bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Aegle marvels (L.) Correa Leaf Essential Oil and Its Phytoconstituents as an Anticancer and Anti-Streptococcus mutans Agent
Authors: Aodah Alhussain H. , Balaha Mohamed F. , Jawaid Talha , Khan Mohammed Moizuddin , Ansari Mohammad Javed , Alam Aftab
Published: May 2023

Aegle mamelons (A. marmelos) or Indian Bael leaves possess anti-cancerous and antibacterial properties and are used in the traditional medicine system for the treatment of oral infections. In the present study, the essential oil of the leaves of A. marmelos was explored for its anticancer, antioxidant, and anti-cariogenic properties. The hydro-distilled oil of A. marmelos leaves was analyzed using gas chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Monoterpene limonene (63.71%) was found to have the highest percentage after trans-2-Hydroxy-1,8-cineole and p-Menth-2,8-dien-1-ol. The MTT [3-(4,5-dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide] assay was used to investigate the anticancer activity of the extracted oil against human oral epidermal carcinoma (KB), and the results showed significantly higher (**** p < 0.0001) anticancer activity (45.89%) in the doxorubicin (47.87%) when compared to the normal control. The antioxidant activity of the essential oil was evaluated using methods of DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) and ABTS (2,2′-azino-bis (3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid)). The results showed a significant (*** p < 0.001) percentage of inhibition of DPPH-induced free radical (70.02 ± 1.6%) and ABTS-induced free radical (70.7 ± 1.32%) at 100 µg/mL with IC50, 72.51 and 67.33 µg/mL, respectively, comparatively lower than standard compound ascorbic acid. The results of the molecular docking study of the significant compound limonene with the receptors tyrosinase and tyrosine kinase 2 supported the in vitro antioxidant potential. The anti-cariogenic activity was evaluated against Streptococcus mutans (S. mutans). Results showed a significant minimum inhibitor concentration of 0.25 mg/mL and the killing time was achieved at 3 to 6 h. The molecular-docking study showed that limonene inhibits the surface receptors of the S. mutans c-terminal domain and CviR protein. The study found that A. marmelos leaves have potential anti-carcinoma, antioxidant, and anti-cariogenic effects on human oral epidermal health, making them a valuable natural therapeutic agent for managing oral cancer and infections.
Plasmid Costs Explain Plasmid Maintenance, Irrespective of the Nature of Compensatory Mutations
Authors: Rebelo João S. , Domingues Célia P. F. , Dionisio Francisco
Published: May 2023

Conjugative plasmids often carry virulence and antibiotic-resistant genes. Therefore, understanding the behavior of these extra-chromosomal DNA elements gives insights into their spread. Bacteria frequently replicate slower after plasmids’ entry, an observation inconsistent with the plasmids’ ubiquity in nature. Several hypotheses explain the maintenance of plasmids among bacterial communities. However, the numerous combinations of bacterial species and strains, plasmids, and environments claim a robust elucidatory mechanism of plasmid maintenance. Previous works have shown that donor cells already adapted to the plasmid may use the plasmid as a ‘weapon’ to compete with non-adapted plasmid-free cells. Computer simulations corroborated this hypothesis with a wide range of parameters. Here we show that donor cells benefit from harboring conjugative plasmids even if compensatory mutations in transconjugant cells occur in the plasmid, not on chromosomes. The advantage’s leading causes are as follows: mutations take time to appear, many plasmids remain costly, and re-transfer of mutated plasmids usually occurs in sites distant to the original donors, implying little competition between these cells. Research in previous decades cautioned against uncritical acceptance of the hypothesis that resistance cost helps to preserve antibiotics’ effectiveness. This work gives a new twist to this conclusion by showing that costs help antibiotic-resistant bacteria to compete with plasmid-free cells even if compensatory mutations appear in plasmids.
Natural Carotenoids: Recent Advances on Separation from Microbial Biomass and Methods of Analysis
Authors: Papapostolou Harris , Kachrimanidou Vasiliki , Alexandri Maria , Plessas Stavros , Papadaki Aikaterini , Kopsahelis Nikolaos
Published: May 2023

Biotechnologically produced carotenoids occupy an important place in the scientific research. Owing to their role as natural pigments and their high antioxidant properties, microbial carotenoids have been proposed as alternatives to their synthetic counterparts. To this end, many studies are focusing on their efficient and sustainable production from renewable substrates. Besides the development of an efficient upstream process, their separation and purification as well as their analysis from the microbial biomass confers another important aspect. Currently, the use of organic solvents constitutes the main extraction process; however, environmental concerns along with potential toxicity towards human health necessitate the employment of “greener” techniques. Hence, many research groups are focusing on applying emerging technologies such as ultrasounds, microwaves, ionic liquids or eutectic solvents for the separation of carotenoids from microbial cells. This review aims to summarize the progress on both the biotechnological production of carotenoids and the methods for their effective extraction. In the framework of circular economy and sustainability, the focus is given on green recovery methods targeting high-value applications such as novel functional foods and pharmaceuticals. Finally, methods for carotenoids identification and quantification are also discussed in order to create a roadmap for successful carotenoids analysis.
Comparing Vision Transformers and Convolutional Neural Networks for Image Classification: A Literature Review
Authors: Maurício José , Domingues Inês , Bernardino Jorge
Published: May 2023

Transformers are models that implement a mechanism of self-attention, individually weighting the importance of each part of the input data. Their use in image classification tasks is still somewhat limited since researchers have so far chosen Convolutional Neural Networks for image classification and transformers were more targeted to Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks. Therefore, this paper presents a literature review that shows the differences between Vision Transformers (ViT) and Convolutional Neural Networks. The state of the art that used the two architectures for image classification was reviewed and an attempt was made to understand what factors may influence the performance of the two deep learning architectures based on the datasets used, image size, number of target classes (for the classification problems), hardware, and evaluated architectures and top results. The objective of this work is to identify which of the architectures is the best for image classification and under what conditions. This paper also describes the importance of the Multi-Head Attention mechanism for improving the performance of ViT in image classification.
Studies on Influence of Chromium Layer on Inner Surface of Steel Tube on Heat Transfer
Authors: Zieliński Mateusz , Koniorczyk Piotr , Surma Zbigniew
Published: May 2023

This paper presents the results of numerical calculations of heat transfer in the steel wall of a tube with different chromium layer thicknesses on the inner surface for a single and a sequence of heat impulses. In modeling the thermal phenomenon, the tube material was assumed to be homogeneous, and the inner surface of the tube had a protective chromium layer. The calculations were performed for temperature-dependent parameters of the 30HN2MFA steel and chromium. The tube was divided into 30 zones. The time varying the heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux density on the inner surface of the tube in each zone were calculated. The numerical simulations of heat transfer in the tube wall were performed using the FEM implemented in COMSOL Multiphysics software. On account of the high thermal conductivity of chromium, after the first and subsequent heat impulses, as the thickness of the chrome layer increases, the highest peak temperature drops, while the temperature inside the steel wall of the tube increases. After the first heat impulse, the temperature of the wall at a depth 0.5 mm below the inner surface is twice as high for a tube with a 200 µm thick chrome coating compared to a tube without this coating. This paper showed that, after seven heat impulses, the temperature of the steel tube substrate does not exceed 750 °C, at which the shrinkage of the material occurs, causing cracks in the chrome coating.
Multidiscipline Design Optimization for Large-Scale Complex Nonlinear Dynamic System Based on Weak Coupling Interfaces
Authors: Du Wei , Piao Si-Yang , Piao Ming-Wei , Nie Chun-Ge , Dang Peng , Li Qiu-Ze , Tao Yi-Nan
Published: May 2023

For high-tech manufacturing industries, developing large-scale complex nonlinear dynamic systems must be taken as one of the basic works, formulating problems to be solved, steering system design in a more preferable direction, and making correct strategic decisions. By using effective tools of big data mining, Dynamic Design Methodology was proposed to establish a technical platform for Multidiscipline Design Optimization such as High-Speed Rolling Stock, including three key technologies: analysis graph of full-vehicle stability properties and variation patterns, improved transaction strategy of flexible body to MBS interface, seamless collaboration with weldline fatigue damage assessments through correct Modal Stress Recovery. By applying the above methodology, a self-adaptive improved solution was formulated with optimal parameter configuration, which is one of the more favorable options for higher-speed bogies. While within a velocity (140–200) km/h at λe < 0.10, car body instability’s influence on ride comfort can be easily improved by using a semi-active vibration reduction technique between inter-vehicles through outer windshields. Comprehensive evaluations show that only under rational conditions of wheel-rail matching, i.e., 0.10 ≥ λeN > λemin and λemin = (0.03–0.06), can this low-cost solution achieve the three goals of low track conicity, optimal route planning, and investment benefit maximization. So, rail vehicle experts are necessary to collaborate and innovate intensively with passenger transportation and steel rail ones. Specifically, by adopting rail grinding treatment, occurrence probability is controlled at 85% and 5% for track conicity of (0.03–0.10) and (0.25–0.35). By optimizing routing planning, operating across dedicated lines of different speed grades can achieve self-cleaning of central hollow tread wear over time. According to the inherent rigid-flex coupling relationship, geometric nonlinearities of worn wheel-rail contact should be avoided as much as possible for HSR practices. Only under weak coupling interfaces in the floor frame can the structural integrity of an aluminum alloy car body be ensured.
Variable Responses to a Marine Heat Wave in Five Fringing Reefs of Southern Taiwan
Authors: Ye Zong-Min , Mayfield Anderson B. , Fan Tung-Yung
Published: May 2023

In 2020 marine heatwaves elicited severe bleaching on many of Earth’s coral reefs. We compared coral reef benthic community composition before (April 2020), during (September 2020), and after (December 2020–September 2021) this event at five fringing reefs of Southern Taiwan. The four shallow (3 m) reefs were hard coral-dominated in April 2020 (cover = 37–55%), though non-bleached coral cover decreased to only 5–15% by December 2020. Coral abundance at the two shallow (3 m), natural reefs had failed to return to pre-bleaching levels by September 2021. In contrast, coral cover of two artificial reefs reached ~45–50% by this time, with only a small drop in diversity. This is despite the fact that one of these reefs, the Outlet, was characterized by temperatures >30 °C for over 80 days in a six-month period due not only to the bleaching event but also inundation with warm-water effluent from a nearby nuclear power plant. Only the lone deep (7 m) reef was spared from bleaching and maintained a coral/algal ratio >1 at all survey times; its coral cover actually increased over the 18-month monitoring period. These data suggest that (1) the natural deep reef could serve as a refuge from thermal impacts in Southern Taiwan, and (2) the remaining corals at the Outlet have either adapted or acclimatized to abnormally elevated temperatures.
Optimization of a Virtual Synchronous Control Parameter for a Wind Turbine Generator Considering the Physical Constraint Boundary of Primary Frequency Regulation
Authors: Cao Junying , Sun Peng , Chen Zhaoyang , Qin Zhentao
Published: May 2023

The wind turbine generator participates in the primary frequency regulation of the power system by releasing kinetic energy from the rotor. It is necessary to ensure that the rotor speed and converter capacity are within the safe range during the frequency regulation process; otherwise, it will have serious negative effects on the frequency stability of the power system. As an important primary frequency regulation parameter, the dead zone affects the evaluation of the frequency regulation ability of WTG. Therefore, the influence of the dead zone should also be further considered. In order to evaluate the frequency regulation capability of wind turbine generators more comprehensively and accurately, this paper proposes an optimized method for the parameter of virtual synchronous control for wind turbine generators by considering the dead zone and physical constraint boundary of primary frequency regulation. After establishing the time domain expression by considering the frequency regulation dead zone, the real-time frequency regulation capacity of the wind turbine generator is quantified by considering the speed limit of the rotor and the capacity limit of the converter. Furthermore, the optimal value of the frequency regulation coefficient can be derived. Simulation results show that the proposed method can effectively reduce the frequency deviation and frequency change rate of the power system, which can also keep the response within the physical constraint boundary. Consequently, the proposed method can fully utilize the ability for frequency regulation of the wind power generation system and effectively improve the frequency stability of the power system.
Advances in Sustainable and Digitalized Factories: Manufacturing, Measuring Technologies and Systems
Authors: Calvo Roque , Yagüe-Fabra José A. , Tosello Guido
Published: May 2023

The evolution from current to future factories is supported by research contributions in many fields of technology [...]
Recurrence Quantification Analysis as a Form of Postural Control Assessment: A Systematic Review
Authors: Błażkiewicz Michalina , Hadamus Anna , Borkowski Rafał
Published: May 2023

Human postural control is commonly assessed by center of pressure (CoP) displacement analysis. However, traditional linear parameters do not provide a complete picture of postural control, so a number of nonlinear analyses have been introduced. One of these is recurrence quantification analysis (RQA), which is used to determine the number and duration of repeated states in a dynamic system. This review aimed to show how the RQA measures look in different groups of subjects when assessing postural stability during quiet standing and how the authors interpret them. Therefore, a systematic review was conducted of papers published from 2000 to February 2023. Searched databases were PubMed, ScienceDirect, and EBSCO. Twenty-eight publications were included in this review. The RQA parameters most commonly found in papers are %DET (determinism), ENT (Shannon entropy), %REC (recurrence), and %LAM (laminarity). %LAM is the most sensitive factor in determining differences in CoP position between different age groups, as it describes motion fluidity. The vision affects the deterministic structure of CoP motions. When the sensory organization test conditions became difficult, CoP variability increased, while the %DET decreased. It was concluded that traditional and nonlinear methods provide complementary and not redundant information for assessing age- and health-related changes in standing balance.
Study on Impact–Echo Response of Concrete Column near the Edge
Authors: Liu Yunlin , Xu Hongbao , Ma Xinxin , Wang Donghua , Huang Xiao
Published: May 2023

The impact–echo method is a superior method for detecting the health of concrete structures, but it has the disadvantage of significant errors when identifying structural boundaries. In order to overcome this limitation, this paper proposes a calculation method using a cross-sectional vibration mode in combination with the impact–echo method to detect concrete columns. The variation of the predominant frequency in the mid-column region and the critical boundary is studied. The influence of the edge on the detection results is analyzed. The differences in eigenvalues under different cross-section vibration modes are revealed. A quantitative method for evaluating concrete health using the impact–echo method is further established. Through field tests and finite element simulation calculations, it was verified that the eigenvalues in the fixed mode are very consistent with the predominant frequency measured near the edge region. This makes up for the defect of inaccurate measurements when the impact–echo method is used to detect the edge area of concrete members. The impact–echo method can be better used for the non-destructive testing of concrete members.
Affect Analysis in Arabic Text: Further Pre-Training Language Models for Sentiment and Emotion
Authors: Alshehri Wafa , Al-Twairesh Nora , Alothaim Abdulrahman
Published: May 2023

One of the main tasks in the field of natural language processing (NLP) is the analysis of affective states (sentiment and emotional) based on written text, and attempts have improved dramatically in recent years. However, in studies on the Arabic language, machine learning or deep learning algorithms were utilised to analyse sentiment and emotion more often than current pre-trained language models. Additionally, further pre-training the language model on specific tasks (i.e., within-task and cross-task adaptation) has not yet been investigated for Arabic in general, and for the sentiment and emotion task in particular. In this paper, we adapt a BERT-based Arabic pretrained language model for the sentiment and emotion tasks by further pre-training it on a sentiment and emotion corpus. Hence, we developed five new Arabic models: QST, QSR, QSRT, QE3, and QE6. Five sentiment and two emotion datasets spanning both small- and large-resource settings were used to evaluate the developed models. The adaptation approaches significantly enhanced the performance of seven Arabic sentiment and emotion datasets. The developed models showed excellent improvements over the sentiment and emotion datasets, which ranged from 0.15–4.71%.
The Past Is Evolutionary, the Future Is Byzantine: Kurt Weitzmann’s Contribution to the Research on Pictorial Narration
Authors: Horváth Gyöngyvér
Published: May 2023

In the Illustrations in Roll and Codex (1947), Kurt Weitzmann developed a methodological apparatus for studying Byzantine and medieval narrative book illumination. His approach had two important features: an evolutionary narrative typology that paid attention to the narrative strategies the painter chose for presenting a story and a comparative narrative analysis that observed stories in illustrations in relation to their textual source. The focus of this paper is the personal and institutional background of this method, its context, dissemination, and legacy. Weitzmann advanced the study of pictorial storytelling through his pedagogical work and introduced it into the academic curriculum. Alongside stylistic analysis and iconography, it soon became an essential methodological tool in art history that constituted a link between the art of the Byzantine East and the Latin West. This approach also had a key influence on the style of his autobiographical writings. Weitzmann propagated the study of visual narratives through his extremely productive oeuvre and effective personal influence. In the dissemination of Weitzmann’s ideas, three institutions played a key role: Princeton University, Dumbarton Oaks, and the University of Chicago. Weitzmann’s circle made Byzantine studies the leading field for research into visual narratives over the period from around 1940 to 1980.
Effects of the Trends in Spring Sensible Heating over the Tibetan Plateau during Different Stages on Precipitation in China
Authors: Cui Binjing , Zhu Zhu , Wang Meirong , Zhou Shu , Zhou Shunwu
Published: May 2023

The spring sensible heating (SSH) over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), which can significantly affect the precipitation in China, has experienced three different stages of change, showing significant increasing (1961–1979, Stage I), decreasing (1980–2002, Stage II), and increasing (2003–2014, Stage III) trends. In this study, the impact of these different trends in TP SSH on spring precipitation (SPR) in China and their possible mechanisms are investigated, based on observations and the reanalysis product. In Stage I, the SPR represents a contrasting north-south pattern associated with the increasing TP SSH, showing increasing trends over southern China and decreasing trends over central and northern China. Further, the spatial distribution of SPR trends shows a contrasting east-west pattern in Stage II. That is, persistent weakening TP SSH plays a more crucial role in increasing and decreasing SPR over southwestern and southern China, respectively. However, compared with the significant trend in SPR in Stage III, the regulation of TP SSH on SPR weakens significantly. Dynamically, the increasing TP SSH in Stage I can strengthen the subtropical westerly jet in the upper layer, simultaneously configured with an anomalous cyclone in northeastern China, which deepens the East Asian trough. Thus, anomalous convergence in the upper layer occurs over central and northern China, favoring the downdraft. It then causes more cold and dry air to move southward in the lower troposphere, which then encounters the warm and wet southwest airflows, boosting the updraft over southern China. In Stage II, regression analysis shows that if the TP SSH increases, an anomalous cyclone in the middle and upper troposphere occurs over the western TP, causing the downdraft and less precipitation over southwestern China, while a cyclone in the lower troposphere occurs over the western North Pacific and extends to southern China, promoting the ascending motions and more precipitation in southern China. However, in this stage, TP SSH actually weakens, thus contributing to more precipitation over southwestern China and less precipitation over southern China.
Evaluating the Role of Land Surface Moisture in Generating Asymmetrical Precipitation during the Landfall of Hurricane Florence (2018)
Authors: Rosenthal Lindsey , Zick Stephanie E.
Published: May 2023

This study focuses on the role of land surface moisture in generating asymmetrical precipitation surrounding a nearly stationary Hurricane Florence (2018) during landfall. Previous idealized modeling studies have suggested that atmospheric stability varies surrounding a tropical cyclone (TC) during landfall, with the atmosphere destabilizing off-shore and stabilizing on-shore. However, this finding has not been studied using a real modeling framework. Here, we produce high-resolution numerical simulations to examine the variations in precipitation and atmospheric stability surrounding Hurricane Florence. In addition to a control simulation (CTRL), two additional simulations are performed by altering the land surface cover to be moister (WETX) or drier (DRYX) compared with the CTRL. In the experiment, the altered land surface affects the equivalent potential temperature within the boundary layer. Due to changes in moisture, there are consistent but minor impacts on the spatial patterns of moist static instability. This study found that rainbands in the inner core and distant rainband regions responded differently to changes in land surface moisture. Within the inner core region of the TC, WETX produced more precipitation that was more symmetrical compared with DRYX. In DRYX, there was increased moist static instability in the outer rainband region over water and decreased moist static instability in the outer rainband region over land, which may have contributed to the enhanced precipitation asymmetries. Still, both experiments produced asymmetrical precipitation distributions, suggesting that alterations to land surface moisture had a minor impact on the precipitation asymmetries in Hurricane Florence. We conclude that precipitation asymmetries are primarily dynamically driven by weak to moderate vertical wind shear and asymmetries in moisture flux convergence.
Atmospheric Observation of Fluorinated Greenhouse Gases around Four Chemical Plants in China
Authors: Ma Tengfei , Wu Jing , Hu Dongmei , Ye Tong , Li Mingzhu , Wang Tong , Zhang Yueling , Yuan Mao
Published: May 2023

Due to the high global warming potential and rapidly increasing atmospheric concentrations of fluorinated greenhouse gases (hereinafter referred to as F-gases), the emission estimation has been widely studied. Additionally, the atmospheric observation supports the emission estimation. However, there are few F-gas studies with respect to chemical plants. In this study, we firstly carried out atmospheric observation studies of F-gases around chemical plants in China. Four typical chemical plants were selected, and the concentration levels, their concentration differences (hereinafter referred to as the up–down difference) and enhanced ratios (hereinafter referred to as the up–down enhanced ratio) of the F-gases at upwind and downwind sites in the four plants were observed. Both the upwind and downwind observation results of each plant showed that the average concentrations of HFCs were the highest (57%–85%), followed by PFCs, while the total average concentrations of SF6 and NF3 only accounted for less than 5%. The F-gases, with both the larger up–down enhanced ratios and the larger up–down differences in each plant, may suggest larger emission strengths during fluorinated production, by-products and usage processes. Additionally, the numbers of F-gas species emitted from Plants A, B and C were all significantly higher than those from Plant D. This may be because the F-gases in Plants A, B and C were emitted not only during fluorinated production and by-product processes, but also during usage processes, with respect to refrigeration and air-conditioning or foam insulation materials. The F-gases emitted by each plant did not cause toxicity to humans at sensitive sites; however, they can cause nonnegligible climate impacts. In the future, it is necessary to select more typical chemical plants to carry out the atmospheric observation of F-gases, with a higher observation frequency and larger sample size, to further estimate F-gas emissions from chemical plants in China.
The Influence of White Noise and the Beta Derivative on the Solutions of the BBM Equation
Authors: Al-Askar Farah M. , Cesarano Clemente , Mohammed Wael W.
Published: May 2023

In the current study, we investigate the stochastic Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation with beta derivative (SBBME-BD). The considered stochastic term is the multiplicative noise in the Itô sense. By combining the F-expansion approach with two separate equations, such as the Riccati and elliptic equations, new hyperbolic, trigonometric, rational, and Jacobi elliptic solutions for SBBME-BD can be generated. The solutions to the Benjamin–Bona–Mahony equation are useful in understanding various scientific phenomena, including Rossby waves in spinning fluids and drift waves in plasma. Our results are presented using MATLAB, with numerous 3D and 2D figures illustrating the impacts of white noise and the beta derivative on the obtained solutions of SBBME-BD.
Battery Test Profile Generation Framework for Electric Vehicles
Authors: Guo Dongxu , Ren Hailong , Feng Xuning , Han Xuebing , Lu Languang , Ouyang Minggao
Published: May 2023

This paper proposes a framework for generating a battery test profile that accounts for the complex operating conditions of electric vehicles, which is essential for ensuring the durability and safety of the battery system used in these vehicles. Additionally, such a test profile could potentially accelerate the development of electric vehicles. To achieve this objective, the study utilizes a simplified longitudinal dynamics model that incorporates various factors such as the drivetrain efficiency, battery system energy conversion efficiency, and regenerative braking efficiency. The battery test profile is based on the China light-duty vehicle test cycle-passenger car (CLTC-P) and is validated through testing on an electric vehicle with a chassis dynamometer. The results indicate a high degree of consistency between the generated and measured profiles, confirming the efficacy of the simplified longitudinal dynamics model.
In-Situ Plasticized LLZTO-PVDF Composite Electrolytes for High-Performance Solid-State Lithium Metal Batteries
Authors: Yu Xinjie , Zhai Pengbo , Zhao Ning , Guo Xiangxin
Published: May 2023

Solid polymer electrolytes (SPEs) are seen as the key component in the development of solid-state lithium batteries (SSLBs) by virtue of their good processability and flexibility. However, poor mechanical strength, low room-temperature lithium-ion (Li-ion) conductivity and unsatisfactory interfacial compatibility with electrodes limit their practical application. In this work, a composite electrolyte consisting of polyvinylidene fluoride and polyvinylidene carbonate with a Li6.4La3Zr1.4Ta0.6O12(LLZTO) active filler (PFPC: LLZTO-SPE) is reported to achieve excellent ionic conductivity (4.25 × 10−4 S cm−1 at 30 °C), a wide electrochemical window (>4.6 V), a high Li-ion transference number (tLi+ = 0.49) and good interfacial compatibility with the electrode. Incorporating LLZTO as an active filler not only increases the ionic conductivity of the electrolyte, but also homogenizes Li-ion flux and stabilizes the electrode/electrolyte interface, thereby preventing lithium dendrites from piercing the electrolyte. As a result, Li/Li symmetrical cells using PFPC: LLZTO-SPEs deliver more than 800 h of cyclability at 0.1 mA cm−2 and a high critical current density (CCD) of 2.6 mA cm−2. The assembled Li/PFPC: LLZTO/LFP SSLBs achieve 87% capacity retention after 150 cycles at 0.2 C and 89% capacity retention for 100 cycles at 0.5 C. This work inspires new insights into designing high-performance SPEs.
An Ensemble-Learning-Based Technique for Bimodal Sentiment Analysis
Authors: Shah Shariq , Ghomeshi Hossein , Vakaj Edlira , Cooper Emmett , Mohammad Rasheed
Published: May 2023

Human communication is predominantly expressed through speech and writing, which are powerful mediums for conveying thoughts and opinions. Researchers have been studying the analysis of human sentiments for a long time, including the emerging area of bimodal sentiment analysis in natural language processing (NLP). Bimodal sentiment analysis has gained attention in various areas such as social opinion mining, healthcare, banking, and more. However, there is a limited amount of research on bimodal conversational sentiment analysis, which is challenging due to the complex nature of how humans express sentiment cues across different modalities. To address this gap in research, a comparison of multiple data modality models has been conducted on the widely used MELD dataset, which serves as a benchmark for sentiment analysis in the research community. The results show the effectiveness of combining acoustic and linguistic representations using a proposed neural-network-based ensemble learning technique over six transformer and deep-learning-based models, achieving state-of-the-art accuracy.
Changes in Polyphenols and Anthocyanin Pigments during Ripening of Vitis vinifera cv Maratheftiko: A Two-Year Study
Authors: Roufas Kosmas , Chatzimitakos Theodoros , Athanasiadis Vassilis , Lalas Stavros I. , Makris Dimitris P.
Published: May 2023

The vineyard of Cyprus is comprised largely of native Vitis vinifera varieties, which are rather underexploited with regard to wine production to date. Although empirical observations concur that several of these varieties may possess a high potential for the production of quality wines, analytical data pertaining to their polyphenolic composition are scarce. This study was undertaken with the aim of providing a detailed picture of the evolution patterns of several important polyphenolic constituents during the last stages of ripening of Maratheftiko, which is one of the major native grape varieties. This study included monitoring of representative simple phenolics, flavonoids and anthocyanin pigments for two consecutive years, 2021 and 2022, to obtain a more integrated portrayal of changes occurring during the critical period prior to harvest. It was revealed that there was a very high difference in the content of almost all polyphenols considered for the harvests in 2021 and 2022. The grapes harvested in 2022 had a much higher content in catechin, but most importantly, the content in total anthocyanins was 3.91-fold higher in 2022 compared to 2021. On the other hand, trans-resveratrol was the only polyphenolic metabolite whose difference was rather marginal. In seeds, the predominant substance was catechin, which displayed pronounced fluctuations during the period examined. It was concluded that the contents of major polyphenolic metabolites in Maratheftiko grapes might exhibit large variations during the period prior to harvest, most possibly reflecting differences in the average temperature and rainfall. Thus, tight monitoring of technologically important constituents, e.g., anthocyanins, is recommended to ensure the harvest of grapes with optimal maturity.
Large-Scale and Online Retailer Assortment: The Case of Plant-Based Beverages as Alternatives to Cow’s Milk
Authors: Mastromonaco Giulia , Merlino Valentina Maria , Massaglia Stefano , Peano Cristiana , Sparacino Antonina , Caltagirone Chiara , Borra Danielle , Sottile Francesco
Published: May 2023

This research analysed the size and depth of assortment and the marketing strategies of communications around plant-based beverages (PBBs) on the Italian market. Sales of PBBs have increased over the last year due to their use as a substitute for cow’s milk and also thanks to their popularity in online distribution. This study compares the characteristics of the PBB assortment sold across 65 large-scale retail stores and on 74 websites. The comparison was made considering 15 product categories defined by main ingredient, packaging type, specialty, and claims found on labels. An ordered logit regression analysis was performed to understand how key product features positively or negatively influence the selling price. The results showed that online sales focus on describing plant-based beverages with characteristics that are closer to new consumer preferences (with labels such as “free from” products, “naturalness” of the product, and “health” characteristics). In both distribution channels, there were few products with packaging information related to nutritional characteristics, health benefits, and environmental sustainability, in contrast to the needs expressed by baby food purchasers. Additionally, the price analysis showed unexpected results: in fact, some products for which, according to the literature, consumers would be willing to pay a premium price, instead showed a lower retail price than the average price. These results could represent a concrete tool to improve the efficiency of promotional campaigns and communication strategies for baby food, optimising communication according to consumer needs.
Comparative Analysis of Three Facial Scanners for Creating Digital Twins by Focusing on the Difference in Scanning Method
Authors: Cho Ran-Yeong , Byun Soo-Hwan , Yi Sang-Min , Ahn Hee-Ju , Nam Yoo-Sung , Park In-Young , On Sung-Woon , Kim Jong-Cheol , Yang Byoung-Eun
Published: May 2023

Background: Multi-dimensional facial imaging is increasingly used in hospital clinics. A digital twin of the face can be created by reconstructing three-dimensional (3D) facial images using facial scanners. Therefore, the reliability, strengths, and weaknesses of scanners should be investigated and approved; Methods: Images obtained from three facial scanners (RayFace, MegaGen, and Artec Eva) were compared with cone-beam computed tomography images as the standard. Surface discrepancies were measured and analyzed at 14 specific reference points; Results: All scanners used in this study achieved acceptable results, although only scanner 3 obtained preferable results. Each scanner exhibited weak and strong points because of differences in the scanning methods. Scanner 2 exhibited the best result on the left endocanthion; scanner 1 achieved the best result on the left exocanthion and left alare; and scanner 3 achieved the best result on the left exocanthion (both cheeks); Conclusions: These comparative analysis data can be used when creating digital twins through segmentation, selecting and merging data, or developing a new scanner to overcome all shortcomings.
Spatial Distribution of Inhibitory Innervations of Excitatory Pyramidal Cells by Major Interneuron Subtypes in the Auditory Cortex
Authors: Zhong Wen , Zheng Wenhong , Ji Xuying
Published: May 2023

Mental disorders, characterized by the National Institute of Mental Health as disruptions in neural circuitry, currently account for 13% of the global incidence of such disorders. An increasing number of studies suggest that imbalances between excitatory and inhibitory neurons in neural networks may be a crucial mechanism underlying mental disorders. However, the spatial distribution of inhibitory interneurons in the auditory cortex (ACx) and their relationship with excitatory pyramidal cells (PCs) remain elusive. In this study, we employed a combination of optogenetics, transgenic mice, and patch-clamp recording on brain slices to investigate the microcircuit characteristics of different interneurons (PV, SOM, and VIP) and the spatial pattern of inhibitory inhibition across layers 2/3 to 6 in the ACx. Our findings revealed that PV interneurons provide the strongest and most localized inhibition with no cross-layer innervation or layer specificity. Conversely, SOM and VIP interneurons weakly regulate PC activity over a broader range, exhibiting distinct spatial inhibitory preferences. Specifically, SOM inhibitions are preferentially found in deep infragranular layers, while VIP inhibitions predominantly occur in upper supragranular layers. PV inhibitions are evenly distributed across all layers. These results suggest that the input from inhibitory interneurons to PCs manifests in unique ways, ensuring that both strong and weak inhibitory inputs are evenly dispersed throughout the ACx, thereby maintaining a dynamic excitation–inhibition balance. Our findings contribute to understanding the spatial inhibitory characteristics of PCs and inhibitory interneurons in the ACx at the circuit level, which holds significant clinical implications for identifying and targeting abnormal circuits in auditory system diseases.
Causal Effects of Modifiable Behaviors on Prostate Cancer in Europeans and East Asians: A Comprehensive Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Zhan Yongle , Ruan Xiaohao , Wang Pei , Huang Da , Huang Jingyi , Huang Jinlun , Chun Tsun Tsun Stacia , Ho Brian Sze-Ho , Ng Ada Tsui-Lin , Tsu James Hok-Leung , Na Rong
Published: May 2023

Objective: Early evidence is disputable for the effects of modifiable lifestyle behaviors on prostate cancer (PCa) risk. No research has yet appraised such causality in different ancestries using a Mendelian randomization (MR) approach. Methods: A two-sample univariable and multivariable MR analysis was performed. Genetic instruments associated with lifestyle behaviors were selected based on genome-wide association studies. Summary-level data for PCa were obtained from PRACTICAL and GAME-ON/ELLIPSE consortia for Europeans (79,148 PCa cases and 61,106 controls), and ChinaPCa consortium for East Asians (3343 cases and 3315 controls). Replication was performed using FinnGen (6311 cases and 88,902 controls) and BioBank Japan data (5408 cases and 103,939 controls). Results: Tobacco smoking was identified as increasing PCa risks in Europeans (odds ratio [OR]: 1.95, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.09–3.50, p = 0.027 per standard deviation increase in the lifetime smoking index). For East Asians, alcohol drinking (OR: 1.05, 95%CI: 1.01–1.09, p = 0.011) and delayed sexual initiation (OR: 1.04, 95%CI: 1.00–1.08, p = 0.029) were identified as risk factors, while cooked vegetable consumption (OR: 0.92, 95%CI: 0.88–0.96, p = 0.001) was a protective factor for PCa. Conclusions: Our findings broaden the evidence base for the spectrum of PCa risk factors in different ethnicities, and provide insights into behavioral interventions for prostate cancer.
Biological Catalysis and Information Storage Have Relied on N-Glycosyl Derivatives of β-D-Ribofuranose since the Origins of Life
Authors: Wozniak Katarzyna , Brzezinski Krzysztof
Published: May 2023

Most naturally occurring nucleotides and nucleosides are N-glycosyl derivatives of β-d-ribose. These N-ribosides are involved in most metabolic processes that occur in cells. They are essential components of nucleic acids, forming the basis for genetic information storage and flow. Moreover, these compounds are involved in numerous catalytic processes, including chemical energy production and storage, in which they serve as cofactors or coribozymes. From a chemical point of view, the overall structure of nucleotides and nucleosides is very similar and simple. However, their unique chemical and structural features render these compounds versatile building blocks that are crucial for life processes in all known organisms. Notably, the universal function of these compounds in encoding genetic information and cellular catalysis strongly suggests their essential role in the origins of life. In this review, we summarize major issues related to the role of N-ribosides in biological systems, especially in the context of the origin of life and its further evolution, through the RNA-based World(s), toward the life we observe today. We also discuss possible reasons why life has arisen from derivatives of β-d-ribofuranose instead of compounds based on other sugar moieties.
Impact of Magnetite Nanowires on In Vitro Hippocampal Neural Networks
Authors: Cortés-Llanos Belén , Rauti Rossana , Ayuso-Sacido Ángel , Pérez Lucas , Ballerini Laura
Published: May 2023

Nanomaterials design, synthesis, and characterization are ever-expanding approaches toward developing biodevices or neural interfaces to treat neurological diseases. The ability of nanomaterials features to tune neuronal networks’ morphology or functionality is still under study. In this work, we unveil how interfacing mammalian brain cultured neurons and iron oxide nanowires’ (NWs) orientation affect neuronal and glial densities and network activity. Iron oxide NWs were synthesized by electrodeposition, fixing the diameter to 100 nm and the length to 1 µm. Scanning electron microscopy, Raman, and contact angle measurements were performed to characterize the NWs’ morphology, chemical composition, and hydrophilicity. Hippocampal cultures were seeded on NWs devices, and after 14 days, the cell morphology was studied by immunocytochemistry and confocal microscopy. Live calcium imaging was performed to study neuronal activity. Using random nanowires (R-NWs), higher neuronal and glial cell densities were obtained compared with the control and vertical nanowires (V-NWs), while using V-NWs, more stellate glial cells were found. R-NWs produced a reduction in neuronal activity, while V-NWs increased the neuronal network activity, possibly due to a higher neuronal maturity and a lower number of GABAergic neurons, respectively. These results highlight the potential of NWs manipulations to design ad hoc regenerative interfaces.
Obesity, the Adipose Organ and Cancer in Humans: Association or Causation?
Authors: Trevellin Elisabetta , Bettini Silvia , Pilatone Anna , Vettor Roberto , Milan Gabriella
Published: May 2023

Epidemiological observations, experimental studies and clinical data show that obesity is associated with a higher risk of developing different types of cancer; however, proof of a cause–effect relationship that meets the causality criteria is still lacking. Several data suggest that the adipose organ could be the protagonist in this crosstalk. In particular, the adipose tissue (AT) alterations occurring in obesity parallel some tumour behaviours, such as their theoretically unlimited expandability, infiltration capacity, angiogenesis regulation, local and systemic inflammation and changes to the immunometabolism and secretome. Moreover, AT and cancer share similar morpho-functional units which regulate tissue expansion: the adiponiche and tumour-niche, respectively. Through direct and indirect interactions involving different cellular types and molecular mechanisms, the obesity-altered adiponiche contributes to cancer development, progression, metastasis and chemoresistance. Moreover, modifications to the gut microbiome and circadian rhythm disruption also play important roles. Clinical studies clearly demonstrate that weight loss is associated with a decreased risk of developing obesity-related cancers, matching the reverse-causality criteria and providing a causality correlation between the two variables. Here, we provide an overview of the methodological, epidemiological and pathophysiological aspects, with a special focus on clinical implications for cancer risk and prognosis and potential therapeutic interventions.
Humoral Immune Response after COVID-19 mRNA Vaccination in Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Prospective Real-Life Single Center Study
Authors: Biliotti Elisa , Caioli Alessandro , Sorace Chiara , Lionetti Raffaella , Milozzi Eugenia , Taibi Chiara , Visco Comandini Ubaldo , Maggi Fabrizio , Puro Vincenzo , D’Offizi Gianpiero
Published: May 2023

Coronavirus-disease-2019 (COVID-19) mRNA vaccination effectively reduces mortality and morbidity in cirrhotic patients, but the immunogenicity and safety of vaccination have been partially characterized. The study aimed to evaluate humoral response, predictive factors, and safety of mRNA-COVID-19 vaccination in cirrhotic patients compared to healthy subjects. A prospective, single-center, observational study enrolled consecutive cirrhotic patients who underwent mRNA-COVID-19 vaccination from April to May 2021. Anti-spike-protein (anti-S) and nucleocapsid-protein (anti-N) antibodies were evaluated before the first (T0) and the second (T1) doses and 15 days after completing the vaccination. An age and sex-matched healthy reference group was included. The incidence of adverse events (AEs) was assessed. In total, 162 cirrhotic patients were enrolled, 13 were excluded due to previous SARS-CoV-2 infection; therefore, 149 patients and 149 Health Care Workers (HCWs) were included in the analysis. The seroconversion rate was similar in cirrhotic patients and HCWs at T1 (92.5% vs. 95.3%, p = 0.44) and T2 (100% in both groups). At T2, anti-S-titres were significantly higher in cirrhotic patients compared to HCWs (2776.6 vs. 1756 BAU/mL, p < 0.001]. Male sex (β = −0.32 [−0.64, −0.04], p = 0.027) and past-HCV-infection (β = −0.31 [−0.59, −0.04], p = 0.029) were independent predictors of lower anti-S-titres on multiple-gamma-regression-analysis. No severe AEs occurred. The COVID-19-mRNA vaccination induces a high immunization rate and anti-S-titres in cirrhotic patients. Male sex and past-HCV infection are associated with lower anti-S-titres. The COVID-19-mRNA vaccination is safe.