bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Landscape of Lipid Metabolism in Lung Cancer: The Role of Structural Profiling
Authors: Hu Chanchan , Chen Luyang , Fan Yi , Lin Zhifeng , Tang Xuwei , Xu Yuan , Zeng Yiming , Hu Zhijian
Published: February 2023

The aim of this study was to explore the relationship between lipids with different structural features and lung cancer (LC) risk and identify prospective biomarkers of LC. Univariate and multivariate analysis methods were used to screen for differential lipids, and two machine learning methods were used to define combined lipid biomarkers. A lipid score (LS) based on lipid biomarkers was calculated, and a mediation analysis was performed. A total of 605 lipid species spanning 20 individual lipid classes were identified in the plasma lipidome. Higher carbon atoms with dihydroceramide (DCER), phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), and phosphoinositols (PI) presented a significant negative correlation with LC. Point estimates revealed the inverse associated with LC for the n-3 PUFA score. Ten lipids were identified as markers with an area under the curve (AUC) value of 0.947 (95%, CI: 0.879–0.989). In this study, we summarized the potential relationship between lipid molecules with different structural features and LC risk, identified a panel of LC biomarkers, and demonstrated that the n-3 PUFA of the acyl chain of lipids was a protective factor for LC.
Combining Transurethral Resection of Fibrous Tissue and Temporary Urethral Stent Insertion Is an Optimal Strategy for Minimally Invasive Treatment of Recurrent and Long Urethral Strictures
Authors: Ahn Sun-Tae , Jo Seon-Beom , Lee Hyun-Soo , Moon Du-Geon
Published: February 2023

This study investigated the optimal strategy for the treatment of chronic recurrent urethral strictures longer than 3 cm, using a temporary urethral stent. Between September 2011 and June 2021, 36 patients with chronic bulbomembranous urethral strictures underwent temporary urethral stent placement. Retrievable self-expandable polymer-coated bulbar urethral stents (BUSs) were placed in 21 patients (group A), and thermo-expandable nickel-titanium alloy urethral stents were placed in 15 patients (group M). Each group was subdivided into those with and without transurethral resection (TUR) of fibrotic scar tissue. The urethral patency rates at 1 year after stent removal were compared between the groups. The patients in group A showed a higher urethral patency maintenance rate at 1 year after stent removal than those in group M (81.0% vs. 40.0%, log rank test p = 0.012). Analysis of subgroups in which TUR was performed due to severe fibrotic scar, showed that the patients in group A showed a significantly higher patency rate than patients in group M (90.9% vs. 44.4%, log rank test p = 0.028). In the treatment of chronic urethral strictures with a long fibrotic scar, temporary BUS combined with TUR of fibrotic tissue seems to be the optimal minimally invasive treatment strategy.
Conditional Mitigation of Dental-Composite Material-Induced Cytotoxicity by Increasing the Cure Time
Authors: Matsuura Takanori , Komatsu Keiji , Choi Kimberly , Suzumura Toshikatsu , Cheng James , Chang Ting-Ling , Chao Denny , Ogawa Takahiro
Published: February 2023

Light-cured composite resins are widely used in dental restorations to fill cavities and fabricate temporary crowns. After curing, the residual monomer is a known to be cytotoxic, but increasing the curing time should improve biocompatibility. However, a biologically optimized cure time has not been determined through systematic experimentation. The objective of this study was to examine the behavior and function of human gingival fibroblasts cultured with flowable and bulk-fill composites cured for different periods of time, while considering the physical location of the cells with regard to the materials. Biological effects were separately evaluated for cells in direct contact with, and in close proximity to, the two composite materials. Curing time varied from the recommended 20 s to 40, 60, and 80 s. Pre-cured, milled-acrylic resin was used as a control. No cell survived and attached to or around the flowable composite, regardless of curing time. Some cells survived and attached close to (but not on) the bulk-fill composite, with survival increasing with a longer curing time, albeit to <20% of the numbers growing on milled acrylic even after 80 s of curing. A few cells (<5% of milled acrylic) survived and attached around the flowable composite after removal of the surface layer, but attachment was not cure-time dependent. Removing the surface layer increased cell survival and attachment around the bulk-fill composite after a 20-s cure, but survival was reduced after an 80-s cure. Dental-composite materials are lethal to contacting fibroblasts, regardless of curing time. However, longer curing times mitigated material cytotoxicity exclusively for bulk-fill composites when the cells were not in direct contact. Removing the surface layer slightly improved biocompatibility for cells in proximity to the materials, but not in proportion to cure time. In conclusion, mitigating the cytotoxicity of composite materials by increasing cure time is conditional on the physical location of cells, the type of material, and the finish of the surface layer. This study provides valuable information for clinical decision making and novel insights into the polymerization behavior of composite materials.
Autonomous Underwater Vehicle Path Tracking Based on the Optimal Fuzzy Controller with Multiple Performance Indexes
Authors: Tian Qunhong , Wang Tao , Song Yuming , Wang Yunxia , Liu Bing
Published: February 2023

Autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) are increasingly being used in missions involving submarine cable detection, underwater archaeology, pipeline inspection, military reconnaissance, and so on. It is very important to realize AUV path tracking to accomplish these missions. In this paper, a fuzzy controller based on the established kinematic and dynamic models of AUV systems is presented to solve the AUV path-tracking problem. In order to design the fuzzy controller to exhibit good performance, we select the path length, smoothness, and cross-track position error as the multiple optimization performance indexes for the fuzzy controller. We propose the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm to determine the parameters of the membership functions. Different scenarios are presented to test the performance of the proposed algorithm, including the straight line, sine curve, half-moon shape, Archimedean spiral, and practical paths. The results are given to illustrate the effectiveness and feasibility of the fuzzy controller with the optimization of multiple performance indexes.
A Polyphasic Approach including Whole Genome Sequencing Reveals Paecilomyces paravariotii sp. nov. as a Cryptic Sister Species to P. variotii
Authors: Urquhart Andrew S. , Idnurm Alexander
Published: February 2023

Whole genome sequencing is rapidly increasing phylogenetic resolution across many groups of fungi. To improve sequencing coverage in the genus Paecilomyces (Eurotiales), we report nine new Paecilomyces genomes representing five different species. Phylogenetic comparison between these genomes and those reported previously showed that Paecilomyces paravariotii is a distinct species from its close relative P. variotii. The independence of P. paravariotii is supported by analysis of overall gene identify (via BLAST), differences in secondary metabolism and an inability to form ascomata when paired with a fertile P. variotii strain of opposite mating type. Furthermore, whole genome sequencing resolves the P. formosus clade into three separate species, one of which lacked a valid name that is now provided.
Inhibition Kinetics and Theoretical Studies on Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. Dual Inhibitors of α-Glucosidase and α-Amylase
Authors: Kimani Njogu M. , Ochieng Charles O. , Ogutu Mike Don , Yamo Kevin Otieno , Onyango Joab Otieno , Santos Cleydson B. R.
Published: February 2023

Compounds from Zanthoxylum chalybeum Engl. were previously reported for inhibitory activities of amylase and glucosidase enzymatic action on starch as a preliminary study toward the establishment of a management strategy against postprandial hyperglycemia, however, the inhibitory kinetics and molecular interaction of these compounds were never established. A study was thus designed to establish the inhibitory kinetics and in silico molecular interaction of α-glucosidase and α-amylase with Z. chalybeum metabolites based on Lineweaver–Burk/Dixon plot analyses and using Molecular Operating Environment (MOE) software, respectively. Skimmianine (5), Norchelerythrine (6), 6-Acetonyldihydrochelerythrine (7), and 6-Hydroxy-N-methyldecarine (8) alkaloids showed mixed inhibition against both α-glucosidase and α-amylase with comparable Ki to the reference acarbose (p > 0.05) on amylase but significantly higher activity than acarbose on α-glucosidase. One phenolic 2,3-Epoxy-6,7-methylenedioxyconiferol (10) showed a competitive mode of inhibition both on amylase and glucosidase which were comparable (p > 0.05) to the activity of acarbose. The other compounds analyzed and displayed varied modes of inhibition between noncompetitive and uncompetitive with moderate inhibition constants included chaylbemide A (1), chalybeate B (2) and chalybemide C (3), fagaramide (4), ailanthoidol (9), and sesame (11). The important residues of the proteins α-glucosidase and α-amylase were found to have exceptional binding affinities and significant interactions through molecular docking studies. The binding affinities were observed in the range of −9.4 to −13.8 and −8.0 to −12.6 relative to the acarbose affinities at −17.6 and −20.5 kcal/mol on α-amylase and α-glucosidase residue, respectively. H-bonding, π-H, and ionic interactions were noted on variable amino acid residues on both enzymes. The study thus provides the basic information validating the application of extracts of Z. chalybeum in the management of postprandial hyperglycemia. Additionally, the molecular binding mechanism discovered in this study could be useful for optimizing and designing new molecular analogs as pharmacological agents against diabetes.
The Retrospective Study of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Signal Intensity Ratio in the Quantitative Diagnosis of Temporomandibular Condylar Resorption in Young Female Patients
Authors: Wan Shaonan , Sun Qi , Xie Qianyang , Dong Minjun , Liu Zhiyang , Yang Chi
Published: February 2023

According to the literature, there is no reliable and quantitative method available for the diagnosis and prognosis of early or potential temporomandibular joint (TMJ) condylar resorption (CR) thus far. The purpose of this study was to raise a new noninvasive method to quantitatively evaluate condylar quality using the signal intensity ratio (SIR) on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in order to assist in the diagnosis of TMJ CR. A retrospective exploratory study was performed to compare the condyle-to-cerebral cortex signal intensity ratios (SIR) on MRI among young female patients. We included 60 patients, and they were divided into three groups: the bilateral normal TMJ group (group 1), the bilateral TMJ anterior disc displacement (ADD) but without CR group (group 2), and the bilateral TMJ anterior disc displacement (ADD) with CR group (group 3). The SIR difference between the three groups was analyzed by the Kruskal–Wallis test (K-W test). The sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, and area under curve (AUC) were calculated by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves. There was high consistency between the surgeon and the radiologist in the evaluation of the magnetic signal intensity with intraclass correlation coefficients of 0.939–0.999. The average SIR was 1.07 in the bilateral normal TMJ group (group 1), 1.03 in the ADD without CR group (group 2), and 0.78 in the ADD with CR group (group 3). It could be found by the K-W test that group 3 was significantly different from group 1 and group 2 (p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference between group 1 and group 2. The optimal critical SIR value was 0.96 for the diagnosis of CR according to the ROC curves and Youden index (p < 0.001, AUC = 0.9). The condyle-to-cerebral cortex SIR can be used as a noninvasive diagnostic tool for the quantitative evaluation of condylar quality and diagnosis and prognosis of CR. SIR ≥ 0.96 indicates a healthy condyle, while SIR < 0.96 is considered the optimal critical value for the diagnosis of CR. These findings are important for personalized and accurate treatment and prognosis prediction.
Supratotal Resection of Glioblastoma: Better Survival Outcome than Gross Total Resection
Authors: Baik Seung Hyun , Kim So Yeon , Na Young Cheol , Cho Jin Mo
Published: February 2023

Objective: Supratotal resection (SupTR) of glioblastoma allows for a superior long-term disease control and increases overall survival. On the other hand, aggressive conventional approaches, including gross total resections (GTR), are limited by the impairment risk of adjacent eloquent areas, which may cause severe postoperative functional morbidity. This study aimed to analyze institutional cases with respect to the potential survival benefits of additional resection, including lobectomy, as a paradigm for SupTR in patients of glioblastoma. Methods: Between 2014 and 2018, 15 patients with glioblastoma underwent SupTR (GTR and additional lobectomy) at the authors’ institution. The postoperative Karnofsky performance score (KPS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were analyzed for the patients. Results: Patients with SupTR showed significantly prolonged PFS and OS. The median PFS and OS values for the entire study group were 33.5 months (95% confidence intervals (CI): 18.5–57.3 months) and 49.1 months (95% CI: 24.7–86.6 months), respectively. Multivariate analysis revealed that the O6-DNA-methylguanine methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status was the only predictor for both superior PFS (p = 0.03, OR 5.7, 95% CI 1.0–49.8) and OS (p = 0.04, OR 6.5, 95% CI 1.1–40.2). There was no significant difference between the pre- and postoperative KPS scores. Conclusions: Our results suggest that SupTR with lobectomy allows for a superior PFS and OS without negatively affecting patient performance. However, due to the small number of patients, further studies that include more patients are needed.
A New Horizon for Atopic Dermatitis Treatments: JAK Inhibitors
Authors: Tampa Mircea , Mitran Cristina Iulia , Mitran Madalina Irina , Georgescu Simona Roxana
Published: February 2023

The article entitled “Application of Janus Kinase Inhibitors in Atopic Dermatitis: An Updated Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Clinical Trials” that belongs to the Special Issue, “ Personalized medicine in the field of inflammatory skin diseases”, a collection of articles addressing the current critical issues in the pathogenesis and management of chronic inflammatory skin disorders, represents a valuable work that has contributed to elucidating the role of Janus kinase (JAK) inhibitors as a treatment option for atopic dermatitis (AD), as well as their safety profiles [...]
Geopolitical Risks and Yield Dynamics in the Australian Sovereign Bond Market
Authors: De Wet Milan Christian
Published: February 2023

Geopolitical risks and shocks such as military conflicts, terrorist attacks, and war tensions are known to cause significant economic downturns. The main purpose of this paper is to determine the dynamics between Australian sovereign bond yields and geopolitical risk. This is achieved by employing a quantile regression analysis. The findings of this study indicate that the impact of geopolitical risk on Australian sovereign yield dynamics is asymmetrical. Furthermore, an increase in geopolitical risk only impacts short-term yields at extreme regimes. However, the impact is, by and large, insignificant. On the other hand, an increase in geopolitical risk does have a statistically significant positive impact on medium- and long-term yields across most quantiles. Lastly, an increase in geopolitical risk tends to result in a steeper yield curve at the belly of the curve but causes the yield curve to flatten at the long end. This study is the first study that holistically examines the dynamics between geopolitical risk and Australian sovereign bond yields. The study thereby contributes to the body of knowledge on Australian bond yields, specifically, and adds to the sparse body of knowledge on the dynamics between geopolitical risk and sovereign bond yields. The findings of this study have implications for monetary policy makers, given that shifts in sovereign bond yields could impact all three core mandates of the Australian Reserve Bank. Furthermore, changes in the slope of the yieldcurve could be used by monetary policy makers to pre-empt changes in future economic growth. The results of this study also relate to fiscal policy formulation, given that yields directly impact the cost of government borrowing. Lastly, portfolio managers could benefit from the results of this study, as these results provide information on the ability of Australian sovereign bonds to hedge against geopolitical risk.
Russian Companies’ Motivations for Making Green Investments
Authors: Kabir Liudmila S. , Rakov Ivan D.
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this study is to identify the most significant motivations for Russian companies to make green investments. This article presents a multiple regression model based on panel data, designed to assess the impact of various factors on green investments made by Russian companies. To create this model, the authors used annual data for 83 regions of the Russian Federation for the period from 2011 to 2020. According to calculations made in this paper, the growth of green investments in the economy is due to the inflow of foreign direct investment, the increase in the collection of fees for negative impact on the environment, the increase in the production of extractive products and the growth of CO2 emissions. At the same time, the total volume of investments is not affected by indicators assessing the environmental factor, but is affected by the inflow of foreign direct investments and the level of business concentration. The obtained results mean that the main motivators that encourage Russian companies to make green investments today are the opinion of foreign investors, global decisions to reduce greenhouse gases and the partial tightening of national environmental legislation. This indicates that the degree of a companies’ integration into the global economy is of great importance for its propensity to make green investments in Russia. Therefore, special approaches are needed from the state in order to create incentives for green modernization of the national economy. This study expands our understanding of the role that green investments can play in the economy and the motivation for companies to make them, thus contributing to the existing literature on this subject.
Analysis of the Ecological Efficiency Increase of Urban Green Areas in Densely Populated Cities
Authors: Cardone Barbara , D’Ambrosio Valeria , Di Martino Ferdinando , Miraglia Vittorio , Rigillo Marina
Published: February 2023

The aim of this research is to provide a GIS model by which to evaluate the ecological benefits of increasing green spaces in dense cities. The research method consists of three stages. First, we apply a GIS-based model to assess the ecological efficiency of the existing urban green areas; then we select several dismissed open spaces to be regenerated by increasing green space; finally, we measure the impacts of these operations on the urban environment based on the increase in ecologically effective green area/inhabitant. We test this approach on the urban districts of the northern area of the municipality of Napoli (Italy). This area is characterized by a high population density and several abandoned/discarded open spaces which can be improved by planting operations as urban green spaces. The result of the study provides the ratio between the costs of the planting works carried out on uncultivated areas and the benefit in terms of ecological efficiency measured in square meters of ecologically efficient green surfaces per inhabitant. Our method can represent a useful tool to support planners in evaluating the ecological benefits of transforming open spaces into green spaces.
Forest Biodiversity Declines and Extinctions Linked with Forest Degradation: A Case Study from Australian Tall, Wet Forests
Authors: Lindenmayer David B.
Published: February 2023

Tens of thousands of species are at risk of extinction globally. In many ecosystems, species declines are associated with deforestation. However, forest degradation also can profoundly affect biodiversity. I present a detailed case study of species declines associated with forest degradation in southeastern Australia’s montane ash (Eucalyptus spp.) forests. The case study is based on ~40 years of long-term monitoring focused on declines (and potential extinction trajectories) of arboreal marsupials and birds, with a particular emphasis on key drivers, especially logging, wildfire, habitat loss, climate change, and interactions among these drivers. I discuss policy failures contributing to species declines, including ongoing logging of high-conservation-value forests, poor regulation of forest management, and inadequate design of reserves. I conclude with general lessons for better conservation and forest management efforts aimed at reducing forest degradation and loss of ecosystem integrity. I contend that ongoing logging in already highly degraded montane ash forests is inconsistent with the Australian government’s commitment at the Glasgow COP26 meeting in 2021 on halting forest degradation. Similarly, the Australian Government has committed to preventing further extinctions in Australia, yet its current support for ongoing logging in montane ash forests through federal–state legislation will likely promote extinctions for some species. The inherent conflicts and contradictions between conservation and logging policies need to be addressed.
Impact of Final Irrigation Protocol on the Push-Out Bond Strength of Two Types of Endodontic Sealers
Authors: Sfeir Germain , Bukiet Frédéric , Hage Wajih , El Hachem Roula , Zogheib Carla
Published: February 2023

Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of the final irrigation protocol on the push-out bond strength of calcium silicate-based sealers when compared to an epoxy resin-based sealer. Materials and Methods: Eighty-four single-rooted mandibular human premolars were shaped using the R25® instrument (Reciproc, VDW, Munich, Germany) and then divided into three subgroups of 28 roots each depending on the final irrigation protocol: EDTA (ethylene diamine tetra acetic acid) and NaOCl activation, Dual Rinse® HEDP (1-hydroxyethane 1,1-diphosphonate) activation or sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) activation. Then, each subgroup was divided into two groups (14 each) according to the sealer used (AH Plus Jet® or Total Fill BC Sealer®) for single-cone obturation. Dislodgement resistance using a universal testing machine, samples’ push-out bond strength and failure mode under magnification were determined. Results: EDTA/Total Fill BC Sealer® showed significantly greater values of push-out bond strength compared with HEDP/Total Fill BC Sealer® and NaOCl/AH Plus Jet®, with no statistical difference with EDTA/AH Plus Jet®, HEDP/AH Plus Jet® and NaOCl/Total Fill BC Sealer®, whereas HEDP/Total Fill BC Sealer® showed significantly lower values of push-out bond strength. The apical third demonstrated higher means of push-out bond strength compared with middle and apical thirds. The most common failure mode was cohesive but showed no statistical difference compared to other types. Conclusions: Irrigation solution and final irrigation protocol affect the adhesion of calcium silicate-based sealers.
Experimental Investigation on Interface Performance of UHPC-Strengthened NC Structure through Push-Out Tests
Authors: Zhao Yun-Chuan , Lei Hong-Gang , Guo Lang-Kuo , Lu Guo-Yun
Published: February 2023

Strengthening concrete structures with ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC) can both improve the bearing capacity of the original normal concrete (NC) structure and prolong the service life of the structure due to the high strength and durability of UHPC. The key to the synergistic work of the UHPC-strengthened layer and the original NC structures lies in the reliable bonding of their interfaces. In this research study, the shear performance of the UHPC–NC interface was investigated by the direct shear (push-out test) test method. The effects of different interface preparation methods (smoothing, chiseling, and planting straight and hooked rebars) and different aspect ratios of planted rebars on the failure mode and shear performance of the pushed-out specimens were studied. Seven groups of push-out specimens were tested. The results show that the interface preparation method can significantly affect the failure mode of the UHPC–NC interface, which is specifically divided into interface failure, planted rebar pull-out, and NC shear failure. The critical aspect ratio for the pull-out or anchorage of planted rebars in UHPC is around 2. The interface shear strength of straight-planted rebar interface preparation is significantly improved compared with that of the chiseled and smoothened interfaces, and as the embedding length of the planted rebar becomes longer, it first increases greatly and then tends to be stable when the rebar planted in UHPC is fully anchored. The shear stiffness of UHPC–NC increases with the increase of the aspect ratio of planted rebars. A design recommendation based on the experimental results is proposed. This research study supplements the theoretical basis of the interface design of UHPC-strengthened NC structures.
Static and Fatigue Strength and Failure Mechanisms of Riveted Lap Joints of CFRP Composites
Authors: Godzimirski Jan , Rośkowicz Marek , Jasztal Michał , Barca Iga
Published: February 2023

The background of this work is the search for the most effective ways of joining composites, inter alia in aeronautical applications. The purpose of this study was to analyze the impact of mechanical fastener types on the static strength of lap joints of composite elements and the impact of fasteners on the mechanism of failure of such joints under fatigue load. The second objective was to check to what extent the hybridization of such joints, consisting of supplementing them with an adhesive joint, affects their strength and the mechanism of failure of such joints loaded with fatigue. Damage to composite joints was observed using computed tomography technology. The fasteners used in this study (aluminum rivets, Hi-lok and Jo-Bolt) differed not only in terms of the materials they were made of, but also in terms of the pressure forces they exerted on the joined parts. Finally, in order to check how a partially cracked adhesive joint affects the load on the fasteners, numerical calculations were carried out. Analyzing the results of the research, it was found that partial damage to the adhesive joint of the hybrid joint does not increase the load on the rivets and does not impair the fatigue life of the joint. An important advantage of hybrid joint is the two-stage destruction of the connection, which significantly increases the safety of aircraft structures and facilitates the process of supervising their technical condition.
A Review of Recombination Coefficients of Neutral Oxygen Atoms for Various Materials
Authors: Paul Domen , Mozetic Miran , Zaplotnik Rok , Primc Gregor , Đonlagić Denis , Vesel Alenka
Published: February 2023

Relevant data on heterogeneous surface recombination of neutral oxygen atoms available in the scientific literature are reviewed and discussed for various materials. The coefficients are determined by placing the samples either in non-equilibrium oxygen plasma or its afterglow. The experimental methods used to determine the coefficients are examined and categorized into calorimetry, actinometry, NO titration, laser-induced fluorescence, and various other methods and their combinations. Some numerical models for recombination coefficient determination are also examined. Correlations are drawn between the experimental parameters and the reported coefficients. Different materials are examined and categorized according to reported recombination coefficients into catalytic, semi-catalytic, and inert materials. Measurements from the literature of the recombination coefficients for some materials are compiled and compared, along with the possible system pressure and material surface temperature dependence of the materials’ recombination coefficient. A large scattering of results reported by different authors is discussed, and possible explanations are provided.
Doping Engineering for Optimizing Piezoelectric and Elastic Performance of AlN
Authors: Yu Xi , Zhu Lei , Li Xin , Zhao Jia , Wu Tingjun , Yu Wenjie , Li Weimin
Published: February 2023

The piezoelectric and elastic properties are critical for the performance of AlN-based 5G RF filters. The improvement of the piezoelectric response in AlN is often accompanied by lattice softening, which compromises the elastic modulus and sound velocities. Optimizing both the piezoelectric and elastic properties simultaneously is both challenging and practically desirable. In this work, 117 X0.125Y0.125Al0.75N compounds were studied with the high-throughput first-principles calculation. B0.125Er0.125Al0.75N, Mg0.125Ti0.125Al0.75N, and Be0.125Ce0.125Al0.75N were found to have both high C33 (>249.592 GPa) and high e33 (>1.869 C/m2). The COMSOL Multiphysics simulation showed that most of the quality factor (Qr) values and the effective coupling coefficient (Keff2) of the resonators made with these three materials were higher than those with Sc0.25AlN with the exception of the Keff2 of Be0.125Ce0.125AlN, which was lower due to the higher permittivity. This result demonstrates that double-element doping of AlN is an effective strategy to enhance the piezoelectric strain constant without softening the lattice. A large e33 can be achieved with doping elements having d-/f- electrons and large internal atomic coordinate changes of du/dε. The doping elements–nitrogen bond with a smaller electronegativity difference (ΔEd) leads to a larger elastic constant C33.
Facing a Risk: To Insure or Not to Insure—An Analysis with the Constant Relative Risk Aversion Utility Function
Authors: Claramunt M. Mercè , Mármol Maite , Varea Xavier
Published: February 2023

The decision to transfer or share an insurable risk is critical for the decision maker’s economy. This paper deals with this decision, starting with the definition of a function that represents the difference between the expected utility of insuring, with or without deductibles, and the expected utility of not insuring. Considering a constant relative risk aversion (CRRA) utility function, we provide a decision pattern for the potential policyholders as a function of their wealth level. The obtained rule applies to any premium principle, any per-claim deductible and any risk distribution. Furthermore, numerical results are presented based on the mean principle, a per-claim absolute deductible and a Poisson-exponential model, and a sensitivity analysis regarding the deductible parameter and the insurer security loading was performed. One of the main conclusions of the paper is that the initial level of wealth is the main variable that determines the decision to insure or not to insure; thus, for high levels of wealth, the decision is always not to insure regardless of the risk aversion of the decision maker. Moreover, the parameters defining the deductible and the premium only have an influence at low levels of wealth.
A Tracklet-before-Clustering Initialization Strategy Based on Hierarchical KLT Tracklet Association for Coherent Motion Filtering Enhancement
Authors: Saleh Sami Abdulla Mohsen , Kadarman A. Halim , Suandi Shahrel Azmin , Ghaleb Sanaa A. A. , Ghanem Waheed A. H. M. , Shuib Solehuddin , Hamad Qusay Shihab
Published: February 2023

Coherent motions depict the individuals’ collective movements in widely existing moving crowds in physical, biological, and other systems. In recent years, similarity-based clustering algorithms, particularly the Coherent Filtering (CF) clustering approach, have accomplished wide-scale popularity and acceptance in the field of coherent motion detection. In this work, a tracklet-before-clustering initialization strategy is introduced to enhance coherent motion detection. Moreover, a Hierarchical Tracklet Association (HTA) algorithm is proposed to address the disconnected KLT tracklets problem of the input motion feature, thereby making proper trajectories repair to optimize the CF performance of the moving crowd clustering. The experimental results showed that the proposed method is effective and capable of extracting significant motion patterns taken from crowd scenes. Quantitative evaluation methods, such as Purity, Normalized Mutual Information Index (NMI), Rand Index (RI), and F-measure (Fm), were conducted on real-world data using a huge number of video clips. This work has established a key, initial step toward achieving rich pattern recognition.
Fusion and Allocation Network for Light Field Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Zhang Wei , Ke Wei , Wu Zewei , Zhang Zeyu , Sheng Hao , Xiong Zhang
Published: February 2023

Light field (LF) images taken by plenoptic cameras can record spatial and angular information from real-world scenes, and it is beneficial to fully integrate these two pieces of information to improve image super-resolution (SR). However, most of the existing approaches to LF image SR cannot fully fuse the information at the spatial and angular levels. Moreover, the performance of SR is hindered by the ability to incorporate distinctive information from different views and extract informative features from each view. To solve these core issues, we propose a fusion and allocation network (LF-FANet) for LF image SR. Specifically, we have designed an angular fusion operator (AFO) to fuse distinctive features among different views, and a spatial fusion operator (SFO) to extract deep representation features for each view. Following these two operators, we further propose a fusion and allocation strategy to incorporate and propagate the fusion features. In the fusion stage, the interaction information fusion block (IIFB) can fully supplement distinctive and informative features among all views. For the allocation stage, the fusion output features are allocated to the next AFO and SFO for further distilling the valid information. Experimental results on both synthetic and real-world datasets demonstrate that our method has achieved the same performance as state-of-the-art methods. Moreover, our method can preserve the parallax structure of LF and generate faithful details of LF images.
Patellofemoral Angle, Pelvis Diameter, Foot Posture Index, and Single Leg Hop in Post-Operative ACL Reconstruction
Authors: Genç Ahmet Serhat , Güzel Nizamettin
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injuries occur as a result of the deterioration of the static and dynamic stability of the knee. One of the structures involved in providing static stability is the patellofemoral angle (Q angle). The aim of this study was to investigate the relationships between Q angle, pelvis diameter, lower extremity length, and foot posture index (FPI) in patients who had undergone ACL reconstruction (ACLR) with the semitendinosus/gracilis (ST/G) technique on both the operated and non-operated sides. Materials and Methods: Twenty-five male recreational athletic patients between the ages of 18 and 35 who had undergone semitendinosus/gracilis (ST/G) anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction at least 6 months earlier were included in the study. Femur length, lower extremity length, pelvis diameter, and Q angle measurements, total foot posture index (FPI) scores, and single leg hop (SLH) and triple hop distance (THD) test results were determined on the operated and non-operated sides. Results: When the findings of the patients were evaluated statistically between the operated and non-operated sides, no significant differences were found in Q angle, femur length, and lower extremity length (p > 0.05). In terms of FPI scores, a significant difference was found only in the inversion/eversion of the calcaneus (CALC) parameter (p < 0.05). When the single hop test (SLHT) results were evaluated statistically on the operated and non-operated sides, the results were in favor of the non-operated side (p < 0.05). In the correlation analysis conducted for both the operated and non-operated sides, positive and significant correlations were found only between SLH and THD (p < 0.05). No significant difference was found in the other parameters. Conclusions: The fact that ST/G ACLR 6th month post-operative findings revealed similar results in Q angle, lower extremity length, and total FPI scores between the operated and non-operated sides showed that the 6-month process did not cause a difference in these parameters. However, it was found that the operated sides showed lower findings compared to non-operated sides for SLHTs, although these findings were within normal ranges in terms of the limb symmetry index.
Spontaneous Reversal of Vitiligo, a Rare Phenomenon Reported in a Case in Saudi Arabia with an Insight into Metabolic Biochemical Derangements
Authors: Alshaikh Ayoub Ali , Bharti Rishi Kumar
Published: February 2023

Background and Objectives: Vitiligo is a skin disorder characterized by hypopigmented macules occurring due to melanocyte destruction. An interplay of several biochemical mechanisms has been proposed to explain the etiopathogenesis of vitiligo, such as genetic, autoimmune responses, generation of inflammatory mediators, oxidative stress, and melanocyte detachment mechanisms. There is no cure for vitiligo; however, pharmacological treatment measures (cosmetic camouflage creams, steroids, psoralen and ultraviolet A (PUVA) therapy, narrowband UVB) are available, but they could have certain side effects. We reported an interesting case of vitiligo in Saudi Arabia that showed reversal of vitiligo, which is an extremely rare phenomenon, with the objective of probing the probable reasons for this reversal. To the best of our knowledge, there is no study on vitiligo that has reported spontaneous reversal of vitiligo in Saudi Arabia so far. Materials and Method: The patient presented to the Family Medicine clinic with a history of restoration of melanin pigment in his lesions after 3 years of the onset of vitiligo. Patients history was taken carefully along with clinical examination, carried out necessary biomedical lab investigations and compiled the data. The data at the time of pigment restoration were compared to the previous data when he developed the lesions. Result: The probable reasons for vitiligo reversal could be markedly decreased psychological stress, regular consumption of an antioxidant-rich herbal drink made of curcumin and honey, and dietary switchover to vegetarianism and an alcohol-free lifestyle. Conclusions: Curcumin-based herbal remedies could be an alternative option to treat vitiligo. These methods must be further explored through clinical trials as they are safer, easily available, and more affordable.
Multi-Scale Simulation of Recrystallization during Rolling of Large 2219 Aluminum Alloy Rings
Authors: He Fengyang , Ma Xu , Ma Ke , Ding Yanhong , Shi Guoming , Wang Chengwu
Published: February 2023

2219 aluminum–copper alloy is a major material in launch vehicles transition rings. The study of dynamic recrystallization during its rolling and forming process is beneficial to improving the performance enhancement of 2219 aluminum alloy ring parts. In this paper, a multi-scale simulation of grain refinement and distribution of dynamic recrystallization (DRX) grains during the rolling of 2219 aluminum alloy rings is carried out using the finite element method and cellular automata method. On the basis of the JMK DRX model, an ABAQUS subroutine was written to simulate the ring-rolling of 2219 aluminum alloy, and the distribution of DRX percentage and average grain size was analysed from a macroscopic point of view, with a maximum DRX level of 12% and an average grain size distribution from 247 μm to 235 μm from the inside of the aluminum alloy ring towards the surface. A cellular automaton model of DRX during rolling of large aluminum alloys was developed to effectively simulate DRX nucleation, growth, and grain compression deformation during rolling. The DRX nucleation occurs at the grain boundaries and then grows, resulting in a homogeneous organisation and a refinement of grain size, with both the original and DRX grains being compressively deformed as the rolling process progresses and the grains being gradually elongated tangentially. Finally, a comparison of the experimental results with the simulations to obtain grain size and morphology demonstrates consistent results, indicating that the combination of FE and CA methods is an effective approach for a more comprehensive understanding of the microstructural evolution during rolling.
A CRR2-Dependent sRNA Sequence Supports Papillomavirus Vaccine Expression in Tobacco Chloroplasts
Authors: Legen Julia , Dühnen Sara , Gauert Anton , Götz Michael , Schmitz-Linneweber Christian
Published: February 2023

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection is the leading cause of cervical cancer, and vaccination with HPV L1 capsid proteins has been successful in controlling it. However, vaccination coverage is not universal, particularly in developing countries, where 80% of all cervical cancer cases occur. Cost-effective vaccination could be achieved by expressing the L1 protein in plants. Various efforts have been made to produce the L1 protein in plants, including attempts to express it in chloroplasts for high-yield performance. However, manipulating chloroplast gene expression requires complex and difficult-to-control expression elements. In recent years, a family of nuclear-encoded, chloroplast-targeted RNA-binding proteins, the pentatricopeptide repeat (PPR) proteins, were described as key regulators of chloroplast gene expression. For example, PPR proteins are used by plants to stabilize and translate chloroplast mRNAs. The objective is to demonstrate that a PPR target site can be used to drive HPV L1 expression in chloroplasts. To test our hypothesis, we used biolistic chloroplast transformation to establish tobacco lines that express two variants of the HPV L1 protein under the control of the target site of the PPR protein CHLORORESPIRATORY REDUCTION2 (CRR2). The transgenes were inserted into a dicistronic operon driven by the plastid rRNA promoter. To determine the effectiveness of the PPR target site for the expression of the HPV L1 protein in the chloroplasts, we analyzed the accumulation of the transgenic mRNA and its processing, as well as the accumulation of the L1 protein in the transgenic lines. We established homoplastomic lines carrying either the HPV18 L1 protein or an HPV16B Enterotoxin::L1 fusion protein. The latter line showed severe growth retardation and pigment loss, suggesting that the fusion protein is toxic to the chloroplasts. Despite the presence of dicistronic mRNAs, we observed very little accumulation of monocistronic transgenic mRNA and no significant increase in CRR2-associated small RNAs. Although both lines expressed the L1 protein, quantification using an external standard suggested that the amounts were low. Our results suggest that PPR binding sites can be used to drive vaccine expression in plant chloroplasts; however, the factors that modulate the effectiveness of target gene expression remain unclear. The identification of dozens of PPR binding sites through small RNA sequencing expands the set of expression elements available for high-value protein production in chloroplasts.
Diagnostics of νLa.max and Glycolytic Energy Contribution Indicate Individual Characteristics of Anaerobic Glycolytic Energy Metabolism Contributing to Rowing Performance
Authors: Schünemann Frederik , Park So-Young , Wawer Corinna , Theis Christian , Yang Woo-Hwi , Gehlert Sebastian
Published: February 2023

The diagnostics of anaerobic glycolytic metabolism which play a subordinate role in elite rowing and parameters such as maximum lactate accumulation rate (νLa.max) have thus far not been associated with ergometer rowing performance. The aim of the study was to quantify the glycolytic energy metabolism (WGly) during a 2000 m ergometer rowing time trial (RTT) and νLa.max during a 10 s maximum ergometer rowing sprint test (RST) and to unravel associations between those variables and RTT performance. Combined post-exercise lactate measurements and oxygen uptake after RST and RTT were used to determine νLa.max and glycolytic energy contribution (WGly) in seven male and three female German U 23 national rowers (N = 10, 19.8 ± 0.9 years, 183.2 ± 7.0 cm height, 79.9 ± 13.3 kg body mass, 16.4 ± 5.1 % body fat). WGly during RTT ranged from 7 to 15.5% and νLa.max between 0.25 and 0.66 mmol∙L−1∙s−1. νLa.max correlated with WGly (p < 0.05, r = 0.74) and the mechanical power output (W) for the first 300 m (300first) during RTT (p < 0.05, r = 0.67). νLa.max further correlated with ∆300first−last (W) for the first and last 300 m (300last) during RTT (p < 0.01, r = 0.87) and also within the subgroup of male rowers. νLa.max displays a wide spectrum of individual differences in rowers. Due to this and its correlation to specific phases of RTT, it contributes to an individual energetic performance profile in rowing. Future studies must undermine the role of νLa.max for exercise performance and whether it serves as a marker that can be specifically targeted for a training-induced increase or decrease.
Plastid Phosphatidylglycerol Homeostasis Is Required for Plant Growth and Metabolism in Arabidopsis thaliana
Authors: Chen Mingjie , Wang Shiya , Zhang Yi , Fang Dongsheng , Thelen Jay
Published: February 2023

A unique feature of plastid phosphatidylglycerol (PG) is a trans-double bond specifically at the sn-2 position of 16C fatty acid (16:1t- PG), which is catalyzed by FATTY ACID DESATURASE 4 (FAD4). To offer additional insights about the in vivo roles of FAD4 and its product 16:1t-PG, FAD4 overexpression lines (OX-FAD4s) were generated in Arabidopsis thaliana Columbia ecotype. When grown under continuous light condition, the fad4-2 and OX-FAD4s plants exhibited higher growth rates compared to WT control. Total lipids were isolated from Col, fad4-2, and OX-FAD4_2 plants, and polar lipids quantified by lipidomic profiling. We found that disrupting FAD4 expression altered prokaryotic and eukaryotic PG content and composition. Prokaryotic and eukaryotic monogalactosyl diacylglycerol (MGDG) was up-regulated in OX-FAD4 plants but not in fad4-2 mutant. We propose that 16:1t-PG homeostasis in plastid envelope membranes may coordinate plant growth and stress response by restricting photoassimilate export from the chloroplast.