bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Investigation of supplement use and knowledge among Japanese elite athletes for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic games and the Beijing 2022 winter Olympic/Paralympic games
Authors: Myoenzono Kanae , Yasuda Jun , Takai Eri , Shinagawa Akiho , Kaneko Noburo , Yoshizaki Takahiro , Namma-Motonaga Keiko , Yoshino Masae , Kondo Emi , Nakajima Kohei , Hangai Mika , Kamahara Kazuyuki , Kamihigashi Etsuko , Kusano Shusuke , Kamei Akiko
Published: October 2023

Elite athletes frequently invest in the use of supplements to optimize their dietary regimens and enhance their athletic performance. However, unregulated and unplanned use of supplements can lead to adverse consequences, including anti-doping rule violations or health issues. Thus, athletes should verify their diets, consider scientific evidence, and take necessary precautions regarding supplements before use. To date, no study has explored whether athletes check these factors before using supplements. This study aimed to investigate supplement use using a questionnaire administered to 1,392 athletes (including candidate athletes) who participated in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic/Paralympic Games. Participants were categorized as follows: 1,040 participants in the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, 83 in the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games, 239 in the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic Games, and 30 in the Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympic Games. We collected data on supplement use and gained further knowledge through interviews with the athletes. Approximately 70% of Tokyo 2020 Olympic/Paralympic and Beijing 2022 Winter Olympic athletes and approximately 50% of Beijing 2022 Winter Paralympians used supplements. Over 50% of athletes had not received a doctor's diagnosis or a dietitian's evaluation before supplement use. Moreover, only 50% of the athletes who used dietary supplements reviewed the scientific evidence for the dietary supplements before using them and justified their choice based on their own investigation, while those who did not use dietary supplements cited either a lack of need or fear of an anti-doping rule violation. Considering the holistic health and performance of athletes, as well as the risk associated with unregulated use, such as overdose and anti-doping rule violations, there is a need for nutritional education on supplement use for athletes and their entourages.
Closed-Loop Cavity Shear Layer Control Using Plasma Dielectric Barrier Discharge Actuators
Authors: Kazanskii Pavel N.
Published: October 2023

The complex unsteady flow in cavities leads to the formation of large-scale disturbances in the shear layer. Natural closed-loop mechanisms provoke a dramatic increase in pressure pulsations and aerodynamic noise. This paper presents the experimental study of pressure fluctuations in closed-loop control in rectangular cavities using plasma dielectric barrier discharge. The flow velocity was 37 m/s, and the Reynolds number based on a cavity depth was approximately 120,000. The discharge ignition near the leading edge of the cavity provoked the shear layer restructuring. It was found that pressure fluctuations with an amplitude of 120 dB occur at frequencies 480 and 820 Hz. Frequency modulation of the discharge at resonant peaks was carried out by changing the phase shift of the power supply. The peak amplitude was reduced or increased by phase shifts from natural disturbances to forced ones. The optimum energy input was 50 W/m. This was three times less than the power consumption of the open-loop mode. The PIV visualization was organized in the phase-locked mode. The pressure spectrum corresponds to the magnitude of coherent structures in the shear layer of the cavity.
The Corpse and Humanist Discourse: Dead Bodies in Contemporary Chinese Art
Authors: Eschenburg Madeline
Published: October 2023

In the 1990s, a notable trend in contemporary Chinese art was the use of human corpses as material for installation art. These works were called derivative and societally harmful by critics and have been dismissed as anomalous in more recent scholarship. This paper will demonstrate that the use of corpses was the continuation of a a decade-long attempt to free art from a perceived unhealthy relationship with society through ridding the human body of ideological meaning. I argue that the use of dead bodies marks a metaphorical end to this preoccupation within the contemporary Chinese art world and paved the way for a fundamental shift in the way artists approached society as a whole.
Estimates of Global Forest Fire Carbon Emissions Using FY-3 Active Fires Product
Authors: Liu Yang , Shi Yusheng
Published: October 2023

Carbon emissions from forest fires release large amounts of carbon and have important implications for the global and regional carbon cycle and atmospheric carbon concentrations. Considering the significant spatial and temporal variations in different forest fires, this study explores the relationship between different forests and carbon emissions from forest fires. This study developed a high-resolution (0.05° × 0.05°) daily global inventory of carbon emissions from biomass burning during 2016–2022. The inventory estimates of carbon emissions from biomass burning are based on the newly released FY-3 data product, satellite and observational data of biomass density, and spatial and temporal variable combustion factors. Forest fire carbon emissions were assessed using active fire data from FY-3 series satellites from 2016 to 2022, and it was linearly compared with GFED, FEER, and GFAS data on time and spatial scales with R2 of 0.7, 0.73, and 0.69, respectively. The results show spatial patterns of forest cover and carbon emissions, with South America, Africa, South-East Asia, and northern Asia as high-emission zones. The analysis shows an overall upward trend in global forest fire carbon emissions over the study period. Different types of forests exhibited specific emission patterns and temporal variations. For example, most needleleaf forest fires occur in areas with low tree cover, while broadleaf forest fires tend to occur in areas with high tree cover. The study showed that there was a relationship between inter-annual trends in forest fire carbon emissions and land cover, with biomass burning occurring mainly in the range of 60–70% tree cover. However, there were also differences between evergreen broadleaf forest, evergreen needleleaf forest, deciduous broadleaf forest, deciduous needleleaf forest, and mixed forest indicating the importance of considering differences in forest types when estimating emissions. This study identifies the main sources of carbon emissions from forest fires globally, which will help policymakers to take more targeted measures to reduce carbon emissions and provide a reliable basis for appropriate measures and directions in future carbon mitigation actions.
Peculiarities of the Organic Wine in Galicia (NW Spain): Sensory Evaluation and Future Considerations
Authors: Castrillo David , Blanco Pilar
Published: October 2023

Although wine is one of the most studied beverages at a sensory level, there is practically no information on the particularities of organic wines from Galicia. Considering that different regions provide distinctive characteristics to wines, organic and conventional wines from the five Designations of Origin (DO) from Galicia were analyzed at chemical and sensory levels. Sensory analysis showed that organic cultivation favors distinctive quality wines. Organic wines obtained similar scores to conventional wines in the preference tests and, in some cases, they were preferred by the tasters. However, this was not the case with wines produced in climatologically unfavorable seasons. Differences between conventional and organic wines were strongly marked by other factors such as the vintage, the DO, the winemaking techniques, or the yeasts of each winery. The results of this study show that organic wine production favors the differentiation and diversification of Galician wines. This could increase the added value of organic wines and improve their choice in a crowded market.
Machine Learning-Based Segmentation of the Thoracic Aorta with Congenital Valve Disease Using MRI
Authors: Sundström Elias , Laudato Marco
Published: October 2023

Subjects with bicuspid aortic valves (BAV) are at risk of developing valve dysfunction and need regular clinical imaging surveillance. Management of BAV involves manual and time-consuming segmentation of the aorta for assessing left ventricular function, jet velocity, gradient, shear stress, and valve area with aortic valve stenosis. This paper aims to employ machine learning-based (ML) segmentation as a potential for improved BAV assessment and reducing manual bias. The focus is on quantifying the relationship between valve morphology and vortical structures, and analyzing how valve morphology influences the aorta’s susceptibility to shear stress that may lead to valve incompetence. The ML-based segmentation that is employed is trained on whole-body Computed Tomography (CT). Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) is acquired from six subjects, three with tricuspid aortic valves (TAV) and three functionally BAV, with right–left leaflet fusion. These are used for segmentation of the cardiovascular system and delineation of four-dimensional phase-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (4D-PCMRI) for quantification of vortical structures and wall shear stress. The ML-based segmentation model exhibits a high Dice score (0.86) for the heart organ, indicating a robust segmentation. However, the Dice score for the thoracic aorta is comparatively poor (0.72). It is found that wall shear stress is predominantly symmetric in TAVs. BAVs exhibit highly asymmetric wall shear stress, with the region opposite the fused coronary leaflets experiencing elevated tangential wall shear stress. This is due to the higher tangential velocity explained by helical flow, proximally of the sinutubal junction of the ascending aorta. ML-based segmentation not only reduces the runtime of assessing the hemodynamic effectiveness, but also identifies the significance of the tangential wall shear stress in addition to the axial wall shear stress that may lead to the progression of valve incompetence in BAVs, which could guide potential adjustments in surgical interventions.
Development and Characterization of a Cancer Cachexia Rat Model Transplanted with Cells of the Rat Lung Adenocarcinoma Cell Line Sato Lung Cancer (SLC)
Authors: Kasumi Eiji , Chiba Miku , Kuzumaki Yoshie , Kuzuoka Hiroyuki , Sato Norifumi , Takahashi Banyu
Published: October 2023

Cancer cachexia is a complex malnutrition syndrome that causes progressive dysfunction. This syndrome is accompanied by protein and energy losses caused by reduced nutrient intake and the development of metabolic disorders. As many as 80% of patients with advanced cancer develop cancer cachexia; however, an effective targeted treatment remains to be developed. In this study, we developed a novel rat model that mimics the human pathology during cancer cachexia to elucidate the mechanism underlying the onset and progression of this syndrome. We subcutaneously transplanted rats with SLC cells, a rat lung adenocarcinoma cell line, and evaluated the rats’ pathophysiological characteristics. To ensure that our observations were not attributable to simple starvation, we evaluated the characteristics under tube feeding. We observed that SLC-transplanted rats exhibited severe anorexia, weight loss, muscle atrophy, and weakness. Furthermore, they showed obvious signs of cachexia, such as anemia, inflammation, and low serum albumin. The rats also exhibited weight and muscle losses despite sufficient nutrition delivered by tube feeding. Our novel cancer cachexia rat model is a promising tool to elucidate the pathogenesis of cancer cachexia and to conduct further research on the development of treatments and supportive care for patients with this disease.
Changes in Whole Blood Polyamine Levels and Their Background in Age-Related Diseases and Healthy Longevity
Authors: Soda Kuniyasu
Published: October 2023

The relationship between polyamines and healthy longevity has received much attention in recent years. However, conducting research without understanding the properties of polyamines can lead to unexpected pitfalls. The most fundamental consideration in conducting polyamine studies is that bovine serum used for cell culture contains bovine serum amine oxidase. Bovine serum amine oxidase, which is not inactivated by heat treatment, breaks down spermine and spermidine to produce the highly toxic aldehyde acrolein, which causes cell damage and activates autophagy. However, no such enzyme activity has been found in humans. Polyamine catabolism does not produce toxic aldehydes under normal conditions, but inflammation and some pathogens provoke an inducible enzyme, spermine oxidase, which only breaks down spermine to produce acrolein, resulting in cytotoxicity and the activation of autophagy. Therefore, spermine oxidase activation reduces spermine concentration and the ratio of spermine to spermidine, a feature recently reported in patients with age-related diseases. Spermine, which is increased by a long-term, continuous high polyamine diet, suppresses aberrant gene methylation and the pro-inflammatory status that progress with age and are strongly associated with the development of several age-related diseases and senescence. Changes in spermine concentration and the spermine/spermidine ratio should be considered as indicators of human health status.
A Normalization Protocol Reduces Edge Effect in High-Throughput Analyses of Hydroxyurea Hypersensitivity in Fission Yeast
Authors: Lam Ulysses Tsz-Fung , Nguyen Thi Thuy Trang , Raechell Raechell , Yang Jay , Singer Harry , Chen Ee Sin
Published: October 2023

Edge effect denotes better growth of microbial organisms situated at the edge of the solid agar media. Although the precise reason underlying edge effect is unresolved, it is generally attributed to greater nutrient availability with less competing neighbors at the edge. Nonetheless, edge effect constitutes an unavoidable confounding factor that results in misinterpretation of cell fitness, especially in high-throughput screening experiments widely employed for genome-wide investigation using microbial gene knockout or mutant libraries. Here, we visualize edge effect in high-throughput high-density pinning arrays and report a normalization approach based on colony growth rate to quantify drug (hydroxyurea)-hypersensitivity in fission yeast strains. This normalization procedure improved the accuracy of fitness measurement by compensating cell growth rate discrepancy at different locations on the plate and reducing false-positive and -negative frequencies. Our work thus provides a simple and coding-free solution for a struggling problem in robotics-based high-throughput screening experiments.
Stratification of Amniotic Fluid Cells and Amniotic Fluid by Sex Opens Up New Perspectives on Fetal Health
Authors: Campesi Ilaria , Capobianco Giampiero , Cano Antonella , Lodde Valeria , Cruciani Sara , Maioli Margherita , Sotgiu Giovanni , Idda Maria Laura , Puci Mariangela Valentina , Ruoppolo Margherita , Costanzo Michele , Caterino Marianna , Cambosu Francesca , Montella Andrea , Franconi Flavia
Published: October 2023

Amniotic fluid is essential for fetus wellbeing and is used to monitor pregnancy and predict fetal outcomes. Sex affects health and medicine from the beginning of life, but knowledge of its influence on cell-depleted amniotic fluid (AF) and amniotic fluid cells (AFCs) is still neglected. We evaluated sex-related differences in AF and in AFCs to extend personalized medicine to prenatal life. AFCs and AF were obtained from healthy Caucasian pregnant women who underwent amniocentesis at the 16th–18th week of gestation for advanced maternal age. In the AF, inflammation biomarkers (TNFα, IL6, IL8, and IL4), malondialdehyde, nitrites, amino acids, and acylcarnitines were measured. Estrogen receptors and cell fate (autophagy, apoptosis, senescence) were measured in AFCs. TNFα, IL8, and IL4 were higher in female AF, whereas IL6, nitrites, and MDA were similar. Valine was higher in male AF, whereas several acylcarnitines were sexually different, suggesting a mitochondrial involvement in establishing sex differences. Female AFCs displayed higher expression of ERα protein and a higher ERα/ERβ ratio. The ratio of LC3II/I, an index of autophagy, was higher in female AFCs, while LC3 gene was similar in both sexes. No significant sex differences were found in the expression of the lysosomal protein LAMP1, while p62 was higher in male AFCs. LAMP1 gene was upregulated in male AFCs, while p62 gene was upregulated in female ones. Finally, caspase 9 activity and senescence linked to telomeres were higher in female AFCs, while caspase 3 and β-galactosidase activities were similar. This study supports the idea that sex differences start very early in prenatal life and influence specific parameters, suggesting that it may be relevant to appreciate sex differences to cover knowledge gaps. This might lead to improving the diagnosis of risk prediction for pregnancy complications and achieving a more satisfactory monitoring of fetus health, even preventing future diseases in adulthood.
Effects of Golimumab and Ustekinumab on Circulating Dendritic Cell Migratory Capacity in Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Soleto Irene , Ramirez Cristina , Gómez Cristina , Baldan-Martin Montse , Orejudo Macarena , Mercado Jorge , Chaparro María , Gisbert Javier P.
Published: October 2023

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic condition which includes ulcerative colitis (UC) and Crohn’s disease (CD), the origins of which are not yet fully understood. Both conditions involve an exacerbated immune response in the intestinal tract, leading to tissue inflammation. Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells crucial for maintaining tolerance in the gastrointestinal mucosa. Previous research has indicated that DC recruitment to the intestinal mucosa is more pronounced in individuals with IBD, but the specific mechanisms governing this migration remain unclear. This study aimed to assess the expression of various homing markers and the migratory abilities of circulating DC subsets in response to intestinal chemotactic signals. Additionally, this study examined how golimumab and ustekinumab impact these characteristics in individuals with IBD compared to healthy controls. The findings revealed that a particular subset of DCs known as type 2 conventional DCs (cDC2) displayed a more pronounced migratory profile compared to other DC subsets. Furthermore, the study observed that golimumab and ustekinumab had varying effects on the migratory profile of cDC1 in individuals with CD and UC. While CCL2 did not exert a chemoattractant effect on DC subsets in this patient cohort, treatment with golimumab and ustekinumab enhanced their migratory capacity towards CCL2 and CCL25 while reducing their migration towards MadCam1. In conclusion, this study highlights that cDC2 exhibits a heightened migratory profile towards the gastrointestinal mucosa compared to other DC subsets. This finding could be explored further for the development of new diagnostic biomarkers or the identification of potential immunomodulatory targets in the context of IBD.
Interaction between Genetic Risks and Socioeconomic Factors on Thyroid Cancer: Evidence from 0.5 Million UK Biobank Participants
Authors: Li Yu , Zhan Yongle , Mao Wei , Wang Baoxin , Dong Pin , Na Rong
Published: October 2023

Background: There is a research gap between genetic predisposition, socioeconomic factors, and their interactions on thyroid tumorigenesis. Methods: Individual and genetic data were obtained from UK Biobank. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate the association between genetic risk, socioeconomic factors, and thyroid cancer (TCa). A stratified analysis was conducted to estimate their joint effects. A two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis was further used to examine the potential causality. Results: A total of 502,394 participants were included in this study. Three index loci (rs4449583, rs7726159, and rs7725218) of telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) were found to be significantly related to incident TCa. Association analyses showed that high genetic risk, low household income, and high education level were independent risk factors, while unemployment and frequent social connection were suggestive risk factors for TCa. Interaction analyses showed that in participants with low genetic risk, low household income was significantly associated with TCa (odds ratio [OR] = 1.56, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.00–2.46). In participants with high genetic risk, those with a high education level (OR = 1.32, 95%CI: 1.06–1.65) and frequent social connection (OR = 1.36, 95%CI: 1.02–1.81) had a significantly increased risk of TCa. However, no causal relationship was observed in the MR analysis. Conclusion: Interactions exist between genetic risk, household income, education level, and social connection and thyroid cancer.
Making the Case for Autophagy Inhibition as a Therapeutic Strategy in Combination with Androgen-Targeted Therapies in Prostate Cancer
Authors: Elshazly Ahmed M. , Gewirtz David A.
Published: October 2023

Androgen receptor targeting remains the primary therapeutic strategy in prostate cancer, encompassing androgen biosynthesis inhibitors and androgen receptor antagonists. While both androgen-receptor-positive and “castration-resistant” prostate cancer are responsive to these approaches, the development of resistance is an almost inevitable outcome leading to the castration-resistant form of the disease. Given that “cytoprotective” autophagy is considered to be a predominant mechanism of resistance to various chemotherapeutic agents as well as to radiation in the cancer literature, the purpose of this review is to evaluate whether autophagy plays a central role in limiting the utility of androgen deprivation therapies in prostate cancer. Unlike most of our previous reports, where multiple functional forms of autophagy were identified, making it difficult if not impossible to propose autophagy inhibition as a therapeutic strategy, the cytoprotective form of autophagy appears to predominate in the case of androgen deprivation therapies. This opens a potential pathway for improving the outcomes for prostate cancer patients once effective and reliable pharmacological autophagy inhibitors have been developed.
Solid-Phase Microextraction (SPME) and Gas Chromatographic/Mass Spectrometry in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): A Chemometric Approach
Authors: Lypirou Loukia , Chronis Christos , Exarchos Konstantinos , Kostikas Konstantinos , Sakkas Vasilios
Published: October 2023

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a chronic respiratory condition that often goes undiagnosed despite the availability of spirometry for diagnosis, and its exact prevalence remains uncertain. Exhaled breath has been proposed as a source of relevant health information, particularly Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), which can be easily obtained and applied in clinical practice. In this study, exhaled breath samples were collected from patients diagnosed with COPD of varying severity during their stable condition using specialized RTubeVOC tubes. Volatile compounds from the air samples were extracted using a 50/30 µm divinylbenzene/carboxen/polydimethylsiloxane (DVB/CAR/PDMS) fiber and the analysis was performed using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS) technique. The patients were divided into two groups based on their history of exacerbations, and the aim was to identify VOCs associated with the risk of future COPD exacerbation, thus allowing for more personalized and objective COPD treatment. Blood eosinophil content was also taken into consideration. A panel of distinguishing mass-spectral features was identified between the two patient groups. The discriminating exhaled molecules were heptane 2,2,4,6,6-pentamethyl, gamma-terpinene, 2-ethylhexanol, and undecane demonstrating the potential of analyzing VOCs in exhaled breath for the detection and management of COPD, offering a promising avenue to improve COPD management and treatment approaches.
Effect of Different Etching Processes on Surface Defects of Quartz Crystals
Authors: Li Qingzhi , Zhang Yubin , Shi Zhaohua , Li Weihua , Ye Xin
Published: October 2023

In high-power laser systems, the loading capacity of fused silica components under 351 nm irradiation is an important factor limiting their ability to increase output power, and in the current study, the damage threshold enhancement of fused silica components after RIE and AMP treatments has been investigated. Sub-surface defects in fused silica components after RIE treatment have also been investigated, but the reason for the high damage threshold could never be explained. Since quartz crystals and fused silica belong to the same silica system, and quartz crystals have more characterisation means than fused silica, we can extrapolate to fused silica by studying quartz crystals. We can extrapolate to fused silica by studying quartz crystals, which are characterised by more means than fused silica, and prove that the extrapolation is correct by characterising fused silica. In this study, the relationship between the etching process and the damage threshold is concluded by studying different RIE etching processes, and the damage threshold of the samples is optimal when the etching depth is 1 um.
Multi-Constrained Geometric Guidance Law with a Data-Driven Method
Authors: Yan Xinghui , Tang Yuzhong , Xu Yulei , Shi Heng , Zhu Jihong
Published: October 2023

A data-driven geometric guidance method is proposed for the multi-constrained guidance problem of variable-velocity unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Firstly, a two-phase flight trajectory based on a log-aesthetic space curve (LASC) is designed. The impact angle is satisfied by a specified straight-line segment. The impact time is controlled by adjusting the phase switching point. Secondly, a deep neural network is trained offline to establish the mapping relationship between the initial conditions and desired trajectory parameters. Based on this mapping network, the desired flight trajectory can be generated rapidly and precisely. Finally, the pure pursuit and line-of-sight (PLOS) algorithm is employed to generate guidance commands. The numerical simulation results validate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed method in terms of impact time and angle control under time-varying velocity.
Quantum Honeypots
Authors: Nagy Naya , Nagy Marius , Alazman Ghadeer , Hawaidi Zahra , Alsulaibikh Saja Mustafa , Alabbad Layla , Alfaleh Sadeem , Aljuaid Areej
Published: October 2023

Quantum computation offers unique properties that cannot be paralleled by conventional computers. In particular, reading qubits may change their state and thus signal the presence of an intruder. This paper develops a proof-of-concept for a quantum honeypot that allows the detection of intruders on reading. The idea is to place quantum sentinels within all resources offered within the honeypot. Additional to classical honeypots, honeypots with quantum sentinels can trace the reading activity of the intruder within any resource. Sentinels can be set to be either visible and accessible to the intruder or hidden and unknown to intruders. Catching the intruder using quantum sentinels has a low theoretical probability per sentinel, but the probability can be increased arbitrarily higher by adding more sentinels. The main contributions of this paper are that the monitoring of the intruder can be carried out at the level of the information unit, such as the bit, and quantum monitoring activity is fully hidden from the intruder. Practical experiments, as performed in this research, show that the error rate of quantum computers has to be considerably reduced before implementations of this concept are feasible.
Feedback Control of Quantum Correlations in a Cavity Magnomechanical System with Magnon Squeezing
Authors: Amazioug Mohamed , Singh Shailendra , Teklu Berihu , Asjad Muhammad
Published: October 2023

We suggest a method to improve quantum correlations in cavity magnomechanics, through the use of a coherent feedback loop and magnon squeezing. The entanglement of three bipartition subsystems: photon-phonon, photon-magnon, and phonon-magnon, is significantly improved by the coherent feedback-control method that has been proposed. In addition, we investigate Einstein-Podolsky-Rosen steering under thermal effects in each of the subsystems. We also evaluate the scheme’s performance and sensitivity to magnon squeezing. Furthermore, we study the comparison between entanglement and Gaussian quantum discord in both steady and dynamical states.
Optimal Allocation of Battery Energy Storage Systems to Enhance System Performance and Reliability in Unbalanced Distribution Networks
Authors: Zhang Dong , Shafiullah GM , Das Choton Kanti , Wong Kok Wai
Published: October 2023

The continuously increasing renewable distributed generation (DG) penetration rate significantly reduces environmental pollution and power generation cost and satisfies society’s rapid growth in electricity demand. Nevertheless, high penetration of renewable DGs, such as wind power and photovoltaics (PV), might deteriorate the system’s efficiency and reliability due to its intermittent and stochastic natures. Introducing battery energy storage systems (BESSs) to the distribution system provides a practical method to compensate for the above deficiency since it can deliver and absorb power when needed. Hence, it is important to determine the optimal allocation of BESS to achieve maximum assistance in the grid. This study proposes an optimal BESS allocation methodology to improve reliability and economics in unbalanced distribution systems. The optimal BESS allocation problem is solved by simultaneously minimizing the cost of energy interruption, expected energy not supplied, power loss, line loading, voltage deviation, and BESS cost. The proposed technique is implemented and analyzed on a high renewable DG penetrated unbalanced IEEE-33 bus network using DIgSILENT PowerFactory software (version 2020 SP2A). An enhanced grey wolf optimization (EGWO) algorithm is developed to optimize BESS location and size according to the selected objective function. The simulation results show that the proposed optimal BESS optimization technique significantly improves the economics and reliability in unbalanced distribution systems and the EGWO outperforms the gray wolf optimization (GWO) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithms.
Recent Development of Heat Sink and Related Design Methods
Authors: Li Jingnan , Yang Li
Published: October 2023

Heat sinks are vital components that dissipate thermal energy from high temperature systems, such as aero-space vehicles, electronic chips, and turbine engines. In the last few decades, considerable research efforts have been devoted to heat sinks to enhance heat dissipation, minimize temperature in the hot spot region, and reduce the temperature of hot section components. At present, the improvement of the thermal performance of heat sinks encounters many bottlenecks and demands the implementation of new designs, new materials, and flexible manufacturing. This study summarized the recent development of heat sinks over five years with a major review of heat transfer aspects, i.e., conduction, convection, radiation, phase change, and nanofluids technology, as well as perspectives in the aspect of structural design. The purpose of this work is to provide an overview of the existing studies that elevate the thermal performance of heat sinks and propose prospectives and suggestions for future studies.
Energy Literacy of Residents in Rural Communities: Comparison of Tourism and Non-Tourism Villages
Authors: Sun Huan , Wu Shaofeng , Zhang Bolun
Published: October 2023

Energy is an essential topic owing to the severe environmental problems faced worldwide, especially in underdeveloped rural areas. Energy literacy is closely related to energy consumption and conservation behaviors in daily life. Although the energy attitudes and behaviors of communities can determine the sustainable development of rural tourism, less attention has been paid to the energy literacy of rural communities. This study adopted a measurable scale to compare the energy literacy levels between 188 questionnaires from rural residents in tourism communities and 195 questionnaires from non-tourism communities both in the Jizhou District, China. A theoretical model was constructed to investigate the relationships between the variables. Additionally, this study verified the influence of rural tourism activities on communities’ energy literacy by comparing different villages. The results showed that rural communities have high levels of energy literacy in the knowledge, attitude, and behavioral sectors. Positive relationships between knowledge and attitude and between attitudes and behaviors were estimated. However, the positive impact of knowledge on behavior was inconspicuous. The most important theoretical contribution of this study is the confirmation of the significant differences in energy literacy between traditional and rural tourism destination communities, thus proving the improvement in communities’ energy literacy induced by tourism development. Finally, this study presents practical implications for policymakers.
Transfer Learning in the Transformer Model for Thermal Comfort Prediction: A Case of Limited Data
Authors: Zhang Xin , Li Peng
Published: October 2023

The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning) system is an important component of a building’s energy consumption, and its primary function is to provide a comfortable thermal environment for occupants. Accurate prediction of occupant thermal comfort is essential for improving building energy utilization as well as health and work efficiency. Therefore, the development of accurate thermal comfort prediction models is of great value. Deep learning based on data-driven techniques has excellent potential for predicting thermal comfort due to the development of artificial intelligence. However, the inability to obtain large quantities of detailed thermal comfort labeling data from residents presents a substantial challenge to the modeling endeavor. This paper proposes a building-to-building transfer learning framework to make deep learning models applicable in data-limited interior building environments, thereby resolving the issue and enhancing model predictive performance. The transfer learning method (TL) is applied to a novel technology dubbed the Transformer model, which has demonstrated outstanding performance in data trend prediction. The model exploits the spatiotemporal relationship of data regarding thermal comfort. Experiments are conducted using the source dataset (Scales project dataset and ASHRAE RP-884 dataset) and the target dataset (Medium US office dataset), and the results show that the proposed TL-Transformer achieves 62.6% accuracy, 57% precision, and a 59% F1 score, and the prediction performance is better than other existing methods. The model is useful for predicting indoor thermal comfort in buildings with limited data, and its validity is verified by experimental results.
An Attention-Guided Deep-Learning-Based Network with Bayesian Optimization for Forest Fire Classification and Localization
Authors: Islam Al Mohimanul , Masud Fatiha Binta , Ahmed Md. Rayhan , Jafar Anam Ibn , Ullah Jeath Rahmat , Islam Salekul , Shatabda Swakkhar , Islam A. K. M. Muzahidul
Published: October 2023

Wildland fires, a natural calamity, pose a significant threat to both human lives and the environment while causing extensive economic damage. As the use of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) with computer vision in disaster management continues to grow, there is a rising need for effective wildfire classification and localization. We propose a multi-stream hybrid deep learning model with a dual-stream attention mechanism for classifying wildfires from aerial and territorial images. Our proposed method incorporates a pre-trained EfficientNetB7 and customized Attention Connected Network (ACNet). This approach demonstrates exceptional classification performance on two widely recognized benchmark datasets. Bayesian optimization is employed for the purpose of refining and optimizing the hyperparameters of the model. The proposed model attains 97.45%, 98.20%, 97.10%, and 97.12% as accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-score, respectively, on the FLAME dataset. Moreover, while evaluated on the DeepFire dataset, the model achieves accuracy, precision, recall, and F1-scores of 95.97%, 95.19%, 96.01%, and 95.54%, respectively. The proposed method achieved a TNR of 95.5% and a TPR of 99.3% on the FLAME dataset, as well as a TNR of 94.47% and a TPR of 96.82% on the DeepFire dataset. This performance surpasses numerous state-of-the-art methods. To demonstrate the interpretability of our model, we incorporated the GRAD-CAM technique, which enables us to precisely identify the fire location within the feature map. This finding illustrates the efficacy of the model in accurately categorizing wildfires, even in areas with less fire activity.
Fungal Community Succession of Populus grandidentata (Bigtooth Aspen) during Wood Decomposition
Authors: Castillo Buck T. , Franklin Rima B. , Amses Kevin R. , Leite Márcio F. A. , Kuramae Eiko E. , Gough Christopher M. , James Timothy Y. , Faller Lewis , Syring John
Published: October 2023

Fungal communities are primary decomposers of detritus, including coarse woody debris (CWD). We investigated the succession of fungal decomposer communities in CWD through different stages of decay in the wide-ranging and early successional tree species Populus grandidentata (bigtooth aspen). We compared shifts in fungal communities over time with concurrent changes in substrate chemistry and in bacterial community composition, the latter deriving from an earlier study of the same system. We found that fungal communities were highly dynamic during the stages of CWD decay, rapidly colonizing standing dead trees and gradually changing in composition until the late stages of decomposed wood were integrated into soil organic matter. Fungal communities were most similar to neighboring stages of decay, with fungal diversity, abundance, and enzyme activity positively related to percent nitrogen, irrespective of decay class. In contrast to other studies, we found that species diversity remained unchanged across decay classes. Differences in enzyme profiles across CWD decay stages mirrored changes in carbon recalcitrance, as B-D-xylosidase, peroxidase, and Leucyl aminopeptidase activity increased as decomposition progressed. Finally, fungal and bacterial gene abundances were stable and increased, respectively, with the extent of CWD decay, suggesting that fungal-driven decomposition was associated with shifting community composition and associated enzyme functions rather than fungal quantities.
Modeling Above-Ground Carbon Dynamics under Different Silvicultural Treatments on the McDonald–Dunn Research Forest
Authors: Carlisle Catherine , Fitzgerald Stephen , Temesgen Hailemariam
Published: October 2023

Forest management decisions affect carbon stock and rates of sequestration. One subject of debate is the rotation age that will optimize sequestration over extended periods. Some argue that shorter rotations facilitate greater sequestration rates due to the accelerated growth rates of younger trees compared to mature or old-growth trees. Others maintain that frequent harvesting will not allow forest carbon to rebound after each subsequent rotation, and thus more extended periods between clearcutting is the superior choice. These contrasting viewpoints are mirrored regarding the impact of thinning treatments, in that either thinning will enhance forest carbon uptake by facilitating improved and sustained r growth of residual trees or removing any above-ground biomass will outweigh the yields. This study aims to compare the different suites of management decisions and identify practical combinations of rotation ages and thinning applications that will optimize carbon sequestration while meeting other objectives over a 240-year projection timeframe. Stand development under different harvest rotations and thinning specifications was modeled using a Forest Vegetation Simulator (FVS). We found that site productivity was the primary determinant in stand-above-ground carbon dynamics under various management scenarios. Thus, the optimal rotation age/thinning treatment combinations differed between site classes. High productivity stands were estimated to sequester the most above-ground live carbon with 60-year rotations with a low-intensity thin at age 40. Moderately productive stands performed the best with 80-year rotations when two low-intensity thinning treatments were applied between harvests. For high and moderate productivity stands, estimates of gross carbon increased when two low or moderate-intensity thinning treatments were applied within 80- or 120-year rotations. High-intensity thinning treatments reduced total carbon sequestered over the 240-year projection timeframe for all productivity levels and rotation ages, except for low productivity stands under 120-year rotations.
Challenges of Network Forensic Investigation in Fog and Edge Computing
Authors: Spiekermann Daniel , Keller Jörg
Published: October 2023

While network forensics has matured over the decades and even made progress in the last 10 years when deployed in virtual networks, network forensics in fog and edge computing is still not progressed to that level despite the now widespread use of these paradigms. By using an approach similar to software testing, i.e., a mixture of systematic and experience, we analyze obstacles specific to forensics in fog and edge computing such as spatial dispersion and possibly incomplete recordings, and derive how far these obstacles can be overcome by adapting processes and techniques from other branches of network forensics, and how new solutions could look otherwise. In addition, we present a discussion of open problems of network forensics in fog and edge environments and discusses the challenges for an investigator.
Engineered Vesicles and Hydrogel Technologies for Myocardial Regeneration
Authors: Ghassemi Kaitlyn , Inouye Keiko , Takhmazyan Tatevik , Bonavida Victor , Yang Jia-Wei , de Barros Natan Roberto , Thankam Finosh G.
Published: October 2023

Increased prevalence of cardiovascular disease and potentially life-threatening complications of myocardial infarction (MI) has led to emerging therapeutic approaches focusing on myocardial regeneration and restoration of physiologic function following infarction. Extracellular vesicle (EV) technology has gained attention owing to the biological potential to modulate cellular immune responses and promote the repair of damaged tissue. Also, EVs are involved in local and distant cellular communication following damage and play an important role in initiating the repair process. Vesicles derived from stem cells and cardiomyocytes (CM) are of particular interest due to their ability to promote cell growth, proliferation, and angiogenesis following MI. Although a promising candidate for myocardial repair, EV technology is limited by the short retention time of vesicles and rapid elimination by the body. There have been several successful attempts to address this shortcoming, which includes hydrogel technology for the sustained bioavailability of EVs. This review discusses and summarizes current understanding regarding EV technology in the context of myocardial repair.
APOE Polymorphism Is Associated with Changes in the Kynurenine Pathway
Authors: Farup Per G. , Rootwelt Helge , Hestad Knut
Published: October 2023

Background: APOE polymorphism and the Kynurenine pathway (KP) are associated with many disorders, but little is known about associations between APOE polymorphism and the KP. This study explored the associations between the KP and APOE polymorphism in disorders associated with APOE polymorphism and changes in the KP. Methods: Subjects with morbid obesity before and after bariatric surgery (numbers 139 and 95, respectively), depression (number 49), and unspecified neurological symptoms (number 39) were included. The following grouping of the APOE genotypes was used: E2 = ɛ2ɛ2 + ɛ2ɛ3, E3 = ɛ3ɛ3 + ɛ2ɛ4, and E4 = ɛ3ɛ4 + ɛ4ɛ4. The KP metabolites Tryptophan, Kynurenine, Kynurenic acid, Quinolinic acid, and Xanthurenic acid were quantified in serum. Results: The main findings were a significant positive association between E3 and Quinolinic acid (difference between E3 and E2E4: 12.0 (3.5; 18.6) ng/mL); p = 0.005), and a negative association between E4 and Kynurenine (difference between E4 and E2E3: −31.3 (−54.2; −3.2) ng/mL; p = 0.008). Quinolinic acid has been ascribed neurotoxic and inflammatory effects, and Kynurenine is a marker of inflammation. Conclusions: The findings indicate that APOE polymorphism might cause changes in the KP that contribute to the disease. Inflammation could be the link between APOE and the KP.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Lipoxygenase Genes in Rose (Rosa chinensis)
Authors: Dong Wenqi , Jiao Bo , Wang Jiao , Sun Lei , Li Songshuo , Wu Zhiming , Gao Junping , Zhou Shuo
Published: October 2023

Lipoxygenases (LOX) play pivotal roles in plant resistance to stresses. However, no study has been conducted on LOX gene identification at the whole genome scale in rose (Rosa chinensis). In this study, a total of 17 RcLOX members were identified in the rose genome. The members could be classified into three groups: 9-LOX, Type I 13-LOX, and Type II 13-LOX. Similar gene structures and protein domains can be found in RcLOX members. The RcLOX genes were spread among all seven chromosomes, with unbalanced distributions, and several tandem and proximal duplication events were found among RcLOX members. Expressions of the RcLOX genes were tissue-specific, while every RcLOX gene could be detected in at least one tissue. The expression levels of most RcLOX genes could be up-regulated by aphid infestation, suggesting potential roles in aphid resistance. Our study offers a systematic analysis of the RcLOX genes in rose, providing useful information not only for further gene cloning and functional exploration but also for the study of aphid resistance.
Identification of a Novel FOXP1 Variant in a Patient with Hypotonia, Intellectual Disability, and Severe Speech Impairment
Authors: Benvenuto Mario , Palumbo Pietro , Di Muro Ester , Perrotta Concetta Simona , Mazza Tommaso , Mandarà Giuseppa Maria Luana , Palumbo Orazio , Carella Massimo
Published: October 2023

The FOXP subfamily includes four different transcription factors: FOXP1, FOXP2, FOXP3, and FOXP4, all with important roles in regulating gene expression from early development through adulthood. Haploinsufficiency of FOXP1, due to deleterious variants (point mutations, copy number variants) disrupting the gene, leads to an emerging disorder known as “FOXP1 syndrome”, mainly characterized by intellectual disability, language impairment, dysmorphic features, and multiple congenital abnormalities with or without autistic features in some affected individuals (MIM 613670). Here we describe a 10-year-old female patient, born to unrelated parents, showing hypotonia, intellectual disability, and severe language delay. Targeted resequencing analysis allowed us to identify a heterozygous de novo FOXP1 variant c.1030C>T, p.(Gln344Ter) classified as likely pathogenetic according to the American College of Medical Genetics and Genomics guidelines. To the best of our knowledge, our patient is the first to date to report carrying this stop mutation, which is, for this reason, useful for broadening the molecular spectrum of FOXP1 clinically relevant variants. In addition, our results highlight the utility of next-generation sequencing in establishing an etiological basis for heterogeneous conditions such as neurodevelopmental disorders and providing additional insight into the phenotypic features of FOXP1-related syndrome.