bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Talkitt: toward a new instrument based on artificial intelligence for augmentative and alternative communication in children with down syndrome
Authors: Costanzo Floriana , Fucà Elisa , Caciolo Cristina , Ruà Deborah , Smolley Sara , Weissberg Danny , Vicari Stefano
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Individuals with Down syndrome (DS) often exhibit a severe speech impairment, with important consequences on language intelligibility. For these cases, the use of Augmentative Alternative Communication instruments, that increase an individual’s communication abilities, becomes crucial. Talkitt is a mobile application created by Voiceitt Company, exploiting speech recognition technology and artificial intelligence models to translate in real-time unintelligible sounds into clear words, allowing individuals with language production impairment to verbally communicate in real-time.

Methods

The study evaluated the usability and satisfaction related to the Talkitt application use, as well as effects on adapted behavior and communication, of participants with DS. A final number of 23 individuals with DS, aged 5.54 to 28.9 years, participated in this study and completed 6 months of training. The application was trained to consistently recognize at least 20 different unintelligible words (e.g., nouns and/or short phrases)/person.

Results

Results revealed good usability and high levels of satisfaction related to the application use. Moreover, we registered improvement in linguistic abilities, particularly naming.

Discussion

These results paves the road for a potential role of Talkitt application as a supportive and rehabilitative tool for DS.
Comprehensive evaluation of machine learning algorithms for predicting sleep–wake conditions and differentiating between the wake conditions before and after sleep during pregnancy based on heart rate variability
Authors: Li Xue , Ono Chiaki , Warita Noriko , Shoji Tomoka , Nakagawa Takashi , Usukura Hitomi , Yu Zhiqian , Takahashi Yuta , Ichiji Kei , Sugita Norihiro , Kobayashi Natsuko , Kikuchi Saya , Kimura Ryoko , Hamaie Yumiko , Hino Mizuki , Kunii Yasuto , Murakami Keiko , Ishikuro Mami , Obara Taku , Nakamura Tomohiro , Nagami Fuji , Takai Takako , Ogishima Soichi , Sugawara Junichi , Hoshiai Tetsuro , Saito Masatoshi , Tamiya Gen , Fuse Nobuo , Fujii Susumu , Nakayama Masaharu , Kuriyama Shinichi , Yamamoto Masayuki , Yaegashi Nobuo , Homma Noriyasu , Tomita Hiroaki
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Perinatal women tend to have difficulties with sleep along with autonomic characteristics. This study aimed to identify a machine learning algorithm capable of achieving high accuracy in predicting sleep–wake conditions and differentiating between the wake conditions before and after sleep during pregnancy based on heart rate variability (HRV).

Methods

Nine HRV indicators (features) and sleep–wake conditions of 154 pregnant women were measured for 1 week, from the 23rd to the 32nd weeks of pregnancy. Ten machine learning and three deep learning methods were applied to predict three types of sleep–wake conditions (wake, shallow sleep, and deep sleep). In addition, the prediction of four conditions, in which the wake conditions before and after sleep were differentiated—shallow sleep, deep sleep, and the two types of wake conditions—was also tested.

Results and Discussion

In the test for predicting three types of sleep–wake conditions, most of the algorithms, except for Naïve Bayes, showed higher areas under the curve (AUCs; 0.82–0.88) and accuracy (0.78–0.81). The test using four types of sleep–wake conditions with differentiation between the wake conditions before and after sleep also resulted in successful prediction by the gated recurrent unit with the highest AUC (0.86) and accuracy (0.79). Among the nine features, seven made major contributions to predicting sleep–wake conditions. Among the seven features, “the number of interval differences of successive RR intervals greater than 50 ms (NN50)” and “the proportion dividing NN50 by the total number of RR intervals (pNN50)” were useful to predict sleep–wake conditions unique to pregnancy. These findings suggest alterations in the vagal tone system specific to pregnancy.
Pedestrians' perceptions of route environments in relation to deterring or facilitating walking
Authors: Andersson Dan , Wahlgren Lina , Schantz Peter
Published: June 2023

Background

Every walk takes place in a route environment, and it can play an important role in deterring or facilitating walking, and will always affect the environmental unwell-well-being of pedestrians. The aim of this study is to illuminate which the important route environmental variables are in this respect. The focus is, therefore, on pedestrians' perceptions of route environmental variables and how they relate to overall appraisals of route environments as hindering–stimulating for walking and unsafe–safe for reasons of traffic.

Methods

Commuting pedestrians in the inner urban area of Stockholm, Sweden (n = 294, 49.5 ± 10.4 years, 77% women), were recruited via advertisements. They evaluated their commuting route environments using a self-report tool, the Active Commuting Route Environment Scale (ACRES). Correlation, multiple regression, and mediation analyses were used to study the relationships between the variables and the outcome variables.

Results

Aesthetics and greenery appear to strongly stimulate walking, whereas noise, a proxy for motorized traffic, hinders it. Furthermore, aesthetics is positively related to traffic safety, whereas conflicts have the opposite role. Conflicts is an intermediate outcome, representing several basic environmental variables, some of which were directly and negatively related to unsafe–safe traffic.

Conclusion

Route environmental variables appear to be potent factors in deterring or facilitating walking. This knowledge is of importance for policymakers and urban planners when designing route environments with the aim of attracting new pedestrians, and simultaneously stimulating those who already walk to keep on.
Intimate partner violence as a determinant factor for spontaneous abortion during pregnancy: an unmatched case–control study
Authors: Hailu Helen Teweldebrhan , Mekonnen Wubegzier , Gufue Zenawi Hagos , Weldegebriel Selamawit Gebreyohannes , Dessalegn Berhe
Published: June 2023

Background

Intimate partner violence affects a significant portion of women worldwide throughout their lifetimes. Ethiopia lacks data that policymakers could utilize to develop context-specific policies for handling intimate partner violence during pregnancy.

Objectives

To identify the determinants of spontaneous abortion among women survivors of intimate partner violence during pregnancy in Adigrat General Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, in 2020.

Methods

A facility based, case–control study design was employed to recruit 371 women (124 cases and 247 controls) attending maternal health services in Adigrat General Hospital, Northern Ethiopia, from March 13 to June 12, 2020. Cases and controls were selected using a consecutive sampling technique. A multivariable binary logistic regression model was carried out to identify potential factors, and a p-value of <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.

Results

The proportion of any form of intimate partner violence during pregnancy among cases and controls was 53.23 and 34.82%, respectively. Any form of intimate partner violence (AOR = 3.66; 95% CI 1.69–7.95), physical intimate partner violence (AOR = 3.06; 95% CI 1.69–7.95), and an interpregnancy interval of <24 months (AOR = 4.46; 95% CI 1.65, 12.07), were the independent determinants of spontaneous abortion among survivors.

Conclusion

Spontaneous abortion was significantly associated with exposure to any form of intimate partner violence, including physical intimate partner violence, and a shorter inter-pregnancy interval.
Factors associated with severe depressive symptoms among Chinese secondary school students in Hong Kong: a large cross-sectional survey
Authors: Leung Doris Y. P. , Leung Sau Fong , Zhang Xue-Lin , Ruan Jia-Yin , Yeung Wing-Fai , Mak Yim-Wah
Published: June 2023

Background

Many adolescents were reported to have severe depressive symptoms, and a careful assessment of its correlates is essential for prevention and intervention programs. This study aimed to gain insight into the prevalence of severe depressive symptoms and its association with factors at four levels (individual, relationship, school and society) in a large sample of Hong Kong Chinese secondary school students.

Methods

Secondary school students from Secondary 1 through 7 were selected as participants using a cluster random sampling method. A questionnaire including inventories measuring 24 factors at the four levels (six individual factors, 11 relationship factors, three school factors, and four society factors) was completed by 8,963 participants (56.3% female) with a mean age of 15.1 (SD = 1.8) years. Students with a score of ≥15 on the Patient Health Questionnaire were defined as having severe depressive symptoms. The association between severe depressive symptoms and correlates were examined by t-test and χ2 test. Logistic regression models using a hierarchical approach then examined the individual contribution of these 24 factors to severe depressive symptoms with the control of other factors in the model.

Results

7.4% of the students have severe depressive symptoms. Twenty-two of the 24 factors were significantly associated with severe depressive symptoms in bivariate analyses. In the logistic regression, 11 factors (three individual factors: age, self-esteem and self-mastery; six relationship factors: tobacco use, alcohol drinking, drug use, paternal psychological control, dinner with parents, and perceived social support from friends; one school factor: felt pressure from homework; and one society factor: number of sibling) were statistically significant. Felt pressure from homework, alcohol drinking, and perceived social support from friends were the strongest correlates of severe depressive symptoms.

Conclusion

The prevalence of self-reported severe depressive symptoms in Hong Kong Chinese secondary school students was high, and the identification of multiple associated factors at the four levels simultaneously provides a knowledge basis for the development of a comprehensive, multivariate model of factors influencing severe depressive symptoms in Chinese secondary school students. The factors identified in the present study may be helpful when designing and implementing preventive intervention programs.
Diversity in the space physics community: an overview of collaborative efforts led by The University of Alabama in Huntsville
Authors: Yalim Mehmet S. , Zank Gary P. , Provenzani Laura , Spencer Douglas , Howatson Katie
Published: June 2023

The field of Space Physics has significant recruitment potential. Almost everyone has been fascinated by space in one way or another since their early childhood. From this perspective, Space Physics might be expected to exhibit considerable diversity as a discipline. Regrettably, as in many STEM fields, the reality is quite different. Numerous reasons have been advanced about why the reality and the expectation diverge but one observation we have made over the years stands out, and, that is, that when students are given the opportunity, they are very eager to learn about Space Physics and enthusiastic about working on space physics projects. At The University of Alabama in Huntsville, we have developed a series of outreach programs, including summer programs, that are aimed at bringing students not typically exposed to space physics into the Space Physics community through working on real research projects that have the potential to produce journal publication results. These programs have been very effective in creating interest in Space Physics and have led to the recruitment of students that have been underrepresented historically into our research programs. In this paper, we summarize the various summer programs that the Center for Space Plasma and Aeronomic Research and Department of Space Science at The University of Alabama in Huntsville have been organizing in Space Physics for years and how these programs have contributed to increasing diversity in the field.
Estimating intermittency significance by means of surrogate data: implications for solar wind turbulence
Authors: Teodorescu Eliza , Echim Marius Mihai , Johnson Jay
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Intermittency is a property of turbulent astrophysical plasmas, such as the solar wind, that implies irregularity and fragmentation, leading to non-uniformity in the transfer rate of energy carried by nonlinear structures from large to small scales. We evaluated the intermittency level of the turbulent magnetic field measured by the Parker Solar Probe (PSP) in the slow solar wind in the proximity of the Sun during the probe’s first close encounter.

Methods: A quantitative measure of intermittency could be deduced from the normalized fourth-order moment of the probability distribution functions, the flatness parameter. We calculated the flatness of the magnetic field data collected by the PSP between 1 and 9 November 2018. We observed that when dividing the data into contiguous time intervals of various lengths, ranging from 3 to 24 hours, the flatness computed for individual intervals differed significantly, suggesting a variation in intermittency from “quieter” to more intermittent intervals. In order to quantify this variability, we applied an elaborate statistical test tailored to identify nonlinear dynamics in a time series. Our approach is based on evaluating the flatness of a set of surrogate data built from the original PSP data in such a way that all nonlinear correlations contained in the dynamics of the signal are eliminated. Nevertheless, the surrogate data are otherwise consistent with the “underlying” linear process, i.e., the null hypothesis that we want to falsify. If a discriminating statistic for the original signal, such as the flatness parameter, is found to be significantly different from that of the ensemble of surrogates, then the null hypothesis is not valid, and we can conclude that the computed flatness reliably reflects the intermittency level of the underlying nonlinear processes.

Results and discussion: We determined that the non-stationarity of the time series strongly influences the flatness of both the data and the surrogates and that the null hypothesis cannot be falsified. A global fit of the structure functions revealed a decrease in flatness at scales smaller than a few seconds: intermittency is reduced in this scale range. This behavior was mirrored by the spectral analysis, which was suggestive of an acceleration of the energy cascade at the high-frequency end of the inertial regime.
Analysis of the risk factors for secondary hemorrhage after abdominal surgery
Authors: Pang Tianshu , Wu Zhengrong , Zeng Hongfen , Zhang Xiangyu , Hu Mengya , Cao Liping
Published: June 2023

Introduction

This study aimed to conduct a clinical review and analysis to recommend options for the prevention and treatment of postoperative hemorrhage.

Patients and Methods

A total of 138 patients who experienced postoperative hemorrhage after abdominal surgery in the period between January 2015 and December 2020 at the Sir Run Run Shaw Hospital, affiliated to Zhejiang University School of Medicine, participated in this study. They were divided into a group with primary bleeding only and a secondary bleeding group. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed, followed by plotting of cumulative hazard and survival curves for the two groups.

Results

The main factors of interest found to be associated with secondary hemorrhage were duration of the operation, the time of the first bleeding incident, intervention time, performance of combined organ resection, use of surgical intervention, occurrence of abdominal infection, admission to the intensive care unit (ICU), postoperative length of stay, and total hospitalization expenses. Among these, a long operative duration (>5 h) and an extended intervention time (>5 h) were identified as independent predictors of risk of secondary hemorrhage.

Conclusions

Secondary hemorrhage after abdominal surgery is mainly associated with subjective human factors, and it is an important cause of poor prognosis and even death. Proper reductions in operation time and implementation of a quick response to bleeding are the key factors in tackling bleeding. Further reduction in the rates of postoperative hemorrhage and mortality will require a concerted effort by surgeons in terms of both intraoperative surgical techniques and postoperative management.
High Precision Hybrid Torque Control for 4-DOF Redundant Parallel Robots under Variable Load
Authors: Hu Shengqiao , Liu Houcai , Kang Huimin , Ouyang Puren , Liu Zhicheng , Cui Zhengjie
Published: June 2023

As regards the impact and chattering of 4-DOF redundant parallel robots that occur under high-speed variable load operating conditions, this study proposed a novel control algorithm based on torque feedforward and fuzzy computational torque feedback hybrid control, which considered both the joint friction torque and the disturbance torque caused by the variable load. First of all, a modified dynamic model under variable load was established as follows: converting terminal load change to terminal centroid coordinate change, then mapping to the calculation of terminal energy, and lastly, establishing a dynamic model for each branch chain under variable load based on the Lagrange equation. Subsequently, torque feedforward was used to compensate for the friction torque and the disturbance torque caused by the variable load. Feedforward torques include friction torque and nonlinear disturbance torque under variable load. The friction torque is obtained by parameter identification based on the Stribeck friction model, while the nonlinear disturbance torque is obtained by real-time calculation based on the modified dynamic model under variable load. Finally, dynamic control of the robot under variable load was realized in combination with the fuzzy computational torque feedback control. The experimental and simulation results show that the motion accuracy of the fuzzy calculation torque feedback and torque feedforward control of the three drive joints of the robot under variable loads is 49.87%, 70.48%, and 50.37% lower than that of the fuzzy calculation torque feedback. Compared with pure torque feedback control, the speed stability of the three driving joints under fuzzy calculation torque feedback and torque feedforward control is 23.35%, 17.66%, and 25.04% higher, respectively.
Exploring the Impact of Leadership Styles, Ethical Behavior, and Organizational Identification on Workers' Well-Being
Authors: Onesti Gianni
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to assess workers’ well-being through a survey of Italian firms by exploring the factors of leadership styles, ethical behavior, and organizational identification. In recent years, also due to the COVID-19 pandemic and technological progress, workers’ well-being has increasingly become a fundamental driver for company strategy and governance. Workers are increasingly interested in their well-being and work–life balance rather than just their level of remuneration or position at work. The company’s ability to strategically retain capable collaborators is, therefore, fundamental, especially in light of the recent increase in resignations. Based on a sample of workers in Italian firms during the post-COVID-19 period (the year 2022), this paper evaluates whether leadership styles, ethical behavior, and organizational identification are related to workers’ well-being beyond the workplace. The empirical model allows for a clear and effective evaluation of several characteristics, enabling a more comprehensive understanding of the data that support management’s strategic decisions regarding worker well-being policies.
The Effect of Reservoir Cultivation on Conventional Maize in Sandy-Loam Soil
Authors: Vejchar Daniel , Velebil Jan , Kubín Karel , Bradna Jiří , Malaťák Jan
Published: June 2023

Maize grown on sloped areas is susceptible to surface runoff and soil erosion, especially if traditional technology with tillage is employed. As a result, other solutions are being sought that address this risk and are acceptable to farmers. The combination of inter-row cultivation with the formation of small reservoirs appears to be a suitable alternative solution applicable in traditional corn cultivation. In the years 2020, 2021, and 2022, three plots of land in southern Bohemia, Czech Republic, were selected for testing, on which this approach was tested. During the field experiments, three variants were compared each year: inter-row cultivation with reservoirs, inter-row cultivation only, and a control without any mechanical intervention. All variants were subjected to rain simulation, from which the surface runoff was evaluated. The highest retention of runoff was manifested with reservoir cultivation by 2.4–4.2 min, compared to the cultivated variant, and 2–4.2 min compared to the control. This result would correspond to a difference of 5.7–9.8 mm retained precipitation and 4.6 to 7.3 mm, respectively. The hydraulic conductivity of the soil was evaluated after canopy closure. The lowest values were invariably reached in the reservoirs, up to 88% lower than with the cultivated variant and 79% lower than the control. The fresh matter yield of forage maize was shown to be inconclusively higher by up to 10% in 2020 and 2022 in cultivation with reservoirs. However, the dry matter yield was always lower in the variant with reservoirs compared to inter-row cultivation only. Overall, reservoir cultivation appears to be an effective method for the retention of rainwater on agricultural land with a slope up to 6° without a significant effect on the yield of maize.
Ammonia Emissions from Cattle Manure under Variable Moisture Exchange between the Manure and the Environment
Authors: Bleizgys Rolandas , Naujokienė Vilma
Published: June 2023

When reducing ammonia emissions from cowsheds, it is recommended to reduce the ventilation intensity, air temperature in the barn, manure moisture by using bedding and manure-contaminated surfaces, and to prevent urine from accumulating in the airways. Using the mass flow method in the wind tunnel, after research on seven types of cattle manure with different moisture contents, it was found that ammonia evaporates up to 3.9 times more intensively from liquid manure than from solid manure. There is a strong correlation between ammonia and water evaporation from manure. Ammonia emission from liquid manure decrease by 2.0–2.3 times, emissions from solid manure decrease by 1.9–2.1 times. Different cowsheds have different opportunities to reduce air pollution and conditions for manure to dry and crusts to form on the surface. The best results will be achieved by applying complex measures to reduce air pollution.
How Does Nutrition Affect the Epigenetic Changes in Dairy Cows?
Authors: Lesta Ana , Marín-García Pablo Jesús , Llobat Lola
Published: June 2023

Dairy cows require a balanced diet that provides enough nutrients to support milk production, growth, and reproduction. Inadequate nutrition can lead to metabolic disorders, impaired fertility, and reduced milk yield. Recent studies have shown that nutrition can affect epigenetic modifications in dairy cows, which can impact gene expression and affect the cows’ health and productivity. One of the most important epigenetic modifications in dairy cows is DNA methylation, which involves the addition of a methyl group to the DNA molecule. Studies have shown that the methylation status of certain genes in dairy cows can be influenced by dietary factors such as the level of methionine, lysine, choline, and folate in the diet. Other important epigenetic modifications in dairy cows are histone modification and microRNAs as regulators of gene expression. Overall, these findings suggest that nutrition can have a significant impact on the epigenetic regulation of gene expression in dairy cows. By optimizing the diet of dairy cows, it may be possible to improve their health and productivity by promoting beneficial epigenetic modifications. This paper reviews the main nutrients that can cause epigenetic changes in dairy cattle by analyzing the effect of diet on milk production and its composition.
Potential Application of Muscle Precursor Cells from Male Specific-Pathogen-Free (SPF) Chicken Embryos in In Vitro Agriculture
Authors: Ju Won-Seok , Seo Kangmin , Lee Bo-Ram , Park Mi-Ryung , Lee Min-Gook , Byun Sung-June , Yang Hyeon , Kim Youngim , Ock Sun-A
Published: June 2023

This study examined the potential benefits of male specific-pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn embryos in cellular agriculture for sustainable and ethical poultry meat production—addressing traditional farming challenges, including disease outbreaks of Salmonella and Avian influenza. We isolated myogenic precursor cells (MPCs) from the thigh muscles (Musculus femoris) of 12.5-day-old embryos from 10 SPF White Leghorns that tested negative for Salmonella. We randomly selected MPCs from three males and three females, isolated them using a modified pre-plating (pp) method, and compared their in vitro development. After 1 h (pp1) and 2 h (pp2) of incubation, they were transferred to a new dish to remove fast-adhering cells and cultured (pp3). Isolated MPCs had a 69% positive reaction to Pax7. During proliferation, no differences were observed in PAX7, MYF5, or MYOD expression between the male and female MPCs. However, after five days of differentiation, the expression of late myogenic factors—MYOG and MYF6—significantly increased in all MPCs. Notably, MYOG expression was 1.9 times higher in female than in male MPCs. This impacted MYMK’s expression pattern. Despite this, the myotube fusion index did not differ between the sexes. Muscle cells from male SPF-laying chicken embryos are promising for developing clean animal-cell-derived protein sources via resource recycling.
Evaluation of Overshunting between Low and Medium Pressure Ventriculoperitoneal Shunts in Dogs with Severe Hydrocephalus Using Frameless Stereotactic Ventricular Shunt Placement
Authors: Keadwut Kanokwan , Lewchalermwong Pakthorn , Inpithuk Nathanat , Choochalermporn Piyathip , Pongpradit Ananya , Koatsang Nattika , Suwanna Nirut
Published: June 2023

Hydrocephalus is a neurological disorder characterized by an abnormal accumulation of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) within the ventricular system of the brain, leading to cerebral ventricular dilation, brain parenchyma compression, and neuronal cell loss. Surgery is an effective method of draining excessive amounts of CSF. Ventriculoperitoneal shunt (VPS) allows excess CSF to divert into the abdomen; this device is the most commonly used in the treatment of hydrocephalus both in veterinary and human patients. This study aims to describe the application of two types of VPS, low-pressure valve and medium-pressure valve, using a frameless stereotactic neuronavigational system in eight severe hydrocephalus in dogs and, in particular, analyze the prevalence of postoperative overshunting. Non-communicating hydrocephalus was found in seven dogs, whereas the rest of them had communicating hydrocephalus caused by traumatic brain injury with a skull fracture. The criteria for pressure valve selection depended on the intraoperative intraventricular pressure (IVP) that was determined by the adaptive manometer, according to the human protocol. Low-pressure valve placement was performed in five dogs, and the others received medium-pressure valve placement. The follow-up period was 2 weeks, 4–12 weeks, and 12 weeks to 12 months. Pre- and postoperative information including neurological signs, CT-Scan or MRI, medical treatment, complications, and ventricular volume were compared in all dogs. Seven dogs showed neurological improvement within 2 weeks after surgery. Overshunting was seen in four dogs who received low-pressure valve placement. Three of them had shunt infections within 4 to 6 weeks after surgery. One dog underwent shunt revision from a low-pressure valve to a medium-pressure valve caused by severe overshunting and progressive neurological signs. In addition, cognitive and learning improvements were evaluated based on the owners’ feedback, and neurological signs were examined during the follow-up period in two dogs that received low-pressure valve placement. We conclude that a medium-pressure valve is recommended for overshunting prevention. However, low-pressure valve placement seems to improve cognitive function and learning ability, which is related to an increase in the brain parenchyma observed during long-term monitoring. Moreover, we also report our experience and surgical procedure for frameless stereotactic ventricular shunt placement (FSVSP) in VPS surgery in dogs affected by hydrocephalus.
3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM): A Potential Therapeutic Agent against Cariogenic Streptococcus mutans Biofilm
Authors: Baruch Yifat , Golberg Karina , Sun Qun , Yew-Hoong Gin Karina , Marks Robert S. , Kushmaro Ariel
Published: June 2023

Indole, a metabolite of the amino acid tryptophan, has been proven to act as a signal molecule in bacteria, acting in different aspects of biofilm formation. The oral biofilm is a type of biofilm that has consequences for human health. It is a complex, three-dimensional structure that develops on the surface of teeth via the attachment of primary microbial colonizers. Many oral infections are caused by an imbalance occurring in the microorganisms naturally found in oral biofilms and are considered major public health concerns. In this study, we test the effect of a natural bis-indole, 3,3′-Diindolylmethane (DIM), in mitigating the pathogenicity of the oral biofilm inhabiting bacterium Streptococcus mutans, a bacterium that is considered to be a principal etiological agent in dental caries. Our study found that DIM was able to attenuate S. mutans biofilm formation by 92%. Additionally, treatment with DIM lowered extracellular polymeric substance (EPS) production and decreased its durability significantly under acidic conditions. Therefore, the anti-biofilm and anti-virulence properties of DIM against S. mutans bacteria in an “oral setting” provides evidence for its usefulness in reducing biofilm formation and potentially for caries attenuation.
Functional Diversity of Homologous Oxidoreductases—Tuning of Substrate Specificity by a FAD-Stacking Residue for Iron Acquisition and Flavodoxin Reduction
Authors: Hammerstad Marta , Rugtveit Anne Kristine , Dahlen Sondov , Andersen Hilde Kristin , Hersleth Hans-Petter
Published: June 2023

Although bacterial thioredoxin reductase-like ferredoxin/flavodoxin NAD(P)+ oxidoreductases (FNRs) are similar in terms of primary sequences and structures, they participate in diverse biological processes by catalyzing a range of different redox reactions. Many of the reactions are critical for the growth, survival of, and infection by pathogens, and insight into the structural basis for substrate preference, specificity, and reaction kinetics is crucial for the detailed understanding of these redox pathways. Bacillus cereus (Bc) encodes three FNR paralogs, two of which have assigned distinct biological functions in bacillithiol disulfide reduction and flavodoxin (Fld) reduction. Bc FNR2, the endogenous reductase of the Fld-like protein NrdI, belongs to a distinct phylogenetic cluster of homologous oxidoreductases containing a conserved His residue stacking the FAD cofactor. In this study, we have assigned a function to FNR1, in which the His residue is replaced by a conserved Val, in the reduction of the heme-degrading monooxygenase IsdG, ultimately facilitating the release of iron in an important iron acquisition pathway. The Bc IsdG structure was solved, and IsdG-FNR1 interactions were proposed through protein–protein docking. Mutational studies and bioinformatics analyses confirmed the importance of the conserved FAD-stacking residues on the respective reaction rates, proposing a division of FNRs into four functionally unique sequence similarity clusters likely related to the nature of this residue.
Light–Matter Complex Interactions in Stereolithographies
Authors: Doualle Thomas , Gallais Laurent , André Jean-Claude
Published: June 2023

Since its inception in 1984, 3D printing has revolutionized manufacturing by leveraging the additivity principle and simple material–energy coupling. Stereolithography, as the pioneering technology, introduced the concept of photopolymerization with a single photon. This groundbreaking approach not only established the essential criteria for additive processes employing diverse localized energies and materials, including solid, pasty, powdery, organic, and mineral substances, but also underscored the significance of light–matter interactions in the spatial and temporal domains, impacting various critical aspects of stereolithography’s performance. This review article primarily focuses on exploring the intricate relationship between light and matter in stereolithography, aiming to elucidate operational control strategies for fabrication processes, encompassing voxel size manipulation. Furthermore, advancements in light excitation modes, transitioning from one-photon to two-photon mechanisms, have unlocked new material and creative possibilities. Notable advantages include the elimination of layering (true 3D printing) and the ability to fabricate objects using silica glass. Although these volumetric 3D printing methods deviate from conventional additive manufacturing concepts and possess narrower application scopes, they offer reduced manufacturing and design timeframes along with enhanced spatial resolution in select cases. These complex light–matter interactions form the cornerstone of this comprehensive review, shedding light on operational control strategies and considerations in stereolithography. By comprehensively analyzing the impact of light–matter interactions, including the novel two-photon excitation, this review highlights the transformative potential of stereolithography for rapid and precise fabrication. While these techniques may occupy a smaller niche within the broader spectrum of 3D printing technologies, they serve as valuable additions to the array of 3D devices available in the market.
Path following for Autonomous Ground Vehicle Using DDPG Algorithm: A Reinforcement Learning Approach
Authors: Cao Yu , Ni Kan , Jiang Xiongwen , Kuroiwa Taiga , Zhang Haohao , Kawaguchi Takahiro , Hashimoto Seiji , Jiang Wei
Published: June 2023

The potential of autonomous driving technology to revolutionize the transportation industry has attracted significant attention. Path following, a fundamental task in autonomous driving, involves accurately and safely guiding a vehicle along a specified path. Conventional path-following methods often rely on rule-based or parameter-tuning aspects, which may not be adaptable to complex and dynamic scenarios. Reinforcement learning (RL) has emerged as a promising approach that can learn effective control policies from experience without prior knowledge of system dynamics. This paper investigates the effectiveness of the Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) algorithm for steering control in ground vehicle path following. The algorithm quickly converges and the trained agent achieves stable and fast path following, outperforming three baseline methods. Additionally, the agent achieves smooth control without excessive actions. These results validate the proposed approach’s effectiveness, which could contribute to the development of autonomous driving technology.
Design of N-Way Wilkinson Power Dividers with New Input/Output Arrangements for Power-Halving Operations
Authors: Karpuz Ceyhun , Cakir Mehmet , Gorur Ali Kursad , Gorur Adnan
Published: June 2023

In this paper, new single/double-layer N-way Wilkinson power dividers (WPDs) were designed by using slow-wave structures such as narrow-slit-loaded and meandered transmission lines. For size reduction, the slit-loaded and meandered lines were used instead of the quarter-wavelength transmission lines of a conventional WPD. Based on the proposed approaches, two-, four-, and eight-way power dividers were designed, simulated, and fabricated. The fabricated 2-, 4-, and 8-way circuits were measured at the center frequencies of 2.03, 1.77, and 1.73 GHz, which are in excellent agreement with the predicted ones. The meandered transmission lines were also used to design WPD types with novel input/output port arrangements. For this purpose, two three-way WPDs were located on both sides of the same board to have different power-splitting ratios at different inputs and outputs in order to provide alternative solutions for antenna arrays. Furthermore, a five-way dual-layer WPD was introduced by locating the meandered transmission lines into two layers. The most important advantage of the proposed 3- and 5-way WPDs is that they allowed the input power at the next output port to be halved, in the order of P/2, P/4, P/8, P/16, and P/16. All the designed power-halving WPDs were simulated, fabricated, and successfully tested.
Dynamic Analysis of a Stochastic Delayed SEIRS Epidemic Model with Lévy Jumps and the Impact of Public Health Education
Authors: Zhou Dan , Shi Xiangyun , Zhou Xueyong
Published: June 2023

This study presents a class of the stochastic time-delayed susceptible–educated–infective–recovered–susceptible (SEIRS) epidemic model incorporating both public health education and Lévy jumps. We prove that the system has a unique global positive solution. We also provide derived conditions sufficient for both extinction and persistence in the mean. The verification of the findings and conclusions is performed through parameter sensitivity analysis and numerical simulations. This study concludes that public health education, stochastic noises, vaccination, increased disease recovery levels, and reduced patient contact significantly contribute significantly to disease prevention and control.
Numerical Analysis and Optimization of Flow Rate for Vanadium Flow Battery Incorporating Temperature Effect
Authors: Han Lukang , Chen Hui , Cheng Xiangdong , He Qiang , Chen Fuyu , Zhang Qinfang
Published: June 2023

The vanadium flow batteries that employ the vanadium element as active couples for both half-cells, thus avoiding cross-contamination, are promising large-scale energy storage devices. In this work, the flow rate is optimized by incorporating the temperature effects, attempting to realize a more accurate flow control and subsequently enhance the performance of vanadium flow batteries. This work starts with the development of a comprehensive dynamic model on the basis of mass conservation, followed by a modeling validation and a thorough investigation of the temperature effects on electrolyte viscosity and internal resistance. After that, the flow rate is optimized to incorporate such effects. It is found that the flow rate strategy needs to be regulated with the variation of temperature due to the variations of electrolyte viscosity and internal resistance. Moreover, a relatively low flow rate is preferable for low-temperature applications, while for the high-temperature use, a relatively high flow rate is encouraged. Such in-depth investigation can not only provide a cost-effective method to optimize the flow rate and predict the behaviors of vanadium flow batteries, but can also be of great benefit to the management, application, and promotion of vanadium flow batteries.
Cells-in-Touch: 3D Printing in Reconstruction and Modelling of Microscopic Biological Geometries for Education and Future Research Applications
Authors: Fitzpatrick Xavier , Fayzullin Alexey , Wang Gonglei , Parker Lindsay , Dokos Socrates , Guller Anna
Published: June 2023

Additive manufacturing (3D printing) and computer-aided design (CAD) still have limited uptake in biomedical and bioengineering research and education, despite the significant potential of these technologies. The utility of organ-scale 3D-printed models of living structures is widely appreciated, while the workflows for microscopy data translation into tactile accessible replicas are not well developed yet. Here, we demonstrate an accessible and reproducible CAD-based methodology for generating 3D-printed scalable models of human cells cultured in vitro and imaged using conventional scanning confocal microscopy with fused deposition modeling (FDM) 3D printing. We termed this technology CiTo-3DP (Cells-in-Touch for 3D Printing). As a proof-of-concept, we created dismountable CiTo-3DP models of human epithelial, mesenchymal, and neural cells by using selectively stained nuclei and cytoskeletal components. We also provide educational and research context for the presented cellular models. In the future, the CiTo-3DP approach can be adapted to different imaging and 3D printing modalities and comprehensively present various cell types, subcellular structures, and extracellular matrices. The resulting CAD and 3D printed models could be used for a broad spectrum of education and research applications.
Special Issue in “Nanomaterials and Their Applications in Sensing and Biosensing”
Authors: Zaidi Shabi Abbas , Shahzad Faisal , Abbas Asad
Published: June 2023

The identification of the target molecule is required for rapid and reliable clinical diagnosis and disease monitoring [...]
Effects of θ High Definition-Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation in the Anterior Cingulate Cortex on the Dominance of Attention Focus in Standing Postural Control
Authors: Sawai Shun , Murata Shin , Fujikawa Shoya , Yamamoto Ryosuke , Nakano Hideki
Published: June 2023

Attention focus affects performance in postural control while standing, and it is divided into internal focus (IF) and external focus (EF). Each individual has a predominant attention focus, and research has revealed that the dominance of attention focus may be an acquired trait. However, the impact of non-invasive brain stimulation on attention-focus dominance remains unexplored in the current literature. Here, we examined the effect of high-definition transcranial alternating current stimulation (HD-tACS) on θ waves in the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) on standing postural control tasks in an EF condition for IF- and EF-dominant groups. The effect of θ HD-tACS on the ACC differed between IF- and EF-dominant groups, and θ HD-tACS in the IF-dominant group decreased the performance of standing postural control under the EF condition. The forced activation of the ACC with θ HD-tACS may have conversely reduced the activity of brain regions normally activated by the IF-dominant group. Additionally, the activation of ACC prioritized visual information processing and suppressed the superficial sensory processing that is normally potentially prioritized by the IF-dominant group. These results highlight the importance of changing the type of rehabilitation and sports training tasks to account for the individual’s dominance of attention focus.
Transplantation and Adaptation: Research on Reinforced Concrete Structures in Modern Nanjing (1909–1949)
Authors: Han Yikuan , Wang Zhaoyi
Published: June 2023

Modern Nanjing experienced a boom in the construction industry. As an advanced material and construction system, reinforced concrete structure was also imported during this period. This paper presents the brief historical background and structural adaptability of reinforced concrete buildings in modern Nanjing. Reinforced concrete was used in industrial buildings in the districts along the Yangtze River in the early 20th century, and in public buildings along Zhongshan Road after 1927. Western-style reinforced concrete buildings used both pure frame structure system and mixed structure with a reinforced concrete frame, brick masonry and timber roof trusses. The Chinese Renaissance buildings used roof structures with different shapes and materials on the main reinforced concrete structure. Based on the study of existing modern reinforced concrete buildings in Nanjing, this paper classifies and compares different types of structures, and indicates that the selection of structures was the adaptive result of comprehensive trade-offs between structural performance, space availability and economy. This research implies the transplantation and adaptation of reinforced concrete structures in modern Nanjing and lays a fundamental structural foundation for the conservation of this architectural heritage.
BIM Application in Construction Projects: Quantifying Intangible Benefits
Authors: Salleh Hafez , Ahmad Aidzil Adzahar , Abdul-Samad Zulkiflee , Alaloul Wesam Salah , Ismail Aimi Sara
Published: June 2023

Building information modelling (BIM) has been considered an effective and efficient tool among stakeholders of the construction sector as it delivers prominent results. Hence, this work aimed to determine the intangible benefits of BIM in construction projects. Various statistical analyses were performed to identify the most critical intangible benefits of BIM required for justification. To rank the intangible benefits of BIM, the relative importance index was adopted. Then, the rotated component matrix was conducted to correlate each intangible benefit to its estimated components. In the last phase of the research, interviews were conducted to validate and confirm the critical intangible benefits. Five critical intangible benefits were identified: better understanding of design, better information received and given, improved communication through visualization, reduce design error and improved accuracy of drawings. By knowing these five critical benefits, clients should prioritise these benefits in their justification of BIM implementation.
Sustainable Supercapacitors Based on Polypyrrole-Doped Activated Biochar from Wood Waste Electrodes
Authors: Lima Ravi Moreno Araujo Pinheiro , dos Reis Glaydson Simões , Lassi Ulla , Lima Eder Claudio , Dotto Guilherme Luiz , de Oliveira Helinando Pequeno
Published: June 2023

The synthesis of high-performance carbon-based materials from biomass residues for electrodes has been considered a challenge to achieve in supercapacitor-based production. In this work, activated biochar has been prepared as the active electrode material for supercapacitors (SCs), and an effective method has been explored to boost its capacitive performance by employing polypyrrole (PPy) as a biochar dopant. The results for physicochemical characterization data have demonstrated that PPy doping affects the biochar morphology, specific surface area, pore structure, and incorporation of surface functionalities on modified biochar. Biochar-PPy exhibited a surface area of 87 m2 g−1, while pristine biochar exhibited 1052 m2 g−1. The SCs were assembled employing two electrodes sandwiched with PVA solid-state film electrolyte as a separator. The device was characterized by standard electrochemical assays that indicated an improvement of 34% in areal capacitance. The wood electrodes delivered high areal capacitances of 282 and 370 mF cm−2 at 5 mA cm−2, for pure biochar and biochar doped with PPy, respectively, with typical retention in the capacitive response of 72% at the end of 1000 cycles of operation of the supercapacitor at high current density, indicating that biochar-PPy-based electrode devices exhibited a higher energy density when compared to pure biochar devices.