bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Using Feature Extraction to Perform Equipment Health Monitoring on Ship-Radiated Noise
Authors: Marasco Nicholas , Elghamrawy Haidy , McGaughey Donald
Published: December 2023

The current state of the art in hydroacoustics research employs a variety of feature extraction techniques with the goal of accurately classifying a ship based on its radiated noise. These techniques are capable of accuracy in excess of 95%. A question arises as to whether similar techniques could be applied to a known vessel to identify and monitor individual systems from the ship’s noise. In this paper, the fast orthogonal search algorithm is used as a basis for a feature extraction and classification algorithm. This algorithm is applied to real recordings of ship-radiated noise and is shown to be capable of identifying the running status of a subset of the ship’s systems, providing a proof of concept for the detection and monitoring of a ship’s systems based solely on the ships hydroacoustic noise.
Precision Corn Pest Detection: Two-Step Transfer Learning for Beetles (Coleoptera) with MobileNet-SSD
Authors: Maican Edmond , Iosif Adrian , Maican Sanda
Published: December 2023

Using neural networks on low-power mobile systems can aid in controlling pests while preserving beneficial species for crops. However, low-power devices require simplified neural networks, which may lead to reduced performance. This study was focused on developing an optimized deep-learning model for mobile devices for detecting corn pests. We propose a two-step transfer learning approach to enhance the accuracy of two versions of the MobileNet SSD network. Five beetle species (Coleoptera), including four harmful to corn crops (belonging to genera Anoxia, Diabrotica, Opatrum and Zabrus), and one beneficial (Coccinella sp.), were selected for preliminary testing. We employed two datasets. One for the first transfer learning procedure comprises 2605 images with general dataset classes ‘Beetle’ and ‘Ladybug’. It was used to recalibrate the networks’ trainable parameters for these two broader classes. Furthermore, the models were retrained on a second dataset of 2648 images of the five selected species. Performance was compared with a baseline model in terms of average accuracy per class and mean average precision (mAP). MobileNet-SSD-v2-Lite achieved an mAP of 0.8923, ranking second but close to the highest mAP (0.908) obtained by MobileNet-SSD-v1 and outperforming the baseline mAP by 6.06%. It demonstrated the highest accuracy for Opatrum (0.9514) and Diabrotica (0.8066). Anoxia it reached a third-place accuracy (0.9851), close to the top value of 0.9912. Zabrus achieved the second position (0.9053), while Coccinella was reliably distinguished from all other species, with an accuracy of 0.8939 and zero false positives; moreover, no pest species were mistakenly identified as Coccinella. Analyzing the errors in the MobileNet-SSD-v2-Lite model revealed good overall accuracy despite the reduced size of the training set, with one misclassification, 33 non-identifications, 7 double identifications and 1 false positive across the 266 images from the test set, yielding an overall relative error rate of 0.1579. The preliminary findings validated the two-step transfer learning procedure and placed the MobileNet-SSD-v2-Lite in the first place, showing high potential for using neural networks on real-time pest control while protecting beneficial species.
Insecticidal Activity of Nicotiana benthamiana Trichome Exudates on the Sweetpotato Whitefly Bemisia tabaci MED (Gennadius)
Authors: Sharma Sushant Raj , Mostafiz Md Munir , Lee Kyeong-Yeoll
Published: December 2023

Trichome is a hair-like structure involved in mechanical and chemical defenses of plants against herbivorous insects. Nicotiana benthamiana, a wild tobacco plant, has well-developed glandular trichomes that secrete sugar esters with potent repellent and insecticidal properties. However, there is a lack of information about the effectiveness of trichome extract in the control of plant-sapping insects. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of N. benthamiana trichome exudates on Bemisia tabaci MED (Gennadius) (Hemiptera: Aleyrodidae), a highly destructive insect pest that poses significant threats to both vegetable and ornamental plants globally. First, we determined the host preference and mortality of B. tabaci adults using the choice test and feeding assay towards tomato and N. benthamiana plants. B. tabaci preferred tomato over N. benthamiana plants. Second, we extracted N. benthamiana trichome exudates by washing the leaves with either water or ethanol and evaluated their oral toxicities against B. tabaci adults using a parafilm feeding chamber containing 20% sucrose solution. Oral ingestion of both extracts significantly increased mortality in a concentration-dependent manner. Oral ingestion of ethanol-washed 10% trichome extract caused >60% mortality in B. tabaci adults after 36 h. Third, trichome exudates were concentrated by drying to obtain a powder form, which was more potent in killing whiteflies than the liquid form. Oral ingestion of 1% trichome powder was completely lethal to B. tabaci within 36 h. N. benthamiana trichome exudates are highly toxic to B. tabaci through oral ingestion, suggesting that N. benthamiana can be used as a potential natural pesticide for whitefly management.
Quantifying the Flows of Nitrogen Fertilizer under Different Application Rates in a Soil–Forage Triticale–Dairy Cow System
Authors: You Yongliang , Liu Guibo , Yang Xianlong , Wang Zikui , Li Yuan , Lai Xingfa , Shen Yuying
Published: December 2023

Nitrogen (N) can enhance the biomass and feeding quality of forage crops and advance the growth of the herbivorous livestock industry. Investigating the N fertilizer dynamics in the soil–crop–livestock system is important for resource-use efficiency and environmental safety. By using the 15N-labeled technology and the in vitro incubation technique, an experiment was conducted in the North China Plain (NCP) in 2015–2016 to quantify the migration and distribution of N fertilizer in the soil–forage triticale (X Triticosecale Wittmack)–dairy cow system. The results showed that 34.1–37.3% of the applied N fertilizer was absorbed by forage triticale, in which 35.9–39.6% N accumulated in the stems and 60.4–64.1% accumulated in the leaves. In addition, 36.3–39.1% of the applied N fertilizer remained in the 0–100 cm soil layer, in which 81.8–91.3% was distributed in the 0–40 cm soil layer. The remaining 24.6–26.8% of the applied N fertilizer was lost in various ways and 28.1–31.3% of the N fertilizer could be utilized by dairy cows. When N fertilizer was applied between 0–225 kg N ha−1, the increased application of N fertilizer improved the biomass yield from 14.0 to 17.5 t ha−1 and enhanced the N content of the forage triticale from 1.3% to 1.4%; however, it did not significantly affect the distribution rate of N fertilizer in the soil–forage triticale–dairy cow system. The optimum N fertilizer application rate for forage triticale is less than 225 kg N ha–1 to maintain high-efficient N use in the soil–crop–livestock system and reduce the environmental risks in the NCP. Our results quantified the N fertilizer dynamics in the soil–forage triticale–dairy cow system and provided a significant reference for guiding rational strategies of forage triticale cultivation.
Efficacy of Eco-Friendly Bio-Pesticides against the Whitefly Bemisia tabaci (Gennadius) for Sustainable Eggplant Cultivation in Kebbi State, Nigeria
Authors: Abubakar Mustapha , Yadav Dhananjay , Koul Bhupendra , Song Minseok
Published: December 2023

The eggplant (Solanum melongena L.) is among the vital fruit vegetables cultivated globally for its health and nutritional benefits. However, its production has been hindered by whiteflies (Bemisia tabaci G.) infestation worldwide. This study aims to assess the effect of some bio-pesticides in the control of whiteflies on eggplants under field conditions. The trial consists of seventeen (17) treatments replicated three times for 45 days. From the results obtained, neem leaf extract (60 mL/L) proved more effective against whiteflies, with 1.2 and 1.3 adults/leaf, while buttermilk and cow dung (50 mL/L) were less effective (10.1 and 10.8 adults/leaf) when compared to untreated plots (26.9 and 33.4 adults/leaf), two weeks after the third spray during the first and second trials. The highest reduction (%) in whitefly population was found using neem leaf extract (95.7 and 96.1%) and cow urine (85.8 and 96.1%), with cow dung and buttermilk exhibiting the least overall averages (65.9 and 62.3%), two weeks after the third spray during the respective trials. Neem extract and cow urine were more effective among the treatments examined and, thus, recommended to be incorporated into control strategies of whiteflies for the improved production of eggplants in the area.
Strategies to Name Metallo-β-Lactamases and Number Their Amino Acid Residues
Authors: Oelschlaeger Peter , Kaadan Heba , Dhungana Rinku
Published: December 2023

Metallo-β-lactamases (MBLs), also known as class B β-lactamases (BBLs), are Zn(II)-containing enzymes able to inactivate a broad range of β-lactams, the most commonly used antibiotics, including life-saving carbapenems. They have been known for about six decades, yet they have only gained much attention as a clinical problem for about three decades. The naming conventions of these enzymes have changed over time and followed various strategies, sometimes leading to confusion. We are summarizing the naming strategies of the currently known MBLs. These enzymes are quite diverse on the amino acid sequence level but structurally similar. Problems trying to describe conserved residues, such as Zn(II) ligands and other catalytically important residues, which have different numbers in different sequences, have led to the establishment of a standard numbering scheme for BBLs. While well intended, the standard numbering scheme is not trivial and has not been applied consistently. We revisit this standard numbering scheme and suggest some strategies for how its implementation could be made more accessible to researchers. Standard numbering facilitates the comparison of different enzymes as well as their interaction with novel antibiotics and BBL inhibitors.
Pharmacokinetic and Pharmacodynamic Considerations of Antibiotic Use in Neonates
Authors: Regazzi Mario , Berardi Alberto , Picone Simonetta , Tzialla Chryssoula
Published: December 2023

The selection of an appropriate dose of a given antibiotic for a neonate not only requires knowledge of the drug’s basic pharmacokinetic (PK) and pharmacodynamic (PD) properties but also the profound effects that organ development might have on the volume of distribution and clearance, both of which may affect the PK/PD of a drug. Interest has grown in alternative antibiotic dosing strategies that are better aligned with the antibiotic’s PK and PD properties. These strategies should be used in conjunction with minimum inhibitory concentration measurements and therapeutic drug monitoring to measure their potential success. They can also guide the clinician in tailoring the delivery of antibiotics to suit an individual patient’s needs. Model-informed precision dosing, such as Bayesian forecasting dosing software (which incorporates PK/PD population models), may be utilized to optimize antibiotic exposure in neonatal populations. Consequently, optimizing the antibiotic dose and exposure in each newborn requires expertise in different fields. It drives the collaboration of physicians together with lab technicians and quantitative clinical pharmacologists.
Anti-Obesity and Anti-Diabetic Activities of Fermented Schizandrae Fructus Pomace Extract in Mice Fed with High-Fat Diet
Authors: Mohibbullah Md. , Park So-Jung , Choi Jae-Suk , Ku Sae-Kwang
Published: December 2023

Obesity is implicated as a factor in several serious metabolic conditions, including hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and type II diabetes. This study aimed at the development of more potent and safer alternative medications to address these metabolic diseases with minimal side effects. Following oral administration of 400, 200, and 100 of mg/kg fermented Schizandrae fructus pomace extracts (fSFP) once daily for 84 days to high-fat diet (HFD)-supplied ICR mice, respectively, we measured liver enzyme activity related to glucose metabolism, gene expression related to fat metabolism, anti-obesity effect, liver and kidney protection effect, and anti-diabetic effect to confirm the effect of fSFP on improving related complications including obesity and diabetes. In the HFD control group, significant obesity and type II diabetes symptoms were developed. However, oral administration of 200 mg/kg of fSFP showed a protective effect on kidney damage and diabetes complications related to insulin-resistant type II diabetes mellitus, as well as oxidative stress-induced abnormalities in glucose and fat metabolism, comparable to that of metformin 250 mg/kg, a positive control. The major bioactive substance in fSFP was identified as shizandrin, which was quantitated as 1.25 mg/g (w/w). Therefore, fSFP extracts can be taken as a medicinal food in combating obesity and diabetes, two current major health concerns.
Voltage-Based Braking Controls for Electric Vehicles Considering Weather Condition and Road Slope
Authors: Kim Jonghoek
Published: December 2023

This article addresses the braking controls for an electric vehicle with DC motors such that the voltage in the motors is used for controlling the wheel angular velocity. Other papers on the anti-lock braking system (ABS) handled how to derive the braking torque (or braking pressure) for controlling the wheel angular velocity. However, heavy or prolonged braking can cause brake fade or wear. According to EURO 7 regulations, brake fade or wear is not desirable, since the regulations refer to the reduction in particles emitted from brake pads. For avoiding heavy or prolonged braking, this paper does not use a brake unit, such as electro-mechanical brake units or hydraulic brake units, for vehicle stop. Instead, the motor voltage is used for controlling the wheel angular velocity. While a vehicle moves, the goal of this paper is to provide automatic braking controls in real time, so that the vehicle stops safely and smoothly without slippage before colliding with an obstacle. In practice, road conditions can change depending on weather conditions, such as rain or snow. Moreover, road slope can have an effect on the braking distance for the vehicle. Thus, this article introduces automatic braking controls, while considering both road slope and road conditions. This article is unique in presenting automatic braking controls for the smooth stop of electric vehicles with DC motors, while considering both road slope and road conditions. In addition, this article is unique in controlling the motor voltage for controlling the wheel angular velocity, while not requiring any brake units.
Automatic Approach for Brain Aneurysm Detection Using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Paralic Martin , Zelenak Kamil , Kamencay Patrik , Hudec Robert
Published: December 2023

The paper introduces an approach for detecting brain aneurysms, a critical medical condition, by utilizing a combination of 3D convolutional neural networks (3DCNNs) and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM). Brain aneurysms pose a significant health risk, and early detection is vital for effective treatment. Traditional methods for aneurysm detection often rely on complex and time-consuming procedures. A radiologist specialist annotates each aneurysm and supports our work with true-ground annotations. From the annotated data, we extract images to train proposed neural networks. The paper experiments with two different types of networks, specifically focusing on 2D convolutional neural networks (2DCNNs), 3D convolutional neural networks (3DCNNs), and Convolutional Long Short-Term Memory (ConvLSTM). Our goal is to create a virtual assistant to improve the search for aneurysm locations, with the aim of further realizing the virtual assistant. Subsequently, a radiologist specialist will confirm or reject the presence of an aneurysm, leading to a reduction in the time spent on the searching process and revealing hidden aneurysms. Our experimental results demonstrate the superior performance of the proposed approach compared to existing methods, showcasing its potential as a valuable tool in clinical settings for early and accurate brain aneurysm detection. This innovative fusion of 3DCNN and LSTM (3DCNN-ConvLSTM) techniques not only improves diagnostic precision but also holds promise for advancing the field of medical image analysis, particularly in the domain of neurovascular diseases. Overall, our research underscores the potential of neural networks for the machine detection of brain aneurysms.
Water-Based Microwave-Assisted Digestion Method for Electrochemical and Chromatographic Determination of Total Fluoride Ions in Toothpaste Samples
Authors: Mukendi Mbuyamba Divin , Mketo Nomvano
Published: December 2023

Fluoride ions are the major constituents of dental products because they prevent cavities through bacterial growth inhibition. However, excessive consumption of fluoride ions results in fluorosis, thereby causing tooth staining and roughness. Therefore, there is a crucial need to develop rapid and effective methods for monitoring fluoride levels in dental products. The current study describes a greener water-based microwave-assisted digestion (WB-MAD) prior to fluoride-ion-selective electrode (F-ISE) measurement for the determination of fluoride ions in various toothpaste products. The optimum conditions of the developed WB-MAD method were 180 °C digestion temperature, 60 min digestion time, 0.05 g toothpaste amount and 10 mL distilled water. Under the optimum conditions, the method detection limit (MDL) of 0.00302 µg/kg and the method quantification limit (MQL) of 0.01007 µg/kg obtained were favorably comparable with the literature reports. The proposed WB-MAD method was both accurate (99.2 to 101%) and precise (≤0.75%) for the quantitative determination of F− in toothpaste samples using F-ISE. Furthermore, the newly developed WB-MAD method showed better accuracy (97–100%) than the traditional microwave-assisted acid digestion methods (71–92%). It is worth indicating that since water was used as the only digestion reagent, it was possible to validate the F-ISE results with ion chromatography (IC). The percentage recoveries obtained from IC (91–104%) and F-ISE (93–100%) were statistically insignificant. In view of the validation data, the proposed WB-MAD method can be considered as an alternative to the conventional microwave-assisted acid digestion (MAAD) methods for the determination of F− in toothpaste samples containing sodium monofluorophosphate.
Effects of Visual Complexity of Banner Ads on Website Users’ Perceptions
Authors: Bočaj Nejc , Ahtik Jure
Published: December 2023

Design plays a major role in online advertising. While specific aspects such as color or animation have been extensively studied, there is a surprising lack of comprehensive research on the overall impact of visual design and aesthetics. This study delved into the effects of varying levels of visual complexity in banner ads using the eye-tracking method. Out of 108 participants browsing test webpages with specially designed banners, data from 90 adequately measured data sets were used in the study. Notably, ads with a low level of visual complexity outperformed ads with a high level of visual complexity. While users noticed complex ads slightly faster (by 0.84%), they fixated on them significantly less (by 9.09%) and looked at them less frequently (by 4.79%). An implemented survey questionnaire examining the user perception of the banners reinforced the superiority of simple ads, as they were perceived as 4.40% more appealing in comparison. The study further delved into the correlation between objectively and subjectively evaluated data, exploring the credibility of subjective methods in the process. Considering our results and findings from other studies, it was evident that visually complex ads demanded more cognitive effort, could be more distracting, negatively impacted attention, could contribute to banner blindness and were perceived as less appealing.
Leveraging Ensemble Learning with Generative Adversarial Networks for Imbalanced Software Defects Prediction
Authors: Alqarni Amani , Aljamaan Hamoud
Published: December 2023

Software defect prediction is an active research area. Researchers have proposed many approaches to overcome the imbalanced defect problem and build highly effective machine learning models that are not biased towards the majority class. Generative adversarial networks (GAN) are one of the state-of-the-art techniques that can be used to generate synthetic samples of the minority class and produce a balanced dataset. However, it was not investigated thoroughly in the area of imbalanced defect prediction. In this paper, we proposed to combine GAN-based methods with boosting ensembles to yield robust defect prediction models. GAN-based methods were used to balance the defect datasets, and the AdaBoost ensemble was employed to classify the modules into defective and non-defective modules. Our proposed approach was investigated within the context of 10 software defect datasets with different imbalance ratios. Wilcoxon effect size and Scott–Knott effect size difference tests were used as statistical tests to quantify the model’s performance differences statistically. Empirical results indicated that GAN-based methods need hyperparameter optimization when used for imbalanced software defect prediction. In comparison to the traditional sampling techniques, GAN methods outperformed all traditional techniques when used for imbalanced defect prediction. Lastly, results demonstrated that GAN-based methods should not be combined with undersampling to handle imbalance problems.
Research on Shovel-Force Prediction and Power-Matching Optimization of a Large-Tonnage Electric Wheel Loader
Authors: Wei Jiajie , Zhao Jiazhi , Wang Jixin
Published: December 2023

Nowadays, rapid development has been achieved with respect to the electric wheel loader (EWL). The operational efficiency of EWLs is affected by many factors; especially, shovel force is a very important factor. For large-tonnage EWLs, when employing empirical, formula-based methods to predict shovel force, the generated errors are significant, with errors frequently reaching levels of up to 30%. To solve this problem, a method, based on the discrete element method (DEM), to predict shovel force is put forward in this paper. The material parameters are calibrated by a backpropagation (BP) neural network learning algorithm (NNLA). The material model is inputted into multi-body-dynamics software. A simulation model to accurately predict the shovel force is created. The error between the test results and the simulation results is 7.8%, demonstrating a high level of consistency. To validate the reliability of this method, the 35-ton EWL is taken as an example for research, and the straight-line driving test and the power-matching test are conducted. While ensuring the operational efficiency of the EWLs, the power loss is also a crucial consideration. The drastic changes in shovel force often result in front-tire slippage of the EWLs. To minimize wheel slippage during the shoveling section, the matching of the electric motor was optimized. In summary, material parameters were calibrated using a combined method of BP NNLA to predicate shovel force of a large-tonnage EWL. Additionally, the power matching of the EWL has been optimized to accord with the shoveling section of the device.
Comparison of Stress Concentration Factors Obtained by Different Methods
Authors: Sivák Peter , Delyová Ingrid , Bocko Jozef
Published: December 2023

This paper offers a study regarding regression and correlation analysis and intercomparison of stress concentration factors obtained from FEM analysis with factors imported from external sources. The procedure for obtaining the stress concentration factors is implemented and demonstrated on the shape configuration of an axially symmetric structural element with offset, tension loading. It is a typical representation of stress concentrators of the shape-discontinuity-dimension-load configuration applied in structural elements mainly from the engineering and construction fields. The data thus obtained are then subjected to regression and simple correlation analysis. Three regression models based on 2nd- and 3rd-degree polynomials and power function are applied. These results are further subjected to a detailed procedure of comparison with the values of the stress concentration factors obtained from two other independent sources. Finally, a detailed analysis of the possible reasons for the registered value deviations is performed.
Scene-Based Nonuniformity Correction Method Using Principal Component Analysis for Infrared Focal Plane Arrays
Authors: Lu Dongming , Teng Longyin , Ren Jianle , Tan Jiangyun , Wang Mengke , Wang Liping , Gu Guohua
Published: December 2023

In this paper, principal component analysis is introduced to form a scene-based nonuniformity correction method for infrared focal plane arrays. The estimation of the gain and offset of the infrared detector and the correction of nonuniformity based on the neural network method with a novel estimation of desired target value are achieved concurrently. The current frame and several adjacent registered frames are decomposed onto a set of principal components, and then the first principal component is extracted to construct the desired target value. It is practical, forms fewer ghosting artifacts, and considerably promotes correction precision. Numerical experiments demonstrate that the proposed method presents excellent performance when dealing with clean infrared data with synthetic pattern noise as well as the real infrared video sequence.
The Baveno Classification as a Predictor of CPAP Titration Pressure in Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome
Authors: Ehab Ahmed , Kempa Axel T. , Englert Harald , Bittar Shaza Almasri , Yousef Aida M. , Abdelwahab Heba Wagih
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a clinical condition characterised by repeated periods of partial or full obstruction of airflow throughout sleep, with impairment of the quality of life and increased mortality with socioeconomic impacts. CPAP therapy is a simple and effective treatment option for OSAS patients. To overcome the clinical and prognostic limitations of AHI—as a sole index of OSAS—the Baveno classification was recently set out and introduced into clinical practice. This study aims to analyse the effect of the Baveno classification on the optimum CPAP titration pressure. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the records of sleep studies in two centres between 2018 and 2021 was carried out. Patients diagnosed with OSAS and recruited for CPAP titration were included. Based on the Baveno classification, the patients were categorised into four groups (A, B, C, and D). Results: Consequently, 700 patients were analysed and 427 patients were included. A significant positive correlation was detected between the CPAP optimum titration pressure and OSAS severity, neck circumference, the oxygen desaturation index (ODI), mean oxygen saturation, the AHI, the BMI, and cumulative sleep time when the SpO2 was <90% (T90) on the other side (p: <0.0001). A non-significant correlation was seen between the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), symptom severity, end organ impact, and Baveno classification of the CPAP optimum titration pressure (p: 0.8, 0.4, 0.5, and 0.7, respectively). Conclusions: The Baveno classification is not useful in the prediction of CPAP optimum titration pressure. However, the ODI and neck circumference were significant independent predictors of a higher CPAP titration pressure.
Fabrication and Characterization of Plasma Sprayed TiO2 and Li4Ti5O12 Materials as All Active Material Lithium-Ion Battery Electrodes
Authors: Yost Dean , Laurer Jonathan , Childrey Kevin , Cai Chen , Koenig Gary M.
Published: December 2023

Two strategies to increase battery energy density at the cell level are to increase electrode thickness and to reduce the amount of inactive electrode constituents. All active material (AAM) electrodes provide a route to achieve both of those aims toward high areal capacity electrodes. AAM electrodes are often fabricated using hydraulic compression processes followed by thermal treatment; however, additive manufacturing routes could provide opportunities for more time-efficient and geometry-flexible electrode fabrication. One possible route for additive manufacturing of AAM electrodes would be to employ plasma spray as a direct additive manufacturing technology, and AAM electrode fabrication using plasma spray will be the focus of the work herein. TiO2 and Li4Ti5O12 (LTO) powders were deposited onto stainless steel substrates via plasma spray processing to produce AAM battery electrodes, and evaluated with regards to material and electrochemical properties. The TiO2 electrodes delivered low electrochemical capacity, <12 mAh g−1, which was attributed to limitations of the initial feed powder. LTO plasma sprayed AAM electrodes had much higher capacity and were comparable in total capacity at a low rate of discharge to composite electrodes fabricated using the same raw powder feed material. LTO material and electrochemical properties were sensitive to the plasma spray conditions, suggesting that tuning the material microstructure and electrochemical properties is possible by controlling the plasma spray deposition parameters.
Dapagliflozin Ameliorates Neural Damage in the Heart and Kidney of Diabetic Mice
Authors: Donoiu Ionuț , Târtea Georgică , Sfredel Veronica , Raicea Victor , Țucă Anca Maria , Preda Alexandra Nicoleta , Cozma Dragoş , Vătășescu Radu
Published: December 2023

(1) Background: Measures for the control of diabetes mellitus (DM) and, especially, for the control of its complications represent a main objective of the research carried out on this disease, since both mortality and morbidity relating to DM represent real problems for the health system worldwide. The aim of our study was to evaluate nervous tissue from the heart and kidneys of mice with diabetes induced by streptozotocin (STZ) in the presence or absence of dapagliflozin (DAPA) treatment. (2) Methods: For this purpose, we used 24 C 57Bl/6 male mice, aged between 8 and 10 weeks. The mice were divided into three groups: sham (DM−), control (DM+), and treated (DM+). Diabetes mellitus was induced by injecting a single intraperitoneal dose of STZ. The duration of diabetes in the mice included in our study was 12 weeks after STZ administration; then, the heart and kidneys were sampled, and nervous tissue (using the primary antibody PGP 9.5) from the whole heart, from the atrioventricular node, and from the kidneys was analyzed. (3) Results: The density of nerve tissue registered a significant decrease in animals from the control group (DM+), to a value of 0.0122 ± 0.005 mm2 nerve tissue/mm2 cardiac tissue, compared with the sham group (DM−), wherein the value was 0.022 ± 0.006 mm2 nervous tissue/mm2 cardiac tissue (p = 0.004). Treatment with dapagliflozin reduced the nerve tissue damage in the treated (DM+DAPA) group of animals, resulting in a nerve tissue density of 0.019 ± 0.004 mm2 nerve tissue/mm2 cardiac tissue; a statistically significant difference was noted between the control (DM+) and treated (DM+DAPA) groups (p = 0.046). The same trends of improvement in nerve fiber damage in DM after treatment with DAPA were observed both in the atrioventricular node and in the kidneys. (4) Conclusions. These data suggest that dapagliflozin, when used in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in mice, reduces the alteration of the nervous system in the kidneys and in the heart, thus highlighting better preservation of cardiac and renal homeostasis, independent of any reduction in the effects of hyperglycemia produced in this disease.
Dynamic Pupillary Response in Multiple Sclerosis Patients with and without Optic Neuritis
Authors: Gil-Casas Amparo , Piñero David P. , Molina-Martín Ainhoa
Published: December 2023

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a neurodegenerative disease that affects the central nervous system which produces abnormalities in visual function, as disturbed pupillary responses, even after an episode of optic neuritis (ON). The aim was to assess different parameters of the pupillary response in MS subjects with and without ON. Therefore, 24 eyes of healthy age-matched subjects were included, 22 eyes of subjects with MS (MS group), and 13 subjects with MS with previous ON (MSON group). Pupillary parameters (ratio pupil max/min; latency; velocity and duration; contraction and dilation; and amplitude of contraction) were recorded with the MYAH topographer. Statistical analysis was performed by IBM SPSS Statistics, and parametrical or non-parametrical tests were used according to the normality of the data. MS patients did not significantly differ from healthy patients in any of the parameters analyzed (p > 0.05). Only patients with previous ON were different from healthy patients in the amplitude (40.71 ± 6.73% vs. 45.22 ± 3.29%, respectively) and latency of contraction (0.35 ± 0.13 s vs. 0.26 ± 0.05 s, respectively). The time to recover 75% of the initial diameter was abnormal in 9% of the MS subjects and 12% of MSON subjects. Based on the results of this study, the contraction process, especially latency and amplitude, was found to be affected in subjects with MS and previous ON. The degree of disability and the relation of the decrease in pupil response with other indicators of MS disease should be further investigated considering other comorbidities such as ON in the affection.
Oral Surgery and Osteoradionecrosis in Patients Undergoing Head and Neck Radiation Therapy: An Update of the Current Literature
Authors: Corrao Giulia , Mazzola Giovanni Carlo , Lombardi Niccolò , Marvaso Giulia , Pispero Alberto , Baruzzi Elisa , Decani Sem , Tarozzi Marco , Bergamaschi Luca , Lorubbio Chiara , Repetti Ilaria , Starzyńska Anna , Alterio Daniela , Ansarin Mohseen , Orecchia Roberto , D’Amore Fiorella , Franchini Roberto , Nicali Andrea , Castellarin Paolo , Sardella Andrea , Lodi Giovanni , Varoni Elena Maria , Jereczek-Fossa Barbara Alicja
Published: December 2023

Osteoradionecrosis (ORN) is a serious long-term complication of head and neck radiotherapy (RT), which is often triggered by dental extractions. It results from avascular aseptic necrosis due to irradiated bone damage. ORN is challenging to treat and can lead to severe complications. Furthermore, ORN causes pain and distress, significantly reducing the patient’s quality of life. There is currently no established preventive strategy. This narrative review aims to provide an update for the clinicians on the risk of ORN associated with oral surgery in head and neck RT patients, with a focus on the timing suitable for the oral surgery and possible ORN preventive treatments. An electronic search of articles was performed by consulting the PubMed database. Intervention and observational studies were included. A multidisciplinary approach to the patient is highly recommended to mitigate the risk of RT complications. A dental visit before commencing RT is highly advised to minimize the need for future dental extractions after irradiation, and thus the risk of ORN. Post-RT preventive strategies, in case of dento-alveolar surgery, have been proposed and include antibiotics, hyperbaric oxygen (HBO), and the combined use of pentoxifylline and tocopherol (“PENTO protocol”), but currently there is a lack of established standards of care. Some limitations in the use of HBO involve the low availability of HBO facilities, its high costs, and specific clinical contraindications; the PENTO protocol, on the other hand, although promising, lacks clinical trials to support its efficacy. Due to the enduring risk of ORN, removable prostheses are preferable to dental implants in these patients, as there is no consensus on the appropriate timing for their safe placement. Overall, established standards of care and high-quality evidence are lacking concerning both preventive strategies for ORN as well as the timing of the dental surgery. There is an urgent need to improve research for more efficacious clinical decision making.
Enhanced Apigenin Dissolution and Effectiveness Using Glycyrrhizin Spray-Dried Solid Dispersions Filled in 3D-Printed Tablets
Authors: Omer Asma B. , Fatima Farhat , Ahmed Mohammed Muqtader , Aldawsari Mohammed F. , Alalaiwe Ahmed , Anwer Md. Khalid , Mohammed Abdul Aleem
Published: December 2023

This study aimed to prepare glycyrrhizin–apigenin spray-dried solid dispersions and develop PVA filament-based 3D printlets to enhance the dissolution and therapeutic effects of apigenin (APN); three formulations (APN1–APN3) were proportioned from 1:1 to 1:3. A physicochemical analysis was conducted, which revealed process yields of 80.5–91% and APN content within 98.0–102.0%. FTIR spectroscopy confirmed the structural preservation of APN, while Powder-XRD analysis and Differential Scanning Calorimetry indicated its transformation from a crystalline to an amorphous form. APN2 exhibited improved flow properties, a lower Angle of Repose, and Carr’s Index, enhancing compressibility, with the Hausner Ratio confirming favorable flow properties for pharmaceutical applications. In vitro dissolution studies demonstrated superior performance with APN2, releasing up to 94.65% of the drug and revealing controlled release mechanisms with a lower mean dissolution time of 71.80 min and a higher dissolution efficiency of 19.2% compared to the marketed APN formulation. This signified enhanced dissolution and improved therapeutic onset. APN2 exhibited enhanced antioxidant activity; superior cytotoxicity against colon cancer cells (HCT-116), with a lower IC50 than APN pure; and increased antimicrobial activity. A stability study confirmed the consistency of APN2 after 90 days, as per ICH, with an f2 value of 70.59 for both test and reference formulations, ensuring reliable pharmaceutical development. This research underscores the potential of glycyrrhizin–apigenin solid dispersions for pharmaceutical and therapeutic applications, particularly highlighting the superior physicochemical properties, dissolution behavior, biological activities, and stability of APN2, while the development of a 3D printlet shell offers promise for enhanced drug delivery and therapeutic outcomes in colon cancer treatment, displaying advanced formulation and processing techniques.
Natural Fatty Acid Guards against Brain Endothelial Cell Death and Microvascular Pathology following Ischemic Insult in the Presence of Acute Hyperglycemia
Authors: Shaheryar Zaib Ali , Khan Mahtab Ahmad , Hameed Huma , Mushtaq Muhammad Naveed , Muhammad Sajjad , Shazly Gamal A. , Irfan Ali , Jardan Yousef A. Bin
Published: December 2023

Ischemic stroke is worsened by the presence of sudden high blood sugar levels, even in individuals without pre-existing diabetes. This elevated glucose concentration hampers the ability of energy-starved brain cells to efficiently use it as a source of energy. Consequently, this leads to the production of abundant amounts of toxic glucose metabolites, which trigger oxidative stress in the brain milieu, particularly in the microvasculature of the brain. A prominent feature of this oxidative stress is the demise of endothelial cells, causing detrimental changes in blood vessels, including a reduction in their vascular diameter, a decreased efficiency of vessel proliferation, and the impaired integrity of tight junctions. These vascular pathologies contributed to an increase in the volume of damaged tissues (infarct), an exacerbation of brain swelling (edema), and a decline in cognitive and motor functions. In a mouse model of ischemic stroke with induced acute hyperglycemia, a naturally occurring saturated fatty acid provides protective cover to the microvasculature by preventing damage related to oxidative stress. Our current research revealed that lauric acid (LA) attenuated infarct volume and reduced brain edema by reducing endothelial cell death, enhancing vessels’ diameter, promoting vascular angiogenesis, and stabilizing barrier functions. Animals administered with this natural compound showed a significant reduction in 4-HNE-positive vessels. In conclusion, natural saturated fatty acids help to preserve brain microvascular functions following ischemic insults in the presence of acute hyperglycemia.
Nanomechanical Mapping of Three Dimensionally Printed Poly-ε-Caprolactone Single Microfibers at the Cell Scale for Bone Tissue Engineering Applications
Authors: Bontempi Marco , Marchiori Gregorio , Petretta Mauro , Capozza Rosario , Grigolo Brunella , Giavaresi Gianluca , Gambardella Alessandro
Published: December 2023

Poly-ε-caprolactone (PCL) has been widely used in additive manufacturing for the construction of scaffolds for bone tissue engineering. However, its use is limited by its lack of bioactivity and inability to induce cell adhesion, hence limiting bone tissue regeneration. Biomimicry is strongly influenced by the dynamics of cell–substrate interaction. Thus, characterizing scaffolds at the cell scale could help to better understand the relationship between surface mechanics and biological response. We conducted atomic force microscopy-based nanoindentation on 3D-printed PCL fibers of ~300 µm thickness and mapped the near-surface Young’s modulus at loading forces below 50 nN. In this non-disruptive regime, force mapping did not show clear patterns in the spatial distribution of moduli or a relationship with the topographic asperities within a given region. Remarkably, we found that the average modulus increased linearly with the logarithm of the strain rate. Finally, a dependence of the moduli on the history of nanoindentation was demonstrated on locations of repeated nanoindentations, likely due to creep phenomena capable of hindering viscoelasticity. Our findings can contribute to the rational design of scaffolds for bone regeneration that are capable of inducing cell adhesion and proliferation. The methodologies described are potentially applicable to various tissue-engineered biopolymers.
Dual Nucleosomal Double-Strand Breaks Are the Key Effectors of Curative Radiation Therapy
Authors: Brahme Anders , Lorat Yvonne
Published: December 2023

Most ionizing radiation produces δ-rays of ≈1 keV that can impart MGy doses to 100 nm3 volumes of DNA. These events can produce severe dual double-strand breaks (DDSBs) on nucleosomes, particularly in dense heterochromatic DNA. This is the most common multiply damaged site, and their probabilities determine the biological effectiveness of different types of radiation. We discuss their frequency, effect on cell survival, DNA repair, and imaging by gold nanoparticle tracers and electron microscopy. This new and valuable nanometer resolution information can be used for determining the optimal tumor cure by maximizing therapeutic effects on tumors and minimizing therapeutic effects on normal tissues. The production of DDSBs makes it important to deliver a rather high dose and LET to the tumor (>2.5 Gy/Fr) and at the same time reach approximately 1.8–2.3 Gy of the lowest possible LET per fraction in TP53 intact normal tissues at risk. Therefore, their intrinsic low-dose hyper-sensitivity (LDHS)-related optimal daily fractionation window is utilized. Before full p53 activation of NHEJ and HR repair at ≈½ Gy, the low-dose apoptosis (LDA) and LDHS minimize normal tissue mutation probabilities. Ion therapy should thus ideally produce the lowest possible LET in normal tissues to avoid elevated DDSBs. Helium to boron ions can achieve this with higher-LET Bragg peaks, producing increased tumor DDSB densities. Interestingly, the highest probability of complication-free cure with boron or heavier ions requires a low LET round-up for the last 10–15 GyE, thereby steepening the dose response and further minimizing normal tissue damage. In conclusion, the new high-resolution DSB and DDSB diagnostic methods, and the new more accurate DNA-repair-based radiation biology, have been combined to increase our understanding of what is clinically important in curative radiation therapy. In fact, we must understand that we already passed the region of optimal LET and need to go back one step rather than forward, with oxygen being contemplated. As seen by the high overkill and severely high LET in the distal tumor and the increased LET to normal tissues (reminding of neutrons or neon ions), it is therefore preferable to use lithium–boron ions or combine carbon with an optimal 10–15 GyE photon, electron, or perhaps even a proton round-up, thus allowing optimized, fractionated, curative, almost complication-free treatments with photons, electrons, and light ions, introducing a real paradigm shift in curative radiation therapy with a potential 5 GyE tumor boost, 25% increase in complication-free cure and apoptotic–senescent Bragg Peak molecular light ion radiation therapy.
Does Proprioception Involve Synchronization with Theta Rhythms by a Novel Piezo2 Initiated Ultrafast VGLUT2 Signaling?
Authors: Sonkodi Balázs
Published: December 2023

This opinion manuscript outlines how the hippocampal theta rhythm could receive two novel peripheral inputs. One of the ways this could be achieved is through Piezo2 channels and atypical hippocampal-like metabotropic glutamate receptors coupled to phospholipase D containing proprioceptive primary afferent terminals. Accordingly, activated proprioceptive terminal Piezo2 on Type Ia fibers synchronizes to the theta rhythm with the help of hippocampal Piezo2 and medial septal glutamatergic neurons. Second, after baroreceptor Piezo2 is entrained to activated proprioceptive Piezo2, it could turn on the Cav1.3 channels, which pace the heart rhythm and regulate pacemaker cells during cardiac sympathetic activation. This would allow the Cav1.3 channels to synchronize to theta rhythm pacemaker hippocampal parvalbumin-expressing GABAergic neurons. This novel Piezo2-initiated proton–proton frequency coupling through VGLUT2 may provide the ultrafast long-range signaling pathway for the proposed Piezo2 synchronization of the low-frequency glutamatergic cell surface membrane oscillations in order to provide peripheral spatial and speed inputs to the space and speed coding of the hippocampal theta rhythm, supporting locomotion, learning and memory. Moreover, it provides an ultrafast signaling for postural and orthostatic control. Finally, suggestions are made as to how Piezo2 channelopathy could impair this ultrafast communication in many conditions and diseases with not entirely known etiology, leading to impaired proprioception and/or autonomic disbalance.
Enhancing the Study of Quantal Exocytotic Events: Combining Diamond Multi-Electrode Arrays with Amperometric PEak Analysis (APE) an Automated Analysis Code
Authors: Tomagra Giulia , Re Alice , Varzi Veronica , Aprà Pietro , Britel Adam , Franchino Claudio , Sturari Sofia , Amine Nour-Hanne , Westerink Remco H. S. , Carabelli Valentina , Picollo Federico
Published: December 2023

MicroGraphited-Diamond-Multi Electrode Arrays (μG-D-MEAs) can be successfully used to reveal, in real time, quantal exocytotic events occurring from many individual neurosecretory cells and/or from many neurons within a network. As μG-D-MEAs arrays are patterned with up to 16 sensing microelectrodes, each of them recording large amounts of data revealing the exocytotic activity, the aim of this work was to support an adequate analysis code to speed up the signal detection. The cutting-edge technology of microGraphited-Diamond-Multi Electrode Arrays (μG-D-MEAs) has been implemented with an automated analysis code (APE, Amperometric Peak Analysis) developed using Matlab R2022a software to provide easy and accurate detection of amperometric spike parameters, including the analysis of the pre-spike foot that sometimes precedes the complete fusion pore dilatation. Data have been acquired from cultured PC12 cells, either collecting events during spontaneous exocytosis or after L-DOPA incubation. Validation of the APE code was performed by comparing the acquired spike parameters with those obtained using Quanta Analysis (Igor macro) by Mosharov et al.