bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Intestinal carriage of invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella among household members of children with Salmonella bloodstream infection, Kisangani, DR Congo
Authors: Falay Dadi , Hardy Liselotte , Bonebe Edmonde , Mattheus Wesley , Ngbonda Dauly , Lunguya Octavie , Jacobs Jan
Published: October 2023

Introduction

Invasive non-typhoidal Salmonella (iNTS), mainly Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella Enteritidis, causes a severe burden in sub-Saharan Africa; however, its reservoir (animal or environmental) is unclear. The present study assessed healthy household members of index patients for intestinal carriage of Salmonella.

Methods

Index patients were admitted to the University Hospital of Kisangani (DR Congo), and Salmonella was grown from blood cultures. Household members were asked to provide three stool samples for culture for Salmonella. Salmonella Typhimurium and S. Enteritidis isolates from index patients, and household members were assessed for genetic relatedness using the multiple-locus variable number of tandem repeat analysis (MLVA), and the multilocus sequence type (ST) was determined by whole genome sequencing.

Results

Between May 2016 and January 2020, 22 households were visited. The index patient serotypes were Typhimurium, Enteritidis, Typhi, and Paratyphi C; II:42:r:-; and I:7:y:- (n = 8, 7, 5, and each 1, respectively). The median (range) delay between the index patient and household sampling was 25 days (2 days to 7.3 months); 203 household members provided at least one stool sample. In all, 15 (7.3%) Salmonella carriers were found in nine of 22 households. For one index patient, the household comprised S. Typhimurium in four household members, including the index patient, sampled 27 days after bloodstream infection; the MLVA types of these five isolates were similar. They belonged to ST313 lineage 2 and were closely related [0–1 allelic distance (AD) among the stool isolates and eight AD with the blood culture isolate]. In another household, the stool culture of the index patient (obtained 67 days after bloodstream infection) grew S. Enteritidis of the same MLVA type; both isolates belonged to the ST11 Central/Eastern African clade and were closely related (three AD).

Discussion

The present study provides evidence of household clustering of S. Typhimurium ST313 and intestinal carriage of iNTS several weeks after bloodstream infection.
GABAAR-mediated tonic inhibition differentially modulates intrinsic excitability of VIP- and SST- expressing interneurons in layers 2/3 of the somatosensory cortex
Authors: Bogaj Karolina , Kaplon Roksana , Urban-Ciecko Joanna
Published: October 2023

Extrasynaptic GABAA receptors (GABAARs) mediating tonic inhibition are thought to play an important role in the regulation of neuronal excitability. However, little is known about a cell type-specific tonic inhibition in molecularly distinctive types of GABAergic interneurons in the mammalian neocortex. Here, we used whole-cell patch-clamp techniques in brain slices prepared from transgenic mice expressing red fluorescent protein (TdTomato) in vasoactive intestinal polypeptide- or somatostatin- positive interneurons (VIP-INs and SST-INs, respectively) to investigate tonic and phasic GABAAR-mediated inhibition as well as effects of GABAA inhibition on intrinsic excitability of these interneurons in layers 2/3 (L2/3) of the somatosensory (barrel) cortex. We found that tonic inhibition was stronger in VIP-INs compared to SST-INs. Contrary to the literature data, tonic inhibition in SST-INs was comparable to pyramidal (Pyr) neurons. Next, tonic inhibition in both interneuron types was dependent on the activity of delta subunit-containing GABAARs. Finally, the GABAAR activity decreased intrinsic excitability of VIP-INs but not SST-INs. Altogether, our data indicate that GABAAR-mediated inhibition modulates neocortical interneurons in a type-specific manner. In contrast to L2/3 VIP-INs, intrinsic excitability of L2/3 SST-INs is immune to the GABAAR-mediated inhibition.
Energy deficiency promotes rhythmic foraging behavior by activating neurons in paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus
Authors: Wu Shanshan , Wang Jing , Xu Yang , Zhang Zicheng , Jin Xinchen , Liang Yixiao , Ge Yueping , Zhan Huidong , Peng Li , Luo Dandan , Li Mengzhu , Bi Wenkai , Guan Qingbo , He Zhao
Published: October 2023

Background

Dysregulation of feeding behavior leads to a variety of pathological manifestations ranging from obesity to anorexia. The foraging behavior of animals affected by food deficiency is not fully understood.

Methods

Home-Cage system was used to monitor the behaviors. Immunohistochemical staining was used to monitor the trend of neuronal activity. Chemogenetic approach was used to modify neuronal activity.

Results

We described here a unique mouse model of foraging behavior and unveiled that food deprivation significantly increases the general activities of mice with a daily rhythmic pattern, particularly foraging behavior. The increased foraging behavior is potentiated by food cues (mouthfeel, odor, size, and shape) and energy deficit, rather than macronutrient protein, carbohydrate, and fat. Notably, energy deficiency increases nocturnal neuronal activity in paraventricular hypothalamic nucleus (PVH), accompanying a similar change in rhythmic foraging behavior. Activating neuronal activity in PVH enhances the amplitude of foraging behavior in mice. Conversely, inactivating neuronal activity in PVH decreases the amplitude of foraging behavior and impairs the rhythm of foraging behavior.

Discussion

These results illustrate that energy status and food cues regulate the rhythmic foraging behavior via PVH neuronal activity. Understanding foraging behavior provides insights into the underlying mechanism of eating-related disorders.
The Design of a Tracking Controller for Flexible Ball Screw Feed System Based on Integral Sliding Mode Control with a Generalized Extended State Observer
Authors: Zhu Muzhi , Bao Dafei , Huang Xingrong
Published: October 2023

This article proposes a servo control strategy for compensating matched and mismatched perturbations in flexible ball screw feed systems to improve their tracking performance. The perturbations that satisfy or dissatisfy the matching conditions include external disturbances, parameter uncertainties, and unmodeled dynamics. The flexible ball screw feed model includes both a rigid body and first-order axial structural dynamics. A generalized extended state observer is adopted to observe the matched and mismatched perturbations and various state variables of the system, and an improved integral sliding mode controller is proposed that can simultaneously compensate for the perturbations of the system that satisfy and dissatisfy the matching conditions. In addition, vibration compensation is designed for first-order axial vibration of the system to develop a controller that can quickly and accurately track the ideal reference trajectory, suppress system structural vibrations, and be robust to time-varying uncertainties and external disturbances. Finally, the tracking performance, anti-interference performance, and vibration suppression performance of the designed controller are verified via simulation and comparative experiments.
Biochar Functions in Soil Depending on Feedstock and Pyrolyzation Properties with Particular Emphasis on Biological Properties
Authors: Kuryntseva Polina , Karamova Kamalya , Galitskaya Polina , Selivanovskaya Svetlana , Evtugyn Gennady
Published: October 2023

Biochar effects are strongly dependent on its properties. Biochar improves physical soil properties by decreasing bulk density and increasing medium and large aggregates, leading to faster and deeper water infiltration and root growth. Improvement of the chemical properties of soil is connected with pH neutralization of acidic soils, increase of cation exchange capacity and base saturation, providing a larger surface for sorption of toxicants and exchange of cations. Biochar increases the stocks of macro- and micronutrients in soil and remains sufficient for decades. Biochar effects on (micro)biological properties are mainly indirect, based on the improvements of habitat conditions for organisms, deeper root growth providing available C for larger soil volume, higher crop yield leading to more residues on and in the topsoil, better and deeper soil moisture, supply of all nutrients, and better aeration. Along with positive, negative effects of biochar while used as a soil conditioner are discussed in the review: presence of PAH, excessive amounts of K, Ca and Mg, declination of soil pH. In conclusion, despite the removal of C from the biological cycle by feedstock pyrolysis, the subsequent application of biochar into soil increases fertility and improves physical and chemical properties for root and microbial growth is a good amendment for low fertility soils. Proper use of biochar leads not only to an increase in crop yield but also to effective sequestration of carbon in the soil, which is important to consider when economically assessing its production. Further research should be aimed at assessing and developing methods for increasing the sequestration potential of biochar as fertilizer.
Nutrient Composition of Ovary, Hepatopancreas and Muscle Tissues in Relation to Ovarian Development Stage of Female Swimming Crab, Portunus trituberculatus
Authors: Feng Wenping , Zhao Zeping , Wang Jiteng , Han Tao
Published: October 2023

The swimming crab Portunus trituberculatus is one of the most important economic species in China and its mature ovary often determines its commercial value and production. Although the ovary maturation of crustaceans is generally affected by exogenous nutrition, the specific nutritional needs of ovary maturation of P. trituberculatus are poorly understood. To this end, we collected the P. trituberculatus samples with five ovarian maturation stages and measured their biochemical composition of the ovary, hepatopancreas, and muscle at each ovarian developmental stage. We further analyzed their relation to the ovarian developmental stage of P. trituberculatus by principal components analysis (PCA). We found the levels of branched-chain amino acids, long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids (LC-PUFA), and monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) in the ovary and hepatopancreas increased during the ovary maturation process, and also passively correlated with ovarian developmental stage, which highlights the necessity of these specific nutrients for oogenesis and for improving the nutrient quality of crabs. In addition, we found an increasing tendency of carotenoid content and phosphatidylcholine in phospholipid in the ovary from the pre-developmental stage to the proliferative stage, but not in the hepatopancreas and muscle, which highlights the possible involvement of carotenoids during the rapid oocyte development process. Our study may provide valuable information for developing a suitable broodstock diet that promotes the ovarian maturation of adult P. trituberculatus and ensures high-quality larval production.
Deep Sequencing of Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Virus ORF7: A Promising Tool for Diagnostics and Epidemiologic Surveillance
Authors: Jakab Szilvia , Bali Krisztina , Freytag Csongor , Pataki Anna , Fehér Enikő , Halas Máté , Jerzsele Ákos , Szabó István , Szarka Krisztina , Bálint Ádám , Bányai Krisztián
Published: October 2023

Porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) is a major concern worldwide. Control of PRRSV is a challenging task due to various factors, including the viral diversity and variability. In this study, we evaluated an amplicon library preparation protocol targeting the ORF7 region of both PRRSV species, Betaarterivirus suid 1 and Betaarterivirus suid 2. We designed tailed primers for a two-step PCR procedure that generates ORF7-specific amplicon libraries suitable for use on Illumina sequencers. We tested the method with serum samples containing common laboratory strains and with pooled serum samples (n = 15) collected from different pig farms during 2019–2021 in Hungary. Testing spiked serum samples showed that the newly designed method is highly sensitive and detects the viral RNA even at low copy numbers (corresponding to approx. Ct 35). The ORF7 sequences were easily assembled even from clinical samples. Two different sequence variants were identified in five samples, and the Porcilis MLV vaccine strain was identified as the minor variant in four samples. An in-depth analysis of the deep sequencing results revealed numerous polymorphic sites along the ORF7 gene in a total of eight samples, and some sites (positions 12, 165, 219, 225, 315, 345, and 351) were found to be common in several clinical specimens. We conclude that amplicon deep sequencing of a highly conserved region of the PRRSV genome could support both laboratory diagnosis and epidemiologic surveillance of the disease.
Evaluation of Feeding Beta-Hydroxy-Beta-Methylbutyrate (HMB) to Mouse Dams during Gestation on Birth Weight and Growth Variation of Offspring
Authors: Clarke Anna S. , Faulk Chris , Shurson Gerald C. , Gallaher Daniel D. , Johnston Lee J.
Published: October 2023

This study was designed to determine if feeding β-hydroxy-β-methylbutyrate (HMB) to pregnant mice would improve birth weight uniformity and growth performance of offspring. Dams (Agouti Avy) were assigned to one of four treatments: control (CON; n = 13), low-level HMB (LL; 3.5 mg/g; n = 14), high-level HMB (HL; 35 mg/g; n = 15), and low-level pulse dose fed from gestational days 6 to 10 (PUL; 3.5 mg/g; n = 14). Randomly selected dams (n = 27) were euthanized on gestational day 18 to collect placentae and pup weights. The remaining dams gave birth and lactated for 28 days. Dams only received HMB during gestation. Dietary HMB did not influence the performance of dams. Dietary treatment during gestation did not affect litter size or birth weight of pups. Variation was not different among treatments in terms of birth weight of offspring. Placental weights were not affected by treatments. Overall, growth performance of offspring after weaning was similar among all treatments. Body composition of offspring at 5 and 8 weeks of age was similar regardless of HMB treatment during gestation. In conclusion, dietary HMB supplementation in pregnant mice did not affect birth weight, variations in birth weight, or growth performance of offspring.
Inorganic Nanoparticles: Tools to Emphasize the Janus Face of Amphotericin B
Authors: Boudier Ariane , Mammari Nour , Lamouroux Emmanuel , Duval Raphaël E.
Published: October 2023

Amphotericin B is the oldest antifungal molecule which is still currently widely used in clinical practice, in particular for the treatment of invasive diseases, even though it is not devoid of side effects (particularly nephrotoxicity). Recently, its redox properties (i.e., both prooxidant and antioxidant) have been highlighted in the literature as mechanisms involved in both its activity and its toxicity. Interestingly, similar properties can be described for inorganic nanoparticles. In the first part of the present review, the redox properties of Amphotericin B and inorganic nanoparticles are discussed. Then, in the second part, inorganic nanoparticles as carriers of the drug are described. A special emphasis is given to their combined redox properties acting either as a prooxidant or as an antioxidant and their connection to the activity against pathogens (i.e., fungi, parasites, and yeasts) and to their toxicity. In a majority of the published studies, inorganic nanoparticles carrying Amphotericin B are described as having a synergistic activity directly related to the rupture of the redox homeostasis of the pathogen. Due to the unique properties of inorganic nanoparticles (e.g., magnetism, intrinsic anti-infectious properties, stimuli-triggered responses, etc.), these nanomaterials may represent a new generation of medicine that can synergistically enhance the antimicrobial properties of Amphotericin B.
Molecular Characterisation of Antimicrobial Resistance in E. coli Isolates from Piglets in the West Region of Romania
Authors: Lungu Bianca , Hutu Ioan , Barrow Paul
Published: October 2023

Antibiotics are widely used for prophylaxis and therapy, reducing morbidity and mortality produced by bacterial pathogensin pigs, including infections caused by Escherichia coli. The aim of this study was to characterise antibiotic resistance phenotypes and genotypes in E. coli isolates in pigs in West Romanian grower farms. Differential phenotypic susceptibility profiles and the contribution of resistance genes to phenotypic expression of susceptibility or resistance were evaluated. A total of 76 E. coli isolates were identified and confirmed by the MicroScan Walk Away System. The occurrence of four resistance genes, ampC, blaZ, blaTEM and tetK in strains resistant to 13 antibiotics was assessed. Of the E. coli isolates, 0% showed resistance to meropenem, 3.9% to tigecycline and 10.5% to piperacillin/tazobactam, whereas, in contrast, 100% were resistant to ampicillin and mezlocillin, 76.31% to piperacillin and 59.3% to tetracycline. The prevalence of resistance genes in resistant isolates detected by q-PCR analysis was 97.0% for ampC, 96% for blaZ, 32.9% for blaTEM and 58.8% for tetK. Penetrance (the proportion of individuals carrying a particular variant of a gene that also expresses an associated trait) was 50% for ampC (32% for amoxicillin/clavulanate, 62% for cefazolin, 32% for cefepime, 100% for cefotaxime, 56% for cefuroxime and 99% for ampicillin), 65% for blaZ (32% for amoxicillin/clavulanate and 99% for ampicillin), 51% for blaTEM (81% for piperacillin) and 44% for the tetK gene (83% for tetracycline). The result of phenotypic antibiotic resistance testing may indicate the presence of plasmid-borne resistance, with a diagnostic odds ratio of a positive phenotypic resistance for tetK being 4.52. As a management decision, the maximum penetrance admitted for using a specific antibiotic for E. coli infections in pigs is recommended to be less than 20%.
Estimating Vitamin C Intake Requirements in Diabetes Mellitus: Analysis of NHANES 2017–2018 and EPIC-Norfolk Cohorts
Authors: Carr Anitra C. , Lunt Helen , Wareham Nicholas J. , Myint Phyo K.
Published: October 2023

Vitamin C is an essential enzyme cofactor and antioxidant with pleiotropic roles in human physiology. Circulating vitamin C concentrations are lower in people with diabetes mellitus, suggesting a higher dietary requirement for the vitamin. We interrogated the NHANES 2017–2018 and EPIC-Norfolk datasets to compare vitamin C requirements between those with and without diabetes mellitus using dose–concentration relationships fitted with sigmoidal (four-parameter logistic) curves. The NHANES cohort (n = 2828 non-supplementing adults) comprised 488 (17%) participants with diabetes (self-reported or HbA1c ≥ 6.5%). The participants with diabetes had a lower vitamin C status (median [IQR]) than those without (38 [17, 52] µmol/L vs. 44 [25, 61] µmol/L, p < 0.0001), despite comparable dietary intakes between the two groups (51 [26, 93] mg/d vs. 53 [24, 104] mg/d, p = 0.5). Dose–concentration relationships indicated that the group without diabetes reached adequate vitamin C concentrations (50 µmol/L) with an intake of 81 (72, 93) mg/d, whilst those with diabetes required an intake of 166 (126, NA) mg/d. In the EPIC-Norfolk cohort, comprising 20692 non-supplementing adults, 475 (2.3%) had self-reported diabetes at baseline. The EPIC cohort had a lower BMI than the NHANES cohort (26 [24, 28] kg/m2 vs. 29 [25, 34] kg/m2, p < 0.0001). Correspondingly, the EPIC participants without diabetes required a lower vitamin C intake of 64 (63, 65) mg/d while those with diabetes required 129 (104, NA) mg/d to reach adequate circulating vitamin C status. C-reactive protein concentrations were strongly correlated with body weight and BMI and provided a surrogate biomarker for vitamin C requirements. In conclusion, people with diabetes had 1.4 to 1.6 fold higher requirements for vitamin C than those without diabetes. This corresponds to additional daily vitamin C intake requirements of ~30–40 mg for people with diabetes, equating to a total daily intake of at least 125 mg/d.
Concept Design and Development of an Electric Go-Kart Chassis for Undergraduate Education in Vehicle Dynamics and Stress Applications
Authors: Mihalić Tihomir , Hoster Josip , Tudić Vladimir , Kralj Toni
Published: October 2023

This paper presents an approach to a go-kart chassis design, vehicle dynamics calculation, Li-ion battery capacity analysis, and electric motor choice for optimized vehicle performance. The chassis analysis shown in this paper was performed using a CAD/FEA software package, SolidWorks Student Edition. Three highlights can be found in this paper: (1) An original design was implemented; the basic analysis was composed of chassis optimization using beam elements and modeling such an optimized chassis “locally” with solid elements for sub-modeling purposes. (2) The most stressed tube joint was sub-modeled to calculate the risk of tube wall stability. (3) Vehicle dynamics were calculated for the case of braking on a curved path and the case of a collision with the front tire due to road imperfection. The authors intend to install a data acquisition system in the future to analyze the stress of local chassis tubes. The results of the SolidWorks analysis indicate a safety design for the chassis concept. The results for the sub-model stability (buckling) analysis show that the chosen tube wall thickness-to-diameter ratio gives safety factor values ranging from 1.6 to 5. Based on the stress distribution, some improvement in the middle part of the chassis can be made by using a half-a-millimeter-thicker wall tube or a larger tube diameter of a few millimeters to lower the stress. The latter will be described in this paper.
The Proposal of a Method for Rock Classification Using a Vibration Signal Propagated during the Rotary Drilling Process
Authors: Stehlíková Beáta , Bogdanovská Gabriela , Flegner Patrik , Frančáková Rebecca , Drančák Ladislav
Published: October 2023

This research aims to classify rock types based on the vibration signal propagated from the experimental rotary drilling process, where the generated vibration signal is a source of information. Its measurement and processing provide important information about the rock disintegration process, the drilled rock, the drilling tool, and the drilling parameters. For the design of a suitable classification method, several attributes of the vibration signal were calculated for two different signal recording lengths. A cluster dendrogram, an ANOVA test, and a boxplot were used to determine attributes and proper signal length. The classification rule was found using a decision tree, a machine-learning tool. This publication gradually describes the process of creating the classification method and the results of the reliability verification of the proposed classification method. The disintegrated rocks were andesite, granite, limestone, and concrete used as artificial rock. This proposed method classified these three rock types and concrete with a reliability of 100% from a vibration signal record lasting 1/4 s.
Voltage-Controlled Spin-Orbit-Torque-Based Nonvolatile Flip-Flop Designs for Ultra-Low-Power Applications
Authors: Liu Xiao , Deng Erya , Luo Lichuan , Jiang Linjun , Zhang Youguang , Liu Dijun , Pan Biao , Kang Wang
Published: October 2023

Flip-flop (FF) serves as a fundamental unit in various sequential logic circuits and complex digital electronic systems for generating, transforming, and temporarily storing digital signals. Nonvolatility plays a crucial role in FFs by ensuring instant data recovery after unexpected data loss. Nonvolatile flip-flop can quickly recover in a self-powered environment, making it suitable for application environments such as the Internet of Things (IOT). Unfortunately, most existing nonvolatile FFs (NVFFs) suffer from extended delays and high energy consumption during data backup and restore operations. In this paper, we propose two innovative voltage-controlled nonvolatile FFs (VC-FFs), namely VC-DFF (voltage-controlled D-FF) and VC-SRFF (voltage-controlled SR-FF), which address these challenges using voltage-controlled spin-orbit torque (VC-SOT) devices. The proposed designs are evaluated using a 40 nm CMOS process. Simulation results demonstrate that the proposed designs achieve significant improvements in write (recovery) energy consumption, with over 7.2× (1.54×) and 18.7× (2×) enhancements compared to their STT- and SOT-based counterparts, respectively.
Finding the Exact Radiative Field of Triangular Sources: Application for More Effective Shading Devices and Windows
Authors: Cabeza-Lainez Joseph
Published: October 2023

Triangles are an ever-present feature in nature, which the building construction industry duly echoes. However, an exact expression intended to supply the radiant field of any triangle in an upright or inclined position has not been identified by previous research. In this case, the author has been able to solve, via direct integration, the canonical expression of radiative transfer. This result alone confers a myriad of possibilities, that had been inconceivable before, for studying in detail the three-dimensional heat-transfer behavior of volumes and figures in which triangles manifest, such as fins, windows, roof-gables and louvers of various kinds. Typically, shading devices, when tilted, give rise in their extremes to rhomboidal shapes which were difficult to take into account or had to be subject to discretization and subsequent Monte Carlo methods in order to perform an approximate calculation of their emissions. This implied a lengthy and inexact procedure that induced many errors and consumed computing time. We can now avoid all these former downsides due to the advances hereby presented. As this novel expression can be converted into an algorithm, it will be advantageously employed for simulation. This significant finding dovetails into the intricate puzzle of radiated heat and we believe that its consequences will greatly affect the conception and design of HVAC devices, aircraft manufacturing and specifically the building or lighting industries, among others.
UAV Detection and Tracking in Urban Environments Using Passive Sensors: A Survey
Authors: Yan Xiaochen , Fu Tingting , Lin Huaming , Xuan Feng , Huang Yi , Cao Yuchen , Hu Haoji , Liu Peng
Published: October 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) have gained significant popularity across various domains, but their proliferation also raises concerns about security, public safety, and privacy. Consequently, the detection and tracking of UAVs have become crucial. Among the UAV-monitoring technologies, those suitable for urban Internet-of-Things (IoT) environments primarily include radio frequency (RF), acoustic, and visual technologies. In this article, we provide a comprehensive review of passive UAV surveillance technologies, encompassing RF-based, acoustic-based, and vision-based methods for UAV detection, localization, and tracking. Our research reveals that certain lightweight UAV depth detection models have been effectively downsized for deployment on edge devices, facilitating the integration of edge computing and deep learning. In the city-wide anti-UAV, the integration of numerous urban infrastructure monitoring facilities presents a challenge in achieving a centralized computing center due to the large volume of data. To address this, calculations can be performed on edge devices, enabling faster UAV detection. Currently, there is a wide range of anti-UAV systems that have been deployed in both commercial and military sectors to address the challenges posed by UAVs. In this article, we provide an overview of the existing military and commercial anti-UAV systems. Furthermore, we propose several suggestions for developing general-purpose UAV-monitoring systems tailored for urban environments. These suggestions encompass considering the specific requirements of the application scenario, integrating detection and tracking mechanisms with appropriate countermeasures, designing for scalability and modularity, and leveraging advanced data analytics and machine learning techniques. To promote further research in the field of UAV-monitoring systems, we have compiled publicly available datasets comprising visual, acoustic, and radio frequency data. These datasets can be employed to evaluate the effectiveness of various UAV-monitoring techniques and algorithms. All of the datasets mentioned are linked in the text or in the references. Most of these datasets have been validated in multiple studies, and researchers can find more specific information in the corresponding papers or documents. By presenting this comprehensive overview and providing valuable insights, we aim to advance the development of UAV surveillance technologies, address the challenges posed by UAV proliferation, and foster innovation in the field of UAV monitoring and security.
Generating Fingerings for Piano Music with Model-Based Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Gao Wanxiang , Zhang Sheng , Zhang Nanxi , Xiong Xiaowu , Shi Zhaojun , Sun Ka
Published: October 2023

The piano fingering annotation task refers to assigning finger labels to notes in piano sheet music. Good fingering helps improve the smoothness and musicality of piano performance. In this paper, we propose a method for automatically generating piano fingering using a model-based reinforcement learning algorithm. We treat fingering annotation as a partial constraint combinatorial optimization problem and establish an environment model for the piano performance process based on prior knowledge. We design a reward function based on the principle of minimal motion and use reinforcement learning algorithms to decide the optimal fingering combinations. Our innovation lies in establishing a more realistic environment model and adopting a model-based reinforcement learning approach, compared to model-free methods, to enhance the utilization of samples. We also propose a music score segmentation method to parallelize the fingering annotation task. The experimental section shows that our method achieves good results in eliminating physically impossible fingerings and reducing the amount of finger motion required in piano performance.
A Lightweight Visual Odometry Based on LK Optical Flow Tracking
Authors: Wang Xianlun , Zhou Yusong , Yu Gongxing , Cui Yuxia
Published: October 2023

Autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) require SLAM technology for positioning and mapping. Their accuracy and real-time performance are the keys to ensuring that the robot can safely and accurately complete the driving task. The visual SLAM systems based on feature points have high accuracy and robustness but poor real-time performance. A lightweight Visual Odometry (VO) based on Lucas–Kanade (LK) optical flow tracking is proposed. Firstly, a robust key point matching relationship between adjacent images is established by using a uniform motion model and a pyramid-based sparse optical flow tracking algorithm. Then, the grid-based motion statistics algorithm and the random sampling consensus algorithm are used to eliminate the mismatched points in turn. Finally, the proposed algorithm and the ORB-SLAM3 front-end are compared in a dataset to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm. The results show that the proposed algorithm effectively improves the real-time performance of the system while ensuring its accuracy and robustness.
Authenticity, and Approval Framework for Bus Transportation Based on Blockchain 2.0 Technology
Authors: Khanzada Tariq J. S. , Shahid Muhammad Farrukh , Mutahhar Ahmad , Aslam Muhammad Ahtisham , Ashari Rehab Bahaaddin , Jamal Sarmad , Nooruddin Mustafa , Siddiqui Shahbaz
Published: October 2023

The intelligent transport system (ITS) has transformed urban transportation, enhancing daily commutes with services like congestion management, vehicle crash prevention, traffic control, roadside safety, breakdown assistance, ticket booking, vehicle registration, and insurance. However, in urban bus transportation, the ITS faces security threats, such as data forgery and manipulation. To counter these challenges, a blockchain-based framework for bus transportation approval is proposed, ensuring data integrity and security. The framework’s performance is evaluated based on processing time, central processing unit (CPU), graphical processing unit (GPU), cloud usage, and memory consumption, and compared to Ethereum and Aurora testnet, in terms of gas cost, security, and performance. Stochastic algorithms, including the genetic algorithm and Tabu search, are used for time complexity analysis, to obtain an optimized solution. The decision-making trial and evaluation laboratory (DEMATEL) analysis is also performed to assess factors like transaction costs, execution time, memory consumption, and security. The results show that execution time, memory consumption, and processing time are crucial, while transaction cost, reliability, and transparency positively impact the system’s effectiveness. By reducing the risk of false data presentation and ensuring accurate records, the proposed framework contributes to a more efficient and reliable transportation system.
Adaptive Test Suits Generation for Self-Adaptive Systems Using SPEA2 Algorithm
Authors: Jamil Muhammad Abid , Nour Mohamed K. , Alotaibi Saud S. , Hussain Mohammad Jabed , Hussaini Syed Mutiullah , Naseer Atif
Published: October 2023

Self-adaptive systems are capable of reconfiguring themselves while in use to reduce the risks forced by environments for which they may not have been specifically designed. Runtime validation techniques are required because complex self-adaptive systems must consistently offer acceptable behavior for important services. The runtime testing can offer further confidence that a self-adaptive system will continue to act as intended even when operating in unknowable circumstances. This article introduces an evolutionary framework that supports adaptive testing for self-adaptive systems. The objective is to ensure that the adaptive systems continue to operate following its requirements and that both test plans and test cases continuously stay relevant to shifting operational conditions. The proposed approach using the Strength Pareto Evolutionary Algorithm 2 (SPEA2) algorithm facilitates both the execution and adaptation of runtime testing operations.
Multi-Meta Information Embedding Enhanced BERT for Chinese Mechanics Entity Recognition
Authors: Zhang Jiarong , Yuan Jinsha , Zhang Jing , Luo Zhihong , Li Aitong
Published: October 2023

The automatic extraction of key entities in mechanics problems is an important means to automatically solve mechanics problems. Nevertheless, for standard Chinese, compared with the open domain, mechanics problems have a large number of specialized terms and composite entities, which leads to a low recognition capability. Although recent research demonstrates that external information and pre-trained language models can improve the performance of Chinese Named Entity Recognition (CNER), few efforts have been made to combine the two to explore high-performance algorithms for extracting mechanics entities. Therefore, this article proposes a Multi-Meta Information Embedding Enhanced Bidirectional Encoder Representation from Transformers (MMIEE-BERT) for recognizing entities in mechanics problems. The proposed method integrates lexical information and radical information into BERT layers directly by employing an information adapter layer (IAL). Firstly, according to the characteristics of Chinese, a Multi-Meta Information Embedding (MMIE) including character embedding, lexical embedding, and radical embedding is proposed to enhance Chinese sentence representation. Secondly, an information adapter layer (IAL) is proposed to fuse the above three embeddings into the lower layers of the BERT. Thirdly, a Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (BiLSTM) network and a Conditional Random Field (CRF) model are applied to semantically encode the output of MMIEE-BERT and obtain each character’s label. Finally, extensive experiments were carried out on the dataset built by our team and widely used datasets. The results demonstrate that the proposed method has more advantages than the existing models in the entity recognition of mechanics problems, and the precision, recall, and F1 score were improved. The proposed method is expected to provide an automatic means for extracting key information from mechanics problems.
Functional Capacity Profile of the Cervical Joint in Young Adults: Sex-Related Differences
Authors: Batatolis Christos , Karatrantou Konstantina , Gymnopoulos Vaggelis , Gerodimos Vassilis
Published: October 2023

The functional capacity of the cervical spine plays a central role in healthy living. The aim of this study was to examine the sex-related effect on cervical strength, range of motion (ROM), and the musculoskeletal pain profile in young physically active individuals. A total of 30 males and 30 females (21.53 ± 1.15 years old), without injury or chronic pain at the cervical joint, participated in the study. ROM (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion-rotation), maximal isometric strength (forward flexion, extension, lateral flexion), and musculoskeletal pain were assessed using an electronic goniometer, a handheld dynamometer, and the Nordic questionnaire, respectively. The results revealed that: (a) females had higher ROM during extension and lateral flexion than males (p < 0.05); (b) males had higher absolute strength than females in all movement directions, and higher relative strength/body mass (at forward flexion) and flexion/extension ratio (p < 0.05); (c) ROM and strength were not significantly different between right and left sides (p > 0.05); (d) a large proportion (43.3%) of the participants had cervical pain; and (e) cervical strength showed a significant small negative correlation with pains (p < 0.05; r = −0.225 to −0.345). In conclusion, the derived reference values may be used by health and fitness professionals to extensively evaluate the cervical spine and to design specific exercise programs for injury prevention and rehabilitation.
Evaluation of Climate Suitability for Nature-Based Tourism (NBT) in Arid Regions of Isfahan Province (Iran)
Authors: Nourmohammadi Najafabadi Fatemeh , Gómez-Martín María Belén
Published: October 2023

This article applies the weather types method to assess the climate suitability for nature-based tourism (NBT) in the arid and hyper-arid climate zones of the province of Isfahan (Iran) based on bioclimatic criteria and the preferences of Iranian domestic tourists identified by means of a survey. To date, there are no climate potential assessments for the practice of nature tourism based on an analysis of climate preferences in the study area. According to the results, the distribution of favorable weather types in the study area between March and November during the period 1998–2017 showed that there is a low season in summer and two high seasons corresponding to autumn and spring. The highest frequencies of weather types conducive to NBT were recorded between the second half of September to the first half of November and between the second half of April until the end of May. The calendars resulting from application of the weather types method will serve as an efficient tool for providing tourists and the region’s main tourist stakeholders with information; in the case of the latter, they will be particularly useful for destination planning and activity scheduling.
An Enhanced Single-Particle Model Using a Physics-Informed Neural Network Considering Electrolyte Dynamics for Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Xue Chenyu , Jiang Bo , Zhu Jiangong , Wei Xuezhe , Dai Haifeng
Published: October 2023

As power sources for electric vehicles, lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) have many advantages, such as high energy density and wide temperature range. In the algorithm design process for LIBs, various battery models with different model structures are needed, among which the electrochemical model is widely used due to its high accuracy. However, the electrochemical model is composed of multiple nonlinear partial differential equations (PDEs) that make the simulating process time-consuming. In this paper, a physics-informed neural network single-particle model (PINN SPM) is proposed to improve the accuracy of the single-particle model (SPM) under high C-rates, while ensuring high solving speed. In PINN SPM, an SPM-Net is designed to solve the distribution of lithium-ion concentration in the electrolyte. In the neural network learning process, a loss function is designed based on the physical constraints brought by the PDEs, which reduces the error of the neural network under dynamic working conditions. Finally, the PINN SPM proposed in this paper can achieve a maximum relative error of up to 1.2% compared with the high-fidelity data generated from the P2D model under various conditions. Additionally, the PINN SPM is 20.8% faster than traditional numerical solution methods with the same computational resources.
The Effect of Phase Change Materials on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Concrete Made with Recycled Aggregate
Authors: Jia Zhiyou , Cunha Sandra , Aguiar José , Guo Pengfei
Published: October 2023

With the world’s population increasing, the issue of energy consumption has become increasingly prominent, particularly during the building operation phase, where substantial energy is required for heating and cooling. Presently, the energy necessary for buildings is sourced mainly from the combustion of fossil fuels, leading to not only energy scarcity but also severe environmental pollution and ecological damage. Furthermore, rapid urbanization has generated a lot of construction and demolition waste. To address these challenges, one promising approach is the incorporation of phase-change materials in recycled aggregate from construction and demolition waste to replace the raw materials of concrete. In this study, the phase-change material suitable for the thermal comfort requirements of buildings was selected and combined with recycled aggregate to replace the natural aggregate in concrete. All the materials used were characterized and three compositions were prepared. From the results, the workability of concrete increased with the phase-change materials added. Regarding water absorption performance, the incorporation of functionalized recycled aggregate presented a small water absorption performance. However, the mechanical performance decreased with the phase-change materials used. This work provides data for the application of phase-change materials in green concrete.
Adapting Hospital Interior Architecture Process to Technological Advancement in the Management of Pandemic Cases in Jordan
Authors: Alhmoud Saeed Hussein , Çağnan Çiğdem
Published: October 2023

The COVID-19 outbreak pandemic is currently one of the largest challenges facing the world. The pandemic has had an impact on how hospitals are built, how technology is developed, and how information systems are used. Researchers and practitioners in the field of information systems and technology can aid in the analysis of the COVID-19 pandemic by choosing the most optimal building design to impede and stop virus transmission. This study aims to revise the current COVID-19 Hospital Design process in the Management of Pandemic Cases and suggest a process for the hospital management of pandemic cases that will alleviate current and future pandemics. This study used a mixed approach through personal observations, questionnaire surveys, descriptive statistics, correlations, and regression models. The findings were analyzed and revealed the dimensions that need to be considered and that will need to be up to the standard of leading health organizations. People’s perceptions about the state of some selected healthcare centers in Jordan were taken and analyzed. Proposals of new hospital building designs and processes of health facilities were undertaken, which can further strengthen the clinical state in Jordan and handle future cases of a pandemic outbreak, with much emphasis on the current COVID-19 outbreak. Lastly, it is highly recommended that this paper be used as a guideline required to fight against any pandemics or endemics both now and in the future, as it lists comprehensive process guidelines to combat any deadly virus, which are shown in detailed photos and process diagrams.
Damage Evaluation of T-Stub Connected to Hollow Section Column Using Blind Bolts under Tension
Authors: Bu Xin , Xiao Shixiang , Wu Zhanjing , Li Xiaolu , Wang Xinwu
Published: October 2023

The quantitative calculation and evaluation of seismic damage play a crucial role in ensuring structural safety, conducting performance-based structural analysis, and implementing seismic strengthening measures. However, there is limited research on the damage performance of blind-bolted T-stub steel connections used extensively in prefabricated buildings. In this study, the tensile sub model of a blind-bolted T-stub steel connection in a beam–column joint is investigated. The influence of the flange and web thickness of the T-stub connector, as well as the shear-loaded connecting bolts on the web of the T-stub, on the tensile performance of the sub model are considered. Four tensile destructive tests are conducted on a T-stub connector connected to a hollow section column using blind bolts. The experimental results, including failure modes, force–displacement curves, and strain development in the hollow section column and T-stub, are discussed and analyzed in this study. The test results reveal three main failure modes for this tensile substructure: the plastic deformation of the hollow section column, the bending fracture of the T-stub flange, and the fracture of the T-stub web bolt holes due to compression. Furthermore, a ductile damage finite element analysis method is employed to simulate the fracture damage process of the substructure, and the corresponding damage index is calculated using the typical Park–Ang damage model for evaluation, showing good agreement with the damage classification levels specified in FEMA.
A Combinatorial Regulatory Platform Determines Expression of RNA Polymerase III Subunit RPC7α (POLR3G) in Cancer
Authors: Cheng Ruiying , Zhou Sihang , K C Rajendra , Lizarazo Simon , Mouli Leela , Jayanth Anshita , Liu Qing , Van Bortle Kevin
Published: October 2023

RNA polymerase III (Pol III) subunit RPC7α, which is encoded by POLR3G in humans, has been linked to both tumor growth and metastasis. Accordantly, high POLR3G expression is a negative prognostic factor in multiple cancer subtypes. To date, the mechanisms underlying POLR3G upregulation have remained poorly defined. We performed a large-scale genomic survey of mRNA and chromatin signatures to predict drivers of POLR3G expression in cancer. Our survey uncovers positive determinants of POLR3G expression, including a gene-internal super-enhancer bound with multiple transcription factors (TFs) that promote POLR3G expression, as well as negative determinants that include gene-internal DNA methylation, retinoic-acid induced differentiation, and MXD4-mediated disruption of POLR3G expression. We show that novel TFs identified in our survey, including ZNF131 and ZNF207, functionally enhance POLR3G expression, whereas MXD4 likely obstructs MYC-driven expression of POLR3G and other growth-related genes. Integration of chromatin architecture and gene regulatory signatures identifies additional factors, including histone demethylase KDM5B, as likely influencers of POLR3G gene activity. Taken together, our findings support a model in which POLR3G expression is determined with multiple factors and dynamic regulatory programs, expanding our understanding of the circuitry underlying POLR3G upregulation and downstream consequences in cancer.