bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Delayed treatment seeking and its associated factors among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who are on follow-up at Dilla University Referral Hospital in the southern region of Ethiopia, 2022: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Negash Misrak , Temesgen Bethel , Kassaw Chalachew , Abebe Lulu , Moges Solomon , Sime Yohanes , Yimer Solomon
Published: September 2023

Background

Delay in psychiatric treatment leads to increased morbidity and mortality, as well as the emergence of several psychiatric and physical comorbidities and the use of life-threatening and life-altering self-treatments (such as licit and illicit substance misuse). Delaying detection and taking preventive measures against its modifiable factors are crucial for a better prognosis.

Objective

To assess delayed treatment seeking and its associated factors among people with schizophrenia spectrum disorders who are on follow-up at Dilla University Referral Hospital in the southern region of Ethiopia.

Method

An institution-based cross-sectional study was conducted between 8 June and 11 September at Dilla University Referral Hospital in the southern region of Ethiopia in 2022. Epicollect was used to collect data from 414 randomly selected participants using an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Delayed treatment seeking was determined using participants' medical records and a semi-structured questionnaire. The data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 26. A logistic regression analysis was conducted to identify the explanatory variables for delayed treatment.

Results

The magnitude of delayed treatment seeking was 49.8% (95%CI = 44.9, 54.3). Study participants with disengaged family cohesion [AOR = 3.97, 95%CI = (2.999, 7.193)], inflexible family adaptability [AOR = 2.00, 95%CI = (1.686, 4.044)], who lack awareness about the availability of psychiatric treatment [AOR = 1.63, 95%CI = (1.362, 2.626)], high internalized stigma [AOR = 3.24, 95%CI = (2.770, 5.514)], and those with a negative attitude toward psychiatric treatment [AOR = 2.88, 95%CI = (2.034, 4.469)] had delayed seeking treatment. However, the participants whose educational status was higher than diploma [AOR = 0.040, 95%CI = (0.026, 0.077)] and high school [AOR = 0.09, 95%CI = (0.071, 0.204)] were less likely to have delayed seeking treatment.

Conclusions

There is a significant delay in seeking modern psychiatric treatment. Stigma, a lack of awareness of where treatment is available, disengaged family cohesion, inflexible family adaptability, distance to a health facility >5 km, and a negative attitude toward psychiatric treatment were barriers to seeking appropriate care.
Emotional dysregulation as a part of the autism spectrum continuum: a literature review from late childhood to adulthood
Authors: Dell’Osso Liliana , Massoni Leonardo , Battaglini Simone , De Felice Chiara , Nardi Benedetta , Amatori Giulia , Cremone Ivan Mirko , Carpita Barbara
Published: September 2023

The concept of emotional dysregulation (ED) has recently gained interest in the scientific literature and is commonly defined as the inability to use the modulatory mechanisms involved in emotion regulation, resulting in a functioning meaningfully below the baseline. Even though the data available are still limited, an increasing number of studies have hypothesized a promoting role for some of the core features of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) in the development of ED, in particular being repetitive behaviors, social difficulties and alexythimia. In this framework, the purpose of this study was to review the literature that is currently available about presence and correlates of ED in young adults with autism spectrum conditions as well as to offer some insights about possible implications for illness trajectories. The data reported seems to point to a shared etiology between ED and repetitive/restricted ASD symptoms, with perseveration features serving as the foundation for the inability to control one’s emotions. In this context, a neurodevelopmental basis for ED could be consistent with the transnosographic conceptualization of ASD, which hypothesizes a potential neurodevelopmental basis for several psychiatric disorders, whose autistic traits would be the phenotypical presentation.
Better than expected: the gap between self-reported and objective measures of cognitive performance in remitted bipolar disorder
Authors: Quinlivan Esther , Renneberg Babette , Schreiter Stefanie , Friedel Eva , Shmuilovich Olga , Stamm Thomas
Published: September 2023

Background

Studies comparing objective and self-reported cognitive functioning as well as influencing factors in individuals with remitted bipolar disorder are scarce and contradictory.

Methods

The aim of this study was to compare executive functioning and other objective and self-reported cognitive impairment between 26 individuals with remitted bipolar disorder (15 BD I) and 24 healthy controls using a cross-sectional design. Executive functions were measured by the TAP Go/No-go subtest as well as the Stroop Task. Self-rated functioning was assessed using the Attention Deficit Experience Questionnaire. In addition, possible predictors of self-reported and objective cognitive functioning were examined to perform regression analyses.

Results

Individuals with remitted bipolar disorder did not differ significantly in executive functions or other objective cognitive domains from the healthy control group, but showed a significantly lower level of self-reported cognitive functioning and self-esteem. While self-esteem was the strongest predictor in healthy controls for self-reported cognitive functioning, severity of illness and subthreshold depressive mood were the most important predictors in individuals with remitted bipolar disorder.

Conclusion

The results once again demonstrate the cognitive heterogeneity in bipolar disorder. In the treatment of cognitive deficits, factors such as subthreshold depressive symptomatology and self-esteem should be focused on in addition to cognitive training in remitted patients.
Digital intervention for public health: searching for implementing characteristics, concepts and recommendations: scoping review
Authors: Alsaqqa Hatem H. , Alwawi Abdallah
Published: September 2023

Studying the impact of digital interventions on public health can help ensure that the offered services produce the desired results. In order to address these factors, the subsequent study uses a scope review to evaluate the state of the field while concentrating on ideas and suggestions that represent factors that have been crucial in the management of digital intervention for public health. To shed light on the traits, ideas and suggestions related to public health digital intervention, a scoping review was carried out. Five electronic databases were used to locate pertinent research that were published before February 2022. All texts were examined, and study abstracts were scrutinized to determine their eligibility. The last analysis of this study included fifteen publications; five reviews, four qualitative studies, two quantitative studies, one viewpoint study, one mixed-method study, one perspective study, and one interventional study. The key ideas for digital interventions in population management and health studies are presented in this overview. Many concepts, implementation characteristics and recommendations have been raised which highlight the future role of these interventions to enhance public engagement and health equity.
Association between early sexual initiation and sexually transmitted infections among Peruvian reproductive-age women
Authors: Perez-Fernandez Jhosuny , Arroyo-Velasco Diego O. , Huaman Mariella R. , Chavez-Bustamante Sarai G. , Llamo-Vilcherrez Anita P. , Delgado-Flores Carolina J. , Toro-Huamanchumo Carlos J.
Published: September 2023

Background

Sexually transmitted infections (STIs) are a serious public health problem worldwide, especially among reproductive-age women. The early sexual onset of sexual intercourse (EOSI) has been suggested as a risk factor, although there is no data at the national level.

Objective

To evaluate the association between EOSI and STIs in Peruvian women of childbearing age.

Methods

Analytical cross-sectional study with secondary data analyzes of the Peruvian Demographic and Family Health Survey 2018. The outcome was the presence of STIs in the last 12 months and the exposure variable was EOSI (age < 15 years at the time of their first sexual experience). To evaluate the association of interest, crude and adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs) were calculated using generalized linear models with Poisson family and logarithmic link function.

Results

We analyzed data from 31,028 women of childbearing age. The 11.3% reported having STIs in the last 12 months and 20.2% of the participants had an EOSI. After adjusting for potential confounders, we found that EOSI was associated with STIs (aPR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.08–1.50; p = 0.005). When conducting stratified analysis by area of residence and number of sexual partners, this association was maintained in women living in urban areas (aPR: 1.36; 95% CI: 1.11–1.66; p = 0.003) those who did not report having a history of multiple sexual partners (aPR: 1.27; 95% CI: 1.08–1.51; p = 0.005), and those in the middle (aPR: 1.42; 95% CI: 1.03–1.97; p = 0.034) and highest (aPR: 2.12; 95% CI: 1.33–3.39; p = 0.002) wealth quintiles.

Conclusion

Among reproductive-age women from Peru, EOSI was associated with STIs, especially in women living in urban areas, with no history of multiple sexual partners, and belonging to the middle to higher wealth index. The implementation of measures to prevent EOSI and fostering appropriate sexual health counseling for women with EOSI is advised.
The impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on indirect costs of mental illness and behavioral disorders in Poland
Authors: Sobczyk Karolina , Holecki Tomasz , Rogalska Anna
Published: September 2023

Introduction

In various research, the estimation of the disease’s economic burden has been taken into consideration. But given the fact that different settings will have distinguished consequences, determining the economic burden of COVID-19 in the studied environment is of great importance. As a result, this study aimed to show the change in indirect costs of mental health problems due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Poland.

Methods and Results

Indirect costs related to mental health problems were analyzed from the perspective of the Social Insurance Institution in Poland. In 2021, they amounted to about 285.8 billion PLN (Polish currency) [61.1 billion EUR (European currency)], up 6% from the previous year. A large increase in spending on disability benefits was observed for 2019–2021 (+14.7%). Disease groups generating the highest expenditures in the structure of total expenditures on incapacity benefits in 2021 in Poland were mental health problems (16.7% of total expenditures). Expenditures on disability benefits related to mental health problems incurred by Social Security in 2021 amounted to about 7.42 billion PLN [1.6 billion EUR] and were 19.4% higher than in 2019 (before the pandemic). In the 2012–2019 period, there was a significant decrease in expenses related to inpatient rehabilitation (41.3%), while in 2020–2021, these expenses decreased several times as the epidemiological situation related to the COVID pandemic reduced access to such services.

Discussion

This is the first study on the economic burden of COVID-19 indirect costs in Poland. Calculating the economic impact is crucial, particularly when there is a large disease outbreak and countries are severely constrained by financial resources. Doing so could aid in the development of effective social security policies. As shown in this study, the indirect costs of absenteeism expenses due to mental health problems increased significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic. It is necessary to take all possible measures, both in the field of primary and secondary prevention, to prevent disability and exclusion from the labor market of people affected by mental health problems, which is justified by epidemiological data and financial data on the expenses incurred by Social Security for social insurance benefits.
Explainable deep learning in plant phenotyping
Authors: Mostafa Sakib , Mondal Debajyoti , Panjvani Karim , Kochian Leon , Stavness Ian
Published: September 2023

The increasing human population and variable weather conditions, due to climate change, pose a threat to the world's food security. To improve global food security, we need to provide breeders with tools to develop crop cultivars that are more resilient to extreme weather conditions and provide growers with tools to more effectively manage biotic and abiotic stresses in their crops. Plant phenotyping, the measurement of a plant's structural and functional characteristics, has the potential to inform, improve and accelerate both breeders' selections and growers' management decisions. To improve the speed, reliability and scale of plant phenotyping procedures, many researchers have adopted deep learning methods to estimate phenotypic information from images of plants and crops. Despite the successful results of these image-based phenotyping studies, the representations learned by deep learning models remain difficult to interpret, understand, and explain. For this reason, deep learning models are still considered to be black boxes. Explainable AI (XAI) is a promising approach for opening the deep learning model's black box and providing plant scientists with image-based phenotypic information that is interpretable and trustworthy. Although various fields of study have adopted XAI to advance their understanding of deep learning models, it has yet to be well-studied in the context of plant phenotyping research. In this review article, we reviewed existing XAI studies in plant shoot phenotyping, as well as related domains, to help plant researchers understand the benefits of XAI and make it easier for them to integrate XAI into their future studies. An elucidation of the representations within a deep learning model can help researchers explain the model's decisions, relate the features detected by the model to the underlying plant physiology, and enhance the trustworthiness of image-based phenotypic information used in food production systems.
The Secrets of Secretion: Protein Transport in Cells
Authors: Schekman Randy
Published: September 2023

Secretion is a fundamental process in which cells release substances to their external environments. Secretion is essential for many body functions, including growth, digestion, and cell communication. To be secreted, proteins must pass through various stations inside cells, which together form what is called the secretory pathway. In this article, I will tell you about the secretory pathway and the stages that proteins go through from their production up until their secretion. Then, I will present the original work that we did in our lab to identify genes related to the secretory pathway in yeast cells. Finally, I will explain the importance of our work to the overall study of the secretory pathway, both in yeast and mammalian cells.
Seeing Beyond the Limits With Super-Resolution Microscopy
Authors: Betzig Eric
Published: September 2023

When I was young, I wanted to be an astronaut and I was a hard-core science fiction fan. I was always drawn to heroic characters that invented something new that resulted in an amazing breakthrough. When I started my scientific career, I did not want to do something small—I wanted to do something that would be really different and impactful. This is why I chose to work on one of the most difficult problems in the field of optical (light-using) microscopy—how to see objects that are smaller than the wavelength of visible light. This meant challenging a limit that was long believed to be unbreakable. In my research, I developed a method called photoactivated localization microscopy (PALM), which enabled us to break that limit with the help of glowing (fluorescent) molecules. Using the PALM method, and other methods based on glowing molecules, scientists can learn new things about living cells and single molecules and significantly advance our understanding of life.
The Quirky Lives of Quarks: A Close Look Into Matter
Authors: Gross David
Published: September 2023

In the field of particle physics, we try to understand what our universe is made of. We study the basic properties of matter, describe the elementary particles that compose matter, and try to understand how the various particles that build our world work together. In this article, we will dive into the heart of atoms—the building blocks of matter—and try to answer some intriguing, basic questions about the universe such as: “What are protons and neutrons, the particles that make up the nucleus, made of?” and, “Can those components be divided into even smaller particles?”
Why Do We Gossip?
Authors: Mázala-de-Oliveira Thalita , Oliveira Priscila Fernanda Peres de , Barreto Aline Loureiro , Portugal Liana Catarina Lima , Bomfim Priscilla Oliveira-Silva
Published: September 2023

Talking about someone else’s life is an interesting topic for a group conversation. Sometimes it can turn into gossip! We often think of gossip as something negative, and it certainly can be! Gossip can even be a part of bullying. But have you ever thought about whether gossip might also play a positive role in our lives? In this article, we will tell you about some research on why people gossip, and how it might help to build social bonds. We will also explain the complex network of actions that happen in the brain every time we participate in gossip. Hopefully you will learn that, while gossip can sometimes be negative, it is also a normal part of our social lives.
A review of pursuit and saccadic eye movements and their utility in stroke
Authors: Fracica Elizabeth , Hale David E. , Gold Daniel R.
Published: September 2023

The head impulse-nystagmus-test of skew (+ hearing) or HINTS+ exam is a well-established clinical bedside test used in evaluating whether patients with the acute vestibular syndrome have features concerning for a central etiology (e.g., stroke). There are other components of the ocular motor exam that are helpful in the acute setting, including smooth pursuit and saccades. We discuss the anatomy and physiology of the saccade and smooth pursuit pathways from the cortex to the infratentorial region in the context of anterior and posterior circulation strokes in general but with a particular emphasis on distinct vestibular stroke syndromes. For each stroke localization, we review the vascular supply and the expected findings on the HINTS+ exam and correlate this with the expected findings on the smooth pursuit and saccade exams to aid in bedside diagnosis.
Comparison of off-clamp microwave scissors-based sutureless partial nephrectomy versus on-clamp conventional partial nephrectomy in a canine model
Authors: Nguyen Ha Ngoc , Yamada Atsushi , Naka Shigeyuki , Mukaisho Ken-Ichi , Tani Tohru
Published: September 2023

Objectives

To compare the usefulness and safety of off-clamp microwave scissors-based sutureless partial nephrectomy (MSPN) with on-clamp conventional partial nephrectomy (cPN) in dogs.

Methods

We performed off-clamp MSPN using microwave scissors (MWS) in six dogs, and on-clamp cPN in three dogs, in two-stage experiments. The bilateral kidney upper poles were resected via a midline incision under general anesthesia. After 14 days of follow-up, the lower pole resections were performed. The renal calyces exposed during renal resections were sealed and transected using MWS in off-clamp MSPN and were sutured in on-clamp cPN. In the off-clamp MSPN group, the generator's power output of MWS was set as either 50 W or 60 W for each kidney side. We compared the procedure time (PT), ischemic time (IT), blood loss (BL), and normal nephron loss (NNL) between the two techniques using the Mann–Whitney U-test.

Results

We successfully performed 24 off-clamp MSPNs and 12 on-clamp cPNs. The off-clamp MSPN was significantly superior to on-clamp cPN in avoiding renal ischemia (median IT, 0 min vs. 8.6 min, p < 0.001) and reducing PT (median PT, 5.8 min vs. 11.5 min, p < 0.001) and NNL (median NNL, 5.3 mm vs. 6.0 mm, p = 0.006) with comparable BL (median BL, 20.9 ml vs. 23.2 ml, p = 0.804). No bleeding and major urine leakage were noted during the reoperations.

Conclusions

Off-clamp MSPN outperforms on-clamp cPN in lowering the risks of postoperative renal function impairment in dogs.
Progress towards the Replacement of the Rabbit Blood Sugar Test for the Quantitative Determination of the Biological Activity of Insulins (USP <121>) with an In Vitro Assay
Authors: Rüggeberg Sabrina , Wanglin Antje , Demirel Özlem , Hack Rüdiger , Niederhaus Birgit , Bidlingmaier Bernd , Blumrich Matthias , Usener Dirk
Published: September 2023

For the quantification of insulin activity, United States Pharmacopeia (USP) general chapter <121> continues to require the rabbit blood sugar test. For new insulin or insulin analogue compounds, those quantitative data are expected for stability or comparability studies. At Sanofi, many rabbits were used to fulfil the authority’s requirements to obtain quantitative insulin bioactivity data until the in vivo test was replaced. In order to demonstrate comparability between the in vivo and in vitro test systems, this study was designed to demonstrate equivalency. The measurement of insulin lispro and insulin glargine drug substance and drug product batches, including stress samples (diluted or after temperature stress of 30 min at 80 °C), revealed a clear correlation between the in vitro and in vivo test results. The recovery of quantitative in vitro in-cell Western (ICW) results compared to the in vivo test results was within the predefined acceptance limits of 80% to 125%. Thus, the in vitro ICW cell-based bioassay leads to results that are equivalent to the rabbit blood sugar test per USP <121>, and it is highly suitable for insulin activity quantification. For future development compounds, the in vitro in-cell Western cell-based assay can replace the rabbit blood sugar test required by USP <121>.
Pharmacological Ascorbate Elicits Anti-Cancer Activities against Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer through Hydrogen-Peroxide-Induced-DNA-Damage
Authors: Sanookpan Kittipong , Chantaravisoot Naphat , Kalpongnukul Nuttiya , Chuenjit Chatchapon , Wattanathamsan Onsurang , Shoaib Sara , Chanvorachote Pithi , Buranasudja Visarut
Published: September 2023

Non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) poses a significant global health burden with unsatisfactory survival rates, despite advancements in diagnostic and therapeutic modalities. Novel therapeutic approaches are urgently required to improve patient outcomes. Pharmacological ascorbate (P-AscH−; ascorbate at millimolar concentration in plasma) emerged as a potential candidate for cancer therapy for recent decades. In this present study, we explore the anti-cancer effects of P-AscH− on NSCLC and elucidate its underlying mechanisms. P-AscH− treatment induces formation of cellular oxidative distress; disrupts cellular bioenergetics; and leads to induction of apoptotic cell death and ultimately reduction in clonogenic survival. Remarkably, DNA and DNA damage response machineries are identified as vulnerable targets for P-AscH− in NSCLC therapy. Treatments with P-AscH− increase the formation of DNA damage and replication stress markers while inducing mislocalization of DNA repair machineries. The cytotoxic and genotoxic effects of P-AscH− on NSCLC were reversed by co-treatment with catalase, highlighting the roles of extracellular hydrogen peroxide in anti-cancer activities of P-AscH−. The data from this current research advance our understanding of P-AscH− in cancer treatment and support its potential clinical use as a therapeutic option for NSCLC therapy.
Caloric Restriction Mitigates Kidney Fibrosis in an Aged and Obese Rat Model
Authors: La Russa Daniele , Barberio Laura , Marrone Alessandro , Perri Anna , Pellegrino Daniela
Published: September 2023

Caloric restriction is an effective intervention to protract healthspan and lifespan in several animal models from yeast to primates, including humans. Caloric restriction has been found to induce cardiometabolic adaptations associated with improved health and to delay the onset and progression of kidney disease in different species, particularly in rodent models. In both aging and obesity, fibrosis is a hallmark of kidney disease, and epithelial–mesenchymal transition is a key process that leads to fibrosis and renal dysfunction during aging. In this study, we used an aged and obese rat model to evaluate the effect of long-term (6 months) caloric restriction (−40%) on renal damage both from a structural and functional point of view. Renal interstitial fibrosis was analyzed by histological techniques, whereas effects on mesenchymal (N-cadherin, Vimentin, Desmin and α-SMA), antioxidant (SOD1, SOD2, Catalase and GSTP1) inflammatory (YM1 and iNOS) markers and apoptotic/cell cycle (BAX, BCL2, pJNK, Caspase 3 and p27) pathways were investigated using Western blot analysis. Our results clearly showed that caloric restriction promotes cell cycle division and reduces apoptotic injury and fibrosis phenotype through inflammation attenuation and leukocyte infiltration. In conclusion, we highlight the beneficial effects of caloric restriction to preserve elderly kidney function.
New Developments in Reef Coral Biotechnology
Authors: Lin Chiahsin , Tsai Sujune
Published: September 2023

The increasing occurrence of marine heatwaves, and the coral bleaching events they elicit, pose a significant threat to coral reef ecosystems [...]
Determination of the Dependences of the Nutritional Value of Corn Silage and Photoluminescent Properties
Authors: Pavkin Dmitriy Y. , Belyakov Mikhail V. , Nikitin Evgeniy A. , Efremenkov Igor Y. , Golyshkov Ilya A.
Published: September 2023

This article examines existing optical methods for the diagnostics of food and feed products used in agriculture to determine their nutritional value or detect maximum permissible indicators. Among the most common feeds used for cattle, corn silage is considered. Its nutritional value depends on many external factors that need to be taken into account when formulating feeding rations. This article is dedicated to assessing the prospects of using visible-range photoluminescence for determining dry matter content, total protein content, and NDF (neutral detergent fiber) using a portable device in field conditions without lengthy sample preparation. This research aims to develop a laboratory device and establish the theoretical foundations for determining the nutritional value of agricultural feeds using photoluminescence. The study revealed that the most indicative range for measuring nutritional corn silage is to use excitation via radiation with a wavelength of about 362 nm. At the same time, the luminescent radiation flux must be measured in a range of 440–620 nm. Moreover, R2 values greater than 0.8 were achieved in correlation after constructing luminescence relationships only for the determination of dry matter content/moisture, total protein content, and NDF. This indicates the potential use of the proposed method for determining these parameters.
The Effect of Hydrophilic Surface Coating of Fins on the Performance of Fin-and-Tube Heat Exchangers
Authors: Chen Jung-Shun , Chao Shou-Yen , Chen Ching-Che
Published: September 2023

With the rapid progress in data mining, deep learning, and artificial intelligence, the demand for datacenters of various sizes increases globally. Datacenters typically require an environment with properly controlled temperature and humidity conditions for their proper operations. These needed environmental conditions are always provided by an air conditioning system. In humid and hot regions, both energy consumption and the splash of water condensate in using the fin-and-tube heat exchangers are of concern because reliability issues can occur. In this study, the effects of fin surface hydrophilic/hydrophobic coatings on the performance of the fin-and-tube heat exchangers, including the heat transfer rate, pressure drop, and water-condensate splash, were investigated experimentally. By varying the cooling air speeds and fin pitches, the results show that hydrophilic surface coating is an effective method in reducing both the pressure drop (thus saving energy) and the condensate splash, while not affecting the heat transfer rates significantly. The water splash reduction is achieved by both the increased air speed for splashing and a smaller amount of splashing. Water splash can even be completely eliminated if the airspeed was below about 3 m/s. In contrast, hydrophobic surface coating will increase both pressure drop and water splash; thus, should be applied with caution.
Microalgae (Chlorella vulgaris and Spirulina platensis) as a Protein Alternative and Their Effects on Productive Performances, Blood Parameters, Protein Digestibility, and Nutritional Value of Laying Hens’ Egg
Authors: Panaite Tatiana Dumitra , Cornescu Gabriela Maria , Predescu Nicoleta Corina , Cismileanu Ana , Turcu Raluca Paula , Saracila Mihaela , Soica Cristina
Published: September 2023

Protein is an essential nutrient for laying hens, playing a crucial role in egg production and supporting their overall health. An 8-week feeding trial was conducted on 120 Lohmann Brown laying hens (aged 38 weeks). The layers were assigned randomly to three groups and housed in cages (twenty replicates × two birds/cage). All groups were fed a corn–soybean meal basal diet (2750 kcal/kg metabolizable energy (ME) with 17.8% crude protein (CP)). In contrast to conventional diet (CON), the experimental groups were supplemented primarily at the expense of soybean meal with 2.0% Chlorella vulgaris (CV2%) and 2.0% Spirulina platensis (SP2%). Their high concentrations of chlorophyll a (5.56; 9.06 mg/g), chlorophyll b (0.88; 1.34 mg/g), and antioxidant activity expressed as 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (73.29; 81.27 DPPH% inhibition) improved egg yolk quality. At the end of the trial, eighteen eggs/group (six yolk samples/group, three eggs/sample) were collected to determine the egg quality and nutritional parameters (fatty acids profile, cholesterol, β-carotene, yolk color, and antioxidant capacity). To determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes, including superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GSH), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC), blood samples were collected at the end of the period. Microalgae inclusion increased (p < 0.05) the fatty acid content, ß-carotene concentration (p < 0.001), antioxidant capacity (p < 0.0001), and yolk color intensity (p < 0.001) significantly, especially the yolk redness a* color parameter, but without any significant results concerning cholesterol concentration. Boiling the eggs for 10 min significantly (p < 0.001) increased the b* color parameter on microalgae treatments. The supplementation of laying hens’ diet with microalgae positively influenced egg quality and nutritional properties.
Exact Solutions of the Stochastic Conformable Broer–Kaup Equations
Authors: Yasmin Humaira , Pandir Yusuf , Akturk Tolga , Gurefe Yusuf
Published: September 2023

In this article, the exact solutions of the stochastic conformable Broer–Kaup equations with conformable derivatives which describe the bidirectional propagation of long waves in shallow water are obtained using the modified exponential function method and the generalized Kudryashov method. These exact solutions consist of hyperbolic, trigonometric, rational trigonometric, rational hyperbolic, and rational function solutions, respectively. This shows that the proposed methods are competent and sufficient. In addition, it is aimed to better understand the physical properties by drawing two- and three-dimensional graphics of the exact solutions according to different parameter values. When these exact solutions obtained by two different methods are compared with the solutions attained by other methods, it can be said that these two methods are competent.
Seasonal and Daily Xylem Radius Variations in Scots Pine Are Closely Linked to Environmental Factors Affecting Transpiration
Authors: Oberhuber Walter , Gruber Andreas , Wieser Gerhard
Published: September 2023

Seasonal and daily radius variations in the xylem (XRV) and inner bark (IBV) of mature Scots pine trees (Pinus sylvestris) were determined during April 2019–October 2021 at a drought-prone inner alpine site (c. 750 m asl; Tyrol, Austria) by applying point dendrometers. XRVs were also related to environmental factors to evaluate the drivers of XRV during the growing season. XRV records revealed that the xylem width (i) started to shrink around the onset of radial stem growth in April, (ii) consistently decreased by c. 50 µm at the time when air temperature (T) and vapor pressure deficit (VPD) reached their maximum in late June through mid-July, and (iii) recovered until November/December. Although in daily cycles of radius variations XRV preceded IBV by about two hours and the daily amplitude of XRV was about 1/10 that of IBV, XRV and IBV (seasonal trends removed) were closely linked (ρ = 0.755; p < 0.001), indicating tight hydraulic coupling between these tissues. Furthermore, the daily amplitude of XRV was linearly and closely related to daily maximum T (ρ = 0.802; p < 0.001), mean daily solar radiation (ρ = 0.809; p < 0.001), and non-linearly related to daily maximum VPD (R2= 0.837; p < 0.001), indicating that the xylem of Pinus sylvestris reacts like a transpiration-driven passive hydraulic system.
SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2 LIKE 6, 7, and 8 Interact with DDB1 BINDING WD REPEAT DOMAIN HYPERSENSITIVE TO ABA DEFICIENT 1 to Regulate the Drought Tolerance and Target SUCROSE NONFERMENTING 1 RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 2.3 to Abscisic Acid Response in Arabidopsis
Authors: Lian Yuke , Lian Chengfei , Wang Lei , Li Zhimin , Yuan Guoqiang , Xuan Lijuan , Gao Huanhuan , Wu Haijun , Yang Tao , Wang Chongying
Published: September 2023

SUPPRESSOR OF MAX2-LIKE 6, 7, and 8 (SMXL6,7,8) function as repressors and transcription factors of the strigolactone (SL) signaling pathway, playing an important role in the development and stress tolerance in Arabidopsis thaliana. However, the molecular mechanism by which SMXL6,7,8 negatively regulate drought tolerance and ABA response remains largely unexplored. In the present study, the interacting protein and downstream target genes of SMXL6,7,8 were investigated. Our results showed that the substrate receptor for the CUL4-based E3 ligase DDB1-BINDING WD-REPEAT DOMAIN (DWD) HYPERSENSITIVE TO ABA DEFICIENT 1 (ABA1) (DWA1) physically interacted with SMXL6,7,8. The degradation of SMXL6,7,8 proteins were partially dependent on DWA1. Disruption of SMXL6,7,8 resulted in increased drought tolerance and could restore the drought-sensitive phenotype of the dwa1 mutant. In addition, SMXL6,7,8 could directly bind to the promoter of SUCROSE NONFERMENTING 1 (SNF1)-RELATED PROTEIN KINASE 2.3 (SnRK2.3) to repress its transcription. The mutations in SnRK2.2/2.3 significantly suppressed the hypersensitivity of smxl6/7/8 to ABA-mediated inhibition of seed germination. Conclusively, SMXL6,7,8 interact with DWA1 to negatively regulate drought tolerance and target ABA-response genes. These data provide insights into drought tolerance and ABA response in Arabidopsis via the SMXL6,7,8-mediated SL signaling pathway.
Engineering Plastic Eating Enzymes Using Structural Biology
Authors: Barclay Amelia , Acharya K. Ravi
Published: September 2023

Plastic pollution has emerged as a significant environmental concern in recent years and has prompted the exploration of innovative biotechnological solutions to mitigate plastic’s negative impact. The discovery of enzymes capable of degrading specific types of plastics holds promise as a potential solution. However, challenges with efficiency, industrial scalability, and the diverse range of the plastic waste in question, have hindered their widespread application. Structural biology provides valuable insights into the intricate interactions between enzymes and plastic materials at an atomic level, and a deeper understanding of their underlying mechanisms is essential to harness their potential to address the mounting plastic waste crisis. This review article examines the current biochemical and biophysical methods that may facilitate the development of enzymes capable of degrading polyethylene terephthalate (PET), one of the most extensively used plastics. It also discusses the challenges that must be addressed before substantial advancements can be achieved in using these enzymes as a solution to the plastic pollution problem.
Pancreatic Cancer and Detection Methods
Authors: Ungkulpasvich Umbhorn , Hatakeyama Hideyuki , Hirotsu Takaaki , di Luccio Eric
Published: September 2023

The pancreas is a vital organ with exocrine and endocrine functions. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas caused by alcohol consumption and gallstones. This condition can heighten the risk of pancreatic cancer (PC), a challenging disease with a high mortality rate. Genetic and epigenetic factors contribute significantly to PC development, along with other risk factors. Early detection is crucial for improving PC outcomes. Diagnostic methods, including imagining modalities and tissue biopsy, aid in the detection and analysis of PC. In contrast, liquid biopsy (LB) shows promise in early tumor detection by assessing biomarkers in bodily fluids. Understanding the function of the pancreas, associated diseases, risk factors, and available diagnostic methods is essential for effective management and early PC detection. The current clinical examination of PC is challenging due to its asymptomatic early stages and limitations of highly precise diagnostics. Screening is recommended for high-risk populations and individuals with potential benign tumors. Among various PC screening methods, the N-NOSE plus pancreas test stands out with its high AUC of 0.865. Compared to other commercial products, the N-NOSE plus pancreas test offers a cost-effective solution for early detection. However, additional diagnostic tests are required for confirmation. Further research, validation, and the development of non-invasive screening methods and standardized scoring systems are crucial to enhance PC detection and improve patient outcomes. This review outlines the context of pancreatic cancer and the challenges for early detection.
Research on BIM Technology Standardization and Information Management of Tunnel Engineering Based on the Maturity and Standardity Theory Framework
Authors: Lan Fuan , Xu Xiaojing , Xu Leilei , Song Zhanping , Zhong Shiming
Published: September 2023

Information management is an important development direction in the field of tunnel engineering, and BIM technology provides an important approach for the realization of it. However, standardization is the first step of the implementation of BIM technology. Only through a set of unified BIM standards for tunnel engineering can the late platform development with information sharing and exchange be carried out normally and orderly. In view of the current lack of unified BIM technology standards and related theoretical research in the field of tunnel engineering, this paper proposes a theoretical framework for the study of a BIM technology standard in the field of tunnel engineering on the basis of the existing standardization research work and establishes a new maturity model in the field of tunnel engineering for the first time. On this basis, this paper classifies and codes the information in the field of tunnel engineering and carries out a series of preliminary studies and discussions on the standardization of BIM technology in the field of tunnel engineering, initially establishing a relatively complete system of BIM technology standards. With the Daliangshan Tunnel under construction in Sichuan Province of China as a pilot application case, the feasibility of the proposed standards is preliminarily verified. In addition, this paper puts forward the new concept of “standard degree” for the first time and tentatively discusses the relationship between the standard degree and four influencing factors, the standard unity degree, the recognition degree of project participants, the applicable degree of software and the perfection degree of platform construction, which provides a reference for subsequent related research and promotes the development of BIM technology standardization and the management process of information in the field of tunnel engineering.
Unmasking the Warburg Effect: Unleashing the Power of Enzyme Inhibitors for Cancer Therapy
Authors: Angulo-Elizari Eduardo , Gaviria-Soteras Leire , Zubiri Irati , Ramos-Inza Sandra , Sanmartin Carmen , Plano Daniel
Published: September 2023

The Warburg effect (or aerobic glycolysis), which was first described in 1926 by Otto Heinrich Warburg, consists of the change in glucose metabolism in cancer cells. In normal cells, glucose metabolism finalizes in the mitochondria through oxidative phosphorylation (OXPHOS) in the presence of oxygen. However, the Warburg effect describes a change in the glucose metabolism in cancer cells, consuming excess glucose and converting it into lactate independently of the presence of oxygen. During this process, a wide variety of enzymes can modify their expression and activity to contribute to the mechanism of deregulated cancer metabolism. Therefore, the modulation of enzymes regulating aerobic glycolysis is a strategy for cancer treatment. Although numerous enzymes play a role in regulating aerobic glycolysis, hexokinase 2 (HK2), pyruvate dehydrogenase kinase (PDK), pyruvate kinase (PK), and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) are worth mentioning. Numerous modulators of these enzymes have been described in recent years. This review aims to present and group, according to their chemical structure, the most recent emerging molecules targeting the above-mentioned enzymes involved in the Warburg effect in view of the future development of cancer treatments.
Thymoma: An Overview
Authors: Alqaidy Doaa
Published: September 2023

Thymomas are considered one of the most prevalent types of mediastinal epithelial tumors, which frequently develop in the anterior mediastinum. Due to their rarity, these tumors’ nomenclature, classification, and staging are likely to be the subject of debate and argument for most expert pathologists. Furthermore, the significance of thymoma histologic classifications have been debated over the past twenty years. While certain advocates argue that staging at the time of diagnosis is more significant, others believe that histologic subtyping has a significant impact on how patients behave clinically. In this review, we will focus on some of the challenges that diagnostic surgical pathologists may experience while evaluating the histopathology of thymomas and staging these tumors. We will additionally glance over the clinical characteristics of these distinct tumors and the current management strategy.
Diagnostic Performance of the Tear Meniscus Osmolarity Measurement for Dry Eye Disease in Rheumatoid Arthritis Patients
Authors: De La Parra-Colin Paola , Palacios-Aguirre Karen , Perez-Pria-Kasusky Andrea , Espinosa-Morales Rolando , Hidalgo-Bravo Alberto
Published: September 2023

Background: The aim of our study was to evaluate the diagnostic capacity of the tear meniscus osmolarity measurement for dry eye disease (DED) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA), using a portable osmometer based on electrical impedance and an integrated circuit technology (TearLab® (Escondido, CA, USA)). Methods: We included 101 RA patients, 81 patients with DED and 20 without DED (controls). We measured tear osmolarity and assessed other clinical diagnostic tests as suggested by the TFOS DEWS II composite reference standard diagnostic criteria for DED using Ocular Surface Disease Index (OSDI), Five-item Dry Eye Questionnaire (DEQ-5), fluorescein tear break-up time (F-TUBT), ocular surface staining (SICCA score), and other clinical parameters to classify DED subtypes. We analyzed the agreement between osmolarity and the TFOS DEWS II composite reference standard for DED diagnosis. We conducted receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses using the DED variable and its subtypes as dependent variables and the continuous variable for osmolarity or the inter-eye difference in osmolarity as independent variable. Sensitivity, specificity, and area under the curve for all potential cut-off points were obtained and reported from ROC curves. Results: We found that tear meniscus osmolarity had a low diagnostic capacity for DED (AUC = 0.57). Tear meniscus osmolarity measurement had a sensitivity of 35% and a specificity of 80% with a kappa level of agreement of 0.08 compared to the TFOS DEWS II composite reference standard. The low diagnostic capacity of the tear meniscus osmolarity was similar for aqueous-deficient DED and for evaporative DED, being only fair for severe DED with a 57% sensitivity and 80% specificity and a kappa level of agreement of 0.36. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that in patients with RA, tear meniscus osmolarity measured by the TearLab® showed low sensitivity, low specificity, and limited agreement with the TFOS DEWS II composite reference standard for DED diagnosis.
S2Former: Parallel Spectral–Spatial Transformer for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Yuan Dong , Yu Dabing , Qian Yixi , Xu Yongbing , Liu Yan
Published: September 2023

Due to their excellent representation talent in local features, the convolutional neural network (CNN) has achieved favourable performance in hyperspectral image (HSI) classification tasks. Nevertheless, current CNN models exhibit a marked flaw: they are hard to model the dependencies in long-range distanced positions. This flaw becomes more problematic for the HSI classification task, which targets extracting more discriminative features in local and global dimensions from limited samples. In this paper, we introduce a spatial–spectral transformer (S2Former), which explores spatial and spectral feature extraction in a dual-stream framework for HSI Classification. S2Former, which consists of a spatial transformer and a spectral transformer in parallel branches, extracts the discriminative feature in spatial and spectral dimensions. More specifically, we propose multi-head spatial self-attention to capture the long-range spatial dependency of non-adjacent HSI pixels in a spatial transformer. In the spectral transformer, we propose multi-head covariance spectral attention to mine and represent spectral signatures by computing covariance-based channel maps. Meanwhile, the local activation feed-forward network is developed to complement local details. Extensive experiments conducted on four publicly available datasets indicate that our S2Former achieves state-of-the-art performance for the HSI classification task.
Unmanned Aerial Vehicle-Assisted Federated Learning Method Based on a Trusted Execution Environment
Authors: Liao Jia , Jiang Baihui , Zhao Peng , Ning Lei , Chen Liming
Published: September 2023

In the face of increasing concerns around privacy and security in the use of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) for mobile edge computing (MEC), this study proposes a novel approach to secure UAV-assisted federated learning. This research integrates a trusted execution environment (TEE) into UAV-assisted federated learning and proposes a robust aggregation algorithm based on cosine distance, denoted as CosAvg. This study further designs and evaluates a TEE-based federated learning model, comparing its resource overhead with other secure aggregation frameworks, like homomorphic encryption (HE) and differential privacy (DP). Experimental results indicate a significant reduction in resource overhead for TEE against DP and HE. Moreover, the proposed CosAvg algorithm demonstrated superior robustness against adversarial scenarios, maintaining high accuracy in the presence of malicious clients. The integration of TEE and the CosAvg algorithm provides a secure and robust solution for UAV-assisted federated learning, effectively defending both gradient inversion attacks and byzantine attacks.