bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Real-Life Study of Combined Treatment with Long-Term Non-Invasive Ventilation and High Flow Nasal Cannula in Patients with End-Stage Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease
Authors: Weinreich Ulla Møller , Storgaard Line Hust
Published: July 2023

Patients with end-stage chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) often develop persistent hypoxic or hypercapnic respiratory failure, or a combination of both. Ventilatory support, in terms of a long-term high-flow nasal cannula (LT-HFNC) and long-term non-invasive ventilation (LT-NIV), may be indicated. Often, clinicians choose either one or the other. This paper explores combined treatment with LT-HFNC and LT-NIV in a real-life setting. In total, 33 patients with COPD and persistent respiratory failure were included in this study. Of those, 17 were initiated on LT-HFNC and used it for 595 (374) days and 16 were initiated on LT-NIV and used it for 558 (479) days. On average, patients used respiratory support continuously for 908 (586) days. Baseline characteristics were comparable, apart from PaCO2 at first ventilatory support initiation (LT-HFNC/LT-NIV 7.1 (1.1) kPa/8.8 (0.9) kPa respectively (p = 0.002)). Both groups experienced a reduction in hospitalizations in the first twelve months after treatment initiation, compared to the twelve months before (LT-HFNC p = 0.022 and LT-NIV p = 0.014). In total, 25% of LT-NIV patients stopped treatment after HFNC initiation due to intolerance and 59% stopped LT-HFNC treatment 126 (36) days after LT-NIV initiation as monotherapy was sufficient. In 44% of these patients, LT-HFNC was re-initiated at the end of life. At the time of analysis, 70% of patients had died. In the last three months of life, patients stopped using LT-NIV, whereas 91% used LT-HFNC. In conclusion, the combined use of LT-NIV and LT-HFNC reduced hospitalizations in patients with COPD and persistent respiratory failure. The study indicates that LT-HFNC is well tolerated, and better tolerated than LT-NIV at the very end stages of COPD.
Vedolizumab Is Associated with Longer Drug Sustainability Compared to Infliximab in Moderate-to-Severe Ulcerative Colitis: Long-Term Real-World Cohort Data
Authors: Konikoff Tom , Yanai Henit , Libchik Dror , Avni-Biron Irit , Snir Yifat , Banai Hagar , Broytman Yelena , Dotan Iris , Ollech Jacob E.
Published: July 2023

Background and Aim: Drug sustainability (DS) is a surrogate marker for treatment efficacy. We aimed to compare the DS of two main biologics used to treat moderate-to-severe ulcerative colitis (UC), infliximab (IFX) and vedolizumab (VDZ), in a real-world setting. Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study at a tertiary medical center in Israel. We included patients treated between 1 December 2017 and 1 May 2021, who were followed for up to 300 weeks. DS was defined as corticosteroid-, surgical-, and hospitalization-free treatment. Results: 217 patients with UC were included. VDZ had a significantly longer median DS of 265.6 weeks compared to IFX’s 106.5 weeks (p = 0.001) in treatment-naïve patients, even when adjusting for disease severity (HR 0.55 95 CI 0.3–0.98, p = 0.042). In treatment-experienced patients, DS was comparable between IFX and VDZ (p = 0.593). Conclusions: VDZ showed significantly longer DS in treatment-naïve patients with UC compared to IFX, also when adjusted for disease severity. There was no difference in DS between VDZ and IFX in treatment-experienced patients and patients switching from one drug to another. VDZ may be a suitable first-line treatment for biologic-naïve patients with moderate-to-severe UC.
Comparison of a Peripheral Nerve Block versus Spinal Anesthesia in Foot or Ankle Surgery: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis with a Trial Sequential Analysis
Authors: Lee Myeongjong , Lee Cheol , Lim Junsung , Kim Hyungtae , Choi Yoo-Shin , Kang Hyun
Published: July 2023

Background: This systematic review and meta-analysis with trial sequential analysis (TSA) aimed to compare perioperative outcomes of peripheral nerve blocks (PNBs) and spinal anesthesia (SA) in elective foot and ankle surgery. Methods: The study protocol was registered in PROSPERO (CRD42021229597). Researchers independently searched PubMed, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Results: Analysis of nine RCTs (n = 802; 399 PNBs, 403 SA) revealed significantly shorter block performance times (WMD: 7.470; 95% CI 6.072 to 8.868), the onset of sensory (WMD: 7.483; 95% CI 2.837 to 12.130) and motor blocks (WMD: 9.071; 95% CI 4.049 to 14.094), durations of sensory (WMD: 458.53; 95% CI 328.296 to 588.765) and motor blocks (WMD: 247.416; 95% CI 95.625 to 399.208), and significantly higher postoperative analgesic requirements (SMD: −1.091; 95% CI −1.634 to −0.549) in the SA group. Additionally, systolic blood pressure (SBP) at 30 min (WMD: 13.950; 95% CI 4.603 to 23.298) was lower in the SA group. Conclusions: The SA demonstrated shorter block performance time, faster onset and shorter duration of sensory and motor blocks, higher postoperative analgesic requirements, and lower SBP at 30 min compared to PNBs in elective foot and ankle surgery.
PAX 2 Mutation in an Indian Family with Renal Coloboma Syndrome
Authors: Digvijay Kumar , Virzi Grazia Maria , Pomarè Montin Diego , da Luz Lucas Gobetti , Taramsari Maryam Momeni , Gupta Ashwani , Malik Manish , Gupta Anurag , Bhargava Vinant , Verma Meenakshi , Ronco Claudio , Rana Devinder Singh , Bhalla Anil Kumar
Published: July 2023

The transcription factor encoded by the PAX2 gene plays a significant role in the development of the urogenital tract, eyes, ears, and central nervous system. Heterozygous mutations in the PAX2 gene cause renal coloboma syndrome, a rare autosomal dominant disorder characterized by optic nerve coloboma and renal anomalies. In this study, two siblings with chronic kidney disease (CKD) receiving regular dialysis therapy were investigated. DNA sequencing was performed on blood samples from both patients, which revealed four novel heterozygous variations in the PAX2 gene in both patients. Sequencing analysis showed a C to G transversion at position c.352 of the PAX2 gene in a heterozygous state.
The Hypothesis of a “Living Pulse” in Cells
Authors: Walther-Antonio Marina , Schulze-Makuch Dirk
Published: July 2023

Motility is a great biosignature and its pattern is characteristic for specific microbes. However, motion does also occur within the cell by the myriads of ongoing processes within the cell and the exchange of gases and nutrients with the outside environment. Here, we propose that the sum of these processes in a microbial cell is equivalent to a pulse in complex organisms and suggest a first approach to measure the “living pulse” in microorganisms. We emphasize that if a “living pulse” can be shown to exist, it would have far-reaching applications, such as for finding life in extreme environments on Earth and in extraterrestrial locations, as well as making sure that life is not present where it should not be, such as during medical procedures and in the food processing industry.
Up-Cycling of Olea europaea L. Ancient Cultivars Side Products: Study of a Combined Cosmetic–Food Supplement Treatment Based on Leaves and Olive Mill Wastewater Extracts
Authors: Buzzi Raissa , Gugel Irene , Costa Stefania , Molesini Sonia , Boreale Silvia , Baldini Erika , Marchetti Nicola , Vertuani Silvia , Pinelli Patrizia , Urciuoli Silvia , Baldisserotto Anna , Manfredini Stefano
Published: July 2023

In recent years, a reversal of the global economic framework has been taking place: from the linear model, there has been a gradual transition to a circular model where by-products from the agri-food industry are taken and transformed into value products (upcycling) rather than being disposed of. Olive tree pruning represents an important biomass currently used for combustion; however, the leaf part of the olive tree is rich in phenolic substances, including hydroxytyrosol. Mill wastewater is also discarded, but it still contains high amounts of hydroxytyrosol. In this study, cosmetic and food supplement formulations were prepared using biophenols extracted from leaves and wastewater and were tested in a placebo-controlled study on healthy volunteers using a combined cosmetic and food supplement treatment. A significant improvement in skin health indicators (collagen density, elasticity, etc.) and a 17% improvement against Photo-induced Irritative Stimulus was observed.
An In Vitro Evaluation of the Effects of Air-Polishing Powders on Sound and Demineralised Enamel
Authors: Guma Elton , Kiliaridis Stavros , Scherrer Susanne S. , Antonarakis Gregory S.
Published: July 2023

Aim: To evaluate the effects of two air-polishing powders, during orthodontic treatment, on the surface roughness of sound and demineralised enamel. Materials and methods: Forty-two caries-free human molars were collected, and the enamel surfaces were flattened and polished. Teeth were assigned to two groups (n = 21 each), a sound- and a demineralised-enamel group (subjected to pH-cycling over 2 weeks to create artificially induced white spot-like lesions). Within each group, teeth were further assigned to three groups (n = 7 each), air polished with either sodium bicarbonate, erythritol, or a negative control (water). Each sample was treated for 5 and 150 s. The average surface roughness (Ra) for each sample was measured using white-light-sensor profilometry. Results: On sound enamel, the Ra was roughly 0.17 ± 0.07 μm. After 150 s of air polishing, the Ra increased with erythritol (by 0.28 μm), and even more so with bicarbonate treatment (by 0.68 μm) (p < 0.01). On demineralised enamel, the Ra was roughly 0.79 ± 0.56 μm. The Ra increased after 5 s of air-polishing treatment similarly with erythritol and bicarbonate powders (by 1.03 μm and 1.04 μm, respectively) (p = 0.025), and even more after 150 s (by 2.48 μm and 2.49 μm, respectively) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: On white spot lesions, one should be aware that enamel surface roughness will increase with both erythritol and bicarbonate air-polishing powders, especially with longer exposure times.
The Effect of Zirconia Nanoparticles on Thermal, Mechanical, and Corrosion Behavior of Nanocomposite Epoxy Coatings on Steel Substrates
Authors: Alam Mohammad Asif , Samad Ubair Abdus , Anis Arfat , Sherif El-Sayed M. , Abdo Hany S. , Al-Zahrani Saeed M.
Published: July 2023

Zirconia (ZrO2) nanoparticles (1–3 wt.%) were incorporated into the epoxy matrix using the ultra-sonication mixing method of dispersion to manufacture nanocomposite coatings. An automatic applicator was used to prepare the coating samples on a stainless steel substrate. The influence of ZrO2 nanoparticles on the physicochemical characteristics of epoxy coatings was evaluated using energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS), field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermos-gravimetric analysis (TGA), elastic modulus, and micro-hardness measurement with the nano-indentation technique. The corrosion stability during immersion in 3.5% NaCl solution was monitored using electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS). All ZrO2-containing coatings showed better corrosion stability and adhesion than pure epoxy coating. Epoxy coating incorporated with 2% ZrO2 exhibited the greatest values of corrosion resistance and adhesion due to the effect of nanoparticle properties and their better de-agglomeration in the epoxy matrix than pure epoxy coating.
Assessment of Microstructural, Mechanical and Electrochemical Properties of Ti–42Nb Alloy Manufactured by Electron Beam Melting
Authors: Kozadaeva Maria , Surmeneva Maria , Khrapov Dmitriy , Rybakov Vladimir , Surmenev Roman , Koptyug Andrey , Vladescu (Dragomir) Alina , Cotrut Cosmin Mihai , Tyurin Alexander , Grubova Irina
Published: July 2023

The β-type Ti–42Nb alloy has been successfully manufactured from pre-alloyed powder using the E-PBF method for the first time. This study presents thorough microstructural investigations employing diverse methodologies such as EDS, XRD, TEM, and EBSD, while mechanical properties are assessed using UPT, nanoindentation, and compression tests. Microstructural analysis reveals that Ti–42Nb alloy primarily consisted of the β phase with the presence of a small amount of nano-sized α″-martensite formed upon fast cooling. The bimodal-grained microstructure of Ti–42Nb alloy comprising epitaxially grown fine equiaxed and elongated equiaxed β-grains with an average grain size of 40 ± 28 µm exhibited a weak texture. The study shows that the obtained microstructure leads to improved mechanical properties. Young’s modulus of 78.69 GPa is significantly lower than that of cp-Ti and Ti–6Al–4V alloys. The yield strength (379 MPa) and hardness (3.2 ± 0.5 GPa) also meet the criteria and closely approximate the values typical of cortical bone. UPT offers a reliable opportunity to study the nature of the ductility of the Ti–42Nb alloy by calculating its elastic constants. XPS surface analysis and electrochemical experiments demonstrate that the better corrosion resistance of the alloy in SBF is maintained by the dominant presence of TiO2 and Nb2O5. The results provide valuable insights into the development of novel low-modulus Ti–Nb alloys, which are interesting materials for additive-manufactured implants with the desired properties required for their biomedical applications.
The Molecular Role of Immune Cells in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Wang Enping , Zhou Ruofan , Li Tiange , Hua Yimin , Zhou Kaiyu , Li Yifei , Luo Shuhua , An Qi
Published: July 2023

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a rare and severe condition characterized by chamber dilation and impaired contraction of the left ventricle. It constitutes a fundamental etiology for profound heart failure and abrupt cardiac demise, rendering it a prominent clinical indication for heart transplantation (HTx) among both adult and pediatric populations. DCM arises from various etiologies, including genetic variants, epigenetic disorders, infectious insults, autoimmune diseases, and cardiac conduction abnormalities. The maintenance of cardiac function involves two distinct types of immune cells: resident immune cells and recruited immune cells. Resident immune cells play a crucial role in establishing a harmonious microenvironment within the cardiac tissue. Nevertheless, in response to injury, cardiomyocytes initiate a cytokine cascade that attracts peripheral immune cells, thus perturbing this intricate equilibrium and actively participating in the initiation and pathological remodeling of dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), particularly during the progression of myocardial fibrosis. Additionally, immune cells assume a pivotal role in orchestrating the inflammatory processes, which are intimately linked to the prognosis of DCM. Consequently, understanding the molecular role of various immune cells and their regulation mechanisms would provide an emerging era for managing DCM. In this review, we provide a summary of the most recent advancements in our understanding of the molecular mechanisms of immune cells in DCM. Additionally, we evaluate the effectiveness and limitations of immunotherapy approaches for the treatment of DCM, with the aim of optimizing future immunotherapeutic strategies for this condition.
Numerical Design of Granular Support for Three-Way Catalyzed Solid- and Porous-Particles Membrane Filters
Authors: Suteerapongpun Teerapat , Hanamura Katsunori
Published: July 2023

A granular substrate used as a support for a three-way catalyzed (TWC) solid-particle membrane filter was investigated through numerical simulation. The proposed support could reduce the amount of required catalyst material by 39% and lower the pressure drop by 33%, compared to a conventional filter, while achieving almost 100% soot-filtration. Moreover, TWC porous particles, which are designed to introduce a fluid flow into their interconnected pore network, further decrease the pressure drop. However, a trade-off exists between the amount of the introduced fluid flow and the specific surface area.
Oil-Retention and Oil-Bearing Tribological Properties of Nanoporous Copper Prepared Using a Chemical Dealloying Method
Authors: Chen Fei , Zhao Jiahao , Wang Hao , Li Honglin , Yin Guanchao , Cai Meirong , Wang Yangwei , Shen Qiang
Published: July 2023

The nanoporous structure of oil-impregnated porous copper is closely related to its tribological and oil-retention properties, which are essential for its anti-friction and anti-wear, and long-lasting lubrication. In this study, different component Cu-Al precursors were obtained via plasma-activated sintering, followed by a dealloying method to obtain bulk nanoporous copper with different porosities. The effect of the nanoporous structure on oil-retention capacity and tribological properties was investigated. The results showed that as the porosity increased from 47.48% to 67.69%, the oil content increased from 8.01% to 20.18%, while the oil-retention capacity decreased from 97.12% to 33.92% at 7000 r/min centrifugal speed. With the storage of oil, the average friction coefficient was reduced by 68.2–85.9%. The self-lubricating effect can be ascribed to an oil film formed on the surface, and the main wear forms were abrasive wear and fatigue wear. This study may provide guidance for the development of high-performance oil-impregnated lubricating nanoporous copper.
Characterizing the Gut Microbial Metabolic Profile of Mice with the Administration of Berry-Derived Cyanidin-3-Glucoside
Authors: Tu Pengcheng , Zheng Xiaodong , Niu Huixia , Chen Zhijian , Wang Xiaofeng , Wu Lizhi , Tang Qiong
Published: July 2023

Dietary modulation of the gut microbiota has recently received considerable attention. It is well established that consumption of berries confers a number of health benefits. We previously reported that a black raspberry (BRB)-rich diet effectively modulates the gut microbiota. Given the role of anthocyanins in the health benefits of berries, coupled with interactions of gut microbial metabolites with host health, the objective of this follow-up study was to further characterize the profile of functional metabolites in the gut microbiome modulated by anthocyanins. We utilized a berry-derived classic anthocyanin, cyanidin-3-glucoside (C3G), combined with a mouse model to probe C3G-associated functional metabolic products of gut bacteria through a mass spectrometry-based metabolomic profiling technique. Results showed that C3G substantially changed the gut microbiota of mice, including its composition and metabolic profile. A distinct metabolic profile in addition to a variety of key microbiota-related metabolites was observed in C3G-treated mice. Microbial metabolites involved in protein digestion and absorption were differently abundant between C3G-treated and control mice, which may be linked to the effects of berry consumption. Results of the present study suggest the involvement of the gut microbiota in the health benefits of C3G, providing evidence connecting the gut microbiota with berry consumption and its beneficial effects.
A Statistical Theory for Sampling of Particulate Materials
Authors: Lyman Geoffrey
Published: July 2023

The concepts currently applied to the sampling of broken minerals and particulate materials were recognised over 100 years ago. The first integrated theory of sampling for the mineral industries was proposed by Gy, who brought together means of estimation of the variance of sampling due to both the particulate nature of a broken ore and the time variation of composition of process streams. However, his theory deals only with sampling variance and cannot determine the full sampling distribution. The full distribution of the composition of potential samples arising from their particulate nature is developed in this paper based solely on the assumption that particle numbers in correct samples follow independent Poisson distributions. The enabling mathematical method is the use of the characteristic function of the sampling distribution. The practical means of calculating the full distribution completes the theory of sampling of particulate materials. The method is applied to a sample of gold ore to calculate the full sampling distribution and effectively clarifies several difficulties when sampling this material. The method has general applicability to all particulate materials, including foodstuffs.
Quasiepitaxial Aluminum Film Nanostructure Optimization for Superconducting Quantum Electronic Devices
Authors: Tarasov Mikhail , Lomov Andrey , Chekushkin Artem , Fominsky Mikhail , Zakharov Denis , Tatarintsev Andrey , Kraevsky Sergey , Shadrin Anton
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we develop fabrication technology and study aluminum films intended for superconducting quantum nanoelectronics using AFM, SEM, XRD, HRXRR. Two-temperature-step quasiepitaxial growth of Al on (111) Si substrate provides a preferentially (111)-oriented Al polycrystalline film and reduces outgrowth bumps, peak-to-peak roughness from 70 to 10 nm, and texture coefficient from 3.5 to 1.7, while increasing hardness from 5.4 to 16 GPa. Future progress in superconducting current density, stray capacitance, relaxation time, and noise requires a reduction in structural defect density and surface imperfections, which can be achieved by improving film quality using such quasiepitaxial growth techniques.
Contrast Agents of Magnetic Resonance Imaging and Future Perspective
Authors: Lv Jie , Roy Shubham , Xie Miao , Yang Xiulan , Guo Bing
Published: July 2023

In recent times, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) has emerged as a highly promising modality for diagnosing severe diseases. Its exceptional spatiotemporal resolution and ease of use have established it as an indispensable clinical diagnostic tool. Nevertheless, there are instances where MRI encounters challenges related to low contrast, necessitating the use of contrast agents (CAs). Significant efforts have been made by scientists to enhance the precision of observing diseased body parts by leveraging the synergistic potential of MRI in conjunction with other imaging techniques and thereby modifying the CAs. In this work, our focus is on elucidating the rational designing approach of CAs and optimizing their compatibility for multimodal imaging and other intelligent applications. Additionally, we emphasize the importance of incorporating various artificial intelligence tools, such as machine learning and deep learning, to explore the future prospects of disease diagnosis using MRI. We also address the limitations associated with these techniques and propose reasonable remedies, with the aim of advancing MRI as a cutting-edge diagnostic tool for the future.
Aisthesis–Perception–Anaesthetics: Inspirations from Wolfgang Welsch’s Aesthetics for a Perception-Sensitive Theology
Authors: Trawöger Sibylle
Published: July 2023

In contrast to “experience” (Erfahrung), the concept and phenomenon of perception is still underexposed in systematic theology. Aesthetics in the sense of aisthesis illuminates perception as an independent mode of existence and cognition and not merely as a preliminary stage of Erfahrung. This is made clear by the differentiations and concretisations on aesthetics by the philosopher Wolfgang Welsch. His work on aesthetics is valuable for systematic theology on an epistemological level on the one hand and is based on contemporary questions about a good life in an “experience society” (Erlebnisgesellschaft, Gerhard Schulze) and the ecological crisis on the other hand. As a result, cornerstones of a perception-sensitive theology become visible.
High Resolution Forest Masking for Seasonal Monitoring with a Regionalized and Colourimetrically Assisted Chorologic Typology
Authors: Aravena Ricardo A. , Lyons Mitchell B. , Keith David A.
Published: July 2023

Comparisons of recent global forest products at higher resolutions that are only available annually have shown major disagreements among forested areas in highly fragmented landscapes. A holistic reductionist framework and colourimetry were applied to create a chorologic typology of environmental indicators to map forest extent with an emphasis on large-scale performance, interpretability/communication, and spatial–temporal scalability. Interpretation keys were created to identify forest and non-forest features, and a set of candidate tree cover indices were developed and compared with a decision matrix of prescribed criteria. The candidate indices were intentionally limited to those applying only the visible and NIR bands to obtain the highest possible resolution and be compatible with commonly available multispectral satellites and higher resolution sensors, including aerial and potentially UAV/drone sensors. A new High-Resolution Tree Cover Index (HRTCI) in combination with the Green band was selected as the best index based on scores from the decision matrix. To further improve the performance of the indices, the chorologic typology included two insolation indices, a water index and a NIR surface saturation index, to exclude any remaining spectrally similar but unrelated land cover features such as agriculture, water, and built-up features using a process of elimination. The approach was applied to the four seasons across a wide range of ecosystems in south-eastern Australia, with and without regionalisation, to identify which season produces the most accurate results for each ecoregion and to assess the potential for mitigating the spatial–temporal scaling effects of the Modifiable Spatio-Temporal Unit Problem. Autumn was found to be the most effective season, yielding overall accuracies of 94.19% for the full extent, 95.79% for the temperate zone, and 95.71% for the arid zone. It produced the greatest spatial agreement between two recognised global products, the GEDI forest heights extent and the ESA WorldCover Tree cover class. The performance, transparency, and scalability of the approach should provide the basis for a framework for globally relatable forest monitoring.
Cross-Domain Indoor Visual Place Recognition for Mobile Robot via Generalization Using Style Augmentation
Authors: Wozniak Piotr , Ozog Dominik
Published: July 2023

The article presents an algorithm for the multi-domain visual recognition of an indoor place. It is based on a convolutional neural network and style randomization. The authors proposed a scene classification mechanism and improved the performance of the models based on synthetic and real data from various domains. In the proposed dataset, a domain change was defined as a camera model change. A dataset of images collected from several rooms was used to show different scenarios, human actions, equipment changes, and lighting conditions. The proposed method was tested in a scene classification problem where multi-domain data were used. The basis was a transfer learning approach with an extension style applied to various combinations of source and target data. The focus was on improving the unknown domain score and multi-domain support. The results of the experiments were analyzed in the context of data collected on a humanoid robot. The article shows that the average score was the highest for the use of multi-domain data and data style enhancement. The method of obtaining average results for the proposed method reached the level of 92.08%. The result obtained by another research team was corrected.
Data Fusion for Cross-Domain Real-Time Object Detection on the Edge
Authors: Kovalenko Mykyta , Przewozny David , Eisert Peter , Bosse Sebastian , Chojecki Paul
Published: July 2023

We investigate an edge-computing scenario for robot control, where two similar neural networks are running on one computational node. We test the feasibility of using a single object-detection model (YOLOv5) with the benefit of reduced computational resources against the potentially more accurate independent and specialized models. Our results show that using one single convolutional neural network (for object detection and hand-gesture classification) instead of two separate ones can reduce resource usage by almost 50%. For many classes, we observed an increase in accuracy when using the model trained with more labels. For small datasets (a few hundred instances per label), we found that it is advisable to add labels with many instances from another dataset to increase detection accuracy.
An Experimental Detection of Distributed Denial of Service Attack in CDX 3 Platform Based on Snort
Authors: Chen Chin-Ling , Lai Jian Lin
Published: July 2023

Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attacks pose a significant threat to internet and cloud security. Our study utilizes a Poisson distribution model to efficiently detect DDoS attacks with a computational complexity of O(n). Unlike Machine Learning (ML)-based algorithms, our method only needs to set up one or more Poisson models for legitimate traffic based on the granularity of the time periods during preprocessing, thus eliminating the need for training time. We validate this approach with four virtual machines on the CDX 3.0 platform, each simulating different aspects of DDoS attacks for offensive, monitoring, and defense evaluation purposes. The study further analyzes seven diverse DDoS attack methods. When compared with existing methods, our approach demonstrates superior performance, highlighting its potential effectiveness in real-world DDoS attack detection.
Paintable Silicone-Based Corrugated Soft Elastomeric Capacitor for Area Strain Sensing
Authors: Liu Han , Laflamme Simon , Kollosche Matthias
Published: July 2023

Recent advances in soft polymer materials have enabled the design of soft machines and devices at multiple scales. Their intrinsic compliance and robust mechanical properties and the potential for a rapid scaling of the production process make them ideal candidates for flexible and stretchable electronics and sensors. Large-area electronics (LAE) made from soft polymer materials that are capable of sustaining large deformations and covering large surfaces and are applicable to complex and irregular surfaces and transducing deformations into readable signals have been explored for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. The authors have previously proposed and developed an LAE consisting of a corrugated soft elastomeric capacitor (cSEC). The corrugation is used to engineer the directional strain sensitivity by using a thermoplastic styrene-ethylene-butadiene-styrene (SEBS). A key limitation of the SEBS-cSEC technology is the need of an epoxy for reliable bonding of the sensor onto the monitored surface, mainly attributable to the sensor’s fabrication process that comprises a solvent that limits its direct deployment through a painting process. Here, with the objective to produce a paintable cSEC, we study an improved solvent-free fabrication method by using a commercial room-temperature-vulcanizing silicone as the host matrix. The matrix is filled with titania particles to form the dielectric layer, yielding a permittivity of 4.05. Carbon black powder is brushed onto the dielectric and encapsulated with the same silicone to form the conductive stretchable electrodes. The sensor is deployed by directly painting a layer of the silicone onto the monitored surface and then depositing the parallel plate capacitor. The electromechanical behavior of the painted silicone-cSEC was characterized and exhibited good linearity, with an R2 value of 0.9901, a gauge factor of 1.58, and a resolution of 70 με. This resolution compared well with that of the epoxied SEBS-cSEC reported in previous work (25 με). Its performance was compared against that of its more mature version, the SEBS-cSEC, in a network configuration on a cantilever plate subjected to a step-deformation and to free vibrations. Results showed that the performance of the painted silicone-sCEC compared well with that of the SEBS-cSEC, but that the use of a silicone paint instead of an epoxy could be responsible for larger noise and the under-estimation of the dominating frequency by 6.7%, likely attributable to slippage.
Bridge Damage Identification Using Deep Neural Networks on Time–Frequency Signals Representation
Authors: Santaniello Pasquale , Russo Paolo
Published: July 2023

For the purpose of maintaining and prolonging the service life of civil constructions, structural damage must be closely monitored. Monitoring the incidence, formation, and spread of damage is crucial to ensure a structure’s ongoing performance. This research proposes a unique approach for multiclass damage detection using acceleration responses based on synchrosqueezing transform (SST) together with deep learning algorithms. In particular, our pipeline is able to classify correctly the time series representing the responses of accelerometers placed on a bridge, which are classified with respect to different types of damage scenarios applied to the bridge. Using benchmark data from the Z24 bridge for multiclass classification for different damage situations, the suggested method is validated. This dataset includes labeled accelerometer measurements from a real-world bridge that has been gradually damaged by various conditions. The findings demonstrate that the suggested approach is successful in exploiting pre-trained 2D convolutional neural networks, obtaining a high classification accuracy that can be further boosted by the application of simple voting methods.
Prioritized Task-Scheduling Algorithm in Cloud Computing Using Cat Swarm Optimization
Authors: Mangalampalli Sudheer , Swain Sangram Keshari , Chakrabarti Tulika , Chakrabarti Prasun , Karri Ganesh Reddy , Margala Martin , Unhelkar Bhuvan , Krishnan Sivaneasan Bala
Published: July 2023

Effective scheduling algorithms are needed in the cloud paradigm to leverage services to customers seamlessly while minimizing the makespan, energy consumption and SLA violations. The ineffective scheduling of resources while not considering the suitability of tasks will affect the quality of service of the cloud provider, and much more energy will be consumed in the running of tasks by the inefficient provisioning of resources, thereby taking an enormous amount of time to process tasks, which affects the makespan. Minimizing SLA violations is an important aspect that needs to be addressed as it impacts the makespans, energy consumption, and also the quality of service in a cloud environment. Many existing studies have solved task-scheduling problems, and those algorithms gave near-optimal solutions from their perspective. In this manuscript, we developed a novel task-scheduling algorithm that considers the task priorities coming onto the cloud platform, calculates their task VM priorities, and feeds them to the scheduler. Then, the scheduler will choose appropriate tasks for the VMs based on the calculated priorities. To model this scheduling algorithm, we used the cat swarm optimization algorithm, which was inspired by the behavior of cats. It was implemented on the Cloudsim tool and OpenStack cloud platform. Extensive experimentation was carried out using real-time workloads. When compared to the baseline PSO, ACO and RATS-HM approaches and from the results, it is evident that our proposed approach outperforms all of the baseline algorithms in view of the above-mentioned parameters.
An Improved Method for Accurate Radiation Measurement Based on Dark Output Noise Drift Compensation
Authors: Zhao Baolin , Zhang Kaihua , Yu Yaxin , Yu Kun , Liu Yufang
Published: July 2023

This paper verified through experiments that change in ambient temperature are the main cause of dark output noise drift. Additionally, the impact of dark output noise drift in fiber optic spectrometers on emissivity measurements has been investigated in this work. Based on an improved fiber optic spectrometer, two methods were proposed for characterizing and correcting the dark output noise offset in fiber optic spectrometers: the mean correction scheme and the linear fitting correction scheme. Compared to the mean correction scheme, the linear fitting correction scheme is more effective in solving the problem of dark output noise drift. When the wavelength is greater than 1600 nm, the calibration relative error of silicon carbide (SIC) emissivity is less than 0.8% by the mean correction scheme, while the calibration relative error of silicon carbide emissivity is less than 0.62% by the linear fitting correction scheme. This work solves the problem of dark output noise drift in prolonged measurement based on fiber optic spectrometers, improving the accuracy and reliability of emissivity and quantitative radiation measurement.
A Prominent Streptomyces sp. Biomass-Based Biosorption of Zinc (II) and Lead (II) from Aqueous Solutions: Isotherm and Kinetic
Authors: Kumari Sheetal , Agrawal Nitin Kumar , Agarwal Animesh , Kumar Anil , Malik Neeraj , Goyal Dinesh , Rajput Vishnu D. , Minkina Tatiana , Sharma Pinki , Garg Manoj Chandra
Published: July 2023

Traditional freshwater sources have been over-abstracted in the worldwide crisis of water scarcity. Effluents have extremely high amounts of Zn2+ and Pb2+, according to an investigation of wastewater samples taken from several industrial zones. However, these heavy metals are among the most harmful to both humans and wildlife that are currently known. Streptomyces sp. is utilized in this study as a biosorbent to biosorb Zn2+ and Pb2+ from single and binary aqueous solutions. Several factors, such as biomass concentration (0.25–4 g), metal solution concentration (5–50 mg L−1), solution pH (2–5), and contact time were standardized. Streptomyces sp. biomass was able to extract 93% Pb2+ and 91% Zn2+ from a single and 95% Pb2+ and 97% Zn2+ from a binary metal aqueous solution containing 25 mg L−1 and pH 4. The highest adsorption capacity in both single and binary sorption experiments was determined to be shared by Zn2+ and Pb2+. The biosorbent’s metal adsorption increased from 0.48 to 4.56 mg g−1 for Pb2+ and from 0.21 mg g−1 to 4.65 mg g−1 for Zn2+ when the metals were present singly, and from 0.44 to 4.18 mg g−1 for Pb2+ and from 0.41 mg g−1 to 5.67 mg g−1 for Zn2+ when the metals were present in binary form. The amount of metal ions was raised from 5 to 50 mg L−1. Correlation coefficient (R2) values indicate that the adsorption pattern for Zn2+ and Pb2+ followed Freundlich isotherm R2 > 0.9543 for single and 0.9582 for binary sorption system. In order to remove Zn2+ and Pb2+ from an aqueous solution, Streptomyces sp. is a potential and different source of adsorbents.
Effect of Artificial Intelligence on the Development of China’s Wholesale and Retail Trade
Authors: Jian Lingxiang , Guo Shuxuan , Yu Shengqing
Published: July 2023

The rapid development of digital technologies and massive data analytics has enabled artificial intelligence (AI), via “machine learning”, to impact many societal sectors, including the wholesale and retail trade (WRT). However, the specific impact pathway and dynamics are still unclear. Based on the panel data of 30 provinces in China from 2015 to 2021, this paper employed the “VHSD-EM” model, random forest algorithm, and partial effect analysis to build an evaluation index system of AI and WRT, then to study the impact of AI on WRT in the temporal and spatial dimensions. Our main discoveries were as follows: (1) the quality of the WRT aligned well with the relative level of AI in the provinces, although the latter developed at a relatively fast pace; (2) the shortcomings that hindered the quality of WRT development varied in different regions, with a stark mismatch between the degree of informatization and the level of economic development in the eastern coastal region, a lack of innovation in the relatively high economic presence of the northern provinces, and a weak sharing of resources in the western region; (3) AI enhanced WRT development jointly with other key factors, particularly the density of employment, the percentage of WRT employees, and the ratio of the year-end financial institution deposits to the regional GDP, which raises the importance of the transaction volume of the technology market; (4) spatial differences exist in the impact pathways of AI on the high-quality development of WRT, and, for most provinces and regions except Shanghai and Guangdong, there is still significant room for expansion in the utilization of AI in WRT.
Influence of the Suspension Model in the Simulation of the Vertical Vibration Behavior of the Railway Vehicle Car Body
Authors: Dumitriu Mădălina , Apostol Ioana Izabela , Stănică Dragoș Ionuț
Published: July 2023

The evaluation of the vibration behavior of railway vehicle car bodies based on the results of numerical simulations requires the adoption of an appropriate theoretical model of the suspension which considers the important factors that influence the vibration level of the car body. In this paper, the influence of the secondary suspension model on the vertical vibration behavior of the railway vehicle car body is investigated, based on the results of numerical simulations on the frequency response functions of the acceleration, the power spectral density of the acceleration and the root mean square of the acceleration of the car body. Numerical simulation applications are developed based on a rigid-flexible coupled vehicle model with seven degrees of freedom, corresponding to car body vibration modes: bounce, pitch, and first vertical bending mode, and bogie vibration modes: bounce and pitch. Four different models of secondary suspension are integrated into the vehicle model, namely a reference model and four analysis models. Analysis models include systems through which the pitch vibration of the bogies is transmitted to the car body, influencing its vibration behavior and, respectively, a system that takes the relative angular displacement between the car body and the bogie and a system that models the transmission system of the longitudinal forces between the bogie and the car body are analyzed. The effects of these two systems on the vibration behavior of the railway vehicle car body are analyzed both for each system separately and together. In the conclusions of the paper, the influence of the secondary suspension model on the vibration level at the resonance frequencies of the vertical bending of the car body and the pitch of the bogie is pointed out. It also highlights the important contribution of the transmission system of the longitudinal forces between the bogie and the car body in transmitting pitch vibrations of the bogies to the car body, with effects on the vibration level of the car body at high speeds.
Blood test result communication in primary care: mixed-methods systematic review protocol
Authors: Nankervis Helen , Huntley Alyson , Whiting Penny , Hamilton William , Singh Hardeep , Dawson Sarah , Sprackman Jane , Ferguson Montague Anna , Watson Jessica
Published: July 2023

Background

After testing, ensuring test results are communicated and actioned is important for patient safety, with failure or delay in diagnosis the most common cause of malpractice claims in primary care worldwide. Identifying interventions to improve test communication from the decision to test through to sharing of results has important implications for patient safety, GP workload, and patient engagement.

Aim

To assess the factors around communication of blood test results between primary care providers (for example GPs, nurses, reception staff) and their patients and carers.

Design & setting

A mixed methods systematic review including primary studies involving communication of blood test results in primary care.

Method

The review will use a segregated convergent synthesis method. Qualitative information will be synthesised using a meta-aggregative approach, and quantitative data will be meta-analysed or synthesised if pooling of studies is appropriate and data are available. If not, data will be presented in tabular and descriptive summary form.

Conclusion

This review has the potential to provide conclusions about blood test result communication interventions and factors important to stakeholders, including barriers and facilitators to improved communication.
La comunicación en las aulas virtuales en la Universidad Tecnológica de Perú
Authors: Infante Takey Henry Ernesto , De La Cruz Rioja Ricardo , Hu Rivas Gloria Maney , Huapaya-Capcha Yoselin Andrea
Published: July 2023

Actualmente los espacios laborales y educacionales han sido alterados por la pandemia, la forma de comunicarse también; se ha pasado de una comunicación en el tiempo a una comunicación en tiempo real. Esta investigación tiene como objetivo conocer la importancia de la comunicación en las aulas virtuales, buscando identificar herramientas, estrategias que permitan una mejor comunicación virtual. El enfoque es cuantitativo, de tipo básico, método hipotético deductivo y diseño no experimental descriptivo, se obtuvo una confiabilidad de 0.72 usando Alpha de Cronbach. La población está conformada por 25 estudiantes de las facultades de la Universidad Tecnológica del Perú. Los resultados muestran, el 12% no usan audio conferencias, el 25% no usan herramientas de evaluación virtual que permitan una mejor interacción, esto significa que los docentes no están aprovechando las herramientas tecnológicas para tener una buena comunicación virtual. Se concluye, existe la necesidad de mejorar la comunicación virtual con herramientas tecnológicas.
Videos educativos como herramienta digital para mejorar las habilidades comunicativas de estudiantes del nivel primario
Authors: Sevairos Pérez Jackeline Karina , Ledesma Quique Carmen Lourdes , Lescano López Galia Susana
Published: July 2023

Las habilidades comunicativas permiten a las personas insertase en la sociedad a través de un conjunto de procesos lingüísticos que se desarrollan durante toda la vida, en donde la familia y la escuela juegan a un rol importante. El objetivo del estudio fue determinar la influencia de los videos educativos como herramienta digital para mejorar las habilidades comunicativas de estudiantes de nivel primario de una institución educativa pública. Se empleó el tipo de investigación aplicada de diseño preexperimental, se contó con una muestra de 140 estudiantes a quienes se les aplicó una ficha de observación de habilidades comunicativas como pretest y postest y los videos educativos se emplearon en 18 sesiones. Sobre los hallazgos se evidenció que los niveles de logro se incrementaron en expresión oral, corporal y escrita. Se concluyó que los videos educativos mejoraron las habilidades comunicativas en los estudiantes de nivel primario de una institución educativa pública.
Chlorophycées et matières grasses
Authors: Lesage Jules
Published: July 2023

Les Chlorophycées, algues vertes, microscopiques, qui entrent dans la constitution de l’humus ou matière noire du sol, sont capables d’utiliser certains corps gras pour leur nutrition.

En créant ces «globules verts», qui se trouvent en abondance à la surface du globe dans tous les endroits où séjourne un peu d’humidité, la prévoyante nature paraît avoir eu en vue d’en faire, non seulement des agents épurateurs des eaux et des fixateurs de carbone dans la terre végétale, mais encore des régénérateurs en cycle fermé du phosphore organique.

Quant aux matières grasses, elles favorisent l’action dissolvante exercée par ces Chlorophycées sur les phosphates sédimentaires du sol et, par cela même, jouent un rôle dans la vie de la terre.

Les tourteaux, que l’on utilise comme engrais, agissent donc non seulement par l’azote, l’acide phosphorique et la potasse qu’ils renferment, mais aussi par les résidus gras de la fabrication de l’huile.

Ces résidus contribuent à refaire la «vieille graisse» de la terre pauvre et il est logique de penser, qu’à l’image de ce qui se passe dans un organisme animal, ces matières grasses ne reçoivent leur utilisation qu’après leur dédoublement, en présence des bases alcalines ou alcalino-terreuses, en glycérine qui devient libre et en acide gras qui se fixe sur la base pour former un savon.