bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A phenomenological approach to virtual reality in psychiatry education
Authors: Pedersen Kamilla , Musaeus Peter
Published: October 2023

Virtual Reality has emerged as a valuable tool in medical education, primarily for teaching basic sciences and procedural skills. However, its potential in clinical psychiatry, particularly in comprehending the subjective experiences of individuals with mental illness, remains largely untapped. This paper aims to address this gap by proposing a phenomenological-driven approach to the design of virtual reality in psychiatry education. Insights into psychopathology, which involves the systematic study of abnormal experiences as well as self-awareness on behalf of the clinician, demands training. The clinician must develop sensitivity, observational skills, and an understanding of patients’ subjective experiences. While integrating the subjective perspective and promoting emotional self-awareness in psychiatry education have been recommended, further research is necessary to effectively harness virtual reality for this purpose. Drawing from the convergence of virtual reality, phenomenological approaches to grasping subjectivity and psychopathology, this paper aims to advance teachings in psychopathology. It underscores the importance of integrating biomedical knowledge with the lived experiences of psychiatric patients to offer learners a comprehensive understanding of clinical psychiatry. This approach is deeply rooted in the theories of three influential figures: Karl Jaspers, a German psychiatrist and philosopher, who emphasized the role of phenomenology in clinical psychiatry; Ludwig Binswanger, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychotherapist, known for his work on existential analysis; and Medard Boss, a Swiss psychiatrist and psychoanalyst, who introduced Daseinsanalysis, focusing on the individual’s existence in the world. To facilitate learning in acute psychiatry, a virtual reality scenario was developed. This scenario offers two perspectives: one from the patient’s viewpoint, simulating a severe psychotic incident, and the other from the perspective of junior doctors, exposing them to the challenges of communication, decision-making, and stress in a clinical setting. This paper argues that these phenomenological approaches are valuable in helping inform the didactical considerations in the design of the virtual reality scenario, enhancing the learning experience in psychiatry education. It highlights the potential of virtual reality to deepen understanding in the teaching of clinical psychiatry and provides practical insights into its application in an educational context.
Genetic background influences pig responses to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus
Authors: Pei Yangli , Lin Chenghong , Li Hua , Feng Zheng
Published: October 2023

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a highly infectious and economically significant virus that causes respiratory and reproductive diseases in pigs. It results in reduced productivity and increased mortality in pigs, causing substantial economic losses in the industry. Understanding the factors affecting pig responses to PRRSV is crucial to develop effective control strategies. Genetic background has emerged as a significant determinant of susceptibility and resistance to PRRSV in pigs. This review provides an overview of the basic infection process of PRRSV in pigs, associated symptoms, underlying immune mechanisms, and roles of noncoding RNA and alternative splicing in PRRSV infection. Moreover, it emphasized breed-specific variations in these aspects that may have implications for individual treatment options.
Studies on the Relationship between Occupational Stress and Mental Health, Performance, and Job Satisfaction of Chinese Civil Aviation Pilots
Authors: Zhao Yanzeng , Wang Yanlong , Guo Wei , Cheng Lin , Tong Jialu , Ji Ruipeng , Zhou Yizhi , Liu Ziyu , Wang Lijing
Published: October 2023

This research work delves into the potential impact of occupational stress on the mental health, performance, and job satisfaction of civil aviation pilots. To explore this triadic relationship, a battery of six distinct scales was employed, including the Chinese Civil Aviation Pilot Occupational Stress Scale, the Symptom Check List-90 (SCL-90), the Flight Performance Scale, the Job Satisfaction Scale, the Minnesota Satisfaction Questionnaire (MSQ), and the Simplified Coping Style Questionnaire (SCSQ). A total of 131 valid questionnaires were collected for analysis, yielding a valid response rate of 65.5%. The findings demonstrate a negative correlation between occupational stress experienced by Chinese civil aviation pilots and their mental health, performance, and job satisfaction. Notably, a positive coping style was identified as a moderator in the relationship between occupational stress and flight performance, effectively mitigating the negative impact of stress on flight performance. Similarly, a negative coping style was found to moderate the relationship between occupational stress and job satisfaction, attenuating the adverse effects of occupational stress on job satisfaction. This study underscores the predictive utility of investigating the occupational stress experienced by pilots for understanding their mental health, performance, and job satisfaction. Furthermore, it highlights the potential for adjusting the negative impact of occupational stress on flight performance and job satisfaction through interventions that target pilots’ coping styles.
Numerical Study on the Aerodynamic Heating Characteristics of the Cantilevered Injection System for Oblique Detonation Engine Inlets
Authors: Yang Fan , Lin Mingyue , Hu Zongmin , Han Guilai
Published: October 2023

This paper investigates the flowfield patterns and distributions of surface heat flux of the cantilevered injection system for oblique detonation engine inlets. Three-dimensional complex shock wave/boundary layer interaction and shock wave/shock wave interaction between injectors are studied by solving Navier–Stokes equations under laminar flow conditions. The results indicate that there are three possible positions of localized peak heat flux, i.e., the leading edge of the injector near the bottom, the inlet wall surface below the injector, and the downstream of the injector sidewall. All the regions of high heat flux are related to flow reattachment or stagnation. Three types of flow patterns are observed along the inlet surface, i.e., partial separation, completely regular separation, and completely nonregular separation, resulting in increasingly complex distributions of heat flux. The localized peak heat flux which appears at the leading edge and the sidewalls of the injectors can reach values dozens of times higher than the undisturbed region within the interaction region.
Unsupervised Domain Adaptation for Mitigating Sensor Variability and Interspecies Heterogeneity in Animal Activity Recognition
Authors: Ahn Seong-Ho , Kim Seeun , Jeong Dong-Hwa
Published: October 2023

Animal activity recognition (AAR) using wearable sensor data has gained significant attention due to its applications in monitoring and understanding animal behavior. However, two major challenges hinder the development of robust AAR models: domain variability and the difficulty of obtaining labeled datasets. To address this issue, this study intensively investigates the impact of unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) for AAR. We compared three distinct types of UDA techniques: minimizing divergence-based, adversarial-based, and reconstruction-based approaches. By leveraging UDA, AAR classifiers enable the model to learn domain-invariant features, allowing classifiers trained on the source domain to perform well on the target domain without labels. We evaluated the effectiveness of UDA techniques using dog movement sensor data and additional data from horses. The application of UDA across sensor positions (neck and back), sizes (middle-sized and large-sized), and gender (female and male) within the dog data, as well as across species (dog and horses), exhibits significant improvements in the classification performance and reduced the domain discrepancy. The results highlight the potential of UDA to mitigate the domain shift and enhance AAR in various settings and for different animal species, providing valuable insights for practical applications in real-world scenarios where labeled data is scarce.
Zoonotic Microparasites in Invasive Black Rats (Rattus rattus) from Small Islands in Central Italy
Authors: Zanet Stefania , Occhibove Flavia , Capizzi Dario , Fratini Sara , Giannini Francesca , Hoida Avner Dan , Sposimo Paolo , Valentini Flaminia , Ferroglio Ezio
Published: October 2023

Invasive species have a detrimental impact on native populations, particularly in island ecosystems, and they pose a potential zoonotic and wildlife threat. Black rats (Rattus rattus) are invasive species that disrupt native flora and fauna on islands and serve as potential competent reservoirs for various pathogens and parasites. Microparasites screening was conducted in rat populations from small islands in central Italy (the Pontine Islands and Pianosa) with the aim of assessing the role of rats in maintaining infections, particularly in cases where key reservoir hosts were scarce or absent. We focused on microparasites of zoonotic and veterinary relevance. A total of 53 rats was kill-trapped and target tissues were analysed with molecular techniques. We observed the absence or very low prevalence of Anaplasma spp., while Babesia was found in rats from all locations, marking the first recorded instance of Babesia divergens in wild rats. Data from Pianosa strongly suggest the presence of an autochthonous Leishmania infantum cycle in the Tuscan archipelago islands. Neospora caninum was absent from all islands, even in areas where dogs, the main reservoirs, were present. Toxoplasma gondii was only recorded on the Pontine Islands, where genotyping is needed to shed light on infection dynamics. This study confirms that invasive species, such as rats, may be responsible for maintaining an increased parasitological threat to fauna and human communities in certain ecosystems.
Assessment of the Effects of Commercial or Locally Engineered Biochars Produced from Different Biomass Sources and Differing in Their Physical and Chemical Properties on Rumen Fermentation and Methane Production In Vitro
Authors: Benchaar Chaouki , Hassanat Fadi , Côrtes Cristiano
Published: October 2023

In recent years, interest in using biochar as feed additives to mitigate enteric methane (CH4) emissions from ruminants has increased. It has been suggested that the mitigating potential of biochar is influenced by its physical (e.g., porosity-related) and chemical (e.g., redox-potential-related) properties. Thus, the aim of this in vitro study was to evaluate the effects of commercial or locally engineered biochars, produced from different biomass sources and differing in their physical and chemical characteristics, on rumen fermentation and CH4 production. For this purpose, a 24 h batch culture of ruminal fluid incubations was conducted in a complete randomized block design (repeated three times) that included a negative control (no additive), a positive control (monensin, 10 mg/mL), and four commercial and three locally engineered biochars, each evaluated at 1%, 2%, or 5% of the substrate’s (i.e., the total mixed ration) dry matter. The evaluated biochars greatly differ in their chemical (i.e., moisture, ash, pH, redox potential, volatiles, carbon, fixed carbon, hydrogen, and sulfur) and physical (i.e., fine particles < 250 µm, bulk density, true density, porosity, electrical conductivity, specific surface area, and absorbed CO2) properties. Despite these differences and compared with the negative control, none of the biochars evaluated (regardless of the inclusion rate) influenced gas and CH4 production, volatile fatty acid characteristics (total concentration and profile), or ammonia-nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations. As expected, monensin (i.e., the positive control) decreased (p < 0.05) CH4 production mainly because of a decreased (p < 0.05) acetate-to-propionate ratio. The results of this study reveal that despite the large differences in the physical and chemical properties of the biochars evaluated, their inclusion at different rates in vitro failed to modify rumen fermentation and decrease CH4 production. Based on these in vitro findings, it was concluded that biochar does not represent a viable strategy for mitigating enteric CH4 emissions.
Efficacy of Chlorhexidine after Oral Surgery Procedures on Wound Healing: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Romero-Olid María de Nuria , Bucataru Elena , Ramos-García Pablo , González-Moles Miguel Ángel
Published: October 2023

Our objective was to evaluate qualitatively and quantitatively, through a systematic review and meta-analysis, available evidence on the efficacy of chlorhexidine (CHX) when applied after oral surgery on wound healing and related clinical parameters. MEDLINE/PubMed, Embase, CENTRAL, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched for studies published before January 2023. The quality of the methodology used in primary-level studies was assessed using the RoB2 tool; meta-analyses were performed jointly with heterogeneity and small-study effect analyses. Thirty-three studies and 4766 cases were included. The results point out that the application of CHX was significantly more effective, compared to controls where CHX was not employed, providing better wound healing after oral surgery (RR = 0.66, 95% CI = 0.55–0.80, p < 0.001). Stratified meta-analyses confirmed the higher efficacy of 0.20% CHX gel vs. other vehicles and concentrations (p < 0.001, respectively). Likewise, the addition of chitosan to CHX significantly increased the efficacy of surgical wound healing (p < 0.001). The use of CHX has also been significantly beneficial in the prevention of alveolar osteitis after any type of dental extraction (RR = 0.46, 95% CI = 0.39–0.53, p < 0.001) and has also been effective when applied as a gel for a reduction in pain after the surgical extraction of third molars (MD = −0.97, 95% CI = −1.26 to −0.68, p < 0.001). In conclusion, this systematic review and meta-analysis demonstrate on the basis of evidence that the application of CHX exerts a beneficial effect on wound healing after oral surgical procedures, significantly decreasing the patient’s risk of developing surgical complications and/or poor wound healing. This benefit was greater when CHX was used at 0.20% in gel form with the addition of chitosan.
Physiological and RNA-Seq Analyses on Exogenous Strigolactones Alleviating Drought by Improving Antioxidation and Photosynthesis in Wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: Song Miao , Hu Naiyue , Zhou Sumei , Xie Songxin , Yang Jian , Ma Wenqi , Teng Zhengkai , Liang Wenxian , Wang Chunyan , Bu Mingna , Zhang Shuo , Yang Xiwen , He Dexian
Published: October 2023

Drought poses a significant challenge to global wheat production, and the application of exogenous phytohormones offers a convenient approach to enhancing drought tolerance of wheat. However, little is known about the molecular mechanism by which strigolactones (SLs), newly discovered phytohormones, alleviate drought stress in wheat. Therefore, this study is aimed at elucidating the physiological and molecular mechanisms operating in wheat and gaining insights into the specific role of SLs in ameliorating responses to the stress. The results showed that SLs application upregulated the expression of genes associated with the antioxidant defense system (Fe/Mn-SOD, PER1, PER22, SPC4, CAT2, APX1, APX7, GSTU6, GST4, GOR, GRXC1, and GRXC15), chlorophyll biogenesis (CHLH, and CPX), light-harvesting chlorophyll A-B binding proteins (WHAB1.6, and LHC Ib-21), electron transfer (PNSL2), E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase (BB, CHIP, and RHY1A), heat stress transcription factor (HSFA1, HSFA4D, and HSFC2B), heat shock proteins (HSP23.2, HSP16.9A, HSP17.9A, HSP21, HSP70, HSP70-16, HSP70-17, HSP70-8, HSP90-5, and HSP90-6), DnaJ family members (ATJ1, ATJ3, and DJA6), as well as other chaperones (BAG1, CIP73, CIPB1, and CPN60I). but the expression level of genes involved in chlorophyll degradation (SGR, NOL, PPH, PAO, TIC55, and PTC52) as well as photorespiration (AGT2) was found to be downregulated by SLs priming. As a result, the activities of superoxide dismutase (SOD), peroxidase (POD), and catalase (CAT) were enhanced, and chlorophyll content and photosynthetic rate were increased, which indicated the alleviation of drought stress in wheat. These findings demonstrated that SLs alleviate drought stress by promoting photosynthesis through enhancing chlorophyll levels, and by facilitating ROS scavenging through modulation of the antioxidant system. The study advances understandings of the molecular mechanism underlying SLs-mediated drought alleviation and provides valuable insights for implementing sustainable farming practice under water restriction.
Ellagic Acid Prevented Dextran-Sodium-Sulfate-Induced Colitis, Liver, and Brain Injury through Gut Microbiome Changes
Authors: Kim Dong-ha , Kim Ji-Su , Kwon Jae-Hee , Kwun In-Sook , Baek Moon-Chang , Kwon Gi-Seok , Rungratanawanich Wiramon , Song Byoung-Joon , Kim Do-Kyun , Kwon Hyo-Jung , Cho Young-Eun
Published: October 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) affects millions of people worldwide and is considered a significant risk factor for colorectal cancer. Recent in vivo and in vitro studies reported that ellagic acid (EA) exhibits important antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. In this study, we investigated the preventive effects of EA against dextran sulfate sodium (DSS)-induced acute colitis, liver, and brain injury in mice through the gut–liver–brain axis. Acute colitis, liver, and brain injury were induced by treatment with 5% (w/v) DSS in the drinking water for 7 days. Freshly prepared EA (60 mg/kg/day) was orally administered, while control (CON) group mice were treated similarly by daily oral administrations with a vehicle (water). All the mice were euthanized 24 h after the final treatment with EA. The blood, liver, colon, and brain samples were collected for further histological and biochemical analyses. Co-treatment with a physiologically relevant dose (60 mg/kg/day) of EA for 7 days significantly reduced the DSS-induced gut barrier dysfunction; endotoxemia; and inflammatory gut, liver, and brain injury in mice by modulating gut microbiota composition and inhibiting the elevated oxidative and nitrative stress marker proteins. Our results further demonstrated that the preventive effect of EA on the DSS-induced IBD mouse model was mediated by blocking the NF-κB and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) pathway. Therefore, EA co-treatment significantly attenuated the pro-inflammatory and oxidative stress markers by suppressing the activation of NF-κB/MAPK pathways in gut, liver, and brain injury. These results suggest that EA, effective in attenuating IBD in a mouse model, deserves further consideration as a potential therapeutic for the treatment of inflammatory diseases.
The Verification of the Correct Visibility of Horizontal Road Signs Using Deep Learning and Computer Vision
Authors: Kulawik Joanna , Kubanek Mariusz , Garus Sebastian
Published: October 2023

This research aimed to develop a system for classifying horizontal road signs as correct or with poor visibility. In Poland, road markings are applied by using a specialized white, reflective paint and require periodic repainting. Our developed system is designed to assist in the decision-making process regarding the need for repainting. It operates by analyzing images captured by a standard car camera or driving recorder. The image data undergo initial segmentation and classification processes, facilitated by the utilization of the YOLOv4-Tiny neural network model. The input data to the network consist of frames extracted from the video stream. To train the model, we established our proprietary database, which comprises 6250 annotated images and video frames captured during driving. The annotations provide detailed information about object types, their locations within the image, and their sizes. The trained neural network model effectively identifies and classifies objects within our dataset. Subsequently, based on the classification results, the identified image fragments are subjected to further analysis. The analysis relies on assessing pixel-level contrasts within the images. Notably, the road surface is intentionally designed to be dark, while road signs exhibit relatively lighter colors. In conclusion, the developed system serves the purpose of determining the correctness or visibility quality of horizontal road signs. It achieves this by leveraging computer vision techniques, deep learning with YOLOv4-Tiny, and a meticulously curated database. Ultimately, the system provides valuable information regarding the condition of specific horizontal road signs, aiding in the decision-making process regarding potential repainting needs.
Experimental Study on Properties of Syngas, Tar, and Biochar Derived from Different Gasification Methods
Authors: Yue Yang , Jin Xiaoling , Deng Lei
Published: October 2023

Biomass gasification technology is a clean and renewable energy utilization approach. Understanding the evolution of gasification product properties is crucial to achieving carbon neutrality goals. A fixed-bed reactor is employed for the biomass gasification with CO2 in this study. Various methodologies have been conducted to characterize the syngas, tar, and biochar produced from the electric gasification (EG) and microwave gasification (MG) of oak and corn stalk samples at different temperatures. When gasifying the same biomass at the same temperature, the syngas yield of MG is generally 3–7% higher than that of EG, and the difference increases with decreasing temperature. The biochar yield of MG is 3–6% higher than that of EG. EG produces more tar at 600–800 °C. The yield of syngas increases as the gasification temperature rises from 600 to 1000 °C, but that of tar and biochar falls. The syngas mainly comprises H2, CH4, CO, and CO2. MG produces 8–15% higher CO content and 2.5–3.5% higher H2 content than EG. This is due to different heating mechanisms. The net calorific value of syngas increases with temperature, reaching a maximum of 11.61 MJ m−3 at 1000 °C for syngas from corn stalk MG. When the temperature rises from 600 to 1000 °C, more primary tars are converted into polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). At 900 °C, corn stalk biochar from MG has a maximum specific total pore volume (0.62 cm3 g−1), surface area (525.87 m2 g−1), and average pore diameter (4.18 nm). The intensities of the characteristic peaks of biochar functional groups decrease gradually. The heating method has little effect on the types of functional groups.
DAMP-YOLO: A Lightweight Network Based on Deformable Features and Aggregation for Meter Reading Recognition
Authors: Zhuo Sichao , Zhang Xiaoming , Chen Ziyi , Wei Wei , Wang Fang , Li Quanlong , Guan Yufan
Published: October 2023

With the development of Industry 4.0, although some smart meters have appeared on the market, traditional mechanical meters are still widely used due to their long-standing presence and the difficulty of modifying or replacing them in large quantities. Most meter readings are still manually taken on-site, and some are even taken in high-risk locations such as hazardous chemical storage. However, existing methods often fail to provide real-time detections or result in misreadings due to the complex nature of natural environments. Thus, we propose a lightweight network called DAMP-YOLO. It combines the deformable CSP bottleneck (DCB) module, aggregated triplet attention (ATA) mechanism, meter data augmentation (MDA), and network pruning (NP) with the YOLOv8 model. In the meter reading recognition dataset, the model parameters decreased by 30.64% while mAP50:95 rose from 87.92% to 88.82%, with a short inference time of 129.6 ms for the Jetson TX1 intelligent car. In the VOC dataset, our model demonstrated improved performance, with mAP50:95 increasing from 41.03% to 45.64%. The experimental results show that the proposed model is competitive for general object detection tasks and possesses exceptional feature extraction capabilities. Additionally, we have devised and implemented a pipeline on the Jetson TX1 intelligent vehicle, facilitating real-time meter reading recognition in situations where manual interventions are inconvenient and hazardous, thereby confirming its feasibility for practical applications.
Prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in Camel, Cattle, and Sheep Carcasses at Slaughterhouses and Butcher Shops
Authors: Al-Asmari Fahad , Hamad Siddig H. , Al Hashedi Salah A.
Published: October 2023

Enterobacteriaceae can contaminate meat during various processing stages, including slaughter, evisceration, and b utchering, potentially causing foodborne illnesses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in carcass samples obtained from slaughterhouses and meat cuts collected from butcher shops. A total of 120 samples of camel, cattle, and sheep meat were analyzed for microbial contamination and isolates were identified using the PCR test. Total viable count ranged from 4.91 to 5.37 Log10 CFU/g in slaughterhouses and butcher shops. E. coli dominated, with 84 out of the 120 samples (70%) contaminated, where contamination was highest in camel meat and lowest in sheep meat with 100% and 30% of contaminated samples, respectively. Salmonella was confirmed in 40% of camel, 47.5% of cattle, and 32.5% of sheep samples. In addition, twenty-five Enterobacteriaceae strains belonging to 19 different genera were detected in the meat samples. The highest occurrence was in the sheep samples with 15 different genera followed by the camels and the cattle samples with 14 different genera each. The presence of Enterobacteriaceae in camel, cattle, and sheep carcasses raises significant concerns regarding food safety. Adherence to good hygiene practices throughout animal slaughtering is crucial to minimize the risk of infection and transmission and ensure food safety.
Welding Bead Inspection Using Image and Multi-Sensor Fusion
Authors: Lee Jaeeun , Choi Hongseok , Kim Jongnam
Published: October 2023

Welding is a crucial manufacturing technique utilized in various industrial sectors, playing a vital role in production and safety aspects, particularly in shear reinforcement of dual-anchorage (SRD) applications, which are aimed at enhancing the strength of concrete structures, ensuring that their quality is of paramount importance to prevent welding defects. However, achieving only good products at all times is not feasible, necessitating quality inspection. To address this challenge, various inspection methods were studied. Nevertheless, finding an inspection method that combines a fast speed and a high accuracy remains a challenging task. In this paper, we proposed a welding bead quality inspection method that integrates sensor-based inspection using average current, average voltage, and mixed gas sensor data with 2D image inspection. Through this integration, we can overcome the limitations of sensor-based inspection, such as difficulty in identifying welding locations, and the accuracy and speed issues of 2D image inspection. Experimental results indicated that while sensor-based and image-based inspections individually resulted in misclassifications, the integrated approach accurately classified products as ‘good’ or ‘bad’. In comparison to other algorithms, our proposed method demonstrated a superior performance and computational speed.
An Improved Advanced Driver-Assistance System: Model-Free Prescribed Performance Adaptive Cruise Control
Authors: Ju Peilun , Song Jiacheng
Published: October 2023

To maintain a safe distance between the autonomous vehicle and the leader, ensure that the vehicle runs at its expected speed as far as possible, and achieve various control requirements such as speed, distance and collision avoidance, a model-free prescribed performance adaptive cruise control (ACC) algorithm based on funnel control is proposed. The contributions of this paper are that the designed ACC algorithm only requires the speed and position information and can constrain their tracking errors within a predetermined range. When the follower is far away from the leader, the speed-prescribed performance controller adjusts the follower vehicle’s speed to the reference velocity. When the follower vehicle approaches the leader vehicle, a distance-prescribed performance controller is designed to adjust the distance between the follower and the leader. On this basis, the prescribed performance function can expand the switching interval, thereby improving the robustness of the speed and distance control switching process. The effectiveness of the designed algorithm is demonstrated in three scenarios, such as approaching and following, emergency braking, and frequent starting and stopping. The results show that during the speed control stage, the designed algorithm allows the vehicle’s operating speed to vary within a predetermined spatial range; in the distance control stage, the designed algorithm strictly limits the distance error within the preset range. The speed and distance of the vehicle change smoothly, and there is no overshoot during the initial state adjustment, emergency braking, and frequent start and stop stages, demonstrating a good control effect.
A Deep Transfer Learning-Based Network for Diagnosing Minor Faults in the Production of Wireless Chargers
Authors: Wang Yuping , Li Weidong , Zhu Honghui
Published: October 2023

Wireless charger production is critical to energy storage, and effective fault diagnosis of bearings and gears is essential to ensure wireless charging performance with high efficiency, high tolerance to misalignment, and thermal safety. As minor faults are usually difficult to detect, timely diagnosis and detection of minor faults can prevent the fault from worsening and ensure the safety of wireless charging systems. Diagnosing minor faults in bearings and gears with data is a useful but difficult task. To achieve a satisfactory diagnosis of minor faults in the production of wireless charging systems related to the mechanical system that produces wireless charging devices, such as robot arms, this paper proposes a deep learning network based on CNN and LSTM (DTLCL). The method uses deep learning network, model-based transfer learning and range adaptation technology. First, a deep neural network is built to extract significant fault features. Second, the deep transfer network is initialised using model-based transfer learning with a good starting point. Finally, range adaptation using the maximum mean discrepancy between the features learned from the source and target ranges is realised by a multi-layer adaptive technology. The effectiveness of the method was verified using actual measurement data. The training time is 19 s, and the accuracy exceeds 94.5%. The explanation results show that the proposed DTLCL method provides higher accuracy and robust identification of smaller errors compared to the current combination of integrated and single non-transmission models. Due to its data-driven nature, the DTLCL method could be used for fault diagnosis of bearings and gears, which would further promote the application process of wireless charging.
Technique for Searching Data in a Cryptographically Protected SQL Database
Authors: Yesin Vitalii , Karpinski Mikolaj , Yesina Maryna , Vilihura Vladyslav , Kozak Ruslan , Shevchuk Ruslan
Published: October 2023

The growing popularity of data outsourcing to third-party cloud servers has a downside, related to the serious concerns of data owners about their security due to possible leakage. The desire to reduce the risk of loss of data confidentiality has become a motivating start to developing mechanisms that provide the ability to effectively use encryption to protect data. However, the use of traditional encryption methods faces a problem. Namely, traditional encryption, by making it impossible for insiders and outsiders to access data without knowing the keys, excludes the possibility of searching. This paper presents a solution that provides a strong level of confidentiality when searching, inserting, modifying, and deleting the required sensitive data in a remote database whose data are encrypted. The proposed SQL query processing technique allows the DBMS server to perform search functions over encrypted data in the same way as in an unencrypted database. This is achieved through the organization of automatic decryption by specially developed secure software of the corresponding data required for search, without the possibility of viewing these data itself. At that, we guarantee the integrity of the stored procedures used and special tables that store encrypted modules of special software and decryption keys, the relevance and completeness of the results returned to the application. The results of the analysis of the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solution show that the proper privacy of the stored data can be achieved at a reasonable overhead.
An Analysis of Trabecular Bone Structure Based on Principal Stress Trajectory
Authors: Zhang Jiwu , Li Haoran , Zhou Yuqing , Chen Songhao , Rong Qiguo
Published: October 2023

To understand the mechanism of Wolff’s law, a finite element analysis was performed for a human proximal femur, and the principal stress trajectories of the femur were extracted using the principal stress visualization method. The mechanism of Wolff’s law was evaluated theoretically based on the distribution of the principal stress trajectories. Due to the dynamics of the loads, there was no one-to-one correspondence between the stress trajectories of the fixed load and the trabeculae in the cancellous architecture of the real bone. The trabeculae in the cancellous bone were influenced by the magnitude of the principal stress trajectory. Equivalent principal stress trajectories suitable for different load changes were proposed through the change in load cycle and compared with the anatomical structure of the femur. In addition, the three-dimensional distribution of the femoral principal stress trajectory was established, and the adaptability potential of each load was discussed. The principal stress visualization method could also be applied to bionic structure design.
Thermal Preconditioning Alters the Stability of Hump-Snout Whitefish (Coregonus fluviatilis) and Its Hybrid Form, Showing Potential for Aquaculture
Authors: Sapozhnikova Yulia P. , Koroleva Anastasia G. , Yakhnenko Vera M. , Volkova Aleksandra A. , Avezova Tatyana N. , Glyzina Olga Yu. , Sakirko Mariya V. , Tolstikova Lyubov I. , Sukhanova Lyubov V.
Published: October 2023

One of the little-studied ways that climate warming or temperature increases in aquaculture could affect aquatic animals is through accelerated aging. This study is dedicated to understanding the principles of molecular and cellular aging in the target tissues of juvenile whitefishes (Yenisei hump-snout whitefish and its hybrid) under the influence of acute heat stress (up to 26 °C), and the effects of thermal preconditioning as pre-adaptation. Non-adapted stressed hump-snout whitefish showed a higher induction threshold for functionally active mitochondria in the blood and a decrease in telomerase activity in the liver after heat shock exposure as a long-term compensatory response to prevent telomere shortening. However, we observed heat-induced telomere shortening in non-adapted hybrids, which can be explained by a decrease in mitochondrial membrane stability and a gradual increase in energy demand, leading to a decrease in protective telomerase activity. The pre-adapted groups of hump-snout whitefish and hybrids showed a long-term or delayed response of telomerase activity to heat shock, which served as a therapeutic mechanism against telomere shortening. We concluded that the telomerase and telomere responses to thermal stress demonstrate plasticity of tolerance limits and greater stability in hump-snout whitefish compared with hybrids.
Morphology and Chemical Messenger Regulation of Echinoderm Muscles
Authors: Liu Huachen , Chen Muyan
Published: October 2023

The muscular systems of echinoderms play important roles in various physiological and behavioral processes, including feeding, reproduction, movement, respiration, and excretion. Like vertebrates, echinoderm muscle systems can be subdivided into two major divisions, somatic and visceral musculature. The former usually has a myoepithelial organization, while the latter contains muscle bundles formed by the aggregation of myocytes. Neurons and their processes are also detected between these myoepithelial cells and myocytes, which are capable of releasing a variety of neurotransmitters and neuropeptides to regulate muscle activity. Although many studies have reported the pharmacological effects of these chemical messengers on various muscles of echinoderms, there has been limited research on their receptors and their signaling pathways. The muscle physiology of echinoderms is similar to that of chordates, both of which have the deuterostome mode of development. Studies of muscle regulation in echinoderms can provide new insights into the evolution of myoregulatory systems in deuterostomes.
Investigating Acute Hepatitis after SARS-CoV-2 Vaccination or Infection: A Genetic Case Series
Authors: Bernasconi Elisa , Biagi Matteo , Di Agostino Stefania , Cursaro Carmela , Felicani Cristina , Ronconi Enrico , Franchi Elena , Costanzo Arianna Carmen , Gabrielli Filippo , Cavicchioli Alessia , Ienopoli Giuseppe , Marenghi Paolo , Bartoli Alessandra , Serra Beatrice , Scalabrini Davide , Sighinolfi Pamela , Andreone Pietro
Published: October 2023

(1) Background: Despite the advantages of COVID-19 vaccination, rare cases of acute hepatitis developing after the administration of the COVID-19 vaccine or the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection have been reported. The aim of the study is to describe a case series of patients who experienced the onset of acute hepatitis, with or without autoimmune features, following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection and to hypothesize a genetic susceptibility in the pathogenesis. (2) Methods: A group of patients with acute onset hepatitis following SARS-CoV-2 vaccination or infection were evaluated in our hepatology outpatient clinic, where they underwent biochemical and autoimmune tests. Hepatitis A (HAV), B (HBV), and C virus (HCV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections were excluded. Patients with a diagnosis of autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) or drug-induced liver injury (DILI) underwent HLA typing and histological testing. (3) Results: Five patients experienced new-onset AIH after COVID-19 vaccination, one of which developed mild symptoms after vaccination that strongly worsened during subsequent SARS-CoV-2 infection. One patient had AIH relapse after COVID-19 vaccination while on maintenance immunosuppressive treatment. All of them had HLA DRB1 alleles known to confer susceptibility to AIH (HLA DRB1*03,*07,*13,*14), and in three of them, HLA DRB1*11 was also detected. Two patients developed acute hepatitis without autoimmune hallmarks which resolved spontaneously, both positive for HLA DRB1*11. (4) Conclusions: An association between AIH and COVID-19 vaccine or infection can be hypothesized in individuals with a genetic predisposition. In patients without autoimmune features and spontaneous improvement of hypertransaminasemia, the diagnosis of drug-induced liver injury (DILI) is probable. Further studies are needed to determine the presence of an actual association and identify a possible role of HLA DRB1*11 in the pathogenesis of acute liver injury after SARS-CoV2 vaccination or infection.
Tapered Fiber Bioprobe Based on U-Shaped Fiber Transmission for Immunoassay
Authors: Chen Xinghong , Xiao Lei , Li Xuejin , Yi Duo , Zhang Jinghan , Yuan Hao , Ning Zhiyao , Hong Xueming , Chen Yuzhi
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a tapered fiber bioprobe based on Mach–Zehnder interference (MZI) is proposed. To retain the highly sensitive straight-tapered fiber MZI sensing structure, we designed a U-shaped transmission fiber structure for the collection of optical sensing signals to achieve a miniature-insert-probe design. The spectrum responses from the conventional straight-tapered fiber MZI sensor and our proposed sensor were compared and analyzed, and experimental results showed that our proposed sensor not only has the same sensing capability as the straight-tapered fiber sensor, but also has the advantages of being flexible, convenient, and less liquid-consuming, which are attributed to the inserted probe design. The tapered fiber bioprobe obtained a sensitivity of 1611.27 nm/RIU in the refractive index detection range of 1.3326–1.3414. Finally, immunoassays for different concentrations of human immunoglobulin G were achieved with the tapered fiber bioprobe through surface functionalization, and the detection limit was 45 ng/mL. Our tapered fiber bioprobe has the insert-probe advantages of simpleness, convenience, and fast operation. Simultaneously, it is low-cost, highly sensitive, and has a low detection limit, which means it has potential applications in immunoassays and early medical diagnosis.
Effect of Sleep Quality on Anxiety and Depression Symptoms among College Students in China’s Xizang Region: The Mediating Effect of Cognitive Emotion Regulation
Authors: Wang Yingting , Guang Zixuan , Zhang Jinjing , Han Lixin , Zhang Rongqiang , Chen Yichun , Chen Qi , Liu Zhenjia , Gao Yuan , Wu Ruipeng , Wang Shaokang
Published: October 2023

Background: While the exact mechanisms are not fully understood, there are significant links between sleep quality, anxiety, depressive symptoms, and cognitive emotion regulation. This research examines how sleep quality affects anxiety and depressive symptoms, as well as the potential of cognitive emotion regulation strategies (CERS) to moderate the impact of sleep quality on these symptoms. Methods: The Chinese version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (CPSQI), the Cognitive Emotion Regulation Questionnaire (CERQ), the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9), and the Generalized Anxiety Disorder Scale-7 (GAD-7) were all completed online by students from two colleges in China’s Xizang region. Results: The study included 4325 subjects. The prevalence of poor sleep quality, anxiety symptoms, and depression symptoms was 45.69%, 36.81%, and 51.86%, respectively. We observed significant direct effects on poor sleep and severity of anxiety/depression: c’1 = 0.586 (0. 544–0.628), and c’2 = 0.728 (0.683–0.773). Adaptive CERS only had a mediating effect on the relationship between sleep quality and depression symptoms, with a1b3 = −0.005 (−0.011–−0.001). The link between poor sleep quality and the intensity of anxiety and depression was significantly affected by the indirect effects of maladaptive CERS: effect a2b2 = 0.126 (0.106–0.147), and effect a2b4 = 0.145 (0.123–0.167). Conclusions: Individuals who experience poor sleep quality are more likely to have increased levels of anxiety and depression. However, enhancing sleep quality led to a decrease in anxiety and depression levels. Adaptive CERS did not predict anxiety, but they did predict depression. Multiple maladaptive CERS could increase levels of anxiety and depression. To prevent mental stress, it is crucial to examine sleep problems among college students, understand their cognitive strategies, promote the adoption of adaptive CERS, and reduce the reliance on maladaptive CERS.
Exosc9 Initiates SUMO-Dependent lncRNA TERRA Degradation to Impact Telomeric Integrity in Endocrine Therapy Insensitive Hormone Receptor-Positive Breast Cancer
Authors: Quttina Maram , Waiters Kacie D. , Khan Ashfia Fatima , Karami Samaneh , Peidl Anthony S. , Babajide Mariam Funmi , Pennington Justus , Merchant Fatima A. , Bawa-Khalfe Tasneem
Published: October 2023

Long, noncoding RNAs (lncRNAs) are indispensable for normal cell physiology and, consequently, are tightly regulated in human cells. Yet, unlike mRNA, substantially less is known about the mechanisms for lncRNA degradation. It is important to delineate the regulatory control of lncRNA degradation, particularly for lncRNA telomeric repeat-containing RNA (TERRA), as the TERRA-telomere R-loops dictate cell cycle progression and genomic stability. We now report that the exosome complex component Exosc9 degrades lncRNA TERRA in human mammary epithelial cells. Heterochromatin protein 1 alpha (HP1α) recruits Exosc9 to the telomeres; specifically, the SUMO-modified form of HP1α supports interaction with Exosc9 and, as previously reported, lncRNA TERRA. The telomeric enrichment of Exosc9 is cell cycle-dependent and consistent with the loss of telomeric TERRA in the S/G2 phase. Elevated Exosc9 is frequently observed and drives the growth of endocrine therapy-resistant (ET-R) HR+ breast cancer (BCa) cells. Specifically, the knockdown of Exosc9 inversely impacts telomeric R-loops and the integrity of the chromosome ends of ET-R cells. Consistently, Exosc9 levels dictate DNA damage and the sensitivity of ET-R BCa cells to PARP inhibitors. In this regard, Exosc9 may serve as a promising biomarker for predicting the response to PARP inhibitors as a targeted monotherapy for ET-R HR+ BCa.
Mitophagy in Astrocytes Is Required for the Health of Optic Nerve
Authors: Yazdankhah Meysam , Ghosh Sayan , Liu Haitao , Hose Stacey , Zigler J. Samuel , Sinha Debasish
Published: October 2023

Mitochondrial dysfunction in astrocytes has been implicated in the development of various neurological disorders. Mitophagy, mitochondrial autophagy, is required for proper mitochondrial function by preventing the accumulation of damaged mitochondria. The importance of mitophagy, specifically in the astrocytes of the optic nerve (ON), has been little studied. We introduce an animal model in which two separate mutations act synergistically to produce severe ON degeneration. The first mutation is in Cryba1, which encodes βA3/A1-crystallin, a lens protein also expressed in astrocytes, where it regulates lysosomal pH. The second mutation is in Bckdk, which encodes branched-chain ketoacid dehydrogenase kinase, which is ubiquitously expressed in the mitochondrial matrix and involved in the catabolism of the branched-chain amino acids. BCKDK is essential for mitochondrial function and the amelioration of oxidative stress. Neither of the mutations in isolation has a significant effect on the ON, but animals homozygous for both mutations (DM) exhibit very serious ON degeneration. ON astrocytes from these double-mutant (DM) animals have lysosomal defects, including impaired mitophagy, and dysfunctional mitochondria. Urolithin A can rescue the mitophagy impairment in DM astrocytes and reduce ON degeneration. These data demonstrate that efficient mitophagy in astrocytes is required for ON health and functional integrity.
Development of Hospital Perception Scale for Healthy Children (HPSHC) and Investigation of Its Psychometric Properties
Authors: Ekici Behice
Published: October 2023

(1) Aim: The aim of the study was to develop and analyze the psychometric properties of a hospital perception scale for healthy children aged 8 to 10 years. (2) Methods: A methodological design was employed. The scale’s validity was investigated using the approaches of content validity, face validity, item analysis, and construct validity. The scale’s reliability was evaluated utilizing the approaches of internal consistency reliability, measurer reliability, and measurement invariance. (3) Results: In total, 330 children took part in this study. The scale is composed of six factors. Factor loads range from 0.42 to 0.79. The item–total score correlation coefficients were 0.42 and 0.79, respectively, while the Cronbach alpha reliability coefficient was 0.87. (4) Conclusions: The HPSHC is a valid and reliable tool. It can be used to determine how healthy or sick children in their middle childhood are perceived when going to the hospital and being hospitalized.