bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Automatic Image Generation Pipeline for Instance Segmentation of Deformable Linear Objects
Authors: Dirr Jonas , Gebauer Daniel , Yao Jiajun , Daub Rüdiger
Published: March 2023

Robust detection of deformable linear objects (DLOs) is a crucial challenge for the automation of handling and assembly of cables and hoses. The lack of training data is a limiting factor for deep-learning-based detection of DLOs. In this context, we propose an automatic image generation pipeline for instance segmentation of DLOs. In this pipeline, a user can set boundary conditions to generate training data for industrial applications automatically. A comparison of different replication types of DLOs shows that modeling DLOs as rigid bodies with versatile deformations is most effective. Further, reference scenarios for the arrangement of DLOs are defined to generate scenes in a simulation automatically. This allows the pipelines to be quickly transferred to new applications. The validation of models trained with synthetic images and tested on real-world images shows the feasibility of the proposed data generation approach for segmentation of DLOs. Finally, we show that the pipeline yields results comparable to the state of the art but has advantages in reduced manual effort and transferability to new use cases.
PV Defects Identification through a Synergistic Set of Non-Destructive Testing (NDT) Techniques
Authors: Kaplanis Socrates , Kaplani Eleni , Borza Paul Nicolae
Published: March 2023

A synergistic set of NDT techniques, including I–V analysis, UVF imaging, IR thermography, and EL imaging, supports a diagnostics methodology developed in this work to qualitatively and quantitatively identify a wide range of PV defects. The methodology is based on (a) the deviation of the module electrical parameters at STC from their nominal values, for which a set of mathematical expressions was developed that provide an insight into potential defects and their quantitative impact on the module electrical parameters, and (b) the variation analysis of EL images captured at a sequence of bias voltages for a qualitative investigation on the spatial distribution and strength of the defects. The synergy of these two pillars, supported by UVF imaging, IR thermography, and I–V analysis cross-correlating their findings, makes the diagnostics methodology effective and reliable. It was applied on c-Si and pc-Si modules operating from 0–24 years, exhibiting a diversity of defects of varying severity, either pre-existing or formed by natural ageing or externally induced degradation. Defects such as EVA degradation, browning, corrosion in the busbar/interconnect ribbons, EVA/cell-interface delamination, pn-junction damage, e−+hole recombination regions, breaks, microcracks, finger interruptions, and passivation issues are detected. Degradation factors triggering a cascade of internal degradation processes through cause and effect are analysed and additional models are proposed for the temperature pattern under current mismatch and corrosion along the busbar, further empowering the cross-correlation of NDT results. Power degradation was determined from 1.2% in 2 years of operation to more than 50% in modules with film deposition.
Temporal Analysis and Classification of Sensor Signals
Authors: Kosiuczenko Piotr
Published: March 2023

Understanding the behaviour of sensors, and in particular, the specifications of multisensor systems, are complex problems. The variables that need to be taken into consideration include, inter alia, the application domain, the way sensors are used, and their architectures. Various models, algorithms, and technologies have been designed to achieve this goal. In this paper, a new interval logic, referred to as Duration Calculus for Functions (DC4F), is applied to precisely specify signals originating from sensors, in particular sensors and devices used in heart rhythm monitoring procedures, such as electrocardiograms. Precision is the key issue in case of safety critical system specification. DC4F is a natural extension of the well-known Duration Calculus, an interval temporal logic used for specifying the duration of a process. It is suitable for describing complex, interval-dependent behaviours. Said approach allows one to specify temporal series, describe complex interval-dependent behaviours, and evaluate the corresponding data within a unifying logical framework. The use of DC4F allows one, on the one hand, to precisely specify the behaviour of functions modelling signals generated by different sensors and devices. Such specifications can be used for classifying signals, functions, and diagrams; and for identifying normal and abnormal behaviours. On the other hand, it allows one to formulate and frame a hypothesis. This is a significant advantage over machine learning algorithms, since the latter are capable of learning different patterns but fail to allow the user to specify the behaviour of interest.
In-Network Processing of Skyline Join Queries in Wireless Sensor Networks Using Synopses of Skyline Attribute Value Ranges
Authors: Kang Hyunchul
Published: March 2023

We investigate the in-network processing of a skyline join query in wireless sensor networks (WSNs). While much research was conducted on processing skyline queries in WSNs, skyline join queries were dealt with only in traditional centralized or distributed database environments. However, such techniques cannot be applied to WSNs. Carrying out join filtering, as well as skyline filtering using them in WSNs, is infeasible due to limited memory in senor nodes and to excessive energy consumption in wireless communications. In this paper, we propose a protocol to process a skyline join query in WSNs energy efficiently with only a small amount of memory in each sensor node. It uses a synopsis of skyline attribute value ranges, which is a very compact data structure. The range synopsis is used both in the search of anchor points for skyline filtering and in 2-way semijoins for join filtering. We describe the structure of a range synopsis and present our protocol. To optimize our protocol, we solve some optimization problems. Through implementation and a set of detailed simulations, we show the effectiveness of our protocol. The range synopsis is confirmed to be compact enough for our protocol to work well with the limited memory and energy in each sensor node. For the correlated and random distributions, our protocol significantly outperforms other possible protocols, confirming the effectiveness of an in-network skyline as well as the join filtering capabilities of our protocol.
Use of Lower Limb Exoskeletons as an Assessment Tool for Human Motor Performance: A Systematic Review
Authors: Moeller Tobias , Moehler Felix , Krell-Roesch Janina , Dežman Miha , Marquardt Charlotte , Asfour Tamim , Stein Thorsten , Woll Alexander
Published: March 2023

Exoskeletons are a promising tool to support individuals with a decreased level of motor performance. Due to their built-in sensors, exoskeletons offer the possibility of continuously recording and assessing user data, for example, related to motor performance. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of studies that rely on using exoskeletons to measure motor performance. Therefore, we conducted a systematic literature review, following the PRISMA Statement guidelines. A total of 49 studies using lower limb exoskeletons for the assessment of human motor performance were included. Of these, 19 studies were validity studies, and six were reliability studies. We found 33 different exoskeletons; seven can be considered stationary, and 26 were mobile exoskeletons. The majority of the studies measured parameters such as range of motion, muscle strength, gait parameters, spasticity, and proprioception. We conclude that exoskeletons can be used to measure a wide range of motor performance parameters through built-in sensors, and seem to be more objective and specific than manual test procedures. However, since these parameters are usually estimated from built-in sensor data, the quality and specificity of an exoskeleton to assess certain motor performance parameters must be examined before an exoskeleton can be used, for example, in a research or clinical setting.
Joint Beamforming Design for RIS-Assisted Integrated Satellite-HAP-Terrestrial Networks Using Deep Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Wu Min , Zhu Shibing , Li Changqing , Chen Yudi , Zhou Feng
Published: March 2023

In this paper, we consider reconfigurable intelligent surface (RIS)-assisted integrated satellite high-altitude platform terrestrial networks (IS-HAP-TNs) that can improve network performance by exploiting the HAP stability and RIS reflection. Specifically, the reflector RIS is installed on the side of HAP to reflect signals from the multiple ground user equipment (UE) to the satellite. To aim at maximizing the system sum rate, we jointly optimize the transmit beamforming matrix at the ground UEs and RIS phase shift matrix. Due to the limitation of the unit modulus of the RIS reflective elements constraint, the combinatorial optimization problem is difficult to tackle effectively by traditional solving methods. Based on this, this paper studies the deep reinforcement learning (DRL) algorithm to achieve online decision making for this joint optimization problem. In addition, it is verified through simulation experiments that the proposed DRL algorithm outperforms the standard scheme in terms of system performance, execution time, and computing speed, making real-time decision making truly feasible.
Transformer-Based Fire Detection in Videos
Authors: Mardani Konstantina , Vretos Nicholas , Daras Petros
Published: March 2023

Fire detection in videos forms a valuable feature in surveillance systems, as its utilization can prevent hazardous situations. The combination of an accurate and fast model is necessary for the effective confrontation of this significant task. In this work, a transformer-based network for the detection of fire in videos is proposed. It is an encoder–decoder architecture that consumes the current frame that is under examination, in order to compute attention scores. These scores denote which parts of the input frame are more relevant for the expected fire detection output. The model is capable of recognizing fire in video frames and specifying its exact location in the image plane in real-time, as can be seen in the experimental results, in the form of segmentation mask. The proposed methodology has been trained and evaluated for two computer vision tasks, the full-frame classification task (fire/no fire in frames) and the fire localization task. In comparison with the state-of-the-art models, the proposed method achieves outstanding results in both tasks, with 97% accuracy, 20.4 fps processing time, 0.02 false positive rate for fire localization, and 97% for f-score and recall metrics in the full-frame classification task.
A Methodology Based on Machine Learning and Soft Computing to Design More Sustainable Agriculture Systems
Authors: Cadenas Jose M. , Garrido M. Carmen , Martínez-España Raquel
Published: March 2023

Advances in new technologies are allowing any field of real life to benefit from using these ones. Among of them, we can highlight the IoT ecosystem making available large amounts of information, cloud computing allowing large computational capacities, and Machine Learning techniques together with the Soft Computing framework to incorporate intelligence. They constitute a powerful set of tools that allow us to define Decision Support Systems that improve decisions in a wide range of real-life problems. In this paper, we focus on the agricultural sector and the issue of sustainability. We propose a methodology that, starting from times series data provided by the IoT ecosystem, a preprocessing and modelling of the data based on machine learning techniques is carried out within the framework of Soft Computing. The obtained model will be able to carry out inferences in a given prediction horizon that allow the development of Decision Support Systems that can help the farmer. By way of illustration, the proposed methodology is applied to the specific problem of early frost prediction. With some specific scenarios validated by expert farmers in an agricultural cooperative, the benefits of the methodology are illustrated. The evaluation and validation show the effectiveness of the proposal.
Can Genetic Algorithms Be Used for Real-Time Obstacle Avoidance for LiDAR-Equipped Mobile Robots?
Authors: Gyenes Zoltán , Bölöni Ladislau , Szádeczky-Kardoss Emese Gincsainé
Published: March 2023

Despite significant progress in robot hardware, the number of mobile robots deployed in public spaces remains low. One of the challenges hindering a wider deployment is that even if a robot can build a map of the environment, for instance through the use of LiDAR sensors, it also needs to calculate, in real time, a smooth trajectory that avoids both static and mobile obstacles. Considering this scenario, in this paper we investigate whether genetic algorithms can play a role in real-time obstacle avoidance. Historically, the typical use of genetic algorithms was in offline optimization. To investigate whether an online, real-time deployment is possible, we create a family of algorithms called GAVO that combines genetic algorithms with the velocity obstacle model. Through a series of experiments, we show that a carefully chosen chromosome representation and parametrization can achieve real-time performance on the obstacle avoidance problem.
Magic Leap 1 versus Microsoft HoloLens 2 for the Visualization of 3D Content Obtained from Radiological Images
Authors: Zari Giulia , Condino Sara , Cutolo Fabrizio , Ferrari Vincenzo
Published: March 2023

The adoption of extended reality solutions is growing rapidly in the healthcare world. Augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) interfaces can bring advantages in various medical-health sectors; it is thus not surprising that the medical MR market is among the fastest-growing ones. The present study reports on a comparison between two of the most popular MR head-mounted displays, Magic Leap 1 and Microsoft HoloLens 2, for the visualization of 3D medical imaging data. We evaluate the functionalities and performance of both devices through a user-study in which surgeons and residents assessed the visualization of 3D computer-generated anatomical models. The digital content is obtained through a dedicated medical imaging suite (Verima imaging suite) developed by the Italian start-up company (Witapp s.r.l.). According to our performance analysis in terms of frame rate, there are no significant differences between the two devices. The surgical staff expressed a clear preference for Magic Leap 1, particularly for the better visualization quality and the ease of interaction with the 3D virtual content. Nonetheless, even though the results of the questionnaire were slightly more positive for Magic Leap 1, the spatial understanding of the 3D anatomical model in terms of depth relations and spatial arrangement was positively evaluated for both devices.
A Quantitative Study of a Directional Heat Island in Hefei, China Based on Multi-Source Data
Authors: Shi Biao , Tu Lili , Jiang Lu , Zhang Jiyuan , Geng Jun
Published: March 2023

Surface urban heat islands (SUHIs) are essential for evaluating urban thermal environments. However, current quantitative studies of SUHIs ignore the thermal radiation directionality (TRD), which directly affects study precision; furthermore, they fail to assess the effects of TRD characteristics at different land-use intensities, on the quantitative studies of SUHIs. To bridge this research gap, this study eliminates the interference of atmospheric attenuation and daily temperature variation factors, in quantifying the TRD based on land surface temperature (LST), from MODIS data and station air temperature data for Hefei (China) from 2010–2020. The influence of TRD on SUHI intensity quantification was evaluated by comparing the TRD under different land-use intensities in Hefei. The results show that: (1) daytime and nighttime directionality can reach up to 4.7 K and 2.6 K, and occur in areas with the highest and medium urban land-use intensity, respectively. (2) There are two significant TRD hotspots for daytime urban surfaces, where the sensor zenith angle is approximately the same as the forenoon solar zenith angle, and where the sensor zenith angle is near its nadir in the afternoon. (3) The TRD can contribute up to 2.0 K to the results of assessing the SUHI intensity based on satellite data, which is approximately 31–44% of the total SUHI in Hefei.
Analyzing the Impact of Active Attack on the Performance of the AMCTD Protocol in Underwater Wireless Sensor Networks
Authors: Saeed Khalid , Khalil Wajeeha , Al-Shamayleh Ahmad Sami , Ahmad Iftikhar , Akhunzada Adnan , ALharethi Salman Z. , Gani Abdullah
Published: March 2023

The exponentially growing concern of cyber-attacks on extremely dense underwater sensor networks (UWSNs) and the evolution of UWSNs digital threat landscape has brought novel research challenges and issues. Primarily, varied protocol evaluation under advanced persistent threats is now becoming indispensable yet very challenging. This research implements an active attack in the Adaptive Mobility of Courier Nodes in Threshold-optimized Depth-based Routing (AMCTD) protocol. A variety of attacker nodes were employed in diverse scenarios to thoroughly assess the performance of AMCTD protocol. The protocol was exhaustively evaluated both with and without active attacks with benchmark evaluation metrics such as end-to-end delay, throughput, transmission loss, number of active nodes and energy tax. The preliminary research findings show that active attack drastically lowers the AMCTD protocol’s performance (i.e., active attack reduces the number of active nodes by up to 10%, reduces throughput by up to 6%, increases transmission loss by 7%, raises energy tax by 25%, and increases end-to-end delay by 20%).
Acoustic-Based Rolling Bearing Fault Diagnosis Using a Co-Prime Circular Microphone Array
Authors: Li Chi , Chen Changzheng , Gu Xiaojiao
Published: March 2023

This study proposes a high-efficiency method using a co-prime circular microphone array (CPCMA) for the bearing fault diagnosis, and discusses the acoustic characteristics of three fault-type signals at different rotation speeds. Due to the close positions of various bearing components, radiation sounds are seriously mixed, and it is challenging to separate the fault features. Direction-of-arrival (DOA) estimation can be used to suppress noise and directionally enhance sound sources of interest; however, classical array configurations usually require a large number of microphones to achieve high accuracy. To address this, a CPCMA is introduced to raise the array’s degrees of freedom in order to reduce the dependence on the microphone numbers and computation complexity. The estimation of signal parameters via rotational invariance techniques (ESPRIT) applied to a CPCMA can quickly figure out the DOA estimation without any prior knowledge. By using the techniques above, a sound source motion-tracking diagnosis method is proposed according to the movement characteristics of impact sound sources for each fault type. Additionally, more precise frequency spectra are obtained, which are used in combination to determine the fault types and locations.
Computation of Eigenvalues and Eigenfunctions in the Solution of Eddy Current Problems
Authors: Theodoulidis Theodoros , Skarlatos Anastassios , Tytko Grzegorz
Published: March 2023

The solution of the eigenvalue problem in bounded domains with planar and cylindrical stratification is a necessary preliminary task for the construction of modal solutions to canonical problems with discontinuities. The computation of the complex eigenvalue spectrum must be very accurate since losing or misplacing one of the thereto linked modes will have an important impact on the field solution. The approach followed in a number of previous works is to construct the corresponding transcendental equation and locate its roots in the complex plane using the Newton–Raphson method or Cauchy-integral-based techniques. Nevertheless, this approach is cumbersome, and its numerical stability decreases dramatically with the number of layers. An alternative, approach consists in the numerical evaluation of the matrix eigenvalues for the weak formulation for the respective 1D Sturm–Liouville problem using linear algebra tools. An arbitrary number of layers can thus be easily and robustly treated, with continuous material gradients being a limiting case. Although this approach is often used in high frequency studies involving wave propagation, this is the first time that has been used for the induction problem arising in an eddy current inspection situation. The developed method is implemented in Matlab and is used to deal with the following problems: magnetic material with a hole, a magnetic cylinder, and a magnetic ring. In all the conducted tests, the results are obtained in a very short time, without missing a single eigenvalue.
MDABP: A Novel Approach to Detect Cross-Architecture IoT Malware Based on PaaS
Authors: Zhao Yang , Kuerban Alifu
Published: March 2023

With the development of internet technology, the Internet of Things (IoT) has been widely used in several aspects of human life. However, IoT devices are becoming more vulnerable to malware attacks due to their limited computational resources and the manufacturers’ inability to update the firmware on time. As IoT devices are increasing rapidly, their security must classify malicious software accurately; however, current IoT malware classification methods cannot detect cross-architecture IoT malware using system calls in a particular operating system as the only class of dynamic features. To address these issues, this paper proposes an IoT malware detection approach based on PaaS (Platform as a Service), which detects cross-architecture IoT malware by intercepting system calls generated by virtual machines in the host operating system acting as dynamic features and using the K Nearest Neighbors (KNN) classification model. A comprehensive evaluation using a 1719 sample dataset containing ARM and X86-32 architectures demonstrated that MDABP achieves 97.18% average accuracy and a 99.01% recall rate in detecting samples in an Executable and Linkable Format (ELF). Compared with the best cross-architecture detection method that uses network traffic as a unique type of dynamic feature with an accuracy of 94.5%, practical results reveal that our method uses fewer features and has higher accuracy.
Object Detection for UAV Aerial Scenarios Based on Vectorized IOU
Authors: Lu Shun , Lu Hanyu , Dong Jun , Wu Shuang
Published: March 2023

Object detection in unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) images is an extremely challenging task and involves problems such as multi-scale objects, a high proportion of small objects, and high overlap between objects. To address these issues, first, we design a Vectorized Intersection Over Union (VIOU) loss based on YOLOv5s. This loss uses the width and height of the bounding box as a vector to construct a cosine function that corresponds to the size of the box and the aspect ratio and directly compares the center point value of the box to improve the accuracy of the bounding box regression. Second, we propose a Progressive Feature Fusion Network (PFFN) that addresses the issue of insufficient semantic extraction of shallow features by Panet. This allows each node of the network to fuse semantic information from deep layers with features from the current layer, thus significantly improving the detection ability of small objects in multi-scale scenes. Finally, we propose an Asymmetric Decoupled (AD) head, which separates the classification network from the regression network and improves the classification and regression capabilities of the network. Our proposed method results in significant improvements on two benchmark datasets compared to YOLOv5s. On the VisDrone 2019 dataset, the performance increased by 9.7% from 34.9% to 44.6%, and on the DOTA dataset, the performance increased by 2.1%.
In Vivo Analysis of a Biodegradable Magnesium Alloy Implant in an Animal Model Using Near-Infrared Spectroscopy
Authors: Mathew Anna , Hassan Hafiz Wajahat , Korostynska Olga , Westad Frank , Mota-Silva Eduarda , Menichetti Luca , Mirtaheri Peyman
Published: March 2023

Biodegradable magnesium-based implants offer mechanical properties similar to natural bone, making them advantageous over nonbiodegradable metallic implants. However, monitoring the interaction between magnesium and tissue over time without interference is difficult. A noninvasive method, optical near-infrared spectroscopy, can be used to monitor tissue’s functional and structural properties. In this paper, we collected optical data from an in vitro cell culture medium and in vivo studies using a specialized optical probe. Spectroscopic data were acquired over two weeks to study the combined effect of biodegradable Mg-based implant disks on the cell culture medium in vivo. Principal component analysis (PCA) was used for data analysis. In the in vivo study, we evaluated the feasibility of using the near-infrared (NIR) spectra to understand physiological events in response to magnesium alloy implantation at specific time points (Day 0, 3, 7, and 14) after surgery. Our results show that the optical probe can detect variations in vivo from biological tissues of rats with biodegradable magnesium alloy “WE43” implants, and the analysis identified a trend in the optical data over two weeks. The primary challenge of in vivo data analysis is the complexity of the implant interaction near the interface with the biological medium.
Experimental and Computational Evaluation of 1,2,4-Triazolium-Based Ionic Liquids for Carbon Dioxide Capture
Authors: Mohammed Sulafa Abdalmageed Saadaldeen , Yahya Wan Zaireen Nisa , Bustam Mohamad Azmi , Kibria Md Golam
Published: March 2023

Utilization of ionic liquids (ILs) for carbon dioxide (CO2) capture is continuously growing, and further understanding of the factors that influence its solubility (notably for new ILs) is crucial. Herein, CO2 absorption of two 1,2,4-triazolium-based ILs was compared with imidazolium-based Ils of different anions, namely bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide, tetrafluoroborate, and glycinate. The CO2 absorption capacity was determined using an isochoric saturation method and compared with predicted solubility employing COnductor-like Screening Model for Real Solvents (COSMO-RS). To gain an understanding of the effects of cations and anions of the ILs on the CO2 solubility, the molecular orbitals energy levels were calculated using TURBOMOLE. Triazolium-based ILs exhibit higher absorption capacity when compared to imidazolium-based ILs for the same anions. The results also showed that the anions’ energy levels are more determinant towards solubility than the cations’ energy levels, which can be explained by the higher tendency of CO2 to accept electrons than to donate them.
Recovery of Carbon and Cryolite from Spent Carbon Anode Slag Using a Grinding Flotation Process Based on Mineralogical Characteristics
Authors: Zheng Jiawei , Wang Song , Wang Xuexia , Bilal Muhammad , Zhang Zhiming , Yang Sijie , Jing Changkai , Xu Guangqian , Ni Chao
Published: March 2023

The aluminum electrolysis industry continually and unavoidably produces hazardous solid waste in the form of carbon anode slag. Carbon anode slag poses a serious environmental pollution risk, and it must be disposed of in a harmless manner. On the other hand, it contains a few valuable resources, as well. In order for the aluminum electrolysis industry to develop in an environmentally friendly and high-quality manner, the harmless disposal of carbon anode slag and its resourceful utilization are of considerable importance. The selective comminution of carbon and cryolite particles in carbon anode slag can be effectively achieved with grinding pretreatment. However, the optimization study of grinding process parameters has yet to be investigated. Therefore, firstly, the mineralogical characteristics and existing mode of carbon anode slag from the perspective of mineralogical properties are analyzed in this study. Then, the effects of grinding time, grinding concentration, and steel ball diameter on the particle size of the ground product (γ−0.074 mm) are investigated using response surface analysis. The results showed that the effect of grinding time was the most significant, followed by grinding concentration and steel ball diameter. In addition, the performance of the multi-stage flotation process for separating the −0.074 mm ground product was analyzed. Cryolite with a purity of 93.12% and a carbon product with an ash content of 10.67% could be simultaneously obtained through multi-stage flotation. It should be pointed out that the deep dissociation and efficient recovery of fine undissociated particles still need to be further explored.
Age and Sex Comparisons in Pediatric Track and Field Hurdle Injuries Seen in Emergency Departments of the US
Authors: Jones Jacob , Radel Luke , Garcia Kyle , Soma David , Miller Shane , Sugimoto Dai
Published: March 2023

There is limited literature analyzing pediatric hurdle injuries based on sex and age. This study compares hurdle-related injury types, injured body parts, and injury mechanisms by age and sex in pediatrics. Hurdle-related injury data from the National Electronic Injury Surveillance System were used to retrospectively review the injuries of hurdlers 18 years and under. Differences in injured body parts, injury types, and mechanisms were analyzed by age (pre-high school vs. high school) and sex (male vs. female). A total of 749 cases were extracted. Fractures were more common in pre-high schoolers (34.1% vs. 21.5%, p = 0.001), while more sprains were identified in high schoolers (29.6%) than pre-high schoolers (22.8%, p = 0.036). Males suffered more fractures than females (35.1% vs. 24.3%, p = 0.001). Females sustained more joint sprains (29.1% vs. 21.0%, p = 0.012) and contusions/hematomas (12.7% vs. 7.5%, p = 0.020). Ankle injuries were more common in females (24.0%) than males (12.0%, p = 0.001), while wrist injuries were more prevalent in males (11.7% vs. 7.2%, p = 0.034). The most common injury mechanism was apparatus-related, with no differences based on age or sex. Injury types and injured body parts differed depending on age and sex in pediatric hurdle injuries seen in emergency departments. These findings may be helpful for injury prevention and medical care for pediatric hurdlers.
Motion Analysis of Core Stabilization Exercise in Women: Kinematics and Electromyographic Analysis
Authors: Lee Kyeongjin
Published: March 2023

As core stabilization exercise is essential for maintaining a stable spine and improving functional performance, understanding the activation of core muscles and the stabilization of the trunk and pelvis during such exercise is crucial. The purpose of this study was to investigate the muscle activation and stabilization of the lumbar–pelvic region during core stabilization exercise, with a specific focus on analyzing EMG and 3D motion kinematic data. The study aimed to understand how different tension settings on the reformer affect muscle activation and hip motion, as well as how these factors impact pelvic and trunk stability during the exercise. The reformer consists of a carriage that slides back and forth on rails, with springs providing resistance. The springs can be adjusted to vary the resistance level. Twenty-eight healthy women participating in this study were asked to perform ‘side splits’, a hip abduction exercise, on the reformer in both heavy and light tension settings. Activation of the internal oblique (IO), rectus abdominis (RA), multifidus (MU), costal lumbosacral (IL), gluteus medius (GM), and adductor muscles (AL) were measured using electromyography (EMG) and 3D motion. Kinematic data using an assay were also measured during exercise. GM, IO, and MU muscles were more active when heavy springs were used, and AL muscles were more active when light springs were used. Hip motion was more symmetrical when lighter springs were used with a greater range of hip motion. There was less pelvis and torso weight transfer and more torso and pelvis stability when the heavier springs were used. In this study, we confirmed that core stabilization exercise on an unstable surface activates the deep muscles of the abdomen and back and is effective for pelvic and trunk stabilization training.
Longitudinal Seismic Analysis of Tunnels with Nonuniform Strata Considering the Effect of Karst
Authors: Han Chenkai , Nan Zhang , Wang Liangqing , Wu Shanbai , Yong Li
Published: March 2023

The longitudinal direction of shield tunnels is prone to seismic damage due to excessive deformation under seismic action, especially in nonuniform stratum. In this paper, the longitudinal dynamic response of the tunnel under different seismic effects is calculated based on the longitudinal equivalent stiffness model using the stratigraphic load model, and the seismic indexes such as longitudinal corner, tube sheet and joint bolt stresses are verified. The calculation results show that the longitudinal seismic weakness of the shield tunnel is in the interface between soft and hard strata and karst development. The longitudinal axial force of the structure is larger during the longitudinal excitation of seismic waves, and the maximum bending moment is mainly in the vertical plane, i.e., the vertical bending moment. The axial force of the tunnel is smaller during the transverse excitation of seismic waves. The maximum bending moment is mainly the bending moment in the horizontal plane, i.e., the transverse moment. The South Lake section of the Two Lakes Tunnel has good seismic performance in the event of a rare earthquake with a 50-year exceedance probability of 2%. The investigation can guide the seismic design of the South Lake section of the Two Lakes Tunnel.
Hypoxia-Induced Kidney Injury in Newborn Rats
Authors: Chu Yi-Ting , Chen Bo-Hau , Chen Hsin-Hung , Lee Jui-Chen , Kuo Tzu-Jiun , Chiu Hsiang-Chin , Lu Wen-Hsien
Published: March 2023

Exposure to hypoxia during the early postnatal period can have adverse effects on vital organs. Neonatal Sprague–Dawley rats housed in a hypoxic chamber were compared to those in a normoxic chamber from postnatal days 0 to 7. Arterial blood was collected to evaluate renal function and hypoxia. Kidney morphology and fibrosis were evaluated using staining methods and immunoblotting. In the kidneys of the hypoxic group, protein expressions of hypoxia-inducible factor-1 were higher than those in the normoxic group. Hypoxic rats had higher levels of hematocrit, serum creatinine, and lactate than normoxic rats. Body weight was reduced, and protein loss of kidney tissue was observed in hypoxic rats compared to normoxic rats. Histologically, hypoxic rats showed glomerular atrophy and tubular injury. Renal fibrosis with collagen fiber deposition was observed in the hypoxic group. The expression of nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate oxidases was enhanced in the kidneys of hypoxic rats. Proteins involved in apoptosis were upregulated in the kidneys of hypoxic rats. An increase in the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines was also observed in the kidneys of hypoxic rats. Hypoxic kidney injury in neonatal rats was associated with oxidative stress, inflammation, apoptosis, and fibrosis.
Isolation and Identification of Mercury-Tolerant Bacteria LBA119 from Molybdenum-Lead Mining Soils and Their Removal of Hg2+
Authors: Yao Hanyue , Wang Hui , Ji Jiangtao , Tan Aobo , Song Yang , Chen Zhi
Published: March 2023

Aims: To screen heavy metal-tolerant strains from heavy metal-contaminated soil in mining areas and determine the tolerance of the strains to different heavy metals and their removal rates through experiments. Methods: Mercury-resistant strain LBA119 was isolated from mercury-contaminated soil samples in Luanchuan County, Henan Province, China. The strain was identified by Gram staining, physiological and biochemical tests, and 16S rDNA sequences. The LBA119 strain showed good resistance and removal rates to heavy metals such as Pb2+, Hg2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, and Cd2+ using tolerance tests under optimal growth conditions. The mercury-resistant strain LBA119 was applied to mercury-contaminated soil to determine the ability of the strain to remove mercury from the soil compared to mercury-contaminated soil without bacterial biomass. Results: Mercury-resistant strain LBA119 is a Gram-positive bacterium that appears as a short rod under scanning electron microscopy, with a single bacterium measuring approximately 0.8 × 1.3 μm. The strain was identified as a Bacillus by Gram staining, physiological and biochemical tests, and 16S rDNA sequence analysis. The strain was highly resistant to mercury, with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 32 mg/L for mercury. Under a 10 mg/L mercury environment, the optimal inoculation amount, pH, temperature, and salt concentration of the LBA119 strain were 2%, 7, 30 °C, and 20 g/L, respectively. In the 10 mg/L Hg2+ LB medium, the total removal rate, volatilization rate, and adsorption rate at 36 h were 97.32%, 89.08%, and 8.24%, respectively. According to tolerance tests, the strain showed good resistance to Pb2+, Mn2+, Zn2+, Cd2+, and other heavy metals. When the initial mercury concentration was 50 mg/L and 100 mg/L, compared with the mercury-contaminated soil that contained an LB medium without bacterial biomass, LBA119 inoculation increased 15.54–37.67% after 30 days of culture. Conclusion: This strain shows high bioremediation potential for mercury-contaminated soil.
Fasciola gigantica Cathepsin L1H: High Sensitivity and Specificity of Immunochromatographic Strip Test for Antibody Detection
Authors: Suksomboon Phawiya , Kueakhai Pornanan , Changklungmoa Narin
Published: March 2023

Fasciolosis is a zoonotic disease caused by Fasciola gigantica or F. hepatica infections, which are frequently occurring parasites in animals and humans. The present gold-standard diagnostic technique involves finding parasite eggs through microscopy. However, this method is also restricted due to low specificity and low sensitivity. An alternative to coprological diagnosis is the immunochromatographic strip (ICS) test, which is rapid, simple, convenient, and cost-effective, with high sensitivity and high specificity. Cathepsin L1H (CathL1H) is a cysteine protease secreted by F. gigantica, which is found in high amounts in newly excysted juvenile (NEJ) and juvenile stages. Cathepsin L1H plays an important role in both the immune response to invading pathogens and in the ability of some pathogens to evade the host immune system. The present study aims to develop an ICS test and detect antibodies against CathL1H in mice and cattle serum using the recombinant F. gigantica Cathepsin L1H (rFgCathL1H) and rabbit anti-rFgCathL1H antibody. The F. gigantica-infected serum and non-infected serum of mice and cattle were tested using the ICS test. Moreover, the strip results were confirmed with an indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (indirect ELISA). The relative sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of the ICS strip were 97.5, 99.99, and 99.00%, respectively. Therefore, these data suggest that the ICS method could be used to detect F. gigantica antibodies to highly enhance throughput, reduce costs, and determine the best alternative on-site method.
COVID-19 Vaccination during Pregnancy and Lactation: Attitudes and Uptakes before and after Official Recommendations in Germany
Authors: Hagenbeck Carsten , Zöllkau Janine , Helbig Martina , Fehm Tanja , Schaal Nora K.
Published: March 2023

Background: Vaccination against COVID-19 is an effective measure to mitigate the pandemic. Pregnant and breastfeeding women were not included in registration studies, so official recommendations to vaccinate this vulnerable group appeared belated. Therefore, our aims were to evaluate vaccination uptake, reasons for and against vaccination, and the changes in these depending on the official national recommendations in Germany. Methods: An anonymous online cross-sectional survey among pregnant and breastfeeding women was conducted prior to and after the publication of the official vaccination recommendation. Results: Data from the convenience sample of 5411 participants (42.9% pregnant; 57% breastfeeding) were analysed. The recommendation was known to 95% of the participants. The information was obtained mainly autonomously (61.6%) and through the media (56.9%). Vaccination uptake increased in pregnant (2.4% before vs. 58.7% after) and breastfeeding women (13.7% vs. 74.7%). As reasons to get vaccinated, pregnant women indicated more fear of the infection than of the side effects of vaccination (52.0% before vs. 66.2% after), intended protection of the baby and oneself (36.0% vs. 62.9%), and limited information about vaccination (53.5% vs. 24.4%). Conclusion: The official national recommendation is widely known and mostly obtained autonomously, thereby showing a high level of awareness and a rise in vaccination uptake. Nonetheless, targeted education campaigns focusing on scientific evidence should be maintained, whereas the engagement of health professionals should be enhanced.
Neutrophils in Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Authors: Alcantara Cheldon Ann , Glassman Ira , Nguyen Kevin H. , Parthasarathy Arpitha , Venketaraman Vishwanath
Published: March 2023

Mycobacterium tuberculosis (M. tb) continues to be a leading cause of mortality within developing countries. The BCG vaccine to promote immunity against M. tb is widely used in developing countries and only in specific circumstances within the United States. However, current the literature reports equivocal data on the efficacy of the BCG vaccine. Critical within their role in the innate immune response, neutrophils serve as one of the first responders to infectious pathogens such as M. tb. Neutrophils promote effective clearance of M. tb through processes such as phagocytosis and the secretion of destructive granules. During the adaptative immune response, neutrophils modulate communication with lymphocytes to promote a strong pro-inflammatory response and to mediate the containment M. tb through the production of granulomas. In this review, we aim to highlight and summarize the role of neutrophils during an M. tb infection. Furthermore, the authors emphasize the need for more studies to be conducted on effective vaccination against M. tb.
Therapeutic Vaccination in Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma—A Review
Authors: Devaraja K. , Aggarwal Sadhna , Singh Manisha
Published: March 2023

Therapeutic vaccination is one of the most effective immunotherapeutic approaches, second only to immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs), which have already been approved for clinical use. Head and neck squamous cell carcinomas (HNSCCs) are heterogenous epithelial tumors of the upper aerodigestive tract, and a significant proportion of these tumors tend to exhibit unfavorable therapeutic responses to the existing treatment options. Comprehending the immunopathology of these tumors and choosing an appropriate immunotherapeutic maneuver seems to be a promising avenue for solving this problem. The current review provides a detailed overview of the strategies, targets, and candidates for therapeutic vaccination in HNSCC. The classical principle of inducing a potent, antigen-specific, cell-mediated cytotoxicity targeting a specific tumor antigen seems to be the most effective mechanism of therapeutic vaccination, particularly against the human papilloma virus positive subset of HNSCC. However, approaches such as countering the immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment of HNSCC and immune co-stimulatory mechanisms have also been explored recently, with encouraging results.
Characterisation of the Antibody Response in Sinopharm (BBIBP-CorV) Recipients and COVID-19 Convalescent Sera from the Republic of Moldova
Authors: Ulinici Mariana , Suljič Alen , Poggianella Monica , Milan Bonotto Rafaela , Resman Rus Katarina , Paraschiv Angela , Bonetti Amedeo Marco , Todiras Mihail , Corlateanu Alexandru , Groppa Stanislav , Ceban Emil , Petrovec Miroslav , Marcello Alessandro
Published: March 2023

The early availability of effective vaccines against SARS-CoV-2, the aetiologic cause of COVID-19, has been at the cornerstone of the global recovery from the pandemic. This study aimed to assess the antispike RBD IgG antibody titres and neutralisation potential of COVID-19 convalescent plasma and the sera of Moldovan adults vaccinated with the Sinopharm BBIBP-CorV vaccine. An IgG ELISA with recombinant SARS-CoV-2 spike RBD and two pseudovirus-based neutralisation assays have been developed to evaluate neutralising antibodies against SARS-CoV-2 in biosafety level 2 containment facilities. A significant moderate correlation was observed between IgG titres and the overall neutralising levels for each neutralisation assay (ρ = 0.64, p < 0.001; ρ = 0.52, p < 0.001). A separate analysis of convalescent and vaccinated individuals showed a higher correlation of neutralising and IgG titres in convalescent individuals (ρ = 0.68, p < 0.001, ρ = 0.45, p < 0.001) compared with vaccinated individuals (ρ = 0.58, p < 0.001; ρ = 0.53, p < 0.001). It can be concluded that individuals who recovered from infection developed higher levels of antispike RBD IgG antibodies. In comparison, the Sinopharm-vaccinated individuals produced higher levels of neutralising antibodies than convalescent plasma.
Parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada na cultura da rúcula
Authors: Stefanello Vinicius , Martins Arruda Everton , Gomes de Brito Silvan , Oliveira Riva Neto Dhiego César
Published: March 2023

O parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada poderá aumentar o uso do nutriente pelas plantas, Avaliou o efeito do parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada no desenvolvimento e produtividade da rúcula. O estudo foi realizado no ano de 2017 em casa de vegetação no município de Nova Mutum-MT. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado (DIC), sendo cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições. Os tratamentos foram constituídos pelos modos de aplicação de N-fertilizante, sendo: T1) testemunha (sem N, T2) 100% do N-aplicado no plantio; T3) 17,64% de N no plantio + uma cobertura com 82,36%; T4) 17,64% de N no plantio + duas coberturas de 41,17%; T5) 17,64% de N no plantio + três cobertura com 27,41%. Avaliaou: a altura de plantas, número de folhas totais, número de folhas comerciais, massa verde e seca das raízes, além da massa verde e seca da parte aérea das plantas de rúcula. O uso do parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada na cultura da rúcula afeta de forma positiva a produção de matéria fresca e seca. Com as características de cultivo mencionadas no referido trabalho, recomenda-se o parcelamento da adubação nitrogenada em três coberturas na cultura da rúcula para obtenção de uma maior produção.
Smolensko žemės bažnytinių pareigūnų karjeros ypatybės 1395–1514 m.
Authors: Jurkevičius Andrius
Published: March 2023

ASPECTS OF THE CAREERS OF THE ECCLESIASTICAL OFFICIALS OF THE LAND OF SMOLENSK BETWEEN 1395 AND 1514

The annexation of the Land of Smolensk by the Grand Duchy of Lithuania in
1395 had a great impact on the situation of the ecclesiastical officials of the Orthodox Church in this region. The article investigates the development of the careers of the ecclesiastical officials of the Land of Smolensk when the region was part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania (1395–1514). The focus is on the origin, kinship, and positions of the ecclesiastical officials, their connections with the central government of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and with the inhabitants of the Land of Smolensk. Systematised data about the ecclesiastical officials of the Land of Smolensk is presented in the Appendix.

KEYWORDS: Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Land of Smolensk, Orthodox Church, ecclesiastical
officials, career.