bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explainable feature selection and deep learning based emotion recognition in virtual reality using eye tracker and physiological data
Authors: Alharbi Hadeel
Published: September 2024

Emotional recognition is a way of detecting, evaluating, interpreting, and responding to others' emotional states and feelings, which might range from delight to fear to disgrace. There is increasing interest in the domains of psychological computing and human-computer interface (HCI), especially Emotion Recognition (ER) in Virtual Reality (VR). Human emotions and mental states are effectively captured using Electroencephalography (EEG), and there has been a growing need for analysis in VR situations. In this study, we investigated emotion recognition in a VR environment using explainable machine learning and deep learning techniques. Specifically, we employed Support Vector Classifiers (SVC), K-Nearest Neighbors (KNN), Logistic Regression (LR), Deep Neural Networks (DNN), DNN with flattened layer, Bi-directional Long-short Term Memory (Bi-LSTM), and Attention LSTM. This research utilized an effective multimodal dataset named VREED (VR Eyes: Emotions Dataset) for emotion recognition. The dataset was first reduced to binary and multi-class categories. We then processed the dataset to handle missing values and applied normalization techniques to enhance data consistency. Subsequently, explainable Machine Learning (ML) and Deep Learning (DL) classifiers were employed to predict emotions in VR. Experimental analysis and results indicate that the Attention LSTM model excelled in binary classification, while both DNN and Attention LSTM achieved outstanding performance in multi-class classification, with up to 99.99% accuracy. These findings underscore the efficacy of integrating VR with advanced, explainable ML and DL methods for emotion recognition.
Clinical factors associated with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis in patients with severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome: analysis of a 6-year clinical experience
Authors: Wang Huan , Luo Miao , Fisher David , Pronyuk Khrystyna , Musabaev Erkin , Thu Hien Nguyen Thi , Ye Pian , Zhao Lei
Published: September 2024

Background

Invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) typically occurs in immunocompromised individuals. Severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome (SFTS) patients are typically characterized by fever, thrombocytopenia, and leukopenia. These patients typically present with dysregulation of cellular and humoral immunity, which may predispose them to IPA. Our study aimed to identify risk factors for SFTS-associated invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (SAPA) and evaluate its associated prognostic impact.

Methods

We conducted a cohort study between January 2017 and December 2022 in a tertiary hospital in Wuhan City, China. All SFTS patients hospitalized in our department who formally consented were divided into a SAPA group and a non-SAPA group according to whether they were coinfected with aspergillosis or not. The independent risk factors for the SAPA group were determined by multivariate logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis was used to assess the statistical value of parameters to predict SAPA patients. The survival analysis was carried out using the Kaplan–Meier (KM) method.

Results

Of the 269 hospitalized SFTS patients enrolled in the study, 118 (43.87%) cases were diagnosed with SAPA with an average age of 65.71 ± 9.7 years. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that age, neurological complications, serum severe fever with thrombocytopenia syndrome virus (SFTSV) RNA loads, the white blood cell (WBC) count, platelet (PLT) count, albumin (ALB) and globulin (GLB) concentrations, and cardiac troponin I (cTNI) were complementary risk factors for the development of IPA in SFTS patients. The risk score is calculated as 5 times age, plus 6 times neurological complications, plus 10 times RNA (log), plus 5 times WBC, minus 5 times PLT, minus 5 times ALB, plus 5 times GLB, and plus 6 times cTNI. ROC curve analysis showed that the area under the receiver operating characteristic (AUROC) curve represented a risk score of 0.837 (95% CI: 0.789–0.885, p < 0.001) for predicting IPA in SFTS patients. The average length of hospitalization in the SAPA group was more prolonged than non-SAPA. SAPA and non-SAPA groups had significantly different mortality rates: 25.42% (SAPA) and 3.97% (non-SAPA) (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

SFTS patients with IPA have high morbidity and mortality. Early monitoring of neurological complications, SFTSV RNA loads, WBC, PLT, ALB, GLB, and cTNI in SFTS patients may be useful in predicting the occurrence of IPA.
Top-down modulation of dichotic listening affects interhemispheric connectivity: an electroencephalography study
Authors: Elyamany Osama , Iffland Jona , Lockhofen Denise , Steinmann Saskia , Leicht Gregor , Mulert Christoph
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Dichotic listening (DL) has been extensively used as a task to investigate auditory processing and hemispheric lateralisation in humans. According to the “callosal relay model,” the typical finding of a right ear advantage (REA) occurs because the information coming from the right ear has direct access to the left dominant hemisphere while the information coming from the left ear has to cross via the corpus callosum. The underlying neuroanatomical correlates and neurophysiological mechanisms have been described using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and lagged phase synchronization (LPS) of the interhemispheric auditory pathway. During the non-forced condition of DL, functional connectivity (LPS) of interhemispheric gamma-band coupling has been described as a relevant mechanism related to auditory perception in DL. In this study, we aimed to extend the previous results by exploring the effects of top-down modulation of DL (forced-attention condition) on interhemispheric gamma-band LPS.

Methods

Right-handed healthy participants (n = 31; 17 females) performed three blocks of DL with different attention instructions (no-attention, left-ear attention, right-ear attention) during simultaneous EEG recording with 64 channels. Source analysis was done with exact low-resolution brain electromagnetic tomography (eLORETA) and functional connectivity between bilateral auditory areas was assessed as LPS in the gamma-band frequency range.

Results

Twenty-four participants (77%) exhibited a right-ear advantage in the no-attention block. The left- and right-attention conditions significantly decreased and increased right-ear reports, respectively. Similar to the previous studies, functional connectivity analysis (gamma-band LPS) showed significantly increased connectivity between left and right Brodmann areas (BAs) 41 and 42 during left ear reports in contrast with right ear reports. Our new findings notably indicated that the right-attention condition exhibited significantly higher connectivity between BAs 42 compared with the no-attention condition. This enhancement of connectivity was more pronounced during the perception of right ear reports.

Discussion

Our results are in line with previous reports describing gamma-band synchronization as a relevant neurophysiological mechanism involved in the interhemispheric connectivity according to the callosal relay model. Moreover, we newly added some evidence of attentional effects on this interhemispheric connectivity, consistent with the attention-executive model. Our results suggest that reciprocal inhibition could be involved in hemispheric lateralization processes.
Aldehyde-induced DNA-protein crosslinks- DNA damage, repair and mutagenesis
Authors: Blouin Thomas , Saini Natalie
Published: September 2024

Aldehyde exposure has been shown to lead to the formation of DNA damage comprising of DNA-protein crosslinks (DPCs), base adducts and interstrand or intrastrand crosslinks. DPCs have recently drawn more attention because of recent advances in detection and quantification of these adducts. DPCs are highly deleterious to genome stability and have been shown to block replication forks, leading to wide-spread mutagenesis. Cellular mechanisms to prevent DPC-induced damage include excision repair pathways, homologous recombination, and specialized proteases involved in cleaving the covalently bound proteins from DNA. These pathways were first discovered in formaldehyde-treated cells, however, since then, various other aldehydes have been shown to induce formation of DPCs in cells. Defects in DPC repair or aldehyde clearance mechanisms lead to various diseases including Ruijs-Aalfs syndrome and AMeD syndrome in humans. Here, we discuss recent developments in understanding how aldehydes form DPCs, how they are repaired, and the consequences of defects in these repair pathways.
In-depth analysis of OTC A208T case induced by OTC gene mutation and research on the prediction and simulation of the impact on protein function
Authors: Hu Qingyang , Chen Haiming , Liu Tianyi , Dong Xue , Hu Xuejiao , Yan Wenxin , Li Zhong
Published: September 2024

Background

Ornithine transcarbamylase deficiency (OTCD), a rare hereditary disease caused by gene mutation of ornithine transcarbamylase (OTC), is the most prevalent type among urea cycle disorders. OTCD typically leads to mitochondrial enzyme dysfunction, preventing the synthesis of citrulline from carbamoyl phosphate and ornithine, and is characterized by a remarkable increase in blood ammonia. Specific symptoms may include neurological abnormalities, growth retardation, and other manifestations.

Methods

We presented a case of a child diagnosed with OTCD (OMIM: 311250). By using whole-genome sequencing (WGS) for the pedigree and in-depth whole-exome sequencing (WES), we aimed to identify the disease-causing genes. Gene mutation prediction tools were employed to verify the pathogenicity, and the molecular dynamics simulation method was utilized to assess the impact of this mutation on the activity and structural stability of the OTC protein.

Results

Whole-exome sequencing detected an OTC variant [NM_000531: c.622 (exon6) G > A, p.A208T]. Through comprehensive analysis with various gene mutation prediction tools and in line with the ACMG guidelines, this mutation site was firmly established as a pathogenic site. Moreover, the molecular dynamics simulation results clearly demonstrated that this mutation would significantly compromise the stability of the OTC protein structure.

Conclusion

This study deepens our understanding of the clinical manifestations and characteristics of OTCD, especially the OTC A208T gene mutation site. Given the lack of specific clinical manifestations in OTCD patients, early and accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment and prognosis improvement. To our knowledge, this is the first case of this mutation site reported in China.
Phase I clinical trial of NH130 and the prediction of its pharmacokinetics using physiologically based pharmacokinetic modeling
Authors: Zhang Kun , Zhao Shanshan , Du Jialin , Zhang Lan
Published: September 2024

Background

Parkinson’s disease psychosis (PDP) is a common and distressing complication of Parkinson’s disease (PD), characterized by hallucinations and delusions. This research aimed to assess the pharmacokinetics and safety of NH130, a selective serotonin 5-HT2A inverse agonist, as a potential PDP treatment in healthy individuals.

Methods

We conducted clinical pharmacokinetic studies and safety evaluations for NH130, employing a physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model to predict its behavior in human body.

Results

In a single-dose escalation study, healthy volunteers received NH130 at varying doses (2 mg, 6 mg, 12 mg, 24 mg, 40 mg, 60 mg, and 90 mg) or a placebo. The drug demonstrated favorable pharmacokinetics, with no serious adverse events (AEs) reported. Clinical plasma concentrations correlated well with PBPK model predictions, validating the model’s utility for guiding future clinical development.

Conclusion

NH130 showed promising pharmacokinetic characteristics and safety profile, supporting its progression to multi-dose trials and suggesting its potential as a therapeutic agent for PDP.

Clinical Trial Registration

http://www.chinadrugtrials.org.cn/index.html, Identifier CTR20230409.
Estimating thresholds of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium fertilizer rates for rice cropping systems in China
Authors: Liu Yingxia , Ding Wencheng , He Ping , Xu Xinpeng , Zhou Wei
Published: September 2024

Determining the fertilization rate plays a pivotal role in agronomic practices as they directly impact yield targets, soil fertility, and environmental risks. In this study, we proposed a method that utilizes allowed ranges of partial nutrient balance and yield to estimate the threshold of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and potassium (K) fertilizer applied to rice (Oryza sativa L.) fields in China. Based on a dataset of 6792 observations from rice fields, we determined the minimum and maximum rates of N, P and K suggested for single (mono-season rice), middle (summer-season rice rotated with winter-season upland crop), early and late (double-season rice cropping system) rice, ranging between 114−146 and 220−292 kg N ha−1 per season, 56−74 and 112−149 kg P2O5 ha−1 per season, and 170−230 and 329−347 kg K2O ha−1 per season, respectively. These values serve as the lower and upper fertilization thresholds, guiding yield goals and environmental protection. Furthermore, if rice straw is returned to fields, the demand for K fertilizer can theoretically decrease by 183 kg K2O ha−1, with corresponding decreases of 50 kg N ha−1 and 26 kg P2O5 ha−1, respectively. A recommended fertilization approach, excluding returned straw nutrients from the upper fertilization thresholds, suggested average application rates of 194 kg N ha−1, 105 kg P2O5 ha−1, and 157 kg K2O ha−1, which align well with the nutrient requirements of rice. Additionally, substituting organic N for chemical N is an effective approach to conserve chemical fertilizer N, potentially reducing chemical N usage by 20%−40%. Utilizing slow-release N is also a favorable option to enhance N use efficiency and optimize N balance. This study offers valuable insights into the development of fertilization restriction indicators, aiming to achieve a delicate balance between environmental impact and agricultural productivity through the adoption of balanced fertilization rates and utilization of organic residues.
Double burden of malnutrition among women and children in Zimbabwe: a pooled logistic regression and Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition analysis
Authors: Lukwa Akim Tafadzwa , Chiwire Plaxcedes , Akinsolu Folahanmi Tomiwa , Okova Denis , Hongoro Charles
Published: September 2024

Background

The double burden of malnutrition (DBM) is a public health issue characterised by the coexistence of undernutrition and overnutrition within the same population, household, or individual. Undernutrition, manifesting as stunting, wasting, or being underweight, results from insufficient nutrient intake while overnutrition, manifesting as overweight or obesity, results from excessive caloric intake, poor diet quality, and sedentary lifestyles. This dual burden poses significant challenges for health systems due to lost productivity and increased healthcare expenditure.

Methods

This study utilised data from the Demographic and Health Surveys (DHS) conducted in Zimbabwe for 2010–2011 and 2015, which provided information on women’s and children’s health and nutritional status, household characteristics, and socio-economic status. Pooled logistic regression was used to analyse the association between various sociodemographic factors and DBM among women and children. The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method explored differences in DBM between 2010–2011 and 2015.

Results

The average age of mothers was approximately 31 years, and children’s ages averaged around 32 months. From 2010 to 2015, there was a notable socio-economic improvement, with a decrease in the percentage of mothers in the poorest quartile from 20 to 16% and an increase in the richest quartile from 22 to 23%. The study found a slight decrease in overall household DBM among women from 34% in 2010 to 32% in 2015, while DBM among children increased from 12 to 14%. Pooled logistic regression analysis indicated that children in rural areas had statistically significantly higher odds of experiencing DBM than their urban counterparts. The Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition showed that changes in residence status significantly impacted the increase in DBM among children. At the same time, the coefficient effect accounted for most of the unexplained differences in DBM among women.

Conclusion

The growing DBM among women and children in Zimbabwe is significantly influenced by changes in residence status. The findings highlight the need for targeted public health interventions to address urban–rural disparities and emphasise the importance of considering socio-economic, environmental, and behavioural factors. Context-specific public health strategies, aligned with WHO’s Double Duty Actions, are essential to improve the nutritional health of Zimbabwe’s population.
The international classification of functioning, disability and health in clinical practice, research findings and their impact on training and education
Authors: Simon Liane , Gölz Friederike , Schenk Olaf , Bührmann Thorsten , Kauff Mathias , Kraus de Camargo Olaf , Snyman Stefanus , Lüers George , Wulfhorst Britta
Published: September 2024

At the ICF Research Institute (at MSH Medical School Hamburg) multiprofessional experts collaborate on various research projects with a focus on bio-psycho-social health and education. Initially, the main goal was monitoring and evaluating the implementation of the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health (ICF) in clinical practice. Over time and based on the initial findings, the research group started developing new approaches to support training and education of health professionals in the use of the ICF. As a result, substantial changes have recently been made in the curriculum and structure of several courses to improve and expand interprofessional teaching at the MSH Medical School Hamburg (MSH). Furthermore, creative didactic approaches in combination with interprofessional education have been developed.
Case Report: Effect of providing penalty kicking tendencies on goalkeeper's motor behaviour and performance: a case study with an on-field intervention on youth football
Authors: Luis-del Campo Vicente , Esteves Pedro Tiago , Monteiro Leonardo Palma , Casanova Filipe Luis Martins
Published: September 2024

The penalty kick is a crucial action in a football match that may determine the final outcome. It features a direct interaction between the shooter and goalkeeper where both search for relevant information as a means to achieve their respective performance goals. A case study, composed of an on-field intervention, was designed to analyze the influence of providing in advance penalty kicking tendencies of the shooters on a youth goalkeeping movement onset and saving performance. Data collection took place over 8 training sessions where a U10 young low-skilled, male goalkeeper and shooters were subjected to a penalty-kick shootout task. In each session, the goalkeeper faced a set of 10 penalty kicks recorded by a high-speed HD camera which allowed to calculate the moment that the shooter hit the ball and the goalkeeper movement onset in the direction of ball trajectory. Results showed that the goalkeeper delayed response initiation in the retention phase, when compared to the baseline and training phases, by moving closer to the foot-to-ball contact time by the penalty shooter. From this study, it can be highlighted that goalkeeping saving actions were adapted to the provision of a priori information about shooter kicking tendencies, to sustain a higher performance of the young goalkeeper during the penalty duelling.
An Admittance Parameter Optimization Method Based on Reinforcement Learning for Robot Force Control
Authors: Hu Xiaoyi , Liu Gongping , Ren Peipei , Jia Bing , Liang Yiwen , Li Longxi , Duan Shilin
Published: September 2024

When a robot performs tasks such as assembly or human–robot interaction, it is inevitable for it to collide with the unknown environment, resulting in potential safety hazards. In order to improve the compliance of robots to cope with unknown environments and enhance their intelligence in contact force-sensitive tasks, this paper proposes an improved admittance force control method, which combines classical adaptive control and machine learning methods to make them use their respective advantages in different stages of training and, ultimately, achieve better performance. In addition, this paper proposes an improved Deep Deterministic Policy Gradient (DDPG)-based optimizer, which is combined with the Gaussian process (GP) model to optimize the admittance parameters. In order to verify the feasibility of the algorithm, simulations and experiments are carried out in MATLAB and on a UR10e robot, respectively. The experimental results show that the algorithm improves the convergence speed by 33% in comparison to the general model-free learning method, and has better control performance and robustness. Finally, the adjustment time required by the algorithm is 44% shorter than that of classical adaptive admittance control.
Experimental Study on the Cutting and Crushing Performance of Caragana Korshinskii Strips
Authors: De Xuehong , Li Haoming , Kang Jianwen , Yang Jiawei
Published: September 2024

Due to their characteristics, Caragana Korshinskii bars are prone to be crushed by kneaded crushed material, and the kneaded crushed material is prone to clogging the sieve, thus affecting the crushing effect. In this paper, we use the Caragana Korshinskii special hammer crusher to carry out the Caragana Korshinskii cutting and crushing test to study the influence of Caragana Korshinskii diameter, cutting length, and moisture content on the crushing effect of Caragana Korshinskii, and obtain the best process parameters through the response surface method. The results were as follows: When the diameter of Caragana Korshinskii strips was in the range of 6–9 mm, the length of the cut section was in the range of 4–8 cm, and the moisture content of Caragana Korshinskii strips was in the range of 10–19%, the Caragana Korshinskii strips crushing effect was the best, and the kneading situation was the lowest. The optimal Caragana Korshinskii crushing effect was achieved when the diameter of the Caragana Korshinskiibar was 6.5 mm, the length of the cut section was 8.4 cm, the moisture content was 19%, the sieve rate of 2 mm was 46.15%, the sieve rate of 4 mm was 66.32%, and the length of the kneaded wire was 3.3 cm.
Segmentation Method of Zanthoxylum bungeanum Cluster Based on Improved Mask R-CNN
Authors: Zhang Zhiyong , Wang Shuo , Wang Chen , Wang Li , Zhang Yanqing , Song Haiyan
Published: September 2024

The precise segmentation of Zanthoxylum bungeanum clusters is crucial for developing picking robots. An improved Mask R-CNN model was proposed in this study for the segmentation of Zanthoxylum bungeanum clusters in natural environments. Firstly, the Swin-Transformer network was introduced into the model’s backbone as the feature extraction network to enhance the model’s feature extraction capabilities. Then, the SK attention mechanism was utilized to fuse the detailed information into the mask branch from the low-level feature map of the feature pyramid network (FPN), aiming to supplement the image detail features. Finally, the distance intersection over union (DIOU) loss function was adopted to replace the original bounding box loss function of Mask R-CNN. The model was trained and tested based on a self-constructed Zanthoxylum bungeanum cluster dataset. Experiments showed that the improved Mask R-CNN model achieved 84.0% and 77.2% in detection mAP50box and segmentation mAP50mask, respectively, representing a 5.8% and 4.6% improvement over the baseline Mask R-CNN model. In comparison to conventional instance segmentation models, such as YOLACT, Mask Scoring R-CNN, and SOLOv2, the improved Mask R-CNN model also exhibited higher segmentation precision. This study can provide valuable technology support for the development of Zanthoxylum bungeanum picking robots.
Genotype by Environment Interaction (GEI) Effect for Potato Tuber Yield and Their Quality Traits in Organic Multi-Environment Domains in Poland
Authors: Tatarowska Beata Ewa , Plich Jarosław , Milczarek Dorota , Boguszewska-Mańkowska Dominika , Zarzyńska Krystyna
Published: September 2024

Potatoes (Solanum tuberosum L.) are an important plant crop, whose yield may vary significantly depending on pedo-climatic conditions and genotype. Therefore, the analysis of the genotype × environment interaction (GEI) is mandatory for the setup of high-yielding and stable potato genotypes. This research evaluated the tuber yield (t ha−1) and yield characteristic of nine potato cultivars over 3 years and 4 organic farms in Poland by additive main effects and multiplicative interactions (AMMIs) and genotype plus genotype environment interaction (GGE) biplot analyses. The results of these analyses indicated significant differentiation of tuber yield among genotypes in individual environments. It was found that the environment (E, where E = L (localization) × Y (year)), genotype (G) and GEI, but not replication, significantly affected tuber yield. The AMMI analysis showed that the environment factor explained the most considerable part of tuber yield variations (52.3%), while the GEI and G factors explained a much lower part of the variations. The AMMI and GGE analyses identified five cvs.: Twister (46.4 t ha−1), Alouette (35.8 t ha−1), Kokra (34.8 t ha−1), Levante (33.1 t ha−1), and Gardena (30.4 t ha−1), as leading cultivars in the studied organic farms due to their high productivity coupled with yield stability. The statistical measure Kang (YSi) showed that these cvs. can be considered as adaptable to a wide range of organic environments. In the case of morphological traits of tubers (tuber shape and depth of tuber eyes), the most important factor influencing both these traits was genotype (G). Influence of other factors, like localization (L), year (Y), and all interactions (double and triple), were much less significant or insignificant. In case of taste and non-darkening of tuber flesh, the main effects which significantly affected the values of these traits were genotype (G) and localization (L). We observed that cooking type can vary depending on the year (Y) and the localization (L).
YOLOv9s-Pear: A Lightweight YOLOv9s-Based Improved Model for Young Red Pear Small-Target Recognition
Authors: Shi Yi , Duan Zhen , Qing Shunhao , Zhao Long , Wang Fei , Yuwen Xingcan
Published: September 2024

With the advancement of computer vision technology, the demand for fruit recognition in agricultural automation is increasing. To improve the accuracy and efficiency of recognizing young red pears, this study proposes an improved model based on the lightweight YOLOv9s, termed YOLOv9s-Pear. By constructing a feature-rich and diverse image dataset of young red pears and introducing spatial-channel decoupled downsampling (SCDown), C2FUIBELAN, and the YOLOv10 detection head (v10detect) modules, the YOLOv9s model was enhanced to achieve efficient recognition of small targets in resource-constrained agricultural environments. Images of young red pears were captured at different times and locations and underwent preprocessing to establish a high-quality dataset. For model improvements, this study integrated the general inverted bottleneck blocks from C2f and MobileNetV4 with the RepNCSPELAN4 module from the YOLOv9s model to form the new C2FUIBELAN module, enhancing the model’s accuracy and training speed for small-scale object detection. Additionally, the SCDown and v10detect modules replaced the original AConv and detection head structures of the YOLOv9s model, further improving performance. The experimental results demonstrated that the YOLOv9s-Pear model achieved high detection accuracy in recognizing young red pears, while reducing computational costs and parameters. The detection accuracy, recall, mean precision, and extended mean precision were 0.971, 0.970, 0.991, and 0.848, respectively. These results confirm the efficiency of the SCDown, C2FUIBELAN, and v10detect modules in young red pear recognition tasks. The findings of this study not only provide a fast and accurate technique for recognizing young red pears but also offer a reference for detecting young fruits of other fruit trees, significantly contributing to the advancement of agricultural automation technology.
Protecting Endangered Animal Species
Authors: Li Chunwang
Published: September 2024

Currently, global biodiversity loss is a growing problem, and more species are endangered and at risk of extinction [...]
Physiotherapy in the Recovery of Paraplegic Dogs without Nociception Due to Thoracolumbar Intervertebral Disc Extrusion Treated Surgically
Authors: Rauber Júlia da Silva , Chaves Julya Nathalya Felix , Wrzesinski Mathias Reginatto , Sekita Amanda Miwa Takamori , Soares Thais da Silva , Beckmann Diego Vilibaldo , Mazzanti Alexandre
Published: September 2024

Several authors have advocated for the role of physiotherapy in canine intervertebral disc extrusion, and it is routinely recommended by various veterinary neurologists. However, veterinary literature does not unanimously support the routine use of physiotherapy to ensure an increase in locomotor return in dogs with IVDE. The aim of the study was to investigate whether physiotherapy can influence the functional recovery of paraplegic dogs with loss of nociception (LN) affected by thoracolumbar IVDE (Hansen type I) and treated surgically. The animals were divided into two groups: the physiotherapy group (PG), which included those that underwent decompressive surgery and postoperative physiotherapy; and the control group (CG), which included dogs that did not undergo any physiotherapy after surgery. A total of 51 dogs were included, with 30 in the PG and 21 in the CG. The number of physiotherapy sessions ranged from 6 to 60. The rate of functional recovery in dogs within 21 days postoperatively (PO) was 10% (3/30) in the PG and 19% (4/21) in the CG. After 21 days PO, the recovery rate was 43.33% (13/30) in the PG and 61.9% (13/21) in the CG, with no significant difference observed between the groups (p = 0.258). Based on the findings of this study, it was concluded that physiotherapy in paraplegic dogs with LN due to thoracolumbar IVDE does not appear to influence functional recovery compared to the group without physiotherapy.
First Molecular Detection and Genetic Characterization of Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis in Donkeys in Shanxi Province, China
Authors: Xiao Han-Dan , Zhang Shuo , Lv Yi-Han , Zhang Ze-Dong , Su Nan , Li Liang-Liang , Zhu Xing-Quan , Xie Shi-Chen , Gao Wen-Wei
Published: September 2024

Two species of trichomonads, Tetratrichomonas buttreyi and Pentatrichomonas hominis, are common intestinal parasites that can impact animal health and productivity. Severe infection by these parasites can lead to diarrhea and wasting in affected animals. Notably, P. hominis is known to cause diarrhea and has the potential to be transmitted between animals and humans. Donkeys hold significant economic importance in China’s agricultural sector. However, whether donkeys are infected with T. buttreyi and P. hominis remains unknown globally. To address this gap in knowledge, 815 fecal samples were collected from donkeys in three representative regions in Shanxi Province, North China. Then, the presence and genetic characteristics of T. buttreyi and P. hominis were examined using species-specific PCR primers amplifying the small subunit ribosomal RNA genes. The overall prevalence was detected to be 25.4% (207/815) for T. buttreyi and 0.7% (6/815) for P. hominis in donkeys in Shanxi Province. All obtained P. hominis sequences were identified as genotype CC1. Genetic analysis revealed that all P. hominis isolates from donkeys were clustered into the same branch with isolates detected in humans, suggesting possible zoonotic transmission. This study is the first to report the occurrence and prevalence of T. buttreyi and P. hominis in donkeys globally. These findings expand the host range of trichomonads and improve our understanding of their genetic diversity and zoonotic potential, providing essential baseline data for the prevention and control of these parasites in donkeys in the region.
Outcomes of a Short-Duration, Large-Scale Canine Rabies Vaccination Campaign in Central Cambodia
Authors: Tazawa Keiichiro , Lewis Amy N. , Lohr Frederic , Gibson Andrew D. , Mayr Martina , Tep Bengthay , Heng Morany , Mazeri Stella , Phimpraphai Waraphon , Gamble Luke
Published: September 2024

Background: WHO and WOAH advocate for annual high-coverage canine rabies vaccination campaigns as the most sustainable approach to eliminate the risk of dog rabies transmission to humans. It is estimated that Cambodia has one of the highest human rabies deaths per capita of any country (5.8 human deaths per 100,000 people), highlighting the urgent need to implement an effective canine rabies vaccination program. To this end, a coalition of government and non-government organizations conducted a pioneering short-duration dog rabies vaccination campaign over 10 days across Phnom Penh and Kandal Provinces in May 2023. Methods: Over 10 working days, 120 vaccination teams, each consisting of two vaccinators and one tuk-tuk driver, traveled door-to-door to deliver parenteral rabies vaccines to all dogs that could be held by the teams or members of the community. Spatial team management and data collection were conducted through the WVS Data Collection Application. Results: A total of 74,983 dogs were vaccinated, giving a mean vaccination rate of 62.5 dogs per team per day. An additional 2145 cats were vaccinated. Of all dogs encountered by the teams, 84.0% could be vaccinated, with 99.1% of those being identified as owned. Post-vaccination surveys of 4356 households estimated a mean vaccination coverage of 70.7% in owned dogs across the districts of Phnom Penh Province. Conclusion: Short-duration, large-scale canine rabies vaccination campaigns can achieve high vaccination coverage using a door-to-door approach in urban centers of Cambodia. Data gathered through the campaign yielded insights to support the refinement and planning of a wider rabies control strategy and is anticipated to drive further support for subsequent campaigns in Cambodia.
Dog Domestication Strongly Relied on Translation Regulation According to Differential Gene Expression Analysis
Authors: Jonas David , Tatrai Kitti , Sandor Sara , Egyed Balazs , Kubinyi Eniko
Published: September 2024

Domestication of dogs from their shared ancestors with wolves occurred more than 15,000 years ago and affected many characteristics of the species. We analyzed the blood RNA sequence data of 12 dogs and 11 wolves from Europe and Asia to shed more light on the domestication history of dogs. We implemented a differential gene expression analysis, a weighted gene correlation network analysis, gene ontology and genetic pathway analyses. We found that both the sample origin (Europe or Asia) and the species had a significant effect on the blood gene expression profiles of the animals. We identified 1567 differentially expressed genes between wolves and dogs and found several significantly overrepresented gene ontology terms, such as RNA polymerase II transcription regulatory region sequence-specific DNA binding or translation. We identified 11 significant gene co-expression networks, hosting a total of 4402 genes, related to DNA replication, metabolism of RNA or metabolism of proteins, for example. Our findings suggest that gene expression regulation played a cardinal role in dog domestication. We recommend further diversifying the analyzed dog and wolf populations in the future by including individuals from different dog breeds and geographical origins, in order to enhance the specificity of detecting significant, true positive genes related to domestication as well as to reduce the false positive rate.
Genome-Wide Analysis Reveals Copy Number Variant Gene TGFBR3 Regulates Pig Back Fat Deposition
Authors: Zhang Chunlei , Yang Huan , Xu Qinglei , Liu Mingzheng , Chao Xiaohuan , Chen Jiahao , Zhou Bo
Published: September 2024

BFT is closely related to meat quality and lean meat percentage in pigs. The BFT traits of European LW pigs significantly differ from those of Chinese indigenous fatty MZ pigs. CNV is a prevalent genetic variation that plays an important role in economically important traits in pigs. However, the potential contribution of CNV to BFT in LW and MZ pigs remains unclear. In this study, whole-genome CNV detection was performed using next-generation sequencing data from LW and MZ pigs, and transcriptome data from back fat tissue of 180-day-old LW and MZ pigs were integrated for expression quantitative trait loci (eQTL) analysis. We identified a copy number variation in the TGFBR3 gene associated with BFT, showing a dose effect between the genome and transcriptome levels of the TGFBR3 gene. In porcine preadipocytes, TGFBR3 expression continuously increased during differentiation. Knockdown of TGFBR3 using specific siRNA inhibited preadipocyte differentiation and proliferation. Our study provides insights into the genetic regulation of pork quality and offers a theoretical basis for improving carcass quality by modulating BFT in pigs.
Fluopsin C Promotes Biofilm Removal of XDR Acinetobacter baumannii and Presents an Additive Effect with Polymyxin B on Planktonic Cells
Authors: Afonso Leandro , Grzegorczyk Kathlen Giovana , Salomão Julio Martins , Basso Kawany Roque , Alves Leonardo Cruz , Silva Maria Clara Davis , Chryssafidis Andreas Lazaros , Gionco-Cano Bárbara , Yamada-Ogatta Sueli Fumie , Andrade Galdino
Published: September 2024

Acinetobacter baumannii emerged as one of the most important pathogens for the development of new antimicrobials due to the worldwide detection of isolates resistant to all commercial antibiotics, especially in nosocomial infections. Biofilm formation enhances A. baumannii survival by impairing antimicrobial action, being an important target for new antimicrobials. Fluopsin C (FlpC) is an organocupric secondary metabolite with broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity. This study aimed to evaluate the antibiofilm activity of FlpC in established biofilms of extensively drug-resistant A. baumannii (XDRAb) and the effects of its combination with polymyxin B (PolB) on planktonic cells. XDRAb susceptibility profiles were determined by Vitek 2 Compact, disk diffusion, and broth microdilution. FlpC and PolB interaction was assessed using the microdilution checkerboard method and time–kill kinetics. Biofilms of XDRAb characterization and removal by FlpC exposure were assessed by biomass staining with crystal violet. Confocal Laser Scanning Microscopy was used to determine the temporal removal of the biofilms using DAPI, and cell viability using live/dead staining. The minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of FlpC on XDRAb was 3.5 µg mL−1. Combining FlpC + PolB culminated in an additive effect, increasing bacterial susceptibility to both antibiotics. FlpC-treated 24 h biofilms reached a major biomass removal of 92.40 ± 3.38% (isolate 230) using 7.0 µg mL−1 FlpC. Biomass removal occurred significantly over time through the dispersion of the extracellular matrix and decreasing cell number and viability. This is the first report of FlpC’s activity on XDRAb and the compound showed a promissory response on planktonic and sessile cells, making it a candidate for the development of a new antimicrobial product.
Treatment of Acute and Long-COVID, Diabetes, Myocardial Infarction, and Alzheimer’s Disease: The Potential Role of a Novel Nano-Compound—The Transdermal Glutathione–Cyclodextrin Complex
Authors: Yutani Ray , Venketaraman Vishwanath , Sheren Nisar
Published: September 2024

Oxidative stress (OS) occurs from excessive reactive oxygen species or a deficiency of antioxidants—primarily endogenous glutathione (GSH). There are many illnesses, from acute and post-COVID-19, diabetes, myocardial infarction to Alzheimer’s disease, that are associated with OS. These dissimilar illnesses are, in order, viral infections, metabolic disorders, ischemic events, and neurodegenerative disorders. Evidence is presented that in many illnesses, (1) OS is an early initiator and significant promotor of their progressive pathophysiologic processes, (2) early reduction of OS may prevent later serious and irreversible complications, (3) GSH deficiency is associated with OS, (4) GSH can likely reduce OS and restore adaptive physiology, (5) effective administration of GSH can be accomplished with a novel nano-product, the GSH/cyclodextrin (GC) complex. OS is an overlooked pathological process of many illnesses. Significantly, with the GSH/cyclodextrin (GC) complex, therapeutic administration of GSH is now available to reduce OS. Finally, rigorous prospective studies are needed to confirm the efficacy of this therapeutic approach.
Transit Traffic Filtration Algorithm from Cleaned Matched License Plate Data
Authors: Richter Petr , Matowicki Michal , Kumpošt Petr
Published: September 2024

The analysis and planning of suburban traffic flows is an extremely important task to ensure efficient and fluent traffic distribution in existing infrastructure. One of the main sources of this information from existing situations is origin–destination (OD) matrices, usually obtained from traffic CCTV cameras. In this paper, a novel method is proposed for the filtration of transit traffic from the overall traffic through the area. The main feature that differentiates this method from existing outlier (and thus transit traffic) detection methods is that it is focused solely on prolonged trips (which are believed to be caused by vehicles stopping in the investigated area). Initial calibration of the method on training data (sample size of N = 216,159 trips through paired detectors) and verification on test data prove the accuracy of the algorithm on the level of 98% in urban and suburban areas, respectively, in Czech Republic conditions, which gives high hopes for the feasibility of the method.
Object/Scene Recognition Based on a Directional Pixel Voting Descriptor
Authors: Aguilar-González Abiel , Medina Santiago Alejandro , Osuna-Coutiño J. A. de Jesús
Published: September 2024

Detecting objects in images is crucial for several applications, including surveillance, autonomous navigation, augmented reality, and so on. Although AI-based approaches such as Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) have proven highly effective in object detection, in scenarios where the objects being recognized are unknow, it is difficult to generalize an AI model for such tasks. In another trend, feature-based approaches like SIFT, SURF, and ORB offer the capability to search any object but have limitations under complex visual variations. In this work, we introduce a novel edge-based object/scene recognition method. We propose that utilizing feature edges, instead of feature points, offers high performance under complex visual variations. Our primary contribution is a directional pixel voting descriptor based on image segments. Experimental results are promising; compared to previous approaches, ours demonstrates superior performance under complex visual variations and high processing speed.
Clinical Measures for Tone Assessment in Adults with Central Nervous System Disorders—A Scoping Review in a Rehabilitation Context
Authors: Pinho Liliana , Silva Sandra , Freitas Marta , Figueira Vânia , Pinho Francisco , Cunha Christine , Sousa Andreia S. P. , Sousa Filipa , Silva Augusta
Published: September 2024

Assessment of muscle tone in a clinical setting is important for the physiotherapist to better analyse and establish appropriate treatments for CNS disorders. This study aims to review and summarise how to assess changes in tone in the context of adult rehabilitation. Secondarily, this study aimed to identify the central nervous system disorders, the respective variable/concept under study, and the testing procedures employed. PRISMA-ScR guidelines were followed using the “population”, “concept”, and “context” to define the eligibility criteria and to delineate the research question. PubMed®, Science Direct®, Web of Science™, and Google Scholar® databases were used to search the literature. The search included studies published between 2011 and March 2023 in Portuguese, English, French, and Spanish that assessed an adult population (>19 years) with CNS injury. Review articles, qualitative studies, conference proceedings, letters to the editor, and editorials were excluded. Initially, 1519 references were identified, of which eight met the eligibility criteria. The measurement instruments included the Modified Ashworth Scale (n = 5), the Modified Modified Ashworth Scale (n = 3), the BioTone™ system (n = 2), the Montreal Spasticity Measurement (n = 1), and the Tone Evaluation Scale (n = 1). The health conditions considered included stroke sequelae (n = 7), multiple sclerosis (n = 4), spinal cord injuries (n = 4), cerebral palsy (n = 2), brain tumour (n = 2), and traumatic brain injuries (n = 3). The concepts of spasticity (n = 7) and muscle tone (n = 2) were explored. Considering the variables spasticity and muscle tone in different CNS disorders, mainly stroke, subjective instruments were preferred compared to objective ones, with the Modified Ashworth Scale being highlighted.
How Immersed Are You? State of the Art of the Neurophysiological Characterization of Embodiment in Mixed Reality for Out-of-the-Lab Applications
Authors: Ronca Vincenzo , Ricci Alessia , Capotorto Rossella , Di Donato Luciano , Freda Daniela , Pirozzi Marco , Palermo Eduardo , Mattioli Luca , Di Gironimo Giuseppe , Coccorese Domenico , Buonocore Sara , Massa Francesca , Germano Daniele , Di Flumeri Gianluca , Borghini Gianluca , Babiloni Fabio , Aricò Pietro
Published: September 2024

Mixed Reality (MR) environments hold immense potential for inducing a sense of embodiment, where users feel like their bodies are present within the virtual space. This subjective experience has been traditionally assessed using subjective reports and behavioral measures. However, neurophysiological approaches offer unique advantages in objectively characterizing embodiment. This review article explores the current state of the art in utilizing neurophysiological techniques, particularly Electroencephalography (EEG), Photoplethysmography (PPG), and Electrodermal activity (EDA), to investigate the neural and autonomic correlates of embodiment in MR for out-of-the-lab applications. More specifically, it was investigated how EEG, with its high temporal resolution, PPG, and EDA, can capture transient brain activity associated with specific aspects of embodiment, such as visuomotor synchrony, visual feedback of a virtual body, and manipulations of virtual body parts. The potential of such neurophysiological signals to differentiate between subjective experiences of embodiment was discussed, with a particular regard to identify the neural and autonomic markers of early embodiment formation during MR exposure in real settings. Finally, the strengths and limitations of the neurophysiological approach in the context of MR embodiment research were discussed, in order to achieve a more comprehensive understanding of this multifaceted phenomenon.