bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A Supportive Role of Mesenchymal Stem Cells on Insulin-Producing Langerhans Islets with a Specific Emphasis on The Secretome
Authors: Sionov Ronit Vogt , Ahdut-HaCohen Ronit
Published: September 2023

Type 1 Diabetes (T1D) is a chronic autoimmune disease characterized by a gradual destruction of insulin-producing β-cells in the endocrine pancreas due to innate and specific immune responses, leading to impaired glucose homeostasis. T1D patients usually require regular insulin injections after meals to maintain normal serum glucose levels. In severe cases, pancreas or Langerhans islet transplantation can assist in reaching a sufficient β-mass to normalize glucose homeostasis. The latter procedure is limited because of low donor availability, high islet loss, and immune rejection. There is still a need to develop new technologies to improve islet survival and implantation and to keep the islets functional. Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) are multipotent non-hematopoietic progenitor cells with high plasticity that can support human pancreatic islet function both in vitro and in vivo and islet co-transplantation with MSCs is more effective than islet transplantation alone in attenuating diabetes progression. The beneficial effect of MSCs on islet function is due to a combined effect on angiogenesis, suppression of immune responses, and secretion of growth factors essential for islet survival and function. In this review, various aspects of MSCs related to islet function and diabetes are described.
Dyslexia Due to Visual Impairments
Authors: Werth Reinhard
Published: September 2023

Reading involves many different abilities that are necessary or sufficient conditions for fluent and flawless reading. The absence of one necessary or of all sufficient conditions is a cause of dyslexia. The present study investigates whether too short fixation times and an impaired ability to recognize a string of letters simultaneously are causes of dyslexia. The frequency and types of reading mistakes were investigated in a tachistoscopic pseudoword experiment with 100 children with dyslexia to test the impact of too short fixation times and the attempts of children with dyslexia to recognize more letters simultaneously than they can when reading pseudowords. The experiment demonstrates that all types of reading mistakes disappear when the fixation time increases and/or the number of letters that the children try to recognize simultaneously is reduced. The results cannot be interpreted as being due to altered visual crowding, impaired attention, or impaired phonological awareness, but can be regarded as an effect of impaired temporal summation and a dysfunction in the ventral stream of the visual system.
Relationship between β-Cell Autoantibodies and Their Combination with Anthropometric and Metabolic Components and Microvascular Complications in Latent Autoimmune Diabetes in Adults
Authors: Bulum Tomislav , Vučić Lovrenčić Marijana , Knežević Ćuća Jadranka , Tomić Martina , Vučković-Rebrina Sandra , Duvnjak Lea
Published: September 2023

Aims: Our study aimed to investigate the relationship between three autoantibodies and their combination with anthropometric and metabolic components and microvascular complications in patients with latent autoimmune diabetes in adults (LADA). Methods: Our study included 189 LADA patients divided into four subgroups according to the autoantibodies present: glutamic acid decarboxylase autoantibodies (GADA) only; zinc transporter-8 autoantibodies (ZnT8A)+GADA; insulinoma-associated-2 autoantibodies (IA-2)+GADA; and ZnT8+IA-2+GADA. Results: Compared to GADA positivity only, patients with ZnT8+GADA positivity and ZnT8+IA-2+GADA positivity had a shorter diabetes duration and lower body mass index (BMI); patients with ZnT8+GADA positivity were younger and showed an increase in glomerular filtration rate, while those with ZnT8+IA-2+GADA positivity had lower C-peptide and lower insulin resistance measured with HOMA2-IR. In a multiple regression analysis, ZnT8 positivity was associated with lower BMI (p = 0.0024), female sex (p = 0.0005), and shorter duration of disease (p = 0.0034), while IA-2 positivity was associated with lower C-peptide levels (p = 0.0034) and shorter diabetes duration (p = 0.02). No association between antibody positivity and microvascular complications of diabetes, including retinopathy, neuropathy, and microalbuminuria, as well as with variables of glucose control and β-cell function were found. Conclusion: The results of our study suggest that ZnT8 and IA-2 autoantibodies are present in a significant number of LADA patients and associated with clinical and metabolic characteristics resembling classic type 1 diabetes. Due to increased LADA prevalence, earlier identification of patients requiring frequent monitoring with the earlier intensification of insulin therapy might be of special clinical interest.
Pharmacomicrobiomics of Classical Immunosuppressant Drugs: A Systematic Review
Authors: Manes Annalaura , Di Renzo Tiziana , Dodani Loreta , Reale Anna , Gautiero Claudia , Di Lauro Mariastella , Nasti Gilda , Manco Federica , Muscariello Espedita , Guida Bruna , Tarantino Giovanni , Cataldi Mauro
Published: September 2023

The clinical response to classical immunosuppressant drugs (cIMDs) is highly variable among individuals. We performed a systematic review of published evidence supporting the hypothesis that gut microorganisms may contribute to this variability by affecting cIMD pharmacokinetics, efficacy or tolerability. The evidence that these drugs affect the composition of intestinal microbiota was also reviewed. The PubMed and Scopus databases were searched using specific keywords without limits of species (human or animal) or time from publication. One thousand and fifty five published papers were retrieved in the initial database search. After screening, 50 papers were selected to be reviewed. Potential effects on cIMD pharmacokinetics, efficacy or tolerability were observed in 17/20 papers evaluating this issue, in particular with tacrolimus, cyclosporine, mycophenolic acid and corticosteroids, whereas evidence was missing for everolimus and sirolimus. Only one of the papers investigating the effect of cIMDs on the gut microbiota reported negative results while all the others showed significant changes in the relative abundance of specific intestinal bacteria. However, no unique pattern of microbiota modification was observed across the different studies. In conclusion, the available evidence supports the hypothesis that intestinal microbiota could contribute to the variability in the response to some cIMDs, whereas data are still missing for others.
Characterization of Behavioral Phenotypes in Heterozygous DAT Rat Based on Pedigree
Authors: Zanfino Gioia , Puzzo Concetto , de Laurenzi Vincenzo , Adriani Walter
Published: September 2023

Dopamine is an essential neurotransmitter whose key roles include movement control, pleasure and reward, attentional and cognitive skills, and regulation of the sleep/wake cycle. Reuptake is carried out by the dopamine transporter (DAT; DAT1 SLC6A3 gene). In order to study the effects of hyper-dopaminergia syndrome, the gene was silenced in rats. DAT-KO rats show stereotypical behavior, hyperactivity, a deficit in working memory, and an altered circadian cycle. In addition to KO rats, heterozygous (DAT-HET) rats show relative hypofunction of DAT; exact phenotypic effects are still unknown and may depend on whether the sire or the dam was KO. Our goal was to elucidate the potential importance of the parental origin of the healthy or silenced allele and its impact across generations, along with the potential variations in maternal care. We thus generated specular lines to study the effects of (grand) parental roles in inheriting the wild or mutated allele. MAT-HETs are the progeny of a KO sire and a WT dam; by breeding MAT-HET males and KO females, we obtained subjects with a DAT -/- epigenotype, named QULL, to reflect additional epigenetic DAT modulation when embryos develop within a hyper-dopaminergic KO uterus. We aimed to verify if any behavioral anomaly was introduced by a QULL (instead of KO) rat acting as a direct father or indirect maternal grandfather (or both). We thus followed epigenotypes obtained after three generations and observed actual effects on impaired maternal care of the offspring (based on pedigree). In particular, offspring of MAT-HET-dam × QULL-sire breeding showed a compulsive and obsessive phenotype. Although the experimental groups were all heterozygous, the impact of having a sire of epigenotype QULL (who developed in the uterus of a KO grand-dam) has emerged clearly. Along the generations, the effects of the DAT epigenotype on the obsessive/compulsive phenotype do vary as a function of the uterine impact on either allele in one’s genealogical line.
Audiogenic Seizures and Social Deficits: No Aggravation Found in Krushinsky–Molodkina Rats
Authors: Rebik Anastasiya , Broshevitskaya Nadezda , Kuzhuget Syldys , Aleksandrov Pavel , Abbasova Kenul , Zaichenko Maria , Midzyanovskaya Inna
Published: September 2023

Epilepsy or epileptic syndromes affect more than 70 million people, often comorbid with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). Seizures are concerned as a factor for social regression in ASD. A stepwise experimental approach to this problem requires an animal model to provoke seizures and monitor subsequent behavior. We used rats of the Krushinsky–Molodkina (KM) strain as a validated inbred genetic model for human temporal lobe epilepsy, with recently described social deficiency and hypolocomotion. Generalized tonic-clonic seizures in KM rats are sound-triggered, thus being controlled events in drug-naïve animals. We studied whether seizure experience would aggravate contact deficits in these animals. Locomotor and contact parameters were registered in “the elevated plus maze”, “socially enriched open field”, and “social novelty/social preference tests” before and after sound-provoked seizures. The triple seizure provocations minimally affected the contact behavior. The lack of social drive in KM rats was not accompanied by a submissive phenotype, as tested in “the tube dominance test”, but featured with a poor contact repertoire. Here, we confirmed our previous findings on social deficits in KM rats. The contact deficiency was dissociated from hypolocomotion and anxiety and did not correlate with seizure experience. It was established that experience of rare, generalized tonic-clonic convulsions did not lead to an impending regress in contact motivation, as seen in an animal model of genetic epilepsy and comorbid social deficiency. One of the oldest animal models for epilepsy has a translational potential to study mechanisms of social behavioral deficits in future neurophysiological and pharmacological research.
Role of Oxidative Stress in Tuberculosis Meningitis Infection in Diabetics
Authors: Navasardyan Inesa , Yeganyan Stephanie , Nguyen Helena , Vaghashia Payal , Subbian Selvakumar , Venketaraman Vishwanath
Published: September 2023

Tuberculosis meningitis (TBM) is a result of the invasion of the meninges with the bacilli of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb), leading to inflammation of the meninges around the brain or spinal cord. Oxidative stress occurs when the body’s cells become overwhelmed with free radicals, particularly reactive oxygen species (ROS). ROS plays a significant role in the pathogenesis of TBM due to their toxic nature, resulting in impairment of the body’s ability to fight off infection. ROS damages the endothelial cells and impairs the defense mechanisms of the blood–brain barrier (BBB), which contributes to CNS susceptibility to the bacteria causing TBM. Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a common condition that is characterized by the impairment of the hormone insulin, which is responsible for modulating blood glucose levels. The increased availability of glucose in individuals with diabetes results in increased cellular activity and metabolism, leading to heightened ROS production and, in turn, increased susceptibility to TBM. In this review, we summarize our current understanding of oxidative stress and its role in both TBM and DM. We further discuss how increased oxidative stress in DM can contribute to the likelihood of developing TBM and potential therapeutic approaches that may be of therapeutic value.
Precision Medicine in Pancreatic Ductal Adenocarcinoma: The Impact of Targeted Therapies on Survival of Patients Harboring Actionable Mutations
Authors: Tarabay Anthony , Boileve Alice , Smolenschi Cristina , Antoun Leony , Valery Marine , Fuerea Alina , Perret Audrey , Burtin Pascal , Cosconea Simona , Belkhodja Hichem , Malka David , Boige Valérie , Hollebecque Antoine , Ducreux Michel
Published: September 2023

Background: Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is the third leading cause of death by cancer worldwide. Mostly diagnosed with locally advanced or metastatic disease, patients lack treatment options. Gene alterations (GAs) are frequently observed in PDAC, some of which are considered for molecular targeted therapies (MTTs), with potential clinical benefits and improved outcomes. However, the applicability of molecular profiling (MP) for precision medicine in PDAC remains to be demonstrated. Methods: We conducted a retrospective analysis of all patients, aged ≥18 years with histologically confirmed PDAC, who underwent tumor MP between 2010 and 2020 in our institution as part of personalized medicine trials. The primary study endpoint was overall survival (OS), and (minimal follow-up was 6 months after MP). Results: Of 115 eligible patients, MP was successful in 102 patients (89%). KRAS mutations were the most frequent GAs, mostly G12D. Based on ESCAT classification, actionable GAs were found in 29 patients (28%), involving mainly BRCA1 or BRCA2 (5 (18%)), HER2 (5 (18%)), MTAP (5 (18%)), and FGFR (3 (11%)). Only 12 of these 29 patients (41%, or 10% of the whole population) received MTTs, with a median progression-free survival of 1.6 months. Median OS was 19 months in patients with actionable GAs treated with MTTs (n = 12 (11.8%)), 14 months in patients with actionable GAs treated with standard therapies (n = 17 (16.7%)), and 17 months in patients without actionable GAs treated with standard therapies (n = 73 (71.5%); p = 0.26). The absence of liver metastases was associated with better OS (HR = 0.471, p = 0.01). The highest OS following MTT was observed in patients with BRCA mutations treated with olaparib. Interpretation: Actionable GAs were found in more than a quarter of patients with advanced PDAC. Overall, targeting actionable GAs with MTTs was not associated with improved OS in this retrospective study with limited patient numbers. However, selected GA/MTT combinations (e.g., BRCA mutations/olaparib) were associated with a better outcome.
Pancreatic Islet Viability Assessment Using Hyperspectral Imaging of Autofluorescence
Authors: Campbell Jared M. , Walters Stacey N. , Habibalahi Abbas , Mahbub Saabah B. , Anwer Ayad G. , Handley Shannon , Grey Shane T. , Goldys Ewa M.
Published: September 2023

Islets prepared for transplantation into type 1 diabetes patients are exposed to compromising intrinsic and extrinsic factors that contribute to early graft failure, necessitating repeated islet infusions for clinical insulin independence. A lack of reliable pre-transplant measures to determine islet viability severely limits the success of islet transplantation and will limit future beta cell replacement strategies. We applied hyperspectral fluorescent microscopy to determine whether we could non-invasively detect islet damage induced by oxidative stress, hypoxia, cytokine injury, and warm ischaemia, and so predict transplant outcomes in a mouse model. In assessing islet spectral signals for NAD(P)H, flavins, collagen-I, and cytochrome-C in intact islets, we distinguished islets compromised by oxidative stress (ROS) (AUC = 1.00), hypoxia (AUC = 0.69), cytokine exposure (AUC = 0.94), and warm ischaemia (AUC = 0.94) compared to islets harvested from pristine anaesthetised heart-beating mouse donors. Significantly, with unsupervised assessment we defined an autofluorescent score for ischaemic islets that accurately predicted the restoration of glucose control in diabetic recipients following transplantation. Similar results were obtained for islet single cell suspensions, suggesting translational utility in the context of emerging beta cell replacement strategies. These data show that the pre-transplant hyperspectral imaging of islet autofluorescence has promise for predicting islet viability and transplant success.
Effect of the Aqueous Extract of Chrysobalanus icaco Leaves on Maternal Reproductive Outcomes and Fetal Development in Wistar Rats
Authors: Rodrigues Natalie Emanuelle Ribeiro , Oliveira Alisson Rodrigo da Silva , Lima Sandrine Maria de Arruda , Nunes Daniel Medeiros , Albuquerque Priscilla Barbosa Sales de , da Cunha Maria das Graças Carneiro , Wanderley Almir Gonçalves , Júnior Flavio Manoel Rodrigues da Silva , Silva José Bruno Nunes Ferreira , Teixeira Álvaro Aguiar Coelho , Silva Teresinha Gonçalves da
Published: September 2023

Toxicological studies on medicinal plants are essential to ensure their safety and effectiveness in treating various diseases. Despite the species Chrysobalanus icaco L. being popularly used in the treatment of several diseases due to the pharmacological properties of its bioactive compounds, there are few studies in the literature regarding its toxicity regarding reproduction. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to assess the potential embryotoxic and teratogenic effects of the aqueous extract of C. icaco leaves (AECi) on Wistar rats. Animals were given AECi at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg during the pre-implantation and organogenesis periods. Data were analyzed using ANOVA followed by Tukey’s test and Kruskal–Wallis. Pregnant rats treated during the pre-implantation period showed no signs of reproductive toxicity. Rats that received AECi at 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg during organogenesis did not exhibit any signs of maternal systemic toxicity or significant differences in gestational and embryotoxic parameters. Some skeletal changes were observed in the treated groups. Therefore, it can be suggested that AECi at doses of 100, 200, and 400 mg/kg is safe for treated animals and does not induce reproductive toxicity under the experimental conditions applied, but it also caused low systemic toxicity.
Extreme Leukocytosis and Gangrenous Cholecystitis Associated with Cytoreductive Surgery and HIPEC-Treated Mucinos Ovary Cancer: Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Latincic Stojan , Pavlov Maja , Vasiljevic Jovica , Vasin Dragan , Dimic-Cumic Maja , Micev Marjan , Papovic Milena , Doskovic Miljan , Bugarin Stefan , Milosevic Stefan , Kecmanovic Dragutin
Published: September 2023

Mucinous ovarian cancer occurs sporadically, with a frequency of approximately 3–5% among all subtypes of ovarian cancer. Extreme leukocytosis >40,000 and 50,000 has been described in most solid tumors and is associated with a poor prognosis, although there is a lack of literal data of its occurrence after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC in the treatment of advanced mucinous ovarian cancer. There is higher risk of the occurrence of cholecystitis in oncology patients compared to the general population, although there is no formal evidence for this, and the association with ovarian cancer is accompanied by a relative risk of 1.38. Hypercalcemia-hyperleukocytosis is a syndrome associated with head and neck cancers, although, to our knowledge, it has not been described in mucinous ovarian cancer, especially after cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.
Advances in TEE-Centric Intraprocedural Multimodal Image Guidance for Congenital and Structural Heart Disease
Authors: Zhang Xinyue , Gosnell Jordan , Nainamalai Varatharajan , Page Savannah , Huang Sihong , Haw Marcus , Peng Bo , Vettukattil Joseph , Jiang Jingfeng
Published: September 2023

Percutaneous interventions are gaining rapid acceptance in cardiology and revolutionizing the treatment of structural heart disease (SHD). As new percutaneous procedures of SHD are being developed, their associated complexity and anatomical variability demand a high-resolution special understanding for intraprocedural image guidance. During the last decade, three-dimensional (3D) transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) has become one of the most accessed imaging methods for structural interventions. Although 3D-TEE can assess cardiac structures and functions in real-time, its limitations (e.g., limited field of view, image quality at a large depth, etc.) must be addressed for its universal adaptation, as well as to improve the quality of its imaging and interventions. This review aims to present the role of TEE in the intraprocedural guidance of percutaneous structural interventions. We also focus on the current and future developments required in a multimodal image integration process when using TEE to enhance the management of congenital and SHD treatments.
Implementing AI Models for Prognostic Predictions in High-Risk Burn Patients
Authors: Yeh Chin-Choon , Lin Yu-San , Chen Chun-Chia , Liu Chung-Feng
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives: Burn injuries range from minor medical issues to severe, life-threatening conditions. The severity and location of the burn dictate its treatment; while minor burns might be treatable at home, severe burns necessitate medical intervention, sometimes in specialized burn centers with extended follow-up care. This study aims to leverage artificial intelligence (AI)/machine learning (ML) to forecast potential adverse effects in burn patients. Methods: This retrospective analysis considered burn patients admitted to Chi Mei Medical Center from 2010 to 2019. The study employed 14 features, comprising supplementary information like prior comorbidities and laboratory results, for building models for predicting graft surgery, a prolonged hospital stay, and overall adverse effects. Overall, 70% of the data set trained the AI models, with the remaining 30% reserved for testing. Three ML algorithms of random forest, LightGBM, and logistic regression were employed with evaluation metrics of accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Results: In this research, out of 224 patients assessed, the random forest model yielded the highest AUC for predictions related to prolonged hospital stays (>14 days) at 81.1%, followed by the XGBoost (79.9%) and LightGBM (79.5%) models. Besides, the random forest model of the need for a skin graft showed the highest AUC (78.8%), while the random forest model and XGBoost model of the occurrence of adverse complications both demonstrated the highest AUC (87.2%) as well. Based on the best models with the highest AUC values, an AI prediction system is designed and integrated into hospital information systems to assist physicians in the decision-making process. Conclusions: AI techniques showcased exceptional capabilities for predicting a prolonged hospital stay, the need for a skin graft, and the occurrence of overall adverse complications for burn patients. The insights from our study fuel optimism for the inception of a novel predictive model that can seamlessly meld with hospital information systems, enhancing clinical decisions and bolstering physician–patient dialogues.
Diagnostic Tools for Cutaneous Leishmaniasis Caused by Leishmania donovani: A Narrative Review
Authors: Piyasiri Sachee Bhanu , Dewasurendra Rajika , Samaranayake Nilakshi , Karunaweera Nadira
Published: September 2023

Leishmaniasis, a neglected tropical disease, encompasses a spectrum of clinical conditions and poses a significant risk of infection to over one billion people worldwide. Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) in the Indian sub-continent (ISC), where the causative parasite is Leishmania donovani, is targeted for elimination by 2025, with some countries already reaching such targets. Other clinical phenotypes due to the same species could act as a reservoir of parasites and thus pose a challenge to successful control and elimination. Sri Lanka has consistently reported cutaneous leishmaniasis (CL) due to L. donovani as the primary disease presentation over several decades. Similar findings of atypical phenotypes of L. donovani have also been reported from several other countries/regions in the Old World. In this review, we discuss the applicability of different methods in diagnosing CL due to L. donovani and a comprehensive assessment of diagnostic methods spanning clinical, microscopic, molecular, and immunological approaches. By incorporating evidence from Sri Lanka and other regions on L. donovani-related CL, we thoroughly evaluate the accuracy, feasibility, and relevance of these diagnostic tools. We also discuss the challenges and complexities linked to diagnosing CL and review novel approaches and their applicability for detecting CL.
The Genomic Landscape of Colorectal Cancer in the Saudi Arabian Population Using a Comprehensive Genomic Panel
Authors: Alsolme Ebtehal , Alqahtani Saleh , Fageeh Musa , Barakeh Duna , Sharma Nitesh K. , Mangul Serghei , Robinson Heather A. , Fathaddin Amany , Hauser Charlotte A. E. , Abedalthagafi Malak
Published: September 2023

Purpose: Next-generation sequencing (NGS) technology detects specific mutations that can provide treatment opportunities for colorectal cancer (CRC) patients. Patients and Methods: We analyzed the mutation frequencies of common actionable genes and their association with clinicopathological characteristics and oncologic outcomes using targeted NGS in 107 Saudi Arabian patients without a family history of CRC. Results: Approximately 98% of patients had genetic alterations. Frequent mutations were observed in BRCA2 (79%), CHEK1 (78%), ATM (76%), PMS2 (76%), ATR (74%), and MYCL (73%). The APC gene was not included in the panel. Statistical analysis using the Cox proportional hazards model revealed an unusual positive association between poorly differentiated tumors and survival rates (p = 0.025). Although no significant univariate associations between specific mutations or overall mutation rate and overall survival were found, our preliminary analysis of the molecular markers for CRC in a predominantly Arab population can provide insights into the molecular pathways that play a significant role in the underlying disease progression. Conclusions: These results may help optimize personalized therapy when drugs specific to a patient’s mutation profile have already been developed.
Growth Factors Released from Advanced Platelet-Rich Fibrin in the Presence of Calcium-Based Silicate Materials and Their Impact on the Viability and Migration of Stem Cells of Apical Papilla
Authors: Smoczer Cristine , Yuth Kenneth R. , Askar Mazin A. , Young Laura A. , Paurazas Susan B.
Published: September 2023

Advanced platelet-rich fibrin (A-PRF) provides the scaffold and growth factors necessary for stem cells to proliferate and differentiate in successful regenerative endodontic procedures. This study investigates the release of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1), platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) from A-PRF in cell culture media in the presence and absence of mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) or Biodentine. Additionally, this research assesses the viability and migration of stem cells of the apical papilla (SCAP) in previously conditioned media. A-PRF obtained from 14 participants were incubated for 7 days in cell culture media alone or via layering with MTA or Biodentine discs and the release of selected growth factors in the media was evaluated using ELISA. The viability of SCAP grown in conditioned media was measured using the CCK8 assay, while SCAP migration was assessed via a transwell assay by counting migrated cells. The release of TGF-β1, PDGF, and VEGF was significantly higher in media with A-PRF alone than in the presence of either calcium-based silicate material (p < 0.05), which showed no difference from the no-A-PRF control (p < 0.05). None of the tested growth factors released in the A-PRF-conditioned media correlated with clot weight. A-PRF-conditioned media, both with and without calcium-based silicate materials, did not impact SCAP viability and migration (p > 0.05). This study shows that SCAP behavior is not impacted by the decrease in growth factor released in the presence of calcium-based silicate materials and that their role in REPs warrants further investigation.
Vulnerable Area Identification of Islanded Combined Electrical and Heat Networks Based on Static Sensitivity Analysis
Authors: Song Zhifan , Nie Yu , Yang Liulin
Published: September 2023

In combined electrical and heat networks (CEHNs) under the Islanded mode, the district heating network (DHN) is more vulnerable to fluctuations in the electrical load, resulting in the transgression of the CHEN power flow. Identifying vulnerable areas in islanded CEHNs is necessary. In this paper, we introduce a static sensitivity analysis method into islanded CHENs, which can identify vulnerable areas susceptible to these impacts, and explore the energy interaction mechanisms between the electrical network (EN) and DHN. We established a power flow model of the islanded CEHN, and developed the sensitivity matrix. Then, the decomposition model is solved, based on which the static sensitivity matrices can be calculated. The case study shows that the sensitivity can effectively represent the impact of EN load changes on the mass flow rate of the DHN, thus we can locate the weak areas of the CEHN. It can provide auxiliary information for the safe and stable operation of an islanded CEHN, with fewer calculations compared to the power flow calculation method. In addition, the results present the enhancement of islanded CHEN stability by using a kind of combination of CHP units.
Temporal-Aware Neural Network for Dense Non-Rigid Structure from Motion
Authors: Wang Yaming , Xu Dawei , Huang Wenqing , Ye Xiaoping , Jiang Mingfeng
Published: September 2023

Modern neural networks addressing dense Non-Rigid Structure from Motion (NRSFM) dilemmas often grapple with intricate a priori constraints, deterring scalability, or overlook the imperative of consistent application of a priori knowledge throughout the entire input sequence. In this paper, an innovative neural network architecture is introduced. Initially, the complete 2D sequence image undergoes embedding into a low-dimensional space. Subsequently, multiple self-attention layers are employed to extract inter-frame features, with the objective of deriving a more continuous and temporally smooth low-dimensional structure closely resembling real data’s intrinsic structure. Moreover, it has been demonstrated by others that gradient descent during the training of multilayer linear networks yields minimum rank solutions, implicitly providing regularization that is equally applicable to this task. Benefiting from the excellence of the proposed network architecture, no additional a priori knowledge is mandated, barring the constraint of temporal smoothness. Extensive experimentation confirms the method’s exceptional performance in addressing dense NRSFM challenges, outperforming recent results across various dense benchmark datasets.
Genetic Fuzzy Inference System-Based Three-Dimensional Resolution Algorithm for Collision Avoidance of Fixed-Wing UAVs
Authors: Rauniyar Shyam , Kim Donghoon
Published: September 2023

Fixed-wing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs) cannot fly at speeds lower than critical stall speeds. As a result, hovering during a potential collision scenario, like with rotary-wing UAVs, is impossible. Moreover, hovering is not an optimal solution for Collision Avoidance (CA), as it increases mission time and is innately fuel-inefficient. This work proposes a decentralized Fuzzy Inference System (FIS)-based resolution algorithm that modulates the point-to-point mission path while ensuring the continuous motion of UAVs during CA. A simplified kinematic guidance model with coordinated turn conditions is considered to control the UAVs. The model employs a proportional-derivative control of commanded airspeed, bank angle, and flight path angle. The commands are derived from the desired path, characterized by airspeed, heading, and altitude. The desired path is, in turn, obtained using look-ahead points generated for the target point. The FIS aims to mimic human behavior during collision scenarios, generating modulation parameters for the desired path to achieve CA. Notably, it is also scalable, which makes it easy to adjust the algorithm parameters, as per the required missions, and factors specific to a given UAV. A genetic algorithm was used to optimize FIS parameters so that the distance traveled during the mission was minimized despite path modulation. The proposed algorithm was optimized using a pairwise conflict scenario. The effectiveness of the algorithm was evaluated through a Monte Carlo simulation of random conflict scenarios involving multiple UAVs operating in a confined space.
Air Pollutants Emission during Co-Combustion of Animal Manure and Wood Pellets in 15 kW Boiler
Authors: Rzeźnik Wojciech , Rzeźnik Ilona , Mielcarek-Bocheńska Paulina , Urbański Mateusz
Published: September 2023

One of the aims of the environmental and energy policy of the European Union is to reduce the emission of air pollutants, primarily from heat and electricity production, e.g., using renewable energy sources. An example of such a fuel is agricultural biomass including animal manure, which can be used to produce energy in many ways, inter alia direct combustion. The aim of the study was to measure the concentration of NO, NOx, CO, dust and boiler efficiency during the combustion and co-combustion of wood and manure pellets. The research was conducted in the laboratory of the Poznań University of Technology using a 15 kW domestic boiler at maximum power. Manure pellets had higher moisture—9.2%, lower high heating value—17.25 MJ·kg−1, lower low heating value—16.45 MJ·kg−1, and higher ash content—11.23% than wood pellets. The average concentrations of CO, NO, NOx and dust for 100% wood pellets were 198 ± 27 mg·m−3, 129 ± 5 mg·m−3, 198 ± 8 mg·m−3 and 8.7 ± 0.5 mg·m−3, respectively. For this, the fuel boiler power was 13.6 kW (air–fuel ratio 1.48), and it was close to the maximal nominal power. Increasing the share of manure pellets in the burning mixture worsened the stability of the combustion process, and the occurrence of incomplete combustion was observed, which resulted in an increased concentration of CO and dust. Additionally, NO and NOx concentrations also increased. The average boiler power during the combustion of 100% manure pellets was 7.8 kW (air–fuel ratio 2.2), and the average concentrations of CO, NO, NOx and dust were 1548 ± 555 mg·m−3, 355 ± 53 mg·m−3, 554 ± 88 mg·m−3 and 482 ± 63 mg·m−3, respectively.
Application of Artificial Intelligence Algorithms in Multilayer Perceptron and Elman Networks to Predict Photovoltaic Power Plant Generation
Authors: Drałus Grzegorz , Mazur Damian , Kusznier Jacek , Drałus Jakub
Published: September 2023

This paper presents the models developed for the short-term forecasting of energy production by photovoltaic panels. An analysis of a set of weather factors influencing daily energy production is presented. Determining the correlation between the produced direct current (DC) energy and the individual weather parameters allowed the selection of the potentially best explanatory factors, which served as input data for the neural networks. The forecasting models were based on MLP and Elman-type networks. An appropriate selection of structures and learning parameters was carried out, as well as the process of learning the models. The models were built based on different time periods: year-round, semi-annual, and seasonal. The models were developed separately for monocrystalline and amorphous photovoltaic modules. The study compared the models with the predicted and measured insolation energy. In addition, complex forecasting models were developed for the photovoltaic system, which could forecast DC and AC energy simultaneously. The complex models were developed according to the rules of global and local modeling. The forecast errors of the developed models were included. The smallest values of the DC energy forecast errors were achieved for the models designed for summer forecasts. The percentage forecast error was 1.95% using directly measured solar irradiance and 5. 57% using predicted solar irradiance. The complex model for summer forecasted the AC energy with an error of 1.86%.
Lactic Acid Bacteria and Cellulase Improve the Fermentation Characteristics, Aerobic Stability and Rumen Degradation of Mixed Silage Prepared with Amaranth and Rice Straw
Authors: Ma Jian , Fan Xue , Wu Tingting , Zhou Jiaxin , Huang Haozhan , Qiu Tianzhen , Xing Zhewei , Zhao Zhihui , Yin Fuquan , Gan Shangquan
Published: September 2023

The aim of this experiment is to investigate the effects of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase on the fermentation quality, chemical composition, aerobic stability and ruminal degradation characteristics of mixed silage prepared with amaranth and rice straw. Lactic acid bacteria and cellulase were used as silage additives, and the four treatments were as follows: control group (CON, no additive), lactic acid bacteria group (LAB, additive amount was 5 mg/kg fresh matter), cellulase group (CEL, 2 mg/kg) and lactic acid bacteria and cellulase group (LBC, additive amount was the same as in the individual treatments). All treatments were ensiled for 60 days. The dry-matter, crude-protein, neutral-detergent-fiber and acid-detergent-fiber ruminal degradability of silage were analyzed utilizing the nylon bag method. Compared with the CON group, the inoculation of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase individually promoted the fermentation of mixed silage to a certain degree. The combined inoculation of mixed silage significantly increased (p < 0.05) the concentrations of lactic acid and dry matter, while it reduced (p < 0.05) the pH and ammonia nitrogen/total nitrogen, harmful microorganism counts and contents of acetic acid, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. In addition, the aerobic stability time of the LBC group was lower (p < 0.05) than that of the other groups. The ruminal degradation rate of dry matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in the LBC group was significantly increased (p < 0.05) compared to the CON group. Overall, the addition of the additives mentioned earlier improved the quality of mixed silage composed of amaranth and rice straw, and the best results were obtained by combining the inoculation of lactic acid bacteria and cellulase.
Response Characteristics of Smoke Detection for Reduction of Unwanted Fire Alarms in Studio-Type Apartments
Authors: Hwang Euy-hong , Choi Han-bit , Choi Don-mook
Published: September 2023

Photoelectric smoke detectors (SDs) often emit false alarms in studio-type apartments, where fire prevention is crucial. This study investigates the response characteristics of conventional and analog smoke detection factors to reduce false positives in studio-type apartments. A mock-up was tested based on relevant domestic laws, standards, statistical data, and experimental cases. A simulation of a cooking scenario involving burned food items was conducted, and optical density, particulate matter (PM), and carbon monoxide levels were measured and compared with actual smoke detection at six different locations. The measured values of conventional smoke detectors (CSDs) and analog smoke detectors (ASDs) at these locations were used to derive the activation time of CSDs and ASDs for the entire mock-up space. The results showed that the CSD activated at 7.42 min, while the ASD activated at 11.57 min. PM10.0, CO, and CO2 showed similar activation time trends. The PM10.0, CO, and CO2 concentrations at the time of SD activation were estimated. The findings suggest that a sensor with a consistent coefficient of variation, such as PM10.0 and CO, should be recommended.
Detection of Red Pepper Powder Adulteration with Allura Red and Red Pepper Seeds Using Hyperspectral Imaging
Authors: Park Jong-Jin , Cho Jeong-Seok , Lee Gyuseok , Yun Dae-Yong , Park Seul-Ki , Park Kee-Jai , Lim Jeong-Ho
Published: September 2023

This study used shortwave infrared (SWIR) technology to determine whether red pepper powder was artificially adulterated with Allura Red and red pepper seeds. First, the ratio of red pepper pericarp to seed was adjusted to 100:0 (P100), 75:25 (P75), 50:50 (P50), 25:75 (P25), or 0:100 (P0), and Allura Red was added to the red pepper pericarp/seed mixture at 0.05% (A), 0.1% (B), and 0.15% (C). The results of principal component analysis (PCA) using the L, a, and b values; hue angle; and chroma showed that the pure pericarp powder (P100) was not easily distinguished from some adulterated samples (P50A-C, P75A-C, and P100B,C). Adulterated red pepper powder was detected by applying machine learning techniques, including linear discriminant analysis (LDA), linear support vector machine (LSVM), and k-nearest neighbor (KNN), based on spectra obtained from SWIR (1,000–1,700 nm). Linear discriminant analysis determined adulteration with 100% accuracy when the samples were divided into four categories (acceptable, adulterated by Allura Red, adulterated by seeds, and adulterated by seeds and Allura Red). The application of SWIR technology and machine learning detects adulteration with Allura Red and seeds in red pepper powder.
Metabolomic Differences between Viable but Nonculturable and Recovered Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Zhang
Authors: Wang Huiying , Zhang Yuhong , Dai Lixia , Bo Xiaoyu , Liu Xiangyun , Zhao Xin , Yu Jie , Kwok Lai-Yu , Bao Qiuhua
Published: September 2023

The fermentation process can be affected when the starter culture enters the viable but nonculturable (VBNC) state. Therefore, it is of interest to investigate how VBNC cells change physiologically. Lacticaseibacillus (L.) paracasei Zhang is both a probiotic and a starter strain. This study aimed to investigate the metabolomic differences between VBNC and recovered L. paracasei Zhang cells. First, L. paracasei Zhang was induced to enter the VBNC state by keeping the cells in a liquid de Man–Rogosa–Sharpe (MRS) medium at 4 °C for 220 days. Flow cytometry was used to sort the induced VBNC cells, and three different types of culture media (MRS medium, skim milk with 1% yeast extract, and skim milk) were used for cell resuscitation. Cell growth responses in the three types of recovery media suggested that the liquid MRS medium was the most effective in reversing the VBNC state in L. paracasei Zhang. Metabolomics analysis revealed 25 differential metabolites from five main metabolite classes (amino acid, carbohydrate, lipid, vitamin, and purine and pyrimidine). The levels of L-cysteine, L-alanine, L-lysine, and L-arginine notably increased in the revived cells, while cellulose, alginose, and guanine significantly decreased. This study confirmed that VBNC cells had an altered physiology.
Exploring Consumer Preference towards the On-Farm Slaughtering of Beef in Germany: A Discrete Choice Experiment
Authors: Lauterbach Josephine , Bruns Antonia Johanna , Häring Anna Maria
Published: September 2023

Current production standards and communication campaigns about animal welfare in relation to beef strongly emphasise the “humane” rearing of cattle. Aspects such as transport and slaughtering conditions are often overlooked in both production standards and communications with consumers. Long transport routes and conventional slaughtering can cause significant stress to animals and have negative impacts on their welfare and on meat quality. On-farm slaughter can address these criticisms. Communicating the value of low-stress slaughtering conditions like on-farm slaughtering may offer significant sales potential for a premium market segment. In this study, we explore consumers’ preferences and willingness to pay for beef that is slaughtered on-farm rather than in conventional abattoirs. We conducted an online survey (n = 400) in 2022, with a sample that is representative of the German population with respect to gender, age, income and education. Our survey included a discrete choice experiment for the purchase of minced beef, incorporating product attributes that influence purchase decisions. These included: price, information on the social, economic and environmental benefits of regional production, different production standards (conventional/organic) and information on on-farm slaughtering. Our findings indicate that consumers derive the highest utility from a low price, followed by information about on-farm slaughtering. Participants indicated a preference for information on high animal welfare over high beef quality. We conclude that highlighting on-farm slaughtering could be a significant benefit in marketing premium beef products.
Metabolomics Analysis Provides Novel Insights into the Difference in Meat Quality between Different Pig Breeds
Authors: Liu Hongwei , He Jun , Yuan Zehong , Xie Kunhong , He Zongze , Zhou Xiang , Wang Man , He Jian
Published: September 2023

The Chuanzang black (CB) pig is a new crossbred between Chinese local breeds and modern breeds. Here, we investigated the growth performance, plasma indexes, carcass traits, and meat quality characteristics of conventional DLY (Duroc × Landrace × Yorkshire) crossbreed and CB pigs. The LC-MS/MS-based metabolomics of pork from DLY and CB pigs, as well as the relationship between the changes in the metabolic spectrum and meat quality, were analyzed. In this study, CB pigs presented lower final body weight, average daily gain, carcass weight, and eye muscle area than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Conversely, the ratio of feed to gain, marbling score, and meat color score of longissimus dorsi (LD) were higher in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Moreover, psoas major (PM) showed a higher meat color score and a lower cooking loss in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Interestingly, CB pigs showed lower myofiber diameter and area but higher myofiber density than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Furthermore, the mRNA expression levels of MyHC I, PPARδ, MEF2C, NFATC1, and AMPKα1 were higher in CB than DLY pigs (p ˂ 0.05). Importantly, a total of 753 metabolites were detected in the two tissues (e.g., psoas major and longissimus dorsi) of CB and DLY pigs, of which the difference in metabolite profiles in psoas major between crossbreeds was greater than that in longissimus dorsi. Specifically, palmitic acid, stearic acid, L-aspartic acid, corticosterone, and tetrahydrocorticosterone were the most relevant metabolites of psoas major meat quality, and tetrahydrocorticosterone, L-Palmitoylcarnitine, arachidic acid, erucic acid, and 13Z,16Z-docosadienoic acid in longissimus dorsi meat were positively correlated with meat quality. The most significantly enriched KEGG pathways in psoas major and longissimus dorsi pork were galactose metabolism and purine metabolism, respectively. These results not only indicated improved meat quality in CB pigs as compared to DLY pigs but may also assist in rational target selection for nutritional intervention or genetic breeding in the swine industry.
Gaia BH1: A Key for Understanding the Demography of Low-q Binaries in the Milky Way Galaxy
Authors: Malkov Oleg
Published: September 2023

The recently discovered Gaia BH1 binary system, a Sun-like star and a dark object (presumably a black hole), may significantly change our understanding of the population of binaries. The paper presents the components mass ratio (q) distributions of binary systems of different observational classes. They all show a significant shortage of low-q systems. In this work, I demonstrate (quantitatively) how our ignorance extends, and point out the importance of discovering and studying systems like Gaia BH1. In addition, an approximate mass–temperature relation and mass ratio–magnitude difference relation for main-sequence stars are presented here.