bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Plant-growth promoting activity of three fungal endophytes isolated from plants living in dehesas and their effect on Lolium multiflorum
Authors: García-Latorre C. , Rodrigo S. , Marin-Felix Y. , Stadler M. , Santamaria O.
Published: May 2023

Endophytic fungi have been demonstrated to produce bioactive secondary metabolites, some of which promote plant growth. Three endophytic fungi isolated from healthy plants living in dehesas of Extremadura (Spain) were identified and evaluated for their ability to produce phytohormone-like substances, antioxidant activity, total polyphenol content, phosphate solubilization ability and siderophore and ammonia production. The filtrates and extracts produced by the three endophytes were applied to Lolium multiflorum seeds and seedlings under both in vitro and greenhouse conditions, to analyse their influence on plant growth traits such as germination, vigour index, chlorophyll data, number and length of leaves and roots, and dry weight. All three endophytes, which were identified as Fusarium avenaceum, Sarocladium terricola and Xylariaceae sp., increased the germination of L. multiflorum seeds by more than 70%. Shoot and root length, plant dry weight and the number of roots were positively affected by the application of fungal filtrates and/or extracts, compared with controls. The tentative HPLC–MS identification of phytohormone-like substances, such as gibberellin A2 and zeatin, or the antioxidant acetyl eugenol, may partially explain the mechanisms of L. multiflorum plant growth promotion after the application of fungal filtrates and/or extracts.
Stiffness characteristics analysis of a Biglide industrial parallel robot considering the gravity of mobile platform and links
Authors: Guan Jiuliang , Zou Ping , Xu Jilin , Wang Wenjie
Published: May 2023

For the machining process of industrial parallel robots, the gravity generated by the weight of mobile platform and links will lead to the deviation of the expected machining trajectory of the tool head. In order to evaluate this deviation and then circumvent it, it is necessary to perform the robotic stiffness model. However, the influence of gravity is seldom considered in the previous stiffness analysis. This paper presents an effective stiffness modeling method for industrial parallel robots considering the link/joint compliance, the mobile platform/link gravity, and the mass center position of each link. First, the external gravity corresponding to each component is determined by the static model under the influence of gravity and mass center position. Then, the corresponding Jacobian matrix of each component is obtained by the kinematic model. Subsequently, the compliance of each component is obtained by cantilever beam theory and FEA-based virtual experiments. In turn, the stiffness model of the whole parallel robot is determined and the Cartesian stiffness matrix of the parallel robot is calculated at several positions. Moreover, the principal stiffness distribution of the tool head in each direction over the main workspace is predicted. Finally, the validity of the stiffness model with gravity is experimentally proved by the comparison of the calculated stiffness and measured stiffness in identical conditions.
Structural and functional features of a broad-spectrum prophage-encoded enzybiotic from Enterococcus faecium
Authors: Premetis Georgios E. , Stathi Angeliki , Papageorgiou Anastassios C. , Labrou Nikolaos E.
Published: May 2023

Multidrug-resistant (MDR) bacteria have become a growing threat to public health. The gram-positive Enterococcus faecium is classified by WHO as a high-priority pathogen among the global priority list of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. Peptidoglycan-degrading enzymes (PDEs), also known as enzybiotics, are useful bactericidal agents in the fight against resistant bacteria. In this work, a genome-based screening approach of the genome of E. faecium allowed the identification of a putative PDE gene with predictive amidase activity (EfAmi1; EC 3.5.1.28) in a prophage-integrated sequence. EfAmi1 is composed by two domains: a N-terminal Zn2+-dependent N-acetylmuramoyl-l-alanine amidase-2 (NALAA-2) domain and a C-terminal domain with unknown structure and function. The full-length gene of EfAmi1 was cloned and expressed as a 6xHis-tagged protein in E. coli. EfAmi1 was produced as a soluble protein, purified, and its lytic and antimicrobial activities were investigated using turbidity reduction and Kirby–Bauer disk-diffusion assays against clinically isolated bacterial pathogens. The crystal structure of the N-terminal amidase-2 domain was determined using X-ray crystallography at 1.97 Å resolution. It adopts a globular fold with several α-helices surrounding a central five-stranded β-sheet. Sequence comparison revealed a cluster of conserved amino acids that defines a putative binding site for a buried zinc ion. The results of the present study suggest that EfAmi1 displays high lytic and antimicrobial activity and may represent a promising new antimicrobial in the post-antibiotic era.
Construction of deep learning-based disease detection model in plants
Authors: Jung Minah , Song Jong Seob , Shin Ah-Young , Choi Beomjo , Go Sangjin , Kwon Suk-Yoon , Park Juhan , Park Sung Goo , Kim Yong-Min
Published: May 2023

Accurately detecting disease occurrences of crops in early stage is essential for quality and yield of crops through the decision of an appropriate treatments. However, detection of disease needs specialized knowledge and long-term experiences in plant pathology. Thus, an automated system for disease detecting in crops will play an important role in agriculture by constructing early detection system of disease. To develop this system, construction of a stepwise disease detection model using images of diseased-healthy plant pairs and a CNN algorithm consisting of five pre-trained models. The disease detection model consists of three step classification models, crop classification, disease detection, and disease classification. The ‘unknown’ is added into categories to generalize the model for wide application. In the validation test, the disease detection model classified crops and disease types with high accuracy (97.09%). The low accuracy of non-model crops was improved by adding these crops to the training dataset implicating expendability of the model. Our model has the potential to apply to smart farming of Solanaceae crops and will be widely used by adding more various crops as training dataset.
Eye lens-derived Δ14C signatures validate extreme longevity in the deepwater scorpaenid blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus)
Authors: Chamberlin Derek W. , Siders Zachary A. , Barnett Beverly K. , Patterson William F.
Published: May 2023

Many members of the scorpaenid subfamily: Sebastinae (rockfishes and their relatives) exhibit slow growth and extreme longevity (> 100 y), thus are estimated to be vulnerable to overfishing. Blackbelly rosefish (Helicolenus dactylopterus) is a deepwater sebastine whose longevity estimates range widely, possibly owing to different regional levels of fisheries exploitation across its Atlantic Ocean range. However, age estimation has not been validated for this species and ageing for sebastines in general is uncertain. We performed age validation of northern Gulf of Mexico blackbelly rosefish via an application of the bomb radiocarbon chronometer which utilized eye lens cores instead of more traditional otolith cores as the source of birth year Δ14C signatures. The correspondence of eye lens core Δ14C with a regional reference series was tested with a novel Bayesian spline analysis, which revealed otolith opaque zone counts provide accurate age estimates. Maximum observed longevity was 90 y, with 17.5% of individuals aged to be > 50 y. Bayesian growth analysis, with estimated length-at-birth included as a prior, revealed blackbelly rosefish exhibit extremely slow growth (k = 0.08 y−1). Study results have important implications for the management of blackbelly rosefish stocks, as extreme longevity and slow growth imply low resilience to fishing pressure.
A method of calculating surface energies for asymmetric slab models
Authors: Stuart Natalie M. , Sohlberg Karl
Published: May 2023

Improving essential chemical processes require complete knowledge of the surfaces they occur on. Herein describes a method for accurately computing surface energy.
Biogenic selenium nanoparticles alleviate intestinal epithelial barrier injury by regulating mitochondria–lysosome crosstalk
Authors: Dou Xina , Qiao Lei , Song Xiaofan , Chang Jiajing , Pi Shanyao , Zhang Xinyi , Zeng Xiaonan , Zhu Lixu , Xu Chunlan
Published: May 2023

SeNPs can regulate mitochondrial and lysosomal crosstalk through the TBC1D15/Fis1/Rab7-mediated signaling pathway and maintain cell homeostasis, and further effectively alleviate intestinal epithelial barrier dysfunction in IPEC-J2 cells exposed to LPS.
Functionalization of 3D printed polymeric bioresorbable stents with a dual cell-adhesive peptidic platform combining RGDS and YIGSR sequences
Authors: Chausse Victor , Mas-Moruno Carlos , Martin-Gómez Helena , Pino Marc , Díaz-Ricart Maribel , Escolar Ginés , Ginebra Maria-Pau , Pegueroles Marta
Published: May 2023

The functionalization of 3D-printed poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) and poly(l-lactic-co-ε-caprolactone) (PLCL) bioresorbable stents has been successfully achieved with linear RGDS and YIGSR peptides, as well as a dual platform containing both motifs within a single biomolecule.
Functions and applications of emerging metal–organic-framework liquids and glasses
Authors: Wang Mingyue , Zhao Hongyang , Du Bowei , Lu Xuan , Ding Shujiang , Hu Xiaofei
Published: May 2023

Traditional metal–organic-frameworks (MOFs) have been extensively studied and applied in various fields across chemistry, biology and engineering in the past decades.
Direct method to grasp molecular topology of mesogens through13C–1H dipolar couplings
Authors: Reddy M. Kesava , Shalini P. Jaya , Lobo Nitin P. , Roy Arun , Narasimhaswamy T.
Published: May 2023

The utility of13C–1H dipolar couplings obtained from the 2D NMR spectrum is demonstrated in classifying the molecular topology of three topologically variant thermotropic liquid crystals in their liquid crystalline phase.
Prediction of sodium binding energy on 2D VS2via machine learning: a robust accompanying method to ab initio random structure searching
Authors: Putungan Darwin B. , Su Shaosen , Gao Liang , Goyal Ankit , Lin Shi-Hsin , Garg Akhil
Published: May 2023

In this work, we employed the back-propagation neural network (BPNN) in predicting the energetics of different sodium adsorption phases on monolayer VS2 generated via ab initio random structure searching (AIRSS).
A new strategy for monitoring the charge transfer from perovskite thin films to electron transport layers using a heterodyne transient grating technique
Authors: Kim Young Hyun , Sohn Woon Yong
Published: May 2023

We investigated the charge injection dynamics from MAPbI3 to ZnO, based on the component arising from the recombination of the surface trapped electrons in the ZnO layer with the remaining holes in MAPbI3, using a HD-TG method.
Self-catalytic photochemical sulfonylation of phenothiazines
Authors: Liu Jige , Liu Huiying , Guo Xing , Wang Ziqiang , Wu Xinxin , Li Jie , Zhu Chen
Published: May 2023

Herein, we report a novel self-catalytic photochemical mono- and di-sulfonylation of phenothiazines proceeding without an extra photocatalyst and additives.
Syngas as a synergistic reducing agent for selective reductive amination—a mild route to bioactive amines
Authors: Podyacheva Evgeniya , Balalaeva Alexandra I. , Afanasyev Oleg I. , Runikhina Sofiya A. , Chusova Olga , Kozlov Andrey S. , Liao Saihu , Chusov Denis
Published: May 2023

Syngas (a mixture of H2and CO) is a synergistic reducing agent working much better than its components independently. In particular it allows to aminate carbonyl compounds with unstable functional groups furnishing the potential fungicides.
Intrinsic piezoelectricity of 2D violet phosphorene
Authors: Yang Dingyi , Xu Wei , Wang Boyu , Zhang Yu , Wang Yongmei , Ning Jing , Yang Rusen , Wu Yizhang , Zhong Wei , Wang Yong , Hao Yue
Published: May 2023

The monolayer VP has characteristic piezoelectric response in the in-plane and out-of-plane directions. The piezoelectric loops are established an under electric field of −18 V to +18 V. The piezoelectricity of VP decreases with increasing thickness.
Diastereoselective, Lewis acid-mediated Diels–Alder reactions of allenoic acid derivatives and 1,3-cyclopentadienes
Authors: Harvey Freya M. , Heidecker Alexandra H. , Merten Christian , Bach Thorsten
Published: May 2023

The stereoselectivity of the title reaction is governed by the substitution pattern within the allene substrate and by the choice of Lewis acid catalyst allowing a facile access to bicyclo[2.2.1]heptenes with an exocyclic double bond.
RAFT step-growth polymerization of bis-acrylamides and their facile degradation
Authors: Boeck Parker T. , Tanaka Joji , You Wei , Sumerlin Brent S. , Veige Adam S.
Published: May 2023

Demonstrated is the successful A2 + B2 RAFT step-growth polymerization of bis-acrylamides. The synthesized poly(acrylamides) can be degraded by simply adding excess ethanolamine or PBu3.
Sodium mediated deprotonative borylation of arenes using sterically demanding B(CH2SiMe3)3: unlocking polybasic behaviour and competing lateral borane sodiation
Authors: Tortajada Andreu , Bole Leonie J. , Mu Manting , Stanford Martin , Peñas-Defrutos Marconi N. , García-Melchor Max , Hevia Eva
Published: May 2023

Mechanistic studies on sodium-mediated borylation of arenes, uncover a unique polybasic behaviour for the formal borylation of two equivalents of the relevant arene as well as the competing formation of a borata-alkene complexes.
Stabilization of high internal phase Pickering emulsions with millimeter-scale droplets using silica particles
Authors: Kim DongGwon , Lee HaNeur , Yoon Hojoon , Oh DongGeun , Kim KyuHan
Published: May 2023

Using shape-anisotropic silica particle aggregates as a stabilizer, Pickering HIPEs with millimeter-sized droplets have been successfully stabilized, which can be readily converted stable PolyHIPEs with large pores.
Alginate/xanthan gum hydrogels as forensic blood substitutes for bloodstain formation and analysis
Authors: Orr Amanda , Wilson Paul , Stotesbury Theresa
Published: May 2023

Optimization pathway in FBS design through investigation of alginate, CaCl2, xanthan gum, fillers (talc, ferric citrate and Tween) and microparticle concentrations. Created with BioRender.com.
The WW domain of IQGAP1 binds directly to the p110α catalytic subunit of PI 3-kinase
Authors: Bardwell A. Jane , Paul Madhuri , Yoneda Kiku C. , Andrade-Ludeña María D. , Nguyen Oanh T. , Fruman David A. , Bardwell Lee
Published: May 2023

IQGAP1 is a multidomain cancer-associated protein that serves as a scaffold protein for multiple signaling pathways. Numerous binding partners have been found for the calponin homology, IQ and GAP-related domains in IQGAP1. Identification of a binding partner for its WW domain has proven elusive, however, even though a cell-penetrating peptide derived from this domain has marked anti-tumor activity. Here, using in vitro binding assays with human proteins and co-precipitation from human cells, we show that the WW domain of human IQGAP1 binds directly to the p110α catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). In contrast, the WW domain does not bind to ERK1/2, MEK1/2, or the p85α regulatory subunit of PI3K when p85α is expressed alone. However, the WW domain is able to bind to the p110α/p85α heterodimer when both subunits are co-expressed, as well as to the mutationally activated p110α/p65α heterodimer. We present a model of the structure of the IQGAP1 WW domain, and experimentally identify key residues in the hydrophobic core and beta strands of the WW domain that are required for binding to p110α. These findings contribute to a more precise understanding of IQGAP1-mediated scaffolding, and of how IQGAP1-derived therapeutic peptides might inhibit tumorigenesis.
Eukaryotic-like phosphoprotein phosphatase (PPP) enzyme evolution: interactions with environmental toxins and regulatory proteins
Authors: Kerk David , White-Gloria Chris , Johnson Jayde J. , Moorhead Greg B.
Published: May 2023

Phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPPs) are a ubiquitous class of enzymes which dephosphorylate serine and threonine residues on substrate proteins involved in a wide variety of cellular processes. The active site of PPP enzymes are highly conserved with key residues coordinating the substrate phosphoryl group (the two R-clamp) and two metal ions necessary for catalysis. Because of the diverse number of roles that these enzymes play it is no surprise that they are highly regulated in the cell, often accomplished by binding regulatory subunits. These regulatory subunits are able to dictate substrate specificity, localization, and activity of the bound catalytic subunit. Eukaryotic PPP subtypes have been previously shown to manifest varying degrees of sensitivity to environmental toxins. We present here an evolutionary model which now rationalizes this data. Our re-examination of published structural evidence reveals that Eukaryotic PPP toxin-binding residues also interact with substrate binding residues (the two R-clamp) and ancient regulatory proteins. Such functional interactions could have stabilized PPP sequence early in Eukaryotic evolution, providing a stable target which was co-opted by toxins and their producer organisms.
Precision Medicine as a New Frontier in Speech-Language Pathology: How Applying Insights From Behavior Genomics Can Improve Outcomes in Communication Disorders
Authors: Peter Beate , Bruce Laurel , Finestack Lizbeth , Dinu Valentin , Wilson Melissa , Klein-Seetharaman Judith , Lewis Candace R. , Braden B. Blair , Tang Yi-Yuan , Scherer Nancy , VanDam Mark , Potter Nancy
Published: May 2023

Purpose:

Precision medicine is an emerging intervention paradigm that leverages knowledge of risk factors such as genotypes, lifestyle, and environment toward proactive and personalized interventions. Regarding genetic risk factors, examples of interventions informed by the field of medical genomics are pharmacological interventions tailored to an individual's genotype and anticipatory guidance for children whose hearing impairment is predicted to be progressive. Here, we show how principles of precision medicine and insights from behavior genomics have relevance for novel management strategies of behaviorally expressed disorders, especially disorders of spoken language.

Method:

This tutorial presents an overview of precision medicine, medical genomics, and behavior genomics; case examples of improved outcomes; and strategic goals toward enhancing clinical practice.

Results:

Speech-language pathologists (SLPs) see individuals with various communication disorders due to genetic variants. Ways of using insights from behavior genomics and implementing principles of precision medicine include recognizing early signs of undiagnosed genetic disorders in an individual's communication patterns, making appropriate referrals to genetics professionals, and incorporating genetic findings into management plans. Patients benefit from a genetics diagnosis by gaining a deeper and more prognostic understanding of their condition, obtaining more precisely targeted interventions, and learning about their recurrence risks.

Conclusions:

SLPs can achieve improved outcomes by expanding their purview to include genetics. To drive this new interdisciplinary framework forward, goals should include systematic training in clinical genetics for SLPs, enhanced understanding of genotype–phenotype associations, leveraging insights from animal models, optimizing interprofessional team efforts, and developing novel proactive and personalized interventions.
User privacy prevention model using supervised federated learning‐based block chain approach for internet of Medical Things
Authors: Dhasarathan Chandramohan , Hasan Mohammad Kamrul , Islam Shayla , Abdullah Salwani , Khapre Shailesh , Singh Dalbir , Alsulami Abdulaziz A. , Alqahtani Ali
Published: May 2023

This research focuses on addressing the privacy issues in healthcare advancement monitoring with the rapid establishment of the decentralised communication system in the Internet of Medical Things (IoMT). An integrated blockchain homomorphic encryption standard with an in‐build supervised learning‐based smart contract is designed to improvise personal data prevention. The Internet of Medical Things (IoMT) has advanced in healthcare with the rapid establishment of decentralised communication systems. Distributed ledgers have resource constraints to leverage public, private, and hybrid blockchain transactions to facilitate heterogeneous operations. The authors propose a supervised learning strategy in healthcare to mitigate learning health‐related issues, improvise clinical monitoring, and ensure secure communication. The proposed approach handles the vast IoMT data by adopting blockchain for IoMT as (BIoMT) to preserve sensitive clinical information. It incorporates hybrid encryption techniques to improve patient and health records' privacy protection. BIoMT also maintains secured and sustainable supply chain management with a highly confidential decentralised framework using blockchain‐based smart contracts, which minimises data loss. Moreover, a framework is designed with a hybrid hashing that integrates a homomorphically encrypted algorithm to support a smart contract for decentralised applicability. The BIoMT approach is tested and compared with the relevant prevention mechanisms. The evaluation shows that the effects observed from the result analysis noted that the proposed method outperforms reliable prevention mechanisms compared to the existing approaches.
Xanthine oxidase inhibitory kinetics and mechanism of ellagic acid: In vitro, in silico and in vivo studies
Authors: Chen Jianmin , He Zemin , Yu Sijin , Cai Xiaozhen , Zhu Danhong , Lin Yanhua
Published: May 2023

Ellagic acid (EA), which is widely distributed in many foods, has been found to possess inhibitory activity against xanthine oxidase (XO). However, there is ongoing debate about the difference in XO inhibitory activity between EA and allopurinol. Additionally, the inhibitory kinetics and mechanism of EA on XO are still unclear. Herein, the authors systematically studied the inhibitory effects of EA on XO. The authors’ findings showed that EA is a reversible inhibitor with mixed‐type inhibition, and its inhibitory activity is weaker than allopurinol. Fluorescence quenching experiments suggested that the generation of EA‐XO complex was exothermic and spontaneous. In silico analysis further confirmed that EA entered the XO catalytic centre. Furthermore, the authors verified the anti‐hyperuricemia effect of EA in vivo. This study elucidates the inhibition kinetics and mechanism of EA on XO, and lays a theoretical foundation for the further development of drugs and functional foods containing EA for the treatment of hyperuricemia.
Reflections on achievements, activities, and emerging issues of strategic nature within the current and future EURATOM RTD programme on radioactive waste management
Authors: Zuidema Piet
Published: May 2023

This paper provides a review of and some reflections on radioactive waste management activities (including disposal) at the strategic level in connection with the ongoing ‘European Joint Programme on Radioactive Waste management – EURAD’ and the European ‘PREDIS’ project on pre-disposal issues. The review took advantage of the large number of contributions made during the FISA 2022/EURADWASTE ’22 conference. The paper addresses the key characteristics of EURAD and PREDIS and highlights some of the key strengths of Joint Programming in supporting the member states with implementing waste management activities. Then, it discusses topics of strategic importance for waste management and the contributions of EURAD and PREDIS to these topics. This includes a summary of waste management strategies, the current status of implementing disposal solutions, the importance of knowledge management (taking the long duration of disposal programmes into account) and the importance of societal support of ongoing and future waste management activities. Finally, some remarks are made about issues of importance when organizing future joint activities on radioactive waste management at the European level.
Digital 5S: a case study of an Automotive wiring industry
Authors: Mrabti Abdelaziz , Bouajaja Sana , Khlif Hachicha Hajer , Nouri Khaled
Published: May 2023

The 5S methodology is a Lean tool that helps to organize and improve the workplace by eliminating waste and improving efficiency. The five S’s stand for Sort, Set in Order, Shine, Standardize, and Sustain. Digitization refers to the use of digital technology to transform manual processes into automated ones, which can help to improve the speed and accuracy of operations. The paper focused on implementing the 5S methodology in an industrial setting using digital tools to improve efficiency and productivity while also fostering a culture of continuous improvement. The results of the study are likely to provide insights into the effectiveness of using the 5S methodology and digitization to achieve Lean goals in an industrial context.
Business-IT Alignment in Cloud environment Proposed Framework
Authors: Bouacha Manal , Sbai Hanae
Published: May 2023

Nowadays, business process reuse is becoming a trendy topic in the enterprise as well as in scientific research to reduce the cost and time of process development for the benefit of the enterprise. Moreover, with the emergence of cloud environments and the various advantageous and competitive aspects of cloud computing, it becomes necessary to develop non-installable or so-called multi-tenant applications. In this sense, BPM researchers are working on improving the BPaaS (Business Process as Service) model, which enables business processes to be managed in the context of the cloud. However, the problem of aligning IT operations in the cloud, bridging the gap between business requirements and technical cloud solutions, remains an emerging issue in digital transformation, as cloud solutions are purely technical and do not allow stakeholders, who are usually not fluent in the language of business, to properly evaluate or choose the most appropriate cloud solution. Identifying the most appropriate cloud solutions in this context, therefore, requires specifying service requirements and capabilities at both the business and IT levels.
Using AraGPT and ensemble deep learning model for sentiment analysis on Arabic imbalanced dataset
Authors: Habbat Nassera , Nouri Hicham , Anoun Houda , Hassouni Larbi
Published: May 2023

With the fast growth of mobile technology, social media has become important for people to share their thoughts and feelings. Businesses and governments can make better strategic decisions when they know what the public thinks. Because of this, sentiment analysis is an important tool for figuring out how different people’s opinions are. This article presents a deeplearning ensemble model for sentiment analysis. The ensemble model proposed consists of three deep-learning models, Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU), Long Short-Term Memory (LSTM), and Bidirectional LSTM (BiLSTM), as base classifiers. AraBERT is responsible for presenting the textual input data into representative embeddings. The stacking ensemble model then captures the long-range dependencies in the embedding for a given class. As a meta-classifier, Support Vector Machine (SVM) then combines the predictions made by the stacking deep learning model. In addition, data augmentation with AraGPT was implemented to address the imbalanced dataset issues. The experimental results demonstrate that the proposed model outperforms the state-of-the-art models with an accuracy of 88.89%, 90.88%, and 88.23% on the HARD, BRAD, and Twitter datasets, respectively.
Stirling engine optimization using artificial neural networks algorithm
Authors: Taki Oumaima , Senhaji Rhazi Kaoutar , Mejdoub Youssef
Published: May 2023

Neural networks are a type of machine learning algorithm that are inspired by the structure and function of the human brain. They consist of layers of interconnected “neurons” which process and transmit information. Neural networks can learn to perform a variety of tasks by being trained on large datasets, and they have been successfully applied to a wide range of problems, including image and speech recognition, natural language processing (NLP), and predictive modeling. In this paper, we are combining Stirling engines with neural networks in order to improve the performance and efficiency of the engine by using machine learning to optimize their operation. For example, an optimizing neural network such as the Multi-Layer Perceptron (MLP) could be trained to predict the most efficient operating conditions for a Stirling engine based on design parameters such as displacer stroke, phase angle and working frequency. Additionally, neural networks could be used to diagnose and predict failures in Stirling engines, potentially improving their reliability and reducing maintenance costs.
Interest of pharyngeal packing in head and neck surgery: a meta-analysis
Authors: Casenave Théo , Raynaud Natacha , Geoffroy Florent , Torres Jacques-Henri
Published: May 2023

Introduction: There is controversy regarding the use of pharyngeal packing in oral and nasal surgery. The primary objective of this study was to examine the association between pharyngeal packing, throat pain, and postoperative nausea and vomiting (PONV) in head and neck surgery. Material and methods: A systematic review of clinical studies published from January 2000 to August 2020 concerning the use of pharyngeal packing in head and neck surgery was conducted in the Medline, ScienceDirect and Cochrane Library databases. Throat pain and PONV were collected in each article, and a meta-analysis was performed. Results: A total of 10 clinical trials involving 877 patients were included in the meta-analysis. Pharyngeal packing did not significantly decrease PONV score either during the immediate (OR = 0.90, 95% CI: 0.59 to 1.38, p = 0.52, I2 = 0%) or the delayed postoperative period (OR = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.54 to 1.43, p = 0.28, I2 = 21%), but significantly increased the immediate postoperative throat pain score (MD = 0.68, 95% CI: 0.21 to 1.16, p = 0.19, I2 = 35%). Conclusion: This study suggests that the use of a pharyngeal packing to improve the preoperative aftermath in head and neck surgery should not be recommended.
Exploring the gamification of cybersecurity education in higher education institutions: An analytical study
Authors: Xiao Hanyu , Wei Hao , Liao Qichen , Ye Qiongwei , Cao Changlin , Zhong Yawen
Published: May 2023

Our world has become increasingly dependent on electronic technology. As most economic, cultural, and social activities are conducted in cyberspace, how to protect data from cyberattacks has arisen as a prominent challenge. Cybersecurity education and training that improves awareness among personnel is recognized as an effective approach. Higher education institutions (HEIs) have become prime cyberattack targets as they hold vast amounts of valuable research and personal data. This paper analyses the state of cybersecurity in HEIs and the problems of cybersecurity education, and proposes the solution of gamification of cybersecurity education. A detailed feasibility analysis and recommendations for developing cybersecurity education games are provided. This paper expands the theories of gamified cybersecurity education in China, and sheds light on enhancing the effectiveness of cybersecurity education in HEIs through games.
Effects of an acute Mindfulness-based intervention on exercise tolerance, maximal strength, pain and effort-related experiences in individuals with primary chronic low back pain: a pilot study
Authors: Amiot Louise , Daneau Catherine , Couëpel Bastien , Descarreaux Martin , Bernier Marjorie , Fournier Jean , Ruffault Alexis , Courbalay Anne
Published: May 2023

Introduction:This study investigated the effects of an acute mindfulness-based intervention on exercise tolerance, maximal voluntary contraction (MVC), pain and effort-related experiences in individuals with primary chronic low back pain.Method:Participants were randomly assigned to an experimental group and a control group. Before and after the intervention, participants completed a MVC test, a modified Sorensen test and numerical rating scales about pain intensity, pain unpleasantness, perceived effort and use of coping strategies. Dispositional measures such as pain catastrophizing, trait anxiety, dispositional mindfulness and impulsivity were also assessed.T-tests and linear mixed models were performed.Results:Participants from the control group significantly decreased their MVC across time and showed a trend towards a decrease in exercise tolerance over time, which was not the case for the experimental group. For both groups, pain unpleasantness and effort were perceived higher during the second modified Sorensen test. Analyses revealed neither significant effect of time nor group on pain intensity and the use of coping strategies.Discussion:The results highlight the value of involving individuals with primary chronic pain in mindfulness-based interventions to improve adaptations to effort while targeting referred pain. Larger samples and controlling for individuals’ functional status appear necessary for further research.
A novel approach for noise prediction using Neural network trained with an efficient optimization technique
Authors: Radha Krishnan Naren Shankar , Uppu Shiva Prasad
Published: May 2023

Aerofoil noise as self-noise is detrimental to system performance, in this paper NACA 0012 optimization parameters are presented for reduction in noise. Designing an aerofoil with little noise is a fundamental objective of designing an aircraft that physically and functionally meets the requirements. Aerofoil self-noise is the noise created by aerofoils interacting with their boundary layers. Using neural networks, the suggested method predicts aerofoil self-noise. For parameter optimization, the quasi-Newtonian method is utilised. The input variables, such as angle of attack and chord length, are used as training parameters for neural networks. The output of a neural network is the sound pressure level, and the Quasi Newton method further optimises these parameters. When compared to the results of regression analysis, the values produced after training a neural network are enhanced.
The Mansurov effect: Seasonal and solar wind sector structure dependence
Authors: Edvartsen Jone Øvretvedt , Maliniemi Ville , Nesse Hilde , Hatch Spencer
Published: May 2023

We investigate the connection between the interplanetary magnetic field (IMF)By-component and polar surface pressure, also known as the Mansurov effect. The aim of the investigation is to unravel potential dependencies on specific seasons and/or solar wind sector structures, and it serves as a sequel to Edvartsen et al. (2022) [J Space Weather Space Clim12: 11]. The mechanism for the effect includes the ability of the IMF to modulate the global electric circuit (GEC), which is theorized to impact and modulate cloud generation processes. By usage of daily ERA5 reanalysis data for geopotential height since 1968, we find no significant response confirming the current Mansurov hypothesis. However, we do find statistically significant correlations on decadal timescales in the time period March–May (MAM) in the northern hemisphere, but with an unusual timing. Similar phased anomalies are also found in the southern hemisphere for MAM, but not at a significant level. In an attempt to explain the unusual timing, heliospheric current sheet crossing events, which are highly correlated with theBy-index, are used. These events result in higher statistical significance in the NH for the MAM period, but cannot fully explain the timing of the response. In general, these statistically significant correlations differ from previously reported evidence on the Mansurov effect, and suggest a revision of the Mansurov hypothesis. Our results also highlight a general feature of time-lagged cross-correlation with autocorrelated variables, where the correlation value itself is shown to be a fragile indicator of the robustness of a signal. For future studies, we suggest that thep-values obtained by modern statistical methods are considered, and not the correlation values alone.
Ökonomische Evaluation der frühen
Interdisziplinären Multimodalen Schmerztherapie allein und in
Kombination mit der Ganzkörper-Elektrostimulation im Vergleich zur
Standardversorgung bei Patienten mit chronischen nicht-spezifischen
Rückenschmerzen
Authors: Brüggenjürgen Bernd , Hamann Bettina , Stukenborg-Colsman Christina , Schulz Friederike
Published: May 2023

Therapiereresistente chronische nicht-spezifische Rückenschmerzen sollen
frühzeitig mit einer Interdisziplinären Multimodalen
Schmerztherapie behandelt werden. Eine aktivierende
Ganzkörper-Elektrostimulation ist ggf. als Vorstufe eine Alternative
für ausgewählte Patienten.

Kosten und Nutzen wurden mit einer Markov-Modellierung aus Sicht der deutschen
Privaten Krankenversicherung untersucht.

Die diskontierten 1- und 5-Jahreskosten betrugen 8,258/32,580€
für die Standardversorgung, 9,300/31,2197€ für
die frühe Multimodale Schmerztherapie allein und
8,157/30,055€ für die Kombination mit der
Ganzkörper-Elektrostimulation. Die kumulierten diskontierten Nutzwerte
beliefen sich entsprechend auf 0,64/3,23, 0,70/3,38 und
0,69/3,37 QALYs.

Multimodale Schmerztherapie allein und die Kombination mit aktivierender
Ganzkörper-Elektrostimulation sind der Standardversorgung
gesundheitsökonomisch überlegen.
Adipositas und Krebs
Authors: Ungefroren Hendrik , Meyhöfer Svenja , Meyhöfer Sebastian M. , Lehnert Hendrik
Published: May 2023

Adipositas erhöht nicht nur das Risiko für Typ-2-Diabetes und
Herz-Kreislauf-Komplikationen, auch Tumorerkrankungen sind eine mögliche
Folge von Adipositas. Adipositas ist mit einem erhöhten Risiko
assoziiert, an bestimmten Krebsarten zu erkranken, wobei das Krebsspektrum
geschlechtsspezifische Unterschiede aufweist. Die Tatsache, dass in Deutschland
zwei Drittel der Männer und die Hälfte der Frauen adipös
sind, unterstreicht die gesundheitspolitische, ökonomische und
gesellschaftliche Relevanz des Volksleidens Adipositas.
Die Versorgungslage von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit Adipositas
– ist ein Disease Management Programm (DMP) eine
Lösung?
Authors: Joisten Christine , Gellhaus Ines , Kauth Thomas , Leipold Georg , Wabitsch Martin , Weihrauch-Blüher Susann , Wiegand Susanna , Dötsch Jörg , Fischbach Thomas
Published: May 2023

Adipositas im Kindes- und Jugendalter stellt auch infolge der COVID-19 Pandemie
ein wachsendes Problem dar. In der Therapie wiesen verhaltensorientierte
multimodale Programme mit den Schwerpunkten Ernährung, Bewegung,
medizinische und psychosoziale Betreuung unter Einbezug des familiären
Umfeldes bzw. der Eltern über einen Zeitraum von 6 bis 12 Monaten die
beste Evidenz auf. Allerdings gibt es nach wie vor keine flächendeckende
Versorgung Betroffener. Dies ist hauptsächlich auf eine uneinheitliche
Kostenübernahme durch unterschiedliche Kostenträger und
Verantwortlichkeiten zurückzuführen. Die vom Gesetzgeber
vorgesehene Entwicklung eines Disease Management Programms Adipositas stellt
einen möglichen Schritt zur adäquaten Versorgung dar. Um den
Besonderheiten von Kindern und Jugendlichen gerecht zu werden, sollte neben
einem DMP für Erwachsene eines für diese Altersgruppe konzipiert
werden. Zusätzlich sollte dieses DMP „Adipositas im Kindes- und
Jugendalter“ in ein Gesamtkonzept eingebettet werden, das
patientenzentriert den Bedürfnissen der Betroffenen i.S. ambulanter und
stationärer Maßnahmen gerecht wird. Um aber die
Versorgungssituation zu verbessern, sind darüber hinaus
sozialgesetzbuchüberschreitende innovative Absätze wie
beispielsiweise kommunal verankerte Beratungsstellen wünschenswert.
The carbon footprint of ambulatory gastrointestinal endoscopy
Authors: Lacroute Joël , Marcantoni Juliette , Petitot Stéphane , Weber Julien , Levy Patrick , Dirrenberger Bastien , Tchoumak Irina , Baron Mathilde , Gibert Stéphanie , Marguerite Sandrine , Huppertz Jérôme , Gronier Olivier , Derlon Anne
Published: May 2023

Background Endoscopy is considered the third highest generator of waste within healthcare. This is of public importance as approximately 18 million endoscopy procedures are performed yearly in the USA and 2 million in France. However, a precise measure of the carbon footprint of gastrointestinal endoscopy (GIE) is lacking.

Methods This retrospective study for 2021 was conducted in an ambulatory GIE center in France where 8524 procedures were performed on 6070 patients. The annual carbon footprint of GIE was calculated using “Bilan Carbone” of the French Environment and Energy Management Agency. This multi-criteria method accounts for direct and indirect greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from energy consumption (gas and electricity), medical gases, medical and non-medical equipment, consumables, freight, travel, and waste.

Results GHG emissions in 2021 were estimated to be 241.4 tonnes CO2 equivalent (CO2e) at the center, giving a carbon footprint for one GIE procedure of 28.4 kg CO2e. The main GHG emission, 45 % of total emissions, was from travel by patients and center staff to and from the center. Other emission sources, in rank order, were medical and non-medical equipment (32 %), energy consumption (12 %), consumables (7 %), waste (3 %), freight (0.4 %), and medical gases (0.005 %).

Conclusions This is the first multi-criteria analysis assessing the carbon footprint of GIE. It highlights that travel, medical equipment, and energy are major sources of impact, with waste being a minor contributor. This study provides an opportunity to raise awareness among gastroenterologists of the carbon footprint of GIE procedures.
SMARCB1-Retained and SMARCB1-Deficient SNUC are Genetically Distinct: A Pilot Study Using RNA Sequencing
Authors: Chitguppi Chandala , Rosen Marc , Nyquist Gurston , Toskala Elina , Evans James , Gargano Stacey , Tuluc Madalina , Ertel Adam , Dsouza Glen , Addya Sankar , Johnson Jennifer , Bar-Ad Voichita , Rabinowitz Mindy
Published: May 2023

Background Understanding the genetic basis for the molecular classification of sinonasal undifferentiated carcinoma (SNUC) based on SMARCB1 may improve our understating regarding the nature of the disease. The objective of the study was to compare the genetic profile of SMARCB1-retained (SR-SNUC) and SMARCB1-deficient SNUC (SD-SNUC).

Methods Formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissue from treatment-naive patients with SNUC were selected. Three cases of SR-SNUC, four cases of SD-SNUC, and four samples of nontumor tissue (control samples) were selected. Ribonucleic acid (RNA) sequencing was performed.

Results SR-SNUC had a higher number of variants (1 variant for every 15,000 bases) compared with SD-SNUC (1 variant every 29,000 bases). The ratio of missense to silent mutation ratio was higher for SR-SNUC (0.8) as compared with SD-SNUC (0.7). Approximately 1,500 genes were differentially expressed between SR-SNUC and SD-SNUC. The genes that had a higher expression in SR-SNUC included TPD52L1, B3GNT3, GFY, TJP3, ELL3, CYP4F3, ALDH3B2, CKMT1B, VIPR1, SLC7A5, PPP2R2C, UPK3B, MUC1, ELF5, STY7, and H2AC14. The gene that had a higher expression in SD-SNUC was ZFHX4. Most of these genes were related to either protein translation or immune regulation. The most common (n = 3, 75%) mechanisms of loss of SMARCB1 gene in SD-SNUC was loss of heterozygosity.

Conclusion RNA sequencing is a viable and informative approach for genomic profiling of archival SNUC samples. Both SR-SNUC and SD-SNUC were noted to have distinct genetic profiles underlying the molecular classification of these diseases.
Copper-Catalyzed Regioselective Cyanation of Indoles via C-H Bond Activation with α-Aminoacetonitriles
Authors: Ahmad Muhammad Siddique , Wang Qifeng , Meguellati Kamel , Qasim Ruqiya , Zeng Bing , Zhang Qing , Ul Haq Shah Ehtesham , Ud Din Nasar
Published: May 2023

A metal-free and organic cyanating agent, 2-(diisopropylamino)acetonitrile is disclosed for the regioselective synthesis of cyanated indoles such as 2-cyanoindole and 3-cyanoindole derivatives. This method can tolerate a variety of functional groups and can furnish the corresponding cyanated products in moderate to high yields. Moreover, Cu/PhSiH3 system has been identified for the regioselective cleavage of C–H bonds of indoles by the use of metal-free CN sources via a one-pot sequential iodination/cyanation. This cost effective, homogeneous and metal-free CN source system represents the best reaction efficiency in these methodologies.
Advanced Arthritis of the Carpus: Preoperative Planning Practices of 337 Hand Surgeons
Authors: Bayne Christopher O. , Moontasri Nancy J. , Boutin Robert D. , Szabo Robert M.
Published: May 2023

Background Surgical procedure selection for carpal arthritis depends on which articular surfaces are affected, but there is no consensus on how to preoperatively evaluate cartilage surfaces. Despite advances in cross-sectional imaging, the utility of advanced imaging for preoperative decision-making has not been well established.

Objectives Our objective was to assess if there is an added value to presurgical advanced imaging or diagnostic procedures in planning for carpal arthrodesis or carpectomy and to determine what imaging or diagnostic procedures influence surgical treatment options.

Methods A seven-question survey was sent to 2,400 hand surgeons. Questions assessed which articular surfaces surgeons consider important for decision-making, which imaging modalities surgeons employ, and how often surgeons utilize diagnostic arthroscopy before performing carpectomy or arthrodesis procedures.

Results A total of 337 (14%) surveys were analyzed. The capitolunate articulation (alone or in combination) was most frequently reported to impact surgical decision-making (48.1%). Most surgeons (86.6%) reported that standard plain radiographs are usually sufficient. Few surgeons reported always obtaining magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT), with 44.2% of surgeons believing that MRI is never useful and 38.4% believing that CT is never useful. Most surgeons (68.2%) reported that they never perform wrist arthroscopy as part of their decision-making process.

Conclusions This study provides information on the decision-making process in the surgical management of carpal arthritis. Given advances in cross-sectional imaging, further studies are needed to determine the utility of MRI and CT for the planning of surgical procedures in the treatment of arthritis of the carpus.

Level of Evidence Level 4.