bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Health and Welfare Benefits of Computerized Cognitive Enrichment in California Sea Lions (Zalophus californianus) at the US Navy Marine Mammal Program
Authors: Winship Kelley , McClain Abby , Ramos Amber , Dunham Jennifer , Xitco Mark
Published: April 2024

Cognitive enrichment is becoming more prevalent in professional marine mammal facilities. Research with dolphins has suggested that such enrichment provides more welfare benefits than enrichment that does not incorporate cognitive challenge. However, there is little research supporting the use of cognitive enrichment as a means to improve the welfare of sea lions. Recently, a novel form of technological cognitive enrichment, the Enclosure Video Enrichment (EVE) system, was introduced to a population of California sea lions at the US Navy’s Marine Mammal Program as a means to enhance welfare. Two of the initial focal animals introduced to EVE were selected based on their health history and the possible benefits of cognitive enrichment in improving health measures. To evaluate this, information regarding the animals’ consumption of their offered diet was compared to other animals in the population of similar age and the absence of a similar health history. Subsequently, the total diet consumption of the targeted animals was evaluated in the two years prior to the introduction to EVE and compared to the total diet consumption during the initial 2 years of regular EVE sessions. There was a significant decrease in the number of days in which the sea lions did not consume their entire offered diet in the two years after implementing regular EVE sessions, an increase in participation and performance of voluntary husbandry behaviors, and a reduction in the number of days animals were clinically ill. This study provides evidence of cognitive enrichment as a management tool to improve animal health and welfare as well as performance in training sessions.
Treatment Comparison for Medial Femoral Condyle Subchondral Cystic Lesions and Prognosis in Yearling Thoroughbred Racehorse Prospects
Authors: Pérez-Nogués Marcos , Manso-Díaz Gabriel , Spirito Michael , López-Sanromán Javier
Published: April 2024

Subchondral cystic lesions (SCL) in the medial femoral condyle are a usual finding in Thoroughbred survey and auction repository radiographs. Several treatments with different outcomes have been studied over the years to improve soundness and racing prognosis. Our objective was to report the racing prognosis in Thoroughbred yearlings intended for racing that were diagnosed with SCL in the medial femoral condyle and were treated using four current and different techniques: intralesional injection of corticosteroids, SCL debridement through the joint with a drill bit, translesional cortical screw placement, and absorbable hydroxyapatite implant placement. Data from 182 Thoroughbred yearlings treated for SCL in the medial femoral condyle were collected from 2014 to 2020. Limb affected, age at surgery, sex, and radiographic measurements of the SCL were recorded. Auction price and racing performance were collected for treated horses and compared to 154 maternal siblings free of medial femoral condyle SCL. Analyses were conducted to assess if racing prognosis was affected by SCL size, to detect differences in auction price and selected flat racing outcome parameters between cases and controls, and to compare racing prognosis between the studied treatments. Mares and lesions located in the right stifle were significantly overrepresented. The auction price of treated horses was significantly lower than that of their siblings. Horses treated for SCL had significantly lower chances to start in a race than controls (59% vs. 74% respectively). Wider SCL negatively affected the chances to start at least in one race, and negatively affected the earnings made in the 2-year-olds’ racing year. Horses with SCL treated using a bioabsorbable implant had a significantly higher median in starts as 3-year-olds (seven starts) than horses that had the SCL debrided with a drill bit (three starts). In conclusion, Thoroughbred yearlings treated for a medial femoral condyle SCL had lower auction prices and decreased ability to start a race compared to siblings’ wider cysts had worse prognosis to start a race and might affect earnings as 2-year-olds; and horses treated with bioabsorbable composite implant placement had more starts as 3-year-olds than with other techniques.
Population Viability Analysis on Chinese Goral Indicates an Extinction Risk for a Local Population in Beijing, China
Authors: Wu Rihan , Zhang Xin , Zhao Jianxi , Yi Deying , Gao Fuli , Bao Weidong
Published: April 2024

The Chinese goral (Naemorhedus griseus) is identified as a vulnerable species on the Red List of China’s Biodiversity and listed as a national second-class key protected wild animal in China. It is a representative flagship ungulate in Beijing. Its distribution range is fragmented and small populations are separated by dense infrastructures and tourism sites. Understanding its population status provides a foundation to plan effective conservation strategies. In this study, a population viability analysis was conducted with VORTEX (10.5.6.0) on a Chinese goral population in Beijing Yunmengshan Nature Reserve with the data collected by camera trapping and parameters referenced from other goral populations. The results show that this population will initially increase in the next 20 years and then decrease with a 32% probability of extinction risk. Supplementation with four adults, two females and two males, every 10 years would help minimize the extinction risk of this population. The results highlight the vital limiting factors for Chinese goral, including the initial population size, sex ratio at birth and mortality of infants (especially female infants). To improve the protection efficiency, detailed population parameters should be further acquired through continuous monitoring of this population. A thorough large-scale study should be carried out on other segregated goral populations in Beijing to facilitate the recovery of this endangered species.
Progress in Paratuberculosis Control Programmes for Dairy Herds
Authors: Weber Maarten F. , Kelton David , Eisenberg Susanne W. F. , Donat Karsten
Published: April 2024

While paratuberculosis control has been studied for over a century, knowledge gaps still exist regarding the uptake and efficacy of control programmes. This narrative review aims to summarise studies on control programmes presented at the IDF ParaTB Fora in 2021 and 2022 and the International Colloquium on Paratuberculosis in 2022. Studies were grouped by topic as follows: successful control, field studies, education and extension, voluntary and compulsory control programmes, and surveillance. Various Map control programmes resulted in a decreasing animal and herd level Map prevalence. Long-term stakeholder commitment, stable funding, involvement of herd veterinarians and incentives for farmers to participate were shown to be pivotal for long-term success. Control measures focused on vertical and calf-to-calf transmission may improve Map control in infected herds. Easy-to-capture visualisation of surveillance test results to inform participants on the progress of Map control in their herds was developed. The probability of freedom from disease and estimated within-herd prevalence were identified as good candidates for categorisation of herds to support low-risk trade of cattle. Results of the surveillance schemes may inform genetic selection for resistance to Map infection. In conclusion, successful paratuberculosis control is feasible at both the herd and country level provided that crucial prerequisites are met.
Field Implementation of Precision Livestock Farming: Selected Proceedings from the 2nd U.S. Precision Livestock Farming Conference
Authors: Zhao Yang , Ramirez Brett C. , Siegford Janice M. , Gan Hao , Wang-Li Lingjuan , Berckmans Daniel , Burns Robert T.
Published: April 2024

Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) involves the real-time monitoring of images, sounds, and other biological, physiological, and environmental parameters to assess and improve animal health and welfare within intensive and extensive production systems [...]
Helicobacter pylori Secondary Antibiotic Resistance after One or More Eradication Failure: A Genotypic Stool Analysis Study
Authors: Losurdo Giuseppe , Mezzapesa Martino , Ditonno Ilaria , Piazzolla Mariapaola , Pricci Maria , Girardi Bruna , Celiberto Francesca , Galeano Grazia , Riezzo Giuseppe , Russo Francesco , Iannone Andrea , Ierardi Enzo , Di Leo Alfredo
Published: April 2024

Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) antibiotic resistance is the leading cause for unsuccessful eradication therapy. After one or more failures, the chance of encountering secondary antibiotic resistance increases. The aim of this study was to characterize genotypic secondary resistance in a cohort of southern Italian H. pylori patients with at least one previous failure. Such patients collected stool samples using a dedicated kit (THD fecal testTM), and bacterial DNA was extracted and amplified using RT-PCR. Resistance to clarithromycin, amoxicillin, metronidazole, levofloxacin, and tetracycline was assessed using a high-resolution melting curve. We enrolled 50 patients. A total of 72% of patients failed one previous antibiotic course, 16% failed two, 10% failed three, and 2% failed four. The rate of secondary antibiotic resistance was 16% for clarithromycin, 18% for metronidazole, 14% for amoxicillin, 14% for levofloxacin, and 2% for tetracycline. Among the eight clarithromycin-resistant patients, five (62.5%) previously received a clarithromycin-based regimen. The same rate was 33.3% (3/9) for metronidazole. The only tetracycline-resistant patient had received Pylera. In conclusion, our data seem to show that, even though secondary resistance is not very high, resistance to clarithromycin could be very likely related to previous exposure to this antibiotic.
Fuzzy Logic-Based Energy Management System for Regenerative Braking of Electric Vehicles with Hybrid Energy Storage System
Authors: Şen Mehmet , Özcan Muciz , Eker Yasin Ramazan
Published: April 2024

Electric vehicles (EVs), which are environmentally friendly, have been used to minimize the global warming caused by fossil fuels used in vehicles and increasing fuel prices due to the decrease in fossil resources. Considering that the energy used in EVs is obtained from fossil resources, it is also important to store and use energy efficiently in EVs. In this context, recovery from a regenerative braking system plays an important role in EV energy efficiency. This paper presents a fuzzy logic-based hybrid storage technique consisting of a supercapacitor (SC) and battery for efficient and safe storage of a regenerative braking system. First, the constraints of the battery to be used in the EV for fuzzy logic control are identified. Then, the fuzzy logic system is created and tested in the ADVISOR and Siemens Simcenter Flomaster programs in the New European Driving Cycle (NEDC) driving cycle. A SC was selected for primary storage to prevent the battery from being continuously charged from regenerative braking, thus reducing its lifetime. In cases where the vehicle consumes more energy than the average energy consumption, energy consumption from the battery is reduced by using the energy stored in the SC, and the SC energy is discharged, making preparations for the energy that will come from the next regenerative braking. Thus, the high current values transferred to the battery during regenerative braking are effectively limited by the SC. In this study, the current values on the battery in the EV with a hybrid storage system decreased by 29.1% in the ADVISOR program and 28.7% in the Simcenter Flomaster program. In addition, the battery generated 46.84% less heat in the hybrid storage system. Thus, the heating and capacity losses caused by this current on the battery were minimized. The presented method provides more efficient energy management for EVs and plays an important role in maintaining battery health.
Exploring the Potential Benefits of Interventions When Addressing Simulated Altitude Hypoxia during Male Cyclist Sports: A Systematic Review
Authors: Yu Chen-Jui , Tsai Shiow-Chwen , Liao Yi-Hung , Chen Chung-Yu , Wu Kuo-Cheng
Published: April 2024

Training in hypoxic environments enhances endurance, but the various influences of training protocols and supplementation for efficient performance are not yet clear. This systematic review explored the effects of different supplementations and interventions used to optimize the aerobic and anaerobic performance of cyclists. Data were collected from the following sources: PubMed, Google Scholar, EMBASE, WOS, Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials, and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). Studies that explored the effects of supplementation or intervention during cycling were selected for analysis. Five studies (67 male cyclists; mean age, 23.74–33.56 years) reported different outcomes from supplementation or intervention during the acute hypoxia of cyclists. Three studies (42 male cyclists; mean age, 25.88–36.22 years) listed the benefits of beetroot juice in preserving SpO2 (pulse oxygen saturation) and enhancing high-intensity endurance performance, effectively preventing the reduction in power output. This systematic review provided evidence that the different effects of ischemic preconditioning (IPC), sildenafil, and beetroot (BR) supplementation and intervention did not present a statistically greater benefit than for normoxia groups, but BR supplementation promoted the benefits of SpO2. Future research should evaluate the duration and higher FiO2 (simulated altitude, hypoxia) levels of hypoxia in training protocols for cyclists. This is important when determining the effectiveness of supplements or interventions in hypoxic conditions and their impact on sports performance, particularly in terms of power output.
When Taekwondo Meets Artificial Intelligence: The Development of Taekwondo
Authors: Shin Min-Chul , Lee Dae-Hoon , Chung Albert , Kang Yu-Won
Published: April 2024

This study explores the comprehensive understanding of taekwondo, the application of fourth industrial revolution technologies in various kinds of sports, the development of taekwondo through artificial intelligence (AI), and essential technology in the fourth industrial revolution while suggesting advanced science directions through a literature review. Literature was sourced from six internet search electronic databases, consisting of three English databases and three Korean databases, from January 2016 to August 2023. The literature indicated cases of sports convergence with the application of fourth industrial revolution technologies, such as the game of go, golf, table tennis, soccer, American football, skiing, archery, and fencing. These sports not only use big data but also virtual reality and augmented reality. Taekwondo is a traditional martial art that originated in Republic of Korea and gradually became a globally recognized sport. Since taekwondo’s competition analysis is an analysis in which researchers manually write events, it takes a very long time to analyze, and the scale of the analysis varies depending on the researcher’s tendencies. This study presented the development of an AI Taekwondo performance improvement analysis and evaluation system and a metaverse-based virtual Taekwondo pumsae/fighting coaching platform through an AI-based motion tracking analysis method.
Enhancing Vibration Analysis in Hydraulic Presses: A Case Study Evaluation
Authors: Jancarczyk Daniel , Wróbel Ireneusz , Danielczyk Piotr , Sidzina Marcin
Published: April 2024

Vibration monitoring is essential for maintaining the optimal performance and reliability of industrial machinery, which experiences dynamic forces and vibrations during operation. This study delved into a comprehensive analysis of vibration monitoring in hydraulic presses, utilizing advanced measurement systems equipped with accelerometers. The proposed system included a three-axis accelerometer, data acquisition unit, and dedicated measurement software, facilitating the precise monitoring and analysis of vibrations. The influence of the sensor placement and sampling frequency on the measurement results was examined. A time and frequency analysis of the recorded measurements was performed. The results demonstrated the correlation between vibration levels and various production parameters, such as the number of parts simultaneously produced and press pressure. These findings underscore the potential for vibration measurement as a pivotal component in controlling production parameter settings.
A Preliminary Study of Model-Generated Speech
Authors: Chu Man-Ni , Wang Yu-Chun
Published: April 2024

The goal of this study was to compare model-generated sounds with the process of sound acquisition in humans. The research utilized two dictionaries of the Chaoshan dialect spanning approximately one century. Identical Chinese characters were selected from each dictionary, and their contemporary pronunciations were documented. Subsequently, inconsistencies in pronunciation were manually rectified, following which three machine learning methods were employed to train the pronunciation of words from one dictionary to another. These methods comprised the attention-based sequence-to-sequence method, DirecTL+, and Sequitur. The accuracy of the model was evaluated using five-fold cross-validation, revealing a maximum accuracy of 68%. Additionally, the study investigated how the probability of a sound’s subsequent unit influences the accuracy of the machine learning methods. The attention-based sequence-to-sequence model is not solely influenced by the frequency of input but also by the probability of the subsequent unit.
CTGGAN: Controllable Text Generation with Generative Adversarial Network
Authors: Yang Zhe , Huang Yi , Chen Yaqin , Wu Xiaoting , Feng Junlan , Deng Chao
Published: April 2024

Controllable Text Generation (CTG) aims to modify the output of a Language Model (LM) to meet specific constraints. For example, in a customer service conversation, responses from the agent should ideally be soothing and address the user’s dissatisfaction or complaints. This imposes significant demands on controlling language model output. However, demerits exist among traditional methods. Promoting and fine-tuning language models exhibit the “hallucination” phenomenon and cannot guarantee complete adherence to constraints. Conditional language models (CLM), which map control codes into LM representations or latent space, require training the modified language models from scratch and a high amount of customized dataset is demanded. Decoding-time methods employ Bayesian Rules to modify the output of the LM or model constraints as a combination of energy functions and update the output along the low-energy direction. Both methods are confronted with the efficiency sampling problem. Moreover, there are no methods that consider the relation between constraints weights and the contexts, as is essential in actual applications such as customer service scenarios. To alleviate the problems mentioned above, we propose Controllable Text Generation with Generative Adversarial Networks (CTGGAN), which utilizes a language model with logits bias as the Generator to produce constrained text and employs the Discriminator with learnable constraint weight combinations to score and update the generation. We evaluate the method in the text completion task and Chinese customer service dialogues scenario, and our method shows superior performance in metrics such as PPL and Dist-3. In addition, CTGGAN also exhibits efficient decoding compared to other methods.
Functional Requirements and Design Features for the Implementation of 3D CAD-Based Graphical Interactive Configurators
Authors: Gembarski Paul Christoph , Gast Pauline
Published: April 2024

Configuring complex computer-aided design (CAD) assemblies just by modifying parameters requires the attention and abstraction of the users. This interaction cost can be lowered significantly by graphical interactive control elements that allow for drag and drop modifications directly in the 3D assembly. Contributing techniques, such as working with skeletons and advanced or external knowledge-based parameter control, are available. This contribution examines their integration and implementation into a given CAD system through a case study on creating a pipe routing configuration system which uses drag points to adjust the position of instrumentation and routing segments. The results are then generalized to functional requirements and basic design features of such graphical interactive configurators.
A Study on Improving Sleep Apnea Diagnoses Using Machine Learning Based on the STOP-BANG Questionnaire
Authors: Choi Myoung-Su , Han Dong-Hun , Choi Jun-Woo , Kang Min-Soo
Published: April 2024

Sleep apnea has emerged as a significant health issue in modern society, with self-diagnosis and effective management becoming increasingly important. Among the most renowned methods for self-diagnosis, the STOP-BANG questionnaire is widely recognized as a simple yet effective tool for diagnosing and assessing the risk of sleep apnea. However, its sensitivity and specificity have limitations, necessitating the need for tools with higher performance. Consequently, this study aimed to enhance the accuracy of sleep apnea diagnoses by integrating machine learning with the STOP-BANG questionnaire. Research through actual cases was conducted based on the data of 262 patients undergoing polysomnography, confirming sleep apnea with a STOP-BANG score of ≥3 and an Apnea–Hypopnea Index (AHI) of ≥5. The accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity were derived by comparing Apnea–Hypopnea Index scores with STOP-BANG scores. When applying machine learning models, four hyperparameter-tuned models were utilized: K-Nearest Neighbor (K-NN), Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and Support Vector Machine (SVM). Among them, the K-NN model with a K value of 11 demonstrated superior performance, achieving a sensitivity of 0.94, specificity of 0.85, and overall accuracy of 0.92. These results highlight the potential of combining traditional STOP-BANG diagnostic tools with machine learning technology, offering new directions for future research in self-diagnosis and the preliminary diagnosis of sleep-related disorders in clinical settings.
Thermal Effect of Probes Present in a Pharmaceutical Formulation during Freeze-Drying Measured by Contact-Free Infrared Thermography
Authors: Emteborg Håkan , Charoud-Got Jean
Published: April 2024

A high-resolution infrared (IR) camera was used for temperature measurements in a pharmaceutical formulation (mannitol/sucrose solution, 4:1%, m/m) during a freeze-drying process. The temperature was measured simultaneously at the surface as well as vertically (e.g., in-depth) along the side of custom-made cuvettes equipped with a germanium (Ge) window. Direct imaging during 45 h from −40 °C to 40 °C took place every 60 s on the surface and on the side with 0.28 × 0.28 mm per IR-pixel providing 2700 thermograms. The spatial resolution per cuvette was approximately 4225 pixels for the surface view (without a probe) and 6825 IR-pixels for the side view. Temperature effects and gradients due to the presence of a Pt100 and a LyoRx-probe in the pharmaceutical formulation were clearly visible and were quantified during the freezing step as well as the primary and secondary drying stages. The temperature was about 3.5 K higher during primary drying as compared to the temperature measured in the same material in adjacent cuvettes without probes. During secondary drying, evaporative cooling of upper layers was clearly visible.
Research on Evaluation Methods of Black Soil Farmland Productivity Based on Field Block Scale
Authors: Zhu Zihao , Xie Yonghua
Published: April 2024

Black soil plays an important role in maintaining a healthy ecosystem, promoting high-yield and efficient agricultural production, and conserving soil resources. In this paper, a typical black soil area of Keshan Farm in Qiqihar City, Heilongjiang Province, China, is used as a case study to investigate the black soil farmland productivity evaluation model. Based on the analysis of the composite index (CI) model, productivity index (PI) model and various machine learning models, the soil productivity evaluation method was improved and a prediction model was established. The results showed that the support vector machine regression model based on simulated annealing algorithm (SA-SVR), as well as the Gaussian process regression model (GPR), had obvious advantages in data preprocessing, feature selection, and model optimization compared to the modified composite index model (MCI), the modified productivity index model (MPI), and the coefficients of determination (R2) of their modelling, which were up to 0.70 and 0.71, respectively, and these machine learning prediction models can reflect the effects on maize cultivation and its yield through soil parameters even with small datasets, which can better capture the nonlinear relationship and improve the accuracy and stability of yield prediction, and is an effective method for guiding agricultural production as well as soil productivity evaluation.
From Leonardo to Caravaggio: Affective Darkness, the Franciscan Experience and Its Lombard Origins
Authors: Muraoka Anne H.
Published: April 2024

The function of affectivity has generally focused on post-Council of Trent paintings, where artists sought a new visual language to address the imperative function of sacred images in the face of Protestant criticism and iconoclasm, either guided by the Council’s decree on images, post-Tridentine treatises on sacred art, or by the Counter-Reformation climate of late Cinquecento and early Seicento Italy. This essay redirects the origins of the transformation of the function of chiaroscuro from objective to subjective, from corporeal to spiritual, and from rational to affective to a much earlier period in late Quattrocento and early Cinquecento Milan with Leonardo da Vinci. By tracing the transformation of chiaroscuro as a vehicle of affect beginning with Leonardo’s Virgin of the Rocks, it will become evident that chiaroscuro became a device used to focalize the viewers’ experience dramatically and to move viewers visually and mystically toward unification with God under the influence of the Franciscans.
Bioaerosol Exposure during Sorting of Municipal Solid, Commercial and Industrial Waste: Concentration Levels, Size Distribution, and Biodiversity of Airborne Fungal
Authors: Duquenne Philippe , Simon Xavier , Coulais Catherine , Koehler Véronique , Degois Jodelle , Facon Brigitte
Published: April 2024

A study was carried out in a waste sorting plant (WSP) located in France, treating dry recyclable household waste (DRHW) as well as dry recyclable commercial and industrial waste (DRCIW). Stationary and personal inhalable samples were collected in the WSP in order to investigate bioaerosols (sampling on a filter; 2 L/min and 10 L/min) and airborne dust (CIP; 10 L/min). The aim of the study was to assess the extent to which the measurement of concentration, species composition, and particle size distribution contributes to a better assessment of the biological risks associated with exposure. The results confirmed that waste and waste sorting activities are sources of airborne fungi. Indeed, ambient concentrations ranged from 7.3 × 103 to 8.5 × 105 colony-forming units (CFU)/m3 for culturable fungi and up to 4 mg/m3 for dust. Personal exposure to inhalable dust was found up to 3 mg/m3 for dust and ranged from 8.6 × 103 to 1.5 × 106 CFU/m3 for fungi. Airborne fungal communities were found to be dominated by the Penicillium genera in both bioaerosols and settled dust samples, followed by the Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Wallemia, Mucor, and Rhizopus genera. Fungi were carried by particles of aerodynamic diameters, mainly between around 2.0 and 10.0 µm. The findings dealing with size distribution and biodiversity of bioaerosols suggest that employees are exposed to complex bioaerosols during their work and help to make a finer diagnosis of the risks involved, which is often difficult in the absence of any occupational exposure limit (OEL) value for bioaerosols in general.
Poly(vinyl benzoate)-b-poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium TFSI)-b-poly(vinyl benzoate) Triblock Copolymer Electrolytes for Sodium Batteries
Authors: Stigliano Pierre L. , Gallastegui Antonela , Villacis-Segovia Carlos , Amores Marco , Kumar Ajit , O’Dell Luke A. , Fang Jian , Mecerreyes David , Pozo-Gonzalo Cristina , Forsyth Maria
Published: April 2024

Block copolymers (BCPs) as solid electrolytes for batteries are usually designed to have an ion-solvating block for ion conduction and an ionophobic block for providing mechanical strength. Here, we show a novel solid polymer electrolyte (SPE) for sodium batteries based on a poly(vinyl benzoate)-b-poly(diallyldimethyl ammonium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide) PVBx-b-PDADMATFSIy-b-PVBx ABA triblock copolymer. The SPE triblock copolymer comprises a polymerized ionic liquid (PIL) ion-solvating block combined with NaFSI salt as an internal block and an ionophilic PVB as an external block. Four distinct compositions with varying chain lengths of the blocks were synthesized by reversible addition−fragmentation chain-transfer (RAFT) polymerization. The neat copolymers were subsequently mixed with NaFSI in a 2:1 mol ratio of Na to ionic monomer units. Through comprehensive analysis using differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR), it was revealed that the ion coordination within the polymer–salt mixtures undergoes changes based on the composition of the starting neat polymer. Electrochemical evaluations identified the optimal composition for practical application as PVB11.5K-b-PDADMATFSI33K-b-PVB11.5K, showing an ionic conductivity at 70 °C of 4.2 × 10−5 S cm−1. This polymer electrolyte formulation was investigated for sodium in Na|Na symmetrical cells, showing an overpotential of 200 mV at 70 °C at 0.1 mA cm−2. When applied in a sodium–air battery, the polymer electrolyte membrane achieved a discharge capacity of 1.59 mAh cm−2 at 50 °C.
Data Sorting Influence on Short Text Manual Labeling Quality for Hierarchical Classification
Authors: Narushynska Olga , Teslyuk Vasyl , Doroshenko Anastasiya , Arzubov Maksym
Published: April 2024

The precise categorization of brief texts holds significant importance in various applications within the ever-changing realm of artificial intelligence (AI) and natural language processing (NLP). Short texts are everywhere in the digital world, from social media updates to customer reviews and feedback. Nevertheless, short texts’ limited length and context pose unique challenges for accurate classification. This research article delves into the influence of data sorting methods on the quality of manual labeling in hierarchical classification, with a particular focus on short texts. The study is set against the backdrop of the increasing reliance on manual labeling in AI and NLP, highlighting its significance in the accuracy of hierarchical text classification. Methodologically, the study integrates AI, notably zero-shot learning, with human annotation processes to examine the efficacy of various data-sorting strategies. The results demonstrate how different sorting approaches impact the accuracy and consistency of manual labeling, a critical aspect of creating high-quality datasets for NLP applications. The study’s findings reveal a significant time efficiency improvement in terms of labeling, where ordered manual labeling required 760 min per 1000 samples, compared to 800 min for traditional manual labeling, illustrating the practical benefits of optimized data sorting strategies. Comparatively, ordered manual labeling achieved the highest mean accuracy rates across all hierarchical levels, with figures reaching up to 99% for segments, 95% for families, 92% for classes, and 90% for bricks, underscoring the efficiency of structured data sorting. It offers valuable insights and practical guidelines for improving labeling quality in hierarchical classification tasks, thereby advancing the precision of text analysis in AI-driven research. This abstract encapsulates the article’s background, methods, results, and conclusions, providing a comprehensive yet succinct study overview.
RETRACTED: Ashar et al. Palmitic Acid Impedes Extravillous Trophoblast Activity by Increasing MRP1 Expression and Function. Biomolecules 2022, 12, 1162
Authors: Ashar Yunali , Teng Qiuxu , Wurpel John N. D. , Chen Zhe-Sheng , Reznik Sandra E.
Published: April 2024

The Biomolecules Editorial Office retracts the article, “Palmitic Acid Impedes Extravillous Trophoblast Activity by Increasing MRP1 Expression and Function” [...]
Atrial Fibrillation and Dementia: Pathophysiological Mechanisms and Clinical Implications
Authors: Varrias Dimitrios , Saralidze Tinatin , Borkowski Pawel , Pargaonkar Sumant , Spanos Michail , Bazoukis George , Kokkinidis Damianos
Published: April 2024

Numerous longitudinal studies suggest a strong association between cardiovascular risk factors and cognitive impairment. Individuals with atrial fibrillation are at higher risk of dementia and cognitive dysfunction, as atrial fibrillation increases the risk of cerebral hypoperfusion, inflammation, and stroke. The lack of comprehensive understanding of the observed association and the complex relationship between these two diseases makes it very hard to provide robust guidelines on therapeutic indications. With this review, we attempt to shed some light on how atrial fibrillation is related to dementia, what we know regarding preventive interventions, and how we could move forward in managing those very frequently overlapping conditions.
Obesity-Dependent Association of the rs10454142 PPP1R21 with Breast Cancer
Authors: Ponomarenko Irina , Pasenov Konstantin , Churnosova Maria , Sorokina Inna , Aristova Inna , Churnosov Vladimir , Ponomarenko Marina , Reshetnikova Yuliya , Reshetnikov Evgeny , Churnosov Mikhail
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this work was to find a link between the breast cancer (BC)-risk effects of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG)-associated polymorphisms and obesity. The study was conducted on a sample of 1498 women (358 BC; 1140 controls) who, depending on the presence/absence of obesity, were divided into two groups: obese (119 BC; 253 controls) and non-obese (239 BC; 887 controls). Genotyping of nine SHBG-associated single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNP)—rs17496332 PRMT6, rs780093 GCKR, rs10454142 PPP1R21, rs3779195 BAIAP2L1, rs440837 ZBTB10, rs7910927 JMJD1C, rs4149056 SLCO1B1, rs8023580 NR2F2, and rs12150660 SHBG—was executed, and the BC-risk impact of these loci was analyzed by logistic regression separately in each group of obese/non-obese women. We found that the BC-risk effect correlated by GWAS with the SHBG-level polymorphism rs10454142 PPP1R21 depends on the presence/absence of obesity. The SHBG-lowering allele C rs10454142 PPP1R21 has a risk value for BC in obese women (allelic model: CvsT, OR = 1.52, 95%CI = 1.10–2.11, and pperm = 0.013; additive model: CCvsTCvsTT, OR = 1.71, 95%CI = 1.15–2.62, and pperm = 0.011; dominant model: CC + TCvsTT, OR = 1.95, 95%CI = 1.13–3.37, and pperm = 0.017) and is not associated with the disease in women without obesity. SNP rs10454142 PPP1R21 and 10 proxy SNPs have adipose-specific regulatory effects (epigenetic modifications of promoters/enhancers, DNA interaction with 51 transcription factors, eQTL/sQTL effects on five genes (PPP1R21, RP11-460M2.1, GTF2A1L, STON1-GTF2A1L, and STON1), etc.), can be “likely cancer driver” SNPs, and are involved in cancer-significant pathways. In conclusion, our study detected an obesity-dependent association of the rs10454142 PPP1R21 with BC in women.
The Effects of Local Treatment of PTH(1-34) and Whitlockite and Hydroxyapatite Graft to the Calvarial Defect in a Rat Osteoporosis Model
Authors: Jeong Jiwoon , Shim Jung Hee , Heo Chan Yeong
Published: April 2024

With the aging population, there is a rising incidence of senile diseases, notably osteoporosis, marked by fractures, prolonged recovery, and elevated mortality rates, underscoring the urgency for effective treatments. In this study, we applied the method of absorbing parathyroid hormone (PTH), a treatment for osteoporosis, into graft materials. Two types of graft materials with different properties, whitlockite (WH) and hydroxyapatite (HAP), were used. After forming calvarial defects in osteoporotic rats, WH and HAP grafts were implanted, with PTH applied directly to the graft sites. Micro-CT analysis was employed to assess bone regeneration, while tissue sections were stained to elucidate the regeneration process and bone cell dynamics. The results showed that bone regeneration was higher in the grafts that were actively degraded by osteoclasts in the early stage of regeneration. When PTH was applied, osteoclast activity increased, leading to enhanced bone regeneration. Furthermore, the activation of osteoclasts resulted in the penetration and formation of new bone within the degraded graft, which exhibited higher osseointegration. Therefore, for osteoporotic bone defects, bone grafts that can be easily degraded by osteoclasts are more suitable. Additionally, treatment with PTH can activate osteoclasts around the bone graft in the early stages of regeneration, inducing higher bone regeneration and improving osseointegration.
Prostate-Specific Antigen as an Ultrasensitive Biomarker for Patients with Early Recurrent Prostate Cancer: How Low Shall We Go? A Systematic Review
Authors: von Eyben Finn Edler , Kairemo Kalevi , Kapp Daniel S.
Published: April 2024

Serum prostate-specific antigen (PSA) needs to be monitored with ultrasensitive PSA assays (uPSAs) for oncologists to be able to start salvage radiotherapy (SRT) while PSA is <0.5 µg/L for patients with prostate cancer (PCa) relapsing after a radical prostatectomy (RP). Our systematic review (SR) aimed to summarize uPSAs for patients with localized PCa. The SR was registered as InPLASY2023110084. We searched for studies on Google Scholar, PUBMED and reference lists of reviews and studies. We only included studies on uPSAs published in English and excluded studies of women, animals, sarcoidosis and reviews. Of the 115 included studies, 39 reported PSA assay methods and 76 reported clinical findings. Of 67,479 patients, 14,965 developed PSA recurrence (PSAR) and 2663 died. Extremely low PSA nadir and early developments of PSA separated PSAR-prone from non-PSAR-prone patients (cumulative p value 3.7 × 1012). RP patients with the lowest post-surgery PSA nadir and patients who had the lowest PSA at SRT had the fewest deaths. In conclusion, PSA for patients with localized PCa in the pre-PSAR phase of PCa is strongly associated with later PSAR and survival. A rising but still exceedingly low PSA at SRT predicts a good 5-year overall survival.
Effect of Model Body Type and Print Angle on the Accuracy of 3D-Printed Orthodontic Models
Authors: Lohfeld Stefan , Belnap Bryndon , Retrouvey Jean-Marc , Walker Mary P.
Published: April 2024

The assortment of low-cost 3D printers for “in-practice” use, e.g., for clear aligner therapies, is ever increasing. To address concerns about the accuracy of orthodontic models produced on such printers when cost-efficient modes of 3D printing are employed, this study examined the effect of print model body type and print angulation on accuracy. Six printing-configuration groups were included: two model types (solid or hollow shell) combined with three print angles (0°, 70°, or 90°) with 10 models/group; all models were printed with 100 µm layer thickness using a digital light processing-based three-dimensional printer. Eleven selected structures and distances were measured on the printed models with a digital microscope and compared to the same measures on a digitized master model. The clinically acceptable range was set at ±0.25 mm difference from the master model for single tooth measurements (intra-tooth) and ±0.5 mm for cross-arch measurements (inter-tooth). For individual measurements across all models, 98% fell within clinical acceptability. For mean measurements within each model group, only canine height for the shell-0° model had a mean difference (−0.26 mm ± 0.03) outside the clinically acceptable range for intra-tooth measurements. Standard deviations for all intra-tooth measurements were within 0.07 mm. While none of the mean inter-tooth measurements exceeded the acceptability range, the standard deviations were larger (0.04 to 0.30 mm). The accuracy of the orthodontic models for clear aligner therapies was not impacted beyond the clinically acceptable range when altering model body type and print angulation to improve efficiency of 3D printing. These findings suggest greater flexibility of the practitioner to alter print settings to address time and cost efficiency in various clinical scenarios and still maintain clinically acceptable model accuracy.
A Novel Obstacle Traversal Method for Multiple Robotic Fish Based on Cross-Modal Variational Autoencoders and Imitation Learning
Authors: Wang Ruilong , Wang Ming , Zhao Qianchuan , Gong Yanling , Zuo Lingchen , Zheng Xuehan , Gao He
Published: April 2024

Precision control of multiple robotic fish visual navigation in complex underwater environments has long been a challenging issue in the field of underwater robotics. To address this problem, this paper proposes a multi-robot fish obstacle traversal technique based on the combination of cross-modal variational autoencoder (CM-VAE) and imitation learning. Firstly, the overall framework of the robotic fish control system is introduced, where the first-person view of the robotic fish is encoded into a low-dimensional latent space using CM-VAE, and then different latent features in the space are mapped to the velocity commands of the robotic fish through imitation learning. Finally, to validate the effectiveness of the proposed method, experiments are conducted on linear, S-shaped, and circular gate frame trajectories with both single and multiple robotic fish. Analysis reveals that the visual navigation method proposed in this paper can stably traverse various types of gate frame trajectories. Compared to end-to-end learning and purely unsupervised image reconstruction, the proposed control strategy demonstrates superior performance, offering a new solution for the intelligent navigation of robotic fish in complex environments.
Review of EEG Affective Recognition with a Neuroscience Perspective
Authors: Lim Rosary Yuting , Lew Wai-Cheong Lincoln , Ang Kai Keng
Published: April 2024

Emotions are a series of subconscious, fleeting, and sometimes elusive manifestations of the human innate system. They play crucial roles in everyday life—influencing the way we evaluate ourselves, our surroundings, and how we interact with our world. To date, there has been an abundance of research on the domains of neuroscience and affective computing, with experimental evidence and neural network models, respectively, to elucidate the neural circuitry involved in and neural correlates for emotion recognition. Recent advances in affective computing neural network models often relate closely to evidence and perspectives gathered from neuroscience to explain the models. Specifically, there has been growing interest in the area of EEG-based emotion recognition to adopt models based on the neural underpinnings of the processing, generation, and subsequent collection of EEG data. In this respect, our review focuses on providing neuroscientific evidence and perspectives to discuss how emotions potentially come forth as the product of neural activities occurring at the level of subcortical structures within the brain’s emotional circuitry and the association with current affective computing models in recognizing emotions. Furthermore, we discuss whether such biologically inspired modeling is the solution to advance the field in EEG-based emotion recognition and beyond.
Communication as a Key Performance Indicator in Employer Branding in the Context of the Social Economy—A Quantitative Study
Authors: Heide Michael P. , Prodan Silvana , Lazaroiu George , Kreis-Engelhardt Barbara , Ghigiu Alexandru-Mihai
Published: April 2024

Performance measurement refers to the systematic evaluation and analysis of the performance and results of business processes, initiatives, or strategies. This study discusses the crucial role of communication using signaling theory in employer branding in the context of the social economy organization (SEO). The aim is to measure employee satisfaction in concrete terms and to determine the status quo of the communication culture of the organization under investigation in order to develop an employer branding strategy based on the results. The authors use an employee survey as a quantitative research method and limit the data collection to the EU member state of Germany considering the research background. The results provide insights into the specific communication policy in relation to employer branding. The focus here is on (digital) communication. Organizations need to understand how communication strategies directly influence the perception of the employer brand in the social economy. Furthermore, practical implications are derived in order to increase employer attractiveness. Concrete recommendations of action for SEOs should help them be successful in the competition for qualified specialists and talent.
Numerical Study of Air Distribution and Thermal Environment in Attached Ventilation Mode in the Generator Layer of a Hydropower Station
Authors: Ren Tong , Li Mengzhuo , He Long , Sun Panpan
Published: April 2024

Because they are in enclosed underground buildings, the generator layers of hydropower stations have limited ventilation. In order to reduce the influence of a hot and humid environment on equipment and staff health and create a good thermal environment with good air quality for underground buildings, in this paper, vertical wall-attached ventilation was combined with the generator layer of a hydropower station to replace traditional ventilation. The influence of air supply velocity, air supply outlet position, and the opening mode of the generator layer on indoor velocity and temperature field distribution were analyzed via numerical simulation, and the evaluation indices of different cases were also compared. In the single-sided vertical wall-attached ventilation mode, when the velocity was increased from 4 m/s to 8 m/s, the maximum increment in the energy utilization coefficient was 41%, and the maximum reduction in the velocity non-uniformity coefficient was 9.5%. The results show that the single-sided mode can offer a higher ventilation efficiency than the double-sided mode, with a higher energy efficiency and a more uniform air distribution. Based on the mean temperature and velocity, and the key evaluation indices (head-foot temperature difference, percentage of dissatisfaction, non-uniformity coefficient, energy utilization coefficient, and air diffusion performance index), it is suggested that the single-sided air supply mode should be adopted for this kind of tall building, with an air supply velocity of v = 6 m/s and two open air supply outlets at each interval.