bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Needs of an uninsured equity-deserving minority patient cohort with physical disabilities during the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Claus D , Draganich C , Berliner J , Niehaus W , Berliner J , Magnusson D , Smith A. C.
Published: February 2023

Background

Patients with disabilities and those from diverse equity-deserving backgrounds have been disproportionately affected by the SARS COV-2 (“COVID-19”) pandemic.

Objective

To describe the significant needs and social determinants of health that affected a group of uninsured patients (from equity-deserving groups) with rehabilitation diagnoses during the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Design

Retrospective cohort study utilizing a telephone-based needs assessment from April to October, 2020.

Setting

Free interdisciplinary rehabilitation clinic serving patients with physical disabilities from equity-deserving minority backgrounds.

Participants

51 uninsured, diverse patients with spinal cord injuries, brain injuries, amputations, strokes, and other diagnoses requiring interdisciplinary rehabilitation care.

Methods

Using a non-structured approach, telephone-based needs assessments were collected monthly. Reported needs were summarized into themes and the frequencies of each theme were recorded.

Results

From the total number of concerns, medical issues were reported with the highest frequency (46%), followed by equipment needs (30%) and mental health concerns (30%). Other frequently mentioned needs centered around themes of rent, employment, and supplies. Rent and employment were more frequently cited in earlier months, and equipment problems were more frequently cited in later months. A minority of patients reported they had no needs, some of whom had acquired insurance.

Conclusions

Our objective was to describe the needs of a racially and ethnically diverse set of uninsured individuals with physical disabilities seen at a specialized interdisciplinary rehabilitation pro bono clinic during the early months of COVID-19. Medical issues, equipment needs, and mental health concerns were the top three needs. To optimally serve them, care providers must be aware of current and future needs for their underserved patients, especially if future lockdowns occur.
Prioritizing risk factors and identifying target areas to address with interventions to improve sustainable employment of persons with a brain injury or a spinal cord injury – A multi-stakeholder consensus process
Authors: Finger Monika E. , Karcz Katarzyna , Schiffmann Barbara , Eugster Julia , Selb Melissa
Published: February 2023

Background

Achieving sustainable long-term employment is the goal of work integration for persons with acquired brain injury (ABI) or spinal cord injury (SCI). However, decreasing employment rates over time for persons with ABI and SCI indicate that remaining employed in the long-term is a challenge.

Purpose

To identify the most important risk factors that pose a barrier to sustainable employment of persons with ABI or SCI from a multi-stakeholder perspective, and to propose corresponding interventions that address them.

Methods

Multi-stakeholder consensus conference and follow-up survey.

Results

From 31 risk factors to sustainable employment of persons with ABI or SCI identified in previous studies, nine were defined as most important to address with interventions. These risk factors either impacted the person, the work environment or service provision. Potential interventions to address these factors were proposed in mixed condition groups, of which ten were voted on as priority interventions. The follow-up survey revealed strong agreement on the intervention proposals, strong to moderate agreement on impact, but moderate to low feasibility, as most of the interventions were measures at the meso- (service) and macro- (legislation and state regulation) level.

Conclusions

Holding micro-level stakeholder conferences is a valuable method for identifying the most important risk factors to sustainable employment and for developing measures to address them. To implement measures that involve decisions at the meso- or macro-level, representatives from these levels of the healthcare and social system have to be involved.
Driving the clean energy transition in Cameroon: A sustainable pathway to meet the Paris climate accord and the power supply/demand gap
Authors: Iweh Chu Donatus , Ayuketah Yvan Jose Agbor , Gyamfi Samuel , Tanyi Emmanuel , Effah-Donyina Eric , Diawuo Felix Amankwah
Published: February 2023

The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) 2021 report has noted the perceived rise in severe weather phenomena such as heat radiations, hurricanes, flooding, and droughts and the rising scientific evidence attributing these events to anthropogenic sources of climate change. Cameroon as a nation is equally exposed to these climate vulnerabilities, and contributing to global climate efforts is imperative. She has earmarked the integration of 25% renewables in its electricity production mix and a 32% emission reduction, all as part of her commitment to global climate action. The fresh commitments coupled with a rapidly growing power demand have paved the way for a revolutionized approach to electricity generation in Cameroon. However, the imminent changes, as well as their implications, remain uncertain. This study explores how these emission reduction targets can be achieved through the adoption of a more sustainable power transition, which provides realistic solutions for emission reduction, escaping high carbon pathways. The assessment of the level at which long-term electricity generation scenarios in Cameroon could be renewable energy intensive was done using the Low Emissions Analysis Platform (LEAP) tool following a backcasting approach. The study noted that there is an implementation gap between earmarked policy ambitions and existing measures. The study recommended several opportunities in aspects, such as suitable share of technologies, administrative reforms, and required adjustments within the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs), which the government could exploit in the electricity sector to sail across the challenging trade-offs needed to become a sustainable economy in a carbon-constrained world. It equally examines actions that could help close the gap between earmarked policy ambitions and existing pathways and proposes cost-effective methods that were identified as priorities.
Defining sports moral character and clarifying its related concepts
Authors: Liu Cong , Qu Guofeng , Gao Rong
Published: February 2023

This study examines the concept of sports moral character and clarifies the differences between it and related moral concepts in sports. The research is conceptual and uses the methods of a literature review and logical analysis. Sports moral character is shown to have the characteristics of practicality, growth, and integration. It is a stable moral quality that is gradually formed and displayed in sports practice under the influence of family, school, and social environments. Sports moral character differs in some ways from other related concepts. Sports morality is the objective existence of “reason,” to which sports character and sportsmanship are both more applicable than is sports moral character.
The role of the multidisciplinary tumor board (MDTB) in the assessment of pancreatic cancer diagnosis and resectability: A tertiary referral center experience
Authors: Quero Giuseppe , De Sio Davide , Fiorillo Claudio , Menghi Roberta , Rosa Fausto , Massimiani Giuseppe , Laterza Vito , Lucinato Chiara , Galiandro Federica , Papa Valerio , Salvatore Lisa , Bensi Maria , Tortorelli Antonio Pio , Tondolo Vincenzo , Alfieri Sergio
Published: February 2023

Background

The introduction of multidisciplinary tumor boards (MDTBs) for the diagnostic and therapeutic pathway of several oncological disease significantly ameliorated patients' outcomes. However, only few evidences are currently present on the potential impact of the MDTB on pancreatic cancer (PC) management. Aim of this study is to report how MDTB may influence PC diagnosis and treatment, with particular focus on PC resectability assessment and the correspondence between MDTB definition of resectability and intraoperative findings.

Methods

All patients with a proven or suspected diagnosis of PC discussed at the MDTB between 2018 and 2020 were included in the study. An evaluation of diagnosis, tumor response to oncological/radiation therapy and resectability before and after the MDTB was conducted. Moreover, a comparison between the MDTB resectability assessment and the intraoperative findings was performed.

Results

A total of 487 cases were included in the analysis: 228 (46.8%) for diagnosis evaluation, 75 (15.4%) for tumor response assessment after/during medical treatment, 184 (37.8%) for PC resectability assessment. As a whole, MDTB led to a change in treatment management in 89 cases (18.3%): 31/228 (13.6%) in the diagnosis group, 13/75 (17.3%) in the assessment of treatment response cohort and 45/184 (24.4%) in the PC resectability evaluation group. As a whole, 129 patients were given indication to surgery. Surgical resection was accomplished in 121 patients (93.7%), with a concordance rate of resectability between MDTB discussion and intraoperative findings of 91.5%. Concordance rate was 99% for resectable lesions and 64.3% for borderline PCs.

Conclusions

MDTB discussion consistently influences PC management, with significant variations in terms of diagnosis, tumor response assessment and resectability. In this last regard, MDTB discussion plays a key role, as demonstrated by the high concordance rate between MDTB resectability definition and intraoperative findings.
Laparoscopic vs. open distal gastrectomy for locally advanced gastric cancer: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Yan Yong , Ou Caiwen , Cao Shunwang , Hua Yinggang , Sha Yanhua
Published: February 2023

Objective

The aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis is to compare the short- and long-term outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) with those of open distal gastrectomy (ODG) for patients with advanced gastric cancer (AGC) who exclusively underwent distal gastrectomy and D2 lymphadenectomy in randomized controlled trials (RCTs).

Background

Data in published meta-analyses that included different gastrectomy types and mixed tumor stages prevented an accurate comparison between LDG and ODG. Recently, several RCTs that compared LDG with ODG included AGC patients specifically for distal gastrectomy, with D2 lymphadenectomy being reported and updated with the long-term outcomes.

Methods

PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched to identify RCTs for comparing LDG with ODG for advanced distal gastric cancer. Short-term surgical outcomes and mortality, morbidity, and long-term survival were compared. The Cochrane tool and GRADE approach were used for evaluating the quality of evidence (Prospero registration ID: CRD42022301155).

Results

Five RCTs consisting of a total of 2,746 patients were included. Meta-analyses showed no significant differences in terms of intraoperative complications, overall morbidity, severe postoperative complications, R0 resection, D2 lymphadenectomy, recurrence, 3-year disease-free survival, intraoperative blood transfusion, time to first liquid diet, time to first ambulation, distal margin, reoperation, mortality, or readmission between LDG and ODG. Operative times were significantly longer for LDG [weighted mean difference (WMD) 49.2 min, p < 0.05], whereas harvested lymph nodes, intraoperative blood loss, postoperative hospital stay, time to first flatus, and proximal margin were lower for LDG (WMD −1.3, p < 0.05; WMD −33.6 mL, p < 0.05; WMD −0.7 day, p < 0.05; WMD −0.2 day, p < 0.05; WMD −0.4 mm, p < 0.05). Intra-abdominal fluid collection and bleeding were found to be less after LDG. Certainty of evidence ranged from moderate to very low.

Conclusions

Data from five RCTs suggest that LDG with D2 lymphadenectomy for AGC has similar short-term surgical outcomes and long-term survival to ODG when performed by experienced surgeons in hospitals contending with high patient volumes. It can be concluded that RCTs should highlight the potential advantages of LDG for AGC.

Systematic Review Registration

PROSPERO, registration number CRD42022301155.
Comparison of meat quality and glycolysis potential of two hybrid pigs in three-way hybrid model
Authors: Li Yongxiang , He Yang , Ran Jinming , Huang Ying , Li Xian , Jiang Hengxin , Li Xueyan , Pan Yangsu , Zhao Sumei , Song Chunlian , Pan Hongbin , Hu Hong
Published: February 2023

With the improvement of consumers' requirements for pork quality, the method of crossbreeding with excellent local pig breeds to improve meat quality is popular. Saba pig has high reproduction rate, good meat quality and high utilization rate of roughage, but its excellent characteristics have not been fully developed and utilized. To promote the development and utilization of Saba pigs and production of high-quality pork, the meat quality traits and glycolysis potential of Duroc × (Landrace × Yorkshire) (DLY), Berkshire × (Duroc × Saba) (BDS), and Duroc × (Berkshire × Saba) (DBS) three-way crossbred pigs were compared. The results showed that DLY had the highest live weight, carcass weight, lean meat percentage, drip loss, glycolysis potential, muscle diameter, and relative mRNA expression levels of type IIb muscle fibers as well as the lowest ultimate pH (p < 0.05). The lightness value of DBS was the highest (p < 0.05). Among the three crossbred pigs, myristic, arachidic, palmitoleic, and eicosenoic acids were the highest in BDS. These results indicated that the carcass traits of local crossbred pigs were worse than those of DLY pigs, but meat quality was markedly higher, with BDS showing the best meat quality.
Potential Greenhouse Gas Mitigation from Utilising Pig Manure and Grass for Hydrothermal Carbonisation and Anaerobic Digestion in the UK, EU, and China
Authors: Davison Nicholas , Brown Aaron , Ross Andrew
Published: February 2023

Pig manure currently results in sizeable greenhouse gas emissions, during storage and spreading to land. Anaerobic digestion and hydrothermal carbonisation could provide significant greenhouse gas mitigation, as well as generate renewable heat and power (with anaerobic digestion), or a peat-like soil amendment product (with hydrothermal carbonisation). The greenhouse gas mitigation potential associated with avoidance of pig manure storage and spreading in the UK, EU, and China, as well as the potential to provide heat and power by anaerobic digestion and soil amendment products by hydrothermal carbonisation was herein determined. In each case, the mono-conversion of pig manure is compared to co-conversion with a 50:50 mixture of pig manure with grass. Anaerobic digestion displayed a greater greenhouse gas mitigation potential than hydrothermal carbonisation in all cases, and co-processing with grass greatly enhances greenhouse gas mitigation potential. China has the largest greenhouse gas mitigation potential (129 MT CO2 eq), and greatest mitigation per kg of pig manure (1.8 kgCO2/kg pig manure volatile solids). The energy grid carbon intensity has a significant impact on the greenhouse gas mitigation potential of the different approaches in the different regions. Pig manure is generated in large amounts in China, and the energy generated from biogas offsets a higher carbon intensity grid. Greenhouse gas savings from the anaerobic digestion of pig manure and grass have been calculated to provide a significant potential for reducing total greenhouse gas emissions representation in China (1.05%), the EU (0.92%), and the UK (0.19%). Overall, the utilisation of pig manure could bring about substantial greenhouse savings, especially through co-digestion of pig manure with grass in countries with large pig farming industries and carbon intense energy mixes.
Evaluating the Effects of Some Selected Medicinal Plant Extracts on Feed Degradability, Microbial Protein Yield, and Total Gas Production In Vitro
Authors: Abd’quadri-Abojukoro Aderonke N. , Nsahlai Ignatius V.
Published: February 2023

This study evaluates the effect of 22 crude ethanolic plant extracts on in vitro rumen fermentation of Themeda triandra hay using monensin sodium as a positive control. The experiment was run independently three times at 16 and 48 h of incubation periods using the in vitro gas production techniques. Fermentation parameters were determined at both hours of incubation. Plant extracts influenced gas production (GP) in a varied way relative to control at both hours of incubation, and GP is consistently highly significant (p < 0.0001) at 16 and 48 h. Microbial protein yield (MY) was not significantly affected at 16 h (p > 0.05), but it was at 48 h (p < 0.01). Higher MY was recorded for all treatments except for A. sativum and C. intybus at the early incubation stage (16 h) relative to 48 h of incubation. Compared to the control group at 48 h, all plant extracts have higher MY. After 48 h of incubation, the result shows that plant extracts have an effect on fermentation parameters determined; ruminal feed degradation, gas production, microbial protein yield, and partitioning factor in varied manners. All the plant extracts improve the MY which is the major source of amino acids to ruminants and has significant importance to animal performance. C. illinoinensis, C. japonica, M. nigra, P. americana, C. papaya, and A. nilotica (pods) were the most promising plant extracts, but further study is recommended to validate the in vitro observation in vivo.
Characterization of N-Acetyl Cysteine Adducts with Exogenous and Neutrophil-Derived 2-Chlorofatty Aldehyde
Authors: Shakya Shubha , McGuffee Reagan M. , Ford David A.
Published: February 2023

Hypochlorous acid is produced by leukocyte myeloperoxidase activity. 2-Chlorofatty aldehydes (2-ClFALDs) are formed when hypochlorous acid attacks the plasma membrane phospholipid plasmalogen molecular subclass and are thus produced following leukocyte activation as well as in the lungs of mice exposed to chlorine gas. The biological role of 2-ClFALD is largely unknown. Recently, we used an alkyne analog (2-ClHDyA) of the 2-ClFALD molecular species, 2-chlorohexadecanal (2-ClHDA), to identify proteins covalently modified by 2-ClHDyA in endothelial cells and epithelial cells. Here, we demonstrate that 2-ClHDA reduces the metabolic activity of RAW 264.7 cells in a dose-dependent manner. 2-ClHDyA localizes to the mitochondria, endoplasmic reticulum and Golgi in RAW 264.7 cells and modifies many proteins. The thiol-containing precursor of glutathione, N-acetyl cysteine (NAC), was shown to produce an adduct with 2-ClHDA with the loss of Cl− (HDA–NAC). This adduct was characterized in both positive and negative ion modes using LC-MS/MS and electrospray ionization. NAC treatment of neutrophils reduced the 2-ClFALD levels in PMA-stimulated cells with subsequent increases in HDA–NAC. NAC treatments reduced the 2-ClHDA-elicited loss of metabolic activity in RAW 264.7 cells as well as 2-ClHDA protein modification. These studies demonstrate that 2-ClFALD toxic effects can be reduced by NAC, which reduces protein modification.
Anthocyanins Prevent AAPH-Induced Steroidogenesis Disorder in Leydig Cells by Counteracting Oxidative Stress and StAR Abnormal Expression in a Structure-Dependent Manner
Authors: Hu Jun , Li Xusheng , Wu Naijun , Zhu Cuijuan , Jiang Xinwei , Yuan Kailan , Li Yue , Sun Jianxia , Bai Weibin
Published: February 2023

Testosterone deficiency may increase the risk of sexual dysfunction and the failure of spermatogenesis. Oxidative stress that is derived from the destruction of homeostasis, disease, and exposure to contaminants can damage the steroidogenicity process in Leydig cells, resulting in a reduction in testosterone synthesis. Anthocyanins are a group of innoxious antioxidants widely recognized in food sources, and are an ideal candidate to relieve oxidative stress-related steroidogenesis disorder. However, there is still a major gap in our knowledge of the structure–function relationship of anthocyanin on the activity mentioned above. In the present study, four anthocyanins including cyanidin-3-glucoside (Cy-3-glu), delphinidin-3-glucoside (Dp-3-glu), pelargonidin-3-glucoside (Pg-3-glu), and cyanidin-3,5-diglucoside (Cy-3,5-diglu) were applied to reverse testosterone generation after employing 2,2′-Azobis(2-amidinopropane)-dihydrochloride (AAPH) as the inducer of oxidative stress in R2C cells. The results demonstrated that all four kinds of anthocyanins can inhibit ROS generation, alleviate mitochondrial membrane potential damage, and contribute to increased testosterone. Among them, Cy-3,5-diglu with diglycoside performed best on antioxidative ability and improved cell dysfunction and upregulated the expression of the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR). The molecular docking further revealed the direct combination between anthocyanins and StAR, suggesting that anthocyanins with monosaccharide were more likely to interact with StAR than with diglycoside. Taken together, these data indicate that recipient R2C cells under oxidative stress submitted to anthocyanins exhibited improved steroidogenesis in a structure-dependent manner. Anthocyanins could be considered the ideal ingredients against oxidative stress-induced testosterone deficiency.
m6A Modification—Association with Oxidative Stress and Implications on Eye Diseases
Authors: Ni Yueqi , Zhang Hong , Chu Liang , Zhao Yin
Published: February 2023

Oxidative stress (OS) refers to a state of imbalance between oxidation and antioxidation. OS is considered to be an important factor leading to aging and a range of diseases. The eyes are highly oxygen-consuming organs. Due to its continuous exposure to ultraviolet light, the eye is particularly vulnerable to the impact of OS, leading to eye diseases such as corneal disease, cataracts, glaucoma, etc. The N6-methyladenosine (m6A) modification is the most investigated RNA post-transcriptional modification and participates in a variety of cellular biological processes. In this study, we review the role of m6A modification in oxidative stress-induced eye diseases and some therapeutic methods to provide a relatively overall understanding of m6A modification in oxidative stress-related eye diseases.
The Evolution Characteristics and Driving Mechanism of Urban Construction Land in Hong Kong since 1972
Authors: Wu Yufan , Wang Jiangbo , Gou Aiping
Published: February 2023

As an important spatial carrier of Hong Kong’s economic development, construction land provides a critical site for Hong Kong’s economic and social activities. The development of construction land directly affects the sustainable development of the city. Therefore, analysing the spatial and temporal evolution and driving mechanism of construction land in Hong Kong is of great significance in promoting sustainable urban development. This study aimed to evaluate the evolutionary characteristics and driving mechanism of construction land of Hong Kong in the period 1972–2020. Here, we extract construction land data from 1972 based on the historical map of Hong Kong. Then, we apply ArcGIS Pro and Fragstats software to calculate the rate of land expansion, land intensity, change in the centre of gravity, and landscape pattern index of construction land in Hong Kong from 1972–2020. Analysis shows the following: (1) The expansion of construction land in Hong Kong generally showed the characteristics of “rapid at first and then slowing down”, with 2010 as the peak of the 1970–2020 timeframe. (2) The sources of construction land transfer mainly came from cultivated land, sea areas, and forest land, which were mainly distributed in the New Territories. (3) The centre of gravity of construction land in Hong Kong showed the spatial characteristics of “slowly shifting to the northwest” during the study period, indicating that Hong Kong’s polycentric urban structure has been continuously strengthened. (4) The Spiltting index showed a tortuous upward trend, and the index of Mean Euclidean nearest neighbour distance showed a steady downward trend, which indicated that the landscape connectivity of city construction land steadily increased while the degree of fragmentation gradually increased. (5) The driving factors behind the expansion of Hong Kong construction land comes from population, economic, and traffic factors; the support factors come from location and policy factors; the elasticity factors mainly come from reclamation projects; the resistance factors mainly come from the restrictions of environmental protection departments, NGOs, and relevant laws on land reclamation.
LOS Signal Identification Based on Common Chord Intersection Point Position Deviation from MS in Target Localization
Authors: Luo Rui , Zhao Hualing , Deng Ping , Kuang Yin
Published: February 2023

Target localization has been a popular research topic in recent years since it is the basis of all kinds of location-based applications. For GNSS-denied urban or indoor environments, the localization method based on time-of-arrival (TOA) is one of the most popular localization methods due to its high accuracy and simplicity. However, the Non-line-of-sight (NLOS) error is the major cause that degrades the accuracy of the TOA-based localization method. Identifying whether a received signal at a base station (BS) is due to a line-of-sight (LOS) transmission or NLOS is the key to TOA-based localization methods. In the popular LOS signal identification methods, compared with statistic signal methods and machine learning methods, the geometric constraint method has the advantages of simplicity and without requiring priori knowledge of signals and large amounts of training datasets. In this paper, we propose a geometric constraint two-step LOS signal identification method based on common chord intersection point position deviation from mobile stations (MS). In the first step, all BSs are divided into multiple BS combinations with every three BSs, the TOA distance error of each BS combination is estimated based on common chord intersection point position deviation from MS, the BS combinations whose TOA distance error satisfy Gaussian distribution are roughly identified as LOS BS combination and enter the second step, the other BS combinations are discarded as NLOS BS combination. In the second step, based on mutual distance threshold and discrimination result matrix, common chord intersection points of LOS BS combination, and corresponding LOS BS combinations are identified. The BSs of LOS BS combinations are identified as LOS BS and the signals received at LOS BS are identified as LOS signal ultimately. Compared with the other two geometric constraint methods, the proposed algorithm has better identification accuracy, and the setting of the identification threshold value has a theoretical basis, which facilitates the application of the proposed algorithm.
Method to Calculate Melanopic Light Reaching the Retina Depending on the Optical Density of an Aging Crystalline Lens
Authors: Sanchez-Cano Ana , Orduna-Hospital Elvira , Fernández-Espinosa Guisela , Aporta Justiniano
Published: February 2023

Lighting studies that take into account the age of the inhabitants of an area and are related to circadian light are difficult to find. This study aims to simplify a method to approximately compute the circadian light reaching the retina based on photopic illuminance reaching the corneal plane and considering the optical density of an aging crystalline lens. As an example of this proposed method, calculations were performed with both the D65 and A standard illuminants, showing how the spectral power distribution is modified by the optical density of the crystalline lens, mainly at short wavelengths. Due to these selective wavelength absorptions of the aged lens, a significant variation in the level of daylight equivalent melanopic illuminance (EDI) is present in the retina. With levels of 200 lux at the corneal plane, these variations ranged from 204 EDI lux to 178 EDI lux for the D65 standard illuminant, and from 99 EDI lux to 101 EDI lux for the A standard illuminant for observers aged 10 and 90, respectively. In this work, we aimed to simplify the greatest possible level of calculation of melanopic light, while describing simple protocols that are easy to translate into practice. Our results will allow researchers to carry out optimized lighting designs from both the photometric and circadian perspectives considering the optical density of an aging lens.
An Overview of Industrial Robots Control and Programming Approaches
Authors: Bilancia Pietro , Schmidt Juliana , Raffaeli Roberto , Peruzzini Margherita , Pellicciari Marcello
Published: February 2023

Nowadays, manufacturing plants are required to be flexible to respond quickly to customer demands, adapting production and processes without affecting their efficiency. In this context, Industrial Robots (IRs) are a primary resource for modern factories due to their versatility which allows the execution of flexible, reconfigurable, and zero-defect manufacturing tasks. Even so, the control and programming of the commercially available IRs are limiting factors for their effective implementation, especially for dynamic production environments or when complex applications are required. These issues have stimulated the development of new technologies that support more efficient methods for robot control and programming. The goal of this research is to identify and evaluate the main approaches proposed in scientific papers and by the robotics industry in the last decades. After a critical review of the standard IR control schematic, the paper discusses the available control alternatives and summarizes their characteristics, range of applications, and remaining limitations.
Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical Coupling Simulation of CO2 Enhanced Coalbed Methane Recovery with Regards to Low-Rank but Relatively Shallow Coal Seams
Authors: Ma Qianqian , Li Hong , Ji Kun , Huang Fengjun
Published: February 2023

CO2 injection technology into coal seams to enhance CH4 recovery (CO2-ECBM), therefore presenting the dual benefit of greenhouse gas emission reduction and clean fossil energy development. In order to gaze into the features of CO2 injection’s influence on reservoir pressure and permeability, the Thermal-Hydraulic-Mechanical coupling mechanism of CO2 injection into the coal seam is considered for investigation. The competitive adsorption, diffusion, and seepage flowing of CO2 and CH4 as well as the dynamic evolution of fracture porosity of coal seams are considered. Fluid physical parameters are obtained by the fitting equation using MATLAB to call EOS software Refprop. Based on the Canadian CO2-ECBM project CSEMP, the numerical simulation targeting shallow low-rank coal is carried out, and the finite element method is used in the software COMSOL Multiphysics. Firstly, the direct recovery (CBM) and CO2-ECBM are compared, and it is confirmed that the injection of CO2 has a significant improvement effect on methane production. Secondly, the influence of injection pressure and temperature is discussed. Increasing the injection pressure can increase the pressure difference in the reservoir in a short time, so as to improve the CH4 production and CO2 storage. However, the increase in gas injection pressure will also lead to the rapid attenuation of near-well reservoir permeability, resulting in the weakening of injection capacity. Also, when the injection temperature increases, the CO2 concentration is relatively reduced, and the replacement effect on CH4 is weakened, resulting in a slight decrease in CBM production and CO2 storage.
Nonuniform Background Correction for Wide-Field Surveillance Camera
Authors: Zhou Dali , Wang Xiaodong
Published: February 2023

Space environment surveillance is very important for space security, which is easy to be disturbed by stray light and hot pixels, and the image background presents a certain degree of nonuniformity. The existing methods can not achieve the accurate segmentation of weak targets while correcting the nonuniform background. To solve this problem, this paper presents an accurate and robust correction method for the wide-field surveillance camera, called the enhanced new top-hat transform (ENTHT). Firstly, we analyze the formation mechanism and influence of the nonuniformity background from multiple dimensions. Secondly, because of the dependence and limitations of the background suppression effect of the new top-hat transform on the selection of structural elements, we improve the new top-hat transform by designing a noise structure element (NSE). Finally, we analyze the performance and advantages of the ENTHT method. In the field experiment, the method can accurately correct the complex space nonuniform background, eliminate the stray light and hot pixels, and realize the accurate segmentation of weak targets. In the complex space environment, it brings great help to space-moving target recognition and tracking.
Face Liveness Detection Using Artificial Intelligence Techniques: A Systematic Literature Review and Future Directions
Authors: Khairnar Smita , Gite Shilpa , Kotecha Ketan , Thepade Sudeep D.
Published: February 2023

Biometrics has been evolving as an exciting yet challenging area in the last decade. Though face recognition is one of the most promising biometrics techniques, it is vulnerable to spoofing threats. Many researchers focus on face liveness detection to protect biometric authentication systems from spoofing attacks with printed photos, video replays, etc. As a result, it is critical to investigate the current research concerning face liveness detection, to address whether recent advancements can give solutions to mitigate the rising challenges. This research performed a systematic review using the PRISMA approach by exploring the most relevant electronic databases. The article selection process follows preset inclusion and exclusion criteria. The conceptual analysis examines the data retrieved from the selected papers. To the author, this is one of the foremost systematic literature reviews dedicated to face-liveness detection that evaluates existing academic material published in the last decade. The research discusses face spoofing attacks, various feature extraction strategies, and Artificial Intelligence approaches in face liveness detection. Artificial intelligence-based methods, including Machine Learning and Deep Learning algorithms used for face liveness detection, have been discussed in the research. New research areas such as Explainable Artificial Intelligence, Federated Learning, Transfer learning, and Meta-Learning in face liveness detection, are also considered. A list of datasets, evaluation metrics, challenges, and future directions are discussed. Despite the recent and substantial achievements in this field, the challenges make the research in face liveness detection fascinating.
An In Vivo Platform for Rebuilding Functional Neocortical Tissue
Authors: Quezada Alexandra , Ward Claire , Bader Edward R. , Zolotavin Pavlo , Altun Esra , Hong Sarah , Killian Nathaniel J. , Xie Chong , Batista-Brito Renata , Hébert Jean M.
Published: February 2023

Recent progress in cortical stem cell transplantation has demonstrated its potential to repair the brain. However, current transplant models have yet to demonstrate that the circuitry of transplant-derived neurons can encode useful function to the host. This is likely due to missing cell types within the grafts, abnormal proportions of cell types, abnormal cytoarchitecture, and inefficient vascularization. Here, we devised a transplant platform for testing neocortical tissue prototypes. Dissociated mouse embryonic telencephalic cells in a liquid scaffold were transplanted into aspiration-lesioned adult mouse cortices. The donor neuronal precursors differentiated into upper and deep layer neurons that exhibited synaptic puncta, projected outside of the graft to appropriate brain areas, became electrophysiologically active within one month post-transplant, and responded to visual stimuli. Interneurons and oligodendrocytes were present at normal densities in grafts. Grafts became fully vascularized by one week post-transplant and vessels in grafts were perfused with blood. With this paradigm, we could also organize cells into layers. Overall, we have provided proof of a concept for an in vivo platform that can be used for developing and testing neocortical-like tissue prototypes.
Reduced Renal CSE/CBS/H2S Contributes to the Progress of Lupus Nephritis
Authors: Wang Xuan , Lin Tao , He Yifei , Zhou Yueyuan , Peng Yi , Zhang Weiru , Ni Xin
Published: February 2023

The molecular mechanisms underlying lupus nephritis (LN) pathogenesis are not fully understood. Hydrogen sulfide (H2S) is involved in many pathological and physiological processes. We sought to investigate the roles of H2S in LN pathogenesis. H2S synthase cystathionine–lyase (CSE) and cystathionine–synthetase (CBS) expression was downregulated in renal tissues of patients with LN and their levels were associated with LN’s prognosis using the Nephroseq database. Reduced CSE and CBS protein expression in kidney tissues of LN patients and MRL/lpr mice were confirmed by immunohistochemistry. CSE and CBS mRNA levels were reduced in MRL/lpr and pristine- and R848-induced lupus mice. Given that H2S exerts an anti-inflammatory role partly via regulating inflammatory transcription factors (TFs), we analyzed hub TFs by using a bioinformatics approach. It showed that STAT1, RELA, and T-cell-related signaling pathways were enriched in LN. Increased STAT1 and RELA expression were confirmed in renal tissues of LN patients. Treatment of MRL/lpr and pristine mice with H2S donors alleviated systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) phenotypes and renal injury. H2S donors inhibited RELA level and T-cell infiltration in the kidneys of MRL/lpr and pristine mice. Our data indicated that CSE/CBS/H2S contributes to LN pathogenesis. Supplementation of H2S would be a potential therapeutic strategy for LN.
Changes in Body Mass, Physical Activity, and Dietary Intake during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdowns in Canadian University Students
Authors: Bell Madison , Duncan Markus J. , Patte Karen A. , Roy Brian D. , Ditor David S. , Klentrou Panagiota
Published: February 2023

This study examined changes in body mass and body mass index (BMI), physical activity, and dietary intake in Canadian university students during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two self-reported recall surveys were conducted: after the first lockdown in September 2020 (T1) and following the second lockdown in March 2021 (T2). Eligible participants were full-time undergraduate students attending a Canadian university and residing in Canada during the first year of the pandemic. At T1, 510 students (99 male, 411 female) completed the survey, and of those, 135 (32 males, 103 females) completed the survey at T2 (73% attrition). At both T1 and T2, most participants were 18–24 years of age (93% and 90%, respectively), Caucasian (73% and 78%, respectively), and resided in the province of Ontario (79% and 80%, respectively). Body mass increased from T1 to T2 (+0.91 ± 3.89 kg t(132) = −2.7, p = 0.008). BMI also increased from T1 to T2 (+0.30 ± 1.33 kg/m2 [t(130) = −2.5, p = 0.012), with a greater number of participants within the overweight range (19.8% versus 24.4%, respectively). At T1, 38% of the participants reported a decrease in physical activity, while the number of students reporting a decrease in activity increased to 56% at T2. Dietary energy intake decreased from 1678 ± 958 kcal/day at T1 to 1565 ± 842 kcal/day at T2 [c2(1) = 7.2, p = 0.007]. Diet quality also decreased, with participants not meeting the recommended daily allowance for essential macro and micronutrients. A decrease was observed in daily servings of fruits (−27%, p < 0.001), vegetables (−72%, p < 0.001), and grains (−68%, p < 0.001). In conclusion, despite a small decrease in dietary energy intake, a modest weight gain occurred during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic in this cohort of Canadian university students, which was potentially related to decreased physical activity and diet quality.
IgG N-Glycosylation Is Altered in Coronary Artery Disease
Authors: Radovani Barbara , Vučković Frano , Maggioni Aldo P. , Ferrannini Ele , Lauc Gordan , Gudelj Ivan
Published: February 2023

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is the most common cardiovascular disease (CVD), and previous studies have shown a significant association between N-glycosylation, a highly regulated posttranslational modification, and the development of atherosclerotic plaques. Our aim was to determine whether the N-glycome of immunoglobulin G (IgG) is associated with CAD, as N-glycans are known to alter the effector functions of IgG, which may enhance the inflammatory response in CAD. Therefore, in this study, we isolated IgG from subjects with coronary atherosclerosis (CAD+) and from subjects with clean coronaries (CAD−). The purified IgGs were denatured and enzymatically deglycosylated, and the released and fluorescently labelled N-glycans were analysed by ultra-high performance liquid chromatography based on hydrophilic interactions with fluorescence detection (HILIC-UHPLC-FLR). Sex-stratified analysis of 316 CAD− and 156 CAD+ cases revealed differences in IgG N-glycome composition. The most notable differences were observed in women, where the presence of sialylated N-glycan structures was negatively associated with CAD. The obtained chromatograms provide insight into the IgG N-glycome composition in CAD as well as the biomarker potential of IgG N-glycans in CAD.
Outcomes of Pregnancy in Sickle Cell Disease Patients: Results from the Prospective ESCORT-HU Cohort Study
Authors: Habibi Anoosha , Cannas Giovanna , Bartolucci Pablo , Voskaridou Ersi , Joseph Laure , Bernit Emmanuelle , Gellen-Dautremer Justine , Charneau Corine , Ngo Stephanie , Galactéros Frédéric
Published: February 2023

Sickle cell disease (SCD) refers to a group of inherited hemoglobin disorders in which sickle red blood cells display altered deformability, leading to a significant burden of acute and chronic complications, such as vaso-occlusive pain crises (VOCs). Hydroxyurea is a major therapeutic agent in adult and pediatric sickle cell patients. This treatment is an alternative to transfusion in some complications. Indeed, it increases hemoglobin F and has an action on the endothelial adhesion of red blood cells, leukocytes, and platelets. Although the safety profile of hydroxyurea (HU) in patients with sickle cell disease has been well established, the existing literature on HU exposure during pregnancy is limited and incomplete. Pregnancy in women with SCD has been identified as a high risk for the mother and fetus due to the increased incidence of maternal and non-fetal complications in various studies and reports. For women on hydroxyurea at the time of pregnancy, transfusion therapy should probably be initiated after pregnancy. In addition, there is still a significant lack of knowledge about the incidence of pregnancy, fetal and maternal outcomes, and management of pregnant women with SCD, making it difficult to advise women or clinicians on outcomes and best practices. Therefore, the objective of this study was to describe pregnancy outcomes (n = 128) reported in the noninterventional European Sickle Cell Disease COhoRT-HydroxyUrea (ES-CORT-HU) study. We believe that our results are important and relevant enough to be shared with the scientific community.
Aging, Physical Exercise, Telomeres, and Sarcopenia: A Narrative Review
Authors: Hernández-Álvarez David , Rosado-Pérez Juana , Gavia-García Graciela , Arista-Ugalde Taide Laurita , Aguiñiga-Sánchez Itzen , Santiago-Osorio Edelmiro , Mendoza-Núñez Víctor Manuel
Published: February 2023

Human aging is a gradual and adaptive process characterized by a decrease in the homeostatic response, leading to biochemical and molecular changes that are driven by hallmarks of aging, such as oxidative stress (OxS), chronic inflammation, and telomere shortening. One of the diseases associated with the hallmarks of aging, which has a great impact on functionality and quality of life, is sarcopenia. However, the relationship between telomere length, sarcopenia, and age-related mortality has not been extensively studied. Moderate physical exercise has been shown to have a positive effect on sarcopenia, decreasing OxS and inflammation, and inducing protective effects on telomeric DNA. This results in decreased DNA strand breaks, reduced OxS and IA, and activation of repair pathways. Higher levels of physical activity are associated with an apparent increase in telomere length. This review aims to present the current state of the art of knowledge on the effect of physical exercise on telomeric maintenance and activation of repair mechanisms in sarcopenia.
Cortisol Immunosensors: A Literature Review
Authors: Karachaliou Chrysoula-Evangelia , Koukouvinos Georgios , Goustouridis Dimitrios , Raptis Ioannis , Kakabakos Sotirios , Petrou Panagiota , Livaniou Evangelia
Published: February 2023

Cortisol is a steroid hormone that is involved in a broad range of physiological processes in human/animal organisms. Cortisol levels in biological samples are a valuable biomarker, e.g., of stress and stress-related diseases; thus, cortisol determination in biological fluids, such as serum, saliva and urine, is of great clinical value. Although cortisol analysis can be performed with chromatography-based analytical techniques, such as liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS), conventional immunoassays (radioimmunoassays (RIAs), enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs), etc.) are considered the “gold standard” analytical methodology for cortisol, due to their high sensitivity along with a series of practical advantages, such as low-cost instrumentation, an assay protocol that is fast and easy to perform, and high sample throughput. Especially in recent decades, research efforts have focused on the replacement of conventional immunoassays by cortisol immunosensors, which may offer further improvements in the field, such as real-time analysis at the point of care (e.g., continuous cortisol monitoring in sweat through wearable electrochemical sensors). In this review, most of the reported cortisol immunosensors, mainly electrochemical and also optical ones, are presented, focusing on their immunosensing/detection principles. Future prospects are also briefly discussed.
Effect of Target Semantic Consistency in Different Sequence Positions and Processing Modes on T2 Recognition: Integration and Suppression Based on Cross-Modal Processing
Authors: Yang Haoping , Yue Chunlin , Wang Cenyi , Wang Aijun , Zhang Zonghao , Luo Li
Published: February 2023

In the rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP) paradigm, sound affects participants’ recognition of targets. Although many studies have shown that sound improves cross-modal processing, researchers have not yet explored the effects of sound semantic information with respect to different locations and processing modalities after removing sound saliency. In this study, the RSVP paradigm was used to investigate the difference between attention under conditions of consistent and inconsistent semantics with the target (Experiment 1), as well as the difference between top-down (Experiment 2) and bottom-up processing (Experiment 3) for sounds with consistent semantics with target 2 (T2) at different sequence locations after removing sound saliency. The results showed that cross-modal processing significantly improved attentional blink (AB). The early or lagged appearance of sounds consistent with T2 did not affect participants’ judgments in the exogenous attentional modality. However, visual target judgments were improved with endogenous attention. The sequential location of sounds consistent with T2 influenced the judgment of auditory and visual congruency. The results illustrate the effects of sound semantic information in different locations and processing modalities.