bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High quantum efficiency ruthenium coordination complex photosensitizer for improved radiation-activated Photodynamic Therapy
Authors: Azad Abul Kalam , Lilge Lothar , Usmani Nawaid H. , Lewis John D. , Cole Houston D. , Cameron Colin G. , McFarland Sherri A. , Dinakaran Deepak , Moore Ronald B.
Published: August 2023

Traditional external light-based Photodynamic Therapy (PDT)’s application is limited to the surface and minimal thickness tumors because of the inefficiency of light in penetrating deep-seated tumors. To address this, the emerging field of radiation-activated PDT (radioPDT) uses X-rays to trigger photosensitizer-containing nanoparticles (NPs). A key consideration in radioPDT is the energy transfer efficiency from X-rays to the photosensitizer for ultimately generating the phototoxic reactive oxygen species (ROS). In this study, we developed a new variant of pegylated poly-lactic-co-glycolic (PEG-PLGA) encapsulated nanoscintillators (NSCs) along with a new, highly efficient ruthenium-based photosensitizer (Ru/radioPDT). Characterization of this NP via transmission electron microscopy, dynamic light scattering, UV-Vis spectroscopy, and inductively coupled plasma mass-spectroscopy showed an NP size of 120 nm, polydispersity index (PDI) of less than 0.25, high NSCs loading efficiency over 90% and in vitro accumulation within the cytosolic structure of endoplasmic reticulum and lysosome. The therapeutic efficacy of Ru/radioPDT was determined using PC3 cell viability and clonogenic assays. Ru/radioPDT exhibited minimal cell toxicity until activated by radiation to induce significant cancer cell kill over radiation alone. Compared to protoporphyrin IX-mediated radioPDT (PPIX/radioPDT), Ru/radioPDT showed higher capacity for singlet oxygen generation, maintaining a comparable cytotoxic effect on PC3 cells.
Clinical outcomes of liposomal irinotecan in advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma patients previously treated with conventional irinotecan-based chemotherapy: a real-world study
Authors: Gupta Amol , De Jesus-Acosta Ana , Zheng Lei , Lee Valerie , Kamel Ihab , Le Dung , Pishvaian Michael , Laheru Daniel
Published: August 2023

Background

The efficacy of combination chemotherapy beyond the first-line setting remains modest in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (PAC). Evidence from recent clinical studies has shown that liposomal irinotecan (nal-IRI) plus 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) and leucovorin (LV) resulted in survival benefits in patients with advanced pancreatic adenocarcinoma (APAC) after progression on gemcitabine-based treatment. However, the survival benefits of nal-IRI in the third and later lines, in which limited options are available, have yet to be extensively studied. Also, some studies have shown conflicting results regarding the impact of prior treatment with conventional IRI on patient outcomes following treatment with nal-IRI. Therefore, this real-world study aimed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of nal-IRI plus 5FU-LV in advanced PAC patients who progressed on conventional IRI-containing regimens.

Methods

A retrospective chart review was conducted between November 2016 to December 2022 on 30 patients diagnosed with advanced PAC who completed at least one cycle of nal-IRI plus 5-FU- LV and were previously treated with conventional IRI. Data regarding survival outcomes were retrieved.

Results

Thirty patients met the inclusion criteria. Overall, 76.7% of the patients received at least two lines of therapy prior to nal-IRI. The median overall duration of nal-IRI treatment was 2.0 months (IQR: 1.3 – 3.9 months). One patient (3.3%) had a partial response, and seven patients (23.3%) had stable disease as their best response. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 1.9 months (95% CI 1.6 - 2.0) and the 6-month PFS rate was 20.0%. The median overall survival (OS) was 5.0 months (95% CI 3.4 – 7.0), and the 6-month OS rate was 36.7%. An interval between conventional IRI and nal-IRI ≥5.5 months was significantly associated with prolonged OS of 10.2 months (95% CI 3.3 – 12.1) versus 4.3 months (95% CI 2.1 – 5.9; p =0.003). Ten patients (33.3%) experienced grade 3 adverse events, most commonly nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, and non-neutropenic fever.

Conclusion

Nal-IRI plus 5FU/LV had modest survival benefits and an acceptable safety profile in patients with prior conventional IRI. A longer interval between conventional IRI and nal-IRI was associated with increased survival outcomes.
Tirzepatide ameliorates spatial learning and memory impairment through modulation of aberrant insulin resistance and inflammation response in diabetic rats
Authors: Guo Xiying , Lei Min , Zhao Jiangyan , Wu Min , Ren Zhanhong , Yang Xiaosong , Ouyang Changhan , Liu Xiufen , Liu Chao , Chen Qingjie
Published: August 2023

Background: One of the typical symptoms of diabetes mellitus patients was memory impairment, which was followed by gradual cognitive deterioration and for which there is no efficient treatment. The anti-diabetic incretin hormones glucose-dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) and glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) were demonstrated to have highly neuroprotective benefits in animal models of AD. We wanted to find out how the GLP-1/GIP dual agonist tirzepatide affected diabetes’s impairment of spatial learning memory.

Methods: High fat diet and streptozotocin injection-induced diabetic rats were injected intraperitoneally with Tirzepatide (1.35 mg/kg) once a week. The protective effects were assessed using the Morris water maze test, immunofluorescence, and Western blot analysis. Golgi staining was adopted for quantified dendritic spines.

Results: Tirzepatide significantly improved impaired glucose tolerance, fasting blood glucose level, and insulin level in diabetic rats. Then, tirzepatide dramatically alleviated spatial learning and memory impairment, inhibited Aβ accumulation, prevented structural damage, boosted the synthesis of synaptic proteins and increased dendritic spines formation in diabetic hippocampus. Furthermore, some aberrant changes in signal molecules concerning inflammation signaling pathways were normalized after tirzepatide treatment in diabetic rats. Finally, PI3K/Akt/GSK3β signaling pathway was restored by tirzepatide.

Conclusion: Tirzepatide obviously exerts a protective effect against spatial learning and memory impairment, potentially through regulating abnormal insulin resistance and inflammatory responses.
Efficacy and safety of combined Chinese and Western medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis: a prospective, multicenter cohort study
Authors: Ye Qian-Yun , Lin Qing , Hu Xue-Ling , Yang Yu-Mei , Zheng Bao-Lin , Li Ting , Zhong Wen-Qiang , Wang Hao-Yu , Zhang Zhi-Fen , Luo Bing-Jie , Xiao Ya-Wen , Wu Ai-Ling , Li Yan , Zou Zhuo-Ling , Li Ling-Yu , Li Xiao-Yun , Wang Pan-Pan , Yang Li , Zhu Xiao-Feng , Han Li , Zhang Rong-Hua
Published: August 2023

Purpose: To conduct a real-world evaluation of the efficacy and safety of combined Chinese and Western medicine in treating knee osteoarthritis (KOA).

Methods: A multicenter, prospective cohort study design was employed, enrolling 450 KOA patients (Kellgren-Lawrence score of 3 or less). The patients were divided into a Western medicine treatment group (WM group) and a combined Western and traditional Chinese medicine treatment group (WM-CM group). A 6-week treatment plan was administered, and follow-up visits occurred at 2 weeks, 4 weeks, and 6 weeks after initiating treatment. The primary outcome indicator was the total Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Arthritis Index (WOMAC) score after 6 weeks of treatment. Secondary outcome indicators included WOMAC subscales for pain, stiffness, and joint function, visual analogue scale (VAS) score, physical component summary (PCS), mental component summary (MCS), and clinical effectiveness. The incidence of drug-related adverse events was used as a safety evaluation indicator.

Results: A total of 419 patients were included in the final analysis: 98 in the WM group and 321 in the WM-CM group. The baseline characteristics of the two groups were comparable, except for the incidence of stiffness symptoms and stiffness scores. After 6 weeks of treatment, the WM-CM group exhibited superior results to the WM group in improving the total WOMAC score (24.71 ± 1.38 vs. 16.36 ± 0.62, p < 0.001). The WM-CM group also outperformed the WM group in WOMAC pain and joint function scores, VAS score, PCS score, MCS score, and clinical effectiveness (p < 0.05), which was consistent with the findings of the main evaluation index. Subgroup analysis indicated that the combined Chinese and Western medicine treatment showed more pronounced benefits in patients under 65 years of age and in those with a Kellgren-Lawrence (K-L) classification of 0-I. Throughout the study, no adverse effects were observed in either group.

Conclusion: The combination of Chinese and Western medicine demonstrated superiority over Western medicine alone in relieving knee pain symptoms, improving knee function, and enhancing the quality of life for KOA patients with a K-L score of 3 or less. Moreover, the treatment exhibited a good safety profile.

Clinical Trial Registration: (https://www.chictr.org.cn/), identifier (ChiCTR1900027175).
Establishment of a sensitive UPLC-MS/MS method to quantify safinamide in rat plasma
Authors: Wang Ying , Zhao Guan-An , Li Xia , Zhang En , Tan Wei , Chen Jia-qi
Published: August 2023

A fast, simple, and sensitive ultra performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method was established for the quantification of safinamide in rat plasma. Plasma samples were treated with acetonitrile for protein precipitation, and diazepam was used as an internal standard (IS). The analytes were separated on an Acquity UPLC C18 (2.1 mm × 50 mm, 1.7 μm) chromatographic column with gradient elution using a mobile phase (0.1% formic acid-acetonitrile). Then, the eluates were detected by electrospray ionization (ESI) in positive ion mode. The analytes were quantified by multiple reaction monitoring (MRM) using the transition m/z 303.3→215.0 of safinamide and m/z 285.0→154.0 of IS. Safinamide had good linearity in the concentration range of 1.0–2000 ng/mL, and the lower limit of quantitation (LLOQ) was 1.0 ng/mL. The intra- and inter-day precision and accuracy of safinamide were less than 7.63%, while the average recovery rate was 92.98%–100.29%. The method was validated to be stable and had low noise, short chromatographic run time, wide linear range, small sample volumes, low sample injection volumes, and high sensitivity. Therefore, it can be used in pharmacokinetics and preclinical and clinical studies.
SeriesSleepNet: an EEG time series model with partial data augmentation for automatic sleep stage scoring
Authors: Lee Minji , Kwak Heon-Gyu , Kim Hyeong-Jin , Won Dong-Ok , Lee Seong-Whan
Published: August 2023

Introduction: We propose an automatic sleep stage scoring model, referred to as SeriesSleepNet, based on convolutional neural network (CNN) and bidirectional long short-term memory (bi-LSTM) with partial data augmentation. We used single-channel raw electroencephalography signals for automatic sleep stage scoring.

Methods: Our framework was focused on time series information, so we applied partial data augmentation to learn the connected time information in small series. In specific, the CNN module learns the time information of one epoch (intra-epoch) whereas the bi-LSTM trains the sequential information between the adjacent epochs (inter-epoch). Note that the input of the bi-LSTM is the augmented CNN output. Moreover, the proposed loss function was used to fine-tune the model by providing additional weights. To validate the proposed framework, we conducted two experiments using the Sleep-EDF and SHHS datasets.

Results and Discussion: The results achieved an overall accuracy of 0.87 and 0.84 and overall F1-score of 0.80 and 0.78 and kappa value of 0.81 and 0.78 for five-class classification, respectively. We showed that the SeriesSleepNet was superior to the baselines based on each component in the proposed framework. Our architecture also outperformed the state-of-the-art methods with overall F1-score, accuracy, and kappa value. Our framework could provide information on sleep disorders or quality of sleep to automatically classify sleep stages with high performance.
Toxicity of microplastics and nanoplastics: invisible killers of female fertility and offspring health
Authors: Geng Yuli , Liu Zhuo , Hu Runan , Huang Yanjing , Li Fan , Ma Wenwen , Wu Xiao , Dong Haoxu , Song Kunkun , Xu Xiaohu , Zhang Zhuo , Song Yufan
Published: August 2023

Microplastics (MPs) and nanoplastics (NPs) are emergent pollutants, which have sparked widespread concern. They can infiltrate the body via ingestion, inhalation, and cutaneous contact. As such, there is a general worry that MPs/NPs may have an impact on human health in addition to the environmental issues they engender. The threat of MPs/NPs to the liver, gastrointestinal system, and inflammatory levels have been thoroughly documented in the previous research. With the detection of MPs/NPs in fetal compartment and the prevalence of infertility, an increasing number of studies have put an emphasis on their reproductive toxicity in female. Moreover, MPs/NPs have the potential to interact with other contaminants, thus enhancing or diminishing the combined toxicity. This review summarizes the deleterious effects of MPs/NPs and co-exposure with other pollutants on female throughout the reproduction period of various species, spanning from reproductive failure to cross-generational developmental disorders in progenies. Although these impacts may not be directly extrapolated to humans, they do provide a framework for evaluating the potential mechanisms underlying the reproductive toxicity of MPs/NPs.
Impression management in daily life: an experience sampling test for the expression of impression management as interpersonally oriented self-control
Authors: Uziel Liad , Schmidt-Barad Tomer
Published: August 2023

Impression management (IM) scales (often called lie or social desirability scales) have long been applied as validity scales in assessment processes. Recent developments have indicated that these scales measure a substantive personality predisposition and not response bias, but the nature of the disposition is disputable. According to the ‘interpersonally oriented self-control’ approach, IM is associated with high self-control exerted mainly in public social contexts to facilitate adaptation. Supported in laboratory settings, this approach has not been tested in real-life dynamics. In the present experience sampling study, participants reported 3 times a day (10 days) about their social condition (alone/'with others’) and their level of self-control. Results revealed that IM was associated with stronger self-control when with other people than when alone. Comparable reactions to public social context were not found for self-deception enhancement, trait self-control, or agreeableness, marking this a unique aspect of IM. The findings further stress the need to reconsider the use of IM scales for validity purposes in assessment processes.
Stress and suicidal ideation in Korean baby boomers: the mediating effect of mindfulness and meaning in life
Authors: Jeong Yusoo
Published: August 2023

Stress has been shown to enhance elderly suicidal ideation. However, the effect of mindfulness and meaning in life on the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation in Korean baby boomers are still unknown. This study investigated (a) a significant correlation between the stress, suicidal ideation, mindfulness, and meaning in life, (b) the mediating effect of mindfulness in the association between stress and suicidal ideation, and (c) the serial mediating effect of mindfulness and then meaning in life on the relationship between stress and suicidal ideation. Data were collected from 200 baby boomers (born between 1955–1963) concerning their stress, mindfulness, meaning in life, and suicidal ideation. These findings suggest that if interventions directed at baby boomers can successfully improve their mindfulness and by extension raise their meaning in life, suicidal ideation will decrease within their population.
Psychiatric emergency department visits during the coronavirus disease-2019 pandemic
Authors: Sun HaiMing , Liu HaiChun , Ma ChunYan , Chen Zheng , Wei YanYan , Tang XiaoChen , Xu LiHua , Hu YeGang , Xie YuOu , Chen Tao , Lu Zheng , Wang JiJun , Zhang TianHong
Published: August 2023

Background

Previous research has demonstrated the negative impact of the coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on mental health.

Aims

To examine changes in the Chinese psychiatric emergency department (PED) visits for mental health crises that occurred during the pandemic.

Methods

Before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, PED visit counts from the largest psychiatric hospital in China between 2018 and 2020 were investigated. Electronic medical records of 2020 PED visits were extracted during the COVID-19 pandemic period and compared for the same period of 2018 and 2019.

Results

Overall, PED visits per year increased from 1,767 in 2018 to 2210 (an increase of 25.1%) in 2019 and 2,648 (an increase of 49.9%) in 2020. Compared with 2 years before the epidemic, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the proportion of PED visits among patients with stress disorders, sleep disorders, and anxiety disorders increased significantly. In terms of the distribution of demographic characteristics, age shows a younger trend, while the gender difference is not significant.

Conclusion

These findings suggest that PED care-seeking increases during the COVID-19 pandemic, highlighting the need to integrate mental health services for patients with stress, sleep, anxiety, and obsessive-compulsive disorders during public health crises.
Development of skin diseases following systemic exposure: example of dioxins
Authors: Sorg Olivier , Saurat Jean-Hilaire
Published: August 2023

Most skin manifestations of exposure to toxic compounds are a consequence of a direct contact with the toxicants. However, some toxicants may reach the skin following systemic exposure, and promote skin diseases. Good examples of such chemicals are dioxin-like compounds. This family of lipophilic molecules comprises polychlorinated (dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans and biphenyls). The most potent member of this family is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD). Following oral ingestion of as little as a few mg TCDD, skin lesions appear in a couple of weeks, starting from the face and diffuse then on the trunk and limbs. This syndrome was historically called “chloracne” and the skin lesions have now been shown to be skin hamartoma induced by TCDD. Sebaceous glands release their lipid content on the surface of the skin by a holocrine secretion, and so any lost sebocyte should be transmitted to progenitor cells to differentiate and migrate to the sebaceous gland to replace the lost sebocyte. TCDD acts by inducing a switch in this signal and skin hamartoma develop in place of new sebocytes.
Tackling Vaccine Hesitancy and Increasing Vaccine Willingness Among Parents of Unvaccinated Children in Austria
Authors: Lenart Christian , Prager Marlene , Sachs Marlene , Steininger Christoph , Fernandes Charlene , Thannesberger Jakob
Published: August 2023

Objectives: In autumn 2021, there was a surge of COVID-19 infections in Austria, and vaccination coverage stagnated at a below-average level compared to the rest of Europe. Surveys showed that both children and adolescents were the main drivers of the rising infection rates and that vaccination numbers were particularly low in this age group. This was due to widespread vaccination skepticism and hesitancy among parents of unvaccinated children and adolescents.

Methods: Here, we describe a novel intervention concept that allowed us to efficiently tackle parental vaccine hesitancy. We designed an intervention series that followed a reproducible format based on online face-to-face seminars in groups of a maximum of twenty people. Each seminar included an anonymous online questionnaire for internal quality control. Moreover, we assessed the motives of parental vaccine hesitancy and asked participants to rate subjective vaccine willingness for their children on a scale of zero to ten.

Results: Within 8 weeks, more than 580 people participated in the seminar series. We found that concerns about the side effects of the vaccine were the predominant motive of vaccination hesitancy among the study population. Overall, the intervention could successfully increase the median parental vaccination willingness of participants from a score of five to eight. We identified tree hesitancy motives (distrust towards the pharmaceutical industry, the government, or feelings of restriction from personal freedom) that were associated with below-average vaccination willingness and significant lower increase.

Conclusion: With this study we analyzed motives driving COVID-19 vaccination hesitancy among parents of unvaccinated children and reasons of parents to restrain their children from getting vaccinated. The intervention method described here, could effectively address individual concerns on a personal level while at the same time reach a large number of people across geographical and language barriers. Thereby we could significantly increase subjective vaccination willingness of the participants. Our approach is easy to apply, highly cost-effective, and can be used to tackle any kind of medical misinformation.
RooTri: A Simple and Robust Function to Approximate the Intersection Points of a 3D Scalar Field with an Arbitrarily Oriented Plane in MATLAB
Authors: Oellerich Jan , Büscher Keno Jann , Degel Jan Philipp
Published: August 2023

With the function RooTri(), we present a simple and robust calculation method for the approximation of the intersection points of a scalar field given as an unstructured point cloud with a plane oriented arbitrarily in space. The point cloud is approximated to a surface consisting of triangles whose edges are used for computing the intersection points. The function contourc() of Matlab is taken as a reference. Our experiments show that the function contourc() produces outliers that deviate significantly from the defined nominal value, while the quality of the results produced by the function RooTri() increases with finer resolution of the examined grid.
Decoupling Control for Module Suspension System of Maglev Train Based on Feedback Linearization and Extended State Observer
Authors: Li Qicai , Leng Peng , Yu Peichang , Zhou Danfeng , Li Jie , Qu Minghe
Published: August 2023

The suspension gap of the electromagnetic suspension maglev train is around 8 mm. In practice, it is found that the system gap fluctuations are amplified due to the inner coupling of the suspension module system in the maglev train. In addition, maglev trains are affected by load disturbances and parameter perturbations during operation. These uncertainties reduce the ride comfort. Therefore, it is necessary to propose a novel control strategy to suppress inner coupling while reducing the influence of uncertainties on the system. In this paper, a control strategy based on feedback linearization and extended state observer (ESO) is proposed to address this challenge. Firstly, the suspension module system model is established with parameter uncertainties and external disturbances. Additionally, the inner coupling of the suspension module is represented in this model. Subsequently, the feedback linearization method based on differential geometry theory is applied to reduce the effect of inner coupling. Meanwhile, the system uncertainties are transformed into equivalent disturbances by this method. Afterward, a linear ESO is designed to estimate the equivalent disturbances. Finally, a state feedback controller is used to achieve stable suspension and compensate for the disturbances. Simulation and experimental results show that the proposed decoupled control strategy significantly suppresses the influence of inner coupling and uncertainties on the system compared with the traditional PID control strategy.
Tracking Control of Unforced and Forced Equilibrium Positions of the Pendubot System: A Nonlinear MHE and MPC Approach
Authors: Gulan Martin , Salaj Michal , Rohaľ-Ilkiv Boris
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a unified control scheme of the Pendubot based on nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) and nonlinear moving horizon estimation (NMHE) with the objective of point-to-point tracking its unstable unforced and ultimately forced equilibrium positions. In order to implement it on this fast, underactuated mechatronic system, we employ the Gauss–Newton real-time iteration scheme tailored to obtain the efficient solution of the underlying nonlinear optimization problems via sequential quadratic programming. The control performance is experimentally assessed on a real-world laboratory setup featuring an execution timing analysis and hints how to further improve the computational efficiency of the proposed nonlinear estimation control scheme. Even nowadays, the number of practical NMPC applications in the millisecond range is still rather limited, and the presented NMHE-based NMPC of the Pendubot thus also represents a unique case study for control practitioners.
Experiment and Numerical Simulation on Damage Behavior of Honeycomb Sandwich Composites under Low-Energy Impact
Authors: Zheng Xiaoxia , He Bohan , Zou Yu , Yang Qiao , Cao Yupeng , Li Zhiqiang , Han Yaokun
Published: August 2023

It is well-established that the honeycomb sandwich composite structures are easily prone to damage under low-energy impact. Consequently, it would lead to a dramatic decrease in structural load-bearing capacity and a threat to overall safety. Both experimental and numerical simulations are carried out to investigate the impact damage behavior of honeycomb sandwich composite specimens. The damage mode, damage parameters, and contact force-time curves of three types of panel materials with T300, T700, and T800 are obtained under different impact energies of 10 J, 20 J, and 40 J by the drop-weight impact experiment. Moreover, digital image correlation (DIC) tests are used to measure the deformation and strain of the lower panel. The experimental results reveal that the degree of damage increases with increasing impact energy. Particularly, the T300 panel specimen exhibits visible fiber fracture when subjected to an impact energy of 40 J. The impact process involves matrix cracking, fiber fracture, and delamination of the upper panel occurring first, followed by immediate crush damage to the honeycomb core and, finally, slight fiber damage to the lower panel. Due to its higher strength, the T800 panel specimen exhibits the highest damage resistance compared to the T700 and T300 panel specimens. To consider the microscopic failure criteria and various types of contact during the impact process, a finite element model of honeycomb sandwich composites is established, and numerical simulation analysis of low-energy impact is performed to determine the damage mode, damage size, and contact-force curves. Comparative analysis demonstrates good agreement between the simulation and experimental results. The findings of this study provide valuable technical support for the widespread application of honeycomb sandwich composites in the aviation field.
Air Channel Planning Based on Improved Deep Q-Learning and Artificial Potential Fields
Authors: Li Jie , Shen Di , Yu Fuping , Zhang Renmeng
Published: August 2023

With the rapid advancement of unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) technology, the widespread utilization of UAVs poses significant challenges to urban low-altitude safety and airspace management. In the coming future, the quantity of drones is expected to experience a substantial surge. Effectively regulating the flight behavior of UAVs has become an urgent and imperative issue that needs to be addressed. Hence, this paper proposes a standardized approach to UAV flight through the design of an air channel network. The air channel network comprises numerous single air channels, and this study focuses on investigating the characteristics of a single air channel. To achieve optimal outcomes, the concept of the artificial potential field algorithm is integrated into the deep Q-learning algorithm during the establishment of a single air channel. By improving the action space and reward mechanism, the resulting single air channel enables efficient avoidance of various buildings and obstacles. Finally, the algorithm is assessed through comprehensive simulation experiments, demonstrating its effective fulfillment of the aforementioned requirements.
An Efficient Method for the Inverse Design of Thin-Wall Stiffened Structure Based on the Machine Learning Technique
Authors: Lyu Yongtao , Niu Yibiao , He Tao , Shu Limin , Zhuravkov Michael , Zhou Shutao
Published: August 2023

In this paper, a new method using the backpropagation (BP) neural network combined with the improved genetic algorithm (GA) is proposed for the inverse design of thin-walled reinforced structures. The BP neural network model is used to establish the mapping relationship between the input parameters (reinforcement type, rib height, rib width, skin thickness and rib number) and the output parameters (structural buckling load). A genetic algorithm is added to obtain the inversely designed result of a thin-wall stiffened structure according to the actual demand. In the end, according to the geometric parameters of inverse design, the thin-walled stiffened structure is reconstructed geometrically, and the numerical solutions of finite element calculation are compared with the target values of actual demand. The results show that the maximal inversely designed error is within 5.1%, which implies that the inverse design method of structural geometric parameters based on the machine learning and genetic algorithm is efficient and feasible.
An Efficient Micropropagation Protocol for the Endangered European Shrub February Daphne (Daphne mezereum L.) and Identification of Bacteria in Culture
Authors: Nowakowska Karolina , Nongdam Potshangbam , Samsurizal Nabilah Amany , Pacholczak Andrzej
Published: August 2023

Daphne mezereum of the Thymelaeaceae family is a medicinal shrub occurring naturally in Europe and under legal protection in Poland. In the present study, a protocol developed for mass propagation of February daphne from nodal explants is presented. Micropropagation is one of the in vitro techniques that allow the preservation of rare and valuable plants by developing efficient methods for their propagation. In the proliferation stage, explants were cultured in the Woody Plant Medium (WPM) with different cytokinins, and in the rooting stage on the semi-solid WPM medium with perlite, indole-3-butyric acid (IBA) in various concentrations was used. The maximum proliferation rate (five shoots per explant) was observed on the medium containing 4.14 μM of meta-Topolin (mT). When the regenerated shoots were rooted in vitro in the presence of IBA in various concentrations, that of 19.68 μM induced the highest number of roots per shoot (6.63) and the maximal root length (2.15 cm). It is also worth remembering that plants are often colonized by different groups of microorganisms, which also affect the diversity of the ecosystem. The endophytic bacteria inhabiting the D. mezereum shoots are Mycobacterium.
Artifacts Introduced by Sample Handling in Chemiluminescence Assays of Nitric Oxide Metabolites
Authors: Liu Taiming , Zhang Meijuan , Duot Abraham , Mukosera George , Schroeder Hobe , Power Gordon G. , Blood Arlin B.
Published: August 2023

We recently developed a combination of four chemiluminescence-based assays for selective detection of different nitric oxide (NO) metabolites, including nitrite, S-nitrosothiols (SNOs), heme-nitrosyl (heme-NO), and dinitrosyl iron complexes (DNICs). However, these NO species (NOx) may be under dynamic equilibria during sample handling, which affects the final determination made from the readout of assays. Using fetal and maternal sheep from low and high altitudes (300 and 3801 m, respectively) as models of different NOx levels and compositions, we tested the hypothesis that sample handling introduces artifacts in chemiluminescence assays of NOx. Here, we demonstrate the following: (1) room temperature placement is associated with an increase and decrease in NOx in plasma and whole blood samples, respectively; (2) snap freezing and thawing lead to the interconversion of different NOx in plasma; (3) snap freezing and homogenization in liquid nitrogen eliminate a significant fraction of NOx in the aorta of stressed animals; (4) A “stop solution” commonly used to preserve nitrite and SNOs leads to the interconversion of different NOx in blood, while deproteinization results in a significant increase in detectable NOx; (5) some reagents widely used in sample pretreatments, such as mercury chloride, acid sulfanilamide, N-ethylmaleimide, ferricyanide, and anticoagulant ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid, have unintended effects that destabilize SNO, DNICs, and/or heme-NO; (6) blood, including the residual blood clot left in the washed purge vessel, quenches the signal of nitrite when using ascorbic acid and acetic acid as the purge vessel reagent; and (7) new limitations to the four chemiluminescence-based assays. This study points out the need for re-evaluation of previous chemiluminescence measurements of NOx, and calls for special attention to be paid to sample handling, as it can introduce significant artifacts into NOx assays.
The Effect of Preventing Oxidative Stress and Its Mechanisms in the Extract from Sonchus brachyotus DC. Based on the Nrf2-Keap1-ARE Signaling Pathway
Authors: Zhang Meng-Jie , Sun Wen-Wen , Yang Juan , Shi Dong-Dong , Dai Xiao-Feng , Li Xiu-Mei
Published: August 2023

As the organ with the largest contact area with the outside world, the intestine is home to a large number of microorganisms and carries out the main functions of food digestion, absorption, and metabolism. Therefore, there is a very active metabolism of substances and energy in the gut, which is easily attacked by oxygen free radicals. What is more, oxidative stress can gradually and slowly cause very serious damage to the gut. Hence, maintaining redox balance is essential for maintaining environmental balance in the gut. Our previous studies have demonstrated that the extract of Sonchus brachyotus DC. (SBE) has been shown to be capable of repairing oxidative damage, while it has not been demonstrated that it can prevent oxidative stress or how it develops. In this work, we investigated the prevention of oxidative stress and its mechanism in SBE based on the H2O2-induced oxidative damage model in Caco-2 cells; the results indicate that SBE can reduce the contents of ROS and MDA and increase the activities of SOD and CAT in preventing oxidative stress. Then, at the mRNA and protein level, SBE can up-regulate and down-regulate the expression of related genes (NFE2L2, KEAP1, HMOX1, NQO1, SOD1, CAT, and GPX1) and proteins involved in the Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway. In conclusion, SBE plays a preventive role in oxidative stress through the Nrf2-Keap1-ARE signaling pathway.
Therapeutic Potential of Green-Engineered ZnO Nanoparticles on Rotenone-Exposed D. melanogaster (Oregon R+): Unveiling Ameliorated Biochemical, Cellular, and Behavioral Parameters
Authors: Shabir Shabnam , Sehgal Amit , Dutta Joydeep , Devgon Inderpal , Singh Sandeep K. , Alsanie Walaa F. , Alamri Abdulhakeem S. , Alhomrani Majid , Alsharif Abdulaziz , Basalamah Mohammed Abubaker Mohammed , Faidah Hani , Bantun Farkad , Saati Abdullah Ali , Vamanu Emanuel , Singh Mahendra P.
Published: August 2023

Nanotechnology holds significant ameliorative potential against neurodegenerative diseases, as it can protect the therapeutic substance and allow for its sustained release. In this study, the reducing and capping agents of Urtica dioica (UD), Matricaria chamomilla (MC), and Murraya koenigii (MK) extracts were used to synthesize bio-mediated zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) against bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli) and against rotenone-induced toxicities in D. melanogaster for the first time. Their optical and structural properties were analyzed via FT-IR, DLS, XRD, EDS, SEM, UV–Vis, and zeta potential. The antioxidant and antimicrobial properties of the fabricated ZnO-NPs were evaluated employing cell-free models (DPPH and ABTS) and the well diffusion method, respectively. Rotenone (500 µM) was administered to Drosophila third instar larvae and freshly emerged flies for 24–120 h, either alone or in combination with plant extracts (UD, MC, an MK) and their biogenic ZnO-NPs. A comparative study on the protective effects of synthesized NPs was undertaken against rotenone-induced neurotoxic, cytotoxic, and behavioral alterations using an acetylcholinesterase inhibition assay, dye exclusion test, and locomotor parameters. The findings revealed that among the plant-derived ZnO-NPs, MK-ZnO NPs exhibit strong antimicrobial and antioxidant activities, followed by UD-ZnO NPs and MC-ZnO NPs. In this regard, ethno-nano medicinal therapeutic uses mimic similar effects in D. melanogaster by suppressing oxidative stress by restoring biochemical parameters (AchE and proteotoxicity activity) and lower cellular toxicity. These findings suggest that green-engineered ZnO-NPs have the potential to significantly enhance outcomes, with the promise of effective therapies for neurodegeneration, and could be used as a great alternative for clinical development.
Notch Fatigue Life Research Based on Critical Distance Theory
Authors: Chen Jifa , Ni Hao , Huang Li , Yang Yu , Chen Zhuoyi
Published: August 2023

Orthotropic anisotropic steel bridge panels are widely used in civil engineering due to their advantages of light deadweight, high ultimate bearing capacity, and wide range of applications. However, their fatigue problem is serious, and the fatigue-resistant design of the steel box girder diaphragm curved cutout is still difficult. In order to effectively predict the fatigue life of this typical fatigue-susceptible detail, a fatigue test of the specimen with curved notched segments of the diaphragm was carried out. ABAQUS 2016 version finite element analysis software was used to establish three kinds of finite element simplified models of the fatigue specimens with curved notches, and the laws of the influence of different notch radii on the fatigue life of the specimens were studied. Through the finite element solution of the three arc notch specimen models with different radii under the tensile load of 50 kN their respective principal stress distributions were obtained. The critical distance theory was introduced to analyze the characteristic stresses in the stress concentration area of the arc notch, and the point method and line method were used to calculate the characteristic stresses. The fatigue life prediction models of three kinds of notched components were established by combining the material fatigue limit and FE-safe life results. The results show that the point method is more conservative than the line method; no matter if the point method or the line method is used, the characteristic stress and the notch radius are inversely proportional to each other, and it is beneficial for the fatigue life of the structure to appropriately increase the notch radius. The fatigue prediction model of steel box girder diaphragms with curved notches based on the critical distance theory is of high accuracy, which is basically consistent with the test results, verifying the feasibility of the critical distance theory in the fatigue life prediction of notched specimens, and providing a reference for the fatigue life assessment of similar steel structures.
Viability of ABO Blood Typing with ATR-FTIR Spectroscopy
Authors: Fernández-González Alfonso , Obaya Álvaro J. , Chimeno-Trinchet Christian , Fontanil Tania , Badía-Laíño Rosana
Published: August 2023

Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR) provides valuable biochemical information for biomedical analysis. It aids in identifying cancerous tissues, diagnosing diseases like acute pancreatitis or Alzheimer’s, and has applications in genomics, proteomics, and metabolomics. A combination of FTIR and chemometrics constitute an approach that shows promise in fields like biology, forensics, food quality control, and plant variety identification. This study aims to explore the feasibility of ATR-FTIR spectroscopy for identifying ABO-blood types using spectroscopic tools. We employ various classifying algorithms, including Linear Discriminant Analysis (LDA), Naïve Bayes Classifier (NBC), Principal Component Analysis (PCA), and combinations of these methods, to detect A and B antigens and determine the ABO blood type. The results show that these algorithms predict the blood type to a greater extent than random selection, although they do not match the precision of biochemical blood typing tools. Additionally, our findings suggest the higher sensitivity of the methodology in identifying B antigens compared to A antigens.
Coumarins of Ferulopsis hystrix: LC–MS Profiling and Gastroprotective and Antioxidant Activities of Skimmin and Peucenidin
Authors: Razuvaeva Yanina G. , Toropova Anyuta A. , Salchak Saizana M. , Olennikov Daniil N.
Published: August 2023

Ferulopsis hystrix is a perennial plant of the Apiaceae family. In Buryat and Mongolian medicine, it is used as a substitute for Costus speciosus roots (ru rta), and in Tibetan medicine, it is used to cure digestive system diseases and used as a wound-healing agent. However, its metabolites and their bioactivities are still poorly understood. High-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection and electrospray ionization triple quadrupole mass-spectrometric detection (HPLC–PDA–ESI–tQ–MS/MS) were used to identify approximately 42 phenolic compounds in F. hystrix, and 30 coumarins were characterized and quantified. The major compounds in F. hystrix roots were skimmin (umbelliferone 7-O-glucoside) and peucenidin (vaginidiol 3′-O-acetyl-4′-O-senecioyl ester), of which, gastroprotective and antioxidant effects were found for the first time. The abovementioned compounds exhibit a gastroprotective effect against indomethacin and steroid gastropathy by reducing the amount of damage (point, large, and strip-like erosions) in the gastric mucosa and lowering the corresponding Paul’s index. The most pronounced gastroprotective effect was exhibited by skimmin at a dose of 1 mg/kg and by peucenidin at doses of 16 and 48 mg/kg; these compounds help to limit the development of pronounced erosive–necrotic processes in the gastric mucosa. In pathological conditions, these compounds reduce malondialdehyde, increase the activity of catalase, and increase the content of reduced glutathione in the blood. Thus, this study demonstrates that F. hystrix roots are a good source of bioactive coumarins with gastroprotective potential, which supports earlier ethnopharmacological studies.
Advanced Control Systems for Axial Piston Pumps Enhancing Variable Mechanisms and Robust Piston Positioning
Authors: Feng Yuan , Jian Zhang , Li Jiayang , Tao Zhang , Wang Yuhang , Xue Jingwei
Published: August 2023

Axial piston pumps provide a number of benefits, including strong pressure resistance, high efficiency, high transmission power, a broad speed range, and a long lifespan. These characteristics have led to their widespread usage in naval applications, construction machines, and hydraulic machinery. On the other hand, axial piston pumps frequently display reduced operating speeds as well as instability because of their inherently nonlinear properties. In this study, a mathematical model of these changeable (variable) processes is developed using a mix of theoretical calculations and acquired data. An investigation of variable mechanism control in axial piston pumps is carried out centered on robust control methods, and the controller is constructed utilizing robust H∞ theory. In terms of resilience, control precision, and system reaction time, simulations show that the H controller surpasses the PID controller.
Radon-Specific Activity in Drinking Water and Radiological Health Risk Assessment: A Case Study
Authors: Caridi Francesco , Paladini Giuseppe , D’Agostino Maurizio , Marguccio Santina , Belvedere Alberto , Belmusto Giovanna , Stilo Giovanna , Majolino Domenico , Venuti Valentina
Published: August 2023

In this paper, the evaluation of the Rn-222 radioactivity content in drinking water samples from the Calabria region, southern Italy, is reported as a case study. The Rn-222-specific activity in the analyzed groundwater samples for human use was evaluated by using the PerkinElmer Tricarb 4910 TR setup and compared with the parameter value (100 Bq L−1) reported in the reference Italian legislation, i.e., D.Lgs. 28/2016, derived from the European Directive 2013/51/Euratom. The radiological health risk for the population of the investigated area, due to the ingestion and inhalation of Rn-222 dissolved in water, was then evaluated by calculating the total annual effective dose, only in those cases where the parameter value was exceeded. The obtained results represent a main reference for the investigated area and are useful for determining any possible radiological health risk for human beings related to the ingestion of the investigated radionuclide. Moreover, they can also be used as a baseline for future investigations regarding background radioactivity levels.
Defect Recognition in Ballastless Track Structures Based on Distributed Acoustic Sensors
Authors: He Meng , Qing Wang , Qu Jiantao
Published: August 2023

Defect recognition in ballastless track structures, based on distributed acoustic sensors (DASs), was researched in order to improve detection efficiency and ensure the safe operation of trains on high-speed railways. A line in southern China was selected, and equipment was installed and debugged to collect the signals of trains and events along it. Track vibration signals were extracted by identifying a train track, denoising, framing and labeling to build a defect dataset. Time–frequency-domain statistical features, wavelet packet energy spectra and the MFCCs of vibration signals were extracted to form a multi-dimensional vector. An XGBoost model was trained and its accuracy reached 89.34%. A time-domain residual network (ResNet) that would expand the receptive field and test the accuracies obtained from convolution kernels of different sizes was proposed, and its accuracy reached 94.82%. In conclusion, both methods showed a good performance with the built dataset. Additionally, the ResNet delivered more effective detection of DAS signals compared to conventional feature engineering methods.