bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessing goal-directed behavior in virtual reality with the neuropsychological task EPELI: children prefer head-mounted display but flat screen provides a viable performance measure for remote testing
Authors: Seesjärvi Erik , Laine Matti , Kasteenpohja Kaisla , Salmi Juha
Published: May 2023

Background and objective: EPELI (Executive Performance of Everyday LIving) is a Virtual Reality (VR) task that was developed to study goal-directed behavior in everyday life contexts in children. In this study, we had 72 typically developing 9- to 13-year-old children to play EPELI with an immersive version implemented with a head-mounted display (HMD) and a non-immersive version employing a flat screen display (FSD) in a counterbalanced order to see if the two versions yield similar results. The children’s everyday executive functions were assessed with the parent-rated Behavior Rating Inventory for Executive Functions (BRIEF) questionnaire. To assess the applicability of EPELI for online testing, half of the flat screen display version gameplays were conducted remotely and the rest in the laboratory.

Results: All EPELI performance measures were correlated across the versions. The children’s performance was mostly similar in the two versions, but small effects reflecting higher performance in FSD-EPELI were found in the measures of Total score, Task efficacy, and Time-based prospective memory score. The children engaged in more active time monitoring in FSD-EPELI. While the children evaluated the feeling of presence and usability of both versions favorably, most children preferred HMD-EPELI, and evaluated its environment to be more involving and realistic. Both versions showed only negligible problems with the interface quality. No differences in task performance or subjective evaluations were found between the home-based and laboratory-based assessments of FSD-EPELI. In both EPELI versions, the efficacy measures were correlated with BRIEF on the first assessment, but not on the second. This raises questions about the stability of the associations reported between executive function tasks and questionnaires.

Conclusions: Both the HMD and FSD versions of EPELI are viable tools for the naturalistic assessment of goal-directed behavior in children. While the HMD version provides a more immersive user experience and naturalistic movement tracking, the FSD version can maximize scalability, reachability, and cost efficacy, as it can be used with common hardware and remotely. Taken together, the findings highlight similarities between the HMD and FSD versions of a cognitively complex VR task, but also underline the specific advantages of these common presentation modes.
Hybrid Genetic and Spotted Hyena Optimizer for Flow Shop Scheduling Problem
Authors: Mzili Toufik , Mzili Ilyass , Riffi Mohammed Essaid , Dhiman Gaurav
Published: May 2023

This paper presents a new hybrid algorithm that combines genetic algorithms (GAs) and the optimizing spotted hyena algorithm (SHOA) to solve the production shop scheduling problem. The proposed GA-SHOA algorithm incorporates genetic operators, such as uniform crossover and mutation, into the SHOA algorithm to improve its performance. We evaluated the algorithm on a set of OR library instances and compared it to other state-of-the-art optimization algorithms, including SSO, SCE-OBL, CLS-BFO and ACGA. The experimental results show that the GA-SHOA algorithm consistently finds optimal or near-optimal solutions for all tested instances, outperforming the other algorithms. Our paper contributes to the field in several ways. First, we propose a hybrid algorithm that effectively combines the exploration and exploitation capabilities of SHO and GA, resulting in a balanced and efficient search process for finding near-optimal solutions for the FSSP. Second, we tailor the SHO and GA methods to the specific requirements of the FSSP, including encoding schemes, objective function evaluation and constraint handling, which ensures that the hybrid algorithm is well suited to address the challenges posed by the FSSP. Third, we perform a comprehensive performance evaluation of the proposed hybrid algorithm, demonstrating its effectiveness in terms of solution quality and computational efficiency. Finally, we provide an in-depth analysis of the behavior of the hybrid algorithm, discussing the roles of the SHO and GA components and their interactions during the search process, which can help understand the factors contributing to the success of the algorithm and provide insight into potential improvements or adaptations to other combinatorial optimization problems.
Effects of Cropping Systems on Soil Physicochemical Properties and Abundances and Spatial Distributions of Nitrogen-Cycling Bacteria
Authors: Netthisinghe Annesly M. , Galloway Hunter O. , Agga Getahun E. , Gunter Phillip A. , Sistani Karamat R.
Published: May 2023

Soil nitrogen (N) is a common limiting factor where soil N-cycling is a key component of agroecosystems. Soil N transformation processes are largely mediated by microbes, and understanding bacteria involvement in soil N-cycling in agricultural systems has both agronomic and environmental importance. This 2 yr field-scale study examined the abundances and spatial distributions of the total bacterial community (16S rRNA), bacteria involved in nitrification (amoA) and denitrification (narG, nirK, and nosZ), and soil physicochemical properties of winter wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)–soybean (Glycine max L.) double-crop with 2–3 weeks of spring grazing (WGS) and without grazing (WS) and tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea (L.) Schreb.) pasture (TF) managed to near-natural conditions with similar grazing. The TF soil had a significantly higher abundance of 16S rRNA, amoA, narG, nirK, and nosZ genes than the WS and WGS soils, which had similar levels between themselves. Soil organic matter (OM) and soil pH had stronger effects on the N-cycling bacteria gene abundance. All bacterial gene concentrations and soil pH showed nonrandom distribution patterns with a 141–186 m range autocorrelation. These results indicate that biological N transformation processes are more important in natural agricultural systems and the abundance of N-cycling bacteria can be manipulated by field-scale management strategies.
The Chemical Capping Regulation Mechanism of Cotton Main Stem Growth
Authors: Xu Min , Jin Lulu , Li Jinglin , Sun Liyuan , Wang Zisheng
Published: May 2023

In China, due to labor shortages and increasing labor costs, manual topping is gradually being replaced by chemical capping with mepiquat chloride (DPC). External chemicals can adjust plant growth by affecting endogenous hormones. Based on the hormone changes combined with the development of the main stem of cotton plants, a comparative experiment was conducted in 2019 and 2020 to determine the regulatory mechanism of the growth of the cotton main stem after chemical capping. In the experiment, two treatment times (T1: 12 July, T2: 18 July) and two treatment agents (CA [chemical capping agent] and DPC) were set, the hormone (auxin IAA, abscisic acid ABA, Gibberellin GA3 and Zeatin ZR) concentrations at the top of main stem (0–5 and 5–10 cm) were continuously measured and the main stem development situation was observed and recorded. The results showed that after chemical capping, the IAA concentration decreased firstly and increased later, lower than that of CK. ABA concentration increased significantly and GA3 concentration decreased significantly compared with CK. ZR concentrations fluctuated obviously at T1 and gently at T2. In terms of main stem growth, the plant height, number of fruit branches and average length of upper internode (fifth and above) were decreased compared with CK, while the CA treatment was inhibited more strongly than the DPC treatment. To conclude, chemical capping operation affected the hormone concentration at the plant apex significantly and effectively regulated plant development. In comparison with DPC treatment, CA regulated hormones effectively, which is favorable for conducive reasonable plant shaping.
Viability of Entomopathogenic Fungi in Oil Suspensions and Their Effectiveness against the Agave Pest Scyphophorus acupunctatus under Laboratory Conditions
Authors: Aquino-Bolaños Teodulfo , Ortiz-Hernández Yolanda Donají , Bautista-Cruz Angélica , Acevedo-Ortiz Marco Aurelio
Published: May 2023

Oaxaca, Mexico, is home to over 30 species of the genus Agave, and its cultivation is of great economic and social importance for the mezcal industry, which depends on its production. The incidence of the pest Scyphophorus acupunctatus causes severe losses and damage. Agrochemicals are used for its control, but a viable alternative is microbial control. The objectives of this study were to determine the natural occurrence of the entomopathogenic fungi (EPF) Beauveria bassiana and Metarhizium anisopliae, isolated from S. acupunctatus in agave crops, and to evaluate the effect of vegetable oil in water emulsions containing conidia from the native fungi against adults of S. acupunctatus under laboratory conditions. Viability of the fungal isolates was determined at a concentration of ×108 conidia/mL in avocado (Persea americana), mamey (Mammea americana), chia (Salvia hispanica), or olive (Olea europaea) oil in water emulsions at two concentrations, 20% and 40%. The most effective oil emulsion on S. acupunctatus adults was determined under laboratory conditions. Naturally occurring fungi in 900 field collected insects was 2.21%. Ninety-six hours after preparing a 20% emulsion in P. americana oil, B. bassiana and M. anisopliae had a viability of 75% and 66.5%, respectively, while the control conidia suspended in distilled water remained viable for only 48 h. Twenty-four hours after applying M. anisopliae conidia in a 40% P. americana oil emulsion, effectiveness was 100% on S. acupunctatus, followed by M. anisopliae in 20% P. americana oil emulsion with 75% effectiveness. At 72 h post-application, all fungus in oil emulsions achieved an accumulated insect mortality of 100%, while the control showed no effect on adult S. acupunctatus. The most promising combination was 40% P. americana oil emulsion, which achieved 50% viable B. bassiana or M. anisopliae conidia up to 96 h after preparation, and its accumulated effectiveness on S. acupunctatus adults was 87.5% after 24 h.
Genomic Characterization of Carbapenem-Resistant Bacteria from Beef Cattle Feedlots
Authors: Zaidi Sani-e-Zehra , Zaheer Rahat , Thomas Krysty , Abeysekara Sujeema , Haight Travis , Saville Luke , Stuart-Edwards Matthew , Zovoilis Athanasios , McAllister Tim A.
Published: May 2023

Carbapenems are considered a last resort for the treatment of multi-drug-resistant bacterial infections in humans. In this study, we investigated the occurrence of carbapenem-resistant bacteria in feedlots in Alberta, Canada. The presumptive carbapenem-resistant isolates (n = 116) recovered after ertapenem enrichment were subjected to antimicrobial susceptibility testing against 12 different antibiotics, including four carbapenems. Of these, 72% of the isolates (n = 84) showed resistance to ertapenem, while 27% of the isolates (n = 31) were resistant to at least one other carbapenem, with all except one isolate being resistant to at least two other drug classes. Of these 31 isolates, 90% were carbapenemase positive, while a subset of 36 ertapenem-only resistant isolates were carbapenemase negative. The positive isolates belonged to three genera; Pseudomonas, Acinetobacter, and Stenotrophomonas, with the majority being Pseudomonas aeruginosa (n = 20) as identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Whole genome sequencing identified intrinsic carbapenem resistance genes, including blaOXA-50 and its variants (P. aeruginosa), blaOXA-265 (A. haemolyticus), blaOXA-648 (A. lwoffii), blaOXA-278 (A. junii), and blaL1 and blaL2 (S. maltophilia). The acquired carbapenem resistance gene (blaPST-2) was identified in P. saudiphocaensis and P. stutzeri. In a comparative genomic analysis, clinical P. aeruginosa clustered separately from those recovered from bovine feces. In conclusion, despite the use of selective enrichment methods, finding carbapenem-resistant bacteria within a feedlot environment was a rarity.
Carbapenem Use in the Last Days of Life: A Nationwide Korean Study
Authors: Wi Yu , Kwon Ki , Jeon Cheon-Hoo , Kim Si-Ho , Hwang Soyoon , Bae Sohyun , Kim Yoonjung , Chang Hyun-Ha , Kim Shin-Woo , Cheong Hae , Lee Shinwon , Jung Dong , Sohn Kyung , Moon Chisook , Heo Sang , Kim Bongyoung , Lee Mi , Hur Jian , Kim Jieun , Yoon Young ,   Antimicrobial Stewardship Research Committee of Korean Society for Antimicrobial Therapy
Published: May 2023

The appropriate use of carbapenem is a critical concern for patient safety and public health, and is a national priority. We investigated the nationwide status of carbapenem prescription in patients within their last 14 days of life to guide judicious-use protocols from the previous study comprised of 1350 decedents. Carbapenem use was universally controlled through computerised authorisation system at all centres during the study period. Carbapenem prescribing patterns and their optimality were evaluated. A total of 1201 patients received antimicrobial agents within the last two weeks of their lives, of whom 533 (44.4%) received at least one carbapenem. The median carbapenem treatment duration was seven days. Of the 533 patients receiving carbapenems, 510 (95.7%) patients had microbiological samples drawn and 196 (36.8%) yielded carbapenem-resistant pathogens. A total of 200 (37.5%) patients were referred to infectious disease (ID) specialists. Of the 333 patients (62.5%) who did not have ID consultations, 194 (58.2%) were assessed as “not optimal”, 79 (23.7%) required escalation, 100 (30.0%) required de-escalation, and 15 (4.5%) were discontinued. Notwithstanding the existing antibiotic restriction program system, carbapenems are commonly prescribed to patients in their last days of life.
Simulation of Fracture Performance of Die-Cast A356 Aluminum Alloy Based on Modified Mohr–Coulomb Model
Authors: Zhang Sai , Wu Xiaozhong , Yang Mingyuan , Ren Pengfei , Meng Xianming
Published: May 2023

The fracture performance and damage prediction of die-cast materials are critical to guarantee the safe application of die-cast structural components in lightweight vehicles. Monotonic loading experiments were conducted on different shapes of die-cast aluminum alloy A356 specimens. Finite element simulation models of the A356 monotonic loading experiments were established, and the stress state of the specimens during the loading process was analyzed. The Modified Mohr–Coulomb (MMC) failure model of A356 was fitted by the failure strain under different stress states. Finally, the established MMC failure model was verified by a uniaxial compression experiment and bending experiment. The results show that the MMC failure model can be applied to the prediction of the fracture behavior of A356.
Special Issue on Air Quality Prediction Based on Machine Learning Algorithms
Authors: Rybarczyk Yves , Zalakeviciute Rasa
Published: May 2023

Atmospheric pollution is one of the major causes of premature mortality and climate change, as nearly all urban areas fail to comply with the air quality guidelines of the World Health Organization (WHO) [...]
Sealability Analyses of Premium Connections Characterized by a Surface Fractal Function
Authors: Yu Yang , Qu Zhan , Cao Yinping , Dou Yihua , Li Juncheng
Published: May 2023

With the development of high-pressure, high-temperature wells, the sealability of premium connections is being threatened by heavy loads. For the sake of researching the sealability of premium connections at the microlevel on the sealing surface, a rough profile was characterized according to a fractal function, and the influence of the fractal parameters of contact behavior on the rough surface was analyzed. A full-size premium connection model with a fractal surface FEM was established using ABAQUS software to analyze the Von Mises stress and contact pressure, and the sealability was then analyzed using contact strength theory. It was found that utilizing fractal functions to describe the rough morphology on the sealing surface of premium connections could reveal the contact behavior of the sealing surface more realistically. The premium connection’s fractal FEM was closer to the actual situation, considering the effect of the asperities’ elastic–plastic deformation on the sealability. The fractal dimension D had a greater influence on the contact area and contact pressure than the scale coefficient G. When the fractal dimension D was less than 2.5, the maximum Von Mises stress and maximum contact pressure on the sealing surface were 8.81 × 108 Pa and 1.20 × 109 Pa, respectively, making the surface prone to gluing. The sealability of the premium connection was primarily affected by the axial tension. When the axial tension was 1.2 × 106 N, the sealing surface experienced significant displacement along the axial direction, the effective contact length reduced from 2.72 × 10−3 m to 2.24 × 10−3 m, and the maximum contact pressure reduced from 8.10 × 108 Pa to 6.39 × 108 Pa, which led to a 30% decrease in sealing strength, which may pose a high risk of sealing failure. When the internal pressure reached 1 × 108 Pa, the effective contact length increased from 9.08 × 10−3 m to 1.06 × 10−2 m, the maximum contact pressure increased from 8.67 × 108 Pa to 1.37 × 109 Pa, and the sealing strength increased by 23%.
Stress Analysis and Spalling Failure Simulation on Surrounding Rock of Deep Arch Tunnel
Authors: Peng Kang , Yi Guansheng , Luo Song , Si Xuefeng
Published: May 2023

To study the stress distribution characteristics of surrounding rock and the spalling mechanism of deep hard rock tunnels with different arch heights, the complex variable function and angle-preserving transformation method in elasticity theory were applied to the analytic solution of tangential stress distribution of arch tunnels during stress adjustment. In addition, true triaxial tests were conducted on granite cube specimens (100 mm × 100 mm × 100 mm) containing holes with three arch heights (including the 25 mm semi-circular arch, 16.7 mm three-centered arch, 12.5 mm three-centered arch) to simulate the spalling process under different initial ground stresses. The stress distribution solution and experimental results show that the initial failure stress of arch holes is 0.39–0.48 times the uniaxial compressive strength (UCS) of the rock. The initial failure location occurs at the arch foot, where tangential stress maximizes. When the lateral pressure coefficient is in the range of 0.38–0.50, the tangential stress is 3.2–3.5 times the UCS. The rock debris of the hole wall are in thin flake shapes. Symmetrical V-shaped or curved failure zones occurred on hole sidewalls. The stress distribution resolution of the surrounding rock of tunnels with different arch heights shows that with the increasing burial depth, the bearing performance of the semi-circular arch tunnel is optimal. In addition, the maximum tangential stress increases as the height of the arch decreases or the lateral stress increases, making it easier for the initial failure to occur at the foot of the arch.
Feasibility Study on Color Grading of Blue Iolite Based on GemDialogue Color Comparison Charts
Authors: Liu Xin , Guo Ying
Published: May 2023

To explore the feasibility of applying the GemDialogue color comparison charts to the color grading of blue iolite, the color of the charts was quantified by the integrating sphere handheld spectroscopy in this paper, and the screened data were classified into a total of 9 categories using the elbow rule and K-Means clustering analysis. Using Fisher’s discriminant to perform discriminant analysis on the 9 categories that have been classified, the discriminant function equation was established separately to verify the accuracy of this classification. Finally, the color parameters of iolite samples were substituted into the discriminant formula to obtain the color grade. By combining the classification results and visual observation, it is clear that applying the GemDialogue color charts to blue iolite color grading is feasible.
Pharmacological Properties and Safe Use of 12 Medicinal Plant Species and Their Bioactive Compounds Affecting the Immune System
Authors: Geszke-Moritz Małgorzata , Nowak Gerard , Moritz Michał
Published: May 2023

This paper presents raw plant materials and their characteristic compounds which may affect the immune system. Plant-derived agents in specific doses affect the body’s non-specific, antigen-independent defense system. They have immunostimulatory effects on the entire immune regulatory system. They can enhance the immune response through various factors such as macrophages, leukocytes, and granulocytes, as well as through mediators released by the cellular immune system. This paper was inspired by the threats caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. The proper functioning of the immune system is important in limiting the effects of viral infection and restoring the normal functioning of the body. This paper also emphasizes the importance of the skillful use of plant immunostimulants by potential patients, but also by those who prescribe drugs. It is important not only to choose the right plant drug but above all to choose the correct dose and duration of treatment.
Optimized Design of Flexible Quick-Change System Based on Genetic Algorithm and Monte Carlo Method
Authors: Zhang Huang , Zhang Yuehong , Wu Jianan , Wu Guihua , Li Chunlei , Zhang Zhiqi
Published: May 2023

In order to realize the high efficiency and precision clamping of large workpieces with several processes and multiple species processing, the distribution number and position of the zero point clamping unit in the flexible quick-change process system for big thin-walled cylindrical structural parts are presented. The error model of the flexible quick-change process system is established by the Monte Carlo method, which is used to optimize the system structure design. The error variation of the flexible quick-change process system under the action of transposition and extreme working conditions such as cutting force is revealed, and further analysis on the sensitivity of the workpiece’s global displacement error and global attitude error to each error source is carried out. After the optimization, a high-quality, cost-effective, flexible quick-change clamping system is created. The three-coordinate measurement experiment is used to test the functionality and accuracy of the flexible quick-change process system. A significantly improved level of the system’s repetitive positioning accuracy (less than 0.01 mm) is detected. Importantly, the flexible quick-change system obtained by the combinatorial optimal design method has been successfully applied to the production of aerospace components with improved quality and efficiency.
Multi-Technique Characterization of Painting Drawings of the Pictorial Cycle at the San Panfilo Church in Tornimparte (AQ)
Authors: Briani Francesca , Caridi Francesco , Ferella Francesco , Gueli Anna Maria , Marchegiani Francesca , Nisi Stefano , Paladini Giuseppe , Pecchioni Elena , Politi Giuseppe , Santo Alba Patrizia , Stella Giuseppe , Venuti Valentina
Published: May 2023

We present some results, obtained using a multi-scale approach, based on the employment of different and complementary techniques, i.e., Optical Microscopy (OM), Scanning Electron Microscopy-Energy Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Raman and µ-Raman spectroscopy, Fourier transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy equipped with Attenuated Total Reflectance (ATR) analyses, Inductively Coupled Plasma–Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), and Thermal Ionization Mass Spectrometry (TIMS), of an integrated activity focused on the characterization of micro-fragments of original and previously restored paintings of the pictorial cycle at the San Panfilo Church in Tornimparte, sampled from specific areas of interest. The study was aimed, on one hand, at the identification of the overlapping restoration materials used during previous conservation interventions (documented and not), and, on the other hand, at understanding the degradation phenomena (current or previous) of the painted surfaces and the architectural structures. The study of stratigraphy allowed us to evaluate the number of layers and the materials (pigments, minerals, and varnishes) present in each layer. As the main result, the identification of blue, black, yellow, and red pigments (both ancient and modern) was achieved. In the case of blue pigments, original (azurite and lazurite) and retouching (Prussian blue and phthalo blue) materials were recognized, together with alteration products (malachite and atacamite). Traces of yellow ochre were found in the yellow areas, and carbon black in the blue and brown areas. In the latter, hematite and red ochre pigments were also recognized. The obtained results are crucial to support the methodological choices during the restoration intervention of the site, and help to ensure the compatibility principles of the materials on which a correct conservative approach is based.
Using Deep Learning to Identify Circulation Patterns of Intense Rainfall in the Beijing–Tianjing–Hebei Region
Authors: Jing Linguo , Zhong Qi , Li Xiaojie , Wang Xiuming , Shen Lili , Cao Yong
Published: May 2023

The properties and distributions of precipitation are often determined by specific synoptic patterns. Hence, the objective identification of corresponding impact patterns is an important field of research for improving rain forecasting. However, the identification of the weather patterns producing intense rainfall is much more challenging. Since they are violent and local, impact patterns tend to be meso- or smaller-scale systems and are often incompletely presented or only presented in limited regions. In this paper, a deep learning network with a feature cross-fusion module, FConvNeXt, was proposed to address this difficulty and showed great potential. Four major patterns corresponding to intense rainfall in the Beijing–Tianjing–Hebei Region were studied. Statistical testing showed that FConvNeXt performed better than ConvNeXt and ResNet and that the model could identify the weak synoptic forcing type, the subtropical high-pressure type, and the low-vortex pattern with high accuracy. Furthermore, a strictly independent 2021 dataset was tested, and FConvNeXt maintained an equal if not even slightly better performance in spite of a decrease in the subtropical high-pressure type. Meanwhile, the study showed that the accuracy in identifying the upper-level trough type is the lowest for the three deep learning methods, which may be because the northeast vortex was intercepted in the limited region, making it difficult to distinguish from the shallow upper-level trough type. This study is useful for improving the fine objective of forecasting intense rainfall.
Turbulence with Magnetic Helicity That Is Absent on Average
Authors: Brandenburg Axel , Larsson Gustav
Published: May 2023

Magnetic helicity plays a tremendously important role when it is different from zero on average. Most notably, it leads to the phenomenon of an inverse cascade. Here, we consider decaying magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) turbulence as well as some less common examples of magnetic evolution under the Hall effect and ambipolar diffusion, as well as cases in which the magnetic field evolution is constrained by the presence of an asymmetry in the number density of chiral fermions, whose spin is systematically either aligned or anti-aligned with its momentum. In all those cases, there is a new conserved quantity: the Hosking integral. We present quantitative scaling results for the magnetic integral scale as well as the magnetic energy density and its spectrum. We also compare with cases were a magnetic version of the Saffman integral is initially finite. Rotation in MHD turbulence tends to suppress nonlinearity and thereby also inverse cascading. Finally, the role of the Hosking and magnetic Saffman integrals in shell models of turbulence is examined.
Tinnitus Education for Audiologists Is a Ship at Sea: Is It Coming or Going?
Authors: Fagelson Marc
Published: May 2023

Subjective tinnitus is a highly prevalent sound sensation produced in most cases by persistent neural activity in the auditory pathway of the patient. Audiologists should be confident that they can employ elements of sound therapy and related counseling to support patients in coping. However, patients with bothersome tinnitus may be challenged by mental health complications, and they struggle to find adequate care when tinnitus and psychological distress co-occur. Audiologists in many cases lack the confidence to provide in-depth counseling while mental health providers lack basic understanding of tinnitus, its mechanisms, and the elements of audiologic management that could support patients in coping. At the very least, audiologists should be able to explain the mechanisms involved in and contributing to negative tinnitus effects, conduct valid measures of these effects, and offer reasonable options for managing the consequences linked by the patient to bothersome tinnitus and sound-related sensations. This brief communication summarizes the current state of tinnitus-related opportunities offered in US audiology training programs, and the substantial need to improve both the education of practitioners and the delivery of services to patients in need.
On the Wave Structures to the (3+1)-Dimensional Boiti–Leon–Manna–Pempinelli Equation in Incompressible Fluid
Authors: Chen Yan-Nan , Wang Kang-Jia
Published: May 2023

In the present study, two effective methods, the Exp-function method and He’s frequency formulation, are employed to investigate the dynamic behaviors of the (3+1)-dimensional Boiti–Leon–Manna–Pempinelli equation, which is used widely to describe the incompressible fluid. A variety of the wave structures, including the dark wave, bright-dark wave and periodic wave solutions, are successfully constructed. Compared with the results attained by the methods, the obtained solutions are all new and have not been presented in the other literature. The diverse wave structures of the solutions are presented through numerical results in the form of three-dimensional plots and two-dimensional curves. It reveals that the proposed methods are powerful and straightforward, which are expected to be helpful for the study of travelling-wave theory in fluid.
On the Approximation by Mellin Transform of the Riemann Zeta-Function
Authors: Korolev Maxim , Laurinčikas Antanas
Published: May 2023

This paper is devoted to the approximation of a certain class of analytic functions by shifts Z(s+iτ), τ∈R, of the modified Mellin transform Z(s) of the square of the Riemann zeta-function ζ(1/2+it). More precisely, we prove the existence of a closed non-empty set F such that there are infinitely many shifts Z(s+iτ), which approximate a given analytic function from F with a given accuracy. In the proof, the weak convergence of measures in the space of analytic functions is applied. Then, the set F coincides with the support of a limit measure.
Preparation of Li2S-AlI3-LiI Composite Solid Electrolyte and Its Application in All-Solid-State Li-S Battery
Authors: Anh Tu Tran , Phuc Nguyen Huu Huy , Anh Luong Thi Quynh , Toan Tran Viet
Published: May 2023

Novel (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·yLiI composite solid electrolytes (y = 5, 10, 15) were prepared by mechannochemical synthesis. XRD results showed that the pattern of 80Li2S − 20AlI3 was similar to that of AlI3, which means that Li2S was dissolved in AlI3 matrix during preparation. This structure was still maintained after LiI addition. The current measured at constant applied DC voltage indicated that (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·yLiI composites are intrinsically pure Li-ion conductors. The ionic conductivity at 25 °C of y = 10 was about 2.3 × 10−4 Scm−1, which was about three times higher than that of y = 0. The conductivity of y = 10 increased 20 times to 2.2 × 10−3 Scm−1 at 70 °C. These values were highest among those observed from Li2S-based materials. It was revealed that Li-ion moves in 80Li2S − 20AlI3 by a hoping mechanism, while the lattice dipoles are the origin of Li-ion movement in (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·yLiI. The polarization measurements using Liǀ90 (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·10LiI ǀLi and LiǀLi6PS5Clǀ90 (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·10LiIǀLi6PS5ClǀLi cells proved that 90 (80Li2S − 20AlI3)·10LiI reacts with Li metal, but it is relatively stable at a low voltage. Sample y = 10 was also employed as a solid electrolyte in the positive electrode of a solid-state Li-S battery to study its stability in the voltage range of the positive electrode. CuS and Li4.4Si were the electrode-active materials. The cell was cycled in CC-CV mode at 1.0 mA cm−2 (CC) with a cut-off voltage of 1.0–2.3 V. The cell delivered a stable capacity of about 400 mAh g−1CuS after 40 cycles.
Multiobjective Optimization Charging Strategy Based on a Fast Charging Electrochemical Model and Safe Charging Boundary
Authors: Wang Huanyu , Li Jun , Liu Shengzhe , Fan Yuqian , Tan Xiaojun
Published: May 2023

The present expeditious charging approach for electric automobiles relies on provisional trial data and the technical proficiency of lithium battery producers, and it is deficient in systematic methodologies for assessing the safety threshold of charging. The present study is grounded on the utilization of an electrochemical fast-charging model for the purpose of determining the temperature limits for lithium deposition. A proposed approach for enhancing the charging strategy involves the consideration of discharging pulses and pulse widths, and the utilization of a genetic algorithm based on the lithium deposition boundary. The present approach endeavors to enhance the duration of charging and minimize the occurrence of irreversible thermal effects by employing the existing threshold as a safeguard threshold. The outcomes of the experiment indicate that the electrochemical rapid charging approach proposed in this study exhibits a significant level of simulation precision when subjected to high magnification and a wide range of temperatures. Furthermore, the implementation of an enhanced genetic algorithm-based optimized charging strategy has demonstrated the capability to efficiently balance the charging duration and irreversible heat, leading to a significant improvement in the charging performance in comparison to the conventional 1 C constant current charging approach.
Classifying Heart-Sound Signals Based on CNN Trained on MelSpectrum and Log-MelSpectrum Features
Authors: Chen Wei , Zhou Zixuan , Bao Junze , Wang Chengniu , Chen Hanqing , Xu Chen , Xie Gangcai , Shen Hongmin , Wu Huiqun
Published: May 2023

The intelligent classification of heart-sound signals can assist clinicians in the rapid diagnosis of cardiovascular diseases. Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (MelSpectrums) and log Mel-frequency cepstral coefficients (Log-MelSpectrums) based on a short-time Fourier transform (STFT) can represent the temporal and spectral structures of original heart-sound signals. Recently, various systems based on convolutional neural networks (CNNs) trained on the MelSpectrum and Log-MelSpectrum of segmental heart-sound frames that outperform systems using handcrafted features have been presented and classified heart-sound signals accurately. However, there is no a priori evidence of the best input representation for classifying heart sounds when using CNN models. Therefore, in this study, the MelSpectrum and Log-MelSpectrum features of heart-sound signals combined with a mathematical model of cardiac-sound acquisition were analysed theoretically. Both the experimental results and theoretical analysis demonstrated that the Log-MelSpectrum features can reduce the classification difference between domains and improve the performance of CNNs for heart-sound classification.
Immunological Pathways in Sarcoidosis and Autoimmune Rheumatic Disorders—Similarities and Differences in an Italian Prospective Real-Life Preliminary Study
Authors: d’Alessandro Miriana , Bergantini Laura , Gangi Sara , Conticini Edoardo , Cavallaro Dalila , Cameli Paolo , Mezzasalma Fabrizio , Cantarini Luca , Frediani Bruno , Bargagli Elena
Published: May 2023

Background: The pathogenesis of sarcoidosis involves T cells and B lymphocytes that produce autoantibodies. We compared the expression of different T and B cell subsets in sarcoidosis and three B-mediated rheumatic diseases that can affect the lungs in an attempt to identify similarities and differences that distinguish these diseases. Methods: The study included patients referred to Siena University Hospital’s respiratory disease and rheumatology units. Patients were enrolled prospectively and consecutively. Healthy volunteers were also included. Multicolor flow cytometry was performed on phenotype T and B cell subsets. Multivariate analysis was carried out to reduce the dimensionality of the data. Results: Fifteen patients had a diagnosis of sarcoidosis, fourteen idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM), five granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), ten microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), and seven were controls. Thirty-five T and B cell subsets were phenotyped, 15 of which were significantly different in sarcoidosis, B-mediated rheumatic disorders, and controls. Principal components analysis distinguished the four groups of patients with a total explained variance of 54.7%. A decision tree was constructed to determine which clustering variables would be most useful for distinguishing sarcoidosis, IIM, MPA, and GPA. The model showed regulatory T helper cells (Th-reg) > 5.70% in 91% of sarcoidosis patients as well as Th-reg ≤ 5.70 and Th17 > 43.27 in 100% of MPA. It also showed Th-reg ≤ 5.70, Th17 ≤ 43.27 and Tfh-reg ≥ 7.81 in 100% of GPA patients, and Th-reg ≤ 5.70, Th17 ≤ 43.27 and Tfh-reg ≤ 7.81 in 100% of IIM patients. Conclusion: The immune cell profile sheds light on similarities and differences between sarcoidosis and B-mediated rheumatic diseases. Sarcoidosis and autoimmune diseases show similar patterns of cellular immune dysregulation, suggesting a common pathogenic pathway that may provide an opportunity for further understanding autoimmunity and exploring biological therapies to treat sarcoidosis.
Physiological Activity of Trace Element Germanium Including Anticancer Properties
Authors: Menchikov Leonid G. , Popov Anatoliy V.
Published: May 2023

Germanium is an essential microelement, and its deficiency can result in numerous diseases, particularly oncogenic conditions. Consequently, water-soluble germanium compounds, including inorganic and coordination compounds, have attracted significant attention due to their biological activity. The review analyzes the primary research from the last decade related to the anticancer activity of germanium compounds. Furthermore, the review clarifies their actual toxicity, identifies errors and misconceptions that have contributed to the discrediting of their biological activity, and briefly suggests a putative mechanism of germanium-mediated protection from oxidative stress. Finally, the review provides clarifications on the discovery history of water-soluble organic germanium compounds, which was distorted and suppressed for a long time.
Expression of CCR8 and CCX-CKR on Basophils in Chronic Urticaria Is Amplified by IgE-Mediated Activation
Authors: Bartko Ewa A. , Blom Lars H. , Elberling Jesper , Poulsen Lars K. , Jensen Bettina M.
Published: May 2023

Recruitment to the local tissue and alerted phenotype are the hallmarks of basophils in chronic urticaria (CU). Chemokine receptors such as chemokine (C-C motif) receptor 4 (CCR4) or CCR8 have been studied in skin diseases, e.g., atopic dermatitis, but not in CU. In this study, we aimed to define CU’s basophil homing potential and receptor profile and the effect of Omalizumab treatment on these. Unstimulated and activated (anti-IgE, fMLP, C5a, and Substance P) whole blood basophils from 11 Omalizumab-treated CU patients and 10 healthy subjects were investigated with flow cytometry. Unstimulated basophils in CU showed higher expression of the skin-associated (CCR8) and scavenger (CCX-CKR) receptors and lower expression of the lung-associated (CCR3) receptor in contrast to healthy ones. IgE-mediated activation increased the percentage of CCR8 and CCX-CKR in CU compared to healthy group and elevated the expression of the lung-associated chemokine receptor, XCR1, in all groups. A trend of augmented expression of the coagulation cascade (CD87) and fMLP (FPR1) receptors was seen on basophils in CU, while a tendency of reduced expression was seen for itch (IL-31RA) and immunotolerance (CD109) receptors. fMLP and C5a increased the expression of CCR4, CCR8, CCX-CKR, and CD87 and decreased CCR2 and CCR3, though no changes between the groups were found. In conclusion, CU basophils exhibit skin-homing potential amplified by IgE-mediated stimulation.
A Chemiluminescence Enzyme Immunoassay Based on Biotinylated Nanobody and Streptavidin Amplification for Diazinon Sensitive Quantification
Authors: Guo Pengyan , Huang Kaiyin , Chen Zijian , Xu Zhenlin , Ou Aifen , Yin Qingchun , Wang Hong , Shen Xing , Zhou Kai
Published: May 2023

The advantages of genetic modification and preferable physicochemical qualities make nanobody (Nb) easy to develop a sensitive and stable immunosensor platform. Herein, an indirect competitive chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay (ic-CLEIA) based on biotinylated Nb was established for the quantification of diazinon (DAZ). The anti-DAZ Nb, named Nb-EQ1, with good sensitivity and specificity, was obtained from an immunized library via a phage display technique, where the molecular docking results indicated that the hydrogen bond and hydrophobic interactions between DAZ and complementarity-determining region 3 and framework region 2 in Nb-EQ1 played a critical role in the Nb-DAZ affinity processes. Subsequently, the Nb-EQ1 was further biotinylated to generate a bi-functional Nb-biotin, and then an ic-CLEIA was developed for DAZ determination via signal amplification of the biotin–streptavidin platform. The results showed that the proposed method based on Nb-biotin had a high specificity and sensitivity to DAZ, with a relative broader linear range of 0.12–25.96 ng/mL. After being 2-folds dilution of the vegetable samples matrix, the average recoveries were 85.7–113.9% with a coefficient of variation of 4.2–19.2%. Moreover, the results for the analysis of real samples by the developed ic-CLEIA correlated well with that obtained by reference method GC-MS (R2 ≥ 0.97). In summary, the ic-CLEIA based on biotinylated Nb-EQ1 and streptavidin recognition demonstrated itself to be a convenient tool for the quantification of DAZ in vegetables.
Neural Mechanisms of the Conscious and Subliminal Processing of Facial Attractiveness
Authors: Hou Xuejiao , Shang Junchen , Tong Shuo
Published: May 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the neural activity evoked by facial attractiveness in conscious and subliminal conditions. The 41 participants judged facial attractiveness in a conscious condition and a subliminal condition (backward masking paradigm). The event-related potential (ERP) analysis indicated that in the conscious condition, more attractive faces elicited a longer N1 (80–120 ms) latency than less attractive faces. Moreover, more attractive female faces elicited a larger late positive component (LPC) (350–550 ms) amplitude than less attractive female faces. In the subliminal condition, more attractive faces elicited a longer P1 (140–180 ms) latency than less attractive faces. The present study demonstrated that more attractive faces evoked different early-stage ERPs from that evoked by less attractive faces in both conscious and subliminal conditions. However, the processing of facial attractiveness is obviously weakened in the subliminal condition.
A Three-Fold Integrated Perspective on Healthy Development: An Opinion Paper
Authors: Paoletti Patrizio , Pellegrino Michele , Ben-Soussan Tal Dotan
Published: May 2023

Mental health and wellbeing are increasingly threatened in the current post-pandemic times, with stress, especially in students, reaching preoccupying levels. In addition, while many educational programs are unidimensional (i.e., lacking integration between physical, emotional and cognitive elements), there are ways to promote physical, social and mental health in children and adolescents. In this opinion paper, we will discuss the importance of an integrative approach for health development and examine relevant factors, such as awareness and emotional intelligence. We will highlight evidence ranging from behavioral to electrophysiological, structural and molecular, and report several recent studies supporting the effectiveness of a holistic approach in supporting wellbeing and creativity in children and adults, and detailing a specific paradigm named the Quadrato Motor Training (QMT). QMT is a specifically structured movement meditation, involving cognitive, motor and affective components. Finally, we will support a holistic view on education, integrating motion, emotion and cognition to develop a person-centered, or in this case student-centered, approach to wellbeing and health.
The Misguided Veneration of Averageness in Clinical Neuroscience: A Call to Value Diversity over Typicality
Authors: Pluck Graham
Published: May 2023

Research and practice in clinical neurosciences often involve cognitive assessment. However, this has traditionally used a nomothetic approach, comparing the performance of patients to normative samples. This method of defining abnormality places the average test performance of neurologically healthy individuals at its center. However, evidence suggests that neurological ‘abnormalities’ are very common, as is the diversity of cognitive abilities. The veneration of central tendency in cognitive assessment, i.e., equating typicality with healthy or ideal, is, I argue, misguided on neurodiversity, bio-evolutionary, and cognitive neuroscientific grounds. Furthermore, the use of average performance as an anchor point for normal performance is unreliable in practice and frequently leads to the mischaracterization of cognitive impairments. Examples are explored of how individuals who are already vulnerable for socioeconomic reasons can easily be over-pathologized. At a practical level, by valuing diversity rather than typicality, cognitive assessments can become more idiographic and focused on change at the level of the individual. The use of existing methods that approach cognitive assessment ideographically is briefly discussed, including premorbid estimation methods and informant reports. Moving the focus away from averageness to valuing diversity for both clinical cognitive assessments and inclusion of diverse groups in research is, I argue, a more just and effective way forward for clinical neurosciences.
Quantitative Model of Multi-Subject Quality Responsibility in General Contracting Projects Based on Sailed Fish Optimizer
Authors: Chen Mingfei , He Ying , Gao Jie
Published: May 2023

In order to address the issue of the quantitative allocation of quality responsibility among different subjects in engineering general contracting projects, this paper proposed a quantitative model (M-ResQu) for multi-subject quality responsibility allocation based on quality behavior classification criteria. Firstly, utility theory and game theory were used to establish a behavioral choice model for construction units and general contractors, investigating the quality behavioral choice mechanisms in the general contracting mode. Secondly, the sailed fish optimizer (SFO) was used to screen potential laws across 84 practical judicial cases and obtain the type coefficients of three types of quality risk behaviors: technical defects, non-compliance management and non-standard behaviors. Thirdly, a fuzzy mathematics theory was employed to establish the M-ResQu model for multi-subject quality responsibility allocation in general contracting mode. Finally, a simulation analysis was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the M-ResQu model, and results suggested that it can provide a valuable quantitative tool for quality dispute resolution in the general contracting mode.