bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characterisation of Olive Oils from the Douro Valley, Portugal: Study of the Volatile Fraction and Its Relationship with Sensory Characteristics
Authors: Silva Kevin , Rodrigues Nuno , Pereira José Alberto , Ramalhosa Elsa
Published: September 2022

In recent years, the demand for olive oils from the Douro region (Portugal) has increased in line with wine. Thus, it is essential to characterise these olive oils to evaluate them. Therefore, this work describes the sensory and volatile profiles of olive oils produced in the Douro region. These were mainly identified as ripe fruity. Among the olfactory and gustatory sensations, the attributes of dried fruits, tomato, apple, tomato leaves, banana, and lavender stood out. Regarding volatile compounds, the following were detected in all samples: (E)-2-hexenal, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol, (E)-2-hexen-1-ol, (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol acetate, 1-hexanol, and 2-methyl-4-pentanal. Moreover, it was impossible to separate the olive oils by sub-regions. In conclusion, studying the volatile fraction and their relationship with sensory attributes are essential to guarantee the genuineness and identity of these olive oils with a view to their future appreciation.
An Active Indoor Noise Control System Based on CS Algorithm
Authors: Tao Weige , Ma Yue , Xiao Shuyan , Cheng Qin , Wang Yongxing , Chen Zhengyu
Published: September 2022

Environmental noise causes enormous harm to human health. This research suggests an active noise control (ANC) system based on the cuckoo search (CS) algorithm to reduce indoor noise pollution. The indoor environment’s ANC is more complicated than the conventional linear ANC system used in cars, aircraft, and other confined spaces. The suggested system architecture considers noise from many directions in order to reduce the impact of external noise on persons within a given environment. The effective search strategy of the CS algorithm enhances the approach of updating filter coefficients based on the LMS/NLMS algorithm in the conventional ANC systems. The results from the simulations demonstrate that the suggested strategy successfully validates the hypothesis and provides significant noise reduction. Additionally, we developed the system’s hardware, which is based on a digital signal processor (DSP). The experimental results show that the proposed technology could perform well with respect to ANC.
Annotated-VocalSet: A Singing Voice Dataset
Authors: Faghih Behnam , Timoney Joseph
Published: September 2022

There are insufficient datasets of singing files that are adequately annotated. One of the available datasets that includes a variety of vocal techniques (n = 17) and several singers (m = 20) with several WAV files (p = 3560) is the VocalSet dataset. However, although several categories, including techniques, singers, tempo, and loudness, are in the dataset, they are not annotated. Therefore, this study aims to annotate VocalSet to make it a more powerful dataset for researchers. The annotations generated for the VocalSet audio files include fundamental frequency contour, note onset, note offset, the transition between notes, note F0, note duration, Midi pitch, and lyrics. This paper describes the generated dataset and explains our approaches to creating and testing the annotations. Moreover, four different methods to define the onset/offset are compared.
Design of an Affordable Cross-Platform Monitoring Application Based on a Website Creation Tool and Its Implementation on a CNC Lathe Machine
Authors: Royandi Muhamad Aditya , Hung Jui-Pin
Published: September 2022

Currently, monitoring applications are being designed to provide comprehensive, flexible access. Monitoring applications are also required to function on several platforms (e.g., desktops and mobile phones). However, designers often have difficulty meeting these needs, owing to a lack of expertise in various fields. Here, we aim to convey a simple concept to achieve this goal. Visualization data on the system can be displayed and updated online using Google Sites, which can be accessed on several platforms. The data were displayed using dynamic image HTML embedded code. They were generated from the URL of an image stored in Google Drive. The image was taken from the monitoring system user interface created with the Windows Forms app and periodically uploaded to Google Drive. Therefore, using this concept, a cross-platform monitoring application (CPMA) can be created in a short time without complicated database processing or subscriptions to paid applications. Additionally, a messaging feature from the user platform was developed to enable messaging features between an operator at the machining site and another user/manager of the CPMA. This concept was applied to revisualize the collected data from the data acquisition system and the results of the predicted parameters from the main user interface through image uploadbased data visualization and to monitor two CNC lathe machines (with different sensors attached) at different locations.
A Cooperative Control Method for Excavation Support Robot with Desired Position/Posture
Authors: Wang Xigui , Tang Jie , Wang Yongmei , Li Chen
Published: September 2022

Desired deviation of the position/posture of Excavation Support Robot (ESR) have a critical impact on the efficiency of underground mining. In this paper, a control method of desired position/posture coordinated adjustment by real-time posture data and sliding position mode control algorithm is proposed. The action stroke of the non-longitudinal Adjustment Hydraulic Cylinder (AHC) is controlled by adaptively adjusting the opening and time of the Electro-Hydraulic Servo (EHS) valve, thereby adjusting the position offset and posture coordination of the ESR. The mathematical model of hydraulic system is deduced. Considering the kinematic characteristics of the ESR and the coupling relationship between the stroke and posture of the lateral AHC, a coupled kinematics model of the robot and the support body is derived. The overall structure of the posture adjustment control system and the calculation method of the stroke adjustment amount of the AHC are presented, and the controller is further optimized. The simulation analysis model and test verification system of the desired posture adjustment control system are determined. These results show that the control method is effective and significant compared with the manual control system, which can meet the functional and precision requirements of position deviation and posture adjustment.
Fractional Derivative Gradient-Based Optimizers for Neural Networks and Human Activity Recognition
Authors: Herrera-Alcántara Oscar
Published: September 2022

In this paper, fractional calculus principles are considered to implement fractional derivative gradient optimizers for the Tensorflow backend. The performance of these fractional derivative optimizers is compared with that of other well-known ones. Our experiments consider some human activity recognition (HAR) datasets, and the results show that there is a subtle difference between the performance of the proposed method and other existing ones. The main conclusion is that fractional derivative gradient descent optimizers could help to improve the performance of training and validation tasks and opens the possibility to include more fractional calculus concepts to neural networks applied to HAR.
Semi-Direct Point-Line Visual Inertial Odometry for MAVs
Authors: Gao Bo , Lian Baowang , Tang Chengkai
Published: September 2022

Traditional Micro-Aerial Vehicles (MAVs) are usually equipped with a low-cost Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU) and monocular cameras, how to achieve high precision and high reliability navigation under the framework of low computational complexity is the main problem for MAVs. To this end, a novel semi-direct point-line visual inertial odometry (SDPL-VIO) has been proposed for MAVs. In the front-end, point and line features are introduced to enhance image constraints and increase environmental adaptability. At the same time, the semi-direct method combined with IMU pre-integration is used to complete motion estimation. This hybrid strategy combines the accuracy and loop closure detection performance of the feature-based method with the rapidity of the direct method, and tracks keyframes and non-keyframes, respectively. In the back-end, the sliding window mechanism is adopted to limit the computation, while the improved marginalization method is used to decompose the high-dimensional matrix corresponding to the cost function to reduce the computational complexity in the optimization process. The comparison results in the EuRoC datasets demonstrate that SDPL-VIO performs better than the other state-of-the-art visual inertial odometry (VIO) methods, especially in terms of accuracy and real-time performance.
Defining the Influence of Fatigue Protocol on Kinematic Parameters of Ippon Seoi Nage
Authors: Cetinić Marko , Dukarić Vedran , Segedi Ivan , Rupčić Tomislav , Sertić Hrvoje
Published: September 2022

To achieve technical efficiency in a judo fight, it is necessary to know the technical details of each throw. The tempo of a judo fight is highly intense, and it is necessary for the competitor to be physically very well prepared. Considering the tempo, an important factor in the fight is the influence of fatigue, which can significantly affect the performance of a technique. The aim of this research is to determine the kinematic parameters and the influence of the fatigue protocol during the performance of ippon seoi nage (ISN) throw. The sample of participants consists of 30 young judokas (17.02 ± 0.91 year; 72.81 ± 6.52 kg; 178.60 ± 5.60 cm). The following variables were observed with Xsens Awinda kinematic system: the angle of the left shoulder (L_shou_A); the angle of the right shoulder (R_shou_A); the difference in the height of the pelvis in the tsukuri phase (Pel_tsu_H); the difference in the height of the pelvis in the kake phase (Pel_kake_H); hand velocity (Hand_V); head position (Head_pos). The participants performed three ISN throws before and after the fatigue protocol. A statistically significant difference (MANOVA) was found between the measurements (F = 8.47; p = 0.00). Additionally, observing the differences between individual variables (ANOVA), a significant difference was found in all measured variables, with a statistical significance of p < 0.05. This research presents key kinematic parameters that had not yet been observed in this manner. Furthermore, based on the established differences, it can be concluded that the participants significantly disrupt the performance of the ISN throw technique in situational, i.e., fight, conditions.
Recent Technological Advances in Phenolic Compounds Recovery and Applications: Source of Nutraceuticals for the Management of Diabetes
Authors: Dias Marisol , Romaní-Pérez Marina , Romaní Aloia , de la Cruz Aimara , Pastrana Lorenzo , Fuciños Pablo , Amado Isabel R.
Published: September 2022

Background: Phenolic compounds are food-derived bioactive compounds well-known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. They are in the spotlight for the management of diabetes due to their positive effects on glucose homeostasis. Materials and methods: We have performed a literature review on the main topics related to the application of phenolic compounds as functional food ingredients. This includes extraction and purification from vegetable sources and agro-industrial by-products, encapsulation to improve their solubility and bioavailability, and preclinical and clinical evidence linking these compounds with anti-diabetic activity. Objectives: (1) provide an understanding of the role of phenolic compounds on diabetes; (2) identify green technologies for phenolic compounds extraction from agri-food by-products following a biorefinery scheme; (3) underline the relevance of encapsulation techniques using nanotechnology to improve their bioavailability; (4) discuss the therapeutic efficacy of polyphenols. Results: This review compiles recent relevant research on phenolic compounds extraction from renewable resources, their purification from agri-food by-products, and encapsulation strategies using eco-friendly processes. It also highlights the preclinical and clinical evidence on phenolic compounds’ antidiabetic activity, giving insight into their mechanisms of action. Conclusions: This review explores the latest advances in polyphenols and how their benefits in glucose homeostasis can be applied toward improving the health of patients with diabetes and related conditions.
Evaluation of the Flexural Rigidity of Underground Tanks Manufactured by Rotomolding
Authors: Šuba Oldřich , Bílek Ondřej , Kubišová Milena , Pata Vladimír , Měřínská Dagmar
Published: September 2022

This study focuses on the flexural properties of the layered wall structures of plastic tanks produced by rotational molding technology. The aim was to assess the possibility of replacing the homogeneous walls of rotationally cast large-volume underground tanks with structural walls for stability and warpage prevention. The possibilities of material saving by combining lightweight and non-lightweight tank wall layers were investigated. By applying the engineering theory of bending inhomogeneous layered walls, the flexural rigidity values of the walls of the tanks of different structures were determined. The values of the flexural rigidity of the tank wall samples produced by rotomolding technology were determined experimentally. Moreover, a comparison of the calculated and experimentally determined flexural rigidity values of the layered walls and optimization of these structures was carried out. In the case under study, it was theoretically and experimentally confirmed that the optimum ratio of compact layer thickness versus total wall thickness is given by the resulting value: t1OPT = 0.189 h.
Parameterization of a Rising Smoke Plume for a Large Moving Ship Based on CFD
Authors: Li Jingqian , Song Jihong , Xu Yine , Yu Qi , Zhang Yan , Ma Weichun
Published: September 2022

The plume rising height of a ship will directly affect the maximum ground concentration and distance from the source caused by flue gas emission. Ship movement has an important effect on plume rising, but it is often ignored in previous studies. We simulated the weakening effect caused by ship movement by considering the influence of four main parameters (wind speed, ship speed, flue gas exit velocity, and flue gas exit temperature) on the smoke plume rising height, using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model (PHOENICS version 6.0 CHAM, London, UK). The main parameters affecting the difference in plume rising height between stationary and moving sources for the same parameter settings are the wind speed and the ship speed. Therefore, we established two simplified calculation methods that corrected the flue gas exit velocity (Vexit′) and the flue gas exit temperature (T′) for approximately simulating the smoke plume rising height of the moving ship using the formula of a stationary ship. Verification cases indicated that the corrected Vexit′ (the average of relative error is 5.48%) and the corrected T′(the average of relative error is 60.07%) not only saved calculation time but also improved the simulation accuracy compared with the uncorrected stationary source scheme (the average of relative error is 135.38%). Of these correction methods, the scheme with corrected Vexit′ is more effective. The intention is to provide some references for the field experimentation of moving ship plume rising in different ports in the future and to further study the mechanism of moving ship plume rising.
Triggers and Tweets: Implicit Aspect-Based Sentiment and Emotion Analysis of Community Chatter Relevant to Education Post-COVID-19
Authors: Ismail Heba , Khalil Ashraf , Hussein Nada , Elabyad Rawan
Published: September 2022

This research proposes a well-being analytical framework using social media chatter data. The proposed framework infers analytics and provides insights into the public’s well-being relevant to education throughout and post the COVID-19 pandemic through a comprehensive Emotion and Aspect-based Sentiment Analysis (ABSA). Moreover, this research aims to examine the variability in emotions of students, parents, and faculty toward the e-learning process over time and across different locations. The proposed framework curates Twitter chatter data relevant to the education sector, identifies tweets with the sentiment, and then identifies the exact emotion and emotional triggers associated with those feelings through implicit ABSA. The produced analytics are then factored by location and time to provide more comprehensive insights that aim to assist the decision-makers and personnel in the educational sector enhance and adapt the educational process during and following the pandemic and looking toward the future. The experimental results for emotion classification show that the Linear Support Vector Classifier (SVC) outperformed other classifiers in terms of overall accuracy, precision, recall, and F-measure of 91%. Moreover, the Logistic Regression classifier outperformed all other classifiers in terms of overall accuracy, recall, an F-measure of 81%, and precision of 83% for aspect classification. In online experiments using UAE COVID-19 education-related data, the analytics show high relevance with the public concerns around the education process that were reported during the experiment’s timeframe.
Synergetic Thermal Therapy for Cancer: State-of-the-Art and the Future
Authors: Dai Qizheng , Cao Bo , Zhao Shiqing , Zhang Aili
Published: September 2022

As a safe and minimal-invasive modality, thermal therapy has become an effective treatment in cancer treatment. Other than killing the tumor cells or destroying the tumor entirely, the thermal modality results in profound molecular, cellular and biological effects on both the targeted tissue, surrounding environments, and even the whole body, which has triggered the combination of the thermal therapy with other traditional therapies as chemotherapy and radiation therapy or new therapies like immunotherapy, gene therapy, etc. The combined treatments have shown encouraging therapeutic effects both in research and clinic. In this review, we have summarized the outcomes of the existing synergistic therapies, the underlying mechanisms that lead to these improvements, and the latest research in the past five years. Limitations and future directions of synergistic thermal therapy are also discussed.
NDG-CAM: Nuclei Detection in Histopathology Images with Semantic Segmentation Networks and Grad-CAM
Authors: Altini Nicola , Brunetti Antonio , Puro Emilia , Taccogna Maria Giovanna , Saponaro Concetta , Zito Francesco Alfredo , De Summa Simona , Bevilacqua Vitoantonio
Published: September 2022

Nuclei identification is a fundamental task in many areas of biomedical image analysis related to computational pathology applications. Nowadays, deep learning is the primary approach by which to segment the nuclei, but accuracy is closely linked to the amount of histological ground truth data for training. In addition, it is known that most of the hematoxylin and eosin (H&E)-stained microscopy nuclei images contain complex and irregular visual characteristics. Moreover, conventional semantic segmentation architectures grounded on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) are unable to recognize distinct overlapping and clustered nuclei. To overcome these problems, we present an innovative method based on gradient-weighted class activation mapping (Grad-CAM) saliency maps for image segmentation. The proposed solution is comprised of two steps. The first is the semantic segmentation obtained by the use of a CNN; then, the detection step is based on the calculation of local maxima of the Grad-CAM analysis evaluated on the nucleus class, allowing us to determine the positions of the nuclei centroids. This approach, which we denote as NDG-CAM, has performance in line with state-of-the-art methods, especially in isolating the different nuclei instances, and can be generalized for different organs and tissues. Experimental results demonstrated a precision of 0.833, recall of 0.815 and a Dice coefficient of 0.824 on the publicly available validation set. When used in combined mode with instance segmentation architectures such as Mask R-CNN, the method manages to surpass state-of-the-art approaches, with precision of 0.838, recall of 0.934 and a Dice coefficient of 0.884. Furthermore, performance on the external, locally collected validation set, with a Dice coefficient of 0.914 for the combined model, shows the generalization capability of the implemented pipeline, which has the ability to detect nuclei not only related to tumor or normal epithelium but also to other cytotypes.
Good Anesthesia Practice for Fish and Other Aquatics
Authors: Brønstad Aurora
Published: September 2022

Fish and other aquatic animals represent a significant number of species with diverse physiology, size, and housing condition needs. Anesthesia may be necessary for several husbandry procedures as well as treatment of diseases, surgery, or experimental procedures. Choice of drugs and detailed procedures for anesthesia must be adapted to the species in question—there is no “one size fits all” solution. However, there are some basic principles that apply for good anesthetic practice of all animals. These principles include the preparations of animals, personnel, facilities and equipment, monitoring animals under anesthesia, as well as post-anesthetic care to be sure that animals are not lost in the recovery phase. Good anesthesia practice also includes the competence and commitment of personnel involved. Based on professional judgement, key factors will be the focus of this text.
Oviductal Extracellular Vesicles Enhance Porcine In Vitro Embryo Development by Modulating the Embryonic Transcriptome
Authors: de Alcântara-Neto Agostinho Soares , Cuello Cristina , Uzbekov Rustem , Bauersachs Stefan , Mermillod Pascal , Almiñana Carmen
Published: September 2022

Oviductal extracellular vesicles (oEVs) have been identified as important components of the oviductal fluid (OF) and have been pointed to as key modulators of gamete/embryo-maternal interactions. Here, we determined the functional impact of oEVs on embryo development and the embryonic transcriptome in porcine. Experiment 1 examined the effect of oEVs and OF on embryo development. In vitro-produced embryos were cultured with oEVs or OF for 2 or 7 days using an in vitro sequential system or without supplementation (control). Experiment 2 analyzed transcriptomic alterations of EV-treated embryos versus control and the oEVs RNA cargo by RNA-sequencing. Two days of EV treatment enhanced embryo development over time when compared to other treatments. Different RNA expression profiles between embryos treated with EVs for two or seven days and untreated controls were obtained, with 54 and 59 differentially expressed (DE) genes and six and seven DE miRNAs, respectively. In oEV RNA cargo, 12,998 RNAs and 163 miRNAs were identified. Integrative analyses pointed to specific oEV components that might act as modulators of the embryonic transcriptome, such as S100A11, ANXA2 or miR-21-5p. Overall, the findings suggested that oEVs could be a potential strategy to improve porcine IVP outcomes, particularly by using two days of EV treatment.
The Association of Metformin, Other Antidiabetic Medications and Statins on the Prognosis of Rectal Cancer in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Erkinantti Sami , Hautakoski Ari , Sund Reijo , Arffman Martti , Urpilainen Elina , Puistola Ulla , Läärä Esa , Jukkola Arja , Karihtala Peeter
Published: September 2022

Metformin and statin use have been associated with an improved prognosis for colorectal cancer in persons with type 2 diabetes (T2D). Data regarding rectal cancer (RC) have been inconclusive; therefore, we investigated the issue with high-quality data and a robust study design. We identified 1271 eligible patients with T2D and incident RC between 1998 and 2011 from the Diabetes in Finland (FinDM) database. Cox models were fitted for cause-specific mortality rates to obtain adjusted estimates of the hazard ratios (HR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) in relation to use of antidiabetic medication (ADM) and statins before the RC diagnosis and for post-diagnostic use in a time-dependent exposure manner. No sufficient evidence was found for either pre- or post-diagnostic metformin use and RC mortality (HR 0.96, 95% CI 0.67–1.38, and 0.70, 95% CI 0.45–1.10, respectively) when compared to other oral ADMs. Both pre- and post-diagnostic statin use appeared to be inversely associated with mortality from RC (HR 0.77 95% CI 0.63–0.94, and 0.57, 95% CI 0.42–0.78, respectively). Our study was inconclusive as to the association of metformin use with the prognosis of RC, but statin use was found to predict reduced mortality, both from RC and from other causes of death in persons with T2D.
The Role of Disordered Regions in Orchestrating the Properties of Multidomain Proteins: The SARS-CoV-2 Nucleocapsid Protein and Its Interaction with Enoxaparin
Authors: Schiavina Marco , Pontoriero Letizia , Tagliaferro Giuseppe , Pierattelli Roberta , Felli Isabella C.
Published: September 2022

Novel and efficient strategies need to be developed to interfere with the SARS-CoV-2 virus. One of the most promising pharmaceutical targets is the nucleocapsid protein (N), responsible for genomic RNA packaging. N is composed of two folded domains and three intrinsically disordered regions (IDRs). The globular RNA binding domain (NTD) and the tethered IDRs are rich in positively charged residues. The study of the interaction of N with polyanions can thus help to elucidate one of the key driving forces responsible for its function, i.e., electrostatics. Heparin, one of the most negatively charged natural polyanions, has been used to contrast serious cases of COVID-19 infection, and we decided to study its interaction with N at the molecular level. We focused on the NTR construct, which comprises the NTD and two flanking IDRs, and on the NTD construct in isolation. We characterized this interaction using different nuclear magnetic resonance approaches and isothermal titration calorimetry. With these tools, we were able to identify an extended surface of NTD involved in the interaction. Moreover, we assessed the importance of the IDRs in increasing the affinity for heparin, highlighting how different tracts of these flexible regions modulate the interaction.
Protective Immunity Induced by Immunization with Baculovirus, Virus-like Particle, and Vaccinia Virus Expressing the AMA1 of Plasmodium berghei
Authors: Kim Min-Ju , Chu Ki-Back , Kang Hae-Ji , Yoon Keon-Woong , Eom Gi-Deok , Mao Jie , Lee Su-Hwa , Subbiah Jeeva , Kang Sang-Moo , Moon Eun-Kyung , Quan Fu-Shi
Published: September 2022

Heterologous prime–boost immunization regimens using various vaccine platforms demonstrated promising results against infectious diseases. Here, mice were sequentially immunized with the recombinant baculovirus (rBV), virus-like particle (VLP), and recombinant vaccinia virus (rVV) vaccines expressing the Plasmodium berghei apical membrane antigen 1 (AMA1) for protective efficacy evaluation. The rBV_V_rVV heterologous immunization regimen elicited high levels of parasite-specific IgG, IgG2a, and IgG2b antibody responses in sera. Upon P. berghei challenge infection, proliferations of germinal center B cells in the inguinal lymph nodes, as well as blood CD4+ and CD8+ T cells were induced. More importantly, rBV_V_rVV immunization significantly diminished the parasitemia and prevented drastic bodyweight loss in mice post-challenge infection with P. berghei. Our findings revealed that immunization with rBV, VLP, and rVV expressing the AMA1 conferred protection against P. berghei infection, providing evidence for the potential implementation of this strategy.
Laminin-5, Fibronectin, and Type IV Collagen as Potential Biomarkers of Brain Glioma Malignancy
Authors: Oldak Lukasz , Chludzinska-Kasperuk Sylwia , Milewska Patrycja , Grubczak Kamil , Reszec Joanna , Gorodkiewicz Ewa
Published: September 2022

The presented work is based on the quantification of LN-5, FN, and COL IV in blood plasma as potential biomarkers in patients diagnosed with glioma in grades G1 to G4. The obtained concentration results were compared with the protein content in the control group, which consisted of smokers of different ages. The obtained results were statistically analysed and interpreted based on the available clinical description. Quantitative determinations of LN-5, FN, and COL IV were performed with the use of SPRi biosensors specific to the tested proteins. Comparing groups K and G4, as well as G2 and G4, statistically significant relationships between changes in the concentration of individual proteins, were observed. The analysis showed significant correlations between FN and LN-5, between FN and COL IV, and between LN-5 and COL IV. There was a moderate positive correlation between individual proteins and the age of the patient. The ROC analysis distinguished patients with advanced disease from the control group. The results of the research show that LN-5, FN, and COL IV are effective biomarkers of brain glioma that may be helpful in non-invasive diagnosis and determining the grade of the disease.
A Metabolic Signature to Monitor Endothelial Cell Differentiation, Activation, and Vascular Organization
Authors: Lopes-Coelho Filipa , Martins Filipa , Hipólito Ana , Conde Sílvia V. , Pereira Sofia A. , Gonçalves Luís G. , Serpa Jacinta
Published: September 2022

The formation of new blood vessels is an important step in the morphogenesis and organization of tissues and organs; hence, the success of regenerative medicine procedures is highly dependent on angiogenesis control. Despite the biotechnological advances, tissue engineering is still a challenge. Regarding vascular network formation, the regulators are well known, yet the identification of markers is pivotal in order to improve the monitoring of the differentiation and proliferation of endothelial cells, as well as the establishment of a vascular network supporting tissue viability for an efficacious implantation. The metabolic profile accompanies the physiological stages of cells involved in angiogenesis, being a fruitful hub of biomarkers, whose levels can be easily retrieved. Through NMR spectroscopy, we identified branched amino acids, acetate, and formate as central biomarkers of monocyte-to-endothelial-cell differentiation and endothelial cell proliferation. This study reinforces the successful differentiation process of monocytes into endothelial cells, allowing self-to-self transplantation of patient-derived vascular networks, which is an important step in tissue engineering, since monocytes are easily isolated and autologous transplantation reduces the immune rejection events.
MRI-Guided Electrode Implantation for Chronic Intracerebral Recordings in a Rat Model of Post−Traumatic Epilepsy—Challenges and Gains
Authors: Ndode-Ekane Xavier Ekolle , Immonen Riikka , Hämäläinen Elina , Manninen Eppu , Andrade Pedro , Ciszek Robert , Paananen Tomi , Gröhn Olli , Pitkänen Asla
Published: September 2022

Brain atrophy induced by traumatic brain injury (TBI) progresses in parallel with epileptogenesis over time, and thus accurate placement of intracerebral electrodes to monitor seizure initiation and spread at the chronic postinjury phase is challenging. We evaluated in adult male Sprague Dawley rats whether adjusting atlas-based electrode coordinates on the basis of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) increases electrode placement accuracy and the effect of chronic electrode implantations on TBI-induced brain atrophy. One group of rats (EEG cohort) was implanted with two intracortical (anterior and posterior) and a hippocampal electrode right after TBI to target coordinates calculated using a rat brain atlas. Another group (MRI cohort) was implanted with the same electrodes, but using T2-weighted MRI to adjust the planned atlas-based 3D coordinates of each electrode. Histological analysis revealed that the anterior cortical electrode was in the cortex in 83% (25% in targeted layer V) of the EEG cohort and 76% (31%) of the MRI cohort. The posterior cortical electrode was in the cortex in 40% of the EEG cohort and 60% of the MRI cohort. Without MRI-guided adjustment of electrode tip coordinates, 58% of the posterior cortical electrodes in the MRI cohort will be in the lesion cavity, as revealed by simulated electrode placement on histological images. The hippocampal electrode was accurately placed in 82% of the EEG cohort and 86% of the MRI cohort. Misplacement of intracortical electrodes related to their rostral shift due to TBI-induced cortical and hippocampal atrophy and caudal retraction of the brain, and was more severe ipsilaterally than contralaterally (p < 0.001). Total lesion area in cortical subfields targeted by the electrodes (primary somatosensory cortex, visual cortex) was similar between cohorts (p > 0.05). MRI-guided adjustment of coordinates for electrodes improved the success rate of intracortical electrode tip placement nearly to that at the acute postinjury phase (68% vs. 62%), particularly in the posterior brain, which exhibited the most severe postinjury atrophy. Overall, MRI-guided electrode implantation improved the quality and interpretation of the origin of EEG-recorded signals.
Effects of rmBMP-7 on Osteoblastic Cells Grown on a Nanostructured Titanium Surface
Authors: Zuardi Leonardo Raphael , de Oliveira Fabíola Singaretti , Fernandes Roger Rodrigo , Gomes Maria Paula Oliveira , Spriano Silvia , Nanci Antonio , de Oliveira Paulo Tambasco
Published: September 2022

This study evaluates the effects of the availability of exogenous BMP-7 on osteoblastic cells’ differentiation on a nanotextured Ti surface obtained by chemical etching (Nano-Ti). The MC3T3-E1 and UMR-106 osteoblastic cell lines were cultured for 5 and 7 days, respectively, on a Nano-Ti surface and on a control surface (Control-Ti) in an osteogenic medium supplemented with either 40 or 200 ng/mL recombinant mouse (rm) BMP-7. The results showed that MC3T3-E1 cells exhibited distinct responsiveness when exposed to each of the two rmBMP-7 concentrations, irrespective of the surface. Even with 40 ng/mL rmBMP-7, important osteogenic effects were noticed for Control-Ti in terms of cell proliferation potential; Runx2, Osx, Alp, Bsp, Opn, and Smad1 mRNA expression; and in situ ALP activity. For Nano-Ti, the effects were limited to higher Alp, Bsp, and Opn mRNA expression and in situ ALP activity. On both surfaces, the osteogenic potential of UMR-106 cultures remained unaltered with 40 ng/mL rmBMP-7, but it was significantly reduced when the cultures were exposed to the 200 ng/mL concentration. The availability of rmBMP-7 to pre-osteoblastic cells at the concentrations used alters the expression profile of osteoblast markers, indicative of the acquisition of a more advanced stage of osteoblastic differentiation. This occurs less pronouncedly on the nanotextured Ti and without reflecting in higher mineralized matrix production by differentiated osteoblasts on both surfaces.
Electrochemical Determination of 4-Bromophenoxyacetic Acid Based on CeO2/eGr Composite
Authors: Du Haijun , Zhang Yan , Wang Xin , Hu Huali , Ai Jixing , Zhou Huanxi , Yan Xia , Yang Yang , Lu Zhiwei
Published: September 2022

The determination of plant growth regulators is of great importance for the quality monitoring of crops. In this work, 4-bromophenoxyacetic acid (4-BPA), one of the phenoxyacetic acids, was detected via the electrochemical method for the first time. A CeO2-decorated electrochemical exfoliated graphene (eGr) composite (CeO2/eGr) was constructed as the sensor for sensitive detection of 4-BPA due to the synergistic effect of the excellent catalytic active sites of CeO2 and good electron transference of the eGr. The developed CeO2/eGr sensor displayed a good linearity in a wide range from 0.3 to 150 μmol/L and the lowest detection limit of 0.06 μmol/L for 4-BPA detection. Electrochemical oxidation of 4-BPA follows a mix-controlled process on the CeO2/eGr electrode, which involves 2e in the transference process. This developed CeO2/eGr sensor has excellent repeatability with a relative standard deviation (RSD) of 2.35% in 10 continuous measurements. Moreover, the practical application of the sensor for 4-BPA detection in apple juice has recoveries in the range of 90–108%. This proposed CeO2/eGr sensor has great potential for detecting plant growth regulators in the agricultural industry.
Assessment of Adaptive Behavior in People with Autism Spectrum Disorders through the ICAP
Authors: Losada-Puente Luisa , Baña Manoel
Published: September 2022

Evaluating adaptive behavior in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) requires attending to a set of cognitive processes associated with social interaction skills and functional communication that are altered. This paper presents the analysis of an instrument to assess and diagnose adaptive behavior in people with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), given the need for rigorous, standardized, and statistically reliable tools to address this dimension, incorporated into the diagnosis since 1992. The Inventory for Service Planning and Individual Programming (ICAP) was applied to n = 209 children with ASD. Its psychometric properties were studied to provide statistical criteria for its usefulness in assessing adaptive behavior. Results highlighted variations in its original structure, reducing the number of items from 77 to 60 by eliminating those with little discriminative power, and of dimensions from four to three given their greater congruence with the results of the exploratory analysis: daily life skills (α = 0.892–0.935), communication and linguistic skills (α = 0.860–0.931), and motor skills (α = 0.828–0.857). This again raises questions about the use of instruments similar in their dimensions, and about the interaction between variables and items, a frequent issue in the field of mind, social, and health sciences.
Influence of Psychological Perspectives and Demographics on Drivers’ Valuation of Road Accidents: A Combination of Confirmatory Factor Analysis and Preference Heterogeneity Model
Authors: Wisutwattanasak Panuwat , Jomnonkwao Sajjakaj , Se Chamroeun , Ratanavaraha Vatanavongs
Published: September 2022

Property damage and loss from road traffic accidents are a major concern in developing countries; thus, studies on accident damage in such countries may include more latent factors. This study aims to examine the effect of psychological perspectives and sociodemographic status on drivers’ willingness-to-pay (WTP) for road accident risk reduction, using confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) and the random parameters multinomial logit model with heterogeneity in means and variances (RPMNLHMV). The CFA results from interviews with 1650 car drivers in Thailand demonstrate that concepts of the theory of planned behavior and health access process approach are key factors for describing drivers’ behavioral intention and WTP. The RPMNLHMV results indicate that drivers’ demographics affected drivers’ WTP to reduce road accidents, and psychological perspectives were also found to have an influence on WTP. The results also reveal unobserved characteristics that could affect drivers’ WTP. The study concludes that ignoring unobserved heterogeneity in studies on WTP to reduce road accidents can lead to biased results and neglect important influential factors. The methodological approaches applied herein offer another layer of insight into unobserved characteristics in road accident valuation. These findings could be used to provide relevant authorities practical insights for policy development on road accident mitigation and road safety education programs in accordance with drivers’ characteristics.
Achieving Behavioural Advancement through the Dynamic Maturation Model and the Assessment of Parent–Child Interactions in a Music Therapy Context
Authors: Swanick Rachel , Papatzikis Efthymios
Published: September 2022

Using concise and valid assessment tools before embarking on therapy with clients not only provides key information on areas of concern, but it can also focus the ongoing therapy, giving a greater chance of positive outcomes. This article discusses the use of the Dynamic Maturational Model (DMM) and the Assessment of Parent–Child Interactions (APCI) as a framework for assessment with adoptive families in a music therapy service. It is proposed that using a Screening Family Formulation (SFF) as detailed through the DMM alongside the APCI can provide this secure foundation for assessment. It is proposed that the DMM promotes the use of the professional–parent relationships as a useful outline for the parent–child relationship alongside a thorough understanding of the issues faced by the family. In addition, the APCI enhances the assessment process by providing clinical and therapeutic evidence of areas of development for the family.
Influence of Cooking Pollutant Diffusion Regularity by High-Rise Residential Inner-Courtyard Forms in Wuhan
Authors: You Jieqi , Wang Minghao , Li Jianru , Xu Shen , Cao Changsheng , Shao Shuangquan
Published: September 2022

In China’s typical high-density cities, in order to meet the residential needs, a Chinese characteristic and typical high-rise residence with multiple flats sharing one staircase has been created. Due to the Chinese cooking methods, such as frying and stir-frying, the middle flats’ kitchens of these high-rise residences are easily exposed to cooking pollutants, which endanger people’s health. As the outdoor transition space directly adjacent to the kitchens of the middle flats, the inner-courtyards in high-rise residences make the cooking pollutants easier to be diffused. Therefore, the inner-courtyard form has a significant impact on the ventilation and diffusion of cooking pollutants. In this study, with the method of measurement and CFD simulation, the relationship between cooking pollutants diffusion in the kitchens of the middle flats and the flow field in inner-courtyards was analyzed, and the impact of different inner-courtyard forms on cooking pollutants diffusion distribution in high-rise residential under natural ventilation was discussed. The results show that different inner-courtyard forms have different effects on the diffusion of cooking pollutants: the enclosed courtyards will greatly increase the cross-contamination between the kitchen and the adjacent space; increasing the openness of the courtyard will not enhance the diffusion level of pollutants, but has a negative effect; compared with centralized courtyards, symmetrical courtyards have a better echo with the kitchen in the layout, which is more conducive to the diffusion of cooking pollutants.
Experimental Study and Numerical Simulation Analysis on Vertical Vibration Performances of 12 m Span Wood Truss Joist Floors
Authors: Zhang Zhanyi , Wang Shuangyong , Deng Hao , Zhou Haibin
Published: September 2022

Walking-induced vibration control in wood floors is a critical issue attracting the attention of many researchers and engineers. This paper presents an experimental study applying static deflection tests, modal tests, and pedestrian load tests to a series of full-scale 12 m span tooth plates connected to wood truss joist floors with strongbacks and partition walls. A comparison of the calculation error of vibration parameters between the theoretical formula and a numerical model was also conducted. The results show that strongbacks and partition walls effectively reduce both the vertical displacement and the root means acceleration at the center of the floor under pedestrian load but increases the natural frequency. The partition wall can achieve a better vibration-reduction effect than strongbacks. The error of the finite element model is higher than that of the theoretical formula. Using the theoretical formula in engineering wood floor design is recommended.
Natural Vibration Characteristics Analysis of a High-Rise Reinforced Masonry Structure Based on Field Test Data
Authors: Zhou Baofeng , Liu Bo , Wang Xiaomin , Kong Jingchang , Zhang Cong
Published: September 2022

In structural response array observation, the vibration response of a structure during an earthquake or from the natural environment is recorded and stored using high-sensitivity strong motion seismographs, and the dynamic characteristics of the structure are analyzed and determined using random signal data processing technology. Due to the use of field test data for analysis, this may be the most accurate and effective way to obtain the actual characteristics of the structure, which can be further used to verify the accuracy of theoretical analysis, experimental results, and numerical simulations. Therefore, this technique plays an important role in earthquake prevention and disaster reduction, with the application of strong motion observation data. In this paper, field vibration tests were performed on the highest reinforced masonry structure in China. With the test environmental vibration data, the natural vibration frequency values and mode shapes of the structure were identified using the peak picking method. A numerical modal analysis was then performed to verify the accuracy of the field test results. In addition, the structural response records obtained during an earthquakes in Songyuan were also used to identify the natural vibration frequency of the structure and the changes in the natural vibration frequency before, during, and after the earthquake. The results showed that the structure was not damaged during the earthquake and remained in an elastic state.
Study on Shrinkage Cracking Morphology of Cement Mortar with Different Nanoclay Particles under Restraint
Authors: Liu Guangying , Zhang Shiyi , Fan Yingfang , Shah Surendra P.
Published: September 2022

In this paper, different types and particle sizes of nanoclay (nano-metakaolin—NMK—and nano-attapulgite—NMA—clay) were selected to study the effect of nanoclay on the properties of cement-based cementitious materials. The stability of different nanoclay dispersions was analyzed. The effects of nanoclay on the mechanical properties and cracking behavior of cement mortar were discussed. The crack propagation behavior of nanoclay cement mortar was analyzed by flat knife-edge induced constraint and ring constraint experiments. The research shows that the degree of aggregation of NMA particles is lower than that of NMK. The larger the particle size of NMA, the lower the degree of particle aggregation. The larger the particle size of NMK, the lower the degree of particle aggregation in water. NMK has the best improvement effect on cement mortar. The smaller the particle size, the more pronounced the improvement effect. The flexural strength ratio, compressive strength ratio, and elastic modulus ratio of 7 d and 28 d are 76.7%, 67.4%, and 61.2%, respectively. In the flat plate cracking experiment, the maximum crack width of NMK-3 and NMA-2 was reduced by 33.3% and 25.0%, respectively, compared with ordinary cement mortar. The maximum crack length was reduced by 55.1% and 33.1% compared with cement mortar. In the ring constraint experiment, the total cracked area of NMK-1, NMA-1, NMK-3, and NMA-2 rings increased by 64.3%, 45.0%, 92.7%, and 49.7%, respectively, compared with ordinary cement mortar rings after 60 days. NMK can advance the cracking time of cement mortar, but it can inhibit the generation and development of cracks and refine the crack width.