bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bloody Amniotic Fluid and Neonatal Outcomes
Authors: Schreiber Hanoch , Cohen Gal , Shalev-Ram Hila , Farladansky-Gershnabel Sivan , Weitzner Omer , Biron-Shental Tal , Kovo Michal , Arnon Shmuel , Markovitch Ofer
Published: July 2023

Information on the effect of bloody amniotic fluid during labor at term is scarce. This study assessed risk factors and adverse outcomes in labors with bloody amniotic fluid. During the six years of this study, all nulliparas in our institution, with a trial of labor, were included. Multiple pregnancies and preterm deliveries were excluded. Outcomes were compared between the bloody amniotic fluid group and the clear amniotic fluid group. Overall, 11,252 women were included. Among them, 364 (3.2%) had bloody amniotic fluid and 10,888 (96.7%) had clear amniotic fluid. Women in the bloody amniotic fluid group were characterized by shorter duration of the second stage and higher rate of cesarean section due to non-reassuring fetal heart rate. In addition, there were higher rates of low cord pH (<7.1) and NICU admissions in the bloody amniotic fluid group. In multivariate logistic regression analysis, cesarean delivery, cord blood pH < 7.1, and NICU admission were independently associated with increased odds ratio for bloody amniotic fluid. Bloody amniotic fluid at term is associated with adverse outcomes and must be considered during labor.
Sobrerol: New Perspectives to Manage Patients with Frequent Respiratory Infections
Authors: Ciprandi Giorgio , Varriccchio Attilio
Published: July 2023

Respiratory tract infections (RTIs) are usually characterized by mucus hypersecretion. This condition may worsen and prolong symptoms and signs. For this reason, reducing mucus production and improving mucus removal represent relevant aspects of managing patients with RTIs. In this regard, mucoactive drugs may be effective. Mucoactive agents constitute a large class of compounds characterized by different mechanisms of action. Sobrerol is a monoterpene able to fluidify mucus, increase mucociliary clearance, and exert antioxidant activity. Sobrerol is available in various formulations (granules, syrup, nebulized, and suppository). Sobrerol has been on the market for over 50 years. Therefore, the present article revised the evidence concerning this compound and proposed new possible strategies. The literature analysis showed that several studies investigated the efficacy and safety of sobrerol in acute and chronic RTIs characterized by mucus hyperproduction. Seven pediatric studies have been conducted with favorable outcomes. However, the regulatory agencies recently reduced the treatment duration to three days. Therefore, a future study will test the hypothesis that a combination of oral and topical sobrerol could benefit children and adults with frequent respiratory tract infections. The rationale of this new approach is based on the concept that mucus accumulation could be a risk factor for increased susceptibility to infections.
Pain Evaluation and Treatment in Children: A Practical Approach
Authors: Sansone Lorenzo , Gentile Cristina , Grasso Eleonora Agata , Di Ludovico Armando , La Bella Saverio , Chiarelli Francesco , Breda Luciana
Published: July 2023

Pain is the most common complaint reported by children who access the emergency departments, but despite its frequency and the availability of many international guidelines, it often remains underreported and undertreated. Recently, the American Academy of Pediatrics and the American Pain Society have reiterated the importance of a multidisciplinary approach in order to eliminate pain in children. In all pediatric settings, an adequate assessment is the initial stage in a proper clinical approach to pain, especially in the emergency departments; therefore, an increasing number of age-related tools have been validated. A wide range of analgesic agents are currently available for pain management, and they should be tailored according to the patient’s age, the drug’s pharmacokinetics and the intensity of pain. In order to facilitate the choice of the appropriate drug, a treatment algorithm based on a ladder approach can be used. Moreover, non-pharmacological techniques should be considered to alleviate anxiety and distress in pediatric age. This review aims to offer a simple but intuitive description of the best strategies for pain relief in children, starting with the prompt recognition and quantification of pain through adequate assessment scales, and following with the identification of the most appropriate therapeutic choice among the ones available for pediatric age.
The Effects of Social Determinants and Resilience on the Mental Health of Chilean Adolescents
Authors: Caqueo-Urízar Alejandra , Mena-Chamorro Patricio , Henríquez Diego , Urzúa Alfonso , Irarrázaval Matías
Published: July 2023

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effects of social determinants (i.e., gender, educational vulnerability, and socioeconomic status) and resilience on the mental health of Chilean adolescents in pre-, during, and post-COVID-19 pandemic contexts. The study included a group of 684 students, ranging in age from 12 to 18 years, who were attending educational institutions in the city of Arica. The Child and Adolescent Assessment System (SENA) was used to measure mental health problems, the Brief Resilience Scale for Children and Youth (CYRM-12) was used to measure resilience, and the Vulnerability Index of Educational Institutions was used to measure educational vulnerability. The results suggest increases in depressive, anxious, and social anxiety symptomatologies over time (wave by year, 2018, 2020, and 2021). In addition, multiple linear regression models showed predictive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic, gender, vulnerability index, socioeconomic status, and resilient behaviors on mental health problems. The worsening of mental health indicators over time requires the greater coordination and integration of mental health experts in the most vulnerable educational centers.
HLA-G Alleles Impact the Perinatal Father–Child HPV Transmission
Authors: Suominen Nelli T. , Roger Michel , Faucher Marie-Claude , Syrjänen Kari J. , Grénman Seija E. , Syrjänen Stina M. , Louvanto Karolina
Published: July 2023

The host factors that influence father-to-child human papillomavirus (HPV) transmission remain unknown. This study evaluated whether human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-G alleles are important in father-to-child HPV transmission during the perinatal period. Altogether, 134 father–newborn pairs from the Finnish Family HPV Study were included. Oral, semen and urethral samples from the fathers were collected before the delivery, and oral samples were collected from their offspring at delivery and postpartum on day 3 and during 1-, 2- and 6-month follow-up visits. HLA-G alleles were tested by direct sequencing. Unconditional logistic regression was used to determine the association of the father–child HLA-G allele and genotype concordance with the father–child HPV prevalence and concordance at birth and during follow-up. HLA-G allele G*01:01:03 concordance was associated with the father’s urethral and child’s oral high-risk (HR)-HPV concordance at birth (OR 17.00, 95% CI: 1.24–232.22). HLA-G allele G*01:04:01 concordance increased the father’s oral and child’s postpartum oral any- and HR-HPV concordance with an OR value of 7.50 (95% CI: 1.47–38.16) and OR value of 7.78 (95% CI: 1.38–43.85), respectively. There was no association between different HLA-G genotypes and HPV concordance among the father–child pairs at birth or postpartum. To conclude, the HLA-G allele concordance appears to impact the HPV transmission between the father and his offspring.
Improving the Size Distribution of Polymeric Oblates Fabricated by the Emulsion-in-Gel Deformation Method
Authors: Vite Giselle , Lopez-Godoy Samuel , Díaz-Leyva Pedro , Kozina Anna
Published: July 2023

The optimization of fabrication conditions for colloidal micron-sized oblates obtained by the deformation of an oil-in-hydrogel emulsion is reported. The influence of the type of emulsion stabilizer, ultrasonication parameters, and emulsion and gel mixing conditions was explored. The best conditions with which to obtain more uniform particles were using polyvinyl alcohol as an emulsion stabilizer mixed with the gelatine solution at 35 °C and slowly cooling to room temperature. Four fractionation methods were applied to oblates to improve their size uniformity. The iterative differential centrifugation method produced the best size polydispersity reduction.
Ultraviolet Filters for Cosmetic Applications
Authors: Nitulescu Georgiana , Lupuliasa Dumitru , Adam-Dima Ines , Nitulescu George Mihai
Published: July 2023

Sunscreens reduce the occurrence risk of skin disorders such as sunburn, skin aging, and cancer through their ability to absorb, reflect, and scatter ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This review provides an overview of UV filters as active ingredients of sunscreen products, emphasizing their classification and structural characteristics. Their photostability, mechanism of action of ultraviolet radiation absorption, optical properties, and regulatory status are discussed based on their chemical structure. The main classes of organic UV filters presented include aminobenzoic acid derivatives, salicylic acid derivatives, cinnamic acid derivatives, benzophenones, dibenzoylmethane derivatives, benzylidene camphor derivatives, triazines, benzimidazole derivatives, and benzotriazole derivatives. The pursuit of new UV filters through research is crucial in advancing sunscreen technology and ensuring the availability of effective and safe options for sun protection.
Characterization of Mitochondrial DNA Methylation of Alzheimer’s Disease in Plasma Cell-Free DNA
Authors: Ding Binrong , Zhang Xuewei , Wan Zhengqing , Tian Feng , Ling Jie , Tan Jieqiong , Peng Xiaoqing
Published: July 2023

Noninvasive diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is important for patients. Significant differences in the methylation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) were found in AD brain tissue. Cell-free DNA (cfDNA) is a noninvasive and economical diagnostic tool. We aimed to characterize mtDNA methylation alterations in the plasma cfDNA of 31 AD patients and 26 age- and sex-matched cognitively normal control subjects. We found that the mtDNA methylation patterns differed between AD patients and control subjects. The mtDNA was predominantly hypomethylated in the plasma cfDNA of AD patients. The hypomethylation sites or regions were mainly located in mt-rRNA, mt-tRNA, and D-Loop regions. The hypomethylation of the D-Loop region in plasma cfDNA of AD patients was consistent with that in previous studies. This study presents evidence that hypomethylation in the non-protein coding region of mtDNA may contribute to the pathogenesis of AD and potential application for the diagnosis of AD.
Point-of-Care Ultrasound for the Evaluation and Management of Posterior Cruciate Ligament Injuries: A Systematic Review
Authors: Stoianov Anca Gabriela , Patrascu Jenel Marian , Hogea Bogdan Gheorghe , Andor Bogdan , Florescu Sorin , Misca Liviu Coriolan , Laza Ruxandra , Fericean Roxana Manuela , Mavrea Adelina , Terzi Artiom , Patrascu Jenel Marian
Published: July 2023

Posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) injuries, though less common than other knee ligament injuries, pose significant management challenges. This study aimed to systematically review and analyze the current evidence on the use of point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) for the evaluation and management of PCL injuries. It was hypothesized that POCUS has comparable diagnostic accuracy to magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and that the use of POCUS improves patient outcomes and reduces healthcare costs. A comprehensive systematic review of articles published up to April 2023 was conducted using PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane, and Scopus databases and adhered to the PRISMA guidelines. Studies were selected based on relevance to the research question, with a focus on diagnostic accuracy, reliability, clinical utility, and cost-effectiveness of POCUS in PCL injuries. Seven studies, analyzing a total of 242 patients with PCL injuries, were included. The reported sensitivity and specificity of POCUS for diagnosing PCL injuries ranged from 83.3% to 100% and 86.7% to 100%, respectively, across the studies. In one study, POCUS demonstrated a positive predictive value (PPV) of 87.9% and a negative predictive value (NPV) of 82.4%. Additionally, three studies reported 100% accuracy in PCL injury detection using POCUS, suggesting a substantial potential for cost savings by eliminating the need for MRI. This systematic review supports the use of POCUS in the evaluation and management of PCL injuries, suggesting that POCUS is a reliable, cost-effective tool with high diagnostic accuracy comparable to that of MRI, offering the potential to improve patient outcomes and reduce healthcare costs. The data collated in this review can inform clinical practice and guide future research in the field.
Pulmonary Hypertension in the Course of Interstitial Lung Diseases—A Personalised Approach Is Needed to Identify a Dominant Cause and Provide an Effective Therapy
Authors: Kacprzak Aneta , Tomkowski Witold , Szturmowicz Monika
Published: July 2023

The prevalence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) complicating interstitial lung diseases (ILDs) is 3.5–15% at an early stage, and up to 90% in ILD patients listed for lung transplantation. In addition, other types of PH may occur in patients with ILDs due to concomitant conditions. Therefore, any significant PH occurring in the setting of ILD requires a proper differential workup. PH increases morbidity and mortality in ILDs. The pathomechanisms underlying PH due to ILD (PH-ILD) are not fully known, and there is no straightforward correlation between the presence or severity of PH-ILD and the severity of ILD. Severe PH in mild ILD without other explanatory causes constitutes a dilemma of differentiating between PH due to ILD and pulmonary arterial hypertension coexisting with ILDs. The heterogeneity and poor prognosis of patients with ILDs coexisting with PH necessitate an individualised approach to the management of this condition. This review presents recent advances in understanding and treatment options in PH-ILD. It also addresses practical issues, such as when to suspect and how to screen for PH in ILD, what are the indications for right heart catheterisation, and how to approach an individual ILD patient to determine the dominant PH cause and apply adequate management.
The Role of Apical Periodontitis Disease in the Development of Bisphosphonate-Related Osteonecrosis of the Jaw: An Animal Study
Authors: Marques-Ferreira Manuel , Abrantes Ana Margarida , Paula Anabela , Laranjo Mafalda , Pires Ana Salomé , Caramelo Francisco , Segura-Egea Juan José , Brito Ana , Carvalho Lina , Botelho Maria Filomena , Carrilho Eunice , Marto Carlos Miguel , Paulo Siri
Published: July 2023

Background: Microorganisms and their by-products are responsible for establishing pulpal and periapical diseases. Healing is compromised in patients under bisphosphonate therapy, and the presence of periapical infections can potentially lead to the development of medication-related osteonecrosis of the jaw (MRONJ). This work aimed to evaluate if bisphosphonate therapy is a risk factor for MRONJ development in the presence of periapical lesions. Methods: Two groups of 10 female Wistar rats were used. The experimental group received zoledronate (0.1 mg/kg) intraperitoneally, and the control received a saline solution, three times a week for three weeks. One week after the last injection, apical periodontitis was induced through pulpal exposure in the mandibular first molars. Twenty-one days later, the animals were intravenously injected with 99mTc-HMDP, and the radioactivity uptake by mandibular specimens was counted. In addition, sample radiographs and a histological examination were performed. Results: The bone loss was higher in the control group when compared to the experimental group (p = 0.027). 99mTc-HMDP uptake in the control was reduced compared with the experimental group, although without statistical significance. Conclusions: In the presence of zoledronate therapy, apical periodontitis does not increase the risk of MRONJ development, and periapical lesions have lower bone resorption when compared to the control group.
Object Detection in Drone Video with Temporal Attention Gated Recurrent Unit Based on Transformer
Authors: Zhou Zihao , Yu Xianguo , Chen Xiangcheng
Published: July 2023

Unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based object detection plays a pivotal role in civil and military fields. Unfortunately, the problem is more challenging than general visual object detection due to the significant appearance deterioration in images captured by drones. Considering that video contains more abundant visual features and motion information, a better idea for UAV based image object detection is to enhance target appearance in reference frame by aggregating the features in neighboring frames. However, simple feature aggregation methods will frequently introduce the interference of background into targets. To solve this problem, we proposed a more effective module, termed Temporal Attention Gated Recurrent Unit (TA-GRU), to extract effective temporal information based on recurrent neural networks and transformers. TA-GRU works as an add-on module to bring existing static object detectors to high performance video object detectors, with negligible extra computational cost. To validate the efficacy of our module, we selected YOLOv7 as baseline and carried out comprehensive experiments on the VisDrone2019-VID dataset. Our TA-GRU empowered YOLOv7 to not only boost the detection accuracy by 5.86% in the mean average precision (mAP) on the challenging VisDrone dataset, but also to reach a running speed of 24 frames per second (fps).
A New Forecasting Approach for Oil Price Using the Recursive Decomposition–Reconstruction–Ensemble Method with Complexity Traits
Authors: Wang Fang , Li Menggang , Wang Ruopeng
Published: July 2023

The subject of oil price forecasting has obtained an incredible amount of interest from academics and policymakers in recent years due to the widespread impact that it has on various economic fields and markets. Thus, a novel method based on decomposition–reconstruction–ensemble for crude oil price forecasting is proposed. Based on the Complete Ensemble Empirical Mode Decomposition with Adaptive Noise (CEEMDAN) technique, in this paper we construct a recursive CEEMDAN decomposition–reconstruction–ensemble model considering the complexity traits of crude oil data. In this model, the steps of mode reconstruction, component prediction, and ensemble prediction are driven by complexity traits. For illustration and verification purposes, the West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent crude oil spot prices are used as the sample data. The empirical result demonstrates that the proposed model has better prediction performance than the benchmark models. Thus, the proposed recursive CEEMDAN decomposition–reconstruction–ensemble model can be an effective tool to forecast oil price in the future.
The Effect of the Entrepreneurial Ecosystem of Universities on the Innovative Activity in Russian Regions
Authors: Myzrova Olga A. , Goryacheva Tatyana V. , Sysoeva Olga V. , Sysoev Victor V.
Published: July 2023

The entrepreneurial ecosystem of universities is frequently recognized to have a key influence on the innovative activity of the related regions. However, these relationships have not been explored in the scientific literature regarding Russia. Therefore, the current study aims to determine and identify the contours of the entrepreneurial ecosystem of domestic universities in terms of the innovative activity of subjects in Russian regions. The methodological toolkit covers methods for information processing such as monographic desk research, hierarchical cluster and correlation analyses, and comparative analysis. Applying a hierarchical cluster analysis, we grouped universities according to the level of entrepreneurial activity with the allocation of the average value in order to determine the existing correlations and elucidate the problems in involving university innovations in the ratings of innovative activity of regions. The results contribute to the development of existing approaches toward the study of the entrepreneurial ecosystems of universities through a deeper understanding of their role in stimulating the innovative activity of regions and transformation processes.
A Comparison of Pre-Service Science Teacher Education in Myanmar, the Philippines and Japan
Authors: Kyi Wai Wai , Errabo Denis Dyvee , Isozaki Tetsuo
Published: July 2023

Teacher education is the very first step for preparing quality teachers and it is crucial to provide quality teacher training. This research aims to analyze and compare pre-service teacher education policies and programs in Myanmar, the Philippines, and Japan, focusing on secondary science teachers. A case study research design was employed by utilizing Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) framework. The result shows that TPACK components found in national education policies and programs in Myanmar were Content Knowledge (CK), Pedagogical Knowledge (PK), and Pedagogical Content Knowledge (PCK). On the other hand, TPACK found in the Philippines and Japan were CK, PK, Technological Knowledge (TK), PCK, Technological Content Knowledge (TCK), and Technological Pedagogical Knowledge (TPK). In all three countries, limited provision of Technological Pedagogical and Content Knowledge (TPACK) was found. It is interpreted that provision of a balanced and sufficient knowledge of TPACK is essential to well equip pre-service teachers with required knowledge and skills considering internationalization and transnational education. This research uncovered the general patterns and trends in pre-service teacher education for science in three Asian countries as well as their uniqueness and best practices.
Transforming Gifted Education in Schools: Practical Applications of a Comprehensive Framework for Developing Academic Talent
Authors: Subotnik Rena F. , Olszewski-Kubilius Paula , Corwith Susan , Calvert Eric , Worrell Frank C.
Published: July 2023

The foundation for talent development as a framework for gifted education can be found in a synthesis of the psychological literature on creativity, eminence, giftedness, and high performance. The talent development framework acknowledges the contributions of both general cognitive ability and domain-specific abilities to achievement, as well as the malleability of these ability constructs. Talent development is also consistent with research on the contributions of non-cognitive or psychosocial factors to school achievement, as well as studies on factors that influence the attainment of scholarly productivity and artistry within specific domains of non-academic talent. Although there are several theoretical frameworks and models of giftedness, talent development, ability, and intelligence, each with varied areas of emphasis and desired outcomes, the research base and practical applications for the talent development megamodel (TDMM) can serve as a guide to leaders and school administrators in making fiscal and programmatic decisions that maximize short- and long-term impacts for individuals and society. In this article, we discuss some of the practical implications of the model for assessment, curriculum and instruction, and psychosocial development within a school context.
Development of Digital Competences in Students of a Public State-Owned Chilean University Considering the Safety Area
Authors: Rioseco Pais Marcelo , Silva Quiroz Juan , Carrasco-Manríquez Claudia
Published: July 2023

The present study was carried out in a Chilean public university with the purpose of describing digital competences in safety area and their relationship with contextual variables in first-year students of different programs. In this research study, we processed the competences of the safety area of the COMPDIG-PED test, which is based on the European reference framework for digital skills DIGCOMP. The instrument was applied to 4360 higher education students, attending undergraduate courses in 2021 and 2022. The results indicated a relationship between the context variables analyzed through the COMPDIG-PED test and the digital safety competences. This relationship is linked to higher scores in the female gender, in students with more years of experience in the use of digital technologies, in those who came from private paid or subsidized institutions, and in those who were trained in a humanist scientific education.
A New Approach for Anonymizing Transaction Data with Set Values
Authors: Kim Soon-Seok
Published: July 2023

This article proposes a new method that can guarantee strong privacy while minimizing information loss in transactional data composed of a set of each attribute value in a relational database, which is not generally well-known structured data. The proposed scheme adopts the same top-down partitioning algorithm as the existing k-anonymity model, using local generalization to optimize safety and CPU execution time. At the same time, the information loss rate, which is a disadvantage of the existing local generalization, is further improved by reallocating transactions through an additional bottom-up tree search process after the partitioning process. Our scheme shows a very fast processing time compared to the HgHs algorithm using generalization and deletion techniques. In terms of information loss, our scheme shows much better performance than any schemes proposed so far, such as the existing local generalization or HgHs algorithm. In order to evaluate the efficiency of our algorithm, the experiment compared its performance with the existing local generalization and the HgHs algorithm, in terms of both execution time and information loss rate. As a result of the experiment, for example, when k is 5 in k-anonymity for the dataset BMS-WebView-2, the execution time of our scheme is up to 255 times faster than the HgHs algorithm, and with regard to the information loss rate, our method showed a maximum rate of 62.37 times lower than the local generalization algorithm.
PCBSNet: A Pure Convolutional Bilateral Segmentation Network for Real-Time Natural Scene Text Detection
Authors: Lian Zhe , Yin Yanjun , Zhi Min , Xu Qiaozhi
Published: July 2023

Scene text detection is a fundamental research work in the field of image processing and has extensive application value. Segmentation-based methods have time-consuming feature processing, while post-processing algorithms are excellent. Real-time semantic segmentation methods use lightweight backbone networks for feature extraction and aggregation but lack effective post-processing methods. The pure convolutional network improves model performance by changing key components. Combining the advantages of three types of methods, we propose a Pure Convolutional Bilateral Segmentation Network (PCBSNet) for real-time natural scene text detection. First, we constructed a bilateral feature extraction backbone network to significantly improve detection speed. The low extraction detail branch captures spatial information, while the efficient semantic extraction branch accurately captures semantic features through a series of micro designs. Second, we built an efficient attention aggregation module to guide the efficient and adaptive aggregation of features from the two branches. The fused feature map undergoes feature enhancement to obtain more accurate and reliable feature representation. Finally, we used differentiable binarization post-processing to construct text instance boundaries. To evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed model, we compared it with mainstream lightweight models on three datasets: ICDAR2015, MSRA-TD500, and CTW1500. The F-measure scores were 82.9%, 82.8%, and 78.9%, respectively, and the FPS were 59.1, 94.3, and 75.5 frames per second. We also conducted extensive ablation experiments on the ICDAR2015 dataset to validate the rationality of the proposed improvements. The obtained results indicate that the proposed model significantly improves inference speed while enhancing accuracy and demonstrates good competitiveness compared to other advanced detection methods. However, when faced with curved text, the detection performance of PCBSNet needs to be improved.
Optimal Coordination of Directional Overcurrent Relays Using Hybrid Firefly–Genetic Algorithm
Authors: Foqha Tareq , Khammash Maher , Alsadi Samer , Omari Osama , Refaat Shady S. , Al-Qawasmi Khaled , Elrashidi Ali
Published: July 2023

The application of directional overcurrent relays (DOCRs) plays an important role in protecting power systems and ensuring their safe, reliable, and efficient operation. However, coordinating DOCRs involves solving a highly constrained and nonlinear optimization problem. The primary objective of optimization is to minimize the total operating time of DOCRs by determining the optimal values for decision variables such as the time multiplier setting (TMS) and plug setting (PS). This article presents an efficient hybrid optimization algorithm that combines the modified firefly algorithm and genetic algorithm to achieve improved solutions. First, this study modifies the firefly algorithm to obtain a global solution by updating the firefly’s brightness and to prevent the distance between the individual fireflies from being too far. Additionally, the randomized movements are controlled to produce a high convergence rate. Second, the optimization problem is solved using the genetic algorithm. Finally, the solution obtained from the modified firefly algorithm is used as the initial population for the genetic algorithm. The proposed algorithms have been tested on the IEEE 3-bus, 8-bus, 9-bus and 15-bus networks. The results indicate the effectiveness and superiority of the proposed algorithms in minimizing the total operating time of DOCRs compared with other optimization methods presented in the literature.
An Ensemble Framework for Short-Term Load Forecasting Based on TimesNet and TCN
Authors: Zuo Chuanhui , Wang Jialong , Liu Mingping , Deng Suhui , Wang Qingnian
Published: July 2023

Accurate and efficient short-term power load forecasting is crucial for ensuring the stable operation of power systems and rational planning of electricity resources. However, power load data are often characterized by nonlinearity and instability due to external factors such as meteorological conditions and day types, making accurate load forecasting challenging. While some hybrid models can effectively capture the spatiotemporal features of power load data, they often overlook the multi-periodicity of load data, leading to suboptimal feature extraction and efficiency. In this paper, a novel hybrid framework for short-term load forecasting based on TimesNet and temporal convolutional network (TCN) is proposed. Firstly, the original load data are preprocessed to reconstruct a feature matrix. Secondly, the TimesNet transforms the one-dimensional time series into a set of two-dimensional tensors based on multiple periods, capturing dependencies within different time scales and the relationships between different time scales in power load data. Then, the temporal convolutional network is employed to further extract the temporal features and long-term dependencies of the load data, enabling a more global pattern to be obtained for temporal information. Finally, the results of load forecasting can be achieved from the fully connected layer based on the extracted features. To verify the effectiveness and generalization of the proposed model, experiments have been conducted based on the ISO-NE and Southern China datasets. Experimental results show that the proposed model greatly outperforms the long short-term memory (LSTM), TCN, TimesNet, TCN-LSTM, and TimesNet-LSTM models. The proposed model reduces the mean absolute percentage error by 20% to 43% for the ISO-NE dataset and by 10% to 31% for the Southern China dataset, respectively.
Experience in Scaling-Up of Photo-Thermo-Catalytic Purification of Process Gasses from NOx
Authors: Lasek Janusz Andrzej , Głód Krzysztof , Fryza Rafał , Dobras Szymon , Chwoła Tadeusz , Supernok Krzysztof , Wu Jeffrey Chi-Sheng , Wu Andy Peng-Yu , Huang Chao-Wei
Published: July 2023

Photo-thermo-catalytic or PTC purification of process gasses (i.e., air, flue gases, and others) from NOx is presented in this study. A discussion of temperature’s role in photocatalytic NOx removal and the progress of photo-thermo-catalytic reactors for the NOx removal process are presented. Lab- and pilot-scale reactors are described. The impact of temperature on the photocatalytic conversion of hydrocarbons is analyzed with regard to its relation to the photocatalytic selective reduction of NOx (photo-SCR). Another important issue is light transfer in pilot-scale reactors due to the sensitivity of light sources to temperature. Examples of light transfer solutions in photo-thermo-catalytic reactors are presented. Finally, the further development of photo-thermo-catalytic reactors is discussed, including pressurized systems.
Mathematical Identification Analysis of a Fractional-Order Delayed Model for Tuberculosis
Authors: Georgiev Slavi
Published: July 2023

Extensive research was conducted on the transmission dynamics of tuberculosis epidemics during its reemergence from the 1980s to the early 1990s, but this global problem of investigating tuberculosis spread dynamics remains of paramount importance. Our study utilized a fractional-order delay differential model to study tuberculosis transmission, where the time delay in the model was attributed to the disease’s latent period. What is more, this model accounts for endogenous reactivation, exogenous reinfection, and treatment of tuberculosis. The model qualitative properties and the basic reproduction number were analyzed. The primary goal of the study was to recover the important dynamic parameters of tuberculosis. Our understanding of these complex processes leverages the efficacy of efforts for controlling the disease, forecasting future dynamics, and applying further appropriate strategies to prevent its spread.The calibration itself was carried out via minimization of a quadratic cost functional. Computational simulations demonstrated that the algorithm is capable of working with noisy real data.
Assessing the Risk of Depression Tendency in Pregnancy and Puerperium during COVID-19 Pandemic in Poland
Authors: Sioma-Markowska Urszula , Krawczyk Patrycja , Brzęk Anna
Published: July 2023

The aim of the study was to assess the risk and severity of depression tendency in pregnant and postpartum women and to determine the relative risk for selected psychosocial and obstetric variables. The study included 317 women in the perinatal period. The severity of depressive disorders was assessed using standard self-report scales: EPDS (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale), BDI-II (Depression Inventory—Second Edition), and HADS (Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale). High rates of depression tendency in women in the third trimester of pregnancy were reported in 48.05% of pregnant women (≥10 EPDS scores), 49.36% (≥12 BDI II scores), and 41.55% (≥8 HADS-D scores). In contrast, in women in the first week after delivery, respectively: 33.74%; 28.83%; 22.08%. In the EPDS assessment, 11.69% of pregnant women and 17.79% of postpartum women confirmed the presence of self-injurious thoughts. A woman’s diagnosis of depressive disorder before pregnancy increases the risk of postpartum depression tendency 3.35 times according to the EPDS, 3.51 times according to the BDI-II, and 4.89 times according to the HADS-D. Depressive disorders were significantly more common in pregnant women compared to women in the first week of postpartum. Systematic screening can identify risk factors for prenatal and postpartum depression.
Design, Development, and Validation of the Self-Perceived Health Scale (SPHS)
Authors: Tinajero-Chávez Lorena Ishel , Mora-Romo José Fernando , Bravo-Doddoli Andrea , Cruz-Narciso Beatríz Viridiana , Calleja Nazira , Toledano-Toledano Filiberto
Published: July 2023

Health is a multidimensional concept with notable psychological factors, such as self-perceived health (SPH). SPH is defined as the subjective assessment of individual health status, and it integrates information related to both physical and psychological aspects, such as lifestyle. This study describes the development of the Self-Perceived Health Scale (SPHS), and its validation in a Mexican sample (n = 600). Exploratory factor analysis (n = 303) and confirmatory factor analysis (n = 293) were carried out, and they supported the three-dimensionality of the SPH construct: physical health, psychological health, and healthy lifestyle. A final 12-item scale was obtained, and the scale showed adequate validity and reliability, as well as measurement invariance between sexes, indicating its robustness.
Personalized Use of an Adjustable Movement-Controlled Video Game in Obstetric Brachial Plexus Palsy during Physiotherapy Sessions at School: A Case Report
Authors: Domingo Beatriz , Terroso Noelia , Eckert Martina
Published: July 2023

This case study explores the use of a personalized, adjustable Kinect exergame in 10 physiotherapy sessions for a 10-year-old girl with incomplete right-sided obstetric brachial plexus palsy (OBPP). The aim was to observe the impact on the patient’s upper limb mobility that could be achieved through maximization of the player’s motivation, possibly due to continuous game parameter adjustments. It had been achieved that the patient was playing 87% of the total gaming time with a personally challenging setting that increased her arm speed from one to four movements. Strength in abduction and flexion were increased by 8 N and 7 N, respectively. Furthermore, the patient showed better muscular balance and an increase of 50% in speed of the Jebsen-Taylor hand function test (JTHFT). The patient reported high levels of motivation, low perception of fatigue, and just slight discomfort. The study found that the use of personalized video games as a complement to conventional physiotherapy can be successful in OBPP patients when the game allows for the adjustment of the difficulty level as a response to personal performance. Predefined difficulty levels and automatic performance analysis can be helpful. Results are promising; however, further research is needed to confirm the results.
Exploring Extracellular Vesicles of Probiotic Yeast as Carriers of Biologically Active Molecules Transferred to Human Intestinal Cells
Authors: Mierzejewska Jolanta , Kowalska Patrycja , Marlicka Klaudia , Dworakowska Sara , Sitkiewicz Ewa , Trzaskowski Maciej , Głuchowska Agata , Mosieniak Grażyna , Milner-Krawczyk Małgorzata
Published: July 2023

Extracellular vesicles (EVs) are nanoparticles containing various bioactive cargos—e.g., proteins, RNAs, and lipids—that are released into the environment by all cell types. They are involved in, amongst other functions, intercellular communication. This article presents studies on EVs produced by the probiotic yeast Saccharomyces boulardii CNCM I-745. The size distribution and concentration of EVs in the liquid culture of yeast were estimated. Moreover, the vesicles of S. boulardii were tested for their cytotoxicity against three model human intestinal cell lines. This study did not show any significant negative effect of yeast EVs on these cells under tested conditions. In addition, EVs of S. boulardii were verified for their ability to internalize in vitro with human cells and transfer their cargo. The yeast vesicles were loaded with doxorubicin, an anticancer agent, and added to the cellular cultures. Subsequently, microscopic observations revealed that these EVs transferred the compound to human intestinal cell lines. A cytotoxicity test confirmed the activity of the transferred doxorubicin. Detailed information about the proteins present in EVs might be important in terms of exploring yeast EVs as carriers of active molecules. Thus, proteomic analysis of the EV content was also conducted within the present study, and it allowed the identification of 541 proteins after matching them to the Saccharomyces Genome Database (SGD). Altogether, this study provides strong evidence that the EVs of the probiotic CNCM I-745 strain could be considered a drug delivery system.
Evolutionary Origin of Human PALB2 Germline Pathogenic Variants
Authors: Chian Jia Sheng , Li Jiaheng , Wang San Ming
Published: July 2023

PALB2 (Partner and localizer of BRCA2) is crucial for repairing DNA double-stranded breaks (DSBs) through homologous recombination (HR). Germline pathogenic variation in PALB2 disrupts DNA damage repair and increases the risk of Fanconi Anemia, breast cancer, and ovarian cancer. Determination of the evolutionary origin of human PALB2 variants will promote a deeper understanding of the biological basis of PALB2 germline variation and its roles in human diseases. We tested the evolution origin for 1444 human PALB2 germline variants, including 484 pathogenic and 960 benign variants. We performed a phylogenic analysis by tracing the variants in 100 vertebrates. However, we found no evidence to show that cross-species conservation was the origin of PALB2 germline pathogenic variants, but it is indeed a rich source for PALB2 germline benign variants. We performed a paleoanthropological analysis by tracing the variants in over 5000 ancient humans. We identified 50 pathogenic in 71 ancient humans dated from 32,895 to 689 before the present, of which 90.1% were dated within the recent 10,000 years. PALB2 benign variants were also highly shared with ancient humans. Data from our study reveal that human PALB2 pathogenic variants mostly arose in recent human history.
Transcriptome Analysis Reveals the Effect of Stocking Density on Energy Metabolism in the Gills of Cherax quadricarinatus under Rice-Crayfish Co-Culture
Authors: Jia Rui , Dong Yin , Hou Yiran , Feng Wenrong , Li Bing , Zhu Jian
Published: July 2023

Stocking density is a crucial factor affecting productivity in aquaculture, and high stocking density is a stressor for aquatic animals. In this study, we aimed to investigate the effects of stocking densities on oxidative stress and energy metabolism in the gills of Cherax quadricarinatus under rice-crayfish farming. The C. quadricarinatus were reared at low density (LD), medium density (MD), and high density (HD) for 90 days. The results showed that the superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione (GSH), and malondialdehyde (MDA) levels were higher in the HD group than those in the LD group. Transcriptomic analysis revealed 1944 upregulated and 1157 downregulated genes in the gills of the HD group compared to the LD group. Gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis indicated that these differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were significantly associated with ATP metabolism. KEGG (Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes) analysis also showed that high stocking density resulted in the dysregulation of oxidative phosphorylation. Furthermore, high stocking density upregulated six lipid metabolism-related pathways. Overall, our findings, despite the limited number of samples, suggested that high stocking density led to oxidative stress and dysregulation of energy metabolism in the gills of C. quadricarinatus under rice–crayfish co-culture. Alteration in energy metabolism may be an adaptive response to adverse farming conditions.
Genomic Features of Antimicrobial Resistance in Staphylococcus pseudintermedius Isolated from Dogs with Pyoderma in Argentina and the United States: A Comparative Study
Authors: Srednik Mariela E. , Perea Claudia A. , Giacoboni Gabriela I. , Hicks Jessica A. , Foxx Christine L. , Harris Beth , Schlater Linda K.
Published: July 2023

Staphylococcus pseudintermedius is the most common opportunistic pathogen in dogs and methicillin resistance (MRSP) has been identified as an emerging problem in canine pyoderma. Here, we evaluated the antimicrobial resistance (AMR) features and phylogeny of S. pseudintermedius isolated from canine pyoderma cases in Argentina (n = 29) and the United States (n = 29). 62% of isolates showed multi-drug resistance. The AMR genes found: mecA, blaZ, ermB, dfrG, catA, tetM, aac(6′)-aph(2″), in addition to tetK and lnuA (only found in U.S. isolates). Two point mutations were detected: grlA(S80I)-gyrA(S84L), and grlA(D84N)-gyrA(S84L) in one U.S. isolate. A mutation in rpoB (H481N) was found in two isolates from Argentina. SCCmec type III, SCCmec type V, ΨSCCmec57395 were identified in the Argentinian isolates; and SCCmec type III, SCCmec type IVg, SCCmec type V, and SCCmec type VII variant in the U.S. cohort. Sequence type (ST) ST71 belonging to a dominant clone was found in isolates from both countries, and ST45 only in Argentinian isolates. This is the first study to comparatively analyze the population structure of canine pyoderma-associated S. pseudintermedius isolates in Argentina and in the U.S. It is important to maintain surveillance on S. pseudintermedius populations to monitor AMR and gain further understanding of its evolution and dissemination.
Inhibitory Effect of Adsorption of Streptococcus mutans onto Scallop-Derived Hydroxyapatite
Authors: Usuda Momoko , Kametani Mariko , Hamada Masakazu , Suehiro Yuto , Matayoshi Saaya , Okawa Rena , Naka Shuhei , Matsumoto-Nakano Michiyo , Akitomo Tatsuya , Mitsuhata Chieko , Koumoto Kazuya , Kawauchi Keiko , Nishikata Takahito , Yagi Masatoshi , Mizoguchi Toshiro , Fujikawa Koki , Taniguchi Taizo , Nakano Kazuhiko , Nomura Ryota
Published: July 2023

Hydroxyapatite adsorbs various substances, but little is known about the effects on oral bacteria of adsorption onto hydroxyapatite derived from scallop shells. In the present study, we analyzed the effects of adsorption of Streptococcus mutans onto scallop-derived hydroxyapatite. When scallop-derived hydroxyapatite was mixed with S. mutans, a high proportion of the bacterial cells adsorbed onto the hydroxyapatite in a time-dependent manner. An RNA sequencing analysis of S. mutans adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite showed that the upregulation of genes resulted in abnormalities in pathways involved in glycogen and histidine metabolism and biosynthesis compared with cells in the absence of hydroxyapatite. S. mutans adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite was not killed, but the growth of the bacteria was inhibited. Electron microscopy showed morphological changes in S. mutans cells adsorbed onto hydroxyapatite. Our results suggest that hydroxyapatite derived from scallop shells showed a high adsorption ability for S. mutans. This hydroxyapatite also caused changes in gene expression related to the metabolic and biosynthetic processes, including the glycogen and histidine of S. mutans, which may result in a morphological change in the surface layer and the inhibition of the growth of the bacteria.