bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating Current Increased Price and Fattening Cost of BX Cattle with ESCAS Cost on Slaughtered Cattle Price and their Welfare
Authors: Hadiwijaya Puradireja Rino , Andre Daud Rivianda , Diky Ramdani
Published: February 2023

The Australian Brahman Cross (BX) cattle industry is very modern. They have created a comprehensive system guided by the principles of animal welfare. The importation of BX cattle by companies in Indonesia will be bound by the Exporter Supply Chain Assurance System (ESCAS) regulations. This study aimed to evaluate the current increased price and fattening cost of feeder Brahman Cross (BX) cattle along with ESCAS additional cost on the price of slaughtered cattle and their welfare. Based on the results, the animal welfare assessment in the feedlot for 120 days were considered good, with the average value in the first month 86.40%, then in the second month 88.50%, in the third month 92.14%, and the fourth month 94.29%. Based on the calculations result of the Activity Based Costing (ABC) method in each supply chain, it is known that procurement costs, including the purchase of feeders, contributed to 94,0% of the total costs, while other costs were handling costs 2.70%, cost of ESCAS 1.56%, selling cost 1.52%, and the lowest, maintenance cost 0.24%. Therefore, to fatten Australian BX cattle, special strategies are needed, such as: optimizing stock in the feedlot; efficiency cost in feed ingredients without reducing quality; applying animal welfare rules to minimize handling costs and selecting vendors who want the lower price in providing ESCAS support facilities and establishing regular maintenance of the ESCAS supporting tools.
Age and serum creatinine can differentiate Wilson disease patients with pseudonormal ceruloplasmin
Authors: Chen Lin , Shi Yongguang , Wang Nan , Lou Zhuoqi , Wu Chensi , Pan Liya , Xu Xiaolan , Yang Renmin , Han Yongzhu , Hu Wenbin , Ruan Bing
Published: February 2023

Background and aim: Significantly reduced serum ceruloplasmin (Cp) is the most important clue in the diagnosis of Wilson disease (WD) and is well known to clinicians. The false increase in Cp in some WD patients, which overlaps with that in non-WD liver disease patients, decreases the diagnostic accuracy. The aims of our study were to understand the factors associated with Cp normalization in WD patients and to identify these WD patients using usual predictors.
Methods:We retrospectively screened individuals with serum Cp ≥140 mg/L from 1032 WD patients who were hospitalised for the first time. Logistic regression analyses were performed in a case-control study between the WD cohort and another liver disease cohort to explore the independent risk factors for WD diagnosis and establish a regression model to identify them. The follow-up medical records of the WD cohort were subjected to mixed effects model analysis in a longitudinal study to discover factors associated with Cp normalisation.
Results:Eighty-six WD patients and 353 of their medical records and another 98 non-WD liver disease patients were included in the present study. Cp normalisation was significantly associated with the copper burden and liver function indexes, such as urinary copper, γ-glutamyltransferase, and albumin (p≤0.001). Logistic regression analysis showed that age and serum creatinine (p≤0.001) were independent risk factors associated with WD. The AUC value of regression model in total cohort was 0.926 (p≤0.001). At a cutoff value of ≥ 0.617 and ≥ -1, the positive and negative predictive values were both 90.8% for WD.
Conclusion:Increased serum Cp in WD patients is related to excessive copper burden and hepatic injury, and common tests can effectively distinguish WD patients from other liver injury patients.
HIV-1 activates oxidative phosphorylation in infected CD4 T cells and the NLRP3 inflammasome in bystander macrophages
Authors: Freeman Tracey , Zhao Connie , Schrode Nadine , Tweel Benjamin , Fortune Trinisia , Schroff Sanjana , Beaumont Kristin , Swartz Talia
Published: February 2023

Human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) leads to a chronic, incurable infection that causes immune activation, resulting in chronic inflammation in people with HIV-1 (PWH) despite virologic suppression on antiretroviral therapy (ART). The mechanisms underlying this chronic inflammation are multifactorial; literature supports the role of lymphoid structures as reservoirs for viral latency and immune activation. The cell type-specific transcriptomic changes induced by HIV-1 infection in lymphoid tissue have not been analyzed. Human tonsil explants from four donors were infected with HIV-1 ex vivo. Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA Seq) was performed to evaluate the represented cell types and the impact of infection, differential gene expression, and inflammatory signaling pathways. Infected CD4+ T cells exhibited increased respiratory electron transport pathway genes. Macrophages exposed to the virus but uninfected demonstrated increased NLRP3 inflammasome pathway genes, suggesting that these cells may play a bystander role in HIV-associated inflammatory pathogenesis. We show that HIV-1-infected CD4+ T cells activate oxidative phosphorylation. Bystander macrophages activate the NLRP3 inflammasome, activating proinflammatory signaling pathways and pyroptotic cell death. These observations support important mechanistic understanding to drive the development of therapeutic strategies to eradicate disease in PWH.
Design and simulation of a semiconductor detector-based Compton imaging system with efficiency analysis
Authors: Niknami Mostafa , Hosseini Seyed Abolfazl , Loushab Mahdy Ebrahimi
Published: February 2023

In recent years, Compton cameras that use electronic collimators have become common. One or more scatterer detectors and an absorber detector make up the Compton camera, which is sensitive to the energy and location of scattered gamma rays. It predicts the distribution of gamma-ray sources by reflecting all valid events in the image space using conical surfaces. Compton cameras are designed for specific applications and image reconstruction using various methods.
Based on studies on the efficiency of the Compton camera, the current work provides a novel detector design that includes scatterer and absorber detectors. This design includes eight scatterer detectors spaced 1 mm apart and an absorber detector 30 mm from the last scatterer detector. The distance between the source and the first scatterer detector was 5 mm. The scatterer and absorber detector plates were 70x70x2.125mm3 and 70x70x10mm3, respectively. The Compton imaging system is simulated using the GEANT4 toolkit.
In addition, this study uses an analytical method to reconstruct Compton camera images. The method used for analytical reconstruction in the Compton imaging system differs slightly from simple restoration methods used in other imaging systems. In the analytical method, the equation related to the data reflected by the image must be solved to reconstruct the image directly. This method, the C + + code was developed to reconstruct Compton camera images.
According to the results, using the analytical method to identify the best circumstances and the parameters impacting efficiency, the value of FWHM achieved was 3.7 mm with an angular uncertainty of about 2.7 at an energy of 0.662 MeV. Furthermore, the FWHM value decreased by 0.7 mm, compared to another (experimental) design that employed the analytical image reconstruction approach.
News Sentiment Analysis for Liquidity Risk Reduction
Authors: Mirashk Hamed , Albadvi Amir , Kargari Mehrdad , Rastegar Mohammad Ali
Published: February 2023

Recently, the low quality of banks' assets has caused many problems for banks and the economy of some countries. The lack of efficient risk management is the main reason for the decline in the quality of banks' assets. One of the most important risks in banks is liquidity risk. The Basel Committee on Banking Supervision (BCBS) introduced the liquidity coverage ratio (LCR) as part of the Basel III reforms for the short-term recovery of internationally active banks against liquidity shocks, after the crisis. As the LCR is designed to ensure that banks hold a sufficient reserve of high-quality liquid assets, predicting LCR position at the right time can prevent banking serious problems in the future which has not been addressed in previous research. This study applies the Sentiment Analysis approach as qualitative measures and investigated its impact on LCR. A news integration method combined with text representation techniques, the result of which is fed into well-tuned Deep Learning Algorithms such as Convolutional Neural Network, is introduced as a unique predictive machine suitable for this problem. Finally, we find that current news contain information related to the change in LCR of next month, an insight that helps to improve prediction of its position with an accuracy of 88.6%. The outcome indicates that risk managers can benefit from complementing established qualitative measures that are related to future liquidity risk changes.
Boundaries Determination in Potential Field Anomaly Utilizing Analytical Signal Filtering and its Vertical Derivative in Qeshm Island SE Iran
Authors: Hosseini Seyed Aliakbar , Khah Nasser Keshavarz Faraj , Kianoush Pooria , Afzal Peyman , Shakiba Sima , Jamshidi Emad
Published: February 2023

The analytical signal method and its derivatives can be explicitly calculated and assessed for analyzing and estimating the boundary of geological structures, such as faults or dikes, from potential field anomalies. Gravity field of the east of Qeshm Island and its north coast from Sarkhun to Latidan in SE Iran has been measured in one-kilometer regular network. The regional anomaly effects are deducted from the Bouguer anomaly, where it can get the residual anomalies which is the considered dataset used in this study. The Bouguer range is -297 to -330 milligals (mGal) applying filters and modeling. It was revealed that there are five negative anomalies caused by salt penetration in the region. Regional anomalies expectedly have a low spatial frequency and long wavelengths, while the residual anomalies associated with shallow sub-surface potentials have high spatial frequencies and short-wave wavelengths.
Two different fault trends were observed comparing the artificial model using MATLAB coding, the real one, and the filtered residual anomaly map of the Qeshm region. Also, another fault trend is suggested in the east height of Oman, which is a possible place of salt penetration. Due to the limited dimensions (120 * 100 km) and the information obtained from the existing drillings, the depth of the anomaly resources can be examined up to 8 km. Due to the gravitational condition between the two domes of Qeshm saline and the bridge located in the Hara saline area, it is suggested to be considered as an area for further oil exploration routines.
Renalase Identified by Machine Learning Methods As A Novel Independent Predictor Of Mortality In Hospitalized Patients With COVID-19
Authors: Safdar Basmah , Sobiesk Matthew , Bertsimas Dimitris , Nowroozpoor Armin , Deng Yanhong , D’Onofrio Gail , Dziura James , El-Khoury Joe , Guo Xiaojia , Simokonov Michael , Taylor R. Andrew , Wang Melinda , Desir Gary
Published: February 2023

Low levels of renalase, a flavoprotein released by kidneys, has been linked with cytokine release syndrome and disease severity of viral infections. We sought to, 1) identify traditional and novel predictors of mortality for patients hospitalized with COVID-19; and 2) investigate whether renalase independently predicts mortality. In a retrospective cohort study, clinicopathologic data and blood samples were collected from hospitalized COVID-19 patients. Patients were excluded if < 18 years or opted out of research. Novel research markers – renalase, kidney injury molecule-1, interferon (α,δ,ι), interleukin (IL-1, IL6), and tumor necrosis factor were measured. The primary outcome was mortality within 180 days of index visit. Among 437 patients who provided 897 blood samples, mean age was 64 years (SD ± 17), 233 (53%) were males, and 48% were non-whites. Seventy-one patients (16%) died. Area under the curve (AUC) for mortality prediction was as follows: using logistic regression with a priori feature selection (AUC = 0.72; CI 0.62, 0.82), logistic regression with backward feature selection (0.70; CI 0.55, 0.77), and XGBoost (0.87; CI 0.77, 0.93)]. PR-AUC and calibration plots also showed best performance with XGBoost model. Elevated BNP, advanced age, oxygen saturation deviation, and low renalase were the leading predictors of mortality in XGBoost. Renalase emerged as an independent predictor of mortality for COVID-19 across all statistical models.
The performance of GRAMM-SCI and WRF in simulating the surface-energy budget and thermally driven winds in an Alpine valley
Authors: Simonet Gaspard , Oettl Dietmar , Lehner Manuela
Published: February 2023

Using WRF as a benchmark, GRAMM-SCI simulations are performed for a case study of thermally driven valley- and slope winds in the Inn Valley, Austria. A clear-sky, synoptically undisturbed day was selected when large spatial heterogeneities occur in the components of the surface-energy budget driven by local terrain and land-use characteristics. The models are evaluated mainly against observations from four eddy-covariance stations in the valley. While both models are able to capture the main characteristics of the surface-energy budget and the locally driven wind field, a few overall deficiencies are identified: (i) Since the surface-energy budget is closed in the models, whereas large residuals are observed, the models generally tend to overestimate the sensible and latent heat fluxes. (ii) The partitioning of the available energy into sensible and latent heat fluxes remains relatively constant in the simulations, whereas the observed Bowen ratio decreases continuously throughout the day because of a temporal shift between the maxima in sensible and latent heat fluxes, which is not captured by the models. (iii) The comparison between model results and observations is hampered by differences between the real land use and the vegetation type in the model. Recent modifications of the land-surface scheme in GRAMM-SCI improve the representation of nighttime katabatic winds over forested areas, reducing the modeled wind speeds to more realistic values.
Dietary counselling plus omega-3 supplementation in the treatment of generalized anxiety disorder: Protocol for a randomized wait-list controlled pilot trial (the “EASe-GAD Trial”)
Authors: Aucoin Monique , LaChance Laura , Wurff Inge van der , Miller Sean , Naidoo Umadevi , Jenkins Andrew , Cooley Kieran
Published: February 2023

Background
Anxiety disorders are prevalent and disabling conditions involving excessive worry and tension. Generalized anxiety disorder (GAD), the most common anxiety disorder, affects 5% of individuals from high-income countries and many individuals report that treatment options are not accessible, effective, or tolerable. Clinical evidence suggests that nutrition interventions, based on the Mediterranean diet and supplementation of omga-3 fatty acids, can significantly improve symptoms of depression; however, the effect of nutrition interventions on anxiety symptoms has not been studied in a clinical population. The primary objective of the present study is to assess the feasibility and acceptability of a dietary counselling and omega-3 fatty acid supplementation intervention delivered to adult women with GAD. The secondary objectives include assessing changes in anxiety symptom severity, assessing changes in quality of life, assessing changes in biomarkers and evaluation of the components of the program.
Methods
This study is a randomized, wait-list controlled pilot trial delivering a 12-week, dietary counseling intervention and omega-3 supplementation to 50 adult women with GAD. Participant will complete seven individual counselling sessions which include education, personalized recommendations, mindful eating techniques, motivational interviewing, and goal setting. They will be provided with recipes, instructional videos, and food items. The intervention is designed based on the Social Cognitive Theory and previous research that has been done by the author team to identify dietary constituents with the most evidence to support their use in the treatment of anxiety disorders. Questionnaires and blood work will be completed at baseline, after the wait period (for those in the waitlist group) and after the intervention.
Discussion
Results from this study will lay the foundation for future large-scale studies in this area and may provide preliminary evidence of the role of diet counselling and omega-3 supplementation in the management of GAD. Research on the role of nutrition in psychiatric care has been identified as a priority by a number of international organizations. The present trial directly addresses the call for the research that is most needed to advance the field. This protocol was registered at Clinicaltrials.gov on October 10, 2022; NCT05573672; https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05573672.
A synergistic biomimetic optical structure for household health monitoring
Authors: Zhang Shan , Zhang Guanglin , Ding Guqiao , Liu Zhiduo , Wang Bingkun , Wu Huijuan , He Zhengyi , Wei Genwang , Jin Zhiwen , Li Jipeng , Ye Caichao , Yang Siwei , Wang Gang
Published: February 2023

A breakthrough in the performance of bionic optical structures will only be achieved if we can obtain an in-depth understanding of the synergy mechanisms operating in natural optical structures and find ways to imitate them. In this work, inspired by feline eyes, an optical structure that takes advantage of a synergistic effect that occurs between resonant and reflective structures was designed. The reflective structure consists of anodic aluminum oxide with an aluminized inner layer (Al-AAO), and the resonant structure consists of three-dimensional (3D) graphene inside, and on the surface of the Al-AAO. The synergistic effect between the reflective and resonant components leads to a Raman enhancement factor (EF) of 1.16 × 107 which is much greater than that achieved using the reflective/resonant cavities on their own. A 2-3 order of magnitude increase in sensitivity could thus be achieved when used to detect model compounds. More importantly, the optical device was further used to develop a highly-sensitive household health monitoring system. The system uses simple apparatus (homemade centrifugal device and hand-held Raman spectrometer) and rapidly produces results (detection time＜3 min). It can thus be used to give early warning of acute diseases with high risk (e.g., acute myocardial infarction). The 3D-graphene/Al-AAO substrates were also found to have good reusability and storability (9% and 7% reduction in EF after washing 30 times and 8 weeks of storage, respectively). They thus reduce detection costs (to ~$1), making them much cheaper to use than the current gold-standard methods (e.g., ~$16 for gout detection).
Effect of continuous spinal anesthesia on the hemodynamics of labor analgesia in hypertensive pregnant women: a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Han Bin , Xu Mingjun
Published: February 2023

Background:

To evaluate whether the LiDCO-rapid monitor had any advantages compared to continuous epidural analgesia to bring beneficial for hypertensive pregnant women and their newborns.

Methods:

In total 160 parturients with hypertensive disorder complicating pregnancy were enrolled and randomly divided into continuous spinal analgesia group (CSA) and continuous epidural analgesia group (EA). The LiDCO-rapid system was used to monitor the hemodynamic changes of all participants. The inflammatory factors and stress response hormones were measured in the participants' serum.

Results:

The first stage of labor in CSA was longer than EA (P < 0.05); the MAP, VAS and SVR value in CSA were lower than EA group at T1, T3 and T4 (P < 0.05); in contrast, the CO in CSA at T3 and T4 was higher than in EA (P < 0.05). The oxytocin was more often used whereas the antihypertensive drugs were less used in CSA as compared to EA. The level of TNF-α, IL-6, Cor in the CSA at T5 was lower than the EA group (P < 0.05), and the level of TNF-α in the CSA group at T7 was lower than the EA group (P < 0.05).

Conclusion:

For pregnant women with hypertension during pregnancy, continuous spinal analgesia can improve the oxygen supply of the fetus. Since the advantageous effect is definite and circulatory system is stable, it is recommended to implement continuous spinal analgesia early in the labor process, which can effectively decrease stress response and inflammatory factors that having benefits for both parturient and fetus.
Trial registration:
ChiCTR-INR-17012659
Date of registration: 13/09/2017
“It's a habit. They've been doing it for decades and they feel good and safe.”: A qualitative study of barriers and opportunities to changing antimicrobial use in the Indonesian poultry sector
Authors: Hibbard Rebecca , Chapot Lorraine , Yusuf Havan , Ariyanto Kurnia Bagus , Maulana Kusnul Yuli , Febriyani Widya , Cameron Angus , Vergne Timothée , Faverjon Céline , Paul Mathilde C.
Published: February 2023

Interventions to change antimicrobial use (AMU) practices can help mitigate the risk of antimicrobial resistance (AMR) development. However, changing AMU practices can be challenging due to the complex nature of the factors influencing AMU-related behaviours. This study used a qualitative approach to explore the factors that influenced decision making on AMU by farmers and other actors in the Indonesian poultry sector. Thirty-five semi-structured interviews were conducted with farmers, technical services staff from the private sector, and representatives of associations, universities, and international organisations in Central Java, West Java, and East Java. Thematic analysis identified three patterns of influence on AMU: how farmers used information to make AMU-related decisions, the importance of farmers’ social and advisory networks, and the motivations driving changes in AMU behaviours. Key barriers identified included a lack of shared understanding around when to use antibiotics, financial pressures in the poultry sector, and a lack of engagement with government veterinary services. Potential opportunities identified included high farmer awareness of AMU, identification of private sector actors and peer networks as the stakeholders with established relationships of trust with farmers, and the importance of farmers’ conceptions of good farming practices, which could be engaged with to improve AMU practices.
Study on the Effect of 40 Hz Non-Invasive Light Therapy System. A Protocol for a Randomized, Double-Blinded, Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial.
Authors: Agger Mikkel Pejstrup , Horning Maibritt Karin , Carstensen Marcus Schultz , Danielsen Else Rubæk , Baandrup Anders Ohlhues , Nguyen Mai , Høgh Peter , Miskowiak Kamilla , Petersen Paul Michael , Madsen Kristoffer Hougaard , Kjær Troels Wesenberg
Published: February 2023

Background
With no cure or effective treatment, the prevalence of patients with Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is expected to intensify, thereby increasing the social and financial burden on society. Light-based 40 Hz brain stimulation is considered a novel treatment strategy for patients with AD that may alleviate some of this burden. This project will utilize a novel Light Therapy System (LTS). The LTS uses Invisible Spectral Flicker for non-invasive induction of 40 Hz neural activity. This protocol describes a trial evaluating the efficacy and safety of a light-based 40 Hz brain stimulation, in patients with mild-to-moderate AD.
Methods
62 patients with mild-to-moderate AD will participate in a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, and single-center trial. The participants will partake in an enrollment period of 1 month, an intervention period of 6 months, and a 1.5-month post-interventional follow-up period. At week 0, patients will be randomized to either active or placebo intervention. The primary endpoints will be the change of total gamma power at 40 Hz from baseline to weeks 26 and 32 with and without concomitant stimulation with the device.
Discussion
This protocol describes a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial that may increase the understanding of the effect of gamma oscillations in the human brain, and how it could be utilized as a novel and important tool for the treatment of AD. The effect is measured through a large, multidisciplinary assessment battery.
Trial registration:
ClinicalTrials.gov (NCT05260177). Registered on March 2, 2022.
Personalization and localization as key user expectations of digital health intervention for women before, during and after pregnancy: A qualitative study
Authors: Lee V Vien , Vijayakumar Smrithi , Ng Wei Ying , Lau Ni Yin , Leong Qiao Ying , Ooi Delicia Shu Qin , Su Lin Lin , Lee Yung Seng , Chan Shiao-Yng , Blasiak Agata , Ho Dean
Published: February 2023

Objective
Health behaviors before, during and after pregnancy can have lasting effects on maternal and infant health outcomes. Although a digital health intervention (DHI) has potential as a pertinent avenue to deliver mechanisms for a healthy behavior change, its success is reliant on addressing the user needs, without creating apprehension that may lead to attrition. Accordingly, the current study aimed to understand DHI needs and expectations of women before, during and after pregnancy to inform and optimize future DHI developments, specifically ‘the do’s and the don’ts’ for sustainable engagement and efficient intervention.
Methods
Forty-four women (13 pre-, 16 during and 15 post-pregnancy; age range = 21–40 years) completed a 60-minute, semi-structured, qualitative interview exploring participant’s experience in their current phase, experience with, and attitude towards digital health tools, and their needs and expectations of DHIs. Interviews were audio-recorded, transcribed verbatim and thematically analyzed.
Results
From the interviews, two core concepts emerged – personalized journey and embedding within the local ecosystem. Between both concepts, five themes and 12 sub-themes were identified. Themes and sub-themes within personalization cover ideas of two-way interactivity, journey organization based on phases and circumstances, and privacy trade-off. Themes and sub-themes within localization cover ideas of access to local health-related resources and information, and connecting to local communities through anecdotal stories.
Conclusion
The findings captured - through understanding user needs and expectations - the key elements for the development and optimization of a successful DHI for women before, during and after pregnancy. To potentially empower downstream DHI implementation and adoption, these insights can serve as a foundation in the initial innovation process for DHI developers and be further built upon through a continued co-design process.
Temperament and Adolescent Suicide Attempts: A Case-Control study with multi-ethnic Asian adolescents
Authors: Toh Sean Han Yang , Wan Michelle Jing Si , Kroneman Leoniek Mirjam , Nyein Nyein , Wong John Chee Meng
Published: February 2023

Background: Suicide is the leading cause of death for adolescents in several parts of Asia, including Singapore. This study examines the relationship between temperament and youth suicide attempts in a sample of multi-ethnic Singaporean adolescents.
Methods: A case-control design compared 60 adolescents (Mage = 16.40, SDage = 2.00) with a recent suicide attempt (i.e., past 6 months) with 58 adolescents (Mage = 16.00, SDage = 1.68) without any history of suicide attempts. Presence of suicide attempts was established using the semi-structured interviewer-administered Columbia Suicide Severity Rating Scale. Participants also completed self-report measures on temperament traits, psychiatric diagnoses, stressful life events, and perceived parental rejection in an interview-based format.
Results: Psychiatric diagnosis and comorbidity, recent stressful life events, perceived parental rejection, and all five “difficult temperament” traits, were significantly overrepresented among adolescent cases relative to healthy controls. Adjusted logistic regression models revealed significant associations between suicide attempt, major depressive disorder (MDD) (OR: 6.36, p = <.01), MDD comorbidity (OR: 10.7, p = <.01), “negative mood” trait (OR: 1.14 – 1.22, p = <.05), and the interaction term of “positive mood” and “high adaptability” traits (OR: .943 – .955, p = <.05). Specifically, “positive mood” predicted lower likelihood of a suicide attempt when “adaptability” was high (OR: .335 – .342, p < .05) but not low (OR: .968 – .993, p > .87).
Conclusion: Temperament screening may be important to identify adolescents at higher or lower risk of suicide at an early stage. However, the small sample and cross-sectional design limits any conclusions about causality.
Gut microbiota-derived tryptamine and phenethylamine impair insulin sensitivity in metabolic syndrome and irritable bowel syndrome
Authors: Zhai Lixiang , Xiao Hai-Tao , Lin Chengyuan , Wong Hoi Leong Xavier , Lam Yan Y. , Gong Mengxue , Wu Guojun , Ning Ziwan , Huang Chunhua , Zhang Yijing , Yang Chao , Luo Jingyuan , Zhang Lu , Zhao Ling , Zhang Chenhong , Lau Johnson Y. N. , Lu Aiping , Lau Lok-Ting , Jia Wei , Zhao Liping , Bian Zhao-xiang
Published: February 2023

The incidence of metabolic syndrome is significantly higher in patients with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), but the mechanisms involved remain unclear. Gut microbiota has been causatively linked with the development of both metabolic dysfunctions and gastrointestinal disorders, thus gut dysbiosis in IBS may contribute to the development of metabolic syndrome. Here, we showed that human gut bacterium Ruminococcus gnavus play a pathogenic role in gut dysbiosis-induced insulin resistance in type 2 diabetes (T2D) and IBS. Monoassociation of R. gnavus impaired insulin sensitivity and glucose control in germ-free mice. Mechanistically, treatment of R. gnavus-derived metabolites tryptamine and phenethylamine directly impaired insulin signaling in major metabolic tissues of healthy mice and monkeys and this effect was mediated by the trace amine-associated receptor 1 (TAAR1)-extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) signaling axis. Moreover, we showed levels of R. gnavus, tryptamine and phenethylamine are positively associated with insulin resistance in T2D patients and IBS patients. Our findings suggest a causal role for tryptamine/phenethylamine-producers in the development of insulin resistance, provide molecular mechanisms for the increased prevalence of metabolic syndrome in IBS, and highlight the TAAR1 signaling axis as a potential therapeutic target for the management of metabolic syndrome induced by gut dysbiosis.
A qualitative study exploring self-management behaviour of patients with chronic kidney disease during COVID-19
Authors: Uzun Mehmet Barlas , Gülpınar Gizem , Pehlivanlı Aysel , Şengül Şule
Published: February 2023

Background Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a major public health issue. COVID-19 immensely affects people with chronic diseases including patients with CKD. We aimed to explore the factors that might have an impact on the self-management of patients receiving haemodialysis (HD) and patients with kidney transplant (KTx) during COVID-19 by using the Health Belief Model (HBM). Methods A qualitative phenomenology research design was used to build evidence to establish the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on self-management behaviour of patients with CKD. Data were analysed using framework analysis to identify key factors influencing patients’ perceptions regarding the self-management of their conditions during COVID-19. Results Eighteen patients with KTx and seven with HD were interviewed during the lockdown. Having CKD was discussed as a major contributing factor contributing to the perception of susceptibility. The fear of death expressed by the participants had a profound impact on self-management. Delays in check-ups and monitoring, staying at home, financial burden of treatment, lack of trusted information, safety of test sites, and fatalistic attitudes of patients were the barriers identified in the study towards self-management behaviours of patients. External and internal triggers were the motivators of adopting self-management behaviour. Conclusion This study provides an in-depth view of factors impacting the adoption of self-management behaviour of patients with CKD during COVID-19 and may provide healthcare providers and policymakers knowledge about factors contributing towards compromised patient care.
Nearshore terminal fan and seismic sedimentology response characteristics: A case study of the first member of the Shahejie Formation in the Suning area of Raoyang Sag
Authors: Li Xinshuai , Meng Qingchun , Xie Jun , Wang Xiuwei , Chen Hong , Shao Minmin , Zhao Yuzhi
Published: February 2023

This study investigates the first section of the Shahejie Formation in the Suning area. Based on three-dimensional seismic, logging, drilling core and other data, and on the principle of seismic sedimentology, the difficulty in accurately characterizing thin sand bodies is resolved. Moreover, the study area is clearly defined as sediment from the western provenance, along with the identification of the nearshore terminal fan facies. This study aims to determine the seismic characteristics of sand body based on 90° phase optimization processing and frequency division interpretation processing to judge the relative isochronous seismic event, and a 45-Hz seismic data body is selected for stratum slice to realize the fine characterization of channel sand body. Finally, a high-precision sedimentological interpretation of stratigraphic slices reveals the seismic response characteristics and evolution rules of the nearshore terminal fan deposits.
The role of the biological maturation on performance indicators in young soccer players: multidimensional analysis by maturity status
Authors: Borges Paulo Henrique , Costa Julio Cesar , Ramos-Silva Luiz Fernando , Menegassi Vanessa Menezes , Praça Gibson Moreira , Moura Felipe Arruda , Ronque Enio Ricardo Vaz
Published: February 2023

This study verified the effects of the maturity status on the interactions of young soccer players in small-sided games. The sample included 81 players (14.4 ± 1.1 years). Anthropometric measurements of body mass, height, sitting height, and bone age were obtained (TW3 method). The multidimensional evaluation involved the following tests: Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level 1 (YYIRT1), Counter Movement Jump (CMJ), Repeated Sprints Ability (RSA), observational analysis of techniques, and interactions performed by players in small-sided games. The relationship between the set of evaluated variables within each maturity status was obtained from the correlational analysis of networks (P > 0.05). The maturity status explained a significant portion of the variance in body mass (Ƞ2=0.37), height (Ƞ2= 0.30), sitting height (Ƞ2=0.30), and performance on the YYIRT1 (Ƞ2=0.08), CMJ (Ƞ2=0.14), and RSA (Ƞ2=0.13). No effect of maturity status on network-based centrality measures of young athletes was identified (P > 0.05). For the late maturity group, there was a correlation between the degree of centrality and physical growth indicators (rmean=0.88). For players with maturation “on time”, physical growth indicators relate to the degree of prestige (rmean=0.36). It is concluded that body size and bone age impact how late and on-time maturity groups interact within the match.
Diagnostic value of niacin skin blunting response in adolescent patients with depression
Authors: Nianhong Shen , Pan Liu , Caijun Li , Hongying Ye , You Sun , Jie Chang , Jinquan Zhou , Yunshan Zhou , Donghu Wang , Mingchao Yu , Chengbing Huang , Xueyuan Hou
Published: February 2023

Objective: To investigate the differences in the niacin skin flushing response of adolescent depressed patients and healthy adolescents and its diagnostic value in adolescent depression.
Methods: Thirty-eight cases of acute episodes of depression in unmedicated adolescents and 47 age- and sex-matched healthy controls were included as study subjects, and sociodemographic and clinical data were collected, all of which were stimulated with six concentration gradients (up to 60 mmol/L, followed by sequential 3-fold gradient dilution to a minimum of 0.25 mmol/L) of niacin solution on the forearm skin, and the skin flushing area was applied as an assessment index.
Results: The total area of redness of the skin in response to niacin was significantly lower in the adolescent depression group than in the healthy adolescent group (Z=-3.36, p=0.001) and was able to distinguish the adolescent depression group from the healthy adolescent group (area under curve=0.713, sensitivity 51.1%, specificity 83.2%).
Conclusions: Niacin sensitivity is reduced in adolescent depressed patients, and the niacin skin flush response has potential clinical value as a diagnostic biomarker for adolescent depression.
Intrusion Detection based on Ensemble Learning for Big Data Classification
Authors: JEMILI Farah , MEDDEB Rahma , KORBAA Ouajdi
Published: February 2023

Intrusion Detection Systems (IDS) plays a crucial role in the security of modern computer systems and networks. They continuously monitor the activity on a network, looking for any signs of unauthorized access or malicious behavior. Therefore, the main objective of developers is the improvement of Intrusion Detection Systems to control network security. Challenges of Big data in intrusion detection are a struggle that both researchers and developers face due to the decreased scalability of network data. Furthermore, Machine Learning has a crucial role in developing Network Intrusion Detection Systems (NIDS). Ensemble learning is a machine learning technique that combines the predictions of multiple individual models to produce a more accurate and stable prediction. It is considered to be more important than simply learning because it addresses several limitations of simple learning methods. In this work, an ensemble model is proposed to evaluate dimensionality minimization in an Intrusion Detection System and several combinations were tested as well as processed on datasets. Yet, to overcome Big Data challenges, the feature's effects on the datasets were determined and only the most effective ones were considered to significantly differentiate data. Thus, the ensemble model results were solved using standard evaluation measures. In addition, the experimentation proved that the tested ensemble models perform better than the existing models. Big Data techniques have been applied to treat and analyze massive Data to provide an insightful data analysis process.
Sequence Matters: Precise Synthesis of Hetero[3]rotaxane Isomers with Sequence-dependent Chemical Reactivity and Circularly Polarized Luminescence
Authors: Peng Zhiyong , Jia Pei-Pei , Wang Xu-Qing , Zhao Xiao-Li , Yang Hai-Bo , Wang Wei
Published: February 2023

Sequence isomerism plays fundamental roles in the encoding of biological information and in tuning material performance, but engineering sequences and elucidating their effects remain a major and largely unmet challenge in synthetic chemistry. Herein, We develop a novel wheel assembling approach aiming at the precise sequence control of hetero[3]rotaxanes, a typical family of mechanically interlocked molecules. Based on a key [2]rotaxane precursor with exchangeable pentafluorophenyl ester stoppers, We successfully synthesized both sequence isomers of diverse hetero[3]rotaxanes. Moreover, taking advantage of the chirality retention along with the wheel assembling process, corresponding sequence isomers of chiral functionalized hetero[3]rotaxanes were further precisely synthesized. Impressively, these hetero[3]rotaxanes revealed remarkable sequence-dependent chemical reactivity and circularly polarized luminescence, highlighting fantastic sequence effects. This proof-of-concept study lays the foundation for the investigations on the structure-property relationships of heterorotaxanes, which would further direct the rational design and precise synthesis of sequence-defined heterorotaxanes with desired properties for practical use.
Crystal structure of adenosine A2A receptor in complex with clinical candidate Etrumadenant reveals novel antagonist interaction
Authors: Claff Tobias , Schlegel Jonathan , Vaaßen Victoria , Voss Jan , Weisse Renato , Cheng Robert , Markovic-Mueller Sandra , Bucher Denis , Sträter Norbert , Müller Christa
Published: February 2023

The Gs-protein-coupled adenosine A2Areceptor (A2AAR) represents an emerging drug target for cancer immunotherapy. The clinical candidate Etrumadenant was developed as an A2AAR antagonist with ancillary blockade of the A2BAR subtype. It constitutes a novel chemotype featuring a poly-substituted 2-amino-4-phenyl-6-triazolylpyrimidine core structure. Herein, we report two crystal structures of the A2AAR in complex with Etrumadenant, obtained with differently thermostabilized A2AAR constructs. This led to the discovery of an unprecedented interaction, a hydrogen bond of T883.36with the cyano group of Etrumadenant. T883.36is mutated in most A2AAR constructs used for crystallization, which has prevented the discovery of its interactions. In-vitro characterization of Etrumadenant indicated low selectivity versus the A1AR subtype, which can be rationalized by the structural data. These results will facilitate the future design of AR antagonists with desired selectivity. Moreover, they highlight the advantages of the new A2AAR crystallization construct devoid of ligand binding site mutations.
Mutations in DARS2 result in global dysregulation of mRNA metabolism and splicing
Authors: Guang Shiqi , O'Brien Brett , Fine Amena Smith , Ying Mingyao , Fatemi Ali , Nemeth Christina
Published: February 2023

Leukoencephalopathy with brain stem and spinal cord involvement and lactate elevation (LBSL) is a rare neurological disorder caused by the mutations in the DARS2 gene, which encodes the mitochondrial aspartyl-tRNA synthetase. The objective of this study was to understand the impact of DARS2 mutations on cell processes through evaluation of LBSL patient stem cell derived cerebral organoids and neurons. We generated human cerebral organoids (hCOs) from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) of seven LBSL patients and three healthy controls using an unguided protocol. Single cells from 70-day-old hCOs underwent SMART-seq2 sequencing and multiple bioinformatic analysis tools were applied to high-resolution gene and transcript expression analyses. To confirm hCO findings, iPSC-derived neurons (iNs) were generated by overexpressing Neurogenin 2 using lentiviral vector to study neuronal growth, splicing of DARS2 exon 3 and DARS2 protein expression. Global gene expression analysis demonstrated dysregulation of a number of genes involved in mRNA metabolism and splicing processes within LBSL hCOs. Importantly, there were distinct and divergent gene expression profiles based on the nature of the DARS2 mutation. At the transcript level, pervasive differential transcript usage and differential spliced exon events that are involved in protein translation and metabolism were identified in LBSL hCOs. Single-cell analysis of DARS2 (exon 3) showed that some LBSL cells exclusively express transcripts lacking exon 3, indicating that not all LBSL cells can benefit from the “leaky” nature common to splice site mutations. Live cell imaging revealed neuronal growth defects of LBSL iNs, which was consistent with the finding of downregulated expression of genes related to neuronal differentiation in LBSL hCOs. DARS2 protein was downregulated in iNs compared to iPSCs, caused by increased exclusion of exon 3. At the gene- and transcript-level, we uncovered that dysregulated RNA splicing, protein translation and metabolism may underlie at least some of the pathophysiological mechanisms in LBSL. The scope and complexity of our data imply that DARS2 is potentially involved in transcription regulation beyond its canonical role of aminoacylation. Nevertheless, our work highlights transcript-level dysregulation as a critical, and relatively unexplored, mechanism linking genetic data with neurodegenerative disorders.
Criminal Face Detection System
Authors: Venkatesh Machala , Dhanalakshmi Chintha , Adapa Aditya , Manzoor  , K Anvesh
Published: February 2023

The increasing crime rate and the need for efficient criminal identification and prevention have led to the adoption of security technologies such as CCTV cameras. In this study, we propose an automated facial recognition system using the Local Binary Patterns Histogram (LBPH) classifier and Fisherface algorithm. The system utilizes a Haar feature-based cascade classifier to detect faces in real-time, and the identified faces are then matched against a criminal database. Although accurate face identification remains a challenge, the Viola-Jones framework is utilized to pinpoint face positions and other features in a picture. Face detection classifiers are publicly available through organizations like OpenCV. Our proposed system has the potential to enhance criminal identification and prevention in public and private spaces.
A New Hybrid Harris Hawks Optimization (HHO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) Algorithm for the Design of Castellated Beams
Authors: Mashayekhi Mohammadreza , Mosayebi Soroush
Published: February 2023

In this paper, a hybrid meta-heuristic algorithm based on Harris Hawk Optimization (HHO) and Particle Swarm Optimization (PSO) is developed and used for the design of castellated beams. The total cost, including material and construction costs, is taken as the objective function, and the code requirements and geometry limitations have been considered in constraint functions. The proposed method is used to obtain the optimal solution of three examples. The solution is then compared with the results of five known methods. It is observed that the proposed algorithm achieves better results with a higher convergence speed as compared to the considered methods.
Antibacterial evaluation of electroless Ni – P coating with ZnO nanoparticles on 3D printed ABS
Authors: Velez Sebastian Restrepo , Duque Maria P. , Bello Sindy , Tirado Laura M. , Echeverría Félix , Zuleta Alejandro A. , Castaño Juan G. , Correa Esteban
Published: February 2023

Acrylonitrile butadiene styrene (ABS) is one of the most widely used polymers in the manufacture of different parts in engineering applications. This polymer is sometimes subjected to metallizing processes that seek to modify the surface properties of the accessories. These processes often require the use of chromium and palladium. Some of the accessories in which ABS is used are subjected during their day-to-day use to environments in which they are prone to colonization of bacteria, generating multiple problems that affect both human health and the useful life of different equipment and devices. Recently, there have been great developments of nanoparticles with antibacterial properties, such as zinc oxides. However, these nanoparticles have not yet been incorporated and evaluated in metal coatings on ABS substrates with a view to conferring such properties on the polymer. This work implements the use of an electroless antibacterial Ni-P coating, modified with zinc oxide nanoparticles through processes free of chromium and palladium, on ABS substrates. The results showed that the addition of zinc oxide nanoparticles in quantities of 0.5 g/L and above in the electroless bath confer antibacterial characteristics on the surface for S. aureus under JIS Z 2801 standard.