bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
GPSR: Gradient-Prior-Based Network for Image Super-Resolution
Authors: Zhu Xiancheng , Huang Detian , Li Xiaorui , Cai Danlin , Zhu Daxin
Published: January 2023

Recent deep learning has shown great potential in super-resolution (SR) tasks. However, most deep learning-based SR networks are optimized via pixel-level loss (i.e., L1, L2, and MSE), which forces the networks to output the average of all possible predictions, leading to blurred details. Especially in SR tasks with large scaling factors (i.e., ×4, ×8), the limitation is further aggravated. To alleviate this limitation, we propose a Gradient-Prior-based Super-Resolution network (GPSR). Specifically, a detail-preserving Gradient Guidance Strategy is proposed to fully exploit the gradient prior to guide the SR process from two aspects. On the one hand, an additional gradient branch is introduced into GPSR to provide the critical structural information. On the other hand, a compact gradient-guided loss is proposed to strengthen the constraints on the spatial structure and to prevent the blind restoration of high-frequency details. Moreover, two residual spatial attention adaptive aggregation modules are proposed and incorporated into the SR branch and the gradient branch, respectively, to fully exploit the crucial intermediate features to enhance the feature representation ability. Comprehensive experimental results demonstrate that the proposed GPSR outperforms state-of-the-art methods regarding both subjective visual quality and objective quantitative metrics in SR tasks with large scaling factors (i.e., ×4 and ×8).
Large-Scale Experimental Static Testing on 50-Year-Old Prestressed Concrete Bridge Girders
Authors: Savino Pierclaudio , Tondolo Francesco , Sabia Donato , Quattrone Antonino , Biondini Fabio , Rosati Gianpaolo , Anghileri Mattia , Chiaia Bernardino
Published: January 2023

The heritage of existing road infrastructures and in particular of bridges consists of structures that are approaching or exceeding their designed service life. Detrimental causes such as aging, fatigue and deterioration processes other than variation in loading conditions introduce uncertainties that make structural assessment a challenging task. Experimental data on their performances are crucial for a proper calibration of numerical models able to predict their behavior and life-cycle structural performance. In this scenario, an experimental research program was established with the aim of investigating a set of 50-year-old prestressed concrete bridge girders that were recovered from a decommissioned bridge. The activities included initial non-destructive tests, and then full-scale load tests followed by a destructive test on the material samples. This paper reports the experimental results of the full-scale tests conducted on the first group of four I-beams assumed to be in good condition from visual inspection at the time of testing. Loading tests were performed using a specifically designed steel reaction frame and a test setup equipment, as detailed in the present work. Due to the structural response of this first group of girders, a uniform behavior was found at both service and ultimate conditions. The failure mechanism was characterized by the crushing of the cast-in-situ top slab corresponding to a limited deflection, highlighting a non-ductile behavior. The outcomes of the experimental research are expected to provide new data for the life-cycle safety assessment of existing bridges through an extended database of validated experimental tests and models.
Study of the Movement Dynamics of a Beet Leaves Harvester
Authors: Pascuzzi Simone , Bulgakov Volodymyr , Adamchuk Valerii , Holovach Ivan , Nadykto Volodymyr , Budzanivskyi Myroslav
Published: January 2023

High-quality cutting of beet heads during harvesting reduces the loss of sugar-bearing upper parts of root crops. One of the ways to ensure high quality cutting is to scientifically substantiate the parameters of the machine that harvests the sugar beet leaves; this machine is front-mounted on the tractor’s attachment mechanism. Theoretical calculations established the following. A front-mounted beet topper machine with damping coefficient and the moment of inertia parameters that vary from 0.35 to 1.35 kN s m−1 and from 3000 to 3500 kg m2, respectively, is invariant to the influence of external disturbances in the form of vertical vibrations of the field’s longitudinal profile. These vibrations vary in frequency from 0 to 40 s−1 according to the harmonic function. Setting the tyres stiffness coefficient value of the leaves harvester support-feeler wheels at 315 kN m−1 is characterized by a desirable decrease (up to 41.2%) of the dynamic system’s amplitude–frequency values characteristics when the system is subjected to an external disturbance. With this value of tyre stiffness coefficient, the tyre inflation pressure should not exceed 0.125 MPa.
A Novel 3D Topography Stitching Algorithm Based on Reflectance and Multimap
Authors: Lemesle Julie , Guibert Robin , Bigerelle Maxence
Published: January 2023

Surface topography is an efficient tool for the understanding of physical phenomena, especially if multiscale roughness analysis is performed. However, the observable scale range in a topography measured with 3D optical profilometers is quite limited. Therefore, all scales linked to a physical phenomenon might not be measured, which impedes the correct analysis of the surface. Stitching of 3D topographies, a technique combining elementary topographic maps into a larger one, can be used to increase the scale range for an objective lens. A high resolution over a large field of measurement topography is then generated. A literature review of 3D topography stitching algorithm highlights the stitching procedure, and detailed explanations on in-plane registration algorithms are provided. However, some existing 3D topography stitching algorithms are not sufficiently accurate for the registration of surface, especially at smaller scales. This paper proposes a new reflectance-based multimap 3D stitching algorithm and three of its variants. These algorithm variants are compared to three existing 3D stitching algorithms (geometric, cross-correlation and global optimization of differences) on four test cases, containing measured elementary topographic maps obtained on four surfaces and with four 3D optical profilometers (two focus variation microscopes and two interferometers). Five qualitative and quantitative criteria and indicators are proposed for the comparison of 3D topography stitching algorithms: visual inspection, run time, memory usage, mean repositioning error and stitching error estimator. Lastly, two quantitative indicators and criteria are new indicators proposed in this article. Overall, the new 3D stitching algorithms based on reflectance and multimaps have a lower mean repositioning error and stitching error estimator compared to other existing algorithms. This highlights the relevance of multimap stitching algorithms in the case of 3D topographies. A new decision-helping tool, the stitching gain lift plot (SGL plot), is described for the selection of the best stitching algorithm for a given test case. The SGL plot especially highlights the higher performance of two of the variants of the novel algorithm compared to the three existing 3D stitching algorithms.
Analysis of the Strength of the Supporting Structure of a TwoSection Hopper Wagon under Operating Loading Conditions
Authors: Vatulia Glib , Gerlici Juraj , Fomin Oleksij , Lovska Alyona , Fomina Yuliia , Kravchenko Kateryna
Published: January 2023

It is proposed to improve hopper wagon design to provide the possibility of simultaneous transportation of different types of cargo. This improvement consists of dividing the body into two separate sections, interacting with each other through a vertical wall and horizontal connecting belts. A calculation by using the FEM in the SolidWorks Simulation has been carried out to determine the strength of the construction of the two-section hopper wagon. The results of the research showed that the maximum load of the hopper wagon occurs in the first design mode (impact). However, the obtained stresses were lower than permissible by 30%. To calculate the indicators of the wagon dynamics, modeling was carried out. All received dynamics indicators were within the permissible limits. For transporting a hopper wagon on railway ferries in international traffic, it is suggested to use units for the fastening chain. Research of the dynamic load of the hopper wagon supporting structure was carried out through mathematical modeling. The strength analysis of the hopper-wagon-bearing structure was carried out. It was found out that the stresses in the hopper wagon structure did not exceed the normative values. The results of the research will contribute to the increased profitability of railway transport. Additionally, the results of the work can be useful in the creation of modern designs of wagons, including for international traffic.
A Method to Optimize Routing Paths for City-Pair Airlines on Three-Layer Air Transport Networks
Authors: Ding Hui , Hu Minghua , Xu Qiucheng , Tian Yungang , Yin Jianan
Published: January 2023

Air transportation is a huge, complex system with emergence and self-organization, which makes it important for it to be modelled. In this paper, to model the air transportation system with more accuracy, from physical facilities to traffic applications, three-layer networks, including the air route network, the city-pair airline network, and flight operation network, are built, where the air route network is regarded as the physical layer, and city-pair airline network and flight operation network are the application layers. Furthermore, a powerful tool, complex network theory, is applied to discuss the topology characteristics of the three-layer networks. Moreover, considering the path diversity of city-pair airlines, a simulated annealing-based framework is proposed to optimize the routing paths on an air route network for each city-pair airline, such that the traffic congestion of the air route network can be alleviated, where an elaborated method for perturbing solutions, named Selection after Remove (SAR), is adopted. Experimental results show that, compared with the default routing paths, the shortest routing paths, and the random routing paths, the proposed routing-path optimization strategy can reduce the maximum traffic flows of the air route network by 2.4%, 4.6%, and 4.8%, respectively, which shows that the proposed optimization method performs well in alleviating the traffic congestion of the air route network.
Measurement and Model-Based Control of Solidification in Continuous Casting of Steel Billets
Authors: Schlautmann Martin , Köster Marc , Krieger Waldemar , Groll Matthias , Schuster Ralf , Bellmann Jörg , Frittella Piero
Published: January 2023

A laser vibrometer system in combination with appropriate artificial intelligence methods for clustering of the measured vibration spectra was tested at a continuous steel casting machine to receive information on the solidification status of the strand. Measurements with the laser vibrometer at a fixed strand position of the billet caster of ESF under conditions of incrementally increasing casting speeds revealed a transition in the population of the identified vibration clusters as a footprint of the passed crater end position with a change from a fully solidified strand to a strand with some liquid core at the measurement position. This was in accordance with the results from a three-dimensional dynamic temperature and solidification model which was set up based on a state-of-the-art approach for solution of the heat flow equation with tailored submodels for the different boundary zones of the ESF billet caster (i.e., mould, secondary spray water zones and radiation zones) and installed at the steel plant for online monitoring and control of the casting process. The application of the newly installed measurement and model-based information systems at ESF revealed significant improvements in their billet casting process in terms of halved strand breakout rates and correspondingly increased productivity.
Improvement of Electrical and Mechanical Properties of PLA/PBAT Composites Using Coconut Shell Biochar for Antistatic Applications
Authors: George Justin , Jung Daeseung , Bhattacharyya Debes
Published: January 2023

Biochar-based environment-friendly polymer composites are suitable substitutes for conventional non-biodegradable polymer composites. In this work, we developed polylactic acid (PLA)/polybutylene adipate-co-terephthalate (PBAT)/biochar (BC) composites with improved mechanical and electrical properties for antistatic applications. Coconut shell biochar was obtained through the pyrolysis of coconut shell in an inert atmosphere, and characterised using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD), to investigate the morphology and structural properties. The biochar was converted to powder form, sieved to reduce the particle size (≤30 μm diameters), and melt-mixed with PLA and PBAT to form composites. The composites were extruded to produce 3D printing filaments and, eventually, 3D-printed tensile specimens. The tensile strength and tensile modulus of the 3D-printed PLA/PBAT/BC (79/20/1) composite with 1 wt% of biochar improved by 45% and 18%, respectively, compared to those of PLA/PBAT (80/20). The interfacial interaction between the biochar and polymer matrix was strong, and the biochar particles improved the compatibility of the PLA and PBAT in the composites, improving the tensile strength. Additionally, the electrical resistivity of the composite did reduce with the addition of biochar, and PLA/PBAT/BC (70/20/10) showed the surface resistivity of ~1011 Ω/sq, making it a suitable material for antistatic applications.
Analyzing Physics-Inspired Metaheuristic Algorithms in Feature Selection with K-Nearest-Neighbor
Authors: Priyadarshini Jayaraju , Premalatha Mariappan , Čep Robert , Jayasudha Murugan , Kalita Kanak
Published: January 2023

In recent years, feature selection has emerged as a major challenge in machine learning. In this paper, considering the promising performance of metaheuristics on different types of applications, six physics-inspired metaphor algorithms are employed for this problem. To evaluate the capability of dimensionality reduction in these algorithms, six diverse-natured datasets are used. The performance is compared in terms of the average number of features selected (AFS), accuracy, fitness, convergence capabilities, and computational cost. It is found through experiments that the accuracy and fitness of the Equilibrium Optimizer (EO) are comparatively better than the others. Finally, the average rank from the perspective of average fitness, average accuracy, and AFS shows that EO outperforms all other algorithms.
Effect of Tillage and Nitrogen Fertilization on Soil Properties and Yield of Five Durum Wheat Germoplasms in a Dry Area of Morocco
Authors: Maher Hassnae , Moussadek Rachid , Ghanimi Ahmed , Zouidi Oumaima , Douaik Ahmed , Dakak Houria , Amenzou Nour Eddine , Zouahri Abdelmjid
Published: January 2023

In Morocco, cereal production is below the expected potential. The adoption of best agricultural practices that reduce vulnerability to climate is a major requirement. No-tillage (NT) agriculture is a system that could improve cereal production by enhancing soil fertility. Some factors, in combination with no-tillage, can further improve cereal yields, especially the choice of variety the adequate fertilization. The objective of our study is to investigate the effect of no-tillage agriculture and nitrogen fertilization on soil fertility and the yield of five durum wheat varieties developed in Morocco in a long-term (18 years) NT trial at the INRA Merchouch experimental station, Morocco. The results show that tillage type had a significant effect on soil organic carbon and CEC (measured before the start of the experiment), as well as on ammonium and nitrates (measured at the end of the experiment), whereas nitrogen dose had a significant effect on total nitrogen and nitrates (measured at the end of the experiment). Regarding wheat yield, as measured at the end of the experiment during the 2020–2021 cropping season, the results show that, under NT, the varieties Nachit, Faraj, and Louiza had grain yields of 4.5, 4.3, and 3.4 t ha−1 and straw yields of 9.8, 7.8, and 6.8 t ha−1, respectively, whereas the I.C and M.G germoplasms had grain yields of 4.05 and 3.72 t ha−1 and straw yields of 8.25 and 8.39 t ha−1, respectively. These values are low for a favorable area and correspond to a semi-arid area. In addition, no effects of nitrogen dose were observed due to water stress, which reduced nitrogen use efficiency. Nachit is the most adapted variety under NT, with the highest yield (5.1 t ha−1) under a low dose of nitrogen (20 kg N ha−1), followed by Faraj (4.7 t ha−1), still under NT but with a higher nitrogen dose (40 kg N ha−1) and Nachit (4.5 t ha−1) with the minimum nitrogen dose but under both NT and CT. In conclusion, Nachit and Faraj wheat varieties performed the best under no-tillage conditions with the minimal nitrogen dose. However, grain yield values were reduced, owing to water stress, which reduced nitrogen use efficiency.
A Framework to Determine the Utilization of Vacant Taxis on HOV Lanes with the Optimal Deployment
Authors: Gao Fawen , Liu Kun , Ding Dong
Published: January 2023

For the purpose of determining whether vacant taxis are supposed to use high-occupancy vehicle (HOV) lanes, this paper builds a framework to explore the performances of a network before and after vacant taxis use HOV lanes and to detect the optimal deployment of HOV lanes. We use a variational inequality (VI) to describe travelers’ mode choice following a logit model and the route choice abided by the user equilibrium principle on the network. A simple network is adopted to explore the network performances when vacant taxis are allowed to use/forbidden from using HOV lanes. Then we propose a framework presented by a bi-level model for the optimal deployment of HOV lanes in which the lower level is the variational inequality and the upper level aims at maximization of social welfare. This bi-level programming with a genetic algorithm combined with a surrogate assistant approach is applied to the simple network and a Sioux Falls network to analyze the network performances in the cases allowing/forbidding vacant taxis from using HOV lanes. The results reveal the paradox that social welfare may decrease when allowing vacant taxis to use HOV lanes compared to when forbidding vacant taxis from using HOV lanes. Considering optimal HOV lane deployment, this paradox still exists. However, it does not always happen due to the different parameters, e.g., flag–fall price. Therefore, the qualification of vacant taxis to use HOV lanes depends on the topology, attributes, and travel demand of the network. The results display that the models and the algorithm are effective in reality.
Avant-Garde versus Tradition, a Case Study—Archaic Ritual Imagery in Malevich: The Icons, the Radical Abstraction, and Byzantine Hesychasm
Authors: Ioffe Dennis
Published: January 2023

Serving as a conceptual introduction to the ARTS special issue, the article discusses the importance of archaic imagery and poetics of a major avant-garde actor who often symbolizes the main axis of Slavic radical modernism in its Avant-garde phase. Kazimir Malevich has widely explored religious archaic imagery in his oeuvre, engaging in a dialog with a historical tradition of representation. The article discusses Malevich’s iconic legacy, zooming in on the philosophy of Malevich’s suprematist imagery of peasants, Orthodox icons, and the ways of visualizing of an inner Hesychast prayer. In this context, the paper also analyzes Russian philosophy of language, imiaslavie and Hesychasm as it stemmed out from the creative perception of Byzantine philosophical lore developed by Gregory Palamas and several other thinkers.
Data Lake Architecture for Smart Fish Farming Data-Driven Strategy
Authors: Benjelloun Sarah , El Aissi Mohamed El Mehdi , Lakhrissi Younes , El Haj Ben Ali Safae
Published: January 2023

Thanks to continuously evolving data management solutions, data-driven strategies are considered the main success factor in many domains. These strategies consider data as the backbone, allowing advanced data analytics. However, in the agricultural field, and especially in fish farming, data-driven strategies have yet to be widely adopted. This research paper aims to demystify the situation of the fish farming domain in general by shedding light on big data generated in fish farms. The purpose is to propose a dedicated data lake functional architecture and extend it to a technical architecture to initiate a fish farming data-driven strategy. The research opted for an exploratory study to explore the existing big data technologies and to propose an architecture applicable to the fish farming data-driven strategy. The paper provides a review of how big data technologies offer multiple advantages for decision making and enabling prediction use cases. It also highlights different big data technologies and their use. Finally, the paper presents the proposed architecture to initiate a data-driven strategy in the fish farming domain.
Experimental Study of Void Fraction Measurement Using a Capacitance-Based Sensor and ANN in Two-Phase Annular Regimes for Different Fluids
Authors: Veisi Aryan , Shahsavari Mohammad Hossein , Roshani Gholam Hossein , Eftekhari-Zadeh Ehsan , Nazemi Ehsan
Published: January 2023

One of the most severe problems in power plants, petroleum and petrochemical industries is the accurate determination of phase fractions in two-phase flows. In this paper, we carried out experimental investigations to validate the simulations for water–air, two-phase flow in an annular pattern. To this end, we performed finite element simulations with COMSOL Multiphysics, conducted experimental investigations in concave electrode shape and, finally, compared both results. Our experimental set-up was constructed for water–air, two-phase flow in a vertical tube. Afterwards, the simulated models in the water–air condition were validated against the measurements. Our results show a relatively low relative error between the simulation and experiment indicating the validation of our simulations. Finally, we designed an Artificial Neural Network (ANN) model in order to predict the void fractions in any two-phase flow consisting of petroleum products as the liquid phase in pipelines. In this regard, we simulated a range of various liquid–gas, two-phase flows including crude oil, oil, diesel fuel, gasoline and water using the validated simulation. We developed our ANN model by a multi-layer perceptron (MLP) neural network in MATLAB 9.12.0.188 software. The input parameters of the MLP model were set to the capacitance of the sensor and the liquid phase material, whereas the output parameter was set to the void fraction. The void fraction was predicted with an error of less than 2% for different liquids via our proposed methodology. Using the presented novel metering system, the void fraction of any annular two-phase flow with different liquids can be precisely measured.
Tuning Nitrogen-Doped Carbon Electrodes via Synthesis Temperature Adjustment to Improve Sodium- and Lithium-Ion Storage
Authors: Fedoseeva Yuliya V. , Shlyakhova Elena V. , Vorfolomeeva Anna A. , Grebenkina Mariya A. , Sysoev Vitalii I. , Stolyarova Svetlana G. , Maksimovskiy Evgeny A. , Makarova Anna A. , Okotrub Alexander V. , Bulusheva Lyubov G.
Published: January 2023

Structural imperfections, heteroatom dopants, and the interconnected pore structure of carbon materials have a huge impact on their electrochemical performance in lithium-ion and sodium-ion batteries due to the specific ion transport and the dominant storage mechanism at surface defect sites. In this work, mesopore-enriched nitrogen-doped carbon (NC) materials were produced with template-assisted chemical vapor deposition using calcium tartrate as the template precursor and acetonitrile as the carbon and nitrogen source. The chemical states of nitrogen, the volume of mesopores, and the specific surface areas of the materials were regulated by adjusting the synthesis temperature. The electrochemical testing of NC materials synthesized at 650, 750, and 850 °C revealed the best performance of the NC-650 sample, which was able to deliver 182 mA·h·g−1 in sodium-ion batteries and 1158 mA·h·g−1 in lithium-ion batteries at a current density of 0.05 A·g−1. Our study shows the role of defect sites, including carbon monovacancies and nitrogen-terminated vacancies, in the binding and accumulation of sodium. The results provide a strategy for managing the carbon structure and nitrogen states to achieve a high alkali-metal-ion storage capacity and long cycling stability, thereby facilitating the electrochemical application of NC materials.
Use of Water-In-Salt Concentrated Liquid Electrolytes in Electrochemical Energy Storage: State of the Art and Perspectives
Authors: Khalid Shahid , Pianta Nicolò , Mustarelli Piercarlo , Ruffo Riccardo
Published: January 2023

Batteries based on organic electrolytes have been raising safety concerns due to some associated fire/explosion accidents caused by the unusual combination of highly flammable organic electrolytes and high energy electrodes. Nonflammable aqueous batteries are a good alternative to the current energy storage systems. However, what makes aqueous batteries safe and viable turns out to be their main weakness, since water molecules are prone to decomposition because of a narrow electrochemical stability window (ESW). In this perspective we introduce aqueous batteries and then discuss the state-of-the-art of water-in-salt (WIS) electrolytes for aqueous energy storage systems. The main strategies to improve ESW are reviewed, including: (i) the use of fluorinated salts to make a solid electrolyte interphase (SEI); (ii) the use of cost-effective and highly soluble salts to reduce water activity through super concentration; and (iii) the use of hybrid electrolytes combining the advantages of both aqueous and non-aqueous phases. Then, we discuss different battery chemistries operated with different WIS electrolytes. Finally, we highlight the challenges and future technological perspectives for practical aqueous energy storage systems, including applications in stationary storage/grid, power backup, portable electronics, and automotive sectors.
A Review of the Structural Design of Anode Materials in Sodium-Ion Batteries Based on MXenes and Their Composites
Authors: Yuan Mengwei , Zheng Xingzi , Xu Jingshen , Ni Qiao , Luo Luoqi , Cai Zejun , Sun Zemin , Lin Liu , Sun Genban
Published: January 2023

The typical two-dimensional layered structure materials, MXenes, are widely used in energy conversion and storage due to their high conductivity, ion transport ability, and rich surface structures. Recently, MXenes and their composites have been widely employed in secondary batteries, especially sodium-ion batteries (SIBs), with obvious performance improvement. As anodic materials, MXenes, metal oxides, metal sulfides, and other materials contain certain advantages in Na+ storage, but they individually also suffer from some issues and challenges, such as low conductivity and serious volume change, as well as the associated low capacity and poor cyclability. By virtue of the advantages of MXenes, with their high conductivity and ultrathin two-dimensional structures, the construction of surface-functionalized MXenes and MXene-based composites could effectively improve the conductivity and mass-transport properties of composites, alleviate volume expansion, and, thus, enhance the capacity properties, rate performances, and cycle stability of SIBs. Herein, we review the latest research status of the structural design of MXenes and Mxene-based materials, as well as their applications in SIBs. We briefly introduce the research background and introduce MXenes and SIBs, and focus on their structural designs and corresponding applications in SIBs. Finally, the important challenges of MXene-based materials applied to SIBs are discussed, and the future prospects of MXene-based composite developments in SIBs are presented.
Electrical Stimulation Therapy and HA/TCP Composite Scaffolds Modulate the Wnt Pathways in Bone Regeneration of Critical-Sized Defects
Authors: Helaehil Júlia Venturini , Helaehil Luiza Venturini , Alves Laryssa Fernanda , Huang Boyang , Santamaria-Jr Milton , Bartolo Paulo , Caetano Guilherme Ferreira
Published: January 2023

Critical bone defects are the most difficult challenges in the area of tissue repair. Polycaprolactone (PCL) scaffolds, associated with hydroxyapatite (HA) and tricalcium phosphate (TCP), are reported to have an enhanced bioactivity. Moreover, the use of electrical stimulation (ES) has overcome the lack of bioelectricity at the bone defect site and compensated the endogenous electrical signals. Such treatments could modulate cells and tissue signaling pathways. However, there is no study investigating the effects of ES and bioceramic composite scaffolds on bone tissue formation, particularly in the view of cell signaling pathway. This study aims to investigate the application of HA/TCP composite scaffolds and ES and their effects on the Wingless-related integration site (Wnt) pathway in critical bone repair. Critical bone defects (25 mm2) were performed in rats, which were divided into four groups: PCL, PCL + ES, HA/TCP and HA/TCP + ES. The scaffolds were grafted at the defect site and applied with the ES application twice a week using 10 µA of current for 5 min. Bone samples were collected for histomorphometry, immunohistochemistry and molecular analysis. At the Wnt canonical pathway, HA/TCP and HA/TCP + ES groups showed higher Wnt1 and β-catenin gene expression levels, especially HA/TCP. Moreover, HA/TCP + ES presented higher Runx2, Osterix and Bmp-2 levels. At the Wnt non-canonical pathway, HA/TCP group showed higher voltage-gated calcium channel (Vgcc), calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II, and Wnt5a genes expression, while HA/TCP + ES presented higher protein expression of VGCC and calmodulin (CaM) at the same period. The decrease in sclerostin and osteopontin genes expressions and the lower bone sialoprotein II in the HA/TCP + ES group may be related to the early bone remodeling. This study shows that the use of ES modulated the Wnt pathways and accelerated the osteogenesis with improved tissue maturation.
Computational Modelling of Cerebral Blood Flow Rate at Different Stages of Moyamoya Disease in Adults and Children
Authors: Bozkurt Surhan , Bozkurt Selim
Published: January 2023

Moyamoya disease is a cerebrovascular disorder which causes a decrease in the cerebral blood flow rate. In this study, a lumped parameter model describing the pressures and flow rates in the heart chambers, circulatory system, and cerebral circulation with the main arteries in the circle of Willis, pial circulation, cerebral capillaries, and veins was used to simulate Moyamoya disease with and without coarctation of the aorta in adults and children. Cerebral blood flow rates were 724 mL/min and 1072 mL/min in the healthy adult and child cardiovascular system models. The cerebral blood flow rates in the adult and child cardiovascular system models simulating Moyamoya disease were 676 mL/min and 1007 mL/min in stage 1, 627 mL/min and 892 mL/min in stage 2, 571 mL/min and 831 in stage 3, and 444 and 537 mL/min in stage 4. The cerebral blood flow rates were 926 mL/min and 1421 mL/min in the adult and child cardiovascular system models simulating coarctation of the aorta. Furthermore, the cerebral blood flow rates in the adult and child cardiovascular system model simulating Moyamoya disease with coarctation of the aorta were 867 mL/min and 1341 mL/min in stage 1, 806 mL/min and 1197 mL/min in stage 2, 735 mL/min and 1121 in stage 3, and 576 and 741 mL/min in stage 4. The numerical model utilised in this study can simulate the advancing stages of Moyamoya disease and evaluate the associated risks with Moyamoya disease.
Bond Strength and Adhesion Mechanisms of Novel Bone Adhesives
Authors: Upson Sarah J. , Benning Matthew J. , Fulton David A. , Corbett Ian P. , Dalgarno Kenneth W. , German Matthew J.
Published: January 2023

Bone adhesives offer distinct advantages over the use of screws to attached internal fixation plates (IFPs). As the chemical composition of bone is similar to dentine, it is possible that the types of monomers used to make dentine adhesives could be utilised to affix IFPs to bone. The ability to attach a bio-resorbable IFP to porcine bone was assessed for the monomer 10-methacryloyloxydecyl dihydrogen phosphate (MDP), used either as a homopolymer or a copolymer with urethane dimethacrylate (MDP + U). Additionally, the addition of a priming step (MDP + U + P) was evaluated. The chemical interactions of the monomers with bone were assessed using XRD and imaged using TEM, revealing the formation of nano-layered structures with the MDP primer, something we believe has not been reported on bone. In a 6-week artificial aging study both MDP + U and MDP + U + P demonstrated adequate shear bond strength to affix bio-resorbable IFPs. The cytotoxicity profiles of the adhesive formulations were determined using indirect and direct contact with MC3T3 cells, with indirect conditions suggesting the MDP + U + P is as cytocompatible as the resorbable IFP. The findings of this study suggest our newly developed adhesive has the potential to be used as a bone adhesive to affix bioresorbable IFPs.
Arduino Automated Microwave Oven for Tissue Decalcification
Authors: Savadori Paolo , Dalfino Sophia , Piazzoni Marco , Inchingolo Francesco , Del Fabbro Massimo , Tartaglia Gianluca Martino , Giardino Luciano
Published: January 2023

Decalcification of hard tissues such as bone and teeth is a complex process that requires using chemicals such as acids and chelating agents. Acids act faster than chelating agents, but they have a greater risk of damaging biological samples. Increasing the reaction speed of the chelating agent may solve this issue. There are several strategies to speed up this process, and using microwaves seems to be one of the most effective. However, lab-dedicated microwave ovens are expensive, and their purchase may seem unjustified. Therefore, a low-cost modification of a commercial microwave oven, consisting of an Arduino automation device, has been developed. The setup has proven reliable for continuous work, thanks to implementing an electronic safety circuit. In addition, it may reduce the decalcification time using a chelating agent, achieving optimal results regarding tissue preservation and quality of histological sections.
Ammonia Production Using Bacteria and Yeast toward a Sustainable Society
Authors: Watanabe Yukio , Aoki Wataru , Ueda Mitsuyoshi
Published: January 2023

Ammonia is an important chemical that is widely used in fertilizer applications as well as in the steel, chemical, textile, and pharmaceutical industries, which has attracted attention as a potential fuel. Thus, approaches to achieve sustainable ammonia production have attracted considerable attention. In particular, biological approaches are important for achieving a sustainable society because they can produce ammonia under mild conditions with minimal environmental impact compared with chemical methods. For example, nitrogen fixation by nitrogenase in heterogeneous hosts and ammonia production from food waste using microorganisms have been developed. In addition, crop production using nitrogen-fixing bacteria has been considered as a potential approach to achieving a sustainable ammonia economy. This review describes previous research on biological ammonia production and provides insights into achieving a sustainable society.
Bone Morphogenetic Protein 2 Promotes Bone Formation in Bone Defects in Which Bone Remodeling Is Suppressed by Long-Term and High-Dose Zoledronic Acid
Authors: Moon Young Jae , Jeong Seongyup , Lee Kwang-Bok
Published: January 2023

The use of long-term and high-dose bisphosphate is associated with severely suppressed bone turnover and the delayed union of fractures. However, therapeutic methods to overcome the negative effects of bisphosphonate use are lacking. Bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) are powerful osteoinductive proteins. The development of the delivery system using BMP has been verified to have an excellent effect on fracture healing and the enhancement of osteointegration. We hypothesized that BMPs had similar effects as autografts in patients with decreased bone healing potential due to long-term bisphosphonate treatment. Forty rats were divided into the following four groups depending upon the materials implanted into the femoral defect after ten weeks of bisphosphonate (zoledronic acid) injections: Group I: absorbable collagen sponge (control); group II: demineralized freeze-dried bone graft; group III: autogenous bone graft; and group IV: rhBMP-2 with an absorbable collagen sponge. Radiographic union, micro-computed tomography (CT) analysis, manual palpation, and histologic analysis were evaluated. The radiographic union rate, manual union rate, and micro-CT bone volume in groups III and IV were significantly higher than those in groups I and II. Groups III and IV showed similar results to each other. Although the amount of immature bone in the BMP-treated group was large, the effect was similar to that of autografts in the bone defect model in which bone turnover was severely reduced by bisphosphonate treatment. BMP might be a good substitute for autografts in patients with decreased bone healing potential due to long-term bisphosphonate treatment.
The Co-Evolution Aspects of the Biogeochemical Role of Phytoplankton in Aquatic Ecosystems: A Review
Authors: Lobus Nikolay V. , Kulikovskiy Maxim S.
Published: January 2023

In freshwater and marine ecosystems, the phytoplankton community is based on microalgae and cyanobacteria, which include phylogenetically very diverse groups of oxygenic photoautotrophs. In the process of evolution, they developed a wide range of bio(geo)chemical adaptations that allow them to effectively use solar radiation, CO2, and nutrients, as well as major and trace elements, to form O2 and organic compounds with a high chemical bond energy. The inclusion of chemical elements in the key processes of energy and plastic metabolism in the cell is determined by redox conditions and the abundance and metabolic availability of elements in the paleoenvironment. Geochemical evolution, which proceeded simultaneously with the evolution of biosystems, contributed to an increase in the number of metals and trace elements acting as cofactors of enzymes involved in metabolism and maintaining homeostasis in the first photoautotrophs. The diversity of metal-containing enzymes and the adaptive ability to replace one element with another without losing the functional properties of enzymes ensured the high ecological plasticity of species and allowed microalgae and cyanobacteria to successfully colonize a wide variety of habitats. In this review, we consider the main aspects of the modern concepts of the biogeochemical evolution of aquatic ecosystems and the role of some metals in the main bioenergetic processes in photosynthetic prokaryotes and eukaryotes. We present generalized data on the efficiency of the assimilation of key nutrients by phytoplankton and their importance in the cycle of carbon, silicon, nitrogen, phosphorus, sulfur, and iron. This article presents modern views on the evolutionary prerequisites for the formation of elemental signatures in different systematic groups of microalgae, as well as the possibility of using the stoichiometric ratio in the study of biological and geochemical processes in aquatic ecosystems.
Cadmium Activates EGFR/STAT5 Signaling to Overcome Calcium Chelation and Promote Epithelial to Mesenchymal Transition
Authors: Stavrou Aikaterini , Ortiz Angelica , Costa Max
Published: January 2023

Cadmium (Cd) is a heavy metal found in cigarette smoke, as well as in air and drinking water due to agricultural and industrial activities, and it poses a health risk to the general population. Prolonged low-dose Cd exposure via inhalation or ingestion causes lung and kidney cancers in humans and in animal models. While high doses of Cd exposure are correlated with the occupational setting and are cytotoxic, low doses of Cd are mainly correlated with exposure in the general population and induce carcinogenesis. The mechanism by which Cd-exposed cells overcome calcium chelation and induce malignant transformation remains unclear. This study examines how cells exposed to low doses of Cd survive loss of E-cadherin cell-cell adhesion via activation of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and signal transducer and activator of transcription 5 (STAT5), which work to upregulate genes associated with survival and proliferation. To demonstrate the role of Cd in EGFR/STAT5 activation, we exposed two epithelial cell lines, BEAS-2B and HEK293, to two different doses (0.4 µM and 1.6 µM) of Cadmium chloride hemipentahydrate (CdCl2·2.5H2O) that are environmentally relevant to levels of Cd found in food and cigarettes for 24 h (hours) and 9 weeks (wks). When comparing cells treated with Cd with control cells, the Cd treated cells exhibited faster proliferation; therefore, we studied activation of EGFR via the STAT5 pathway using immunofluorescence (IF) for protein expression and localization and, in addition, RT-qPCR to examine changes in EGFR/STAT5 inducible genes. Our results showed an increase in EGFR and phosphorylated EGFR (p-EGFR) protein, with 1.6 µM of Cadmium having the highest expression at both 24-hour (hr) and 9-week (wk) exposures. Moreover, the IF analysis also demonstrated an increase of STAT5 and phosphorylated STAT5 (pSTAT5) in both short-term and long-term exposure, with 0.4 µM having the highest expression at 24 h. Finally, via Western blot analysis, we showed that there was a dose-dependent decrease in E-cadherin protein expression and increased N-cadherin in cells treated with low doses of Cd. These data demonstrate that epithelial cells can overcome Cd-mediated toxicity via activation of EGFR pathway to induce cell proliferation and survival and promote epithelial to mesenchymal transition.
Insulin Resistance in Mitochondrial Diabetes
Authors: Takano Chika , Ogawa Erika , Hayakawa Satoshi
Published: January 2023

Mitochondrial diabetes (MD) is generally classified as a genetic defect of β-cells. The main pathophysiology is insulin secretion failure in pancreatic β-cells due to impaired mitochondrial ATP production. However, several reports have mentioned the presence of insulin resistance (IR) as a clinical feature of MD. As mitochondrial dysfunction is one of the important factors causing IR, we need to focus on IR as another pathophysiology of MD. In this special issue, we first briefly summarized the insulin signaling and molecular mechanisms of IR. Second, we overviewed currently confirmed pathogenic mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mutations from the MITOMAP database. The variants causing diabetes were mostly point mutations in the transfer RNA (tRNA) of the mitochondrial genome. Third, we focused on these variants leading to the recently described “tRNA modopathies” and reviewed the clinical features of patients with diabetes. Finally, we discussed the pathophysiology of MD caused by mtDNA mutations and explored the possible mechanism underlying the development of IR. This review should be beneficial to all clinicians involved in diagnostics and therapeutics related to diabetes and mitochondrial diseases.
Biotransformation of d-Xylose-Rich Rice Husk Hydrolysate by a Rice Paddy Soil Bacterium, Priestia sp. Strain JY310, to Low Molecular Weight Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate)
Authors: Lee Jae-Yeong , Kim Min-Hwan , Kim Jong-Sik , Yun Bo-Ram , Kim Do Young , Chung Chung-Wook
Published: January 2023

Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a versatile thermoplastic with superior biodegradability and biocompatibility that is intracellularly accumulated by numerous bacterial and archaeal species. Priestia sp. strain JY310 that was able to efficiently biotransform reducing sugars in d-xylose-rich rice husk hydrolysate (reducing sugarRHH) to PHB was isolated from the soil of a rice paddy. Reducing sugarRHH including 12.5% d-glucose, 75.3% d-xylose, and 12.2% d-arabinose was simply prepared using thermochemical hydrolysis of 3% H2SO4-treated rice husk for 15 min at 121 °C. When cultured with 20 g/L reducing sugarRHH under optimized culture conditions in a batch bioreactor, Priestia sp. strain JY310 could produce PHB homopolymer up to 50.4% of cell dry weight (6.2 g/L). The melting temperature, heat of fusion, and thermal decomposition temperature of PHB were determined to be 167.9 °C, 92.1 J/g, and 268.1 °C, respectively. The number average and weight average molecular weights of PHB with a broad polydispersity index value (4.73) were estimated to be approximately 16.2 and 76.8 kg/mol, respectively. The findings of the present study suggest that Priestia sp. strain JY310 can be exploited as a good candidate for the low-cost production of low molecular weight PHB with improved biodegradability and reduced brittleness from inexpensive agricultural waste hydrolysates.
Artificial Intelligence Assisted Computational Tomographic Detection of Lung Nodules for Prognostic Cancer Examination: A Large-Scale Clinical Trial
Authors: Chao Heng-Sheng , Tsai Chiao-Yun , Chou Chung-Wei , Shiao Tsu-Hui , Huang Hsu-Chih , Chen Kun-Chieh , Tsai Hao-Hung , Lin Chin-Yu , Chen Yuh-Min
Published: January 2023

Low-dose computed tomography (LDCT) has emerged as a standard method for detecting early-stage lung cancer. However, the tedious computer tomography (CT) slide reading, patient-by-patient check, and lack of standard criteria to determine the vague but possible nodule leads to variable outcomes of CT slide interpretation. To determine the artificial intelligence (AI)-assisted CT examination, AI algorithm-assisted CT screening was embedded in the hospital picture archiving and communication system, and a 200 person-scaled clinical trial was conducted at two medical centers. With AI algorithm-assisted CT screening, the sensitivity of detecting nodules sized 4–5 mm, 6~10 mm, 11~20 mm, and >20 mm increased by 41%, 11.2%, 10.3%, and 18.7%, respectively. Remarkably, the overall sensitivity of detecting varied nodules increased by 20.7% from 67.7% to 88.4%. Furthermore, the sensitivity increased by 18.5% from 72.5% to 91% for detecting ground glass nodules (GGN), which is challenging for radiologists and physicians. The free-response operating characteristic (FROC) AI score was ≥0.4, and the AI algorithm standalone CT screening sensitivity reached >95% with an area under the localization receiver operating characteristic curve (LROC-AUC) of >0.88. Our study demonstrates that AI algorithm-embedded CT screening significantly ameliorates tedious LDCT practices for doctors.