bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Sentiment Analysis of Online New Energy Vehicle Reviews
Authors: Wang Mengsheng , You Hailong , Ma Hongbin , Sun Xianhe , Wang Zhiqiang
Published: July 2023

Massive online reviews of new energy vehicles in China are deemed crucial by companies, as they offer valuable insights into user demands and perceptions. An effective analysis enables companies to swiftly adapt and enhance their products while upholding a positive public image. Nonetheless, the sentiment analysis of online car reviews can pose challenges due to factors such as incomplete context, abrupt information bursts, and specialized vocabulary. In this paper, an enhanced hybrid model is introduced, combining Enhanced Representation through kNowledge IntEgration (ERNIE) and a deep (Convolutional Neural Network) CNN, to tackle these challenges. The model utilizes fine-tuned ERNIE for feature extraction from preprocessed review datasets, generating word vectors that encompass comprehensive semantic information. The deep CNN component captures local features from the text, thereby capturing semantic nuances at multiple levels. To address sudden shifts in public sentiment, a channel attention mechanism is employed to amplify the significance of crucial information within the reviews, facilitating comment relationship classification and sentiment prediction. The experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of the proposed model, achieving an impressive accuracy rate of 97.39% on the test set and significantly outperforming other models.
The Fault Ride-Through Characteristics of a Double-Fed Induction Generator Using a Dynamic Voltage Restorer with Superconducting Magnetic Energy Storage
Authors: Li Lei , Liang Yabo , Niu Jian , He Jianan , Liu Haitao , Li Bin , Li Chao , Cao Yunzhu
Published: July 2023

With the prevalence of renewable energy sources such as wind power in the power system, analyzing the fault characteristics of systems composed of DFIGs is becoming increasingly important. Therefore, this article analyzes, at first theoretically, the fault characteristics of a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) during fault periods. It was found that the fault current of the DFIG exhibited the frequency offset phenomenon, which is affected by the depth of voltage dips and can negatively impact traditional distance protection. Furthermore, a method using a dynamic voltage restorer (DVR) based on superconducting magnetic energy storage (SMES) was adopted to compensate for the fault voltage of DFIG, which can mitigate the voltage dips of the DFIG. This method can not only achieve the fault ride through for DFIG but also significantly improve the frequency offset of the fault current during fault periods. Finally, a model composed of a 2.5 MW DFIG-based wind turbine and a 2.5 MW DVR-based SMES was built using a real-time digital simulator (RTDS) platform, and the simulation results showed that the fault stator voltage of DFIG can be compensated at a rated value of 0.69 kV, and the frequency of fault current can be maintained at 50 Hz These results validate the excellent performance of the method in achieving the fault ride through of DFIG and improving the frequency offset of the fault current by comparing multiple type faults while employing different protection methods.
Image-Based Arabian Camel Breed Classification Using Transfer Learning on CNNs
Authors: Alfarhood Sultan , Alrayeh Atheer , Safran Mejdl , Alfarhood Meshal , Che Dunren
Published: July 2023

Image-based Arabian camel breed classification is an important task for various practical applications, such as breeding management, genetic improvement, conservation, and traceability. However, it is a challenging task due to the lack of standardized criteria and methods, the high similarity among breeds, and the limited availability of data and resources. In this paper, we propose an approach to tackle this challenge by using convolutional neural networks (CNNs) and transfer learning to classify images of six different Arabian camel breeds: Waddeh, Majaheem, Homor, Sofor, Shaele, and Shageh. To achieve this, we created, preprocessed, and annotated a novel dataset of 1073 camel images. We then pre-trained CNNs as feature extractors and fine-tuned them on our new dataset. We evaluated several popular CNN architectures with diverse characteristics such as InceptionV3, NASNetLarge, PNASNet-5-Large, MobileNetV3-Large, and EfficientNetV2 (small, medium, and large variants), and we found that NASNetLarge achieves the best test accuracy of 85.80% on our proposed dataset. Finally, we integrated the best-performing CNN architecture, NASNetLarge, into a mobile application for further validation and actual use in a real-world scenarios.
Influence of Al Doping on the Physical Properties of CuO Thin Films
Authors: Daira Radouane , Boudjema Bouzid , Bououdina Mohamed , Aida Mohamed Salah , Constantinescu Catalin-Daniel
Published: July 2023

The synthesis of cupric oxide (CuO) films on cost-efficient, optical grade borosilicate-crown glass substrates (BK7) via chemical spray pyrolysis (CSP), either in pure form or with a low concentration of Al doping (below 1%), is presented and discussed. As a non-toxic p-type semiconductor, exhibiting monoclinic crystal structure and widely tuneable band gap (Eg), it is used in various applications. The optical properties, morphology and crystalline phases of CuO films are influenced by substrate temperature during thin film growth (annealing) and also by chemical doping very often introduced to modify grain boundary energy. The importance of our research subject is therefore perfectly justified and is essentially based on the fact that the potential fields of application are wide. Thus, herein we emphasize impact of the annealing stage and Al doping upon the structural, optical and electrical properties of the resulting product. Raman spectroscopy analysis confirms the presence of vibrational bands characteristic of a CuO phase, while X-ray diffraction (XRD) confirms the polycrystalline nature of the pure films. The thickness of the CuO films grown at 350 °C over three annealing intervals is proportional to the annealing time, while the crystallite phase in the films is proportional with the annealing temperature. Furthermore, XRD analysis of the Al:CuO films indicates the formation of a monoclinic-type structure (CuO phase) exhibiting a preferred orientation along the (002) plane, together with a significant grain size reduction from ~88 to ~45 nm as Al content increases. The transmittance spectra (between 400 and 800 nm) reveal a decrease in the transmittance from 48% to 15% with as the Al doping ratio increases. Additionally, the bandgap energy of the films is measured, modelled and discussed, using data from an ultraviolet–visible (UV-Vis) spectrophotometer. The calculated Eg is approximately 3.5 eV, which decreases with respect to the increasing annealing temperature, while the electrical resistivity varies from ~19 to ~4.6 kOhm.cm. Finally, perspectives and applications of CuO films are suggested, since the films are found to have a remarkable improvement in their structure and optical properties when doped with Al.
Reconstructing the Global Stress of Marine Structures Based on Artificial-Intelligence-Generated Content
Authors: Zhang Tao , Hu Jiajun , Oterkus Erkan , Oterkus Selda , Wang Xueliang , Jiang Zhentao , Chen Guocai
Published: July 2023

This paper proposes an approach that utilizes Artificial-Intelligence-Generated Content (AIGC) to overcome the constraints of Structural Health Monitoring (SHM) devices in capturing global stress with limited sensors. Feature elements are selected based on correlation analysis among finite elements and used as stress-measured points. An Artificial Neural Network (ANN) is used to establish the relationship between the feature and correlation elements. The proposed method is applied to the connector structure of an offshore platform, and an optimal ANN is established to optimize its performance by considering factors such as the number of sensors, the neural network framework, and the convergence criteria. The generalization performance of the ANN is validated through a real-scale model test, with deviations below 10% and an average deviation of less than 4% in multiple conditions, verifying its accuracy. This technology represents a significant advancement, enhancing the practicality of the SHM technology from “point monitoring” to “field monitoring”.
Field Test and Numerical Investigation of Tunnel Aerodynamic Effect Induced by High-Speed Trains Running at Higher Speeds
Authors: Wang Yong , Ma Weibin , Han Jiaqiang , Wang Chen , Cheng Aijun , Yang Xu , Gao Hongjie
Published: July 2023

After decades of research in the field of high-speed railway technique, technology of running high-speed trains at the velocity level of 350 km/h gradually become mature. It is of great importance to capture the variation regular of aerodynamic parameters in the situation that the high-speed train runs at a higher speed level. The present paper is motivated by this knowledge gap, both field tests and numerical simulations were conducted to help illustrate the basic characteristic of transient pressure loads, micro-pressure wave, as well as the wave propagation inside the tunnel regrading train’s passage and intersection. Results present the major findings as: (1) Transient pressure loads acting at tunnel surface and train body unevenly distributes along the longitudinal, transverse, and vertical directions. Pressure peak along the longitudinal direction occurs nearly at tunnel center and fast decreases from the radiated center to the remote positions. (2) Variation of pressure peak near the tunnel portal in the situation of train’s passage and intersection is limited while its value becomes doubled at the intersection location. Field measurements suggest the maximum pressure load acting at tunnel sidewall at xtin = 200 m and tunnel center being 4.29 and 5.63 kPa, respectively; (3) The maximum value of micro-pressure wave (namely MPW) detected in the field test is approximately 36.73 Pa. Amplitude of MPW at tunnel portal is inversely proportional to its attenuated distance. Through data fitting, an empirical prediction model was established. Outcomes of this paper is anticipated to improve the understanding of tunnel aerodynamic effect regarding higher speed level and its associated problems. Besides, findings of this paper are useful for the future tunnel design.
Opposite Normalized Trust-Region Reflective (ONTRR): A New Algorithm for Parameter Extraction of Single, Double and Triple Diode Solar Cell Models
Authors: Gao Xiankun , Hou Qingwen , Yao Sen , Zhou Kaiyuan
Published: July 2023

To accurately, efficiently and reliably extract the parameters of single, double and triple diode solar cell models, this paper proposes a randomly initialized opposite normalized trust-region reflective (ONTRR) algorithm. The novelty of ONTRR lies primarily in two amendments to the standard TRR search. (1) Random opposite initialization is added to decrease the initial point sensitivity of TRR and thus reduce the possibility of being trapped in local optima. (2) Min-max normalization is embedded to eliminate the negative effects arising from different magnitudes of model parameter values and thus drive the derivative-dependent TRR search in an efficient manner. The proposed ONTRR algorithm is evaluated and compared to other state-of-the-art algorithms using four benchmarked I–V datasets with two commonly used objective functions. To be objective and reproducible, the comparative experiments are carried out with default random seeds for 1000 independent runs instead of the 30, 50, or 100 runs used in most studies in the literature. The comparison results demonstrate that for all 12 of the test cases, the proposed ONTRR algorithm consistently achieves the highest accuracy with the least computational effort, and is often superior to the best-performing algorithms reported in the literature in terms of convergence speed, average accuracy and statistical stability.
Exploring the Legality of Artists’ Use of Animals: Ethical Considerations and Legal Implications
Authors: Coetser Yolandi M.
Published: July 2023

A burgeoning field of literature considers animal law, the status of animals as legal objects, the protection of animals in laboratories, wild animals, etc. One aspect not often considered in the literature is the intersection between animal law and freedom of speech and, more specifically, the freedom of speech of artists. While these might seem disparate and mutually exclusive, they are not. A small but notable number of artists use, harm, or even kill animals in the creation of artwork. Elsewhere, this practice has been termed ‘cruel art’, defined as “the infliction of physical and/or emotional pain on non-human animals for the sole purpose of creating art that steps beyond the confines of the artist’s right to freedom of speech”. This article elaborates on the concept of ‘cruel art’ by considering animal law and the artist’s freedom of expression. Interesting questions arise at this intersection: Can the law grant rights or otherwise protect the animal from being used, harmed, or killed for an artwork? Alternatively, can the law encroach on the artists’ freedom of speech to protect the animals? There are good reasons to protect both parties—animals deserve protection from unnecessary suffering, and the artist should not be unduly censored from making art. This article seeks to engage with the following question: how can one consider an animal’s legal standing in relation to an artist’s freedom of speech? In order to answer this question, this article first briefly unpacks the concept of animal law and the need for legal reform in this arena. Secondly, this article considers freedom of speech as it relates to artists specifically. Third, it discusses the rising conflict between the legal protection of animals and the artist’s freedom of expression. This article argues that certain artistic uses of animals should be legally prohibited, despite the fact that artists enjoy the right to freedom of artistic expression.
The Local Unscented Transform Kalman Filter for the Weather Research and Forecasting Model
Authors: Sung Kwangjae
Published: July 2023

In this study, the local unscented transform Kalman filter (LUTKF) proposed in the previous study estimates the state of the Weather Research and Forecasting (WRF) model through local analysis. Real observations are assimilated to investigate the analysis performance of the WRF-LUTKF system. The WRF model as a regional numerical weather prediction (NWP) model is widely used to explain the atmospheric state for mesoscale meteorological fields, such as operational forecasting and atmospheric research applications. For the LUTKF based on the sigma-point Kalman filter (SPKF), the state of the nonlinear system is estimated by propagating ensemble members through the unscented transformation (UT) without making any linearization assumptions for nonlinear models. The main objective of this study is to examine the feasibility of mesoscale data assimilations for the LUTKF algorithm using the WRF model and real observations. Similar to the local ensemble transform Kalman filter (LETKF), by suppressing the impact of distant observations on model state variables through localization schemes, the LUTKF can eliminate spurious long-distance correlations in the background covariance, which are induced by the sampling error due to the finite ensemble size; therefore, the LUTKF used in the WRF-LUTKF system can efficiently execute the data assimilation with a small ensemble size. Data assimilation test results demonstrate that the LUTKF can provide reliable analysis performance in estimating the WRF model state with real observations. Experiments with various ensemble size show that the LETKF can provide better estimation results with a larger ensemble size, while the LUTKF can achieve accurate and reliable assimilation results even with a smaller ensemble size.
Robust Stability of Switched-Interval Positive Linear Systems with All Modes Unstable Using the Φ-Dependent Dwell Time Technique
Authors: Yu Qiang , Jiang Xiujuan
Published: July 2023

In this study, some stability and robust stability conditions for switched positive linear systems in which all subsystems are unstable in continuous time and discrete time were obtained using the Φ-dependent dwell time technique and the discretized co-positive Lyapunov functions approach, respectively. The co-positive Lyapunov functions constructed in this study are functions of time during the dwell time, and after that, they are independent of time. In addition, the above method was applied to switched-interval positive systems, and corresponding conclusions are presented. The Φ-dependent dwell time technique used in this paper is more effective than the dwell time and mode-dependent dwell time used in other studies. The results are verified with an illustrative example.
Some New Estimates of Hermite–Hadamard Inequality with Application
Authors: Zhang Tao , Chen Alatancang
Published: July 2023

This paper establishes several new inequalities of Hermite–Hadamard type for |f′|q being convex for some fixed q∈(0,1]. As application, some error estimates on special means of real numbers are given.
Bioengineered 3D Ovarian Models as Paramount Technology for Female Health Management and Reproduction
Authors: Del Valle Julieta S. , Chuva de Sousa Lopes Susana M.
Published: July 2023

Ovarian dysfunction poses significant threats to the health of female individuals. Ovarian failure can lead to infertility due to the lack or inefficient production of fertilizable eggs. In addition, the ovary produces hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, that play crucial roles not only during pregnancy, but also in maintaining cardiovascular, bone, and cognitive health. Decline in estrogen and progesterone production due to ovarian dysfunction can result in menopausal-associated syndromes and lead to conditions, such as osteoporosis, cardiovascular disease, and Alzheimer’s disease. Recent advances in the design of bioengineered three-dimensional (3D) ovarian models, such as ovarian organoids or artificial ovaries, have made it possible to mimic aspects of the cellular heterogeneity and functional characteristics of the ovary in vitro. These novel technologies are emerging as valuable tools for studying ovarian physiology and pathology and may provide alternatives for fertility preservation. Moreover, they may have the potential to restore aspects of ovarian function, improving the quality of life of the (aging) female population. This review focuses on the state of the art of 3D ovarian platforms, including the latest advances modeling female reproduction, female physiology, ovarian cancer, and drug screening.
Correction: Chung et al. Physiological and Psychological Effects of Treadmill Overtraining Implementation. Biology 2021, 10, 515
Authors: Chung Yi , Hsiao Yi-Ting , Huang Wen-Ching
Published: July 2023

In the original publication [...]
Exploring Less Invasive Visual Surveys to Assess the Spatial Distribution of Endangered Mediterranean Trout Population in a Small Intermittent Stream
Authors: Palmas Francesco , Casula Paolo , Curreli Francesco , Podda Cinzia , Cabiddu Serenella , Sabatini Andrea
Published: July 2023

Monitoring the conservation status of endangered freshwater fish using less invasive methods poses challenges for ecologists and conservationists. Visual surveys have been proposed as an alternative to electrofishing, which is a standard methodology that can cause injuries, physiological stress and post-release mortality in organisms. To test the efficacy of visual methods, a study was conducted in an intermittent stream of Sardinia (Italy). Two visual methods were employed: a visual survey from streambanks (VSS) and an underwater visual survey (UVS) using cameras. The aims of this study were (1) to compare the effectiveness of these methods in detecting patch occupancy patterns and (2) to investigate the effect of environmental variables on the detection probability of Mediterranean native trout. Environmental variables characterizing pool habitats were recorded, and generalized linear models (GLMs) were employed to assess the correlation between these variables and trout presence/absence. GLM analysis revealed that UVS had higher detection probability with larger pool volume, whereas submerged macrophytes negatively affected detection probability. Detection from streambanks (VVS) was negatively affected by a high turbulence rate. In conclusion, our study suggests the utility of visual methods to describe patterns of patch occupancy of Mediterranean trout. However, methods can be differently affected by environmental variables. Therefore, monitoring programs using these methods should consider these factors to ensure a reliable description of within-stream trout distribution in intermittent streams.
Remodelling of the Mitochondrial Bioenergetic Pathways in Human Cultured Fibroblasts with Carbohydrates
Authors: Protasoni Margherita , Taanman Jan-Willem
Published: July 2023

Mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation defects underlie many neurological and neuromuscular diseases. Patients’ primary dermal fibroblasts are one of the most commonly used in vitro models to study mitochondrial pathologies. However, fibroblasts tend to rely more on glycolysis than oxidative phosphorylation for their energy when cultivated in standard high-glucose medium, rendering it difficult to expose mitochondrial dysfunctions. This study aimed to systematically investigate to which extent the use of galactose- or fructose-based medium switches the fibroblasts’ energy metabolism to a more oxidative state. Highly proliferative cells depend more on glycolysis than less proliferative cells. Therefore, we investigated two primary dermal fibroblast cultures from healthy subjects: a highly proliferative neonatal culture and a slower-growing adult culture. Cells were cultured with 25 mM glucose, galactose or fructose, and 4 mM glutamine as carbon sources. Compared to glucose, both galactose and fructose reduce the cellular proliferation rate, but the galactose-induced drop in proliferation is much more profound than the one observed in cells cultivated in fructose. Both galactose and fructose result in a modest increase in mitochondrial content, including mitochondrial DNA, and a disproportionate increase in protein levels, assembly, and activity of the oxidative phosphorylation enzyme complexes. Galactose- and fructose-based media induce a switch of the prevalent biochemical pathway in cultured fibroblasts, enhancing aerobic metabolism when compared to glucose-based medium. While both galactose and fructose stimulate oxidative phosphorylation to a comparable degree, galactose decreases the cellular proliferation rate more than fructose, suggesting that a fructose-based medium is a better choice when studying partial oxidative phosphorylation defects in patients’ fibroblasts.
Repurposing of Tibolone in Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Barreto George E.
Published: July 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disease characterised by the accumulation of amyloid-beta and tau in the brain, leading to the progressive loss of memory and cognition. The causes of its pathogenesis are still not fully understood, but some risk factors, such as age, genetics, and hormones, may play a crucial role. Studies show that postmenopausal women have a higher risk of developing AD, possibly due to the decrease in hormone levels, especially oestrogen, which may be directly related to a reduction in the activity of oestrogen receptors, especially beta (ERβ), which favours a more hostile cellular environment, leading to mitochondrial dysfunction, mainly affecting key processes related to transport, metabolism, and oxidative phosphorylation. Given the influence of hormones on biological processes at the mitochondrial level, hormone therapies are of clinical interest to reduce the risk or delay the onset of symptoms associated with AD. One drug with such potential is tibolone, which is used in clinics to treat menopause-related symptoms. It can reduce amyloid burden and have benefits on mitochondrial integrity and dynamics. Many of its protective effects are mediated through steroid receptors and may also be related to neuroglobin, whose elevated levels have been shown to protect against neurological diseases. Its importance has increased exponentially due to its implication in the pathogenesis of AD. In this review, we discuss recent advances in tibolone, focusing on its mitochondrial-protective effects, and highlight how valuable this compound could be as a therapeutic alternative to mitigate the molecular pathways characteristic of AD.
Extrinsic and Intrinsic Factors Determine Expression Levels of Gap Junction-Forming Connexins in the Mammalian Retina
Authors: Kovács-Öller Tamás , Szarka Gergely , Hoffmann Gyula , Péntek Loretta , Valentin Gréta , Ross Liliana , Völgyi Béla
Published: July 2023

Gap junctions (GJs) are not static bridges; instead, GJs as well as the molecular building block connexin (Cx) proteins undergo major expression changes in the degenerating retinal tissue. Various progressive diseases, including retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, age-related retinal degeneration, etc., affect neurons of the retina and thus their neuronal connections endure irreversible changes as well. Although Cx expression changes might be the hallmarks of tissue deterioration, GJs are not static bridges and as such they undergo adaptive changes even in healthy tissue to respond to the ever-changing environment. It is, therefore, imperative to determine these latter adaptive changes in GJ functionality as well as in their morphology and Cx makeup to identify and distinguish them from alterations following tissue deterioration. In this review, we summarize GJ alterations that take place in healthy retinal tissue and occur on three different time scales: throughout the entire lifespan, during daily changes and as a result of quick changes of light adaptation.
New Discoveries in Retinal Cell Degeneration and Retinal Diseases
Authors: Bora Puran S.
Published: July 2023

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) has two phenotypes: dry AMD and wet AMD [...]
Non-Invasive Brain Stimulation and Sex/Polypeptide Hormones in Reciprocal Interactions: A Systematic Review
Authors: Veldema Jitka
Published: July 2023

A better understanding of interindividual differences and the development of targeted therapies is one of the major challenges of modern medicine. The sex of a person plays a crucial role in this regard. This systematic review aimed to summarise and analyse available evidence on the mutual interactions between non-invasive brain stimulation and sex/polypeptide hormones. The PubMed database was searched from its inception to 31 March 2023, for (i) studies that investigated the impact of sex and/or polypeptide hormones on the effects induced by non-invasive brain stimulation, or (ii) studies that investigated non-invasive brain stimulation in the modulation of sex and/or polypeptide hormones. Eighteen studies (319 healthy and 96 disabled participants) were included. Most studies focused on female sex hormone levels during the menstrual cycle. The later follicular phase is associated with a weak between hemispheric and intracortical inhibition, strong intracortical facilitation, and high stimulation-induced neural and behavioural changes. The opposite effects are observed during the luteal phase. In addition, the participant’s sex, presence and/or absence of real ovulation and increase in oestradiol level by chorionic gonadotropin injection influence the stimulation-induced neurophysiological and behavioural effects. In Parkinson’s disease and consciousness disorders, the repetitive application of non-invasive brain stimulation increases oestradiol and dehydroepiandrosterone levels and reduces disability. To date, male hormones have not been sufficiently included in these studies. Here, we show that the sex and/or polypeptide hormones and non-invasive brain stimulation methods are in reciprocal interactions. This may be used to create a more effective and individualised approach for healthy individuals and individuals with disabilities.
Evaluation of Bioactive Glass Treatment for Dentin Hypersensitivity: A Systematic Review
Authors: Petrović Dorotea , Galić Dora , Seifert Davor , Lešić Nikolina , Smolić Martina
Published: July 2023

The aim of this systematic review is to compare home and office desensitizers containing bioactive glass with control groups in randomized controlled trials (RCT) conducted between 2018 and 2022. According to PRISMA guidelines, three electronic databases (Scopus, PubMed, and Cochrane Library) were searched for published scientific articles in October 2022. RCT with adult participants with dentin hypersensitivity (DH) diagnosed by evaporative, mechanical, or thermal stimulation, with a follow-up period and quantified pain assessment were included in the study. Studies that reported DH due to tooth restoration, crown preparation, bleaching, or periodontal surgery or used bioactive glass-ceramics were excluded. The quality of the studies was assessed using version 2 of the Cochrane Risk-of-Bias Tool for randomized studies (RoB 2 tool). Articles that were duplicative or unrelated to this study were excluded. Nine articles were selected for full-text evaluation, whereas two articles were rejected. The remaining seven reports were included in this review. The calcium sodium phosphosilicate group (CSPS) was not significantly different from the positive control groups. Compared with the control groups, fluoro calcium phosphosilicate (FCPS) may be the most effective long-term treatment option. In terms of DH symptom reduction, the FCPS group performed better than the CSPS group. CSPS at a concentration of 5–15% and FCPS at a concentration of 5% are effective in treating DH in adult participants.
Metabolic and Phenotypic Changes Induced during N-Acetylglucosamine Signalling in the Fungal Pathogen Candida albicans
Authors: Sahoo Somnath , Sharma Sarika , Singh Mahendra P. , Singh Sandeep K. , Vamanu Emanuel , Rao Kongara Hanumantha
Published: July 2023

The human commensal yeast Candida albicans is pathogenic and results in a variety of mucosal and deep tissue problems when the host is immunocompromised. Candida exhibits enormous metabolic flexibility and dynamic morphogenetic transition to survive under host niche environmental conditions and to cause virulence. The amino sugar N-acetylglucosamine (GlcNAc) available at the host infection sites, apart from acting as an extremely good carbon and nitrogen source, also induces cellular signalling in this pathogen. In C. albicans, GlcNAc performs multifaceted roles, including GlcNAc scavenging, GlcNAc import and metabolism, morphogenetic transition (yeast—hyphae and white—opaque switch), GlcNAc-induced cell death (GICD), and virulence. Understanding the molecular mechanism(s) involved in GlcNAc-induced cellular processes has become the main focus of many studies. In the current study, we focused on GlcNAc-induced metabolic changes associated with phenotypic changes. Here, we employed gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS), which is a high-throughput and sensitive technology, to unveil global metabolomic changes that occur in GlcNAc vs. glucose grown conditions in Candida cells. The morphogenetic transition associated with metabolic changes was analysed by high-resolution field emission scanning electron microscopy (FE-SEM). Metabolite analysis revealed the upregulation of metabolites involved in the glyoxylate pathway, oxidative metabolism, and fatty acid catabolism to probably augment the synthesis of GlcNAc-induced hypha-specific materials. Furthermore, GlcNAc-grown cells showed slightly more sensitivity to amphotericin B treatment. These results all together provide new insights into the development of antifungal therapeutics for the control of candidiasis in humans.
Factors Affecting the Quality of Sleep and Social Participation of Stroke Patients
Authors: Hwang Ho-Sung , Kim Hee
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Stroke patients are exposed to various psychosocial factors, such as depression, anxiety, and stress, which can cause problems with respect to their quality of sleep and social participation. (2) Objectives: We analyzed the causal relationships between the factors affecting sleep quality and social participation in hospitalized and community-based stroke patients using a path analysis model. (3) Methods: A questionnaire survey was administered to stroke patients from June to November 2020 using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index to assess sleep quality; the Beck Depression Inventory to assess depression; the Beck Anxiety Inventory to assess anxiety; the Stress Scale to assess stress; and the Reintegration to Normal Living Index to assess participation. The data thus obtained were subjected to descriptive statistics, frequency analysis, and Pearson correlation analysis. In addition, anxiety, stress, and spasticity were set as exogenous variables to perform path analysis of their causal effects on depression (parameter), sleep quality, and social participation (final endogenous variables). (4) Results: In total, 145 people participated in this study, and the data of 129 people, excluding 16 insincere respondents, were analyzed. The general characteristics of the subjects comprised 84 males (65.1%) and 45 females (34.9%). Poor sleep quality comprised 54.3%, and good sleep quality comprised 45.7%, where the average age was 58.29 ± 15.46 years and the duration from onset was 39.73 ± 51.49 months. This study confirmed correlations between social participation and sleep quality, spasticity, depression, anxiety, and stress. Path analysis also revealed that anxiety and stress led to depression and that depression is a risk factor for sleep quality and social participation. (5) Conclusions: Sleep quality and social participation in stroke patients play an important role in rehabilitation. By carrying out this study, direct and indirect factors that affect sleep quality and social participation were analyzed, and the quality level in rehabilitation treatment should be improved from a structural point of view when approaching psychosocial factors.
Mood Symptoms and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Due to Relapsing-Remitting Multiple Sclerosis Are Associated with Immune Activation and Aberrations in the Erythron
Authors: Almulla Abbas F. , Abdul Jaleel Al-Karrar Kais , Abo Algon Ali Abbas , Tunvirachaisakul Chavit , Hassoun Hayder K. , Al-Hakeim Hussein K. , Maes Michael
Published: July 2023

Background: Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a chronic autoimmune and neuroinflammatory disease of the central nervous system characterized by peripheral activation of immune-inflammatory pathways which culminate in neurotoxicity causing demyelination of central neurons. Nonetheless, the pathophysiology of relapsing-remitting MS (RRMS)-related chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, cognitive impairments, and autonomic disturbances is not well understood. Objectives: The current study aims to delineate whether the remitted phase of RRMS is accompanied by activated immune-inflammatory pathways and if the latter, coupled with erythron variables, explain the chronic fatigue and mood symptoms due to RRMS. Material and Methods: We recruited 63 MS patients, 55 in the remitted phase of RRMS and 8 with secondary progressive MS, and 30 healthy controls and assessed erythron variables, and used a bio-plex assay to measure 27 serum cytokines. Results: A significant proportion of the MS patients (46%) displayed activation of the immune-inflammatory response (IRS) and compensatory immune response (CIRS) systems, and T helper (Th)1 and Th17 cytokine profiles. Remitted RRMS patients showed increased chronic fatigue, depression, anxiety, physiosomatic, autonomic, and insomnia scores, which could partly be explained by M1 macrophage, Th1, Th-17, growth factor, and CIRS activation, as well as aberrations in the erythron including lowered hematocrit and hemoglobin levels. Conclusions: Around 50% of remitted RRMS patients show activation of immune-inflammatory pathways in association with mood and chronic-fatigue-like symptoms. IRS and CIRS activation as well as the aberrations in the erythron are new drug targets to treat chronic fatigue and affective symptoms due to MS.
Co-Occurrence, Predictors, and Related Aggressive Behaviors of Cognitive and Emotional Relative Deprivation Based on Latent Class Analysis
Authors: Tian Yunlong , Zheng Haoyuan , Tong Wei , He Wen
Published: July 2023

Given the frequent occurrence of relative deprivation among adolescents and its negative effects, this study investigated relative deprivation among adolescents using a person-centered statistical technique (n = 1196; 565 girls). Latent class analysis identified three groups: low cognitive and emotional relative deprivation (Class 1, 33.78% of adolescents), high cognitive and low emotional relative deprivation (Class 2, 37.79% of adolescents), and high cognitive and emotional relative deprivation (Class 3, 28.43% of adolescents). Adolescents with low income and without parental accompaniment were more likely to be assigned to Classes 3 and 2. Compared with Class 1, Classes 3 and 2 had significant positive predictive effects on physical aggression, relational aggression, and overall aggressive behavior. The classes of relative deprivation influenced both physical and relational aggression, but not verbal aggression. Based on these findings, demographic characteristics and latent classes of relative deprivation should be considered together when developing interventions for aggressive behaviors.
The Impact of Turkey and Syria Earthquakes on University Students: Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Symptoms, Meaning in Life, and Social Support
Authors: Alfuqaha Othman A. , Al-masarwah Uday M. , Farah Randa I. , Yasin Jehad A. , Alkuttob Leen A. , Muslieh Nour I. , Hammouri Mouath , Jawabreh Afnan E. , Aladwan Duaa A. , Barakat Randah O. , Alshubbak Nida’a H.
Published: July 2023

(1) Background: Earthquakes are natural disasters that often result in significant loss of life and property. The objective of this study is to explore the frequency of symptoms associated with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), levels of meaning in life (ML), and perceived social support (SS) among university students in the aftermath of the earthquake that occurred in Turkey and Syria in 2023. (2) Methods: This study utilizes a cross-sectional correlation design to achieve its objectives among 603 university students from two public universities using an online survey (via Google Forms). The survey was launched one month after the earthquake in Turkey and Syria and concluded on 6 April 2023. (3) Results: The results indicate that a total of 158 university students, constituting 26.20% of the sample, reported extreme symptoms of PTSD. The results also indicate that 184 students (30.51), and 140 students (23.22%) reported low levels of ML and SS, respectively. Female students were significantly more vulnerable to experiencing PTSD symptoms, as well as difficulties in finding ML and SS. Finally, results revealed that students who were pursuing postgraduate studies had a greater likelihood of exhibiting symptoms indicative of PTSD. (4) Conclusions: It is recommended that universities provide support services and resources for students experiencing PTSD symptoms.
Intrinsic Motivation: Knowledge, Achievement, and Experimentation in Sports Science Students—Relations with Emotional Intelligence
Authors: Mercader-Rubio Isabel , Ángel Nieves Gutiérrez , Silva Sofia , Furtado Guilherme , Brito-Costa Sónia
Published: July 2023

In this paper, we have focused on the Self-Determination Theory, paying special attention to intrinsic motivation, which is understood as the motivation that leads the subject to perform a task without the expectation of obtaining an external reward. In the field of sport, motivation is one of the most studied variables and one of the most researched, since it is closely related to the reasons that lead the athletes to start, maintain, and abandon sports practice. The main objective of this study is to analyze the relationship between intrinsic motivation (IM) and emotional intelligence from the theoretical contributions of the Self-Determination Theory. The specific objectives are to analyze attention, clarity, and emotional regulation, as well as intrinsic motivation to acquire knowledge. Additionally, we aim to explore the relationship between attention, clarity, and emotional regulation and the intrinsic motivation to achieve something. Lastly, we investigate the correspondence between attention, clarity, and emotional regulation and the intrinsic motivation to experience stimuli. The sample consists of 163 undergraduate and master’s students related to Physical Activity and Sports Sciences, studying at a Spanish public university, located in the southeast region of Andalusia—specifically, in the city of Almería. The participants had a mean age of 20.33 years. In terms of gender, 70.9% (n = 117) were men and 27.9% (n = 46) women. In terms of degree, 76.7% (n = 147) were undergraduate students and 23.3% (n = 18) were postgraduate students. The Sports Motivation Scale (SMS/EMD) was used to assess intrinsic motivation, and the TMMS-24 was used to assess emotional intelligence. The main findings of this research demonstrate the existence of a relationship between the three dimensions of emotional intelligence (emotional attention, emotional clarity, and emotional regulation) and intrinsic motivation (intrinsic motivation to know something, intrinsic motivation to achieve something, and intrinsic motivation to experience stimulation). These findings emphasize the importance of emotional intelligence for intrinsic motivation.
A Mixed-Methods Investigation of the Effectiveness and Perceptions of Learning English Collocations Using the Keyword Method and the Rote Learning Method
Authors: Zhang Xiaofang , Reynolds Barry Lee
Published: July 2023

This study investigated the effectiveness, as well as EFL learners’ perceptions, of the keyword method (KWM) in comparison to the rote learning method (RLM) for the learning of English collocations. A controlled laboratory-like setting was adopted for randomly assigning participants to the KWM group (n = 15) or the RLM group (n = 15). After receiving training on the use of the respective strategy, the two participant groups applied the respective strategy to the learning of collocations. Collocations were assessed at three different time periods, and additional data regarding perceptions of the two strategies were elicited through one-on-one post hoc interviews. The quantitative data revealed that the KWM was superior to the RLM in terms of the long-term retention of productive collocation knowledge; knowledge of adjective–noun collocations was retained better than verb–noun collocations. The qualitative data revealed that participants deemed that the KWM was unfamiliar but effective. Additionally, participants claimed that the RLM was facile but may result in a high rate of forgetting. The pedagogical implications are that foreign language teachers should encourage language learners to use the KWM for learning English collocations. Although the KWM has been recommend by many researchers, it is still rarely advocated for by foreign language instructors. Therefore, it is important that both EFL learners and teachers should be aware of the KWM’s long-term retention effects on the learning of English collocations and apply this vocabulary learning strategy (VLS) in their actual learning and teaching context.
A Dynamic Model for Effective and Optimal Planning of Formwork in Construction Projects
Authors: Baskova Renata , Tazikova Alena , Strukova Zuzana , Kozlovska Maria , Cabala Jozef
Published: July 2023

The cost of producing one cubic meter of concrete structure, depending on the structure’s shape, type, and complexity, can be variously high. The cost of concrete, reinforcement, formwork, and labor ratio varies. But unlike the cost of concrete and reinforcement, which tend to be similar in the terms of the conditions of a particular construction project, the cost of formwork and work with it are different for different contractors. It often depends on the appropriateness of the formwork system used, the optimal placement of the formwork sets, the minimization of downtime, and the efficiency of the carpenters’ work. Formwork modeling in the construction preparation phase intervenes in this planning area, where construction sources are defined and quantified, and the time course of their deployment is determined. The current paper deals with optimizing formwork selection and deployment in concrete structure execution. Even if several requirements must be considered when selecting and modeling the formwork (e.g., construction time, quality of concrete structure, etc.), an effort to minimize the cost of formwork, and thus construction cost, plays the most significant role. A dynamic model for effective and optimal planning of formwork in construction projects, including formwork cost analysis, is presented in the paper. The included case study demonstrated the planning of the formwork through a software application developed based on the computational algorithm of the dynamic model presented. A case study is presented in the article as a research method. An office building with five above-ground floors and one underground floor was chosen for the case study. To solve the case study, the formwork for horizontal structures (i.e., beams and slabs) is considered. The goal of the case study is to identify research questions and apply time and cost optimization to a selected specific building.
Strategies on Uniformity Lighting in Office Space under Energy-Saving Environment
Authors: Lin Yusen , Chen Cheng-Chen
Published: July 2023

In this study, our focus was on exploring the changing illuminance of work surfaces in different ambient uniformity spaces in the office, with a specific emphasis on sustainability and energy-saving considerations. To investigate this, we conducted a comprehensive study in a laboratory setting that replicated an office environment. The study involved the participation of 20 adults as subjects. The findings of our study revealed a strong correlation between the uniformity of ambient lighting illuminance within the indoor space and the illuminance levels observed specifically at the task plane. Notably, when the surrounding illuminance exhibited uniformity, we observed a significant reduction in the EH as adjusted by participants during VDT operation. Interestingly, the task illuminance adjusted by the subjects was lower than the usual standard. However, we did not find any significant correlation between the uniformity of indoor ambient lighting illuminance and the appropriate VDT screen luminance. In situations where energy-saving measures are required, it is crucial to maintain an even luminance in the surrounding space to ensure that the minimum lighting level in the office is upheld. Future discussions should delve into task-ambient lighting models, exploring beyond task illuminance standards alone.