bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study on the Pattern of Postpartum Uterine Involution in Dairy Cows
Authors: Dai Tianshu , Ma Ziming , Guo Xingru , Wei Shihao , Ding Baolong , Ma Yun , Dan Xingang
Published: November 2023

Postpartum uterine involution is necessary for the normal reproduction of dairy cows. The study aimed to investigate the pattern of postpartum uterine involution and the impact of parity on uterine involution in Chinese Holstein dairy cows. The diameter of the uterine cervix, pregnant uterine horn, and non-pregnant uterine horn were monitored using a B-mode veterinary ultrasound scanner at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35, and 40 days, respectively, after parturition in both multiparous and primiparous dairy cows. Meanwhile, the concentrations of hydroxyproline, E2, and IGF-1 were detected using ELISA at 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, and 40 d after parturition in both multiparous and primiparous dairy cows. Furthermore, the duration of uterine involution was compared in the multiparous and primiparous dairy cows. The results demonstrated that the diameter of the uterine cervix and the pregnant uterine horn did not decrease any further at 25 days postpartum for both the multiparous cows and the primiparous cows. Hydroxyproline levels gradually decreased with uterine involution; however, there was no significant variation in IGF-1 concentrations during uterine involution in the dairy cows. Although E2 concentrations of the peripheral plasma displayed an upward trend from day 5 to day 15 in the two groups of postpartum cows, there was no significant difference between the two groups during uterine involution. These results suggest that postpartum uterine involution was around 25 days postpartum in both the primiparous dairy cows and the multiparous Chinese Holstein dairy cows. Parity did not affect uterine involution in the postpartum Chinese Holstein dairy cows. The hydroxyproline levels of the peripheral blood may be an indicator of uterine involution in postpartum cows. Nonetheless, IGF-1 and E2 levels of the periphery blood are not associated with uterine involution in Chinese Holstein dairy cows.
Whole Blood Viscosity Reference Intervals and Its Correlation with Hematology and Serum Chemistry in Cats Using Scanning Capillary Method
Authors: Lee Chae-Yeong , Lee Sung-Lim , Kim Eunju , Kang Jinsu , Jung Sunjun , Kim Namsoo , Jung Jinmu , Lee Dong Hwan , Roh Yoon-Ho , Lee Dongbin
Published: November 2023

Whole blood viscosity, a hemorheological factor, is currently used for diagnosis, as it is correlated with various vascular diseases that are difficult to diagnose early with a general blood test. It was determined that it was necessary to set reference intervals for further studies and utilization of whole blood viscosity in cats, a representative companion animal, and this study was conducted. Fifty healthy cats were recruited for the study, and whole blood viscosity, complete blood count, and serum chemistry tests were performed. The reference intervals of whole blood viscosity were 15.169 to 43.684 cP at a shear rate of 1 s−1 reflecting diastole, and 3.524 to 5.544 cP at a shear rate of 300 s−1 reflecting systole. Red blood cells, hematocrit, hemoglobin, white blood cells, and neutrophils in the complete blood count, and total protein, albumin, globulin, and cholesterol in the serum chemistry were significantly correlated with whole blood viscosity. The results of this study set the reference intervals of whole blood viscosity for healthy cats in a wide shear rate range that has not yet been fully established, and its correlation with other blood indicators investigated.
Evolutionary Patterns of Intersexual Power
Authors: Lewis Rebecca J. , Kirk E. Christopher , Gosselin-Ildari Ashley D.
Published: November 2023

Dominance and leverage are both possible causes of social inequality. If sexual dimorphism influences patterns of intersexual dominance, we predicted that highly dimorphic species are constrained to exhibit male-biased power (MP), but species with low sexual dimorphism are free to demonstrate a broader range of intersexual power relationships. If market effects influence intersexual leverage, we predicted that females have more power when group composition is more male-biased and estrus is asynchronous. We analyzed data on intersexual power, sexual dimorphism, expected estrous overlap, and sex ratio for 79 extant primate species using phylogenetic logistic regression and ancestral state reconstructions. Although MP is more common, every major primate clade includes non-MP species. MP was associated with greater body mass and canine length dimorphism and with female-biased sex-ratios. Low estrous overlap was associated with non-MP. Although MP was reconstructed as likely ancestral for anthropoids, the last common ancestor of this clade probably did not exhibit high sexual dimorphism. The last common ancestor of catarrhines was probably highly dimorphic, potentially constraining intersexual power relationships. Non-MP probably evolved multiple times in primates and may be less common because multiple traits are linked to MP while fewer traits are associated with female-biased power or equality.
Effects of the Supplementation of Essential Oil Mixtures on Growth Performance, Nutrient Digestibility, Immune Status and Microbial Community in Weaned Piglets
Authors: Li Yingying , Cao Hongrui , Zhang Shuya , Guo Pengfei , Zhao Junmei , Zhang Drangon , Zhang Shuai
Published: November 2023

Since essential oils—such as cinnamaldehyde, thymol, carvacrol, and eugenol—have antibacterial, antioxidant, and anti-inflammatory properties, this study aimed to examine the supplementation of different essential oil mixtures together with 1600 mg/kg zinc oxide (ZnO) on growth performance, incidence of diarrhea, serum immune indices, fecal volatile fatty acids, and microflora structure in weaned piglets. A total of 240 weaned piglets (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) with an average body weight of 8.85 ± 0.21 kg were randomly allocated to 30 pens (6 pens per diet, 4 males and 4 females per pen). Five different experimental diets were prepared and administered for 28 days: (i) a control diet (C), a corn–soybean basal diet without antibiotics, ZnO, or a supplementation of growth promoters; (ii) a control diet with 400 mg/kg essential oil mixtures 1 (EOM1); (iii) a control diet supplemented with ZnO at 1600 mg/kg (Z); (iv) a diet incorporating the Z diet with the addition of essential oil mixtures 1 at 400 mg/kg (ZOM1); and (v) a diet incorporating the Z diet with the addition of essential oil mixtures 2 at 400 mg/kg (ZOM2). During day (d) 14–28 and d 1–28 of the experiment, the average daily gain (ADG) in piglets in the ZOM1 and ZOM2 groups were higher (p < 0.05) compared to the C group. The diarrhea incidence of the Z, ZOM1, and ZOM2 groups were significantly decreased (p < 0.05), and the piglets of the ZOM1 group exhibited the lowest diarrhea incidence throughout the trial period. Additionally, the apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), ash, organic matter (OM), and ether extract (EE) were higher than those fed the Z diet, and higher levels of NDF, ADF, and crude protein (CP) were observed in groups other than those fed the ZOM1 diet (p < 0.01). On d 14, the pigs fed EOM1 and ZOM2 diets showed a somewhat lower (p < 0.1) immunoglobulin G (lgG) level in serum than those fed the C diet. Additionally, the IL-8 level in serum in the ZOM1 group tended to be higher than that in the other groups (p < 0.1). The piglets fed the ZOM1 diet showed a tendency of lower (p = 0.05) acetate concentration in feces on d 14. Principal co-ordinates analysis (PCoA) showed significant differences (p < 0.05) in the composition of fecal microbial communities among the groups. Dietary EOM1 significantly increased the number of fecal bacteroides (p < 0.05) and tended to increase the number of Prevotella (p < 0.1). Therefore, EOM1 combined with 1600 mg/kg ZnO tends to reduce diarrhea incidence, tends to improve the fecal microbial community structure and growth performance of weaned piglets, and has the potential to replace pharmacological dosages of ZnO.
Dog Training, Keeping and Selection around 1300, Using the Example of Albertus Magnus and Petrus de Crescentiis
Authors: Krause Heike , Ganslosser Udo , Hohlfeld Nina Marie
Published: November 2023

Historical dog training methods reveal that dog training then and now might not have been that different. While some methods that would be considered unacceptable today have vanished over time, much of what we do today has been practiced historically for a long time. Albertus Magnus’ De animalibus and Petrus de Crescentiis’ Ruralia commodia deliver us historical evidence on how dogs were perceived, kept and trained by our ancestors. Not only were they already kept as pets, but they were also used in a wide range of professions. Dogs were utilized as guard and watchdogs, for hunting and for herding and livestock protection. Dogs are still trained in many of those professions today. From these historical records, we can learn how the perception and use of dogs has been similar or very different from our view on dogs today. We see how certain training methods have persisted over time, giving us an opportunity to ponder on new training and handling methods for man’s best friend.
Estimation of In Vitro True Digestibility and Fiber Degradation from Feedstuff Fiber Composition When Incubated in Equine Fecal Inoculum
Authors: Springer Ryon W. , Cherry Nichole M. , Raub Randel H. , Wellmann Kimberly B. , Jones Trinette N.
Published: November 2023

Neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) composition have been shown to predict in vitro true digestibility (IVTD), in vitro NDF digestibility (IVNDFD), and in vitro ADF digestibility (IVADFD) in ruminants. This study’s objective was to estimate in vitro digestibility measures within the DaisyII incubator using equine fecal inoculum from feedstuff NDF and ADF composition. Analyzed feedstuffs included alfalfa hay (Medicago sativa), Coastal Bermudagrass hay, soybean meal, rice bran, hempseed meal, and Bluebonnet® Equilene® Pellets. Data were analyzed using Akaike’s information criterion (AIC) within the R Statistical Program©. The highest ranked model for IVTD was the interaction of NDF and ADF: 10003.32 – 0.2904 × NDF − 0.4220 × ADF − 0.0010 × NDF × ADF (Adjusted R2 = 0.959 and AICc = 474.97). Sample IVNDFD was moderately predicted by ADF: 855.15 – 1.5183 × ADF (Adjusted R2 = 0.749 and AICc = 560.82). Feedstuff ADF produced the highest ranked model for IVNDFD: 881.91 – 1.5952 × ADF (Adj. R2 = 0.835 and AICc = 541.33). These results indicate the effectiveness of using feedstuff NDF and ADF composition to predict IVTD, IVNDFD, and IVADFD within equine fecal inoculum. The findings of this study provide better understanding of feedstuff digestibility using equine fecal inoculum, but more research is warranted for validation of the models and the potential impact in vivo.
The Impact of Phytase and Different Levels of Supplemental Amino Acid Complexed Minerals in Diets of Older Laying Hens
Authors: Medeiros-Ventura Waleska , Rabello Carlos , Santos Marcos , Barros Mércia , Silva Junior Rogério , Oliveira Heraldo , Costa Fabiano , Faria Andresa , Fireman Alba
Published: November 2023

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different sources and levels of supplemental amino acid-complexed minerals (AACM), with and without enzyme phytase (EZ). A total of 512 Dekalb White laying hens at 67 weeks of age were used in a 2 × 3 + 2 factorial arrangement of 8 treatments and 8 replications each. The main effects included EZ supplementation (10,000 FTU kg−1) and AACM inclusion level (100, 70, and 40% of inorganic mineral recommendations), plus 2 control treatments. The group of hens fed AACM-100 showed lower feed intake than the inorganic mineral (IM) group. The diet containing AACM-EZ-70 provided a higher (p < 0.05) laying percentage and a lower (p < 0.05) feed conversion ratio than both the IM and IM-EZ diets. The groups fed AACM-EZ-40, AACM-EZ-100, and AACM-70 produced heavier yolks (p < 0.05). Hens fed IM laid eggs with the lowest yolk and albumen weights (p < 0.05). Layers fed with AACM-100 and AACM-70 produced the most resistant eggshells to breakage (p < 0.05). In diets containing phytase, the optimal AACM recommendations for better performance and egg quality in older laying hens are: 42, 49, 5.6, 28, 0.175, and 0.70 mg kg−1 for Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, Se, and I, respectively.
Optimization Strategy for Output Voltage of CCM Flyback Converter Based on Linear Active Disturbance Rejection Control
Authors: Yu Yannan , Kong Mei , Yan Jichi , Lu Yeqin
Published: November 2023

To solve the problem of system output voltage fluctuation caused by interferences such as load fluctuation and internal inductor parameter perturbation in a flyback converter, a second-order linear active disturbance rejection control (LADRC) strategy based on output voltage is proposed in this paper. A small-signal model of a CCM flyback converter is established, and the equivalent transfer function of voltage control based on second-order LADRC is derived. A second-order LADRC is constructed, and a parameter design method for the controller is proposed. The response characteristics of the output voltage of the converter under five internal and external disturbances of different control strategies are compared and studied using MATLAB R2022b/Simulink simulation software, and a CCM flyback converter experimental platform based on dSPACE is built to verify the corresponding comparative experiments. The simulation and experimental results jointly verify the superiority of the control strategy for the anti-interference and robustness of the output voltage of the CCM flyback converter.
Enhancing Crypto Success via Heatmap Visualization of Big Data Analytics for Numerous Variable Moving Average Strategies
Authors: Chiu Chien-Liang , Ni Yensen , Hu Hung-Ching , Day Min-Yuh , Chen Yuhsin
Published: November 2023

This study employed variable moving average (VMA) trading rules and heatmap visualization because the flexibility advantage of the VMA technique and the presentation of numerous outcomes using the heatmap visualization technique may not have been thoroughly considered in prior financial research. We not only employ multiple VMA trading rules in trading crypto futures but also present our overall results through heatmap visualization, which will aid investors in selecting an appropriate VMA trading rule, thereby likely generating profits after screening the results generated from various VMA trading rules. Unexpectedly, we demonstrate in this study that our results may impress Ethereum futures traders by disclosing a heatmap matrix that displays multiple geometric average returns (GARs) exceeding 40%, in accordance with various VMA trading rules. Thus, we argue that this study extracted the diverse trading performance of various VMA trading rules, utilized a big data analytics technique for knowledge extraction to observe and evaluate numerous results via heatmap visualization, and then employed this knowledge for investments, thereby contributing to the extant literature. Consequently, this study may cast light on the significance of decision making via big data analytics.
Two-Path Spatial-Temporal Feature Fusion and View Embedding for Gait Recognition
Authors: Guan Diyuan , Hua Chunsheng , Zhao Xiaoheng
Published: November 2023

Gait recognition is a distinctive biometric technique that can identify pedestrians by their walking patterns from considerable distances. A critical challenge in gait recognition lies in effectively acquiring discriminative spatial-temporal representations from silhouettes that exhibit invariance to disturbances. In this paper, we present a novel gait recognition network by aggregating features in the spatial-temporal and view domains, which consists of two-path spatial-temporal feature fusion module and view embedding module. Specifically, two-path spatial-temporal feature fusion module firstly utilizes multi-scale feature extraction (MSFE) to enrich the input features with multiple convolution kernels of various sizes. Then, frame-level spatial feature extraction (FLSFE) and multi-scale temporal feature extraction (MSTFE) are parallelly constructed to capture spatial and temporal gait features of different granularities and these features are fused together to obtain muti-scale spatial-temporal features. FLSFE is designed to extract both global and local gait features by employing a specially designed residual operation. Simultaneously, MSTFE is applied to adaptively interact multi-scale temporal features and produce suitable motion representations in temporal domain. Taking into account the view information, we introduce a view embedding module to reduce the impact of differing viewpoints. Through the extensive experimentation over CASIA-B and OU-MVLP datasets, the proposed method has achieved superior performance to the other state-of-the-art gait recognition approaches.
Refined Landslide Susceptibility Mapping by Integrating the SHAP-CatBoost Model and InSAR Observations: A Case Study of Lishui, Southern China
Authors: Yao Zhaowei , Chen Meihong , Zhan Jiewei , Zhuang Jianqi , Sun Yuemin , Yu Qingbo , Yu Zhaoyue
Published: November 2023

Landslide susceptibility mapping based on static influence factors often exhibits issues of low accuracy and classification errors. To enhance the accuracy of susceptibility mapping, this study proposes a refined approach that integrates categorical boosting (CatBoost) with small baseline subset interferometric synthetic-aperture radar (SBAS-InSAR) results, achieving more precise and detailed susceptibility mapping. We utilized optical remote sensing images, the information value (IV) model, and fourteen influencing factors (elevation, slope, aspect, roughness, profile curvature, plane curvature, lithology, distance to faults, land use type, normalized difference vegetation index (NDVI), topographic wetness index (TWI), distance to rivers, distance to roads, and annual precipitation) to establish the IV-CatBoost landslide susceptibility mapping method. Subsequently, the Sentinel-1A ascending data from January 2021 to March 2023 were utilized to derive the deformation rates within the city of Lishui in the southern region of China. Based on the outcomes derived from IV-CatBoost and SBAS-InSAR, a discernment matrix was formulated to rectify inaccuracies in the partitioned regions, leading to the creation of a refined information value CatBoost integration (IVCI) landslide susceptibility mapping model. In the end, we utilized optical remote sensing interpretations alongside surface deformations obtained from SBAS-InSAR to cross-verify the excellence and accuracy of IVCI. Research findings indicate a distinct enhancement in susceptibility levels across 165,784 grids (149.20 km2) following the integration of SBAS-InSAR correction. The enhanced susceptibility classes and the spectral characteristics of remote sensing images closely correspond to the trends of SBAS-InSAR cumulative deformation, reflecting a high level of consistency with field-based conditions. These improved classifications effectively enhance the refinement of landslide susceptibility mapping. The refined susceptibility mapping approach proposed in this paper effectively enhances landslide prediction accuracy, providing valuable technical reference for landslide hazard prevention and control in the Lishui region.
Influence of the Surface Texture Parameters of Asphalt Pavement on Light Reflection Characteristics
Authors: Xu Peng , Qian Guoping , Zhang Chao , Wang Xiangdong , Yu Huanan , Zhou Hongyu , Zhao Chen
Published: November 2023

The optical reflection characteristics of asphalt pavement have an important influence on road-lighting design, and the macrotexture and microtexture of asphalt pavement significantly affect its reflection characteristics. To investigate the impact of texture parameters on the retroreflection coefficient of asphalt pavement, the texture indices of rutted plate specimens and field asphalt pavement were obtained by a pavement texture tester, including the macrotexture surface area (S1), microtexture surface area (S2), macrotexture distribution density (D1), microtexture distribution density (D2), root mean square slope (Δq), skewness (Rsk), and steepness (Rku). The corresponding retroreflective coefficient RL was measured by using a retroreflectometer. In the laboratory experiments, rutted specimens of AC-13, SMA-13, and OGFC-13 asphalt mixtures were formed. The changes in texture parameters and the retroreflection coefficient of rutting specimens before and after rolling were studied, and a factor-influence model between macro- and microtexture parameters and RL was established, along with correlation models of the texture index and RL. The results show that after the rutting test, S1, S2, D1, D2, Δq, and Rku decreased, Rsk increased, and RL increased. In the single-factor model, the parameters could be used to characterize RL with high prediction accuracy, whereas for the onsite measurements, the parameters Δq, Rsk, and Rku could well characterize RL. The nonlinear model established, based on the BP neural network algorithm, improved the prediction accuracy. This research provides ideas for optimizing the reflection characteristics of asphalt pavement and a decision-making basis for road-lighting design.
Dynamics of Semiconductor Laser Coupled with Two External Cavities
Authors: Abdulrhmann Salah , Alhasan Abu Mohamed , Madkhli A. Y.
Published: November 2023

An investigation into the dynamic states and relative intensity noise of laser diodes subjected to double optical feedback has been conducted. We employed modified and improved time-delay rate equations to account for double external optical feedback. The dynamic states and noise of lasers will be investigated using bifurcation diagrams of the output photon number, its temporal variations, and the intensity noise of the laser. This analysis considers feedback strengths due to the double external cavity and their spacing from the front facet of the laser with and without phase due to feedback. The results reveal that considering phase causes significant variations in laser intensity and a phase shift in the temporal variations of the laser output. This results in relative intensity noise suppression and a frequency shift in the intensity noise spectrum. These findings represent new contributions to our understanding of the reliance of lasing frequency shift on the phase due to feedback, regardless of whether feedback originates from a single or double external cavity. We investigated the optimal conditions corresponding to stable dynamic states of the laser with the lowest noise level. Additionally, we identified conditions that result in chaotic dynamics, where the spectrum does not convey information about the laser system. These insights have potential applications in chaotic and secure optical data encryption.
Edible Oils from Selected Unconventional Sources—A Comprehensive Review of Fatty Acid Composition and Phytochemicals Content
Authors: Konopka Iwona , Tańska Małgorzata , Dąbrowski Grzegorz , Ogrodowska Dorota , Czaplicki Sylwester
Published: November 2023

In recent years, there was an increase in the commercial offer of vegetable oils from unconventional sources, such as fruit, vegetable, and herb seeds. The paper presents a synthesis of available scientific information on 27 oils obtained from the seeds of 14 fruit species (apple, apricot, chokeberry, black berry, blackcurrant, blue berry, cherry, Japanese quince, pear, plum, quince, raspberry, rosehip, and strawberry), 8 vegetable species (broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cucumber, onion, parsley, radish, and tomato), and 5 herb species (basil, coriander, fennel, fenugreek, and perilla). A review of the literature showed that oil content in these seeds ranges from ca. 5% for fenugreek to over 55% for apricot kernels. A recommended n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio below 4-5/1 was noted in 11 species. Japanese quince, blackcurrant, and fenugreek seed oils seem to be good sources of phytosterols. Radish seed oil was mostly abundant in tocols, Japanese quince seed oil in squalene, and blackcurrant seed oil in carotenoids. Unfortunately, actual data on the composition of these seed oils are highly variable, making it difficult to precisely identify the most nutritionally valuable oils.
A Fusion Framework for Confusion Analysis in Learning Based on EEG Signals
Authors: Zhang Chenlong , He Jian , Liang Yu , Wang Zaitian , Xie Xiaoyang
Published: November 2023

Human–computer interaction (HCI) plays a significant role in modern education, and emotion recognition is essential in the field of HCI. The potential of emotion recognition in education remains to be explored. Confusion is the primary cognitive emotion during learning and significantly affects student engagement. Recent studies show that electroencephalogram (EEG) signals, obtained through electrodes placed on the scalp, are valuable for studying brain activity and identifying emotions. In this paper, we propose a fusion framework for confusion analysis in learning based on EEG signals, combining feature extraction and temporal self-attention. This framework capitalizes on the strengths of traditional feature extraction and deep-learning techniques, integrating local time-frequency features and global representation capabilities. We acquire localized time-frequency features by partitioning EEG samples into time slices and extracting Power Spectral Density (PSD) features. We introduce the Transformer architecture to capture the comprehensive EEG characteristics and utilize a multi-head self-attention mechanism to extract the global dependencies among the time slices. Subsequently, we employ a classification module based on a fully connected layer to classify confusion emotions accurately. To assess the effectiveness of our method in the educational cognitive domain, we conduct thorough experiments on a public dataset CAL, designed for confusion analysis during the learning process. In both subject-dependent and subject-independent experiments, our method attained an accuracy/F1 score of 90.94%/0.94 and 66.08%/0.65 for the binary classification task and an accuracy/F1 score of 87.59%/0.87 and 41.28%/0.41 for the four-class classification task. It demonstrated superior performance and stronger generalization capabilities than traditional machine learning classifiers and end-to-end methods. The evidence demonstrates that our proposed framework is effective and feasible in recognizing cognitive emotions.
Differences of East Asian Summer Monsoon Precipitation Responses between Transient and Stabilization Simulations
Authors: Liu Jiawei , Xu Haiming , Deng Jiechun , Ma Jing , Zhang Leying
Published: November 2023

The differences between the two global warming targets of the Paris Agreement, 1.5 °C and 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, have drawn much attention from the scientific community. However, there is a remaining gap to distinguish regional climate responses in these two most typical pathways, i.e., transient and stabilization simulations, toward specific warming levels. In this study, we discern the East Asia summer monsoon (EASM) responses between these two types of simulations at low-warming targets, based on the fully coupled community Earth system model (CESM). The two types of responses display a similar increase pattern in the EASM precipitation. However, the quantitative differences between these two types of responses are as large as those between the 1.5 °C and 2 °C warming scenarios. The moist budget analysis reveals that the EASM precipitation differences are mainly caused by the thermodynamic, dynamic, and transient eddy effects. Specifically, the thermodynamic effect contributes to the precipitation increment in the coastal area of East Asia in both types of responses, with the enhanced low-level specific humidity. The dynamic contribution shows tripolar and bipolar patterns in East Asia in the transient and stabilization responses, respectively. Remarkably, the transient eddy effect contribution emerges only in the stabilization responses. Further, we reveal the dominant role of the East Asian subtropical jet (EASJ) in determining the contributions from dynamic and transient eddy effects. The changes in the EASJ’s position and intensity are greatly regulated by the temperature change patterns at the mid-high levels in response to different greenhouse gas emission pathways. Our study highlights the differences between transient and stabilization climate states on a regional scale.
Two-Stream Networks for COPERT Correction Model with Time-Frequency Features Fusion
Authors: Xu Zhenyi , Wang Ruibin , Pan Kai , Li Jiaren , Wu Qilai
Published: November 2023

Emission factors serve as a valuable tool for quantifying the release of pollutants from road vehicles and predicting emissions within a specific time or area. In order to overcome the limitation of the computer program to calculate emissions from the road transport (COPERT) model in directly obtaining precise emission factors from on-board diagnostic (OBD) data, we propose a novel two-stream network that combines time-series features and time-frequency features to enhance the accuracy of the COPERT model. Firstly, for the instantaneous emission factors of NOx from multiple driving segments provided by heavy-duty diesel vehicles in actual driving, we select the monitored attributes with a high correlation to the emission factor of NOx considering the data scale and employing Spearman rank correlation analysis to obtain the final dataset composed of them and emission factors. Subsequently, we construct an information matrix to capture the impact of past data on emission factors. Each attribute of the time series is then converted into a time-frequency matrix using the continuous wavelet transform. These individual time-frequency matrices are combined to create a multi-channel time-frequency matrix, which represents the historical information. Finally, the historical information matrix and the time-frequency matrix are inputted into a two-stream parallel model that consists of ResNet50 and a convolutional block attention module. This model effectively integrates time-series features and time-frequency features, thereby enhancing the representation of emission characteristics. The reliability and accuracy of the proposed method were validated through a comparative analysis with existing mainstream models.
Engineering Applications with Stress-Strength for a New Flexible Extension of Inverse Lomax Model: Bayesian and Non-Bayesian Inference
Authors: Alyami Salem A. , Elbatal I. , Hassan Amal S. , Almetwally Ehab M.
Published: November 2023

In this paper, we suggest a brand new extension of the inverse Lomax distribution for fitting engineering time data. The newly developed distribution, termed the transmuted Topp–Leone inverse Lomax (TTLILo) distribution, is characterized by an additional shape and transmuted parameters. It is critical to notice that the skewness, kurtosis, and tail weights of the distribution are strongly influenced by these additional characteristics of the extra parameters. The TTLILo model is capable of producing right-skewed, J-shaped, uni-modal, and reversed-J-shaped densities. The proposed model’s statistical characteristics, including the moments, entropy values, stochastic ordering, stress-strength model, incomplete moments, and quantile function, are examined. Moreover, characterization based on two truncated moments is offered. Using Bayesian and non-Bayesian estimating techniques, we estimate the distribution parameters of the suggested distribution. The bootstrap procedure, approximation, and Bayesian credibility are the three forms of confidence intervals that have been created. A simulation study is used to assess the efficiency of the estimated parameters. The TTLILo model is then put to the test by being applied to actual engineering datasets, demonstrating that it offers a good match when compared to alternative models. Two applications based on real engineering datasets are taken into consideration: one on the failure times of airplane air conditioning systems and the other on the active repair times of airborne communication transceivers. Also, we consider the problem of estimating the stress-strength parameter R=P(Z2<Z1) with engineering application.
MRI Methods to Visualize and Quantify Adipose Tissue in Health and Disease
Authors: Nikiforaki Katerina , Marias Kostas
Published: November 2023

MRI is the modality of choice for a vast range of pathologies but also a sensitive probe into human physiology and tissue function. For this reason, several methodologies have been developed and continuously evolve in order to non-invasively monitor underlying phenomena in human adipose tissue that were difficult to assess in the past through visual inspection of standard imaging modalities. To this end, this work describes the imaging methodologies used in medical practice and lists the most important quantitative markers related to adipose tissue physiology and pathology that are currently supporting diagnosis, longitudinal evaluation and patient management decisions. The underlying physical principles and the resulting markers are presented and associated with frequently encountered pathologies in radiology in order to set the frame of the ability of MRI to reveal the complex role of adipose tissue, not as an inert tissue but as an active endocrine organ.
Risk Factors for the Anal and Oral Human Papillomavirus (HPV) Infections among Women with Severe Cervical Lesions: A Prospective Case—Control Study
Authors: Džundová Monika Nipčová , Sehnal Borek , Zikán Michal , Kocián Roman , Dubová Olga , Hubka Petr , Dostálek Lukáš , Kabele Pavel , Brtnický Tomáš , Slama Jiri
Published: November 2023

The carcinogenicity of HPV infection in the anogenital and oropharyngeal regions is broadly accepted. The aim of the study was to define risk factors for anal and oral HPV infections in high-risk patients with biopsy-proven severe cervical lesions (CIN2+). Altogether immunocompetent 473 females with CIN2+ were categorized into the study group and another 245 women into the control group. The strongest risk factor for anal HPV infection was the presence of cervical HPV infection (p < 0.001). Furthermore, ten or more lifetime sexual partners (p = 0.013), a sexual non-coital contact with the anal area (p < 0.001), and actively practicing anal-penetrative intercourse (p < 0.001) were significantly associated with anal HPV. A history of genital warts in the woman (p = 0.010) and the presence of genital warts in the male partner (p = 0.029) were found statistically significant for the risk of oral HPV infection. Our data suggest that the presence of HPV infection, especially high-risk genotypes, in one anatomical site poses the greatest risk for HPV infection in another anatomical site. The cervix is the main reservoir of infection, but the risk factors for anal and oral HPV infections are dissimilar according to different anatomical distances and more complex routes of transmission.
Hepcidin Reduction during Testosterone Therapy in Men with Type 2 Diabetes: A Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Study
Authors: Magnussen Line Velling , Helskov Jørgensen Louise , Glintborg Dorte , Andersen Marianne Skovsager
Published: November 2023

High hepcidin is linked to low-grade inflammation and lower iron levels. The consequences of testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on inflammation and the risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD) are undetermined. We investigate the effect of TRT on the inflammatory cardiovascular risk markers hepcidin-iron, fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23)-phosphate-klotho, and calprotectin pathways. Methods: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded study at an academic tertiary-care medical center. Interventions were testosterone gel (TRT, n = 20) or placebo gel (n = 19) for 24 weeks. We included 39 men (50–70 years) with type 2 diabetes (T2D) on metformin monotherapy with bioavailable testosterone levels <7.3 nmol/L. Body composition was assessed with DXA- and MRI-scans; the main study outcomes were serum hepcidin-iron, FGF23, phosphate, klotho, and calprotectin. Results: Hepcidin levels decreased during TRT (β = −9.5 ng/mL, p < 0.001), lean body mass (β = 1.9 kg, p = 0.001) increased, and total fat mass (β = −1.3 kg, p = 0.009) decreased compared to placebo. Delta hepcidin was not associated with changes in lean body mass or fat mass. Iron and the pathways of FGF23-phosphate-klotho and calprotectin were unchanged during TRT. Conclusions: During TRT, the reduction in hepcidin was not associated with circulating iron levels, lean body mass, or fat mass; these findings suggested a direct anti-inflammatory effect of TRT and no indirect effect mediated through these factors.
Molecular Dynamics Study on Interfacial Strengthening Mechanisms of Ettringite/Polymer Nanocomposites
Authors: Zhang Liwei , Zheng Heping , Xie Huilin
Published: November 2023

Compared with polymer-modified ordinary-Portland-cement-based materials, research on cement materials based on polymer-modified sulfoaluminate is still in the preliminary stage and lacks an understanding of the mechanism of the interaction interface. The aim of this work is to study the bond performance of ettringite, the main hydration product of sulfoaluminate cement, with various types of polymers using molecular dynamics methods. Steered molecular dynamics were used to simulate the separation of polyamide (PA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), polyacrylic acid (PAA) and polypropylene (PP) from ettringite substrate, reflecting the order of bond properties of the four polymers: PAA > PA > PEG > PP. The internal mechanism of bond properties between different polymers and ettringite was analyzed by studying the local structure and dynamic characteristics. The results show that a Ca–O ionic pair is formed between the calcium ions on the surface of the polymer and ettringite substrate, resulting in strong interaction. In addition, the formation of a H bond also contributes to bond performance. The properties of the polymer itself, such as the degree of polymerization and branched-chain freedom, affect the coordination of the polymer to the substrate. This study provides valuable insights for advancing the development of polymer-modified sulfoaluminate-cement-based materials.
Mechanical Behavior of Compression-Compacted Dry Concrete Paver Blocks Making Use of Sea Sand and Seawater
Authors: Guo Pengcheng , Wang Qicheng , Liu Jia , Wang Tengfei , Zhao Junliang , Wu Dongyan
Published: November 2023

Dry concrete is a kind of concrete whose fresh mixture has almost no flowability and is widely used in the production of small-size unreinforced compression-compacted concrete blocks in plants. Considering the shortage of natural river sand and freshwater for concrete production, this study proposes that sea sand and seawater can be directly used in the manufacture of compression-compacted dry concrete paver blocks. The idea was verified in the laboratory to find suitable mix proportions and forming pressure, which are two key parameters for the production of paver blocks. Furthermore, the effect of sea sand replacement ratio and seawater replacement ratio is investigated, where compression and flexural tensile tests were conducted on lab-made paver blocks at different ages. The experimental results reveal that both the compressive and flexural tensile strengths of paver blocks increased when sea sand and seawater were adopted. It is finally suggested that sea sand and seawater are suitable for the production of unreinforced paver blocks with enhanced mechanical performance.
A New Immunotherapy Combination Promises to Improve Survival for Patients with Metastatic Prostate Cancer
Authors: Seremak Juliette R. , Lokeshwar Bal L.
Published: November 2023

Prostate cancer (PC) is the second-most prevalent malignancy affecting the male population worldwide [...]
Efficient Radial-Shell Model for 3D Tumor Spheroid Dynamics with Radiotherapy
Authors: Franke Florian , Michlíková Soňa , Aland Sebastian , Kunz-Schughart Leoni A. , Voss-Böhme Anja , Lange Steffen
Published: November 2023

Understanding the complex dynamics of tumor growth to develop more efficient therapeutic strategies is one of the most challenging problems in biomedicine. Three-dimensional (3D) tumor spheroids, reflecting avascular microregions within a tumor, are an advanced in vitro model system to assess the curative effect of combinatorial radio(chemo)therapy. Tumor spheroids exhibit particular crucial pathophysiological characteristics such as a radial oxygen gradient that critically affect the sensitivity of the malignant cell population to treatment. However, spheroid experiments remain laborious, and determining long-term radio(chemo)therapy outcomes is challenging. Mathematical models of spheroid dynamics have the potential to enhance the informative value of experimental data, and can support study design; however, they typically face one of two limitations: while non-spatial models are computationally cheap, they lack the spatial resolution to predict oxygen-dependent radioresponse, whereas models that describe spatial cell dynamics are computationally expensive and often heavily parameterized, impeding the required calibration to experimental data. Here, we present an effectively one-dimensional mathematical model based on the cell dynamics within and across radial spheres which fully incorporates the 3D dynamics of tumor spheroids by exploiting their approximate rotational symmetry. We demonstrate that this radial-shell (RS) model reproduces experimental spheroid growth curves of several cell lines with and without radiotherapy, showing equal or better performance than published models such as 3D agent-based models. Notably, the RS model is sufficiently efficient to enable multi-parametric optimization within previously reported and/or physiologically reasonable ranges based on experimental data. Analysis of the model reveals that the characteristic change of dynamics observed in experiments at small spheroid volume originates from the spatial scale of cell interactions. Based on the calibrated parameters, we predict the spheroid volumes at which this behavior should be observable. Finally, we demonstrate how the generic parameterization of the model allows direct parameter transfer to 3D agent-based models.
Clonality Analysis for the Relationship between the Pulmonary Combined Neuroendocrine Carcinoma and “the So-Called Reported Histologic Transformation”
Authors: Wang Haiyue , Zhu Yanli , Sun Wei , Yang Xin , Liu Xinying , Chi Kaiwen , Huang Xiaozheng , Zhou Lixin , Cai Weijing , Lin Dongmei
Published: November 2023

Histologic transformation (HT) is common following targeted therapy in adenocarcinoma. However, whether the transformed tumor is a new component or a combined neuroendocrine carcinoma (C-NEC) remains controversial. We aimed to explore the relationship between pulmonary C-NEC and HT. Macro-dissection was performed on different components of surgically resected C-NEC samples. Molecular alterations and clonal evolution were analyzed using whole exome sequencing (WES). The gene statuses for TP53 and RB1 were determined using immunohistochemistry (IHC) and WES to analyze the relationship between C-NEC and reported HT. Sixteen combined small-cell lung cancer patients and five combined large-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma patients were enrolled. The frequency of p53 and Rb inactivation, assessed using IHC in NEC and non-NEC components, was 76.2/76.2% and 66.7/61.9%, respectively. The expression consistency between the components was 81.0 and 85.7% for p53 and Rb, respectively. The frequencies of TP53, RB1, and EGFR mutations, assessed using WES in NEC and non-NEC components, were 81.0/81.0%, 28.6/28.6%, and 42.9/42.9%, respectively. The concordance rates for TP53, RB1, and EGFR were 90.5, 71.4, and 90.5%, respectively. The consistency rate between IHC and WES was 81.0 and 61.9% for TP53 and RB1, respectively. The different components had a common clonal origin for the 21 C-NECs in the clonal analysis, consistent with previous studies on HT. Our study shows that IHC is more sensitive for Rb detection and C-NEC, and the reported HT may be due to differences in evaluations between pathologist and clinicians. Assessing the p53/Rb and EGFR status for such cases would help in recognizing potential transformation cases or uncovering potential combined components.
Characterization of Equilibrium Catalysts from the Fluid Catalytic Cracking Process of Atmospheric Residue
Authors: Zakariyaou Seybou Yacouba , Ye Hua , Oumarou Abdoulaye Dan Makaou , Abdoul Aziz Mamane Souley , Ke Shixian
Published: November 2023

In the FCC conversion of heavy petroleum fractions as atmospheric residues, the main challenge for refiners to achieve the quantity and quality of various commercial products depends essentially on the catalyst used in the process. A deep characterization of the catalyst at different steps of the process (fresh, regenerated, and spent catalyst) was investigated to study the catalyst’s behavior including the physicochemical evolution, the deactivation factor, and kinetic–thermodynamic parameters. All samples were characterized using various spectroscopy methods such as N2 adsorption–desorption, UV-visible spectroscopy, Raman spectroscopy, LECO carbon analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray diffraction (XRD), X-ray fluorescence (XRF), nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR13C) analysis, and thermogravimetric analysis. The results of the N2 adsorption–desorption, UV-vis, Raman, LECO carbon, and SEM imaging showed that the main causes of catalyst deactivation and coking were the deposition of carbon species that covered the active sites and clogged the pores, and the attrition factor due to thermal conditions and poisonous metals. The XRD and XRF results showed the catalyst’s physicochemical evolution during the process and the different interlinks between catalyst and feedstock (Nickel, Vanadium, Sulfur, and Iron) elements which should be responsible for the coking and catalyst attrition factor. It has been found that, in addition to the temperature, the residence time of the catalyst in the process also influences catalyst structure transformation. NMR13C analysis revealed that polyaromatic hydrocarbon is the main component in the deposited coke of the spent catalyst. The pyridine-FTIR indicates that the catalyst thermal treatment has an influence on its Brønsted and Lewis acid sites and the distribution of the products. Thermogravimetric analysis showed that the order of catalyst mass loss was fresh > regenerated > spent catalyst due to the progressive losses of the hydroxyl bonds (OH) and the structure change along the catalyst thermal treatment. Moreover, the kinetic and thermodynamic parameters showed that all zones are non-spontaneous endothermic reactions.