bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Whole-genome sequencing identified candidate genes associated with high and low litter size in Chuanzhong black goats
Authors: Guo Conghui , Ye Junning , Liu Jie , Li Zhihan , Deng Ming , Guo Yongqing , Liu Guangbin , Sun Baoli , Li Yaokun , Liu Dewu
Published: September 2024

The reproductive performance of goats significantly influences breeding efficiency and economic returns, with litter size serving as a comprehensive indicator. Despite this, research on the genetic control of litter size remains limited. Therefore, we aimed to explore the candidate genes affecting fecundity and compared the whole-genome sequences (WGS) of 15 high-litter (HL) and 15 low-litter (LL) size in Chuanzhong black goats. Then genetic diversity and genomic variation patterns were analyzed by phylogenetic, principal component and population genetic structure analysis, it was found that HL and LL subpopulations diverged. Population evolutionary selection elimination analysis was performed by Fst and θπ resulted in 506 genes were annotated in HL and 528 genes in LL. These genes were mainly related to Hippo signaling pathway, G protein-coupled signaling pathway, G protein-coupled receptor activity, cell surface receptor signaling pathway, gonadal and reproductive structure development. According to the significantly selected genomic regions and important pathways, we found that the g.89172108T > G variant locus in the exon of the AMH gene was significantly associated with litter size (P < 0.05), which could be used as an auxiliary selection gene for the high fertility of Chuanzhong black Goat.
An Algorithm to Find the Shortest Path through Obstacles of Arbitrary Shapes and Positions in 2D
Authors: Labonté Gilles
Published: September 2024

An algorithm is described to find the shortest route through a field of obstacles of arbitrary shapes and positions. It has the appreciable advantage of not having to find mathematical formulas to represent the obstacles: it works directly with a digital image of the terrain and is implemented solely with standard graphical functions. Key to this algorithm is the definition of digraphs, the edges of which are built with obstacle bitangents and border enveloping convex arcs that incorporate the fundamental features of shortest paths. These graphs have a remarkably lower cardinality than those that have been proposed before to solve this problem; their edges are a concatenation of sequences of what individual edges and nodes are in formerly defined graphs. Furthermore, a thorough analysis of the topology of the terrain yields a procedure to eliminate the edges that have no possibility of being part of the shortest path. The A* graph optimization algorithm is adapted to deal with this type of graph. A new quite general theorem is proved, which applies to all graphs in which the triangle inequality holds, which allows the discarding of one of the normal steps of the A* algorithm. The effectiveness of the algorithm is demonstrated by calculating the shortest path for real complex terrains of areas between 25 km2 and 900 km2. In all cases, the required calculation time is less than 0.6 s on a Core i7-10750H CPU @ 2.60 GHz laptop computer.
Incremental Sliding Mode Control for Predefined-Time Stability of a Fixed-Wing Electric Vertical Takeoff and Landing Vehicle Attitude Control System
Authors: Liu Jujiang , Tan Yusong
Published: September 2024

This paper presents a novel incremental sliding mode control scheme to address the attitude-tracking issue in both the helicopter and airplane modes of an electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicle, guaranteeing the stabilization of the attitude-tracking error within a predefined time. Firstly, an incremental model of the vehicle’s attitude control system with external disturbances is established. The high-order terms of the incremental model and instantaneous perturbations are retained as lumped terms rather than directly discarding them to ensure the accuracy of the incremental model. Then, a novel nonsingular sliding surface is developed. Once the ideal sliding motion is established, the states on the sliding surface will converge to the equilibrium point within a predefined time. Furthermore, a predefined-time incremental sliding mode controller is developed by using sliding mode control and incremental control techniques. It effectively reduces the reliance on the model information and attenuates the effects of external disturbances. The predefined-time stability of the entire controlled system is rigorously proven using Lyapunov theory. Finally, numerical simulation examples verify the effectiveness of the proposed control scheme.
Fault Diagnosis Method of Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor Based on WCNN and Few-Shot Learning
Authors: Zhang Chao , Wang Fei , Li Xiangzhi , Dong Zhijie , Zhang Yubo
Published: September 2024

With the continuous development of actuator technology, the Electro-Mechanical Actuator (EMA) is gradually becoming the first choice in the aviation field. Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor (PMSM) is one of the core components of EMA, and its healthy state determines the working performance of EMA. In this paper, the interturn short-circuit fault of PMSM is taken as the typical fault, and a new fault diagnosis framework is proposed based on a wide-kernel convolutional neural network (WCNN) and few-shot learning. Firstly, the wide convolution kernel is added as the first layer to extract short-time features while automatically learning deeply oriented features oriented to diagnosis and removing useless features. Then, the twin neural network is introduced to establish a wide kernel convolutional neural network, which can also achieve good diagnostic results under a few-shot learning framework. The effectiveness of the proposed method is verified by the general data set. The results show that the accuracy of few-shot learning is 9% higher than that of WCNN when the fault data are small. Finally, a fault test platform was built for EMA to collect three-phase current data under different fault states, and the collected data were used to complete the fault diagnosis of PMSM. With limited data, the accuracy of few-shot learning increased by 8% on average compared with WCNN, which has good engineering value.
A High-Accuracy Contour Segmentation and Reconstruction of a Dense Cluster of Mushrooms Based on Improved SOLOv2
Authors: Yang Shuzhen , Zhang Jingmin , Yuan Jin
Published: September 2024

This study addresses challenges related to imprecise edge segmentation and low center point accuracy, particularly when mushrooms are heavily occluded or deformed within dense clusters. A high-precision mushroom contour segmentation algorithm is proposed that builds upon the improved SOLOv2, along with a contour reconstruction method using instance segmentation masks. The enhanced segmentation algorithm, PR-SOLOv2, incorporates the PointRend module during the up-sampling stage, introducing fine features and enhancing segmentation details. This addresses the difficulty of accurately segmenting densely overlapping mushrooms. Furthermore, a contour reconstruction method based on the PR-SOLOv2 instance segmentation mask is presented. This approach accurately segments mushrooms, extracts individual mushroom masks and their contour data, and classifies reconstruction contours based on average curvature and length. Regular contours are fitted using least-squares ellipses, while irregular ones are reconstructed by extracting the longest sub-contour from the original irregular contour based on its corners. Experimental results demonstrate strong generalization and superior performance in contour segmentation and reconstruction, particularly for densely clustered mushrooms in complex environments. The proposed approach achieves a 93.04% segmentation accuracy and a 98.13% successful segmentation rate, surpassing Mask RCNN and YOLACT by approximately 10%. The center point positioning accuracy of mushrooms is 0.3%. This method better meets the high positioning requirements for efficient and non-destructive picking of densely clustered mushrooms.
Reproductive Structures of Female Phytoseiulus persimilis (Acari: Phytoseiidae) and the Development of Egg and Embryo in the Body
Authors: Huang Binting , Li Mingxia , Jiang Xiaohuan , Zhang Bo , Huang Yong , Xu Xuenong
Published: September 2024

The Phytoseiulus persimilis specialized in preying on Tetranychus species, with particularly strong predation capability against Tetranychus urticae. To investigate the morphology of female reproductive structures and effects of different gravid times on structures of oocytes and embryos in Phytoseiulus persimilis, we employed paraffin sectioning, transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) on the model species of predatory mite Phytoseiulus persimilis. The female adult possessed several reproductive organs, including paired solenostomes, major ducts, embolus, calyces, and vesicles within the sperm-access system, as well as lyrate organ and the ovary. Furthermore, the reproductive system also encompassed the uterus, vagina, and genital pore, which were involved in egg development and expulsion. The solenostomes were situated between the third and fourth legs, and they were scarcely discernible in virgin, but they became apparent during mating. The occurrence of mating significantly influenced the nucleus of lyrate organ. In virgin, the nucleus exhibited underdeveloped morphology, whereas in mated individuals, it was well-formed. However, the duration of mating did not impact its development. The cellular structure of the ovary was solely associated with the stage of the surrounding oocyte and was not directly linked to mating occurrences. The uterus was barely visible outside of mating periods but became observable 12 h after mating when eggs were present within the body. At this point, it opened in preparation for egg laying when both the vagina and reproductive opening were open. Positioned in front of the vesicle but behind the ovary was the lyrate organ, with its lower part housing the uterus. The vagina was connected to the genital pore. No significant difference was observed in oocyte morphology between the virgin ovaries and the mated. Oocyte development occurred through four stages: during stage I (4–9 h after mating), yolk accumulation took place; stage II (10 h after mating) involved egg relocation; stage III (12–13 h after mating) was marked by eggshell formation; finally, at stage IV (14–16 h after mating), embryonic development commenced, leading to egg deposition. The fusion of sperm and egg occurred approximately 9–10 h after mating. These findings established a solid foundation for investigating the Phytoseiid reproductive mechanisms.
Optimal Application of Biogas Slurry in Paddy Fields under the Dual Constraints of Agronomy and Environment in the Yangtze River Delta Region
Authors: Shi Linlin , Jiang Huawei , Liu Tengfei , Shen Yuan , Dong Linlin , Lu Changying , Wang Haihou , Li Ruirong
Published: September 2024

The production of huge amounts of biogas slurry during livestock breeding has resulted in pressing environmental issues. Although paddy fields can be potential sinks for the disposal of biogas slurry, the impacts of biogas slurry on rice production, grain quality, and relevant environmental risks in the Yangtze Delta region remain unclear. Herein, we conducted a field trial from 2021 to 2023 which involved different gradients of biogas slurry utilization, including CK (no fertilizer), CN (100% chemical nitrogen (N) of 240 kg ha−1), NBS (biogas slurry replacing 50% chemical N), BS1 (replacing 100% chemical N), BS1.5 (replacing 150% chemical N), and BS2 (replacing 200% chemical N). The results showed that there were no significant differences in average rice yields between CN, NBS, BS1.5, and BS2 over the three-year study period, with an average yield of 8283 kg ha−1, and the average yields of BS1 and CK were 7815 kg ha−1 and 6236 kg ha−1, respectively. However, heavy utilization of biogas slurry (BS1.5 and BS2) not only significantly reduced the rice seed-setting rate, the 1000-grain weight, and the processing quality, but also significantly increased the protein, amylose, Cu, and Zn content in rice grains; additionally, higher N losses occurred via surface water and increased NH3 volatilization was observed, finally resulting in lower nitrogen-use efficiency. Meanwhile, moderate utilization of biogas slurry (NBS and BS1) led to better rice quality and nitrogen-use efficiency, lower potential food safety risk, and N loss. Further, compared to BS1, NBS showed higher yield, harvest index, processing quality, gel consistency, palatability scores, and nitrogen-use efficiency, but lower N losses were present. Overall, the NBS treatment balanced the agronomic benefits and environmental risks in the Yangtze River Delta region. In the future, more attention should be paid to food safety and environmental risks when using biogas slurry.
Effects of Organic Manure on Wheat Yield and Accumulation of Heavy Metals in a Soil—Wheat System
Authors: Chen Yu , Ouyang Yingqi , Pan Weiyan , Wang Yitong , Li Yan
Published: September 2024

The application of organic manure is an effective way to develop sustainable agriculture. However, the application of organic manure may be associated with a potential risk of heavy metal pollution for soil and crops. In this study, the effects of organic cow manure (T1) (as base fertilizer), organic pig manure (T2) (as base fertilizer) and chemical fertilizer (T3) on winter wheat grain yields, grain quality, heavy metal concentrations and heavy metal bioconcentration factors (BCFs) in a soil–wheat system were studied from November 2021 to June 2023. The results showed that the winter wheat grain yields in the T1 and T2 treatments were lower than those in the T3 treatment by 2.57–38.0% and 10.5–25%, respectively. There were no significant differences in quality indexes of winter wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. The concentrations of heavy metals in topsoil and winter wheat were 0.12–76.11 μg/g and 0.01–43.25 μg/g, respectively. The BCFs of heavy mental in the soil–wheat grain system was 0–2.92. In general, there were no significant differences in heavy metals’ concentrations in topsoil and wheat grain among different fertilizer treatments. In summary, compared with chemical fertilizer, the short-term application of organic manures had no significant effect on heavy metals concentrations in topsoil and wheat.
Conversion to Greenhouse Cultivation from Continuous Corn Production Decreases Soil Bacterial Diversity and Alters Community Structure
Authors: Fan Yaqiong , Jia Yamin , Zhang Xinyang , Geng Guoqiang , Liu Ronghao , Shen Lixia , Hu Jingjuan , Hao Xinmei
Published: September 2024

Changes in crop types and long-term monoculture substantially impact soil microbial communities. Exploring these changes and their influencing factors is of great significance for addressing the challenges posed by continuous cropping. Soil surface layer samples from greenhouse tomatoes fields cultivated for 5 (Y5), 9 (Y9), 13 years (Y13), and a surrounding corn field (CK) as a control were analyzed. The Y13 sample showed a significant increase in the relative abundance of Pseudomonadota (43.1%) and a decrease in Actinobacteria (50.3%) compared to the CK sample. Soil bacterial alpha diversity generally declined from the CK to Y13 (0.1–22.2%) sample, with a small peak in Y9 for Chao1 and Observed_species. Significant differences in Chao1 and Observed_ species were observed between the CK and Y13 samples. Beta diversity analysis revealed a pronounced variation in soil bacterial community structure across planting years, with the divergence from the CK sample intensifying over time. In comparison to the Y5 vs. CK samples, Y9 and Y13 exhibited marked differences from the CK across the same and broader metabolic pathways, suggesting a potential convergence of microbial activities over time. The Y9 and Y13 samples showed significantly higher biosynthesis abundance (7.50% and 6.36%, respectively) than the CK. In terms of soil physicochemical indices, the carbon–nitrogen ratio was the primary factor influencing soil bacterial composition. In conclusion, we found that crop alteration and continued planting changed the soil’s bacterial composition and increasing planting years suppressed the soil’s bacterial diversity, leading to a stable bacterial ecology after nine years. Implementing appropriate measures during this critical period is vital for optimal soil utilization.
The Individual Division of Food Hoarding in Autumn Brandt’s Voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii)
Authors: Zhang Zhiliang , Bu Fan , Sun Shanshan , Ming Ming , Liu Tao , Li Yanan , Wu Xiaodong , Zhang Xueying , Yuan Shuai , Fu Heping
Published: September 2024

Brandt’s voles (Lasiopodomys brandtii), one of the main non-hibernating rodent species in the typical grassland of Inner Mongolia, live in groups and have the behavioral habit of hoarding food in underground warehouses in autumn to prepare for the winter food shortage ahead. The division of labor and cooperation are typical behavior patterns of gregarious mammals, but it is unclear whether Brandt’s voles exercise a division of labor in food hoarding before overwintering. To explore the division of food hoarding in Brandt’s voles during the autumn period, three treatments, namely added food, added food + competition, and control, were set up with three replicates. An infrared camera was positioned to observe and record the behavior of Brandt’s voles under different treatments. Next, behavioral experiments regarding food-hoarding division were performed on individuals. The results showed that (1) Brandt’s voles had two types of hoarding behavior, namely high food hoarding and low food hoarding, but not all individuals displayed hoarding behavior. (2) In all treatments, feeding behavior, which was the most important type of behavior, accounted for the highest proportion of all behaviors. (3) There was no significant difference in body weight and sex between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals of Brandt’s voles, and there was no significant difference between high- and low-food-hoarding individuals in other divisions of labor either. (4) There was no significant difference in inquiry ability between high- and low-food-hoarding groups, but there was a significant difference in spatial memory. High-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory. In summary, Brandt’s voles had two types of hoarding behavior: high food hoarding and low food hoarding. Furthermore, high-food-hoarding individuals had greater spatial memory.
Identification of Reference Gene for Quantitative Gene Expression in Early-Term and Late-Term Cultured Canine Fibroblasts Derived from Ear Skin
Authors: Lee Sang-Yun , Jeong Yeon-Woo , Choe Yong-Ho , Oh Seong-Ju , Miah Rubel , Lee Won-Jae , Lee Sung-Lim , Bok Eun-Yeong , Yoo Dae-Sung , Son Young-Bum
Published: September 2024

Fibroblasts are cells that reside within the fibrous or loose connective tissues of most mammalian organs. For research purposes, fibroblasts are often subjected to long-term culture under defined conditions, during which their properties can significantly change. It is essential to understand and document these changes to obtain reliable outcomes. For the quantification of specific gene expressions, the most reliable and widely used technique is quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). Here, we assessed the impact of a reference gene’s stability on a qRT-PCR analysis of long-term cultured canine skin fibroblasts. After successfully isolating the fibroblasts from canine skin tissues, they were cultured and evaluated for proliferation and β-galactosidase activity at different passage numbers. With extended culture, the fibroblasts showed a long doubling time and elevated β-galactosidase activity. Using three widely used algorithms, geNorm, Normfinder, and Bestkeeper, we identified HPRT1, YWHAZ, and GUSB as the most stable reference genes for both early- and late-passage fibroblasts. Conventional reference genes such as GAPDH were found to be less stable than those genes. The normalization of Vimentin by the stable genes showed statistical differences, whereas normalization by an unstable gene did not. Collectively, this study indicates that using stable reference genes is essential for accurately and reliably measuring gene expression in both early- and late-passage fibroblasts. These findings provide valuable insights into internal controls for gene expression studies and are expected to be utilized for analyzing gene expression patterns in molecular biology research.
First Detection of Gammacoronavirus in a Striped Dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) from the Adriatic Sea
Authors: Legnardi Matteo , Franzo Giovanni , Cecchinato Mattia , Si Haiyang , Baston Riccardo , Mazzariol Sandro , Centelleghe Cinzia , Pietroluongo Guido , Holcer Draško , Miočić-Stošić Jure , Hofs Jeroen , Frleta-Valić Maša , Tucciarone Claudia Maria
Published: September 2024

This case report presents the first molecular identification of a gammacoronavirus in a free-ranging striped dolphin (Stenella coeruleoalba) that was found stranded along the Croatian coastline in 2022. The dolphin exhibited a concurrent infection with cetacean morbillivirus. The gammacoronavirus strain was amplified and sequenced from heart tissue imprinted on an FTA®card, revealing a notable genetic distance (approximately 8%) from previously characterized cetacean gammacoronaviruses. This finding highlights the importance of including gammacoronaviruses in routine diagnostics for stranded dolphins to gather epidemiological data on their prevalence and potential role in causing disease in cetaceans. This study sets the premises for a further understanding of the diversity and distribution of gammacoronaviruses in marine mammals and highlights the necessity for ongoing surveillance of emerging infectious diseases in wild populations.
Evaluation of the Protective Role of Vitamin E against ROS-Driven Lipid Oxidation in Model Cell Membranes
Authors: Kilicarslan You Dilara , Fuwad Ahmed , Lee Ki Hyok , Kim Hyung Kyo , Kang Lifeng , Kim Sun Min , Jeon Tae-Joon
Published: September 2024

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are chemically reactive oxygen-containing compounds generated by various factors in the body. Antioxidants mitigate the damaging effects of ROS by playing a critical role in regulating redox balance and signaling. In this study, the interplay between reactive oxygen species (ROS) and antioxidants in the context of lipid dynamics were investigated. The interaction between hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) as an ROS and vitamin E (α-tocopherol) as an antioxidant was examined. Model membranes containing both saturated and unsaturated lipids served as experimental platforms to investigate the influence of H2O2 on phospholipid unsaturation and the role of antioxidants in this process. The results demonstrated that H2O2 has a negative effect on membrane stability and disrupts the lipid membrane structure, whereas the presence of antioxidants protects the lipid membrane from the detrimental effects of ROS. The model membranes used here are a useful tool for understanding ROS–antioxidant interactions at the molecular level in vitro.
Differences in Soft Tissue Wound Healing between Immediate and Delayed Implant Placement: An Experimental Preclinical In Vivo Investigation
Authors: Pla Rafael , Sanz-Esporrin Javier , Palombo David , Vignoletti Fabio , Luengo Fernando , Sanz Mariano
Published: September 2024

The dynamics of tissue wound healing associated with dental implants placed in fresh extraction sockets or in healed alveolar ridges are not fully understood. Therefore, the aim of this preclinical in vivo investigation was to evaluate soft tissue healing and osseointegration after immediate implant placement, compared with delayed implant placement, using histomorphometric and immunohistochemical analyses. Methods: In 8 dogs, immediate postextraction implants and delayed implants were evaluated. After 2 and 8 weeks of healing, dissected tissue blocks were processed for calcified and decalcified histological analysis. Histometric measurements for soft tissue height and width were performed. Immunohistochemical analysis for the evaluation of bone metabolism, immune response and angiogenesis was performed. Results: At 2 weeks, histometric analysis showed that peri-implant soft tissue height was significantly greater in the immediate implant group (4.47 mm ± 0.78) compared to the delayed implant group (2.92 mm ± 0.51, p = 0.028), primarily due to the connective tissue height. Immunohistochemical analysis indicated significantly higher alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (6.85 ± 5.17 vs. 3.56 ± 2.31, p < 0.05) and matrix metalloproteinase (MMP2) activity (1.59 ± 1.64 vs. 0.58 ± 0.48, p < 0.05) in immediate implants, suggesting increased osteogenic and matrix metalloproteinase activity. At 8 weeks, the peri-implant soft tissue height remained higher in the immediate implant group (3.43 mm ± 0.83) compared to the delayed implant group (2.4 mm ± 0.37, p = 0.088), although the difference was less pronounced. Immunohistochemical differences between groups diminished in late healing stages. Conclusions: Soft tissue dimensions around immediate implants differ from those established around staged implants placed on healed alveolar ridges. Moreover, osseointegration dynamics around immediate implants may occur at a different rate compared with staged implants.
Chinese Medical Named Entity Recognition Based on Context-Dependent Perception and Novel Memory Units
Authors: Kang Yufeng , Yan Yang , Huang Wenbo
Published: September 2024

Medical named entity recognition (NER) focuses on extracting and classifying key entities from medical texts. Through automated medical information extraction, NER can effectively improve the efficiency of electronic medical record analysis, medical literature retrieval, and intelligent medical question–answering systems, enabling doctors and researchers to obtain the required medical information more quickly and thereby helping to improve the accuracy of diagnosis and treatment decisions. The current methods have certain limitations in dealing with contextual dependencies and entity memory and fail to fully consider the contextual relevance and interactivity between entities. To address these issues, this paper proposes a Chinese medical named entity recognition model that combines contextual dependency perception and a new memory unit. The model combines the BERT pre-trained model with a new memory unit (GLMU) and a recall network (RMN). The GLMU can efficiently capture long-distance dependencies, while the RMN enhances multi-level semantic information processing. The model also incorporates fully connected layers (FC) and conditional random fields (CRF) to further optimize the performance of entity classification and sequence labeling. The experimental results show that the model achieved F1 values of 91.53% and 64.92% on the Chinese medical datasets MCSCSet and CMeEE, respectively, surpassing other related models and demonstrating significant advantages in the field of medical entity recognition.
Research on Automatic Generation of Park Road Network Based on Skeleton Algorithm
Authors: Liu Shuo-Fang , Jiang Min , Bai Siran , Zhou Tianyuan , Liu Hua
Published: September 2024

This article primarily delves into the automatic generation approach of the park road network. The design of the park road network not only comprehensively takes into account environmental factors like terrain, vegetation, water bodies, and buildings, but also encompasses functional factors such as road coverage and accessibility. It constitutes a relatively complex design task, and traditional design methods rely significantly on the professional proficiency of designers. Based on the park vector terrain, in combination with the graphics skeleton algorithm, this study proposes an automatic generation method of the park road network considering environmental constraints. Through the utilization of the modified Douglas–Peucker algorithm and convex hull operation, the semantic information of environmental constraints is retained, domain knowledge is integrated, the skeleton graph is optimized, and issues such as road smoothness are addressed. This method can not only generate road network schemes rapidly, scientifically, and precisely, but also furnish the requisite digital model for the quantitative evaluation of the road network. Eventually, the study quantitatively assesses the experimental results via the spatial syntax theory to substantiate the efficacy of the method.
Can Robotic Therapy Improve Performance in Activities of Daily Living? A Randomized Controlled Trial in Sub-Acute Spinal Cord Injured Patients
Authors: Lozano-Berrio Vicente , Alcobendas-Maestro Mónica , Perales-Gómez Raquel , Pérez-Borrego Yolanda , Gil-Agudo Angel , Polonio-López Begoña , Cortés Camilo , de los Reyes-Guzmán Ana
Published: September 2024

(1) Background: The influence of robotic therapy on patients with sub-acute cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) for improving their activities of daily living (ADL) performance is unclear; (2) Methods: 31 subjects with cervical SCI completed the training randomly assigned to an intervention or control group during 40 sessions. All the subjects received, in each session, 30 min of upper-extremity conventional therapy. In addition, the subjects within the control group received another 30 min of conventional therapy, whereas subjects within the intervention group received 30 min of robotic therapy with Armeo Spring (Hocoma AG, Volketswil, Switzerland). Therefore, the ADL of drinking was trained by using the exoskeleton. Feasibility and efficacy measurements as clinical scales and kinematic indices, and usability questionnaires, were used as assessment at baseline and at the ending of the study (week 10); (3) Results: The intervention group significantly improved with regards to the feeding and grooming items of the Spinal Cord Independence Measure scale. The improvement in the movement smoothness related to the activity of drinking was greater in the intervention group than in the control (p = 0.034); (4) Conclusions: The findings of this study reveal that patients with cervical SCI improve their performance in ADL with robotic therapy.
Research on Positioning Error Compensation of Rock Drilling Manipulator Based on ISBOA-BP Neural Network
Authors: Xu Qiaoyu , Ju Wenhao , Lin Yansong , Zhang Tianle
Published: September 2024

In order to solve the problem of the low end positioning accuracy of large hydraulic rock drilling robotic arms due to machining error and the working environment, this paper proposes an end positioning error compensation method based on an Improved Secretary Bird Optimization Algorithm (ISBOA) optimized Back Propagation (BP) neural network. Firstly, the good point set strategy is used to initialize the secretary bird population position to make the initial population distribution more uniform and accelerate the convergence speed of the algorithm. Then, the ISBOA is used to optimize the initial weights and biases of the BP neural network, which effectively overcomes the defect of the BP neural network falling into a local optimum. Finally, by establishing the mapping relationship between the joint value of the robot arm and the end positioning error, the error compensation is realized to improve the positioning accuracy of the rock drilling robot arm. The experimental results show that the average positioning error of the rock drilling robotic arm is reduced from 187.972 mm to 28.317 mm, and the positioning accuracy is improved by 84.94%, which meets the engineering requirements.
Research and Application of the Synergistic Support System of “LDAGF” in an Extremely Soft and Fragile Fully Mechanized Caving Face Roadway
Authors: Ni Xianjie , Yuan Yuan , Hua Xinzhu , Ding Ke
Published: September 2024

This study aims to alleviate the serious deformation of surrounding rock (SR) in an extremely soft and fragile fully mechanized caving face roadway (ESFFMCFR, the 8# coal seam, Huaibei mining area) under a conventional support. Laboratory tests of roadway SR were conducted. The results show that in this coal seam, the extremely soft and fragile coal body has a high clay mineral content, so it is of low strength and breaks and softens easily. With reference to the mechanical tests on coal and rock mass around the coal seam and the monitoring results of roadway deformation, the roadway deformation is mainly caused by the development of fractures in the roadway SR, the separation of the support body and SR and the loose supporting structure. Considering the engineering environment and deformation characteristics of SR in the ESFFMCFR (the 8# coal seam, Huaibei mining area), this study proposed a synergistic support system of “lowering, drilling, anchoring, grouting and flatting (LDAGF)” for the ESFFMCFR based on the synergistic mechanism of support and SR under the basic principles of synergetics. Specifically, the synergistic support system of “LDAGF” includes the following measures: floor breaking and side lowering, bolt advance support, anchor cable support, advance water injection and grouting and flat-roof U-shaped steel shed support. Furthermore, this synergistic support system was applied on the ESFFMCFR in the 8# coal seam of Xinhu and Guobei coal mines, Huaibei mining area. The on-site application results reveal that when the synergistic support system is adopted, the maximum subsidence values in the above roadway roofs are 117 mm and 121 mm and the maximum displacement values of the two sides are 66 mm and 74 mm, respectively, which proves an excellent support effect. The synergistic support system, which can effectively control the serious deformation of the SR in ESFFMCFRs and ensure long-term stability and safety of the roadways, is suitable for the support of ESFFMCFRs and is of great guiding significance for roadways of the same type.
Analysis of Development Coordination Levels between Skywalk Systems and Urban Spatial Environments
Authors: Zhang Xiaoqian , Hu Yingdong
Published: September 2024

Skywalk systems serve as a three-dimensional transportation solutions to address insufficient ground capacity and spatial fragmentation in high-density cities, thereby enhancing the pedestrian experience and representing an urban design strategy aimed at creating diversified and composite spaces. Previous studies have not included a quantitative analysis of the coordination levels between skywalk systems and the urban spatial environment, thus leading to a lack of understanding of the current state of built systems. In this study, we employ coupled modeling and cluster analysis methods to reveal the differences between North American and Asian skywalk systems by analyzing the level of coordination in their development and summarizing the existing typologies based on the analysis results. The results show that the skywalk systems in Minneapolis, Shanghai Hongqiao, and Osaka Umeda Hub are well-coordinated with their urban spatial environment. In contrast, the systems in Toledo, Seattle, and Oklahoma City exhibit significant dissonance. A cluster analysis has identified four distinct types of skywalk models: the attached and nodal closed skywalk network system, the traversing and attached covered and windowless skywalk node system, the traversing and nodal closed skywalk node system, and the attached closed skywalk linear system. These models provide an evaluation framework for their construction.
Critical Review and Potential Improvement of the New International Airport Pavement Strength Rating System
Authors: White Greg
Published: September 2024

Most airports rate and publish the strength of their runway pavement using the international system known as Aircraft Classification Number–Pavement Classification Number (ACN–PCN). The ACN–PCN system has been in place since 1981 and includes many simplifications that were necessary at the time of its development, primarily due to the general absence of computer power to support more sophisticated analysis. However, airport pavement thickness determination has evolved since that time and now includes much more sophisticated analysis methods. To bring the strength rating system into line with contemporary pavement thickness determination methods, a new system has been developed, known as Aircraft Classification Rating–Pavement Classification Rating (ACR–PCR). This critical review found that ACR–PCR provides many improvements over ACN–PCN, including minimizing anomalies between pavement thickness design and subsequent pavement strength rating, the use of more representative aircraft traffic loadings and pavement structures, and the alignment of rigid and flexible subgrade support categories. However, ACR–PCR could be improved with regard to the representative subgrade characteristic values, the retention of an overly simple tire pressure category limit approach for surface protection, the provisions for single-wheeled light aircraft pavements, and the absence of a rational approach to strength rating that is substantially better than a usage-based approach but does not necessarily follow the formalized technical rating protocol. Despite these limitations, the current ACN–PCN system has been in place for over 40 years without significant change, so it is expected that ACR–PCR will be in place for many years as well. Consequently, airports should prepare for its imminent introduction, regardless of the associated limitations.
Decisive Shots: Unveiling Disparities between Winning and Losing Pairs in High-Level Men’s Padel
Authors: Conde-Ripoll Rafael , Sánchez-Alcaraz Bernardino J. , Martín-Miguel Ivan , Bustamante-Sánchez Álvaro , Crespo Miguel , Escudero-Tena Adrián
Published: September 2024

This study aimed to describe and distinguish shot characteristics between set winning and losing pairs in high-level male padel players from Finland. Between 2022 and 2023, we analyzed 4469 points across 38 matches, examining factors such as match type, set outcome, effectiveness of the last shot, generator of forced error, and shot type. Results showed that set-winning players produced more winners (CSR = 7.7; CSR = 6.8) and committed fewer forced (CSR = 4.2; CSR = 2.8) and unforced errors (CSR = 4.0; CSR = 4.3) compared to set losing players, both in pressure training and competition matches. In addition, irrespective of the set outcome, these players achieved more winners and generated more forced errors with the smash, bandeja, forehand volley, and backhand volley. Nevertheless, a significant number of errors (both forced and unforced) are committed with the bandeja and volley (forehand and backhand). Furthermore, notable errors (forced and unforced) are observed in shots following one bounce and without a wall rebound, particularly in the forehand, backhand, and return. In conclusion, the ability to produce winners while minimizing forced and unforced errors proves to be crucial for securing sets in high-level men’s padel.
A Network Performance Analysis of MQTT Security Protocols with Constrained Hardware in the Dark Net for DMS
Authors: Gentile Antonio Francesco , Macrì Davide , Carnì Domenico Luca , Greco Emilio , Lamonaca Francesco
Published: September 2024

In the context of the internet of things, and particularly within distributed measurement systems that are subject to high privacy risks, it is essential to emphasize the need for increasingly effective privacy protections. The idea presented in this work involves managing critical traffic through an architectural proposal aimed at solving the problem of communications between nodes by optimizing both the confidentiality to be guaranteed to the payload and the transmission speed. Specifically, data such as a typical sensor on/off signal could be sent via a standard encrypted channel, while a sensitive aggregate could be transmitted through a dedicated private channel. Additionally, this work emphasizes the critical importance of optimizing message sizes to 5 k-bytes (small payload messages) for transmission over the reserve channel, enhancing both privacy and system responsiveness, a mandatory requirement in distributed measurement systems. By focusing on small, encrypted payloads, the study facilitates secure, timely updates and summaries of network conditions, maintaining the integrity and privacy of communications in even the most challenging and privacy-sensitive environments. This study provides a comprehensive performance analysis of IoT networks using Dark Net technologies and MQTT protocols, with a focus on privacy and anonymity. It highlights the trade-offs between enhanced security and performance, noting increased latency, reduced bandwidth, and network instability when using TOR, particularly with cipher suites like AES256-GCM-SHA384 and DHE-RSA-CHACHA20-POLY1305. The research emphasizes the need for further exploration of alternative protocols like LWM2M in secure IoT environments and calls for optimization to balance privacy with performance in Dark-Net-based IoT deployments.
Changes in Magnitude and Shifts in Timing of the Latvian River Annual Flood Peaks
Authors: Apsīte Elga , Elferts Didzis , Lapinskis Jānis , Briede Agrita , Klints Līga
Published: September 2024

Climate change is expected to significantly impact temperature and precipitation, as well as snow accumulations and melt in mid-latitudes, including in the Baltic region, ultimately affecting the quantity and seasonal distribution of streamflow. This study aims to investigate the changes in the magnitude and timing of annual maximum discharge for 30 hydrological monitoring stations across Latvia from 1950/51 to 2021/22. Circular statistics and linear mixed effects models were applied to identify the strength of seasonality and timing. Trend analysis of the magnitude and timing of flood peaks were performed by using the Theil–Sen method and Mann–Kendall test. We analyzed regional significance of trends across different hydrological regions and country using the Walker test. Results indicate strong seasonality in annual flood peaks in catchments, with a single peak occurring in spring in the study sub-period of 1950/51–1986/87. Flood seasonality has changed over recent decades (i.e., 1987/88–2021/22) and is seen as a decrease in spring maximum discharge and increase in winter flood peaks. Alterations in annual flood occurrence also point towards a shift in flow regime from snowmelt dominated to mixed snow–rainfall dominated, with consistent changes towards the earlier timing of the flood peak, with a more or less pronounced gradation from west to east. Analysis shows that a significant trend of decrease in the magnitude and timing of annual maximum discharge was detected.
The Natural HASPIN Inhibitor Coumestrol Suppresses Intestinal Polyp Development, Cachexia, and Hypogonadism in a Mouse Model of Familial Adenomatous Polyposis (ApcMin/+)
Authors: Tanaka Hiromitsu , Matsuyama Shunsuke , Ohta Tomoe , Kakazu Keisuke , Fujita Kazutoshi , Fukuhara Shinichiro , Soda Tetsuji , Miyagawa Yasushi , Tsujimura Akira
Published: September 2024

(1) Background: HASPIN kinase is involved in regulating spindle function and chromosome segregation, as well as phosphorylating histone H3 at Thr3 in mitotic cells. Several HASPIN inhibitors suppress cancer cell proliferation. It was recently reported that coumestrol from bean sprouts inhibits HASPIN, and a cultivation method for bean sprouts containing large amounts of coumestrol has been established. Here, we showed the effects of bean sprout ingestion on intestinal polyp development, cachexia, and hypogonadism in a mouse model of familial adenomatous polyposis (ApcMin/+). (2) Methods: ApcMin/+ mice were randomized into control and treatment groups. Mice in the control group were given the standard diet, while those in the treatment group were given the same standard diet with the addition of 15% bean sprouts. Treatments were commenced at 7 weeks old and analyses were performed at 12 weeks old. (3) Results: ingesting bean sprouts suppressed the development of intestinal polyps, cachexia, and hypogonadism, and also increased serum levels of testosterone in male wild-type and ApcMin/+ mice. (4) Conclusions: ingesting bean sprouts helps prevent cancer and increases serum levels of testosterone in a mouse model. These results are expected to be applicable to humans.
Synergistic Inhibition of Pancreatic Cancer Cell Growth and Migration by Gemcitabine and Withaferin A
Authors: Szydlak Renata
Published: September 2024

Pancreatic cancer remains one of the most lethal malignancies due to its aggressive nature and resistance to conventional therapies. This study investigates the anti-proliferative, pro-apoptotic, and anti-migratory effects of Gemcitabine (GC) and Withaferin A (WFA) on pancreatic cancer cell lines PANC-1 and Hs766t. The MTS assay revealed that both compounds effectively inhibit cell proliferation, with WFA showing a stronger effect in Hs766t cells. Flow cytometry analysis demonstrated that GC and WFA, particularly in combination, significantly induce apoptosis in both cell lines. Migration assays confirmed the potent inhibition of cell migration by both compounds, with the combination treatment being the most effective. Furthermore, actin cytoskeleton analysis indicated substantial changes in cell morphology and stiffness, suggesting that GC and WFA disrupt the structural integrity of cancer cells. Additionally, the study highlights a ROS-mediated mechanism underlying the effects of GC and WFA, as evidenced by increased ROS levels following treatment, which were attenuated by N-acetylcysteine. Importantly, NF-κB activity was significantly modulated, with WFA reducing NF-κB activation induced by GC, potentially contributing to the synergistic pro-apoptotic effect of the combination. These findings suggest that the combination of GC and WFA may offer a synergistic therapeutic approach for treating pancreatic cancer by targeting multiple aspects of tumor cell behavior.
Complexes of HMO1 with DNA: Structure and Affinity
Authors: Malinina Daria K. , Armeev Grigoriy A. , Geraskina Olga V. , Korovina Anna N. , Studitsky Vasily M. , Feofanov Alexey V.
Published: September 2024

Saccharomyces cerevisiae HMO1 is an architectural nuclear DNA-binding protein that stimulates the activity of some remodelers and regulates the transcription of ribosomal protein genes, often binding to a DNA motif called IFHL. However, the molecular mechanism dictating this sequence specificity is unclear. Our circular dichroism spectroscopy studies show that the HMO1:DNA complex forms without noticeable changes in the structure of DNA and HMO1. Molecular modeling/molecular dynamics studies of the DNA complex with HMO1 Box B reveal two extended sites at the N-termini of helices I and II of Box B that are involved in the formation of the complex and stabilize the DNA bend induced by intercalation of the F114 side chain between base pairs. A comparison of the affinities of HMO1 for 24 bp DNA fragments containing either randomized or IFHL sequences reveals a twofold increase in the stability of the complex in the latter case, which may explain the selectivity in the recognition of the IFHL-containing promoter regions.