bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on Asymmetric Support of Anchor Cable with C-Shaped Tube in Inclined Coal Seam Roadway
Authors: Shan Renliang , Li Tianwen , Liu Weijun , Chen Ye , Shi Shuguo , Li Gengzhao
Published: July 2023

In view of the complex asymmetric deformation characteristics of inclined coal seam roadways and the tensed shear failure of anchor cable supports, the asymmetric support scheme of an anchor cable with a C-shaped tube is proposed. In order to study its supporting effect on an inclined coal seam roadway, this paper first explores the difference in shear performance between an anchor cable with a C-shaped tube and an anchor cable through double shear tests. Then, based on the asymmetric deformation characteristics of an inclined coal seam roadway in the Pangpangta Mine, a numerical simulation is used to study the asymmetric support effect of an anchor cable with a C-shaped tube in an inclined coal seam roadway. The results of the double shear test show that the anchor cable with the C-shaped tube has stronger resistance to shear load than that of the anchor cable. Through the results of the numerical simulation, the original stress field distribution on both sides of the roadway was found to be uneven due to the influence of the coal seam dip angle, and after the excavation of the inclined coal seam roadway, the displacement and plastic zone distribution on both sides showed obvious asymmetric characteristics. Compared with the symmetric support, the asymmetric support can obviously alleviate the asymmetric deformation characteristics of the two sides and effectively control the deformation and plastic failure zone of the roadway. The anchor cable with the C-shaped tube has better resistance to shear deformation than that of the anchor cable. The anchor cable with the C-shaped tube can reduce the deformation and plastic area of the roadway more effectively.
A Node Differential Privacy-Based Method to Preserve Directed Graphs in Wireless Mobile Networks
Authors: Yan Jun , Zhou Yihui , Lu Laifeng
Published: July 2023

With the widespread popularity of Wireless Mobile Networks (WMNs) in our daily life, the huge risk to disclose personal privacy of massive graph structure data in WMNs receives more and more attention. Particularly, as a special type of graph data in WMNs, the directed graph contains an amount of sensitive personal information. To provide secure and reliable privacy preservation for directed graphs in WMNs, we develop a node differential privacy-based method, which combines differential privacy with graph modification. In the method, the original directed graph is first divided into several sub-graphs after it is transformed into a weighted graph. Then, in each sub-graph, the node degree sequences are obtained by using an exponential mechanism and micro-aggregation is adopted to get the noised node degree sequences, which is used to generate a synthetic directed sub-graph through edge modification. Finally, all synthetic sub-graphs are merged into a synthetic directed graph that can preserve the original directed graph. The theoretical analysis proves that the proposed method satisfies differential privacy. The results of the experiments demonstrate the effectiveness of the presented method in privacy preservation and data utility.
A Variable Gain Complementary Filtering Fusion Algorithm Based on Distributed Inertial Network and Flush Air Data Sensing
Authors: Shao Weiguang , Zang Jianwen , Zhao Jin , Liu Kai
Published: July 2023

Aiming at the problem that the accuracy of flight parameters calculated by the traditional flush air data sensing (FADS) and inertial navigation system (INS) complementary filter cannot meet the fine real-time control of the aircraft, a data fusion algorithm based on distributed inertial network and FADS is proposed. This method converts the inertial navigation parameters calculated by the distributed inertial network into flight parameters, and using the least squares fitting theory, the flight parameters are obtained from the pressure data measured by the FADS pressure hole. Then, by adjusting the filter constant of the complementary filtering algorithm, the flight parameters calculated by the inertial network are fused with the flight parameters calculated by the air data sensing to obtain high-precision flight parameters. Finally, the simulation results show that the proposed filtering algorithm can keep the flight parameter estimation error less than 0.01 degrees throughout the flight phase. Compared with the traditional complementary filter, the estimation error of the proposed algorithm is smaller.
In Silico Analysis of Individual Fractions of Bovine Casein as Precursors of Bioactive Peptides—Influence of Post-Translational Modifications
Authors: Minkiewicz Piotr , Darewicz Małgorzata , Iwaniak Anna
Published: July 2023

Bovine casein is one of the most known precursors of bioactive peptides among food proteins. Thus far, in silico investigations addressing casein have taken no account of the impact of modifications of amino acid residues on the feasibility of bioactive peptide release. The present study aimed to determine the effect of such modification on the possibility of release of bioactive peptides from casein during simulated digestion. The αs1-, αs2-, β-, and κ-casein sequences were deposited in the BIOPEP-UWM protein database considering phosphorylated amino acids, cysteine residues forming disulfide bridges, and pyroglutamic acid residues. The frequency of occurrence of bioactive fragments and the frequency of their release by digestive enzymes were determined for the analyzed modified and unmodified proteins. Peptides found exclusively in the sequences of unmodified proteins were deemed as false-positive results. From 1.74% (β-casein A2) to 4.41% (αs2-casein B and D) of the false-positive results were obtained for the total frequency of occurrence of bioactive fragments (sums of frequencies computed for all activities). In turn, from 1.78% (κ-casein B) to 9.18% (β-casein A2 and A3) of false-positive results were obtained for the predicted total frequency of release of bioactive peptides by the system of digestive enzymes (pepsin, trypsin, and chymotrypsin).
Influence of Game Indicators on the Ranking of Teams in the Spanish Soccer League
Authors: Fernández-Cortés José , García-Ceberino Juan M. , García-Rubio Javier , Ibáñez Sergio J.
Published: July 2023

Soccer is dominated by game indicators that can influence the performance of teams and their players. Therefore, this study analyzed the influence of game indicators on the partial and final ranking of Spanish LaLiga teams, independently for the pre-COVID-19, COVID-19 and post-COVID-19 periods. In addition, the statistical differences between the pandemic periods were identified. A total of 2660 Spanish LaLiga matches played over seven seasons (from the 2014–2015 to the 2020–2021 season) were analyzed. The game indicators analyzed were the yellow cards, red cards, ball possession, total shots, shots on goal, shots off goal, free kicks, corners, offsides, goalkeeper saves, fouls committed, attacks, dangerous attacks, total passes, and tackles. Data were collected from the official Spanish LaLiga website, and recorded on a post hoc observation sheet. The intra-observer concordance was almost perfect (Cohen’s kappa values > 0.83). In each pandemic period, the findings indicated that the statistically significant game indicators had a greater influence on the final ranking, with an intermediate and large effect (η2 ≥ 0.060), than on the partial ranking (little or no effect). In this regard, the LaLiga teams ranked in a European competition position (final ranking) reported a higher ball possession (p < 0.001) and total passes (p < 0.001). A higher ball possession allowed them to take more shots (offensive actions), and therefore to have a better chance of winning. Similarly, these game indicators were higher post-COVID-19, compared to pre-COVID-19 and during COVID-19. This is interesting information for the preparation and management of matches.
Looking at the Evidence of Local Jewelry Production in Scythia
Authors: Lifantii Oksana
Published: July 2023

This article considers finds from the Scythian monuments of the North Black Sea area that can be connected to local jewelry production from the 7th century to the end of the 4th century BCE. I wish to draw attention to the problem of prolonged bias in this area of study. The prominence of the famous masterpieces by West Asian artisans (Lyta Mohyla and Kelermes Kurgans) and of the Greco-Scythian goldwork from the North Pontic kurgans (Chortomlyk, Solokha, Tovsta Mohyla, etc.) invited the view that the vast majority of the gold objects that the Scythians used during their lifetime and later took into their graves were imported rather than locally produced. Instead of trying to consider all artifacts that could potentially be Scythian-made, my goal in this article is to review the direct archaeological evidence of local jewelry production in the form of punches, matrices, and recorded cases of workshops at Scythian settlements. Gathering this evidence, as I will argue, gives us compelling insight into the high level of Scythian goldsmithing from the beginning of Scythian culture in the 7th century BCE and its improvement and adaptation of new techniques in the 5th and 4th centuries BCE, probably in the context of intensified cultural exchanges between Scythians and Greeks.
Weighted Pseudo-θ-Almost Periodic Sequence and Finite-Time Guaranteed Cost Control for Discrete-Space and Discrete-Time Stochastic Genetic Regulatory Networks with Time Delays
Authors: Sun Shumin , Zhang Tianwei , Li Zhouhong
Published: July 2023

This paper considers the dual hybrid effects of discrete-time stochastic genetic regulatory networks and discrete-space stochastic genetic regulatory networks in difference formats of exponential Euler difference and second-order central finite difference. The existence of a unique-weight pseudo-θ-almost periodic sequence solution for discrete-time and discrete-space stochastic genetic regulatory networks on the basis of discrete constant variation formulation is discussed, as well as the theory of semi-flow and metric dynamical systems. Furthermore, a finite-time guaranteed cost controller is constructed to reach global exponential stability of these discrete networks via establishing a framework of drive, response, and error networks. The results indicate that spatial diffusions of non-negative dense coefficients have no influence on the global existence of the unique weighted pseudo-θ-almost periodic sequence solution of the networks. The present study is a basic work in the consideration of discrete spatial diffusion in stochastic genetic regulatory networks and serves as a foundation for further study.
Physics-Based Electrochemical Model of Vanadium Redox Flow Battery for Low-Temperature Applications
Authors: Rao Praphulla , Jayanti Sreenivas
Published: July 2023

Vanadium redox flow batteries (VRFBs) operate effectively over the temperature range of 10 °C to 40 °C. However, their performance is significantly compromised at low operating temperatures, which may happen in cold climatic conditions. The loss of performance can be attributed to reduced kinetics and decreased diffusivity of ions in the electrolyte. In this paper, we present a physics-based electrochemical model of a vanadium redox flow battery that allows temperature-related corrections to be incorporated at a fundamental level, thereby extending its prediction capability to low temperatures. The model follows the conventional evaluation of the cell overpotential as the sum of contributions from overpotentials associated with activation, ionic conduction and mass transfer polarization. New data-driven models have been proposed to make these sub-models temperature sensitive. The overall model has been validated with a wide range of data from VRFB cells of sizes up to 900 cm2 and operating temperatures down to −10 °C. The model results indicate that enhancement of electrochemical performance of VRFB below subzero temperatures requires electrode and membrane activation and improvement in ionic conductivity of the electrolyte.
Live, Probiotic, or Neither? Microbial Composition of Retail-Available Kombucha and “Hard” Kombucha in the Pacific Northwest of the United States
Authors: Harrison Keisha , Navarro Roxana , Jensen Kristen , Cayler Will , Nielsen Tom , Curtin Chris
Published: July 2023

Kombucha is an acidic non-alcoholic fermented tea beverage that has surged in popularity over the past decade. A key driver of this popularity is the perception that kombucha contains microbes that contribute to gut health, a perception that is reinforced by package claims such as “live” and “probiotic”. We surveyed retail-available non-alcoholic (soft) and alcoholic (hard) kombucha and selected 39 products, of which 74.4% included at least one of these claims. Based upon Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) evaluation of the chemical composition, approximately one-third of soft kombucha products were re-categorized as “soft-aberrant” on the basis of their alcohol by volume (ABV) exceeding 0.5%. Across all three categories, the majority (82.1%) of products were “live”, containing culturable yeast and/or bacteria. However, there were no significant differences in median maximum colony-forming unit (CFU) counts between these categories, nor was there a difference according to package claims. Interestingly, only 6.3% of soft and 10% of soft-aberrant kombucha products exceeded 106 CFU/mL, the threshold that would deliver at least one billion cells in one package. None of the sampled hard kombucha exceeded this threshold. Metabarcoding analyses of microbial communities revealed differences in composition between categories and according to package claims. Notably, the subset of products with “probiotic” claims that listed Bacillus coagulans as an ingredient were enriched in read counts for Bacillus.
Iron Metabolism in Cancer and Senescence: A Cellular Perspective
Authors: Crescenzi Elvira , Leonardi Antonio , Pacifico Francesco
Published: July 2023

Iron participates in a number of biological processes and plays a crucial role in cellular homeostasis. Alterations in iron metabolism are considered hallmarks of cancer and drivers of aggressive behaviors, such as uncontrolled proliferation, resistance to apoptosis, enhanced metastatic ability, increased cell plasticity and stemness. Furthermore, a dysregulated iron metabolism has been associated with the development of an adverse tumor microenvironment. Alterations in iron metabolism have been described in cellular senescence and in aging. For instance, iron has been shown to accumulate in aged tissues and in age-related diseases. Furthermore, in vitro studies demonstrate increases in iron content in both replicative and stress-induced senescent cells. However, the role, the mechanisms of regulation and dysregulation and the effects of iron metabolism on senescence remain significantly less characterized. In this review, we first provide an overview of iron metabolism and iron regulatory proteins. Then, we summarize alterations in iron homeostasis in cancer and senescence from a cellular point of view.
Prognostic Utility of Neck Lymph Node-to-Primary Tumor Standardized Uptake Value Ratio in Oral Cavity Cancer
Authors: Ho Kuo-Wei , Fang Ku-Hao , Lu Chang-Hsien , Hsu Cheng-Ming , Lai Chia-Hsuan , Liao Chun-Ta , Kang Chung-Jan , Tsai Yuan-Hsiung , Tsai Ming-Shao , Huang Ethan I. , Chang Geng-He , Ko Chien-An , Tsai Ming-Hsien , Tsai Yao-Te
Published: July 2023

We investigated the prognostic utility of preoperative neck lymph node-to-primary tumor maximum standardized uptake value ratios (NTRs) in oral cavity squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 141 consecutive patients who were diagnosed as having OSCC and had received fluorodeoxyglucose–positron emission tomography within 2 weeks prior to radical surgery between 2009 and 2018. To determine the optimal NTR cutoff, receiver operating characteristic analysis for overall survival (OS) was executed. The NTR’s prognostic value for disease-free survival (DFS) and OS were determined through Cox proportional hazards analysis and the Kaplan–Meier method. We determined the median (range) follow-up duration to be 35.2 (2.1–122.4) months. The optimal NTR cutoff was 0.273, and patients with a higher NTR (≥0.273) exhibited significantly worse DFS and OS (p = 0.010 and 0.003, respectively). A higher NTR (≥0.273) predicted poorer DFS (hazard ratio: 2.696, p = 0.008) and OS (hazard ratio: 4.865, p = 0.003) in multivariable analysis. We created a nomogram on the basis of the NTR, and it could accurately predict OS (concordance index: 0.774). Preoperative NTRs may be a useful prognostic biomarker for DFS and OS in patients with OSCC who have undergone surgery. NTR-based nomograms may also be helpful prognostic tools in clinical trials.
Metabolism and Chemical Degradation of New Antidiabetic Drugs (Part II): A Review of Analytical Approaches for Analysis of Gliptins
Authors: Gumieniczek Anna , Berecka-Rycerz Anna
Published: July 2023

This paper is part II of the review on metabolism and chemical degradation of new antidiabetic drugs from glutides, gliflozins and gliptins. It is well known that metabolism data can be helpful for deriving safe levels of degradation impurities and their qualifying as far as toxicological aspects are concerned. As a result, it could link the quality of respective pharmaceutical products to clinical practice and patients. Some overlapping pathways of transformations of these important drugs of different chemical structures and different mechanisms of action were discussed. At the same time, the paper summarized interesting analytical tools for conducting modern drug metabolism as well as drug degradation experiments. The methods described here include liquid chromatography (LC) and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS or LC-MS/MS), which are widely used for detection and quantitative measurements of the drugs, their metabolites and degradants, as well as radiometric methods that are suitable for pharmacokinetic experiments. Special attention was paid to dedicated types of packing in chromatographic columns, as well as to special solutions in the LC-MS procedures. The present part addresses the analytical approaches elaborated for examining the metabolism and degradation pathways of gliptins that are dipeptidyl peptidase 4 (DPP-4) inhibitors.
New N-Methylimidazole-Functionalized Chitosan Derivatives: Hemocompatibility and Antibacterial Properties
Authors: Drozd Natalia , Lunkov Alexey , Shagdarova Balzhima , Il’ina Alla , Varlamov Valery
Published: July 2023

Novel imidazole derivatives of the low molecular weight chitosan N-(2-hydroxypropyl)-1H-1,2,3-triazol-4-yl)methyl)-1-methyl-1H-imidazol-3-ium chitosan chloride (NMIC) were synthesized using copper-catalyzed azide–alkyne cycloaddition (CuAAC). The degrees of substitution (DSs) for the new derivatives were 18–76%. All chitosan derivatives (2000 µg/mL) were completely soluble in water. The antimicrobial activity of the new compounds against E. coli and S. epidermidis was studied. The effect of chitosan derivatives on blood and its components was studied. NMIC samples (DS 34–76%) at a concentration <10 μg/mL had no effect on blood and plasma coagulation. Chitosan derivatives (DS 18–76%) at concentrations of ≥83 μg/mL in blood and ≥116.3 μg/mL in plasma resulted in a prolongation of the clotting time of blood and plasma, positively related to the DS. At concentrations up to 9.1 μg/mL, NMIC did not independently provoke platelet aggregation. The degree of erythrocyte hemolysis upon contact with NMIC samples (2.5–2500 μg/mL) was below 4%. The inhibition of blood/plasma coagulation indicates the promising use of the studied samples to modify the surface of medical materials in order to achieve thromboresistance.
Biomimetics for Sustainable Developments—A Literature Overview of Trends
Authors: Jatsch Anne-Sophie , Jacobs Shoshanah , Wommer Kirsten , Wanieck Kristina
Published: July 2023

Biomimetics holds the promise to contribute to sustainability in several ways. However, it remains unclear how the two broad concepts and research fields are connected. This article presents a literature overview on biomimetic sustainable developments and research. It is shown that there is an increasing trend in publications dealing with various topics and that the research takes place worldwide. The biological models studied in biomimetic sustainable developments are mostly sub-elements of biological systems on a molecular level and lead to eco-friendly, resource and energy-efficient applications. This article indicates that biomimetics is further integrating sustainability to contribute to real problems in this context.
Reptile Search Algorithm Considering Different Flight Heights to Solve Engineering Optimization Design Problems
Authors: Yao Liguo , Li Guanghui , Yuan Panliang , Yang Jun , Tian Dongbin , Zhang Taihua
Published: July 2023

The reptile search algorithm is an effective optimization method based on the natural laws of the biological world. By restoring and simulating the hunting process of reptiles, good optimization results can be achieved. However, due to the limitations of natural laws, it is easy to fall into local optima during the exploration phase. Inspired by the different search fields of biological organisms with varying flight heights, this paper proposes a reptile search algorithm considering different flight heights. In the exploration phase, introducing the different flight altitude abilities of two animals, the northern goshawk and the African vulture, enables reptiles to have better search horizons, improve their global search ability, and reduce the probability of falling into local optima during the exploration phase. A novel dynamic factor (DF) is proposed in the exploitation phase to improve the algorithm’s convergence speed and optimization accuracy. To verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm, the test results were compared with ten state-of-the-art (SOTA) algorithms on thirty-three famous test functions. The experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has good performance. In addition, the proposed algorithm and ten SOTA algorithms were applied to three micromachine practical engineering problems, and the experimental results show that the proposed algorithm has good problem-solving ability.
Cumulative Trauma and Trauma Symptoms: A Three-Way Interaction
Authors: Xue Fang , Suh Han Na , Rice Kenneth G. , Ashby Jeffrey S.
Published: July 2023

The purpose of this study was to test if perceived social support and self-compassion will interact to reduce the magnitude of the bivariate relationship (buffering effect) between cumulative trauma and trauma symptoms after controlling for gender and age among college students. As part of a broader research project conducted between 2018 and 2019, we collected data via online surveys from a sample of 551 undergraduate students at a public university in the southern region of the US. After data cleaning, the study included 538 participants (representing 97.6% of the original dataset), ensuring a diverse representation across various ethnicities and genders. The three-way interaction model accounted for 38.61% of the variance in PTSD symptoms. In detail, with high levels of perceived social support, there was a significant difference in the buffering effects of perceived social support on the trauma–PTSD association between high and low self-compassion. Conversely, at high levels of self-compassion, perceived social support did not significantly influence the buffering effect of self-compassion. This study underscores the critical role of self-compassion in enhancing the protective effect of high-level perceived social support against PTSD symptoms following cumulative trauma.
CityGML in the Integration of BIM and the GIS: Challenges and Opportunities
Authors: Tan Yi , Liang Ying , Zhu Junxiang
Published: July 2023

CityGML (City Geography Markup Language) is the most investigated standard in the integration of building information modeling (BIM) and the geographic information system (GIS), and it is essential for digital twin and smart city applications. The new CityGML 3.0 has been released for a while, but it is still not clear whether its new features bring new challenges or opportunities to this research topic. Therefore, the aim of this study is to understand the state of the art of CityGML in BIM/GIS integration and to investigate the potential influence of CityGML3.0 on BIM/GIS integration. To achieve this aim, this study used a systematic literature review approach. In total, 136 papers from Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus were collected, reviewed, and analyzed. The main findings of this review are as follows: (1) There are several challenging problems in the IFC-to-CityGML conversion, including LoD (Level of Detail) mapping, solid-to-surface conversion, and semantic mapping. (2) The ‘space’ concept and the new LoD concept in CityGML 3.0 can bring new opportunities to LoD mapping and solid-to-surface conversion. (3) The Versioning module and the Dynamizer module can add dynamic semantics to the CityGML. (4) Graph techniques and scan-to-BIM offer new perspectives for facilitating the use of CityGML in BIM/GIS integration. These findings can further facilitate theoretical studies on BIM/GIS integration.
Parameter Selection for Concrete Constitutive Models in Finite Element Analysis of Composite Columns
Authors: Bilal Kamel A. , Mahamid Mustafa , Hariri-Ardebili M. Amin , Tort Cenk , Ford Travis
Published: July 2023

Concrete, as a complex and anisotropic material, poses challenges in accurately simulating its behavior in numerical simulations. This paper focuses on selecting an appropriate constitutive model for simulating the behavior of a steel–concrete composite column using finite element analysis under compression and push-out tests. Two models are analyzed and compared, namely, Drucker–Prager and concrete damage plasticity. The results demonstrate that the concrete damage plasticity model outperforms the Drucker–Prager model in all six test cases, indicating its superior accuracy in capturing the composite column’s behavior. This study enhances the reliability of numerical simulations for steel–concrete composite structures by choosing the most suitable constitutive model, parallel with extensive sensitivity analysis and model calibration. The findings emphasize the significance of meticulous model selection and precise parameter definition for achieving accurate predictions of concrete behavior. This research contributes to advancing the understanding and modeling of concrete’s intricate behavior in structural analyses.
Evolutionary Mechanism of Government Green Development Behavior in Construction and Demolition Waste Recycling Projects: A Perspective of Ecological Compensation
Authors: Chen Weihong , Yin Wenjun , Yi Beiyu , Xu Shiqi , Zhang Hao , Li Xingwei
Published: July 2023

Although construction and demolition waste (CDW) recycling projects have received increasing attention from national and regional governments, the mechanisms for the evolution of government green development behavior in such projects are not yet clear. From the perspective of ecological compensation for the cross-regional disposal of CDW, this study aims to reveal the evolutionary mechanism of government green development behavior through externality theory. The main findings are as follows. First, the initial probability of government adoption of green development behavior does not affect the final stable state of the system. Second, there is heterogeneity in the effects of the allocation coefficient of ecological benefits and the ecological compensation coefficient on different government green development behavior. Finally, ecological benefits can encourage the government to actively adopt green development behavior. This study introduces for the first time an ecological compensation perspective into the study of CDW project management, which not only enriches the knowledge system of the government green development behavior on project management but also provides a reference for the government to participate in the process of cross-regional disposal of CDW in favor of ecological compensation.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of a Novel Demountable Timber–Concrete Composite Floor
Authors: Eslami Hooman , Jayasinghe Laddu Bhagya , Waldmann Daniele
Published: July 2023

In recent years, there has been an increasing interest in timber–concrete composite (TCC) floors as a sustainable structural solution. Until now, only a few studies have investigated the demounting of TCC floors, which is essential to increase sustainability and improve the end-of-life environmental benefits of a floor system. This study investigates an innovative and straightforward demountable TCC slab that has notched and bolted connections. Six downscaled slabs are tested under four-point bending. The results show that the slab system has high composite action with an efficiency of 0.73. A three-dimensional finite element model is developed and calibrated with the experimental result. The model is used to study the influence of several parameters, such as the shape and dimensions of the notch as well as the bolt location on the load-bearing capacity and the load-deflection behavior of the slab. The results show that the failure tends to be more ductile when a birdsmouth-shaped notch is used, and the bolt is placed within the notch. Moreover, the load-bearing capacity of the shear connection increases by increasing the distance of the notch to the end of the slab and using a triangular notch.
Removal of Organic Sulfur Pollutants from Gasification Gases at Intermediate Temperature by Means of a Zinc–Nickel-Oxide Sorbent for Integration in Biofuel Production
Authors: Sánchez-Hervás Josemaria , Ortiz Isabel , Martí Veronica , Andray Alberto
Published: July 2023

Production of renewable fuels from gasification is based on catalytic processes. Deep desulfurization is required to avoid the poisoning of the catalysts. It means the removal of H2S but also of organic sulfur species. Conventional cleaning consists of a several-step complex approach comprising catalytic hydro-treating followed by H2S removal. In this work, a single-stage process using a zinc and nickel oxide sorbent has been investigated for the removal of organic sulfur species present in syngas. The process is called reactive adsorption and comes from the refinery industry. The challenge investigated by CIEMAT was to prove for the first time that the concept is also valid for syngas. We have studied the process at a lab scale. Thiophene and benzothiophene, two of the main syngas organic sulfur compounds, were selected as target species to remove. The experimental study comprised the analysis of the effect of temperature (250–450 °C), pressure (1–10 bar), space velocity (2000–3500 h−1), tar components (toluene), sulfur species (H2S), and syngas components (H2, CO, and full syngas CO/CO2/CH4/H2). Operating conditions for removal of thiophene and benzothiophene were determined. Increasing pressure and temperature had a positive effect, and full conversion was achieved at 450 °C, 10 bar and 3500 h−1, accompanied by simultaneous hydrogen sulfide capture by the sorbent in accordance with the reactive adsorption desulfurization (RADS) process. Space velocity and hydrogen content in the syngas had little effect on desulfurization. Thiophene conversions from 39% to 75% were obtained when feeding synthetic syngas mimicking different compositions, spanning from air to steam-oxygen-blown gasification. Toluene, as a model tar component present in syngas, did not strongly affect the removal of thiophene and benzothiophene. H2S inhibited their conversion, falling, respectively, to 2% and 69% at 350 °C and 30% and 80% at 400 °C under full syngas blends.
Golgi Apparatus Target Proteins in Gastroenterological Cancers: A Comprehensive Review of GOLPH3 and GOLGA Proteins
Authors: Bucurica Sandica , Gaman Laura , Jinga Mariana , Popa Andrei Adrian , Ionita-Radu Florentina
Published: July 2023

The Golgi apparatus plays a central role in protein sorting, modification and trafficking within cells; its dysregulation has been implicated in various cancers including those affecting the GI tract. This review highlights two Golgi target proteins, namely GOLPH3 and GOLGA proteins, from this apparatus as they relate to gastroenterological cancers. GOLPH3—a highly conserved protein of the trans-Golgi network—has become a key player in cancer biology. Abnormal expression of GOLPH3 has been detected in various gastrointestinal cancers including gastric, colorectal and pancreatic cancers. GOLPH3 promotes tumor cell proliferation, survival, migration and invasion via various mechanisms including activating the PI3K/Akt/mTOR signaling pathway as well as altering Golgi morphology and vesicular trafficking. GOLGA family proteins such as GOLGA1 (golgin-97) and GOLGA7 (golgin-84) have also been implicated in gastroenterological cancers. GOLGA1 plays an essential role in protein trafficking within the Golgi apparatus and has been associated with poor patient survival rates and increased invasiveness; GOLGA7 maintains Golgi structure while having been shown to affect protein glycosylation processes. GOLPH3 and GOLGA proteins play a pivotal role in gastroenterological cancer, helping researchers unlock molecular mechanisms and identify therapeutic targets. Their dysregulation affects various cellular processes including signal transduction, vesicular trafficking and protein glycosylation, all contributing to tumor aggressiveness and progression.
Human Keratinocytes and Fibroblasts Co-Cultured on Silk Fibroin Scaffolds Exosomally Overrelease Angiogenic and Growth Factors
Authors: Hu Peng , Armato Ubaldo , Freddi Giuliano , Chiarini Anna , Dal Prà Ilaria
Published: July 2023

Objectives: The optimal healing of skin wounds, deep burns, and chronic ulcers is an important clinical problem. Attempts to solve it have been driving the search for skin equivalents based on synthetic or natural polymers. Methods: Consistent with this endeavor, we used regenerated silk fibroin (SF) from Bombyx mori to produce a novel compound scaffold by welding a 3D carded/hydroentangled SF-microfiber-based nonwoven layer (C/H-3D-SFnw; to support dermis engineering) to an electrospun 2D SF nanofiber layer (ESFN; a basal lamina surrogate). Next, we assessed—via scanning electron microscopy, attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, mono- and co-cultures of HaCaT keratinocytes and adult human dermal fibroblasts (HDFs), dsDNA assays, exosome isolation, double-antibody arrays, and angiogenesis assays—whether the C/H-3D-SFnws/ESFNs would allow the reconstitution of a functional human skin analog in vitro. Results: Physical analyses proved that the C/H-3D-SFnws/ESFNs met the requirements for human soft-tissue-like implants. dsDNA assays revealed that co-cultures of HaCaTs (on the 2D ESFN surface) and HDFs (inside the 3D C/H-3D-SFnws) grew more intensely than did the respective monocultures. Double-antibody arrays showed that the CD9+/CD81+ exosomes isolated from the 14-day pooled growth media of HDF and/or HaCaT mono- or co-cultures conveyed 35 distinct angiogenic/growth factors (AGFs). However, versus monocultures’ exosomes, HaCaT/HDF co-cultures’ exosomes (i) transported larger amounts of 15 AGFs, i.e., PIGF, ANGPT-1, bFGF, Tie-2, Angiogenin, VEGF-A, VEGF-D, TIMP-1/-2, GRO-α/-β/-γ, IL-1β, IL-6, IL-8, MMP-9, and MCP-1, and (ii) significantly more strongly stimulated human dermal microvascular endothelial cells to migrate and assemble tubes/nodes in vitro. Conclusions: Our results showed that both cell–cell and cell–SF interactions boosted the exosomal release of AGFs from HaCaTs/HDFs co-cultured on C/H-3D-SFnws/ESFNs. Hence, such exosomes are an asset for prospective clinical applications as they advance cell growth and neoangiogenesis and consequently graft take and skin healing. Moreover, this new integument analog could be instrumental in preclinical and translational studies on human skin pathophysiology and regeneration.
How Families Manage the Complex Medical Needs of Their Children with MECP2 Duplication Syndrome
Authors: John Cherian Dani , Ta Daniel , Smith Jeremy , Downs Jenny , Leonard Helen
Published: July 2023

MECP2 duplication syndrome (MDS) is a rare, X-linked, neurodevelopmental disorder resulting from the duplication of the methyl-CpG-binding protein 2 (MECP2) gene. The clinical features of MDS include severe intellectual disability, global developmental delay, seizures, recurrent respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal problems. The aim of this qualitative study was to explore how the parents of children with MDS manage their child’s seizures, recurrent respiratory infections, and gastrointestinal symptoms, and the impact on them as parents. The data were coded into three categories: (1) complex care needs in the home, (2) highly skilled caregivers, and (3) impact on caregivers and families. Complex 24 h care was required and parents developed complex skillsets to ensure that this was delivered well to their child. The provision of extensive complex medical care in the home had an impact on parent mental and physical health, family dynamics, and finances. This study captures the management of high-burden comorbidities in MDS at home. Investigations into how best to support caregiver wellbeing to reduce their stresses, whilst maintaining optimal child health and wellbeing, are needed.
The Effects of FIFA 11+ Kids Prevention Program on Kinematic Risk Factors for ACL Injury in Preadolescent Female Soccer Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Taghizadeh Kerman Maedeh , Brunetti Claudia , Yalfani Ali , Atri Ahmad Ebrahimi , Sforza Chiarella
Published: July 2023

This study aimed to investigate the effects of the 8-week FIFA 11+ Kids program on kinematic risk factors for ACL injury in preadolescent female soccer players during single-leg drop landing. For this, 36 preadolescent female soccer players (10–12 years old) were randomly allocated to the FIFA 11+ Kids program and control groups (18 players per group). The intervention group performed the FIFA 11+ Kids warm-up program twice per week for 8 weeks, while the control group continued with regular warm-up. Trunk, hip, and knee peak angles (from initial ground contact to peak knee flexion) were collected during the single-leg drop landing using a 3D motion capture system. A repeated measure ANOVA was used to analyze groups over time. Significant group × time interactions were found for the peak knee flexion, with a medium effect size (p = 0.05; effect size = 0.11), and peak hip internal rotation angles, with a large effect size (p < 0.01; effect size = 0.28). We found that the FIFA 11+ Kids program was effective in improving knee flexion and hip internal rotation, likely resulting in reducing ACL stress during single-leg drop landing in young soccer players.
The Changing Climate Is Changing Safe Drinking Water, Impacting Health: A Case in the Southwestern Coastal Region of Bangladesh (SWCRB)
Authors: Ashrafuzzaman M. , Gomes Carla , Guerra João
Published: July 2023

This study focuses on investigating the impact of climate change on the availability of safe drinking water and human health in the Southwest Coastal Region of Bangladesh (SWCRB). Additionally, it explores local adaptation approaches aimed at addressing these challenges. The research employed a combination of qualitative and quantitative methods to gather data. Qualitative data were collected through various means such as case studies, workshops, focus group discussions (FGDs), interviews, and key informant interviews (KIIs). The study specifically collected qualitative data from 12 unions in the Shyamnagar Upazila. On the other hand, through the quantitative method, we collected respondents’ answers through a closed-ended questionnaire survey from 320 respondents from nine unions in the first phase of this study. In the next phase, we also collected data from the three most vulnerable unions of Shyamnagar Upazila, namely Poddo Pukur, Gabura, and Burigoalini, where 1579 respondents answered questions regarding safe drinking water and health conditions due to climate change. The findings of the study indicate that local communities in the region acknowledge the significant impact of sea-level rise (SLR) on freshwater sources and overall well-being, primarily due to increased salinity. Over 70% of the respondents identified gastrointestinal issues, hypertension, diarrhea, malnutrition, and skin diseases as major waterborne health risks arising from salinity and lack of access to safe water. Among the vulnerable groups, women and children were found to be particularly susceptible to waterborne diseases related to salinity. While the study highlights the presence of certain adaptation measures against health-related problems, such as community clinics and health centers at the upazila level, as well as seeking healthcare from local and paramedical doctors, it notes that these measures are insufficient. In terms of safe drinking water, communities have adopted various adaptation strategies, including pond excavation to remove saline water (partially making it potable), implementing pond sand filters, rainwater harvesting, and obtaining potable water from alternative sources. However, these efforts alone do not fully address the challenges associated with ensuring safe drinking water.
Ultrasonic Detection of Aliased Signal Separation Based on Adaptive Feature Dictionary and K–SVD Algorithm for Protective Coatings of Assembled Steel Structure
Authors: Liu Yiyi , Zhou Ruiqi , Wang Zhigang , Li Qiufeng , Lu Chao , Wang Haitao
Published: July 2023

When using ultrasound to detect the thickness of protective coatings on assembled steel structures, the coatings are extremely thin, which can cause echo signals to overlap and impair the detection accuracy. Therefore, the study of the separation of the superimposed signals is essential for the precise measurement of the thickness of thinner coatings. A method for signal time domain feature extraction based on an adaptive feature dictionary and K–SVD is investigated. First, the wavelet transform, which is sensitive to singular signal values, is used to identify the extreme values of the signal and use them as the new signal to be processed. Then, the feature signal extracted by wavelet transform is transformed into Hankel matrix form, and the initial feature dictionary is constructed by period segmentation and random extraction. The optimized feature dictionary is subsequently obtained by enhancing the K–SVD algorithm. Finally, the time domain signal is reconstructed using the optimized feature dictionary. Simulations and experiments demonstrate that the method is more accurate in separating mixed signals and extracting signal time domain feature information than the conventional wavelet transform and Gabor dictionary-based MP algorithm, and that it is more advantageous in detecting the thickness of protective coatings.
Algebraic Structures Induced by the Insertion and Detection of Malware
Authors: Cañadas Agustín Moreno , Mendez Odette M. , Vega Juan David Camacho
Published: July 2023

Since its introduction, researching malware has had two main goals. On the one hand, malware writers have been focused on developing software that can cause more damage to a targeted host for as long as possible. On the other hand, malware analysts have as one of their main purposes the development of tools such as malware detection systems (MDS) or network intrusion detection systems (NIDS) to prevent and detect possible threats to the informatic systems. Obfuscation techniques, such as the encryption of the virus’s code lines, have been developed to avoid their detection. In contrast, shallow machine learning and deep learning algorithms have recently been introduced to detect them. This paper is devoted to some theoretical implications derived from these investigations. We prove that hidden algebraic structures as equipped posets and their categories of representations are behind the research of some infections. Properties of these categories are given to provide a better understanding of different infection techniques.
Asynchronous Federated Learning for Improved Cardiovascular Disease Prediction Using Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Khan Muhammad Amir , Alsulami Musleh , Yaqoob Muhammad Mateen , Alsadie Deafallah , Saudagar Abdul Khader Jilani , AlKhathami Mohammed , Farooq Khattak Umar
Published: July 2023

Healthcare professionals consider predicting heart disease an essential task and deep learning has proven to be a promising approach for achieving this goal. This research paper introduces a novel method called the asynchronous federated deep learning approach for cardiac prediction (AFLCP), which combines a heart disease dataset and deep neural networks (DNNs) with an asynchronous learning technique. The proposed approach employs a method for asynchronously updating the parameters of DNNs and incorporates a temporally weighted aggregation technique to enhance the accuracy and convergence of the central model. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed AFLCP method, two datasets with various DNN architectures are tested, and the results demonstrate that the AFLCP approach outperforms the baseline method in terms of both communication cost and model accuracy.
Multi-UAV Roundup Inspired by Hierarchical Cognition Consistency Learning Based on an Interaction Mechanism
Authors: Jiang Longting , Wei Ruixuan , Wang Dong
Published: July 2023

This paper is concerned with the problem of multi-UAV roundup inspired by hierarchical cognition consistency learning based on an interaction mechanism. First, a dynamic communication model is constructed to address the interactions among multiple agents. This model includes a simplification of the communication graph relationships and a quantification of information efficiency. Then, a hierarchical cognition consistency learning method is proposed to improve the efficiency and success rate of roundup. At the same time, an opponent graph reasoning network is proposed to address the prediction of targets. Compared with existing multi-agent reinforcement learning (MARL) methods, the method developed in this paper possesses the distinctive feature that target assignment and target prediction are carried out simultaneously. Finally, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method, we present extensive experiments conducted in the scenario of multi-target roundup. The experimental results show that the proposed architecture outperforms the conventional approach with respect to the roundup success rate and verify the validity of the proposed model.
Two-Hop Cooperative Caching and UAVs Deployment Based on Potential Game
Authors: Bian Yuan , Hu Jianbo , Wang Shuo , Hao Yukai , Liu Wenjie , Fu Chaoqi
Published: July 2023

This paper explores the joint cache placement and 3D deployment of Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) groups, utilizing potential game theory and a two-hop UAV cooperative caching mechanism, which could create a tradeoff between latency and coverage. The proposed scheme consists of three parts: first, the initial 2D location of UAV groups is determined through K-means, with the optimal altitude based on the UAV coverage radius. Second, to balance the transmission delay and coverage, the MOS (Mean Opinion Score) and coverage are designed to evaluate the performance of UAV-assisted networks. Then, the potential game is modeled, which transfers the optimization problem into the maximization of the whole network utility. The locally coupling effect resulting from action changes among UAVs is considered in the design of the potential game utility function. Moreover, a log-linear learning scheme is applied to solve the problem. Finally, the simulation results verify the superiority of the proposed scheme in terms of the achievable transmission delay and coverage performance compared with two other tested schemes. The coverage ratio is close to 100% when the UAV number is 25, and the user number is 150; in addition, this game outperforms the benchmarks when it comes to maximizing MOS of users.