bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effective Perturbations by Small-Molecule Modulators on Voltage-Dependent Hysteresis of Transmembrane Ionic Currents
Authors: Wu Sheng-Nan , Wu Chao-Liang , Cho Hsin-Yen , Chiang Chi-Wu
Published: August 2022

The non-linear voltage-dependent hysteresis (Hys(V)) of voltage-gated ionic currents can be robustly activated by the isosceles-triangular ramp voltage (Vramp) through digital-to-analog conversion. Perturbations on this Hys(V) behavior play a role in regulating membrane excitability in different excitable cells. A variety of small molecules may influence the strength of Hys(V) in different types of ionic currents elicited by long-lasting triangular Vramp. Pirfenidone, an anti-fibrotic drug, decreased the magnitude of Ih’s Hys(V) activated by triangular Vramp, while dexmedetomidine, an agonist of α2-adrenoceptors, effectively suppressed Ih as well as diminished the Hys(V) strength of Ih. Oxaliplatin, a platinum-based anti-neoplastic drug, was noted to enhance the Ih’s Hys(V) strength, which is thought to be linked to the occurrence of neuropathic pain, while honokiol, a hydroxylated biphenyl compound, decreased Ih’s Hys(V). Cell exposure to lutein, a xanthophyll carotenoid, resulted in a reduction of Ih’s Hys(V) magnitude. Moreover, with cell exposure to UCL-2077, SM-102, isoplumbagin, or plumbagin, the Hys(V) strength of erg-mediated K+ current activated by triangular Vramp was effectively diminished, whereas the presence of either remdesivir or QO-58 respectively decreased or increased Hys(V) magnitude of M-type K+ current. Zingerone, a methoxyphenol, was found to attenuate Hys(V) (with low- and high-threshold loops) of L-type Ca2+ current induced by long-lasting triangular Vramp. The Hys(V) properties of persistent Na+ current (INa(P)) evoked by triangular Vramp were characterized by a figure-of-eight (i.e., ∞) configuration with two distinct loops (i.e., low- and high-threshold loops). The presence of either tefluthrin, a pyrethroid insecticide, or t-butyl hydroperoxide, an oxidant, enhanced the Hys(V) strength of INa(P). However, further addition of dapagliflozin can reverse their augmenting effects in the Hys(V) magnitude of the current. Furthermore, the addition of esaxerenone, mirogabalin, or dapagliflozin was effective in inhibiting the strength of INa(P). Taken together, the observed perturbations by these small-molecule modulators on Hys(V) strength in different types of ionic currents evoked during triangular Vramp are expected to influence the functional activities (e.g., electrical behaviors) of different excitable cells in vitro or in vivo.
Differential Ganglioside and Cholesterol Depletion by Various Cyclodextrin Derivatives and Their Effect on Synaptosomal Glutamate Release
Authors: Geda Orsolya , Tábi Tamás , Lakatos Péter P. , Szökő Éva
Published: August 2022

Gangliosides are glycosphingolipids of the plasma membrane and are highly enriched in the nervous system where they play a vital role in normal cell functions. Furthermore, several studies suggest their potential involvement in the pathogenesis of neurological conditions. Since cyclodextrins (CDs) can form inclusion complexes with various lipids, methylated beta-CDs are widely used in biomedical research to extract cholesterol from the membrane and study its cellular role. Despite CDs being known to interact with other membrane lipid components, their effect on gangliosides is poorly characterized. The aim of this research was to investigate the effect of dimethyl-beta-cyclodextrin (DIMEB), hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HPBCD), randomly methylated-alpha-cyclodextrin (RAMEA), and hydroxypropyl-alpha-cyclodextrin (HPACD) on ganglioside and cholesterol levels in rat brain synaptosomes. Their effect on membrane integrity and viability was also assessed. We examined the role of lipid depletion by CDs on the release of the major excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate. Selective concentration range for cholesterol depletion was only found with HPBCD, but not with DIMEB. Selective depletion of gangliosides was achieved by both RAMEA and HPACD. The inhibition of stimulated glutamate release upon ganglioside depletion was found, suggesting their potential role in neurotransmission. Our study highlights the importance of the characterization of the lipid depleting capability of different CDs.
The Eyelid Meibomian Gland Deficiency in Fucosyltransferase 1 Knockout Mice
Authors: Yoon Chang Ho , Ryu Jin Suk , Ko Jung Hwa , Kim Yeon Kyung , Oh Jang-Hee , Chung Jin Ho , Oh Joo Youn
Published: August 2022

To investigate the effect of fucosyltransferase (FUT) 1-mediated fucosylation on meibomian glands (MG), we first confirmed that FUT1 and its fucosylated products were expressed in the eyelid, conjunctiva and skin in wild-type (WT) mice, whereas their mRNA and protein levels were downregulated in Fut1 knock-out (KO) mice. We then evaluated age-dependent changes in the total and acinar areas of MG, meibocyte differentiation, lipid synthesis, and eyelid inflammation and oxidative stress in Fut1 KO and WT mice. Results show that both the total and acinar areas of MG were smaller in Fut1 KO mice than in WT mice in all evaluated age groups. Meibocyte differentiation, lipid-producing capacities and the enzyme levels responsible for lipid synthesis were reduced in Fut1 KO mice, compared to WT controls. The levels of pro-inflammatory cytokines and oxidative-stress-related markers were elevated in the eyelids and MG of FUT1 KO mice. These findings demonstrate the physiologic function of FUT1-mediated fucosylation in MG development and function, and indicate its potential role in ocular surface homeostasis.
Whole-Genome Inter-Sex Variation in Russian Sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii)
Authors: Degani Gad , Nevo Sarel Michal , Hajouj Akram , Hurvitz Avshalom , Veksler-Lublinsky Isana , Meerson Ari
Published: August 2022

The Russian sturgeon (Acipenser gueldenstaedtii, AG) is an endangered fish species increasingly raised on fish farms for black caviar. Understanding the process of sex determination in AG is, therefore, of scientific and commercial importance. AG lacks sexual dimorphism until sexual maturation and has a predominantly octoploid genome without a definite sex chromosome. A conserved short female-specific genomic sequence was recently described, leading to the development of a genetic sex marker. However, no biological function has been reported for this sequence. Thus, the mechanism of sex determination and the overall inter-sex genomic variation in AG are still unknown. To comprehensively analyze the inter-sex genomic variation and assess the overall inter-species variation between AG and A. ruthenus (AR, sterlet), a related tetraploid sturgeon species, we performed whole-genome sequencing on DNA from 10 fish-farm-raised adult AG (5 males and 5 females). We produced a partially assembled, ~2390 MBp draft genome for AG. We validated in AG the female-specific region previously described in AR. We identified ~2.8 million loci (SNP/indels) varying between the species, but only ~7400 sex-associated loci in AG. We mapped the sex-associated AG loci to the AR genome and identified 15 peaks of sex-associated variation (10 kb segments with 30 or more sex-associated variants), 1 of which matched the previously reported sex-variable region. Finally, we identified 14 known and predicted genes in proximity to these peaks. Our analysis suggests that one or more of these genes may have functional roles in sex determination and/or sexual differentiation in sturgeons. Further functional studies are required to elucidate these roles.
Automatic Text Summarization of Biomedical Text Data: A Systematic Review
Authors: Chaves Andrea , Kesiku Cyrille , Garcia-Zapirain Begonya
Published: August 2022

In recent years, the evolution of technology has led to an increase in text data obtained from many sources. In the biomedical domain, text information has also evidenced this accelerated growth, and automatic text summarization systems play an essential role in optimizing physicians’ time resources and identifying relevant information. In this paper, we present a systematic review in recent research of text summarization for biomedical textual data, focusing mainly on the methods employed, type of input data text, areas of application, and evaluation metrics used to assess systems. The survey was limited to the period between 1st January 2014 and 15th March 2022. The data collected was obtained from WoS, IEEE, and ACM digital libraries, while the search strategies were developed with the help of experts in NLP techniques and previous systematic reviews. The four phases of a systematic review by PRISMA methodology were conducted, and five summarization factors were determined to assess the studies included: Input, Purpose, Output, Method, and Evaluation metric. Results showed that 3.5% of 801 studies met the inclusion criteria. Moreover, Single-document, Biomedical Literature, Generic, and Extractive summarization proved to be the most common approaches employed, while techniques based on Machine Learning were performed in 16 studies and Rouge (Recall-Oriented Understudy for Gisting Evaluation) was reported as the evaluation metric in 26 studies. This review found that in recent years, more transformer-based methodologies for summarization purposes have been implemented compared to a previous survey. Additionally, there are still some challenges in text summarization in different domains, especially in the biomedical field in terms of demand for further research.
Uranyl Analogue Complexes—Current Progress and Synthetic Challenges
Authors: Maria Leonor , Marçalo Joaquim
Published: August 2022

Uranyl ions, {UO2}n+ (n = 1, 2), display trans, strongly covalent, and chemically robust U-O multiple bonds, where 6d, 5f, and 6p orbitals play important roles. The synthesis of isoelectronic analogues of uranyl has been of interest for quite some time, mainly with the purpose of unveiling covalence and 5f-orbital participation in bonding. Significant advances have occurred in the last two decades, initially marked by the synthesis of uranium(VI) bis(imido) complexes, the first analogues with a {RNUNR}2+ core, later followed by the synthesis of unique trans-{EUO}2+ (E = S, Se) complexes, and recently highlighted by the synthesis of the first complexes featuring a linear {NUN} moiety. This review covers the synthesis, structure, bonding, and reactivity of uranium complexes containing a linear {EUE}n+ core (n = 0, 1, 2), isoelectronic to uranyl ions, {OUO}n+ (n = 1, 2), incorporating σ- and π-donating ligands that can engage in uranium–ligand multiple bonding, where oxygen may be replaced by heavier chalcogenido, imido, nitride, and carbene ligands, or by a transition metal. It focuses on synthetic methods of well-defined molecular uranium species in the condensed phase but also references gas-phase and low-temperature-matrix experiments, as well as computational studies that may lead to valuable insights.
Discovery of the Genus Anapleus Horn, 1873 from Cretaceous Kachin Amber (Coleoptera: Histeridae)
Authors: Jiang Rixin , Caterino Michael S. , Chen Xiangsheng
Published: August 2022

For the first time, an extant histerid genus Anapleus Horn, 1873 is described from a specimen found in mid-Cretaceous Kachin amber. Anapleus kachinensis sp. nov. Although the genus Anapleus has not been precisely defined by synapomorphies, the new species shares numerous features with extant species while differing in comparatively few external characteristics. Anapleus kachinensis represents the first record of an extant histerid genus from Cretaceous deposits and provides further evidence of the ancient origin of the genus.
Evaluation of Spatial Distribution of Three Major Leptocorisa (Hemiptera: Alydidae) Pests Using MaxEnt Model
Authors: Hwang Jeong Ho , Kim Se-Hyun , Yoon Sunhee , Jung Sunghoon , Kim Dong Hee , Lee Wang-Hee
Published: August 2022

We targeted three major Leptocorisa species (L. chinensis, L. acuta, and L. oratoria) and evaluated their potential distributions using MaxEnt. The results showed that most Asian countries and northern Australia would be suitable for at least one of these pest species, and climate change will expand their habitat northward. All of the developed models were evaluated to be excellent with AUC, TSS, and OR10%. Most of the recorded regions of the Leptocorisa species are consistent with the result of potential distributions predicted in this study. The results confirmed that the minimum temperature of the coldest month mainly influences the three Leptocorisa species distributions. The potential distributions of the three species cover major rice cultivation areas regardless of climate change, suggesting that it would be necessary to establish a sustainable control strategy for the pests.
Technical Aspects and Development of Transcatheter Aortic Valve Implantation
Authors: Steblovnik Klemen , Bunc Matjaz
Published: August 2022

Aortic stenosis is the most common valve disease requiring surgery or percutaneous treatment. Since the first-in-man implantation in 2002 we have witnessed incredible progress in transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI). In this article, we review the technical aspects of TAVI development with a look at the future. Durability, low thrombogenicity, good hydrodynamics, biocompatibility, low catheter profile, and deployment stability are the attributes of an ideal TAVI device. Two main design types exist—balloon-expandable and self-expanding prostheses. Balloon-expandable prostheses use a cobalt-chromium alloy frame providing high radial strength and radiopacity, while the self-expanding prostheses use a nickel-titanium (Nitinol) alloy frame, which expands to its original shape once unsheathed and heated to the body temperature. The valve is sewn onto the frame and consists of the porcine or bovine pericardium, which is specially treated to prevent calcinations and prolong durability. The lower part of the frame can be covered by polyethylene terephthalate fabric or a pericardial skirt, providing better sealing between the frame and aortic annulus. The main future challenges lie in achieving lower rates of paravalvular leaks and new pacemaker implantations following the procedure, lower delivery system profiles, more precise positioning, longer durability, and a good hemodynamic profile. Patient-specific design and the use of autologous tissue might solve these issues.
Laser-Assisted In Situ Keratomileusis (LASIK) Enhancement for Residual Refractive Error after Primary LASIK
Authors: Moshirfar Majid , Basharat Noor F. , Bundogji Nour , Ungricht Emilie L. , Darquea Ines M. , Conley Matthew E. , Ronquillo Yasmyne C. , Hoopes Phillip C.
Published: August 2022

Background: To evaluate the safety, efficacy, and predictability of laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) enhancement after primary LASIK and compare to Food and Drug Administration (FDA) criteria. Methods: Patients who underwent LASIK enhancement after primary LASIK between 2002 and 2019 were compared to those who underwent LASIK without retreatment. Patient demographics, preoperative characteristics, visual outcomes, and postoperative complications were compared between groups. Epithelial ingrowth (EI) development was stratified based on duration between primary and secondary procedures. Results: We compared 901 eyes with LASIK enhancement to 1127 eyes without retreatment. Age, sex, surgical eye, sphere, cylinder, and spherical equivalent (SE) were significantly different between groups (p < 0.05). At 12 months post-enhancement, 86% of the eyes had an uncorrected distance visual acuity of 20/20 or better and 93% of eyes were within ±0.50 D of the target. Development of EI (6.1%) demonstrated an odds ratio of 16.3 in the long-term compared to the short-term (95% CI: 5.9 to 45.18; p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Older age at primary LASIK, female sex, right eye, and larger sphere, cylinder and SE were risk factors for enhancement. Risk of EI significantly increased when duration between primary and enhancement procedures exceeded five years. LASIK enhancements produce favorable outcomes and meet FDA benchmarks for safety, efficacy, and predictability.
Uterus Transplantation: From a Deceased Donor or Living Donor?
Authors: Kisu Iori , Banno Kouji
Published: August 2022

Uterus transplantation (UTx) is a new alternative to surrogacy or adaption for women with uterine factor infertility to have a child [...]
Are Static Spacers Superior to Articulated Spacers in the Staged Treatment of Infected Primary Knee Arthroplasty? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fiore Michele , Sambri Andrea , Filippini Matteo , Morante Lorenzo , Giannini Claudio , Paolucci Azzurra , Rondinella Claudia , Zunarelli Renato , Viale Pierluigi , De Paolis Massimiliano
Published: August 2022

In the treatment of knee periprosthetic joint infection with a two-stage protocol, static spacers allow for the local delivery of high doses of antibiotics and help to preserve soft tissue tension. Articulated spacers were introduced to better preserve flexion after the reimplantation. The aim of this systematic review is to provide a comprehensive data collection of the results of these different spacers. An in-depth search on the main clinical databases was performed concerning the studies reporting data on the topic. A total of 87 studies and 4250 spacers were included. No significant differences were found both in pooling data analysis and meta-analysis of comparative studies about infection recurrences, complications, and clinical scores. Mean active knee flexion at last follow-up after total knee reimplantation was found to be significantly higher using articulated spacers (91.6° ± 7° for static spacers vs. 100.3° ± 9.9° for articulated spacers; p < 0.001). Meta-analysis also recognized this strong significant difference (p < 0.001). This review has confirmed that articulated spacers do not appear to be inferior to static spacers regarding all clinical outcomes, while they are superior in terms of active flexion. However, the low quality of the studies and the risk for selection bias with complex patients preferentially treated with static spacers need to be accounted for.
Muscle Strength and Balance as Mediators in the Association between Physical Activity and Health-Related Quality of Life in Community-Dwelling Older Adults
Authors: de Maio Nascimento Marcelo , Gouveia Bruna R. , Gouveia Élvio Rúbio , Campos Pedro , Marques Adilson , Ihle Andreas
Published: August 2022

Lower extremity muscle strength (LEMS) and body balance (BB) are essential for older adults to maintain an upright posture and autonomously perform their basic activities of daily living. This study aimed to examine whether LEMS and BB mediate the relationship between physical activity (PA) and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) in a large sample of community-dwelling older adults. This is a cross-sectional study carried out with 802 individuals, 401 males and 401 females (69.8 ± 5.6 years), residents of the Autonomous Region of Madeira, Portugal. PA and HRQoL were assessed by the Baecke Questionnaire and e SF-36, respectively. LEMS was assessed by the Senior Fitness Test and BB by the Fullerton Advance Balance (FAB). The serial mediation pathway model pointed out that LEMS and BB partially mediated the association between PA and HRQoL in approximately 39.6% and 47%, respectively. The total variance in HRQoL explained by the entire model was 98%. Our findings may indicate the role that LEMS and BB play in the relationship between PA and HRQoL in the older population.
Regulatory Roles of Estrogens in Psoriasis
Authors: Adachi Akimasa , Honda Tetsuya
Published: August 2022

Psoriasis is a common chronic inflammatory skin disease of the interleukin (IL)-23/IL-17 axis. The severity of psoriasis has been reported as higher in men than in women. The immunoregulatory role of female sex hormones has been proposed to be one of the factors responsible for sex differences. Among female sex hormones, estrogens have been suggested to be significantly involved in the development of psoriasis by various epidemiological and in vitro studies. For example, the severity of psoriasis is inversely correlated with serum estrogen levels. In vitro, estrogens suppress the production of psoriasis-related cytokines such as IL-1β and IL-23 from neutrophils and dendritic cells, respectively. Furthermore, a recent study using a mouse psoriasis model indicated the inhibitory role of estrogens in psoriatic dermatitis by suppressing IL-1β production from neutrophils and macrophages. Understanding the role and molecular mechanisms of female sex hormones in psoriasis may lead to better control of the disease.
Evaluation of Bone Response to a Nano HA Implant Surface on Sinus Lifting Procedures: Study in Rabbits
Authors: Martins Sergio H. L. , Cadore Uislen B. , Novaes Arthur B. , Messora Michel R. , Ghiraldini Bruna , Bezerra Fabio J. B. , Botticelli Daniele , de Souza Sergio L. S.
Published: August 2022

The aim of this study was to evaluate the bone response to two different implant surfaces on sinus lift procedures in rabbits. Bilateral sinus lifting with inorganic bovine bone associated with collagen membrane and immediate implantation were performed in 16 rabbits. Custom mini-implants were randomly installed in the prepared sites: one side received a double acid-etched (DAE) surface and the other a nano-hydroxyapatite (NHA) surface. The animals were euthanized 30 and 60 days after surgery, and biopsies were collected for microtomographic and histomorphometric analysis. After 30 days, no intra- and inter-group statistical differences were observed in microtomographic analysis, while at 60 days, bone analysis showed statistically significant differences between groups (p < 0.05) for all the evaluated parameters. Histomorphometric analysis showed, after 30 days, mean % of Bone-to-Implant Contact (BIC) for DAE and NHA of 31.70 ± 10.42% vs. 40.60 ± 10.22% (p > 0.05), respectively; for % of Bone Area Fraction Occupancy (BAFO), mean values were 45.43 ± 3.597% for DAE and 57.04 ± 5.537% for NHA (p < 0.05). After 60 days, mean %BIC and %BAFO for DAE and NHA implants were statistically significant (p < 0.05). The NHA surface showed superior biological features compared to the DAE treatment, promoting higher bone formation around the implants in an experimental model of bone repair in a grafted area.
matRadiomics: A Novel and Complete Radiomics Framework, from Image Visualization to Predictive Model
Authors: Pasini Giovanni , Bini Fabiano , Russo Giorgio , Comelli Albert , Marinozzi Franco , Stefano Alessandro
Published: August 2022

Radiomics aims to support clinical decisions through its workflow, which is divided into: (i) target identification and segmentation, (ii) feature extraction, (iii) feature selection, and (iv) model fitting. Many radiomics tools were developed to fulfill the steps mentioned above. However, to date, users must switch different software to complete the radiomics workflow. To address this issue, we developed a new free and user-friendly radiomics framework, namely matRadiomics, which allows the user: (i) to import and inspect biomedical images, (ii) to identify and segment the target, (iii) to extract the features, (iv) to reduce and select them, and (v) to build a predictive model using machine learning algorithms. As a result, biomedical images can be visualized and segmented and, through the integration of Pyradiomics into matRadiomics, radiomic features can be extracted. These features can be selected using a hybrid descriptive–inferential method, and, consequently, used to train three different classifiers: linear discriminant analysis, k-nearest neighbors, and support vector machines. Model validation is performed using k-fold cross-Validation and k-fold stratified cross-validation. Finally, the performance metrics of each model are shown in the graphical interface of matRadiomics. In this study, we discuss the workflow, architecture, application, future development of matRadiomics, and demonstrate its working principles in a real case study with the aim of establishing a reference standard for the whole radiomics analysis, starting from the image visualization up to the predictive model implementation.
Association between Non-Verbal Intelligence and Academic Performance of Schoolchildren from Taza, Eastern Morocco
Authors: Bouchefra Said , Azeroual Amal , Boudassamout Hassan , Ahaji Khalid , Ech-chaouy Abdelhakim , Bour Abdellatif
Published: August 2022

Interest in identifying factors influencing educational success is growing. It is often observed that a group of students share the same external variables (school environment) yet have different results, which states that individual variables have more impact on the determination of academic performance. Therefore, the present study aimed to substantiate this fact by investigating the association between non-verbal fluid intelligence and academic performance in a population of schoolchildren in Eastern Morocco. The investigation was a cross-sectional study based on a self-administered questionnaire. Items included the standard Raven’s progressive matrices. Students’ grades were collected from the administrative offices of the visited schools. Significant and positive correlations between the non-verbal intelligence scores and the school results were found: for the general average, the correlation was 0.574; for the school subject French, the correlation coefficient was 0.475; and for mathematics, we found a relatively low coefficient of 0.381. Non-verbal fluid intelligence significantly and positively predicted academic performance (β = .574, p = .000). These results call for policymakers to implement the use of intelligence tests with school directors and teachers as a diagnostic tool to guide support efforts for low-achieving children and even to create pilot classes for the best-performing students.
Towards an Algorithm for Retrieval of the Parameters of the Marine Atmospheric Boundary Layer at High Wind Speeds Using Collocated Aircraft and Satellite Remote Sensing
Authors: Poplavsky Evgeny , Rusakov Nikita , Ermakova Olga , Sergeev Daniil , Troitskaya Yuliya
Published: August 2022

A method has been developed for the retrieval of the atmospheric boundary layer parameters in tropical cyclones, namely the dynamic speed, the wind speed at a 10 m height, and the roughness parameter. For the analysis, the wind speed profiles were obtained from NOAA GPS-dropsondes and collocated with the data from the Stepped-Frequency Microwave Radiometer (SFMR). The parameters of the atmospheric boundary layer from the GPS-dropsonde data were obtained by taking into account the self-similarity of the velocity defect profile. The emissivity, determined from the radiometric measurement data, was calibrated to the field data from the GPS-dropsondes. Empirical relations between the wind speed, dynamic wind speed, and aerodynamic drag coefficient with the surface emissivity have been proposed. Based on a comparison of the measured dynamic parameters and the surface emissivity, empirical formulas have also been proposed. From an analysis of cross-polarized Sentinel-1 SAR images and collocated SFMR measurements for hurricanes Irma (2017/09/07) and Maria (2017/09/21 and 2017/09/23), we have obtained the dependences of the NRCS on the ocean surface emissivity, surface wind speed, and friction velocity. These results could potentially be used to improve the algorithm for the retrieval of boundary layer parameters in tropical cyclones from remote sensing data.
A Review on Recent Development of Numerical Modelling of Local Scour around Hydraulic and Marine Structures
Authors: Zhao Ming
Published: August 2022

This paper reviews the recent development of numerical modelling of local scour around hydraulic and marine structures. The numerical models for simulating local scour are classified into five categories: sediment transport rate models, two-phase models, CFD-DEM models, equilibrium scour models and depth-averaged models. The sediment transport rate models are the most popularly used models because of their high calculation speed and availability of empirical formulae for predicting sediment transport rates. Two-phase models were developed to simulate sediment transport in the format of sheet flow under strong current velocity or strong turbulence. The CFD-DEM model simulates the motion of every individual sediment particle. Its speed is the slowest, but it provides the opportunity to understand fundamental mechanisms of flow–particle interaction and particle–particle interaction using small-scale simulations. Equilibrium scour models predict the final scour profile at the equilibrium stage but cannot predict scour history. The depth-averaged models that were developed early are not recommended for local scour problems because they are not able to predict three-dimensional features around structures. Although many numerical models have been developed and many studies have been conducted to investigate local scour, some challenging problems remain to be solved, for example, the effects from scaling and sediment gradation. In addition, people’s understanding of local scour of cohesive sand is still very shallow, and more experimental and numerical research in this area is needed.
The AUV-Follower Control System Based on the Prediction of the AUV-Leader Movement Using Data from the Onboard Video Camera
Authors: Yukhimets Dmitry , Filaretov Vladimir
Published: August 2022

The paper proposes a new method for the synthesis of spatial motion control systems of the AUV-leader and a group of AUV-followers during their cooperative movement in a desired formation. This system allows the provision of an accurate positioning of the followers relative to the leader using information received with a low frequency only from their onboard video cameras. To improve the accuracy of the created system it proposes a method of estimation of the parameters of the movement of the AUV-leader (its speeds and accelerations) to predict its movement relative to the AUV-follower in the time intervals between the updates of information received from video cameras.
YOLO-Submarine Cable: An Improved YOLO-V3 Network for Object Detection on Submarine Cable Images
Authors: Li Yue , Zhang Xueting , Shen Zhangyi
Published: August 2022

Due to the strain on land resources, marine energy development is expanding, in which the submarine cable occupies an important position. Therefore, periodic inspections of submarine cables are required. Submarine cable inspection is typically performed using underwater vehicles equipped with cameras. However, the motion of the underwater vehicle body, the dim light underwater, and the property of light propagation in water lead to problems such as the blurring of submarine cable images, the lack of information on the position and characteristics of the submarine cable, and the blue–green color of the images. Furthermore, the submarine cable occupies a significant portion of the image as a linear entity. In this paper, we propose an improved YOLO-SC (YOLO-Submarine Cable) detection method based on the YOLO-V3 algorithm, build a testing environment for submarine cables, and create a submarine cable image dataset. The YOLO-SC network adds skip connections to feature extraction to make the position information of submarine cables more accurate, a top-down downsampling structure in multi-scale special fusion to reduce the network computation and broaden the network perceptual field, and lightweight processing in the prediction network to accelerate the network detection. Under laboratory conditions, we illustrate the effectiveness of these modifications through ablation studies. Compared to other algorithms, the average detection accuracy of the YOLO-SC model is increased by up to 4.2%, and the average detection speed is decreased by up to 1.616 s. The experiments demonstrate that the YOLO-SC model proposed in this paper has a positive impact on the detection of submarine cables.
Radiation Hazard from Natural Radioactivity in the Marine Sediment of Jeddah Coast, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia
Authors: Al-Mur Bandar A. , Gad Ahmed
Published: August 2022

Marine sediment samples were collected along the Jeddah coast, Red Sea, Saudi Arabia, in order to assess radiation hazards and the exposure to human and marine living organisms. Using collaborative techniques, grain size, mineralogical characteristics, and natural radioactivity were investigated. To examine the influence of sediment characteristics over the distribution of the measured radionuclides, resulting data were statistically processed by using multivariate analyses. 238U, 232Th, and 40K levels were specified to be 19.50, 9.38, and 403.31 Bq kg−1, respectively. Radionuclides distributions were affected by sediment mud content, organic matter, and heavy minerals index. The calculated radiation risk parameters are within the safe range and lower than the global average. Natural radiation from these marine sediments is normal and poses no significant radiological risk to the public or marine living organisms. The natural radioactivity of the marine sediment in this Jeddah coastline will have to be monitored on a regular basis to avoid overexposure to the residents.
Prediction Method for Ocean Wave Height Based on Stacking Ensemble Learning Model
Authors: Zhan Yu , Zhang Huajun , Li Jianhao , Li Gen
Published: August 2022

Wave heights are important factors affecting the safety of maritime navigation. This study proposed a stacking ensemble learning method to improve the prediction accuracy of wave heights. We analyzed the correlation between wave heights and other oceanic hydrological features, according to eleven features, such as measurement time, horizontal velocity, temperature, and pressure, as the model inputs. A fusion model consisting of two layers was established according to the principle of stacking ensemble learning. The first layer used the extreme gradient boosting algorithm, a light gradient boosting machine, random forest, and adaptive boosting to determine the deep relations between the wave heights and the input features. The second layer used a linear regression model to fit the relation between the first layer outputs and the actual wave heights, using the data from the four models of the first layer. The fusion model was trained based on the 5-fold cross-verification algorithm. This paper used real data to test the performances of the proposed fusion model, and the results showed that the mean absolute error and the mean squared error of the fusion model were at least 35.79% and 50.52% better than those of the four models.
Design and Performance Analysis of a Staggered Vernier Generator for Wave Power Generation
Authors: Lu Zhongyue , Wu Guoheng , Wang Mangkuan , Luo Zirong , Shang Jianzhong
Published: August 2022

In this paper, a staggered vernier generator suitable for a counter-rotating self-adaptable WEC is proposed to meet the energy demand of the small-scale engineering equipment in the deep sea. According to the vernier effect of the magnetic gear, the generator modulates the low-order rotating magnetic field generated by the rotation of the low-speed permanent magnet rotor into a high-order magnetic field rotating at a high speed, thereby realizing the acceleration of the generator magnetic field. A staggered structure permanent magnet vernier generator with 18 teeth/28 poles is designed. The main magnetic flux path on the staggered structure in the staggered vernier generator is analyzed, and the air-gap magnetic field distribution of the generator is analyzed with the help of numerical simulation software. The influence of different design parameters on the vernier generator is discussed. The staggered vernier structure can improve the main magnetic flux of the generator, reduce the magnetic flux leakage, and improve the performance of the generator without adding additional structures and materials.
An Improved Hydraulic Power Take-Off Unit Based on Dual Fluid Energy Storage for Reducing the Power Fluctuation Problem in the Wave Energy Conversion System
Authors: Jusoh Mohd Afifi , Yusop Zulkifli Mohd , Albani Aliashim , Daud Muhamad Zalani , Ibrahim Mohd Zamri
Published: August 2022

The power take-off (PTO) stability is one of the most important concerns for wave energy converters (WECs). The PTO unit converts the mechanical energy produced by the wave absorber (WA) unit into useful electrical energy. Due to the drastic input energy variation of real wave motions, the generated electrical power from the PTO unit significantly fluctuates and is potentially harmful to electrical and electronic appliances. This paper proposes an improved hydraulic PTO (HPTO) for the WECs. An improved HPTO unit comprises a dual high-pressure accumulator (HPA) module and fluid energy control (FEC) module, which significantly enhances the generated electrical power from the generator under irregular wave circumstances. A complete model of wave absorber device with conventional and improved HPTO units was built in MATLAB/Simulink using a Simscape fluids toolbox. The parameters of the FEC control strategy were optimized using a genetic algorithm. The improved HPTO unit model was simulated with five irregular wave inputs to evaluate its performance in irregular conditions. The effects of the HPA pressure constraints on the improved HPTO unit performance were also investigated. Overall, the simulation results indicate that the improved HPTO unit was able to generate a stable power up to 87.3% of WECs in an irregular sea state.
Dynamic Neuro-Fuzzy Systems for Forecasting El Niño Southern Oscillation (ENSO) Using Oceanic and Continental Climate Parameters as Inputs
Authors: Lee Ming Ze , Mekanik Fatemeh , Talei Amin
Published: August 2022

El Niño Southern Oscillation is one of the significant phenomena that drives global climate variability, showing a relationship with extreme events. Reliable forecasting of ENSO phases can minimize the risks in many critical areas, including water supply, food security, health, and public safety on a global scale. This study develops an ENSO forecasting model using the dynamic evolving neural fuzzy inference system (DENFIS), an artificial intelligence-based data-driven algorithm. To forecast ENSO phases for 1, 2, and 3 months ahead, 42 years (1979–2021) of monthly data of 25 oceanic and continental climatic variables and ENSO-characterizing indices are used. The dataset includes 12 El Niño and 14 La Niña events, of which the latest 2 El Niño and 4 La Niña events are reserved for testing while the remaining data are used for training the model. The potential input variables to the model are short-listed using a cross-correlation analysis. Then a systematic input selection procedure is conducted to identify the best input combinations for the model. The results of this study show that the best performing combination of such climate variables could achieve up to 78.57% accuracy in predicting short-term ENSO phases (up to 3 months ahead). Heat content at 0 to 300 m of central equatorial Pacific shows promising performance in forecasting ENSO phases. Moreover, DENFIS was found to be a reliable tool for forecasting ENSO events using multiple oceanic and continental climate variables.
Potential Short-Term Effects of Mine Tailings on Phytoplankton Assemblages in the Open Ocean
Authors: Choi Dong Han , Yoo Jangyeon , Yang Wonseok , Noh Jae Hoon , Lee Yeonjung , Ra Kongtae , Hyeong Kiseong , Yoo Chan Min , Park Jisoo
Published: August 2022

The disposal of mine tailings into the marine environment is considered an essential option to secure the economic efficiency of deep-sea mining, but it might adversely affects the ecosystem. To examine the potential impacts of tailing disposal from polymetallic nodules and polymetallic sulfide mines on phytoplankton communities, addition experiments of crushed fine particles into surface seawater were conducted in the open Indian Ocean and changes in chlorophyll a fluorescence and community composition were analyzed. The addition of tailings had serious adverse effects on phytoplankton fluorescence and photosynthetic activity, regardless of mine type. The adverse effects seemed to mainly be due to the physical properties of the mine tailings. These also showed discriminatory effects on phytoplankton, resulting in great changes in community composition. The results suggest that mine tailings could have significant adverse impacts on phytoplankton assemblages, but the degree of impact greatly varies depending on the phytoplankton groups. The discriminatory impacts would cause changes in biomass, community structure, and thus ecological function.
Ecological Factors Influencing the Occurrence of Macrofungi from Eastern Mountainous Areas to the Central Plains of Jilin Province, China
Authors: Hu Jia-Jun , Zhao Gui-Ping , Tuo Yong-Lan , Qi Zheng-Xiang , Yue Lei , Zhang Bo , Li Yu
Published: August 2022

Macrofungi are essential in forest ecological functioning. Their distribution and diversity are primarily impacted by vegetation, topography, and environmental factors, such as precipitation and temperature. However, the composition and topographical changes of the macrofungi between the eastern mountainous area and central plains of Jilin Province are currently unknown. For this study, we selected six investigational sites representing three different topographical research sites in Jilin Province to assess macrofungal diversity, and applied a quadrat sampling method. Macro- and micro-morphological characteristics combined with the molecular method were used to identify the collected macrofungi. Meanwhile, selected meteorological data were obtained for statistical analysis. As a result, 691 species were identified, of which Agarics were the most common, accounting for 60.23%, while the Cantharelloid fungi were the least common (0.91%). Furthermore, most of the shared genera (species) were saprophytic. The α diversity showed that the species diversity and richness in Longwan National Forest Park (B2) were the highest at the genus level. The mycorrhizal macrofungi proportion revealed that Quanshuidong Forest Farm (A1) was the healthiest. Finally, species composition similarity decreased with the transition from mountainous to hilly plains. We concluded that the occurrence of macrofungi was most influenced by vegetation. The air humidity, precipitation, and wind velocity were also found to significantly impact the occurrence of macrofungi. Finally, the mycorrhizal:saprophytic ratios and species similarity decreased with the transition from the mountainous area to the plains. The results presented here help elucidate the macrofungi composition and their relationship with environmental factors and topography in Jilin Province, which is crucial for sustainable utilization and future conservation.
Interactive Effects of Water Deficiency and Endophytic Beauveria bassiana on Plant Growth, Nutrient Uptake, Secondary Metabolite Contents, and Antioxidant Activity of Allium cepa L.
Authors: Gana Lizeka Pretty , Etsassala Ninon G. E. R. , Nchu Felix
Published: August 2022

The main aim of this research study was to assess the interactive effects of water deficiency and the inoculation of a growth medium with Beauveria bassiana on plant growth, nutrient uptake, secondary metabolite contents, and antioxidant capacity of Allium cepa. A. cepa seedlings were simultaneously exposed to one of three watering regime treatments (3-day, 5-day, and 7-day watering intervals) and B. bassiana or no-fungus treatment. While the longest watering interval induced reduced plant growth, plants inoculated with B. bassiana had better results than those in the no-fungus treatment. Significant interactive effects (DF = 2.0; p < 0.05) between fungus and the watering regime on P, K, and Fe contents were observed. Remarkably, at the 7-day watering interval, the polyphenol content (64.0 mg GAE/L) was significantly higher in the plants treated with B. bassiana than in the no-fungus-treated plants. The watering interval significantly affected (DF = 2, 6; F = 7.4; p < 0.05) total flavonol contents among the fungus-treated plants. The interaction of the watering interval and B. bassiana inoculation (DF = 2.0; F = 3.8; p < 0.05) significantly influenced the flavonol content in the onion bulbs and the antioxidant activities of onion bulbs in the FRAP assay (DF = 2.0; F = 4.1; p < 0.05).
Breakthrough Acute Necrotizing Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis by Alternariaalternata in a Patient with Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia on Anidulafungin Therapy and Case-Based Literature Review
Authors: Tyrellis Giorgos , Siopi Maria , Leventakou Danai , Delides Alexander , Maragkoudakis Pavlos , Korres George , Apostolopoulou Christina , Gouloumi Alina-Roxani , Pappa Vasiliki , Pournaras Spyros , Panayiotides Ioannis , Meletiadis Joseph
Published: August 2022

Alternaria spp. have emerged as opportunistic pathogens particularly in immunosuppressed patients. A case of a breakthrough acute invasive fungal rhinosinusitis (AIFRS), caused by Alternaria alternata, is reported in a patient with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) on anidulafungin therapy, who was successfully treated with liposomal amphotericin B and surgical intervention. To date, 20 cases of AIFRS due to Alternaria spp. have been described, 19 in the USA and 1 in Chile, making this case report the first case of AIFRS due to Alternaria in Europe. The patients had median (range) age 25 (2–56) years (65% female), almost all of them (19/20) with hematological diseases and severe neutropenia (8–41 days pre-infection). Amphotericin B was the most frequently used antifungal agent, either alone or in combination. In all of the cases, systemic antifungal therapy was combined with surgery. Despite stabilization or improvement of the AIFRS, mortality was 38% (5 days to 8 months post-surgical debridement) due to their underlying disease or other infections without sign of AIFRS at autopsy.
Small GTPase FoSec4-Mediated Protein Secretion Is Important for Polarized Growth, Reproduction and Pathogenicity in the Banana Fusarium Wilt Fungus Fusarium odoratissimum
Authors: Zheng Yuru , Guo Pingting , Deng Huobing , Lin Yaqi , Huang Guilan , Wu Jie , Lu Songmao , Yang Shuai , Zhou Jie , Zheng Wenhui , Wang Zonghua , Yun Yingzi
Published: August 2022

Apical secretion at hyphal tips is important for the growth and development of filamentous fungi. In this study, we analyzed the role of the Rab GTPases FoSec4 involved in the secretion of the banana wilt fungal pathogen Fusarium odoratissimum. We found that the deletion of FoSEC4 affects the activity of extracellular hydrolases and protein secretion, indicating that FoSec4 plays an important role in the regulation of protein secretion in F. odoratissimum. As a typical Rab GTPase, Sec4 participates in the Rab cycle through the conversion between the active GTP-bound state and the inactive GDP-bound state, which is regulated by guanine nucleate exchange factors (GEFs) and GTPase-activating proteins (GAPs). We further found that FoSec2 can interact with dominant-negative FoSec4 (GDP-bound and nucleotide-free form, FoSec4DN), and that FoGyp5 can interact with dominant active FoSec4 (GTP-bound and constitutively active form, FoSec4CA). We evaluated the biofunctions of FoSec4, FoSec2 and FoGyp5, and found that FoSec4 is involved in the regulation of vegetative growth, reproduction, pathogenicity and the environmental stress response of F. odoratissimum, and that FocSec2 and FoGyp5 perform biofunctions consistent with FoSec4, indicating that FoSec2 and FoGyp5 may work as the GEF and the GAP, respectively, of FoSec4 in F. odoratissimum. We further found that the amino-terminal region and Sec2 domain are essential for the biological functions of FoSec2, while the carboxyl-terminal region and Tre-2/Bub2/Cdc16 (TBC) domain are essential for the biological functions of FoGyp5. In addition, FoSec4 mainly accumulated at the hyphal tips and partially colocalized with Spitzenkörper; however, FoGyp5 accumulated at the periphery of Spitzenkörper, suggesting that FoGyp5 may recognize and inactivate FoSec4 at a specific location in hyphal tips.