bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fuzzy-Set Qualitative Comparative Analysis of Factors That Influence Skilled Talents Scarcity in Agricultural Industry: Case Study of 14 Cities in Hunan Province
Authors: Yang Juan , Zhang Yadong , Chen Lingming
Published: December 2022

As skilled talent is the core element in optimizing the industrial structure, clarifying the factors that influence the lack of skilled talent in the agricultural industry is essential. The lack of skilled talent in the agricultural industry is a complex problem. The author based this study on the push–pull theory and used the fuzzy-set qualitative comparative analysis (FSQCA) research method to explore the “joint effect” of the factors that affect the lack of skilled talents in the agricultural industry in 14 cities of Hunan Province. This paper found that indicators such as the rural industry status, rural medical level, agricultural and forestry financial investment, urbanization construction, regional economic development level, and local government officials were all presented under sufficient conditions. These influencing factors have a “combined effect” on the agricultural industry’s lack of skilled talent. The rural industry status indicator was the core condition, appearing in all the configurations. This article’s main marginal contribution is that it defined three conditional configurations for the lack of “present” agricultural skilled talents, and dependent configurations are consistent. Among the three conditional configurations, the “rural industry + economic construction and financial investment” configuration is the most powerful way to retain skilled agricultural talents. In addition, the causal relationship between the lack of “present” agricultural industry skilled talents and the lack of “absent” agricultural industry skilled talents are asymmetric. The primary task is to develop rural industries to solve the problem of the shortage of skilled talent in the agricultural industry. Additionally, then implement the ‘industry+‘ combination policy. So the government must create related policies in the following areas: the supply of essential public services in rural areas, the economic construction of prefectures, the development of county urbanization, and the financial investment in agriculture, forestry, and water conservancy.
Changes in Rhizosphere Soil Nutrients, Enzyme Activities, and Microbial Communities at Different Stages of Industrial Hemp Development
Authors: Guo Li , Ma Lan , Wang Guijiang , Chen Xiangwei , Li Zeyu , Wang Mingze , Che Ye , Zhang Ling , Jie Siyuan , Jiang Zeyu
Published: December 2022

Determining the nutrient requirements of industrial hemp to increase the yield requires quantifying variations in soil nutrients and enzyme activities in different growth stages, along with relevant soil microbial response. This study investigated the effects of different growth stages of industrial hemp on rhizosphere soil nutrients, enzyme activities, and microbial communities. The results showed that with the increase in the growth stages, the pH and available phosphorus (AP) decreased, while the soil organic matter (SOM), available nitrogen (AN), and available potassium (AK) increased substantially, indicating that the demand for nutrients of industrial hemp was constantly changing. Proteobacteria, Acidobacteria, Ascomycota, and Basidiomycota were found to be the keystone taxa to adapt to the nutrient requirements of industrial hemp at different growth stages by regulating soil enzyme activity. Furthermore, using the redundancy analysis and Spearman’s correlation analysis, we found that microbial taxonomic composition was related to the variations in AN, AP, and pH. In general, we emphasized that the interaction between industrial hemp and soil is closely related to the growth stage, which increases plant adaptability and growth because of the change of soil microorganisms.
Fish Scales Produce Cortisol upon Stimulation with ACTH
Authors: Samaras Athanasios , Pavlidis Michail
Published: December 2022

Cortisol concentration in fish scales is a novel and reliable indicator of chronic stress. However, until now cortisol in scales has been considered to be accumulated through the circulation and it has not yet been studied whether it can be de novo produced from cells found in the scales. In the current study, scales of European sea bass, Dicentrarchus labrax, were stimulated in-vitro with a range of concentrations of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) to investigate if they can produce and release cortisol. Moreover, scales were exposed to a combination of ACTH and metyrapone, an inhibitor of cortisol production, to examine whether cortisol was actually produced in the scales. Results from ACTH administration showed that scales increased their cortisol release in a dose-dependent manner. This effect was reversed when scales were co-incubated with ACTH and metyrapone, indicating that cortisol was produced de novo and not released only upon stimulation with ACTH.
Therapeutic Administration of Oxcarbazepine Saves Cerebellar Purkinje Cells from Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury Induced by Cardiac Arrest through Attenuation of Oxidative Stress
Authors: Kim Yang Hee , Lee Tae-Kyeong , Lee Jae-Chul , Kim Dae Won , Hong Seongkweon , Cho Jun Hwi , Shin Myoung Cheol , Choi Soo Young , Won Moo-Ho , Kang Il Jun
Published: December 2022

Research reports using animal models of ischemic insults have demonstrated that oxcarbazepine (a carbamazepine analog: one of the anticonvulsant compounds) extends neuroprotective effects against cerebral or forebrain injury induced by ischemia and reperfusion. However, research on protective effects against ischemia and reperfusion cerebellar injury induced by cardiac arrest (CA) and the return of spontaneous circulation has been poor. Rats were assigned to four groups as follows: (Groups 1 and 2) sham asphyxial CA and vehicle- or oxcarbazepine-treated, and (Groups 3 and 4) CA and vehicle- or oxcarbazepine-treated. Vehicle (0.3% dimethyl sulfoxide/saline) or oxcarbazepine (200 mg/kg) was administered intravenously ten minutes after the return of spontaneous circulation. In this study, CA was induced by asphyxia using vecuronium bromide (2 mg/kg). We conducted immunohistochemistry for calbindin D-28kDa and Fluoro-Jade B histofluorescence to examine Purkinje cell death induced by CA. In addition, immunohistochemistry for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE) was carried out to investigate CA-induced oxidative stress, and immunohistochemistry for Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD1) and Mn-superoxide dismutase (SOD2) was performed to examine changes in endogenous antioxidant enzymes. Oxcarbazepine treatment after CA significantly increased the survival rate and improved neurological deficit when compared with vehicle-treated rats with CA (survival rates ≥ 63.6 versus 6.5%), showing that oxcarbazepine treatment dramatically protected cerebellar Purkinje cells from ischemia and reperfusion injury induced by CA. The salvation of the Purkinje cells from ischemic injury by oxcarbazepine treatment paralleled a dramatic reduction in 4HNE (an end-product of lipid peroxidation) and increased or maintained the endogenous antioxidant enzymes (SOD1 and SOD2). In brief, this study shows that therapeutic treatment with oxcarbazepine after CA apparently saved cerebellar neurons (Purkinje cells) from CA-induced neuronal death by attenuating oxidative stress and suggests that oxcarbazepine can be utilized as a therapeutic medicine for ischemia and reperfusion brain (cerebellar) injury induced by CA.
Protective Effect of Polyphenols Purified from Mallotus oblongfolius on Ethanol-Induced Gastric Mucosal Injury by Regulating Nrf2 and MAPKs Pathways
Authors: Yu Shasha , Duan Zhouwei , Li Peng , Wang Shiping , Guo Lijun , Xia Guanghua , Xie Hui
Published: December 2022

Mallotus oblongifolius (MO), which is rich in polyphenols, is a characteristic tea resource with medicinal value. In this study, a total of 45 polyphenolic components of MO, including narirutin, isoquercitrin, rutin and digallic acid, were identified by UPLC-Q-TOF/MS analysis. In addition, the gastroprotective effect of Mallotus oblongifolius polyphenols (MOP) on ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury in rats was investigated. The rats received anhydrous ethanol after continuous gavage of MOP or lansoprazole for one week. In addition, the macro- and micro-damage induced by ethanol in the gastric tissue was significantly reduced after MOP pretreatment for one week. Further analysis showed that MOP prevented ethanol-induced acute gastric mucosal injury by increasing the expression of antioxidant enzymes (SOD, CAT, GSH-Px) and decreasing the expression of reactive oxygen species (ROS), lipid oxidation product (MDA) and myeloperoxidase (MPO). Meanwhile, MOP inhibited the phosphorylation of p38/ERK/JNK and promoted the activation of the Nrf2 pathway. These results suggested that MOP may be a promising therapeutic target for the prevention of ethanol-induced gastric mucosal injury by improving oxidative stress, inhibiting the p38/ERK/JNK signaling pathways and activating Nrf2 expression.
Analysis of Polyphenolic Compounds in Water-Based Extracts of Vicia faba L.: A Potential Innovative Source of Nutraceutical Ingredients
Authors: Castaldo Luigi , Izzo Luana , Lombardi Sonia , Gaspari Anna , De Pascale Stefania , Grosso Michela , Ritieni Alberto
Published: December 2022

The water-based extract of broad bean hulls contains several bioactive molecules, including polyphenols well-known to exert antioxidant activity, which could justify its use in nutraceutical formulations. Hence, the current investigation aimed to establish the polyphenolic profile of water-based extracts from broad bean hulls through UHPLC–Q-Orbitrap HRMS analysis. The findings highlighted that p-coumaric acid, chlorogenic acid, and epicatechin were the most common compounds found in the tested extracts, being quantified at a mean concentration of 42.1, 32.6, and 31.2 mg/100 g, respectively. Moreover, broad bean hull extracts were encapsulated into a nutraceutical formulation, after which the antioxidant properties and the bioaccessibility of phenolic compounds during the simulated gastrointestinal (GI) process were investigated and compared with the digested non-encapsulated extract. The data highlighted that following the GI process, the capsules were able to preserve active compounds from the adverse effects of digestion, resulting in a greater antioxidant capacity and polyphenol bioaccessibility in the duodenal and colonic phases, compared with the non-encapsulated extract. Our results showed that the water extract from broad bean hulls may be considered a valuable source of natural polyphenolic compounds; in addition, the use of a gastric-resistant capsule could be a suitable alternative to transport these bioactive compounds to the target tissues.
Key Factors Determining the Behavior of Pathogens in Dry-Cured Ham after High Pressure Processing
Authors: Serra-Castelló Cristina , Desriac Noémie , Jofré Anna , Belletti Nicoletta , Coroller Louis , Bover-Cid Sara
Published: December 2022

High pressure processing (HPP) inactivates pathogens and increases the safety of ready-to-eat meat products. The high-pressure lethality and the behavior of the surviving cells after HPP depends on process parameters (pressure and time), microorganism and matrix characteristics. The aim of the present study was to quantify the impact of pressure level, water activity (aw), and fat content on the behavior of Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes during refrigerated storage of dry-cured ham after high-pressure processing. Salmonella enterica serotype London CTC1003 and L. monocytogenes CTC1034 were inoculated at ca. 7 log cfu/g in dry-cured ham of different aw (0.87–0.98), vacuum packaged, pressurized from 300 to 852 MPa for 5 min, and stored at 7 °C for up to 2 months. Salmonella and L. monocytogenes populations were monitored by plate count during the storage of the hams. The gamma concept was used to quantify the individual effects of aw and storage temperature on the pathogen growth/no-growth behavior in pressurized dry-cured ham. The Weibull (inactivation) or Logistic (growth) primary models were fitted to the log change of pathogen levels during storage of dry-cured ham after pressurization. According to the gamma approach, the refrigeration temperature and aw were the main factors limiting the growth of Salmonella and L. monocytogenes, respectively, in dry-cured ham. Under conditions not allowing growth, the effect of increasing pressures on the microbial inactivation depended on the aw of dry-cured ham and the pathogen; dry-cured ham with high fat content with an aw ≥ 0.95 enhanced the inactivation of Salmonella whereas it reduced that of L. monocytogenes. Under conditions allowing growth of L. monocytogenes, the increase in aw from 0.96 to 0.98 reduced the lag time with no apparent impact on the growth rate.
Electric Field Induced Drift of Bacterial Protein Toxins of Foodborne Pathogens Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli from Water
Authors: Bartzis Vasileios , Batrinou Anthimia , Sarris Ioannis E. , Konteles Spyros J. , Strati Irini F. , Houhoula Dimitra
Published: December 2022

Bacterial protein toxins secreted by foodborne pathogens, such as Staphylococcus aureus and Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) strains, may cause severe toxicosis in humans if present in foods or water and constitute an important public health problem. These toxins are large biomolecules with negative and positive ions due to the ionizable groups in the residual amino acids. An innovative theoretical model of purifying aqueous flowing solutions from ionic toxins is proposed in this study. The principle of the model is based on the drift of the ionic toxins, under the application of the external electric field, towards the walls of the duct, leaving the largest part of the duct with reduced levels of toxin. Parameters, such as toxin concentration, potential and electric field intensity distributions, and surface charge densities, are studied analytically for various duct widths and various external electric fields. The proposed model succeeded to reduce toxin levels by more than 99%, for duct widths less than 1cm, making it suitable for small-scale water purification.
Digital Twin in Sport: From an Idea to Realization
Authors: Lukač Luka , Fister Iztok , Fister Iztok
Published: December 2022

A digital twin is a virtual model to reflect a physical object and helps it by making proper decisions. The decision-making process is based on the same input data that the simulated physical object has access to. Due to exploiting artificial intelligence, the decision-making process of the digital twin is more sophisticated than that of the physical object. In this study, the digital twin is applied to the sports training domain, where it addresses those questions that have arisen during the implementation of interval cycling training sessions. Thus, the digital twin runs on a mobile device (i.e., the Raspberry Pi platform), with which a cycle is equipped and demonstrates user-friendliness, robustness, reliability, and accuracy. The interval training sessions are transferred to the mobile device in the form of the domain-specific language EasyTrain, ensuring higher expressive power and ease of use. During the implementation, the digital twin advises the athlete with predicted information obtained by a sophisticated prediction model via a screen. The results of a huge experimental work showed that the difference in the average efficiency of the interval training implementation between the two cyclists that performed the experiments is prominent, as the efficiency of the professional training surpassed 90%, while the amateur training efficiency barely achieved 70%.
Antibiotics in Groundwater and River Water of Białka—A Pristine Mountain River
Authors: Lenart-Boroń Anna , Prajsnar Justyna , Guzik Maciej , Boroń Piotr , Grad Bartłomiej , Żelazny Mirosław
Published: December 2022

Antibiotics are emerging pollutants of great concern, due to detrimental effects of their sublethal concentrations on microbial communities. Monitoring of antibiotics’ presence and concentrations in the aquatic environment is of fundamental importance to the management of water resources. This study was aimed at filling the knowledge gap in terms of presence and concentration of antibiotics in surface water and groundwater in one of the mountain regions in southern Poland. The detailed aims included the assessment of whether there are spatial and/or temporal trends in antibiotic occurrence in water and the investigation of causes behind the changes in antibiotic concentrations. The study was conducted in seven sites (two groundwater and five river water) along the Białka river valley. Antibiotics were subjected to solid-phase extraction, followed by UHPLC/MS detection. Clindamycin, erythromycin, ofloxacin and trimethoprim were the most frequently detected, while the highest concentrations were observed for oxytetracycline and clindamycin. No antibiotics were detected in only one of the groundwater sites. Sewage treatment plant effluent was the hotspot of antibiotic contamination of the river downstream. The detection rates of antibiotics in the examined region seem to be driven mainly by the stability of antibiotics in the environment.
Support Vector Machine-Assisted Importance Sampling for Optimal Reliability Design
Authors: Ling Chunyan , Lei Jingzhe , Kuo Way
Published: December 2022

A population-based optimization algorithm combining the support vector machine (SVM) and importance sampling (IS) is proposed to achieve a global solution to optimal reliability design. The proposed approach is a greedy algorithm that starts with an initial population. At each iteration, the population is divided into feasible/infeasible individuals by the given constraints. After that, feasible individuals are classified as superior/inferior individuals in terms of their fitness. Then, SVM is utilized to construct the classifier dividing feasible/infeasible domains and that separating superior/inferior individuals, respectively. A quasi-optimal IS distribution is constructed by leveraging the established classifiers, on which a new population is generated to update the optimal solution. The iteration is repeatedly executed until the preset stopping condition is satisfied. The merits of the proposed approach are that the utilization of SVM avoids repeatedly invoking the reliability function (objective) and constraint functions. When the actual function is very complicated, this can significantly reduce the computational burden. In addition, IS fully excavates the feasible domain so that the produced offspring cover almost the entire feasible domain, and thus perfectly escapes local optima. The presented examples showcase the promise of the proposed algorithm.
A Semi-Analytical Model for Separating Diffuse and Direct Solar Radiation Components
Authors: Paulescu Eugenia , Paulescu Marius
Published: December 2022

The knowledge of the solar irradiation components is required by most solar applications. When only the global horizontal irradiance is measured, this one is typically broken down into its fundamental components, beam and diffuse, by applying an empirical separation model. This study proposes a semi-analytical model for diffuse fraction, defined as the ratio of diffuse to global solar irradiance. Starting from basic knowledge, a general equation for diffuse fraction is derived. Clearness index, relative sunshine, and the clear-sky atmospheric transmittance are highlighted as robust predictors. Thus, the model equation implicitly provides hints for developing accurate empirical separation models. The proposed equation is quasi-universal, allowing for temporal (from 1-min to 1-day) and spatial (site specificity) customization. As a proof of theory, the separation quality is discussed in detail on the basis of radiometric data retrieved from Baseline Surface Radiation Network (BSRN), station Magurele, Romania. For temperate continental climate, overall results show for the diffuse fraction estimation a maximum possible accuracy around 7%, measured in terms of normalized root mean square error. One of the many options of implementing the semi-analytical model is illustrated in a case study.
Interactions among Relevant Non-Saccharomyces, Saccharomyces, and Lactic Acid Bacteria Species of the Wine Microbial Consortium: Towards Advances in Antagonistic Phenomena and Biocontrol Potential
Authors: De Gioia Marianna , Russo Pasquale , De Simone Nicola , Grieco Francesco , Spano Giuseppe , Capozzi Vittorio , Fragasso Mariagiovanna
Published: December 2022

The topic of microbial interactions is of notable relevance in oenology, being connected with their impact on microbial biodiversity and wine quality. The interactions among different couples of microorganisms, in particular yeasts and lactic acid bacteria representative of the must/wine microbial consortium, have been tested in this study. This interaction’s screening has been implemented by means of plate assays, using culture medium, grape juice, and wine agar as substrates. Different antagonistic phenomena have been detected, belonging to the following interaction categories: yeast-yeast, yeast-bacteria, bacteria-yeast, and bacteria-bacteria. In general, the inhibitory activity has been observed in all three media agar used as substrates, resulting in more frequent on culture medium, followed by grape juice and, finally, wine. Specifically, the work is one of the first reports demonstrating the reciprocal interactions between non-Saccharomyces yeasts (NSY) and malolactic bacteria. The findings shed new light on the co-inoculation of the yeast starter culture with malolactic bacteria, as well as the biocontrol potential of Lactic Acid Bacteria (LAB) strains. Highlighted microbial interactions are relevant for the management of alcoholic fermentation, malolactic fermentation, and the development of distinctive aroma profiles, control of spoilage yeasts, and the selection of tailored mixed starter cultures. In addition, the plate assay method could be a fast, cheap, and suitable method to exclude negative interactions among Saccharomyces spp., NSY, and malolactic bacteria during trials from regional spontaneous fermentations with the aim to select tailored mixed starter cultures.
Bearing Fault Diagnosis of Split Attention Network Based on Deep Subdomain Adaptation
Authors: Wang Haitao , Pu Lindong
Published: December 2022

The insufficient learning ability of traditional convolutional neural network for key fault features, as well as the characteristic distribution of vibration data of rolling bearing collected under variable working conditions is inconsistent, and decreases the bearing fault diagnosis accuracy. To address the problem, a deep subdomain adaptation split attention network (SPDSAN) is proposed for intelligent fault diagnosis of bearings. Firstly, the time-frequency diagram of a vibration signal is obtained by the continuous wavelet transform to show the time-frequency characteristics. Secondly, a residual split-attention network (ResNeSt) that integrates multi-path and channel attention mechanisms is constructed to extract the key features of rolling bearings to prevent feature loss. Then, a subdomain adaptation layer is added to ResNeSt to align the distribution of related subdomain data by minimizing the local maximum mean difference. Finally, the SPDSAN model is validated using the Case Western Reserve University datasets. The results show that the average diagnostic accuracy of the proposed method is 99.9% when the test set samples are not labeled, which is higher compared to the accuracy of other mainstream intelligent fault diagnosis models.
Rubber Creep Model and Its Influence on Mounting Stiffness
Authors: Fu Jianghua , Liu Yang , Su Jintao , Chen Bao , Chen Zheming
Published: December 2022

The mount of the engine will creep under the action of long-term load. Creep will change its original structure, resulting in changes in static and dynamic characteristics and fatigue life. In order to solve the problem of mounting rubber creep, the creep characteristics were studied in this paper. In order to study the influence of creep characteristics on engine mounting stiffness, a theoretical model of mount creep was established based on the creep mechanism of rubber. The effects of different loads on the creep characteristics of engine mount were studied. The static viscoelastic parameters and creep analysis of rubber mounting were analyzed numerically. The creep variation law of suspension under different loads is obtained. By analyzing the static and dynamic characteristics of no creep, 2.98 mm creep and 3.83 mm creep of engine mount, the creep characteristics and the variation law of mount stiffness of rubber mount were revealed. The results show that the static stiffness of suspension increases with the increase of creep. When the frequency is constant and the creep increases, the dynamic stiffness of the suspension increases obviously. In this paper, the creep characteristics of rubber mount are analyzed, and the results of the analysis provide a design method for rubber mount design.
How the Rigid and Deformable Image Registration Approaches Affect the Absorbed Dose Estimation Using Images Collected before and after Transarterial Radioembolization with 90Y Resin Microspheres in a Clinical Setting
Authors: Della Gala Giuseppe , Santoro Miriam , Paolani Giulia , Strolin Silvia , Cappelli Alberta , Mosconi Cristina , Lodi Rizzini Elisa , Strigari Lidia
Published: December 2022

Background: Transarterial radioembolization (TARE) relies on directly injected 90Y- or 166Ho-loaded microspheres in the hepatic arteries. The activity to be injected is generally based on pre-TARE 99mTc-macro-aggregated-albumin (MAA) imaging, while the actual dose distribution is based on post-treatment images. The volume of interest (VOIs) propagation methods (i.e., rigid and deformable) from pre- to post-TARE imaging might affect the estimation of the mean absorbed dose in the tumor and non-tumoral liver (NTL), i.e., DT and DNTL, respectively. Methods: In 101 consecutive patients, liver and tumor were delineated on pre-TARE images and semi-automatically transferred on 90Y-PET/CT images with a rigid or deformable registration approach. Pre- and post-TARE volumes and DT/DNTL/DL were compared using correlation coefficient (CC) indexes, such as intra-class (ICC), Pearson’s (PCC), concordance (CCCo) and Bland–Altman analyses. The Kaplan–Meier curves of overall survival (OS) were calculated according to DT. Results: All computed CCs indicated very good (>0.92) agreement for volume comparison, while they suggested good (ICC ≥ 0.869, PCC ≥ 0.876 and CCCo ≥ 0.790) and moderate agreement in the intra- and inter-modality DT/DNTL/DL comparisons, respectively. Bland–Altman analyses showed percentage differences between the manual and deformable approaches of up to about −31%, 9% and 62% for tumoral volumes, DT and DNTL, respectively. The overall survival analysis showed statistically significant differences using DT cutoffs of 110, 90 and 85 Gy for the manual, rigid and deformable approaches, respectively. Conclusions: The semi-automatic transfer of VOIs from pre- and post-TARE imaging is feasible, but the selected method might affect prognostic DT/DNTL constraints.
Status of Air Pollution during COVID-19-Induced Lockdown in Delhi, India
Authors: Singh Harikesh , Meraj Gowhar , Singh Sachchidanand , Shrivastava Vaibhav , Sharma Vishal , Farooq Majid , Kanga Shruti , Singh Suraj Kumar , Kumar Pankaj
Published: December 2022

To monitor the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19), India, during the last week of March 2020, imposed national restrictions on the movement of its citizens (lockdown). Although India’s economy was shut down due to restrictions, the nation observed a sharp decline in particulate matter (PM) concentrations. In recent years, Delhi has experienced rapid economic growth, leading to pollution, especially in urban and industrial areas. In this paper, we explored the linkages between air quality and the nationwide lockdown of the city of Delhi using a geographic information system (GIS)-based approach. Data from 37 stations were monitored from 12 March, 2020 to 2 April, 2020 and it was found that the Air Quality Index for the city was almost reduced by 37% and 46% concerning PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. The study highlights that, in regular conditions, the atmosphere’s natural healing rate against anthropogenic activities is lower, as indicated by a higher AQI. However, during the lockdown, this sudden cessation of anthropogenic activities leads to a period in which the natural healing rate is greater than the induced disturbances, resulting in a lower AQI, and thus proving that this pandemic has given a small window for the environment to breathe and helped the districts of Delhi to recover from serious issues related to bad air quality. If such healing windows are incorporated into policy and decision-making, these can prove to be effective measures for controlling air pollution in heavily polluted regions of the World.
Deep Learning Method for Evaporation Duct Inversion Based on GPS Signal
Authors: Cui Ming-Yu , Zhang Yu
Published: December 2022

Accurate evaporation duct prediction is one of the critical technologies for realizing the over-the-horizon impact of marine communication, ship radar, and other systems. Using GPS signals to invert evaporation ducts provides more benefits in terms of method realization and ease. In order to invert the evaporation duct from GPS-received power data, a deep learning technique based on Bayesian optimization is proposed to increase the prediction accuracy of evaporation ducts. The evaporation duct propagation mechanism of the GPS signal is explored. The GPS-received power is estimated using the two-parameter evaporation duct model, and a better neural network structure is built using Bayesian optimization. The study results show that the Bayesian optimization model has a smaller root mean square error (RMSE) than the human empirical model, which allows for rapid and accurate inversion of duct parameters even in noisy interference.
Outdoor Human Thermal Comfort along Bike Paths in Balneário Camboriú/SC, Brazil
Authors: Writzl Luana , Wollmann Cassio Arthur , Costa Iago Turba , Gobo João Paulo Assis , Shooshtarian Salman , Matzarakis Andreas
Published: December 2022

This research is concerned with understanding the degree of human thermal (dis)comfort in connection with the various microclimates present in the vicinity of bike trails in Balneário Camboriú/SC, Brazil, throughout the summer. Local Climate Zones were determined using the Sky View Factor and were identified along research routes and schedules at 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on a subtropical summer day (14 January 2022). Data were collected with weather devices attached to the bicycle, measuring air temperature, relative humidity, and globe temperature, from which the mean radiant temperature was calculated. The PET and UTCI indices were used to assess outdoor thermal comfort in the summer. The findings revealed that at 9:00 a.m., the eastern half of the city had a higher tendency for thermal discomfort; however, at 4:00 p.m., this same location had thermal comfort for users along bike routes. At 4:00 p.m., the PET index indicated that 24% of the bike paths were pleasant, and the UTCI index indicated that 100% of them were in thermal comfort. At 9:00 a.m., the majority of the city was under discomfort conditions. The index values reflect the morning time, and the study shows that there is now a negative correlation between the SVF and the indexes, which means that the greater the SVF computations, the lower the values are. The PET and UTCI indices revealed a positive association in the afternoon period: The greater the SVF values, the higher the PET and UTCI indices. Further research should be conducted in the future because many parameters, such as construction, position, and urban (im)permeability, as well as sea breeze and solar radiation, can have a significant impact on outdoor human thermal comfort in Balneário Camboriú, and when combined with the type of LCZ and the SVF, it is possible to understand how all of these active systems interact and form microclimates that are beneficial to bike path users.
Robust Parameter Identification Strategy for Lead Acid Battery Model
Authors: Rezk Hegazy , Ferahtia Seydali , Ghoniem Rania M. , Fathy Ahmed , Ghoniem Mohamed M. , Alkanhel Reem
Published: December 2022

The most popular approach for smoothing renewable power generation fluctuations is to use a battery energy storage system. The lead-acid battery is one of the most used types, due to several advantages, such as its low cost. However, the precision of the model parameters is crucial to a reliable and accurate model. Therefore, determining actual battery storage model parameters is required. This paper proposes an optimal identification strategy for extracting the parameters of a lead-acid battery. The proposed identification strategy-based metaheuristic optimization algorithm is applied to a Shepherd model. The bald eagle search algorithm (BES) based identification strategy provided excellent performance in extracting the battery’s unknown parameters. As a result, the proposed identification strategy’s total voltage error has been reduced to 2.182 × 10−3, where the root mean square error (RMSE) between the model and the data is 6.26 × 10−5. In addition, the optimization efficiency achieved 85.32% using the BES algorithm, which approved its efficiency.
Sparkling Cider Paired with Italian Cheese: Sensory Analysis and Consumer Assessment
Authors: Lomolino Giovanna , Marangon Matteo , Vincenzi Simone , De Iseppi Alberto
Published: December 2022

Cider is a beverage belonging to the tradition of many European rural areas. Pairing beverages and cheeses, even if it is part of an ancient tradition, is gaining more and more interest from the consumer. For this reason, in this research, we wanted to conduct a preliminary study on the combination of cider and cheese. In particular, six Italian sparkling ciders were selected, obtained through the Charmat and Champenoise method, and four types of Italian cheeses, from the Veneto region: Casatella Trevigiana, Fienil, Morlacco and Ubriaco, with very different sensory characteristics. The cider-cheese pairing test, conducted by a panel of experts, revealed how some cider parameters are reduced in intensity, such as astringency, while others are enhanced, such as fruitiness and persistence taste aroma. The hedonic test, conducted on the matching by 90 consumers, promoted some combinations while others were rejected. The sensory parameters associated with liking were fruity and taste aroma persistence, particularly expressed in some cider-cheese pairings.
A Novel Smart Belt for Anxiety Detection, Classification, and Reduction Using IIoMT on Students’ Cardiac Signal and MSY
Authors: Pal Rishi , Adhikari Deepak , Heyat Md Belal Bin , Guragai Bishal , Lipari Vivian , Brito Ballester Julien , De la Torre Díez Isabel , Abbas Zia , Lai Dakun
Published: December 2022

The prevalence of anxiety among university students is increasing, resulting in the negative impact on their academic and social (behavioral and emotional) development. In order for students to have competitive academic performance, the cognitive function should be strengthened by detecting and handling anxiety. Over a period of 6 weeks, this study examined how to detect anxiety and how Mano Shakti Yoga (MSY) helps reduce anxiety. Relying on cardiac signals, this study follows an integrated detection-estimation-reduction framework for anxiety using the Intelligent Internet of Medical Things (IIoMT) and MSY. IIoMT is the integration of Internet of Medical Things (wearable smart belt) and machine learning algorithms (Decision Tree (DT), Random Forest (RF), and AdaBoost (AB)). Sixty-six eligible students were selected as experiencing anxiety detected based on the results of self-rating anxiety scale (SAS) questionnaire and a smart belt. Then, the students were divided randomly into two groups: experimental and control. The experimental group followed an MSY intervention for one hour twice a week, while the control group followed their own daily routine. Machine learning algorithms are used to analyze the data obtained from the smart belt. MSY is an alternative improvement for the immune system that helps reduce anxiety. All the results illustrate that the experimental group reduced anxiety with a significant (p < 0.05) difference in group × time interaction compared to the control group. The intelligent techniques achieved maximum accuracy of 80% on using RF algorithm. Thus, students can practice MSY and concentrate on their objectives by improving their intelligence, attention, and memory.
Comparing TIMP-1 and Hsp70 in Blood and Saliva as Potential Prognostic Markers in HNSCC
Authors: Rinecker Jakob , Roesch Romina , Krippgans Sara , Nieberler Markus , Stark Leonhard , Stangl Stefan , Haller Bernhard , Fritsche Kristin , Multhoff Gabriele , Knopf Andreas , Winter Christof , Wollenberg Barbara , Wirth Markus
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Currently, there is no clinically used liquid biomarker in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) patients. One reason could be the limited shedding of tumor material in early disease stages. Molecular diagnostics assessing both blood and especially saliva could potentially improve the accuracy of biomarkers. In this prospective study, two markers, tissue inhibitor of metalloprotease-1 (TIMP-1) and heat shock protein 70 (Hsp70), were analyzed in HNSCC patients. The purpose of the study was to evaluate differences between saliva and serum as sample material. Further, their prognostic and predictive value and usefulness for early detection was assessed. (2) Methods: A total of 73 HNSCC patients were prospectively monitored by collecting blood and saliva before, during, and after therapy, as well as in the follow-up period between 2018 and 2021. In total, 212 serum and 194 saliva samples were collected. A control group consisting of 40 subjects (15 patients with local infections in the head and neck area and 25 without infections) were examined as well. The collected samples were evaluated for the two proteins by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). (3) RESULTS: The TIMP-1 concentration correlated significantly in blood and saliva, whereas the Hsp70 concentration did not. Saliva TIMP-1 was significantly higher in tumor patients compared to the control group (p = 0.013). High pretreatment TIMP-1 saliva levels were associated with significantly poorer disease-free survival (DFS) (p = 0.02). A high saliva TIMP-1/Hsp70 ratio was significantly associated with poorer DFS (HR: 1.4; 95% CI: 1.04–1.88; p = 0.026) and a high TIMP-1 serum concentration was significantly associated with poorer PFS (HR: 1.9; 95% CI: 1.2, 2.8; p = 0.003) and poorer overall survival (OS) (HR: 2.9; 95% CI: 1.4, 5.9; p = 0.003) in the Cox proportional hazards model. The saliva TIMP-1 to Hsp70 ratio was significantly higher at the time of recurrence (p = 0.015). Conclusion: TIMP-1 in serum is a promising prognostic marker for HNSCC. Saliva TIMP-1 and the saliva TIMP-1 to Hsp70 ratio provides additional information on the disease-free survival.
Intranasal Oxytocin Modulates Decision-Making Depending on Outcome Predictability—A Randomized Within-Subject Controlled Trial in Healthy Males
Authors: Zebhauser Paul Theo , Macchia Ana , Gold Edward , Salcedo Stephanie , Burum Bethany , Alonso-Alonso Miguel , Gilbert Daniel T. , Pascual-Leone Alvaro , Brem Anna-Katharine
Published: December 2022

Oxytocin (OT) has been extensively studied with regard to its socio-cognitive and -behavioral effects. Its potential as a therapeutic agent is being discussed for a range of neuropsychiatric conditions. However, there is limited evidence of its effects on non-social cognition in general and decision-making in particular, despite the importance of these functions in neuropsychiatry. Using a crossover/within-subject, blinded, randomized design, we investigated for the first time if intranasal OT (24 IU) affects decision-making differently depending on outcome predictability/ambiguity in healthy males. The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) and the Cambridge Risk Task (CRT) were used to assess decision-making under low outcome predictability/high ambiguity and under high outcome probability/low ambiguity, respectively. After administration of OT, subjects performed worse and exhibited riskier performance in the IGT (low outcome predictability/high ambiguity), whereas they made borderline-significant less risky decisions in the CRT (high outcome probability/low ambiguity) as compared to the control condition. Decision-making in healthy males may therefore be influenced by OT and adjusted as a function of contextual information, with implications for clinical trials investigating OT in neuropsychiatric conditions.
Psychosocial Adjustment Changes and Related Factors in Postoperative Oral Cancer Patients: A Longitudinal Study
Authors: Chen Yi-Wei , Lin Ting-Ru , Kuo Pei-Ling , Lee Shu-Chiung , Wu Kuo-Feng , Duong Tuyen Van , Wang Tsae-Jyy
Published: December 2022

Disease and treatment-related symptoms and dysfunctions can interfere with the psychosocial adjustment of patients with oral cancer. Identifying factors influencing psychosocial maladjustment is important because at-risk individuals can be targeted for early intervention. This prospective longitudinal study investigated psychosocial adjustment changes and associated factors in postoperative oral cancer patients. Data on psychosocial adjustment, facial disfigurement, symptoms, and social support were collected before surgery (T1) at one month (T2), three months (T3), and five months after discharge (T4). Fifty subjects completed the study, and their data were included in the analysis. Psychosocial maladjustment was reported in 50%, 59.2%, 66%, and 62% of subjects at T1, T2, T3, and T4, respectively. The subjects’ psychosocial adjustment deteriorated after surgery. Results from generalized estimating equations indicated that financial status, cancer stage, pain, speech problems, social eating problems, and less sexuality were significant predictors of changes in psychosocial adjustment. Patients with insufficient income, stage III/IV cancer, severe pain, speech problems, social eating problems, and less sexuality were at higher risk for postoperative psychosocial maladjustment. Continued psychosocial assessment and appropriate supportive measures are needed to strengthen the psychosocial adjustment of these high-risk groups.
A Narrative Review of Problems in Learning and Practicing Palliative Care in Neurology Clinics in Japan and Proposed Solutions
Authors: Oki Takeshi
Published: December 2022

As the understanding of the role of palliative care in neurology increases, there is the need to ensure that these developments include not only care at home and in hospitals but also in clinics. There are no reports on palliative care from neurology clinics in Japan, and this paper considers the problems and proposed solutions for improving palliative care provided at neurology clinics in Japan. In Japan, physicians in neurology clinics are extremely busy both during and after office hours with medical treatment and the preparation of various documents and are unable to conduct case conferences. Moreover, the education system for palliative care, especially for lifelong education, is not sufficient, and multidisciplinary cooperation is difficult due to the lack of specialists and their scattered locations. To improve the care provided for patients and their families, general palliative care should be included in the health insurance system with incentives and recognition, and mandatory lifelong education should be established so that all neurologists can provide palliative care. These proposals may be appropriate for other countries as palliative care in neurology is established.
Correction: La Torre et al. Role of Vitamin E and the Orexin System in Neuroprotection. Brain Sci. 2021, 11, 1098
Authors: La Torre Maria Ester , Villano Ines , Monda Marcellino , Messina Antonietta , Cibelli Giuseppe , Valenzano Anna , Pisanelli Daniela , Panaro Maria Antonietta , Tartaglia Nicola , Ambrosi Antonio , Carotenuto Marco , Monda Vincenzo , Messina Giovanni , Porro Chiara
Published: December 2022

In the original article [...]
Swelling Behavior and Flow Rates of a Novel Hydrophilic Gasket Used in Composite Geomembrane Vertical Cutoff Walls and Infrastructures Exposed to Contaminated Groundwater
Authors: Wang Min , Fu Xianlei , Jiang Zheyuan , Che Chi , Jiang Ningjun , Du Yanjun
Published: December 2022

The swelling capacity of novel hydrophilic gaskets used in geomembrane cutoff walls and infrastructures is critical for decreasing the flow rates of contaminated groundwater. This study investigated the swelling behavior, relaxation characteristics, flow rates, and micro-morphology of a hydrophilic gasket with different testing liquids. The radial swelling tests were performed using a device modified from single-lever consolidation instrument. A flow rates model apparatus was manufactured and employed to measure the flow rates of the poor-sealing hydrophilic gasket. According to the test results, the swelling ratio of the hydrophilic gaskets soaked in the DIW were the highest, followed by the NaCl solution, the MSW landfill leachate, and the CaCl2 solution. Relaxation phenomena appeared in all the specimens regardless of the testing liquids. The flow rates of the specimens penetrated with DIW, NaCl, and CaCl2 decreased to a stable state, and then increased extremely slowly to stable values. Moreover, self-healing of the hydrophilic gasket was observed. The micro-morphology indicated that sodium polyacrylate (PAAS) with insufficient expansion could separate from the matrix under high multivalent ionic strength or loading pressure conditions. Therefore, it is critical to develop the modified hydrophilic gasket with resistance to contaminated groundwater for a better barrier performance for use in contaminated sites and infrastructures.
Genetically Modified Circulating Levels of Advanced Glycation End-Products and Their Soluble Receptor (AGEs-RAGE Axis) with Risk and Mortality of Breast Cancer
Authors: Peng Yu , Liu Fubin , Qiao Yating , Wang Peng , Du Han , Si Changyu , Wang Xixuan , Chen Kexin , Song Fangfang
Published: December 2022

The interaction of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs) with their receptor (RAGE) elicits oxidative stress and inflammation, which is involved in the development of breast cancer. However, large-scale population-based evidence exploring genetically modified circulating levels of AGEs-RAGE axis with risk and mortality of breast cancer is scarce. We recruited 1051 pairs of age-matched breast cancers and controls and measured plasma AGEs and sRAGE concentrations by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard model were used to calculate the effects of plasma levels and genetic variants of the AGEs-RAGE axis and their combined effects on breast cancer risk and prognosis, respectively. Furthermore, linear regression was performed to assess the modifications in plasma AGEs/sRAGE levels by genetic predisposition. Higher levels of AGEs and AGEs/sRAGE-ratio were associated with an increased risk of breast cancer, but sRAGE levels were negatively associated with breast cancer risk, especially in women <60 years. We also observed a positive association between AGEs and the bad prognosis of breast cancer. Although we did not observe a significant contribution of genetic variants to breast cancer risk, rs2070600 and rs1800624 in the AGER gene were dose-dependently correlated with sRAGE levels. Further, compared to the haplotype CT at the lowest quartile of AGEs, haplotypes TT and TA were prominently associated with breast cancer risk in the highest quartile of AGEs. This study depicted a significant association between circulating levels of AGEs-RAGE axis and breast cancer risk and mortality and revealed the potential of plasma AGEs, especially coupled with AGER polymorphism as biomarkers of breast cancer.