bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Noninvasive Methods to Detect Reactive Oxygen Species as a Proxy of Seed Quality
Authors: Griffo Adriano , Bosco Nicola , Pagano Andrea , Balestrazzi Alma , Macovei Anca
Published: March 2023

ROS homeostasis is crucial to maintain radical levels in a dynamic equilibrium within physiological ranges. Therefore, ROS quantification in seeds with different germination performance may represent a useful tool to predict the efficiency of common methods to enhance seed vigor, such as priming treatments, which are still largely empirical. In the present study, ROS levels were investigated in an experimental system composed of hydroprimed and heat-shocked seeds, thus comparing materials with improved or damaged germination potential. A preliminary phenotypic analysis of germination parameters and seedling growth allowed the selection of the best-per-forming priming protocols for species like soybean, tomato, and wheat, having relevant agroeconomic value. ROS levels were quantified by using two noninvasive assays, namely dichloro-dihydro-fluorescein diacetate (DCFH-DA) and ferrous oxidation-xylenol orange (FOX-1). qRT-PCR was used to assess the expression of genes encoding enzymes involved in ROS production (respiratory burst oxidase homolog family, RBOH) and scavenging (catalase, superoxide dismutase, and peroxidases). The correlation analyses between ROS levels and gene expression data suggest a possible use of these indicators as noninvasive approaches to evaluate seed quality. These findings are relevant given the centrality of seed quality for crop production and the potential of seed priming in sustainable agricultural practices.
Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis L.) Glycolic Extract Protects Liver Mitochondria from Oxidative Damage and Prevents Acetaminophen-Induced Hepatotoxicity
Authors: Guimarães Natalia S. S. , Ramos Vyctória S. , Prado-Souza Laura F. L. , Lopes Rayssa M. , Arini Gabriel S. , Feitosa Luís G. P. , Silva Ricardo R. , Nantes Iseli L. , Damasceno Debora C. , Lopes Norberto P. , Rodrigues Tiago
Published: March 2023

Rosmarinus officinalis L. (rosemary) is an aromatic culinary herb. Native to the Mediterranean region, it is currently cultivated worldwide. In addition to its use as a condiment in food preparation and in teas, rosemary has been widely employed in folk medicine and cosmetics. Several beneficial effects have been described for rosemary, including antimicrobial and antioxidant activities. Here, we investigated the mechanisms accounting for the antioxidant activity of the glycolic extract of R. officinalis (Ro) in isolated rat liver mitochondria (RLM) under oxidative stress conditions. We also investigated its protective effect against acetaminophen-induced hepatotoxicity in vivo. A crude extract was obtained by fractionated percolation, using propylene glycol as a solvent due to its polarity and cosmeceutical compatibility. The quantification of substances with recognized antioxidant action revealed the presence of phenols and flavonoids. Dereplication studies carried out through LC-MS/MS and GC-MS, supported by The Global Natural Product Social Molecular Networking (GNPS) platform, annotated several phenolic compounds, confirming the previous observation. In accordance, Ro decreased the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) elicited by Fe2+ or t-BOOH and inhibited the lipid peroxidation of mitochondrial membranes in a concentration-dependent manner in RLM. Such an effect was also observed in liposomes as membrane models. Ro also prevented the oxidation of mitochondrial protein thiol groups and reduced glutathione (GSH). In model systems, Ro exhibited a potent scavenger activity toward 2,2′-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radicals and superoxide anions. It also demonstrated an Fe2+ chelating activity. Moreover, Ro did not exhibit cytotoxicity or dissipate the mitochondrial membrane potential (∆Ψ) in rat liver fibroblasts (BRL3A cells). To evaluate whether such antioxidant protective activity observed in vitro could also be achieved in vivo, a well-established model of hepatotoxicity induced by acute exposure to acetaminophen (AAP) was used. This model depletes GSH and promotes oxidative-stress-mediated tissue damage. The treatment of rats with 0.05% Ro, administered intraperitoneally for four days, resulted in inhibition of AAP-induced lipid peroxidation of the liver and the prevention of hepatotoxicity, maintaining alanine and aspartate aminotransferase (ALT/AST) levels equal to those of the normal, non-treated rats. Together, these findings highlight the potent antioxidant activity of rosemary, which is able to protect mitochondria from oxidative damage in vitro, and effects such as the antioxidant and hepatoprotective effects observed in vivo.
Characterization of the Products of the Catalytic Pyrolysis of Discarded COVID-19 Masks over Sepiolite
Authors: Ortega Francisco , Martín-Lara María Ángeles , Pula Héctor J. , Zamorano Montserrat , Calero Mónica , Blázquez Gabriel
Published: March 2023

This research aims to develop a new strategy to valorize wasted COVID-19 masks based on chemical recycling by pyrolysis to convert them into useful products. First, surgical and filtering face piece masks, as defined in Europe by the EN 149 standard (FFP2), were thermally pyrolyzed at temperatures of 450, 500, and 550 °C, and the yields of valuable solid (biochar), liquid (biooil), and syngas products and their characteristics were determined. At low temperatures, biochar formation was favored over biooil and syngas production, while at high temperatures the syngas product yield was enhanced. The highest yield of biooil was found at a pyrolysis temperature of 500 °C, with both surgical and FFP2 masks achieving biooil yields of 59.08% and 58.86%, respectively. Then, the pyrolysis experiments were performed at 500 °C in a two-stage pyrolysis catalytic reactor using sepiolite as a catalyst. Sepiolite was characterized using nitrogen adsorption–desorption isotherms and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. Results showed that the two-stage process increased the final yield of syngas product (43.89% against 39.52% for surgical masks and 50.53% against 39.41% for FFP2 masks). Furthermore, the composition of the biooils significantly changed, increasing the amount of 2,4-Dimethyl-1-heptene and other olefins, such as 3-Eicosene, (E)-, and 5-Eicosene, (E)-. Additionally, the methane and carbon dioxide content of the syngas product also increased in the two-stage experiments. Ultimately, the effect of sepiolite regeneration for its use in consecutive pyrolysis tests was examined. Characterization data showed that, the higher the use-regeneration of sepiolite, the higher the modification of textural properties, with mainly higher changes in its pore volume. The results indicated that the pyrolysis of face masks can be a good source of valuable products (especially from biooil and syngas products).
Prediction of Influence Transmission by Water Temperature of Fish Intramuscular Metabolites and Intestinal Microbiota Factor Cascade Using Bayesian Networks
Authors: Shima Hideaki , Sakata Kenji , Kikuchi Jun
Published: March 2023

Aquaculture is receiving attention as one of the solutions to the global food problem. Therefore, it is essential to clarify the impact of fish and their environment on the stable supply and uniformity of the quality of fish provided as meat. Nuclear magnetic resonance can comprehensively acquire metabolite information in foods nondestructively and is suitable for measuring physical properties for quality control. Moreover, recent advances in machine learning methods and artificial neural network (ANN) analysis have contributed to the analysis of comprehensive information. In this study, we sampled a wide variety of fish from the natural sea and analyzed them using a scheme incorporating ANN. As a result, it was found that anserine, an antioxidant, was found to be reduced in fish muscles, and this destabilized the homeostasis of other metabolites at low water temperature. We also concluded that the fish muscle metabolic state was stabilized in warm water. Furthermore, a relationship between water temperature and the intestinal microbiota of fish was established. In this study, we evaluated the relationship between the metabolic profile changes in fish muscle and external environmental factors and predicted connection strength and order using machine learning and ANN. We conclude that our proposed scheme for estimating the degree and direction of the influence of environmental factors on organisms by using ANN will work.
Analysis of Adaptive Algorithms Based on Least Mean Square Applied to Hand Tremor Suppression Control
Authors: Araújo Rafael Silfarney Alves , Tironi Jéssica Cristina , Parreira Wemerson Delcio , Borges Renata Coelho , De Paz Santana Juan Francisco , Leithardt Valderi Reis Quietinho
Published: March 2023

The increase in life expectancy, according to the World Health Organization, is a fact, and with it rises the incidence of age-related neurodegenerative diseases. The most recurrent symptoms are those associated with tremors resulting from Parkinson’s disease (PD) or essential tremors (ETs). The main alternatives for the treatment of these patients are medication and surgical intervention, which sometimes have restrictions and side effects. Through computer simulations in Matlab software, this work investigates the performance of adaptive algorithms based on least mean squares (LMS) to suppress tremors in upper limbs, especially in the hands. The signals resulting from pathological hand tremors, related to PD, present components at frequencies that vary between 3 Hz and 6 Hz, with the more significant energy present in the fundamental and second harmonics, while physiological hand tremors, referred to ET, vary between 4 Hz and 12 Hz. We simulated and used these signals as reference signals in adaptive algorithms, filtered-x least mean square (Fx-LMS), filtered-x normalized least mean square (Fx-NLMS), and a hybrid Fx-LMS–NLMS purpose. Our results showed that the vibration control provided by the Fx-LMS–LMS algorithm is the most suitable for physiological tremors. For pathological tremors, we used a proposed algorithm with a filtered sinusoidal input signal, Fsinx-LMS, which presented the best results in this specific case.
Optimization of Chlorogenic Acid in Ethanol Extracts from Elderberry Flowers (Sambucus nigra L.) under Different Conditions: Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Oziembłowski Maciej , Nawirska-Olszańska Agnieszka , Maksimowski Damian
Published: March 2023

The characteristics of elderberries and their flowers as well as selected properties of chlorogenic acid related to phenolic compounds are described. The aim of this study was to optimize the content of chlorogenic acid in ethanol extracts of elderberry flowers using the response surface methodology (RSM). The experiment was carried out with four research variants: fresh raw material treated with warm ethanol (50 °C) or cold ethanol (25 °C) and the same procedure for raw material that was frozen for a month and then dried. For each variant, nine methods of obtaining extracts were prepared using three different ethanol concentrations by volume (40, 68 or 95%) and three different extraction times (7, 20 or 30 days). Higher contents of chlorogenic acid were found in variants treated with warm ethanol (106.3 to 384.8 µg/cm3) in comparison to the samples treated with cold ethanol (60.77 to 298.3 µg/cm3). Optimization models of the response surface showed that with small losses of efficiency, the extraction process can be carried out for up to 20 days (instead of 30) with the use of ethanol with a concentration of approx. 68% (instead of 95%). The optimization of the efficiency of technological processes in the processing of herbs can be supported by the use of the response surface methodology.
Sizing-Based Flaw Acceptability in Weldments Using Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing and Neural Networks
Authors: Lee Seung-Eun , Park Jinhyun , Yeom Yun-Taek , Kim Hak-Joon , Song Sung-Jin
Published: March 2023

Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) is one of the major renewable energy sources and is stored and carried in a storage tank that is designed following international standards. Since LNG becomes highly unstable when it encounters oxygen in the air, a leakage from an LNG storage tank can cause a catastrophic industrial accident. Thus, the inspection of LNG storage tanks is one of the priorities to be completed before LNG is stored in a storage tank. Recently, the usage of Phased Array Ultrasonic Testing (PAUT) has been gradually increasing as the risks of RT emerge. PAUT has some obstacles to overcome in order to substitute RT, such as efficiency and accuracy. Specifically, the cost issue must be addressed. Therefore, many attempts to combine PAUT with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) have been made. PAUT provides many types of 2D images of the inspected weldment. The S-scan is one of the 2D images provided by PAUT, and it displays the cross-sectional view of the specimen with a single transducer. The inspectors examine the S-scan image and other provided images of PAUT to detect, classify and size the flaw that exists in the weldment so that the decision of whether the inspected weldment with the flaw is acceptable can be made. Nowadays, most of the previous research on PAUT and ANN focuses on detecting and classifying the flaws in B-scan or S-scan images. However, the last step to determine the flaws’ acceptability is not yet covered. In this study, the flaw acceptance criteria of PAUT in various international standards are listed. EXTENDE CIVA is used to create the PAUT S-scan images. The S-scan images are labeled with the listed acceptance criteria. Then, they are used in Mask R-CNN training. After the training, some new S-scan images with flaws are used to test the performance, and this showed 96% precision and 87% recall. With the algorithm, the acceptability of a flaw in a weldment can be determined efficiently and it will reduce the burden of PAUT usage and reduce the time required for a full-length inspection.
Prediction of Seismic Bearing Capacity Considering Nonlinearity and Dilatancy by Sequential Quadratic Programming
Authors: Liao Hong , Zhou De
Published: March 2023

Most of the published literature regarding bearing capacity are often focused on linear and associative soils. Concerning the intrinsic strength nonlinearity in dilatancy soils, this study investigates the problem of the seismic bearing capacity in the framework of the kinematic theorem of limit analysis. The conventional linear Mohr–Coulomb criterion is substituted with a nonlinear power law criterion to depict the nonlinearity of the soil strength. The non-associative feature of soil materials is considered by defining a nonlinear dilatancy coefficient. A generalized tangential technique is accordingly introduced to linearize the strength envelope for making the nonlinear criterion tractable in the analysis. A non-symmetrical translational failure mechanism that is comprised of several rigid wedges is used to characterize the failure of the foundation at the limit state. Moreover, the seismic action is considered by the classic pseudo-static method. Based upon the energy equilibrium theory of the upper-bound limit analysis, new analytical solutions are derived from the work-balanced equation with nonlinearity and dilatancy. This rigorous upper-bound solution is formulated as a multivariate optimization problem and is readily addressed by sequential quadratic programming (SQP). To verify the reliability of the new expressions, the present results are compared with already posted solutions and the original pseudo-dynamic solutions. The comparative results show a good agreement with previous works, and the correctness and rationality of the new analytical solutions are validated. The detailed parametric study reveals that, in the non-associative flow soils, the ultimate bearing capacity is significantly decreased with a reduction in the dilatancy coefficient. Particularly in the linear condition, namely m = 1, the larger the internal friction angle is, the more obvious the influence of the non-associative feature on the bearing capacity is.
A Meal-Assistance Robot System for Asian Food and Its Food Acquisition Point Estimation and User Interface Based on Face Recognition
Authors: Choi Iksu , Ko KwangEun , Song Hajun , Jung Byung-Jin , Hwang Jung-Hoon , Moon Hyungpil , Yang Gi-Hun
Published: March 2023

Various meal-assistance robot (MAR) systems are being studied, and several products have already been commercialized to alleviate the imbalance between the rising demand and diminishing supply of meal care services. However, several challenges remain. First, most of these services can serve limited types of western food using a predefined route. Additionally, their spoon or fork sometimes makes it difficult to acquire Asian food that is easy to handle with chopsticks. In addition, their limited user interface, requiring physical contact, makes it difficult for people with severe disabilities to use MARs alone. This paper proposes an MAR system that is suitable for the diet of Asians who use chopsticks. This system uses Mask R-CNN to recognize the food area on the plate and estimates the acquisition points for each side dish. The points become target points for robot motion planning. Depending on which food the user selects, the robot uses chopsticks or a spoon to obtain the food. In addition, a non-contact user interface based on face recognition was developed for users with difficulty physically manipulating the interface. This interface can be operated on the user’s Android OS tablet without the need for a separate dedicated display. A series of experiments verified the proposed system’s effectiveness and feasibility.
Recent Advances in H2S Removal from Gas Streams
Authors: Alguacil Francisco Jose
Published: March 2023

Hydrogen sulfide is a toxic and corrosive gas; thus, in order to mitigate its environmental impact, its capture and removal from various emitting sources, natural and anthropogenic, is of a necessity. In this work, recent advances (2020–2022) proposed by a series of investigations are reviewed. Adsorption using metal-oxide-based adsorbents appeared to be the most popular technology, whereas solvent absorption is used to co-absorb both toxic H2S and CO2. The uses of the various membrane technologies for H2S removal are also described.
Analysis of the Factors Influencing the Trailing Infrared Characteristics of Underwater Vehicles under Surge Conditions Using the Orthogonal Method
Authors: Zheng Shuang , Li Guanlin , Fu Qiang , Luo Kaiming , Shi Haodong , Yang Di , Li Yingchao
Published: March 2023

With its benefits of efficiency and speed, the orthogonal experimental design method is currently often employed in many domains for multi-factor experimental design. In this study, the wind–wave–flow multifunctional experimental flume was used to replicate surge circumstances using the orthogonal technique in order to investigate the contributing factors and their interactions on the sea surface IR characteristics of underwater vehicles’ wakes. According to the correlation analysis, the height of the swell and the surface temperature difference of the wake had only a weak negative correlation, while the dive depth of the underwater vehicle and the surface temperature difference of the wake had a significant negative correlation (p = −0.833). It was tentatively concluded that the surface temperature differential of the wake was found to be more sensitive to dive depth than to swell height. An investigation of the impact of trailing IR features can use this finding as a pertinent reference.
Supporting Learning Analytics Adoption: Evaluating the Learning Analytics Capability Model in a Real-World Setting
Authors: Knobbout Justian , van der Stappen Esther , Versendaal Johan , van de Wetering Rogier
Published: March 2023

Although learning analytics benefit learning, its uptake by higher educational institutions remains low. Adopting learning analytics is a complex undertaking, and higher educational institutions lack insight into how to build organizational capabilities to successfully adopt learning analytics at scale. This paper describes the ex-post evaluation of a capability model for learning analytics via a mixed-method approach. The model intends to help practitioners such as program managers, policymakers, and senior management by providing them a comprehensive overview of necessary capabilities and their operationalization. Qualitative data were collected during pluralistic walk-throughs with 26 participants at five educational institutions and a group discussion with seven learning analytics experts. Quantitative data about the model’s perceived usefulness and ease-of-use was collected via a survey (n = 23). The study’s outcomes show that the model helps practitioners to plan learning analytics adoption at their higher educational institutions. The study also shows the applicability of pluralistic walk-throughs as a method for ex-post evaluation of Design Science Research artefacts.
Optimized Catenary Metasurface for Detecting Spin and Orbital Angular Momentum via Momentum Transformation
Authors: Fu Guoquan , Chen Siran , He Qiong , Xiong Lingxing , Wen Yifeng , Zhang Fei , Lu Yuran , Guo Yinghui , Pu Mingbo , Luo Xiangang
Published: March 2023

Theoretically, the topological charge l in the vortex can be any integer or fraction, thus the vortex carrying different topological charges can form an infinitely orthogonal orbital angular momentum state space, which can provide new dimensional resources for optical communication. However, high-capacity optical communication requires low delay, thus real-time detection of the OAM is significant for communication. Metasurfaces have the characteristics of low loss, ultra-thin, easy integration, and flexible phase controls, which provide a meaningful way to realize integrated OAM generation and detection. Here, an optimized streamlined metasurface (OSM) is presented, which can detect high-order vortex beams in a single, simple, and rapid manner by photon momentum transformation (PMT). Since different vortices are converted into focusing modes with distinct azimuthal coordinates on a transverse plane through PMT, a single measurement can determine OAMs in an ample mode space. In addition, the OSM can detect more and higher order OAMs compared with a discrete metasurface (DM) at the same size, due to its better wavefront sampling capabilities. With the merits of an ultra-compact device size, simple optical structure, and outstanding vortex recognition ability, our approach may underpin the development of integrated optics and quantum systems.
Hand Exoskeleton—Development of Own Concept
Authors: Rojek Izabela , Kaczmarek Mariusz , Kotlarz Piotr , Kempiński Marcin , Mikołajewski Dariusz , Szczepański Zbigniew , Kopowski Jakub , Nowak Joanna , Macko Marek , Szczepańczyk Andrzej , Schmidt Tomasz , Leszczyński Paweł
Published: March 2023

The article addresses the development of an innovative mechanical and information technology (IT) solution in the form of a three-dimensional (3D) printed hand exoskeleton, enabling the rehabilitation of people with special needs (with the participation of physiotherapists). The design challenges and their solutions are presented in the example of the own design of a prototype mechanical rehabilitation robot (a hand exoskeleton) to support the rehabilitation process of people with a lack of mobility in the hand area (both as a result of disease and injury). The aim of this paper is to develop the author’s concept for a hand exoskeleton developed within an interdisciplinary team during the design work to date. The problem solved in the study was to develop a five-finger 3D-printed hand exoskeleton providing physiological ranges of movement and finger strength support at a level at least half that of healthy fingers, as well as taking it to the clinical trial phase. The novelty is not only an interdisciplinary approach but also focuses on developing not only prototypes but a solution ready for implementation in the market and clinical practice. The contribution includes the strong scientific and technical, social, and economic impact of the exoskeleton on the hand due to the fact that any deficit in hand function is strongly felt by the patient, and any effective way to improve it is expected in the market. The concept of the hand exoskeleton presented in the article combines a number of design and simulation approaches, experimentally verified mechanical solutions (a proposed artificial muscle, 3D printing techniques and materials, and possibly other types of effectors supported by sensors), and IT (new control algorithms), along with the verification of assumptions with a group of medical specialists, including in laboratory and clinical settings. The proposed specification of the hand exoskeleton offers personalised dimensions (adapted to the dimensions of the user’s hand, as well as the type and level of hand function deficit), weight (approximately 100–150 g, depending on the dimensions), personalised actuators (described above), all degrees of freedom of the healthy hand (in the absence of defects), and the time to close and open the hand of approximately 3–5 s, depending on the level and degree of deficit.
Biochar from Agro-Forest Residue: Application Perspective Based on Decision Support Analysis
Authors: Petrova Tsvetelina , Naydenova Iliyana , Ribau João , Ferreira Ana F.
Published: March 2023

The present work aims at (a) carbonizing agriculture biomass residue; (b) characterizing the obtained biochar; and (c) exploring its potential use for energy/resource recovery purposes. Six types of biomass were carbonized. The biochar was investigated through scanning electron microscopy with energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy detector, thermogravimetric (TGA), proximate, ultimate, and Brunauer–Emmett–Teller analyses, along with bulk density, pH, electrical conductivity, and salt content measurements. The results served as input data for multi-criteria, multi-objective decision analysis of biochar, aiming to evaluate its best application prospective. The TGA identified two general stages: devolatilization (stage 2: 180–560 °C), and combustion (stage 3: 560–720 °C). The activation energy of stage 2 decreased with an increasing heating rate, but the opposite trend was observed for stage 3. The biochar CO2 adsorption suggested possible applications beyond energy conversion technologies. The decision support analysis revealed that peach stones, cherry stones, and grape pomace biochar achieved the most promising results for all evaluated applications (biofuel; catalyst; CO2 sequestration and soil amendment; supercapacitor) in contrast to colza, softwood, or sunflower husks char.
On the Dynamical Instability of Monatomic Fluid Spheres in (N + 1)-Dimensional Spacetime
Authors: Feng Wei-Xiang
Published: March 2023

In this note, I derive the Chandrasekhar instability of a fluid sphere in (N + 1)-dimensional Schwarzschild–Tangherlini spacetime and take the homogeneous (uniform energy density) solution for illustration. Qualitatively, the effect of a positive (negative) cosmological constant tends to destabilize (stabilize) the sphere. In the absence of a cosmological constant, the privileged position of (3 + 1)-dimensional spacetime is manifest in its own right. As it is, the marginal dimensionality in which a monatomic ideal fluid sphere is stable but not too stable to trigger the onset of gravitational collapse. Furthermore, it is the unique dimensionality that can accommodate stable hydrostatic equilibrium with a positive cosmological constant. However, given the current cosmological constant observed, no stable configuration can be larger than 1021M⊙. On the other hand, in (2 + 1) dimensions, it is too stable either in the context of Newtonian Gravity (NG) or Einstein’s General Relativity (GR). In GR, the role of negative cosmological constant is crucial not only to guarantee fluid equilibrium (decreasing monotonicity of pressure) but also to have the Bañados–Teitelboim–Zanelli (BTZ) black hole solution. Owing to the negativeness of the cosmological constant, there is no unstable configuration for a homogeneous fluid disk with mass 0<M≤0.5 to collapse into a naked singularity, which supports the Cosmic Censorship Conjecture. However, the relativistic instability can be triggered for a homogeneous disk with mass 0.50 could emerge from collapsing fluid disks under proper conditions. The implicit assumptions and implications are also discussed.
Infinitely Many Small Energy Solutions to the Double Phase Anisotropic Variational Problems Involving Variable Exponent
Authors: Ahn Jun-Hyuk , Kim Yun-Ho
Published: March 2023

This paper is devoted to double phase anisotropic variational problems for the case of a combined effect of concave–convex nonlinearities when the convex term does not require the Ambrosetti–Rabinowitz condition. The aim of the present paper, on a class of superlinear term which is different from the previous related works, is to discuss the multiplicity result of non-trivial solutions by applying the dual fountain theorem as the main tool. In particular, our main result is obtained without assuming the conditions on the nonlinear term at infinity.
A Supply Chain Model with Learning Effect and Credit Financing Policy for Imperfect Quality Items under Fuzzy Environment
Authors: Alamri Osama Abdulaziz , Jayaswal Mahesh Kumar , Mittal Mandeep
Published: March 2023

In this paper, the seller offers a credit period to his buyer for more sales and the buyer accepts the seller’s policy to gain more profit, and it is assumed that the seller has defective and non-defective items. When the seller provides lots for sale to his buyer then, the buyer separates the whole lots with the help of inspection process into defective and perfect quality items. Further, in this scenario, the percentage of defective items present in the lot follows the S-shape learning curve and it is also considered that the demand rate is imprecise in nature. Here, the demand rate assumes a triangular fuzzy number due to the imprecise nature and it is the model assumption. Based on this assumption, we developed an inventory model with the effect of learning and trade credit strategy under a fuzzy environment for the buyer. The buyer’s total profit has been optimized concerning the order quantity in the fuzzy environment where order quantity has been assumed as a decision variable. The results of this model were verified with the help of numerical examples and sensitivity analysis. We compared the buyer’s total profit in a crisp and fuzzy environment and the buyer gained more profit in a fuzzy environment compared to the crisp environment. Moreover, we compared the results with and without the effect of learning and trade credit on the buyer’s ordering policy and obtained a positive effect on the ordering policy in the numerical section. We determined positive results from the sensitivity analysis, which proved that the trade credit policy will be beneficial for both partners of the supply chain.
Larval Dispersal Modeling Reveals Low Connectivity among National Marine Protected Areas in the Yellow and East China Seas
Authors: Lu Jiaying , Chen Yuanjie , Wang Zihan , Zhao Feng , Zhong Yisen , Zeng Cong , Cao Ling
Published: March 2023

Marine protected areas (MPAs) are vital for protecting biodiversity, maintaining ecosystem integrity, and tackling future climate change. The effectiveness of MPA networks relies on connectivity, yet connectivity assessments are often skipped in the planning process. Here we employed a multi-species biophysical model to examine the connectivity patterns formed among the 21 national MPAs in the Yellow and East China Seas. We simulated the potential larval dispersal of 14 oviparous species of five classes. Larvae of non-migratory species with pelagic larval duration (PLD) were assumed to be passive floating particles with no explicit vertical migration. A total of 217,000 particles were released according to spawning period, living depth, and species distribution, and they were assumed to move with currents during the PLD. Most larvae were dispersed around the MPAs (0–60 m isobaths) and consistent with the currents. Larval export increased with PLD and current velocity, but if PLD was too long, few larvae survived due to high daily mortality during pelagic dispersal. The overall connectivity pattern exhibited a north-to-south dispersal trend corresponding to coastal currents. Our results indicated that the national MPAs in the Yellow and East China Seas did not form a well-connected network and nearly 30% of them were isolated. These MPAs formed three distinct groups, one in the Yellow Sea ecoregion and two in the East China Sea ecoregion. Four MPAs (all in coastal Zhejiang) emerged as key nodes for ensuring multi-generational connectivity. Under the pressure of future climate change, high self-recruitment and low connectivity present significant challenges for building well-connected MPA networks. We suggest adding new protected areas as stepping stones for bioecological corridors. Focused protection of the Yellow Sea ecoregion could have a good effect on the southern part of the population recruitment downstream. Conservation management should be adjusted according to the life cycles and distributions of vulnerable species, as well as seasonal changes in coastal currents. This study provides a scientific basis for improving ecological connectivity and conservation effectiveness of MPAs in the Yellow and East China Seas.
The Effects of Galactic Cosmic Rays on the Central Nervous System: From Negative to Unexpectedly Positive Effects That Astronauts May Encounter
Authors: Kokhan Viktor S. , Dobynde Mikhail I.
Published: March 2023

Galactic cosmic rays (GCR) pose a serious threat to astronauts’ health during deep space missions. The possible functional alterations of the central nervous system (CNS) under GCR exposure can be critical for mission success. Despite the obvious negative effects of ionizing radiation, a number of neutral or even positive effects of GCR irradiation on CNS functions were revealed in ground-based experiments with rodents and primates. This review is focused on the GCR exposure effects on emotional state and cognition, emphasizing positive effects and their potential mechanisms. We integrate these data with GCR effects on adult neurogenesis and pathological protein aggregation, forming a complete picture. We conclude that GCR exposure causes multidirectional effects on cognition, which may be associated with emotional state alterations. However, the irradiation in space-related doses either has no effect or has performance enhancing effects in solving high-level cognition tasks and tasks with a high level of motivation. We suppose the model of neurotransmission changes after irradiation, although the molecular mechanisms of this phenomenon are not fully understood.
Innate and Adaptive Immune Systems in Physiological and Pathological Pregnancy
Authors: Weng Jessica , Couture Camille , Girard Sylvie
Published: March 2023

The dynamic immunological changes occurring throughout pregnancy are well-orchestrated and important for the success of the pregnancy. One of the key immune adaptations is the maternal immune tolerance towards the semi-allogeneic fetus. In this review, we provide a comprehensive overview of what is known about the innate and adaptive immunological changes in pregnancy and the role(s) of specific immune cells during physiological and pathological pregnancy. Alongside this, we provided details of remaining questions and challenges, as well as future perspectives for this growing field of research. Understanding the immunological changes that occur can inform potential strategies on treatments for the optimal health of the neonate and pregnant individual both during and after pregnancy.
Recent Advances in Monoclonal Antibody-Based Approaches in the Management of Bacterial Sepsis
Authors: Kharga Kusum , Kumar Lokender , Patel Sanjay Kumar Singh
Published: March 2023

Sepsis is a life-threatening condition characterized by an uncontrolled inflammatory response to an infectious agent and its antigens. Immune cell activation against the antigens causes severe distress that mediates a strong inflammatory response in vital organs. Sepsis is responsible for a high rate of morbidity and mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Monoclonal antibody (mAb)-based therapeutic strategies are now being explored as a viable therapy option for severe sepsis and septic shock. Monoclonal antibodies may provide benefits through two major strategies: (a) monoclonal antibodies targeting the pathogen and its components, and (b) mAbs targeting inflammatory signaling may directly suppress the production of inflammatory mediators. The major focus of mAb therapies has been bacterial endotoxin (lipopolysaccharide), although other surface antigens are also being investigated for mAb therapy. Several promising candidates for mAbs are undergoing clinical trials at present. Despite several failures and the investigation of novel targets, mAb therapy provides a glimmer of hope for the treatment of severe bacterial sepsis and septic shock. In this review, mAb candidates, their efficacy against controlling infection, with special emphasis on potential roadblocks, and prospects are discussed.
Risk Stratification Model for Severe COVID-19 Disease: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Mizrahi Reuveni Miri , Kertes Jennifer , Shapiro Ben David Shirley , Shahar Arnon , Shamir-Stein Naama , Rosen Keren , Liran Ori , Bar-Yishay Mattan , Adler Limor
Published: March 2023

Background: Risk stratification models have been developed to identify patients that are at a higher risk of COVID-19 infection and severe illness. Objectives To develop and implement a scoring tool to identify COVID-19 patients that are at risk for severe illness during the Omicron wave. Methods: This is a retrospective cohort study that was conducted in Israel’s second-largest healthcare maintenance organization. All patients with a new episode of COVID-19 between 26 November 2021 and 18 January 2022 were included. A model was developed to predict severe illness (COVID-19-related hospitalization or death) based on one-third of the study population (the train group). The model was then applied to the remaining two-thirds of the study population (the test group). Risk score sensitivity, specificity, and positive predictive value rates, and receiver operating characteristics (ROC) were calculated to describe the performance of the model. Results: A total of 409,693 patients were diagnosed with COVID-19 over the two-month study period, of which 0.4% had severe illness. Factors that were associated with severe disease were age (age > 75, OR-70.4, 95% confidence interval [CI] 42.8–115.9), immunosuppression (OR-4.8, 95% CI 3.4–6.7), and pregnancy (5 months or more, OR-82.9, 95% CI 53–129.6). Factors that were associated with a reduced risk for severe disease were vaccination status (patients vaccinated in the previous six months OR-0.6, 95% CI 0.4–0.8) and a prior episode of COVID-19 (OR-0.3, 95% CI 0.2–0.5). According to the model, patients who were in the 10th percentile of the risk severity score were considered at an increased risk for severe disease. The model accuracy was 88.7%. Conclusions: This model has allowed us to prioritize patients requiring closer follow-up by their physicians and outreach services, as well as identify those that are most likely to benefit from anti-viral treatment during the fifth wave of infection in Israel, dominated by the Omicron variant.
The Right Temporal Lobe and the Enhancement of Voice Recognition in Congenitally Blind Subjects
Authors: Terruzzi Stefano , Papagno Costanza , Gainotti Guido
Published: March 2023

Background: Experimental investigations and clinical observations have shown that not only faces but also voices are predominantly processed by the right hemisphere. Moreover, right brain-damaged patients show more difficulties with voice than with face recognition. Finally, healthy subjects undergoing right temporal anodal stimulation improve their voice but not their face recognition. This asymmetry between face and voice recognition in the right hemisphere could be due to the greater complexity of voice processing. Methods: To further investigate this issue, we tested voice and name recognition in twelve congenitally blind people. Results: The results showed a complete overlap between the components of voice recognition impaired in patients with right temporal damage and those improved in congenitally blind people. Congenitally blind subjects, indeed, scored significantly better than control sighted individuals in voice discrimination and produced fewer false alarms on familiarity judgement of famous voices, corresponding to tests selectively impaired in patients with right temporal lesions. Conclusions: We suggest that task difficulty is a factor that impacts on the degree of its lateralization.
An EEG Study of the Influence of Target Appearing in the Upper and Lower Visual Fields on Brain Attention Resource Allocation
Authors: Li Han , Xu Jialin , Sheng Junpeng , Zhou Huilin , Liu Zhen , Li Yahui , Hu Jingyan , Zuo Guokun
Published: March 2023

Visuospatial selective attention can focus attention on a certain spatial area and rationally allocate attentional resources during visual target perception. Previous studies investigated the behavioral advantages of subjects when the target appeared in the upper and lower visual fields. However, the neurophysiological characteristics of the brain are not clear, and there is a lack of comprehensive analysis of the external behavior and the internal neurophysiological characteristics. We designed two task paradigms containing a spatial location orientation task and a visual search task. We used event-related potentials (ERP) components (P1 and P2) and electroencephalogram (EEG) rhythms (theta and alpha) to analyze the attention level and allocation of attention resources of the brain. The results showed that when the target appeared in the lower visual field in the spatial location orientation task, subjects consumed fewer attention resources and demonstrated better behavioral performance. In the visual search task, when the target appeared in the upper left visual field, subjects could better mobilize attention resources and behaved more advantageously. The study provides a basis for the design of the target in the upper and lower visual fields in the rehabilitation task, especially for stroke patients with low attention levels due to attention disorders such as spatial attention deficit.
An Empirical Study Analyzing the Moderating Effect of Supervisor Support and Mediating Effect of Presenteeism among Eustress, Distress, and Innovative Behavior
Authors: Anjum Amna , Zhao Yan , Faraz Naeem
Published: March 2023

Purpose: This article aims to illustrate that stress is not always a negative experience as it can have both positive and negative outcomes. The term “eustress” describes positive stress, while the term “distress” describes negative stress. To date, research on eustress is in the infancy stage. There are approximately 306 items that can be found in the Web of Science core collection for “eustress”, while there are 184,714 items found for “distress”. Few studies have examined the relationship between presenteeism, stress, and innovative behavior. Thus, the mechanism underlying this pathway still needs to be fully understood. Materials and Methods: A survey was conducted among 350 medical healthcare professionals from Pakistan. With the help of SPSS and AMOS, the data were analyzed and the combined effects of the variables were also investigated. Results: According to the current study, a mediation effect has been observed between innovative behavior and stress (eustress and distress). However, supervisor support moderates the relationship between stress and presenteeism and, likewise, between presenteeism and innovative behavior. Conclusion: Our analysis of variables establishes empirically robust relationships between the innovative behavior of medical healthcare professionals and the two different dimensions of stress. In addition, it describes a hypothetical alternative situation that explains how employees’ innovative work behavior is affected by eustress and distress in the presence of supervisor support. This study could have implications for improving medical healthcare professionals’ ability to incorporate innovative behavior into their practice in an effective manner in the future.
Short Report: Lack of Diurnal Variation in Salivary Cortisol Is Linked to Sleep Disturbances and Heightened Anxiety in Adolescents with Williams Syndrome
Authors: Hayton Jessica , Azhari Atiqah , Esposito Gianluca , Iles Ray , Chadiarakos Michaella , Gabrieli Giulio , Dimitriou Dagmara , Mangar Stephen
Published: March 2023

Objective: The aim of the current study was to examine the potential relationship between sleep patterns, cortisol levels, and anxiety profiles in adolescents with Williams Syndrome (WS) compared to typically developing adolescents. Method: Thirteen adolescents with WS and thirteen TD adolescents (age range 12–18 years) were recruited. Participants were provided with a “testing kit”, containing instructions for collecting data through a sleep diary, MotionWare actigraphy, the Childhood Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ), and the Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale, and a salivary cortisol collection kit. Results: Adolescents in the WS group did not show diurnal variation in salivary cortisol. Significantly higher scores were reported for two CSHQ subsections, night wakings and parasomnias, in the WS group. Regarding the actigraphy, only significantly longer sleep latency was observed in the WS group. In comparison to the TD group, the WS group had significantly higher anxiety. As expected, the TD group showed typical diurnal variation in cortisol, whereas the WS group showed a flattened cortisol profile throughout the day. Conclusions: From the developmental perspective, this study provides new data supporting the conclusion that sleep problems are not transient but continue to persist into adolescence in WS. Future studies ought to consider examining the role of cortisol and its interplay with anxiety levels and sleep problems across the lifespan in individuals with WS.