bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The impact of appearance-related cyberbullying on the desire to alter physical appearance among adolescent females
Authors: Prince Taliah , Mulgrew Kate , Driver Christina , Mills Lia , Loza Jehan , Hermens Daniel
Published: June 2024

Cyberbullying is associated with various mental health concerns in adolescents including body dissatisfaction and disordered eating behaviours. However, there is a significant research gap concerning the unique effects of appearance-related cyberbullying (ARC) on adolescent mental health. This study examined the prevalence and psychological consequences of ARC among middle to late adolescent females (aged 14–19 years, Mage= 15.98, N = 336). Participants completed an online survey regarding their experiences of ARC, body image variables, and eating disorder symptomology. Findings indicate the widespread occurrence of ARC among adolescent females, with body shape and size emerging as predominant targets. Experiences of ARC-victimisation positively correlated with increased concerns about body shape, body shame, and eating disorder symptomology. Conversely, experiences of ARC-victimisation were negatively correlated with body esteem and body appreciation. Finally, appearance-related cybervictimisation was a significant predictor of adolescent females’ desire to pursue appearance alterations through methods such as dieting and exercising, altering self-presentation, and undergoing cosmetic procedures. These findings highlight the necessity for developing comprehensive strategies aimed at protecting the mental well-being of adolescent females by reducing the effects of ARC.
Prevalence of Typical and Atypical Pain Sites of Coronary Artery Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Abdullatef Mayar , Omran Maya , Bitar Anas , Alsaid Bayan
Published: June 2024

Study Objective
This study aims to assess the prevalence of both typical and atypical pain in patients with ischemic heart disease, emphasizing the importance of recognizing and not disregarding atypical symptoms.
Methods
This cross-sectional study was conducted on patients diagnosed with coronary artery disease (CAD) who were admitted to two major hospitals in Damascus, Syria, from 2021 to 2023. Patients were asked to mark the sites of their pain on an anatomic illustration. Typical pain was identified as pain located in the precordial area, with or without radiating to the left shoulder or the left arm. Any other distribution of pain was considered atypical. Patients’ demographics and previous medical history were documented to investigate any potential associations with atypical pain.
Results
Among the 100 patients, 64% (64) had atypical pain, while 36% (36) had typical symptoms. Referred pain to areas like the left shoulder and left arm was reported by 81.9% of patients, with 47% and 41% of the sample mentioning discomfort in these regions, respectively. We found that smoking and previous heart disease were associated with atypical pain, with 73% of patients who experienced atypical pain being smokers.
Conclusion
The study found that atypical pain is common, affecting 64% of individuals primarily in the right shoulder, right arm, and back. This type of pain is associated with smoking and prior heart disease. Misdiagnosing coronary artery disease (CAD) can have serious consequences, as patients with atypical symptoms may miss important pre-hospital procedures like ECG.
Small-sample short-term photovoltaic output prediction model based on GRA-SSA-GNNM method
Authors: Wang Qi , Mutailipu Meiheriayi , Jing Jiaheng , Jing Xuehui , Yang Yande
Published: June 2024

The precision of photovoltaic (PV) output forecasting results is crucial to the reliability of the intelligent distribution network and multi-energy supplementary system. This work aims to address problems of insufficient research related to the short-term prediction of small-sample PV power generation and the low prediction accuracy in the previous research. A hybrid prediction model based on grey relation analysis (GRA) combined by sparrow search algorithm (SSA), and grey neural network model (GNNM) is proposed. In this paper, GRA is utilized to reduce the dimension of meteorological features of the samples. Then, a high-precision day-ahead short-term PV production forecast based on the SSA-GNNM model is established. The GNNM is used to perform regression analysis on the input features after reducing the dimension of meteorological features of the samples, and the parameters of the GNNM are optimised via SSA. The prediction results agrees well with the data from PV power plant in Xinjiang, indicating that the GRA-SSA-GNNM model developed in this work effectively achieves a high precision estimation in short-term PV power generation output prediction and has a promising application in this field.
Optimizing UAV Photography: Strategies in Flight Control and Image Capture
Authors: zheng ting , li shangze , xiao zhensheng , zhang luyan
Published: June 2024

This paper addresses the challenges faced by novice drone operators in mastering flight altitude, speed, and shooting angles. It analyzes strategies for adjusting these parameters to capture satisfactory photographs, focusing on four key questions. Firstly, it examines the geometric relationship between flight altitude and camera coverage area, establishing an optimization model for drone shooting accuracy. Secondly, it independently analyzes the numerical relationship between shooting angles and camera coverage area, identifying optimal shooting angles using a UAV shooting accuracy score optimization model. Thirdly, it develops a small UAV system model and ground target model, employing a recursive target tracking algorithm to continuously adjust shooting angles for target acquisition. Finally, it introduces a novel RRT* algorithm for path planning around obstacles encountered during flight. We use MATLAB to select a reasonable obstacle avoidance strategy, and the global optimal route is obtained by smoothing processing. Simulation results demonstrate model stability and robustness across varying flight conditions.
Subcision with Platelet-Rich Plasma and Microneedling versus Subcision with Saline and Microneedling in Posttraumatic Scars
Authors: Twisy Howida Omar
Published: June 2024

Background: In treating post-traumatic scars, this study compared the safety and effectiveness of combined subcision with saline and microneedling versus combined subcision with platelet-rich plasma and microneedling.
Methods: Subcision with microneedling with either saline or platelet-rich plasma was used to treat 36 consecutive individuals with post-traumatic scarring. The Modified Manchester score was used to assess texture change, pigmentation, and surface distortion changes. Each change was given a score between 1 and 4. A lower score (range: 3–12) indicates a better result. The mean of the three individual scores was determined.
Results: For best outcomes, a patient needed an average of four treatments for each scar, with a one-month follow-up period following the final treatment. The three variables in group B had mean scores of 1.4±0.5, 2±0.8, and 2.2±0.9, respectively, for texture change, pigmentation, and surface distortion. With a mean score of 1.4±0.5, texture change had the best response out of the three variables we evaluated. The investigator determined that the mean improvement score for patients in group B's overall appearance was 5.61±1.19.
Conclusion: The study has shown that the combination of subcision with platelet-rich plasma, and microneedling appears to be a promising treatment for posttraumatic scars due to its low risk and high efficacy. Our findings suggest that this is safe method for treating posttraumatic scars, with few side effects and a low chance of recurrence.
Characteristics of regional lymph node metastasis in breast cancer and construction of a nomogram model based on ultrasonographic Analysis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Zhu Meidi , Xu Zipeng , Hu Jing , Hua Lingling , Zou Yu , Qin Fei , Chen Chaobo
Published: June 2024

Objective: The ultrasonographic characteristics of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients were retrospectively analyzed and a predicted nomogram model was conducted, aiming to provide an imaging basis for better clinical evaluation of lymph node metastasis in breast cancer patients.
Methods:B-mode ultrasound was used to retrospectively analyze the imaging characteristics of regional lymph nodes and tumor. Pathological examination of lymph node metastasis was confirmed in breast cancer patients. Univariable and multivariable logistic regression analyses were performed to analyze the risk factors of lymph node metastasis. LASSO regression analysis was further carried out to screen non-invasive indicators and a nomogram prediction model was conducted for breast cancer patients with lymph node metastasis.
Results: A total of 187 breast cancer patients were included in this study. Of them, 74 patients with lymph node metastasis were assigned to the Positive group, and 113 non-metastases were assigned to the Negative group. Multivariate analysis indicated that pathological type (OR=4.58, 95%CI: 1.44-14.6, p=0.01), tumor diameter (OR=1.37, 95%CI: 1.07-1.74, p=0.012), spiculated margins (OR=7.92, 95%CI:3.03-20.67, p<0.001), mixture echo of the breast tumor (OR=37.09, 95%CI:3.49-394.1, p=0.003) and unclear lymphatic hilum structure (OR=16.07, 95%CI:2.41-107.02, p=0.004) were independent risk factors for lymph node metastasis. A nomogram model was constructed for predicting breast cancer with lymph node metastasis, incorporating three significantly correlated indicators identified through LASSO regression analysis: tumor spiculated margins, cortical thickness of lymph nodes, and unclear lymphatic hilum structure. The receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the area under the curve (AUC) for the training set was 0.717 (95% CI, 0.614-0.820) and the validation set was 0.817 (95% CI, 0.738-0.890). The Hosmer Lemeshow test for the training-set and the validation- set was p=0.9148 and p=0.1648, separately. The predicted nomogram has a good diagnostic performance.
Conclusions:B-mode ultrasound is helpful in preoperative assessment of breast cancer with lymph node metastasis. Our predicted nomogram model based on logistic regression and LASSO regression analysisis clinical predictive safe, reliable, and highly practical.
Inhibitory Effect of the Multi-target TKI, Anlotinib, in 5-FU Resistant Colorectal Cancer HCT-8/15 Cells: Down Regulation of Drug Resistance-associated Protein Expression.
Authors: LIU JUAN , SUN HAOLIN , ZHENG XIXI , MA NINA , Liu Xiaoling , Cao Ruizhen , Cao Bangwei , Yang Mudan
Published: June 2024

Purpose
Colorectal cancer is the most prevalent gastrointestinal malignancy. Treatment usually includes 5-fluorouracil (5-FU), oxaliplatin, and irinotecan, with 5-FU usually being the first choice. 5-FU treatment failure occurs when cancer cells acquire resistance. Therefore, it is crucial to identify compounds effective against 5-FU-resistant tumors. Herein, we determined the efficacy and mechanism of anlotinib in 5-FU-resistant colon cancer cells.
Materials and methods
Human colon cancer cells (HCT-8/5-FU and HCT-15/5-FU) resistant to 5-FU were subjected to treatment with anlotinib, 5-FU, or both. Cell proliferation was assessed via MTS and clone formation assays. Cell cycle progression was studied using flow cytometry. Through immunoblotting, we evaluated changes in the protein levels of p-AKT and multidrug resistance 1.
Results
MTS assays indicated that HCT-8/5-FU and HCT-15/5-FU cells were sensitive to anlotinib and resistant to 5-FU. At 48 h, HCT-8/5-FU had an IC50 of 2246.5 ± 204.5 µM, while HCT-15/5-FU had an IC50 of 18.49 ± 3.23 mM for 5-FU. The IC50 of anlotinib for HCT-8/5-FU cells was 53.69 ± 8.10µM at 24 h and 17.39 ± 1.98µM at 48 h. The IC50 values for HCT-15/5-FU at 24 and 48 h were 55.03 ± 3.44µM and 8.83 ± 3.02µM, respectively. Anlotinib enhanced 5-FU sensitivity in resistant cells, with low concentrations (IC10) considerably enhancing the antiproliferative effects of 5-FU. Further, anlotinib significantly increased the number of cells in the G0-G1 phase dose-dependently, while the proportion of cells entering S phase decreased. MDR1 and AKT expression decreased with increasing anlotinib concentration.
Conclusion
Anlotinib suppressed the proliferation of 5-FU-resistant colon cancer cells by preventing entry into S phase, thus sensitizing cells to 5-FU. Moreover, anlotinib may reverse the effect of 5-FU on drug-resistant cells by down-regulating the expression of multidrug-resistant proteins, in which the AKT signaling pathway may play an important role.
Developing guidelines for nursing management of epilepsy in Ghanaian schools
Authors: Dzah Seth Selassie , Leech Ronell , Wath Anna Van der
Published: June 2024

Background The absence of guidelines for the nursing management of individuals living with epilepsy, who are students in Ghana, has resulted in the high dropout rates of such students. It is our hope, that in the near future, these individuals living with epilepsy will receive the needed attention, experience less stigmatization and discrimination. This, we expect, will result in better retention of such students in schools, improved academic performance and successful graduation. To achieve this, there is the need to develop appropriate guidelines and implement same for their benefit. In line with this, the study aims to develop guidelines for nurses to manage individuals living with epilepsy in Ghanaian schools.Methodology Qualitative approach will be adopted to conduct this study in two phases. In the first phase, a case study design will be deployed in the Twifo/Atti-Morkwa District of the Central Region of Ghana. The case is the nursing management of individuals living with epilepsy within the school context, and the sources of information will be the general nurses, psychiatric, or community psychiatric nurses working at the schools. Within the context of the case, parents or guardians of individuals living with epilepsy in the schools as well as their teachers will be included in the study. Data will be collected through individual interviews for nurses and parents while focus group discussions will be used for the teachers. Thematic analysis will be used to analyze the data. In the second phase, guidelines will be developed using the e-Delphi Technique. The study will be piloted in the Komenda-Edina-Eguafo-Abrem Municipality of the Central Region of Ghana. Ethics approval for this study has been obtained from the Ethical Review Committee of the University of Pretoria in South Africa. Additionally, Administrative approvals have been obtained from the Ghana Education Service.Discussion The guidelines developed will form the basis for nursing management of individuals living with epilepsy in Ghanaian schools. This will help to improve educational outcomes for the individuals living with epilepsy.
Altered expression and localization of nuclear envelope proteins in a prostate cancer cell system
Authors: Sandoval Ariana , Garrido Efrain , Camacho Javier , Magaña Jonathan Javier , Cisneros Bulmaro
Published: June 2024

Background. The nuclear envelope (NE), which is composed of the outer and inner nuclear membranes, the nuclear pore complex and the nuclear lamina, regulates a plethora of cellular processes, including those that restrict cancer development (genomic stability, cell cycle regulation, and cell migration). Thus, impaired NE is functionally related to tumorigenesis, and monitoring of NE alterations is used to diagnose cancer. However, the chronology of NE changes occurring during cancer evolution and the connection between them remained to be precisely defined, due to the lack of appropriate cell models. Methods. The expression and subcellular localization of NE proteins (lamins A/C and B1 and the inner nuclear membrane proteins emerin and β-dystroglycan [β-DG]) during prostate cancer progression were analyzed, using confocal microscopy and western blot assays, and a prostate cancer cell system comprising RWPE-1 epithelial prostate cells and several prostate cancer cell lines with different invasiveness. Results. Deformed nuclei and the mislocalization and low expression of lamin A/C, lamin B1, and emerin became more prominent as the invasiveness of the prostate cancer lines increased. Suppression of lamin A/C expression was an early event during prostate cancer evolution, while a more extensive deregulation of NE proteins, including β-DG, occurred in metastatic prostate cells. Conclusion. The RWPE-1 cell line-based system was found to be suitable for the correlation of NE impairment with prostate cancer invasiveness and determination of the chronology of NE alterations during prostate carcinogenesis. Further study of this cell system would help to identify biomarkers for prostate cancer prognosis and diagnosis.
Integrated miRNA and mRNA Analysis Provides New Insight into Mechanism of dermal papilla in Androgenetic Alopecia
Authors: Liu Xiaomin , Ye Maijiayi , Tao Guogui , Sun Xiaoqing , Zuo Tiantian , Wu Wanhong , Jin Jinghui , Hu Zhiqi
Published: June 2024

Background
Androgenetic alopecia (AGA) is a generally progressive type of hair loss, characterized by hair cycle abnormalities and hair miniaturization, with genetic predisposition and androgen-dependence. Although microRNAs (miRNAs) play indispensable roles in the control of many biological processes in hair follicle (HF), the miRNA-based regulation in the hair follicular mesenchyme remains utterly unknown so far. For this reason, we constructed a miRNA-mRNA interaction network by integrating analysis of miRNA and mRNA expression from balding and non-balding dermal papilla cells (DPCs) to study the underlying mechanism of AGA.
Methods
The mRNA and the miRNA expression profiles were downloaded from previously studies. Among all different mRNAs, top 10 hub genes, MYC, KRAS, RAF1, CCND1, FOS, MAPK3, STAT1, IL6, ETS1 and AKT1 were identified form PPI network. Then, the up-regulated miRNAs and the down-regulated mRNAs were integrated to construct a miRNA-mRNA interaction network.
Results
Pathway analysis revealed that the miRNA-mRNA network mainly involved MAPK signaling pathway, Ras signaling pathway, Rap1 signaling pathway, FoxO signaling pathway, P13K-Akt signaling pathway and Apoptosis.
Conclusions
These findings highlight the top 10 hub genes which may play significant roles in pathology of AGA. Meanwhile, miRNA-mRNA network pathway analysis offers a novel insight into potential etiology and mechanism of AGA.
Precise Firing Methods for Small-caliber Unmanned Intelligent Firearms Based on BP Neural Network and Model Predictive Control
Authors: Gao Yunlong , Wang Yongjuan
Published: June 2024

The firing accuracy of small-caliber unmanned intelligent weapons has an important impact on killing effectiveness. In order to improve the firing accuracy of small-caliber unmanned intelligent weapons against moving humanoid targets, hit probability estimation and image servo control are investigated in this paper. Firstly, a method to predict the impact points based on supervised learning is proposed. An corrected ballistic trajectory model is applied to generate training samples, and the mapping relationship that expresses the state of the impact points is formed. Then, a bullet dispersion acquisition experiment is carried out, and a model of bullet dispersion based on a two-dimensional Gaussian distribution is established by analyzing the distribution characteristics of the impact points. Meanwhile, the estimation method of hit probability applied to image detection is formed. In addition, an image servo control method based on model predictive control and human key point detection is proposed, which effectively improves the tracking accuracy of moving humanoid targets. Finally, numerical simulation and firing experiment validation are carried out, and the results show that the precision firing method of small-caliber unmanned intelligent weapons proposed in this paper can effectively improve the firing accuracy of small-caliber unmanned intelligent weapons.
Facile Synthesis of new 7-morpholino-6-(Aryl-1,3,4-oxadiazol)-1,8-naphthyridines and, evaluation of Antimicrobial and molecular Docking studies
Authors: Priya Kasaboina Kalyani , Shireesha Kavati , Jella Kumara Swamy
Published: June 2024

The new series of biologically potential antibacterial and anti-fungal agents of 7-morpholino-6-(5-ary-1,3,4-oxadiazol)-1,8-naphthyridine-2-carbonitrile scaffolds successfully synthesised by using the mild catalyst (FeCl3.6H2O) obtained good yields. The structures of the newly synthesized final target molecules established by various techniques IR, 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and Mass data. Activity of In vitro Antimicrobial studies of the new products were investigated against bacterial and fungal strains in compare with the clinical drugs Ampicillin, Grieseofulvin, compounds 7c and 7g demonstrated highest activity against pathogenic strains. Moreover, products were docked against target protein receptor (PDB ID: 8g4d), Docking results displayed that 7c and 7g are excellent binding interactions with the protein.
Enhancing Quantum Approximate Optimization with CNN-CVaR Integration
Authors: Cai Pengnian , Shen Kang , Yang Tao , Hu Yuanming , Lv Bin , Fan Liuhuan , Liu Zeyu , Hu Qi , Zhu Yunlai , Wu Zuheng , Dai Yuehua , Yang Fei , Wang Jun , Xu Zuyu
Published: June 2024

The Quantum Approximate Optimization Algorithm (QAOA) represents a promising approach for tackling combinatorial optimization challenges on near-term quantum devices. Central to QAOA optimization is the minimization of the expectation of the problem Hamiltonian for parameterized trial quantum states, which motivates the exploration of advanced optimization techniques. In this study, we propose a novel combinatorial optimization strategy, CNN-CVaR-QAOA, which integrates a Convolutional Neural Network (CNN) with Conditional Value at Risk (CVaR) to optimize QAOA circuits. By replacing the traditional loss function with CVaR and leveraging CNN for variational quantum parameter optimization, we demonstrate the superior efficacy of CNN-CVaR-QAOA through experimental validation on Erdos-Renyi random graphs. Our results show enhanced approximation ratios across various graph configurations. Furthermore, we investigate the influence of the CVaR parameter ($\alpha$) on algorithm performance, revealing that lower $\alpha$ values lead to smoother objective functions and improved approximation ratios. CNN-CVaR-QAOA offers significant advantages in optimizing QAOA parameters, particularly in the context of small-scale quantum devices, highlighting its potential to enhance QAOA optimization efforts across diverse optimization domains.
Differential influences of island biogeographic effects on the diversity of three plant life-forms
Authors: Li Sai-Qiang , Pan Qin-Qin , Yang Xiao-Dong , Gao Yong-Chao
Published: June 2024

Traditional island biogeography has assumed that area size and remoteness are key factors affecting species richness, but this theory has recently been challenged as increased human activity and climate change altered species dispersal patterns. It is unclear whether these two emerging factors will impact the existing mechanisms of biodiversity maintenance. Our research addresses this gap by examining trees, shrubs, and herbs on 30 islands along China's eastern continental shelf. We utilized remote sensing technology to assess human activity, island area and remoteness, and employed various statistical models such as linear regression and PLS-PM to interpret the mechanisms that maintain the richness of different plant life-forms. Our findings show a strong positive correlation between island area and total (SR, R² = 0.51), tree (R² = 0.41), shrub (R² = 0.40), and herb species richness (R² = 0.36, all p < 0.01). Conversely, island remoteness was negatively correlated with SR, tree, and shrub species richness (R² ≤ 0.22, p ≤ 0.01), while no significant correlation with herb species richness. Additionally, we found a positive correlation between human activities and invasive plant species (R² = 0.29, 0.47, p < 0.01). The PLS-PM indicates in addition to island biogeographical effects, climate, human activities, and habitat diversity also affect the distribution of plant diversity through this effect, but the driving mechanisms differ among three plant life-forms. Area is a major determinant for shrub and herb diversity, while remoteness more significantly affects tree species richness. Human activities positively affect tree richness but negatively affect shrub and herb richness. Climatic variables were analyzed to understand their potential effects on the richness of the three plant life-forms. While our results showed a significant positive impact on shrub richness, the relationships with tree and herb richness were not statistically significant. Our study contributes new empirical insights into island biogeography, integrating multiple factors to explain plant diversity maintenance and offering valuable data for island biodiversity conservation.
Population Attributable Fraction of abnormal body mass index for diabetes mellitus in Yazd during a 10-Year Longitudinal Cohort Study: Yazd Healthy Heart cohort (YHHC) in Yazd, Iran
Authors: Namayandeh Seyedeh Mahdieh ,   2.	Maryam Askari, Mohammadi Masoud , Hadiani Leila , Soltani Mohammadhosein , Sarebanhassanabadi Mohammadtaghi , mohammadhoseini Mojtaba , majidpour fatemeh ,   9.	Ahmad Karimi
Published: June 2024

Type 2 diabetes is one of the public health problems. And its prevalence is growing. Obesity and overweight are preventable risk factors for diabetes. The objective of this study was to calculate the Population Attributable Fraction (PAF) of abnormal body mass index (BMI) for diabetes mellitus (DM). In the present study, 1641 non-diabetic Participants were followed up for ten years (2006 - 2016). The prevalence of the outcome in the reference group and the relative risk of abnormal BMI were calculated, and then the PAF formula was used. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 16 software (Chicago, SPSS Inc.). The prevalence of DM in people with normal BMI was 18.7%. The crud RR, adjusted RR by age, and adjusted RR by age and sex were calculated as 1.66 (1.25-2.14), 1.74 (1.29-2.26), and 1.84 (1.36-2.37), respectively. Suppose we can reduce the prevalence of obesity to the ideal value (zero) without adjustment, age adjustment, or sex adjustment. In that case, the incidence of diabetes will be reduced by 27%, 29%, and 32%, respectively. Diabetes attributed to obesity, about 30% decreases; If we can reduce the prevalence of obesity to the ideal value (zero).
Anomalous Mechanical Response of Stretched Film of Poly(3-Hydroxybutyrate-co-3-Hydroxyhexanoate)
Authors: Fukuda Yuta , Janchai Khunanya , Sunagawa Takenobu , Yamaguchi Masayuki
Published: June 2024

The mechanical responses during loading, unloading, and reloading cyclic tensile tests of a tubular blown film of poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) are studied. Although the stress–strain curve recorded during the initial stretching process is typical for a crystalline polymer, the stretched film behaves like a rubber during the reloading process; that is, low modulus with a small residual strain after unloading. Furthermore, the stress–strain curves during the reloading process are an inverted “S” shape. During the first stretching process of the polymer film, small crystals are destroyed without reorganization into a crystalline structure, leading to the observed decrease of crystallinity. In contrast, well-developed crystals that orient to the machine direction of the film do not disappear during the first stretching and act as crosslink points during reloading. As a result, a rubber-like response is detected. This mechanical response during reloading is considerably different from those of conventional crystalline plastics such as polyethylene and polypropylene.
Accelerating Cd2+ adsorption using hydroxyapatite nanoparticles engineered by combination of ultrasound and microwave treatment
Authors: Panchu Sandeep Eswaran , Panchu Sarojini Jeeva , Venkatachalam Vijayaraj , Swart Hendrik C.
Published: June 2024

The hydroxyapatite (HAp) nanoparticle was effectively engineered through a combination of ultrasonication followed by microwave techniques. This modification significantly enhances the adsorbent's characteristics compared to microwave and other combinational techniques. The particle size of the adsorbent was effectively reduced to 30×10 ± 3 nm, with a crystallite size of 10 nm, and an enhanced specific surface area of 105 m2/g. These modifications led to a significant acceleration in Cd2+ adsorption capacity, reaching 185 mg/g at pH 7 within 20 min. Both pseudo-second-order kinetic and Langmuir isotherm fittings confirmed monolayered Cd2+ adsorption on homogeneous sites via chemisorption. Thermodynamic studies indicated an exothermic and spontaneous behavior of the Cd2+ ion adsorption process. Very high and sustained regeneration efficiency was observed for HAp-UM, reaching 95% after seven cycles. The simple and rapid synthesis of HAp-UM demonstrates a drastic enhancement in Cd2+ ion removal capacity, making it a promising option for wastewater treatment.
Insights into Quantum Support Vector Machine
Authors: Jammalamadaka Subrahmanyam , Cherukuri Aswani Kumar
Published: June 2024

Machine learning through Quantum computing principles has been found to take an edge in the artificial intelligence and machine learning domains. Both domains have similarities in terms of higher-dimensional computing through complex linear algebra. This has given way to Quantum Machine learning. To work with available quantum computers to a greater extent, quantum machine learning algorithms are designed to work on Nearly Intermediate State Quantum (NISQ) devices using hybrid quantum-classical methods of execution. IBM Qiskit quantum framework with existing classical machine learning frameworks like SK-Learn and tensor-flow is used for this purpose of the study on how a Quantum support vector machine algorithm can be more effectively used over the classical support vector machine when classical support vector machines lack the computation power. In this paper, how quantum principles are involved in gaining the advantages and limitations of using quantum machines are discussed with an example of experimentation run on quantum machines and classical machines using the IBM Qiskit framework.
Phenolic compounds related to heartwood coloration of Millettia pendula
Authors: Yusuke Taga , Yamauchi Kosei , Mitsunaga Tohru
Published: June 2024

Three noble phenolic compounds were isolated from the heartwood of Millettia pendula along with eight known compounds. Among the known compounds, six were isolated from this species for the first time. Structural determination of the isolated compounds was accomplished using 1D and 2D nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy and matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Two of the isolated compounds, 2 and 6, showed red and purple pigmentation, respectively. These compounds contained a conjugated π system composed of benzofuran and p-benzoquinone moieties. We therefore hypothesize that a hydroquinone moiety, present in precursors of 2 and 6, is autoxidized by activated oxygen in the air to form p-benzoquinone. The difference in colors between these two compounds was due to the difference in the B ring substituents. Expansion of their conjugated pi systems allows 2 and 6 to absorb and reflect light in the visible region, and results in the characteristic purple coloring of M.pendula.
Neural network-based Aeroelastic System Identification for Predicting Flutter of High Flexibility Wings
Authors: Guo Qing , Li Xiaoqiang , Zhou Zhijie , Ma Dexiao , Wang Yuzhuo
Published: June 2024

Flutter is an extremely significant academic topic in both aerodynamics and aircraft design. Since flutter can cause multiple types of phenomena including bifurcation, period doubling, and chaos, it becomes one of the most unpredictable instability phenomena. The complexity of modeling aeroelasticity of high flexibility wings will be substantially simplified by investigating the prospect of system identification techniques to forecast flutter velocity. Therefore, a novel neural network (NN)-based method for aeroelastic system identification is proposed. The proposed NN-based approach constructs an NN framework of high flexibility wings flutter models with different materials and sizes, which can effectively predict the flutter velocity of flexible wings. The accuracy of the method is demonstrated by comparing with the simulation results.
Numerical Analysis Of The Liquid Saturation At The Cathode Side Of A PEM Fuel Cell With Different Flow Paths
Authors: Ceballos J. O. , Sierra J. M. , Ordoñez L. C.
Published: June 2024

The performance of fuel cells is greatly influenced by the design of the flow channels, making it one of the most significant factors impacting their overall performance. In this work, numerical simulations on serpentine, parallel, and interdigitated geometries are carried out using an open-source toolbox at 0.5, 0.4, and 0.3 V to observe the liquid water saturation distribution at the cathode side of a three-dimensional multiphase non-isothermal model of a Protonic Exchange Membrane Fuel Cell. The results indicate that the serpentine flow channel shows the maximum current density and the minimum saturation distribution. Also, it is shown that maximum saturation values are located at the edges of the membrane-electrode assembly. There is an important change in the ionic distribution which directly impacts the current density.
Inhibiting autophagy affects collagen degradation by TGF-β1 in the bronchial fibroblasts of rats
Authors: Zhang Lanying , Yu Siyuan , Zhang Fuan , Chen Jie , Liao Shixia , Liu Yuting , Zhou Jian , An Xuan , Zhang Wei , Ouyang Yao
Published: June 2024

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major global health issue and its prevalence is growing. Importantly, autophagy plays a crucial role in the pathophysiology of airway remodeling. However, further research is required to determine the precise mechanism of autophagy in rat bronchial fibroblasts (RBFs). In this study, we selected transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) as a proliferation stimulating agent and explored its impact on RBFs-related collagen degradation following autophagy. We used enzyme digestion combined with tissue block adhesion to quickly and efficiently isolate and extract RBFs. We then established autophagy models of RBFs using rapamycin and starvation. Subsequently, we used western blotting (WB) to detect the expression of autophagy-related proteins (LC3-II, Beclin-1, and P62) in RBFs treated with TGF-β1. Further, we used an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) to measure the level of matrix metalloproteinase-1 (MMP-1) and its inhibitor, matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor-1 (TIMP-1) in the RBF supernatant. Different concentrations of TGF-β1 promoted RBF growth, while rapamycin lowered RBF survival rates. TGF-β1 downregulated LC3-II and Beclin1 expression but increased P62 expression levels after rapamycin and starvation-induced autophagy in RBFs. Adding TGF-β1 elevated TIMP-1 protein levels and reduced MMP-1 protein levels. The present study provides novel insights that TGF-β1 reduces airway emodeling in RBFs by inhibiting autophagy and collagen degradation, suggesting that targeting TGF-β1 might have potential therapeutic value for the prevention and treatment of COPD.
Antarctic ice shelves at risk of collapse by mid-century
Authors: Zheng Yaowen , Golledge Nicholas , Gossart Alexandra
Published: June 2024

Projections show that Antarctic surface melt will increase through the current century, potentially accelerating ice shelf collapse and global sea level rise [1–3]. However, a high-resolution map of projected melt is currently lacking, which limits the accuracy of predictions of hydrofracturing [2] and loss of buttressing to grounded ice [4]. Here, we present 100-meter projections of Antarctic surface melt potential under Shared Socio-economic Pathways (SSPs) 1-2.6, 2-4.5, 3-7.0, and 5-8.5. These projections are generated from a spatially-distributed statistical model [5] trained on 30 years of observational data, and uses high-resolution topographic data [6] to downscale forcing temperature fields. Local temperature corrections arising from this downscaling (but typically absent from general circulation models) are up to 6°C, comparable to global temperature change under the highest greenhouse gas emissions scenarios by 2100 [7]. Using these more accurate temperature fields our high-resolution downscaled melt calculations show that Larsen-C, Shackleton, Thwaites, Getz, and Totten ice shelves will all be at high risk of collapse from mid-century due to increased surface melt, even if emissions follow the mid-range SSP3-7.0 pathway. Future trajectories of latitudinal melt migration show that SSP1-2.6 is the only emissions pathway under which future Antarctic surface melt is stabilized at present levels.
Medical Image Retrieval using ROI extraction and Hybrid Bag-of-Features model
Authors: Kugunavar Sneha , Prabhakar C.J.
Published: June 2024

Medical image processing has become a major component in the healthcare system, where the Content-Based Medical Image Retrieval (CBMIR) technique is increasingly used. However, CBMIR still has room to improve its ability to handle multiple modalities and a large volume of images to produce satisfactory results. This paper presents a novel CBMIR framework using the Hybrid Bag-of-Features (HBoF) technique for multimodal and scalable datasets. The experiment was conducted using the IRMA 2009 and the Kvasir datasets. The HBoF model in the proposed work is a combination of Bag-of-Visual-Words (BoVW) with shape and texture features. Initially, the Region of Interest was extracted using the Dynamic Delaunay Triangulation method. Binary Robust Invariant Scalable Keypoints (BRISK) descriptor followed by the K-means clustering was used to generate the BoVW. The shape and texture features were extracted using the Edge Histogram Descriptors (EHD) and Gray-Level Co-occurrence matrix (GLCM). Finally, the Euclidean distance similarity measure was used to retrieve the relevant images. The experimental results prove the reliability and robustness of the proposed framework achieved against the state-of-art methods. Thus, our study provides a novel CBMIR framework using the HBoF model to address the challenges related to computational and retrieval efficiency of large medical image datasets.
Sources of mercury varied in the Mariana Trench during the Last Glacial Maximum to the Holocene
Authors: Zhou Zhengwen , Wang Huiling , Xin Yu , Wang Yingjun , Liu Xiting , Tian Jiwei , Hintelmann Holger , Yin Yongguang , Liu Guangliang , Cai Yong , Li Yanbin
Published: June 2024

The Mariana Trench, is one of the ultimate sinks of the earth’ system, providing unique insights to matter cycling and environmental evolution. Trench sediments receive mercury (Hg) from the upper ocean and constitute a global Hg sink. However, little is known about the variation in the Hg cycle that have been driven by geological or environmental changes prior to human activity. Here we present results covering concentrations and isotopic signatures of Hg in the deepest trench system to identify the evolution of Hg cycling in trenches before the Anthropocene. Sediment cores collected from the Mariana Trench showed values for mass independent fractionation (Δ199Hg) of > 0 with ratios of Δ199Hg/Δ201Hg close to 1.0, suggesting that Hg in this system was primarily subjected to atmospheric or water column photochemical processes prior to deposition. Geological proxies and isotopic compositions (δ202Hg: -4.2‰ to -4.5‰, Δ199Hg: 0.28‰ to 0.29‰) comparable only in volcanoes reveal that Hg contents coinciding with the transition from the last glacial termination to the early Holocene can predominantly be attributed to volcanic activity. During the Holocene, atmospheric Hg constituted the main source of Hg in the Mariana Trench, while the last glacial maximum was characterized by an accumulation of both atmospheric and biogenic Hg.
An Adaptive Heading Estimation Method based on Holding Styles Recognition Using Smartphone Sensors
Authors: Nguyen-Huu Khanh , Duong-Bao Ninh , Thi Luong Nguyen , Thi Le Do , Thu Thuy Huynh Thi , Lee Seon-Woo
Published: June 2024

Pedestrian Dead Reckoning (PDR), which comes with many sensors integrated into widely available smartphones, is known as one of the most popular indoor positioning techniques. Sensors such as accelerometers, gyroscopes, and magnetometers are used to determine three important components in PDR: step detection, step length estimation, and heading estimation. Among them, the last component is the most challenging since a small heading error accumulates to produce a very large positioning error, especially when the pedestrian holds the smartphone in unconstrained styles such as swinging the phone freely along the pedestrian’s walking direction or putting the phone into the pants’ front pockets. The research proposes an adaptive heading estimation method to deal with heading errors caused by smartphone holding styles. The novelties are described as follows. Firstly, the proposed method attempts to classify the four basic smartphone holding styles using a machine learning algorithm based on simple features of acceleration values to give pedestrians more freedom during the walking period. Secondly, the proposed method adaptively combines the two heading estimation methods, which are calculated from the integrated sensors, to determine the walking direction for different smartphone holding styles. The experimental results show that the proposed heading estimation method achieves average heading errors of less than 30 degrees when testing in two different walking paths with the smartphone held in dynamic styles. It helps to reduce the heading errors by more than 15% compared to previous heading estimation methods.
Uso de inversor solar aprovado pelo INMETRO na microgeração eólica distribuída
Authors: Esposito Marcelo , Calegari Renato , Correia Souza Taís Rosângela , Correa Ribeiro Marcelo
Published: June 2024

É fato que no Brasil não está consolidada a cultura de instalação de aerogeradores em oposição ao que ocorre com a energia fotovoltaica. Os principais motivos para essa diferença são a escassez de equipamentos e o desconhecimento desta tecnologia por parte dos consumidores. Além dos motivos anteriormente citados, inclui-se o custo de aquisição destes sistemas e a falta de condições adequadas tanto para a instalação física como para o aproveitamento do fator ambiental, o vento. A camada limite impacta significativamente no funcionamento e na eficiência aerodinâmica do equipamento. Em certas regiões, ela pode estender-se a altitudes consideráveis, o que requer a instalação de torres de grande porte para os aerogeradores, aumentando, assim, os custos de instalação e manutenção da planta. Todas as formas de geração de energia elétrica têm vantagens e desvantagens e vale lembrar aqui que das formas disponíveis no mercado a energia eólica é a de menor impacto ambiental desde o berço até o túmulo. O presente trabalho considerou, inicialmente, a possibilidade de utilizar um aerogerador de 1200W (vendido comercialmente) acoplado a um controlador de carga desenvolvido especificamente para esta turbina eólica, um banco de baterias e um inversor solar fotovoltaico (não híbrido). Não obstante, não houve sucesso devido à velocidade média do vento no local não ser suficiente para carregar as baterias na proporção que o inversor solar injeta energia na rede elétrica de 220V. Para demonstrar a viabilidade da microgeração eólica, com ou sem o uso de baterias, são apresentados dois equipamentos desenvolvidos por empresas consolidadas no mercado, que com um circuito eletrônico instalado entre o aerogerador e o inversor solar tornam o sistema eólico on grid. Estes projetos consideram velocidades da ordem de 12m/s de vento não turbulento para a potência máxima. Valor não encontrado nem mesmo acima de 200m de altura no local onde o aerogerador de 1200W está instalado. Como solução foi investigado o conceito de mircroturbina hidráulica, operando on grid com o uso de inversor solar. Detalhes dos equipamentos instalados em um sistema em operação são mostrados.
Aplicação da endodontia guiada na localização de canal radicular severamente calcificado: relato de caso
Authors: Thaine Oliveira Lima  , Rodrigo Ricci Vivan  , Marco Antônio Húngaro Duarte  , Paulo Roberto Jara de Souza  , Stefani Jovedi Rosa  , Murilo Priori Alcalde
Published: June 2024

Na técnica da endodontia guiada, utiliza-se um guia com um orifício para inserção de uma broca específica, com angulação e comprimento previamente determinado, elaborado por meio de um planejamento virtual, associando a tomografia computadorizada com o escaneamento digital do paciente e impresso por impressoras 3D, possibilitando uma transferência precisa do planejamento virtual para a boca do paciente. Objetivo: Descrever um tratamento endodôntico utilizando a endodontia guiada para a localização de um canal radicular severamente calcificado. Relato de caso: Paciente do gênero feminino procurou atendimento em clínica odontológica queixando-se de dor na região anterior da maxila após trauma. No exame radiográfico e confirmado pela tomografia, foi observado canal radicular da unidade 21 bastante calcificado. Assim, indicou[1]se a técnica utilizando um guia endodôntico, a fim de realizar a localização segura do canal radicular. Depois de localizado, o canal foi preparado e obturado de forma convencional. Conclusão: Embora seja uma técnica recém-introduzida na literatura, a endodontia guiada garante menor tempo de trabalho, previsibilidade e segurança.
Riscos e benefícios da exodontia de terceiros molares retidos
Authors: Gabriela Cristina Schulz  , Larissa de Faria Rodrigues
Published: June 2024

As cirurgias dos terceiros molares é um assunto relevante e revisado contemporaneamente em virtude dos riscos e benefícios da realização do procedimento. Classicamente, o trabalho de Mercier e Precious (1992) é considerado a base para as indicações ou não das exodontias. Objetivo: Revisar os itens citados pelos autores considerando a evolução tecnológica e científica dos conceitos e problemas cirúrgicos. Resultados: Dentre as principais mudanças, percebe-se que a tomografia computadorizada trouxe mais segurança nas exodontias, podendo contribuir para a prevenção de parestesias e fraturas mandibulares. Dessa forma, o paciente tem mais dados sobre o procedimento que será realizado, compartilhando a responsabilidade com o cirurgião. Além disso, equipamentos tecnológicos atuais, como o piezoelétrico, trouxeram condições operatórias de melhor qualidade. Tais fatores possibilitam um pós-operatório melhor, auxiliado também por medicamentos como corticoides e polivitamínicos do complexo B. Além disso, as parestesias podem ser minimizadas ou tratadas com laser de baixa intensidade. Conclusão: Apesar de três décadas da publicação do artigo base, muitos conceitos foram mantidos e são utilizados atualmente, embora outros tenham sido alterados, principalmente em razão das tecnologias incorporadas. Quanto às exodontias, com todo o conhecimento desenvolvido, acredita-se que o procedimento se tornou mais seguro, além de ser cada vez mais indicado. Fica evidente a importância do trabalho publicado pelos autores. A revisão feita neste trabalho demonstra que muitos dos conceitos foram mantidos, mas indica que os riscos e benefícios devem ser permanentemente conferidos em virtude das publicações científicas sobre o assunto que permanecem sendo realizadas.