bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effects of Grape Pomace Polyphenols and In Vitro Gastrointestinal Digestion on Antimicrobial Activity: Recovery of Bioactive Compounds
Authors: Caponio Giusy , Noviello Mirella , Calabrese Francesco , Gambacorta Giuseppe , Giannelli Gianluigi , De Angelis Maria
Published: March 2022

Grape pomace (GP), a major byproduct obtained from the winemaking process, is characterized by a high amount of phenolic compounds and secondary plant metabolites, with potential beneficial effects on human health. Therefore, GP is a source of bioactive compounds with antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory activity. As people are paying more attention to sustainability, in this work, we evaluate two different extractions (aqueous and hydroalcoholic) of GP bioactive compounds. In vitro simulated gastrointestinal digestion of the GP extracts was performed to improve the bioavailability and bioaccessibility of polyphenols. The antioxidant activity (ABTS and DPPH assays) and the phenolic characterization of the extracts by UHPLC-DAD were evaluated. The antimicrobial effects of GP antioxidants in combination with a probiotic (Lactiplantibacillus plantarum) on the growth of pathogenic microorganisms (Escherichia coli, Bacillus megaterium, and Listeria monocytogenes) were evaluated. As a result, an increase of antioxidant activity of aqueous GP extracts during the gastrointestinal digestion, and a contextual decrease of hydroalcoholic extracts, were detected. The main compounds assessed by UHPLC-DAD were anthocyanins, phenolic acids, flavonoids, and stilbenes. Despite lower antioxidant activity, due to the presence of antimicrobial active compounds, the aqueous extracts inhibited the growth of pathogens.
Waste Classification of Spent Refractory Materials to Achieve Sustainable Development Goals Exploiting Multiple Criteria Decision Aiding Approach
Authors: Spyridakos Athanasios , Alexakis Dimitrios E. , Vryzidis Isaak , Tsotsolas Nikolaos , Varelidis George , Kagiaras Efthimios
Published: March 2022

The recycling of used refractory materials in the heavy industry constitutes one of the significant environmental problems in the industry related to environmental and financial issues. This study proposes a multicriteria methodological frame to characterize the refractory material waste and identify the recycling capabilities. Considering the chemical and physical analysis of the refractory material wastes, the proposed methodological frame progresses into a two-phase procedure. The first phase includes an on/off approach that allows discretizing the refractory material wastes to compatible or not compatible as far as their recycling prospects. Then, an additive value model is utilized, including (a) the marginal value functions used for every criterion related to critical environmental factors, and (b) the weight vector reflecting the relative importance of the criteria used. A group of experts concerning the environment and the refractory materials was employed to estimate the additive value model. The assessment of the marginal value function is achieved using the module of the Multicriteria Interactive Intelligence Decision Aiding System (MIIDAS), which is based on a modification of the mid-value split point technique incorporating focused dialogues, artificial intelligence, and visual techniques. The weight vector was assessed using the weight assessment through prioritization method (WAP), which concludes with the estimation of the weights based on the criteria ranking and the pairwise expression of the strength of preferences for the consecutive criteria according to their ranking. The outcome of this approach is to introduce an environmental appropriateness index for refractory materials based on their chemical composition and the judgement of an expert group. The main findings of this research may be useful for engineers, decision-makers, and scientists in the field of circular economy and waste management.
Experimental Tests on a Spoke-Type Permanent Magnets Synchronous Machine for Light Electric Vehicle Application
Authors: Breban Stefan , Dranca Marius , Chirca Mihai , Pacuraru Alexandru-Madalin , Teodosescu Petre-Dorel , Oprea Claudiu-Alexandru
Published: March 2022

In an attempt to limit the effects of global warming, virtually all car manufacturers have introduced in the last years Hybrid or full Electric Vehicles. The current study shows the experimental testing of a spoke-type PMSM that was developed based on the requirements of the L6e European light vehicle class. A test bench was developed for this purpose, using a DC machine fed by a bidirectional DC Power Supply that allowed the testing of the PMSM prototype both in motor and generator/brake regimes. The Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure (WLTP) was implemented on the control stage of the testing set-up, allowing an accurate estimation of the PMSM-based E-drivetrain performance. The test results validated the FEM-simulated results and provided an insight on the efficiency of the entire drive system (battery–inverter–PMSM) and the autonomy of the L6e light EV. The electric drive system was integrated and tested on a prototype vehicle in normal operating conditions, validating the results obtained on the developed test bench.
Reactive Extrusion Grafting of Glycidyl Methacrylate onto Low-Density and Recycled Polyethylene Using Supercritical Carbon Dioxide
Authors: Versteeg Frederique A. , Benita Benedicta B. , Jongstra Jesse A. , Picchioni Francesco
Published: March 2022

Glycidyl methacrylate (GMA) was grafted onto (recycled) polyethylene (PE) to design a new adhesive with better mechanical properties compared to non-grafted PE. The effects of the amount of GMA, the amount of dicumyl peroxide (DCP) and the use of supercritical carbon dioxide (scCO2) in a reactive extrusion (REX) were evaluated based on the grafting degree and efficiency of the grafted samples. Generally speaking, higher amounts of GMA led to higher functionalization degrees (FD), whereas higher amounts of DCP resulted in a lower FD due to the occurrence of more unfavorable side reactions. The influence of scCO2 showed different outcomes for the two substrates used. Higher FDs were obtained for the low-density polyethylene (LDPE) samples while, by contrast, lower FDs were obtained for the recycled polyethylene (RPE) samples when using scCO2. Additionally, adjusting the screw speed and the temperature profile of the extruder to the half-life time of the radical initiator appeared to have the highest positive impact on the FD. According to the tensile tests, all the grafted samples can withstand higher stress levels, especially the grafted RPE, compared to the non-grafted samples.
Authentication and Authorization in Microservices Architecture: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: de Almeida Murilo Góes , Canedo Edna Dias
Published: March 2022

The microservice architectural style splits an application into small services, which are implemented independently, with their own deployment unit. This architecture can bring benefits, nevertheless, it also poses challenges, especially about security aspects. In this case, there are several microservices within a single system, it represents an increase in the exposure of the safety surface, unlike the monolithic style, there are several applications running independently and must be secured individually. In this architecture, microservices communicate with each other, sometimes in a trust relationship. In this way, unauthorized access to a specific microservice could compromise an entire system. Therefore, it brings a need to explore knowledge about issues of security in microservices, especially in aspects of authentication and authorization. In this work, a Systematic Literature Review is carried out to answer questions on this subject, involving aspects of the challenges, mechanisms and technologies that deal with authentication and authorization in microservices. It was found that there are few studies dealing with the subject, especially in practical order, however, there is a consensus that communication between microservices, mainly due to its individual and trustworthy characteristics, is a concern to be considered. To face the problems, mechanisms such as OAuth 2.0, OpenID Connect, API Gateway and JWT are used. Finally, it was found that there are few open-source technologies that implement the researched mechanisms, with some mentions of the Spring Framework.
Investigation of Nonlinear Flow in Discrete Fracture Networks Using an Improved Hydro-Mechanical Coupling Model
Authors: Sui Qun , Chen Weizhong , Wang Luyu
Published: March 2022

Fractures commonly exist in rock masses; the coalescence of fractures provides fluid flow pathways in a fractured rock mass and greatly increases the flow capacity of fractured rock. This work aims to study the characteristics of nonlinear flow in fractures. A series of tests were conducted and indicated that the Forchheimer law performed well when describing the nonlinear relationship between hydraulic gradient and flow. The test results also indicate that higher water pressure may induce stronger nonlinearity. Additionally, the linear and nonlinear coefficients of the Forchheimer law increase with a decrease in the particle size of the filling material in fractures. On the basis of the laboratory results, the classical Forchheimer law was modified by considering the influence of stress on the variation of fracture aperture. A hydro-mechanical coupling model for fractured rock masses was built and programmed with a subroutine through ABAQUS. Furthermore, a random discrete fracture network was generated and simulated to prove that a high flow velocity will result in a nonlinear flow, not only in a single fracture, but also in a fracture network. The numerical results from fractured rock masses show that a ratio of the flow to the hydraulc gradient will change the flow from linear to weak nonlinearity and, finally, to strong nonlinearity with an increase in the hydraulic gradient. It also shows that the linear and nonlinear coefficients increase with an increase in the confining pressure and that they decrease with an increase in the aperture. Due to the complexity of fracture channels, a nonlinear flow is likely to occur in a fractured rock mass. Finally, the developed model was applied to simulate the flow behavior of underground engineering; the results show that the smaller the hydraulic aperture is, the higher the water pressure is required to be in order to change the flow regime from linear to nonlinear.
Proposal and Experimental Study on a Diagnosis Method for Hermetic Refrigeration Compressor Using Dual Time-Frequency Image Fusion
Authors: Li Kang , Sun Zhe , Jin Huaqiang , Xu Yingjie , Gu Jiangping , Huang Yuejin , Zhang Qinjian , Shen Xi
Published: March 2022

The hermetic refrigeration compressor is the core component of the refrigeration system, failure of which will cause energy waste and reduce service life. Fault diagnosis based on vibration signal is a research hotspot. However, it is challenging to extract features of nonlinear and nonstationary vibration signals, which severely restricts the development of this method. This paper proposes a dual time-frequency images fusion method to obtain more effective features for diagnosing compressor manufacturing defects. Firstly, two time-frequency images are obtained by implementing continuous wavelet transform and Hilbert-Huang transform of the same vibration signal sample. Then, a convolutional neural network is used for image feature extraction and fusion, where the features extracted from two time-frequency images have complementarity. A data set containing six categories of typical manufacturing defects is used to verify the proposed method. The results show that the average diagnostic accuracy of the proposed method reaches 95.9%, and the proposed method has a better performance than other methods.
Applying ANN and TM to Build a Prediction Model for the Site Selection of a Convenience Store
Authors: Fu Hsin-Pin , Yeh Hsiao-Ping , Chang Tein-Hsiang , Teng Ying-Hua , Tsai Cheng-Chang
Published: March 2022

This article builds a systematic and reliable site selection prediction model for a chain of convenience stores (CVSs) to improve the existing decision method of using experienced managers to select sites. Specifically, this study used an artificial neural network (ANN) technique—back-propagation neural network (BPN)—to build the prediction model. To achieve optimization in executing the BPN, the Taguchi method (TM) was adopted to find the optimal parameters for the BPN. The actual data from a chain of CVSs was employed to validate the model. The results indicated that the prediction accuracy rate and decision quality of the proposed model were higher than those of the existing manager-directed decision method. With intense retail competition, the accurate determination of the location of a new convenience store (CVS) is vital to its success. This study asserts that with systematic and scientific assessment, the site selection decision for new chain CVSs will be less human-biased in nature if the prediction model is used as an auxiliary decision-making tool.
CT Scanning of Structural Characteristics of Glacial Till in Moxi River Basin, Sichuan Province
Authors: Zhang Yanfeng , Tie Yongbo , Wang Luqi , Liu Jianfeng
Published: March 2022

Glacial till is a special soil in alpine mountainous areas, which often induces geohazards such as debris flows and landslides due to the influence of special geological environmental conditions in alpine mountainous areas. The change in the structure of glacial till is the main cause of geohazards. Glacial till structure is one of the important factors affecting the mechanical properties of soil. It can explain the mechanical phenomena of soil engineering and establish the quantitative relationship between soil structure and macro–mechanical properties. However, there are few systematic research results on its structure. For this reason, the intact glacial till in the Moxi River Basin, South of Kangding City, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garzê, Sichuan Province was taken as the research object, and the meso-structure and micro-structure of intact glacial till were studied using CT scanning and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The meso-structure and micro-structure images of the interior of intact glacial till were obtained and the porosity, particle shape, directivity and structural unit were analyzed. The results show that: (1) the average porosity of longitudinal and transverse sections of intact glacial till are 24.92% and 24.35%, respectively, and the difference is not significant; (2) the average circularity of the particles in the longitudinal and transverse sections is 0.836 and 0.802, respectively, and the average aspect ratio is 2.5 and 3.7, respectively. The shape of the particles in the longitudinal section is more circular than in the transverse section, and the orientation of the particles in the transverse sectional direction is more obvious; (3) the main mineral components of the glacial till sample are mica, feldspar and quartz. In the process of transportation and deposition, the mineral particles undergo different degrees of grinding, crushing and dissolution. The particles are mainly formed by calcareous cementation, and the cementation is dense. The structure is mainly a skeleton structure composed of fine particles that are wrapped or filled. These findings provide the scientific basis for highway-, railway- and hydro-power-station construction and disaster prevention and mitigation in the alpine mountainous area.
Dealing with Low Quality Images in Railway Obstacle Detection System
Authors: Perić Staniša , Milojković Marko , Stan Sergiu-Dan , Banić Milan , Antić Dragan
Published: March 2022

Object recognition and classification as well as obstacle distance calculation are of the utmost importance in today’s autonomous driving systems. One such system designed to detect obstacle and track intrusion in railways is considered in this paper. The heart of this system is the decision support system (DSS), which is in charge of making complex decisions, important for a safe and efficient autonomous train drive based on the information obtained from various sensors. DSS determines the object class and its distance from a running train by analyzing sensor images using machine learning algorithms. For the quality training of these machine learning models, it is necessary to provide training sets with images of adequate quality, which is often not the case in real-world railway applications. Furthermore, the images of insufficient quality should not be processed at all in order to save computational time. One of the most common types of distortion which occurs in real-world conditions (train movement and vibrations, movement of other objects, bad weather conditions, and day and night image differences) is blur. This paper presents an improved edge-detection method for the automatic detection and rejection of images of inadequate quality regarding the blur level. The proposed method, with its improvements convenient for railway application, is compared with several other state-of-the-art methods for blur detection, and its superior overall performance is demonstrated.
Shallow Velocity Estimation by Multiples for Monochannel Boomer Surveys
Authors: Vesnaver Aldo , Baradello Luca
Published: March 2022

The shallow P velocity provides relevant information for offshore engineers, in planning pipelines, piers, and platforms. Standard multichannel surveys trailing long cables provide good estimates but may require stopping other ongoing operations or may affect the environment. Monochannel surveys by Boomer systems involve a very short cable, so those drawbacks are minimized; however, this comes at the cost of loss of information for estimating the P velocity of shallow layers. In this paper, we present a new method exploiting multiple reflections for characterizing the seafloor. After validation of the algorithm by a synthetic example, we tested this approach in a marine survey acquired by a Boomer system at the Gulf of Trieste (Italy).
Multi-Class Classifier in Parkinson’s Disease Using an Evolutionary Multi-Objective Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Rojas-Valenzuela Ignacio , Valenzuela Olga , Delgado-Marquez Elvira , Rojas Fernando
Published: March 2022

In this contribution, a novel methodology for multi-class classification in the field of Parkinson’s disease is proposed. The methodology is structured in two phases. In a first phase, the most relevant volumes of interest (VOI) of the brain are selected by means of an evolutionary multi-objective optimization (MOE) algorithm. Each of these VOIs are subjected to volumetric feature extraction using the Three-Dimensional Discrete Wavelet Transform (3D-DWT). When applying 3D-DWT, a high number of coefficients is obtained, requiring the use of feature selection/reduction algorithms to find the most relevant features. The method used in this contribution is based on Mutual Redundancy (MI) and Minimum Maximum Relevance (mRMR) and PCA. To optimize the VOI selection, a first group of 550 MRI was used for the 5 classes: PD, SWEDD, Prodromal, GeneCohort and Normal. Once the Pareto Front of the solutions is obtained (with varying degrees of complexity, reflected in the number of selected VOIs), these solutions are tested in a second phase. In order to analyze the SVM classifier accuracy, a test set of 367 MRI was used. The methodology obtains relevant results in multi-class classification, presenting several solutions with different levels of complexity and precision (Pareto Front solutions), reaching a result of 97% as the highest precision in the test data.
Dealing with Uncertainty in the MRCPSP/Max Using Discrete Differential Evolution and Entropy
Authors: Chen Angela Hsiang-Ling , Liang Yun-Chia , Padilla José David
Published: March 2022

In this paper, we investigate the characterization of MRCPSP/max under uncertainty conditions and emphasize managerial ability to recognize and handle positively disruptive events. This proposition is then demonstrated using the entropy approach to find disruptive events and response time intervals. The problem is solved using a resilient characteristic of the three-stage procedure gauged by schedule robustness and adaptivity; the resulting schedule absorbs the impact of an unexpected event without rescheduling during execution. The use of the differential evolution algorithm, known as DDE, in a discrete manner is proposed and evaluated against the best known optima (BKO). Our findings indicate the DDE is effective overall; moreover, compared against the BKO for every stage, the most significant difference is that the stability of the solutions provided by DDE under the three-stage framework proves to be sufficiently robust when practitioners add response times at certain range levels, in this case from 8% to 15%.
The Muscle Fibre Characteristics and the Meat Quality of m. longissimus thoracis from Polish Native Złotnicka Spotted Pigs and the Crossbreed Fatteners from the Crossing of Duroc and Polish Large White Boars
Authors: Szulc Karolina , Wojtysiak Dorota , Migdał Łukasz , Migdał Władysław
Published: March 2022

The aim of the investigations were to assess the meat raw material of the domestic Złotnicka Spotted swine breed as well as its hybrids with Duroc and Polish Large White breeds with respect to quality, technological usefulness, and muscle fibre composition and structure. The suitability of individual swine genetic groups (Złotnicka Spotted × Złotnicka Spotted, Złotnicka Spotted × Duroc, Złotnicka Spotted × Polish Large White, Złotnicka Spotted × Złotnicka Spotted/Duroc) for the production of heavy fatteners which can be used as slaughter raw material to manufacture raw and raw-ripening meat products was ascertained. Złotnicka Spotted pigs were characterised by a statistically significantly smaller proportion of IIB fibres and a higher share of I and IIA fibres in the longissimus thoracis muscle in comparison to the hybrids of this breed with Duroc and Polish Large White breeds. The diameter of all muscle fibre types in the longissimus thoracis muscle of the Złotnicka Spotted breed was greater than in hybrids. No statistically significant differences were found between the parameters of colour and the free drip and the water absorbability of the loin of the Złotnicka Spotted breed pigs and their hybrids with Duroc and Polish Large White breeds. The examined meat was characterised by a small free drip and good water absorbability. The hybrid pigs (Złotnicka Spotted × Duroc) were characterised by the highest content of intramuscular fat (IMF) in the longissimus thoracis muscle, which resulted in the lowest sheer force of roasted loin and the lowest thermal drip compared to other hybrids. Smoked, raw loin obtained from the longissimus thoracis muscle of the Złotnicka Spotted breed was found to be the most tender, whereas tenderness of the identical loin derived from the longissimus thoracis muscle of the Złotnicka Spotted bred hybrids with the Duroc and Polish Large White breeds was poorer. Due to the small headage of the Złotnicka Spotted breed, the appropriate numbers of fatteners of good meat quality parameters suitable to manufacture raw, ripening meat products can only be secured by the crossing of this breed with other meat breeds. Therefore, it appears that crossing the Złotnicka Spotted pigs with Duroc pigs would be a suitable solution.
Energy Consumption Characteristics for Design Parameters of Permanent Magnet-Based Al Billet Heater
Authors: Hur Deog-Jae , Song Seong-Il , Lee Hyun-Ju
Published: March 2022

This study analyzed design factors to maximize energy efficiency, via numerical analysis, through an examination of the characteristics of a heating system that uses permanent magnets and is employed for preheating in the aluminum cladding extrusion process. The design parameters of the billet heater using permanent magnets are the magnetic flux direction, the number of magnets, clearance, and eccentricity. The magnetic flux density, current density, power loss, temperature, and energy consumption characteristics were examined using the results of the parameter variations. Numerical analysis for the base model was conducted, and it was experimentally verified that the aluminum billet reached 450 °C in about 260 s, and the temperature error at that time was about 2%. The analysis results show that the optimal factor conditions vary significantly depending on the magnetic force direction of the permanent magnet, that is, the circumferential (tangential) and centrifugal (normal) directions. Furthermore, eccentricity has an effect on efficiency in general, and the narrower the clearance was between the magnet and billet, the higher the efficiency achieved. That is, it was confirmed that the power loss increased by about 1.79% in the four permanent magnets to the tangential model, and increased by about 10.51% in the 12 permanent magnets to the tangential model when an eccentricity of 2 mm was applied at a clearance of 2.5 mm. In addition, the optimal design parameters of a system that heats aluminum billets with a diameter of 60 mm and a length of 70 mm were proposed, and the importance of the design parameters was revealed. In this study, it was found that 12 magnets were the most effective when the magnetic flux pole direction was tangential.
Rhythmic-Synchronization-Based Interaction: Effect of Interfering Auditory Stimuli, Age and Gender on Users’ Performances
Authors: Bellino Alessio
Published: March 2022

Rhythmic-synchronization-based interaction is an emerging interaction technique where multiple controls with different rhythms are displayed in visual form, and the user can select one of them by matching the corresponding rhythm. These techniques can be used to control smart objects in environments where there may be interfering auditory stimuli that contrast with the visual rhythm (e.g., to control Smart TVs while playing music), and this could compromise users’ ability to synchronize. Moreover, these techniques require certain reflex skills to properly synchronize with the displayed rhythm, and these skills may vary depending on the age and gender of the users. To determine the impact of interfering auditory stimuli, age, and gender on users’ ability to synchronize, we conducted a user study with 103 participants. Our results show that there are no significant differences between the conditions of interfering and noninterfering auditory stimuli and that synchronization ability decreases with age, with males performing better than females—at least as far as younger users are concerned. As a result, two implications emerge: first, users are capable of focusing only on visual rhythm ignoring the auditory interfering rhythm, so listening to an interfering rhythm should not be a major concern for synchronization; second, as age and gender have an impact, these systems may be designed to allow for customization of rhythm speed so that different users can choose the speed that best suits their reflex skills.
An Overview of Self-Heating Phenomena and Theory Related to Damping and Fatigue of Metals
Authors: Wu Xijia , Li Lucy
Published: March 2022

This paper presents an overview of the self-heating phenomena and the continuum thermodynamics framework related to the damping and fatigue of metals. The self-heating process under cyclic loading generally undergoes three phases: Phase I with gradually increasing temperature to a stabilized or steady-state in Phase II, followed by Phase III with an accelerated temperature increase until the test sample ruptures. Although energy dissipation and heat generation are all captured by the first law of thermodynamics, the functional form of the heat source(s) with entropy change is not formulated for engineering materials. Experimentally, infrared (IR) thermographic techniques can measure the surface temperature variation during constant-amplitude fatigue testing. The observed relationship between the stabilization temperature or temperature increase rate and the applied stress amplitude is often used to infer the fatigue endurance limit, above which point heat generation from “damage” leads to acceleration of self-heating. The IR thermographic fatigue testing offers a rapid alternative method to assess the material’s fatigue strength. But, the full physical interpretation of the phenomena remains a challenge. On the other hand, the Tanaka-Mura–Wu model is introduced to describe fatigue crack nucleation via accumulation of dislocation dipole pile-up, which provides a class-A prediction (forecast before even happening) for fatigue crack nucleation life in terms of the material’s elastic modulus, Burgers vector, surface energy, and the loading parameter such as cyclic stress/strain range. Then, the release of dislocation dipole pile-up energy to form new crack surfaces is brought into the energy argument. With the inclusion of crack formation energy in the first law of thermodynamics, a unified framework of deformation, damping, fatigue, and self-heating may be established for structural design.
Toroidal Spectral Drawing
Authors: Kang Ming-Hsuan , Gu Jing-Wen
Published: March 2022

We give a deterministic drawing algorithm to draw a graph onto a torus, which is based on the usual spectral drawing algorithm. For most of the well-known toroidal vertex-transitive graphs, the result drawings give an embedding of the graphs onto the torus.
Present Application and Perspectives of Organoid Imaging Technology
Authors: Fei Keyi , Zhang Jinze , Yuan Jin , Xiao Peng
Published: March 2022

An organoid is a miniaturized and simplified in vitro model with a similar structure and function to a real organ. In recent years, the use of organoids has increased explosively in the field of growth and development, disease simulation, drug screening, cell therapy, etc. In order to obtain necessary information, such as morphological structure, cell function and dynamic signals, it is necessary and important to directly monitor the culture process of organoids. Among different detection technologies, imaging technology is a simple and convenient choice and can realize direct observation and quantitative research. In this review, the principle, advantages and disadvantages of imaging technologies that have been applied in organoids research are introduced. We also offer an overview of prospective technologies for organoid imaging. This review aims to help biologists find appropriate imaging techniques for different areas of organoid research, and also contribute to the development of organoid imaging systems.
The Utility of ADC First-Order Histogram Features for the Prediction of Metachronous Metastases in Rectal Cancer: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Boca (Petresc) Bianca , Caraiani Cosmin , Popa Loredana , Lebovici Andrei , Feier Diana Sorina , Bodale Carmen , Buruian Mircea Marian
Published: March 2022

This study aims the ability of first-order histogram-based features, derived from ADC maps, to predict the occurrence of metachronous metastases (MM) in rectal cancer. A total of 52 patients with pathologically confirmed rectal adenocarcinoma were retrospectively enrolled and divided into two groups: patients who developed metachronous metastases (n = 15) and patients without metachronous metastases (n = 37). We extracted 17 first-order (FO) histogram-based features from the pretreatment ADC maps. Student’s t-test and Mann–Whitney U test were used for the association between each FO feature and presence of MM. Statistically significant features were combined into a model, using the binary regression logistic method. The receiver operating curve analysis was used to determine the diagnostic performance of the individual parameters and combined model. There were significant differences in ADC 90th percentile, interquartile range, entropy, uniformity, variance, mean absolute deviation, and robust mean absolute deviation in patients with MM, as compared to those without MM (p values between 0.002–0.01). The best diagnostic was achieved by the 90th percentile and uniformity, yielding an AUC of 0.74 [95% CI: 0.60–0.8]). The combined model reached an AUC of 0.8 [95% CI: 0.66–0.90]. Our observations point out that ADC first-order features may be useful for predicting metachronous metastases in rectal cancer.
Molecular Characterization and Expression Pattern of Paramyosin in Larvae and Adults of Yesso Scallop
Authors: Yang Yumin , Zhao Dan , Zhou Liqing , Zhang Tianshi , Liu Zhihong , Wu Biao , Yu Tao , Zheng Yanxin , Sun Xiujun
Published: March 2022

Paramyosin is an important myofibrillar protein in molluscan smooth muscle. The full-length cDNA encoding paramyosin has been identified from Yesso scallop Patinopecten yessoensis. The length of paramyosin molecule has been found to be 3715 bp, which contains an open reading frame (ORF) of 2805 bp for 934 amino acid residues. Characterization of P. yessoensis paramyosin reveals the typical structural feature of coiled-coil protein, including six α-helix (α1-α6) and one coil (η) structures. Multiple phosphorylation sites have been predicted at the N-terminus of paramyosin, representing the unique phosphorylation sites in scallops. The highest levels of mRNA and protein expression of paramyosin have been found in foot and the smooth adductor muscle. According to whole-mount in situ hybridization (WISH), strong paramyosin mRNA signals were detected in the symmetric positions of anterior and posterior adductor muscles at late larval stages. These findings support that paramyosin may serve as the most important components for myogenesis and catch regulation in scallops. The present findings will not only help uncover the potential function of myofibrillar proteins in molluscs but also provide molecular evidence to infer evolutionary relationships among invertebrates.
Advanced Diffusion MRI of the Visual System in Glaucoma: From Experimental Animal Models to Humans
Authors: Mendoza Monica , Shotbolt Max , Faiq Muneeb A. , Parra Carlos , Chan Kevin C.
Published: March 2022

Glaucoma is a group of ophthalmologic conditions characterized by progressive retinal ganglion cell death, optic nerve degeneration, and irreversible vision loss. While intraocular pressure is the only clinically modifiable risk factor, glaucoma may continue to progress at controlled intraocular pressure, indicating other major factors in contributing to the disease mechanisms. Recent studies demonstrated the feasibility of advanced diffusion magnetic resonance imaging (dMRI) in visualizing the microstructural integrity of the visual system, opening new possibilities for non-invasive characterization of glaucomatous brain changes for guiding earlier and targeted intervention besides intraocular pressure lowering. In this review, we discuss dMRI methods currently used in visual system investigations, focusing on the eye, optic nerve, optic tract, subcortical visual brain nuclei, optic radiations, and visual cortex. We evaluate how conventional diffusion tensor imaging, higher-order diffusion kurtosis imaging, and other extended dMRI techniques can assess the neuronal and glial integrity of the visual system in both humans and experimental animal models of glaucoma, among other optic neuropathies or neurodegenerative diseases. We also compare the pros and cons of these methods against other imaging modalities. A growing body of dMRI research indicates that this modality holds promise in characterizing early glaucomatous changes in the visual system, determining the disease severity, and identifying potential neurotherapeutic targets, offering more options to slow glaucoma progression and to reduce the prevalence of this world’s leading cause of irreversible but preventable blindness.
Calystegines Improve the Metabolic Activity of Human Adipose Derived Stromal Stem Cells (ASCs) under Hyperglycaemic Condition through the Reduction of Oxidative/ER Stress, Inflammation, and the Promotion of the AKT/PI3K/mTOR Pathway
Authors: Kowalczuk Anna , Bourebaba Nabila , Panchuk Juliia , Marycz Krzysztof , Bourebaba Lynda
Published: March 2022

Hyperglycaemia and its resulting glucotoxicity are among the most prominent hallmarks of diabetes mellitus (DM) development. Persistent hyperglycaemia further leads to oxidative stress via mitochondrial dysfunction and subsequent ER stress onset, while associated hyperlipidaemia triggers the adipose tissue to secrete pro-inflammatory cytokines. In this study, the effect of calystegines has been investigated in an experimental model of hyperglycaemia induced on human ASCs cells. Different cellular pathways including apoptosis, oxidative and ER stress, inflammation as well as Pi3K/AKT/mTOR metabolic-associated axis have been evaluated by means on RT-qPCR, western blot, and flow cytometry techniques. Treatment of HuASCs cells with calystegines strongly promoted the hyperglycaemic cells survival and significantly diminished oxidative stress, mitochondrial dynamics failure and ER stress, while improving the endogenous cellular antioxidant defenses. Interestingly, nortropane alkaloids efficiently prevented the hyperglycaemia-mediated inflammatory response, as evidenced by the regulation of the pro- and anti-inflammatory response in HuASCs cells. Finally, we evidenced that calystegines may exert their protective effect on HuASCs cells metabolic functions through the restoration of the defective PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway. Overall, the present investigation demonstrated that calystegines possess important abilities to protect HuASCs against hyperglycaemia-induced cellular dysfunction, and it evidenced that the observed effects are associated to the promotion of PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.
Femoral Bone Strength Prediction Using Isotopological B-Spline-Transformed Meshes
Authors: Steiner Lukas , Synek Alexander , Pahr Dieter H.
Published: March 2022

Finite element (FE) analysis can predict proximal human femoral strength. Automated meshing and identifying subregions with high relevance for strength prediction could reduce the laborious modeling process. Mesh morphing based on free-form registration provides a high level of automation and inherently creates isotopological meshes. The goals of this study were to investigate if FE models based on free-form transformed meshes predict experimental femoral strength as well as manually created FE models and to identify regions and parameters with highest correlation to femoral strength. Subject-specific meshes and FE models were created from a set of quantitative CT images (QCT) using a B-Spline registration-based algorithm. Correlation of FE-predicted bone strength and local parameters with experimental bone strength were investigated. FE models based on transformed meshes closely resembled manually created counterparts, with equally strong correlations with experimental bone strength (R2=0.81 vs. R2=0.80). The regional analysis showed strong correlations (0.6<R2<0.7) of experimental strength with local parameters. No subregion or parameter lead to stronger correlation than FE predicted bone strength. B-spline-transformed meshes can be used to create FE models, able to predict femoral bone strength and simplify FE model generation. They can be used to reveal relations of local parameters with failure load.
Replicability in Brain Imaging
Authors: Kelly Robert E. , Hoptman Matthew J.
Published: March 2022

In the early 2010s, the “replication crisis” and synonymous terms (“replicability crisis” and “reproducibility crisis”) were coined to describe growing concerns regarding published research results too often not being replicable, potentially undermining scientific progress [...]
Individuals with Down Syndrome: Editorial
Authors: Lanfranchi Silvia , Meneghetti Chiara , Toffalini Enrico , Carretti Barbara
Published: March 2022

Down syndrome (DS) is the most common syndromic cause of intellectual disability, so it has long been of interest to researchers [...]
Effects of Motivational Climate on Knowledge Hiding: The Mediating Role of Work Alienation
Authors: Lee Soojin , Yang Xinzhu , Kim Jinhee , Byun Gukdo
Published: March 2022

Although knowledge is arguably an organization’s most important resource, many organizations still practice knowledge hiding. This study explores how an organization’s motivational climate—mediated by work alienation among its members—influences knowledge hiding from the perspective of the conservation of resources (COR) theory. Specifically, we establish hypotheses that the performance and mastery climates, mediated by work alienation, have positive and negative effects on knowledge hiding, respectively. To verify these hypotheses, we conducted a survey among members of Chinese companies, through which 200 responses were collected through a two-wave panel design. The results of the analysis demonstrated that motivational climate, as an antecedent of knowledge hiding, has a significant effect on work alienation. We also found that work alienation mediated the relationship between (a) performance climate, and (b) mastery climate and knowledge hiding. Based on these findings, we discuss the research implications and limitations while suggesting directions for future studies.
Immersive Technology Implementation in the Construction Industry: Modeling Paths of Risk
Authors: Afolabi Adedeji Olushola , Nnaji Chukwuma , Okoro Chioma
Published: March 2022

The purposes of this paper are to identify risk factors impacting the successful implementation of immersive reality technology (ImT) in the construction industry, analyze these risk factors (impact and probability), assess the relationships among different categories of risk factors, and provide recommendations to improve ImT implementation. A literature review, a pilot test based on expert interviews, and a questionnaire survey were used. First, the risk factors of ImT applications were identified by consulting the relevant literature on virtual reality, mixed reality, and augmented reality; these were subsequently grouped into five categories—technology, operation, individual/worker, investment, and external. Next, a questionnaire survey was designed and distributed to relevant construction practitioners in South Africa (usable response = 175). Twenty-one ImT implementation risk factors were identified, and risk criticality scores ranged from 2.02 to 3.18. High investment cost, the need for extensive worker training, and the possible introduction of new risks for workers were rated as significant risks. The present study confirmed three statistically significant hypothesized risk paths—namely, those between external issues and individual/worker’s concerns, between external issues and investment limitations, and between individual/worker’s concerns and technology concerns. The present study contributes to the literature regarding the adoption of construction technology by providing a list of critical risk factors that could be used to develop models and tools for assessing ImT adoption and guide practitioners involved in integrating ImTs.
The Association between Sleep Quality and Fatigue in Colorectal Cancer Survivors up until Two Years after Treatment: A Cross-Sectional and Longitudinal Analysis
Authors: Legg Meera , Meertens Ree M. , van Roekel Eline , Breukink Stéphanie O. , Janssen Maryska L. , Keulen Eric T. P. , Steindorf Karen , Weijenberg Matty P. , Bours Martijn
Published: March 2022

Fatigue is a distressing complaint with high detriment to quality of life that persists in one-third of colorectal cancer survivors after cancer treatment. Previous studies in mixed groups of cancer patients have suggested sleep quality is associated with fatigue. We aimed to investigate this association in colorectal cancer survivors up until two years post-treatment. Data on n = 388 stage I–III colorectal cancer patients were utilized from the EnCoRe study. Sleep quality and fatigue were measured at 6 weeks and 6, 12, and 24 months post-treatment. Sleep quality was measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (cross-sectional analysis only) and the single-item insomnia scale from the EORTC QLQ-C30. Fatigue was measured by the Checklist Individual Strength. Linear and mixed-model regression analyses analysed associations between sleep quality and fatigue cross-sectionally and longitudinally. Longitudinal analysis revealed worsening sleep quality over time was significantly associated with increased levels of fatigue over time (β per 0.5 SD increase in the EORTC-insomnia score = 2.56, 95% Cl: 1.91, 3.22). Significant cross-sectional associations were observed between worse sleep quality and higher levels of fatigue at all time points. Worse sleep quality in colorectal cancer patients was associated with higher levels of fatigue during the first two years post-treatment.
A Randomised, Comparative, Effectiveness Trial Evaluating Low- versus High-Level Supervision of an Exercise Intervention for Women with Breast Cancer: The SAFE Trial
Authors: Spence Rosalind R. , Sandler Carolina X. , Singh Benjamin , Tanner Jodie , Pyke Christopher , Eakin Elizabeth , Vagenas Dimitrios , Hayes Sandra C.
Published: March 2022

The aim of this comparative, effectiveness trial was to evaluate the safety, feasibility and effect of an exercise intervention delivered via low-level versus high-level supervision. The target population were women who were diagnosed with ≥stage II breast cancer, had ≥ one comorbidity and/or persistent treatment-related side-effects, and were insufficiently physically active. Sixty women (50 ± 9 years) were randomized to the low-supervision group (n = 30) or high-supervision group (n = 30). The low-supervision group participated in a 12-week, individually-tailored exercise intervention supported by five supervised sessions with an exercise professional. The high-supervision group participated in the same exercise intervention but received 20 supervised sessions across the 12-week period. The target weekly dosage of 600 metabolic equivalent minutes of exercise per week (MET-mins/wk) and the session content, such as safety and behaviour change topics, were standardized between the groups. The primary outcomes were intervention safety, defined as the number, type, and severity of exercise-related adverse events (e.g., musculoskeletal injury or exacerbated treatment-related side effects), and feasibility, which was defined as compliance to target exercise dosage. The effect of the intervention on quality of life, physical activity, self-efficacy, fitness, and strength was also assessed (pre- and post-intervention, and at 12-week follow-up). The intervention was safe, with no exercise-related adverse events of grade 3 or above in either group. Both groups reported high compliance to the target exercise dosage (median MET-mins/wk: High = 817; Low = 663), suggesting the exercise intervention was feasible, irrespective of supervision level. Improvements in quality of life, physical activity and fitness were observed post-intervention and maintained at follow-up for both groups (p < 0.05). Only the high-supervision group showed clinically-relevant improvements in strength and self-efficacy at post-intervention (p < 0.05). Individually-targeted exercise delivered under high- or low-levels of supervision is safe, feasible and beneficial for women with stage II+ breast cancer. Future research needs to assess whether the greater gains observed in the group who received higher supervision may contribute to longer term maintenance of physical activity levels and overall health benefits. Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12616000547448.
RETRACTED: Manzoor et al. Experimental Study of CO2 Conversion into Methanol by Synthesized Photocatalyst (ZnFe2O4/TiO2) Using Visible Light as an Energy Source. Catalysts 2020, 10, 163
Authors: Manzoor Numair , Sadiq Muhammad , Naqvi Muhammad , Sikandar Umair , Naqvi Salman
Published: March 2022

The journal retracts the article, “Experimental Study of CO2 Conversion into Methanol by Synthesized Photocatalyst (ZnFe2O4/TiO2) Using Visible Light as an Energy Source” [...]