bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Possibilities of Diffuse Reflectance Spectroscopy in Determining and Operational Control of the Optical Properties of Finely Dispersed Scattering Media
Authors: Hotra Oleksandra , Firago Vladimir , Shuliko Konstantin , Kisała Piotr
Published: July 2023

The characteristics of modern portable spectrometers based on photodetector arrays make it possible to create on their basis a new class of devices for operational control of the optical properties of various media. The introduction into the practice of diffuse reflectance spectroscopy with spatial resolution is hampered by the lack of an analysis of the influence of the width of the spectral region used and other sources of measurement uncertainty on the unambiguous determination of the optical properties of finely dispersed scattering materials. This article describes a method of determining the coefficient of local diffuse reflection and calculating the spectral parameters of the reduced scattering and absorption of radiation based on the differences in their shape, which are clearly manifested in a wide range of the spectrum. This allows the reduction in the determination of the desired spectral dependencies to the formation of a residual function that requires varying the values of only two parameters. A method for normalising the recorded spectral dependencies is described, which makes it possible to minimise the influence of the spectral characteristics of the equipment used on the recorded spectral–spatial profiles. Approbation of the method was carried out on examples of processing spectral–spatial diffuse reflection profiles of four samples of finely dispersed scattering structural materials, as well as diffuse reflection profiles of living tissue in the palm thenar region. The sources of uncertainty that affect the uniqueness of the obtained solutions are found, and solutions are proposed to minimise their influence on the desired spectral dependencies. The results obtained indicate the prospects of using the described method for creating equipment for non-destructive control of the optical properties of finely dispersed materials and media, including living tissues and food products.
Graphical Approach to Optimization of Maximally Efficient-Gain-Boosted Feedback Amplifiers
Authors: Xing Yang , Dong Ruibing
Published: July 2023

It is challenging to design high-gain amplifiers near the maximum oscillation frequency (fmax) of the transistors. This paper presents a comprehensive graphical approach to maximize the gain of feedback amplifiers with maximally efficient gain (GME) conception at near-fmax frequency. The complex gain-plane and the reflection-coefficient-plane are utilized to provide clear insights into both the gain and stability states of the two-port device while boosting GME. An efficient flowchart to synthesize feedback amplifiers is given, which optimizes the GME of a two-port device while ensuring the stability. A 210 GHz power amplifier in 40 nm CMOS was designed and optimized based on the proposed approach. The feedback circuit of the transistor pushes it to become potentially unstable and boosts GME. The measured peak small-signal gain was 10.48 dB at 195.33 GHz. The measured saturation output power and large-signal gain at 210 GHz were 3.04 dBm and 7.08 dB, respectively. The presented method could facilitate terahertz amplifier design.
A Customized ECA-CRNN Model for Emotion Recognition Based on EEG Signals
Authors: Song Yan , Yin Yiming , Xu Panfeng
Published: July 2023

Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals are electrical signals generated by changes in brain potential. As a significant physiological signal, EEG signals have been applied in various fields, including emotion recognition. However, current deep learning methods based on EEG signals for emotion recognition lack consideration of important aspects and comprehensive analysis of feature extraction interactions. In this paper, we propose a novel model named ECA-CRNN for emotion recognition using EEG signals. Our model integrates the efficient channel attention (ECA-Net) module into our modified combination of a customized convolutional neural network (CNN) and gated circulation unit (GRU), which enables more comprehensive feature extraction, enhances the internal relationship between frequency bands and improves recognition performance. Additionally, we utilize four-dimensional data as input to our model, comprising temporal, spatial and frequency information. The test on the DEAP dataset demonstrates that it enhances the recognition accuracy of EEG signals in both arousal and valence to 95.70% and 95.33%, respectively, while also reducing the standard deviation during five-fold cross-validation to 1.16 and 1.45 for arousal and valence, respectively, surpassing most methods.
Content Caching and Distribution Policies for Vehicular Ad-Hoc Networks (VANETs): Modeling and Simulation
Authors: Kilanioti Irene , Astrinakis Nikolaos , Papavassiliou Symeon
Published: July 2023

The paper studies the application of various content distribution policies for vehicular ad hoc networks (VANETs) and compares their effectiveness under various simulation scenarios. Our implementation augments the existing Veins tool, an open source framework for vehicular network simulations based on the discrete event simulator OMNET++ and SUMO, a tool that simulates traffic on road networks. The proposed solution integrates various additional features into the pre-existing Veins realizations and expands them to include the modeling and implementation of proposed caching and content distribution policies and the measurement of respective metrics. Moreover, we integrate machine learning algorithms for distribution policies into the simulation framework in order to efficiently study distribution of content to the network nodes. These algorithms are pre-trained neural network models adapted for VANETs. Using these new functions, we can specify the simulation parameters, run a plethora of experiments and proceed to evaluate metrics and policies for content distribution.
An GNSS/INS Integrated Navigation Algorithm Based on PSO-LSTM in Satellite Rejection
Authors: Cao Yu , Bai Hongyang , Jin Kerui , Zou Guanyu
Published: July 2023

When the satellite signal is lost or interfered with, the traditional GNSS (Global Navigation Satellite System)/INS (Inertial Navigation System) integrated navigation will degenerate into INS, which results in the decrease in navigation accuracy. To solve these problems, this paper mainly established the PSO (particle swarm optimization) -LSTM (Long Short-Term Memory) neural network model to predict the increment of GNSS position under the condition of satellite rejection and accumulation to obtain the pseudo-GNSS signal. The signal is used to compensate for the observed value in the integrated system. The model takes the advantages of LSTM, which is good at processing time series, and uses PSO to obtain the optimal value of important hyperparameters efficiently. Meanwhile, the improved threshold function is used to denoise the IMU (inertial measurement unit) data, which improves the SNR (signal-to-noise ratio) of IMU outputs effectively. Finally, the performance of the algorithm is proved by actual road test. Compared with INS, the method can reduce the maximum errors of latitude and longitude by at least 98.78% and 99.10% while the satellite is lost for 60 s, effectively improving the accuracy of the GNSS/INS system in satellite rejection.
Characteristics of Oil Shale Quality and Prospects for Comprehensive Development and Utilization in the Dalianhe Coal Mining Area, Northeastern China
Authors: Liu Zhixun , Ran Hao , Yang Heping , Yao Shunyu , Ma Cheng
Published: July 2023

Oil shale is an important unconventional oil and gas resource, but it is poorly utilized in the Dalianhe coal mining area, northeastern China. Systematic sampling and test analysis were used to evaluate the characteristics of oil shale quality. The research shows that the oil shale between the middle and lower coal seams in the coal-bearing member is a rich ore with a high oil content, medium calorific value, high ash content, medium volatile content, low moisture, and ultralow sulfur content. The oil shale has good quality and is suitable for low-temperature carbonization for oil refining or low-calorific fuel. The ash content is silicon–aluminum-rich, has low calcium–magnesium, is iron-poor, and has a high ash melting point. The middle oil shale member is a poor ore with low quality. However, there is a dense section of oil shale with a high organic matter content and good quality above the upper coal seam. It is recommended to implement combined mining of coal and oil shale in the mineshaft and to reasonably recover oil shale between the coal seams and oil shale above the upper coal seam to improve the resource utilization rate.
Energizing Emergency Exit Signs with Wireless Energy Transfer
Authors: Chaari Mohamed Z. , Pereira Gilroy P. , Abdelfatah Mohamed , Al-Rahimi Rashid , Aghzout Otman
Published: July 2023

Emergency exit lights in public buildings are necessary for safety and evacuation. International safety standards require such lighting in many public places, like airports, schools, malls, hospitals, and other spaces, to prevent human casualties in emergencies. Emergency exit lights have become an essential part of casualty reduction projects. They can pose several application problems, including fire safety concerns. The issue of providing a safe way and operating emergency exit lights along one side of a long path arises during an emergency. Many studies in this field consider the case in which emergency exit lights’ battery or main power fails. Power failures in dangerous situations such as fires or terrorist attacks make it difficult for people to escape. The lighting in open areas and stairwells during an emergency should be at least 2 lux. This work proposes an innovative technique for wirelessly powering emergency lights using microwave energy. Specifically, the study designed and fabricated a new wirelessly powered emergency lighting prototype. This prototype’s wireless power transfer (WPT) base comprises an RF/DC converter circuit and an RF microwave transmitter station. The device can harvest RF microwave energy to energize the emergency light. This research aimed to develop a compact device that captures maximum RF strength to power emergency lights. As a prototype, the proposed device was designed to provide sufficient microwave energy to power an emergency light at 3 W over a 62 m distance.
Supercapacitors Fast Ageing Control in Residential Microgrid Based Photovoltaic/Fuel Cell/Electric Vehicle Charging Station
Authors: Baqar Awab , Camara Mamadou Baïlo , Dakyo Brayima
Published: July 2023

The demand for microgrids and their applications in buildings, industries and for very specific applications is increasing over time. Most of these microgrids are dependent on renewable energy sources, which brings along problems of intermittent energy production. To maintain the balance of the grid, normally storage devices are used. Supercapacitors (SCs) are emerging as one of the potential solutions to solve the issue of intermittent energy production by renewable sources because of their high-power densities and rapid charge/discharge capability. In other terms, SCs can charge, and discharge rather quickly as compared to traditional lithium-batteries. This usage makes it interesting for optimizing decentralized energy generation-based PV systems operations. In this paper, the authors propose the supercapacitors fast ageing control in residential microgrid, including electric vehicle charging station based Photovoltaic-Fuel Cell system. Supercapacitors fast ageing control concept focuses on keeping the electrical parameters of the SCs around the optimal operation points by smoothing the power fluctuations in the system. The used SCs model is essentially based on the intermittent current waveforms along with variable temperature conditions. It enables us to describe the degradation of the supercapacitor’s parameters based on the effects of the temperature and the DC-current undulation. To maintain the electrical parameters of SCs around the optimal operation points, the authors propose a new control based on maintaining the SCs resistance at a minimal level and its capacitance at a maximal level by adjusting the SCs current control according to the optimal operating points tracking. The results validate the effectiveness of the approach, this is important because controlling the fast degradation of capacitance optimizes the lifetime of SCs system. Future research may explore scalability to large microgrids and integration with diverse renewable energy systems.
Monitoring Technologies for HVDC Transmission Lines
Authors: Laninga Jeff , Nasr Esfahani Ali , Ediriweera Gevindu , Jacob Nathan , Kordi Behzad
Published: July 2023

HVDC transmission systems are becoming more prevalent because of the advantages they offer. They are more efficient and environmentally friendly and are becoming preferred in distributed power generation. The reliable operation of HVDC transmission lines requires distributed, online monitoring, which is not as well-developed as those in an HVAC system. The advancement of HVDC systems will require online monitoring that provides information on the operating and environmental conditions, mechanical stress on the conductors and the structure, vegetation clearance, and security of the system. This perspective paper provides a thorough overview of the state-of-the-art technologies that are applicable to the monitoring of HVDC transmission lines. The challenges and future direction in the development of sensors for HVDC applications are highlighted. One of the key challenges unique to HVDC transmission lines is energy harvesting from the transmission line conductors to provide power for the monitoring equipment. This paper reviews the potential technologies for energy harvesting from HVAC transmission lines and their suitability for employment in HVDC transmission lines.
A Reinforcement Learning Approach for Ensemble Machine Learning Models in Peak Electricity Forecasting
Authors: Pannakkong Warut , Vinh Vu Thanh , Tuyen Nguyen Ngoc Minh , Buddhakulsomsiri Jirachai
Published: July 2023

Electricity peak load forecasting plays an important role in electricity generation capacity planning to ensure reliable power supplies. To achieve high forecast accuracy, multiple machine learning models have been implemented to forecast the monthly peak load in Thailand over the past few years, yielding promising results. One approach to further improve forecast accuracy is to effectively select the most accurate forecast value for each period from among the forecast values generated by these models. This article presents a novel reinforcement learning approach using the double deep Q-network (Double DQN), which acts as a model selector from a pool of available models. The monthly electricity peak load data of Thailand from 2004 to 2017 are used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed method. A hyperparameter tuning methodology using a fractional factorial design is implemented to significantly reduce the number of required experimental runs. The results indicate that the proposed selection model using Double DQN outperforms all tested individual machine learning models in terms of mean square error.
Realistic Nudging through ICT Pipelines to Help Improve Energy Self-Consumption for Management in Energy Communities
Authors: Ling Haicheng , Massé Pierre-Yves , Rihet Thibault , Wurtz Frédéric
Published: July 2023

Taking full advantage of the potentialities of renewable energies implies overcoming several specific challenges. Here, we address matching an intermittent energy supply with household demand through a nudging approach. Indeed, for households endowed with solar panels, aligning energy consumption with production may be challenging. Therefore, the aim of this study is to introduce two information and communication technology (ICT) nudging pipelines aimed at helping households integrated in energy communities with solar panels to improve their self-consumption rates, and to evaluate their efficiency on semi-real data. Our pipelines use information available in real-world settings for efficient management. They identify “green periods”, where households are encouraged to consume energy with incitation through nudging signals. We evaluate the efficiency of our pipelines on a simulation environment using semi-real data, based on well-known consumption datasets. Results show that they are efficient, compared to an optimal but unrealistic pipeline with access to complete information. They also show that there is a sweet spot for production, for which nudging is most efficient, and that a few green periods are enough to obtain significant improvements.
Simulating Gibberellic Acid Effect on Pasture Yield on Naturally Deposited and Fixed Area Urine
Authors: Matse Dumsane Themba , Avendano Fernando , Bishop Peter , Jeyakumar Paramsothy , Bates Geoff
Published: July 2023

Nitrate (NO3−-N) leaching from urine patches is a serious environmental concern in dairy pastoral systems. In our previous research, we established that application of a plant growth hormone, gibberellic acid (GA), can potentially reduce NO3−-N leaching in urine patches; however, this was investigated in two locations in New Zealand. The performance of GA in influencing pasture nitrogen (N) uptake and NO3−-N leaching needs to be undertaken in multi-locations to draw conclusions. However, multi-location studies are a challenge due to a lack of funding and time constraints, so models such as the agricultural production systems simulator (APSIM) have been used. Therefore, field studies were conducted to determine whether APSIM can be used to quantify and simulate the effect of GA on NO3−-N leaching and pasture yield in three experimental sites known as Ashburton, Stratford, and Rotorua in New Zealand. Treatments examined were control (no urine applied), urine at 600 kg N ha−1, urine + GA at 8 g ha−1. The observed data was used to calibrate and validate the model. APSIM simulated that application of GA reduced NO3−-N leaching (relative to urine treatment) by 4.6, 5.1, and 8.8 kg NO3−-N ha−1 in Ashburton, Stratford, and Rotorua, respectively. APSIM reliably simulated pasture dry matter yield, and this was confirmed by the coefficient of determination ranging from R2 = 0.8562 to 0.995 in all treatments and experimental sites. This study demonstrated that APSIM can effectively be used to simulate the effect of GA application on NO3−-N leaching and pasture yield. Therefore, APSIM can be applied in other areas to simulate NO3−-N leaching and pasture yield.
Quantitative Analysis of Forest Water COD Value Based on UV–vis and FLU Spectral Information Fusion
Authors: Li Chun , Ma Xin , Teng Yan , Li Shaochen , Jin Yuanyin , Du Jie , Jiang Ling
Published: July 2023

As an important ecosystem on the earth, forests not only provide habitat and food for organisms but also play an important role in regulating environmental elements such as water, atmosphere, and soil. The quality of forest waters directly affects the health and stability of aquatic ecosystems. Chemical oxygen demand (COD) is commonly used to assess the concentration of organic matter and the pollution status of water bodies, which is helpful in assessing the impact of human activities on forest ecosystems. To effectively measure the COD value, water samples were prepared from Purple Mountain in Nanjing and nearby rivers and lakes. Using ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) and fluorescence (FLU) spectroscopy combined with data fusion, the COD values of the forest water were accurately measured. Due to the large dimensionality of spectral data, the successive projections algorithm (SPA) and competitive adaptive reweighted sampling (CARS) were applied to the selection of characteristic wavelengths. By establishing a discriminant model for single-level data and using the voting mechanism to fuse the output results of different models, a relatively high determination coefficient (R2) of 0.9932 and a low root-mean-square error (RMSE) of 0.4582 were obtained based on the decision-level data fusion model. Compared with the single-spectrum and feature-level fusion models, the decision-level fusion scheme achieves an efficient, comprehensive, and accurate quantification of the water COD value. This study has important applications in forest protection, water resources management, sewage treatment, and the food processing field.
Advances in the Application of Quorum Sensing to Regulate Electrode Biofilms in Bioelectrochemical Systems
Authors: Wang Shen , Zhuang Xinglei , Dong Weiliang , Xin Fengxue , Jia Honghua , Wu Xiayuan
Published: July 2023

Bioelectrochemical systems (BESs) are an emerging technology for wastewater treatment and resource recovery. These systems facilitate electron transfer between microorganisms and electrodes, enabling their application in various fields, such as electricity production, bioremediation, biosensors, and biocatalysis. However, electrode biofilms, which play a critical role in BESs, face several challenges (e.g., a long acclimation period, low attached biomass, high electron transfer resistance, and poor tolerance and stability) that limit the development of this technology. Quorum sensing (QS) is a communication method among microorganisms that can enhance the performance of BESs by regulating electrode biofilms. QS regulation can positively impact electrode biofilms by enhancing extracellular electron transfer (EET), biofilm formation, cellular activity, the secretion of extracellular polymeric substances (EPS), and the construction of microbial community. In this paper, the characteristics of anode electrogenic biofilms and cathode electrotrophic biofilms in BESs, EET mechanisms, and the main factors affecting biofilm formation were summarized. Additionally, QS regulation mechanisms for biofilm formation, strategies for enhancing and inhibiting QS, and the application of QS regulation for electrode biofilms in BESs were systematically reviewed and discussed. This paper provides valuable background information and insights for future research and development of BES platforms based on QS regulation of electrode biofilms.
Effects of Dendrobium officinale on the Quality of Rice Wine Fermented Separately by Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Wickerhamomyces anomalus: Physicochemical Indices, Volatile Compounds and Nonvolatile Metabolites
Authors: Cen Lanyan , Shi Xueqin , Zhang Lin , Qiu Shuyi , Zeng Xiangyong , Dai Yifeng , Wang Chunxiao , Wei Chaoyang
Published: July 2023

This study aims to investigate the difference in the quality of rice wine fermented with different yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae FBKL2.8022 (Sc) and Wickerhamomyces anomalus FBKL2.8023 (Wa)) by adding Dendrobium officinale (D. officinale). The results showed that the addition of D. officinale improved the physicochemical indices and sensory scores in rice wine and promoted the release of active substances from D. officinale. The addition of D. officinale increased the types and contents of flavor substances in Wa-fermented rice wine and inhibited the generation of flavor substances in Sc-fermented rice wine. Untargeted metabolomics analysis showed that the number of differential metabolites was higher before and after fermentation with D. officinale. The main pathways causing the differences were phenylalanine metabolism and alanine, aspartate and glutamate metabolism (which belong to the amino acid metabolism pathways). This study provides a reference to explore the application value of D. officinale in the fermentation and food industry.
Intelligent Video Streaming at Network Edge: An Attention-Based Multiagent Reinforcement Learning Solution
Authors: Tang Xiangdong , Chen Fei , He Yunlong
Published: July 2023

Video viewing is currently the primary form of entertainment for modern people due to the rapid development of mobile devices and 5G networks. The combination of pervasive edge devices and adaptive bitrate streaming technologies can lessen the effects of network changes, boosting user quality of experience (QoE). Even while edge servers can offer near-end services to local users, it is challenging to accommodate a high number of mobile users in a dynamic environment due to their restricted capacity to maximize user long-term QoE. We are motivated to integrate user allocation and bitrate adaptation into one optimization objective and propose a multiagent reinforcement learning method combined with an attention mechanism to solve the problem of multiedge servers cooperatively serving users. Through comparative experiments, we demonstrate the superiority of our proposed solution in various network configurations. To tackle the edge user allocation problem, we proposed a method called attention-based multiagent reinforcement learning (AMARL), which optimized the problem in two directions, i.e., maximizing the QoE of users and minimizing the number of leased edge servers. The performance of AMARL is proved by experiments.
Influence of High Temperature on the Physical and Mechanical Properties of Porous Limestone from Baku (Azerbaijan)
Authors: Jodry Clara , Heap Michael J. , Bayramov Kamal , Alizada Gunel , Rustamova Sona , Nabiyeva Sevinj
Published: July 2023

Limestone is a popular building stone worldwide. In Baku in Azerbaijan, local limestones have been used in construction, including in the walled historic city centre (Old City, Icherisheher). Located in a seismically-active area, Baku is prone to post-earthquake fires that can damage buildings and monuments. Here, we test the fire resistance of local limestone by measuring its physical (connected porosity, permeability, P-wave velocity, thermal properties) and mechanical (uniaxial compressive strength, Young’s modulus) properties before and after thermal-stressing to temperatures up to 600 °C. Our results show that connected porosity and permeability increase and that P-wave velocity, thermal conductivity, thermal diffusivity, specific heat capacity, uniaxial compressive strength, and Young’s modulus decrease as a function of increasing temperature. Microstructural analyses show that these changes are the result of thermal microcracking. Samples heated to 800 °C disintegrated due to the formation of portlandite following decarbonation. The data presented herein will assist damage assessments of limestone buildings and monuments in Baku following the unfortunate event of fire.
Effect of the Potential Probiotic Vibrio proteolyticus DCF12.2 on the Immune System of Solea senegalensis and Protection against Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida and Vibrio harveyi
Authors: Medina Alberto , García-Márquez Jorge , Moriñigo Miguel Ángel , Arijo Salvador
Published: July 2023

Some of the characteristics of probiotics used in aquaculture are the antagonistic activity against pathogens and the activation of the immune response. Moreover, some probiotics with common antigens to pathogens can produce antibodies that react with these pathogens. One of those potential probiotics is Vibrio proteolyticus DCF12.2, a strain with the capacity to produce antibodies in soles (Solea senegalensis) that react with Photobacterium damselae subsp. piscicida and Vibrio harveyi antigens. Therefore, the objective of the work was to determine the capacity of DCF12.2 to activate the immune response in the sole, providing protection against both pathogens. For this purpose, DCF12.2 was administered to cultured soles by intraperitoneal injection, bath, and diet. The DCF12.2 strain activated the gene expression related to the fish immune response and increased the antibody production with cross-reaction to P. damselae subsp. piscicida and V. harveyi cells. Challenges with P. damselae subsp. piscicida resulted in a 30–40% relative percent survival (RPS) through DCF12.2 treatments. After challenge with V. harveyi, only intraperitoneal treatment protected the fish (67% RPS). In conclusion, the DCF12.2 strain showed great potential to be used to prevent diseases caused by both pathogens, and indicates a way to use probiotics as live vaccines.
Ring Vortex Dynamics Following Jet Formation of a Bubble Expanding and Collapsing Close to a Flat Solid Boundary Visualized via Dye Advection in the Framework of OpenFOAM
Authors: Koch Max , Lauterborn Werner , Lechner Christiane , Mettin Robert
Published: July 2023

A bubble expanding and collapsing near a solid boundary develops a liquid jet toward the boundary. The jet leaves a torus bubble and induces vortices in the liquid that persist long after the bubble oscillations have ceased. The vortices are studied numerically in axial symmetry and compared to experiments in the literature. The flow field is visualized with different methods: vorticity with superimposed flow-direction arrows for maps at a time instant and colored-liquid-layer flow-field maps (dye advection) for following the complete long-term fluid flow up to a chosen time since bubble generation. Bubbles with equal energy—maximum radius in a free liquid Rmax∞= 500 µm—are studied for different distances Dinit from the solid boundary. The interval of normalized distances D* = Dinit/Rmax∞ from 0.4 to 1.8 is covered. Two types of vortices were reported in experiments, one moving toward the solid boundary and one moving away from it. This finding is reproduced numerically with higher resolution of the flow field and in more detail. The higher detail reveals that the two types of vortices have different rotation directions and coexist with individually varying vorticity amplitude throughout the interval studied. In a quite narrow part of the interval, the two types change their strength and extent with the result of a reversal of the dominating rotational direction of the fluid flow. Thereby, the experimentally found transition interval could be reproduced and refined. It is interesting to note that in the vortex transition interval, the erosion of a solid surface is strongly augmented.
Dynamic Behavior of a Class of Six-Neuron Fractional BAM Neural Networks
Authors: Li Weinan , Liao Maoxin , Li Dongsheng , Xu Changjin , Li Bingbing
Published: July 2023

In this paper, the stability and Hopf bifurcation of a six-neuron fractional BAM neural network model with multiple delays are considered. By transforming the multiple-delays model into a fractional-order neural network model with a delay through the variable substitution, we prove the conditions for the existence of Hopf bifurcation at the equilibrium point. Finally, our results are verified by numerical simulations.
NGS-Based Genetic Analysis in a Cohort of Italian Patients with Suspected Inherited Myopathies and/or HyperCKemia
Authors: Invernizzi Federica , Izzo Rossella , Colangelo Isabel , Legati Andrea , Zanetti Nadia , Garavaglia Barbara , Lamantea Eleonora , Peverelli Lorenzo , Ardissone Anna , Moroni Isabella , Maggi Lorenzo , Bonanno Silvia , Fiori Laura , Velardo Daniele , Magri Francesca , Comi Giacomo P. , Ronchi Dario , Ghezzi Daniele , Lamperti Costanza
Published: July 2023

Introduction/Aims HyperCKemia is considered a hallmark of neuromuscular diseases. It can be either isolated or associated with cramps, myalgia, weakness, myoglobinuria, or rhabdomyolysis, suggesting a metabolic myopathy. The aim of this work was to investigate possible genetic causes in order to help diagnose patients with recurrent hyperCKemia or clinical suspicion of inherited metabolic myopathy. Methods A cohort of 139 patients (90 adults and 49 children) was analyzed using a custom panel containing 54 genes associated with hyperCKemia. Results A definite genetic diagnosis was obtained in 15.1% of cases, while candidate variants or variants of uncertain significance were found in a further 39.5%. Similar percentages were obtained in patients with infantile or adult onset, with some different causative genes. RYR1 was the gene most frequently identified, either with single or compound heterozygous variants, while ETFDH variants were the most common cause for recessive cases. In one patient, mRNA analysis allowed identifying a large LPIN1 deletion missed by DNA sequencing, leading to a certain diagnosis. Conclusion These data confirm the high genetic heterogeneity of hyperCKemia and metabolic myopathies. The reduced diagnostic yield suggests the existence of additional genes associated with this condition but also allows speculation that a significant number of cases presenting with hyperCKemia or muscle symptoms are due to extrinsic, not genetic, factors.
Seismic Hazard in Greece: A Comparative Study for the Region of East Macedonia and Thrace
Authors: Sotiriadis Dimitris , Margaris Basil , Klimis Nikolaos , Dokas Ioannis M.
Published: July 2023

Greece is located in one of the most seismically active regions in Europe. Many seismic hazard studies have been performed for various sites around Greece, at a regional or local scale. However, the latest national seismic hazard map, currently used for the seismic design of buildings and infrastructure, was published in 2000 and has not been updated since then. In light of recent advances in seismic source and ground motion modeling, the present study focuses on a comparative Probabilistic Seismic Hazard Assessment (PSHA) for the region of East Macedonia and Thrace (EMTH), located in Northern Greece. Various seismic source models are implemented and compared against an updated earthquake catalog to form the necessary source model logic tree. The ground motion logic tree is composed of Ground Motion Prediction Equations (GMPEs), which have been proven suitable for implementation in Greece. PSHA results are presented for the most important cities of East Macedonia and Thrace in a comparative way, which highlights the variability of the seismic hazard among the various seismic source models. An updated seismic hazard map of the study area is proposed, and a comparative disaggregation analysis is performed to estimate the earthquake scenarios with the largest contribution to the seismic hazard.
Is the Earth’s Magnetic Field a Constant? A Legacy of Poisson
Authors: Le Mouël Jean-Louis , Lopes Fernando , Courtillot Vincent , Gibert Dominique , Boulé Jean-Baptiste
Published: July 2023

In the report he submitted to the Académie des Sciences, Poisson imagined a set of concentric spheres at the origin of Earth’s magnetic field. It may come as a surprise to many that Poisson as well as Gauss both considered the magnetic field to be constant. We propose in this study to test this surprising assertion for the first time, evoked by Poisson in 1826. First, we present a development of Maxwell’s equations in the framework of a static electric field and a static magnetic field in order to draw the necessary consequences for the Poisson hypothesis. In a second step, we see if the observations can be in agreement with Poisson. To do so, we choose to compare (1) the polar motion drift and the secular variation of Earth’s magnetic field, (2) the seasonal pseudo-cycles of day length together with those of the sea level recorded by different tide gauges around the globe and those of Earth’s magnetic field recorded in different magnetic observatories. We then propose a mechanism, in the spirit of Poisson, to explain the presence of the 11-year cycle in the magnetic field. We test this mechanism with observations, and finally, we study closely the evolution of the g1,0 coefficient of the International Geomagnetic Reference Field (IGRF) over time.
The Manic Idea Creator? A Review and Meta-Analysis of the Relationship between Bipolar Disorder and Creative Cognitive Potential
Authors: Forthmann Boris , Kaczykowski Karin , Benedek Mathias , Holling Heinz
Published: July 2023

Even though a relationship between psychopathology and creativity has been postulated since the time of ancient Greece, systematic meta-analyses on this topic are still scarce. Thus, the meta-analysis described here can be considered the first to date that specifically focuses on the relationship between creative potential, as measured by divergent thinking, and bipolar disorder, as opposed to psychopathology in general. An extensive literature search of 4670 screened hits identified 13 suitable studies, including a total of 42 effect sizes and 1857 participants. The random-effects model showed an overall significant, positive, yet diminutively small effect (d = 0.11, 95% CI: [0.002, 0.209], p = 0.045) between divergent thinking and bipolar disorder. A handful of moderators were examined, which revealed a significant moderating effect for bipolar status, as either euthymic (d = 0.14, p = 0.043), subclinical (d = 0.17, p = 0.001), manic (d = 0.25, p = 0.097), or depressed (d = −0.51, p < 0.001). However, moderator analyses should be treated with caution because of the observed confounding of moderators. Finally, none of the employed methods for publication-bias detection revealed any evidence for publication bias. We discuss further results, especially regarding the differences between subclinical and clinical samples.
Evaluation of Nutrient Consumption for the Prevention of Chronic Diseases in Health Promotion Services: A Controlled and Randomized Community Trial to Promote Fruits and Vegetables
Authors: Campos Suellen Fabiane , Lopes Mariana Souza , Santos Luana Caroline dos , Freitas Patrícia Pinheiro de , Lopes Aline Cristine Souza
Published: July 2023

To evaluate the effectiveness of a collective intervention to encourage the consumption of fruits and vegetables on the nutrients intake for the prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), a randomized controlled community trial was conducted with a representative sample from the Health Academy Program. While the individuals in the control group (CG) participated in regular physical exercise, those in the intervention group (IG) also participated in a collective intervention. After 12 months, IG and CG showed a reduction in energy, omega 3 and sodium intake and an increase in the consumption of carbohydrates, fiber, vitamins, and minerals. Individuals from the CG showed an increase in phosphorus consumption and, in the IG, a reduction in the consumption of total, saturated, and polyunsaturated fats as well as an increase in the consumption of monounsaturated fats was seen. In both groups, there was an increase in the prevalence of adequate nutrients. Participation in the nutritional intervention was associated with lower consumption of energy and protein in the diet. The results pointed to the importance of individuals’ participation in the program, which, associated with nutritional intervention, promoted an improvement in the nutrient profile of the diet and the prevention and control of NCDs.
Associations between Drug Use and Sexual Risk Behaviours among Men Who Have Sex with Men in Japan: Results from the Cross-Sectional LASH Study
Authors: Miwa Takeshi , Yamaguchi Masazumi , Ohtsuki Tomoko , Oshima Gaku , Wakabayashi Chihiro , Nosaka Sachiko , Hayashi Kanna , Ikushima Yuzuru , Tarui Masayoshi
Published: July 2023

This study assessed drug use patterns among men who have sex with men (MSM) in Japan, and evaluated their potential associations with sexual risk behaviours. Between September and October 2016, study subjects were recruited through a cross-sectional survey (LASH: Love Life and Sexual Health) using a geosocial networking application for MSM. Of the participants, 25.4% (1756/6921) reported ever having used drugs, and 11.3% (780/6921) reported having done so in the past six months. Those who used drugs were more likely to have greater knowledge of HIV/sexually transmitted infections (STIs). Drug use in the past six months was independently associated with each of the following sexual risk behaviours in the same period: (i) six or more sexual partners (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] = 2.70, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 2.30–3.17); (ii) condomless anal intercourse (aOR = 2.88, 95% CI: 2.43–3.42); (iii) group sex (aOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 2.22–3.05); and (iv) sex work (aOR = 2.30, 95% CI: 1.67–3.16). These results suggest that MSM in Japan who use drugs are more likely to report sexual risk behaviours, while also having greater knowledge of HIV/STIs. Supporting MSM to minimise the harm from drug use may be helpful in reducing HIV transmission among this priority population.
A Systematic Review of Areal Units and Adjacency Used in Bayesian Spatial and Spatio-Temporal Conditional Autoregressive Models in Health Research
Authors: Tessema Zemenu Tadesse , Tesema Getayeneh Antehunegn , Ahern Susannah , Earnest Arul
Published: July 2023

Advancements in Bayesian spatial and spatio-temporal modelling have been observed in recent years. Despite this, there are unresolved issues about the choice of appropriate spatial unit and adjacency matrix in disease mapping. There is limited systematic review evidence on this topic. This review aimed to address these problems. We searched seven databases to find published articles on this topic. A modified quality assessment tool was used to assess the quality of studies. A total of 52 studies were included, of which 26 (50.0%) were on infectious diseases, 10 (19.2%) on chronic diseases, 8 (15.5%) on maternal and child health, and 8 (15.5%) on other health-related outcomes. Only 6 studies reported the reasons for using the specified spatial unit, 8 (15.3%) studies conducted sensitivity analysis for prior selection, and 39 (75%) of the studies used Queen contiguity adjacency. This review highlights existing variation and limitations in the specification of Bayesian spatial and spatio-temporal models used in health research. We found that majority of the studies failed to report the rationale for the choice of spatial units, perform sensitivity analyses on the priors, or evaluate the choice of neighbourhood adjacency, all of which can potentially affect findings in their studies.
Photons Induce Vesicular Exocytotic Release of Glutamate in a Power-Dependent Way
Authors: Cervetto Chiara , Amaroli Andrea , Amato Sarah , Gatta Elena , Diaspro Alberto , Maura Guido , Signore Antonio , Benedicenti Stefano , Marcoli Manuela
Published: July 2023

Increasing evidence indicates that photobiomodulation, based on tissue irradiation with photons in the red to near-infrared spectrum, may be an effective therapeutic approach to central nervous system disorders. Although nervous system functionality has been shown to be affected by photons in animal models, as well as in preliminary evidence in healthy subjects or in patients with neuropsychiatric disorders, the mechanisms involved in the photobiomodulation effects have not yet been clarified. We previously observed that photobiomodulation could stimulate glutamate release. Here, we investigate mechanisms potentially involved in the glutamate-releasing effect of photons from adult mouse cerebrocortical nerve terminals. We report evidence of photon ability to induce an exocytotic vesicular release of glutamate from the terminals of glutamatergic neurons in a power-dependent way. It can be hypothesized that photobiomodulation, depending on the potency, can release glutamate in a potentially neurotoxic or physiological range.
Salivary miRNA Profiles in COVID-19 Patients with Different Disease Severities
Authors: Saulle Irma , Garziano Micaela , Cappelletti Gioia , Limanaqi Fiona , Strizzi Sergio , Vanetti Claudia , Lo Caputo Sergio , Poliseno Mariacristina , Santantonio Teresa Antonia , Clerici Mario , Biasin Mara
Published: July 2023

The oral mucosa is the first site of SARS-CoV-2 entry and replication, and it plays a central role in the early defense against infection. Thus, the SARS-CoV-2 viral load, miRNAs, cytokines, and neutralizing activity (NA) were assessed in saliva and plasma from mild (MD) and severe (SD) COVID-19 patients. Here we showed that of the 84 miRNAs analyzed, 8 were differently expressed in the plasma and saliva of SD patients. In particular: (1) miRNAs let-7a-5p, let-7b-5p, and let-7c-5p were significantly downregulated; and (2) miR-23a and b and miR-29c, as well as three immunomodulatory miRNAs (miR-34a-5p, miR-181d-5p, and miR-146) were significantly upregulated. The production of pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-9, and TNFα) and chemokines (CCL2 and RANTES) increased in both the saliva and plasma of SD and MD patients. Notably, disease severity correlated with NA and immune activation. Monitoring these parameters could help predict disease outcomes and identify new markers of disease progression.
Serum 5-Methyltetrahydrofolate Status Is Associated with One-Carbon Metabolism-Related Metabolite Concentrations and Enzyme Activity Indicators in Young Women
Authors: Kubo Yoshinori , Shoji Kumiko , Tajima Akiko , Horiguchi Sayaka , Fukuoka Hideoki , Nishikawa Masazumi , Kagawa Yasuo , Kawabata Terue
Published: July 2023

Maintaining optimal one-carbon metabolism (OCM) is essential for health and pregnancy. In this cross-sectional study, folate status was assessed based on 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) levels, and the association between 5-MTHF and OCM-related metabolites was investigated in 227 female Japanese university students aged 18–25 years. The participants were divided into high and low 5-MTHF groups based on their folate status. Serum samples of the participants were collected while they were fasting, and 18 OCM-related metabolites were measured using stable-isotope dilution liquid chromatography–electrospray tandem mass spectrometry. The association between serum 5-MTHF and OCM-related metabolite concentrations was assessed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient. Serum 5-MTHF concentrations were negatively correlated with total homocysteine (tHcy) concentrations and positively correlated with S-adenosylmethionine (SAM) and total cysteine (tCys) concentrations. Serum 5-MTHF concentrations demonstrated a stronger negative correlation with tHcy/tCys than with tHcy alone. The negative correlation between betaine and tHcy concentrations was stronger in the low 5-MTHF group than in the high 5-MTHF group. The 5-MTHF status could be linked to Hcy flux into the transsulfuration pathway via SAM. Therefore, the tHcy/tCys ratio may be a more sensitive indicator of the 5-MTHF status than tHcy alone. Furthermore, a low 5-MTHF status can enhance Hcy metabolism via betaine.
Genome-Wide Identification and Expression Analysis of Auxin Response Factor Gene Family in Linum usitatissimum
Authors: Qi Yanni , Wang Limin , Li Wenjuan , Dang Zhao , Xie Yaping , Zhao Wei , Zhao Lirong , Li Wen , Yang Chenxi , Xu Chenmeng , Zhang Jianping
Published: July 2023

Auxin response factors (ARFs) are critical components of the auxin signaling pathway, and are involved in diverse plant biological processes. However, ARF genes have not been investigated in flax (Linum usitatissimum L.), an important oilseed and fiber crop. In this study, we comprehensively analyzed the ARF gene family and identified 33 LuARF genes unevenly distributed on the 13 chromosomes of Longya-10, an oil-use flax variety. Detailed analysis revealed wide variation among the ARF family members and predicted nuclear localization for all proteins. Nineteen LuARFs contained a complete ARF structure, including DBD, MR, and CTD, whereas the other fourteen lacked the CTD. Phylogenetic analysis grouped the LuARFs into four (I–V) clades. Combined with sequence analysis, the LuARFs from the same clade showed structural conservation, implying functional redundancy. Duplication analysis identified twenty-seven whole-genome-duplicated LuARF genes and four tandem-duplicated LuARF genes. These duplicated gene pairs’ Ka/Ks ratios suggested a strong purifying selection pressure on the LuARF genes. Collinearity analysis revealed that about half of the LuARF genes had homologs in other species, indicating a relatively conserved nature of the ARFs. The promoter analysis identified numerous hormone- and stress-related elements, and the qRT-PCR experiment revealed that all LuARF genes were responsive to phytohormone (IAA, GA3, and NAA) and stress (PEG, NaCl, cold, and heat) treatments. Finally, expression profiling of LuARF genes in different tissues by qRT-PCR indicated their specific functions in stem or capsule growth. Thus, our findings suggest the potential functions of LuARFs in flax growth and response to an exogenous stimulus, providing a basis for further functional studies on these genes.