bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Tumor-associated macrophage-related strategies for glioma immunotherapy
Authors: Tang Fansong , Wang Yuelong , Zeng Yunhui , Xiao Anqi , Tong Aiping , Xu Jianguo
Published: August 2023

High-grade glioma is one of the deadliest primary tumors of the central nervous system. Despite the many novel immunotherapies currently in development, it has been difficult to achieve breakthrough results in clinical studies. The reason may be due to the suppressive tumor microenvironment of gliomas that limits the function of specific immune cells (e.g., T cells) which are currently the primary targets of immunotherapy. However, tumor-associated macrophage, which are enriched in tumors, plays an important role in the development of GBM and is becoming a research hotspot for immunotherapy. This review focuses on current research advances in the use of macrophages as therapeutic targets or therapeutic tools for gliomas, and provides some potential research directions.
Molecular disparities in colorectal cancers of White Americans, Alabama African Americans, and Oklahoma American Indians
Authors: Yamada Hiroshi Y. , Xu Chao , Jones Kenneth L. , O’Neill Philip H. , Venkateshwar Madka , Chiliveru Srikanth , Kim Hyung-Gyoon , Doescher Mark , Morris Katherine T. , Manne Upender , Rao Chinthalapally V.
Published: August 2023

In the US, the majority of cancer samples analyzed are from white people, leading to biases in racial and ethnic treatment outcomes. Colorectal cancer (CRC) incidence and mortality rates are high in Alabama African Americans (AAs) and Oklahoma American Indians (AIs). We hypothesized that differences between racial groups may partially explain these disparities. Thus, we compared transcriptomic profiles of CRCs of Alabama AAs, Oklahoma AIs, and white people from both states. Compared to CRCs of white people, CRCs of AAs showed (a) higher expression of cytokines and vesicle trafficking toward modulated antitumor-immune activity, and (b) lower expression of the ID1/BMP/SMAD axis, IL22RA1, APOBEC3, and Mucins; and AIs had (c) higher expression of PTGS2/COX2 (an NSAID target/pro-oncogenic inflammation) and splicing regulators, and (d) lower tumor suppressor activities (e.g., TOB2, PCGF2, BAP1). Therefore, targeting strategies designed for white CRC patients may be less effective for AAs/AIs. These findings illustrate needs to develop optimized interventions to overcome racial CRC disparities.
Predicting HPV association using deep learning and regular H&E stains allows granular stratification of oropharyngeal cancer patients
Authors: Klein Sebastian , Wuerdemann Nora , Demers Imke , Kopp Christopher , Quantius Jennifer , Charpentier Arthur , Tolkach Yuri , Brinker Klaus , Sharma Shachi Jenny , George Julie , Hess Jochen , Stögbauer Fabian , Lacko Martin , Struijlaart Marijn , van den Hout Mari F.C.M. , Wagner Steffen , Wittekindt Claus , Langer Christine , Arens Christoph , Buettner Reinhard , Quaas Alexander , Reinhardt Hans Christian , Speel Ernst-Jan , Klussmann Jens Peter
Published: August 2023

Human Papilloma Virus (HPV)-associated oropharyngeal squamous cell cancer (OPSCC) represents an OPSCC subgroup with an overall good prognosis with a rising incidence in Western countries. Multiple lines of evidence suggest that HPV-associated tumors are not a homogeneous tumor entity, underlining the need for accurate prognostic biomarkers. In this retrospective, multi-institutional study involving 906 patients from four centers and one database, we developed a deep learning algorithm (OPSCCnet), to analyze standard H&E stains for the calculation of a patient-level score associated with prognosis, comparing it to combined HPV-DNA and p16-status. When comparing OPSCCnet to HPV-status, the algorithm showed a good overall performance with a mean area under the receiver operator curve (AUROC) = 0.83 (95% CI = 0.77-0.9) for the test cohort (n = 639), which could be increased to AUROC = 0.88 by filtering cases using a fixed threshold on the variance of the probability of the HPV-positive class - a potential surrogate marker of HPV-heterogeneity. OPSCCnet could be used as a screening tool, outperforming gold standard HPV testing (OPSCCnet: five-year survival rate: 96% [95% CI = 90–100%]; HPV testing: five-year survival rate: 80% [95% CI = 71–90%]). This could be confirmed using a multivariate analysis of a three-tier threshold (OPSCCnet: high HR = 0.15 [95% CI = 0.05–0.44], intermediate HR = 0.58 [95% CI = 0.34–0.98] p = 0.043, Cox proportional hazards model, n = 211; HPV testing: HR = 0.29 [95% CI = 0.15–0.54] p < 0.001, Cox proportional hazards model, n = 211). Collectively, our findings indicate that by analyzing standard gigapixel hematoxylin and eosin (H&E) histological whole-slide images, OPSCCnet demonstrated superior performance over p16/HPV-DNA testing in various clinical scenarios, particularly in accurately stratifying these patients.
Predicting labor onset relative to the estimated date of delivery using smart ring physiological data
Authors: Erickson Elise N. , Gotlieb Neta , Pereira Leonardo M. , Myatt Leslie , Mosquera-Lopez Clara , Jacobs Peter G.
Published: August 2023

The transition from pregnancy into parturition is physiologically directed by maternal, fetal and placental tissues. We hypothesize that these processes may be reflected in maternal physiological metrics. We enrolled pregnant participants in the third-trimester (n = 118) to study continuously worn smart ring devices monitoring heart rate, heart rate variability, skin temperature, sleep and physical activity from negative temperature coefficient, 3-D accelerometer and infrared photoplethysmography sensors. Weekly surveys assessed labor symptoms, pain, fatigue and mood. We estimated the association between each metric, gestational age, and the likelihood of a participant’s labor beginning prior to (versus after) the clinical estimated delivery date (EDD) of 40.0 weeks with mixed effects regression. A boosted random forest was trained on the physiological metrics to predict pregnancies that naturally passed the EDD versus undergoing onset of labor prior to the EDD. Here we report that many raw sleep, activity, pain, fatigue and labor symptom metrics are correlated with gestational age. As gestational age advances, pregnant individuals have lower resting heart rate 0.357 beats/minute/week, 0.84 higher heart rate variability (milliseconds) and shorter durations of physical activity and sleep. Further, random forest predictions determine pregnancies that would pass the EDD with accuracy of 0.71 (area under the receiver operating curve). Self-reported symptoms of labor correlate with increased gestational age and not with the timing of labor (relative to EDD) or onset of spontaneous labor. The use of maternal smart ring-derived physiological data in the third-trimester may improve prediction of the natural duration of pregnancy relative to the EDD.
VHH CDR-H3 conformation is determined by VH germline usage
Authors: Bahrami Dizicheh Zahra , Chen I-Ling , Koenig Patrick
Published: August 2023

VHHs or nanobodies are single antigen binding domains originating from camelid heavy-chain antibodies. They are used as diagnostic and research tools and in a variety of therapeutic molecules. Analyzing variable domain structures from llama and alpaca we found that VHHs can be classified into two large structural clusters based on their CDR-H3 conformation. Extended CDR-H3 loops protrude into the solvent, whereas kinked CDR-H3 loops fold back onto framework regions. Both major families have distinct properties in terms of their CDR-H3 secondary structure, how their CDR-H3 interacts with the framework region and how they bind to antigens. We show that the CDR-H3 conformation of VHHs correlates with the germline from which the antibodies are derived: IGHV3-3 derived antibodies almost exclusively adopt a kinked CDR-H3 conformation while the CDR-H3 adopts an extended structure in most IGHV3S53 derived antibodies. We do not observe any bias stemming from V(D)J recombination in llama immune repertoires, suggesting that the correlation is the result of selection processes during B-cell development. Our findings demonstrate a previously undescribed impact of germline usage on antigen interaction and contribute to a better understanding on how properties of the antibody framework shape the immune repertoire.
Formation of turing patterns in strongly magnetized electric discharges
Authors: Menati Mohamad , Williams Stephen , Rasoolian Behnam , Thomas Edward , Konopka Uwe
Published: August 2023

Pattern formation and self-organization in many biological and non-biological systems can be explained through Turing’s activator-inhibitor model. Here we show how this model can be employed to describe the formation of filamentary structures in a low-pressure electric discharge exposed to a strong magnetic field. Theoretical investigation reveals that the fluid equations describing a magnetized plasma can be rearranged to take the mathematical form of Turing’s activator-inhibitor model. Numerical simulations based on the equations derived from this approach could reproduce the various patterns observed in the experiments. Also, it is shown that a density imbalance between electrons and ions exists in the bulk of the magnetized plasma that generates an electric field structure transverse to the applied magnetic field. This electric field is responsible for the stability of the filamentary patterns in the magnetized plasma over time scales much longer than the characteristic time scales of the electric discharge.
Refertilized continental root controls the formation of the Mianning–Dechang carbonatite-associated rare-earth-element ore system
Authors: Hou Zeng-Qian , Xu Bo , Zhang Haijiang , Zheng Yuan-Chuan , Wang Rui , Liu Yan , Miao Zhuang , Gao Lei , Zhao Zhidan , Griffin William L. , O’Reilly Suzanne Y.
Published: August 2023

Rare earth element ore deposits associated with carbonatite derived from Earth’s mantle supply half of the world’s rare earth element. However, the formation of carbonatite and initial enrichment and transport of rare earth element in the mantle, is unclear. Here, we image the lithospheric architecture of a Cenozoic rare earth element ore belt in southwestern China by integrating seismic tomography with geochemical data. The subduction of the Indian continent caused vertical upwelling and lateral flow of the asthenosphere, which triggered the melting of the overlying subcontinental lithospheric mantle to generate carbonatites. Such a mantle source that previously metasomatized by fluids from recycled marine sediments is a precursor process critical for forming a giant rare earth element system. For the studied ore belt, three key factors are prerequisites to generating ore-forming carbonatites: thick lithosphere with a continental root; prior fertilization of the subcontinental lithospheric mantle; and trans-lithospheric weakness for magma ascent.
Inter-comparison of marine microbiome sampling protocols
Authors: Pascoal Francisco , Tomasino Maria Paola , Piredda Roberta , Quero Grazia Marina , Torgo Luís , Poulain Julie , Galand Pierre E , Fuhrman Jed A , Mitchell Alex , Tinta Tinkara , Turk Dermastia Timotej , Fernandez-Guerra Antonio , Vezzi Alessandro , Logares Ramiro , Malfatti Francesca , Endo Hisashi , Dąbrowska Anna Maria , De Pascale Fabio , Sánchez Pablo , Henry Nicolas , Fosso Bruno , Wilson Bryan , Toshchakov Stephan , Ferrant Gregory Kevin , Grigorov Ivo , Vieira Fabio Rocha Jimenez , Costa Rodrigo , Pesant Stéphane , Magalhães Catarina
Published: August 2023

Research on marine microbial communities is growing, but studies are hard to compare because of variation in seawater sampling protocols. To help researchers in the inter-comparison of studies that use different seawater sampling methodologies, as well as to help them design future sampling campaigns, we developed the EuroMarine Open Science Exploration initiative (EMOSE). Within the EMOSE framework, we sampled thousands of liters of seawater from a single station in the NW Mediterranean Sea (Service d’Observation du Laboratoire Arago [SOLA], Banyuls-sur-Mer), during one single day. The resulting dataset includes multiple seawater processing approaches, encompassing different material-type kinds of filters (cartridge membrane and flat membrane), three different size fractionations (>0.22 µm, 0.22–3 µm, 3–20 µm and >20 µm), and a number of different seawater volumes ranging from 1 L up to 1000 L. We show that the volume of seawater that is filtered does not have a significant effect on prokaryotic and protist diversity, independently of the sequencing strategy. However, there was a clear difference in alpha and beta diversity between size fractions and between these and “whole water” (with no pre-fractionation). Overall, we recommend care when merging data from datasets that use filters of different pore size, but we consider that the type of filter and volume should not act as confounding variables for the tested sequencing strategies. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first time a publicly available dataset effectively allows for the clarification of the impact of marine microbiome methodological options across a wide range of protocols, including large-scale variations in sampled volume.
Indices for dynamic evaluation of indoor humidity and thermal environment
Authors: Hu Jiale , Wang Yingying , Wang Dengjia , Du Hu , Fan Jianhua , Liu Yanfeng , Sun Xin
Published: August 2023

Moisture sources release wet-components into indoor air, affecting the occupants’ health, air conditioning energy consumption, and building service-life. Wet-component evaporation and diffusion are dynamic processes, and yet existing indices are limited in their ability to accurately describe moisture sources dynamically influencing indoor air. Here we propose two indices CRIt(H), an index of the rate of humidity contribution change, and CRIt(c) as the rate of indoor climate contribution change. Taking a humidifier as the source, we use our indices to compare by experiment the impact of source parameters on a variety of ambient conditions over space and time. Our approach accurately reflects how the moisture source affect humidity and temperature, with identification of specific stages of dynamic influence. This study will be beneficial for the establishment of transient indoor environmental models, regulation of air-conditioning systems, and sustainable control of the indoor environment.
Gold nanoshells with magnetic cores and a urea-based receptor for SERS sensing of fluoride anions: experimental and computational study
Authors: Bui Duong Thuy , Kubíčková Lenka , Kuličková Jarmila , Bouř Petr , Kessler Jiří , Řezanka Pavel , Kaman Ondřej
Published: August 2023

The study demonstrates that a combination of plasmonic nanostructures and artificial receptors can be applied for sensing small molecular species.
The effect of light-irradiated area on the spin dependent photocurrent in zigzag graphene nanoribbon junctions
Authors: Li Yuejun , Shang Xiaofei , Zhou Yan-Hong , Zheng Xiaohong
Published: August 2023

In this work, we study the photogalvanic effect of a zigzag graphene nanoribbon junction with a centro-symmetrical structure which consists of 8 zigzag chains using density functional calculations.
A novel broken-gap chemical-bonded SiC/Ti2CO2 heterojunction with band to band tunneling: first-principles investigation
Authors: Dai Zhuo-Ni , Sheng Wei , Zhou Xiao-Ying , Zhan Jie , Xu Ying
Published: August 2023

Novel chemical-bonded SiC/Ti2CO2 heterojunction exists band-to-band tunneling from the valence band of SiC to the conduction band of Ti2CO2. The current–voltage characteristics of the device demonstrate a negative differential resistance effect.
Synthesis of a Co/Ni-MOF-74@PDI Z-scheme photocatalyst as a highly efficient photo-assisted Fenton-like catalyst for the removal of chlortetracycline hydrochloride
Authors: Wen Qi , Li Di , Gao Chunyan , Xue Yuhang , Wu Lei , Song Fang , Zhou Jun
Published: August 2023

A novel Co/Ni-MOF-74@PDI Z-scheme heterojunction photocatalyst material was constructed by a simple solvothermal method. Co/Ni-MOF-74@PDI was used to activate H2O2 under visible-light irradiation.
Lactobacillus gasseriCKCC1913 mediated modulation of the gut–liver axis alleviated insulin resistance and liver damage induced by type 2 diabetes
Authors: Jiang Shuaiming , Liu Aijie , Ma Wenyao , Liu Xinlei , Luo Pengfei , Zhan Meng , Zhou Xiaoli , Chen Lihao , Zhang Jiachao
Published: August 2023

Lactobacillus gasseri CKCC1913 regulated lipid metabolism and alleviated and liver damage induced by type 2 diabetes in mice.
Three-dimensional patterning of MoS2 with ultrafast laser
Authors: Zhu Dezhi , Qiao Ming , Yan Jianfeng , Xie Jiawang , Guo Heng , Deng Shengfa , He Guangzhi , Zhao Yuzhi , Luo Ma
Published: August 2023

The controllable fabrication of complex nanostructures on 2D material surfaces plays a vital role in practical applications. Herein, we proposed a method to create three-dimensional patterns on a MoS2 surface and revealed the related mechanisms.
The transformation of a zero-dimensional cluster into a one-dimensional chain structure achieving a dramatically enhanced birefringence in tin(ii)-based oxalates
Authors: Ren Liying , Cheng Linhong , Zhou Xiaoyan , Ren Jinxuan , Cao Liling , Huang Ling , Dong Xuehua , Zhou Yuqiao , Gao Daojiang , Zou Guohong
Published: August 2023

Through rational molecular engineering, a crystal structure is transformed from a 0D cluster of K2Sn(C2O4)2·H2O to a 1D chain of (K2Sn2(C2O4)2F2·H2O), and the corresponding birefringence increases dramatically from 0.103@546 nm to 0.301@546 nm.
I2-DMSO mediated dual α,β-C(sp2)–H functionalization/bicyclization of o-hydroxyphenyl enaminones to construct C2,C3-disubstituted chromone derivatives: chromeno[2,3-b]pyrrol-4(1H)-ones
Authors: Lei Shuang-Gui , Zhou You , Wang Li-Sheng , Yu Zhi-Cheng , Chen Ting , Wu Yan-Dong , Gao Meng , Wu An-Xin
Published: August 2023

An unprecedented dual α,β-C(sp2)–H functionalization/bicyclization strategy of o-hydroxyphenyl enaminones for the preparation of chromeno[2,3-b]pyrrol-4(1H)-ones has been established.
A novel PEC and ECL bifunctional aptasensor based on V2CTx MXene-derived MOF embedded with silver nanoparticles for selectively aptasensing miRNA-126
Authors: Li Yu , Zhang Shuai , Wang Mengfei , Guo Chuanpan , Zhang Zhihong , Zhou Nan
Published: August 2023

A novel PEC and ECL bifunctional biosensor for the sensitive and selective detection of miRNA-126 based on the AgNPs@V-PMOF Schottky heterojunction was constructed.
Mountain gazelle optimisation‐based 3DOF‐FOPID‐virtual inertia controller for frequency control of low inertia microgrid
Authors: Santra Swapan , De Mala
Published: August 2023

The primary objective of the authors is to design a new robust and improved virtual inertia controller (VIC) for renewable energy dominated inverter interfaced low inertia microgrid (LIMG). Increasing penetration of inertia‐less renewable generation in microgrid leads to increased frequency deviation during and after a disturbance. To improve the frequency response of the LIMG, conventional VIC added with different second stage and third stage controllers are proposed in existing works. Higher degree‐of‐freedom (DOF) PID controller synchronised with fractional‐order (FO) operators are used with conventional VIC controllers. These controllers work in addition with conventional VIC and the multi‐stage controllers make the system more complex. To reduce the number of controller stages and, subsequently, reduce cost and complexity of the system, a single stage 3DOF‐FOPID controller is proposed to mitigate the frequency deviation after a disturbance in a LIMG. Performance of the proposed single stage controller is compared with that of the existing controllers to establish the advantages of the proposed controller. The parameters of the proposed 3DOF‐FOPID controller are optimised by Mountain Gazelle Optimsation. The robustness of this controller is also tested for random load fluctuation and renewable power variations in presence of system non‐linearities.
Preparation and performance improvement of a dual‐component microcapsule self‐healing system for silicone rubber insulating material
Authors: Li Mingzhe , Cao Bin , Yin Fanghui , Mei Hongwei , Wang Liming
Published: August 2023

A key factor limiting the development of silicone rubber insulating materials is their short service life in harsh operating environments. The establishment of a self‐healing system is desired to improve the long‐term operational performance of silicone rubber and effectively extend its service life. In this study, poly(urea‐formaldehyde) microcapsules containing polydimethylsiloxane healing agents are prepared and a dual‐component microcapsule self‐healing system for silicone rubber material is established and optimised. In addition, the key factors affecting the self‐healing performance (such as microcapsule size, rupture rate, and microcapsule doping amount) are investigated. It is found that when SYLGARDTM 184 is used as the healing agent and matrix, with a 4:6 (A:B) doping ratio of dual‐component microcapsules and 20 phr doping amount, the self‐healing efficiency is approximately 51%. Furthermore, increasing the microcapsule rupture rate and the interface strength between the healing agent and the matrix can effectively improve the self‐healing performance. The relationships between key factors and self‐healing performance are theoretically revealed. Based on the relationships, the microcapsule self‐healing system can be appropriately designed. The results of this paper can provide a reference for the development of long‐life silicone rubber insulating materials.
Electro‐optical spiking neural networks using an enhanced optical axon with pulse amplitude modulation and automatic gain controller
Authors: Uleru George‐Iulian , Hulea Mircea , Younus Othman Isam , Ghassemlooy Zabih , Rajbhandari Sujan
Published: August 2023

Visible light communication can be leveraged to establish a wireless link between neurons in spiking networks even when neural areas are in relative motions. In electro‐optical spiking neural networks (SNN), parallel transmission is often achieved through wavelength division multiplexing (WDM). However, WDM can be prohibitive in certain applications due to the need for multiple narrow‐band transmitters and receivers with optical bandpass filters. Instead of WDM, an alternative approach of using non‐orthogonal multiple access is explored (NOMA) with a pulse amplitude modulation (PAM) scheme in optical axons to enable parallel neural paths in an SNN. To evaluate NOMA with PAM, the authors implement an electro‐optical SNN that controls the force of two anthropomorphic fingers actuated by the shape memory alloy‐based actuators. An optical reference channel is used to dynamically adjust the optical receiver's gain to improve the receiver's decoding performance. Experimental results demonstrate that the electro‐optical SNN can maintain control over the fingers and hold an object under varying channel conditions. Hence, the proposed system offers robustness against dynamic optical channels induced by the relative motion of neurons.
Extraction of the significant wave height from synthetic HF radar data acquired on a floating platform
Authors: Hashemi Sepideh , Shahidi Reza , Gill Eric W.
Published: August 2023

The usual procedure for extracting ocean surface information from data acquired from a high‐frequency surface wave radar transmitting from a floating platform is to first compensate for the motion of the antenna in the acquired motion‐contaminated Doppler spectrum and then extract the ocean wave parameters from the motion‐compensated result. The authors propose a new real‐time method to estimate the significant wave height directly from the antenna's received electric field in the time‐domain without requiring prior knowledge of the motion parameters or performing motion compensation. Based on the relation between the ocean surface displacement and the received electric field, this method calculates the significant wave height from the windowed variance of the upper envelope of the received electric field. A preliminary calibration is required, which can be carried out either by the deployment of a wave buoy or by analysing the data over a time period during which the sea state varies. The results from this simple proposed technique show that it may be used to estimate the significant wave height with a root‐mean‐square error (RMSE) between 10 and 14 cm over a wide range of significant wave height values.
Forecasting weather‐related power outages using weighted logistic regression
Authors: Sharma Vinayak , Hong Tao , Cecchi Valentina , Hofmann Alex , Lee Ji Yoon
Published: August 2023

Weather is a key driving factor of power outages. In this article, a methodology to forecast weather‐related power distribution outages one day‐ahead on an hourly basis is presented. A solution to address the data imbalance issue is proposed, where only a small portion of the data represents the hours impacted by outages, in the form of a weighted logistic regression model. Data imbalance is a key modelling challenge for small and rural electric utilities. The weights for outage and non‐outage hours are determined by the reciprocals of their corresponding number of hours. To demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed model, two case studies using data from a small electric utility company in the United States are presented. One case study analyses the weather‐related outages aggregated up to the city level. The other case study is based on the distribution substation level, which has rarely been tackled in the outage prediction literature. Compared with two variants of ordinary logistic regression with equal weights, the proposed model shows superior performance in terms of geometric mean.
Novel Modal Resonance Proximity Region between photovoltaic and multi‐machine subsystems under inertia and damping variations
Authors: Li Xiaojun , Liang Jifeng , Ding Jiong , Wang Guoyan , Yu Tengkai , Zhang Rui
Published: August 2023

A Modal Resonance Proximity Region (MRPR) is proposed is to analyse dynamic interactions between photovoltaic (PV) converters and synchronous generators in a multi‐machine system. The MRPR, delimited by the intersection of open‐loop modes' possible positions from two subsystems, indicates that two open‐loop modes would encounter each other in this region and modal resonances occur. Also, an indicator is utilised to assess the strength of such dynamic interaction. On top of MRPR and indicator, PV control parameters are optimised to avoid the possibly occurring modal resonances. As shown in time‐domain simulation, the proposed MRPR can precisely capture the occurring region for potential modal resonances and such potential modal resonances can be significantly mitigated by the MRPR and indicator‐based PV control parameter optimisation.
Oscillation suppression strategy for modular multi‐level converter grid‐connected system based on virtual damping in modulation link
Authors: Li Jialong , Liu Junliang , Du Xiong , Wei Ze , Fan Lijuan , Li Hongxin , Cheng Zhuo
Published: August 2023

Modular multilevel converters (MMC) are widely used in power systems. However, relevant studies and reports show that MMC connected with the grid may cause oscillation problems. When the bridge arm resistance is large enough, the operating conditions will be stable because of overdamping in the system. According to this idea, a virtual damping strategy is proposed, which is equivalent to increasing the resistance of the bridge arm without any actual power loss. Meanwhile, from the perspective of the impedance‐based analysis method, it is explained that this virtual damping control strategy can improve the stability margin of the system to realize the suppression of oscillation. In order to verify the effectiveness of the control method, the MMC simulation model is established under Matlab/Simulink. The simulation results show that the proposed virtual damping control can effectively suppress the MMC oscillation problem.
A method to detect internal leakage of hydraulic cylinder by combining data augmentation and multiscale residual CNN
Authors: He Qingchuan , Ruan Huiqi , Pan Jun , Lyu Xiaotian
Published: August 2023

Developing a method to detect internal leakage in hydraulic cylinder, which is used for Electro‐Hydrostatic Actuators (EHA), is important to prevent serious malfunctions for aircrafts. At present, the internal leakage in an EHA cannot be accurately detected only using operational data. This paper proposed a convolutional neural networks (CNN) based method to detect internal leakage in hydraulic cylinder according to the relationship between operational state parameters of EHA and leakage in the hydraulic cylinder. A method was presented to align multi‐source signals with different forms by using the motor current as a benchmark. Because the number of monitoring signals are relatively small, a feedforward neural network (FFNN) based data augment method is proposed to increase parameters of input data set. A general method on how to detect internal leakage by combining signals alignment, data augmentation and multiscale residual CNN was proposed. The experimental results show that the proposed method can be used to accurately detect internal leakage in a hydraulic cylinder operating under non‐stationary load and velocity conditions, and the detection accuracy reached 99.8%.
Free device location independent WiFi‐based localisation using received signal strength indicator and channel state information
Authors: Abuhoureyah Fahd , Yan Chiew Wong , Bin Mohd Isira Ahmad Sadhiqin , Al‐Andoli Mohammed
Published: August 2023

The trajectory localisation of human activities using signal analytics has become a reality due to the widespread use of advanced signal processing systems. Device‐free localisation using WiFi devices is prevalent, and the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and channel state information (CSI) signals offer additional benefits. However, radio frequency (RF) localisation is highly dependent on the environment, so updating fingerprint data is necessary by changing the environment. This work presents Fine‐grained Indoor Detection and Angular Radar for recognising and locating humans using a multipath trajectory reflections system that does not require training. It estimates location using a probabilistic approach that considers changes in CSI and RSSI across multiple nodes, generating an informative dataset that reflects the current trajectory and status of the location. The presented method extracts data from clustered Raspberry Pi 4B and Nexmon. The method exhibits a versatile real‐time location‐tracking solution by utilising the distinctive properties of RF signals. This technology has significant implications for various applications, including human medical monitoring, gaming, smart cities, and optimising building layouts to improve efficiency. The model demonstrates location‐independent localisation with up to 80% accuracy in mapping trajectories at any location. The findings indicate that the proposed model is effective and reliable for indoor localisation and activity tracking, making it a promising solution for implementation in real‐world environments.
Review of Honeywell LEAP™ & Honeywell LEAP™ for Operations project execution methods
Authors: Astafurov Maksim
Published: August 2023

The paper considers experience in accelerated system design and project execution using Honeywell LEAP™ approach based on universal I/O modules, standardized field cabinet unit and virtualization plus cloudbased engineering. All these methods can be used separately or combined within single project making execution (especially plant upgrades) smoother with less process disturbances and rework. This is very actual in the present time when pandemic of COVID-19 revealed how vulnerable are chain of supply especially when cargo/shipment from abroad involved.
Portfolio benefits of taxonomy orientated and renewable European electric utilities
Authors: Cauthorn Thomas , Klein Christian , Remme Leonard , Zwergel Bernhard
Published: August 2023

This paper investigates carbon and energy mix risk in the equity prices of EU-Taxonomy orientated and renewable European electric utility companies. We calculate carbon intensity and energy mix factors to measure possible carbon and energy mix premia while investigating the performance of portfolios of EU-Taxonomy orientated and renewable European electric utilities. We use a unique dataset to extend the three-factor model presented by Fama and French (1993) and find evidence of a positive renewable energy mix premium for portfolios of EU-Taxonomy orientated firms and firms with a high level of renewable energy in the energy mix. A positive low-carbon premium is also found for these same portfolios. Lastly, based on the three-factor model, an EU-Taxonomy orientated portfolio outperforms both a non-orientated portfolio and a non-reporting portfolio while a renewable energy portfolio outperforms a conventional energy portfolio. Our results are important for regulators, investors and European electric utilities in assessing the impact environmental regulations have on a firm’s cost of capital.
Household practices and determinants of solid waste segregation in Addis Ababa city, Ethiopia
Authors: Adefris Worku , Damene Shimeles , Satyal Poshendra
Published: August 2023

Solid waste segregation plays a critical role in effective waste management; however, the practice remains at a low level in developing countries like Ethiopia. Despite the persistent nature of the problem, there are limited studies to date that can provide sufficient empirical evidence to support appropriate efforts by policy makers and practitioners, particularly in the context of the developing world. Therefore, the main objective of this study was to analyze household practices and determinants of solid waste segregation in the urban areas of Addis Ababa, the capital city of Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, data were generated through a household survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, and field observations. The collected quantitative data were cleaned, encoded, and statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics in SPSS, while thematic analysis was undertaken to evaluate and describe the qualitative data. The data analysis revealed that only 21.3% of respondents reported frequent solid waste segregation, while about half (45.5%) segregated solid waste rarely. Conversely, a considerable proportion (28.7%) of the respondents reported not segregating solid waste, and the remaining 4.5% of respondents were unsure about the practice. This implies that only one-fifth of the total sampled respondents actually implement solid waste segregation practices at the household level. The chi-square test showed that respondents’ awareness/training (P = 0.000) and use of social organizations to discuss waste management (P = 0.001) are significantly associated with the practice of solid waste segregation. This highlights the need to focus on awareness-raising efforts among the general public in order to improve the knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors of individual households and residents toward solid waste segregation practices. Additionally, enabling policies, sufficient infrastructure, and incentive mechanisms can also help enhance wider adoption of the practices.
Pistachios as a recovery food following downhill running exercise in recreational team‐sport individuals
Authors: Philpott Jordan , Kern Mark , Hooshmand Shirin , Carson Imogene , Rayo Vernon , North Elise , Okamoto Lauren , O’Neil Timothy , Hong Mee Young , Liu Changqi , Dreczkowski Gillian , Rodriguez‐Sanchez Nidia , Witard Oliver C. , Galloway Stuart D.
Published: August 2023

We aimed to investigate the impact of pistachio nut consumption on muscle soreness and function following exercise‐induced muscle damage. Using a randomised cross‐over design, male team‐sport players (n = 18) performed a 40‐minute downhill treadmill run to induce muscle damage, which was conducted after 2‐wks of consuming either control (CON, water), a standard dose of daily pistachios (STD, 42.5 g/d) or a higher dose of daily pistachios (HIGH, 85 g/d). Lower limb muscle soreness (visual analogue scale), muscle function (maximal voluntary isokinetic torque and vertical jump), and blood markers of muscle damage/inflammation (creatine kinase, C‐reactive protein, myoglobin, superoxide dismutase) were measured pre (baseline) and post (24, 48, and 72 h) exercise. No trial order effects were observed for any outcome measurement across trials. Mean quadriceps soreness (non‐dominant leg) during exercise recovery was reduced (p < 0.05) in HIGH vs. CON (mean difference (95%CI): 13(1–25) mm). Change in soreness in the dominant quadriceps was not different between HIGH vs. CON (p = 0.06; mean difference (95%CI): 13(−1 to 26 mm)). No main effects of time or trial were observed for mean soreness of hamstrings, or on isokinetic torque of knee extensors or knee flexors, during recovery. Serum creatine kinase concentration peaked at 24 h post‐damage (mean(SEM): 763(158)µg/L) from baseline (300(87)µg/L), but had returned to baseline by 72 h post (398(80)µg/L) exercise in all trials, with no trial or trial × time interaction evident. These data suggest that high dose pistachio nut ingestion may provide some alleviation of muscle soreness, but no effect on muscle function, following modest muscle damage.
The accuracy of screening instruments for sarcopenia: a diagnostic systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Huang Li , Shu Xiaoyu , Ge Ning , Gao Langli , Xu Ping , Zhang Yu , Chen Yu , Yue Jirong , Wu Chenkai
Published: August 2023

Objective

This review aimed to summarise the diagnostic accuracy of screening tools for sarcopenia.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review along with a critical appraisal of published studies on screening tools for sarcopenia. We assessed the measurement properties of screening instruments using the consensus-based standards for selecting health measurement instruments (COSMIN) checklist. We evaluated the risk bias of the included studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies-2 (QUADAS-2) tool. The diagnostic test accuracy of instruments for sarcopenia was reported using sensitivity, specificity, positive likelihood ratio (PLR) and negative likelihood ratio (NLR).

Results

We screened 7,120 titles and abstracts; 42 studies including five screening tools for sarcopenia were included. The overall study quality assessed by the QUADAS-2 tool was moderate to good. Of the five screening tools, three instruments had specificities ≥85%: 92% [95% confidence interval (CI): 63–99%] for the SARC-F modified version, 87% (95% CI: 82–90%) for the SARC-F and 85% (95% CI: 77–90%) for the Ishii score. Three tools had sensitivity ≥75%, namely, MSRA 82% (95% CI: 69–90%), Ishii score 79% (95% CI: 62–89%) and U-TEST 76%. PLR higher than 5.0 were present for the Ishii score and SARC-F modified versions; the Ishii score also had the best NLR of 0.25 of all scales.

Conclusion

The MSRA and Ishii score had excellent sensitivity for sarcopenia screening at an early stage; SARC-F modified versions and Ishii score had superior specificity for sarcopenia diagnosis.
Characterization of inhalation exposures at a wildfire incident during the Wildland Firefighter Exposure and Health Effects (WFFEHE) Study
Authors: Navarro Kathleen M , Fent Kenneth , Mayer Alexander C , Brueck Scott E , Toennis Christine , Law Brandon , Meadows Juliana , Sammons Deborah , Brown Skylar
Published: August 2023

Wildland firefighters (WFFs) are exposed to many inhalation hazards working in the wildland fire environment. To assess occupational exposures and acute and subacute health effects among WFFs, the wildland firefighter exposure and health effects study collected data for a 2-year repeated measures study. This manuscript describes the exposure assessment from one Interagency Hotshot Crew (N = 19) conducted at a wildfire incident. Exposures to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and naphthalene were measured through personal air sampling each work shift. Biological monitoring was done for creatinine-adjusted levoglucosan in urine pre- and post-shift. For 3 days sampling at the wildfire incident, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene isomers (m and p, and o) exposure was highest on day 1 (geometric mean [GM] = 0.015, 0.042, 0.10, 0.42, and 0.15 ppm, respectively) when WFFs were not exposed to smoke but used chainsaws to remove vegetation and prepare fire suppression breaks. Exposure to formaldehyde and acetaldehyde was highest on day 2 (GM = 0.03 and 0.036 ppm, respectively) when the WFFs conducted a firing operation and were directly exposed to wildfire smoke. The greatest difference of pre- and post-shift levoglucosan concentrations were observed on day 3 (pre-shift: 9.7 and post-shift: 47 μg/mg creatinine) after WFFs conducted mop up (returned to partially burned area to extinguish any smoldering vegetation). Overall, 65% of paired samples (across all sample days) showed a post-shift increase in urinary levoglucosan and 5 firefighters were exposed to benzene at concentrations at or above the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) recommended exposure limit. Our findings further demonstrate that exposure to inhalation hazards is one of many risks that wildland firefighters experience while suppressing wildfires.
A fast and globally optimal solution for RNA-seq quantification
Authors: Yi Huiguang , Lin Yanling , Chang Qing , Jin Wenfei
Published: August 2023

Alignment-based RNA-seq quantification methods typically involve a time-consuming alignment process prior to estimating transcript abundances. In contrast, alignment-free RNA-seq quantification methods bypass this step, resulting in significant speed improvements. Existing alignment-free methods rely on the Expectation–Maximization (EM) algorithm for estimating transcript abundances. However, EM algorithms only guarantee locally optimal solutions, leaving room for further accuracy improvement by finding a globally optimal solution. In this study, we present TQSLE, the first alignment-free RNA-seq quantification method that provides a globally optimal solution for transcript abundances estimation. TQSLE adopts a two-step approach: first, it constructs a k-mer frequency matrix A for the reference transcriptome and a k-mer frequency vector b for the RNA-seq reads; then, it directly estimates transcript abundances by solving the linear equation ATAx = ATb. We evaluated the performance of TQSLE using simulated and real RNA-seq data sets and observed that, despite comparable speed to other alignment-free methods, TQSLE outperforms them in terms of accuracy. TQSLE is freely available at https://github.com/yhg926/TQSLE.
Phylogenetic relationships of Cuban and Caribbean Plumeria (Apocynaceae) based on the plastid genome
Authors: Tiernan Nichole , Nakamura Kyoko , Burns Christina , Jestrow Brett , Oviedo Prieto Ramona , Francisco-Ortega Javier
Published: August 2023

Plumeria L. (Apocynaceae) is a Neotropical genus mostly restricted to the Caribbean, which is cultivated in tropical gardens worldwide. Almost all ~27 species are endemic to the Caribbean Islands, except for four (Plumeria inodora Jacq., Plumeria obtusa L., Plumeria pudica Jacq., and Plumeria rubra L.) that are native to Central America and northern South America. Cuba harbours the largest diversity of the genus, with 13 endemic species. We present the first molecular phylogeny of the genus based on the nucleotide sequences of the complete plastid genome. Partial plastid genomes of 11 Plumeria species and one closely related species (Himatanthus sp.) were sequenced using long-PCR and next-generation sequencing. The recovered clades mostly grouped by single islands or closely neighboring islands. The phylogenetic relationships indicate patterns of adaptive radiation, with ecological shifts within these island-based clades and a west-to-east colonization route in the region. Plumeria rubra and Himatanthus sp. were resolved as sister to the rest of the genus. One unexpected finding was that P. pudica, a species restricted to the southern Caribbean Basin mainland, was recovered within the clade containing the Caribbean Island endemics, rendering the endemic group polyphyletic. Our study provides a phylogenetic framework for future studies that will need to include nuclear molecular markers and a more extensive sampling.
Asynchronous demographic dynamics of rodent community in low latitude Asia
Authors: Liu Gaoming , Shi Cheng-Min , Teng Huajing , Zhang Jian-Xu , Liu Quansheng
Published: August 2023

There is increasing evidence that demographic history and phylogeographic consequences of past climate changes unfolded locally and varied from region to region. Despite the high rodent species diversity and endemism in low latitude Asia, how they have responded to the past climatic fluctuations remains unexplored. In the present study, we trapped 253 murine individuals and sequenced their mitochondrial COI gene sequence. A total of ten species belonging to five genera were recognized through phylogenetic analyses. The results of divergence time estimation showed that the most common ancestors for all recognized species occurred in the Pleistocene. Signals of demographic expansion were detected in six species by at least one test and the events of sharp population size increase occurred asynchronously among species. The demographic expansion during the glaciation periods was corroborated by the expanded suitable distributional areas predicted by ecological niche modelling. The diversified demographic histories of rat communities in low-latitude Asia suggested that species might have responded to past regional environmental changes in an individualistic way.
An exploratory comparative case series of calcitonin gene-related peptide monoclonal antibodies in patients with migraine with rosacea
Authors: Sia Twan , Webb Taylor , Li Shufeng , Moskatel Leon S , Chang Anne Lynn S
Published: August 2023

Rosacea is associated with > 50% of cases of migraine. Recent data have shown that calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) is elevated in rosacea skin. CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) prevent migraine with known safety profiles, but their effect on rosacea is not known. This exploratory retrospective study examined rosacea in patients with migraines, before and after CGRP mAbs. Of 13 eligible patients on stable or unchanged concurrent rosacea medications, the majority experienced improvement after receiving CGRP mAbs. Mean (SD) rosacea severity scores for the periods before and while on CGRP mAbs were, respectively, 1.19 (0.65) and 0.58 (0.70) (P = 0.01). Prospective, placebo-controlled clinical trials are needed to further assess the use of CGRP mAbs in rosacea.