bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Isolation and Genomic Characterization of a Chinese Genotype C Bovine Parainfluenza Virus Type 3 from Cattle and Its Pathogenicity in C57BL/6 Mice
Authors: Chen Jing , Qiu Yangyang , Xiong Pan , Wang Zhijie , Li Nengzhang , Ye Chao , Peng Yuanyi
Published: January 2024

Bovine parainfluenza virus type 3 (BPIV-3), also known as bovine respirovirus 3, is a common respiratory pathogen associated with bovine respiratory disease (BRD). BPIV-3 has currently circulated worldwide; however, data on the prevalence and genetic characteristics of BPIV-3 are still scarce and limited. In this study, the BPIV-3 strain SC was identified and isolated from cattle presenting with clinical signs of BRD in China. Animal experiments indicated that BPIV-3 SC can successfully infect C57BL/6 mice and induce weight loss, lung inflammatory cell infiltration, and inflammatory cytokine expression in mice. In addition, the complete genome of BPIV-3 SC was obtained using next-generation sequencing and was 15,473 bp in length. Phylogenetic analysis indicated that BPIV-3 SC belonged to genotype C, which clustered in the same large clade consisting of a population of Chinese genotype C strains but was found to be different from the other strains upon further differentiation. Compared to other Chinese genotype C strains, the BPIV-3 SC showed 70 unique nucleotide mutations and 13 unique amino acid mutations in the HN, P, and L proteins, suggesting a unique genetic evolution of BPIV-3 SC. In conclusion, we isolated and characterized a differential Chinese genotype C BPIV-3, which contributed to an understanding of the prevalence and evolution of BPIV-3 in China.
Dynamic Serpentine Convolution with Attention Mechanism Enhancement for Beef Cattle Behavior Recognition
Authors: Li Guangbo , Shi Guolong , Zhu Changjie
Published: January 2024

Behavior recognition in beef cattle is a crucial component of beef cattle behavior warning and intelligent farming. Traditional beef cattle behavior recognition faces challenges in both difficulty in identification and low accuracy. In this study, the YOLOv8n_BiF_DSC (Fusion of Dynamic Snake Convolution and BiFormer Attention) algorithm was employed for the non-intrusive recognition of beef cattle behavior. The specific steps are as follows: 45 beef cattle were observed using a fixed camera (A LINE OF DEFENSE) and a mobile phone (Huawei Mate20Pro) to collect and filter posture data, yielding usable videos ranging from 1 to 30 min in length. These videos cover nine different behaviors in various scenarios, including standing, lying, mounting, fighting, licking, eating, drinking, walking, and searching. After data augmentation, the dataset comprised 34,560 samples. The convolutional layer (CONV) was improved by introducing variable convolution and dynamic snake-like convolution modules. The dynamic snake-like convolution, which yielded the best results, expanded the model’s receptive field, dynamically perceived key features of beef cattle behavior, and enhanced the algorithm’s feature extraction capability. Attention mechanism modules, including SE (Squeeze-and-Excitation Networks), CBAM (Convolutional Block Attention Module), CA (Coordinate Attention), and BiFormer (Vision Transformer with Bi-Level Routing Attention), were introduced. The BiFormer attention mechanism, selected for its optimal performance, improved the algorithm’s ability to capture long-distance context dependencies. The model’s computational efficiency was enhanced through dynamic and query-aware perception. Experimental results indicated that YOLOv8n_BiF_DSC achieved the best results among all improved algorithms in terms of accuracy, average precision at IoU 50, and average precision at IoU 50:95. The accuracy of beef cattle behavior recognition reached 93.6%, with the average precision at IoU 50 and IoU 50:95 being 96.5% and 71.5%, respectively. This represents a 5.3%, 5.2%, and 7.1% improvement over the original YOLOv8n. Notably, the average accuracy of recognizing the lying posture of beef cattle reached 98.9%. In conclusion, the YOLOv8n_BiF_DSC algorithm demonstrates excellent performance in feature extraction and high-level data fusion, displaying high robustness and adaptability. It provides theoretical and practical support for the intelligent recognition and management of beef cattle.
Ruminant Production from Napier Grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schum): A Review
Authors: Islam Mohammed Rafiqul , Garcia Sergio C. , Islam Md. Ashraful , Bashar Md. Khairul , Roy Anamika , Roy Biplob Kumer , Sarker Nathu Ram , Clark Cameron Edward Fisher
Published: January 2024

Napier grass (Pennisetum purpureum Schumach) supports a significant proportion of animal production in subtropical and tropical regions, but its quality is low and when offered alone, results in low ruminant production. Shifting the management of Napier grass towards a higher-quality feed increased milk yield and liveweight gain for small, mature cattle without supplementation. This review highlights the opportunity for further increases in milk and meat production for differing classes of livestock in the tropics and subtropics by improving the nutritive value of Napier grass using new best management practice flowing on to improve food security for the millions of people in these regions.
The Effect of Antimicrobial Peptide (PA-13) on Escherichia coli Carrying Antibiotic-Resistant Genes Isolated from Boar Semen
Authors: Keeratikunakorn Krittika , Aunpad Ratchaneewan , Ngamwongsatit Natharin , Kaeoket Kampon
Published: January 2024

A major global public health concern is antimicrobial resistance (AMR). Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) are a potentially appropriate replacement for conventional antibiotics. The purpose of this research was to investigate the potential of the antimicrobial peptide PA-13, a synthetic AMP with 13 amino acids, to inhibit E. coli isolated from boar semen expressing antibiotic-resistant genes, as well as to determine the mechanism of action of this antimicrobial peptide on the bacterial membrane. The effectiveness of the bacterial inhibitory activity of PA-13 was tested at different concentrations by two fold serial dilutions in the range 0.488–500 µg/mL using the MIC and MBC methods. The impact of PA-13 on the bacterial membrane was examined at different concentrations of 0×, 0.5×, 1×, 2× and 4× of MIC using DNA leakage assay and electron microscopy. The PA-13 antibacterial activity result exhibited the same MIC and MBC values at a concentration of 15.625 µg/mL. When comparing DNA leakage at different MIC values, the results revealed that the maximum amount of DNA concentration was found two and three hours after incubation. For the results of SEM and TEM, the bacterial membrane disruption of this E. coli was found in the PA-13-treated group when compared with the negative control. In conclusion, synthetic PA-13 with its antibacterial properties is an alternative antimicrobial peptide to antibiotics in the pig industry.
Influence of Dead Cells Killed by Industrial Biocides (BAC and DBNPA) on Biofilm Formation
Authors: Barros Ana C. , Narciso Diogo A. C. , Melo Luis F. , Pereira Ana
Published: January 2024

Industrial biocides aim to keep water systems microbiologically controlled and to minimize biofouling. However, the resulting dead cells are usually not removed from the water streams and can influence the growth of the remaining live cells in planktonic and sessile states. This study aims to understand the effect of dead Pseudomonas fluorescens cells killed by industrial biocides—benzalkonium chloride (BAC) and 2,2-dibromo-3-nitrilopropionamide (DBNPA)—on biofilm formation. Additionally, the effect of different dead/live cell ratios (50.00% and 99.99%) was studied. The inoculum was recirculated in a Parallel Plate Flow Cell (PPFC). The overall results indicate that dead cells greatly affect biofilm properties. Inoculum with DBNPA–dead cells led to more active (higher ATP content and metabolic activity) and thicker biofilm layers in comparison to BAC–dead cells, which seems to be linked to the mechanism of action by which the cells were killed. Furthermore, higher dead cell ratios (99.99%) in the inoculum led to more active (higher culturability, metabolic activity and ATP content) and cohesive/compact and uniformly distributed biofilms in comparison with the 50.00% dead cell ratio. The design of future disinfection strategies must consider the contribution of dead cells to the biofilm build-up, as they might negatively affect water system operations.
Determination of Nitric Oxide and Its Metabolites in Biological Tissues Using Ozone-Based Chemiluminescence Detection: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Li Junjie , LoBue Anthea , Heuser Sophia K. , Cortese-Krott Miriam M.
Published: January 2024

Ozone-based chemiluminescence detection (CLD) has been widely applied for determining nitric oxide (•NO) and its derived species in many different fields, such as environmental monitoring and biomedical research. In humans and animals, CLD has been applied to determine exhaled •NO and •NO metabolites in plasma and tissues. The main advantages of CLD are high sensitivity and selectivity for quantitative analysis in a wide dynamic range. Combining CLD with analytical separation techniques like chromatography allows for the analytes to be quantified with less disturbance from matrix components or impurities. Sampling techniques like microdialysis and flow injection analysis may be coupled to CLD with the possibility of real-time monitoring of •NO. However, details and precautions in experimental practice need to be addressed and clarified to avoid wrong estimations. Therefore, using CLD as a detection tool requires a deep understanding of the sample preparation procedure and chemical reactions used for liberating •NO from its derived species. In this review, we discuss the advantages and pitfalls of CLD for determining •NO species, list the different applications and combinations with other analytical techniques, and provide general practical notes for sample preparation. These guidelines are designed to assist researchers in comprehending CLD data and in selecting the most appropriate method for measuring •NO species.
A Sustainable Extraction Approach of Phytochemicals from Date (Phoenix dactylifera L.) Fruit Cultivars Using Ultrasound-Assisted Deep Eutectic Solvent: A Comprehensive Study on Bioactivity and Phenolic Variability
Authors: Djaoudene Ouarda , Bachir-Bey Mostapha , Schisano Connie , Djebari Sabrina , Tenore Gian Carlo , Romano Anabela
Published: January 2024

The present study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADESs) on the extraction of phytochemicals from eight Algerian date fruit cultivars (Phoenix dactylifera L.). In this study, lactic acid/sucrose-based NADESs were used as an alternative to conventional chemical solvents using the ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) method. The obtained extracts were assessed for the determination of bioactive compound contents, phenolic composition, antioxidant activity, and enzyme inhibitory potential. The results showed a considerable variation in phytochemical compositions and related activities between cultivars, where the greatest contents of total phenolics (1288.7 mg GAE/100 g), total flavonoids (53.8 mg QE/100 g), proanthocyanidins (179.5 mg CE/g), and total triterpenoids (12.88 mg OAE/100 g) were detected in the fruits of the Ourous cultivar. The same cultivar displayed the highest antioxidant capacity against DPPH• free radical (595 mg AAE/100 g), ABTS•+ cation radical (839 mg TE/100 g), and ferric reducing antioxidant potential (704 mg AAE/100 g). All extracts manifested moderate antioxidant activities tested by phosphomolybdenum, NO•, and linoleic acid lipid peroxidation assays. These extracts also exhibited interesting levels of in vitro enzyme inhibition; the Ourous cultivar gave the best inhibitory activity against α-amylase and acetylcholinesterase with 45 and 37%, respectively. HPLC-DAD-MS detected a total of five compounds, with phenolic acids and flavonoids being the main phenolics identified in the extract. The phenolic composition exhibited significant variability among cultivars. Notably, the highest amounts were revealed in the Tazizaout cultivar, with the predominance of gallic acid. The results confirmed that the combination of UAE and NADESs provides a novel and important alternative to chemical solvents for sustainable and environmentally friendly extraction and can represent a good alternative in food and pharmaceutical industry applications.
Dynamic Behavior of Twin-Spool Rotor-Bearing System with Pedestal Looseness and Rub Impact
Authors: Zhang Haopeng , Li Runhan , Lu Kuan , Gu Xiaohui , Sang Ruijuan , Li Donglin
Published: January 2024

The twin-spool rotor-bearing system plays a crucial role in the aero-engine. The potential manufacturing defect, assembly error, and abnormal working loads in the rotor-bearing system can induce multiple rotor failures, such as bolt looseness and rub impact. However, the prediction of the fault rotor dynamic behavior for the aero-engine remains a difficult frontier in numerical modeling. We present a dynamic model of the twin-spool rotor-bearing system, the failure model of bearing seat loosening, and the failure model of rub impact by using second-type Lagrangian equations, finite element theory, and the Timoshenko beam theory. In particular, to improve the accuracy of the numerical model, the rotating speed control equation and the actual aero-engine parameter are taken into account. An analysis is conducted on the impact of critical failure parameters, such as looseness stiffness and rub impact initial gap, on the vibration behaviors of the essential components of the twin-spool rotor system and on the entire engine. Additionally, this paper examines the twin-spool rotor-bearing system affected by looseness–rub coupled failures. The obtained conclusions can serve as a theoretical foundation for optimizing the structure and diagnosing faults in the aero-engine rotor system.
Dynamic Energy Management Strategy of a Solar-and-Energy Storage-Integrated Smart Charging Station
Authors: Wu Kuo-Yang , Tai Tzu-Ching , Li Bo-Hong , Kuo Cheng-Chien
Published: January 2024

Under net-zero objectives, the development of electric vehicle (EV) charging infrastructure on a densely populated island can be achieved by repurposing existing facilities, such as rooftops of wholesale stores and parking areas, into charging stations to accelerate transport electrification. For facility owners, this transformation could enable the showcasing of carbon reduction efforts through the self-use of renewable energy while simultaneously gaining charging revenue. In this paper, we propose a dynamic energy management system (EMS) for a solar-and-energy storage-integrated charging station, taking into consideration EV charging demand, solar power generation, status of energy storage system (ESS), contract capacity, and the electricity price of EV charging in real-time to optimize economic efficiency, based on a real-world situation in Taiwan. This study confirms the benefits of ESS in contracted capacity management, peak shaving, valley filling, and price arbitrage. The result shows that the incorporation of dynamic EMS with solar-and-energy storage-integrated charging stations effectively reduces electricity costs and the required electricity contract capacity. Moreover, it leads to an augmentation in the overall operational profitability of the charging station. This increase contains not only the revenue generated from electricity sales at the charging station but also the additional income from surplus solar energy sales. From a comprehensive cost–benefit perspective, introducing this solar-and-energy storage-integrated EMS can increase facility owners’ net income by 1.25 times compared to merely installing charging infrastructure.
Multi-Objective Decision Support for Irrigation Systems Based on Skyline Query
Authors: Loh Chee-Hoe , Chen Yi-Chung , Su Chwen-Tzeng , Lin Sheng-Hao
Published: January 2024

The steady increase in droughts worldwide has compelled many researchers to focus on water allocation. Multi-objective decision support for irrigation systems is a popular topic due to its relevance to the national economy and food supply. However, the majority of researchers have relied on conventional top-k designs for their decision support systems despite their limitations with regard to multi-objective systems. Thus, we propose applying a skyline query to the problem. As the input and output formats of skyline queries differ significantly from those of existing systems, we developed a new genetic algorithm and objective ranking. Qualitative and quantitative experiments using real-world data from Taiwan’s largest irrigated region demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Bio-Inspired Fission–Fusion Control and Planning of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles Swarm Systems via Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Zhang Xiaorong , Wang Yufeng , Ding Wenrui , Wang Qing , Zhang Zhilan , Jia Jun
Published: January 2024

Swarm control of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAV) has emerged as a challenging research area, primarily attributed to the presence of conflicting behaviors among individual UAVs and the influence of external movement disturbances of UAV swarms. However, limited attention has been drawn to addressing the fission–fusion motion of UAV swarms for unknown dynamic obstacles, as opposed to static ones. A Bio-inspired Fission–Fusion control and planning via Reinforcement Learning (BiFRL) algorithm for the UAV swarm system is presented, which tackles the problem of fission–fusion behavior in the presence of dynamic obstacles with homing capabilities. Firstly, we found the kinematics models for the UAV and swarm controller, and then we proposed a probabilistic starling-inspired topological interaction that achieves reduced overhead communication and faster local convergence. Next, we develop a self-organized fission–fusion control framework and a fission decision algorithm. When dealing with various situations, the swarm can autonomously re-configure itself by fissioning an optimal number of agents to fulfill the corresponding tasks. Finally, we design a sub-swarm confrontation algorithm for path planning optimized by reinforcement learning, where the sub-swarm can engage in encounters with dynamic obstacles while minimizing energy expenditure. Simulation experiments demonstrate the capability of the UAV swarm system to accomplish self-organized fission–fusion control and planning under different interference scenarios. Moreover, the proposed BiFRL algorithm successfully handles adversarial motion with dynamic obstacles and effectively safeguards the parent swarm.
Sequential Brain CT Image Captioning Based on the Pre-Trained Classifiers and a Language Model
Authors: Kong Jin-Woo , Oh Byoung-Doo , Kim Chulho , Kim Yu-Seop
Published: January 2024

Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is a severe cerebrovascular disorder that poses a life-threatening risk, necessitating swift diagnosis and treatment. While CT scans are the most effective diagnostic tool for detecting cerebral hemorrhage, their interpretation typically requires the expertise of skilled professionals. However, in regions with a shortage of such experts or situations with time constraints, delays in diagnosis may occur. In this paper, we propose a method that combines a pre-trained CNN classifier and GPT-2 to generate text for sequentially acquired ICH CT images. Initially, CNN undergoes fine-tuning by learning the presence of ICH in publicly available single CT images, and subsequently, it extracts feature vectors (i.e., matrix) from 3D ICH CT images. These vectors are input along with text into GPT-2, which is trained to generate text for consecutive CT images. In experiments, we evaluated the performance of four models to determine the most suitable image captioning model: (1) In the N-gram-based method, ReseNet50V2 and DenseNet121 showed relatively high scores. (2) In the embedding-based method, DenseNet121 exhibited the best performance. (3) Overall, the models showed good performance in BERT score. Our proposed method presents an automatic and valuable approach for analyzing 3D ICH CT images, contributing to the efficiency of ICH diagnosis and treatment.
Effects of Osseodensification Protocols on Insertion Torques and the Resonance Frequency Analysis of Conical-Shaped Implants: An In Vitro Study on Polyurethane Foam Blocks
Authors: Pranno Nicola , De Angelis Francesca , Fischetto Sara Giulia , Brauner Edoardo , Andreasi Bassi Mirko , Marrapese Annalisa , La Monaca Gerardo , Vozza Iole , Di Carlo Stefano
Published: January 2024

Bone density at the implant site is correlated to the success of osseointegration. The objective of this in vitro study was to evaluate the efficacy of osseodensification burs in increasing bone density using a solid polyurethane foam block model. The osseodensification burs kit was used to perform 48 osteotomies on a rigid polyurethane foam test ground. Burs were utilized on a TMM2 implant motor for data collection. The osteotomies were divided into two study groups (A and C) in which implant sites, extended 12 and 14 mm deep, respectively, were prepared using the drills to a compaction rotation; two control groups, B and D, represented the osteotomies for which the drills were used in cutting direction. A 3.8 × 12 mm conical implant was inserted into each site; for each implant, data were collected on the peak torque (Cp), mean torque (Cm), and integral depth curve (I). The implants underwent resonance frequency analysis (RFA) to assess the implant stability quotient (ISQ). Correlation analysis was performed between I, Cm, Cp and ISQ. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used to identify statistically significant differences between groups. Group C, representing osteotomies prepared at 14 mm with osseodensification burs, showed a significantly higher value for each parameter. Implants at sites obtained with osteocondensation drills and prepared at greater depth for autologous particle grafting showed significant increases in each implant stability parameter.
Multi-Scale Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Transfer Learning
Authors: Yin Zhenyu , Zhang Feiqing , Xu Guangyuan , Han Guangjie , Bi Yuanguo
Published: January 2024

Confronting the challenge of identifying unknown fault types in rolling bearing fault diagnosis, this study introduces a multi-scale bearing fault diagnosis method based on transfer learning. Initially, a multi-scale feature extraction network, MBDCNet, is constructed. This network, by integrating the features of vibration signals at multiple scales, is dedicated to capturing key information within bearing vibration signals. Innovatively, this study replaces traditional convolution with dynamic convolution in MBDCNet, aiming to enhance the model’s flexibility and adaptability. Furthermore, the study implements pre-training and transfer learning strategies to maximally extract latent knowledge from source domain data. By optimizing the loss function and fine-tuning the learning rate, the robustness and generalization ability of the model in the target domain are significantly improved. The proposed method is validated on bearing datasets provided by Case Western Reserve University and Jiangnan University. The experimental results demonstrate high accuracy in most diagnostic tasks, achieving optimal average accuracy on both datasets, thus verifying the stability and robustness of our approach in various diagnostic tasks. This offers a reliable research direction in terms of enhancing the reliability of industrial equipment, especially in the field of bearing fault diagnosis.
Fermentation of a Strong Dark Ale Hybrid Beer Enriched with Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) Syrup with Enhanced Polyphenol Profile
Authors: Pyrovolou Katerina , Tataridis Panagiotis , Revelou Panagiota-Kyriaki , Strati Irini F. , Konteles Spyros J. , Tarantilis Petros A. , Houhoula Dimitra , Batrinou Anthimia
Published: January 2024

There is an increasing trend to develop beers supplemented with local plant ingredients in order to increase their bioactivity. Carob (Ceratonia siliqua L.) is a xerophytic endemic tree typically found in Mediterranean ecosystems. The aim of this study was to develop a strong dark ale hybrid beer enriched with carob syrup prepared by using carob fruits from the University Campus (Athens, Greece). Three batches of beer were fermented, a dark ale (6% alcohol by volume or ABV) without carob and two strong dark ale beers (8% and 10% ABV) with carob syrup. After the second fermentation (bottle conditioning, 60 days), both carob beers had significantly increased bioactivity. The total phenolic content (176.4 mg GAE/100 mL), the antiradical activity (206.6 mg Trolox Equivalent (TE)/100 mL), and the antioxidant activity (838.2 mg Fe2+/100 mL) of the carob strong dark ale 10% ABV beer was increased by more than three times, six times, and eight times, respectively, compared to the standard dark ale (6% ABV) without carob. Moreover, LC-QToF-MS analysis ascertained the enhancement of the phenolic profile of carob beers by ten phenolic compounds compared to the control dark ale beer without carob, indicating their significant antioxidant activity.
Effect of Time and Voltage on the Electrophoresis Deposition of Zinc Oxide Thin Films for Photovoltaic Applications
Authors: Nunes Vanja Fontenele , Graça Manuel Pedro Fernandes , Hammami Imen , Almeida Ana Fabíola Leite , Freire Francisco Nivaldo Aguiar
Published: January 2024

Electrophoretic deposition is a straightforward, environmentally friendly, and cost-effective technique for depositing and synthesizing nanomaterials, particularly nanofilms of semiconductors. Key parameters in electrophoresis include deposition time and voltage. Zinc oxide, a semiconductor of significant interest in solar energy research, possesses favorable characteristics, notably, a band gap value of approximately 3.33 eV. In the realm of dye-sensitized solar cells, which represent the third generation of solar cells, zinc oxide has emerged as a compelling choice for a photoanode. This study focused on depositing thin films of zinc oxide through electrophoresis and applying them as photoanodes in dye solar cells. The results demonstrated that the electrodeposited films exhibited good reflectance in the visible spectrum (~60–90%), a band gap energy of 3.28 eV, and an incident photon conversion efficiency of approximately 4.48% for the electrodeposited film at 80 V for 5 min.
Characterization of Monovacancy Defects in Vanadium Diselenide Monolayer: A DFT Study
Authors: Kistanov Andrey A.
Published: January 2024

Defects are an integral part of the structure of various two-dimensional materials (2D), including 2D transition-metal dichalcogenides. These defects usually govern their electronic properties. In this work, simulations based on the density functional theory are employed for a comprehensive characterization of typical point defects in the T–VSe2 and H–VSe2 monolayers. Specifically, Se and V monovacancy defects are studied. The formation of monovacancies in T–VSe2 and H–VSe2 monolayers are found to be less favorable than in other common transition-metal dichalcogenides. Meanwhile, Se and V monovacancy defects tune the electronic structure of the T–VSe2 and H–VSe2 monolayers significantly. The scanning tunneling microscopy simulated images obtained could facilitate the detection of monovacancies in T–VSe2 and H–VSe2 monolayers in experiments.
Modeling a Hydraulically Powered Flight Control Actuation System
Authors: Iyaghigba Samuel David , Petrunin Ivan , Avdelidis Nicolas P.
Published: January 2024

Many different types of aircraft designs have flight control systems (FCS) powered by hydraulic systems. With respect to the torques, moments, surface areas, and opposing forces to be acted upon, components introduce faults into the hydraulic system when these components are aging or degrading. The diagnostics of a hydraulically powered flight control actuation system (HPFCAS) rely on the faults produced within the subsystem components as well as the entire system’s mechanism itself. In this paper, a model for an HPFCAS is developed to analyze faults where the HPFCAS was approached as a system of systems (SOS). The identified faults were injected into the system. It is established that some of the faults from the different subsystems had similar characteristic effects and were propagated with attendant consequences. For instance, a measured decrease in the pressure value is observed because of the decrease in the pump speed. A similar characteristic is observed if there is leakage on the line or if there is a clogging valve. These form complex integrated responses in determining where the fault is coming from if only one component is analyzed since it involves components serving different subsystems. Results show that only models that can describe the real characteristics or attributes of the specific systems, due to their defined components, are sufficient for effective diagnostics. This is because the data obtained are more accurate at predicting the behavior of components.
Cost-Effective Design Modification of a Sleeve Bearing with Large Bearing Clearance
Authors: Benti Gudeta Berhanu , Aidanpää Jan-Olov , Gustavsson Rolf
Published: January 2024

In 2015, a 45 MW vertical hydropower machine exhibited excessive vibration after refurbishment. Measurements revealed a substantial bearing clearance at the lower generator guide bearing. Consequently, the bearing was unable to generate sufficient opposing force to drive the rotor toward the bearing center, resulting in more pronounced overall system vibration. Addressing this challenge required a cost-effective and feasible solution for mitigating the vibration problem. To this end, a design modification was implemented wherein the lower generator guide bearing (originally a sleeve bearing) was modified to a four-lobe bearing by offsetting the two halves of the bearing twice in two axes. Numerical simulations and experimentations were conducted, and the dynamics of the machine before and after the design modification were investigated. Both the simulation and experimental results showed that the machine with the four-lobe bearing improved the system stability and reduced the vibration amplitudes. The numerical simulation result demonstrated that, due to the design modification, the first and second critical speeds were effectively eliminated for a speed range of up to three times the nominal speed. Furthermore, for nominal operation with unbalanced magnetic pull, the four-lobe bearing provided a stability advantage in terms of the modal parameters relative to the original sleeve bearing.
Nanoscale Solutions: The Transformative Applications of Functionalized Nanomaterials in Environmental Remediation
Authors: Cerra Sara , Fratoddi Ilaria
Published: January 2024

Environmental pollution has become a pervasive and pressing issue in the modern world, mainly arising from human activities that release harmful substances into the air, water, and soil [...]
Study on the Spatial and Temporal Distribution of Thermal Comfort and Its Influencing Factors in Urban Parks
Authors: Liu Yujie , Fan Jiayu , Xie Siqi , Chen Xuegang
Published: January 2024

In order to better understand the thermal comfort of urban parks and provide empirical reference for urban green space optimization design, 5 days’ field monitoring was conducted in People’s Park in Urumqi, an oasis city in an arid region of China. Combined with GIS spatial interpolation, correlation analysis, and regression analysis, the spatial and temporal distribution of thermal comfort (HI and WBGT) of urban parks was discussed. The results showed the following. (1) The thermal comfort in the morning was generally higher than that in the afternoon, and the thermal comfort near the water body and lush vegetation in the park was higher, while the thermal comfort on the road was lower, especially on Hotan Street and Binhenan Road, which were far away from the park. Therefore, it is recommended that nearby residents exercise outdoors in the morning as much as possible and in the park, and in the afternoon, keep to the park and its vicinity and try to sit quietly or walk slowly, avoiding the less comfortable areas, such as Hotan Road and Binhenan Road. (2) Due to dense vegetation and lack of infrastructure construction, the thermal comfort area does not have the conditions for crowd gathering. Therefore, it is recommended that the park improve the infrastructure of relevant areas. (3) Through the analysis of the significant influence of explanatory variables on the explained variables, it shows that the ventilation effect in the park is insufficient. Therefore, it is recommended to appropriately increase the number of trees, water bodies, and wind channels to promote ventilation in the park so as to improve the thermal comfort of the park. These findings provide a theoretical basis and technical reference for optimizing the thermal comfort of urban green space and establishing a healthier and more comfortable living environment for urban residents.
Detecting Indonesian Monsoon Signals and Related Features Using Space–Time Singular Value Decomposition (SVD)
Authors: Mulsandi Adi , Koesmaryono Yonny , Hidayat Rahmat , Faqih Akhmad , Sopaheluwakan Ardhasena
Published: January 2024

Several investigations have proven the existence of monsoons in Indonesia. However, this has received little attention due to the scientific argument that the region of 10° N–10° S is not monsoonal because it receives precipitation all year round. This study used space–time SVD analysis of atmospheric and oceanic field data for 30 years (1990–2020) to detect monsoon signals and related features. The single-field SVD analysis of rainfall revealed that the first mode accounts for only 33% of the total variance, suggesting it is highly variable. Both the PC space and time series show the well-known monsoon pattern. Further, the Indonesian monsoon regimes and phases are defined based on the revealed rainfall features. The wet season lasts from November to April, accounting for more than 77% of annual precipitation. The coupled-field SVD analyses show that Indonesian monsoon rainfall strongly correlates with local SST (PC1 accounts for 70.4%), and the pattern is associated with the Asian winter monsoon. The heterogonous vector correlation map analysis revealed that the related features during the monsoon, including the strengthening and weakening of subtropical anticyclones, the intertwining of westerly wind in the Indian Ocean, and variations in the north–south dipole structure of the ocean temperature, are linked to variations in Indonesia’s monsoon rainfall. This result can serve as the dynamic basis for defining the Indonesian monsoon index in the context of the center of action.
Exponential Stability of Dynamical Systems on Time Scales with Application to Multi-Agent Systems
Authors: Liu Mingshuo , Shi Huizhe
Published: January 2024

The exponential stability criteria of systems with time delays on time scales are established, which unifies and generalizes the continuous and discrete cases. The time derivatives of Lyapunov functions (functionals) along solutions are allowed to be indefinite, namely, to take both negative and positive value, which reduces conservatism of the criteria. Moreover, the stability criteria are applicable to both linear and nonlinear systems on time scales, which expands the scope of application of the criteria. Furthermore, the improved stability theorem is applied to solve a leader-following consensus problem of multi-agents on time scales. Sufficient conditions are derived for the leader-following consensus of multi-agent systems under directed interaction topology. A numerical example is given to illustrate the feasibility and effectiveness of the theoretical results.
Neutrosophic Sub-Group over t-Norm and t-Co-Norm
Authors: Hummdi Ali Yahya , Abdalla Mohamed , Elrawy Amr
Published: January 2024

This study employs the notions of t-norms and t-co-norms to define a group of T-neutrosophic sub-groups and normal T-neutrosophic subgroups. Furthermore, the different properties of these sub-groups have been investigated. After that, the t-norm and the t-co-norm were applied to the finite direct product of the group.
Therapeutic Effects of Stimulating the Melanocortin Pathway in Regulating Ocular Inflammation and Cell Death
Authors: Wang Shudan , Kahale Francesca , Naderi Amirreza , Surico Pier , Yin Jia , Dohlman Thomas , Chen Yihe , Dana Reza
Published: January 2024

Alpha-melanocyte-stimulating hormone (α-MSH) and its binding receptors (the melanocortin receptors) play important roles in maintaining ocular tissue integrity and immune homeostasis. Particularly extensive studies have demonstrated the biological functions of α-MSH in both immunoregulation and cyto-protection. This review summarizes the current knowledge of both the physiological and pathological roles of α-MSH and its receptors in the eye. We focus on recent developments in the biology of α-MSH and the relevant clinical implications in treating ocular diseases.
Fluorescence-Polarization-Based Assaying of Lysozyme with Chitooligosaccharide Tracers
Authors: Mukhametova Liliya I. , Zherdev Dmitry O. , Kuznetsov Anton N. , Yudina Olga N. , Tsvetkov Yury E. , Eremin Sergei A. , Krylov Vadim B. , Nifantiev Nikolay E.
Published: January 2024

Lysozyme is a well-known enzyme found in many biological fluids which plays an important role in the antibacterial protection of humans and animals. Lysozyme assays are used for the diagnosis of a number of diseases and utilized in immunohistochemistry, genetic and cellular engineering studies. The assaying methods are divided into two categories measuring either the concentration of lysozyme as a protein or its activity as an enzyme. While the first category of methods traditionally uses an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), the methods for the determination of the enzymatic activity of lysozyme use either live bacteria, which is rather inconvenient, or natural peptidoglycans of high heterogeneity and variability, which leads to the low reproducibility of the assay results. In this work, we propose the use of a chemically synthesized substrate of a strictly defined structure to measure in a single experiment both the concentration of lysozyme as a protein and its enzymatic activity by means of the fluorescence polarization (FP) method. Chito-oligosaccharides of different chain lengths were fluorescently labeled and tested leading to the selection of the pentasaccharide as the optimal size tracer and the further optimization of the assay conditions for the accurate (detection limit 0.3 μM) and rapid (<30 min) determination of human lysozyme. The proposed protocol was applied to assay human lysozyme in tear samples and resulted in good correlation with the reference assay. The use of synthetic fluorescently labeled tracer, in contrast to natural peptidoglycan, in FP analysis allows for the development of a reproducible method for the determination of lysozyme activity.
Parental Social Isolation during Adolescence Alters Gut Microbiome in Rat Male Offspring
Authors: Siddi Carlotta , Cosentino Sofia , Tamburini Elena , Concas Luca , Pisano Maria Barbara , Ardu Riccardo , Deplano Maura , Follesa Paolo , Maciocco Elisabetta , Porcu Patrizia , Serra Mariangela , Pisu Maria Giuseppina
Published: January 2024

Previous work from our laboratory demonstrated that parental stress, induced by social isolation starting at puberty, leads to behavioral, endocrine, and biochemical changes in the male, but not female, offspring (ISO-O) of Sprague-Dawley rats. Here, we report alterations in the gut microbiota composition of ISO-O vs. grouped-housed offspring (GH-O), although all animals received the same diet and were housed in the same conditions. Analysis of bacterial communities by next-generation sequencing (NGS) of 16S rRNA gene revealed alterations at family and order levels within the main phyla of Bacteroides, Proteobacteria, and Firmicutes, including an almost total deficit in Limosilactobacillus reuteri (formerly Lactobacillus reuteri) and a significant increase in Ligilactobacillus murinus (formerly Lactobacillus murinus). In addition, we found an increase in the relative abundance of Rhodospirillales and Clostridiales in the families of Lachnospiraceae and Ruminococcaceae, and Bacteroidales in the family of Prevotellaceae. Furthermore, we examined plasma levels of the proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1-beta and tumor necrosis factor-alpha, which did not differ between the two groups, while corticosterone concentrations were significantly increased in ISO-O rats. Our findings suggest that adverse environmental conditions experienced by parents may have an impact on the likelihood of disease development in the subsequent generations.
Abnormalities in the KRAS Gene and Treatment Options for NSCLC Patients with the G12C Mutation in This Gene—A Literature Review and Single-Center Experience
Authors: Rekowska Anna K. , Rola Piotr , Kwiatkowska Agnieszka , Wójcik-Superczyńska Magdalena , Gil Michał , Krawczyk Paweł , Milanowski Janusz
Published: January 2024

Mutations in the KRAS gene are among the most common mutations observed in cancer cells, but they have only recently become an achievable goal for targeted therapies. Two KRAS inhibitors, sotorasib and adagrasib, have recently been approved for the treatment of patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer with the KRAS G12C mutation, while studies on their efficacy are still ongoing. In this work, we comprehensively analyzed RAS gene mutations’ molecular background, mutation testing, KRAS inhibitors’ effectiveness with an emphasis on non-small cell lung cancer, the impact of KRAS mutations on immunotherapy outcomes, and drug resistance problems. We also summarized ongoing trials and analyzed emerging perspectives on targeting KRAS in cancer patients.
Tumor-Derived Sarcopenia Factors Are Diverse in Different Tumor Types: A Pan-Cancer Analysis
Authors: Gan Xin , Zeng Yunqian , Huang Jiaquan , Chen Xin , Kang Hao , Huang Shuaiwen
Published: January 2024

Cancer-associated muscle wasting is a widespread syndrome in people with cancer and is characterized by weight loss and muscle atrophy, leading to increased morbidity and mortality. However, the tumor-derived factors that affect the development of muscle wasting and the mechanism by which they act remain unknown. To address this knowledge gap, we aimed to delineate differences in tumor molecular characteristics (especially secretion characteristics) between patients with and without sarcopenia across 10 tumor types from The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA). We integrated radiological characteristics from CT scans of TCGA cancer patients, which allowed us to calculate skeletal muscle area (SMA) to confirm sarcopenia. We combined TCGA and GTEx (The Genotype-Tissue Expression) data to analyze upregulated secretory genes in 10 tumor types compared with normal tissues. Upregulated secretory genes in the tumor microenvironment and their relation to SMA were analyzed to identify potential muscle wasting biomarkers (560 samples). Meanwhile, their predictive values for patient survival was validated in 3530 samples in 10 tumor types. A total of 560 participants with transcriptomic data and SMA were included. Among those, 136 participants (24.28%) were defined as having sarcopenia based on SMA. Enrichment analysis for upregulated secretory genes in cancers revealed that pathways associated with muscle wasting were strongly enriched in tumor types with a higher prevalence of sarcopenia. A series of SMA-associated secretory protein-coding genes were identified in cancers, which showed distinct gene expression profiles according to tumor type, and could be used to predict prognosis in cancers (p value ≤ 0.002). Unfortunately, those genes were different and rarely overlapped across tumor types. Tumor secretome characteristics were closely related to sarcopenia. Highly expressed secretory mediators in the tumor microenvironment were associated with SMA and could affect the overall survival of cancer patients, which may provide a valuable starting point for the further understanding of the molecular basis of muscle wasting in cancers. More importantly, tumor-derived pro-sarcopenic factors differ across tumor types and genders, which implies that mechanisms of cancer-associated muscle wasting are complex and diverse across tumors, and may require individualized treatment approaches.
Aptamer-Based Targeting of Cancer: A Powerful Tool for Diagnostic and Therapeutic Aims
Authors: Mohammadinejad Arash , Gaman Laura Elena , Aleyaghoob Ghazaleh , Gaceu Liviu , Mohajeri Seyed Ahmad , Moga Marius Alexandru , Badea Mihaela
Published: January 2024

Cancer is known as one of the most significant causes of death worldwide, and, in spite of novel therapeutic methods, continues to cause a considerable number of deaths. Targeted molecular diagnosis and therapy using aptamers with high affinity have become popular techniques for pathological angiogenesis and cancer therapy scientists. In this paper, several aptamer-based diagnostic and therapeutic techniques such as aptamer–nanomaterial conjugation, aptamer–drug conjugation (physically or covalently), and biosensors, which have been successfully designed for biomarkers, were critically reviewed. The results demonstrated that aptamers can potentially be incorporated with targeted delivery systems and biosensors for the detection of biomarkers expressed by cancer cells. Aptamer-based therapeutic and diagnostic methods, representing the main field of medical sciences, possess high potential for use in cancer therapy, pathological angiogenesis, and improvement of community health. The clinical use of aptamers is limited due to target impurities, inaccuracy in the systematic evolution of ligands via exponential enrichment (SELEX)stage process, and in vitro synthesis, making them unreliable and leading to lower selectivity for in vivo targets. Moreover, size, behavior, probable toxicity, low distribution, and the unpredictable behavior of nanomaterials in in vivo media make their usage in clinical assays critical. This review is helpful for the implementation of aptamer-based therapies which are effective and applicable for clinical use and the design of future studies.
Gendered Parenting: Maternal Son Preference and Depressive Symptoms in Chinese Early Adolescents
Authors: Zhao Fengqing , Wang Yinge , Li Yudan , Zhang Huifang , Li Sen , Wang Zhongjie , Hou Jie
Published: January 2024

This study focused on the nuanced phenomenon of gendered parenting by exploring how maternal son preference is associated with depressive symptoms among Chinese early adolescents. Focusing on 1093 junior high school students from a relatively affluent city in Western China, this study examined the mediating roles of mother–child attachment and father–child attachment as well as the moderating role of school connectedness in the relationship between maternal son preference and depressive symptoms. The results revealed a noteworthy positive correlation between maternal son preference and depressive symptoms among female adolescents, with no significant association observed in males. In addition, mother–child attachment and father–child attachment mediated the relationship between maternal son preference and girls’ depressive symptoms, supporting the “spillover effect” and “crossover effect”. Moreover, a moderation effect analysis indicated that a higher level of school connectedness can buffer the effect of maternal son preference on girls’ depressive symptoms, while a lower level of school connectedness can enhance the effect of maternal son preference on girls’ depressive symptoms. In addition, maternal son preference was negatively correlated with boys’ depressive symptoms in relation to high school connectedness. These insights help enhance people’s understanding of gendered parenting, emphasizing the enduring necessity of addressing son preference within the broader context of promoting gender equality.