bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New therapies targeting aging cells in the skin
Authors: Paszel-Jaworska Anna , Gornowicz-Porowska Justyna , Dańczak-Pazdrowska Aleksandra , Polańska Adriana , Krajka-Kuźniak Violetta , Stawny Maciej , Gostyńska Aleksandra , Masternak Michał , Rubiś Błażej
Published: September 2023

Senescence is accompanied by numerous processes that lead to alterations in cell metabolism, cell cycle arrest, and, increased production and secretion of senescence-associated secretory phenotype (SASP). Consequently, signaling pathways cascades are activated, leading to inflammation that can trigger multiple disorders, including cancer. Recently, a novel therapeutic approach was proposed based on targeting senescent cells using senolytics. This group of biologically active compounds includes fisetin, quercetin, dasatinib, and others. These compounds were shown to affect laboratory animals (rodents) by improving the quality of life and significantly increasing the length of life by reducing senescent cells pool in different organs. Based on these findings, we decided to evaluate the potential of these compounds in targeting senescent cells in human skin using in vitro model based on human-derived keratinocytes (HEKa) and fibroblasts (HDFa). Cytotoxicity assay revealed that the activity of the compounds was time- and dose-dependent as well as cell-type dependent. Further studies were performed to reveal the mechanistic aspect of these observations including assessment of the senescence marker, namely p16. However, it requires clarification before entering clinical trials to provide not only efficient but, first of all, safe application of senolytics to human skin.
Effect of moisture on solid state stability
Authors: Srčič Stanko , Lavrič Zoran
Published: September 2023

Water is omnipresent during pharmaceutical product manufacturing and may interact with the drug substance, excipients, and the drug product in either solvent or vapor form, resulting in several physico-chemical changes, ultimately affecting product performance. Therefore, understanding the mechanisms behind such moisture-induced changes is necessary at every stage of pharmaceutical development and manufacturing to obtain the target formulation.
Characterization tools, such as water sorption, spectroscopy, thermal analysis, diffraction, and more sophisticated approaches like simulations and PAT techniques, can help in the selection of the appropriate solid form, manufacturing method, excipients, and storage conditions, enabling the manufacturing of a stable drug product formulation.
Structural Connectivity of 18-Crown-6/H+/L-Tryptophan Non-Covalent Complexes in Gas Phase and in Solution: Delineating Host-Guest-Solvent Interactions in Solution from Gas Phase Structures
Authors: Oh Young-HO , Oh Han Bin , Lee Sungyul
Published: September 2023

We investigate the structural correlation of non-covalent crown ether/H+/L-tryptophan (CR/TrpH+) host-guest complexes in the solution phase with those in the gas phase generated through electrospray ionization/mass spectrometry (ESI/MS) techniques. We perform quantum chemical calculations to determine their structures, relative Gibbs free energies, and infrared spectra. We compare the calculated infrared (IR) spectra with the IR multiphoton dissociation (IRMPD) spectra observed for the 18-Crown-6/TrpH+ complex by Polfer and co-workers [J. Phys. Chem. A 2013, 117, 1181−1188] for assigning the IR bands. We observe that the carboxyl group remains ‘naked’, lacking hydrogen bonding with the CR unit in the gas phase, and that this most stable conformer originates from the corresponding lowest Gibbs free energy structure in solution. Based on these findings, we propose that gas phase host-guest complexes directly correlate with those in solution, reinforcing the possibility of obtaining invaluable information about host-guest-solvent interactions in solution from the structure of the host-guest pair in the gas phase.
Production of Poly(3-hydroxybutyrate-co-3-hydroxyhexanoate) from CO2 by pH-Stat Jar Cultivation of Engineered Hydrogen-Oxidizing Bacterium Cupriavidus necator
Authors: Tanaka Kenji , Orita Izumi , Fukui Toshiaki
Published: September 2023

The copolyester of 3-hydroxybutyrate (3HB) and 3-hydoxyhexanoate (3HHx), PHBHHx, is a bi-odegradable plastic that has a high flexibility, softness, wide process window and marine bio-degradability. PHBHHx is usually produced from structurally related carbon sources such as vegetable oils or fatty acids but not from inexpensive carbon sources like sugars. In the previous studies, we demonstrated that engineered strains of hydrogen-oxidizing bacterium, Cupriavidus necator synthesized PHBHHx with high cellular content from not only sugars but also from CO2 as the sole carbon source in the flask culture. In this study, highly efficient production of PHBHHx from CO2 was investigated by pH-stat jar cultivation of the recombinant C. necator strains with feeding the substrate gas mixture (H2/O2/CO2=8:1:1) to complete mineral medium in recycled-gas closed-circuit culture system. As the result with the strain MF01/pBPP-ccrMeJAc-emd, the dry cell mass and PHBHHx concentration reached up to 59.62 ± 3.18 g･L-1 and 49.31 ± 3.14 g･L-1, respectively after 212 h of jar cultivation with limited addition of ammonia and phosphate solutions. The 3HHx composition was close to 10 mol% which is suitable for practical applica-tions. It is expected that autotrophic cultivation of the recombinant C. necator can be a feasible process for mass production of PHBHHx from CO2.
DNA Double-Strand Break Response and Repair Gene Polymorphisms May Influence Therapy Results and Prognosis in Head and Neck Cancer Patients
Authors: Butkiewicz Dorota , Krześniak Małgorzata , Gdowicz-Kłosok Agnieszka , Składowski Krzysztof , Rutkowski Tomasz
Published: September 2023

Radiotherapy and cisplatin-based chemotherapy belong to the main treatment modalities for head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC), and induce cancer cell death by generating DNA damage, including the most severe double strand breaks (DSBs). Alterations in DSB response and repair genes may affect individual DNA repair capacity and treatment sensitivity, contributing to therapy resistance and poor prognosis often observed in HNSCC. In this study, we investigated the association of a panel of single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in 20 DSB signaling and repair genes with therapy results and prognosis in 505 HNSCC patients treated non-surgically with DNA damage-inducing therapies. In the multivariate analysis, there were a total of 14 variants associated with overall, locoregional recurrence-free or metastasis-free survival. Moreover, we identified 10 of these SNPs as independent predictors of therapy failure and unfavorable prognosis in the whole group or in two treatment subgroups. They were MRE11A rs2155209, XRCC5 rs828907, RAD51 rs1801321, rs12593359, LIG4 rs1805388, CHEK1 rs558351, TP53 rs1042522, ATM rs1801516, XRCC6 rs2267437 and NBS1 rs2735383. Only CHEK1 rs558351 remained statistically significant after correction for multiple testing. These results suggest that specific germline variants related to DSB response and repair may be potential genetic modifiers of therapy effects and disease progression in HNSCC treated with radiotherapy and cisplatin-based chemoradiation.
Evaluation of the immunoprotective capacity of five vaccine candidate proteins against avian necrotic enteritis and impact on the caecal microbiota of vaccinated birds
Authors: Heidarpanah Sara , Thibodeau Alexandre , Parreira Valeria R , Quessy Sylvain , Segura Mariela , Gottschalk Marcelo , Gaudreau Annie , Juette Tristan , Gaucher Marie-Lou
Published: September 2023

Avian necrotic enteritis is an enteric disease of broiler chickens caused by certain pathogenic strains of Clostridium perfringens in combination with predisposing factors. A vaccine offering complete protection against the disease has not yet been commercialized. In a previous study, we produced five recombinant proteins predicted to be surface-exposed and unique to necrotic enteritis-causing C. perfringens and the immunogenicity of these potential vaccine candidates was assessed in broiler chickens. In the current work, the relative contribution of the antibodies raised by these putative antigens to protect broiler chickens was evaluated using an experimental necrotic enteritis induction model. Additionally, the link between the immune response elicited and the gut microbiota profiles in immunized birds subjected to infection with virulent C. perfringens was studied. ELISA results showed that the IgY antibody titers in vaccinated birds on days 21 and 33 were significantly higher than those on days 7 and 14 and those in birds receiving the adjuvant alone, while the relative contribution of the specific immunity attributed to these antibodies could not be precisely determined using this experimental NE induction model. Besides, 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing showed that immunization of birds with recombinant proteins had a low impact on the chicken caecal microbiota.
Synergistic Improvement of Mechanical and Corrosion Properties in TiN PVD-Coated Tool Steels via PAN Pre-treatment
Authors: Dadfar Mahdi , Khandan Pour Hamid Reza , Sanvito Tiberio
Published: September 2023

Chemical and mechanical properties of plasma-assisted nitrided (PAN), TiN cathodic arc coated, and PAN with TiN coated samples were thoroughly evaluated on tool steel samples of 1.2379. The evaluation involved SEM, nano-indentation, profilometer, micro scratch, and corrosion tests. The results revealed that PAN treatment alters the roughness of the surface, while it has minimal impact on the coefficient of friction. However, it increases the substrate's hardness, making it twice as hard and three times more resilient against scratch tests, along with improved corrosion resistance. TiN-coated samples are four times harder than untreated ones, but they exhibit a higher elastic modulus (E), leading to a lower H/E index. The most promising results were obtained with PAN+TiN treatment, combining high hardness (H) with lower E, resulting in a high H/E index, a crucial criterion for wear resistance. These samples also demonstrated superior scratch hardness and corrosion resistance, despite being thinner and rougher.
Proactive Fault Diagnosis of a Radiator: A Combination of Gaussian Mixture Model and LSTM Autoencoder
Authors: Lee Jeong-Geun , Kim Deok-Hwan , Lee Jang Hyun
Published: September 2023

Radiator reliability is crucial in environments characterized by high temperatures and friction, where prompt interventions are often required to prevent system failures. This study introduces a proactive approach to radiator fault diagnosis, leveraging the integration of Gaussian Mixture Model (GMM) and Long-Short Term Memory (LSTM) autoencoders. Vibration signals from radiators were systematically collected through randomized durability vibration bench tests, resulting in four operating states—two normal, one unknown, and one faulty. Time-domain statistical features of these signals were extracted and subjected to Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to facilitate efficient data interpretation. Subsequently, this study discusses the comparative effectiveness of GMM and LSTM in fault detection. GMMs are deployed for initial fault classification, leveraging their clustering capabilities, while LSTM autoencoders excel in capturing time-dependent sequences, facilitating advanced anomaly detection for previously unencountered faults. This alignment offers a potent and adaptable solution for radiator fault diagnosis, particularly in challenging high-temperature or high-friction environments. Consequently, the proposed methodology not only provides a robust framework for early-stage fault diagnosis but also effectively balances diagnostic capabilities during operation. Additionally, this study presents the foundation for advancing reliability life assessment in accelerated life testing, achieved through dynamic threshold adjustments using both the absolute log-likelihood distribution of the GMM and the reconstruction error distribution of the LSTM autoencoder model.
PERBADINGAN TEBAL PERKERASAN JALAN LENTUR MENGGUNAKAN METODE ANALISA KOMPONEN DAN BINA MARGA 2017
Authors: Wuon Orva E. , Lamusu Rahman , Lawodi Yulisnawati , Bansambua Elce M. , Abulebu Henny I.
Published: September 2023

The issuance of Circular Letter from the Director General of Highways No. 04/SE/Db/2017 With the revision of the 2017 Pavement Design Guidelines, the old flexible pavement design rules no longer apply. However, in some regions, the old Component Analysis guidelines for pavement thickness planning are still being used. This study aims to compare the flexible pavement thickness between the Component Analysis method and Bina Marga 2017. The data used in both methods are the same. The analysis results show differences in pavement thickness between the two methods. The pavement thickness according to the Component Analysis method is as follows: surface layer thickness (D1) = 74 mm, upper foundation layer thickness (D2) = 200 mm, and lower foundation layer thickness (D3) = 250 mm. Meanwhile, the MDPJ 2017 method gives the following thicknesses: surface layer thickness (D1) = 100 mm, upper foundation layer thickness (D2) = 400 mm, and lower foundation layer thickness (D3) = 100 mm. A significant difference between Component Analysis and MDPJ 2017 is that the Bina Marga 2017 method does not take regional factors into account. It assumes that the road drainage system functions properly and there is no water pooling on the road. The smallest load on the road is a 2-ton vehicle, so motorcycles are not considered a load on the road. If the MDPJ 2017 method is used for road planning in areas where the majority of vehicles are motorcycles, it will result in higher implementation costs compared to Component Analysis. In general, the pavement structure according to Bina Marga 2017 is thicker compared to the Component Analysis method, and the CBR value and the number of vehicles are the main parameters in road pavement thickness analysis for both methods mentioned.
Investigation of differential item and step functioning procedures in polytomus items
Authors: KUZU Yasemin , GELBAL Selahattin
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to compare differential item functioning (DIF) and differential step function (DSF) detection methods in polytomously scored items under various conditions. In this context, the study examined Kazakhstan, Turkey and USA data obtained from the items related to the frequency of using digital devices at school in PISA 2018 students’ “ICT Familiarity Questionnaire”. Mantel test, Liu-Agresti statistics, Cox β and poly-SIBTEST methods were used for polytomous DIF analysis while Adjacent Category Logistic Regression Model and Cumulative Category Log Odds Ratio methods were used for DSF analysis. This study was carried out with correlational survey model, by using “differential category combining, focus group sample size, focus group: reference group sample ratio and DIF/DSF detection method”. SAS and R software were utilized in the creation of conditions; SIBTEST was used for poly-SIBTEST for analysis and DIFAS programs were used for the other methods. Analyses demonstrated that the number of items/steps exhibiting high level of DIF/DSF was higher in the small sample according to polytomous DIF methods and in the large sample compared to DSF methods. During the steps, it was stated that the DIF value was lower in the items containing DSF with the opposite sign; therefore, not performing DSF analysis in an item with no DIF may yield erroneous results. Although the differential category combining conditions created within the scope of the research did not have a systematic effect on the results, it was suggested to examine this situation in future studies, considering that the frequency of marking the combined categories differentiated the results.
Portfolio Optimization Based on Return Prediction and Semi Absolute Deviation (SAD)
Authors: Mulyono Gharyni Nurkhair , Saepudin Deni , Rohmawati Aniq Atiqi
Published: September 2023

A portfolio is a collection of investment financial assets managed by financial institutions or individuals. In investment activities, investors expect minimal loss risk and optimal stock portfolio weight to get maximum profit. Investors can monitor changes in stock index values to compare portfolio performance. This research has discussed how to build a portfolio based on stock datasets with the LQ45 index using return predictions from the artificial neural network (ANN) method with semi-absolute deviation (SAD). Furthermore, the portfolio is optimized by looking for weights that match it. After that, a comparison of portfolio performance was carried out using the Sharpe ratio (SR) method between the semi-absolute deviation (SAD) portfolio and the portfolio resulting from the formation of the equal weight (EW) portfolio. Portfolio performance with ANN prediction and SAD is better than equal-weight portfolios in terms of mean return, standard deviation, and sharpe ratio for portfolios with few stocks, namely 2 and 3 stocks. In addition, a portfolio with a higher number of stocks can make the portfolio value from the ANN close prediction algorithm process and the selection of weights based on SAD is better than portfolios with equal weight for each list of stocks in the portfolio.
Boosting human capacities: How vaccination behavior and intention relates to attitudes toward vaccination, Human Enhancement, and naturalness
Authors: Döbler Niklas Alexander , Carbon Claus-Christian
Published: September 2023

Background: Even if vaccinations are widely available, a considerable number of people reject them. As sophisticated biotechnologies capable of augmenting the human body's capacities, vaccinations are an instance of Human Enhancement (HE): The effort to use technologies to improve humans. Global vaccination efforts against SARS-CoV-2 evoke public concerns similar to those in the general HE debate, namely, naturalness and invasiveness. We explore these variables and their connection to vaccination behavior in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Methods: We conducted an online survey (N = 314 persons) with 256 participants (81.5%) vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 and n = 58 (18.5%) not vaccinated. Participants answered questions concerning their attitudes on nature and naturalness, willingness to use cognitive enhancement methods, HE, psychological effects of vaccination, and planned vaccination. Several Bayesian regression models were constructed to predict the willingness to use cognitive enhancement, attitudes toward vaccinations and HE, and whether people plan for further vaccination doses.
Results: Participants were more willing to use methods to improve cognitive abilities if considered natural, non-invasive, and not used frequently. A less affirmative attitude toward naturalness was also associated with more willingness to use. Effects were primarily moderated by vaccination status. Vaccinated and unvaccinated participants differed substantially, especially in measures that reflected the attitude toward naturalness and related phenomena. Participants did not assess vaccinations as a prime example of HE. Rating of vaccination as enhancement did not reliably predict attitude on vaccination nor HE. More affirmative attitudes toward naturalness and not being vaccinated were negatively associated with the attitude toward vaccinations and HE. A positive attitude toward HE predicted a more positive attitude toward vaccinations. Support of disease control measures and attitude toward vaccinations positively predicted vaccination intention. Receiving the vaccination led to psychological relief.
Conclusions: Motives of vaccination and HE refusal appear to be linked. Interventions considered unnatural and invasive are deemed unfavorable. These reasons seem more pronounced for unvaccinated participants. If HE, e.g., vaccination, constitutes an essential public health measure, concerns about the human relationship to nature, perceived naturalness, and sanctity of the human body must be sufficiently and thoughtfully addressed.
Suicide Attempt Among Malaysian School-Going Adolescents: Relationship with Bullying
Authors: Liew Siaw Hun , Razak Mohamad Aznuddin Abd , Kassim Mohd Shaiful Azlan , Ahmad Noor Ani , Tan LeeAnn
Published: September 2023

BACKGROUND
According to World Health Organization (WHO), the fourth leading cause of death among adolescents aged 15–19 years is suicide. The National Health and Morbidity Survey (NHMS) 2017 reported that suicidal ideation among Malaysian adolescents raised from 7.9–10%; suicidal plans increased from 6.4–7.3%, and suicidal attempts increased from 6.8% − 6.9% as compared to NHMS 2012. Of the three, suicide attempts are the most serious as they can cause significant negative impacts on health, social and economic status. Bullying is one of the factors for adolescent suicide attempts, and its relationship to suicidality in adolescents has been shown in numerous research.
OBJECTIVES
This study examined the relationship between suicide attempts and bullying among school adolescents in Malaysia.
METHODS
Data from the Malaysia NHMS 2017, a nationwide study which adopted a two-stage cluster sampling design, were analysed. The survey used a self-administered questionnaire in bilingual language adapted from GSHS developed by WHO. Participants were secondary school students aged 13–17 in all states. Descriptive and logistic regression analyses were performed using IBM SPSS version 28.
RESULTS
A total of 27,497 school adolescents participated in the study. Results showed that 6.9% of school adolescents had attempted suicide. There was 16.2% of adolescents being bullied. Multiple logistic regression revealed that students who were bullied were more likely to have suicide attempts (aOR 4.827, 95% CI: 4.143, 5.624) P < 0.001.
A relationship between genetic sequencing and prognosis for combined hepatocellular carcinoma and cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Zhang Xinfeng , Cheng Jiamin , li Yinyin , Dong Jinghui , Gao Yuan
Published: September 2023

Aim: Combined hepatocellular cholangiocarcinoma (CHCC-CCA) is one of a primary liver cancer. According to the epidemiological investigation, the incidence is the lowest among the three primary liver cancers. Due to the lack of current diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, we collected mutation genes and immunohistochemical results to search for markers of poor prognosis.
Patients & methods: The genomic profiles of 10 intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (ICC) and 10 CHCC-CCA patients were reviewed and analyzed, including genomic change (GA), tumor mutation load, microsatellite instability, and pathological immunohistochemical results.
Results: In CHCC-CCA, GA is the most common in TP53, TERT and LRP1B, while in ICC, GA is the most common in TP53, CYP2C19 and ATM. Mutations of TP53, CYP2C19 and ATM in ICC were associated with poor prognosis, while mutations of TP53, TERT and KIT in CHCC-CCA were associated with poor prognosis. Immunohistochemical results showed that high expressions of CK19, CK7, HSP70 and GS in ICC were correlated with poor prognosis, and high expressions of MEA, CK7 and HSP70 in CHCC-CCA were correlated with poor prognosis.
Conclusion: These results suggest that genomic changes are associated with prognosis in CHCC-CCA and ICC. By using mutated genes and immunohistochemical results as markers of poor prognosis, the disease can be further studied and more effective treatments can be found.
A Systematic Review of the Physical and Cardiorespiratory Impairments in People Who Experience Long COVID
Authors: Salmam Imane , Dubé Marc-Olivier , Zahouani Imane , Desmeules François , Best Krista L. , Roy Jean-Sébastien
Published: September 2023

Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, about 10 to 20% of people who have contracted COVID-19 continue to experience symptoms and physical sequelae which lead to a decrease of their physical capacities and impact their quality of life. The persistence of such symptoms for more than 4 weeks is defined as “long COVID”. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review to identify and synthetize the physical and cardiorespiratory deficiencies in people experiencing long COVID. A structured search was conducted in MEDLINE, Embase, CINAHL and Web of Science databases for cross-sectional and longitudinal cohort studies reporting on physical and cardiorespiratory deficits in people suffering from long COVID. After applying selection criteria on identified citations, 17 studies (2394 long COVID adults) were included. Descriptive statistics were used to describe groups characteristics and outcomes. Adults with long COVID showed a possible decrease in walking distance during the six-minute walk test (6MWT), lower scores in the short physical performance battery test (SPPB) and an uncertain performance reduction in the sit to stand test (STS). Moreover, lower maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) values were detected when compared to control adults, but they remained normal when compared to reference values without any reduction in arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2). Physical impairments were identified in long COVID adults. However, cardiorespiratory capacities were not impacted when compared to reference values. The underlying mechanisms of physical sequelae remains unknown. Further research is needed to explain these impairments and to provide appropriate health care and services.
The Impact of Internet Use on Patients’ Health-seeking Behavior and Health Expenditure: an Empirical Study Based on CFPS Data
Authors: Cui Nan , Ma Ping , Chen Xianghua , Sun Jianping , Cui Jing
Published: September 2023

Background: The issue of “limited access to healthcare services and high health expenditure” has consistently been a common phenomenon in Chinese society. Therefore, guiding residents to choose appropriate healthcare institutions and controlling the rapidly increasing health expenditures have become extremely challenges for the Chinese government. The objective of this study was to explore the impact of internet use on health-seeking behavior and health expenditure.
Methods: The data for this study were derived from the 2018 survey of China Family Panel Studies (CFPS), which included 18,233 valid samples.Logistic regression analysis and linear regression analysis were conducted to estimate the influence of internet use on health-seeking behavior and health expenditure.
Results: Participants who used the internet to access information were approximately 1.20 times (95% CI, 1.10-1.32; P<0.001) more likely to choose general/specialized hospitals compared to those who did not use the internet for information access. Internet use significantly contributed to reducing health expenditure (P<0.05)
Conclusions: Internet use exacerbated the likelihood of participants visiting to higher-level healthcare institutions for seeking health treatment, which will be detrimental to the implementation of hierarchical diagnosis and treatment. Moreover, internet use has played an important role in reducing health expenditure, which was in line with the government’s expectations. These findings of this study were valuable for informing government’ internet policies aimed at guiding patients in selecting appropriate healthcare institutions and reducing health expenditure.
The Motivations, Challenges, and Support of Road Safety Guard Volunteers: Uncovering the Driving Force
Authors: Shamoa-Nir Lipaz
Published: September 2023

Road safety is a critical global issue that affects individuals, communities, and societies at large. With increased mobility, the risk of accidents and injuries on the road escalates, making it crucial to explore preventive measures and practices. By doing so, we can reduce injuries and save lives. Road safety volunteers, who play a vital role in promoting and ensuring road safety, serve as key actors in this endeavor. Understanding their motivations is essential for developing effective strategies and providing the necessary support to enhance their contributions. This study delves into the driving force behind their commitment and explores the various factors that shape their experiences as volunteers. Through content analysis of 23 interviews conducted with road safety volunteers, multifaceted motivations, a strong sense of purpose, community engagement, and empowerment emerged as prominent themes. Additionally, the challenges they face in their voluntary roles include hostility from drivers, the emotional toll of witnessing dangerous driving behavior, and the need for ongoing support and training to carry out their responsibilities effectively. These findings contribute to the understanding of the importance of promoting education on safe driving practices and fostering active citizen involvement in preventing traffic violations and road accidents.
Exploring the impact of short sleep on hypertension prevalence in the Chinese population: dose- response relationships, standardization, and health behaviors
Authors: TIAN Zheng , HE Jingchun , LI Yimiao , ZHANG Nan , lIU Yong , WU Yibo , WANG Lan
Published: September 2023

Background
The concept of short sleep remains ambiguous, which is exacerbated by the presence of ethnic differences that contribute to variations in the correlation between short sleep and the risk of hypertension. Additionally, methodological constraints have led to abundant heterogeneous evidence concerning the link between short sleep and hypertension risk, compelling the need to further investigate the relationship between short sleep and hypertension risk in the Chinese population. This study investigate the impact of short sleep on hypertension prevalence in the Chinese population, analyze the dose-response relationship between sleep duration and the risk of hypertension, establish a standard concept of short sleep to balance the confounding factors between groups, and determine the true association between short sleep and the prevalence of hypertension.
Methods
Using the cross-sectional data from the Chinese Psychological and Behavioural Study of the Population (PBICR) 2020. Dose-response relationships between sleep duration and hypertension risk were assessed using restricted cubic spline models. A binary logistic regression model with propensity score matching was used to investigate the true association between short sleep duration and hypertension risk in the Chinese population. In addition, binary logistic regression models were used to analyze the association between >5 hours of sleep and hypertension risks and the effect of health behaviors on the risk of hypertension in short sleepers.
Results
The relationship between sleep duration and hypertension risk demonstrated a notable non-linear U-shaped pattern. Following propensity score matching, we observed that among those sleeping ≤5 hours/day, the risk of developing hypertension was reduced by 32% (OR=0.680) for each 1-hour increase in sleep duration. However, in the whole population sleeping >5 hours/day, sleep did not affect the risk of developing hypertension. In the population with ≤5 hours of sleep/day, smoking (OR=2.280) and working in a fixed position for a long period of time (OR=2.034) increased hypertension risk, and having at least one physical activity maintained for more than six months led to reduced hypertension risks (OR=0.363).
Conclusion
The threshold of 5-hour sleep represents a key turning point for hypertension in the investigated Chinese population and could be considered for defining short sleep. Additionally, cessation of smoking, vigilant posture alterations during work, and consistent adherence to exercise regimens can reduce the risk of hypertension in people with short sleep duration.
Testing the environmental Kuznets curve hypothesis in the transport sector for OECD countries: Evidence from a panel threshold model
Authors: ÇATIK Abdurrahman Nazif , İLHAN Ali , AKDENİZ Coşkun
Published: September 2023

This study tests the environmental Kuznets curve (EKC) hypothesis in the transport sector for 28 OECD countries from 1990 to 2019. The relationship between economic growth and carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from the transport sector is investigated using a dynamic panel threshold regression based on the GMM estimator while taking into account the effects of road petroleum products consumption, renewable energy consumption, and trade openness. The threshold regression results when gross domestic product (GDP) per capita is used as a transition variable support the nonlinearity of the relationship between CO2 emissions from the transportation sector and GDP by rejecting the null hypothesis of no threshold effect. This finding indicates the existence of two different regimes below and above the GDP per capita threshold, namely the low and high regimes. In the lower regime, economic growth damages the environment, whereas, it improves environmental quality above the threshold. The results indicate an inverted U-shaped relationship and support the EKC hypothesis in the OECD transportation sector. They also imply that economic growth is essential for reducing transport-related CO2 emissions because it is expensive to invest in eco-friendly technologies.
Microbial community structure of plant-based meat alternatives
Authors: Selberherr Evelyne , Roch Franz-Ferdinand , Dzieciol Monika , Quijada Narciso , Alteio Lauren , Mester Patrick
Published: September 2023

A reduction in animal-based diets has driven market demand for alternative meat products, currently raising
a new generation of plant-based meat alternatives (PBMAs). It remains unclear whether these substitutes are
a short-lived trend or become established in the long term. Over the last few years, the trend of increasing
sales and diversifying product range has continued, but publication activities in this field are currently
limited mainly to market research and food technology topics. As their popularity increases, questions
emerge about the safety and nutritional risks of these novel products. Even though all the examined
products must be heated before consumption, consumers lack experience with this type of product and thus
further research into product safety, is desirable. To consider these issues, we examined 32 PBMAs from
Austrian supermarkets. Based on 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing, the majority of the products were
dominated by lactic acid bacteria (either Leuconostoc or Latilactobacillus), and generally had low alpha
diversity. Pseudomonadota (like Pseudomonas and Shewanella) dominated the other part of the products.
In addition to LABs, a high diversity of different Bacillus, but also some Enterobacteriaceae and potentially
pathogenic species were isolated with the culturing approach. We assume that especially the dominance
of heterofermentative LABs has high relevance for the product stability and quality with the potential to
increase shelf life of the products. The number of isolated Enterobacteriaceae and potential pathogens were
low, but they still demonstrated that these products are suitable for their presence.
Patient reported outcomes following whole brain radiotherapy in patients with brain metastases
Authors: Adegboyega Bolanle , Joseph Adedayo , Alabi Adewumi , Omomila John , Ngema Lindokuhle M. , Ainsworth Victoria , Chin Jennifer , Evbuomwam Moses , Ngwa Wilfred
Published: September 2023

Background
Brain metastases (BM) are a common complication in advanced cancer patients, and extremely challenging to treat. Consequently, whole brain radiotherapy (WBRT) remains the standard palliative intervention for patients with BM. The present study set to evaluate the clinical benefits of WBRT by assessing the quality of life (QoL) in WBRT-treated patients with BM, in Nigeria.
Methods
This was a prospective, longitudinal, hospital-based single-centre study. Consecutive sampling methodology was used to recruit 52 patients with BM undergoing WBRT. Patients were followed up on days 7, 30, 90 and 180 after WBRT. The EORTC QLQ-C15-PAL and EORTC QLQ-BN20 were employed to report patients’ responses. The likert scale responses were linearly converted into 0–100 scores, and the descriptive analysis was conducted using IBM SPSS Statistics 29.0, at 95% confidence interval, using the two-tailed t-test for continuous variables or the chi-square test for categorical values. The overall survival was calculated with the Kaplan Maier method and the difference tested with Log-rank method, considering the interval from the baseline until death or end of the study
Results
The study cohort was predominantly females (82.7%), and accordingly, 65.4% of the respondents had a breast primary tumor. A goodness-of-fit test yielded non-significant Chi square Pearson (p = 0.325) and Deviance (p = 1.000) residuals, indicating the best fit. The median overall survival was 180 days (~ 6 months). A total of 20 patients (38%) that survived up to 180 days reported alleviated symptoms and better functioning. A significant improvement in physical functioning (p < 0.001) and emotional functioning (p = 0.031) was reported at 180 days post WBRT, compared to baseline.
Conclusions
WBRT is an effective palliative intervention in patients with BM, resulting in improved QoL. More than 50% of patients that survived ~ 3 months reported alleviation of pain, and 38% of patients that survived for ~ 6 months reported a significantly improved functioning. This demonstrated the clinical benefits of WBRT in palliative care and will add to the body of data on the efficacy of WBRT from Africa.
Investigating the Prevalence of Mental Health Challenges among Students at the University of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania: A Case Study for Depression, Anxiety and Stress
Authors: Rushahu Bernadetha Gabriel , Mukandala Gatambwa Dennis
Published: September 2023

This study aims to assess the prevalence of depression, anxiety and stress among University of Dar es Salaam (UDSM) students as mental health issues are becoming more prevalent with university students. The primary data was collected from 1932 University of Dar es Salaam students through a self-administered questionnaire consisting of Sociodemographic data together with Depression (PHQ-9), Anxiety (GAD-7) and Stress (PSS) instruments. Data was scored according to the scoring procedure for each scale and statistics through statistical package of social sciences (SPSS.25). The means for depression, Anxiety and Stress are 11.8, 9.6 and 19.8 respectively. The findings show that prevalences for depression, anxiety and stress among university students was found to be 81%, 74.7% and 81.0% respectively. The prevalence for depression ranges from none to minimal (18.1%), mild (27.2%), moderate (17.7%), moderately severe (16.7%) and severe (20.2%). Anxiety was minimal (25.1%), mild (27.3%), moderate (21.3%) and severe (26.1%). Stress was low (19.0%), moderate (62.9%) and high perceived (18.1%). It can be concluded that symptoms for depression and stress are more prevalent with students but students with anxiety exhibit high moderate and severe symptoms.
Effects of Speeds, Voltages, and Electrolytes on Localized Surfaces of Al 6061 Alloys Anodized Using a Direct Writing Pen
Authors: Obielodan John , III George Schwarzmann , Delwiche Maia
Published: September 2023

For many applications, aluminum alloys require anodization to produce alumina film that protects the surfaces against corrosion and abrasive wear. This process is often carried out traditionally, by dipping the substrate into a suitable bath of electrolyte. A study on the effectiveness of a direct writing pen for localized anodization of aluminum 6061 surface is presented. The writing pen is designed for applications in which complete submersion of the substrate in an electrolyte is inconvenient or unnecessary. Three aqueous electrolyte solutions were used: 15% (v/v) sulfuric acid; 10% (v/v) sulfuric acid plus 5% (v/v) citric acid; and 5% (v/v) sulfuric acid plus 10% (v/v) citric acid. Voltage levels of 30, 40, and 50 volts were applied, while the writing traverse speeds were 0.1, 1, and 3 mm/s on different experimental samples. The anodic oxide films were characterized for surface morphology, thickness, micro-hardness, and ability to hold dyes through the nanopores. The results show that the lower the pen traverse speeds, the higher the thickness of the alumina films produced. The thicknesses obtained were highest at 21.5 μm for oxide films generated at 0.1 mm/s traverse speed at 50V using sulfuric acid. However, the hardest surfaces were obtained for samples processed at 50V with two-pass anodization and 1 mm/s, yielding 596 Hv and softest for films with single pass anodization obtained at the 3 mm/s pen traverse speed with 40V. The direct write anodizing pen was found to demonstrate effectiveness for localized surface anodization that would be cost-effective in niche applications.
Multi-model fusion-based framework for daily flood forecasting in multiple-step-ahead and near future under climate change scenarios
Authors: Khajehali Marzieh , Safavi Hamid R. , Nikoo Mohammad Reza , Fooladi Mahmood
Published: September 2023

This study proposes a novel fusion framework for flood forecasting based on machine learning, statistical, and geostatistical models for daily multiple-step-ahead and near future under climate change scenarios. To do this, remote sensing precipitation data of ERA5, CHIRPS, and PERSIANN-CDR were utilized to fill the gap data of meteorological stations. Four Individual Machine Learning (IML) models, including Random Forest, Multiple-Layer Perceptron, Support Vector Machine, and Extreme Learning Machine were developed for twelve days ahead of streamflow modeling. Then, three fusion models, including Random Forest, Bayesian Model Averaging, and Bayesian Maximum Entropy were applied to combine the outputs of IML models. The proposed framework also was implemented to downscale the precipitation variable of three general climate models (GCMs) under SSP5-8.5 and SSP1-2.6 scenarios. The results indicated that individual models illustrated weak performance, especially in far steps flood forecasting, so it is necessary to utilize a fusion technique to improve the results. In the fusion step, the RF model indicated high efficiency compared to other fusion models. This technique also demonstrated an effective proficiency in downscaling precipitation data of GCMs on a daily scale. Finally, flood forecasting model was developed based on the fusion framework in the near future (2020–2040) by using the precipitation data of two scenarios. We conclude that flood events based on both SSP5-8.5 and SSP1-2.6 will increase in the future in our case study. Also, the frequency evaluation shows that floods under SSP1-2.6 will occur about 10 percent more than SSP5-8.5 in the Kan river basin from 2020 to 2040.
mcGANs: Topology Optimization Using Multi-stage CGAN
Authors: Cui Fuhao , Han Jiachen , Jiang Tao , Rang Xiaodi , Ma Chaoqing
Published: September 2023

The traditional methods of solving topology optimization depends on finite element method (FEM). However, the iterative calculation of FEM increases the time cost of topology optimization significantly. In this paper, a novel strategy based on deep learning is proposed to speed up the topology optimization process. Conditional Generative Adversarial Network (CGAN) is used as the basic network in which the constraints of optimization are taken into consideration as the conditions of generation. Additionally, the stress and strain are generated from initial physical information by networks, and used as the inputs of optimization network. The cascaded network can realize structural topology optimization without iterative calculations in the whole process. Experiments show that the topology optimization results generated by the proposed network are as satisfactory as those generated by iterative methods. Meanwhile, the processing time is greatly reduced.
Reliability and Validity of Theory of Planned Behaviour Constructs for Assessing Sexual Intention Among Adolescent Boys.
Authors: SAINI NAZRIE , SAIMON ROSALIA , Safii Razitasham
Published: September 2023

Background
The newly devised sexual intention questionnaire for adolescent boys (SIQ-AB) is an improvised tool from the Youth Sexual Intention Questionnaire (YSI-Q) and Theory of Planned Behaviour, aiming to assess the influence of knowledge, permissive attitude, social norms, and self-efficacy toward the sexual intention.
Methods
This study determines the reliability and validity of the SIQ-AB. It was conducted on a total sample of 378 (exploratory factor analysis, n = 126 and confirmatory factor analysis, n = 126) among adolescent boys from Lundu, Serian, and Kota Samarahan, Sarawak. The exploratory factor analysis (EFA) assesses four constructs of sexual intention that include attitude, self-efficacy, and social norms with a 4-point Likert scale with a total of 19 items. The confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) assesses only three constructs of attitude, self-efficacy, and social norms with a 4-point Likert scale with a total of 14 items adopted from YSI-Q.
Results
The EFA supported the three-factor structures, with 19 items that explained 65.79 percent of the total variance. EFA supported the four-factor structure, but two items were removed due to incorrect placement or low factor loading (< 0.50). Internal reliability using Cronbach’s alpha ranged from 0.764 and 0.918. The CFA further confirmed the construct, convergent and composite validity of the SIQ-AB with χ2 = 81.086, df = 50, p < 0.001, χ 2/df = 1.621, CFI = 0.94 and TLI = 0.92 and RMSEA = 0.071.
Conclusions
The result proved that the SIQ-AB instrument has high reliability and valid tool to be used to measure the sexual intention of adolescent boys.
Predictors of Phosphodiesterase Type 5 Inhibitor (PDE5I) Treatment Failure in Patients Diagnosed with Erectile Dysfunction
Authors: AlBarakati Muath , El-Tholoth Hossam , Alzahrani Abdulaziz , AlGhamdi Omar , Alquliti Abdulrahman , Alnuami Musa , Althobity Abdulmajeed , Almardawi Abdulmalik , Bedaiwi Khaled
Published: September 2023

To determine the predictors of phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) treatment failure in patients suffering from erectile dysfunction in order to optimize their treatment and improve compliance, and thus patient outcomes.
Data for this retrospective study was obtained by reviewing the hospital records of patients with erectile dysfunction in whom PDE5I treatment failed as well as those in whom it was successful. After obtaining demographic information (age, marriage duration, BMI, smoking status, and comorbidities) related to all such cases laboratory test results (HbA1c, Total Testosterone, Free Testosterone, SHBG, Estradiol, FSH, LH, Prolactin, Vitamin D, Cholesterol, LDL, HDL, Triglyceride, PSA, TSH, T4, and CBC values) at the first visit were recorded for inclusion in analyses. Subsequent analyses focused on comparing the group of patients in whom PDE5I failed (n = 288)—denoted as treatment group—with the age-matched control group (n = 225) in whom PDE5I was successful.
Analyses of all gathered data revealed statistically significant differences in HbA1c (p < .0001), free testosterone (p < .0001), and SHBG (p < .002) values between the treatment and the control group.
Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor (PDE5I) failure is more likely to occur in diabetic patients with high levels of HbA1c, low free testosterone and high SHBG. Thus, management of these conditions could improve treatment outcomes in this patent cohort.