bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding farmer knowledge and site factors in relation to soil-borne pests and pathogens to support agroecological intensification of smallholder bean production systems
Authors: Ngoya Zuwena J. , Mkindi Angela G. , Vanek Steven J. , Ndakidemi Patrick A. , Stevenson Philip C. , Belmain Steven R.
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Pests and diseases limit common bean (Phaseolus vulgaris) production in intensifying smallholder farming systems of sub-Saharan Africa. Soil-borne pests and diseases (SPD) are particularly challenging for farmers to distinguish and manage in cropping systems that vary in terms of soils, farmer knowledge, and management factors. Few studies have examined soil drivers of SPD in smallholder systems, integrated with farmers' perceptions and management practices.

Methods

In Kilimanjaro, Tanzania, we assessed farmer knowledge and SPD management for common bean alongside soil type and soil quality. Focus group discussions and field survey findings including farmer observations and soil nutrient balances were integrated with soil analyses of farmers' fields. Multiple correspondence analysis (MCA) and principal component analysis (PCA) assessed relationships among farmer demographics, pests and diseases, soil characteristics, and management practices.

Results and discussion

Surveys revealed that 100% of farmers knew of the bean foliage beetle (Ootheca bennigseni) but few recognized the soilborne pest Ophiomyia spp. or bean fly despite it being more destructive. About a third of farmers knew of root rot diseases caused by Pythium spp. and Fusarium spp. Synthetic pesticides were used by 72% of farmers to control pests, while about half that (37%) used pesticidal plants, particularly Tephrosia vogelii extracts sprayed on foliage. Regarding SPD, 90% of farmers reported that their management practices were ineffective. Meanwhile, synthetic fertilizers were used by nearly all farmers in beans intercropped with maize (Zea mays), whilst very few farmers used manure or compost. Soil available phosphorus was lowbut showed a balance between inputs and outputs regardless of whether fields were owned. Field nitrogen balances were more negative when fields were owned by farmers. An MCA showed that older farmers employed a greater number of pest control practices. The PCA showed that field variability was dominated by soil organic matter, elevation, and soil pH. Higher organic matter levels were also associated with less stunting and wilting of beans observed by farmers. Our results suggest that research and farmer learning about SPD ecology are key gaps, alongside recycling of organic residues to soils. Cost-effective and sustainable practices to manage bean SPDs for smallholders are also needed.
Scalable and Cooperative Deep Reinforcement Learning Approaches for Multi-UAV Systems: A Systematic Review
Authors: Frattolillo Francesco , Brunori Damiano , Iocchi Luca
Published: March 2023

In recent years, the use of multiple unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in various applications has progressively increased thanks to advancements in multi-agent system technology, which enables the accomplishment of complex tasks that require cooperative and coordinated abilities. In this article, multi-UAV applications are grouped into five classes based on their primary task: coverage, adversarial search and game, computational offloading, communication, and target-driven navigation. By employing a systematic review approach, we select the most significant works that use deep reinforcement learning (DRL) techniques for cooperative and scalable multi-UAV systems and discuss their features using extensive and constructive critical reasoning. Finally, we present the most likely and promising research directions by highlighting the limitations of the currently held assumptions and the constraints when dealing with collaborative DRL-based multi-UAV systems. The suggested areas of research can enhance the transfer of knowledge from simulations to real-world environments and can increase the responsiveness and safety of UAV systems.
A Robust Fault Diagnosis Scheme for Converter in Wind Turbine Systems
Authors: Liang Jinping , Zhang Ke
Published: March 2023

Fault diagnosis is a powerful tool to reduce downtime and improve maintenance efficiency; thus, the low management cost of wind turbine systems and effective utilization of wind energy can be obtained. However, the accuracy of fault diagnosis is extremely susceptible to the nonlinearity and noise in the measured signals and the varying operating conditions. This paper proposes a robust fault diagnosis scheme based on ensemble empirical mode decomposition (EEMD), intrinsic mode function (IMF), and permutation entropy (PE) to diagnose faults in the converter in wind turbine systems. Three-phase voltage signals output by the converter are used as the input of the fault diagnosis model and each signal is decomposed into a set of IMFs by EEMD. Then, the PE is calculated to estimate the complexity of the IMFs. Finally, the IMF-PE information is taken as the feature of the classifier. The EEMD addresses nonlinear signal processing and mitigates the effects of mode mixing and noise. The PE increases the robustness against variations in the operating conditions and signal noise. The effectiveness and reliability of the method are verified by simulation. The results show that the accuracy for 22 faults reaches about 98.30% with a standard deviation of approximately 2% under different wind speeds. In addition, the average accuracy of 30 runs for different noises is higher than approximately 76%, and the precision, recall, specificity, and F1-Score all exceed 88% at 10 dB. The standard deviation of all the evaluation indicators is lower than about 1.7%; this proves the stable diagnostic performance. The comparison with different methods demonstrates that this method has outstanding performance in terms of its high accuracy, strong robustness, and computational efficiency.
Optimal Allocation Scheme of Renewable Energy Consumption Responsibility Weight under Renewable Portfolio Standards: An Integrated Evolutionary Game and Stochastic Optimization Approach
Authors: Tang Yang , Liu Yifeng , Huo Weiqiang , Chen Meng , Ye Shilong , Cheng Lei
Published: March 2023

Developing renewable energy has become a major strategy for China to accelerate the energy transition and combat climate change. Accordingly, a guarantee mechanism for renewable energy consumption with renewable portfolio standards (RPS) has been set in China. However, currently, the top-down allocation of regional renewable energy consumption targets often has issues of unfairness and inefficiency. It is necessary to investigate the issue of how to stimulate the renewable energy consumption potential on the demand side and reasonably formulate the consumption responsibility weights of various market entities. This paper aimed to develop a new methodology for the weight allocation of renewable energy consumption responsibilities. In doing so, an integrated model of an evolutionary game and stochastic optimization was constructed between market entities and governments. Then, the equilibrium strategies of market entities and governments were obtained through the evolutionary game. Furthermore, based on the equilibrium strategies, this paper optimized the renewable energy consumption weight of each market entity, which constitutes the optimal allocation scheme of renewable energy consumption responsibility weights. Finally, using the data of 7069 market entities in Hubei Province in 2021, this study simulated the model to verify its effectiveness and practicability. The results indicate that the willingness of market entities to assume more consumption responsibility is positively correlated with the government’s incentives and the maturity of the green electricity trading market. This study provides important implications for optimizing government regulations and promoting renewable energy consumption.
Power-Load Forecasting Model Based on Informer and Its Application
Authors: Xu Hongbin , Peng Qiang , Wang Yuhao , Zhan Zengwen
Published: March 2023

Worldwide, the demand for power load forecasting is increasing. A multi-step power-load forecasting model is established based on Informer, which takes the historical load data as the input to realize the prediction of the power load in the future. The constructed model abandons the common recurrent neural network to deal with time-series problems, and uses the seq2seq structure with sparse self-attention mechanism as the main body, supplemented by specific input and output modules to deal with the long-range relationship in the time series, and makes effective use of the parallel advantages of the self-attention mechanism, so as to improve the prediction accuracy and prediction efficiency. The model is trained, verified and tested by using the power-load dataset of the Taoyuan substation in Nanchang. Compared with RNN, LSTM and LSTM with the attention mechanism and other common models based on a cyclic neural network, the results show that the prediction accuracy and efficiency of the Informer-based power-load forecasting model in 1440 time steps have certain advantages over cyclic neural network models.
Analysis of DFIG Interval Oscillation Based on Second-Order Sliding Film Damping Control
Authors: Liu Qi , Wu Jiahui , Wang Haiyun , Zhang Hua , Yang Jian
Published: March 2023

This paper takes advantage of the high control flexibility and fast response time of the interfacing power electronic converter for doubly fed wind turbine grid-connected systems to address inter-area oscillations caused by inadequate system damping in power systems. A reactive-power-coordinated damping controller for a doubly fed induction generator (DFIG) is proposed, and it makes use of second-order sliding-mode technology. The suggested controller improves damping performance by controlling the reactive power. It provides benefits such as a quicker damping rate and resilience to modeling errors and parameter changes. The simulation results indicate the system’s improved performance in inter-area oscillation damping and the robustness of the suggested control technique over a broad range of functional areas.
The Flight of Saint Mary Magdalene—A Case Study of the Dismantling, Repositioning and Restoration of a Votive Aedicule and Wall Painting in Nardò, Lecce, Italy
Authors: Ghio Fabrizio , Stefanelli Enrica Marcella , Ampolo Enrico
Published: March 2023

The work carried out as part of construction on a ring road around Nardò (Lecce, South Italy) involved a votive aedicule attached to the perimeter wall of a rural building that had been scheduled for demolition. Provision was made for the movement and relocation of the building, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, to an adjacent area, in addition to the restoration of the pictorial decoration itself. The intervention was designed to conserve the building as testimony of its use for future generations, given its value and sense of identity for the local community. The project was largely conservatory, thus guaranteeing the continuity of its still active devotional function. In this sense, the restoration of the building was also associated with an educational aim of raising awareness of the importance of eco-compatible care of the landscape. So, this project highlights the importance of social, as much as environmental, sustainability.
Involvement of Bcl-2 Family Proteins in Tetraploidization-Related Senescence
Authors: Barriuso Daniel , Alvarez-Frutos Lucia , Gonzalez-Gutierrez Lucia , Motiño Omar , Kroemer Guido , Palacios-Ramirez Roberto , Senovilla Laura
Published: March 2023

The B-cell lymphoma 2 (Bcl-2) family of proteins is the main regulator of apoptosis. However, multiple emerging evidence has revealed that Bcl-2 family proteins are also involved in cellular senescence. On the one hand, the different expression of these proteins determines the entry into senescence. On the other hand, entry into senescence modulates the expression of these proteins, generally conferring resistance to apoptosis. With some exceptions, senescent cells are characterized by the upregulation of antiapoptotic proteins and downregulation of proapoptotic proteins. Under physiological conditions, freshly formed tetraploid cells die by apoptosis due to the tetraploidy checkpoint. However, suppression of Bcl-2 associated x protein (Bax), as well as overexpression of Bcl-2, favors the appearance and survival of tetraploid cells. Furthermore, it is noteworthy that our laboratory has shown that the joint absence of Bax and Bcl-2 antagonist/killer (Bak) favors the entry into senescence of tetraploid cells. Certain microtubule inhibitory chemotherapies, such as taxanes and vinca alkaloids, induce the generation of tetraploid cells. Moreover, the combined use of inhibitors of antiapoptotic proteins of the Bcl-2 family with microtubule inhibitors increases their efficacy. In this review, we aim to shed light on the involvement of the Bcl-2 family of proteins in the senescence program activated after tetraploidization and the possibility of using this knowledge to create a new therapeutic strategy targeting cancer cells.
Recapitulating the Key Advances in the Diagnosis and Prognosis of High-Grade Gliomas: Second Half of 2021 Update
Authors: Frosina Guido
Published: March 2023

High-grade gliomas (World Health Organization grades III and IV) are the most frequent and fatal brain tumors, with median overall survivals of 24–72 and 14–16 months, respectively. We reviewed the progress in the diagnosis and prognosis of high-grade gliomas published in the second half of 2021. A literature search was performed in PubMed using the general terms “radio* and gliom*” and a time limit from 1 July 2021 to 31 December 2021. Important advances were provided in both imaging and non-imaging diagnoses of these hard-to-treat cancers. Our prognostic capacity also increased during the second half of 2021. This review article demonstrates slow, but steady improvements, both scientifically and technically, which express an increased chance that patients with high-grade gliomas may be correctly diagnosed without invasive procedures. The prognosis of those patients strictly depends on the final results of that complex diagnostic process, with widely varying survival rates.
Proanthocyanidin Structure-Activity Relationship Analysis by Path Analysis Model
Authors: Li Zhaoxuan , Liu Jingling , You Jie , Li Xin , Liang Zongsuo , Du Junli
Published: March 2023

To fully explore the influence mechanism of interactions between different monomer units of proanthocyanidins (PAs) on biological activity, a path analysis model of the PA structure-activity relationship was proposed. This model subdivides the total correlation between each monomer unit and activity into direct and indirect effects by taking into account not only each monomer unit but also the correlation with its related monomer units. In addition, this method can determine the action mode of each monomer unit affecting the activity by comparing the direct and total indirect effects. Finally, the advantage of this model is demonstrated through an influence mechanism analysis of Rhodiola crenulata PA monomer units on antioxidant and anti-diabetes activities.
The Role of Oxidative Stress Enhanced by Adiposity in Cardiometabolic Diseases
Authors: Świątkiewicz Iwona , Wróblewski Marcin , Nuszkiewicz Jarosław , Sutkowy Paweł , Wróblewska Joanna , Woźniak Alina
Published: March 2023

Cardiometabolic diseases (CMDs), including cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic syndrome (MetS), and type 2 diabetes (T2D), are associated with increased morbidity and mortality. The growing prevalence of CVD is mostly attributed to the aging population and common occurrence of risk factors, such as high systolic blood pressure, elevated plasma glucose, and increased body mass index, which led to a global epidemic of obesity, MetS, and T2D. Oxidant–antioxidant balance disorders largely contribute to the pathogenesis and outcomes of CMDs, such as systemic essential hypertension, coronary artery disease, stroke, and MetS. Enhanced and disturbed generation of reactive oxygen species in excess adipose tissue during obesity may lead to increased oxidative stress. Understanding the interplay between adiposity, oxidative stress, and cardiometabolic risks can have translational impacts, leading to the identification of novel effective strategies for reducing the CMDs burden. The present review article is based on extant results from basic and clinical studies and specifically addresses the various aspects associated with oxidant–antioxidant balance disorders in the course of CMDs in subjects with excess adipose tissue accumulation. We aim at giving a comprehensive overview of existing knowledge, knowledge gaps, and future perspectives for further basic and clinical research. We provide insights into both the mechanisms and clinical implications of effects related to the interplay between adiposity and oxidative stress for treating and preventing CMDs. Future basic research and clinical trials are needed to further examine the mechanisms of adiposity-enhanced oxidative stress in CMDs and the efficacy of antioxidant therapies for reducing risk and improving outcome of patients with CMDs.
Synthesis and Structure–Activity Relationship of Salvinal Derivatives as Potent Microtubule Inhibitors
Authors: Chang Chi-I , Hsieh Cheng-Chih , Wein Yung-Shung , Kuo Ching-Chuan , Chang Chi-Yen , Lung Jrhau , Cherng Jong-Yuh , Chu Po-Chen , Chang Jang-Yang , Kuo Yueh-Hsiung
Published: March 2023

Salvinal is a natural lignan isolated from the roots of Salvia mitorrhiza Bunge (Danshen). Previous studies have demonstrated its anti-proliferative activity in both drug-sensitive and -resistant cancer cell lines, with IC50 values ranging from 4–17 µM. In this study, a series of salvinal derivatives was synthesized and evaluated for the structure–activity relationship. Among the twenty-four salvinal derivatives, six compounds showed better anticancer activity than salvinal. Compound 25 displayed excellent anticancer activity, with IC50 values of 0.13–0.14 µM against KB, KB-Vin10 (overexpress MDR/Pgp), and KB-7D (overexpress MRP) human carcinoma cell lines. Based on our in vitro microtubule depolymerization assay, compound 25 showed depolymerization activity in a dose-dependent manner. Our findings indicate that compound 25 is a promising anticancer agent with depolymerization activity that has potential for the management of malignance.
Antiproliferative Mechanisms of a Polyphenolic Combination of Kaempferol and Fisetin in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer Cells
Authors: Afzal Mohd. , Alarifi Abdullah , Karami Abdalnaser Mahmoud , Ayub Rashid , Abduh Naaser A. Y. , Saeed Waseem Sharaf , Muddassir Mohd.
Published: March 2023

Herein, we investigate the combinatorial therapeutic effects of naturally occurring flavonoids kaempferol (K) and fisetin (F) on triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC: MDA-MB-231 cell line). Dose-dependent MTT assay results show that K and F exhibited cytotoxicity in MDA-MB-231 cells at 62 and 75 μM (IC50), respectively, after 24 h. However, combined K + F led to 40% and more than 50% TNBC cell death observed at 10 and 20 μM, respectively, which revealed the synergistic association of both. The combination of K and F was determined to be more effective in inhibiting cell viability than either of the agents alone. The morphological changes associated with significant apoptotic cell death were observed under a fluorescent microscope, strongly supporting the synergistic association between K and F. We also proposed that combining the effects of both polyphenols, as opposed to their individual effects, would increase their in vitro efficacy. Furthermore, we assessed the cell death pathway by the combinational treatment via reactive oxygen species-induced DNA damage and the mitochondrially mediated apoptotic pathway. This study reveals the prominent synergistic role of phytochemicals, which helps in elevating the therapeutic efficacy of dietary nutrients and that anticancer effects may be a result of nutrients that act in concert.
Exploring Oxidoreductases from Extremophiles for Biosynthesis in a Non-Aqueous System
Authors: Wang Shizhen , Lei Hangbin , Ji Zhehui
Published: March 2023

Organic solvent tolerant oxidoreductases are significant for both scientific research and biomanufacturing. However, it is really challenging to obtain oxidoreductases due to the shortages of natural resources and the difficulty to obtained it via protein modification. This review summarizes the recent advances in gene mining and structure-functional study of oxidoreductases from extremophiles for non-aqueous reaction systems. First, new strategies combining genome mining with bioinformatics provide new insights to the discovery and identification of novel extreme oxidoreductases. Second, analysis from the perspectives of amino acid interaction networks explain the organic solvent tolerant mechanism, which regulate the discrete structure-functional properties of extreme oxidoreductases. Third, further study by conservation and co-evolution analysis of extreme oxidoreductases provides new perspectives and strategies for designing robust enzymes for an organic media reaction system. Furthermore, the challenges and opportunities in designing biocatalysis non-aqueous systems are highlighted.
Generating Functional and Highly Proliferative Melanocytes Derived from Human Pluripotent Stem Cells: A Promising Tool for Biotherapeutic Approaches to Treat Skin Pigmentation Disorders
Authors: Saidani Manoubia , Darle Annabelle , Jarrige Margot , Polveche Hélène , El Kassar Lina , Julié Séverine , Bessou-Touya Sandrine , Holic Nathalie , Lemaitre Gilles , Martinat Cécile , Baldeschi Christine , Allouche Jennifer
Published: March 2023

Melanocytes are essential for skin homeostasis and protection, and their loss or misfunction leads to a wide spectrum of diseases. Cell therapy utilizing autologous melanocytes has been used for years as an adjunct treatment for hypopigmentary disorders such as vitiligo. However, these approaches are hindered by the poor proliferative capacity of melanocytes obtained from skin biopsies. Recent advances in the field of human pluripotent stem cells have fueled the prospect of generating melanocytes. Here, we have developed a well-characterized method to produce a pure and homogenous population of functional and proliferative melanocytes. The genetic stability and potential transformation of melanocytes from pluripotent stem cells have been evaluated over time during the in vitro culture process. Thanks to transcriptomic analysis, the molecular signatures all along the differentiation protocol have been characterized, providing a solid basis for standardizing the protocol. Altogether, our results promise meaningful, broadly applicable, and longer-lasting advances for pigmentation disorders and open perspectives for innovative biotherapies for pigment disorders.
Ce3+ Doped Al2O3-YAG Eutectic as an Efficient Light Converter for White LEDs
Authors: Shakhno Anna , Zorenko Tetiana , Witkiewicz-Łukaszek Sandra , Cieszko Mieczysław , Szczepański Zbigniew , Vovk Oleh , Nizhankovskyi Sergii , Siryk Yuriy , Zorenko Yuriy
Published: March 2023

Ce3+ doped Al2O3-YAG eutectics were successfully grown by the horizontal directional crystallization method. The crystallization rate of eutectic growth was changed in the 1–7.5 mm/h range at a growth temperature of 1835 ℃. The microstructure of eutectic samples was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and X-ray microtomography. The intrinsic morphology of eutectic represents the stripe-like channel structure with a random distribution of the garnet Y3Al5O12 (YAG) and Al2O3 (sapphire) phases. The content of these phases in the stripes changes in the 52.9–55.3% and 46.1–47.1% ratios, respectively, depending on the growth rate of the crystallization of the eutectic samples. The luminescent properties of the eutectic demonstrated the dominant Ce3+ luminescence in the garnet phase. The luminescence of the Ce3+ ions in Al2O3 has also been observed and the effective energy transfer processes between Ce3+ ions in the Al2O3 and YAG garnet phases were revealed under high-energy excitation and excitation in the UV Ce3+ absorption bands of sapphire. The phosphor conversion properties and the color characteristics (Al2O3-YAG):Ce eutectic with different thicknesses were investigated under excitation by a blue LED. We have also tested the prototypes of white LEDs, prepared using a blue 450 nm LED chip and (Al2O3-YAG):Ce eutectic photoconverters with 0.15 to 1 mm thicknesses. The results of the tests are promising and can be used for the creation of photoconverters for high-power white LEDs.
Experimental Research on Improving Activity of Calcinated Coal Gangue via Increasing Calcium Content
Authors: Zhao Yanpeng , Zhang Zhongzhe , Ji Yongsheng , Song Lei , Ma Mingming
Published: March 2023

In this investigation, non-spontaneous combustion coal gangue was activated by two methods: (1) low-temperature calcination and (2) calcium addition. Differences in the activity of the activated coal gangue were studied at various calcination temperatures and amounts of calcium addition. Meanwhile, the cementation activity of the activated coal gangue was evaluated according to the activity effect analysis. Furthermore, the influences of the activated coal gangue on the cementation activity of cement were investigated. The results indicated that the activities of the activated coal gangue increased at a temperature between 500 °C and 700 °C. The calcium addition method can also increase the activity of coal gangue, with the effect being better when the gangue is mixed with slag. The addition of calcium and the calcination of coal gangue can promote the production of active minerals such as metakaolin, which is the main reason for the increased cementation activity.
A Hypofractionated Radiotherapy Schedule with a Simultaneous Integrated Boost for Breast Cancer: Outcomes including Late Toxicity and Health Quality
Authors: Akgun Zuleyha , Cakir Aydin , Sağlam Esra , Demirel Sertac , Igci Abdullah , Keskin Serkan
Published: March 2023

Introduction: This study aimed to evaluate the long-term adverse effects on the physical appearance and overall well-being of breast cancer patients who receive hypofractionated radiotherapy as whole breast and simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) treatment, utilizing intensive modulated radiotherapy (IMRT), volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT), or a hybrid therapy approach. Material/Methods: This investigation involved administering hypofractionated SIB-VMAT therapy to individuals diagnosed with early-stage breast cancer. Treatment was carried out over a three-week period in which a total dose of 48.06 Gy was given to the entire breast and 54 Gy was given to the tumor bed. Data on skin toxicity and cosmetic outcomes were analyzed both during the acute phase and during the three-month and five-year follow-up periods after treatment. Results: A total of 125 patients treated between December 2014 and December 2016 were included in the study. The data of these patients with at least 5 years of follow-up were analyzed. Conclusions: Considering these long-term results, hypofractionated SIB-VMAT can be considered a viable treatment choice, even for patients with unfavorable conditions.
Vertical Stress Induced Anomalous Spectral Shift of 13.17° Moiré Superlattice in Twist Bilayer Graphene
Authors: Miao Wenjing , Sheng Hao , Wang Jingang
Published: March 2023

The electronic states of the twist bilayer graphene (TBG) moiré superlattice are usually regulated by the rotation angle, applied electric field, applied magnetic field, carrier concentration and applied stress, and thus exhibit novel physical properties. Squeezing, that is, applying vertical compressive stress to the graphene layers, has profound significance in regulating the photoelectric properties of the moiré superlattice and constructing optical nanodevices. This paper presents the photoelectric properties of a TBG moiré superlattice with a twist angle of 13.17° and tunability under vertical stress. Interlayer distance decreases nonlinearly with compressive stress from 0 to 10 GPa, giving rise to weakened interlayer coupling compared to a Bernal-stacked graphene bilayer and an enhanced repulsive effect between the layers. The calculated Bloch wave functions show a strong dependence on stress. With the increase in stress, the band gaps of the system present a nonlinear increase, which induces and enhances the interlayer charge transfer and leads to the redshift of the absorption spectrum of the moiré superlattice system. By analyzing the differences in the Bloch wave function and charge density differences, we explain the nature of the physical mechanism of photoelectric property change in a stress-regulated twist superlattice system. This study provides a theoretical basis for the identification of piezoelectric properties and the stress regulation of photoelectric devices based on TBG, and also provides a feasible method for regulating the performance of TBG.
Nontargeted Screening for Flavonoids in Salicornia Plant by Reversed-Phase Liquid Chromatography–Electrospray Orbitrap Data-Dependent MS2/MS3
Authors: Parailloux Maroussia , Godin Simon , Lobinski Ryszard
Published: March 2023

The Salicornia genus has great potential in agrifood industries because of its nutritional benefits related to its high content of antioxidant compounds, including flavonoids. A nontargeted method based on reversed-phase liquid chromatography–electrospray orbitrap data-dependent MS2/MS3 and the fragment ion search (FISh) strategy was developed to screen flavonoids in Salicornia plants. An extensive study of fragmentation of a set of flavonoid standards allowed for the definition of 15 characteristic fragment ions for flagging flavonoids in the plant matrix. The nontargeted analysis was applied to Salicornia europaea species and allowed for the annotation of 25 candidate flavonoids, including 14 that had not been reported previously. Structural prediction of two unreported flavonoids and their isomeric forms was based on an advanced data processing method using an in silico approach and in-house databases compiling flavonoid-specific chemical substitution. Finally, the method developed allowed for the optimization of extraction yields of flavonoids from the plant matrix.
Amphiphilic Cyclodextrin Nanoparticles as Delivery System for Idebenone: A Preformulation Study
Authors: De Gaetano Federica , Scala Angela , Celesti Consuelo , Lambertsen Larsen Kim , Genovese Fabio , Bongiorno Corrado , Leggio Loredana , Iraci Nunzio , Iraci Nunzio , Mazzaglia Antonino , Ventura Cinzia Anna
Published: March 2023

Idebenone (IDE), a synthetic short-chain analogue of coenzyme Q10, is a potent antioxidant able to prevent lipid peroxidation and stimulate nerve growth factor. Due to these properties, IDE could potentially be active towards cerebral disorders, but its poor water solubility limits its clinical application. Octanoyl-β-cyclodextrin is an amphiphilic cyclodextrin (ACyD8) bearing, on average, ten octanoyl substituents able to self-assemble in aqueous solutions, forming various typologies of supramolecular nanoassemblies. Here, we developed nanoparticles based on ACyD8 (ACyD8-NPs) for the potential intranasal administration of IDE to treat neurological disorders, such as Alzheimer’s Disease. Nanoparticles were prepared using the nanoprecipitation method and were characterized for their size, zeta potential and morphology. STEM images showed spherical particles, with smooth surfaces and sizes of about 100 nm, suitable for the proposed therapeutical aim. The ACyD8-NPs effectively loaded IDE, showing a high encapsulation efficiency and drug loading percentage. To evaluate the host/guest interaction, UV-vis titration, mono- and two-dimensional NMR analyses, and molecular modeling studies were performed. IDE showed a high affinity for the ACyD8 cavity, forming a 1:1 inclusion complex with a high association constant. A biphasic and sustained release of IDE was observed from the ACyD8-NPs, and, after a burst effect of about 40%, the release was prolonged over 10 days. In vitro studies confirmed the lack of toxicity of the IDE/ACyD8-NPs on neuronal SH-SY5Y cells, and they demonstrated their antioxidant effect upon H2O2 exposure, as a general source of ROS.
Menin–MLL1 Interaction Small Molecule Inhibitors: A Potential Therapeutic Strategy for Leukemia and Cancers
Authors: Shi Qing , Xu Meiqi , Kang Zhijian , Zhang Manjie , Luo Yakun
Published: March 2023

Encoded by the MEN1 gene, menin protein is a fusion protein that is essential for the oncogenic transformation of mixed-lineage leukemia (MLL) and leads to acute leukemia (AL). Therefore, accumulating evidence has demonstrated that inhibition of the high-affinity relationship between menin and mixed-lineage leukemia 1 (MLL1 and KMT2A) is an effective treatment for MLL-rearranged (MLL-r) leukemia in vitro and in vivo. Meanwhile, recent studies found that menin–MLL1 interaction inhibitors exhibited a firm tumor suppressive ability in specific cancer cells, such as prostate cancer, breast cancer, liver cancer, and lung cancer. Overall, it seems to serve as a novel therapeutic means for cancers. Herein, we review the recent progress in exploring the inhibitors of small molecule menin–MLL1 interactions. The molecular mechanisms of these inhibitors’ functions and their application prospects in the treatment of AL and cancers are explored.
Concerning the Epistemology of Design: The Role of the Eco-Cognitive Model of Abduction in Pragmatism
Authors: Sans Pinillos Alger , Estany Anna
Published: March 2023

Design has usually been linked to art and applied in scenarios related to everyday life. Even when design has, on occasion, made its way into the world of academia, it has always been closely linked to art and scenarios related everyday life. At last, however, the idea of design has reached the field of epistemology: an area within the very heart of philosophy that has always focused, in theory, on the foundations of knowledge. Consequently, design is being studied from different approaches interested in the foundation of knowledge, theoretical and practical. This is one of the reasons why abduction and pragmatism have been considered relevant from a design perspective. This paper first shows the main features of abduction and pragmatism, describes their evolution and considers their mutual implications. Second, the epistemology of design is analysed considering its most relevant characteristics. Third, the connection between abduction and, on the one hand, pragmatism and, on the other, design epistemology is addressed. Finally, the role of abductive inference in grounding a real epistemology for design theory from the naturalised cognitive perspective of abduction is outlined. The central proposition is that this approach is essential as a methodological innovation, as it allows us to analyse both the inquiry process and the design process as interdependent when dealing with practical problems of a social and cultural nature. This approach allows us to analyse how human actions determine changes in the theoretical framework from which we make our inquiry. In short, the world is an open-ended project that humans design through our daily inquiry.
Cyberterrorism and Religious Fundamentalism: New Challenges for Europe in the Age of Universal Internet Access
Authors: Baldassarre Silvia
Published: March 2023

Digital technology is now a fundamental and indispensable component of daily life. While the great opportunities offered by cyberspace are undoubted, the growing security challenges and threats it brings should not be overlooked. Cyberspace, by its nature transnational and elusive regarding forms of control, is useful to terrorism because it allows not only the propaganda of fundamentalist doctrines but also the creation and manipulation of information; the apology and dissemination of information instrumental to the processes of radicalisation; the use of devices capable of transversally violating the security of technical and virtual infrastructures that are critical to the security of nations; the operational planning of terrorist activities; and the recruitment, financing, and training of recruits. The so-called “new terrorism”, religiously motivated, makes extensive use of the digital tool. After an excursus concerning the use of cyberspace by religious fundamentalist groups and the transformation of religiously motivated terrorism, this paper focuses on the analysis of the European legal response and on the need for global and shared European action.
Extreme-Low-Speed Heavy Load Bearing Fault Diagnosis by Using Improved RepVGG and Acoustic Emission Signals
Authors: Jiang Peng , Sun Wenyu , Li Wei , Wang Hongyu , Liu Cong
Published: March 2023

With the worldwide carbon neutralization boom, low-speed heavy load bearings have been widely used in the field of wind power. Bearing failure generates impulses when the rolling element passes the cracked surface of the bearing. Over the past decade, acoustic emission (AE) techniques have been used to detect failure signals. However, the high sampling rates of AE signals make it difficult to design and extract fault features; thus, deep neural network-based approaches have been proposed. In this paper, we proposed an improved RepVGG bearing fault diagnosis technique. The normalized and noise-reduced bearing signals were first converted into Mel frequency cepstrum coefficients (MFCCs) and then inputted into the model. In addition, the exponential moving average method was used to optimize the model and improve its accuracy. Data were extracted from the test bench and wind turbine main shaft bearing. Four damage classes were studied experimentally. The experimental results demonstrated that the improved RepVGG model could be employed for classifying low-speed heavy load bearing states by using MFCCs. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the proposed model was assessed by performing comparisons with existing models.
Efficient Authentication Scheme for 5G-Enabled Vehicular Networks Using Fog Computing
Authors: Al-Mekhlafi Zeyad Ghaleb , Al-Shareeda Mahmood A. , Manickam Selvakumar , Mohammed Badiea Abdulkarem , Alreshidi Abdulrahman , Alazmi Meshari , Alshudukhi Jalawi Sulaiman , Alsaffar Mohammad , Rassem Taha H.
Published: March 2023

Several researchers have proposed secure authentication techniques for addressing privacy and security concerns in the fifth-generation (5G)-enabled vehicle networks. To verify vehicles, however, these conditional privacy-preserving authentication (CPPA) systems required a roadside unit, an expensive component of vehicular networks. Moreover, these CPPA systems incur exceptionally high communication and processing costs. This study proposes a CPPA method based on fog computing (FC), as a solution for these issues in 5G-enabled vehicle networks. In our proposed FC-CPPA method, a fog server is used to establish a set of public anonymity identities and their corresponding signature keys, which are then preloaded into each authentic vehicle. We guarantee the security of the proposed FC-CPPA method in the context of a random oracle. Our solutions are not only compliant with confidentiality and security standards, but also resistant to a variety of threats. The communication costs of the proposal are only 84 bytes, while the computation costs are 0.0031, 2.0185 to sign and verify messages. Comparing our strategy to similar ones reveals that it saves time and money on communication and computing during the performance evaluation phase.
Control of a Production Manipulator with the Use of BCI in Conjunction with an Industrial PLC
Authors: Borkin Dmitrii , Nemethova Andrea , Nemeth Martin , Tanuska Pavol
Published: March 2023

Research in the field of gathering and analyzing biological signals is growing. The sensors are becoming more available and more non-invasive for examining such signals, which in the past required the inconvenient acquisition of data. This was achieved mainly by the fact that biological sensors were able to be built into wearable and portable devices. The representation and analysis of EEGs (electroencephalograms) is nowadays commonly used in various application areas. The application of the use of the EEG signals to the field of automation is still an unexplored area and therefore provides opportunities for interesting research. In our research, we focused on the area of processing automation; especially the use of the EEG signals to bridge the communication between control of individual processes and a human. In this study, the real-time communication between a PLC (programmable logic controller) and BCI (brain computer interface) was investigated and described. In the future, this approach can help people with physical disabilities to control certain machines or devices and therefore it could find applicability in overcoming physical disabilities. The main contribution of the article is, that we have demonstrated the possibility of interaction between a person and a manipulator controlled by a PLC with the help of a BCI. Potentially, with the expansion of functionality, such solutions will allow a person with physical disabilities to participate in the production process.
Three-Dimensional Human Pose Estimation from Sparse IMUs through Temporal Encoder and Regression Decoder
Authors: Liao Xianhua , Dong Jiayan , Song Kangkang , Xiao Jiangjian
Published: March 2023

Three-dimensional (3D) pose estimation has been widely used in many three-dimensional human motion analysis applications, where inertia-based path estimation is gradually being adopted. Systems based on commercial inertial measurement units (IMUs) usually rely on dense and complex wearable sensors and time-consuming calibration, causing intrusions to the subject and hindering free body movement. The sparse IMUs-based method has drawn research attention recently. Existing sparse IMUs-based three-dimensional pose estimation methods use neural networks to obtain human poses from temporal feature information. However, these methods still suffer from issues, such as body shaking, body tilt, and movement ambiguity. This paper presents an approach to improve three-dimensional human pose estimation by fusing temporal and spatial features. Based on a multistage encoder–decoder network, a temporal convolutional encoder and human kinematics regression decoder were designed. The final three-dimensional pose was predicted from the temporal feature information and human kinematic feature information. Extensive experiments were conducted on two benchmark datasets for three-dimensional human pose estimation. Compared to state-of-the-art methods, the mean per joint position error was decreased by 13.6% and 19.4% on the total capture and DIP-IMU datasets, respectively. The quantitative comparison demonstrates that the proposed temporal information and human kinematic topology can improve pose accuracy.
An Asynchronous Collision-Tolerant ACRDA Scheme Based on Satellite-Selection Collaboration-Beamforming for LEO Satellite IoT Networks
Authors: Hong Tao , Liu Rui , Liu Ziwei , Ding Xiaojin , Zhang Gengxin
Published: March 2023

In this paper, an asynchronous collision-tolerant ACRDA scheme based on satellite-selection collaboration-beamforming (SC-ACRDA) is proposed to solve the avalanche effect caused by packet collision under random access (RA) high load in the low earth orbit (LEO) satellite Internet of Things (IoT) networks. A non-convex optimization problem is formulated to realize the satellite selection problem in multi-satellite collaboration-beamforming. To solve this problem, we employ the Charnes-Cooper transformation to transform a convex optimization problem. In addition, an iterative binary search algorithm is also designed to obtain the optimization parameter. Furthermore, we present a signal processing flow combined with ACRDA protocol and serial interference cancellation (SIC) to solve the packet collision problem effectively in the gateway station. Simulation results show that the proposed SC-ACRDA scheme can effectively solve the avalanche effect and improve the performance of the RA protocol in LEO satellite IoT networks compared with benchmark problems.
Context-Aware Lossless and Lossy Compression of Radio Frequency Signals
Authors: Martí Aniol , Portell Jordi , Riba Jaume , Mas Orestes
Published: March 2023

We propose an algorithm based on linear prediction that can perform both the lossless and near-lossless compression of RF signals. The proposed algorithm is coupled with two signal detection methods to determine the presence of relevant signals and apply varying levels of loss as needed. The first method uses spectrum sensing techniques, while the second one takes advantage of the error computed in each iteration of the Levinson–Durbin algorithm. These algorithms have been integrated as a new pre-processing stage into FAPEC, a data compressor first designed for space missions. We test the lossless algorithm using two different datasets. The first one was obtained from OPS-SAT, an ESA CubeSat, while the second one was obtained using a SDRplay RSPdx in Barcelona, Spain. The results show that our approach achieves compression ratios that are 23% better than gzip (on average) and very similar to those of FLAC, but at higher speeds. We also assess the performance of our signal detectors using the second dataset. We show that high ratios can be achieved thanks to the lossy compression of the segments without any relevant signal.
Intrusion Detection System CAN-Bus In-Vehicle Networks Based on the Statistical Characteristics of Attacks
Authors: Khan Junaid , Lim Dae-Woon , Kim Young-Sik
Published: March 2023

For in-vehicle network communication, the controller area network (CAN) broadcasts to all connected nodes without address validation. Therefore, it is highly vulnerable to all sorts of attack scenarios. This research proposes a novel intrusion detection system (IDS) for CAN to identify in-vehicle network anomalies. The statistical characteristics of attacks provide valuable information about the inherent intrusion patterns and behaviors. We employed two real-world attack scenarios from publicly available datasets to record a real-time response against intrusions with increased precision for in-vehicle network environments. Our proposed IDS can exploit malicious patterns by calculating thresholds and using the statistical properties of attacks, making attack detection more efficient. The optimized threshold value is calculated using brute-force optimization for various window sizes to minimize the total error. The reference values of normality require a few legitimate data frames for effective intrusion detection. The experimental findings validate that our suggested method can efficiently detect fuzzy, merge, and denial-of-service (DoS) attacks with low false-positive rates. It is also demonstrated that the total error decreases with an increasing attack rate for varying window sizes. The results indicate that our proposed IDS minimizes the misclassification rate and is hence better suited for in-vehicle networks.