bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Contribution of Cultivated and Semi-Natural Patches to the Beta Diversity of Nocturnal Lepidoptera within an Organic Century-Old Olive Grove in a Fragmented Landscape
Authors: Zucco Giada , La Cava Sara , Rijllo Giuseppe , Scalercio Stefano
Published: April 2024

The simplification of agricultural landscapes that has occurred in recent decades has led to a consequent decline in biodiversity. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of cultivated and semi-natural areas to sustain the beta diversity of nocturnal Lepidoptera. A dataset available for an organic century-old olive farm was analysed. Sampling was carried out from July 2018 to June 2019 within eight sites. The beta diversity was explored using the Bray–Curtis quantitative similarity index. To assess the main process driving community composition, two measures of nestedness were calculated. The analyses showed that most species were more abundant in semi-natural sites, although some species were found to be barycentric or exclusive to the olive groves. The nestedness at farm and site scales confirmed that the main process driving the composition of the moth community was species impoverishment, but this process was not found to be significant when comparisons involved herbaceous semi-natural habitats and cultivated sites. We found out that the contribution of olive groves to the farm beta diversity was small but non-negligible. To improve the sustainable management of an olive grove, it is preferable to promote the presence of tree-covered areas since semi-natural herbaceous cover can be represented within the farm by low-input olive groves.
Research on the Impact of Climate Change and Human Activities on the NDVI of Arid Areas—A Case Study of the Shiyang River Basin
Authors: Li Xing , Wang Yong , Zhao Yong , Zhai Jiaqi , Liu Yuan , Han Shuying , Liu Kuan
Published: April 2024

Arid zone ecosystems, integral to terrestrial systems, exhibit relatively low stability and are prone to influences from human activities and climate change. To elucidate the influence on the ecological environment of the arid zone by climate change and human activities, the paper takes normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI) as an evaluation index of the ecosystem and uses trend analysis to evaluation of NDVI variation characteristics in the Shiyang River Basin (SRB) from 1990 to 2020. Simultaneously using methods such as partial correlation analysis and residual analysis to evaluate the impact of climate change and human activities on NDVI changes. This study yielded several key findings: (1) The NDVI in the SRB exhibits an increasing trend of 0.034/10a in the interannual variation. (2) The relation cooperatives between NDVI and the deviation of precipitation and temperature in the SRB range from −0.735 to 0.770 and −0.602 to 0.773, respectively. (3) The changes in land use and groundwater depth in the SRB have a certain impact on NDVI changes. (4) The proportion of areas with significant contributions (contribution rate greater than 60%) from climate change and human activities to NDVI change is 33.5% and 22.5%, respectively.
Integrating Heritage and Environment: Characterization of Cultural Landscape in Beijing Great Wall Heritage Area
Authors: He Ding , Chen Wenting , Zhang Jie
Published: April 2024

The Great Wall, as a globally important large-scale linear cultural heritage asset, is an example of the integration of architecture and landscape, demonstrating the interaction and feedback between heritage and the environment. In the context of advocating the holistic protection of cultural heritage and surroundings, this study utilizes landscape character assessment (LCA) to identify the landscape character of the Great Wall heritage area. Taking the heritage area of the Great Wall in Beijing, China, as an example, principal component analysis (PCA), two-step clustering, and the eCognition software were used to identify and describe the landscape character types, and the interaction mechanism between heritage and the environment was further explored through the reclassification process. A total of 20 landscape character types and 201 landscape character areas were identified in the study area, and a deep coupling relationship between heritage and the environment and cultural landscape spatial patterns were found in the core heritage area. The heritage and environmental character of linear heritage areas should be integrated so as to protect, manage, and plan cultural heritage areas at the landscape level. This study identifies and describes the character of the coupling of heritage and the environment in the Great Wall area for the first time, expands the types and methods of landscape character assessment, and carries out the exploration to combine natural and cultural elements of large-scale linear cultural heritage areas.
How to Coordinate the Relationship between Urban Space Exploitation, Economic Development, and Ecological Environment: Evidence from Henan Province, China
Authors: Xie Xiaotong , Wu Kunlin , Li Yingchao , Guo Shanshan , Li Xiaoshun
Published: April 2024

With the rapid development of urbanization, China is facing problems, such as uncoordinated regional development, imbalanced land space development, and ecological environment pollution. This poses a huge threat to the sustainable development of China’s economy and society. Therefore, there is an urgent need to determine how to coordinate the relationship between the space exploitation, economic development, and ecological environment (SEE) of urban areas. In this study, taking the Henan Province as an example, long time-series data (2000–2020) were used, at a city scale. Then, we developed a logical framework to reveal the interrelationship and intrinsic mechanism between SEE. Next, we explored the spatiotemporal coupling characteristics of SEE using a linear weighting method and a coupling coordination analysis. We found that, from 2000 to 2020, the comprehensive level of SEE showed an obvious trend of change, and different cities have different coupling coordination degrees. However, the overall coupling coordination level is steadily developing and tending to improve. Furthermore, with the spatial autocorrelation method, we analyzed spatial correlation patterns and collaboration/trade-off relationships for SEE. Through the analysis, positive correlation types (HH, LL) cluster significantly and negative correlation types (HL, LH) have low clustering. Meanwhile, we found significant spatial differences in cooperation/trade-off relationships between different years. This research can serve as a reference and as methodological guidance for achieving coordination and sustainable development of the economy, space, and environment.
On the Functional Convergence of Pragmatic Markers in Arizona Spanish
Authors: Martínez Brandon Joseph
Published: April 2024

Tags, compared to other types of pragmatic markers (PMs), are typically considered as separate yet related phenomena and are usually differentiated by their syntactic positions and discourse functions, among other factors. The current work explores this differentiation utilizing 36 sociolinguistic interviews with Spanish-English bilinguals in southern Arizona, USA. Standard language variation and change (LVC) methodologies were used in the extraction, coding, and statistical analyses of this dataset (n = 591), with four PM variants identified for study through an exploratory methodology: the tags no and qué no and the discourse markers (DMs) you know and saber. The results of our analyses indicate that, while utterance position, self-reported gender, and length of residence were all significant in the multivariate analysis, discourse function was dropped from the statistical model. Therefore, we interpret this finding as an indication that functional differences between these two pragmatic resources have been levelled through grammaticalization, demonstrating that for Arizona Spanish, tags and DMs belong in the same functional category of PMs. Furthermore, an analysis of codeswitching behavior triggered by the incoming variant you know demonstrates that it is becoming incorporated into the Spanish pragmatic system, patterning similarly to its counterpart saber in terms of function and position, without attrition of the native variant.
Clinical Outcomes in Elderly Patients with Chronic Subdural Hematoma: Validation of Irrigation Assignment Based on Hematoma Characteristics
Authors: Maeda Takuma , Kikkawa Yuichiro , Ehara Takuro , Tsuchiya Ryosuke , Tabata Shinya , Onodera Koki , Kimura Tatsuki , Take Yushiro , Suzuki Kaima , Kurita Hiroki
Published: April 2024

The number of elderly patients with chronic subdural hematomas (CSDH) is increasing worldwide; however, there is limited data regarding the clinical outcomes in this population. Our therapeutic method using burr hole evacuation for CSDH is based on the hematoma characteristics, using simple drainage for single-layer lesions and drainage with irrigation for multiple-layer lesions. This study aimed to compare the postoperative outcomes of elderly and younger patients, identify the predictors of outcomes in elderly patients, and verify the validity of our therapeutic methods. In total, we included 214 patients who underwent burr hole evacuation between April 2018 and March 2022. Baseline characteristics, hematoma characteristics, recurrence, and clinical outcomes were compared between the elderly and younger patients. Overall, 96 elderly patients (44.9%) were included in the study, and more elderly patients underwent antithrombotic therapy than younger patients (33.3% vs. 19.5%, p = 0.027). Moreover, elderly patients had significantly fewer favorable outcomes than younger patients (70.8% vs. 91.5%; p < 0.001); however, this was not significant after adjusting for the baseline modified Rankin Scale (mRS). Similarly, elderly patients had higher recurrence rates than younger patients (10.4% vs. 2.5%; p = 0.021). However, the baseline mRS score was the only predictor of unfavorable outcomes. In conclusion, although the clinical outcomes of elderly patients were comparable to those of younger patients, the higher rate of preoperative antithrombotic therapy in elderly patients may result in a higher rate of recurrence requiring a long-term follow-up.
Development of Allosteric Ribozymes for ATP and l-Histidine Based on the R3C Ligase Ribozyme
Authors: Akatsu Yuna , Mutsuro-Aoki Hiromi , Tamura Koji
Published: April 2024

During the evolution of the RNA, short RNAs are thought to have joined together to form long RNAs, enhancing their function as ribozymes. Previously, the artificial R3C ligase ribozyme (73 nucleotides) was successfully reduced to 46 nucleotides; however, its activity decreased significantly. Therefore, we aimed to develop allosteric ribozymes, whose activities could be regulated by effector compounds, based on the reduced R3C ligase ribozyme (R3C-A). Among the variants prepared by fusing an ATP-binding aptamer RNA with R3C-A, one mutant showed increased ligation activity in an ATP-dependent manner. Melting temperature measurements of the two RNA mutants suggested that the region around the aptamer site was stabilized by the addition of ATP. This resulted in a suitable conformation for the reaction at the ligation site. Another ribozyme was prepared by fusing R3C-A with a l-histidine-binding aptamer RNA, and the ligase activity increased with increasing l-histidine concentrations. Both ATP and l-histidine play prominent roles in current molecular biology and the interaction of RNAs and these molecules could be a key step in the evolution of the world of RNAs. Our results suggest promise in the development of general allosteric ribozymes that are independent of the type of effector molecule and provide important clues to the evolution of the RNA world.
Madelung’s Disease Evolving to Liposarcoma: An Uncommon Encounter
Authors: Lungu Mihaiela , Oprea Violeta Diana , Stoleriu Gabriela , Ionescu Ana-Maria , Zaharia Andrei Lucian , Croitoru Ana , Stan Bianca , Niculet Elena
Published: April 2024

(1) Background: Madelung’s disease—known also as Benign Symmetric Adenolipomatosis (BSA) or Multiple Symmetric Lipomatosis (MSL), is a rare subcutaneous tissue disease characterized by the proliferation of non-encapsulated fat tissue with mature adipocytes. Patients develop symmetrical fatty deposits of varying sizes, (located particularly around the neck, shoulders, upper and middle back, arms, abdomen, and thighs), having clinical, esthetic, and psychiatric repercussions. (2) Methods: We report a case diagnosed with BSA upon admission to the Neurological and Internal Medicine Departments of the Emergency Clinical Hospital of Galati. (3) Results: This patient developed compressive phenomena and liposarcoma with liver metastasis, followed by death shortly after hospital presentation. The histopathology examination confirmed right latero-cervical liposarcoma and round cell hepatic metastasis. The specific metabolic ethiopathogenic mechanism has not been elucidated, but the adipocytes of BSA are different from normal cells in proliferation, hormonal regulation, and mitochondrial activity; a rare mitochondrial gene mutation, together with other interacting genetic or non-genetic factors, have been considered in recent studies. A thorough literature search identified only three cases reporting malignant tumors in BSA patients. (4) Conclusions: The goal of our paper is to present this rare case in the oncogenic synergism of two tumors. In the management of this BSA disorder, possible malignant transformation should be considered, although only scarce evidence was found supporting this.
Evaluation of Absolute Neutrophil, Lymphocyte and Platelet Count and Their Ratios as Predictors of Thrombotic Risk in Patients with Prefibrotic and Overt Myelofibrosis
Authors: Lucijanic Marko , Krecak Ivan , Soric Ena , Sabljic Anica , Galusic Davor , Holik Hrvoje , Perisa Vlatka , Moric Peric Martina , Zekanovic Ivan , Budimir Josipa , Kusec Rajko
Published: April 2024

Aim: To investigate the prognostic contribution of absolute neutrophil (ANC), lymphocyte (ALC), platelet count and their ratios, neutrophil–lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet–lymphocyte ratio (PLR), to thrombotic risk in patients with prefibrotic and overt fibrotic myelofibrosis (MF). Methods: We retrospectively analyzed a cohort of 256 patients with prefibrotic (85 patients) and overt fibrotic MF (171 patients) treated in six Croatian hematological centers. Results: Prefibrotic compared to overt fibrotic MF patients presented with significantly higher ALC, platelet count and PLR, and experienced longer time to thrombosis (TTT). Among prefibrotic patients, ANC > 8.33 × 109/L (HR 13.08, p = 0.036), ALC > 2.58 × 109/L (HR 20.63, p = 0.049) and platelet count > 752 × 109/L (HR 10.5, p = 0.043) remained independently associated with shorter TTT. Among overt fibrotic patients, ANC > 8.8 × 109/L (HR 4.49, p = 0.004), ALC ≤ 1.43 × 109/L (HR 4.15, p = 0.003), platelet count ≤ 385 × 109/L (HR 4.68, p = 0.004) and chronic kidney disease (HR 9.07, p < 0.001) remained independently associated with shorter TTT. Conclusions: Prognostic properties of ANC, ALC and platelet count are mutually independent and exceed those of NLR and PLR regarding thrombotic risk stratification. ALC and platelet count associate in opposite directions with thrombotic risk in prefibrotic and overt fibrotic MF patients.
Effect of Sodium Alkane Sulfonate Addition on Tribological Properties of Emulsion for Cold Rolling Strips: Experimental and Simulation Investigations
Authors: Su Daoxin , Sun Jianlin , Meng Erchao , Xu Yueting , Zhang Mengxiao
Published: April 2024

Cold rolling emulsion contains a variety of functional additives, which often exhibit complex interactions with each other. Sodium alkane sulfonate (SAS) is a common corrosion inhibitor used in cold rolling emulsions for temporary rust prevention. In this study, it was found that SAS would deteriorate the tribological properties of the emulsion. Emulsions containing SAS and different friction modifiers were prepared. Tribology tests were carried out on a four-ball friction and wear tester. White light interferometer was used to investigate the 3D morphology of the friction surface and wear volume. Microscopic morphology of friction surfaces was observed using a scanning electron microscope (SEM). The chemical activity and electrostatic potential of the molecules were calculated based on density functional theory (DFT). The adsorption energies of additives on metal surfaces were calculated via molecular dynamics (MD) simulation. The results indicate that the strong electrostatic force gives SAS an advantage in competitive adsorption with ester friction modifiers due to the positive charge on the metal surface. This results in the friction modifier not functioning properly and the tribological properties of the emulsion being significantly reduced.
An Intelligent Diagnostic Method for Wear Depth of Sliding Bearings Based on MGCNN
Authors: Dai Jingzhou , Tian Ling , Chang Haotian
Published: April 2024

Sliding bearings are vital components in modern industry, exerting a crucial influence on equipment performance, with wear being one of their primary failure modes. In addressing the issue of wear diagnosis in sliding bearings, this paper proposes an intelligent diagnostic method based on a multiscale gated convolutional neural network (MGCNN). The proposed method allows for the quantitative inference of the maximum wear depth (MWD) of sliding bearings based on online vibration signals. The constructed model adopts a dual-path parallel structure in both the time and frequency domains to process bearing vibration signals, ensuring the integrity of information transmission through residual network connections. In particular, a multiscale gated convolution (MGC) module is constructed, which utilizes convolutional network layers to extract features from sample sequences. This module incorporates multiple scale channels, including long-term, medium-term, and short-term cycles, to fully extract information from vibration signals. Furthermore, gated units are employed to adaptively assign weights to feature vectors, enabling control of information flow direction. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method outperforms the traditional CNN model and shallow machine learning model, offering promising support for equipment condition monitoring and predictive maintenance.
Three-Dimensional Modeling for Mechanical Analysis of Hydropower Generators with Floating Rotor Rim
Authors: Rondon David , Pääjärvi Simon , Aidanpää Jan-Olov , Gustavsson Rolf , Jeppsson Peter
Published: April 2024

Hydropower generators withstand multiple forces from diverse sources during operation. To ensure their stability and safe performance, numerical tools are developed to characterize their dynamic properties. Traditionally, generators are assumed to be rigid in rotordynamic analyses. However, the measurements in power stations challenge this assumption. This article proposes a novel approach to modeling hydropower generators with floating rotor rims using a three-dimensional (3-D) Finite Element Method, aiming to study their dynamic performance and properties, including natural frequencies, the modes of vibrations, and expansion due to centrifugal and electromagnetic forces, with the goal of improving the reliability of modern designs. Both this approach and employing a two-dimensional (2-D) model using curved beams result in similar in-plane natural frequencies and the expansion of the rotor rim due to centrifugal forces. However, the 3-D model can be used to calculate the out-of-plane natural frequencies and modes, to model the dynamics of complex geometries, and to perform stress evaluation and fatigue analysis.
Study on the Evolution of Sealing Performance during the Start-Up Process of Dynamic Pressure Seals Based on Three-Dimensional Fractal Functions
Authors: Bi Enzhe , Li Shuangxi , Zhang Jiangteng , Liu An
Published: April 2024

A model based on a three-dimensional fractal function is developed and used in conjunction with experiments to analyze the evolutionary pattern of sealing performance during the start-up process of dynamic pressure seals, and the influence of end-face microscopic features on the evolution law is discussed. It is found that the opening state of the seal is divided into three stages: the non-opened stage, transition stage, and full-opened stage. The isotropic dimensions of the cavities have a coupling effect on the leakage, and they diminish as the speed increases. In order to enhance the sealing performance during start-up, it is suggested that the seal faces have a fractal dimension of 2.4 to 2.6, and a characteristic factor of less than 1 × 10−9 m.
Spatio-Temporal Contrastive Heterogeneous Graph Attention Networks for Session-Based Recommendation
Authors: Yang Fan , Peng Dunlu
Published: April 2024

The main goal of session-based recommendation (SBR) is to analyze the list of possible next interaction items through the user’s historical interaction sequence. The existing session recommendation models directly model the session sequence as a graph, and only consider the aggregation of neighbor items based on spatial structure information, ignoring the time information of items. The sparsity of interaction sequences also affects the accuracy of recommendation. This paper proposes a spatio-temporal contrastive heterogeneous graph attention network model (STC-HGAT). The session sequence is built as a spatial heterogeneous hypergraph, a latent Dirichlet allocation (LDA) algorithm is used to construct the category nodes of the items to enhance the contextual semantic information of the hypergraph, and the hypergraph attention network is employed to capture the spatial structure information of the session. The temporal heterogeneous graph is constructed to aggregate the temporal information of the item. Then, the spatial and temporal information are fused by sumpooling. Meanwhile, a modulation factor is added to the cross-entropy loss function to construct the adaptive weight (AW) loss function. Contrastive learning (CL) is used as an auxiliary task to further enhance the modeling, so as to alleviate the sparsity of data. A large number of experiments on real public datasets show that the STC-HGAT model proposed in this paper is superior to the baseline models in metrics such as P@20 and MRR@20, improving the recommendation performance to a certain extent.
New Infinite Classes for Normal Trimagic Squares of Even Orders Using Row–Square Magic Rectangles
Authors: Hu Can , Pan Fengchu
Published: April 2024

As matrix representations of magic labelings of related hypergraphs, magic squares and their various variants have been applied to many domains. Among various subclasses, trimagic squares have been investigated for over a hundred years. The existence problem of trimagic squares with singly even orders and orders 16n has been solved completely. However, very little is known about the existence of trimagic squares with other even orders, except for only three examples and three families. We constructed normal trimagic squares by using product constructions, row–square magic rectangles, and trimagic pairs of orthogonal diagonal Latin squares. We gave a new product construction: for positive integers p, q, and r having the same parity, other than 1, 2, 3, or 6, if normal p × q and r × q row–square magic rectangles exist, then a normal trimagic square with order pqr exists. As its application, we constructed normal trimagic squares of orders 8q3 and 8pqr for all odd integers q not less than 7 and p, r ∈ {7, 11, 13, 17, 19, 23, 29, 31, 37}. Our construction can easily be extended to construct multimagic squares.
A Bibliometric Analysis of a Genetic Algorithm for Supply Chain Agility
Authors: Lam Weng Hoe , Lam Weng Siew , Lee Pei Fun
Published: April 2024

As a famous population-based metaheuristic algorithm, a genetic algorithm can be used to overcome optimization complexities. A genetic algorithm adopts probabilistic transition rules and is suitable for parallelism, which makes this algorithm attractive in many areas, including the logistics and supply chain sector. To obtain a comprehensive understanding of the development in this area, this paper presents a bibliometric analysis on the application of a genetic algorithm in logistics and supply chains using data from 1991 to 2024 from the Web of Science database. The authors found a growing trend in the number of publications and citations over the years. This paper serves as an important reference to researchers by highlighting important research areas, such as multi-objective optimization, metaheuristics, sustainability issues in logistics, and machine learning integration. This bibliometric analysis also underlines the importance of Non-Dominated Sorting Genetic Algorithm II (NSGA-II), sustainability, machine learning, and variable neighborhood search in the application of a genetic algorithm in logistics and supply chains in the near future. The integration of a genetic algorithm with machine learning is also a potential research gap to be filled to overcome the limitations of genetic algorithms, such as the long computational time, difficulties in obtaining optimal solutions, and convergence issues for application in logistics and supply chains.
Automatic Differentiation-Based Multi-Start for Gradient-Based Optimization Methods
Authors: Della Santa Francesco
Published: April 2024

In global optimization problems, diversification approaches are often necessary to overcome the convergence toward local optima. One approach is the multi-start method, where a set of different starting configurations are taken into account to designate the best local minimum returned by the multiple optimization procedures as the (possible) global optimum. Therefore, parallelization is crucial for multi-start. In this work, we present a new multi-start approach for gradient-based optimization methods that exploits the reverse Automatic Differentiation to perform efficiently. In particular, for each step, this Automatic Differentiation-based method is able to compute the N gradients of N optimization procedures extremely quickly, exploiting the implicit parallelization guaranteed by the computational graph representation of the multi-start problem. The practical advantages of the proposed method are illustrated by analyzing the time complexity from a theoretical point of view and showing numerical examples where the speed-up is between ×40 and ×100, with respect to classic parallelization methods. Moreover, we show that our AD-based multi-start approach can be implemented by using tailored shallow Neural Networks, taking advantage of the built-in optimization procedures of the Deep Learning frameworks.
Efficient 5.8 GHz Microstrip Antennas for Intelligent Transportation Systems: Design, Fabrication, and Performance Analysis
Authors: Guneser Muhammet Tahir , Seker Cihat , Guler Mehmet Izzeddin , Fitriyani Norma Latif , Syafrudin Muhammad
Published: April 2024

In this study, we designed a high-performance, compact E-shaped microstrip antenna optimized for intelligent transportation systems, operating at 5.8 GHz. Utilizing simulation tools such as CST Studio Suite 2022 Learning Edition, Ansys HFSS 2022 R1, and MATLAB 2022b PCB Antenna Designer, we ensured consistent physical parameters. Fabricated with a 1.6 mm thick FR-4 substrate and a 50 Ω microstrip line-feeding technique, the antenna measures 35 × 50 × 1.6 mm³, smaller than already existing designs. At 5.75 GHz, it exhibits a return loss of −23.68 dB and a VSWR of 1.140 dB, ensuring stable performance within the desired frequency band. Our findings recommend its integration into vehicle-to-infrastructure wireless communication systems. Comparison across simulation environments and laboratory measurements highlights the close alignment of results with those from Ansys HFSS 2022 R1, affirming its reliability.
Edge Odd Graceful Labeling in Some Wheel-Related Graphs
Authors: Aljohani Mohammed , Daoud Salama Nagy
Published: April 2024

A graph’s edge labeling involves the allocation of symbols (colors or numbers) to the edges of a graph governed by specific criteria. Such labeling of a graph G with order n and size m is named edge odd graceful if there is a bijective map φ from the set of edges E(G)={e1,…,em} to the set {1,3,…,2m−1} in a way that the derived transformation φ∗ from the vertex-set V(G)={v1,…,vn} to the set {0,1,2,…,2m−1} given by φ∗(u)=∑uv∈E(G)φ(uv)mod(2m) is injective. Any graph is named edge odd graceful if it permits an edge odd graceful allocation (Solairaju and Chithra). The primary aim of this study is to define and explore the edge odd graceful labeling of five new families of wheel-related graphs. Consequently, necessary and sufficient conditions for these families to be edge odd graceful are provided.
Stochastic Synchronization of Impulsive Reaction–Diffusion BAM Neural Networks at a Fixed and Predetermined Time
Authors: Mahemuti Rouzimaimaiti , Kasim Ehmet , Sadik Hayrengul
Published: April 2024

This paper discusses the synchronization problem of impulsive stochastic bidirectional associative memory neural networks with a diffusion term, specifically focusing on the fixed-time (FXT) and predefined-time (PDT) synchronization. First, a number of more relaxed lemmas are introduced for the FXT and PDT stability of general types of impulsive nonlinear systems. A controller that does not require a sign function is then proposed to ensure that the synchronization error converges to zero within a predetermined time. The controllerdesigned in this paper serves the additional purpose of preventing the use of an unreliable inequality in the course of proving the main results. Next, to guarantee FXT and PDT synchronization of the drive–response systems, this paper employs the Lyapunov function method and derives sufficient conditions. Finally, a numerical simulation is presented to validate the theoretical results.
U-Net-Based Learning Using Enhanced Lane Detection with Directional Lane Attention Maps for Various Driving Environments
Authors: Lee Seung-Hwan , Lee Sung-Hak
Published: April 2024

Recent advancements in optical and electronic sensor technologies, coupled with the proliferation of computing devices (such as GPUs), have enabled real-time autonomous driving systems to become a reality. Hence, research in algorithmic advancements for advanced driver assistance systems (ADASs) is rapidly expanding, with a primary focus on enhancing robust lane detection capabilities to ensure safe navigation. Given the widespread adoption of cameras on the market, lane detection relies heavily on image data. Recently, CNN-based methods have attracted attention due to their effective performance in lane detection tasks. However, with the expansion of the global market, the endeavor to achieve reliable lane detection has encountered challenges presented by diverse environmental conditions and road scenarios. This paper presents an approach that focuses on detecting lanes in road areas traversed by vehicles equipped with cameras. In the proposed method, a U-Net based framework is employed for training, and additional lane-related information is integrated into a four-channel input data format that considers lane characteristics. The fourth channel serves as the edge attention map (E-attention map), helping the modules achieve more specialized learning regarding the lane. Additionally, the proposition of an approach to assign weights to the loss function during training enhances the stability and speed of the learning process, enabling robust lane detection. Through ablation experiments, the optimization of each parameter and the efficiency of the proposed method are demonstrated. Also, the comparative analysis with existing CNN-based lane detection algorithms shows that the proposed training method demonstrates superior performance.
Combinatorial Generation Algorithms for Directed Lattice Paths
Authors: Shablya Yuriy , Merinov Arsen , Kruchinin Dmitry
Published: April 2024

Graphs are a powerful tool for solving various mathematical problems. One such task is the representation of discrete structures. Combinatorial generation methods make it possible to obtain algorithms that can create discrete structures with specified properties. This article is devoted to issues related to the construction of such combinatorial generation algorithms for a wide class of directed lattice paths. The main method used is based on the representation of a given combinatorial set in the form of an AND/OR tree structure. To apply this method, it is necessary to have an expression for the cardinality function of a combinatorial set that satisfies certain requirements. As the main result, we have found recurrence relations for enumerating simple directed lattice paths that satisfy the requirements of the applied method and have constructed the corresponding AND/OR tree structure. Applying the constructed AND/OR tree structure, we have developed new algorithms for ranking and unranking simple directed lattice paths. Additionally, the obtained results were generalized to the case of directed lattice paths.
Improving Unsupervised Network Alignment with Matched Neighborhood Consistency
Authors: Li Yan , Zhang Lei , Qian Feng
Published: April 2024

Network alignment is an important technique with applications in diverse domains, such as social network analysis, bioinformatics, and knowledge graph construction. Many of the alignment methods rely on predefined anchor nodes, which are often unavailable in real-world scenarios. To overcome this limitation, we propose MANNA (MAtched Neighbor consistency for Network Alignment), an unsupervised approach to network alignment that exploits the concept of Matched Neighborhood Consistency (MNC). The hypothesis of MANNA is that nodes with higher similarity within their local neighborhood structures are more likely to be aligned across different networks. To learn the structural and attribute features of networks, MANNA uses a Graph Neural Network (GNN). It extracts multi-order node embeddings to capture multi-scale neighborhood features, which are then used to construct similarity matrices for the alignment process. MANNA introduces a key innovation by using pseudo-anchor nodes identified by the MNC strategy to provide self-supervised learning signals in the absence of real anchor nodes. This approach enhances the model’s ability to learn accurate network representations and improve alignment accuracy. Alignment results are iteratively refined by applying the MNC strategy, which strengthens the consistency of neighborhood structures between matched nodes. Extensive experiments on three public datasets show that MANNA outperforms existing network alignment methods.
Olmutinib Reverses Thioacetamide-Induced Cell Cycle Gene Alterations in Mice Liver and Kidney Tissues, While Wheat Germ Treatment Exhibits Limited Efficacy at Gene Level
Authors: Zargar Seema , Wani Tanveer A. , Alamery Salman , Yaseen Fatimah
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives: TAA is potent hepatic/renal toxicant. Conversely, WGO is a potent dietary supplement with impressive antioxidant properties. Olmutinib is an apoptotic chemotherapy drug that does not harm the liver or kidney. This study investigated the impact of olmutinib and wheat germ oil (WGO) on Thioacetamide (TAA)-induced gene alterations in mice liver and kidney tissues. Materials and Methods: Adult male C57BL/6 mice were exposed to 0.3% TAA in drinking water for 14 days, followed by the oral administration of olmutinib (30 mg/kg) and WGO (1400 mg/kg) for 5 consecutive days. Treatment groups included the following: groups I (control), II (TAA-exposed), III (TAA + olmutinib), IV (TAA + WGO), and V (TAA + olmutinib + WGO). Results: The findings revealed that TAA exposure increased MKi67 and CDKN3 gene expression in liver and kidney tissues. Olmutinib treatment effectively reversed these TAA-induced effects, significantly restoring MKi67 and CDKN3 gene expression. WGO also reversed MKi67 effects in the liver but exhibited limited efficacy in reversing CDKN3 gene alterations induced by TAA exposures in both the liver and kidney. TAA exposure showed the tissue-specific expression of TP53, with decreased expression in the liver and increased expression in the kidney. Olmutinib effectively reversed these tissue-specific alterations in TP53 expression. While WGO treatment alone could not reverse the gene alterations induced by TAA exposure, the co-administration of olmutinib and WGO exhibited a remarkable potentiation of therapeutic effects in both the liver and kidney. The gene interaction analysis revealed 77.4% of physical interactions and co-localization between MKi67, CDKN3, and TP53 expressions. Protein–protein interaction networks also demonstrated physical interactions between MKi67, TP53, and CDKN3, forming complexes or signaling cascades. Conclusions: It was predicted that the increased expression of the MKi67 gene by TAA leads to the increase in TP53, which negatively regulates the cell cycle via increased CDKN3 expression in kidneys and the restoration of TP53 levels in the liver. These findings contribute to our understanding of the effects of olmutinib and WGO on TAA-induced gene expression changes and highlight their contrasting effects based on cell cycle alterations.
O2 Saturation Predicted the ICU Stay of COVID-19 Patients in a Hospital at Altitude: A Low-Cost Tool for Post-Pandemic
Authors: Vásquez-Gómez Jaime , Gutierrez-Gutierrez Lucero , Miranda-Cuevas Pablo , Ríos-Florez Luis , Casas-Condori Luz , Gumiel Marcia , Castillo-Retamal Marcelo
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives: Patients at high altitudes with COVID-19 may experience a decrease in their partial oxygen saturation (PO2S) levels. The objective was to assess the association between PO2S and intensive care unit (ICU) stay in patients at high altitudes with COVID-19. Materials and Methods: Clinical records of 69 COVID-19 patients (36% women) admitted to the ICU were analyzed. Median values were considered for intra-group categories (“≤11 days” and “>11 days” in the ICU) and for PO2S height categories (“<90%” and “≥90%”). Logistic regression and linear regression models adjusted for confounding variables were used. Results: Patients with >11 days in the ICU had 84% lower odds of having a PO2S ≥ 90% (OR: 0.16 [CI: 0.02, 0.69], p = 0.005) compared to those with ≤11 days in the ICU. An increase in PO2S by 1% reduced ICU stay by 0.22 days (β: −0.22 [CI: −0.33, −0.11], p < 0.001), potentially leading to a reduction of up to 1.44 days. Conclusions: PO2S is a crucial factor in estimating ICU stays for COVID-19 patients at high altitudes and serves as an accessible and cost-effective measure. It should be used in infected patients to complement the prognosis of post-pandemic ICU stay.
Adherence to the Mediterranean Diet in Saudi Arabia and Its Association with Socioeconomic Status and Depression
Authors: Alnabulsi Majed , Imam Ahmad Abdullah , Alawlaqi Atheer Ahmed , Alhawaj Fatimah Hussain , Jamjoom Ghazal Fareed , Alsaeidi Lina Dakhil , Hassan Fatma El-Sayed , Ansari Shakeel Ahmed
Published: April 2024

Background and Objectives: Several RCTs have reported significant reductions in depression symptoms with the Mediterranean diet (MedDiet), but observational studies have reported inconsistent findings. Moreover, studies have rarely investigated the mediating role of socioeconomic status (SES), including objective material status, in adherence to the MedDiet and its impact on depressive symptoms in the same population. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between adherence to the MedDiet, socioeconomic factors, and depression severity. Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional online survey was conducted between June and December 2022 across Saudia Arabia. The snowball sampling technique was used to recruit participants aged ≥18 years. Mediterranean diet adherence screener (MEDAS) and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to assess adherence to the MedDiet and depression severity. An SES index, validated in the Saudi Arabian context, was used to assess SES. The data were analyzed using the Chi-square and Pearson’s correlation tests. Results: Only 21% of our study population (n = 467) was MedDiet adherent. Adherence was significantly associated with education (p = 0.014) but not employment status among traditional SES indicators. Similarly, only television ownership (p = 0.009) was associated with MedDiet adherence among the 20 objective material possessions investigated. Nonetheless, the MedDiet-adherent group had a significantly lower PHQ-9 score than the non-adherent group (6.16 ± 0.68 vs. 8.35 ± 0.31, p = 0.002). A moderate but significantly negative correlation between MEDAS and PHQ-9 scores (r = −0.16, p = 0.001) was noted. Conclusions: MedDiet adherence was associated with lower depression severity scores. In addition to education and television ownership, adherence was not associated with any objective indicators of SES.
Corrosion Behavior of FeCrMnxAlCu High-Entropy Alloys in NaOH Solutions
Authors: Yang Yang , Cui Junpeng , Wang Zhipeng , Feng Li
Published: April 2024

FeCrMnxAlCu (x = 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.0) high-entropy alloys (HEAs) were prepared using vacuum arc melting. The phase structure, microstructure, and element distribution of FeCrMnxAlCu (x = 2.0, 1.5, 1.0, 0.5, and 0.0) HEAs were analyzed using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and energy-dispersive spectroscopy. The corrosion resistance of the alloy in a NaOH solution was evaluated using a potentiodynamic polarization curve, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy, an immersion test, WLI, and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The results showed that FeCrMnxAlCu HEAs are an FCC+BCC bi-phase mixed structure with typical dendrite and interdendrite structures. The corrosion test demonstrated that the HEAs presented a breakthrough characteristic of activation–passivation–passivation. With an increase in Mn content, the corrosion potential shifted first positively and then negatively, and the corrosion current first decreased and then increased. Among HEAs, the FeCrMn0.5AlCu HEA had the best electrochemical corrosion resistance. After corrosion, both oxide and hydroxide corrosion product films were formed on the surface, which reduced the ion diffusion rate, slowed down the corrosion process, and improved the corrosion resistance.
Iron Absorption: Molecular and Pathophysiological Aspects
Authors: Correnti Margherita , Gammella Elena , Cairo Gaetano , Recalcati Stefania
Published: April 2024

Iron is an essential nutrient for growth among all branches of life, but while iron is among the most common elements, bioavailable iron is a relatively scarce nutrient. Since iron is fundamental for several biological processes, iron deficiency can be deleterious. On the other hand, excess iron may lead to cell and tissue damage. Consequently, iron balance is strictly regulated. As iron excretion is not physiologically controlled, systemic iron homeostasis is maintained at the level of absorption, which is mainly influenced by the amount of iron stores and the level of erythropoietic activity, the major iron consumer. Here, we outline recent advances that increased our understanding of the molecular aspects of iron absorption. Moreover, we examine the impact of these recent insights on dietary strategies for maintaining iron balance.
Sports-Related Gastrointestinal Disorders: From the Microbiota to the Possible Role of Nutraceuticals, a Narrative Analysis
Authors: Bertuccioli Alexander , Zonzini Giordano Bruno , Cazzaniga Massimiliano , Cardinali Marco , Di Pierro Francesco , Gregoretti Aurora , Zerbinati Nicola , Guasti Luigina , Matera Maria Rosaria , Cavecchia Ilaria , Palazzi Chiara Maria
Published: April 2024

Intense physical exercise can be related to a significant incidence of gastrointestinal symptoms, with a prevalence documented in the literature above 80%, especially for more intense forms such as running. This is in an initial phase due to the distancing of the flow of blood from the digestive system to the skeletal muscle and thermoregulatory systems, and secondarily to sympathetic nervous activation and hormonal response with alteration of intestinal motility, transit, and nutrient absorption capacity. The sum of these effects results in a localized inflammatory process with disruption of the intestinal microbiota and, in the long term, systemic inflammation. The most frequent early symptoms include abdominal cramps, flatulence, the urge to defecate, rectal bleeding, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, regurgitation, chest pain, heartburn, and belching. Promoting the stability of the microbiota can contribute to the maintenance of correct intestinal permeability and functionality, with better control of these symptoms. The literature documents various acute and chronic alterations of the microbiota following the practice of different types of activities. Several nutraceuticals can have functional effects on the control of inflammatory dynamics and the stability of the microbiota, exerting both nutraceutical and prebiotic effects. In particular, curcumin, green tea catechins, boswellia, berberine, and cranberry PACs can show functional characteristics in the management of these situations. This narrative review will describe its application potential.
In Silico Molecular Analysis of Carbapenemase-Negative Carbapenem-Resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa Strains in Greece
Authors: Tsilipounidaki Katerina , Gkountinoudis Christos-Georgios , Florou Zoi , Fthenakis George C. , Petinaki Efthymia
Published: April 2024

To date, three carbapenem resistance mechanisms have been identified: carbapenemase released from the pathogen, changes in the expression of the outer membrane OprD porin, and overexpression of the efflux pump MexAB-OprM. Twelve carbapenemase-negative carbapenem-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains, isolated from patients hospitalized at the University Hospital of Larissa, Central Greece, during 2023, which belonged to various sequence types (STs), were selected and were studied focusing on the characterization of their β-lactamases, on changes to OprD and its regulator MexT proteins, and on alterations to the MexAB-OprM regulator proteins encoded by the mexR, nalC, and nalD genes. Whole genome sequencing analysis revealed the presence of β-lactamase encoding genes, with blaPAO present in all isolates. Additionally, seven different genes of the oxacillinase family (blaOXA-35, blaOXA-50, blaOXA-395, blaOXA-396, blaOXA-486, blaOXA-488, blaOXA-494) were identified, with each strain harboring one to three of these. Regarding the OprD, five strains had truncated structures, at Loop 2, Loop 3, Loop 4, and Loop 9, while the remaining strains carried previously reported amino acid changes. Further, an additional strain had a truncated MexR; whereas, two other strains had totally modified NalC sequences. The active form of MexT, responsible for the downregulation of OprD production, as the intact sequence of the NalD protein, was found in all the strains studied. It is concluded that the truncated OprD, MexR, and NalC proteins, detected in eight strains, probably led to inactive proteins, contributing to carbapenem resistance. However, four strains carried known modifications in OprD, MexR, and NalC, as previously reported in both susceptible and resistant strains, a finding that indicates the complexity of carbapenem resistance in P. aeruginosa.
Navigating Novel Viral Challenges: Understanding, Tracking, and Mitigating Emerging Threats
Authors: Branda Francesco , Ciccozzi Massimo
Published: April 2024

The emergence of new viral threats continues to pose significant challenges to global health security [...]