bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
High-Order Community Detection in the Air Transport Industry: A Comparative Analysis among 10 Major International Airlines
Authors: Yang Huijuan , Le Meilong
Published: October 2021

Community detection in a complex network is an ongoing field. While the air transport network has gradually formed as a complex system, the topological and geographical characteristics of airline networks have become crucial in understanding the network dynamics and airports’ roles. This research tackles the highly interconnected parts in weighted codeshare networks. A dataset comprising ten major international airlines is selected to conduct a comparative analysis. The result confirms that the clique percolation method can be used in conjunction with other metrics to shed light on air transport network topology, recognizing patterns of inter- and intra-community connections. Moreover, the topological detection results are interpreted and explained from a transport geographical perspective, with the physical airline network structure. As complex as it may seem, the airline network tends to be a relatively small system with only a few high-order communities, which can be characterized by geographical constraints. This research also contributes to the literature by capturing new insights regarding the topological patterns of the air transport industry. Particularly, it reveals the wide hub-shifting phenomenon and the possibility of airlines with different business models sharing an identical topology profile.
Dwell Time Estimation of Import Containers as an Ordinal Regression Problem
Authors: De Armas Jacomino Laidy , Medina-Pérez Miguel Angel , Monroy Raúl , Valdes-Ramirez Danilo , Morell-Pérez Carlos , Bello Rafael
Published: October 2021

The optimal stacking of import containers in a terminal reduces the reshuffles during the unloading operations. Knowing the departure date of each container is critical for optimal stacking. However, such a date is rarely known because it depends on various attributes. Therefore, some authors have proposed estimation algorithms using supervised classification. Although supervised classifiers can estimate this dwell time, the variable “dwell time” takes ordered values for this problem, suggesting using ordinal regression algorithms. Thus, we have compared an ordinal regression algorithm (selected from 15) against two supervised classifiers (selected from 30). We have set up two datasets with data collected in a container terminal. We have extracted and evaluated 35 attributes related to the dwell time. Additionally, we have run 21 experiments to evaluate both approaches regarding the mean absolute error modified and the reshuffles. As a result, we have found that the ordinal regression algorithm outperforms the supervised classifiers, reaching the lowest mean absolute error modified in 15 (71%) and the lowest reshuffles in 14 (67%) experiments.
Study of the Error Caused by Camera Movement for the Stereo-Vision System
Authors: Liu Yan , Ge Zhendong , Yuan Yingtao , Su Xin , Guo Xiang , Suo Tao , Yu Qifeng
Published: October 2021

The stereo-vision system plays an increasingly important role in various fields of research and applications. However, inevitable slight movements of cameras under harsh working conditions can significantly influence the 3D measurement accuracy. This paper focuses on the effect of camera movements on the stereo-vision 3D measurement. The camera movements are divided into four categories, viz., identical translations and rotations, relative translation and rotation. The error models of 3D coordinate and distance measurement are established. Experiments were performed to validate the mathematical models. The results show that the 3D coordinate error caused by identical translations increases linearly with the change in the positions of both cameras, but the distance measurement is not affected. For identical rotations, the 3D coordinate error introduced only in the rotating plane is proportional to the rotation angle within 10° while the distance error is zero. For relative translation, both coordinate and distance errors keep linearly increasing with the change in the relative positions. For relative rotation, the relationship between 3D coordinate error and rotation angle can be described as the nonlinear trend similar to a sine-cosine curve. The impact of the relative rotation angle on distance measurement accuracy does not increase monotonically. The relative rotation is the main factor compared to other cases. Even for the occurrence of a rotation angle of 10°, the resultant maximum coordinate error is up to 2000 mm, and the distance error reaches 220%. The results presented are recommended as practice guidelines to reduce the measurement errors.
New Training Approach for Improving the Spatial Perception and Orientation Ability of Dentistry Students
Authors: Shely Asaf , Ben-Izhack Gil , Lugassy Diva , Matalon Shlomo , Pilo Raphael , Brosh Tamar , Dolev Eran
Published: October 2021

Introduction: During a basic prosthetics course, dental students train on plastic teeth for fixed partial dentures (FPD). The complexity of manual skill acquisition and the need for extra training led us to develop a portable tool for home training (PhantHome). The aim of the current study was to assess whether training using the portable tool improves students fine motor skill, spatial perception, and orientation and may predict success in preclinical prosthetics courses. Material and Methods: A total of 42 third year dental students were included in this study. A valid dexterity test (Grooved Pegboard test) and a manual test using the portable tool (PhantHome) were conducted in direct and indirect visions using a mirror at two time points: T0: beginning of study, and T1: after training for one month with the portable tool at home. The students’ manual grades in the portable tool, Grooved test, and final prosthetics course grades were compared. Results: The results showed that indirect tasks were significantly more difficult to perform than direct tasks for PhantHome and Grooved tests at T0 and T1 (p < 0.0005). After practicing with the portable PhantHome tool (T1), the students’ scores of in PhantHome and Grooved tests improved significantly (p < 0.04). A regression analysis showed that students’ motor tasks scored at T0 predicted phantom course success in 86.8% of cases (p = 0.005). Conclusion: There was a positive transfer in learning: PhantHome training led to improved performance on the Grooved tests without further training on these tests. Therefore, training in the PhantHome tool can significantly improve performance in the prosthodontics phantom course. The prediction model predicted success in a prosthodontics course with 86% accuracy.
Design of 3D Carbon Nanotube Monoliths for Potential-Controlled Adsorption
Authors: Röcker Dennis , Trunzer Tatjana , Heilingbrunner Jasmin , Rassloff Janine , Fraga-García Paula , Berensmeier Sonja
Published: October 2021

The design of 3D monoliths provides a promising opportunity to scale the unique properties of singular carbon nanotubes to a macroscopic level. However, the synthesis of carbon nanotube monoliths is often characterized by complex procedures and additives impairing the later macroscopic properties. Here, we present a simple and efficient synthesis protocol leading to the formation of free-standing, stable, and highly conductive 3D carbon nanotube monoliths for later application in potential-controlled adsorption in aqueous systems. We synthesized monoliths displaying high tensile strength, excellent conductivity (up to 140 S m−1), and a large specific surface area (up to 177 m2 g−1). The resulting monoliths were studied as novel electrode materials for the reversible electrosorption of maleic acid. The process principle was investigated using chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry in a two-electrode setup. A stable electrochemical behavior was observed, and the synthesized monoliths displayed capacitive and faradaic current responses. At moderate applied overpotentials (± 500 mV vs. open circuit potential), the monolithic electrodes showed a high loading capacity (~20 µmol g−1) and reversible potential-triggered release of the analyte. Our results demonstrate that carbon nanotube monoliths can be used as novel electrode material to control the adsorption of small organic molecules onto charged surfaces.
A Semi-Supervised Fault Diagnosis Method Based on Improved Bidirectional Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Cui Long , Tian Xincheng , Shi Xiaorui , Wang Xiujing , Cui Yigang
Published: October 2021

With the assumption of sufficient labeled data, deep learning based machinery fault diagnosis methods show effectiveness. However, in real-industrial scenarios, it is costly to label the data, and unlabeled data is underutilized. Therefore, this paper proposes a semi-supervised fault diagnosis method called Bidirectional Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty (BiWGAN-GP). First, by unsupervised pre-training, the proposed method takes full advantage of a large amount of unlabeled data and can extract features from vibration signals effectively. Then, using only a few labeled data to conduct supervised fine-tuning, the model can perform an accurate fault diagnosis. Additionally, Wasserstein distance is used to improve the stability of the model’s training procedure. Validation is performed on the bearing and gearbox fault datasets with limited labeled data. The results show that the proposed method can achieve 99.42% and 91.97% of diagnosis accuracy on the bearing and gear dataset, respectively, when the size of the training set is only 10% of the testing set.
Comparison of Manipulative Indicators of Students and Therapists Using a Robotic Arm: A Feasibility Study
Authors: Yuji Koike , Akihisa Okino , Kazuhisa Takeda , Yasuhiro Takanami , Hamaguchi Toyohiro
Published: October 2021

In this study, the motion therapy elements necessary for student education were clarified through comparison of the therapeutic motion techniques of therapists and students using an educational arm robot (Samothrace: SAMO). Eight therapists and 25 fourth-year students participated. The therapeutic motion therapy task was a reciprocating exercise in which the elbow joint of SAMO was flexed from an extended position and then re-extended. This was performed for three types of muscle tone intensities (mild, moderate, and severe), and the peak velocity, angle ratio, velocity time, and movement time were recorded using SAMO. These data were then compared using analysis of covariance. It was found that the SAMO elbow joint kinematic data generated by therapists differed significantly from those of students for different muscle tones. Multiple comparisons showed that the therapeutic motion techniques of students were associated with a higher peak velocity, smaller peak angle ratio, and shorter peak velocity time and movement time than those of the therapists. Thus, when students learn therapeutic motion techniques, they should be taught to (1) deal with multiple muscle tone intensities and (2) reduce the joint movement speed applied to the patient to extend the exercise time and ensure maximum joint movement range.
Comparative Characterization of Different Cutting Strategies for the Sintered ZnO Electroceramics
Authors: Dugar Jaka , Ikram Awais , Pušavec Franci
Published: October 2021

Sintered zinc oxide (ZnO) ceramic is a fragile and difficult-to-cut material, so finishing operations demand handling cautious and accurate surface tolerances by polishing, grinding, or machining. The conventional machining methods based on grinding and lapping offer limited productivity and high scalability; therefore, their incapacity to prepare tight tolerances usually end up with uncontrolled edge chipping and rough surfaces in the final products. This study investigates microstructural features with surface roughness in a comparative mode for conventional milling and abrasive waterjet cutting (AWJ). Edge topography and roughness maps are presented in this study to weigh the benefits of AWJ cutting over the conventional material removal methods by altering the feed rates. The porosity analysis implies that the differences during the multi-channel processing of varistors, which tend to alter the microstructure, should in turn exhibit a different response during cutting. The surface roughness, edge contours, and porosity generation due to shear forces are interpreted with the help of 3D optical and electron microscopy. The results demonstrate that the surface microstructure can have a noteworthy impact on the machining/cutting characteristics and functionality, and in addition, mechanical properties of ZnO varistors can fluctuate with non-uniform microstructures.
Reconstruction of Three-Dimensional Tibiofemoral Kinematics Using Single-Plane Fluoroscopy and a Personalized Kinematic Model
Authors: Lin Cheng-Chung , Lu Hsuan-Lun , Lu Tung-Wu , Wang Chia-Yang , Li Jia-Da , Kuo Mei-Ying , Hsu Horng-Chuang
Published: October 2021

Model-based 3D/2D image registration using single-plane fluoroscopy is a common setup to determine knee joint kinematics, owing to its markerless aspect. However, the approach was subjected to lower accuracies in the determination of out-of-plane motion components. Introducing additional kinematic constraints with an appropriate anatomical representation may help ameliorate the reduced accuracy of single-plane image registration. Therefore, this study aimed to develop and evaluate a multibody model-based tracking (MbMBT) scheme, embedding a personalized kinematic model of the tibiofemoral joint for the measurement of tibiofemoral kinematics. The kinematic model was consisted of three ligaments and an articular contact mechanism. The knee joint activities in six volunteers during isolated knee flexion, lunging, and sit-to-stand motions were recorded with a biplane X-ray imaging system. The tibiofemoral kinematics determined with the MbMBT and mediolateral view fluoroscopic images were compared against those determined using biplane fluoroscopic images. The MbMBT was demonstrated to yield tibiofemoral kinematics with precision values in the range from 0.1 mm to 1.1 mm for translations and from 0.2° to 1.3° for rotations. The constraints provided by the kinematic model were shown to effectively amend the nonphysiological tibiofemoral motion and not compromise the image registration accuracy with the proposed MbMBT scheme.
Anti-Cancer Drug Screening with Microfluidic Technology
Authors: Monjezi Mojdeh , Rismanian Milad , Jamaati Hamidreza , Kashaninejad Navid
Published: October 2021

The up-and-coming microfluidic technology is the most promising platform for designing anti-cancer drugs and new point-of-care diagnostics. Compared to conventional drug screening methods based on Petri dishes and animal studies, drug delivery in microfluidic systems has many advantages. For instance, these platforms offer high-throughput drug screening, require a small number of samples, provide an in vivo-like microenvironment for cells, and eliminate ethical issues associated with animal studies. Multiple cell cultures in microfluidic chips could better mimic the 3D tumor environment using low reagents consumption. The clinical experiments have shown that combinatorial drug treatments have a better therapeutic effect than monodrug therapy. Many attempts have been made in this field in the last decade. This review highlights the applications of microfluidic chips in anti-cancer drug screening and systematically categorizes these systems as a function of sample size and combination of drug screening. Finally, it provides a perspective on the future of the clinical applications of microfluidic systems for anti-cancer drug development.
On the Improved Mechanical Properties of Ball-Milled GNPs Reinforced Short Chain Branched-Polyethylene Nanocomposite: Micromechanical Modeling and Fractography Study
Authors: Kourtidou Dimitra , Tsongas Konstantinos , Grigora Maria-Eirini , Tzetzis Dimitrios , Bikiaris Dimitrios N. , Chrissafis Konstantinos
Published: October 2021

Short-chain branched-Polyethylene (SCB-PE) is commonly utilized in hot and cold piping systems due to its high-temperature resistance. SCB-PE nanocomposites using graphene nanoplatelets (GNPs) as a reinforcing filler were synthesized in this work. The effect of the filler’s content and the ball-milling process on nanocomposites’ structure, tensile and shear properties was studied. Two series of nanocomposites have been prepared, one with and one without the ball-milling as a premixing step prior to the melt-mixing process. The ball-milling process induced a lower crystallinity degree of the SCB-PE nanocomposites than their solely melt-mixed counterpart. The tensile properties of the ball-milled samples presented a more profound enhancement with increasing filler content. The Ji and modified Halpin-Tsai micromechanical models were best fit to describe the experimental elastic modulus of the solely melt-mixed and the ball-milled nanocomposites, respectively. Fractography studies suggested that the detachment of the filler particles from the polymer matrix is avoided for lower GNPs contents of the ball-milled samples. Shear tests revealed that the shear strength increased and ductility decreased with increasing filler content in any case. The ball-milling process resulted in SCB-PE nanocomposites with superior mechanical properties compared to their solely melt-mixed counterparts.
Comparison between the Lagrangian and Eulerian Approach for Simulating Regular and Solitary Waves Propagation, Breaking and Run-Up
Authors: De Padova Diana , Calvo Lucas , Carbone Paolo Michele , Maraglino Domenico , Mossa Michele
Published: October 2021

The present paper places emphasis on the most widely used Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) approaches, namely the Eulerian and Lagrangian methods each of which is characterized by specific advantages and disadvantages. In particular, a weakly compressible smoothed particle (WCSPH) model, coupled with a sub-particle scale (SPS) approach for turbulent stresses and a new depth-integrated non-hydrostatic finite element model were employed for the simulation of regular breaking waves on a plane slope and solitary waves transformation, breaking and run-up. The validation of the numerical schemes was performed through the comparison between numerical and experimental data. The aim of this study is to compare the two modeling methods with an emphasis on their performance in the simulation of hydraulic engineering problems.
Secure Outsourced Blockchain-Based Medical Data Sharing System Using Proxy Re-Encryption
Authors: Park Young-Hoon , Kim Yejin , Lee Shin-Ok , Ko Kwangman
Published: October 2021

The security and privacy of electronic health records (EHRs) have received considerable attention from healthcare workers and researchers. To ensure security, various encryption and decryption schemes as well as key management protocols have been developed. However, owing to sharing and scalability issues, additional security technologies have been proposed. Nonetheless, these technologies cause other problems, such as efficiency issues. Blockchain-based EHR management systems have been proposed to overcome computational overhead. However, because most blockchain systems are installed by outsourcing companies, EHRs may be leaked to the company. Hence, we herein propose a blockchain-based EHR management scheme with proxy re-encryption. In this scheme, we set a proxy server that re-encrypts the ciphertext between file servers, thereby solving EHR sharing issues. Furthermore, because the server is separated from the blockchain system, the outsourcing company cannot manipulate the server or access the records. In addition, the blockchain assists in access control by using smart contracts, thereby enabling secure and efficient EHR sharing. By performing security analysis, we prove that our proposed scheme solves the aforementioned security problems. In addition, we experimentally demonstrate the efficient operation of the proposed system.
Comparison of Twelve Machine Learning Regression Methods for Spatial Decomposition of Demographic Data Using Multisource Geospatial Data: An Experiment in Guangzhou City, China
Authors: Zhao Guanwei , Li Zhitao , Yang Muzhuang
Published: October 2021

The spatial decomposition of demographic data at a fine resolution is a classic and crucial problem in the field of geographical information science. The main objective of this study was to compare twelve well-known machine learning regression algorithms for the spatial decomposition of demographic data with multisource geospatial data. Grid search and cross-validation methods were used to ensure that the optimal model parameters were obtained. The results showed that all the global regression algorithms used in the study exhibited acceptable results, besides the ordinary least squares (OLS) algorithm. In addition, the regularization method and the subsetting method were both useful for alleviating overfitting in the OLS model, and the former was better than the latter. The more competitive performance of the nonlinear regression algorithms than the linear regression algorithms implies that the relationship between population density and influence factors is likely to be non-linear. Among the global regression algorithms used in the study, the best results were achieved by the k-nearest neighbors (KNN) regression algorithm. In addition, it was found that multi-sources geospatial data can improve the accuracy of spatial decomposition results significantly, and thus the proposed method in our study can be applied to the study of spatial decomposition in other areas.
Struma Ovarii: Clinico-Morphological Features and Therapeutic Experience of a Romanian Institution over 20 Years
Authors: Tîrnovanu Mihaela Camelia , Tîrnovanu Vlad Gabriel , Toma Bogdan Florin , Cojocaru Elena , Ungureanu Carmen , Barbăroșie Cătălina , Lozneanu Ludmila
Published: October 2021

Struma ovarii is a rare condition with scarce published data regarding clinical, morphological, and therapeutic approaches. This study reports the experience of 25 patients with struma ovarii who received surgical treatment in a gynecology department in Romania. The study was conducted from January 1999 to September 2021 and included patients with confirmed struma ovarii whose medical records were retrospectively reviewed and evaluated. Struma ovarii represented 2.8% of the total number of benign ovarian tumors treated by surgery. The age of the patients was between 24 and 71 years. The tumor was unilateral in 24 cases, 13 cases on the left ovary, 11 on the right side, and bilateral in 1 case. Tumor dimensions ranged between 1 cm and 20 cm. In two cases, the patients had symptoms of hyperthyroidism. The procedure was performed on four women for diagnoses other than an ovarian tumor. In another five situations, there was suspicion of ovarian malignancy. In addition, struma ovarii was associated with other clinical conditions in 22 cases. These lesions represent a diagnostic challenge with heterogeneous clinical and imaging manifestations. Complete information of clinical, morphologic, and surgical findings may improve the diagnostic algorithm and better predict patient outcomes.
On the Apparent Non-Uniqueness of the Electromagnetic Field Components of Return Strokes Revisited
Authors: Cooray Vernon , Cooray Gerald , Rubinstein Marcos , Rachidi Farhad
Published: October 2021

Recent research work shows that there are four procedures that can be used to calculate the electromagnetic fields from a current source. These different procedures, even though producing the same total field, give rise to field components that differ from one procedure to another. This has led to the understanding that the various field terms that constitute the total field cannot be uniquely determined. In this paper, it is shown that all four field expressions can be reduced to a single field expression, and the various field terms arising from acceleration, uniformly moving, and stationary charges can be uniquely determined. The differences in the field terms arising from different techniques are caused by the different ways of summing up the contribution to the total electric field coming from the accelerating, moving, and stationary charges.
Indoor Air Quality Certification and Consumers’ Willingness: Taiwan’s Experience and Survey
Authors: Hu Chih-Pei , Cheng Jen-Hsiung
Published: October 2021

People spend about 80–90% of their time in indoor environments, and poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can seriously endanger people’s health, work quality, and efficiency. The Taiwan Government began regulating IAQ in 2011 and implemented the self-managed IAQ certification in 2021. Before the Taiwan Government officially implemented the certification, we conducted a questionnaire survey from 26 to 27 September 2020. Moreover, this survey selected Banqiao and Wuri High-Speed Rail Plaza as the survey sites and completed 337 valid questionnaires. According to the hierarchical regression results, this research found the following: firstly, IAQ certification complies with international standards and has continuous monitoring and information disclosure methods, both of which are key factors affecting people’s willingness to consume; secondly, the respondents, who are female, familiar with the regulations, and living in the northern Taiwan area, have more willingness to consume in the certificated places.
Five Years (2014–2018) of Beta Activity Concentration and the Impact of Synoptic and Local Meteorological Conditions in Bilbao (Northern Spain)
Authors: Alegría Natalia , Hernández-Ceballos Miguel Ángel , Herranz Margarita , Idoeta Raquel , Legarda Fernando
Published: October 2021

The aim of this paper is to statistically characterize gross beta activity concentrations in ground-level air in Bilbao (northern Spain) by analysing five years (2014–2018) worth of weekly measurements in aerosols collected in filters to analyse the impact of local meteorological parameters on concentrations. In addition, synoptic meteorological scenarios associated with anomalous beta surface activity concentrations were identified. Over this five-year period, beta activity concentrations ranged from 35.45 µBq/m3 to 1778 µBq/m3 with a mean of 520.12 ± 281.77 µBq/m3. A positive correlation was found with the alpha concentrations (0.67), with an average of 0.138 for the alpha/beta ratio, and a low correlation was found with 7Be (0.16). Statistical analysis identified a seasonal component in the time series, increasing, on average, beta activity concentrations from winter to autumn. The highest beta activity concentrations were measured under the arrival of southerly land winds with low wind speeds, while the wind analysis (surface winds and air masses) of two different seasonal periods (autumn 2015 and winter 2017) have highlighted how small variations in synoptic and local winds highly influence beta activity concentrations. These results are relevant to understand the meteorological factors affecting beta activity concentrations in this area and hence to define meteorological scenarios that are in favour to high/anomalous surface activity concentrations that are harmful to the environmental and public health.
Analysis of Spatio-Temporal Heterogeneity and Socioeconomic driving Factors of PM2.5 in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and Its Surrounding Areas
Authors: Wang Ju , Li Ran , Xue Kexin , Fang Chunsheng
Published: October 2021

Due to rapid urbanization and socio-economic development, fine particulate matter (PM2.5) pollution has drawn very wide concern, especially in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, as well as in its surrounding areas. Different socio-economic developments shape the unique characteristics of each city, which may contribute to the spatial heterogeneity of pollution levels. Based on ground fine particulate matter (PM2.5) monitoring data and socioeconomic panel data from 2015 to 2019, the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei region, and its surrounding provinces, were selected as a case study area to explore the spatio-temporal heterogeneity of PM2.5 pollution, and the driving effect of socioeconomic factors on local air pollution. The spatio-temporal heterogeneity analysis showed that PM2.5 concentration in the study area expressed a downward trend from 2015 to 2019. Specifically, the concentration in Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei and Henan Province had decreased, but in Shanxi Province and Shandong Province, the concentration showed an inverted U-shaped and U-shaped variation trend, respectively. From the perspective of spatial distribution, PM2.5 concentrations in the study area had an obvious spatial positive correlation, with agglomeration characteristics of “high–high” and “low–low”. The high-value area was mainly distributed in the junction area of Henan, Shandong, and Hebei Provinces, which had been gradually moving to the southwest. The low values were mainly concentrated in the northern parts of Shanxi and Hebei Provinces, and the eastern part of Shandong Province. The results of the spatial lag model showed that Total Population (POP), Proportion of Urban Population (UP), Output of Second Industry (SI), and Roads Density (RD) had positive driving effects on PM2.5 concentration, which were opposite of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In addition, the spatial spillover effect of the PM2.5 concentrations in surrounding areas has a positive driving effect on local pollution levels. Although the PM2.5 levels in the study area have been decreasing, air pollution is still a serious problem. In the future, studies on the spatial and temporal heterogeneity of PM2.5 caused by unbalanced social development will help to better understand the interaction between urban development and environmental stress. These findings can contribute to the development of effective policies to mitigate and reduce PM2.5 pollutions from a socio-economic perspective.
Near-Common Fixed Point Result in Cone Interval b-Metric Spaces over Banach Algebras
Authors: Sarwar Muhammad , Islam Ziaul , Ahmad Hijaz , Işık Hüseyin , Noeiaghdam Samad
Published: October 2021

In this article, we proposed the concept of cone interval b-metric space over Banach algebras. Furthermore, some near-fixed point and near-common fixed point results are proved in the context of cone interval b-metric space and normed interval spaces for self-mappings under different types of generalized contractions. An example is presented to validate our main outcome.
Protocatechuic Acid, a Simple Plant Secondary Metabolite, Induced Apoptosis by Promoting Oxidative Stress through HO-1 Downregulation and p21 Upregulation in Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Acquaviva Rosaria , Tomasello Barbara , Di Giacomo Claudia , Santangelo Rosa , La Mantia Alfonsina , Naletova Irina , Sarpietro Maria Grazia , Castelli Francesco , Malfa Giuseppe Antonio
Published: October 2021

Gastrointestinal cancers, particularly colorectal cancer, are mainly influenced by the dietary factor. A diet rich in fruits and vegetables can help to reduce the incidence of colorectal cancer thanks to the phenolic compounds, which possess antimutagenic and anticarcinogenic properties. Polyphenols, alongside their well-known antioxidant properties, also show a pro-oxidative potential, which makes it possible to sensitize tumor cells to oxidative stress. HO-1 combined with antioxidant activity, when overexpressed in cancer cells, is involved in tumor progression, and its inhibition is considered a feasible therapeutic strategy in cancer treatment. In this study, the effects of protocatechuic acid (PCA) on the viability of colon cancer cells (CaCo-2), annexin V, LDH release, reactive oxygen species levels, total thiol content, HO-1, γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, and p21 expression were evaluated. PCA induced, in a dose-dependent manner, a significantly reduced cell viability of CaCo-2 by oxidative/antioxidant imbalance. The phenolic acid induced modifications in levels of HO-1, non-proteic thiol groups, γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase, reactive oxygen species, and p21. PCA induced a pro-oxidant effect in cancer cells, and the in vitro pro-apoptotic effect on CaCo-2 cells is mediated by the modulation of redox balance and the inhibition of the HO-1 system that led to the activation of p21. Our results suggest that PCA may represent a useful tool in prevention and/or therapy of colon cancer.
Shortening Epitopes to Survive: The Case of SARS-CoV-2 Lambda Variant
Authors: Pascarella Stefano , Ciccozzi Massimo , Bianchi Martina , Benvenuto Domenico , Giovanetti Marta , Cauda Roberto , Cassone Antonio
Published: October 2021

Among the more recently identified SARS-CoV-2 Variants of Interest (VOI) is the Lambda variant, which emerged in Peru and has rapidly spread to South American regions and the US. This variant remains poorly investigated, particularly regarding the effects of mutations on the thermodynamic parameters affecting the stability of the Spike protein and its Receptor Binding Domain. We report here an in silico study on the potential impact of the Spike protein mutations on the immuno-escape ability of the Lambda variant. Bioinformatics analysis suggests that a combination of shortening the immunogenic epitope loops and the generation of potential N-glycosylation sites may be a viable adaptation strategy, potentially allowing this emerging viral variant to escape from host immunity.
Comparison of Ground Reaction Forces between Combat Boots and Sports Shoes
Authors: Bini Rodrigo R. , Kilpp Daniel D. , Júnior Pedro A. D. S. , Muniz Adriane M. D. S.
Published: October 2021

It is unclear whether military shoes (combat boots and sports shoes) attenuate loading rate or affect force transfer during walking. Therefore, this study compared ground reaction forces (GRF) related to impact and force transfer between combat boots, military sports shoes, and running shoes. Ten army recruits walked over a walkway with two force plates embedded. GRF were measured when walking barefoot (for data normalisation) and with combat boots, military sports shoes, and running shoes. Loading rate, first and second peak forces, and push-off rate of force were computed along with temporal analysis of waveforms. Reduced loading rate was observed for the running shoe compared to the combat boot (p = 0.02; d = 0.98) and to the military sports shoe (p = 0.04; d = 0.92). The running shoe elicited a smaller second peak force than the combat boot (p < 0.01; d = 0.83). Walking with military shoes and combat boots led to larger force transfer than running shoes, potentially due to harder material used in midsole composition (i.e., styrene-butadiene rubber). Combat boots did not optimise load transmission and may lead, in a long-term perspective, to greater injury risk.
Novel CS1 CAR-T Cells and Bispecific CS1-BCMA CAR-T Cells Effectively Target Multiple Myeloma
Authors: Golubovskaya Vita , Zhou Hua , Li Feng , Berahovich Robert , Sun Jinying , Valentine Michael , Xu Shirley , Harto Hizkia , Sienkiewicz John , Huang Yanwei , Wu Lijun
Published: October 2021

Multiple myeloma (MM) is a hematological cancer caused by abnormal proliferation of plasma cells in the bone marrow, and novel types of treatment are needed for this deadly disease. In this study, we aimed to develop novel CS1 CAR-T cells and bispecific CS1-BCMA CAR-T cells to specifically target multiple myeloma. We generated a new CS1 (CD319, SLAM-7) antibody, clone (7A8D5), which specifically recognized the CS1 antigen, and we applied it for the generation of CS1-CAR. CS1-CAR-T cells caused specific killing of CHO-CS1 target cells with secretion of IFN-gamma and targeted multiple myeloma cells. In addition, bispecific CS1-BCMA-41BB-CD3 CAR-T cells effectively killed CHO-CS1 and CHO-BCMA target cells, killed CS1/BCMA-positive multiple myeloma cells, and secreted IFN-gamma. Moreover, CS1-CAR-T cells and bispecific CS1-BCMA CAR-T cells effectively blocked MM1S multiple myeloma tumor growth in vivo. These data for the first time demonstrate that novel CS1 and bispecific CS1-BCMA-CAR-T cells are effective in targeting MM cells and provide a basis for future clinical trials.
Corneal Nerve Abnormalities in Painful Dry Eye Disease Patients
Authors: Guerrero-Moreno Adrian , Liang Hong , Moreau Nathan , Luzu Jade , Rabut Ghislaine , Melik Parsadaniantz Stéphane , Labbé Antoine , Baudouin Christophe , Réaux-Le Goazigo Annabelle
Published: October 2021

Background: This study aimed to compare the corneal nerve structural abnormalities detected using in vivo confocal microscopy (IVCM) in patients with neuropathic corneal pain (NCP) secondary to primary meibomian gland dysfunction (MGD) or autoimmune dry eye (AIDE). Methods: A two-stage retrospective nested case–control study was conducted. First, data from patients with either MGD or AIDE were assessed, selecting only cases with no corneal pain (VAS = 0) or severe pain (VAS ≥ 8). Ocular signs and symptoms of the 238 selected patients were compared between painful and painless cases. Next, painful patients with no corneal damage (Oxford score ≤ 1) were selected within each study group, defining the cases with NCP (i.e., “pain without stain”). IVCM images from all groups were compared with prospectively-recruited healthy controls, focusing on dendritiform cell density and nerve abnormalities (density, tortuosity, microneuromas). Results: AIDE patients had more ocular signs/symptoms than MGD patients. Compared with healthy controls, AIDE-related NCP patients showed increased nerve tortuosity and number of neuromas, whereas MGD-related NCP patients had reduced nerve density and increased number, perimeter, and area of microneuromas. Microneuromas were also observed in healthy controls. Furthermore, a higher number of microneuromas was found in MGD-related NCP compared to AIDE-related NCP or painless MGD. Conclusions: MGD-related NCP was associated with significantly more corneal nerve abnormalities than AIDE-related NCP or healthy controls. Although IVCM can be useful to detect NCP-related corneal nerve changes in such patients, the diagnosis of dry eye disease-related NCP will require an association of several IVCM-based criteria without relying solely on the presence of microneuromas.
Histone Deacetylases and Their Isoform-Specific Inhibitors in Ischemic Stroke
Authors: Demyanenko Svetlana , Dzreyan Valentina , Sharifulina Svetlana
Published: October 2021

Cerebral ischemia is the second leading cause of death in the world and multimodal stroke therapy is needed. The ischemic stroke generally reduces the gene expression due to suppression of acetylation of histones H3 and H4. Histone deacetylases inhibitors have been shown to be effective in protecting the brain from ischemic damage. Histone deacetylases inhibitors induce neurogenesis and angiogenesis in damaged brain areas promoting functional recovery after cerebral ischemia. However, the role of different histone deacetylases isoforms in the survival and death of brain cells after stroke is still controversial. This review aims to analyze the data on the neuroprotective activity of nonspecific and selective histone deacetylase inhibitors in ischemic stroke.
Aptamer Embedded Arch-Cruciform DNA Assemblies on 2-D VS2 Scaffolds for Sensitive Detection of Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Quan Jinfeng , Wang Yihan , Zhang Jialei , Huang Kejing , Wang Xuemei , Jiang Hui
Published: October 2021

Arch-cruciform DNA are self-assembled on AuNPs/VS2 scaffold as a highly sensitive and selective electrochemical biosensor for michigan cancer foundation-7 (MCF-7) breast cancer cells. In the construction, arch DNA is formed using two single-strand DNA sequences embedded with the aptamer for MCF-7 cells. In the absence of MCF-7 cells, a cruciform DNA labeled with three terminal biotin is bound to the top of arch DNA, which further combines with streptavidin-labeled horseradish peroxidase (HRP) to catalyze the hydroquinone-H2O2 reaction on the electrode surface. The presence of MCF-7 cells can release the cruciform DNA and reduce the amount of immobilized HRP, thus effectively inhibiting enzyme-mediated electrocatalysis. The electrochemical response of the sensor is negatively correlated with the concentration of MCF-7 cells, with a linear range of 10~1 × 105 cells/mL, and a limit of detection as low as 5 cells/mL (S/N = 3). Through two-dimensional materials and enzyme-based dual signal amplification, this biosensor may pave new ways for the highly sensitive detection of tumor cells in real samples.
Smartphone-Based Chemiluminescent Origami µPAD for the Rapid Assessment of Glucose Blood Levels
Authors: Calabria Donato , Zangheri Martina , Trozzi Ilaria , Lazzarini Elisa , Pace Andrea , Mirasoli Mara , Guardigli Massimo
Published: October 2021

Microfluidic paper analytical devices (µPADs) represent one of the most appealing trends in the development of simple and inexpensive analytical systems for diagnostic applications at the point of care (POC). Herein, we describe a smartphone-based origami µPAD for the quantitative determination of glucose in blood samples based on the glucose oxidase-catalyzed oxidation of glucose leading to hydrogen peroxide, which is then detected by means of the luminol/hexacyanoferrate(III) chemiluminescent (CL) system. By exploiting the foldable µPAD format, a two-step analytical procedure has been implemented. First, the diluted blood sample was added, and hydrogen peroxide was accumulated, then the biosensor was folded, and a transport buffer was added to bring hydrogen peroxide in contact with CL reagents, thus promoting the CL reaction. To enable POC applicability, the reagents required for the assay were preloaded in the µPAD so that no chemicals handling was required, and a 3D-printed portable device was developed for measuring the CL emission using the smartphone’s CMOS camera. The µPAD was stable for 30-day storage at room temperature and the assay, displaying a limit of detection of 10 µmol L−1, proved able to identify both hypoglycemic and hyperglycemic blood samples in less than 20 min.
Nanozyme-Participated Biosensing of Pesticides and Cholinesterases: A Critical Review
Authors: Zhu Hengjia , Liu Peng , Xu Lizhang , Li Xin , Hu Panwang , Liu Bangxiang , Pan Jianming , Yang Fu , Niu Xiangheng
Published: October 2021

To improve the output and quality of agricultural products, pesticides are globally utilized as an efficient tool to protect crops from insects. However, given that most pesticides used are difficult to decompose, they inevitably remain in agricultural products and are further enriched into food chains and ecosystems, posing great threats to human health and the environment. Thus, developing efficient methods and tools to monitor pesticide residues and related biomarkers (acetylcholinesterase and butylcholinesterase) became quite significant. With the advantages of excellent stability, tailorable catalytic performance, low cost, and easy mass production, nanomaterials with enzyme-like properties (nanozymes) are extensively utilized in fields ranging from biomedicine to environmental remediation. Especially, with the catalytic nature to offer amplified signals for highly sensitive detection, nanozymes were finding potential applications in the sensing of various analytes, including pesticides and their biomarkers. To highlight the progress in this field, here the sensing principles of pesticides and cholinesterases based on nanozyme catalysis are definitively summarized, and emerging detection methods and technologies with the participation of nanozymes are critically discussed. Importantly, typical examples are introduced to reveal the promising use of nanozymes. Also, some challenges in the field and future trends are proposed, with the hope of inspiring more efforts to advance nanozyme-involved sensors for pesticides and cholinesterases.
The Impact of Sex on the Neurocognitive Functions of Patients with Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Chen Mei-Ling , Tan Chun-Hsiang , Su Hui-Chen , Sung Pi-Shan , Chien Chia-Yi , Yu Rwei-Ling
Published: October 2021

This study aimed to understand the impact of sex on the neurocognitive function of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). Ninety-four participants with idiopathic PD and 167 age-matched healthy individuals as normal controls (NCs) were recruited and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessments. Sex differences were found in NCs, but not in patients with PD. Among male participants, patients with PD showed worse performance on the Digit Symbol Substitution (DSS) (p < 0.001) test and Symbol Search (SS) (p < 0.001) than NCs. Among female participants, patients with PD showed worse performance on the category score of the Modified Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (p < 0.001), SS (p < 0.001), and pentagon copying (p < 0.001) than NCs. After controlling for the effects of age and years of education, Hoehn and Yahr stage was found to predict the performance of the Color Trails Test part A (βA = 0.241, pA = 0.036), Stroop Color and Word Test (β = −0.245, p = 0.036), and DSS (β = −0.258, p = 0.035) in men with PD. These results indicate the differential effect of sex on the neurocognitive function among healthy aging and PD populations. The disappearance of sex differences, which is present in healthy aging, in patients with PD suggests a gradual loss of the neuroprotective effect of estrogen after the initiation of the neurodegenerative process. This study also found mental flexibility and visuospatial function to be the susceptible cognitive domains in women with PD, while the disease severity could predict the working memory and processing speed in men with PD.
The Differential Impact of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep Quality, Insomnia, Depression, Stress, and Anxiety among Late Adolescents and Elderly in Italy
Authors: Amicucci Giulia , Salfi Federico , D’Atri Aurora , Viselli Lorenzo , Ferrara Michele
Published: October 2021

The restraining measures due to the COVID-19 outbreak deeply affected the general population’s sleep health and psychological status. The current literature proposes young and older people as two particularly at-risk groups. However, the differential impact of the lockdown period in these specific age categories needs to be disentangled. Through a web-based survey adopting validated questionnaires, we evaluated and compared sleep quality/habits, insomnia, perceived stress, depression, and anxiety symptoms of Italian late adolescents (n = 670; mean age ± SD, 19.38 ± 0.74, 18–20 years) and elderly (n = 253; 68.18 ± 2.79, 65–75 years). Young respondents reported more severe insomnia symptoms, worse subjective sleep quality, longer sleep latency, higher daytime dysfunction, and a more prevalent disruption of sleep habits (bedtime, get-up time, nap) than the elderly. On the other hand, older participants showed shorter sleep duration, lower habitual sleep efficiency, and greater use of sleep medications. Finally, the younger population displayed higher levels of depression and perceived stress. Our findings indicate that the lockdown period had more pervasive repercussions on sleep and the mental health of late adolescents. The implementation of supportive strategies is encouraged for this vulnerable population group.