bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Successful Treatment with Brigatinib after Alectinib-Induced Hemolytic Anemia in Patients with Metastatic Lung Adenocarcinoma—A Case Series
Authors: El Sayed Rola , Tehfe Mustapha , Blais Normand
Published: January 2023

Alectinib is a second-generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor used in the treatment of advanced ALK-rearrangement positive non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Many tolerable adverse events were reported with the use of Alectinib; nevertheless, hemolytic anemia was not mentioned in the safety analysis. In this case, series, we report four cases of Alectinib-induced oxidative hemolytic anemia and discuss different etiologic hypotheses on the underlying mechanism of such overlooked adverse event of the drug. Furthermore, we draw attention to the successful treatment with Brigatinib, an alternative second-generation ALK-inhibitor without recurrence of hemolytic anemia in three of our four cases, suggesting a probable class effect.
Antarctic Ecosystem Recovery Following Human-Induced Habitat Change: Recolonization of Adélie Penguins (Pygoscelis adeliae) at Cape Hallett, Ross Sea
Authors: Kim Jong-U , Kim Youmin , Oh Younggeun , Kim Hyun-Cheol , Kim Jeong-Hoon
Published: January 2023

The human-induced disturbances in Antarctica have caused changes in the structure and function of ecosystems. The Cape Hallett station was established in 1957 and abandoned in 1973. The station was built inside a penguin colony, and during its operation, many penguins were deported. Herein, we compared the number of breeding pairs across different time periods after station decommission and environmental remediation. The station occupied 4.77 ha within the Adélie penguin breeding area, and 349 nests were identified inside the station border in 1960. In 1983, the station’s territory decreased to 4.2 ha; meanwhile, 1683 breeding pairs were counted in the old station area. The past station area re-inhabited by Adélie penguins had 6175 nests in 2019. We assumed that recolonization might be particularly related to artificial mounds. The results of the present study confirm the recolonization of Adélie penguins at Cape Hallett for the first time, with visual analysis of spatial-temporal changes. Additionally, we suggest that reconstruction of the artificial or enhanced habitat may be required for successful restoration. Furthermore, continuous species monitoring with specific notes are needed with management interventions to protect Antarctic ecosystems, as well as the Ross Sea region MPA.
Proficient Novel Biomarkers Guide Early Detection of Acute Kidney Injury: A Review
Authors: Jana Sahadeb , Mitra Palash , Roy Suchismita
Published: January 2023

The definition of acute kidney injury (AKI), despite improvements in criteria, continues to be based on the level of serum creatinine and urinary output that do not specifically indicate tubular function or injury, or glomerular function or injury that is not significant enough to warrant acute hospitalization of the patient. Finding novel biomarkers of AKI has become a major focus nowadays in nephrology to overcome the further complications of end stage renal disease (ESRD). Many compounds, such as KIM 1, IL 18, NGAL, uromodulin, calprotectin, vanin 1, galactin 3, platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), urinary Na+/H+ exchanger isoform 3 (NHE3), retinol binding protein (RBP) and Cystatin C, are released from the renal tubules and thus any alterations in tubular function can be detected by measuring these parameters in urine. Additionally, glomerular injury can be detected by measuring immunoglobulin G, nephrin, podocalyxin, podocin, transferrin, netrin-1, pyruvate kinase M2, etc. in urine. These novel biomarkers will be useful for timing the initial insult and assessing the duration of AKI. According to available research, these biomarkers could be applied to assess the onset of AKI, distinguishing between kidney injury and dysfunction, directing the management of AKI, and enhancing disease diagnosis. Therefore, we intend to present recent developments in our understanding of significant biomarkers implicated in various aspects of renal damage. Numerous biomarkers are implicated in various pathophysiological processes that follow renal injury, and can improve prognosis and risk classification.
Compression-Complexity Measures for Analysis and Classification of Coronaviruses
Authors: Munagala Naga Venkata Trinath Sai , Amanchi Prem Kumar , Balasubramanian Karthi , Panicker Athira , Nagaraj Nithin
Published: January 2023

Finding a vaccine or specific antiviral treatment for a global pandemic of virus diseases (such as the ongoing COVID-19) requires rapid analysis, annotation and evaluation of metagenomic libraries to enable a quick and efficient screening of nucleotide sequences. Traditional sequence alignment methods are not suitable and there is a need for fast alignment-free techniques for sequence analysis. Information theory and data compression algorithms provide a rich set of mathematical and computational tools to capture essential patterns in biological sequences. In this study, we investigate the use of compression-complexity (Effort-to-Compress or ETC and Lempel-Ziv or LZ complexity) based distance measures for analyzing genomic sequences. The proposed distance measure is used to successfully reproduce the phylogenetic trees for a mammalian dataset consisting of eight species clusters, a set of coronaviruses belonging to group I, group II, group III, and SARS-CoV-1 coronaviruses, and a set of coronaviruses causing COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2), and those not causing COVID-19. Having demonstrated the usefulness of these compression complexity measures, we employ them for the automatic classification of COVID-19-causing genome sequences using machine learning techniques. Two flavors of SVM (linear and quadratic) along with linear discriminant and fine K Nearest Neighbors classifer are used for classification. Using a data set comprising 1001 coronavirus sequences (causing COVID-19 and those not causing COVID-19), a classification accuracy of 98% is achieved with a sensitivity of 95% and a specificity of 99.8%. This work could be extended further to enable medical practitioners to automatically identify and characterize coronavirus strains and their rapidly growing mutants in a fast and efficient fashion.
Multi-Dimensional Quantum Capacitance of the Two-Site Hubbard Model: The Role of Tunable Interdot Tunneling
Authors: Secchi Andrea , Troiani Filippo
Published: January 2023

Few-electron states confined in quantum-dot arrays are key objects in quantum computing. The discrimination between these states is essential for the readout of a (multi-)qubit state, and can be achieved through a measurement of the quantum capacitance within the gate-reflectometry approach. For a system controlled by several gates, the dependence of the measured capacitance on the direction of the oscillations in the voltage space is captured by the quantum capacitance matrix. Herein, we apply this tool to study a double quantum dot coupled to three gates, which enable the tuning of both the bias and the tunneling between the two dots. Analytical solutions for the two-electron case are derived within a Hubbard model, showing the overall dependence of the quantum capacitance matrix on the applied gate voltages. In particular, we investigate the role of the tunneling gate and reveal the possibility of exploiting interdot coherences in addition to charge displacements between the dots. Our results can be directly applied to double-dot experimental setups, and pave the way for further applications to larger arrays of quantum dots.
Asymptotics of Subsampling for Generalized Linear Regression Models under Unbounded Design
Authors: Teng Guangqiang , Tian Boping , Zhang Yuanyuan , Fu Sheng
Published: January 2023

The optimal subsampling is an statistical methodology for generalized linear models (GLMs) to make inference quickly about parameter estimation in massive data regression. Existing literature only considers bounded covariates. In this paper, the asymptotic normality of the subsampling M-estimator based on the Fisher information matrix is obtained. Then, we study the asymptotic properties of subsampling estimators of unbounded GLMs with nonnatural links, including conditional asymptotic properties and unconditional asymptotic properties.
Investigation of Fluid Characteristic and Performance of an Ejector by a Wet Steam Model
Authors: Wang Chen , Wang Lei
Published: January 2023

In this paper, a wet steam model is utilized to study the fluid characteristic and performance of a supersonic ejector. The condensation process, which has been ignored by most researchers, is analyzed in detail. It is found that the most intensive condensation happens at the primary nozzle downstream and nozzle exit region. Moreover, the impacts of primary flow pressure and back pressure on ejector performance are studied by the distribution of Mach number inside the ejector. Furthermore, the results show that the secondary mass flow rate first grows sightly then remains almost unchanged, while the primary mass flow rate rises sharply and ejector entrainment ratio drops dramatically with the increase in primary flow pressure.
From Agricultural Wastes to Fermentation Nutrients: A Case Study of 2,3-Butanediol Production
Authors: Okonkwo Christopher Chukwudi , Duduyemi Ademola , Ujor Victor Chinomso , Atiyeh Hasan K. , Iloba Ifeanyi , Qureshi Nasib , Ezeji Thaddeus Chukwuemeka
Published: January 2023

The goal of this study was to improve resource use efficiency in agricultural systems and agro-based industries, reduce wastes that go to landfills and incinerators, and consequently, improve the economics of 2,3-butanediol (2,3-BD) production. This study evaluated the feasibility of 2,3-BD production by replacing the mineral nutrients, and buffers with anaerobic digestate (ADE), poultry-litter (PLBC)- and forage-sorghum (FSBC)-derived biochars. Fermentation media formulations with ADE and 5–20 g/L PLBC or FSBC were evaluated for 2,3-BD production using Paenibacillus polymyxa as a biocatalyst. An optimized medium containing nutrients and buffers served as control. While 2,3-BD production in the ADE cultures was 0.5-fold of the maximum generated in the control cultures, 2,3-BD produced in the PLBC and FSBC cultures were ~1.3-fold more than the control (33.6 g/L). Cost analysis showed that ADE and biochar can replace mineral nutrients and buffers in the medium with the potential to make bio-based 2,3-BD production profitably feasible.
A GIS-Based Hot and Cold Spots Detection Method by Extracting Emotions from Social Streams
Authors: Cardone Barbara , Di Martino Ferdinando , Miraglia Vittorio
Published: January 2023

Hot and cold spot identification is a spatial analysis technique used in various issues to identify regions where a specific phenomenon is either strongly or poorly concentrated or sensed. Many hot/cold spot detection techniques are proposed in literature; clustering methods are generally applied in order to extract hot and cold spots as polygons on the maps; the more precise the determination of the area of the hot (cold) spots, the greater the computational complexity of the clustering algorithm. Furthermore, these methods do not take into account the hidden information provided by users through social networks, which is significant for detecting the presence of hot/cold spots based on the emotional reactions of citizens. To overcome these critical points, we propose a GIS-based hot and cold spot detection framework encapsulating a classification model of emotion categories of documents extracted from social streams connected to the investigated phenomenon is implemented. The study area is split into subzones; residents’ postings during a predetermined time period are retrieved and analyzed for each subzone. The proposed model measures for each subzone the prevalence of pleasant and unpleasant emotional categories in different time frames; with the aid of a fuzzy-based emotion classification approach, subzones in which unpleasant/pleasant emotions prevail over the analyzed time period are labeled as hot/cold spots. A strength of the proposed framework is to significantly reduce the CPU time of cluster-based hot and cold spot detection methods as it does not require detecting the exact geometric shape of the spot. Our framework was tested to detect hot and cold spots related to citizens’ discomfort due to heatwaves in the study area made up of the municipalities of the northeastern area of the province of Naples (Italy). The results show that the hot spots, where the greatest discomfort is felt, correspond to areas with a high population/building density. On the contrary, cold spots cover urban areas having a lower population density.
Effects of Chrysoeriol on Adipogenesis and Lipolysis in 3T3-L1 Adipocytes
Authors: Song Jinhee , Lee Hana , Heo Huijin , Lee Junsoo , Kim Younghwa
Published: January 2023

We examined the effect of chrysoeriol on adipogenesis and lipolysis and elucidated the underlying molecular mechanisms. Chrysoeriol inhibited fat deposition in adipocytes. Treatment with chrysoeriol suppressed the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, fatty acid synthase, fatty acid-binding protein, CCAAT/enhancer-binding proteins (C/EBP) α, C/EBPβ, and sterol regulatory element-binding protein-1. In addition, chrysoeriol significantly elevated the activation of 5′-adenosine monophosphate-activated protein kinase. Moreover, chrysoeriol increased free glycerol and fatty acid levels and promoted lipolysis in adipocytes. Overexpression of adipose triglyceride lipase and hormone-sensitive lipase by chrysoeriol led to increased lipolysis in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Taken together, chrysoeriol showed anti-adipogenic and lipolytic properties in adipocytes.
Evaluation of the Anticancer and Probiotic Potential of Autochthonous (Wild) Lacticaseibacillus paracasei Strains from New Ecological Niches as a Possible Additive for Functional Dairy Foods
Authors: Vachkova Ekaterina , Petrova Valeria , Grigorova Natalia , Ivanova Zhenya , Beev Georgi
Published: January 2023

Probiotics such as Lactobacillus spp. could modulate the intestinal microbiota composition, supporting gastrointestinal tract barrier function and benefiting human health. To evaluate the anticancer and probiotic properties of potentially active autochthonous Lacticaseibacillus paracasei strains on proliferating and differentiated enterocytes, human colon adenocarcinoma cell line HT29 was used as a model. The lactic acid bacteria (LAB) were isolated from new ecological niches—mountain anthills populated by redwood ants (Formica rufa L.). Human colorectal adenocarcinoma cells (HT29, ATCC, HTB-38™) were treated for twenty-four hours with supernatants (SNs) derived from four strains of Lacticaseibacillus paracasei: P4, C8, C15 and M2.1. An MTT assay, alkaline phosphatase activity, IAP, Bax and Bcl-2 gene expression analysis (RT-qPCR) and the Bax/Bcl-2 ratio were evaluated. The MTT assay revealed that the observed effects varied among groups. However, 10% neutralized supernatants from P4, C8, C15 and M2.1 strains did not show cytotoxic effects. In contrast to non-differentiated cells, a significant (p < 0.001) rise in ALP activity in all treatments, with an average of 18%, was established in differentiated cells. The IAP expression was remarkably downregulated in the differentiated M2.1 group (p < 0.05) and upregulated in the non-differentiated P4 (p < 0.05) and M2.1 (p < 0.05) groups. The Bax/Bcl-2 quantity expression ratio in P4 was significantly (p < 0.05) upregulated in proliferating cancer cells, but in P4- and M2.1-differentiated cells these values were downregulated (p < 0.05). The obtained results indicate that the isolated L. paracasei strains possess anticancer and probiotic properties and could be used as additives for functional dairy foods and thus benefit human health.
Chinese Traditional Pear Paste: Physicochemical Properties, Antioxidant Activities and Quality Evaluation
Authors: Feng Yunxiao , Cheng Hong , Cheng Yudou , Zhao Jiangli , He Jingang , Li Nan , Wang Jinxiao , Guan Junfeng
Published: January 2023

As a traditional folk medicine, pear paste has important nutritional and health effects. The physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of pear pastes prepared from 23 different cultivars were investigated, including color parameters ( L*, a*, b* and h°), transmittance, pH, titratable acidity (TA), soluble sugar content, total phenolics content (TPC), total flavonoids content (TFC), DPPH and •OH radical scavenging activity (RSA), and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP). It was demonstrated that the physicochemical properties and antioxidant activities of pear pastes from various cultivars differed significantly. Pear cultivars of “Mantianhong”, “Xiangshui” and “Anli” possessing higher TPC and TFC exhibited excellent antioxidant activity determined by DPPH RSA, •OH RSA and FRAP, while the lowest TPC and TFC was observed for the cultivars of "Xueqing", "Nansui", "Hongxiangsu", and “Xinli No. 7”, which also demonstrated the poor antioxidant activity. Multivariate analyses, including factor and cluster analysis, were used for the quality evaluation and separation of pear pastes based on their physicochemical and antioxidant properties. Factor analysis reduced the above thirteen parameters to final four effective ones, i.e. DPPH RSA, color b*, FRAP and TA, and subsequently these four parameters were used to construct the comprehensive evaluation prediction model for evaluating the quality of pear pastes. The pear pastes could be separated into three clusters and differentiated for the diverse of pear cultivars via cluster analysis. Consistently, “Mantianhong”, “Xiangshui” and “Anli” pear with higher quality clustered into one group, in contrast, "Xueqing", "Nansui", "Hongxiangsu", and “Xinli No. 7” with lower quality clustered into the other group. It provided a theoretical method to evaluate the quality of pear paste and may help the fruit processing industry select the more suitable pear cultivars for pear paste making.
Chemical Composition and Biological Activity of Commelina erecta: An Edible Wild Plant Consumed in Brazil
Authors: Cavichi Lucas Vinicius , Liberal Ângela , Dias Maria Inês , Mandim Filipa , Pinela José , Kostić Marina , Soković Marina , Kalschne Daneysa Lahis , Fernandes Ângela , Canan Cristiane , Barros Lillian , Amaral Joana S.
Published: January 2023

In recent years, the interest in products of natural origin has boosted the exploitation and use of plants as food and sources of bioactive compounds, especially wild plants widely used in different cultures for several purposes. Commelina erecta is a wild edible plant (WEP) traditionally used as food and medicine, about which few studies exist. Thus, this study aimed at enhancing the knowledge about its nutritional, chemical and bioactive profile, considering different plant parts and development stages, in order to increase its inclusion in the diet of South American communities. The nutritional profile was found to be similar to other WEP frequently consumed in Brazil. Thirteen phenolic compounds (HPLC-DAD-ESI/MS) were tentatively identified, with apigenin, luteolin and quercetin derivatives being the most abundant. Fructose and oxalic acid were the major sugar and organic acid, respectively, in the aerial parts of C. erecta, and four isoforms of tocopherols were also identified. Regarding the plant’s antioxidant activity, the EC50 values varied between 18.4 and 1060 µg/mL in the inhibition of lipid peroxidation assay (TBARS) and between 53 and 115 µg/mL in the oxidative haemolysis inhibition (OxHLIA) assay. The hydroethanolic extract obtained from stems at the flowering stage also presented anti-inflammatory activity. In general, all the extracts evidenced promising antimicrobial activity. Altogether, these results reinforce the traditional use of this plant species as food and medicine to support the diet of needier populations and also promote food sovereignty and sustainability.
Carbohydrate Sources Influence the Microbiota and Flavour Profile of a Lupine-Based Moromi Fermentation
Authors: Lülf Rebekka H. , Selg-Mann Karl , Hoffmann Thomas , Zheng Tingting , Schirmer Melanie , Ehrmann Matthias A.
Published: January 2023

Lupine-based seasoning sauce is produced similarly to soy sauces and therefore generates a comparable microbiota and aroma profile. While the koji state is dominated by Aspergillus oryzae, the microbiome of the moromi differs to soy moromi, especially in yeast composition due to the absence of Zygosaccharomyces rouxii and Debaryomyces hansenii as the dominant yeast. In this study, we monitored the addition of a carbohydrate source on the microbiome and aroma profile of the resulting sauce. Compared to previous studies, the usage of a yeast starter culture resulted in a sparsely diverse microbiota that was dominated by D. hansenii and T. halophilus. This led to a pH below 5 even after four months of incubation and most of the measured aroma compounds were pyrazines and acids. The addition of wheat and buckwheat resulted in a temporary change in the yeast consortium with the appearance of Z. rouxii and additional bacterial genera. The aroma profile differs in the presence of pyrazines and esters. Since no significant differences in the taste and odour of wheat-added and buckwheat-added sauce was sensed, both substrates influence the lupine sauce in a similar way.
Occurrence of Furfural and Its Derivatives in Coffee Products in China and Estimation of Dietary Intake
Authors: Liu Qing , Zhou Pingping , Luo Pengjie , Wu Pinggu
Published: January 2023

This is the first report on the content of furfural and its derivatives in coffee products in China. The concentrations of furfural and its derivatives in 449 sampled, commercially available coffee products in China were analyzed through a GC-MS technique, and the associated health risks were estimated. As a result, 5-hydroxymethyl furfural (5-HMF) was identified as the predominant derivative compound, with the highest concentration of 6035.0 mg/kg and detection frequency of 98.7%. The mean dietary exposures of 5-HMF, 5-MF(5-methylfurfural), and 2-F(2-furfural) in coffee products among Chinese consumers were 55.65, 3.00, and 3.23 μg/kg bw/day, respectively. The ranges of mean dietary intake of furfural and its derivatives based on age groups were all lower than the acceptable daily intake (ADI) and the toxicological concern threshold (TTC). Risk evaluation results indicate that coffee product intake did not pose potential risks to consumers. Notably, the analysis revealed that children aged 3–6 years had the highest mean exposure due to their low body weight.
Genome-Wide Identification and Characterization of Argonaute, Dicer-like and RNA-Dependent RNA Polymerase Gene Families and Their Expression Analyses in Fragaria spp.
Authors: Jing Xiaotong , Xu Linlin , Huai Xinjia , Zhang Hong , Zhao Fengli , Qiao Yushan
Published: January 2023

In the growth and development of plants, some non-coding small RNAs (sRNAs) not only mediate RNA interference at the post-transcriptional level, but also play an important regulatory role in chromatin modification at the transcriptional level. In these processes, the protein factors Argonaute (AGO), Dicer-like (DCL), and RNA-dependent RNA polymerase (RDR) play very important roles in the synthesis of sRNAs respectively. Though they have been identified in many plants, the information about these gene families in strawberry was poorly understood. In this study, using a genome-wide analysis and a phylogenetic approach, 13 AGO, six DCL, and nine RDR genes were identified in diploid strawberry Fragaria vesca. We also identified 33 AGO, 18 DCL, and 28 RDR genes in octoploid strawberry Fragaria × ananassa, studied the expression patterns of these genes in various tissues and developmental stages of strawberry, and researched the response of these genes to some hormones, finding that almost all genes respond to the five hormone stresses. This study is the first report of a genome-wide analysis of AGO, DCL, and RDR gene families in Fragaria spp., in which we provide basic genomic information and expression patterns for these genes. Additionally, this study provides a basis for further research on the functions of these genes and some evidence for the evolution between diploid and octoploid strawberries.
A Qualitative Investigation of Factors Affecting Saudi Patients’ Communication Experience with Non-Saudi Physicians in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alkhamees Mohammad , Lea Jackie , Islam Md Shahidul , Alasqah Ibrahim , Alzghaibi Haitham , Alharbi Mohammad F. , Albejaidi Fahad , Mughal Yasir Hayat , Parker Vicki
Published: January 2023

(1) Background: Communication is the main issue between the patient and physician. Communication gaps lead to medical errors, mistakes, and wrong diagnoses and treatments. It would certainly be a cause of patient dissatisfaction, the physicians’ job dissatisfaction, and the increase in the cost of health services. (2) Objectives: The objective of the study was to explore the perception of Saudi patients when they meet non-Saudi consultants at hospitals. (3) Material and Methods: This study is exploratory in nature. Semi-structured face to face interviews were conducted. Study participants were patients from the outpatient department of the Hospitals of Qassim province, Saudi Arabia. A total of eight respondents, four male and four female, participated in the study. (4) Results: Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analyzed using a thematic analysis approach. Two main themes emerged: the first theme is encountering difference, with three sub-themes, while the second one is the absence of partnering, with four sub-themes. (5) Conclusions: The analysis of the patients’ experiences of their medical encounters revealed that the effectiveness of the physician-patient communication was jeopardized by two challenges: encountering differences and the absence of partnering. (6) Limitations: This study was conducted in one site only and hence findings must be tested in application to other sites in other parts of Saudi Arabia and in other similar countries. A further limitation of this study was the cultural barrier that was encountered by the researcher during the interview process.
The Experiences of Midwives in Caring for Vulnerable Pregnant Women in The Netherlands: A Qualitative Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Vlassak Evi , Bessems Kathelijne , Gubbels Jessica
Published: January 2023

Vulnerable pregnant women have an increased risk for preterm birth and perinatal mortality. This study identifies the perspectives, perceived barriers, and perceived facilitators of midwives toward current care for vulnerable pregnant women in the Netherlands. Knowing those perspectives, barriers, and facilitators could help increase quality of care, thereby reducing the risks of preterm birth and perinatal mortality. Midwives working in primary care practices throughout the Netherlands were interviewed. Semi-structured interviews were conducted remotely through a video conference program, audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and coded based on the theoretical domains framework and concepts derived from the interviews, using NVivo-12. All midwives provided psychosocial care for vulnerable pregnant women, expected positive consequences for those women resulting from that care, considered it their task to identify and refer vulnerable women, and intended to improve the situation for mother and child. The main barriers perceived by midwives were too many organizations being involved, inadequate communication between care providers, lack of time to care for vulnerable women, insufficient financing to provide adequate care, and uncooperative clients. The main facilitators were having care coordinators, treatment guidelines, vulnerability detection tools, their own knowledge about local psychosocial organizations, good communication skills, cooperative clients, consultation with colleagues, and good communication between care providers. The findings suggest that midwives are highly motivated to care for vulnerable women and perceive a multitude of facilitators. However, they also perceive various barriers for providing optimal care. A national guideline on how to care for vulnerable women, local overviews of involved organizations, and proactive midwives who ensure connections between the psychosocial and medical domain could help to overcome these barriers, and therefore, maximize effectiveness of the care for vulnerable pregnant women.
Reporting and Interpreting Effect Sizes in Applied Health-Related Settings: The Case of Spirituality and Substance Abuse
Authors: Sánchez-Iglesias Iván , Saiz Jesús , Molina Antonio J. , Goldsby Tamara L.
Published: January 2023

Inferential analysis using null hypothesis significance testing (NHST) allows accepting or rejecting a null hypothesis. Nevertheless, rejecting a null hypothesis and concluding there is a statistical effect does not provide a clue as to its practical relevance or magnitude. This process is key to assessing the effect size (ES) of significant results, be it using context (comparing the magnitude of the effect to similar studies or day-to-day effects) or statistical estimators, which also should be sufficiently interpreted. This is especially true in clinical settings, where decision-making affects patients’ lives. We carried out a systematic review for the years 2015 to 2020 utilizing Scopus, PubMed, and various ProQuest databases, searching for empirical research articles with inferential results linking spirituality to substance abuse outcomes. Out of the 19 studies selected, 11 (57.9%) reported no ES index, and 9 (47.4%) reported no interpretation of the magnitude or relevance of their findings. The results of this review, although limited to the area of substance abuse and spiritual interventions, are a cautionary tale for other research topics. Gauging and interpreting effect sizes contributes to a better understanding of the subject under scrutiny in any discipline.
BcAMT1;5 Mediates Nitrogen Uptake and Assimilation in Flowering Chinese Cabbage and Improves Plant Growth When Overexpressed in Arabidopsis
Authors: Zhu Yunna , Zhong Lihua , Huang Xinmin , Su Wei , Liu Houcheng , Sun Guangwen , Song Shiwei , Chen Riyuan
Published: January 2023

Nitrogen (N) is a major limiting factor for plant growth and vegetable production. Understanding the regulatory mechanisms of N uptake, transport, and assimilation is key to improving N use efficiency in plants. Ammonium transporters (AMTs) play an important role in plant N metabolism. In this study, we isolated an important AMT1 subfamily member (BcAMT1;5) with a highly conserved signatural AMT1 subfamily motif from flowering Chinese cabbage. Based on functional complementation in yeast mutant 31019b and overexpression of BcAMT1;5 in Arabidopsis, BcAMT1;5 is a functional AMT. Tissue expression analysis showed that BcAMT1;5 was mainly expressed in roots and showed multiple N regime transcript patterns to respond to varying nutritional conditions. This was up-regulated by N-deficiency and down-regulated by supplying NH4+. The glucuronidase (GUS) activities of BcAMT1;5pro::GUS showed a similar change in response to different N conditions. Overexpression of BcAMT1;5 accelerated the growth of transgenic seedlings, increased NH4+ net influxes, and enhanced the content and accumulation of NH4+ and NO3− at low N concentrations. Additionally, it increased the transcript levels of N assimilation-related genes in shoots. These results indicate that BcAMT1;5 may participate in N uptake and assimilation under various N conditions in flowering Chinese cabbage, but it was differed obviously from other AMT1s.
Research Progress on Modifications of Zeolite Y for Improved Catalytic Properties
Authors: Zang Jiazhong , Yu Haibin , Liu Guanfeng , Hong Meihua , Liu Jiawei , Chen Tiehong
Published: January 2023

Zeolite Y, as a solid acid catalyst with excellent performance, is a landmark in petroleum refining and chemical industry production–especially in catalytic cracking reactions. Improving the SAR of Y zeolite, enriching its pore structure, and modifying it with heteroatoms can realize the multifunctional catalysis of Y zeolite, improve the application value of it, and then meet the demands of petroleum refining. In this review, the synthesis of Y zeolites with high SAR, multistage pores, and heteroatom modification is summarized.
Group-Living Spider Cyrtophora citricola as a Potential Novel Biological Control Agent of the Tomato Pest Tuta absoluta
Authors: Roberts-McEwen Thomas A. , Deutsch Ella K. , Mowery Monica A. , Grinsted Lena
Published: January 2023

Group-living spiders may be uniquely suited for controlling flying insect pests, as their high tolerance for conspecifics and low levels of cannibalism result in large, predator dense capture webs. In laboratory settings, we tested the ability of the facultatively communal spider, Cyrtophora citricola, to control the tomato leafminer, Tuta absoluta; a major pest of tomato crops worldwide. We tested whether prey capture success was affected by spider body size, and whether prey capture differed among T. absoluta, flightless fruit flies (Drosophila hydei), and larger black soldier flies (Hermetia illucens). We found that larger spiders generally caught more prey, and that prey capture success was similar for T. absoluta and easily caught fruit flies, while black soldier flies were rarely caught. We further investigated the seasonal variations in web sizes in southern Spain, and found that pest control would be most effective in the tomato planting and growing season. Finally, we show that C. citricola in Spain have >50% infection rates of an egg predatory wasp, Philolema palanichamyi, which may need controlling to maintain pest control efficacy. These results suggest that using C. citricola as a biological control agent in an integrated pest management system could potentially facilitate a reduction of pesticide reliance in the future.
Direct and Indirect Competitive Interactions between Ooencyrtus nezarae and Paratelenomus saccharalis Parasitizing Megacopta cribraria Egg Patches
Authors: Warsi Sanower , Chicas-Mosier Ana M. , Balusu Rammohan R. , Jacobson Alana L. , Fadamiro Henry Y.
Published: January 2023

The present study investigated egg parasitoid interspecific interactions between a generalist, Ooencyrtus nezarae Ishii (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) and a specialist, Paratelenomus saccharalis Dodd (Hymenoptera: Platygastridae) in a laboratory setting using kudzu bug (Megacopta cribraria Fabricius, (Hemiptera: Plataspidae)) eggs as their shared host. Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the emergence of wasps from parasitized hosts after the simultaneous and sequential release of wasps, monitor aggressive behavior of P. saccharalis, and quantify intraguild predation of O. nezarae larvae on heterospecific P. saccharalis larvae. Results showed that total host egg parasitism was higher when both wasps were released simultaneously than if wasps were released sequentially. Ooencyrtus nezarae produced more total offspring than P. saccharalis in all sequential/simultaneous treatments but produced male offspring in most cases. In the aggressive behavioral experiment, specialist, P. saccharalis used head butting to fight O. nezarae, but no other aggressions were observed. In an experiment examining intraguild predation, O. nezarae was able to develop in host eggs parasitized by P. saccharalis four days earlier, acting as a superior larval competitor. These findings shed light on the potential interspecific interactions between O. nezarae and P. saccharalis, which may determine their relative abundance and influence their compatibility in kudzu bug biological control programs.
Computed Tomography Morphology of Affected versus Unaffected Sides in Patients with Unilateral Primary Acquired Nasolacrimal Duct Obstruction
Authors: Su Pei-Yuan , Wang Jia-Kang , Chang Shu-Wen
Published: January 2023

Background: This study aimed to describe the anatomical details of the bony nasolacrimal duct (BNLD) and adjacent nasal structures by analyzing computed tomography (CT) images, and to investigate their effects on the development of primary acquired nasolacrimal duct obstruction (PANDO). Methods: A total of 50 patients with unilateral PANDO who underwent dacryocystorhinostomy, with a mean age of 57.96 years, were included. The preoperative CT images were reviewed to measure the anteroposterior and transverse diameters of the BNLD at the entrance and exit levels, as well as the minimum transverse diameter along the tract. The sagittal CT images were analyzed to classify the shape of the bony canals into columnar, funnel, flare, and hourglass. The associated paranasal abnormalities, including nasal septum deviation (NSD), sinusitis, angle between the bony inferior turbinate and medial wall of the maxillary sinus, and mucosal thickness of the inferior turbinate, were investigated. Results: Fifty CT images were analyzed, and all parameters measured on both sides of the BNLD were not significantly different between the PANDO and non-PANDO sides, except for the minimum transverse diameter, which was significantly smaller on the PANDO side (p = 0.002). Columnar-shaped BNLD was the most common on both sides. No significant difference was observed in the incidence of paranasal abnormalities between sides; however, deviation of the septum toward the non-PANDO side was more common (67.9%). Conclusions: A small minimum transverse diameter of the BNLD may be a risk factor for PANDO. The association between nasal abnormalities and PANDO was not remarkable.
Improved Bone Regeneration Using Biodegradable Polybutylene Succinate Artificial Scaffold in a Rabbit Model
Authors: Vigni Giulio Edoardo , Cassata Giovanni , Caldarella Giusj , Cirincione Roberta , Licciardi Mariano , Miceli Giovanni Carlo , Puleio Roberto , D’Itri Lorenzo , Lo Coco Roberta , Camarda Lawrence , Cicero Luca
Published: January 2023

The treatment of extensive bone loss represents a great challenge for orthopaedic and reconstructive surgery. Most of the time, those treatments consist of multiple-stage surgeries over a prolonged period, pose significant infectious risks and carry the possibility of rejection. In this study, we investigated if the use of a polybutylene succinate (PBS) micro-fibrillar scaffold may improve bone regeneration in these procedures. In an in vivo rabbit model, the healing of two calvarial bone defects was studied. One defect was left to heal spontaneously while the other was treated with a PBS scaffold. Computed tomography (CT) scans, histological and immunohistochemical analyses were performed at 4, 12 and 24 weeks. CT examination showed a significantly larger area of mineralised tissue in the treated defect. Histological examination confirmed a greater presence of active osteoblasts and mineralised tissue in the scaffold-treated defect, with no evidence of inflammatory infiltrates around it. Immunohistochemical analysis was positive for CD56 at the transition point between healthy bone and the fracture zone. This study demonstrates that the use of a PBS microfibrillar scaffold in critical bone defects on a rabbit model is a potentially effective technique to improve bone regeneration.
A Feature Extraction Using Probabilistic Neural Network and BTFSC-Net Model with Deep Learning for Brain Tumor Classification
Authors: Yadav Arun Singh , Kumar Surendra , Karetla Girija Rani , Cotrina-Aliaga Juan Carlos , Arias-Gonzáles José Luis , Kumar Vinod , Srivastava Satyajee , Gupta Reena , Ibrahim Sufyan , Paul Rahul , Naik Nithesh , Singla Babita , Tatkar Nisha S.
Published: January 2023

Background and Objectives: Brain Tumor Fusion-based Segments and Classification-Non-enhancing tumor (BTFSC-Net) is a hybrid system for classifying brain tumors that combine medical image fusion, segmentation, feature extraction, and classification procedures. Materials and Methods: to reduce noise from medical images, the hybrid probabilistic wiener filter (HPWF) is first applied as a preprocessing step. Then, to combine robust edge analysis (REA) properties in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) medical images, a fusion network based on deep learning convolutional neural networks (DLCNN) is developed. Here, the brain images’ slopes and borders are detected using REA. To separate the sick region from the color image, adaptive fuzzy c-means integrated k-means (HFCMIK) clustering is then implemented. To extract hybrid features from the fused image, low-level features based on the redundant discrete wavelet transform (RDWT), empirical color features, and texture characteristics based on the gray-level cooccurrence matrix (GLCM) are also used. Finally, to distinguish between benign and malignant tumors, a deep learning probabilistic neural network (DLPNN) is deployed. Results: according to the findings, the suggested BTFSC-Net model performed better than more traditional preprocessing, fusion, segmentation, and classification techniques. Additionally, 99.21% segmentation accuracy and 99.46% classification accuracy were reached using the proposed BTFSC-Net model. Conclusions: earlier approaches have not performed as well as our presented method for image fusion, segmentation, feature extraction, classification operations, and brain tumor classification. These results illustrate that the designed approach performed more effectively in terms of enhanced quantitative evaluation with better accuracy as well as visual performance.
Research on Fault Early Warning of Marine Diesel Engine Based on CNN-BiGRU
Authors: Liu Ben , Gan Huibing , Chen Dong , Shu Zepeng
Published: January 2023

The normal operation of the marine diesel engine is of great significance to ensure the normal navigation of the ship. Predicting its operation state and judging whether the diesel engine is in the abnormal state in advance can guarantee the safe navigation of the vessel. In this paper, combining the feature extraction ability of the convolutional neural network (CNN) and the time series data prediction ability of the bidirectional gated recurrent unit (BiGRU), a marine diesel engine exhaust temperature prediction model is constructed. The results show that the mean square error (MSE) of the prediction model is 0.1156, the average absolute error (MAE) is 0.2501, and the average absolute percentage error (MAPE) is 0.0005336. Then, according to the residual distribution between the predicted value and the actual value of the model output and the standard deviation of the residual calculated by using the sliding window, we set the alarm threshold, where the upper limit of residual error is 1 and the lower limit is 1. The upper limit of the standard deviation is 0.604. Finally, we used the data set under abnormal conditions for experimental verification. The results show that the method can accurately determine the fault early warning of the marine diesel engine and provides a new reference for the health management of intelligent marine equipment.
Simulation and Experimental Research on the Failure of Marine Sliding Bearings
Authors: Du Fengming , Li Dawei , Hao Mingxing , Yu Yang , Wang Weiwei
Published: January 2023

The performance of the marine sliding bearing affects the reliability of marine engineering directly. Nevertheless, sliding bearings are subjected to frictional forces and problems, such as wear and fatigue, that occur after long-term use, which leads to failure. In this study, a sliding bearing friction calculation program is developed using the Fortran language, which calculates the friction force of the bearing under different working conditions. Simultaneously, a component-level sliding bearing tribology testing machine is designed, which predicts the wear failure and explores the wear mechanism for different types of sliding bearings. The model calculation results are in good agreement with the experimental data, which verifies the model’s correctness. Through the wear test, the wear mechanism of the sliding bearing is mainly scratches, and the electroplating layer in the groove is squeezed out of it and attached to the surface of the aluminum alloy to reduce friction. The model and the testing machine provide theoretical guidance for the friction durability of sliding bearings used in marine engineering and guarantee the reliability of marine engineering.
Step Approximation on Water Wave Breaking and Dissipation over Variable Bottoms across the Surf Zone
Authors: Chang Jen-Yi , Tsai Chia-Cheng
Published: January 2023

This study investigates the combined effect of the breaking and energy dissipation of water waves by variable bottoms across the surf zone. The shoreline is set up as a partially reflecting vertical wall in the solution technique, with shelves between the steps that approximate the geometric profile of the varied bottom over the surf zone. The eigenfunctions over the shelves are matched on the connecting step using the conservations of mass and momentum. The impacts of breaking and energy dissipation are implemented in the proposed eigenfunction matching method using the energy-dissipation factors, which are modeled by empirical formulas. The proposed model is validated by comparing its results with the experimental data available in the literature. Some benchmark results of wave scattering by a rectangular breakwater near a partially reflecting vertical wall are provided and discussed. In addition, wave breaking and dissipation in the proposed model using different empirical formulas are discussed.
The Control-Oriented Heat Release Rate Model for a Marine Dual-Fuel Engine under All the Operating Modes and Loads
Authors: Tang Yuanyuan , Li He , Jiang Yuchi , Liang Wenwei , Zhang Jundong
Published: January 2023

An accurate model plays an important role in control strategy development of smart ships. For the control-oriented engine models, calibration by experienced personnel is key to outputting high accuracy. However, the dual-fuel engine runs in liquid fuel mode, gas fuel mode, and fuel sharing mode. It is impossible to tune a single model or a set of parameters for the dual-fuel engine under all operating modes and loads. On the basis of our experience and practice, a Wiebe-based heat release rate model is used. To make the Wiebe model available for the dual-fuel engine, the Wiebe parameters are assumed to be linear functions. The combustion beginning angle is modeled as a function of fuel quantity in liquid fuel mode and as a look-up table in gas fuel mode for all loads. The combustion duration and the combustion distribution factor are modeled as a function of fuel quantity and engine revolution both in liquid fuel mode and in gas fuel mode. In fuel sharing mode, the heat release rate is modeled as a combination of the heat release rate models in liquid fuel mode and gas fuel mode. This model is called the SL model. For a further discussion, four types of combinations in fuel sharing mode are investigated. In addition, in liquid fuel mode and gas fuel mode, the combustion duration model and the combustion distribution factor model are replaced by the Woschni/Anisits model, which was specifically used in the diesel engine. This variation of model is called the WA model. To validate our hypothesis and models, the Wiebe parameters in liquid fuel mode and gas fuel mode are given, four types of combinations and two cases of comparisons in fuel sharing model are discussed, and the engine performance is checked and analysed. Results show that for the SL model, the average RMSE is 1.45% in the liquid fuel mode, 2.22% in the gas fuel mode, and 2.53% in the fuel sharing mode. For the WA model, the RMSE of the NOx is 9.79% in liquid fuel mode and 45.20% in gas fuel mode. Its maximum error reaches −65.54%. The proposed SL model is accurate and can generate Wiebe parameters that are better than the carefully tuned parameters. The WA model is not suitable for engine models that require NOx-emission-related parameters.