bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Simplified Analytical Model for FRP-Strengthened Curved Brittle Substrates Using the Multi-Linear Bond-Slip Law
Authors: Yuan Yu , Milani Gabriele
Published: October 2023

The utilization of fiber-reinforced polymer (FRP) composites for building reinforcement has gained widespread acceptance. However, the bond behavior between externally applied composites and strengthened substrates, which are crucial for system efficacy, has primarily focused on flat surfaces. Yet, the challenge of curved substrates, common in masonry arches and vaults, remains less explored. This study introduces a classical analytical model addressing the bond behavior between FRP plates and curved substrates. This classical approach is structured upon a simplified model that concentrates all the non-linearities of the FRP–substrate interface. The interface is described through a universal multi-linear stress–slip relationship, with the influence of the curved substrate being considered by the normal stress that impacts the interface law. Closed-form solutions for distinct bond-slip law stages are derived and verified against the previous study. Through comparisons with existing experimental data and simulations, this approach is able to predict the maximum load, the trends of the global load-slip curves, and give insights into detailed local behavior. Additionally, the exploration of employing neural networks for determining the interface law exhibits promising outcomes.
The Impact of New infrastructure Construction on Optimization and Upgrading of Industrial Structure
Authors: Wu Wei , Ji Zheng , Liang Han
Published: October 2023

Industrial optimization is needed as China’s economy moves toward high-quality growth. The construction of new infrastructure, driven by new development concepts and patterns, facilitates industrial optimization. This study aims to explore the impact and mechanisms of new infrastructure construction on industrial structure optimization. The index of industrial structure upgrading and the pace of industrial transformation were calculated using panel data from 266 prefecture-level cities, which spanned from 2011 to 2018. This study uses two-way fixed effects and mediation effect methodologies to experimentally investigate the impact of new infrastructure construction on the optimization of industrial structure, while also considering possible endogeneity concerns. We found that new infrastructure building promotes industrial transformation and urban industrial structure upgrading. These results pass robustness and endogeneity testing. However, the impact of new infrastructure construction on industrial structure upgrading varies across cities. There is a significant driving effect in economically larger cities with better traditional infrastructure, and those in the eastern region. Smaller cities and those with inferior infrastructure have less impact. New infrastructure construction optimizes urban industrial structures through technological innovation and professional agglomeration, according to mediation effect study. Diversified agglomeration does not significantly upgrade industrial structures. The limitations of our model include the fact that the data does not describe industrial structural dynamics and it does not apply on other geographic scales. We illuminate the intricate connection between new infrastructure and industry upgrading by including city heterogeneity and the mediating impacts of technical innovation and professional clustering.
MTH1 Inhibition Alleviates Immune Suppression and Enhances the Efficacy of Anti-PD-L1 Immunotherapy in Experimental Mesothelioma
Authors: Magkouta Sophia F. , Vaitsi Photene C. , Iliopoulou Marianthi P. , Pappas Apostolos G. , Kosti Chrysavgi N. , Psarra Katherina , Kalomenidis Ioannis T.
Published: October 2023

Background: MTH1 protects tumor cells and their supporting endothelium from lethal DNA damage triggered by oxidative stress in the tumor microenvironment, thus promoting tumor growth. The impact of MTH1 on the tumor-related immune compartment remains unknown. We hypothesized that MTH1 regulates immune fitness and therefore enhances the activity of currently used immunotherapeutic regimens. Methods: Our hypotheses were validated in two syngeneic murine mesothelioma models using the clinically relevant MTH1 inhibitor, karonudib. We also examined the effect of combined MTH1 and PD-L1 blockade in mesothelioma progression, focusing on the main immune players. Results: Karonudib administration enhances M1 macrophage polarization, stimulates CD8 expansion and promotes the activation of DC and T cells. Combined administration of PD-L1 and MTH1 inhibitors impairs mesothelioma tumor growth and mesothelioma-associated pleural effusion accumulation more effectively compared to each monotherapy. Conclusions: Combined MTH1 and PD-L1 inhibition holds promise for the successful clinical management of mesothelioma.
Zn-Cr Layered Double Hydroxides for Photocatalytic Transformation of CO2 under Visible Light Irradiation: The Effect of the Metal Ratio and Interlayer Anion
Authors: Gil-Gavilán Dolores G. , Cosano Daniel , Amaro-Gahete Juan , Castillo-Rodríguez Miguel , Esquivel Dolores , Ruiz José R. , Romero-Salguero Francisco J.
Published: October 2023

Carbon dioxide is the main gas responsible for the greenhouse effect. Over the last few years, the research focus of many studies has been to transform CO2 into valuable products (CO, HCOOH, HCHO, CH3OH and CH4), since it would contribute to mitigating global warming and environmental pollution. Layered double hydroxides (LDHs) are two-dimensional materials with high CO2 adsorption capacity and compositional flexibility with potential catalytic properties to be applied in CO2 reduction processes. Herein, Zn-Cr LDH-based materials with different metal ratio and interlayer anions, i.e., chloride (Cl−), graphene quantum dots (GQDs), sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and sodium deoxycholate (SDC), have been prepared by a co-precipitation method and characterized by different techniques. The influence of the interlayer inorganic and organic anions and the metal ratio on the application of Zn-Cr LDHs as catalysts for the photocatalytic CO2 reduction reaction under visible light irradiation is unprecedentedly reported. The catalytic tests have been carried out with Ru(bpy)32+ as photosensitizer (PS) and triethanolamine as sacrificial electron donor (ED) at λ = 450 nm. All LDHs materials exhibited good photocatalytic activity towards CO. Among them, LDH3-SDC showed the best catalytic performance, achieving 10,977 µmol CO g−1 at 24 h under visible light irradiation with a CO selectivity of 88%. This study provides pertinent findings about the modified physicochemical features of Zn-Cr LDHs, such as particle size, surface area and the nature of the interlayer anion, and how they influence the catalytic activity in CO2 photoreduction.
Immunity against Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer and the Effect of Immunosuppressive Medication on Non-Melanoma Skin Cancer Risk in Solid Organ Transplant Recipients
Authors: Bakker Dixie , Bakker Walbert J. , Bekkenk Marcel W. , Luiten Rosalie M.
Published: October 2023

Non-melanoma skin cancers (NMSCs) occur frequently in the Caucasian population and are considered a burden for health care. Risk factors include ultraviolet (UV) radiation, ethnicity and immunosuppression. The incidence of NMSC is significantly higher in solid organ transplant recipients (SOTRs) than in immunocompetent individuals, due to immunosuppressive medication use by SOTRs. While the immunosuppressive agents, calcineurin inhibitors and purine analogues increase the incidence of NMSC in transplant recipients, mTOR inhibitors do not. This is most likely due to the different immunological pathways that are inhibited by each class of drug. This review will focus on what is currently known about the immune response against cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC), two of the main types of NMSC. Furthermore, we will describe the different classes of immunosuppressants given to SOTRs, which part of the immune system they target and how they can contribute to NMSC development. The risk of developing NMSC in SOTRs is the result of a combination of inhibiting immunological pathways involved in immunosurveillance against NMSC and the direct (pro/anti) tumor effects of immunosuppressants.
CRISPR-Cas9 KO Cell Line Generation and Development of a Cell-Based Potency Assay for rAAV-FKRP Gene Therapy
Authors: Geoffroy Marine , Pili Louna , Buffa Valentina , Caroff Maëlle , Bigot Anne , Gicquel Evelyne , Rouby Grégory , Richard Isabelle , Fragnoud Romain
Published: October 2023

Limb-Girdle Muscular Dystrophy R9 (LGMDR9) is a dystroglycanopathy caused by Fukutin-related protein (FKRP) defects leading to the deficiency of α-DG glycosylation, essential to membrane integrity. Recombinant adeno-associated viral vector (rAAV) gene therapy offers great therapeutic promise for such neuromuscular disorders. Pre-clinical studies have paved the way for a phase 1/2 clinical trial aiming to evaluate the safety and efficacy of FKRP gene therapy in LGMDR9 patients. To demonstrate product activity, quality, and consistency throughout product and clinical development, regulatory authorities request several quality controls, including a potency assay aiming to demonstrate and quantify the intended biological effect of the gene therapy product. In the present study, we generated FKRP knock-out (KO) cells fully depleted of α-DG glycosylation using CRISPR-Cas9 to assess the functional activity of a rAAV-FKRP gene therapy. We then developed a high-throughput On-Cell-Western methodology to evaluate the restoration of α-DG glycosylation in KO-FKRP cells and determine the biological activity of the FKRP transgene. The determination of the half maximal effective concentration (EC50) provides a method to compare the rAAV-FKRP batch using a reference standard. The generation of KO-FKRP muscle cells associated with the high-throughput On-Cell-Western technique may serve as a cell-based potency assay to assess rAAV-FKRP gene therapy products.
Energy-Intensive Materials with Mechanically Activated Components
Authors: Ayagoz Bakkara , Bakhtiyar Sadykov , Aida Artykbaeva , Kaster Kamunur , Aisulu Batkal , Bakhyt Kalmuratova
Published: October 2023

The production and study of highly dispersed aluminum-based powders represents one of contemporary science’s priority fields. This is primarily driven by the practical necessity to develop new materials, a feat that, in some cases, can only be achieved through the utilization of powdered components. This article presents the results of the mechanochemical treatment method employed to obtain highly reactive aluminum particles. It also includes a comparative analysis of aluminum particles generated through various methods and their respective properties. Furthermore, the application of these highly reactive aluminum particles in energy-intensive materials is discussed.
Fabrication and Characterization of Poly(lactic acid)-Based Biopolymer for Surgical Sutures
Authors: Alhulaybi Zaid Abdulhamid
Published: October 2023

Medical sutures are important surgical aids for promoting wound closure and establishing the ideal environment for wound healing. Several key factors must be considered in medical sutures, including the material of choice for the wound closure, the type of injury (internal or external), the mechanical support required to sustain the closure, the causes of infection, and the suture’s thickness and absorbability. Therefore, this study focuses on producing absorbable surgical sutures from a bio-compatible polymer material called polylactic acid (PLA) along with a PLA–chitosan composite suture initially using the extrusion method followed by the stretching method. The experimental results showed that the PLA suture can be successfully produced and coated with chitosan. The resulting suture elongated up to 148% with an achieved crystallinity of 27%, along with a superior surgical tying and knotting quality. The average thickness of the PLA sutures and PLA sutures coated with chitosan were found to be 0.33 mm and 0.58 mm, respectively. The efficient biocompatibility and wound healing/closure of the sutures were practically deep-rooted using a human skin simulator and rat animal tissue. Based on the degradation study, the manufactured suture in this study proved its degradability in physiological saline water. After a period of 15 days, the sutures lost 50% of their weight and the pH decreased from 6.49 to 4.42.
Efficient Metal-Free Oxidative C–H Amination for Accessing Dibenzoxazepinones via μ-Oxo Hypervalent Iodine Catalysis
Authors: Sasa Hirotaka , Hamatani Syotaro , Hirashima Mayu , Takenaga Naoko , Hanasaki Tomonori , Dohi Toshifumi
Published: October 2023

Dibenzoxazepinones exhibit unique biological activities and serve as building blocks for synthesizing pharmaceutical compounds. Despite remarkable advancements in organic chemistry and recent developments in synthetic approaches to dibenzoxazepinone motifs, there is a strong demand for more streamlined synthesis methods. The application of the catalytic C–H amination strategy, which enables the direct transformation of inert aromatic C–H bonds into C–N bonds, offers a rapid route to access dibenzoxazepinone frameworks. Hypervalent-iodine-catalyzed oxidative C–H amination has the potential to become an effective approach for synthesizing dibenzoxazepinones. In this study, we present our method of employing μ-oxo hypervalent iodine catalysis for intramolecular oxidative C–H amination of O-aryl salicylamides, facilitating the synthesis of target dibenzoxazepinone derivatives bearing various functional groups in a highly efficient manner.
Chemical, Thermal, and Mechanical Properties of Sulfur Polymer Composites Comprising Low-Value Fats and Pozzolan Additives
Authors: Lopez Claudia V. , Derr Katelyn M. , Smith Ashlyn D. , Tennyson Andrew G. , Smith Rhett C.
Published: October 2023

High sulfur-content materials (HSMs) formed via inverse vulcanization of elemental sulfur with animal fats and/or plant oils can exhibit remarkable mechanical strength and chemical resistance, sometimes superior to commercial building products. Adding pozzolan fine materials—fly ash (FA), silica fume (SF), ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBFS), or metakaolin (MK)—can further improve HSM mechanical properties and stability. Herein, we detail nine materials comprised of rancidified chicken fat, elemental sulfur, and canola or sunflower oil (to yield CFS or GFS, respectively) and, with or without FA, SF, GGBFS, or MK. The base HSMs, CFS90 or GFS90, contained 90 wt% sulfur, 5 wt% chicken fat, and 5 wt% canola or sunflower oil, respectively. For each HSM/fine combination, the resulting material was prepared using a 95:5 mass input ratio of HSM/fine. No material exhibited water uptake >0.2 wt% after immersion in water for 24 h, significantly lower than the 28 wt% observed with ordinary Portland cement (OPC). Impressively, CFS90, GFS90, and all HSM/fine combinations exhibited compressive strength values 15% to 55% greater than OPC. After immersion in 0.5 M H2SO4, CFS90, GFS90, and its derivatives retained 90% to 171% of the initial strength of OPC, whereas OPC disintegrated under these conditions. CFS90, GFS90, and its derivatives collectively show promise as sustainable materials and materials with superior performance versus concrete.
Origin Authentication of European and American Ash (Fraxinus spp.) Based on Stable Isotope Ratio and Elemental Characteristics Combined with Chemometrics Methods
Authors: Wang Haibo , Liu Huahong , Lu Bo , Ma Ming , Chen Jianguo , Nie Jinfang
Published: October 2023

The research into and applications of wood origin traceability technology are of great significance for promoting the standardization and legality of the global timber trade. This paper focuses on analyzing the content of ten mineral elements and the ratios of stable isotopes δ13C and δ15N in ash samples. Furthermore, multivariate statistical analysis was conducted to assess the clusters and differences in mineral elements, as well as δ13C and δ15N, among the samples, for identifying the different factors used to trace the origin of ash imported from different regions. Through unsupervised clustering and supervised discriminant modeling, a highly accurate method for discriminant analysis was developed. The results reveal significant differences (p < 0.05) in the contents of Mg, Cu, and Sr, as well as δ15N, between European and American samples. Additionally, the normalized results of mineral elements and isotope ratios were then subjected to partial least squares–discriminant analysis (PLS-DA), resulting in the highest level of separation. This analysis achieved an overall accuracy of 96.2% in discriminating between samples of European and American ash. The chemometrics analysis method integrating stable isotope analysis with elemental analysis exhibited potential for discriminating between samples from European and American ash.
Fabrication of Large-Area Ordered Au Nano-Ring Arrays for the Electrochemical Removal and Sensing of Rhodamine 6G Molecules
Authors: Cao Xun
Published: October 2023

To understand the formation process of ordered Au nano-ring arrays (NRA), a series of factors—including etchant gas and flow rate, chamber pressure and RF power—were systematically studied and a set of optimum parameters were deduced to fabricate this interesting structure. With plenty of active sites previously reported, a new role of ordered Au NRA is unlocked in this work. The ordered Au NRA could perform the electrochemical removal of rhodamine 6G (R-6G) at a high concentration in seawater within 12 min and complete discoloration within 9 min, which demonstrates ~7 times efficiency improvement from previous studies. The nanostructured surface also makes the ordered Au NRA a good substrate material in R-6G sensing using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy, which performs with better accuracy than the ultraviolet–visible light technique.
Hypoxia and HIF-1α Regulate the Activity and Expression of Na,K-ATPase Subunits in H9c2 Cardiomyoblasts
Authors: Gurler Beyza , Gencay Gizem , Baloglu Emel
Published: October 2023

The optimal function of the Na,K-ATPase (NKA) pump is essential for the heart. In ischemic heart disease, NKA activity decreases due to the decreased expression of the pump subunits. Here, we tested whether the hypoxia-inducible transcription factor (HIF-1α), the key signaling molecule regulating the adaptation of cells to hypoxia, is involved in controlling the expression and cellular dynamics of α1- and β1-NKA isoforms and of NKA activity in in-vitro hypoxic H9c2 cardiomyoblasts. HIF-1α was silenced through adenoviral infection, and cells were kept in normoxia (19% O2) or hypoxia (1% O2) for 24 h. We investigated the mRNA and protein expression of α1-, β1-NKA using RT-qPCR and Western blot in whole-cell lysates, cell membranes, and cytoplasmic fractions after labeling the cell surface with NHS-SS-biotin and immunoprecipitation. NKA activity and intracellular ATP levels were also measured. We found that in hypoxia, silencing HIF-1α prevented the decreased mRNA expression of α1-NKA but not of β1-NKA. Hypoxia decreased the plasma membrane expression of α1-NKA and β1- NKA compared to normoxic cells. In hypoxic cells, HIF-1α silencing prevented this effect by inhibiting the internalization of α1-NKA. Total protein expression was not affected. The decreased activity of NKA in hypoxic cells was fully prevented by silencing HIF-1α independent of cellular ATP levels. This study is the first to show that in hypoxic H9c2 cardiomyoblasts, HIF-1α controls the internalization and membrane insertion of α1-NKA subunit and of NKA activity. The mechanism behind this regulation needs further investigation.
Changes of Signaling Pathways in Hypothalamic Neurons with Aging
Authors: Masliukov Petr M.
Published: October 2023

The hypothalamus is an important regulator of autonomic and endocrine functions also involved in aging regulation. The aging process in the hypothalamus is accompanied by disturbed intracellular signaling including insulin/insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1)/growth hormone (GH), phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphosphate 3-kinase (PI3K)/protein kinase B (AKT)/the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), mitogen activated protein kinase (MAPK), janus kinase (JAK)/signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT), AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-ĸB), and nitric oxide (NO). In the current review, I have summarized the current understanding of the changes in the above-mentioned pathways in aging with a focus on hypothalamic alterations.
Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy Adjuvant Chemotherapy and Radiotherapy through Inhibiting Stemness in Glioblastoma
Authors: Yuen Chun-Man , Tsai Hung-Pei , Tseng Tzu-Ting , Tseng Yu-Lung , Lieu Ann-Shung , Kwan Aij-Lie , Chang Alice Y. W.
Published: October 2023

Glioblastoma multiforme (GBM) is the most common and deadliest primary brain tumor in adults. Despite the advances in GBM treatment, outcomes remain poor, with a 2-year survival rate of less than 5%. Hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy is an intermittent, high-concentration, short-term oxygen therapy used to increase cellular oxygen content. In this study, we evaluated the effects of HBO therapy, alone or combined with other treatment modalities, on GBM in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro analysis, we used a 3-(4,5-Dimethylthiazol-2-yl)-2,5-diphenyltetrazolium bromide (MTT) assay to assess the effects of HBO therapy alone, a colony formation assay to analyze the effects of HBO therapy combined with radiotherapy and with temozolomide (TMZ), and a neurosphere assay to assess GBM stemness. In the in vivo analysis, we used immunohistochemical staining and in vivo bioluminescence imaging to assess GBM stemness and the therapeutic effect of HBO therapy alone or combined with TMZ or radiotherapy, respectively. HBO therapy did not affect GBM cell viability, but it did reduce the analyzed tumors’ ability to form cancer stem cells. In addition, HBO therapy increased GBM sensitivity to TMZ and radiotherapy both in vitro and in vivo. HBO therapy did not enhance tumor growth and exhibited adjuvant effects to chemotherapy and radiotherapy through inhibiting GBM stemness. In conclusion, HBO therapy shows promise as an adjuvant treatment for GBM by reducing cancer stem cell formation and enhancing sensitivity to chemotherapy and radiotherapy.
The Response of Daily Carbon Dioxide and Water Vapor Fluxes to Temperature and Precipitation Extremes in Temperate and Boreal Forests
Authors: Gushchina Daria , Tarasova Maria , Satosina Elizaveta , Zheleznova Irina , Emelianova Ekaterina , Gibadullin Ravil , Osipov Alexander , Olchev Alexander
Published: October 2023

Forest ecosystems in the mid-latitudes of the Northern Hemisphere are significantly affected by frequent extreme weather events. How different forest ecosystems respond to these changes is a major challenge. This study aims to assess differences in the response of daily net ecosystem exchange (NEE) of CO2 and latent heat flux (LE) between different boreal and temperate ecosystems and the atmosphere to extreme weather events (e.g., anomalous temperature and precipitation). In order to achieve the main objective of our study, we used available reanalysis data and existing information on turbulent atmospheric fluxes and meteorological parameters from the global and regional FLUXNET databases. The analysis of NEE and LE responses to high/low temperature and precipitation revealed a large diversity of flux responses in temperate and boreal forests, mainly related to forest type, geographic location, regional climate conditions, and plant species composition. During the warm and cold seasons, the extremely high temperatures usually lead to increased CO2 release in all forest types, with the largest response in coniferous forests. The decreasing air temperatures that occur during the warm season mostly lead to higher CO2 uptake, indicating more favorable conditions for photosynthesis at relatively low summer temperatures. The extremely low temperatures in the cold season are not accompanied by significant NEE anomalies. The response of LE to temperature variations does not change significantly throughout the year, with higher temperatures leading to LE increases and lower temperatures leading to LE reductions. The immediate response to heavy precipitation is an increase in CO2 release and a decrease in evaporation. The cumulative effect of heavy precipitations is opposite to the immediate effect in the warm season and results in increased CO2 uptake due to intensified photosynthesis in living plants under sufficient soil moisture conditions.
Effects of Ni/MoS2, Ag and Cr2O3 on the Microstructure and Mechanical Performance of a CoCrFeNi High-Entropy Alloy over a Wide Temperature Range
Authors: Xu Chao , Liu Dandan , Zhang Chuanwei , Meng Siyu , Wang Bin
Published: October 2023

In the field of aerospace, core components require excellent wear resistance, lubrication and mechanical properties over a wide temperature range. In this study, three groups of CoCrFeNi high-entropy alloy (HEA)-based self-lubricating composites were designed with the addition of Ag, Ni/MoS2 and Cr2O3 using discharge-plasma-sintering technology. Their microstructure, phase composition, mechanical properties, friction and wear properties were analyzed. The results showed that, with the addition of Ag, the hardness and yield stress of HEA-Ni/MoS2-Ag were reduced by 36 HV and 24 MPa, respectively, while the plastic strain was increased by 2%. With the addition of Cr2O3, the hardness (382 HV) and yield stress (430 MPa) of HEA-Ni/MoS2-Ag-Cr2O3 reached their highest values, but the plastic strain reached its lowest value. HEA-Ni/MoS2-Ag-Cr2O3 had the smallest friction coefficient in which the friction coefficient at 800 °C was only 0.42. Additionally, it had a small wear rate of 3.2 × 10−6 mm3/Nm over a wide temperature range. At lower temperatures, Ni/MoS2 and Ag were conducive to lubrication, and the wear resistance was improved by the presence of Cr2O3. At high temperatures, a nickel oxide phase and a variety of silver molybdate phases were formed via a tribochemical reaction, which was vital to the high-temperature tribological properties.
Impact of Temperature Variations on the Entrapment of Bacterial Endotoxins in Aqueous Solutions of Four-Antennary Oligoglycines
Authors: Gyurova Anna Y. , Arabadzhieva Dimitrinka , Minkov Ivan , Nikolov Ljubomir , Mileva Elena
Published: October 2023

Specific self-assembly is registered in aqueous solution formulations based on four-antennary oligoglycines (T4), namely a spontaneous onset of highly ordered nanostructures—tectomers. This phenomenon is initiated by the action of hydrogen-bonding interactions that promote molecular recognition propensities involving Polyglycine-II-type non-canonical architecture. The result is the formation of positively charged supramolecular entities. These have high potential to capture bacterial endotoxins, like lipopolysaccharides (LPSs). By now, it has been established that the overall properties of these systems can be precisely regulated and gradually changed through fine-tuning the parameters in the aqueous environment (composition, pH, etc.). One unexplored option is to clarify the impact of temperature variations. The aim of the present study is to implement systematic investigations on how changes in temperature influence the various options for the removal of trace LPS quantities, captured by the T4 tectomers. The additional goal is to verify the possibility to develop consecutive paths of recovering the extra T4 quantities that have not participated in the formation of T4+LPS complexes. Some prospects for further applications, e.g., in medicine and pharmaceutics, are also generally outlined.
Novel Optimized Strategy Based on Multi-Next-Hops Election to Reduce Video Transmission Delay for GPSR Protocol over VANETs
Authors: Zaimi Imane , Boushaba Abdelali , Oumsis Mohammed , Jabir Brahim , Aabidi Moulay Hafid , EL Makrani Adil
Published: October 2023

Reducing transmission traffic delay is one of the most important issues that need to be considered for routing protocols, especially in the case of multimedia applications over vehicular ad hoc networks (VANET). To this end, we propose an extension of the FzGR (fuzzy geographical routing protocol), named MNH-FGR (multi-next-hops fuzzy geographical routing protocol). MNH-FGR is a multipath protocol that gains great extensibility by employing different link metrics and weight functions. To schedule multimedia traffic among multiple heterogeneous links, MNH-FGR integrates the weighted round-robin (WRR) scheduling algorithm, where the link weights, needed for scheduling, are computed using the multi-constrained QoS metric provided by the FzGR. The main goal is to ensure the stability of the network and the continuity of data flow during transmission. Simulation experiments with NS-2 are presented in order to validate our proposal. Additionally, we present a neural network algorithm to analyze and optimize the performance of routing protocols. The results show that MNH-FGR could satisfy critical multimedia applications with high on-time constraints. Also, the DNN model used can provide insights about which features had an impact on protocol performance.
Pd(II), Pd(III) and Pd(IV) Cyclometallated Compounds with 2-Arylpyridines and Their Derivatives or Analogues: 44 Years (1980–2023) of NMR and Single Crystal X-ray Studies
Authors: Pazderski Leszek , Abramov Pavel A.
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a review on Pd(II), Pd(III), and Pd(IV) cyclometallated compounds with 2-arylpyridines (2-phenylpyridine, 2-benzylpyridine, 2-benzoylpyridine, 2-phenoxypyridine, 2-phenylsulfanylpyridine, 2-anilinopyridine, 2-(naphth-1-yl)pyridine, 2-(naphth-2-yl)pyridine, and their derivatives) and their analogues (2-phenylquinoline and 7,8-benzoquinoline) with 174 references is presented. A total of 672 species, containing κ2-N(1),C(6′)*-palladium (Pd(II), Pd(III), Pd(IV)) or analogous moiety (i.e., chelated by nitrogen of the pyridine-like ring and the deprotonated ortho-carbon of the phenyl-like ring) and thus possessing a character intermediate between metal complexes and organometallics, studied in the years 1980–2023 by NMR spectroscopy and/or single crystal X-ray diffraction (202 X-ray structures, for 186 species), are described. The biological or catalytic activity and luminescence properties of these species, as well as their possible applications as advanced materials were studied and are also quoted.
Interfacial Characterization of Selective Laser Melting of a SS316L/NiTi Multi-Material with a High-Entropy Alloy Interlayer
Authors: Repnin Arseniy , Kim Artem , Popovich Anatoliy
Published: October 2023

Some multi-materials produced via SLM and containing 316L steel may exhibit defects and cracks in the interfacial zone. There is a lack of research on 316L/NiTi multi-materials with an interlayer produced via SLM. This study aims to investigate the influence of a high-entropy alloy (HEA)—CoCrFeNiMn interlayer on the defects’ formation, microstructure, phase, and chemical compositions, as well as the hardness of the interfacial zone. It was concluded that using of high-entropy alloy as an interlayer in the production of 316L/HEA/NiTi multi-material via SLM is questionable, since numerous cracks and limited pores occurred in the HEA/NiTi interfacial zone. The interfacial zone has an average size of 100–200 μm. Microstructure studies indicate that island macrosegregation is formed in the interfacial zone. The analysis of phase, chemical composition, and hardness demonstrates that a small amount of FeTi may form in the island macrosegregation. The increase in iron content in this area could be the reason for this. The interfacial zone has a microhardness of about 430 HV, and in the island macrosegregation, the microhardness increases to about 550 HV. Further research could involve an in-depth analysis of the phase and chemical composition, as well as examining other metals and alloys as interlayers.
TAVI-PREP: A Deep Learning-Based Tool for Automated Measurements Extraction in TAVI Planning
Authors: Santaló-Corcoy Marcel , Corbin Denis , Tastet Olivier , Lesage Frédéric , Modine Thomas , Asgar Anita , Ben Ali Walid
Published: October 2023

Background: Transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) is a less invasive alternative to open-heart surgery for treating severe aortic stenosis. Despite its benefits, the risk of procedural complications necessitates careful preoperative planning. Methods: This study proposes a fully automated deep learning-based method, TAVI-PREP, for pre-TAVI planning, focusing on measurements extracted from computed tomography (CT) scans. The algorithm was trained on the public MM-WHS dataset and a small subset of private data. It uses MeshDeformNet for 3D surface mesh generation and a 3D Residual U-Net for landmark detection. TAVI-PREP is designed to extract 22 different measurements from the aortic valvular complex. A total of 200 CT-scans were analyzed, and automatic measurements were compared to the ones made manually by an expert cardiologist. A second cardiologist analyzed 115 scans to evaluate inter-operator variability. Results: High Pearson correlation coefficients between the expert and the algorithm were obtained for most parameters (0.90–0.97), except for left and right coronary height (0.8 and 0.72, respectively). Similarly, the mean absolute relative error was within 5% for most measurements, except for left and right coronary height (11.6% and 16.5%, respectively). A greater consensus was observed among experts than when compared to the automatic approach, with TAVI-PREP showing no discernable bias towards either the lower or higher ends of the measurement spectrum. Conclusions: TAVI-PREP provides reliable and time-efficient measurements of the aortic valvular complex that could aid clinicians in the preprocedural planning of TAVI procedures.
The Earlier You Find, the Better You Treat: Red Flags for Early Diagnosis of Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Cantoro Laura , Monterubbianesi Rita , Falasco Giuliano , Camastra Caterina , Pantanella Paolo , Allocca Mariangela , Cosintino Rocco , Faggiani Roberto , Danese Silvio , Fiorino Gionata
Published: October 2023

Delayed diagnosis is a challenge in the management of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Several studies show a significant association between diagnostic delay and disease progression to complications and surgery, especially in Crohn’s disease (CD). What risk factors are associated with diagnostic delay in IBD remains unclear. In order to reduce diagnostic delay, the Red Flags Index has been developed and validated. The combination of the Red Flags Index score and non-invasive biomarkers such as fecal calprotectin seems to be highly accurate in screening patients with underlying IBD to be referred for further diagnostic workup and eventual early effective treatment strategies. Our literature review aims to obtain a comprehensive overview of the impacts of diagnostic delay in IBD on the potential risk factors associated with IBD, how diagnostic tools may be effective in reducing diagnostic delay, and future perspectives in this field.
The Role of Dysbiotic Oral Microbiota in Cardiometabolic Diseases: A Narrative Review
Authors: Lê Sylvie , Cecchin-Albertoni Chiara , Thomas Charlotte , Kemoun Philippe , Minty Matthieu , Blasco-Baque Vincent
Published: October 2023

Over the past decade, there have been significant advancements in the high-flow analysis of “omics,” shedding light on the relationship between the microbiota and the host. However, the full recognition of this relationship and its implications in cardiometabolic diseases are still underway, despite advancements in understanding the pathophysiology of these conditions. Cardiometabolic diseases, which include a range of conditions from insulin resistance to cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, continue to be the leading cause of mortality worldwide, with a persistently high morbidity rate. While the link between the intestinal microbiota and cardiometabolic risks has been extensively explored, the role of the oral microbiota, the second-largest microbiota in the human body, and specifically the dysbiosis of this microbiota in causing these complications, remains incompletely defined. This review aims to examine the association between the oral microbiota and cardiometabolic diseases, focusing on the dysbiosis of the oral microbiota, particularly in periodontal disease. Additionally, we will dive into the mechanistic aspects of this dysbiosis that contribute to the development of these complications. Finally, we will discuss potential prevention and treatment strategies, including the use of prebiotics, probiotics, and other interventions.
Deep Neural Network-Based Automatic Dicentric Chromosome Detection Using a Model Pretrained on Common Objects
Authors: Kim Kangsan , Kim Kwang Seok , Jang Won Il , Jang Seongjae , Hwang Gil Tae , Woo Sang-Keun
Published: October 2023

Dicentric chromosome assay (DCA) is one of the cytogenetic dosimetry methods where the absorbed dose is estimated by counting the number of dicentric chromosomes, which is a major radiation-induced change in DNA. However, DCA is a time-consuming task and requires technical expertise. In this study, a neural network was applied for automating the DCA. We used YOLOv5, a one-stage detection algorithm, to mitigate these limitations by automating the estimation of the number of dicentric chromosomes in chromosome metaphase images. YOLOv5 was pretrained on common object datasets. For training, 887 augmented chromosome images were used. We evaluated the model using validation and test datasets with 380 and 300 images, respectively. With pretrained parameters, the trained model detected chromosomes in the images with a maximum F1 score of 0.94 and a mean average precision (mAP) of 0.961. Conversely, when the model was randomly initialized, the training performance decreased, with a maximum F1 score and mAP of 0.82 and 0.873%, respectively. These results confirm that the model could effectively detect dicentric chromosomes in an image. Consequently, automatic DCA is expected to be conducted based on deep learning for object detection, requiring a relatively small amount of chromosome data for training using the pretrained network.
Super-Resolution Ultrasound Imaging of Renal Vascular Alterations in Zucker Diabetic Fatty Rats during the Development of Diabetic Kidney Disease
Authors: Søgaard Stinne Byrholdt , Andersen Sofie Bech , Taghavi Iman , Schou Mikkel , Christoffersen Christina , Jacobsen Jens Christian Brings , Kjer Hans Martin , Gundlach Carsten , McDermott Amy , Jensen Jørgen Arendt , Nielsen Michael Bachmann , Sørensen Charlotte Mehlin
Published: October 2023

Individuals with diabetes at risk of developing diabetic kidney disease (DKD) are challenging to identify using currently available clinical methods. Prognostic accuracy and initiation of treatment could be improved by a quantification of the renal microvascular rarefaction and the increased vascular tortuosity during the development of DKD. Super-resolution ultrasound (SRUS) imaging is an in vivo technique capable of visualizing blood vessels at sizes below 75 µm. This preclinical study aimed to investigate the alterations in renal blood vessels’ density and tortuosity in a type 2 diabetes rat model, Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats, as a prediction of DKD. Lean age-matched Zucker rats were used as controls. A total of 36 rats were studied, subdivided into ages of 12, 22, and 40 weeks. Measured albuminuria indicated the early stage of DKD, and the SRUS was compared with the ex vivo micro-computed tomography (µCT) of the same kidneys. Assessed using the SRUS imaging, a significantly decreased cortical vascular density was detected in the ZDF rats from 22 weeks of age compared to the healthy controls, concomitant with a significantly increased albuminuria. Already by week 12, a trend towards a decreased cortical vascular density was found prior to the increased albuminuria. The quantified vascular density in µCT corresponded with the in vivo SRUS imaging, presenting a consistently lower vascular density in the ZDF rats. Regarding vessel tortuosity, an overall trend towards an increased tortuosity was present in the ZDF rats. SRUS shows promise for becoming an additional tool for monitoring and prognosing DKD. In the future, large-scale animal studies and human trials are needed for confirmation.
Research on Three-Phase Asynchronous Motor Fault Diagnosis Based on Multiscale Weibull Dispersion Entropy
Authors: Xie Fengyun , Sun Enguang , Zhou Shengtong , Shang Jiandong , Wang Yang , Fan Qiuyang
Published: October 2023

Three-phase asynchronous motors have a wide range of applications in the machinery industry and fault diagnosis aids in the healthy operation of a motor. In order to improve the accuracy and generalization of fault diagnosis in three-phase asynchronous motors, this paper proposes a three-phase asynchronous motor fault diagnosis method based on the combination of multiscale Weibull dispersive entropy (WB-MDE) and particle swarm optimization–support vector machine (PSO-SVM). Firstly, the Weibull distribution (WB) is used to linearize and smooth the vibration signals to obtain sharper information about the motor state. Secondly, the quantitative features of the regularity and orderliness of a given sequence are extracted using multiscale dispersion entropy (MDE). Then, a support vector machine (SVM) is used to construct a classifier, the parameters are optimized via the particle swarm optimization (PSO) algorithm, and the extracted feature vectors are fed into the optimized SVM model for classification and recognition. Finally, the accuracy and generalization of the model proposed in this paper are tested by adding raw data with Gaussian white noise with different signal-to-noise ratios and the CHIST-ERA SOON public dataset. This paper builds a three-phase asynchronous motor vibration signal experimental platform, through a piezoelectric acceleration sensor to discern the four states of the motor data, to verify the effectiveness of the proposed method. The accuracy of the collected data using the WB-MDE method proposed in this paper for feature extraction and the extracted features using the optimization of the PSO-SVM method for fault classification and identification is 100%. Additionally, the proposed model is tested for noise resistance and generalization. Finally, the superiority of the present method is verified through experiments as well as noise immunity and generalization tests.
Kairos: Exploring a Virtual Botanical Garden through Point Clouds
Authors: Rubin Maximilian , Cardoso Jorge C. S. , Carvalho Pedro Martins
Published: October 2023

This paper reports the design, implementation and evaluation of a point cloud-based virtual reality environment for a botanical garden. The objective of this work was the creation of a point cloud-based digital timestamp of the Botanical Garden of the University of Coimbra, capturing reality and thus a moment in time that can be run and visualised in 3D space in real-time. This environment consists of three distinct locations within the Garden, containing century-old tree specimens. These areas were digitised through photogrammetry to create point clouds, which were then used as the basis of an immersive audiovisual experience whose main goal was to convey the ambiance of the Garden, along with showing people its natural processes, usually hidden to the naked eye, with the aim of rekindling our relationship with nature. We produced multimedia content consisting of PC- and VR-based experiences and 360° videos. Both PC and VR variants were evaluated by 22 volunteers where we assessed the user experience, the resulting ambiance and the gameplay. The results show a positive response from users, which described the resulting experience as “Peaceful”, “Calming”, “Relaxing”, “Dreamy”, “Colourful”, “Immersive” and “Nice”.
Computer Vision Algorithms for 3D Object Recognition and Orientation: A Bibliometric Study
Authors: Yahia Youssef , Lopes Júlio Castro , Lopes Rui Pedro
Published: October 2023

This paper consists of a bibliometric study that covers the topic of 3D object detection from 2022 until the present day. It employs various analysis approaches that shed light on the leading authors, affiliations, and countries within this research domain alongside the main themes of interest related to it. The findings revealed that China is the leading country in this domain given the fact that it is responsible for most of the scientific literature as well as being a host for the most productive universities and authors in terms of the number of publications. China is also responsible for initiating a significant number of collaborations with various nations around the world. The most basic theme related to this field is deep learning, along with autonomous driving, point cloud, robotics, and LiDAR. The work also includes an in-depth review that underlines some of the latest frameworks that took on various challenges regarding this topic, the improvement of object detection from point clouds, and training end-to-end fusion methods using both camera and LiDAR sensors, to name a few.
Design and Implementation of Low-Power IoT RISC-V Processor with Hybrid Encryption Accelerator
Authors: Yang Sen , Shao Lian , Huang Junke , Zou Wanghui
Published: October 2023

The security and reliability of data transmission between IoT devices are considered to be major challenges in the development of IoT technology. This paper presents a low-power, low-cost RISC-V processor for IoT applications with an integrated hybrid encryption accelerator, which can achieve efficient and secure encryption and decryption of data transmitted between IoT devices. The hybrid encryption accelerator, which uses the SM3 and the SM4, respectively, as hash and symmetric encryption algorithms, achieves a balance between encryption security, high speed, and key-management convenience. Both the processor and encryption accelerator are designed using the Verilog HDL language and are subsequently implemented and evaluated on both FPGA and ASIC platforms. The performance of the proposed processor and that of the Hummingbird E203 and the XuanTie E902 are compared. It is shown that, on the FPGA platform, the total resource utilization rate is reduced by 39.1~66.2%. In a 90 nm CMOS process, it is shown that the power efficiency of the proposed processor is increased by 10~34.8% and the circuit area is reduced by 32.5~57.1%.
Ultra High-Density SOT-MRAM Design for Last-Level On-Chip Cache Application
Authors: Seo Yeongkyo , Kwon Kon-Woo
Published: October 2023

This paper presents ultra high-density spin-orbit torque magnetic random-access memory (SOT-MRAM) for last-level data cache application. Although SOT-MRAM has many appealing attributes of low write energy, nonvolatility, and high reliability, it poses challenges to ultra-high-density memory implementation. Due to using two access transistors per cell, the vertical dimension of SOT-MRAM is >40% longer than that of the spin-transfer torque magnetic random-access memory (STT-MRAM), a single transistor-based design. Moreover, the horizontal dimension cannot be reduced below two metal pitches due to the two vertical metal stacks per cell. This paper proposes an ultra-high-density SOT-MRAM design by reducing the vertical and horizontal dimensions. The proposed SOT-MRAM is designed by a single transistor with a Schottky diode to achieve lesser vertical dimension than the two-transistor-based design of conventional SOT-MRAM. Moreover, the horizontal dimension is also reduced by sharing a vertical metal between two consecutive bit-cells in the same row. The comparison of the proposed designs with the conventional SOT-MRAM reveals a 63% area reduction. Compared with STT-MRAM, the proposed high-density memory design achieves 48% higher integration density, 68% lower write power, 29% lower read power, and 1.9× higher read-disturb margin.