bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and Safety of Perampanel in Children with Drug-Resistant Focal-Onset Seizures: A Retrospective Review
Authors: Elmardenly Ahmed , Aljehani Zekra , Tamim Abdullah , Alyazidi Anas , Muthaffar Osama
Published: June 2023

Background: Epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders. Existing antiseizure medications (ASMs) are still unable to control seizures in one-third of these patients, making the discovery of antiseizure therapies with novel mechanisms of action a necessity. Aim of the Study: This study aimed to determine the safety and efficacy of perampanel (PER) as an adjuvant treatment for children with drug-resistant focal-onset seizures with or without focal to bilateral tonic-clonic seizures. Patients and methods: This is a single-center retrospective study of 38 epileptic pediatric patients, aged 2 to 14, at King Faisal Specialist Hospital and Research Center whose seizures were pharmaco-resistant to more than two antiseizure medications and followed for at least three months after PER adjuvant therapy initiation. Efficacy was assessed by the PER response rate at 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-up evaluations, and side effects were also reported. Results: Multiple seizure types were reported. Myoclonic seizures were the predominant type of epilepsy in 17 children (44.7%). At 3 months, 6 months, and 12 months of follow-up, approximately 23.4%, 23.4%, and 18.4% of the patients were seizure-free at these time points, respectively. Adverse events were documented in 14 patients (35.7%) and led to the discontinuation of PER in 26.3%, 31.6%, and 36.8% of the studied group at the 3-, 6-, and 12-month follow-ups, respectively. The most common adverse events included dizziness or drowsiness, irritability, gait disturbance, and confusion; however, all were transient, and no serious adverse effects occurred. Conclusion: Our findings confirm the therapeutic efficacy of adjunctive PER in the treatment of drug-resistant epilepsy in children. As an adjunctive treatment for epilepsy, perampanel demonstrated sufficient effectiveness and tolerability.
Assessment of Metabolic Syndrome and Kidney and Heart Function in Childhood Cancer Survivors
Authors: Janecka Aleksandra , Stefanowicz Joanna , Owczarzak Anna , Tomaszewski Marek , Batko Tomasz , Irga-Jaworska Ninela
Published: June 2023

Background: The survivors of childhood cancer suffer from a number of long-term side effects. These include atherosclerosis and cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) that develop earlier in adulthood than in the rest of the population. The aim of this study was to identify prognostic factors of developing atherosclerosis before the development of symptomatic CVD. Methods: A total of 141 children that were 7–18 years old were examined; there were 116 survivors of childhood malignancies (hematopoietic and lymphoproliferative malignancies—52; neuroblastoma—22; Wilms tumor—24; other solid tumors—18) and 25 healthy controls. Anthropometric measurements, blood pressure measurements, ultrasonography of the abdomen, echocardiography, and laboratory tests were performed. Results: There were no significant differences in gender distribution, time from the end of the treatment, weight, BMI, prevalence of central obesity, blood pressure and resistive index of the renal arteries, lipid profile, or glucose and fibrinogen levels. Patients with solid tumors had a significantly lower height and worse renal function. Patients with hematological malignancies significantly presented the lowest shortening fraction of the left ventricle. The salusin β levels were significantly higher in the control group than among the patients. Conclusions: The type and severity of side effects are closely related to the type of neoplasm and the treatment that has been undergone. Careful observation and regular follow-up are necessary.
Sleep-Disordered Breathing and Its Association with Nocturnal Enuresis at the Primary Schools in Saudi Arabia: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Alshehri Ali Abdullah , Zaki Mohamed Soliman Hassan , Nour Sameh Osama , Gadi Wala H. , Zogel Basem A. , Alfaifi Samar M. , Masmali Enas M. , Aburasain Amani B. , Nour Mohamed Osama
Published: June 2023

The correlation between nocturnal enuresis (NE) and sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was reported. We aim to determine whether there is an association between NE and SDB in children and to assess the prevalence of SDB and NE in primary school children aged 6–12 years in Saudi Arabia. A cross-sectional observational study was conducted among the caregivers of children aged 6–12 years in all Saudi Arabia regions. The data were gathered through a self-administered online questionnaire. It included demographic information, weight and height, and associated comorbidities, in addition to the weekly frequencies of snoring symptoms and of enuresis, as well as of unrefreshing sleep using Likert-type response scales. Counts and percentages, the mean ± standard deviation, chi-square test, independent samples t-test, and regression analysis were used in the statistical analysis using R v 3.6.3. The questionnaire was completed by 686 respondents. Most respondents did not report any comorbidities in their children (77.1%). Asthma and adenotonsillar hypertrophy were reported in 16.2% and 15.6% of children, respectively. Unrefreshing sleep, mouth breathing at night, snoring, chronic nasal obstruction, and difficulty breathing while asleep were reported once or twice per week in 38%, 34%, 28%, 18%, and 18% of children, respectively. The prevalence of NE was 22.3%, with about 36.6% of children having NE two or more times per week. Significantly, NE was reported in 26.6% of children who slept before 10 PM compared to 19% of children who slept after 10 PM; in 28.6% of children who snored or loudly snored (57.1%) three times or more per week; and in 51.2% and 27.5% of children with difficulty breathing while asleep and who breathed through their mouth at night for one or two nights per week, respectively. A multivariable regression analysis showed that male gender (OR = 1.52, p = 0.010), obesity (OR = 1.24, p = 0.028), early sleeping time (OR = 1.40, p = 0.048), loud snoring for three or more nights per week (OR = 1.54, p = 0.001), difficulty breathing for one or two nights per week (OR = 1.85, p = 0.010), and mouth breathing at night for one or two nights per week (OR = 1.55, p = 0.049) were associated with higher odds of NE. Our study revealed that 22.3% of primary school children reported suffering from NE. SDB is a common problem among children with NE. The exact mechanism that links SDB to the increase in the risk of NE is unknown. Male gender, obesity, early sleeping time, loud snoring, difficulty breathing, and mouth breathing at night are potential independent risk factors of NE in school-age children.
Schoolteachers Teach First Aid and Trauma Management to Young Primary School Children: An Experimental Study with Educational Intervention
Authors: Tse Eleana , Plakitsi Katerina , Voulgaris Spyridon , Alexiou George A.
Published: June 2023

Objectives: The primary objective of this pilot study was to examine the effectiveness of teaching first aid to 6–8-year-old children within their primary school setting. The study aimed to address two key research questions: (1) Can children of this age group acquire first aid and trauma management skills from their schoolteachers? (2) How long do children retain the acquired first aid knowledge? Methods: A pilot experimental study with an educational intervention was conducted in a single primary school in Greece. A total of 60 schoolchildren aged 6–8 years were randomly selected for participation, with 30 children assigned to the training group and 30 children assigned to the control group, which did not receive any intervention. To assess the children’s understanding of first aid, a specialized questionnaire was administered to all children one day before the training, as well as to the training group one day after the training, and at two and six months following the training. Results: Prior to the training, there were no significant differences in first aid knowledge between the children in the training group and those in the control group. However, one day after the training, the trained children demonstrated significantly higher scores (p < 0.05) compared to the control group. Over time, the first aid knowledge of the trained children gradually declined at the two- and six-month follow-up assessments, although it remained higher than their pre-training level. Conclusions: First aid training provided by their teachers improved the knowledge of 6–8-year-old primary school children in first aid and trauma management.
Marginal and Para-Marginal Technique in Late Germectomy of Lower Third Molars
Authors: Ludovichetti Francesco Saverio , Mazzoleni Sergio , Menin Manuel , Parcianello Roberta Gaia , Romanowski Francielle , Stellini Edoardo , Zuccon Andrea
Published: June 2023

Introduction: Third molar surgery can cause post-operative complications to the patient due to the presence of a wound from the incision. This study aimed to compare marginal flap with para-marginal flap on postoperative complications by the measurements on pre and post-surgical plaque index (PI), bleeding on probing (BoP), maximum opening of the mouth (MOM), pain perception (PP) and post-surgical tumefaction (PT). Methods: In this double-blind randomized clinical trial, 40 patients were recruited and randomly allocated in two groups. In Group 1, third molar extraction was carried out after a marginal flap design was performed, while in Group 2 a para-marginal flap was performed. Plaque index, bleeding on probing, maximum mouth opening, and distal probing were assessed right before and one week after surgery, while post-operative pain perception and post-operative swelling were accounted one week following surgery. Results: Statistically significant differences were reported between treatment groups, as the para-marginal flap led to better outcomes for all the measured indexes. Conclusions: The para-marginal flap design may decrease the occurrence of post-operative complications and discomforts after mandibular third molar surgery, compared to marginal flap design.
Interannual Variability in the Coastal Zones of the Gulf of California
Authors: Palacios-Hernández Emilio , Montes-Aréchiga Jorge Manuel , Brito-Castillo Luis , Carrillo Laura , Julián-Caballero Sergio , Avalos-Cueva David
Published: June 2023

Few studies have explored the details of climatology in the Gulf of California (GoC) coastal zone, a region characterized by robust land–sea breeze circulation that results from land heating on both coasts of the GoC. Using hourly historical observations from automatic weather stations (AWSs) from 2008 to 2018, we performed harmonic and empirical orthogonal function analyses to describe the climatology of several characteristics that are regularly monitored in the GoC coastal zone. The characteristics included air temperature (°C), relative humidity (%), atmospheric pressure (hPa), wind intensity (m s−1), and wind direction (°). The National Water Commission (CNA) provided records for stations located along the coast of the GoC. The results revealed an intense annual and, to a lesser extent, interannual signal for all characteristics. The presence of synoptic patterns forces seasonal and intraseasonal variations to occur. In summer, tropical systems increase the seasonal variability, mainly at the eastern mouth of the GoC. Some stations display this increase until the cold season arrives with the passage of winter systems. Finally, we found that interannual variability could be associated with El Niño–Southern Oscillation events.
Effects of the Ratio of Nano-Cu to Hydroxylated MWCNTs on Anticorrosion and Surface Conductivity of Cu/MWCNT Epoxy Coatings on a Steel Substrate
Authors: Yu Yixun , Liang Mengmeng , Pan Yunfeng
Published: June 2023

Epoxy coatings provide an economical and practical solution for combating steel corrosion. However, epoxy coatings have poor conductivity, resulting in the accumulation of electrostatic charges. The surface conductivity and anticorrosion properties of epoxy coatings can be improved by adding nano-Cu and hydroxylated multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs). This paper investigates the impact of MWCNTs at different concentrations (2.5, 5%) and the ratio of nano-Cu to MWCNTs on the surface conductivity and anticorrosion properties of epoxy coatings on a steel substrate. The findings from the four-probe method of measuring surface resistance indicated that the surface resistivity of steel coated with an epoxy composite of 5% MWCNTs and 65% nano-Cu (Cu65/MWCNT5) was significantly lower, approximately by one order of magnitude, compared to steel coated with a 5% MWCNT (MWCNT5) epoxy coating. When the Cu65/MWCNT5-coated steel was immersed in a 3.5 wt % NaCl solution for 30 days, it was observed that there was a minimal effect on its surface resistivity. The inclusion of a high content of MWCNTs facilitates a more uniform distribution of Cu particles within the epoxy coatings, thereby improving the anticorrosion properties of these coatings on a steel substrate. This was further corroborated by the results of the polarization curves and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, demonstrating that the Cu65/MWCNT5 epoxy coating on a steel substrate offers exceptional anticorrosion and barrier protection properties. The corrosion rate of steel with a Cu65/MWCNT5 epoxy coating was three orders of magnitude lower than that of steel with a Cu65/MWCNT2.5 epoxy coating, at 4.79 × 10−7 mm/year.
Crack Formation Mechanisms and Control Methods of Laser Cladding Coatings: A Review
Authors: Li Mingke , Huang Kepeng , Yi Xuemei
Published: June 2023

Laser cladding, a novel surface treatment technology, utilizes a high-energy laser beam to melt diverse alloy compositions and form a specialized alloy-cladding layer on the surface of the substrate to enhance its property. However, it can generate substantial residual stresses during the rapid cooling and heating stages, due to inadequate selection of cladding process parameters and disparities in thermophysical properties between the clad layer and substrate material, leading to the formation of various types of cracks. These cracks can significantly impact the quality and performance of the coating. This paper presents a comprehensive review of crack types and their causes in laser cladding coatings, and identifies that three primary sources of residual stresses, thermal stress, organizational stress, and restraint stress, are the fundamental causes of crack formation. The study proposes several strategies to control coating cracks, including optimizing the coating layer material, refining the coating process parameters, incorporating heat treatment, applying auxiliary fields, and utilizing numerical simulations to predict crack initiation and propagation. Additionally, the paper summarizes crack control methods for emerging structural materials and novel preparation processes. Lastly, the paper analyzes the prospects, technical approaches, and key research directions for effectively controlling cracks in laser cladding coatings.
CeO2 Protective Material against CMAS Attack for Thermal–Environmental Barrier Coating Applications
Authors: Guo Lei , Wang Yuanpeng , Liu Mingguang , Gao Yuan , Ye Fuxing
Published: June 2023

Calcium–magnesium–alumina–silicate (CMAS) attack is a crucial issue for thermal–environmental barrier coatings (T/EBCs) with the ever-increasing operating temperature of turbine engines. In this study, CeO2 has been demonstrated as a promising protective material for T/EBCs against CMAS attack. At 1300 °C, CeO2 powder kept excellent phase and structural stability in molten CMAS; there were some CMAS constituents dissolved into the CeO2 lattice to form a solid solution. With higher CeO2 contents and longer duration time, more CeO2 solid solution particles were formed, which acted as the nucleating agent for CMAS crystallization. As a result, apatite, anorthite and wollastonite crystalline products were easily generated. At 1300 °C for 10 h, CeO2 pellets covered with CMAS powder had limited degradation, which was attributed to the rapid crystallization of molten CMAS due to the excellent nucleating agent effect of the precipitated CeO2 solid solution.
Research on Object Detection and Recognition Method for UAV Aerial Images Based on Improved YOLOv5
Authors: Zhang Heng , Shao Faming , He Xiaohui , Zhang Zihan , Cai Yonggen , Bi Shaohua
Published: June 2023

In this paper, an object detection and recognition method based on improved YOLOv5 is proposed for application on unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) aerial images. Firstly, we improved the traditional Gabor function to obtain Gabor convolutional kernels with better edge enhancement properties. We used eight Gabor convolutional kernels to enhance the object edges from eight directions, and the enhanced image has obvious edge features, thus providing the best object area for subsequent deep feature extraction work. Secondly, we added a coordinate attention (CA) mechanism to the backbone of YOLOv5. The plug-and-play lightweight CA mechanism considers information of both the spatial location and channel of features and can accurately capture the long-range dependencies of positions. CA is like the eyes of YOLOv5, making it easier for the network to find the region of interest (ROI). Once again, we replaced the Path Aggregation Network (PANet) with a Bidirectional Feature Pyramid Network (BiFPN) at the neck of YOLOv5. BiFPN performs weighting operations on different input feature layers, which helps to balance the contribution of each layer. In addition, BiFPN adds horizontally connected feature branches across nodes on a bidirectional feature fusion structure to fuse more in-depth feature information. Finally, we trained the overall improved YOLOv5 model on our integrated dataset LSDUVD and compared it with other models on multiple datasets. The results show that our method has the best convergence effect and mAP value, which demonstrates that our method has unique advantages in processing detection tasks of UAV aerial images.
Relationship between the Health Literacy and Self-Medication Behavior of Primary Health Care Clientele in the Hail Region, Saudi Arabia: Implications for Public Health
Authors: Alqarni Aidah Sanad , Pasay-an Eddieson , Saguban Reynita , Cabansag Dolores , Gonzales Ferdinand , Alkubati Sameer , Villareal Sandro , Lagura Grace Ann Lim , Alshammari Salman Amish , Aljarboa Bader Emad , Mostoles Romeo
Published: June 2023

Background and aim: Because they are unaware of the potential adverse effects of medications, people frequently self-medicate as a form of self-care. This study aimed to investigate the factors associated with health literacy and the propensity to self-medicate among the primary healthcare clientele of the city of Hail, Saudi Arabia. Methods: This research employed a cross-sectional approach with the participation of 383 primary health center clientele of the Hail Region of Saudi Arabia. Participation was enacted via convenience sampling from December 2022 to February 2023. The data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. The investigation utilized descriptive statistics as well as multiple linear regression and correlation for the data analysis. Results: Participants who were aged 30 years and above, single, had a college degree, were non-Saudi, had a white-collar occupation and received information from the internet/Google/YouTube had a significant relationship (p < 0.05) with health literacy. On the self-medication scale (SMS), there were significant relationships with age, marital status, educational level and occupation (p < 0.05). The nationality and source of information factors related to health had a positively significant effect on health literacy (p < 0.01), while middle age (24–29 years) had a positive effect on the self-medication scores (p < 0.01). There was a significant positive correlation between the health literacy screening scale (BRIEF) and the self-medication scale (SMS) scores (r = 421, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Age of 30 years old or above, single status, a college degree, non-Saudi status, white-collar occupation and receiving information from the internet/Google/YouTube were all significant for health literacy. There were also significant relationships with the SMS scores for age, marital status, educational level and occupation. The factors affecting health literacy were older participant age, nationality and the source of information regarding health. Conversely, among the participants, being in the middle-aged group (24–29 years) was a factor that affected their self-medication scores. There was a significant positive correlation between the health literacy screening scale (BRIEF) and the self-medication scale (SMS).
Spatial–Temporal Distribution Pattern of Ormosia hosiei in Sichuan under Different Climate Scenarios
Authors: Xie Chunping , Chen Lin , Li Meng , Liu Dawei , Jim Chi-Yung
Published: June 2023

Ormosia hosiei is an endemic plant in China listed as a national grade II key protected wild plant with important scientific, economic, and cultural values. This study was designed to predict the potential suitable distribution areas for O. hosiei under current and future climate change and to provide a reference to enhance the species’ conservation and utilization. Based on the actual geographical locations of O. hosiei in Sichuan, we applied two species distribution models (BIOCLIM and DOMAIN) to predict its current and future potential suitable areas and future change patterns. We also analyzed the major climatic variables limiting its geographical distribution with principal component analysis. The results indicated that O. hosiei was mainly distributed in the eastern region of Sichuan and concentrated in the middle subtropical climate zone at relatively low elevations. The principal component analysis identified two critical factors representing temperature and moisture. The temperature was the most critical factor limiting O. hosiei distribution in Sichuan, especially the effect of extreme low temperatures. Both models’ simulation results of potential suitable areas under the current climate scenario showed that the excellent suitable habitat was consistent with the current actual distribution, remaining in the eastern region of Sichuan. Under the future climate scenario with doubled CO2 concentration (2100), both models predicted a sharp decrease in the areas of excellent and very high suitable habitats. The findings can inform strategies and guidelines for O. hosiei research, conservation, nursery production, and cultivation in Sichuan.
Enhancing Succinic Acid Production by Sequential Adaptation of Selected Basfia succiniciproducens Strains to Arundo donax Hydrolysate
Authors: Robertiello Alessandro , Romano Ida , Ventorino Valeria , Faraco Vincenza , Pepe Olimpia
Published: June 2023

Promising green technologies that can overcome the challenges associated with the use of fossil fuels require microorganisms that can effectively ferment lignocellulosic hydrolysate for biochemical production with reduced sensitivity to toxic chemicals derived from the pretreatment process. In this study, a sequential adaptation approach was developed to obtain new bacterial lines from Basfia (B.) succiniciproducens strains, which are adapted to inhibitory compounds of the Arundo (A.) donax hydrolysate or those that accumulate during the fermentation process. The early adaptation stages resulted in newly adapted B. succiniciproducens bacterial lines that can tolerate fermentation end-products such as acetic, lactic, and succinic acids, as well as toxic compounds such as furfural and hydroxymethylfurfural. These adapted bacterial lines were further investigated to assess their ability to produce succinic acid in an MHM medium supplemented with a filtrate of A. donax hydrolysate. Batch growth tests on a small laboratory scale showed that bacterial lines 2E and 4D produced 5.80 ± 0.56 g L−1 and 5.81 ± 0.39 g L−1 of succinic acid, respectively, after 24 h of fermentation. Based also on its growth rate, the adapted bacterial line B. succiniciproducens 4D was selected for tests in a lab-scale fermenter, where it was able to synthesize up to 17.24 ± 0.39 g L−1 of succinate (corresponding to YSA/gluc 0.96 ± 0.02 g g−1 and to YSA/(G + X) 0.48 ± 0.01 g g−1) from MHM medium added with A. donax hydrolysate. Experiments showed an increase of ~17% compared to the control strain. The overall results demonstrate the potential of adapted bacterial lines for succinate production from A. donax hydrolysate and the development of improved technologies for bio-based succinic acid production.
Development of Blood Sugar Regulatory Products from Momordica cochininensis via Probiotic Fermentation
Authors: Wu Po-Hua , Guo Huei-Rong , Liu Yi-An , Wu Chien-Hui , Huang Chun-Chen , Lin Jer-An , Hsieh Chang-Wei
Published: June 2023

Type II diabetes is the most important health issue in the whole world. Besides the use of prescribed drugs to control blood glucose level, recently, the development of health supplements is being actively explored. Owing to its high nutritional value, Momordica cochinchinensis Spreng. (Gac) is potentially a good source for developing this supplement. In recent years, the aril of Gac has been utilized as a substrate for developing various forms of supplements, but the pulp has been neglected as a byproduct. However, the pulp contains lots of phytochemicals that could provide health benefits, and the investigation using lactobacilli to ferment the pulp juices to lower blood glucose is not yet to be explored. Therefore, we set out to investigate the potential to develop the pulp-based juices for controlling blood glucose level by selecting an optimal strain of lactobacillus to ferment the pulp juice and measuring the inhibitory action of the fermented juice on α-glucosidase. This enzyme is crucial for controlling postprandial glucose absorbed into the bloodstream because it is the enzyme that hydrolyzes the carbohydrates to release glucose. First, we have successfully isolated a strain of lactobacillus which was capable of fermenting the pulp to produce α-glucosidase-inhibitory activity. Through a 16S rRNA sequence, this lactobacillus was named Lactiplantibacillus plantarum GBI 001. The optimal conditions for its growth in commercial culture medium were found to be 35 °C for 16 h to produce the highest α-glucosidase activity (72.03%). The optimal conditions for the strain to grow in Gac pulp juice were: 20% pulp juices as substrate with an initial pH adjusted to 4.0, growing at 35 °C for 16 h. Under these conditions, the fermented juice exhibited α-glucosidase activity of 24.36%, which is a 2.17-fold increase over the control group (11.23%). From its increase in α-glucosidase potency, using L. plantarum GBI 001 to ferment the pulp juices of Gac as soft drinks has great potential to develop a helpful drink as a food supplement to control postprandial blood glucose in patients with diabetes.
(Un)wanted Fish: Potential Consumers’ Acceptability of Landings in the Portuguese Case
Authors: Ramos Jorge , Lino Pedro G. , Aníbal Jaime , Esteves Eduardo
Published: June 2023

The Landing Obligation (LO), introduced in 2015 by the Common Fisheries Policy of the European Union (EU-CFP), has been subject to a transitional period until recently. The rationale behind the measure is that all fish species subject to a total allowable catch (TAC) must be landed to increase the sustainability of fishing activities. Through the analysis of official statistical data, it is possible to find out which species of fish were landed and their relative importance, including their monetary value, and verify the potential for consumer acceptance. Some insights are drawn from the interconnection between these three factors (i.e., social acceptability, landings of main fish species, and their market value) with empirical results and the scientific literature using data from Portugal.
Experimental Detection of Organised Motion in Complex Flows with Modified Spectral Proper Orthogonal Decomposition
Authors: Schneider Nick , Köhler Simon , von Wolfersdorf Jens
Published: June 2023

Spectral proper orthogonal decomposition (SPOD) has seen renewed interest in recent years due to its unique ability to decouple organised motion at different timescales from large datasets with limited available information. This paper investigated the unsteady components of the flow field within a simplified turbine centre frame (TCF) model by applying SPOD to experimental, time-resolved flow speed data captured by particle image velocimetry (PIV). It was observed that conventional methods failed to capture the two significant active bands in the power spectrum predicted by preliminary hot wire anemometry measurements. Therefore, a modification to the SPOD procedure, which employs subsampling of the time sequence recorded in the experiment to artificially lower the PIV data acquisition frequency, was developed and successfully deployed to analyse the TCF flow field. The two dynamically active bands were identified in the power spectra, resulting in a closer match to the preceding analyses. Within these bands, SPOD’s ability to capture spatial coherence was leveraged to detect several plausible coherent, fluctuating structures in two perpendicular planes. A partial three-dimensional reconstruction of the flow phenomena suggested that both bands were associated with a distinct mode of organised motion, each contributing a significant percentage of the system’s total fluctuating energy.
A Study on the Effectiveness of SCD Seeding Fog Dissipation Mechanism Using LiDAR Sensor
Authors: Park Min-Gyun , Kang Hyun-Su , Kim Youn-Jea
Published: June 2023

Fog interferes with traffic flow and causes major accidents. In foggy conditions, traffic accident death rates are higher than in other weather conditions. Research on fog dissipation technology is needed to reduce the incidence of accidents caused by fog. There are various artificial methods to remove fog. In this study, two methods of natural dissipation by gravity sedimentation and a solid carbon dioxide seeding fog dissipation mechanism were compared and analyzed in cold fog conditions. Solid carbon dioxide was selected as the fog dissipation particle. In this experiment, solid carbon dioxide seeding with three different values of weight (500 g, 1000 g, and 1500 g) was considered. This is because fog particles can be supercooled and fog can be removed. A light detection and ranging (LiDAR) sensor were used to quantitatively check the effect of improving visibility when solid carbon dioxide was seeded in the fog. The LiDAR sensor detects the surrounding environment through distance measurements by emitting lasers and processing the laser responses. A camera was used to visually observe the phenomenon occurring inside the calorimetric chamber. As a result, the fog dissipation mechanism using solid carbon dioxide seeding under cold fog conditions was proven to be effective in improving the visible distance compared with natural dissipation.
Isolation and Characterization of Protein Fractions for Valorization of Sacha Inchi Oil Press-Cake
Authors: Torres-Sánchez Erwin , Hernández-Ledesma Blanca , Gutiérrez Luis-Felipe
Published: June 2023

The growing interest in plant-based food protein sources has provided opportunities for the valorization of agri-food by-products, driving the food industry towards more sustainable development. In this study, three extraction procedures (varying the pH value (7.0 and 11.0) and the addition of salt (0 and 5%)) were investigated to obtain seven different protein fractions (SIPF) from Sacha Inchi oil press-cake (SIPC), which were characterized in terms of their protein content, electrophoretic profile, secondary structure, and techno-functional properties. Extractions at pH 11.0 without salt addition produced the highest values of protein content, extraction yield, protein recovery, and protein concentration increase (84.0%, 24.7%, 36.5%, and 1.5-fold, respectively). Under these extraction conditions, the electrophoretic analysis indicated that most of the SIPC proteins were extracted. SIPF displayed an excellent oil absorption capacity (4.3–9.0 w/w), and interesting foam activity (36.4–133.3%). The solubility and emulsifying activity of the albumin fractions were significantly higher than those of the other fractions (~87 vs. <15.8%, and 280–370 vs. <140 m2/g, respectively). Correlation analysis showed that the secondary structure of the SIPF significantly influences their techno-functional properties. These results indicate that SIPC is a by-product of great potential for protein extraction processes, and as a valorization strategy for technical cycle solutions for the Sacha Inchi productive chain in the circular economy context.
Monitoring of Chlorpyrifos Residues in Corn Oil Based on Raman Spectral Deep-Learning Model
Authors: Xue Yingchao , Jiang Hui
Published: June 2023

This study presents a novel method for the quantitative detection of residual chlorpyrifos in corn oil through Raman spectroscopy using a combined long short-term memory network (LSTM) and convolutional neural network (CNN) architecture. The QE Pro Raman+ spectrometer was employed to collect Raman spectra of corn oil samples with varying concentrations of chlorpyrifos residues. A deep-learning model based on LSTM combined with a CNN structure was designed to realize feature self-learning and model training of Raman spectra of corn oil samples. In the study, it was discovered that the LSTM-CNN model has superior generalization performance compared to both the LSTM and CNN models. The root-mean-square error of prediction (RMSEP) of the LSTM-CNN model is 12.3 mg·kg−1, the coefficient of determination (RP2) is 0.90, and the calculation of the relative prediction deviation (RPD) results in a value of 3.2. The study demonstrates that the deep-learning network based on an LSTM-CNN structure can achieve feature self-learning and multivariate model calibration for Raman spectra without preprocessing. The results of this study present an innovative approach for chemometric analysis using Raman spectroscopy.
Antimicrobial Activity against Foodborne Pathogens and Antioxidant Activity of Plant Leaves Traditionally Used as Food Packaging
Authors: Thongphichai Wisuwat , Pongkittiphan Veerachai , Laorpaksa Areerat , Wiwatcharakornkul Worakorn , Sukrong Suchada
Published: June 2023

In accordance with Thai wisdom, indigenous plant leaves have been used as food packaging to preserve freshness. Many studies have demonstrated that both antioxidant and antimicrobial activities contribute to protecting food from spoilage. Hence, the ethanolic extracts of leaves from selected plants traditionally used as food packaging, including Nelumbo nucifera (1), Cocos nucifera (2), Nypa fruticans (3), Nepenthes mirabilis (4), Dendrocalamus asper (5), Cephalostachyum pergracile (6), Musa balbisiana (7), and Piper sarmentosum (8), were investigated to determine whether they have antioxidant and antimicrobial activities against spoilage microorganisms and foodborne pathogens that might be beneficial for food quality. Extracts 1–4 exhibited high phenolic content at 82.18–115.15 mg GAE/g and high antioxidant capacity on DPPH, FRAP and SRSA assay at 14.71–34.28 μg/mL, 342.92–551.38 μmol Fe2+/g, and 11.19–38.97 μg/mL, respectively, while leaf extracts 5–8 showed lower phenolic content at 34.43–50.08 mg GAE/g and lower antioxidant capacity on DPPH, FRAP, and SRSA at 46.70–142.16 μg/mL, 54.57–191.78 μmol Fe2+/g, and 69.05–>120 μg/mL, respectively. Extracts 1–4 possessed antimicrobial activities against food-relevant bacteria, including Staphylococcus aureus, Bacillus cereus, Listeria monocytogenes, and Escherichia coli. Only N. mirabilis extract (4) showed antimicrobial activities against Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Abony and Candida albicans. Extracts 5–8 showed slight antimicrobial activities against B. cereus and E. coli. As the growth and activity of microorganisms are the main cause of food spoilage, N. fruticans (3) was selected for bioassay-guided isolation to obtain 3-O-caffeoyl shikimic acid (I), isoorientin (II) and isovitexin (III), which are responsible for its antimicrobial activity against foodborne pathogens. N. fruticans was identified as a new source of natural antimicrobial compounds I–III, among which 3-O-caffeoyl shikimic acid was proven to show antimicrobial activity for the first time. These findings support the use of leaves for wrapping food and protecting food against oxidation and foodborne pathogens through their antioxidant and antimicrobial activities, respectively. Thus, leaves could be used as a natural packaging material and natural preservative.
Fractional Telegraph Equation with the Caputo Derivative
Authors: Ashurov Ravshan , Saparbayev Rajapboy
Published: June 2023

The Cauchy problem for the telegraph equation (Dtρ)2u(t)+2αDtρu(t)+Au(t)=f(t) (0<t≤T,0<ρ<1, α>0), with the Caputo derivative is considered. Here, A is a selfadjoint positive operator, acting in a Hilbert space, H; Dt is the Caputo fractional derivative. Conditions are found for the initial functions and the right side of the equation that guarantee both the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the Cauchy problem. It should be emphasized that these conditions turned out to be less restrictive than expected in a well-known paper by R. Cascaval et al. where a similar problem for a homogeneous equation with some restriction on the spectrum of the operator, A, was considered. We also prove stability estimates important for the application.
Robust Adaptive Fuzzy Fractional Control for Nonlinear Chaotic Systems with Uncertainties
Authors: Bahraini Masoud S. , Mahmoodabadi Mohammad Javad , Lohse Niels
Published: June 2023

The control of nonlinear chaotic systems with uncertainties is a challenging problem that has attracted the attention of researchers in recent years. In this paper, we propose a robust adaptive fuzzy fractional control strategy for stabilizing nonlinear chaotic systems with uncertainties. The proposed strategy combined a fuzzy logic controller with fractional-order calculus to accurately model the system’s behavior and adapt to uncertainties in real-time. The proposed controller was based on a supervised sliding mode controller and an optimal robust adaptive fractional PID controller subjected to fuzzy rules. The stability of the closed-loop system was guaranteed using Lyapunov theory. To evaluate the performance of the proposed controller, we applied it to the Duffing–Holmes oscillator. Simulation results demonstrated that the proposed control method outperformed a recently introduced controller in the literature. The response of the system was significantly improved, highlighting the effectiveness and robustness of the proposed approach. The presented results provide strong evidence of the potential of the proposed strategy in a range of applications involving nonlinear chaotic systems with uncertainties.
Identification of Fractional Models of an Induction Motor with Errors in Variables
Authors: Ivanov Dmitriy
Published: June 2023

The skin effect in modeling an induction motor can be described by fractional differential equations. The existing methods for identifying the parameters of an induction motor with a rotor skin effect suggest the presence of errors only in the output. The presence of errors in measuring currents and voltages leads to errors in both input and output signals. Applying standard methods, such as the ordinary least squares method, leads to biased estimates in these types of problems. The study proposes a new method for identifying the parameters of an induction motor in the presence of a skin effect. Estimates of parameters were determined based on generalized total least squares. The simulation results obtained showed the high accuracy of the obtained estimates. The results of this research can be applied in the development of predictive diagnostic systems. This study shows that ordinary least squares parameter estimates can lead to incorrect operation of the fault diagnosis system.
Multicorn Sets of z¯k+cm via S-Iteration with h-Convexity
Authors: Tassaddiq Asifa , Tanveer Muhammad , Israr Khuram , Arshad Muhammad , Shehzad Khurrem , Srivastava Rekha
Published: June 2023

Fractals represent important features of our natural environment, and therefore, several scientific fields have recently begun using fractals that employ fixed-point theory. While many researchers are working on fractals (i.e., Mandelbrot and Julia sets), only a very few have focused on multicorn sets and their dynamic nature. In this paper, we study the dynamics of multicorn sets of z¯k+cm, where k≥2, c≠0∈C, and m∈R, by using S-iteration with h-convexity instead of standard S-iteration. We develop escape criterion z¯k+cm for S-iteration with h-convexity. We analyse the dynamical behaviour of the proposed conjugate complex function and discuss the variation of iteration parameters along with function parameter m. Moreover, we discuss the effects of input parameters of the proposed iteration and conjugate complex functions of the behaviour of multicorn sets with numerical simulations.
A Time Two-Mesh Finite Difference Numerical Scheme for the Symmetric Regularized Long Wave Equation
Authors: Gao Jingying , He Siriguleng , Bai Qingmei , Liu Jie
Published: June 2023

The symmetric regularized long wave (SRLW) equation is a mathematical model used in many areas of physics; the solution of the SRLW equation can accurately describe the behavior of long waves in shallow water. To approximate the solutions of the equation, a time two-mesh (TT-M) decoupled finite difference numerical scheme is proposed in this paper to improve the efficiency of solving the SRLW equation. Based on the time two-mesh technique and two time-level finite difference method, the proposed scheme can calculate the velocity u(x,t) and density ρ(x,t) in the SRLW equation simultaneously. The linearization process involves a modification similar to the Gauss-Seidel method used for linear systems to improve the accuracy of the calculation to obtain solutions. By using the discrete energy and mathematical induction methods, the convergence results with O(τC2+τF+h2) in the discrete L∞-norm for u(x,t) and in the discrete L2-norm for ρ(x,t) are proved, respectively. The stability of the scheme was also analyzed. Finally, some numerical examples, including error estimate, computational time and preservation of conservation laws, are given to verify the efficiency of the scheme. The numerical results show that the new method preserves conservation laws of four quantities successfully. Furthermore, by comparing with the original two-level nonlinear finite difference scheme, the proposed scheme can save the CPU time.
Optimization of Potential Nanoemulgels for Boosting Transdermal Glimepiride Delivery and Upgrading Its Anti-Diabetic Activity
Authors: Abdallah Marwa H. , Abu Lila Amr S. , El-Nahas Hanan M. , Ibrahim Tarek M.
Published: June 2023

Transdermal drug delivery has been widely adopted as a plausible alternative to the oral route of administration, especially for drugs with poor systemic bioavailability. The objective of this study was to design and validate a nanoemulsion (NE) system for transdermal administration of the oral hypoglycemic drug glimepiride (GM). The NEs were prepared using peppermint/bergamot oils as the oil phase and tween 80/transcutol P as the surfactant/co-surfactant mixture (Smix). The formulations were characterized using various parameters such as globule size, zeta potential, surface morphology, in vitro drug release, drug-excipient compatibility studies, and thermodynamic stability. The optimized NE formulation was then incorporated into different gel bases and examined for gel strength, pH, viscosity, and spreadability. The selected drug-loaded nanoemulgel formulation was then screened for ex vivo permeation, skin irritation, and in vivo pharmacokinetics. Characterization studies revealed the spherical shape of NE droplets with an average size of ~80 nm and a zeta potential of −11.8 mV, which indicated good electrokinetic stability of NE. In vitro release studies revealed enhanced drug release from the NE formulation compared to the plain drug. GM-loaded nanoemulgel showed a 7-fold increment in drug transdermal flux compared to plain drug gel. In addition, the GM-loaded nanoemulgel formulation did not elicit any signs of inflammation and/or irritation on the applied skin, suggesting its safety. Most importantly, the in vivo pharmacokinetic study emphasized the potential of nanoemulgel formulation to potentiate the systemic bioavailability of GM, as manifested by a 10-fold rise in the relative bioavailability compared to control gel. Collectively, transdermal NE-based GM gel might represent a promising alternative to oral therapy in the management of diabetes.
Genome-Wide Search for Associations with Meat Production Parameters in Karachaevsky Sheep Breed Using the Illumina BeadChip 600 K
Authors: Krivoruchko Alexander , Likhovid Andrey , Kanibolotskaya Anastasiya , Saprikina Tatiana , Safaryan Elena , Yatsyk Olesya
Published: June 2023

In a group of Karachaevsky rams, a genome-wide associations analysis of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) with live parameters of meat production was performed. We used for genotyping the Ovine Infinium HD BeadChip 600 K, which consists of points to detection of 606,000 polymorphisms. A total of 12 SNPs was found to be significantly associated with live meat quality parameters of the corpus and legs and ultrasonic traits. In this case, 11 candidate genes were described, the polymorphic variants of which can change in sheep body parameters. We found SNPs in the exons, introns, and other regions of some genes and transcripts: CLVS1, EVC2, KIF13B, ENSOART00000000511.1, KCNH5, NEDD4, LUZP2, MREG, KRT20, KRT23 and FZD6. The described genes involved in the metabolic pathways of cell differentiation, proliferation and apoptosis are connected with the regulation of the gastrointestinal, immune and nervous systems. In known productivity genes (MSTN, MEF2B, FABP4, etc.), loci were not found to be a significant presence of influence on the meat productivity of the Karachaevsky sheep phenotypes. Our study confirms the possible involvement of the identified candidate genes in the formation of the phenotypes of productivity traits in sheep and indicates the need for new research into candidate genes structure in point to detect their polymorphisms.
Informed Consent in COVID-19-Research: An Ethical Analysis of Clinical Studies Performed during the Pandemic
Authors: Voit Katja , Skuban-Eiseler Tobias , Orzechowski Marcin , Steger Florian
Published: June 2023

Health crises such as the current COVID-19 pandemic pose challenges to the conduct of clinical studies. Aspects of research ethics, such as obtaining informed consent (IC), can be complicated. We are concerned with whether or not the proper IC procedures were followed in the context of clinical studies at Ulm University in the years 2020 to 2022. We identified all protocols of clinical studies dealing with COVID-19 that the Research Ethics Committee of Ulm University has reviewed and voted on in the years 2020 to 2022. We then performed a thematic analysis regarding the following aspects: study type, handling of IC, type of patient information, means of communication, applied security precautions, and the approach to participants from vulnerable groups. We identified n = 98 studies that dealt with COVID-19. In n = 25 (25.51%), IC was obtained traditionally in written form, in n = 26 (26.53%) IC was waived, in n = 11 (11.22%) IC was obtained delayed, and in n = 19 (19.39%) IC was obtained by proxy. No study protocol was accepted that waived IC in case IC would have been required in times outside of pandemics. It is possible to obtain IC even in times of severe health crises. In the future, it is necessary to address in greater detail and with legal certainty which alternative methods of obtaining IC are possible and under which circumstances IC can be waived.