bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Critical Role of the IL-22–IL-22 Binding Protein Axis in Hepatocellular Carcinoma
Authors: Giannou Anastasios D. , Lücke Jöran , Kleinschmidt Dörte , Shiri Ahmad Mustafa , Steglich Babett , Nawrocki Mikolaj , Zhang Tao , Zazara Dimitra E. , Kempski Jan , Zhao Lilan , Giannou Olympia , Agalioti Theodora , Brockmann Leonie , Bertram Franziska , Sabihi Morsal , Böttcher Marius , Ewald Florian , Schulze Kornelius , von Felden Johann , Machicote Andres , Maroulis Ioannis C. , Arck Petra C. , Graß Julia-Kristin , Mercanoglu Baris , Reeh Matthias , Wolter Stefan , Tachezy Michael , Seese Hannes , Theodorakopoulou Myrto , Lykoudis Panagis M. , Heumann Asmus , Uzunoglu Faik G. , Ghadban Tarik , Mann Oliver , Izbicki Jakob R. , Li Jun , Duprée Anna , Melling Nathaniel , Gagliani Nicola , Huber Samuel
Published: December 2022

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) ranks among the five most common cancer entities worldwide and leads to hundred-thousands of deaths every year. Despite some groundbreaking therapeutical revelations during the last years, the overall prognosis remains poor. Although the immune system fights malignant transformations with a robust anti-tumor response, certain immune mediators have also been shown to promote cancer development. For example, interleukin (IL)-22 has been associated with HCC progression and worsened prognosis in multiple studies. However, the underlying mechanisms of the pathological role of IL-22-signaling as well as the role of its natural antagonist IL-22 binding protein (IL-22BP) in HCC remain elusive. Here, we corroborate the pathogenic role of IL-22 in HCC by taking advantage of two mouse models. Moreover, we observed a protective role of IL-22BP during liver carcinogenesis. While IL-22 was mainly produced by CD4+ T cells in HCC, IL-22BP was abundantly expressed by neutrophils during liver carcinogenesis. Hepatocytes could be identified as a major target of this pathological IL-22-signaling. Moreover, abrogation of IL-22 signaling in hepatocytes in IL22ra1flox/flox × AlbCre+ mice reduced STEAP4 expression-a known oncogene-in HCC in vivo. Likewise, STEAP4 expression correlated with IL22 levels in human HCC samples, but not in healthy liver specimens. In conclusion, these data encourage the development of therapeutical approaches that target the IL-22–IL-22BP axis in HCC.
TNF Signaling Is Required for Castration-Induced Vascular Damage Preceding Prostate Cancer Regression
Authors: Krolewski John J. , Singh Shalini , Sha Kai , Jaiswal Neha , Turowski Steven G. , Pan Chunliu , Rich Laurie J. , Seshadri Mukund , Nastiuk Kent L.
Published: December 2022

The mainstay treatment for locally advanced, recurrent, or metastatic prostate cancer (PrCa) is androgen deprivation therapy (ADT). ADT causes prostate cancers to shrink in volume, or regress, by inducing epithelial tumor cell apoptosis. In normal, non-neoplastic murine prostate, androgen deprivation via castration induces prostate gland regression that is dependent on TNF signaling. In addition to this direct mechanism of action, castration has also been implicated in an indirect mechanism of prostate epithelial cell death, which has been described as vascular regression. The initiating event is endothelial cell apoptosis and/or increased vascular permeability. This subsequently leads to reduced blood flow and perfusion, and then hypoxia, which may enhance epithelial cell apoptosis. Castration-induced vascular regression has been observed in both normal and neoplastic prostates. We used photoacoustic, power Doppler, and contrast-enhanced ultrasound imaging, and CD31 immunohistochemical staining of the microvasculature to assess vascular integrity in the period immediately following castration, enabling us to test the role of TNF signaling in vascular regression. In two mouse models of androgen-responsive prostate cancer, TNF signaling blockade using a soluble TNFR2 ligand trap reversed the functional aspects of vascular regression as well as structural changes in the microvasculature, including reduced vessel wall thickness, cross-sectional area, and vessel perimeter length. These results demonstrate that TNF signaling is required for vascular regression, most likely by inducing endothelial cell apoptosis and increasing vessel permeability. Since TNF is also the critical death receptor ligand for prostate epithelial cells, we propose that TNF is a multi-purpose, comprehensive signal within the prostate cancer microenvironment that mediates prostate cancer regression following androgen deprivation.
Synergistic Effect in Plasmonic CuAu Alloys as Co-Catalyst on SnIn4S8 for Boosted Solar-Driven CO2 Reduction
Authors: Yang Zhengrui , Yang Jinman , Yang Kefen , Zhu Xingwang , Zhong Kang , Zhang Ming , Ji Haiyan , He Minqiang , Li Huaming , Xu Hui
Published: December 2022

The photoreduction of CO2 to chemical fuels represents a promising technology to mitigate the current energy dilemma and global warming problems. Unfortunately, the original photocatalysts suffer from many side reactions and a poor CO2 conversion efficiency. The rational combination of active co-catalyst with pristine photocatalysts for promoting the adsorption and activation of CO2 is of vital importance to tackle this grand challenge. Herein, we rationally designed a SnIn4S8 nanosheet photocatalyst simultaneously equipped with CuAu alloys. The experimental results proved that the CuAu alloy can trap the electrons and enhance the separation and transport efficiency of the photogenerated carrier in the photocatalyst, alleviating the kinetical difficulty of the charge transfer process because of the preferable localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR). Furthermore, the CuAu alloy works as the synergistic site to increase the CO2 adsorption and activation capacity. The optimized CuAu-SnIn4S8 photocatalyst exhibited a superior performance with CO generation rates of 27.87 μmol g−1 h−1 and CH4 of 7.21 μmol g−1 h−1, which are about 7.6 and 2.5 folds compared with SnIn4S8. This work highlights the critical role of alloy cocatalysts in boosting a CO2 activation and an efficient CO2 reduction, thus contributing to the development of more outstanding photocatalytic systems.
Application of a Zero-Valent Iron/Cork as Permeable Reactive Barrier for In Situ Remediation of Phenanthrene in Soil
Authors: Galvão Álvaro G. P. , Costa Letícia G. A. , Costa Emily C. T. de A. , da Silva Djalma R. , Martínez-Huitle Carlos A. , Vieira dos Santos Elisama
Published: December 2022

This paper proposes an eco-efficient treatment technology for removing phenanthrene (PHE) from kaolinite soil, incorporating a permeable reactive barrier (PRB) in an electrokinetic (EK) remediation system, which was made by modifying the granulated cork (GC) with Fe@Fe2O3, identified as EK/Fe@Fe2O3/GC. The novel product Fe@Fe2O3/GC was characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray analysis, and element mapping. EK tests were conducted to investigate the performance of the EK/Fe@Fe2O3/GC for removal of PHE from soil. The results showed that PHE was driven by the electro-osmotic flow toward the cathode and reacted with the EK/Fe@Fe2O3/GC. Further, the removal efficiency of PHE in the soil was higher in the presence of H2O2 due to the additional reactions achieved. The results were discussed in light of the existing literature.
Selenium Oxoanions Removal from Wastewater by MoS42− Intercalated FeMgAl LDH: Catalytic Roles of Fe and Mechanism Insights
Authors: Liao Zhuwei , He Tianxu , Shi Lerong , Liu Yi , Zhou Xinquan , Wang Jia , Li Wan , Zhang Yong , Wang Huabin , Xu Rui
Published: December 2022

FeMgAl−MoS4 LDH was successfully synthesized by a one-pot hydrothermal process followed by ion-exchange methods, and this novel adsorbent was first conducted for aqueous selenite and selenate elimination. The Fe as a component for metal cation layers of LDHs could modulate the layer charge density, leading to more functional groups inserted into layers, and more importantly, this heterogeneous Fe can catalyze the surface reactions between Se(IV) or Se(VI) with S(-II) for oxoanions sequestration. The mechanisms are ion exchange between functional groups with HSeO3− and SeO32− for Se(IV) or SeO42− for Se(VI), followed by reduction by S(-II) from MoS42− groups. The existence of Fe in LDH cation layers, obviously enhanced the reactions (almost two times more for Se(IV) and three times more for Se(VI), respectively), resulting in satisfying adsorption capacities of 483.9 mg/g and 167.2 mg/g for Se(IV) and Se(VI), respectively. Mechanisms were further revealed by elementary analysis, XRD, FT−IR, SEM−EDX, and XPS, as well as the quantitative study. For sorption kinetics, the calculated values of capacities from the pseudo-second-order model are much closer to the experimental values. For sorption isotherms, Langmuir is better than the Freundlich isotherms model for closer capacities (505 mg/g for selenite and 172 mg/g for selenate). All these results demonstrated that the presence of heterogeneous Fe could catalyze the reduction of Se (IV/VI) for the aqueous system, and maybe other high oxidative states hazardous ions. So FeMgAl−MoS4 is a kind of novel adsorbent that offers a promising multi-functional and highly efficient solution for water selenium purification.
Direct Z-Scheme g-C3N5/Cu3TiO4 Heterojunction Enhanced Photocatalytic Performance of Chromene-3-Carbonitriles Synthesis under Visible Light Irradiation
Authors: Arunachalapandi Murugan , Chellapandi Thangapandi , Madhumitha Gunabalan , Manjupriya Ravichandran , Aravindraj Kumar , Roopan Selvaraj Mohana
Published: December 2022

In order to make the synthesis of pharmaceutically active carbonitriles efficient, environmentally friendly, and sustainable, the method is regularly examined. Here, we introduce a brand-new, very effective Cu3TiO4/g-C3N5 photocatalyst for the production of compounds containing chromene-3-carbonitriles. The direct Z-Scheme photo-generated charge transfer mechanism used by the Cu3TiO4/g-C3N5 photocatalyst results in a suppressed rate of electron-hole pair recombination and an increase in photocatalytic activity. Experiments showed that the current method has some advantages, such as using an environmentally friendly and sustainable photocatalyst, having a simple procedure, quick reaction times, a good product yield (82–94%), and being able to reuse the photocatalyst multiple times in a row without noticeably decreasing its photocatalytic performance.
Effect of Hydroxylation and Carboxylation on the Catalytic Activity of Fe2O3/Graphene for Oxidative Desulfurization and Denitration
Authors: Lu Gang , Liao Hengyi , Zheng Xing , Chen Congkun , Wang Weiliang , Xiao Xianbin , Qin Wu
Published: December 2022

Iron-based particles loaded on porous carbon materials have attracted extensive attention as catalysts for denitration and desulfurization reactions. However, the carbon support of a high-temperature denitration catalyst is inevitably oxidized in the presence of H2O and O2. The mechanism of denitration catalyst oxidation and its influence on the catalytic reaction remain to be further explored. Fe2O3-loaded graphene models with carbon vacancy (Gdef), hydroxyl (HyG), and carboxyl (CyG) were constructed to investigate the effects of hydroxylation and carboxylation on the catalytic activity of Fe2O3/graphene for oxidative desulfurization and denitration by using density functional theory (DFT) calculations. According to the analysis of structural properties and adsorption energy, the adsorption process of Fe2O3 on HyG and CyG was observed to have proceeded more favorably than that on Gdef. The density-of-states (DOS) results also affirmed that HyG and CyG promote the electron delocalization of Fe2O3 around the Fermi level, enhancing the chemical activity of Fe2O3. Moreover, adsorption energy analysis indicates that hydroxylation and carboxylation enhanced the adsorption of SO2 and H2O2 on Fe2O3/graphene while also maintaining preferable adsorption stability of NO. Furthermore, mechanistic research explains that adsorbed H2O2 on HyG and CyG directly oxidizes NO and SO2 into HNO2 and H2SO4 following a one-step reaction. The results provide a fundamental understanding of the oxidized catalyst on catalytic denitration and desulfurization reactions.
Excessive Na-Doped La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Fe0.4Cu0.1O3-δ Perovskite as an Additional Internal Reforming Catalyst for Direct Carbon Dioxide-Ethanol Solid Oxide Fuel Cells
Authors: Li Mingfei , Dong Jiangbo , Chen Zhengpeng , Huang Kairu , Xiong Kai , Li Ruoyu , Rao Mumin , Chen Chuangting , Ling Yihan , Lin Bin
Published: December 2022

Direct ethanol solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs) are the most energy-efficient and low-carbon technology for renewable power generation from biomass fuels, but they are hindered by carbon deposition on the Ni-based cermet anode. In this work, excessive Na+ dopant into La0.75Sr0.25Cr0.5Fe0.4Cu0.1O3-δ (LSCFC) perovskite was used as an additional internal reforming catalyst for direct carbon dioxide-ethanol SOFCs. Excessive Na+-doped LSCFC (N-LSCFC) demonstrated great potential in promoting electrochemical performance and internal reforming process fueled by carbon dioxide-ethanol mixture, because more oxygen vacancies and the precipitated Cu nano catalyst were helpful for the improvement of internal reforming and carbon tolerance. Electrochemical investigations proved that the vertical-microchannel anode supported the single cells using the N-LSCFC-Gd0.1Ce0.9O2-δ (GDC) internal reforming catalyst, showing a peak power density of 1044.41 and 855.56 mW/cm2 at 800 °C fueled by H2 and 50% CO2-50% C2H5OH, respectively. The preceding results indicate that excessive Na+ doping strategy into LSCFC as the additional internal reforming catalyst can improve the electrochemical performance and internal reforming process of direct carbon dioxide-ethanol SOFCs.
Synthesis of Highly Efficient (0D/1D) Z-Scheme CdS-NPs@ZnO-NRs Visible-Light-Driven Photo(electro)catalyst for PEC Oxygen Evolution Reaction and Removal of Tetracycline
Authors: Balu Sridharan , Venkatesvaran Harikrishnan , Lan Kuo-Wei , C.-K. Yang Thomas
Published: December 2022

Herein, we synthesized the cadmium sulfide nanoparticles (CdS-NPs) coated zinc oxide nanorods (ZnO-NRs) core-shell like CdS-NPs@ZnO-NRs heterojunction for photo(electro)chemical applications. The CdS-NPs and ZnO-NRs were synthesized through a simple hydrothermal path. The physicochemical and optoelectronic properties of the as-prepared catalysts are characterized by various spectroscopy techniques, such as FTIR, XRD, SEM, TEM, EDX, VB-XPS, DRS, and PL. The photocatalytic performances of the CdS-NPs@ZnO-NRs catalyst were evaluated by photodegradation of tetracycline (TC) in aqueous media under visible-light irradiation, which demonstrated 94.07 % of removal (k’ = 0.0307 min−1) within 90 min. On the other hand, the photoelectrochemical (PEC) water-oxidation/oxygen-evolution reaction (OER) was performed, which resulted in the photocurrent density of 3.002 mA/cm2 and overpotential (at 2 mA/cm2) of 171 mV (vs RHE) in 1.0 M KOH under AM 1.5G illumination. The reactive species scavenging experiment demonstrates the significant contributions of photogenerated holes towards TC removal. Furthermore, the Z-scheme CdS-NPs@ZnO-NRs core-shell heterojunction exhibits high efficiency, recyclability, and photostability, demonstrating that the CdS-NPs@ZnO-NRs is a robust photo(electro)catalyst for visible-light PEC applications.
Mechanical Properties of σ-Phase and Its Effect on the Mechanical Properties of Austenitic Stainless Steel
Authors: Qiao Peiheng , Xie Jinyang , Jiang Yong , Tang Pengjie , Liang Bin , Lu Yilan , Gong Jianming
Published: December 2022

In this present paper, the mechanical properties of σ-phase and its effect on the mechanical properties of 304H austenitic stainless steel after servicing for about 8 years at 680–720 °C were studied by nano-indentation test, uniaxial tensile test, and impact test. The results showed that the nano-hardness (H), Young’s modulus (E), strain hardening exponent (n), and yield strength (σy) of σ-phase were 14.95 GPa, 263 GPa, 0.78, and 2.42 GPa, respectively. The presence of σ-phase increased the hardness, yield strength, and tensile strength, but greatly reduced the elongation and impact toughness of the material.
Habitat Suitability of Eastern Sarus Crane (Antigone Antigone sharpii) in Ayeyarwady Delta, the Union of Myanmar
Authors: Latt Tin Nwe , Chaiyarat Rattanawat , Choowaew Sansanee , Thongtip Nikorn , Stewart Thomas Neal
Published: December 2022

The eastern sarus crane (Antigone antigone sharpii; ESC) is a species related to wetland ecosystems in Southeast Asia. The habitat suitability of the eastern sarus crane in Ayeyarwady Delta was surveyed between March 2018 and February 2019. Eastern sarus cranes were found at 73 locations and Maximum Entropy (MaxEnt) was used to classify the habitat suitability among different seasons. MaxEnt showed the largest total area of highly suitable habitat was in the winter season (2450 km2, AUC = 0.968), while the least amount of available suitable habitat was evident during the rainy season (1028.7 km2, AUC = 0.979). A difference in the assessment of home range areas using the Minimum Convex Polygon (95% MPC) and the Kernel Density Estimate (95% KDE) was found. The total area in the winter season was highest at 95% KDE (13,839.5 km2) and lowest in the rainy season (1238.1 km2), while 95% MCP was highest in the rainy season (7892.9 km2) and lowest in the summer season (7014.6 km2). Analysis of the environmental parameters indicated that low temperature in the summer season and high precipitation in the rainy season and winter season are important for ESC habitat suitability. These climatic parameters were important for ESC in all seasons (AUC > 0.9). Important parameters influencing ESC habitat suitability were elevation, slope, distance to road in the summer season, elevation, distance to road and village and slope in the rainy season, and elevation and slope in the winter season. Annual precipitation was the main parameter influencing ESC habitat suitability in both summer and winter, while in the rainy season it was mean diurnal range (>90%).
Xanthene Derivatives Targeting Bacterial Efflux Pumps, Quorum-Sensing, and Biofilm Formation
Authors: Maia Miguel , Durães Fernando , Resende Diana I. S. P. , Szemerédi Nikoletta , Gales Luís , Martins-da-Costa Paulo , Pinto Madalena , Spengler Gabriella , Sousa Emília
Published: December 2022

The rise of multidrug resistance (MDR) bacteria in nosocomial and health-care institutions is widespread and is currently recognized as a major medical challenge. Mechanisms of bacterial resistance, namely, quorum sensing (QS), biofilm formation, and efflux pumps, have been identified as critical biological processes in MDR bacteria. Following previous reports on the activity of phenothiazines against mechanisms of bacterial resistance, in this work we focus on the synthesis of xanthene derivatives aiming to discover phenothiazine bioisosteres with improved activity. Four compounds were obtained from the conjugation of xanthydrol with sulfonamides and aniline and were fully characterized. Their antibacterial activity was assessed considering their minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) against Gram-positive and Gram-negative strains, efflux pump inhibition, influence on biofilm formation and quorum-sensing (QS) inhibition. It was observed that the MIC of all the tested compounds was above 64 µg/mL The four 9-xanthenyl derivatives obtained, particularly the xanthene sulfonamide derivatives 3b and 3c, showed promising results on QS inhibition with a reduction of pigment production of 48 and 41 mm, and on biofilm formation with a reduction of 78 and 79%, respectively.
Clinical Modelling of RVHF Using Pre-Operative Variables: A Direct and Inverse Feature Extraction Technique
Authors: Uzun Ozsahin Dilber , Balcioglu Ozlem , Usman Abdullahi Garba , Ikechukwu Emegano Declan , Uzun Berna , Abba Sani Isah , Ozsahin Ilker , Yagdi Tahir , Engin Cagatay
Published: December 2022

Right ventricular heart failure (RVHF) mostly occurs due to the failure of the left-side of the heart. RVHF is a serious disease that leads to swelling of the abdomen, ankles, liver, kidneys, and gastrointestinal (GI) tract. A total of 506 heart-failure subjects from the Faculty of Medicine, Cardiovascular Surgery Department, Ege University, Turkey, who suffered from a severe heart failure and are currently receiving support from a ventricular assistance device, were involved in the current study. Therefore, the current study explored the application of both the direct and inverse modelling approaches, based on the correlation analysis feature extraction performance of various pre-operative variables of the subjects, for the prediction of RVHF. The study equally employs both single and hybrid paradigms for the prediction of RVHF using different pre-operative variables. The visualized and quantitative performance of the direct and inverse modelling approach indicates the robust prediction performance of the hybrid paradigms over the single techniques in both the calibration and validation steps. Whereby, the quantitative performance of the hybrid techniques, based on the Nash–Sutcliffe coefficient (NC) metric, depicts its superiority over the single paradigms by up to 58.7%/75.5% and 80.3%/51% for the calibration/validation phases in the direct and inverse modelling approaches, respectively. Moreover, to the best knowledge of the authors, this is the first study to report the implementation of direct and inverse modelling on clinical data. The findings of the current study indicates the possibility of applying these novel hybridised paradigms for the prediction of RVHF using pre-operative variables.
Evaluating the Feasibility of Machine-Learning-Based Predictive Models for Precancerous Cervical Lesions in Patients Referred for Colposcopy
Authors: Chen Mingyang , Wang Jiaxu , Xue Peng , Li Qing , Jiang Yu , Qiao Youlin
Published: December 2022

Background: Colposcopy plays an essential role in cervical cancer control, but its performance remains unsatisfactory. This study evaluates the feasibility of machine learning (ML) models for predicting high-grade squamous intraepithelial lesions or worse (HSIL+) in patients referred for colposcopy by combining colposcopic findings with demographic and screening results. Methods: In total, 7485 patients who underwent colposcopy examination in seven hospitals in mainland China were used to train, internally validate, and externally validate six commonly used ML models, including logistic regression, decision tree, naïve bayes, support vector machine, random forest, and extreme gradient boosting. Nine variables, including age, gravidity, parity, menopause status, cytological results, high-risk human papillomavirus (HR-HPV) infection type, HR-HPV multi-infection, transformation zone (TZ) type, and colposcopic impression, were used for model construction. Results: Colposcopic impression, HR-HPV results, and cytology results were the top three variables that determined model performance among all included variables. In the internal validation set, six ML models that integrated demographics, screening results, and colposcopic impression showed significant improvements in the area under the curve (AUC) (0.067 to 0.099) and sensitivity (11.55% to 14.88%) compared with colposcopists. Greater increases in AUC (0.087 to 0.119) and sensitivity (17.17% to 22.08%) were observed in the six models with the external validation set. Conclusions: By incorporating demographics, screening results, and colposcopic impressions, ML improved the AUC and sensitivity for detecting HSIL+ in patients referred for colposcopy. Such models could transform the subjective experience into objective judgments to help clinicians make decisions at the time of colposcopy examinations.
Diagnostic Value of Oral Provocation Tests in Drug Hypersensitivity Reactions Induced by Nonsteroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs and Paracetamol
Authors: Popiolek Iwona , Blasiak Magdalena , Kozak Aleksandra , Pietak Ewelina , Bulanda Malgorzata , Porebski Grzegorz
Published: December 2022

Oral drug provocation tests (DPT) are the basic diagnostic tool for the detection of hypersensitivity to non-opioid analgesics and for selecting a safe alternative for a patient. They are of great practical importance due to their common use, but the data on the follow-up of patients after negative DPT are still very scarce. We examined the further fate of 164 such adult patients after negative NSAID or paracetamol tests and analyzed which excipients in the studied drugs they could be exposed to after the diagnostic workup. A structured medical interview was performed 32.9 months (mean) after the provocation tests. Of the 164 patients, 131 (79.9%) retook the tested drug and 12 developed another hypersensitivity reaction, giving the estimated negative predictive value of 90.8%. These reactions were induced by acetylsalicylic acid, paracetamol, meloxicam, and diclofenac, and were clinically similar to the initial ones (most commonly urticaria and angioedema). There are 93 generics of these drugs on the local market, containing a total of 33 excipients for which hypersensitivity reactions have been reported. All available generics contain such excipients. Thirty-one patients (20.1%) did not take the previously tested drug again, most often because it was not needed or because they were afraid of another reaction. DPT with analgesics has a high diagnostic performance. A minority of patients had relapsed after reexposure. One of the underestimated reasons for this may be drug excipients provoking a reaction, so it is advisable to use exactly the same medical product that has been negatively tested. Many patients avoid reexposure to a given drug, despite negative tests, therefore very reliable patient education in connection with DPT is highly needed.
Automatic Feature Segmentation in Dental Periapical Radiographs
Authors: Ari Tugba , Sağlam Hande , Öksüzoğlu Hasan , Kazan Orhan , Bayrakdar İbrahim Şevki , Duman Suayip Burak , Çelik Özer , Jagtap Rohan , Futyma-Gąbka Karolina , Różyło-Kalinowska Ingrid , Orhan Kaan
Published: December 2022

While a large number of archived digital images make it easy for radiology to provide data for Artificial Intelligence (AI) evaluation; AI algorithms are more and more applied in detecting diseases. The aim of the study is to perform a diagnostic evaluation on periapical radiographs with an AI model based on Convoluted Neural Networks (CNNs). The dataset includes 1169 adult periapical radiographs, which were labelled in CranioCatch annotation software. Deep learning was performed using the U-Net model implemented with the PyTorch library. The AI models based on deep learning models improved the success rate of carious lesion, crown, dental pulp, dental filling, periapical lesion, and root canal filling segmentation in periapical images. Sensitivity, precision and F1 scores for carious lesion were 0.82, 0.82, and 0.82, respectively; sensitivity, precision and F1 score for crown were 1, 1, and 1, respectively; sensitivity, precision and F1 score for dental pulp, were 0.97, 0.87 and 0.92, respectively; sensitivity, precision and F1 score for filling were 0.95, 0.95, and 0.95, respectively; sensitivity, precision and F1 score for the periapical lesion were 0.92, 0.85, and 0.88, respectively; sensitivity, precision and F1 score for root canal filling, were found to be 1, 0.96, and 0.98, respectively. The success of AI algorithms in evaluating periapical radiographs is encouraging and promising for their use in routine clinical processes as a clinical decision support system.
Physical Activity Levels during Therapeutic Camp Activities in Youth with Disabilities in the United States
Authors: Nocera Vincenzo G. , Kybartas Tyler J. , Wozencroft Angela J. , Coe Dawn P.
Published: December 2022

Youth with developmental disabilities (DD) face challenges that may impact their participation in physical activity. One of the biggest challenges is the availability of opportunities to engage in activities that are adapted for youth with DD. In addition, due to challenges with current physical activity assessment methods for youth with DD, the activity levels during modified activities remain unclear. The purpose of this investigation was to determine the activity levels of youth with DD during structured and unstructured activities offered during a therapeutic camp. This camp was a five-day, overnight experience in an outdoor camp center in the southeastern region of the U.S. Youth (n = 29; 14.6 ± 3.9 years) with more than one DD and with varying abilities wore accelerometers while they engaged in 13 activities of varying categories (functional/gross motor, game, sociodramatic, fine motor, free play) and contexts (ropes, horses, outdoor adventure, music and movement, yoga, come on down, sports and games, theatre, cabin challenge, arts, cooking, mad science, free play). Activity level varied by activity category and context and the intensity level of the majority of the camp activities was classified as either sedentary or light. There was a time course effect on activity; most activities resulted in a gradual decline over the session, except for cooking, sports and games, and free play. This therapeutic camp provided an opportunity for youth to engage in physical activity that would be classified as light intensity. The activities available at this camp were designed to address specific goals and objectives and provided enrichment opportunities (e.g., life skills, social skills) for youth to obtain multiple skills while using movement as a framework to deliver the content.
The Impact of a 1-Year COVID-19 Extension on Undergraduate Dentistry in Dundee: Final Year Students’ Perspectives of Their Training in Oral Surgery
Authors: Macluskey Michaelina , Anderson Angela S. , Shepherd Simon D.
Published: December 2022

Background: The detrimental impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on dental education prompted the Scottish Government to fund an additional year to the dental course to ensure that the students had the necessary clinical experience. The aim of the study was to better understand the final year student perceptions of this extension on their oral surgery experience at the University of Dundee. Methods: This mixed methods study consisted of an anonymous online questionnaire and a focus group. Results: Forty-one students (69.3%) completed the questionnaire and ten students participated in the focus group. Thirty-six (88.8%) students agreed that the oral surgery teaching provided sufficient knowledge to undertake independent practice. All of the students felt confident to carry out an extraction, and the majority of them (n = 40, 95%) felt confident to remove a retained root, however, their confidence with surgery was lower. Conclusion: The extension gave the students sufficient experience in oral surgery to gain confidence in clinical skills and an appropriate level of knowledge in preparation for the next phase of their career. Most of the students agreed that the extension was necessary and beneficial. This cohort graduated with more oral surgery experience than any of the students did in the previous 4 years from Dundee and with experience that was comparable with the students at other schools in the pre-COVID-19 era.
Comparison of Non-Uniform Image Quality Caused by Anode Heel Effect between Two Digital Radiographic Systems Using a Circular Step-Wedge Phantom and Mutual Information
Authors: Chang Ching-Ting , Chou Ming-Chung
Published: December 2022

The purpose of this study was to compare non-uniform image quality caused by the anode heel effect between two radiographic systems using a circular step-wedge (CSW) phantom and the normalized mutual information (nMI) metric. Ten repeated radiographic images of the CSW and contrast-detail resolution (CDR) phantoms were acquired from two digital radiographic systems with 16- and 12-degree anode angles, respectively, using various kVp and mAs. To compare non-uniform image quality, the CDR phantom was physically rotated at different orientations, and the directional nMI metrics were calculated from the CSW images. The directional visible ratio (VR) metrics were calculated from the CDR images. Analysis of variance (ANOVA) was performed to understand whether the nMI metric significantly changed with kVp, mAs, and orientations with Bonferroni correction. Mann–Whitney’s U test was performed to compare the metrics between the two systems. Contrary to the VR metrics, the nMI metrics significantly changed with orientations in both radiographic systems. In addition, the system with the 12-degree anode angle exhibited less uniform image quality compared to the system with the 16-degree anode angle. A CSW phantom using the directional nMI metric can be significantly helpful to compare non-uniform image quality between two digital radiographic systems.
Do Aid for Trade Flows Help Reduce the Shadow Economy in Recipient Countries?
Authors: Gnangnon Sèna Kimm
Published: December 2022

The present analysis assessed the effect of Aid-for-Trade (AfT) flows on the shadow economy using an unbalanced panel dataset of 106 countries over the period of 2002 to 2015. The empirical results obtained by means of the two-step system generalized method of moments showed that higher AfT flows were associated with a decrease in the size of the shadow economy, with less developed countries experiencing a greater negative effect of AfT flows on the shadow economy than relatively advanced countries among recipient countries of AfT flows. AfT interventions reduced the size of the shadow economy in countries that faced high trade costs as well as in those that experienced a depreciation in the real exchange rate. Finally, AfT interventions reduced the size of the shadow economy in countries that improved economic sophistication.
Impact of Sport Education Model on Sports Lifestyle and Attitudes of Vocational Education Training Students
Authors: Giménez-Meseguer Jorge , Ferriz-Valero Alberto , Baena-Morales Salvador
Published: December 2022

The Sport Education Model (SEM) presents a wide background in the teaching of Physical Education and Sport. This is one of the most studied pedagogical models in the last decade in primary and secondary education. However, the studies of this model that are implemented in Vocational Education and Training within the family of Physical Activities and Sports are limited. For this reason, the aim of the present research was to examine the effect of the application of the SEM on motivation and Basic Psychological Needs (BPN). Secondarily, the effect on the social climate of the group, the development of emotions during the intervention, or the students’ perception of possible aspects of improvement of the model were studied. A total of 50 students (19.83 ± 3.20) followed a mixed methodology for 12 sessions. To achieve the objectives, the Spanish version of the Sport Motivation Scale questionnaire and the BPN Measurement scale were used. On a qualitative level, semi-structured interviews were conducted with all participants of the study. The results showed that the SEM was very well accepted by the students, who were fully satisfied with the activity. It was also considered a fun intervention, generating good socio-affective relationships, and was useful and practical for their training as future sports coaches. The intervention seemed to have a positive effect on student motivation, although with inconsistent results in the quantitative analysis of this study. Despite the encouraging results obtained, further research is needed to deepen the effect of SE as a key model in the teaching-learning process.
Probabilistic Analysis of an RL Circuit Transient Response under Inductor Failure Conditions
Authors: Farooq-i-Azam Muhammad , Khan Zeashan Hameed , Hassan Syed Raheel , Asif Rameez
Published: December 2022

We apply probability theory for the analysis of the exponentially decaying transient response of a resistor inductor electric circuit with partially known value of the inductance due to its failure. The inductance is known to be within a continuous interval, and the exact value is unknown, which may happen as a result of inductor faults due to a variety of factors—for example, when the circuit is deployed in an unusually harsh environment. We consider the inductance as a continuous uniform random variable for our analysis, and the transient voltage is treated as a derived random variable which is a function of the inductance random variable. Using this approach, a probability model of the transient voltage at the output terminals of the circuit is derived in terms of its cumulative distribution function and the probability density function. In our work, we further elaborate that the probability model of any other circuit parameter can also be obtained in a similar manner, or it can be derived from the transient voltage probability model. This is demonstrated by getting the model of a branch current from the probability distribution of the transient voltage. Usage of the probability model is demonstrated with the help of examples. The probability of the transient voltage falling in a certain interval at a given instant of time is evaluated. Similarly, the probability values of the branch current in different intervals are determined and analyzed. The derived probability model is checked for its validity and correctness as well. The model is found to be useful for probabilistic analysis of the circuit.
Photoluminescence Properties of InAs Quantum Dots Overgrown by a Low-Temperature GaAs Layer under Different Arsenic Pressures
Authors: Balakirev Sergey , Chernenko Natalia , Kryzhanovskaya Natalia , Shandyba Nikita , Kirichenko Danil , Dragunova Anna , Komarov Sergey , Zhukov Alexey , Solodovnik Maxim
Published: December 2022

We studied the influence of the arsenic pressure during low-temperature GaAs overgrowth of InAs quantum dots on their optical properties. In the photoluminescence spectrum of quantum dots overgrown at a high arsenic pressure, we observed a single broad line corresponding to unimodal size distribution of quantum dots. Meanwhile, two distinct peaks (~1080 and ~1150 nm) at larger wavelengths are found in the spectra of samples with quantum dots overgrown at a low arsenic pressure. We attributed this phenomenon to the high-pressure suppression of atom diffusion between InAs islands at the overgrowth stage, which makes it possible to preserve the initial unimodal size distribution of quantum dots. The same overgrowth of quantum dots at the low arsenic pressure induces intensive mass transfer, which leads to the formation of arrays of quantum dots with larger sizes. Integrated photoluminescence intensity at 300 K is found to be lower for quantum dots overgrown at the higher arsenic pressure. However, a difference in the photoluminescence intensity for the high- and low-pressure overgrowths is not so significant for a temperature of 77 K. This indicates that excess arsenic incorporates into the capping layer at high arsenic pressures and creates numerous nonradiative recombination centers, diminishing the photoluminescence intensity.
A Review on Up-to-Date Gearbox Technologies and Maintenance of Tidal Current Energy Converters
Authors: Li Gang , Zhu Weidong
Published: December 2022

This paper presents a review-based comparative study of state-of-the-art technologies, technical challenges and research barriers, and development trends of gearboxes used in tidal current energy converters (TCECs). Currently, the development of commercial projects using TCECs is still in the demonstration phase. While many drivetrain designs and configurations of TCECs inherit from those of wind turbines, different operational constraints, e.g., high-torque and low-speed conditions, make TCECs potentially suffer from high failure rates in harsh deep-sea environments. Evidence of these potentially high failure rates highlights the need for adopting the most resilient drivetrain options with a high degree of maintainability. The gearbox option is a critical issue that needs to be addressed for the choice of the drivetrain configuration due to its longest downtime per failure among all drivetrain components of TCECs. The main purpose of this study is to review current gearbox technologies of TCECs with advantages and disadvantages as well as to identify future technical challenges and research barriers. Gearbox maintenance is also a focal point in this study. We present a discussion of the operation phase to highlight operational maintenance methods currently used in the tidal energy industry. This study will, therefore, address the critical issue by proposing a review-based gearbox option comparison and discussing potential solutions to reduce operation and maintenance costs of gearboxes of TCECs.
A Study on the Development of a Novel ESS Simulation Model for Transmission-Level Power-System Analysis
Authors: Yoon Dong-Hee
Published: December 2022

Thanks to technological advances, the number of large-scale ESS applications is increasing in power systems. Therefore, the need for an ESS model to analyze the effect through simulation has also increased. In this study, an ESS analysis model was developed for transmission-level power-system analysis. The developed model has a relatively uncomplicated configuration compared to the previous model. The ESS model was developed in a form that can be exploited in the PSS®E, commercial power-system analysis program. The programming language FORTRAN was used for model development. A detailed process and necessary data for the model development are described. The operation of the developed ESS model was verified through simulation using two test systems. The results of this study can be used for power-system analysis and as reference material for model development.
A Review of Energy Industry Chain and Energy Supply Chain
Authors: Zhang Lijing , Fu Shuke , Tian Jiali , Peng Jiachao
Published: December 2022

The reduction of carbon emissions from the energy industry chain and the coordinated development of the energy supply chain have attracted widespread attention. This paper conducts a systematic review of the existing literature on the energy industry chain and energy supply chain. Based on the analytical results, this paper finds that research gaps exist in the studies of energy consumption structure and resource consumption in energy industry chain. In addition, the studies of coordinated operation mechanisms, risk control and the impact of government policies on the energy supply chain still have some shortcomings. Furthermore, this paper shows that the exploitation and utilization of renewable energy and the sustainable development of the energy industry chain and supply chain have become the major focus of scholars and governments in recent years. Accordingly, this article finally presents the future research prospects and provides managerial insights for policy makers and enterprise managers to accelerate the development of renewable energy resources and to achieve green, low-carbon, coordinated and sustainable development.
Robust Approach to Battery Equivalent-Circuit-Model Parameter Extraction Using Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy
Authors: Abaspour Marzia , Pattipati Krishna R. , Shahrrava Behnam , Balasingam Balakumar
Published: December 2022

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is a well-established method of battery analysis, where the response of a battery to either a voltage or current excitation signal spanning a wide frequency spectrum is measured and analyzed. State-of-the-art EIS analysis is limited to high-precision measurement systems within laboratory environments. In order to be relevant in practical applications, EIS analysis needs to be carried out with low-cost sensors, which suffer from high levels of measurement noise. This article presents an approach to estimate the equivalent circuit model (ECM) parameters of a Li-Ion battery pack based on EIS measurements in the presence of high levels of noise. The proposed algorithm consists of a fast Fourier transform, feature extraction, curve fitting, and least-squares estimation. The results of the proposed parameter-estimation algorithm are compared to that of recent work for objective performance comparison. The error analysis of the proposed approach, in comparison to the existing approach, demonstrated significant improvement in parameter estimation accuracy in low signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) regions. Results show that the proposed algorithm significantly outperforms the previous method under high-measurement-noise scenarios without requiring a significant increase in computational resources.
Enhanced Virtual Inertia Control for Microgrids with High-Penetration Renewables Based on Whale Optimization
Authors: Faragalla Asmaa , Abdel-Rahim Omar , Orabi Mohamed , Abdelhameed Esam H.
Published: December 2022

High penetration of renewable energy sources into isolated microgrids (µGs) is considered a critical challenge, as µGs’ operation at low inertia results in frequency stability problems. To solve this challenge, virtual inertia control based on an energy storage system is applied to enhance the inertia and damping properties of the µG. On the other hand, utilization of a phase-locked loop (PLL) is indispensable for measuring system frequency; however, its dynamics, such as measurement delay and noise generation, cause extra deterioration of frequency stability. In this paper, to improve µG frequency stability and minimize the impact of PLL dynamics, a new optimal frequency control technique is proposed. A whale optimization algorithm is used to enhance the virtual inertia control loop by optimizing the parameters of the virtual inertia controller with consideration of PLL dynamics and the uncertainties of system inertia. The proposed controller has been validated through comparisons with an optimized virtual inertia PI controller which is tuned utilizing MATLAB internal model control methodology and with H∞-based virtual inertia control. The results show the effectiveness of the proposed controller against different operating conditions and system disturbances and uncertainties.
A Systematic Literature Review of Non-Compliance with Low-Carbon Building Regulations
Authors: Lu Yi , Karunasena Gayani , Liu Chunlu
Published: December 2022

Low-carbon building regulations are acknowledged as critical instruments to facilitate the building industry’s decarbonization transition. However, recent studies have shown that non-compliance with low-carbon requirements is under-researched, leading to a significant divergence between policy intentions and actual performance. In light of this, the paper aims to provide a synthesis of existing research on non-compliance with low-carbon building regulations. It does this using a systematic literature review combined with bibliometric and text mining techniques. Through reviewing 26 scholarly works from the last decade, the paper demonstrates a peak production year around 2015, the year of the Paris Agreement, with the USA and Australia as key countries of concern. Subsequently, the study reveals three focused research areas: the development of building policy during the low-carbon transition; the role of building energy performance requirements in achieving low-carbon buildings; and building energy code compliance. Findings suggest widespread non-compliance with building energy codes and also indicate influencing factors and associated enhancement strategies. Finally, the paper identifies gaps in the investigation of new forms of building energy codes; an inconsistent conception of compliance; and a lack of understanding in building practitioners’ compliance behavior. The study contributes to knowledge by providing future research areas in this under-researched topic and by successfully applying both bibliometric and text mining analysis in the construction management domain. This is found to have advantages in terms of time efficiency and objectivity. It also offers practical implications for industry by minimizing the gap between policy intentions and real compliance performance.