bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physiological Concentrations of Cimicifuga racemosa Extract Do Not Affect Expression of Genes Involved in Estrogen Biosynthesis and Action in Endometrial and Ovarian Cell Lines
Authors: Sinreih Maša , Gregorič Klara , Gajser Kristina , Rižner Tea Lanišnik
Published: April 2022

In postmenopausal women, estrogen levels exclusively depend on local formation from the steroid precursors dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate and estrone sulfate (E1-S). Reduced estrogen levels are associated with menopausal symptoms. To mitigate these symptoms, more women nowadays choose medicine of natural origin, e.g., Cimicifuga racemosa (CR), instead of hormone replacement therapy, which is associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, stroke, and pulmonary embolism. Although CR treatment is considered safe, little is known about its effects on healthy endometrial and ovarian tissue and hormone-dependent malignancies, e.g., endometrial and ovarian cancers that arise during menopause. The aim of our study was to examine the effects of CR on the expression of genes encoding E1-S transporters and estrogen-related enzymes in control and cancerous endometrial and ovarian cell lines. CR affected the expression of genes encoding E1-S transporters and estrogen-related enzymes only at very high concentrations, whereas no changes were observed at physiological concentrations of CR. This suggests that CR does not exert estrogenic effects in endometrial and ovarian tissues and probably does not affect postmenopausal women’s risks of endometrial or ovarian cancer or the outcomes of endometrial and ovarian cancer patients.
Memory Enhancement with Kynurenic Acid and Its Mechanisms in Neurotransmission
Authors: Martos Diána , Tuka Bernadett , Tanaka Masaru , Vécsei László , Telegdy Gyula
Published: April 2022

Kynurenic acid (KYNA) is an endogenous tryptophan (Trp) metabolite known to possess neuroprotective property. KYNA plays critical roles in nociception, neurodegeneration, and neuroinflammation. A lower level of KYNA is observed in patients with neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases or psychiatric disorders such as depression and autism spectrum disorders, whereas a higher level of KYNA is associated with the pathogenesis of schizophrenia. Little is known about the optimal concentration for neuroprotection and the threshold for neurotoxicity. In this study the effects of KYNA on memory functions were investigated by passive avoidance test in mice. Six different doses of KYNA were administered intracerebroventricularly to previously trained CFLP mice and they were observed for 24 h. High doses of KYNA (i.e., 20–40 μg/2 μL) significantly decreased the avoidance latency, whereas a low dose of KYNA (0.5 μg/2 μL) significantly elevated it compared with controls, suggesting that the low dose of KYNA enhanced memory function. Furthermore, six different receptor blockers were applied to reveal the mechanisms underlying the memory enhancement induced by KYNA. The series of tests revealed the possible involvement of the serotonergic, dopaminergic, α and β adrenergic, and opiate systems in the nootropic effect. This study confirmed that a low dose of KYNA improved a memory component of cognitive domain, which was mediated by, at least in part, four systems of neurotransmission in an animal model of learning and memory.
Angiogenic T Cells: Potential Biomarkers for the Early Diagnosis of Interstitial Lung Disease in Autoimmune Diseases?
Authors: Pulito-Cueto Verónica , Remuzgo-Martínez Sara , Genre Fernanda , Atienza-Mateo Belén , Mora-Cuesta Víctor M. , Iturbe-Fernández David , Lera-Gómez Leticia , Rodriguez-Carrio Javier , Prieto-Peña Diana , Portilla Virginia , Blanco Ricardo , Corrales Alfonso , Gualillo Oreste , Cifrián José M. , López-Mejías Raquel , González-Gay Miguel A.
Published: April 2022

(1) Background: We explored, for the first time, the contribution of angiogenic T cells (TAng) in interstitial lung disease associated to autoimmune disease (AD-ILD+) as potential biomarkers of the disease, evaluating their role in the underlying vasculopathy and lung fibrosis. Additionally, the relationship of TAng with clinical manifestations and cellular and molecular endothelial dysfunction-related biomarkers was assessed. (2) Methods: We included 57 AD-ILD+ patients (21 with rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-ILD+, 21 with systemic sclerosis (SSc)-ILD+ and 15 with other AD-ILD+) and three comparative groups: 45 AD-ILD− patients (25 RA-ILD− and 20 SSc-ILD−); 21 idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) patients; 21 healthy controls (HC). TAng were considered as CD3+CD184+CD31+ by flow cytometry. (3) Results: A similar TAng frequency was found between AD-ILD+ and IPF, being in both cases lower than that observed in AD-ILD− and HC. A lower TAng frequency was associated with negative Scl-70 status and lower FEV1/FVC ratio in SSc-ILD+, as well as with men in RA-ILD+ and non-specific interstitial pneumonia radiological pattern in other AD-ILD+. No relationship between TAng and endothelial progenitor cells, endothelial cells and vascular endothelial growth factor gene expression and protein levels was disclosed. (4) Conclusions: Our findings suggest TAng as potential biomarkers for the early diagnosis of ILD in AD.
Apolipoprotein C3-Rich Low-Density Lipoprotein Induces Endothelial Cell Senescence via FBXO31 and Its Inhibition by Sesamol In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Tsai Ping-Hsuan , Chen Li-Zhen , Tseng Kuo-Feng , Chen Fang-Yu , Shen Ming-Yi
Published: April 2022

Premature endothelial senescence decreases the atheroprotective capacity of the arterial endothelium. Apolipoprotein C3 (ApoC3) delays the catabolism of triglyceride-rich particles and plays a critical role in atherosclerosis progression. FBXO31 is required for the intracellular response to DNA damage, which is a significant cause of cellular senescence. Sesamol is a natural antioxidant with cardiovascular-protective properties. In this study, we aimed to examine the effects of ApoC3-rich low-density lipoprotein (AC3RL) mediated via FBXO31 on endothelial cell (EC) senescence and its inhibition by sesamol. AC3RL and ApoC3-free low-density lipoproteins (LDL) (AC3(-)L) were isolated from the plasma LDL of patients with ischemic stroke. Human aortic endothelial cells (HAECs) treated with AC3RL induced EC senescence in a dose-dependent manner. AC3RL induced HAEC senescence via DNA damage. However, silencing FBXO31 attenuated AC3RL-induced DNA damage and reduced cellular senescence. Thus, FBXO31 may be a novel therapeutic target for endothelial senescence-related cardiovascular diseases. Moreover, the aortic arch of hamsters fed a high-fat diet with sesamol showed a substantial reduction in their atherosclerotic lesion size. In addition to confirming the role of AC3RL in aging and atherosclerosis, we also identified AC3RL as a potential therapeutic target that can be used to combat atherosclerosis and the onset of cardiovascular disease in humans.
A Framework for Selecting Construction Project Delivery Method Using Design Structure Matrix
Authors: Zhong Qingping , Tang Hui , Chen Chuan
Published: April 2022

Determining a project delivery method that matches the characteristics of a construction project is a critical step that affects the success or failure of a project. The Project Delivery Method (PDM) should be adapted to the activities and processes of project implementation. However, the traditional selection method does not come from the internal process of the project which may lead to the delivery method not being able to meet the actual project requirements. This research proposes a DSM-based PDM selection framework model that regroups activities and identifies appropriate PDMs by revealing the dependencies and intensities between activities. The research uses a case to demonstrate the feasibility of the framework. After considering specific project requirements and goals, the framework model can be used as a basis for choosing specific project delivery methods, or as a visualization tool to help owners schedule activities.
Somatic Mutations in Core Spliceosome Components Promote Tumorigenesis and Generate an Exploitable Vulnerability in Human Cancer
Authors: Sette Claudio , Paronetto Maria Paola
Published: April 2022

Alternative pre-mRNA processing enables the production of distinct mRNA and protein isoforms from a single gene, thus greatly expanding the coding potential of eukaryotic genomes and fine-tuning gene expression programs. Splicing is carried out by the spliceosome, a complex molecular machinery which assembles step-wise on mRNA precursors in the nucleus of eukaryotic cells. In the last decade, exome sequencing technologies have allowed the identification of point mutations in genes encoding splicing factors as a recurrent hallmark of human cancers, with higher incidence in hematological malignancies. These mutations lead to production of splicing factors that reduce the fidelity of the splicing process and yield splicing variants that are often advantageous for cancer cells. However, at the same time, these mutations increase the sensitivity of transformed cells to splicing inhibitors, thus offering a therapeutic opportunity for novel targeted strategies. Herein, we review the recent literature documenting cancer-associated mutations in components of the early spliceosome complex and discuss novel therapeutic strategies based on small-molecule spliceosome inhibitors that exhibit strong anti-tumor effects, particularly against cancer cells harboring mutations in spliceosomal components.
Neoadjuvant Therapy for Primary Resectable Retroperitoneal Sarcomas—Looking Forward
Authors: Istl Alexandra C. , Gronchi Alessandro
Published: April 2022

The cornerstone of therapy for primary retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) is complete surgical resection, best achieved by resecting the tumor en bloc with adherent structures even if not overtly infiltrated. Until recently, trials designed to elucidate the role of neoadjuvant radiation or chemotherapy for RPS have been unable to achieve sufficient enrollment. The completion of the STRASS trial, which explored neoadjuvant radiotherapy for primary resectable RPS, is a major milestone in RPS research, but has prompted further questions about histology-driven treatment paradigms for RPS. Though it was ultimately a negative trial with respect to its primary endpoint of abdominal recurrence-free survival, STRASS produced a signal that suggested improved abdominal recurrence-free survival with neoadjuvant radiotherapy (RT) for patients with liposarcoma (LPS). No effect was seen for leiomyosarcoma (LMS) or high-grade dedifferentiated (DD) LPS, consistent with recent literature suggesting LMS and high-grade DD-LPS have a predominant pattern of distant rather than local failure. These results, along with those from other recent studies conducted at the bench and the bedside, emphasize the importance of a histology-specific approach to RPS research. Recent evidence for patterns of distant failure in LMS and high-grade DD-LPS has prompted the initiation of STRASS2, a study of neoadjuvant chemotherapy for these histologies. As this study unfolds, evidence may emerge for novel systemic therapy options in specific sarcoma histotypes given the explosion in targeted and immunotherapeutic applications over the last decade. This article reviews current and recent evidence around neoadjuvant radiation and chemotherapy as well as avenues for future study to optimize these treatment approaches.
D-Cysteine Activates Chaperone-Mediated Autophagy in Cerebellar Purkinje Cells via the Generation of Hydrogen Sulfide and Nrf2 Activation
Authors: Ueda Erika , Ohta Tomoko , Konno Ayumu , Hirai Hirokazu , Kurauchi Yuki , Katsuki Hiroshi , Seki Takahiro
Published: April 2022

Chaperone-mediated autophagy (CMA) is a pathway in the autophagy-lysosome protein degradation system. CMA impairment has been implicated to play a role in spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) pathogenesis. D-cysteine is metabolized by D-amino acid oxidase (DAO), leading to hydrogen sulfide generation in the cerebellum. Although D-cysteine alleviates the disease phenotypes in SCA-model mice, it remains unknown how hydrogen sulfide derived from D-cysteine exerts this effect. In the present study, we investigated the effects of D-cysteine and hydrogen sulfide on CMA activity using a CMA activity marker that we have established. D-cysteine activated CMA in Purkinje cells (PCs) of primary cerebellar cultures where DAO was expressed, while it failed to activate CMA in DAO-deficient AD293 cells. In contrast, Na2S, a hydrogen sulfide donor, activated CMA in both PCs and AD293 cells. Nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) is known to be activated by hydrogen sulfide and regulate CMA activity. An Nrf2 inhibitor, ML385, prevented CMA activation triggered by D-cysteine and Na2S. Additionally, long-term treatment with D-cysteine increased the amounts of Nrf2 and LAMP2A, a CMA-related protein, in the mouse cerebellum. These findings suggest that hydrogen sulfide derived from D-cysteine enhances CMA activity via Nrf2 activation.
RNA Editing in Glioma as a Sexually Dimorphic Prognostic Factor That Affects mRNA Abundance in Fatty Acid Metabolism and Inflammation Pathways
Authors: Lin Sheng-Hau , Chen Sean Chun-Chang
Published: April 2022

RNA editing alters the nucleotide sequence and has been associated with cancer progression. However, little is known about its prognostic and regulatory roles in glioma, one of the most common types of primary brain tumors. We characterized and analyzed RNA editomes of glioblastoma and isocitrate dehydrogenase mutated (IDH-MUT) gliomas from The Cancer Genome Atlas and the Chinese Glioma Genome Atlas (CGGA). We showed that editing change during glioma progression was another layer of molecular alterations and that editing profiles predicted the prognosis of glioblastoma and IDH-MUT gliomas in a sex-dependent manner. Hyper-editing was associated with poor survival in females but better survival in males. Moreover, noncoding editing events impacted mRNA abundance of the host genes. Genes associated with inflammatory response (e.g., EIF2AK2, a key mediator of innate immunity) and fatty acid oxidation (e.g., acyl-CoA oxidase 1, the rate-limiting enzyme in fatty acid β-oxidation) were editing-regulated and associated with glioma progression. The above findings were further validated in CGGA samples. Establishment of the prognostic and regulatory roles of RNA editing in glioma holds promise for developing editing-based therapeutic strategies against glioma progression. Furthermore, sexual dimorphism at the epitranscriptional level highlights the importance of developing sex-specific treatments for glioma.
Plasmonic Nanomaterials for Colorimetric Biosensing: A Review
Authors: Acunzo Adriano , Scardapane Emanuela , De Luca Maria , Marra Daniele , Velotta Raffaele , Minopoli Antonio
Published: April 2022

In the last few decades, plasmonic colorimetric biosensors raised increasing interest in bioanalytics thanks to their cost-effectiveness, responsiveness, and simplicity as compared to conventional laboratory techniques. Potential high-throughput screening and easy-to-use assay procedures make them also suitable for realizing point of care devices. Nevertheless, several challenges such as fabrication complexity, laborious biofunctionalization, and poor sensitivity compromise their technological transfer from research laboratories to industry and, hence, still hamper their adoption on large-scale. However, newly-developing plasmonic colorimetric biosensors boast impressive sensing performance in terms of sensitivity, dynamic range, limit of detection, reliability, and specificity thereby continuously encouraging further researches. In this review, recently reported plasmonic colorimetric biosensors are discussed with a focus on the following categories: (i) on-platform-based (localized surface plasmon resonance, coupled plasmon resonance and surface lattice resonance); (ii) colloid aggregation-based (label-based and label free); (iii) colloid non-aggregation-based (nanozyme, etching-based and growth-based).
The Modern Surgical Approach to Pulmonary Atresia with Ventricular Septal Defect and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries
Authors: Trezzi Matteo , Cetrano Enrico , Albanese Sonia B. , Borro Luca , Secinaro Aurelio , Carotti Adriano
Published: April 2022

Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collaterals is a complex congenital heart defect that includes a heterogeneous subgroup of patients. Variation in the sources of pulmonary blood flow contributes to the complexity of the lesion and the diversity of approaches to its management. Unifocalization and rehabilitation focus on mobilization of collateral arteries and growth of native pulmonary arteries, respectively, with the ultimate surgical goal of achieving separated systemic and pulmonary circulations with the lowest possible right ventricular pressure. Regardless of the strategy, outcomes have altered the natural history of the disease, with a complete repair rate of approximately 80% and low early and late mortality rates. Given this heterogeneity of pulmonary vasculature, a tailored approach should be adopted for each patient, using all diagnostic methods currently offered by technical developments.
Photocatalytic Activity in the In-Flow Degradation of NO on Porous TiO2–Coated Glasses from Hybrid Inorganic–Organic Thin Films Prepared by a Combined ALD/MLD Deposition Strategy
Authors: Azpiroz Ramón , Borraz Marina , González Aida , Mansilla Catalina , Iglesias Manuel , Pérez-Torrente Jesús J.
Published: April 2022

A combined ALD/MLD (where ALD and MLD stand for atomic and molecular layer deposition, respectively) deposition strategy using TiCl4, H2O and HQ (hydroquinone) as precursors has been applied for the preparation of inorganic–organic thin films on soda-lime glasses. The alternate deposition of TiO2 layers, by pulsing TiCl4/H2O (ALD), and hybrid layers, using TiCl4/HQ (MLD), results in the formation of thin films that are precursors for porous TiO2-coatings after removal of the HQ template by annealing. The coated-glassed show good photocatalytic activity in the degradation of NO with up to 15% reduction of NO concentration in three successive photocatalytic cycles of 5 h each. Surface Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) images show that the TiO2-coating is composed of large grains that are made up of finer subgrains resulting in a porous structure with an average pore size of 3–4 nm. Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) images show two regions, a porous columnar structure on top and a denser region over the glass substrate. Energy Dispersive X-Ray (EDX) analysis, nanocrystal electron diffraction and Raman spectroscopy confirm the presence of the anatase phase, which, together with the porosity of the material, accounts for the observed photocatalytic activity.
Investigation of Rotor Efficiency with Varying Rotor Pitch Angle for a Coaxial Drone
Authors: Giljarhus Knut Erik Teigen , Porcarelli Alessandro , Apeland Jørgen
Published: April 2022

Coaxial rotor systems are appealing for multirotor drones, as they increase thrust without increasing the vehicle’s footprint. However, the thrust of a coaxial rotor system is reduced compared to having the rotors in line. It is of interest to increase the efficiency of coaxial systems, both to extend mission time and to enable new mission capabilities. While some parameters of a coaxial system have been explored, such as the rotor-to-rotor distance, the influence of rotor pitch is less understood. This work investigates how adjusting the pitch of the lower rotor relative to that of the upper one impacts the overall efficiency of the system. A methodology based on blade element momentum theory is extended to coaxial rotor systems, and in addition blade-resolved simulations using computational fluid dynamics are performed. A coaxial rotor system for a medium-sized drone with a rotor diameter of 71.12 cm is used for the study. Experiments are performed using a thrust stand to validate the methods. The results show that there exists a peak in total rotor efficiency (thrust-to-power ratio), and that the efficiency can be increased by 2% to 5% by increasing the pitch of the lower rotor. The work contributes to furthering our understanding of coaxial rotor systems, and the results can potentially lead to more efficient drones with increased mission time.
Evolution and Trade-Off Dynamics of Functional Load
Authors: Round Erich , Dockum Rikker , Ryder Robin J.
Published: April 2022

Functional load (FL) quantifies the contributions by phonological contrasts to distinctions made across the lexicon. Previous research has linked particularly low values of FL to sound change. Here, we broaden the scope of enquiry into FL to its evolution at higher values also. We apply phylogenetic methods to examine the diachronic evolution of FL across 90 languages of the Pama–Nyungan (PN) family of Australia. We find a high degree of phylogenetic signal in FL, indicating that FL values covary closely with genealogical structure across the family. Though phylogenetic signals have been reported for phonological structures, such as phonotactics, their detection in measures of phonological function is novel. We also find a significant, negative correlation between the FL of vowel length and of the following consonant—that is, a time-depth historical trade-off dynamic, which we relate to known allophony in modern PN languages and compensatory sound changes in their past. The findings reveal a historical dynamic, similar to transphonologization, which we characterize as a flow of contrastiveness between subsystems of the phonology. Recurring across a language family that spans a whole continent and many millennia of time depth, our findings provide one of the most compelling examples yet of Sapir’s ‘drift’ hypothesis of non-accidental parallel development in historically related languages.
Intrinsic Dimension Estimation-Based Feature Selection and Multinomial Logistic Regression for Classification of Bearing Faults Using Compressively Sampled Vibration Signals
Authors: Ahmed Hosameldin O. A. , Nandi Asoke K.
Published: April 2022

As failures of rolling bearings lead to major failures in rotating machines, recent vibration-based rolling bearing fault diagnosis techniques are focused on obtaining useful fault features from the huge collection of raw data. However, too many features reduce the classification accuracy and increase the computation time. This paper proposes an effective feature selection technique based on intrinsic dimension estimation of compressively sampled vibration signals. First, compressive sampling (CS) is used to get compressed measurements from the collected raw vibration signals. Then, a global dimension estimator, the geodesic minimal spanning tree (GMST), is employed to compute the minimal number of features needed to represent efficiently the compressively sampled signals. Finally, a feature selection process, combining the stochastic proximity embedding (SPE) and the neighbourhood component analysis (NCA), is used to select fewer features for bearing fault diagnosis. With regression analysis-based predictive modelling technique and the multinomial logistic regression (MLR) classifier, the selected features are assessed in two case studies of rolling bearings vibration signals under different working loads. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method can successfully select fewer features, with which the MLR-based trained model achieves high classification accuracy and significantly reduced computation times compared to published research.
Electronic Patient-Reported Outcome Measures in Burn Scar Rehabilitation: A Guide to Implementation and Evaluation
Authors: Meirte Jill , Tyack Zephanie
Published: April 2022

In burn scar rehabilitation, electronic patient-reported outcome measures (ePROMs) are increasingly being used in research and clinical settings as part of patient- and family-centred care. These measures can identify patients’ needs and monitor the therapeutic progress of both adults and children. The feedback of information from ePROMs to clinicians treating patients with scarring and psychosocial issues may have therapeutic benefits. However, testing the effectiveness of ePROMs used in the routine clinical care of patients with burn scarring is in its infancy, and one of the greatest challenges remains the implementation of ePROMs in real-world clinical settings. The aim of this paper is to provide a guide for clinicians and researchers involved in burn scar rehabilitation to assist in implementing ePROMs in clinical settings. The guide outlines strategies, processes, and considerations for ePROM implementation and the accompanying resources. Two real-world case studies of ePROM implementation are presented in burn scar clinics in Belgium and Australia. Additionally, ten recommendations for the implementation of ePROMs are provided based on research evidence and the lessons learned by the authors. The information provided should pave the way forward for using and testing these ePROMs in research and practice.
Participatory Research and the Ethics of Anonymisation
Authors: Godfrey-Faussett Thomas
Published: April 2022

Research in the UK is increasingly regulated by ethics review committees (RECs) which require researchers to seek ethics approval before commencing research. These RECs routinely expect researchers to anonymise data as part of standard ethical research practice. However, the anonymisation of data may sit in tension with participatory approaches to research which prioritise shared ownership of the research. In particular, the need to make decisions relating to ethics prior to the start of research makes it difficult for researchers to meaningfully share decision-making power with their participants—a fundamental principle of participatory approaches. This paper uses a participatory research study as a case study to explore this tension. In the study, the decision to anonymise data was made as part of the ethics approval process. However, over the course of the study, the researcher questioned whether this was the correct decision for this study. In order to afford researchers the flexibility required to involve participants in decision making, this paper argues for a dialogic and situational approach to ethics regulation. Allowing researchers to delay key decisions would mean that researchers could involve participants in the decision-making process rather than purely informing them of the results of decisions made on their behalf.
An End-to-End Video Steganography Network Based on a Coding Unit Mask
Authors: Chai Huanhuan , Li Zhaohong , Li Fan , Zhang Zhenzhen
Published: April 2022

Steganography hides secret messages inside the covers while ensuring imperceptibility. Different from traditional steganography, deep learning-based steganography has an adaptable and generalized framework without needing expertise regarding the embedding process. However, most steganography algorithms utilize images as covers instead of videos, which are more expressive and more widely spread. To this end, an end-to-end deep learning network for video steganography is proposed in this paper. A multiscale down-sampling feature extraction structure is designed, which consists of three parts including an encoder, a decoder, and a discriminator network. Furthermore, in order to facilitate the learning ability of network, a CU (coding unit) mask built from a VVC (versatile video coding) video is first introduced. In addition, an attention mechanism is used to further promote the visual quality. The experimental results show that the proposed steganography network can achieve a better performance in terms of the perceptual quality of stego videos, decoding the accuracy of hidden messages, and the relatively high embedding capacity compared with the state-of-the-art steganography networks.
ASMAC: An Adaptive Slot Access MAC Protocol in Distributed VANET
Authors: Han Shi-Yuan , Zhang Chang-Yue
Published: April 2022

The media access control (MAC) protocol is responsible for channel resource sharing and conflict management in the communication process in VANET, which is of great significance for ensuring efficient and reliable communication. The existing MAC protocol with fixed time slot allocation cannot solve the problem of time slot resource exhaustion or waste when the traffic density is unbalanced. In this paper, we propose an adaptive time slot access MAC protocol in distributed VANET (ASMAC). ASMAC adapts the access time slot according to the driving direction of the vehicle and the traffic density ratio to improve the time slot access efficiency. In the ASMAC protocol, the frame is divided into several time slots based on TDMA, and the time slots in a frame are divided into two time slot sets according to the driving direction. The vehicle selects a time slot access corresponding to the time slot set. When the vehicle finds that there is no accessible time slot in the time slot set, it accesses the available time slot in the reverse time slot set to improve the efficiency of time slot access. In this paper, the analysis and simulation results of highway and four-way intersection scenarios are given and the validity of the ASMAC protocol is verified by comparing with the VeMAC and SAMD protocols.
A Hybrid Deep Learning-Based Approach for Brain Tumor Classification
Authors: Raza Asaf , Ayub Huma , Khan Javed Ali , Ahmad Ijaz , S. Salama Ahmed , Daradkeh Yousef Ibrahim , Javeed Danish , Ur Rehman Ateeq , Hamam Habib
Published: April 2022

Brain tumors (BTs) are spreading very rapidly across the world. Every year, thousands of people die due to deadly brain tumors. Therefore, accurate detection and classification are essential in the treatment of brain tumors. Numerous research techniques have been introduced for BT detection as well as classification based on traditional machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL). The traditional ML classifiers require hand-crafted features, which is very time-consuming. On the contrary, DL is very robust in feature extraction and has recently been widely used for classification and detection purposes. Therefore, in this work, we propose a hybrid deep learning model called DeepTumorNet for three types of brain tumors (BTs)—glioma, meningioma, and pituitary tumor classification—by adopting a basic convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture. The GoogLeNet architecture of the CNN model was used as a base. While developing the hybrid DeepTumorNet approach, the last 5 layers of GoogLeNet were removed, and 15 new layers were added instead of these 5 layers. Furthermore, we also utilized a leaky ReLU activation function in the feature map to increase the expressiveness of the model. The proposed model was tested on a publicly available research dataset for evaluation purposes, and it obtained 99.67% accuracy, 99.6% precision, 100% recall, and a 99.66% F1-score. The proposed methodology obtained the highest accuracy compared with the state-of-the-art classification results obtained with Alex net, Resnet50, darknet53, Shufflenet, GoogLeNet, SqueezeNet, ResNet101, Exception Net, and MobileNetv2. The proposed model showed its superiority over the existing models for BT classification from the MRI images.
Challenges of Hydrological Engineering Design in Degrading Permafrost Environment of Russia
Authors: Makarieva Olga , Nesterova Nataliia , Haghighi Ali Torabi , Ostashov Andrey , Zemlyanskova Anastasiia
Published: April 2022

The study shows that the current network of hydrometeorological observation in the permafrost zone of Russia is insufficient to provide data for the statistical approaches adopted at the state level for engineering surveys and calculations. The alternative to the financially costly and practically impossible expansion of the monitoring network is the development of hydrological research stations and the implementation of new methods for calculating streamflow characteristics based on mathematical modeling. The data of the Kolyma Water-Balance Station, the first research basin in the world in a permafrost environment (1948–1997), and the process-based hydrological model Hydrograph are applied to simulate streamflow hydrographs in remote mountainous permafrost basins. The satisfactory results confirm that mathematical modeling may substitute or replace statistical approaches in the conditions of extreme data insufficiency. The improvement of the models in a changing climate requires the renewal of historical observations at currently abandoned research stations in Russian permafrost regions. The study is important for forming the state policy in climate change adaptation and mitigation measures.
Impacts of Harmonic Voltage Distortions on the Dynamic Behavior and the PRPD Patterns of Partial Discharges in an Air Cavity Inside a Solid Dielectric Material
Authors: Machado Gustavo de Oliveira , Gomes Luciano Coutinho , da Silveira Augusto Wohlgemuth Fleury Veloso , Tavares Carlos Eduardo , de Andrade Darizon Alves
Published: April 2022

The monitoring of partial discharges (PDs) is one of the main methods used worldwide for evaluation and diagnosis of the insulation conditions in equipment powered by medium and high voltages. The occurrence of PDs is usually an indication of the appearance of insulation defects, which over time can compromise the dielectric withstand of the material used, increasing the probability of complete breakdown. In general, laboratory tests for detecting and registering PDs are carried out using purely sinusoidal voltages. However, it is very common for an electrical asset to be subjected at some point in its operating life to voltages distorted by harmonic components. Some studies reported in the literature reveal that harmonic distortions can affect the PDs’ characteristics, nevertheless, the effects of individual harmonic components on PDs still need to be analyzed. In this context, this paper proposes to evaluate the impacts of harmonic voltage distortions on the dynamic behavior and the phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) patterns of PDs in an air cavity within a solid dielectric material. For this, a simulation model was implemented, which was used to analyze the effects of applying distorted voltages composed of different harmonic orders (third, fifth, and seventh) and distinct levels of distortion (1%, 3%, 5%, 10%, 15%, and 20%). In addition, the influence of the third harmonic phase angle on PDs is also analyzed. The results extracted from the simulations revealed that the harmonic distortions caused changes in the numbers of PDs per cycle, in the mean apparent charges of the PDs per cycle, and in the PRPD patterns’ characteristics. These changes were very significant for higher distortion levels, which in practice may impair the interpretation of PD measurement records for the diagnosis of the condition of the insulation system.
Assessment of ANN Algorithms for the Concentration Prediction of Indoor Air Pollutants in Child Daycare Centers
Authors: Kim Jeeheon , Hong Yongsug , Seong Namchul , Kim Daeung Danny
Published: April 2022

As the time spent by people indoors continues to significantly increase, much attention has been paid to indoor air quality. While many IAQ studies have been conducted through field measurements, the use of data-driven techniques such as machine learning has been increasingly used for the prediction of indoor air pollutants. For the present study, the concentrations of indoor air pollutants such as CO2, PM2.5, and VOCs in child daycare centers were predicted by using an artificial neural network model with three different training algorithms including Levenberg–Marquardt, Bayesian regularization, and Broyden–Fletcher–Goldfarb–Shanno quasi-Newton methods. For training and validation, data of indoor pollutants measured in child daycare facilities over a 1-month period were used. The results showed all the models produced a good performance for the prediction of indoor pollutants compared with the measured data. Among the models, the prediction by the LM model met the acceptable criteria of ASHRAE guideline 14 under all conditions. It was observed that the prediction performance decreased as the number of hidden layers increased. Moreover, the prediction performance was differed by the type of indoor pollutant. This was caused by patterns observed in the measured data. Considering the outcomes of the study, better prediction results can be obtained through the selection of suitable prediction models for time series data as well as the adjustment of training algorithms.
Does the Development of Digital Finance Contribute to Haze Pollution Control? Evidence from China
Authors: Wang Ke-Liang , Zhu Rui-Rui , Cheng Yun-He
Published: April 2022

Mitigating haze pollution is of practical significance to the green economy, and the development of digital finance may help achieve this goal. However, the effect of digital finance on haze pollution has not been systematically explained. Based on Chinese prefectural panel data for the 2011–2016 period, this study on haze concentration, technological innovation, and digital inclusive finance index as the dependent variable, mediating variable, and the core independent variable, respectively, investigated whether digital finance has improved haze pollution control in China using fixed effect (FE) and random effect (RE) models, a mediating effect model, a threshold panel model, and a dynamic spatial Durbin model (SDM). Four key results were obtained. (1) Digital finance significantly decreased haze pollution. After accounting for potential endogeneity, this conclusion was still valid. (2) The analysis of the influencing mechanism showed that digital finance was conducive to haze reduction by promoting regional innovation capabilities. (3) There was a nonlinear relationship between the influence of digital finance and haze pollution. Specifically, the impact of digital finance on haze pollution has gradually increased with the improvement of regional innovation capabilities. (4) Haze pollution displayed a significant positive spatial agglomeration in China. Digital finance can alleviate local haze pollution but will aggravate haze pollution in adjacent areas. Based on the results of this study, some pertinent policy suggestions were proposed.
Neural Ordinary Differential Equations for Grey-Box Modelling of Lithium-Ion Batteries on the Basis of an Equivalent Circuit Model
Authors: Brucker Jennifer , Behmann René , Bessler Wolfgang G. , Gasper Rainer
Published: April 2022

Lithium-ion batteries exhibit a dynamic voltage behaviour depending nonlinearly on current and state of charge. The modelling of lithium-ion batteries is therefore complicated and model parametrisation is often time demanding. Grey-box models combine physical and data-driven modelling to benefit from their respective advantages. Neural ordinary differential equations (NODEs) offer new possibilities for grey-box modelling. Differential equations given by physical laws and NODEs can be combined in a single modelling framework. Here we demonstrate the use of NODEs for grey-box modelling of lithium-ion batteries. A simple equivalent circuit model serves as a basis and represents the physical part of the model. The voltage drop over the resistor–capacitor circuit, including its dependency on current and state of charge, is implemented as a NODE. After training, the grey-box model shows good agreement with experimental full-cycle data and pulse tests on a lithium iron phosphate cell. We test the model against two dynamic load profiles: one consisting of half cycles and one dynamic load profile representing a home-storage system. The dynamic response of the battery is well captured by the model.
Novel Terahertz Spectroscopy Analysis for the Electrode with Carbon Nanotubes (CNTs) in Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Kim Jiseong , Jung Gyeong-Bok , Park Da-Bin , Jo Minki , Yu Nan-Ei , Son Byungwoo , Oh Pilgun , Son Yoonkook
Published: April 2022

In this study, to use carbon nanotubes (CNTs) as a conductive material instead of carbon black in cathode electrodes, their dispersions were prepared in 1-Methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP) solvent by using an ultrasonic horn, and their dispersion stability was analyzed using CNTs on the formation of the network between cathode electrode constituent materials comprised of cathode material, CNTs, and current collectors, and their correlation with electrochemical performance results were investigated using various analytical techniques. Particularly, in the analysis, terahertz time domain spectroscopy (THz-TDS), a new non-destructive analysis method, was used to analyze and compare the various optical properties of the cathode’s slurries that co-existed with CNTs and cathode material, suggesting the suitability of its analytical use in the field of materials dispersion and the slurry manufacturing process for lithium-ion batteries (LIBs). In the investigated results, the sample with the highest dispersion stability of CNTs uniformly formed the networks of CNTs and cathode material in the electrode, which results in the highest electrical conductivity among all samples, and as a result, the best performance in electrochemical evaluations.
Developmental Temperature Shapes the Otolith Morphology of Metamorphosing and Juvenile Gilthead Seabream (Sparus aurata Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Geladakis George , Kourkouta Chara , Somarakis Stylianos , Koumoundouros George
Published: April 2022

Otolith morphological variability is used as a reliable indicator to discriminate fish that experience different environmental conditions during their lifetimes. The present study examined the effects of developmental temperature (DT) during the egg and yolk-sac larval period on the otolith shape and asymmetry of Gilthead seabream in the later metamorphosis (56–58 days post-hatching, dph) and the early juvenile stage (93–95 dph). The experimental populations were reared at different water temperatures (17, 20, or 23 °C DT) from epiboly onset to the end of the yolk-sac larval stage (5–7 days post-fertilization, dpf) and then at a common rearing temperature (20 °C), up to the end of the trials (93–95 dph). Otolith shape and bilateral asymmetry were analyzed at metamorphosis (20–21 mm standard length, SL) and the early juvenile stage (31–32 mm SL). The results of elliptic Fourier analysis showed that DT significantly affected the otolith shape at both stages examined. Furthermore, elevated DT significantly increased the asymmetry levels of seabream otoliths in the early juvenile stage. The results are discussed in terms of the thermally induced long-term changes of seabream otolith morphology and the potential effects of the raised otolith asymmetry on wild seabream juveniles.
Effects of Non-Heated and Heat Processed Krill and Squid Meal-Based Diet on Growth Performance and Biochemical Composition in Juvenile Pacific Bluefin Tuna Thunnus orientalis
Authors: Cho Jeong-Hyeon , Kurimoto Takayuki , Haga Yutaka , Kamimura Yuji , Itoh Akira , Satoh Shuichi
Published: April 2022

This study investigated the effects of krill and squid meal and their heat processing on the growth performance and biochemical composition of juvenile Pacific bluefin tuna (PBT) Thunnus orientalis. An experiment using a 2 × 2 factorial design examined the effects of two dietary protein sources (squid and krill meal) and heat treatment (heated and non-heated). Prey fish were provided to a reference group. Fish with an initial mean weight of 74.1 mg were fed one of the five diets. After six days of the feeding trial, the fish fed with krill meal and non-heated diets showed improved growth compared to those fed with the squid meal and heated diets. Fish fed the non-heated diets showed significantly higher whole-body crude protein and crude lipid contents than fish fed the heated diets. These results suggest that nutrient availability could be improved by using krill meal and the non-heated treatment to improve the growth performance of juvenile PBT.
An International Survey on Olive Oils Quality and Traceability: Opinions from the Involved Actors
Authors: Aparicio-Ruiz Ramón , Tena Noelia , García-González Diego L.
Published: April 2022

A survey was launched to understand the current problems and sensitivities of the olive oil market through a series of questions clustered around topics related to quality, traceability, regulation, standard methods and other issues. The questions were selected after a series of interviews with different actors to identify those aspects where some disagreement or different points of view may exist. These questions were grouped in topics such as geographical traceability, consumer perception and quality management. The survey was addressed to eight different olive oil actors independently: producers, retailers, importers, exporters, analysts, workers at regulatory bodies, and consumers. Approximately half of the respondents (67.0% for consumers and 56.0% for the rest of olive oil actors) claimed to understand the importance of the protected designation of origin. In fact, the traceability objectives that were selected as the most relevant were those related with geographical traceability (19.3%) followed by the detection of adulteration (15.6%). Most of the respondents (80%) would agree to share data for a common database; however, some concerns exist about the use of these data and the issue of paying to have access to this database. The respondents mostly expressed an affirmative answer concerning the efficiency of panel test (74%) and a negative answer (90%) concerning the proposal of removing from regulation, although 42% agree with their revision for improvement. The opinions on “best before” date and their relationship with quality and the willingness to apply non-targeted methods were also surveyed.
Differentiating between Enterococcusfaecium and Enterococcuslactis by Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Ionization Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Kim Eiseul , Yang Seung-Min , Kim Hyun-Jae , Kim Hae-Yeong
Published: April 2022

Unlike Enterococcus faecium strains, some Enterococcus lactis strains are considered potential probiotic strains as they lack particular virulence and antibiotic resistance genes. However, these closely related species are difficult to distinguish via conventional taxonomic methods. Here, for the first time, we used matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS) with BioTyper and in-house databases to distinguish between E. faecium and E. lactis. A total of 58 reference and isolated strains (89.2%) were correctly identified at the species level using MALDI-TOF MS with in-house databases. However, seven strains (10.8%) were not accurately differentiated as a single colony was identified as a different species with a similar score value. Specific mass peaks were identified by analyzing reference strains, and mass peaks at 10,122 ± 2 m/z, 3650 ± 1 m/z, and 7306 ± 1 m/z were unique to E. faecium and E. lactis reference strains, respectively. Mass peaks verified reproducibility in 60 isolates and showed 100% specificity, whereas 16S rRNA sequencing identified two different candidates for some isolates (E. faecium and E. lactis). Our specific mass peak method helped to differentiate two species, with high accuracy and high throughput, and provided a viable alternative to 16S rRNA sequencing.