bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Simultaneous Lymphatic Superficial Circumflex Iliac Artery Perforator Flap Transfer from the Zone 4 Region in Autologous Breast Reconstruction Using the Deep Inferior Epigastric Artery Perforator Flap: A Proof-of-Concept Study
Authors: Yoshimatsu Hidehiko , Karakawa Ryo , Fuse Yuma , Yano Tomoyuki
Published: January 2022

The incidence of upper extremity lymphedema after breast cancer treatment is reported to be 14% after axillary lymph node dissection (ALND) and 33% after ALND and regional lymph node dissection. The present report describes a novel method in which the afferent lymphatic vessels are harvested with their lymph nodes from the Zone 4 region as a separate flap, the superficial circumflex iliac artery perforator (SCIP) flap, in the setting of autologous breast reconstruction using the deep inferior epigastric artery perforator (DIEP) flap. From September 2017 to September 2020, seven female patients with an average age of 46.9 years (range: 39 to 54 years) underwent autologous breast reconstruction using the DIEP flap and the lymphatic SCIP flap procured separately from the Zone 4 region. All patients had undergone ALND, four patients had undergone radiation therapy, and three patients had established lymphedema at the time of reconstruction. All lymphatic SCIP flaps survived completely. Lymphedema did not occur in any of the four patients to whom the lymphatic flap was transferred for a preventive purpose (average follow-up: 37.5 months). In three patients with established lymphedema at the time of reconstruction, the average rate of estimated volume decrease at the last follow-up (average: 29.0 months) was 12.6%. A lymphatic SCIP flap procured from the Zone 4 region in DIEP flap breast reconstruction can contribute to improvement or prevention of lymphedema with no additional donor site.
Attenuation of the BTLA/HVEM Regulatory Network in the Circulation in Primary Sjögren’s Syndrome
Authors: Small Annabelle , Cole Suzanne , Wang Jing J. , Nagpal Sunil , Hao Ling-Yang , Wechalekar Mihir D.
Published: January 2022

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (SjS) is an inflammatory autoimmune disorder which targets the lacrimal and salivary glands, resulting in glandular dysfunction. Currently, the immune drivers of SjS remain poorly understood and peripheral biomarkers of disease are lacking. The present study therefore sought to investigate the immune cell constituents of the SjS peripheral blood, and to assess the role of the BTLA/HVEM/CD160 co-stimulatory network by characterizing expression within the periphery. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were isolated from whole blood of n = 10 patients with SjS and n = 10 age- and sex-matched healthy control donors. Cells were divided and stained with three panels of antibodies, allowing assessment of T, B, and myeloid cell subsets, and measurement of BTLA, HVEM, and CD160 surface expression by flow cytometry. We identified distinct alterations in proportions of peripheral T, B, and myeloid cell types in SjS compared with healthy controls. Expression of BTLA/CD160/HVEM and frequency of BTLA/CD160/HVEM-expressing cells were significantly altered in peripheral SjS lymphocytes. The proportion of T cells co-expressing BTLA/HVEM and CD160/HVEM were significantly reduced in SjS. We found decreased BTLA and HVEM levels on peripheral B and T cells of SjS patients, and decreased BTLA/HVEM and CD160/HVEM co-expression, demonstrating dysregulation of the BTLA/HVEM axis in the peripheral blood of SjS patients. These results indicate the potential of targeting the BTLA-HVEM axis for the treatment of SjS.
Awareness of Head and Neck Cancers: A 2021 Nationwide Cross-Sectional Survey in Poland
Authors: Pinkas Wojciech , Jankowski Mateusz , Wierzba Waldemar
Published: January 2022

Head and neck cancers (HNC) are the seventh most common cancers worldwide. Early diagnosis of HNC is associated with better outcomes. This study aimed to assess public awareness of HNC among adults in Poland, with particular emphasis on awareness of HNC symptoms and risk factors for HNC. This cross-sectional study was carried out in November 2021 on a nationwide, representative sample of 1082 inhabitants of Poland aged 18 years and over. The computer-assisted web interview (CAWI) technique was used. Most of the respondents rated their knowledge of head and neck cancers as “a little” (40.8%) or “nothing at all” (30%). The most identified symptoms were a lump in the neck (57.9%) and swelling or a lump in the throat (51.8%). The most identified risk factor for HNC was smoking cigarettes/tobacco (63.1%). Excessive alcohol consumption and HPV infection were correctly identified as risk factors by about one-third of respondents. Public awareness of selected symptoms of HNC and risk factors for HNC differed by sociodemographic factors, of which the educational level was the most important factor associated with awareness of head and neck cancers (p < 0.05). This study demonstrated low public awareness of head and neck cancers among adults in Poland.
Adaptive Servo-Ventilation as a Novel Therapeutic Strategy for Chronic Heart Failure
Authors: Imamura Teruhiko , Narang Nikhil , Kinugawa Koichiro
Published: January 2022

The introduction of new therapeutics for patients with chronic heart failure, including sacubitril/valsartan, sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors, and ivabradine, in addition to beta-blockers, angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitors, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists, lends an opportunity for significant clinical risk reduction compared to what was available just one decade ago. Further clinical options are needed, however, for patients with residual clinical congestion refractory to these therapies. Adaptive servo-ventilation is a novel therapeutic option to address significant clinical volume in cases resistant to medical therapy. The aggregate benefit of these additional therapeutic strategies in addition to foundational medical therapy may be a promising option in the selected candidates who do not achieve acceptable clinical and quality-of-life improvements with oral medical therapy alone. Now is the era to reconsider the implication of an adaptive servo-ventilation-therapy-incorporated medical therapeutic strategy for patients with congestive heart failure.
Classification Efficiency of Pre-Trained Deep CNN Models on Camera Trap Images
Authors: Stančić Adam , Vyroubal Vedran , Slijepčević Vedran
Published: January 2022

This paper presents the evaluation of 36 convolutional neural network (CNN) models, which were trained on the same dataset (ImageNet). The aim of this research was to evaluate the performance of pre-trained models on the binary classification of images in a “real-world” application. The classification of wildlife images was the use case, in particular, those of the Eurasian lynx (lat. “Lynx lynx”), which were collected by camera traps in various locations in Croatia. The collected images varied greatly in terms of image quality, while the dataset itself was highly imbalanced in terms of the percentage of images that depicted lynxes.
Histopathologic Lesions in Bivalve Mollusks Found in Portugal: Etiology and Risk Factors
Authors: Pires Daniel , Grade Ana , Ruano Francisco , Afonso Fernando
Published: January 2022

Bivalve mollusks are an important resource due to their socioeconomic value and to the historical and genetic value of some species. Two nationally important oyster species-Portuguese oyster (Crassostrea angulata) and Japanese oyster (Crassostrea gigas) from distinctive areas in Portugal were studied to evaluate their sanitary status. Oysters were sampled from four different sites in Portugal. Oysters collected from Japanese oyster populations were cultivated in a strong ocean-influenced environment and Portuguese oyster populations were cultivated in wild-beds. The histopathological examination of both oyster species revealed the presence of parasites in gills, mantle epithelium, digestive gland tubules and connective tissue, with a moderate prevalence. In both populations was observed hemocytosis in the connective tissue, edema and metaplasia in the digestive gland and tissues necrosis. In wild populations from Sado and Mira estuaries the prevalence of mud blisters and gill lesions were higher than from populations produced on 0.50 m tables from mudflats. Biosecurity measures and diagnostic techniques are fundamental to control pathogenic agents, including the identification of pathogens at an early stage in their life cycles. This will prevent diseases and improve pathogen reduction on transport of animals from different countries and regions to new production areas to avoid the transmission of diseases.
A Brazilian Inter-Hospital Candidemia Outbreak Caused by Fluconazole-Resistant Candida parapsilosis in the COVID-19 Era
Authors: Thomaz Danilo Y. , Del Negro Gilda M. B. , Ribeiro Leidiane B. , da Silva Mirian , Carvalho Gabrielle O. M. H. , Camargo Carlos H. , de Almeida João N. , Motta Adriana L. , Siciliano Rinaldo F. , Sejas Odeli N. E. , Rossi Flávia , Abdala Edson , Strabelli Tânia M. V. , Benard Gil
Published: January 2022

Horizontal transmission of fluconazole-resistant Candida parapsilosis (FRCP) through healthcare workers’ hands has contributed to the occurrence of candidemia outbreaks worldwide. Since the first COVID-19 case in Brazil was detected in early 2020, hospitals have reinforced hand hygiene and disinfection practices to minimize SARS-CoV-2 contamination. However, a Brazilian cardiology center, which shares ICU patients with a cancer center under a FRCP outbreak since 2019, reported an increased FRCP candidemia incidence in May 2020. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate an inter-hospital candidemia outbreak caused by FRCP isolates during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in Brazil. C. parapsilosis bloodstream isolates obtained from the cancer (n = 35) and cardiology (n = 30) centers in 2020 were submitted to microsatellite genotyping and fluconazole susceptibility testing. The ERG11 gene of all isolates from the cardiology center was sequenced and compared to the corresponding sequences of the FRCP genotype responsible for the cancer center outbreak in 2019. Unprecedentedly, most of the FRCP isolates from the cardiology center presented the same genetic profile and Erg11-Y132F mutation detected in the strain that has been causing the persistent outbreak in the cancer center, highlighting the uninterrupted horizontal transmission of clonal isolates in our hospitals during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Reappraisal of the Genus Exsudoporus (Boletaceae) Worldwide Based on Multi-Gene Phylogeny, Morphology and Biogeography, and Insights on Amoenoboletus
Authors: Biketova Alona Yu. , Gelardi Matteo , Smith Matthew E. , Simonini Giampaolo , Healy Rosanne A. , Taneyama Yuichi , Vasquez Gianrico , Kovács Ádám , Nagy László G. , Wasser Solomon P. , Peintner Ursula , Nevo Eviatar , Bunyard Britt A. , Vizzini Alfredo
Published: January 2022

The boletoid genera Butyriboletus and Exsudoporus have recently been suggested by some researchers to constitute a single genus, and Exsudoporus was merged into Butyriboletus as a later synonym. However, no convincing arguments have yet provided significant evidence for this congeneric placement. In this study, we analyze material from Exsudoporus species and closely related taxa to assess taxonomic and phylogenetic boundaries between these genera and to clarify species delimitation within Exsudoporus. Outcomes from a multilocus phylogenetic analysis (ITS, nrLSU, tef1-α and rpb2) clearly resolve Exsudoporus as a monophyletic, homogenous and independent genus that is sister to Butyriboletus. An accurate morphological description, comprehensive sampling, type studies, line drawings and a historical overview on the nomenclatural issues of the type species E. permagnificus are provided. Furthermore, this species is documented for the first time from Israel in association with Quercus calliprinos. The previously described North American species Exsudoporus frostii and E. floridanus are molecularly confirmed as representatives of Exsudoporus, and E. floridanus is epitypified. The eastern Asian species Leccinum rubrum is assigned here to Exsudoporus based on molecular evidence, and a new combination is proposed. Sequence data from the original material of the Japanese Boletus kermesinus were generated, and its conspecificity with L. rubrum is inferred as formerly presumed based on morphology. Four additional cryptic species from North and Central America previously misdetermined as either B. frostii or B. floridanus are phylogenetically placed but remain undescribed due to the paucity of available material. Boletus weberi (syn. B. pseudofrostii) and Xerocomus cf. mcrobbii cluster outside of Exsudoporus and are herein assigned to the recently described genus Amoenoboletus. Biogeographic distribution patterns are elucidated, and a dichotomous key to all known species of Exsudoporus worldwide is presented.
Neuro-Oncology Multidisciplinary Tumor Board: The Point of View of the Neuroradiologist
Authors: Gaudino Simona , Giordano Carolina , Magnani Francesca , Cottonaro Simone , Infante Amato , Sabatino Giovanni , La Rocca Giuseppe , Della Pepa Giuseppe Maria , D’Alessandris Quintino Giorgio , Pallini Roberto , Olivi Alessandro , Balducci Mario , Chiesa Silvia , Gessi Marco , Guadalupi Pamela , Russo Rosellina , Schiarelli Chiara , Ausili Cefaro Luca , Di Lella Giuseppe Maria , Colosimo Cesare
Published: January 2022

Background: The multi-disciplinary tumor board (MTB) is essential to quality cancer care and currently recommended to offer the best personalized clinical approach, but little has been published regarding MTBs in neuro-oncology (nMTBs). The aim of the present paper is to describe our nMTB, to evaluate its impact on clinical management decisions, and to assess the role of neuroradiologists. Methods: The retrospective evaluation of the cases discussed at our nMTB from March 2017 to March 2020. From the electronic records, we extracted epidemiological, clinical and other specific data of nMTB. From the radiological records, we calculated data relating to the number, time for revision, and other specifications of MRI re-evaluation. Statistical analysis was performed. Results: a total of 447 discussions were analyzed, representing 342 patients. The requests for case evaluations came from radiation oncologists (58.8%) and neurosurgeons (40.5%), and were mainly addressed to the neuroradiologist (73.8%). The most frequent questions were about the treatment’s changes (64.4%). The change in patient treatment was reported in 40.5% of cases, 76.8% of these were based on the neuroradiologic assessment. A total of 1514 MRI examinations were re-evaluated, employing approximately 67 h overall. The median of the MRI exams reviewed per patient was 3 (min–max 1–12). Conclusions: Our study supported that the multidisciplinary approach to patient care can be particularly effective in managing brain tumors. A review by an expert neuroradiologist impacts patient management in the context of nMTBs, but has costs in terms of the time and effort spent preparing for it.
Digital Transformation of Small and Medium Enterprises: Aspects of Public Support
Authors: Rupeika-Apoga Ramona , Bule Larisa , Petrovska Kristine
Published: January 2022

The purpose of this study is to identify the necessary public support measures for small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and provide policy makers with guidance on how to facilitate a successful digital transformation. The study is based on a representative survey of 425 Latvian SMEs carried out in spring 2021. We combine three analyses: a survey among SMEs, qualitative comparative analysis and regression analysis. The results of this study show that a significant number of SMEs are convinced that they will not be able to cope with digital transformation without various kinds of assistance, with direct financial support from the state or EU funds and tax incentives playing a major role. The range of public support required is rather wide, from staff training, mentoring and increasing the potential workforce to tax relief and direct financial support. We found statistically significant differences in public support needed depending on the size of SMEs and their ability to independently manage digital transformation. These findings could be useful for policymakers, managers and practitioners to identify various forms of public support that can maximize the impact of digital transformation not only on business, but also on society as a whole.
Home Countries Matter for the Internationalisation of Emerging Market Multinational Enterprises
Authors: Zhong Yifan , Gao Ruosu , Yue Xiao-Guang
Published: January 2022

The past two decades have witnessed the significant growth of emerging markets and the rise of emerging market multinational enterprises (EMNEs) (Luo and Tung 2007) [...]
Determining Factors of FDI Flows to Selected Caribbean Countries
Authors: Sookram Sandra , Hosein Roger , Boodram Leera , Saridakis George
Published: January 2022

Foreign direct investment (FDI) is a vital ingredient in achieving sustained growth in the Caribbean region. However, FDI inflows have been affected by issues such as market factors, trade barriers, costs factors, investment climate, political and foreign exchange stability. To this end, this paper examines the factors affecting FDI flows into Caribbean countries. We argue that Small Island Developing States in the Caribbean (SIDSC) can be affected by issues such as their small market size, high cost of energy, proneness to exogenous shocks from commodity prices, natural disasters and climate change. A point to note is that countries in the Caribbean with natural resources are expected to have biased FDI inflows. Additionally, countries throughout the Caribbean have different economic and productive structures and unique issues that can affect them based on their individual characteristics. To this end, a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lagged (ARDL) model is used to determine the factors affecting FDI inflows in the Caribbean over the period 2000 to 2019. The findings reveal that GDP growth, natural resource rents, gross capital formation and population growth are significant factors influencing growth in the Caribbean region.
The ‘Bush Capital’—A Review of 100+ Years of Integrative Spatio-Temporal Planning for a City in the Landscape and Nature in the City
Authors: Lynch A. Jasmyn J.
Published: January 2022

Over approximately 100 years, the Australian capital, Canberra, has evolved in association with the predominant values, vision and cultural relationships of people to the area. The location and design of the city derived from a formal intention to integrate nature and culture for the benefit and edification of residents and in symbolisation of the city’s importance as the seat of national decision-making and legislature. Established on a native grassland surrounded by wooded hills and ridges, and with nearby confluences of rivers as security of water supply, the city’s landscape was transformed through centralised planning and implementation of Garden City and City Beautiful constructs to become one of the world’s most liveable regions. Twentieth-century expansion of the city’s suburbs, tree streetscapes and gardens progressed with varying emphasis on exotic versus native species, and contemporary programs aim to increase urban tree canopy cover to 30%. Yet, there is increasing acknowledgement of the landscape’s rich history of culture–nature interactions extending back at least 25,000 years. Indicators are evident in human modification of tree-dominated ecosystems, the overlapping ways in which people related to elemental landscape features, and a continuity of valuing particular sites for ceremonies, social activities and human movement. With projected steady population growth, climate change, and associated impacts on the environment and natural resources, contemporary planning must be innovative and integrative to ensure ecologically sustainable development. Strong visionary leadership is needed to develop a landscape policy that encompasses key natural assets including threatened woodlands and mature native trees for their intrinsic values and as habitat for threatened fauna, cultural landscape values such as forested montane and ridge areas, and heritage and protected trees. From pre-European to current times, planning, modification and management of environmental and ecosystem values has been integral to enabling local people to sustain themselves. The next challenge is to create clarity about the future of this cultural landscape and enhance the community’s attachment to and stewardship of the city and its landscape.
Resistant Genes and Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria in Wastewater: A Study of Their Transfer to the Water Reservoir in the Czech Republic
Authors: Stachurová Tereza , Sýkorová Nikola , Semerád Jaroslav , Malachová Kateřina
Published: January 2022

Wastewater is considered the most serious source of the spread of antibiotic resistance in the environment. This work, therefore, focuses on the fate and spread of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) in wastewater and the monitoring of multidrug-resistant strains. ARGs were monitored in the nitrification and sedimentation tanks of the wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) and in the dam into which this WWTP flows, at various times. The highest relative abundance was found for the blaTEM > tetW > blaNDM-1 > vanA resistance genes, respectively. An increased concentration of tetracycline (up to 96.00 ng/L) and ampicillin (up to 19.00 ng/L) was found in water samples compared to other antibiotics detected. The increased incidence of seven ARGs and four antibiotics was observed in the November and December sampling times. Isolated ampicillin-resistant strains showed a high degree of resistance to ampicillin (61.2% of the total isolates had a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) ≥ 20 mg/mL). In 87.8% of isolates, out of the total number, the occurrence of two or more ARGs was confirmed. These multidrug-resistant strains were most often identified as Aeromonas sp. This strain could represent a significant role in the spread of multidrug resistance through wastewater in the environment.
Near-Infrared Fluorescence with Indocyanine Green to Assess Bone Perfusion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Michi Marlies , Madu Max , Winters Henri A. H. , de Bruin Daniel M. , van der Vorst Joost R. , Driessen Caroline
Published: January 2022

Background: Adequate perfusion of a bone flap is essential for successful reconstruction of osseous defects. Unfortunately, complications related to inadequate bone perfusion are common. Near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) imaging enables intraoperative visualization of perfusion. NIRF has been investigated in reconstructive surgery to aid the surgeon in clinical perioperative assessment of soft tissue perfusion. However, little is known on the beneficial use of NIRF to assess bone perfusion. Therefore, the aim of this review was to search for studies evaluating NIRF to assess bone perfusion. Methods: A systematic review, according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guideline, was performed. Studies up to October 2021 were included. We extracted data regarding the study population, size and design, reported objective fluorescence parameters and the methodology used for fluorescence imaging and processing. Results: Ten articles were included. Studies reported unevenly on the protocol used for NIRF imaging. Five studies reported objective parameters. Absolute and relative perfusion parameters and parameters derived from maximum fluorescence were reported. The clinical significance of these parameters has not been evaluated in humans. Conclusion: The evidence on bone perfusion as measured with NIRF is limited. More clinical studies are required.
Roles of Close Homologues SigB and SigD in Heat and High Light Acclimation of the Cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC 6803
Authors: Turunen Otso , Koskinen Satu , Kurkela Juha , Karhuvaara Outi , Hakkila Kaisa , Tyystjärvi Taina
Published: January 2022

Acclimation of cyanobacterium Synechocystis sp. PCC6803 to suboptimal conditions is largely dependent on adjustments of gene expression, which is highly controlled by the σ factor subunits of RNA polymerase (RNAP). The SigB and SigD σ factors are close homologues. Here we show that the sigB and sigD genes are both induced in high light and heat stresses. Comparison of transcriptomes of the control strain (CS), ΔsigB, ΔsigD, ΔsigBCE (containing SigD as the only functional group 2 σ factor), and ΔsigCDE (SigB as the only functional group 2 σ factor) strains in standard, high light, and high temperature conditions revealed that the SigB and SigD factors regulate different sets of genes and SigB and SigD regulons are highly dependent on stress conditions. The SigB regulon is bigger than the SigD regulon at high temperature, whereas, in high light, the SigD regulon is bigger than the SigB regulon. Furthermore, our results show that favoring the SigB or SigD factor by deleting other group 2 σ factors does not lead to superior acclimation to high light or high temperature, indicating that all group 2 σ factors play roles in the acclimation processes.
Digital Twin-Based Integrated Assessment of Flexible and Reconfigurable Automotive Part Production Lines
Authors: Yang Jinho , Son Yoo Ho , Lee Donggun , Noh Sang Do
Published: January 2022

The manufacturing industry has witnessed rapid changes, including unpredictable product demand, diverse customer requirements, and increased pressure to launch new products. To deal with such changes, the reconfigurable manufacturing system has been proposed as one of the advanced manufacturing systems that is close to the realisation of smart manufacturing since it is able to reconfigure its hardware, software, and system structures in a much quicker manner. Conventional simulation technologies lack convergence with physical manufacturing systems, and reconfigurable manufacturing lines require the manual construction of production line models for each reconfiguration. This study presents a digital twin-based integrated reconfiguration assessment application that synchronises with real-time manufacturing data and provides accurate, automated simulation functionality to build and analyse a manufacturing system. The paper discusses the architectural design and implementation of the application, an information model, and an assessment model that enable quantitatively assessment on reconfigurations of manufacturing systems from various aspects. The effectiveness of the proposed application is verified via application to an automotive parts production line to assess the reconfiguration indicators of the manufacturing system under different scenarios. The results reveal that the proposed application provides faster and more accurate reconfiguration assessments compared to existing methods. The findings of this study are expected to facilitate accurate and consistent decision making for evaluating the various indicators of production line performance.
Serum Albumin for Magnetic Nanoparticles Coating
Authors: Chubarov Alexey S.
Published: January 2022

Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) have great potential in biochemistry and medical science. In particular, iron oxide nanoparticles have demonstrated a promising effect in various biomedical applications due to their high magnetic properties, large surface area, stability, and easy functionalization. However, colloidal stability, biocompatibility, and potential toxicity of MNPs in physiological environments are crucial for their in vivo application. In this context, many research articles focused on the possible procedures for MNPs coating to improve their physic-chemical and biological properties. This review highlights one viable fabrication strategy of biocompatible iron oxide nanoparticles using human serum albumin (HSA). HSA is mainly a transport protein with many functions in various fundamental processes. As it is one of the most abundant plasma proteins, not a single drug in the blood passes without its strength test. It influences the stability, pharmacokinetics, and biodistribution of different drug-delivery systems by binding or forming its protein corona on the surface. The development of albumin-based drug carriers is gaining increasing importance in the targeted delivery of cancer therapy. Considering this, HSA is a highly potential candidate for nanoparticles coating and theranostics area and can provide biocompatibility, prolonged blood circulation, and possibly resolve the drug-resistance cancer problem.
A Modified Coronavirus Herd Immunity Optimizer for the Power Scheduling Problem
Authors: Makhadmeh Sharif Naser , Al-Betar Mohammed Azmi , Awadallah Mohammed A. , Abasi Ammar Kamal , Alyasseri Zaid Abdi Alkareem , Doush Iyad Abu , Alomari Osama Ahmad , Damaševičius Robertas , Zajančkauskas Audrius , Mohammed Mazin Abed
Published: January 2022

The Coronavirus herd immunity optimizer (CHIO) is a new human-based optimization algorithm that imitates the herd immunity strategy to eliminate of the COVID-19 disease. In this paper, the coronavirus herd immunity optimizer (CHIO) is modified to tackle a discrete power scheduling problem in a smart home (PSPSH). PSPSH is a combinatorial optimization problem with NP-hard features. It is a highly constrained discrete scheduling problem concerned with assigning the operation time for smart home appliances based on a dynamic pricing scheme(s) and several other constraints. The primary objective when solving PSPSH is to maintain the stability of the power system by reducing the ratio between average and highest power demand (peak-to-average ratio (PAR)) and reducing electricity bill (EB) with considering the comfort level of users (UC). This paper modifies and adapts the CHIO algorithm to deal with such discrete optimization problems, particularly PSPSH. The adaptation and modification include embedding PSPSH problem-specific operators to CHIO operations to meet the discrete search space requirements. PSPSH is modeled as a multi-objective problem considering all objectives, including PAR, EB, and UC. The proposed method is examined using a dataset that contains 36 home appliances and seven consumption scenarios. The main CHIO parameters are tuned to find their best values. These best values are used to evaluate the proposed method by comparing its results with comparative five metaheuristic algorithms. The proposed method shows encouraging results and almost obtains the best results in all consumption scenarios.
On the Existence of Super Efficient Solutions and Optimality Conditions for Set-Valued Vector Optimization Problems
Authors: Ceng Lu-Chuan , Wen Ching-Feng , Liou Yeong-Cheng
Published: January 2022

In this paper, by using the normal subdifferential and equilibrium-like function we first obtain some properties for K-preinvex set-valued maps. Secondly, in terms of this equilibrium-like function, we establish some sufficient conditions for the existence of super minimal points of a K-preinvex set-valued map, that is, super efficient solutions of a set-valued vector optimization problem, and also attain necessity optimality terms for a general type of super efficiency.
CellsDeepNet: A Novel Deep Learning-Based Web Application for the Automated Morphometric Analysis of Corneal Endothelial Cells
Authors: Al-Waisy Alaa S. , Alruban Abdulrahman , Al-Fahdawi Shumoos , Qahwaji Rami , Ponirakis Georgios , Malik Rayaz A. , Mohammed Mazin Abed , Kadry Seifedine
Published: January 2022

The quantification of corneal endothelial cell (CEC) morphology using manual and semi-automatic software enables an objective assessment of corneal endothelial pathology. However, the procedure is tedious, subjective, and not widely applied in clinical practice. We have developed the CellsDeepNet system to automatically segment and analyse the CEC morphology. The CellsDeepNet system uses Contrast-Limited Adaptive Histogram Equalization (CLAHE) to improve the contrast of the CEC images and reduce the effects of non-uniform image illumination, 2D Double-Density Dual-Tree Complex Wavelet Transform (2DDD-TCWT) to reduce noise, Butterworth Bandpass filter to enhance the CEC edges, and moving average filter to adjust for brightness level. An improved version of U-Net was used to detect the boundaries of the CECs, regardless of the CEC size. CEC morphology was measured as mean cell density (MCD, cell/mm2), mean cell area (MCA, μm2), mean cell perimeter (MCP, μm), polymegathism (coefficient of CEC size variation), and pleomorphism (percentage of hexagonality coefficient). The CellsDeepNet system correlated highly significantly with the manual estimations for MCD (r = 0.94), MCA (r = 0.99), MCP (r = 0.99), polymegathism (r = 0.92), and pleomorphism (r = 0.86), with p < 0.0001 for all the extracted clinical features. The Bland–Altman plots showed excellent agreement. The percentage difference between the manual and automated estimations was superior for the CellsDeepNet system compared to the CEAS system and other state-of-the-art CEC segmentation systems on three large and challenging corneal endothelium image datasets captured using two different ophthalmic devices.
Hybridisation of Swarm Intelligence Algorithms with Multi-Criteria Ordinal Classification: A Strategy to Address Many-Objective Optimisation
Authors: Castellanos Alejandro , Cruz-Reyes Laura , Fernández Eduardo , Rivera Gilberto , Gomez-Santillan Claudia , Rangel-Valdez Nelson
Published: January 2022

This paper introduces a strategy to enrich swarm intelligence algorithms with the preferences of the Decision Maker (DM) represented in an ordinal classifier based on interval outranking. Ordinal classification is used to bias the search toward the Region of Interest (RoI), the privileged zone of the Pareto frontier containing the most satisfactory solutions according to the DM’s preferences. We applied this hybridising strategy to two swarm intelligence algorithms, i.e., Multi-objective Grey Wolf Optimisation and Indicator-based Multi-objective Ant Colony Optimisation for continuous domains. The resulting hybrid algorithms were called GWO-InClass and ACO-InClass. To validate our strategy, we conducted experiments on the DTLZ problems, the most widely studied test suit in the framework of multi-objective optimisation. According to the results, our approach is suitable when many objective functions are treated. GWO-InClass and ACO-InClass demonstrated the capacity of reaching the RoI better than the original metaheuristics that approximate the complete Pareto frontier.
Parameters Optimization of Taguchi Method Integrated Hybrid Harmony Search Algorithm for Engineering Design Problems
Authors: Uray Esra , Carbas Serdar , Geem Zong Woo , Kim Sanghun
Published: January 2022

Performance of convergence to the optimum value is not completely a known process due to characteristics of the considered design problem and floating values of optimization algorithm control parameters. However, increasing robustness and effectiveness of an optimization algorithm may be possible statistically by estimating proper algorithm parameters values. Not only the algorithm which utilizes these estimated-proper algorithm parameter values may enable to find the best fitness in a shorter time, but also it may supply the optimum searching process with a pragmatical manner. This study focuses on the statistical investigation of the optimum values for the control parameters of the harmony search algorithm and their effects on the best solution. For this purpose, the Taguchi method integrated hybrid harmony search algorithm has been presented as an alternative method for optimization analyses instead of sensitivity analyses which are generally used for the investigation of the proper algorithm parameters. The harmony memory size, the harmony memory considering rate, the pitch adjustment rate, the maximum iteration number, and the independent run number of entire iterations have been debated as the algorithm control parameters of the harmony search algorithm. To observe the effects of design problem characteristics on control parameters, the new hybrid method has been applied to different engineering optimization problems including several engineering-optimization examples and a real-size engineering optimization design. End of extensive optimization and statistical analyses to achieve optimum values of control parameters providing rapid convergence to optimum fitness value and handling constraints have been estimated with reasonable relative errors. Employing the Taguchi method integrated hybrid harmony search algorithm in parameter optimization has been demonstrated as it is a reliable and efficient manner to obtain the optimum results with fewer numbers of run and iteration.
An Improvement in Constrained Studded Pressing for Producing Ultra-Fine-Grained Copper Sheet
Authors: Kaykha Mohammad M. , Dashtbayazi Mohammad R.
Published: January 2022

In this study, constrained studded pressing (CSP) was modified to produce ultra-fine-grained copper sheets and is called modified-CSP. In modified-CSP, due to the selection of asymmetric semicircle studs, the maximum groove depth can increase up to three times the sheet thickness. In the CSP method, the groove depth is selected to be equal to the sheet thickness. To investigate the effective plastic strain, a finite element model (FEM) of modified-CSP was established. For this purpose, DEFORM-3D commercial software was used. A simulation showed that the modified-CSP process was capable of using higher strain, about 0.8 in each pass than in CSP. Copper sheets were deformed up to 10 passes by modified-CSP. The microstructure of the produced samples was analyzed. The results show that the grain size decreases in the first pass. In addition, with increasing plastic strain, the structure of the twins bands was observed. Mechanical properties, including tensile properties and Vickers microhardness, of the samples during the process were investigated. The strain inhomogeneity factor (SIF) and the hardness inhomogeneity factor (HIF) were used to quantitatively express the uniformity of distribution of effective plastic strain and Vickers microhardness, respectively. Compared with CSP and constrained groove pressing (CGP), the results showed that although the ultimate tensile strength (UTS) has significantly increased, the ductility values have remained almost constant. Moreover, in modified-CSP, the load-die stroke diagram increases almost evenly due to the removal of the stud interface area and progressive engagement. Therefore, modified-CSP copper sheets showed superior tensile properties such as good toughness.
Water Column Microbial Communities Vary along Salinity Gradients in the Florida Coastal Everglades Wetlands
Authors: Laas Peeter , Ugarelli Kelly , Travieso Rafael , Stumpf Sandro , Gaiser Evelyn E. , Kominoski John S. , Stingl Ulrich
Published: January 2022

Planktonic microbial communities mediate many vital biogeochemical processes in wetland ecosystems, yet compared to other aquatic ecosystems, like oceans, lakes, rivers or estuaries, they remain relatively underexplored. Our study site, the Florida Everglades (USA)—a vast iconic wetland consisting of a slow-moving system of shallow rivers connecting freshwater marshes with coastal mangrove forests and seagrass meadows—is a highly threatened model ecosystem for studying salinity and nutrient gradients, as well as the effects of sea level rise and saltwater intrusion. This study provides the first high-resolution phylogenetic profiles of planktonic bacterial and eukaryotic microbial communities (using 16S and 18S rRNA gene amplicons) together with nutrient concentrations and environmental parameters at 14 sites along two transects covering two distinctly different drainages: the peat-based Shark River Slough (SRS) and marl-based Taylor Slough/Panhandle (TS/Ph). Both bacterial as well as eukaryotic community structures varied significantly along the salinity gradient. Although freshwater communities were relatively similar in both transects, bacterioplankton community composition at the ecotone (where freshwater and marine water mix) differed significantly. The most abundant taxa in the freshwater marshes include heterotrophic Polynucleobacter sp. and potentially phagotrophic cryptomonads of the genus Chilomonas, both of which could be key players in the transfer of detritus-based biomass to higher trophic levels.
Bacillus nematocida B16 Enhanced the Rhizosphere Colonization of Pochonia chlamydosporia ZK7 and Controlled the Efficacy of the Root-Knot Nematode Meloidogyne incognita
Authors: Bo Tingting , Kong Chuixu , Zou Shunxing , Mo Minghe , Liu Yajun
Published: January 2022

Pochonia chlamydosporia is widely applied in many countries as a biocontrol fungus against parasitic nematodes in plants. In a field experiment, the combined use of Bacillus nematocida B16 increased the biocontrol efficiency of P. chlamydosporia ZK7 against Meloidogyne incognita. Further study indicated that the colonization of P. chlamydosporia ZK7 in the rhizosphere soil and the roots of tomatoes was significantly higher in the combined use group than in the control group. Gas chromatography was conducted to determine the effects of signaling substances. Five compounds, hexanal, (E)-2-hexenal, furfural, benzaldehyde, and 2-nonanone, were found to be highly altered in the volatile compounds produced in the soil under the combined application. The changes in benzaldehyde and 2-nonanone were the main factors that resulted in an increase in the colonization of fungi P. chlamydosporia ZK7 in the tomato roots. Furfural was the main volatile substance that affected the colonization of fungi P. chlamydosporia ZK7 in the soil. The combined use of B. nematocida B16 and P. chlamydosporia ZK7 altered the volatile ranges and resulted in increased colonization of biocontrol fungi and improved biocontrol efficiency against nematodes. This combined model could be used to promote the ability of biocontrol fungi to control root-knot nematodes.
Natural Variation and the Role of Zn2Cys6 Transcription Factors SdrA, WarA and WarB in Sorbic Acid Resistance of Aspergillus niger
Authors: Seekles Sjoerd J. , van Dam Jisca , Arentshorst Mark , Ram Arthur F. J.
Published: January 2022

Weak acids, such as sorbic acid, are used as chemical food preservatives by the industry. Fungi overcome this weak-acid stress by inducing cellular responses mediated by transcription factors. In our research, a large-scale sorbic acid resistance screening was performed on 100 A. niger sensu stricto strains isolated from various sources to study strain variability in sorbic acid resistance. The minimal inhibitory concentration of undissociated (MICu) sorbic acid at pH = 4 in the MEB of the A. niger strains varies between 4.0 mM and 7.0 mM, with the average out of 100 strains being 4.8 ± 0.8 mM, when scored after 28 days. MICu values were roughly 1 mM lower when tested in commercial ice tea. Genome sequencing of the most sorbic-acid-sensitive strain among the isolates revealed a premature stop codon inside the sorbic acid response regulator encoding gene sdrA. Repairing this missense mutation increased the sorbic acid resistance, showing that the sorbic-acid-sensitive phenotype of this strain is caused by the loss of SdrA function. To identify additional transcription factors involved in weak-acid resistance, a transcription factor knock-out library consisting of 240 A. niger deletion strains was screened. The screen identified a novel transcription factor, WarB, which contributes to the resistance against a broad range of weak acids, including sorbic acid. The roles of SdrA, WarA and WarB in weak-acid resistance, including sorbic acid, were compared by creating single, double and the triple knock-out strains. All three transcription factors were found to have an additive effect on the sorbic acid stress response.
Modulation of Streptococcus mutans Adherence to Hydroxyapatite by Engineered Salivary Peptides
Authors: Marin Lina Maria , Xiao Yizhi , Cury Jaime Aparecido , Siqueira Walter Luiz
Published: January 2022

Since the modification of the proteinaceous components of the Acquired Enamel Pellicle (AEP) could influence the adhesion of Streptococcus mutans, the most cariogenic bacteria, to dental surfaces, we assessed if engineered salivary peptides would affect the adherence and modulate the bacterial proteome upon adherence. Single-component AEPs were formed onto hydroxyapatite (HAp) discs by incubating them with statherin, histatin-3, DR9, DR9-DR9, DR9-RR14, RR14, and parotid saliva. Then, the discs were inoculated with S. mutans UA159 and the bacteria were allowed to adhere for 2 h, 4 h, and 8 h (n = 12/treatment/time point). The number of bacteria adhered to the HAp discs was determined at each time point and analyzed by two-way ANOVA and Bonferroni tests. Cell-wall proteins were extracted from adhered, planktonic, and inoculum (baseline) bacteria and proteome profiles were obtained after a bottom-up proteomics approach. The number of adhered bacteria significantly increased over time, being the mean values obtained at 8 h, from highest to lowest, as follows: DR9-RR14 > statherin > RR14 = DR9-DR9 > DR9 = histatin3 > saliva (p < 0.05). Treatments modulated the bacterial proteome upon adherence. The findings suggested a potential use of our engineered peptide DR9-DR9 to control S. mutans biofilm development by reducing bacterial colonization.
Integron Functionality and Genome Innovation: An Update on the Subtle and Smart Strategy of Integrase and Gene Cassette Expression Regulation
Authors: Fonseca Érica L. , Vicente Ana Carolina
Published: January 2022

Integrons are considered hot spots for bacterial evolution, since these platforms allow one-step genomic innovation by capturing and expressing genes that provide advantageous novelties, such as antibiotic resistance. The acquisition and shuffling of gene cassettes featured by integrons enable the population to rapidly respond to changing selective pressures. However, in order to avoid deleterious effects and fitness burden, the integron activity must be tightly controlled, which happens in an elegant and elaborate fashion, as discussed in detail in the present review. Here, we aimed to provide an up-to-date overview of the complex regulatory networks that permeate the expression and functionality of integrons at both transcriptional and translational levels. It was possible to compile strong shreds of evidence clearly proving that these versatile platforms include functions other than acquiring and expressing gene cassettes. The well-balanced mechanism of integron expression is intricately related with environmental signals, host cell physiology, fitness, and survival, ultimately leading to adaptation on the demand.
As(III, V) Uptake from Nanostructured Iron Oxides and Oxyhydroxides: The Complex Interplay between Sorbent Surface Chemistry and Arsenic Equilibria
Authors: Sanna Angotzi Marco , Mameli Valentina , Fantasia Alessandra , Cara Claudio , Secci Fausto , Enzo Stefano , Gerina Marianna , Cannas Carla
Published: January 2022

Iron oxides/oxyhydroxides, namely maghemite, iron oxide-silica composite, akaganeite, and ferrihydrite, are studied for AsV and AsIII removal from water in the pH range 2–8. All sorbents were characterized for their structural, morphological, textural, and surface charge properties. The same experimental conditions for the batch tests permitted a direct comparison among the sorbents, particularly between the oxyhydroxides, known to be among the most promising As-removers but hardly compared in the literature. The tests revealed akaganeite to perform better in the whole pH range for AsV (max 89 mg g−1 at pH0 3) but to be also efficient toward AsIII (max 91 mg g−1 at pH0 3–8), for which the best sorbent was ferrihydrite (max 144 mg g−1 at pH0 8). Moreover, the study of the sorbents’ surface chemistry under contact with arsenic and arsenic-free solutions allowed the understanding of its role in the arsenic uptake through electrophoretic light scattering and pH measurements. Indeed, the sorbent’s ability to modify the starting pH was a crucial step in determining the removal of performances. The AsV initial concentration, contact time, ionic strength, and presence of competitors were also studied for akaganeite, the most promising remover, at pH0 3 and 8 to deepen the uptake mechanism.