bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Distinct regulatory pathways contribute to dynamic CHH methylation patterns in transposable elements throughout Arabidopsis embryogenesis
Authors: Lee Jaehoon , Lee Seunga , Park Kyunghyuk , Shin Sang-Yoon , Frost Jennifer M. , Hsieh Ping-Hung , Shin Chanseok , Fischer Robert L. , Hsieh Tzung-Fu , Choi Yeonhee
Published: June 2023

CHH methylation (mCHH) increases gradually during embryogenesis across dicotyledonous plants, indicating conserved mechanisms of targeting and conferral. Although it is suggested that methylation increase during embryogenesis enhances transposable element silencing, the detailed epigenetic pathways underlying this process remain unclear. In Arabidopsis, mCHH is regulated by both small RNA-dependent DNA methylation (RdDM) and RNA-independent Chromomethylase 2 (CMT2) pathways. Here, we conducted DNA methylome profiling at five stages of Arabidopsis embryogenesis, and classified mCHH regions into groups based on their dependency on different methylation pathways. Our analysis revealed that the gradual increase in mCHH in embryos coincided with the expansion of small RNA expression and regional mCHH spreading to nearby sites at numerous loci. We identified distinct methylation dynamics in different groups of mCHH targets, which vary according to transposon length, location, and cytosine frequency. Finally, we highlight the characteristics of transposable element loci that are targeted by different mCHH machinery, showing that short, heterochromatic TEs with lower mCHG levels are enriched in loci that switch from CMT2 regulation in leaves, to RdDM regulation during embryogenesis. Our findings highlight the interplay between the length, location, and cytosine frequency of transposons and the mCHH machinery in modulating mCHH dynamics during embryogenesis.
Eye-tracking technology and the dynamics of natural gaze behavior in sports: an update 2016–2022
Authors: Kredel Ralf , Hernandez Julia , Hossner Ernst-Joachim , Zahno Stephan
Published: June 2023

Updating and complementing a previous review on eye-tracking technology and the dynamics of natural gaze behavior in sports, this short review focuses on the progress concerning researched sports tasks, applied methods of gaze data collection and analysis as well as derived gaze measures for the time interval of 2016–2022. To that end, a systematic review according to the PRISMA guidelines was conducted, searching Web of Science, PubMed Central, SPORTDiscus, and ScienceDirect for the keywords: eye tracking, gaze behavio*r, eye movement, and visual search. Thirty-one studies were identified for the review. On the one hand, a generally increased research interest and a wider area of researched sports with a particular increase in official’s gaze behavior were diagnosed. On the other hand, a general lack of progress concerning sample sizes, amounts of trials, employed eye-tracking technology and gaze analysis procedures must be acknowledged. Nevertheless, first attempts to automated gaze-cue-allocations (GCA) in mobile eye-tracking studies were seen, potentially enhancing objectivity, and alleviating the burden of manual workload inherently associated with conventional gaze analyses. Reinforcing the claims of the previous review, this review concludes by describing four distinct technological approaches to automating GCA, some of which are specifically suited to tackle the validity and generalizability issues associated with the current limitations of mobile eye-tracking studies on natural gaze behavior in sports.
Factors affecting decision-making in Gaelic Football: a focus group approach
Authors: McLoughlin Emma Jane M. , Broadbent David P. , Kinrade Noel P. , Coughlan Edward K. , Bishop Daniel T.
Published: June 2023

Objectives

Research examining decision-making in sports has predominantly used experimental approaches that fail to provide a holistic understanding of the various factors that impact the decision-making process. The current study aimed to explore the decision-making processes of Senior (expert) and Academy (near-expert) Gaelic Football players using a focus group approach.

Methods

Four focus groups were conducted; two with Senior players (n = 5; n = 6) and two with U17 Academy players (n = 5; n = 6). In each focus group, short video clips of Senior Gaelic football games were played, and the action was paused at key moments. The group then discussed the options available to the player in possession, the decision they would make in that situation, and importantly, what factors influenced the final decision. Thematic analysis was used to identify themes that emerged from the focus groups.

Results and discussion

Four primary themes emerged that affected the decision-making process. Three themes were related to information sources, namely, pre-match context (coach tactics and instructions, match importance, and opposition status), current match context (score and time remaining), and visual information (player positioning and field space, and visual search strategy), and the fourth theme related to individual differences (self-efficacy, risk propensity, perceived pressure, physical characteristics, action capabilities, fatigue) that moderated the decision-making process. Compared to the near-expert Academy players, the expert Senior players displayed a more sophisticated understanding of the various sources of information and were able to integrate them in a more complex manner to make projections regarding future scenarios. For both groups, the decision-making process was moderated by individual differences. A schematic has been developed based on the study findings in an attempt to illustrate the hypothesized decision-making process.
The longitudinal associations between perceived importance of the internet and depressive symptoms among a sample of Chinese adults
Authors: Wu Zhengyu , Zhang Jiabo , Jiang Maomin , Zhang Jiawen , Xiao Ye-Wei
Published: June 2023

Objective

The aim of this study is to examine the extent to which individuals’ cognitive evaluation of the importance of the Internet is associated with depressive symptoms, and in what ways.

Methods

This study utilized a sample of 4,100 participants from the fourth (2016), fifth (2018), and sixth (2020) waves of the China Family Panel Studies. Structural equation modeling was employed for data analysis.

Result

The findings of this study reveal that individuals’ cognitive evaluation of the importance of the Internet in 2016 was positively linked with the frequency of Internet use and subjective socioeconomic status in 2018. Furthermore, the frequency of Internet use and subjective socioeconomic status in 2018 were found to be negatively associated with depressive symptoms in 2020. These results indicate that the perceived importance of the Internet has an indirect effect on depressive symptoms through the identified pathway.

Conclusion

The present findings contribute to the existing literature by highlighting the importance of individuals’ perceived importance of the internet as a significant factor that influences depressive symptoms. The results suggest that policy makers should take actions to increase public awareness of the importance of the Internet in the digital era, and to ensure equitable access to the internet, thus facilitating convenient internet use and helping individuals adapt to the digital age.
Factors affecting access to healthcare for young people in the informal sector in developing countries: a systematic review
Authors: Oladosu Ayomide Oluwaseyi , Khai Tual Sawn , Asaduzzaman Muhammad
Published: June 2023

Background

Young people are increasingly seeking employment in the informal sector due to increasing global unemployment. However, the precarious nature of work in the informal sectors, coupled with the high risk of occupational hazards, calls for a greater need for effective healthcare for informal sector workers, particularly young people. In addressing the health vulnerabilities of informal workers, systematic data on the determinants of health is a persistent challenge. Therefore, the objective of this systematic review was to identify and summarise the existing factors that affect access to healthcare among young people from the informal sector.

Methods

We searched six data databases (PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, ProQuest, Crossref, and Google Scholar), which was followed by hand searching. Then we screened the identified literature using review-specific inclusion/exclusion criteria, extracted data from the included studies and assessed study quality. Then we presented the results in narrative form, though meta-analysis was not possible due to heterogeneity in the study design.

Results

After the screening, we retrieved 14 studies. The majority were cross-sectional surveys and were conducted in Asia (n = 9); four were conducted in Africa, and one in South America. Samples ranged in size from 120 to 2,726. The synthesised results demonstrate that problems of affordability, availability, accessibility, and acceptability of healthcare were barriers to young informal workers seeking healthcare. We found social networks and health insurance as facilitators of access for this group of people.

Conclusion

To date, this is the most comprehensive review of the evidence on access to healthcare for young people in the informal sector. Our study finding highlights the key gaps in knowledge where future research could further illuminate the mechanisms through which social networks and the determinants of access to healthcare could influence the health and well-being of young people and thus inform policy development.
Comparison of empirical models of ionospheric heating to global simulations
Authors: Bagheri Fatemeh , Lopez Ramon E.
Published: June 2023

Intense currents produced during geomagnetic storms dissipate energy in the ionosphere through Joule heating. This dissipation has significant space weather effects, and thus it is important to determine the ability of physics-based simulations to replicate real events quantitatively. Several empirical models estimate Joule heating based on ionospheric currents using the AE index. In this study, we select 11 magnetic storm simulations from the CCMC database and compare the integrated Joule heating in the simulations with the results of empirical models. We also use the SWMF global magnetohydrodynamic simulations for 12 storms to reproduce the correlation between the simulated AE index and simulated Joule heating. We find that the scale factors in the empirical models are half what is predicted by the SWMF simulations.
Using the concept of preperitoneal membrane anatomy in total extraperitoneal prosthesis: a preliminary report
Authors: Lin Suqiong , Hu Anran , Zheng Huabin , Fu Jinbo , Kuang Penghao , Hong Xiaoquan , Qiu Rongliang , Fu Yilong
Published: June 2023

Purpose

Total extraperitoneal prosthesis (TEP) is one of the most commonly used laparoscopic inguinal hernia repair procedures. This work aims to report the application of membrane anatomy to TEP and its value in intraoperative space expansion.

Methods

The clinical data of 105 patients, from January 2018 to May 2020, with inguinal hernia who were treated with TEP (58 patients in the General Department of the Second Hospital of Sanming City, Fujian Province, and 47 patients in the General Department of the Zhongshan Hospital Affiliated to Xiamen University) were retrospectively analyzed.

Results

All surgeries were successfully completed under the guidance of the concept of preperitoneal membrane anatomy. The operation time was 27.5 ± 9.0 min, blood loss was 5.2 ± 0.8 ml, and the peritoneum was damaged in six cases. The postoperative hospital stay was 1.5 ± 0.6 days, and five cases of postoperative seroma occurred, all self-absorbed. During the follow-up period of 7–59 months, there was no case of chronic pain and recurrence.

Conclusion

The membrane anatomy at the correct level is the premise of a bloodless operation to expand the space while protecting adjacent tissues and organs to avoid complications.
Improvement of Pain Symptoms in Musculoskeletal Diseases After Multimodal Spa Therapy in the Austrian Gastein Valley—A Study Based on Longitudinal Registry Data
Authors: van der Zee-Neuen Antje , Fuchs Julia , Wildburger Sonja , Gaisberger Martin , Kloppenburg Margreet , Fioravanti Antonella , Stamm Tanja , Offenbaecher Martin , Radlmueller Rudolf , Foisner Wolfgang , Hoelzl Bertram , Ritter Markus
Published: June 2023

Objective: The study aim was to investigate the course of pain in rest and motion in seven different rheumatic diseases (RMD), prior and after multimodal spa therapy including low-dose radon treatment and at 3-, 6-; and 9-month follow up.

Methods: Complete data from the radon indication registry including information on 561 subjects with RMD were analysed to explore the association of timepoint of measurement with pain in rest and motion. For this purpose, linear regression models adjusted for RMD-type, age, sex and body mass index (BMI) were applied.

Results: The mean age of the sample was 55 years, the average body mass index was 26.8, and 275 subjects were women. Pain scores were significantly improved at all-time points compared to baseline. Pain courses were different for each RMD with the largest improvement seen in fibromyalgia.

Conclusion: Timing spa facility visits according to RMD-specific pain courses may result in sustained pain reduction.
Micro- and Nanosatellite Sensorless Electromagnetic Docking Control Based on the High-Frequency Injection Method
Authors: Ruan Guangzheng , Wu Lijian , Wang Yaobing , Wang Bo , Han Runqi
Published: June 2023

This paper proposes a sensorless electromagnetic docking method suitable for micro- and nanosatellites. Based on the circuit model of the electromagnetic docking device, an algorithm for calculating the distance between two satellites on the basis of the high-frequency injection (HFI) method has been developed. In the specific implementation, first, a high-frequency (HF) voltage is injected into one of the two electromagnets; second, the HF currents induced by both electromagnets are measured and their respective root-mean-squares (RMSs) are calculated; third, two RMSs are substituted into a specific formula to obtain a variable carrying distance information; finally, the variable is utilized to calculate the distance estimation using the look-up table interpolation method. This paper presents a closed-loop electromagnetic docking controller which includes an outer distance loop and an inner speed loop and adopts the distance estimation as the feedback. The proposed sensorless electromagnetic docking method is verified by the distance estimation tracking response test and the ground-based docking test. The results indicate that low-impact docking can be achieved under the initial condition that the two satellites have a certain degree of misalignment. The proposed method can be adopted as a primary or as a redundant electromagnetic docking solution for resource-critical micro- and nanosatellites.
Winter Survival, Yield and Yield Components of Alfalfa as Affected by Phosphorus Supply in Two Alkaline Soils
Authors: Wang Yuntao , Sun Zhen , Wang Qiqi , Xie Jihong , Yu Linqing
Published: June 2023

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) is an important forage for the development of herbivorous animal husbandry, which is widely planted in the cold climate areas of northern China, where there is low overwintering and forage yield in production, and fertilization is a vital production strategy. A field study was conducted to determine the response of alfalfa’s winter survival rate, yield, and yield components to different gradients of phosphate (P) fertilizer (0, 45, 90, and 135 kg P2O5 ha−1) in two types of low-phosphorus alkaline soils. The results show that the winter survival rates and forage yield increased at first and then decreased with the increase of P application; the greater winter survival rates were achieved at 45~90 kg ha−1 of P fertilizer applied, while the greater forage yield were achieved at 90 kg ha−1 in the two sites, and the suitable P fertilizer application rates for greater winter survival were less than those for greater forage yield; plant height and shoot mass made a greater contribution to forage yield than other yield components. To pursue greater forage yield, the suitable P fertilization rates for aeolian sandy soil and silt loam soil are 108.1 and 78.3 kg ha−1, respectively, based on the regression equations. Therefore, in cold winter and soil P deficiency areas, applying P fertilizer can be used as an effective strategy to improve alfalfa’s forage yield and persistence, and the most appropriate amount of fertilizer should be determined according to climate and soil conditions.
On the Evidence of the European Bee-Eater (Merops apiaster) as a Predator of the Yellow-Legged Hornet (Vespa velutina) and Its Possible Contribution as a Biocontrol Agent
Authors: Onofre Nuno , Portugal e Castro Maria Inês , Nave Anabela , Cadima Irene San Payo , Ferreira Maria , Godinho Joana
Published: June 2023

The Yellow-legged Hornet (Vespa velutina nigrithorax) (YLH) is an invasive insect that arrived in Europe in 2004 and is now spread across nine countries. It is a threat to the native entomofauna and harmful to beekeeping and agriculture, as it is a ravenous predator of the European Honey Bee (Apis mellifera) and other pollinating species. Its expansion has been unstoppable and all resources are needed to fight against it, including native vertebrate predators. Among these, the European Bee-eater (Merops apiaster) (EBE) is a potential one, but little is known about its predation on YLH. In a study carried out in Portugal, remains of YHL were detected in EBE nesting sites, which, to the best of our knowledge, is the first such report. This means that this bird could be one more agent in the biological control of this pest (although research on predation intensity is still needed), in conjunction with other natural predators and other strategies. In the Iberian Peninsula, both species are allopatric in vast regions, so the role of EBE may be more limited. However, in the rest of Europe, at a country or continent scale, the scenario may be different and sympatry may occur to a greater extent.
Triplex-Loop-Mediated Isothermal Amplification Combined with a Lateral Flow Immunoassay for the Simultaneous Detection of Three Pathogens of Porcine Viral Diarrhea Syndrome in Swine
Authors: Hong Yi , Ma Biao , Li Jiali , Shuai Jiangbing , Zhang Xiaofeng , Xu Hanyue , Zhang Mingzhou
Published: June 2023

Porcine epidemic diarrhea virus (PEDV), porcine bocavirus (PBoV), and porcine rotavirus (PoRV) are associated with porcine viral diarrhea. In this study, triplex loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) combined with a lateral flow dipstick (LFD) was established for the simultaneous detection of PEDV, PoRV, and PBoV. The PEDV-gp6, PoRV-vp6, and PBoV-vp1 genes were selected to design LAMP primers. The amplification could be carried out at 64 °C using a miniature metal bath within 30 min. The triplex LAMP–LFD assay exhibited no cross-reactions with other porcine pathogens. The limits of detection (LODs) of PEDV, PoRV, and PBoV were 2.40 × 101 copies/μL, 2.89 × 101 copies/μL, and 2.52 × 101 copies/μL, respectively. The consistency between rt-qPCR and the triplex LAMP–LFD was over 99% in field samples testing. In general, the triplex LAMP–LFD assay was suitable for the rapid and simultaneous detection of the three viruses in the field.
Factors Associated with the Proximity of the Incisive Canal to the Maxillary Central Incisor
Authors: Ishii Toshiyuki , Koizumi So , Yamaguchi Tetsutaro
Published: June 2023

The position of the maxillary central incisors (MCIs) is an important factor in treatment planning since it is related to esthetics and physiological function. This study aimed to evaluate maxillofacial morphology related to the proximity of the MCI to the incisive canal (IC) using cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT). In 157 patients, the distance between the MCI and IC was measured using CBCT images, and the maxillofacial morphology was measured using cephalograms. The relationship between age, sex, and cephalometric analysis was subsequently investigated using stepwise multiple regression analysis, with the distance between the MCI root apex and IC as the objective variable, and age, sex, and cephalometric variables as explanatory variables. The results demonstrated significant associations between the distance separating point A and the pterygomaxillary fissure projected on the palatal plane (B = 0.092, p < 0.01), the maxillary central incisal edge to the Frankfort horizontal plane (B = −0.058, p < 0.01), and the mandibular plane (B = −0.036, p = 0.031). Age and sex showed no association with the distance between the IC and MCI. Particular attention should be paid to the proximity of the tooth root to the IC in patients with short anteroposterior diameters of the maxilla and an anterior labial tilt of the dolichofacial type.
Intelligent Prediction of Nitrous Oxide Capture in Designable Ionic Liquids
Authors: Feng Haijun , Qin Wen , Hu Guangwu , Wang Huijing
Published: June 2023

As a greenhouse gas, nitrous oxide (N2O) is increasingly damaging the atmosphere and environment, and the capture of N2O using ionic liquids (ILs) has recently attracted wide attention. Machine learning can be utilized to rapidly screen ILs suitable for N2O removal. In this study, intelligent predictions of nitrous oxide capture in designable ionic liquids are proposed based on a series of machine learning methods, including linear regression, voting, and a two-layer feed-forward neural network (TLFFNN). The voting model can utilize various algorithms and is highly generalizable to various systems. The TLFFNN model produced the most accurate prediction, with an MSE of 0.00002 and R2 of 0.9981 on test sets. The acceptable performance of the TLFFNN model demonstrates its utility as an accurate and promising candidate model for the prediction of N2O solubility in ILs over other intelligent models. Based on the analysis of the thermodynamic and molecular properties of ionic liquids, in the low-pressure zone, components of [(OH)2IM] and [AC] perform best in capturing N2O, while in the high-pressure zone, components of [(ETO)2IM] and [SCN] are best. This finding will provide new chemical insights for the industrial synthesis of ionic liquids in capturing N2O.
Special Issue on Aerodynamic Noise Research of High-Speed Trains
Authors: Li Tian , Sun Zhenxu , Wang Tiantian
Published: June 2023

Trains have gained immense popularity as a fast and efficient mode of transportation [...]
Distribution and Evolution Law of Void Fraction in the Goaf of Longwall Mining in a Coal Mine: Calculation Method and Numerical Simulation Verification
Authors: Wang Jiaqi , Zhou Nan , Wang Chongjing , Li Meng , Meng Guohao
Published: June 2023

Many voids are produced in the mining process of ore-bearing strata. To explore the development law of voids after mining coal-bearing strata, a theoretical model was established to derive the overall distribution and shape of voids in the goaf. The above theory was verified using the numerical calculation method. The turning point of the void change was found. The research results show that the void in the goaf was widely distributed around the stope, and the overall void ratio was affected by the mining conditions, such as the mining height and face length. While advancing the working face, the dynamic development of the void first increased and then decreased. At first, the distribution of the void ratio in the goaf was between 0.293 and 0.889 under specific geological conditions, and then, with the advancement of the working face, a large void ratio was reserved at 0~40 m behind the working face. When the working face was advanced to the first roof collapse length, the void fractures continued to decline. Using the above voids, the backfilling of solid mine waste can be effectively realized, and the ecological environment can be protected.
Research on the Precision Measurement Method of Flat Screen Gap Based on Mobile Vision
Authors: Ye Xuhui , Wang Fusheng , Yang Qianyou , Hu Xinyu , Meng Junfeng , Song Lian
Published: June 2023

In view of the problem that the measurement accuracy of screen gaps is affected by the R region of the transition rounded corner of the large-size flat back cover, a mobile vision system with dual linear motor synchronous drive is designed to realize precise positioning of monocular vision in 16 local image acquisition positions set in the R region. Full-size measurement of the R region is achieved using local information fusion to accurately measure the screen gap. First, to solve the problem of edge breaking and the blurring of local images, a region extraction and segmentation method based on block statistics is proposed to quickly obtain accurate outer edges. Then, an adaptive Hough line detection method based on dichotomy is proposed to accurately locate the outer edges. The experimental results show that the accuracy of region extraction and segmentation is up to 99.68% within 60 ms; the angle error and position error of line detection are less than 0.01° and 0.2 pixels, respectively. With optimal anti-interference performance, the proposed algorithm realizes the adaptive and accurate positioning of the outer edge within 200 ms; the measurement time and the measurement error of the measurement system are less than 6.0 s and 0.03 mm, respectively.
Dynamic Transaction Confirmation Sharding Protocol for Alliance Chain
Authors: Sun Nigang , Li Junlong , Zhang Yuanyi
Published: June 2023

Alliance chain has gained widespread popularity in industrial and commercial fields due to its multi-centralization and node manageability. Current implementations of the alliance chain suffer from scalability obstacles, such as communication congestion and throughput drop, when the number of nodes increases. In this paper, a novel dynamic transaction confirmation sharding protocol is proposed, which improves transaction processing efficiency by partitioning nodes and assigning different transactions to different shards. It utilizes dynamic transaction confirmation consensus as a sharding intra-consensus mechanism to minimize message size and package transactions into microblocks, which modifies communication content during transaction propagation among shards and reduces network congestion and shard reconfigure cost. The protocol leverages a review system and reputation model to identify and punish malicious nodes and also incorporates a verifiable random function for node configuration, which ensures a sufficient number of honest nodes within the shard and prevents repeated consensus processes. Simulation results show that the proposed protocol outperforms mainstream used permissioned chain sharding protocols Attested HyperLedger and Sharper, achieving a throughput improvement of at least 20%. This protocol is suitable for scenarios requiring high throughput and reliability in industrial and commercial fields such as finance, logistics, and supply chain management. Even if the number of alliance chain nodes increases to the usual maximum, or there are some faulty nodes, the protocol can still maintain stable performance.
Canine Impaction: Digital Orthodontic Planning in Conjunction with TADs (Temporary Anchorage Devices) and Aligners
Authors: Capuozzo Riccardo , Caruso Silvia , Caruso Sara , De Felice Maria Elena , Gatto Roberto
Published: June 2023

This paper aims to represent the orthodontic treatment of two young patients with skeletal Class I relationship and unilateral impacted canines (case 1 with palatally displaced canine and case 2 with buccally displaced canine). Before starting full-mouth alignment, canines are moved away from the roots of the neighbouring teeth. The protocol involved a surgical phase carried out in order to expose the canine and traction it with TADs (temporary anchorage devices) and an orthodontic phase performed to finalize the alignment. The canines were moved through vertical and distal force vectors by using TADs as well as a cantilever spring. As soon as the crown of the canine was fully visible, digital impressions were taken to start the digital planning of the orthodontic phase. At the end of the treatment, results show a control of the facial aesthetics both from the frontal and lateral perspectives with a harmonious profile. The molar and canine Class I relationship was achieved with the recovery of the impacted canines and the overbite and overjet were normalized.
Bioaccumulation of Trace Elements along the Body Longitudinal Axis in Honey Bees
Authors: Goretti Enzo , Pallottini Matteo , La Porta Gianandrea , Elia Antonia Concetta , Gardi Tiziano , Petroselli Chiara , Gravina Paola , Bruschi Federica , Selvaggi Roberta , Cappelletti David
Published: June 2023

We present a survey on the environmental contamination of the Alviano Lake territory (Central Italy) based on Apis mellifera ligustica samples collected in two annual samplings (2019–2020). Concentrations of 30 elements were determined in the whole bees, in the gaster, and in the body without the gaster. The study generally revealed a low level of contamination of the bee tissues. However, As showed higher concentrations than in other rural areas, although lower than in samples from urban and productive areas. On the other hand, despite the environmental context, Hg showed limited contamination levels, with the exception of a single sample. Elemental analysis along the longitudinal axis of the bees’ bodies showed greater and statistically significant presences of V, Al, Be, Pb, Cd, Co, Mn, Ba, and Sr in the gaster. The only exceptions concerned As and S (and to a lesser extent Hg), with higher concentrations found in the body without the gaster. We hypothesise that this selectivity maybe due to the affinity of these elements with S, which is abundant in the proteins of the flight muscles in the insect thorax, which are rich in amino acids containing the –SH group.
Precision and Accuracy Assessment of Cephalometric Analyses Performed by Deep Learning Artificial Intelligence with and without Human Augmentation
Authors: Panesar Sumer , Zhao Alyssa , Hollensbe Eric , Wong Ariel , Bhamidipalli Surya Sruthi , Eckert George , Dutra Vinicius , Turkkahraman Hakan
Published: June 2023

The aim was to assess the precision and accuracy of cephalometric analyses performed by artificial intelligence (AI) with and without human augmentation. Four dental professionals with varying experience levels identified 31 landmarks on 30 cephalometric radiographs twice. These landmarks were re-identified by all examiners with the aid of AI. Precision and accuracy were assessed by using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs) and mean absolute errors (MAEs). AI revealed the highest precision, with a mean ICC of 0.97, while the dental student had the lowest (mean ICC: 0.77). The AI/human augmentation method significantly improved the precision of the orthodontist, resident, dentist, and dental student by 3.26%, 2.17%, 19.75%, and 23.38%, respectively. The orthodontist demonstrated the highest accuracy with an MAE of 1.57 mm/°. The AI/human augmentation method improved the accuracy of the orthodontist, resident, dentist, and dental student by 12.74%, 19.10%, 35.69%, and 33.96%, respectively. AI demonstrated excellent precision and good accuracy in automated cephalometric analysis. The precision and accuracy of the examiners with the aid of AI improved by 10.47% and 27.27%, respectively. The AI/human augmentation method significantly improved the precision and accuracy of less experienced dental professionals to the level of an experienced orthodontist.
Numerical Simulation Analysis of the Impact of Active Ground Fissures on Damage to Urban Overpasses
Authors: Cheng Yao , Wang Pengqi , Xu Qiang
Published: June 2023

Urban overpasses, being long-span linear projects, are inevitably affected by ground fissure activities. This study focused on the three-span continuous overpass, and used the MIDAS GTS NX finite element simulation software to establish the model of an urban overpass crossing active ground fissures with different straddling ground fissure positions and hanging wall settlements. This study analyzed the deformation and stress characteristics of soil and bridges induced by ground fissures under different working conditions. The results demonstrate that the soil’s displacement response is mainly concentrated near the ground fissures, and the displacement changes decrease with increasing ground fissures. Ground fissure activities redistribute the stress inside the beam and pier, resulting in the tilting of the pier. When the fissure activity is small, the use of multi-span beams to straddle the ground fissures can effectively reduce the influence of ground fissure activities on bridge deformation. However, when the fissure activity is significant, the bridge may be damaged, and excessive deformation of the bridge and piers may not meet code requirements. In such cases, the multi-span beam structure type should be changed to adapt to the ground fissure activity. The research results provide significant reference value for urban traffic planning and overpass design.
Discrete Analogue of Fishburn’s Fractional-Order Stochastic Dominance
Authors: Yin Hoover H. F. , Wang Xishi , Mak Hugo Wai Leung , Au Yong Chun Sang , Chan Ian Y. Y.
Published: June 2023

A stochastic dominance (SD) relation can be defined by two different perspectives: One from the view of distributions, and the other one from the view of expected utilities. In the early days, Fishburn investigated SD from the view of distributions, and we refer this perspective as Fishburn’s SD. One of his many results was the development of fractional-order SD for continuous distributions. However, discrete fractional-order SD cannot be directly generalized, because some properties of fractional calculus may not possess a discrete counterpart. In this paper, we develop a discrete analogue of fractional-order SD for discrete utilities from the view of distributions. We generalize the order of SD by Lizama’s fractional delta operator, show the preservation of SD hierarchy, and formulate the utility classes that are congruent with our SD relations. This work brings a message that some results of discrete SD cannot be directly generalized from continuous SD. We characterize the difference between discrete and continuous fractional-order SD, as well as the way to handle it for further applications in mathematics and computer science.
On a Sum of More Complex Product-Type Operators from Bloch-Type Spaces to the Weighted-Type Spaces
Authors: Huang Cheng-Shi , Jiang Zhi-Jie
Published: June 2023

The aim of the present paper is to completely characterize the boundedness and compactness of a sum operator defined by some more complex products of composition, multiplication, and mth iterated radial derivative operators from Bloch-type spaces to weighted-type spaces on the unit ball. In some applications, the boundedness and compactness of all products of composition, multiplication, and mth iterated radial derivative operators from Bloch-type spaces to weighted-type spaces on the unit ball are also characterized.
Isotonic Drinks Based on Organic Grape Juice and Naturally Flavored with Herb and Spice Extracts
Authors: Bendaali Yasmina , Vaquero Cristian , Escott Carlos , González Carmen , Morata Antonio
Published: June 2023

The aim of this study was the elaboration of isotonic drinks rich in bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity using organic ingredients and without synthetic additives. Grape juice was used as a natural source of sugars and phenolic compounds, combined with lemon juice and natural flavors from herb and spice extracts. The ingredients were diluted in two types of water with different mineralization, to which three different determined concentrations of salts (sodium chloride and potassium chloride) were added. The beverages had a sugar content ranging from 72.73 ± 0.23 to 78.43 ± 0.06 g/L, total soluble solids between 4.23 ± 0.06 and 4.83 ± 0.29 °Brix, and total acids from 1.75 ± 0.02 to 2.39 ± 0.08 g/L. Generally, antioxidant activity was higher in the beverages flavored with herb and spice extracts, ranging from 3.28 ± 0.01 to 4.27 ± 0.09 µmols Trolox equivalent/mL. Color intensity showed an increase of up to 129.39% in all samples during the storage period, being higher in beverages prepared with high-mineral water and having high pH values. The results of sensory analysis revealed that the flavored beverages had higher values of global perception than the controls. Thus, the functional properties of grape juice have been increased, and these beverages can be alternative natural and healthy products because their formulation is based only on organic and natural ingredients.
Model-Driven Analysis of ECG Using Reinforcement Learning
Authors: O’Reilly Christian , Oruganti Sai Durga Rithvik , Tilwani Deepa , Bradshaw Jessica
Published: June 2023

Modeling is essential to better understand the generative mechanisms responsible for experimental observations gathered from complex systems. In this work, we are using such an approach to analyze the electrocardiogram (ECG). We present a systematic framework to decompose ECG signals into sums of overlapping lognormal components. We use reinforcement learning to train a deep neural network to estimate the modeling parameters from an ECG recorded in babies from 1 to 24 months of age. We demonstrate this model-driven approach by showing how the extracted parameters vary with age. From the 751,510 PQRST complexes modeled, 82.7% provided a signal-to-noise ratio that was sufficient for further analysis (>5 dB). After correction for multiple tests, 10 of the 24 modeling parameters exhibited statistical significance below the 0.01 threshold, with absolute Kendall rank correlation coefficients in the [0.27, 0.51] range. These results confirm that this model-driven approach can capture sensitive ECG parameters. Due to its physiological interpretability, this approach can provide a window into latent variables which are important for understanding the heart-beating process and its control by the autonomous nervous system.
Biological Invasions Affect Resource Processing in Aquatic Ecosystems: The Invasive Amphipod Dikerogammarus villosus Impacts Detritus Processing through High Abundance Rather than Differential Response to Temperature
Authors: Pile Benjamin , Warren Daniel , Hassall Christopher , Brown Lee E. , Dunn Alison M.
Published: June 2023

Anthropogenic stressors such as climate warming and invasive species and natural stressors such as parasites exert pressures that can interact to impact the function of ecosystems. This study investigated how these stressors interact to impact the vital ecosystem process of shredding by keystone species in temperate freshwater ecosystems. We compared metabolic rates and rates of shredding at a range of temperatures up to extreme levels, from 5 °C to 30 °C, between invasive and native amphipods that were unparasitised or parasitised by a common acanthocephalan, Echinorhynchus truttae. Shredding results were compared using the relative impact potential (RIP) metric to investigate how they impacted the scale with a numerical response. Although per capita shredding was higher for the native amphipod at all temperatures, the higher abundance of the invader led to higher relative impact scores; hence, the replacement of the native by the invasive amphipod is predicted to drive an increase in shredding. This could be interpreted as a positive effect on the ecosystem function, leading to a faster accumulation of amphipod biomass and a greater rate of fine particulate organic matter (FPOM) provisioning for the ecosystem. However, the high density of invaders compared with natives may lead to the exhaustion of the resource in sites with relatively low leaf detritus levels.
Synergistic Effects of Earthworms and Plants on Chromium Removal from Acidic and Alkaline Soils: Biological Responses and Implications
Authors: Liu Ping , Song Yan , Wei Jie , Mao Wei , Ju Jing , Zheng Shengyang , Zhao Haitao
Published: June 2023

Soil heavy metal pollution has become one of the major environmental issues of global concern and solving this problem is a major scientific and technological need for today’s socio-economic development. Environmentally friendly bioremediation methods are currently the most commonly used for soil heavy metal pollution remediation. Via controlled experiments, the removal characteristics of chromium from contaminated soil were studied using earthworms (Eisenia fetida and Pheretima guillelmi) and plants (ryegrass and maize) at different chromium concentrations (15 mg/kg and 50 mg/kg) in acidic and alkaline soils. The effects of chromium contamination on biomass, chromium bioaccumulation, and earthworm gut microbial communities were also analyzed. The results showed that E. fetida had a relatively stronger ability to remove chromium from acidic and alkaline soil than P. guillelmi, and ryegrass had a significantly better ability to remove chromium from acidic and alkaline soil than maize. The combined use of E. fetida and ryegrass showed the best effect of removing chromium from contaminated soils, wih the highest removal rate (63.23%) in acidic soil at low Cr concentrations. After soil ingestion by earthworms, the content of stable chromium (residual and oxidizable forms) in the soil decreased significantly, while the content of active chromium (acid-extractable and reducible forms) increased significantly, thus promoting the enrichment of chromium in plants. The diversity in gut bacterial communities in earthworms decreased significantly following the ingestion of chromium-polluted soil, and their composition differences were significantly correlated with soil acidity and alkalinity. Bacillales, Chryseobacterium, and Citrobacter may have strong abilities to resist chromium and enhance chromium activity in acidic and alkaline soils. There was also a significant correlation between changes in enzyme activity in earthworms and their gut bacterial communities. The bacterial communities, including Pseudomonas and Verminephrobacter, were closely related to the bioavailability of chromium in soil and the degree of chromium stress in earthworms. This study provides insights into the differences in bioremediation for chromium-contaminated soils with different properties and its biological responses.
Feasibility Study on Endoscopic Balloon-Assisted Laser Treatment (EBLT) of Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD) in In Vivo Porcine Model
Authors: Cha Boram , Kim Hyejin , Truong Van Gia , Oh Sun-Ju , Jeong Seok , Kang Hyun Wook
Published: June 2023

Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) has been growing globally, with an increasing burden on the healthcare system due to multiple factors, such as aging and obesity. The current study evaluated the feasibility of endoscopic balloon-assisted laser treatment (EBLT) in a porcine model. GERD was initially developed in three animals via botulinum toxin injection into lower esophageal sphincter (LES). A week after the injection, the EBLT was performed on the GERD-developed models (control = 1 vs. treated = 2). A dose of 30 W of 980 nm laser light was endoscopically applied for 90 s to the LES. Both endoscopic ultrasound and manometry were performed before and after the EBLT. After 12 weeks, esophageal tissues were extracted and prepared for histological analysis. The maximum mucosa temperature was below 50 °C during the EBLT. Compared to control, the treated group yielded thicker and shorter LES muscle layers and maintained LES pressure. Through histology, the EBLT reinforced the muscularis layer with preserved mucosa and mild remodeling of the intermuscular collagen in the LES. The current study demonstrated the feasibility of EBLT as a new endoscopic approach for GERD. Further studies will examine the EBLT in a larger number of animals to warrant efficacy and safety for clinical translations
Evidence and Uncertainties on Lipoprotein(a) as a Marker of Cardiovascular Health Risk in Children and Adolescents
Authors: Genovesi Simonetta , Giussani Marco , Lieti Giulia , Orlando Antonina , Patti Ilenia , Parati Gianfranco
Published: June 2023

Lipoprotein(a) (Lp(a)) is made up of apoprotein(a) (apo(a)) and an LDL-like particle. The LPA gene encodes apo(a) and thus determines the characteristics and amount of apo(a) and Lp(a). The proportion of Lp(a) in each individual is genetically determined and is only minimally modifiable by the environment or diet. Lp(a) has important pro-atherosclerotic and pro-inflammatory effects. It has been hypothesized that Lp(a) also has pro-coagulant and antifibrinolytic actions. For these reasons, high Lp(a) values are an important independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and calcific aortic valve stenosis. Numerous studies have been performed in adults about the pathophysiology and epidemiology of Lp(a) and research is under way for the development of drugs capable of reducing Lp(a) plasma values. Much less information is available regarding Lp(a) in children and adolescents. The present article reviews the evidence on this topic. The review addresses the issues of Lp(a) changes during growth, the correlation between Lp(a) values in children and those in their parents, and between Lp(a) levels in children, and the presence of cardiovascular disease in the family. Gaining information on these points is particularly important for deciding whether Lp(a) assay may be useful for defining the cardiovascular risk in children, in order to plan a prevention program early.
Recent Advances in Metaphotonic Biosensors
Authors: Nguyen Dang Du , Lee Seho , Kim Inki
Published: June 2023

Metaphotonic devices, which enable light manipulation at a subwavelength scale and enhance light–matter interactions, have been emerging as a critical pillar in biosensing. Researchers have been attracted to metaphotonic biosensors, as they solve the limitations of the existing bioanalytical techniques, including the sensitivity, selectivity, and detection limit. Here, we briefly introduce types of metasurfaces utilized in various metaphotonic biomolecular sensing domains such as refractometry, surface-enhanced fluorescence, vibrational spectroscopy, and chiral sensing. Further, we list the prevalent working mechanisms of those metaphotonic bio-detection schemes. Furthermore, we summarize the recent progress in chip integration for metaphotonic biosensing to enable innovative point-of-care devices in healthcare. Finally, we discuss the impediments in metaphotonic biosensing, such as its cost effectiveness and treatment for intricate biospecimens, and present a prospect for potential directions for materializing these device strategies, significantly influencing clinical diagnostics in health and safety.