bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development of Quinary Layered Double Hydroxide-Derived High-Entropy Oxides for Toluene Catalytic Removal
Authors: Xue Tianshan , Wang Yiping , Yang Li , Li Zhe , Gao Yanshan , Wang Qiang
Published: January 2023

In this work, a novel method for the preparation of high-entropy oxides (HEO) was successfully developed using multivariate composition layered double hydroxides (LDHs) as precursor. Thermal treatment over 600 °C led to the complete transformation of LDHs to single spinel phase HEOs. The performance of the obtained HEO catalysts in the removal of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) was studied with the catalytic oxidation of toluene as the probe reaction. The optimized HEO-600 catalyst showed impressive activity and stability over toluene catalytic oxidation, which resulted from the vast quantity of surface oxygen vacancies and the relative variable metal valence. The T50 and T90 values of HEO-600 were 246 and 254 °C, and the T90 value only presented a slight increase to 265 °C after a 10-cycle test. This work developed a simple way to obtain HEO materials and provide technical support for the application of HEO catalysts for VOCs removal.
Selectivity in the Aliphatic C–H Bonds Oxidation (Hydroxylation) Catalyzed by Heme- and Non-Heme Metal Complexes—Recent Advances
Authors: Siedlecka Renata
Published: January 2023

The oxyfunctionalization of non-activated C-H bonds has attracted considerable attention for several years. Following the example of enzymatic systems, a multitude of catalytic systems capable of carrying out such a transformation efficiently and selectively have been described. The great discoveries in this area were described at the beginning of the 21st century, but due to the growing demand for precise syntheses (e.g., for the needs of the pharmaceutical industry), new solutions or new applications for already known catalytic systems are constantly being sought. This review article summarizes the development of metal complex-catalyzed selective functionalization of saturated C-H bonds since 2010. However, brief references to previous studies are also made for clarity. There is a huge amount of literature reports in this area, so we intend to highlight only the most important findings in the selective hydroxylation of saturated C–H bonds. Their practical applications in synthesis will also be pointed out.
Shared and Related Molecular Targets and Actions of Salicylic Acid in Plants and Humans
Authors: Ding Yuanyuan , Fan Baofang , Zhu Cheng , Chen Zhixiang
Published: January 2023

Salicylic acid (SA) is a phenolic compound produced by all plants that has an important role in diverse processes of plant growth and stress responses. SA is also the principal metabolite of aspirin and is responsible for many of the anti-inflammatory, cardioprotective and antitumor activities of aspirin. As a result, the number of identified SA targets in both plants and humans is large and continues to increase. These SA targets include catalases/peroxidases, metabolic enzymes, protein kinases and phosphatases, nucleosomal and ribosomal proteins and regulatory and signaling proteins, which mediate the diverse actions of SA in plants and humans. While some of these SA targets and actions are unique to plants or humans, many others are conserved or share striking similarities in the two types of organisms, which underlie a host of common biological processes that are regulated or impacted by SA. In this review, we compare shared and related SA targets and activities to highlight the common nature of actions by SA as a hormone in plants versus a therapeutic agent in humans. The cross examination of SA targets and activities can help identify new actions of SA and better explain their underlying mechanisms in plants and humans.
Autophagy Activation Associates with Suppression of Prion Protein and Improved Mitochondrial Status in Glioblastoma Cells
Authors: Lenzi Paola , Busceti Carla L. , Lazzeri Gloria , Ferese Rosangela , Biagioni Francesca , Salvetti Alessandra , Pompili Elena , De Franchis Valerio , Puglisi-Allegra Stefano , Frati Alessandro , Ferrucci Michela , Fornai Francesco
Published: January 2023

Cells from glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) feature up-regulation of the mechanistic Target of Rapamycin (mTOR), which brings deleterious effects on malignancy and disease course. At the cellular level, up-regulation of mTOR affects a number of downstream pathways and suppresses autophagy, which is relevant for the neurobiology of GBM. In fact, autophagy acts on several targets, such as protein clearance and mitochondrial status, which are key in promoting the malignancy GBM. A defective protein clearance extends to cellular prion protein (PrPc). Recent evidence indicates that PrPc promotes stemness and alters mitochondrial turnover. Therefore, the present study measures whether in GBM cells abnormal amount of PrPc and mitochondrial alterations are concomitant in baseline conditions and whether they are reverted by mTOR inhibition. Proteins related to mitochondrial turnover were concomitantly assessed. High amounts of PrPc and altered mitochondria were both mitigated dose-dependently by the mTOR inhibitor rapamycin, which produced a persistent activation of the autophagy flux and shifted proliferating cells from S to G1 cell cycle phase. Similarly, mTOR suppression produces a long-lasting increase of proteins promoting mitochondrial turnover, including Pink1/Parkin. These findings provide novel evidence about the role of autophagy in the neurobiology of GBM.
Polydatin Inhibits Hepatocellular Carcinoma Cell Proliferation and Sensitizes Doxorubicin and Cisplatin through Targeting Cell Mitotic Machinery
Authors: Farooq Umar , Wang Hao , Hu Jingru , Li Guangyue , Jehan Shah , Shi Jinming , Li Dangdang , Sui Guangchao
Published: January 2023

Polydatin (PD) is a natural compound with anticancer activities, but the underlying mechanisms remain largely unclear. To understand how PD inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), we studied PD treatments in HCC HepG2 and SK-HEP1 cells, and normal liver HL-7702 cells. PD selectively blocked the proliferation of HCC cells but showed low toxicity in normal cells, while the effects of doxorubicin (DOX) and cisplatin (DDP) on HCC and normal liver cells were opposite. In the cotreatment studies, PD synergistically improved the inhibitory activities of DOX and DDP in HCC cells but alleviated their toxicity in HL-7702 cells. Furthermore, RNA-seq studies of PD-treated HepG2 cells revealed multiple altered signaling pathways. We identified 1679 Differentially Expressed Genes (DEGs) with over a 2.0-fold change in response to PD treatment. Integrative analyses using the DEGs in PD-treated HepG2 cells and DEGs in a TCGA dataset of HCC patients revealed five PD-repressed DEGs regulating mitotic spindle midzone formation. The expression of these genes showed significantly positive correlation with poor clinical outcomes of HCC patients, suggesting that mitotic machinery was likely a primary target of PD. Our findings improve the understanding of PD’s anticancer mechanisms and provide insights into developing effective clinical approaches in HCC therapies.
Regulation of Tau Expression in Superior Cervical Ganglion (SCG) Neurons In Vivo and In Vitro
Authors: Jin Ying , Connors Theresa , Bouyer Julien , Fischer Itzhak
Published: January 2023

The superior cervical ganglion (SCG) is part of the autonomic nervous system providing sympathetic innervation to the head and neck, and has been regularly used to prepare postnatal neuronal cultures for cell biological studies. We found that during development these neurons change tau expression from the low molecular weight (LMW) isoforms to Big tau, with the potential to affect functions associated with tau such as microtubule dynamic and axonal transport. Big tau contains the large 4a exon that transforms tau from LMW isoforms of 45–60 kDa to 110 kDa. We describe tau expression during postnatal development reporting that the transition from LMW tau to Big tau which started at late embryonic stages is completed by about 4–5 weeks postnatally. We confirmed the presence of Big tau in dissociated postnatal SCG neurons making them an ideal system to study the function of Big tau in neurons. We used SCG explants to examine the response of SCG neurons to lesion and found that Big tau expression returned gradually along the regrowing neurites suggesting that it does not drives regeneration, but facilitates the structure/function of mature SCG neurons. The structural/functional roles of Big tau remain unknown, but it is intriguing that neurons that express Big tau appear less vulnerable to tauopathies.
Loss of the Immunomodulatory Transcription Factor BATF2 in Humans Is Associated with a Neurological Phenotype
Authors: Zsurka Gábor , Appel Maximilian L. T. , Nastaly Maximilian , Hallmann Kerstin , Hansen Niels , Nass Daniel , Baumgartner Tobias , Surges Rainer , Hartmann Gunther , Bartok Eva , Kunz Wolfram S.
Published: January 2023

Epilepsy and mental retardation are known to be associated with pathogenic mutations in a broad range of genes that are expressed in the brain and have a role in neurodevelopment. Here, we report on a family with three affected individuals whose clinical symptoms closely resemble a neurodevelopmental disorder. Whole-exome sequencing identified a homozygous stop-gain mutation, p.Gln19*, in the BATF2 gene in the patients. The BATF2 transcription factor is predominantly expressed in macrophages and monocytes and has been reported to modulate AP-1 transcription factor-mediated pro-inflammatory responses. Transcriptome analysis showed altered base-level expression of interferon-stimulated genes in the patients’ blood, typical for type I interferonopathies. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells from all three patients demonstrated elevated responses to innate immune stimuli, which could be reproduced in CRISPR–Cas9-generated BATF2−/− human monocytic cell lines. BATF2 is, therefore, a novel disease-associated gene candidate for severe epilepsy and mental retardation related to dysregulation of immune responses, which underscores the relevance of neuroinflammation for epilepsy.
MIA/CD-RAP Regulates MMP13 and Is a Potential New Disease-Modifying Target for Osteoarthritis Therapy
Authors: Staebler Sebastian , Lichtblau Adrian , Gurbiel Slavyana , Schubert Thomas , Riechers Alexander , Rottensteiner-Brandl Ulrike , Bosserhoff Anja
Published: January 2023

Melanoma inhibitory activity/cartilage-derived retinoicacid-sensitive protein (MIA/CD-RAP) is a protein expressed and secreted by chondrocytes and cartilaginous tissues. MIA/CD-RAP-deficient mice develop milder osteoarthritis than wildtype mice. In this study, we investigated MIA/CD-RAP downstream targets to explain this reduced disease development. As a possible mediator, we could detect matrix metalloproteinase 13 (MMP13), and the influence of MIA/CD-RAP on MMP13 regulation was analyzed in vitro using SW1353 chondrosarcoma cells and primary chondrocytes. The femoral head cartilage of WT and MIA/CD-RAP −/− mice were cultured ex vivo to further investigate MMP13 activity. Finally, osteoarthritis was surgically induced via DMM in C57BL/6 mice, and the animals were treated with an MIA/CD-RAP inhibitory peptide by subcutaneously implanted pellets. MMP13 was regulated by MIA/CD-RAP in SW1353 cells, and MIA/CD-RAP −/− murine chondrocytes showed less expression of MMP13. Further, IL-1β-treated MIA/CD-RAP −/− chondrocytes displayed less MMP13 expression and activity. Additionally, MIA/CD-RAP-deficient ex vivo cultured cartilage explants showed less MMP13 activity as well as reduced cartilage degradation. The mice treated with the MIA/CD-RAP inhibitory peptide showed less osteoarthritis development. Our findings revealed MIA/CD-RAP as a new regulator of MMP13 and highlighted its role as a potential new target for osteoarthritis therapy.
Near-Infrared-Emitting Meso-Substituted Heptamethine Cyanine Dyes: From the Synthesis and Photophysics to Their Use in Bioimaging
Authors: Reimann Louise Kommers , Fortes Daniela de Souza , Santos Fabiano da Silveira , Silva Junior Henrique de Castro , Morás Ana Moira , Moura Dinara Jaqueline , Duarte Rodrigo da Costa , Rodembusch Fabiano Severo
Published: January 2023

Heptamethine cyanine dyes were synthesized in good yields by the reaction between quaternary indoles and a pentamethinic salt, under mild reaction conditions minimizing photooxidation. These compounds were used as precursors to prepare meso-substituted derivatives. The cyanine dye precursors presented UV-Vis absorption, related to fully allowed electronic transitions and fluorescence emission in the NIR region, without any evidence of aggregation in both ground and excited states. The substitution at the meso position showed a fundamental role in their photophysics, with the main absorption in the green-orange region related to the monomeric species. Moreover, the excited state photophysics presented emission profiles dependent on the excitation wavelengths, complicating the correlation of spectroscopy and structure. Density Functional Theory and OO-SCS-MP2 calculations under different solvation conditions revealed the heavy impact of conjugation effects on ground and excited states’ geometries and electronic configurations of these compounds. Finally, the observed photophysical features of the meso-substituted heptamethine cyanine dyes were successfully used to explore their application as fluorescent probes in biological media, allowing stable staining in live and fixed cells.
Multistage Spatial Attention-Based Neural Network for Hand Gesture Recognition
Authors: Miah Abu Saleh Musa , Hasan Md. Al Mehedi , Shin Jungpil , Okuyama Yuichi , Tomioka Yoichi
Published: January 2023

The definition of human-computer interaction (HCI) has changed in the current year because people are interested in their various ergonomic devices ways. Many researchers have been working to develop a hand gesture recognition system with a kinetic sensor-based dataset, but their performance accuracy is not satisfactory. In our work, we proposed a multistage spatial attention-based neural network for hand gesture recognition to overcome the challenges. We included three stages in the proposed model where each stage is inherited the CNN; where we first apply a feature extractor and a spatial attention module by using self-attention from the original dataset and then multiply the feature vector with the attention map to highlight effective features of the dataset. Then, we explored features concatenated with the original dataset for obtaining modality feature embedding. In the same way, we generated a feature vector and attention map in the second stage with the feature extraction architecture and self-attention technique. After multiplying the attention map and features, we produced the final feature, which feeds into the third stage, a classification module to predict the label of the correspondent hand gesture. Our model achieved 99.67%, 99.75%, and 99.46% accuracy for the senz3D, Kinematic, and NTU datasets.
Embracing [XY3]m– and [XY4]m– Anions in Salts of [M(bpy)3]q+
Authors: Constable Edwin C. , Housecroft Catherine E.
Published: January 2023

[M(bpy)3]q+ cations (bpy = 2,2′-bipyridine) are archetypical coordination entities containing chelating bidentate N,N′-donor ligands. Each propeller-shaped cation is chiral, existing as a Δ or Λ enantiomer. The supramolecular chemistry of [M(bpy)3]q+ cations in the crystal is dominated by cation-anion interactions and, to a lesser extent, weaker non-covalent interactions. Analysis of the data for [M(bpy)3]q+ salts in the Cambridge Structural Database (CSD) reveals a ubiquitous motif in which homochiral sheets of cations generate cavities for the accommodation of anions. A series of related and common motifs in the solid-state structures of [M(bpy)3]q+ salts has been identified. One of the commonest motifs comprises a hexagon of six cations with anions either in the center or lying above and/or below the centroid.
Trichotorquatus salinus sp. nov. (Oculatellaceae, Cyanobacteria) from a Saltern of Gomso, Republic of Korea
Authors: Lee Nam-Ju , Kim Do-Hyun , Kim Jee-Hwan , Lim An Suk , Lee Ok-Min
Published: January 2023

Six strains of subaerial cyanobacteria were isolated from a Gomso saltern in the Republic of Korea, all of which were studied using morphological and molecular traits. Trichotorquatus salinus sp. nov. was studied using a light microscope (LM), transmission electron microscope (TEM), 16S rRNA, 16S–23S ITS region, and ecological data. T. salinus is a thin and simple filament with a false branch and a firm collar sheath. The phylogenetic analyses of 16S rRNA revealed that Trichotorquatus formed a monophyletic lineage and the strains of T. salinus formed a distinct clade among the species in the genus Trichotorquatus. In the statistical analysis, the inter-species genetic distance of the five species of Trichotorquatus, including T. salinus, is shown to be greater than the distance of the previously reported species of Trichotorquatus. Additionally, 16S–23S ITS gene sequences between T. salinus and four species of Trichotorquatus showed dissimilarities of 55.3–59.4%. In the secondary structure of 16S–23S ITS region (type 2 operon), D1–D1′, Box-B, and V3 helix of T. salinus were different from the other taxa in the genus Trichotorquatus. These results demonstrate that T. salinus sp. nov. has unique morphological, ecological, and molecular traits. Therefore, we propose that T. salinus sp. nov. is a novel species belonging to the genus Trichotorquatus.
Morphology of Streptocara crassicauda and S. recta, with a Review of the Genus Streptocara (Nematoda: Acuariidae) and an Identification Key to Its Species
Authors: Mutafchiev Yasen , Georgiev Boyko B.
Published: January 2023

The cosmopolitan genus Streptocara Railliet, Henry and Sisoff, 1912 (Nematoda: Acuariidae) comprises parasites of the upper alimentary tract of aquatic and, rarely, terrestrial birds. Two species of the genus Streptocara are redescribed from Bulgaria by means of light and scanning electron microscopy: Streptocara crassicauda (Creplin, 1829), based on specimens from Larus genei, Larus minutus (Laridae) and Aythya ferina (Anatidae), and Streptocara recta (von Linstow, 1879) from Podiceps nigricollis (Podicipedidae). This is the first record of S. recta from Bulgaria. The host and distribution records of the species of the genus Streptocara are reviewed. Six species are recognised as valid. Streptocara crassicauda (Creplin, 1829), S. californica (Gedoelst, 1919), S. formosensis Sugimoto, 1930 and S. incognita Gibson, 1968, seem to be parasites well-adapted to birds of the family Anatidae (Anseriformes) and occasionally found in other birds, whereas S. recta (von Linstow, 1879) and S. longispiculata Gibson, 1968, are specialists of Podicipediformes and Gaviiformes, respectively. Streptocara indica Fotedar and Chishti, 1974, is recognised as a junior synonym of S. crassicauda, and Schistogendra oligopapillata Zhang and An, 2002, is considered as a junior synonym of Streptocara formosensis Sugimoto, 1930. An identification key to the species of the genus Streptocara is proposed.
Towards a Smarter Urban Park: Busan Citizens Park
Authors: Jun Jinhyun
Published: January 2023

Among various types of external space, a park, which is a critical urban public infrastructure, must be planned and redeveloped as a smart park that can reflect new technologies rather than being designed and managed in a traditional way. This study sets Busan Citizens Park, a representative urban park of Busan in Korea, as a case study site and presents guidelines for transforming the existing park into a smart park. To set the direction for presenting the guideline for park smartization, the role and function of desirable urban park in the 4th industrial age are defined. After that, smart technologies concerning park management are comprehensively organized through precedent project studies and literature research to examine the applicability of smart technologies. Based on the information obtained through field surveys, manager interviews, specialist interviews, and literature review, the management and usage status of Busan Citizens Park are identified. In order to improve Busan Citizens Park into a smart urban park, we propose smart technologies that can be applied to five components of the park: furnishings and facilities, water, green space, pavement and roads, and users. This study also suggests ways to distinguish management as urban and local dimensions by categorizing the hierarchy of technologies as urban, park, and facility scale. In conclusion, this presents guidelines for the introduction of next-generation technologies that can be applied to urban parks as a way to actively respond to changes that have already begun.
Accuracy of Non-Invasive Prenatal Testing for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy in Families at Risk: A Systematic Review
Authors: Zaninović Luca , Bašković Marko , Ježek Davor , Katušić Bojanac Ana
Published: January 2023

Background: Methodological advancements, such as relative haplotype and relative mutation dosage analyses, have enabled non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of autosomal recessive and X-linked diseases. Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is an X-linked recessive disease characterized by progressive proximal muscular dystrophy and a high mortality rate before the age of twenty. We aimed to systematically present obtainable data regarding a non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of DMD and provide a comprehensive resume on the topic. The emphasis was given to the comparison of different available protocols and molecular methods used for fetal inheritance deduction, as well as their correlation with prognostic accuracy. Methods: We searched the Scopus and PubMed databases on 11 November 2022 and included articles reporting a non-invasive prenatal diagnosis of DMD in families at risk using relative dosage analysis methods. Results: Of the 342 articles identified, 7 met the criteria. The reported accuracy of NIPT for DMD was 100% in all of the studies except one, which demonstrated an accuracy of 86.67%. The combined accuracy for studies applying indirect RHDO, direct RHDO, and RMD approaches were 94.74%, 100%, and 100%, respectively. Confirmatory results by invasive testing were available in all the cases. Regardless of the technological complexity and low prevalence of the disease that reduces the opportunity for systematic research, the presented work demonstrates substantial accuracy of NIPT for DMD. Conclusions: Attempts for its implementation into everyday clinical practice raise many ethical and social concerns. It is essential to provide detailed guidelines and arrange genetic counseling in order to ensure the proper indications for testing and obtain informed parental consent.
Diagnostic Principles for Chronic Gastritis Associated with Duodenogastric Reflux
Authors: Livzan Maria A. , Mozgovoi Sergei I. , Gaus Olga V. , Bordin Dmitry S. , Kononov Alexei V.
Published: January 2023

This article systematizes available data from the literature on biliary gastritis (BG) in order to increase the awareness of specialists about the latest possibilities for diagnosing the disease. BG occurs as a result of pathological duodenogastric reflux. In patients with a preserved duodenogastric junction, the dominant factor is represented by motor disorders of the upper digestive tract (primary biliary gastritis), while in patients recovering from surgical interventions it is represented by structural changes (secondary biliary gastritis). Progressive BG can lead to atrophy of the gastric mucosa, intestinal metaplasia, epithelial dysplasia, and eventually to gastric cancer. Diagnostic methods for BG are carried out to identify risk factors, exclude alarm symptoms and identify persistent motor disorders and pathological reflux (24 h pH-impedancemetry, hepatobiliary scintigraphy, 24 h monitoring of bilirubin content in the reflux using a Bilitec 2000 photometer), as well as to diagnose gastritis itself (esophagogastroduodenoscopy, morphological gastrobiopsy examination). The diagnosis of BG should be based on a multidisciplinary approach that combines a thorough analysis of a patient’s complaints, an anamnesis of the disease, and the results of endoscopic and histological research methods.
The Classification of Common Macular Diseases Using Deep Learning on Optical Coherence Tomography Images with and without Prior Automated Segmentation
Authors: Kaothanthong Natsuda , Limwattanayingyong Jirawut , Silpa-archa Sukhum , Tadarati Mongkol , Amphornphruet Atchara , Singhanetr Panisa , Lalitwongsa Pawas , Chantangphol Pantid , Amornpetchsathaporn Anyarak , Chainakul Methaphon , Ruamviboonsuk Paisan
Published: January 2023

We compared the performance of deep learning (DL) in the classification of optical coherence tomography (OCT) images of macular diseases between automated classification alone and in combination with automated segmentation. OCT images were collected from patients with neovascular age-related macular degeneration, polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy, diabetic macular edema, retinal vein occlusion, cystoid macular edema in Irvine-Gass syndrome, and other macular diseases, along with the normal fellow eyes. A total of 14,327 OCT images were used to train DL models. Three experiments were conducted: classification alone (CA), use of automated segmentation of the OCT images by RelayNet, and the graph-cut technique before the classification (combination method 1 (CM1) and 2 (CM2), respectively). For validation of classification of the macular diseases, the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CA were found at 62.55%, 95.16%, and 93.14%, respectively, whereas the sensitivity, specificity, and accuracy of CM1 were found at 72.90%, 96.20%, and 93.92%, respectively, and of CM2 at 71.36%, 96.42%, and 94.80%, respectively. The accuracy of CM2 was statistically higher than that of CA (p = 0.05878). All three methods achieved AUC at 97%. Applying DL for segmentation of OCT images prior to classification of the images by another DL model may improve the performance of the classification.
Serotonin and Melatonin in Human Lower Gastrointestinal Tract
Authors: Vaccaro Rosa , Casini Arianna , Severi Carola , Lamazza Antonietta , Pronio Annamaria , Palma Rossella
Published: January 2023

Background and Aims. Melatonin is a ubiquitous hormone produced not only by the pineal gland but also by other organs and tissues. It is involved in the regulation of several gastrointestinal functions. The main cells responsible for the production and release of extrapineal melatonin are the enterochromaffin (EC) cells that produce serotonin. They are involved in the pathogenesis of neuromotor disorders that characterize functional gastrointestinal disorders and in the pathophysiology of inflammatory intestinal diseases. Our aim was the immunohistochemical highlighting on biopsy samples of normal gastrointestinal mucosa and in ulcerative colitis (UC) of immunoreactive cells for melatonin and serotonin in order to identify any differences in their distribution. Materials and Methods. Our prospective case-control study involves the highlighting on human mucosal biopsies of immunoreactive cells for melatonin and serotonin. All patients undergoing colonoscopy + ileoscopy were considered eligible for the study, divided into two groups: 1. patients with active ulcerative colitis (UC); 2. control group consisting of patients undergoing endoscopic examination for colorectal cancer screening. Results. Twenty-one patients were enrolled. The controls had a higher concentration of EC cells containing 5HT particularly in the rectum (p value ≤ 0.05). In patients with active colitis the expression of 5-HT-iR was greater in all tracts of the colon. The correlation analysis in UC patients shows that a higher expression of 5-HT-iR+ cells corresponds to a lower extension of the disease and a greater severity of the same. Conclusions. 5HT+ cells decreased in the case of UC compared to healthy controls. In the severe disease, there was an increase in the expression of melatonin-secreting cells, probably as a compensatory response to the inflammation and oxidative stress. This increase is negatively correlated with the extent of the disease and positively with the severity of the same.
Factors Associated with Risk of Diabulimia in Greek Adult Population with Type 1 Diabetes Mellitus
Authors: Apergi Kiriaki , Romanidou Maria , Abdelkhalek Hesham , Gonidakis Fragiskos
Published: January 2023

Background: Diabulimia is associated with “resistance to treatment”, impaired glycemic control, and increased risk of diabetic complications. The aim of this study was to explore the possible lifestyle and diet factors associated with diabulimia using the “Diabetes Eating Problem Survey-Revised” (DEPS-R), a questionnaire assessing the risk of diabulimia in patients with T1DM. Methods: 100 outpatients with a diagnosis of T1DM for over a year, from two hospitals in Athens, Greece were asked to complete a questionnaire about their medical history and lifestyle behaviors along with the Eating Attitudes Test (EAT-26), the Beck Depression Scale (BDI-II) and the DEPS-R. Results: Multivariate linear regression analysis showed statistically significant associations between DEPS-R score and HbA1c% levels (b = 4.447, 95% CI 3.220–5.675), sex (male) (b = −4.413, 95% CI −8.778–−0.047, weight perception higher than normal (b = 9.896, 95% CI 5.266–14.526), time spent walking minutes per week (b= −0.019, 95% CI −0.031–−0.006), having received diabetes nutritional education (b = −5.128, 95%CI −10.141–−0.115), eating breakfast (b = −6.441, 95% CI −11.047–−1.835) and having a first relative diagnosed with an eating disorder (b = 6.164, 95%CI 0.030–12.298). The presence of these factors could help highlight the profile of potential individuals at risk of diabulimia and enhance preventive interventions.
Culture and Institutional Changes and Their Impact on Economic and Financial Development Trajectories
Authors: Travkina Elena Vladimirovna , Fiapshev Alim Borisovich , Belova Marianna Tolevna , Dubova Svetlana Evgenievna
Published: January 2023

The quality of institutions occupies a central place in the set of non-economic factors influencing macroeconomic dynamics and the development of financial markets. This quality is largely shaped by objective factors that accompany the historical process. Therefore, this study focuses on the driving forces of this process and how they affect the quality of institutions. It is shown that the main such force or source of institutional change is culture, interpreted in a broad sense, which includes not only that accumulated at different stages of the historical process relevant heritage, but also behavioral attitudes and value beliefs prevailing in society that affect decision-making. The thesis about the importance of culture as a source of formation of the quality of national institutions and a factor of sustainable economic dynamics is substantiated through the example of specific historical events. Underestimation of this conditionality often prioritizes economic policy goals of financial development without due consideration and assessment of institutional constraints. This factor in macroeconomic decision-making is mainly characteristic of emerging market economies. At the same time, the results of research in recent decades indicate that the impact of financial development on macroeconomic dynamics is positive and strong in conditions of high-quality institutions. This allows the article to assess the role of finance and the quality of institutions differently in the set of state economic policy priorities. As applied to individual countries with obvious deficiencies in the institutional environment, this study, referring to historical experience and modern empirical material, puts forward and substantiates the thesis that ensures a high quality of institutions is the most important priority of transforming financial development into a factor of positive and sustainable economic growth.
HW-ADAM: FPGA-Based Accelerator for Adaptive Moment Estimation
Authors: Zhang Weiyi , Niu Liting , Zhang Debing , Wang Guangqi , Farrukh Fasih Ud Din , Zhang Chun
Published: January 2023

The selection of the optimizer is critical for convergence in the field of on-chip training. As one second moment optimizer, adaptive moment estimation (ADAM) shows a significant advantage compared with non-moment optimizers such as stochastic gradient descent (SGD) and first-moment optimizers such as Momentum. However, ADAM is hard to implement on hardware due to the computationally intensive operations, including square, root extraction, and division. This work proposed Hardware-ADAM (HW-ADAM), an efficient fixed-point accelerator for ADAM highlighting hardware-oriented mathematical optimizations. HW-ADAM has two designs: Efficient-ADAM (E-ADAM) unit reduced the hardware resource consumption by around 90% compared with the related work. E-ADAM achieved a throughput of 2.89 MUOP/s (Million Updating Operation per Second), which is 2.8× of the original ADAM. Fast-ADAM (F-ADAM) unit reduced 91.5% flip-flops, 65.7% look-up tables, and 50% DSPs compared with the related work. The F-ADAM unit achieved a throughput of 16.7 MUOP/s, which is 16.4× of the original ADAM.
Transformer Fault Warning Based on Spectral Clustering and Decision Tree
Authors: Liu Hongli , Chen Junchao , Li Ji , Shao Lei , Ren Lei , Zhu Lihua
Published: January 2023

The insufficient amount of sample data and the uneven distribution of the collected data across faults are key factors limiting the application of machine learning in power transformer fault warning, as demonstrated by the poor adaptability of the established data-driven models under actual operating conditions. In this paper, an unsupervised and supervised learning method is designed for power transformer fault early warning based on electrical quantities and vibration signals. The method is based on the Fourier levels of transformer vibration signals under different electrical conditions measured in the field, and the vibration features are clustered according to their intrinsic properties by means of a spectral clustering algorithm. A decision tree model of the vibration characteristics under each cluster is then constructed to calculate early warning values for the transformer vibration spectrum under different electrical conditions, enabling the assessment of transformer production variability. The above process, which is based on field measurement data and data mining analysis methods, is cheaper than the existing transformer fault warning techniques at home and abroad and makes better use of information and training models.
Identification of Reservoir Water-Flooding Degrees via Core Sizes Based on a Drip Experiment of the Zhenwu Area in Gaoyou Sag, China
Authors: Ju Xiaoyu , Zhao Xiaodong , Zhou Boyu , Zhang Ruixue , Wu Xinyu , Guo Dafa
Published: January 2023

In order to identify the degree of water flooding in a reservoir and to discover any remaining oil-enriched areas, in this paper, a systematic study on the water flooding of cores in obturated coring wells is carried out. With observations and testing data of the cores, based on the notion of sedimentary facies, the water-flooding degrees of 4–7 sand groups in member one of the Paleogene Sanduo Formation (E2s14–7) of the Zhenwu area in the Gaoyou Sag are determined. Overall, the results show that the study area is formed under the background of lake regression, with various sedimentary systems, mainly including delta facies, braided fluvial facies, and meandering fluvial facies. The degree of water flooding is determined using a point-by-point drip experiment of the core. Combined with the testing results of the core, the water-flooding degrees of the different sedimentary facies are quantitatively determined. Identification standards for the water-flooding degree of delta facies, braided river facies, and meandering river facies are established. The water-flooding degree of the delta sand body is generally weak, with an oil saturation rate of 24.1–40.2%, essentially indicating no water flooding or weak water flooding. The water-flooding degree of the braided fluvial sand body significantly changes, and the variation range of the oil and water saturation measurement results is also large. The water-flooding degree of the meandering fluvial sand body is weaker than that of the braided fluvial sand body, which is mostly not flooded or weakly flooded. The water-flooding degree is obviously controlled by the sedimentary rhythm and the sedimentary type. The top of the positive rhythm, the bottom of the sludge bed in the braided fluvial point bar, the deltaic front subaqueous distributary channel, and the point bar in the meandering fluvial have relatively low water-flooding degrees. They are the subjects of subsequent development adjustment and the remaining oil potential tapping.
A Scientometric Review of CO2 Electroreduction Research from 2005 to 2022
Authors: Wang Hongfei , Yu Zhipeng , Zhou Jie , Li Chengming , Jayanarasimhan Ananthanarasimhan , Zhao Xiqiang , Zhang Hao
Published: January 2023

Electrocatalytic CO2 reduction is regarded as a green and promising technology because it can convert carbon dioxide into value-added fuel or chemicals in a flexible and sustainable way. This research aimed to comprehensively analyze the research hotspots and trends in the field of CO2 electroreduction from 2005 to 2022 using bibliometric methods based on the core database of Web of Science. The results showed that 4546 papers on CO2 electroreduction were retrieved from 2005 to 2022, with a clear increasing trend. The research direction was diversified, involving multiple disciplines, and it is a comprehensive research field. ACS Catalysis is the journal with the largest number of articles. China is the country with the largest number of documents and has made significant contributions to the development and progress of this field. Copper-based catalysts are still the research focus in recent years. It is of great practical significance to develop copper-based catalysts with high efficiency, low cost, high stability, and high selectivity for the preparation of C1 products.
A Study on the Improved Power Control Algorithm for a 100 kW Wind Turbine
Authors: Kim Dongmyoung , Jeon Taesu , Paek Insu , Roynarin Wirachai , Plangklang Boonyang , Dugarjav Bayasgalan
Published: January 2023

In this study, a power compensation control algorithm was designed and validated for commercial 100 kW medium wind turbine models for power compensation due to additional generator loss. Generally, torque control considering generator efficiency is applied to a controller of a medium wind turbine; however, a control corresponding to a decrease in generator efficiency due to the surrounding environment is not possible. There is a possibility that an additional generator loss may occur due to the surrounding environment of the wind turbine already installed, and accordingly, a power compensation control algorithm is required because power is expected to decrease. The power compensation control algorithms may be divided into three methods according to a control strategy, and three power compensation control algorithms were explained and designed. The proposed power compensation control algorithms were validated using DNV’s Bladed program. The simulation conditions were selected at an average wind speed of about 18 m/s and normal turbulence model (NTM) Class A, and the additional generator loss was assumed to be 15%. The simulation comparison showed that the original power control algorithm had a deviation of 15.00% from the rated power due to a 15% generator loss, and the designed three power compensation control algorithms had a deviation of up to 0.05%.
Three-Port Bi-Directional DC–DC Converter with Solar PV System Fed BLDC Motor Drive Using FPGA
Authors: Udayakumar Arun , Raghavan Raghavendra , Houran Mohamad , Elavarasan Rajvikram , Kalavathy Anushkannan , Hossain Eklas
Published: January 2023

The increased need for renewable energy systems to generate power, store energy, and connect energy storage devices with applications has become a major challenge. Energy storage using batteries is most appropriate for energy sources like solar, wind, etc. A non-isolated three-port DC–DC-converter energy conversion unit is implemented feeding the brushless DCmotor drive. In this paper, a non-isolated three-port converter is designed and simulated for battery energy storage, interfaced with an output drive. Based on the requirements, the power extracted from the solar panel during the daytime is used to charge the batteries through the three-port converter. The proposed three-port converter is analyzed in terms of operating principles and power flow. An FPGA-based NI LabView PXI with SbRio interface is used to develop the suggested approach’s control hardware, and prototype model results are obtained to test the proposed three-port converter control system’s effectiveness and practicality. The overall efficiency of the converter’s output improves as a result. The success rate is 96.5 percent while charging an ESS, 98.1 percent when discharging an ESS, and 95.7 percent overall.
Optimal Scheduling of a Hydrogen-Based Energy Hub Considering a Stochastic Multi-Attribute Decision-Making Approach
Authors: Imeni Mahyar Lasemi , Ghazizadeh Mohammad Sadegh , Lasemi Mohammad Ali , Yang Zhenyu
Published: January 2023

Nowadays, the integration of multi-energy carriers is one of the most critical matters in smart energy systems with the aim of meeting sustainable energy development indicators. Hydrogen is referred to as one of the main energy carriers in the future energy industry, but its integration into the energy system faces different open challenges which have not yet been comprehensively studied. In this paper, a novel day-ahead scheduling is presented to reach the optimal operation of a hydrogen-based energy hub, based on a stochastic multi-attribute decision-making approach. In this way, the energy hub model is first developed by providing a detailed model of Power-to-Hydrogen (P2H) facilities. Then, a new multi-objective problem is given by considering the prosumer’s role in the proposed energy hub model as well as the integrated demand response program (IDRP). The proposed model introduces a comprehensive approach from the analysis of the historical data to the final decision-making with the aim of minimizing the system operation cost and carbon emission. Moreover, to deal with system uncertainty, the scenario-based method is applied to model the renewable energy resources fluctuation. The proposed problem is defined as mixed-integer non-linear programming (MINLP), and to solve this problem, a simple augmented e-constrained (SAUGMECON) method is employed. Finally, the simulation of the proposed model is performed on a case study and the obtained results show the effectiveness and benefits of the proposed scheme.
A Review of State Estimation Techniques for Grid-Connected PMSG-Based Wind Turbine Systems
Authors: Mayilsamy Ganesh , Palanimuthu Kumarasamy , Venkateswaran Raghul , Antonysamy Ruban Periyanayagam , Lee Seong Ryong , Song Dongran , Joo Young Hoon
Published: January 2023

The power system network grows yearly with a large number of nonlinear power generation systems. In this scenario, accurate modeling, control, and monitoring of interface systems and energy conversion systems are critical to the reliability and performance of the overall power system. In this trend, the permanent magnet synchronous generator (PMSG)-based wind turbine systems (WTS) equipped with a full-rated converter significantly contribute to the development of new and renewable energy generation. The various components and control systems involved in operating these systems introduce higher complexity, uncertainty, and highly nonlinear control challenges. To deal with this, state estimation remains an ideal and reliable procedure in the relevant control of the entire WTS. In essence, state estimation can be useful in control procedures, such as low-voltage ride-through operation, active power regulation, stator fault diagnosis, maximum power point tracking, and sensor faults, as it reduces the effects of noise and reveals all hidden variables. However, many advanced studies on state estimation of PMSG-based WTS deal with real-time information of operating variables through filters and observers, analysis, and summary of these strategies are still lacking. Therefore, this article aims to present a review of state-of-the-art estimation methods that facilitate advances in wind energy technology, recent power generation trends, and challenges in nonlinear modeling. This review article enables readers to understand the current trends in state estimation methods and related issues of designing control, filtering, and state observers. Finally, the conclusion of the review demonstrates the direction of future research.
Control of Hybrid Electric Vehicle Powertrain Using Offline-Online Hybrid Reinforcement Learning
Authors: Yao Zhengyu , Yoon Hwan-Sik , Hong Yang-Ki
Published: January 2023

Hybrid electric vehicles can achieve better fuel economy than conventional vehicles by utilizing multiple power sources. While these power sources have been controlled by rule-based or optimization-based control algorithms, recent studies have shown that machine learning-based control algorithms such as online Deep Reinforcement Learning (DRL) can effectively control the power sources as well. However, the optimization and training processes for the online DRL-based powertrain control strategy can be very time and resource intensive. In this paper, a new offline–online hybrid DRL strategy is presented where offline vehicle data are exploited to build an initial model and an online learning algorithm explores a new control policy to further improve the fuel economy. In this manner, it is expected that the agent can learn an environment consisting of the vehicle dynamics in a given driving condition more quickly compared to the online algorithms, which learn the optimal control policy by interacting with the vehicle model from zero initial knowledge. By incorporating a priori offline knowledge, the simulation results show that the proposed approach not only accelerates the learning process and makes the learning process more stable, but also leads to a better fuel economy compared to online only learning algorithms.
Magnetic Material Modelling of Electrical Machines
Authors: Belahcen Anouar , Pires Armando , Pires Vitor Fernão
Published: January 2023

As Guest Editors of this Special Issue, it was our responsibility to ensure that the contributions to the issue related to the extensive field of electromechanical energy conversion, with a special focus on the design, materials, and modeling of electrical machines [...]
Numerical Modeling Based on Finite Element Analysis of 3D-Printed Wood-Polylactic Acid Composites: A Comparison with Experimental Data
Authors: Ezzaraa Ismail , Ayrilmis Nadir , Abouelmajd Mohamed , Kuzman Manja Kitek , Bahlaoui Ahmed , Arroub Ismail , Bengourram Jamaa , Lagache Manuel , Belhouideg Soufiane
Published: January 2023

Wood-polymer composites are increasingly produced through fused deposition modeling (FDM)—an additive manufacturing technique. The versatility of this technology has attracted several industries to print complex shapes and structures. This underscores the importance of studying the mechanical properties of the FDM parts, specifically, their elastic properties. A numerical homogenization methodology is introduced in the present study, focusing on the fundamental aspect of the elastic properties. Investigations were carried out on the influence of various parameters like wood volume fraction, aspect ratio, and internal porosity. The numerical results were validated using analytical models and experimental data. The comparison showed a satisfactory agreement with experimental data, where the relative error did not exceed 10%, leading to a strong conclusion about the validity and effectiveness of the proposed approach.