bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Fuzzy Logic Approach of Pareto Optimality for Multi-objective Path Planning in case of Unmanned Surface Vehicle
Authors: Ntakolia Charis , Kladis Georgios P. , Lyridis Dimitrios V.
Published: September 2023

Unmanned Surface Vehicles (USVs) are nowadays used in various applications for security, inspection and delivery among others. To operate in dynamic and complex environments efficiently demands an optimal path planning where multiple factors should be taken into account. In this paper, the multi-objective path planning problem of USV is formulated aiming to minimize the traveled distance maximizing in parallel the trajectory smoothness and energy efficiency. To address this multi-objective path planning problem with contradicting terms, the popular Ant Colony Optimization (ACO) algorithm is employed enhanced with the proposed Fuzzy Pareto framework. In particular, ACO is used to solve the problem by finding the Pareto solutions optimizing each single objective. Then these solutions are evaluated via the Mamdani fuzzy inference system to identify the optimal one. The ranking of the solutions is based on the defuzzification values. A case study is performed in a simulation area based on Saronic Gulf topology. The results showed that depending the needs of an operation and the conditions of the area of operations (number of obstacles, currents, and distance from the initial to the target point), each objective can impact the path quality differently.
Ising Model with a Magnetic Field
Authors: Meissner Krzysztof A. , Ircha Dobiesław , Olszewski Wojciech , Ruta Joanna , Słapek Anna
Published: September 2023

The paper presents the low temperature expansion of the 2D Ising model in the presence of the magnetic field in powers of $$x=\exp (-J/(kT))$$

x
=
exp
(
-
J
/
(
k
T
)
)

and $$z=\exp (B/(kT))$$

z
=
exp
(
B
/
(
k
T
)
)

with full polynomials in z up to $$x^{88}$$

x
88

and full polynomials in $$x^4$$

x
4

up to $$z^{-60}$$

z

-
60

, in the latter case the polynomials are explicitly given. The new result presented in the paper is an expansion not in inverse powers of z but in $$(z^2+x^8)^{-k}$$

(

z
2

+

x
8

)

-
k

where the subsequent coefficients (polynomials in $$x^4$$

x
4

) turn out to be divisible by increasing powers of $$(1-x^4)$$

(
1
-

x
4

)

. This result gives a hint about the intriguing ‘off-diagonal’ correlations in the Ising model mixing the $$B\ne 0$$

B
≠
0

contributions with the usual low temperature $$B=0$$

B
=
0

expansion what may be useful on the road to find the full analytic expression for the partition function of the Ising model with non-vanishing magnetic field. The paper describes both the analytic expansions of the partition function and the efficient combinatorial methods to get the coefficients of the expansion.
On the estimation of landslide intensity, hazard and density via data-driven models
Authors: Di Napoli Mariano , Tanyas Hakan , Castro-Camilo Daniela , Calcaterra Domenico , Cevasco Andrea , Di Martire Diego , Pepe Giacomo , Brandolini Pierluigi , Lombardo Luigi
Published: September 2023

Maps that attempt to predict landslide occurrences have essentially stayed the same since 1972. In fact, most of the geo-scientific efforts have been dedicated to improve the landslide prediction ability with models that have largely increased their complexity but still have addressed the same binary classification task. In other words, even though the tools have certainly changed and improved in 50 years, the geomorphological community addressed and still mostly addresses landslide prediction via data-driven solutions by estimating whether a given slope is potentially stable or unstable. This concept corresponds to the landslide susceptibility, a paradigm that neglects how many landslides may trigger within a given slope, how large these landslides may be and what proportion of the given slope they may disrupt. The landslide intensity concept summarized how threatening a landslide or a population of landslide in a study area may be. Recently, landslide intensity has been spatially modeled as a function of how many landslides may occur per mapping unit, something, which has later been shown to closely correlate to the planimetric extent of landslides per mapping unit. In this work, we take this observation a step further, as we use the relation between landslide count and planimetric extent to generate maps that predict the aggregated size of landslides per slope, and the proportion of the slope they may affect. Our findings suggest that it may be time for the geoscientific community as a whole, to expand the research efforts beyond the use of susceptibility assessment, in favor of more informative analytical schemes. In fact, our results show that landslide susceptibility can be also reliably estimated (AUC of 0.92 and 0.91 for the goodness-of-fit and prediction skill, respectively) as part of a Log-Gaussian Cox Process model, from which the intensity expressed as count per unit (Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.91 and 0.90 for the goodness-of-fit and prediction skill, respectively) can also be derived and then converted into how large a landslide or several coalescing ones may become, once they trigger and propagate downhill. This chain of landslide intensity, hazard and density may lead to substantially improve decision-making processes related to landslide risk.
Attractor selection in nonlinear oscillators by temporary dual-frequency driving
Authors: Krähling Péter , Steyer Joshua , Parlitz Ulrich , Hegedűs Ferenc
Published: September 2023

This paper presents a control technique capable of driving a harmonically driven nonlinear system between two distinct periodic orbits. A vital component of the method is a temporary dual-frequency driving with tunable driving amplitudes. Theoretical considerations revealed two necessary conditions: one for the frequency ratio of the dual-frequency driving and another one for torsion numbers of the two orbits connected by bifurcation curves in the extended dual-frequency driving parameter space. Although the initial and the final states of the control strategy are single-frequency driven systems with distinct parameter sets (frequencies and driving amplitudes), control of multistability is also possible via additional parameter tuning. The technique is demonstrated on the symmetric Duffing oscillator and the asymmetric Toda oscillator.
Identifying possible biomarkers of lower urinary tract symptoms using metabolomics and partial least square regression
Authors: Hopland-Nechita Florin V , Andersen John R , Rajalahti Tarja Kvalheim , Andreassen Trygve , Beisland Christian
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The objective of this study was to explore potential novel biomarkers for moderate to severe lower urinary tract symptoms (LUTS) using a metabolomics-based approach, and statistical methods with significant different features than previous reported.

Materials and Methods

The patients and the controls were selected to participate in the study according to inclusion/exclusion criteria (n = 82). We recorded the following variables: International prostatic symptom score (IPSS), prostate volume, comorbidities, PSA, height, weight, triglycerides, glycemia, HDL cholesterol, and blood pressure. The study of 41 plasma metabolites was done using the nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy technique. First, the correlations between the metabolites and the IPSS were done using Pearson. Second, significant biomarkers of LUTS from metabolites were further analysed using a multiple linear regression model. Finally, we validated the findings using partial least square regression (PLS).

Results

Small to moderate correlations were found between IPSS and methionine (-0.301), threonine (-0.320), lactic acid (0.294), pyruvic acid (0.207) and 2-aminobutyric-acid (0.229). The multiple linear regression model revealed that only threonine (p = 0.022) was significantly associated with IPSS, whereas methionine (p = 0.103), lactic acid (p = 0.093), pyruvic acid (p = 0.847) and 2-aminobutyric-acid (p = 0.244) lost their significance. However, all metabolites lost their significance in the PLS model.

Conclusion

When using the robust PLS-regression method, none of the metabolites in our analysis had a significant association with lower urinary tract symptoms. This highlights the importance of using appropriate statistical methods when exploring new biomarkers in urology.
Actuator-level motion and contact episode learning and classification using adaptive resonance theory
Authors: Bargsten Vinzenz , Kirchner Frank
Published: September 2023

Several methods exist to detect and distinguish collisions of robotic systems with their environment, since this information is a critical dependency of many tasks. These methods are prevalently based on thresholds in combination with filters, models, or offline trained machine learning models. To improve the adaptation and thereby enable a more autonomous operation of robots in new environments, this work evaluates the applicability of an incremental learning approach. The method addresses online learning and recognition of motion and contact episodes of robotic systems from proprioceptive sensor data using machine learning. The objective is to learn new category templates representing previously encountered situations of the actuators and improve them based on newly gathered similar data. This is achieved using an artificial neural network based on adaptive resonance theory (ART). The input samples from the robot’s actuator measurements are preprocessed into frequency spectra. This enables the ART neural network to learn incrementally recurring episodic patterns from these preprocessed data. An evaluation based on preliminary experimental data from a grasping motion of a humanoid robot’s arm encountering contacts is presented and suggests that this is a promising approach.
Lipidmanagement zur Reduktion des kardiovaskulären Risikos bei Typ-2-Diabetes
Authors: Brandts Julia
Published: September 2023

Diabetes mellitus Typ 2 (T2DM) verdoppelt das Risiko für atherosklerotische Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen. Die überwiegende Mehrheit dieses erhöhten Risikos lässt sich nicht durch die Koexistenz herkömmlicher Risikofaktoren erklären. Bei einigen Menschen können T2DM und Insulinresistenz die Produktion triglyzeridreicher Lipoproteine (TRL) erhöhen. Diese enthalten ein Apolipoprotein B-100 (ApoB) und transportieren Triglyzeride (TG) und Cholesterinester, sodass sie in die Intima der Arterien eindringen und die Bildung atherosklerotischer Plaques induzieren können. Daher ist das kardiovaskuläre Risiko weiter erhöht (über das durch T2DM allein bedingte Risiko hinaus). Die derzeitigen kardiovaskulären Therapien im Lipidmanagement konzentrieren sich auf die Senkung der ApoB-haltigen Lipoproteine und des Nicht-HDL‑C (HDL: „high density lipoprotein“, C: Cholesterin) als Mittel zur Verringerung des kardiovaskulären Risikos. Neben Statinen und Ezetimib gibt es auch neue Ansätze. Dazu gehören Bempedoinsäure, eine Pro-Drug, die über eine Hemmung des Cholesterinsynthesewegs wirkt und die Expression von LDL-Rezeptoren (LDL: „low density lipoprotein“) erhöht, und PCSK9-Targeting (PCSK9: Proproteinkonvertase Subtilisin/Kexin Typ 9) durch „small interfering RNA“ (RNA: Ribonukleinsäure) sowie monoklonale Antikörper, die den Lebenszyklus exprimierter LDL-Rezeptoren verlängern. All diese Ansätze führen zu einer Beseitigung von ApoB-haltigen Lipoproteinen. Die meisten Studien mit Omega-3-Fettsäuren ergaben keinen zusätzlichen kardiovaskulären Nutzen, mit Ausnahme von Icosapentethyl, das trotz bescheidener Senkung von TG und TRL die Zahl der kardiovaskulären Ereignisse reduzierte. Im Gegensatz dazu ist der kardiovaskuläre Nutzen von Fibraten vor dem Hintergrund der heutigen Therapie nicht bewiesen. Da Patienten mit T2DM ein höheres absolutes Risiko haben, werden für sie in der Regel niedrigere Lipidziele empfohlen. Zwangsläufig sind diese für die meisten Patienten mit einer Monotherapie nur schwer zu erreichen, sodass Kombinationstherapien erforderlich sind.
Factors Associated with Treatment Response at 1-Year Follow-Up from a Residential Substance Use Disorder Programme for Young People Aged 16–24 Years
Authors: Marceau Ely M. , Holmes Gabriella , Mullaney Lauren , Grenyer Brin F. S.
Published: September 2023

Identifying correlates of treatment response may help to improve outcomes for adolescents and young people with substance use disorder (SUD). We assessed treatment response in an adolescent/young person-specific community-based residential SUD programme located in NSW, Australia. Participants (N = 100) were aged 16–24 years and recruited between 2018 and 2020 from a cohort study investigating treatment outcomes over time. We assessed treatment response using available data at 1-year follow-up (n = 24). Approximately one third (n = 9) of participants were classified as responders at 1-year follow-up (i.e. scoring below the clinical cut-off on the Brief Symptom Inventory Global Severity Index). At treatment entry, responders had higher levels of self-efficacy (d = 1.04), better functional status (d = 1.09), and less borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptoms (d = 1.26). Exploratory whole-sample analyses indicated over half of participants (56%) screened positively for a diagnosis of BPD at treatment entry, which was associated with more severe global psychiatric symptoms (d = .85), poorer functional status, (d = .76), lower self-efficacy (d = .73), higher substance use severity (d = .46), yet better cognitive functioning (d = .75). Findings suggest that comorbid BPD is common in this setting and may contribute to poorer outcomes for adolescents and young people with SUD.
SIRT2 Inhibition Rescues Neurodegenerative Pathology but Increases Systemic Inflammation in a Transgenic Mouse Model of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sola-Sevilla Noemi , Mesa-Lombardo Alberto , Aleixo Mikel , Expósito Sara , Diaz-Perdigón Teresa , Azqueta Amaya , Zamani Farzad , Suzuki Takayoshi , Maioli Silvia , Eroli Francesca , Matton Anna , Ramírez Maria J. , Solas Maite , Tordera Rosa M. , Martín Eduardo D. , Puerta Elena
Published: September 2023

Sirtuin 2 (SIRT2) has been proposed to have a central role on aging, inflammation, cancer and neurodegenerative diseases; however, its specific function remains controversial. Recent studies propose SIRT2 pharmacological inhibition as a therapeutic strategy for several neurodegenerative diseases including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Surprisingly, none of these published studies regarding the potential interest of SIRT2 inhibition has assessed the peripheral adverse side consequences of this treatment. In this study, we demonstrate that the specific SIRT2 inhibitor, the compound 33i, does not exhibit genotoxic or mutagenic properties. Moreover, pharmacological treatment with 33i, improved cognitive dysfunction and long-term potentiation, reducing amyloid pathology and neuroinflammation in the APP/PS1 AD mouse model. However, this treatment increased peripheral levels of the inflammatory cytokines IL-1β, TNF, IL-6 and MCP-1. Accordingly, peripheral SIRT2 inhibition with the blood brain barrier impermeable compound AGK-2, worsened the cognitive capacities and increased systemic inflammation. The analysis of human samples revealed that SIRT2 is increased in the brain but not in the serum of AD patients. These results suggest that, although SIRT2 pharmacological inhibition may have beneficial consequences in neurodegenerative diseases, its pharmacological inhibition at the periphery would not be recommended and the systemic adverse side effects should be considered. This information is essential to maximize the therapeutic potential of SIRT2 inhibition not only for AD but also for other neurodegenerative diseases.

Graphical Abstract
Impeachment as Last Resort to Safeguard Democracy? Removing the Head of Government in Different Institutional Settings
Authors: Tokatlı Mahir
Published: September 2023

Democracy would essentially fail if, despite an electoral defeat, the government refused to concede office. This possibility is a constant uncertainty that democracy has to deal with, which makes it fragile in terms of its survival. This was on full display after the 2020 U.S. presidential election, including the resulting denials by then President Trump and his followers and their attempts to have the results overturned, with the dramatic conflict culminating in the storming of the Capitol. Trust, but also mistrust, is constitutive for democratic regimes: Trust makes democracies exist, and mistrust makes them survive. Recent studies have pointed out that institutionalized mistrust has long been ignored as relevant for democracies; however, there is little if any research attention given to the most pivotal tool in terms of institutionalized mistrust, namely the vote of no confidence or the early removal of the head of government from office. In parliamentary systems, parliament can remove the head of government for political reasons, whereas presidentialism lacks this option, although impeachment provides a way of removal on legal grounds. This article aims to prompt further reflection in comparative government on how these tools of institutionalized mistrust are defined in the context of different institutional settings and what potential risks they entail. Do the principles of trust and mistrust actually differ between the various governmental systems? Finally, does impeachment strengthen democratic principles, or is it pathological in a sense that it might even foster autocratization?
Effect of Wnt10a/β-catenin signaling pathway on promoting the repair of different types of dentin-pulp injury
Authors: Li Yue , Wu Meiying , Xing Xinyu , Li Xingxing , Shi Congchong
Published: September 2023

How to repair dentin-pulp injury effectively has always been a clinical problem, and the comparative study of repair process between different injuries is unknown. Dental pulp stem cells (DPSCs) often are selected as seed cells for the study of dentin-pulp injury repair due to excellent advantages in odontogenesis and pulp differentiation. Although many previous researches have indicated that the Wnt protein and Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway were crucial for dental growth, development, and injury repair, the specific mechanism remained unknown. In this study, different dentine-pulp injury models of adult mice were established successfully by abrasion and cutting methods. The gross morphology and micro-CT were used to observe the repair of injured mice incisor in different groups. We found that the repair time of each group was different. The repair time of the cutting group was longer than the abrasion group and the qRT-PCR detection showed that the expression of DSPP in the cutting group was higher than that in the abrasion group, but there was no significant difference in proliferation among the groups. In vivo and cell experiments showed that activation of Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway can promote the proliferation and odontoblast differentiation of DPSCs. In addition, by using RNAscope staining, we observed that Wnt10a was mainly expressed in the proliferative region and partially expressed in the odontoblast region. The Western blotting results showed that in the early stage of repair, the expression of Wnt10a increased with the extension of days after injury in both abrasion and cutting group and the increase of Wnt10a was tested obviously on the 5th day after injury. But on the 7th day after injury, the expression of Wnt10a was still obvious in the cutting group, while the expression of Wnt10a was significantly reduced in the abrasion group, which was close to the control group. It is suggested that Wnt10a acts as a repair-related protein and has an important role in tooth injury repair. Wnt10a was activated by R-spondin and LiCl, and Wnt10a-siRNA DPSCs were constructed to inhibit Wnt10a. The results showed that Wnt10a/β-catenin signaling pathway promoted the proliferation and odontoblast differentiation of DPSCs. It plays a crucial role in the repair process of different injuries. This study enriched the mechanisms of Wnt10a /β-catenin signaling pathways in different types of dentin-pulp injury repair, which could provide experimental evidences for the target gene screening and also give some new ideas for the subsequent research on the molecular mechanisms of tooth regeneration.

Graphical Abstract
Intra-gastric balloon with lifestyle modification: a promising therapeutic option for overweight and obese patients with metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease
Authors: van Dijk A. M. , de Vries M. , El-Morabit F. , Bac S. T. , Mundt M. W. , van der Schuit L. E. , Hirdes M. M. C. , Kara M. , de Bruijne J. , van Meer S. , Kaasjager H. A. H. , de Valk H. W. , Vleggaar F. P. , van Erpecum K. J.
Published: September 2023

Background

Data on effects of intra-gastric balloon (IGB) on metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) are scarce, in part with contradictory results, and mainly obtained in tertiary care patients with diabetes and other comorbidities. We here explore effects of IGB in patients with MASLD referred to a first-line obesity clinic.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, patients with at least significant fibrosis (≥ F2) and/or severe steatosis (S3) according to screening transient elastography (FibroScan®) were offered a second FibroScan® after 6 months lifestyle modification with or without IGB (based on patient preference). Results: 50 of 100 consecutively screened patients (generally non-diabetic) qualified for repeated evaluation and 29 (58%) of those had a second FibroScan®. At baseline, at least significant fibrosis was present in 28% and severe steatosis in 91%. IGB was placed in 19 patients (59%), whereas 10 patients (41%) preferred only lifestyle modification (no differences in baseline characteristics between both groups). After 6 months, liver stiffness decreased markedly in the IGB group (median: from 6.0 to 4.9 kPa, p = 0.005), but not in the lifestyle modification only group (median: from 5.5 to 6.9 kPa, p = 0.477). Steatosis improved in both groups, (controlled attenuation parameter values; IGB, mean ± SD: from 328 ± 34 to 272 ± 62 dB/m, p = 0.006: lifestyle modification only, mean ± SD: from 344 ± 33 to 305 ± 43 dB/m: p = 0.006).

Conclusion

Both steatosis and fibrosis improve markedly in overweight/obese patients with MASLD after 6 months IGB combined with lifestyle modification. Our results warrant further research into long-term effect of IGB in these patients.
The impact of a non-restrictive Antimicrobial Stewardship Program in the emergency department of a secondary-level Italian hospital
Authors: Monari Caterina , Onorato Lorenzo , Allegorico Enrico , Minerva Valentina , Macera Margherita , Bosso Giorgio , Calò Federica , Pagano Antonio , Russo Teresa , Sansone Gennaro , D’Isanto Marina , Casciotta Antonio , Vanni Monica , Numis Fabio Giuliano , Coppola Nicola
Published: September 2023

Evidence supporting the effectiveness of Antimicrobial Stewardship (AMS) Programs in the emergency department (ED) setting is limited. We conducted a prospective cohort study to assess the efficacy of an AMS program in an ED and a short-stay observation unit. The intervention included periodic prospective audits (twice a week), conducted by four infectious disease consultants. Primary outcomes included the difference in the hospital mortality rate, antibiotic consumption, and the incidence of bloodstream infections (BSI) caused by multidrug resistant (MDR) bacteria, before March 2020–February 2021 and after March 2021–February 2022 when the program was implemented. Interrupted time-series analysis was performed to assess the effect of our program. During the 12-month program, we performed 152 audits and evaluated 366 antibiotic therapies out of a total of 853 patients admitted. In the intervention period, we observed a non-statistically significant decrease in total antibiotic consumption, with a change in level of − 31.2 defined daily dose/100 patient-days (PD) (p = 0.71). Likewise, we found no significant variations in the rate of BSI due to MDR Gram-positive (CT − 0.02 events/PD, p = 0.84), MDR Gram-negative bacteria (CT 0.08, p = 0.71), or Candida spp. (CT 0.008, p = 0.86). Conversely, we found a significant decrease in the mortality rate between the pre- and post-intervention periods (− 1.98 deaths/100 PD, CI − 3.9 to − 0.007, p = 0.049). The Antibiotic Stewardship Program in the ED was associated with a significant decrease in the mortality rate. More high-quality studies are needed to determine the most effective ASP strategies in this unique setting.
Partial aging can counter-intuitively couple with sulfidation to improve the reactive durability of zerovalent iron
Authors: Liu Yiwei , Gu Kaili , Zhang Jinhua , Li Jinxiang , Qian Jieshu , Shen Jinyou , Guan Xiaohong
Published: September 2023

Sulfated zero-valent iron (SZVI) has shown promising applications in wastewater treatment. However, the rapid decline in the reactivity of SZVI with time limits its real practice. To mediate this problem, partial aging was proposed to improve the reactive durability of SZVI. Taking Cr(VI) as the target contaminant, we found that the aged ZVI (AZVI) gradually lost reactivity as aging time increased from 0.5 to 2 d. Counter-intuitively, the partially aged SZVI (ASZVI) showed greater reactivity than SZVI when exposed to oxygenated water for a period ranging from 0.5 to 14 d. In addition, the ASZVI with 0.5 d of aging time (ASZVI-0.5) not only maintained reactivity in successive runs but also increased the Cr(VI) removal capacity from 9.1 mg/g by SZVI to 19.1 mg/g by ASZVI-0.5. Correlation analysis further revealed that the electron transfer from the Fe0 core to the shell was mediated by the conductive FeS and FeS2 in the subshell of ASZVI. Meanwhile, the lepidocrocite and magnetite on the surface of ASZVI facilitated Cr(VI) adsorption and subsequent electron transfer for Cr(VI) reduction. Moreover, the iron (hydr)oxide shell could retain the conductive FeS and FeS2 in the subshell, allowing ASZVI to reduce Cr(VI) efficiently and sustainably. In general, partial aging can enhance the reactive durability of ZVI when coupled with sulfidation and this synergistic effect will be beneficial to the application of SZVI-based technology for wastewater treatment.
Neck orthosis design for 3D printing with user enhanced comfort features
Authors: Ambu Rita , Oliveri Salvatore Massimo , Calì Michele
Published: September 2023

An area of interest in orthopaedics is the development of efficient customized neck orthoses, considered that pathologies which affect the neck area are widespread. Advanced acquisition and modelling approaches combined with Additive Manufacturing (AM) can potentially provide customized orthoses with improved performance and complexity. However, in the design of these devices, besides functional and structural requirements, benefit and comfort of the patient should be a main concern, in particular, at the early stage of design during the acquisition of the body’s part, and while using the printed orthosis. In this paper, a scanning system with three sensors was developed which allows a fast, about 5 s, and accurate acquisition of the neck area with minimum discomfort for the patient. A neck orthosis with a ventilation pattern obtained by Topology Optimization (TO), lightened by about 35%, was also established. In fact, a main role for comfort is played by the ventilation pattern which contributes both to lightness and breathability. Its structural and comfort performance was evaluated in comparison with an orthosis with a ventilation pattern configured by Voronoi cells. Structural assessment was carried out by means of finite element analysis under main loading conditions. An evaluation of neck temperatures in relation to wearing 3D printed prototypes, manufactured with Hemp Bio-Plastic® filament, was finally conducted by means of a thermal imaging camera. TO orthosis prototype showed a better performance regarding thermal comfort, with a maximum increase of neck temperature less than 1 °C, which makes the proposed configuration very promising for user's comfort.
The Role of Pyroptosis and Autophagy in the Nervous System
Authors: Zhao Huijie , Fu Xiaodi , Zhang Yanting , Chen Chaoran , Wang Honggang
Published: September 2023

Autophagy is a conservative self-degradation system, which includes the two major processes of enveloping abnormal proteins, organelles and other macromolecules, and transferring them into lysosomes for the subsequent degradation. It holds the stability of the intracellular environment under stress. So far, three types of autophagy have been found: microautophagy, chaperone-mediated autophagy and macroautophagy. Many diseases have the pathological process of autophagy dysfunction, such as nervous system diseases. Pyroptosis is one kind of programmed cell death mediated by gasdermin (GSDM). In this process of pyroptosis, the activated caspase-3, caspase-4/5/11, or caspase-1 cleaves GSDM into the N-terminal pore-forming domain (PFD). The oligomer of PFD combines with the cell membrane to form membrane holes, thus leading to pyroptosis. Pyroptosis plays a key role in multiple tissues and organs. Many studies have revealed that autophagy and pyroptosis participate in the nervous system, but the mechanisms need to be fully clarified. Here, we focused on the recent articles on the role and mechanism of pyroptosis and autophagy in the pathological processes of the nervous system.
Pegasos: a framework for the creation of direct mobile coaching feedback systems
Authors: Dobiasch Martin , Oppl Stefan , Stöckl Michael , Baca Arnold
Published: September 2023

Feedback is essential for athletes in order to improve their sport performance. Feedback systems try to provide athletes and coaches not only with visualisations of acquired data, but moreover, with insights into—possibly—invisible aspects of their performance. With the widespread adoption of smartphones and the increase in their capabilities, their use as a device for applications of feedback systems is becoming increasingly popular. However, developing mobile feedback systems requires a high level of expertise from researchers and practitioners. The Direct Mobile Coaching model is a design-paradigm for mobile feedback systems. In order to reduce programming efforts, PEGASOS, a framework for creating feedback systems implementing the so-called Direct Mobile Coaching model, is introduced. The paper compares this framework with state-of-the-art research with regard to their ability of providing different variants feedback and offering multimodality to users.
Freestanding carbon fiber-confined yolk-shelled silicon-based anode for promoted lithium storage applications
Authors: Jia Dong-Chen , Feng Yuan-Yong , Zhang Chuan-Long , Li Jian-Jiang , Zhang Bin-Wei , Dou Yu-Hai , Roy Jagadish Chandra , Zhu Xiao-Yi , Zhang Lei
Published: September 2023

A flexible carbon fiber-confined yolk-shelled silicon-based composite is reported as an anode material for lithium storage applications. Silicon nanoparticles (Si NPs) are confined by the N-doped hollow carbon cages (Si-NHC) and these uniform dispersed yolk-shell-structured Si-NHC units were encapsulated by the carbon fibers within an interconnected three-dimensional (3D) framework (Si-NHC@CNFs). For the encapsulated yolk-shelled Si-NHC, the void space between the inner Si NPs and outer NHC can accommodate the structural changes of Si NPs during charging/discharging processes, leading to effectively improved structural stability and cycling life. More importantly, all the Si-NHC units were bridged together through a conductive CNFs “highway” to enhance the overall conductivity and tap density further. As observed, Si-NHC@CNFs exhibited an initial discharge capacity of 1364.1 mAh·g−1 at 1000 mA·g−1 and 678.9 mAh·g−1 at 2000 mA·g−1. Furthermore, the reversible capacity was well maintained at 752.2 mAh·g−1 at 500 mA·g−1 after 6000 ultra-long cycles.

Graphical abstract
A Systematic Review of Identity and Access Management Requirements in Enterprises and Potential Contributions of Self-Sovereign Identity
Authors: Glöckler Jana , Sedlmeir Johannes , Frank Muriel , Fridgen Gilbert
Published: September 2023

Digital identity and access management (IAM) poses significant challenges for companies. Cyberattacks and resulting data breaches frequently have their root cause in enterprises’ IAM systems. During the COVID-19 pandemic, issues with the remote authentication of employees working from home highlighted the need for better IAM solutions. Using a design science research approach, the paper reviews the requirements for IAM systems from an enterprise perspective and identifies the potential benefits of self-sovereign identity (SSI) – an emerging, passwordless paradigm in identity management that provides end users with cryptographic attestations stored in digital wallet apps. To do so, this paper first conducts a systematic literature review followed by an interview study and categorizes IAM system requirements according to security and compliance, operability, technology, and user aspects. In a second step, it presents an SSI-based prototype for IAM, whose suitability for addressing IAM challenges was assessed by twelve domain experts. The results suggest that the SSI-based authentication of employees can address requirements in each of the four IAM requirement categories. SSI can specifically improve manageability and usability aspects and help implement acknowledged best practices such as the principle of least privilege. Nonetheless, the findings also reveal that SSI is not a silver bullet for all of the challenges that today’s complex IAM systems face.
New records of Ripersiella (Tinsley) (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) species and identification key of Rhizoecidae in Italy
Authors: Mazzeo Gaetana , Ricupero Michele , Campo Giuseppe , Conti Filadelfo , Russo Agatino
Published: September 2023

Biological invasions are one of the major constraints worldwide because of the economic and environmental consequences they may pose. Root mealybugs (Hemiptera: Coccomorpha: Rhizoecidae) are continuously transported worldwide with plant soil because of their cryptic behavior. In this study it was reported the presence of Ripersiella multiporifera Jansen in Sicily for the first time and discussed the presence of R. maasbachi (Jansen) and R. hibisci (Kawai & Takagi) in Italy. A key is provided to identify the species of Rhizoecidae currently known in Italy. The species were identified by morphological features and characterized molecularly by using a partial COI mitochondrial gene. Our report alerts the presence of alien root mealybugs in Italy. R. hibisci is a quarantine species listed in Annex IIA of EU Regulation 2019/2072.
Driving Decision Making of Autonomous Vehicle According to Queensland Overtaking Traffic Rules
Authors: Bhuiyan Hanif , Governatori Guido , Rakotonirainy Andry , Wong Meng Weng , Mahajan Avishkar
Published: September 2023

Improving the safety of autonomous vehicles (AVs) by making driving decisions in accordance with traffic rules is a complex task. Traffic rules are often expressed in a way that allows for interpretation and exceptions, making it difficult for AVs to follow them. This paper proposes a novel methodology for driving decision making in AVs based on defeasible deontic logic (DDL). We use DDL to formalize traffic rules and facilitate automated reasoning, allowing for the effective handling of rule exceptions and the resolution of vague terms in rules. To supplement the information provided by traffic rules, we incorporate an ontology for AV driving behaviour and environment information. By applying automated reasoning to formalized traffic rules and ontology-based AV driving information, our methodology enables AVs to make driving decisions in accordance with traffic rules. We present a case study focussing on the overtaking traffic rule to illustrate the usefulness of our methodology. Our evaluation demonstrates the effectiveness of the proposed driving decision-making methodology, highlighting its potential to improve the safety of AVs on the road.
Limpopo National Park (Mozambico): groundwater assessment as a tool for a sustainable management of the area
Authors: Sappa G. , Vitale S. , Ferranti F. , Barbieri M.
Published: September 2023

This paper deals with updated results coming from hydrogeological studies carried on the framework of the SECOSUD Phase II, called “Conservation and equitable use of biological diversity in the SADC region (Southern African Development Community), a project supported by the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in the SADC, whose focus area includes South Africa Development Countries. The main goal of the SECOSUD Phase II Project is the definition and implementation of scenarios for sustainable development, aimed at an equitable conservation of biodiversity resources and, as a consequence of this target, the hydrogeological characterization, with the groundwater recharge assessment, of this area and its buffer zone. Limpopo National Park is one of the jewels in the crown of Mozambique’s protected areas. As a matter of fact, sustaining the conservation of biodiversity, due to its complexity and multiple drivers, which stress it, is on first a matter of water environment assessment, as most ecosystems are highly dependent on the hydrological cycle and groundwater availability. After gathering regional and local geological data, which let us set up a detailed geological map of the area under study, pointing out the main outcropping geological units, with their main hydrogeological properties, the methodological approach adopted has been to assess the potential infiltration, applying the Inverse Hydrogeological Budget Technique, performed for the focus area. Because of the lack of meteorological data referred to Limpopo National Park, it has been applied a spatial distribution of precipitation measurements, collected in many gauge stations, located in the Kruger National Park during the last 54 years, which represent an interesting rainfall historical series. The target of the study has been to assess a trend of meteorological data with the aim of understanding how precipitations could affect groundwater recharge, and their influence on groundwater availability. The estimation of groundwater recharge is the tool for suggesting better water management in the area, aimed to preserve as much biodiversity as people living in the buffer zone.
3D Point Cloud Semantic Segmentation Through Functional Data Analysis
Authors: Oviedo de la Fuente Manuel , Cabo Carlos , Roca-Pardiñas Javier , Loudermilk E. Louise , Ordóñez Celestino
Published: September 2023

Here, we propose a method for the semantic segmentation of 3D point clouds based on functional data analysis. For each point of a training set, a number of handcrafted features representing the local geometry around it are calculated at different scales, that is, varying the spatial extension of the local analysis. Calculating the scales at small intervals allows each feature to be accurately approximated using a smooth function and, for the problem of semantic segmentation, to be tackled using functional data analysis. We also present a step-wise method to select the optimal features to include in the model based on the calculation of the distance correlation between each feature and the response variable. The algorithm showed promising results when applied to simulated data. When applied to the semantic segmentation of a point cloud of a forested plot, the results proved better than when using a standard multiscale semantic segmentation method. The comparison with two popular deep learning models showed that our proposal requires smaller training samples sizes and that it can compete with these methods in terms of prediction.
Puerarin alleviates sleep disorders in aged mice related to repairing intestinal mucosal barrier
Authors: Tao Qing , Zhang Jinhua , liang Qiao , Song Shiyu , Wang Shuxia , Yao Xiaoming , Gao Qian , Wang Lei
Published: September 2023

More and more evidence suggests that puerarin, a potential remedy for gut inflammation, may have an ameliorative effect on sleep disturbances. However, the relationship between puerarin and sleep disruption has not been extensively researched. This study aims to explore the role and mechanisms of puerarin in improving sleep disorders. We established a light-induced sleep disorder model in mice and assessed the effects of puerarin on cognitive behavior using open field and water maze tests. Pathological detection demonstrated that sleep disturbances resulted in observable damage to the liver, lung, and kidney. Puerarin reversed multi-organ damage and inflammation. Further, puerarin activated paneth cells, resulting in increased lysozyme and TGF-β production, and stimulating intestinal stem cell proliferation. Puerarin also effectively inhibited the expression of F4/80, iNOS, TNF-α, and IL-1β in the small intestine, while it increased Chil3, CD206, and Arg-1 levels. Moreover, puerarin treatment significantly decreased P-P65, TLR4, Bcl-xl, and cleaved caspase-3 protein levels while increasing barrier protein levels, including ZO-1, Occludin, Claudin 1 and E-cadherin suggesting a reduction in inflammation and apoptosis in the gut. Overall, puerarin diminished systemic inflammation, particularly intestinal inflammation, and enhanced intestinal barrier integrity in mice with sleep disorders. Our findings suggest a potential new therapeutic pathway for sleep disorders.

Graphical Abstract
Stability analysis of loose accumulation slopes under rainfall: case study of a high-speed railway in Southwest China
Authors: Wang Xin , Su Qian , Zhang Zongyu , Huang Feihu , He Chenfang
Published: September 2023

The high and steep slopes along a high-speed railway in the mountainous area of Southwest China are mostly composed of loose accumulations of debris with large internal pores and poor stability, which can easily induce adverse geological disasters under rainfall conditions. To ensure the smooth construction of the high-speed railway and the subsequent safe operation, it is necessary to master the stability evolution process of the loose accumulation slope under rainfall. This article simulates rainfall using the finite element analysis software’s hydromechanical coupling module. The slope stability under various rainfall situations is calculated and analysed based on the strength reduction method. To validate the simulation results, a field monitoring system is established to study the deformation characteristics of the slope under rainfall. The results show that rainfall duration is the key factor affecting slope stability. Given a constant amount of rainfall, the stability of the slope decreases with increasing duration of rainfall. Moreover, when the amount and duration of rainfall are constant, continuous rainfall has a greater impact on slope stability than intermittent rainfall. The setting of the field retaining structures has a significant role in improving slope stability. The field monitoring data show that the slope is in the initial deformation stage and has good stability, which verifies the rationality of the numerical simulation method. The research results can provide some references for understanding the influence of rainfall on the stability of loose accumulation slopes along high-speed railways and establishing a monitoring system.
Hesitant Fermatean fuzzy Bonferroni mean operators for multi-attribute decision-making
Authors: Wang Yibo , Ma Xiuqin , Qin Hongwu , Sun Huanling , Wei Weiyi
Published: September 2023

Hesitant Fermatean fuzzy sets (HFFS) can characterize the membership degree (MD) and non-membership degree (NMD) of hesitant fuzzy elements in a broader range, which offers superior fuzzy data processing capabilities for addressing complex uncertainty issues. In this research, first, we present the definition of the hesitant Fermatean fuzzy Bonferroni mean operator (HFFBM). Further, with the basic operations of HFFS in Einstein t-norms, the definition and derivation process of the hesitant Fermatean fuzzy Einstein Bonferroni mean operator (HFFEBM) are given. In addition, considering how weights affect decision-making outcomes, the hesitant Fermatean fuzzy weighted Bonferroni mean (HFFWBM) operator and the hesitant Fermatean fuzzy Einstein weighted Bonferroni mean operator (HFFEWBM) are developed. Then, the properties of the operators are discussed. Based on HFFWBM and HFFEWBM operator, a new multi-attribute decision-making (MADM) approach is provided. Finally, we apply the proposed decision-making approach to the case of a depression diagnostic evaluation for three depressed patients. The three patients' diagnosis results confirmed the proposed method's validity and rationality. Through a series of comparative experiments and analyses, the proposed MADM method is an efficient solution for decision-making issues in the hesitant Fermatean fuzzy environment.
Efficient Network Representation Learning via Cluster Similarity
Authors: Fujiwara Yasuhiro , Ida Yasutoshi , Kumagai Atsutoshi , Nakano Masahiro , Kimura Akisato , Ueda Naonori
Published: September 2023

Network representation learning is a de facto tool for graph analytics. The mainstream of the previous approaches is to factorize the proximity matrix between nodes. However, if n is the number of nodes, since the size of the proximity matrix is $$n \times n$$

n
×
n

, it needs $$O(n^3)$$

O
(

n
3

)

time and $$O(n^2)$$

O
(

n
2

)

space to perform network representation learning; they are significantly high for large-scale graphs. This paper introduces the novel idea of using similarities between clusters instead of proximities between nodes; the proposed approach computes the representations of the clusters from similarities between clusters and computes the representations of nodes by referring to them. If l is the number of clusters, since $$l \ll n$$

l
≪
n

, we can efficiently obtain the representations of clusters from a small $$l \times l$$

l
×
l

similarity matrix. Furthermore, since nodes in each cluster share similar structural properties, we can effectively compute the representation vectors of nodes. Experiments show that our approach can perform network representation learning more efficiently and effectively than existing approaches.
An Application of the Analytic Hierarchy Process to the Evaluation of Companies’ Data Maturity
Authors: Malacaria Simone , De Mauro Andrea , Greco Marco , Grimaldi Michele
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study is to evaluate data maturity of a sample of Italian firms of different sectors and sizes, obtained through an online assessment submitted to 261 professionals and entrepreneurs operating in the data/IT domain. The paper's objective is to assess the relative importance of the factors that determine the success of big data initiatives, according to the company structure and managerial perspective. The questionnaire was digitally submitted to IT professionals and decision-makers in Italy through the LinkedIn platform. The assessment was divided into two sections: the first focused on the assessment of 8 critical success factors for big data, whereas the second assigned weights based on an application of the analytic hierarchy process. The result of this process is a weighted-scores system that reflects the relative importance that managers and employees give to different domains. Respondents agreed to the importance of integrated architecture, data-friendly corporate culture, and integrated organization domains. Once the results consider the weights from the AHP, data friendliness becomes the most sought-after characteristic. The findings provide direction for further development of this assessment system.