacturers find out the components that often fail and improve them, so as to reduce the total loss caused by machine failures. This paper first defined the machining operation performance index for the machining machines and discussed the characteristics of this operation performance index. Subsequently, the confidence interval of the index was deduced, a fuzzy evaluation model based on this confidence interval was proposed, and decision-making rules regarding whether to make any improvement was established. The fuzzy evaluation and improvement decision-making model for the operation performance of machining machines proposed in this paper will contribute to various tool industries to boost their process quality, reduce costs, and lower carbon emissions, in order to achieve sustainable management of enterprises and the environment.
Fabrication of Low Electrical Percolation Threshold Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotube Sensors Using Magnetic Patterning
Authors: Esteves David Seixas , Durães Nelson , Pedroso Rúben , Melo Amanda , Paiva Maria C. , Sequeiros Elsa W.
Published: January 2023

Soft robotics is an expanding area with multiple applications; however, building low-cost, soft, and flexible robots requires the development of sensors that can be directly integrated into the soft robotics fabrication process. Thus, the motivation for this work was the design of a low-cost fabrication process of flexible sensors that can detect touch and deformation. The fabrication process proposed uses a flexible polymer nanocomposite with permanent magnets strategically placed where the conductive electrodes should be. The nanocomposite is based on poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) and multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). The MWCNT contains ferromagnetic impurities remaining from the synthesis process, which can be used for magnetic manipulation. Several electrode geometries were successfully simulated and tested. The magnetic patterning was simulated, allowing the fabrication of conductive patterns within the composite. This fabrication process allowed the reduction of the electrical resistivity of the nanocomposites as compared to the composites with homogeneous MWCNT dispersion. It also allowed the fabrication of piezoresistive and triboelectric sensors at MWCNT concentration as low as 0.5 wt.%. The fabrication process proposed is flexible, allows the development of sensors for soft robotics, as well as monitoring large and unconventional areas, and may be adapted to different mould shapes and polymers at low cost.
Comparison of Two Cuff Inflation Protocols to Measure Arterial Occlusion Pressure in Males and Females
Authors: Vehrs Pat R. , Blazzard Chase , Hart Hannah C. , Kasper Nicole , Lacey Ryan , Lopez Daniela , Richards Shay , Eggett Dennis L.
Published: January 2023

We measured the arterial occlusion pressure (AOP) in the dominant (DOM) and non-dominant (NDOM) legs of males (n = 20) and females (n = 20), 19–26 years of age, using a continuous (CONT) and incremental (INCR) cuff inflation protocol. ANOVA revealed no significant differences in AOP within (<1 mmHg; p > 0.493) or between (<6 mmHg; p > 0.418) the DOM and NDOM legs in males or females with either CONT or INCR. There were no significant sex differences in AOP in the DOM or NDOM legs when using CONT (<3 mmHg; p > 0.838) or INCR (<3 mmHg; p > 0.856). Measures of AOP are highly reliable, as evidenced by correlation coefficients >0.96 and small mean differences (<1.5 mmHg) between repeated measures. The choice of which cuff inflation protocol to use is one of personal preference. The AOP is not always greater in the dominant or larger leg. Although mean differences in AOP between the two legs was small, actual differences of over 100 mmHg could lead to unsafe and ineffective cuff inflation pressures during BFR if AOP is measured in only one leg. Further investigation of factors that explain difference in AOP between legs and between males and females is warranted. To ensure safe and effective use of BFR during exercise, AOP of both limbs should be measured regularly.
Study on the Degradation Law of Artificial Joint Surfaces with Natural Morphologies under Quasi-Static Cyclic Shearing
Authors: Zhao Yan , Liu Bo , Shen Hui , Li Haibo
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a series of quasi-static cyclic shear tests were performed on artificial rock joint specimens with natural morphologies at different normal stress levels. After shearing, combined with 3D scanning technology and image processing, the 3D morphology parameter, A0θmax∗/(C+1), of 36 analyzed directions was measured to investigate the damage and degradation laws of the joint surfaces. The polar curves of the roughness parameter shrank from a circular to an elliptical shape, with the shear direction as the minor axis. The roughness degradation rates and the shear cycles were mutually interrelated with the normal stress levels, which had a tendency to be fast initially and then to slow down under higher normal stress. Influenced by the cyclic shear direction, the 3D roughness of the joint surfaces degenerated anisotropically and sustained the most serious damage along the shear direction. Two damage and degradation fitting formulas were proposed, which could aid the assessment of residual roughness under different stress histories and the cumulative wear degree.
Immunohistochemical Expression Volume II
Authors: Caltabiano Rosario , Loreto Carla
Published: January 2023

One of the most used ancillary techniques by surgical pathologists in clinical practice is immunohistochemistry (IHC) that, through an antibody–antigen reaction, allows for the detection of specific proteins at the cellular level [...]
An Adaptive Degree of Freedom Condensation Algorithm for Simulating Transient Temperature, Applied to an Asphalt-Concrete Core Wall
Authors: Yuan Li , Li Tongchun , Li Hongen , Wang Fang , Qi Huijun
Published: January 2023

To solve the problem of the high cost of transient temperature simulation in the whole construction process of an asphalt-concrete core wall, a novel adaptive degree of freedom condensation algorithm for simulating transient temperature is proposed. This method establishes the judgment criterion of degree of freedom condensation based on the error estimator of mesh and the artificial energy added by degree of freedom condensation. In this method, the transformation matrix between the master and slave degrees of freedom is constructed based on the shape function interpolation relationship between the initial coarse mesh and the multi-level refined mesh. In the transient calculation process, this method can automatically identify the positions where temperature distribution and value are stable and condense the considered slave degrees of freedom to master degrees of freedom through the transformation matrix at any time to reduce the unnecessary degrees of freedom. In this paper, three numerical examples show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the cost of matrix factorization and the solving the equation in the finite element method at the cost of small precision loss in the long-term transient temperature simulation.
Virtual Surgical Reduction in Atrophic Edentulous Mandible Fractures: A Novel Approach Based on “in House” Digital Work-Flow
Authors: Abbate Vincenzo , Committeri Umberto , Troise Stefania , Bonavolontà Paola , Vaira Luigi Angelo , Gabriele Guido , Biglioli Federico , Tarabbia Filippo , Califano Luigi , Dell’Aversana Orabona Giovanni
Published: January 2023

Atrophic edentulous mandible fractures are a challenge for maxillo-facial surgeons because of low vascularization, low bone regeneration, and lack of occlusion. Whereas occlusion is the main guide in the reduction of mandibular fractures, the aim of our study is to show the advantages of using virtual surgical planning (VSP) in surgery when the occlusal guide is absent. This work is a prospective study that shows the in-house digital workflow for the management of these fractures in the Maxillo-Facial Surgery Unit of Federico II University Hospital of Naples. Four patients who satisfied the criteria were included in the study. For each patient, the same defined CAD/CAM-based was applied. The workflow followed four steps: (1) bone segmentation and virtual reduction of fracture fragments; (2) three-dimensional printing of virtually reduced mandible and modelling of 2.4 reconstruction plate on printed resin model; (3) surgery aided by the pre-formed plate; (4) digital and clinical outcomes analysis. In the last step, a distance colour map was conducted to compare the virtual planning and postoperative CT outcome. In all cases, the discrepancies values between the two images were lower than 1.5 mm, and good clinical outcomes in terms of facial symmetry, absence of sensory disturbance, and possibility of prosthetic rehabilitation were obtained. In conclusion, the VSP, with our in-house workflow brings benefits in the management of atrophic edentulous mandible fractures in terms of the high accuracy of bone repositioning.
A Hybrid CNN and RNN Variant Model for Music Classification
Authors: Ashraf Mohsin , Abid Fazeel , Din Ikram Ud , Rasheed Jawad , Yesiltepe Mirsat , Yeo Sook Fern , Ersoy Merve T.
Published: January 2023

Music genre classification has a significant role in information retrieval for the organization of growing collections of music. It is challenging to classify music with reliable accuracy. Many methods have utilized handcrafted features to identify unique patterns but are still unable to determine the original music characteristics. Comparatively, music classification using deep learning models has been shown to be dynamic and effective. Among the many neural networks, the combination of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and variants of a recurrent neural network (RNN) has not been significantly considered. Additionally, addressing the flaws in the particular neural network classification model, this paper proposes a hybrid architecture of CNN and variants of RNN such as long short-term memory (LSTM), Bi-LSTM, gated recurrent unit (GRU), and Bi-GRU. We also compared the performance based on Mel-spectrogram and Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC) features. Empirically, the proposed hybrid architecture of CNN and Bi-GRU using Mel-spectrogram achieved the best accuracy at 89.30%, whereas the hybridization of CNN and LSTM using MFCC achieved the best accuracy at 76.40%.
Some Extended Results for Multivalued F-Contraction Mappings
Authors: Sahin Hakan , Aslantas Mustafa , Nasir Nasir Ali Abdulkareem
Published: January 2023

In this study, we introduce a new notion, so-called KW-type F-contraction mapping, inspired by the ideas of Wardowski and Klim–Wardowski. Then, we investigate the existence of a best proximity point for such mappings by considering a new family, which is larger than the family of functions that is often used in fixed-point results for multivalued mappings. To demonstrate the effectiveness of our result, we also give a comparative example to which similar results in the literature cannot be applied. Moreover, we present an application of our main result to homotopic mappings.
Systematics of Ditaxinae and Related Lineages within the Subfamily Acalyphoideae (Euphorbiaceae) Based on Molecular Phylogenetics
Authors: Külkamp Josimar , Riina Ricarda , Ramírez-Amezcua Yocupitzia , Iganci João R. V. , Cordeiro Inês , González-Páramo Raquel , Lara-Cabrera Sabina Irene , Baumgratz José Fernando A.
Published: January 2023

The subtribe Ditaxinae in the plant family Euphorbiaceae is composed of five genera (Argythamnia, Caperonia, Chiropetalum, Ditaxis and Philyra) and approximately 120 species of perennial herbs (rarely annual) to treelets. The subtribe is distributed throughout the Americas, with the exception of Caperonia, which also occurs in tropical Africa and Madagascar. Under the current classification, Ditaxinae includes genera with a questionable morphology-based taxonomy, especially Argythamnia, Chiropetalum and Ditaxis. Moreover, phylogenetic relationships among genera are largely unexplored, with previous works sampling <10% of taxa, showing Ditaxinae as paraphyletic. In this study, we inferred the phylogenetic relationships within Ditaxinae and related taxa using a dataset of nuclear (ETS, ITS) and plastid (petD, trnLF, trnTL) DNA sequences and a wide taxon sampling (60%). We confirmed the paraphyly of Ditaxinae and Ditaxis, both with high support. Following our phylogenetic results, we combined Ditaxis in Argythamnia and upgraded Ditaxinae to the tribe level (Ditaxeae). We also established and described the tribe Caperonieae based on Caperonia, and transferred Philyra to the tribe Adelieae, along with Adelia, Garciadelia, Lasiocroton and Leucocroton. Finally, we discuss the main morphological synapomorphies for the genera and tribes and provide a taxonomic treatment, including all species recognized under each genus.
Purinergic Signaling in Pathologic Osteogenic Differentiation of Aortic Valve Interstitial Cells from Patients with Aortic Valve Calcification
Authors: Klauzen Polina , Semenova Daria , Kostina Daria , Uspenskiy Vladimir , Malashicheva Anna
Published: January 2023

Purinergic signaling is associated with a vast spectrum of physiological processes, including cardiovascular system function and, in particular, its pathological calcifications, such as aortic valve stenosis. Aortic valve stenosis (AS) is a degenerative disease for which there is no cure other than surgical replacement of the affected valve. Purinergic signaling is known to be involved in the pathologic osteogenic differentiation of valve interstitial cells (VIC) into osteoblast-like cells, which underlies the pathogenesis of AS. ATP, its metabolites and related nucleotides also act as signaling molecules in normal osteogenic differentiation, which is observed in pro-osteoblasts and leads to bone tissue development. We show that stenotic and non-stenotic valve interstitial cells significantly differ from each other, especially under osteogenic stimuli. In osteogenic conditions, the expression of the ecto-nucleotidases ENTPD1 and ENPP1, as well as ADORA2b, is increased in AS VICs compared to normal VICs. In addition, AS VICs after osteogenic stimulation look more similar to osteoblasts than non-stenotic VICs in terms of purinergic signaling, which suggests the stronger osteogenic differentiation potential of AS VICs. Thus, purinergic signaling is impaired in stenotic aortic valves and might be used as a potential target in the search for an anti-calcification therapy.
The Cerebellum Gets Social: Evidence from an Exploratory Study of Cerebellar, Neurodevelopmental, and Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Olivito Giusy , Siciliano Libera , Clausi Silvia , Lupo Michela , Baiocco Roberto , Gragnani Andrea , Saettoni Marco , Delle Chiaie Roberto , Laghi Fiorenzo , Leggio Maria
Published: January 2023

Social prediction is a key feature of social cognition (SC), a function in which the modulating role of the cerebellum is recognized. Accordingly, cerebellar alterations are reported in cerebellar pathologies, neurodevelopmental disorders, and psychiatric conditions that show SC deficits. Nevertheless, to date, no study has directly compared populations representative of these three conditions with respect to SC and cerebellar alterations. Therefore, the present exploratory study aimed to compare the SC profiles of individuals with cerebellar neurodegenerative disorders (CB), autism (ASD), bipolar disorder type 2 (BD2), or healthy subjects (HS) using a battery of social tests requiring different degrees of prediction processing. The patterns of cerebellar gray matter (GM) alterations were compared among the groups using voxel-based morphometry. Compared to HS, the clinical groups showed common SC deficits in tasks involving a moderate to high level of prediction. The behavioral results of the clinical groups are consistent with the presence of overlapping GM reduction in cerebellar right Crus II, an area notably involved in complex social processing and prediction. Although exploratory and preliminary, these results deepen the cerebellar role in social prediction and highlight the transdiagnostic value of the cerebellum in social functioning and prediction in pathologies of different aetiologies, forecasting novel possibilities for shared interventions.
Analysis of PD-L1 and CD3 Expression in Glioblastoma Patients and Correlation with Outcome: A Single Center Report
Authors: Sobhani Navid , Bouchè Victoria , Aldegheri Giovanni , Rocca Andrea , D’Angelo Alberto , Giudici Fabiola , Bottin Cristina , Donofrio Carmine Antonio , Pinamonti Maurizio , Ferrari Benvenuto , Panni Stefano , Cominetti Marika , Aliaga Jahard , Ungari Marco , Fioravanti Antonio , Zanconati Fabrizio , Generali Daniele
Published: January 2023

With the advent of immunotherapies, the field of cancer therapy has been revived with new hope, especially for cancers with dismal prognoses, such as the glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Currently, immunotherapies should potentiate the host’s own antitumor immune response against cancer cells, but it has been documented that they are effective only in small subsets of patients. Therefore, accurate predictors of response are urgently needed to identify who will benefit from immune-modulatory therapies. Brain tumors are challenging in terms of treatments. The immune response in the brain is highly regulated, and the immune microenvironment in brain metastases is active with a high density of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs, CD3+ T cells) in certain patients and, therefore, may serve as a potential treatment target. In our study, we performed immunohistochemistry for CD3 and PD-L1 along the routine assessment of the O6-methylguanine-methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status and the IDH1 and 2 status in a single center cohort of 69 patients with GBM (58 primary tumors and 11 recurrences) who underwent standard multimodal therapies (surgery/radiotherapy/adjuvant temozolamide). We analyzed the association of PD-L1 tumor expression and TILs with overall survival (OS). The PD-L1 expression was observed in 25 of 58 (43%) newly diagnosed primary glioblastoma specimens. The sparse-to-moderate density of TILs, identified with CD3+ expression, was found in 48 of 58 (83%) specimens. Neither PD-L1 expression nor TILs were associated with overall survival. In conclusion, TILs and/or PD-L1 expression are detectable in the majority of glioblastoma samples, and even if they slightly relate to the outcome, they do not show a statistically significant correlation.
High Rate of Discontinuation during Long-Acting Injectable Antipsychotic Treatment in Patients with Psychotic Disorders
Authors: Auxilia Anna Maria , Buoli Massimiliano , Caldiroli Alice , Carnevali Greta Silvia , Tringali Agnese , Nava Roberto , Clerici Massimo , Capuzzi Enrico
Published: January 2023

Treatment discontinuation is a major challenge in routine clinical settings. Despite poor adherence to antipsychotic medication, long acting injectable (LAI) formulations are an underutilized option in psychotic disorders. Recently, an earlier and broader use of LAIs has been emphasized. However, few studies have evaluated the factors associated with LAI antipsychotic discontinuation in ordinary clinical practice. The main purpose of the present study was, therefore, to identify the factors associated with LAI discontinuation in a real-world setting. Patients in treatment with LAI antipsychotics were recruited. A Cox regression analysis was applied considering a 12-month follow-up period. Moreover, a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis was applied to compare the single treatment LAI antipsychotic groups in terms of time to discontinuation. Our analysis showed an LAI discontinuation rate at 12 months, corresponding to 28.8%, with olanzapine and aripiprazole having a longer time to discontinuation compared to zuclopenthixol. The results of the present study can help clinicians with their choice of LAI antipsychotic according to patients’ characteristics and in a context of precision medicine. Increasing knowledge about factors affecting discontinuation of LAI antipsychotics can improve the prescribing practices of these compounds. Individualized approaches may ameliorate long-term patients’ treatment adherence, thus preventing the long-term disability caused by psychotic disorders.
Eph Receptors in Cancer
Authors: Arora Sakshi , Scott Andrew M. , Janes Peter W.
Published: January 2023

Eph receptor tyrosine kinases play critical functions during development, in the formation of tissue and organ borders, and the vascular and neural systems. Uniquely among tyrosine kinases, their activities are controlled by binding to membrane-bound ligands, called ephrins. Ephs and ephrins generally have a low expression in adults, functioning mainly in tissue homeostasis and plasticity, but are often overexpressed in cancers, where they are especially associated with undifferentiated or progenitor cells, and with tumour development, vasculature, and invasion. Mutations in Eph receptors also occur in various tumour types and are suspected to promote tumourigenesis. Ephs and ephrins have the capacity to operate as both tumour promoters and tumour suppressors, depending on the circumstances. They have been demonstrated to impact tumour cell proliferation, migration, and invasion in vitro, as well as tumour development, angiogenesis, and metastases in vivo, making them potential therapeutic targets. However, successful development of therapies will require detailed understanding of the opposing roles of Ephs in various cancers. In this review, we discuss the variations in Eph expression and functions in a variety of malignancies. We also describe the multiple strategies that are currently available to target them in tumours, including preclinical and clinical development.
Nutritional Genomics in Nonalcoholic Fatty Liver Disease
Authors: Vasconcellos Carolina , Ferreira Oureana , Lopes Marta Filipa , Ribeiro André Filipe , Vasques João , Guerreiro Catarina Sousa
Published: January 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is a common chronic condition associated with genetic and environmental factors in which fat abnormally accumulates in the liver. NAFLD is epidemiologically associated with obesity, type 2 diabetes, and dyslipidemia. Environmental factors, such as physical inactivity and an unbalanced diet, interact with genetic factors, such as epigenetic mechanisms and polymorphisms for the genesis and development of the condition. Different genetic polymorphisms seem to be involved in this context, including variants in PNPLA3, TM6SF2, PEMT, and CHDH genes, playing a role in the disease’s susceptibility, development, and severity. From carbohydrate intake and weight loss to omega-3 supplementation and caloric restriction, different dietary and nutritional factors appear to be involved in controlling the onset and progression of NAFLD conditions influencing metabolism, gene, and protein expression. The polygenic risk score represents a sum of trait-associated alleles carried by an individual and seems to be associated with NAFLD outcomes depending on the dietary context. Understanding the exact extent to which lifestyle interventions and genetic predispositions can play a role in the prevention and management of NAFLD can be crucial for the establishment of a personalized and integrative approach to patients.
Advances in Climbing Robots for Vertical Structures in the Past Decade: A Review
Authors: Fang Guisheng , Cheng Jinfeng
Published: January 2023

Climbing robots are designed to conduct tasks that may be dangerous for humans working at height. In addition to improving safety, they can also increase task efficiency and reduce labor costs. They are widely used for bridge inspection, high-rise building cleaning, fruit picking, high-altitude rescue, and military reconnaissance. In addition to climbing, these robots need to carry tools to complete their tasks. Hence, their design and development are more challenging than those of most other robots. This paper analyzes and compares the past decade’s design and development of climbing robots that can ascend vertical structures such as rods, cables, walls, and trees. Firstly, the main research fields and basic design requirements of climbing robots are introduced, and then the advantages and disadvantages of six key technologies are summarized, namely, conceptual design, adhesion methods, locomotion modes, safety mechanisms, control methods, and operational tools. Finally, the remaining challenges in research on climbing robots are briefly discussed and future research directions are highlighted. This paper provides a scientific reference for researchers engaged in the study of climbing robots.
Detection of Advanced Glycosylation End Products in the Cornea Based on Molecular Fluorescence and Machine Learning
Authors: Zhu Jianming , Lian Sifeng , Zhong Haochen , Sun Ruiyang , Xiao Zhenbang , Li Hua
Published: January 2023

Advanced glycosylation end products (AGEs) are continuously produced and accumulated in the bodies of diabetic patients. To effectively predict disease trends in diabetic patients, a corneal fluorescence detection device was designed based on the autofluorescence properties of AGEs, and corneal fluorescence measurements were performed on 83 volunteers. Multiple linear regression (MLR), extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost), support vector regression (SVR), and back-propagation neural network (BPNN) were used to predict the human AGE content. Physiological parameters which may affect corneal AGE content were collected for a correlation analysis to select the features that had a strong correlation with the corneal concentration of AGEs to participate in modeling. By comparing the predictive effects of the four models in the two cases of a single-input feature and a multi-input feature, it was found that the model with the single-input feature had a better predictive effect. In this case, corneal AGE content was predicted by a single-input SVR model, with the average error rate (AER), mean square error (MSE), and determination coefficient R-squared (R2) of the SVR model calculated as 2.43%, 0.026, and 0.932, respectively. These results proved the potential of our method and device for noninvasive detection of the concentration of AGEs in the cornea.
Proteolytic Biosensors with Functional Nanomaterials: Current Approaches and Future Challenges
Authors: Choi Jin-Ha
Published: January 2023

Proteolytic enzymes are one of the important biomarkers that enable the early diagnosis of several diseases, such as cancers. A specific proteolytic enzyme selectively degrades a certain sequence of a polypeptide. Therefore, a particular proteolytic enzyme can be selectively quantified by changing detectable signals causing degradation of the peptide chain. In addition, by combining polypeptides with various functional nanomaterials, proteolytic enzymes can be measured more sensitively and rapidly. In this paper, proteolytic enzymes that can be measured using a polypeptide degradation method are reviewed and recently studied functional nanomaterials-based proteolytic biosensors are discussed. We anticipate that the proteolytic nanobiosensors addressed in this review will provide valuable information on physiological changes from a cellular level for individual and early diagnosis.
Real-Time Ellipsometric Surface Plasmon Resonance Sensor Using Polarization Camera May Provide the Ultimate Detection Limit
Authors: Vashistha Nipun , Abuleil Marwan J. , Shrivastav Anand M. , Bajaj Aabha , Abdulhalim Ibrahim
Published: January 2023

Ellipsometric Surface Plasmon Resonance (SPR) sensors are known for their relatively simple optical configuration compared to interferometric and optical heterodyne phase interrogation techniques. However, most of the previously explored ellipsometric SPR sensors based on intensity measurements are limited by their real-time applications because phase or polarization shifts are conducted serially. Here we present an ellipsometric SPR sensor based on a Kretschmann–Raether (KR) diverging beam configuration and a pixelated microgrid polarization camera. The proposed methodology has the advantage of real-time and higher precision sensing applications. The short-term stability of the measurement using the ellipsometric parameters tanψ and cos(Δ) is found to be superior over direct SPR or intensity measurements, particularly with fluctuating sources such as laser diodes. Refractive index and dynamic change measurements in real-time are presented together with Bovine Serum Albumin (BSA)–anti-BSA antibody binding to demonstrate the potential of the developed sensor for biological sensing applications with a resolution of sub-nM and down to pM with additional optimization. The analysis shows that this approach may provide the ultimate detection limit for SPR sensors.
Parkinson’s Disease Gene Biomarkers Screened by the LASSO and SVM Algorithms
Authors: Bao Yiwen , Wang Lufeng , Yu Fei , Yang Jie , Huang Dongya
Published: January 2023

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common progressive neurodegenerative disorder. Various evidence has revealed the possible penetration of peripheral immune cells in the substantia nigra, which may be essential for PD. Our study uses machine learning (ML) to screen for potential PD genetic biomarkers. Gene expression profiles were screened from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO). Differential expression genes (DEGs) were selected for the enrichment analysis. A protein–protein interaction (PPI) network was built with the STRING database (Search Tool for the Retrieval of Interacting Genes), and two ML approaches, namely least absolute shrinkage and selection operator (LASSO) and support vector machine recursive feature elimination (SVM-RFE), were employed to identify candidate genes. The external validation dataset further tested the expression degree and diagnostic value of candidate biomarkers. To assess the validity of the diagnosis, we determined the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve. A convolution tool was employed to evaluate the composition of immune cells by CIBERSORT, and we performed correlation analyses on the basis of the training dataset. Twenty-seven DEGs were screened in the PD and control samples. Our results from the enrichment analysis showed a close association with inflammatory and immune-associated diseases. Both the LASSO and SVM algorithms screened eight and six characteristic genes. AGTR1, GBE1, TPBG, and HSPA6 are overlapping hub genes strongly related to PD. Our results of the area under the ROC (AUC), including AGTR1 (AUC = 0.933), GBE1 (AUC = 0.967), TPBG (AUC = 0.767), and HSPA6 (AUC = 0.633), suggested that these genes have good diagnostic value, and these genes were significantly associated with the degree of immune cell infiltration. AGTR1, GBE1, TPBG, and HSPA6 were identified as potential biomarkers in the diagnosis of PD and provide a novel viewpoint for further study on PD immune mechanism and therapy.
The Resilience of the Phonological Network May Have Implications for Developmental and Acquired Disorders
Authors: Vitevitch Michael S. , Castro Nichol , Mullin Gavin J. D. , Kulphongpatana Zoe
Published: January 2023

A central tenet of network science states that the structure of the network influences processing. In this study of a phonological network of English words we asked: how does damage alter the network structure (Study 1)? How does the damaged structure influence lexical processing (Study 2)? How does the structure of the intact network “protect” processing with a less efficient algorithm (Study 3)? In Study 1, connections in the network were randomly removed to increasingly damage the network. Various measures showed the network remained well-connected (i.e., it is resilient to damage) until ~90% of the connections were removed. In Study 2, computer simulations examined the retrieval of a set of words. The performance of the model was positively correlated with naming accuracy by people with aphasia (PWA) on the Philadelphia Naming Test (PNT) across four types of aphasia. In Study 3, we demonstrated another way to model developmental or acquired disorders by manipulating how efficiently activation spread through the network. We found that the structure of the network “protects” word retrieval despite decreases in processing efficiency; words that are relatively easy to retrieve with efficient transmission of priming remain relatively easy to retrieve with less efficient transmission of priming. Cognitive network science and computer simulations may provide insight to a wide range of speech, language, hearing, and cognitive disorders.
Exercise Predicts a Good Night’s Sleep: Preliminary Findings from a UCLA Study of First-Episode Schizophrenia
Authors: Subotnik Kenneth L. , McEwen Sarah C. , Ventura Joseph , Turner Luana Rene , Sturdevant Yurika , Niess Trudy L. , Casaus Laurie R. , Distler Margaret G. , Zito Michael F. , Hellemann Gerhard S. , Nguyen Clara D. , Nuechterlein Keith H.
Published: January 2023

Background: Physical exercise can improve sleep quality in the general population. Understanding the negative impact of poor sleep quality on multiple domains of functioning among persons with schizophrenia is a new frontier of exploration. It is also imperative to investigate non-pharmacologic methods to improve sleep quality as these approaches may not carry the side effect burdens associated with medication. Objective: We examined the relationship between regular physical exercise and sleep quality among participants in an intervention consisting of both cognitive training and exercise. Methods: Participants (N = 48) were schizophrenia patients who had a first psychotic episode within two years of study entry. Participants received 4 h/week of internet-based cognitive training and an aerobic exercise program over a 6-month period. Sleep was assessed with the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index at baseline and six months later. Results: During the 3 months prior to the 6-month follow-up sleep assessment, participants completed an average of 12.6 group exercise sessions and an average of 12.9 individual at-home exercise sessions. A significant relationship between the number of exercise sessions and global sleep quality was seen at month six, r = −0.44, df = 39, p < 0.01. Group exercise frequency was also associated with improvement in global sleep quality over the six-month intervention, t(34) = −2.84, p = 0.008. Conclusion: We demonstrated that a group of young adults with schizophrenia can be engaged in a regular exercise program, even during the tumultuous early course of the disorder. The number of exercise sessions in which they participated was associated with better sleep quality at six months and pre–postintervention improvement in sleep quality. Key message: Improved sleep quality appears to be a benefit of regular exercise among individuals with serious mental illness.
The Relationship among Dyadic Adjustment and Disease Burden in Patients with Bipolar Disorder and Their Spouses
Authors: Namlı Zeynep , Tamam Lut , Demirkol Mehmet Emin , Karaytuğ Mahmut Onur , Yeşiloğlu Caner , Uğur Kerim
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Spouses of individuals with bipolar disorder (BD) experience significant burdens, and the perception of the burden may affect dyadic adjustment. We aimed to investigate the sexual functions, alexithymic traits, marital satisfaction, and burden in patients with BD and their spouses. We also aimed to assess the mediating role of sexual functions and alexithymia in the relationship between burden and dyadic adjustment. (2) Methods: We included 81 patients with BD type 1 (40.69 ± 8.55 years, 65.4% female, and 34.6% male) and their healthy spouses (40.95 ± 7.30 years, 34.6% female, and 65.4% male) and 78 healthy controls (38.90 ± 5.88, 48.7% female, and 51.3% male). The participants were evaluated using the Golombok–Rust Inventory of Sexual Satisfaction (GRISS), Dyadic Adjustment Scale (DAS), Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Toronto Alexithymia Scale-20 (TAS-20), and Burden Assessment Scale (BAS). (3) Results: The GRISS scores of the control group were significantly lower than the spouses and BD groups. The DAS total score of the control group was significantly higher than that of the spouses and BD groups. Regression analyses revealed that TAS, GRISS, and HDRS scores were associated with DAS scores in the BD group. In the spouse group, TAS and BAS scores were associated with DAS scores. The GRISS scores partially mediated the relationship between dyadic adjustment and burden in the spouses of patients with BD. (4) Conclusions: Mental health professionals should regularly scan caregivers’ perceptions of burden. Appropriate psychosocial interventions could help spouses of patients with BD to cope better with the burden and improve dyadic adjustment.