bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Egyptian Citrus Essential Oils Recovered from Lemon, Orange, and Mandarin Peels: Phytochemical and Biological Value
Authors: Ibrahim Faten Mohamed , Mohammed Reda Sayed , Abdelsalam Eman , Ashour Wedian El-Sayed , Magalhães Daniela , Pintado Manuela , El Habbasha El Sayed
Published: February 2024

Citrus peels are an important by-product of citrus processing industries, but a large part is considered waste. There has been increased attention in the last five years on these industrial by-products, especially those containing residual essential oils (EOs). Lemon, orange, and mandarin peels from Egypt were subjected to hydro-distillation to obtain EOs, which were analyzed via mass spectrometry (GC/MS) and by building Global Natural Products Social Molecular Networking (GNPS-MN) for the purpose of visually exploring the volatile components of citrus species. The constructed MN revealed that D-Limonene, α-pinene, and β-pinene are the dominant volatile constituents in the three Egyptian citrus species. The EOs from three citrus peels exhibited promising activities as antioxidants using two tested methods: 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazil (DPPH) and nitric oxide (NO) compared with vitamin C. Lemon EO proved excellent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and negative bacteria. Additionally, the three citrus EOs showed good activities against the yeast Candida albicans. Regarding the anti-inflammatory assay, the three citrus EOs showed promising activities as COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors. This study concludes that EOs extracted from citrus peel waste can be valorized as an innovative strategy for food preservation or may be incorporated in cosmetics and pharmaceutical formulations in alignment with circular economy principles.
Adapting American Hop (Humulus lupulus L.) Varieties to Mediterranean Sustainable Agriculture: A Trellis Height Exploration
Authors: Marceddu Roberto , Carrubba Alessandra , Alfeo Vincenzo , Alessi Alessandro , Sarno Mauro
Published: February 2024

In recent years, Italy’s craft beer industry has seen remarkable growth, fostering the local production of key ingredients, notably hops. However, a research gap exists in exploring open-field hop productivity in typical Mediterranean climates using low-trellis systems. This study addressed this gap by evaluating the productive performances of “Cascade” and “Chinook” hop varieties on “V” trellis systems at different heights (2.60, 3.60, and 4.60 m above ground) in inner Sicily’s Mediterranean climate and soil conditions. The results highlighted the significant impact of trellis height on various parameters, with Cascade displaying exceptional adaptability to low-trellis farming. Key factors like stem and leaf weight emerged as crucial drivers of cone yield, emphasizing their significance in hop cultivation. The distinct responses of Cascade and Chinook varieties to varying trellis heights underscored the need for tailored approaches, offering valuable insights for optimizing hop cultivation practices in semi-arid climates.
Mesenchymal Transglutaminase 2 Activates Epithelial ADAM17: Link to G-Protein-Coupled Receptor 56 (ADGRG1) Signalling
Authors: Bauer Lea , Edwards Jessica , Heil Andreas , Dewitt Sharon , Biebermann Heike , Aeschlimann Daniel , Knäuper Vera
Published: February 2024

A wound healing model was developed to elucidate the role of mesenchymal-matrix-associated transglutaminase 2 (TG2) in keratinocyte re-epithelialisation. TG2 drives keratinocyte migratory responses by activation of disintegrin and metalloproteinase 17 (ADAM17). We demonstrate that epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor ligand shedding leads to EGFR-transactivation and subsequent rapid keratinocyte migration on TG2-positive ECM. In contrast, keratinocyte migration was impaired in TG2 null conditions. We show that keratinocytes express the adhesion G-protein-coupled receptor, ADGRG1 (GPR56), which has been proposed as a TG2 receptor. Using ADAM17 activation as a readout and luciferase reporter assays, we demonstrate that TG2 activates GPR56. GPR56 activation by TG2 reached the same level as observed with an agonistic N-GPR56 antibody. The N-terminal GPR56 domain is required for TG2-regulated signalling response, as the constitutively active C-GPR56 receptor was not activated by TG2. Signalling required the C-terminal TG2 β-barrel domains and involved RhoA-associated protein kinase (ROCK) and ADAM17 activation, which was blocked by specific inhibitors. Cell surface binding of TG2 to the N-terminal GPR56 domain is rapid and is associated with TG2 and GPR56 endocytosis. TG2 and GPR56 represent a ligand receptor pair causing RhoA and EGFR transactivation. Furthermore, we determined a binding constant for the interaction of human TG2 with N-GPR56 and show for the first time that only the calcium-enabled “open” TG2 conformation associates with N-GPR56.
Visfatin Affects the Transcriptome of Porcine Luteal Cells during Early Pregnancy
Authors: Kopij Grzegorz , Kiezun Marta , Dobrzyn Kamil , Zaobidna Ewa , Zarzecka Barbara , Rak Agnieszka , Kaminski Tadeusz , Kaminska Barbara , Smolinska Nina
Published: February 2024

Visfatin/NAMPT (VIS), the hormone exerting a pleiotropic effect, is also perceived as an important factor in the regulation of reproductive processes and pregnancy maintenance. Previous studies confirmed its involvement in the control of porcine pituitary and ovary function. In this study, we hypothesized that VIS may affect the global transcriptome of luteal cells and thus regulate the functioning of the ovaries. Illumina’s NovaSeq 6000 RNA sequencing was performed to investigate the differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and long non-coding RNAs (DELs) as well as the occurrence of differential alternative splicing events (DASs) in the porcine luteal cells exposed to VIS (100 ng/mL) during the implantation period. The obtained results revealed 170 DEGs (99 up- and 71 downregulated) assigned to 45 functional annotations. Moreover, we revealed 40 DELs, of which 3 were known and 37 were described for the first time. We identified 169 DASs events. The obtained results confirmed a significant effect of VIS on the transcriptome and spliceosome of luteal cells, including the genes involved in the processes crucial for successful implantation and pregnancy maintenance as angiogenesis, steroidogenesis, inflammation, cell development, migration, and proliferation.
Synergistic Anticancer Activity of Plumbagin and Xanthohumol Combination on Pancreatic Cancer Models
Authors: Palanisamy Ranjith , Indrajith Kahingalage Nimnaka , Archibald David , Casari Ilaria , Falasca Marco
Published: February 2024

Among diverse cancers, pancreatic cancer is one of the most aggressive types due to inadequate diagnostic options and treatments available. Therefore, there is a necessity to use combination chemotherapy options to overcome the chemoresistance of pancreatic cancer cells. Plumbagin and xanthohumol, natural compounds isolated from the Plumbaginaceae family and Humulus lupulus, respectively, have been used to treat various cancers. In this study, we investigated the anticancer effects of a combination of plumbagin and xanthohumol on pancreatic cancer models, as well as the underlying mechanism. We have screened in vitro numerous plant-derived extracts and compounds and tested in vivo the most effective combination, plumbagin and xanthohumol, using a transgenic model of pancreatic cancer KPC (KrasLSL.G12D/+; p53R172H/+; PdxCretg/+). A significant synergistic anticancer activity of plumbagin and xanthohumol combinations on different pancreatic cancer cell lines was found. The combination treatment of plumbagin and xanthohumol influences the levels of B-cell lymphoma (BCL2), which are known to be associated with apoptosis in both cell lysates and tissues. More importantly, the survival of a transgenic mouse model of pancreatic cancer KPC treated with a combination of plumbagin and xanthohumol was significantly increased, and the effect on BCL2 levels has been confirmed. These results provide a foundation for a potential new treatment for pancreatic cancer based on plumbagin and xanthohumol combinations.
Unearthing a Cryptic Biosynthetic Gene Cluster for the Piperazic Acid-Bearing Depsipeptide Diperamycin in the Ant-Dweller Streptomyces sp. CS113
Authors: García-Gutiérrez Coral , Pérez-Victoria Ignacio , Montero Ignacio , Fernández-De la Hoz Jorge , Malmierca Mónica G. , Martín Jesús , Salas José A. , Olano Carlos , Reyes Fernando , Méndez Carmen
Published: February 2024

Piperazic acid is a cyclic nonproteinogenic amino acid that contains a hydrazine N-N bond formed by a piperazate synthase (KtzT-like). This amino acid, found in bioactive natural products synthesized by non-ribosomal peptide synthetases (NRPSs), confers conformational constraint to peptides, an important feature for their biological activities. Genome mining of Streptomyces strains has been revealed as a strategy to identify biosynthetic gene clusters (BGCs) for potentially active compounds. Moreover, the isolation of new strains from underexplored habitats or associated with other organisms has allowed to uncover new BGCs for unknown compounds. The in-house “Carlos Sialer (CS)” strain collection consists of seventy-one Streptomyces strains isolated from the cuticle of leaf-cutting ants of the tribe Attini. Genomes from twelve of these strains have been sequenced and mined using bioinformatics tools, highlighting their potential to encode secondary metabolites. In this work, we have screened in silico those genomes, using KtzT as a hook to identify BGCs encoding piperazic acid-containing compounds. This resulted in uncovering the new BGC dpn in Streptomyces sp. CS113, which encodes the biosynthesis of the hybrid polyketide–depsipeptide diperamycin. Analysis of the diperamycin polyketide synthase (PKS) and NRPS reveals their functional similarity to those from the aurantimycin A biosynthetic pathway. Experimental proof linking the dpn BGC to its encoded compound was achieved by determining the growth conditions for the expression of the cluster and by inactivating the NRPS encoding gene dpnS2 and the piperazate synthase gene dpnZ. The identity of diperamycin was confirmed by High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry (HRMS) and Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) and by analysis of the domain composition of modules from the DpnP PKS and DpnS NRPS. The identification of the dpn BGC expands the number of BGCs that have been confirmed to encode the relatively scarcely represented BGCs for depsipeptides of the azinothricin family of compounds and will facilitate the generation of new-to-nature analogues by combinatorial biosynthesis.
Asphalt Pavement Damage Detection through Deep Learning Technique and Cost-Effective Equipment: A Case Study in Urban Roads Crossed by Tramway Lines
Authors: Guerrieri Marco , Parla Giuseppe , Khanmohamadi Masoud , Neduzha Larysa
Published: February 2024

Asphalt pavements are subject to regular inspection and maintenance activities over time. Many techniques have been suggested to evaluate pavement surface conditions, but most of these are either labour-intensive tasks or require costly instruments. This article describes a robust intelligent pavement distress inspection system that uses cost-effective equipment and the ‘you only look once’ detection algorithm (YOLOv3). A dataset for flexible pavement distress detection with around 13,135 images and 30,989 bounding boxes of damage was used during the neural network training, calibration, and validation phases. During the testing phase, the model achieved a mean average precision of up to 80%, depending on the type of pavement distress. The performance metrics (loss, precision, recall, and RMSE) that were applied to estimate the object detection accuracy demonstrate that the technique can distinguish between different types of asphalt pavement damage with remarkable accuracy and precision. Moreover, the confusion matrix obtained in the validation process shows a distress classification sensitivity of up to 98.7%. The suggested technique was successfully implemented in an inspection car. Measurements conducted on urban roads crossed by tramway lines in the city of Palermo proved the real-time ability and great efficacy of the detection system, with potentially remarkable advances in asphalt pavement examination efficacy due to the high rates of correct distress detection.
Development of a Network-Level Road Safety Assessment Procedure Based on Human Factors Principles
Authors: Paliotto Andrea , Meocci Monica
Published: February 2024

Road safety is a central issue in the management and development of a road network. Road agencies must try to identify the most dangerous sections of their network and act on them to improve safety. The most used procedure for this purpose is about considering the indicators based on crashes. However, a mature road safety management system must be able to assess the safety of a road section before accidents occur. The European community is moving in this direction with the update of Directive 2008/96/EC (Directive 1936/2019). This paper proposes a new methodology for carrying out a network-wide road safety assessment on rural single-carriageways and two-lane two-way roads. This procedure accounts for the influence of road characteristics on drivers’ perceptions. The methodology has been developed based on the human factors concepts from PIARC, and it includes a series of checklists that guide an inspector in carrying out a visual inspection of single-carriageway roads. The results from the checklist are then processed into an algorithm, and the level of risk in the analyzed section is provided. The objectives of the procedure are (a) to account for the perceptive aspects that are one of the major causes of road accidents, (b) to provide a proactive procedure in line with the requirements of the European Directive, and (c) to provide a useful instrument that can be easily implemented by road agencies and integrated with other analysis procedures. The procedure has been applied and tested on a case study of six different stretches of two-lane, two-way rural highways in Italy, Germany, and Slovenia (about 65 km). The results show a high degree of concordance with a risk classification based on the accident rate, mainly considering high-risk sections. Therefore, the procedure demonstrated its potential to be a useful instrument to be included in network safety assessments. Road agencies should consider the use of this procedure in their network safety analysis and ranking.
On the Double-Double Laminate Buckling Optimum for the 18-Panel ‘Horse-Shoe’ Reference Case
Authors: Kappel Erik
Published: February 2024

The Double-Double (DD) laminate family allows for simplification in the context of buckling analysis. Stacking-sequence discussions, known from conventional-laminate optimization, made from 0∘, ±45∘, 90∘ plies, omit for DD. The recently presented DD-specific buckling relation is applied in this article to the 18-panel, ‘horse-shoe’ laminate blending reference case. The use case addresses the challenge of identifying a compatible group of laminates for differently loaded, adjacent regions, as it is a common scenario in wing covers and fuselage skins. The study demonstrates how the novel DD-laminate buckling relation simplifies the process of determining a buckling optimum for a group of laminates. The process of determining the optimum blended DD panel is presented. Its determined mass is compared with minimum masses, presented in earlier studies, which focus on stacking optimization and blending for more conventional ply orientations and laminate stacking conventions.
Will Music Give Me Power? Effects of Listening to Music during Active and Passive Rest Intervals on Power Output during Resistance Exercise
Authors: Latocha Agata , Jarosz Jakub , Helbin Jonatan , Krzysztofik Michał
Published: February 2024

The study aimed to evaluate the impact of listening to preferred music during active/passive rest on power output and heart rate in barbell squats (BS) and bench presses (BP). Fifteen participants (13 males and 2 females), moderately resistance trained, were engaged in four randomized experimental sessions with varying rest intervals (active/passive) and music presence (listening or not). Each session involved three sets of three repetitions of BS and BP at a 50% one-repetition maximum. ANOVA showed a significant main effect of the set for BP relative mean and peak power output (p < 0.001; both). The post hoc comparisons indicated a significantly higher BP relative mean and peak power output in set_2 (p < 0.001; effect size [ES] = 0.12 and p < 0.001; ES = 0.10) and set_3 (p < 0.001; ES = 0.11 and p = 0.001; ES = 0.16) in comparison to set_1. Moreover, a main effect of the set indicating a decrease in BS relative peak power output across sets was observed (p = 0.024) with no significant differences between sets. A significantly higher mean heart rate during active rest in comparison to passive rest was observed (p = 0.032; ES = 0.69). The results revealed no significant effect of listening to music on relative power output and heart rate during BS and BP.
The Comparison of the Multi-Layer Artificial Neural Network Training Methods in Terms of the Predictive Quality of the Coefficient of Friction of 1.0338 (DC04) Steel Sheet
Authors: Trzepieciński Tomasz
Published: February 2024

Friction is one of the main phenomena accompanying sheet metal forming methods, affecting the surface quality of products and the formability of the sheet metal. The most basic and cheapest way to reduce friction is to use lubricants, which should ensure the highest lubrication efficiency and at the same time be environmentally friendly. Due to the trend towards sustainable production, vegetable oils have been used in research as an alternative to petroleum-based lubricants. The analysis of friction in sheet metal forming requires an appropriate tribotester simulating the friction conditions in a specific area of the sheet metal being formed. Research has used a special strip drawing tribometer, enabling the determination the value of the coefficient of friction in the blankholder zone in the deep drawing process. Quantitative analysis of the friction phenomenon is necessary at the stage of designing the technological process and selecting technological parameters, including blankholder pressure. This article presents the results of friction testing of 1.0338 (DC04) steel sheets using a strip drawing test. The experimental tests involved pulling a strip of sheet metal between two countersamples with a rounded surface. The tests were carried out on countersamples with different levels of roughness for the range of contact pressures occurring in the blankholder zone in the deep drawing process (1.7–5 MPa). The values of the coefficient of friction determined under dry friction conditions were compared with the results for edible (corn, sunflower and rapeseed) and non-edible (Moringa, Karanja) vegetable lubricants. The tested oils are the most commonly used vegetable-based biolubricants in metal forming operations. Multi-layer artificial neural networks were used to determine the relationship between the value of the contact pressure, the roughness of the countersamples, the oil viscosity and density, and the value of the coefficient of friction. Rapeseed oil provided the best lubrication efficiency during friction testing for all of the tested samples, with an average surface roughness of Sa 0.44–1.34 μm. At the same time, as the roughness of the countersamples increased, a decrease in lubrication efficiency was observed. The lowest root mean squared error value was observed for the MLP-4-8-1 network trained with the quasi-Newton algorithm. Most of the analysed networks with different architectures trained using the various algorithms showed that the kinematic viscosity of the oil was the most important aspect in assessing the friction of the sheets tested. The influence of kinematic viscosity on the value of the coefficient of friction is strongly dependent on the surface roughness of the countersamples.
Laser Shock Peening: Fundamentals and Mechanisms of Metallic Material Wear Resistance Improvement
Authors: Cao Xiaodie , Wu Jiali , Zhong Guisheng , Wu Jiajun , Chen Xinhui
Published: February 2024

With the rapid development of the advanced manufacturing industry, equipment requirements are becoming increasingly stringent. Since metallic materials often present failure problems resulting from wear due to extreme service conditions, researchers have developed various methods to improve their properties. Laser shock peening (LSP) is a highly efficacious mechanical surface modification technique utilized to enhance the microstructure of the near-surface layer of metallic materials, which improves mechanical properties such as wear resistance and solves failure problems. In this work, we summarize the fundamental principles of LSP and laser-induced plasma shock waves, along with the development of this technique. In addition, exemplary cases of LSP treatment used for wear resistance improvement in metallic materials of various nature, including conventional metallic materials, laser additively manufactured parts, and laser cladding coatings, are outlined in detail. We further discuss the mechanism by which the microhardness enhancement, grain refinement, and beneficial residual stress are imparted to metallic materials by using LSP treatment, resulting in a significant improvement in wear resistance. This work serves as an important reference for researchers to further explore the fundamentals and the metallic material wear resistance enhancement mechanism of LSP.
Investigation of Microstructures and Tensile Properties of 316L Stainless Steel Fabricated via Laser Powder Bed Fusion
Authors: Chepkoech Melody , Owolabi Gbadebo , Warner Grant
Published: February 2024

In this study, a thorough investigation of the microstructures and tensile properties of 316L stainless steel fabricated via laser powder bed fusion (L-PBF) was done. 316L stainless steel specimens with two different thicknesses of 1.5 mm and 4.0 mm fabricated under similar conditions were utilized. Microstructural characterization was performed using optical microscopy (OM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) equipped with electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD). Melt pools and cellular structures were observed using OM, whereas EBSD was utilized to obtain the grain size, grain boundary characteristics, and crystallographic texture. The 1.5 mm thick sample demonstrated a yield strength (YS) of 538.42 MPa, ultimate tensile strength (UTS) of 606.47 MPa, and elongation to failure of 69.88%, whereas the 4.0 mm thick sample had a YS of 551.21 MPa, UTS of 619.58 MPa, and elongation to failure of 73.66%. These results demonstrated a slight decrease in mechanical properties with decreasing thickness, with a 2.4% reduction in YS, 2.1% reduction in UTS, and 5.8% reduction in elongation to failure. In addition to other microstructural features, the cellular structures were observed to be the major contributors to the high mechanical properties. Using the inverse pole figure (IPF) maps, both thicknesses depicted a crystallographic texture of {001} <101> in their as-built state. However, when subjected to tensile loads, texture transitions to {111} <001> and {111} <011> were observed for the 1.5 mm and 4.0 mm samples, respectively. Additionally, EBSD analysis revealed the pre-existence of high-density dislocation networks and a high fraction of low-angle grain boundaries. Interestingly, twinning was observed, suggesting that the plastic deformation occurred through dislocation gliding and deformation twinning.
Numerical Simulation of Rotary Ultrasonic Machining of the Nomex Honeycomb Composite Structure
Authors: Zarrouk Tarik , Nouari Mohammed , Salhi Jamal-Eddine , Benbouaza Abdelkader
Published: February 2024

Nomex honeycomb composite (NHC) cores have seen significant growth in recent years, particularly in the aeronautics, aerospace, naval and automotive industries. This development presents significant challenges in terms of improving machining quality, requiring the use of specialized cutting tools and favorable cutting techniques. In this context, experimental studies have been carried out to highlight the characteristics of the milling of NHCs by rotary ultrasonic machining (RUM). However, the rapid motion of the cutting tool and the inaccessibility of the tool/part interface prevent the visualization of the chip formation process. For this purpose, a three-dimensional numerical model for milling the NHC structure using RUM technology was developed by Abaqus Explicit software. On the basis of this model, the components of the cutting force, the quality of the machined surface and the chip accumulation in front of the cutting tool were analyzed. The numerical results agree with the experimental tests, demonstrating that the use of RUM technology effectively reduces the cutting force components. An in-depth analysis of the influence of feed component Fy on the quality of the generated surface was carried out, revealing that the surface quality improved with low values of feed component Fy. Furthermore, the impact of ultrasonic vibrations on the accumulation of chips in front of the cutting tool is particularly optimized, in particular for large amplitudes.
Transient Electromagnetic Monitoring of Permafrost: Mathematical Modeling Based on Sumudu Integral Transform and Artificial Neural Networks
Authors: Glinskikh Viacheslav , Nechaev Oleg , Mikhaylov Igor , Nikitenko Marina , Danilovskiy Kirill
Published: February 2024

Due to the ongoing global warming on the Earth, permafrost degradation has been extensively taking place, which poses a substantial threat to civil and industrial facilities and infrastructure elements, as well as to the utilization of natural resources in the Arctic and high-latitude regions. In order to prevent the negative consequences of permafrost thawing under the foundations of constructions, various geophysical techniques for monitoring permafrost have been proposed and applied so far: temperature, electrical, seismic and many others. We propose a cross-borehole exploration system for a high localization of target objects in the cryolithozone. A novel mathematical apparatus for three-dimensional modeling of transient electromagnetic signals by the vector finite element method has been developed. The original combination of the latter, the Sumudu integral transform and artificial neural networks makes it possible to examine spatially heterogeneous objects of the cryolithozone with a high contrast of geoelectric parameters, significantly reducing computational costs. We consider numerical simulation results of the transient electromagnetic monitoring of industrial facilities located on permafrost. The formation of a talik has been shown to significantly manifest itself in the measured electromagnetic responses, which enables timely prevention of industrial disasters and environmental catastrophes.
Respiratory Motion Prediction with Empirical Mode Decomposition-Based Random Vector Functional Link
Authors: Rasheed Asad , Veluvolu Kalyana C.
Published: February 2024

The precise prediction of tumor motion for radiotherapy has proven challenging due to the non-stationary nature of respiration-induced motion, frequently accompanied by unpredictable irregularities. Despite the availability of numerous prediction methods for respiratory motion prediction, the prediction errors they generate often suffer from large prediction horizons, intra-trace variabilities, and irregularities. To overcome these challenges, we have employed a hybrid method, which combines empirical mode decomposition (EMD) and random vector functional link (RVFL), referred to as EMD-RVFL. In the initial stage, EMD is used to decompose respiratory motion into interpretable intrinsic mode functions (IMFs) and residue. Subsequently, the RVFL network is trained for each obtained IMF and residue. Finally, the prediction results of all the IMFs and residue are summed up to obtain the final predicted output. We validated this proposed method on the benchmark datasets of 304 respiratory motion traces obtained from 31 patients for various prediction lengths, which are equivalent to the latencies of radiotherapy systems. In direct comparison with existing prediction techniques, our hybrid architecture consistently delivers a robust and highly accurate prediction performance. This proof-of-concept study indicates that the proposed approach is feasible and has the potential to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of radiotherapy treatment.
Endoscopic Ultrasound-Guided Drainage of Pancreatic Fluid Collections: Not All Queries Are Already Solved
Authors: Binda Cecilia , Fabbri Stefano , Perini Barbara , Boschetti Martina , Coluccio Chiara , Giuffrida Paolo , Gibiino Giulia , Petraroli Chiara , Fabbri Carlo
Published: February 2024

Pancreatic fluid collections (PFCs) are well-known complications of acute pancreatitis. The overinfection of these collections leads to a worsening of the prognosis with an increase in the morbidity and mortality rate. The primary strategy for managing infected pancreatic necrosis (IPN) or symptomatic PFCs is a minimally invasive step-up approach, with endosonography-guided (EUS-guided) transmural drainage and debridement as the preferred and less invasive method. Different stents are available to drain PFCs: self-expandable metal stents (SEMSs), double pigtail stents (DPPSs), or lumen-apposing metal stents (LAMSs). In particular, LAMSs are useful when direct endoscopic necrosectomy is needed, as they allow easy access to the necrotic cavity; however, the rate of adverse events is not negligible, and to date, the superiority over DPPSs is still debated. Moreover, the timing for necrosectomy, the drainage technique, and the concurrent medical management are still debated. In this review, we focus attention on indications, timing, techniques, complications, and particularly on aspects that remain under debate concerning the EUS-guided drainage of PFCs.
Augmented Reality Integration in Skull Base Neurosurgery: A Systematic Review
Authors: Begagić Emir , Bečulić Hakija , Pugonja Ragib , Memić Zlatan , Balogun Simon , Džidić-Krivić Amina , Milanović Elma , Salković Naida , Nuhović Adem , Skomorac Rasim , Sefo Haso , Pojskić Mirza
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives: To investigate the role of augmented reality (AR) in skull base (SB) neurosurgery. Materials and Methods: Utilizing PRISMA methodology, PubMed and Scopus databases were explored to extract data related to AR integration in SB surgery. Results: The majority of 19 included studies (42.1%) were conducted in the United States, with a focus on the last five years (77.8%). Categorization included phantom skull models (31.2%, n = 6), human cadavers (15.8%, n = 3), or human patients (52.6%, n = 10). Microscopic surgery was the predominant modality in 10 studies (52.6%). Of the 19 studies, surgical modality was specified in 18, with microscopic surgery being predominant (52.6%). Most studies used only CT as the data source (n = 9; 47.4%), and optical tracking was the prevalent tracking modality (n = 9; 47.3%). The Target Registration Error (TRE) spanned from 0.55 to 10.62 mm. Conclusion: Despite variations in Target Registration Error (TRE) values, the studies highlighted successful outcomes and minimal complications. Challenges, such as device practicality and data security, were acknowledged, but the application of low-cost AR devices suggests broader feasibility.
Ecocosmism: Finitude Unbound
Authors: Tusa Giovanbattista
Published: February 2024

Western modernity was born with a revolution of limits. Western man, who has become the creator of his own destiny, has identified freedom with a conscious and systematic violation of the given conditions, with a future that constantly transcends the present. This modern condition is thus characterised by the fact that it is limited by boundaries that are mobile and can change. From this observation arises the paradoxical situation that growth today is inconceivable if it is not linked to a scenario of scarcity, in contrast to premodern theological views based instead on the abundance of creation, the original richness of the world. Inspired by this vision of a sustainable world, ecological thinking today is immediately associated with a language of finitude. Degrowth, self-limitation, and resource efficiency, these are all terms associated with a universalist model of progress that seems to know no limits. This article argues that the world is doomed to its own inevitable end if sustainability is understood from the perspective of an economically sustainable future defined by the limits of capitalist management. If, on the other hand, we step out of this impoverished and economic perspective of the concept of limit and the condition of finitude, then we open ourselves to an ecocosmic perspective that understands the world as part of a cosmic diversity that cannot be contained within a more or less extended totality of resources. In this article, being finite is understood ecologically as being a non-self-sufficient part of the interrelated possibilities of worldmaking, not as an element of a set of individuals or things.
Gas-Liquid Hydrodynamics during Liquid Displacement by Gas in Up-Hill Pipeline
Authors: Liu Huishu , Chen Jianhui , Tao Jiali , Li Na , Duan Jimiao , Chen Yan
Published: February 2024

Mobile pipelines are the most efficient and reliable way to transport large quantities of oil over long distances in warfare, rescue and disaster relief. The oil in the pipe must be discharged and recovered when the oil transfer task is completed, usually via gas cap evacuation. Gas cap evacuation is the main method to evacuate mobile pipelines. During evacuation, due to the influence of topography, working conditions and gravitational forces, the oil in an up-hill pipeline is gradually deposited in the low-lying part of the pipeline to form a liquid, resulting in the incomplete emptying of the pipeline which directly affects the recovery efficiency of the pipeline. Focusing on the analysis of the gas carrying oil flow process in an up-hill pipeline during the evacuation of gas displacing oil in the mobile pipeline, the tail and head of the liquid accumulation were analyzed, and the liquid accumulation flow model was established based on the gas–liquid two-phase stratified flow theory. This model was used to analyze the flow law of the accumulated liquid under different pipe inclination angles, initial accumulation thicknesses and pipe diameters. It was found that the stagnant oil in the pipeline is carried by the gas flow into the upward tilting pipeline due to the influence of the axial gravity force of the pipeline. The gas flow can be divided into three phases: the initial discharge stage, the oscillation stage and the final discharge (reflux) stage.
The Use of the Autotrophic Culture of Arthrospira platensis for CO2 Fixation from Biogas Combustion
Authors: Dębowski Marcin , Zieliński Marcin , Vdovychenko Alona , Kazimierowicz Joanna
Published: February 2024

The increased concentration of CO2 in the atmosphere has a strong impact on global warming. Therefore, efficient technologies must be used to reduce CO2 emissions. One of the methods is the biofixation of CO2 by microalgae and cyanobacteria. This is now a widely described technology that can improve the economics of biomass production and reduce CO2 emissions. There are no reports on the possibility of using it to clean exhaust gases from biogas combustion. The aim of the research was to determine the possibility of using Arthrospira platensis cultures to remove CO2 from biogas combustion. The efficiency of biomass production and the effectiveness of biological CO2 fixation were evaluated. The use of exhaust gases led to a more efficient increase in cyanobacterial biomass. The growth rate in the exponential phase was 209 ± 17 mgVS/L·day, allowing a biomass concentration of 2040 ± 49 mgVS/L. However, the use of exhaust gases led to a decrease in the pH of the culture medium and a rapid decline in the Arthrospira platensis population. The cyanobacteria effectively fixed CO2, and its concentration was limited from 13 ± 1% to 1.3 ± 0.7%. There was no influence of the exhaust gases on changes in the qualitative composition of the cyanobacterial biomass. In the culture fed with exhaust gas, the A. platensis population quickly entered the death phase, which requires close monitoring. This is an important indication for potential operators of large-scale photobioreactors.
Sensing Data Concealment in NFTs: A Steganographic Model for Confidential Cross-Border Information Exchange
Authors: Al-Sumaidaee Ghassan , Žilić Željko
Published: February 2024

In an era dominated by rapid digitalization of sensed data, the secure exchange of sensitive information poses a critical challenge across various sectors. Established techniques, particularly in emerging technologies like the Internet of Things (IoT), grapple with inherent risks in ensuring data confidentiality, integrity, and vulnerabilities to evolving cyber threats. Blockchain technology, known for its decentralized and tamper-resistant characteristics, stands as a reliable solution for secure data exchange. However, the persistent challenge lies in protecting sensitive information amidst evolving digital landscapes. Among the burgeoning applications of blockchain technology, non-fungible tokens (NFTs) have emerged as digital certificates of ownership, securely recording various types of data on a distributed ledger. Unlike traditional data storage methods, NFTs offer several advantages for secure information exchange. Firstly, their tamperproof nature guarantees the authenticity and integrity of the data. Secondly, NFTs can hold both immutable and mutable data within the same token, simplifying management and access control. Moving beyond their conventional association with art and collectibles, this paper presents a novel approach that utilizes NFTs as dynamic carriers for sensitive information. Our solution leverages the immutable NFT data to serve as a secure data pointer, while the mutable NFT data holds sensitive information protected by steganography. Steganography embeds the data within the NFT, making them invisible to unauthorized eyes, while facilitating portability. This dual approach ensures both data integrity and authorized access, even in the face of evolving digital threats. A performance analysis confirms the approach’s effectiveness, demonstrating its reliability, robustness, and resilience against attacks on hidden data. This paves the way for secure data transmission across diverse industries.
A Unified Spatio-Temporal Inference Network for Car-Sharing Serial Prediction
Authors: Brahimi Nihad , Zhang Huaping , Zaidi Syed Danial Asghar , Dai Lin
Published: February 2024

Car-sharing systems require accurate demand prediction to ensure efficient resource allocation and scheduling decisions. However, developing precise predictive models for vehicle demand remains a challenging problem due to the complex spatio-temporal relationships. This paper introduces USTIN, the Unified Spatio-Temporal Inference Prediction Network, a novel neural network architecture for demand prediction. The model consists of three key components: a temporal feature unit, a spatial feature unit, and a spatio-temporal feature unit. The temporal unit utilizes historical demand data and comprises four layers, each corresponding to a different time scale (hourly, daily, weekly, and monthly). Meanwhile, the spatial unit incorporates contextual points of interest data to capture geographic demand factors around parking stations. Additionally, the spatio-temporal unit incorporates weather data to model the meteorological impacts across locations and time. We conducted extensive experiments on real-world car-sharing data. The proposed USTIN model demonstrated its ability to effectively learn intricate temporal, spatial, and spatiotemporal relationships, and outperformed existing state-of-the-art approaches. Moreover, we employed negative binomial regression with uncertainty to identify the most influential factors affecting car usage.
Siamese Transformer-Based Building Change Detection in Remote Sensing Images
Authors: Xiong Jiawei , Liu Feng , Wang Xingyuan , Yang Chaozhong
Published: February 2024

To address the challenges of handling imprecise building boundary information and reducing false-positive outcomes during the process of detecting building changes in remote sensing images, this paper proposes a Siamese transformer architecture based on a difference module. This method introduces a layered transformer to provide global context modeling capability and multiscale features to better process building boundary information, and a difference module is used to better obtain the difference features of a building before and after a change. The difference features before and after the change are then fused, and the fused difference features are used to generate a change map, which reduces the false-positive problem to a certain extent. Experiments were conducted on two publicly available building change detection datasets, LEVIR-CD and WHU-CD. The F1 scores for LEVIR-CD and WHU-CD reached 89.58% and 84.51%, respectively. The experimental results demonstrate that when utilized for building change detection in remote sensing images, the proposed method exhibits improved robustness and detection performance. Additionally, this method serves as a valuable technical reference for the identification of building damage in remote sensing images.
Australian Kidney Transplantation in the Shadow of COVID-19: A Decade’s Insight
Authors: Sitharthan Darshan , Rosario Marco , Thayanantharajah Keeththana
Published: February 2024

The journey of organ transplantation in Australia has been marked with progressive milestones since the inaugural kidney transplant in 1965 [...]
Unveiling the Role of Concanavalin A in a Rodent Model of Chemical-Induced Hepatocellular Carcinoma: A Promising Guide in Understanding Liver Cancer Development
Authors: Pop Romelia , Hodor Dragoș , Cătoi Cornel , Mocan Teodora , Mocan Lucian , Tăbăran Alexandru-Flaviu
Published: February 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma is a pressing global health issue, ranking as the third leading cause of cancer-related mortality in humans. Chronic liver diseases, such as hepatitis B and C infections and cirrhosis, are often associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, necessitating ongoing research for improved diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. Animal models, including both spontaneous and chemically induced models like diethylnitrosamine, play a pivotal role in understanding hepatocellular carcinoma mechanisms. Metabolic alterations in tumoral hepatocytes contribute significantly to cancer initiation and progression, impacting energy metabolism and cell survival. Lectins, specifically Concanavalin A, provide valuable insights into altered glycosylation patterns in cancer cells. This study employs lectin histochemistry to assess hepatic alterations in Concanavalin A expression in a murine model of diethylnitrosamine-induced hepatocellular carcinoma. Utilizing confocal laser scanning microscopy, our study unveils notable changes in Concanavalin A subcellular localization and intensity distribution in hepatocellular carcinoma compared with healthy liver tissue. A significant increase in the Concanavalin A labeling within the tumoral cells and a shifting of the expression within the perinuclear space is observed. These findings offer valuable insights into molecular changes in hepatocellular carcinoma, providing potential avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic advancements.
Removal of Chromium (III) and Reduction in Toxicity in a Primary Tannery Effluent Using Two Floating Macrophytes
Authors: López Arias Tomás R. , Franco Deidamia , Medina Leonida , Benítez César , Villagra Verónica , McGahan Shaun , Duré Giselle Mariza , Kurita-Oyamada Hajime G.
Published: February 2024

Trivalent chromium (Cr(III)) is a contaminant with toxic activity. Its presence in waters and soils is usually related to industrial activities such as tanneries. The aim of this study was to compare the removal of Cr(III) in hydroponic solutions and tannery effluents using two floating macrophytes: Salvinia auriculata and Eichhornia crassipes. First, to determine the chromium removal capacity in solution and the bioaccumulation factor (BAF) in tissues of each plant, experiments were set up with contaminated solutions with Cr(III) concentrations of 2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 mg/L. Subsequently, both plant species were exposed to a primary tannery effluent contaminated with 12 mg/L of Cr(III) in order to study the removal capacity of organic and inorganic matter, as well as the acute toxicity in the water flea (Daphnia magna) and genotoxicity in zebrafish (Danio rerio). Tests carried out on nutrient solutions revealed that both plants have a high capacity for removing Cr(III) in solution. The BAF in tissues was higher in E. crassipes compared to S. auriculata. In the experiments with a tannery effluent, both species presented low nutrient and organic matter removal efficiency, but they showed good Cr(III) removal capacity, with average reduction values of 57% for S. auriculata and 54% for E. crassipes after 72 h of exposure. E. crassipes contributed most to the reduction in acute toxicity in D. magna, while S. auriculata did not show a similar effect. However, both plant species managed to reduce the genotoxicity marker in D. rerio when compared with the initial effluent and the control.
Science with the ASTRI Mini-Array: From Experiment to Open Observatory
Authors: Vercellone Stefano
Published: February 2024

Although celestial sources emitting in the few tens of GeV up to a few TeV are being investigated by imaging atmospheric Čerenkov telescope arrays such as H.E.S.S., MAGIC, and VERITAS, at higher energies, up to PeV, more suitable instrumentation is required to detect ultra-high-energy photons, such as extensive air shower arrays, as HAWC, LHAASO, Tibet AS-γ. The Italian National Institute for Astrophysics has recently become the leader of an international project, the ASTRI Mini-Array, with the aim of installing and operating an array of nine dual-mirror Čerenkov telescopes at the Observatorio del Teide in Spain starting in 2025. The ASTRI Mini-Array is expected to span a wide range of energies (1–200 TeV), with a large field of view (about 10 degrees) and an angular and energy resolution of ∼3 arcmin and ∼10 %, respectively. The first four years of operations will be dedicated to the exploitation of Core Science, with a small and selected number of pointings with the goal of addressing some of the fundamental questions on the origin of cosmic rays, cosmology, and fundamental physics, the time-domain astrophysics and non γ-ray studies (e.g., stellar intensity interferometry and direct measurements of cosmic rays). Subsequently, four more years will be dedicated to Observatory Science, open to the scientific community through the submission of observational proposals selected on a competitive basis. In this paper, I will review the Core Science topics and provide examples of possible Observatory Science cases, taking into account the synergies with current and upcoming observational facilities.