bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in Yttrium Iron Garnet Films: Methodologies, Characterization, Properties, Applications, and Bibliometric Analysis for Future Research Directions
Authors: Arsad Akmal Z. , Zuhdi Ahmad Wafi Mahmood , Ibrahim Noor Baa’yah , Hannan Mahammad A.
Published: January 2023

Due to recent advances in communication systems, dielectric and magnetic ceramics (ferrites) are attractive for use in devices. Spinel-type ferrites were the first material utilized in microwave devices; however, yttrium iron garnet (YIG) has low dielectric losses and is exploited in many applications. Owing to its high Faraday rotation, YIG films are utilized in magneto-optical applications. This study intends to examine the research trends and scientific research progress on highly cited papers discussing YIG films published between 2012 and 2022 using a bibliometric method. A comprehensive review of 100 scientific papers about YIG was performed from the Scopus database. The assessment of these highly cited papers was highlighted based on the following factors: publication trends and performance, limitations/research gaps, keywords, sub-fields, methodology journal evaluations, document type evaluation, issues, difficulties, solutions, and applications as well as guiding future YIG research. The majority of publications (99%) comprise experimental analysis, whereas 1% provide a based state-of-the-art overview. Ninety-one percent of articles focused on magnetization characterization. This bibliometric survey indicates that YIG film research is an expanding and developing field. The results of the data analysis can be utilized to improve the researchers’ understanding of YIG research and to encourage additional study in this area.
Realistic Facial Three-Dimensional Reconstruction from CT Images and 2D Photographic Images for Surgical-Orthognathic Planning
Authors: Monteiro Miguel , Vale Francisco , Ferreira Nuno , Marques Filipa , Ribeiro Madalena Prata , Santos Mariana , Oliveira Catarina , McEvoy Mariana , Travassos Raquel , Nunes Catarina , Paula Anabela Baptista , Francisco Inês , Caramelo Francisco
Published: January 2023

Orthognathic surgery is a procedure used to correct intermaxillary discrepancies, thus promoting significant improvements in chewing and breathing. During the surgical planning stage, orthodontists often use two-dimensional imaging techniques. The assessment is based on CBCT images and dental cast models to overcome these limitations; however, the evaluation of soft tissues remains complex. The aim of the present study was to develop a co-registration method of CBCT and photo images that would result in realistic facial image reconstruction. CBCT images were three-dimensionally rendered, and the soft tissues were subsequently segmented resulting in the cranial external surface. A co-registration between the obtained surface and a frontal photo of the subject was then carried out. From this mapping, a photorealistic model capable of replicating the features of the face was generated. To assess the quality of this procedure, seven orthodontists were asked to fill in a survey on the models obtained. The survey results showed that orthodontists consider the three-dimensional model obtained to be realistic and of high quality. This process can automatically obtain a three-dimensional model from CBCT images, which in turn may enhance the predictability of surgical-orthognathic planning.
Bending Performance of Concrete Sandwich Walls with Actual Boundary Conditions
Authors: Yan Dawei , Wan Haiying , Chen Anying , Wang Bing
Published: January 2023

Concrete sandwich walls are commonly used as the exterior wall panels of a structure, in which the wall suffers out-of-plane bending under strong wind conditions. This paper aims to investigate the bending performance of concrete sandwich walls under actual boundary conditions through experimental and analytical methods. In total, four concrete sandwich walls were tested to detect the influence of openings and loading direction. Typical failure patterns were characterized and discussed. The load-displacement curves of four test specimens were analyzed. It was indicated that the bearing capacity of the walls under negative bending conditions was higher than that under positive bending conditions, owing to the additional constraints provided by the steel beams. Strain distributions of wall specimens were also discussed in order to obtain the composite action of the sandwich walls between the upper and lower layers of concrete. In addition, the finite element model (FEM) was developed by ABAQUS to provide insights into the bending performance of the sandwich walls. Through comparison with the test results, the FEM was verified with a good level of accuracy. Subsequently, the degree of composite action of the sandwich walls was assessed in terms of both the moment of inertia and bearing capacity. From the experimental and numerical results, it demonstrated that the bearing capacity of concrete sandwiched wall under negative direction was higher than that under positive direction owing to the constraints of steel beam. The derived composite action degree could be employed to evaluate the out-plane bending stiffness and strength of sandwiched concrete wall. Both the experimental and analytical results in this paper are beneficial for the design of sandwich walls under bending conditions.
End-to-End Object Detection with Enhanced Positive Sample Filter
Authors: Song Xiaolin , Chen Binghui , Li Pengyu , Wang Biao , Zhang Honggang
Published: January 2023

Discarding Non-Maximum Suppression (NMS) post-processing and realizing fully end-to-end object detection is a recent research focus. Previous works have proved that the one-to-one label assignment strategy provides the chance to eliminate NMS during inference. However, this strategy might also result in multiple predictions with high scores due to the inconsistency of label assignment during training. Thus, how to adaptively identify only one positive sample as a final prediction for each Ground-Truth instance remains important. In this paper, we propose an Enhanced Positive Sample Filter (EPSF) to filter out the single positive sample for each Ground-Truth instance and lower the confidence of other negative samples. This is mainly achieved with two components: a Dual-stream Feature Enhancement module (DsFE) and a Disentangled Max Pooling Filter (DeMF). DsFE makes full use of representations trained with different targets so as to provide rich information clues for positive sample selection, while DeMF enhances the feature discriminability in potential foreground regions with disentangled pooling. With the proposed methods, our end-to-end detector achieves a better performances against existing NMS-free object detectors on COCO, PASCAL VOC, CrowdHuman and Caltech datasets.
Hormonal Interactions Underlying Rootstock-Induced Vigor Control in Horticultural Crops
Authors: Hayat Faisal , Li Juan , Iqbal Shahid , Khan Ummara , Ali Nadia Ahmed , Peng Yang , Hong Leming , Asghar Sumeera , Javed Hafiz Umer , Li Caiqin , Song Wenpei , Tu Panfeng , Chen Jiezhong , Shahid Muhammad Adnan
Published: January 2023

Grafting has been utilized to develop horticultural crops to increase plant vigor, yield potential, and tolerance to various environmental stresses. Grafting employs selected rootstocks of the same species or near relatives. Moreover, dwarfing is a desirable feature for intensive cultivation and efficient orchard management. However, information on the regulatory mechanisms of rootstock-induced vigor control remains unclear. Numerous studies comprehend the physiological and molecular mechanism of rootstock control scion vigor, which has significantly improved our understanding regarding vigor control processes in apple, litchi, pear, citrus, etc. This review summarizes the current knowledge on the impact of rootstocks on scion vigor and hormonal mechanisms involved in dwarfing, such as auxin (IAA), cytokinins (CK), abscisic acid (ABA), gibberellic acids (GAs), and brassinosteroids (BR). This study will provide fascinating information for future studies on rootstock-induced dwarfing effects and accelerate the breeding of dwarfing rootstocks.
Dual-Track Lifelong Machine Learning-Based Fine-Grained Product Quality Analysis
Authors: Hong Xianbin , Guan Sheng-Uei , Xue Nian , Li Zhen , Man Ka Lok , Wong Prudence W. H. , Liu Dawei
Published: January 2023

Artificial intelligence (AI) systems are becoming wiser, even surpassing human performances in some fields, such as image classification, chess, and Go. However, most high-performance AI systems, such as deep learning models, are black boxes (i.e., only system inputs and outputs are visible, but the internal mechanisms are unknown) and, thus, are notably challenging to understand. Thereby a system with better explainability is needed to help humans understand AI. This paper proposes a dual-track AI approach that uses reinforcement learning to supplement fine-grained deep learning-based sentiment classification. Through lifelong machine learning, the dual-track approach can gradually become wiser and realize high performance (while keeping outstanding explainability). The extensive experimental results show that the proposed dual-track approach can provide reasonable fine-grained sentiment analyses to product reviews and remarkably achieve a 133% promotion of the Macro-F1 score on the Twitter sentiment classification task and a 27.12% promotion of the Macro-F1 score on an Amazon iPhone 11 sentiment classification task, respectively.
Analysis of the Risk Factors for De Novo Subdural Hygroma in Patients with Traumatic Brain Injury Using Predictive Modeling and Association Rule Mining
Authors: Kim Kwang Hyeon , Lee Byung-Jou , Koo Hae-Won
Published: January 2023

The relationship between risk factors for de novo hygroma in patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) was investigated. We collected data on 222 patients with TBI to determine the risk factors for de novo hygroma, including sex, age, centrum semiovale perivascular space (CSO-PVS) grade, trauma cause, hypertension, and diabetes. The importance of the risk factors was analyzed, and the feature contribution of the risk factors to all patients and each patient was analyzed using predictive modeling. Additionally, association rule mining was performed to determine the relationship between all factors, and the performance metrics of the predictive model were calculated. The overall feature importance was analyzed in the order of age, CSO-PVS, hypertension, and trauma cause. However, trauma cause, underlying disease, age, and sex as risk factors were different for a specific patient through the individual feature analysis. The mean area under the curve for the predictive model was 0.80 ± 0.04 using K-fold cross validation. We analyzed the risk factors for de novo hygroma in TBI and identified detailed relationships. Age and CSO-PVS severity were strongly correlated with de novo hygroma. Furthermore, according to the results of feature importance analysis and association rule mining, the significance of the risk factors may vary in each individual patient.
Nonlinear Dynamic Behaviors of the (3+1)-Dimensional B-Type Kadomtsev—Petviashvili Equation in Fluid Mechanics
Authors: Wang Kang-Jia , Liu Jing-Hua , Si Jing , Wang Guo-Dong
Published: January 2023

This paper provides an investigation on nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the (3+1)-dimensional B-type Kadomtsev—Petviashvili equation, which is used to model the propagation of weakly dispersive waves in a fluid. With the help of the Cole—Hopf transform, the Hirota bilinear equation is established, then the symbolic computation with the ansatz function schemes is employed to search for the diverse exact solutions. Some new results such as the multi-wave complexiton, multi-wave, and periodic lump solutions are found. Furthermore, the abundant traveling wave solutions such as the dark wave, bright-dark wave, and singular periodic wave solutions are also constructed by applying the sub-equation method. Finally, the nonlinear dynamic behaviors of the solutions are presented through the 3-D plots, 2-D contours, and 2-D curves and their corresponding physical characteristics are also elaborated. To our knowledge, the obtained solutions in this work are all new, which are not reported elsewhere. The methods applied in this study can be used to investigate the other PDEs arising in physics.
Emotional Classification Method (ECW): A Methodology for Measuring Emotional Sustainability in a Work Environment Utilizing Artificial Intelligence
Authors: Roldán-Castellanos Florencio , Pérez-Olguín Iván , Gutiérrez-Vázquez Aimeé , Méndez-González Luis , Rodríguez-Picón Luis
Published: January 2023

Sustainable development generally includes three key dimensions: environmental, economic, and social. However, both in practice and in theory, the social dimension often receives less attention than the other two, even though it is just as important. This lack of focus can be seen in the lack of tools available to measure problems within the social dimension, such as emotional sustainability within the work environment. The objective of this research is to propose a methodology for emotional classification (ECM) using advanced systems such as artificial intelligence to serve as a tool for measuring emotional sustainability in a work environment. This methodology was applied in an institution whose objective was to accredit and comply with a Mexican standard (NOM-035) regarding stress and anxiety of labor personnel. As a result of the research, we have a method for emotional diagnosis that functions as a tool for the quantification and evaluation of emotions and thus contributes to the implementation of social sustainability. Finally, a proposal for improvements and factors to be taken into account in order to reproduce the ECW method is offered.
The Frobenius Number for Jacobsthal Triples Associated with Number of Solutions
Authors: Komatsu Takao , Pita-Ruiz Claudio
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we find a formula for the largest integer (p-Frobenius number) such that a linear equation of non-negative integer coefficients composed of a Jacobsthal triplet has at most p representations. For p=0, the problem is reduced to the famous linear Diophantine problem of Frobenius, the largest integer of which is called the Frobenius number. We also give a closed formula for the number of non-negative integers (p-genus), such that linear equations have at most p representations. Extensions to the Jacobsthal polynomial and the Jacobsthal–Lucas polynomial give more general formulas that include the familiar Fibonacci and Lucas numbers. A basic problem with the Fibonacci triplet was dealt by Marin, Ramírez Alfonsín and M. P. Revuelta for p=0 and by Komatsu and Ying for the general non-negative integer p.
Towards High-Safety Lithium-Ion Battery Diagnosis Methods
Authors: Zhang Yulong , Jiang Meng , Zhou Yuhong , Zhao Shupeng , Yuan Yongwei
Published: January 2023

With the great development of new energy vehicles and power batteries, lithium-ion batteries have become predominant due to their advantages. For the battery to run safely, stably, and with high efficiency, the precise and reliable prognosis and diagnosis of possible or already occurred faults is a key factor. Based on lithium-ion batteries’ aging mechanism and fault causes, this paper summarizes the general methods of fault diagnosis at a macro level. Moreover, lithium-ion battery fault diagnosis methods are classified according to the existing research. Therefore, various fault diagnosis methods based on statistical analysis, models, signal processing, knowledge and data-driven are discussed in depth. Finally, the main challenges faced by fault diagnosis technology and future directions for possible research and development are put forward.
Climate Effect on Morphological Traits and Polyphenolic Composition of Red Wine Grapes of Vitis vinifera
Authors: Rouxinol Maria Inês , Martins Maria Rosário , Salgueiro Vanda , Costa Maria João , Barroso João Mota , Rato Ana Elisa
Published: January 2023

Wine quality is determined by the development of grape maturation, which is highly dependent on climate variations. Extreme weather events are becoming more common, which will affect the productivity and quality of grapes and wine. Grape development depends on many factors, including weather, and extreme events will influence berry size, skin thickness and the development of some key compounds, such as phenolics. In this work, the ripening evolution and phenolic content of Vitis vinifera extracts from a vineyard in Alentejo (Portugal) were evaluated in two distinct climatic years. During this period, the influence of climatic conditions on grape ripening, and thereby on red wine quality, was assessed. The results demonstrate differences in polyphenol compounds between years and the importance of monitoring their content during maturation. The reduction of berry size, apparently due to lower pluviosity and higher temperatures, resulted in a higher content of polyphenolic compounds related to grape quality.
Developing Patient-Specific Statistical Reconstructions of Healthy Anatomical Structures to Improve Patient Outcomes
Authors: Wysocki Matthew A. , Lewis Steven A. , Doyle Scott T.
Published: January 2023

There are still numerous problems with modern joint replacement prostheses, which negatively influence patient health and recovery. For example, it is especially important to avoid failures and complications following hip arthroplasty because the loss of hip joint function is commonly associated with increased demand on the healthcare system, reoperation, loss of independence, physical disability, and death. The current study uses hip arthroplasty as a model system to present a new strategy of computationally generating patient-specific statistical reconstructions of complete healthy anatomical structures from computed tomography (CT) scans of damaged anatomical structures. The 3D model morphological data were evaluated from damaged femurs repaired with prosthetic devices and the respective damaged femurs that had been restored using statistical reconstruction. The results from all morphological measurements (i.e., maximum femoral length, Hausdorff distance, femoral neck anteversion, length of rotational center divergence, and angle of inclination) indicated that the values of femurs repaired with traditional prostheses did not fall within the +/−3 standard deviations of the respective patient-specific healthy anatomical structures. These results demonstrate that there are quantitative differences in the morphology of femurs repaired with traditional prostheses and the morphology of patient-specific statistical reconstructions. This approach of generating patient-specific statistical reconstructions of healthy anatomical structures might help to inform prosthetic designs so that new prostheses more closely resemble natural healthy morphology and preserve biomechanical function. Additionally, the patient-specific statistical reconstructions of healthy anatomical structures might be valuable for surgeons in that prosthetic devices could be selected and positioned to more accurately restore natural biomechanical function. All in all, this contribution establishes the novel approach of generating patient-specific statistical reconstructions of healthy anatomical structures from the CT scans of individuals’ damaged anatomical structures to improve treatments and patient outcomes.
First Trimester Evaluation of Maternal Visceral Fat and Its Relationship with Adverse Pregnancy Outcomes
Authors: Brenes-Martín Francisco , Melero-Jiménez Victoria , López-Guerrero Miguel Ángel , Calero-Ruiz María Mercedes , Vázquez-Fonseca Luis , Ábalos-Martínez Jessica , Quintero-Prado Rocío , Torrejón Rafael , Visiedo Francisco , Bugatto Fernando
Published: January 2023

Obese women are more likely to experience pregnancy complications. The distribution of fat, and more particularly the rise in visceral fat, is well established to be more closely linked to the onset of cardiovascular disease and metabolic syndrome than obesity itself. We aim to examine the relationship between maternal visceral fat assessment in the first trimester and the appearance of adverse pregnancy outcomes. A prospective cohort study including 416 pregnant women was conducted. During the first trimester scan (11–13 + 6 weeks), all individuals had their visceral fat and subcutaneous thicknesses measured by ultrasonography. Blood samples were obtained, and maternal demographics and clinical information were documented. After delivery, the obstetric outcomes were evaluated. We contrasted two groups: one with healthy pregnancies and the other with adverse pregnancy outcomes (APO), defined as the development of at least one of the following complications: gestational diabetes mellitus, hypertensive disorders of pregnancy, abnormal fetal growth, preterm delivery or preterm premature rupture of membranes. Median maternal age was 33 and 34 years old for the uncomplicated and adverse pregnancy outcomes groups, respectively. We found that women with adverse pregnancy outcomes had higher VFT (median 30 vs. 26.5 mm, p = 0.001) and SFT (median 18.9 vs. 17.1 mm, p = 0.03). However, the visceral/subcutaneous fat ratio was not statistically different between groups. Finally, we performed a subanalysis for metabolic and placental vascular dysfunction complications. After performing a multivariate logistic regression analysis adjusted for maternal age, smoking, and mean arterial pressure, both the VFT (aOR 1.03, p < 0.001) and the ratio of visceral/subcutaneous fat (aOR 1.37, p = 0.04) were significantly associated with the development of adverse pregnancy outcomes; however, the associations of VFT and the VFT-to-SFT ratio were higher for the occurrence of gestational diabetes (aOR 1.07, p < 0.001; aOR 2.09, p = 0.001; respectively) and showed no relationships with placental complications. When conducting a first-trimester ultrasound assessment, sonographers may measure VFT without additional time or cost involved. Identification of pregnant women with increased VFT (>37 mm) may benefit from a close follow-up, especially for the development of gestational diabetes, independent of BMI.
Intact Transition Epitope Mapping—Force Differences between Original and Unusual Residues (ITEM-FOUR)
Authors: Röwer Claudia , Ortmann Christian , Neamtu Andrei , El-Kased Reham F. , Glocker Michael O.
Published: January 2023

Antibody-based point-of-care diagnostics have become indispensable for modern medicine. In-depth analysis of antibody recognition mechanisms is the key to tailoring the accuracy and precision of test results, which themselves are crucial for targeted and personalized therapy. A rapid and robust method is desired by which binding strengths between antigens and antibodies of concern can be fine-mapped with amino acid residue resolution to examine the assumedly serious effects of single amino acid polymorphisms on insufficiencies of antibody-based detection capabilities of, e.g., life-threatening conditions such as myocardial infarction. The experimental ITEM-FOUR approach makes use of modern mass spectrometry instrumentation to investigate intact immune complexes in the gas phase. ITEM-FOUR together with molecular dynamics simulations, enables the determination of the influences of individually exchanged amino acid residues within a defined epitope on an immune complex’s binding strength. Wild-type and mutated epitope peptides were ranked according to their experimentally determined dissociation enthalpies relative to each other, thereby revealing which single amino acid polymorphism caused weakened, impaired, and even abolished antibody binding. Investigating a diagnostically relevant human cardiac Troponin I epitope for which seven nonsynonymous single nucleotide polymorphisms are known to exist in the human population tackles a medically relevant but hitherto unsolved problem of current antibody-based point-of-care diagnostics.
Licochalcone E, a β-Amyloid Aggregation Inhibitor, Regulates Microglial M1/M2 Polarization via Inhibition of CTL1-Mediated Choline Uptake
Authors: Muto Eisuke , Okada Toshio , Yamanaka Tsuyoshi , Uchino Hiroyuki , Inazu Masato
Published: January 2023

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is thought to be a series of neuroinflammatory diseases caused by abnormal deposits of amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau protein in the brain as part of its etiology. We focused on Aβ aggregation and M1 and M2 microglial polarity in microglia to search for novel therapeutic agents. It has been reported that the inhibition of choline uptake via choline transporter-like protein 1 (CTL1) in microglia preferentially induces M2 microglial polarity. However, the role of the choline transport system on the regulation of microglial M1/M2 polarity in AD is not fully understood. Licochalcones (Licos) A–E, flavonoids extracted from licorice, have been reported to have immunological anti-inflammatory effects, and Lico A inhibits Aβ aggregation. In this study, we compared the efficacy of five Licos, from Lico A to E, at inhibiting Aβ1-42 aggregation. Among the five Licos, Lico E was selected to investigate the relationship between the inhibition of choline uptake and microglial M1/M2 polarization using the immortalized mouse microglial cell line SIM-A9. We newly found that Lico E inhibited choline uptake and Aβ1-42 aggregation in SIM-A9 cells in a concentration-dependent manner, suggesting that the inhibitory effect of Lico E on choline uptake is mediated by CTL1. The mRNA expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α), a marker of M1 microglia, was increased by Aβ1-42, and its effect was inhibited by choline deprivation and Lico E in a concentration-dependent manner. In contrast, the mRNA expression of arginase-1 (Arg-1), a marker of M2 microglia, was increased by IL-4, and its effect was enhanced by choline deprivation and Lico E. We found that Lico E has an inhibitory effect on Aβ aggregation and promotes polarity from M1 to M2 microglia via inhibition of the CTL1 function in microglia. Thus, Lico E may become a leading compound for a novel treatment of AD.
IGF2: A Role in Metastasis and Tumor Evasion from Immune Surveillance?
Authors: Belfiore Antonino , Rapicavoli Rosaria Valentina , Le Moli Rosario , Lappano Rosamaria , Morrione Andrea , De Francesco Ernestina Marianna , Vella Veronica
Published: January 2023

Insulin-like growth factor 2 (IGF2) is upregulated in both childhood and adult malignancies. Its overexpression is associated with resistance to chemotherapy and worse prognosis. However, our understanding of its physiological and pathological role is lagging behind what we know about IGF1. Dysregulation of the expression and function of IGF2 receptors, insulin receptor isoform A (IR-A), insulin growth factor receptor 1 (IGF1R), and their downstream signaling effectors drive cancer initiation and progression. The involvement of IGF2 in carcinogenesis depends on its ability to link high energy intake, increase cell proliferation, and suppress apoptosis to cancer risk, and this is likely the key mechanism bridging insulin resistance to cancer. New aspects are emerging regarding the role of IGF2 in promoting cancer metastasis by promoting evasion from immune destruction. This review provides a perspective on IGF2 and an update on recent research findings. Specifically, we focus on studies providing compelling evidence that IGF2 is not only a major factor in primary tumor development, but it also plays a crucial role in cancer spread, immune evasion, and resistance to therapies. Further studies are needed in order to find new therapeutic approaches to target IGF2 action.
Photophysical Mechanisms of Photobiomodulation Therapy as Precision Medicine
Authors: Liebert Ann , Capon William , Pang Vincent , Vila Damien , Bicknell Brian , McLachlan Craig , Kiat Hosen
Published: January 2023

Despite a significant focus on the photochemical and photoelectrical mechanisms underlying photobiomodulation (PBM), its complex functions are yet to be fully elucidated. To date, there has been limited attention to the photophysical aspects of PBM. One effect of photobiomodulation relates to the non-visual phototransduction pathway, which involves mechanotransduction and modulation to cytoskeletal structures, biophotonic signaling, and micro-oscillatory cellular interactions. Herein, we propose a number of mechanisms of PBM that do not depend on cytochrome c oxidase. These include the photophysical aspects of PBM and the interactions with biophotons and mechanotransductive processes. These hypotheses are contingent on the effect of light on ion channels and the cytoskeleton, the production of biophotons, and the properties of light and biological molecules. Specifically, the processes we review are supported by the resonant recognition model (RRM). This previous research demonstrated that protein micro-oscillations act as a signature of their function that can be activated by resonant wavelengths of light. We extend this work by exploring the local oscillatory interactions of proteins and light because they may affect global body circuits and could explain the observed effect of PBM on neuro-cortical electroencephalogram (EEG) oscillations. In particular, since dysrhythmic gamma oscillations are associated with neurodegenerative diseases and pain syndromes, including migraine with aura and fibromyalgia, we suggest that transcranial PBM should target diseases where patients are affected by impaired neural oscillations and aberrant brain wave patterns. This review also highlights examples of disorders potentially treatable with precise wavelengths of light by mimicking protein activity in other tissues, such as the liver, with, for example, Crigler-Najjar syndrome and conditions involving the dysregulation of the cytoskeleton. PBM as a novel therapeutic modality may thus behave as “precision medicine” for the treatment of various neurological diseases and other morbidities. The perspectives presented herein offer a new understanding of the photophysical effects of PBM, which is important when considering the relevance of PBM therapy (PBMt) in clinical applications, including the treatment of diseases and the optimization of health outcomes and performance.
Modification of Breast Cancer Milieu with Chemotherapy plus Dendritic Cell Vaccine: An Approach to Select Best Therapeutic Strategies
Authors: Mejías Sosa Luis , López-Janeiro Álvaro , Córdoba Iturriagagoitia Alicia , Sala Pablo , Solans Belén P. , Hato Laura , Inogés Susana , López-Díaz de Cerio Ascensión , Guillén-Grima Francisco , Espinós Jaime , De La Cruz Susana , Lozano María Dolores , Idoate Miguel A , Santisteban Marta
Published: January 2023

Background: The addition of dendritic cell vaccines (DCV) to NAC could induce immune responses in those patients with residual disease (RD) by transforming the tumor microenvironment. Methods: Core diagnostic biopsies and surgical specimens from 80 patients (38 in the vaccinated group plus NAC (VG) and 42 in the control group (CG, treated only with NAC) were selected. We quantify TILs (CD8, CD4 and CD45RO) using immunohistochemistry and the automated cellular imaging system (ACIS III) in paired samples. Results: A CD8 rise in TNBC samples was observed after NAC plus DCV, changing from 4.48% in the biopsy to 6.70% in the surgical specimen, not reaching statistically significant differences (p = 0.11). This enrichment was seen in up to 67% of TNBC patients in the experimental arm as compared with the CG (20%). An association between CD8 TILs before NAC (4% cut-off point) and pathological complete response in the VG was found in the univariate and multivariate analysis (OR = 1.41, IC95% 1.05–1.90; p = 0.02, and OR = 2.0, IC95% 1.05–3.9; p = 0.03, respectively). Conclusion: Our findings suggest that patients with TNBC could benefit from the stimulation of the antitumor immune system by using DCV together with NAC.
Reversible Adhesive Bio-Toe with Hierarchical Structure Inspired by Gecko
Authors: Wang Liuwei , Wang Zhouyi , Wang Bingcheng , Yuan Qingsong , Weng Zhiyuan , Dai Zhendong
Published: January 2023

The agile locomotion of adhesive animals is mainly attributed to their sophisticated hierarchical feet and reversible adhesion motility. Their structure–function relationship is an urgent issue to be solved to understand biologic adhesive systems and the design of bionic applications. In this study, the reversible adhesion/release behavior and structural properties of gecko toes were investigated, and a hierarchical adhesive bionic toe (bio-toe) consisting of an upper elastic actuator as the supporting/driving layer and lower bionic lamellae (bio-lamellae) as the adhesive layer was designed, which can adhere to and release from targets reversibly when driven by bi-directional pressure. A mathematical model of the nonlinear deformation and a finite element model of the adhesive contact of the bio-toe were developed. Meanwhile, combined with experimental tests, the effects of the structure and actuation on the adhesive behavior and mechanical properties of the bio-toe were investigated. The research found that (1) the bending curvature of the bio-toe, which is approximately linear with pressure, enables the bio-toe to adapt to a wide range of objects controllably; (2) the tabular bio-lamella could achieve a contact rate of 60% with a low squeeze contact of less than 0.5 N despite a ±10° tilt in contact posture; (3) the upward bending of the bio-toe under negative pressure provided sufficient rebounding force for a 100% success rate of release; (4) the ratio of shear adhesion force to preload of the bio-toe with tabular bio-lamellae reaches approximately 12, which is higher than that of most existing adhesion units and frictional gripping units. The bio-toe shows good adaptability, load capacity, and reversibility of adhesion when applied as the basic adhesive unit in a robot gripper and wall-climbing robot. Finally, the proposed reversible adhesive bio-toe with a hierarchical structure has great potential for application in space, defense, industry, and daily life.
Primary School Students with Reading Comprehension Difficulties and Students with Learning Disabilities: Exploring Their Goal Orientations, Classroom Goal Structures, and Self-Regulated Learning Strategies
Authors: Kampylafka Christina , Polychroni Fotini , Antoniou Alexandros-Stamatios
Published: January 2023

The aim of the present study was to investigate goal orientations and classroom goal structures and their relationship with strategies of self-regulated learning (SRL) in students with and without learning disabilities (LD) and reading comprehension difficulties (RCD). The sample consisted of 537 students attending the two last grades of primary school, fifth and sixth grade (Mage = 11.28 years, SD = ±0.59). Of these, 58 students were diagnosed with LD, and 70 students, after individually administered assessments in reading accuracy and reading comprehension, were assigned to the RCD group. Self-reported questionnaires were administered, assessing students’ personal goal orientations, classroom goal structures, and strategies of SRL. The results showed that students with LD and students with RCD scored lower in mastery orientation and higher in performance avoidance compared to their peers without difficulties (ND). LD students reported lower scores of adaptive strategies than their peers. In addition, the results confirmed the adaptive character of mastery-approach goals and mastery goal structures and the negative effects of performance-avoidance goals and performance goal structures on the adaptive strategies of SRL. Performance-approach goals predicted adaptive behaviors for all students, confirming the argument of an adaptive type of motivation. The findings of the current study highlight the importance of goal orientations and classroom goal structures for students’ SRL. Implications of the findings for enhancing motivation for students with LD and students with RCD are discussed.
Digital-Twin-Based High-Precision Assembly of a Steel Bridge Tower
Authors: Li Jiulin , Li Qingquan , Mao Qingzhou , Xu Hao
Published: January 2023

Steel structures that benefit from having lightweight, ductility, and seismic behaviors are capable of improving the overall performance of civil engineering in environmental protection, project quality, process management, and ease of construction, making the procedure more feasible for builders. The application of steel structure techniques has been widely used in bridges, tall buildings, and complex projects around the world. Increasing demand for planning and design has led to structural projects upgrading in structural complexity and geometrical irregularity. However, steel structure projects are still limited by the principal disadvantage of susceptibility to deformation. Therefore, the challenges of the assembly and manufacturing process for steel structures are important. In this paper, to achieve full-loop tracking and control of the assembly and manufacturing process, we propose an integrated approach to undertake the aforementioned challenges via digital twin technology, which combines three modules: (1) deformation detection, (2) pose estimation and optimization, and (3) deformation correction and pose control. This proposed methodology innovatively merges gravitational deformation analysis with geometrical error analysis. Furthermore, the validity of this method’s implementation is demonstrated by the New Shougang Bridge project. The results show that the assembly precision satisfies the standard of less than H/4000, nearing H/6000. Moreover, the elevation difference is less than 20 mm, which satisfies the control precision of the geometric pose. The new method that we propose in this paper provides new ideas for structural deformation control and high-precision assembly, as it realizes dynamic deformation sensing, real-time deviation analysis and manufacturing, and efficient optimization of the assembly process.
MODI: A Structured Development Process of Mode-Based Control Algorithms in the Early Design Stage of Building Energy Systems
Authors: Cai Xiaoye , Schild Thomas , Kümpel Alexander , Müller Dirk
Published: January 2023

The growing share of renewable energy sources in building energy systems leads to more complex energy conversion and distribution systems. The current process of developing appropriate control functions for energy systems is insufficient and consequently error-prone. Regarding this problem, a new method is expected to systematically develop appropriate control functions for buildings and reduce design errors in this process. This paper introduces the MODI method, aiming at a structured development process of mode-based control algorithms to reduce errors in the early design stages of buildings. A complete framework and a standardized application process of the MODI method will be established to systematically design mode-based control algorithms described through signal-interpreted Petri nets. Furthermore, we performed a simulation-assisted evaluation approach to test and improve the performance of the control algorithms generated by MODI. In a case study, we applied MODI to develop a mode-based control strategy for an energy system containing heating and cooling supply networks. The desired control strategy was tested and tuned in a simulation phase. Compared to a reference control, the mode-based control algorithm shows an improvement in system efficiency by 4% in winter and 8% during the transitional season phase.
Numerical Investigation of Thermal Performance with Adaptive Terminal Devices for Cold Aisle Containment in Data Centers
Authors: Chen Hongyin , Li Dezhi , Wang Songcen , Chen Tianheng , Zhong Ming , Ding Yi , Li Ye , Huo Xianxu
Published: January 2023

The energy consumption of data center cooling systems accounts for a large proportion of total energy consumption. The optimization of airflow organization is one of the most important methods to improve the energy efficiency of cooling systems. The adjustment scale of many current air flow organization methods, however, is too large and does not support the data center’s refined operation. In this paper, a new type of air supply terminal device is proposed, and it could adaptively adjust according to the power of servers in the rack for cold air redistribution. In addition, the corresponding regulation strategy is proposed. A CFD model is established according to field investigation of a real data center in Shanghai to investigate the adjustment range and the energy saving potential of the device. The simulation results indicate that the device can suppress the local hot spots caused by excessive server power to some extent and greatly improve the uniformity of servers exhaust temperature. The case study shows that the device can save energy consumption by 20.1% and 4.2% in mitigating local hot spots compared with reducing supply air temperature and increasing supply air flowrate.
Synergistic Combination of Luteolin and Asiatic Acid on Cervical Cancer In Vitro and In Vivo
Authors: Chen Ya-Hui , Wu Jyun-Xue , Yang Shun-Fa , Hsiao Yi-Hsuan
Published: January 2023

Cervical cancer is an important issue globally because it is the second most common gynecological malignant tumor and conventional treatment effects have been shown to be limited. Lut and AsA are plant-derived natural flavonoid and triterpenoid products that have exhibited anticancer activities and can modulate various signaling pathways. Thus, the aim of the present study was to evaluate whether Lut combined with AsA could enhance the anticancer effect to inhibit cervical cancer cell proliferation and examine the underlying molecular mechanisms in vitro and in vivo. The results of a CCK-8 assay showed that Lut combined with AsA more effectively inhibited the proliferation of CaSki and HeLa cells than Lut or AsA treatment alone. Lut combined with AsA caused apoptosis induction and sub-G1-phase arrest in CaSki and HeLa cells, as confirmed by flow cytometry, mitoROS analysis, antioxidant activity measurement and western blot assay. In addition, Lut combined with AsA significantly inhibited the cell migration ability of CaSki and HeLa cells in a wound-healing assay. Furthermore, Lut combined with AsA induced apoptosis and inhibited migration through downregulated PI3K/AKT (PI3K, AKT and p70S6K), JNK/p38 MAPK and FAK (integrin β1, paxillin and FAK) signaling and upregulated ERK signaling. In an in vivo study, Lut combined with AsA markedly inhibited cervical cancer cell-derived xenograft tumor growth. Collectively, the present study showed that Lut combined with AsA may be used as an anticancer agent to improve the prognosis of cervical cancer. Indeed, with additional research to develop standardized dosages, Lut and AsA combination therapy could also be applied in clinical medicine.
Clinical and Biological Significances of FBLN5 in Gastric Cancer
Authors: Bian Xiulan , Yin Shengjie , Yin Xin , Fang Tianyi , Wang Yufei , Yang Shuo , Jiang Xinju , Xue Yingwei , Ye Fei , Zhang Lei
Published: January 2023

Abnormal FBLN5 expression levels are related to various cancer types. This study is the first to explore its clinical and biological significances in gastric cancer (GC). We used The Cancer Genome Atlas-GC (TCGA-GC) and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) databases to identify the differential expression of FBLN5, and its association with clinical pathological characteristics was analyzed. A Kaplan–Meier plotter was used to calculate the impact of FBLN5 on GC patient prognosis, and the biological functions of FBLN5 were analyzed. In addition, we constructed a GC tissue microarray, and performed an immunohistochemical staining of FBLN5 to verify our findings. Western blotting was conducted simultaneously to confirm that FBLN5 was overexpressed in GC. We found that the high level of FBLN5 mRNA in GC was associated with a poor prognosis. High FBLN5 expression levels were significantly correlated with INFc and N3 lymph node metastasis. Univariate and multivariate analyses showed that FBLN5 expression levels and lymph node metastasis rate were independent risk factors related to GC patient prognosis, which can be combined to construct a nomogram to serve patients. Therefore, we believe that FBLN5 is significantly related to the poor prognosis of GC patients. FBLN5 is a valuable prognostic indicator to evaluate the prognosis of GC.
TGFβ1-Induced EMT in the MCF10A Mammary Epithelial Cell Line Model Is Executed Independently of SNAIL1 and ZEB1 but Relies on JUNB-Coordinated Transcriptional Regulation
Authors: Antón-García Pablo , Haghighi Elham Bavafaye , Rose Katja , Vladimirov Georg , Boerries Melanie , Hecht Andreas
Published: January 2023

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) fosters cancer cell invasion and metastasis, the main cause of cancer-related mortality. Growing evidence that SNAIL and ZEB transcription factors, typically portrayed as master regulators of EMT, may be dispensable for this process, led us to re-investigate its mechanistic underpinnings. For this, we used an unbiased computational approach that integrated time-resolved analyses of chromatin structure and differential gene expression, to predict transcriptional regulators of TGFβ1-inducible EMT in the MCF10A mammary epithelial cell line model. Bioinformatic analyses indicated comparatively minor contributions of SNAIL proteins and ZEB1 to TGFβ1-induced EMT, whereas the AP-1 subunit JUNB was anticipated to have a much larger impact. CRISPR/Cas9-mediated loss-of-function studies confirmed that TGFβ1-induced EMT proceeded independently of SNAIL proteins and ZEB1. In contrast, JUNB was necessary and sufficient for EMT in MCF10A cells, but not in A549 lung cancer cells, indicating cell-type-specificity of JUNB EMT-regulatory capacity. Nonetheless, the JUNB-dependence of EMT-associated transcriptional reprogramming in MCF10A cells allowed to define a gene expression signature which was regulated by TGFβ1 in diverse cellular backgrounds, showed positively correlated expression with TGFβ signaling in multiple cancer transcriptomes, and was predictive of patient survival in several cancer types. Altogether, our findings provide novel mechanistic insights into the context-dependent control of TGFβ1-driven EMT and thereby may lead to improved diagnostic and therapeutic options.
Precipitation Variability for Protected Areas of Primary Forest and Pastureland in Southwestern Amazônia
Authors: Moreira Rodrigo Martins , dos Santos Bruno César , Sanches Rafael Grecco , Bourscheidt Vandoir , de Sales Fernando , Sieber Stefan , de Souza Paulo Henrique
Published: January 2023

Daily and monthly rainfall data provided by surface rain gauges in the Amazon Basin are sparse and defective, making it difficult to monitor rainfall patterns for certain portions of its territory, in this sense, estimations of precipitation from remote sensing calibrated with rain gauge data are key to overcome this problem. This paper presents a spatiotemporal analysis of the precipitation distribution for Rondônia State, in southwestern Amazonia. Data from Climate Hazards Group InfraRed Precipitation and Station (CHIRPS) were analyzed, using a pooled time analysis of a forty-year period (1981–2020). Data obtained from remote sensing were validated by rain gauges distributed over the study region. Pixel-by-pixel trend analyzes were developed by applying the Mann-Kendall test and Sen’s slope test to study the magnitude of the trend. The analysis revealed that CHIRPS presents a tendency to underestimate precipitation values in most cases. Among the metrics, mean values between very good (<±15%) and good (±15–±35%) were observed using PBIAS; mean RMSE values range from 57.8 mm to 107.9 mm; an average agreement level of 0.9 and an average SES of 0.5; and good fit for the linear regression model (average R2 > 0.70) for about 64.7% of the stations. Sen’ slope spatialization results show a reduction of approximately −15 mm year−1, with decrease mainly in the Northern Region of Rondônia, which has extensive areas where the native forest has been replaced by pasture.