bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Antioxidant Protection against Trastuzumab Cardiotoxicity in Breast Cancer Therapy
Authors: Méndez-Valdés Gabriel , Gómez-Hevia Francisca , Bragato Maria Chiara , Lillo-Moya José , Rojas-Solé Catalina , Saso Luciano , Rodrigo Ramón
Published: February 2023

Breast cancer is the most frequent malignant neoplastic disease in women, with an estimated 2.3 million cases in 2020 worldwide. Its treatment depends on characteristics of the patient and the tumor. In the latter, characteristics include cell type and morphology, anatomical location, and immunophenotype. Concerning this latter aspect, the overexpression of the HER2 receptor, expressed in 15–25% of tumors, is associated with greater aggressiveness and worse prognosis. In recent times some monoclonal antibodies have been developed in order to target HER2 receptor overexpression. Trastuzumab is part of the monoclonal antibodies used as targeted therapy against HER2 receptor, whose major problem is its cardiac safety profile, where it has been associated with cardiotoxicity. The appearance of cardiotoxicity is an indication to stop therapy. Although the pathophysiological mechanism is poorly known, evidence indicates that oxidative stress plays a fundamental role causing DNA damage, increased cytosolic and mitochondrial ROS production, changes in mitochondrial membrane potential, intracellular calcium dysregulation, and the consequent cell death through different pathways. The aim of this review was to explore the use of antioxidants as adjuvant therapy to trastuzumab to prevent its cardiac toxicity, thus leading to ameliorate its safety profile in its administration.
CHIP Haploinsufficiency Exacerbates Hepatic Steatosis via Enhanced TXNIP Expression and Endoplasmic Reticulum Stress Responses
Authors: Han Jung-Hwa , Nam Dae-Hwan , Kim Seon-Hui , Hwang Ae-Rang , Park So-Young , Lim Jae Hyang , Woo Chang-Hoon
Published: February 2023

TXNIP is a critical regulator of glucose homeostasis, fatty acid synthesis, and cholesterol accumulation in the liver, and it has been reported that metabolic diseases, such as obesity, atherosclerosis, hyperlipidemia, type 2 diabetes, and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), are associated with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress. Because CHIP, an E3 ligase, was known to be involved in regulating tissue injury and inflammation in liver, its role in regulating ER stress-induced NAFLD was investigated in two experimental NAFLD models, a tunicamycin (TM)-induced and other diet-induced NAFLD mice models. In the TM-induced NAFLD model, intraperitoneal injection of TM induced liver steatosis in both CHIP+/+ and CHIP+/− mice, but it was severely exacerbated in CHIP+/− mice compared to CHIP+/+ mice. Key regulators of ER stress and de novo lipogenesis were also enhanced in the livers of TM-inoculated CHIP+/− mice. Furthermore, in the diet-induced NAFLD models, CHIP+/− mice developed severely impaired glucose tolerance, insulin resistance and hepatic steatosis compared to CHIP+/+ mice. Interestingly, CHIP promoted ubiquitin-dependent degradation of TXNIP in vitro, and inhibition of TXNIP was further found to alleviate the inflammation and ER stress responses increased by CHIP inhibition. In addition, the expression of TXNIP was increased in mice deficient in CHIP in the TM- and diet-induced models. These findings suggest that CHIP modulates ER stress and inflammatory responses by inhibiting TXNIP, and that CHIP protects against TM- or HF–HS diet-induced NAFLD and serves as a potential therapeutic means for treating liver diseases.
Phenylethanoid Glycoside-Enriched Extract Prepared from Clerodendrum chinense Leaf Inhibits A549 Lung Cancer Cell Migration and Apoptosis Induction through Enhancing ROS Production
Authors: Chittasupho Chuda , Athikomkulchai Sirivan , Samee Weerasak , Na Takuathung Mingkwan , Yooin Wipawadee , Sawangrat Kasirawat , Saenjum Chalermpong
Published: February 2023

This study aims to investigate the antioxidant and anti-cancer activities of Clerodendrum chinense leaf ethanolic extract. The phenylethanoid glycoside-enriched extract, namely verbascoside and isoverbascoside, was determined in the ethanolic C. chinense leaf extract using the validated HPLC method. The ethanolic extract showed DPPH and ABTS free radical scavenging activities with the IC50 values of 334.2 ± 45.48 μg/mL and 1012.77 ± 61.86 µg/mL, respectively, and a FRAP value of 88.73 ± 4.59 to 2480.81 ± 0.00 µM. C. chinense leaf extract exhibited anti-proliferative activity against A549 lung cancer cells in a dose- and time-dependent manner, with the IC50 value of 340.63 ± 89.43, 210.60 ± 81.74, and 107.08 ± 28.90 µg/mL after treatment for 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively. The IC50 values of verbascoside, isoverbascoside, and hispidulin were 248.40 ± 15.82, 393.10 ± 15.27, and 3.86 ± 0.87 µg/mL, respectively, indicating that the anti-proliferative effects of the C. chinense leaf extract mainly resulted from hispidulin and verbascoside. The selectivity index (SI) of C. chinense leaf extract against A549 lung cancer cells vs. normal keratinocytes were 2.4 and 2.8 after incubation for 24 and 48 h, respectively, suggesting the cytotoxic selectivity of the extract toward the cancer cell line. Additionally, the C. chinense leaf extract at 250 µg/mL induced late apoptotic cells up to 21.67% with enhancing reactive oxygen species (ROS) induction. Furthermore, the lung cancer cell colony formation was significantly inhibited after being treated with C. chinense leaf extract in a dose-dependent manner. The C. chinense leaf extract at 250 µg/mL has also shown to significantly inhibit cancer cell migration compared with the untreated group. The obtained results provide evidence of the anti-lung cancer potentials of the C. chinense leaf ethanolic extract.
Oxidative Stress in Brain in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment
Authors: Butterfield D. Allan
Published: February 2023

Amnestic mild cognitive impairment (MCI), arguably the earliest clinical stage of Alzheimer disease (AD), is characterized by normal activities of daily living but with memory issues but no dementia. Oxidative stress, with consequent damaged key proteins and lipids, are prominent even in this early state of AD. This review article outlines oxidative stress in MCI and how this can account for neuronal loss and potential therapeutic strategies to slow progression to AD.
Oxidative Stress in Long-Term Exposure to Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes in Male Rats
Authors: Florek Ewa , Witkowska Marta , Szukalska Marta , Richter Magdalena , Trzeciak Tomasz , Miechowicz Izabela , Marszałek Andrzej , Piekoszewski Wojciech , Wyrwa Zuzanna , Giersig Michael
Published: February 2023

Multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) serve as nanoparticles due to their size, and for that reason, when in contact with the biological system, they can have toxic effects. One of the main mechanisms responsible for nanotoxicity is oxidative stress resulting from the production of intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS). Therefore, oxidative stress biomarkers are important tools for assessing MWCNTs toxicity. The aim of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stress of multi-walled carbon nanotubes in male rats. Our animal model studies of MWCNTs (diameter ~15–30 nm, length ~15–20 μm) include measurement of oxidative stress parameters in the body fluid and tissues of animals after long-term exposure. Rattus Norvegicus/Wistar male rats were administrated a single injection to the knee joint at three concentrations: 0.03 mg/mL, 0.25 mg/mL, and 0.5 mg/mL. The rats were euthanized 12 and 18 months post-exposure by drawing blood from the heart, and their liver and kidney tissues were removed. To evaluate toxicity, the enzymatic activity of total protein (TP), reduced glutathione (GSH), glutathione S–transferase (GST), thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS), Trolox equivalent antioxidant capacity (TEAC), nitric oxide (NO), and catalase (CAT) was measured and histopathological examination was conducted. Results in rat livers showed that TEAC level was decreased in rats receiving nanotubes at higher concentrations. Results in kidneys report that the level of NO showed higher concentration after long exposure, and results in animal serums showed lower levels of GSH in rats exposed to nanotubes at higher concentrations. The 18-month exposure also resulted in a statistically significant increase in GST activity in the group of rats exposed to nanotubes at higher concentrations compared to animals receiving MWCNTs at lower concentrations and compared to the control group. Therefore, an analysis of oxidative stress parameters can be a key indicator of the toxic potential of multi-walled carbon nanotubes.
Fractionation and Characterization of Triterpenoids from Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. Cuticular Waxes and Their Potential as Anticancer Agents
Authors: Vilkickyte Gabriele , Petrikaite Vilma , Marksa Mindaugas , Ivanauskas Liudas , Jakstas Valdas , Raudone Lina
Published: February 2023

Fruit and leaf cuticular waxes are valuable source materials for the isolation of triterpenoids that can be applied as natural antioxidants and anticancer agents. The present study aimed at the semi-preparative fractionation of triterpenoids from cuticular wax extracts of Vaccinium vitis-idaea L. (lingonberry) leaves and fruits and the evaluation of their cytotoxic potential. Qualitative and quantitative characterization of obtained extracts and triterpenoid fractions was performed using HPLC-PDA method, followed by complementary analysis by GC-MS. For each fraction, cytotoxic activities towards the human colon adenocarcinoma cell line (HT-29), malignant melanoma cell line (IGR39), clear renal carcinoma cell line (CaKi-1), and normal endothelial cells (EC) were determined using MTT assay. Furthermore, the effect of the most promising samples on cancer spheroid growth and viability was examined. This study allowed us to confirm that particular triterpenoid mixtures from lingonberry waxes may possess stronger cytotoxic activities than crude unpurified extracts. Fractions containing triterpenoid acids plus fernenol, complexes of oleanolic:ursolic acids, and erythrodiol:uvaol were found to be the most potent therapeutic candidates in the management of cancer diseases. The specificity of cuticular wax extracts of lingonberry leaves and fruits, leading to different purity and anticancer potential of obtained counterpart fractions, was also enclosed. These findings contribute to the profitable utilization of lingonberry cuticular waxes and provide considerable insights into the anticancer effects of particular triterpenoids and pharmacological interactions.
Phosphorus Availability Affects the Photosynthesis and Antioxidant System of Contrasting Low-P-Tolerant Cotton Genotypes
Authors: Kayoumu Mirezhatijiang , Iqbal Asif , Muhammad Noor , Li Xiaotong , Li Leilei , Wang Xiangru , Gui Huiping , Qi Qian , Ruan Sijia , Guo Ruishi , Zhang Xiling , Song Meizhen , Dong Qiang
Published: February 2023

Phosphorus (P) is an essential macronutrient, and an important component of plant metabolism. However, little is known about the effects of low P availability on P absorption, the photosynthetic electron transport chain, and the antioxidant system in cotton. This study used cotton genotypes (sensitive FJA and DLNTDH and tolerant BX014 and LuYuan343) with contrasting low-P tolerance in a hydroponic experiment under 15 µM, 50 µM, and 500 μM P concentrations. The results showed that low P availability reduced plant development and leaf area, shoot length, and dry weight in FJA and DLNADH, compared to BX014 and LuYuan343. The low P availability decreased the gas-exchange parameters such as the net photosynthetic rate, transpiration rate, and stomatal conductance, and increased the intercellular CO2 concentration. Chlorophyll a fluorescence demonstrated that the leaves’ absorption and trapped-energy flux were largely steady. In contrast, considerable gains in absorption and trapped-energy flux per reaction center resulted from decreases in the electron transport per reaction center under low-P conditions. In addition, low P availability reduced the activities of antioxidant enzymes and increased the content of malondialdehyde in the cotton genotypes, especially in FJA and DLNTDH. Moreover, low P availability reduced the activity of PEPC and generated a decline in the content of ATP and NADPH. Our research can provide a theoretical physiological basis for the growth and tolerance of cotton under low-P conditions.
Antioxidant Activity Enhancement Effect of Silver-Ionized Water: Silver Cation Prepared by Electrolysis
Authors: Wu Tongjiao , Phacharapan Santudprom , Inoue Natsuki , Kamitani Yoshinori
Published: February 2023

In the present study, tap water, alkaline electrolyzed water (AlEW) and tourmaline water (TMW) were used as the electrolytes to generated the silver-ionized water (SIW), AlEW-SIW and TMW-SIW, respectively. The antioxidant properties of the samples containing ascorbic acid (AsA) were investigated by WST-kit method. The results showed that the SOD activity of AsA (2 mmol/L) dissolved in SIW (66.0%) was enhanced by about 8% compared to that of the tap water (57.9%). The SOD activity of the AlEW-SIW solution (77.3%), which was higher than that of the SIW solution, and lower than that of the AlEW solution (83.6%). The SOD activity of the TMW-SIW solution (83.0%) was similar to that of the TMW solution (82.5%). Furthermore, to classify the sample solutions, discriminant analyses were performed based on near infrared (NIR) spectral data, which was consistent with the results of the WST-kit method. The SOD activity of the AlEW-SIW and TMW-SIW solutions decreased slowly with storage time, and their SOD activities were higher than that of AlEW, TMW and the tap water solutions at storage time of 14 days. In summary, AlEW-SIW and TMW-SIW showed similar antioxidant activity enhancement as AlEW and TMW, and they also maintained the stability of the antioxidant activity of AsA during storage.
Antiperiodontitis Effects of Siegesbeckia glabrescens In Vitro
Authors: Bellere Arce Defeo , Yu Duna , Oh Sarang , Kim Myeongju , Jung Jeyong , Fang Minzhe , Zheng Shengdao , Yi Tae-Hoo
Published: February 2023

Siegesbeckia glabrescens is generally grown in fields or roadsides in Korea and used for the treatment of inflammatory diseases. The effects of S. glabrescens on periodontitis are unknown. In this study, we determined the effects of an S. glabrescens 30% EtOH extract (SGE) on periodontitis and analyzed the antioxidant activity (DPPH, ABTS, and SOD), antimicrobial (disc diffusion, MIC, and MBC), inhibition of GTFs, biofilm formation, and the anti-inflammation of lipopolysaccharide from P. gingivalis (LPS-PG)-induced primary equine periodontal ligament fibroblasts (PDLFs). We report that SGE increased DPPH, ABTS, and SOD antioxidant activities in a dose-dependent manner. SGE caused a clear zone with a diameter of 15 mm or more against periodontal pathogens. SGE (2.50 mg/mL) inhibited GTFs and biofilm by 89.07% and 85.40%, respectively. SGE treatment (100 µg/mL) also significantly decreased the secretion of inflammatory mediators in sensitized PDLF, including cytokines and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-3, -8, -9, and -13. Overall, we confirmed that SGE had excellent antioxidant, antimicrobial, and anti-inflammatory effects against periodontal pathogens. These results suggest that it has the potential to develop as a prophylactic agent for periodontitis.
Investigation of the Signal Reach Performance of the Ultra-High-Frequency Identification Tag for Underground Utility Management
Authors: Gu Youzhang , Roh Seunghyun , Lin Wuguan , Jung YooSeok , Cho Yoon-Ho
Published: February 2023

The historical management of underground utilities such as communication lines, water and sewage pipes, and power lines is essential for their effective use. However, due to the nature of the buried facilities, detecting and tracking them are challenging, although various solutions are difficult to apply in the field, especially optical cables, which are mainly used for communication, making it more difficult to apply existing solutions. There has been limited research on the practicalities of solutions, especially on multilayer structures such as road pavements. Based on a literature review, we selected ultra-high-frequency radio frequency identification (UHF RFID), which is least affected by performance degradation or interference due to batteries. We experimented to identify the signal attenuation based on the medium by controlling the materials and moisture used in the road pavement as variables. The signal reached a depth of 68 cm and this was possible under conditions of asphalt and subgrade soil. In a comparative experiment for each variable, we recognized tags of sand and coarse aggregate up to a depth of 70 cm. When the moisture was considered, the signal attenuation difference was 1.8 dBm for each level. Based on the experimental results of this study, it was confirmed that UHF RFID can be used as a marker sensor to be attached to utilities installed under the road pavement. Depending on the structure and material of the pavement, the signal is sufficiently transmitted up to 40–50 cm, which is the target installation depth of the communication line.
An Aeroacoustic Study of Full-Scale and Small-Scale Generic Landing Gear Models with Identical Geometry
Authors: Kopiev Victor , Belyaev Ivan , Zaytsev Mikhail , Zhao Kun
Published: February 2023

The paper reports on the results of acoustic measurements of full-scale and small-scale generic landing gear models, which have identical geometry and differ only by their scales. The large-scale landing gear models were simplified and lack small geometric details, which for the first time allows their results to be directly compared with those for the small-scale models of the same geometry. It is shown that after application of the scaling procedure to their noise spectra, the normalized results for broadband noise of the landing gear models of different scales are in good agreement with each other. This result seems to support the feasibility of developing technologies for low-frequency noise reduction of landing gears based on small-scale tests and allowing refinement of semi-empirical models of noise prediction for different landing gear elements.
Applications of Deep Learning to Neurodevelopment in Pediatric Imaging: Achievements and Challenges
Authors: Hu Mengjiao , Nardi Cosimo , Zhang Haihong , Ang Kai-Keng
Published: February 2023

Deep learning has achieved remarkable progress, particularly in neuroimaging analysis. Deep learning applications have also been extended from adult to pediatric medical images, and thus, this paper aims to present a systematic review of this recent research. We first introduce the commonly used deep learning methods and architectures in neuroimaging, such as convolutional neural networks, auto-encoders, and generative adversarial networks. A non-exhaustive list of commonly used publicly available pediatric neuroimaging datasets and repositories are included, followed by a categorical review of recent works in pediatric MRI-based deep learning studies in the past five years. These works are categorized into recognizing neurodevelopmental disorders, identifying brain and tissue structures, estimating brain age/maturity, predicting neurodevelopment outcomes, and optimizing MRI brain imaging and analysis. Finally, we also discuss the recent achievements and challenges on these applications of deep learning to pediatric neuroimaging.
ChroSegNet: An Attention-Based Model for Chromosome Segmentation with Enhanced Processing
Authors: Chen Xiaoyu , Cai Qiang , Ma Na , Li Haisheng
Published: February 2023

In modern medical diagnosis, the karyotype analysis for human chromosome is clinically significant for the diagnosis and treatment of genetic diseases. In such an analysis, it is critically important to segment the banded chromosomes. Chromosome segmentation, however, is technically challenging due to the variable chromosome features, the complex background noise, and the uneven image quality of the chromosome images. Owing to these technical challenges, the existing deep-learning-based algorithms would have severe overfitting problems and are ineffective in the segmentation task. In this paper, we propose a novel chromosome segmentation model with our enhanced chromosome processing, namely ChroSegNet. First, we develop enhanced chromosome processing techniques to realize the quality and quantity enhancement of the chromosome data, leading to the chromosome segmentation dataset for our subsequent network training. Second, we propose our novel chromosome segmentation model “ChroSegNet" based on U-Net. According to the characteristics of chromosome data, we have not only improved the baseline structure but also incorporate the hybrid attention module to ChroSegNet, which can extract the key feature information and location information of chromosome. Finally, we evaluated ChroSegNet on our chromosome segmentation dataset and obtained the MPA of 93.31% and the F1-score of 92.99%. Experimental results show that ChroSegNet not only outperforms the representative segmentation models in chromosome segmentation performance but also has a lightweight model structure. We believe that our proposed ChroSegNet is highly promising in future applications of genetic measurement and diagnosis.
Nutritional Value, Mineral Composition, Fatty Acid Profile and Bioactive Compounds of Commercial Plant-Based Gluten-Free Flours
Authors: Vivar-Quintana Ana M. , Absi Yamina , Hernández-Jiménez Miriam , Revilla Isabel
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, a wide range of non-traditional gluten-free products can be purchased. Although consumers identify all these as being similar, their nutritional composition can differ depending on the raw materials used and the production process itself. The aim of the current study was to evaluate the nutritional quality of ten commercially available flours made from rice, pea, chickpea, soybean and hemp. The proximate composition (moisture, fat, fiber, protein, starch and carbohydrates), the mineral composition (Na, Mg, P, K, Ca, Cr, Ni, Se, Cu, Zn, Mn, Fe, Cd, Pb), the phenolic composition (total phenols, total flavonoids, flavanones and dihydrofavonols, and total antioxidant capacity) and the fatty acid profile were analyzed. Results showed an important influence of the vegetable species but also of the brand on the flour composition. Soybean flours, followed by hemp, showed the highest phenolic content and antioxidant capacity. Hemp flour showed a low n6/n3 ratio, while pea flour contained a small amount of fat with a large amount of oleic acid and a satisfactory n6/n3 ratio.
Flow Behavior and Microstructure of Hot-Worked Fe-30.9Mn-4.9Al-4.5Cr-0.4C and Fe-21.3Mn-7.6Al-4.3Cr-1C Low-Density Stainless Steels
Authors: Komane Takatso , Maledi Nthabiseng , Klenam Desmond , van der Merwe Josias , Bodunrin Michael
Published: February 2023

Two as-cast low-density steels grades (austenite-based duplex Fe-30.9Mn-4.9Al-4.5Cr-0.4C and austenitic Fe-21.3Mn-7.6Al-4.3Cr-1C) with an initial dendritic microstructure were subjected to hot working conditions to understand the influence of deformation parameters on flow behavior and microstructural evolution. The alloys were produced using electric arc melting, and their phase constituents were determined using optical microscopy and X-ray diffraction analysis. This was then corroborated with the phase predicted from Thermo-Calc simulation. The as-cast alloys were machined to 10 × 10 × 7 mm specimen configurations for rectangular axial testing on the Gleeble 3500 thermomechanical simulator. The samples were deformed to a total strain of 0.5 at different deformation temperatures (800, 900, and 1000 °C) and strain rates (0.1 and 5 s−1). Thereafter, a hardness test was conducted on the deformed samples, and post-deformed microstructures were analyzed using optical and scanning electron microscopes. The results showed that the alloys’ dendritic structures were effectively transformed at temperatures below 1000 °C regardless of the strain rate. At all deformation conditions, the peak flow stress of Fe-21.3Mn-7.6Al-4.3Cr-1C alloy was at least 50% higher than that of Fe-30.9Mn-4.9Al-4.5Cr-0.4C alloy owing to the higher carbon content in the austenitic low-density stainless steel. The hardness of all the deformed samples was superior to that of the as-cast samples, which indicates microstructural reconstitution and grain refinement in the alloys. Dynamic recrystallization, dynamic globularization, and dynamic recovery influenced the softening process and the microstructural changes observed in the alloys under different deformation conditions.
Induction Heating of a Fluidized Pebble Bed: Numerical and Experimental Analysis
Authors: Belik Sergej , Khater Omar , Zunft Stefan
Published: February 2023

The development of energy-efficient Power-to-Heat (PtH) technologies with high power density on a utility scale is a key element in the future of flexible energy systems. Although existing solutions for electric flow heaters (EFH) based on resistance heating have a high efficiency, the process outlet temperature and power output are limited by the lifetime of the contact heating elements. Inductively heated packed bed heaters can achieve higher gas outlet temperatures with a higher power density, which is essential for an efficient process. This paper focuses on the modeling, experimental validation and numerical analysis of inductively heated pebble bed gas heater. Foremost, a model that is based on a 3D finite volume method approach is introduced. After that, an experimental setup for different sphere arrangements is used to obtain results for concept verification and model validation. With the model validated, the design space for the PtH concept is investigated by varying the heat transfer area and material properties of the pebble bed. Design solutions with high energy efficiency above 90% and power density over 5.5 MW/m3 are presented for magnetic as well as non-magnetic materials at laboratory and utility scale.
FPGA-Based Frequency Tracking Strategy with High-Accuracy for Wireless Power Transmission Systems
Authors: Zhang Xin , Chu Zhiqi , Geng Yuehua , Pan Xuetong , Han Rongmei , Xue Ming
Published: February 2023

Aiming at the problem of the unavoidable phase-tracking error of the wireless power transfer (WPT) system caused by dead time, MOSFET drive and other factors, this paper proposes a frequency-tracking method with high accuracy based on a Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA) to track the current and voltage phase differences on the transmitting side. Compared with fixed-phase systems, the proposed method accurately controls the phase difference between voltage and current. It detects the phase difference in real time and adjusts the phase compensation angle dynamically to ensure that the system always operates under the optimal zero-voltage switching (ZVS) state, which reduces system loss. Experiments under operating conditions of varying transmission distances and load resistance values are carried out on a prototype. The experimental results show that the proposed method achieves a desired phase difference of 11.5° under the conditions of varying transmission distances and load resistance values, which meets the expectation of a phase difference between 10.5° and 13° to achieve ZVS. Within the range of over-coupling conditions, the output power and transmission efficiency of the WPT system are more significantly improved than those of the fixed-frequency system, which verifies the feasibility of the proposed method.
Numerical Study on the Sagging Damage of the Simplified Hull Girder Subjected to Underwater Explosion Bubble
Authors: Gong Yuxiang , Zhang Wenpeng , Du Zhipeng , Zhu Yinghao
Published: February 2023

The pulsation of the bubbles resulting from underwater explosions can lead to severe damage to the structure of the ship’s hull, and even to its sinking. To study the damage mechanism of a simplified hull girder (SHG) subjected to near-field underwater explosion bubble, the Coupled Eulerian–Lagrangian (CEL) method based on verifications of the calculation accuracy was used to simulate 11 SHG structures. The sagging bend mechanism of SHGs was analyzed from the perspective of plastic hinge lines. Moreover, the length formula of the potential bend zone was studied through the assumed plastic hinge lines. The influence of transverse bulkheads on bending mode and total longitudinal strength was investigated. The results show that SHGs’ sagging damage is composed of regular plastic hinge lines, mainly depending on side plates’ folding—W-shaped in this paper. When facing the near-field underwater explosion bubble, the distant transverse bulkheads influence the total longitudinal strength and do not always play a positive role.
The Emergence of Antibiotics Resistance Genes, Bacteria, and Micropollutants in Grey Wastewater
Authors: Itzhari Daniella , Ronen Zeev
Published: February 2023

The reuse of household greywater is increasing globally. Wastewater and greywater treatment processes are not fully effective in removing all contaminants, such as emerging micropollutants, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes. The dynamics between emerging micropollutants and antibiotic resistance genes in greywater treatment systems are complex. Thus, this review aims to analyze the current knowledge on sources, spread, and the fate of emerging micropollutants, antibiotic-resistance genes, and antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in microbial communities of greywater and downstream recipients. The fate of antimicrobial resistance and emerging micropollutants from greywater in the environment has not been determined. More studies are needed to identify the mechanism/s involved in the degradation of emerging micropollutants and the presence of transformation pathways in the microbial metagenome. In the review, we aim to describe the link between the persistence of emerging micropollutants and the emergence of antimicrobial resistance. We showed that the effect of irrigation with treated wastewater was variable. In addition, we tried to summarize the impact of emerging micropollutants on bacteria and their fate in the soil microbiome, demonstrating that emerging micropollutants induce changes in the diversity of soil bacteria. The fate and transport of emerging micropollutants, antimicrobial-resistant bacteria, and antibiotic resistance genes can vary with soil properties. It is, therefore, necessary to better understand how widely antibiotic-resistance genes are disseminated.
Effect of Frozen to Fresh Meat Ratio in Minced Pork on Its Quality
Authors: Tomasevic Igor , Witte Franziska , Kühling Rike , Berger Lisa , Gibis Monika , Weiss Jochen , Röser Anja , Upmann Matthias , Joeres Eike , Juadjur Andreas , Bindrich Ute , Heinz Volker , Terjung Nino
Published: February 2023

The meat industry is typically using a mixture of fresh and frozen meat batters for minced meat production. Our goal was to find the exact threshold for fresh to frozen meat ratio capable of controlling the meat temperature during processing, but without having an adverse effect on the sensory quality of minced pork. To achieve this, the percentage of frozen meat used for the minced pork production was increased from 0% (control) to 50% (maximum) in 10% increments. To keep the minced meat temperature in control and make the processing resistant to fat smearing, the addition of 30% of frozen meat to the meat batter is sufficient. The soluble protein content, instrumental cutting force, and the sensory perceived firmness, juiciness, and inner cohesion were not affected by the addition of frozen meat. However, it has contributed to a significant increase of the drip loss and the amount of non-intact cells (ANIC). With the addition of frozen meat into the minced pork, the compliance to ANIC regulation by the German regulatory authorities is technologically (practically) almost impossible.
Neural Machine Translation of Electrical Engineering Based on Vector Fusion
Authors: Chen Hong , Chen Yuan , Zhang Juwei
Published: February 2023

The development of neural machine translation has achieved a good translation effect on large-scale general corpora, but there are still many problems in the translation of low resources and specific fields. This paper studies the problem of machine translation in the field of electrical engineering and fuses the multi-layer vectors at the encoder side of the model. On this basis, the decoder unit of the translation model is improved, and a multi-attention mechanism translation model based on vector fusion is proposed, which improves the ability of the model to extract features and achieves a better translation effect on Chinese-English translation tasks. The experimental results show that the BLEU (bilingual evaluation understudy) value of the improved translation system in the field of electrical engineering has increased by 0.15–1.58 percentage points.
The PlayerScore: A Systematic Game Observation Tool to Determine Individual Player Performance in Team Handball Competition
Authors: Wagner Herbert , Hinz Matthias , Melcher Kevin , Radic Vanja , Uhrmeister Jörn
Published: February 2023

In team handball, the individual match performance of each player is essential for winning games; however, a validated match analysis system is still lacking. Consequently, the aim of the study was to justify (1) the different relevant variables and their scoring within the individual match analysis (PlayerScore), (2) to determine the intra-rater reliability and validity of the PlayerScore, and (3) to determine the influence of the rater in relation to their degree of expertise level. Six games (three games each of Spain and Brazil, one game twice) of the 2021 World Championship were analyzed by six different raters. The PlayerScore was calculated for each field player of Spain and Brazil in all seven analyzed games. We found a high intra-rater reliability (ICC = 0.97) for the two rated games (Spain against Germany), a highly significant difference (p < 0.001) between the summarized team PlayerScore of Spain and Brazil, as well as significant differences (p < 0.001) for the factor “game” and “rater” (p < 0.05), but no significant interaction for “game × rater” (p = 0.90) in the two-way repeated measures ANOVA. We conclude that the PlayerScore is a reliable and valid rating tool to determine the individual players’ performance in team handball; however, the raters should have sufficient experience in the different techniques and tactics in team handball.
Embedded Federated Learning for VANET Environments
Authors: Valente Renato , Senna Carlos , Rito Pedro , Sargento Susana
Published: February 2023

In the scope of smart cities, the sensors scattered throughout the city generate information that supplies intelligence mechanisms to learn the city’s mobility patterns. These patterns are used in machine learning (ML) applications, such as traffic estimation, that allow for improvement in the quality of experience in the city. Owing to the Internet-of-Things (IoT) evolution, the city’s monitoring points are always growing, and the transmission of the mass of data generated from edge devices to the cloud, required by centralized ML solutions, brings great challenges in terms of communication, thus negatively impacting the response time and, consequently, compromising the reaction in improving the flow of vehicles. In addition, when moving between the edge and the cloud, data are exposed, compromising privacy. Federated learning (FL) has emerged as an option for these challenges: (1) It has lower latency and communication overhead when performing most of the processing on the edge devices; (2) it improves privacy, as data do not travel over the network; and (3) it facilitates the handling of heterogeneous data sources and expands scalability. To assess how FL can effectively contribute to smart city scenarios, we present an FL framework, for which we built a testbed that integrated the components of the city infrastructure, where edge devices such as NVIDIA Jetson were connected to a cloud server. We deployed our lightweight container-based FL framework in this testbed, and we evaluated the performance of devices, the effectiveness of ML and aggregation algorithms, the impact on the communication between the edge and the server, and the consumption of resources. To carry out the evaluation, we opted for a scenario in which we estimated vehicle mobility inside and outside the city, using real data collected by the Aveiro Tech City Living Lab communication and sensing infrastructure in the city of Aveiro, Portugal.
Application of the Hyperspectral Imaging Method to Assess the Effectiveness of Permanent Makeup Removal
Authors: Kamińska Magdalena , Krusiec-Świdergoł Beata , Pawełczyk Weronika , Hartman-Petrycka Magdalena , Banyś Anna , Jonderko Krzysztof , Lebiedowska Agata , Koprowski Robert , Wilczyński Sławomir
Published: February 2023

The growing popularity of permanent makeup is associated with an increase in the need for treatments that effectively remove pigments from the skin. The risk of the radiation wavelength not being adjusted to the spectral ranges of individual pigments that compose the final color appears because complex dye compositions are used for permanent makeup. Incorrectly selected laser parameters may reduce the effectiveness of the treatment and increase the risk of thermal damage, leading to scarring and discoloration. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effectiveness of laser permanent makeup removal using hyperspectral imaging. Five different dyes were implemented into the skin of the pig’s ear. Then the dyes were removed using a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser. During the study, skin measurements were performed with a hyperspectral camera before and after laser application. The results were analyzed using GLCM, reflectance, and quadratic tree decomposition. Based on the obtained results, it was found that the most difficult dye to remove is white because it is characterized by high reflectivity of electromagnetic radiation. After the dye removal, there was a decrease in reflectance and contrast of GLCM and an increase in homogeneity for all dyes except for white. After the laser application, the pigments were distributed more equally in the skin.
Microgap Formation between a Dental Resin-Matrix Computer-Aided Design/Computer-Aided Manufacturing Ceramic Restorative and Dentin after Various Surface Treatments and Artificial Aging
Authors: Galanopoulos Alexandros , Dionysopoulos Dimitrios , Papadopoulos Constantinos , Mourouzis Petros , Tolidis Kosmas
Published: February 2023

The potential formation and the size of microgaps at the material/dentin interface after various surface modifications of a resin-matrix computer-aided design/computer-aided manufacturing (CAD/CAM) ceramic following artificial aging was investigated. Fifty human third molars were used, and a resin-matrix CAD/CAM ceramic, Lava Ultimate, and a resin cement material, Rely X Ultimate, were tested. CAD/CAM blocks were sectioned, and each slab was luted on the tooth surface using the same resin cement. The surface material was modified using the following treatments: Group 1—no treatment (control); Group 2—hydrofluoric acid (HF) + silane; Group 3—air abrasion with Al2O3 particles (29 μm); Group 4—air abrasion with Al2O3 particles (53 μm); and Group 5—erbium, chromium:yttrium–scandium–gallium–garnet (Er,Cr:YSGG) (2780 nm) laser treatment. The specimens were submitted to thermocycling (5000 cycles: 5 °C–55 °C) and then transversely cut in the middle and examined using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Larger microgaps were observed in the control and laser-treated groups, with no significant differences (p = 0.452). By contrast, the other three groups presented lower microgap formation, and in some cases, no microgaps were detected. Air-abrasion groups exhibited the lowest microgap formation (p < 0.05). Different surface modifications of the material presented significant differences in the formation of microgaps at the adhesive interface after artificial aging, implying differences in bond strengths among the groups. Air-abrasion pretreatments with Al2O3 particles presented more beneficial results regarding microgap formation.
IDEINFO: An Improved Vector-Weighted Optimization Algorithm
Authors: Zhao Lixin , Jin Hui
Published: February 2023

This study proposes an improved vector-weighted averaging algorithm (IDEINFO) for the optimization of different problems. The original vector-weighted optimization algorithm (INFO) uses weighted averaging for entity structures and uses three core procedures to update the positions of the vectors. First, the update rule phase is based on the law of averaging and convergence acceleration to generate new vectors. Second, the vector combination phase combines the obtained vectors with the update rules to achieve a promising solution. Third, the local search phase helps the algorithm eliminate low-precision solutions and improve exploitability and convergence. However, this approach pseudo-randomly initializes candidate solutions, and therefore risks falling into local optima. We, therefore, optimize the initial distribution uniformity of potential solutions by using a two-stage backward learning strategy to initialize the candidate solutions, and a difference evolution strategy to perturb these vectors in the combination stage to produce improved candidate solutions. In the search phase, the search range of the algorithm is expanded according to the probability values combined with the t-distribution strategy, to improve the global search results. The IDEINFO algorithm is, therefore, a promising tool for optimal design based on the considerable efficiency of the algorithm in the case of optimization constraints.
Development of a Generic Numerical Transtibial Model for Limb–Prosthesis System Evaluation
Authors: Plesec Vasja , Harih Gregor
Published: February 2023

The well-established finite element method (FEM) has been used successfully to evaluate and develop medical devices for lower-limb prosthetics over recent decades. Most numerical models are based on a specific 3D geometry, which, although allowing for an accurate analysis of a specific case, may differ significantly from the target group that is often geometrically closer to the average residual limb. In order to address this issue, a generic numerical transtibial model was developed with the corresponding definitive socket and silicone liner. Three load cases were performed to analyse the applicability of the model: donning, single-leg stance, and the static P5 test according to ISO 10328. While the first two cases were used commonly in previous studies, the ISO test was only used in physical tests and not in a numerical environment. The results of the simulations in terms of contact pressure, as well as the relative deformation of the socket, fit into the range reported in the literature for similar boundary conditions, thus verifying the model in biomechanical terms. The generic transtibial model serves as a numerical tool for the relative comparison of different socket-liner designs prior to the fabrication, providing insights into results that are otherwise difficult to obtain.
Effects of Modified Outsole Patterns in Tennis Shoes on Frictional Force and Biomechanical Variables of Lower Extremity Joints
Authors: Kang Jaewon , Ryu Sihyun , Gil Ho-Jong , Park Sang-Kyoon
Published: February 2023

(1) Background: This study aimed to examine the effects of four different outsole patterns on frictional force and lower extremities during tennis-specific movements. (2) Methods: Four tennis shoes with different widths of outsole treads were manufactured for this study (A: all thin, B: all thick, C: laterally thin and medially thick, D: medially thick and laterally thin). The frictional force was measured during a mechanical test. Eleven male recreational tennis players participated in the study. The data were collected using sixteen infrared cameras and a force plate for a biomechanical test. (3) Results: During the mechanical test, there was a significant difference between the shoes in the forward and sideward Coefficient of Translational Friction (CoF) and clockwise rotational friction (p < 0.05). There were significant differences in the maximum ankle internal rotation angle during braking motion (p < 0.05). In contrast, a significant difference in the maximum internal rotation moment of the ankle was found during forward braking motion (p < 0.05). (4) Conclusions: Based on these results, the difference in the outsole tread width (0.6 mm) affected mechanical frictional force, but this phenomenon was less influenced by the adaptation of the lower extremity joint’s movement in a tennis-specific motion. Finally, the difference in the outsole pattern affects the rotational movement and moment of the ankle joint. Thus, any slight change in friction by modified outsole patterns of tennis shoes requires close attention to develop the functional requirements for tennis performance.
An Easy-to-Use Histological Technique for Small Biological Samples of Senegalese Sole Larvae
Authors: Santana Lígia M. B. M. , Damasceno Évila Pinheiro , Loureiro Susana , Soares Amadeu M. V. M. , Pousão-Ferreira Pedro , Abessa Denis M. S. , Martins Roberto , Pavlaki Maria D.
Published: February 2023

Histological techniques are a traditional and essential tool for adequately comprehending cellular morphology and physiology in several scientific fields, including ecotoxicological studies. Although bioassays generally recommend using small test organisms, based on advantages such as low maintenance costs and the possibility of a higher number of replicates, the histological process of such organisms is still challenging due to the difficulty of handling them. The present study proposes an accessible protocol for performing the histology of a biological sample of 8 mm maximum length and using histopathological biomarkers in Senegal sole larvae for ecotoxicological tests. Eight-day old larvae of Solea senegalensis obtained from breeders’ natural spawns in cultivation conditions were submitted to histological processing by an adjusted protocol comprising fixation, agarose array pre-embedding, dehydration, paraffin embedding, slides’ preparation, and image analysis by light optical microscope coupled to a digital camera. Low-cost and easy-to-use alternatives were applied in the technique execution. The histological steps were detailed, and S. senegalensis morphological features were presented. This can be considered valuable background information for ecotoxicological studies where changes in cell morphology and physiology are expected.
Combining SABSA and Vis4Sec to the Process Framework IdMSecMan to Continuously Improve Identity Management Security in Heterogeneous ICT Infrastructures
Authors: Pöhn Daniela , Seeber Sebastian , Hommel Wolfgang
Published: February 2023

Identity management ensures that users have appropriate access to resources, such as ICT services and data. Thereby, identity management does not only identify, authenticate, and authorize individuals, but also the hardware devices and software applications which the users need for access. In consequence, identity management is an important element of information security management (ISM) and data governance. As ICT infrastructures are constantly changing, and new threats emerge, identity management has to be continuously improved, just like any other business process. In order to align the identity management process with business requirements, and provide a systematic approach supported by reporting and supporting visualizations, we apply Sherwood Applied Business Security Architecture (SABSA) and Visualization for Security (Vis4Sec) together in our approach, IdMSecMan (identity management security management). We first introduce IdMSecMan, before applying it to the central technical process activities of identification, authentication, and authorization. Our approach is underlined by a case study. Thereby, we, for example, see that enabling multi-factor authentication in organizations impacts other areas that may be overlooked without a structured approach. With IdMSecMan, we provide a process framework to align all decisions and to constantly improve identity management within organizations and inter-organizational collaborations.