bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Depressive Symptoms in Expecting Fathers: Is Paternal Perinatal Depression a Valid Concept? A Systematic Review of Evidence
Authors: Mazza Marianna , Kotzalidis Georgios D. , Avallone Carla , Balocchi Marta , Sessa Ilenia , De Luca Ilaria , Hirsch Daniele , Simonetti Alessio , Janiri Delfina , Loi Emanuela , Marano Giuseppe , Albano Gabriella , Fasulo Vittorio , Borghi Stefania , del Castillo Angela Gonsalez , Serio Anna Maria , Monti Laura , Chieffo Daniela , Angeletti Gloria , Janiri Luigi , Sani Gabriele
Published: September 2022

Background. Since the identification of Couvade syndrome in the late 1950s, little attention has been dedicated to the issue of depression in expecting fathers. Objective. To quantify the extent of depression in expecting fathers and find out if they match their pregnant partners’ depression. Methods. We conducted a PubMed and ClinicalTrials.gov search using paternal depression and all its variants as terms. We used the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 statement to include eligible studies. Results. We identified a grand total of 1443 articles, of which 204 were eligible. The total number of fathers/expecting fathers involved was 849,913. Longitudinal studies represented more than half of the included studies; more than three-quarters of the studies used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS). The average occurrence of paternal depression was around 5%, which confers the entity some clinical dignity. Depression tends to occur more in expecting women and new mothers than in expecting partners or new fathers, while the co-occurrence in the same couple is quite low. Limitations. The methodological heterogeneity of the included studies prevents us from meta-analyzing the obtained data. The validity of the instruments used is another issue. Conclusions. Paternal depression is distinct from maternal depression and occurs at lower rates (about half). The very existence of a paternal depression clinical entity is beyond any doubt. Future research should address methodological heterogeneity.
A Scoping Review on Accentuating the Pragmatism in the Implication of Mobile Health (mHealth) Technology for Tuberculosis Management in India
Authors: Needamangalam Balaji Jyotsna , Prakash Sreenidhi , Park Youngmok , Baek Joon Sang , Shin Jaeyong , Rajaguru Vasuki , Surapaneni Krishna Mohan
Published: September 2022

Background: India continues to share a colossal count of the global tuberculosis load, with a perturbing 19% spring in the reported cases in 2021. With the National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) consolidated to bring this epidemic to an end by 2025, the rapidly growing mobile health technologies can be utilized to offer promising results. Even though the implementation of this novel strategy is escalating around the globe, its triumph is still sub optimal in India. Objectives: This scoping review intends to explore the available mobile health (mHealth) technologies and analyse the effectiveness of the same for tuberculosis management in India. Methods: An elaborate search in electronic databases, such as PubMed and Google scholar, using the key terms and focussing from the year 2015, provided very broad results focussing on mHealth interventions and their utilisation in TB management in India. Further selection of the inclusive publications was carried out based upon the eligibility requirements as formulated for this review, pertaining to the objective of this study. Results: The collaborate search yielded a total of 858 scientific research papers. After the filtering of the obtained results, a total of 45 articles were selected to be analysed for this review. Published manuscripts, articles in peer review and abstracts from reliable databases were included to obtain vast range of information. Conclusion: The extensive literature search showed a preponderance of mHealth intervention studies focusing on TB treatment and drug monitoring. There exists a paucity of mHealth applications targeted to educate the public and intercept this infectious disease. The scientific articles reviewed and analysed in this scoping review strongly recommend the demployment of mHealth applications to achieve the target of eradicating TB by 2025 in India.
Board Attributes and Bank Performance in Light of Saudi Corporate Governance Regulations
Authors: Habtoor Omer Saeed
Published: September 2022

This study investigates the relationship between various attributes of boards of directors on bank performance in light of Saudi corporate governance regulations. The data set of this study is extracted from the annual reports of all 12 banks listed on the Saudi Stock Exchange (Tadawul) over a period of 10 years from 2009 to 2018. To test the study hypotheses, check the robustness of the results, and address potential endogeneity issues, this study applies different statistical methods, including FGLS, OLS, RE, PLCSE, and 2SLS, using STATA version 17. The results of multivariate analysis show that board size has a significant positive influence only on operational bank performance (ROA). For board composition, the results show that while board independence has a significant negative impact on accounting-based performance (ROA and ROE), it affects positively and significantly the market-based performance (Tobin’s Q). Regarding board education, the results indicate that board members with at least a Bachelor’s degree have a significant negative impact on ROA and ROE. In contrast, PhD holders on the board have a significant positive impact on ROA and ROE, while Master’s holders affect positively and significantly all measures of bank performance. With respect to board diversity, only the CEO nationality has a significant positive effect on ROA and ROE. Board IT experience is found to be significantly and positively associated with ROA and ROE, while board meeting attendance has a significant positive influence only on ROE. These findings have important implications, especially for Saudi regulatory authorities to assess the current practice and compliance with the Saudi corporate governance regulations (SCGRs) and the principles of corporate governance for banks operating in Saudi Arabia (PCGB) regarding board characteristics and provide insights to improve board effectiveness and corporate governance practice in general.
Dynamics between Direct Industrial Real Estate and the Macroeconomy: An Empirical Study of Hong Kong
Authors: Lo Daniel , Yau Yung , McCord Michael , Haran Martin
Published: September 2022

Pricing of direct industrial real estate (DIRE) has long been under-researched due to the paucity of analysable data. Compared to other types of real estate, DIRE has often been regarded as more inefficient because of information asymmetry amongst market players stemming from a lack of market transparency. Therefore, pricing of DIRE usually does not follow a random walk and should be more predictable than other types of real estate. Along this line of reasoning, this study empirically investigates the causal relationships between the price-to-rent ratio of DIRE and macroeconomic attributes using cointegration and causality techniques. More specifically, we employ data on the market of Hong Kong to investigate the lead-lag relationships between the price-to-rent ratio of DIRE and a wide spectrum of macroeconomic and financial indicators, including inflation, money supply, national income, exchange rates, performance of housing market and other economic indicators specific to the industrial sector. The results of our statistical tests reveal significant evidence that DIRE is generally moving in syncs with other segments of the economy over time in terms of long-term cointegration. Further, DIRE tends to lag behind the overall macroeconomy in terms of Granger causation with the price-to-rent ratio exhibiting varying lengths of time lag with the macroeconomic determinants. The findings of the study carry important implications for informing property valuation practices and industrial land policy, particularly in designing urban revitalization programmes aimed at optimising industrial land use.
How Can Macro-Scale Land-Use Policies Be Integrated with Local-Scale Urban Growth? Exploring Trade-Offs for Sustainable Urbanization in Xi’an, China
Authors: Lei Haifen , Koch Jennifer , Shi Hui , Snapp Shelby
Published: September 2022

Rapid urbanization results in farmland loss, habitat fragmentation, biodiversity decrease, and greenhouse gas emissions. Land-use policies and planning as administrative means are used to guide sustainable urban development and to balance the location of urban expansion and agricultural activities. To better understand the future implications of a variety of land-use policies, we used a FUTURES model scenario analysis to analyze the potential future patterns of urban areas and the loss and fragmentation of farmland and natural resources at the local level for Xi’an. We tested representative indicators of sustainable urbanization according to Plan 2014–2020. We found that scenarios representing the integration of several policies showed both synergetic spatial patterns and conflicting outcomes. The simulated land-use patterns of urban growth resulting from the combination of policies, were the most likely to support progress toward a livable compact city and natural resources’ conservation. These findings underscore the importance of simulation modeling and scenario analyses to quantify and visualize the results from policies and planning to support sustainable urbanization. Specifically, they show the value in simulation modeling for integrating information across scales, i.e., combining macro-level land-use policies with local-level spatial heterogeneity in socio-ecological settings, for identifying actionable planning solutions. Hence, these research results provide scientific support for land-use policy revision and implementation in Xi’an, as well as a reference point for other urbanizing cities in China.
What Drives Residential Land Expansion and Densification? An Analysis of Growing and Shrinking Regions
Authors: Ustaoglu Eda , Jacobs-Crisioni Chris
Published: September 2022

While the driving factors of urban growth and urban sprawl have repeatedly been studied, the implications for residential densities presumably differ in growing and shrinking regions. Thus far, those differences have received little attention. This paper examined the dynamics of urban growth and shrinkage across EU regions, using residential densities as an explanatory factor to analyse the underlying dynamics. To do so, detailed spatial data on various potentially relevant factors were used in regression methods to establish the relevance of those factors for residential expansion and densification in growing and shrinking EU regions between the years 2000 and 2010. We found that expansion and densification processes are affected by population size, prior residential density, land supply, accessibility, agricultural land rent, physical factors, public regulation, and regional characteristics. The results of this study can confirm that residential expansion is driven differently in declining regions than in regions with population growth. Models explaining residential density changes also yield different results in declining regions.
Spatial Prioritization for Ecotourism through Applying the Landscape Resilience Model
Authors: Nematollahi Shekoufeh , Afghari Sadaf , Kienast Felix , Fakheran Sima
Published: September 2022

Given the growing universal demand for sustainable development in recent years, ecotourism has become one of the top effectual actions that can be employed to reconcile environmental conservation with economic growth. Therefore, sustainable development can be supported by assessing ecotourism ecosystem services at the landscape scale. In this regard, we presented a new technique that considers a potential model of ecotourism along with a landscape resilience measurement to identify the priority areas for sustainable ecotourism development. For this purpose, a multi-criteria fuzzy model with a geographic information system (GIS) and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was first used to evaluate potential zones for ecotourism. The landscape ecological risk index (ERI) was then applied to measure the landscape resilience. The usefulness of our novel technique was then tested in a case study in the Chaharmahal and Bakhtiari province (Ch & B), situated in the central part of the Zagros Mountain Chains, Iran. The area has a coarse terrain with climate that varies considerably, which results in high potential for ecotourism development. The results indicated that about half of the provincial area had high potential for developing ecotourism and attracting tourists. However, when considering the landscape resilience, approximately 33% of the study area near the western and central regions had both high potential for ecotourism and the high values of landscape resilience, making these locations suitable for sustainable ecotourism development. Overall, the present study demonstrated that utilizing the integrated models and the ecotourism potential model, together with the landscape resilience assessment, might provide a powerful tool for ecotourism prioritization for the purpose of sustainable development.
Novel Apparatuses for Incorporating Natural Selection Processes into Origins-of-Life Experiments to Produce Adaptively Evolving Chemical Ecosystems
Authors: Root-Bernstein Robert , Brown Adam W.
Published: September 2022

Origins-of-life chemical experiments usually aim to produce specific chemical end-products such as amino acids, nucleic acids or sugars. The resulting chemical systems do not evolve or adapt because they lack natural selection processes. We have modified Miller origins-of-life apparatuses to incorporate several natural, prebiotic physicochemical selection factors that can be tested individually or in tandem: freezing-thawing cycles; drying-wetting cycles; ultraviolet light-dark cycles; and catalytic surfaces such as clays or minerals. Each process is already known to drive important origins-of-life chemical reactions such as the production of peptides and synthesis of nucleic acid bases and each can also destroy various reactants and products, resulting selection within the chemical system. No previous apparatus has permitted all of these selection processes to work together. Continuous synthesis and selection of products can be carried out over many months because the apparatuses can be re-gassed. Thus, long-term chemical evolution of chemical ecosystems under various combinations of natural selection may be explored for the first time. We argue that it is time to begin experimenting with the long-term effects of such prebiotic natural selection processes because they may have aided biotic life to emerge by taming the combinatorial chemical explosion that results from unbounded chemical syntheses.
The Role of Neutrophils in Pregnancy, Term and Preterm Labour
Authors: Gimeno-Molina Belen , Muller Ingrid , Kropf Pascale , Sykes Lynne
Published: September 2022

Neutrophils are surveillance cells, and the first to react and migrate to sites of inflammation and infection following a chemotactic gradient. Neutrophils play a key role in both sterile inflammation and infection, performing a wide variety of effector functions such as degranulation, phagocytosis, ROS production and release of neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs). Healthy term labour requires a sterile pro-inflammatory process, whereas one of the most common causes of spontaneous preterm birth is microbial driven. Peripheral neutrophilia has long been described during pregnancy, and evidence exists demonstrating neutrophils infiltrating the cervix, uterus and foetal membranes during both term and preterm deliveries. Their presence supports a role in tissue remodelling via their effector functions. In this review, we describe the effector functions of neutrophils. We summarise the evidence to support their role in healthy pregnancy and labour and describe their potential contribution to microbial driven preterm birth.
Microbiome in Chronic Kidney Disease
Authors: Tourountzis Theodoros , Lioulios Georgios , Fylaktou Asimina , Moysidou Eleni , Papagianni Aikaterini , Stangou Maria
Published: September 2022

The gut microbiome is a complex collection of microorganisms with discrete characteristics and activities. Its important role is not restricted to food digestion and metabolism, but extends to the evolution, activation and function of the immune system. Several factors, such as mode of birth, diet, medication, ageing and chronic inflammation, can modify the intestinal microbiota. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) seems to have a direct and unique effect, as increased urea levels result in alteration of the gut microbiome, leading to overproduction of its metabolites. Therefore, potentially noxious microbial uremic toxins, which have predominantly renal clearance, including p-cresyl sulfate, indoxyl sulfate and N-oxide of trimethylamine [Trimethylamine-N-Oxide (TMAO)], accumulate in human’s body, and are responsible not only for the clinical implications of CKD, but also for the progression of renal failure itself. Certain changes in gut microbiome are observed in patients with end stage renal disease (ESRD), either when undergoing hemodialysis or after kidney transplantation. The purpose of this review is to summarize the changes of gut microbiome and the protein bound uremic toxins which are observed in CKD and in different kidney replacement strategies. In addition, we attempt to review the connection between microbiome, clinical implications and immune response in CKD.
Comparison of Life Traits in Two Bacterivorous Nematodes Suggest Different Ecological Strategies to Exploit Similar Habitats
Authors: Moon Je-Hyun , Indong Rocel Amor , Alcantara Alfredo V. , Yoon Kyoung-hye , Lee Jin I.
Published: September 2022

Environments can be in states of dynamic change as well as persistent stability. These different states are a result of outside external conditions, but also the constant flux of living organisms in that ecological fauna. Nematodes are tremendously diverse, and many types can reside in the same soil microenvironments at the same time. To examine how so many nematodes can thrive and exploit a single environment, we identified two bacterivorous nematodes, Caenorhabditis elegans and Acrobeloides tricornis, that can inhabit rotting apple and soil environments. We cultured both nematodes in the laboratory and compared their life traits. We found that whereas C. elegans develops and reproduces extremely quickly, A. tricornis reaches sexual maturity much later and lays eggs at a slower rate but remains fertile for a longer time. In addition, A. tricornis displays a slower feeding behavior than C. elegans. Finally, A. tricornis has a significantly longer lifespan than C. elegans. These differences in development, physiology and behavior between the two nematodes hint at different ecological strategies to exploit the same habitat over different time periods, C. elegans as a colonizer-type nematode, and A. tricornis as more of a persister.
A Pair of Prognostic Biomarkers in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer: KLK10 and KLK11 mRNA Expression
Authors: Liu Yueyang , Gong Weiwei , Preis Sarah , Dorn Julia , Kiechle Marion , Reuning Ute , Magdolen Viktor , Dreyer Tobias F.
Published: September 2022

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive breast cancer subtype with poor patient prognosis and limited therapeutic options. A lack of prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets fuels the need for new approaches to tackle this severe disease. Extracellular matrix degradation, release, and modulation of the activity of growth factors/cytokines/chemokines, and the initiation of signaling pathways by extracellular proteolytic networks, have been identified as major processes in the carcinogenesis of breast cancer. Members of the kallikrein-related peptidase (KLK) family contribute to these tumor-relevant processes, and are associated with breast cancer progression and metastasis. In this study, the clinical relevance of mRNA expression of two members of this family, KLK10 and KLK11, has been evaluated in TNBC. For this, their expression levels were quantified in tumor tissue of a large, well-characterized patient cohort (n = 123) via qPCR. Although, in general, the overall expression of both factors are lower in tumor tissue of breast cancer patients (encompassing all subtypes) compared to normal tissue of healthy donors, in the TNBC subtype, expression is even increased. In our cohort, a significant, positive correlation between the expression levels of both KLKs was detected, indicating a coordinate expression mode of these proteases. Elevated KLK10 and KLK11 mRNA levels were associated with poor patient prognosis. Moreover, both factors were found to be independent of other established clinical factors such as age, lymph node status, or residual tumor mass, as determined by multivariable Cox regression analysis. Thus, both proteases, KLK10 and KLK11, may represent unfavorable prognostic factors for TNBC patients and, furthermore, appear as promising potential targets for therapy in TNBC.
New Water-Ethylene Glycol Lubricants with Stearate Ionic Liquid Crystal Additive
Authors: Avilés María-Dolores , Sánchez-Rodríguez Cristian , Pamies Ramón , Bermúdez María-Dolores , Carrión-Vilches Francisco-José , Sanfelix Susana García , Kjøniksen Anna-Lena
Published: September 2022

The main purpose of the present study is to improve the tribological performance of aqueous lubricants with the use of ecofriendly, fatty acid-derived additives. The protic ionic liquid crystal bis(2-hydroxyethyl)ammonium stearate (DES) has been added to 50:50 water+ethylene glycol (W–EG) to obtain (W–EG)+0.5%DES; (W–EG)+1%DES and (W–EG)+2%DES emulsions. The new lubricants have been studied in sapphire-AISI (American Iron and Steel Institute) 316L stainless-steel pin-on-disk sliding contacts. The addition of DES reduces the friction coefficient by up to 76% and wear rate by up to 80%, with respect to (W–EG). The best performance is found for the emulsions with the lower proportion of DES (0.5 and 1 wt.%). These results have been related to viscosity and turbidity values. Wear mechanisms have been studied by Scanning Electron Microscopy/Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM/EDX) and by Raman microscopy. While W–EG shows a severe abrasive mechanism, no abrasion marks are present inside the wear track after lubrication with (W–EG)+0.5%DES, the emulsion with the lowest wear rate. After lubrication with W–EG, an increase in oxygen content is observed inside the wear track, as determined by EDX and confirmed by Raman microscopy, which shows the presence of iron oxides. The addition of DES reduces these oxidation processes.
Elastic Obstacle-Surmounting Pipeline-Climbing Robot with Composite Wheels
Authors: Li Jie , Huang Feng , Tu Chunlei , Tian Mengqian , Wang Xingsong
Published: September 2022

Regular inspection and maintenance can ensure safe working conditions of transport pipelines without leakage and damage. Pipeline-climbing robots can be used for rapid inspection of pipelines, effectively reducing labor costs and time consumption. For the annular pipelines outside spherical tanks, the special distribution and installation form presents more high obstacles, and puts forward higher requirements for the robot’s climbing performance and obstacle-surmounting ability. An elastic obstacle-surmounting pipeline-climbing robot with composite wheels is proposed in this paper. The designed elastic shock-absorbing suspension mechanisms and composite wheels were designed to increase the stability and obstacle-surmounting ability of the robot. The adjustable robot frame and rotating joint mechanisms allowed the robot to adapt to pipelines of different diameters and radians. Force analysis and simulation of obstacle surmounting by the robot were performed. Experiments were conducted on a 110-mm diameter pipeline to test the payload performance and obstacle-surmounting ability of the robot. With its elastic shock-absorbing suspension mechanisms, the pipeline-climbing robot could carry a 30 kg payload and stably climb the pipeline. The maximum height of obstacles surmounted by the composite wheels of the robot was 20 mm. In the process of surmounting obstacles, the velocity and inclination angle of the robot could remain relatively stable. This novel composite wheels and mechanisms can improve the performance of the pipeline-climbing robot and solve the problem of surmounting high obstacles. By carrying various equipment and instruments, the robot can promote the automated maintenance and inspection of complex pipelines.
Output Power and Wake Flow Characteristics of a Wind Turbine with Swept Blades
Authors: Huang Xiaoxi , Yang Junwei , Gao Zhiying , Sha Chenglong , Yang Hua
Published: September 2022

To study the output power and wake flow characteristics of a wind turbine with swept blades, taking the blade tip offset and the location of the sweep start as two variables, the straight blade of the DTU-LN221 baseline airfoil was optimally designed with sweep. Then the designed wind turbine was numerically simulated, and the swept blade with the best optimal output power characteristics was selected for the wind tunnel test. The results indicate that for both forward and backward swept blades, increasing the blade tip offset and the sweep start location could decrease the power and thrust coefficients. Compared with the backward swept design, the forward swept design significantly improved the blades’ power characteristics. By adopting swept blades instead of straight blades, wind turbines could generate more power at high tip speed ratios, especially in yaw conditions. The streamwise velocity recovery of the wind turbine with swept blades was slower than that with straight blades as the lateral velocity near the wake region was higher than that with straight blades. Besides, the wind turbine with swept blades had a greater turbulence intensity of the wake near the wake center than that with straight blades with or without yaw condition.
A Vision-Based Underwater Formation Control System Design and Implementation on Small Underwater Spherical Robots
Authors: Bao Pengxiao , Shi Liwei , Chen Zhan , Guo Shuxiang
Published: September 2022

The ocean is a significant strategic resource, and the insufficient development and use of the ocean, as well as the increase in attention to the ocean, have led to the development of underwater robot technology. The need for in-depth marine exploration and the limitations of one underwater robot has sparked research on the underwater multi-robot system. In the underwater environment, weak communication is caused by the shielding effect of the seawater medium, which makes multi-robot systems difficult to form. Hence, we combine the robot’s vision system with the leader-follower structure to form a vision-based underwater formation method, in which the visual solution serves as the control system’s feedback. By using three small underwater robot platforms, the proposed method is proved to be effective and practicable through underwater formation experiments. Furthermore, the coordination period and error of the control system are analyzed.
Synergistic Effect of Combined Treatment with Magnetic Hyperthermia and Magneto-Mechanical Stress of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Tzoneva Rumiana , Tsiapla Aikaterini-Rafailia , Uzunova Veselina , Stoyanova Tihomira , Samaras Theodoros , Angelakeris Makis , Kalogirou Orestis
Published: September 2022

With the development of nanotechnology, the emergence of new anti-tumor techniques using nanoparticles such as magnetic hyperthermia and magneto-mechanical activation have been the subject of much attention and study in recent years, as anticancer tools. Therefore, the purpose of the current in vitro study was to investigate the cumulative effect of a combination of these two techniques, using magnetic nanoparticles against breast cancer cells. After 24 h of incubation, human breast cancer (MCF-7) and non-cancerous (MCF-10A) cells with and without MNPs were treated (a) for 15 min with magnetic hyperthermia, (b) for 30 min with magneto-mechanical activation, and (c) by a successive treatment consisting of a 15-min magnetic hyperthermia cycle and 30 min of magneto-mechanical activation. The influence of treatments on cell survival and morphology was studied by MTT (3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazoliumbromide) assay and light microscopy. When applied, separately, magneto-mechanical and thermal (hyperthermia) treatment did not demonstrate strong reduction in cell viability. No morphological changes were observed in non-cancerous cells after treatments. On the other hand, the combination of magneto-mechanical and thermal treatment in the presence of MNPs had a synergistic effect on decreased cell viability, and apoptosis was demonstrated in the cancer cell line. Synergism is most evident in the cancer cell line, incubated for 120 h, while in the non-cancerous line after 120 h, an increase in proliferation is clearly observed. MCF-7 cells showed more rounded cell morphology, especially after 120 h of combined treatment.
Interval-Type 3 Fuzzy Differential Evolution for Designing an Interval-Type 3 Fuzzy Controller of a Unicycle Mobile Robot
Authors: Peraza Cinthia , Ochoa Patricia , Castillo Oscar , Geem Zong Woo
Published: September 2022

Recently, interval-type 3 fuzzy systems have begun to appear in different research areas. This article outlines a methodology for the parameterization of interval type-3 membership functions using vertical cuts applied to the dynamic parameter adaptation of the differential evolution algorithm and implemented in an interval-type 3 Sugeno controller. This methodology was applied to the dynamic adaptation of the F (mutation) parameter in differential evolution to improve the performance of this method as the generations occur. To test the type-3 fuzzy differential evolution algorithm, the optimal design of a type-3 Sugeno controller was considered. In this case, the parameterization of the type-3 membership functions of this Sugeno fuzzy controller was performed. The experimentation is based on the application of three different noise levels for validation of the efficacy of the method and performing a comparison study with respect to other articles in the literature. The main idea is to implement the parameterization of interval type-3 membership functions to enhance the ability of differential evolution in designing an optimal interval type-3 system to control a unicycle mobile robot.
Elementary Cellular Automata as Invariant under Conjugation Transformation or Combination of Conjugation and Reflection Transformations, and Applications to Traffic Modeling
Authors: Kozlov Valery , Tatashev Alexander , Yashina Marina
Published: September 2022

This paper develops the analysis of properties of the cellular automata class introduced by the authors. It is assumed that the set of automaton cells is finite and forms a closed lattice, and there are two states for each automaton cell. We consider a new concept. This concept is the average velocity of a cellular automaton, which characterizes the average intensity of changes in the states of the automaton’s cells for a given initial state. The automaton velocity is equal to 1 if the state of any cell changes at each step. The spectrum of average velocities of a cellular automaton is the set of average velocities for different initial states. Since the state space is finite, the automaton, starting from a certain moment of time, is in periodically repeating states of a cycle, and thus, the research of the velocity spectrum is related to the problem of studying the set of the automaton cycles. For elementary cellular automata, the introduced class consists of a subclass of automata such that the conjugation trasformation of an automaton is the automaton itself (Subclass A) or the reflection of the automaton (Subclass B). For this class, it is proved that the spectrum of the automaton contains the value v0 if and only if the spectrum of the complementary automaton contains the value 1−v0 (the sum of the index of elementary cellular automaton and the complementary automaton is 255). For automata of Subclasses A and B, the set of cycles and the velocity spectrum are studied. For Subclass A, a theorem has been proved such that in accordance with this theorem, if two automata complementary to each other start evolving in the same initial state, then the sum of their average velocities is equal to 1. This theorem for Subclass A is generalized to cellular automata, invariant under the conjugation transformation, of more general type than elementary automata. Generalizations of the theorem have been given for the class of one-dimensional cellular automata with a neighborhood containing 2r+1 cells (the next state of the cell depends on the present states of this cell, r cells on the left and r cells on the right) and for some traditionally considered classes of two-dimensional automata. Some elementary cellular automata belonging to the class considered in the paper can be interpreted as transport models. The properties of the spectra for these automata are studied and compared with the properties of elementary cellular automata not invariant under the considered transformations and can also be interpreted as transport models. The analytical results obtained for these simple models can be used to study the qualitative properties and limiting behavior of more complex transport models.
Role of Static Modes in Quasinormal Modes Expansions: When and How to Take Them into Account?
Authors: Besbes Mondher , Sauvan Christophe
Published: September 2022

The scattering of electromagnetic waves by a resonator is determined by the excitation of the eigenmodes of the system. In the case of open resonators made of absorbing materials, the system is non-Hermitian, and the eigenmodes are quasinormal modes. Among the whole set of quasinormal modes, static modes (modes with a zero eigenfrequency) occupy a specific place. We study the role of static modes in quasinormal modes expansions calculated with a numerical solver implemented with the finite-element method. We show that, in the case of a dielectric permittivity described by a Lorentz model, static modes markedly contribute to the electromagnetic field reconstruction but are incorrectly calculated with a solver designed to compute modes with non-zero eigenfrequencies. We propose to solve this issue by adding to the solver a separate, specific computation of the static modes.
Computer Vision Algorithms, Remote Sensing Data Fusion Techniques, and Mapping and Navigation Tools in the Industry 4.0-Based Slovak Automotive Sector
Authors: Nagy Marek , Lăzăroiu George
Published: September 2022

The objectives of this paper, and the novelty brought to the topic of the Industry 4.0 manufacturing systems, are related to the integration of computer vision algorithms, remote sensing data fusion techniques, and mapping and navigation tools in the Slovak automotive sector. We conducted a thorough examination of Industry 4.0-based value and supply chains, clarifying how cyber-physical production systems operate in relation to collision avoidance technologies, environment mapping algorithms, and mobility simulation tools in network connectivity systems through vehicle navigation data. The Citroen C3 and Peugeot 208 automobiles are two examples of high-tech products whose worldwide value and supply chain development trends were examined in this study by determining countries and their contributions to production. The fundamental components of the research—statistical analysis and visual analysis—were utilized in conjunction with a variety of syntheses, comparisons, and analytical methodologies. A case study was developed using PSA Group SVK data. The graphical analysis revealed that Slovakia offers the second-highest added value to the chosen items, but it also highlighted the country’s slow-growing research and development (R&D) infrastructure, which could lead to a subsequent loss of investment and business as usual. Slovakia can generate better export added value by optimizing Industry 4.0-based manufacturing systems in the automotive sector.
Masked Autoencoder for Pre-Training on 3D Point Cloud Object Detection
Authors: Xie Guangda , Li Yang , Qu Hongquan , Sun Zaiming
Published: September 2022

In autonomous driving, the 3D LiDAR (Light Detection and Ranging) point cloud data of the target are missing due to long distance and occlusion. It makes object detection more difficult. This paper proposes Point Cloud Masked Autoencoder (PCMAE), which can provide pre-training for most voxel-based point cloud object detection algorithms. PCMAE improves the feature representation ability of the 3D backbone for long-distance and occluded objects through self-supervised learning. First, a point cloud masking strategy for autonomous driving scenes named PC-Mask is proposed. It is used to simulate the problem of missing point cloud data information due to occlusion and distance in autonomous driving scenarios. Then, a symmetrical encoder–decoder architecture is designed for pre-training. The encoder is used to extract the high-level features of the point cloud after PC-Mask, and the decoder is used to reconstruct the complete point cloud. Finally, the pre-training method proposed in this paper is applied to SECOND (Sparsely Embedded Convolutional Detection) and Part-A2-Net (Part-aware and Aggregate Neural Network) object detection algorithms. The experimental results show that our method can speed up the model convergence speed and improve the detection accuracy, especially the detection effect of long-distance and occluded objects.
In Silico Analysis of Bioactive Peptides Produced from Underutilized Sea Cucumber By-Products—A Bioinformatics Approach
Authors: Senadheera Tharindu R. L. , Hossain Abul , Dave Deepika , Shahidi Fereidoon
Published: September 2022

Bioinformatic tools are widely used in predicting potent bioactive peptides from food derived materials. This study was focused on utilizing sea cucumber processing by-products for generating antioxidant and ACE inhibitory peptides by application of a range of in silico techniques. Identified peptides using LC−MS/MS were virtually screened by PepRank technique followed by in silico proteolysis simulation with representative digestive enzymes using BIOPEP-UWMTM data base tool. The resultant peptides after simulated digestion were evaluated for their toxicity using ToxinPred software. All digestive resistance peptides were found to be non-toxic and displayed favorable functional properties indicating their potential for use in a wide range of food applications, including hydrophobic and hydrophilic systems. Identified peptides were further assessed for their medicinal characteristics by employing SwissADME web-based application. Our findings provide an insight on potential use of undervalued sea cucumber processing discards for functional food product development and natural pharmaceutical ingredients attributed to the oral drug discovery process.
Quinoid Pigments of Sea Urchins Scaphechinus mirabilis and Strongylocentrotus intermedius: Biological Activity and Potential Applications
Authors: Ageenko Natalya , Kiselev Konstantin , Odintsova Nelly
Published: September 2022

This review presents literature data: the history of the discovery of quinoid compounds, their biosynthesis and biological activity. Special attention is paid to the description of the quinoid pigments of the sea urchins Scaphechinus mirabilis (from the family Scutellidae) and Strongylocentrotus intermedius (from the family Strongylocentrotidae). The marine environment is considered one of the most important sources of natural bioactive compounds with extremely rich biodiversity. Primary- and some secondary-mouthed animals contain very high concentrations of new biologically active substances, many of which are of significant potential interest for medical purposes. The quinone pigments are products of the secondary metabolism of marine animals, can have complex structures and become the basis for the development of new natural products in echinoids that are modulators of chemical interactions and possible active ingredients in medicinal preparations. More than 5000 chemical compounds with high pharmacological potential have been isolated and described from marine organisms. There are three well known ways of naphthoquinone biosynthesis—polyketide, shikimate and mevalonate. The polyketide pathway is the biosynthesis pathway of various quinones. The shikimate pathway is the main pathway in the biosynthesis of naphthoquinones. It should be noted that all quinoid compounds in plants and animals can be synthesized by various ways of biosynthesis.
Fouling and Performance Investigation of Membrane Distillation at Elevated Recoveries for Seawater Desalination and Wastewater Reclamation
Authors: Khan Abdulaziz , Yadav Sudesh , Ibrar Ibrar , Al Juboori Raed A. , Razzak Sara Ali , Deka Priyamjeet , Subbiah Senthilmurugan , Shah Shreyansh
Published: September 2022

This study reports on the impact of elevated recovery (i.e., 80%, 85%, and 90%) on the fouling and performance of air gap membrane distillation (AGMD) with real seawater and landfill leachate wastewater samples using polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) polymer membranes. Increasing the feed temperature from 55 °C to 65 °C improved the water flux of seawater and wastewater and shortened the operating time by 42.8% for all recoveries. The average water flux in the 80%, 85%, and 90% recovery experiments at the 65 °C feed temperature was 32%, 37.32%, and 36.7% higher than the case of 55 °C for the same recoveries. The water flux decline was more severe at a higher temperature and recovery. The highest flux decline was observed with a 90% recovery at 65 °C feed temperature, followed by an 85% recovery at 65 °C. Close examination of the foulants layer revealed that seawater formed a cake fouling layer made predominantly of metal oxides. In contrast, the landfill leachate fouling was a combination of pore blocking and cake formation, consisting mainly of carbonous and nitrogenous compounds. Physical cleaning with deionized (DI) water at 55 °C and 65 °C and chemical cleaning with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) were investigated for their efficiency in removing membrane foulants. Analytical results revealed that seawater fouling caused membrane pore blockage while wastewater fouling formed a porous layer on the membrane surface. The results showed that membrane cleaning with hydrogen peroxide restored >97% of the water flux. Interestingly, the fouling factor in seawater tests was 10%, while it was 16% for the wastewater tests.
Influence of Applied Load and Sliding Velocity on Tribocorrosion Behavior of 7075-T6 Aluminum Alloy
Authors: Li Zhengyi , Yu Hongying , Wen Lei , Sun Dongbai
Published: September 2022

In this paper, the tribocorrosion behavior and synergistic effect of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy under different applied loads (100, 150, and 200 N) and sliding velocities (100, 150, and 200 rpm) were studied in a 3.5 wt.% NaCl solution. Tribocorrosion experiments were conducted in a tribobocorrosion system with pin-on-disc testing. The results show that the interaction between applied load and sliding velocity significantly affects the mechanical and electrochemical properties of 7075-T6 aluminum alloy. Increases in sliding velocity and applied load will accelerate the corrosion. Due to the synergistic effect of corrosion and wear, the wear rate is almost unchanged as the sliding velocity increases. When the applied load increased from 100 to 200 N, the wear rate increased from 1.97 × 10−5 to 2.08 × 10−5 mm3/N·m, and the delamination wear phenomenon was aggravated.
Acute Calculous Cholecystitis Caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus subspecies pasteurianus: A Case Report
Authors: Shigemori Tsunehiko , Hiasa Atsunori , Inoue Yasuhiro , Oka Satoko , Yasuma Taro , Nishiwaki Ryo , Sugimasa Natsuko , Hamaguchi Tetsuya , Noji Midori , Takeuchi Kenji , Ito Yoshiyuki , Katoh Toshio , Gabazza Esteban C. , Imoto Ichiro
Published: September 2022

Acute cholecystitis is an infectious disease of the gallbladder caused mainly by Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, and Enterococcus species. Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus, previously known as Streptococcus bovis biotype II/2, rarely causes endocarditis, meningitis, and septicemia, mainly in children. Biliary tract infections by Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus are extremely rare. There have been no reports of cases in Japan. Here, we describe the first case in Japan of acute calculous cholecystitis caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus infection. A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with epigastric pain and vomiting. He had moderate tenderness and a full sensation in the epigastrium. Abdominal imaging revealed multiple stones in the gallbladder. After admission, he had a high fever that did not improve with antibiotics. Percutaneous transhepatic gallbladder drainage was performed. The patient underwent open cholecystectomy. During surgery, several small stones in the gallbladder and an abscess were observed at the gallbladder base. Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus was detected by bacterial culture of the bile juice. The gallstones were bilirubin calcium stones. The endoscopic study showed three adenomas in the colon, but the histopathological examination demonstrated no malignant cells. Although infection by this bacterium may not be rare, this is the first reported case in Japan of acute calculous cholecystitis caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus subsp. pasteurianus infection.
Characterization of Paenibacillus sp. GKG Endo-β-1, 3-Glucanase, a Member of Family 81 Glycoside Hydrolases
Authors: Plakys Gediminas , Gasparavičiūtė Renata , Vaitekūnas Justas , Rutkienė Rasa , Meškys Rolandas
Published: September 2022

Paenibacillus sp. GKG was isolated based on its ability to produce hydrolysis zones on agar plates containing yeast cell wall substrate as the single carbon source. The extracellular enzymes secreted into the culture medium were identified by LC-MS/MS proteomics. Endo-β-1,3-glucanase PsLam81A containing GH81 catalytic and the CBM56 carbohydrate-binding modules was selected for heterologous expression in Escherichia coli. The identity of the recombinant PsLam81A was confirmed by LC-MS/MS proteomics. The PsLam81A showed the highest activity at 60 °C, and the optimal pH range was between 6.5 and 8.0. The analysis of the full-length PsLam81A and truncated PsLam81AΔCBM56 enzymes showed that the CBM56 module improved the hydrolytic activity towards linear β-1,3-glucans—curdlan and pachyman but had no effect on hydrolysis of β-1,3/β1,6-branched glucans—laminarin and yeast β-glucan. The characterization of PsLam81A enzyme broadens current knowledge on the biochemical properties and substrate specificity of family 81 glycoside hydrolases and allows prediction of the necessity of CBM56 module in the process of designing new truncated or chimeric glycosidases.
Human Papillomavirus Infection during Pregnancy and Childhood: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Ardekani Ali , Taherifard Erfan , Mollalo Abolfazl , Hemadi Emadeddin , Roshanshad Amirhossein , Fereidooni Reza , Rouholamin Safoura , Rezaeinejad Mahroo , Farid-Mojtahedi Maryam , Razavi Maryam , Rostami Ali
Published: September 2022

Human papillomavirus (HPV), the most prevalent sexually transmitted disease worldwide, is the causative agent for several genital and oropharyngeal cancers and a suspected agent for many malignancies. HPV is associated with several adverse health outcomes during pregnancy. Infants are also at risk of HPV infection via different transmission routes: vertically from an infected mother and horizontally through sexual or non-sexual contact with infected individuals. Several HPV manifestations have been identified during childhood, ranging from common skin infections to severe complications such as juvenile recurrent respiratory papillomatosis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology, manifestations, and treatment strategies of HPV infection during pregnancy and childhood. Moreover, we underline the role of vaccination in preventing complications.