bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
State-of-the-Art Developments in Advanced Hard Ceramic Coatings Using PVD Techniques for High-Temperature Tribological Applications
Authors: Devarajan Dinesh Kumar , Rangasamy Baskaran , Amirtharaj Mosas Kamalan Kirubaharan
Published: January 2023

Hard and wear-resistant coatings created utilizing physical vapor deposition (PVD) techniques are extensively used in extreme tribological applications. The friction and wear behavior of coatings vary significantly with temperature, indicating that advanced coating concepts are essential for prolonged load-bearing applications. Many coating concepts have recently been explored in this area, including multicomponent, multilayer, gradient coatings; high entropy alloy (HEA) nitride; and functionally modified coatings. In this review, we highlighted the most significant findings from ongoing research to comprehend crucial coating properties and design aspects. To obtain enhanced tribological properties, the microstructure, composition, residual stress, hardness, and HT oxidation resistance are tuned through doping or addition of appropriate materials at an optimized level into the primary coatings. Such improvements are achieved by optimizing PVD process parameters such as input power, partial pressure, reactive gas flow rates, substrate bias, and temperature. The incorporation of ideal amounts of Si, Cr, Mo, W, Ag, and Cu into ternary and quaternary coatings, as well as unique multilayer designs, considerably increases the tribological performance of the coatings. Recent discoveries show that not only mechanical hardness and fracture toughness govern wear resistance, but also that oxidation at HT plays a significant role in the lubrication or wear failure of coatings. The tribo-induced metal oxides and/or Magnéli phases concentrated in the tribolayer are the key governing factors of friction and wear behavior at high temperatures. This review includes detailed insights into the advancements in wear resistance as well as various failure mechanisms associated with temperature changes.
Effect of Cultivar and Geographical Origin on the Volatile Composition of Greek Monovarietal Extra Virgin Olive Oils
Authors: Mikrou Theano , Litsa Maria , Papantoni Artemis , Kapsokefalou Maria , Gardeli Chrysavgi , Mallouchos Athanasios
Published: January 2023

Extra virgin olive oil (EVOO) is highly appreciated by consumers for its unique sensory characteristics that are directly related to its volatile composition. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of cultivar and geographical origin on the volatile composition of Greek monovarietal EVOOs. Samples of three local cultivars (Koroneiki, Kolovi and Adramytini) originating from three areas of Greece (Crete, Lesvos and the Peloponnese), spanning two consecutive harvesting periods, were selected. Their volatile components were determined using headspace solid-phase microextraction combined with gas chromatography–mass spectrometry. More than 70 volatile compounds were identified. Alcohols were the dominant class (43–50%), followed by ketones (12–24%), esters (12–18%) and aldehydes (4–12%). The most prominent volatile compounds were (Z)-3-hexen-1-ol (6–11%), 1-penten-3-ol (7–11%), (E)-3-hexenyl acetate (0.5–11%) and 3-pentanone (8–16%). Significant differences were observed and highlighted. Clear separations between samples from different cultivars and geographic provenances were achieved using multivariate analysis and the most discriminating volatiles were identified. Additionally, using multivariate receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, a combination of five chemical markers was found superior (area under the curve, AUC: 1.00; predictive accuracy: 100%) for the correct classification of Koroneiki EVOOs according to geographical origin.
High-Sensitivity and -Selectivity Gas Sensors with Nanoparticles, Nanostructures, and Thin Films
Authors: Saruhan Bilge , Fomekong Roussin Lontio , Nahirniak Svitlana
Published: January 2023

Advanced gas sensors fabricated with nanoparticles and thin films of semiconductor metal oxides have been widely used for the detection of toxic, hazardous, and combustible gases and as biomarkers for the safety of human beings, environmental control, and breath analysis [...]
E-Nose Quality Evaluation of Extra Virgin Olive Oil Stored in Different Containers
Authors: Martín-Tornero Elísabet , Barea-Ramos Juan Diego , Lozano Jesús , Durán-Merás Isabel , Martín-Vertedor Daniel
Published: January 2023

The degradation process of virgin olive oil (VOO) is related to storage time and the type of storage container used. The aim of this work is to explore the evolution of the VOO quality stored in different container types over a defined storage period in order to predict the organoleptic characteristics using a non-destructive technique such as the electronic-nose (E-nose). The “Picual” variety VOO was stored in different containers over a period of 21 months and monitored using sensory analysis, volatile compounds, and an E-nose. The panelists showed that oil stored in dark glass bottles and in green polyethylene bottles began to show defects after 12 and 15 weeks, respectively. However, oil stored in tin containers retained its quality throughout the 21 months studied. A total of 31 volatile compounds were identified, and the evolution of the volatile profile in the different containers during the storage period was studied. The E-nose data were able to classify oil quality by container using principal component analysis (PCA). Furthermore, the E-nose data combined with partial least squares (PLS) regression enabled the building of a predictive model to quantify sensory defect values (RCV2 = 0.92; RCV2 = 0.86), evidencing that this technique would be an appropriate screening tool to support a sensory panel.
Effect of Long-Term Adaptation to Cold and Short-Term Cooling on the Expression of the TRPM2 Ion Channel Gene in the Hypothalamus of Rats
Authors: Evtushenko Anna A. , Voronova Irina P. , Kozyreva Tamara V.
Published: January 2023

The present study is aimed to elucidate the possible involvement of the thermosensitive TRPM2 ion channel in changing of the temperature sensitivity of the hypothalamus after different cold exposures—long-term adaptation to cold and short-term cooling. Quantitative RT-PCR was used to study the expression of the gene of thermosensitive TRPM2 ion channel in the hypothalamus in the groups of control (kept for 5 weeks at +20 to +22 °C) and cold-adapted (5 weeks at +4 to +6 °C) rats, as well as in the groups of animals which were subjected to acute cooling (rapid or slow) with subsequent restoration of body temperature to the initial level. It has been shown that after long-term adaptation to cold, the decrease in the Trpm2 gene expression was observed in the hypothalamus, while a short-term cooling does not affect the expression of the gene of this ion channel. Thus, long-term adaptation to cold results in the decrease in the activity not only of the TRPV3 ion channel gene, as shown earlier, but also of the Trpm2 gene in the hypothalamus. The overlapping temperature ranges of the functioning of these ion channels and their unidirectional changes during the adaptation of the homoeothermic organism to cold suggest their functional interaction. The decrease in the Trpm2 gene expression may indicate the participation of this ion channel in adaptive changes in hypothalamic thermosensitivity, but only as a result of long-term cold exposure and not of a short-term cooling. These processes occurring at the genomic level are one of the molecular mechanisms of the adaptive changes.
Quantification of Modifiers Fading during Melt Holding in the Aluminum Casting Furnace
Authors: Djurdjevic Mile , Manasijevic Srecko , Smiljanic Slavko , Ristic Marko
Published: January 2023

Strontium (Sr) and sodium (Na) are the most used modifiers in the aluminum casting industry. Both lose their concentration (fade) during holding in the melting furnace. Three types of chemical reactions in the melt may cause modifier fading: vaporizing, oxidizing, or reacting with some other elements from the melt. Due to Na and Sr’s very low vapor pressure, their vaporization from the aluminum melt was excluded as a reason for the modifiers’ fading. Oxidation looks like the major chemical reaction that causes the fading of Na and Sr from an aluminum melt. The present paper aimed to quantify the fading of Na and Sr in an Al–Si–Cu–Mg alloy. The loss of modifiers (Na and Sr) during melt holding in a furnace can be analytically quantified using equations taken from the literature. The calculated surface reaction rate constant (ks) can estimate the modifier’s loss during melt holding in industrial and laboratory furnaces.
Degradable Magnesium and Its Surface Modification as Tumor Embolic Agent for Transcatheter Arterial Chemoembolization
Authors: Kang Xinbao , Wang Yonggang , Li Hongtao , Yu Han , Zhang Xiyue , Zan Rui , Wang Wenhui , Wang Tao , Zhang Xiaonong
Published: January 2023

Transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (TACE) is an effective method for traditional cancer treatment. Currently, various embolic agents block the blood vessels in the TACE operation. In this paper, the feasibility of the degradable Mg applied for TACE was explored innovatively. The degradation behavior of Mg particles and PLLA modified Mg particles used as embolic agents in contrast media was studied. The morphology and corrosion products were also characterized. After two days of immersion, the pH of the contrast agent was increased to 9.79 and 10.28 by the PLLA-modified Mg particles and unmodified Mg, respectively. The results show that the surface-modified Mg particles with PLLA have an eligible degradation rate to release degradation products and form an acceptable microenvironment. It is feasible to be used as an embolic agent in TACE.
The Effect of Solvents on the Crystal Morphology of Pyriproxyfen
Authors: Yan Xiaoyang , Wang Na , Ji Xiongtao , Feng Yaoguang , Li Jun , Wang Ting , Huang Xin , Hao Hongxun
Published: January 2023

To obtain crystal products with ideal morphology and better quality, it is important to fully understand and grasp the affecting mechanism of solvents on crystal morphology. In this work, the interactions between solvent/solute molecules and different crystal faces of pyriproxyfen are investigated by a combination of experiments and molecular simulations. It is found that pyriproxyfen crystals grow into a lamellar morphology in methanol and ethanol, while the crystal grows into a three-dimensional shuttle morphology in n-butanol and n-heptane. Molecular simulations reveal that the molecular arrangement of crystal faces makes the alcohol hydroxyl adsorption sites exposed in different degrees, and the (002) face is more sensitive to alcohol hydroxyl than other faces. The adsorption of alcohol hydroxyl groups hinders the growth of crystal planes, so (002) and (102) faces become the main crystal planes in methanol and ethanol, and the lamellar crystal is formed. The developed knowledge of the growth mechanism based on the interaction between the solvent and crystal interface can be conducive to the further optimization of the pyriproxyfen crystal products.
A Non-Invasive In Situ Spectroscopic Analysis of Cinnabar Minerals to Assist Provenance Studies of Archaeological Pigments
Authors: Pérez-Diez Silvia , Bernier Cheyenne , Iñañez Javier G. , Maguregui Maite
Published: January 2023

This study presents a non-invasive in situ methodology based on the use of portable elemental (energy dispersive X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, EDXRF) and molecular (Raman spectroscopy) spectroscopic-based instrumentation as a tool to obtain preliminary information to assist subsequent provenance studies of archaeological cinnabar pigments in the laboratory. In this work, six cinnabar mineral ores, extracted from the Almadén mining district and an original raw pigment coming from the Archaeological Park of Pompeii have been analyzed. As the detection capacities and spectral resolution of the portable instruments are usually poorer than the equivalent benchtop equipment, a comparative study of the in-situ and laboratory results was conducted. Afterward, chemometric data treatment was performed considering both the molecular and elemental information. According to the elemental results, it was not possible to find a strong concordance between the cinnabar ores and the pigment from Pompeii, suggesting the need for additional methodologies in the laboratory (isotope ratio analysis) to complete a proper provenance study. However, this approach was useful to classify the ores according to their mineralogical differences. Therefore, this methodology could be proposed as a useful tool to conduct a representative sampling of the cinnabar mineral ores to be considered in a provenance study of archaeological cinnabar pigments.
CD8+ T Cells and PD-L1 Expression as Prognostic Indicators in a Low Prevalence of HPV-Associated Oropharyngeal Squamous Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Atipas Kawita , Laokulrath Natthawadee , Petsuksiri Janjira , Ratanaprasert Narin , Pongsapich Warut
Published: January 2023

Human papillomavirus (HPV) infection detected in oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is associated with a better survival outcome from previous literature. However, Thailand and several Asian countries have a low prevalence of HPV-associated OPSCC and, therefore, have a low positive rate of immunostaining with p16. Tumor microenvironments (TME), including tumor-infiltrating CD8+ lymphocytes (CD8+ TIL) and programmed death ligand 1 (PD-L1), are proposed as significant prognostic indicators in addition to p16. Objectives: Explore the expression p16, CD8+ TIL, and PD-L1 and its value as prognostic indicators for overall survival (OS) in patients with OPSCC. Materials and Methods: Data from patients with OPSCC diagnosed from 2012 to 2018 were recovered from medical records and national registry. All available glass slides and slides of immunohistochemistry (IHC) of p16, CD8, and PD-L1 were reviewed. The TME was classified into four types according to the expression pattern of PD-L1 and CD8+TIL. Overall survival (OS) was assessed using the Kaplan–Meier method and Cox regression model analysis. Results: In 160 OPSCC patients, p16 was positive in 27 (16.88%). The density of CD8+ TIL was higher in the p16+ and PD-L1+ groups (p = 0.005, 0.039); however, there was no association between p16 and the status of PD-L1. P16 and CD8+ TIL were significant prognostic factors for better OS (p = 0.007, 0.001), but not PD-L1 status (p = 0.317). Among the four types of TME, carcinoma showed mainly type IV TME (PD-L1−/TIL+), while OPSCCs with type I TME (PD-L1+/TIL+) had the best survival outcome. Conclusions: The positivity of p16 and the density of CD8+ TIL were associated with better OS in OPSCC, while the status of PD-L1 was not significantly related to OS. OPSCC with type I TME (PD-L1+/TIL+) showed the best prognosis of all types of TME.
Exercise Preferences in Young Adults with Cancer—The YOUEX Study
Authors: Voland Annelie , Krell Verena , Götte Miriam , Niels Timo , Köppel Maximilian , Wiskemann Joachim
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Strong evidence supports the persuasive positive effects of exercise for cancer patients and survivors. Different approaches of exercise programs have been established; however, the special interests of young adults (YAs) with cancer have rarely been considered in exercise interventions. Therefore, the study YOUng EXercisers (YOUEX) aimed to investigate exercise preferences in YAs. (2) Methods: YOUEX was a three-arm, patient preference-based non-randomized, longitudinal, pre–post exercise intervention, offering three different exercise modules to YAs during or after acute therapy (Module 1: online supervised group-based (M1); Module 2: online unsupervised (M2); Module 3: in-person supervised (M3)). The intervention period was 12 weeks with another 12-week follow-up period, the modules could be changed or amended after 6 and 12 weeks. (3) Results: 92 YAs were allocated to the study. At baseline, 50 YAs (54%) chose M2, 32 YAs (35%) M1 and 10 YAs (11%) M3. The analysis revealed high acceptability and feasibility of the online exercise programs (M1, M2). There was a high impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the execution of M3. YAs showed diverse preferences in module selection due to differences in, e.g., cancer therapy status or favored level of supervision. (4) Conclusions: YAs need personalized exercise programs that consider their individual interests and needs. Online exercise programs can be a promising addition to existing exercise opportunities. They are an effective way to increase physical activity levels in YAs.
Spectral Computed Tomography-Derived Iodine Content and Tumor Response in the Follow-Up of Neuroendocrine Tumors—A Single-Center Experience
Authors: Lim Winna , Sodemann Elisa Birgit , Büttner Laura , Jonczyk Martin , Lüdemann Willie Magnus , Kahn Johannes , Geisel Dominik , Jann Henning , Aigner Annette , Böning Georg
Published: January 2023

Spectral computed tomography (SCT) allows iodine content (IC) calculation for characterization of hypervascularized neoplasms and thus might help in the staging of neuroendocrine tumors (NETs). This single-center prospective study analyzed the association between SCT-derived IC and tumor response in the follow-up of metastasized NETs. Twenty-six patients with a median age of 70 years (range 51–85) with histologically proven NETs and a total of 78 lesions underwent SCT for staging. Because NETS are rare, no primary NET types were excluded. Lesions and intralesional hotspots were measured in virtual images and iodine maps. Tumor response was classified as progressive or nonprogressive at study endpoint. Generalized estimating equations served to estimate associations between IC and tumor response, additionally stratified by lesion location. Most commonly affected sites were the lymph nodes, liver, pancreas, and bones. Median time between SCT and endpoint was 64 weeks (range 5–260). Despite statistical imprecision in the estimate, patients with higher IC in lymphonodular metastases had lower odds for disease progression (adjusted OR = 0.21, 95% CI: 0.02–2.02). Opposite tendencies were observed in hepatic and pancreatic metastases in unadjusted analyses, which vanished after adjusting for therapy and primary tumor grade.
Modeling of the Elements Ca2+, Mg2+ and Si in the Sediments and the Body Walls of Sea Cucumbers in the Tropical Seagrass Meadows
Authors: Floren Adonis , Hayashizaki Ken-ichi , Tuntiprapas Piyalap , Prathep Anchana
Published: January 2023

The interrelationship of the minerals calcium (Ca2+), magnesium (Mg2+) and silicon (Si) in the sediments and in the body walls of four tropical sea cucumber species was explored by modeling the concentrations of these minerals. The elemental concentrations of Ca2+, Mg2+ and Si were measured in the body walls and in the ambient sediments occupied by the sea cucumbers Holothuria scabra, H. leucospilota, H. atra and Bohadschia marmorata. The results indicate that the concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the body walls of the four sea cucumber species are significantly different from each other, indicating a varying degree of biomineralization across sea cucumber taxa. In contrast, only B. marmorata showed a significant difference in the concentration of Si when compared to the rest of the species tested. Further analysis using linear mixed models revealed that the Ca2+, Mg2+ and Si concentrations in the body walls of the tested sea cucumber species are associated with the sediment concentrations of the same elements. The relatively high concentrations of Ca2+ and Mg2+ in the sediments indicate that these minerals are sufficiently high in sea cucumbers to support their biomineralization. The relationship between the Mg/Ca ratio in the body walls of the sea cucumbers and minerals in the sediments revealed that Si was the only mineral that was not correlated with the Mg/Ca ratio. Predicting the relationship of the elements Ca2+, Mg2+ and Si between the sediments and the body walls of sea cucumbers may be complex due to the various factors that influence the metabolism and biomineralization in sea cucumbers.
When a Worm Loves a Coral: A Symbiotic Relationship from the Jurassic/Cretaceous Boundary
Authors: Vinn Olev , Hoeksema Bert W. , Kołodziej Bogusław , Kozlová Zuzana
Published: January 2023

Reefal limestones of the Štramberk Carbonate Platform are preserved as olistoliths and pebbles in deep-water flysch of the Outer Carpathians (Czech Republic, Poland). They contain the richest coral assemblages of the Jurassic/Cretaceous transition (Tithonian–Berriasian). Symbiotic associations between corals and tube-dwelling macroorganisms were recognized only in the branching scleractinian corals Calamophylliopsis flabellum and Calamophylliopsis sp. One to seven calcareous tubes were recognized either in coral calyces, embedded in the wall, or attached to it. Two types of tubes were recognized: Type 1: tubes with a diameter of 0.3–0.6 mm and a very thin wall (ca. 0.05 mm), mostly occurring inside corallites, and nearly exclusively in the Štramberk-type limestone of Poland; Type 2: tubes with an outer diameter of 0.8–2.0 mm and a thick wall (ca. 0.1 mm, some even up to 0.2 mm), mostly found in the Štramberk Limestone of the Czech Republic. Growth lamellae were observed in some thick walls. Most tubes are almost straight, some are curved. The tubes were probably produced by serpulids or by embedment of organic-walled sabellid polychaete worms. It is likely the oldest record of a sabellid–coral association. Modification of the coral skeleton in contact with tubes indicates that the worms were associated with live corals. For many modern and fossil worm–coral associations, this symbiotic association is interpreted as mutualistic or commensal.
Assessment of Spatiotemporal Dynamics of Mangrove in Five Typical Mangrove Reserve Wetlands in Asia, Africa and Oceania
Authors: Du Cun , Khan Shahbaz , Ke Yinghai , Zhou Demin
Published: January 2023

Mangrove wetlands play a key role in global biodiversity conservation, though they have been damaged in recent decades. Therefore, mangrove habitats have been of great concern at the international level since the latter half of the 20th century. We focused on the key issue of the dynamics of mangrove habitats. A comprehensive review of their typicality and status from the global perspective was evaluated before the landscape dynamics of the mangrove habitats at the five sites were interpreted from Landsat satellite images covering 20 years, from 2000 to 2020. Ground-truthing was undertaken after comparing the results with the other published international mangrove datasets. We reached three conclusions: Firstly, within the period from 2000 to 2020, the mangrove area in Dongzhaigang increased by 414 ha, with an increase of 24.6%. In Sembilang NP, Sundarban, Kakadu NP, and RUMAKI, the mangrove area decreased by 1652 ha, 16,091 ha, 83 ha, and 2012 ha, with a decrease of 1.8%, 2.7%, 0.9%, and 3.9%, respectively. Secondly, other types of wetlands play a key role in degradating the mangrove wetlands in all of five protected areas. Thirdly, the rate of mangrove degradation has slowed dramatically based on the five sites over the past two decades, which are generally consistent with the findings of other researchers.
Analysis of Chest X-ray for COVID-19 Diagnosis as a Use Case for an HPC-Enabled Data Analysis and Machine Learning Platform for Medical Diagnosis Support
Authors: Barakat Chadi , Aach Marcel , Schuppert Andreas , Brynjólfsson Sigurður , Fritsch Sebastian , Riedel Morris
Published: January 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic shed light on the need for quick diagnosis tools in healthcare, leading to the development of several algorithmic models for disease detection. Though these models are relatively easy to build, their training requires a lot of data, storage, and resources, which may not be available for use by medical institutions or could be beyond the skillset of the people who most need these tools. This paper describes a data analysis and machine learning platform that takes advantage of high-performance computing infrastructure for medical diagnosis support applications. This platform is validated by re-training a previously published deep learning model (COVID-Net) on new data, where it is shown that the performance of the model is improved through large-scale hyperparameter optimisation that uncovered optimal training parameter combinations. The per-class accuracy of the model, especially for COVID-19 and pneumonia, is higher when using the tuned hyperparameters (healthy: 96.5%; pneumonia: 61.5%; COVID-19: 78.9%) as opposed to parameters chosen through traditional methods (healthy: 93.6%; pneumonia: 46.1%; COVID-19: 76.3%). Furthermore, training speed-up analysis shows a major decrease in training time as resources increase, from 207 min using 1 node to 54 min when distributed over 32 nodes, but highlights the presence of a cut-off point where the communication overhead begins to affect performance. The developed platform is intended to provide the medical field with a technical environment for developing novel portable artificial-intelligence-based tools for diagnosis support.
Longitudinal Structure–Function Evaluation in a Patient with CDHR1-Associated Retinal Dystrophy: Progressive Visual Function Loss with Retinal Remodeling
Authors: Cusumano Andrea , Falsini Benedetto , D’Apolito Fabian , D’Ambrosio Michele , Sebastiani Jacopo , Cascella Raffaella , Barati Shila , Giardina Emiliano
Published: January 2023

Background: Retinal dystrophies related to damaging variants in the cadherin-related family member 1 (CDHR1) gene are rare and phenotypically heterogeneous. Here, we report a longitudinal (three-year) structure–function evaluation of a patient with a CDHR1-related retinal dystrophy. Methods: A 14-year-old girl was evaluated between 2019 and 2022. An ophthalmological assessment, including color vision, perimetry, electroretinography, and multimodal imaging of the retina, was performed periodically every six months. Next-generation sequencing disclosed two likely pathogenic/pathogenic variants in the CDHR1 gene, in compound heterozygosity, confirmed by segregation analysis. Results: At first examination, the patient showed a cone–rod pattern retinal dystrophy. Over follow-up, there was a decline of visual acuity and perimetric sensitivity (by ≥0.3 and 0.6 log units, respectively). Visual loss was associated with a progressive increase in inner retinal thickness (by 30%). Outer retina showed no detectable changes over the follow-up. Conclusions: The results indicate that, in this patient with a CDHR1-related cone–rod dystrophy, the progression to severe visual loss was paralleled by a progressive inner retinal thickening, likely a reflection of remodeling. Inner retinal changes over time may be functionally relevant in view of the therapeutic attempts based on gene therapy or stem cells to mitigate photoreceptor loss.
Frequency of Dental X-ray Diagnostics in Children and Adolescents: What Is the Radiation Exposure?
Authors: Hennig Christoph-Ludwig , Schüler Ina Manuela , Scherbaum Rebecca , Buschek Rika , Scheithauer Marcel , Jacobs Collin , Mentzel Hans-Joachim
Published: January 2023

Children are exposed to ionizing radiation through radiographs during their development for various reasons. At present, there are no officially valid reference values for dental X-rays in children and adolescents for dental X-ray diagnostics. This study retrospectively examined 9680 extraoral dental radiographs in pediatric patients between 2002 and 2020. The aim was to analyze the radiation doses in pediatric patients, which indications were used, and whether there were specific age and gender differences. The evaluation showed that radiation doses were considered low, with dose area products of 2.2 cGy × cm2 for a lateral cephalogram, 14 cGy × cm2 for an orthopantomogram (OPG), and 45 cGy × cm2 for cone beam computer tomography (CBCT). This corresponds to an effective dose of 1.5 μSv for a lateral cephalogram, 7 μSv for an OPG, and 33.8 μSv for CBCT. Of the 9680 images, 78% were orthopantomograms, and only 0.4% were CBCT images. OPG has become more important over the years, as reflected in the indication. Approximately one-third of all extraoral exposures are orthodontic indications. Overall, the indications were similar for both genders. According to the dental indications, boys were X-rayed slightly more frequently than girls (54.5–45.5%). A future publication of dose guide values and corresponding guidelines is of high priority.
Optimized S-Curve Transformation and Wavelets-Based Fusion for Contrast Elevation of Breast Tomograms and Mammograms
Authors: Bhateja Vikrant , Urooj Shabana , Dikshit Anushka , Rai Ashruti
Published: January 2023

For the purpose of accuracy in detection and diagnosis, Computer-Aided Diagnosis (CAD) is preferred by radiologists for the analysis of Breast Cancer. However, the presence of noise, artifacts, and poor contrast in breast images during acquisition highlights the need for sophisticated enhancement techniques for the proper visualization of region-of-interest (ROI). In this work, contrast elevation of breast mammographic and tomographic images is performed with an improved S-Curve transform using the Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) algorithm. The enhanced images are assessed using dedicated quality metrics such as the Enhancement Measure (EME) and Absolute Mean Brightness Error (AMBE) measurement. Although the enhancement techniques help in attaining better images, certain features relevant for diagnosis purposes are removed during the enhancement process, creating contradictions for radiological interpretation. Hence, to ensure the retention of diagnostic features from original breast tomograms and mammograms, a Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT)-based fusion approach is incorporated, which fuses the original and contrast-enhanced images (with optimized s-curve transformation function) using the maximum fusion rule. The fusion performance is thereafter measured using the Image Quality Index (IQI), Standard Deviation (SD), and Entropy (E) as fusion metrics.
Research on Structurally Constrained KELM Fault-Diagnosis Model Based on Frequency-Domain Fuzzy Entropy
Authors: Feng Xiaosu , Zhang Guanghui , Yuan Xuyi , Fan Yugang
Published: January 2023

As the core equipment of the high-pressure diaphragm pump, the working conditions of the check valve are complicated, and the vibration signal generated during operation displays non-stationary and nonlinear characteristics. In order to accurately describe the non-linear dynamics of the check valve, the smoothing prior analysis (SPA) method is used to decompose the vibration signal of the check valve, obtain the tendency term and fluctuation term components, and calculate the frequency-domain fuzzy entropy (FFE) of the component signals. Using FFE to characterize the operating state of the check valve, the paper proposes a kernel extreme-learning machine (KELM) function norm regularization method, which is used to construct a structurally constrained kernel extreme-learning machine (SC-KELM) fault-diagnosis model. Experiments demonstrate that the frequency-domain fuzzy entropy can accurately characterize the operation state of check valve, and the improvement of the generalization of the SC-KELM check valve fault model improves the recognition accuracy of the check-valve fault-diagnosis model, with an accuracy rate of 96.67%.
Forward-Backward Sweep Method for the System of HJB-FP Equations in Memory-Limited Partially Observable Stochastic Control
Authors: Tottori Takehiro , Kobayashi Tetsuya J.
Published: January 2023

Memory-limited partially observable stochastic control (ML-POSC) is the stochastic optimal control problem under incomplete information and memory limitation. To obtain the optimal control function of ML-POSC, a system of the forward Fokker–Planck (FP) equation and the backward Hamilton–Jacobi–Bellman (HJB) equation needs to be solved. In this work, we first show that the system of HJB-FP equations can be interpreted via Pontryagin’s minimum principle on the probability density function space. Based on this interpretation, we then propose the forward-backward sweep method (FBSM) for ML-POSC. FBSM is one of the most basic algorithms for Pontryagin’s minimum principle, which alternately computes the forward FP equation and the backward HJB equation in ML-POSC. Although the convergence of FBSM is generally not guaranteed in deterministic control and mean-field stochastic control, it is guaranteed in ML-POSC because the coupling of the HJB-FP equations is limited to the optimal control function in ML-POSC.
Seeing the Error in My “Bayes”: A Quantified Degree of Belief Change Correlates with Children’s Pupillary Surprise Responses Following Explicit Predictions
Authors: Colantonio Joseph , Bascandziev Igor , Theobald Maria , Brod Garvin , Bonawitz Elizabeth
Published: January 2023

Bayesian models allow us to investigate children’s belief revision alongside physiological states, such as “surprise”. Recent work finds that pupil dilation (or the “pupillary surprise response”) following expectancy violations is predictive of belief revision. How can probabilistic models inform the interpretations of “surprise”? Shannon Information considers the likelihood of an observed event, given prior beliefs, and suggests stronger surprise occurs following unlikely events. In contrast, Kullback–Leibler divergence considers the dissimilarity between prior beliefs and updated beliefs following observations—with greater surprise indicating more change between belief states to accommodate information. To assess these accounts under different learning contexts, we use Bayesian models that compare these computational measures of “surprise” to contexts where children are asked to either predict or evaluate the same evidence during a water displacement task. We find correlations between the computed Kullback–Leibler divergence and the children’s pupillometric responses only when the children actively make predictions, and no correlation between Shannon Information and pupillometry. This suggests that when children attend to their beliefs and make predictions, pupillary responses may signal the degree of divergence between a child’s current beliefs and the updated, more accommodating beliefs.
Quantum Oscillator at Temperature T and the Evolution of a Charged-Particle State in the Electric Field in the Probability Representation of Quantum Mechanics
Authors: Man’ko Margarita A. , Man’ko Vladimir I.
Published: January 2023

A short review constructing the probability representation of quantum mechanics is given, and examples of the probability distributions describing the states of quantum oscillator at temperature T and the evolution of quantum states of a charged particle moving in the electric field of an electrical capacitor are considered. Explicit forms of time-dependent integrals of motion, linear in the position and momentum, are used to obtain varying probability distributions describing the evolving states of the charged particle. Entropies corresponding to the probability distributions of initial coherent states of the charged particle are discussed. The relation of the Feynman path integral to the probability representation of quantum mechanics is established.
On the Thermodynamics of Particles Obeying Monotone Statistics
Authors: Ciolli Fabio , Fidaleo Francesco , Marullo Chiara
Published: January 2023

The aim of the present paper is to provide a preliminary investigation of the thermodynamics of particles obeying monotone statistics. To render the potential physical applications realistic, we propose a modified scheme called block-monotone, based on a partial order arising from the natural one on the spectrum of a positive Hamiltonian with compact resolvent. The block-monotone scheme is never comparable with the weak monotone one and is reduced to the usual monotone scheme whenever all the eigenvalues of the involved Hamiltonian are non-degenerate. Through a detailed analysis of a model based on the quantum harmonic oscillator, we can see that: (a) the computation of the grand-partition function does not require the Gibbs correction factor n! (connected with the indistinguishability of particles) in the various terms of its expansion with respect to the activity; and (b) the decimation of terms contributing to the grand-partition function leads to a kind of “exclusion principle” analogous to the Pauli exclusion principle enjoined by Fermi particles, which is more relevant in the high-density regime and becomes negligible in the low-density regime, as expected.
Inverted Oscillator Quantum States in the Probability Representation
Authors: Man’ko Olga V. , Man’ko Vladimir I.
Published: January 2023

The quantizer–dequantizer formalism is used to construct the probability representation of quantum system states. Comparison with the probability representation of classical system states is discussed. Examples of probability distributions describing the system of parametric oscillators and inverted oscillators are presented.
Institutional Setting and Its Influence on the Teaching of Mathematics: Implications to Implementing Reform Vision in Mathematics Education in Ethiopian Schools
Authors: Wondem Dereje Taye , Tesfamicael Solomon Abedom , Getahun Dawit Asrat
Published: January 2023

Existing initiatives in mathematics education demand establishing a continuous professional development program for teachers in Ethiopian schools. However, implementing such programs first requires an understanding of the school and district environment in which the participating teachers work, as mathematics instruction is in part a function of the environment. In many cases, school and district settings are dynamic, and it is difficult to incorporate unplanned and intervening factors into the change process. This case study attempts to investigate the influences of the school and district settings in promoting reform visions in mathematics education. This study applies the theory of communities of practice as a framework and qualitative coding of data to understand the dynamic school setting and its implications for the teaching practices of mathematics teachers. The findings reveal that the school setting does not adequately promote reform visions, but rather it maintains the practice that is supposed to be changed. The current situation includes an accountability system loosely connected to reform visions, the absence of reform-oriented school leaders and expertise to guide the teachers, and a lack of instructional materials that the teachers can refer to regarding the new reforms. This paper suggests a possible configuration of the school situation to promote an environment that fosters the teaching of mathematics toward reform objectives.
Italian University Students’ Resilience during the COVID-19 Lockdown—A Structural Equation Model about the Relationship between Resilience, Emotion Regulation and Well-Being
Authors: Renati Roberta , Bonfiglio Natale Salvatore , Rollo Dolores
Published: January 2023

Over the past two years, the consequences of the severe restrictions imposed by the rapid spread of COVID-19 among the global population have been a central focus of scientific research. The pandemic has been a singular and unexpected event that found people unprepared and vulnerable in responding to its emergence, resulting in substantial psychological distress. Scientific evidence has highlighted that adolescents and emerging adults have been among those populations at greatest risk of adverse psychological outcomes, even in the long term. In particular, more than one-third of young adults reported high levels of loneliness, and nearly half of 18- to 24-year-olds felt lonely during the pandemic, experiencing both psychological and emotional distress. The lockdown, the consequent suspension of face-to-face academic activities and the severe restriction of social life have disrupted the daily routines of students already involved in coping with developmental tasks related to identity formation and the relational experience. Under such conditions, emotions and emotional regulation skills are crucial in adapting behavior to reach academic goals and face mounting levels of distress. Therefore, several studies have investigated resilience mechanisms and coping strategies of emerging adults during the pandemic. The present study focuses on university students and explores the impact of resilience and emotional regulation on adverse psychological outcomes related to persistent distress conditions associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Students were administered a self-report assessment battery through an online platform at the beginning (T0) and the end of the lockdown (T1). A structural equation model (SEM) was used to explore the relationship between resilience, emotional regulation difficulties and psychological distress (depression, anxiety and stress). The findings indicate that psychological resilience and emotion regulation are protective factors that buffer the extent of possible distress resulting from an adverse condition such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
Three-Level Inverter-PMSM Model Predictive Current Control Based on the Extended Control Set
Authors: Gu Xin , Xu Wenyuan , Zhang Guozheng , Chen Wei , Jin Xuefeng
Published: January 2023

In the neutral point clamped (NPC) three-level inverter-permanent magnet synchronous motor system, traditional model predictive current control (MPCC) uses the system predictive model to traverse the 27 basic voltage vectors, to achieve the d-q axis current component and neutral point voltage of the multi-objective optimal control. Finite control set model predictive control predicts the state change of the control target at future moments based on a finite number of switching states of the inverter. The control principle of this method is simple and easy to implement, but the control effectiveness of this control strategy is limited because only one basic vector can be selected as the optimum output per control period. In this paper, a model predictive current control strategy based on an extended control set (ECS-MPCC) is proposed, which can improve the control performance of the system by extending the control set to select multiple vectors in a single control period compared to the traditional strategy. In addition, to address the disadvantage of extending virtual space vectors leading to an increase in computation, this paper proposes a fast search method for optimal vector based on region reduction. The proposed method avoids the optimization process traversing all virtual space vectors, thus enabling a fast search for the optimal vector. The experimental results show that the proposed control strategy has good steady-state and dynamic performance.
HCOME: Research on Hybrid Computation Offloading Strategy for MEC Based on DDPG
Authors: Cao Shaohua , Chen Shu , Chen Hui , Zhang Hanqing , Zhan Zijun , Zhang Weishan
Published: January 2023

With the growth of the Internet of Things, smart devices are subsequently generating a large number of computation-intensive and latency-sensitive tasks. Mobile edge computing can provide resources in close proximity, greatly reducing service latency and alleviating congestion in mobile core networks. Due to the instability of the mobile edge computing environment, it was difficult to guarantee the quality of service for users. To address this problem, a hybrid computation offloading framework based on Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG) in IoT is proposed. The framework is a system consisting of edge servers and user devices. It is used to acquire the environment state through Software Defined Network technologies and generate the offloading strategy by Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient. The optimization objectives in this paper include the total system overhead of the mobile edge computing system, and considering both network load and computational load, an optimal offloading strategy can be obtained to enable users to obtain a better quality of service. Finally, the experimental results show that the algorithm outperforms the comparison algorithm and can reduce the system latency by 20%, while the network load and computational load are also more stable.
A Zero-Trust Architecture for Remote Access in Industrial IoT Infrastructures
Authors: Federici Fabio , Martintoni Davide , Senni Valerio
Published: January 2023

This paper considers the domain of Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT) infrastructures and the recurring need for collaboration across teams and stakeholders by means of remote access. The paper describes a secure solution beyond the traditional perimeter-based security approach, which consists of an architecture that supports multi-level authorization to achieve fine-grained access control, better scalability, and maintainability. An implementation of the proposed solution, using open-source technologies, is also discussed and covers the protection of both the network and edge domains of a complex IIoT infrastructure. Finally, the paper presents a risk-driven and model-based process that is designed to support the migration of existing infrastructures to the solution architecture. The approach is validated, taking as a reference two relevant scenarios for the aerospace industry.
Robust Chinese Named Entity Recognition Based on Fusion Graph Embedding
Authors: Song Xuhui , Yu Hongtao , Li Shaomei , Wang Huansha
Published: January 2023

Named entity recognition is an important basic task in the field of natural language processing. The current mainstream named entity recognition methods are mainly based on the deep neural network model. The vulnerability of the deep neural network itself leads to a significant decline in the accuracy of named entity recognition when there is adversarial text in the text. In order to improve the robustness of named entity recognition under adversarial conditions, this paper proposes a Chinese named entity recognition model based on fusion graph embedding. Firstly, the model encodes and represents the phonetic and glyph information of the input text through graph learning and integrates above-multimodal knowledge into the model, thus enhancing the robustness of the model. Secondly, we use the Bi-LSTM to further obtain the context information of the text. Finally, conditional random field is used to decode and label entities. The experimental results on OntoNotes4.0, MSRA, Weibo, and Resume datasets show that the F1 values of this model increased by 3.76%, 3.93%, 4.16%, and 6.49%, respectively, in the presence of adversarial text, which verifies the effectiveness of this model.
Use of Complementary and Alternative Medicine and Its Relationship with Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQOL) in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Mori Yoshiro , Daikuhara Hiroyuki , Oshima Tomie , Suzuki Hiromi , Okada Setsuo , Miyatake Nobuyuki
Published: January 2023

The present study investigated the use of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) and its relationship with health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. A total of 421 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus who completely met the inclusion criteria, aged 67.3 ± 12.8 years, among 622 outpatients were recruited in this cross-sectional study. We examined the use of CAM, such as supplements, Kampo, acupuncture, and yoga. HRQOL was assessed by EuroQOL. A total of 161 patients (38.2%) with type 2 diabetes mellitus used some type of CAM. The use of supplements and/or health foods was the highest among CAM users (112 subjects, 26.6%). HRQOL was significantly lower in patients who used some CAM (0.829 ± 0.221) than in those without any CAM use (0.881 ± 0.189), even after adjustments for confounding factors [F(1, 414) = 2.530, p = 0.014]. Proper information on CAM is needed for patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.