bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Physically-Data Driven Approach for Predicting Formation Leakage Pressure: A Dual-Drive Method
Authors: Li Huayang , Tan Qiang , Li Bojia , Feng Yongcun , Dong Baohong , Yan Ke , Ding Jianqi , Zhang Shuiliang , Guo Jinlong , Deng Jingen , Chen Jiaao
Published: September 2023

Formation leak-off pressure, which sets the upper limit of the safe drilling fluid density window, is crucial for preventing wellbore accidents and ensuring safe and efficient drilling operations. The paper thoroughly examines models of drilling physics alongside artificial intelligence techniques. The study introduces a dual-driven method for predicting reservoir pore pressure by integrating long short-term memory (LSTM) and backpropagation (BP) neural networks, where the core component is the LSTM-BP neural network model. The input data for the LSTM-BP model include wellbore diameter, formation density, sonic time, natural gamma, mud content, and pore pressure. The study demonstrates the practical application of the method using two vertical wells in Block M, employing the M-1 well for training and the M-2 well for validation. Two distinct input layer configurations are devised for the LSTM-BP model to evaluate the influence of formation density on prediction accuracy. Notably, Scheme 2 omits formation density as a variable in contrast to Scheme 1. The study’s results indicate that, for input layer configurations corresponding to Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, the LSTM-BP model exhibits relative error ranges of (−2.467%, 2.510%) and (−6.141%, 5.201%) on the test set, respectively. In Scenario 1, the model achieves mean squared error (MSE), mean absolute error (MAE), and R-squared (R2) values of 0.000229935, 0.011198329, and 0.92178272, respectively, on the test set. Conversely, for Scenario 2, the model demonstrates a substantial escalation of 992.393% and 240.674% in MSE and MAE, respectively, compared to Scenario 1; however, R2 diminishes by 66.920%. Utilizing the trained LSTM-BP model, predictions for formation lost pressure in Well M-2 reveal linear correlation coefficients of 0.8173 and 0.6451 corresponding to Scenario 1 and Scenario 2, respectively. These findings imply that the predictions from the Scenario 1 model demonstrate stronger alignment with results derived from formulaic calculations. These observations remain consistent for both the BP neural network algorithm and the random forest algorithm. The aforementioned research results not only highlight the elevated predictive precision of the LSTM-BP model for intelligent prediction of formation lost pressure, a product of this study, thereby furnishing valuable data points to enhance the security of drilling operations in Block M, but also underscore the necessity of deliberating both physical relevance and data correlation during the selection of input layer variables.
Kinematics and Statics of the Gough-Stewart Platform
Authors: Zhao Jing-Shan , Sun Xiao-Cheng , Wei Song-Tao
Published: September 2023

This paper presents an algorithm for the kinematics and statics analysis of a Gough–Stewart platform. Through defining the velocity screw, the relative angular and linear velocities of a single rigid body can be expressed as a single vector. The velocity screw equations of various mechanisms are deduced in detail, the forward and inverse kinematics of a parallel mechanism can be solved through the velocity screw equation. Similarly, the definition of the force screw allows all constraint forces and torques of a single rigid body to be expressed using a single vector, and the static screw equation can be used to solve the forward and inverse statics of a parallel mechanism in one coordinate system. The advantage of this approach is that kinematics and statics modeling are unified in screw coordinates because the kinematic parameters in screw form can be directly employed in statics modeling. The results of the kinematics and statics analysis of the Gough-Stewart platform validate this method. This algorithm is easy to compute and program with high efficiency, and it can also be applied to any other spatial, complex multi-rigid-body systems.
Audio General Recognition of Partial Discharge and Mechanical Defects in Switchgear Using a Smartphone
Authors: Dai Dongyun , Liao Quanchang , Sang Zhongqing , You Yimin , Qiao Rui , Yuan Huisheng
Published: September 2023

Mechanical defects and partial discharge (PD) defects can appear in the indoor switchgear of substations or distribution stations, making the switchgear a safety hazard. However, traditional acoustic methods detect and identify these two types of defects separately, ignoring the general recognition of audio signals. In addition, the process of using testing equipment is complex and costly, which is not conducive to timely testing and widespread application. To assist technicians in making a quick preliminary diagnosis of defect types for switchgear, improve the efficiency of the subsequent overhaul, and reduce the cost of detection, this paper proposes a general audio recognition method for identifying defects in switchgear using a smartphone. Using this method, we can analyze and identify audio and video files recorded with smartphones and synchronously distinguish background noise, mechanical vibration, and PD audio signals, which have good applicability within a certain range. When testing the feasibility of using smartphones to identify three types of audio signal, through characterizing 12 sets of live audio and video files provided by technicians, it was found that there were similarities and differences in these characteristics, such as the autocorrelation, density, and steepness of the waveforms in the time domain, and the band energy and harmonic components of the frequency spectrum, and new combinations of features were proposed as applicable. To compare the recognition performance for features in the time domain, frequency band energy, Mel-frequency cepstral coefficient (MFCC), and this method, feature vectors were input into a support vector machine (SVM) for a recognition test, and the recognition results showed that the the present method had the highest recognition accuracy. Finally, a set of mechanical defects and PD defects were set up for a switchgear, for practical verification, which proved that this method was general and effective.
Novel Fused Core Chromophore Incorporating Spirofluorene and Anthracene Groups for Sky-Blue Emission and Solution-Processed White Devices
Authors: Park Sangwook , Kang Seokwoo , Park Sunwoo , Kwon Hyukmin , Lee Hayoon , Lee Kiho , Park Jongwook
Published: September 2023

New blue-light-emitting materials, 2,7-Bis-[1,1′;3′,1″]terphenyl-spiro-fluorene[3,4]naphthalene (TP-AFF-TP) and spiro-fluorene[3,4]-5-terphenylnaphthalene (TP-ASF) were synthesized based on a fused core with anthracene and spirofluorene. The photoluminescence (PL) maximum values of TP-AFF-TP and TP-ASF in film states exhibited 477 nm and 467 nm within the blue region, respectively. Degradation temperature (Td) values for TP-AFF-TP and TP-ASF were very high at 481 °C and 407 °C, respectively. TP-AFF-TP and TP-ASF exhibited power efficiencies (PE) of 1.03 lm/W and 2.39 lm/W, respectively, along with luminance efficiencies (LE) of 2.55 cd/A and 5.17 cd/A, respectively, in nondoped organic light-emitting diode (OLED) devices in which the newly synthesized compounds were employed as emissive layers. The achieved CIE values were (0.25, 0.45) for TP-AFF-TP and (0.17, 0.31) for TP-ASF. Furthermore, when TP-ASF was utilized as one of the emissive materials in solution-processed white OLED devices, the resultant device showcased a notably high LE of 3.13 cd/A, a PE of 2.69 lm/W, and a white CIE value of (0.30, 0.34).
Double Optimization Design of the Formula Racing Car Frame Based on the Variable Density Method and the Joint Variable Method
Authors: Ma Weiyang , Lu Yanhui , Wang Pengyu , Wang Yongjia , Wang Jiahao
Published: September 2023

In the Formula Student Racing Car, the frame is a fundamental component that supports the body. The frame’s anti-deformation ability will impact the four-wheel positioning parameters of the car, which subsequently affect the car’s stability. The quality of the frame directly determines the power and efficiency of the racing car, making the frame crucial to the overall race performance. Therefore, researching lightweight frame design is particularly important to enhance frame performance and reduce its total weight. In this paper, based on the variable density method, the global topology optimization of the frame is carried out to obtain the distribution of the frame material, realize the efficient utilization of the material, and improve the torsional stiffness of the frame. Compared with the previous local topology optimization, the global topology optimization involves a wider range, and the results are more accurate. Based on the adjoint variable method, the sensitivity analysis of the frame is carried out to obtain the influence level of each design variable. The size of the frame is optimized according to the variables with high influence levels. After optimization, the total mass of the frame is reduced by 12.8%; the performance in terms of maximum displacement and maximum stress is improved; and the lightweight design of the frame is realized as a whole.
Plant-Mediated Inorganic Nanoparticles for Anti-Tumor Therapy in Colorectal Cancer: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mesas Cristina , Quiñonero Francisco , Revueltas Francisco , Cabeza Laura , Perazzoli Gloria , Melguizo Consolación , Prados Jose
Published: September 2023

Colon cancer is the third most frequent neoplasm and the second most lethal worldwide. Despite progress in its treatment, new therapies are still needed to improve the prognosis of this type of tumor and, in this context, the use of plant compounds with anti-tumor properties has been increasing in recent years. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the potential benefits of encapsulation of compounds derived from plant extracts in nanoparticles and their cytotoxic effect under in vitro conditions. Once the search strategy was defined based on the selected MESH terms, 147 publications published since 2012 were identified from three different databases (PubMed, SCOPUS and WOS). After eliminating duplicates and applying the inclusion and exclusion criteria, 17 studies were finally included. The results showed that the use of natural extracts encapsulated in nanoparticles offered significant cytotoxic activity against colon neoplastic cells by increasing the therapeutic effect of free plant extracts through their encapsulation and without producing toxicity on healthy cells. In addition, most studies (14) involved metal-derived nanoparticles (zinc, iron and gold). Despite the possible efficacy of these nanodrugs, more in vivo studies are needed to elucidate their potential future therapeutic application and their biocompatibility.
Design and Implementation of Industrial Accident Detection Model Based on YOLOv4
Authors: Lee Taejun , Woo Keanseb , Kim Panyoung , Jung Hoekyung
Published: September 2023

Korea’s industrial accident rate ranks high among Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development countries. Moreover, large-scale accidents have recently occurred. Accordingly, the requirements for management and supervision in industrial sites are increasing; in this context, the “Act on Punishment of Serious Accidents, etc.” has been enacted. Aiming to prevent such industrial accidents, various data collected by devices such as sensors and closed-caption televisions (CCTVs) are utilized to track workers and detect hazardous substances, gases, and fires at industrial sites. In this study, an industrial area requiring such technology is selected. A hazardous situation event is derived, and a dataset is built using CCTV data. A violation corresponding to a hazardous situation event is detected and a warning is provided. The events incorporate requirements extracted from industrial sites, such as those concerning collision risks and the wearing of safety equipment. The precision of the event violation detection exceeds 95% and the response and delay times are under 20 ms. Thus, this system is believed to be used at industrial sites and for other intelligent industrial safety prevention solutions.
Arabic Text Clustering Using Self-Organizing Maps and Grey Wolf Optimization
Authors: Larabi-Marie-Sainte Souad , Bin Alamir Mashael , Alameer Abdulmajeed
Published: September 2023

Arabic text clustering is an essential topic in Arabic Natural Language Processing (ANLP). Its significance resides in various applications, such as document indexing, categorization, user review analysis, and others. After inspecting the current work on clustering Arabic text, it is observed that most researchers focus on applying K-Means clustering while hindering other clustering techniques. Our evaluation shows that K-Means has a weakness of inconsistent clustering results and weak clustering performance when the data dimensionality increases. Unlike K-Means clustering, Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) models such as Self-Organizing Maps (SOM) demonstrated higher accuracy and efficiency in clustering even with high dimensional datasets. In this paper, we introduce a new clustering model based on an optimization technique called Grey Wolf Optimization (GWO) used conjointly with SOM clustering to enhance its clustering performance and accuracy. The evaluation results of our proposed technique show an improvement in the effectiveness and efficiency in comparison with state-of-the-art approaches.
Machine-Learning Forensics: State of the Art in the Use of Machine-Learning Techniques for Digital Forensic Investigations within Smart Environments
Authors: Tageldin Laila , Venter Hein
Published: September 2023

Recently, a world-wide trend has been observed that there is widespread adoption across all fields to embrace smart environments and automation. Smart environments include a wide variety of Internet-of-Things (IoT) devices, so many challenges face conventional digital forensic investigation (DFI) in such environments. These challenges include data heterogeneity, data distribution, and massive amounts of data, which exceed digital forensic (DF) investigators’ human capabilities to deal with all of these challenges within a short period of time. Furthermore, they significantly slow down or even incapacitate the conventional DFI process. With the increasing frequency of digital crimes, better and more sophisticated DFI procedures are desperately needed, particularly in such environments. Since machine-learning (ML) techniques might be a viable option in smart environments, this paper presents the integration of ML into DF, through reviewing the most recent papers concerned with the applications of ML in DF, specifically within smart environments. It also explores the potential further use of ML techniques in DF in smart environments to reduce the hard work of human beings, as well what to expect from future ML applications to the conventional DFI process.
An Osteocartilaginous 3D Printing Implant Using a Biocompatible Polymer and Pre-Differentiated Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Sheep
Authors: Landa-Solís Carlos , Ibarra Clemente , Salinas-Rojas Andrea , Ortega-Sánchez Carmina , Luna-Angulo Alexandra Berenice , Aguilar-Gaytán María del Rocío , Hazan-Lasri Eric Joseph
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Currently, there are no pharmacological treatments that can modify the course of osteoarthritis (OA). For this reason, the present work is focused on generating knowledge for the development of new therapeutic alternatives for the treatment of OA. The objective of this work was to develop an articular hybrid implant with mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) from sheep. The cells were differentiated into cartilage and bone using a bioabsorbable polymer with 3D printing Technology. (2) Methods: MSCs pre-differentiated to chondrocytes and osteoblasts were seeded on the 3D-printed scaffolds using polylactic acid (PLA). These were later implanted for 3 months in the thoracic ribs area and for 6 months inside the femoral head and outside of the joint capsule. After recovery, we analyzed the expressions of specific markers for bone and cartilage in the implants (3) Results: After 3 months, in lateral implants, the expression for bone markers (OPN, RUNX2) was similar to that of the control; at 6 months, we obtained a higher expression of bone markers in the implants with pre-differentiated MCS to osteoblasts outside and inside the joint. For cartilage markers, three months after the placement of the lateral implant, the expressions of Aggrecan and SOX9 COL2A1 were similar to those of the control, but the expression of COL2A1 was less; at 6 months, the three cartilage markers SOX9, Aggrecan, and COL2A1 showed significant expressions in the implant inside joint with pre-differentiated MCS to chondrocytes. (4) Conclusions: In this study, we demonstrated that the presence of pre-differentiated MSCs in the implants was a determinant factor for the expression of bone- and cartilage-specific markers at three and six months. We managed to generate a practical and easy-to-implement articular surface repair model.
Investigation into the Impact of Humidity on Early Age Cement Concrete Pavement Behavior in Hot and Humid Regions
Authors: Chai Min , Wang Lijuan , Hu Changbin , Chen Tao
Published: September 2023

Cement concrete pavement is prone to early deterioration during the construction phase, and the early performance during the construction phase is significantly affected by the external temperature and humidity field. This article selects meteorological parameters in the Fuzhou area as a typical representative of a humid and hot climate and develops a three-dimensional humidity simulation program based on Fick’s law and the finite difference method to study the evolution behavior of the humidity field in early age of cement concrete pavement. It discusses the humidity distribution characteristics of road panels and analyzes the influence and sensitivity of cement type, construction conditions, and road panel structural parameters on road panel humidity. Research has shown that the evolution law of the humidity field of road panels shows a 24-h periodic change with the external environment. The environmental field has a significant impact on the surface humidity of road panels. The horizontal humidity of the panel is concentrated from the boundary to the middle of the panel, and the tangential humidity is concentrated from the top to the bottom of the panel. The humidity field of road panels is the most sensitive to environmental humidity and maintenance methods, but less sensitive to material and structural parameters. Therefore, during construction, it is possible to avoid the hot season and choose a time period when the environmental humidity increases to pour concrete. Appropriate maintenance methods are adopted to reduce the humidity stress of the panels, reduce early age deterioration, and improve their service life.
A Wearable Device for Upper Limb Rehabilitation and Assistance Based on Fluid Actuators and Myoelectric Control
Authors: Biriș Cristina-Maria , Racz Sever-Gabriel , Gîrjob Claudia-Emilia , Grovu Radu-Dumitru , Rusu Dan-Mihai
Published: September 2023

Wearable exoskeleton solutions for upper limb rehabilitation or assistance, particularly for the hand area, have become increasingly attractive to researchers, proving to be effective over time in treating hand movement impairments following various neurological diseases. Our aim in the present work is to design a wearable exoskeleton device for active hand rehabilitation/assist control based on myoelectric signal (EMG) capture from forearm muscles, which is easy to wear by the user, comfortable, lightweight, and relatively inexpensive to make. The actuators use two different lengths to increase biocompatibility with the anatomy of the hand, and PneuNets fluid actuators are used. Their design to meet force and bending requirements was based on finite element numerical simulations, and the actuators were designed based on a clear design methodology to achieve the best possible quality. Tests on healthy subjects show that the EMG-based control strategy meets the needs of rehabilitation/assistive hand therapy, finding a comfortable and easy-to-use device. Future directions will focus on developing the device to meet rehabilitation needs for the entire upper limb and integrating the device into virtual reality (VR) through immersive devices.
Research on the Body Positioning Method of Bolting Robots Based on Monocular Vision
Authors: Hao Xuedi , Zhang Yiming , Yang Xueqiang , Zhang Jinglin , Wen Rusen , Wu Zhenlong , Jia Han
Published: September 2023

Aiming at the intelligent design of underground roadway support and the precise positioning of unmanned full excavation faces, a positioning and measurement method of bolt robots based on the monocular vision principle was proposed. In this paper, a vehicle body positioning model based on image data was established. The data were obtained with a camera, and the conversion between image coordinates and world coordinates was carried out through coordinate system conversion. A monocular vision positioning system of the bolt robot was designed, and the simulation’s experimental model was established. Under the simulation’s experimental conditions, the effective positioning distance of the monocular vision positioning system was measured. An experimental platform for the bolt robot was designed, and real-time human positioning data measurement of the vehicle was carried out. The experimental error was analyzed, and the reliability of the method was proven. This method realizes the real-time positioning of underground mines through the bolt robot, improves the accuracy and efficiency of the positioning, and lays a foundation for the positioning control of the heading face and the unmanned bolt robot.
The Influence of Ecological Factors on the Phytochemical Characteristics of Pinus cembra L.
Authors: Coman Năstaca-Alina , Babotă Mihai , Nădășan Ingrid , Nicolescu Alexandru , Pitaru Alexandru Robert , Ștefănescu Ruxandra , Mocan Andrei , Frumuzachi Oleg , Tanase Corneliu
Published: September 2023

Pinus cembra L., also known as Swiss pine, is one of the lesser studied coniferous species, despite literature pointing out its great potential to be used for medical purposes due to its high contents in active phytochemicals. The aim of this study is to phytochemically assess rhytidome and periderm extracts obtained from Swiss pine from various locations and altitudes, so as to be able to deduce the best locations for harvesting samples with the highest biological activity. After the plant was analyzed histo-anatomically, hydroalcoholic extracts were obtained using ultrasounds, a rotary evaporator, and dry freezing. After determining the total polyphenolic content (TPC) in each sample, they were tested for antioxidant and enzymatic activity, while taking note of the influence of the varying altitudes and different harvesting regions on the intensity of each activity. The results from the TPC analysis show that rhytidome samples collected from the highest altitude (2429 m) displayed the highest content of polyphenols, with a general tendency for the amount of polyphenolic content to be directly correlated to altitude, this finding being further supported by the antioxidant activity also growing directly proportionally with the altitude. Enzymatic inhibition activity was found to be moderate for α-glucosidase and low for α-amylase. Following our findings, we can safely say that Pinus cembra L. extracts can be a great source of compounds with antioxidant activity; however, further studies are warranted to best determine the true potential of this species.
Study on the Driver Visual Workload of Bridge-Tunnel Groups on Mountainous Expressways
Authors: Zhang Bo , Bai Jingrong , Yin Zhiwen , Zhou Ao , Li Jue
Published: September 2023

Mountainous expressways with bridge-tunnel groups are characterized by complex environments and high driving risks, making them crucial sections for highway safety. This study applied eye-tracking techniques to evaluate driving safety and comfort in bridge-tunnel groups. Drivers’ pupil diameter and fixation point distribution were measured in real vehicle tests. The influence of tunnel length, adjacent tunnel spacing, and natural lighting on drivers’ pupil diameters were compared and analyzed. The maximum transient velocity of pupil area was introduced to describe the drivers’ visual load and driving comfort. The results indicate that the driving workload reaches its maximum in the first tunnel in bridge-tunnel groups and is positively correlated with the tunnel length in other sections. Excessive or insufficient distance between adjacent tunnels is detrimental to driving comfort. The driving workload is higher at night compared to during the day. Moreover, the greater tunnel length in bridge-tunnel groups and the larger number of tunnels, suggest a higher driving workload for drivers. Above all, strengthening the design and management of bridge-tunnel groups in mountainous expressways is necessary.
Wavelength Conversion of Multi-Joule Energy 532 nm Pulse Bursts via a Potassium Gadolinium Tungstate Raman Laser
Authors: Tarasov Aleksandr , Chu Hong
Published: September 2023

In this study, pulse bursts at 559, 589, and 621 nm, with a record energy of ~10 J, are generated using a KGW Raman laser with an external resonator, while pumping at 532 nm. The pulse bursts have a 10 ms duration, and consist of 78 subpulses with a duration of <10 ns, at 8 kHz. The maximum energy of the bursts is restricted only by the characteristics of the Nd: YAG laser used as the 532 nm pump source, and can be increased.
Real-Time 3D Reconstruction Pipeline for Room-Scale, Immersive, Medical Teleconsultation
Authors: Eck Ulrich , Wechner Michael , Pankratz Frieder , Yu Kevin , Lazarovici Marc , Navab Nassir
Published: September 2023

Medical teleconsultation was among the initial use cases for early telepresence research projects since medical treatment often requires timely intervention by highly specialized experts. When remote medical experts support interventions, a holistic view of the surgical site can increase situation awareness and improve team communication. A possible solution is the concept of immersive telepresence, where remote users virtually join the operating theater that is transmitted based on a real-time reconstruction of the local site. Enabled by the availability of RGB-D sensors and sufficient computing capability, it becomes possible to capture such a site in real time using multiple stationary sensors. The 3D reconstruction and simplification of textured surface meshes from the point clouds of a dynamic scene in real time is challenging and becomes infeasible for increasing capture volumes. This work presents a tightly integrated, stateless 3D reconstruction pipeline for dynamic, room-scale environments that generates simplified surface meshes from multiple RGB-D sensors in real time. Our algorithm operates directly on the fused, voxelized point cloud instead of populating signed-distance volumes per frame and using a marching cube variant for surface reconstruction. We extend the formulation of the dual contouring algorithm to work for point cloud data stored in an octree and interleave a vertex-clustering-based simplification before extracting the surface geometry. Our 3D reconstruction pipeline can perform a live reconstruction of six incoming depth videos at their native frame rate of 30 frames per second, enabling the reconstruction of smooth movement. Arbitrarily complex scene changes are possible since we do not store persistent information between frames. In terms of mesh quality and hole filling, our method falls between the direct mesh reconstruction and expensive global fitting of implicit functions.
Design of A New Electromagnetic Launcher Based on the Magnetic Reluctance Control for the Propulsion of Aircraft-Mounted Microsatellites
Authors: Abdo Mohamed Magdy Mohamed , El-Hussieny Haitham , Miyashita Tomoyuki , Ahmed Sabah M.
Published: September 2023

Recent developments in electromagnetic launchers have created potential applications in transportation, space, and defense systems. However, the total efficiency of these launchers has yet to be fully realized and optimized. Therefore, this paper introduces a new design idea based on increasing the magnetic flux lines that facilitate high output velocity without adding any excess energy. This design facilitates obtaining a mathematical equation for the launcher inductance which is difficult to analytically represent. This modification raises the launcher efficiency to 36% higher than that of the ordinary launcher at low operating voltage. The proposed design has proven its superiority to traditional launchers, which are limited in their ability to accelerate microsatellites from the ground to low Earth orbit due to altitude and velocity constraints. Therefore, an aircraft is used as a flying launchpad to carry the launcher and bring it to the required height to launch. Meanwhile, it is demonstrated experimentally that magnetic dipoles in the projectile material allow the launcher coil’s magnetic field to accelerate the projectile. This system consists of the launcher coil that must be triggered with a high amplitude current from the high DC voltage capacitor bank. In addition, a microcontroller unit controls all processes, including the capacitor bank charging, triggering, and velocity measurement.
Methane Emissions of a Western Dairy Manure Storage Basin and Their Correlation with Hydrogen Sulfide Emissions
Authors: Grant Richard H. , Boehm Matthew T.
Published: September 2023

Anaerobic decomposition in manure storage contributes to hydrogen sulfide (H2S) and methane (CH4) emissions. Coincident emission measurements were made of these gases from a western free stall dairy manure storage basin over a two-month period (August and September) as manure filled the basin and dried to assess the similarity or differences in the emissions characteristics. Path-integrated CH4 concentrations were measured from sampled air using photoacoustic spectrometric technology. Half-hourly emissions were determined using a backward Lagrangian Stochastic method utilizing on-site turbulence measurements. The median daily CH4 emission for the basin was 3.5 mg CH4 m−2 s−1 (772 g d−1 hd−1). Aging of the manure over the 44 days of this study did not appear to influence the CH4 emissions. A high correlation between the CH4 and H2S emissions during the study period suggested that the production and transport of these two gases from the basin were influenced by the same factors. Emissions did not appear to be influenced by the above-ground environmental conditions (wind speed, turbulent mixing, air temperature, change in barometric pressure, or vapor pressure deficit) but were likely more a function of the bacterial population present and/or available substrate for bacterial decomposition. Similarity in the CH4 to H2S emission ratio during basin manure filling and drying down to that of a slurry storage in a midwestern US dairy suggested that the bacterial species involved in the decomposition of dairy manure slurry is similar regardless of climate.
Study on Characteristics and Model Prediction of Methane Emissions in Coal Mines: A Case Study of Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Zhang Xueli , Zhu Tao , Yi Nengjing , Yuan Bo , Li Chen , Ye Zefu , Zhu Zhujun , Zhang Xing
Published: September 2023

The venting of methane from coal mining is China’s main source of methane emissions. Accurate and up-to-date methane emission factors for coal mines are significant for reporting and controlling methane emissions in China. This study takes a typical coal mine in Shanxi Province as the research object and divides the coal mine into different zones based on the occurrence structure of methane in Shanxi Province. The methane emission characteristics of underground coal mine types and monitoring modes were studied. The emissions of methane from coal seams and ventilation methane of six typical coal mine groups in Shanxi Province were monitored. The measured methane concentration data were corrected by substituting them into the methane emission formula, and the future methane emissions were predicted by the coal production and methane emission factors. The results show that the number of methane mines and predicted reserves in Zone I of Shanxi Province are the highest. The average methane concentration emitted from coal and gas outburst mines is about 22.52%, and the average methane concentration emitted from high-gas mines is about 10.68%. The methane emissions from coal and gas outburst mines to the atmosphere account for about 64% of the total net methane emissions. The predicted methane emission factor for Shanxi coal mines is expected to increase from 8.859 m3/t in 2016 to 9.136 m3/t in 2025, and the methane emissions from Shanxi coal mines will reach 8.43 Tg in 2025.
Relationships between Temperature at Surface Level and in the Troposphere over the Northern Hemisphere
Authors: Ustrnul Zbigniew , Woyciechowska Jadwiga , Wypych Agnieszka
Published: September 2023

The thermal structure of the troposphere remains a hot topic, including modelling issues as well as temperature field simulations. This study evaluates the relationship between the air temperature at the Earth’s surface and the temperature of various layers of the troposphere over the Northern Hemisphere, as well as attempts to identify determinants of its variability. Vertical differentiation has been analyzed from the layer σ = 0.995 representing the surface (surface air temperature, SAT), up to an isobaric level of 300 hPa with a focus on the main pressure levels, i.e., 925 hPa, 850 hPa, 700 hPa, 500 hPa. The data were obtained from an NCEP/NCAR reanalysis with a resolution of 2.5 degrees latitude and longitude for the period 1961–2020. The relationship between the SAT and the temperature at each level was expressed using a simple but effective correlation coefficient by Pearson (PCC). These relationships obviously, according to Tobler’s law, weaken with an increasing altitude. However, the distribution of PCC (both horizontal and vertical) proves the impact of geographic factors associated with the relief and also with the surface itself (e.g., land cover). These factors are the main drivers of inversion layers and significantly disturb the straight vertical structure of the atmosphere. The research has shown a significant interannual differentiation of these interactions, as well as their spatial diversity in geographic space. The altitude–temperature relationship becomes weaker in all seasons, but much faster during summer and winter, relative to both spring and autumn.
g Factor of Few-Electron Highly Charged Ions
Authors: Glazov Dmitry A. , Zinenko Dmitrii V. , Agababaev Valentin A. , Moshkin Artyom D. , Tryapitsyna Elizaveta V. , Volchkova Anna M. , Volotka Andrey V.
Published: September 2023

The current status of the theoretical investigation of the bound-electron g factor in lithium-like and boron-like highly charged ions is reported. Some tension between the several theoretical values and measurements is discussed. Then, prospects for future investigations are briefly reviewed.
The Potential of Deep Learning to Advance Clinical Applications of Computational Biomechanics
Authors: Truskey George A.
Published: September 2023

When combined with patient information provided by advanced imaging techniques, computational biomechanics can provide detailed patient-specific information about stresses and strains acting on tissues that can be useful in diagnosing and assessing treatments for diseases and injuries. This approach is most advanced in cardiovascular applications but can be applied to other tissues. The challenges for advancing computational biomechanics for real-time patient diagnostics and treatment include errors and missing information in the patient data, the large computational requirements for the numerical solutions to multiscale biomechanical equations, and the uncertainty over boundary conditions and constitutive relations. This review summarizes current efforts to use deep learning to address these challenges and integrate large data sets and computational methods to enable real-time clinical information. Examples are drawn from cardiovascular fluid mechanics, soft-tissue mechanics, and bone biomechanics. The application of deep-learning convolutional neural networks can reduce the time taken to complete image segmentation, and meshing and solution of finite element models, as well as improving the accuracy of inlet and outlet conditions. Such advances are likely to facilitate the adoption of these models to aid in the assessment of the severity of cardiovascular disease and the development of new surgical treatments.
Automated Detection and Measurement of Dural Sack Cross-Sectional Area in Lumbar Spine MRI Using Deep Learning
Authors: Saravi Babak , Zink Alisia , Ülkümen Sara , Couillard-Despres Sebastien , Wollborn Jakob , Lang Gernot , Hassel Frank
Published: September 2023

Lumbar spine magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a critical diagnostic tool for the assessment of various spinal pathologies, including degenerative disc disease, spinal stenosis, and spondylolisthesis. The accurate identification and quantification of the dural sack cross-sectional area are essential for the evaluation of these conditions. Current manual measurement methods are time-consuming and prone to inter-observer variability. Our study developed and validated deep learning models, specifically U-Net, Attention U-Net, and MultiResUNet, for the automated detection and measurement of the dural sack area in lumbar spine MRI, using a dataset of 515 patients with symptomatic back pain and externally validating the results based on 50 patient scans. The U-Net model achieved an accuracy of 0.9990 and 0.9987 on the initial and external validation datasets, respectively. The Attention U-Net model reported an accuracy of 0.9992 and 0.9989, while the MultiResUNet model displayed a remarkable accuracy of 0.9996 and 0.9995, respectively. All models showed promising precision, recall, and F1-score metrics, along with reduced mean absolute errors compared to the ground truth manual method. In conclusion, our study demonstrates the potential of these deep learning models for the automated detection and measurement of the dural sack cross-sectional area in lumbar spine MRI. The proposed models achieve high-performance metrics in both the initial and external validation datasets, indicating their potential utility as valuable clinical tools for the evaluation of lumbar spine pathologies. Future studies with larger sample sizes and multicenter data are warranted to validate the generalizability of the model further and to explore the potential integration of this approach into routine clinical practice.
Antitrypanosomal Activity of 1,2,3-Triazole-Based Hybrids Evaluated Using In Vitro Preclinical Translational Models
Authors: Orlando Lorraine Martins Rocha , Lara Leonardo da Silva , Lechuga Guilherme Curty , Rodrigues Giseli Capaci , Pandoli Omar Ginoble , de Sá Druval Santos , Pereira Mirian Claudia de Souza
Published: September 2023

Chagas disease therapy still relies on two nitroderivatives, nifurtimox and benznidazole (Bz), which have important limitations and serious adverse effects. New therapeutic alternatives for this silent disease, which has become a worldwide public health problem, are essential for its control and elimination. In this study, 1,2,3-triazole analogues were evaluated for efficacy against T. cruzi. Three triazole derivatives, 1d (0.21 µM), 1f (1.23 µM), and 1g (2.28 µM), showed potent activity against trypomastigotes, reaching IC50 values 10 to 100 times greater than Bz (22.79 µM). Promising candidates are active against intracellular amastigotes (IC50 ≤ 6.20 µM). Treatment of 3D cardiac spheroids, a translational in vitro model, significantly reduced parasite load, indicating good drug diffusion and efficacy. Oral bioavailability was predicted for triazole derivatives. Although infection was significantly reduced without drug pressure in a washout assay, the triazole derivatives did not inhibit parasite resurgence. An isobologram analysis revealed an additive interaction when 1,2,3-triazole analogs and Bz were combined in vitro. These data indicate a strengthened potential of the triazole scaffold and encourage optimization based on an analysis of the structure–activity relationship aimed at identifying new compounds potentially active against T. cruzi.
Exploring the Immune Response against RSV and SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Children
Authors: da Silva Rafaela Pires , Thomé Bibiana Liberman , da Souza Ana Paula Duarte
Published: September 2023

Viral respiratory tract infections are a significant public health concern, particularly in children. RSV is a prominent cause of lower respiratory tract infections among infants, whereas SARS-CoV-2 has caused a global pandemic with lower overall severity in children than in adults. In this review, we aimed to compare the innate and adaptive immune responses induced by RSV and SARS-CoV-2 to better understand differences in the pathogenesis of infection. Some studies have demonstrated that children present a more robust immune response against SARS-CoV-2 than adults; however, this response is dissimilar to that of RSV. Each virus has a distinctive mechanism to escape the immune response. Understanding the mechanisms underlying these differences is crucial for developing effective treatments and improving the management of pediatric respiratory infections.
The Designer Drug αPHP Affected Cell Proliferation and Triggered Deathly Mechanisms in Murine Neural Stem/Progenitor Cells
Authors: Roda Elisa , De Luca Fabrizio , Priori Erica Cecilia , Ratto Daniela , Pinelli Silvana , Corradini Emilia , Mozzoni Paola , Poli Diana , Mazzini Giuliano , Bottone Maria Grazia , Gatti Anna Maria , Marti Matteo , Locatelli Carlo Alessandro , Rossi Paola , Bottai Daniele
Published: September 2023

Increasing reports of neurological and psychiatric outcomes due to psychostimulant synthetic cathinones (SCs) have recently raised public concern. However, the understanding of neurotoxic mechanisms is still lacking, particularly for the under-investigated αPHP, one of the major MDPV derivatives. In particular, its effects on neural stem/progenitor cell cultures (NSPCs) are still unexplored. Therefore, in the current in vitro study, the effects of increasing αPHP concentrations (25–2000 μM), on cell viability/proliferation, morphology/ultrastructure, genotoxicity and cell death pathways, have been evaluated after exposure in murine NSPCs, using a battery of complementary techniques, i.e., MTT and clonogenic assay, flow cytometry, immunocytochemistry, TEM, and patch clamp. We revealed that αPHP was able to induce a dose-dependent significant decrease of the viability, proliferation and clonal capability of the NSPCs, paralleled by the resting membrane potential depolarization and apoptotic/autophagic/necroptotic pathway activation. Moreover, ultrastructural alterations were clearly observed. Overall, our current findings demonstrate that αPHP, damaging NSPCs and the morpho-functional fundamental units of adult neurogenic niches may affect neurogenesis, possibly triggering long-lasting, irreversible CNS damage. The present investigation could pave the way for a broadened understanding of SCs toxicology, needed to establish an appropriate treatment for NPS and the potential consequences for public health.
Structure–Activity Relationships of Low Molecular Weight Alginate Oligosaccharide Therapy against Pseudomonas aeruginosa
Authors: Pritchard Manon F. , Powell Lydia C. , Adams Jennifer Y. M. , Menzies Georgina , Khan Saira , Tøndervik Anne , Sletta Håvard , Aarstad Olav , Skjåk-Bræk Gudmund , McKenna Stephen , Buurma Niklaas J. , Farnell Damian J. J. , Rye Philip D. , Hill Katja E. , Thomas David W.
Published: September 2023

Low molecular weight alginate oligosaccharides have been shown to exhibit anti-microbial activity against a range of multi-drug resistant bacteria, including Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Previous studies suggested that the disruption of calcium (Ca2+)–DNA binding within bacterial biofilms and dysregulation of quorum sensing (QS) were key factors in these observed effects. To further investigate the contribution of Ca2+ binding, G-block (OligoG) and M-block alginate oligosaccharides (OligoM) with comparable average size DPn 19 but contrasting Ca2+ binding properties were prepared. Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy demonstrated prolonged binding of alginate oligosaccharides to the pseudomonal cell membrane even after hydrodynamic shear treatment. Molecular dynamics simulations and isothermal titration calorimetry revealed that OligoG exhibited stronger interactions with bacterial LPS than OligoM, although this difference was not mirrored by differential reductions in bacterial growth. While confocal laser scanning microscopy showed that both agents demonstrated similar dose-dependent reductions in biofilm formation, OligoG exhibited a stronger QS inhibitory effect and increased potentiation of the antibiotic azithromycin in minimum inhibitory concentration and biofilm assays. This study demonstrates that the anti-microbial effects of alginate oligosaccharides are not purely influenced by Ca2+-dependent processes but also by electrostatic interactions that are common to both G-block and M-block structures.
Antibiofilm Effect of Curcumin on Saccharomyces boulardii during Beer Fermentation and Bottle Aging
Authors: Mohammadi Khosrow , Saris Per Erik Joakim
Published: September 2023

In a prior study, we elucidated the biofilm formation of Saccharomyces boulardii on glass surfaces during beer bottle aging. Here, we supplemented brewing wort with curcumin at 25 μg/mL concentration to mitigate S. boulardii biofilm and enhance beer’s functional and sensory attributes. An assessment encompassing biofilm growth and development, fermentation performance, FLO gene expression, yeast ultrastructure, bioactive content, and consumer acceptance of the beer was conducted throughout fermentation and aging. Crystal violet (CV) and XTT reduction assays unveiled a significant (p < 0.05) reduction in biofilm formation and development. Fluorescent staining (FITC-conA) and imaging with confocal laser scanning microscopy provided visual evidence regarding reduced exopolysaccharide content and biofilm thickness. Transcriptional analyses showed that key adhesins (FLO1, FLO5, FLO9, and FLO10) were downregulated, whereas FLO11 expression remained relatively stable. Although there were initial variations in terms of yeast population and fermentation performance, by day 6, the number of S. boulardii in the test group had almost reached the level of the control group (8.3 log CFU/mL) and remained stable thereafter. The supplementation of brewing wort with curcumin led to a significant (p < 0.05) increase in the beer’s total phenolic and flavonoid content. In conclusion, curcumin shows promising potential for use as an additive in beer, offering potential antibiofilm and health benefits without compromising the beer’s overall characteristics.