bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
User Trust Inference in Online Social Networks: A Message Passing Perspective
Authors: Liu Yu , Wang Bai
Published: May 2022

Online social networks are vital environments for information sharing and user interactivity. To help users of online social services to build, expand, and maintain their friend networks or webs of trust, trust management systems have been deployed and trust inference (or more generally, friend recommendation) techniques have been studied in many online social networks. However, there are some challenging issues obstructing the real-world trust inference tasks. Using only explicit yet sparse trust relationships to predict user trust is inefficient in large online social networks. In the age of privacy-respecting Internet, certain types of user data may be unavailable, and thus existing models for trust inference may be less accurate or even defunct. Although some less interpretable models may achieve better performance in trust prediction, the interpretability of the models may prevent them from being adopted or improved for making relevant informed decisions. To tackle these problems, we propose a probabilistic graphical model for trust inference in online social networks in this paper. The proposed model is built upon the skeleton of explicit trust relationships (the web of trust) and embeds various types of available user data as comprehensively-designed trust-aware features. A message passing algorithm, loop belief propagation, is applied to the model inference, which greatly improves the interpretability of the proposed model. The performance of the proposed model is demonstrated by experiments on a real-world online social network dataset. Experimental results show the proposed model achieves acceptable accuracy with both fully and partially available data. Comparison experiments were conducted, and the results show the proposed model’s promise for trust inference in some circumstances.
Deep Learning-Based Denoising in Brain Tumor CHO PET: Comparison with Traditional Approaches
Authors: Zhang Yucheng , Xu Shuo , Li Hongjia , Kong Ziren , Xiang Xincheng , Cheng Xin , Liu Shaoyan
Published: May 2022

18F-choline (CHO) PET image remains noisy despite minimum physiological activity in the normal brain, and this study developed a deep learning-based denoising algorithm for brain tumor CHO PET. Thirty-nine presurgical CHO PET/CT data were retrospectively collected for patients with pathological confirmed primary diffuse glioma. Two conventional denoising methods, namely, block-matching and 3D filtering (BM3D) and non-local means (NLM), and two deep learning-based approaches, namely, Noise2Noise (N2N) and Noise2Void (N2V), were established for imaging denoising, and the methods were developed without paired data. All algorithms improved the image quality to a certain extent, with the N2N demonstrating the best contrast-to-noise ratio (CNR) (4.05 ± 3.45), CNR improvement ratio (13.60% ± 2.05%) and the lowest entropy (1.68 ± 0.17), compared with other approaches. Little changes were identified in traditional tumor PET features including maximum standard uptake value (SUVmax), SUVmean and total lesion activity (TLA), while the tumor-to-normal (T/N ratio) increased thanks to smaller noise. These results suggested that the N2N algorithm can acquire sufficient denoising performance while preserving the original features of tumors, and may be generalized for abundant brain tumor PET images.
Research on the Application of the Dynamic Assisted Sleep Light to Smart Mobile Devices
Authors: Chen Chien-Yu , Wang You-Kwang , Wang Zhi-Wei
Published: May 2022

With the rapid development of science and technology, social competition becomes more and more fierce, and work pressure becomes more and more intense. The problem of sleep has become a disease of modern civilization, and in order to alleviate sleep problems and improve sleep quality, related research methods are constantly updated, and there are more and more ways to address these problems. In this paper, we propose a dynamic assisted sleep light that adjusts the color temperature, illuminance, and frequency of change by controlling the backlight of the smart mobile device, so that the user experiences an improved quality of sleep. In this study, the methods of subjective questionnaire survey and non-subjective physiological parameter measurement were adopted for analysis. The results showed that the continuous use of the light source could continuously enhance the user’s delta energy during sleep and promote the improvement of sleep quality.
A Graph-Based Approach to Recognizing Complex Human Object Interactions in Sequential Data
Authors: Ghadi Yazeed Yasin , Waheed Manahil , Gochoo Munkhjargal , Alsuhibany Suliman A. , Chelloug Samia Allaoua , Jalal Ahmad , Park Jeongmin
Published: May 2022

The critical task of recognizing human–object interactions (HOI) finds its application in the domains of surveillance, security, healthcare, assisted living, rehabilitation, sports, and online learning. This has led to the development of various HOI recognition systems in the recent past. Thus, the purpose of this study is to develop a novel graph-based solution for this purpose. In particular, the proposed system takes sequential data as input and recognizes the HOI interaction being performed in it. That is, first of all, the system pre-processes the input data by adjusting the contrast and smoothing the incoming image frames. Then, it locates the human and object through image segmentation. Based on this, 12 key body parts are identified from the extracted human silhouette through a graph-based image skeletonization technique called image foresting transform (IFT). Then, three types of features are extracted: full-body feature, point-based features, and scene features. The next step involves optimizing the different features using isometric mapping (ISOMAP). Lastly, the optimized feature vector is fed to a graph convolution network (GCN) which performs the HOI classification. The performance of the proposed system was validated using three benchmark datasets, namely, Olympic Sports, MSR Daily Activity 3D, and D3D-HOI. The results showed that this model outperforms the existing state-of-the-art models by achieving a mean accuracy of 94.1% with the Olympic Sports, 93.2% with the MSR Daily Activity 3D, and 89.6% with the D3D-HOI datasets.
Research on Door Opening Operation of Mobile Robotic Arm Based on Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Wang Yang , Wang Liming , Zhao Yonghui
Published: May 2022

The traditional robotic arm control method has strong dependence on the application scenario. To improve the reliability of the mobile robotic arm control when the scene is disturbed, this paper proposes a control method based on an improved proximal policy optimization algorithm. This study researches mobile robotic arms for opening doors. At first, the door handle position is obtained through an image-recognition method based on YOLOv5. Second, the simulation platform CoppeliaSim is used to realize the interaction between the robotic arm and the environment. Third, a control strategy based on a reward function is designed to train the robotic arm and applied to the opening-door task in the real environment. The experimental results show that the proposed method can accelerate the convergence of the training process. Besides, our method can effectively reduce the jitter of the robotic arm and improve the stability of control.
Certain Subclasses of Bi-Starlike Function of Complex Order Defined by Erdély–Kober-Type Integral Operator
Authors: Alburaikan Alhanouf , Murugusundaramoorthy Gangadharan , El-Deeb Sheza M.
Published: May 2022

In the present paper, we introduce new subclasses of bi-starlike and bi-convex functions of complex order associated with Erdély–Kober-type integral operator in the open unit disc and find the estimates of initial coefficients in these classes. Moreover, we obtain Fekete-Szegő inequalities for functions in these classes. Some of the significances of our results are pointed out as corollaries.
An Application of the Super-SBM MAX and LTS(A,A,A) Models to Analyze the Business Performance of Hydropower Suppliers in Vietnam
Authors: Nguyen Thi Kim Lien , Nguyen Huu Ngoan , Dinh Van Dan , Nguyen Quoc Ngu , Le Van Hung
Published: May 2022

As Vietnam continues to industrialize and modernize, such economic development and high-tech will require a major electrical energy source to operate the electrical equipment; hence, the hydropower plants are established and growing up to demand. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to evaluate the business performance of Vietnamese hydropower suppliers by integrating the LTS(A,A,A) model of the Additive Holt-winters method in Tableau and a super-slacks-based measure (super-SBM) max model in data envelopment analysis (DEA). The LTS(A,A,A) model is applied to forecast future valuation from 2022 to 2025 based on historical time series from 2012 to 2021. Next, with the actual and predicted data, the researcher uses the super-SBM max model to calculate the business performance of these hydropower suppliers from past to future. The empirical result reveals efficient and inefficient cases to explore which hydropower suppliers can achieve the business performance in their operational process. The position of hydropower suppliers in Vietnam from past to future time is determined particularly based on their scores every year. Further, the empirical result recommends a solution to deal with inefficient cases by deducting the input excesses and raising the output shortages based on the principle of the super-SBM Max model in DEA. The finding results create an overview of the operational process with the continuing variations in each period to equip hydropower suppliers in Vietnam which will determine their future and operational orientation.
Two Invariants for Geometric Mappings
Authors: Vesić Nenad O. , Milenković Vladislava M. , Stanković Mića S.
Published: May 2022

Two invariants for mappings of affine connection spaces with a special form of deformation tensors are obtained in this paper. We used the methodology of Vesić to obtain the form of these invariants. At the end of this paper, we used these forms to obtain two invariants for third-type almost-geodesic mappings of symmetric affine connection.
Fuzzy Caratheodory’s Theorem and Outer ∗-Fuzzy Measure
Authors: Mesiar Radko , Li Chenkuan , Ghaffari Abbas , Saadati Reza
Published: May 2022

The goal of this paper is to introduce two new concepts ∗-fuzzy premeasure and outer ∗-fuzzy measure, and to further prove some properties, such as Caratheodory’s Theorem, as well as the unique extension of ∗-fuzzy premeasure. This theorem is remarkable for it allows one to construct a ∗-fuzzy measure by first defining it on a small algebra of sets, where its ∗-additivity could be easy to verify, and then this theorem guarantees its extension to a sigma-algebra.
Retrial Queuing-Inventory Systems with Delayed Feedback and Instantaneous Damaging of Items
Authors: Melikov Agassi , Aliyeva Sevinj , Nair Sajeev S. , Kumar B. Krishna
Published: May 2022

This paper studies a Markov model of a queuing-inventory system with primary, retrial, and feedback customers. Primary customers form a Poisson flow, and if an inventory level is positive upon their arrival, they instantly receive the items. If the inventory level is equal to zero upon arrival of a primary customer, then this customer, according to the Bernoulli scheme, either leaves the system or goes into an infinite buffer to repeat their request in the future. The rate of retrial customers is constant, and if the inventory level is zero upon arrival of a retrial customer, then this customer, according to the Bernoulli scheme, either leaves orbit or remains in orbit to repeat its request in the future. According to the Bernoulli scheme, each served primary or retrial customer either leaves the system or feedbacks into orbit to repeat their request. Destructive customers that form a Poisson flow cause damage to items. Unlike primary, retrial, and feedback customers, destructive customers do not require items, since, upon arrival of such customers, the inventory level instantly decreases by one. The system adopted one of two replenishment policies: (s, Q) or (s, S). In both policies, the lead time is a random variable that has an exponential distribution. It is shown that the mathematical model of the system under study was a two-dimensional Markov chain with an infinite state space. Algorithms for calculating the elements of the generating matrices of the constructed chains were developed, and the ergodicity conditions for both policies were found. To calculate the steady-state probabilities, a matrix-geometric method was used. Formulas were found for calculating the main performance measures of the system. The results of the numerical experiments, including the minimization of the total cost, are demonstrated.
Characterization of Different Bentonites and Their Properties as a Protein-Fining Agent in Wine
Authors: Sommer Stephan , Sommer Stella J. , Gutierrez Monica
Published: May 2022

Bentonite is a natural clay that is used in different industries as a desiccant, ion-exchange material, or additive to remove impurities. For example, marketed as healing clay and as protein-fining agent in wine, bentonite is expected to adsorb specific compounds while having no negative effects on the quality of the product in which it is used. In this study, 34 commercially available bentonites for different applications were selected and analyzed for their elemental composition, extraction of heavy metals, swelling behavior, and protein removal rate under conditions relevant to wine. The results indicate that bentonites can have a very variable composition that does not correlate with the intended use. The extraction of heavy metals is not directly related to the raw material and depends on swelling behavior and surface area of the clay. Interestingly, there is a similar degree of variability in swelling behavior among wine bentonites as there is for healing clays. This correlates with the protein removal rate but also with the extraction of iron, a transition metal that is known for its catalytic activity for oxidation reactions. Even though the protein removal rate is much higher than for other clays, bentonites that are marketed for wine show an extraction behavior that can have a negative effect on the final product.
Oral Cells-On-Chip: Design, Modeling and Experimental Results
Authors: Osouli Tabrizi Hamed , Panahi Abbas , Forouhi Saghi , Sadighbayan Deniz , Soheili Fatemeh , Haji Hosseini Khani Mohammad Reza , Magierowski Sebastian , Ghafar-Zadeh Ebrahim
Published: May 2022

Recent advances in periodontal studies have attracted the attention of researchers to the relation between oral cells and gum diseases, which is a real threat to overall human health. Among various microfabrication technologies, Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductors (CMOSs) enable the development of low-cost integrated sensors and circuits for rapid and accurate assessment of living cells that can be employed for the early detection and control of periodontal diseases. This paper presents a CMOS capacitive sensing platform that can be considered as an alternative for the analysis of salivatory cells such as oral neutrophils. This platform consists of two sensing electrodes connected to a read-out capacitive circuitry designed and fabricated on the same chip using Austria Mikro Systeme (AMS) 0.35 µm CMOS process. A graphical user interface (GUI) was also developed to interact with the capacitive read-out system and the computer to monitor the capacitance changes due to the presence of saliva cells on top of the chip. Thanks to the wide input dynamic range (IDR) of more than 400 femto farad (fF) and high resolution of 416 atto farad (aF), the experimental and simulation results demonstrate the functionality and applicability of the proposed sensor for monitoring cells in a small volume of 1 µL saliva samples. As per these results, the hydrophilic adhesion of oral cells on the chip varies the capacitance of interdigitated electrodes (IDEs). These capacitance changes then give an assessment of the oral cells existing in the sample. In this paper, the simulation and experimental results set a new stage for emerging sensing platforms for testing oral samples.
Mechanical and Metallurgical Evaluation of 3 Different Nickel-Titanium Rotary Instruments: An In Vitro and In Laboratory Study
Authors: Zanza Alessio , Russo Paola , Reda Rodolfo , Di Matteo Paola , Donfrancesco Orlando , Ausiello Pietro , Testarelli Luca
Published: May 2022

An in-depth evaluation of the mechanical and metallurgical properties of NiTi instruments is fundamental to assess their performance and to compare recently introduced instrument with widespread ones. According to this, since there are no data on this topic, the aim of the study was to mechanically and metallurgically evaluate an instrument recently introduced into the market (ZenFlex (ZF)), by comparing it with two well-known instruments with similar characteristics: Vortex Blue (VB) and EdgeSequel Sapphire (EES). According to this, 195 instruments were selected: 65 ZF, 65 VB and 65 EES. Each group was divided in subgroups according to the mechanical tests (i.e., cyclic fatigue resistance, torsional resistance and bending ability; (n = 20)) and the metallurgical test (differential scanning calorimetry (n = 5)). A scanning electron microscopy was performed to verify the causes of fracture after mechanical tests (cyclic fatigue and torsional tests). According to results, VB showed the highest flexibility and cyclic fatigue resistance in comparison to the other instruments, with a statistically significant difference (p < 0.05). Regarding torsional resistance, EES showed the lowest value of torque at fracture, with a statistically significant difference, whilst the comparison between ZF and VB showed no statistically significant difference (p > 0.05). DSC analysis pointed out that VB had the highest austenite start and finish temperatures, followed by ESS and then ZF. ESS sample showed the highest martensite start and finish temperatures followed by VB and ZF. Considering the results, it can be concluded that VB showed the best mechanical performance during static tests in comparison to ESS and ZF. This is fundamentally due to the interaction of parameters such as instrument design and heat-treatments that are able to enhance its mechanical performance.
Functional Characterization and Whole-Genome Analysis of an Aflatoxin-Degrading Rhodococcus pyridinivorans Strain
Authors: Deng Dun , Tang Jiahong , Liu Zhichang , Tian Zhimei , Song Min , Cui Yiyan , Rong Ting , Lu Huijie , Yu Miao , Li Jinbao , Pang Rui , Ma Xianyong
Published: May 2022

Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) is one of the most toxic, naturally occurring carcinogen compounds and is produced by specific strains of fungi. Crop contamination with AFB1 can cause huge economic losses and serious health problems. Many studies have examined the microbiological degradation of AFB1, especially the use of efficient AFB1-degrading microorganisms, to control AFB1 contamination. Here, we reported the identification of a new Rhodococcus pyridinivorans strain (4-4) that can efficiently degrade AFB1 (degradation rate 84.9%). The extracellular component of this strain showed the strongest capacity to degrade AFB1 (degradation rate 83.7%). The effects of proteinase K, SDS, temperature, pH, incubation time, and AFB1 concentration on the AFB1 degradation ability of the extracellular component were investigated. We sequenced the complete genome of this strain, encoding 5246 protein-coding genes and 169 RNA genes on a circular chromosome and two plasmids. Comparative genomic analysis revealed high homology with other Rhodococcus strains with high AFB1-degradation ability. Further proteomic analyses of this strain identified a total of 723 proteins in the extracellular component, including multiple potential AFB1-degrading enzymes, along with enzymes that are reported to response to AFB1 treatment. Overall, the results demonstrate that R. pyridinivorans 4-4 would be an excellent candidate for the biodegradation and detoxification of AFB1 contamination.
Structural and Functional Aspects of the Spleen in Molly Fish Poecilia sphenops (Valenciennes, 1846): Synergistic Interactions of Stem Cells, Neurons, and Immune Cells
Authors: Sayed Ramy K. A. , Zaccone Giacomo , Capillo Gioele , Albano Marco , Mokhtar Doaa M.
Published: May 2022

In fish, the spleen is the prime secondary lymphoid organ. It has a role in the induction of adaptive immune responses, in addition to its significance in the elimination of immune complexes. This study was conducted on 18 randomly obtained adult molly fish (Poecilia sphenops) of both sexes using histological, immunohistochemical, and ultrastructural studies to highlight the cellular components of the spleen and their potential role in the immune system. The spleen of molly fish was characterized by the presence of well-distinct melanomacrophage centers, and other basic structures present in higher vertebrates including red and white pulps, blood vessels, and ellipsoids. Some mitotic cells could also be identified in the red pulp. Mast cells with characteristic metachromatic granules could be seen among the splenic cells. Rodlet cells were randomly distributed in the spleen and were also observed around the ellipsoids. The white pulp of the spleen expressed APG5. The expressions were well distinct in the melanomacrophages, leukocytes, and macrophages. Myostatin was expressed in leukocytes and epithelial reticular cells. IL-1β showed immunoreactivity in monocytes and macrophages around the ellipsoids. NF-κB and TGF-β were expressed in macrophages and epithelial reticular cells. Nrf2 expression was detected in stem cells and rodlet cells. Sox-9 had a higher expression in epithelial reticular cells and stem cells. The high frequency of immune cells in the spleen confirmed its role in the regulation of both innate and adaptive immunity, cell proliferation, and apoptosis.
PPARα Signaling: A Candidate Target in Psychiatric Disorder Management
Authors: Scheggi Simona , Pinna Graziano , Braccagni Giulia , De Montis Maria Graziella , Gambarana Carla
Published: May 2022

Peroxisome proliferator-activator receptors (PPARs) regulate lipid and glucose metabolism, control inflammatory processes, and modulate several brain functions. Three PPAR isoforms have been identified, PPARα, PPARβ/δ, and PPARγ, which are expressed in different tissues and cell types. Hereinafter, we focus on PPARα involvement in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders, which is underscored by PPARα localization in neuronal circuits involved in emotion modulation and stress response, and its role in neurodevelopment and neuroinflammation. A multiplicity of downstream pathways modulated by PPARα activation, including glutamatergic neurotransmission, upregulation of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, and neurosteroidogenic effects, encompass mechanisms underlying behavioral regulation. Modulation of dopamine neuronal firing in the ventral tegmental area likely contributes to PPARα effects in depression, anhedonia, and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Based on robust preclinical evidence and the initial results of clinical studies, future clinical trials should assess the efficacy of PPARα agonists in the treatment of mood and neurodevelopmental disorders, such as depression, schizophrenia, and ASD.
Effect of Trimethine Cyanine Dye- and Folate-Conjugation on the In Vitro Biological Activity of Proapoptotic Peptides
Authors: Cardella Davide , Deng Wenjing , Luk Louis Y. P. , Tsai Yu-Hsuan
Published: May 2022

Despite continuous advances, anticancer therapy still faces several technical hurdles, such as selectivity on cellular and subcellular targets of therapeutics. Toward addressing these limitations, we have combined the use of proapoptotic peptides, trimethine cyanine dye, and folate to target the mitochondria of tumor cells. A series of proapoptotic peptides and their conjugates with a cyanine dye and/or folate were synthesized in the solid phase, and their toxicity in different human cell lines was assessed. Cyanine-bearing conjugates were found to be up to 100-fold more cytotoxic than the parent peptides and to localize in mitochondria. However, the addition of a folate motif did not enhance the potency or selectivity of the resulting conjugates toward tumor cells that overexpress folate receptor α. Furthermore, while dual-labeled constructs were also found to localize within the target organelle, they were not generally selective towards folate receptor α-positive cell lines in vitro.
Breast Cancer Therapy: The Potential Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Translational Biomedical Research
Authors: Gentile Pietro
Published: May 2022

The potential role of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in the treatment of metastatic cancers, including breast cancer, has been investigated for many years leading to encouraging results. The role of fat grafting and the related adipose-derived mesenchymal stem cells (AD-MSCs) has been detailed and described for breast reconstruction purposes confirming the safety of AD-MSCs. MSCs have great potential for delivering anticancer agents, suicide genes, and oncolytic viruses to tumors. Currently, many studies have focused on the products of MSCs, including extracellular vesicles (EVs), as a cell-free therapy. This work aimed to review and discuss the current knowledge on MSCs and their EVs in breast cancer therapy.
Changes in the Ultrastructure of the Bladder Urothelium in Patients with Interstitial Cystitis after Intravesical Injections of Platelet-Rich Plasma
Authors: Lee Yu-Khun , Jiang Yuan-Hong , Jhang Jia-Fong , Ho Han-Chen , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: May 2022

Urothelial dysfunction is considered a key pathological mechanism of interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome (IC/BPS). Intravesical platelet-rich plasma (PRP) injections might be effective for treating IC/BPS. This prospective study investigated the changes in electron microscopic findings among IC/BPS patients after intravesical PRP injections. Twenty-six patients with refractory non-ulcer IC/BPS underwent monthly intravesical PRP injections for 4 months. Changes in clinical symptom scores and video urodynamic study parameters were assessed from baseline to after the PRP injections. A post-treatment Global Response Assessment (GRA) score ≥ 2 was considered a successful outcome. The mean GRA score was significantly higher after 4 PRP injections than at baseline. Approximately 42% of patients experienced successful outcomes after PRP treatment. Urothelial ultrastructural defects showed no significant differences between baseline and after the PRP injections. However, patients showed variable improvements in different urothelial defects (grade improvements: urothelium cell layers, 31%; umbrella cell integrity, 42%; umbrella cell surface uroplakin plaque, 54%; tight junctions between adjacent umbrella cells, 46%; lysed organelles, 58%; inflammatory cell infiltration, 31%). Patients with successful treatment outcomes showed significant improvements in urothelial tight junction defects. Repeated intravesical PRP injections are effective for improving IC/BPS symptoms as they promote urothelial ultrastructural defect recovery.
IL-33 Enhances ACE2 Expression on Epidermal Keratinocytes in Atopic Dermatitis: A Plausible Issue for SARS-CoV-2 Transmission in Inflamed Atopic Skin
Authors: Lin En-Cheng , Hong Chien-Hui
Published: May 2022

Background: Interleukin-33 (IL-33) is an important cytokine in the pathophysiology of atopic dermatitis (AD) and in the progression of COVID-19. Angiotensin converting enzyme 2 (ACE2), the entry receptor for SARS-CoV-2, is expressed in epidermal keratinocytes. Whether IL-33 could regulate the expression of ACE2 mechanistically in keratinocytes warrants investigation. Objective: We questioned whether the ACE2 expression is increased in AD skin. We also questioned whether ACE2 is expressed in keratinocytes; if so, would its expression be enhanced mechanistically by IL-33. Methods: We measured and compared the expression of ACE2 in skin from patients with AD, patients with psoriasis, and healthy controls using immunohistochemistry. Flow cytometry, immunofluorescent exam, and quantitative RT-PCR were used for measuring the ACE2 expression in cultured keratinocytes treated with IL-33 and IL-17. Blocking antibodies were utilized to study the intracellular signaling pathways governing the ACE2 expression using cytokines. Results: The results showed that the ACE2 expression is increased in AD compared with that in healthy skin and psoriasis. In primary epidermal keratinocytes, ACE2 is constitutively expressed. IL-33 induces a time-dependent increase in ACE2 expression in cultured keratinocytes through quantitative PCR, flow cytometry, and immunofluorescent examinations. Furthermore, pretreatment of an ERK inhibitor, but not a STAT3 inhibitor, eliminated the increases in ACE2 by IL-33 in keratinocytes, indicating that IL-33 enhances ACE2 expression through ERK on epidermal keratinocytes. Conclusion: This is the first study to reveal that IL-33 enhances ACE2 expression on keratinocytes via ERK. Although further mechanistic studies are required, the increased ACE2 expression in IL-33 might have a biological implication on the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in patients with AD.
Proinflammatory Endothelial Phenotype in Very Preterm Infants: A Pilot Study
Authors: Amelio Giacomo S. , Provitera Livia , Raffaeli Genny , Amodeo Ilaria , Gulden Silvia , Cortesi Valeria , Manzoni Francesca , Pesenti Nicola , Tripodi Matteo , Pravatà Valentina , Lonati Caterina , Cervellini Gaia , Mosca Fabio , Cavallaro Giacomo
Published: May 2022

Very preterm infants are exposed to prenatal inflammatory processes and early postnatal hemodynamic and respiratory complications, but limited data are available about the endothelial effect of these conditions. The present pilot study investigates the perinatal endothelial phenotype in very preterm infants (VPIs) and explores its predictive value on neonatal mortality and hemodynamic and respiratory complications. Angiopoietin 1 (Ang-1), Ang-2, E-selectin, vascular adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), tissue factor (TF), and endothelin 1 (ET-1) concentrations were tested in first (T1), 3rd (T2), and 7–10th (T3) day of life in 20 VPIs using Luminex technology and compared with 14 healthy full-term infants (FTIs). Compared to FTIs, VPIs had lower Ang-1 at T1 and T2; higher Ang-2 at T1, T2, and T3; higher Ang-2/Ang-1 ratio at T1, T2, and T3; lower E-selectin at T1, T2, and T3; higher VCAM-1 at T1; higher TF at T2. No differences in concentrations were found in neonatal deaths. VPIs with hemodynamic or respiratory complications had higher Ang-2 at T3. Perinatal low Ang-1 and high Ang-2 associated with high VCAM-1 and TF in VPIs suggest a proinflammatory endothelial phenotype, resulting from the synergy of a pathological prenatal inheritance and a premature extrauterine transition.
Distress and Sensitization as Main Mediators of Severity in Women with Fibromyalgia: A Structural Equation Model
Authors: Liew Bernard X. W. , Valera-Calero Juan Antonio , Varol Umut , Nijs Jo , Arendt-Nielsen Lars , Plaza-Manzano Gustavo , Fernández-de-las-Peñas César
Published: May 2022

We aimed to explore a path model identified using a structural equation model (SEM) which best explains the multivariate contributions of sensitization, sensitivity, and emotional variables to clinical severity in women with FMS. Pain features, the Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI), painDETECT, S-LANSS, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), the Pain Vigilance and Awareness Questionnaire (PVAQ), the 11-item Tampa Scale for Kinesiophobia (TSK-11), and pressure pain thresholds (PPTs) were collected from 113 women with FMS. Four latent variables were created: severity (clinical pain features), sensitivity (PPTs), sensitization (S-LANSS, CSI, painDETECT), and distress (HADS-A, HADS-D, PCS, PVAQ, TSK-11). Data fit for the measurement model were considered excellent (RMSEA = 0.043, CFI = 0.966, SRMR = 0.067, and NNFI = 0.960). Distress had a significant relationship with the mediators of sleep (β = 0.452, p = 0.031) and sensitization (β = 0.618, p = 0.001). The only mediator with a significant effect (β = 1.113, p < 0.001) on severity was sensitization. A significant indirect effect of sensitization (β = 0.687, p = 0.001) that explained the relationship between distress and severity was also identified. The proposed model suggests that distress and sensitization, together with poor sleep, have a complex mediating effect on severity in women with FMS. The identified path model can be leveraged in clinical trials investigating treatment approaches for FMS.
Critical Obstacles in the Implementation of Value Management of Construction Projects
Authors: Li Xiaoyu , Deng Binchao , Yin Yilin , Jia Yu
Published: May 2022

At present, the construction industry in China has problems such as low production efficiency, low technical efficiency, low management efficiency of the construction project, delayed delivery, budget overruns, and unreasonable risk allocation. Value management can address these issues by enhancing the value of construction projects in China, reducing construction costs, and ensuring significant investment returns. This study uses literature analysis to identify the critical obstacles to adopting value management and uses questionnaires and surveys, structural equation modeling, and factor analysis to prioritize the critical obstacles to adopting value management. What is more, the main contribution of this research is to identify the critical obstacles to the adoption of value management, which provides a new perspective for related research and has specific positive significance for practice summary and reform direction. The research was limited to the region of Tianjin and its surrounding cities. The critical survey respondents for this study are architects, quantity surveyors, contractors, civil engineers, and service engineers with rich experience in construction management. The research results show that the key obstacles to implementing value management in the construction industry in China are mainly divided into four categories: Environmental Factors; Stakeholder and Management Factors; Technological Factors; Information Factors. In addition, the researchers found that the level of the adoption of value management in the construction industry in China is deficient. Value management was not used in most of the organizations surveyed, and project teams did not practice its concept.
Student Experience and Satisfaction in Academic Libraries: A Comparative Study among Three Universities in Wuhan
Authors: Peng Lei , Wei Wenli , Fan Wenyi , Jin Shitao , Liu Yuxuan
Published: May 2022

In recent years, the spatial renovation of university libraries in various countries has focused on readers’ needs and followed the trend to develop learning spaces as a primary spatial form. In this study, we reviewed six spatial dimensions affecting student users’ learning experience. Specifically, we built a theory- and practice-based conceptual analysis framework to measure users’ satisfaction with recent spatial renovations at three university libraries in Wuhan, China. We used SPSS statistical software to conduct multiple linear regression analyses of spatial satisfaction. The findings show that five spatial dimensions significantly affect students’ satisfaction with library space, namely, service facility availability, quality of interior design, physical environment elements, spatial diversity, and learning space controllability. Service facility availability is the most critical factor affecting spatial satisfaction. In this study, we present empirical, evidence-based space elements that enhance user satisfaction with library spaces, and provide targeted design suggestions for future library space renovation and the optimization of space allocation and expansion of space services at university libraries in China.
Automatic Classification and Coding of Prefabricated Components Using IFC and the Random Forest Algorithm
Authors: Xu Zhao , Xie Zheng , Wang Xuerong , Niu Mi
Published: May 2022

The management of prefabricated component staging and turnover lacks the effective integration of informatization and complexity, as relevant information is stored in the heterogeneous systems of various stakeholders. BIM and its underlying data schema, IFC, provide for information collaboration and sharing. In this paper, an automatic classification and coding system for prefabricated building, based on BIM technology and Random Forest, is developed so as to enable the unique representation of components. The proposed approach starts with classifying and coding information regarding the overall design of the components. With the classification criteria, the required attributes of the components are extracted, and the process of attribute extraction is illustrated in detail using wall components as an example. The Random Forest model is then employed for IFC building component classification training and testing, which includes the selection of the datasets, the construction of CART, and the voting of the component classification results. The experiment results illustrate that the approach can automate the uniform and unique coding of each component on a Python basis, while also reducing the workload of designers. Finally, based on the IFC physical file, an extended implementation process for component encoding information is designed to achieve information integrity for prefabricated component descriptions. Additionally, in the subsequent research, it can be further combined with Internet-of-Things technology to achieve the real-time collection of construction process information and the real-time control of building components.
Yttria-Stabilized Zirconia of Balanced Acid-Base Pair for Selective Dehydration of 4-Methyl-2-pentanol to 4-Methyl-1-pentene
Authors: Lee Jae-Hong , Kim Minseok , Lim Suhyun , Mishra Dinesh , Suh Young-Woong
Published: May 2022

The selective transformation of secondary alcohols to alpha-olefins is a challenging task in heterogeneous catalysis, as is the case of 4-methyl-2-pentanol (4M2Pol) conversion to 4-methyl-1-pentene (4M1P). Herein, the co-precipitated yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) catalysts exhibit superior performance to both bare and Y-impregnated ZrO2 in selective 4M2Pol dehydration. In order to track the activity origin of YSZ, temperature-programmed desorption experiments using NH3 and CO2 are performed along with X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The conversion of 4M2Pol (max. 85%) is proportional to weak acidity and inverse to medium basicity. In contrast, the selectivity of 4M1P increases to 80% as the ratio of weak acidity to medium basicity is close to and exceeds the unity. These indications corroborate that the balanced acid–base pair of YSZ leads to the selective formation of 4M1P from 4M2Pol, which is caused by strong interaction between zirconia and yttria in the YSZ. Additionally, the dehydration activity over YSZ of 4 mol% yttrium is sustained at 450 °C for 50 h. Therefore, the YSZ, which is often used for electrocatalysis, is believed to be a promising catalyst in the dehydration of 4M2Pol and, further, secondary alcohols.
Study of Intermolecular Interaction between Small Molecules and Carbon Nanobelt: Electrostatic, Exchange, Dispersive and Inductive Forces
Authors: Lu Chen , Chen Panpan , Li Cunlei , Wang Jingang
Published: May 2022

The conjugated structure of carbon is used in chemical sensing and small molecule catalysis because of its high charge transfer ability, and the interaction between carbon materials and small molecules is the main factor determining the performance of sensing and catalytic reactions. In this work, Reduced Density Gradient (RDG) and Symmetry-Adapted Perturbation Theory (SAPT) energy decomposition methods were used in combination to investigate the heterogeneity of catalytic substrates commonly used in energy chemistry with [6, 6] the carbon nanobelt ([6, 6] CNB, the interaction properties and mechanisms inside and outside the system). The results show that most of the attractive forces between dimers are provided by dispersive interactions, but electrostatic interactions cannot be ignored either. The total energy of the internal adsorption of [6, 6] CNB was significantly smaller than that of external adsorption, which led to the small molecules being more inclined to adsorb in the inner region of [6, 6] CNB. The dispersive interactions of small molecules adsorbed on [6, 6] CNB were also found to be very high. Furthermore, the dispersive interactions of the same small molecules adsorbed inside [6, 6] CNB were significantly stronger than those adsorbed outside. In [6, 6] CNB dimers, dispersion played a major role in the mutual attraction of molecules, accounting for 70% of the total attraction.
Preparation and Characterization of Supported Molybdenum Doped TiO2 on α-Al2O3 Ceramic Substrate for the Photocatalytic Degradation of Ibuprofen (IBU) under UV Irradiation
Authors: Anucha Chukwuka Bethel , Bacaksiz Emin , Stathopoulos Vassilis N. , Pandis Pavlos K. , Argirusis Christos , Andreouli Constantina-Dia , Tatoudi Zoi , Altin Ilknur
Published: May 2022

TiO2-based photocatalyst materials have been widely studied for the abatement of contaminants of emerging concerns (CECs) in water sources. In this study, 1.5 wt% Mo-doped HRTiO2 was obtained by the sonochemical method. The material was analyzed and characterized for thermal, structural/textural, morphological, and optical properties using TGA-DSC, XRD, TEM, FTIR, XPS, SEM-EDS, BET (N2 adsorption-desorption measurement and BJH application method), and UV-Vis/DRS measurement. By the dip-coating technique, ~5 mg of Mo/HRTiO2 as an active topcoat was deposited on ceramic. In suspension and for photocatalyst activity performance evaluation, 1 g/L of 1.5 wt% (Mo)/HRTiO2 degraded ~98% of initial 50 mg/L IBU concentration after 80 min of 365 nm UV light irradiation and under natural (unmodified) pH conditions. Effects of initial pH condition, catalyst dosage, and initial pollutant concentration were also investigated in the photocatalyst activity performance in suspension. The photocatalyst test on the supported catalyst removed ~60% of initial 5mg/L IBU concentration, while showing an improved performance with ~90% IBU removal employing double and triple numbers of coated disk tablets. After three successive cycle test runs, XRD phase reflections of base TiO2 component of the active photocatalyst supported layer remained unchanged: An indication of surface coat stability after 360 min of exposure under 365 nm UV irradiation.
Visible Light-Induced Photocatalyst with Au/TiO2 Nanocomposites Fabricated through Pulsed Laser-Induced Photolysis
Authors: Wang Bing-Yen , Hsiao Ya-Shing , Wei Pei-Ching , Liu Yuan-Tung , Chu Chih-Chien , Hsiao Vincent K. S.
Published: May 2022

Gold–titanium oxide nanocomposites (Au–TiO2 NCPs) were fabricated through pulsed laser-induced photolysis (PIPS) and verified to be usable for the visible light catalytic degradation of methylene blue (MB). The PIPS method can produce a sufficient amount of NCPs quickly and has potential to be commercialized. In contrast to other studies, we clarified the optical spectrum of the light sources, including peak power, bandwidth, and total intensity used for photodegradation reactions and discovered that the photodegradation efficiency of the produced Au–TiO2 NCPs in the wavelength range of 405 nm could reach 37% in 30 min due to the charge transfer between Au and TiO2. The control experiment shows that the addition of individual Au and TiO2 nanoparticles (NPs) to an MB solution has no enhancement of degradation ability under visible light illumination. The photodegradation of Au–TiO2 NCPs can be further improved by increasing the concentrations of auric acid and TiO2 NPs in a precursor under PIPS fabrication.
The Role of Nickel and Brønsted Sites on Ethylene Oligomerization with Ni-H-Beta Catalysts
Authors: Seufitelli Gabriel V. S. , Park Jason J. W. , Tran Phuong N. , Dichiara Anthony , Resende Fernando L. P. , Gustafson Rick
Published: May 2022

The present work studies the adsorption of ethylene on Ni-H-Beta particles to unravel the roles of nickel and Brønsted sites in the catalytic oligomerization of ethylene. Three models (i.e., two based on the Cossee–Arlman mechanism and one based on the metallacycle mechanism) are examined in terms of the nature of the active sites and the adsorption mechanism involved in the ethylene coordination step. The results are consistent with the participation of two active sites in the formation of [Ni(II)-H]+ Cossee–Arlman centers and also suggest that ethylene dissociates upon adsorption on [Ni(II)-H]+ sites. Further characterization of Ni-H-Beta catalysts prepared at different nickel loadings and silica-to-alumina ratios reveals that highly dispersed Ni2+ exists on the catalyst surface and interacts with the catalyst’s lattice oxygen and free NiO crystals. At the same time, the kinetic results indicate that Brønsted sites may form isolated nickel-hydride ([Ni(II)-H]+) centers on the catalyst surface. In addition, the presence of residual, noncoordinated Ni2+ and Brønsted sites (not involved in the formation of [Ni(II)-H]+ sites) shows a reduced probability of the formation of nickel-hydride sites, hindering the conversion rate of ethylene. A mechanism for forming [Ni(II)-H]+ centers is proposed, involving ethylene adsorption over Ni2+ and a Brønsted site. This research has important implications for improving ethylene oligomerization processes over nickel-based heterogeneous catalysts.
Trends in BMI Percentile and Body Fat Percentage in Children 12 to 17 Years of Age
Authors: Vehrs Pat R. , Fellingham Gilbert W. , McAferty Angela , Kelsey Laurel
Published: May 2022

This study evaluates the cross-sectional trends in body fat percentage (BF%) and body mass index (BMI) percentile rank, and the relationship between the two in 332 (177 boys, 155 girls) 12- to 17-year-old children. Body mass index (BMI) was calculated using measured height and body mass, and sex-specific BMI for age percentile rank was determined using CDC growth charts. Body fat percentage (BF%) was measured with DEXA. Fat mass index (FMI) and fat-free mass index (FFMI) were calculated by normalizing the fat mass and fat-free mass for height. Compared to boys of the same age, girls had significantly higher BF% and FMI values and lower FFMI values. Compared to boys, at a given BMI percentile rank, females had a higher BF% and FMI, and a lower FFMI. In both boys and girls, there was an exponential increase in adiposity above the 70th percentile rank. BMI percentile rank is not an equivalent indicator of body fatness in boys and girls. Other measures of body composition can further inform the practitioner of a child’s adiposity.