bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Resilience Analysis of Traffic Network under Emergencies: A Case Study of Bus Transit Network
Authors: Huang Lei , Huang Haifeng , Wang Ying
Published: July 2023

With the continuous development of public transportation, the impact of unexpected events on the operation of bus networks has become increasingly severe due to the growing demand for public transportation and passenger volume. To accurately assess the impact of unexpected events on the operation of bus networks and scientifically evaluate their resilience, this paper proposes a framework for analyzing the resilience of bus networks. With the aim of providing scientific evidence to enhance the reliability of public transportation networks, this framework can be used to determine the resilience of bus networks to unexpected events. The main contributions of this framework include three aspects: 1. Construction of the CRITIC–entropy weighting model for screening and calculating key indicators of the resilience of the bus network; 2. Use of resilience cycle theory to construct a model for analyzing the resilience of bus routes, and design a set of resilience quantification factors to calculate the resilience of bus routes; 3. Use of complex network theory to construct a model for analyzing the resilience of the bus network, by taking the bus route resilience obtained in the second step as the edge weight to calculate the resilience of the bus network. This paper takes the Beijing public transit system as an example and uses real data to verify the accuracy, scientificity, and feasibility of the proposed framework for analyzing the resilience of public transit networks to sudden events. The resilience analysis framework constructed in this paper has improved the existing research on transportation network resilience in theoretical aspects. Furthermore, the results outputted by this framework can provide a decision-making basis for network adjustment and disaster recovery for the management departments of public transportation networks in practical applications.
Design of a Four-Axis Robot Arm System Based on Machine Vision
Authors: Wang Yijie , Zhou Yushan , Wei Lai , Li Ruiya
Published: July 2023

With the concept of industrial automation gradually being put forward, the four-axis robotic arm is gradually being applied in industrial production environments due to its advantages such as a stable structure, easy maintenance, and expandability. However, it is difficult to diversify and improve the traditional four-axis robotic arm system due to the high software and hardware coupling and the single system design, which results in high production costs. At the same time, its low intelligence and high-power consumption limit its wide application. The paper proposes an embedded design of a four-axis manipulator system based on vision guidance. Based on the robot kinematics theory and geometric principles, the dynamics simulation of the manipulator model is carried out. Through the forward and reverse analysis of the manipulator model and the trajectory planning of the manipulator, the YOLOV7 target detection algorithm is introduced and deployed on the embedded device, which greatly reduces the manufacturing cost of the manipulator while meeting the control and power consumption requirements. It has been verified by experiments that the robot arm in this paper can achieve an end accuracy of 0.05 mm under the condition of a load of 1 kg using the ISO 9283 international standard, and the recognition algorithm adopted can achieve a recognition accuracy of 95.2% at a frame rate of 29. The overall power consumption is also lower than that of traditional robotic arms.
Domain Knowledge Graph Question Answering Based on Semantic Analysis and Data Augmentation
Authors: Hu Shulin , Zhang Huajun , Zhang Wanying
Published: July 2023

Information retrieval-based question answering (IRQA) and knowledge-based question answering (KBQA) are the main forms of question answering (QA) systems. The answer generated by the IRQA system is extracted from the relevant text but has a certain degree of randomness, while the KBQA system retrieves the answer from structured data, and its accuracy is relatively high. In the field of policy and regulations such as household registration, the QA system requires precise and rigorous answers. Therefore, we design a QA system based on the household registration knowledge graph, aiming to provide rigorous and accurate answers for relevant household registration inquiries. The QA system uses a semantic analysis-based approach to simplify one question into a simple problem consisting of a single event entity and a single intention relationship, and quickly generates accurate answers by searching in the household registration knowledge graph. Due to the scarcity and imbalance of QA corpus data in the field of household registration, we use GPT3.5 to augment the collected questions dataset and explore the impact of data augmentation on the QA system. The experiment results show that the accuracy rate of the QA system using the augmented dataset reaches 93%, which is 6% higher than before.
An Indirect Identification Method for Train Basic Resistance Parameters
Authors: Xia Fei , Li Tianxiang , Sun Pengfei
Published: July 2023

The train basic resistance characteristic is crucial for ATO performance. However, this characteristic is slow time-varying with wheel rail wear and fast time-varying with weather conditions. The parameters of train basic resistance are difficult to measure directly, usually only a set of empirical parameters can be obtained through repeated experiments. These factors result in an inconsistency between the model parameters in the ATO controller and the actual train basic resistance parameters (TBRP), leading to a decrease in the effectiveness of the model-based controller. Therefore, this paper proposes an indirect TBRP identification method based on speed trajectory fitting to improve the effectiveness of the TBRP for model-based ATO controllers. Firstly, the original TBRP identification problem is transformed into an optimization problem, which is to minimize the deviation between the actual speed trajectory and the model-calculated one. Then, the Newton’s method is used to accelerate the search for the best set of TBRPs with minimum deviation. Finally, case studies are used to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
New Trends in Artificial Intelligence for Recommender Systems and Collaborative Filtering
Authors: Pérez-López Diego , Dueñas-Lerín Jorge , Ortega Fernando , González-Prieto Ángel
Published: July 2023

In recent times, recommender systems (RSs) have been attracting a lot of attention from the research community because of their groundbreaking applications [...]
Optimization of Image Capture Distance for Facial Thermograms in Dentistry
Authors: Schöffauer Mona , Angst Lea , Stillhart Angela , Srinivasan Murali
Published: July 2023

Thermography has not yet been validated for the screening of oral disorders and no clear guidelines or methodology for this purpose have been defined in the literature. The current pilot study was aimed as an initial step to evaluate the influence of shooting distances on the detection of the temperature asymmetries on the face for the purpose of dental thermography. Facial thermograms were taken in three views at three shooting distances for each participant. The mean temperature of the overall image and at the region of interest (ROI) were measured from the analysis software. Thirty adult volunteers participated in this study [n = 30, mean age: 25.8 ± 6.0]. The differences between the mean temperature values at the ROI for all different shooting distances within each profile view were statistically significant [Front: H(2) = 80.176, p < 0.001; Left: H(2) = 21.399, p < 0.001; Right: H(2) = 49.451, p < 0.001]. The mean ROI temperature was influenced by personal effects (p < 0.001), medications (p < 0.001), undergoing dental treatments (p < 0.001) as well as the consumption of food (p < 0.001). This study concludes that the detection of temperature asymmetries on the face in adult volunteers are affected by the capture distance as well as factors such as medication, oral-care, and alimentation. Therefore, it is advised that personal as well as medical histories are obtained in detail prior to making the facial thermograms.
Assessing by Simulation the Effect of Process Variability in the SALB-1 Problem
Authors: Moncayo-Martínez Luis A. , Arias-Nava Elias H.
Published: July 2023

The simple assembly line balancing (SALB) problem is a significant challenge faced by industries across various sectors aiming to optimise production line efficiency and resource allocation. One important issue when the decision-maker balances a line is how to keep the cycle time under a given time across all cells, even though there is variability in some parameters. When there are stochastic elements, some approaches use constraint relaxation, intervals for the stochastic parameters, and fuzzy numbers. In this paper, a three-part algorithm is proposed that first solves the balancing problem without considering stochastic parameters; then, using simulation, it measures the effect of some parameters (in this case, the inter-arrival time, processing times, speed of the material handling system which is manually performed by the workers in the cell, and the number of workers who perform the tasks on the machines); finally, the add-on OptQuest in SIMIO solves an optimisation problem to constrain the cycle time using the stochastic parameters as decision variables. A Gearbox instance from literature is solved with 15 tasks and 14 precedence rules to test the proposed approach. The deterministic balancing problem is solved optimally using the open solver GLPK and the Pyomo programming language, and, with simulation, the proposed algorithm keeps the cycle time less than or equal to 70 s in the presence of variability and deterministic inter-arrival time. Meanwhile, with stochastic inter-arrival time, the maximum cell cycle is 72.04 s. The reader can download the source code and the simulation models from the GitHub page of the authors.
Clearing the Air: Assessing the Effectiveness of Emission Policy in Qinhuangdao’s Key Industries
Authors: Shan Wanyue , Chen Shaobo , Wang Gang , Li Jianhui , Bo Xin
Published: July 2023

China has successively put forward ultra-low emission (ULE) transformation plans to reduce the air pollutant emissions of industrial pollutants since 2014. To assess the benefits of the ULE policy on regional air quality for Qinhuangdao, this study developed an emission inventory of nine atmospheric pollutants in 2016 and evaluated the effectiveness of the emission policy in Qinhuangdao’s key industries under different scenarios with an air quality model (CALPUFF). The emissions of air pollutants in 2016 were as follows: Sulfur dioxide (SO2) emitted 48.91 kt/year, nitrogen oxide (NOx) emitted 86.83 kt/year, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted 52.69 kt/year, particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5) emitted 302.01 and 116.85 kt/year, carbon monoxide (CO) emitted 1208.80 kt/year, ammonia (NH3) emitted 62.87 kt/year, black carbon (BC) emitted 3.79 kt/year, and organic carbon (OC) emitted 2.72 kt/year, respectively. The results showed that at the regional level in 2025, the iron and steel industry under the PPC (Peak Production Capacity) scenario had the highest potential for reducing SO2 and NOx emissions, while the cement industry under the PPC scenario excelled in reducing PM10 emissions. As for the industrial level in 2025, the flat glass industry under the ULE scenario would reduce the most SO2 emitted, while the iron and steel industry and the cement industry under the PPC scenario demonstrated the best reduction in NOx and PM10 emissions, respectively. Furthermore, the average annual contribution concentration of SO2, NOx, and PM10 in the air monitoring stations of Qinhuangdao under the PPC scenario was significantly lower than that under the BAU scenario revealed by air quality simulation. It can be concluded that the emission policy in Qinhuangdao will help improve the air quality. This study can provide scientific support for policymakers to implement the ULE policy in industrial undeveloped cities and tourist cities such as Qinhuangdao in the future.
Assessment of Cloud Resources and Potential for Rain Enhancement: Case Study—Minas Girais State, Brazil
Authors: Abshaev Ali M. , Abshaev Magomet T. , Kolskov Boris P. , Piketh Stuart J. , Burger Roelof P. , Havenga Henno , Al Mandous Abdulla , Al Yazeedi Omar , Hovsepyan Suren R. , Sîrbu Emil , Sîrbu Dragoș Andrei , Eremeico Serghei , Krousarski Hristo
Published: July 2023

Water scarcity due to rainfall variability, and exacerbated by climate change, is prevalent in many regions of the world. Lack of precipitation and excessive water extraction contribute to the intensification of the problem. Among different mitigation measures, rain enhancement through cloud seeding could be a tool as part of a water management strategy to replenish ground water sources. However, implementation of this technology requires proper preliminary analysis of the available cloud data and specific meteorological conditions under which rainfall forms. The aim of this paper is to assess the potential of for rain enhancement in Minas Gerais State in Brazil. The paper focuses on analysis of multiyear climate reanalysis ERA-5, upper air sounding, weather radar and ground stations data. Analysis showed that, between 2000 and 2019, precipitation declined on average by 212 mm per annum or 21% compared to the long term climatological mean. The natural precipitation, however, remains sufficiently high to implement weather modification technology. Assuming an increase of 15–20% could be achieved on a catchment area basis, the increases would be significant and could offset the recently observed decline in natural precipitation. The methodology proposed in this study can be used as a baseline for similar analysis in other vulnerable regions of the world experiencing freshwater shortages or declines. Its shortcomings and uncertainties are also discussed.
Product of Spacing Estimation of Stress–Strength Reliability for Alpha Power Exponential Progressively Type-II Censored Data
Authors: Nassar Mazen , Alotaibi Refah , Zhang Chunfang
Published: July 2023

The present study focuses on estimating the stress–strength parameter when the parent distribution is the alpha power exponential model and the available data are progressively Type-II censored. As a starting point, the usual maximum likelihood approach is applied to obtain point and interval estimates of the model parameters, as well as the stress–strength parameter. Another competing strategy employed in this paper is the maximum product of spacing method, which may be thought of as a rival to the maximum likelihood method. The product of spacing approach is used to obtain point and interval estimates for the various parameters. The asymptotic properties of both methods are used to obtain interval estimates of the model parameter and the stress–strength parameter, and the variance of the stress–strength parameter is approximated using the well-known delta method. Two parametric bootstrap confidence intervals are provided based on the suggested classical estimation procedures. A simulation study is also used to assess the performance of various point and interval estimations. For illustrative purposes, the proposed methods are applied to two real data sets, one for the kidney patients’ recurrence times to infection and the other for breaking the strength of jute fibers.
Construction of Rank-One Solvable Rigid Lie Algebras with Nilradicals of a Decreasing Nilpotence Index
Authors: Campoamor-Stursberg Rutwig , García Francisco Oviaño
Published: July 2023

It is shown that for any integers k≥2, q≥2k and N≥k+q+2, there exists a real solvable Lie algebra of the first rank with a maximal torus of derivations t possessing the eigenvalue spectrum spec(t)=1,2,⋯,k,q,q+1⋯,N, a nilradical of the nilpotence index N−k and a characteristic sequence (N−k,1k).
Air Cathodes and Bifunctional Oxygen Electrocatalysts for Aqueous Metal–Air Batteries
Authors: Milikić Jadranka , Nastasić Ana , Martins Marta , Sequeira César A. C. , Šljukić Biljana
Published: July 2023

One of the most popular solutions for electrochemical energy storage is metal−air batteries, which could be employed in electric vehicles or grid energy storage. Metal–air batteries have a higher theoretical energy density than lithium-ion batteries. The crucial components for the best performance of batteries are the air cathode electrocatalysts and corresponding electrolytes. Herein, we present several of the latest studies on electrocatalysts for air cathodes and bifunctional oxygen electrocatalysts for aqueous zinc–air and aluminium–air batteries.
Nanocomposite PVDF Membrane for Battery Separator Prepared via Hot Pressing
Authors: Plesník Lukáš , Čech Barabaszová Karla , Holešová Sylva , Peikertová Pavlína , Simha Martynková Gražyna , Nakonieczny Damian Stanislaw
Published: July 2023

Polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) is one of the materials most commonly used in membrane separators. The structures of pristine PVDF and PVDF nanocomposite films were processed via hot pressing at 140 °C, 170 °C, and 185 °C at a pressure of 2 tons for 15 min. According to a surface investigation using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), the spherulitic character of the PVDF nanocomposite films was preserved up to a pressing temperatures of 140 °C. The cross-sectional SEM images confirmed that higher pressing temperatures (170 °C) caused the structures to be compacted into monolithic films, and a pressing temperature of 185 °C caused the melting of the PVDF matrix and its recrystallization into thin films (21–29 μm). An average crystallinity value of 51.5% was calculated using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and this decreased as the pressing temperature increased. Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) measurements confirmed the presence of a dominant γ phases in the PVDF nanocomposite films, whose nanofillers consisted of vermiculite particles (ZnO_V and ZnO_V_CH) and mixed α + γ phases. The percentage of the electroactive γ phase (approximately 79%) was calculated via a FTIR analysis, and the ratio between the β phase and the α phase was determined from the Raman spectra. A hydrophilic surface with contact angles ranging from 61 to 84° was demonstrated for all the PVDF nanocomposite membranes. The superoleophilic surface was measured using poly(dimethylsiloxane) with contact angles ranging from 4 to 13°, and these angles reached lower values when in contact with sulfur particles.
Influence of Different Alcohol Reduction Technologies on the Volatile Composition of La Mancha Tempranillo Rosé Wines
Authors: Osorio Alises Maria , Sánchez-Palomo Eva , González-Viñas Miguel A.
Published: July 2023

The objective of the current research was to study the effect of different alcohol reduction technologies on the chemical aromatic composition of La Mancha Tempranillo rosé wines. Volatile compounds were analysed using Gas Chromatography coupled to Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS), with previous isolation by solid phase extraction (SPE). C6 compounds were the only group of varietal compounds that was modified when the total dealcoholizing process was used. According to their odor descriptor, the volatile compounds were grouped into six odorant series. The total intensity of each aromatic series was calculated by adding the OAVs of the compounds appointed to this series. All wines showed the same sequence, only modified the intensity of the principal aromatic series, mainly in total dealcoholized wines. These studied wines maintain the aromatic typicality independently from ethanol concentration, which highlights the viability of these techniques as an alternative to the traditional winemaking process, which will allow diversifying wine’s actual market.
Serum Soluble Lectin-like Oxidized Low-Density Lipoprotein Receptor-1 (sLOX-1) Is Associated with Atherosclerosis Severity in Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Kott Katharine A. , Genetzakis Elijah , Gray Michael P. , Hansen Peter , McGuire Helen M. , Yang Jean Y. , Grieve Stuart M. , Vernon Stephen T. , Figtree Gemma A.
Published: July 2023

Risk-factor-based scoring systems for atherosclerotic coronary artery disease (CAD) remain concerningly inaccurate at the level of the individual and would benefit from the addition of biomarkers that correlate with atherosclerosis burden directly. We hypothesized that serum soluble lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (sLOX-1) would be independently associated with CAD and investigated this in the BioHEART study using 968 participants with CT coronary angiograms, which were scored for disease burden in the form of coronary artery calcium scores (CACS), Gensini scores, and a semi-quantitative soft-plaque score (SPS). Serum sLOX-1 was assessed by ELISA and was incorporated into regression models for disease severity and incidence. We demonstrate that sLOX-1 is associated with an improvement in the prediction of CAD severity when scored by Gensini or SPS, but not CACS. sLOX-1 also significantly improved the prediction of the incidence of obstructive CAD, defined as stenosis in any vessel >75%. The predictive value of sLOX-1 was significantly greater in the subgroup of patients who did not have any of the standard modifiable cardiovascular risk factors (SMuRFs). sLOX-1 is associated with CAD severity and is the first biomarker shown to have utility for risk prediction in the SMuRFless population.
Polyphenols, Autophagy and Neurodegenerative Diseases: A Review
Authors: Chandrasekaran Vichitra , Hediyal Tousif Ahmed , Anand Nikhilesh , Kendaganna Pavan Heggadadevanakote , Gorantla Vasavi Rakesh , Mahalakshmi Arehally M. , Ghanekar Ruchika Kaul , Yang Jian , Sakharkar Meena Kishore , Chidambaram Saravana Babu
Published: July 2023

Polyphenols are secondary metabolites from plant origin and are shown to possess a wide range of therapeutic benefits. They are also reported as regulators of autophagy, inflammation and neurodegeneration. The autophagy pathway is vital in degrading outdated organelles, proteins and other cellular wastes. The dysregulation of autophagy causes proteinopathies, mitochondrial dysfunction and neuroinflammation thereby contributing to neurodegeneration. Evidence reveals that polyphenols improve autophagy by clearing misfolded proteins in the neurons, suppress neuroinflammation and oxidative stress and also protect from neurodegeneration. This review is an attempt to summarize the mechanism of action of polyphenols in modulating autophagy and their involvement in pathways such as mTOR, AMPK, SIRT-1 and ERK. It is evident that polyphenols cause an increase in the levels of autophagic proteins such as beclin-1, microtubule-associated protein light chain (LC3 I and II), sirtuin 1 (SIRT1), etc. Although it is apparent that polyphenols regulate autophagy, the exact interaction of polyphenols with autophagy markers is not known. These data require further research and will be beneficial in supporting polyphenol supplementation as a potential alternative treatment for regulating autophagy in neurodegenerative diseases.
Virulence Factors in Mycobacterium tuberculosis Infection: Structural and Functional Studies
Authors: Berisio Rita , Ruggiero Alessia
Published: July 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) remains one of the main causes of death by infection, especially in immunocompromised patients [...]
Different Trajectories for Diabetes Mellitus Onset and Recovery According to the Centralized Aerobic–Anaerobic Energy Balance Compensation Theory
Authors: Vetcher Alexandre A. , Zhukov Kirill V. , Gasparyan Bagrat A. , Borovikov Pavel I. , Karamian Arfenia S. , Rejepov Dovlet T. , Kuznetsova Maria N. , Shishonin Alexander Y.
Published: July 2023

We recently reported that the restoration of cervical vertebral arterial blood flow access (measured as systolic peak (PS)) to the rhomboid fossa leads to the recovery of the HbA1c level in the case of patients with a pre-Diabetes Mellitus (pre-DM) condition. The theory of centralized aerobic–anaerobic energy balance compensation (TCAAEBC) provides a successful theoretical explanation for this observation. It considers the human body as a dissipative structure. Reported connections between arterial hypertension (AHT) and the level of HbA1c are linked through OABFRH. According to the TCAAEBC, this delivers incorrect information about blood oxygen availability to the cerebellum. The restoration of PS normalizes AHT in 5–6 weeks and HbA1c in 12–13 weeks. In the current study, we demonstrate the model which fits the obtained experimental data. According to the model, pathways of onset and recovery from pre-DM are different. The consequence of these differences is discussed. The great significance of the TCAAEBC for medical practice forces the creation of an appropriate mathematical model, but the required adjustment of the model needs experimental data which can only be obtained from an animal model(s). The essential part of this study is devoted to the analysis of the advantages and disadvantages of widely available common mammalian models for TCAAEBC cases.
Exploring the Pathogenesis and Mechanism-Targeted Treatments of Rosacea: Previous Understanding and Updates
Authors: Chen Chengqian , Wang Peiru , Zhang Linglin , Liu Xiaojing , Zhang Haiyan , Cao Yajing , Wang Xiuli , Zeng Qingyu
Published: July 2023

Rosacea is a chronic inflammatory skin disease characterized by recurrent erythema, flushing, telangiectasia, papules, pustules, and phymatous changes in the central area of the face. Patients with this condition often experience a significant negative impact on their quality of life, self-esteem, and overall well-being. Despite its prevalence, the pathogenesis of rosacea is not yet fully understood. Recent research advances are reshaping our understanding of the underlying mechanisms of rosacea, and treatment options based on the pathophysiological perspective hold promise to improve patient outcomes and reduce incidence. In this comprehensive review, we investigate the pathogenesis of rosacea in depth, with a focus on emerging and novel mechanisms, and provide an up-to-date overview of therapeutic strategies that target the diverse pathogenic mechanisms of rosacea. Lastly, we discuss potential future research directions aimed at enhancing our understanding of the condition and developing effective treatments.
Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of a Premaxillary Device: A New Type of Subperiosteal Implant to Treat Severe Atrophy of the Maxilla
Authors: Cipollina Alessandro , Ceddia Mario , Di Pietro Natalia , Inchingolo Francesco , Tumedei Margherita , Romasco Tea , Piattelli Adriano , Specchiulli Alessandro , Trentadue Bartolomeo
Published: July 2023

Extreme atrophy of the maxilla still poses challenges for clinicians. Some of the techniques used to address this issue can be complex, risky, expensive, and time consuming, often requiring skilled surgeons. While many commonly used techniques have achieved very high success rates, complications may arise in certain cases. In this context, the premaxillary device (PD) technique offers a simpler approach to reconstruct severely atrophic maxillae, aiming to avoid more complicated and risky surgical procedures. Finite element analysis (FEA) enables the evaluation of different aspects of dental implant biomechanics. Our results demonstrated that using a PD allows for an optimal distribution of stresses on the basal bone, avoiding tension peaks that can lead to bone resorption or implant failure. ANSYS® was used to perform localized finite element analysis (FEA), enabling a more precise examination of the peri-crestal area and the PD through an accurate mesh element reconstruction, which facilitated the mathematical solution of FEA. The most favorable biomechanical behavior was observed for materials such as titanium alloys, which helped to reduce stress levels on bone, implants, screws, and abutments. Additionally, stress values remained within the limits of basal bone and titanium alloy strengths. In conclusion, from a biomechanical point of view, PDs appear to be viable alternatives for rehabilitating severe atrophic maxillae.
One-Step Ultrasonic Preparation of Stable Bovine Serum Albumin-Perovskite for Fluorescence Analysis of L-Ascorbic Acid and Alkaline Phosphatase
Authors: Deng Lei , Huang Feng , Zhang Aomei , Wang Tingting , Yang Minghui , Li Xiaoqing , Chen Xiang
Published: July 2023

Halide lead perovskite has attracted increased attention due to its excellent optical properties. However, the poor stability of the halide lead perovskite nanocrystals has been a major obstacle to their application in biosensing. Here, we proposed a method to synthesize CsPbBr3/BSA NCs perovskite using bovine serum albumin (BSA) as a zwitterion ligand. Then, a fluorescent sensor for alkaline phosphatase determination based on CsPbBr3/BSA NCs was successfully built via the interaction of L-ascorbic acid (AA) with BSA on the perovskite surface. Under optimal conditions, the sensor showed a linear concentration range from 50 to 500 μM with a detection limit of 28 μM (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) for AA, and demonstrated a linear concentration range from 40 to 500 U/L with a detection limit of 15.5 U/L (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) for alkaline phosphatase (ALP). In addition, the proposed fluorescent biosensor exhibited good selectivity and recovery in the determination of ALP in human serum. This strategy offers an innovative way for enhancing the water stability of lead halide perovskite and promoting their application in biosensing areas.
Cascade Amplified Plasmonics Molecular Biosensor for Sensitive Detection of Disease Biomarkers
Authors: Wang Hsin-Neng , Vo-Dinh Tuan
Published: July 2023

Recent advances in molecular technologies have provided various assay strategies for monitoring biomarkers, such as miRNAs for early detection of various diseases and cancers. However, there is still an urgent unmet need to develop practical and accurate miRNA analytical tools that could facilitate the incorporation of miRNA biomarkers into clinical practice and management. In this study, we demonstrate the feasibility of using a cascade amplification method, referred to as the “Cascade Amplification by Recycling Trigger Probe” (CARTP) strategy, to improve the detection sensitivity of the inverse Molecular Sentinel (iMS) nanobiosensor. The iMS nanobiosensor developed in our laboratory is a unique homogeneous multiplex bioassay technique based on surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) detection, and was used to successfully detect miRNAs from clinical samples. The CARTP strategy based on the toehold-mediated strand displacement reaction is triggered by a linear DNA strand, called the “Recycling Trigger Probe” (RTP) strand, to amplify the iMS SERS signal. Herein, by using the CARTP strategy, we show a significantly improved detection sensitivity with the limit of detection (LOD) of 45 fM, which is 100-fold more sensitive than the non-amplified iMS assay used in our previous report. We envision that the further development and optimization of this strategy ultimately will allow multiplexed detection of miRNA biomarkers with ultra-high sensitivity for clinical translation and application.
Prevotella histicola Transplantation Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment and Decreases Oxidative Stress in Vascular Dementia Rats
Authors: Duan Rui , Hou Jiankang , Wang Xixi , Huang Zhihang , Cao Haiming , Hu Junya , Peng Qiang , Duan Huijie , Wang Qingguang , Chen Xiangliang
Published: July 2023

Vascular dementia is a type of dementia from brain damage caused by cerebrovascular lesions and vascular risk factors. Prevotella histicola is a species of Prevotella, belonging to the category of obligate anaerobe. The purpose of our work was to study the protection of Prevotella histicola on cognitive function in rats subjected to vascular dementia (VaD) and investigate underlying molecular mechanisms. The rats were randomly divided into three groups: control group, 2VO group and 2VO + Prevotella histicola group. The VaD rats (the 2VO group and 2VO + Prevotella histicola group) were generated by bilateral common carotid artery occlusion (2VO). Rats in the 2VO+ Prevotella histicola group were administered with Prevotella histicola twice daily. In comparison with the rats in the 2VO group, rats in the 2VO + Prevotella histicola group presented an enhanced cognitive ability, increased synapse-associated protein expression, a downregulation of proinflammatory factors and an upregulation of neurotrophic factors. The relevant mechanism of the protective effect of Prevotella histicola may be associated with the inhibition of glial cell-associated inflammation by regulating phosphorylation of CaMKII. In conclusion, Prevotella histicola attenuates neurological impairments via regulating synapse-associated protein expression and the liberation of inflammatory elements in vascular dementia rats. The findings above might benefit the development of Prevotella histicola transplantation as a promising treatment of VaD.
Effects of Long-Term Oral Administration of N-Palmitoylethanolamine in Subjects with Mild Cognitive Impairment: Study Protocol
Authors: Bossa Michela , Argento Ornella , Piacentini Chiara , Manocchio Nicola , Scipioni Lucia , Oddi Sergio , Maccarrone Mauro , Nocentini Ugo
Published: July 2023

N-palmitoylethanolamine (PEA) plays a key role in preventing Aβ-mediated neuroinflammation and neurotoxicity in murine models. It has been demonstrated that PEA provides anti-neuroinflammatory, pain-relieving and neuroprotective actions even in humans. In this project, we aim to evaluate these anti-neuroinflammatory effects via the cognitive evaluation and biochemical analyses of a 12-month oral administration of PEA in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Subjects with MCI will be randomized to placebo or PEA groups, and followed for another 6 months. Cognitive abilities and neurological inflammation will be examined at baseline and after treatment. The specific objectives of the project are to ascertain whether: (i) PEA influences the scores of the neuropsychological and behavioral evaluations after one-year treatment, comparing PEA-treated and placebo subjects in both MCI and control groups; (ii) PEA can change the inflammatory and neuronal damage markers of blood and urine in MCI subjects; and (iii) these changes correlate with the clinical scores of participating subjects.
A Review of Formulations, Boundary Value Problems and Solutions for Numerical Computation of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Fields
Authors: Pérez-Benítez J. A. , Martínez-Ortiz P. , Aguila-Muñoz J.
Published: July 2023

Since the inception of the transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) technique, it has become imperative to numerically compute the distribution of the electric field induced in the brain. Various models of the coil-brain system have been proposed for this purpose. These models yield a set of formulations and boundary conditions that can be employed to calculate the induced electric field. However, the literature on TMS simulation presents several of these formulations, leading to potential confusion regarding the interpretation and contribution of each source of electric field. The present study undertakes an extensive compilation of widely utilized formulations, boundary value problems and numerical solutions employed in TMS fields simulations, analyzing the advantages and disadvantages associated with each used formulation and numerical method. Additionally, it explores the implementation strategies employed for their numerical computation. Furthermore, this work provides numerical expressions that can be utilized for the numerical computation of TMS fields using the finite difference and finite element methods. Notably, some of these expressions are deduced within the present study. Finally, an overview of some of the most significant results obtained from numerical computation of TMS fields is presented. The aim of this work is to serve as a guide for future research endeavors concerning the numerical simulation of TMS.
Task Cortical Connectivity Reveals Different Network Reorganizations between Mild Stroke Patients with Cortical and Subcortical Lesions
Authors: Cai Jiaye , Xu Mengru , Cai Huaying , Jiang Yun , Zheng Xu , Sun Hongru , Sun Yu , Sun Yi
Published: July 2023

Accumulating efforts have been made to investigate cognitive impairment in stroke patients, but little has been focused on mild stroke. Research on the impact of mild stroke and different lesion locations on cognitive impairment is still limited. To investigate the underlying mechanisms of cognitive dysfunction in mild stroke at different lesion locations, electroencephalograms (EEGs) were recorded in three groups (40 patients with cortical stroke (CS), 40 patients with subcortical stroke (SS), and 40 healthy controls (HC)) during a visual oddball task. Power envelope connectivity (PEC) was constructed based on EEG source signals, followed by graph theory analysis to quantitatively assess functional brain network properties. A classification framework was further applied to explore the feasibility of PEC in the identification of mild stroke. The results showed worse behavioral performance in the patient groups, and PECs with significant differences among three groups showed complex distribution patterns in frequency bands and the cortex. In the delta band, the global efficiency was significantly higher in HC than in CS (p = 0.011), while local efficiency was significantly increased in SS than in CS (p = 0.038). In the beta band, the small-worldness was significantly increased in HC compared to CS (p = 0.004). Moreover, the satisfactory classification results (76.25% in HC vs. CS, and 80.00% in HC vs. SS) validate the potential of PECs as a biomarker in the detection of mild stroke. Our findings offer some new quantitative insights into the complex mechanisms of cognitive impairment in mild stroke at different lesion locations, which may facilitate post-stroke cognitive rehabilitation.
Comparing Predictive Utility of Head Computed Tomography Scan-Based Scoring Systems for Traumatic Brain Injury: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Khormali Moein , Soleimanipour Saeed , Baigi Vali , Ehteram Hassan , Talari Hamidreza , Naghdi Khatereh , Ghaemi Omid , Sharif-Alhoseini Mahdi
Published: July 2023

This study compared the predictive utility of Marshall, Rotterdam, Stockholm, Helsinki, and NeuroImaging Radiological Interpretation System (NIRIS) scorings based on early non-contrast brain computed tomography (CT) scans in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI). The area under a receiver operating characteristic curve (AUROC) was used to determine the predictive utility of scoring systems. Subgroup analyses were performed among patients with head AIS scores > 1. A total of 996 patients were included, of whom 786 (78.9%) were males. In-hospital mortality, ICU admission, neurosurgical intervention, and prolonged total hospital length of stay (THLOS) were recorded for 27 (2.7%), 207 (20.8%), 82 (8.2%), and 205 (20.6%) patients, respectively. For predicting in-hospital mortality, all scoring systems had AUROC point estimates above 0.9 and 0.75 among all included patients and patients with head AIS > 1, respectively, without any significant differences. The Marshall and NIRIS scoring systems had higher AUROCs for predicting ICU admission and neurosurgery than the other scoring systems. For predicting THLOS ≥ seven days, although the NIRIS and Marshall scoring systems seemed to have higher AUROC point estimates when all patients were analyzed, five scoring systems performed roughly the same in the head AIS > 1 subgroup.
Severity and Changes in OCD Dimensions during COVID-19: A Two-Year Longitudinal Study
Authors: Rosa-Alcázar Ángel , Parada-Navas Jose Luis , García-Hernández Maria Dolores , Pozza Andrea , Tondi Paolo , Rosa-Alcázar Ana Isabel
Published: July 2023

Background: The COVID-19 pandemic appears to be associated with a worsening of obsessive-compulsive symptoms in both young people and adults with OCD and it is necessary to analyze the variables involved in this worsening over time. The main aim of this study was to examine long-term changes in total severity and obsessive-compulsive dimensions in obsessive–compulsive patients during the COVID-19 pandemic. Method: A total 250 OCD patients were selected from various associations, clinical centers and hospitals. We discarded 75 as they did not meet the inclusion criteria. A total of 175 obsessive-compulsive participants aged between 16 and 58 years old (M = 33.33, SD = 9.42) were evaluated in obsessive–compulsive symptom severity and dimensions OCD assessed using the Y-BOCS and D-YBOCS scales in T1 (April–June 2020) and in T2 (March–April 2022). The evaluation was carried out through an online survey and face-to-face with a professional clinician at both time points. Results: Intragroup differences in severity were observed, reaching higher scores for patients with contamination, somatic, aggressive and religious. Some patients changed their main dimension, increasing the percentage of patients with contamination and somatic obsessions. Conclusions: COVID-19 was associated with both changes in severity and also affected some dimensions more than others, particularly those related to the virus itself (contamination and somatic).
The Effect of Downward Social Comparison on Creativity in Organizational Teams, with the Moderation of Narcissism and the Mediation of Negative Affect
Authors: Yang Yuha , Chae Heesun
Published: July 2023

Employee creativity has become an essential element for the survival and success of contemporary organizations in the fast-changing business environment. The increased importance of team systems in the flood of information has increased the attention given to creativity in social relationships. This study adopts social comparison theory to propose a framework that shows how social comparisons of creative ability between team members influence individual creativity. In particular, this study focuses on the downward social comparison that individuals frequently experience in real team situations. We adopted multi-source field data collected from 130 employees and supervisors working in a manufacturing company in South Korea. The moderated mediation hypotheses were tested using hierarchical linear modeling to address the dependence of employees rated by the same supervisor, given that employees are nested within supervisors. The effect of downward social comparison on creativity, as mediated by negative affect, is positively moderated by narcissism. Specifically, the conditional indirect effects of downward social comparison on creativity through negative affect were significant and negative when narcissism was high but insignificant when it was low. This research provides novel insights for researchers and practitioners by offering a theoretical elaboration of the effects of social comparison processes on creativity and providing unique empirical validation for the model in the context of teams in actual organizations.
Transfer Length and Prestress Losses of a Prestressed Concrete Box Girder with 18 mm Straight Strands
Authors: Jiang Xin , Chen Haoxuan , Zhou Yongjun , Ma Lin , Du Jianqun , Zhang Wei , Li Yunli
Published: July 2023

Despite the potential advantages of 18 mm strands, the limited research on the behavior of girders with larger-diameter strands hinders the application in bridges. Transfer length and prestress losses are two important indicators. In this research, a 32.6 m long prestressed concrete box girder with 18 mm straight strands and 15 mm harped strands was produced, and the transfer length and the prestress losses were studied. The transfer length was calculated based on the existing equations in codes and previous research. Three beam specimens were fabricated, and strain gauges were pasted on the concrete surface to measure the transfer length of 18 mm strands. It indicated that the average measured transfer length was 700 mm. This value was smaller than the transfer lengths predicted by AASHTO LRFD 2017 and ACI 318-19, while Mitchell’s equation offered the closest prediction to the average measured transfer length. Additionally, the prestress losses at different stages were evaluated. A one-end stressing test was conducted to analyze the effect of strand harping on the loss of tensile force. In comparison with the actual measured loss based on the concrete strain and the longitudinal shortening, the instantaneous prestress loss calculated using the AASTHO LRFD 2017 alternative equation was appropriate. The time-dependent prestress losses due to shrinkage, creep, and relaxation were predicted using two different methods addressed in AASHTO LRFD 2017. The time-dependent predicted losses of 69.2 MPa at 28 d using the refined method were 37% higher than the measured losses 47.4 MPa at 28 d, indicating an overestimation of AASHTO LRFD 2017. The accumulation of the total losses over time revealed that the prestress losses developed in the first two months occupied the majority of the total losses in the long term. The research may provide guidelines for the design of a pretensioned concrete box girder with 18 mm strands.
LOD of a Computational Numerical Model for Evaluating the Mechanical Safety of Steel Structures
Authors: Tusnina Olga , Alekseytsev Anatoly
Published: July 2023

The article addressed the relevant problem of building information modeling. The suggestion was to introduce a BIM-based expert system into the design process. The proposed expert system encompasses the development of three levels of detail for a calculation model and digital interactive models of applicable regulatory documents. The proposed expert model has a modular structure, and it has a control module, a calculation scheme development module, a module for interaction with FEM solvers, and a module in charge of the database of interactive digital design standards. Standard operating conditions and non-standard emergency impacts are taken into account. The case of design standards for steel structures was used to describe the interaction between the expert system and the information model, and the characteristics and the structure of a digital model of a regulatory document. The data, calculated using the proposed LOD, were compared with the experimental findings. The structure of a real industrial building was designed, and its safety was evaluated. The proposed approach is a proven method applicable for designing safe bearing structures. In addition, their adequate deformation is most accurately taken account of at the stage of normal accident-free operation and in emergency situations.
Damage Identification in Reinforced Concrete Beams Using Wavelet Transform of Modal Excitation Responses
Authors: Soleymani Atefeh , Jahangir Hashem , Rashidi Maria , Mojtahedi Farid Fazel , Bahrami Michael , Javanmardi Ahad
Published: July 2023

This study focuses on identifying damage in reinforced concrete (RC) beams using time-domain modal testing and wavelet analysis. A numerical model of an RC beam was used to generate various damage scenarios with different severities and locations. Acceleration time histories were recorded for both damaged and undamaged structures. Two damage indices, DI_MW and DI_SW, derived from the wavelet analysis, were employed to determine the location and severity of the damage. The results showed that different wavelet families and specific mother wavelets had varying effectiveness in detecting damage. The Daubechies wavelet family (db2, db6, and db9) detected damage at the center and sides of the RC beams due to good time and frequency localization. The Biorthogonal wavelet family (bior2.8 and bior3.1) provided improved time–frequency resolution. The Symlets wavelet family (sym2 and sym7) offered a balanced trade-off between time and frequency localization. The Shannon wavelet family (shan1-0.5 and shan1-0.1) exhibited good time localization, while the Frequency B-Spline wavelet family (fbsp2-1-0.1) excelled in frequency localization. Certain combinations of mother wavelets, such as shan1-0.5 with the DI_SW index, were highly effective in detecting damage. The DI_SW index outperformed DI_MW across different numerical models. Selecting appropriate wavelet analysis techniques, particularly utilizing shan1-0.5 in the DI_SW, proved effective for detecting damage in RC beams.