bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hamstrings on Morphological Structure Characteristics, Stress Features, and Risk of Injuries: A Narrative Review
Authors: Shi Yinbin , Xi Gengsi , Sun Mengzi , Sun Yuliang , Li Li
Published: December 2022

Hamstring injury has been considered one of the most common exercise-induced injuries in sports. Hamstring injuries mostly occur proximal to the biceps femoris. However, the reasons and mechanisms remain unclear. To summarize hamstring morphological structure features and what the relationship is between their structure and risk of injury from the current literature, this review discussed the possible injury mechanism of hamstrings, from the morphological and connected pattern diversity, the mechanical properties, and the stress–strain performance, to probable changes in action control. Morphological and connected pattern diversity of hamstrings components show heterogeneous loads under muscle tension. Connections of gradient compliance between different tissues may lead to materials’ susceptibility to detachments near the tendon–bone junction sites under heterogeneous load conditions. The hamstrings muscle’s motor function insufficiency also brings the risk of injury when it performs multi-functional movements during exercise due to the span of multiple joints’ anatomical characteristics. These structural features may be the primary reason why most damage occurs near these sites. The role of these biomechanical characteristics should be appreciated by exercise specialists to effectively prevent hamstring injuries. Future work in this research should be aimed at exploring the most effective prevention programs based on the material structure and motor control to enhance the properties of hamstring muscle materials to minimize the risk of injury.
A Multiorder Attentional Spatial Interactive Convolutional Neural Network (MoAS-CNN) for Low-Resolution Haptic Recognition
Authors: Wen Kailin , Chu Jie , Chen Yu , Liang Dong , Zhang Chengkai , Cai Jueping
Published: December 2022

In haptic recognition, pressure information is usually represented as an image, and then used for feature extraction and classification. Deep learning that processes haptic information in end-to-end manner has attracted attention. This study proposes a multiorder attentional spatial interactive convolutional neural network (MoAS-CNN) for haptic recognition. The asymmetric dual-stream all convolutional neural network with integrated channel attention module is applied for automatic first-order feature extraction. Later on, the spatial interactive features based on the overall feature map are computed to improve the second-order description capability. Finally, the multiorder features are summed to improve the feature utilization efficiency. To validate the MoAS-CNN, we construct a haptic acquisition platform based on three-scale pressure arrays and collect haptic letter-shape (A–Z) datasets with complex contours. The recognition accuracies are 95.73% for 16 × 16, 98.37% for 20 × 20 and 98.65% for 32 × 32, which significantly exceeds the traditional first- and second-order CNNs and local SIFT feature.
A Unified Nonlinear Elastic Model for Rock Material
Authors: Chen Chong , Chen Shenghong , Zhang Yihu , Lin Hang , Wang Yixian
Published: December 2022

Under conditions of low or medium stress, rocks that are in the compression state exhibit perceivable nonlinear elastic characteristics. After a comprehensive review of the existing nonlinear elastic models of rocks and joints, we proposed a new unified nonlinear elastic model. This new model contains two parameters with clear definitions, namely, the initial elastic modulus Eni and the modulus change rate m. This model covers a variety of existing models, including the simple exponential model, BB model and two-part Hooke’s model, etc. Based on the RMT experimental system, a large number of uniaxial compression tests for dolomite, granite, limestone and sandstone were performed, and their nonlinear deformation stress‒strain curves were obtained and fit with the unified nonlinear elastic model. The results show that the rocks have obvious nonlinear elastic characteristics in their initial compression stage, and that the unified nonlinear elastic model is able to describe these phenomena rather well. In addition, an empirical formula for predicting the uniaxial compressive strength of the rock was constructed, corresponding to the unified nonlinear elastic model.
Artificial-Intelligence-Based Methods for Structural Health Monitoring
Authors: Altabey Wael A. , Noori Mohammad
Published: December 2022

Intelligent and resilient infrastructure and smart cities make up a rapidly emerging field that is redefining the future of urban development and ways of preserving the existing infrastructure against natural hazards...
Comprehensive Analysis of Organic Micropollutants in Fine Particulate Matter in Hanoi Metropolitan Area, Vietnam
Authors: Le-Quang Huong , Phuong Thao Pham Thi , Bui-Quang Minh , Nguyen-Tien Dat , Nguyen-Thanh Thao , Nguyen-Ha My , Shimadera Hikari , Kondo Akira , Luong-Viet Mui , Nguyen-Quang Trung
Published: December 2022

Rapid urbanization has led to increased environmental pollution in Vietnam, especially air pollution issues. In this study, we used gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with an automated identification and quantification system database to detect and quantitate compounds in atmospheric fine particulate matter (PM2.5). A total of 288 compounds classified in 19 pollutant categories based on their origins were detected in PM2.5 samples collected in three areas of Hanoi during winter. The total content of substances detected ranged from 41.08 to 795.00 ng.m−3. The characteristics and concentrations of organic pollutants differed among the industrial, urban, and agricultural sampling areas, with average concentrations of 179.00, 112.10, and 529.40 ng.m−3, respectively. In this comprehensive study on trace organic compounds conducted with samples collected at three sites, we investigating the basic impact of three main factors on the environment. This study contributes to the literature by providing a data set on the content of trace organic substances in the air at the study site.
Evaluation of AMG510 Therapy on KRAS-Mutant Non–Small Cell Lung Cancer and Colorectal Cancer Cell Using a 3D Invasive Tumor Spheroid System under Normoxia and Hypoxia
Authors: Huang Meng , Hou Wei , Zhang Jing , Li Menglan , Zhang Zilin , Li Xiaoran , Chen Zaozao , Wang Cailian , Yang Lihua
Published: December 2022

A 3D tumor spheroid has been increasingly applied in pharmaceutical development for its simulation of the tumor structure and microenvironment. The embedded-culture of a tumor spheroid within a hydrogel microenvironment could help to improve the mimicking of in vivo cell growth and the development of 3D models for tumor invasiveness evaluation, which could enhance its drug efficiency prediction together with cell viability detection. NCI-H23 spheroids and CT-26 spheroids, from a non–small cell lung cancer and colorectal cancer cell line, respectively, together with extracellular matrix were generated for evaluating their sensitivity to AMG510 (a KRASG12C inhibitor) under normoxia and hypoxia conditions, which were created by an on-stage environmental chamber. Results demonstrated that NCI-H23, the KRASG12C moderate expression cell line, only mildly responded to AMG510 treatment in normal 2D and 3D cultures and could be clearly evaluated by our system in hypoxia conditions, while the negative control CT-26 (G12D-mutant) spheroid exhibited no significant response to AMG510 treatment. In summary, our system, together with a controlled microenvironment and imaging methodology, provided an easily assessable and effective methodology for 3D in vitro drug efficiency testing and screenings.
Development of a Japanese Version of the Index of Sexual Satisfaction for Use in Couples with Young Children
Authors: Hidaka Ryoko , Sobue Ikuko , Yano Miki , Ito Ryoko , Kobayashi Toshio
Published: December 2022

The occurrence of sexual dysfunction in couples after childbirth is well recognized, yet sexual satisfaction in couples with young children (CYC) has received little research attention. This study sought to enable this construct to be measured by developing and validating a Japanese version of the Index of Sexual Satisfaction (ISS) in CYC. Data were collected using a self-administered questionnaire. Scale construction and validation were conducted using two independent samples drawn from 316 mothers and 272 fathers in Japan who had at least one child aged 6 or younger. Two underlying factors were identified using exploratory factor analysis: sexual satisfaction, measured by eight items, and sexual dissatisfaction, measured by three. Polychoric ordinal alpha coefficients indicated the reliability of the resulting scale (overall: 0.89, factor 1: 0.89, factor 2: 0.78), and confirmatory factor analysis and testing supported its validity, showing good model fit (goodness of fit index: 0.984, root mean square residual: 0.062) and satisfactory composite reliability (scale: 0.93, factor 1: 0.90, factor 2: 0.81) and average variance extracted (all ≥0.5). The Japanese version of the ISS for Couples with Young Children will be useful for investigating sexual satisfaction, which is essential to marital stability.
Numerical Strategy for Column Strengthened with FRCM/SRG System
Authors: Verre Salvatore
Published: December 2022

The use of fabric-reinforced cementitious mortar (FRCM) or steel-reinforced grout (SRG) is now recognized to be effective in enhancing the axial capacity of masonry columns when confinement is achieved. Numerous experimental tests demonstrated the symbiotic role of the fabric and the inorganic matrix. An open issue is still related to the numerical simulation. In fact, if the compressive behavior by the numerical simulation of the unreinforced and reinforced masonry columns confined by a FRCM/SRG jacket may follow different approaches. The inorganic matrix transfers the stresses from the substrate to the fabric differently, depending on the presence or absence of cracks. The fabric consists of an open grid whose yard could be differently stressed after the matrix damage because of the occurrence of a possible slippage at the fabric–matrix interface. Definitely, these aspects are difficult to numerically predict. The paper herein is devoted to the assessment of different numerical approaches for the FRCM/SRG confinement of masonry columns by considering data from the literature and varying the parameters related to the matrix, the fabric, and the masonry itself. The goal is to best fit the experimental outcomes (from different available sources) with different strategies based on a finite element (FE) modeling. The results show good matching between the experimental and theoretical curves for the different FRCM/SRG systems. The results evidenced that the accuracy of the experimental versus the numerical curves match is met for the different FRCM/SRG systems.
Structural Design Optimization of Flat Slab Hospital Buildings Using Genetic Algorithms
Authors: Aidy Ahmed , Rady Mohammed , Mashhour Ibrahim Mohsen , Mahfouz Sameh Youssef
Published: December 2022

The construction costs of hospital buildings are relatively high due to the need to fulfill their complex functions and avoid mishaps. In this context, this study aims to minimize the total construction costs of hospitals while still satisfying the special architectural, practical, and structural requirements specified by design codes. To this end, 48 design alternatives with two floor systems (flat slabs with and without drop panels), three column spacings, and eight concrete grades were optimized using genetic algorithms provided by Palisade Evolver. The objective function included the materials and labor costs per square meter of the floor plan. The decision variables involved the concrete dimensions and steel bars of floors and columns. The hospital buildings were subjected to gravity, earthquake, and wind loads to thoroughly examine the realistic loading conditions. The design was performed in accordance with the Egyptian code for the design and construction of concrete structures and the Egyptian guidelines for hospitals and healthcare facilities. The results revealed that using low-strength concrete, and flat slabs without drop panels could achieve the best design. The slab thickness had a governing impact on the total cost of both floor systems.
Data-Based Analysis of Environmental Attractiveness towards Low-Carbon Development in Seaside Cities
Authors: Zhang Yingyi , Qin Mengnan , Lv Meng , Li Yifan
Published: December 2022

Data-based technologies have been implemented in urban planning projects and environmental sciences. However, in the field of the environmental attractiveness analysis of seaside urban space, these technologies have not been fully studied. This paper critically assesses the attractiveness using data-based technologies with a focus on Chinese seaside cities’ low-carbon development. The analysis addresses the research question: How to use data-based technologies and their instruments to analyze environmental attractiveness of seaside cities towards low-carbon development? Methodologies include a case study of Dalian (China), field investigation, observation, and heatmapping. Results indicate that data-based technologies can support analysis of behavior and activity interests of inhabitants, as well as heatmapping with attractiveness consideration. The results provide a rational foundation for decision making during urban planning of seaside cities. Findings include insights and principles of planning seaside urban areas for smart sustainable development.
Hydrothermal Liquefaction of Lignocellulosic and Protein-Containing Biomass: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Jatoi Abdul Sattar , Shah Ayaz Ali , Ahmed Jawad , Rehman Shamimur , Sultan Syed Hasseb , Shah Abdul Karim , Raza Aamir , Mubarak Nabisab Mujawar , Hashmi Zubair , Usto Muhammad Azam , Murtaza Muhammad
Published: December 2022

Hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL) is a thermochemical depolymerization technology, also known as hydrous pyrolysis, that transforms wet biomass into biocrude and valuable chemicals at a moderate temperature (usually 200–400 °C) and high pressure (typically 10–25 MPa). In HTL, water acts as a key reactant in HTL activities. Several properties of water are substantially altered as the reaction state gets closer to the critical point of water, which can result in quick, uniform, and effective reactions. The current review covers the HTL of various feedstocks, especially lignocellulosic and high protein-containing feeds with their in-depth information of the chemical reaction mechanisms involved in the HTL. Further, this review gives insight and knowledge about the influencing factors such as biomass pretreatment, process mode, process conditions, etc., which could affect the efficiency of the hydrothermal process and biocrude productivity. In addition, the latest trends, and emerging challenges to HTL are discussed with suitable recommendations.
Hydrogenolysis of Lignin and C–O Linkages Containing Lignin-Related Compounds over a Macroporous Silicalite-1 Array-Supported Ru-Ni Phosphide Composite
Authors: Chen Bo , Cao Zhi-Ze , Diao Zhi-Jun , Huang Liang-Qiu , Zhao Si-Jia , Yuan Hong , He Jia-Meng
Published: December 2022

Hydrogenolysis via targeted depolymerization of C–O linkages is a techno-economic beneficial process for converting lignin into highly valuable chemicals and clean fuels. In this work, a macroporous silicalite-1 (S-1) array-supported Ru-Ni metallic phosphide composite (Ru-Ni12P5/S-15) was prepared as a catalyst and hydrogenolysis activity under relative mild conditions was investigated using a series of compounds containing ether linkages as lignin-related model compounds. The Lewis acid sites originating from the unreduced Ru species and the macroporous geometry of S-1 significantly influenced hydrogenolysis activity and product selectivity. Analysis of the mechanism demonstrated that both the aryl ether and aliphatic ether linkages were directly hydrogenated over Ru-Ni12P5/S-15. 2D-HSQC-NMR spectroscopy demonstrated that the ether linkages of lignin were efficiently cleaved by Ru-Ni12P5/S-15. Furthermore, the obtained liquid hydrogenolysis products are high value-added chemicals used for pharmaceutical production and can be facilely tuned via the reaction conditions.
Transcriptomic Analysis of Colorectal Cancer Cells Treated with Oil Production Waste Products (OPWPs) Reveals Enrichment of Pathways of Mitochondrial Functionality
Authors: Leo Manuela , Muccillo Livio , Pranzini Erica , Barisciano Giovannina , Parri Matteo , Lopatriello Giulia , Carlomagno Marco , Santi Alice , Taddei Maria Letizia , Sabatino Lina
Published: December 2022

Oil production waste products (OPWPs) derive from olive mill and represent a crucial environmental problem due to their high polyphenolic content able to pollute the ground. One option to reduce the OPWPs’ environmental impact is to exploit polyphenols’ biological properties. We sought to analyze the transcriptomic variations of colorectal cancer cells exposed to the OPWPs extracts and hydroxytyrosol, the major component, to recognize unknown and ill-defined characteristics. Among the top affected pathways identified by GSEA, we focused on oxidative phosphorylation in an in vitro system. Colorectal cancer HCT116 and LoVo cells treated with hydroxytyrosol or OPWPs extracts showed enhancement of the respiratory chain complexes’ protein levels, ATP production and membrane potential, suggesting stimulation of mitochondrial functions. The major proteins involved in mitochondrial biogenesis and fusion events of mitochondrial dynamics were positively affected, as by Western blot, fostering increase of the mitochondrial mass organized in a network of elongated organelles. Mechanistically, we proved that PPARγ mediates the effects as they are mimicked by a specific ligand and impaired by a specific inhibitor. OPWP extracts and hydroxytyrosol, thus, promote mitochondrial functionality via a feed-forward regulatory loop involving the PPARγ/PGC-1α axis. These results support their use in functional foods and as adjuvants in cancer therapy.
PICALM and Alzheimer’s Disease: An Update and Perspectives
Authors: Ando Kunie , Nagaraj Siranjeevi , Küçükali Fahri , de Fisenne Marie-Ange , Kosa Andreea-Claudia , Doeraene Emilie , Lopez Gutierrez Lidia , Brion Jean-Pierre , Leroy Karelle
Published: December 2022

Genome-wide association studies (GWAS) have identified the PICALM (Phosphatidylinositol binding clathrin-assembly protein) gene as the most significant genetic susceptibility locus after APOE and BIN1. PICALM is a clathrin-adaptor protein that plays a critical role in clathrin-mediated endocytosis and autophagy. Since the effects of genetic variants of PICALM as AD-susceptibility loci have been confirmed by independent genetic studies in several distinct cohorts, there has been a number of in vitro and in vivo studies attempting to elucidate the underlying mechanism by which PICALM modulates AD risk. While differential modulation of APP processing and Aβ transcytosis by PICALM has been reported, significant effects of PICALM modulation of tau pathology progression have also been evidenced in Alzheimer’s disease models. In this review, we summarize the current knowledge about PICALM, its physiological functions, genetic variants, post-translational modifications and relevance to AD pathogenesis.
Novel Tuning of PMMA Orthopedic Bone Cement Using TBB Initiator: Effect of Bone Cement Extracts on Bioactivity of Osteoblasts and Osteoclasts
Authors: Komatsu Keiji , Hamajima Kosuke , Ozawa Ryotaro , Kitajima Hiroaki , Matsuura Takanori , Ogawa Takahiro
Published: December 2022

Bone cement containing benzoyl peroxide (BPO) as a polymerization initiator are commonly used to fix orthopedic metal implants. However, toxic complications caused by bone cement are a clinically significant problem. Poly (methyl methacrylate) tri-n-butylborane (PMMA-TBB), a newly developed material containing TBB as a polymerization initiator, was found to be more biocompatible than conventional PMMA-BPO bone cements due to reduced free radical generation during polymerization. However, free radicals might not be the only determinant of cytotoxicity. Here, we evaluated the response and functional phenotypes of cells exposed to extracts derived from different bone cements. Bone cement extracts were prepared from two commercial PMMA-BPO cements and an experimental PMMA-TBB. Rat bone marrow-derived osteoblasts and osteoclasts were cultured in a medium supplemented with bone cement extracts. More osteoblasts survived and attached to the culture dish with PMMA-TBB extract than in the culture with PMMA-BPO extracts. Osteoblast proliferation and differentiation were higher in the culture with PMMA-TBB extract. The number of TRAP-positive multinucleated cells was significantly lower in the culture with PMMA-TBB extract. There was no difference in osteoclast-related gene expression in response to different bone cement extracts. In conclusion, PMMA-TBB extract was less toxic to osteoblasts than PMMA-BPO extracts. Although extracts from the different cement types did not affect osteoclast function, PMMA-TBB extract seemed to reduce osteoclastogenesis, a possible further advantage of PMMA-TBB cement. These implied that the reduced radical generation during polymerization is not the only determinant for the improved biocompatibility of PMMA-TBB and that the post-polymerization chemical elution may also be important.
Elevated Monoamine Oxidase-A in Anterior Cingulate of Post-Mortem Human Parkinson’s Disease: A Potential Surrogate Biomarker for Lewy Bodies?
Authors: Mukherjee Jogeshwar , Ladwa Reisha M. , Liang Christopher , Syed Amina U.
Published: December 2022

Lewy bodies (LB) play a neuropathological role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Our goal was to evaluate LB using anti-ubiquitin immunohistochemistry (UIHC) and find correlations with monoamine oxidase-A (MAO-A) using imaging agent, [18F]FAZIN3. Human post-mortem anterior cingulate (AC) and corpus callosum (CC) from control subjects (CN), n = 6; age 81–90 LB = 0 and PD, n = 6, age 77–89, LB = III–IV were sectioned (10 μm slices). Brain slices were immunostained with anti-ubiquitin for LB (UIHC) and analyzed using QuPath for percent anti-ubiquitin per unit area (μm2). Adjacent brain slices were incubated with [18F]FAZIN3 and cortical layers I–III, IV–VI and CC (white matter) regions were quantified for the binding of [18F]FAZIN3. UIHC was correlated with [18F]FAZIN3 binding. All PD brains were positively UIHC stained and confirmed presence of LB. Outer cortical layers (I–III) of PD AC had 21% UIHC while inner layers (IV–VI) had >75% UIHC. In the CN brains LB were absent (<1% UIHC). Increased [18F]FAZIN3 binding to MAO-A in AC was observed in all PD subjects. [18F]FAZIN3 ratio in PD was AC/CC = 3.57 while in CN subjects it was AC/CC = 2.24. Increases in UIHC μm2 correlated with [18F]FAZIN3 binding to MAO-A in DLU/mm2. Increased [18F]FAZIN3 binding to MAO-A in PD is a potential novel “hot spot” PET imaging approach.
CD146+ Endometrial-Derived Mesenchymal Stem/Stromal Cell Subpopulation Possesses Exosomal Secretomes with Strong Immunomodulatory miRNA Attributes
Authors: Leñero Clarissa , Kaplan Lee D. , Best Thomas M. , Kouroupis Dimitrios
Published: December 2022

The perivascular localization of endometrial mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (eMSC) allows them to sense local and distant tissue damage, promoting tissue repair and healing. Our hypothesis is that eMSC therapeutic effects are largely exerted via their exosomal secretome (eMSC EXOs) by targeting the immune system and angiogenic modulation. For this purpose, EXOs isolated from Crude and CD146+ eMSC populations were compared for their miRNA therapeutic signatures and immunomodulatory functionality under inflammatory conditions. eMSC EXOs profiling revealed 121 in Crude and 88 in CD146+ miRNAs, with 82 commonly present in both populations. Reactome and KEGG analysis of miRNAs highly present in eMSC EXOs indicated their involvement among others in immune system regulation. From the commonly present miRNAs, four miRNAs (hsa-miR-320e, hsa-miR-182-3p, hsa-miR-378g, hsa-let-7e-5p) were more enriched in CD146+ eMSC EXOs. These miRNAs are involved in macrophage polarization, T cell activation, and regulation of inflammatory cytokine transcription (i.e., TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6). Functionally, stimulated macrophages exposed to eMSC EXOs demonstrated a switch towards an alternate M2 status and reduced phagocytic capacity compared to stimulated alone. However, eMSC EXOs did not suppress stimulated human peripheral blood mononuclear cell proliferation, but significantly reduced secretion of 13 pro-inflammatory molecules compared to stimulated alone. In parallel, two anti-inflammatory proteins, IL-10 and IL-13, showed higher secretion, especially upon CD146+ eMSC EXO exposure. Our study suggests that eMSC, and even more, the CD146+ subpopulation, possess exosomal secretomes with strong immunomodulatory miRNA attributes. The resulting evidence could serve as a foundation for eMSC EXO-based therapeutics for the resolution of detrimental aspects of tissue inflammation.
Accelerated Evolution of Cytochrome c in Higher Primates, and Regulation of the Reaction between Cytochrome c and Cytochrome Oxidase by Phosphorylation
Authors: Brand Sue Ellen , Scharlau Martha , Geren Lois , Hendrix Marissa , Parson Clayre , Elmendorf Tyler , Neel Earl , Pianalto Kaila , Silva-Nash Jennifer , Durham Bill , Millett Francis
Published: December 2022

Cytochrome c (Cc) underwent accelerated evolution from the stem of the anthropoid primates to humans. Of the 11 amino acid changes that occurred from horse Cc to human Cc, five were at Cc residues near the binding site of the Cc:CcO complex. Single-point mutants of horse and human Cc were made at each of these positions. The Cc:CcO dissociation constant KD of the horse mutants decreased in the order: T89E > native horse Cc > V11I Cc > Q12M > D50A > A83V > native human. The largest effect was observed for the mutants at residue 50, where the horse Cc D50A mutant decreased KD from 28.4 to 11.8 μM, and the human Cc A50D increased KD from 4.7 to 15.7 μM. To investigate the role of Cc phosphorylation in regulating the reaction with CcO, phosphomimetic human Cc mutants were prepared. The Cc T28E, S47E, and Y48E mutants increased the dissociation rate constant kd, decreased the formation rate constant kf, and increased the equilibrium dissociation constant KD of the Cc:CcO complex. These studies indicate that phosphorylation of these residues plays an important role in regulating mitochondrial electron transport and membrane potential ΔΨ.
Microstructure and Photoluminescence of ZrTiO4:Eu3+ Phosphors: Host-Sensitized Energy Transfer and Optical Thermometry
Authors: Gu Anheng , Pan Guo-Hui , Wu Huajun , Zhang Liangliang , Zhang Ligong , Wu Hao , Zhang Jiahua
Published: December 2022

Orthorhombic ZrTiO4 is an attractive dielectric material; its optical properties are, however, less known. In this paper, we reported on the microstructure and luminescence studies of pristine ZrTiO4 and Eu3+-doped ZrTiO4 phosphors. The results indicated that two types of TiO6 octahedra, the isolated/ localized and coupled/delocalized, coexisted in host matrix. Eu3+ doping could induce oxygen vacancy defect states located below the bottom of the conduction band. Pristine ZrTiO4 showed bright yellow luminescence via STEs recombination at defects sites at low temperatures, but significant thermal quenching occurred due to STEs migration to quenching centers at elevated temperatures. Effective host sensitized energy transfer to Eu3+ was observed in ZrTiO4:Eu3+ phosphors and yielded the red characteristic emissions of Eu3+. Anomalous STEs luminescence enhancement and spectral blue-shift in the excitation spectra with higher Eu3 + concentration appeared and were explained by considering three factors: competitive absorption between electron transitions from the top of the valence band to the defect states and host conduction band, Eu3+ doping driving the production of more isolated TiO6 octahedra, and energy back-transfer from Eu3+ activators to other titanate groups. On the basis of the dual-emitting combination strategy involving host STEs and Eu3+ luminescence, ZrTiO4:Eu3+ phosphors were demonstrated to be ratiometric self-referencing optical thermometric materials, with a working range of 153–313 K and a maxima of relative sensitivity to ~1.1% K−1 at 243 K.
Local Climate Zones, Sky View Factor and Magnitude of Daytime/Nighttime Urban Heat Islands in Balneário Camboriú, SC, Brazil
Authors: Hoppe Ismael Luiz , Wollmann Cassio Arthur , Buss André Schroder , Gobo João Paulo Assis , Shooshtarian Salman
Published: December 2022

For this study on urban climatology, the study area is the city of Balneário Camboriú, belonging to the Brazilian state of Santa Catarina (SC), located at 26°59′42″ south latitude and 48°37′46″ west longitude. As it is the most vertical city in the entire Southern Hemisphere, Balneário Camboriú was selected as the study area for the development of this climate analysis. Then, this study was concerned with analyzing the formation of urban heat islands throughout the daytime and nighttime in the city of Balneário Camboriú, Santa Catarina, Brazil, on some days in October 2020, from the perspective of the local climatic zones. Seven fixed sampling points and one official weather station were selected for this research. These points were selected in order to facilitate analysis of the climatic behaviour of the urban area throughout the day, comparing it with the other points, and also to verify possible changes in the local climate in the most diverse types of LCZ. At these same points, the Sky View Factor (SVF) measurements were taken. to elaborate the map of LCZ of Balneário Camboriú, the WUDAPT method was used. There was a great variation of the SVF between the collection points, and different LCZs were mapped, which contributed to the formation of urban heat islands whose maximum magnitude was 10.8 °C and islands with freshnesses of magnitudes of −4.5 °C.
Fabrication of Metallic Micro-/Nano-Composite Materials for Environmental Applications
Authors: Xing Xiaohan , Zhou Rui , Liu Hongjun , Han Gang
Published: December 2022

Micro-/nano-structured materials refer to functional materials with excellent chemical and physical properties at the level of micro-/nano-size, which have played an important role in a wide range of applications for addressing environmental problems [...]
A Stable Aqueous SnO2 Nanoparticle Dispersion for Roll-to-Roll Fabrication of Flexible Perovskite Solar Cells
Authors: Peiris T. , Benitez Juan , Sutherland Luke , Sharma Manoj , Michalska Monika , Scully Andrew , Vak Doojin , Gao Mei , Weerasinghe Hasitha , Jasieniak Jacek
Published: December 2022

Perovskite solar cells (PSCs) are attracting increasing commercial interest due to their potential as cost-effective, lightweight sources of solar energy. Low-cost, large-scale printing and coating processes can accelerate the development of PSCs from the laboratory to the industry. The present work demonstrates the use of microwave-assisted solvothermal processing as a new and efficient route for synthesizing crystalline SnO2 nanoparticle-based aqueous dispersions having a narrow particle size distribution. The SnO2 nanoparticles are analyzed in terms of their optical, structural, size, phase, and chemical properties. To validate the suitability of these dispersions for use in roll-to-roll (R2R) coating, they were applied as the electron-transport layer in PSCs, and their performance was compared with equivalent devices using a commercially available aqueous SnO2 colloidal ink. The devices were fabricated under ambient laboratory conditions, and all layers were deposited at less than 150 °C. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of glass-based PSCs comprising a synthesized SnO2 nanoparticle dispersion displayed champion levels of 20.2% compared with 18.5% for the devices using commercial SnO2 inks. Flexible PSCs comprising an R2R-coated layer of synthesized SnO2 nanoparticle dispersion displayed a champion PCE of 17.0%.
Structural, Mechanical, and Thermal Properties of the TiAlTaN/TiAlBN Multilayer
Authors: Li Zheng , Chen Li , Zhang Jie , Sun Xu
Published: December 2022

A multilayer structure and incorporation of the fourth element are promising strategies to improve the properties of TiAlN coatings. In this study, the structural, mechanical, and thermal properties of the Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N/Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N multilayer, as well as the Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N and Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N monolithic coatings, were carefully researched. Coherent growth of the multilayer structure induces a single-phase cubic structure of the Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N/Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N multilayer, even though the Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N and Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N coatings have a single-phase cubic structure and a mixed cubic and wurtzite structure, respectively. The Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N/Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N multilayer reveals a higher hardness of 38.2 ± 0.9 GPa due to interfacial strengthening, corresponding to 32.4 ± 0.6 GPa of Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N and 32.7 ± 0.9 GPa of Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N. During annealing, our three kinds of coating demonstrate an age-hardening effect. The Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N/Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N multilayer presents a hardness peak of 40.0 ± 0.9 GPa at 1000 °C, whereas the Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N and Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N coatings show the hardness peaks of 37.1 ± 0.7 and 35.0 ± 0.6 GPa at 900 °C, respectively. Furthermore, the improved oxidation resistance is obtained by the Ti0.34Al0.48Ta0.18N/Ti0.42Al0.54B0.04N multilayer.
Estimation of 5G Core and RAN End-to-End Delay through Gaussian Mixture Models
Authors: Fadhil Diyar , Oliveira Rodolfo
Published: December 2022

Network analytics provide a comprehensive picture of the network’s Quality of Service (QoS), including the End-to-End (E2E) delay. In this paper, we characterize the Core and the Radio Access Network (RAN) E2E delay of 5G networks with the Standalone (SA) and Non-Standalone (NSA) topologies when a single known Probability Density Function (PDF) is not suitable to model its distribution. To this end, multiple PDFs, denominated as components, are combined in a Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) to represent the distribution of the E2E delay. The accuracy and computation time of the GMM is evaluated for a different number of components and a number of samples. The results presented in the paper are based on a dataset of E2E delay values sampled from both SA and NSA 5G networks. Finally, we show that the GMM can be adopted to estimate a high diversity of E2E delay patterns found in 5G networks and its computation time can be adequate for a large range of applications.
Impacts of Data Synthesis: A Metric for Quantifiable Data Standards and Performances
Authors: Chandra Gunjan , Siirtola Pekka , Tamminen Satu , Knip Mikael J. , Veijola Riitta , Röning Juha
Published: December 2022

Clinical data analysis could lead to breakthroughs. However, clinical data contain sensitive information about participants that could be utilized for unethical activities, such as blackmailing, identity theft, mass surveillance, or social engineering. Data anonymization is a standard step during data collection, before sharing, to overcome the risk of disclosure. However, conventional data anonymization techniques are not foolproof and also hinder the opportunity for personalized evaluations. Much research has been done for synthetic data generation using generative adversarial networks and many other machine learning methods; however, these methods are either not free to use or are limited in capacity. This study evaluates the performance of an emerging tool named synthpop, an R package producing synthetic data as an alternative approach for data anonymization. This paper establishes data standards derived from the original data set based on the utilities and quality of information and measures variations in the synthetic data set to evaluate the performance of the data synthesis process. The methods to assess the utility of the synthetic data set can be broadly divided into two approaches: general utility and specific utility. General utility assesses whether synthetic data have overall similarities in the statistical properties and multivariate relationships with the original data set. Simultaneously, the specific utility assesses the similarity of a fitted model’s performance on the synthetic data to its performance on the original data. The quality of information is assessed by comparing variations in entropy bits and mutual information to response variables within the original and synthetic data sets. The study reveals that synthetic data succeeded at all utility tests with a statistically non-significant difference and not only preserved the utilities but also preserved the complexity of the original data set according to the data standard established in this study. Therefore, synthpop fulfills all the necessities and unfolds a wide range of opportunities for the research community, including easy data sharing and information protection.
Neonatal Sepsis Caused by Streptococcus gallolyticus Complicated with Pulmonary Hypertension: A Case-Report and a Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Iliodromiti Zoi , Tsaousi Marina , Kitsou Konstantina , Bouza Helen , Boutsikou Theodora , Pouliakis Abraham , Tsampou Efstathia , Oikonomidi Stavroula , Dagre Maria , Sokou Rozeta , Iacovidou Nicoletta , Petropoulou Chrysa
Published: December 2022

Streptococcus gallolyticus (S. gallolyticus) has been linked to the development of infections in adults; however, in neonates S. gallolyticus sepsis is very rare and resembles Group B Streptococcal infections. In this case report, we present the case of a full-term neonate who developed early-onset sepsis due to S. gallolyticus. A systematic review of the literature was also conducted. The neonate had good APGAR scores at 1′ and 5′. At 5 h postnatally, the neonate developed poor feeding and respiratory distress. She received oxygen in a head box, and a complete blood count and biochemistry, blood, CSF and body surface cultures were obtained. Empiric intravenous antibiotics (ampicillin and tobramycin) were initiated, and she was transferred to a tertiary NICU for further treatment. The neonate was mechanically ventilated and received dopamine and colloid fluids for circulatory support. A cardiology consultation revealed pulmonary hypertension on day one. S. gallolyticus was isolated in the blood culture. Central nervous system ultrasonography, brainstem auditory evoked potentials, and a second cardiology evaluation were normal on day three. Clinical and laboratory improvement was noted on day three, and the baby was discharged after a 12-day hospitalization. Follow-up visits were scheduled for reevaluation.
Differential P-Glycoprotein/CD31 Expression as Markers of Vascular Co-Option in Primary Central Nervous System Tumors
Authors: Annese Tiziana , Errede Mariella , d’Amati Antonio , De Giorgis Michelina , Lorusso Loredana , Tamma Roberto , Ribatti Domenico
Published: December 2022

Background: Vascular co-option is one of the main features of brain tumor progression. It is identified using histopathological analysis, but no antibody-specific markers were found, and no universally accepted histological features were defined. Methods: We employed double immunohistochemical stainings for CD31, P-gp, S100A10, and mitochondria on formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded human samples of IDH-WT glioblastoma, IDH-mutant astrocytoma, and meningioma to study vascular co-option across different brain tumors and across normal, peritumoral, and intratumoral areas using the Aperio colocalization algorithm, which is a valid and robust method to handle and investigate large data sets. Results: The results have shown that (i) co-opted vessels could be recognized by the presence of metabolically overactive (evaluated as mitochondria expression) and P-gp+ or S100A10+ tumor cells surrounding CD31+ endothelial cells; (ii) vascular co-option occurs in the intratumoral area of meningioma and astrocytoma; and (iii) vascular co-option is prevalent in peritumoral glioblastoma area. Conclusions: The described approach identifies new markers for cellular components of the vessel wall and techniques that uncover the order and localization of vascularization mechanisms, which may contribute to developing new and possibly more effective therapeutic strategies.
FRCNN-Based Reinforcement Learning for Real-Time Vehicle Detection, Tracking and Geolocation from UAS
Authors: Singh Chandra Has , Mishra Vishal , Jain Kamal , Shukla Anoop Kumar
Published: December 2022

In the last few years, uncrewed aerial systems (UASs) have been broadly employed for many applications including urban traffic monitoring. However, in the detection, tracking, and geolocation of moving vehicles using UAVs there are problems to be encountered such as low-accuracy sensors, complex scenes, small object sizes, and motion-induced noises. To address these problems, this study presents an intelligent, self-optimised, real-time framework for automated vehicle detection, tracking, and geolocation in UAV-acquired images which enlist detection, location, and tracking features to improve the final decision. The noise is initially reduced by applying the proposed adaptive filtering, which makes the detection algorithm more versatile. Thereafter, in the detection step, top-hat and bottom-hat transformations are used, assisted by the Overlapped Segmentation-Based Morphological Operation (OSBMO). Following the detection phase, the background regions are obliterated through an analysis of the motion feature points of the obtained object regions using a method that is a conjugation between the Kanade–Lucas–Tomasi (KLT) trackers and Density-Based Spatial Clustering of Applications with Noise (DBSCAN) clustering. The procured object features are clustered into separate objects on the basis of their motion characteristics. Finally, the vehicle labels are designated to their corresponding cluster trajectories by employing an efficient reinforcement connecting algorithm. The policy-making possibilities of the reinforcement connecting algorithm are evaluated. The Fast Regional Convolutional Neural Network (Fast-RCNN) is designed and trained on a small collection of samples, then utilised for removing the wrong targets. The proposed framework was tested on videos acquired through various scenarios. The methodology illustrates its capacity through the automatic supervision of target vehicles in real-world trials, which demonstrates its potential applications in intelligent transport systems and other surveillance applications.
The Development of Forest Genetic Breeding and the Application of Genome Selection and CRISPR/Cas9 in Forest Breeding
Authors: Zhao Ye , Tian Yanting , Sun Yuhan , Li Yun
Published: December 2022

With the birth of classical genetics, forest genetic breeding has laid a foundation in the formation of the basic theories of population genetics, quantitative genetics, cytogenetics, and molecular genetics. Driven by the rapid growth of social demand for wood and other forest products, modern genetics, biotechnology, biostatistics, crop and animal husbandry breeding theories, and technical achievements have been continuously introduced for innovation, thus forming a close combination of genetic basic research and breeding practice. Forest tree breeding research in the world has a history of more than 200 years. By the middle of the 20th century, the forest tree genetic breeding system was gradually formed. After entering the 21st century, the in-depth development stage of molecular design breeding was opened. With the continuous improvement of traditional genetic breeding methods, emerging modern bioengineering technology has also continuously promoted the development of forest genetic breeding. This study mainly summarizes the research history of forest tree genetics and breeding, as well as discusses the application of modern bioengineering technology represented by genome selection and gene editing in forest tree breeding, so as to provide better reference for forest tree breeding research.
A Method for Estimating the Injection Position of Turbot (Scophthalmus maximus) Using Semantic Segmentation
Authors: Luo Wei , Li Chen , Wu Kang , Zhu Songming , Ye Zhangying , Li Jianping
Published: December 2022

Fish vaccination plays a vital role in the prevention of fish diseases. Inappropriate injection positions will cause a low immunization rate and even death. Currently, traditional visual algorithms have poor robustness and low accuracy due to the specificity of the placement of turbot fins in the application of automatic vaccination machines. To address this problem, we propose a new method for estimating the injection position of the turbot based on semantic segmentation. Many semantic segmentation networks were used to extract the background, fish body, pectoral fin, and caudal fin. In the subsequent step, the segmentations obtained from the best network were used for calculating body length (BL) and body width (BW). These parameters were employed for estimating the injection position. The proposed Atten-Deeplabv3+ achieved the best segmentation results for intersection over union (IoU) on the test set, with 99.3, 96.5, 85.8, and 91.7 percent for background, fish body, pectoral fin, and caudal fin, respectively. On this basis, the estimation error of the injection position was 0.2 mm–4.4 mm, which is almost within the allowable injection area. In conclusion, the devised method was able to correctly differentiate the fish body from the background and fins, meaning that the extracted area could be successfully used for the estimation of injection position.
Administration of the Potential Probiotic Paenibacillus ehimensis NPUST1 Enhances Expression of Indicator Genes Associated with Nutrient Metabolism, Growth and Innate Immunity against Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus indie Infections in Zebrafish (Danio rerio)
Authors: Lin Pei-Hui , Chen Sai-Wei , Wen Zhi-Hong , Hu Shao-Yang
Published: December 2022

Probiotics as antibiotic alternatives for preventing and controlling infectious diseases are a relatively eco-friendly strategy in aquaculture. The bacteriocin-producing probiotic Paenibacillus ehimensis NPUST1 was isolated from tilapia culture pond water in our previous study. The present study demonstrated that P. ehimensis NPUST1 produced hydrolytic enzymes, including protease, amylase, cellulase, xylanase and lipase. The effects of P. ehimensis NPUST1 on zebrafish nutrient metabolism, growth performance and innate immunity were evaluated by measuring the expression of indicator genes in zebrafish after feeding P. ehimensis NPUST1 at doses of 106 and 107 CFU/g for 8 weeks. There was an obvious increase in the hepatic mRNA expression of carbohydrate metabolism-related genes, including glucokinase, hexokinase 1, glucose-6-phosphatase, and pyruvate kinase, and growth-related genes, including the growth hormone receptor and insulin-like growth factor-1. The expression of the innate immune-related genes including interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-15, tumor necrosis factor-α, toll-like receptor (TLR)-1, TLR-4, complement component C3b and lysozyme were significantly increased in P. ehimensis NPUST1-supplemented fish. A significant reduction in cumulative mortality was exhibited in P. ehimensis NPUST1-supplemented fish after infection with Aeromonas hydrophila and Streptococcus iniae. In conclusion, our data suggested that P. ehimensis NPUST1 supplementation in feed could potentially improve nutrient metabolism and growth in addition to enhancing innate immunity and disease resistance against A. hydrophila and S. iniae in zebrafish.