bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Robot Programming from Fish Demonstrations
Authors: Coppola Claudio Massimo , Strong James Bradley , O’Reilly Lissa , Dalesman Sarah , Akanyeti Otar
Published: June 2023

Fish are capable of learning complex relations found in their surroundings, and harnessing their knowledge may help to improve the autonomy and adaptability of robots. Here, we propose a novel learning from demonstration framework to generate fish-inspired robot control programs with as little human intervention as possible. The framework consists of six core modules: (1) task demonstration, (2) fish tracking, (3) analysis of fish trajectories, (4) acquisition of robot training data, (5) generating a perception–action controller, and (6) performance evaluation. We first describe these modules and highlight the key challenges pertaining to each one. We then present an artificial neural network for automatic fish tracking. The network detected fish successfully in 85% of the frames, and in these frames, its average pose estimation error was less than 0.04 body lengths. We finally demonstrate how the framework works through a case study focusing on a cue-based navigation task. Two low-level perception–action controllers were generated through the framework. Their performance was measured using two-dimensional particle simulations and compared against two benchmark controllers, which were programmed manually by a researcher. The fish-inspired controllers had excellent performance when the robot was started from the initial conditions used in fish demonstrations (>96% success rate), outperforming the benchmark controllers by at least 3%. One of them also had an excellent generalisation performance when the robot was started from random initial conditions covering a wider range of starting positions and heading angles (>98% success rate), again outperforming the benchmark controllers by 12%. The positive results highlight the utility of the framework as a research tool to form biological hypotheses on how fish navigate in complex environments and design better robot controllers on the basis of biological findings.
Antibody Phage Display Technology for Sensor-Based Virus Detection: Current Status and Future Prospects
Authors: Guliy Olga I. , Evstigneeva Stella S. , Khanadeev Vitaly A. , Dykman Lev A.
Published: June 2023

Viruses are widespread in the environment, and many of them are major pathogens of serious plant, animal, and human diseases. The risk of pathogenicity, together with the capacity for constant mutation, emphasizes the need for measures to rapidly detect viruses. The need for highly sensitive bioanalytical methods to diagnose and monitor socially significant viral diseases has increased in the past few years. This is due, on the one hand, to the increased incidence of viral diseases in general (including the unprecedented spread of a new coronavirus infection, SARS-CoV-2), and, on the other hand, to the need to overcome the limitations of modern biomedical diagnostic methods. Phage display technology antibodies as nano-bio-engineered macromolecules can be used for sensor-based virus detection. This review analyzes the commonly used virus detection methods and approaches and shows the prospects for the use of antibodies prepared by phage display technology as sensing elements for sensor-based virus detection.
Docking Studies and Molecular Dynamics Simulations of Potential Inhibitors from the Brown Seaweed Sargassum polycystum (Phaeophyceae) against PLpro of SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Tassakka Asmi Citra Malina A. R. , Iskandar Israini Wiyulanda , Alam Jamaluddin Fitrah , Permana Andi Dian , Massi Muhammad Nasrum , Sulfahri  , Jompa Jamaluddin , Liao Lawrence Manzano
Published: June 2023

The COVID-19 disease is a major problem affecting human health all over the world. Consequently, researchers have been trying to find solutions to treat this pandemic-scale disease. Even if there are vaccines and approved drugs that could decrease the spread of this pandemic, multidisciplinary approaches are still needed to identify new small molecules as alternatives to combat COVID-19, especially those from nature. In this study, we employed computational approaches by screening 17 natural compounds from the tropical brown seaweed Sargassum polycystum known to have anti-viral properties that benefit human health. This study assessed some seaweed natural products that are bound to the PLpro of SARS-CoV-2. By employing pharmacophore and molecular docking, these natural compounds from S. polycystum showed remarkable scores for protein targets with competitive scores compared to X-ray crystallography ligands and well-known antiviral compounds. This study provides insightful information for advanced study and further in vitro examination and clinical investigation for drug development prospects of abundant yet underexploited tropical seaweeds.
Exploring the Factors That Influence the Work–Family Interface of Construction Professionals: An Indian Case Study
Authors: Soundarya Priya M. G. , Anandh K. S. , Prasanna K. , Gunasekaran K. , Daniel Emmanuel Itodo , Szóstak Mariusz , Sunny Della
Published: June 2023

The objective of this paper is to explore the dynamic factors of the work–family interface (WFI) of construction professionals in South India. It also aims to develop a model of the factors that influence the WFI. This study identified seven factors from the literature: work environment, family, stress, personal satisfaction, work culture, top-level acceptance, and work–family balance. Data were collected using questionnaires distributed among the construction professionals in South India. Data analysis was performed using SPSS. The mean standard deviation and shape measures (skewness and kurtosis) revealed that personal satisfaction (3.55) was rated the top factor for WFI, followed by work–family balance (3.15), stress (2.91), and work culture (2.83). The study found that the work culture was not significantly correlated with work environment, family, stress, personal satisfaction, or top-level acceptance. The developed SEM model emphasises the need to pay keen attention to the work environment and the work–family balance among the construction professionals in India. Management should consider these factors to design standard policies to improve the WFI and design work–life balance strategies to create stability in the lives of construction professionals. The current research is limited to only two cities in Kerala and Tamil Nadu in South India. More studies must be carried out for more states in India to better understand the current situation of WFI as there is limited evidence of studies on the WFI of construction professionals in India. Therefore, the findings of this study fill the existing knowledge gap and provide a clear insight into improving the mental and social well-being of construction professionals in the Indian construction industry and construction professionals in other developing countries.
Generation and Characterization of a Zebrafish Model for ADGRV1-Associated Retinal Dysfunction Using CRISPR/Cas9 Genome Editing Technology
Authors: Stemerdink Merel , Broekman Sanne , Peters Theo , Kremer Hannie , de Vrieze Erik , van Wijk Erwin
Published: June 2023

Worldwide, around 40,000 people progressively lose their eyesight as a consequence of retinitis pigmentosa (RP) caused by pathogenic variants in the ADGRV1 gene, for which currently no treatment options exist. A model organism that mimics the human phenotype is essential to unravel the exact pathophysiological mechanism underlying ADGRV1-associated RP, and to evaluate future therapeutic strategies. The introduction of CRISPR/Cas-based genome editing technologies significantly improved the possibilities of generating mutant models in a time- and cost-effective manner. Zebrafish have been recognized as a suitable model to study Usher syndrome-associated retinal dysfunction. Using CRISPR/Cas9 technology we introduced a 4bp deletion in adgrv1 exon 9 (adgrv1rmc22). Immunohistochemical analysis showed that Adgrv1 was absent from the region of the photoreceptor connecting cilium in the adgrv1rmc22 zebrafish retina. Here, the absence of Adgrv1 also resulted in reduced levels of the USH2 complex members usherin and Whrnb, suggesting that Adgrv1 interacts with usherin and Whrnb in zebrafish photoreceptors. When comparing adgrv1rmc22 zebrafish with wild-type controls, we furthermore observed increased levels of aberrantly localized rhodopsin in the photoreceptor cell body, and decreased electroretinogram (ERG) B-wave amplitudes which indicate that the absence of Adgrv1 results in impaired retinal function. Based on these findings we present the adgrv1rmc22 zebrafish as the first ADGRV1 mutant model that displays an early retinal dysfunction. Moreover, the observed phenotypic changes can be used as quantifiable outcome measures when evaluating the efficacy of future novel therapeutic strategies for ADGRV1-associated RP.
Generation of a Syngeneic Heterozygous ACVRL1(wt/mut) Knockout iPS Cell Line for the In Vitro Study of HHT2-Associated Angiogenesis
Authors: Xiang-Tischhauser Li , Bette Michael , Rusche Johanna R. , Roth Katrin , Kasahara Norio , Stuck Boris A. , Bakowsky Udo , Wartenberg Maria , Sauer Heinrich , Geisthoff Urban W. , Mandic Robert
Published: June 2023

Hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) type 2 is an autosomal dominant disease in which one allele of the ACVRL1 gene is mutated. Patients exhibit disturbances in TGF-beta/BMP-dependent angiogenesis and, clinically, often present with severe nosebleeds as well as a reduced quality of life. The aim of our study was to use CRISPR/Cas9 to knockout ACVRL1 in normal induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and evaluate the effects on TGF-beta- and BMP-related gene expression as well as angiogenesis. The CRISPR/Cas9 knockout of the ACVRL1 gene was carried out in previously characterized wild-type (ACVRL1wt/wt) iPSCs. An HHT type 2 iPS cell line was generated via a single-allele knockout (ACVRL1wt/mut) in wild-type (ACVRL1wt/wt) iPSCs, resulting in a heterozygous 17 bp frameshift deletion in the ACVRL1 gene [NG_009549.1:g.13707_13723del; NM_000020.3:c.1137_1153del]. After the generation of embryoid bodies (EBs), endothelial differentiation was induced via adding 4 ng/mL BMP4, 2% B27, and 10 ng/mL VEGF. Endothelial differentiation was monitored via immunocytochemistry. An analysis of 151 TGF-beta/BMP-related genes was performed via RT-qPCR through the use of mRNA derived from single iPS cell cultures as well as endothelial cells derived from EBs after endothelial differentiation. Differential TGF-beta/BMP gene expression was observed between ACVRL1wt/wt and ACVRL1wt/mut iPSCs as well as endothelial cells. EBs derived from CRISPR/Cas9-designed ACVRL1 mutant HHT type 2 iPSCs, together with their isogenic wild-type iPSC counterparts, can serve as valuable resources for HHT type 2 in vitro studies.
Analysis of Plasma Proteins Involved in Inflammation, Immune Response/Complement System, and Blood Coagulation upon Admission of COVID-19 Patients to Hospital May Help to Predict the Prognosis of the Disease
Authors: di Flora Daniele Castro di , Dionizio Aline , Pereira Heloisa Aparecida Barbosa Silva , Garbieri Thais Francini , Grizzo Larissa Tercilia , Dionisio Thiago José , Leite Aline de Lima , Silva-Costa Licia C. , Buzalaf Nathalia Rabelo , Reis Fernanda Navas , Pereira Virginia Bodelão Richini , Rosa Deborah Maciel Cavalcanti , dos Santos Carlos Ferreira dos , Buzalaf Marília Afonso Rabelo
Published: June 2023

The development of new approaches allowing for the early assessment of COVID-19 cases that are likely to become critical and the discovery of new therapeutic targets are urgently required. In this prospective cohort study, we performed proteomic and laboratory profiling of plasma from 163 COVID-19 patients admitted to Bauru State Hospital (Brazil) between 4 May 2020 and 4 July 2020. Plasma samples were collected upon admission for routine laboratory analyses and shotgun quantitative label-free proteomics. Based on the course of the disease, the patients were divided into three groups: (a) mild (n = 76) and (b) severe (n = 56) symptoms, whose patients were discharged without or with admission to an intensive care unit (ICU), respectively, and (c) critical (n = 31), a group consisting of patients who died after admission to an ICU. Based on our data, potential therapies for COVID-19 should target proteins involved in inflammation, the immune response and complement system, and blood coagulation. Other proteins that could potentially be employed in therapies against COVID-19 but that so far have not been associated with the disease are CD5L, VDBP, A1BG, C4BPA, PGLYRP2, SERPINC1, and APOH. Targeting these proteins’ pathways might constitute potential new therapies or biomarkers of prognosis of the disease.
The Influence of Sex Hormones in Liver Function and Disease
Authors: Kasarinaite Alvile , Sinton Matthew , Saunders Philippa T. K. , Hay David C.
Published: June 2023

The liver performs a multitude of bodily functions, whilst retaining the ability to regenerate damaged tissue. In this review, we discuss sex steroid biology, regulation of mammalian liver physiology and the development of new model systems to improve our understanding of liver biology in health and disease. A major risk factor for the development of liver disease is hepatic fibrosis. Key drivers of this process are metabolic dysfunction and pathologic activation of the immune system. Although non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is largely regarded as benign, it does progress to non-alcoholic steatohepatitis in a subset of patients, increasing their risk of developing cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. NAFLD susceptibility varies across the population, with obesity and insulin resistance playing a strong role in the disease development. Additionally, sex and age have been identified as important risk factors. In addition to the regulation of liver biochemistry, sex hormones also regulate the immune system, with sexual dimorphism described for both innate and adaptive immune responses. Therefore, sex differences in liver metabolism, immunity and their interplay are important factors to consider when designing, studying and developing therapeutic strategies to treat human liver disease. The purpose of this review is to provide the reader with a general overview of sex steroid biology and their regulation of mammalian liver physiology.
Invertase Immobilization on Magnetite Nanoparticles for Efficient Fructooligosaccharide Generation: A Comprehensive Kinetic Analysis and Reactor Design Strategy
Authors: Polanía Melo David , Hernández Bravo Andrés , Cruz Juan C. , Reyes Luis H.
Published: June 2023

This study investigated the effectiveness of immobilizing Saccharomyces cerevisiae invertase (SInv) on magnetite nanoparticles to produce fructooligosaccharides (FOSs). Based on the existing literature and accompanied by parameter estimation, a modified kinetic model was employed to represent the kinetics of sucrose hydrolysis and transfructosylation using SInv immobilized on magnetite nanoparticle surfaces. This model was utilized to simulate the performance of batch reactors for both free and immobilized enzymes. The maximum FOS concentration for the free enzyme was determined to be 123.1 mM, while the immobilized case achieved a slightly higher concentration of 125.4 mM. Furthermore, a continuous stirred-tank reactor (CSTR) model was developed for the immobilized enzyme, resulting in a maximum FOS concentration of 73.96 mM at the reactor’s outlet and a dilution rate of 14.2 h−1. To examine the impact of glucose inhibition on FOS production, a glucose oxidase reaction mechanism was integrated into the fitted immobilized theoretical model. In a batch reactor, the reduction or elimination of glucose in the reactive media led to a 2.1% increase in FOS production. Immobilizing the biocatalyst enhanced the overall performance of SInv. This enzyme immobilization approach also holds the potential for coupling glucose oxidase onto functionalized nanoparticles to minimize glucose inhibition, thereby improving FOS synthesis and facilitating optimal enzyme recovery and reuse.
Characterizing Northeast Africa Drought and Its Drivers
Authors: Jury Mark R.
Published: June 2023

This study explores the drivers of drought over northeast (NE) Africa as represented by monthly ERA5 potential evaporation during 1970–2022. The comparisons with surface heat flux and A-pan measurements suggest that potential evaporation quantifies moisture deficits that lead to drought. A principal component (PC) analysis of potential evaporation has the following leading modes: PC-1 in the Nile Basin and PC-2 in the Rift Valley. Time scores were filtered and regressed onto fields of SST, netOLR, and 500 hPa zonal wind to find teleconnections, and drought composites were analyzed for anomalous structure. The results identify that cold-phase Indian Ocean Dipole (IOD) couples with the overlying zonal Walker circulation. Deep easterly winds subside at −0.1 m/s over the west Indian Ocean and NE Africa, causing desiccation that spreads westward from the Rift Valley via diurnal heat fluxes. Insights are gained on IOD modulation based on the Pacific ENSO, but long-range forecasts remain elusive.
Study on Mechanical Properties of AlFeCrMoNi1.8Nb1.5 Eutectic High-Entropy Alloy Coating Prepared by Wide-Band Laser Cladding
Authors: Li Feng , Zheng Shisong , Zhou Fang
Published: June 2023

In this study, AlFeCrMoNi1.8Nb1.5 (at.%) eutectic high-entropy alloy (EHEA) coating was successfully prepared on the surface of M2 high-speed steel (HSS) by wide-laser cladding. The effects of laser defocusing amount, laser power, scanning speed, and preset powder thickness on the formation quality of the EHEA coating were studied by the orthogonal experimental design, then the mechanical properties of the coating prepared by water-cooled solidification under optimal process parameters were studied. The experimental results showed that the optimal laser cladding process parameters are defocusing with an amount of −30 mm, laser power of 4 kW, scanning speed of 3 mm/s, and preset powder thickness of 1.5 mm. The substrate exhibited a favorable metallurgical bond with the coating, characterized by a stable interface devoid of any holes or cracks. Furthermore, the coating, which was prepared using water cooling, displayed a finer lamellar eutectic structure comprising FCC and Laves phases. The microhardness of the coating (544 HV0.2) was significantly higher than that of the substrate M2 HSS (~220 HV0.2), accompanied by good wear resistance.
Effect of Annealing Temperature on the Structure and Properties of La2O3 High-K Gate Dielectric Films Prepared by the Sol-Gel Method
Authors: Lu Zhenchuan , Tuokedaerhan Kamale , Cai Haotian , Du Hongguo , Zhang Renjia
Published: June 2023

This article presents the sol-gel method for depositing La2O3 thin films on n-type Si substrates and quartz substrates, and investigates the impact of annealing temperature on the microcomposition, surface morphology, optical properties, and band characteristics of the films. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis indicates that the films are amorphous below 500 °C, with annealing resulting in a hexagonal-phase La2O3 (h-a2O3) and new non-hydrated impurities. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) analysis reveals that the prepared La2O3 film is unaffected by moisture. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) provide evidence that the La2O3 film has a smooth, uniform surface without cracks. The roughness increases from 0.426 nm to 1.200 nm, and the film thins from 54.85 nm to 49.80 nm as the annealing temperature rises. The film’s transmittance is above 75%, as measured by UV-Vis, and the calculated optical bandgap increases from 5.11 eV to 5.75 eV. The calculated band offset of the La2O3 film is greater than 1 eV, which meets the minimum requirements for MOS devices, thus providing promising prospects for La2O3 films in MOS applications.
Machine Learning in X-ray Diagnosis for Oral Health: A Review of Recent Progress
Authors: Martins Mónica Vieira , Baptista Luís , Luís Henrique , Assunção Victor , Araújo Mário-Rui , Realinho Valentim
Published: June 2023

The past few decades have witnessed remarkable progress in the application of artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) in medicine, notably in medical imaging. The application of ML to dental and oral imaging has also been developed, powered by the availability of clinical dental images. The present work aims to investigate recent progress concerning the application of ML in the diagnosis of oral diseases using oral X-ray imaging, namely the quality and outcome of such methods. The specific research question was developed using the PICOT methodology. The review was conducted in the Web of Science, Science Direct, and IEEE Xplore databases, for articles reporting the use of ML and AI for diagnostic purposes in X-ray-based oral imaging. Imaging types included panoramic, periapical, bitewing X-ray images, and oral cone beam computed tomography (CBCT). The search was limited to papers published in the English language from 2018 to 2022. The initial search included 104 papers that were assessed for eligibility. Of these, 22 were included for a final appraisal. The full text of the articles was carefully analyzed and the relevant data such as the clinical application, the ML models, the metrics used to assess their performance, and the characteristics of the datasets, were registered for further analysis. The paper discusses the opportunities, challenges, and limitations found.
A Query Expansion Benchmark on Social Media Information Retrieval: Which Methodology Performs Best and Aligns with Semantics?
Authors: Stathopoulos Evangelos A. , Karageorgiadis Anastasios I. , Kokkalas Alexandros , Diplaris Sotiris , Vrochidis Stefanos , Kompatsiaris Ioannis
Published: June 2023

This paper presents a benchmarking survey on query expansion techniques for social media information retrieval, with a focus on comparing the performance of methods using semantic web technologies. The study evaluated query expansion techniques such as generative AI models and semantic matching algorithms and how they are integrated in a semantic framework. The evaluation was based on cosine similarity metrics, including the Discounted Cumulative Gain (DCG), Ideal Discounted Cumulative Gain (IDCG), and normalized Discounted Cumulative Gain (nDCG), as well as the Mean Average Precision (MAP). Additionally, the paper discusses the use of semantic web technologies as a component in a pipeline for building thematic knowledge graphs from retrieved social media data with extended ontologies integrated for the refugee crisis. The paper begins by introducing the importance of query expansion in information retrieval and the potential benefits of incorporating semantic web technologies. The study then presents the methodologies and outlines the specific procedures for each query expansion technique. The results of the evaluation are presented, as well as the rest semantic framework, and the best-performing technique was identified, which was the curie-001 generative AI model. Finally, the paper summarizes the main findings and suggests future research directions.
Energy-Composition Relations in Ni3(Al1−xXx) Phases
Authors: Zarkevich Nikolai A. , Smith Timothy M. , Lawson John W.
Published: June 2023

The secondary phase, such as Ni3Al-based L12 γ′, is crucially important for the precipitation strengthening of superalloys. Composition–structure–property relations provide useful insights for guided alloy design. Here we use density functional theory combined with the multiple scattering theory to compute dependencies of the structural energies and equilibrium volumes versus composition for ternary Ni3(Al1−xXx) alloys with X = {Ti, Zr, Hf; V, Nb, Ta; Cr, Mo, W} in L12, D024, and D019 phases with a homogeneous chemical disorder on the (Al1−xXx) sublattice. Our results provide a better understanding of the physics in Ni3Al-based precipitates and facilitate the design of next-generation nickel superalloys with precipitation strengthening.
Design and Performance Analysis of Perovskites Unidimensional Photonic Crystal-Based Biosensors for Extracellular Vesicles Detection: A Numerical Investigation
Authors: Abderrahmane Abdelkader , Senouci Khaled , Hachemi Belkacem , Ko Pil Ju
Published: June 2023

In recent years, unidimensional photonic crystal-based biosensors have attracted significant attention due to their potential for label-free bio-detection of cells, proteins, and other organic molecules. These biosensors are based on alternating materials with different refractive indices and a cavity region in which biomolecules can be injected. In this study, we investigated numerically the optical properties of unidimensional photonic crystals based on [LiTaO3/MgF2], [LiTaO3/SiO2], [PbTiO3/MgF2], and [PbTiO3/SiO2] heterostructures, and focused our discussion on the detection of four kinds of extracellular vesicles. Our results demonstrated that the [PbTiO3/MgF2] photonic crystal biosensor exhibited the best biosensing performance, with a maximum value of the sensitivity of 511.3 nm/RIU. This study provides valuable insights into the use of perovskites materials, in particular, LiTaO3 and PbTiO3 for photonic crystal-based biosensors for various applications, including disease diagnosis and monitoring therapy responses.
Coercive Properties of Magnetic Garnet Films
Authors: Vértesy Gábor
Published: June 2023

Magnetic garnet films represent a wide family of materials. By the proper choice of chemical composition and growth parameters, their magnetic behavior can be tuned in a very wide range. On one side, they are suitable for many different applications; on the other side, they are optimal model materials for studying the basic magnetization processes. Many assumptions of the existing theories can be checked or validated by magnetic garnet film investigation. Their production technology was developed many decades ago, but even nowadays, magnetic garnet films have been intensively studied, and newer and newer application possibilities have been found. In this review paper, those results are summarized, which are connected with their coercive properties. Coercivity, or coercive force, is a frequently used magnetic characteristic, but usually, it is considered rather a technical parameter. It is shown that there is no correlation between the so-called “technical coercive force” (which is the half-width of a major hysteresis loop) and the domain wall coercivity (this is frequently called a domain wall pinning field). This latter parameter is considered a real characteristic of domain wall movement. If magnetic garnet films are investigated, the correlation between moving domain wall and material defect structure can be studied. In this paper, the very complex feature of coercivity is shown. It is demonstrated that the domain structure, the properties of domain walls, the existence of mechanical stresses, the temperature, the size of the sample and many other parameters have an influence on the measured coercivity.
Detection of c.375A>G, c.385A>T, c.571C>T, and sedel2 of FUT2 via Real-Time PCR in a Single Tube
Authors: Soejima Mikiko , Koda Yoshiro
Published: June 2023

α(1,2)fucosyltransferase (Se enzyme) encoded by FUT2 is involved in the secretor status of ABH(O) blood group antigens. The sedel2 allele is one of the non-functional FUT2 (se) alleles in which 9.3 kb, containing the entire coding region of FUT2, is deleted by Alu-mediated nonhomologous recombination. In addition to this allele, three SNPs of FUT2, c.375A>G, c.385A>T, and c.571C>T, appear to be prevalent in certain Oceanian populations such as Polynesians. Recently, we developed an endpoint genotyping assay to determine sedel2 zygosity, using a FAM-labeled probe for detection of the sedel2 allele and a VIC-labeled probe for the detection of FUT2. In this study, instead of the VIC probe, a HEX-labeled probe covering both c.375A>G and c.385A>T and a Cy5-labeled probe covering c.571C>T were added to the sedel2 allele assay mixture to allow for the simultaneous detection of these four variations via endpoint genotyping for sedel2 zygosity and fluorescence melting curve analysis for c.375A>G, c.385A>T, and c.571C>T genotyping. The results obtained from 24 Samoan subjects using this method were identical to those obtained using previous methods. Therefore, it appears that the present method can accurately determine these four variations simultaneously.
Analysis of Positive Results of 18F-FDG PET/CT Imaging after Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation in Lymphoma
Authors: Dai Na , Cai Rongcui , Deng Shengming , Sang Shibiao
Published: June 2023

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to differentiate between false-positive and true-positive positron emission tomography (PET) results after hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (SCT) for lymphoma involvement by analyzing several clinical variables and specific imaging features. Patients and Methods: Patients with lymphoma who received SCT and underwent post-transplantation 18F-FDG PET/CT scans between January 2013 and April 2021 at our institution were included. Associations between PET positivity and related clinical information were assessed using t-tests and χ2 tests. The significance of variables differentiating benign lesions from malignant FDG-avid lesions was evaluated by logistic regression analysis. Survival probabilities were derived from Kaplan-Meier curves and compared using the log-rank test. Results: A total of 185 patients (235 post-transplantation PET/CT scans) were enrolled in our present study. Compared with those with true-positive PET results, patients with false-positive PET results exhibited a better prognosis. For the autologous SCT group, false-positive cases were more commonly seen when FDG-avid foci appeared outside the sites of the original disease (p = 0.004), and the integrated CT imaging showed negative results (p = 0.000). In multivariate logistic regression analysis, integrated CT results were the only significant factor. For the allogeneic SCT group, false-positive cases were significantly more commonly seen when DS = 4 (p = 0.046), FDG-avid foci appeared outside the sites of the original disease (p = 0.022), and the integrated CT imaging showed negative results (p = 0.001). In a multivariate logistic regression analysis, whether FDG-avid foci were in the sites of the original disease and integrated CT results were both significant factors. Conclusion: False-positive FDG uptake in post-transplantation PET was not uncommon. Several variables could provide an important reference to differentiate false-positive from true-positive post-SCT PET results for lymphoma involvement. Trial registration number: ChiCTR2300067355.
The Role of Social Media as a Resource for Mental Health Care
Authors: Herrera-Peco Ivan , Fernández-Quijano Invención , Ruiz-Núñez Carlos
Published: June 2023

One of the major lessons learned from the COVID-19 pandemic was the importance of caring for the mental health of populations [...]
On the Increase in the Renewable Fraction in Diesel Blends using Aviation Fuel in a Common Rail Engine
Authors: Chiavola Ornella , Palmieri Fulvio , Cavallo Domenico Mario
Published: June 2023

Biodiesel has gained wide acceptance as an alternative to petroleum-derived fuel due to its environmentally friendly characteristics such as low aromatic and sulfur content, biodegradability and low exhaust gas emission. Although many types of feedstock could be used to produce biodiesel, waste cooking or frying oil (WCO) is a promising multiple-advantage solution. However, the use of WCO biodiesel has some drawbacks: the high viscosity and the low volatility create difficulties in atomization and in fuel–air mixing. Experiments were performed to investigate the potential employment of aviation fuels in blends with biodiesel obtained from WCO, renewable diesel and petrol diesel. The objective of the research was to evaluate Jet A’s potential to improve the blend properties, thus helping to overcome the difficulties in biodiesel usage, enabling the percentage of renewable fuel in the blend to be increased and therefore allowing a reduction in the engine’s environmental impact. The experimental activity was carried out on a small-displacement, common rail diesel engine; during the tests, the engine control unit settings were unchanged, with the aim of reproducing the engine behavior when it operated with different fuels.
Analysis and Approximation of THD and Torque Ripple of Induction Motor for SVPWM Control of VSI
Authors: Sieklucki Grzegorz , Sobieraj Sylwester , Gromba Józef , Necula Raluca-Elena
Published: June 2023

This article presents a harmonic analysis of the stator currents of a squirrel-cage induction motor fed by a voltage source inverter with PWM space vector control (SVPWM). The influence of PWM switching frequency and dead time (dead band) of controlled transistors on THD and electromagnetic torque ripple is shown. The aim is to determine the lowest switching frequency of the transistors for which the drive will operate correctly. Characteristics were determined as functions in the form of THD (fPWM), where the least square approximation was used for stator current measurements when the PWM switching frequency was changed. The approximations were realized for simulation and experimental results. To clarify the results, the operation of hardware PWM circuits in microcontrollers is analyzed.
LLC Resonant Converter as a Current Source Using Simple Trajectory Control
Authors: Grigorova Tsvetana , Vuchev Aleksandar
Published: June 2023

This paper discusses a simple method for controlling an LLC resonant DC-DC converter using a state space trajectory based on a linear combination of the voltage across the capacitor and the current through the inductance in the series resonant tank. An analysis of the converter using the state plane technique for the continuous current operation mode is proposed. The output, control and load characteristics of the converter, required for its design and application, are built for the different inductance ratios. They specify the limitations in the control range of the LLC resonant converter which result from the use of the control method. It is shown that under this control, the converter possesses linear control characteristics and has current source behavior. Therefore, the converter can successfully be used as a battery-charging device. Simulations of the converter’s operation, both in steady state and when the control parameter is changed significantly, are implemented. Studies using the model confirm that the considered simple trajectory control provides a fast dynamic response and stable operation of the LLC resonant converter, even in cases of a significant change in the control.
A Damping Control Strategy to Improve the Stability of Multi-Parallel Grid-Connected PCSs
Authors: Xu Xiaoyi , Yao Wenxi , Xie Gang
Published: June 2023

In this study, to ensure stable operation of multi-parallel PCSs, a damping control strategy is adopted to restrain resonance characteristics of a parallel system, and the stability of the system is analyzed. First, the mathematical model of a single PCS is built, the capacitive current feedback-type active damping control strategy is introduced, and the effect of the damping control strategy on a single PCS under proportional-integral (PI) control is analyzed. Then, under the presence of grid impedance, a single PCS model is established and extended to multi-parallel PCSs, where a single PCS is replaced by a Norton’s equivalent circuit. The active damping method is developed, and Bode diagrams are utilized to verify that it can effectively suppress the resonance spikes of a parallel system. Finally, a simulation model of four PCSs in parallel operation is built on the Simulink platform, and the results support the correctness of the theoretical analysis.
Generating Occupancy Profiles for Building Simulations Using a Hybrid GNN and LSTM Framework
Authors: Xie Yuan , Stravoravdis Spyridon
Published: June 2023

Building occupancy profiles are critical in thermal and energy simulations. However, determining an accurate occupancy profile is difficult due to its stochastic nature. In most simulations, the occupant activities are usually represented by fixed yearly schedules, which are often derived from guides and other similar sources and may not represent the simulated building accurately. Therefore, an inaccuracy in defining occupancy profiles can be a source of error in building simulations. Over the past few years machine learning has become very popular due to its ability to reveal hidden patterns and relationships between data and this makes it suitable for investigating patterns in occupancy data. This study proposes a novel hybrid model combining the Graph Neural Network and the Long Short-term Memory neural network (LSTM) to predict the occupancy of individual rooms on a typical office floor. The proposed Graph LSTM model can produce high-resolution occupancy profiles of an office that are in good agreement with the reference occupancy profiles of the same office. The reference occupancy profiles for this office were derived from an agent-based model using AnyLogic and were not used in the training of the neural network. The proposed Graph LSTM model outperformed other neural networks tested such as the Recurrent Neural Network (RNN), the Gated Recurrent Unit (GRU) and LSTM. When Graph LSTM is compared to the other neural networks tested, there is a range of improvement between 13.5 and 14.6% in the index of agreement, 38.3 and 46.8% in mean absolute error and 34.4 and 40.0% in root mean square error, when averaging the differences over the whole office.
Highly Efficient Three-Phase Bi-Directional SiC DC–AC Inverter for Electric Vehicle Flywheel Emulator
Authors: De Bernardinis Alexandre , Lallemand Richard , Kolli Abdelfatah
Published: June 2023

Flywheels are nowadays a solution for the dynamic charging of electric vehicles since they act as transient energy storage. The need for a top efficient reversible power converter for the flywheel system is crucial to assure high dynamic performance. The paper presents the design of a 50 kW highly efficient reversible three-phase DC–AC inverter involving the most recent silicon carbide metal oxide semiconductor field effect transistors, and its experimental validation on a home-made emulator. Highest efficiency in reversible mode, compactness, and thermal enhancement are the targeted objectives that have been achieved. The power converter prototype evaluated on an original pulse width modulation testing-bench is able to emulate the working of the flywheel system. High frequency pulse width modulation switching, speed cycle operating, and thermal losses are evaluated. In addition, an efficiency above 99% for the converter has been attained, enabling robust functioning of the flywheel system emulator to perform specific charging profiles for electric vehicles.
Selection of a Multicriteria Method for Selecting Independent Variables for Forecasting the Energy Potential of Municipal Waste—A Case Study in Poland
Authors: Nęcka Krzysztof , Szul Tomasz
Published: June 2023

The study examined the usefulness of selected classification methods and independent variable selection (conditional attributes) for building a model based on rough set theory (RST). The aim of the study was to estimate the local indicator of municipal waste generation and the energy potential of the waste, which could be utilized in thermal waste treatment facilities. The research was conducted on a group of 2451 municipalities in Poland which differed from each other in terms of administrative type (urban, urban–rural, and rural municipalities). These municipalities were described using 4 qualitative variables and 27 quantitative variables available in statistical reports. Using five submethods of variable classification, sets of features characterizing them in terms of the amount of municipal waste produced were extracted from the collected data. Purposeful selection of conditional attributes for modeling the unitary municipal waste accumulation index allows for reducing the number of decision variables without compromising the quality of the model. During the analysis, the number of conditional attributes was reduced from 31 to 3 for urban municipalities, 5 for urban–rural municipalities, and 7 for rural municipalities. The analysis results showed that the developed models exhibited mean absolute error (MAE) values ranging from 30 kg·(per·year)−1 to 52 kg·(per·year)−1, while the mean absolute percentage error (MAPE) ranged from 9% to 21%. By utilizing municipal waste for energy purposes, an average of approximately 160 kWh·(per·year)−1 for rural municipalities and around 270 kWh·(per·year)−1 for urban municipalities can be obtained.
Energy Analyses of Multi-Family Residential Buildings in Various Locations in Poland and Their Impact on the Number of Heating Degree Days
Authors: Alsabry Abdrahman , Szymański Krzysztof
Published: June 2023

Reducing energy demand and greenhouse gas emissions in the construction industry is one of the daunting challenges to be addressed in the context of global warming. The purpose of these analyses was to examine how the energy class of a multi-family residential building regarding thermal insulation and type of ventilation affects the usable energy demand for heating and ventilation purposes, the length of the heating season, and the amount of demand for energy consumed by auxiliary devices. This article presents the energy analyses of multi-family residential buildings with identical technical parameters located in different locations in Poland. For research purposes, a total of 354 energy balances were compiled, covering 59 meteorological stations, 3 types of ventilation systems, and 2 building insulation standards. This article presents the ways in which the location and energy class of buildings affect the length of the heating season and the demand for energy required for heating and ventilation purposes. The results of the analyses carried out in this article show that the location and the energy class of the building have a significant impact on the demand for primary energy (EP). As a result, it was concluded that when designating a reference building for the energy rating system, its location should be taken into account and reference buildings should be designated considering climate zones.
Global Model Calibration of High-Temperature Gas-Cooled Reactor Pebble-Bed Module Using an Adaptive Experimental Design
Authors: Tong Yao , Zhang Duo , Shao Zhijiang , Huang Xiaojin
Published: June 2023

The world’s first high-temperature gas-cooled reactor pebble-bed module (HTR-PM) nuclear power plant adopts an innovative reactor type and a modular structure design. Parameter estimation and model calibration are of great significance prior to the implementation of model-based control and optimization. This paper focuses on identifying the thermal hydraulic parameters of HTR-PM over the global operating domain. The process technology and model mechanism of HTR-PM are reviewed. A parameter submodel named global parameter mapping is presented to quantify the relationship between an unknown model parameter and different operating conditions in a data-driven manner. The ideal construction of such a mapping requires reliable estimates, a well-poised sample set and an appropriate global surrogate. An adaptive model calibration scheme is designed to tackle these three issues correspondingly. First, a systematic parameter estimation approach is developed to ensure reliable estimates via heuristic subset selection consisting of estimability analysis and reliability evaluation. To capture the parameter behavior among the multiple experimental conditions and meanwhile reduce the operating cost, an adaptive experimental design is employed to guide condition testing. Experimental conditions are sequentially determined by comprehensively considering the criteria of sampling density, local nonlinearity and parameter uncertainty. Support vector regression is introduced as the global surrogate due to its capability of small-sample learning. Finally, the effectiveness of the model calibration scheme and its application performance in HTR-PM are validated by the simulation results.
Production and Characterization of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) from Halomonas boliviensis LC1 Cultivated in Hydrolysates of Quinoa Stalks
Authors: Miranda Diego A. , Marín Katherine , Sundman Ola , Hedenström Mattias , Quillaguaman Jorge , Gorzsás András , Broström Markus , Carlborg Markus , Lundqvist Jenny , Romero-Soto Luis , Jönsson Leif J. , Carrasco Cristhian , Martín Carlos
Published: June 2023

The global production of fossil-based plastics has reached critical levels, and their substitution with bio-based polymers is an urgent requirement. Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate) (PHB) is a biopolymer that can be produced via microbial cultivation, but efficient microorganisms and low-cost substrates are required. Halomonas boliviensis LC1, a moderately halophilic bacterium, is an effective PHB producer, and hydrolysates of the residual stalks of quinoa (Chenopodium quinoa Willd.) can be considered a cheap source of sugars for microbial fermentation processes in quinoa-producing countries. In this study, H. boliviensis LC1 was adapted to a cellulosic hydrolysate of quinoa stalks obtained via acid-catalyzed hydrothermal pretreatment and enzymatic saccharification. The adapted strain was cultivated in hydrolysates and synthetic media, each of them with two different initial concentrations of glucose. Cell growth, glucose consumption, and PHB formation during cultivation were assessed. The cultivation results showed an initial lag in microbial growth and glucose consumption in the quinoa hydrolysates compared to cultivation in synthetic medium, but after 33 h, the values were comparable for all media. Cultivation in hydrolysates with an initial glucose concentration of 15 g/L resulted in a higher glucose consumption rate (0.15 g/(L h) vs. 0.14 g/(L h)) and volumetric productivity of PHB (14.02 mg/(L h) vs. 10.89 mg/(L h)) than cultivation in hydrolysates with 20 g/L as the initial glucose concentration. During most of the cultivation time, the PHB yield on initial glucose was higher for cultivation in synthetic medium than in hydrolysates. The produced PHBs were characterized using advanced analytical techniques, such as high-performance size-exclusion chromatography (HPSEC), Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and thermogravimetric analysis (TGA). HPSEC revealed that the molecular weight of PHB produced in the cellulosic hydrolysate was lower than that of PHB produced in synthetic medium. TGA showed higher thermal stability for PHB produced in synthetic medium than for that produced in the hydrolysate. The results of the other characterization techniques displayed comparable features for both PHB samples. The presented results show the feasibility of producing PHB from quinoa stalks with H. boliviensis.