bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Caring for resettled refugee children in the United States: guidelines, challenges and public health perspectives
Authors: Phung Binh
Published: September 2023

The global refugee crisis has become an urgent, pressing humanitarian issue, with an estimated 37 million children forcibly displaced from their homes due to conflict, persecution, violence and other human rights violations by mid-2022. Of these children, only a small percentage are eligible for resettlement in a new country. This narrative review examines the physical health needs of resettled refugee children (RRC) in the United States. By analyzing nutrition and growth, infectious diseases, and general health care/screening measures, a set of comprehensive, evidence-based guidelines and public health perspectives are formulated to facilitate ongoing discussion to ensure that RRC receive equitable health care access. An urgent call to action emphasizes cross-border collaboration between governments, public health experts, refugee populations, and disease preparedness authorities in order to prioritize the physical health of RRC. This review will provide primary care providers, public health professionals, social service workers, and community advocates with up-to-date recommendations to meet the health needs of RRC in the U.S.
Interpreting vision and language generative models with semantic visual priors
Authors: Cafagna Michele , Rojas-Barahona Lina M. , van Deemter Kees , Gatt Albert
Published: September 2023

When applied to Image-to-text models, explainability methods have two challenges. First, they often provide token-by-token explanations namely, they compute a visual explanation for each token of the generated sequence. This makes explanations expensive to compute and unable to comprehensively explain the model's output. Second, for models with visual inputs, explainability methods such as SHAP typically consider superpixels as features. Since superpixels do not correspond to semantically meaningful regions of an image, this makes explanations harder to interpret. We develop a framework based on SHAP, that allows for generating comprehensive, meaningful explanations leveraging the meaning representation of the output sequence as a whole. Moreover, by exploiting semantic priors in the visual backbone, we extract an arbitrary number of features that allows the efficient computation of Shapley values on large-scale models, generating at the same time highly meaningful visual explanations. We demonstrate that our method generates semantically more expressive explanations than traditional methods at a lower compute cost and that it can be generalized to a large family of vision-language models.
Rationalization for explainable NLP: a survey
Authors: Gurrapu Sai , Kulkarni Ajay , Huang Lifu , Lourentzou Ismini , Batarseh Feras A.
Published: September 2023

Recent advances in deep learning have improved the performance of many Natural Language Processing (NLP) tasks such as translation, question-answering, and text classification. However, this improvement comes at the expense of model explainability. Black-box models make it difficult to understand the internals of a system and the process it takes to arrive at an output. Numerical (LIME, Shapley) and visualization (saliency heatmap) explainability techniques are helpful; however, they are insufficient because they require specialized knowledge. These factors led rationalization to emerge as a more accessible explainable technique in NLP. Rationalization justifies a model's output by providing a natural language explanation (rationale). Recent improvements in natural language generation have made rationalization an attractive technique because it is intuitive, human-comprehensible, and accessible to non-technical users. Since rationalization is a relatively new field, it is disorganized. As the first survey, rationalization literature in NLP from 2007 to 2022 is analyzed. This survey presents available methods, explainable evaluations, code, and datasets used across various NLP tasks that use rationalization. Further, a new subfield in Explainable AI (XAI), namely, Rational AI (RAI), is introduced to advance the current state of rationalization. A discussion on observed insights, challenges, and future directions is provided to point to promising research opportunities.
Interlinkages and gaps: a review of the literature on intergovernmental relations for flood management in the face of climate change
Authors: Chantilas Alexander , El-Khattabi Ahmed Rachid , Gvino Emily , Downs Kristen , Byrne Cate , Christenson-Diver Elizabeth , Ruffins Ranger , Worley Aaron , Dodds Felix
Published: September 2023

Current approaches to flood management are increasingly insufficient to deal with intensifying flood trends. In this paper, we define and map out the responsibilities and relationships of local, state, and federal governing entities at various levels. We use these relationships to identify gaps in governance needed to address the high financial, human, and infrastructure costs of flooding. This paper offers a description of current flood policies and provides recommendations for innovations in policy solutions to improve governance gaps. We identify three themes from the literature on intergovernmental relations and flood governance: (1) intergovernmental relations (interlinkages and gaps) for flood governance; (2) risks inherent to flood governance (financial, physical, social and individual, and perception of risk); (3) data adequacy and interoperability.
Safety attitudes culture remain stable in a transplant center: evidence from the coronavirus pandemic
Authors: Zhang Chi , Wilson-Sheehan Sena , Ruch Brianna , Wagler Josiah , Abidali Ali , Lim Elisabeth S. , Chang Yu-Hui , Fowler Christopher , Douglas David D. , Mathur Amit K.
Published: September 2023

Background

We sought to understand how safety culture may evolve during disruption, by using the COVID-19 pandemic as an example, to identify vulnerabilities in the system that could impact patient outcomes.

Methods

A cross-sectional analysis of transplant personnel at a high-volume transplant center was conducted using the Safety Attitudes Questionnaire (SAQ). Survey responses were scaled and evaluated pre- and post-COVID-19 (2019 and 2021).

Results

Two-hundred and thirty-eight responses were collected (134 pre-pandemic and 104 post-pandemic). Represented organ groups included: kidney (N = 89;38%), heart (N = 18;8%), liver (N = 54;23%), multiple (N = 66;28%), and other (N = 10;4%). Responders primarily included nurses (N = 75;34%), administration (N = 50;23%), and physicians (N = 24;11%). Workers had high safety, job satisfaction, stress recognition, and working conditions satisfaction (score >75) both before and after the pandemic with overlapping responses across both timepoints. Stress recognition, safety, and working conditions improved post-COVID-19, but teamwork, job satisfaction, and perceptions of management were somewhat negatively impacted (all p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Despite the serious health care disruptions induced by the pandemic, high domain ratings were notable and largely maintained in a high-volume transplant center. The SAQ is a valuable tool for healthcare units and can be used in longitudinal assessments of transplant culture of safety as a component of quality assurance and performance improvement initiatives.
Computational fluid dynamics comparison of the upper airway velocity, pressure, and resistance in cats using an endotracheal tube or a supraglottic airway device
Authors: Zamora-Perarnau Carla , Malvè Mauro , Fernández-Parra Rocío
Published: September 2023

Intoduction

In veterinary medicine, airway management of cats under general anesthesia is performed with an endotracheal tube (ETT) or supraglottic airway device (SGAD). This study aims to describe the use of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) to assess the velocities, pressures, and resistances of cats with ETT or SGAD.

Methods

A geometrical reconstruction model of the device, trachea, and lobar bronchi was carried out from computed tomography (CT) scans that include the head, neck, and thorax. Twenty CT scans of cats under general anesthesia using ETT (n = 10) and SGAD (n = 10) were modeled and analyzed. An inspiratory flow of 2.4 L/min was imposed in each model and velocity (m/s), general and regional pressures (cmH2O) were computed. General resistance (cmH2O/L/min) was calculated using differential pressure differences between the device inlet and lobar bronchi. Additionally, regional resistances were calculated at the device’s connection with the breathing circuit (region A), at the glottis area for the SGAD, and the area of the ETT exit (bevel) (region B) and the device itself (region C).

Results

Recirculatory flow and high velocities were found at the ETT’s bevel and at the glottis level in the SGAD group. The pressure gradient (Δp) was more enhanced in the ETT cases compared with the SGAD cases, where the pressure change was drastic. In region A, the Δp was higher in the ETT group, while in regions B and C, it was higher in the SGAD group. The general resistance was not statistically significant between groups (p = 0.48). Higher resistances were found at the region A (p = <0.001) in the ETT group. In contrast, the resistance was higher in the SGAD cases at the region B (p = 0.001).

Discussion

Overall, the provided CT-based CFD analysis demonstrated regional changes in airway pressure and resistance between ETT and SGAD during anesthetic flow conditions. Correct selection of the airway device size is recommended to avoid upper airway obstruction or changes in flow parameters.
Case report: Intraventricular tumor removal using transcallosal approach and follow-up in three dogs
Authors: Lehner László , Czeibert Kálmán , Csébi Péter , Diószegi Kristóf , Nagy Gábor
Published: September 2023

This case series describes the surgical removal of lateral ventricular tumors using a transcallosal approach, long-term follow-up, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) results of 3 dogs. Two tumors were benign choroid plexus tumors (CPT). One was a grade 2 astrocytoma. Complete tumor removal was achieved using the transcallosal approach. All dogs had ventriculomegaly which remained static or progressed during the follow-up period. All dogs had epileptic seizures before the surgical procedure which persisted despite tumor removal. One dog with CPT was alive after 3 years and 5 months and had minor focal seizures every 3–4 months. No other clinical signs were observed. The second dog with CPT was neurologically free for 17 months after the surgical procedure but died due to acute-onset therapy-resistant generalized epileptic seizures. The third dog with intraventricular astrocytoma experienced epileptic seizures 2 and 4 months after the surgical procedure. The second event was therapy-resistant which led to death.
Case report: Central-pituitary hypothyroidism concurrent with hyperadrenocorticism without pituitary macroadenoma in a Miniature Schnauzer dog
Authors: Chae Yeon , Yun Taesik , Koo Yoonhoi , Lee Dohee , Yang Mhan-Pyo , Kim Hakhyun , Kang Byeong-Teck
Published: September 2023

Multiple endocrine disorders are uncommon in veterinary medicine, and the disease combination is usually related to hypercortisolism or autoimmunity. Central-pituitary hypothyroidism, also refer to secondary hypothyroidism, can be caused by hypercortisolemic conditions and is well-recognized in human medicine. However, central hypothyroidism, including pituitary hypothyroidism, concurrent with hyperadrenocorticism, is rarely reported in veterinary medicine. A 7-year-old, intact female Miniature Schnauzer presented with generalized alopecia, scale, and pruritus and was diagnosed with superficial pyoderma andMalasseziadermatitis. Hormonal tests were performed, and the results indicated multiple endocrinopathies with a combination of non-adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism and central-pituitary hypothyroidism. Magnetic resonance imaging (7 T) and high-resolution research tomography positron emission tomography were performed to differentiate neuroendocrine tumors; however, no lesion was found in the hypothalamic to pituitary region. Hyperadrenocorticism was managed first to control endocrinopathy. After controlling hypercortisolism, a weak elevation of free thyroxine (T4) was revealed, whereas total T4 and thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) were still undetectable, and hypothyroidism management was added. About 9 months after the management, both endocrine diseases were well controlled, and clinical signs improved; however, serum TSH was unmeasured consistently. This case study describes a case of multiple endocrinopathies in a Miniature Schnauzer dog diagnosed with central-pituitary hypothyroidism concurrent with non-adrenal dependent hyperadrenocorticism without pituitary macroadenoma.
Comparative study and relationship analysis between purine content, uric acid, superoxide dismutase, and growth traits in purebred and crossbred Thai native chickens
Authors: Tantiyasawasdikul Veeraya , Chomchuen Kitsadee , Loengbudnark Wipas , Chankitisakul Vibuntita , Boonkum Wuttigrai
Published: September 2023

The objective was to compare and analyze the relationship between growth, purine content, uric acid, and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in purebred and crossbred Thai native chickens. A total of 300 Thai native chickens were divided into 3 groups. Group 1 was purebred Thai native chickens (100%TN), Group 2 was 50% Thai native chickens (50%TN), and Group 3 was 25% Thai native chickens (25%TN). Data included the body weight (BW), average daily gain (ADG), and breast circumference (BrC). At 6, 8, and 10 weeks of age, 10 chickens from each group were randomly euthanized to collect breast meat, liver, and blood samples to analyze the purine content consisting of total purine, adenine, guanine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine, and uric acid, in breast meat and liver and SOD in blood. A general linear model, Pearson correlation and principal component analysis were used to analyze the significant differences and relationship between variables. The results showed the 25%TN group had the highest growth traits at every age, while the 100%TN group had the lowest (p < 0.05). Consistent with the analysis results of purine values, purine content and uric acid in breast meat and liver and SOD in blood decreased with age (p < 0.05). The correlations between purine content (total purine, adenine, guanine, xanthine, and hypoxanthine) and growth traits (BW, ADG, and BrC) ranged from moderate negative to moderate positive (−0.542 to 0.253)(p < 0.05). The correlations between uric acid and growth traits (0.348–0.760) and SOD and growth traits (0.132–0.516) were low to moderate positive with significant differences (p < 0.05). The principal component plot, which highlighted three principal components (PC 1, PC 2, and PC 3), explained 86.44 and 86.53% of the total information in breast meat and liver for selecting animals for optimal balance of the variation in the growth traits, purine content, uric acid, and SOD. Although purebred Thai native chickens showed the lowest growth traits, purine content, uric acid, and SOD were also lowest compared to crossbred Thai native chickens. Therefore, the development of genetics in Thai native chickens to produce healthy food could be possible.
Validation of Igls Criteria for Islet Transplant Functional Status Using Person-Reported Outcome Measures in a Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Bond Zoe , Malik Saffron , Bashir Ayat , Stocker Rachel , Buckingham Jocelyn , Speight Jane , Shaw James A. M.
Published: September 2023

Associations between islet graft function and well-being in islet transplant recipients requiring exogenous insulin remain unclear. This cross-sectional analysis compared person-reported outcome measures in 15 adults with type 1 diabetes whose islet transplants were classified according to Igls criteria as “Good” (n = 5), “Marginal” (n = 4) and “Failed” (n = 6) graft function. At a mean of 6.2 years post-first islet transplant, 90% reduction in severe hypoglycaemia was maintained in all groups, with HbA1c (mean ± SD mmol/mol) 49 ± 4 in recipients with “Good” function; 56 ± 5 (“Marginal”); and 69 ± 25 (“Failed”). Self-reported impaired awareness of hypoglycaemia persisted in all groups but those with “Good” function were more likely to experience symptoms during hypoglycaemia. “Marginal” function was associated with greater fear of hypoglycaemia (HFS-II score: “Marginal”: 113 [95, 119]; “Failed”: 63 [42, 93] (p = 0.082); “Good”: 33 [29, 61]) and severe anxiety (GAD7: “Marginal”): 21 [17, 21]; “Failed”: 6 [6, 6] “Good”: 6 [3, 11]; (p = 0.079)), diabetes distress and low mood. Despite clear evidence of ongoing clinical benefit, Igls criteria ‘Marginal’ function is associated with sub-optimal well-being, including greater fear of hypoglycaemia and severe anxiety. This study provides person-reported validation that “Good” and “Marginal” graft function are differentiated by general and diabetes-specific subjective well-being, suggesting those with “Marginal” function may benefit from further intervention, including re-transplantation.
Base Flow and Drag Characteristics of a Supersonic Vehicle with Cold and Hot Jet Flows of Nozzles
Authors: Kim Yongchan , Nam Junyeop , Roh Tae-Seong , Lee Hyoung Jin
Published: September 2023

Base drag has a significant effect on the overall drag of a projectile in a supersonic flow. Herein, the base drag and flow characteristics of cold and hot gas flow in a supersonic flow are analyzed via numerical simulations. The hot gas flow is simulated using a chemical equilibrium application code based on hydrogen combustion. Two types of nozzle configurations, namely conical and contoured, are chosen for the simulation. The simulation results reveal that the change in base drag is 5–85% according to the injection gases. In the over-expanded and slightly under-expanded conditions, the base drag decreases in the hot gas flow, owing to the weak expansion fan caused by the high-temperature nozzle flow expansion, whereas in the highly under-expanded condition, the base drag decreases, owing to the strong shock wave near the base caused by the deflection of the recirculation region toward the body wall. In addition, the variations in base flow structures are observed differently compared with the cold flow; for example, a weak oblique shock wave at the nozzle exit, an increase in the distance between the shock wave and base, and deflection of the recirculation region based on the body wall are observed.
Automatic Robust Crackle Detection and Localization Approach Using AR-Based Spectral Estimation and Support Vector Machine
Authors: Mang Loredana Daria , Carabias-Orti Julio José , Canadas-Quesada Francisco Jesús , de la Torre-Cruz Juan , Muñoz-Montoro Antonio , Revuelta-Sanz Pablo , Combarro Eilas Fernandez
Published: September 2023

Auscultation primarily relies upon the acoustic expertise of individual doctors in identifying, through the use of a stethoscope, the presence of abnormal sounds such as crackles because the recognition of these sound patterns has critical importance in the context of early detection and diagnosis of respiratory pathologies. In this paper, we propose a novel method combining autoregressive (AR)-based spectral features and a support vector machine (SVM) classifier to detect the presence of crackle events and their temporal location within the input signal. A preprocessing stage is performed to discard information out of the band of interest and define the segments for short-time signal analysis. The AR parameters are estimated for each segment to be classified by means of support vector machine (SVM) classifier into crackles and normal lung sounds using a set of synthetic crackle waveforms that have been modeled to train the classifier. A dataset composed of simulated and real coarse and fine crackles sound signals was created with several signal-to-noise (SNR) ratios to evaluate the robustness of the proposed method. Each simulated and real signal was mixed with noise that shows the same spectral energy distribution as typically found in breath noise from a healthy subject. This study makes a significant contribution by achieving competitive results. The proposed method yields values ranging from 80% in the lowest signal-to-noise ratio scenario to a perfect 100% in the highest signal-to-noise ratio scenario. Notably, these results surpass those of other methods presented by a margin of at least 15%. The combination of an autoregressive (AR) model with a support vector machine (SVM) classifier offers an effective solution for detecting the presented events. This approach exhibits enhanced robustness against variations in the signal-to-noise ratio that the input signals may encounter.
Faster R-CNN-LSTM Construction Site Unsafe Behavior Recognition Model
Authors: Li Xu , Hao Tianxuan , Li Fan , Zhao Lizhen , Wang Zehua
Published: September 2023

Aiming at the problem of insufficient accuracy caused by the insufficient mining of spatiotemporal features in the process of unsafe behavior and danger identification of construction personnel, the traditional two-stream convolution model is improved, and a two-stream convolution dangerous behavior recognition model based on Faster R-CNN-LSTM is proposed. In this model, the Faster R-CNN network is connected in parallel with the LSTM network. The Faster R-CNN network is used as the spatial flow, and the human spatial motion posture is divided into static and dynamic features to extract the anchor point features, respectively. The fusion of the two is used as the output of the spatial flow. An improved sliding long-term and short-term memory network is used in the time flow to increase the extraction ability of the time series features of the construction personnel. Finally, the two branches are fused in time and space to classify and identify whether the construction personnel wear safety helmets. The results show that the MAP of the improved Faster R-CNN-LSTM network framework is increased by 15%. The original CNN-LSTM network framework detected four targets, but there was one misdetection, with an accuracy of 91.48%. The improved frame detection accuracy reaches 99.99%, and there is no error detection. The proposed method is superior to the pre-improvement and other methods that can effectively identify the unsafe behavior of construction workers on construction sites and also has a good distinction effect on fuzzy actions.
A Comparative Analysis of the Response-Tracking Techniques in Aerospace Dynamic Systems Using Modal Participation Factors
Authors: Nieto Michelle Guzman , Babu Sandeep Suresh , ElSayed Mostafa S. A. , Mourad Abdel-Hamid Ismail
Published: September 2023

Mechanical structural systems are subject to multiple dynamic disturbances during service. While several possible scenarios can be examined to determine their design loading conditions, only a relatively small set of such scenarios is considered critical. Therefore, only such particular deterministic set of critical load cases is commonly employed for the structural design and optimization. Nevertheless, during the design and optimization stages, the mass and stiffness distributions of such assemblies vary, and, in consequence, their dynamic response also varies. Thus, it is important to consider the variations in the dynamic loading conditions during the design-and-optimization cycles. This paper studies the modal participation factors at length and proposes an alternative to the current point-wise treatment of the dynamic equations of motion of flexible bodies during design optimization. First, the most relevant-to-structural-dynamics definitions available in the literature are reviewed in depth. Second, the analysis of those definitions that have the potential to be adopted as point-wise constraint equations during structural optimization is extended. Finally, a proof of concept is presented to demonstrate the usability of each definition, followed by a case study in which the potential advantages of the proposed extended analysis are shown.
Intelligent Medical Velostat Pressure Sensor Mat Based on Artificial Neural Network and Arduino Embedded System
Authors: Kciuk Marek , Kowalik Zygmunt , Lo Sciuto Grazia , Sławski Sebastian , Mastrostefano Stefano
Published: September 2023

The promising research on flexible and tactile sensors requires conducting polymer materials and an accurate system for the transduction of pressure into electrical signals. In this paper, the intelligent sensitive mat, based on Velostat, which is a polymeric material impregnated with carbon black, is investigated. Various designs and geometries for home-made sensor mats have been proposed, and their electrical and mechanical properties, including reproducibility, have been studied through the tests performed. The mat pressure sensors have been interfaced with an Arduino microcontroller in order to monitor, read with high precision, and control the variation of the resistance under applied pressure. An approximation method was then developed based on a neural network algorithm to explore the relationship between different mat shapes, the pressure and stresses applied on the mat, the resistance of the conductive Velostat material, and the number of active sensing cells in order to control system input signal management.
Wearable Prophylaxis Tool for AI-Driven Identification of Early Warning Patterns of Pressure Ulcers
Authors: Gruenerbel Lorenz , Heinrich Ferdinand , Böhlhoff-Martin Jonathan , Röper Lynn , Machens Hans-Günther , Gruenerbel Arthur , Schillinger Moritz , Kist Andreas , Wenninger Franz , Richter Martin , Steinbacher Leonard
Published: September 2023

As today’s society ages, age-related diseases become more frequent. One very common but yet preventable disease is the development of pressure ulcers (PUs). PUs can occur if tissue is exposed to a long-lasting pressure load, e.g., lying on tissue without turning. The cure of PUs requires intensive care, especially for the elderly or people with preexisting conditions whose tissue needs longer healing times. The consequences are heavy suffering for the patient and extreme costs for the health care system. To avoid these consequences, our objective is to develop a pressure ulcer prophylaxis device. For that, we built a new sensor system able to monitor the pressure load and tissue vital signs in immediate local proximity at patient’s predilection sites. In the clinical study, we found several indicators showing correlations between tissue perfusion and the risk of PU development, including strongly reduced SpO2 levels in body tissue prior to a diagnosed PU. Finally, we propose a prophylaxis system that allows for the prediction of PU developments in early stages before they become visible. This work is the first step in generating an effective system to warn patients or caregivers about developing PUs and taking appropriate preventative measures. Widespread application could reduce patient suffering and lead to substantial cost savings.
Whole Liver Derived Acellular Extracellular Matrix for Bioengineering of Liver Constructs: An Updated Review
Authors: Mir Tanveer , Alzhrani Alaa , Nakamura Makoto , Iwanaga Shintaroh , Wani Shadil , Altuhami Abdullah , Kazmi Shadab , Arai Kenichi , Shamma Talal , Obeid Dalia , Assiri Abdullah , Broering Dieter
Published: September 2023

Biomaterial templates play a critical role in establishing and bioinstructing three-dimensional cellular growth, proliferation and spatial morphogenetic processes that culminate in the development of physiologically relevant in vitro liver models. Various natural and synthetic polymeric biomaterials are currently available to construct biomimetic cell culture environments to investigate hepatic cell–matrix interactions, drug response assessment, toxicity, and disease mechanisms. One specific class of natural biomaterials consists of the decellularized liver extracellular matrix (dECM) derived from xenogeneic or allogeneic sources, which is rich in bioconstituents essential for the ultrastructural stability, function, repair, and regeneration of tissues/organs. Considering the significance of the key design blueprints of organ-specific acellular substrates for physiologically active graft reconstruction, herein we showcased the latest updates in the field of liver decellularization–recellularization technologies. Overall, this review highlights the potential of acellular matrix as a promising biomaterial in light of recent advances in the preparation of liver-specific whole organ scaffolds. The review concludes with a discussion of the challenges and future prospects of liver-specific decellularized materials in the direction of translational research.
The Main Therapeutic Applications of Cannabidiol (CBD) and Its Potential Effects on Aging with Respect to Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Trojan Václav , Landa Leoš , Šulcová Alexandra , Slíva Jiří , Hřib Radovan
Published: September 2023

The use of cannabinoids (substances contained specifically in hemp plants) for therapeutic purposes has received increased attention in recent years. Presently, attention is paid to two main cannabinoids: delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC) and cannabidiol (CBD). With respect to the psychotropic effects and dependence potential of THC (though it is very mild), its use is associated with certain restrictions, and thus the therapeutic properties of CBD are frequently emphasized because there are no limitations associated with the risk of dependence. Therefore, this review covers the main pharmacodynamic and pharmacokinetic features of CBD (including characteristics of endocannabinoidome) with respect to its possible beneficial effects on selected diseases in clinical practice. A substantial part of the text deals with the main effects of CBD on aging, including Alzheimer’s disease and related underlying mechanisms.
Neonatal Maternal Separation Induces Sexual Dimorphism in Brain Development: The Influence on Amino Acid Levels and Cognitive Disorders
Authors: Kotlinska Jolanta H. , Grochecki Pawel , Michalak Agnieszka , Pankowska Anna , Kochalska Katarzyna , Suder Piotr , Ner-Kluza Joanna , Matosiuk Dariusz , Marszalek-Grabska Marta
Published: September 2023

Repeated maternal separation (MS) is a useful experimental model in rodents for studying the long-term influence of early-life stress on brain neurophysiology. In our work, we assessed the effect of repeated MS (postnatal day (PND)1–21, 180 min/day) on the postnatal development of rat brain regions involved in memory using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1HMRS) for tissue volume and the level of amino acids such as glutamate, aspartate, glutamine, glycine and gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) in the hippocampus. We assessed whether these effects are sex dependent. We also use novel object recognition (NOR) task to examine the effect of MS on memory and the effect of ethanol on it. Finally, we attempted to ameliorate postnatal stress-induced memory deficits by using VU-29, a positive allosteric modulator (PAM) of the metabotropic glutamate type 5 (mGlu5) receptor. In males, we noted deficits in the levels of glutamate, glycine and glutamine and increases in GABA in the hippocampus. In addition, the values of perirhinal cortex, prefrontal cortex and insular cortex and CA3 were decreased in these animals. MS females, in contrast, demonstrated significant increase in glutamate levels and decrease in GABA levels in the hippocampus. Here, the CA1 values alone were increased. VU-29 administration ameliorated these cognitive deficits. Thus, MS stress disturbs amino acids levels mainly in the hippocampus of adult male rats, and enhancement of glutamate neurotransmission reversed recognition memory deficits in these animals.
Recent Advances in Molecular and Cellular Functions of S100A10
Authors: Okura Gillian C. , Bharadwaj Alamelu G. , Waisman David M.
Published: September 2023

S100A10 (p11, annexin II light chain, calpactin light chain) is a multifunctional protein with a wide range of physiological activity. S100A10 is unique among the S100 family members of proteins since it does not bind to Ca2+, despite its sequence and structural similarity. This review focuses on studies highlighting the structure, regulation, and binding partners of S100A10. The binding partners of S100A10 were collated and summarized.
Zebrafish in Lung Cancer Research
Authors: Wu Xiaodi , Hua Xin , Xu Ke , Song Yong , Lv Tangfeng
Published: September 2023

Zebrafish is increasingly used as a model organism for cancer research because of its genetic and physiological similarities to humans. Modeling lung cancer (LC) in zebrafish has received significant attention. This review focuses on the insights gained from using zebrafish in LC research. These insights range from investigating the genetic and molecular mechanisms that contribute to the development and progression of LC to identifying potential drug targets, testing the efficacy and toxicity of new therapies, and applying zebrafish for personalized medicine studies. This review provides a comprehensive overview of the current state of LC research performed using zebrafish, highlights the advantages and limitations of this model organism, and discusses future directions in the field.
Synthesis of Metal Nanoparticles via Pulicaria undulata and an Evaluation of Their Antimicrobial, Antioxidant, and Cytotoxic Activities
Authors: El-Amier Yasser A. , Abduljabbar Balsam T. , El-Zayat Mustafa M. , Sarker Tushar C. , Abd-ElGawad Ahmed M.
Published: September 2023

Nanoparticle engineering via plants (green synthesis) is a promising eco-friendly technique. In this work, a green protocol was applied to the preparation of silver, zinc, and selenium nanoparticle solutions supported by the extracted aerial parts of Pulicaria undulata. The formation of nanoparticles in the solution was characterized using phytochemical analysis, and UV-visible, TEM, and zeta-potential spectroscopy. In addition, various biological activities were investigated for the extract of P. undulata and the produced nanoparticles (selenium, silver, and zinc), including antioxidant, antimicrobial, and cytotoxic activities. The volatile components of the extracted constitute verified the fact that twenty-five volatile components were characterized for the majority of abundant categories for the fatty acids, esters of fatty acids (59.47%), and hydrocarbons (38.19%) of the total area. The antioxidant activity of P. undulata extract and metal nanoparticles was assessed using DPPH assay. The results indicated reduced potency for the metal nanoparticles’ solutions relative to the results for the plant extract. The cytotoxicity of the investigated samples was assessed using an MTT assay against various tumor and normal cell lines with improved cytotoxic potency of the solutions of metal nanoparticles, compared to the plant extract. The antimicrobial activity was also estimated against various bacterial and fungal species. The results confirmed amended potency for inhibiting the growth of microbial species for the solutions of metal nanoparticles when compared to the extracted aerial parts of the plant. The present study showed that green synthetized nanoparticles using P. undulata have various potential bioactivities.
Case of Congenital Hemolytic Anemia with ATP11C and ANK1 Variants
Authors: Xu Wei , Ma Mengmeng , Zhao Sai , Yuan Yufang , Tian Zhaofang
Published: September 2023

A male infant of Han descent, with a G1P1 mother and gestational age of 40+4 weeks, was born via cesarean section owing to his mother having pregnancy complications, including premature rupture of membranes, chorioamnionitis, and gestational diabetes. On the first day after birth, routine blood examination showed that his total red blood cells count was 2.32 × 1012/L, hemoglobin count was 77 g/L, and C-reactive protein count was 48.99 mg/L. After receiving an anti-infection treatment for 10 days and two blood transfusions (100 mL in total), he was discharged from a neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Accessory examinations showed that reticulocytes in the peripheral blood were significantly increased, the morphology of red blood cells was normal, and all hemolysis-related examinations were normal; bone marrow examinations showed that the proliferation of the red blood cell system was low and serum ferritin and vitamin B12 levels were elevated. Because of the unexplained hemolysis, a whole-exome sequencing examination was performed. The results showed a hemizygous variant of the ATP11C gene (c.3136a>t/p ile 1046phe) and a frame-shift variant of the ANK1 gene (c.937del/pala313 leufs*19). After a six-month follow-up, the serum ferritin and vitamin B12 levels had gradually decreased to normal levels, and hemoglobin and reticulocyte values were 97 g/L and 7.17%, respectively, in the peripheral blood. No splenomegaly was found in physical examination.
Comparison of Bilevel Volume Guarantee and Pressure-Regulated Volume Control Modes in Preterm Infants
Authors: Işık Şehribanu , Canpolat Fuat Emre , Kadıoğlu Şimşek Gülsüm , Ertekin Ömer , Kanmaz Kutman Hayriye Gözde
Published: September 2023

The present study aimed to compare the bilevel volume guarantee (VG) and pressure-regulated volume control (PRVC) modes of the GE® Carescape R860 model ventilator and test the safety and feasibility of these two modes in preterm neonates. Infants who were less than 30 weeks of gestational age were included. After randomization, initial ventilator settings were adjusted for each patient. After the first 2 h of ventilation, the patients were switched to the other ventilator mode for 2 h. The ventilator parameters, vital signs, and blood gas values were evaluated. The study included a total of 28 patients, 14 in the PRVC group and 14 in the bilevel VG group. The mean birth weight was 876 g (range: 530–1170) and the mean gestational age was 26.4 weeks (range: 24–29). The patients’ peak inspiratory pressure (PIP2 and PIP3) was lower after ventilation in bilevel VG mode than in PRVC mode (13 vs. 14 cmH2O, respectively; paired samples t-test, p = 0.008). After 2 h of bilevel VG ventilation, the mean heart rate decreased from 149/min to 140/min (p = 0.001) and the oxygen saturation increased from 91% to 94% (p = 0.01). Both the PRVC and bilevel VG modes of GE ventilators can be used safely in preterm infants, and bilevel VG mode was associated with more favorable early clinical findings. Studies including more patients and comparing with other modes will clarify and provide further evidence on this subject.
Biomarkers in Systemic Sclerosis: An Overview
Authors: Di Maggio Giuseppe , Confalonieri Paola , Salton Francesco , Trotta Liliana , Ruggero Luca , Kodric Metka , Geri Pietro , Hughes Michael , Bellan Mattia , Gilio Michele , Lerda Selene , Baratella Elisa , Confalonieri Marco , Mondini Lucrezia , Ruaro Barbara
Published: September 2023

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease characterized by significant fibrosis of the skin and internal organs, with the main involvement of the lungs, kidneys, heart, esophagus, and intestines. SSc is also characterized by macro- and microvascular damage with reduced peripheral blood perfusion. Several studies have reported more than 240 pathways and numerous dysregulation proteins, giving insight into how the field of biomarkers in SSc is still extremely complex and evolving. Antinuclear antibodies (ANA) are present in more than 90% of SSc patients, and anti-centromere and anti-topoisomerase I antibodies are considered classic biomarkers with precise clinical features. Recent studies have reported that trans-forming growth factor β (TGF-β) plays a central role in the fibrotic process. In addition, interferon regulatory factor 5 (IRF5), interleukin receptor-associated kinase-1 (IRAK-1), connective tissue growth factor (CTGF), transducer and activator of transcription signal 4 (STAT4), pyrin-containing domain 1 (NLRP1), as well as genetic factors, including DRB1 alleles, are implicated in SSc damage. Several interleukins (e.g., IL-1, IL-6, IL-10, IL-17, IL-22, and IL-35) and chemokines (e.g., CCL 2, 5, 23, and CXC 9, 10, 16) are elevated in SSc. While adiponectin and maresin 1 are reduced in patients with SSc, biomarkers are important in research but will be increasingly so in the diagnosis and therapeutic approach to SSc. This review aims to present and highlight the various biomarker molecules, pathways, and receptors involved in the pathology of SSc.
T-Lymphocytes Activated by Dendritic Cells Loaded by Tumor-Derived Vesicles Decrease Viability of Melanoma Cells In Vitro
Authors: Filin Ivan Yurevich , Mayasin Yuriy Pavlovich , Kharisova Chulpan Bulatovna , Gorodilova Anna Valerevna , Chulpanova Daria Sergeevna , Kitaeva Kristina Viktorovna , Rizvanov Albert Anatolyevich , Solovyeva Valeria Vladimirovna
Published: September 2023

Immunotherapy represents an innovative approach to cancer treatment, based on activating the body’s own immune system to combat tumor cells. Among various immunotherapy strategies, dendritic cell vaccines hold a special place due to their ability to activate T-lymphocytes, key players in cellular immunity, and direct them to tumor cells. In this study, the influence of dendritic cells processed with tumor-derived vesicles on the viability of melanoma cells in vitro was investigated. Dendritic cells were loaded with tumor-derived vesicles, after which they were used to activate T-cells. The study demonstrated that such modified T-cells exhibit high activity against melanoma cells, leading to a decrease in their viability. Our analysis highlights the potential efficacy of this approach in developing immunotherapy against melanoma. These results provide new prospects for further research and the development of antitumor strategies based on the mechanisms of T-lymphocyte activation using tumor-derived vesicles.
Prospective ICT Teachers’ Perceptions on the Didactic Utility and Player Experience of a Serious Game for Safe Internet Use and Digital Intelligence Competencies
Authors: Georgiadou Aikaterini , Xinogalos Stelios
Published: September 2023

Nowadays, young students spend a lot of time playing video games and browsing on the Internet. Using the Internet has become even more widespread for young students due to the COVID-19 pandemic lockdown, which resulted in transferring several educational activities online. The Internet and generally the digital world that we live in offers many possibilities in our everyday lives, but it also entails dangers such as cyber threats and unethical use of personal data. It is widely accepted that everyone, especially young students, should be educated on safe Internet use and should be supported on acquiring other Digital Intelligence (DI) competencies as well. Towards this goal, we present the design and evaluation of the game “Follow the Paws” that aims to educate primary school students on safe Internet use and support them in acquiring relevant DI competencies. The game was designed taking into account relevant literature and was evaluated by 213 prospective Information and Communication Technology (ICT) teachers. The participants playtested the game and evaluated it through an online questionnaire that was based on validated instruments proposed in the literature. The participants evaluated positively to the didactic utility of the game and the anticipated player experience, while they highlighted several improvements to be taken into consideration in a future revision of the game. Based on the results, proposals for further research are presented, including DI competencies detection through the game and evaluating its actual effectiveness in the classroom.
The New Era of Systemic Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma: From the First Line to the Optimal Sequence
Authors: Cerreto Maria , Cardone Ferdinando , Cerrito Lucia , Stella Leonardo , Santopaolo Francesco , Pallozzi Maria , Gasbarrini Antonio , Ponziani Francesca Romana
Published: September 2023

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) represents the most common primary liver cancer and is considered a major global health problem as one of the leading causes of cancer-related death in the world. Due to the increase in life expectancy and the epidemiological growth of specific risk factors, such as metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), the incidence of HCC is growing globally, and mortality rates are still high. Moreover, patients frequently present at an intermediate or advanced tumor stage, when curative treatments, such as surgical resection, liver transplantation or ablation are no longer applicable. In these cases, trans-arterial chemoembolization (TACE), trans-arterial radioembolization (TARE), and systemic therapy are the only suitable options to achieve disease control. The multi-kinase inhibitor Sorafenib has been the only systemic treatment available for unresectable advanced HCC for almost a decade, but in the last couple of years new therapeutic options have emerged. Recent advances in understanding the interactions between the tumor and its microenvironment, especially cancer immune escape, led to the advent of immunotherapy. Currently, first-line systemic treatment for HCC is represented by the combination of the immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) Atezolizumab plus Bevacizumab, an anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) monoclonal antibody, but many other ICIs have been investigated, such as Nivolumab, Pembrolizumab, Durvalumab and Ipilimumab. However, the problem of second- and third-line therapies, and the correct sequence of treatments remains open and is not addressed in most studies. This explains the urge to find new systemic treatments that can improve the survival and quality of life in patients that can go beyond the first line of treatment. The aim of this paper is to offer a complete overview of the most recent innovations in systemic treatments for unresectable locally advanced and metastatic HCC, including emerging therapies, with a particular focus on treatment sequences. Moreover, we will provide an outlook on possible future approaches to patients who progress beyond first-line therapies.
Design and Analysis of an Axial Center-Piercing Hydrocyclone
Authors: Gao Yang , Liu He , Yu Jiaqing , Zhao Xiaojie , Cao Gang , Yang Qinghai , Jia Deli , Zheng Lichen
Published: September 2023

To enhance the separation efficiency of downhole oil–water hydrocyclones in co-produced wells, an axial center-piercing hydrocyclone structure is proposed. A mathematical relationship model between the structural parameters and separation efficiency of the axial center-piercing hydrocyclone is constructed based on the response surface methodology. The numerical simulation method is employed to analyze both the unoptimized and optimized hydrocyclone structures, and their separation performances are simulated under identical operational conditions. The results indicate that the optimal structural parameter values are as follows: main diameter D = 70.4 mm, large cone angle α1 = 32.4°, small cone angle α2 = 3.9°, bottom flow tube length L3 = 311.7 mm, and inverted cone length L4 = 166.0 mm. The optimal operation parameters of the optimized structure are also obtained. Under the same operating parameter conditions, the separation efficiency of the optimized structure is consistently higher than that of the unoptimized structure. The highest efficiency achieved by the optimized structure is 98.6%, which is a 2% improvement over the unoptimized state. Finally, experiments are conducted with the optimized hydrocyclone separator structure under different split ratios. This study significantly contributes to the field of injection and production in a single well, particularly in promoting the application of hydrocyclones.