bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Numerical and Code-Based Investigation on the Impact of Corrosion on the Ultimate Compressive Strength of Steel Angle Members Using Thickness Reduction Method
Authors: Senevirathna Chamath Ravindu , Bandara Chaminda S. , Siriwardane Sudath C.
Published: April 2023

Damage assessment of corroded steel members due to severe exposure conditions, has been a vital component for determining the strengthening requirements of existing deteriorated structures, to overcome possible devastating failures. This article mainly focuses on steel angle members, which are mostly used as axially loaded members in different types of applications. In this study, the strategy of thickness reduction at corroded locations was demonstrated as a simple, convenient, and accurate method to represent the corrosion-equivalent properties of steel angles under axial compression. Further, the viability of the thickness reduction approach was evaluated in code-based and numerical approaches. Four standards, BS 5950-1:2000, BS EN 1993-1-1:2005, ASCE 10-15 and ANSI/AISC 360-16 were investigated to identify their applicability to obtain the residual compression capacities of corroded members. The capacity estimations of codes were compared with experimental data to demonstrate that the estimations of codes are not accurate when the level of corrosion is high. Finally, 39 corroded steel angle members of 10 different corrosion patterns were numerically modeled and analyzed to demonstrate the impact of different corrosion patterns on the compression capacity.
Spatiotemporal Application of the Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) in the Eastern Mediterranean
Authors: Tsesmelis Demetrios E. , Leveidioti Ioanna , Karavitis Christos A. , Kalogeropoulos Kleomenis , Vasilakou Constantina G. , Tsatsaris Andreas , Zervas Efthimios
Published: April 2023

The ever-increasing need for water, the alteration in the climate, and its observed changes over recent years have triggered a lot of research studies associated with the phenomenon of drought. Within the wider geographical region of the Mediterranean, the relevant scientific subject seems to be of great interest, since it is undoubtedly related to a number of severe socio-economic consequences. This present effort focuses on the evolution of this particular phenomenon over time, within the borders of nine different countries in the Eastern Mediterranean (Athens, Greece—Europe; Constantinople, Turkey—Asia; Nicosia, Cyprus—Europe; Jerusalem, Israel—Asia; Amman, Jordan—Asia; Damascus, Syria—Asia; Beirut, Lebanon—Asia; Cairo, Egypt—Africa; and Tripoli Libya—Africa). By applying the Standard Precipitation Index (SPI), examining precipitation data at the month level (January 1901 to December 2020), and utilizing the Inverse Distance Weighted (IDW) method, the spatio–temporal variability of drought events in the Eastern Mediterranean area was studied. In Jerusalem, long-term droughts presented a higher than usual volume, in accordance with applying the 12- and 24-month SPI, starting from the mid-20th century. Similarly, the region of Damascus presented a similar pattern to those in Beirut, Amman, and Jerusalem. An upward trend in the frequency of extreme drought events was observed for the last thirty years. The same trend seems to be true in terms of the duration of dry periods. Drought events have also been observed in the central, southern, and eastern regions of Turkey. A downward trend was observed in Cairo based on a trend analysis of its monthly precipitation.
Multitracer PET/CT with [18F]Fluorodeoxiglucose and [18F]Fluorocholine in the Initial Staging of Multiple Myeloma Patients Applying the IMPeTus Criteria: A Pilot Study
Authors: Garrastachu Zumarán Puy , García Megías Irene , Mangas Losada María , Mendoza Melero Alejandro , Villanueva Torres Amós , Boulvard Chollet Xavier , Romero Robles Leonardo , Hernández Pérez Prisma Montserrat , Ramírez Lasanta Rafael , Delgado Bolton Roberto C.
Published: April 2023

Initial staging of patients diagnosed with multiple myeloma (MM) can lead to negative results using conventional diagnostic imaging workup, including [18F]Fluorodesoxiglucose ([18F]FDG) PET/CT. The aim of this prospective pilot study was to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of [18F]Fluorocholine ([18F]FCH) PET/CT in the initial staging of MM patients who were candidates for autologous bone marrow transplant. Materials and Methods: The inclusion criteria of our study were: (a) patients diagnosed with MM; (b) candidates for autologous bone marrow transplant (AT); and (c) studied with [18F]FCH PET/CT and [18F]FDG PET/CT for initial staging less than 4 weeks apart. Imaging analysis included the presence of: bone marrow infiltration, focal bone lesions, and para-medullary or extra-medullary disease, according to the proposed IMPeTus criteria. The analysis was performed per lesion, per patient, and per location. Results: The study population included ten patients. Globally, [18F]FCH PET/CT showed bone marrow uptake in all the patients and visualised 16 more focal lesions than [18F]FDG PET/CT. One patient presented a plasmacytoma, detected by both tracers. Extra-medullary and para-medullary disease was identified with different degrees of uptake by both tracers. In summary, [18F]FCH PET seemed to be superior to [18F]FDG PET/CT in detecting focal bone lesions. SUVmax values were slightly higher in [18F]FCH PET/CT than in [18F]FDG PET/CT. Conclusions: Taking into account the small study population, according to our results, [18F]FCH PET/CT could be a useful tool for staging MM patients.
Marginal Bone Level and Clinical Parameter Analysis Comparing External Hexagon and Morse Taper Implants: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fuda Samuele , Martins Bruno Gomes dos Santos , Castro Filipe Correia de , Heboyan Artak , Gehrke Sergio Alexandre , Fernandes Juliana Campos Hasse , Mello-Moura Anna Carolina Volpi , Fernandes Gustavo Vicentis Oliveira
Published: April 2023

The goal of this systematic review was to verify the marginal bone loss (MBL) and other clinical parameters comparing external hexagon (EH) and Morse taper (MT) implants when they were evaluated within the same study. The focused question was, “For patients (P) treated with external connection (I) or Morse taper (C) dental implants, were there differences in the marginal bone crest maintenance after at least three months in occlusal function (O)”? As for the inclusion criteria that were considered, they included clinical studies in English that compared the MBL in implants with EH and MT, with follow-up of at least three months, that were published between 2011 and 2022; as for the exclusion criteria, they included publications investigating only one type of connection that analyzed other variables and did not report results for the MBL, reports based on questionnaires, interviews, and case reports/series, systematic reviews, or studies involving patients with a significant health problem (ASA Physical Status 3 and above). The PubMed/MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were screened, and all of the data obtained were registered in a spreadsheet (Excel®). The Jadad scale was used to assess the quality of the studies. A total of 110 articles were initially identified; 11 were considered for full-text reading. Then, six articles (four RCTs and two prospective studies) met the eligibility criteria and were included in this study. A total of 185 patients (mean age of 59.71) were observed, and the follow-up ranged from 3 months to 36 months. A total of 541 implants were registered (267 EH and 274 MT). The survival rate ranged between 96% and 100% (the average was 97.82%). The MBL was compared among all periods studied; therefore, the common assessment period was the 12-month follow-up, presenting greater MBL for EH than for MT (p < 0.001). A mean MBL of 0.60 mm (95% CI 0.43–0.78) was found after the same period. BoP was reported in 5 studies and plaque index was reported in 4 (2 with more than 30%). Deep PD was observed in three studies. High heterogeneity was observed (I2 = 85.06%). Thus, within the limitation of this review, it was possible to conclude that there is higher bone loss in EH than in MT implants when evaluating and comparing this variable within the same study. However, the results must be carefully interpreted because of this review’s limited number of clinical studies, the short assessment period, and the high heterogeneity found.
From Mutation and Repair to Therapeutics
Authors: Basu Ashis , Li Deyu
Published: April 2023

As DNA research has developed, in this Special Issue of DNA, we aimed to explore recent advancements, with an emphasis on the DNA damage-induced alteration of cellular functions [...]
Mathematics Teacher Educators’ Decisions in a Time of Crisis: Self-Reflections as a Basis for Community Inquiry
Authors: Levenson Esther S. , Barkai Ruthi , Tabach Michal
Published: April 2023

A time of crisis is a time of uncertainty, when many decisions need to be made. This study combines self-reflection, along with community inquiry, as three mathematics teacher educators recount a lesson that they taught in the past and how it was changed due to the COVID-19 crisis. Decisions were analyzed in terms of goals, orientations, and resources. The findings showed that the key issue was the immediate requirement to change one’s regular routine. For some, resources were replaced. For others, dominant orientations receded to the background, and new goals were set. A final reflection conducted after returning to the classroom revealed how challenges during the crisis led to change and the adoption of new goals both during and after the crisis, clarifying our values and leading to the use of additional resources today.
Design of a High-Gain Hybrid Slot Antenna Array Based on Bulk Silicon MEMS Process for W-Band Applications
Authors: Zhao Yu , Luo Hao , Tan Wenhao , Zhou Zheng , Zhao Guoqiang , Sun Houjun
Published: April 2023

A W-band, high-gain, hybrid slot antenna array based on bulk silicon MEMS technology is proposed in this paper. The high-order-mode cavity is explored to excite the 2 × 2-slot basic unit, so as to reach the low-profile requirement of the bulk silicon MEMS process. To avoid the fragile structure of the large-scale antenna arrays based on the bulk silicon MEMS process, the ridge gap waveguide is employed to build the feed network for a large-scale array. A vertical transition between a rectangular waveguide and a ridge gap waveguide is designed to support the low-loss and low-cost assembling method between the radiation units and the feed network. An 8 × 8-slot hybrid antenna array is simulated and fabricated. The measured results show a relative bandwidth (VSWR < 2) of 8.1% with the first side-lobe level less than −11 dB over the frequency band of 91–97 GHz. A maximum gain of 26.1 dBi with the radiation efficiency of 65.2% is achieved. With high gain and high fabrication efficiency, the proposed hybrid slot antenna array would be valuable for W-band radar applications.
Financial Time Series Forecasting: A Data Stream Mining-Based System
Authors: Bousbaa Zineb , Sanchez-Medina Javier , Bencharef Omar
Published: April 2023

Data stream mining (DSM) represents a promising process to forecast financial time series exchange rate. Financial historical data generate several types of cyclical patterns that evolve, grow, decrease, and end up dying. Within historical data, we can notice long-term, seasonal, and irregular trends. All these changes make traditional static machine learning models not relevant to those study cases. The statistically unstable evolution of financial market behavior yields a progressive deterioration in any trained static model. Those models do not provide the required characteristics to evolve continuously and sustain good forecasting performance as the data distribution changes. Online learning without DSM mechanisms can also miss sudden or quick changes. In this paper, we propose a possible DSM methodology, trying to cope with that instability by implementing an incremental and adaptive strategy. The proposed algorithm includes the online Stochastic Gradient Descent algorithm (SGD), whose weights are optimized using the Particle Swarm Optimization Metaheuristic (PSO) to identify repetitive chart patterns in the FOREX historical data by forecasting the EUR/USD pair’s future values. The data trend change is detected using a statistical technique that studies if the received time series instances are stationary or not. Therefore, the sliding window size is minimized as changes are detected and maximized as the distribution becomes more stable. Results, though preliminary, show that the model prediction is better using flexible sliding windows that adapt according to the detected distribution changes using stationarity compared to learning using a fixed window size that does not incorporate any techniques for detecting and responding to pattern shifts.
Architecture of a Non-Intrusive IoT System for Frailty Detection in Older People
Authors: Ciubotaru Bogdan-Iulian , Sasu Gabriel-Vasilică , Goga Nicolae , Vasilateanu Andrei , Popovici Alexandru-Filip
Published: April 2023

Early detection of frailty is one of the main challenges in the world we live in. Being aware of physiologic and behavior changes can predict and prevent the onset of mental complications for older people. By using modern technologies, one can get insights, which may help detection of different pathologies. In this paper, preliminary results for a novel system to detect early signs of frailty are presented. A prototype was developed and tested in laboratory conditions after requirements and functional capabilities were defined. The main advantages of the proposed architecture are the usage of commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) components and custom mechanisms of security to assure a high level of confidentiality and integrity of user-specific data. Other original elements are its easy-to-use and non-intrusive characteristics.
Healthcare Internet of Things (H-IoT): Current Trends, Future Prospects, Applications, Challenges, and Security Issues
Authors: Kumar Mohit , Kumar Ashwani , Verma Sahil , Bhattacharya Pronaya , Ghimire Deepak , Kim Seong-heum , Hosen A. S. M. Sanwar
Published: April 2023

Advancements in Healthcare Internet of Things (H-IoT) systems have created new opportunities and solutions for healthcare services, including the remote treatment and monitoring of patients. In addition, the security and privacy of personal health data must be ensured during data transfer. Security breaches in H-IoT can have serious safety and legal implications. This comprehensive review provides insights about secured data accession by employing cryptographic platforms such as H-IoT in big data, H-IoT in blockchain, H-IoT in machine learning and deep learning, H-IoT in edge computing, and H-IoT in software-defined networks. With this information, this paper reveals solutions to mitigate threats caused by different kinds of attacks. The prevailing challenges in H-IoT systems, including security and scalability challenges, real-time operating challenges, resource constraints, latency, and power consumption challenges are also addressed. We also discuss in detail the current trends in H-IoT, such as remote patient monitoring and predictive analytics. Additionally, we have explored future prospects, such as leveraging health data for informed strategic planning. A critical analysis performed by highlighting the prevailing limitations in H-IoT systems is also presented. This paper will hopefully provide future researchers with in-depth insights into the selection of appropriate cryptographic measures to adopt an energy-efficient and resource-optimized healthcare system.
Risk Analysis of Fire and Explosion of Hydrogen-Gasoline Hybrid Refueling Station Based on Accident Risk Assessment Method for Industrial System
Authors: Yu Xirui , Kong Depeng , He Xu , Ping Ping
Published: April 2023

Hydrogen–gasoline hybrid refueling stations can minimize construction and management costs and save land resources and are gradually becoming one of the primary modes for hydrogen refueling stations. However, catastrophic consequences may be caused as both hydrogen and gasoline are flammable and explosive. It is crucial to perform an effective risk assessment to prevent fire and explosion accidents at hybrid refueling stations. This study conducted a risk assessment of the refueling area of a hydrogen–gasoline hybrid refueling station based on the improved Accident Risk Assessment Method for Industrial Systems (ARAMIS). An improved probabilistic failure model was used to make ARAMIS more applicable to hydrogen infrastructure. Additionally, the accident consequences, i.e., jet fires and explosions, were simulated using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) methods replacing the traditional empirical model. The results showed that the risk levels at the station house and the road near the refueling area were 5.80 × 10−5 and 3.37 × 10−4, respectively, and both were within the acceptable range. Furthermore, the hydrogen dispenser leaked and caused a jet fire, and the flame ignited the exposed gasoline causing a secondary accident, considered the most hazardous accident scenario. A case study was conducted to demonstrate the practicability of the methodology. This method is believed to provide trustworthy decisions for establishing safe distances from dispensers and optimizing the arrangement of the refueling area.
Peatland Fire Weather Conditions in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia
Authors: Usup Aswin , Hayasaka Hiroshi
Published: April 2023

Peatland fires in Central Kalimantan emit thick smoke and large amounts of greenhouse gases and have an impact on the environment globally, but studies on fire weather have not been carried out due to lack of diurnal weather data. The aim of this study is to identify the fire weather conditions during active fires that is needed to mitigate future occurrences of peat fires in Indonesia. The available diurnal weather data was used to analyze the fire weather conditions. Based on meteorological data on active fires (11 days), there was a significant increase in air temperature due to the sea breeze that started blowing in the morning. The average values for the 11-day period around 15:00 are a maximum air temperature of 36 °C, minimum humidity of 37%, wind speed of 21 km h−1, and a rate of increase of 2.7 °C h−1 from 8:00. The difference in sea and land temperatures causes strong winds to blow and triggers an increase in land temperatures. The results of this report can help predict fire activity at high temperatures in the future based on global warming predictions made by other researchers. The rapid rate of increase in air temperature from the morning will be useful in anticipating fires in Central Indonesia.
Discrimination of Inner Injury of Korla Fragrant Pear Based on Multi-Electrical Parameters
Authors: An Jing , Luo Xiuzhi , Xiong Lijian , Tang Xiuying , Lan Haipeng
Published: April 2023

Inner-injury fragrant pears are easily prone to rot during storage. Discriminating inner injury in the Korla fragrant pear from the normal pear is difficult as the flesh may be injured while the peel of the fruit remains intact. This study demonstrated the recognition of inner-injury pears based on their electric characteristics to pick out the inner-injury pears before storage. The electrical parameters parallel equivalent capacitance, quality factor, parallel equivalent inductance, parallel equivalent resistance, complex impedance, and phase angle were measured using the fruit electrical characteristic detection instrument. Principal component analysis and correlation analysis were used to determine the characteristic parameters, connected with the qualitative value of the fragrant pear to establish three discrimination models. When the measurement frequency was 100 kHz, compared with the Naïve Bayes and K-nearest neighbor models, the Support Vector Machine model with the characteristic parameters of quality factor, parallel equivalent resistance, and phase angle performed best. The recognition accuracy of the test set was 92.00%, the precision was 92.41%, the recall was 97.33%, and the F1 score was 0.95. Therefore, the electrical characteristic technique effectively detected the inner injury of fragrant pears and provided a new way to distinguish the inner injury of fruits.
Consumer Awareness and Acceptance of Biotechnological Solutions for Gluten-Free Products
Authors: Sangiorgio Paola , Errico Simona , Verardi Alessandra , Massa Silvia , Pagliarello Riccardo , Marusic Carla , Lico Chiara , Presenti Ombretta , Donini Marcello , Baschieri Selene
Published: April 2023

Celiac disease is an immune-mediated disorder caused by the ingestion of gluten proteins. The gluten-free diet is currently the only therapy to achieve the symptoms’ remission. Biotechnological approaches are currently being explored to obtain safer and healthier food for celiacs. This article analyzes consumer awareness and acceptance of advanced biotechnologies to develop gluten-free products. An online snowball sampling questionnaire was proposed to 511 Italian participants, selected among celiac and non-celiac people, from December 2020 to January 2021, during the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. Overall, 64% of respondents favor food biotechnology, as long as it has benefits for health or the environment. Moreover, biotechnology perception differs according to education level and type. A total of 65% of the survey participants would taste gluten-free products obtained through a biotechnological approach, and 57% would buy them at a higher price than the current market price. Our results show a change in public opinion about the usefulness of food biotechnology and its moral acceptability compared to 20 years ago. However, the study of public opinion is very complex, dealing with individuals with social, economic, and cultural differences. Undoubtedly, the scientific dissemination of genetic biotechnologies must be more effective and usable to increase the level of citizens’ awareness.
Fermentation Kinetics of Gluten-Free Breads: The Effect of Carob Fraction and Water Content
Authors: Tsatsaragkou Kleopatra , Mandala Ioanna , Stoforos Nikolaos G.
Published: April 2023

In this study, gluten-free doughs with rice flour, substituted by 15% fractions of different carob seed flours, were prepared by varying their water content. The coarse carob fraction A (median particle size of flour, D50: 258.55 μm) was rich in fibers, fraction B (D50: 174.73 μm) was rich in protein, C (D50: 126.37 μm) was rich in germ protein, and fraction D (D50: 80.36 μm) was a mix, reconstituted from the other fractions and pulverized using a jet mill. Τhe experimental data of the dough’s volume over time were fitted to the Gompertz model for each carob fraction and water content. The calculated parameters of the model were the maximum relative volume expansion ratio (a), the maximum specific volume growth rate (μ), and the time lag of the leavening process (tlag). Gompertz’s equation adequately described the individual experimental curves. In the next step, a composite model was applied for each carob fraction where the parameters a and tlag were expressed as quadratic functions of water content levels (W), while μ was linearly dependent on W. Each carob fraction presented an optimum water content level for which dough height was maximized and time lag was minimized. Optimized dough volume could be predicted by the composite model; it was shifted to lower values as finer carob flour was used. In respect to baked products, softer breads were produced using finer carob flour and porosity values were higher at optimum water content levels. The investigated fermentation kinetics’ models provide significant information about the role of water and carob flour on gluten-free dough development and bread volume expansion.
Spray-Drying Microencapsulation of Andean Blueberry (Vaccinium meridionale Sw.) Anthocyanins Using Prickly Pear (Opuntia ficus indica L.) Peel Mucilage or Gum Arabic: A Comparative Study
Authors: Otálora Maria Carolina , Wilches-Torres Andrea , Gómez Castaño Jovanny A.
Published: April 2023

The recovery of byproducts from the food industry is a promising approach to obtain hydrophilic biopolymers with potential health benefits. In this work, the mucilage obtained from the peel of the Opuntia ficus-indica (OFI) fruit was compared with gum arabic (GA) as wall materials for the microencapsulation of Colombian blueberry anthocyanins, using the spray-drying process. For both types of microencapsulates, the following were determined: anthocyanin content (UV–vis and HPLC/MS-MS), total dietary content (enzymatic–gravimetric method), antioxidant activity (ORAC), color (CIELab parameters), morphology (SEM and particle size), and thermal behavior (DSC/TGA). Six different anthocyanins were identified by HPLC/MS-MS in the non-lyophilized Andean blueberry sample (LABP) and in the OFI-mucilage and GA microcapsules. OFI mucilage, compared to GA, favors the formation of larger spherical particles, a smoother surface without cracks, and greater thermal stability. The higher anthocyanin retention capacity in OFI microcapsules leads to higher antioxidant capacity and red coloration for this biomaterial. Consequently, the microencapsulation of anthocyanins with mucilage from the peel of the OFI fruit is proposed as a promising alternative for the protection and incorporation of this natural dye with high antioxidant capacity and dietary fiber content in new functional food/cosmetic formulations, while giving added value to the natural byproducts of OFI.
In Vitro Antimicrobial and Antibiofilm Properties and Bioaccessibility after Oral Digestion of Chemically Characterized Extracts Obtained from Cistus × incanus L., Scutellaria lateriflora L., and Their Combination
Authors: Ullah Hammad , Minno Alessandro Di , Filippis Anna De , Sommella Eduardo , Buccato Daniele Giuseppe , Lellis Lorenza Francesca De , El-Seedi Hesham R. , Khalifa Shaden A. M. , Piccinocchi Roberto , Galdiero Massimiliano , Campiglia Pietro , Daglia Maria
Published: April 2023

Periodontal diseases are oral inflammatory diseases ranging from gingivitis to chronic periodontitis. Porphyromonas gingivalis is one of the major pathogens responsible for severe and chronic periodontitis. Plant extracts with antimicrobial activity could be considered possible alternatives to chlorhexidine, an antiseptic substance used in oral hygiene thatcan cause bacteria resistance. Here, two commercial extracts obtained from Cistus × incanus L. and Scutellaria lateriflora L. were chemically characterized usingUltra-High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (UHPLC) coupled with a Q-Exactive Hybrid Quadrupole Orbitrap Mass Spectrometer. The extracts were studied for their bioaccessibility after simulated in vitro oral digestion, their antimicrobial activity against P. gingivalis, their protective effects against cellular invasion by P. gingivalis, and their antibiofilm activity. The extracts were found to contain very complex mixtures of polyphenols, which were quite stable after in vitro simulated oral digestion and demonstrated mild, dose-dependent inhibitory activity against P. gingivalis growth. This activity increased with the combination of the two extracts. Moreover, the combination of the extracts induced a reduction in P. gingivalis HaCaT invasiveness, and the reduction in biofilm came to around 80%. In conclusion, a combination of C. incanus and S. lateriflora showed promising effects useful in the treatment of gingivitis.
Effects of Different Bacteriostats on the Dynamic Germination of Clostridium perfringens Spores
Authors: Liang Dong , Liu Shengnan , Li Miaoyun , Zhu Yaodi , Zhao Lijun , Sun Lingxia , Ma Yangyang , Zhao Gaiming
Published: April 2023

Bacteriostats, as chemical substances that inhibit bacterial growth, are widely used in the sterilization process; however, their effects on spindle spores are unclear. In this study, the effects of bacteriostats, including nine commonly used food additives and four detergents, on the growth of Clostridium perfringens spores were investigated. The results showed that 0.07‰ ethylenediaminetetraacetate had a good inhibitory effect on C. perfringens spore growth, and the spore turbidity decreased by 4.8% after incubation for 60 min. Furthermore, 0.3‰ tea polyphenols, 0.8‰ D-isoascorbic acid, and 0.75‰ potassium sorbate promoted leakage of contents during spore germination. Among the four detergents, 5‰ glutaraldehyde solution presented the best inhibitory effect on the growth of C. perfringens spores, and the spore turbidity decreased by 5.6% after incubation for 60 min. Further analysis of the inactivation mechanism of spores by the bacteriostats was performed by comparing the leakage of UV-absorbing substances during germination. The results revealed that bacteriostats could not directly kill the spores, but could inactivate them by inhibiting germination or damaging the spore structure during germination, thus preventing the formation of bacterial vegetative bodies. These findings provide important information and reference for the mechanism underlying the effects of different bacteriostatic agents on spore growth.
Trajectory Tracking Control of Euler–Lagrange Systems Using a Fractional Fixed-Time Method
Authors: Ahmed Saim , Azar Ahmad Taher , Tounsi Mohamed , Anjum Zeeshan
Published: April 2023

The results of this research provide fixed-time fractional-order control for Euler–Lagrange systems that are subject to external disturbances. The first step in the process of developing a new system involves the introduction of a method known as fractional-order fixed-time non-singular terminal sliding mode control (FoFtNTSM). The advantages of fractional-order calculus and NTSM are brought together in this system, which result in rapid convergence, fixed-time stability, and smooth control inputs. Lyapunov analysis reveals whether the closed-loop system is stable over the duration of the time period specified. The performance of the suggested method when applied to the dynamics of the Euler–Lagrange system is evaluated and demonstrated with the help of computer simulations.
Jackson Differential Operator Associated with Generalized Mittag–Leffler Function
Authors: Attiya Adel A. , Yassen Mansour F. , Albaid Abdelhamid
Published: April 2023

Quantum calculus plays a significant role in many different branches such as quantum physics, hypergeometric series theory, and other physical phenomena. In our paper and using quantitative calculus, we introduce a new family of normalized analytic functions in the open unit disk, which relates to both the generalized Mittag–Leffler function and the Jackson differential operator. By using a differential subordination virtue, we obtain some important properties such as coefficient bounds and the Fekete–Szegő problem. Some results that represent special cases of this family that have been studied before are also highlighted.
Quasi-Synchronization and Dissipativity Analysis for Fractional-Order Neural Networks with Time Delay
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Chao , Li Meixuan
Published: April 2023

The objective of this research is to examine the global dissipativity and quasi-synchronization of fractional-order neural networks (FNNs). A global dissipativity criterion is established through the creation of an appropriate Lyapunov function, together with some fractional-order inequality techniques. Additionally, the issue of quasi-synchronization for drive-response FNNs is investigated using linear state feedback control. The study reveals the synchronization error converges to a bounded region by choosing an appropriate control parameter. Finally, the effectiveness of the obtained works are validated through three numerical examples.
Characterisation and Recovery of Minerals in Silages of Sorghum IPA 2502 Irigated with Different Leaching Fractions of Brackish Water
Authors: Campos Fleming Sena , Araújo Gherman Garcia Leal de , Simões Welson Lima , Silva Thieres George Freire da , Guimarães Miguel Júlio Machado , Araújo Cleyton de Almeida , Macedo Amélia de , Oliveira Getúlio Figueiredo de , Silva Tiago Santos , Zanine Anderson de Moura , Ferreira Daniele de Jesus , Cavalcanti Hactus Souto , Gois Glayciane Costa
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics and recovery of minerals in silages of sorghum cv. IPA 2502 irrigated with different leaching fractions of brackish water. Sorghum cultivation was carried out in the field in a randomised block design, with four replications and four irrigation leaching fractions (0%, 5%, 10%, and 15%). From the harvested plant material, five silos per treatment, with five repetitions, were arranged in a completely randomised design for ensiling. Leaching fractions did not alter the levels of nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium, and sulfur in sorghum. The sodium content showed a quadratic response to the leaching fractions, which was also observed for iron, manganese, and chloride. In silage, an increasing linear effect was found for nitrogen, whereas for phosphorus, potassium, and sulfur, the contents were reduced with the addition of the leaching fraction. The contents of copper, iron, zinc, and chloride in silages responded in a quadratic way. The use of brackish water, especially the 15% leaching fraction, in the cultivation of sorghum enhances the mineral contents and the recovery of some macro- and micro-nutrients after the ensiling process.
Improving Practice for Urinary Continence Care on Adult Acute Medical and Rehabilitation Wards: A Multi-Site, Co-Created Implementation Study
Authors: Marsden Dianne Lesley , Boyle Kerry , Birnie Jaclyn , Buzio Amanda , Dizon Joshua , Dunne Judith , Greensill Sandra , Hill Kelvin , Lever Sandra , Minett Fiona , Ormond Sally , Shipp Jodi , Steel Jennifer , Styles Amanda , Wiggers John , Cadilhac Dominique Ann-Michele , Duff Jed
Published: April 2023

Many adult inpatients experience urinary continence issues; however, we lack evidence on effective interventions for inpatient continence care. We conducted a before and after implementation study. We implemented our guideline-based intervention using strategies targeting identified barriers and evaluated the impact on urinary continence care provided by inpatient clinicians. Fifteen wards (acute = 3, rehabilitation = 7, acute and rehabilitation = 5) at 12 hospitals (metropolitan = 4, regional = 8) participated. We screened 2298 consecutive adult medical records for evidence of urinary continence symptoms over three 3-month periods: before implementation (T0: n = 849), after the 6-month implementation period (T1: n = 740), and after a 6-month maintenance period (T2: n = 709). The records of symptomatic inpatients were audited for continence assessment, diagnosis, and management plans. All wards contributed data at T0, and 11/15 wards contributed at T1 and T2 (dropouts due to COVID-19). Approximately 26% of stroke, 33% acute medical, and 50% of rehabilitation inpatients were symptomatic. The proportions of symptomatic patients (T0: n = 283, T1: n = 241, T2: n = 256) receiving recommended care were: assessment T0 = 38%, T1 = 63%, T2 = 68%; diagnosis T0 = 30%, T1 = 70%, T2 = 71%; management plan T0 = 7%, T1 = 24%, T2 = 24%. Overall, there were 4-fold increased odds for receiving assessments and management plans and 6-fold greater odds for diagnosis. These improvements were sustained at T2. This intervention has improved inpatient continence care.
Bibliometric Analysis of Nature-Based Therapy Research
Authors: Rodríguez-Redondo Yeray , Denche-Zamorano Angel , Muñoz-Bermejo Laura , Rojo-Ramos Jorge , Adsuar Jose Carmelo , Castillo-Paredes Antonio , Vega-Muñoz Alejandro , Barrios-Fernandez Sabina
Published: April 2023

Unrestrained urbanisation and natural space loss are reducing contact with nature in today’s society, producing negative consequences for people’s mental and physical health and wellbeing. Nature-based therapies, such as physical activity in natural settings, forest bathing, therapeutic hiking, or experiential learning, reduce anxiety and depressive symptoms and improve the quality of life in both general and specific populations. A bibliometric analysis of research on nature-based therapies was performed by applying the traditional laws of bibliometrics (exponential growth law, Bradford’s concentration law, Lotka’s law, Zipf’s law, etc.) to documents published in journals indexed in the Core Collection of the Web of Science (WoS). Graphical visualisation was performed using the VOSviewer software. Annual publications between 2006 and 2021 presented an exponential growth trend (R2 = 91%). The International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (MDPI) and Urban Forestry & Urban Greening (Elsevier) were the most productive and cited journals. Ikei, Miyazaki, and Song are the most cited prolific authors. The USA and South Korea were the countries with the highest scientific production. In recent years, there has been a growing interest in adventure, nature, and forest therapies among researchers. Nature-based therapies have experienced a growing interest in recent years. Positive effects on mental, physical, and emotional health have been found in different populations and research lines, although more studies with different designs and populations are needed.
A Review on Electronic Health Record Text-Mining for Biomedical Name Entity Recognition in Healthcare Domain
Authors: Ahmad Pir Noman , Shah Adnan Muhammad , Lee KangYoon
Published: April 2023

Biomedical-named entity recognition (bNER) is critical in biomedical informatics. It identifies biomedical entities with special meanings, such as people, places, and organizations, as predefined semantic types in electronic health records (EHR). bNER is essential for discovering novel knowledge using computational methods and Information Technology. Early bNER systems were configured manually to include domain-specific features and rules. However, these systems were limited in handling the complexity of the biomedical text. Recent advances in deep learning (DL) have led to the development of more powerful bNER systems. DL-based bNER systems can learn the patterns of biomedical text automatically, making them more robust and efficient than traditional rule-based systems. This paper reviews the healthcare domain of bNER, using DL techniques and artificial intelligence in clinical records, for mining treatment prediction. bNER-based tools are categorized systematically and represent the distribution of input, context, and tag (encoder/decoder). Furthermore, to create a labeled dataset for our machine learning sentiment analyzer to analyze the sentiment of a set of tweets, we used a manual coding approach and the multi-task learning method to bias the training signals with domain knowledge inductively. To conclude, we discuss the challenges facing bNER systems and future directions in the healthcare field.
The KERES Ontology: Protecting Cultural Heritage from Extreme Climate Events
Authors: Reuter Jürgen , Hellmund Tobias , Moßgraber Jürgen , Hertweck Philipp
Published: April 2023

Protecting and preserving cultural heritage (CH) in view of global climate change is the main objective of the KERES project. For managing climate impact with proper measurements, including prevention and responsive actions, an ontology has been devised in the course of this project in close cooperation with relevant stakeholders of selected CH assets that serve us as case studies. In particular, the ontology supports modeling specific CH assets with respect to the challenges of climate change. It turns out the main challenge is to subsume the diversity of models and processes specific to individual assets on a proper level of abstraction. Based on the ontology, we succeeded in creating software that assists stakeholders in managing their CH challenges, including an interactive app for suggesting preventative measurements and a web application for creating route cards that are used by emergency service professionals in the case of rescuing cultural assets. We are confident that our methodology of CH assets abstraction and modeling will be applicable to a broader range of CH assets.
Internal Control Managers’ Accounting Experiences on Audit Quality—Focus on ESG
Authors: Kim Suyon
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this research is to investigate whether internal control (IC) managers’ experience in accounting influences audit quality, employing a regression analysis by utilizing a novel dataset of Korean firms from 2018 to 2020. According to the findings, IC managers who have a deeper understanding of accounting or more expertise in the field have a positive impact on audit quality. Nuancing this link between the accounting-specific experiences of IC managers and audit quality, the study examines how ESG investment impacts the relationship between IC managers’ accounting-related experiences and audit quality. The result confirms that the negative effect of low ESG investment on a firm’s sustainability is reduced when IC managers are with strong accounting competency. In other words, in a circumstance in which a company’s audit risk is high due to insufficient ESG investments, IC managers’s high degree of accounting proficiency cope with audit risk to increase audit quality. Additionally, by analyzing a dataset recently obtained from Korea that assesses the level of accounting expertise possessed by IC managers, it has become evident that this experience plays a key role in the process of improving audit quality. These findings imply that policymakers’ and standard setters’ efforts to promote high-quality audits should be coordinated with IC managers’ accounting experiences.
The Toxicity of Protein Aggregates: New Insights into the Mechanisms
Authors: Bigi Alessandra , Lombardo Eva , Cascella Roberta , Cecchi Cristina
Published: April 2023

The aberrant aggregation of specific peptides and proteins is the common feature of a range of more than 50 human pathologies, collectively referred to as protein misfolding diseases [...]
Thrombotic Mechanism Involving Platelet Activation, Hypercoagulability and Hypofibrinolysis in Coronavirus Disease 2019
Authors: Wada Hideo , Shiraki Katsuya , Shimpo Hideto , Shimaoka Motomu , Iba Toshiaki , Suzuki-Inoue Katsue
Published: April 2023

Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has spread, with thrombotic complications being increasingly frequently reported. Although thrombosis is frequently complicated in septic patients, there are some differences in the thrombosis noted with COVID-19 and that noted with bacterial infections. The incidence (6–26%) of thrombosis varied among reports in patients with COVID-19; the incidences of venous thromboembolism and acute arterial thrombosis were 4.8–21.0% and 0.7–3.7%, respectively. Although disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is frequently associated with bacterial infections, a few cases of DIC have been reported in association with COVID-19. Fibrin-related markers, such as D-dimer levels, are extremely high in bacterial infections, whereas soluble C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (sCLEC-2) levels are high in COVID-19, suggesting that hypercoagulable and hyperfibrinolytic states are predominant in bacterial infections, whereas hypercoagulable and hypofibrinolytic states with platelet activation are predominant in COVID-19. Marked platelet activation, hypercoagulability and hypofibrinolytic states may cause thrombosis in patients with COVID-19.
Advances in Synthetic-Biology-Based Whole-Cell Biosensors: Principles, Genetic Modules, and Applications in Food Safety
Authors: Chen Shijing , Chen Xiaolin , Su Hongfei , Guo Mingzhang , Liu Huilin
Published: April 2023

A whole-cell biosensor based on synthetic biology provides a promising new method for the on-site detection of food contaminants. The basic components of whole-cell biosensors include the sensing elements, such as transcription factors and riboswitches, and reporting elements, such as fluorescence, gas, etc. The sensing and reporting elements are coupled through gene expression regulation to form a simple gene circuit for the detection of target substances. Additionally, a more complex gene circuit can involve other functional elements or modules such as signal amplification, multiple detection, and delay reporting. With the help of synthetic biology, whole-cell biosensors are becoming more versatile and integrated, that is, integrating pre-detection sample processing, detection processes, and post-detection signal calculation and storage processes into cells. Due to the relative stability of the intracellular environment, whole-cell biosensors are highly resistant to interference without the need of complex sample preprocessing. Due to the reproduction of chassis cells, whole-cell biosensors replicate all elements automatically without the need for purification processing. Therefore, whole-cell biosensors are easy to operate and simple to produce. Based on the above advantages, whole-cell biosensors are more suitable for on-site detection than other rapid detection methods. Whole-cell biosensors have been applied in various forms such as test strips and kits, with the latest reported forms being wearable devices such as masks, hand rings, and clothing. This paper examines the composition, construction methods, and types of the fundamental components of synthetic biological whole-cell biosensors. We also introduce the prospect and development trend of whole-cell biosensors in commercial applications.
Detection of Putative Virulence Genes alr, goiB, and goiC in Mycoplasma hominis Isolates from Austrian Patients
Authors: Lesiak-Markowicz Iwona , Walochnik Julia , Stary Angelika , Fürnkranz Ursula
Published: April 2023

In Mycoplasma hominis, two genes (alr and goiB) have been found to be associated with the invasion of the amniotic cavity, and a single gene (goiC) to be associated with intra-amniotic infections and a high risk of preterm birth. The syntopic presence of Ureaplasma spp. in the same patient has been shown to correlate with the absence of goiC in M. hominis. The aim of our study was to investigate the presence of alr, goiB, and goiC genes in two groups of M. hominis isolates collected from symptomatic and asymptomatic male and non-pregnant female patients attending an Outpatients Centre. Group A consisted of 26 isolates from patients with only M. hominis confirmed; group B consisted of 24 isolates from patients with Ureaplasma spp. as the only co-infection. We extracted DNA from all M. hominis isolates and analysed the samples for the presence of alr, goiB, and goiC in a qPCR assay. Additionally, we determined their cytotoxicity against HeLa cells. We confirmed the presence of the alr gene in 85% of group A isolates and in 100% of group B isolates; goiB was detected in 46% of the samples in both groups, whereas goiC was found in 73% of group A and 79% of group B isolates, respectively. It was shown that co-colonisation with Ureaplasma spp. in the same patient had no effect on the presence of goiC in the respective M. hominis isolate. We did not observe any cytotoxic effect of the investigated isolates on human cells, regardless of the presence or absence of the investigated genes.
Molecular, Translational and Clinical Research on the Two Most Common Forms of Neurodegenerative Dementia: Alzheimer’s Disease and Dementia with Lewy Bodies
Authors: Napoli Eleonora
Published: April 2023

While not a specific disease, dementia is a term used to describe the deterioration of cognitive function beyond what would be expected because of natural biological aging [...]