bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Influenced Zone of Deep Excavation on Adjacent Tunnel Displacement and Control Effect of Ground Improvement in Soft Soil
Authors: Liu Bo , Shao Chengmeng , Xu Wen
Published: September 2022

The aim of this study is to predict the influenced zone of deep excavation on adjacent tunnel displacement, evaluate the control effect of ground improvement, and give the optimal parameters for ground improvement. Based on the current research, a series of finite element method (FEM) numerical simulations were conducted to study the deep excavation-induced tunnel displacement behaviors, considering different tunnel positions outside the pit. On this basis, the influenced zone of deep excavation on an adjacent tunnel was divided corresponding to 3-level tunnel displacement control standards. Then, the commonly used control measure of ground improvement was chosen to study the effects of strength, depth, and width of the improved soil outside the pit on the displacement behaviors of the tunnel. An index of tunnel displacement control effectiveness (η) was proposed to quantitively characterize the control effect on tunnel displacement. Considering the control effect and engineering economy, the suggested values of strength, depth, and width of the improved soil were provided. Finally, the control effect of ground improvement outside the pit on the influenced zone of deep excavation was studied using the suggested parameters. The research indicates that the range outside the pit can be divided into: I—primary influenced zone, II—secondary influenced zone, III—general influenced zone, and IV—weak influenced zone. Considering the control effect and engineering economy, it is suggested that the ground improvement strength should be kept within 1.5~2 MPa, the ground improvement depth should be 2 times the excavation depth, and the ground improvement width should be increased as much as possible if the site condition allows. After the ground improvement using the suggested parameters, the scope of the influenced zone of deep excavation is reduced and the I—primary influenced zone no longer exists.
Rotor Winding Short-Circuit-Fault Protection Method for VSPSGM Combining the Stator and Rotor Currents
Authors: Qiao Jian , Wang Yikai , He Rufei , Wang Wenhui , Yin Xianggen , Peng Yumin , Zhang Hao
Published: September 2022

Rotor winding short circuit faults are common faults for variable-speed pumped-storage generator-motors (VSPSGM). At present, the exciting rotor fault protection of VSPSGM is simple and has low sensitivity. It can only act when the instantaneous value of the rotor phase current reaches three times the rated current. Therefore, it is difficult to cover some rotor winding short-circuit faults with weak fault characteristics. It is urgent to study a novel rotor winding short-circuit-fault protection method for VSPSGM. In this paper, a protection method that combines the stator and rotor currents with different frequencies is proposed. The characteristics of the stator and rotor currents before and after the fault is analyzed by using Clark transformation. On this basis, a specific protection criterion is constructed based on the discrete integral operation, which is easy to implement and not affected by the change of rotor speed. Then, the calculation method of the protection setting is proposed, considering the effect of unbalanced voltage and sensor measurement error. Simulation results show that the proposed method can reliably realize the protection of rotor winding faults. It has faster protection action speed than other methods in the same field. The protection coverage rate is over 90%.
Effects of Post-Activation Performance Enhancement on Jump Performance in Elite Volleyball Players
Authors: Masel Sebastian , Maciejczyk Marcin
Published: September 2022

Post-activation performance enhancement (PAPE) is a widely described phenomenon, but the majority of studies tend to evaluate the response of various parameters of a conditioning activity (CA) on the same explosive exercise. The aim of this study was to evaluate the PAPE response of the same CA—trap bar deadlift with an accommodating resistance—on jump height in two different jumping tests: squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ). Study participants included twelve elite volleyball players (age 23 ± 2 years; body height, 194.7 ± 5.9 cm; body mass, 89.8 ± 7.9 kg; body fat, 14.7 ± 3.7%) experienced in resistance training (relative 1RM of a trap bar deadlift with accommodating resistance 1.92 ± 0.12 kg/body mass). Each participant performed tests under four conditions: two conditions for both SJ and CMJ—experimental with CA and control without CA. Jumps were performed at the baseline and 90 s after CA. The protocol did not increase jump power significantly in either SJ or CMJ. However, individual analysis showed that more participants responded positively to the CA in SJ (73%) than CMJ (50%), implying that PAPE response may depend on the similarity of the muscle-type contraction between CA and an explosive exercise.
Study of the Evolution of Water-Conducting Fracture Zones in Overlying Rock of a Fully Mechanized Caving Face in Gently Inclined Extra-Thick Coal Seams
Authors: Zhou Yang , Yu Xueyi
Published: September 2022

To study the caving of thick hard overburdens and evolution of water-conducting fracture zones in fully mechanized top-coal caving faces of gently inclined extra-thick coal seams, we comprehensively analyzed the 8103 working face of the Beixinyao Coal Mine. We investigated to the caving characteristics of thick hard overburden in fully mechanized top-coal caving faces, fracture information of the internal structure of overburden, and development heights of the “two zones” of overburden after coal mining. Our research methods included those of similarity simulation experiments, such as the use of microseismic monitoring systems, numerical simulations, theoretical analysis, and engineering practice. The results showed that the overlying strata generally experienced stages of roof caving, crack formation, delamination, crack development, and surface subsidence. Due to the influence of overlying strata movement and mining, the separation layer experienced an evolution process called “emergence-development-closure”, where the height of the overlying strata caving envelope increases with the advancing of the working face. When full mining was achieved, the overlying strata caving height was stable, and the height development range of the water-conducting fracture zone was 100–120 m, which is consistent with the height of the overlying strata caving envelope. Most microseismic events occurred near the water-conducting fracture zone, and the water-conducting fracture zone was formed in an area with concentrated energy density. In our numerical simulation, the concentrated distribution area of the fracture field was characterized by a “bridge arch”. The fracture development model in the middle of the goaf was higher than at both ends of the working face, and roof strata deformation was obvious. When the energy value of microseismic event reaches 108.708 J, cracks are produced, and these cracks gradually penetrate to form water-conducting fracture zones. Engineering practice showed that the height range of the water-conducting fracture zone was 98–123 m, and caving of the thick hard overburden and evolution of the water-conducting fracture zone in a fully mechanized top-coal caving face provide a scientific basis for water prevention and control.
Improvement of Arsenic Phytoextraction Using Indigenous Bacteria and Mobilizing Agents
Authors: Franchi Elisabetta , Barbafieri Meri , Petruzzelli Gianniantonio , Ferro Sergio , Vocciante Marco
Published: September 2022

Among inorganic contaminants, arsenic (As) is known for its toxicity and the risks to the environment and human health that could derive from its presence. Phytoremediation represents an effective strategy for the removal of arsenic from contaminated soil, provided that suitable plant species and adequate operational plans are exploited. With reference to a disused area located in Southern Italy which was the subject of a previous study, in this work, new strategies were investigated to further improve the effectiveness of a phytoremediation plan for the removal of arsenic. The usefulness of Cannabis sativa (hemp) and Zea mays (corn) was evaluated in this work by microcosm (300 g of mixed soil per test) and mesocosm (4 kg of mixed soil + 1 kg of inert gravel per test) experiments. The addition of arsenic-tolerant bacteria isolated from the rhizosphere of native herbaceous species grown in the contaminated soil was employed to promote plant growth, while different mixtures of mobilizing agents were tested to improve arsenic bioavailability. After the combined treatment, the arsenic content in the aerial parts of the plants increased by about 10 times in the case of corn (from 1.23 to 10.41 mg kg−1) and by about 8 times in the case of hemp (from 1.05 to 8.12 mg kg−1).
MCS Stratiform and Convective Regions Associated with Sprites Observed from Mt. Fuji
Authors: Suzuki Tomoyuki , Kamogawa Masashi , Fujiwara Hironobu , Hayashi Syugo
Published: September 2022

Five sprites produced above the stratiform region and one sprite above the convective region in the mesoscale convective system (MCS) were observed on 22 July 2013 from the summit of Mt. Fuji. Four of the five sprites occurred in the stratiform region after the stratiform region was cut off from the convective region. The five sprite-producing +CGs (SP + CGs) occurred in and close to these cells with low lightning activity, although in-cloud lightning locations extensively spread out in the stratiform region. This suggests that positive charges were sufficient to produce the SP + CGs that accumulated extensively in the stratiform region due to a local (in situ) charge generation mechanism. One sprite occurred above the MCS convective region, and the SP + CG was also located at the MCS convective region. Video images indicated that the optical cloud flash associated with the SP + CG continued at least 150 ms until sprite emission. The optical cloud flash light occurred repeatedly at strong and weak intensities, and this characteristic indicated that the M components in the lightning occurred in the cloud. The SP + CG might have gathered sufficient positive charges to produce the sprite with a continuing current.
Multimodal Emotional Classification Based on Meaningful Learning
Authors: Filali Hajar , Riffi Jamal , Boulealam Chafik , Mahraz Mohamed Adnane , Tairi Hamid
Published: September 2022

Emotion recognition has become one of the most researched subjects in the scientific community, especially in the human–computer interface field. Decades of scientific research have been conducted on unimodal emotion analysis, whereas recent contributions concentrate on multimodal emotion recognition. These efforts have achieved great success in terms of accuracy in diverse areas of Deep Learning applications. To achieve better performance for multimodal emotion recognition systems, we exploit Meaningful Neural Network Effectiveness to enable emotion prediction during a conversation. Using the text and the audio modalities, we proposed feature extraction methods based on Deep Learning. Then, the bimodal modality that is created following the fusion of the text and audio features is used. The feature vectors from these three modalities are assigned to feed a Meaningful Neural Network to separately learn each characteristic. Its architecture consists of a set of neurons for each component of the input vector before combining them all together in the last layer. Our model was evaluated on a multimodal and multiparty dataset for emotion recognition in conversation MELD. The proposed approach reached an accuracy of 86.69%, which significantly outperforms all current multimodal systems. To sum up, several evaluation techniques applied to our work demonstrate the robustness and superiority of our model over other state-of-the-art MELD models.
miRNA in Molecular Diagnostics
Authors: Matulić Maja , Gršković Paula , Petrović Andreja , Begić Valerija , Harabajsa Suzana , Korać Petra
Published: September 2022

MicroRNAs are a class of small non-coding RNA molecules that regulate gene expression on post-transcriptional level. Their biogenesis consists of a complex series of sequential processes, and they regulate expression of many genes involved in all cellular processes. Their function is essential for maintaining the homeostasis of a single cell; therefore, their aberrant expression contributes to development and progression of many diseases, especially malignant tumors and viral infections. Moreover, they can be associated with certain states of a specific disease, obtained in the least invasive manner for patients and analyzed with basic molecular methods used in clinical laboratories. Because of this, they have a promising potential to become very useful biomarkers and potential tools in personalized medicine approaches. In this review, miRNAs biogenesis, significance in cancer and infectious diseases, and current available test and methods for their detection are summarized.
Amaryllidaceae Alkaloids Decrease the Proliferation, Invasion, and Secretion of Clinically Relevant Cytokines by Cultured Human Colon Cancer Cells
Authors: Mathieu Veronique , Laguera Breana , Masi Marco , Dulanto Sara Adriana , Bingham Tanner W. , Hernandez Lucas W. , Sarlah David , Evidente Antonio , Lafontaine Denis L. J. , Kornienko Alexander , Lane Michelle A.
Published: September 2022

Alkaloids isolated from members of the Amaryllidaceae plant family are promising anticancer agents. The purpose of the current study was to determine if the isocarbostyrils narciclasine, pancratistatin, lycorane, lycorine, crinane, and haemanthamine inhibit phenomena related to cancer progression in vitro. To achieve this, we examined the proliferation, adhesion, and invasion of cultured human colon cancer cells via MTT assay and Matrigel-coated Boyden chambers. In addition, Luminex assays were used to quantify the secretion of matrix metalloproteinases (MMP) and cytokines associated with poor clinical outcomes. We found that all alkaloids decreased cell proliferation regardless of TP53 status, with narciclasine exhibiting the greatest potency. The effects on cell proliferation also appear to be specific to cancer cells. Narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decrease both adhesion and invasion but with various potencies depending on the cell line. In addition, narciclasine, lycorine, and haemanthamine decreased the secretion of MMP-1, -2, and -7, as well as the secretion of the cytokines pentraxin 3 and vascular endothelial growth factor. In conclusion, the present study shows that Amaryllidaceae alkaloids decrease phenomena and cytokines associated with colorectal cancer progression, supporting future investigations regarding their potential as multifaceted drug candidates.
Therapeutic Efficacy and Mid-Term Durability of Urethral Sphincter Platelet-Rich Plasma Injections to Treat Postprostatectomy Stress Urinary Incontinence
Authors: Lee Ping-Jui , Jiang Yuan-Hong , Kuo Hann-Chorng
Published: September 2022

Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is used for tissue repair and regeneration. Herein, we investigated the therapeutic efficacy and mid-term durability of injections of PRP into the urethral sphincter for the management of postprostatectomy incontinence (PPI). Thirty-nine patients with PPI that were refractory to conservative treatments were prospectively enrolled. They received repeated PRP urethral sphincter injections monthly for a total of four months. The primary endpoint was the Global Response Assessment (GRA) score after treatment. The secondary endpoints included changes in the stress urinary incontinence (SUI) visual analog scale (VAS) from baseline to the end of follow-up and urodynamic parameters from baseline to 3 months. The mean follow-up period after the entire treatment course was 21.0 ± 11.3 (range: 1.6–36.3) months. After PRP injections, the median GRA score with quartiles was 2.0 (1.0, 2.0). The SUI VAS and abdominal leak point pressure significantly improved from 6.9 ± 1.8 to 4.4 ± 2.3, p < 0.001, and from 74.8 ± 37.0 to 115.5 ± 57.9 cmH2O, p = 0.004, respectively, after the fourth PRP urethral sphincter injection. Following PRP urethral sphincter injections, the severity of SUI significantly reduced, indicating efficacy and mid-term durability as a novel treatment for PPI.
Approaching or Decentering? Differential Neural Networks Underlying Experiential Emotion Regulation and Cognitive Defusion
Authors: Wang Yulin , Vantieghem Iris , Dong Debo , Nemegeer Johan , De Mey Johan , Van Schuerbeek Peter , Marinazzo Daniele , Vandekerckhove Marie
Published: September 2022

The current study investigated the bottom-up experiential emotion regulation in comparison to the cognitiveve top down-approach of cognitive defusion. Rooted in an experiential- and client-centered psychotherapeutic approach, experiential emotion regulation involves an active, non-intervening, accepting, open and welcoming approach towards the bodily felt affective experience in a welcoming, compassionate way, expressed in ‘experiential awareness’ in a first phase, and its verbalization or ‘experiential expression’ in a second phase. Defusion refers to the ability to observe one’s thoughts and feelings in a detached manner. Nineteen healthy participants completed an emotion regulation task during fMRI scanning by processing highly arousing negative events by images. Both experiential emotion regulation and cognitive defusion resulted in higher negative emotion compared to a ‘watch’ control condition. On the neurophysiological level, experiential emotion regulation recruited brain areas that regulate attention towards affective- and somatosensorial experience such as the anterior cingulate cortex, the paracingulate gyrus, the inferior frontal gyrus, and the prefrontal pole, areas underlying multisensory information integration (e.g., angular gyrus), and linking body states to emotion recognition and awareness (e.g., postcentral gyrus). Experiential emotion regulation, relative to the control condition, also resulted in a higher interaction between the anterior insular cortex and left amygdala while participants experienced less negative emotion. Cognitive defusion decreased activation in the subcortical areas such as the brainstem, the thalamus, the amygdala, and the hippocampus. In contrast to cognitive defusion, experiential emotion regulation relative to demonstrated greater activation in the left angular gyrus, indicating more multisensory information integration. These findings provide insight into different and specific neural networks underlying psychotherapy-based experiential emotion regulation and cognitive defusion.
Profiles of Motor-Cognitive Interference in Parkinson’s Disease—The Trail-Walking-Test to Discriminate between Motor Phenotypes
Authors: Klotzbier Thomas J. , Schott Nadja , Almeida Quincy J.
Published: September 2022

Background and Aims. Most research on Parkinson’s disease (PD) focuses on describing symptoms and movement characteristics. Studies rarely focus on the early detection of PD and the search for suitable markers of a prodromal stage. Early detection is important, so treatments that may potentially change the course of the disease can be attempted early on. While gait disturbances are less pronounced in the early stages of the disease, the prevalence, and severity increase with disease progression. Therefore, postural instability and gait difficulties could be identified as sensitive biomarkers. The aim was to evaluate the discriminatory power of the Trail-Walking Test (TWT; Schott, 2015) as a potential diagnostic instrument to improve the predictive power of the clinical evaluation concerning the severity of the disease and record the different aspects of walking. Methods. A total of 20 older healthy (M = 72.4 years, SD = 5.53) adults and 43 older adults with PD and the motor phenotypes postural instability/gait difficulty (PIGD; M = 69.7 years, SD = 8.68) and tremor dominant (TD; M = 68.2 years, SD = 8.94) participated in the study. The participants performed a motor-cognitive dual task (DT) of increasing cognitive difficulty in which they had to walk a given path (condition 1), walk to numbers in ascending order (condition 2), and walk to numbers and letters alternately and in ascending order (condition 3). Results. With an increase in the cognitive load, the time to complete the tasks (seconds) became longer in all groups, F(1.23, 73.5) = 121, p < 0.001, ɳ2p = 0.670. PIGD showed the longest times in all conditions of the TWT, F(2, 60) = 8.15, p < 0.001, ɳ2p = 0.214. Mutual interferences in the cognitive and motor domain can be observed. However, clear group-specific patterns cannot be identified. A differentiation between the motor phenotypes of PD is especially feasible with the purely motor condition (TWT-M; AUC = 0.685, p = 0.44). Conclusions. PD patients with PIGD must be identified by valid, well-evaluated clinical tests that allow for a precise assessment of the disease’s individual fall risk, the severity of the disease, and the prognosis of progression. The TWT covers various aspects of mobility, examines the relationship between cognitive functions and walking, and enables differentiation of the motor phenotypes of PD.
CtIP Regulates Mitotic Spindle Assembly by Modulating the TPX2-Aurora A Signaling Axis
Authors: Oh Wonkyung , Wu Ting Ting , Jeong Seo-Yeon , You Ho Jin , Lee Jung-Hee
Published: September 2022

CtBP-interacting protein (CtIP) plays a critical role in controlling the homologous recombination-mediated DNA double-stranded break (DSB) repair pathway through DNA end resection, and recent studies suggest that it also plays a role in mitosis. However, the mechanism by which CtIP contributes to mitosis regulation remains elusive. Here, we show that depletion of CtIP leads to a delay in anaphase progression resulting in misaligned chromosomes, an aberrant number of centrosomes, and defects in chromosome segregation. Additionally, we demonstrate that CtIP binds and colocalizes with Targeting protein for Xklp2 (TPX2) during mitosis to regulate the recruitment of TPX2 to the spindle poles. Furthermore, depletion of CtIP resulted in both a lower concentration of Aurora A, its downstream target, and very low microtubule intensity at the spindle poles, suggesting an important role for the CtIP-TPX2-Auroa A complex in microtubule dynamics at the centrosomal spindles. Our findings reveal a novel function of CtIP in regulating spindle dynamics through interactions with TPX2 and indicate that CtIP is involved in the proper execution of the mitotic program, where deregulation may lead to chromosomal instability.
Generation and Characterization of a Novel Angelman Syndrome Mouse Model with a Full Deletion of the Ube3a Gene
Authors: Syding Linn Amanda , Kubik-Zahorodna Agnieszka , Nickl Petr , Novosadova Vendula , Kopkanova Jana , Kasparek Petr , Prochazka Jan , Sedlacek Radislav
Published: September 2022

Angelman syndrome (AS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder caused by deficits in maternally inherited UBE3A. The disease is characterized by intellectual disability, impaired motor skills, and behavioral deficits, including increased anxiety and autism spectrum disorder features. The mouse models used so far in AS research recapitulate most of the cardinal AS characteristics. However, they do not mimic the situation found in the majority of AS patients who have a large deletion spanning 4–6 Mb. There is also a large variability in phenotypes reported in the available models, which altogether limits development of therapeutics. Therefore, we have generated a mouse model in which the Ube3a gene is deleted entirely from the 5′ UTR to the 3′ UTR of mouse Ube3a isoform 2, resulting in a deletion of 76 kb. To investigate its phenotypic suitability as a model for AS, we employed a battery of behavioral tests directed to reveal AS pathology and to find out whether this model better mirrors AS development compared to other available models. We found that the maternally inherited Ube3a-deficient line exhibits robust motor dysfunction, as seen in the rotarod and DigiGait tests, and displays abnormalities in additional behavioral paradigms, including reduced nest building and hypoactivity, although no apparent cognitive phenotype was observed in the Barnes maze and novel object recognition tests. The AS mice did, however, underperform in more complex cognition tasks, such as place reversal in the IntelliCage system, and exhibited a different circadian rhythm activity pattern. We show that the novel UBE3A-deficient model, based on a whole-gene deletion, is suitable for AS research, as it recapitulates important phenotypes characteristic of AS. This new mouse model provides complementary possibilities to study the Ube3a gene and its function in health and disease as well as possible therapeutic interventions to restore function.
Extracellular HMGB1 as Inflammatory Mediator in the Progression of Mycoplasma Gallisepticum Infection
Authors: Wang Yingjie , Wang Lulu , Hu Fuli , Zou Mengyun , Luo Ronglong , Sun Yingfei , Wang Tengfei , Guo Qiao , Peng Xiuli
Published: September 2022

High-mobility group box 1 (HMGB1), a member of damage-associated molecular patterns (DAMPs), is involved in the immune regulation of several infectious diseases. Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) infection is proved to cause an abnormal immune response, but the role of HMGB1 in MG-induced chronic respiratory disease (CRD) is unclear. In this study, we found that HMGB1 was released from the nucleus to the extracellular in macrophages upon infection with MG. Extracellular HMGB1 bound to TLR2 activating the NF-κB pathway triggering a severe inflammatory storm and promoting the progression of MG infection. More importantly, TLR4 could be activated by HMGB1 to trigger immune disorders after TLR2 was silenced. This disease process could be interrupted by ethyl pyruvate (EP) inhibition of HMGB1 release or glycyrrhizic acid (GA). Furthermore, treatment of MG-infected chickens with GA significantly alleviated immune organ damage. In conclusion, we demonstrate that HMGB1 is secreted extracellularly to form an inflammatory environment upon MG infection, triggering a further cellular inflammatory storm in a positive feedback approach. Blocking MG-induced HMGB1 release or suppression downstream of the HMGB1-TLR2/TLR4 axis may be a promising novel strategy for the treatment of CRD. Furthermore, this study may provide a theoretical reference for understanding non-LPS-activated TLR4 events.
Vertical Farming Perspectives in Support of Precision Agriculture Using Artificial Intelligence: A Review
Authors: Siregar Riki Ruli A. , Seminar Kudang Boro , Wahjuni Sri , Santosa Edi
Published: September 2022

Vertical farming is a new agricultural system which aims to utilize the limited access to land, especially in big cities. Vertical agriculture is the answer to meet the challenges posed by land and water shortages, including urban agriculture with limited access to land and water. This research study uses the Preferred Reporting for Systematic Review and Meta-analysis (PRISMA) item as one of the literary approaches. PRISMA is one way to check the validity of articles for a literature review or a systematic review resulting from this paper. One of the aims of this study is to review a survey of scientific literature related to vertical farming published in the last six years. Artificial intelligence with machine learning, deep learning, and the Internet of Things (IoT) in supporting precision agriculture has been optimally utilized, especially in its application to vertical farming. The results of this study provide information regarding all of the challenges and technological trends in the area of vertical agriculture, as well as exploring future opportunities.
Enhanced Antimicrobial Activity of Silver Sulfadiazine Cosmetotherapeutic Nanolotion for Burn Infections
Authors: Fatima Qurat-ul ain , Ahmed Naveed , Siddiqui Bazla , Rehman Asim ur , Haq Ihsan ul , Khan Gul Majid , Elaissari Abdelhamid
Published: September 2022

Burns are highly traumatizing injuries that can be complicated by various microbial infections, leading to morbidity and mortality. The ultimate goal of burn therapy is to prevent any microbial infection and rapid wound healing with epithelization. The current study aimed to develop and investigate the potential of nanoemulsion-based cosmetotherapeutic lotion of silver sulfadiazine (SSD) for increased antimicrobial activity to treat burn injuries. Silver sulfadiazine is the standard topical treatment for burn patients, but is allied with major limitations of poor solubility, low bioavailability, and other hematologic effects, hindering its pharmaceutical applications. The nanoformulation was fabricated through the ultrasonication technique and optimized by selecting various parameters and concentrations for the formation of water-in-oil (w/o) emulsion. The optimized formulation depicts a smaller particle size of 213 nm with an encapsulation efficiency of approx. 80%. Further, nanoemulsion-based SSD lotion by utilizing argan oil as a cosmetotherapeutic agent was prepared for scar massaging with improved permeation properties. The designed cosmeceutical formulation was characterized in terms of physical appearance, refractive index, particle size, encapsulation efficiency, and biocompatibility. The compatibility of the formulation ingredients were determined through FTIR (Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy). The formulated nanolotion containing SSD demonstrated superior antimicrobial activities against different bacterial strains in comparison to commercialized burn creams.
Chiral π-Conjugated Liquid Crystals: Impacts of Ethynyl Linker and Bilateral Symmetry on the Molecular Packing and Functions
Authors: Seki Atsushi , Shimizu Kazuki , Aoki Ken’ichi
Published: September 2022

Recently, various chiral aromatic compounds, including chiral π-conjugated liquid crystals, have been developed for their unique photofunctions. One of the typical photofunctions is the bulk photovoltaic effect of ferroelectric π-conjugated liquid crystals, which integrates a polar environment based on molecular chirality with an extended π-conjugation system. Tuning the spectral properties and molecular packing is essential for improving the optical functions of the chiral π-conjugated liquid crystals. Herein, we examined the effects of an ethynyl linker and bilateral symmetry on the liquid-crystalline (LC) properties and π-conjugated system through detailed characterization via polarizing optical microscopy, differential scanning calorimetry, and X-ray diffraction analysis. The spreading of the π-conjugated system was evaluated using UV–vis absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Bilateral symmetry affects the LC and photoluminescent properties. Hetero-substitution with a sparse ethynyl linker likely allows the formation of an interdigitated smectic LC structure. Because the molecular packing and photophysical properties can affect the photo- and electrical functions, we believe this study can promote the molecular design of novel functional π-conjugated materials, such as chiral ferroelectric π-conjugated liquid crystals, exhibiting the bulk photovoltaic effect.
Atopic Dermatitis-like Genodermatosis: Disease Diagnosis and Management
Authors: Pan Chaolan , Zhao Anqi , Li Ming
Published: September 2022

Eczema is a classical characteristic not only in atopic dermatitis but also in various genodermatosis. Patients suffering from primary immunodeficiency diseases such as hyper-immunoglobulin E syndromes, Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome, immune dysregulation, polyendocrinopathy, enteropathy, X-linked syndrome, STAT5B deficiency, Omenn syndrome, atypical complete DiGeorge syndrome; metabolic disorders such as acrodermatitis enteropathy, multiple carboxylase deficiency, prolidase deficiency; and other rare syndromes like severe dermatitis, multiple allergies and metabolic wasting syndrome, Netherton syndrome, and peeling skin syndrome frequently perform with eczema-like lesions. These genodermatosis may be misguided in the context of eczematous phenotype. Misdiagnosis of severe disorders unavoidably affects appropriate treatment and leads to irreversible outcomes for patients, which underlines the importance of molecular diagnosis and genetic analysis. Here we conclude clinical manifestations, molecular mechanism, diagnosis and management of several eczema-related genodermatosis and provide accessible advice to physicians.
Anticipatory Anxiety, Familiarization, and Performance: Finding the Sweet Spot to Optimize High-Quality Data Collection and Minimize Subject Burden
Authors: Streetman Aspen E. , Lewis Aidan K. , Rogers Elizabeth L. , Heinrich Katie M. , DeBlauw Justin A.
Published: September 2022

Accurate baseline data are essential for researchers to determine an intervention’s effects yet may be affected by anticipatory anxiety and assessment familiarity. Familiarization sessions help establish accurate baseline data. High-intensity functional training (HIFT) elicits performance outcomes based on constantly varied workouts. It is unclear how familiarization affects anticipatory anxiety and workout performance among HIFT novices. Familiarization was hypothesized to decrease anxiety and improve workout performance. Sixteen college-aged subjects (62.5% women, 20.2 ± 1.14 years) completed one introductory and four sessions of the same workout. All subjects were recreationally trained with no HIFT experience. State and trait anxiety were assessed at the first session. During the workout sessions, state anxiety (SQALS) was assessed upon arrival at the gym (SQALS 1), after learning the workout protocol (SQALS 2), and when the workout concluded (SQALS 3). A significant main effect of the number of previous sessions on workout performance was observed (p = 0.011). A repeated-measures ANOVA showed a main effect of time on SQALS 1 (p < 0.001), SQALS 2 (p < 0.001), and SQALS 3 (p < 0.001). Our results suggest implementing two familiarization sessions for our HIFT-based workout was sufficient to decrease anxiety and establish a baseline measurement. Future research should examine if this remains true for other types of HIFT-based workouts.
Robustness of Convolutional Neural Networks for Surgical Tool Classification in Laparoscopic Videos from Multiple Sources and of Multiple Types: A Systematic Evaluation
Authors: Abdulbaki Alshirbaji Tamer , Jalal Nour Aldeen , Docherty Paul David , Neumuth Thomas , Möller Knut
Published: September 2022

Deep learning approaches have been explored for surgical tool classification in laparoscopic videos. Convolutional neural networks (CNN) are prominent among the proposed approaches. However, concerns about the robustness and generalisability of CNN approaches have been raised. This paper evaluates CNN generalisability across different procedures and in data from different surgical settings. Moreover, generalisation performance to new types of procedures is assessed and insights are provided into the effect of increasing the size and representativeness of training data on the generalisation capabilities of CNN. Five experiments were conducted using three datasets. The DenseNet-121 model showed high generalisation capability within the dataset, with a mean average precision of 93%. However, the model performance diminished on data from different surgical sites and across procedure types (27% and 38%, respectively). The generalisation performance of the CNN model was improved by increasing the quantity of training videos on data of the same procedure type (the best improvement was 27%). These results highlight the importance of evaluating the performance of CNN models on data from unseen sources in order to determine their real classification capabilities. While the analysed CNN model yielded reasonably robust performance on data from different subjects, it showed a moderate reduction in performance for different surgical settings.
Theory-Guided Deep Learning Algorithms: An Experimental Evaluation
Authors: Monaco Simone , Apiletti Daniele , Malnati Giovanni
Published: September 2022

The use of theory-based knowledge in machine learning models has a major impact on many engineering and physics problems. The growth of deep learning algorithms is closely related to an increasing demand for data that is not acceptable or available in many use cases. In this context, the incorporation of physical knowledge or a priori constraints has proven beneficial in many tasks. On the other hand, this collection of approaches is context-specific, and it is difficult to generalize them to new problems. In this paper, we experimentally compare some of the most commonly used theory-injection strategies to perform a systematic analysis of their advantages. Selected state-of-the-art algorithms were reproduced for different use cases to evaluate their effectiveness with smaller training data and to discuss how the underlined strategies can fit into new application contexts.
Dynamic Model for Caragana korshinskii Shrub Aboveground Biomass Based on Theoretical and Allometric Growth Equations
Authors: Jin Xuejuan , Xu Hao , Wang Bo , Wang Xiaohua
Published: September 2022

As one of the ways to achieve carbon neutralization, shrub biomass plays an important role for natural resource management decision making in arid regions. To investigate biomass dynamic variations of Caragana korshinskii, a typical shrub found in the arid desert area of Ningxia, northwest China, we combined a nonlinear simultaneous (NLS) equation system with theoretical growth (TG) and allometric growth (AG) equations. On the basis of a large biomass survey dataset and analytical data of shrub stems, four methods (NOLS, NSUR, 2SLS, and 3SLS) of the NLS equations system were combined with the TG and AG equations. A model was subsequently established to predict the AGB growth of C. korshinskii. The absolute mean residual (AMR), root mean system error (RMSE), and adjusted determination coefficient (adj-R2) were used to evaluate the performance of the equations. Results revealed that the NSUR method of the NLS equations had better performance than other methods and the independent equations for BD and H growth and AGB. Additionally, the NSUR method exhibited extremely significant differences (p < 0.0001) when compared with the equations without heteroscedasticity on the basis of the likelihood ratio (LR) test, which used the power function (PF) as the variance function. The NSUR method of the NLS equations was an efficient method for predicting the dynamic growth of AGB by combining the TG and AG equations and could estimate the carbon storage for shrubs accurately, which was important for stand productivity and carbon sequestration capacity.
Variance in Woody Debris Components Is Largely Determined by the Belowground Microbial Phylum-Level Composition
Authors: Yan Yongxue , Bai Zhen , Yan Shaokui , Wu Jiabing , Yuan Hai-Sheng
Published: September 2022

Although the bioconversion of lignocellulosic residues is essential for nutrient storage in forest floors, little is known about the mechanisms behind wood decay and its interactions with site-specific belowground microbial community composition and chemical properties. This study examined the components of white-rot vs. brown-rot woody debris, closely contacted soil chemical properties and microbial community composition using high-throughput Illumina MiSeq sequencing in coniferous and deciduous temperate forests. The lignin concentrations were higher in the brown-rot than in the white-rot woody debris of the coniferous forest. However, lower cellulose concentrations were observed in the brown-rot sets than in the white-rot sets of both coniferous and deciduous forest stands. Furthermore, the woody debris had higher concentrations of nonstructural compounds and ash in the brown-rot than in the white-rot sets of the coniferous and deciduous forests, respectively. Surprisingly, nearly 90% of the variation in the woody debris components was explained by the belowground fungal and bacterial phylum-level compositions. Of these major phyla, Basidiomycota was closely related to the lignin concentration and accounted for 26.62% of the variation in woody debris components, while Ascomycota was related to the hemicellulose concentration and accounted for 17.7% of the variance in the woody debris components. Furthermore, soil total carbon, available phosphorus, and available potassium were 131%, 138%, and 91% higher in the brown-rot than white-rot sets of the coniferous (but not deciduous) forest stand. In addition, Basidiomycota fungi presented an oligotrophic life strategy and were significantly negatively correlated with the soil total carbon, total nitrogen, alkali-hydrolysable nitrogen, and available phosphorus contents. In contrast, Ascomycota fungi were characterized by a copiotrophic strategy and were positively correlated with the contents of soil total carbon, total nitrogen, and total phosphorus. These findings indicate that wood decay processes are strongly determined by site-specific microbial community structure and nutrient status in temperate forests.
Evidence for Quercetin as a Dietary Supplement for the Treatment of Cardio-Metabolic Diseases in Pregnancy: A Review in Rodent Models
Authors: Costa Paulo César Trindade da , de Souza Evandro Leite , Lacerda Diego Cabral , Cruz Neto José Patrocínio Ribeiro , Sales Ludmilla Christine Silva de , Silva Luis Cristiane Cosmo , Pontes Paula Brielle , Cavalcanti Neto Marinaldo Pacífico , de Brito Alves José Luiz
Published: September 2022

Quercetin supplementation during pregnancy and lactation has been linked to a lower risk of maternal cardio-metabolic disorders such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), dyslipidemia, preeclampsia, attenuation of malnutrition-related conditions, and gestational obesity in animal studies. Pre-clinical studies have shown that maternal supplementation with quercetin reduces cardio-metabolic diseases in dams and rodents’ offspring, emphasizing its role in modifying phenotypic plasticity. In this sense, it could be inferred that quercetin administration during pregnancy and lactation is a viable strategy for changing cardio-metabolic parameters throughout life. Epigenetic mechanisms affecting the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB), and phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3 K) pathways could be associated with these changes. To highlight these discoveries, this review outlines the understanding from animal studies investigations about quercetin supplementation and its capacity to prevent or decrease maternal and offspring cardio-metabolic illnesses and associated comorbidities.
Bacterial Communities Related to Aroma Formation during Spontaneous Fermentation of ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ Wine in Ningxia, China
Authors: Zhang Zhong , Zhang Qingchen , Yang Hui , Sun Lijun , Xia Hongchuan , Sun Wenjing , Wang Zheng , Zhang Junxiang
Published: September 2022

Bacteria are an important part of wine ‘microbial terroir’ and contribute to the formation of wine flavor. Based on high-throughput sequencing and non-targeted metabonomic technology, this study first explored the bacterial composition and its effect on the aroma formation of spontaneously fermented ‘Cabernet Sauvignon’ (CS) wine in the Eastern Foot of Helan Mountain (EFHM), Ningxia. The results showed that there were significant differences in bacterial communities during fermentation of CS grapes harvested from different sub-regions of EFHM, with the earlier-established vineyard obtaining more species. The level of bacterial diversity initially decreased and then increased as the fermentation proceeded. Malolactic fermentation (MLF) was spontaneously initiated during alcohol fermentation (AF). Pantoea, Lactobacillus, Rhodococcus, Fructobacillus, and Komagataeibacter were the core bacterial genera in the fermentation mixture. Lactobacillus contributed to the synthesis of methyl and isobutyl esters and the formation of red and black fruity fragrances of wine. Fructobacillus was closely related to the synthesis of aromatic alcohols and the generation of floral flavors.
Taxonomical Identification and Safety Characterization of Lactobacillaceae from Mediterranean Natural Fermented Sausages
Authors: Bassi Daniela , Milani Giovanni , Belloso Daza Mireya Viviana , Barbieri Federica , Montanari Chiara , Lorenzini Silvia , Šimat Vida , Gardini Fausto , Tabanelli Giulia
Published: September 2022

Fermented meat products represent an important industrial sector in Europe, particularly in the Mediterranean Countries (MC), where the presence of numerous local productions, still obtained through spontaneous fermentation, is recognized as a formidable treasure chest of unexplored microbial biodiversity. Lactobacillaceae naturally occurring in fifteen spontaneously fermented sausages from MC (Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Slovenia) were isolated and taxonomically characterized using molecular techniques. Additionally, a safety assessment for the presence of antibiotic resistances and biogenic amine (BA) production was performed to determine their suitability as autochthonous starter cultures. Molecular typing, performed using REP-PCR, discriminated 151 strains belonging to Latilactobacillus sakei (59.6%), Latilactobacillus curvatus (26.5%) and Companilactobacillus alimentarius (13.9%). The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of eight different antibiotics revealed a high resistance to streptomycin (27%), tetracycline (16%), followed by gentamycin (14%) and kanamycin (13%). Interestingly, the results showed a geographical distribution of resistant biotypes. tetM/tetS or ermB genes were identified in only six strains. The amino-biogenic potential of the strains was assessed, confirming the absence of this trait among L. sakei, while a high number of producer strains was found among L. curvatus. On the 151 analyzed strains, 45 demonstrated safety traits for their future use as starter food cultures. These results open the way to further studies on the technological properties of these promising autochthonous strains, strongly linked to the Mediterranean environment.
Collaboration between Psychiatrists and Other Allied Medical Specialists for the Treatment of Delusional Disorders
Authors: González-Rodríguez Alexandre , Monreal José Antonio , Natividad Mentxu , Seeman Mary V.
Published: September 2022

Background: There is increasing evidence that individuals with psychosis are at increased risk for cardiovascular disease, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, and several other medical comorbidities. In delusional disorder (DD), this is particularly so because of the relatively late onset age. Aims: The aim of this narrative review is to synthesize the literature on the necessity for medical collaboration between psychiatrists and other specialists. Methods: A non-systematic narrative review was carried out of papers addressing referrals and cooperation among specialists in the care of DD patients. Results: Psychiatrists, the primary care providers for DD patients, depend on neurology to assess cognitive defects and rule out organic sources of delusions. Neurologists rely on psychiatry to help with patient adherence to treatment and the management of psychotropic drug side effects. Psychiatrists require ophthalmology/otolaryngology to treat sensory deficits that often precede delusions; reciprocally, psychiatric consults can help in instances of functional sensory impairment. Close collaboration with dermatologists is essential for treating delusional parasitosis and dysmorphophobia to ensure timely referrals to psychiatry. Conclusions: This review offers many other examples from the literature of the extent of overlap among medical specialties in the evaluation and effective treatment of DD. Optimal patient care requires close collaboration among specialties.