bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Cutaneous Fungal Infections Caused by Dermatophytes and Non-Dermatophytes: An Updated Comprehensive Review of Epidemiology, Clinical Presentations, and Diagnostic Testing
Authors: Chanyachailert Pattriya , Leeyaphan Charussri , Bunyaratavej Sumanas
Published: June 2023

Cutaneous fungal infection of the skin and nails poses a significant global public health challenge. Dermatophyte infection, mainly caused by Trichophyton spp., is the primary pathogenic agent responsible for skin, hair, and nail infections worldwide. The epidemiology of these infections varies depending on the geographic location and specific population. However, epidemiological pattern changes have occurred over the past decade. The widespread availability of antimicrobials has led to an increased risk of promoting resistant strains through inappropriate treatment. The escalating prevalence of resistant Trichophyton spp. infections in the past decade has raised serious healthcare concerns on a global scale. Non-dermatophyte infections, on the other hand, present even greater challenges in terms of treatment due to the high failure rate of antifungal therapy. These organisms primarily target the nails, feet, and hands. The diagnosis of cutaneous fungal infections relies on clinical presentation, laboratory investigations, and other ancillary tools available in an outpatient care setting. This review aims to present an updated and comprehensive analysis of the epidemiology, clinical manifestations, and diagnostic testing methods for cutaneous fungal infections caused by dermatophytes and non-dermatophytes. An accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective management and minimizing the risk of antifungal resistance.
Effect of Different Light Wavelengths on Zymoseptoria tritici Development and Leaf Colonization in Bread Wheat
Authors: Cerón-Bustamante Minely , Tini Francesco , Beccari Giovanni , Benincasa Paolo , Covarelli Lorenzo
Published: June 2023

The wheat pathogen Zymoseptoria tritici can respond to light by modulating its gene expression. Because several virulence-related genes are differentially expressed in response to light, different wavelengths could have a crucial role in the Z. tritici–wheat interaction. To explore this opportunity, the aim of this study was to analyze the effect of blue (470 nm), red (627 nm), blue–red, and white light on the in vitro and in planta development of Z. tritici. The morphology (mycelium appearance, color) and phenotypic (mycelium growth) characteristics of a Z. tritici strain were evaluated after 14 days under the different light conditions in two independent experiments. In addition, bread wheat plants were artificially inoculated with Z. tritici and grown for 35 days under the same light treatments. The disease incidence, severity, and fungal DNA were analyzed in a single experiment. Statistical differences were determined by using an ANOVA. The obtained results showed that the different light wavelengths induced specific morphological changes in mycelial growth. The blue light significantly reduced colony growth, while the dark and red light favored fungal development (p < 0.05). The light quality also influenced host colonization, whereby the white and red light had stimulating and repressing effects, respectively (p < 0.05). This precursory study demonstrated the influence of light on Z. tritici colonization in bread wheat.
Single-Point Nail Sampling to Diagnose Onychomycosis Caused by Non-Dermatophyte Molds: Utility of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) and Histopathology
Authors: Gupta Aditya K. , Cooper Elizabeth A. , Wang Tong , Lincoln Sara A. , Bakotic Wayne L.
Published: June 2023

The three most commonly used methods for diagnosing non-dermatophyte mold (NDM) onychomycosis are culture, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and histopathology. Toenail samples from 512 patients (1 sample/patient) with suspected onychomycosis were examined using all three diagnostic tests. A statistically significant association was found between PCR and histopathology results, as well as between fungal culture and histopathology results. All PCR-positive and culture-positive dermatophyte samples were confirmed by histopathology. However, 15/116 (12.9%) of culture-positive NDM samples had negative histopathology results, while all PCR-positive NDM samples were confirmed by histopathology. The overall rate of dermatophyte detection was higher using PCR compared to culture (38.9% vs. 11.7%); the lower rate of NDM detection by PCR (11.7% vs. 38.9%) could be attributed to the restriction of the assay design to seven pre-selected targets. When repeat sampling in the clinic is not possible, a combination of NDM detection by PCR and positive histopathology of hyphae may be a proxy for NDM infection, particularly where the NDM occurs without a concomitant dermatophyte. There was a high degree of correlation between negative PCR and negative histopathology. A negative PCR result with negative histopathology findings may be a reliable proxy for the diagnosis of non-fungal dystrophy.
Ferrite Nanoparticles as Catalysts in Organic Reactions: A Mini Review
Authors: Maji Nilima , Dosanjh Harmanjit Singh
Published: June 2023

Ferrites have excellent magnetic, electric, and optical properties that make them an indispensable choice of material for a plethora of applications, such as in various biomedical fields, magneto–optical displays, rechargeable lithium batteries, microwave devices, internet technology, transformer cores, humidity sensors, high-frequency media, magnetic recordings, solar energy devices, and magnetic fluids. Recently, magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts are one of the most prominent fields of research as they can act both as homogeneous and heterogenous catalysts. Nano-ferrites provide a large surface area for organic groups to anchor, increase the product and decrease reaction time, providing a cost-effective method of transformation. Various organic reactions were reported, such as the photocatalytic decomposition of a different dye, alkylation, dehydrogenation, oxidation, C–C coupling, etc., with nano-ferrites as a catalyst. Metal-doped ferrites with Co, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Zn, along with the metal ferrites doped with Mn, Cr, Cd, Ag, Au, Pt, Pd, or lanthanides and surface modified with silica and titania, are used as catalysts in various organic reactions. Metal ferrites (MFe2O4) act as a Lewis acid and increase the electrophilicity of specific groups of the reactants by accepting electrons in order to form covalent bonds. Ferrite nanocatalysts are easily recoverable by applying an external magnetic field for their reuse without significantly losing their catalytic activities. The use of different metal ferrites in different organic transformations reduces the catalyst overloading and, at the same time, reduces the use of harmful solvents and the production of poisonous byproducts, hence, serving as a green method of chemical synthesis. This review provides insight into the application of different ferrites as magnetically recoverable nanocatalysts in different organic reactions and transformations.
Carrier Phase Residual Modeling and Fault Monitoring Using Short-Baseline Double Difference and Machine Learning
Authors: Lee Dong-Kyeong , Lee Yebin , Park Byungwoon
Published: June 2023

Global Navigation Satellite Systems (GNSS) are used to provide accurate position, navigation, and time (PNT) information to users in various sectors of our society including transportation. Augmentation systems such as differential GNSS (DGNSS), real-time kinematics (RTK), and Precise Point Positioning (PPP) improve the GNSS performance, and providing reliable measurements from its reference station is very crucial. To ensure safe and accurate PNT solutions, code and carrier measurements must be monitored for potential faults or a performance degrade. Although there exist numerous methods to model and monitor the measurements, research on the carrier phase measurements is not as extensive as the code measurements. This paper introduces a split of residuals into receiver noise and multipath components to customize their estimation according to their respective statistical properties. This study also proposes a method to use machine learning-based non-linear regression to effectively model and monitor potential faults in the GNSS measurements including the carrier phase. A training dataset is used to model the nominal quantities of GNSS measurement residuals, and inflation factors are applied to over-bound the fault-free residuals. These inflated residuals are coupled with uncertainty factors to compute thresholds for monitoring carrier phase residuals, and the effectiveness of the thresholds is validated with a test dataset by achieving the false alarm rate of 6.61×10−6, slightly lower than the desired level of 10−5.
Evolutionary Game of Vaccination Considering Both Epidemic and Economic Factors by Infectious Network of Complex Nodes
Authors: Li Bing , Xiang Ziye
Published: June 2023

Vaccines are recognized as an effective way to control the spread of epidemics. It should be noted that the vaccination of a population is influenced not only by the infectiousness of a disease but also the vaccination strategy, such as the cost of vaccination. An accurate prediction model is helpful in forecasting the most likely trend to support smart decisions. In order to solve this problem, a model of epidemic spread dynamics is proposed, which is called the Susceptible–Infected–Vaccinated with vaccine A–Vaccinated with vaccine B–Recovered (SIVAVBR) model. This model assesses the competition between two vaccines in terms of economic cost and protection effectiveness in an open-market economy. The optimization process of individual vaccination decision-making was studied in an evolutionary game. In addition, a novel network containing environmental nodes and individual nodes was used to simulate the increase in infection probability caused by aggregation. Using the mean-field approach, the existence and stability of the disease-free equilibrium point and the endemic equilibrium point were demonstrated. Numerous simulations were further carried out to examine the relationship between the basic reproduction number and epidemic dynamics. The results reveal that immunization hesitation reduces the immunity level of the entire population. It is important to improve vaccine efficiency and affordability for manufacturers to become more competitive. Establishing the core individuals in the network is also a means of quickly occupying the market.
A Two-Stage Multi-Objective Evolutionary Algorithm for Community Detection in Complex Networks
Authors: Zhu Wenxin , Li Huan , Wei Wenhong
Published: June 2023

Community detection is a crucial research direction in the analysis of complex networks and has been shown to be an NP-hard problem (a problem that is at least as hard as the hardest problems in nondeterministic polynomial time). Multi-objective evolutionary algorithms (MOEAs) have demonstrated promising performance in community detection. Given that distinct crossover operators are suitable for various stages of algorithm evolution, we propose a two-stage algorithm that uses an individual similarity parameter to divide the algorithm into two stages. We employ appropriate crossover operators for each stage to achieve optimal performance. Additionally, a repair operation is applied to boundary-independent nodes during the second phase of the algorithm, resulting in improved community partitioning results. We assessed the effectiveness of the algorithm by measuring its performance on a synthetic network and four real-world network datasets. Compared to four existing competing methods, our algorithm achieves better accuracy and stability.
Applications of q-Calculus Multiplier Operators and Subordination for the Study of Particular Analytic Function Subclasses
Authors: Ali Ekram E. , Oros Georgia Irina , Ali Shah Shujaat , Albalahi Abeer M.
Published: June 2023

In this article, a new linear extended multiplier operator is defined utilizing the q-Choi–Saigo–Srivastava operator and the q-derivative. Two generalized subclasses of q—uniformly convex and starlike functions of order δ—are defined and studied using this new operator. Necessary conditions are derived for functions to belong in each of the two subclasses, and subordination theorems involving the Hadamard product of such particular functions are stated and proven. As applications of those findings using specific values for the parameters of the new subclasses, associated corollaries are provided. Additionally, examples are created to demonstrate the conclusions’ applicability in relation to the functions from the newly introduced subclasses.
Co-Expression of Transcriptional Regulators and Housekeeping Genes in Streptomyces spp.: A Strategy to Optimize Metabolite Production
Authors: Cuervo Lorena , Malmierca Mónica G. , García-Salcedo Raúl , Méndez Carmen , Salas José A. , Olano Carlos , Ceniceros Ana
Published: June 2023

The search for novel bioactive compounds to overcome resistance to current therapeutics has become of utmost importance. Streptomyces spp. are one of the main sources of bioactive compounds currently used in medicine. In this work, five different global transcriptional regulators and five housekeeping genes, known to induce the activation or overproduction of secondary metabolites in Streptomyces coelicolor, were cloned in two separated constructs and expressed in 12 different strains of Streptomyces spp. from the in-house CS collection. These recombinant plasmids were also inserted into streptomycin and rifampicin resistant Streptomyces strains (mutations known to enhance secondary metabolism in Streptomyces). Different media with diverse carbon and nitrogen sources were selected to assess the strains’ metabolite production. Cultures were then extracted with different organic solvents and analysed to search for changes in their production profiles. An overproduction of metabolites already known to be produced by the biosynthesis wild-type strains was observed such as germicidin by CS113, collismycins by CS149 and CS014, or colibrimycins by CS147. Additionally, the activation of some compounds such as alteramides in CS090a pSETxkBMRRH and CS065a pSETxkDCABA or inhibition of the biosynthesis of chromomycins in CS065a in pSETxkDCABA when grown in SM10 was demonstrated. Therefore, these genetic constructs are a relatively simple tool to manipulate Streptomyces metabolism and explore their wide secondary metabolites production potential.
Phanerosides A–X, Phenylpropanoid Esters of Sucrose from the Rattans of Phanera championii Benth
Authors: Hu Ya-Jie , Lan Qian , Su Bao-Jun , Liang Dong
Published: June 2023

Twenty-four new phenylpropanoid esters of sucrose, phanerosides A–X (1–24), were isolated from an EtOH extract of the rattans of Phanera championii Benth. (Fabaceae). Their structures were elucidated on the basis of comprehensive spectroscopic data analysis. A wide range of structural analogues were presented due to the different numbers and positions of acetyl substituents and the structures of phenylpropanoid moieties. Phenylpropanoid esters of sucrose were isolated from the Fabaceae family for the first time. Biologically, the inhibitory effects of compounds 6 and 21 on NO production in LPS-induced BV-2 microglial cells were better than that of the positive control, with IC50 values of 6.7 and 5.2 μM, respectively. The antioxidant activity assay showed that compounds 5, 15, 17, and 24 displayed moderate DPPH radical scavenging activity, with IC50 values ranging from 34.9 to 43.9 μM.
Identification of Polyphenolic Compounds Responsible for Antioxidant, Anti-Candida Activities and Nutritional Properties in Different Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) Hull Cultivars
Authors: Gharibi Shima , Matkowski Adam , Sarfaraz Danial , Mirhendi Hossein , Fakhim Hamed , Szumny Antoni , Rahimmalek Mehdi
Published: June 2023

The use of by-products from the agri-food industry is a promising approach for production of value-added, polyphenol-rich dietary supplements or natural pharmaceutical preparations. During pistachio nut processing, a great amount of husk is removed, leaving large biomass for potential re-use. The present study compares antiglycative, antioxidant, and antifungal activities as well as nutritional values of 12 genotypes belonging to four pistachio cultivars. Antioxidant activity was measured using DPPH and ABTS assays. Antiglycative activity was evaluated as inhibition of advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation in the bovine serum albumin/methylglyoxal model. HPLC analysis was performed to determine the major phenolic compounds. Cyanidin-3-O-galactoside (120.81–181.94 mg/100 g DW), gallic acid (27.89–45.25), catechin (7.2–11.01), and eriodictyol-7-O-glucoside (7.23–16.02) were the major components. Among genotypes, the highest total flavonol content (14.8 mg quercetin equivalents/g DW) and total phenolic content (262 mg tannic acid equivalent/g DW) were in KAL1 (Kaleghouchi) and FAN2 (Fandoghi), respectively. The highest antioxidant (EC50 = 375 μg/mL) and anti-glycative activities were obtained for Fan1. Furthermore, potent inhibitory activity against Candida species was recorded with MIC values of 3.12–12.5 µg/mL. The oil content ranged from 5.4% in Fan2 to 7.6% in Akb1. The nutritional parameters of the tested cultivars were highly variable: crude protein (9.8–15.8%), ADF (acid detergent fiber 11.9–18.2%), NDF (neutral detergent fiber, 14.8–25.6%), and condensed tannins (1.74–2.86%). Finally, cyanidin-3-O-galactoside was considered an effective compound responsible for antioxidant and anti-glycative activities.
Poloxamers Have Vaccine-Adjuvant Properties by Increasing Dissemination of Particulate Antigen at Distant Lymph Nodes
Authors: Lamrayah Myriam , Phelip Capucine , Rovera Renaud , Coiffier Céline , Lazhar Nora , Bartolomei Francesca , Colomb Evelyne , Verrier Bernard , Monge Claire , Richard Sophie
Published: June 2023

Vaccine technology is still facing challenges regarding some infectious diseases, which can be addressed by innovative drug delivery systems. In particular, nanoparticle-based vaccines combined with new types of adjuvants are actively explored as a platform for improving the efficacy and durability of immune protection. Here, biodegradable nanoparticles carrying an antigenic model of HIV were formulated with two combinations of poloxamers, 188/407, presenting or not presenting gelling properties, respectively. The study aimed to determine the influence of poloxamers (as a thermosensitive hydrogel or a liquid solution) on the adaptive immune response in mice. The results showed that poloxamer-based formulations were physically stable and did not induce any toxicity using a mouse dendritic cell line. Then, whole-body biodistribution studies using a fluorescent formulation highlighted that the presence of poloxamers influenced positively the dissemination profile by dragging nanoparticles through the lymphatic system until the draining and distant lymph nodes. The strong induction of specific IgG and germinal centers in distant lymph nodes in presence of poloxamers suggested that such adjuvants are promising components in vaccine development.
Confocal Single-Pixel Imaging
Authors: Ahn Cheolwoo , Park Jung-Hoon
Published: June 2023

Obtaining depth-selective images requires gating procedures such as spatial, nonlinear, or coherence gating to differentiate light originating from different depths of the volume of interest. Nonlinear gating requires pulsed excitation sources and excitation probes, limiting easy usage. Coherence gating also requires broadband sources and interferometry requiring specialized stable setups. Spatial gating can be used both for fluorescence and reflection geometry and various light sources and thus has the least requirements on hardware, but still requires the use of a pinhole which makes it difficult to use for photography or widefield imaging schemes. Here, we demonstrate that we can utilize a single digital micromirror device (DMD) to simultaneously function as a dynamic illumination modulator and automatically synchronized dynamic pinhole array to obtain depth-sectioned widefield images. Utilizing the multiplexed measurement advantage of single-pixel imaging, we show that the depth and ballistic light gating of the confocal single pixel imaging scheme can be utilized to obtain images through glare and multiple scattering where conventional widefield imaging fails to recover clear images due to saturation or random scattered noise.
A Review of the Efficiency Improvement of Hydraulic Turbines in Energy Recovery
Authors: Ji Yunguang , Song Hao , Xue Zhanpu , Li Ze , Tong Mingda , Li Hongtao
Published: June 2023

Turbine energy recovery is a process energy saving technology, and understanding turbine efficiency has important operational and economic benefits for the operator of a power plant. There are three main areas of research into turbine energy efficiency: the structural performance of the turbine itself, the configuration of the recovery device and the regulation of operating conditions. This paper summarizes recent research advances in hydraulic turbine energy efficiency improvement, focusing on the design factors that can affect the overall efficiency of a hydraulic turbine. To quantify the impact of these factors, this paper investigates the effects of surface roughness, flow rate, head and impeller speed on overall efficiency. Methods for optimizing improvements based on these design factors are reviewed, and two methods, the Box–Behnken Design method and the NSGA-II genetic algorithm, are described with practical examples to provide ideas for future research.
“Everyone Drinks from the Same Well”: Charismatic Female Gurus as “Religious Feminist Influencers” in South Asian Hinduism
Authors: DeNapoli Antoinette E.
Published: June 2023

This article examines the emergent leadership of two female gurus in South Asia who have declared their status as Śaṅkarācāryās (i.e., heads of monastic institutions) based on revelatory experiences. They have done this in order to change patriarchal monastic (akhāṛā) culture and challenge entrenched ideas of women’s inferiority in Hindu society. By combining ethnographic data and a gender studies-centered analysis of their narratives and teachings, I shall investigate the role and impact of gendered charismatic authority on modern women’s monastic lives. Their self-declarations as Śaṅkarācāryās profoundly break the conventional patriarchal mold for the type of guru women can be and the kind of authorized religious power they can have in this male-dominated role; thus, I term these gurus as “religious feminist influencers”. I argue that the gurus invoke charismatic authority by emphasizing the immediacy of the personal realization of the divine, the potency of the female body, and religious emotions, such as radical love, as sources of revelation. By “performing [these] revelation[s],” they construct alternative ways of practicing Hinduism, defined around modernist ideals such as gender equality, inclusion, and women’s rights. Moreover, they promote the normalization of women’s institutional leadership at the pinnacle of the monastic hierarchy.
Keyframe Selection for Visual Localization and Mapping Tasks: A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Dias Nigel Joseph Bandeira , Laureano Gustavo Teodoro , Da Costa Ronaldo Martins
Published: June 2023

Visual localization and mapping algorithms attempt to estimate, from images, geometrical models that explain ego motion and the positions of objects in a real scene. The success of these tasks depends directly on the quality and availability of visual data, since the information is recovered from visual changes in images. Keyframe selection is a commonly used approach to reduce the amount of data to be processed as well as to prevent useless or wrong information to be considered during the optimization. This study aims to identify, analyze, and summarize the methods present in the literature for keyframe selection within the context of visual localization and mapping. We adopt a systematic literature review (SLR) as the basis of our work, built on top of a well-defined methodology. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first review related to this topic. The results show that there is a lack of studies present in the literature that directly address the keyframe selection problem in this application context and a deficiency in the testing and validation of the proposed methods. In addition to these findings, we also propose an updated categorization of the proposed methods on top of the well-discussed categories present in the literature. We believe that this SLR is a step toward developing a body of knowledge in keyframe selection within the context of visual localization and mapping tasks by encouraging the development of more theoretical and less heuristic methods and a systematic testing and validation process.
Graph Neural Network-Guided Contrastive Learning for Sequential Recommendation
Authors: Yang Xing-Yao , Xu Feng , Yu Jiong , Li Zi-Yang , Wang Dong-Xiao
Published: June 2023

Sequential recommendation uses contrastive learning to randomly augment user sequences and alleviate the data sparsity problem. However, there is no guarantee that the augmented positive or negative views remain semantically similar. To address this issue, we propose graph neural network-guided contrastive learning for sequential recommendation (GC4SRec). The guided process employs graph neural networks to obtain user embeddings, an encoder to determine the importance score of each item, and various data augmentation methods to construct a contrast view based on the importance score. Experimental validation is conducted on three publicly available datasets, and the experimental results demonstrate that GC4SRec improves the hit rate and normalized discounted cumulative gain metrics by 1.4% and 1.7%, respectively. The model can enhance recommendation performance and mitigate the data sparsity problem.
Machine-Learning Methods for Speech and Handwriting Detection Using Neural Signals: A Review
Authors: Sen Ovishake , Sheehan Anna M. , Raman Pranay R. , Khara Kabir S. , Khalifa Adam , Chatterjee Baibhab
Published: June 2023

Brain–Computer Interfaces (BCIs) have become increasingly popular in recent years due to their potential applications in diverse fields, ranging from the medical sector (people with motor and/or communication disabilities), cognitive training, gaming, and Augmented Reality/Virtual Reality (AR/VR), among other areas. BCI which can decode and recognize neural signals involved in speech and handwriting has the potential to greatly assist individuals with severe motor impairments in their communication and interaction needs. Innovative and cutting-edge advancements in this field have the potential to develop a highly accessible and interactive communication platform for these people. The purpose of this review paper is to analyze the existing research on handwriting and speech recognition from neural signals. So that the new researchers who are interested in this field can gain thorough knowledge in this research area. The current research on neural signal-based recognition of handwriting and speech has been categorized into two main types: invasive and non-invasive studies. We have examined the latest papers on converting speech-activity-based neural signals and handwriting-activity-based neural signals into text data. The methods of extracting data from the brain have also been discussed in this review. Additionally, this review includes a brief summary of the datasets, preprocessing techniques, and methods used in these studies, which were published between 2014 and 2022. This review aims to provide a comprehensive summary of the methodologies used in the current literature on neural signal-based recognition of handwriting and speech. In essence, this article is intended to serve as a valuable resource for future researchers who wish to investigate neural signal-based machine-learning methods in their work.
A Reliable Low-Latency Multipath Routing Algorithm for Urban Rail Transit Ad Hoc Networks
Authors: Suo Lei , Liu Liu , Su Zhaoyang , Cai Shiyuan , Han Zijie , Han Haitao , Bao Feng
Published: June 2023

With the advancement of urban rail transit towards intelligence, the demand for urban rail transit communication has increased significantly, but the traditional urban rail transit vehicle–ground communication system has been unable to meet the future vehicle–ground communication requirements. To improve the performance of vehicle–ground communication, the paper proposes a reliable low-latency multipath routing (RLLMR) algorithm for urban rail transit ad hoc networks. First, RLLMR combines the characteristics of urban rail transit ad hoc networks and uses node location information to configure a proactive multipath to reduce route discovery delay. Second, the number of transmission paths is adaptively adjusted according to the quality of service (QoS) requirements for vehicle–ground communication, and then the optimal path is selected based on the link cost function to improve transmission quality. Third, in order to enhance the reliability of communication, a routing maintenance scheme has been added, and the static node-based local repair scheme is used in routing maintenance to reduce the maintenance cost and time. The simulation results show that compared with traditional AODV and AOMDV protocols, the proposed RLLMR algorithm has good performance in improving latency and is slightly inferior to the AOMDV protocol in improving reliability. However, overall, the throughput of the RLLMR algorithm is better than that of the AOMDV.
Dynamic Weighting Network for Person Re-Identification
Authors: Li Guang , Liu Peng , Cao Xiaofan , Liu Chunguang
Published: June 2023

Recently, hybrid Convolution-Transformer architectures have become popular due to their ability to capture both local and global image features and the advantage of lower computational cost over pure Transformer models. However, directly embedding a Transformer can result in the loss of convolution-based features, particularly fine-grained features. Therefore, using these architectures as the backbone of a re-identification task is not an effective approach. To address this challenge, we propose a feature fusion gate unit that dynamically adjusts the ratio of local and global features. The feature fusion gate unit fuses the convolution and self-attentive branches of the network with dynamic parameters based on the input information. This unit can be integrated into different layers or multiple residual blocks, which will have varying effects on the accuracy of the model. Using feature fusion gate units, we propose a simple and portable model called the dynamic weighting network or DWNet, which supports two backbones, ResNet and OSNet, called DWNet-R and DWNet-O, respectively. DWNet significantly improves re-identification performance over the original baseline, while maintaining reasonable computational consumption and number of parameters. Finally, our DWNet-R achieves an mAP of 87.53%, 79.18%, 50.03%, on the Market1501, DukeMTMC-reID, and MSMT17 datasets. Our DWNet-O achieves an mAP of 86.83%, 78.68%, 55.66%, on the Market1501, DukeMTMC-reID, and MSMT17 datasets.
A Fast and Reliable Solution to PnP, Using Polynomial Homogeneity and a Theorem of Hilbert
Authors: Keren Daniel , Osadchy Margarita , Shahar Amit
Published: June 2023

One of the most-extensively studied problems in three-dimensional Computer Vision is “Perspective-n-Point” (PnP), which concerns estimating the pose of a calibrated camera, given a set of 3D points in the world and their corresponding 2D projections in an image captured by the camera. One solution method that ranks as very accurate and robust proceeds by reducing PnP to the minimization of a fourth-degree polynomial over the three-dimensional sphere S3. Despite a great deal of effort, there is no known fast method to obtain this goal. A very common approach is solving a convex relaxation of the problem, using “Sum Of Squares” (SOS) techniques. We offer two contributions in this paper: a faster (by a factor of roughly 10) solution with respect to the state-of-the-art, which relies on the polynomial’s homogeneity; and a fast, guaranteed, easily parallelizable approximation, which makes use of a famous result of Hilbert.
Excluding Echo Shift Noise in Real-Time Pulse-Echo Speed-of-Sound Imaging
Authors: Salemi Yolgunlu Parisa , Korta Martiartu Naiara , Gerber Urs Richard , Frenz Martin , Jaeger Michael
Published: June 2023

Computed ultrasound tomography in echo mode (CUTE) allows real-time imaging of the tissue speed of sound (SoS) using handheld ultrasound. The SoS is retrieved by inverting a forward model that relates the spatial distribution of the tissue SoS to echo shift maps detected between varying transmit and receive angles. Despite promising results, in vivo SoS maps often show artifacts due to elevated noise in echo shift maps. To minimize artifacts, we propose a technique where an individual SoS map is reconstructed for each echo shift map separately, as opposed to a single SoS map from all echo shift maps simultaneously. The final SoS map is then obtained as a weighted average over all SoS maps. Due to the partial redundancy between different angle combinations, artifacts that appear only in a subset of the individual maps can be excluded via the averaging weights. We investigate this real-time capable technique in simulations using two numerical phantoms, one with a circular inclusion and one with two layers. Our results demonstrate that the SoS maps reconstructed using the proposed technique are equivalent to the ones using simultaneous reconstruction when considering uncorrupted data but show significantly reduced artifact level for data that are corrupted by noise.
Source-Based EEG Neurofeedback for Sustained Motor Imagery of a Single Leg
Authors: Zulauf-Czaja Anna , Osuagwu Bethel , Vuckovic Aleksandra
Published: June 2023

The aim of the study was to test the feasibility of visual-neurofeedback-guided motor imagery (MI) of the dominant leg, based on source analysis with real-time sLORETA derived from 44 EEG channels. Ten able-bodied participants took part in two sessions: session 1 sustained MI without feedback and session 2 sustained MI of a single leg with neurofeedback. MI was performed in 20 s on and 20 s off intervals to mimic functional magnetic resonance imaging. Neurofeedback in the form of a cortical slice presenting the motor cortex was provided from a frequency band with the strongest activity during real movements. The sLORETA processing delay was 250 ms. Session 1 resulted in bilateral/contralateral activity in the 8–15 Hz band dominantly over the prefrontal cortex while session 2 resulted in ipsi/bilateral activity over the primary motor cortex, covering similar areas as during motor execution. Different frequency bands and spatial distributions in sessions with and without neurofeedback may reflect different motor strategies, most notably a larger proprioception in session 1 and operant conditioning in session 2. Single-leg MI might be used in the early phases of rehabilitation of stroke patients. Simpler visual feedback and motor cueing rather than sustained MI might further increase the intensity of cortical activation.
Curcuma longa-Based Optical Sensor for Hydrochloric Acid and Ammonia Vapor Detection
Authors: Sánchez Juárez A. , Carrión Fabián , Carrión Javier , Castillo Darwin , Padilla-Martínez J. P. , Cruz-Félix Ángel
Published: June 2023

In this research, we present a prototype optical system that offers significant advances in detecting hydrochloric acid (HCl) and ammonia (NH3) vapors. The system utilizes a natural pigment sensor based on Curcuma longa that is securely attached to a glass surface support. Through extensive development and testing with HCl (37% aqueous solution) and NH3 (29% aqueous solution) solutions, we have successfully demonstrated the effectiveness of our sensor. To facilitate the detection process, we have developed an injection system that exposes C. longa pigment films to the targeted vapors. The interaction between the vapors and the pigment films triggers a distinct color change, which is then analyzed by the detection system. By capturing the transmission spectra of the pigment film, our system allows a precise comparison of these spectra at different concentrations of the vapors. Our proposed sensor exhibits remarkable sensitivity, allowing the detection of HCl at a concentration of 0.009 ppm using only 100 µL (2.3 mg) of pigment film. In addition, it can detect NH3 at a concentration of 0.03 ppm with a 400 µL (9.2 mg) pigment film. Integrating C. longa as a natural pigment sensor in an optical system opens up new possibilities for detecting hazardous gases. The simplicity and efficiency of our system, combined with its sensitivity, make it an attractive tool in environmental monitoring and industrial safety applications.
Effect of Biochar-Containing Compost on Cucumber Quality and Antibiotic Resistance Genes Abundance in Soil–Cucumber System
Authors: Tong Zhenye , Liu Fenwu , Rajagopalan Uma Maheswari , Sun Bo , Tian Yu , Zuo Qihui , Zhang Jingzhi , Duan Jiaze , Bi Wenlong , Qin Junmei , Xu Shaozu
Published: June 2023

The distribution of antibiotic resistance genes (ARGs) derived from compost in soil–plant systems is a serious issue. One possible remedy is the application of biochar-containing compost. In this study, cucumber quality and the abundance of ARGs in soil–cucumber systems under different compost treatments, namely, traditional pig manure and corn straw compost (PC); pig manure, corn straw, and large particle size biochar (5–10 mm) compost (PCLB); and pig manure, corn straw, and small particle size biochar (<2 mm) compost (PCSB); were investigated. The results showed that, under PCSB, the yield, vitamin C and soluble protein content of the cucumbers were the highest, while the absolute abundance of intI2 was reduced in the soil. The amount of available potassium in the soil contributed the most to changes in cucumber yield and quality. The total absolute abundance of ARGs in the soil was highest in PC, followed by PCLB, PCSB, and CK (control treatment without fertilization) treatments. Compared to CK treatments, PCLB and PCSB applications to the soil decreased the abundance of sul1 and tetG by 42–57% and 38–80%, respectively, in the cucumbers. In summary, the PCSB application was more beneficial in increasing soil nutrient content; improving cucumber yield, vitamin C, and soluble protein content; and reducing the risk of input and transport of ARGs in the soil–cucumber system.
Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Rubber Concrete under Coupling Action of Sulfate Attack and Dry–Wet Cycle
Authors: Wang Heng , Pang Jianyong
Published: June 2023

In order to study the mechanical properties of rubber concrete (RC) with different rubber particle sizes after dry–wet cycles in a sulfate environment, apparent morphology analysis, mass loss analysis, relative dynamic elastic modulus analysis, compressive strength loss analysis, internal microscopic characteristics and deterioration degree analysis of ordinary concrete (NC) and rubber concrete after dry–wet cycles were compared and analyzed. The results show that with the increase in the number of dry–wet cycles, the surface caves of rubber concrete increase, the internal microcracks develop and penetrate, and the macroscopic strength increases first and then decreases significantly. The high elasticity of rubber effectively improves the expansion force caused by sulfate attack and the dry–wet cycle. The deterioration degree of RC in each dry–wet cycle stage is obviously better than that of NC. When the rubber particle size is 0.85 mm, the performance of the sample is the best. After 120 days of dry–wet cycle, the compressive strength is reduced by 37.4%, and the compressive strength of concrete with a rubber particle size of 0.85 mm is reduced by 11.2%. After cyclic loading, the deterioration degree of concrete is 5.1% lower than that of ordinary concrete.
Validation of a Droplet Digital PCR (ddPCR) Assay to Detect Cyanobacterial 16S rDNA in Human Lung Tissue
Authors: Barney Rachael E. , Huang Guohong , Gallagher Torrey L. , Tischbein Maeve , DeWitt John , Martindale Rachel , LaRochelle Ethan M. P. , Tsongalis Gregory J. , Stommel Elijah W.
Published: June 2023

Cyanobacteria produce a variety of secondary metabolites, including toxins that may contribute to the development of disease. Previous work was able to detect the presence of a cyanobacterial marker in human nasal and broncoalveolar lavage samples; however, it was not able to determine the quantification of the marker. To further research the relationship between cyanobacteria and human health, we validated a droplet digital polymerase chain reaction (ddPCR) assay to simultaneously detect the cyanobacterial 16S marker and a human housekeeping gene in human lung tissue samples. The ability to detect cyanobacteria in human samples will allow further research into the role cyanobacteria plays in human health and disease.
Comparable Response Following Exposure to Biodiesel and Diesel Exhaust Particles in Advanced Multicellular Human Lung Models
Authors: Rahman Mizanur , Upadhyay Swapna , Ganguly Koustav , Introna Micol , Ji Jie , Boman Christoffer , Muala Ala , Blomberg Anders , Sandström Thomas , Palmberg Lena
Published: June 2023

Biodiesel is considered to be a sustainable alternative for fossil fuels such as petroleum-based diesel. However, we still lack knowledge about the impact of biodiesel emissions on humans, as airways and lungs are the primary target organs of inhaled toxicants. This study investigated the effect of exhaust particles from well-characterized rapeseed methyl ester (RME) biodiesel exhaust particles (BDEP) and petro-diesel exhaust particles (DEP) on primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) and macrophages (MQ). The advanced multicellular physiologically relevant bronchial mucosa models were developed using human primary bronchial epithelial cells (PBEC) cultured at air–liquid interface (ALI) in the presence or absence of THP-1 cell-derived macrophages (MQ). The experimental set-up used for BDEP and DEP exposures (18 µg/cm2 and 36 µg/cm2) as well as the corresponding control exposures were PBEC-ALI, MQ-ALI, and PBEC co-cultured with MQ (PBEC-ALI/MQ). Following exposure to both BDEP and DEP, reactive oxygen species as well as the stress protein heat shock protein 60 were upregulated in PBEC-ALI and MQ-ALI. Expression of both pro-inflammatory (M1: CD86) and repair (M2: CD206) macrophage polarization markers was increased in MQ-ALI after both BDEP and DEP exposures. Phagocytosis activity of MQ and the phagocytosis receptors CD35 and CD64 were downregulated, whereas CD36 was upregulated in MQ-ALI. Increased transcript and secreted protein levels of CXCL8, as well as IL-6 and TNF-α, were detected following both BDEP and DEP exposure at both doses in PBEC-ALI. Furthermore, the cyclooxygenase-2 (COX-2) pathway, COX-2-mediated histone phosphorylation and DNA damage were all increased in PBEC-ALI following exposure to both doses of BDEP and DEP. Valdecoxib, a COX-2 inhibitor, reduced the level of prostaglandin E2, histone phosphorylation, and DNA damage in PBEC-ALI following exposure to both concentrations of BDEP and DEP. Using physiologically relevant multicellular human lung mucosa models with human primary bronchial epithelial cells and macrophages, we found BDEP and DEP to induce comparable levels of oxidative stress, inflammatory response, and impairment of phagocytosis. The use of a renewable carbon-neutral biodiesel fuel does not appear to be more favorable than conventional petroleum-based alternative, as regards of its potential for adverse health effects.
Detecting Enteric Pathogens in Low-Risk Drinking Water in Dhaka, Bangladesh: An Assessment of the WHO Water Safety Categories
Authors: Saima Sabera , Ferdous Jannatul , Sultana Rebeca , Rashid Ridwan Bin , Almeida Sara , Begum Anowara , Jensen Peter Kjær Mackie
Published: June 2023

The microbiological quality of water is usually assessed by fecal coliform bacteria, and the presence of E. coli as an indicator of fecal contamination is widely recommended by international guidelines. This study aimed to assess the prevalence of diarrheagenic pathogens, in both public and personal domain water sources and examine the reliance on the WHO drinking water risk assessment guidelines. This study was conducted in a low-income urban community in Dhaka, Bangladesh between September 2014 and October 2015. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect the marker and virulence genes of Escherichia coli, Vibrio cholerae, Salmonella species, and Campylobacter species, and the culture method was employed for the quantitative assessment of E. coli. According to the WHO guidelines, 48% of the public domain source water and 21% of the personal domain point-of-drinking water were classified in the low-risk group, i.e., 0 CFU of E. coli/100 mL. However, when using PCR, we detected pathogens in 39% (14/36) of the point-of-drinking water samples and 65% (74/114) of the public domain water source samples classified in the low-risk group. Our study showed that relying solely on E. coli detection as a measure of water quality may overlook the presence of other pathogens in the drinking water. In addition to the culture-based method, the detection of virulence genes by PCR should also be considered to add more scrutiny to the detection of diverse types of pathogens.
Holographic Non-Abelian Flavour Symmetry Breaking
Authors: Erdmenger Johanna , Evans Nick , Liu Yang , Porod Werner
Published: June 2023

We investigate a holographic model for both spontaneous and explicit symmetry breaking of non-abelian flavour symmetries. This consists of a bottom-up model inspired by the top-down D3/probe D7-brane model. It incorporates the running anomalous dimensions of the fields. We ensure that in the holographic bulk, the full non-abelian flavour symmetries for massless quarks are present. The quark masses are spontaneously generated field values in the bulk and there is a resultant bulk Higgs mechanism. We provide a numerical technique to find the mass eigenvalues from a system of mixed holographic fields, testing it against an analytic model of N=2 supersymmetric matter fields. We apply these ideas to two-flavour QCD with both u−d quark mass splitting and multi-trace bulk action terms that are expected to break U(Nf)V to SU(Nf)V×U(1)V away from large N. We also discuss three-flavour QCD with strange quark mass splitting and applications to more exotic symmetry breaking patterns of potential relevance for composite Higgs models.
Exploring the Link between Street Layout Centrality and Walkability for Sustainable Tourism in Historical Urban Areas
Authors: Amen Mustafa Aziz , Afara Ahmad , Nia Hourakhsh Ahmad
Published: June 2023

Walkability is considered a vital component of the urban configuration; urban spaces should promote pedestrian walking, which is healthier and increases social sustainability by connecting people in urban spaces. This article aims to find the link between the street layout centrality values and the people’s walkability for sustainable tourism in historic areas. Moreover, it attempts to explore the linkage between the urban layout and visiting historical spaces in the urban layout. The approach to the research has two phases; the first is to find people density (the tourist density) in the historical areas, and the second is to measure the centrality values of the urban layout utilizing the spatial design network analysis tool (sDNA). The research found that the street network considerably impacts the final tourist distribution, mainly because of the betweenness centrality; consequently, spaces with low betweenness centrality values are less reachable by the tourists in the historical area, although it has a high closeness centrality. The research concluded that considering the street network is necessary concerning the tourists’ walkability since it affects their density in the urban layout.