bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Antioxidant Drug Edaravone Binds to the Aryl Hydrocarbon Receptor (AHR) and Promotes the Downstream Signaling Pathway Activation
Authors: Veroni Caterina , Olla Stefania , Brignone Maria Stefania , Siguri Chiara , Formato Alessia , Marra Manuela , Manzoli Rosa , Macario Maria Carla , Ambrosini Elena , Moro Enrico , Agresti Cristina
Published: April 2024

A considerable effort has been spent in the past decades to develop targeted therapies for the treatment of demyelinating diseases, such as multiple sclerosis (MS). Among drugs with free radical scavenging activity and oligodendrocyte protecting effects, Edaravone (Radicava) has recently received increasing attention because of being able to enhance remyelination in experimental in vitro and in vivo disease models. While its beneficial effects are greatly supported by experimental evidence, there is a current paucity of information regarding its mechanism of action and main molecular targets. By using high-throughput RNA-seq and biochemical experiments in murine oligodendrocyte progenitors and SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cells combined with molecular docking and molecular dynamics simulation, we here provide evidence that Edaravone triggers the activation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) signaling by eliciting AHR nuclear translocation and the transcriptional-mediated induction of key cytoprotective gene expression. We also show that an Edaravone-dependent AHR signaling transduction occurs in the zebrafish experimental model, associated with a downstream upregulation of the NRF2 signaling pathway. We finally demonstrate that its rapid cytoprotective and antioxidant actions boost increased expression of the promyelinating Olig2 protein as well as of an Olig2:GFP transgene in vivo. We therefore shed light on a still undescribed potential mechanism of action for this drug, providing further support to its therapeutic potential in the context of debilitating demyelinating conditions.
Exploring the Potential of Humoral Immune Response to Commensal Bifidobacterium as a Biomarker for Human Health, including Both Malignant and Non-Malignant Diseases: A Perspective on Detection Strategies and Future Directions
Authors: Itoh Kyogo , Matsueda Satoko
Published: April 2024

In this comprehensive review, we explore the pivotal role of commensal Bifidobacterium (c-BIF) as potent non-self-antigens through antigenic mimicry, along with exploring the potential of humoral immune responses for both malignant and non-malignant disease. c-BIF, a predominant component of the human gut microbiome encompassing around 90% of the human genome, has emerged as a pivotal player in human biology. Over recent decades, there has been extensive research elucidating the intricate connections between c-BIF and various facets of human health, with particular emphasis on their groundbreaking impact on anti-cancer effects and the management of non-malignant diseases. The multifaceted role of c-BIF is explored, ranging from enhancing anti-tumor immunity to improving the efficacy of anti-cancer and anti-infectious disease strategies, and serving as predictive biomarkers for various diseases. Recent studies highlight not only c-BIF’s promotion of anti-tumor immunity but also their role in enhancing the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors. The review emphasizes the promising avenue of manipulating the gut microbiota, particularly c-BIF, for modulating cancer immunotherapy with targeted effects on tumor cells while minimizing harm to normal tissue. In the context of infectious and inflammatory diseases, the crucial role of c-BIFs in the management of COVID-19 symptoms is examined, emphasizing their impact on the severity of and immune response to COVID-19. Furthermore, c-BIF exhibits preventive and therapeutic effects on Human Papillomaviruses (HPV) and shows promise in improving inflammatory bowel diseases. The potential application of c-BIF as a biomarker for immunotherapy is explored, with a specific emphasis on its predictive and prognostic value in cancer. Suggestions are made regarding the use of humoral immune responses to cytotoxic T lymphocyte (CTL) epitope peptides that share motifs with c-BIF, proposing them as potential markers for predicting overall survival in diverse cancer patients. In conclusion, c-BIF emerges as a crucial and multifaceted determinant of human health, across anti-tumor immunity to infectious and inflammatory disease management. The manipulation of c-BIF and gut microbiota presents a promising avenue for advancing therapeutic strategies, particularly in the realm of cancer immunotherapy. Additionally, this review highlights the significance of c-BIF as potent non-self-antigens via antigenic mimicry, emphasizing the importance of robust humoral immune responses against c-BIF for preventing various diseases, including inflammatory conditions. Elevated levels of circulating antibodies against c-BIF in healthy individuals may serve as potential indicators of lower risks for malignant and non-malignant diseases.
Who Will Be More Egocentric? Age Differences in the Impact of Retrospective Self-Experience on Interpersonal Emotion Intensity Judgment
Authors: Jin Menghan , Peng Huamao
Published: April 2024

This study investigates whether the retrospective self-experience of older adults affects and biases interpersonal emotion judgment more than that of younger adults by adopting the paradigm of the self-generated anchoring effect. Participants (older adults: n = 63; younger adults: n = 65) were required to retrospectively consider their self-experiences and judge their possible emotion intensity in anchor-generating scenarios (high- or low-anchor scenarios). Subsequently, participants estimated the protagonist’s emotion intensity in target scenarios. The age-related interaction effect showed that older adults exhibited a significant self-generated anchoring effect in more emotion categories (four emotions) compared with younger adults (two emotions). After controlling for inhibition or working memory as a covariant, this interaction effect was no longer significant. The results from multilevel regression analysis also indicated the significant effect of self-emotion across all models on participants’ judgment of others’ emotions. The results indicated that older adults were more affected by retrospective self-experiences, leading to more egocentric judgment, than younger adults. This different influence from the retrospective self-experiences might partially have been caused by the age-related difference in cognitive abilities.
People–Place Narratives as Knowledge Typologies for Social Sustainability: Cases from Urban Contexts in the Global South
Authors: Salama Ashraf M. , Patil Madhavi P. , Elsemellawy Amira N. , Abudib Huyam H. , Almansor Noor A. , MacLean Laura , van Riel Kristijn
Published: April 2024

In the dynamic interplay between people and their physical environments, the Global South stands as a mosaic undergoing a multitude of transformative influences in architecture and urbanism, within which examining social sustainability becomes imperative. While the prevailing attention remains on environmental and economic sustainability, this study addresses a persistent gap in the urban literature by focusing on the dynamic and manifold nature of social sustainability. Positioning itself within the context of sustainable development, the study links the pursuit of social aspects of sustainability with selected unique urban contexts from the Global South. Five cases, including Alexandria (Egypt), Tripoli (Libya), Basra (Iraq), Lilongwe (Malawi), and Accra (Ghana), are discussed through multi-layered investigations which involve attitude surveys, interviews, focus groups, participatory systematic observations, and behavioral mapping, engaging directly with inhabitants and stakeholders. Uncovering people–place narratives in the identified contexts, the cases are developed into five knowledge typologies that serve as practical tools for planning and design decision-making, policy formulation, and academic discourse. Discussions are conceived to demonstrate the transformative role people–place narratives play in fostering a more sustainable and equitable urban future. Conclusions are drawn to offer practical insights for stakeholders involved in various capacities in shaping the urban landscape of the Global South.
Mechanical Properties and Sulfate Freeze–Thaw Resistance of Calcium Carbonate Whisker-Reinforced Iron Ore Tailings Concrete
Authors: Wang Shufang , Gao Yangyang , Liu Kangning
Published: April 2024

Iron ore tailings from iron ore mines pose environmental challenges. However, their reuse could provide significant environmental benefits. This study focused on producing clean concrete using iron ore tailings as crushed stone aggregate (IOTA) and calcium carbonate whiskers (CWs) as reinforcement. Five mixture groups were prepared: normal concrete (NAC) with natural crushed stone aggregate (NA), iron ore tailings concrete (TAC) with IOTA, and CW (10%, 20%, and 30%)-reinforced TAC (TAC-CW). Mechanical properties like the compressive strength (fcu) and splitting tensile strength (fst), as well as sulfate freeze–thaw (F-T) cycle resistance, were thoroughly investigated. Additionally, pore structure and microstructure were characterized using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) techniques. The results showed that IOTA’s complete replacement of NA decreased concrete mechanical properties and frost resistance, but incorporating CWs effectively compensated for these losses. Specifically, the fcu and fst of TAC-CW20 with 20% CWs increased by 23.26% and 49.6% compared to TAC and were higher than those of NAC. With increasing F-T cycles, concrete internal pore structure significantly deteriorated, and corrosive products increased significantly, which was further confirmed by SEM. TAC-CW20 significantly optimized pore structure. Overall, the successful application of iron ore tailings as eco-friendly materials enhanced concrete performance and reduced the environmental impact of construction activities.
The Emotional Impact of a Cancer Diagnosis: A Qualitative Study of Adolescent and Young Adult Experience
Authors: Hughes Luke , Taylor Rachel M. , Beckett Angharad E. , Lindner Oana C. , Martin Adam , McCulloch Joanne , Morgan Sue , Soanes Louise , Uddin Rizwana , Stark Dan P.
Published: April 2024

The biographical disruption that occurs in adolescents and young adults following a cancer diagnosis can affect various important psychosocial domains including relationships with family and friends, sexual development, vocational and educational trajectories, and physical and emotional wellbeing. While there is evidence of the physical impact of cancer during this period, less is known about the impact on emotional wellbeing and especially on the barriers for young people accessing help and support. We aimed to obtain a more in-depth understanding of young people’s experiences of their diagnosis, treatment, psychological impact, and range of resources they could or wanted to access for their mental health. We conducted an in-depth qualitative study using semi-structured interviews with 43 young people who had developed cancer aged 16 to 39 years and were either within 6 months of diagnosis or 3–5 years after treatment had ended. Framework analysis identified three themes: the emotional impact of cancer (expressed through anxiety, anger, and fear of recurrence); personal barriers to support through avoidance; and support to improve mental health through mental health services or adolescent and young adult treatment teams. We showed the barriers young people have to access care, particularly participant avoidance of support. Interrupting this process to better support young people and provide them with flexible, adaptable, consistent, long-term psychological support has the potential to improve their quality of life and wellbeing.
Cancer-Causing Effects of Orthopaedic Metal Implants in Total Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Sun Cherry W. Y. , Lau Lawrence C. M. , Cheung Jason P. Y. , Choi Siu-Wai
Published: April 2024

Background: Metal implants have been preferentially used in THA due to its biocompatibility, mechanical stability and durability. Yet concerns have emerged regarding their potential to release metallic ions, leading to long-term adverse effects, including carcinogenicity. This study aimed to investigate the risk of cancer development in patients with orthopaedic metal implants in total hip arthroplasty (THA). Methods: Patients with THA conducted at a local tertiary implant centre from 2001–2008 were linked to the local cancer registry and followed up to the end of 2023. Standardized incidence ratios (SIRs) for cancer incidence and its confidence interval by Poisson distribution were calculated. Survival analysis was depicted using the Kaplan–Meier method, and the log-rank test was used to assess the differences across groups. Results: The study cohort included 388 patients and 53 cancers diagnosed during follow-up, at least 5 years post THA. All-site cancer risks were increased in patients with THA (SIR: 1.97; 95% CI: 1.48–2.46), validated with chi-square analysis (chi-square = 15.2551, N = 100,388, p < 0.01). A statistically significant increase in multiple site-specific cancers including haematological cancers were identified. Conclusions: Patients with THA were found to have an increased risk for cancer compared to the general population during a mean follow-up of 16 years.
Paternal Age Amplifies Cryopreservation-Induced Stress in Human Spermatozoa
Authors: Pérez Casasús Silvia , Luongo Francesca Paola , Haxhiu Alesandro , Orini Martina , Scupoli Giorgia , Governini Laura , Piomboni Paola , Buratini Jose , Dal Canto Mariabeatrice , Luddi Alice
Published: April 2024

The global fall in male fertility is a complicated process driven by a variety of factors, including environmental exposure, lifestyle, obesity, stress, and aging. The availability of assisted reproductive technology (ART) has allowed older couples to conceive, increasing the average paternal age at first childbirth. Advanced paternal age (APA), most often considered male age ≥40, has been described to impact several aspects of male reproductive physiology. In this prospective cohort study including 200 normozoospermic patients, 105 of whom were ≤35 years (non-APA), and 95 of whom were ≥42 years (APA), we assessed the impact of paternal age on different endpoints representative of sperm quality and cryopreservation tolerance. Non-APA patients had superior fresh semen quality; DNA fragmentation was notably increased in APA as compared to non-APA individuals (21.7% vs. 15.4%). Cryopreservation further increased the DNA fragmentation index in APA (26.7%) but not in non-APA patients. Additionally, APA was associated with increased mtDNAcn in both fresh and frozen/thawed sperm, which is indicative of poorer mitochondrial quality. Cryopreservation negatively impacted acrosome integrity in both age groups, as indicated by reduced incidences of unreacted acrosome in relation to fresh counterparts in non-APA (from 71.5% to 57.7%) and APA patients (from 75% to 63%). Finally, cryopreservation significantly reduced the phosphorylation status of proteins containing tyrosine residues in sperm from young males. Therefore, the present findings shed light on the effects of paternal age and cryopreservation on sperm quality and serve as valuable new parameters to improve our understanding of the mechanisms underlying sperm developmental competence that are under threat in current ART practice.
The Emerging Role of LPA as an Oncometabolite
Authors: Karalis Theodoros , Poulogiannis George
Published: April 2024

Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a phospholipid that displays potent signalling activities that are regulated in both an autocrine and paracrine manner. It can be found both extra- and intracellularly, where it interacts with different receptors to activate signalling pathways that regulate a plethora of cellular processes, including mitosis, proliferation and migration. LPA metabolism is complex, and its biosynthesis and catabolism are under tight control to ensure proper LPA levels in the body. In cancer patient specimens, LPA levels are frequently higher compared to those of healthy individuals and often correlate with poor responses and more aggressive disease. Accordingly, LPA, through promoting cancer cell migration and invasion, enhances the metastasis and dissemination of tumour cells. In this review, we summarise the role of LPA in the regulation of critical aspects of tumour biology and further discuss the available pre-clinical and clinical evidence regarding the feasibility and efficacy of targeting LPA metabolism for effective anticancer therapy.
Leflunomide Treatment Does Not Protect Neural Cells following Oxygen-Glucose Deprivation (OGD) In Vitro
Authors: Curel Claire J. M. , Nobeli Irene , Thornton Claire
Published: April 2024

Neonatal hypoxia-ischemia (HI) affects 2–3 per 1000 live births in developed countries and up to 26 per 1000 live births in developing countries. It is estimated that of the 750,000 infants experiencing a hypoxic-ischemic event during birth per year, more than 400,000 will be severely affected. As treatment options are limited, rapidly identifying new therapeutic avenues is critical, and repurposing drugs already in clinical use offers a fast-track route to clinic. One emerging avenue for therapeutic intervention in neonatal HI is to target mitochondrial dysfunction, which occurs early in the development of brain injury. Mitochondrial dynamics are particularly affected, with mitochondrial fragmentation occurring at the expense of the pro-fusion protein Optic Atrophy (OPA)1. OPA1, together with mitofusins (MFN)1/2, are required for membrane fusion, and therefore, protecting their function may also safeguard mitochondrial dynamics. Leflunomide, an FDA-approved immunosuppressant, was recently identified as an activator of MFN2 with partial effects on OPA1 expression. We, therefore, treated C17.2 cells with Leflunomide before or after oxygen-glucose deprivation, an in vitro mimic of HI, to determine its efficacy as a neuroprotection and inhibitor of mitochondrial dysfunction. Leflunomide increased baseline OPA1 but not MFN2 expression in C17.2 cells. However, Leflunomide was unable to promote cell survival following OGD. Equally, there was no obvious effect on mitochondrial morphology or bioenergetics. These data align with studies suggesting that the tissue and mitochondrial protein profile of the target cell/tissue are critical for taking advantage of the therapeutic actions of Leflunomide.
Study Trends and Core Content Trends of Research on Enhancing Computational Thinking: An Incorporated Bibliometric and Content Analysis Based on the Scopus Database
Authors: Chen Ling-Hsiu , Nguyen Ha Thi The
Published: April 2024

Over the last decade, research on evolving computational thinking (CT) has garnered heightened attention. Assessing the publication tendencies and nucleus contents of investigations on progressing CT to direct future research initiatives, develop policies, and integrate them into instructional materials is timely and exceedingly essential in education. Therefore, this research reviewed publications on progressing CT to identify research trends and core contents published in the Scopus database from 2008 to May 2022. For this reason, this study applied bibliometric and content analysis to 132 selected publications. After examining bibliometrics, the findings indicate a steady increase in publications related to game-based learning (GBL) and CT, reaching a peak in 2021, with the United States emerging as the most prolific contributor in terms of authors, institutions, and countries). The leading country in citations is primarily China. The document that received the most citations is Hsu’s 2018 paper on “Computers and Education”. Analysis of keywords and themes reveals core content tendencies, emphasizing teaching methods and attitudes aimed at improving CT via GBL. These results offer valuable insights for researchers and educators to inform their future work. However, future studies may benefit from including other databases such as Web of Science (WoS) and PubMed, employing alternative bibliometric software like VOSviewer or CiteSpace, as well as collecting data from June 2022.
Manufacturing of Sapphire Crystals with Variable Shapes for Cryosurgical Applications
Authors: Dolganova Irina N. , Zotov Arsen K. , Rossolenko Sergey N. , Shikunova Irina A. , Shikunov Sergey L. , Dolganov Kirill B. , Zaytsev Kirill I. , Kurlov Vladimir N.
Published: April 2024

Consideration of sapphire shaped crystals as the material for manufacturing of medical instruments expands the opportunities of various approaches for diagnostics, exposure and treatment. Due to physical, mechanical and chemical properties of sapphire, as well as to its complex shape, such instruments are capable to demonstrate better performance for medical applications comparing to common tools. However, the manufacturing of high quality sapphire crystal with such geometry is still a complex issue, that usually requires application of various crystal growth techniques assisted with the automated weight control system. In this work, we consider one of such cases, that is the growth of a sapphire crystal, which can be applied for cryosurgery as an applicator due to a hollow-monolithic shape transition. Its hollow part can be filled with coolant in order to enable fast freezing of biological tissue during application. For this aim, it is of high importance to exclude the appearance of inclusions during the shape transition. To overcome this problem, we suggest using of noncapillary shaping (NCS) technique of crystal growth and study the weight signal measured during the manufacturing. We obtain the analytical description of the weight signal alteration that can be used as the program equation to control the crystal shape. We experimentally demonstrate the advantage of using such crystal for cryosurgery and obtaining faster ice-ball formation inside the model gelatin-based medium in comparison with the usage of the monolithic sapphire applicator of the same diameter. The demonstrated ability can be applied for future development of cryosurgical tools, while the analytical description of the weight signal could find its application for NCS manufacturing of sapphire crystals for other purposes.
Clinical, Epidemiological, Morphological, and Immunohistochemical Aspects of Nasopharyngeal Carcinoma—4-Year Retrospective Study in the Western Part of Romania
Authors: Marin Maria Alina , Closca Raluca-Maria , Marin Aurel , Rakitovan Marina , Nicoara Adrian , Poenaru Marioara , Militaru Marius , Baderca Flavia
Published: April 2024

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma is one of the most common malignant tumors in the head and neck region. The carcinogenesis is a complex process stimulated by many factors. Although the etiological factors and pathogenic mechanisms are not elucidated, the genetic susceptibility, environmental factors, and association with latent infection with Epstein–Barr Virus play an important role. The aim of this study was to present the main clinical and epidemiological data, as well as the morphological aspects and the immunohistochemical profile, of patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma diagnosed in western Romania. The study was retrospective and included 36 nasopharyngeal carcinomas. The histopathological diagnosis was completed using immunohistochemical reactions for the following antibodies: p63, p53 and p16 protein, cytokeratins (CK) AE1/AE3, CK5, CK7, CK20 and 34βE12, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), leukocyte common antigen (LCA), CD20, CD4, CD8, CD68, CD117, and CD1a. The squamous malignant component of nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented with positivity for cytokeratins AE1/AE3, CK5, 34βE12, and p63. Undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma was positive for EMA in 67% of cases, and 28% of cases showed an immunoreaction for CD117 in the malignant epithelial component. Also, the p53 protein was positive in all the cases. One case of undifferentiated nasopharyngeal carcinoma was p16-positive, and two cases were positive for EBV. A peri- and intratumor cellular infiltrate rich in lymphocytes, with a predominance of CD20-positive B lymphocytes, interspersed with T lymphocytes, was observed. The T cells were CD4- and CD8-positive, predominantly intratumoral, and the CD4:CD8 ratio was 1:1 for 75% of the undifferentiated subtype and 89% for differentiated non-keratinized squamous cell carcinoma. All subtypes of nasopharyngeal carcinoma presented with an inflammatory infiltrate with numerous plasma cells, eosinophils, and dendritic cells, presenting as antigen CD1a- and CD68-positive, as well as in CD117-positive mast cells.
Elbow Reconstruction with Megaprosthesis: An Effective Strategy for Salvage Surgery in Trauma Patients
Authors: Dragosloveanu Serban , Petre Mihnea-Alexandru , Gherghe Mihai Emanuel , Baz Radu Octavian , Cergan Romica , Scheau Cristian
Published: April 2024

Delayed fracture healing can have devastating functional consequences, including pseudoarthrosis. Many factors can contribute to delayed healing, including decreased vascularity, micro-motion at the fracture site, large fracture gaps, multiple traumas at the same site, compromised metabolic status, surgical complications, and other conditions. A 61-year-old female patient was referred to our hospital with left distal humeral pseudarthrosis, accompanied by chronic pain and disability. Two years prior, the patient suffered a traumatic incident. At another medical facility, the patient underwent open reduction and internal fixation surgery with simultaneous ulnar nerve transposition. She showed favorable postoperative recovery. Unfortunately, approximately one year later, the patient sustained a second trauma to the same arm. This led to peri-implant fracture and post-traumatic aseptic degradation of the osteosynthesis system which was subsequently removed. Twelve months after the last surgery, the patient was referred to our hospital and, after thorough consideration of the therapeutic options, we decided to perform left elbow arthroplasty with left distal humeral reconstruction by using Zimmer’s Comprehensive Segmental Revision System. This approach is generally reserved for tumors, and only a handful of cases of megaprostheses for non-tumoral indications have been previously reported. The surgery and perioperative care of our patient were optimal, there were no complications, and the patient recovered arm functionality following rehabilitation.
Occult Breast Cancer Presenting as Sternum Pain
Authors: Wu Dang , Guo Siyu , Zhang Bicheng , Huang Fengbo , Qian Wei , Qiu Fuming , Wei Qichun , Zhang Ting
Published: April 2024

Bone metastasis has been reported in up to 70% of patients with advanced breast cancer. A total of 55.76% of skeletal metastases in women were derived from breast cancer. However, patients with bone metastasis from an occult primary breast cancer are a rare subset of patients. Here, we present the case of a 38-year-old woman who had sternum pain for 4 months. A whole-body PET-CT scan revealed that the FDG uptake of both the sternum and internal mammary node was significantly increased. The final diagnosis of occult breast cancer was established by immunohistochemical (IHC) staining, which is of great significance for identifying the origin of a metastatic tumor despite no visualized lesions of mammary glands.
Cone-Beam Computed Tomography for the Evaluation of Dental Pulp Chamber Volume: Implications for Clinics and Teaching
Authors: Llacer-Martínez Maria , Martín-Biedma Benjamín , Sanz María T. , Aura-Tormos Juan I. , Fos-Galve Pablo , Fernández-Muñiz Zulima , Vega José A. , Jovani-Sancho Mar
Published: April 2024

The dental pulp chamber volume is a fundamental measurement in the field of endodontics, but also in forensic sciences, teaching and training, or tissue engineering. This study evaluates the precision of cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) in comparison with computed micro-tomography (micro-CT) in evaluating the pulp chamber volume of the upper central incisors ex vivo. The intra-operator and inter-operator errors were evaluated, and the results for the two techniques were compared with those of a T-test for paired samples. The intra-operator and inter-operator errors were >0.05, indicating adequate reproducibility in each operator and no significant differences between their measurements. On the other hand, no significant differences between the two measurement techniques were found. The present results demonstrate that CBCT is a precise, feasible, and reproducible technique for the evaluation of the dental pulp chamber volume ex vivo. The results provided with this method are useful for different medical domains but also for the teaching and training of undergraduate and postgraduate students. Furthermore, the findings of this study carry significant clinical implications, as the accurate assessment of the pulp chamber volume is critical in the diagnosis and treatment of various endodontic conditions. The ability of CBCT to provide reliable 3D dental anatomy measurements can enhance the planning of endodontic treatments by allowing for a better understanding of the internal tooth morphology. Additionally, the precision and reproducibility of CBCT in assessing the pulp chamber volume can contribute to improved clinical outcomes and reduced complications during endodontic procedures. These findings further support the increasingly vital role of CBCT in modern clinical practice and underscore its value as an indispensable tool in the field of dentistry.
Web Application for Retrieval-Augmented Generation: Implementation and Testing
Authors: Radeva Irina , Popchev Ivan , Doukovska Lyubka , Dimitrova Miroslava
Published: April 2024

The purpose of this paper is to explore the implementation of retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) technology with open-source large language models (LLMs). A dedicated web-based application, PaSSER, was developed, integrating RAG with Mistral:7b, Llama2:7b, and Orca2:7b models. Various software instruments were used in the application’s development. PaSSER employs a set of evaluation metrics, including METEOR, ROUGE, BLEU, perplexity, cosine similarity, Pearson correlation, and F1 score, to assess LLMs’ performance, particularly within the smart agriculture domain. The paper presents the results and analyses of two tests. One test assessed the performance of LLMs across different hardware configurations, while the other determined which model delivered the most accurate and contextually relevant responses within RAG. The paper discusses the integration of blockchain with LLMs to manage and store assessment results within a blockchain environment. The tests revealed that GPUs are essential for fast text generation, even for 7b models. Orca2:7b on Mac M1 was the fastest, and Mistral:7b had superior performance on the 446 question–answer dataset. The discussion is on technical and hardware considerations affecting LLMs’ performance. The conclusion outlines future developments in leveraging other LLMs, fine-tuning approaches, and further integration with blockchain and IPFS.
Potentials of Mixed-Integer Linear Programming (MILP)-Based Optimization for Low-Carbon Hydrogen Production and Development Pathways in China
Authors: Mao Jiani , Zhang Guangxue , Ling Zhongqian , Yuan Dingkun , Liu Maosheng , Xu Jiangrong
Published: April 2024

Hydrogen (H2) is considered one of the main pillars for transforming the conventional “dark” energy system to a net-zero carbon or “green” energy system. This work reviewed the potential resources for producing low-carbon hydrogen in China, as well as the possible hydrogen production methods based on the available resources. The analysis and comparison of the levelized cost of hydrogen (LCOH) for different hydrogen production pathways, and the optimal technology mixes to produce H2 in China from 2020 to 2050 were obtained using the mixed-integer linear programming (MILP) optimization model. The results were concluded as three major ones: (a) By 2050, the LCOH of solar- and onshore-wind-powered hydrogen will reach around 70–80 $/MWh, which is lower than the current H2 price and the future low-carbon H2 price. (b) Fuel costs (>40%) and capital investments (~20%) of different hydrogen technologies are the major cost components, and also are the major direction to further reduce the hydrogen price. (c) For the optimal hydrogen technology mix under the higher renewable ratio (70%) in 2050, the installed capacities of the renewable-powered electrolysers are all more than 200 GW, and the overall LCOH is 68.46 $/MWh. This value is higher than the LCOH (62.95 $/MWh) of the scenario with higher coal gasification with carbon capture and the storage (CG-CCS) ratio (>50%). Overall, this work is the first time that hydrogen production methods in China has been discussed comprehensively, as well as the acquisition of the optimal H2 production technology mix by the MILP optimization model, which can provide guidance on future hydrogen development pathways and technology development potential in China.
Energy Management Systems’ Modeling and Optimization in Hybrid Electric Vehicles
Authors: Altun Yavuz Eray , Kutlar Osman Akın
Published: April 2024

Optimization studies for the energy management systems of hybrid electric powertrains have critical importance as an effective measure for vehicle manufacturers to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and fuel consumption due to increasingly stringent emission regulations in the automotive industry, strict fuel economy legislation, continuously rising oil prices, and increasing consumer awareness of global warming and environmental pollution. In this study, firstly, the mathematical model of the powertrain and the rule-based energy management system of the vehicle with a power-split hybrid electric vehicle configuration are developed in the Matlab/Simulink environment and verified with real test data from the vehicle dynamometer for the UDDS drive cycle. In this way, a realistic virtual test platform has been developed where the simulation results of the energy management systems based on discrete dynamic programming and Pontryagin’s minimum principle optimization can be used to train the artificial neural network-based energy management algorithms for hybrid electric vehicles. The average fuel consumption in relation to the break specific fuel consumption of the internal combustion engine and the total electrical energy consumption of the battery in relation to the operating efficiency of the electrical machines, obtained by comparing the simulation results at the initial battery charging conditions of the vehicle using different driving cycles, will be analyzed and the advantages of the different energy management techniques used will be evaluated.
Operational Analysis of an Axial and Solid Double-Pole Configuration in a Permanent Magnet Flux-Switching Generator
Authors: Neto Manuel Garcia , da Silva Francisco Ferreira , Branco Paulo José da Costa
Published: April 2024

There are two main beneficial characteristics that doubly salient permanent magnet (PM) electrical machines present for aircraft applications: armature windings and PMs excitation sources placed on the stator side (maintenance and thermal management), and having a clear-cut rotor without PMs or excitation windings (vulnerable at high speeds due to associated centripetal mechanical stresses). Within this framework, a doubly salient permanent magnet (DSPM) generator was conceived by optimizing the stator size and rotor structure to minimize the torque ripple and maximize the root-mean-square (RMS) voltage value per turn of each generator phase. Firstly, a comparison between the 2D and 3D finite element method (FEM) models is made considering the results of 3D finite element analysis (FEA) as our benchmark in order to understand the accuracy of the 2D results against our benchmark model, the 3D one. A multi-objective design strategy based on a 2D FEA is made, it is set to have characteristics closest to optimal for a Boeing 767 turbine, that is, the necessary electromotive force for a required power of 90 kW at 3000 rpm, feeding a simplified Boeing 767 electrical power distribution system. The results show that the machine could not deliver the required power at 3000 rpm since the 2D FEA demonstrates that the 2D model gives optimistic results when compared with the 3D FEM model. However, with a 3D FEA of the machine feeding the aircraft load, it was seen that the machine’s efficiency is 92%, suggesting that this machine can be a plausible solution.
Experimental Investigation of Glycerol Derivatives and C1–C4 Alcohols as Gasoline Oxygenates
Authors: Olson André L. , Tunér Martin , Verhelst Sebastian
Published: April 2024

Certain oxygenated compounds, when blended with gasoline, have the ability to inhibit the occurrence and decrease the intensity of engine knock, helping improve engine efficiency. Although ethanol has had widespread use as an oxygenate, higher alcohols, such as butanol, exhibit superior properties in some respects. Besides alcohols, glycerol derivatives such as glycerol tert-butyl ether (GTBE), among others, also have the potential to be used as gasoline oxygenates. This work provides a direct comparison, performed on a modified Waukesha CFR engine, of C1–C4 alcohols and the glycerol derivatives GTBE, solketal, and triacetin, all blended with a gasoline surrogate in different concentrations. The tests focused on how these oxygenated compounds affected the knocking behavior of the fuel blends, since it directly impacts engine efficiency. The test matrices comprised spark-timing sweeps at two different compression ratios, at stoichiometric conditions and constant engine speed. The results showed that, in general, the C1–C4 alcohols and the glycerol derivatives were effective in decreasing knock intensity. n-Butanol and solketal were the noteworthy exceptions, due to their demonstrated inferior knock-inhibiting abilities. On the other hand, isopropanol, isobutanol, and GTBE performed particularly well, indicating their potential to be used as gasoline oxygenates for future engines, as alternatives to ethanol.
Optimal Observer-Based Power Imbalance Allocation for Frequency Regulation in Shipboard Microgrids
Authors: Rinaldi Gianmario , Baby Devika K. , Menon Prathyush P.
Published: April 2024

This paper proposes a two-level control strategy based on a super-twisting sliding-mode algorithm (STA) to optimally allocate power imbalances in shipboard microgrids (SMGs) while achieving frequency regulation. The strategy employs an STA observer to estimate the unknown power load demand imbalances in finite time. This estimate is then passed to an online high-level optimal control framework to periodically determine the optimal sequence of power reference values for each energy storage device (ESS), minimising the operational cost of the SMG. The online optimised power reference values are interpolated and passed to the low-level STA control strategy to control the output power of each ESS. The efficacy of the proposed methods is demonstrated through numerical simulations conducted on a prototypical model of an SMG equipped with two ESSs, namely batteries and fuel cells with associated hydrogen storage.
Indirect Prediction of Lithium-Ion Battery RUL Based on CEEMDAN and CNN-BiGRU
Authors: Lv Kai , Ma Zhiqiang , Bao Caijilahu , Liu Guangchen
Published: April 2024

Predicting the remaining useful life (RUL) of lithium-ion batteries is crucial for enhancing their reliability and safety. Addressing the issue of inaccurate RUL predictions caused by the nonlinear decay resulting from capacity regeneration, this paper proposes an indirect lithium-ion battery RUL prediction method based on complete ensemble empirical mode decomposition with adaptive noise (CEEMDAN) and convolutional neural network (CNN)–bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU). The method extracts Health Indicators (HI) from the battery-charging stage and employs CEEMDAN to decompose HI into several components. These components are then input into a component prediction model for forecasting. Finally, the predicted component results are fused and input into a capacity prediction model to achieve indirect RUL prediction. Validation is conducted using the lithium-ion battery dataset provided by NASA. The results indicate that, under prediction starting points (STs) of 80 and 100, the maximum average absolute errors do not exceed 0.0096 and 0.0081, and the maximum root mean square errors do not exceed 0.0196 and 0.0115, demonstrating high precision and reliability.
Dynamic Modeling and Simulation of a Facade-Integrated Adsorption System for Solar Cooling of Lightweight Buildings
Authors: Boeckmann Olaf , Marmullaku Drin , Schaefer Micha
Published: April 2024

Reductions of carbon dioxide emissions from the building sector are mandatory for climate protection. This calls for both a reduction of the construction material and energy as well as a reduction of the operational energy. Against this background, a novel facade-integrated adsorption system for solar cooling of lightweight buildings is proposed and theoretically investigated in this work. For this purpose, a detailed simulation model is developed to analyze both the processes in the single components as well as the overall system behavior. The proposed system consists of the three components adsorber, condenser and evaporator, which are connected vacuum-tight and are coupled by vapor transfer. The simulation results of a defined reference case yield cooling rates of 54 W per installed square meter of adsorber facade. The cooling power can be maintained for 12 h, confirming the applicability of the proposed system. Furthermore, a comprehensive parametric study is carried out in order to identify an optimum set of parameter values for maximum cooling rate under the assumed conditions. The results reveal that controlled constant cooling rates of 105 W per square meter of adsorber facade can be reached and a maximum peak power of 145 W per square meter of adsorber facade is possible.
Intelligent Identification Method for the Diagenetic Facies of Tight Oil Reservoirs Based on Hybrid Intelligence—A Case Study of Fuyu Reservoir in Sanzhao Sag of Songliao Basin
Authors: Liu Tao , Liu Zongbao , Zhang Kejia , Li Chunsheng , Zhang Yan , Mu Zihao , Liu Fang , Liu Xiaowen , Mu Mengning , Zhang Shiqi
Published: April 2024

The diagenetic facies of tight oil reservoirs reflect the diagenetic characteristics and micro-pore structure of reservoirs, determining the formation and distribution of sweet spot zones. By establishing the correlation between diagenetic facies and logging curves, we can effectively identify the vertical variation of diagenetic facies types and predict the spatial variation of reservoir quality. However, it is still challenging work to establish the correlation between logging and diagenetic facies, and there are some problems such as low accuracy, high time consumption and high cost. To this end, we propose a lithofacies identification method for tight oil reservoirs based on hybrid intelligence using the Fuyu oil layer of the Sanzhao depression in Songliao Basin as the target area. Firstly, the geological characteristics of the selected area were analyzed, the definition and classification scheme of diagenetic facies and the dominant diagenetic facies were discussed, and the logging response characteristics of various diagenetic facies were summarized. Secondly, based on the standardization of logging curves, the logging image data set of various diagenetic facies was built, and the imbalanced data set processing was performed. Thirdly, by integrating CNN (Convolutional Neural Networks) and ViT (Visual Transformer), the C-ViTM hybrid intelligent model was constructed to identify the diagenetic facies of tight oil reservoirs. Finally, the effectiveness of the method is demonstrated through experiments with different thicknesses, accuracy and single-well identification. The experimental results show that the C-ViTM method has the best identification effect at the sample thickness of 0.5 m, with Precision of above 86%, Recall of above 90% and F1 score of above 89%. The calculation result of the Jaccard index in the identification of a single well was 0.79, and the diagenetic facies of tight reservoirs can be identified efficiently and accurately. At the same time, it also provides a new idea for the identification of the diagenetic facies of old oilfields with only logging image data sets.
Pressure Transient Test Analysis for Deep Fractured Gas Reservoirs in Tarim Basin
Authors: Chen Dong , Wang Xin , Yang Fenglai , Chang Baohua , Liu Lei , Wang Junlei , Zhou Wenzhuo
Published: April 2024

Fractures are common features in deep gas reservoirs with strong heterogeneity, which are generally evaluated by well-testing analysis. Based on the characteristics of a variety of spatial scales from microscopic fractures to macroscopic faults in the Kuche area, this paper investigated the pressure behavior of naturally fractured gas reservoirs by using four typical patterns, including the Warren–Root model, radial composite model, dual-flow-state model, and local heterogeneity model. As a result, typical well-testing curves and parameter sensitivity analysis were demonstrated in detail. Furthermore, the pressure transient behavior of multi-scaled fractured reservoirs was identified by use of a state-of-the-art workflow. The analysis shows that the four patterns and their identification processes were feasible for the inversion of reservoir parameters in fractured gas reservoirs. Combined with dynamic data, the proposed method could further guide the optimization of development schemes and is of great significance for the development of fractured gas reservoirs.
Optimal Prosumer Operation with Consideration for Bounded Rationality in Peer-to-Peer Energy Trading Systems
Authors: Hao Jianhong , Huang Ting , Sun Yi , Zhan Xiangpeng , Zhang Yu , Wu Peng
Published: April 2024

With the large-scale development of distributed energy on the demand side, the trend of “supply exceeding demand” has gradually become prominent, and regional peer-to-peer (P2P) energy trading has become an important measure to improve the local consumption of distributed energy. However, most existing studies usually assume that prosumers behave entirely rationally with the goal of maximum benefit, which has been proved to deviate from the observed actual behaviors. Aiming at the optimal energy of prosumers participating in the P2P market, a prospect theory-based two-stage stochastic optimization model considering the bounded rationality was proposed to accurately simulate the decision-making behavior. Then, a benefit maximization model for the energy trading service provider (ETSP) was constructed considering the power flow constraint to ensure the safe operation of the system. Finally, an improved R-ADMM algorithm considering timeout was proposed to solve the above model and improve the convergence speed. The effectiveness of the proposed model and algorithm was verified via simulation.