bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Combined group and individual therapy for patients with avoidant personality disorder—A pilot study
Authors: Wilberg Theresa , Pedersen Geir , Bremer Kjetil , Johansen Merete Selsbakk , Kvarstein Elfrida Hartveit
Published: May 2023

Objective

Avoidant personality disorder (AvPD) is a common disorder within mental health services, associated with significant psychosocial impairment. The disorder has been neglected in research. There are currently no evidence-based treatments for AvPD, and there is a need for treatment studies focusing particularly on this form of personality pathology. The present study was a pilot study of combined group and individual therapy for patients with AvPD, based on mentalization-based and metacognitive interpersonal therapy. The aim was to investigate the feasibility of the treatment program and the course of symptoms and personality functioning during treatment and 1-year follow-up.

Methods

The study included 28 patients. Clinical evaluation at baseline comprised structured diagnostic interviews and patients' self-report of symptoms, psychosocial function, interpersonal problems, personality functioning, alexithymia, self-esteem, attachment style, therapeutic alliance, and client satisfaction. Patients' self-report were repeated at the end of treatment and 1-year follow-up.

Results

The drop-out rate was 14%. Average treatment length among the 22 treatment completers was 17 months. Mean levels of therapeutic alliance and client satisfaction were satisfactory. Effect sizes were large for global symptom distress, depression, anxiety, and psychosocial adjustment, and in the moderate range for aspects of personality functioning. Yet, the results showed a wide range of outcomes among the patients.

Conclusions

This pilot study shows promising results for combined group- and individual therapy for AvPD patients with moderate to severe impairment. Larger scale studies should be conducted to increase empirically based knowledge to guide development of differentiated treatments adapted to patients' various levels of AvPD severity and profiles of personality dysfunction.
Measuring direct non-medical burden among patients with advanced non-small cell lung cancer in China: is there a difference in health status?
Authors: Xia Yu , Chen Yingyao , Chen Jia , Gan Yuying , Su Chunxia , Zhang Haibo , Long Enwu , Yan Fei , Yang Yi
Published: May 2023

Objective

This study was conducted to estimate the direct non-medical cost of advanced non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients and explore whether its associated factors vary by health status.

Methods

Data were obtained from 13 centers in five provinces for patients with advanced NSCLC in China. The direct non-medical cost of patients since the patients were diagnosed with NSCLC included the cost of transportation, accommodation, meal, hired caregiving, and nutrition. We measured patients' health status by EQ-5D-5L instrument and divided them into good (≥0.75) and poor (<0.75) groups based on the utility score. A generalized linear model (GLM) was used to assess independent associations between statistically significant factors and non-medical financial burden in health status subgroups.

Results

Data from 607 patients were analyzed. The direct non-medical cost associated with advanced NSCLC since diagnosis was $2,951 per case ($4,060 in the poor health group and $2,505 in the other), with nutrition costing the most. GLM results showed that residence(Urban area vs. Rural area: −1.038, [−2.056, −0.02]), caregivers' occupation type (Farmer vs. Employee: −1.303, [−2.514, −0.093]), hospitalization frequency (0.077, [0.033, 0.12]), average length of hospital stay (0.101, [0.032, 0.17]), and pathological type (Squamous carcinoma vs. Non-squamous carcinoma: −0.852, [−1.607, −0.097]) were independent factors influencing direct non-medical cost in the poor health group. Among participants with good health status, residence (Urban area vs. Rural area: −0.621, [−1.005, −0.236]), marital status (Others vs. Married: 0.762, [0.035, 1.488]), patients' employment status, current caregiving time per day (more than 9 hours per day vs. less than 3 hours per day: 0.471, [0.134, 0.807]), duration of disease (0.015, [0.007, 0.024]), and hospitalization frequency (0.091, [0.068, 0.113]) were statistically associated factors.

Conclusion

The direct non-medical economic burden of advanced NSCLC patients in China is considerable and differs by health status. Strengthening accessibility for more effective therapies and early nutritional intervention to improve prognosis, and further promoting accessible care forms within relevant healthcare insurance coverage may be potentially feasible approaches to alleviate the direct non-medical economic burden for patients and their families.
Does climate change transform military medicine and defense medical support?
Authors: Robinson Yohan , Khorram-Manesh Amir , Arvidsson Niclas , Sinai Cave , Taube Fabian
Published: May 2023

Background

Climate change has effects on multiple aspects of human life, such as access to food and water, expansion of endemic diseases as well as an increase of natural disasters and related diseases. The objective of this review is to summarize the current knowledge on climate change effects on military occupational health, military healthcare in a deployed setting, and defense medical logistics.

Methods

Online databases and registers were searched on August 22nd, 2022 and 348 papers retrieved, published between 2000 and 2022, from which we selected 8 publications that described climate effects on military health. Papers were clustered according to a modified theoretical framework for climate change effects on health, and relevant items from each paper were summarized.

Results

During the last decades a growing body of climate change related publications was identified, which report that climate change has a significant impact on human physiology, mental health, water- and vector borne infectious diseases, as well as air pollution. However, regarding the specific climate effects on military health the level of evidence is low. The effects on defense medical logistics include vulnerabilities in the cold supply chain, in medical devices functioning, in need for air conditioning, and in fresh water supply.

Conclusions

Climate change may transform both the theoretical framework and practical implementations in military medicine and military healthcare systems. There are significant knowledge gaps on climate change effects on the health of military personnel in operations of both combat and non-combat nature, alerting the need for prevention and mitigation of climate-related health issues. Further research within the fields of disaster and military medicine is needed to explore this novel field. As climate effects on humans and the medical supply chain may degrade military capability, significant investments in military medical research and development are needed.
The relationship between professional quality of life and work environment among ICU nurses in Chinese: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Ni Weiwei , Xia Ming , Jing Mengjuan , Zhu Shichao , Li Liming
Published: May 2023

Objective

To explore the relationship between the professional quality of life and work environment among intensive care unit nurses, and identify the influencing factors of intensive care unit nurses' professional quality of life.

Methods

This study design is cross-sectional and correlational descriptive. Four hundred fourteen intensive care unit nurses from Central China were recruited. Data were collected from three questionnaires of self-designed demographic questions, the professional quality of life scale and the nursing work environment scale. Descriptive statistics, Pearson's correlation, bivariate analysis and multiple linear regression were used to analyze the data.

Results

A total of 414 questionnaires was collected, for an effective recovery rate of 98.57%. The original scores of the three sub-scales of professional quality of life were 33.58 ± 6.43, 31.83 ± 5.94, and 32.55 ± 5.74. Compassion satisfaction was positively correlated with the nursing working environment (p < 0.05), job burnout, and secondary trauma were negatively correlated with nursing work in environment (p < 0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis results show that, the nursing working environment entered into the influential factor model of professional quality of life scale (p < 0.001). The nursing working environment independently explained 26.9% of the changes in compassion satisfaction, 27.1% of the changes in job burnout, and 27.5% of the changes in secondary trauma. The nursing work environment is an important factor affecting the professional quality of life.

Conclusion

The better the nursing working environment, the higher the professional quality of life of intensive care unit nurses. Decision makers and managers can focus on improving the working environment of nurses, which may be a new perspective for managers to improve the professional quality of life of nurses and stabilize the nursing team.
Assessment of selected psychosocial risk factors: stress, job burnout, and bullying in the case of medical staff as part of workplace ergonomics during the COVID-19 pandemic—A prospective pilot study
Authors: Rypicz Łukasz , Witczak Izabela , Gawłowski Paweł , Salehi Hugh Pierre , Kołcz Anna
Published: May 2023

Background

The purpose of the pilot study conducted by the authors was to assess occupational risk in selected areas of psychosocial risk factors among health professions in a pilot study. Medical staff working in the healthcare sector experience stress, job burnout and bullying on a daily basis. Monitoring occupational risks in the above areas provides an opportunity to take appropriate preventive measures.

Methods

The prospective online survey included 143 health care workers from various professional groups. Eighteen participants did not complete the survey, and the results of 125 participants were eventually included in the analysis. The study used health and safety questionnaires in the healthcare sector, which are not widely used as screening tools in Poland.

Results

The following statistical methods were performed in the study: the Mann-Whitney test, Kruskal-Wallis test, Dunn's test. In addition, multivariate analysis was performed. The results obtained in the study indicate that the questionnaires used in the study can be widely used by employers or occupational medicine as screening tools.

Conclusions

Our findings show that level of education attainment in healthcare is correlated with higher chance of experiencing stress and burnout. Among the surveyed professions, nurses reported a higher amount of stress and burnout. Paramedics reported the highest chance of being bullied at work. This can be explained by their nature of work which requires directly interacting with patients and their families. In addition, it should be noted that the tools used can be successfully applied in workplaces as elements of workplace ergonomics assessment in the context of cognitive ergonomics.
Urban water crisis and the promise of infrastructure: a case study of Shimla, India
Authors: Sarkar Soma
Published: May 2023

Urban water configurations evolve through synergetic relationships that are non-linear, spatially variable, and temporally contingent. As urban development grows in complexity, dense water flow networks intensify within the urban landscape and pose a major challenge to urban water governance. At this junction, this study takes up the specific case study of the water crisis in Shimla, a city situated in the Western Himalayas, which was once the summer capital of British India. Shimla witnessed two significant episodes of a severe water crisis in 2016 and 2018, respectively. While the mainstream discourses identified erratic rainfall due to climate change, urban growth, and tourism as the prime causes, the crisis was not marked by absolute scarcity. Multitude configurations of infrastructure politics, distribution, and access produced scarcity, which differentially impacted the people in the city and continues to do so. Marginalized social groups (class, caste, gender, and religion) and people living on the periphery, such as slum dwellers, daily wage laborers, and informal sector workers with inadequate economic and social safety nets seem to have been missing from the discourse. In addition, the crisis events in Shimla have led to institutional changes in the governance of water by establishing a parastatal body for a water utility in the city and the proposal of mega water infrastructure projects for the bulk supply of water from the Sutlej River. Deriving from a situated urban political ecology approach, this study presents an in-depth empirical understanding of the complex urban waterscape of Shimla city, where the tourism industry is a major stakeholder, and a critical analysis of the emerging “new” politics of water, which is also a politics of infrastructure in Shimla's post-crisis phase. It adopts a qualitative research design involving in-depth interviews with different stakeholders in urban water governance in Shimla and a neighborhood-level case study to understand the post-crisis water scenario in the city. Locating the Shimla case study within the broader planetary geography, this study argues that the water crisis, as a context, is dialectical. Despite the implementation of several hydraulic projects and the financialization of nature, the inherent fissures of inequality within the city that cause differential access to water remain.
Closing the academy–Business gap by building intellectual capital in professional formation
Authors: Vélez-Rolón Adela M. , Pulido López Alejandra , Méndez-Pinzón Manuel , Neira-Bermudez Diego
Published: May 2023

Introduction

The rapid advances in technology, market pressures, globalization, and, recently, the COVID-19 pandemic show the need to find educational models that respond to these realities while improving the employability levels of young people and promoting economic growth. This research analyzes how the professional formation model, where two learning spaces, the academy, and the company, are combined, promotes the closing of gaps and economic growth, through the development of intellectual capital that arises from this relationship, in an emerging economy such as Colombia.

Methods

The methodology used corresponds to a qualitative approach, where the vision of the actors involved in the training process at the undergraduate level in Colombia is analyzed through semi-structured interviews, focus groups, and documentary analysis.

Results and discussion

The results show five major elements to consider for the formation of the intellectual capital required for the success of the relationship and the reduction in the gaps between academia and business: decision-making mechanisms, inter-organizational coordination, knowledge.
Diversifying vegetable production systems for improving the livelihood of resource poor farmers on the East Indian Plateau
Authors: Manickam Ravishankar , Kaur Devender Pal , Vemula Anilkumar , Rathore Abhishek , Unkovich Murray , Bellotti William , Kumar Ashok , Gorai Bapi , Madhavan Nair Ramakrishnan
Published: May 2023

Failure of the rice crop, or low rice yield has dire consequences for rice-dependent households, including food insecurity and malnutrition, for India’s poorest farmers in the East Indian Plateau region. Crop diversification could reduce the risks of rice production from the vagaries of rainfall and provide cash income which is not generated from subsistence rice. Being the primary household laborers women bear the brunt of these difficult conditions in patriarchal societies. For this reason we engaged with the women farmers in Bokaro and West Singhbhum in the State of Jharkhand, and Purulia in West Bengal who participated in experiments conducted with vegetable crops and legumes in the upland and medium uplands where the traditional crop is broadcasted paddy rice. We explored four different vegetable systems, (i) cucurbits (rainy/kharif) (season—June to September), (ii) growing tomatoes in the “off season” (rainy season—July to October), (iii) growing legume crops in rotation with direct sown rice (dry/rabi season—November to January), and (iv) intercropping beans with maize (rainy season—June to September). The results showed that all the above crops proved much better in terms of income to the farmers, return per person day, although the input cost varied it was higher with the new systems explored. The research with the small-holding women farmers enabled them to try new options and make informed decisions about these opportunities. This study showed that farmers can increase crop diversity and expand the area sown to non-paddy crops. The farmers are now looking for new crops where the demand exceeds the supply. Importantly this study has demonstrated that the direct involvement of communities’ in research enables the farmers to sustainability explore solutions to the future problems with limited support from the external agencies.
Development of a bioprinter-based method for incorporating metabolic competence into high-throughput in vitro assays
Authors: Hopperstad Kristen , Deisenroth Chad
Published: May 2023

The acceptance and use of in vitro data for hazard identification, prioritization, and risk evaluation is partly limited by uncertainties associated with xenobiotic metabolism. The lack of biotransformation capabilities of many in vitro systems may under- or overestimate the hazard of compounds that are metabolized to more or less active metabolites in vivo. One approach to retrofitting existing bioassays with metabolic competence is the lid-based Alginate Immobilization of Metabolic Enzymes (AIME) method, which adds hepatic metabolism to conventional high-throughput screening platforms. Here, limitations of the lid-based AIME method were addressed by incorporating bioprinting, which involved depositing S9-encapsulated microspheres into standard 384-well plates with requisite cofactors for phase I and II hepatic metabolism. Objectives of this study included: 1) compare the lid-based and AIME bioprinting methods by assessing the enzymatic activity of a common cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme, 2) use biochemical assays with the bioprinting method to characterize additional measures of phase I and II metabolic activity, and 3) evaluate the bioprinting method by screening 25 chemicals of known metabolism-dependent bioactivity in the VM7Luc estrogen receptor transactivation (ERTA) assay. A comparison of the two methods revealed comparable precision and dynamic range. Activity of additional CYP enzymes and glucuronidation was observed using the AIME bioprinting method. The ERTA experiment identified 19/21 ER-active test chemicals, 14 of which were concordant with expected biotransformation effects (73.7%). Additional refinement of the AIME bioprinting method has the potential to expand high-throughput screening capabilities in a robust, accessible manner to incorporate in vitro metabolic competence.
Multivariate Analysis Applied to the Ground Application of Pesticides in the Corn Crop
Authors: Palma Roxanna Patricia , Cunha João Paulo Arantes Rodrigues da
Published: May 2023

Including the correct combination of factors for the application technology of pesticides can improve their distribution on their targets. The aim of this work was to use multivariate analysis to study the effect size and the order of influence of three factors that interfere with pesticide application technology in corn crops. A 2 × 2 × 3 factorial experiment was conducted with two droplet size classes (fine and coarse), two application rates (80 and 150 L ha−1), and the presence of adjuvants (mineral oil one and two, and no adjuvant). A knapsack boom sprayer was used for the applications. Droplet deposition on the corn leaves was evaluated by detecting a tracer added to the spray via spectrophotometry and the droplet spectrum by analyzing water-sensitive papers. Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses were performed to integrate the variables analyzed. Droplet size has proven to be the most important factor in spraying planning, and the second factor is the application rate. With the association between fine droplets and higher application rates, a better performance was obtained in coverage, droplet density, and droplet deposition.
Splitting Nitrogen Fertilization Is More Important than Nitrogen Level When Mixed Wheat Varieties Are Cultivated in a Conservation Agriculture System
Authors: Allart Kévin , Almoussawi Ali , Kerbey Louay , Catterou Manuella , Roger David , Mortier David , Blanc Elisa , Robert Bastien , Spicher Fabien , Emery Léa , Hirel Bertrand , Dubois Frédéric , Tetu Thierry
Published: May 2023

Nitrogen (N) is one of the most limiting nutrients for cereal production, especially in wheat, which is one of the main crops cultivated globally. To achieve high yields, wheat requires a certain amount of nitrogen (N), as N deficiency can lead to a decrease in yield and thus reduce income for farmers. In contrast, excessive applications of N fertilizer can be detrimental to both terrestrial and aquatic environments. To optimize N fertilizer applications in wheat, a three-year field experiment was conducted to evaluate the impact of different N fertilization strategies on various N-related physiological and agronomic traits. Moreover, to optimize N utilization efficiency while maintaining crop productivity, a mixture of five winter wheat varieties was used to mitigate the possible impact of environmental constraints. These strategies were based on a simultaneous increase in N fertilization and N fertilizer fractionation at key stages of plant development in a soil conservation agriculture (SCA) system in which legumes were grown prior to the cultivation of the main crop. In this SCA system, we observed that 200 kgN·ha−1 was optimal for both N use efficiency (NUE) and aerial and grain biomass production. Moreover, we found that at this level of N fertilization, of the application strategies, a 40%/40%/20% split application at full tillering, at the first node, and at booting, respectively, appeared to be the best option for the highest plant productivity.
Molecular Epidemiological Investigation of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein Cattle in Partial Areas of the Yunnan Province, China
Authors: Yang Jian-Fa , Heng Zhao-Jun , Shu Fan-Fan , Mao Hua-Ming , Su Yong-Sheng , He Jun-Jun , Zou Feng-Cai
Published: May 2023

Cyclospora spp. is a food-borne intestinal protozoan, which is widely distributed in the world and poses the risk of zoonosis. In order to reveal the prevalence of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in partial areas of the Yunnan Province, 524 fresh fecal samples of Holstein cattle were collected from Dali, Kunming, Chuxiong, and Qujing in Yunnan Province. A nested PCR amplification of the small subunit (SSU) rRNA gene of Cyclospora spp. was carried out, and the products of the nested PCR were further analyzed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) using Bsp E Ⅰ. The results of the present study showed that 13 samples were positive for Cyclospora spp., and the total infection rate of Cyclospora sp. was 2.48%. The infection of Cyclospora spp. was detected in Dali, Qujing, and Chuxiong. Chuxiong showed the highest infection rate (5.71%), and infection rate in Dali and Qujing was 2.19% and 3.16%, respectively. Interestingly, the infection of Cyclospora spp. was not detected in Kunming. The infection of Cyclospora spp. showed no significant differences among different regions (p > 0.05). Cyclospora sp. infection was detected in all ages and sexes, but the differences were not significant (p > 0.05). Sequencing and phylogenetic analysis showed that five Cyclospora spp. samples were closely related to the Cyclospora spp. of humans, and the others were closely related to the Cyclospora spp. of bovines. The results of the present study suggested that there was an infection of Cyclospora spp. in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province, and the Cyclospora spp. showed a risk of zoonosis. Thus, the prevention and control of Cyclospora spp. should be strengthened in the Yunnan Province, China. The results of this investigation provide data references for the further research of Cyclosporiasis in Holstein cattle in the Yunnan Province.
Tetrahydrobiopterin: Beyond Its Traditional Role as a Cofactor
Authors: Eichwald Tuany , da Silva Lucila de Bortoli da , Staats Pires Ananda Christina Staats , Niero Laís , Schnorrenberger Erick , Filho Clovis Colpani , Espíndola Gisele , Huang Wei-Lin , Guillemin Gilles J. , Abdenur José E. , Latini Alexandra
Published: May 2023

Tetrahydrobiopterin (BH4) is an endogenous cofactor for some enzymatic conversions of essential biomolecules, including nitric oxide, and monoamine neurotransmitters, and for the metabolism of phenylalanine and lipid esters. Over the last decade, BH4 metabolism has emerged as a promising metabolic target for negatively modulating toxic pathways that may result in cell death. Strong preclinical evidence has shown that BH4 metabolism has multiple biological roles beyond its traditional cofactor activity. We have shown that BH4 supports essential pathways, e.g., to generate energy, to enhance the antioxidant resistance of cells against stressful conditions, and to protect from sustained inflammation, among others. Therefore, BH4 should not be understood solely as an enzyme cofactor, but should instead be depicted as a cytoprotective pathway that is finely regulated by the interaction of three different metabolic pathways, thus assuring specific intracellular concentrations. Here, we bring state-of-the-art information about the dependency of mitochondrial activity upon the availability of BH4, as well as the cytoprotective pathways that are enhanced after BH4 exposure. We also bring evidence about the potential use of BH4 as a new pharmacological option for diseases in which mitochondrial disfunction has been implicated, including chronic metabolic disorders, neurodegenerative diseases, and primary mitochondriopathies.
Multivariate Transfer Passenger Flow Forecasting with Data Imputation by Joint Deep Learning and Matrix Factorization
Authors: Li Jinlong , Wu Pan , Guo Hengcong , Li Ruonan , Li Guilin , Xu Lunhui
Published: May 2023

Accurate forecasting of the future transfer passenger flow from historical data is essential for helping travelers to adjust their trips, optimal resource allocation and alleviating traffic congestion. However, current studies have mainly emphasized predicting traffic parameters for a single type of transport, while lacking research into transfer passenger flow influenced by multiple factors across different transport modes. Additionally, efficient traffic prediction relies on high-quality traffic data, yet data loss issues are inevitable but often ignored. To fill these gaps, we present for the first time a reliable joint long short-term memory with matrix factorization deep learning model (i.e., Joint-IF) for accurate imputation and forecasting of transfer passenger flow between metro and bus. This hybrid Joint-IF model uses a repair-before-prediction strategy to deliver the final high-quality outputs. In particular, we simulate a variety of missing combinations under the natural conditions and apply a low-rank matrix factorization to infer those lost values. In addition, we investigate the effects of crucial parameters and spatiotemporal features on transfer flow prediction. To validate the effectiveness of Joint-IF, a large series of experiments are carried out for models’ comparison and validation on the real-world transfer passenger flow dataset of the Shenzhen public transport system, and the results show that the proposed Joint-IF performs better for both imputation and forecasting of transfer passenger flow relative to the baseline models in terms of accuracy and stability.
Fast Jukebox: Accelerating Music Generation with Knowledge Distillation
Authors: Pezzat-Morales Michel , Perez-Meana Hector , Nakashika Toru
Published: May 2023

The Jukebox model can generate high-diversity music within a single system, which is achieved by using a hierarchical VQ-VAE architecture to compress audio in a discrete space at different compression levels. Even though the results are impressive, the inference stage is tremendously slow. To address this issue, we propose a Fast Jukebox, which uses different knowledge distillation strategies to reduce the number of parameters of the prior model for compressed space. Since the Jukebox has shown highly diverse audio generation capabilities, we used a simple compilation of songs for experimental purposes. Evaluation results obtained using emotional valence show that the proposed approach achieved a tendency towards actively pleasant, thus reducing inference time for all VQ-VAE levels without compromising quality.
Breadboard of Microchip Laser and Avalanche Photodiode in Geiger and Linear Mode for LiDAR Applications
Authors: de Sousa Ana , Pinto Rafael , Couto Bruno , Nadal Beltran , Onderwater Hugo , Gordo Paulo , Abreu Manuel , Melicio Rui , Michel Patrick
Published: May 2023

This paper reports the implementation of two critical technologies used in light detection and ranging for space applications: (1) a microchip Q-switched laser breadboard; (2) a breadboard of an indium gallium arsenide avalanche photodiode working at 292 K with high reverse polarization voltages. Microchip Q-switched lasers are small solid-state back-pumped lasers that can generate high-energy short pulses. The implemented breadboard used an erbium and ytterbium co-doped phosphate glass, a Co:Spinel crystal with 98% initial transparency, and an output coupler with 98% reflectivity. For the sensor test, a system for simultaneous operation in vacuum and a wide range of temperatures was developed. Avalanche photodiodes are reverse-polarized photodiodes with high internal gain due to their multiple layer composition, capable of building up high values of photocurrent from small optical signals by exploiting the avalanche breakdown effects. The test avalanche photodetector was assembled to be operated in two modes: linear and Geiger mode. The produced photocurrent was measured by using: (1) a passive quenching circuit; (2) a transimpedance amplifier circuit. These two technologies are important for mobile light detection and ranging applications due to their low mass and high efficiencies. The paper describes the breadboard’s implementation methods and sensor characterization at low and room temperatures with high bias voltages (beyond breakdown voltage).
AFSFusion: An Adjacent Feature Shuffle Combination Network for Infrared and Visible Image Fusion
Authors: Hu Yufeng , Xu Shaoping , Cheng Xiaohui , Zhou Changfei , Xiong Minghai
Published: May 2023

To obtain fused images with excellent contrast, distinct target edges, and well-preserved details, we propose an adaptive image fusion network called the adjacent feature shuffle-fusion network (AFSFusion). The proposed network adopts a UNet-like architecture and incorporates key refinements to enhance network architecture and loss functions. Regarding the network architecture, the proposed two-branch adjacent feature fusion module, called AFSF, expands the number of channels to fuse the feature channels of several adjacent convolutional layers in the first half of the AFSFusion, enhancing its ability to extract, transmit, and modulate feature information. We replace the original rectified linear unit (ReLU) with leaky ReLU to alleviate the problem of gradient disappearance and add a channel shuffling operation at the end of AFSF to facilitate information interaction capability between features. Concerning loss functions, we propose an adaptive weight adjustment (AWA) strategy to assign weight values to the corresponding pixels of the infrared (IR) and visible images in the fused images, according to the VGG16 gradient feature response of the IR and visible images. This strategy efficiently handles different scene contents. After normalization, the weight values are used as weighting coefficients for the two sets of images. The weighting coefficients are applied to three loss items simultaneously: mean square error (MSE), structural similarity (SSIM), and total variation (TV), resulting in clearer objects and richer texture detail in the fused images. We conducted a series of experiments on several benchmark databases, and the results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed network architecture and the superiority of the proposed network compared to other state-of-the-art fusion methods. It ranks first in several objective metrics, showing the best performance and exhibiting sharper and richer edges of specific targets, which is more in line with human visual perception. The remarkable enhancement in performance is ascribed to the proposed AFSF module and AWA strategy, enabling balanced feature extraction, fusion, and modulation of image features throughout the process.
Modification of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotube Networks Anodes for Application in Aqueous Lithium-Ion Batteries
Authors: Rublova Yelyzaveta , Meija Raimonds , Lazarenko Vitalijs , Andzane Jana , Svirksts Janis , Erts Donats
Published: May 2023

The changes in global energy trends and the high demand for secondary power sources, have led to a renewed interest in aqueous lithium-ion batteries. The selection of a suitable anode for aqueous media is a difficult task because many anode materials have poor cycling performance due to side reactions with water or dissolved oxygen. An effective method for improving the characteristics of anodes in aqueous electrolyte solutions is adding carbon nanotubes (CNTs) to the electrode materials. For a better comprehension of the mechanism of energy accumulation and the reasons for the loss of capacity during the cycling of chemical current sources, it is necessary to understand the behaviour of the constituent components of the anodes. Although CNTs are well studied theoretically and experimentally, there is no information about their behaviour in aqueous solutions during the intercalation/deintercalation of lithium ions. This work reveals the mechanism of operation of untreated and annealed single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNT) anodes during the intercalation/deintercalation of Li+ from an aqueous 5 M LiNO3 electrolyte. The presence of -COOH groups on the surface of untreated SWCNTs is the reason for the low discharge capacity of the SWCNT anode in 5 M LiNO3 (3 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles). Their performance was improved by annealing in a hydrogen atmosphere, which selectively removed the -COOH groups and increased the discharge capacity of SWCNT by a factor of 10 (33 mAh g−1 after 100 cycles).
Characterization of Stimulatory Action on Voltage-Gated Na+ Currents Caused by Omecamtiv Mecarbil, Known to Be a Myosin Activator
Authors: Ting Chih-Yu , Shih Chia-Lung , Yu Meng-Cheng , Wu Chao-Liang , Wu Sheng-Nan
Published: May 2023

Omecamtiv mecarbil (OM, CK-1827452) is recognized as an activator of myosin and has been demonstrated to be beneficial for the treatment of systolic heart failure. However, the mechanisms by which this compound interacts with ionic currents in electrically excitable cells remain largely unknown. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of OM on ionic currents in GH3 pituitary cells and Neuro-2a neuroblastoma cells. In GH3 cells, whole-cell current recordings showed that the addition of OM had different potencies in stimulating the transient (INa(T)) and late components (INa(L)) of the voltage-gated Na+ current (INa) with different potencies in GH3 cells. The EC50 value required to observe the stimulatory effect of this compound on INa(T) or INa(L) in GH3 cells was found to be 15.8 and 2.3 µM, respectively. Exposure to OM did not affect the current versus voltage relationship of INa(T). However, the steady-state inactivation curve of the current was observed to shift towards a depolarized potential of approximately 11 mV, with no changes in the slope factor of the curve. The addition of OM resulted in an increase in the decaying time constant during the cumulative inhibition of INa(T) in response to pulse-train depolarizing stimuli. Furthermore, the presence of OM led to a shortening of the recovery time constant in the slow inactivation of INa(T). Adding OM also resulted in an augmentation of the strength of the window Na+ current, which was evoked by a short ascending ramp voltage. However, the OM exposure had little to no effect on the magnitude of L-type Ca2+ currents in GH3 cells. On the other hand, the delayed-rectifier K+ currents in GH3 cells were observed to be mildly suppressed in its presence. Neuro-2a cells also showed a susceptibility to the differential stimulation of INa(T) or INa(L) upon the addition of OM. Molecular analysis revealed potential interactions between the OM molecule and hNaV1.7 channels. Overall, the direct stimulation of INa(T) and INa(L) by OM is assumed to not be mediated by an interaction with myosin, and this has potential implications for its pharmacological or therapeutic actions occurring in vivo.
Signaling Switching from Hedgehog-GLI to MAPK Signaling Potentially Serves as a Compensatory Mechanism in Melanoma Cell Lines Resistant to GANT-61
Authors: Piteša Nikolina , Kurtović Matea , Bartoniček Nenad , Gkotsi Danai S. , Čonkaš Josipa , Petrić Tina , Musani Vesna , Ozretić Petar , Riobo-Del Galdo Natalia A. , Sabol Maja
Published: May 2023

Background: Melanoma represents the deadliest skin cancer due to its cell plasticity which results in high metastatic potential and chemoresistance. Melanomas frequently develop resistance to targeted therapy; therefore, new combination therapy strategies are required. Non-canonical signaling interactions between HH-GLI and RAS/RAF/ERK signaling were identified as one of the drivers of melanoma pathogenesis. Therefore, we decided to investigate the importance of these non-canonical interactions in chemoresistance, and examine the potential for HH-GLI and RAS/RAF/ERK combined therapy. Methods: We established two melanoma cell lines resistant to the GLI inhibitor, GANT-61, and characterized their response to other HH-GLI and RAS/RAF/ERK inhibitors. Results: We successfully established two melanoma cell lines resistant to GANT-61. Both cell lines showed HH-GLI signaling downregulation and increased invasive cell properties like migration potential, colony forming capacity, and EMT. However, they differed in MAPK signaling activity, cell cycle regulation, and primary cilia formation, suggesting different potential mechanisms responsible for resistance occurrence. Conclusions: Our study provides the first ever insights into cell lines resistant to GANT-61 and shows potential mechanisms connected to HH-GLI and MAPK signaling which may represent new hot spots for noncanonical signaling interactions.
Exploring the Potential of Three-Dimensional Imaging, Printing, and Modeling in Pediatric Surgical Oncology: A New Era of Precision Surgery
Authors: Valls-Esteve Arnau , Adell-Gómez Núria , Pasten Albert , Barber Ignasi , Munuera Josep , Krauel Lucas
Published: May 2023

Pediatric surgical oncology is a technically challenging field that relies on CT and MRI as the primary imaging tools for surgical planning. However, recent advances in 3D reconstructions, including Cinematic Rendering, Volume Rendering, 3D modeling, Virtual Reality, Augmented Reality, and 3D printing, are increasingly being used to plan complex cases bringing new insights into pediatric tumors to guide therapeutic decisions and prognosis in different pediatric surgical oncology areas and locations including thoracic, brain, urology, and abdominal surgery. Despite this, challenges to their adoption remain, especially in soft tissue-based specialties such as pediatric surgical oncology. This work explores the main innovative imaging reconstruction techniques, 3D modeling technologies (CAD, VR, AR), and 3D printing applications through the analysis of three real cases of the most common and surgically challenging pediatric tumors: abdominal neuroblastoma, thoracic inlet neuroblastoma, and a bilateral Wilms tumor candidate for nephron-sparing surgery. The results demonstrate that these new imaging and modeling techniques offer a promising alternative for planning complex pediatric oncological cases. A comprehensive analysis of the advantages and limitations of each technique has been carried out to assist in choosing the optimal approach.
Green Synthesis of Nanomagnetic Copper and Cobalt Ferrites Using Corchorus Olitorius
Authors: Al-Kadhi Nada S. , Al-Senani Ghadah M. , Almufarij Rasmiah S. , Abd-Elkader Omar H. , Deraz Nasrallah M.
Published: May 2023

This study aims to develop a self-combustion method for use in the preparation of copper and cobalt ferrites. This development was based on the full use of dry leaves of Corchorus olitorius plant in order to stimulate the preparation of the studied ferrites by making full use of the small amount of carbon produced from the combustion process. The fabrication of CuFe2O4 and CoFe2O4 with spinel-type structures and the Fd3m space group is confirmed by XRD and FTIR investigations. Two major vibration bands occur laterally at 400 cm−1 and 600 cm−1. We were able to understand the existence of two stages through the thermal behavior based on TG-DTG analysis for the materials under investigation. The first is from room temperature to 600 °C, which indicates the formation of reacting oxides with Co or Cu ferrites, while the second is from 600–1000 °C, which indicates the growth in the ferrite fabrication. The surface morphological analyses (SEM/EDS and TEM) display formation of homogeneous and nanosized particles. The surface properties of the samples containing CoFe2O4 are superior compared to those of the samples not containing CuFe2O4. Every sample under investigation displays type-IV-based isotherms with a type-H3 hysteresis loop. The VSM approach was used to evaluate the magnetic characteristics of Cu and Co ferrites. Copper ferrites have a magnetization of 15.77 emu/g, and cobalt ferrites have a magnetization of 19.14 emu/g. Moreover, the squareness (0.263) and coercivity (716.15 G) of cobalt ferrite are higher than those of copper ferrite.
Development of Single Crystal CsPbBr3 Radiation Detectors from Low-Cost Solution Synthesized Material
Authors: Kunar David A. , Webster Matthew F. , Wu Yu , Kandel Ramjee , Wang Peng Li
Published: May 2023

The all-inorganic perovskite CsPbBr3 is a strong candidate for room-temperature, semiconducting radiation detecting applications. With a high stopping power, a large bandgap, and a high mobility-lifetime (μτ) product for both holes and electrons, CsPbBr3 contains all the desirable properties of a room temperature radiation detector. Unfortunately, the production of detector-grade single crystal samples requires high quality starting materials, which must be further processed to achieve the desired purity for semiconducting operation. We have developed a modified zone refining method combining the continuous purification of ternary CsPbBr3 and the subsequent crystal growth step. Taking advantage of this technique, low-cost polycrystalline CsPbBr3 synthesized via solution chemistry processes can be directly used in the production of high-purity, detector-grade crystals. Semi-cylindrical CsPbBr3 single crystal ingots up to 120 mm in length and 22 mm in diameter were obtained. The final product exhibited good chemical stoichiometry and high trace metal purity (2.34 ppm across 73 elements). Detector devices fabricated from the crystal wafers displayed resistivities > 2.0 × 108 Ω·cm and high photocurrent responses. The radiation detectors were able to produce spectroscopy responses to 241Am α-particle. The hole mobility-lifetime (μτH) product of the detectors was determined to be in the range of 1.45 × 10−3 cm2/V.
Optical Coherence Tomography Angiography in Retinal Vascular Disorders
Authors: Ong Charles , Wong Mark , Cheong Kai , Zhao Jinzhi , Teo Kelvin , Tan Tien-En
Published: May 2023

Traditionally, abnormalities of the retinal vasculature and perfusion in retinal vascular disorders, such as diabetic retinopathy and retinal vascular occlusions, have been visualized with dye-based fluorescein angiography (FA). Optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) is a newer, alternative modality for imaging the retinal vasculature, which has some advantages over FA, such as its dye-free, non-invasive nature, and depth resolution. The depth resolution of OCTA allows for characterization of the retinal microvasculature in distinct anatomic layers, and commercial OCTA platforms also provide automated quantitative vascular and perfusion metrics. Quantitative and qualitative OCTA analysis in various retinal vascular disorders has facilitated the detection of pre-clinical vascular changes, greater understanding of known clinical signs, and the development of imaging biomarkers to prognosticate and guide treatment. With further technological improvements, such as a greater field of view and better image quality processing algorithms, it is likely that OCTA will play an integral role in the study and management of retinal vascular disorders. Artificial intelligence methods—in particular, deep learning—show promise in refining the insights to be gained from the use of OCTA in retinal vascular disorders. This review aims to summarize the current literature on this imaging modality in relation to common retinal vascular disorders.
Estimating Effective Leaf Area Index of Winter Wheat Based on UAV Point Cloud Data
Authors: Yang Jie , Xing Minfeng , Tan Qiyun , Shang Jiali , Song Yang , Ni Xiliang , Wang Jinfei , Xu Min
Published: May 2023

Leaf area index (LAI) is a widely used plant biophysical parameter required for modelling plant photosynthesis and crop yield estimation. UAV remote sensing plays an increasingly important role in providing the data source needed for LAI extraction. This study proposed a UAV-derived 3-D point cloud-based method to automatically calculate crop-effective LAI (LAIe). In this method, the 3-D winter wheat point cloud data filtered out of bare ground points was projected onto a hemisphere, and then the gap fraction was calculated through the hemispherical image obtained by projecting the sphere onto a plane. A single-angle inversion method and a multi-angle inversion method were used, respectively, to calculate the LAIe through the gap fraction. The results show a good linear correlation between the calculated LAIe and the field LAIe measured by the digital hemispherical photography method. In particular, the multi-angle inversion method of stereographic projection achieved the highest accuracy, with an R2 of 0.63. The method presented in this paper performs well in LAIe estimation of the main leaf development stages of the winter wheat growth cycle. It offers an effective means for mapping crop LAIe without the need for reference data, which saves time and cost.