bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Leveling Control of Hillside Tractor Body Based on Fuzzy Sliding Mode Variable Structure
Authors: Peng He , Ma Wenxing , Wang Zhongshan , Yuan Zhe
Published: May 2023

To address the issues that arise when auto-leveling the vehicle body of a hillside tractor under complex working conditions, an auto-leveling control system was developed based on a newly developed hillside tractor and four-point body leveling mechanism. In this approach, leveling accuracy and stability were improved by adopting a sliding mode variable structure control algorithm based on fuzzy switching gain adjustment to achieve real-time dynamic auto-leveling control. To obtain curves of front and rear axle leveling displacement, speed, flow, pressure and body tilting angle during the leveling process, AMEsim/Simulink co-simulation was used to simulate and analyze the control system. The simulation results revealed that the tractor achieves a good leveling effect under complex working conditions in hilly and mountainous areas; the tractor can remain within a ±2° tilting angle range during the leveling process and can return to 0° after leveling, demonstrating good dynamic stability. To further assess the algorithm, a model of the system was submitted to live-testing on a custom-built auto-leveling test bench. Comparison of the test and simulation results revealed a close agreement between the two, indicating that the self-leveling control system and control algorithm developed in this study have high leveling accuracies. The results reported in this paper could provide assistance with or in reference to obtaining solutions to the problems of tractor body leveling in hilly and mountainous areas.
MIDOM—A DICOM-Based Medical Image Communication System
Authors: Pervan Branimir , Tomic Sinisa , Ivandic Hana , Knezovic Josip
Published: May 2023

Despite the existing medical infrastructure being limited in terms of interoperability, the amount of medical multimedia transferred over the network and shared through various channels increases rapidly. In search of consultations with colleagues, medical professionals with the consent of their patients, usually exchange medical multimedia, mainly in the form of images, by using standard instant messaging services which utilize lossy compression algorithms. That consultation paradigm can easily lead to losses in image representation that can be misinterpreted and lead to the wrong diagnosis. This paper presents MIDOM—Medical Imaging and Diagnostics on the Move, a DICOM-based medical image communication system enhanced with a couple of variants of our previously developed custom lossless Classification and Blending Predictor Coder (CBPC) compression method. The system generally exploits the idea that end devices used by the general population and medical professionals alike are satisfactorily performant and energy-efficient, up to a point to support custom and complex compression methods successfully. The system has been implemented and appropriately integrated with Orthanc, a lightweight DICOM server, and a medical images storing PACS server. We benchmarked the system thoroughly with five real-world anonymized medical image sets in terms of compression ratios and latency reduction, aiming to simulate scenarios in which the availability of the medical services might be hardly reachable or in other ways limited. The results clearly show that our system enhanced with the compression methods in the question pays off in nearly every testing scenario by lowering the network latency to at least 60% of the latency required to send raw and uncompressed image sets and 25% in the best-case, while maintaining the perfect reconstruction of medical images and, thus, providing a more suitable environment for healthcare applications.
Sliding Mode Control of Servo Feed System Based on Fuzzy Reaching Law
Authors: Huang Chong-Li , Wang Tao , Li Meng , Yu Yang
Published: May 2023

An adaptive sliding mode control method based on the fuzzy exponential convergence law is proposed to solve the jitter problem caused by the sliding mode control of the servo-feed system and to improve the tracking performance of the system. The design of fuzzy rules for adaptive adjustment of convergence law parameters in sliding mode control improves the convergence speed of the sliding mode function, eliminates unknown disturbances in the system, and weakens the chattering of the system. The proposed method is simulated and experimentally verified by a parallel mobile platform. The results show that the sliding mode control method based on the fuzzy convergence law has strong disturbance suppression capability, high position tracking accuracy, and effective chattering suppression, and the maximum tracking error is reduced by 43.1% and 31.5%, respectively, compared with PID control and exponential sliding mode control.
Blockchain-Based Platform to Fight Disinformation Using Crowd Wisdom and Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Buțincu Cristian Nicolae , Alexandrescu Adrian
Published: May 2023

Disinformation and fake news are used by multiple actors to manipulate and influence the public with the purpose of gaining a series of advantages. This paper describes a promising solution to the increased spread of disinformation on the Internet. Our approach leverages blockchain technology combined with both crowd intelligence and federated artificial intelligence to develop efficient capabilities that address the disinformation phenomenon. The blockchain-based architecture of the platform creates a decentralized ecosystem that ensures transparency and trust, enabling the users to make correctly informed decisions in the face of disinformation. The key differentiating factor of the platform is the incorporation of both crowd and artificial intelligence in a system that can identify and respond to disinformation quickly and efficiently. The presented architecture can be used to build reactive and proactive platforms to effectively challenge disinformation.
The Modelling of Rock Fragmentation Mechanisms by Carbide Buttons Using the 3D Discrete Element Method
Authors: Ma Yanan , Gong Qiuming , Zhou Xiaoxiong , Yin Lijun , Ma Hongsu
Published: May 2023

Button cutters are commonly used in hard rock drilling because the inserted carbide buttons provide exceptional wear resistance, impact resistance, and high strength in challenging geological formations. One of the most pressing issues in designing a button cutter is to study the rock breaking mechanisms of carbide buttons. In this study, the three-dimensional discrete element method (DEM) was employed to investigate the rock breaking mechanism and cutting performance of five widely used carbide buttons, i.e., spherical, saddle, wedge, conical, and parabolic buttons. The simulation results were compared with laboratory tests to reveal the rock indentation process. The crack propagation pattern, energy dissipation, and damage evolution associated with the force–penetration depth curve were investigated. Tensile damage was the primary determinant for crack propagation and coalescence. By systematically exploring the penetration index, specific energy, and crack propagation characteristics, the conical button had a high rock breaking efficiency when the penetration depth was low, and the saddle button had a high rock breaking efficiency when the penetration depth was high. The findings can provide references for the design of a button cutter.
Evaluation of Substituted N-Aryl Maleimide and Acrylamides for Bioconjugation
Authors: Hiscocks Hugh G. , Pascali Giancarlo , Ung Alison T.
Published: May 2023

Novel SF5-bearing maleimide and acrylamide derivatives were synthesised as potential [18F]radio-prosthetic groups for radiolabelling peptides and proteins. The efficacy of selected prosthetic groups was first assessed through bioconjugation with protected model amino acid derivatives. These reactions were investigated on an analytical scale via LC-MS across a pH range to quantitatively evaluate this prosthetic group’s reactivity and stability. Model bioconjugate reactions were then replicated using analogous para-substituted derivatives to determine the influence of the electronic effects of -SF5. Finally, the SF5-bearing prosthetic groups were utilised for bioconjugation with cancer-targeting c-RGD peptides. N-aryl maleimides reacted extremely efficiently with the model amino acid N-acetyl-L-cysteine. The subsequent conjugates were obtained as regio-isomeric mixtures of the corresponding thio-succinamic acids in yields of 80–96%. Monitoring the bioconjugate reaction by LC-MS revealed that ring hydrolysis of the intermediate SF5–thio-succinimide conjugate occurred instantaneously, an advantageous quality in minimising undesirable thiol exchange reactions with non-targeted cysteine residues. In contrast, N-aryl acrylamides demonstrated poor solubility in semi-aqueous media (<1 mM). In turn, synthetic-scale model bioconjugations with Nα-acetyl-L-lysine were performed in methanol, affording the corresponding acrylamide conjugates in modest to high yield (58–89%). Including electron-deficient, fluorinated prosthetic groups for bioconjugation will broaden their applicability within the fields of 19F-MRI and PET imaging.
Startle Responses of Jorō Spiders (Trichonephila clavata) to Artificial Disturbance
Authors: Davis Andrew K. , Anerao Amitesh V.
Published: May 2023

The jorō spider (Trichonephila clavata, originally from east Asia) has been introduced in the southeastern United States, and is rapidly expanding this range, leading to questions about what facilitates this spread. Meanwhile, its cousin, the golden silk spider (T. clavipes), already has a range that covers most of the southeast. In an ongoing effort to understand the behavior of jorō spiders in their introduced range, we undertook the current project to evaluate how they react to perceived threats, which can inform us on how a species interacts with conspecifics, or how well it can tolerate anthropogenic disturbances. We collected mature females of both Trichonephila species, plus three locally common orb-weaving species in Georgia, and we evaluated the time spent immobile after experiencing a mild disturbance (a brief puff of air). We also collected similar “air puff response” data for five other North American species from the published literature. Collectively, the dataset totaled 453 observations of freezing behavior across 10 spider species. Comparing these data across species revealed that most spiders remained immobile for under a minute after the stimulus. Meanwhile, both Trichonephila spiders remained immobile for over an hour, which appears to be unprecedented, and suggests that spiders in this genus are the “shyest” ever documented. This reaction could also allow Trichonephila spiders to tolerate urban environments by remaining motionless throughout each disturbance instead of fleeing.
Attosecond Time Delay Trends across the Isoelectronic Noble Gas Sequence
Authors: Grafstrom Brock , Landsman Alexandra S.
Published: May 2023

The analysis and measurement of Wigner time delays can provide detailed information about the electronic environment within and around atomic and molecular systems, with one the key differences being the lack of a long-range potential after a halogen ion undergoes photoionization. In this work, we use relativistic random-phase approximation to calculate the average Wigner delay from the highest occupied subshells of the atomic pairings (2p, 2s in Fluorine, Neon), (3p, 3s in Chlorine, Argon), (4p, 4s, 3d, in Bromine, Krypton), and (5p, 5s, 4d in Iodine, Xenon). The qualitative behaviors of the Wigner delays between the isoelectronic pairings were found to be similar in nature, with the only large differences occurring at photoelectron energies less than 20 eV and around Cooper minima. Interestingly, the relative shift in Wigner time delays between negatively charged halogens and noble gases decreases as atomic mass increases. All atomic pairings show large differences at low energies, with noble gas atoms showing large positive Wigner delays, while negatively charged halogen ions show negative delays. The implications for photoionization studies in halide-containing molecules is also discussed.
A Time-Varying Coefficient Double Threshold GARCH Model with Explanatory Variables
Authors: Zhang Tongwei , Fu Lianyan , Wang Dehui , Yu Zhuoxi
Published: May 2023

In this article, we consider the nonparametric inference for the time-varying coefficient double-threshold generalized autoregressive conditional heteroscedastic models. The quasi-maximum exponential likelihood estimators (QMELEs) of the model’s parameters and the asymptotic properties of the estimators are obtained. The simulation study implies that the distribution of the estimators is asymptotically normal. A real data application to stock returns is given. Both the simulations and real data example imply that the model and the QMELE are proper, compatible and accurately fit the financial time series data of the Nikkei 225.
Control-Oriented Electrochemical Model and Parameter Estimation for an All-Copper Redox Flow Battery
Authors: Badenhorst Wouter , Jensen Christian M. , Jakobsen Uffe , Esfahani Zahra , Murtomäki Lasse
Published: May 2023

Redox flow batteries are an emergent technology in the field of energy storage for power grids with high renewable generator penetration. The copper redox flow battery (CuRFB) could play a significant role in the future of electrochemical energy storage systems due to the numerous advantages of its all-copper chemistry. Furthermore, like the more mature vanadium RFB technology, CuRFBs have the ability to independently scale power and capacity while displaying very fast response times that make the technology attractive for a variety of grid-supporting applications. As with most batteries, the efficient operation of a CuRFB is dependent on high-quality control of both the charging and discharging process. In RFBs, this is typically complicated by highly nonlinear behaviour, particularly at either extreme of the state of charge. Therefore, the focus of this paper is the development and validation of a first-principle, control-appropriate model of the CuRFBs electrochemistry that includes the impact of the flow, charging current, and capacity fading due to diffusion and subsequent comproportionation. Parameters for the proposed model are identified using a genetic algorithm, and the proposed model is validated along with its identified parameters using data obtained from a single-cell CuRFB flow battery as well as a simpler diffusion cell design. The proposed model yields good qualitative fits to experimental data and physically plausible concentration estimates and appears able to quantify the long-term state of health due to changes in the diffusion coefficient
A Low-Cost Fertilizer Medium Supplemented with Urea for the Lutein Production of Chlorella sp. and the Ability of the Lutein to Protect Cells against Blue Light Irradiation
Authors: Kuo Chiu-Mei , Yang Yi-Chun , Zhang Wen-Xin , Wu Jia-Xun , Chen Yu-Tso , Lin Cheng-Han , Lin Meng-Wei , Lin Chih-Sheng
Published: May 2023

This study aimed to investigate the use of organic fertilizers instead of modified f/2 medium for Chlorella sp. cultivation, and the extracted lutein of the microalga to protect mammal cells against blue-light irradiation. The biomass productivity and lutein content of Chlorella sp. cultured in 20 g/L fertilizer medium for 6 days were 1.04 g/L/d and 4.41 mg/g, respectively. These values are approximately 1.3- and 1.4-fold higher than those achieved with the modified f/2 medium, respectively. The cost of medium per gram of microalgal biomass reduced by about 97%. The microalgal lutein content was further increased to 6.03 mg/g in 20 g/L fertilizer medium when supplemented with 20 mM urea, and the cost of medium per gram lutein reduced by about 96%. When doses of ≥1 μM microalgal lutein were used to protect mammal NIH/3T3 cells, there was a significant reduction in the levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced by the cells in the following blue-light irradiation treatments. The results show that microalgal lutein produced by fertilizers with urea supplements has the potential to develop anti-blue-light oxidation products and reduce the economic challenges of microalgal biomass applied to carbon biofixation and biofuel production.
Behavioral and Psychiatric Symptoms in Patients with Severe Traumatic Brain Injury: A Comprehensive Overview
Authors: Torregrossa William , Raciti Loredana , Rifici Carmela , Rizzo Giuseppina , Raciti Gianfranco , Casella Carmela , Naro Antonino , Calabrò Rocco Salvatore
Published: May 2023

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is defined as an altered brain structure or function produced by an external force. Adults surviving moderate and severe TBI often experience long-lasting neuropsychological and neuropsychiatric disorders (NPS). NPS can occur as primary psychiatric complications or could be an exacerbation of pre-existing compensated conditions. It has been shown that changes in behavior following moderate to severe TBI have a prevalence rate of 25–88%, depending on the methodology used by the different studies. Most of current literature has found that cognitive behavioral and emotional deficit following TBI occurs within the first six months whereas after 1–2 years the condition becomes stable. Identifying the risk factors for poor outcome is the first step to reduce the sequelae. Patients with TBI have an adjusted relative risk of developing any NPS several-fold higher than in the general population after six months of moderate–severe TBI. All NPS features of an individual’s life, including social, working, and familiar relationships, may be affected by the injury, with negative consequences on quality of life. This overview aims to investigate the most frequent psychiatric, behavioral, and emotional symptoms in patients suffering from TBI as to improve the clinical practice and tailor a more specific rehabilitation training.
Association between Organochlorine Pesticides and Vitamin D in Female Subjects
Authors: Brennan Edwina , Butler Alexandra E. , Nandakumar Manjula , Drage Daniel S. , Sathyapalan Thozhukat , Atkin Stephen L.
Published: May 2023

In human population studies, organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) have been linked to vitamin D deficiency. Therefore, this study examined the association between OCPs, vitamin D3 (cholecalciferol, 25(OH)D3), and the active metabolite 1,25-dihydrovitamin D3 (1,25(OH)2D3) in a cohort of non-obese women. The serum samples of 58 female participants (age—31.9 ± 4.6 years; body mass index (BMI)—25.7 ± 3.7 kg/m2) were screened for 10 indicator OCPs. 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were determined via isotope dilution liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry. In this cohort, the 25(OH)D3 and 1,25(OH)2D3 levels were 22.9 ± 11.2 ng/mL and 0.05 ± 0.02 ng/mL, respectively, with 28 participants classified as 25(OH)D3-deficient (<50 nmol/L). In the study cohort, no correlations were found between individual or total OCPs (ƩOCPs) and 25(OH)D3. p,p′-dichlorodiphenyldichloroethylene (DDE) and ƩOCPs correlated positively with 1,25(OH)2D3, with the latter being negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR). In women with sufficient 25(OH)D3 levels, p,p′-dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethan (DDT) was positively correlated with 1,25(OH)2D3, whilst in the deficient group, hexachlorobenzene (HCB) and p,p′-(DDE) were positively correlated with 1,25(OH)2D3, β-Hexachlorocyclohexane (HCH) was positively correlated with 25(OH)D3, and none of the OCPs were associated with measures of renal function. Overall, OCPs and ƩOCPs were not associated with 25(OH)D3, suggesting that they are unrelated to vitamin D deficiency, but p,p′-DDE and ƩOCPs correlated positively with active 1,25(OH)2D3, while ƩOCPs correlated negatively with eGFR, suggesting a possible renal effect. Analysis of vitamin D deficiency revealed an association between β-HCH and 25(OH)D3, and between HCB and p,p′-DDE and 1,25(OH)2D3, suggesting that OCP effects may be enhanced in cases of vitamin D deficiency.
Revisiting Resveratrol as an Osteoprotective Agent: Molecular Evidence from In Vivo and In Vitro Studies
Authors: Ahmad Hairi Haryati , Jayusman Putri Ayu , Shuid Ahmad Nazrun
Published: May 2023

Resveratrol (RSV) (3,5,4′-trihydroxystilbene) is a stilbene found in abundance in berry fruits, peanuts, and some medicinal plants. It has a diverse range of pharmacological activities, underlining the significance of illness prevention and health promotion. The purpose of this review was to delve deeper into RSV’s bone-protective properties as well as its molecular mechanisms. Several in vivo studies have found the bone-protective effects of RSV in postmenopausal, senile, and disuse osteoporosis rat models. RSV has been shown to inhibit NF-κB and RANKL-mediated osteoclastogenesis, oxidative stress, and inflammation while increasing osteogenesis and boosting differentiation of mesenchymal stem cells to osteoblasts. Wnt/β-catenin, MAPKs/JNK/ERK, PI3K/AKT, FoxOs, microRNAs, and BMP2 are among the possible kinases and proteins involved in the underlying mechanisms. RSV has also been shown to be the most potent SIRT1 activator to cause stimulatory effects on osteoblasts and inhibitory effects on osteoclasts. RSV may, thus, represent a novel therapeutic strategy for increasing bone growth and reducing bone loss in the elderly and postmenopausal population.
Microvascular Fragments Protect Ischemic Musculocutaneous Flap Tissue from Necrosis by Improving Nutritive Tissue Perfusion and Suppressing Apoptosis
Authors: Weinzierl Andrea , Harder Yves , Schmauss Daniel , Menger Michael D. , Laschke Matthias W.
Published: May 2023

Microvascular fragments (MVF) derived from enzymatically digested adipose tissue are functional vessel segments that have been shown to increase the survival rate of surgical flaps. However, the underlying mechanisms have not been clarified so far. To achieve this, we raised random-pattern musculocutaneous flaps on the back of wild-type mice and mounted them into dorsal skinfold chambers. The flaps were injected with MVF that were freshly isolated from green fluorescent protein-positive (GFP+) donor mice or saline solution (control). On days 1, 3, 5, 7, and 10 after surgery, intravital fluorescence microscopy was performed for the quantitative assessment of angiogenesis, nutritive blood perfusion, and flap necrosis. Subsequently, the flaps were analyzed by histology and immunohistochemistry. The injection of MVF reduced necrosis of the ischemic flap tissue by ~20%. When compared to controls, MVF-injected flaps also displayed a significantly higher functional capillary density and number of newly formed microvessels in the transition zone, where vital tissue bordered on necrotic tissue. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed a markedly lower number of cleaved caspase-3+ apoptotic cells in the transition zone of MVF-injected flaps and a significantly increased number of CD31+ microvessels in both the flaps’ base and transition zone. Up to ~10% of these microvessels were GFP+, proving their origin from injected MVF. These findings demonstrate that MVF reduce flap necrosis by increasing angiogenesis, improving nutritive tissue perfusion, and suppressing apoptosis. Hence, the injection of MVF may represent a promising strategy to reduce ischemia-induced flap necrosis in future clinical practice.
Identification of Degradation Products of the New Anticancer Drug Substance ONC201 by Liquid Chromatography–High-Resolution Multistage Mass Spectrometry
Authors: Annereau Maxime , Vignes Marina , Bouchema Tahar Sif Eddine , Denis Lucas , Solgadi Audrey , Vieillard Victoire , Paul Muriel , Rieutord André , Grill Jacques , Secretan Philippe-Henri , Do Bernard
Published: May 2023

ONC201 (dordaviprone) is a new drug substance used in a compassionate manner to treat patients with glioblastoma. Given the clinical context and the particularly promising preclinical results, we have been asked by the medical authorities to make a first treatment available throughout France as a hospital preparation to allow access to treatment and to conduct clinical trials. However, to control the quality and safety conditions inherent in this academic manufacturing process, while there is virtually no data available to date to understand the stability of ONC201, we had to determine the stability profile of ONC201, i.e., its sensitivity to different stressors and the types of impurities that could form during its degradation. We found that ONC201 was sensitive to oxidation in the presence of hydrogen peroxide or under light irradiation. Both conditions resulted in the formation of 20 degradation products detected and identified by liquid chromatography–high-resolution mass spectrometry. Their structural elucidation required an in-depth study of the fragmentation pattern of protonated ONC201, described for the first time. The product ions of the degradation products were compared to those of ONC201 protonated ion to assign the most plausible structures for all the detected degradation products. Of these degradation products, those that were rapidly produced, of high intensity and/or identified as potentially having a different toxicity profile to ONC201 by in silico studies, were selected to be monitored during batch release testing and stability studies.
Cardiovascular Disease in Children: The Future Is Now
Authors: Lava Sebastiano A. G.
Published: May 2023

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide [...]
Quality of Life Outcomes for Patients Who Underwent Conventional Resection and Liver Transplantation for Locally Advanced Hepatoblastoma
Authors: Farooqui Zishaan , Johnston Michael , Schepers Emily , Brewer Nathalie , Hartman Stephen , Jenkins Todd , Bondoc Alexander , Pai Ahna , Geller James , Tiao Gregory M.
Published: May 2023

Hepatoblastoma is the most common malignant liver tumor of childhood, with liver transplant and extended resection used as surgical treatments for locally advanced tumors. Although each approach has well-described post-operative complications, quality-of-life outcomes have not been described following the two interventions. Long-term pediatric survivors of hepatoblastoma who underwent conventional liver resection or liver transplantation at a single institution from January 2000–December 2013 were recruited to complete quality-of-life surveys. Survey responses for the Pediatric Quality of Life Generic Core 4.0 (PedsQL, n = 30 patient and n = 31 parent surveys) and Pediatric Quality of Life Cancer Module 3.0 (PedsQL-Cancer, n = 29 patient and n = 31 parent surveys) were collected from patients and parents. The mean total patient-reported PedsQL score was 73.7, and the parent-reported score was 73.9. There were no significant differences in scores on the PedsQL between patients who underwent resection compared to those who underwent transplantation (p > 0.05 for all comparisons). On the PedsQL-Cancer module, procedural anxiety scores were significantly lower for patients who underwent resection as compared to transplant (M = 33.47 points less, CI [−60.41, −6.53], p-value 0.017). This cross-sectional study demonstrates that quality of life outcomes are overall similar among patients receiving transplants and resections. Patients who received a resection reported worse procedural anxiety.
Is Th17-Targeted Therapy Effective in Systemic Lupus Erythematosus?
Authors: Petrić Marin , Radić Mislav
Published: May 2023

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disease with a broad spectrum of clinical manifestations. The proposed pathophysiological hypotheses of SLE are numerous, involving both innate and adaptive abnormal immune responses. SLE is characterized by the overproduction of different autoantibodies that form immune complexes, which cause damage in different organs. Current therapeutic modalities are anti-inflammatory and immunosuppressive. In the last decade, we have witnessed the development of many biologicals targeting different cytokines and other molecules. One of them is interleukin-17 (IL-17), a central cytokine of a proinflammatory process that is mediated by a group of helper T cells called Th17. Direct inhibitors of IL-17 are used in psoriatic arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and other diseases. Evidence about the therapeutic potential of Th17-targeted therapies in SLE is scarce, and probably the most promising is related to lupus nephritis. As SLE is a complex heterogeneous disease with different cytokines involved in its pathogenesis, it is highly unlikely that inhibition of only one molecule, such as IL-17, will be effective in the treatment of all clinical manifestations. Future studies should identify SLE patients that are eligible for Th17-targeted therapy.
Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage in Saline Aquifers: Subsurface Policies, Development Plans, Well Control Strategies and Optimization Approaches—A Review
Authors: Ismail Ismail , Gaganis Vassilis
Published: May 2023

To mitigate dangerous climate change effects, the 195 countries that signed the 2015 Paris Agreement agreed to “keep the increase in average global surface temperature below 2 °C and limit the increase to 1.5 °C” by reducing carbon emissions. One promising option for reducing carbon emissions is the deployment of carbon capture, utilization, and storage technologies (CCUS) to achieve climate goals. However, for large-scale deployment of underground carbon storage, it is essential to develop technically sound, safe, and cost-effective CO2 injection and well control strategies. This involves sophisticated balancing of various factors such as subsurface engineering policies, technical constraints, and economic trade-offs. Optimization techniques are the best tools to manage this complexity and ensure that CCUS projects are economically viable while maintaining safety and environmental standards. This work reviews thoroughly and critically carbon storage studies, along with the optimization of CO2 injection and well control strategies in saline aquifers. The result of this review provides the foundation for carbon storage by outlining the key subsurface policies and the application of these policies in carbon storage development plans. It also focusses on examining applied optimization techniques to develop CO2 injection and well control strategies in saline aquifers, providing insights for future work and commercial CCUS applications.
Analysis of Hydrometeorological Trends and Drought Severity in Water-Demanding Mediterranean Islands under Climate Change Conditions
Authors: Stathi Efthymia , Kastridis Aristeidis , Myronidis Dimitrios
Published: May 2023

Global climate change has emerged as a problem in recent years, and its effects will likely continue to increase in the future. Several scientific studies conducted in the Mediterranean region have demonstrated relatively stationary trends for annual precipitation and significant upward trends for mean annual temperature. These trends present several implications, especially in the Greek islands that serve as major summer tourist destinations where the population is already unable to meet their water demands. The aim of this study is to investigate both long- and short-term variations in temperature and precipitation on three Greek islands in the Mediterranean Sea (Mykonos, Naxos, and Kos). The temperature and rainfall trends, as well as their magnitudes at yearly, seasonal, and monthly time steps, were determined using the non-parametric Mann–Kendall trend test. The Standardized Precipitation Index (SPI) was employed to identify the drought periods. According to the results, precipitation slightly increased (almost stationary) in the three islands, although this rise was not statistically significant. All three islands experienced a sharp and statistically significant increase in their mean annual air temperatures. The region may experience drought episodes as a result of the high temperature increase, which would drastically reduce the amount of water, available for use due to the increased evapotranspiration. For the Mediterranean region, the necessity for a drought management strategy to stop or diminish the severity of drought episodes and their effects has grown into a matter of great concern. It is crucial to take measures and conduct relevant research in order to create the conditions for adaptation and mitigation of climate change consequences and the increased appearance of drought phenomena.
The Relationship between Sleep, Chronotype, and Dental Caries—A Narrative Review
Authors: Kurtović Anamaria , Talapko Jasminka , Bekić Sanja , Škrlec Ivana
Published: May 2023

This article provides an overview of how sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances mutually influence the occurrence of dental caries and how it is possible to reduce the risk of circadian rhythm disturbances, sleep, and associated adverse effects. Dental caries is a global problem worldwide that contributes to sociological limitations. Numerous factors influence the occurrence of dental caries, from socioeconomic factors to cariogenic bacteria, dietary habits, and oral hygiene. However, sleep disorders and circadian rhythm disturbances represent a new approach in the fight against the increasing prevalence of dental caries worldwide. Bacteria in the oral cavity and the oral microbiome are mainly responsible for the development of caries, and saliva plays an important role in their regulation. The circadian rhythm regulates numerous physiological functions, including sleep and saliva production. Disturbances in sleep and circadian rhythms affect saliva production, which impacts the development of dental caries, as saliva is necessary for regulating and maintaining oral health, especially for controlling oral infections. A person’s preference for a particular time of day depends on the circadian rhythm called chronotype. Individuals with an evening chronotype have a less healthy lifestyle that can lead to a higher caries risk than individuals with a morning chronotype. Because circadian rhythms are critical to maintaining sleep homeostasis and oral health, sleep disturbances can disrupt circadian rhythms and lead to a vicious cycle.
Diphenyl-Furanones and Diphenyl-Oxopyrrole Derivatives: From Analytical Reagents for Amino Groups to New Fluorochromes for Cytochemical Staining of Chromatin DNA and Chromosomes: Proposal for Intercalative Binding and Fluorescence Mechanism
Authors: Stockert Juan C. , Romero Silvina A. , Felix-Pozzi Marcelo N. , Blázquez-Castro Alfonso
Published: May 2023

Diaryl-furanones are specific analytical reagents for the biochemical detection of primary amines by fluorescence techniques. Well-known reagents are fluorescamine (Fluram) and 2-methoxy-2,4-diphenyl-3(2H)-furanone (MDPF), yielding fluorescent products with λem at 480–490 nm. Although the reaction products claim to be pyrrolinones, recent studies show that they are really 3-oxopyrrole (pyrrolone) derivatives. Both reagents have been used for the cytochemical demonstration of primary amines. In this work, we have applied the fluorescent products of MDPF with amines (n-butylamine, BA; glucosamine, GA; and spermine, Sp), which showed interesting fluorescence reactions with chromatin DNA. 2,4-diphenyl-3-oxopyrrole products (diPOPy) can be easily synthesized according to well-known procedures, by mixing solutions of MDPF in acetone with water at pH 9 containing the amino compounds. DiPOPy derivatives of BA, GA, and Sp were used for spectroscopic, microscopic, and molecular modeling studies, showing a bright and selective blue–green fluorescence on DNA substrates, mainly chromatin, kinetoplast DNA, and stretched chromatin fibers. The cationic diPOPy fluorophore is planar, with a high partial positive charge in the N atom, and suitable for intercalative binding to DNA. A mechanism of fluorescamine fluorescence due to an inner-salt isomeric form is proposed, and an astonishing correlation between adenine–thymine-rich centromeric heterochromatin in mouse metaphase chromosomes after reaction of the fluorescamine reagent with protein amino groups is also discussed.
A Multiple Response Prediction Model for Dissimilar AA-5083 and AA-6061 Friction Stir Welding Using a Combination of AMIS and Machine Learning
Authors: Kraiklang Rungwasun , Chueadee Chakat , Jirasirilerd Ganokgarn , Sirirak Worapot , Gonwirat Sarayut
Published: May 2023

This study presents a methodology that combines artificial multiple intelligence systems (AMISs) and machine learning to forecast the ultimate tensile strength (UTS), maximum hardness (MH), and heat input (HI) of AA-5083 and AA-6061 friction stir welding. The machine learning model integrates two machine learning methods, Gaussian process regression (GPR) and a support vector machine (SVM), into a single model, and then uses the AMIS as the decision fusion strategy to merge SVM and GPR. The generated model was utilized to anticipate three objectives based on seven controlled/input parameters. These parameters were: tool tilt angle, rotating speed, travel speed, shoulder diameter, pin geometry, type of reinforcing particles, and tool pin movement mechanism. The effectiveness of the model was evaluated using a two-experiment framework. In the first experiment, we used two newly produced datasets, (1) the 7PI-V1 dataset and (2) the 7PI-V2 dataset, and compared the results with state-of-the-art approaches. The second experiment used existing datasets from the literature with varying base materials and parameters. The computational results revealed that the proposed method produced more accurate prediction results than the previous methods. For all datasets, the proposed strategy outperformed existing methods and state-of-the-art processes by an average of 1.35% to 6.78%.
Flexible and Efficient Multi-Keyword Ranked Searchable Attribute-Based Encryption Schemes
Authors: Lin Je-Kuan , Lin Wun-Ting , Wu Ja-Ling
Published: May 2023

Currently, cloud computing has become increasingly popular and thus, many people and institutions choose to put their data into the cloud instead of local environments. Given the massive amount of data and the fidelity of cloud servers, adequate security protection and efficient retrieval mechanisms for stored data have become critical problems. Attribute-based encryption brings the ability of fine-grained access control and can achieve a direct encrypted data search while being combined with searchable encryption algorithms. However, most existing schemes only support single-keyword or provide no ranking searching results, which could be inflexible and inefficient in satisfying the real world’s actual needs. We propose a flexible multi-keyword ranked searchable attribute-based scheme using search trees to overcome the above-mentioned problems, allowing users to combine their fuzzy searching keywords with AND–OR logic gates. Moreover, our enhanced scheme not only improves its privacy protection but also goes a step further to apply a semantic search to boost the flexibility and the searching experience of users. With the proposed index-table method and the tree-based searching algorithm, we proved the efficiency and security of our schemes through a series of analyses and experiments.
Pediatric Brain Tumours: Lessons from the Immune Microenvironment
Authors: Yao Betty , Delaidelli Alberto , Vogel Hannes , Sorensen Poul H.
Published: May 2023

In spite of recent advances in tumour molecular subtyping, pediatric brain tumours (PBTs) remain the leading cause of cancer-related deaths in children. While some PBTs are treatable with favourable outcomes, recurrent and metastatic disease for certain types of PBTs remains challenging and is often fatal. Tumour immunotherapy has emerged as a hopeful avenue for the treatment of childhood tumours, and recent immunotherapy efforts have been directed towards PBTs. This strategy has the potential to combat otherwise incurable PBTs, while minimizing off-target effects and long-term sequelae. As the infiltration and activation states of immune cells, including tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes and tumour-associated macrophages, are key to shaping responses towards immunotherapy, this review explores the immune landscape of the developing brain and discusses the tumour immune microenvironments of common PBTs, with hopes of conferring insights that may inform future treatment design.
Sex or Fission? Genetics Highlight Differences in Reproductive Strategies of Two Sympatric Fissiparous Sea Cucumber Species in Reunion Island (Southwestern Indian Ocean)
Authors: Pierrat Joséphine , Oury Nicolas , Frouin Patrick , Magalon Hélène
Published: May 2023

Holothuria leucospilota and Stichopus chloronotus are among the most widespread tropical sea cucumber species usually harvested for food and medicine in Asian countries, for which natural stocks have collapsed worldwide. Both species can reproduce sexually and asexually, and a better understanding of their reproductive strategy can provide useful information for conservation purposes. To describe the genetic structure and diversity of sympatric populations from these species in space and time, individuals were sampled over different sites and seasons in Reunion Island (Southwestern Indian Ocean). They were genotyped using 24 and 9 specific microsatellite markers for H. leucospilota and S. chloronotus, respectively. Multi-locus genotypes (MLG) and lineages (MLL) were identified, and analyses of population structure were performed among sites and seasons. No repeated MLG nor MLL were found for H. leucospilota, demonstrating the absence of asexual reproduction. Populations of H. leucospilota were not genetically differentiated, acting as a metapopulation, with larval exchanges within the reef. Contrarily, repeated MLGs were found for S. chloronotus and all populations were genetically differentiated. Asexual reproduction seems to reach a high level for this species (mean clonal richness = 0.24). For both species, genetic structure was stable through seasons. Thus, these sympatric fissiparous sea cucumber species use two different strategies of reproduction, which may allow them to reduce interspecific competition.
Ensuring Explainability and Dimensionality Reduction in a Multidimensional HSI World for Early XAI-Diagnostics of Plant Stress
Authors: Lysov Maxim , Pukhkiy Konstantin , Vasiliev Evgeny , Getmanskaya Alexandra , Turlapov Vadim
Published: May 2023

This work is mostly devoted to the search for effective solutions to the problem of early diagnosis of plant stress (given an example of wheat and its drought stress), which would be based on explainable artificial intelligence (XAI). The main idea is to combine the benefits of two of the most popular agricultural data sources, hyperspectral images (HSI) and thermal infrared images (TIR), in a single XAI model. Our own dataset of a 25-day experiment was used, which was created via both (1) an HSI camera Specim IQ (400–1000 nm, 204, 512 × 512) and (2) a TIR camera Testo 885-2 (320 × 240, res. 0.1 °C). The HSI were a source of the k-dimensional high-level features of plants (k ≤ K, where K is the number of HSI channels) for the learning process. Such combination was implemented as a single-layer perceptron (SLP) regressor, which is the main feature of the XAI model and receives as input an HSI pixel-signature belonging to the plant mask, which then automatically through the mask receives a mark from the TIR. The correlation of HSI channels with the TIR image on the plant’s mask on the days of the experiment was studied. It was established that HSI channel 143 (820 nm) was the most correlated with TIR. The problem of training the HSI signatures of plants with their corresponding temperature value via the XAI model was solved. The RMSE of plant temperature prediction is 0.2–0.3 °C, which is acceptable for early diagnostics. Each HSI pixel was represented in training by a number (k) of channels (k ≤ K = 204 in our case). The number of channels used for training was minimized by a factor of 25–30, from 204 to eight or seven, while maintaining the RMSE value. The model is computationally efficient in training; the average training time was much less than one minute (Intel Core i3-8130U, 2.2 GHz, 4 cores, 4 GB). This XAI model can be considered a research-aimed model (R-XAI), which allows the transfer of knowledge about plants from the TIR domain to the HSI domain, with their contrasting onto only a few from hundreds of HSI channels.
Process and Time
Authors: Sulis William
Published: May 2023

In regards to the nature of time, it has become commonplace to hear physicists state that time does not exist and that the perception of time passing and of events occurring in time is an illusion. In this paper, I argue that physics is actually agnostic on the question of the nature of time. The standard arguments against its existence all suffer from implicit biases and hidden assumptions, rendering many of them circular in nature. An alternative viewpoint to that of Newtonian materialism is the process view of Whitehead. I will show that the process perspective supports the reality of becoming, of happening, and of change. At the fundamental level, time is an expression of the action of process generating the elements of reality. Metrical space–time is an emergent aspect of relations between process-generated entities. Such a view is compatible with existing physics. The situation of time in physics is reminiscent of that of the continuum hypothesis in mathematical logic. It may be an independent assumption, not provable within physics proper (though it may someday be amenable to experimental exploration).
Liquidity Creation, Oil Term of Trade Shocks, and Growth Volatility in Middle Eastern and North African Countries (MENA)
Authors: Almeshari Ali , Bin Dato Haji Yahya Mohamed Hisham , Kamarudin Fakarudin Bin , Ali Rosalan , Abd Hamid Sha’ari
Published: May 2023

Both real and monetary shocks have been extensively researched, with conflicting findings on the involvement of the banking sector following the occurrence of these shocks. Nonetheless, liquidity creation (LC) appears to be one of the most underappreciated banking operations. This research analyses the impact of LC on economic volatility and the mechanisms through which LC influences volatility in 10 MENA countries from 2000 to 2019. Using a recently published panel cointegration estimating approach, we show that LC does influence growth volatility over the long term and short term—in other words, LC, as a primary activity of banks, helps to reduce volatility. According to PMG’s findings, both real and monetary shocks significantly increase volatility in the short term compared to their influence in the long term. The channels of expression show that LC mitigates the influence of real shocks (amplifies the effect of monetary shocks) on growth volatility, and there is a greater magnitude of this effect in the short term. Strengthening the banking industry through LC, which is their primary business, could be a critical strategy in avoiding economic swings.
Few-Shot Learning for Multi-POSE Face Recognition via Hypergraph De-Deflection and Multi-Task Collaborative Optimization
Authors: Fan Xiaojin , Liao Mengmeng , Chen Lei , Hu Jingjing
Published: May 2023

Few-shot, multi-pose face recognition has always been an interesting yet difficult subject in the field of pattern recognition. Researchers have come up with a variety of workarounds; however, these methods make it either difficult to extract effective features that are robust to poses or difficult to obtain globally optimal solutions. In this paper, we propose a few-shot, multi-pose face recognition method based on hypergraph de-deflection and multi-task collaborative optimization (HDMCO). In HDMCO, the hypergraph is embedded in a non-negative image decomposition to obtain images without pose deflection. Furthermore, a feature encoding method is proposed by considering the importance of samples and combining support vector data description, triangle coding, etc. This feature encoding method is used to extract features from pose-free images. Last but not the least, multi-tasks such as feature extraction and feature recognition are jointly optimized to obtain a solution closer to the global optimal solution. Comprehensive experimental results show that the proposed HDMCO achieves better recognition performance.