bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cognition, prior aggression, and psychopathic traits in relation to impaired multimodal emotion recognition in psychotic spectrum disorders
Authors: Högman Lennart , Gavalova Gabriela , Laukka Petri , Kristiansson Marianne , Källman Malin V. , Fischer Hakan , Johansson Anette G. M.
Published: June 2023

Background

Psychopathic traits have been associated with impaired emotion recognition in criminal, clinical and community samples. A recent study however, suggested that cognitive impairment reduced the relationship between psychopathy and emotion recognition. We therefore investigated if reasoning ability and psychomotor speed were impacting emotion recognition in individuals with psychotic spectrum disorders (PSD) with and without a history of aggression, as well as in healthy individuals, more than self-rated psychopathy ratings on the Triarchic Psychopathy Measure (TriPM).

Methods

Eighty individuals with PSD (schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, delusional disorder, other psychoses, psychotic bipolar disorder) and documented history of aggression (PSD+Agg) were compared with 54 individuals with PSD without prior aggression (PSD-Agg) and with 86 healthy individuals on the Emotion Recognition Assessment in Multiple Modalities (ERAM test). Individuals were psychiatrically stable and in remission from possible substance use disorders. Scaled scores on matrix reasoning, averages of dominant hand psychomotor speed and self-rated TriPM scores were obtained.

Results

Associations existed between low reasoning ability, low psychomotor speed, patient status and prior aggression with total accuracy on the ERAM test. PSD groups performed worse than the healthy group. Whole group correlations between total and subscale scores of TriPM to ERAM were found, but no associations with TriPM scores within each group or in general linear models when accounting for reasoning ability, psychomotor speed, understanding of emotion words and prior aggression.

Conclusion

Self-rated psychopathy was not independently linked to emotion recognition in PSD groups when considering prior aggression, patient status, reasoning ability, psychomotor speed and emotion word understanding.
Family function and anxiety among junior school students during the COVID-19 pandemic: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Guo Zhifang , Zhao Juan , Peng Jiani
Published: June 2023

Background

The prevalence of anxiety among adolescents is relatively high during an epidemic. Studies have reported that family function and perceived stress are important factors affecting adolescents’ anxiety. However, only few studies have explored the factors influencing the relationship between family function and anxiety. Therefore, this study explored the mediating and moderating mechanisms underlying this relationship among junior school student during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

745 junior school students completed family function, perceived stress, and anxiety questionnaires.

Results

(1) The junior school students that were left-behind tended to show lower family function (t = −4.21, p < 0.001), greater perceived stress (t = 2.72, p < 0.01), and higher anxiety (t = 4.24, p < 0.001), (2) Family function in junior school students was negatively associated with anxiety (r = −0.35, p < 0.001); perceived stress mediated the relationship between family function and anxiety (p < 0.001), and (3) Whether the student was left-behind (LB) moderated the link between family function and anxiety (β = −0.16, t = −3.33, p < 0.001) and between family function and perceived stress (β = −0.22, t = −2.61, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

These findings suggest a negative association between family function and anxiety. Knowledge of the mediating role of perceived stress and moderating role of being left-behind may help prevent and improve anxiety among junior school students during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Using Block Kriging as a Spatial Smooth Interpolator to Address Missing Values and Reduce Variability in Maize Field Yield Data
Authors: Koutsos Thomas M. , Menexes Georgios C. , Eleftherohorinos Ilias G. , Alexandridis Thomas K.
Published: June 2023

Block Kriging (a spatial interpolation method) and log10 transformation were compared for their effectiveness in reducing relative variance (coefficient of variance: CV) and estimate mean values in all harvested maize plants grown in three randomly taken field plots and for harvested plants after removing the “edge or margin” ones. The results showed that log10 transformation reduced CVs of all harvested original fresh weight (FW) plant data in the three plots from 35.6–41.6% (original data) to 6.0–7.5%, while the respective CVs due to Block Kriging were reduced to 14.5–19.9%. The back-log10-transformed means of all harvested FW plant data were reduced by 6.8–9.4%, while the respective reduction for plants excluding the margin ones was 1.3–8.3%. The Block Kriging means for all harvested FW plant data were reduced only by 0.3–0.4%, while the respective means of the harvested plants excluding margin ones were increased by 0.4–4.3%. These findings strongly suggest that Block Kriging should be preferred over the log10 transformation method (used so far by agroscientists) as it managed to effectively reduce variability in crop data and estimate missing values that provide more precise and reliable estimates of corn yield for farmers.
Management of Body Condition Score between Pregnancy Scanning and Lamb Marking Impacts the Survival of Triplet-Bearing Ewes and Their Lambs
Authors: Haslin Emmanuelle , Allington Travis , Blumer Sarah E. , Boshoff Johan , Clarke Bronwyn E. , Hancock Serina N. , Kearney Gavin A. , Kenyon Paul R. , Krog Jarryd , Kubeil Lyndon J. , Lockwood Amy , Refshauge Gordon , Trompf Jason P. , Thompson Andrew N.
Published: June 2023

This study evaluated the impacts of management of body condition score (BCS) between pregnancy scanning and lamb marking on the mortality of triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs at 19 research sites across Southern Australia. Triplet-bearing ewes of Maternal (crossbred or composite) or Merino breed were randomly allocated to treatment at pregnancy scanning at an average of 97 days from the start of joining: High or Low BCS. The BCS of individual ewes was assessed at pregnancy scanning, pre-lambing (average of 137 days from the start of joining) and marking (average of 165 days from the end of joining), and ewe and lamb mortality to marking, recorded for each mob. The average BCS at pregnancy scanning was 3.4 for Maternal ewes and 3.3 for Merino ewes. There were no breed by BCS treatment effects on the BCS of ewes at pregnancy scanning or lamb marking or on the change in BCS between pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing or between pre-lambing and marking. The change in BCS differed between the High and Low BCS treatments, between pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing (0.12 vs. −0.33; p < 0.001) and between pre-lambing and marking (−0.39 vs. 0.07; p < 0.001) but did not differ between breeds. The average BCS at marking for ewes managed at the High and Low BCS treatments was 3.1 and 3.0 for Maternals and 3.0 and 2.8 for Merinos. Survival of triplet-bearing Merino ewes (p < 0.01) and their lambs (p < 0.001) was greater when ewes were managed at the High BCS compared to the Low BCS. The BCS treatment did not impact the survival of Maternal ewes or their lambs. The survival of Merino but not Maternal lambs was higher when ewes were in greater BCS pre-lambing (p < 0.01) and when ewes gained BCS between pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing (p < 0.01). Ewe mortality was lower when ewes gained BCS between pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing (p < 0.05). Merino ewes were more likely to die than Maternal ewes for a given change in BCS between pregnancy scanning and pre-lambing (p = 0.065). Overall, our findings demonstrate that producers should manage the nutrition of triplet-bearing Merino ewes so that ewes are in greater BCS at lambing and/or to gain BCS between pregnancy scanning and lambing to improve ewe and lamb survival. Triplet-bearing Maternal ewes should be managed to gain BCS between pregnancy scanning and lambing to improve ewe survival.
The Outcomes of an Opioid-Free Anaesthetic Plan in Fourteen Dogs Undergoing Enucleation Using an Ultrasound-Guided Supra-Temporal Retrobulbar Block: A Retrospective Case Series
Authors: Citarella Gerardo , Corona Daniele , Parsons Eamonn , Giannikaki Stamatina , Rioja Eva
Published: June 2023

The objective of this retrospective case series is to report the outcomes of an opioid-free anesthetic plan in dogs undergoing enucleation surgery. A total of 14 dogs were admitted for enucleation between March and December 2020. A multimodal approach to perioperative analgesia was used, with a focus on retrobulbar anesthesia. A combination of an ultrasound-guided retrobulbblock with a supratemporal approach in association with ketamine, dexmedetomidine and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was used in the reported cases. Intraoperative nociception was defined as an increase of 20% from the baseline in one or more of the following parameters: heart rate, respiratory rate or mean arterial pressure. An ultrasound-guided retrobulbar block in an opioid-free anesthesia regime was effective at managing the perioperative analgesia of 13 out of 14 dogs. In only one case, a bolus of fentanyl was administered to treat intraoperative nociception. Recovery was uneventful in all the dogs, and the postoperative pain scores remained below the intervention threshold at all time points. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first reported case series of opioid-free anesthesia for enucleation in dogs.
Chromosome Diversity and Evolution of the Endemic Malagasy Velvet Geckos of the Genus Blaesodactylus (Reptilia, Gekkonidae)
Authors: Mezzasalma Marcello , Brunelli Elvira , Odierna Gaetano , Guarino Fabio Maria
Published: June 2023

We performed a molecular and phylogenetic analysis and a comparative cytogenetic study with standard karyotyping, silver staining (Ag-NOR) and sequential C-banding + Giemsa, + fluorochromes on several Blaesodactylus samples. The phylogenetic inference retrieved two main clades, the first comprises B. victori, B. microtuberculatus and B. boivini, while the second includes B. sakalava, B. antongilensis and B. ambonihazo. The available samples of B. sakalava form two different clades (here named B. sakalava clade A and clade B), which probably deserve a taxonomic re-evaluation. We found a karyological variability in Blaesodactylus in terms of chromosome number (2n = 40–42), morphology, location of NORs, and heterochromatin distribution pattern. Blaesodactylus antongilensis and B. sakalava clade A and B showed a karyotype of 2n = 40 mostly telocentric chromosomes. Pairs 1 and 6 were metacentric in B. sakalava clade A and B, while pair 1 was composed of subtelocentric/submetacentric elements in B. antongilensis. In contrast, B. boivini displayed a karyotype with 2n = 42 only telocentric chromosomes. NORs were on the first chromosome pair in B. boivini, and on the second pair in B. antongilensis. Adding our data to those available from the literature on evolutionarily related species, we highlight that the chromosome diversification in the genus probably proceeded towards a progressive reduction in the chromosome number and the formation of metacentric elements.
Drinking Heated Water Improves Performance via Increasing Nutrient Digestibility and Ruminal Fermentation Function in Yak Calves
Authors: Liu Tianxu , Gao Chenxi , Long Shenfei , Wang Qianqian , He Tengfei , Wu Zhenlong , Chen Zhaohui
Published: June 2023

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of heated water intake on the growth performance, serum biochemical indexes, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and ruminal fermentation function of yak calves in winter. A total of 24 yaks (59.09 ± 3.181 kg) were randomly selected and divided into a cold water (fluctuated with the temperature of test sites at 0–10 °C) group (CW) (58.58 ± 3.592 kg) and a heated water (20 °C) group (HW) (59.61 ± 2.772 kg). After 2 months of the experiment, body weight, serum biochemical indexes, ruminal fermentation characteristics and ATTD were measured. The results showed that drinking heated water increased (p < 0.05) the total weight gain and average daily gain of yaks compared with those drinking cold water. Heated water increased (p < 0.05) the levels of immune globulin M, interleukin-6, triiodothyronine, tetraiodothyronine and growth hormone compared with cold water. In addition, yaks drinking heated water showed higher (p < 0.05) ATTD of crude protein and ether extract, as well as increased (p < 0.05) content of total protein, albumin and urea nitrogen in serum than those drinking cold water. Compared with cold water, heated water showed increased (p < 0.05) total volatile fatty acids, acetic acid and propionic acid, and a reduced (p < 0.05) acetic acid to propionic acid ratio (p < 0.05). In conclusion, drinking heated water at 20 °C could improve performance via increasing nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation function in yak calves.
The Role of Glutathione in Selected Viral Diseases
Authors: Wróblewska Joanna , Wróblewski Marcin , Hołyńska-Iwan Iga , Modrzejewska Martyna , Nuszkiewicz Jarosław , Wróblewska Weronika , Woźniak Alina
Published: June 2023

During inflammatory processes, immunocompetent cells are exposed to substantial amounts of free radicals and toxic compounds. Glutathione is a cysteine-containing tripeptide that is an important and ubiquitous antioxidant molecule produced in human organs. The intracellular content of GSH regulates the detoxifying capacity of cells, as well as the inflammatory and immune response. GSH is particularly important in the liver, where it serves as the major non-protein thiol involved in cellular antioxidant defense. There are numerous causes of hepatitis. The inflammation of the liver can be caused by a variety of infectious viruses. The relationship between oxidative stress and the hepatitis A virus (HAV), hepatitis B virus (HBV), hepatitis C virus (HCV), and hepatitis E virus (HEV) infection is not fully known. The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between hepatotropic viruses and glutathione status, including reduced glutathione (GSH) and oxidized glutathione (GSSG), as well as antioxidant enzymes, e.g., glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione reductase (GR) and glutathione-S-transferase (GST) in liver diseases.
Design of a Novel Ultra-Wideband Common-Mode Filter Using a Magnified Coupled Defected Ground Structure
Authors: Lin Ding-Bing , Wang Mei-Hui , Pramudita Aloysius Adya , Adiprabowo Tjahjo
Published: June 2023

An ultra-wideband common-mode (CM) filter for a gigahertz (GHz) data rate signal is proposed in this paper. The proposed filter was designed only on the printed circuit board (PCB) ground plane; no additional components wererequired. We took advantage of producing second-order transmission zero by an asymmetrical magnified coupled DGS to extend the suppression bandwidth. Full-wave simulations and equivalent circuit models of the DGS resonator were established to predict the suppression performance. The measured differential-mode insertion loss (Sdd21) from direct current (DC) to 12.35 GHz was obtained within the −3 dB definitionin the frequency domain. The CM noise was suppressed by more than10 dB in the frequency range from 2.9 GHz to 16.2 GHz. The fractional bandwidth (FBW) reached 139.3%. The proposed filter blocked 62.3% of the CM noise magnitude in the time domain measurement. In addition, the eye diagram measurement proved that good transmission quality was maintained. The proposed filter can be widely implemented to reduce electromagnetic interference (EMI) in radio frequency (RF) andWi-Fi (wireless fidelitystandard) 5 and 6E wireless communication applications.
Assessment of Building Air Quality in Respect of Eight Different Urban Block Designs Based on CFD Simulations
Authors: Perišić Ana , Lazić Marko , Perišić Ines
Published: June 2023

Different urban block morphologies can greatly influence the air quality inside the buildings of the block. The model presented in this paper determines the correlation between block morphology and air quality, and outputs the indoor air quality via computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations. In this study, stagnant air was assumed to have a velocity lower than 0.15 m/s and considered to be low-quality air in the context of human health. The geometry of the urban blocks was simplified based on real-life buildings. Doors and windows were not 3D-modeled, and all the vertical surfaces of the buildings were considered as potential locations for them. Eight of the highest-frequency wind directions out of sixteen main directions per block were used. Wind directions and velocities were determined based on the weather data for one location chosen for testing. The simulation used the Reynolds-averaged Navier–Stokes (RANS) equations with the k-ε turbulence model. The results were then interpreted through the specific algorithm using 3D graphic software. The surface of the building envelope was divided into smaller meshes. For each mesh, the average velocity was calculated and meshes were marked for values below the stagnant air threshold. The eight results, one from each wind direction, were synthesized into one final result. The model was tested on eight different urban block morphologies based on real-life blocks, i.e., blocks in Novi Sad, Serbia. The pressure on the building surfaces determined via CFD analyses is presented alongside results from the method described in this paper. The results show that urban block morphologies with clustered buildings inside the urban block, which are typical for the most newly built structures in Novi Sad, have areas on the facades where windows cannot provide elemental natural ventilation throughout the year. To interpret the results obtained in this research, graphs and 3D color-coding models were used. The best results show a 1-tower urban block morphology with only 0.7% of all vertical faces of the model registering a wind velocity lower than the set minimum. The worst results were measured for a traditional urban block typical in old city centers. A total of 54.5% of all the vertical surfaces show no problems with air stagnation in close proximity to them.
A Mathematical Programming Approach for Multi-Objective Optimization in Designing Flexible Manufacturing Cells
Authors: Bozoklar Emine , Yılmaz Ebru
Published: June 2023

The study aims to design flexible manufacturing cells with routing flexibility. A weighted mixed-integer linear mathematical programming model that aims to find optimal routing of parts in flexible manufacturing cells under constraints such as minimum machine utilization rate, maximum machine utilization rate, tool capacities, the utilization rate of workers, and labor-system unbalance is developed. The mathematical programming model aims to minimize the weighted sum of five objective functions: (1) the total number of intracellular movements; (2) the total number of intercellular movements; (3) the total workload unbalance of the machine system; (4) the total number of tools in all machines in the cells; and (5) the total labor-system workload unbalance. The main contribution of this study is to obtain these five objectives simultaneously, which have not been encountered to handle together before. By integrating these factors, the study presents a comprehensive approach to optimizing the design of flexible manufacturing cells. This study also has the potential to enhance system performance by addressing these factors. An illustrative problem tests the developed model, and the LINGO 17.0 optimization program is used to solve the generated mathematical programming model. Moreover, the related sensitivity analysis is performed with some parameters to examine the obtained results.
Evaluation of Longitudinal Equivalent Bending Stiffness of Shield Tunnel with Residual Jacking Force
Authors: Jiang Xuehui , Luo Wenjun , Zhu Bitang , Yan Jianwei , Liu Tianyu
Published: June 2023

Existing tunnels are often subject to longitudinal bending when undercrossing tunnelling. It is of significance to more accurately evaluate the longitudinal equivalent bending stiffness (LEBS) of the existing tunnel within the influential zone. A new analytical method is proposed for the LEBS of tunnel segmental lining joints with consideration of incorporating combined action of residual jacking force and bending moment. The solution can degenerate into a special case with no residual jacking force, which agrees well with other classical solutions and validates the model and solutions. Sensitivity analyses are carried out for the bending moment, tunnel geometry, tensile stiffness of bolts and concrete grade on the LEBS, and effective ratio of the LEBS considering residual jacking force. The LEBS and the effective ratio of LEBS increase nonlinearly as an S-curve with the residual jacking force and decrease with an increasing bending moment. The results show that the LEBS of the shield tunnel is variable stiffness, which exhibits a significant nonlinearity. The maximum increment of the LEBS reaches 80.3% as the ring width increases from 1 m to 2 m, and the LEBS of the shield tunnel increases by approximately 1.3 × 107 kN·m2 for every 4-bolt added. The influential order on the LEBS of shield tunnels is the tunnel diameter > lining thickness > bolts diameter > ring width > the number of bolts > elastic modulus of bolts. When the effective ratio of LEBS is more than 0.85, it does not change with the ring width, lining thickness, tensile stiffness of bolts, and concrete grade. The response characteristics of the tunnel parameters on the LEBS, considering the residual jacking force, could provide a theoretical basis for the design and deformation control of shield tunnels when undercrossing tunnelling.
Prediction of Water Leakage in Pipeline Networks Using Graph Convolutional Network Method
Authors: Şahin Ersin , Yüce Hüseyin
Published: June 2023

This study aims to predict leaks in water-carrying pipelines by monitoring pressure drops. Timely detection of leaks is crucial for prompt intervention and repair efforts. In this research, we represent the network structure of pipelines using graph representations. Consequently, we propose a machine learning model called Graph Convolutional Neural Network (GCN) that leverages graph-type data structures for leak prediction. Conventional machine learning models often overlook the dependencies between nodes and edges in graph structures, which are critical in complex systems like pipelines. GCN offers an advantage in capturing the intricate relationships among connections in pipelines. To assess the predictive performance of our proposed GCN model, we compare it against the Support Vector Machine (SVM) model, a widely used traditional machine learning approach. In this study, we conducted experimental studies to collect the required pressure and flow data to train the GCN and SVM models. The obtained results were visualized and analyzed to evaluate their respective performances. The GCN model achieved a performance rate of 94%, while the SVM model achieved 87%. These results demonstrated the potential of the GCN model in accurately detecting water leaks in pipeline systems. The findings hold significant implications for water resource management and environmental protection. The knowledge acquired from this study can serve as a foundation for predicting leaks in pipelines that transport gas and oil.
Antioxidant Activity of the Prunus mahaleb Seed Oil Extracts Using n-Hexane and Petroleum Ether Solvents: In Silico and In Vitro Studies
Authors: Hussein Zhawen Noori , Azeez Hoshyar Abdullah , Salih Twana
Published: June 2023

Prunus mahaleb L., also known as white mahaleb, and native to the Kurdistan region of Iraq, has significant nutraceutical and therapeutic ingredients. The seeds are rich in conjugated fatty acids with small quantities of cyanogenic glycosides, coumarin derivatives, and flavonoids. The contents of the seeds were extracted with the Soxhlet apparatus using n-hexane and petroleum ether solvents, separately. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was used to recognize the chemical composition of the compounds. The radical scavenging activity was performed for the total extracts from n-hexane and petroleum ether solvents using 2,2-diphenyl-1 picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay and compared with quercetin as a positive control. Furthermore, molecular docking was performed for the identified compounds against five enzymes that have main roles in intracellular oxidation. Afterwards, drug-like properties and bioactivity predictions were applied for all compounds using Molinspiration software. The results showed four phthalate derivatives, six saturated fatty acids (SFAs), five monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and three polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). The n-hexane extract showed competitive antioxidant activity with quercetin and the in-silico studies suggested a notable antioxidant activity of the seed oil contents with apparent drug-likeness properties. Further studies are required to separate the extracts, then perform in vitro antioxidant activity on the compounds.
A ResNet-Based Audio-Visual Fusion Model for Piano Skill Evaluation
Authors: Zhao Xujian , Wang Yixin , Cai Xuebo
Published: June 2023

With the rise in piano teaching in recent years, many people have joined the ranks of piano learners. However, the high cost of traditional manual instruction and the exclusive one-on-one teaching model have made learning the piano an extravagant endeavor. Most existing approaches, based on the audio modality, aim to evaluate piano players’ skills. Unfortunately, these methods overlook the information contained in videos, resulting in a one-sided and simplistic evaluation of the piano player’s skills. More recently, multimodal-based methods have been proposed to assess the skill level of piano players by using both video and audio information. However, existing multimodal approaches use shallow networks to extract video and audio features, which limits their ability to extract complex spatio-temporal and time-frequency characteristics from piano performances. Furthermore, the fingering and pitch-rhythm information of the piano performance is embedded within the spatio-temporal and time-frequency features, respectively. Therefore, we propose a ResNet-based audio-visual fusion model that is able to extract both the visual features of the player’s finger movement track and the auditory features, including pitch and rhythm. The joint features are then obtained through the feature fusion technique by capturing the correlation and complementary information between video and audio, enabling a comprehensive and accurate evaluation of the player’s skill level. Moreover, the proposed model can extract complex temporal and frequency features from piano performances. Firstly, ResNet18-3D is used as the backbone network for our visual branch, allowing us to extract feature information from the video data. Then, we utilize ResNet18-2D as the backbone network for the aural branch to extract feature information from the audio data. The extracted video features are then fused with the audio features, generating multimodal features for the final piano skill evaluation. The experimental results on the PISA dataset show that our proposed audio-visual fusion model, with a validation accuracy of 70.80% and an average training time of 74.02 s, outperforms the baseline model in terms of performance and operational efficiency. Furthermore, we explore the impact of different layers of ResNet on the model’s performance. In general, the model achieves optimal performance when the ratio of video features to audio features is balanced. However, the best performance achieved is 68.70% when the ratio differs significantly.
Cybersecurity for Blockchain-Based IoT Systems: A Review
Authors: Alajlan Razan , Alhumam Norah , Frikha Mounir
Published: June 2023

The Internet of Things (IoT) has become a pervasive technology with various applications ranging from smart homes and cities to industrial automation and healthcare. However, the increasing adoption of IoT devices has also raised significant concerns about cybersecurity and privacy. Blockchain, as a distributed and immutable ledger technology, has been proposed as a potential solution to enhance the security and privacy of IoT systems. Blockchain-based IoT systems offer several benefits, such as decentralization, transparency, and data integrity. However, they also pose unique cybersecurity challenges that need to be addressed for their secure and reliable deployment. In this paper, we review the existing literature and highlight the key challenges in cybersecurity for blockchain-based IoT systems. We categorize these challenges into three main areas: (i) IoT device security, (ii) blockchain security, and (iii) integration of IoT devices with blockchain (network security). Through an in-depth analysis, we present the current state of research and discuss potential solutions for each challenge. Additionally, we contribute by identifying future research directions to address these challenges and enhance the cybersecurity of blockchain-based IoT systems.
Fluid Dynamics Calculation in SF6 Circuit Breaker during Breaking as a Prerequisite for the Digital Twin Creation
Authors: Popovtsev Vladislav V. , Khalyasmaa Alexandra I. , Patrakov Yurii V.
Published: June 2023

The requirements to switching the capacities of SF6 circuit breakers submitted by Russian Grid companies are difficult to satisfy. The first limitation is related to material and financial costs in order to create a new requirement-satisfying switching device. The second limitation is dictated by the necessity of calculating complex physical processes in a circuit braker interrupter during fault–current making or breaking before creating a prototype. The latter task is reduced to the problem of simulating the processes of interaction between the switching arc and the SF6 gas flow. This paper deals with the solution of the problem both analytically by a special method and numerically by a numerical software package through the creation of a mathematical model of the interaction process. The switching arc is taken into account as a form of a temperature source, based on experimental data on measuring the temperature of the arc column. The key feature of the research is to use the finite element method based on a moving mesh—the Arbitrary Lagrangian Eulerian (ALE) method. Such a problem statement allows us to take the contact separation curve of the circuit breaker into account as the input data of the model. The calculations were carried out during fault-current breaking by a 110 kV SF6 dead-tank circuit breaker. The calculations of pressure and mass flow in the under-piston volume change, gas flow speed, and temperature depending on the contact separation are given. The proposed model of the switching arc was used to simulate the process of 25 kA symmetrical fault–current breaking and was compared with an experiment.
Influence of Different Sterilization Methods on the Surface Chemistry and Electrochemical Behavior of Biomedical Alloys
Authors: Igual-Munoz Anna , Genilloud Jean-Ludovic , Jolles Brigitte M. , Mischler Stefano
Published: June 2023

Sterilization is a prerequisite for biomedical devices before contacting the human body. It guarantees the lack of infection by eliminating microorganisms (i.e., bacteria, spores and fungi). It constitutes the last fabrication process of a biomedical device. The aim of this paper is to understand the effect of different sterilization methods (ethanol-EtOH, autoclave-AC, autoclave + ultraviolet radiation-ACUV and gamma irradiation-G) on the surface chemistry and electrochemical reactivity (with special attention on the kinetics of the oxygen reduction reaction) of CoCrMo and titanium biomedical alloys used as prosthetic materials. To do that, electrochemical measurements (open circuit potential, polarization resistance, cathodic potentiodynamic polarization and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy) and surface analyses (Auger Electron Spectroscopy) of the sterilized surfaces were carried out. The obtained results show that the effect of sterilization on the corrosion behavior of biomedical alloys is material-dependent: for CoCrMo alloys, autoclave treatment increases the thickness and the chromium content of the passive film increasing its corrosion resistance compared to simple sterilization in EtOH, while in titanium and its alloys, autoclave and UV-light accelerates its corrosion rate by accelerating the kinetics of oxygen reduction.
Flow-Based CL-SMIA for the Quantification of Protein Biomarkers from Nasal Secretions in Comparison with Sandwich ELISA
Authors: Neumair Julia , Kröger Marie , Stütz Evamaria , Jerin Claudia , Chaker Adam M. , Schmidt-Weber Carsten B. , Seidel Michael
Published: June 2023

Protein biomarkers in nasal secretions can be used as a measure to differentiate between allergies, airway diseases and infections for non-invasive diagnostics. The point-of-care quantification of biomarker levels using flow-based microarray facilitates precise and rapid diagnosis and displays the potential for targeted and effective treatment. For the first time, we developed a flow-based chemiluminescence sandwich microarray immunoassay (CL-SMIA) for the quantification of nasal interferon-beta (IFN-β) on the Microarray Chip Reader-Research (MCR-R). Polycarbonate foils are used as a cost-effective surface for immobilizing capture antibodies. By using a commercially available set of anti-human IFN-β antibodies, the CL-SMIA can be compared directly to an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) performed in microtiter plates concerning the bioanalytical performance and economic issues. Pre-incubation of the sample with detection antibodies facilitates the lower consumption of detection antibodies, as this allows for a longer interaction time between the antibody and the biomarker. The direct injection of pre-incubated samples into the microarray chips eliminates the adsorption of proteins in the tubing as well as the contamination of the tubing and valves of the MCR-R with clinical samples. The small flow cell allows for a low sample volume of 50 μL. The limit of detection of 4.53 pg mL−1 was slightly increased compared to a sandwich ELISA performed on microtiter plates which were 1.60 pg mL−1. The possibility to perform the CL-SMIA in a multiplexed mode makes it a promising assay for the rapid and cost-effective non-invasive detection of biomarkers in nasal secretions.
Transcutaneous Vagus Nerve Stimulation for Insomnia in People Living in Places or Cities with High Altitudes: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Zhang Liang , Jin Yinchuan , Zhang Qintao , Liu Hongyao , Chen Chen , Song Lei , Li Xiao , Ma Zhujing , Yang Qun
Published: June 2023

Background: The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness and safety of transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation (tVNS) to improve insomnia in the special environment of a plateau. Methods: This study was a single-center, single-blind, randomized controlled trial. A total of 100 patients with insomnia at high altitude were randomized into three groups receiving either transcutaneous vagus nerve stimulation intervention in the left ear tragus (treatment group), pseudo-stimulation intervention (sham group), or cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia (CBTI group). The primary measure was the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) score. In addition, we assessed the patients’ objective sleep status with polysomnography and evaluated changes in the Insomnia Severity Index Scale (ISI) and Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) scores. We used one-way ANOVA and repeated-measures ANOVA for analysis. Results: Patients’ PSQI, ISI, and GAD-7 scale scores significantly decreased after 4 weeks of tVNS treatment and were greater than those of the control group. Polysomnographic data also demonstrated shortened sleep latency and longer deep sleep in the patients. Conclusion: tVNS is effective in improving sleep quality and reducing anxiety levels in high-altitude insomnia patients but should be confirmed in future adequate and prolonged trials to guide clinical promotion.
Adjustment to Chinese Culture and Mental Health Issues among Foreign Students on Chinese University Campuses during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Collaborative Ethnographic Study
Authors: Li Jian , Xue Eryong , He Yunshu
Published: June 2023

Foreign students in China may have difficulty adjusting to Chinese culture and may experience mental health problems related to acculturation, interpersonal issues, and social communication within the context of campus life. Therefore, this study attempts to apply a collaborative ethnography approach to explore the adjustment to Chinese culture and mental health issues among foreign students on Chinese campuses during the COVID-19 pandemic. We spent 16 months exploring the feelings and perceptions of 82 foreign international undergraduate students at six Chinese higher education institutions regarding their adjustment to Chinese culture and gathered their suggestions about how to address the mental health issues experienced by foreign learners in China. The results show that international students tend to have a limited understanding of Chinese culture and rely on very few channels for information—in particular, the Internet, teachers’ lectures, and daily life—which can easily result in mental health problems and thoughts of marginalization. In addition, the results showed that international students’ mental health problems are subjectively positively correlated with their own personality, cultural intelligence, and cultural identification ability and objectively related to their cultural distance and all aspects of the educational work of international students. It is suggested that Chinese higher education institutions should strengthen their attention to the mental health of international students in China and promote international students’ cross-cultural adaptation abilities and understanding of Chinese culture.
Life Cycle Assessment of the Environmental Benefits of Using Wood Products and Planting Trees at an All-Electric University Laboratory
Authors: Grossi Felipe , Ge Hua , Zmeureanu Radu
Published: June 2023

Many countries across the globe have set targets for different economic sectors, aiming to tackle global warming by reducing the overall carbon footprint of human-related activities. Among these sectors, the building industry stands out as a major consumer of materials and energy resources, making it a key player in achieving carbon neutrality. It is one of the main contributors responsible for energy-related greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, including both operational emissions and embodied emissions in materials and equipment manufacturing. Nature-based design solutions, such as planting trees in urban spaces, or incorporating the use of wood products, have regained attention in recent years due to their potential to mitigate carbon emissions from buildings. Within this context, this paper presents a comprehensive life cycle assessment (LCA) of a recently built research facility, with a focus on demonstrating how the benefits of nature-based solutions, specifically carbon sequestration from trees and biogenic carbon content in wood products, can be quantified and reported using the latest LCA standards and tools. The analysis is provided under three end-of-life scenarios for wood products: wood incineration with energy recovery, wood landfilling, and wood recycling/repurposing. The results indicate that the set of strategies adopted in this building, i.e., tree planting, the use of wood products, and the end-of-life treatment of materials, can potentially offset carbon emission by 37.2% up to 83.9% when included in the LCA, depending on the scenario considered. By continuing to refine LCA standards and tools, and fostering collaboration between researchers, policymakers, and industry professionals, we can advance our understanding and ultimately achieve the widespread adoption of carbon-neutral buildings.
The Role of High Carbon Additives on Physical–Mechanical Characteristics and Microstructure of Cement-Based Composites
Authors: Pokorný Jaroslav , Ševčík Radek , Zárybnická Lucie , Podolka Luboš
Published: June 2023

Traditional supplementary cementitious materials (SCMs) have been proven to reduce the negative impact of Portland cement production on the environment. However, the availability of SCMs becomes limited due to their extensive usage. For this reason, our work aimed to investigate the effect of partial substitution of ordinary Portland cement (OPC) with two different types of carbon-rich waste powders—biochar (BC) and coal dust (CD), dosed separately up to 10 wt.% of OPC, on the physical, microstructural and mechanical properties of hardened specimens. Obtained data pointed out that replacing OPC with small amounts of BC and CD (not exceeding 5.0 wt.% and 2.5% wt.%, respectively) initiated an increment in mechanical strengths due to a decrease in total open porosity and enhanced formation of hydration products of such composites compared with the reference. Overall, both examined alternatives, if added in appropriate amounts, have the perspective to be effectively applied in cement manufacturing and concrete production, and thus to importantly contribute to the long-term sustainability of the construction industry in view of energy savings, reduced releasing of the greenhouse gasses and mitigating of global climate changes.
Amazonia Phytotherapy Reduces Ischemia and Reperfusion Injury in the Kidneys
Authors: de Oliveira Brenner Kássio Ferreira , de Oliveira Silva Eloiza , Ventura Sara , Vieira Guilherme Henrique Ferreira , de Pina Victoria Carla Djamila , Volpini Rildo Aparecido , de Fátima Fernandes Vattimo Maria
Published: June 2023

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is defined as a sudden decrease in kidney function. Phytomedicines have shown positive effects in the treatment of AKI worldwide. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Abuta grandifolia on the renal function of rats submitted to AKI. A phytochemical study of the plant was performed through liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (CL-EM) and DPPH and ABTS antioxidant tests. Renal function tests were performed in 20 male adult Wistar rats weighing from 250 to 300 g distributed in the following groups: SHAM (submitted to laparotomy with simulation of renal ischemia); ABUTA (animals that received 400 mg/kg of AG, orally—VO, once a day, for 5 days, with simulation of renal ischemia); I/N (animals submitted to laparotomy for clamping of bilateral renal pedicles for 30 min, followed by reperfusion); ABUTA + I/R (animals that received AG—400 mg/kg, 1× per day, VO, for 5 days, submitted to renal ischemia after treatment with herbal medicine). The results suggest that the consumption of Abuta grandifolia promoted renoprotection, preventing the reduction of renal function induced by ischemia, oxidizing activity, and deleterious effects on the renal tissue, confirmed by the decrease of oxidative metabolites and increase of antioxidants in the animals’ organisms.
Involvement of P2Y1, P2Y6, A1 and A2A Receptors in the Purinergic Inhibition of NMDA-Evoked Noradrenaline Release in the Rat Brain Cortex
Authors: Quintas Clara , Gonçalves Jorge , Queiroz Glória
Published: June 2023

In the cerebral cortex, glutamate activates NMDA receptors (NMDARs), localized in noradrenergic neurons, inducing noradrenaline release that may have a permissive effect on glutamatergic transmission, and therefore, on the modulation of long-term plasticity. ATP is co-released with noradrenaline, and with its metabolites (ADP and adenosine) is involved in the purinergic modulation of electrically-evoked noradrenaline release. However, it is not known if noradrenaline release evoked by activation of NMDARs is also under purinergic modulation. The present study aimed to investigate and to characterize the purinergic modulation of noradrenaline release evoked by NMDARs. Stimulation of rat cortical slices with 30 µM NMDA increased noradrenaline release, which was inhibited by ATP upon metabolization into ADP and adenosine and by the selective agonists of A1 and A2A receptors, CPA and CGS2680, respectively. It was also inhibited by UTP and UDP, which are mainly released under pathophysiological situations. Characterization of the effects mediated by these compounds indicated the involvement of P2Y1, P2Y6, A1 and A2A receptors. It is concluded that, in the rat brain cortex, NMDA-evoked noradrenaline release is modulated by several purinergic receptors that may represent a relevant mechanism to regulate the permissive effect of noradrenaline on NMDA-induced neuroplasticity.
A Review of Zirconolite Solid Solution Regimes for Plutonium and Candidate Neutron Absorbing Additives
Authors: Blackburn Lewis R. , Corkhill Claire L. , Hyatt Neil C.
Published: June 2023

Should the decision be made to immobilise the UK Pu inventory through a campaign of Hot Isostatic Pressing (HIP) in a zirconolite matrix, prior to placement in a geological disposal facility (GDF), a suite of disposability criteria must be satisfied. A GDF safety case should be able to demonstrate that post-closure criticality is not a significant concern by demonstrating that such an event would have a low likelihood of occurring and low consequence if it were to occur. In the case of ceramic wasteforms, an effective means of criticality control may be the co-incorporation of a requisite quantity of a suitable neutron absorbing additive, either through co-immobilisation within the host structure or the encapsulation of discrete particles within the grain structure. Following an initial screening of a range of potential neutron absorbing additives, a literature-based assessment of the solid solution limits of a number of potential additives (Gd, Hf, Sm, In, Cd, B) in the candidate zirconolite (CaZrTi2O7) wasteform is presented. Key areas of research that are in need of development to further support the safety case for nuclearised HIP for Pu inventories are discussed.
Operationalized Psychodynamic Diagnostic of Adolescents in Light of the New ICD-11 Model of Personality Functioning: Personality Structure, Psychodynamic Conflicts, and Mental Health Problems
Authors: Akın Aslı , Goth Kirstin , Seiffge-Krenke Inge , Obbarius Alexander , Winter Sibylle M. , Sarrar Lea
Published: June 2023

The International Classification of Diseases and Related Health Problems, 11th Revision introduced a fully dimensional approach to personality disorders which conceptionally converges with the long-standing psychodynamic understanding of psychopathology through underlying intra- and interpersonal impairments. In this study, the diagnostic contributions of the two psychodynamic concepts of personality structure and psychodynamic conflicts were investigated through the comparison of self-report data of 189 adolescents with mental health problems and 321 mentally healthy controls. The study results reveal that adolescents with mental health problems show significantly higher impairments in all four domains of personality structure and significantly higher levels of several psychodynamic conflicts. Further, adolescents with different mental health problems significantly differ regarding the impairments in the personality structure domains and several levels of psychodynamic conflicts. While higher structural impairments are shown in adolescents with eating and anxiety disorders, higher levels of the passive self-worth conflict persist in adolescents with depressive disorders, and higher levels of the passive identity conflict are affecting adolescents with eating disorders. The findings suggest that a standardized diagnostic assessment of personality structure and psychodynamic conflicts in adolescent patients could contribute to a deeper understanding of mental health problems and appropriate treatment planning through the detection of underlying intra- and interpersonal impairments.