bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Gradient calculation techniques for multi-point ionosphere/thermosphere measurements from GDC
Authors: Akbari Hassanali , Rowland Douglas , Coleman Austin , Buynovskiy Anton , Thayer Jeffrey
Published: February 2024

The upcoming Geospace Dynamics Constellation (GDC) mission aims to investigate dynamic processes active in Earth’s upper atmosphere and their local, regional, and global characteristics. Achieving this goal will involve resolving and distinguishing spatial and temporal variability of ionospheric and thermospheric (IT) structures in a quantitative manner. This, in turn, calls for the development of sophisticated algorithms that are optimal in combining information from multiple in-situ platforms. This manuscript introduces an implementation of the least-squares gradient calculation approach previously developed by J. De Keyser with the focus of its application to the GDC mission. This approach robustly calculates spatial and temporal gradients of IT parameters from in-situ measurements from multiple spacecraft that form a flexible constellation. The previous work by De Keyser, originally developed for analysis of Cluster data, focused on 3-D Cartesian geometry, while the current work extends the approach to spherical geometry suitable for missions in Low Earth Orbit (LEO). The algorithm automatically provides error bars for the estimated gradients as well as the scales over which the gradients are expected to be constant. We evaluate the performance of the software on outputs of high-resolution global ionospheric/thermospheric simulations. It is shown that the software will be a powerful tool to explore GDC’s ability to answer science questions that require gradient calculations. The code can also be employed in support of Observing System Simulation Experiments to evaluate suitability of various constellation geometries and assess the impact of measurement sensitivities on addressing GDC’s science objectives.
Policy vs. practice in sport and climate change: the perspectives of key actors in global sport and international development
Authors: Ali Adam Ehsan , Millington Rob , Darnell Simon , Smith Tavis
Published: February 2024

Despite widespread, scientifically supported recognition of the scope of the climate crisis, and policies in place connecting sport to sustainable development, there remain concerns that the environment and climate change are rarely acknowledged within SDP activity and that even when they are, it is unclear how such policies are implemented, and to what effect. This raises the question of how and why the climate crisis and the attendant relationships between sport and sustainable development are understood and operationalized (or not) by stakeholders within the SDP sector. In this paper, therefore, we explore various perspectives and tensions around the environment and climate crisis within the SDP sector. To do so, we draw on interviews with SDP policy-makers (primarily from the United Nations and the International Olympic Committee) and SDP practitioners living and working in the global South in order to gauge the place of the environment and climate change in their everyday SDP policy-making, programming and practices. Overall, the data shows that while SDP stakeholders recognize the urgency of the climate crisis, the need for action, and the policy agenda linking sport to sustainable development, significant barriers, tensions and politics are still in place that prevent consistent climate action within SDP. Policy commitments and coherence are therefore needed in order to make climate action a core feature of SDP activity and practice.
Impact of menstrual cycle or combined oral contraception on elite female cyclists' training responses through a clustering analysis of training sessions
Authors: Carlin Hugo , Dupuit Marine , Storme Florent , Chassard Tom , Meignié Alice , Sachet Iris , Brunet Emanuel , Toussaint Jean-François , Antero Juliana
Published: February 2024

Objectives

(i) To classify training sessions of elite female cyclists according to an intensity index based on a longitudinal follow-up using multiparametric data collected in situ (ii) to measure the effect of estimated menstrual cycle (MC) phases and oral contraceptive pills (OC) phases on the athletes' training responses on each type of training identified.

Method

Thirteen elite French cyclists were followed up over 30 months and 5,190 training sessions were collected and 81 MC/OCs full cycles analyzed. Power sensors and position devices captured training data in situ, which was summarized into 14 external load variables. Principal Component Analysis and K-means clustering were used to identify cycling sessions according to an intensity load index. The clusters were then verified and categorized through the analysis of heart rate and rate of perceived effort. A calendar method was used to estimate 3 phases of the MC: menstruation, mid-cycle phase (MP) and late-cycle phase (LP). Two phases were defined among monophasic OC users: pills' taking/withdrawal.

Results

Four main types of training effort were identified: Intensive, Long, Medium and Light. In the MC group (n = 7; 52 cycles), the intensity index is 8% higher during the mid-cycle (vs. menstrual phase, p = 0.032) in the Intensive effort sessions. No differences were observed in Long, Medium or Light effort, nor between the phases of pills' taking/withdrawal among OC users.

Conclusion

The clustering analyses developed allows a training classification and a robust method to investigate the influence of the MC/OC in situ. A better training response during the mid-cycle when the sessions are the most intense suggest an impact of the MC when the athletes approach their maximal capacity.
Rapid Automatic Cacao Pod Borer Detection Using Edge Computing on Low-End Mobile Devices
Authors: Hacinas Eros Allan Somo , Querol Lorenzo Sangco , Santos Kris Lord T. , Matira Evian Bless , Castillo Rhodina C. , Arcelo Mercedes , Amalin Divina , Rustia Dan Jeric Arcega
Published: February 2024

The cacao pod borer (CPB) (Conopomorpha cramerella) is an invasive insect that causes significant economic loss for cacao farmers. One of the most efficient ways to reduce CPB damage is to continuously monitor its presence. Currently, most automated technologies for continuous insect pest monitoring rely on an internet connection and a power source. However, most cacao plantations are remotely located and have limited access to internet and power sources; therefore, a simpler and readily available tool is necessary to enable continuous monitoring. This research proposes a mobile application developed for rapid and on-site counting of CPBs on sticky paper traps. A CPB counting algorithm was developed and optimized to enable on-device computations despite memory constraints and limited capacity of low-end mobile phones. The proposed algorithm has an F1-score of 0.88, with no significant difference from expert counts (R2 = 0.97, p-value = 0.55, α = 0.05). The mobile application can be used to provide the required information for pest control methods on-demand and is also accessible for low-income farms. This is one of the first few works on enabling on-device processing for insect pest monitoring.
Looking for Fusarium Resistance in Oats: An Update
Authors: Morcia Caterina , Terzi Valeria , Ghizzoni Roberta , Carrara Ilaria , Gazzetti Katia
Published: February 2024

In recent years, an increase of interest has arisen in oats due to their unique health-related properties. Fusarium Head Blight (FHB) is recognized as a major threat to oat production and safety. The Joint FAO/WHO Expert Committee on Food Additives (JECFA) assesses the risks of the presence of Fusarium-produced mycotoxins in foods and the tolerable intake level. This paper summarizes updates on Fusarium resistance in oats, describing the advances in phenotyping strategies and diagnostics methods and discussing the role of the infection process of the microbiome and bioactive compounds peculiar to oats. A special emphasis has been placed on the presentation of new genetic, genomic, and biotechnological knowledge and tools available today and their perspectives on breeding programs aiming to develop FHB-resistant genotypes.
The Source of Melanocytes in Ortho- and Heterotopic Tail Regenerates of Axolotls and the Dependence of the Regenerative Response on the Presence of Neural Tissue
Authors: Clemen Günter , Kierdorf Uwe , Hermes Michael , Kierdorf Horst
Published: February 2024

We studied the regeneration of orthotopic and heterotopic tails in larval axolotls. First, we analyzed tail regeneration following reciprocal exchange of cuffs of tail integument between dark-colored (wild-type) and yellow-colored (hybrid) larval animals. Second, we studied tail regeneration in larval axolotls following transplantation of cuffs of tail integument from metamorphosed dark-colored conspecifics and from an adult fire salamander. In all cases, the amputation planes involved the transplanted integumental cuffs. In the first experiment, the regenerated tails showed the color of the host animals, not that of the transplanted cuffs. This suggests that the melanocytes of the regenerated tails were derived from the host hypodermis. Following transplantation of metamorphosed skin from axolotls and a fire salamander onto larval axolotls, the metamorphosed epidermis reverted to a larval condition. This indicates that the state of differentiation of the metamorphosed epidermis was not permanent. Rather, in order to maintain the metamorphosed epidermal structure, a continuous exposure of the animals to sufficient levels of thyroid hormones was required. Transplantation of tail buds from yellow-colored onto dark-colored axolotl embryos caused the formation of yellow-colored tails both in the head and the anterior limb region of the hosts. Incomplete resection of these heterotopic tails was followed by tail regeneration, while no tail regeneration occurred following complete resection of the heterotopic tails. Successful tail regeneration depended on the presence of neural tissue along the resection plane.
Assessing the Distribution and Richness of Mammalian Species Using a Stacking Species Distribution Model in a Temperate Forest
Authors: Chung Ok-Sik , Lee Jong Koo
Published: February 2024

This study was conducted as an effort to examine the association between mammalian species richness and environmental, anthropogenic, and bioclimate factors in the Province of Chungnam, Korea, using a stacked species distribution model (SSDM) approach. An SSDM model was constructed using an extensive dataset collected from 1357 mammal sampling points and their corresponding forest, geographical, anthropogenic, and bioclimatic information. Distance to forest edge, elevation, slope, population density, and distance to water channels were identified as important variables for determining species richness, whereas the impact of bioclimate variables was less important. The endemism map showed a strong correlation with species richness, suggesting the important role of endemic species. Overestimation was observed in areas with lower species richness. However, the findings of the study still demonstrated that valuable insights can be obtained through the use of the SSDM, which may be helpful to land managers, aiding in the effective management of wildlife habitats, particularly in regions with an abundance of species richness and endemism.
Follicular Dynamics and Pregnancy Rates during Foal Heat in Colombian Paso Fino Mares Bred under Permanent Grazing
Authors: Cardona-García Mauricio , Jiménez-Escobar Claudia , Ferrer María S. , Maldonado-Estrada Juan G.
Published: February 2024

No studies have evaluated the peripartum follicular dynamics resulting in foal heat under tropical environments. We aimed to assess retrospectively the peripartum follicular dynamics in Colombian Paso Fino mares that were inseminated at the foal heat, becoming pregnant or not. Records including follicular dynamics of pregnant mares prepartum and from foaling until foal heat ovulation were assessed in Colombian Paso Fino mares (CPF, n = 24) bred under permanent grazing in a tropical herd in Colombia. The number of ovarian follicles >10 mm before foaling and the largest follicle (F1) growth rate (mm/day) from foaling until the F1 reached the largest diameter (pre-ovulatory size) at the foal heat were assessed. Mares were inseminated at foal heat with 20 mL of semen (at least 500 million live spermatozoa) with >75% motility and 80% viability from a stallion of proven fertility. Ovulation was confirmed the day after follicles had reached the largest diameter. Quantitative data from follicular growth, the day at ovulation, from mares that became pregnant (PM) or not (NPM) at 16 days post-insemination were compared by one-way ANOVA, repeated measures ANOVA (follicle growth rate data) or Chi-square test (edema and cytology scores data). Epidemiological data, gestation length, and the number of follicles on third prepartum days did not significantly differ between PM and NPM (p > 0.05). Seventy-one percent of mares (17/24) got pregnant. Ovulatory follicles grew faster in the NPM group (n = 7), which ovulated between the seventh and ninth postpartum days, compared to PM (n = 17), which ovulated between the 11th and 13th postpartum days. Pre-ovulatory follicle diameter in PM (48.57 ± 0.8 mm) was significantly larger than in NPM (42.99 ± 1.0 mm) (p < 0.05). In addition, the PM edema score (2.93 ± 0.32 mm) on ovulation day was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than NPM (4.47 ± 0.05 mm). First postpartum ovulation occurred at 12.6 ± 0.3 and 8.5 ± 0.4 days (p < 0.05) in PM and NPM, respectively. Colombian Paso Fino mares bred under permanent grazing under tropical rainforest conditions with no foaling or postpartum complications showed a 71% gestation rate when inseminated at foal heat when ovulation occurs between the second and third postpartum week.
Estimation of Protein and Amino Acid Requirements in Layer Chicks Depending on Dynamic Model
Authors: Liu Miao , Xia Zhi-Yuan , Li Hong-Lin , Huang Yu-Xuan , Refaie Alainaa , Deng Zhang-Chao , Sun Lv-Hui
Published: February 2024

Four trials were conducted to establish a protein and amino acid requirement model for layer chicks over 0–6 weeks by using the analytical factorization method. In trial 1, a total of 90 one-day-old Jing Tint 6 chicks with similar body weight were selected to determine the growth curve, carcass and feather protein deposition, and amino acid patterns of carcass and feather proteins. In trials 2 and 3, 24 seven-day-old and 24 thirty-five-day-old Jing Tint 6 chicks were selected to determine the protein maintenance requirements, amino acid pattern, and net protein utilization rate. In trial 4, 24 ten-day-old and 24 thirty-eight-day-old Jing Tint 6 chicks were selected to determine the standard terminal ileal digestibility of amino acids. The chicks were fed either a corn–soybean basal diet, a low nitrogen diet, or a nitrogen-free diet throughout the different trials. The Gompertz equation showed that there is a functional relationship between body weight and age, described as BWt(g) = 2669.317 × exp(−4.337 × exp(−0.019t)). Integration of the test results gave a comprehensive dynamic model equation that could accurately calculate the weekly protein and amino acid requirements of the layer chicks. By applying the model, it was found that the protein requirements for Jing Tint 6 chicks during the 6-week period were 21.15, 20.54, 18.26, 18.77, 17.79, and 16.51, respectively. The model-predicted amino acid requirements for Jing Tint 6 chicks during the 6-week period were as follows: Aspartic acid (0.992–1.284), Threonine (0.601–0.750), Serine (0.984–1.542), Glutamic acid (1.661–1.925), Glycine (0.992–1.227), Alanine (0.909–0.961), Valine (0.773–1.121), Cystine (0.843–1.347), Methionine (0.210–0.267), Isoleucine (0.590–0.715), Leucine (0.977–1.208), Tyrosine (0.362–0.504), Phenylalanine (0.584–0.786), Histidine (0.169–0.250), Lysine (0.3999–0.500), Arginine (0.824–1.147), Proline (1.114–1.684), and Tryptophan (0.063–0.098). In conclusion, this study constructed a dynamic model for the protein and amino acid requirements of Jing Tint 6 chicks during the brooding period, providing an important insight to improve precise feeding for layer chicks through this dynamic model calculation.
Cecropin A Alleviates LPS-Induced Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis of Bovine Endometrial Epithelial Cells
Authors: Zhao Yu , Zhang Yang , Sun Mingkun , Li Bowen , Li Yuqiong , Hua Song
Published: February 2024

Dairy cows receiving a prolonged high-concentrate diet express an elevated concentration of lipopolysaccharides (LPSs) in the peripheral blood circulation, accompanied by a series of systemic inflammatory responses; however, the specific impacts of inflammation are yet to be determined. Cecropin-like antimicrobial peptides have become a research hotspot regarding antimicrobial peptides because of their excellent anti-inflammatory activities, and cecropin A is a major member of the cecropin family. To elucidate the mechanism of cecropin A as anti-inflammatory under the condition of sub-acute ruminal acidosis (SARA) in dairy cows, we induced inflammation in bEECs with LPS (10 µg/mL) and then added cecropin A (25 µM). Afterwards, we detected three categories of indexes including oxidative stress indices, inflammation-related genes, and apoptosis-related genes in bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEECs). The results indicated that cecropin A has the ability to reduce inflammatory factors TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-8 and inhibit the MAPK pathway to alleviate inflammation. In addition, cecropin A is able to reduce reactive oxygen species (ROS) levels and alleviates LPS-induced oxidative stress and mitochondrial dysfunction by downregulating NADPH Oxidase (NOX), and upregulating catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPX), and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Furthermore, cecropin A demonstrates the ability to inhibit apoptosis by suppressing the mitochondrial-dependent apoptotic pathway, specifically Fas/FasL-caspase-8/-3. The observed increase in the Bcl-2/Bax ratio, a known apoptosis regulator, further supports this finding. In conclusion, our study presents novel solutions for addressing inflammatory responses associated with SARA.
Multicore Parallelized Spatial Overlay Analysis Algorithm Using Vector Polygon Shape Complexity Index Optimization
Authors: Fan Junfu , Zuo Jiwei , Sun Guangwei , Shi Zongwen , Gao Yu , Zhang Yi
Published: February 2024

As core algorithms of geographic computing, overlay analysis algorithms typically have computation-intensive and data-intensive characteristics. It is highly important to optimize overlay analysis algorithms by parallelizing the vector polygons after reasonable data division. To address the problem of unbalanced data partitioning in the task decomposition process for parallel polygon overlay analysis and calculation, this paper presents a data partitioning method based on shape complexity index optimization, which achieves data equalization among multicore parallel computing tasks. Taking the intersection operator and difference operator of the Vatti algorithm as examples, six polygon shape indexes are selected to construct the shape complexity model, and the vector data are divided in accordance with the calculated shape complexity results. Finally, multicore parallelism is achieved based on OpenMP. The experimental results show that when a data set with a large amount of data is used, the effect of the multicore parallel execution of the Vatti algorithm’s intersection operator and difference operator based on shape complexity division is clearly improved. With 16 threads, compared with the serial algorithm, speedups of 29 times and 32 times can be obtained. Compared with the traditional multicore parallel algorithm based on polygon number division, the speed can be improved by 33% and 29%, and the load balancing index is reduced. For a data set with a small amount of data, the acceleration effect of this method is similar to that of traditional methods involving multicore parallelism.
Physicochemical Properties of Apple Purees and Peel Extract for Potential Use in Pastry Products
Authors: Dana Huțu , Sonia Amariei
Published: February 2024

In recent years, the consumption of pastry and bakery products has grown considerably, and consumers are increasingly tempted to choose products from an organoleptic point of view. At the same time, consumers are also interested in having a healthy diet, respectively, products with special sensory properties, but with a low sucrose content. Substituting the sucrose in these products with apple puree represents an alternative to obtaining cakes with a lower sugar content and, in addition, in obtaining products with high nutritional value, with the bioactive compounds from apples having special properties on health. The purpose of this work was to analyze both the physicochemical properties, the total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant activity of the apple puree samples, as well as their variation during the storage period. The physicochemical properties analyzed were: moisture content, titratable acidity, ash content, pH, water activity, total soluble solids content and color. Regarding the content of the bioactive compounds, the total content of polyphenols and the antioxidant capacity were determined by the Folin–Ciocalteu method, respectively, the DPPH method. The results showed that apple puree is an important source of polyphenols, and these are the main factors influencing antioxidant activity. The analysis of the properties of the three products obtained from the apple will allow you to choose one of them or a combination of them in order to obtain the highest degree of sugar substitution and the highest nutritional value of the products. The degree of substitution will be correlated with technological parameters, baking temperature and time.
Fatigue of Bridge Steel Wire: A Corrosion Pit Evolution Model under the Effects of Wind and Vehicles
Authors: Yin Li , Wu Mengxue
Published: February 2024

To investigate the damage evolution behavior of corroded steel wires under the influence of alternating loads, a damage evolution model for steel wires based on the theory of continuous damage mechanics was established. The damage evolution process at corrosion pits was simulated by using the element birth and death technique in ANSYS 2020R2. Then, a certain cable-stayed bridge was chosen as the research subject, the stress–time data of the sling were computed using a traffic–bridge–wind simulation analysis model, and the influence of corrosion pit distribution on the mechanical properties and fatigue life of wires under an alternating load was discussed. The results show that, in comparison to single-pitted steel wires, double-pits distributed circumferentially across the cross-section of the steel wires lead to more severe stress concentration, accelerating the damage evolution process and significantly reducing the fatigue life of the steel wires. Conversely, the stress concentration caused by double pits distributed along the longitudinal direction of steel wire is similar to that caused by single pits, and it will be even weaker than that caused by single pits with the change in the relative distance of the double pits. Based on the calculation results of the damage evolution model of steel wire, it was found that the corrosion pit crack nucleation life of steel wire under alternating load accounts for nearly 80% of the fatigue life of steel wire, and different corrosion pit distribution modes will significantly affect the fatigue life of steel wire.
Antioxidant Capacity of Honey Enriched by Wildflowers
Authors: Czernicka Maria Anna , Sowa-Borowiec Patrycja , Dudek Tomasz , Cichoński Jan , Puchalski Czesław , Chrzanowski Grzegorz
Published: February 2024

The study objective was a comparative analysis of rapeseed and multifloral honey enriched by flowers of six plant species: lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L.), high mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.), coltsfoot (Tussilago farfara L.), lawn daisy (Bellis perennis L.), and black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.). The honey was enriched with dry flowers and plant extracts at a level of 1%, 2%, and 4% (w/w). Antioxidant capacity was measured via two different methods: DPPH and ABTS assay. Total phenolic content and total flavonoid content were determined using colorimetric methods. The highest radical scavenging capacity determined by the DPPH assay was observed in rapeseed honey with a 4% dried cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.) flower addition, which was more than 50 times higher than the activity for pure rapeseed honey. Almost 100% of the radical scavenging capacity was found for rapeseed and multifloral honeys with cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.), especially for the 4% dried flower addition, more than six times that of the control samples measured using the ABTS test. Multifloral honeys enriched with black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.) and cowslip primrose (Primula veris L.), with a 2% and 4% plant material addition, both as an extract and as dried flowers, were characterised by the highest total phenolic content. The highest enrichment effectiveness was observed for dried flowers of lungwort (Pulmonaria officinalis L.), black elderberry (Sambucus nigra L.), and high mallow (Malva sylvestris L.), where the flavonoid content increased more than nine times compared to the honey samples without additions. The content of biologically active substances in honey enriched with flowers gives hope for new applications of the health-promoting substances contained in wild plants.
Experimental Study on the Effects of Heavy Metal Pollution on Soil Physical Properties and Microstructure Evolution
Authors: Zhang Guoliang , Liu Tao , Li Haifeng , Wang Zimou , Huang Xixi , Yi Xiangyang , Yan Dong
Published: February 2024

Soil heavy metal pollution poses a formidable challenge for environmental protection professionals. This study delves into the impact of zinc and lead pollution on the particle size distribution, liquid-plastic limit, permeability, shear strength, and other pertinent physical and engineering properties of clay. The alterations in the microstructure of soil contaminated by heavy metals were scrutinized using a scanning electron microscope. The findings reveal that as the concentration of heavy metals in contaminated soil rises, there is a concurrent decrease in the liquid limit, plasticity index, and silt content. This, in turn, leads to the deterioration of the original fluidity and plasticity of the soil, accompanied by a reduction in fine particles. Resistivity tests indicate that an escalation in water content results in a decrease in resistivity, an increase in porosity leads to an increase in resistivity, and an elevation in the concentration of heavy metals precipitates a sharp decline in resistivity due to the heightened conductivity of heavy metal ions. Heavy metal pollution induces structural changes in the soil, particularly in pore size, thereby influencing the permeability coefficient.
Multi-Objective Optimization of Cyclone Separators Based on Geometrical Parameters for Performance Enhancement
Authors: Pandey Satyanand , Wasilewski Marek , Mukhopadhyay Arkadeb , Prakash Om , Ahmad Asim , Brar Lakhbir Singh
Published: February 2024

The present study focuses on performing multi-objective optimization of the cyclone separator geometry to lower the pressure losses and enhance the collection efficiency. For this, six geometrical entities, such as the main body diameter of the cyclone, the vortex finder diameter and its insertion length, the cone tip diameter, and the height of the cylindrical and conical segment, have been accounted for optimization, and the Muschelknautz method of modeling has been used as an objective function for genetic algorithms. To date, this is one of the most popular mathematical models that accurately predicts the cyclone performance, such as the pressure drop and cut-off particle size. Three cases have been selected from the Pareto fronts, and the cyclone performance is calculated using advanced closure large-eddy simulation—the results are then compared to the baseline model to evaluate the relative improvement. It has been observed that in one of the models, with merely a 2% reduction in the collection efficiency and an increase of 12% in the cut-off particle size, more than a 43% reduction in pressure drop value was obtained (an energy-efficient model). In another model, a nearly 25% increment in the collection efficiency and a reduction of 42% in the cut-off particle size with a nearly 36% increase in pressure drop value were observed (a high-efficiency model).
Impact Fracture Resistance of Fused Deposition Models from Polylactic Acid with Respect to Infill Density and Sample Thickness
Authors: Banić Dubravko , Itrić Ivanda Katarina , Vukoje Marina , Cigula Tomislav
Published: February 2024

Fused deposition modeling (FDM) is widely employed in prototyping due to its cost-effectiveness, speed, and ability to produce detailed and functional prototypes using a variety of materials. Simultaneously, consideration for the use of biodegradable polymers and a general reduction in their usage while enhancing the production of polymer-based products is at the forefront of sustainable practices and environmental consciousness. This study investigates the impact fracture resistance of FDM models fabricated from Polylactic Acid (PLA), examining the influence of infill density (50% and 100% infill) and sample thickness (2 mm, 3 mm, and 5 mm). Optical microscopy, FTIR spectroscopy, and SEM analysis of PLA filament and fractured FDM PLA surfaces in impacted samples were conducted to ascertain the influence of process parameters on impact damage and failure mechanisms. The results indicate that a 100% infill profile with a 2 mm thickness should be avoided due to unpredictable behavior under impact. Conversely, a 5 mm thickness demonstrates significantly higher durability in comparison to a 50% infill profile. Optimal impact strength is observed in samples with a 3 mm thickness, suggesting potential material savings with 50% infill without compromising mechanical properties. The findings contribute valuable insights for refining FDM parameters and advancing the understanding of material behaviors in sustainable manufacturing practices.
Application of Variational Graph Autoencoder in Traction Control of Energy-Saving Driving for High-Speed Train
Authors: Ma Weigang , Wang Jing , Zhang Chaohui , Jia Qiao , Zhu Lei , Ji Wenjiang , Wang Zhoukai
Published: February 2024

In a high-speed rail system, the driver repeatedly adjusts the train’s speed and traction while driving, causing a high level of energy consumption. This also leads to the instability of the train’s operation, affecting passengers’ experiences and the operational efficiency of the system. To solve this problem, we propose a variational graph auto-encoder (VGAE) model using a neural network to learn the posterior distribution. This model can effectively capture the correlation between the components of a high-speed rail system and simulate drivers’ operating state accurately. The specific traction control is divided into two parts. The first part employs an algorithm based on the K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN) algorithm and undersampling to address the negative impact of imbalanced quantities in the training dataset. The second part utilizes a variational graph autoencoder to derive the initial traction control of drivers, thereby predicting the energy performance of the drivers’ operation. An 83,786 m long high-speed train driving section is used as an example for verification. By using a confusion matrix for our comparative analysis, it was concluded that the energy consumption is approximately 18.78% less than that of manual traction control. This shows the potential and effect of the variational graph autoencoder model for optimizing energy consumption in high-speed rail systems.
Integrating a Fundus Camera with High-Frequency Ultrasound for Precise Ocular Lesion Assessment
Authors: Rossi Alfa , Zeng Yushun , Rahimi Mojtaba , Son Taeyoon , Heiferman Michael J. , Gong Chen , Sun Xin , Soleimani Mohammad , Djalilian Ali R. , Humayun Mark S. , Zhou Qifa , Yao Xincheng
Published: February 2024

Ultrasound A-scan is an important tool for quantitative assessment of ocular lesions. However, its usability is limited by the difficulty of accurately localizing the ultrasound probe to a lesion of interest. In this study, a transparent LiNbO3 single crystal ultrasound transducer was fabricated, and integrated with a widefield fundus camera to guide the ultrasound local position. The electrical impedance, phase spectrum, pulse-echo performance, and optical transmission spectrum of the ultrasound transducer were validated. The novel fundus camera-guided ultrasound probe was tested for in vivo measurement of rat eyes. Anterior and posterior segments of the rat eye could be unambiguously differentiated with the fundus photography-guided ultrasound measurement. A model eye was also used to verify the imaging performance of the prototype device in the human eye. The prototype shows the potential of being used in the clinic to accurately measure the thickness and echogenicity of ocular lesions in vivo.
Morphosyntactic Abilities and Cognitive Performance in Multiple Sclerosis
Authors: Grigoriadis Panagiotis , Bakirtzis Christos , Nteli Elli , Boziki Marina-Kleopatra , Kotoumpa Maria , Theotokis Paschalis , Kesidou Evangelia , Stavrakaki Stavroula
Published: February 2024

While cognitive abilities in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) have been studied in detail, little is known about linguistic abilities in PwMS and their relation to cognitive impairment. In this cross-sectional explorative study, we aim to investigate the morphosyntactic abilities of PwMS alongside their cognitive performance. Furthermore, we explore the effect of clinical factors, namely, the disease duration and MS type, on the linguistic and cognitive performance of PwMS. By so doing, we aim to shed light on neurocognitive and clinical correlates of linguistic performance in PwMS. We included 78 patients and 78 age-, sex- and education-matched healthy individuals. All participants were additionally administered the Brief International Cognitive Assessment for Multiple Sclerosis (BICAMS) battery, a verbal short-term memory task (non-word repetition) and questionnaires about mood, fatigue and quality of life. In addition, they underwent examinations with morphology and syntax tasks. PwMS were found to be impaired in morphology (past tense) and selectively impaired in syntax alongside cognitive impairments. Disease duration had the main impact on cognitive abilities. The MS type selectively impacted linguistic abilities, as shown by the remarkably deficient performance of the MS individuals with the progressive disease subtype. Linguistic impairments were predicted by only one measure of the BICAM test, namely, the Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), a measure of cognitive processing speed. Overall, this study contributes to the better understanding of the linguistic profile of PwMS by reporting selective deficits in their morphological and syntactical abilities. Furthermore, it provides insights into the clinical and cognitive correlates of linguistic performance. By so doing, it suggests clinical implications for the development of intervention programs for PwMS.
Akkermansia muciniphila Is Beneficial to a Mouse Model of Parkinson’s Disease, via Alleviated Neuroinflammation and Promoted Neurogenesis, with Involvement of SCFAs
Authors: Qiao Chen-Meng , Huang Wen-Yan , Zhou Yu , Quan Wei , Niu Gu-Yu , Li Ting , Zhang Mei-Xuan , Wu Jian , Zhao Li-Ping , Zhao Wei-Jiang , Cui Chun , Shen Yan-Qin
Published: February 2024

Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may represent potential strategies for Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment. Our previous research revealed a decreased abundance of Akkermansia muciniphila (Akk) in PD mice; however, whether Akk is beneficial to PD is unknown. To answer this question, the mice received MPTP intraperitoneally to construct a subacute model of PD and were then supplemented with Akk orally for 21 consecutive days. Motor function, dopaminergic neurons, neuroinflammation, and neurogenesis were examined. In addition, intestinal inflammation, and serum and fecal short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) analyses, were assessed. We found that Akk treatment effectively inhibited the reduction of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNpc) and partially improved the motor function in PD mice. Additionally, Akk markedly alleviated neuroinflammation in the striatum and hippocampus and promoted hippocampal neurogenesis. It also decreased the level of colon inflammation. Furthermore, these aforementioned changes are mainly accompanied by alterations in serum and fecal isovaleric acid levels, and lower intestinal permeability. Our research strongly suggests that Akk is a potential neuroprotective agent for PD therapy.
The Prognostic Role of Candidate Serum Biomarkers in the Post-Acute and Chronic Phases of Disorder of Consciousness: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Formisano Rita , D’Ippolito Mariagrazia , Giustini Marco , Catani Sheila , Mondello Stefania , Piccolino Iliana , Iannuzzi Filomena , Wang Kevin K. , Hayes Ronald L.
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Serum biomarkers, such as Neurofilament Light (NF-L), Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein (GFAP), Ubiquitin C-terminal Hydrolase (UCH-L1), and Total-tau (T-Tau) have been proposed for outcome prediction in the acute phase of severe traumatic brain injury, but they have been less investigated in patients with prolonged DoC (p-DoC). Methods: We enrolled 25 p-DoC patients according to the Coma Recovery Scale-Revised (CRS-R). We identified different time points: injury onset (t0), first blood sampling at admission in Neurorehabilitation (t1), and second blood sampling at discharge (t2). Patients were split into improved (improved level of consciousness from t1 to t2) and not-improved (unchanged or worsened level of consciousness from t1 to t2). Results: All biomarker levels decreased over time, even though each biomarker reveals typical features. Serum GFAP showed a weak correlation between t1 and t2 (p = 0.001), while no correlation was observed for serum NF-L (p = 0.955), UCH-L1 (p = 0.693), and T-Tau (p = 0.535) between t1 and t2. Improved patients showed a significant decrease in the level of NF-L (p = 0.0001), UCH-L1 (p = 0.001), and T-Tau (p = 0.002), but not for serum GFAP (p = 0.283). No significant statistical differences were observed in the not-improved group. Conclusions: A significant correlation was found between the level of consciousness improvement and decreased NF-L, UCH-L1, and T-Tau levels. Future studies on the association of serum biomarkers with neurophysiological and neuroimaging prognostic indicators are recommended.
Association of Temperament and Character Traits with Suicide Probability, Suicide Attempts, and Perceived Stress Level in Patients with Bipolar Disorder
Authors: Özdemir Yılmaz Selma , Ertekin Yazıcı Aylin , Yılmaz Hamdi
Published: February 2024

Bipolar disorder (BD) is a high-suicide-risk mental disorder. The purpose of this study was to identify the relationship between temperament and character traits with suicide probability, suicide attempts, and perceived stress level in patients with BD. A total of 39 euthymic patients with bipolar disorder who had a history of suicide attempts and 39 euthymic patients without a history of suicide attempts were included in this study. The sociodemographic and clinical data form, Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Young Mania Rating Scale (YMRS), Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-5-Clinician Version (SCID-5/CV), Temperament and Character Inventory (TCI), Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), and Suicide Probability Scale were used to obtain the data. HDRS, PSS, and SPS scores of the group comprised of patients who attempted suicide were higher than the other group. There was no significant difference between the group of patients who had attempted suicide and the other group in terms of temperament characteristics. In the group of patients who had attempted suicide, self-directedness (SD) and cooperativeness (CO) scores were lower, and the self-transcendence (ST) score was higher than the other group. HA and ST were positively and SD negatively associated with SPS scores. In the regression analysis for suicide risk, the factors most associated with suicide risk were high HDRS and low CO score. Low SD in BD and high ST with CO may be associated with suicide attempts. Alongside low SD, high HA and ST may be associated with suicidal ideation. Treating residual depressive symptoms can reduce the risk of suicide.
Weather Interaction-Aware Spatio-Temporal Attention Networks for Urban Traffic Flow Prediction
Authors: Zhong Hua , Wang Jian , Chen Cai , Wang Jianlong , Li Dong , Guo Kailin
Published: February 2024

As the cornerstone of intelligent transportation systems, accurate traffic prediction can reduce the pressure of urban traffic, reduce the cost of residents’ travel time, and provide a reference basis for urban construction planning. Existing traffic prediction methods focus on spatio-temporal dependence modeling, ignoring the influence of weather factors on spatio-temporal characteristics, and the prediction task has complexity and an uneven distribution in different spatio-temporal scenarios and weather changes. In view of this, we propose a weather interaction-aware spatio-temporal attention network (WST-ANet), in which we integrate feature models and dynamic graph modules in the encoder and decoder, and use a spatio-temporal weather interaction perception module for prediction. Firstly, the contextual semantics of the traffic flows are fused using a feature embedding module to improve the adaptability to weather drivers; then, an encoder–decoder is constructed by combining the Dynamic Graph Module and the WSTA Block, to extract spatio-temporal aggregated correlations in the roadway network; finally, the feature information of the encoder was weighted and aggregated using the cross-focusing mechanism, and attention was paid to the hidden state of the encoding. Traffic flow was predicted using the PeMS04 and PeMS08 datasets and compared with multiple typical baseline models. It was learned through extensive experiments that the accuracy evaluation result is the smallest in WST-ANet, which demonstrated the superiority of the proposed model. This can more accurately predict future changes in traffic in different weather conditions, providing decision makers with a basis for optimizing scenarios.
Classification of Mobile-Based Oral Cancer Images Using the Vision Transformer and the Swin Transformer
Authors: Song Bofan , KC Dharma Raj , Yang Rubin Yuchan , Li Shaobai , Zhang Chicheng , Liang Rongguang
Published: February 2024

Oral cancer, a pervasive and rapidly growing malignant disease, poses a significant global health concern. Early and accurate diagnosis is pivotal for improving patient outcomes. Automatic diagnosis methods based on artificial intelligence have shown promising results in the oral cancer field, but the accuracy still needs to be improved for realistic diagnostic scenarios. Vision Transformers (ViT) have outperformed learning CNN models recently in many computer vision benchmark tasks. This study explores the effectiveness of the Vision Transformer and the Swin Transformer, two cutting-edge variants of the transformer architecture, for the mobile-based oral cancer image classification application. The pre-trained Swin transformer model achieved 88.7% accuracy in the binary classification task, outperforming the ViT model by 2.3%, while the conventional convolutional network model VGG19 and ResNet50 achieved 85.2% and 84.5% accuracy. Our experiments demonstrate that these transformer-based architectures outperform traditional convolutional neural networks in terms of oral cancer image classification, and underscore the potential of the ViT and the Swin Transformer in advancing the state of the art in oral cancer image analysis.
Focus on RAS Codon 61 Mutations in Metastatic Colorectal Cancer: A Retrospective Analysis
Authors: Schietroma Francesco , Anghelone Annunziato , Valente Giustina , Beccia Viria , Caira Giulia , Spring Alexia , Trovato Giovanni , Di Bello Armando , Ceccarelli Anna , Chiofalo Laura , Perazzo Serena , Bensi Maria , Minucci Angelo , Urbani Andrea , Larocca Luigi Maria , Basso Michele , Pozzo Carmelo , Salvatore Lisa , Calegari Maria Alessandra , Tortora Giampaolo
Published: February 2024

RAS mutations involving codon 61 are rare in metastatic colorectal cancer (mCRC), accounting for only 1–4%, but they have recently been identified with high frequency in the circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) of patients with secondary resistance to anti-EGFRs. This retrospective monocentric study aimed to investigate the clinical phenotype and prognostic performance of codon 61 RAS-mutated mCRC. Fifty patients with codon 61 RAS-mutated mCRC treated at our institution between January 2013 and December 2021 were enrolled. Additional datasets of codon 61 RAS wild-type mCRCs (648 patients) were used as comparators. The endpoint for prognostic assessment was overall survival (OS). Metastatic involvement of the peritoneum or ovary was significantly more frequent in codon 61 RAS-mutated mCRC compared to codon 61 RAS wild-type (54 vs. 28.5%), non-codon 61 RAS-mutated (35.6%), BRAF V600E-mutated (25%), and RAS/BRAF wild-type (20.5%) cohorts. At a median follow up of 96.2 months, the median OS for codon 61 RAS-mutated patients was significantly shorter compared to RAS/BRAF wild-type (26.9 vs. 36.0 months, HR 0.56) patients, while no significant difference was observed compared to non-codon 61 RAS-mutated and BRAF V600E-mutated patients. We showed a negative prognostic impact and a statistically significant correlation between codon 61 RAS mutations and metastatic involvement of the peritoneum and ovary.
Sex Differences in Cancer Incidence Rates by Race and Ethnicity: Results from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) Registry (2000–2019)
Authors: Tosakoon Sararat , Lawrence Wayne R. , Shiels Meredith S. , Jackson Sarah S.
Published: February 2024

Men have 2–3 times the rate of most non-sex-specific cancers compared to women, but whether this is due to differences in biological or environmental factors remains poorly understood. This study investigated sex differences in cancer incidence by race and ethnicity. Cancer incidence data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Result (SEER) program (2000–2019) were used to calculate male-to-female incidence rate ratios (MF IRRs) for each cancer site, stratified by race and ethnicity, and age-standardized to the 2000 U.S. population for individuals ages ≥ 20 years. Among 49 cancer sites, 44 showed male predominance (MF IRR > 1), with seven inconsistencies across race and ethnicity, including cancers of the lip, tongue, hypopharynx, retroperitoneum, larynx, pleura cancers, and Kaposi sarcoma. Four cancers exhibited a female predominance (MF IRR < 1), with only gallbladder and anus cancers varying by race and ethnicity. The MF IRRs for cancer of the cranial nerves and other nervous system malignancies showed no sex differences and were consistent (MF IRR = 1) across race and ethnicity. The MF IRRs for most cancers were consistent across race and ethnicity, implying that biological etiologies are driving the observed sex difference. The lack of MF IRR variability by race and ethnicity suggests a minimal impact of environmental exposure on sex differences in cancer incidence. Further research is needed to identify biological drivers of sex differences in cancer etiology.