bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characterization of Targetable Mutations (BRAF V600E and KRAS G12C) in Advanced Colorectal Cancer—A Nation-Wide Study
Authors: Potocki Paweł M. , Wójcik Piotr , Chmura Łukasz , Goc Bartłomiej , Fedewicz Marcin , Bielańska Zofia , Swadźba Jakub , Konopka Kamil , Kwinta Łukasz , Wysocki Piotr J.
Published: May 2023

BRAF V600E and KRAS mutations that occur in colorectal cancer (CRC) define a subpopulation of patients with an inferior prognosis. Recently, the first BRAF V600E-targeting therapy has been approved and novel agents targeting KRAS G12C are being evaluated in CRC. A better understanding of the clinical characteristics of the populations defined by those mutations is needed. We created a retrospective database that collects clinical characteristics of patients with metastatic CRC evaluated for RAS and BRAF mutations in a single laboratory. A total of 7604 patients tested between October 2017 and December 2019 were included in the analysis. The prevalence of BRAF V600E was 6.77%. Female sex, primary in the right colon, high-grade, mucinous, signet cell, partially neuroendocrine histology, perineural and vascular invasion, and surgical tissue sample were factors associated with increased mutation rates. The prevalence of KRAS G12C was 3.11%. Cancer of primary origin in the left colon and in samples from brain metastases were associated with increased mutation rates. The high prevalence of the BRAF V600E mutation in cancers with a neuroendocrine component identifies a potential candidate population for BRAF inhibition. The association of KRAS G12C with the left part of the intestine and brain metastases of CRC are new findings and require further investigation.
Sequential Treatment with Temozolomide Plus Naturally Derived AT101 as an Alternative Therapeutic Strategy: Insights into Chemoresistance Mechanisms of Surviving Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Hellmold Dana , Kubelt Carolin , Daunke Tina , Beckinger Silje , Janssen Ottmar , Hauck Margarethe , Schütt Fabian , Adelung Rainer , Lucius Ralph , Haag Jochen , Sebens Susanne , Synowitz Michael , Held-Feindt Janka
Published: May 2023

Glioblastoma (GBM) is a poorly treatable disease due to the fast development of tumor recurrences and high resistance to chemo- and radiotherapy. To overcome the highly adaptive behavior of GBMs, especially multimodal therapeutic approaches also including natural adjuvants have been investigated. However, despite increased efficiency, some GBM cells are still able to survive these advanced treatment regimens. Given this, the present study evaluates representative chemoresistance mechanisms of surviving human GBM primary cells in a complex in vitro co-culture model upon sequential application of temozolomide (TMZ) combined with AT101, the R(-) enantiomer of the naturally occurring cottonseed-derived gossypol. Treatment with TMZ+AT101/AT101, although highly efficient, yielded a predominance of phosphatidylserine-positive GBM cells over time. Analysis of the intracellular effects revealed phosphorylation of AKT, mTOR, and GSK3ß, resulting in the induction of various pro-tumorigenic genes in surviving GBM cells. A Torin2-mediated mTOR inhibition combined with TMZ+AT101/AT101 partly counteracted the observed TMZ+AT101/AT101-associated effects. Interestingly, treatment with TMZ+AT101/AT101 concomitantly changed the amount and composition of extracellular vesicles released from surviving GBM cells. Taken together, our analyses revealed that even when chemotherapeutic agents with different effector mechanisms are combined, a variety of chemoresistance mechanisms of surviving GBM cells must be taken into account.
Toxic Determination of Cry11 Mutated Proteins Obtained Using Rational Design and Its Computational Analysis
Authors: Suárez-Barrera Miguel O. , Herrera-Pineda Diego F. , Rondón-Villarreal Paola , Pinzón-Reyes Efraín Hernando , Ochoa Rodrigo , Visser Lydia , Rueda-Forero Nohora Juliana
Published: May 2023

Cry11 proteins are toxic to Aedes aegypti, the vector of dengue, chikungunya, and Zika viruses. Cry11Aa and Cry11Bb are protoxins, which when activated present their active-toxin form in two fragments between 30 and 35 kDa respectively. Previous studies conducted with Cry11Aa and Cry11Bb genes using DNA shuffling generated variant 8, which presented a deletion in the first 73 amino acids and one at position 572 and 9 substitutions including L553F and L556W. In this study, variant 8 mutants were constructed using site-directed mutagenesis, resulting in conversion of phenylalanine (F) and tryptophan (W) to leucine (L) at positions 553 and 556, respectively, producing the mutants 8F553L, 8W556L, and 8F553L/8W556L. Additionally, two mutants, A92D and C157R, derived from Cry11Bb were also generated. The proteins were expressed in the non-crystal strain BMB171 of Bacillus thuringiensis and subjected to median-lethal concentration (LC50) tests on first-instar larvae of A. aegypti. LC50 analysis showed that the 8F553L, 8W556L, 8F553L/8W556L, and C157R variants lost their toxic activity (>500 ng·mL−1), whereas the A92D protein presented a loss of toxicity of 11.4 times that of Cry11Bb. Cytotoxicity assays performed using variant 8, 8W556L and the controls Cry11Aa, Cry11Bb, and Cry-negative BMB171 on the colorectal cancer cell line SW480 reported 30–50% of cellular viability except for BMB171. Molecular dynamic simulations performed to identify whether the mutations at positions 553 and 556 were related to the stability and rigidity of the functional tertiary structure (domain III) of the Cry11Aa protein and variant 8 showed the importance of these mutations in specific regions for the toxic activity of Cry11 against A. aegypti. This generates pertinent knowledge for the design of Cry11 proteins and their biotechnological applications in vector-borne disease control and cancer cell lines.
Continuous and Intermittent Planetary Ball Milling Effects on the Alloying of a Bismuth Antimony Telluride Powder Mixture
Authors: Samourgkanidis Georgios , Kyratsi Theodora
Published: May 2023

This study investigates the effects of continuous and in-steps mechanical alloying of a bismuth antimony telluride powder mixture (Bi0.4Sb1.6Te3.0) via the mechanical planetary ball milling (PBM) process as a function of milling time and powder mixture amount. X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were used to characterize the phase, composition, and morphology of the alloy. The alloyed powder with the optimum PBM conditions was then hot pressed (HP), and its thermoelectric properties were further investigated. The results on the alloying of the powder mixture showed that due to the high agglomeration tendency of BST during the PBM process, a significant deviation occurs in the development of a single-phase state over time when the powder mixture is milled continuously and in-steps. ’In-steps’ refers to the procedure of interrupting the PBM process and detaching the agglomerated powder adhering to the inner walls of the vessel. This task was repeated every hour and a half of the PBM process for a total of 12 h, and the results were compared with those of the 12 h continuous PBM process of the same mixture. In addition, the procedure was repeated with different amounts of mixture (100 g and 150 g) to determine the most efficient method of producing the material as a function of time. As for the thermoelectric profile of the powder, the data showed results in direct agreement with those in the literature.
Rtf1 Transcriptionally Regulates Neonatal and Adult Cardiomyocyte Biology
Authors: Langenbacher Adam D. , Lu Fei , Crisman Lauren , Huang Zi Yi Stephanie , Chapski Douglas J. , Vondriska Thomas M. , Wang Yibin , Gao Chen , Chen Jau-Nian
Published: May 2023

The PAF1 complex component Rtf1 is an RNA Polymerase II-interacting transcription regulatory protein that promotes transcription elongation and the co-transcriptional monoubiquitination of histone 2B. Rtf1 plays an essential role in the specification of cardiac progenitors from the lateral plate mesoderm during early embryogenesis, but its requirement in mature cardiac cells is unknown. Here, we investigate the importance of Rtf1 in neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes using knockdown and knockout approaches. We demonstrate that loss of Rtf1 activity in neonatal cardiomyocytes disrupts cell morphology and results in a breakdown of sarcomeres. Similarly, Rtf1 ablation in mature cardiomyocytes of the adult mouse heart leads to myofibril disorganization, disrupted cell–cell junctions, fibrosis, and systolic dysfunction. Rtf1 knockout hearts eventually fail and exhibit structural and gene expression defects resembling dilated cardiomyopathy. Intriguingly, we observed that loss of Rtf1 activity causes a rapid change in the expression of key cardiac structural and functional genes in both neonatal and adult cardiomyocytes, suggesting that Rtf1 is continuously required to support expression of the cardiac gene program.
Condition “Vasa Vasorum” in Patients with Thoracic Aortic Aneurysm
Authors: Chumachenko Petr V. , Ivanova Alexandra G. , Bagheri Ekta Mariam , Omelchenko Andrey V. , Sukhorukov Vasily N. , Markin Alexander M. , Markina Yuliya V. , Postnov Anton Y.
Published: May 2023

It is known that vasa vasorum contributes substantially to the blood supply and nutrition of one-third of the wall of the ascending thoracic aorta. Therefore, we focused on studying the relationship between inflammatory cells and vasa vasorum vessels in patients with aortic aneurysm. The material for the study was biopsies of thoracic aortic aneurysms taken from patients during an aneurysmectomy (34 men, 14 women, aged 33 to 79 years). The biopsies belonged to patients with non-hereditary thoracic aortic aneurysm. An immunohistochemical study was carried out using antibodies to antigens of T cells (CD3, CD4, CD8); macrophages (CD68); B cells (CD20); endothelium (CD31, CD34, von Willebrand factor (vWF)); and smooth muscle cells (alpha actin). Samples without inflammatory infiltrates contained less vasa vasorum in the tunica adventitia than samples with inflammatory infiltrates, and this difference was statistically significant p < 0.05. T cell infiltrates in the adventitia of aortic aneurysms were found in 28 of 48 patients. In the vessels of the vasa vasorum, surrounded by inflammatory infiltrates, T cells that adhered to the endothelium were found. The same cells were also localized in the subendothelial area. The number of adherent T cells in patients with inflammatory infiltrates in the aortic wall dominated the number of these cells in patients without inflammation of the aortic wall. This difference was statistically significant, p < 0.0006. Hypertrophy and sclerosis of the arteries of the vasa vasorum system, the narrowing of their lumen, and, as a result, impaired blood supply to the aortic wall, were found in 34 patients with hypertension. In 18 patients (both in patients with hypertension and in patients without hypertension), T cells that adhered to the vasa vasorum endothelium were found. In nine cases, massive infiltrates of T cells and macrophages were found, which surrounded and squeezed the vasa vasorum, preventing blood circulation. In six patients, parietal and obturating blood clots were found in the vasa vasorum vessels, which disrupted the normal blood supply to the aortic wall. We believe that this indicates the importance of the state of the vessels of the vasa vasorum in the development of an aortic aneurysm. In addition, pathological changes in these vessels may not always play a primary role, but always a very important role, in the pathogenesis of this disease.
Successful Bilateral Sperm Retrieval in a Hypogonadal Patient with Non-Obstructive Azoospermia Showing Normal Serum 17-Hydroxyprogesterone Levels Suggestive of Normal Intratesticular Testosterone Production: A Case Report
Authors: Caroppo Ettore , Colpi Giovanni M.
Published: May 2023

The impact of hypogonadism on the probability of retrieving testicular sperm from patients with non-obstructive azoospermia (NOA) is still a matter of debate. Conflicting evidence in this field may be justified by the striking differences between serum and intratesticular testosterone (ITT) levels found in men with severe spermatogenic dysfunction, so that normal ITT levels may coexist with low serum testosterone levels. Here we report the case of a patient with NOA with a steadily reduced serum testosterone level irresponsive to hormonal stimulation with human chorionic gonadotropin. Supported by his normal serum 17-hydroxyprogesterone (17 OHP) levels, previously suggested to be marker of ITT levels, microdissection testicular sperm extraction was performed for both testes on two separate occasions, resulting in the retrieval of enough sperm for ICSI. Three ICSI cycles were then performed, one blastocyst was transferred, and five were cryopreserved. This case report suggests that normal serum 17 OHP levels, being suggestive of normal ITT levels, may support the decision to proceed with surgical sperm retrieval in hypogonadal patients with NOA, even for those irresponsive to hormonal treatment.
Application of the Artificial Neural Network to Predict the Bending Strength of the Engineered Laminated Wood Produced Using the Hydrolyzed Soy Protein-Melamine Urea Formaldehyde Copolymer Adhesive
Authors: Nazerian Morteza , Naderi Fatemeh , Papadopoulos Antonios N.
Published: May 2023

The artificial neural network (ANN) was used to predict the modulus of rupture (MOR) of the laminated wood products adhered by melamine/urea formaldehyde (MUF) resin with different formaldehyde to melamine/urea molar ratios combined with different weight ratios of the protein adhesive resulting from the alkaline treatment (NaOH) of the soybean oil meal to MUF resin pressed at different temperatures according to the central composite design (CCD). After making the boards and performing the mechanical test to measure the MOR, based on experimental data, different statistics such as determination coefficient (R2), root mean square error (RMSE), mean absolute error (MAE) and sum of squares error (SSE) were determined, and then the suitable algorithm was selected to determine the estimated values. After comparing estimated values with the experimental values, the direct and interactive effects of the independent variables on MOR were determined. The results indicated that using suitable algorithms to train the ANN well, a very good estimate of the bending strength of the laminated wood products can be offered with the least error. In addition, based on the estimated and measured strengths and FTIR and TGA diagnostic analyses, it was found that the replacement of the MUF resin by the protein bio-based adhesive when using low F to M/U molar ratios, the MOR is maximized if a high range of temperature is used during the press.
Strong Structure Formation of Ceramic Composites Based on Coal Mining Overburden Rocks
Authors: Rakhimova Galiya , Stolboushkin Andrey , Vyshar Olga , Stanevich Victor , Rakhimov Murat , Kozlov Pavel
Published: May 2023

Currently, the amount of man-made waste worldwide is steadily increasing. It is, therefore, necessary to constantly look for effective ways of utilization and recycling. It is also necessary to reduce the use of non-renewable resources and reduce the impact on the environment. The use of coal industry waste is currently quite insignificant, amounting to some 10% of the total volume. The work aimed to study the properties of raw materials and study the processes of structure formation during the forming, drying, and firing of composite ceramic produced using overburden rock and additives. The work’s relevance lies in the need to solve environmental, economic, and technological problems related to the utilization of coal mining waste. Experiments of the past prove the possibility of using the waste coal industry as additives in the production of building materials. The article presents the results of studies of the chemical, mineralogical, and granulometric composition of overburden rock in coal mining. Peculiarities of structure formation during the forming, drying, and firing of ceramic composites based on optimal fractional compositions from coal-mine overburden were revealed. Organic and chemical additives were used for the correction of technological properties and improvement of the quality of finished composite products. The physical and mechanical indices of the obtained composite ceramic samples were determined, the analysis of which revealed that the use of highly mineralized carbonaceous rocks as solid additives provided a 2–2.5-fold increase in the strength of the product, 5.6% reduction in water absorption, and an increase in the product frost resistance by 20–25 cycles. The aluminum oxychloride influence on the physical and mechanical indices of the obtained composite articles was reflected in a reduction in their water absorption from 8.2 to 7.0%, a 10–12% increase in strength in compression, and an increase in freeze–thaw resistance by 30–35 cycles. Research results proved that the composition and properties of coal-mine overburden rock are close to those of conventional clays. With special technological preparation, they can be used for the production of composite ceramic products. This will significantly reduce the cost of bricks, to make up for the shortage of high-grade clay raw materials and improve the environmental situation. Nevertheless, further research into the use of coal-mine overburdens in the composite ceramic material technology is warranted.
Low-Resource Generation Method for Few-Shot Dolphin Whistle Signal Based on Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Wang Huiyuan , Wu Xiaojun , Wang Zirui , Hao Yukun , Hao Chengpeng , He Xinyi , Hu Qiao
Published: May 2023

Dolphin signals are effective carriers for underwater covert detection and communication. However, the environmental and cost constraints terribly limit the amount of data available in dolphin signal datasets are often limited. Meanwhile, due to the low computational power and resource sensitivity of Unmanned Underwater Vehicles (UUVs), current methods for real-time generation of dolphin signals with favorable results are still subject to several challenges. To this end, a Masked AutoEncoder Generative Adversarial Network (MAE-GAN) model is hereby proposed. First, considering the few-shot condition, the dataset is extended by using data augmentation techniques. Then, to meet the low arithmetic constraint, a denoising autoencoder with a mask is used to obtain latent codes through self-supervised learning. These latent codes are then utilized in Conditional Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network-Gradient Penalty (CWGAN-GP) to generate a whistle signal model for the target dataset, fully demonstrating the effectiveness of the proposed method for enhancing dolphin signal generation in data-limited scenarios. The whistle signals generated by the MAE-GAN and baseline models are compared with actual dolphin signals, and the findings indicate that the proposed approach achieves a discriminative score of 0.074, which is 28.8% higher than that of the current state-of-the-art techniques. Furthermore, it requires only 30.2% of the computational resources of the baseline model. Overall, this paper presents a novel approach to generating high-quality dolphin signals in data-limited situations, which can also be deployed on low-resource devices. The proposed MAE-GAN methods provide a promising solution to address the challenges of limited data and computational power in generating dolphin signals.
Clinico-Pathological Factors Determining Recurrence of Phyllodes Tumors of the Breast: The 25-Year Experience at a Tertiary Cancer Centre
Authors: Sain Baijaeek , Gupta Arnab , Ghose Aruni , Halder Sudip , Mukherjee Vishal , Bhattacharya Samir , Mondal Radha Raman , Sen Aditya Narayan , Saha Bijan , Roy Shravasti , Boussios Stergios
Published: May 2023

Background: Phyllodes tumors (PTs) of the breast are rare fibroepithelial tumors that are generally more prone to recurrence. Aims and objectives: This study aimed to assess the clinicopathological features, diagnostic modalities, and therapeutic interventions, along with their respective outcomes, to identify the factors associated with a recurrence of PTs of the breast. Methodology: A retrospective cohort and observational study was conducted, which entailed analyzing the clinicopathological data of patients who were previously diagnosed or presented with PTs of the breast between 1996 and 2021. Data included the total number of patients diagnosed with PTs of the breast and their ages, tumor grade on initial biopsy, tumor location (left or right breast), tumor size, therapeutic interventions carried out (including surgery—either mastectomy or lumpectomy—and adjuvant radiotherapy), final tumor grade, recurrence status, type of recurrence, and time to recurrence. Results: We analyzed data on a total of 87 patients who were pathologically proven to have PTs, and 46 patients (52.87%) were found to have recurrences. All patients were female, with a mean age at diagnosis of 39 years (range 15–70). Patients aged <40 years had the highest incidence of recurrence, with a rate of 54.35% (n = 25/46), followed by patients aged >40 years, with a rate of recurrence of 45.65% (n = 21/46). A total of 55.4% of patients presented with primary PTs and 44.6% had recurrent PTs at presentation. The average time to local recurrence (LR) from the completion of treatment was 13.8 months, whereas for systemic recurrence (SR), it was 15.29 months. Surgery (mastectomy/lumpectomy) was the major determinant for local recurrence (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Patients who received adjuvant radiotherapy (RT) had a minimal recurrence of PTs. Patients who were found to have a malignant biopsy on initial diagnosis (triple assessment) had a higher incidence of PTs and were more prone to SR than LR. Surgery was a determining factor in the increased rate of LR, with lumpectomy associated with a higher incidence of LR than mastectomy.
Fixed Flexion Contracture Can Successfully Be Addressed with Exact Preservation of the Femoral Joint Line and Only Minimal Increase of Tibia Resection in the Concept of Kinematically Aligned Total Knee Arthroplasty
Authors: Moya-Angeler Joaquin , León-Muñoz Vicente J. , Jimenez-Soto Cristina , Huber Kim , Christen Bernhard , Calliess Tilman
Published: May 2023

The aims of this study were to evaluate the outcomes of patients undergoing kinematic alignment (KA) robot-assisted (RA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA) with and without preoperative fixed flexion contracture (FFC) and address whether additional resection of the proximal tibia is required to address FFC. A retrospective review from 147 consecutive patients who received an RA-TKA with KA and a minimum one-year follow-up was performed. Preop and postop clinical and surgical data were collected. Groups were set based on preoperative extension deficits: group 1 (0–4°) (n = 64), group 2 (5–10°) (n = 64) and group 3 (>11°) (n = 27). There were no differences in patient demographics among the three groups. In group 3, the mean tibia resection was 0.85 mm thicker than group 1 (p < 0.05) and the preoperative extension deficit was improved from −17.22° (SD 3.49) preop to −2.41° (SD 4.47) postop (p < 0.05). Our results demonstrate that FFC can successfully be addressed in the RA-TKA with KA and rKA and that no additional femoral bone resection is needed to achieve full extension in patients with preoperative FFC when compared with patients without FFC. Only a slight increase in the amount of tibial resection was observed, but this was less than one millimetre.
Is Frailty a Good Predictor of Postoperative Complications in Elective Abdominal Surgery?—A Single-Center, Prospective, Observational Study
Authors: Czajka Szymon , Taborek Maria , Krzych Łukasz
Published: May 2023

Background: Despite the common occurrence of postoperative complications in patients with frailty syndrome, the nature and severity of this relationship remains unclear. We aimed to assess the association of frailty with possible postoperative complications after elective, abdominal surgery in participants of a single-centre prospective study in relation to other risk classification methods. Methods: Frailty was assessed preoperatively using the Edmonton Frail Scale (EFS), Modified Frailty Index (mFI) and Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS). Perioperative risk was assessed using the American Society of Anesthesiology Physical Status (ASA PS), Operative Severity Score (OSS) and Surgical Mortality Probability Model (S-MPM). Results: The frailty scores failed to predict in-hospital complications. The values of AUCs for in-hospital complications ranged between 0.5 and 0.6 and were statistically nonsignificant. The perioperative risk measuring system performance in ROC analysis was satisfactory with AUC ranging from 0.63 for OSS to 0.65 for S-MPM (p < 0.05 for each). Conclusions: The analysed frailty rating scales proved to be poor predictors of postoperative complications in the studied population. Scales assessing perioperative risk performed better. Further studies are needed to obtain optimal predictive tools in senior patients undergoing surgery.
Living Collections of Threatened Plants in Botanic Gardens: When Is Ex Situ Cultivation Less Appropriate than Quasi In Situ Cultivation?
Authors: Volis Sergei
Published: May 2023

Botanic gardens play an increasingly important role in the conservation of global biodiversity. However, although botanical gardens periodically report the results of introducing certain species of native flora, they rarely attempt to summarize existing knowledge to make general recommendations regarding ex situ collections. The aim of this study was to analyze the many years of experience of the Tashkent Botanical Garden in creating and maintaining living collections of threatened species of Uzbekistan (the majority of which are endemic to the country or Central Asia) in order to identify species whose cultivation ex situ is advisable, and whose cultivation will not result in meaningful conservation. Careful analysis of the species introduction history revealed that a simple dichotomy of the introduction results (success/failure) appears to be an oversimplification. In terms of the cultivation success, the introduced plant species can rather be classified into three categories: success, failure, and dubious success. For many species whose introduction was earlier considered successful, the introduction success is questionable and further efforts to conserve these species ex situ should be abandoned. A decision tree and classification of threatened perennials for possible ex situ introduction are proposed and the species in TBG collections are tabulated according to the latter. Species considered unsuitable for ex situ conservation are recommended for quasi in situ conservation. Both approaches, ex situ and quasi in situ, should be intensively used as a part of an integral conservation strategy for preserving plant biodiversity.
How Does New Energy Demonstration City Policy Promote Urban Land Use Efficiency in China? The Mediating Effect of Industrial Structure
Authors: Wang Mengcheng , Lin Nana , Dong Youming , Tang Yifeng
Published: May 2023

As an effective measure to solve the dilemma of urban energy consumption and economic development, the new energy demonstration city (NEDC) policy in China could greatly promote the development of the new energy industry and urban economy. This study aims to explore how the NEDC policy effectively promotes the growth of urban land use efficiency (ULUE), an essential indicator of economic development, through the urban industrial structure. Based on the panel data of 285 Chinese cities during 2003–2019, this study took the NEDC policy as a quasi-natural experiment and employed the PSM-DID method and the mediating effect model to objectively evaluate its policy effects. We found that the NEDC policy could significantly promote the growth of the ULUE. Specifically, the ULUE has been significantly improved by 17.0%. The NEDC policy could also promote the ULUE indirectly through the mediating effect of industrial structure advancement (ISA), but the mediating effect of industrial structure rationalization (ISR) was not significant. Furthermore, the promotional effect of the NEDC policy on the ULUE has regional heterogeneity. Compared with eastern cities and high-innovation cities, central and western cities and medium-innovation and low-innovation cities can obtain much higher promotion effects. This study may provide some policy inspiration for policymakers to support low-corban and sustainable economic development and urban land use.
Multi-Perspective Analysis of Land Changes in the Transitional Zone between the Mu Us Desert and the Loess Plateau in China from 2000 to 2020
Authors: Zhang Yunzhi , Zheng Tongyan , Yu Chen , Ren Jing , Gong Xuegang , Wang Hao , Duan Yihao
Published: May 2023

The transition zone between the Mu Us Sandy Land and the Loess Plateau is considered an ecologically fragile area. However, significant changes in land use have occurred in the past few decades due to changes in land policies and the implementation of major national ecological projects. Despite this, there is still a lack of clear investigation into the impact of these changes on the landscape structure and ecological health of the area. This study utilizes high-resolution annual land use data from China, along with multi-index models and algorithms, to comprehensively analyze regional land use changes, landscape patterns, and the ecological environment’s quality. Through a comprehensive analysis of various factors, including changes in quantity, transformation in land types, spatial dynamics, landscape structure, and ecological quality, we aim to provide a better understanding of the complex interactions between land use and ecological systems in this area. The research results indicate that: (1) Since 2000, 9057.4 km2 of land in the study area has undergone changes. The grassland area has the largest increase, the forest area has the fastest growth rate, while cropland and barren land have decreased to varying degrees, and impervious surface has slightly expanded. (2) The movement trajectory of the center of gravity for different land types is closely related to human activities such as land development and utilization, as well as ecological restoration. Land changes have resulted in an escalation of landscape fragmentation, a reduction in landscape diversity, and a decline in the uniform distribution of different types. (3) Ecological land is the key to improving the ecological environment. The increase in ecological land area in the study area has led to an improvement in the quality of the ecological environment. The net contribution rate of land change to ecological improvement reaches 1.99%. The analysis methods and perspectives used in this study can be applied to other similar studies. The study’s findings enhance the understanding of how land and vegetation changes affect the ecological environment in this crucial area. They are of great significance in guiding the development and utilization of land resources and the implementation of ecological environment projects.
Land Use Transition and Its Driving Mechanism of “Human–Elephant” Conflicts Zone in Yunnan, China
Authors: Wang Yuan , Liu Zhiyu , Wen Yanfang , Wang Yahui
Published: May 2023

In recent years, the issue of “human–elephant” conflict in the south of the Yunnan Province, China has been escalating and poses a severe threat to the livelihoods of local residents. To address this problem, this study utilized survey data from farmers in Pu’er City and villages in Xishuangbanna Prefecture, Yunnan Province. By employing land input–output analysis and spatial analysis methods, this study aims to uncover the land use transition in the research area over the past three decades and identify the driving mechanism behind this transition. The findings of this research can provide valuable guidance for reducing regional conflicts between humans and wild animals, as well as improving the livelihoods of farmers. Research indicates that farmers in the study area have significantly transformed their land use practices. The per capita arable land area has increased, and traditional grain crops are being replaced with economically profitable crops such as rubber. Rubber is the predominant crop in the conflict-prone “human–elephant” core region, while other economic crops dominate the peripheral region. The overall land use index has risen, with a greater diversity and stability in land use structure. However, the input–output efficiency of cultivated land in the “human–elephant” core region remains low, leading to a lower comprehensive land use index than that of the peripheral region. The land use transition is influenced by several factors, including socio-economic development, changes in crop comparative benefits, and the activities of wild Asian elephants. Frequent crop destruction by elephants, which results in damage to farmers’ livelihoods, is the primary cause of land use changes in “human–elephant” conflict areas. Ultimately, this conflict stems from the competition for regional land resources between humans and elephants, as humans dominate production space while elephants dominate ecological space. Local governments should optimize the layout of regional production and ecological spaces to alleviate these conflicts while also regulating circulation markets and improving farmers’ land output levels.
Determination of the Dissociation Constants (pKa) of Eight Amines of Importance in Carbon Capture: Computational Chemistry Calculations, and Artificial Neural Network Models
Authors: Alluri Venkata Sai Priyatham Varma , Nguyen William (Hoang Chi Hieu) , Henni Amr
Published: May 2023

This work focuses on determining the dissociation constants (pKa) of eight amines, namely, 3-(Diethylamino) propylamine, 1,3-Diaminopentane, 3-Butoxypropylamine, 2-(Methylamino) ethanol, Bis(2-methoxyethyl) amine, α-Methylbenzylamine, 2-Aminoheptane, and 3-Amino-1-phenylbutane, within temperatures ranging from 293.15 K to 323.15 K. The thermodynamic properties of the protonated reactions were regressed from the pKa work. In addition, the protonated order of both 3-(Diethylamino) propylamine and 1,3-Diaminopentane were determined using computational chemistry methods owing to their unsymmetrical structures. In addition to the experimental methods, the dissociation constants at the standard temperature (298.15 K) were also estimated using group functional models (paper–pencil) and computational methods. The computational methods include COSMO-RS and computational chemistry calculations. An artificial neural network (ANN) method was employed to model the data by collecting and combining the experimental properties to estimate the missing pKa values. Although the ANN models can provide acceptable results, they depend on the availability of the data. Instead of using the experimental properties, they were generated using software such as Aspen Plus or CosmothermX. The simulated ANN model can also provide very good fits to the experimental constant values.
UPAFuzzySystems: A Python Library for Control and Simulation with Fuzzy Inference Systems
Authors: Montes Rivera Martín , Olvera-Gonzalez Ernesto , Escalante-Garcia Nivia
Published: May 2023

The main goal of control theory is input tracking or system stabilization. Different feedback-computed controlled systems exist in this area, from deterministic to soft methods. Some examples of deterministic methods are Proportional (P), Proportional Integral (PI), Proportional Derivative (PD), Proportional Integral Derivative (PID), Linear Quadratic (LQ), Linear Quadratic Gaussian (LQG), State Feedback (SF), Adaptative Regulators, and others. Alternatively, Fuzzy Inference Systems (FISs) are soft-computing methods that allow using the human expertise in logic in IF–THEN rules. The fuzzy controllers map the experience of an expert in controlling the plant. Moreover, the literature shows that optimization algorithms allow the adaptation of FISs to control different processes as a black-box problem. Python is the most used programming language, which has seen the most significant growth in recent years. Using open-source libraries in Python offers numerous advantages in software development, including saving time and resources. In this paper, we describe our proposed UPAFuzzySystems library, developed as an FISs library for Python, which allows the design and implementation of fuzzy controllers with transfer-function and state-space simulations. Additionally, we show the use of the library for controlling the position of a DC motor with Mamdani, FLS, Takagi–Sugeno, fuzzy P, fuzzy PD, and fuzzy PD-I controllers.
Magnetic Adsorbent Based on Faujasite Zeolite Decorated with Magnesium Ferrite Nanoparticles for Metal Ion Removal
Authors: Meirelles Mariana Rodrigues , Malafatti João Otávio Donizette , Escote Márcia Tsuyama , Pinto Alexandre Henrique , Paris Elaine Cristina
Published: May 2023

Magnetic nanoparticles are a promising alternative as a support in adsorption processes, aiming at the easy recovery of the aqueous medium. A faujasite zeolite (FAU) surface was decorated with magnesium ferrite (MgFe2O4) nanoparticles. FAU is a porous adsorbent with high specific surface area (SSA) and chemical stability. The FAU:MgFe2O4 nanocomposite 3:1 ratio (w w−1) promotes the combination of the surface and magnetic properties. The results showed the effectiveness of the MgFe2O4 immobilization on the FAU surface, exhibiting a high SSA of 400 m2 g−1. The saturation magnetization (Ms) was verified as 5.9 emu g−1 for MgFe2O4 and 0.47 emu g−1 for FAU:MgFe2O4, an environmentally friendly system with soft magnetic characteristics. The magnetic nanocomposite achieved high adsorption values of around 94% removal for Co2+ and Mn2+ ions. Regarding its reuse, the nanocomposite preserved adsorption activity of above 65% until the third cycle. Thus, the FAU:MgFe2O4 nanocomposite presented favorable adsorptive, magnetic, and recovery properties for reuse cycles in polluted water.
Dynamic Modeling and Analysis of Boundary Effects in Vibration Modes of Rectangular Plates with Periodic Boundary Constraints Based on the Variational Principle of Mixed Variables
Authors: Shi Yuanyuan , Huang Qibai , Peng Jiangying
Published: May 2023

The modal and vibration-noise response characteristics of plate structures are closely related to their boundary effects, and the analytical modeling and solution of the dynamics of plate structures with complex boundary conditions can reveal mechanisms of the influence of the boundary structure parameters on the modal characteristics. This paper proposes a new method for dynamic modeling of rectangular plates with periodic boundary conditions based on the energy equivalence principle (mixed-variable variational principle) of equating complex boundary “geometric constraints” to “mathematical physical constraints”, taking a rectangular plate structure with periodic boundaries commonly used in engineering as the object. First, the boundary external potential energy of the periodic boundary rectangular plate is obtained by equating the bending moment and deflection to the boundary conditions. Next, we establish the total potential energy model, the amplitude boundary equation, as well as the frequency equation of the periodic boundary rectangular plate in turn. Solving by numerical method, the natural frequency of the theoretical model is obtained. The validity of the theoretical model is then verified by modal test experiments. Finally, the law of the parameters such as the form of boundary constraint, the number of periods, and the clamp support ratio on the natural frequency of the rectangular plate is investigated. The results show that the natural frequency of the rectangular plate is closely related to the boundary form and period distribution of the plate. The modal frequencies of the plate structure can be tuned by the design of the boundary conditions for a certain size of the plate structure. The research in this paper provides a theoretical and technical basis for the vibration noise control of complex boundary plate structures.
Novel Method for Estimating Time-Varying COVID-19 Transmission Rate
Authors: Xiao Hongfei , Lin Deqin , Li Shiyu
Published: May 2023

The transmission rate is an important indicator for characterizing a virus and estimating the risk of its outbreak in a certain area, but it is hard to measure. COVID-19, for instance, has greatly affected the world for more than 3 years since early 2020, but scholars have not yet found an effective method to obtain its timely transmission rate due to the fact that the value of COVID-19 transmission rate is not constant but dynamic, always changing over time and places. Therefore, in order to estimate the timely dynamic transmission rate of COVID-19, we performed the following: first, we utilized a rolling time series to construct a time-varying transmission rate model and, based on the model, managed to obtain the dynamic value of COVID-19 transmission rate in mainland China; second, to verify the result, we used the obtained COVID-19 transmission rate as the explanatory variable to conduct empirical research on the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on China’s stock markets. Eventually, the result revealed that the COVID-19 transmission rate had a significant negative impact on China’s stock markets, which, to some extent, confirms the validity of the used measurement method in this paper. Notably, the model constructed in this paper, combined with local conditions, can not only be used to estimate the COVID-19 transmission rate in mainland China but also in other affected countries or regions and would be applicable to calculate the transmission rate of other pathogens, not limited to COVID-19, which coincidently fills the gaps in the research. Furthermore, the research based on this model might play a part in regulating anti-pandemic governmental policies and could also help investors and stakeholders to make decisions in a pandemic setting.
Dynamic Pricing with Parametric Demand Learning and Reference-Price Effects
Authors: Wang Bing , Bi Wenjie , Liu Haiying
Published: May 2023

In reality, sellers face challenges in obtaining perfect demand information. Demand is influenced not only by price but also by behavioral factors such as reference effects, which complicate optimal pricing for enterprises. To address this problem, we propose a dynamic pricing model that incorporates demand learning and considers consumer reference effects. Using the Bayesian method and based on historical sales and prices, sellers can learn about demand patterns. We analyze the model to determine the existence of an optimal solution and provide an algorithm to solve it. Our numerical simulation demonstrates that the total consumer demand and the impact of price on demand remain relatively stable over time. However, the factors influencing the reference effects exhibit greater variability. Sellers can also gain insights into market demand through their learning behavior in each phase and adjust production based on market size. For instance, our simulation shows an increase in market demand over time, allowing the seller to adjust the production plan according to the demand change.
Quality Assessment Assistance of Lateral Knee X-rays: A Hybrid Convolutional Neural Network Approach
Authors: Lysdahlgaard Simon , Baressi Šegota Sandi , Hess Søren , Antulov Ronald , Weber Kusk Martin , Car Zlatan
Published: May 2023

A common issue with X-ray examinations (XE) is the erroneous quality classification of the XE, implying that the process needs to be repeated, thus delaying the diagnostic assessment of the XE and increasing the amount of radiation the patient receives. The authors propose a system for automatic quality classification of XE based on convolutional neural networks (CNN) that would simplify this process and significantly decrease erroneous quality classification. The data used for CNN training consist of 4000 knee images obtained via radiography procedure (KXE) in total, with 2000 KXE labeled as acceptable and 2000 as unacceptable. Additionally, half of the KXE belonging to each label are right knees and left knees. Due to the sensitivity to image orientation of some CNNs, three approaches are discussed: (1) Left-right-knee (LRK) classifies XE based just on their label, without taking into consideration their orientation; (2) Orientation discriminator (OD) for the left knee (LK) and right knee (RK) analyses images based on their orientation and inserts them into two separate models regarding orientation; (3) Orientation discriminator combined with knee XRs flipped to the left or right (OD-LFK)/OD-RFK trains the models with all images being horizontally flipped to the same orientation and uses the aforementioned OD to determine whether the image needs to be flipped or not. All the approaches are tested with five CNNs (AlexNet, ResNet50, ResNet101, ResNet152, and Xception), with grid search and k-fold cross-validation. The best results are achieved using the OD-RFK hybrid approach with the Xception network architecture as the classifier and ResNet152 as the OD, with an average AUC of 0.97 (±0.01).
Mathematical Modeling of Mechanical Forces and Power Balance in Electromechanical Energy Converter
Authors: Malozyomov Boris V. , Martyushev Nikita V. , Sorokova Svetlana N. , Efremenkov Egor A. , Qi Mengxu
Published: May 2023

This article proposes a calculation method for mechanical (electromagnetic) forces arising in an electromechanical energy converter acting on current circuits in a magnetic field, or on capacitor plates in an electric one. Transformations were performed on the basis of the principle of possible displacements involving the apparatus of partial derivatives. It was found that the power converted into mechanical power is partially spent on changing the energy of the electromagnetic field, and the remaining power, determined by the co-energy, is converted into mechanical power. Expressions for the mechanical (electromagnetic) forces were obtained based on the power balance. The reliability of the obtained results was compared with the known results. Of these, one can observe the well-known 50/50 principle, which states that only part of the power associated with the movement of the circuits is converted into mechanical power, while the rest is intended for changing the energy of the magnetic field.
Medication Adherence and Its Associated Factors among Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus Attending Primary Health Centers of Eastern Province, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alsaidan Aseel Awad , Alotaibi Sultan Fahad , Thirunavukkarasu Ashokkumar , ALruwaili Bashayer Farhan , Alharbi Rami Hamdan , Arnous Maha M. , Alsaidan Omar Awad , Alduraywish Abdulbaqi Sulaiman , Alwushayh Yasir Abdulrahman
Published: May 2023

Medication adherence by patients with diabetes is critical, as it plays a crucial role in individuals’ long-term health and well-being. We evaluated the medication adherence, illness perception, diabetes knowledge, and associated factors among patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) attending primary health centers (PHCs) in the eastern province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) using a validated Arabic version of a data collection form. In order to identify the variables that are associated with medication adherence, we applied a logistic regression analysis. Furthermore, we performed the Spearman test to find the correlation between medication adherence, illness perception, and diabetes knowledge. Of the 390 studied patients, 21.5% had low medication adherence, and it was significantly associated with gender (adjusted OR (AOR) = 1.89, 95% CI = 1.27–2.73, p = 0.003) and duration of diabetes (AOR = 0.83, 95% CI = 0.67–0.95, p = 0.017). Furthermore, we found a significant positive correlation between medication adherence and illness perception (rho = 0.217, p = 0.007) and knowledge of diabetes and medication adherence (rho = 0.425, p < 0.001). We recommend improving T2DM patients’ knowledge about the importance of adherence to their medication regimen in several health education sessions at the PHCs. In addition, we recommend mixed-method medication adherence assessment surveys in different parts of the KSA.