Search Results (22)

The increasing complexity of Distributed Computing (DC) systems requires advanced failure-prediction models to enhance reliability and efficiency. This study proposes a comprehensive methodology for developing generic machine learning (ML) models capable of cross-layer and cross-platform failure-prediction without requiring platform-specific retraining. Using the Grid5000 failure dataset from the Failure Trace Archive (FTA), we explored Linear and Logistic Regression, Random Forest, and XGBoost to predict three critical metrics: Time Between Failures (TBF), Time to Return/Repair (TTR), and Failing Node Identification (FNI). Our approach involved extensive exploratory data analysis (EDA), statistical examination of failure patterns, and model evaluation across the cluster, site, and system levels. The results demonstrate that XGBoost consistently outperforms the other models, achieving near-perfect 100% accuracy for TBF and FNI, with robust generalisability across diverse DC environments. In addition, we introduce a hierarchical DC architecture that integrates these failure-prediction models. In the form of a use case, we also demonstrate how service providers can use these prediction models to balance service reliability and cost. Full article

Background/Objectives: To compare the marginal integrity of sectional non-invasive laminate veneers versus sectional minimally invasive laminate veneers. Methods: A total of eighty (80) intact maxillary and mandibular frontal teeth (central incisors) were randomly divided into four groups (n = 20). Two groups received non-invasive veneers made of feldspathic porcelain (Feldspathic Non-Invasive—FNI) and lithium disilicate (Lithium Disilicate Non-Invasive—LNI) accordingly. Groups FP and LP received minimally invasive veneers manufactured by feldspathic porcelain and lithium disilicate, respectively. Following cementation, three grooves with mesio-distal orientation on the labial surface of teeth of each sample, at the incisal, middle, and cervical third, were made. Before and after artificial aging, the mesio-distal distance between the end of the groove on the tooth and the edge of each veneer was measured in micrometers (μm) employing an SEM immediately after cementation (T₀), after simulated artificial aging equivalent to four months of everyday brushing (T₁), and after twelve months of everyday brushing (2 times per day) (T₂) to identify the wear of veneers. In the same manner, the horizontal dimension of the cement layer extending from its edge till the margin of the veneer was measured for all the groups at T₀, T₁, and T₂, respectively. The statistical analysis was performed employing non-parametric Kruskal–Wallis ANOVA and Dunn’s test. Results: No significant differences from T₀ to T₁ and from T₁ to T₂, as well as from T₀ to T₂, were identified for all the groups tested. No significant differences were allocated among all groups for the dimensional changes in the cement. Conclusions: All the groups responded similarly to aging factors, regardless of the non-invasive or minimally invasive approach, or the material used to fabricate the veneers. Full article

Background: Celiac disease (CD) is an autoimmune condition triggered by gluten ingestion. The only effective treatment is adherence to a gluten-free diet (GFD), which is challenging due to the widespread presence of gluten in foods and the lack of physical and financial access to gluten-free options, among other factors that can lead to food nutrition insecurity (FNI). FNI, defined as the difficulty in accessing adequate food, is a factor that not only affects the need to adhere to a GFD but also compromises adherence itself. Objective: Review the scientific literature on the association between FNI, celiac disease, and adherence to a gluten-free diet. Methodology: This integrative review was conducted systematically using the PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, selecting studies that evaluated food security and insecurity among celiac patients. The keywords used with the Boolean operators were “celiac disease” AND/OR “gluten-free diet” AND “food insecurity” AND/OR “food security”. The search did not restrict language or geographic location, and studies were selected independently by two reviewers. Results: Ten publications met the inclusion criteria and were selected for the integrative review. FNI has been studied over the last five years in CD patients, but there is a lack of studies in different regions. FNI negatively affects the quality of life for those with CD and contributes to more severe symptoms and lower adherence to the GFD, especially in children and low-income families. Factors associated with higher risks of FNI in those with celiac disease include income, education, living in rural or non-central areas, and availability. These factors reinforce the negative impact of the association between FNI and adherence to the GFD in CD patients. Conclusions: The study of FNI in celiac individuals is a relatively recent development. The prevalence of FNI in this population is concerning and higher than in the general population, and it is associated with adherence to the GFD. Therefore, this topic demands extensive public policies to improve the health, quality of life, adherence, and treatment of CD patients. Full article

Facial nerve injury (FNI) induces complex molecular and cellular responses, with reactive oxygen species (ROS) and free radicals (FRs) playing pivotal roles in nerve degeneration and regeneration. However, to date, no systematic review has specifically investigated the involvement of ROS and FRs in FNI. To address this unmet need, we reviewed the literature on the subject, comprehensively searching SCOPUS, PubMed, Cochrane Library, EMBASE, and Google Scholar to identify studies that assessed the roles of FRs and ROS in FNI and summarize their findings. A total of 15 studies that satisfied search criteria were identified. Key findings showed that excessive ROS and FR lead to mitochondrial dysfunction, lipid peroxidation, and ferroptosis, exacerbating nerve degeneration after facial nerve injury. These effects are modulated by antioxidants, including alpha-lipoic acid, edaravone, N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), glutathione peroxidase 4, glutathione, methylprednisolone sodium succinate, Si-based agents, superoxide dismutase, and tirilazad mesylate. The insights gained from this review suggest that levels of FRs and ROS are strongly associated with the pathophysiology of facial nerve injury and underscore the therapeutic potential of targeting ROS and FR pathways in facial nerve injuries. Full article

Background/Objectives: Eggs, a nutritious and affordable food, are not widely consumed by adolescents, who show many nutrient inadequacies. Modeling dietary substitutions with eggs and their costs can provide dietary insights while considering economic constraints. This study theoretically modeled the impact of substituting an egg for another protein source, considering nutrient quality and cost, using exemplary menus with application to adolescents. Methods: The substitution was modeled in four different seven-day exemplary menus: (1) the Healthy U.S.-Style Dietary Pattern (HUSS), (2) Harvard Medical School’s Heathy Eating Guide, (3) the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute’s Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) diet and (4) the Healthy U.S.-Style Vegetarian Dietary Pattern (HVEG). One egg replaced the gram amount and nutrient profile of a protein source food in each menu. Micronutrient quality was assessed using the Food Nutrient Index (FNI), scored 0–100. The Center for Nutrition Policy and Promotion Food Price Database informed the food prices. Pairwise t-tests compared the effects of egg substitution on micronutrient scores and daily costs. Results: The daily egg substitution increased FNI scores for choline and vitamin D in the HUSS (83 to 95 and 69 to 75, respectively), DASH (80 to 91 and 55 to 59, respectively), and HVEG (91 to 100 and 44 to 51, respectively), and choline alone (89 to 98) in the Harvard menu. Daily menu prices were not significantly different after the egg substitution (p > 0.01). Conclusions: Substituting one egg for another protein source food increased the micronutrient quality of choline and vitamin D in exemplary menus without increasing the cost; however, factors such as food preferences and the economic accessibility of eggs in different contexts should also be considered. Full article

Metabolic-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD) represents the most common chronic hepatopathy worldwide and an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease and mortality, particularly when liver fibrosis occurs. Epigenetic alterations, such as DNA methylation, may influence MASLD susceptibility and progression; yet mechanisms underlying this process are limited. This study aimed to investigate whether active DNA demethylation in peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from individuals with MASLD, alongside the methylation and mRNA levels of inflammation- and fibrosis-related candidate genes, is associated with liver fibrosis. For this study, global demethylation intermediates (5-hydroxymethylcytosine [5hmC], 5-formylcytosine [5fC]) were quantified in PBMCs from 89 individuals with/without MASLD using ELISA. Site-specific DNA methylation of SOCS3, SREBF1, and TXNIP was analyzed by mass spectrometry-based bisulfite sequencing; mRNA expression was assessed via RT-PCR. Individuals with MASLD and moderate-to-high fibrosis risk (estimated by the fibrosis non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) index, FNI) progressively exhibited greater global 5hmC and 5fC levels. Higher FNI was associated with reduced methylation of the SOCS3 gene and increased mRNA expression of the SOCS3, TXNIP, IL-6, and MCP-1 genes. In conclusion, elevated fibrosis risk in MASLD is associated with active global DNA demethylation, as well as differential methylation and expression patterns of genes, which are key regulators of inflammation and fibrosis. These epigenetic alterations in PBMCs may mirror DNA methylation changes in the liver, which may potentially contribute to liver fibrogenesis and represent novel biomarkers for MASLD progression toward fibrosis. Full article

An electrochemical system using a rotating hole-arranged boron-doped diamond (HABDD) film anode was designed for wastewater degradation. Meanwhile, in a reciprocal process, a foam nickel (FNi) cathode was employed for hydrogen evolution using the ions liberated from the HABDD. The HABDD was custom-made using an MWCVD device and characterized by SEM, Raman and electrochemical measurement. Some wastewater was tested on the HABDD anode to examine its electrochemical performance. The efficiency of the electrochemical system was evaluated by COD removal rate and hydrogen production yields. The influence of the rotating and flowing rates of the electrolyte on electrochemical performance was discussed. The rotating HABDD with dynamic three-dimensional flowing paths provided a high mass transfer, which promoted the overall performance of the wastewater mineralization. Meanwhile, the ions released from the anode to the cathode improved the hydrogen generation performance on the cathode. The hydrogen production efficiency in relation to the electrochemical oxidation process was studied in terms of the COD change and treatment time. Full article

The fracture network of the Y214 block in the Changning area of China is complex, and there are significant differences in the productivity of different shale gas wells. However, traditional machine learning models have problems such as missing key parameters, poor fitting effects and low prediction accuracy, which make it difficult to effectively evaluate the impact of crack network complexity on productivity. Therefore, the Pearson correlation coefficient was used to analyze the correlation between evaluation parameters, such as mineral content, horizontal stress difference, natural fractures and gas production. Combined with the improved particle swarm optimization (IPSO) algorithm and support vector machine (SVM) algorithm, a fracture network index (FNI) model was proposed to effectively evaluate the complexity of fracture networks, and the model was verified by comparing it with the performance evaluation results from the other two traditional models. Finally, the correlation between the fracture network index and the actual average daily gas production of different fracturing sections was calculated and analyzed. The results showed that the density of natural fractures was the key factor in controlling gas production (the Pearson correlation coefficient was 0.39), and the correlation between other factors was weak. In the process of fitting the actual data, the coefficient of determination, R², of the IPSO-SVM-FNI model training set increased by 8% and 24% compared with the two traditional models, and the fitting effect was greatly improved. In the prediction process based on actual data, the R² of the IPSO-SVM-FNI model test set was improved by 22% and 20% compared with the two traditional models, and the prediction accuracy was also significantly improved. The fracture index was concentrated, and its main distribution range was in the range of [0.2, 0.8]. The fracturing section with a higher FNI showed higher average daily gas production, and there was a significant positive correlation between fracture network complexity and gas production. Indeed, the research results provide some ideas and references for the evaluation of fracturing effects in shale reservoirs. Full article

Background/Objectives: Homeodomain-interacting protein kinase 2 (HIPK2) is critically involved in the progression of renal fibrosis. This study aims to identify and characterize a novel HIPK2 inhibitor, CHR-6494, and investigate its therapeutic potential. Methods: Using structure-based virtual screening and molecular dynamics simulations, we identified CHR-6494 as a potent HIPK2 inhibitor with an IC₅₀ of 0.97 μM. The effects of CHR-6494 on the phosphorylation of p53 in Normal Rattus norvegicus kidney cells (NRK-49F) induced by transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) were assessed, along with its impact on TGF-β signaling and downstream profibrotic markers. Results: CHR-6494 significantly reduces p53 phosphorylation induced by TGF-β and enhances the interaction between HIPK2 and seven in absentia 2 (SIAH2), facilitating HIPK2 degradation via proteasomal pathways. Both CHR-6494 and Abemaciclib inhibit NRK-49F cell proliferation and migration induced by TGF-β, suppressing TGF-β/Smad3 signaling and decreasing profibrotic markers such as Fibronectin I (FN-I) Collagen I and α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA). Additionally, these compounds inhibit nuclear factor kappa-B (NF-κB) signaling and reduce inflammatory cytokine expression. Conclusions: The study highlights the dual functionality of HIPK2 kinase inhibitors like CHR-6494 and Abemaciclib as promising therapeutic candidates for renal fibrosis and inflammation. The findings provide new insights into HIPK2 inhibition mechanisms and suggest pathways for the design of novel HIPK2 inhibitors in the future. Full article

The paper applies the farm accountancy data network (FADN) approach to conduct a comparison analysis of the revenue of EU fruit producers. The study constitutes a significant contribution to the requisite development of more accurate metrics and appropriate approaches, which are necessary for assessing the economic success of EU fruit production in the principal sector of EU agriculture. The metrics used to measure the economic success in fruit production include farm net value added (FNVA), farm net income (FNI), annual working unit (AWU) of FNVA, and farm family income (FFI/FWU). An agricultural farm’s overall productivity can be determined by dividing its entire output (production) by the inputs employed in its operations, such as specific expenses and intermediate consumption. The FADN approach, which tracks the increase in agricultural revenue and assesses the effects of European policies on the agricultural sector, improves monitoring and meeting of performance goals. Finding economic, technological, and other aspects that will improve agricultural farms’ businesses and, by extension, agriculture as a whole will require applying an appropriate methodological approach to portray the actual situation and results of these farms. Full article

Background: Facial nerve injury (FNI) is the most common complication of parotid surgery and manifests as FN paralysis. The use of intraoperative facial nerve monitoring (IFNM) is becoming an established intraoperative aid for surgeons, assisting in the identification of the location and dissection of the facial nerve trunk or branches. The postoperative outcomes of parotid surgery with and without monitoring have been addressed in only a limited number of studies. Objective: The objective of this study is to evaluate the incidence of postoperative paralysis in patients undergoing extracapsular dissection (ED) for benign parotid tumors concerning the use or non-use of IFNM. Materials and Methods: The retrospective study was conducted at the Maxillo-Facial Department of the Magna Graecia University of Catanzaro. The patients were divided into two groups: Group 1 consisted of patients who underwent surgery without IFNM (1 January 2015 to 31 December 2018); Group 2, on the other hand, consisted of patients who underwent surgery with IFNM (1 January 2019 to 31 December 2022). Group 2 employed the Nerve Integrity Monitor (Medtronic’s NIM^®). To classify the FN function, we employed the modified House–Brackmann classification system. To evaluate the dependence between the “use of IFNM” and “postoperative paralysis”, a descriptive analysis was conducted, including applying the Chi-squared test and calculating the Pearson correlation. Subsequently, a binary logistic regression model was applied to further evaluate the correlation between the latter. The level of statistical significance was set at p < 0.05. Results: A total of 276 patients were included in the study: 120 subjects were assigned to Group 1 (43.5%, comprising 60 men and 60 women) and 156 subjects were assigned to Group 2 (56.5%, comprising 93 men and 63 women). In 91.7% of the cases (n. 253, precisely 105 in Group 1 and 148 in Group 2), no FNI occurred. In 8.33% of the cases (n. 23, specifically 15 in Group 1 and 8 in Group 2), postoperative paralysis was observed. Of these subjects, only two in Group 1 had permanent paralysis (8.69%); therefore, 91.31% had transient paralysis. As a result, 91.31% of the subjects exhibited transient paralysis. In the case of FNI, 78% of the cases involved the marginal mandibular branch (n. 18), 13% involved the temporo-zygomatic branch (n. 3), and 7% involved more than one branch (n = 2). The results of the multivariable binary logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the use of IFNM was a statistically significant influencing factor, with an estimated reduction in postoperative paralysis of approximately 62% (OR 0.378; 95% CI: 0.155–0.92). In Group 2, the occurrence of transient complications was significantly reduced (OR 0.387; 95% CI: 0.149–1.002 with p < 0.05). Discussion and Conclusions: The use of IFNM in the ED for benign parotid tumors significantly reduces the rate of FNI and, consequently, postoperative FN paralysis. On the other hand, the use of monitoring systems must not replace the experience and anatomical knowledge of the surgeon. Full article

High-sensitivity fluorescence monitoring has been widely used in agriculture and environmental science. However, the active fluorescence detection information of leaf segments mainly focuses on total chlorophyll, and the fluorescence information of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and some other pigments has not been explored. This only considers the fluorescence spectrum characteristics at a single wavelength or the fluorescence integral from a range of wavelength regions and does not completely consider the linkage relation between the excitation, emission, and interference information. In this paper, the three-dimensional fluorescence spectrum, containing the excitation and emission fluorescence spectra, and the corresponding multiple pigment characteristics from the upgraded LOPEX_ZJU database were collected. The linkages of excitation and emission of the three-dimensional fluorescence spectra of these pigments were analyzed for the newly built multiple pigment 3-D fluorescence spectral indices (3-D FSIs), including those of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, carotenoid, anthocyanin, and flavonoid 3-D FSIs. Then, these pigment inversion models were established and validated. The results show that the 3-D FSIs performances for the photosynthetic pigment content inversion (including chlorophyll a and b, and carotenoids) were much better than those for the photo-protective pigments (including anthocyanins and flavonoids) from the 3-D fluorescence spectra of these plant leaves. Here, the 3-D fluorescence normalization index (FNI ((F_430,690 − F_430,763)/(F_430,690 + F_430,763))) for the chlorophyll a inversion model has a high accuracy, the RMSE is 2.96 μg/cm², and the 3-D fluorescence reciprocal difference index (FRI (F_650,704/F_650,668) for the chlorophyll b model has an encouraging RMSE (2.01 μg/cm²). The RMSE of the 3-D fluorescence ratio index (FRI (F_500,748/F_500,717)) for the carotenoid inversion is 3.77 μg/cm² RMSE. Only FRI (F_370,615/F_370,438) was selected for the modeling and validating evaluation of the leaf Flas content inversion, but the evaluation metrics were not good, with an RMSE (151.13 μg/cm²). For Ants, although there was a 3-D FSI (FRDI (1/F_540,679 − 1/F_540,557)), and its evaluation metrics, with an RMSE (2.8 μg/cm²), were at or over 0.05 level, the validating evaluation metric VC (98.3577%) was not encouraging. These results showed that fluorescence, as a nondestructive and efficient detection method, could determine the contents of chlorophyll a, chlorophyll b, and carotenoid in plant leaves, providing a new method to detect plant information. It can also provide a potential chance for the fluorescence images of fine photo-protective pigments, especially chlorophyll a and b, using the special active fluorescence excitation light source and a few fluorescence imaging channels from the optimal FSIs. Full article

With the increasing integration of inverter-based resources, the contribution of synchronous generators to power grids has decreased, resulting in a reduction in system inertia. Currently, acquiring the reserve power to mitigate the volatility associated with renewable-energy sources are difficult. Hence, evaluating the frequency stability of power systems and formulating operational and planning strategies based on these evaluations are becoming increasingly important. In this paper, we propose the definition and formalization of the frequency nadir index (FNI) by identifying the linear characteristics of inertia, frequency regulating reserve space (FRRS), and governor free (G/F) reserve in relation to frequency nadir, particularly under assumed contingencies such as generator dropout and sudden load fluctuation. Furthermore, we present an effective methodology for evaluating frequency stability using the FNI equation by extracting inertia, FRRS, and G/F reserve information from the power-system data. This approach is straightforward and efficiently computes the frequency nadir based on the size of the generator failure using readily available power-system data within a short timeframe. Full article

A reliable diet quality (DQ) assessment is critical to empower individuals to improve their dietary choices. Controversies persist as to whether self-perceived DQ is accurate and correlated with actual DQ as assessed by validated nutrient intake indexes. We used National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys data to examine whether a higher self-perceived DQ was positively associated with a more optimal nutrient intake as reflected by the Food Nutrient Index (FNI) and Diet Quality Score (DQS). Comparative analyses were performed for three self-perceived DQ groups: (I) “excellent or very good” DQ, (II) “good or fair” DQ, and (III) “poor” DQ. The FNI and DQS differed substantially across groups and sexes. FNI scores ranged from 65 to 69 in participants with a self-reported excellent or very good DQ, whereas participants with a self-perceived poor DQ scored significantly lower (53–59). We also observed age- and sex-specific patterns, with the lowest overall FNI scores found in males aged 18–30 years and females aged 31–50 years. DQ intergroup differences were more pronounced in females than in males. Our findings suggest that higher self-perceived DQ is associated with a more optimal nutrient intake and indicate potential helpfulness of self-perceived DQ as a quick and still underexplored indicator with intrinsic limitations. Full article

Pancreatic cystic lesions (PCLs) are known precursors to pancreatic cancer, one of the deadliest types of cancer worldwide. Surgical removal or pancreatectomies remain the central approach to managing precancerous high-risk PCLs. Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)-guided therapeutic management of PCLs is a novel management strategy for patients with prohibitive surgical risks. Various ablation techniques have been explored in previous studies utilizing EUS-guided fine needle injection (FNI) of alcohol and chemotherapeutic agents. This review article focuses on EUS-FNI and chemoablation, encompassing the evolution of chemoablation, pancreatic cyst selection, chemotherapy drug selection, including novel agents, and a discussion of its safety and efficacy. Full article