bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bioprospecting of the Telekia speciosa: Uncovering the Composition and Biological Properties of Its Essential Oils
Authors: Wajs-Bonikowska Anna , Szoka Łukasz , Kwiatkowski Paweł , Meena Surya Nandan , Stojakowska Anna
Published: May 2023

The essential oils (EOs) of Telekia speciosa, a perennial plant native to southeastern Europe and Asia Minor, were analyzed for their composition and biological properties. T. speciosa is an invasive plant in Poland; however, its beauty prompts gardeners to cultivate the plants. T. speciosa serves as a valuable source of nectar and pollen for honey bees. Our results revealed more than 150 compounds in the flower, leaf, and root EOs. Major constituents found in the essential oils from the roots included isoalantolacton (46.2%) and from the flowers nerol (11.9%), while from the leaves, they included (E)-nerolidol (10.1%). T. speciosa flower EO showed significant cytotoxicity against A375 cells, with IC50 values of 7.2, 5.1, and 3.4 μg/mL referring to 24, 48, and 72 h, respectively, indicating its potential as a natural cytotoxic agent. The antimicrobial activity of the essential oils against Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 29213 and Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 was also investigated. The essential oils from the flowers and leaves of T. speciosa demonstrated higher inhibitory activity against S. aureus (MIC: 5.9–7.8 μL/mL) and E. coli (MIC: 7.8–11.7 μL/mL) than the essential oil isolated from the roots of the plant (MICs 31.3 and 62.5 μL/mL against S. aureus and E. coli, respectively).
Accumulation Characteristics of Heavy Metals in American Ginseng (Panax quinquefolium L.) and Changes in Their Contents after Soaking the Plants
Authors: Geng Wenlong , Li Weihuan , Yu Chunyan , Zhao Lizi , Zhang Shuhao , He Yuhui , Chen Lele , Li Kuishen , Zhao Xiaozhi , Guo Xiaotong
Published: May 2023

Understanding the accumulation characteristics of heavy metals in the growth process of American ginseng can provide theoretical support for its safe production. In this study, the content of Cu, Mn, As, Pb, Cd, Cr, and Ni in American ginseng (annual, biennial, and triennial) and planting soil were determined using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (LCP-MS). In addition, the change in the content of these heavy metals in American ginseng was evaluated after soaking the plant for various time periods. The results indicated that the content of some heavy metals in American ginseng was correlated with soil heavy metal contents. For example, Ni, Cd, and Mn content in American ginseng was significantly negatively correlated with Ni content in soil. American ginseng exhibited distinct heavy metal accumulation characteristics in different parts at different growth stages. For example, in annual American ginseng, Mn and As are mainly enriched in lateral roots and taproots, while in biennial and triennial American ginseng, they are mainly enriched in reed heads. When American ginseng plant was soaked for various time intervals, its heavy metal content changed to varying degrees. In general, after soaking American ginseng for 30 min, the content of most heavy metals decreased.
Study on the Mechanical Characteristics and Ground Surface Settlement Influence of the Rise–Span Ratio of the Pile–Beam–Arch Method
Authors: Lv Jianbing , Lu Jianjun , Wu Hao
Published: May 2023

The pile–beam–arch method (PBA) method is increasingly being used in the construction of metro stations with complex traffic conditions. The rise–span ratio of the arch not only affects the height of the station, but also affects the rationality of the design of subway stations and the safety of construction. The mechanical response of steel pipe piles with different rise–span ratios and the effect of controlled surface settlement have been investigated in the interactions involved in pile–soil system. In this paper, the finite element model of each rise–span ratio was established, and the rationality of the model was demonstrated by comparing the numerical simulation calculation with the field surface settlement monitoring data. The mechanical characteristics and influence analysis of the surface deformation during the excavation of the cave pile method were investigated. The results show that the maximum axial force of the central pile first decreases and then increases with the increase in the rise–span ratio. The maximum bending moment of the arch decreases as the rise–span ratio increases, and the maximum axial force of the arch is negatively correlated with the rise–span ratio. The maximum axial force of the central pile is located at the bottom plate. Due to the symmetry of the structure, the bending moment of the centre pile is small, but the maximum bending moment of the whole station is located at the side wall of the bottom plate. As the rise–span ratio increases, the surface settlement first decreases and then increases. The construction of the pilot tunnel and the upper arch is the most important factor leading to the surface settlement, so it is necessary to strengthen the soil layer.
Photocatalytic Degradation of Pharmaceutical Trimethoprim in Aqueous Solution over Nanostructured TiO2 Film Irradiated with Simulated Solar Radiation
Authors: Ljubas Davor , Juretić Hrvoje , Badrov Alan , Biošić Martina , Babić Sandra
Published: May 2023

Pharmaceuticals are characterized by a wide range of physical, chemical, and biological properties and functionalities that contribute to their inherent complexity as compounds. Unfortunately, human carelessness during the production, use, and disposal of these compounds results in their presence in the environment. This study utilized a nanostructured TiO2 film on a glass ring at the bottom of a reactor and simulated a solar radiation lamp as the radiation source for both photocatalytic and photolytic experiments, with the aim of unraveling the mechanism behind the degradation of trimethoprim (TMP), a pharmaceutical compound. This approach provides a novel perspective on the role of TiO2 in the degradation of pharmaceuticals and could pave the way for more efficient and sustainable wastewater treatment methods. Scavenger studies were carried out using isopropanol, ammonium oxalate, and triethanolamine to examine the photocatalytic mechanism. Isopropanol and triethanolamine were found to impede the photocatalytic degradation of TMP, highlighting the significance of hydroxyl radicals and positive holes in the degradation process, while no inhibition was observed in the presence of ammonium oxalate. The complete degradation of TMP through photocatalysis under simulated solar radiation was observed in ultra-pure water in fewer than 3 h, as indicated by the results. Our findings suggest that utilizing natural solar radiation as a source of UV-A radiation in reactor configurations based on this approach holds promise for cost-effective pharmaceutical degradation treatment in wastewater treatment plants. The practical potential of this approach is supported by the results obtained under simulated solar radiation with an irradiation intensity in the UV-A region of 33 ± 2 W/m2.
Transfer Learning for Diabetic Retinopathy Detection: A Study of Dataset Combination and Model Performance
Authors: Mutawa A. M. , Alnajdi Shahad , Sruthi Sai
Published: May 2023

Diabetes’ serious complication, diabetic retinopathy (DR), which can potentially be life-threatening, might result in vision loss in certain situations. Although it has no symptoms in the early stages, this illness is regarded as one of the “silent diseases” that go unnoticed. The fact that various datasets have varied retinal features is one of the significant difficulties in this field of study. This information impacts the models created for this purpose. This study’s method can efficiently learn and classify DR from three diverse datasets. Four models based on transfer learning Convolution Neural Network (CNN)—Visual Geometry Group (VGG) 16, Inception version 3 (InceptionV3), Dense Network (DenseNet) 121, and Mobile Network version 2 (MobileNetV2)—are employed in this work, with evaluation parameters, including loss, accuracy, recall, precision, and specificity. The models are also tested by combining the images from the three datasets. The DenseNet121 model performs better with 98.97% accuracy on the combined image set. The study concludes that combining multiple datasets improves performance compared to individual datasets. The obtained model can be utilized globally to accommodate more tests that clinics perform for diabetic patients to prevent DR. It helps health workers refer patients to ophthalmologists before DR becomes serious.
Synergistic Interactions between Linalool and Some Antimycotic Agents against Candida spp. as a Basis for Developing New Antifungal Preparations
Authors: Biernasiuk Anna , Malm Anna
Published: May 2023

The incidence of superficial infections, including oral candidiasis, has recently increased significantly. Their treatment is quite difficult due to the growing resistance of Candida spp. to antifungal agents. Therefore, it is necessary to search for novel antimycotics or alternative antifungal therapies. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the antifungal activity of natural terpene—linalool (LIN)—against both reference fungi belonging to yeasts and Candida spp. isolates from the oral cavities of immunocompromised, hemato-oncology patients. Moreover, its mechanism of action and interactions with selected antifungal drugs or antiseptics were investigated. The broth microdilution technique, ergosterol or sorbitol tests, and a checkerboard method were used for individual studies. The LIN showed potential activity toward studied strains of fungi with a minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) in the range of 0.5–8 mg/mL and fungicidal effect. This compound was also found to bind to ergosterol in the yeast cell membrane. Additionally, the interactions between LIN with antiseptics such as chlorhexidine, cetylpyridinium, and triclosan showed beneficial synergistic effect (with FIC = 0.3125–0.375), or an additive effect with silver nitrate and chlorquinaldol (FIC = 0.625–1). Moreover, statistically significant differences in MIC values were found for the synergistic combinations of LIN. No interaction was indicated for nystatin. These results confirm that the LIN seems to be a promising plant component used alone or in combination with other antimycotics in the prevention and treatment of superficial fungal infections. However, further clinical trials are required.
Incipient Fault Feature Enhancement of Rolling Bearings Based on CEEMDAN and MCKD
Authors: Zhao Ling , Chi Xin , Li Pan , Ding Jiawei
Published: May 2023

A rolling bearing vibration signal fault feature enhancement method based on adaptive complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise algorithm (CEEMDAN) and maximum correlated kurtosis deconvolution (MCKD) is proposed to address the issue that rolling bearings are prone to noise in the early stage and difficult to extract feature information accurately. The method uses the CEEMDAN algorithm to reduce the noise of the rolling bearing vibration signal in the first step; then, the MCKD algorithm is used to deconvolve the signal to enhance the weak shock components in the signal and improve the SNR. Finally, the envelope spectrum analysis is performed to extract the feature frequencies. Simulation and experimental results show that the CEEMDAN-MCKD method can highlight the fault characteristic frequency and multiplier frequency better than other methods and realize the characteristic enhancement of incipient fault vibration signals of rolling bearings under constant and variable operating conditions.
Investigation of the EWT–PSO–SVM Model for Runoff Forecasting in the Karst Area
Authors: Mo Chongxun , Yan Zhiwei , Ma Rongyong , Lei Xingbi , Deng Yun , Lai Shufeng , Huang Keke , Mo Xixi
Published: May 2023

As the runoff series exhibit nonlinear and nonstationary characteristics, capturing the embedded periodicity and regularity in the runoff series using a single model is challenging. To account for these runoff characteristics and enhance the forecasting precision, this research proposed a new empirical wavelet transform–particle swarm optimization–support vector machine (EWT–PSO–SVM) hybrid model based on “decomposition-forecasting-reconstruction” for runoff forecasting and investigated its effectiveness in the karst area. First, empirical wavelet transform (EWT) was employed to decompose the original runoff series into multiple subseries. Second, the support vector machine (SVM) optimized by particle swarm optimization (PSO) was applied to forecast every signal subseries. Finally, this study summarized the predictions of the subseries to reconstruct the ultimate runoff forecasting. The developed forecasting model was assessed by applying the monthly runoff series of the Chengbi River Karst Basin, and the composite rating index combined with five metrics was adopted as the performance evaluation tool. From the results of this research, it is clear that the EWT–PSO–SVM model outperforms both the PSO–SVM model and the SVM model in terms of the composite rating index, reaching 0.68. Furthermore, verifying the performance stability, the developed model was also compared with PSO–SVM and SVM models under different input data structures. The comparison demonstrated that the hybrid EWT–PSO–SVM model had a robust performance superiority and was an effective model that can be applied to karst area runoff forecasting.
The Inverse Optimization of an Optical Lithographic Source with a Hybrid Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Liu Junbo , Zhou Ji , Yu Dajie , Sun Haifeng , Hu Song , Wang Jian
Published: May 2023

As an effective resolution enhancement technology, source optimization (SO) is considered key for significantly improving the image quality of optical lithography at advanced nodes. To solve the problem of unsatisfactory SO performance, it is necessary to combine it with optimization algorithms. In this study, an SO method based on a hybrid genetic algorithm is proposed to achieve an acceptable source shape in the imaging process for optical lithography. To overcome the problems of local optima and the small search scope, an update strategy that uses particle swarm optimization and the tabu list method from the tabu search algorithm are utilized to enhance the optimization performance. Meanwhile, different feature patterns were employed as the input of the optimization model. These simulation results show that the proposed SO method exhibits dominant optimization performance for SO in optical lithography.
Smart Grid Theft Detection Based on Hybrid Multi-Time Scale Neural Network
Authors: Sun Yuefei , Sun Xianbo , Hu Tao , Zhu Li
Published: May 2023

Despite the widespread use of artificial intelligence-based methods in detecting electricity theft by smart grid customers, current methods suffer from two main flaws: a limited amount of data on electricity theft customers compared to that on normal customers and an imbalanced dataset that can significantly affect the accuracy of the detection method. Additionally, most existing methods for detecting electricity theft rely solely on one-dimensional electricity consumption data, which fails to capture the periodicity of consumption and overlooks the temporal correlation of customers’ electricity consumption based on their weekly, monthly, or other time scales. To address the mentioned issues, this paper proposes a novel approach that first employed a time series generative adversarial network to balance the dataset by generating synthetic data for electricity theft customers. Then, a hybrid multi-time-scale neural network-based model was utilized to extract customers’ features and a CatBoost classifier was applied to achieve classification. Experiments were conducted on a real-world smart meter dataset obtained from the State Grid Corporation of China. The results demonstrated that the proposed method could detect electricity theft by customers with a precision rate of 96.64%, a recall rate of 96.87%, and a significantly reduced false detection rate of 3.77%.
Fast Optical Signals for Real-Time Retinotopy and Brain Computer Interface
Authors: Perpetuini David , Günal Mehmet , Chiou Nicole , Koyejo Sanmi , Mathewson Kyle , Low Kathy A. , Fabiani Monica , Gratton Gabriele , Chiarelli Antonio Maria
Published: May 2023

A brain–computer interface (BCI) allows users to control external devices through brain activity. Portable neuroimaging techniques, such as near-infrared (NIR) imaging, are suitable for this goal. NIR imaging has been used to measure rapid changes in brain optical properties associated with neuronal activation, namely fast optical signals (FOS) with good spatiotemporal resolution. However, FOS have a low signal-to-noise ratio, limiting their BCI application. Here FOS were acquired with a frequency-domain optical system from the visual cortex during visual stimulation consisting of a rotating checkerboard wedge, flickering at 5 Hz. We used measures of photon count (Direct Current, DC light intensity) and time of flight (phase) at two NIR wavelengths (690 nm and 830 nm) combined with a machine learning approach for fast estimation of visual-field quadrant stimulation. The input features of a cross-validated support vector machine classifier were computed as the average modulus of the wavelet coherence between each channel and the average response among all channels in 512 ms time windows. An above chance performance was obtained when differentiating visual stimulation quadrants (left vs. right or top vs. bottom) with the best classification accuracy of ~63% (information transfer rate of ~6 bits/min) when classifying the superior and inferior stimulation quadrants using DC at 830 nm. The method is the first attempt to provide generalizable retinotopy classification relying on FOS, paving the way for the use of FOS in real-time BCI.
DeepCOVID-Fuse: A Multi-Modality Deep Learning Model Fusing Chest X-rays and Clinical Variables to Predict COVID-19 Risk Levels
Authors: Wu Yunan , Dravid Amil , Wehbe Ramsey Michael , Katsaggelos Aggelos K.
Published: May 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has posed unprecedented challenges to global healthcare systems, highlighting the need for accurate and timely risk prediction models that can prioritize patient care and allocate resources effectively. This study presents DeepCOVID-Fuse, a deep learning fusion model that predicts risk levels in patients with confirmed COVID-19 by combining chest radiographs (CXRs) and clinical variables. The study collected initial CXRs, clinical variables, and outcomes (i.e., mortality, intubation, hospital length of stay, Intensive care units (ICU) admission) from February to April 2020, with risk levels determined by the outcomes. The fusion model was trained on 1657 patients (Age: 58.30 ± 17.74; Female: 807) and validated on 428 patients (56.41 ± 17.03; 190) from the local healthcare system and tested on 439 patients (56.51 ± 17.78; 205) from a different holdout hospital. The performance of well-trained fusion models on full or partial modalities was compared using DeLong and McNemar tests. Results show that DeepCOVID-Fuse significantly (p < 0.05) outperformed models trained only on CXRs or clinical variables, with an accuracy of 0.658 and an area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) of 0.842. The fusion model achieves good outcome predictions even when only one of the modalities is used in testing, demonstrating its ability to learn better feature representations across different modalities during training.
The Post-Antibiotic Era: A New Dawn for Bacteriophages
Authors: Jin Youshun , Li Wei , Zhang Huaiyu , Ba Xuli , Li Zhaocai , Zhou Jizhang
Published: May 2023

Phages are the most biologically diverse entities in the biosphere, infecting specific bacteria. Lytic phages quickly kill bacteria, while lysogenic phages integrate their genomes into bacteria and reproduce within the bacteria, participating in the evolution of natural populations. Thus, lytic phages are used to treat bacterial infections. However, due to the huge virus invasion, bacteria have also evolved a special immune mechanism (CRISPR-Cas systems, discovered in 1987). Therefore, it is necessary to develop phage cocktails and synthetic biology methods to infect bacteria, especially against multidrug-resistant bacteria infections, which are a major global threat. This review outlines the discovery and classification of phages and the associated achievements in the past century. The main applications of phages, including synthetic biology and PT, are also discussed, in addition to the effects of PT on immunity, intestinal microbes, and potential safety concerns. In the future, combining bioinformatics, synthetic biology, and classic phage research will be the way to deepen our understanding of phages. Overall, whether phages are an important element of the ecosystem or a carrier that mediates synthetic biology, they will greatly promote the progress of human society.
Understanding the Wnt Signaling Pathway in Acute Myeloid Leukemia Stem Cells: A Feasible Key against Relapses
Authors: Láinez-González Daniel , Alonso-Aguado Ana Belén , Alonso-Dominguez Juan Manuel
Published: May 2023

Wnt signaling is a highly conserved pathway in evolution which controls important processes such as cell proliferation, differentiation and migration, both in the embryo and in the adult. Dysregulation of this pathway can favor the development of different types of cancer, such as acute myeloid leukemia and other hematological malignancies. Overactivation of this pathway may promote the transformation of pre-leukemic stem cells into acute myeloid leukemia stem cells, as well as the maintenance of their quiescent state, which confers them with self-renewal and chemoresistance capacity, favoring relapse of the disease. Although this pathway participates in the regulation of normal hematopoiesis, its requirements seem to be greater in the leukemic stem cell population. In this review, we explore the possible therapeutic targeting of Wnt to eradicate the LSCs of AML.
Effect of mitoTEMPO on Redox Reactions in Different Body Compartments upon Endotoxemia in Rats
Authors: Weidinger Adelheid , Meszaros Andras T. , Dumitrescu Sergiu , Kozlov Andrey V.
Published: May 2023

Mitochondrial ROS (mitoROS) control many reactions in cells. Biological effects of mitoROS in vivo can be investigated by modulation via mitochondria-targeted antioxidants (mtAOX, mitoTEMPO). The aim of this study was to determine how mitoROS influence redox reactions in different body compartments in a rat model of endotoxemia. We induced inflammatory response by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) injection and analyzed effects of mitoTEMPO in blood, abdominal cavity, bronchoalveolar space, and liver tissue. MitoTEMPO decreased the liver damage marker aspartate aminotransferase; however, it neither influenced the release of cytokines (e.g., tumor necrosis factor, IL-4) nor decreased ROS generation by immune cells in the compartments examined. In contrast, ex vivo mitoTEMPO treatment substantially reduced ROS generation. Examination of liver tissue revealed several redox paramagnetic centers sensitive to in vivo LPS and mitoTEMPO treatment and high levels of nitric oxide (NO) in response to LPS. NO levels in blood were lower than in liver, and were decreased by in vivo mitoTEMPO treatment. Our data suggest that (i) inflammatory mediators are not likely to directly contribute to ROS-mediated liver damage and (ii) mitoTEMPO is more likely to affect the redox status of liver cells reflected in a redox change of paramagnetic molecules. Further studies are necessary to understand these mechanisms.
Mendelian Randomization Analysis Reveals Statins Potentially Increase Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Risk Independent of Peripheral Cholesterol-Lowering Effects
Authors: Wang Wenjing , Zhang Linjing , Xia Kailin , Huang Tao , Fan Dongsheng
Published: May 2023

Background: Observational studies suggest that statins may affect amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). However, they are limited by confounding and reverse causality biases. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the potential causal associations between statins and ALS using a mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: Two-sample MR and drug-target MR were performed. Exposure sources included GWAS summary statistics of statin use, low-density-lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), HMGCR-mediated LDL-C and LDL-C response to statins. Results: Genetic predisposition to statin medication was associated with increased ALS risk (OR = 1.085, 95% CI = 1.025–1.148, p = 0.005). After removing SNPs significantly associated with statin use from the instrumental variables (IVs), LDL-C-related higher ALS risk was absent (before removing: OR = 1.075, 95% CI = 1.013–1.141, p = 0.017; after removing: OR = 1.036, 95% CI = 0.949–1.131, p = 0.432). HMGCR-mediated LDL-C (OR = 1.033, 95% CI = 0.823–1.296, p = 0.779) and blood LDL-C response to statins (OR = 0.998, 95% CI = 0.991–1.005, p = 0.538) had no association with ALS. Conclusions: Here, we show that statins may be a risky exposure that increases ALS risk independent of the lowering effect of LDL-C in peripheral circulation. This provides insights into ALS development and prevention.
Maquiberry Cystatins: Recombinant Expression, Characterization, and Use to Protect Tooth Dentin and Enamel
Authors: de Souza Eduardo Pereira , Ferro Milene , Pelá Vinicius Taioqui , Fernanda-Carlos Thais , Borges Cecília Guimarães Giannico , Taira Even Akemi , Ventura Talita Mendes Oliveira , Arencibia Ariel Domingo , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo , Henrique-Silva Flávio
Published: May 2023

Phytocystatins are proteinaceous competitive inhibitors of cysteine peptidases involved in physiological and defensive roles in plants. Their application as potential therapeutics for human disorders has been suggested, and the hunt for novel cystatin variants in different plants, such as maqui (Aristotelia chilensis), is pertinent. Being an understudied species, the biotechnological potential of maqui proteins is little understood. In the present study, we constructed a transcriptome of maqui plantlets using next-generation sequencing, in which we found six cystatin sequences. Five of them were cloned and recombinantly expressed. Inhibition assays were performed against papain and human cathepsins B and L. Maquicystatins can inhibit the proteases in nanomolar order, except MaquiCPIs 4 and 5, which inhibit cathepsin B in micromolar order. This suggests maquicystatins’ potential use for treating human diseases. In addition, since we previously demonstrated the efficacy of a sugarcane-derived cystatin to protect dental enamel, we tested the ability of MaquiCPI-3 to protect both dentin and enamel. Both were protected by this protein (by One-way ANOVA and Tukey’s Multiple Comparisons Test, p < 0.05), suggesting its potential usage in dental products.
Evolving Diagnostic and Treatment Strategies for Pediatric CNS Tumors: The Impact of Lipid Metabolism
Authors: Fernández-García Paula , Malet-Engra Gema , Torres Manuel , Hanson Derek , Rosselló Catalina A. , Román Ramón , Lladó Victoria , Escribá Pablo V.
Published: May 2023

Pediatric neurological tumors are a heterogeneous group of cancers, many of which carry a poor prognosis and lack a “standard of care” therapy. While they have similar anatomic locations, pediatric neurological tumors harbor specific molecular signatures that distinguish them from adult brain and other neurological cancers. Recent advances through the application of genetics and imaging tools have reshaped the molecular classification and treatment of pediatric neurological tumors, specifically considering the molecular alterations involved. A multidisciplinary effort is ongoing to develop new therapeutic strategies for these tumors, employing innovative and established approaches. Strikingly, there is increasing evidence that lipid metabolism is altered during the development of these types of tumors. Thus, in addition to targeted therapies focusing on classical oncogenes, new treatments are being developed based on a broad spectrum of strategies, ranging from vaccines to viral vectors, and melitherapy. This work reviews the current therapeutic landscape for pediatric brain tumors, considering new emerging treatments and ongoing clinical trials. In addition, the role of lipid metabolism in these neoplasms and its relevance for the development of novel therapies are discussed.
Predictability and Effectiveness of Nuvola® Aligners in Dentoalveolar Transverse Changes: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Inchingolo Angelo Michele , Ceci Sabino , Coloccia Giovanni , Azzollini Daniela , Malcangi Giuseppina , Mancini Antonio , Inchingolo Francesco , Trerotoli Paolo , Dipalma Gianna , Patano Assunta
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, many people use clear aligners to address their dental issues. The efficacy of transparent dental aligners must be investigated even though they are more aesthetically pleasing, easy to use, and tidy than permanent tools. Thirty-five patients in this study’s sample group who used Nuvola® clear aligners for their orthodontic therapy were prospectively observed. Initial, simulated, and final digital scans were analysed with a digital calliper. The actual results were compared with the prescribed ending position to evaluate the efficacy of transversal dentoalveolar expansion. Aligner treatments in Groups A (12) and B (24), particularly in the dental tip measures, demonstrated high adherence to the prescription. On the other hand, the gingival measures exhibited a greater level of bias, and the differences were statistically significant. However, there was no difference in the outcomes between the two groups (12 vs. 24). Within specific parameters, the evaluated aligners were shown to be helpful in predicting movements in the transverse plane, particularly when considering movements linked to the vestibular–palatal inclination of the dental elements. This article compares the expansion effectiveness of Nuvola® aligners compared with other work in the literature using competitor companies.
Effects on Bone and Muscle upon Treadmill Interval Training in Hypogonadal Male Rats
Authors: Stratos Ioannis , Rinas Ingmar , Schröpfer Konrad , Hink Katharina , Herlyn Philipp , Bäumler Mario , Histing Tina , Bruhn Sven , Müller-Hilke Brigitte , Menger Michael D. , Vollmar Brigitte , Mittlmeier Thomas
Published: May 2023

Testosterone deficiency in males is linked to various pathological conditions, including muscle and bone loss. This study evaluated the potential of different training modalities to counteract these losses in hypogonadal male rats. A total of 54 male Wistar rats underwent either castration (ORX, n = 18) or sham castration (n = 18), with 18 castrated rats engaging in uphill, level, or downhill interval treadmill training. Analyses were conducted at 4, 8, and 12 weeks postsurgery. Muscle force of the soleus muscle, muscle tissue samples, and bone characteristics were analyzed. No significant differences were observed in cortical bone characteristics. Castrated rats experienced decreased trabecular bone mineral density compared to sham-operated rats. However, 12 weeks of training increased trabecular bone mineral density, with no significant differences among groups. Muscle force measurements revealed decreased tetanic force in castrated rats at week 12, while uphill and downhill interval training restored force to sham group levels and led to muscle hypertrophy compared to ORX animals. Linear regression analyses showed a positive correlation between bone biomechanical characteristics and muscle force. The findings suggest that running exercise can prevent bone loss in osteoporosis, with similar bone restoration effects observed across different training modalities.
On-Chip Nucleic Acid Purification Followed by ddPCR for SARS-CoV-2 Detection
Authors: Ma Cong , Sun Yimeng , Huang Yuhang , Gao Zehang , Huang Yaru , Pandey Ikshu , Jia Chunping , Feng Shilun , Zhao Jianlong
Published: May 2023

We developed a microfluidic chip integrated with nucleic acid purification and droplet-based digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) modules to realize a ‘sample-in, result-out’ infectious virus diagnosis. The whole process involved pulling magnetic beads through drops in an oil-enclosed environment. The purified nucleic acids were dispensed into microdroplets by a concentric-ring, oil–water-mixing, flow-focusing droplets generator driven under negative pressure conditions. Microdroplets were generated with good uniformity (CV = 5.8%), adjustable diameters (50–200 μm), and controllable flow rates (0–0.3 μL/s). Further verification was provided by quantitative detection of plasmids. We observed a linear correlation of R2 = 0.9998 in the concentration range from 10 to 105 copies/μL. Finally, this chip was applied to quantify the nucleic acid concentrations of the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The measured nucleic acid recovery rate of 75 ± 8.8% and detection limit of 10 copies/μL proved its on-chip purification and accurate detection abilities. This chip can potentially be a valuable tool in point-of-care testing.
Influence of Sensation Seeking and Life Satisfaction Expectancy on Stock Addiction Tendency: Moderating Effect of Distress Tolerance
Authors: Son Myounghwan , Jeong Goo-Churl
Published: May 2023

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, a very low interest rate policy was economically applied in Korea, and various investment activities through loans were activated. Real estate and stock prices rose rapidly, and many people became involved in stock investments because of economic instability. However, hastily started investment behavior resulted in economic loss and addictive behavior in stocks. The phenomenon of using stock investment to satisfy individual sensation seeking or addictive dependence on stocks due to lowered life satisfaction expectancy can become a serious social problem. However, the improvement of distress tolerance and the ability to endure pain despite frequent stock price fluctuations or lowered life satisfaction expectancy would be good alternatives to prevent stock addiction tendency. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to test the moderating effect of distress tolerance on the effect of adults’ sensation seeking and life satisfaction expectancy in stock addiction tendencies. The participants were 272 adults with stock investment experience. As a result, distress tolerance significantly moderated the positive effect of sensation seeking on stock addiction tendency. In addition, life satisfaction expectancy did not significantly increase in the group with high distress tolerance even if life satisfaction expectancy was lowered. These results suggest that stock addiction can be prevented by enhancing distress tolerance.
Research on Multiple Energy-Saving Strategies for Existing Coach Stations: A Case of the Xi’an Area, China
Authors: Li Xueping , Qin Luo , Li Jingjing
Published: May 2023

In the context of China’s dual-carbon goals, energy efficiency in public buildings has become a focal point of public concern. As large-scale public transportation buildings, the indoor thermal comfort and the current state of energy consumption of coach stations are increasingly being emphasized. This research used existing coach stations in the Xi’an region as the object; through on-site investigations and field tests of indoor thermal environments in winter and summer seasons, it was found that the coach stations had energy waste and high energy consumption; the enclosure structures had poor thermal performance; and the stations lacked effective energy-saving measures. Energy-saving transformation strategies were proposed from two aspects: enclosure structures and renewable energy utilization. Using DeST-C for energy consumption, the external walls, roofs, insulation materials, and glass materials were simulated, and nine different combinations of energy-saving schemes were simulated using orthogonal experiments. The optimal scheme was selected based on the comprehensive energy-saving rate and economic analysis results, which included using 80 mm XPS external insulation for the external walls, low-e hollow glass for the windows (low transmittance type), and an 80 mm PUR board for the roof insulation. The energy-saving rate of this scheme was 26.84%. The use of rooftop solar photovoltaic power generation and fresh air heat recovery devices can effectively reduce building energy consumption, and the investment payback period is less than 5 years. The research applications have practical significance for improving the indoor environment of existing coach stations and saving energy consumption.
Current Approaches to Salvage Surgery for Head and Neck Cancer: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Mastronicola Romina , Le Roux Pauline , Casse Aurore , Cortese Sophie , Beulque Emilie , Perna Marco , Dolivet Gilles
Published: May 2023

Salvage surgeries of head and neck cancer are often complicated and do not always show decent results. This type of procedure is tough on the patient, as many crucial organs can be affected. A long period of reeducation usually follows the surgery because of the need to rehabilitate functions such as speech or swallowing. In order to lighten the journey of the patients, it is important to develop new technologies and techniques to ease the surgery and limit its damages. This seems even more crucial since progress has been made in the past years, allowing more salvage therapy to take place. This article aims at showing the available tools and procedures for salvage surgeries, such as transoral robotic surgery, free-flap surgery, sentinel node mapping, and many others, that help the work of the medical team to operate or obtain a better understanding of the status of the cancer when taken in charge. Yet, the surgical procedure is not the only thing determining the outcome of the operation. The patient themself and their cancer history also play an important part in the care and must be acknowledged.
Feed Effects on Water–Gas Shift Activity of M/Co3O4-ZrO2 (M = Pt, Pd, and Ru) and Potassium Role in Methane Suppression
Authors: Singh Satyapaul A. , Varun Yaddanapudi , Goyal Priyanka , Sreedhar I. , Madras Giridhar
Published: May 2023

Water–gas shift (WGS) is an industrial process to tackle CO abatement and H2 upgradation. The syngas (CO and H2 mixture) obtained from steam or dry reformers often has unreacted (from dry reforming) or undesired (from steam reforming) CO2, which is subsequently sent to downstream WGS reactor for H2 upgradation. Thus, industrial processes must deal with CO2 and H2 in the reformate feed. Achieving high CO2 or H2 selectivities become challenging due to possible CO and CO2 methanation reactions, which further increases the separation costs to produce pure H2. In this study, M/Co3O4-ZrO2 (M = Ru, Pd and Pt) catalysts were prepared using sonochemical synthesis. The synthesized catalysts were tested for WGS activity under three feed conditions, namely, Feed A (CO and steam), Feed B (CO, H2 and steam) and Feed C (CO, H2, CO2 and steam). All the catalysts gave zero methane selectivity under Feed A conditions, whereas the methane selectivity was significant under Feed B and C conditions. Among all catalysts, PtCZ was found to be the best performing catalyst in terms of CO conversion and CO2 selectivity. However, it still suffered with low but significant methane selectivity. This best performing catalyst was further modified with an alkali component, potassium to suppress undesirable methane selectivity. All the catalysts were well characterized with BET, SEM, TEM to confirm the structural properties and effective doping of the noble metals. Additionally, the apparent activation energies were obtained to showcase the best catalyst.
Impacts of Climate Variability and Change on Sorghum Crop Yield in the Babile District of Eastern Ethiopia
Authors: Tolosa Abdisa Alemu , Dadi Diriba Korecha , Mirkena Lemma Wogi , Erena Zelalem Bekeko , Liban Feyera Merga
Published: May 2023

The impacts of various climatic conditions, such as temperature and rainfall variabilities, are very critical and sensitive to rain-fed crop production, particularly over the water stress arid and semi-arid regions of Ethiopia. This study was designed to evaluate the potential impact of climate variability and change on sorghum grain yield in the Babile district of eastern Ethiopia. The study was conducted based on observed and model-based simulated projected rainfall and temperature obtained from the Ethiopian Meteorological Institute and General Circulation Models (GCM) used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) of the Fifth Assessment Report CMIP5) and Agricultural Model Inter-comparison and Improvement Project (AgMIP). Three GCM models, namely GFDLESM2M, CanESM2, and HadGEM2-ES under RCP4.5, were considered to generate future climate projections for the near-term 21st century. Various univariate and multivariate statistical techniques were employed to compute and identify whether the impacts of climate variability and change on rain-fed sorghum crop performance were reasonably viable over the districts where grain yield is highly stable and productive under normal climate conditions. Our findings revealed that more stable and better rainfall performance from May to September, the season when sorghum crops are normally planted in the Babile district, was positively correlated, while the maximum and minimum temperatures of the season were negatively correlated with sorghum grain yield. A significant association has been detected between sorghum grain yield and its growing period rainfall, number of rainy days, and maximum and minimum temperature with multi-regression analysis. Thus, the variability of rainfall in August, June temperature, and the number of rainy days in September significantly impacted sorghum crop productivity. As a result, the multi-regression model adjusted R-squared indicated that 77% variance in annual sorghum yield performance was explained by rainfall and temperature conditions that prevailed during the crop growing period. During the past period, there was a significant increase in sorghum yields, which are projected to decline during the near term of the 21st century in the future. This revealed that declining and disturbed rainfall performance and increases in temperature are likely to reduce overall sorghum grain yield in the Babile district. We recommend that there is a need to enhance awareness for smallholder farmers on the adverse impact of climate variability and change on sorghum grain yield. In view of this, the farmers need to be geared toward employing climate-smart agriculture as a possible adaptation measure to reduce the negative impacts of climate variability and change on rain-fed crop production practices in the Babile district and other arid and semi-arid parts of eastern Ethiopia.
The Cost of Understanding—XAI Algorithms towards Sustainable ML in the View of Computational Cost
Authors: Jean-Quartier Claire , Bein Katharina , Hejny Lukas , Hofer Edith , Holzinger Andreas , Jeanquartier Fleur
Published: May 2023

In response to socioeconomic development, the number of machine learning applications has increased, along with the calls for algorithmic transparency and further sustainability in terms of energy efficient technologies. Modern computer algorithms that process large amounts of information, particularly artificial intelligence methods and their workhorse machine learning, can be used to promote and support sustainability; however, they consume a lot of energy themselves. This work focuses and interconnects two key aspects of artificial intelligence regarding the transparency and sustainability of model development. We identify frameworks for measuring carbon emissions from Python algorithms and evaluate energy consumption during model development. Additionally, we test the impact of explainability on algorithmic energy consumption during model optimization, particularly for applications in health and, to expand the scope and achieve a widespread use, civil engineering and computer vision. Specifically, we present three different models of classification, regression and object-based detection for the scenarios of cancer classification, building energy, and image detection, each integrated with explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) or feature reduction. This work can serve as a guide for selecting a tool to measure and scrutinize algorithmic energy consumption and raise awareness of emission-based model optimization by highlighting the sustainability of XAI.
A Study on Energy Efficiency of a Distributed Processing Scheme for Image-Based Target Recognition for Internet of Multimedia Things
Authors: Soudani Adel , Alsabhan Manal , Almusallam Manan
Published: May 2023

A growing number of services and applications are developed using multimedia sensing low-cost wireless devices, thus creating the Internet of Multimedia Things (IoMT). Nevertheless, energy efficiency and resource availability are two of the most challenging issues to overcome when developing image-based sensing applications. In depth, image-based sensing and transmission in IoMT significantly drain the sensor energy and overwhelm the network with redundant data. Event-based sensing schemes can be used to provide efficient data transmission and an extended network lifetime. This paper proposes a novel approach for distributed event-based sensing achieved by a cluster of processing nodes. The proposed scheme aims to balance the processing load across the nodes in the cluster. This study demonstrates the adequacy of distributed processing to extend the lifetime of the IoMT platform and compares the efficiency of Haar wavelet decomposition and general Fourier descriptors (GFDs) as a feature extraction module in a distributed features-based target recognition system. The results show that the distributed processing of the scheme based on the Haar wavelet transform of the image outperforms the scheme based on a general Fourier shape descriptor in recognition accuracy of the target as well as the energy consumption. In contrast to a GFD-based scheme, the recognition accuracy of a Haar-based scheme was increased by 26%, and the number of sensing cycles was increased from 40 to 70 cycles, which attests to the adequacy of the proposed distributed Haar-based processing scheme for deployment in IoMT devices.
Friction and Wear Behavior of NM500 Wear-Resistant Steel in Different Environmental Media
Authors: Wang Guobo , Zhao Hao , Zhang Yu , Wang Jie , Zhao Guanghui , Ma Lifeng
Published: May 2023

The study aims to investigate the influence of environmental media on the friction and wear behavior of low-alloy wear-resistant steels and to provide practical references for their application. This article conducted sliding wear tests on NM500 wear-resistant steel under different loads under air atmosphere, deionized water, and 3.5 wt% NaCl solution conditions. Someone quantitatively measured the friction coefficient and wear amount of each friction pair. The present study employed scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive spectroscopy, and a white light interference three-dimensional surface profiler to analyze the surface structure, cross-sectional morphology, element distribution, and wear mechanism of the wear scars under various experimental conditions. The results show that: In deionized water, NM500 has the best wear resistance, while the dry state is the worst. The lubricating and cooling effect of the liquid, as well as the corrosive effect of the NaCl solution, play an essential role in the wear behavior of NM500. Under dry friction conditions, the wear mechanism of NM500 is principally adhesive wear, fatigue wear, and oxidation wear. In the case of wear testing in deionized water, the researchers characterized the dominant wear mechanism as adhesive wear in conjunction with fatigue wear and abrasive wear. In contrast, when they carried out the wear testing in NaCl solution, the wear mechanism was primarily driven by corrosion wear and adhesive wear, with only a minor contribution from fatigue wear.