bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Managing Digital Presence in Wineries Practicing Heroic Agriculture: The Cases of Ribeira Sacra and Lanzarote (Spain)
Authors: Cruz-Ruiz Elena , Cristòfol F. J. , Zamarreño-Aramendia Gorka
Published: March 2023

Wine tourism has become an exciting avenue of development for rural wine-producing regions. The channels through which these millenary traditions are transmitted are diverse, and the wineries that practice heroic viticulture can sustainably influence the economic recovery process, especially after the COVID-19 crisis. This paper analyzes the possibilities offered by social media to promote rural territory and wine production in a sustainable way through wine tourism. For this purpose, we have used the case study of the wineries of the Ribeira Sacra appellation of origin and the Canary Islands context in the Lanzarote AO. The methodology used has counted, on the one hand, the existence of web pages of the geographical demarcations mentioned. On the other hand, a study of these wineries’ presence on the three main social networking sites, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram, has been carried out. The main focus has been on a content analysis of the social network Instagram, taking into account the terroir’s emotional values and tourist attractions. The results show that their presence on the Internet could be higher, as only 55% of the wineries of these appellations of origin have a website. In the case of Instagram, the percentages decrease in Ribeira Sacra and increase in Lanzarote. Finally, it has been possible to trace a model of rural development supported by sustainable tourism, wherein emotional values and transmitted attractions stand out, alongside elements related to the landscape and nature and the wine landscape, tradition and gastronomy.
Nutriepigenomics in Environmental-Associated Oxidative Stress
Authors: Rubio Karla , Hernández-Cruz Estefani Y. , Rogel-Ayala Diana G. , Sarvari Pouya , Isidoro Ciro , Barreto Guillermo , Pedraza-Chaverri José
Published: March 2023

Complex molecular mechanisms define our responses to environmental stimuli. Beyond the DNA sequence itself, epigenetic machinery orchestrates changes in gene expression induced by diet, physical activity, stress and pollution, among others. Importantly, nutrition has a strong impact on epigenetic players and, consequently, sustains a promising role in the regulation of cellular responses such as oxidative stress. As oxidative stress is a natural physiological process where the presence of reactive oxygen-derived species and nitrogen-derived species overcomes the uptake strategy of antioxidant defenses, it plays an essential role in epigenetic changes induced by environmental pollutants and culminates in signaling the disruption of redox control. In this review, we present an update on epigenetic mechanisms induced by environmental factors that lead to oxidative stress and potentially to pathogenesis and disease progression in humans. In addition, we introduce the microenvironment factors (physical contacts, nutrients, extracellular vesicle-mediated communication) that influence the epigenetic regulation of cellular responses. Understanding the mechanisms by which nutrients influence the epigenome, and thus global transcription, is crucial for future early diagnostic and therapeutic efforts in the field of environmental medicine.
Activators of Nrf2 to Counteract Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Amoroso Rosa , Maccallini Cristina , Bellezza Ilaria
Published: March 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases are incurable and debilitating conditions that result in progressive degeneration and loss of nerve cells. Oxidative stress has been proposed as one factor that plays a potential role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders since neuron cells are particularly vulnerable to oxidative damage. Nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (Nrf2) is strictly related to anti-inflammatory and antioxidative cell response; therefore, its activation and the consequent enhancement of the related cellular pathways have been proposed as a potential therapeutic approach. Several Nrf2 activators with different mechanisms and diverse structures have been reported, but those applied for neurodisorders are still limited. However, in the very last few years, interesting progress has been made, particularly in enhancing the blood–brain barrier penetration, to make Nrf2 activators effective drugs, and in designing Nrf2-based multitarget-directed ligands to affect multiple pathways involved in the pathology of neurodegenerative diseases. The present review gives an overview of the most representative findings in this research area.
Deterioration Process of Cementitious Material Properties under Internal Sulphate Attack
Authors: Zhong Chao , Huang Bei
Published: March 2023

As one of the important factors affecting the structural durability of cementitious materials, sulphate erosion not only reduces the service life of the material but also poses a threat to the structural safety of the project. At present, scholars around the world have conducted extensive research on topics related to external sulphate attacks and have achieved fruitful results. However, the process and mechanism of attack degradation of the gelling material are not clear. In this paper, gypsum sand was introduced into the mortar. The effects of gypsum content, gypsum particle size and curing temperature on physical properties such as expansion and strength of specimens were investigated. X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry (TG), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive spectrometry (EDS) were used to analyse specimens’ phase composition and microstructure evolution at different attack ages. Finally, cementitious materials’ degradation process and mechanism under internal sulphate attack (ISA) were analysed. Through the above research, the following main conclusions are drawn: (1) The swelling rate of cement mortar specimens all increased with the increase of gypsum dosing; (2) The expansion of cement pastes and mortars does not increase with the increase in curing temperature; (3) The gypsum particle sizes are smaller, the expansion of mortar specimens is larger, and the loss of compressive and bending strength of mortar specimens is large; and (4) The main reaction product of ISA is Ettringite (AFt). The gypsum formed during the ISA process does not cause expansion, while AFt is the main reason for the destruction of the cementitious material.
Analysis of Performance Improvement of Passenger Car Synchronous Homopolar Generator with the Addition of Ferrite Magnets
Authors: Prakht Vladimir , Dmitrievskii Vladimir , Kazakbaev Vadim
Published: March 2023

Electric machines with hybrid excitation have increased torque density while maintaining a wide range of speed control. This article presents the results of the optimal design of a synchronous homopolar generator (SHG) with ferrite magnets on the rotor and excitation winding on the stator for passenger cars. The use of ferrite magnets on the rotor of a synchronous homopolar generator makes it possible to use the stator surface more efficiently, which in turn increases energy efficiency and reduces the dimensions of the generator. At the same time, the excitation winding on the stator provides a reliable brushless design and the ability to control the excitation flux. The problem of long-time calculation of the three-dimensional SHG structure, which is especially relevant when using multi-iterative computer optimization, is solved by using the computationally efficient Nelder-Mead method and a simplified SHG model using two-dimensional finite element analysis. It is also clear that the low torque ripple of SHG with ferrite magnets with two stator-rotor stack combinations (SRSC) is largely provided by the fact that the torque ripples of individual SRSCs are in antiphase. The problem of considering the magnetic properties of magnetic core sections made of structural low-carbon steel is discussed. It has been found that with an increase in both the saturation level of the magnetic circuit and the magnetomotive force (MMF) of the SHG excitation winding, resistance to irreversible demagnetization of ferrite magnets on the rotor can be increased by increasing their height. In addition, it is shown that there is a significant increase in performance when using the hybrid excitation, in comparison with the conventional SHG design without magnets.
Methods for Detecting Picric Acid—A Review of Recent Progress
Authors: Fabin Magdalena , Łapkowski Mieczysław , Jarosz Tomasz
Published: March 2023

Nitroaromatic compounds in general and 2,4,6-trinitrophenol (picric acid) in particular have recently attracted significant research attention as environmental contaminants. This spurred a wave of development regarding the methods of detecting these compounds. This work focuses on picric acid as the most common and problematic of these contaminants. The key classes of materials sensitive to picric acid are indicated, and recent developments are discussed in detail. Particular attention is given to the detection and speciation capabilities of the discussed materials and methods utilising them, with various technical considerations noted as relevant.
In-Cylinder Heat Transfer Model Proposal Compatible with 1D Simulations in Uniflow Scavenged Engines
Authors: Climent Héctor , Tiseira Andrés , Gomez-Soriano Josep , Darbhamalla Aditya
Published: March 2023

Advanced two-stroke engines are considered as powertrains for range extenders in hybrid electric vehicles due to size, simplicity, cost, and power density advantages. In-cylinder heat transfer is a phenomenon that affects the temperature of burnt gases and fresh air in an internal combustion engine. Compared to four-stroke units, this influence is more critical in two-stroke engines during the scavenging process since the gases velocity field inside the cylinder evolves rapidly in space and time. This study proposes a new convective heat transfer coefficient model beyond those based on Reynolds number calculation with the mean piston velocity. The model uses semi-empirical equations with non-dimensional numbers since it has to be integrated within the frame of a physical engine model, where thermo- and fluid dynamic properties of the gases inside the engine are solved using 0D or 1D approaches. In this particular application, the temperature deviation led to a poor prediction of trapped mass in the cylinder. The proposed convective heat transfer coefficient is calculated using a pseudo-velocity of the gases inside the cylinder based on the mass flow rates in the intake and exhaust ports during scavenging. The experimental results validate the 1D engine physical model, which is then used as initial conditions for CFD simulations. These CFD results are used to deduce the necessary conclusions for enhanced temperature predictability during scavenging, where deviations of less than 2% can be observed and an impact of up to 12% on the in-cylinder trapped mass can be seen.
Calculation Model of Compaction Coefficient of Soil among SP−PSC Pile Group on Collapsible Loess Foundation
Authors: Hou Jian , Lu Yiyang , Wang Jian’an , Yu Kaihang
Published: March 2023

Collapsible loess is a kind of soil with special properties, and is widely distributed in China. When it is not wetted by water, its strength is generally high and its compressibility is low. However, when collapsible loess is wetted by water under a certain pressure, the soil structure will be rapidly destroyed, resulting in large additional subsidence. Therefore, when engineering constructions on collapsible loess sites are carried out, appropriate foundation treatment measures must be taken to eliminate foundation collapsibility. Because of their advantages, static pressure plain soil compaction (SP−PSC) piles are widely used for collapsible loess foundation treatments in China. However, at present, there is still a lack of accurate understanding of the distribution of compaction coefficient of soil among SP−PSC pile groups on collapsible loess foundations. The present study systematically investigated the distribution of the soil compaction coefficient among SP−PSC pile groups based on SP−PSC pile group tests and finite element analyses. The effect of different factors on soil compaction coefficient was analyzed and explored, including the pile diameter and length of SP−PSC piles, the soil moisture content, the pile spacing within the SP−PSC pile group, and the depth to ground. Finally, the simplified calculation models of the compaction coefficient of the soil at the center of pile group and at the midpoints of adjacent piles were analytically formulated. These models established a theoretical basis for the design and construction of SP−PSC pile groups on collapsible loess foundations.
The Prediction of Abrasion Resistance of Mortars Modified with Granite Powder and Fly Ash Using Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Czarnecki Slawomir , Chajec Adrian , Malazdrewicz Seweryn , Sadowski Lukasz
Published: March 2023

This paper predicts the abrasion resistance of a cementitious composite containing granite powder and fly ash replacing up to 30% of the cement weight. For this purpose, intelligent artificial neural network (ANN) models were used and compared. A database was built based on mix composition, curing time, and curing method. The model developed to predict the abrasion resistance of the cementitious composites containing granite powder and fly ash was shown to be accurate. It was proved by the very high values of the accuracy parameters that were above 0.93 in the case of the coefficient of the determination R2 and very low values of the errors, which were about 10% in the case of mean average percentage error. This method can be used especially for designing cement mortars with granite powder and fly ash additives replacing cement in a range from 0 to 30% of its weight. These mortars can be used for floors in industrial buildings.
CFD Investigation of an Innovative Additive Manufactured POCS Substrate as Electrical Heated Solution for After-Treatment Systems
Authors: Barillari Loris , Della Torre Augusto , Montenegro Gianluca , Onorati Angelo
Published: March 2023

In the last decade, additive manufacturing (AM) techniques have been progressively applied to the manufacturing of many mechanical components. Compared to traditional techniques, this technology is characterized by disruptive potential in terms of the complexity of the objects that can be produced. This opens new frontiers in terms of design flexibility, making it possible to create new components with optimized performances in terms of mechanical properties and weight. In this work, the focus is on a specific field of application: the development of novel porous media structures which can be the basis of advanced after-treatment systems for internal combustion engines. In particular, the possibility to design periodic open cellular structures (POCSs) that can be applied as catalytic substrates opens new perspectives in terms of flexibility and integrated functionalities. The present study investigates an innovative solution where the catalytic substrates are located in the pipes of the exhaust manifolds of a high-performance engine. A preliminary characterization of the pressure drop induced by the POCS structure is carried out, with a particular focus on the impact of the backpressure on the engine performances. Moreover, each POCS integrates an electrical circuit which is used to promote the heating of the device, with beneficial effects on the light-off of the catalytic reactions. An advanced CFD model is applied to evaluate the potential of the solution, comparing the pollutant conversion with that of the baseline configuration equipped with a standard after-treatment system solution.
Analysis and Evaluation of Extreme Rainfall Trends and Geological Hazards Risk in the Lower Jinshajiang River
Authors: Bi Xiaojia , Fan Qiang , He Lei , Zhang Cunjie , Diao Yifei , Han Yanlin
Published: March 2023

This research studied the risk assessment of geological hazards, such as landslides and debris flow, under the time series and trend characteristics of extreme precipitation events in the last 60 years in nine typical regions of the lower Jinshajiang River Basin. Nine indicators, including slope, engineering geological rock group, slope structure type, distance to road, topographic relief, distance to fault, distance to the water system, vegetation cover and profile curvature, were selected as the index factors for landslide susceptibility evaluation, and the information quantity method was used to obtain the landslide susceptibility evaluation of the study area. Based on the susceptibility evaluation, the spatial analysis function of GIS was used to derive the geological hazard zoning under the extreme rainfall trend. The results showed that the areas with high extreme rainfall trends have higher densities of geological hazard development and they are concentrated, while areas with low extreme rainfall trends have relatively less geological hazard development, and what development exists is scattered.
Effect of Spring-Mass-Damper Pedestrian Models on the Performance of Low-Frequency or Lightweight Glazed Floors
Authors: Bedon Chiara , Santos Filipe A.
Published: March 2023

For structural design purposes, human-induced loads on pedestrian systems can be described by several simplified (i.e., deterministic equivalent-force models) or more complex computational approaches. Among others, the Spring-Mass-Damper (SMD), Single Degree of Freedom (SDOF) model has been elaborated by several researchers to describe single pedestrians (or groups) in the form of equivalent body mass m, spring stiffness k and damping coefficient c. For all these literature SMD formulations, it is proved that the biodynamic features of walking pedestrians can be realistically reproduced, with high computational efficiency for vibration serviceability assessment of those pedestrian systems mostly sensitive to human-induced loads (i.e., with vibration frequency f1 < 8 Hz). Besides, the same SMD proposals are characterized by mostly different theoretical and experimental assumptions for calibration. On the practical side, strongly different SMD input parameters can thus be obtained for a given pedestrian. This paper focuses on a selection of literature on SMD models, especially on their dynamic effects on different structural floor systems. Four different floors are explored (F#1 and F#2 made of concrete, F#3 and F#4 of glass), with high- or low-frequency, and/or high- (>1/130th) or low- (1/4th) mass ratio, compared to the occupant. Normal walking scenarios with frequency in the range fp = 1.5–2 Hz are taken into account for a total of 100 dynamic simulations. The quantitative comparison of typical structural performance indicators for vibration serviceability assessment (i.e., acceleration peak, RMS, CREST) shows significant sensitivity to input SMD assumptions. Most importantly, the sensitivity of structural behaviours is observed for low-frequency systems, as expected, but also for low-mass structures, which (as in the case of glazed floor solutions) can be characterized by the use of lightweight modular units with relatively high vibration frequency. As such, major attention can be required for their vibrational analysis and assessment.
Using Wearables to Monitor Swimmers’ Propulsive Force to Get Real-Time Feedback and Understand Its Relationship to Swimming Velocity
Authors: Lopes Tiago J. , Sampaio Tatiana , Oliveira João P. , Pinto Mafalda P. , Marinho Daniel A. , Morais Jorge E.
Published: March 2023

Evidence on the role of propulsion compared to drag in swimming, based on experimental settings, is still lacking. However, higher levels of propulsion seem to lead to faster swimming velocities. The aim of this study was to understand the variation in a set of kinematic and kinetic variables between two swimming sections and their relationship to swimming velocity. The sample consisted of 15 young adult recreational swimmers (8 males: 20.84 ± 2.03 years; 7 females: 20.13 ± 1.90 years). Maximum swimming velocity and a set of kinematic and kinetic variables were measured during two consecutive sections of the swimming pool. Differences between sections were measured and the determinants of swimming velocity were analyzed. Swimming velocity, propulsive force, and the other kinematic and kinetic variables did not change significantly (p < 0.05) between sections (only the intra-cyclic fluctuation of swimming velocity decreased significantly, p = 0.005). The modeling identified the propulsive force, stroke length, and active drag coefficient as the determinants of swimming velocity. Swimming velocity was determined by the interaction of kinematic and kinetic variables, specifically propulsive force and active drag coefficient.
An Accurate Activate Screw Detection Method for Automatic Electric Vehicle Battery Disassembly
Authors: Li Huaicheng , Zhang Hengwei , Zhang Yisheng , Zhang Shengmin , Peng Yanlong , Wang Zhigang , Song Huawei , Chen Ming
Published: March 2023

With the increasing popularity of electric vehicles, the number of end-of-life (EOF) electric vehicle batteries (EVBs) is also increasing day by day. Efficient dismantling and recycling of EVBs are essential to ensure environmental protection. There are many types of EVBs with complex structures, and the current automatic dismantling line is immature and lacks corresponding dismantling equipment. This makes it difficult for some small parts to be disassembled precisely. Screws are used extensively in batteries to fix or connect modules in EVBs. However, due to the small size of screws and differences in installation angles, screw detection is a very challenging task and a significant obstacle to automatic EVBs disassembly. This research proposes a systematic method to complete screw detection called “Active Screw Detection”. The experimental results show that with the YOLOX-s model, the improved YOLOX model achieves 95.92% and 92.14% accuracy for both mAP50 and mAP75 positioning after autonomous adjustment of the robotic arm attitude. Compared to the method without autonomous adjustment of the robotic arm, mAP50 and mAP75 improved by 62.81% and 57.67%, respectively. In addition, the improved YOLOX model improves mAP50 and mAP75 by 0.19% and 3.59%, respectively, compared to the original YOLOX model.
Recognizing Road Surface Traffic Signs Based on Yolo Models Considering Image Flips
Authors: Dewi Christine , Chen Rung-Ching , Zhuang Yong-Cun , Jiang Xiaoyi , Yu Hui
Published: March 2023

In recent years, there have been significant advances in deep learning and road marking recognition due to machine learning and artificial intelligence. Despite significant progress, it often relies heavily on unrepresentative datasets and limited situations. Drivers and advanced driver assistance systems rely on road markings to help them better understand their environment on the street. Road markings are signs and texts painted on the road surface, including directional arrows, pedestrian crossings, speed limit signs, zebra crossings, and other equivalent signs and texts. Pavement markings are also known as road markings. Our experiments briefly discuss convolutional neural network (CNN)-based object detection algorithms, specifically for Yolo V2, Yolo V3, Yolo V4, and Yolo V4-tiny. In our experiments, we built the Taiwan Road Marking Sign Dataset (TRMSD) and made it a public dataset so other researchers could use it. Further, we train the model to distinguish left and right objects into separate classes. Furthermore, Yolo V4 and Yolo V4-tiny results can benefit from the “No Flip” setting. In our case, we want the model to distinguish left and right objects into separate classes. The best model in the experiment is Yolo V4 (No Flip), with a test accuracy of 95.43% and an IoU of 66.12%. In this study, Yolo V4 (without flipping) outperforms state-of-the-art schemes, achieving 81.22% training accuracy and 95.34% testing accuracy on the TRMSD dataset.
Analytical Models of Intra- and Extratumoral Cell Interactions at Avascular Stage of Growth in the Presence of Targeted Chemotherapy
Authors: Lavrenteva Evgeniia , Theodoropoulos Constantinos , Binns Michael
Published: March 2023

In this study, we propose a set of nonlinear differential equations to model the dynamic growth of avascular stage tumors, considering nutrient supply from underlying tissue, innate immune response, contact inhibition of cell migration, and interactions with a chemotherapeutic agent. The model has been validated against available experimental data from the literature for tumor growth. We assume that the size of the modeled tumor is already detectable, and it represents all clinically observed existent cell populations; initial conditions are selected accordingly. Numerical results indicate that the tumor size and regression significantly depend on the strength of the host immune system. The effect of chemotherapy is investigated, not only within the malignancy, but also in terms of the responding immune cells and healthy tissue in the vicinity of a tumor.
User Perceptions of ROTEM-Guided Haemostatic Resuscitation: A Mixed Qualitative–Quantitative Study
Authors: Gasciauskaite Greta , Malorgio Amos , Castellucci Clara , Budowski Alexandra , Schweiger Giovanna , Kolbe Michaela , Grande Bastian , Noethiger Christoph B. , Spahn Donat R. , Roche Tadzio R. , Tscholl David W. , Akbas Samira
Published: March 2023

Viscoelastic point-of-care haemostatic resuscitation methods, such as ROTEM or TEG, are crucial in deciding on time-efficient personalised coagulation interventions. International transfusion guidelines emphasise increased patient safety and reduced treatment costs. We analysed care providers’ perceptions of ROTEM to identify perceived strengths and areas for improvement. We conducted a single-centre, mixed qualitative–quantitative study consisting of interviews followed by an online survey. Using a template approach, we first identified themes in the responses given by care providers about ROTEM. Later, the participants rated six statements based on the identified themes on five-point Likert scales in an online questionnaire. Seventy-seven participants were interviewed, and 52 completed the online survey. By analysing user perceptions, we identified ten themes. The most common positive theme was “high accuracy”. The most common negative theme was “need for training”. In the online survey, 94% of participants agreed that monitoring the real-time ROTEM temograms helps to initiate targeted treatment more quickly and 81% agreed that recurrent ROTEM training would be beneficial. Anaesthesia care providers found ROTEM to be accurate and quickly available to support decision-making in dynamic and complex haemostatic situations. However, clinicians identified that interpreting ROTEM is a complex and cognitively demanding task that requires significant training needs.
Focused Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (FLIPUS) Mitigates Apoptosis of MLO-Y4 Osteocyte-like Cells
Authors: Puts Regina , Khaffaf Aseel , Shaka Maria , Zhang Hui , Raum Kay
Published: March 2023

Long cytoplasmic processes of osteocytes orchestrate bone activity by integration of biochemical and mechanical signals and regulate load-induced bone adaptation. Low-Intensity Pulsed Ultrasound (LIPUS) is a clinically used technique for fracture healing that delivers mechanical impulses to the damaged bone tissue in a non-invasive and non-ionizing manner. The mechanism of action of LIPUS is still controversially discussed in the scientific community. In this study, the effect of focused LIPUS (FLIPUS) on the survival of starved MLO-Y4 osteocytes was investigated in vitro. Osteocytes stimulated for 10 min with FLIPUS exhibited extended dendrites, which formed frequent connections to neighboring cells and spanned longer distances. The sonicated cells displayed thick actin bundles and experienced increase in expression of connexin 43 (Cx43) proteins, especially on their dendrites, and E11 glycoprotein, which is responsible for the elongation of cellular cytoplasmic processes. After stimulation, expression of cell growth and survival genes as well as genes related to cell–cell communication was augmented. In addition, cell viability was improved after the sonication, and a decrease in ATP release in the medium was observed. In summary, FLIPUS mitigated apoptosis of starved osteocytes, which is likely related to the formation of the extensive dendritic network that ensured cell survival.
Specific Neural Mechanisms of Self-Cognition and the Application of Brainprint Recognition
Authors: Zhang Rongkai , Zeng Ying , Tong Li , Yan Bin
Published: March 2023

The important identity attribute of self-information presents unique cognitive processing advantages in psychological experiments and has become a research hotspot in psychology and brain science. The unique processing mode of own information has been widely verified in visual and auditory experiments, which is a unique neural processing method for own name, face, voice and other information. In the study of individual behavior, the behavioral uniqueness of self-information is reflected in the faster response of the human brain to self-information, the higher attention to self-information, and the stronger memory level of self-reference. Brain imaging studies have also presented the uniqueness of self-cognition in the brain. EEG studies have shown that self-information induces significant P300 components. fMRI and PET results show that the differences in self and non-self working patterns were located in the frontal and parietal lobes. In addition, this paper combines the self-uniqueness theory and brain-print recognition technology to explore the application of self-information in experimental design, channel combination strategy and identity feature selection of brainprints.
Optimal Timing of Coronary Artery Bypass Grafting in Haemodynamically Stable Patients after Myocardial Infarction
Authors: Bernard Chloé , Morgant Marie Catherine , Jazayeri Aline , Perrin Thomas , Malapert Ghislain , Jazayeri Saed , Bernard Alain , Bouchot Olivier
Published: March 2023

During the acute phase of myocardial infarction, the culprit artery must be revascularized quickly with angioplasty. Surgery then completes the procedure in a second stage. If emergency surgery is performed, the resulting death rate is high; 15–20% of patients are operated on within the first 48 h after the myocardial infarction. The timing of surgical revascularization and the patient’s preoperative state influence the mortality rate. We aimed to evaluate the impact of surgery delay on morbimortality. Between 2007 and 2017, a retrospective monocentric study was conducted including 477 haemodynamically stable patients after myocardial infarction who underwent an urgent coronary bypass. Three groups were described, depending on the timing of the surgery: during the first 4 days (Group 1, n = 111, 23%), 5 to 10 days (Group 2, n = 242, 51%) and after 11 days (Group 3, n = 124, 26%). The overall thirty-day mortality was 7.1% (n = 34). The death rate was significantly higher in Group 1 (n = 16; 14% vs. n = 10; 4.0% vs. n = 8; 6%, p < 0.01). The mortality risk factors identified were age (OR: 1.08; CI 95%: 1.04–1.12; p < 0.001), peripheral arteriopathy (OR: 3.31; CI 95%: 1.16–9.43; p = 0.024), preoperative renal failure (OR: 6.39; CI 95%: 2.49–15.6; p < 0.001) and preoperative ischemic recurrence (OR: 3.47; CI 95%: 1.59–7.48; p < 0.01). Ninety-two patients presented with preoperative ischemic recurrence (19%), with no difference between the groups. The optimal timing for the surgical revascularization of MI seems to be after Day 4 in stable patients. However, timing is not the only factor influencing the death rate: the patient’s health condition and disease severity must be considered in the individual management strategy.
The Role of the Left Inferior Parietal Cortex in Gilles de la Tourette Syndrome—An rTMS Study
Authors: Paulus Theresa , Wernecke Lynn , Lundie Annik , Friedrich Julia , Verrel Julius , Rawish Tina , Weissbach Anne , Frings Christian , Beste Christian , Bäumer Tobias , Münchau Alexander
Published: March 2023

Increased activity in the left inferior parietal cortex (BA40) plays a role in the generation of tics in the Gilles de la Tourette syndrome (GTS). Thus, inhibitory repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) applied to BA40 was hypothesized to alleviate symptoms in GTS. We investigated the immediate effects of single-session 1 Hz rTMS and sham stimulation delivered to the left BA40 on tics assessed with the Rush video protocol in 29 adults with GTS. There were no significant effects on tic symptoms following rTMS or sham stimulation. Moreover, there was no difference when comparing the effects of both stimulation conditions. Bayesian statistics indicated substantial evidence against an intervention effect. The left BA40 appears not to be a useful target for 1 Hz rTMS to modulate tic symptoms in GTS patients.
Mixed-Culture Propagation of Uterine-Tissue-Resident Macrophages and Their Expression Properties of Steroidogenic Molecules
Authors: Ogawa Kazushige , Tanida Takashi
Published: March 2023

Tissue-resident macrophages (Mø) play tissue/organ-specific roles, and the physiological/pathological implications of uterine Mø in fertility and infertility are not yet fully understood. Herein, we report a simple propagation method for tissue-resident Mø by mixed culture with the respective tissue/organ-residing cells as the niche. We successfully propagated mouse uterine Mø by mixed culture with fibroblastic cells that exhibited properties of endometrial stromal cells. Propagated mouse uterine Mø were CD206- and arginase-1-positive; iNOS- and MHC-II-negative, indicating M2 polarization; and highly phagocytic, similar to endometrial Mø. Furthermore, uterine Mø were observed to express steroidogenic molecules including SRD5A1 and exhibited gap junction formation, likely with endometrial stromal cells. Accordingly, uterine Mø propagated by mixed culture may provide a new tool for studying immune–endocrine interactions related to fertility and infertility, particularly androgen’s intracrine actions in preparing the uterine tissue environment to support implantation and pregnancy as well as in the etiology of endometriosis.
High-Throughput and Automated Detection of HLA-B*27 Using the LabTurboTM AIO System
Authors: Chou Yung-Che , Er Tze-Kiong
Published: March 2023

The adoption of an automated system can decrease the hands-on time requirements in a clinical laboratory setting. For the detection of HLA-B*27, implementing a high-throughput and fully automated system has several advantages over using manual methods. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate automation efficiency for the detection of HLA-B*27. Peripheral blood samples were obtained from 50 participants, and DNA was isolated from these samples. A Pharmigene PG27 detection kit was used for the qualitative detection of HLA-B*27. The performances of the semi-automated and fully automated LabTurboTM AIO systems in the detection of HLA-B*27 were compared. The mean absorbance (optical density) values for the MaelstromTM 8 and LabTurboTM AIO systems were found to be 1.88 and 1.9, respectively. The housekeeping gene was amplified and quantified using a real-time PCR assay across all DNA extracts to check the quality of the extracted human DNA. The results were expressed as the cycle threshold (Ct) values for all DNA extracts from both platforms. The mean Ct values for the Roche Cobas z480 and LabTurboTM AIO systems were found to be 22.7 and 20.4, respectively. This study demonstrated that the semi-automated method and the LabTurboTM AIO system yield consistent results for the detection of HLA-B*27. However, compared to the semi-automated method, the LabTurboTM AIO system provides standardized procedures, avoids manual handling, and improves turnaround time.
Investigating the Link between Early Life and Breast Anomalies
Authors: Christopoulos Panagiotis , Matsas Alkis , Eleftheriades Makarios , Kotsira Georgia , Eleftheriades Anna , Vlahos Nikolaos F.
Published: March 2023

Several factors during childhood and adolescence are thought to be associated with the development of proliferative benign breast diseases and breast cancer in adulthood. In order to identify them, the authors conducted an extensive review of the literature up to October 2022, searching for clinical studies, reports, and guidelines in English. A thorough Medline/Pubmed and Google scholar database research was performed, investigating the link between diet, exercise, age of menarche, body mass index, ionizing radiation exposure during childhood and adolescence, and proliferative breast diseases and breast cancer in adulthood. A list of keywords, including breast disorders, adolescence, childhood, and breast cancer was included in our search algorithm. Numerous studies concede that the development of breast disease in adulthood is influenced by various risk factors, whose influence begins during early childhood and adolescence.
Origin and Emergence of Microglia in the CNS—An Interesting (Hi)story of an Eccentric Cell
Authors: Dermitzakis Iasonas , Manthou Maria Eleni , Meditskou Soultana , Tremblay Marie-Ève , Petratos Steven , Zoupi Lida , Boziki Marina , Kesidou Evangelia , Simeonidou Constantina , Theotokis Paschalis
Published: March 2023

Microglia belong to tissue-resident macrophages of the central nervous system (CNS), representing the primary innate immune cells. This cell type constitutes ~7% of non-neuronal cells in the mammalian brain and has a variety of biological roles integral to homeostasis and pathophysiology from the late embryonic to adult brain. Its unique identity that distinguishes its “glial” features from tissue-resident macrophages resides in the fact that once entering the CNS, it is perennially exposed to a unique environment following the formation of the blood–brain barrier. Additionally, tissue-resident macrophage progenies derive from various peripheral sites that exhibit hematopoietic potential, and this has resulted in interpretation issues surrounding their origin. Intensive research endeavors have intended to track microglial progenitors during development and disease. The current review provides a corpus of recent evidence in an attempt to disentangle the birthplace of microglia from the progenitor state and underlies the molecular elements that drive microgliogenesis. Furthermore, it caters towards tracking the lineage spatiotemporally during embryonic development and outlining microglial repopulation in the mature CNS. This collection of data can potentially shed light on the therapeutic potential of microglia for CNS perturbations across various levels of severity.
Effect of Powder Recycling on the Organization and Mechanical Properties of GH4169 Alloy by Laser Metal Deposition
Authors: Zhang Haibo , Li Jieshuai , Li Yingqiu
Published: March 2023

The purpose of this research is to prepare GH4 169 alloy specimens by laser metal deposition, by investigating the changes in powder morphology, powder particle size, and elemental content during the cycling process. As well as the pore defects and microstructure of deposited samples prepared from recycled powder, we analyzed the changes in powder properties during the cycling process and the effects of using recycled powder on the organization and properties of LMD-deposited specimens. It was shown that the average particle size of the powder increased with the increase in the size of powder recycling, from 59.861 µm in the original powder to 64.144 µm after four cycles, with the phenomenon of powder burnout and satellite ball. The elemental content of the powder changed with the increase in the number of cycles, among which the elemental content of Nb increased significantly from 4.31 wt% of the original powder to 7.97 wt% after four cycles, the proportion of Laves phase in the deposited samples increased, the porosity and pore size increased, the tensile strength of the specimen decreased from 1046 MPa of the original powder to 936 MPa, the tensile strength decreased by 10.5%, and the elongation was increased to 27% from 11% of the original powder. Powder recycling can lead to powder aging and reduce the mechanical properties of the laser metal deposited formed parts.
Microbiome Profile of the Mediterranean Mussel (Mytilus galloprovincialis) from Northern Aegean Sea (Greece) Culture Areas, Based on a 16S rRNA Next Generation Sequencing Approach
Authors: Schoinas Konstantinos , Konstantou Vasiliki , Bompou Emmanouela , Floros George , Chatziplis Dimitrios , Imsiridou Anastasia , Loukovitis Dimitrios
Published: March 2023

Mediterranean mussels (Mytilus galloprovincialis), due to their nutritional mechanisms which involve filtering huge amounts of water, are affected by seawater pollution and can host microbial diversity of environmental origin, as well as pathogenic bacteria that must be constantly monitored. Herein, we applied a Next Generation Sequencing (NGS) metabarcoding approach in order to study the M. galloprovincialis microbiota. Collection of samples was conducted during winter and summer months from various mussel farm zones located in specific farm regions in the Thermaikos gulf, the northern Aegean Sea, Greece. A microbiological test was performed for the enumeration of Escherichia coli and the presence of Salmonella sp. DNA extraction and amplification of the whole bacterial 16S rRNA gene, followed by NGS amplicon sequencing and taxonomic classification, were carried out. Statistically significant differences (p < 0.05) in the abundance of the most dominant bacterial phyla, families and genera between winter and summer time periods, regions, as well as zones within each region of sampling, were evaluated with z-score computation. According to the obtained results, the most prevalent taxa at the genus level were Mycoplasma (12.2%), Anaplasma (5.8%), Ruegeria (5.2%) and Mariniblastus (2.1%). Significant differences in the abundance of the most dominant genera were found at all levels of comparison (seasons, regions and zones within each region), highlighting the dynamic character of microorganisms, which might be affected by microenvironmental, temporal and spatial changes. The present research contributes to the characterization of M. galloprovincialis microbiome in areas that have not been studied previously, setting the baseline for future, more thorough investigations of the specific bivalve species and its bacterial profile in the above geographic regions.
Is It Time to Supersede the Diagnostic Term “Melanoma In Situ with Regression?” A Narrative Review
Authors: Colagrande Anna , Ingravallo Giuseppe , Cazzato Gerardo
Published: March 2023

Traditionally, the term melanoma in situ (MIS) is used to designate a horizontal (radial) growth phase of malignant melanoma (MM) in which there is no histological evidence of any invasion (or microinvasion) of neoplastic melanocytic cells into the superficial or papillary dermis. In daily dermatopathological practice, we are faced with misleading definitions, such as “melanoma in situ with regression,” which risk affecting homogeneity for comparison purposes of pathological reports of malignant melanoma. The authors conducted a literature review using PubMed and Web of Science (WoS) as the main databases and using the following keywords: “Malignant Melanoma in situ” or “Melanoma in situ” and “regression” and/or “radial growth phase regression.” A total of 213 articles from both analyzed databases were retrieved; finally, only eight articles in English were considered suitable for the chosen inclusion criteria. In consideration of the absence of studies with large case series, of reviews with meta-analyses, and, therefore, of a broad scientific consensus, expressions including “melanoma in situ with regression” should be avoided in the histopathological report. Instead, they should be replaced with clearer and more exhaustive definitions.
A Novel Technique for Photo-Identification of the Fin Whale, Balaenoptera physalus, as Determined by Drone Aerial Images
Authors: Degollada Eduard , Amigó Natalia , O’Callaghan Seán , Varola Mila , Ruggero Katia , Tort Beatriu
Published: March 2023

Drones have become a crucial research tool across marine environments over the past decade, being specifically useful in marine mammal research. Fin whales (Balaenoptera physalus) have been monitored feeding along the Catalan coast, Spain (NW Mediterranean), since 2014. To overcome issues such as the distance between a whale and a research vessel or the lack of distinctive dorsal fin features, an aerial identification technique was developed. It uses the fin whales’ characteristic central chevron pattern (CCP) and blaze, which are clearly visible from an overhead position. A total of 237 individual whales were identified between 2015–2022 in this study area, of which there were 35 interannual recaptures. While the dorsal fin may undergo modifications over time, the CCP and blaze patterns did not naturally alter over the years, with one whale displaying the same characteristics 8 years apart between the first and the most recent sightings. As such, this coloration pattern provides a reliable identification feature to be used for the interannual identification and population monitoring of fin whales using drones. This novel technique aims to improve and unify this species cataloguing overseas by using the CCP and blaze obtained from UAV (unmanned aerial vehicle) zenithal videos as a robust identification tool.
An Improved Deep Reinforcement Learning Method for Dispatch Optimization Strategy of Modern Power Systems
Authors: Zhai Suwei , Li Wenyun , Qiu Zhenyu , Zhang Xinyi , Hou Shixi
Published: March 2023

As a promising information theory, reinforcement learning has gained much attention. This paper researches a wind-storage cooperative decision-making strategy based on dueling double deep Q-network (D3QN). Firstly, a new wind-storage cooperative model is proposed. Besides wind farms, energy storage systems, and external power grids, demand response loads are also considered, including residential price response loads and thermostatically controlled loads (TCLs). Then, a novel wind-storage cooperative decision-making mechanism is proposed, which combines the direct control of TCLs with the indirect control of residential price response loads. In addition, a kind of deep reinforcement learning algorithm called D3QN is utilized to solve the wind-storage cooperative decision-making problem. Finally, the numerical results verify the effectiveness of D3QN for optimizing the decision-making strategy of a wind-storage cooperation system.
Business Intelligence (BI) in Firm Performance: Role of Big Data Analytics and Blockchain Technology
Authors: Pancić Mladen , Ćućić Dražen , Serdarušić Hrvoje
Published: March 2023

The analysis of the causes or drivers of the adoption of big data analytics and blockchain and their subsequent influence on firm performance has become a significant need as a direct result of the rapidly expanding popularity of business intelligence. The purpose of this research is to present a model that investigates the direct and indirect influence of business intelligence on firm performance through the mediating roles of the adoption of big data analytics and blockchain. The analysis is based on data collected from a representative sample of 387 employees from 12 Information technology (IT) firms operating in Croatia. The study investigates these connections using a structural equation modeling. The findings showed that business intelligence has a direct and significant influence on firm performance. In addition, business intelligence significantly and positively influenced the adoption of big data analytics and blockchain and, in turn, firm performance. Additionally, the adoption of big data analytics and blockchain technology signified and positively mediated the relationship between business intelligence and firm performance. Both the mediations were partial. Finally, the study also provides managerial implications, limitations and future directions.