bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bio-Model Selection, Processing and Results for Bio-Inspired Truck Streamlining
Authors: Fang Xiaoyin , Stamhuis Eize
Published: April 2023

We introduce a method for the selection and processing of a biological model to derive an outline that provides morphometric information for a novel aerodynamic truck design. Because of the dynamic similarities, our new truck design will be inspired by biological shapes with a known high level of streamlining and low drag for operation near the seabed, i.e., the head of a trout, but other model organisms will also be used later. Demersal fish are chosen because they live near the bottom of rivers or the sea. Complementary to many biomimetic studies so far, we plan to concentrate on reshaping the outline of the fish’s head and extend it to a 3D design for the tractor that, at the same time, fits within EU regulations and maintains the truck’s normal use and stability. We intend to explore this biological model selection and formulization involving the following elements: (i) the reason for selecting fish as a biological model for a streamlined truck design; (ii) The choice of a fish model via a functional similarity method; (iii) biological shape formulization based on the morphometric information of models in (ii) outline pick-up, a reshaping step and a subsequent design process; (iv) modify the biomimetic designs and test utilizing CFD; (v) further discussion, outputs and results from the bio-inspired design process.
Aberrant Resting-State Functional Connectivity in MDD and the Antidepressant Treatment Effect—A 6-Month Follow-Up Study
Authors: Li Kangning , Lu Xiaowen , Xiao Chuman , Zheng Kangning , Sun Jinrong , Dong Qiangli , Wang Mi , Zhang Liang , Liu Bangshan , Liu Jin , Zhang Yan , Guo Hua , Zhao Futao , Ju Yumeng , Li Lingjiang
Published: April 2023

Background: The mechanism by which antidepressants normalizing aberrant resting-state functional connectivity (rsFC) in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) is still a matter of debate. The current study aimed to investigate aberrant rsFC and whether antidepressants would restore the aberrant rsFC in patients with MDD. Methods: A total of 196 patients with MDD and 143 healthy controls (HCs) received the resting-state functional magnetic resonance imaging and clinical assessments at baseline. Patients with MDD received antidepressant treatment after baseline assessment and were re-scanned at the 6-month follow-up. Network-based statistics were employed to identify aberrant rsFC and rsFC changes in patients with MDD and to compare the rsFC differences between remitters and non-remitters. Results: We identified a significantly decreased sub-network and a significantly increased sub-network in MDD at baseline. Approximately half of the aberrant rsFC remained significantly different from HCs after 6-month treatment. Significant overlaps were found between baseline reduced sub-network and follow-up increased sub-network, and between baseline increased sub-network and follow-up decreased sub-network. Besides, rsFC at baseline and rsFC changes between baseline and follow-up in remitters were not different from non-remitters. Conclusions: Most aberrant rsFC in patients with MDD showed state-independence. Although antidepressants may modulate aberrant rsFC, they may not specifically target these aberrations to achieve therapeutic effects, with only a few having been directly linked to treatment efficacy.
A Convenient All-Cell Optical Imaging Method Compatible with Serial SEM for Brain Mapping
Authors: Wang Tianyi , Shi Peiyao , Luo Dingsan , Guo Jun , Liu Hui , Yuan Jinyun , Jin Haiqun , Wu Xiaolong , Zhang Yueyi , Xiong Zhiwei , Zhu Jinlong , Zhou Renjie , Zhang Ruobing
Published: April 2023

The mammalian brain, with its complexity and intricacy, poses significant challenges for researchers aiming to understand its inner workings. Optical multilayer interference tomography (OMLIT) is a novel, promising imaging technique that enables the mapping and reconstruction of mesoscale all-cell brain atlases and is seamlessly compatible with tape-based serial scanning electron microscopy (SEM) for microscale mapping in the same tissue. However, currently, OMLIT suffers from imperfect coatings, leading to background noise and image contamination. In this study, we introduced a new imaging configuration using carbon spraying to eliminate the tape-coating step, resulting in reduced noise and enhanced imaging quality. We demonstrated the improved imaging quality and validated its applicability through a correlative light–electron imaging workflow. Our method successfully reconstructed all cells and vasculature within a large OMLIT dataset, enabling basic morphological classification and analysis. We also show that this approach can perform effectively on thicker sections, extending its applicability to sub-micron scale slices, saving sample preparation and imaging time, and increasing imaging throughput. Consequently, this method emerges as a promising candidate for high-speed, high-throughput brain tissue reconstruction and analysis. Our findings open new avenues for exploring the structure and function of the brain using OMLIT images.
Study on the Cognitive Characteristics Induced by Changes in the Intensity, Frequency and Duration of Vibratory Stimuli
Authors: Choi Mi-Hyun , Kim Kyu-Beom , Kim Ye-Jin , Kim Ji-Su , Kim Hyung-Sik , Chung Soon-Cheol
Published: April 2023

The purpose of this study is to analyze the cognitive characteristics that can be induced by vibration stimuli at two intensities, three frequencies, and five presentation periods. The experiment was conducted on 20 right-handed adult males, and a subjective evaluation was performed using a questionnaire. Regression analysis was performed to observe the parameters affecting cognitive characteristics according to changes in intensity, frequency, and stimulation duration. The regression analysis results showed that the cognitive characteristics affected by changes in intensity, frequency, and stimulation duration were “heavy”, “bold”, “thick”, and “light”. The cognitive characteristics affected by two-variable combinations were “deep”, “clear”, “vibrating”, “dense”, “numb”, “blunt”, “shallow”, “fuzzy”, and “soft”. Cognitive characteristics affected by either intensity, frequency, or stimulation duration were “fast”, “pungent”, “skinny”, “thin”, “slow”, “ticklish”, “tingling”, “prickling”, “tap”, and “rugged”. By observing the cognitive characteristics that can be induced by the combination of intensity, frequency, and stimulation duration, we confirmed that in addition to intensity and frequency, the stimulation duration is an important factor that influences the induction of various cognitive characteristics. The results presented in the study can be used to enhance the utility of haptic surfaces for extended reality applications.
Neurocircuitry of Personality Traits and Intent in Decision-Making
Authors: Toledo Felippe , Carson Fraser
Published: April 2023

Even though most personality features are moderately stable throughout life, changes can be observed, which influence one’s behavioral patterns. A variety of subjective assessments can be performed to track these changes; however, the subjective characteristic of these assessments may lead to questions about intentions and values. The use of neuroimaging techniques may aid the investigation of personality traits through a more objective lens, overcoming the barriers imposed by confounders. Here, neurocircuits associated with changes in personality domains were investigated to address this issue. Cortical systems involved in traits such as extraversion and neuroticism were found to share multiple components, as did traits of agreeableness and conscientiousness, with these four features revolving around the activation and structural integrity of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). The attribute of openness appears scattered throughout cortical and subcortical regions, being discussed here as a possible reflection of intent, at the same time modulating and being governed by other traits. Insights on how systems operate on personality may increase comprehension on factors acting on the evolution, development, and consolidation of personality traits through life, as in neurocognitive disorders.
Theoretical and Numerical Investigation of Damage Sensitivity of Steel–Concrete Composite Beam Bridges
Authors: Guo Zhibo , Bu Jianqing , Zhang Jiren , Cao Wenlong , Huang Xiaoming
Published: April 2023

To investigate the sensitivity of the overall mechanical performance of steel–concrete composite beam bridges (SCCBBs) to different types of damage, this paper proposes a method of analyzing the sensitivity of SCCBBs to damage based on the extremely randomized trees (ET) algorithm in machine learning. A steel–concrete composite continuous beam bridge was used as the engineering basis, and the finite element method was used to analyze the changes in the static and dynamic response of the bridge caused by seven types of damage. The proposed SCCBB damage sensitivity analysis theory was used to explore the sensitivity factors of the seven types of damage. The results show that microcracks in steel beams have the most significant impact on the mechanical performance sensitivity of SCCBBs, followed by the concrete slab stiffness degradation and bridge deck breakage. The sensitivity of the damage caused by transverse diaphragms and bridge pier stiffness degradation is relatively low, while the sensitivity of stud fractures and bearing damage is minimal. The impact factors of damage sensitivity were 0.51, 0.19, 0.13, 0.08, 0.05, 0.03 and 0.01. This research can provide a reference for the damage classification of SCCBBs with multiple damage interlacing.
Evaluating BIPV Façades in a Building Envelope in Hot Districts for Enhancing Sustainable Ranking: A Saudi Arabian Perspective
Authors: Ismaeil Esam M. H. , Sobaih Abu Elnasr E.
Published: April 2023

Enhancing contractual construction project documents with sustainability and green building requirements reflects growing concerns for the majority of organizations in hot zone districts. The aim is to provide a healthy, best functional performance, safe environment with occupant comfort, and an efficient building performance as an environmental-friendly building. This research study develops a holistic evaluation system for the façade composite of contractual documents. The aim of the current study was to enhance building energy performance under the sustainability rating system focusing on adapting active envelope energy applications. The research used technical evaluation with energy simulation based PVsyst V7.1.0 software and contractual status evaluation for an ongoing unique case study project in Saudi Arabia. Feasibility analysis was carried out for a sustainable active envelope using the adopted specifications of the Building Integrated Photovoltaics (BIPV) façade item instead of the contractual passive item in the Giftedness and Creativity Center project. The project was registered in the sustainability rating system called Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED). The results showed that using BIPV facades as an active renewable energy source enhances building energy performance over the project life cycle. Additionally, it generates 68% of energy demand as a nearly-zero energy project. Several other advantages include lower cost than tender cost without any contractual conflicts, energy savings per year, project upgrade to the platinum certificate, added value to the public investment, CO2 emission reduction, and barrels of oil saved.
Ethics of Climate Change Adaptation—The Case of Torrential Rains in Norway
Authors: Lohne Jardar , Solheim Anders , Muthanna Tone Merete , Time Berit , Hauge Åshild Lappegard , Kalsnes Bjørn Gudleik , Lædre Ola , Kvande Tore
Published: April 2023

This article analyses adaptation to climate induced challenges in form of torrential rains hitting urban landscapes in Norway with increased frequency. Specifically, it investigates the influence of the industry structure on ethical challenges when the climate changes. A meta-analysis of the scientific output from a major multi-disciplinary research program is carried out. In addition, the methods include use of expert opinions, literature review and document studies. Climate change adaptation challenges disciplines within civil engineering and natural sciences. Following this, established practices need alteration as specialists face new ethical challenges. Practical climate change adaptation requires the ability to overcome silo mentality among the involved disciplines. Challenges involve acknowledging responsibility, transparency, and information quality. Engineering takes place in an environment of incomplete knowledge. In addition, there is a high degree of decentralised decision-making and directives, and laws and regulations are often lagging after the experienced challenges. Consequently, individual experts experience increased ethical challenges. Systemic circumstances apprehension is necessary for reducing societal risks within climate change adaptation. Both education of engineers and cooperation between specialists from different disciplines is needed to master the altered framework conditions.
Development of a Water Supplement System for a Tuned Liquid Damper under Excitation
Authors: Xiao Congzhen , Wu Zhenhong , Chen Kai , Tang Yi , Yan Yalin
Published: April 2023

Integrating existing liquid storage and supply tanks in buildings with tuned liquid dampers (TLDs) are significant for reducing the effective cost of TLDs. However, existing water supplement devices for fire-suppression liquid tanks may overfill with water, which leads to TLD mistuning. To overcome this problem, a passive liquid control system named TLD with a stable replenishment sub-tank system (TLD-SRS) is proposed. The system, which consists of an additional sub-tank connected to the main tank and a floating ball, replenishes liquid in the TLD automatically. The system can avoid vibration interference and maintain the normal operation of the passive replenishment system under usual wind loads. According to the studies of tuned liquid column dampers (TLCD), the proposed TLD with a stable replenishment sub-tank system (TLD-SRS) uses simple devices to ensure that the liquid level in the TLD is steady at the target liquid level with a floating ball. The TLD-SRS is verified on a large-scale TLD shaking table experiment. The overshoot, which is the percentage of liquid that exceeds the target volume of TLD is calculated during sloshing with wind loads. Compared with TLD installed with a regular liquid replenishment device, the proposed TLD-SRS significantly reduces the overshoot of liquid and acceleration on the roof of the building.
Building Performance Simulation for Energy Rationalization
Authors: Suliman Fakher Eldin M.
Published: April 2023

The building sector consumes more than one-third of the electricity produced in many countries, mainly due to heating, ventilation, and air conditioning practice. This estimation is even higher in countries geographically located in hot and arid regions. This is particularly true for Saudi Arabia, where the building sector’s share in electricity consumption has reached around 80% of the electricity produced because the need for air cooling is crucial. Hence, the influence of environmental factors on building energy consumption has been a topic of focus. This work investigates the effects of applying energy rationalization for a non-residential building in Saudi Arabia. As a case study, a laboratory room at King Khalid University College of Engineering Campus was modeled using Simulink as a typical educational building. The aim was to study all involved cooling loads to assess the amount and cost of the cooling energy required for the building and to search for the influence of selected procedures to rationalize it. Three categories of rationalization measures have been identified, and one measure from each category has been selected and applied. The results show the impact on energy consumption and cost when applying these measures both exclusively and mutually. The best energy rationalization performance reached for an individual action was 17.72%, while a total reduction of 28.38% in energy consumption and cost was obtained when all three selected measures were applied collectively.
Exploring the Effectiveness of Immersive Virtual Reality for Project Scheduling in Construction Education
Authors: Sami Ur Rehman Muhammad , Abouelkhier Narmin , Shafiq Muhammad Tariq
Published: April 2023

The emergence of immersive technologies, such as virtual reality (VR) headsets, has revolutionized the way we experience the physical world by creating a virtual, interactive environment. In the field of education, this technology has immense potential to provide students with a safe and controlled environment in which to experience real-world scenarios that may be otherwise unfeasible or unsafe. However, limited research exists on the effectiveness of integrating immersive technologies into technical education delivery. This research investigated the potential use of immersive virtual reality (IVR) in university-level construction management courses, with a focus on integrating IVR technology into traditional education for construction project planning and control. The experiment involved comparing the students’ learning and understanding of the subject matter using a set of two-dimensional construction drawings and a critical path method (CPM)-based construction schedule, with and without the use of an immersive environment. The findings suggested that the use of immersive technology significantly improved the students’ ability to understand technical concepts and identify any errors in the construction sequence when compared to traditional teaching methods. This paper presents the details of the experiment and a comparative analysis of both approaches in terms of students’ learning and understanding of project planning, sequencing, and scheduling.
Occupational Hazards Evaluation in Residential Construction Projects: Novel Sorting Methods Based on q-Rung Orthopair Fuzzy Choquet Integral
Authors: Guinitaran Raul , Canseco-Tuñacao Hana Astrid , Patunob Marlito , Silagpo Gilbert , Villamor Cheryl Ann , Villarosa Rica , Aro Joerabell Lourdes , Evangelista Samantha Shane , Ocampo Lanndon
Published: April 2023

Despite multiple efforts to improve safety in construction, insufficient hazard identification remains a significant concern. Failure to address these hazards can lead to severe safety incidents that harm workers and a firm’s reputation. This problem is especially prevalent in construction small and medium enterprises (SMEs) due to their limited resources, reliance on manual labor, and lack of technical expertise regarding safety concerns. Thus, this study addresses the gap by offering a computational framework that provides a comprehensive evaluation of occupational hazards, considering multiple factors, such as severity, frequency of occurrence, and the likelihood of detection, which are risk dimensions of failure mode effect analysis (FMEA). Notwithstanding the FMEA-based evaluation methods for safety evaluation in the construction sector, drawbacks attributed to the interdependencies of the risk dimensions and the handling of judgment uncertainties are evident. In this work, an extension of the FMEA is developed that assigns an occupational hazard to a risk category under a holistic framework that better addresses the current limitations of the FMEA. In particular, the study offers a two-fold contribution: (1) putting forward the proposed Choquet–FMEA–Sort methods under a q-rung orthopair fuzzy set (q-ROFS) environment and (2) demonstrating an actual case study in the Philippines that comprehensively evaluates occupational hazards in construction SMEs. Results of a demonstrative case of residential construction projects show that out of the 26 identified occupational hazards, 18 pose a high risk to workers, while the remaining eight pose a moderate risk. High-risk occupational hazards require more attention for mitigation efforts, especially in residential construction SMEs facing resource constraints. The computational framework offered in this work aids decision-makers in identifying high-risk occupational hazards in a more systematic approach. The robustness and stability of the proposed methods were tested using layers of sensitivity and comparative analyses.
Hybrid PV/T Heat Pump System with PCM for Combined Heating, Cooling and Power Provision in Buildings
Authors: Prakash K. B. , Almeshaal Mohammed , Pasupathi Manoj Kumar , Chinnasamy Subramaniyan , Saravanakumar S. , Rajesh Ruban S.
Published: April 2023

Hybrid photovoltaic-thermal heat pump (PV/T-HP) solar energy systems are promising since they can achieve a system total efficiency greater than 80%. By maximizing the output of a PV/T system for simultaneous heating and cooling, this strategy can meet over 60% of urban households’ heating needs and around 40% of their cooling needs. In this work, a novel PV/T evaporator was designed, fabricated, and an aluminium foil encapsulated hydrated salt (HS36) PCM was integrated with the PV/T evaporator of the PV/T direct expansion heat pump system (PV/T-DXHP). Energy analysis was carried out on the PV/T-DXHP system with PCM in tropical climate regions of India for achieving net zero energy buildings. The experimental study revealed that the average PV electricity efficiency was 14.17%, which is near the PV panel’s STC value. The average thermal efficiency of the system was 104.38%, and the PV/T system’s average overall efficiency was 117.58%. The heating and cooling COPs of the system were 5.73 and 4.62, respectively. It was concluded that net-zero energy buildings are possible with the help of photovoltaic heat pump systems that use PCM and solar energy to make electricity, cool spaces, and heat water.
Selective Methanol Oxidation to Green Oxygenates—Catalyst Screening, Reaction Kinetics and Performance in Fixed-Bed and Membrane Reactors
Authors: Walter Jan P. , Wolff Tanya , Hamel Christof
Published: April 2023

Experimental and simulation-based investigations are carried out for the selective oxidation of green methanol to the oxygenates dimethoxymethane (DMM) and methyl formate (MF), including an initial catalyst screening, the derivation of a reaction kinetic model, and a feasibility study of a fixed-bed and a membrane reactor with oxygen distribution. The catalyst screening of different supports and loading of vanadium revealed a 6.6 wt.-% VOx/TiO2 catalyst offering the highest potential to the formation for the target products. Kinetic experiments performed in a broad range of operation conditions, e.g., residence time, temperature, and oxygen concentration, are used for the postulation of a reaction network, providing the basis for mathematical modeling of the individual five reaction rates with a reduced mechanistic approach. A simulation study based on the derived reaction kinetics and parameters revealed the high potential of a distributed oxygen dosing at high residence times, outperforming the conventional fixed-bed reactor by up to 6% in the yield of DMM and up to 19% in the yield of MF. The formation of DMM is favored at low temperatures, whereas the formation of MF is supported by high temperatures.
SOEing PCR/Docking Optimization of Protein A-G/scFv-Fc-Bioconjugated Au Nanoparticles for Interaction with Meningitidis Bacterial Antigen
Authors: Rad Maryam , Ebrahimipour Gholamhossein , Bandehpour Mojgan , Akhavan Omid , Yarian Fatemeh
Published: April 2023

Recent advances in the use of gold nanoparticles (Au NPs)/antibody conjugations in nanomedicine have increased the need to optimize the synthesis conditions and surface functionalization of Au NPs. In this study, a home-made Neisseria meningitidis recombinant antibody (scFv-Fc) was developed by connecting the fragment crystallizable (Fc) region of a human antibody with a mouse recombinant antibody (single-chain variable fragment antibody (scFv)) and characterized using the SOEing PCR technique. Then, an optimized gold coating agent for the scFv-Fc/Au NP conjugation (i.e., the citrate agent) was found among three common agents (citrate, allylamine hydrochloride, and polyvinyl alcohol) with different surface charges (negative, positive, and neutral, respectively). Moreover, the stability of the scFv-Fc/protein A-G in the presence of a N-succinimidyl 3-(2-pyridyldithio) propionate (SPDP) linker was investigated using the docking method. It was found that the designed scFv-Fc/protein A-G/SPDP/citrate recombinant antibody showed optimized bottom-on conjugation of the protein A-G with the improved scFv-Fc/Au NPs, enabling a suitable interaction with the Neisseria meningitidis bacterial antigen.
Essential Protein PHB2 and Its Regulatory Mechanisms in Cancer
Authors: Qi Amanda , Lamont Lillie , Liu Evelyn , Murray Sarina D. , Meng Xiangbing , Yang Shujie
Published: April 2023

Prohibitins (PHBs) are a highly conserved class of proteins and have an essential role in transcription, epigenetic regulation, nuclear signaling, mitochondrial structural integrity, cell division, and cellular membrane metabolism. Prohibitins form a heterodimeric complex, consisting of two proteins, prohibitin 1 (PHB1) and prohibitin 2 (PHB2). They have been discovered to have crucial roles in regulating cancer and other metabolic diseases, functioning both together and independently. As there have been many previously published reviews on PHB1, this review focuses on the lesser studied prohibitin, PHB2. The role of PHB2 in cancer is controversial. In most human cancers, overexpressed PHB2 enhances tumor progression, while in some cancers, it suppresses tumor progression. In this review, we focus on (1) the history, family, and structure of prohibitins, (2) the essential location-dependent functions of PHB2, (3) dysfunction in cancer, and (4) the promising modulators to target PHB2. At the end, we discuss future directions and the clinical significance of this common essential gene in cancer.
Thrombin, a Key Driver of Pathological Inflammation in the Brain
Authors: Iannucci Jaclyn , Grammas Paula
Published: April 2023

Neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), are major contributors to death and disability worldwide. A multitude of evidence suggests that neuroinflammation is critical in neurodegenerative disease processes. Exploring the key mediators of neuroinflammation in AD, a prototypical neurodegenerative disease, could help identify pathologic inflammatory mediators and mechanisms in other neurodegenerative diseases. Elevated levels of the multifunctional inflammatory protein thrombin are commonly found in conditions that increase AD risk, including diabetes, atherosclerosis, and traumatic brain injury. Thrombin, a main driver of the coagulation cascade, has been identified as important to pathological events in AD and other neurodegenerative diseases. Furthermore, recent evidence suggests that coagulation cascade-associated proteins act as drivers of inflammation in the AD brain, and studies in both human populations and animal models support the view that abnormalities in thrombin generation promote AD pathology. Thrombin drives neuroinflammation through its pro-inflammatory activation of microglia, astrocytes, and endothelial cells. Due to the wide-ranging pro-inflammatory effects of thrombin in the brain, inhibiting thrombin could be an effective strategy for interrupting the inflammatory cascade which contributes to neurodegenerative disease progression and, as such, may be a potential therapeutic target for AD and other neurodegenerative diseases.
The Impact of Histone Modifications in Endometriosis Highlights New Therapeutic Opportunities
Authors: Psilopatis Iason , Vrettou Kleio , Fleckenstein Florian Nima , Theocharis Stamatios
Published: April 2023

Endometriosis is a chronic disorder of the female reproductive system which afflicts a great number of women worldwide. Histone deacetylases (HDACs) prevent the relaxation of chromatin, thereby positively or negatively modulating gene transcription. The current review aims at studying the impact of histone modifications and their therapeutic targeting in endometriosis. In order to identify relevant studies, a literature review was conducted using the MEDLINE and LIVIVO databases. The current manuscript represents the most comprehensive, up-to-date review of the literature focusing on the particular role of HDACs and their inhibitors in the context of endometriosis. HDAC1, HDAC2, HDAC3, Sirtuin 1, and Sirtuin 3, are the five most studied HDAC enzymes which seem to, at least partly, influence the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Both well-established and novel HDACIs could possibly represent modern, efficacious anti-endometriotic drug agents. Altogether, histone modifications and their therapeutic targeting have been proven to have a strong impact on endometriosis.
Enhanced B Cell Receptor Signaling Partially Compensates for Impaired Toll-like Receptor 4 Responses in LPS-Stimulated IκBNS-Deficient B Cells
Authors: Adori Monika , Khoenkhoen Sharesta , Zhang Jingdian , Dopico Xaquin Castro , Karlsson Hedestam Gunilla B.
Published: April 2023

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulates dual receptor signaling by bridging the B cell receptor and Toll-like receptor 4 (BCR/TLR4). B cells from IκBNS-deficient bumble mice treated with LPS display reduced proliferative capacity and impaired plasma cell differentiation. To improve our understanding of the regulatory role of IκBNS in B cell activation and differentiation, we investigated the BCR and TLR4 signaling pathways separately by using dimeric anti-IgM Fab (F(ab’)2) or lipid A, respectively. IκBNS-deficient B cells exhibited reduced survival and defective proliferative capacity in response to lipid A compared to B cells from wildtype (wt) control mice. In contrast, anti-IgM stimulation of bumble B cells resulted in enhanced viability and increased differentiation into CD138+ cells compared to control B cells. Anti-IgM-stimulated IκBNS-deficient B cells also showed enhanced cycle progression with increased levels of c-Myc and cyclin D2, and augmented levels of pCD79a, pSyk, and pERK compared to control B cells. These results suggest that IκBNS acts as a negative regulator of BCR signaling and a positive regulator of TLR4 signaling in mouse B cells.
Use of Pharmacological and Non-Pharmacological Strategies by Community-Dwelling Adults to Manage Migraine: A Systematic Review
Authors: Marupuru Srujitha , Almatruk Ziyad , Slack Marion K. , Axon David R.
Published: April 2023

Migraine is a prevalent disease associated with high levels of disability and is often underdiagnosed and undertreated. This systematic literature review aimed to identify the types of pharmacological and non-pharmacological strategies that community-dwelling adults report using to manage migraine. A systematic literature review of relevant databases, grey literature, websites, and journals was conducted from 1 January 1989 to 21 December 2021. Study selection, data extraction, and risk of bias assessment were completed independently by multiple reviewers. Data were extracted on migraine management strategies and categorized as opioid and non-opioid medications and medical, physical, psychological, or self-initiated strategies. A total of 20 studies were included. The sample sizes ranged from 138 to 46,941, with a mean age of 34.7 to 79.9 years. The data were typically collected using self-administered questionnaires (nine studies), interviews (five studies), online surveys (three studies), paper-based surveys (two studies), and a retrospective database (one study). Community-dwelling adults with migraine reported they primarily used medications, specifically triptans (range 9–73%) and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) (range 13–85%) to manage migraine. Except for medical strategies, the use of other non-pharmacological strategies was low. Common non-pharmacological strategies included consulting physicians (range 14–79%) and heat or cold therapy (35%).
Impact Resistance of CVD Multi-Coatings with Designed Layers
Authors: Deng Jiedong , Jiang Feng , Zha Xuming , Zhang Tao , Yao Hongfei , Zhu Dongwei , Zhu Hongmei , Xie Hong , Wang Fuzeng , Wu Xian , Yan Lan
Published: April 2023

Coated cutting tools are widely used in the manufacturing industry due to their excellent properties of high heat resistance, high hardness, and low friction. However, the milling process is a dynamic process, so the coatings of milling tools suffer severe cyclic impact loads. Impact resistance is important for the life of milling tools. Multi-coatings with different layer thickness may influence their impact resistance, but few studies focus on this topic. In this study, CVD coating with a structure of TiN layer, Al2O3 layer, and TiCN layer was selected as the research objective. Four different CVD coatings with different layer thicknesses were designed and prepared. The impact resistance test method was proposed to simulate the impact due to cut-in during down the milling process. We obtained the load by setting an impact depth of 25/30/35 µm, recording the impact force during the impact process, and calculating the contact stress; it was found that, at the impact depth of 25/30/35 µm, the download loads were around 9/11/13 N, while the contact stresses were all around 1 GPa. The failure morphology of the coating surface was investigated after the impact process. By comparing the contact stress and the surface morphology of the designed coatings, the impact resistance of four kinds of designed CVD coatings were evaluated. Experiments have shown that an increase in coating thickness and total coating thickness reduces impact resistance by about 10%. The impact resistance of coating samples without a TiN surface layer also decreased by about 10%. When the surface layer of TiN was thinner than 1 µm, the surface layer of TiN was prone to chipping and peeling off. Decreasing the thickness of the middle layer of Al2O3 and increasing the thickness of the inner layer of TiCN obviously lowered the impact resistance.
Estimating the Impact of Climate and Vegetation Changes on Runoff Risk across the Hawaiian Landscape
Authors: Berio Fortini Lucas , Kaiser Lauren R. , Perkins Kim S. , Xue Lulin , Wang Yaping
Published: April 2023

In Hawai’i, ecosystem conservation practitioners are increasingly considering the potential ecohydrological benefits from applied conservation action to mitigate the degrading impacts of runoff on native and restored ecosystems. One determinant of runoff is excess rainfall events where rainfall rates exceed the infiltration capacity of soils. To help understand runoff risks, we calculated the probability of excess rainfall events across the Hawaiian landscape by comparing the probability distributions of projected rainfall frequency and land-cover-specific infiltration capacity. We characterized soil infiltration capacity based on different land cover types (bare soil, grasses, and woody vegetation) and compared them to the frequency of large rainfall events under current and future climate scenarios. We then mapped the potential risk of excess rainfall across the main Hawaiian Islands. Our results show that land cover type has a very large effect on runoff risk as excess rainfall conditions are 234% more likely in bare soil and 75% more likely in grasslands compared to woody forests and shrublands. In contrast, projected shifts in rainfall intensity by end-of-century show little impact on these probabilities and thus, the risk of runoff. This indicates that the probability of excess rainfall is primarily driven by differences in land cover and not by current or potential shifts in rainfall patterns across the Hawaiian landscape. The ability to estimate the risk of potentially ecologically and economically costly runoff based on changes of land cover is useful for managers focused on invasive species control and restoration planning, especially for native and endemic ecosystems unique to the State of Hawai’i.
Micro-Raman Spectroscopy Study of Vertical GaN Schottky Diode
Authors: N’Dohi Atse Julien Eric , Sonneville Camille , Saidi Soufiane , Ngo Thi Huong , De Mierry Philippe , Frayssinet Eric , Cordier Yvon , Phung Luong Viet , Morancho Frédéric , Maher Hassan , Planson Dominique
Published: April 2023

In this work, the physical and the electrical properties of vertical GaN Schottky diodes were investigated. Cathodo-luminescence (CL), micro-Raman spectroscopy, SIMS, and current-voltage (I-V) measurements were performed to better understand the effects of physical parameters, for example structural defects and doping level inhomogeneity, on the diode electrical performances. Evidence of dislocations in the diode epilayer was spotted thanks to the CL measurements. Then, using 2D mappings of the E2h and A1 (LO) Raman modes, dislocations and other peculiar structural defects were observed. The I-V measurements of the diodes revealed a significant increase in the leakage current with applied reverse bias up to 200 V. The combination of physical and electrical characterization methods indicated that the electrical leakage in the reverse biased diodes seems more correlated with short range non-uniformities of the effective doping than with strain fluctuation induced by dislocations.
MN-DS: A Multilabeled News Dataset for News Articles Hierarchical Classification
Authors: Petukhova Alina , Fachada Nuno
Published: April 2023

This article presents a dataset of 10,917 news articles with hierarchical news categories collected between 1 January 2019 and 31 December 2019. We manually labeled the articles based on a hierarchical taxonomy with 17 first-level and 109 second-level categories. This dataset can be used to train machine learning models for automatically classifying news articles by topic. This dataset can be helpful for researchers working on news structuring, classification, and predicting future events based on released news.
Data on 33 Years of Erroneous Usage of Rainfall Erosivity Equations
Authors: Bezak Nejc , Lebar Klaudija , Huang Yu-Chieh , Chen Walter
Published: April 2023

This paper describes the data gathered for a paper published in Earth-Science Reviews (DOI: 10.1016/j.earscirev.2023.104339) to address the problem of studies using incorrect equations to calculate rainfall erosivity (R factor), which can lead to issues related to land degradation, soil productivity loss, and biodiversity loss. The aim was to locate articles containing the incorrect equations and create a relational database that could be used to perform an in-depth analysis of the errors. Because the search target is an equation, it is impossible to directly query any literature database for the articles that contain the incorrect R equations. Therefore, a manual search of multiple databases was conducted. Subsequently, the literature search was broadened to identify the origin of the misuse of the R equations, and SQL (Structured Query Language) queries were formulated to understand why the errors continued to persist for a minimum of 33 years. The resulting entity-relationship-based Microsoft Access database was determined to be a valuable tool for performing in-depth analysis. It can be used to add incorrect studies and perform further analysis. It is suggested that further research should be conducted to determine the extent of the impact of these errors on soil erosion, ecosystems, and the environment.
Retrospective Analysis of Artifacts in Cone Beam Computed Tomography Images Used to Diagnose Chronic Rhinosinusitis
Authors: Kuusisto Niina , Hirvonen Jussi , Suominen Auli , Syrjänen Stina , Huumonen Sisko , Vallittu Pekka , Kinnunen Ilpo
Published: April 2023

Background: Cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) is frequently used to corroborate the signs and symptoms of chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS). However, artifacts induced by dental restorations might complicate the diagnosis of CRS. Here, we assessed the frequency and location of artifacts in CBCT images taken to confirm the CRS. Methods: All CBCT images of the patients referred to the Emergency Radiology unit, Turku University Hospital, with an indication of CRS in 2017 were re-examined. The prevalence of the artifacts was analyzed in three cross-sectional views and three horizontal levels delimited by anatomical landmarks. Results: In total, 214 CBCT images of patients with CRS were evaluated. The diagnosis of apical periodontitis (AP) was impaired by artifacts present in 150/214 images (70%). The diagnosis of CRS was impaired in 5 of the 214 images (2.3%). The main origins of the artifacts were large dental fillings or crowns, and endodontic fillings were present in 95% (203/214) and 52% (111/214) of the images, respectively. Conclusions: AP as an etiology of CRS is possible to miss because of artifacts originating from dental and endodontic fillings in the CBCT images of the paranasal sinuses.
Use of the Dialkylcarbamoylchloride Dressing in the Care of Central Venous Access Exit Site in a Pediatric and Neonatal Population
Authors: Lamberti Giorgio , Domenichelli Vincenzo , Straziuso Simona , Pelusi Gabriella , Natile Miria , Ancora Gina , Barone Giovanni
Published: April 2023

Dialkylcarbamoylchloride dressing is a fatty acid derivative that has been shown in vitro to bind a number of pathogenic microorganisms. The purpose of this prospective study was to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of this technology in the care of the exit site of central venous catheter in a paediatric and neonatal population. Methods: The study was conducted from September 2020 to December 2022 at the Infermi Hospital in Rimini. Central venous catheters were placed using the SIC bundle for insertion. Dialkylcarbamoylchloride dressing was placed below the subcutaneous anchoring at the time of CVC placement and at each dressing change. Data about the catheters and the exit site were recorded and then compared with an historical cohort. Results: 118 catheters were placed during the studied period. The dialkylcarbamoylchloride dressing was well-tolerated. No case of systemic or local infection was recorded. The comparison with the historical cohort showed a reduction in the rate of exit site infection (p value 0.03). Conclusion: Dialkylcarbamoylchloride dressing is well-tolerated in paediatric and neonatal population. It represents a promising tool as a strategy for infection prevention.
An Instance Segmentation Model Based on Deep Learning for Intelligent Diagnosis of Uterine Myomas in MRI
Authors: Pan Haixia , Zhang Meng , Bai Wenpei , Li Bin , Wang Hongqiang , Geng Haotian , Zhao Xiaoran , Zhang Dongdong , Li Yanan , Chen Minghuang
Published: April 2023

Uterine myomas affect 70% of women of reproductive age, potentially impacting their fertility and health. Manual film reading is commonly used to identify uterine myomas, but it is time-consuming, laborious, and subjective. Clinical treatment requires the consideration of the positional relationship among the uterine wall, uterine cavity, and uterine myomas. However, due to their complex and variable shapes, the low contrast of adjacent tissues or organs, and indistinguishable edges, accurately identifying them in MRI is difficult. Our work addresses these challenges by proposing an instance segmentation network capable of automatically outputting the location, category, and masks of each organ and lesion. Specifically, we designed a new backbone that facilitates learning the shape features of object diversity, and filters out background noise interference. We optimized the anchor box generation strategy to provide better priors in order to enhance the process of bounding box prediction and regression. An adaptive iterative subdivision strategy ensures that the mask boundary details of objects are more realistic and accurate. We conducted extensive experiments to validate our network, which achieved better average precision (AP) results than those of state-of-the-art instance segmentation models. Compared to the baseline network, our model improved AP on the uterine wall, uterine cavity, and myomas by 8.8%, 8.4%, and 3.2%, respectively. Our work is the first to realize multiclass instance segmentation in uterine MRI, providing a convenient and objective reference for the clinical development of appropriate surgical plans, and has significant value in improving diagnostic efficiency and realizing the automatic auxiliary diagnosis of uterine myomas.
Offset Well Design Optimization Using a Surrogate Model and Metaheuristic Algorithms: A Bakken Case Study
Authors: Merzoug Ahmed , Rasouli Vamegh
Published: April 2023

Fracture-driven interaction FDI (colloquially called “Frac-hit”) is the interference of fractures between two or more wells. This interference can have a significant impact on well production, depending on the unconventional play of interest (which can be positive or negative). In this work, the surrogate model was used along with metaheuristic optimization algorithms to optimize the completion design for a case study in the Bakken. A numerical model was built in a physics-based simulator that combines hydraulic fracturing, geomechanics, and reservoir numerical modeling as a continuous simulation. The stress was estimated using the anisotropic extended Eaton method. The fractures were calibrated using Microseismic Depletion Delineation (MDD) and microseismic events. The reservoir model was calibrated to 10 years of production data and bottom hole pressure by adjusting relative permeability curves. The stress changes due to depletion were calibrated using recorded pressure data from MDD and FDI. Once the model was calibrated, sensitivity analysis was run on the injected volumes, the number of clusters, the spacing between clusters, and the spacing between wells using Sobol and Latin Hypercube sampling. The results were used to build a surrogate model using an artificial neural network. The coefficient of correlation was in the order of 0.96 for both training and testing. The surrogate model was used to construct a net present value model for the whole system, which was then optimized using the Grey Wolf algorithm and the Particle Swarm Optimization algorithm, and the optimum design was reported. The optimum design is a combination of wider well spacing (1320 ft), tighter cluster spacing (22 ft), high injection volume (1950 STB/cluster), and a low cluster number per stage (seven clusters). This study suggests an optimum design for a horizontal well in the Bakken drilled next to a well that has been producing for ten years. The design can be deployed in new wells that are drilled next to depleted wells to optimize the system’s oil production.