bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Serosurvey of selected reproductive pathogens in domestic ruminants from Upper Egypt
Authors: Farag Shimaa Ismail , Cano-Terriza David , Gonzálvez Moisés , Salman Doaa , Aref Nasr-Eldin M. , Mubaraki Murad A. , Jiménez-Martín Débora , García-Bocanegra Ignacio , Elmahallawy Ehab Kotb
Published: October 2023

Toxoplasmosis, neosporosis, and Q fever are among the most important abortifacient diseases in ruminants worldwide. These diseases result in huge economic losses in livestock besides the fact that some of are of public health concern. The present study aimed to update the data about the current seroepidemiological situation of these diseases in Upper Egypt. A total of 411 blood samples were collected from small and large ruminants and serologically tested against the presence of T. gondii, N. caninum, and C. burnetii. Generalized estimating equation (GEE) models were performed to assess the potential risk factors associated with the exposure to these pathogens. The overall seroprevalence of T. gondii was 47.9% (197/411) with an individual seropositivity of 59.4% (63/106), 58.6% (17/29), 38.8% (54/139) and 46% (63/137) in cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats, respectively. Meanwhile, 9.7% (38/411) of the examined animals were tested positive for anti-N. caninum antibodies, with an individual seropositivity of 13.2% (12/106), 34.5% (10/29), 8.6% (12/139) and 2.9% (4/137) in cattle, buffalo, sheep and goats, respectively. Furthermore, the overall prevalence of antibodies against C. burnetii was 17.3% (63/411), and exposure to this pathogen was detected in 4.7% (5/106) of cattle, 19.3% (20/129) of sheep, 29.2% (38/130) of goats but none of the examined buffalo were found to be seropositive. A total of 12.1% (50/411) of the examined animals showed co-exposure to at least two of the tested pathogens. Regarding the potential risk factors, there were statistically significant differences among species in the frequency of exposure to the three tested pathogens. Age (> 6 months) was also shown to be a significant risk factor associated with T. gondii exposure. The results obtained provided updated information about the occurrence of three of the main reproductive pathogens in Upper Egypt. The high seropositivity values found for the tested zoonotic pathogens in most of the analyzed ruminant species suggest the necessity of performing additional in-depth studies to evaluate the epidemiology of these pathogens in the study area.
Effects of Italian Ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum) Cultivation for Green Manure and Forage on Subsequent Above- and Below-Ground Growth and Yield of Soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Choi Miri , Choi Nayoung , Lee Jihyeon , Lee Sora , Kim Yoonha , Na Chaein
Published: October 2023

To diversify upland cropping systems, Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum; IRG) can be incorporated as forage or green manure to soybean (Glycine max L.). The current study was conducted to analyze the effect of IRG cultivar and usage methods on the subsequent soybean above- and below-ground growth, as well as the yield, under different conditions. Three cycles of crop rotation were implemented with the combination of IRG cultivar (early maturing “Kowinearly”; late maturing “Winterhawk”), IRG usage (green manure for which both above- and below-ground biomass was incorporated, +CC; and forage for which only below-ground biomass was incorporated, −CC), and fallow soil as control. The soybean yield of +CC was consistently high regardless of the IRG cultivar, and it demonstrated an increase even under unfavorable weather conditions, while −CC treated did not differ from control. Incorporated IRG could serve as a starter fertilizer (79 to 156 kg ha−1 of N input). Soybean root characteristic differences showed substantial variability depending on the year and treatments. However, when compared to the control, no adverse effects of IRG were evident. Thus, using IRG as a green manure has the potential to enhance soybean yield, while using IRG as a forage could bring additional harvested matter to the rotational system.
Adaptability of Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) to Different Tea Cultivars
Authors: He Yingqin , Lu Changhao , Jiang Wenbin , Chen Wenlong , Fan Jinjuan , Niu Suzhen , Zhao Degang
Published: October 2023

The adaptability of phytophagous insects to different host plants is a key determinant of their population propagation. Understanding the feeding behaviour and population dynamics of insects is crucial for elucidating host adaptability and screening for insect-resistant germplasms. Here, we investigated Toxoptera aurantii (Hemiptera: Aphididae) adaptability using electropenetrography and assessed its population growth on seven tea cultivars: Huangjinya (HJY), Qianmei601 (QM601), Fudingdabaicha (FD), Longjing43 (LJ43), Qiancha1 (QC1), Qiancha8 (QC8) and Qiancha10 (QC10). The results showed that the feeding behaviour of T. aurantii differed significantly depending on the tea cultivars. The initial probing of T. aurantii on HJY was the earliest among the seven host plants. Aphids on QC1 and QC10 displayed an increased duration of stylet probing and decreased ingestion of phloem sap, whereas a contrasting trend was observed for aphids on HJY. In addition, the mechanical resistance of T. aurantii fed on HJY and QM601 during the probing phase was significantly lower than that of aphids fed on other cultivars. Population dynamic parameters revealed that the growth rate of T. aurantii reared on HJY was the fastest, and its population quantity within 15 days was markedly higher than that of aphids fed on other cultivars. These findings demonstrate that HJY is the most suitable host plant, whereas QC1 and QC10 are less suitable hosts for T. aurantii, although the aphids successfully survived on all the selected tea cultivars. Our results provide valuable information for the biological control of T. aurantii using resistant tea varieties.
Flavor Characteristics of Three Indonesian Cocoa Clones in Four Environments
Authors: Anita-Sari Indah , Murti Rudi Hari , Misnawi  , Putra Eka Tarwaca Susila , Setyawan Bayu , Susilo Agung Wahyu
Published: October 2023

The non-aromatic genotypes are known to possess the capacity to produce aromatic cocoa beans when planted in strategic environments with specified soil compositions. Therefore, this study aimed to identify genetic responses to the flavor of cocoa beans in different growing environments. A total of three superior cocoa clones, namely the aromatic (MCC 02) and non-aromatic genotypes (Sulawesi 1 and Sulawesi 2), were used. A completely randomized block design was utilized with three replications at four locations with different agro-climatic types, including Jember in East Java (dry area, low land), Pringsewu (dry area, low land), Pesawaran (wet area, medium land) in Lampung, and Soppeng in South Sulawesi (dry area, medium land), which served as the control location of FFC producers. Additionally, the sensory properties were assessed by three trained and certified panelists. The results showed that both genetic and environmental factors significantly influenced the flavor characteristics of Indonesian cocoa beans. Non-aromatic genotypes cultivated in Pesawaran and Soppeng demonstrated the ability to produce aromatic beans. Significant differences were observed in the volatile characteristics of aromatic and non-aromatic genotypes. Compounds such as alkaloids, pyrazine, and alcohol dominated cocoa beans produced in the aromatic group, while non-aromatic genotypes were dominated by terpenoids. Variations in elements and soil conditions contributed to the changes in the sensory characteristics of cocoa beans, ultimately leading to aromatic characteristics.
Breaking Buds—Stop and Go? Acid Invertase Activities in Apple Leaf Buds during Dormancy Release until Bud Break
Authors: Hubmann Anna M. , Roth Alexandra , Monschein Stephan
Published: October 2023

Bud dormancy enables deciduous fruit trees to endure unfavorable conditions during winter, and considerably impacts growth and reproduction in spring. We investigated acid invertase activities during dormancy release until bud break under natural (orchard) conditions in two consecutive years. Our aim was to relate the activity patterns to the developmental progression and to air temperature, which is a major factor influencing the developmental processes at that stage. The enzyme assays were performed on extracts from leaf buds of the cultivar Idared, sampled from early March to April in the years 2020 and 2021. The air temperature was continually monitored during the observation periods. cwINV activity showed a trend of slight increase at the earlier developmental stages and sharply increased during bud break in both years. cwINV is known to contribute to organ sink strength. Its up-regulation may, therefore, be related to the increasing developmental demand for carbohydrates in apple leaf buds during dormancy release until bud break. vacINV activity was relatively constant at the earlier stages and also showed a pronounced increase in activity during bud break in both years. However, in both years, we observed drops in vacINV activity following cold spells. vacINV activity has been associated with growth via cell elongation through the regulation of cell turgor and may, thus, be involved in bud break. Therefore, we suggest that the down-regulation of vacINV activity as a consequence of cold spells might contribute to a delay in bud break to protect young leaf tissues from exposure to cold stress conditions.
Impact of Airflow Rectification on Spreading Uniformity for UAV-Based Multichannel Pneumatic Granular Fertilizer Spreader
Authors: Wang Xunwei , Jiang Rui , Zhou Zhiyan , Huang Junhao , Lin Jianqin
Published: October 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are an important part of smart farms and have been widely used in granular fertilizer spreading. The multichannel pneumatic granular fertilizer spreader (MPGFS) has the advantages of light weight and precision spreading, and has been applied to UAV variable rate fertilization. Based on the problem that the airflow field disorder of the existing MPGFS reduces the uniformity of spreading, the aim of this study was to further improve the performance of the MPGFS through rectification. The computational fluid dynamics and discrete element method (CFD-DEM) and coupling simulation method were used to study the characteristics of the airflow field and fertilizer particle motion, and a honeycomb rectifier and grid rectifier were developed. The aperture of the honeycomb rectifier and the grid size of the grid rectifier were optimized. Then, the test bench was built to test the consistency of the discharge rate of each channel and the spreading uniformity of the MPGFS. The simulation results of the existing MPGFS showed that the airflow provided by the axial flow fan was rotational, and this caused the particles’ motion to be skewed in the shrinkage section, so the discharge rate of each channel was inconsistent. The airflow field analysis results of the shrinkage section showed that the airflow rotation was reduced after the rectification of the honeycomb rectifier and the grid rectifier. The bench test results showed that the coefficient of variation (CV) of each channel discharge rate of the existing MPGFS was 20.16%, the optimal honeycomb rectifier was 13.07%, and the optimal grid rectifier was 5.27%. The bench test results of spreading uniformity show that the CV of spreading uniformity of the existing MPGFS was 15.32%, the optimal honeycomb rectifier was 15.81%, and the optimal grid rectifier was 8.02%. The grid rectifier spread pattern was more reasonable and the CV of uniformity was better. This study demonstrated that the use of a grid rectifier to rectify the airflow field of MPGFS can effectively improve its spreading uniformity, which was of guiding significance for the design and research of MPGFS.
Glycine-Alanine Dipeptide Repeat Protein from C9-ALS Interacts with Sulfide Quinone Oxidoreductase (SQOR) to Induce the Activity of the NLRP3 Inflammasome in HMC3 Microglia: Irisflorentin Reverses This Interaction
Authors: Fu Ru-Huei , Chen Hui-Jye , Hong Syuan-Yu
Published: October 2023

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a fatal rare disease of progressive degeneration of motor neurons. The most common genetic mutation in ALS is the hexanucleotide repeat expansion (HRE) located in the first intron of the C9orf72 gene (C9-ALS). HRE can produce dipeptide repeat proteins (DPRs) such as poly glycine-alanine (GA) in a repeat-associated non-ATG (RAN) translation. GA-DPR has been shown to be toxic to motor neurons in various biological models. However, its effects on microglia involved in C9-ALS have not been reported. Here, we show that GA-DPR (GA50) activates the NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasome in a human HMC3 microglia model. MCC950 (specific inhibitor of the NLRP3) treatment can abrogate this activity. Next, using yeast two-hybrid screening, we identified sulfide quinone oxidoreductase (SQOR) as a GA50 interacting protein. SQOR knockdown in HMC3 cells can significantly induce the activity of the NLRP3 inflammasome by upregulating the level of intracellular reactive oxygen species and the cytoplasmic escape of mitochondrial DNA. Furthermore, we obtained irisflorentin as an effective blocker of the interaction between SQOR and GA50, thus inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activity in GA50-expressing HMC3 cells. These results imply the association of GA-DPR, SQOR, and NLRP3 inflammasomes in microglia and establish a treatment strategy for C9-ALS with irisflorentin.
Microencapsulation of Chilean Papaya Waste Extract and Its Impact on Physicochemical and Bioactive Properties
Authors: Fuentes Yihajara , Giovagnoli-Vicuña Claudia , Faúndez Mario , Giordano Ady
Published: October 2023

The microencapsulation of bioactive extracts of Chilean papaya waste, including both seeds and skin, was investigated. Papaya waste extract microcapsules utilizing maltodextrin at 10% (MD10), 20% (MD20), and 30% (MD30) (w/v) as the wall material through the freeze-drying process were obtained, and subsequently their physicochemical, antioxidant, and antimicrobial properties were evaluated. The TPC efficiency and yield values achieved were more than 60% for the microencapsulated seed and skin extracts, respectively. The best results for phenolic and antioxidant compounds were found in the microencapsulated seed extract with MD20, with a value of 44.20 ± 3.32 EAG/g DW for total phenols and an antioxidant capacity of 12.0 ± 0.32 mol ET/g DW for the DPPH and 236.3 ± 4.1 mol ET/g DW for the FRAP assay. In addition, the seed and skin samples reduced ROS generation in H2O2-treated Hek293 cells. In terms of antimicrobial activity, values ranging from 7 to 15 mm of inhibitory halos were found, with the maximum value corresponding to the inhibition of S. aureus, for both microencapsulated extracts. Therefore, the successful microencapsulation of the waste bioactive extracts (seed and skin) with the demonstrated antimicrobial and antioxidant properties highlight the bioactivity from Chilean papaya waste resources.
Eudragit E100/Hesperidin 3D Printing Filaments: Preparation, Characterization, and In Vitro Release Studies
Authors: Cardoso Pedro H. N. , Oliveira Carlos Yure B. , Nunes Mylena , Tavares Ginetton F. , Faia Pedro M. , Araújo Evando S.
Published: October 2023

The importance of the Eudragit® E100 copolymer (E100) is recognized in the pharmaceutical industry as a pH-dependent coating material in conventional oral administration dosage applications, where a modified release profile is required. On the other hand, its arrangement for 3D printing of cylindrical-shaped filaments containing drugs (to produce customized pharmaceuticals), is still scarce in the literature, and is currently an open field of research. One of the main challenges involves the manufacture of filaments that are flexible and functional, as their cylindrical shape (which is necessary for its use on FDM 3D printers) significantly increases the material’s fragility. Thus, the objective of this work was to prepare and characterize E100/Hesperidin (Hsp) filaments, and to study in vitro dissolution from Hsp active molecules of this unconventional polymeric matrix. The hybrid filaments were produced using a surface chemical treatment of the material resulting from a hot-melt extrusion process. The microstructural characterization of the filaments was performed using SEM, XRD, FTIR and ATR. The thermal analysis of the materials was performed using DSC, and the mechanical resistance was analyzed using flexural testing. The in vitro release profiles of the filament-arranged drug were evaluated in solutions of simulated gastro and intestinal fluids.
Impact of Traditional and Embedded Image Denoising on CNN-Based Deep Learning
Authors: Kaur Roopdeep , Karmakar Gour , Imran Muhammad
Published: October 2023

In digital image processing, filtering noise is an important step for reconstructing a high-quality image for further processing such as object segmentation, object detection, and object recognition. Various image-denoising approaches, including median, Gaussian, and bilateral filters, are available in the literature. Since convolutional neural networks (CNN) are able to directly learn complex patterns and features from data, they have become a popular choice for image-denoising tasks. As a result of their ability to learn and adapt to various denoising scenarios, CNNs are powerful tools for image denoising. Some deep learning techniques such as CNN incorporate denoising strategies directly into the CNN model layers. A primary limitation of these methods is their necessity to resize images to a consistent size. This resizing can result in a loss of vital image details, which might compromise CNN’s effectiveness. Because of this issue, we utilize a traditional denoising method as a preliminary step for noise reduction before applying CNN. To our knowledge, a comparative performance study of CNN using traditional and embedded denoising against a baseline approach (without denoising) is yet to be performed. To analyze the impact of denoising on the CNN performance, in this paper, firstly, we filter the noise from the images using traditional means of denoising method before their use in the CNN model. Secondly, we embed a denoising layer in the CNN model. To validate the performance of image denoising, we performed extensive experiments for both traffic sign and object recognition datasets. To decide whether denoising will be adopted and to decide on the type of filter to be used, we also present an approach exploiting the peak-signal-to-noise-ratio (PSNRs) distribution of images. Both CNN accuracy and PSNRs distribution are used to evaluate the effectiveness of the denoising approaches. As expected, the results vary with the type of filter, impact, and dataset used in both traditional and embedded denoising approaches. However, traditional denoising shows better accuracy, while embedded denoising shows lower computational time for most of the cases. Overall, this comparative study gives insights into whether denoising will be adopted in various CNN-based image analyses, including autonomous driving, animal detection, and facial recognition.
Impact of Soil on the Penetration of Prefabricated Spherical Fragments and Its Protective Effect
Authors: Wang Zhenning , Yin Jianping , Wang Zhijun , Li Xudong , Yi Jianya
Published: October 2023

As a natural environmental medium, soil has a wide range of sources and is often used as a material for building houses. It can also be used to construct simple protective structures in actual battlefield environments. In order to study the protective effect of sand on prefabricated fragments in practical situations, the authors conducted experiments on spherical tungsten alloy prefabricated fragments penetrating into sand using sand as the target medium. Natural sand (naturally generated rock particles with a particle size less than 4.75 mm) was selected as the sand, and the initial velocities of the fragments were 689 m/s~1761 m/s (fragment diameter 6 mm) and 596 m/s~1325 m/s (fragment diameter 11 mm), respectively. Based on the residual velocity of fragments and experimental phenomena in experimental data, the authors used LS-DYNA software to numerically simulate and compare the residual velocity of fragments and obtained a numerical model for sandy soil media and a calculation formula for the residual velocity of spherical fragments. Based on modeling equivalence in practical environments, the authors studied the impact of different attack angles on fragment trajectory deviation and found that fragments have the highest deviation values at 20° and 70° attack angles. They also analyzed the soil boundary effect within a small scale range, and the effect was significant when the vertical distance was less than 40 mm. The penetration resistance of different thicknesses of soil was calculated, and the maximum soil thickness under prefabricated fragment penetration at different speeds was obtained. The effective protective size of the soil under actual conditions was about 550 mm. This experiment provides a reference for the construction parameters of simple soil defense structures in actual environments.
Characterization of Cellulose Derived from Invasive Alien Species Plant Waste for Application in the Papermaking Industry: Physic-Mechanical, Optical, and Chemical Property Analysis
Authors: Iglesias Antía , Cancela Ángeles , Soler Baena Ana , Sánchez Ángel
Published: October 2023

This study examines the potential of four invasive plant species, both arboreal and herbaceous, within the riparian forest of the Umia River in Galicia, a common ecosystem in northern Spain. These invasive species (Arundo donax, Phytolacca americana, Eucalyptus globulus, and Tradescantia fluminensis) were collected and assessed for their suitability as an alternative source of pulp and paper materials for the paper industry to mitigate the environmental impacts associated with conventional cellulose fiber production from harmful monocultures. Cellulosic material from leaves, bark, and/or stems of each of the selected species was isolated from lignin and hemicelluloses through kraft pulping processes. Resulted fibers and pulps were analyzed visually, morphologically, chemically, and mechanically to evaluate their papermaking properties. To compare these properties with those of commercially available pulp, test sheets were concurrently produced using commercial bleached Eucalyptus cellulose. The findings reveal that the employed fibers exhibit promising characteristics for artistic paper production. Regarding the pulp, two refining times were tested in a PFI machine, and the Schopper–Riegler degree was measured. Paper sheets underwent various tests to determine thickness, basis weight, apparent volume, apparent density, permeability, and chemical composition, as well as microscopic optical and morphological properties. The fibers obtained from the waste derived from the removal of invasive exotic species and biodiversity control present a viable and intriguing alternative for decentralized paper production, yielding noteworthy results for the creative sector. This research highlights the potential of harnessing invasive species for sustainable and innovative paper manufacturing practices.
Lymphedema Surgical Treatment Using BioBridgeTM: A Preliminary Experience
Authors: Cè Maurizio , Menozzi Andrea , Soresina Massimo , Giardini Denisa , Martinenghi Carlo , Cellina Michaela
Published: October 2023

Lymphedema treatment has traditionally been based on conservative therapies. In recent years, the introduction of two microsurgical techniques—venolymphatic anastomoses and lymph-node transplantation—have revolutionized the therapeutic approach to this disease. However, these surgical techniques only provide a partial volume reduction, and thus, they require further improvement. A new device called BioBridgeTM, an implantable biocompatible and biodegradable mesh, made up of aligned nanofibrillar collagen scaffolds that mimic the collagen matrix, could significantly improve the benefits of these surgical strategies, favoring lymphatic regeneration. In this article, we describe our experience with three patients affected by primary lymphedema, two treated with a lymph-node transplant, and one with venolymphatic anastomosis. All interventions involved the placement of nanocollagen scaffolds. With each patient, non-contrast magnetic resonance lymphography was performed for surgical planning and there was an imaging and a clinical follow-up at 1 year. All patients showed a significant reduction in the affected areas with the demonstration of new lymphatic vessels at MR imaging follow-up. This was a preliminary experience, and it showed the potential benefit of positioning nonfibrillar scaffolds in combination with other microsurgical therapies for lymphedema.
Theoretical Study of Large Uncoupling Coefficient Loading for Surface Blasting
Authors: Wang Mengxiang , Wang Haibo , Zong Qi , Xiong Feng , Kang Qian , Zhu Chun , Pan Yuanyuan
Published: October 2023

Smooth surface blasting control technology is aimed at blasting the rock body until it is left with a smooth surface and to protect it from damage; the current air spaced axial uncoupled charge and air spaced radial uncoupled continuous charge are effective charging structures for smooth surface blasting. Reserved air spacing can effectively reduce the blast wave and the peak pressure of the explosive gas, improving the quasi-static pressure of the explosive gas under the action of rock surface blasting with fracture seam quality. In order to ensure the effect of surface blasting, small-diameter light surface holes are more often used; with the development of drilling machinery, the use of large-diameter light blast holes with an oversized uncoupled coefficient of loading structure effectively improves the efficiency of the construction and at the same time achieves better blasting results. However, according to the bursting assumption of obtaining the theory of light surface blasting in the application of large uncoupling coefficient loading, light surface blasting has certain limitations. In this regard, the bursting theory explores the air spacing uncoupling charge in line with the multi-faceted exponential expansion of the critical uncoupling coefficient and is in accordance with the following: the requirements of light surface blasting and the field loading structure; the derivation of the quasi-static pressure on the wall of the gunhole under the action of large uncoupling, uncoupling coefficient, and the parameters of the spacing between the gunholes; the establishment of the axial uncoupling coefficient and the radial uncoupling coefficient-equivalent relationship between the uncoupling coefficient and the theoretical relationship between the selection of the spacing between the holes; the uncoupling coefficient and the selection of the theoretical relationship between the spacing between the holes. This study reveals the mechanism by which different parameters of surface blasting can achieve good results in engineering practices. A slope in Guizhou is an example of sample calculations and the application of two different charging structures applied to field loading, which have achieved good surface blasting results.
Improving Automated Machine-Learning Systems through Green AI
Authors: Castellanos-Nieves Dagoberto , García-Forte Luis
Published: October 2023

Automated machine learning (AutoML), which aims to facilitate the design and optimization of machine-learning models with reduced human effort and expertise, is a research field with significant potential to drive the development of artificial intelligence in science and industry. However, AutoML also poses challenges due to its resource and energy consumption and environmental impact, aspects that have often been overlooked. This paper predominantly centers on the sustainability implications arising from computational processes within the realm of AutoML. Within this study, a proof of concept has been conducted using the widely adopted Scikit-learn library. Energy efficiency metrics have been employed to fine-tune hyperparameters in both Bayesian and random search strategies, with the goal of enhancing the environmental footprint. These findings suggest that AutoML can be rendered more sustainable by thoughtfully considering the energy efficiency of computational processes. The obtained results from the experimentation are promising and align with the framework of Green AI, a paradigm aiming to enhance the ecological footprint of the entire AutoML process. The most suitable proposal for the studied problem, guided by the proposed metrics, has been identified, with potential generalizability to other analogous problems.
Designing a User-Centered Inspection Device’s Handle for the Aircraft Manufacturing Industry
Authors: Colim Ana , Pereira Débora , Lima Pedro , Cardoso André , Almeida Rui , Fernandes Duarte , Mould Sacha , Arezes Pedro
Published: October 2023

In aircraft manufacturing settings, workers are frequently exposed to biomechanical risk factors, mainly in the later stages of the production processes, including inspection tasks. To support the development of a novel inspection device appropriate for the end-users and their tasks, this study presents a user-centered approach for the device’s handle. Three different handles were proposed, and the current study aims to find out which handle can offer (1) the best ergonomic conditions and (2) the best stability in holding the device in hand during an inspection task. To this end, 23 volunteers participated in the experimental assessment, which comprised qualitative and quantitative data. A questionnaire was used for subjective comfort assessment. Partial times to execute the task studied, stability metrics of the device during its handling, and kinematic and electromyographic data of the upper limb recruited were measured and analyzed to compare the three handles. Outstanding results include the higher comfort perceived by the participants working with the selected handle for the final design, as well as the reduction in muscle effort. Globally, the results obtained demonstrated that the handle user-centered design potentiates good efficiency and usability of the novel device.
Parametric Design and Shape Sensing of Geared Back Frame Shell Structure for Floating Cylindrical Reflector Antenna off the Coast
Authors: Mei Mengmei , Huang He , Li Yugang , Zheng Zhe
Published: October 2023

At present, numerous reflector antennas have been constructed worldwide on land. However, there are few applications of reflector antennas directly set off the coast. To expand the application region of reflector antennas, a floating cylindrical reflector antenna (FCRA) driven by the moving mass was developed to implement the elevation angle adjustment. Firstly, the structure design is introduced in detail. The design parameters are stated and analyzed to obtain the kinematic relationship while considering the water surface constraint. Then, the effects of each variable on the rotation capacity and structural stability are discussed. Further, the feasibility of the elevation angle adjustment process is demonstrated by using a prototype model test and software simulation. Finally, the deformation analyses and shape sensing of the back frame are carried out on the basis of the inverse finite element method (iFEM). We concluded that this new structure is feasible and expected to sit off the coast. In addition, the iFEM algorithm with sub-region reconstruction was proved to be suitable for the shape sensing of the over-constrained FCRA during the angle adjustment process via several quasi-static sampling moments.
Interpretable Model-Agnostic Explanations Based on Feature Relationships for High-Performance Computing
Authors: Chen Zhouyuan , Lian Zhichao , Xu Zhe
Published: October 2023

In the explainable artificial intelligence (XAI) field, an algorithm or a tool can help people understand how a model makes a decision. And this can help to select important features to reduce computational costs to realize high-performance computing. But existing methods are usually used to visualize important features or highlight active neurons, and few of them show the importance of relationships between features. In recent years, some methods based on a white-box approach have taken relationships between features into account, but most of them can only work on some specific models. Although methods based on a black-box approach can solve the above problems, most of them can only be applied to tabular data or text data instead of image data. To solve these problems, we propose a local interpretable model-agnostic explanation approach based on feature relationships. This approach combines the relationships between features into the interpretation process and then visualizes the interpretation results. Finally, this paper conducts a lot of experiments to evaluate the correctness of relationships between features and evaluates this XAI method in terms of accuracy, fidelity, and consistency.
Two Convergence Results for Inexact Orbits of Nonexpansive Operators in Metric Spaces with Graphs
Authors: Zaslavski Alexander J.
Published: October 2023

In this work we show that if iterates of a nonexpansive self-mapping of a complete metric with a graph converge uniformly on a subset of the space, then this convergence is stable under the presence of small computational errors.
A Visualization in GeoGebra of Leibniz’s Argument on the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus
Authors: Muñoz Weimar , León Olga Lucía , Font Vicenç
Published: October 2023

In the literature, it is usually assumed that Leibniz described proof for the Fundamental Theorem of Calculus (FTC) in 1693. However, did he really prove it? If the answer is no from today’s perspective, are there works in which Leibniz introduced arguments that can be understood as formulations and justifications of the FTC? In order to answer this question, we used a historiographic methodology with expert triangulation. From the study of Leibniz’s manuscripts describing the inverse problem of tangents and its relationship with the quadrature problem, we found evidence of a geometrical argument from which the FTC can be inferred. We present this argument using technological resources and modern notation. This result can be used to teach the FTC due to the existence of dynamic and geometrical software, which makes it suitable for the classroom. Moreover, it provides another interpretation of the FTC complementary to the interpretation using Riemann sums.
Prevalence and Impact of Cerebral Microbleeds on Clinical and Safety Outcomes in Acute Ischaemic Stroke Patients Receiving Reperfusion Therapy: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Tipirneni Shraddha , Stanwell Peter , Weissert Robert , Bhaskar Sonu M. M.
Published: October 2023

Background: Cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), a notable neuroimaging finding often associated with cerebral microangiopathy, demonstrate a heightened prevalence in patients diagnosed with acute ischemic stroke (AIS), which is in turn linked to less favourable clinical prognoses. Nevertheless, the exact prevalence of CMBs and their influence on post-reperfusion therapy outcomes remain inadequately elucidated. Materials and Methods: Through systematic searches of PubMed, Embase and Cochrane databases, studies were identified adhering to specific inclusion criteria: (a) AIS patients, (b) age ≥ 18 years, (c) CMBs at baseline, (d) availability of comparative data between CMB-positive and CMB-negative groups, along with relevant post-reperfusion therapy outcomes. The data extracted were analysed using forest plots of odds ratios, and random-effects modelling was applied to investigate the association between CMBs and symptomatic intracerebral haemorrhage (sICH), haemorrhagic transformation (HT), 90-day functional outcomes, and 90-day mortality post-reperfusion therapy. Results: In a total cohort of 9776 AIS patients who underwent reperfusion therapy, 1709 had CMBs, with a pooled prevalence of 19% (ES 0.19; 95% CI: 0.16, 0.23, p < 0.001). CMBs significantly increased the odds of sICH (OR 2.57; 95% CI: 1.72; 3.83; p < 0.0001), HT (OR 1.53; 95% CI: 1.25; 1.88; p < 0.0001), as well as poor functional outcomes at 90 days (OR 1.59; 95% CI: 1.34; 1.89; p < 0.0001) and 90-day mortality (OR 1.65; 95% CI: 1.27; 2.16; p < 0.0001), relative to those without CMBs, in AIS patients undergoing reperfusion therapy (encompassing intravenous thrombolysis [IVT], endovascular thrombectomy [EVT], either IVT or EVT, and bridging therapy). Variations in the level of association can be observed among different subgroups of reperfusion therapy. Conclusions: This meta-analysis underscores a significant association between CMBs and adverse postprocedural safety outcomes encompassing sICH, HT, poor functional outcome, and increased mortality in AIS patients undergoing reperfusion therapy. The notable prevalence of CMBs in both the overall AIS population and those undergoing reperfusion therapy emphasizes their importance in post-stroke prognostication.
Predictive Value of Fatty Liver Index for Long-Term Cardiovascular Events in Patients Receiving Liver Transplantation: The COLT Study
Authors: Caturano Alfredo , Albanese Gaetana , Di Martino Anna , Coppola Carmine , Russo Vincenzo , Galiero Raffaele , Rinaldi Luca , Monda Marcellino , Marfella Raffaele , Sasso Ferdinando Carlo , Salvatore Teresa
Published: October 2023

Background and aims: Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is the leading cause of early mortality in orthotopic liver transplantation (OLT) patients. The fatty liver index (FLI) is strongly associated with carotid and coronary atherosclerosis, as well as cardiovascular mortality, surpassing traditional risk factors. Given the lack of data on FLI as a predictor of cardiovascular events in OLT recipients, we conducted a retrospective study to examine this topic. Methods and results: We performed a multicenter retrospective analysis of adult OLT recipients who had regular follow-up visits every three to six months (or more frequently if necessary) from January 1995 to December 2020. The minimum follow-up period was two years post-intervention. Anamnestic, clinical, anthropometric and laboratory data were collected, and FLI was calculated for all patients. Clinical trial.gov registration ID NCT05895669. A total of 110 eligible patients (median age 57 years [IQR: 50–62], 72.7% male) were followed for a median duration of 92.3 months (IQR: 45.7–172.4) post-liver transplantation. During this period, 16 patients (14.5%) experienced at least one adverse cardiovascular event (including fatal and non-fatal myocardial infarction and stroke). Receiver Operating Characteristic (ROC) analysis identified a cut-off value of 66.0725 for predicting cardiovascular events after OLT, with 86.7% sensitivity and 63.7% specificity (68% vs. 31%; p = 0.001). Kaplan–Meier analysis showed that patients with FLI > 66 had significantly reduced cardiovascular event-free survival than those with FLI ≤ 66 (log-rank: 0.0008). Furthermore, multivariable Cox regression analysis demonstrated that FLI > 66 and pre-OLT smoking were independently associated with increased cardiovascular risk. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that FLI > 66 and pre-OLT smoking predict cardiovascular risk in adult OLT recipients.
Lyrebird Optimization Algorithm: A New Bio-Inspired Metaheuristic Algorithm for Solving Optimization Problems
Authors: Dehghani Mohammad , Bektemyssova Gulnara , Montazeri Zeinab , Shaikemelev Galymzhan , Malik Om Parkash , Dhiman Gaurav
Published: October 2023

In this paper, a new bio-inspired metaheuristic algorithm called the Lyrebird Optimization Algorithm (LOA) that imitates the natural behavior of lyrebirds in the wild is introduced. The fundamental inspiration of LOA is the strategy of lyrebirds when faced with danger. In this situation, lyrebirds scan their surroundings carefully, then either run away or hide somewhere, immobile. LOA theory is described and then mathematically modeled in two phases: (i) exploration based on simulation of the lyrebird escape strategy and (ii) exploitation based on simulation of the hiding strategy. The performance of LOA was evaluated in optimization of the CEC 2017 test suite for problem dimensions equal to 10, 30, 50, and 100. The optimization results show that the proposed LOA approach has high ability in terms of exploration, exploitation, and balancing them during the search process in the problem-solving space. In order to evaluate the capability of LOA in dealing with optimization tasks, the results obtained from the proposed approach were compared with the performance of twelve well-known metaheuristic algorithms. The simulation results show that LOA has superior performance compared to competitor algorithms by providing better results in the optimization of most of the benchmark functions, achieving the rank of first best optimizer. A statistical analysis of the performance of the metaheuristic algorithms shows that LOA has significant statistical superiority in comparison with the compared algorithms. In addition, the efficiency of LOA in handling real-world applications was investigated through dealing with twenty-two constrained optimization problems from the CEC 2011 test suite and four engineering design problems. The simulation results show that LOA has effective performance in handling optimization tasks in real-world applications while providing better results compared to competitor algorithms.
Intensity Interrogation-Based High-Sensitivity Surface Plasmon Resonance Imaging Biosensor for Apoptosis Detection in Cancer
Authors: Yuan Xin , Niu Zhenxiao , Liu Lang , Zeng Youjun , Ma Lin , Nie Zhaogang , Tian Zhen , Kai Dongyun , Zhang Fangteng , Liu Guanyu , Li Siwei , Yuan Zhengqiang
Published: October 2023

Intensity interrogation-based surface plasmon resonance imaging (ISPRi) sensing has a simple schematic design and is the most widely used surface plasmon resonance technology at present. In this study, we report the successful development of a novel high-sensitivity ISPRi biosensor and its application for apoptosis detection in cancer cells. By optimizing the excitation wavelength and excitation angle, we achieved a refractive index resolution (RIR) of 5.20 × 10−6 RIU. Importantly, the biosensor has been tested and validated for high-throughput and label-free detection of activated caspase-3 with its specific inhibitor Z-DEVD-FMK in apoptotic cells. Therefore, this study describes a novel molecular imaging system to monitor apoptosis in cancers for disease diagnosis and/or evaluation of therapeutic efficacy of anti-cancer drugs.
Abnormal Topological Organization of Structural Covariance Networks in Patients with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy Comorbid Sleep Disorder
Authors: Yang Shengyu , Wu Ying , Sun Lanfeng , Lu Yuling , Qian Kai , Kuang Huimin , Meng Jie , Wu Yuan
Published: October 2023

Objective: The structural covariance network (SCN) alterations in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy and comorbid sleep disorder (PWSD) remain poorly understood. This study aimed to investigate changes in SCNs using structural magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: Thirty-four PWSD patients, thirty-three patients with temporal lobe epilepsy without sleep disorder (PWoSD), and seventeen healthy controls underwent high-resolution structural MRI imaging. Subsequently, SCNs were constructed based on gray matter volume and analyzed via graph-theoretical approaches. Results: PWSD exhibited significantly increased clustering coefficients, shortest path lengths, transitivity, and local efficiency. In addition, various distributions and numbers of SCN hubs were identified in PWSD. Furthermore, PWSD networks were less robust to random and target attacks than those of healthy controls and PWoSD patients. Conclusion: This study identifies aberrant SCN changes in PWSD that may be related to the susceptibility of patients with epilepsy to sleep disorders.
Frailty as a Predictor of Outcomes in Subarachnoid Hemorrhage: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fortunato Michael , Lin Fangyi , Uddin Anaz , Subah Galadu , Patel Rohan , Feldstein Eric , Lui Aiden , Dominguez Jose , Merckling Matthew , Xu Patricia , McIntyre Matthew , Gandhi Chirag , Al-Mufti Fawaz
Published: October 2023

Frailty is an emerging concept in clinical practice used to predict outcomes and dictate treatment algorithms. Frail patients, especially older adults, are at higher risk for adverse outcomes. Aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) is a neurosurgical emergency associated with high morbidity and mortality rates that have previously been shown to correlate with frailty. However, the relationship between treatment selection and post-treatment outcomes in frail aSAH patients is not established. We conducted a meta-analysis of the relevant literature in accordance with PRISMA guidelines. We searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and Google Scholar using “Subarachnoid hemorrhage AND frailty” and “subarachnoid hemorrhage AND frail” as search terms. Data on cohort age, frailty measurements, clinical grading systems, and post-treatment outcomes were extracted. Of 74 studies identified, four studies were included, with a total of 64,668 patients. Percent frailty was 30.4% under a random-effects model in all aSAH patients (p < 0.001). Overall mortality rate of aSAH patients was 11.7% when using a random-effects model (p < 0.001). There was no significant difference in mortality rate between frail and non-frail aSAH patients, but this analysis only included two studies and should be interpreted cautiously. Age and clinical grading, rather than frailty, independently predicted outcomes and mortality in aSAH patients.
Processing Speed throughout Primary School Education: Evidence from a Cross-Country Longitudinal Study
Authors: Tikhomirova Tatiana , Kuzmina Yulia , Malykh Artem , Malykh Sergey
Published: October 2023

This cross-country four-year longitudinal study investigated the development of processing speed throughout primary school education. The analyses were conducted on data accumulated from 441 pupils in grades from 1 to 4 (aged 6.42 to 11.85 years) in Kyrgyzstan and Russia. Mixed effects growth modeling was applied to estimate average and individual growth trajectories for processing speed in two cross-country samples. Latent class growth modeling was conducted to describe various types of growth trajectories for processing speed and to compare the distribution of the types within the analyzed samples. According to the results, processing speed significantly increases across primary school years. The trajectory is described by nonlinear changes with most dynamic growth between grades 1 and 2, which slows down until grade 4. No significant cross-country differences were found in the initial score of processing speed or developmental changes in processing speed across primary school years. The development of processing speed is described by a model including three quadratic growth types but this minimally differs. It is concluded that in both samples, the development of processing speed may be characterized by homogeneity, with the most intensive growth from grade 1 to grade 2 and subsequent linear improvement until grade 4.