bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Studies of the Behavioral Sequences: The Neuroethological Morphology Concept Crossing Ethology and Functional Morphology
Authors: Bels Vincent L. , Pallandre Jean-Pierre , Pelle Eric , Kirchhoff Florence
Published: May 2022

Postures and movements have been one of the major modes of human expression for understanding and depicting organisms in their environment. In ethology, behavioral sequence analysis is a relevant method to describe animal behavior and to answer Tinbergen’s four questions testing the causes of development, mechanism, adaptation, and evolution of behaviors. In functional morphology (and in biomechanics), the analysis of behavioral sequences establishes the motor pattern and opens the discussion on the links between “form” and “function”. We propose here the concept of neuroethological morphology in order to build a holistic framework for understanding animal behavior. This concept integrates ethology with functional morphology, and physics. Over the past hundred years, parallel developments in both disciplines have been rooted in the study of the sequential organization of animal behavior. This concept allows for testing genetic, epigenetic, and evo-devo predictions of phenotypic traits between structures, performances, behavior, and fitness in response to environmental constraints. Based on a review of the literature, we illustrate this concept with two behavioral cases: (i) capture behavior in squamates, and (ii) the ritualistic throat display in lizards.
Physiological and Clinical Aspects of Bioactive Peptides from Marine Animals
Authors: Chakniramol Sukwasa , Wierschem Andreas , Cho Man-Gi , Bashir Khawaja Muhammad Imran
Published: May 2022

Biological molecules in nutraceuticals and functional foods have proven physiological properties to treat human chronic diseases. These molecules contribute to applications in the food and pharmaceutical industries by preventing food spoilage and cellular injury. Technological advancement in the screening and characterization of bioactive peptides has enabled scientists to understand the associated molecules. Consistent collaboration among nutritionists, pharmacists, food scientists, and bioengineers to find new bioactive compounds with higher therapeutic potential against nutrition-related diseases highlights the potential of the bioactive peptides for food and pharmaceutic industries. Among the popular dietary supplements, marine animals have always been considered imperative due to their rich nutritional values and byproduct use in the food and pharmaceutical industries. The bioactive peptides isolated from marine animals are well-known for their higher bioactivities against human diseases. The physiological properties of fish-based hydrolyzed proteins and peptides have been claimed through in vitro, in vivo, and clinical trials. However, systematic study on the physiological and clinical significance of these bioactive peptides is scarce. In this review, we not only discuss the physiological and clinical significance of antioxidant and anticancer peptides derived from marine animals, but we also compare their biological activities through existing in vitro and in vivo studies.
Machine Learning Techniques in Structural Wind Engineering: A State-of-the-Art Review
Authors: Mostafa Karim , Zisis Ioannis , Moustafa Mohamed A.
Published: May 2022

Machine learning (ML) techniques, which are a subset of artificial intelligence (AI), have played a crucial role across a wide spectrum of disciplines, including engineering, over the last decades. The promise of using ML is due to its ability to learn from given data, identify patterns, and accordingly make decisions or predictions without being specifically programmed to do so. This paper provides a comprehensive state-of-the-art review of the implementation of ML techniques in the structural wind engineering domain and presents the most promising methods and applications in this field, such as regression trees, random forest, neural networks, etc. The existing literature was reviewed and categorized into three main traits: (1) prediction of wind-induced pressure/velocities on different structures using data from experimental studies, (2) integration of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models with ML models for wind load prediction, and (3) assessment of the aeroelastic response of structures, such as buildings and bridges, using ML. Overall, the review identified that some of the examined studies show satisfactory and promising results in predicting wind load and aeroelastic responses while others showed less conservative results compared to the experimental data. The review demonstrates that the artificial neural network (ANN) is the most powerful tool that is widely used in wind engineering applications, but the paper still identifies other powerful ML models as well for prospective operations and future research.
Study on Underwater Target Tracking Technology Based on an LSTM–Kalman Filtering Method
Authors: Wang Maofa , Xu Chuzhen , Zhou Chuanping , Gong Youping , Qiu Baochun
Published: May 2022

In the marine environment, underwater targets are often affected by interference from other targets and environmental fluctuations, so traditional target tracking methods are difficult to use for tracking underwater targets stably and accurately. Among the traditional methods, the Kalman filtering method is widely used; however, it only has advantages in solving linear problems and it is difficult to use to realize effective tracking problems when the trajectory of the moving target is nonlinear. Aiming to solve this limitation, an LSTM–Kalman filtering method was proposed, which can efficiently solve the problem of overly large deviations in underwater target tracking. Using this method, we first studied the features of typical underwater targets and, according to these rules, constructed the corresponding target dataset. Second, we built a convolutional neural network (CNN) model to detect the target and determine the tracking value of the moving target. We used a long-term and short-term memory artificial neural network (LSTM-NN) to modify the Kalman filter to predict the azimuth and distance of the target and to update it iteratively. Then, we verified the new method using simulation tests and the measured data from an acoustic sea trial. The results showed that compared to the traditional Kalman filtering method, the relative error of the LSTM–Kalman filtering method was reduced by 60% in the simulation tests and 72.25% in the sea trial and that the estimation variance was only 4.79. These results indicate that the method that is proposed in this paper achieves good prediction results and a high prediction efficiency for underwater target tracking.
Assessment of Systemic and Maxillary Bone Loss in Cancer Patients with Endo-Periodontal Lesions Using Dkk-1 Biomarker and Dental Radiological Examinations
Authors: Antohi Cristina , Salceanu Mihaela , Aminov Liana , Martu Maria-Alexandra , Dascalu Cristina Gena , Dodi Gianina , Stoica George , Bandol Geanina , Iancu Dragos , Dobrovat Bogdan , Haba Danisia
Published: May 2022

The aim of our study was to correlate systemic bone loss by evaluating human Dickkopf-related protein 1 (Dkk-1) biomarker compared to horizontal bone loss as well as the presence and size of periapical lesions assessed by dental X-ray (ortopantomography—OPT) and cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) in patients with cancer in the ears, nose and throat (ENT) region vs. healthy controls. The study included 63 subjects divided into a study group of 33 cancer patients with ENT cancer (larynx/oropharynx/sinuses) and a control group of 30 healthy individuals. Blood samples were collected from both groups to assess Dkk-1 level using a sandwich enzyme immunoassay. The dental radiological examination consisted of a panoramic X-ray and a CBCT in order to appraise the horizontal bone loss, the presence and size of the periapical lesions in 2D vs. 3D images. The panoramic X-ray showed that in the control group, the maximum bone loss reached 13.2 mm, with an average of 4.930 ± 3.258 mm, while in the study group, the maximum horizontal bone loss was 11.3 mm, with an average of 5.191 ± 2.109 mm. The CBCT 3D investigation, when compared to the OPT, showed increased values for horizontal bone loss, both in the control group and in the study group; in the control group, the maximum bone loss reached 14.10 mm, with an average of 5.736 ± 3.471 mm, and in the study group, the maximum value was 12.40 mm, and the average was again slightly higher (6.152 ± 2.519 mm). The mean value for Dkk-1 in cancer patients was 1.209 ± 0.110 ng/mL, significantly lower than the value observed in healthy patients (1.712 ± 0.100 ng/mL). CBCT revealed higher values for the investigated parameters when compared to panoramic X-rays. Taking into account the preliminary nature of our study, we observed a significant correlation between the level of bone loss recorded by the Dkk-1 biomarker and radiological dental examination in patients with ENT cancer when compared to the control group.
Flue Gas Composition and Treatment Potential of a Waste Incineration Plant
Authors: Thabit Qahtan , Nassour Abdallah , Nelles Michael
Published: May 2022

Waste-to-energy (WtE) incineration is an important technique in waste management systems and waste hierarchy. It is used to treat approximately 63% of the waste in European countries. The flue gas volumetric rate and its composition are essential to determine and monitor the emissions from waste incineration plants. This paper presents two methodologies used to evaluate the emissions from incinerators during the design phase. The first consists of a set of equations applicable in Excel (calculation model), while the second is the built-in components in Ebsilon 13.2 software which simulates the emissions from a furnace. This paper also proposes a comprehensive flue gas cleaning system for a simulated waste incineration plant in Jordan. According to Ebsilon, the results showed that for a 25 kg/s loading rate, there was 258,514 mg/Nm3, 749.90 mg/Nm3, 890.20 mg/Nm3, and 717 mg/Nm3 of CO2, NO2, SO2, and HCL, respectively. It was noted that these values relate to 1.5 of excess air ratio, where the effect of excess air ratio as the main driver for any combustion process was examined. The calculation method (set of equations) evaluated the flue gas volumetric rate, the CO2 emissions, and N2O and SO2 levels. Ebsilon allows for simulation of the treatment stages and calculates the amount of materials required. Selective non-catalytic reduction (SNCR) (a built-in component in the Ebsilon library) was used to treat the NO2 emissions. For 1.5 of excess air ratio, those emissions were reduced from 749 mg/Nm3 to 180 mg/Nm3, while the Ca(OH)2 injector used to treat the SO2 and HCL emissions reduced emissions from 890.20 mg/Nm3 and 717 mg/Nm3 to 44 mg/Nm3 and 7.16 mg/Nm3, respectively. Regarding the reduction in CO2, the spherical carbon absorption concept was simulated using 9.4 kg/s of carbon which was adequate to verify a 91% reduction rate of CO2. Furthermore, the calculation model was validated and approved as a valuable model to predict the flue gas volume, the oxygen required, and flue gas emissions at the design stage.
Assessment of Bioactive Surfactant Levels in Selected Cereal Products
Authors: Surma Magdalena , Sznajder-Katarzyńska Katarzyna , Wiczkowski Wiesław , Zieliński Henryk
Published: May 2022

Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) are bioactive surfactants that are widespread in the environment and living organisms. This study presents measurements of PFAS in selected food of plant origin that are part of the healthy eating pyramid, including bread, rolls, flour, bran, buckwheat, millet, rice, and noodles. A simple and reliable analytical method was developed for the simultaneous determination of seven perfluorocarboxylic acids (PFCAs) and three perfluoroalkane sulfonates (PFSAs) in cereal-based products. Out of the 10 PFASs, 5 PFASs were detected at levels above LOQ. The most frequently detected compound was perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA), which was quantified in 65.2% of samples, while none of the others were present in more than 40.0% of tested products. Perfluorobutanoic acid (PFBA) was the predominant PFAS in cereal-based products, and its maximum measured concentration was 202.85 ng/g for wheat bran. The soil–root–shoot interactions in relation to PFAS transfer to the above-ground parts of plants and PFAS’s ability to interfere with proteins are most likely the sources of these compounds in commonly consumed cereal products. As PFBA contributes greatly to total PFAS concentration, this food group should be included in future dietary exposure assessments.
Understanding Negotiation: A Text-Mining and NLP Approach to Virtual Interactions in a Simulation Game
Authors: Pacella Daniela , Marocco Davide
Published: May 2022

Negotiation constitutes a fundamental skill that applies to several daily life contexts; however, providing a reliable assessment and definition of it is still an open challenge. The aim of this research is to present an in-depth analysis of the negotiations occurring in a role-play simulation between users and virtual agents using Natural Language Processing. Users were asked to interact with virtual characters in a serious game that helps practice negotiation skills and to complete a psychological test that assesses conflict management skills on five dimensions. The dialogues of 425 participants with virtual agents were recorded, and a dataset comprising 4250 sentences was built. An analysis of the personal pronouns, word context, sentence length and text similarity revealed an overall consistency between the negotiation profiles and the user verbal choices. Integrating and Compromising users displayed a greater tendency to involve the other party in the negotiation using relational pronouns; on the other hand, Dominating individuals tended to use mostly single person pronouns, while Obliging and Avoiding individuals were shown to generally use fewer pronouns. Users with high Integrating and Compromising scores adopted longer sentences and chose words aimed at increasing the other party’s involvement, while more self-concerned profiles showed the opposite pattern.
Object Pose Detection to Enable 3D Interaction from 2D Equirectangular Images in Mixed Reality Educational Settings
Authors: Zanetti Matteo , Luchetti Alessandro , Maheshwari Sharad , Kalkofen Denis , Ortega Manuel Labrador , De Cecco Mariolino
Published: May 2022

In this paper, we address the challenge of estimating the 6DoF pose of objects in 2D equirectangular images. This solution allows the transition to the objects’ 3D model from their current pose. In particular, it finds application in the educational use of 360° videos, where it enhances the learning experience of students by making it more engaging and immersive due to the possible interaction with 3D virtual models. We developed a general approach usable for any object and shape. The only requirement is to have an accurate CAD model, even without textures of the item, whose pose must be estimated. The developed pipeline has two main steps: vehicle segmentation from the image background and estimation of the vehicle pose. To accomplish the first task, we used deep learning methods, while for the second, we developed a 360° camera simulator in Unity to generate synthetic equirectangular images used for comparison. We conducted our tests using a miniature truck model whose CAD was at our disposal. The developed algorithm was tested using a metrological analysis applied to real data. The results showed a mean difference of 1.5° with a standard deviation of 1° from the ground truth data for rotations, and 1.4 cm with a standard deviation of 1.5 cm for translations over a research range of ±20° and ±20 cm, respectively.
Aging Residual Factorization Machines: A Multi-Layer Residual Network Based on Aging Mechanisms
Authors: Yu Huaidong , Yin Jian
Published: May 2022

With the rapid development of recommendation systems, models and algorithms supporting the core of recommendation systems have emerged one after another, and researchers have attempted to optimize them. However, the structure of these models is complex. Popular deep neural networks often achieve the highest utilization of data by increasing the number of hidden layers, ignoring the problems of exploding and vanishing gradients and even the entire degradation of the networks. However, researchers pay too much attention to algorithms and models and do not consider the dataset itself. Methods for processing data and finding possible connections between the data and models have become new explorable points. Cold start is also a problem that researchers have been trying to solve and optimize since the birth of the recommendation system. Recent studies also provide good ideas for solving cold start, but the problem is that researchers still do not focus on datasets. In order to fill the gap in the exploration and research of datasets, this paper takes the long tail distribution and cold start problems that are common in recommendation systems such as the starting point, combines the residual network in computer vision with deep learning, and proposes the aging mechanism of datasets. In this paper, a multi-layer residual network based on aging mechanisms called Aging Residual Factorization Machines (ARFM) is proposed. Parallel experiments with other model algorithms are carried out on three datasets of different sizes and categories. Experimental results show that ARFM achieve performance advantages under the premise of different recommendation tasks.
Review of Recent Automated Pothole-Detection Methods
Authors: Kim Young-Mok , Kim Young-Gil , Son Seung-Yong , Lim Soo-Yeon , Choi Bong-Yeol , Choi Doo-Hyun
Published: May 2022

Potholes, a kind of road defect, can damage vehicles and negatively affect drivers’ safe driving, and in severe cases can lead to traffic accidents. Efficient and preventive management of potholes in a complex road environment plays an important role in securing driver safety. It is also expected to contribute to the prevention of traffic accidents and the smooth flow of traffic. In the past, pothole detection was mainly performed via visual inspection by human experts. Recently, automated pothole-detection methods apply various technologies that converge basic technologies such as sensors and signal processing. The automated pothole-detection methods can be classified into three types according to the technology used in the pothole-recognition process: a vision-based method, a vibration-based method, and a 3D reconstruction-based method. In this paper, three methods are compared, and the strengths and weaknesses of each method are summarized. The detection process and technology proposed in the latest research related to automated pothole detection are described for each method. The development plans of future technology that is connected with those studies are also presented in this paper.
Removal of Phosphate from Aqueous Solution by Zeolite-Biochar Composite: Adsorption Performance and Regulation Mechanism
Authors: Deng Zhaoxia , Gu Shangyi , Cheng Hongguang , Xing Dan , Twagirayezu Gratien , Wang Xi , Ning Wenjing , Mao Mingming
Published: May 2022

Recently, rampant eutrophication induced by phosphorus enrichment in water has been attracting attention worldwide. However, the mechanisms by which phosphate can be eliminated from the aqueous environment remain unclear. This study was aimed at investigating the adsorption performance and regulation mechanisms of the zeolite-biochar composite for removing phosphate from an aqueous environment. To do this, physicochemical properties of the zeolite-biochar composite were assessed by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Brunauer–Emmett–Teller (BET) specific surface area (SSA) analyzer, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Adsorption tests were performed to evaluate the adsorption ability of the composite material for mitigating excess phosphorus in the aqueous environment. The findings evinced that the phosphorus removed by PZC 7:3 (pyrolyzed zeolite and corn straw at a mass ratio of 7:3) can reach 90% of that removed by biochar. The maximum adsorption capacities of zeolite, biochar, and PZC 7:3 were 0.69, 3.60, and 2.41 mg/g, respectively. The main mechanism of phosphate removal by PZC 7:3 was the formation of thin-film amorphous calcium-magnesium phosphate compounds through ligand exchange. This study suggests that PZC 7:3 is a viable adsorbent for the removal of phosphate from aquatic systems.
Reconfigurable Smart Contracts for Renewable Energy Exchange with Re-Use of Verification Rules
Authors: Górski Tomasz
Published: May 2022

Smart contracts constitute the foundation for blockchain distributed applications. These constructs enable transactions in trustless environments using consensus algorithms and software-controlled verification rules. In the current state of the art, there is a shortage of works on the adaptability of smart contracts, and the re-use of their source code is limited mainly to cloning. The paper discusses the pattern of smart contract design and implementation with the overt declaration of verification rules. The author introduces two advantages of the pattern: Firstly, run-time reconfigurability of the list of smart contract verification rules to adjust for various transaction types. Secondly, the re-use of verification rules between different configurations of the smart contract, and among diverse smart contracts. The paper uses blockchain platform-independent stereotypes from a dedicated Unified Modeling Language (UML) profile for designing smart contracts and verification rules. The implementation of the pattern is developed in object-oriented Java language. The pattern exploits polymorphism and controls inheritance by using sealed classes with permission for specialization only for selected final ones. Thus, the pattern ensures two recently highly desired properties in smart contract design and development: re-use and security. Moreover, the declared verification rules list facilitates test automation and reduces test preparation effort due to the re-use of test classes among smart contract configurations. The pattern usage is illustrated in the example of renewable energy exchange within the prosumers community and amid various communities.
Effects of Streamwise Sinusoidal Flow on the Aerodynamic Characteristics of a Box Girder
Authors: Li Haohong , Zhang Liangliang , Wu Bo , Xiao Zhao
Published: May 2022

This study systematically investigated the aerodynamic characteristics of a closed box girder in sinusoidal oscillating flow fields based on experimental and numerical approaches. The numerical method was validated through comparison with experimental results. The effects of the oscillating frequencies (KC = 0.25~12) and amplitudes (Um = 0.5~2.0 m/s) on the pressure distributions, total forces, and wake characteristics were investigated. The results show that the mean pressure coefficients and time-averaged streamline distributions are insensitive to the oscillating frequency and amplitude. However, the characteristics of the sinusoidal oscillating inflow significantly influence the fluctuating aerodynamic forces and the fluctuating drag forces increase linearly with the oscillating frequency. In particular, for the wake flow, the larger oscillating frequency and amplitude of the inflow led to more obvious wake vortex shedding.
Experimental Investigation on Failure Mechanisms of HDPE Welded Geocell Junctions under Different Clamping Distances
Authors: Yang Guangqing , Su Penghui , Xu Peng , Wang Zhijie , Wang He , Zuo Zheng
Published: May 2022

Geocells are three-dimensional honeycomb-reinforced geotechnical materials composed of strips and junctions. Its junctions can support and transmit forces in several directions. The performance of geocells has a considerable impact on engineering applications. However, the testing program of geocell junctions still lacks standardization, and limited research has been undertaken regarding the failure mechanisms of junctions when subjected to various stress types. In this paper, four test procedures for HDPE welded geocell junctions were performed, including weld tensile, shear, peeling, and splitting strength tests. The influence of tests under different clamping distances (10.5 mm, 25 mm, 50 mm, and 100 mm) was analyzed, and the stress–strain behavior, peak elongation, and peak and residual strength of junctions under various force states were analyzed in detail. Finally, considering the strength and deformation, the slope laying method of geocells was proposed. The results show that the tensile strength and shear strength decrease with the clamping distance, whereas the peeling strength and splitting strength remain essentially unchanged. Under a 100 mm clamping distance, the tensile strength and shear strength are decreased by 4.51% and 14.08%. Geocells spreading vertically along the surface on a subgrade slope are thought to be more reliable, improving the geocell’s service life in slope protection. The test results can be used to improve a standardized geocell junction testing procedure as well as to guide, evaluate, and enhance the quality and application dependability of geocells.
Green Approach in Water-Based Drilling Mud Design to Increase Wellbore Stability
Authors: Medved Igor , Gaurina-Međimurec Nediljka , Pašić Borivoje , Mijić Petar
Published: May 2022

Wellbore instability is one of the most serious problems that can occur during drilling, mainly during drilling oil or gas wells through rocks that contain a higher proportion of clay, such as shales. To prevent wellbore instability, oil companies apply different approaches to strengthen wellbore walls, and use different shale swelling inhibitors. The aim of this research was to apply a green approach and the concept of the circular economy in mud design, and to determine whether mandarin peel powder, which is a waste material, can be used as an inhibitor of shale swelling. For that purpose, pellets consisting of bentonite and quartz in a 50:50 ratio were prepared using a compactor, and bentonite-based drilling mud (BM) with and without mandarin peel powder in concentrations of 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2% by volume of water. The swelling of quartz–bentonite pellets after 2 and 24 h in each drilling-mud sample was determined at room temperature and 90 °C using a linear swell meter. On the basis of laboratory research, we concluded that increasing the concentration of mandarin peel powder reduces pellet swelling. By adding mandarin peel powder particles between 0.1 and 0.16 mm to the base mud at a concentration of 2% by volume of water, the following was achieved: 44% reduction in API filtration, 61.54% reduction in PPT filtration, 45% reduction in pellet swelling after 24 h at room temperature, and 48.6% reduction of pellet swelling after 24 h at 90 °C.
Improved Cutting Force Modelling in Micro-Milling Aluminum Alloy LF 21 Considering Tool Wear
Authors: Lu Xiaohong , Cong Chen , Hou Pengrong , Xv Kai , Liang Steven Y.
Published: May 2022

Aluminum alloy LF 21 has a strong ability to reflect electromagnetic waves. LF 21 waveguide slit array structure is widely used in waveguide radar antenna. The stiffness of the slit array structure is relatively weak. So, the structure is prone to deformation under the cutting force in the conventional milling process. Micro-milling technology can realize high-precision machining of mesoscale parts/structures and is a potential effective machining technology for the waveguide slit array structure. However, the diameter of the micro-milling cutter is small, and the feed per tooth is comparable to the arc radius of the cutting edge, so the micro-milling cutter is prone to wear. In addition, the effects of elastic recovery of material, the minimum cutting thickness and friction of cutting dead zone on micro-milling force cannot be ignored. A simulation model of micro-milling aluminum alloy LF 21 processes based on DEFORM 3D is built by combining the theory of cutting and the technology of process simulation. Prediction of tool wear is achieved. The quantitative relationship between the arc radius of the cutting edge and tool wear is clarified for the first time. The authors built an improved cutting force model in micro-milling LF 21 considering tool wear and cutter runout with the minimum cutting thickness as the boundary. The validity of the built micro-milling force model is verified by experiments.
Modified Inverse Distance Weighting Interpolation for Particulate Matter Estimation and Mapping
Authors: Choi Kanghyeok , Chong Kyusoo
Published: May 2022

Various studies are currently underway on PM (Particulate Matter) monitoring in view of the importance of air quality in public health management. Spatial interpolation has been used to estimate PM concentrations due to that it can overcome the shortcomings of station-based PM monitoring and provide spatially continuous information. However, PM is affected by a combination of several factors, and interpolation that only considers the spatial relationship between monitoring stations is limited in ensuring accuracy. Additionally, relatively accurate results may be obtained in the case of interpolation by using external drifts, but the methods have a disadvantage in that they require additional data and preprocessing. This study proposes a modified IDW (Inverse Distance Weighting) that allows more accurate estimations of PM based on the sole use of measurements. The proposed method improves the accuracy of the PM estimation based on weight correction according to the importance of each known point. Use of the proposed method on PM10 and PM2.5 in the Seoul-Gyeonggi region in South Korea led to an improved accuracy compared with IDW, kriging, and linear triangular interpolation. In particular, the proposed method showed relatively high accuracy compared to conventional methods in the case of a relatively large PM estimation error.
The Extraordinary Trend of the Spatial Distribution of PM2.5 Concentration and Its Meteorological Causes in Sichuan Basin
Authors: Xiang Xing , Shi Guangming , Wu Xiaodong , Yang Fumo
Published: May 2022

Sichuan Basin is an area with some of the most serious PM2.5 pollution, and it is also a key area for joint prevention and control of air pollution in China. Therefore, it is necessary to clarify the temporal and spatial distribution characteristics of PM2.5 concentration in Sichuan Basin (SCB) and study the influence of meteorological conditions. In this study, the spatial disparity of PM2.5 concentration in SCB and its variation trend from 1 December 2015 to 30 November 2019 were analyzed. The results showed that the spatial disparity of SCB was decreasing and distinct variation trends of PM2.5 concentration were observed in different areas. The PM2.5 concentrations declined rapidly in the western and southern basin (most severely polluted areas), decreased at a slower rate in the central and eastern basin, but unexpectedly increased slightly in the northern and northeastern basin. From the perspective of relative spatial anomalies (RAs), the decreasing (increasing) trend of RAs of PM2.5 concentrations in the western and southern (northern and northeastern) parts of SCB were also prominent. The reduction in spatial disparity and the regionally extraordinary increasing trend could be partly explained by the variations in synoptic circulations. Specifically, the reasons for the decrease in wintertime spatial disparity and the increase in RAs in the northern basin were the reduction in synoptic pattern Type 2 (weak high-pressure system and uniform pressure fields) and Type 3 (high-pressure system to the north) and the growth of Type 6 (weak low-pressure system with high-pressure system to the north). In spring, the reasons were the reduction in Type 1 (weak low-pressure system) and Type 5 (weak low-pressure system to the southwest) and the growth of Type 2. The reduction in Type 2 and the growth in Type 4 (weak high-pressure system to the east) could explain the variation in PM2.5 distribution in autumn. This study showed the importance of implementing more precise and effective emission control measures, especially in relatively cleaner areas, in which the impacts of meteorological conditions might cause fluctuation (even rebounding) in the PM2.5 concentration.
A Spatially Bounded Airspace Axiom
Authors: Szabó Peter , Ferencová Miroslava , Blišťanová Monika
Published: May 2022

Free Route Airspace (FRA), a new concept implemented across European airspace, is designed to eliminate the adverse effects of air traffic, reduce fuel consumption, simplify and expand flight planning. In our research, we model FRA system by using graph theory and we use networks and convex analysis to study it. We work with 2-dimensional space defined by latitude a longitude. We know that the basic mathematical properties of a scientific discipline can be expressed using mathematical axioms. Therefore, in our work, we sought to answer the question, what are the basic mathematical properties of airspace? We found a mathematical object that can describe airspace in general. Using this object, we uttered an axiom describing airspace. Our axiom is given by means of practical, significant entry and entry-exit points in the airspace.
Test-Retest Reliability of Isokinetic Strength Measurements in Lower Limbs in Elderly
Authors: Parraca Jose A. , Adsuar José Carmelo , Domínguez-Muñoz Francisco Javier , Barrios-Fernandez Sabina , Tomas-Carus Pablo
Published: May 2022

Strength is essential for carrying out the usual activities of daily life. As there is a loss of strength in elderly, many treatments are based on delaying the loss of strength or maintaining it. Isokinetic dynamometry is the gold standard for assessing strength. It is essential that studies are conducted to allow us to identify the reliability of isokinetic strength assessments in older people. This study aimed to test the absolute and relative intra-session reliability of peak torque and work of a concentric knee extension-flexion performed at 60°/s in elderly. Fifty-two elderly subjects performed three repetitions of bilateral concentric knee extension-flexion at 60°/s using an isokinetic dynamometer. The relative and absolute reliability were calculated between the second and third repetition. The intra-class correlation coefficient values were between 0.94 and 0.98 for peak torque and work in all measures, which is considered “excellent”, except for left leg flexors in women, with values between 0.85 and 0.88, which is considered “good”. The standard error of measurement (SEM) percentage oscillated from 3.9% to 10.5%, with a smallest real difference (SRD) percentage of 10.9% to 29.2% for peak torque. The relative reliability of peak torque and work were excellent for all measures except flexors in women, evidencing the utility of isokinetic dynamometry for monitoring lower limb maximal muscle strength and work of concentric knee extension-flexion at 60°/s/s in the elderly. In addition, an SRD > 19.9% in peak torque and an SRD > 23.1% in work is considered a true change.
Salivary Proteomics Markers for Preclinical Sjögren’s Syndrome: A Pilot Study
Authors: Di Giorgi Nicoletta , Cecchettini Antonella , Michelucci Elena , Signore Giovanni , Ceccherini Elisa , Ferro Francesco , Elefante Elena , Tani Chiara , Baldini Chiara , Rocchiccioli Silvia
Published: May 2022

Primary Sjögren’s syndrome (pSS) is a complex autoimmune disorder that particularly affects the salivary and lachrymal glands, generally causing a typical dryness of the eyes and of the mouth. The disease encompasses diverse clinical representations and is characterized by B-cell polyclonal activation and autoantibodies production, including anti-Ro/SSA. Recently, it has been suggested that autoantibody profiling may enable researchers to identify susceptible asymptomatic individuals in a pre-disease state. In this pilot study, we used mass spectrometry to analyze and compare the salivary proteomics of patients with established pSS and patients with pre-clinical SS, identifying a common protein signature in their salivary fluid. We found that several inflammatory, immunity-related, and typical acinar proteins (such as MUC5B, PIP, CST4, and lipocalin 1) were differently expressed in pSS and in pre-clinical SSA+ carriers, compared to healthy controls. This suggests that saliva may closely reflect exocrine gland inflammation from the early phases of the disease. This study confirms the value of salivary proteomics for the identification of reliable biomarkers for SS that could be identified, even in a preclinical phase of the disease.
Modulation of the 20S Proteasome Activity by Porphyrin Derivatives Is Steered through Their Charge Distribution
Authors: Persico Marco , Santoro Anna Maria , D’Urso Alessandro , Milardi Danilo , Purrello Roberto , Cunsolo Alessandra , Gobbo Marina , Fattorusso Roberto , Diana Donatella , Stefanelli Manuela , Tundo Grazia R. , Sbardella Diego , Coletta Massimo , Fattorusso Caterina
Published: May 2022

Cationic porphyrins exhibit an amazing variety of binding modes and inhibition mechanisms of 20S proteasome. Depending on the spatial distribution of their electrostatic charges, they can occupy different sites on α rings of 20S proteasome by exploiting the structural code responsible for the interaction with regulatory proteins. Indeed, they can act as competitive or allosteric inhibitors by binding at the substrate gate or at the grooves between the α subunits, respectively. Moreover, the substitution of a charged moiety in the peripheral arm with a hydrophobic moiety revealed a “new” 20S functional state with higher substrate affinity and catalytic efficiency. In the present study, we expand our structure–activity relationship (SAR) analysis in order to further explore the potential of this versatile class of 20S modulators. Therefore, we have extended the study to additional macrocyclic compounds, displaying different structural features, comparing their interaction behavior on the 20S proteasome with previously investigated compounds. In particular, in order to evaluate how the introduction of a peptidic chain can affect the affinity and the interacting mechanism of porphyrins, we investigate the MTPyApi, a porphyrin derivatized with an Arg–Pro-rich antimicrobial peptide. Moreover, to unveil the role played by the porphyrin core, this was replaced with a corrole scaffold, a “contracted” version of the tetrapyrrolic ring due to the lack of a methine bridge. The analysis has been undertaken by means of integrated kinetic, Nuclear Magnetic Resonance, and computational studies. Finally, in order to assess a potential pharmacological significance of this type of investigation, a preliminary attempt has been performed to evaluate the biological effect of these molecules on MCF7 breast cancer cells in dark conditions, envisaging that porphyrins may indeed represent a powerful tool for the modulation of cellular proteostasis.
Gadolinium in Medical Imaging—Usefulness, Toxic Reactions and Possible Countermeasures—A Review
Authors: Blomqvist Lennart , Nordberg Gunnar F. , Nurchi Valeria M. , Aaseth Jan O.
Published: May 2022

Gadolinium (Gd) is one of the rare-earth elements. The properties of its trivalent cation (Gd3+) make it suitable to serve as the central ion in chelates administered intravenously to patients as a contrast agent in magnetic resonance imaging. Such Gd-chelates have been used for more than thirty years. During the past decades, knowledge has increased about potential harmful effects of Gd-chelates in patients with severe renal dysfunction. In such patients, there is a risk for a potentially disabling and lethal disease, nephrogenic systemic fibrosis. Restricting the use of Gd-chelates in persons with severely impaired renal function has decreased the occurrence of this toxic effect in the last decade. There has also been an increasing awareness of Gd-retention in the body, even in patients without renal dysfunction. The cumulative number of doses given, and the chemical structure of the chelate given, are factors of importance for retention in tissues. This review describes the chemical properties of Gd and its medically used chelates, as well as its toxicity and potential side effects related to injection of Gd-chelates.
Clinical, Histopathologic, and Immunohistochemical Features of Patients with IgG/IgA Pemphigus
Authors: Cho Yung-Tsu , Fu Ko-Ting , Chen Kai-Lung , Chang Yih-Leong , Chu Chia-Yu
Published: May 2022

Pemphigus is an autoantibody-mediated blistering disease. In addition to conventional pemphigus vulgaris and pemphigus foliaceus, several other types have been reported. Among them, IgG/IgA pemphigus is less well defined and seldom reported. To characterize the clinical, histopathologic, and immunohistochemical presentation of IgG/IgA pemphigus, we retrospectively identified 22 patients with the disease at a referral center in Taiwan. These patients showed two types of skin lesion: annular or arciform erythemas with blisters or erosions (45.5%) and discrete erosions or blisters such as those in conventional pemphigus (54.5%). Mucosal involvement was found in 40.9%. Histopathologic analysis identified acantholysis (77.3%) and intra-epidermal aggregates of neutrophils (40.9%) and eosinophils (31.8%). Direct immunofluorescence studies showed IgG/IgA (100%) and C3 (81.8%) depositions in the intercellular space of the epidermis. In immunohistochemical staining, patients with IgG/IgA pemphigus demonstrated significantly higher levels of epidermal expression of interleukin-8 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 than those with conventional pemphigus (p < 0.05). In conclusion, although IgG/IgA pemphigus is heterogeneous in presentation, it shows characteristic features that are different from other forms of pemphigus and should be considered a distinct type of pemphigus.
Robustness of the Krebs Cycle under Physiological Conditions and in Cancer: New Clues for Evaluating Metabolism-Modifying Drug Therapies
Authors: Franco Rafael , Serrano-Marín Joan
Published: May 2022

The Krebs cycle in cells that contain mitochondria is necessary for both energy production and anabolic processes. In given cell/condition, the Krebs cycle is dynamic but remains at a steady state. In this article, we first aimed at comparing the properties of a closed cycle versus the same metabolism in a linear array. The main finding is that, unlike a linear metabolism, the closed cycle can reach a steady state (SS) regardless of the nature and magnitude of the disturbance. When the cycle is modeled with input and output reactions, the “open” cycle is robust and reaches a steady state but with exceptions that lead to sustained accumulation of intermediate metabolites, i.e., conditions at which no SS can be achieved. The modeling of the cycle in cancer, trying to obtain marked reductions in flux, shows that these reductions are limited and therefore the Warburg effect is moderate at most. In general, our results of modeling the cycle in different conditions and looking for the achievement, or not, of SS, suggest that the cycle may have a regulation, not yet discovered, to go from an open cycle to a closed one. Said regulation could allow for reaching the steady state, thus avoiding the unwanted effects derived from the aberrant accumulation of metabolites in the mitochondria. The information in this paper might be useful to evaluate metabolism-modifying medicines.
Horizontal Transfer of Virulence Factors by Pathogenic Enterobacteria to Marine Saprotrophic Bacteria during Co-Cultivation in Biofilm
Authors: Eskova Alena I. , Andryukov Boris G. , Yakovlev Anatoli A. , Kim Alexandra V. , Ponomareva Anna L. , Obuhova Vera S.
Published: May 2022

Environmental problems associated with marine pollution and climate warming create favorable conditions for the penetration and survival of pathogenic bacteria in marine ecosystems. These microorganisms have interspecific competitive interactions with marine bacteria. Co-culture, as an important research strategy that mimics the natural environment of bacteria, can activate silent genes or clusters through interspecies interactions. The authors used modern biotechnology of co-cultivation to dynamically study intercellular interactions between different taxa of bacteria—pathogenic enterobacteria Yersinia pseudotuberculosis and Listeria monocytogenes and saprotrophic marine bacteria Bacillus sp. and Pseudomonas japonica isolated in summer from the coastal waters of the recreational areas of the Sea of Japan. The results of the experiments showed that during the formation of polycultural biofilms, horizontal transfer of genes encoding some pathogenicity factors from Y. pseudotuberculosis and L. monocytogenes to marine saprotrophic bacteria with different secretion systems is possible. It was previously thought that this was largely prevented by the type VI secretion system (T6SS) found in marine saprotrophic bacteria. The authors showed for the first time the ability of marine bacteria Bacillus sp. and P. japonica to biofilm formation with pathogenic enterobacteria Y. pseudotuberculosis and L. monocytogenes, saprophytic bacteria with type III secretion system (T3SS). For the first time, a marine saprotrophic strain of Bacillus sp. Revealed manifestations of hyaluronidase, proteolytic and hemolytic activity after cultivation in a polycultural biofilm with listeria. Saprotrophic marine bacteria that have acquired virulence factors from pathogenic enterobacteria, including antibiotic resistance genes, could potentially play a role in altering the biological properties of other members of the marine microbial community. In addition, given the possible interdomain nature of intercellular gene translocation, acquired virulence factors can be transferred to marine unicellular and multicellular eukaryotes. The results obtained contribute to the paradigm of the epidemiological significance and potential danger of anthropogenic pollution of marine ecosystems, which creates serious problems for public health and the development of marine culture as an important area of economic activity in coastal regions.
Association between General Movements Assessment and Later Motor Delay (excluding Cerebral Palsy) in Low-Birth-Weight Infants
Authors: Gima Hirotaka , Nakamura Tomohiko
Published: May 2022

The general movements (GMs) assessment is useful for the prediction of cerebral palsy (CP) and other developmental disorders. Developmental coordination disorder (DCD) is highly prevalent in low-birth-weight (LBW) infants. We investigated the association between aberrant GMs during early infancy and later motor development in LBW infants. The study included infants who fulfilled the following criteria: GMs assessed at 9–20 weeks post-term age; developmental quotient (DQ) assessed at 3 years of age using the Kyoto Scale; intelligence quotient (IQ) assessed at 6 years of age. Participants with normal IQs at 6 years of age without a diagnosis of CP (14 males and 37 females, 23–36 weeks gestation with birth weights of 492–1498 g) were categorized into normal (n = 39) and aberrant (n = 12) groups based on GMs assessment; DQ was compared between the groups. We investigated the items in the DQ assessment and found that the infants in the aberrant group were more frequently unable to perform. Infants in the aberrant group showed a significantly lower DQ in the ‘postural-motor domain’, and were more frequently unable to ‘climb the stairs with alternating legs’ and ‘Jump from a 15–20 cm platform’. This study highlights that GMs aberrancy in early infancy is associated with a delayed gross motor development, even in children with a typical development. The GMs assessment may be useful for the prediction of DCD.