bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Crosstalk between the Cannabinoid Receptors and Nociceptin Receptors in Colitis—Clinical Implications
Authors: Wołyniak Maria , Małecka-Wojciesko Ewa , Zielińska Marta , Fabisiak Adam
Published: November 2022

Inflammatory bowel diseases (IBD) refer to a group of gastrointestinal (GI) disorders with complex pathogenesis characterized by chronic intestinal inflammation with a variety of symptoms. Cannabinoid and nociceptin opioid receptors (NOPs) and their ligands are widely distributed in the GI tract. The nociceptin opioid receptor is a newly discovered member of the opioid receptor family with unique characteristics. Both cannabinoid and NOP systems exhibit antinociceptive and anti-inflammatory activity and contribute to maintaining proper motility, secretion and absorption in the GI tract. Furthermore, they influence high and low voltage calcium channels, which play a crucial role in the processing of pain, and share at least two kinases mediating their action. Among them there is NF-κB, a key factor in the regulation of inflammatory processes. Therefore, based on functional similarities between cannabinoid and nociceptin receptors and the anti-inflammatory effects exerted by their ligands, there is a high likelihood that there is an interaction between cannabinoid receptors 1 and 2 and the nociceptin receptor in colitis. In this review, we discuss potential overlaps between these two systems on a molecular and functional level in intestinal inflammation to create the basis for novel treatments of IBD.
Pitfalls in Diagnosing Thrombotic Thrombocytopenic Purpura in Sickle Cell Disease
Authors: Tsitsikas Dimitris A. , Mihalca Diana , Hall John , May Jori E. , Gangaraju Radhika , Marques Marisa B. , Scully Marie
Published: November 2022

Thrombotic thrombocytopenia purpura is characterised by microangiopathic haemolytic anaemia and red cell fragmentation on the peripheral smear, neurological involvement and thrombocytopenia. Diagnosis in the context of sickle cell disease can be challenging due to the inherent haemolytic state and the multitude of other associated complications of the latter. Specifically, fat embolism syndrome characterised by respiratory failure, neurological impairment and thrombocytopenia can be misdiagnosed this way. Confirmation of a diagnosis of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura requires demonstration of very low levels (<10%) of the metalloproteinase ADAMTS13 which in fat embolism syndrome is normal. Existing scoring systems used to estimate the pre-test probability for thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura cannot be applied in patients with sickle cell disease due to the chronic underlying haemolysis. Here, we analyse the diagnostic approach in published cases of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura affecting patients with sickle-cell disease. The vast majority of cases were characterised by severe respiratory failure before any other manifestation, a feature of fat embolism syndrome but not of thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura, and all received red cell transfusion prior to receiving therapeutic plasma exchange. Despite the potential overestimation of the pre-test probability using the existing scoring systems, a large number of cases still scored low. There were no cases with documented low ADAMTS13. In the majority this was not tested, while in the 3 cases that ADAMTS13 was tested, levels were normal. Our review suggests that due to many overlapping clinical and laboratory features thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura may be erroneously diagnosed in sickle cell disease instead of other complications such as fat embolism syndrome and confirmation with ADAMTS13 testing is essential.
Employment of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation to Examine Muscle and Bone Qualities after Spinal Cord Injury
Authors: Gorgey Ashraf S. , Khalil Refka E. , Sutor Tommy W. , Goldsmith Jacob A. , Cifu David X.
Published: November 2022

(1) Background: Resource intensive imaging tools have been employed to examine muscle and bone qualities after spinal cord injury (SCI). We tested the hypothesis that surface neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) amplitude can be used to examine knee extensor muscle quality, distal femur and proximal tibia bone mineral density (BMD) in persons with SCI. (2) Methods: Seventeen persons (2 women) with chronic SCI participated in three weeks of NMES-resistance training twice weekly of 4 sets of 10 repetitions. Participants were classified according to the current amplitude (>100 mA) and the number of repetitions (>70 reps) of leg extension into greater (n = 8; 1 woman; group A) and lower (n = 9; 1 woman; group B) musculoskeletal qualities. Magnetic resonance imaging, dual energy x-ray absorptiometry, isometric peak torque, Modified Ashworth and Penn spasm frequency scales were conducted. (3) Results: In between group comparisons, current amplitude was lower (38–46%) in group A. Whole (27–32%; p = 0.02), absolute (26–33%, p = 0.02) thigh muscle and absolute knee extensor muscle cross-sectional areas (22–33%, p = 0.04) were greater in group A. Right distal femur (24%; p = 0.08) and proximal tibia (29%; p = 0.03) BMDs were lower in group B, and peak isometric torque (p < 0.01), extensor spasticity scorers (p = 0.04) and muscle spasm scores (p = 0.002) were significantly higher in group A. Regression models revealed that amplitude of current, repetitions and body weight can accurately predict musculoskeletal qualities in persons with SCI. (4) Conclusions: Surface NMES amplitude and repetitions of leg extension differentiated between SCI survivors with greater versus lower musculoskeletal qualities. The study may shed the light on the interplay between muscle and bone in persons with SCI.
Atomic Force Microscopy Study of the Effect of an Electric Field, Applied to a Pyramidal Structure, on Enzyme Biomolecules
Authors: Ivanov Yuri D. , Tatur Vadim Y. , Shumov Ivan D. , Kozlov Andrey F. , Valueva Anastasia A. , Ivanova Irina A. , Ershova Maria O. , Ivanova Nina D. , Stepanov Igor N. , Lukyanitsa Andrei A. , Ziborov Vadim S.
Published: November 2022

The influence of an external constant strong electric field, formed using a pyramidal structure under a high electric potential, on an enzyme located near its apex, is studied. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) is used as a model. In our experiments, a 27 kV direct current (DC) voltage was applied to two electrodes with a conducting pyramidal structure attached to one of them. The enzyme particles were visualized by atomic force microscopy (AFM) after the adsorption of the enzyme from its 0.1 µM solution onto mica AFM substrates. It is demonstrated that after the 40 min exposure to the electric field, the enzyme forms extended structures on mica, while in control experiments compact HRP particles are observed. After the exposure to the electric field, the majority of mica-adsorbed HRP particles had a height of 1.2 nm (as opposed to 1.0 nm in the case of control experiments), and the contribution of higher (>2.0 nm) particles was also considerable. This indicates the formation of high-order HRP aggregates under the influence of an applied electric field. At that, the enzymatic activity of HRP against its substrate 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonate) (ABTS) remains unaffected. These results are important for studying macroscopic effects of strong electromagnetic fields on enzymes, as well as for the development of cellular structure models.
Periocular Data Fusion for Age and Gender Classification
Authors: Bisogni Carmen , Cascone Lucia , Narducci Fabio
Published: November 2022

In recent years, the study of soft biometrics has gained increasing interest in the security and business sectors. These characteristics provide limited biometric information about the individual; hence, it is possible to increase performance by combining numerous data sources to overcome the accuracy limitations of a single trait. In this research, we provide a study on the fusion of periocular features taken from pupils, fixations, and blinks to achieve a demographic classification, i.e., by age and gender. A data fusion approach is implemented for this purpose. To build a trust evaluation of the selected biometric traits, we first employ a concatenation scheme for fusion at the feature level and, at the score level, transformation and classifier-based score fusion approaches (e.g., weighted sum, weighted product, Bayesian rule, etc.). Data fusion enables improved performance and the synthesis of acquired information, as well as its secure storage and protection of the multi-biometric system’s original biometric models. The combination of these soft biometrics characteristics combines flawlessly the need to protect individual privacy and to have a strong discriminatory element. The results are quite encouraging, with an age classification accuracy of 84.45% and a gender classification accuracy of 84.62%, respectively. The results obtained encourage the studies on periocular area to detect soft biometrics to be applied when the lower part of the face is not visible.
Depth and Heading Control of a Manta Robot Based on S-Plane Control
Authors: He Yue , Xie Yu , Pan Guang , Cao Yonghui , Huang Qiaogao , Ma Shumin , Zhang Daili , Cao Yong
Published: November 2022

Bionic underwater robots have many advantages such as high mobility, high efficiency, high affinity, etc. They are especially suitable for tasks such as collecting hydrographic information and for detailed surveys of the marine environment. These tasks are based on their high-precision attitude control. Therefore, this paper proposes a control scheme for a bionic underwater robot—a manta robot. To improve the depth retention capability of the manta robot, a S-plane controller based on asymmetric output was designed in combination with the longitudinal motion characteristics of the manta robot. In addition, to achieve good motion control for the manta robot under conditions of large changes in the heading angle, the fuzzy controller and the heading transition target value function were combined to design the heading controller of the manta robot. Finally, the feasibility and reliability of the control system of the manta robot were verified by pool experiments. The experimental results showed that the depth control error was within ±5 cm and the heading control error was within ±5 degrees. The control scheme proposed in this paper achieves high-precision attitude control of the manta robot, providing a basis for the practical application of the manta robot.
Identification of Pivotal Factors Influencing the Establishment of Green Port Governance Models: A Bibliometric Analysis, Content Analysis, and DPSIR Framework
Authors: Jugović Alen , Sirotić Miljen , Poletan Jugović Tanja
Published: November 2022

Green port governance is an emerging and recent port restructuring process influencing port authorities regarding adopting recurring sustainable governance practices within their business models. However, contemporary academic bias towards a particular aspect of port sustainable governance practice leads to publication results fragmentation and difficulty in a collective assessment of the conclusions. The lack of holistic research endeavors to port sustainable governance practices hinders the identification of organized, specific, and goal-oriented factors indispensable for coherently directing ports to sustainable and green transitions. In order to bridge the identified gap, this paper conducts a bibliometric analysis of 278 scientific articles on the emerging green port governance concept in the maritime industry, published in 113 academic outlets, authored by 695 scholars, and obtained from the world’s most reputable scientific database—ISI Web of Science. The conducted meta-analysis via HistCite software revealed the most prestigious academic institutions, the most prominent scientific journals, the most impactful scientific articles, and the most influential scholars. The bibliographic coupling methodology via Bibliometrix tool in R software indicated five concurrent research streams on the basis of the top 10% of the scientific articles: (1) Adoption of contextualized models of port governance reform as a consequence of port multi-scalar embeddedness forces and institutional stretching; (2) Fostering port sustainability competitiveness via extended resource pools in terms of dry ports coupling; (3) The digitalization role of information systems regarding the interaction between transport, infrastructure, and institutional management in ports; (4) Assessment and innovation in seaport competition policies for the integration of green and sustainable operations; and (5) Conceptual development and awareness raising of port management practices on account of CO2 evidence-based policies regarding port terminals. The application of co-citation analysis methodology revealed future research directions within the five concurrent research streams on the basis of the top 5% trending scientific articles. The detailed content analysis assesses the scientific mapping of future research directions via the structural associations of the Driver-Pressure-State-Impact-Response (DPSIR) framework. The cause-and-effect relationships of the structural associations of the DPSIR framework possess the possibility of providing substantial insights into the most influential factor identification regarding the development of green port governance models and self-assessment toolkits.
How Do Prostomial Sensory Organs Affect Brain Anatomy? Phylogenetic Implications in Eunicida (Annelida)
Authors: Kuhl Sabrina , Bartolomaeus Thomas , Beckers Patrick
Published: November 2022

Eunicida is a taxon of marine annelids currently comprising the taxa Eunicidae, Onuphidae, Dorvilleidae, Oenonidae, Lumbrineridae, Histriobdellidae and Hartmaniella. Most representatives are highly mobile hunters sharing the presence of a sophisticated nervous system but differ in the number and shape of prostomial sensory organs (0–3 antennae; 0 or 2 palps; 0, 2 or 4 (+2) buccal lips; 0, 2 or 4 eyes; single-grooved or paired nuchal organs). This makes Eunicida an ideal model to study the following questions: Is the brain morphology affected by different specificities of prostomial sensory organs? Do similar numbers and shapes of prostomial sensory organs hint at close phylogenetic relationships among different eunicidan taxa? How can antennae, palps and buccal lips be differentiated? For the investigation of sensory organs and the nervous system, we performed immunohistochemistry, µCT, TEM, SEM, paraffin histology and semi-thin sectioning. Our results show that brain anatomy is mostly affected on a microanatomical level by sensory organs and that similar specificities of sensory organs support the latest phylogenetic relationships of Eunicida. Further, a reduction of antennae in Eunicida can be suggested and hypotheses about the presence of sensory organs in the stem species of Eunicida are made.
Comparing Catch Efficiency of Crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) Traps with Different Entrance Numbers
Authors: Cheng Zhaohai , Folkins Margaret H. , Huang Liuyi , Li Ye
Published: November 2022

Traps with various designs have been developed for improving catch efficiency. Traditionally, traps with two or three entrances have been used in recreational crayfish (Procambarus clarkii) fisheries in China. More recently, traps with more than three entrances have been used in fisheries; however, it is unclear whether increasing the number of entrances on a trap increases crayfish capture efficiency. In this research, we evaluated and compared the capture efficiency of crayfish with traps varying in numbers of entrances (2–7). We assessed the catch per unit effort (CPUE) of crayfish in traps through 10 fishing trials. Our results suggested that CPUE did not differ significantly (p = 0.070) among the tested traps; however, CPUE by weight did vary significantly (p = 0.029) among the traps. The tested six-entrance traps caught more crayfish by weight than the five-entrance traps (p = 0.019). The results also revealed that the entrance number did not significantly (p = 0.29) affect the size of crayfish captured. The results are of practical significance for stakeholders to choose traps with efficient designs, and they are important for understanding and improving the catch efficiency of traps.
Genetic Engineering of Talaromyces marneffei to Enhance Siderophore Production and Preliminary Testing for Medical Application Potential
Authors: Amsri Artid , Srichairatanakool Somdet , Teerawutgulrag Aphiwat , Youngchim Sirida , Pongpom Monsicha
Published: November 2022

Siderophores are compounds with low molecular weight with a high affinity and specificity for ferric iron, which is produced by bacteria and fungi. Fungal siderophores have been characterized and their feasibility for clinical applications has been investigated. Fungi may be limited in slow growth and low siderophore production; however, they have advantages of high diversity and affinity. Hence, the purpose of this study was to generate a genetically modified strain in Talaromyces marneffei that enhanced siderophore production and to identify the characteristics of siderophore to guide its medical application. SreA is a transcription factor that negatively controls iron acquisition mechanisms. Therefore, we deleted the sreA gene to enhance the siderophore production and found that the null mutant of sreA (ΔsreA) produced a high amount of extracellular siderophores. The produced siderophore was characterized using HPLC-MS, HPLC-DAD, FTIR, and 1H- and 13C-NMR techniques and identified as a coprogen B. The compound showed a powerful iron-binding activity and could reduce labile iron pool levels in iron-loaded hepatocellular carcinoma (Huh7) cells. In addition, the coprogen B showed no toxicity to the Huh7 cells, demonstrating its potential to serve as an ideal iron chelator. Moreover, it inhibits the growth of Candida albicans and Escherichia coli in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, we have generated the siderophore-enhancing strain of T. marneffei, and the coprogen B isolated from this strain could be useful in the development of a new iron-chelating agent or other medical applications.
An Ecological Approach to Control Pathogens of Lycopersicon esculentum L. by Slow Release of Mancozeb from Biopolymeric Conjugated Nanoparticles
Authors: Kumar Ravinder , Nain Vikash , Duhan Joginder Singh
Published: November 2022

To control insects, weeds, and infections in crops, old-fashioned pesticide formulations (with massive quantities of heavy metals and a variety of chemicals) are used. By biological amplification via the food chain, many of these established pesticide formulations have accumulated in living systems and caused environmental pollution. To form a nanoparticulate matrix with a diameter ranging from 322.2 ± 0.9 to 403.7 ± 0.7 nm, mancozeb was embedded in chitosan–gum acacia (CSGA) biopolymers and loadings were confirmed via TEM and FTIR. Differential scanning calorimetry analyses were carried out as part of the investigation. Inhibition of Alternaria alternata by nanoparticles (NPs) with 1.0 mg/mL mancozeb (CSGA-1.0) was 85.2 ± 0.7 % at 0.5 ppm, whereas for Stemphylium lycopersici it was 62.1 ± 0.7% in the mycelium inhibition method. NPs demonstrated antimicrobial action in pot house environments. After ten hours, the mancozeb was liberated from the nanoformulations due to polymer matrix diffusion and relaxation, compared to 2 h for commercial mancozeb. Even while drug-loaded conjugated nanoparticles have equivalent antifungal activities, they have a lower release rate and, hence, reduced toxicology compared to commercial mancozeb. Therefore, this method can be employed to implement sustainable farming techniques in the future.
Tubeless Ureterorenoscopy-Our Experience Using a 120 W Laser and Dusting Technique: Postoperative Pain, Complications, and Readmissions
Authors: Verhovsky Guy , Rappaport Yishai H. , Zilberman Dorit E. , Neheman Amos , Zisman Amnon , Gielchinsky Ilan , Chertin Leon , Sabler Itay M.
Published: November 2022

Introduction and Objective: Both double J-stent (DJS) and ureter catheter (UC) drainage represent routine practice following ureterorenoscopy. In select situations, a tubeless approach is possible and safe. In tubeless cases, we use a sheathless dusting technique with the Lumenis® MOSES Pulse™120 H Holmium: YAG laser. We evaluated these three drainage subgroups and compared postoperative pain, complications, and readmissions. Methods: A retrospective database of 269 consecutive patients who underwent primary ureterorenoscopy for the treatment of upper urinary tract stones between October 2018 and August 2019. The cohort was divided according to post-operative drainage as Tubeless, UC, and DJS. The decision on whether to perform post-operative drainage was by surgeon preference. Demographic and clinical parameters such as stone location, number, and burden, hydronephrosis grade, and postoperative complications (fever, acute renal failure, and the obstruction of the upper urinary tract by Stone Street) were assessed. Pain was assessed using a 0–10 Visual Analog Scale score (VAS) and the use of analgesics by dose/case in each group. Results: There were 70 (26%) tubeless, 136 (50%) UC, and 63 (24%) DJS cases. Patients drained with DJSs had a significantly higher stone burden, more severe obstruction, and prolonged operative time. Tubeless and UC-drained patients had the same stone characteristics with maximal diameters of 8.4 (6.1–12) mm and 8 (5.2–11.5) mm in comparison to the stented group, with 12 (8.6–16.6) mm, p < 0.01. The operation time was the longest in the stented group at 49 min (IQR 33–60) in comparison to the UC and tubeless groups at 32 min (23–45) and 28 min (20–40), respectively (p < 0.001). Auxiliary procedures were more prevalent in the stented group, but the overall stone-free rate was not significantly different, p = 0.285. Postoperative ER visits, readmissions, and complications were the highest in the UC-drained group, at 20% in the UC vs. 6% in the tubeless and 10% in the stented groups. Post-operative pain levels and analgesic use were significantly lower in the tubeless group with a significant reduction in opiate usage. Conclusions: A tubeless approach is safe in selected cases with fewer post-operative complications. While DJS should be considered in complex cases, UC may be omitted in straightforward cases since it does not appear to reduce immediate postoperative complications. Those fitted for tubeless procedures had improved postoperative outcomes, facilitating outpatient approach to upper urinary tract stone treatment and patient satisfaction.
Psychological Characteristics Associated with Post-Treatment Physical Status and Quality of Life in Patients with Brain Tumor Undergoing Radiotherapy
Authors: Pieczyńska Anna , Pilarska Agnieszka , Adamska Krystyna , Zasadzka Ewa , Hojan Katarzyna
Published: November 2022

Radiotherapy (RT) is a mainstay of treatment for brain tumors. To minimize the risk of side effects while maximizing the therapeutic effects, personalized treatment plans, consisting mainly of genomics, radiomics, and mathematical modeling, are increasingly being used. We hypothesize that personality characteristics could influence treatment outcomes and thus could be used to help personalize RT. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the psychological characteristics associated with post-treatment physical status and quality of life (QoL) in patients with brain tumors undergoing RT. Two psychological tests—the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory—were administered prior to RT. Physical parameters before and after RT were also assessed through the following tests: hand grip strength, Timed Up and Go test, 6 Min Walk Test, and Functional Independence Measure. The Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy–General (FACT-G) was used to assess QoL. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy–Fatigue (FACIT-F) was administered to assess fatigue. Neuroticism was significantly associated with low FACT-G Physical Well-Being scores. Psychoticism was associated with an improvement in physical fitness scores after RT. These findings suggest that personality traits should be considered when designing a personalized radiotherapy plan.
Examining the Link between Technical Efficiency, Corporate Governance and Financial Performance of Firms: Evidence from Nigeria
Authors: Lawal Adedoyin Isola , Bose Bukola Lawal-Adedoyin , Olakanmi Olujide , Samson Timothy Kayode , Ike Nwanji Tony , Ajayi Abiodun Samuel , Adeniran Fakile Samuel , Ezekiel Oseni , Oyelude Opeyemi , Adigun Grace
Published: November 2022

The purpose of this study is to examine the link between technical efficiency and both the corporate governance and financial performance of listed financial firms on the floor of the Nigerian Stock Exchange using three theoretical approaches: shareholder theory, stakeholders’ theory, and resource dependence theory. We employed a stochastic frontier analysis to examine the impact of technical efficiency on the link between corporate governance and financial performance on the one hand, and, on the other, multiple regressions comprised of OLS and Poisson estimates to analyze a data-generating set sourced from 2007 to 2020. The results of our OLS estimates suggest that a negative but significant relationship exists between the corporate governance mechanism and the financial performance of the listed firms. When we subject the analysis to the Poisson estimates, the relationship becomes positive and significant. Our results have some positive implications.
Restructuring Urban Outskirts Industrial Areas from the Industrial Clustering Perspective: A Case Study in Shunde, China
Authors: Li Minsheng , Li Lejie , Li Xun
Published: November 2022

Large numbers of industrial zones have emerged in the urban outskirts of developing countries. Generally, these zones become economically efficient and environmentally unfriendly due to a lack of regulation and poor planning. Therefore, a restructuring of underperforming industrial areas is urgently needed. However, most restructuring processes lead to economic and social issues, such as deindustrialization and unemployment. Therefore, this study proposed a restructuring framework specific to the industrial areas in the urban outskirts and tested it in a case study in Shunde, China. In the framework, securing the existing industrial cluster is given sufficient attention, and the retained firms are relocated to dedicated resettlement sites before the demolition begins. As a result, the industrial clusters were successfully maintained after the restructuring. Moreover, the introduction of vertical factories allows for additional land supply and improves the environment to a great extent. Consequently, one world-class high-tech firm was added to the restructured areas. The restructuring framework and the case study should shed light on other restructuring projects occurring in developing countries.
Feature Borrowing in Language Contact
Authors: Tomaselli Alessandra , Bidese Ermenegildo , Padovan Andrea
Published: November 2022

In this paper, we consider mood selection in embedded clauses by focusing on a German-based minority language, Cimbrian, which is spoken in a northern Italian enclave. Mood selection in Cimbrian relies on the presence of two different complementizers, az and ke (the latter being borrowed from Romance varieties), each of which selectively require a specific mood. Az selects the mood subjunctive in modal sentences introduced by non-factive verbs, whereas ke co-occurs with the indicative in purely declarative clauses introduced by factive and semi-factive verbs. However, this binary distribution is challenged in the two following contexts, and it is precisely at this point that feature borrowing comes into play: (i) with the verb gloam ‘to believe/to think’, the expected binary pattern appears (irrealis az + subjunctive and the realis ke + indicative), but, crucially, a third construction emerges, namely ke + subj.; (ii) surprisingly, az + subj. displays some ‘gaps’ in its paradigm, specifically in the first person, which appeared in the data we collected via translation tasks from Italian into Cimbrian. Both phenomena shed light on how language contact works, not in terms of structural borrowing but rather in terms of the transfer of the specific features of a given lexical item.
The Anti-Inflammatory Effect of Novel Antidiabetic Agents
Authors: Theofilis Panagiotis , Sagris Marios , Oikonomou Evangelos , Antonopoulos Alexios S. , Siasos Gerasimos , Tsioufis Kostas , Tousoulis Dimitris
Published: November 2022

The incidence of type 2 diabetes (T2DM) has been increasing worldwide and remains one of the leading causes of atherosclerotic disease. Several antidiabetic agents have been introduced in trying to regulate glucose control levels with different mechanisms of action. These agents, and sodium-glucose cotransporter-2 inhibitors in particular, have been endorsed by contemporary guidelines in patients with or without T2DM. Their widespread usage during the last three decades has raised awareness in the scientific community concerning their pleiotropic mechanisms of action, including their putative anti-inflammatory effect. In this review, we delve into the anti-inflammatory role and mechanism of the existing antidiabetic agents in the cardiovascular system and their potential use in other chronic sterile inflammatory conditions.
Plant Growth and Fruit Nutrient Changes in Carica papaya L. Genotypes Subjected to Regulated Deficit Irrigation
Authors: Mahouachi Jalel , Marrero-Díaz Elías
Published: November 2022

The current genotypes of Carica papaya L. cultivated worldwide are considered relatively tolerant or sensitive to drought conditions, depending specifically on the cultivar features and the severity of water shortage. In this work an experimental field was established by subjecting “Intenzza” and “Siluet” to the following water regimes: Control (“CT”), plants irrigated at field capacity (100%); Moderate Deficit Irrigation (“MDI”, watered at 66%); and Severe Deficit Irrigation (“SDI”, watered at 50%). The results indicated that water deficit decreases leaf number leading to a decline of total leaf area, being “Intenzza” equally affected by “SDI” and “MDI”, whereas in “Siluet” the major decrease was induced by “SDI”. Regarding fruit development, in “Intenzza”, “MDI” and “SDI” did not affect fruit number except two dates (120 and 202 DAT), decreased fruit fresh weight (FW), and increased total soluble solutes (TSS) levels, while in “Siluet” only “SDI” reduced fruit FW and watering systems did not change TSS, suggesting a better performance of this cultivar under “MDI”. In addition, drought did not impair fruit mineral concentrations excepting in few dates, and in such cases stressed fruits accumulated a slight minor or even major concentration of some nutrients than control, maintaining consequently suitable organoleptic quality.
Correlation between Cytogenetic Findings and Spermatogenic Failure in Bulgarian Infertile Men
Authors: Yovinska Svetlana , Belemezova Kalina , Hristova-Savova Mariela , Milachich Tanya , Andreeva Petya , Veleva Lachezara , Buchvarov Yuri , Yunakova Maria , Timeva Tanya , Shterev Atanas , Dimova Ivanka
Published: November 2022

The aim of our study was to determine the type and frequency of chromosomal aberrations and polymorphisms in men with different degrees of spermatogenic failure in comparison to men with normozoospermia, in order to find correlations between cytogenetic findings and the abnormal results of semen analysis. In our study, we performed cytogenetic analysis in 901 infertile men, divided into five groups according to semen analysis—normozoospermia (86), asthenozoospermia (394), oligoasthenozoospermia (182), severe male factor (100), and azoospermia (139). The frequency of polymorphisms was similar in all groups (11–16%, without significant differences). The frequency of numerical and structural aberrations increases with the degree of the spermatogenic failure (3.5% in normozoospermia, 5.6% in asthenozoospermia, 9.8% in oligoasthenozoospermia, 9% in severe male factor, and 13.5% in azoospermia). We found a significantly higher incidence of numerical chromosomal aberrations in severe male factor (7%) and azoospermia (9.3%). Oligoasthenozoospermia occured in 45% of cases with translocation, compared to 20% in the group with a normal karyotype. We revealed that chromosomal translocations are tightly associated with oligoasthenozoospermia, whereas numerical chromosomal aberrations—with severe male factor and azoospermia. The impact of chromosome polymorphisms on male infertility should be studied in greater detail.
Mononuclear Heptacoordinated 3d-Metal Helicates as a New Family of Single Ion Magnets
Authors: Tupolova Yulia P. , Korchagin Denis V. , Andreeva Anastasya S. , Tkachev Valery V. , Shilov Gennadii V. , Lazarenko Vladimir A. , Popov Leonid D. , Babeshkin Konstantin A. , Efimov Nikolay N. , Morgunov Roman B. , Palii Andrei V. , Kubrin Stanislav P. , Shcherbakov Igor N. , Aldoshin Sergey M.
Published: November 2022

The series of Co(II), Fe(II), and Ni(II) mononuclear coordination compounds of [CoL(NCS)2]·3DMSO (1), [CoL(H2O)2](ClO4)2·DMSO (2), [CoL(H2O)(EtOH)][CoCl4]·2H2O (2a), [FeL(NCS)2]·DMSO (3), and [NiL(NCS)2]·CH3CN (4) composition (where L is 2,6-bis(1-(2-(4,6-dimethylpyrimidin-2-yl)hydrazineylidene)ethyl)pyridine), with an [MLA2] coordination unit (where A is a pair of apical monodentate ligands), was synthesized. In compounds 1, 2, 2a, and 3, the ligand L is pentadentate, and cobalt and iron ions are placed in a heavily distorted pentagonal pyramidal coordination environment, while in 4 the Ni(II) ion is hexacoordinated. Easy plane-type magnetic anisotropy (D = 13.69, 11.46, 19.5, and 6.2 cm−1 for 1, 2, 2a, and 4, respectively) was established for cobalt and nickel compounds, while easy axis-type magnetic anisotropy (D = −14.5 cm−1) was established for iron compound 3. The cobalt coordination compounds 1 and 2 show SIM behavior under a 1500 Oe external magnetic field, with effective magnetization reversal barriers of 65(1) and 60(1) K for 1 and 2, respectively. The combination of Orbach and Raman relaxation mechanisms was shown to adequately describe the temperature dependence of relaxation times for 1 and 2. CASSCF/NEVPT2 calculations were performed to model the parameters of the effective spin Hamiltonian for the compounds under study.
Reliability Analysis and Redundancy Optimization of a Command Post Phased-Mission System
Authors: Dui Hongyan , Xu Huiting , Zhang Yun-An
Published: November 2022

This paper divides the execution process of the command post system into four stages: information acquisition, information processing, decision control and response execution. It combines multilayer complex networks with a phased-mission system. Most studies have only evaluated the reliability of phased-mission systems. This paper evaluates and optimizes the reliability of a phased-mission system. In order to improve the mission success rate and maximize the reliability of a command post system, this paper provides a multitasking node criticality index, and the index is used to identify the key nodes in the command post’s four-stage network Then, the hot backup system of the node is selected to determine the redundant structure of the key node. Under the constraints of the operation and maintenance costs of key nodes, with the goal of maximizing the reliability of the information processing network layer, the multitask redundancy optimization model of each stage is established. Finally, the reliability of the missions before and after redundancy optimization is compared, using the case analysis of the four-layer network to verify the effectiveness of the proposed model.
Solving a Class of High-Order Elliptic PDEs Using Deep Neural Networks Based on Its Coupled Scheme
Authors: Li Xi’an , Wu Jinran , Zhang Lei , Tai Xin
Published: November 2022

Deep learning—in particular, deep neural networks (DNNs)—as a mesh-free and self-adapting method has demonstrated its great potential in the field of scientific computation. In this work, inspired by the Deep Ritz method proposed by Weinan E et al. to solve a class of variational problems that generally stem from partial differential equations, we present a coupled deep neural network (CDNN) to solve the fourth-order biharmonic equation by splitting it into two well-posed Poisson’s problems, and then design a hybrid loss function for this method that can make efficiently the optimization of DNN easier and reduce the computer resources. In addition, a new activation function based on Fourier theory is introduced for our CDNN method. This activation function can reduce significantly the approximation error of the DNN. Finally, some numerical experiments are carried out to demonstrate the feasibility and efficiency of the CDNN method for the biharmonic equation in various cases.
DHGEEP: A Dynamic Heterogeneous Graph-Embedding Method for Evolutionary Prediction
Authors: Chen Libin , Wang Luyao , Zeng Chengyi , Liu Hongfu , Chen Jing
Published: November 2022

Current graph-embedding methods mainly focus on static homogeneous graphs, where the entity type is the same and the topology is fixed. However, in real networks, such as academic networks and shopping networks, there are typically various types of nodes and temporal interactions. The dynamical and heterogeneous components of graphs in general contain abundant information. Currently, most studies on dynamic graphs do not sufficiently consider the heterogeneity of the network in question, and hence the semantic information of the interactions between heterogeneous nodes is missing in the graph embeddings. On the other hand, the overall size of the network tends to accumulate over time, and its growth rate can reflect the ability of the entire network to generate interactions of heterogeneous nodes; therefore, we developed a graph dynamics model to model the evolution of graph dynamics. Moreover, the temporal properties of nodes regularly affect the generation of temporal interaction events with which they are connected. Thus, we developed a node dynamics model to model the evolution of node connectivity. In this paper, we propose DHGEEP, a dynamic heterogeneous graph-embedding method based on the Hawkes process, to predict the evolution of dynamic heterogeneous networks. The model considers the generation of temporal events as an effect of historical events, introduces the Hawkes process to simulate this evolution, and then captures semantic and structural information based on the meta-paths of temporal heterogeneous nodes. Finally, the graph-level dynamics of the network and the node-level dynamics of each node are integrated into the DHGEEP framework. The embeddings of the nodes are automatically obtained by minimizing the value of the loss function. Experiments were conducted on three downstream tasks, static link prediction, temporal event prediction for homogeneous nodes, and temporal event prediction for heterogeneous nodes, on three datasets. Experimental results show that DHGEEP achieves excellent performance in these tasks. In the most significant task, temporal event prediction of heterogeneous nodes, the values of precision@2 and recall@2 can reach 30.23% and 10.48% on the AMiner dataset, and reach 4.56% and 1.61% on the DBLP dataset, so that our method is more accurate at predicting future temporal events than the baseline.
The Leader Property in Quasi Unidimensional Cases
Authors: Răducan Anișoara Maria , Zbăganu Gheorghiță
Published: November 2022

The following problem was studied: let Zjj≥1 be a sequence of i.i.d. d-dimensional random vectors. Let F be their probability distribution and for every n≥1 consider the sample Sn={Z1,Z2,…,Zn}. Then Zj was called a “leader” in the sample Sn if Zj≥Zk,∀k∈{1,2,…,n} and Zj was an “anti-leader” if Zj≤Zk,∀k∈{1,2,…,n}. The comparison of two vectors was the usual one: if Zj=Zj1,Zj2,…,Zjd,j≥1, then Zj≥Zk means Zji≥Zki, while Zj≤Zk means Zji≤Zki,∀1≤i≤d,∀j,k≥1. Let an be the probability that Sn has a leader, bn be the probability that Sn has an anti-leader and cn be the probability that Sn has both a leader and an anti-leader. Sometimes these probabilities can be computed or estimated, for instance in the case when F is discrete or absolutely continuous. The limits a=liminfan,b=liminfbn,c=liminfcn were considered. If a>0 it was said that F has the leader property, if b>0 they said that F has the anti-leader property and if c>0 then F has the order property. In this paper we study an in-between case: here the vector Z has the form Z=fX where f=f1,…,fd:0,1→Rd and X is a random variable. The aim is to find conditions for f in order that a>0,b>0 or c>0. The most examples will focus on a more particular case Z=X,f2X,…,fdX with X uniformly distributed on the interval [0,1].
Improved TOPSIS Method Considering Fuzziness and Randomness in Multi-Attribute Group Decision Making
Authors: Cai Mei , Hong Yuanyuan
Published: November 2022

Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) is a commonly used decision model in multi-attribute group decision making (MAGDM), and a probabilistic linguistic term set (PLTS) is the linguistic variable that can effectively express the fuzziness of decision makers’ (DMs’) preference. However, in actual decision use, PLTS type decision preference needs to be processed before use, which can distort the decision results. The randomness of DM’s preference which also affects the final decision making is often ignored. Therefore, in order to better serve the MAGDM problem, this paper proposes an asymmetric probabilistic linguistic cloud TOPSIS (ASPLC-TOPSIS) method. First, the basic theories of linguistic variables and cloud model (CM) are introduced. Second, the conversation model between linguistic variables and CM is defined along with the operation formula of ASPLC. Third, considering the importance of the DMs’ subjective weights, a DM trust network is established to calculate the DMs’ weights. Finally, the decision process of ASPLC-TOPSIS is proposed and the superiority of this method is proved through experimental studies.
A New Material Model for Agglomerated Cork
Authors: Pereira Gabriel Thomaz de Aquino , Sousa Ricardo J. Alves de , Liu I-Shih , Teixeira Marcello Goulart , Fernandes Fábio A. O.
Published: November 2022

It is increasingly necessary to promote means of production that are less polluting and less harmful to the environment following the UN 2030 agenda for sustainable development. Using natural cellular materials in structural applications can be essential for enabling a future in this direction. Cork is a natural cellular material with an excellent energy absorption capacity. Its use in engineering applications and products has grown over time, so predicting its mechanical response through numerical tools is crucial. Classical cork modeling uses a model developed for foam material, including an adjustment function that does not have a clear physical interpretation. This work presents a new material model for an agglomerated cork based solely on well-known hypotheses of continuum mechanics using fewer parameters than the classical model and further a finite element framework to validate the new model against experimental data.
Bioselective PES Membranes Based on Chitosan Functionalization and Virus-Imprinted NanoMIPs for Highly Efficient Separation of Human Pathogenic Viruses from Water
Authors: Olivares Moreno Carmen Andreina , Altintas Zeynep
Published: November 2022

Waterborne viruses are a public health concern due to relatively small infection doses. Particularly, adenoviruses (AdVs) are more resistant than RNA viruses to water purification treatments in terms of ultraviolet (UV) irradiation, pH, and chlorination tolerance. Moreover, AdVs are one of the most predominant waterborne viruses. Membrane separations have proven superior removal capabilities of waterborne pathogens over other separation methods. However, virus removal at ultratrace levels is still a significant challenge for current membrane technology. This study successfully addressed this challenge by developing a bioselective polyethersulfone (PES) membrane by a joint strategy involving chitosan hydrophilic surface modification and the immobilization of adenovirus-specific molecularly imprinted nanoparticles (nanoMIPs). The topological and chemical changes taking place on the membrane surface were characterized by using atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Furthermore, hydrophilicity and membrane performance were investigated in terms of swelling behavior, permeation flux, and surface fouling studies. The membrane efficacy was evaluated by filtration experiments, where the virus concentration of the loading solution before filtration and the permeates after filtration was quantified. The novel bioselective membrane showed excellent virus removal capabilities by separating 99.99% of the viruses from the water samples.
Charged Lipids Influence Phase Separation in Cell-Sized Liposomes Containing Cholesterol or Ergosterol
Authors: Yoda Tsuyoshi
Published: November 2022

Positively charged ion species and charged lipids play specific roles in biochemical processes, especially those involving cell membranes. The cell membrane and phase separation domains are attractive research targets to study signal transduction. The phase separation structure and functions of cell-sized liposomes containing charged lipids and cholesterol have been investigated earlier, and the domain structure has also been studied in a membrane model, containing the yeast sterol ergosterol. The present study investigates phase-separated domain structure alterations in membranes containing charged lipids when cholesterol is substituted with ergosterol. This study finds that ergosterol increases the homogeneity of membranes containing charged lipids. Cholesterol-containing membranes are more sensitive to a charged state, and ergosterol-containing liposomes show lower responses to charged lipids. These findings may improve our understanding of the differences in both yeast and mammalian cells, as well as the interactions of proteins with lipids during signal transduction.
Research Progress on Injection Technology in Converter Steelmaking Process
Authors: Lv Ming , Chen Shuangping , Yang Lingzhi , Wei Guangsheng
Published: November 2022

During the converter steelmaking process, gas-slag-metal three-phase emulsification is realized by injecting gas to complete metallurgical tasks such as slagging, dephosphorization, decarburization, and heating. As green and intelligent development of the steel industry progresses, converter steelmaking injection technology is also constantly innovating. In this review, the types and applications of top blowing injection elements, bottom blowing injection elements, and injection the medium are reviewed. Three different types of combined blowing processes are compared. At the same time, the advantages and disadvantages of different bottom blowing elements and injection media are respectively discussed. Finally, based on the research and application status of converter injection technology, the development direction of converter steelmaking injection technology is discussed. Accelerating the innovation of converter steelmaking injection technology, especially the improvement and breakthrough of high efficiency, reductions the environmental burden, and long life technology, will play an important role in promoting the transformation and improvement of the steel industry.