bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Seroepidemiology of Maedi-Visna in Intensively Reared Dairy Sheep: A Two-Year Prospective Study
Authors: Kalogianni Aphrodite I. , Bouzalas Ilias , Bossis Ioannis , Gelasakis Athanasios I.
Published: July 2023

The objective of this study is to prospectively evaluate the seroepidemiology of maedi-visna (MV) infections in intensively reared dairy sheep. A total of 407 purebred Chios and Lacaune ewes from four farms were surveyed for two consecutive years and were serologically tested semiannually with an indirect ELISA at pre-mating and pre-lambing. The farms’ structure and management practices were similar and animal traits (age, breed, and production stage) were recorded. Based on the serological status, morbidity frequency measures were estimated, and ewes were categorized as constantly seronegative, constantly seropositive, seroconverted, seroreverted, or as animals with an intermittent presence of antibodies. During the study, period seroprevalence, incidence rate, and cumulative incidence were 84.8%, 33.6 new cases per 100 sheep-semesters, and 64.2%. Point-seroprevalence ranged from 48.5% to 96.0% among the studied farms and sampling occasions, and they increased by age. Increased morbidity frequency measures indicate the significance of horizontal transmission in intensive dairy sheep farms. A remarkable percentage of infected animals seroreverted (8.1%) or presented an intermittent presence of antibodies (10.3%) during the study, confirming the risk of misdiagnosis in cross-sectional studies and in the currently implemented testing and elimination programs. The serological patterns observed in our study need to be considered when studying MV epidemiology and for the designing of efficient MV elimination programs.
Development of a Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Intestinal In Vitro Platform for Profiling Amino Acid Digestion and Absorption of a Complete Diet
Authors: Pasquariello Rolando , Pavlovic Radmila , Chacon Marcelo A. , Camin Federica , Verdile Nicole , Løkka Guro , Panseri Sara , Faustini Massimo , Tandler Amos , Peggs David , Kortner Trond M. , Bitan Amir , Brevini Tiziana A. L. , Gandolfi Fulvio
Published: July 2023

The ever-increasing number and variation of raw materials utilized to provide alternative feed formulations continues to allow for a more sustainable and flexible approach. Testing all these options in vivo is still the most robust and reliable manner to pick the best raw material candidates, but it requires the use of large numbers of animals and is time-consuming and expensive. Therefore, we are developing an in vitro platform that can provide a reliable evaluation of new ingredients. The main aim of this work was to combine an in vitro digestion protocol of extruded, commercially relevant aquafeeds with the exposure of intestinal epithelial cells to the extracted bio-available fraction (BAF). The results show that 250,000 cells/cm2 represents the optimal seeding density and that up to 50% BAF concentration for up to 24 h had no negative effects on the epithelial barrier morphology and function. It is possible to determine amino acid digestibility and bioavailability in all the experimental conditions (with and without BSA, at 25% and 50% dilution) and at all time points (0, 6, and 24 h). However, BAF concentration, the medium used for its dilution, and the length of exposure to the different epithelial cell lines can all influence the results and, therefore, must be selected according to the final aim of the experiment.
Nutritional and Functional New Perspectives and Potential Health Benefits of Quinoa and Chia Seeds
Authors: Agarwal Aparna , Rizwana  , Tripathi Abhishek Dutt , Kumar Tarika , Sharma Kanti Prakash , Patel Sanjay Kumar Singh
Published: July 2023

Quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd) and chia (Salvia hispanica) are essential traditional crops with excellent nutritional properties. Quinoa is known for its high and good quality protein content and nine essential amino acids vital for an individual’s development and growth, whereas chia seeds contain high dietary fiber content, calories, lipids, minerals (calcium, magnesium, iron, phosphorus, and zinc), and vitamins (A and B complex). Chia seeds are also known for their presence of a high amount of omega-3 fatty acids. Both quinoa and chia seeds are gluten-free and provide medicinal properties due to bioactive compounds, which help combat various chronic diseases such as diabetes, obesity, cardiovascular diseases, and metabolic diseases such as cancer. Quinoa seeds possess phenolic compounds, particularly kaempferol, which can help prevent cancer. Many food products can be developed by fortifying quinoa and chia seeds in different concentrations to enhance their nutritional profile, such as extruded snacks, meat products, etc. Furthermore, it highlights the value-added products that can be developed by including quinoa and chia seeds, alone and in combination. This review focused on the recent development in quinoa and chia seeds nutritional, bioactive properties, and processing for potential human health and therapeutic applications.
T-Scan Novus System Application—Digital Occlusion Analysis of 3D Printed Orthodontics Retainers
Authors: Shopova Dobromira , Yaneva Antoniya , Bakova Desislava , Mihaylova Anna , Yordanova Miroslava , Yordanova Svetlana
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: This study aims to evaluate the occlusal force distribution across different quadrants during the placement of orthodontic retainers fabricated using a biocompatible material via digital design. (2) Materials and Methods: A cohort of 21 patients in the retention phase following orthodontic treatment was included in this study. Intraoral scans were obtained using Trios color (3Shape). For retainer fabrication, the splint studio module of the 3Shape design software was utilized. Occlusal evaluation was performed using T-Scan Novus (Tekscan). The Kolmogorov–Smirnov test, Wilcoxon signed ranks test, and Mann–Whitney U test were used for statistical analysis. (3) Results: The digital design set evenly distributed contacts on all occluding surfaces. These contacts, uniform in area, turned out to be uneven in pressure: right distal—37.14%, right frontal—11.4%, left frontal—11.46%, and left distal—39.99%. (4) Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that the digital design workflow has the capability to achieve uniform contact distribution by area. However, despite the achievement of uniform contact distribution, the study found that there was an unequal distribution of occlusal forces. Specifically, the distal sections of the teeth experienced significantly higher loading compared to the frontal sections.
Uncovering the Black Box of Coronary Artery Disease Diagnosis: The Significance of Explainability in Predictive Models
Authors: Samaras Agorastos-Dimitrios , Moustakidis Serafeim , Apostolopoulos Ioannis D. , Papageorgiou Elpiniki , Papandrianos Nikolaos
Published: July 2023

In recent times, coronary artery disease (CAD) prediction and diagnosis have been the subject of many Medical decision support systems (MDSS) that make use of machine learning (ML) and deep learning (DL) algorithms. The common ground of most of these applications is that they function as black boxes. They reach a conclusion/diagnosis using multiple features as input; however, the user is oftentimes oblivious to the prediction process and the feature weights leading to the eventual prediction. The primary objective of this study is to enhance the transparency and comprehensibility of a black-box prediction model designed for CAD. The dataset employed in this research comprises biometric and clinical information obtained from 571 patients, encompassing 21 different features. Among the instances, 43% of cases of CAD were confirmed through invasive coronary angiography (ICA). Furthermore, a prediction model utilizing the aforementioned dataset and the CatBoost algorithm is analyzed to highlight its prediction making process and the significance of each input datum. State-of-the-art explainability mechanics are employed to highlight the significance of each feature, and common patterns and differences with the medical bibliography are then discussed. Moreover, the findings are compared with common risk factors for CAD, to offer an evaluation of the prediction process from the medical expert’s point of view. By depicting how the algorithm weights the information contained in features, we shed light on the black-box mechanics of ML prediction models; by analyzing the findings, we explore their validity in accordance with the medical literature on the matter.
LightSeg: Local Spatial Perception Convolution for Real-Time Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Lei Xiaochun , Liang Jiaming , Gong Zhaoting , Jiang Zetao
Published: July 2023

Semantic segmentation is increasingly being applied on mobile devices due to advancements in mobile chipsets, particularly in low-power consumption scenarios. However, the lightweight design of mobile devices poses limitations on the receptive field, which is crucial for dense prediction problems. Existing approaches have attempted to balance lightweight designs and high accuracy by downsampling features in the backbone. However, this downsampling may result in the loss of local details at each network stage. To address this challenge, this paper presents a novel solution in the form of a compact and efficient convolutional neural network (CNN) for real-time applications: our proposed model, local spatial perception convolution (LSPConv). Furthermore, the effectiveness of our architecture is demonstrated on the Cityscapes dataset. The results show that our model achieves an impressive balance between accuracy and inference speed. Specifically, our LightSeg, which does not rely on ImageNet pretraining, achieves an mIoU of 76.1 at a speed of 61 FPS on the Cityscapes validation set, utilizing an RTX 2080Ti GPU with mixed precision. Additionally, it achieves a speed of 115.7 FPS on the Jetson NX with int8 precision.
Unstructured Grid-Based River–Coastal Ocean Circulation Modeling towards a Digital Twin of the Seto Inland Sea
Authors: Jeong Jae-Soon , Lee Han Soo
Published: July 2023

As computational techniques advance, the scope of digital twins (DTs) is expanding to encompass entire cities, oceans, or even the Earth. Digital twins of oceans can provide highly comprehensive insights and predictions, thus enabling better-informed decision-making regarding ocean-related activities and management. Here, a numerical model of the Seto Inland Sea (SIS), Japan, was built as a basis to establish a digital twin of the SIS. Spatially varying filtering parameters and grid resolutions were applied to facilitate the robust and accurate simulation of coastal and oceanic processes even under varying extreme conditions. The modeling results were validated using observational datasets from forty-two tidal stations, one mooring system, and thirteen water thermometers. The results represented tidal variations, with NRMSE values below 0.15 and R2 values exceeding 0.87 at all tidal stations. The NRMSE and R2 values for currents were approximately 0.14 and 0.76, respectively. The model reproduced the extreme storm surge event causing a sea level rise of 1.5 m near Osaka City resulting from Typhoon Jebi in 2018. The model was shown to enable analyses of complex circulations and hazards in the SIS by accurately replicating barotropic and baroclinic processes. After additional modules are added, this model will serve as a basis for constructing a digital twin of the SIS.
Examining the Microclimate Pattern and Related Spatial Perception of the Urban Stormwater Management Landscape: The Case of Rain Gardens
Authors: Ge Mengting , Huang Yang , Zhu Yifanzi , Kim Mintai , Cui Xiaolei
Published: July 2023

This study examines the microclimate pattern and related spatial perception of urban green stormwater infrastructure (GSI) and the stormwater management landscape, using rain gardens as a case study. It investigates the relationship between different rain garden design factors, such as scale, depth, and planting design, and their effects on microclimate patterns and human spatial perception. Taking an area in Blacksburg, Virginia, as the study site, twelve rain garden design scenarios are generated by combining different design factors. The potential air temperature, relative humidity, and wind speed/direction are analyzed through computational simulation. Additionally, feelings of comfort, the visual beauty of the landscape, and the overall favorite are used as an evaluation index to investigate people’s perception of various rain garden design options. The study found that a multilayer and complex planting design can add more areas with moderate temperature and higher humidity. It also significantly improves people’s subjective perception of a rain garden. Furthermore, a larger scale rain garden can make people feel more comfortable and improve the visual beauty of the landscape, highlighting the importance of designing larger and recreational bioretention cells in GSI systems. Regarding depth, a relatively flatter rain garden with a complex planting design can bring stronger air flow and achieve better visual comfort and visual beauty. Overall, by examining the microclimate pattern and related perception of rain gardens, this study provides insight into better rain garden design strategies for the urban stormwater management landscape. It explores the potential of rain garden design in urban GSI and responds to climate change.
Extracellular Matrix Proteomics: The mdx-4cv Mouse Diaphragm as a Surrogate for Studying Myofibrosis in Dystrophinopathy
Authors: Dowling Paul , Gargan Stephen , Zweyer Margit , Swandulla Dieter , Ohlendieck Kay
Published: July 2023

The progressive degeneration of the skeletal musculature in Duchenne muscular dystrophy is accompanied by reactive myofibrosis, fat substitution, and chronic inflammation. Fibrotic changes and reduced tissue elasticity correlate with the loss in motor function in this X-chromosomal disorder. Thus, although dystrophinopathies are due to primary abnormalities in the DMD gene causing the almost-complete absence of the cytoskeletal Dp427-M isoform of dystrophin in voluntary muscles, the excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix proteins presents a key histopathological hallmark of muscular dystrophy. Animal model research has been instrumental in the characterization of dystrophic muscles and has contributed to a better understanding of the complex pathogenesis of dystrophinopathies, the discovery of new disease biomarkers, and the testing of novel therapeutic strategies. In this article, we review how mass-spectrometry-based proteomics can be used to study changes in key components of the endomysium, perimysium, and epimysium, such as collagens, proteoglycans, matricellular proteins, and adhesion receptors. The mdx-4cv mouse diaphragm displays severe myofibrosis, making it an ideal model system for large-scale surveys of systematic alterations in the matrisome of dystrophic fibers. Novel biomarkers of myofibrosis can now be tested for their appropriateness in the preclinical and clinical setting as diagnostic, pharmacodynamic, prognostic, and/or therapeutic monitoring indicators.
Weak Radiofrequency Field Effects on Chemical Parameters That Characterize Oxidative Stress in Human Fibrosarcoma and Fibroblast Cells
Authors: Gurhan Hakki , Bajtoš Marek , Barnes Frank
Published: July 2023

In the last few decades, evidence has surfaced that weak radiofrequency (RF) fields can influence biological systems. This work aims to improve our understanding of how externally applied weak RF fields alter concentrations of chemical parameters that characterize oxidative stress. We conducted a series of experiments to investigate the effects of applying weak RF magnetic fields within the 3–5 MHz region on mitochondrial respiration in both human fibrosarcoma and fibroblast cells over a period of four days. Our experimental data show that RF fields between 3 and 5 MHz were able to change the modulation of mitochondrial signaling by changing the cell growth, mitochondrial mass, and oxidative stress. Exposure to RF fields at 4.2 MHz significantly increased the mitochondrial mass and oxidative stress in fibrosarcoma cells. There are substantial concerns that extended exposure to weak RF fields can lead to health effects. The ability to control these parameters by external magnetic fields may have important clinical implications.
Anti-Cytosolic 5′-Nucleotidase 1A in the Diagnosis of Patients with Suspected Idiopathic Inflammatory Myopathies: An Italian Real-Life, Single-Centre Retrospective Study
Authors: Porcelli Brunetta , d’Alessandro Miriana , Gupta Latika , Grazzini Silvia , Volpi Nila , Bacarelli Maria Romana , Ginanneschi Federica , Biasi Giovanni , Bellisai Francesca , Fabbroni Marta , Bennett David , Fabiani Claudia , Cantarini Luca , Bargagli Elena , Frediani Bruno , Conticini Edoardo
Published: July 2023

Background: Anti-cytosolic 5′-nucleotidase 1A (anti-cN1A) antibodies were proposed as a biomarker for the diagnosis of inclusion body myositis (IBM), but conflicting specificity and sensitivity evidence limits its use. Our study aimed to assess the diagnostic accuracy of anti-cN1A in a cohort of patients who underwent a myositis line immunoassay for suspected idiopathic inflammatory myopathies (IIM). We also assessed the agreement between two testing procedures: line immunoassay (LIA) and enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA). Materials and methods: We collected retrospective clinical and serological data for 340 patients who underwent a myositis antibody assay using LIA (EUROLINE Autoimmune Inflammatory Myopathies 16 Ag et cN-1A (IgG) line immunoassay) and verification with an anti-cN1A antibody assay using ELISA (IgG) (Euroimmun Lubeck, Germany). Results: The serum samples of 20 (5.88%) patients (15 females, 5 males, mean age 58.76 ± 18.31) tested positive for anti-cN1A using LIA, but only two out of twenty were diagnosed with IBM. Seventeen out of twenty tested positive for anti-cN1A using ELISA (median IQR, 2.9 (1.9–4.18)). Conclusions: Our study suggests excellent concordance between LIA and ELISA for detecting anti-cN1A antibodies. LIA may be a rapid and useful adjunct, and it could even replace ELISA for cN1A assay. However, the high prevalence of diseases other than IBM in our cohort of anti-cN1A-positive patients did not allow us to consider anti-cN1A antibodies as a specific biomarker for IBM.
Interleukin 5 Receptor Subunit Alpha Expression as a Potential Biomarker in Patients with Nasal Polyposis
Authors: Heredero-Jung David , Elena-Pérez Sandra , García-Sánchez Asunción , Estravís Miguel , Isidoro-García María , Sanz Catalina , Dávila Ignacio
Published: July 2023

Chronic Rhinosinusitis with Nasal Polyposis (CRSwNP) affects the quality of life of patients suffering from it. The search for a suitable biomarker has been conducted over the last decades. Interleukin 5 receptor subunit alpha (IL-5Rα) involves the activation, maintenance, and survival of eosinophils, which are highly tied to chronic inflammatory processes of the airways, like asthma or CRSwNP. In this study, we evaluate the utility of IL5RA as a genetic biomarker in CRSwNP. IL5RA mRNA expression level was analyzed in different groups of patients by performing qPCR assays. A significant increase in IL5RA expression was observed in CRSwNP patients, especially those with asthma and atopy. We found differences in expression levels when comparing groups with or without polyposis or asthma, as well as some atypical cases related to eosinophil levels. That opens a path to future studies to further characterize groups of patients with common features in the context of pharmacogenetics and in an era towards developing a more precise personalized treatment with IL-5Rα as a therapeutic target for CRSwNP.
Evaluation of Fine Needle Aspiration Cytopathology in Salivary Gland Tumors under Milan System: Challenges, Misdiagnosis Rates, and Clinical Recommendations
Authors: Huang Yi-Tien , Ho Chen-Yu , Ou Chun-Yen , Huang Cheng-Chih , Lee Wei-Ting , Tsai Shu-Wei , Hsu Heng-Jui , Hung David Shang-Yu , Tsai Chien-Sheng , Fang Sheen-Yie , Tsai Sen-Tien , Hsiao Jenn-Ren , Chang Chan-Chi , Chen Chien-Chin
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Salivary gland tumors are rare in the head and neck. To determine the need and extent of surgical intervention, fine needle aspiration (FNA) is a widely accepted tool to approach salivary gland lesions. However, the FNA cytology varies between entities, while the lack of uniform terminology makes diagnosis more challenging. Since establishing the Milan system for reporting salivary gland cytopathology (MSRSGC) has become an increasingly accepted reporting standard, further examination and detailed recommendations were needed. (2) Methods: Between April 2013 and October 2021, 375 cases with FNA and salivary gland resection were retrospectively collected. All FNA specimens were reclassified according to the criteria of MSRSGC. After surgical excision, the FNA data were compared with the histological diagnosis to estimate the risk of malignancy (ROM), the risk of neoplasm (RON), and the diagnostic accuracy for each diagnostic category. (3) Results: Our cohort’s distribution of ROM and RON was similar to the MSRSGC’s recommendation. Carcinoma ex pleomorphic adenoma (CXPA) has the highest rate (66.7%) of misdiagnosed as a nonneoplastic lesion or benign salivary gland tumor. Pleomorphic adenoma (PA) and Warthin’s tumor were the most common benign salivary gland tumors, while the cytology diagnosis of Warthin’s tumor seems more challenging than PAs. (4) Conclusions: Despite the convenience and effectiveness of MSRSGC, we suggest close follow-up, re-biopsy, or surgical removal for salivary lesions even in Milan IVA-Benign for possibly missing FNA of malignancy, mixed lesions, or prevention of malignant transformation.
Side Chain-Modified Benzothiazinone Derivatives with Anti-Mycobacterial Activity
Authors: Fan Dongguang , Wang Bin , Stelitano Giovanni , Savková Karin , Riabova Olga , Shi Rui , Wu Xiaomei , Chiarelli Laurent R. , Mikušová Katarína , Makarov Vadim , Lu Yu , Hong Yuzhi , Qiao Chunhua
Published: July 2023

Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading infectious disease with serious antibiotic resistance. The benzothiazinone (BTZ) scaffold PBTZ169 kills Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) through the inhibition of the essential cell wall enzyme decaprenylphosphoryl-β-D-ribose 2’-oxidase (DprE1). PBTZ169 shows anti-TB potential in animal models and pilot clinical tests. Although highly potent, the BTZ type DprE1 inhibitors in general show extremely low aqueous solubility, which adversely affects the drug-like properties. To improve the compounds physicochemical properties, we generated a series of BTZ analogues. Several optimized compounds had MIC values against Mtb lower than 0.01 µM. The representative compound 37 displays improved solubility and bioavailability compared to the lead compound. Additionally, compound 37 shows Mtb-killing ability in an acute infection mouse model.
The Development and Evaluation of Reagentless Glucose Biosensors Using Dendritic Gold Nanostructures as a Promising Sensing Platform
Authors: German Natalija , Popov Anton , Ramanaviciene Almira
Published: July 2023

Reagentless electrochemical glucose biosensors were developed and investigated. A graphite rod (GR) electrode modified with electrochemically synthesized dendritic gold nanostructures (DGNs) and redox mediators (Med) such as ferrocenecarboxylic acid (FCA), 1,10-phenathroline-5,6-dione (PD), N,N,N′,N′-tetramethylbenzidine (TMB) or tetrathiafulvalene (TTF) in combination with glucose oxidase (GOx) (GR/DGNs/FCA/GOx, GR/DGNs/PD/GOx, GR/DGNs/TMB/GOx, or GR/DGNs/TTF/GOx) were developed and electrochemically investigated. A biosensor based on threefold-layer-by-layer-deposited PD and GOx (GR/DGNs/(PD/GOx)3) was found to be the most suitable for the determination of glucose. To improve the performance of the developed biosensor, the surface of the GR/DGNs/(PD/GOx)3 electrode was modified with polypyrrole (Ppy) for 5 h. A glucose biosensor based on a GR/DGNs/(PD/GOx)3/Ppy(5 h) electrode was characterized using a wide linear dynamic range of up to 39.0 mmol L−1 of glucose, sensitivity of 3.03 µA mM−1 cm−2, limit of detection of 0.683 mmol L−1, and repeatability of 9.03% for a 29.4 mmol L−1 glucose concentration. The Ppy-based glucose biosensor was characterized by a good storage stability (τ1/2 = 9.0 days). Additionally, the performance of the developed biosensor in blood serum was investigated.
A Multimodal Approach for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia (MAINSTREAM): A Study Protocol
Authors: Cotelli Maria , Baglio Francesca , Manenti Rosa , Blasi Valeria , Galimberti Daniela , Gobbi Elena , Pagnoni Ilaria , Rossetto Federica , Rotondo Emanuela , Esposito Valentina , De Icco Roberto , Giudice Carla , Tassorelli Cristina , Catricalà Eleonora , Perini Giulia , Alaimo Cristina , Campana Elena , Benussi Luisa , Ghidoni Roberta , Binetti Giuliano , Carandini Tiziana , Cappa Stefano Francesco
Published: July 2023

Primary Progressive Aphasia (PPA) is a syndrome due to different neurodegenerative disorders selectively disrupting language functions. PPA specialist care is underdeveloped. There are very few specialists (neurologists, psychiatrists, neuropsychologists, and speech therapists) and few hospital- or community-based services dedicated to the diagnosis and continuing care of people with PPA. Currently, healthcare systems struggle to provide adequate coverage of care that is too often fragmented, uncoordinated, and unresponsive to the needs of people with PPA and their families. Recently, attention has been gained by non-invasive brain stimulation techniques that allow a personalized treatment approach, such as transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS). The MAINSTREAM trial looks forward to introducing and evaluating therapeutic innovations such as tDCS coupled with language therapy in rehabilitation settings. A Multimodal Approach for Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment of Primary Progressive Aphasia, MAINSTREAM (ID: 3430931) was registered in the clinicaltrials.gov database (identifier: NCT05730023) on 15 February 2023.
Understanding the Role of Electrolyte Cations on Activity and Product Selectivity of CO2 Reduction over Cu Electrode
Authors: Shah Aamir Hassan , Gong Yue , Wang Yanjie , Woldu Abebe Reda , He Tao
Published: July 2023

The electrocatalytic conversion of CO2 on a Cu electrode has the potential to produce valuable chemicals such as hydrocarbons and oxygenated compounds. While the influence of electrolyte cation on the activity and selectivity of the CO2 reduction reaction (CO2RR) on Cu has been widely observed, the specific mechanism through which cation species affect the CO2RR remains unclear and subject to debate. In this work, the CO2RR in the carbonate electrolytes containing different alkali metals (Li+, Na+, K+, Rb+, and Cs+) was investigated at potentials from −0.1 to −1.1 V (vs. RHE) over a Cu electrode using electrochemical techniques. Charge transfer kinetics, adsorption of species, and mass transport were considered comprehensively during the analysis. It is found that several factors can play a role in the CO2RR, including hydrated cation adsorption, preferential hydrolysis, and interaction between the cation and adsorbed species, with the dominating factor determined by the external bias and cation species. Consequently, a coherent interpretation of the influence of electrolyte cations on the intrinsic kinetics of the CO2RR has been put forward. We envision that these insights will greatly contribute to the development of efficient catalytic systems and the optimization of catalytic conditions, thereby advancing progress toward commercial applications in this field.
Recent Advances in the Technologies and Catalytic Processes of Ethanol Production
Authors: Latif Mohd Nor , Wan Isahak Wan Nor Roslam , Samsuri Alinda , Hasan Siti Zubaidah , Manan Wan Nabilah , Yaakob Zahira
Published: July 2023

On the basis of its properties, ethanol has been identified as the most used biofuel because of its remarkable contribution in reducing emissions of carbon dioxide which are the source of greenhouse gas and prompt climate change or global warming worldwide. The use of ethanol as a new source of biofuel reduces the dependence on conventional gasoline, thus showing a decreasing pattern of production every year. This article contains an updated overview of recent developments in the new technologies and operations in ethanol production, such as the hydration of ethylene, biomass residue, lignocellulosic materials, fermentation, electrochemical reduction, dimethyl ether, reverse water gas shift, and catalytic hydrogenation reaction. An improvement in the catalytic hydrogenation of CO2 into ethanol needs extensive research to address the properties that need modification, such as physical, catalytic, and chemical upgrading. Overall, this assessment provides basic suggestions for improving ethanol synthesis as a source of renewable energy in the future.
Acute Circadian Disruption Due to Constant Light Promotes Caspase 1 Activation in the Mouse Hippocampus
Authors: Ketelauri Pikria , Scharov Katerina , von Gall Charlotte , Johann Sonja
Published: July 2023

In mammals, the circadian system controls various physiological processes to maintain metabolism, behavior, and immune function during a daily 24 h cycle. Although driven by a cell-autonomous core clock in the hypothalamus, rhythmic activities are entrained to external cues, such as environmental lighting conditions. Exposure to artificial light at night (ALAN) can cause circadian disruption and thus is linked to an increased occurrence of civilization diseases in modern society. Moreover, alterations of circadian rhythms and dysregulation of immune responses, including inflammasome activation, are common attributes of neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s disease. Although there is evidence that the inflammasome in the hippocampus is activated by stress, the direct effect of circadian disruption on inflammasome activation remains poorly understood. In the present study, we aimed to analyze whether exposure to constant light (LL) affects inflammasome activation in the mouse hippocampus. In addition to decreased circadian power and reduced locomotor activity, we found cleaved caspase 1 significantly elevated in the hippocampus of mice exposed to LL. However, we did not find hallmarks of inflammasome priming or cleavage of pro-interleukins. These findings suggest that acute circadian disruption leads to an assembled “ready to start” inflammasome, which may turn the brain more vulnerable to additional aversive stimuli.
Facile Synthesis of Ni-Doped ZnO Nanostructures via Laser-Assisted Chemical Bath Synthesis with High and Durable Photocatalytic Activity
Authors: Zyoud Samer H. , Ganesh Vanga , Che Abdullah Che Azurahanim , Yahia Ibrahim S. , Zyoud Ahed H. , Abdelkader Atef F. I. , Daher Malek G. , Nasor Mohamed , Shahwan Moyad , Zahran Heba Y. , Abd El-sadek Mahmoud S. , Kamoun Elbadawy A. , Altarifi Saleh M. , Abdel-wahab Mohamed Sh.
Published: July 2023

Pure and Ni-doped (1%, 2%, and 3%) nanostructures were synthesized using a novel laser-assisted chemical bath synthesis (LACBS) technique. For the first time, LACBS was used to create a doping solution utilizing a 7 W blue laser with a 444.4 nm wavelength and a continuous beam. The Ni-doping concentration was varied by changing the amount of Ni precursor added. All samples were analyzed using XRD, SEM, EDX, FTIR, UV–Vis, and photocatalysis tests for photodegradation under blue laser illumination. XRD was used to confirm that the tested ZnO had a hexagonal wurtzite structure. The crystallite size decreased as the Ni-doping concentration rose. EDX experiments were conducted to analyze the elemental characteristics of the pure and Ni-doped (1%, 2%, and 3%) nanostructures. The existence of nanoscale hexagonal structures was confirmed through SEM studies. The band gap values of the pure and Ni-doped ZnO nanostructures decreased as the doping concentration increased. FTIR studies were conducted to examine the functional groups of the pure and doped samples. The produced materials exhibited excellent photocatalytic performance toward the degradation of MB organic dye, an example of a pollutant found in wastewater.
Electromagnetically Induced Transparency Analog of Asymmetric Perovskite Metamaterial in the THz Spectral Region
Authors: Kim Tae-Han , Lee Bo Wha , Seo Felix Jaetae
Published: July 2023

The analogy of electromagnetically induced transparency (EIT) in perovskite metamaterials is characterized by the numerical simulations in finite-difference time-domain (FDTD). The perovskite metamaterials consist of two cut wire resonators (CWRs) and a disk resonator (DR) on a polyimide substrate. The analysis revealed the characteristic dynamics of the electromagnetic field, the near-field couplings of CWRs and DR, and the EIT-like spectral features of perovskite metamaterials as functions of the asymmetry parameter and polarization direction. The strong coupling and destructive interference of bright and bright–dark transitions in perovskite metamaterials displayed EIT-like transparency at 653.5 GHz with a high Q-factor of approximately 1470, a sensitivity of 531 GHz/RIU and a figure of merit of around 780. In addition, perovskite metamaterials exhibited slow light with a group delay of about 106 ps and a group index of approximately 3100. These results may provide an important perspective for understanding the coupling mechanism and applications of perovskite materials in slow-light devices, THz sensors, and tunable switching in THz spectral region.
Adaptive Genetic Management of a Reintroduction Program from Captive Breeding to Metapopulation Management of an Arboreal Marsupial
Authors: Pierson Jennifer C. , Berry Laurence , Alexander Lauren , Anson Jennifer , Birkett Michelle , Kemp Leah , Pascoe Bruce A. , Farquharson Katherine A. , Hogg Carolyn J.
Published: July 2023

The application of genetic data to conservation management programs can be hindered by the mismatch in timelines for management decisions and the acquisition of genetic data, particularly genomic sequence data that may require outsourcing. While applying genetic principles where data are absent can provide general guidelines for actions, genetic data can often fine-tune actions through adaptive management. We describe the adaptive genetic management of the establishment of a metapopulation of a small arboreal marsupial, the red-tailed phascogale (Phascogale calura). Two captive breeding programs were established as source populations, with genetic principles applied to the establishment of the first program and empirical genetic data used to guide the establishment of the second program. Genetic data from both programs were then used to allocate founders to three new populations to create a metapopulation with diversity both within and among the sites. Building and maintaining the diversity of metapopulations when recovering threatened species will reduce pressure on the original source populations and increase the resilience of the species.
Additions to the Pacific Fauna of Haplomunnidae (Isopoda: Asellota) with Descriptions of Three New Species from the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench Region
Authors: Golovan Olga A. , Malyutina Marina V. , Sharina Svetlana N.
Published: July 2023

Three new species of the rare deep-sea family Haplomunnidae are described from the abyssal of the Northwestern (NW) Pacific adjacent to the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench (KKT) based on material collected during the deep-sea expeditions KuramBio (2012) and SokhoBio (2015). Previously, only three species of the genus Haplomunna Richardson, 1908 were described in the whole North Pacific, including one species from its western part. Haplomunna kurilensis Golovan and Malyutina sp. nov., closely resembling H. japonica (Gamô, 1983) from the upper hadal of the Japan Trench, was the most numerous haplomunnid species in the studied region. Thylakogaster wilsoni Malyutina and Golovan sp. nov., and Abyssaranea minuta Golovan and Malyutina sp. nov., are the first species of their genera described from the Pacific Ocean. For H. kurilensis sp. nov. and T. wilsoni sp. nov., DNA sequences were obtained for 18S rRNA and 28S rRNA genes. The phylogenetic relationship between these species, as well as their position within the Haplomunnidae, were reconstructed using 18S rDNA.
Percutaneous CT-Guided Bone Biopsies: Indications, Feasibility and Diagnostic Yield in the Different Skeletal Sites—From the Skull to the Toe
Authors: Spinnato Paolo , Colangeli Marco , Rinaldi Raffaella , Ponti Federico
Published: July 2023

CT-guided bone biopsies are currently the diagnostic tool of choice for histopathological (and microbiological) diagnoses of skeletal lesions. Several research works have well-demonstrated their safety and feasibility in almost all skeletal regions. This comprehensive review article aims at summarizing the general concepts in regard to bone biopsy procedures, current clinical indications, the feasibility and the diagnostic yield in different skeletal sites, particularly in the most delicate and difficult-to-reach ones. The choice of the correct imaging guidance and factors affecting the diagnostic rate, as well as possible complications, will also be discussed. Since the diagnostic yield, technical difficulties, and complications risk of a CT-guided bone biopsy significantly vary depending on the different skeletal sites, subdivided analyses of different anatomical sites are provided. The information included in the current review article may be useful for clinicians assisting patients with possible bone neoplasms, as well as radiologists involved in the imaging diagnoses of skeletal lesions and/or in performing bone biopsies.
The Contribution of Multiplexing Single Cell RNA Sequencing in Acute Myeloid Leukemia
Authors: Madaci Lamia , Gard Charlyne , Nin Sébastien , Venton Geoffroy , Rihet Pascal , Puthier Denis , Loriod Béatrice , Costello Régis
Published: July 2023

Decades ago, the treatment for acute myeloid leukemia relied on cytarabine and anthracycline. However, advancements in medical research have introduced targeted therapies, initially employing monoclonal antibodies such as ant-CD52 and anti-CD123, and subsequently utilizing specific inhibitors that target molecular mutations like anti-IDH1, IDH2, or FLT3. The challenge lies in determining the role of these therapeutic options, considering the inherent tumor heterogeneity associated with leukemia diagnosis and the clonal drift that this type of tumor can undergo. Targeted drugs necessitate an examination of various therapeutic targets at the individual cell level rather than assessing the entire population. It is crucial to differentiate between the prognostic value and therapeutic potential of a specific molecular target, depending on whether it is found in a terminally differentiated cell with limited proliferative potential or a stem cell with robust capabilities for both proliferation and self-renewal. However, this cell-by-cell analysis is accompanied by several challenges. Firstly, the scientific aspect poses difficulties in comparing different single cell analysis experiments despite efforts to standardize the results through various techniques. Secondly, there are practical obstacles as each individual cell experiment incurs significant financial costs and consumes a substantial amount of time. A viable solution lies in the ability to process multiple samples simultaneously, which is a distinctive feature of the cell hashing technique. In this study, we demonstrate the applicability of the cell hashing technique for analyzing acute myeloid leukemia cells. By comparing it to standard single cell analysis, we establish a strong correlation in various parameters such as quality control, gene expression, and the analysis of leukemic blast markers in patients. Consequently, this technique holds the potential to become an integral part of the biological assessment of acute myeloid leukemia, contributing to the personalized and optimized management of the disease, particularly in the context of employing targeted therapies.
Evaluating the Intellectual Structure of the Knowledge Base on Transformational School Leadership: A Bibliometric and Science Mapping Analysis
Authors: Karakose Turgut , Tülübaş Tijen , Papadakis Stamatios , Yirci Ramazan
Published: July 2023

Transformational leadership has been persistently studied in the educational administration field considering that it can be a viable tool to respond to the increasing demands on school systems for greater effectiveness. As a result, a rich knowledge base has been accumulated. Our study aims to investigate this knowledge base by combining bibliometric and science mapping analysis so as to exhibit its intellectual and conceptual architecture, and to reveal the strategic themes that emerged during the scientific evolution of transformational school leadership (TSL). 300 articles retrieved from the Scopus database were included in the analysis. The thematic evolution analysis was performed using the SciMAT software over three time periods: the Incubation Period (1989–2009), the Development Period (2010–2020), and the Maturation Period (2021–2022). The findings show that research during the Incubation Period mostly attempted to conceptualize TSL while it mostly focused on principals, instructional leadership, and self-efficacy during the Development Period. The mentoring theme emerged during the first period but disappeared later without being fully-developed. Teacher leadership emerged as a weakly-addressed theme during all periods. Work-family conflict and digital competencies were the two prominent themes during the Maturation Period while online learning and learning culture were found to be the emerging themes. The findings suggest significant implications for the sustainable development of the TSL research field.
Fast CU Decision Algorithm Based on CNN and Decision Trees for VVC
Authors: Li Hongchan , Zhang Peng , Jin Baohua , Zhang Qiuwen
Published: July 2023

Compared with the previous generation of High Efficiency Video Coding (HEVC), Versatile Video Coding (VVC) introduces a quadtree and multi-type tree (QTMT) partition structure with nested multi-class trees so that the coding unit (CU) partition can better match the video texture features. This partition structure makes the compression efficiency of VVC significantly improved, but the computational complexity is also significantly increased, resulting in an increase in encoding time. Therefore, we propose a fast CU partition decision algorithm based on DenseNet network and decision tree (DT) classifier to reduce the coding complexity of VVC and save more coding time. We extract spatial feature vectors based on the DenseNet network model. Spatial feature vectors are constructed by predicting the boundary probabilities of 4 × 4 blocks in 64 × 64 coding units. Then, using the spatial features as the input of the DT classifier, through the classification function of the DT classifier model, the top N division modes with higher prediction probability are selected, and other division modes are skipped to reduce the computational complexity. Finally, the optimal partition mode is selected by comparing the RD cost. Our proposed algorithm achieves 47.6% encoding time savings on VTM10.0, while BDBR only increases by 0.91%.
YOLO-Xray: A Bubble Defect Detection Algorithm for Chip X-ray Images Based on Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Wang Jie , Lin Bin , Li Gaomin , Zhou Yuezheng , Zhong Lijun , Li Xuan , Zhang Xiaohu
Published: July 2023

In the manufacturing of chips, the accurate and effective detection of internal bubble defects of chips is essential to maintain product reliability. In general, the inspection is performed manually by viewing X-ray images, which is time-consuming and less reliable. To solve the above problems, an improved bubble defect detection model YOLO-Xray based on the YOLOv5 algorithm for chip X-ray images is proposed. First, the chip X-ray images are preprocessed by image segmentation to construct the chip X-ray defect dataset, namely, CXray. Then, in the input stage, the K-means++ algorithm is used to re-cluster the CXray dataset to generate the anchors suitable for our dataset. In the backbone network, a micro-scale detection head is added to improve the capabilities for small defect detection. In the neck network, the bi-direction feature fusion idea of BiFPN is used to construct a new feature fusion network based on the improved backbone to fuse the semantic features of different layers. In addition, the Quality Focal Loss function is used to replace the cross-entropy loss function to solve the imbalance of positive and negative samples. The experimental results show that the mean average precision (mAP) of the YOLO-Xray algorithm on the CXray dataset reaches 93.5%, which is 5.1% higher than the original YOLOv5. Meanwhile, the YOLO-Xray algorithm achieves state-of-the-art detection accuracy and speed compared with other mainstream object detection models. This shows the proposed YOLO-Xray algorithm can provide technical support for bubble defect detection in chip X-ray images. The CXray dataset is also open and available at CXray.
Miniaturized Metamaterial-Inspired Travelling Wave Tube for S Band
Authors: Xiong Ying , Tang Xianfeng , Ma Juncheng , Yu Liping
Published: July 2023

A miniaturized traveling wave tube (TWT) was studied by proposing a novel metamaterial (MTM) slow wave structure (SWS). The dispersion results show that n = −1 space harmonic of the fundamental mode exhibits the “forward” wave properties, which is the foundation of the MTM-inspired TWT. Meanwhile, the interaction impedance for mode 2 of the novel MTM SWS can be sharply decreased by introducing four blend edges to weaken the corresponding longitudinal electric field. Also, two coaxial couplers are presented to input/output the signals. The transmission results show that the reflection is as low as −15 dB from 2.90 GHz to 3 GHz, which ensures the amplified signal can be effectively outputted. The MTM-inspired TWT exhibits miniaturized superiority for its compact high frequency structure including the MTM SWS and the coaxial couplers. Especially, for the high-frequency structure, the transverse and longitudinal sizes are ~λ/5 and ~3λ, respectively (λ is the free-space wavelength at the operating frequencies). The simulation of the beam wave interaction shows that the proposed MTM-inspired TWT yields output powers of kW levels from 2.90 GHz to 3 GHz, with a gain of 23.5–25.8 dB and electronic efficiency of 14–22% when the beam current is 0.5 A and the beam voltage is 13 kV. The results indicate that the gain per wavelength is as high as 8.5 dB in the operating bands. The simulation results confirm that it is possible to weaken the backward wave oscillation from the higher mode in the miniaturized MTM-inspired TWT.