bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep Learning Algorithm for Differentiating Patients with a Healthy Liver from Patients with Liver Lesions Based on MR Images
Authors: Skwirczyński Maciej , Tabor Zbisław , Lasek Julia , Schneider Zofia , Gibała Sebastian , Kucybała Iwona , Urbanik Andrzej , Obuchowicz Rafał
Published: June 2023

The problems in diagnosing the state of a vital organ such as the liver are complex and remain unresolved. These problems are underscored by frequently published studies on this issue. At the same time, demand for imaging diagnostics, preferably using a method that can detect the disease at the earliest possible stage, is constantly increasing. In this paper, we present liver diseases in the context of diagnosis, diagnostic problems, and possible elimination. We discuss the dataset and methods and present the stages of the pipeline we developed, leading to multiclass segmentation of the liver in multiparametric MR image into lesions and normal tissue. Finally, based on the processing results, each case is classified as either a healthy liver or a liver with lesions. For the training set, the AUC ROC is 0.925 (standard error 0.013 and a p-value less than 0.001), and for the test set, the AUC ROC is 0.852 (standard error 0.039 and a p-value less than 0.001). Further refinements to the proposed pipeline are also discussed. The proposed approach could be used in the detection of focal lesions in the liver and the description of liver tumors. Practical application of the developed multi-class segmentation method represents a key step toward standardizing the medical evaluation of focal lesions in the liver.
Unpacking the Complexity of Epithelial Plasticity: From Master Regulator Transcription Factors to Non-Coding RNAs
Authors: Waryah Charlene , Alves Eric , Mazzieri Roberta , Dolcetti Riccardo , Thompson Erik W. , Redfern Andrew , Blancafort Pilar
Published: June 2023

Cellular plasticity in cancer enables adaptation to selective pressures and stress imposed by the tumor microenvironment. This plasticity facilitates the remodeling of cancer cell phenotype and function (such as tumor stemness, metastasis, chemo/radio resistance), and the reprogramming of the surrounding tumor microenvironment to enable immune evasion. Epithelial plasticity is one form of cellular plasticity, which is intrinsically linked with epithelial–mesenchymal transition (EMT). Traditionally, EMT has been regarded as a binary state. Yet, increasing evidence suggests that EMT involves a spectrum of quasi-epithelial and quasi-mesenchymal phenotypes governed by complex interactions between cellular metabolism, transcriptome regulation, and epigenetic mechanisms. Herein, we review the complex cross-talk between the different layers of epithelial plasticity in cancer, encompassing the core layer of transcription factors, their interacting epigenetic modifiers and non-coding RNAs, and the manipulation of cancer immunogenicity in transitioning between epithelial and mesenchymal states. In examining these factors, we provide insights into promising therapeutic avenues and potential anti-cancer targets.
Cancer Stem Cells in Tumours of the Central Nervous System in Children: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Han Yi-Peng , Lin Hou-Wei , Li Hao
Published: June 2023

Cancer stem cells (CSCs) are a subgroup of cells found in various kinds of tumours with stem cell characteristics, such as self-renewal, induced differentiation, and tumourigenicity. The existence of CSCs is regarded as a major source of tumour recurrence, metastasis, and resistance to conventional chemotherapy and radiation treatment. Tumours of the central nervous system (CNS) are the most common solid tumours in children, which have many different types including highly malignant embryonal tumours and midline gliomas, and low-grade gliomas with favourable prognoses. Stem cells from the CNS tumours have been largely found and reported by researchers in the last decade and their roles in tumour biology have been deeply studied. However, the cross-talk of CSCs among different CNS tumour types and their clinical impacts have been rarely discussed. This article comprehensively reviews the achievements in research on CSCs in paediatric CNS tumours. Biological functions, diagnostic values, and therapeutic perspectives are reviewed in detail. Further investigations into CSCs are warranted to improve the clinical practice in treating children with CNS tumours.
Genetic Characterization of Rat Hepatic Stellate Cell Line PAV-1
Authors: Gäberlein Kiara , Schröder Sarah K. , Nanda Indrajit , Steinlein Claus , Haaf Thomas , Buhl Eva M. , Sauvant Patrick , Sapin Vincent , Abergel Armand , Weiskirchen Ralf
Published: June 2023

The rat hepatic stellate cell line PAV-1 was established two decades ago and proposed as a cellular model to study aspects of hepatic retinoic acid metabolism. This cell line exhibits a myofibroblast-like phenotype but also has the ability to store retinyl esters and synthesize retinoic acid from its precursor retinol. Importantly, when cultured with palmitic acid alone or in combination with retinol, the cells switch to a deactivated phenotype in which the proliferation and expression of profibrogenic marker genes are suppressed. Despite these interesting characteristics, the cell line has somehow fallen into oblivion. However, based on the fact that working with in vivo models is becoming increasingly complicated, genetically characterized established cell lines that mimic aspects of hepatic stellate cell biology are of fundamental value for biomedical research. To genetically characterize PAV-1 cells, we performed karyotype analysis using conventional chromosome analysis and multicolor spectral karyotyping (SKY), which allowed us to identify numerical and specific chromosomal alteration in PAV-1 cells. In addition, we used a panel of 31 species-specific allelic variant sites to define a unique short tandem repeat (STR) profile for this cell line and performed bulk mRNA-sequencing, showing that PAV-1 cells express an abundance of genes specific for the proposed myofibroblastic phenotype. Finally, we used Rhodamine-Phalloidin staining and electron microscopy analysis, which showed that PAV-1 cells contain a robust intracellular network of filamentous actin and process typical ultrastructural features of hepatic stellate cells.
The Role of CD36 in Cancer Progression and Its Value as a Therapeutic Target
Authors: Feng William W. , Zuppe Hannah T. , Kurokawa Manabu
Published: June 2023

Cluster of differentiation 36 (CD36) is a cell surface scavenger receptor that plays critical roles in many different types of cancer, notably breast, brain, and ovarian cancers. While it is arguably most well-known for its fatty acid uptake functions, it is also involved in regulating cellular adhesion, immune response, and apoptosis depending on the cellular and environmental contexts. Here, we discuss the multifaceted role of CD36 in cancer biology, such as its role in mediating metastasis, drug resistance, and immune evasion to showcase its potential as a therapeutic target. We will also review existing approaches to targeting CD36 in pre-clinical studies, as well as discuss the only CD36-targeting drug to advance to late-stage clinical trials, VT1021. Given the roles of CD36 in the etiology of metabolic disorders, such as atherosclerosis, diabetes, and non-alcoholic fatty liver disease, the clinical implications of CD36-targeted therapy are wide-reaching, even beyond cancer.
Recent Advances in CAR-Based Solid Tumor Immunotherapy
Authors: Shin Min Hwa , Oh Eunha , Kim Yunjeong , Nam Dae-Hwan , Jeon So Young , Yu Jin Hyuk , Minn Dohsik
Published: June 2023

Adoptive cell therapy using chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) technology is one of the most advanced engineering platforms for cancer immunotherapy. CAR-T cells have shown remarkable efficacy in the treatment of hematological malignancies. However, their limitations in solid tumors include an immunosuppressive tumor microenvironment (TME), insufficient tumor infiltration, toxicity, and the absence of tumor-specific antigens. Although recent advances in CAR-T cell design—such as the incorporation of co-stimulatory domains and the development of armored CAR-T cells—have shown promising results in treating solid tumors, there are still challenges that need to be addressed. To overcome these limitations, other immune cells, such as natural killer (NK) cells and macrophages (M), have been developed as attractive options for efficient cancer immunotherapy of solid tumors. CAR-NK cells exhibit substantial clinical improvements with "off-the-shelf" availability and low toxicity. CAR-M cells have promising therapeutic potential because macrophages can infiltrate the TME of solid tumors. Here, we review the recent advances and future perspectives associated with engineered immune cell-based cancer immunotherapies for solid tumors. We also summarize ongoing clinical trials investigating the safety and efficacy of engineered immune cells, such as CAR-T, CAR-NK, and CAR-M, for targeting solid tumors.
A Systematic Review on Quiescent State Research Approaches in S. cerevisiae
Authors: Opalek Monika , Tutaj Hanna , Pirog Adrian , Smug Bogna J. , Rutkowska Joanna , Wloch-Salamon Dominika
Published: June 2023

Quiescence, the temporary and reversible arrest of cell growth, is a fundamental biological process. However, the lack of standardization in terms of reporting the experimental details of quiescent cells and populations can cause confusion and hinder knowledge transfer. We employ the systematic review methodology to comprehensively analyze the diversity of approaches used to study the quiescent state, focusing on all published research addressing the budding yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. We group research articles into those that consider all cells comprising the stationary-phase (SP) population as quiescent and those that recognize heterogeneity within the SP by distinguishing phenotypically distinct subpopulations. Furthermore, we investigate the chronological age of the quiescent populations under study and the methods used to induce the quiescent state, such as gradual starvation or abrupt environmental change. We also assess whether the strains used in research are prototrophic or auxotrophic. By combining the above features, we identify 48 possible experimental setups that can be used to study quiescence, which can be misleading when drawing general conclusions. We therefore summarize our review by proposing guidelines and recommendations pertaining to the information included in research articles. We believe that more rigorous reporting on the features of quiescent populations will facilitate knowledge transfer within and between disciplines, thereby stimulating valuable scientific discussion.
Antioxidant Intake and Biomarkers of Asthma in Relation to Smoking Status—A Review
Authors: Alsharairi Naser A.
Published: June 2023

Asthma is considered a chronic inflammatory disorder associated with airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR). Increased oxidative stress (OS) is a clinical feature of asthma, which promotes the inflammatory responses in bronchial/airway epithelial cells. Smokers and nonsmokers with asthma have been shown to have increases in several OS and inflammatory biomarkers. However, studies suggest significant differences in OS and inflammation biomarkers between smokers and nonsmokers. A few studies suggest associations between antioxidant intake from diet/supplements and asthma in patients with different smoking status. Evidence is lacking on the protective role of antioxidant vitamin and/or mineral consumption against asthma by smoking status with respect to inflammation and OS biomarkers. Therefore, the aim of this review is to highlight current knowledge regarding the relations between antioxidant intake, asthma, and its associated biomarkers, according to smoking status. This paper can be used to guide future research directions towards the health consequences of antioxidant intake in smoking and nonsmoking asthmatics.
Biocidal Coatings against Gram-Positive Bacteria from Linear and Branched Polycations: The Decisive Role of the Diffusion Coefficients of Macromolecules
Authors: Pigareva Vladislava A. , Marina Valeria I. , Bolshakova Anastasia V. , Berkovich Anna K. , Kuznetsova Oksana A. , Semenova Anastasia A. , Yushina Yulia K. , Bataeva Dagmara S. , Grudistova Maria A. , Sybachin Andrey V.
Published: June 2023

Positively charged polyelectrolytes hold significant potential as materials for creating antibacterial coatings. We examined the physicochemical and mechanical properties of the macromolecules in water solutions and in coatings for the series of branched polyethyleneimine (PEI) and linear polydiallyldimethylammonium chloride (PDADMAC) with different molecular weights. The microbiological study was conducted to analyze the biocidal activity of the polycation solutions and coatings towards foodborne bacteria. While the moisture saturation of the polycationic coatings and biocidal activity did not significantly depend on the chemical nature of charged groups or the molecular weight or architecture of macromolecules, the lowering of the molecular weight of polymers resulted in the loss of cohesive forces in the coatings and to a dramatic loss of stability when being washed off with water. The diffusion coefficient (D0) of macromolecules was identified as a key parameter for the wash-off mechanism. Films formed by molecules with a D0 below 1 × 10−7 cm2/s demonstrated a high resistance to wash-off procedures. We demonstrated that PEI and PDADMAC samples with high molecular weights showed high antimicrobial activity towards L. monocytogenes. Our results highlight the importance of macromolecule characteristics in the development of new biocidal coatings based on polycations.
Thin-Film Nanocrystalline Zinc Oxide Photoanode Modified with CdO in Photoelectrocatalytic Degradation of Alcohols
Authors: Grinberg Vitali A. , Emets Victor V. , Modestov Alexander D. , Averin Aleksey A. , Shiryaev Andrei A.
Published: June 2023

Thin-film nanocrystalline zinc oxide electrodes were fabricated by electrochemical deposition of ZnO on FTO-coated glass slides. ZnO electrodes were promoted by CdO coating on top of ZnO in amounts corresponding to 0.8, 0.1, and 0.05 C cm−2 in electric units. Modification of ZnO by a small amount of CdO, corresponding to 0.05 C cm−2, shifts the photoactivity of the composite photoanode into the visible part of the solar spectrum. It is shown that the ZnO/(0.05C)CdO/FTO electrode demonstrates high efficiency in photoelectrochemical degradation of methanol, ethylene glycol, and glycerol when irradiated by a simulated sunlight. According to intensity-modulated photocurrent spectroscopy (IMPS), the effect is due to suppression of the electron–hole pairs recombination and increase in the rate of photo-induced charge transfer. Therefore, thin-film photoanodes based on zinc oxide modified by CdO can be used for photoelectrochemical degradation of byproducts of biofuel production glycerol, and of other alcohols.
Sol–Gel Silica Coatings for Corrosion Protection of Aluminum Parts Manufactured by Selective Laser Melting (SLM) Technology
Authors: Macera Luciano , Pullini Daniele , Boschetto Alberto , Bottini Luana , Mingazzini Claudio , Falleti Gian Luca
Published: June 2023

Metal additive manufacturing is a rapidly growing field based on the fabrication of complex parts with improved performance. The advantages of using this technology include the production of shapes that cannot be produced by traditional machining technologies, the possibility of using trabecular reinforcing structures, and the ability to make parts with topological optimization that allow for increased performance and decreased mass of the parts produced. Metal parts produced by selective laser melting technology exhibit high surface roughness, which limits their direct implementation. Corrosion protection of these surfaces is difficult, especially for galvanic processes. This paper analyzes the possibility of using sol–gel silica (silicon oxide) coatings to effectively protect various surfaces of aluminum alloys produced by selective laser melting technology. Silicon oxide sol–gel protective coatings have demonstrated excellent chemical stability and corrosion resistance, being able to be applied in very thin layers. These properties make them excellent candidates for protecting additive-manufactured metal parts, especially as-built surfaces with a high surface roughness. Nanostructured silica sol–gel protective coatings have demonstrated excellent corrosion resistance and have the potential to replace the highly toxic chromium-based galvanic treatments. Using nanostructured silica sol–gel coatings, aluminum parts can be seamlessly integrated into circular-economy cycles.
Electro-Elastic Modeling of Multi-Step Transitions in Two Elastically Coupled and Sterically Frustrated 1D Spin Crossover Chains
Authors: Traiche Rachid , Oubouchou Hassane , Boukheddaden Kamel
Published: June 2023

One-dimensional spin crossover (SCO) solids that convert between the low spin (LS) and the high spin (HS) states are widely studied in the literature due to their diverse thermal and optical characteristics which allow obtaining many original behaviors, such as large thermal hysteresis, incomplete spin transitions, as multi-step spin transitions with self-organized states. In the present work, we investigate the thermal behaviors of a system of two elastically coupled 1D mononuclear chains, using the electro-elastic model, by including an elastic frustration in the nearest neighbors (nn) bond length distances of each chain. The chains are made of SCO sites that are coupled elastically through springs with their nn and next-nearest neighbors. The elastic interchain coupling includes diagonal springs, while the nn inter-chain distance is fixed to that of the high spin state. The model is solved using MC simulations, performed on the spin states and the lattice distortions. When we only frustrate the first chain, we found a strong effect on the thermal dependence of the HS fraction of the second chain, which displays an incomplete spin transition with a significantly lowered transition temperature. In the second step, we frustrate both chains by imposing different frustration rates. Here, we demonstrate that for high frustration values, the thermal dependence of the total HS fraction exhibits multi-step spin transitions. The careful examination of the spin state structures in the plateau regions showed the coexistence of special dimerized ferro–antiferro patterns of type LL-HH-LL-HH along the first chain and HH-LL-HH-LL (H=HS and L=LS) along the second one, revealing that the two chains are antiferro-elastically coupled. This type of spatial modulation of the spin state and bond length distances is very attractive because it anticipates the possible existence of periodic structures in 2D lattices, made of alternate 1D SCO strings with HLHLHL structures, coupled in the ferro-like fashion along the interchain direction.
3D Printed Microfluidic Cell for SAXS Time-Resolved Measurements of the Structure of Protein Crystallization Solutions
Authors: Marchenkova Margarita , Chapek Sergei , Konarev Petr , Ilina Ksenia , Peters Georgy , Pisarevsky Yury , Shishkov Vladimir , Soldatov Alexander , Kovalchuk Mikhail
Published: June 2023

A multichannel microfluidic cell (MFC) obtained using 3D printing for studying the structure of complex solutions by small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is described. MFC was tested at the BioMUR beamline of the Kurchatov synchrotron. A comparative analysis of SAXS signal from the standard capillary and from the developed MFC was carried out, with MFC showing significant advantages. The dynamics of SAXS scattering curves for lysozyme solutions with NaCl precipitant were studied when the protein and precipitant concentrations changed. The obtained time series of data are well consistent with the known data for the lysozyme solution.
Two-Dimensional Lattices with Lanthanoids, Anilato Ligands and Formamide
Authors: Benmansour Samia , Hernández-Paredes Antonio , Defez-Aznar Kilian , Gómez-García Carlos J.
Published: June 2023

Here, we illustrate the use of formamide (fma) and anilato-type ligands to build two-dimensional lattices with lanthanoids. Thus, we describe the synthesis and crystal structure of four lattices formulated as [Ln2(C6O4X2)3(fma)6]·6fma with Ln/X = La/Cl (1), La/Br (2), Eu/Cl (3), and Eu/Br (4), where C6O4X22− = dianion of 3,6-disubstituted-2,5-dihydroxy-1,4-benzoquinone with X = Cl (chloranilato) and X = Br (bromanilato). Single crystal X-ray analysis shows that the four compounds crystallize in the triclinic P-1 space group and present two-dimensional, very distorted hexagonal lattices with the lanthanoids ions in the vertex coordinated by three anilato ligands forming the sides of the distorted hexagons that appear as rectangles. The rectangles are disposed parallel to their long sides in a brick wall fashion. The nona-coordination of the lanthanoids is completed by three formamide molecules. These layered compounds include three additional formamide molecules per lanthanoid atom, located in the interlayer space inside the channels formed by the eclipsed packing of the layers. We discuss the differences observed among these compounds due to the change of the lanthanoid ion (La and Eu) and of the substituent group X in the anilato ligand (Cl and Br).
Evaluation of Environmental Management and Conservation of Natural Resources in Tourism Enterprises in Ayacucho, Peru: Workers’ Perceptions
Authors: Pariona-Luque Rosario , Pacheco Alex , Ccama Faustino , Reyes Rosario , Lema Fabian
Published: June 2023

Nowadays, it is important to promote environmental management in organisations so that natural resources are subject to a conservation process that allows them to be maintained over time. In addition, this is a good way to increase the environmental awareness of the different actors in society. Therefore, the objective of this study is to evaluate the perceptions of workers concerning the relationship between environmental management and the conservation of natural resources in tourism companies in Ayacucho, located in the Andean region of Peru. The research is of a basic type, with a quantitative approach and a non-experimental, correlational-exploratory design. The survey technique was used and the data-collection instrument was a questionnaire addressed to 600 workers on environmental management, with the dimensions of planning, implementation and operation and verification; and on conservation of natural resources, with the dimensions of biodiversity monitoring and consolidation of the protected area. The results show that 39% of workers disagree with the planning of their company, 47% neither agree nor disagree with the operations of their company and the implementation of its projects and 47% disagree with their company’s methods of assessing the success of its operations. These results show that an environmental management model should be proposed to improve the conservation of natural resources and to contribute to the revaluation of resources and the promotion of biodiversity protection in order to create environmental awareness in society.
Continuity of Care in Adults Aging with Cerebral Palsy and Spina Bifida: The Importance of Community Healthcare and Socioeconomic Context
Authors: Khan Anam M. , Lin Paul , Kamdar Neil , Mahmoudi Elham , Clarke Philippa
Published: June 2023

Continuity of care is considered a key metric of quality healthcare. Yet, continuity of care in adults aging with congenital disability and the factors that contribute to care continuity are largely unknown. Using data from a national private administrative health claims database in the United States (2007–2018). we examined continuity of care in 8596 adults (mean age 48.6 years) with cerebral palsy or spina bifida. Logistic regression models analyzed how proximity to health care facilities, availability of care providers, and community socioeconomic context were associated with more continuous care. We found that adults aging with cerebral palsy or spina bifida saw a variety of different physician specialty types and generally had discontinuous care. Individuals who lived in areas with more hospitals and residential care facilities received more continuous care than those with limited access to these resources. Residence in more affluent areas was associated with receiving more fragmented care. Findings suggest that over and above individual factors, community healthcare resources and socioeconomic context serve as important factors to consider in understanding continuity of care patterns in adults aging with cerebral palsy or spina bifida.
Characterization of SHH, SOX3, WNT3A and WNT9B Proteins in Human Non-Syndromic Cleft Lip and Palate Tissue
Authors: Vaivads Mārtiņš , Akota Ilze , Pilmane Māra
Published: June 2023

Orofacial clefts have been associated with specific cleft candidate genes which encode regulatory proteins required for orofacial region development. Cleft candidate genes encode proteins involved with the cleft morphopathogenesis process, but their exact interactions and roles are relatively unclear in human cleft tissue. This study evaluates the presence and correlations of Sonic Hedgehog (SHH), SRY-Box Transcription Factor 3 (SOX3), Wingless-type Family Member 3A (WNT3A) and 9B (WNT9B) protein containing cells in different cleft tissue. Non-syndromic cleft-affected tissue was subdivided into three groups—unilateral cleft lip (UCL) (n = 36), bilateral cleft lip (BCL) (n = 13), cleft palate (CP) (n = 26). Control tissue was obtained from five individuals. Immunohistochemistry was implemented. The semi-quantitative method was used. Non-parametric statistical methods were applied. A significant decrease in SHH was found in BCL and CP tissue. SOX3, WNT3A and WNT9B had a significant decrease in all clefts. Statistically significant correlations were found. The significant decrease in SHH could be associated with BCL and CP pathogenesis. SOX3, WNT3A and WNT9B could have morphopathogenetic involvement in UCL, BCL, and CP. Similar correlations imply the presence of similar pathogenetic mechanisms in different cleft variations.
Minimal Energy Routing of a Leader and a Wingmate with Periodic Connectivity
Authors: Hari Sai Krishna Kanth , Rathinam Sivakumar , Darbha Swaroop , Casbeer David
Published: June 2023

We consider a route planning problem in which two unmanned vehicles are required to complete a set of tasks present at distinct locations, referred to as targets, with minimum energy consumption. The mission environment is hazardous, and to ensure a safe operation, the UVs are required to communicate with each other at every target they visit. The problem objective is to determine the allocation of the tasks to the UVs and plan tours for the UVs to visit the targets such that the weighted sum of the distances traveled by the UVs and the distances traveled by the communicating signals between them is minimized. We formulate this problem as an Integer program and show that naively solving the problem using commercially available off-the-shelf solvers is insufficient in determining scalable solutions efficiently. To address this computational challenge, we develop an approximation and a heuristic algorithm, and employ them to compute high-quality solutions to a special case of the problem where equal weights are assigned to the distances traveled by the vehicles and the communicating signals. For this special case, we show that the approximation algorithm has a fixed approximation ratio of 3.75. We also develop lower bounds to the optimal cost of the problem to evaluate the performance of these algorithms on large-scale instances. We demonstrate the performance of these algorithms on 500 randomly generated instances with the number of targets ranging from 6 to 100, and show that the algorithms provide high-quality solutions to the problem swiftly; the average computation time of the algorithmic solutions is within a fraction of a second for instances with at most 100 targets. Finally, we show that the approximation ratio has a variable ratio for the weighted case of the problem. Specifically, if ρ denotes the ratio of the weights assigned to the distances representing the communication and travel costs, the algorithm has an a posteriori ratio of 3+3ρ4 when ρ≥1, and 3ρ+34 when ρ≤1.
General Nonlocal Probability of Arbitrary Order
Authors: Tarasov Vasily E.
Published: June 2023

Using the Luchko’s general fractional calculus (GFC) and its extension in the form of the multi-kernel general fractional calculus of arbitrary order (GFC of AO), a nonlocal generalization of probability is suggested. The nonlocal and general fractional (CF) extensions of probability density functions (PDFs), cumulative distribution functions (CDFs) and probability are defined and its properties are described. Examples of general nonlocal probability distributions of AO are considered. An application of the multi-kernel GFC allows us to consider a wider class of operator kernels and a wider class of nonlocality in the probability theory.
Impact of Data-Driven Feedback and Coaching on Preservice Teachers’ Questioning Skills for Higher-Order Thinking within a Mixed-Reality Simulation Environment
Authors: DeSantis Wes J. , Delcourt Marcia A. B. , Shore Bruce M. , Greenwood Jacob C.
Published: June 2023

In this exploratory study, constructs related to self-efficacy theory were embedded in a treatment to improve the use of higher-order thinking (HOT) questioning skills in candidates enrolled in a teaching-methods course enhanced by mixed-reality simulations (MRS). The problem of designing an effective feedback and coaching model to improve the delivery of HOT questions in 10 min lessons was addressed. Thirty undergraduates were asked to incorporate HOT questions into each of the three lessons presented during a 15-week semester. Treatment candidates received individual data-driven feedback and coaching that included tailored guidance provided at regular intervals throughout the term. Quantitative analyses indicated that there was no significant difference in self-efficacy between conditions and that treatment group members posed significantly more HOT questions in their lessons (effect size = 1.26) than their non-treatment peers. An optimal ratio of two knowledge/comprehension to one HOT question in a 10 min period was proposed and three criteria for high-quality HOT questions are presented. Interviews revealed that those who participated in the treatment were more likely to recognize improvements in their self-efficacy, lesson planning, and performance than comparison group members. Data-driven feedback and coaching also provided candidates with opportunities for reflection.
Is the Teaching Environment a Risk Factor for Depression Symptoms? The Case of Capricorn District in Limpopo, South Africa
Authors: Maaga Khomotso Comfort , Mokwena Kebogile Elizabeth
Published: June 2023

The global increase in mental disorders also identifies the workplace, including the teaching environment, as a key source of such disorders. Social problems among learners often put additional pressure on the teachers, over and above their normal academic, administrative and organizational responsibilities, thus contributing to high levels of stress among teachers. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of depression symptoms, as well as the associated sociodemographic factors, among teachers in Capricorn District, Limpopo Province, South Africa. A cross-sectional quantitative study design using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) tool was used to determine the symptoms of depression among a sample of 381 teachers. A self-administrated questionnaire was used to collect sociodemographic data, which were analyzed descriptively. Pearson chi-square tests were used to explore associations between a range of sociodemographic variables and PHQ scores. A final logistic regression model was used for factors that were significantly associated with depression symptoms according to Chi-square tests. The majority of the participants were Black (83.45%) and female (70.87%) and had obtained a bachelor’s degree as their highest qualification (53.95%). Almost half of participants (49.87%) tested positive for symptoms of depression, which ranged from mild to severe. Employment-related factors that were significantly associated with depression symptoms included the quintile ranking of the school, the school where employed, learner-to-teacher ratio and the subjects taught by the teacher. Personal factors that were associated with depression included gender, marital status and race. Depression symptoms amongst teachers were mostly associated with workplace factors.
Single and Multiple Separate LSTM Neural Networks for Multiple Output Feature Purchase Prediction
Authors: Ćirić Milica , Predić Bratislav , Stojanović Dragan , Ćirić Ivan
Published: June 2023

Data concerning product sales are a popular topic in time series forecasting due to their multidimensionality and wide presence in many businesses. This paper describes the research in predicting the timing and product category of the next purchase based on historical customer transaction data. Given that the dataset was acquired from a vendor of medical drugs and devices, the generic product identifier (GPI) classification system was incorporated in assigning product categories. The models built are based on recurrent neural networks (RNN) and long short-term memory (LSTM) neural networks with different input and output features, and training datasets. Experiments with various datasets were conducted and optimal network structures and types for predicting both product category and next purchase day were identified. The key contribution of this research is the process of data transformation from its original purchase transaction format into a time series of input features for next purchase prediction. With this approach, it is possible to implement a dedicated personalized marketing system for a vendor.
Crowd Counting by Multi-Scale Dilated Convolution Networks
Authors: Dong Jingwei , Zhao Ziqi , Wang Tongxin
Published: June 2023

The number of people in a crowd is crucial information in public safety, intelligent monitoring, traffic management, architectural design, and other fields. At present, the counting accuracy in public spaces remains compromised by some unavoidable situations, such as the uneven distribution of a crowd and the difference in head scale caused by people’s differing distances from the camera. To solve these problems, we propose a deep learning crowd counting model, multi-scale dilated convolution networks (MSDCNet), based on crowd density map estimation. MSDCNet consists of three parts. The front-end network uses the truncated VGG16 to obtain preliminary features of the input image, with a proposed spatial pyramid pooling (SPP) module replacing the max-pooling layer to extract features with scale invariance. The core network is our proposed multi-scale feature extraction network (MFENet) for extracting features in three different scales. The back-end network consists of consecutive dilation convolution layers instead of traditional alternate convolution and pooling to expand the receptive field, extract high-level semantic information and avoid the spatial feature loss of small-scale heads. The experimental results on three public datasets show that the proposed model solved the above problems satisfactorily and obtained better counting accuracy than representative models in terms of mean absolute error (MAE) and mean square error (MSE).
Identification of Parameters and States in PMSMs
Authors: Mercorelli Paolo
Published: June 2023

This paper discusses the importance of accurately identifying the parameters and states in permanent magnet synchronous motors (PMSMs) and their impact on motor performance and efficiency. This study was conducted to demonstrate the significance of these parameters. The results showed that inaccurate identification of the friction coefficient and moment of inertia led to poor motor performance, instability, and reduced efficiency. Accurate identification of these parameters is necessary for the proper control and operation of PMSMs. This paper highlights the various methods for calculating the friction coefficient and moment of inertia, as well as their potential limitations. The findings of this study emphasize the importance of accurately identifying these parameters for the efficient and effective operation of PMSMs.
Physically Encrypted Wireless Transmission Based on XOR between Two Data in Terahertz Beams
Authors: Chen Hanwei , Che Ming , Seiki Naoya , Shiramizu Takashi , Yano Takuya , Mikami Yuya , Ueda Yuta , Kato Kazutoshi
Published: June 2023

Future wireless communications require higher security as well as a higher data rate. We have been studying physically secured wireless transmission systems and previously proposed encryption/decryption techniques based on the AND operation caused by coherent detection between two encrypted data sequences on two different terahertz carriers. Furthermore, we suggested that by employing the XOR operation as the decryption, the proposed system can be made more secure because XOR increases the computational complexity for eavesdroppers to recover the plaintext. In this paper, we propose the XOR operation between two data sequences on FSK-modulated terahertz waves. By constructing the XOR encryption transmitters/receivers, which consisted of high-speed wavelength tunable lasers and arrayed uni-traveling-carrier photodiodes (UTC-PDs), we successfully demonstrated the XOR operation between two data sequences on 200 GHz waves from the two transmitters.
A Study of Mutual Coupling Suppression between Two Closely Spaced Planar Monopole Antenna Elements for 5G New Radio Massive MIMO System Applications
Authors: Aziz Rao Shahid , Koziel Slawomir , Leifsson Leifur , Szczepanski Stanislaw
Published: June 2023

5G NR (new radio) introduces the concept of massive MIMO (multiple-input multiple-output) technology, in which a larger number of antenna arrays are installed on the transceiver. Due to the increased number of antenna elements allocated close to each other (approximately at a distance of half a wavelength), mutual coupling becomes a serious problem leading to performance degradation of the MIMO communication system. In this communication, two different configurations of closely spaced antenna array elements are studied. In order to reduce the mutual coupling, a combination of a metamaterial-based frequency-selective surface (FSS), a metallic strip, and a slot element in the ground plane is examined. It is found that the proposed technique significantly suppresses mutual coupling from −12 dB to −25 dB. Both designs are fabricated and experimentally validated. The simulation results are in good agreement with the measurements. The proposed mutual coupling reduction technique may be suitable for massive MIMO systems in fifth-generation (5G) new radio applications.
The Research of Air Combat Intention Identification Method Based on BiLSTM + Attention
Authors: Tan Bin , Li Qiuni , Zhang Tingliang , Zhao Hui
Published: June 2023

In the process of air combat intention identification, expert experience and traditional algorithm are relied on to analyze enemy aircraft combat intention in a single moment, but the identification time and accuracy are not excellent. In this paper, from the dynamic attributes of an airspace fighter air combat target and the dynamic and time series changing characteristics of the battlefield environment, we introduce the bidirectional long short-term memory neural network (BiLSTM + Attention) intention identification method based on the attention mechanism for air combat intention identification. In this method, five kinds of state parameters, including target maneuver type, distance, flight velocity, altitude and heading angle, were taken as datasets. The BiLSTM + Attention was used to extract enemy aircraft intention features. By introducing attention mechanism, the weight coefficients of characteristic states corresponding to air combat victories were corrected. Finally, it was input into the SoftMax function to obtain the category of the enemy’s intention. Experimental results showed that the proposed method can effectively identify enemy aircraft in the case of high complexity, multidimensional and large amount of data. Compared with bidirectional long short-term memory (BiLSTM), long short-term memory (LSTM), long short-term memory based on attention mechanisms (LSTM + Attention) and support vector machine (SVM) classification, the proposed method had higher accuracy and lower loss value.
An AR Application for the Efficient Construction of Water Pipes Buried Underground
Authors: Inoue Koki , Ogake Shuichiro , Kobayashi Kazuma , Tomura Toyoaki , Mitsui Satoshi , Satake Toshifumi , Igo Naoki
Published: June 2023

Unlike other civil engineering works, water pipe works require digging out before construction because the construction site is buried. The AR application is a system that displays buried objects in the ground in three dimensions when users hold a device such as a smartphone over the ground, using images from the smartphone. The system also registers new buried objects when they are updated. The target of this project is water pipes, which are the most familiar of all buried structures. The system has the following functions: “registration and display of new water pipe information” and “acquisition and display of current location coordinate information.” By applying the plane detection function to data acquired from a camera mounted on a smartphone, the system can easily register and display a water pipe model horizontally to the ground. The system does not require a reference marker because it uses GPS and the plane detection function. In the future, the system will support the visualization and registration of not only water pipes but also other underground infrastructures and will play an active role in the rapid restoration of infrastructure after a large-scale disaster through the realization of a buried-object 3D MAP platform.
Quantitative Analysis of Leakage Consequences of LNG Ship-to-Ship Bunkering Based on CFD
Authors: Kong Xiangyu , Jiao Wenling , Xiang Weidong , Wang Qiang , Cao Jiaolong , Han Lianfu
Published: June 2023

Leakage incidents on LNG bunker vessels will result in a serious degree of hazard. This paper investigates typical high-risk scenarios such as hose ruptures and valve joint leakages. The consequences of an LNG leakage accident during the simultaneous operation of a bunker vessel and a container carrier are simulated using the FLACS software, and the dispersion range of the combustible vapor cloud is quantitatively analyzed under both ballast and laden conditions. Under the ballast condition, the diffusion range of the combustible vapor cloud on the side of the bunker vessel is 58 × 15.5 m from the front wall of the cargo equipment room to the bow of the vessel, and 35 × 9.5 m between the cargo equipment room and the transom of the vessel. Under the laden condition, the diffusion range on the side of the bunker vessel is 58 × 15.5 m from the front wall of the cargo equipment room to the bow of the vessel, and 15 × 4 m between the rear end wall of the cargo equipment room and the front wall of the stern of the vessel. These results provide important technical guidance and reference values for the safe operation of LNG bunker vessels.
Feature Selection and Model Evaluation for Threat Detection in Smart Grids
Authors: Gwiazdowicz Mikołaj , Natkaniec Marek
Published: June 2023

The rising interest in the security of network infrastructure, including edge devices, the Internet of Things, and smart grids, has led to the development of numerous machine learning-based approaches that promise improvement to existing threat detection solutions. Among the popular methods to ensuring cybersecurity is the use of data science techniques and big data to analyse online threats and current trends. One important factor is that these techniques can identify trends, attacks, and events that are invisible or not easily detectable even to a network administrator. The goal of this paper is to suggest the optimal method for feature selection and to find the most suitable method to compare results between different studies in the context of imbalance datasets and threat detection in ICT. Furthermore, as part of this paper, the authors present the state of the data science discipline in the context of the ICT industry, in particular, its applications and the most frequently employed methods of data analysis. Based on these observations, the most common errors and shortcomings in adopting best practices in data analysis have been identified. The improper usage of imbalanced datasets is one of the most frequently occurring issues. This characteristic of data is an indispensable aspect in the case of the detection of infrequent events. The authors suggest several solutions that should be taken into account while conducting further studies related to the analysis of threats and trends in smart grids.
Simulation Study of Influencing Factors of Immersion Phase-Change Cooling Technology for Data Center Servers
Authors: Zhao Tiantian , Sun Rongfeng , Hou Xukai , Huang Jikai , Geng Wenguang , Jiang Jianguo
Published: June 2023

The immersion phase-change cooling technology utilizes the latent heat of the cooling liquid to dissipate heat by directly contacting the cooling liquid with the heat-generating electronic chip, which can meet the cooling requirements of current high heat flux density data centers. In this paper, the effect of different factors on the heat dissipation performance of immersion phase-change cooling technology was explored through numerical simulation. The results show that, under certain power conditions, the inlet temperature and flow rate of the cooling water in the condensation module, as well as the different arrangement of servers, have a significant impact on the heat dissipation performance of the entire system. The inlet water temperature mainly affects the chip temperature after stabilization. With the decrease in the inlet temperature, the chip surface temperature decreases significantly. The inlet water flow rate mainly affects the time required for the heat exchange to reach the desired temperature. With the increase in the inlet flow rate, the required cooling time is shortened. As the spacing between servers increases, the thermal safety and stability of the entire system increase. When the spacing between servers increases from 5 mm to 15 mm, the highest temperature and the temperature uniformity coefficient between the systems decrease significantly. When the spacing increases from 15 mm to 25 mm, the highest temperature and the temperature uniformity coefficient decrease slightly. These results can provide useful information for the designers of immersion phase-change cooling systems to improve the cooling efficiency of data centers, save energy, and ensure the safe operation of related computers, servers, and communication systems.