bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Dietary Supplementation of Chlorella vulgaris Effectively Enhanced the Intestinal Antioxidant Capacity and Immune Status of Micropterus salmoides
Authors: Yu Heng , Ge Xianping , Huang Dongyu , Xue Chunyu , Ren Mingchun , Liang Hualiang
Published: August 2023

An M. salmoides fish meal diet was supplemented with 0 (CHL0, Control), 38 (CHL38), 76 (CHL76), 114 (CHL114), and 152 (CHL152) mg/kg C. vulgaris for 60 days, and their serum and intestinal samples were analyzed. The results showed that the albumin (ALB) and total protein (TP) contents were observably enhanced in the CHL76 group compared with the Control group. The intestinal glutathione (GSH) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) contents were enhanced significantly in the CHL76 group, while the total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) was enhanced in the CHL38 group, compared with the Control group. However, supplementation of >76 g/kg C. vulgaris significantly inhibited the superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the intestines of M. salmoides. Moreover, the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was observably dropped in the CHL-supplemented groups compared with the Control group. Transcriptome analysis of the CHL76 and Control groups displayed a total of 1384 differentially expressed genes (DEGs). KEGG analysis revealed that these DEGs were enriched in apoptosis, cytokine–cytokine receptor interaction, tight junction (TJ), and phagosome signaling pathways, which were associated with improved intestinal immunity in the CHL76 group. Additionally, the DEGs enriched in the above pathways were also correlated with the antioxidant parameters, such as catalase (CAT), GSH, GSH-Px, SOD, T-AOC, and MDA. Therefore, our study found that dietary supplementation of C. vulgaris effectively enhanced the intestinal antioxidant capacity of M. salmoides by increasing antioxidant enzyme activity and decreasing MDA content. Additionally, dietary supplementation of C. vulgaris improved the intestinal immune status of M. salmoides by reducing proapoptotic and proinflammatory factors, increasing intestinal TJs- and phagosome-related genes expressions, and increasing the serum ALB and TP contents. Lastly, quadratic regression analysis of the serum biochemical indices (ALB and TP) and intestinal antioxidant parameters (GSH-Px and GSH) revealed that the optimal supplemental level of C. vulgaris in the M. salmoides diet was 58.25–77.7 g/kg.
Interaction of Voice Onset Time with Vocal Hyperfunction and Voice Quality
Authors: Soares Maria Francisca de Paula , Sampaio Marília , Brockmann-Bauser Meike
Published: August 2023

The main aim of the present work was to investigate whether vocal hyperfunction (VH), perceptual voice quality (VQ), gender, and phonetic environment influence Voice Onset Time (VOT). The investigated group consisted of 30 adults, including 19 women (X = 46.1 ± 13.7 years) and 11 men (X = 47.5 ± 11.0 years), who had either phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction (PVH) and non-phonotraumatic vocal hyperfunction (NPVH). VQ was judged considering the overall severity of dysphonia (OS) and the subcharacteristics of roughness, breathiness, and strain. Phonetic variables such as vowel stress, syllable stress, and mode of speech task were analyzed. Four samples of syllables with [p] plus vowel or diphthong were retrieved from CAPE-V sentences recordings. Acoustic analysis with Praat comprised VOT, mean fundamental frequency (fo), intensity (SPL dB(A)), and coefficient of variation of fundamental frequency (CV_fo %). VOT was significantly influenced by OS (p ≤ 0.001) but not by vocal VH condition (PVH versus NPVH) (p = 0.90). However, CV_fo was affected by the VH condition (p = 0.02). Gender effects were only found for mean fo (p ≤ 0.001) and SPL (p = 0.01). All VQ sub characteristics (OS, roughness, breathiness, and strain) correlated with VOT (p ≤ 0.001) and SPL (p ≤ 0.001) but not with fo. In summary, VOT was affected by voice quality, while it was not affected by vocal hyperfunction conditions. Therefore, VOT has the potential to objectively describe the onset of voicing in voice diagnostics, and may be one underlying objective characteristic of perceptual vocal quality.
Surface Corrosion from Implant–Abutment Couplings with Different Connection Designs Influences Osteoblasts’ Function: A Novel Technique
Authors: Alrabeah Ghada , Knowles Jonathan C. , Petridis Haralampos
Published: August 2023

The improved peri-implant bone response demonstrated when utilizing the platform-switching concept may result from the reduced levels of metal ions released from implant–abutment surfaces to the surrounding tissues. These corrosion products may play a major role in crestal bone remodeling around dental implants. This study evaluated the effect of different implant–abutment couplings (platform-matched vs. platform-switched) on osteoblasts’ function. Titanium alloy and cobalt–chrome alloy abutments were coupled with titanium cylinders, forming either platform-switched or platform-matched groups, and were incubated in human osteoblast cultures utilizing a novel direct-exposure technique. Viability was evaluated over 21 days using Alamar Blue assay. Apoptosis was measured after 24 h using flow cytometry. The expression of genes related to bone resorption was analysed over 21 days using a real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction assay. Cell viability was reduced from day 4 to day 21 (p < 0.05), with higher rates of early apoptosis (p < 0.05) compared to the controls. Apoptosis was higher in the platform-matched groups (p < 0.05). The tested genes’ expression was up-regulated after 1 and 3 days of exposure to implant–abutment couplings (p < 0.05). The upregulation was more pronounced in platform-matched groups (p < 0.05). Exposure of osteoblasts to implant–abutment couplings induced adverse biological responses, which were more pronounced with platform-matched couplings. These reactions might be related to the increased amounts of metal ions released from the platform-matched couplings, highlighting the possible role of corrosion products in the mediation of crestal bone loss around dental implants.
A Novel Model of an S-Shaped Tooth Profile Gear Pair with a Few Pinion Teeth and Tooth Contact Analysis Considering Shaft Misalignments
Authors: Chen Wei , Tian Yuzhou , Sun Qiang , Zhu Pengfei
Published: August 2023

Due to the special meshing of convex and concave tooth profiles, an S-shaped tooth profile gear with a few teeth has the advantage of reducing the contact stress and improving the contact ratio. However, the theoretical inseparability of the center distance of an S-shaped tooth profile and shaft misalignments, including center distance errors and axis parallelism errors caused by manufacturing or installation errors, can easily cause tip contact and produce transmission errors. Accordingly, it is necessary to analyze the influence of shaft misalignments on the meshing performance. In this paper, a unified mathematical model of spur and helical gears with an S-shaped tooth profile is established and an analytic method for determination of the contact pattern, meshing path, and transmission error of a gear pair with shaft misalignments is proposed. Then, the validity of the analytic method is proved by practical examples and the influence of shaft misalignments on the contact pattern of an S-shaped tooth profile gear pair is obtained. Through comparison with an involute gear with the same parameters, it is found that shaft misalignments within a certain range result in an acceptable transmission error and contact area migration of the S-shaped tooth profile gear pair similar to that of the involute gear pair.
Assessment of Individualized and Group Physical Exercise Programs in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease: A Pilot Study
Authors: Zippenfening Himena Adela , Amaricai Elena , Raducan Maria Raluca
Published: August 2023

The objective was to assess physical exercise programs (individualized and group) targeting postural correction in Parkinson’s disease patients. A total of 29 Parkinson’s disease patients performed an individualized (12 patients) or group exercise program (17 patients) for 6 months. After 6 months of therapy, all patients received a self-made questionnaire that assessed the benefits of exercise programs for their health status and the compliance to therapy. Patients also completed the Movement Disorder Society–Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (MDS-UPDRS) questionnaire (patients’ section) at the inclusion in the study and after 6 months. All patients considered that the physical exercise program had benefits and was important for their functioning and health status. There were no significant differences in what concerns the mental and physical status during the physical exercise program, and the improvement in quality of life after physical exercise program in the two groups. After the 6 month physical exercise program, a significantly improved functional status was recorded in both groups (MDS-UPDRS scores for individualized therapy: 1.90 ± 1.05 vs. 2.30 ± 1.04, p = 0.001; for group therapy: 1.79 ± 0.85 vs. 2.13 ± 1.02, p = 0.005). The proposed questionnaire for assessment of physical exercise programs for patients with Parkinson’s disease represents a valuable and easy-to-use tool.
Mechanical Behaviour of the Rotating Target SORGENTINA-RF
Authors: Lamberti Marco , Marinari Ranieri , Mancini Andrea , Gadani Gianni , Pietropaolo Antonino ,   The SRF Collaboration
Published: August 2023

The SORGENTINA-RF project aims at developing a 14 MeV neutron source based on a deuterium/tritium ion accelerator and a rotating target where fusion reactions take place. Among the different research fields, the most interesting and promising is medical radioisotope production. In this framework, intense research work on the design of the rotating target has been carried out. More in detail, to define the optimal design configuration, a sensitivity analysis on the mechanical performance of the rotating target considering the influence of some relevant parameters, such as material type, thickness, and presence of internal stiffeners, was carried out. Among the materials analyzed, aluminium alloy represents the best compromise to efficiently address all the critical requirements in the design phase. One of the most demanding project requirements that the conceptual design must fulfill is the ability of the target to dissipate a thermal power of 250 kW without precluding its mechanical properties and resistance. To investigate the performance of the rotating target, some thermo-mechanical analyses were undertaken with finite element method under some thermal transients and mechanical loads able to simulate the working conditions of the system. The numerical results emphasise the target’s ability to withstand operating conditions. The main outcomes of the present study have been implemented as engineering solutions in the project design.
Fuzzy Adaptive Asymptotic Control for a Class of Large-Scale High-Order Unknown Nonlinear Systems
Authors: Ju Peilun , Ju Yongfeng , Song Jiacheng
Published: August 2023

This paper studies the asymptotic control problem of a class of large-scale high-order nonlinear systems (LSHONSs), and an asymptotic fuzzy adaptive dynamic surface controller is developed. Unknown nonlinear terms are learned online by fuzzy logic systems (FLSs) such that the accurate nonlinear model is released in the controller design procedure, where the parameters of FLSs are updated by developing adaptive laws. To compensate for the “boundary error” caused by the dynamic surface control method where a linear filter is added in the backstepping procedure to handle the “explosion of complexity” problem, a nonlinear filter is proposed to eliminate the boundary layer error. Some simulations are given to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm.
Two-Dimensional Mesoscale Finite Element Modeling of Concrete Damage and Failure
Authors: Najafi Koopas Rasoul , Rauter Natalie , Lammering Rolf
Published: August 2023

Methodologies are developed for analyzing failure initiation and crack propagation in highly heterogeneous concrete mesostructures. Efficient algorithms are proposed in Python to generate and pack geometric features into a continuous phase. The continuous phase represents the mortar matrix, while the aggregates and voids of different sizes represent the geometric features randomly distributed within the matrix. The cohesive zone model (CZM) is utilized to investigate failure initiation and crack propagation in mesoscale concrete specimens. Two-dimensional zero-thickness cohesive interface elements (CIEs) are generated at different phases of the concrete mesostructure: within the mortar matrix, aggregates, and at the interfacial transition zone (ITZ). Different traction–separation laws (TSL) are assigned to different phases to simulate potential crack paths in different regions of the mesoscale concrete specimen. The mesoscale finite element simulations are verified using experimental results from the literature, with a focus on implementing mixed-mode fracture and calibrating its corresponding parameters with respect to the experimental data. In addition, the current study addresses the limited exploration of void effects in mesoscale concrete simulations. By investigating voids of diverse sizes and volume fractions, this research sheds light on their influence on the mechanical behavior of concrete materials. The algorithms for generating cohesive interface elements and concrete microstructures are described in detail and can be easily extended to more complex states. This methodology provides an effective tool for the mesostructural optimization of concrete materials, considering specific strength and toughness requirements.
Unequal Interval Dynamic Traffic Flow Prediction with Singular Point Detection
Authors: Guo Chang , Li Demin , Chen Xuemin
Published: August 2023

Analysis of traffic flow signals plays an important role in traffic prediction and management. As an intrinsic property, the singular point of a traffic flow signal labels a new nonsteady status. Therefore, detecting the singular point is an effective approach to determine the moment of traffic flow prediction. In this paper, an improved wavelet transform is proposed to detect singular points of real-time traffic flow signals. The number of detected singular points is output via the heuristic selection of multiple scales. Then, a weighted similarity measurement of historical traffic flow signals is utilized to predict the next singular point. The position of the next singular point decides the duration of prediction adaptively. The detected and predicted singular points are applied to dynamically update the unequal interval prediction of traffic flow. Furthermore, a Vasicek model is used to predict the traffic flow by minimizing the sum of the relative mean standard error (RMSE) between the traffic flow increment in the predicted interval and the sampled increments of previous intervals. A decomposition method is used to solve the unequal matrix problem. Based on the scenario and traffic flow imported from the real-world map, the simulation results show that the proposed algorithm outperforms existing approaches with high prediction accuracy and much lower computing cost.
Biomarkers of Type IV Collagen Turnover Reflect Disease Activity in Patients with Early-Stage Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver (NAFL)
Authors: Lønsmann Ida , Grove Jane I. , Haider Asma , Kaye Philip , Karsdal Morten A. , Leeming Diana J. , Aithal Guruprasad P.
Published: August 2023

Background: Identification of progressive liver disease necessitates the finding of novel non-invasive methods to identify and monitor patients in need of early intervention. Investigating patients with early-liver injury may help identify unique biomarkers. Early-liver injury is characterized by remodeling of the hepatocyte basement membrane (BM) of the extracellular matrix. Thus, we quantified biomarkers targeting two distinct neo-epitopes of the major BM collagen, type IV collagen (PRO-C4 and C4M), in patients spanning the non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) spectrum. Methods: We evaluated PRO-C4 and C4M in a cross-sectional study with 97 patients with NAFLD confirmed on histology. Serological levels of PRO-C4 and C4M were quantified using validated competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA). Using the fatty liver inhibition of progression (FLIP) algorithm, we stratified patients into two groups: non-alcoholic fatty liver (NAFL) and non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Biomarker levels were investigated in the two groups in patients stratified by the NAFLD activity score (NAS). In both groups, biomarker measurements were analyzed in relation to histological scorings of steatosis, inflammation, ballooning, and fibrosis. Results: Patients had a body mass index (BMI) of 30.9 ± 5.6 kg/m2, age of 53 ± 13 years and a NAS range of 1–8. Upon stratification by FLIP, the NASH patients had higher platelets, ALT, and AST levels than the NAFL group. Both PRO-C4 (p = 0.0125) and C4M (p = 0.003) increased with increasing NAS solely within the NAFL group; however, a large variability was present in the NASH group. Furthermore, both markers were significantly associated with lobular inflammation (p = 0.020 and p = 0.048) and steatosis (p = 0.004 and p = 0.015) in patients with NAFL. Conclusions: This study found that type IV collagen turnover increased with the increase in NAS in patients with NAFL; however, this was not the case in patients with NASH. These findings support the assessments of the BM turnover using biomarkers in patients with early-disease development. These biomarkers may be used to track specific processes involved in the early pathobiology of NAFL.
Aging Increases Enterocyte Damage during a 3-Hour Exposure to Very Hot and Dry Heat: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Foster Josh , Mckenna Zachary J. , Atkins Whitley C. , Jarrard Caitlin P. , Crandall Craig G.
Published: August 2023

Profound heat stress can damage the gastrointestinal barrier, leading to microbial translocation from the gut and subsequent systemic inflammation. Despite the greater vulnerability of older people to heat wave-related morbidity and mortality, it is unknown if age modulates gastrointestinal barrier damage and inflammation during heat stress. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine if aging impacted enterocyte damage and systemic inflammatory responses to a 3-h exposure to very hot and dry (47 °C, 15% humidity) heat with accompanying activities of daily living (intermittent activity at 3 METS). Data from 16 young (age 21 to 39 years) and 16 older (age 65 to 76 years) humans were used to address this aim. In each group, log-transformed plasma concentrations of intestinal fatty acid binding protein (I-FABPlog), interleukin-8 (IL-8log), and tissue factor (TFlog) were assessed as indices of enterocyte damage, systemic inflammation, and blood coagulation, respectively, before and after the 3-h heat exposure. In the younger cohort, I-FABPlog concentration did not increase from pre to post heat exposure (p = 0.264, d = 0.20), although it was elevated in the older group (p = 0.014, d = 0.67). The magnitude of the increase in I-FABPlog was greater in the older participants (p = 0.084, d = 0.55). Across all participants, there was no correlation between the change in core temperature and the change in IFABPlog. There was no change in IL-8log in the younger group (p = 0.193, d = 0.23) following heat exposure, but we observed a decrease in IL-8log in the older group (p = 0.047, d = 0.48). TFlog decreased in the younger group (p = 0.071, d = 0.41), but did not change in the older group (p = 0.193, d = 0.15). Our data indicate that I-FABPlog concentration (an index of enterocyte damage) is increased in older humans during a 3-h extreme heat exposure. Future studies should determine whether this marker reflects increased gastrointestinal barrier permeability in older individuals during heat exposure.
Immune and Reproductive Biomarkers in Female Sea Urchins Paracentrotus lividus under Heat Stress
Authors: Gallo Alessandra , Murano Carola , Notariale Rosaria , Caramiello Davide , Tosti Elisabetta , Cecchini Gualandi Stefano , Boni Raffaele
Published: August 2023

The functioning of the immune and reproductive systems is crucial for the fitness and survival of species and is strongly influenced by the environment. To evaluate the effects of short-term heat stress (HS) on these systems, confirming and deepening previous studies, female sea urchin Paracentrotus lividus were exposed for 7 days to 17 °C, 23 and 28 °C. Several biomarkers were detected such as the ferric reducing power (FRAP), ABTS-based total antioxidant capacity (TAC-ABTS), nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), total thiol levels (TTL), myeloperoxidase (MPO) and protease (PA) activities in the coelomic fluid (CF) and mitochondrial membrane potential (MMP), H2O2 content and intracellular pH (pHi) in eggs and coelomocytes, in which TAC-ABTS and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) were also analyzed. In the sea urchins exposed to HS, CF analysis showed a decrease in FRAP levels and an increase in TAC-ABTS, TTL, MPO and PA levels; in coelomocytes, RNS, MMP and H2O2 content increased, whereas pHi decreased; in eggs, increases in MMP, H2O2 content and pHi were found. In conclusion, short-term HS leads to changes in five out of the six CF biomarkers analyzed and functional alterations in the cells involved in either reproductive or immune activities.
The Impact of Viral Infection on the Chemistries of the Earth’s Most Abundant Photosynthesizes: Metabolically Talented Aquatic Cyanobacteria
Authors: Wang Yunpeng , Ferrinho Scarlet , Connaris Helen , Goss Rebecca J. M.
Published: August 2023

Cyanobacteria are the most abundant photosynthesizers on earth, and as such, they play a central role in marine metabolite generation, ocean nutrient cycling, and the control of planetary oxygen generation. Cyanobacteriophage infection exerts control on all of these critical processes of the planet, with the phage-ported homologs of genes linked to photosynthesis, catabolism, and secondary metabolism (marine metabolite generation). Here, we analyze the 153 fully sequenced cyanophages from the National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI) database and the 45 auxiliary metabolic genes (AMGs) that they deliver into their hosts. Most of these AMGs are homologs of those found within cyanobacteria and play a key role in cyanobacterial metabolism-encoding proteins involved in photosynthesis, central carbon metabolism, phosphate metabolism, methylation, and cellular regulation. A greater understanding of cyanobacteriophage infection will pave the way to a better understanding of carbon fixation and nutrient cycling, as well as provide new tools for synthetic biology and alternative approaches for the use of cyanobacteria in biotechnology and sustainable manufacturing.
EPH/Ephrin Signaling in Normal Hematopoiesis and Hematologic Malignancies: Deciphering Their Intricate Role and Unraveling Possible New Therapeutic Targets
Authors: Stergiou Ioanna E. , Papadakos Stavros P. , Karyda Anna , Tsitsilonis Ourania E. , Dimopoulos Meletios-Athanasios , Theocharis Stamatios
Published: August 2023

Erythropoietin-producing hepatocellular carcinoma receptors (EPHs) represent the largest family of receptor tyrosine kinases (RTKs). EPH interaction with ephrins, their membrane-bound ligands, holds a pivotal role in embryonic development, while, though less active, it is also implicated in various physiological functions during adult life. In normal hematopoiesis, different patterns of EPH/ephrin expression have been correlated with hematopoietic stem cell (HSC) maintenance and lineage-committed hematopoietic progenitor cell (HPC) differentiation, as well as with the functional properties of their mature offspring. Research in the field of hematologic malignancies has unveiled a rather complex involvement of the EPH/ephrinsignaling pathway in the pathophysiology of these neoplasms. Aberrations in genetic, epigenetic, and protein levels have been identified as possible players implicated both in tumor progression and suppression, while correlations have also been highlighted regarding prognosis and response to treatment. Initial efforts to therapeutically target the EPH/ephrin axis have been undertaken in the setting of hematologic neoplasia but are mainly confined to the preclinical level. To this end, deciphering the complexity of this signaling pathway both in normal and malignant hematopoiesis is necessary.
Circulating Tumor DNA in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma: Association with Metabolic Tumor Burden Determined with FDG-PET/CT
Authors: Silvoniemi Antti , Laine Jukka , Aro Katri , Nissi Linda , Bäck Leif , Schildt Jukka , Hirvonen Jussi , Hagström Jaana , Irjala Heikki , Aaltonen Leena-Maija , Seppänen Marko , Minn Heikki
Published: August 2023

Background: The detection of circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) with next-generation sequencing (NGS) in venous blood is a promising tool for the genomic profiling of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). The association between ctDNA findings and metabolic tumor burden detected with FDG-PET/CT imaging is of particular interest for developing prognostic and predictive algorithms in HNSCC. Methods: Twenty-six prospectively enrolled HNSCC patients were eligible for further analysis. All patients underwent tumor tissue and venous liquid biopsy sampling and FDG-PET/CT before definitive oncologic treatment. An NGS-based commercial panel was used for a genomic analysis of the samples. Results: Maximum variant allele frequency (VAF) in blood correlated positively with whole-body (WB) metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG) (r = 0.510, p = 0.008 and r = 0.584, p = 0.002, respectively). A positive liquid biopsy was associated with high WB-TLG using VAF ≥ 1.00% or ≥5.00% as a cut-off value (p = 0.006 or p = 0.003, respectively). Additionally, ctDNA detection was associated with WB-TLG when only concordant variants detected in both ctDNA and tissue samples were considered. Conclusions: A high metabolic tumor burden based on FDG imaging is associated with a positive liquid biopsy and high maximum VAF. Our findings suggest a complementary role of metabolic and genomic signatures in the pre-treatment evaluation of HNSCC.
Abrogating Metastatic Properties of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells by EGFR and PI3K Dual Inhibitors
Authors: Garcia Ana Rita , Mendes Avilson , Custódia Carlos , Faria Cláudia C. , Barata João T. , Malhó Rui , Figueira Inês , Brito Maria Alexandra
Published: August 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is a devastating BC subtype. Its aggressiveness, allied to the lack of well-defined molecular targets, usually culminates in the appearance of metastases that account for poor prognosis, particularly when they develop in the brain. Nevertheless, TNBC has been associated with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression, leading to downstream phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) signaling activation. We aimed to unravel novel drug candidates for TNBC treatment based on EGFR and/or PI3K inhibition. Using a highly metastatic TNBC cell line with brain tropism (MDA-MB-231 Br4) and a library of 27 drug candidates in silico predicted to inhibit EGFR, PI3K, or EGFR plus PI3K, and to cross the blood–brain barrier, we evaluated the effects on cell viability. The half maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) of the most cytotoxic ones was established, and cell cycle and death, as well as migration and EGFR pathway intervenient, were further evaluated. Two dual inhibitors emerged as the most promising drugs, with the ability to modulate cell cycle, death, migration and proliferation, morphology, and PI3K/AKT cascade players such as myocyte enhancer factor 2C (MEF2C) and forkhead box P1 (FOXP1). This work revealed EGFR/PI3K dual inhibitors as strong candidates to tackle brain metastatic TNBC cells.
Integration of Meta-Multi-Omics Data Using Probabilistic Graphs and External Knowledge
Authors: Can Handan , Chanumolu Sree K. , Nielsen Barbara D. , Alvarez Sophie , Naldrett Michael J. , Ünlü Gülhan , Otu Hasan H.
Published: August 2023

Multi-omics has the promise to provide a detailed molecular picture of biological systems. Although obtaining multi-omics data is relatively easy, methods that analyze such data have been lagging. In this paper, we present an algorithm that uses probabilistic graph representations and external knowledge to perform optimal structure learning and deduce a multifarious interaction network for multi-omics data from a bacterial community. Kefir grain, a microbial community that ferments milk and creates kefir, represents a self-renewing, stable, natural microbial community. Kefir has been shown to have a wide range of health benefits. We obtained a controlled bacterial community using the two most abundant and well-studied species in kefir grains: Lentilactobacillus kefiri and Lactobacillus kefiranofaciens. We applied growth temperatures of 30 °C and 37 °C and obtained transcriptomic, metabolomic, and proteomic data for the same 20 samples (10 samples per temperature). We obtained a multi-omics interaction network, which generated insights that would not have been possible with single-omics analysis. We identified interactions among transcripts, proteins, and metabolites, suggesting active toxin/antitoxin systems. We also observed multifarious interactions that involved the shikimate pathway. These observations helped explain bacterial adaptation to different stress conditions, co-aggregation, and increased activation of L. kefiranofaciens at 37 °C.
A Cocktail of Plankton and Organochlorines for Whale Shark in the Foraging Areas of Nosy Be (Madagascar)
Authors: Marsili Letizia , Consales Guia , Romano Patrizia , Rosai Rachele , Bava Paolo , Reinero Francesca Romana , Micarelli Primo
Published: August 2023

Seas and oceans are contaminated by persistent organic pollutants (POPs), which are released into the environment by human activities. The chemical-physical properties of POPs induce high persistence and toxicity in marine organisms from the lowest to the highest trophic levels. Phyto- and zooplankton are at the base of the food chain, and they can adsorb and accumulate these xenobiotic compounds. Therefore, all planktophagous species, including the whale shark (Rhincodon typus), are susceptible to ingesting these contaminants during feeding. From October to December, whale sharks migrate along the north-west coast of Madagascar in search of dense patches of plankton. During scientific expeditions to the whale sharks’ foraging areas in the waters of the island of Nosy Be (which is in the north-west of Madagascar), plankton samples were taken. In these samples, the presence and levels of some chlorinated xenobiotics (HCB, DDT and its metabolites, and PCBs) were evaluated in order to estimate the possible impact of whale shark diet on organochlorine (OC) accumulation. The fresh plankton biomass sampled from this region did not seem to be sufficient for the sustenance of the animals, which suggests that the daily contamination input of Rhincodon typus individuals, depending on their plankton diet, is minimal.
Exploring Effective Physics Teaching Strategies in High Schools during the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Mazzola Roberto Luca , Gondoni Paolo , Bozzi Matteo , Raffaghelli Juliana Elisa , Zani Maurizio
Published: August 2023

The need for educational approaches that comply with the restrictions arising from the COVID-19 pandemic has raised a number of critical issues for students of different age groups. The delicate transition between high school and university has become a key point to focus on, leading many institutions to replan projects dedicated to students involved in this transition. A Physics vocational training project for high school students was carried out in the school year 2020–2021, and it was replicated in the school year 2021–2022. The project included webinars, self-assembled laboratory group experiences, and peer evaluation. The starting point on which we designed our project is that learning is an experience; thus, we built the entire project by particularly focusing on two peculiarities. One peculiarity is the assessment methods: student presentations describing their own experiences were evaluated by teachers and their peers. The second peculiarity is the open approach with respect to how students handle experimental activities. We present a description of these projects along with the results of an evaluation survey filled out by the participants and a descriptive analysis of the assessment strategies. Students appreciated the design of the entire project and, better still, the peer evaluation process. Moreover, we discovered that the evaluation provided by the teachers is lower compared to the assessment reported by the students. This disparity holds potential significance from a statistical perspective and warrants further investigation.
Methodical Approach to Proactivity Using a Digital Twin of Production Process
Authors: Burčiar Fedor , Važan Pavel , Juhásová Bohuslava , Juhás Martin
Published: August 2023

Real-time simulation and digital twin (DT) as a part of Industry 4.0 are becoming increasingly relevant, especially when considering production cycles. Most issues with production cycles arise from having a demand for customized production orders, while having nonmodular production lines with a medium-to-high complexity in the decision-making process. All these conditions lead to a possibility of unpredictable consequences. Being able to predict behavior and possible failure scenarios before the production starts has proven to save both costs and time. With an introduction of a new ISO standard which is solely focused on DT creation and sets a starting point for future research, researchers are finally able to focus on creating DT prototypes built for specific scenarios while maintaining the core concepts. This paper focuses on proposing strategies for DT and real-time simulation integration into production cycles, based on the new standards, which can be generalized and applied on a multitude of different systems with minimal changes. The proposed solutions offer different levels of human interaction with the Human–Machine Interfaces used in Cyber–Physical Systems created as a part of DT. Applicability of the solution has been verified based on the results of experiments carried out on the WITNESS Horizon simulation platform with utilization of the custom Order Manipulation Interface (OMI) application.
Assessment of Energy Conversion in Passive Components of Single-Phase Photovoltaic Systems Interconnected to the Grid
Authors: Adamas-Pérez Heriberto , Ponce-Silva Mario , Mina-Antonio Jesús Darío , Claudio-Sánchez Abraham , Rodríguez-Benítez Omar
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a mathematical analysis of how energy return in grid-connected single-phase photovoltaic systems affects the sizing of passive components. Energy return affects the size of the link capacitor, making it larger than reported in the literature. One of the main points of this article is that an inverter connected to the grid using a DC–DC converter with an appropriate link capacitor is analyzed. The energy return is caused by the value (in Henry units) of the L-filter, which is also analyzed in this paper. The analysis shows that there is a link between the value of the L-filter and the voltage of the DC bus. The analysis assumes two conditions: (1) the DC bus voltage is always higher than the peak value of the grid sinusoidal voltage, and (2) there is a unity power factor at the connection point between the grid and the L-filter. To operate in an open loop, a compensation phase angle is calculated and introduced in the single-phase inverter modulation; this phase angle compensates the phase shift caused by the L-filter, avoiding the use of a phase-locked-loop (PLL) control system. The L-filter ripple current is evaluated by Fourier analysis, and the DC bus ripple voltage is evaluated by considering the energy returned to the link capacitor. The results of the analyses are compared with existing methods reported in the literature. The results also show that, to minimize the value of the L-filter, the DC voltage must be almost equal to the maximum voltage of the grid. Equations to assess the value of the DC-link capacitor and the L-filter in function of their ripples are developed. The results were verified with simulations in Simulink and experimentally.
Latent Regression Bayesian Network for Speech Representation
Authors: Xu Liang , Zhao Yue , Xu Xiaona , Liu Yigang , Ji Qiang
Published: August 2023

In this paper, we present a novel approach for speech representation using latent regression Bayesian networks (LRBN) to address the issue of poor performance in low-resource language speech systems. LRBN, a lightweight unsupervised learning model, learns data distribution and high-level features, unlike computationally expensive large models, such as Wav2vec 2.0. To evaluate the effectiveness of LRBN in learning speech representations, we conducted experiments on five different low-resource languages and applied them to two downstream tasks: phoneme classification and speech recognition. Our experimental results demonstrate that LRBN outperforms prevailing speech representation methods in both tasks, highlighting its potential in the realm of speech representation learning for low-resource languages.
The Extraction of Foreground Regions of the Moving Objects Based on Spatio-Temporal Information under a Static Camera
Authors: Zhang Yugui , Yu Lina , Li Shuang , Wang Gang , Jiang Xin , Li Wenfa
Published: August 2023

The rapid development of computer vision technology provides a basic guarantee for public security reliance on video surveillance. In current video surveillance based on static cameras, accurate and quick extractions of foreground regions of moving objects enable quicker analysis of the behavior of meaningful objects and thus improve the intelligent analysis level of video surveillance. However, there would always occur false detection in the extraction of foreground regions, because of the shaking of tree branches and leaves in the scene and the “ghosting” area caused by the delayed updating of the background model. To solve this problem, this paper proposes a method for the extraction of foreground regions by using spatio-temporal information. This method can accurately extract foreground regions of moving objects by utilizing the difference and complementarity between spatial domain methods and temporal domain methods and further in combination with image processing technology. Specifically, the foreground regions of moving objects can be extracted by the morphological processing of the combination of the spatial information and the morphologically processed temporal information in the video. The experimental results show that the proposed method for the extraction of foreground regions of moving objects in view of the spatio-temporal information can reduce false detections caused by the shaking of tree branches and leaves, and thus effectively extract foreground regions of moving objects.
GMDNet: An Irregular Pavement Crack Segmentation Method Based on Multi-Scale Convolutional Attention Aggregation
Authors: Qi Yawei , Wan Fang , Lei Guangbo , Liu Wei , Xu Li , Ye Zhiwei , Zhou Wen
Published: August 2023

Pavement cracks are the primary type of distress that cause road damage, and deep-learning-based pavement crack segmentation is a critical technology for current pavement maintenance and management. To address the issues of segmentation discontinuity and poor performance in the segmentation of irregular cracks faced by current semantic segmentation models, this paper proposes an irregular pavement crack segmentation method based on multi-scale convolutional attention aggregation. In this approach, GhostNet is first introduced as the model backbone network for reducing parameter count, with dynamic convolution enhancing GhostNet’s feature extraction capability. Next, a multi-scale convolutional attention aggregation module is proposed to cause the model to focus more on crack features and thus improve the segmentation effect on irregular cracks. Finally, a progressive up-sampling structure is used to enrich the feature information by gradually fusing feature maps of different depths to enhance the continuity of segmentation results. The experimental results on the HGCrack dataset show that GMDNet has a lighter model structure and higher segmentation accuracy than the mainstream semantic segmentation algorithms, achieving 75.16% of MIoU and 84.43% of F1 score, with only 7.67 M parameters. Therefore, the GMDNet proposed in this paper can accurately and efficiently segment irregular cracks on pavements that are more suitable for pavement crack segmentation scenarios in practical applications.
Assessment of Converter Performance in Hybrid AC-DC Power System under Optimal Power Flow with Minimum Number of DC Link Control Variables
Authors: Patel Chintan , Malakar Tanmoy , Sreejith S.
Published: August 2023

This paper presents a strategy to evaluate the performances of converter stations under the optimized operating points of hybrid AC-DC power systems with a reduced number of DC link variables. Compared to previous works reported with five DC-side control variables (CVs), the uniqueness of the presented optimal power flow (OPF) formulation lies within the selection of only two DC-side control variables (CVs), such as the inverter voltage and current in the DC link, apart from the conventional AC-side variables. Previous research has mainly been focused on optimizing hybrid power system performance through OPF-based formulations, but has mostly ignored the associated converter performances. Hence, in this study, converter performance, in terms of ripple and harmonics in DC voltage and AC current and the utilization of the converter infrastructure, is evaluated. The minimization of active power loss is taken as an objective function, and the problem is solved for a modified IEEE 30 bus system using a recently developed and very efficient Archimedes optimization algorithm (AOA). Case studies are performed to assess the efficacy of the presented OPF model in power systems, as well as converter performance. Furthermore, the results are extended to assess the applicability of the proposed model to the allocation of photovoltaic (PV)-type distributed generations (DGs) in hybrid AC-DC systems. The average improvement in power loss is found to be around 7.5% compared to the reported results. Furthermore, an approximate 10% improvement in converter power factor and an approximate 50% reduction in ripple factor are achieved.
Indian Scenario of Biomass Availability and Its Bioenergy-Conversion Potential
Authors: Negi Harshita , Suyal Deep Chandra , Soni Ravindra , Giri Krishna , Goel Reeta
Published: August 2023

The current energy scenario and policies demand the transition of the fuel economy from conventional fossil fuels to renewable fuels, carbon-neutral fuels, and/or decarbonized fuels. The impact of biomass-derived fuels is well-known as their radiocarbon dating indicates their contribution to young carbon emissions in addition to fewer emissions of particulates, sulfur dioxide, and air pollutants compared to fossil fuels. The various kinds of biomass available in India are already being established as potential sources for the production of biofuels and power generation. In this context, besides the quantity of biomass, environmental and economic factors are critically important for determining the range of conversion processes. Currently in India, agricultural-based biomass is the major partner for bioenergy generation. The annual surplus of agriculture-based biomass from major crops, available after its utilization for domestic use, cattle feeding, compost fertilizer, etc., is about 230 million metric tons (MMT). The estimated gross biomass power potential (based on trends) for 2019–2020 from the selected crops is around 30,319.00 Megawatt electric (MWe) at the pan-India level. However, it can be as high as 50,000 MWe after expanding the scope of available biomass from different energy sources. Moreover, the increasing trend of the country for the production of municipal solid waste (MSW) at a rate of 0.16 million tons (Mt) per day also indicates its potential for bioenergy generation. Nevertheless, its decentralized collection and segregation are key issues to its availability for bioenergy conversion/power generation. Therefore, the need of this hour is an effective utilization strategy plan for every type of available biomass including biomass-based refineries, renewable energy carriers, and/or other value-added products. This review aims to compile the various biomass resources (agricultural residues, municipal solid waste, forest-based biomass, industry-based biomass, and aquatic biomass) available in India and their potential for the generation of bioenergy (CBG, bioethanol, power, co-generation, etc.) through various bioconversion technologies that are available/in progress in the country. It also summarizes the current bioenergy scenario of India and initiatives taken by the Indian Government to achieve its future demand through biomass to energy conversion.
CADUCEO: A Platform to Support Federated Healthcare Facilities through Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Menegatti Danilo , Giuseppi Alessandro , Delli Priscoli Francesco , Pietrabissa Antonio , Di Giorgio Alessandro , Baldisseri Federico , Mattioni Mattia , Monaco Salvatore , Lanari Leonardo , Panfili Martina , Suraci Vincenzo
Published: August 2023

Data-driven algorithms have proven to be effective for a variety of medical tasks, including disease categorization and prediction, personalized medicine design, and imaging diagnostics. Although their performance is frequently on par with that of clinicians, their widespread use is constrained by a number of obstacles, including the requirement for high-quality data that are typical of the population, the difficulty of explaining how they operate, and ethical and regulatory concerns. The use of data augmentation and synthetic data generation methodologies, such as federated learning and explainable artificial intelligence ones, could provide a viable solution to the current issues, facilitating the widespread application of artificial intelligence algorithms in the clinical application domain and reducing the time needed for prevention, diagnosis, and prognosis by up to 70%. To this end, a novel AI-based functional framework is conceived and presented in this paper.