bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pre-exposure prophylaxis among Brazilian men who have sex with men: a comparative study between migrants and non-migrants
Authors: Sousa Álvaro Francisco Lopes , Lima Shirley Verônica Melo Almeida , Ribeiro Caíque Jordan Nunes , de Sousa Anderson Reis , Camargo Emerson Lucas Silva , de Oliveira Layze Braz , Neto João Cruz , Fronteira Inês , Mendes Isabel Amélia Costa
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Investigating the use and adherence to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in MSM is a global health priority in the fight against HIV. Strategies must be capable of increasing usage and reaching not only the population living in the country but also those who immigrate, who face additional vulnerabilities. Based on this, in this observational, cross-sectional, and analytical study, our aim is to analyze the use of PrEP among Brazilian men who have sex with men, whether they are migrants or not. We aim to highlight preventive opportunities and strategies for the global health scenario.

Methods

We utilized a sample of Brazilians living in the country and Brazilian immigrants residing in Portugal, one of the main destinations for Brazilians in recent years. To estimate the prevalence ratio (PR) of PrEP use, we employed the Poisson regression model with robust variance estimation using a covariance matrix.

Results

A total of 1,117 Brazilian MSM PrEP users participated in this study, with 788 residing in Brazil and 328 in Portugal. Multivariate analysis was conducted in three stages: overall, and for subgroups of residents in Brazil and immigrants in Portugal. We identified four convergent factors that increased the prevalence of PrEP use in Brazilians regardless of migration status: having two or more casual sexual partners per month, engaging in challenging sexual practices as the receptive partner, disclosing serological status on apps, and being single. Among native Brazilians, four unique factors stood out: being in a polyamorous relationship, having sexual relations with unknown casual partners, and having higher levels of education.

Discussion

This study highlights the need to implement strategies to strengthen PrEP adherence in Brazil and create international programs that facilitate its usage among populations migrating between these two countries.
Are households shifting toward cleaner cooking fuel? Empirical evidence from India during 2005–2021
Authors: Timilsina Raja Rajendra , Rahut Dil B. , Gautam Madhu Sudan , Mishra Raman , Sonobe Tetsushi
Published: August 2023

The natural environment is negatively impacted by the daily fuel use for domestic purposes, particularly in developing nations with large populations, such as India, where biomass is the primary source of fuel for household cooking. However, a greater understanding is needed about the trends, patterns, and factors affecting household energy consumption and choice in India over the past two decades. The National Family Health Survey (NFHS) data from the years 2005–2006, 2015–2016, and the most recent year 2019–21 are used in this study to empirically demonstrate that characteristics including gender, education, capital, social status, and geography have significant influence on a household's decision to use cleaner energy. The results report that homes in rural regions, the poorest and most impoverished households, those headed by women, and without formal education have been unable to switch to cleaner fuels such as liquid petroleum gas (LPG) over time. As the study suggests that increasing income levels and education can lead to a shift toward cleaner household energy consumption, policies promoting economic growth and education can reduce greenhouse gas emissions from household energy consumption. Thus, policies like subsidies in LPG and electricity shall explicitly aim to assist impoverished households and lower-income families in enhancing their accessibility and affordability options for cleaner energy sources. The research underscores the significance of directing efforts towards the economically disadvantaged segments of society, guaranteeing their access to more environmentally friendly energy sources.
The CIRCULAR pathway: a new educational methodology for exploratory circular value chain redesign
Authors: Garcia-Saravia Ortiz-de-Montellano Cris , Ghannadzadeh Ali , van der Meer Yvonne
Published: August 2023

The circular economy (CE) is gaining global relevance across countries and institutions as a tool to solve some of the most pressing global challenges derived from linear production and consumption systems. However, transitioning to a CE requires significant changes in how businesses and supply chains operate, including redesigning products, processes, and business models. These changes require that future professionals acquire knowledge and skills on the principles of CE, Life Cycle Thinking, and Systems Thinking. However, research on existing higher education programs signals a need for educational resources to develop these skills and knowledge in real-world settings. This paper outlines a new eight-step methodology to introduce students to the principles of CE through the exploratory redesign of a real-world product and value chain in a project-centered learning environment. This methodology was developed in four iterations and was used to teach 251 students from the BSc. Business Engineering at Maastricht University during the academic years 2020–2022. The findings indicate that this method supports students' understanding of complexity, linearity, and the importance of systemic change across the entire value chain, as well as their critical thinking, problem-solving, and decision-making skills. The methodology provided in this paper supports and encourages educational bodies to implement Education for CE in their curricula and further strengthens the complementary fields of Education for Environmental Sustainability and Education for Sustainable Development. Furthermore, educators, professionals and businesses can make use of this tested methodology for exploratory product redesign toward sustainable circularity transitions.
Co-creation of educational commons spaces to reverse inequalities: project SMOOTH and the Children's Club
Authors: Fernandes Natália , Sarmento Teresa , Barra Marlene , Silva Daniela , Martins Fernanda , Casanova Joana R.
Published: August 2023

This article presents an action-research project from the EU-funded SMOOTH project, which focuses on the potential of Educational Commons to address educational inequalities. The project adopts an emergent paradigm that views spaces for collaboration, content co-creation, socialization, governance, and play as catalysts for reversing inequalities. The action-research, conducted in a disadvantaged non-formal education setting in northern Portugal, involved children aged 8–10 years old. Over a span of 10 months, the innovative action-research program aimed to achieve several objectives: (1) reversing inequalities faced by vulnerable social groups, (2) strengthening inter-cultural and inter-generational dialogue and social integration, (3) developing essential social and personal skills, and (4) creating smooth spaces of democratic citizenship based on equality, collaboration, sharing, and caring. By understanding the tensions and conflicts that emerge in children's everyday situations, the project sought to build and foster community through embracing differences. This article analyzes the characteristics, behaviors, challenges, and strengths observed during the 30 sessions. The results provide insights into the dimensions of Children as commoners, in terms of sharing and care, cooperation and collective creativity and active citizenship. This research contributes to the exploration of Educational Commons as a means to promote equity and transform educational contexts.
Correlates of early attrition from school sports clubs in male senior high school students: a 2.4-year follow-up study
Authors: Jindo Takashi , Kitano Naruki , Nagata Koki , Nakahara-Gondoh Yuichi , Suzukawa Kazuhiro , Nagamatsu Toshiya
Published: August 2023

The correlation between early attrition and school sports clubs has been underexplored. This study aims to clarify the correlates of early attrition from school sports clubs at a private male senior high school in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Of the 928 first-year students, 331 belonging to the school's sports clubs were included in this study. A baseline survey was conducted in May 2017 and a follow-up survey was conducted in October 2019. This study defined early attrition as a student who quit a sports club earlier than April in their third year. Examined correlates for early attrition consisted of biological, intrapersonal, interpersonal, and institutional factors. We used univariate logistic regression analysis, in which early attrition was the response variable and the examined correlates were the explanatory variables, and calculated the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI). Overall, 232 students (85.0%) continued to participate in sports clubs after April of their third year, and 41 students (15.0%) experienced early attrition. Statistically significant correlates for early attrition were weight (OR = 0.94, 95% CI = 0.90–0.98), body mass index (OR = 0.84, 95% CI = 0.74–0.97), experience of injury or disability (OR = 0.40, 95% CI = 0.19–0.87), athletic achievement (OR = 0.29, 95% CI = 0.13–0.62), and duration of experience of the sport (OR = 0.99, 95% CI = 0.98–1.00). Our findings suggest that the school officers or family members of students should recognize the possibility of early attrition and provide appropriate support if a student experiences early attrition. The athletic level or norms of school sports club activities may differ among other schools and sports clubs; therefore, it is necessary to examine whether our findings are applicable to other schools and sports clubs.
Gendered perceptions and adaptations to climate change in Ghana: what factors influence the choice of an adaptation strategy?
Authors: Acheampong Patricia Pinamang , Yeboah Stephen , Adabah Richard , Asibuo James Y. , Nchanji Eileen B. , Opoku Monica , Toywa Jonhworker , Lutomia Cosmas Kweyu
Published: August 2023

Climate change poses a significant threat to various sectors, including agriculture, affecting men and women unevenly. Although gender-based perceptions of climate change have been studied, there remains a gap in understanding how these perceptions influence the adoption of adaptation strategies among men and women smallholder farmers in the production of leguminous crops in sub-Saharan Africa. This study investigated the gender differences in the adoption of climate change adaptation strategies among bean and cowpea farmers in Ghana. The findings revealed that socioeconomic and institutional factors significantly influenced the choice of adaptation strategies, with notable differences between men and women. Higher levels of education, farming experience, marital status, access to credit, and education determined the choice of adaptation strategies. On the other hand, women farmers, despite having lower levels of formal education, showed a higher utilization of extension services, possibly due to targeted efforts to reach out to more women farmers. Larger households were less likely to adopt mixed cropping and changing cropping patterns, while married individuals were less likely to use crop rotation. Training and access to credit significantly increased the likelihood of adopting crop rotation, changing cropping patterns, and using improved seeds. The study also found that [f]armers perceptions of the impacts of dry spells and delayed onset of rains influenced the use of climate change adaptation strategies. Furthermore, farmers who participated in climate change planning were more likely to use diverse adaptation strategies, underscoring the importance of a locally focused, inclusive planning process. However, gender differences were observed in the determinants of the use of these strategies. For instance, while access to extension services was found to be more influential for women, men’s decisions were more influenced by their marital status, access to credit, and education. Policy makers and local institutions need to encourage and facilitate farmers’ involvement in climate change planning processes to enable designing of effective, context-relevant, inclusive, and sustainable climate change adaptation strategies. Distinct differences in the factors underlying the use of adaptation strategies by men and women demand creation of and implementation of gender-sensitive programs that effectively reach and benefit both women and women.
Melatonin downregulates the increased hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression and restores pancreatic beta cells in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model: a clinical, biochemical, immunohistochemical, and descriptive histopathological study
Authors: Alsharif Khalaf F. , Hamad Asmaa A. , Alblihd Mohamed A. , Ali Fatma Abo Zakaib , Mohammed Sherine Ahmed , Theyab Abdulrahman , Al-Amer Osama M. , Almuqati Malik Saad , Almalki Abdulraheem Ali , Albarakati Alaa Jameel A. , Alzahrani Khalid J. , Albrakati Ashraf , Albarakati Mohammad Hamed , Abass Doaa , Lokman Maha S. , Elmahallawy Ehab Kotb
Published: August 2023

Background

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disorder. Hepatopathy is one of the serious effects of DM Melatonin (MT) is a potent endogenous antioxidant that can control insulin output. However, little information is available about the potential association between melatonin and hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression in diabetes.

Objective

This study was conducted to assess the influence of MT on diabetes-related hepatic injuries and to determine how β-cells of the pancreas in diabetic rats respond to MT administration.

Materials and methods

Forty rats were assigned to four groups at random (ten animals per group). Group I served as a normal control group. Group II was induced with DM, and a single dose of freshly prepared streptozotocin (45 mg/kg body weight) was intraperitoneally injected. In Group III, rats received 10 mg/kg/day of intraperitoneal melatonin (IP MT) intraperitoneally over a period of 4 weeks. In Group IV (DM + MT), following the induction of diabetes, rats received MT (the same as in Group III). Fasting blood sugar, glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA1c), and serum insulin levels were assessed at the end of the experimental period. Serum liver function tests were performed. The pancreas and liver were examined histopathologically and immunohistochemically for insulin and alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) antibodies, respectively.

Results

MT was found to significantly modulate the raised blood glucose, HbA1c, and insulin levels induced by diabetes, as well as the decreased alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). Furthermore, MT attenuated diabetic degenerative changes in the pancreas and the hepatic histological structure, increased the β-cell percentage area, and decreased AFP expression in the liver tissue. It attenuated diabetes-induced hepatic injury by restoring pancreatic β-cells; its antioxidant effect also reduced hepatocyte injury.

Conclusion

Collectively, the present study confirmed the potential benefits of MT in downregulating the increased hepatic alpha-fetoprotein expression and in restoring pancreatic β-cells in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat model, suggesting its promising role in the treatment of diabetes.
Subjective vision assessment in companion dogs using dogVLQ demonstrates age-associated visual dysfunction
Authors: Rogers Callie M. , Salzman Michele M. , Li Zhanhai , Merten Natascha , Russell Leah J. , Lillesand Hannah K. , Mowat Freya M.
Published: August 2023

Introduction

Dim light vision as assessed by proxy and clinical tools is commonly impaired in older humans and impacts quality of life. Although proxy visual assessment tools have been developed for dogs, it is unclear if they are sensitive enough to detect subtle visual dysfunction in older dogs. We sought to determine if a newly designed proxy visual function questionnaire could detect age-associated differences in visual behaviors in varying lighting conditions in dogs.

Methods

A 27-item questionnaire (the dog variable lighting questionnaire, dogVLQ) was designed to assess visual behavior in dogs in different lighting settings. We conducted the dogVLQ, a previously validated visual function questionnaire the dog vision impairment score and performed light- and dark-adapted electroretinography (ERG) on a subset of dogs. Questionnaire scores were analyzed for dog age associations using correlation analysis.

Results

Questionnaire responses from 235 dog owners were obtained (122 female, 112 male dogs), 79 of which underwent ERG (43 female, 36 male dogs). Bright light visual behavior was significantly associated with light-adapted bright flash ERG amplitudes, visual behavior in near darkness was associated with dark-adapted ERG amplitudes. The dogVLQ identified worse vision in older dogs in bright light, dim light, and darkness; predicted onset was younger for vision in near darkness. Older dogs had more difficulty navigating transitions between lighting conditions.

Discussion

Subjective dog owner assessment of visual function associates with objective measurement of retinal function in dogs and supports reduced vision-mediated behaviors in older dogs.
A Macro- and Microscopic Inspection of the Safety Critical Components
Authors: Huszák Csenge , Schramkó Márton , Kovács Tünde Anna
Published: August 2023

In many cases related to critical infrastructures, we find equipment that is extremely important from a safety point of view and key safety-critical components in them. Such parts are turbine blades, engine elements of jet aircraft, as well as high-pressure steam lines of power plants and pressure equipment for liquid gases. In the case of safety critical components, non-destructive and the destructive tests are indispensable. The damage to these components can cause catastrophic failures that need to be avoided. During the inspection of the components, microscopy tests give information about macrostructure and microstructure. Carrying out the tests consists of several steps, during which it is necessary to follow the relevant standards. During the examination of macrostructure, conditions that may lead to premature failure and breakage of the component can be detected. Getting to know the microstructure can provide information about manufacturing, welding, or microstructural defects, which can be a key issue from the point of view of safe operation.
Unmanned Aerial System-Based Wheat Biomass Estimation Using Multispectral, Structural and Meteorological Data
Authors: Zhang Jianyong , Zhao Yanling , Hu Zhenqi , Xiao Wu
Published: August 2023

Rapid estimation of above-ground biomass (AGB) with high accuracy is essential for monitoring crop growth status and predicting crop yield. Recently, remote sensing techniques using unmanned aerial systems (UASs) have exhibited great potential in obtaining structural information about crops and identifying spatial heterogeneity. However, methods of data fusion of different factors still need to be explored in order to enhance the accuracy of their estimates. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the combined metrics of different variables (spectral, structural and meteorological factors) for AGB estimation of wheat using UAS multispectral data. UAS images were captured on two selected growing dates at a typical reclaimed cropland in the North China Plain. The spectral response was determined using the highly correlated vegetation index (VI). A structural metric, the canopy height model (CHM), was produced using UAS-based multispectral images. The measure of growing degree days (GDD) was selected as a meteorological proxy. Subsequently, a structurally–meteorologically weighted canopy spectral response metric (SM-CSRM) was derived by the pixel-level fusion of CHM, GDD and VI. Both correlation coefficient analysis and simple function fitting were implemented to explore the highest correlation between the measured AGB and each proposed metric. The optimal regression model was built for AGB prediction using leave-one-out cross-validation. The results showed that the proposed SM-CSRM generally improved the correlation between wheat AGB and various VIs and can be used for estimating the wheat AGB. Specifically, the combination of MERIS terrestrial chlorophyll index (MTCI), vegetation-masked CHM (mCHM) and normalized GDD (nGDD) achieved an optimal accuracy (R2 = 0.8069, RMSE = 0.1667 kg/m2, nRMSE = 19.62%) through the polynomial regression method. This improved the nRMSE by 3.44% compared to the predictor using MTCI × mCHM. Moreover, the pixel-level fusion method slightly enhanced the nRMSE by ~0.3% for predicted accuracy compared to the feature-level fusion method. In conclusion, this paper demonstrated that an SM-CSRM using pixel-level fusion with canopy spectral, structural and meteorological factors can obtain a good level of accuracy for wheat biomass prediction. This finding could benefit the assessment of reclaimed cropland or the monitoring of crop growth and field management in precision agriculture.
Machine Learning Approaches for Forecasting the Best Microbial Strains to Alleviate Drought Impact in Agriculture
Authors: Miller Tymoteusz , Mikiciuk Grzegorz , Kisiel Anna , Mikiciuk Małgorzata , Paliwoda Dominika , Sas-Paszt Lidia , Cembrowska-Lech Danuta , Krzemińska Adrianna , Kozioł Agnieszka , Brysiewicz Adam
Published: August 2023

Drought conditions pose significant challenges to sustainable agriculture and food security. Identifying microbial strains that can mitigate drought effects is crucial to enhance crop resilience and productivity. This study presents a comprehensive comparison of several machine learning models, including Random Forest, Decision Tree, XGBoost, Support Vector Machine (SVM), and Artificial Neural Network (ANN), to predict optimal microbial strains for this purpose. Models were assessed on multiple metrics, such as accuracy, standard deviation of results, gains, total computation time, and training time per 1000 rows of data. Notably, the Gradient Boosted Trees model outperformed others in accuracy but required extensive computational resources. This underscores the balance between accuracy and computational efficiency in machine learning applications. Leveraging machine learning for selecting microbial strains signifies a leap beyond traditional methods, offering improved efficiency and efficacy. These insights hold profound implications for agriculture, especially concerning drought mitigation, thus furthering the cause of sustainable agriculture and ensuring food security.
Surveillance of Antimicrobial Prescriptions in Community Pharmacies Located in Tokyo, Japan
Authors: Hasegawa Kosuke , Mori Tomoko , Asakura Toshio , Matsumura Yuriko , Nakaminami Hidemasa
Published: August 2023

An antimicrobial resistance (AMR) Action Plan was launched in 2016 to prevent the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria in Japan. Additional support for the appropriate use of pediatric antimicrobial agents was initiated in 2018 to promote the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents in the community. To evaluate the effectiveness of the AMR Action Plan in the community, we investigated antimicrobial prescriptions in community pharmacies. Data on prescriptions for antimicrobial agents dispensed in 42 community pharmacies located in the Tama district, Tokyo, Japan, were collected between April 2013 and December 2019. In this study, we employed the DPY, which was calculated as defined daily doses (DDDs)/1000 prescriptions/year. The DPY is the number of antimicrobial agents used (potency) per 1000 antimicrobial prescriptions dispensed in pharmacies per year. The number of prescriptions for third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides decreased after the initiation of the AMR Action Plan; the DPYs of these antimicrobial agents decreased significantly by 31.4%, increased by 15.8%, and decreased by 23.6%, respectively (p < 0.05). The number of antimicrobial prescriptions for pediatric patients has been decreasing since 2018. Declines in the DPYs of third-generation cephalosporins, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides were higher in pediatric pharmacies than in other pharmacies. Our data suggest that the AMR Action Plan and additional support for the appropriate use of antimicrobial agents in children influenced the number of antimicrobial prescriptions in community pharmacies in Japan.
Enhancing Chemical Stability through Structural Modification of Antimicrobial Peptides with Non-Proteinogenic Amino Acids
Authors: Ito Takahito , Matsunaga Natsumi , Kurashima Megumi , Demizu Yosuke , Misawa Takashi
Published: August 2023

Multidrug-resistant bacteria (MDRB) remain a significant threat to humanity, resulting in over 1.2 million deaths per year. To combat this problem effectively, the development of therapeutic agents with diverse mechanisms of action is crucial. Antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) have emerged as promising next-generation therapeutics to combat infectious diseases, particularly MDRB. By targeting microbial membranes and inducing lysis, AMPs can effectively inhibit microbial growth, making them less susceptible to the development of resistance. Numerous structural advancements have been made to optimize the efficacy of AMPs. Previously, we developed 17KKV-Aib, a derivative of the Magainin 2 (Mag2) peptide, by incorporating a,a-disubstituted amino acids (dAAs) to modulate its secondary structure. 17KKV-Aib demonstrated potent antimicrobial activity against Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, including multidrug-resistant Pseudomonas aeruginosa (MDRP), with minimal hemolytic activity against human red blood cells. However, 17KKV-Aib faces challenges regarding its susceptibility to digestive enzymes, hindering its potential as an antimicrobial agent. In this study, we designed and synthesized derivatives of 17KKV-Aib, replacing Lys residues with 4-aminopiperidine-4-carboxylic acid (Api), which is a cyclized dAA residue possessing cationic properties on its side chain. We investigated the impact of Api substitution on the secondary structure, antimicrobial activity, hemolytic activity, and resistance to digestive enzymes. Our findings revealed that introducing Api residues preserved the helical structure and antimicrobial activity and enhanced resistance to digestive enzymes, with a slight increase in hemolytic activity.
The Potential of Bacteriophage-Antibiotic Combination Therapy in Treating Infections with Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria
Authors: Osman Abdul-Halim , Kotey Fleischer C. N. , Odoom Alex , Darkwah Samuel , Yeboah Raphael K. , Dayie Nicholas T. K. D. , Donkor Eric S.
Published: August 2023

The growing threat of antibiotic resistance is a significant global health challenge that has intensified in recent years. The burden of antibiotic resistance on public health is augmented due to its multifaceted nature, as well as the slow-paced and limited development of new antibiotics. The threat posed by resistance is now existential in phage therapy, which had long been touted as a promising replacement for antibiotics. Consequently, it is imperative to explore the potential of combination therapies involving antibiotics and phages as a feasible alternative for treating infections with multidrug-resistant bacteria. Although either bacteriophage or antibiotics can potentially treat bacterial infections, they are each fraught with resistance. Combination therapies, however, yielded positive outcomes in most cases; nonetheless, a few combinations did not show any benefit. Combination therapies comprising the synergistic activity of phages and antibiotics and combinations of phages with other treatments such as probiotics hold promise in the treatment of drug-resistant bacterial infections.
Energy (and Reactive Oxygen Species Generation) Saving Distribution of Mitochondria for the Activation of ATP Production in Skeletal Muscle
Authors: Espinosa Alejandra , Casas Mariana , Jaimovich Enrique
Published: August 2023

Exercise produces oxidants from a variety of intracellular sources, including NADPH oxidases (NOX) and mitochondria. Exercise-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) are beneficial, and the amount and location of these ROS is important to avoid muscle damage associated with oxidative stress. We discuss here some of the evidence that involves ROS production associated with skeletal muscle contraction and the potential oxidative stress associated with muscle contraction. We also discuss the potential role of H2O2 produced after NOX activation in the regulation of glucose transport in skeletal muscle. Finally, we propose a model based on evidence for the role of different populations of mitochondria in skeletal muscle in the regulation of ATP production upon exercise. The subsarcolemmal population of mitochondria has the enzymatic and metabolic components to establish a high mitochondrial membrane potential when fissioned at rest but lacks the capacity to produce ATP. Calcium entry into the mitochondria will further increase the metabolic input. Upon exercise, subsarcolemmal mitochondria will fuse to intermyofibrillar mitochondria and will transfer the mitochondria membrane potential to them. These mitochondria are rich in ATP synthase and will subsequentially produce the ATP needed for muscle contraction in long-term exercise. These events will optimize energy use and minimize mitochondria ROS production.
On Males, Antioxidants and Infertility (MOXI): Certitudes, Uncertainties and Trends
Authors: Alfaro Gómez Manuel , Fernández-Santos María del Rocío , Jurado-Campos Alejandro , Soria-Meneses Pedro Javier , Montoro Angulo Vidal , Soler Ana Josefa , Garde José Julián , Rodríguez-Robledo Virginia
Published: August 2023

Male infertility (MI) involves various endogenous and exogenous facts. These include oxidative stress (OS), which is known to alter several physiological pathways and it is estimated to be present at high levels in up to 80% of infertile men. That is why since the late 20th century, the relationship between OS and MI has been widely studied. New terms have emerged, such as Male Oxidative Stress Infertility (MOSI), which is proposed as a new category to define infertile men with high OS levels. Another important term is MOXI: Male, Antioxidants, and Infertility. This term refers to the hypothesis that antioxidants could improve male fertility without the use of assisted reproductive technology. However, there are no evidence-based antioxidant treatments that directly improve seminal parameters or birth ratio. In this regard, there is controversy about their use. While certain scientists argue against their use due to the lack of results, others support this use because of their safety profile and low price. Some uncertainties related to the use of antioxidants for treating MI are their questionable efficacy or the difficulties in knowing their correct dosage. In addition, the lack of quality methods for OS detection can lead to excessive antioxidant supplementation, resulting in “reductive stress”. Another important problem is that, although the inflammatory process is interdependent and closely linked to OS, it is usually ignored. To solve these uncertainties, new trends have recently emerged. These include the use of molecules with anti-inflammatory and antioxidant potential, which are also able to specifically target the reproductive tissue; as well as the use of new methods that allow for reliable quantification of OS and a quality diagnosis. This review aims to elucidate the main uncertainties about MOXI and to outline the latest trends in research to develop effective therapies with clinically relevant outcomes.
The NOS/NO System in Renal Programming and Reprogramming
Authors: Tain You-Lin , Hsu Chien-Ning
Published: August 2023

Nitric oxide (NO) is a gaseous signaling molecule with renoprotective properties. NO can be produced in NO synthase (NOS)-dependent or -independent manners. NO deficiency plays a decisive role in chronic kidney disease (CKD). Kidney development can be affected in response to adverse intrauterine conditions that induce renal programming, thereby raising the risk of developing CKD in adulthood. Conversely, detrimental programming processes could be postponed or halted prior to the onset of CKD by early treatments, namely reprogramming. The current review provides an overview of the NOS/NO research performed in the context of renal programming and reprogramming. NO deficiency has been increasingly found to interact with the different mechanisms behind renal programming, such as oxidative stress, aberrant function of the renin–angiotensin system, disturbed nutrient-sensing mechanisms, dysregulated hydrogen sulfide signaling, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. The supplementation of NOS substrates, the inhibition of asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA), the administration of NO donors, and the enhancement of NOS during gestation and lactation have shown beneficial effects against renal programming in preclinical studies. Although human data on maternal NO deficiency and offspring kidney disease are scarce, experimental data indicate that targeting NO could be a promising reprogramming strategy in the setting of renal programming.
Quantitative Analysis of the Stability of a Mud-Return Circulation System in a Riserless Mud-Recovery Drilling System
Authors: Qin Rulei , Lu Qiuping , He Guolei , Xu Benchong , Chen Haowen , Li Changping , Yin Guoyue , Wang Jiarui , Wang Linqing
Published: August 2023

Riserless mud-recovery (RMR) drilling technology was widely applied in recent years. Compared with traditional deepwater drilling, RMR drilling can improve drilling efficiency, reduce risks, and minimize environmental effects. This paper focuses primarily on the stability of a mud-return circulation system in an RMR system. First, various factors that affect the stability of a mud-return circulation system are analyzed. An analytical model for the skid-and-mud-return line is established. Second, relevant data are derived from theoretical calculations and experiments. ABAQUS software is used to analyze the effects of each factor on the stability of the mud-return circulation system. The influencing patterns of each factor on the stability of the mud-return circulation system are summarized. Furthermore, the stability of the system under different operating conditions is analyzed based on the coupling of multiple factors. The support vector regression with derivative significance weight analysis (SVR-DWSA) algorithm is employed to perform a weight analysis of the effect on the system’s stability. Finally, based on the research findings on the stability of the mud-return circulation system, relevant conclusions and recommendations are drawn. The results of this study provide valuable references for the application of RMR technology.
Advances in Biological Activities and Application of Plant Extracts
Authors: Kowalczewski Przemysław Łukasz , Zembrzuska Joanna
Published: August 2023

For centuries, plants have been part of human civilisation, serving as food, healing substances and treatments for various diseases [...]
Gender Dimorphism in Maxillary Permanent Canine Odontometrics Based on a Three-Dimensional Digital Method and Discriminant Function Analysis in the Saudi Population
Authors: Almugla Yousef Majed , Madiraju Guna Shekhar , Mohan Rohini , Abraham Sajith
Published: August 2023

The present study aimed to analyze the gender dimorphism in odontometrics of permanent maxillary canines using a three-dimensional digital method and to test the accuracy in gender estimation using discriminant function analysis in a sample of the Saudi population. A total of 120 diagnostic dental casts of patients aged 16–29 years were used in the present study. Plaster models of their maxillary dentition obtained from the archives were scanned and digitally measured using a three-dimensional digital method. The mesiodistal width of the right and left maxillary canines and intercanine distance were measured. Gender dimorphism was established using the Garn method. Data were statistically analyzed using descriptive statistics, the Mann–Whitney U test and discriminant analyses. Males showed larger mean dimensions of canines than females with regard to both mesiodistal width and intercanine distance, and the difference was statistically significant (p < 0.05). The right maxillary canine mesiodistal width showed a higher percentage of gender dimorphism (3.5%). Discriminant function analysis showed that the overall accuracy of gender prediction was 80.5% for the multivariate analysis. The univariate discriminant function equation revealed that intercanine distance was the most accurate predictor of gender (78%), followed by the right canine mesiodistal width (76.3%). The use of three-dimensional technology for odontometrics presents a promising method, and permanent maxillary canine parameters can be used as an acceptable ancillary tool for gender estimation in forensic science.
On-Demand Waveguide-Integrated Microlaser-on-Silicon
Authors: Min Byung-Ju , Kim Yeon-Ji , No You-Shin
Published: August 2023

The integration of high-quality III–V light sources on the Si platform has encountered a challenge that demands a highly precise on-demand addressability of single devices in a significantly reduced integration area. However, simple schemes to address the issue without causing major optical losses remain elusive. Here, we propose a waveguide-integrated microlaser-on-silicon in which the III–V/Si integration requires only a small micron-sized post structure with a diameter of <2 µm and enables efficient light coupling with an estimated coupling efficiency of 44.52%. Top-down fabricated high-quality microdisk cavities with an active gain medium were precisely micro-transferred on a small Si-post structure that was rationally designed in the vicinity of a strip-type Si waveguide (WG). Spectroscopic measurements exhibit successful lasing emission with a threshold of 378.0 µW, bi-directional light coupling, and a propagation of >50 µm through the photonic Si WG. Numerical study provides an in-depth understanding of light coupling and verifies the observations in the experiment. We believe that the proposed microlaser-on-Si is a simple and efficient scheme requiring a minimum integration volume smaller than the size of the light source, which is hard to achieve in conventional integration schemes and is readily applicable to various on-demand integrated device applications.
Mandibular Molar Distalization in Class III Malocclusion: A Systematic Review
Authors: Inchingolo Angelo Michele , Patano Assunta , Malcangi Giuseppina , Azzollini Daniela , Laudadio Claudia , Ciocia Anna Maria , Sardano Roberta , Ferrante Laura , Campanelli Merigrazia , Dipalma Gianna , Di Venere Daniela , Inchingolo Alessio Danilo , Inchingolo Francesco
Published: August 2023

Class III Malocclusion presents a complex orthodontic challenge with various treatment options, including orthodontic camouflage and orthognathic surgery. Among these, mandibular molar distalization stands as an orthodontic approach for treating Class III Malocclusion in adults. This systematic review aims to evaluate the current evidence regarding mandibular molar distalization techniques in the treatment of Class III. The search across PubMed, Scopus, Cochrane, and Web of Science databases yielded 582 articles, from which eight met the inclusion criteria. These inclusion criteria were as follows: English language, full text, studies randomized clinical trials, and retrospective studies that evaluated various methods of mandibular distalization for Class III Malocclusion in adult patients, from 2013 to May 2023. Lower molar distalization has gained attention as a non-surgical alternative with effective and efficient outcomes. However, various treatment modalities have limitations, including reliance upon malocclusion severity, diagnosis, patient cooperation, and operator experience. From the studies analyzed, it was found that techniques using skeletal anchorage with TADs, mini-plates, or ramal plates, offer stable anchorage and controlled tooth movement, they allow unilateral action in cases of asymmetry, and they are the most effective methods for achieving distal body displacement of the tooth. Despite the promising results, the relatively small number of studies calls for more high-quality research to explore the efficacy and outcomes of different mandibular molar distalization approaches. The lack of standardized protocols and guidelines for mandibular molar distalization in Class III Malocclusion is also attributed to the limited available literature.
Machine Unlearning by Reversing the Continual Learning
Authors: Zhang Yongjing , Lu Zhaobo , Zhang Feng , Wang Hao , Li Shaojing
Published: August 2023

Recent legislations, such as the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), require user data holders to guarantee the individual’s right to be forgotten. This means that user data holders must completely delete user data upon request. However, in the field of machine learning, it is not possible to simply remove these data from the back-end database wherein the training dataset is stored, because the machine learning model still retains this data information. Retraining the model using a dataset with these data removed can overcome this problem; however, this can lead to expensive computational overheads. In order to remedy this shortcoming, we propose two effective methods to help model owners or data holders remove private data from a trained model. The first method uses an elastic weight consolidation (EWC) constraint term and a modified loss function to neutralize the data to be removed. The second method approximates the posterior distribution of the model as a Gaussian distribution, and the model after unlearning is computed by decreasingly matching the moment (DMM) of the posterior distribution of the neural network trained on all data and the data to be removed. Finally, we conducted experiments on three standard datasets using backdoor attacks as the evaluation metric. The results show that both methods are effective in removing backdoor triggers in deep learning models. Specifically, EWC can reduce the success rate of backdoor attacks to 0. IMM can ensure that the model prediction accuracy is higher than 80% and keep the success rate of backdoor attacks below 10%.
Efficacy Confirmation Test of Immature Asian Pear (Pyrus pyrifolia Nakai) Extract on Ovalbumin-Induced Asthma in Mice
Authors: Kim Mi Ran , Bashir Khawaja Muhammad Imran , Lee Jin-Hwa , Ku Mo-Un , Kim Joo Wan , Kim Ki-Young , Shin Su , Hong Eun-Jin , Ku Sae-Kwang , Choi Jae-Suk
Published: August 2023

Allergic asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by the infiltration of leukocytes, particularly eosinophils, into the airways, resulting in respiratory dysfunction. To develop new asthma treatment materials with minimal side effects and excellent bioactivities, we evaluated the efficacy of immature Asian pear extract (IAP extract; 400–100 mg/kg) in alleviating ovalbumin (OVA)-induced asthma in female C57BL/6J mice. This study assesses various parameters associated with OVA-induced allergic asthma including lung weight, macroscopic necropsy findings, the total cell count in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF), the total leukocyte count and leukocyte differential count, serum ovalbumin-specific Ig E (OVA-sIg E) levels, interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 contents in BALF, histopathological changes in the lungs, and alterations in oxidative stress and inflammation-related mRNA expressions. The results of this study demonstrate clear asthma-related findings in the OVA control group. However, the oral administration of IAP extract (at doses ranging from 400 to 100 mg/kg) significantly suppressed the anti-inflammatory and antioxidant activities by regulating the expressions of phosphoinositide 3-kinase/protein kinase B/phosphatase and TENsin homolog deleted on chromosome 10 (PI3K/Akt/PTEN), p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (p38 MAPK), and nuclear factor kappa-light-chain-enhancer of activated B cells (NF-κB) in a dose-dependent manner. These effects are comparable to those observed with dexamethasone at a concentration of 0.75 mg/kg. As a result, the oral administration of an appropriate dose of IAP extract holds promise as a potential natural drug or health-functional food material for improving respiratory function.
AE-DTI: An Efficient Darknet Traffic Identification Method Based on Autoencoder Improvement
Authors: Yang Tao , Jiang Rui , Deng Hongli , Li Qinru , Liu Ziyu
Published: August 2023

With the continuous expansion of the darknet and the increase in various criminal activities in the darknet, darknet traffic identification has become increasingly essential. However, existing darknet traffic identification methods rely on all traffic characteristics, which require a long computing time and a large amount of system resources, resulting in low identification efficiency. To this end, this paper proposes an autoencoder-based darknet traffic identification method (AE-DTI). First, AE-DTI maps the feature values to pixels of a two-dimensional grayscale image after deduplication and denoising of the darknet traffic dataset. Then, AE-DTI designs a new feature selection algorithm (AE-FS) to downscale the grayscale graph, and AE-FS trains a feature scoring network, which globally scores all the features based on the reconstruction error to select the features with scores greater than or equal to a set threshold value. Finally, AE-DTI uses a one-dimensional convolutional neural network with a dropout layer to identify darknet traffic on the basis of alleviating overfitting. Experimental results on the ISCXTor2016 dataset show that, compared with other dimensionality reduction methods (PCA, LLE, ISOMAP, and autoencoder), the classification model trained with the data obtained from AE-FS has a significant improvement in classification accuracy and classification efficiency. Moreover, AE-DTI also shows significant improvement in recognition accuracy compared with other models. Experimental results on the CSE-CIC-IDS2018 dataset and CIC-Darknet2020 dataset show that AE-DTI has strong generalization.
Fluorinated-Polyether-Grafted Graphene-Oxide Magnetic Composite Material for Oil–Water Separation
Authors: Liu Chao , Wei Lixin , Jia Xinlei , Gu Yuxin , Guo Haiying , Geng Xiaoheng
Published: August 2023

In this study, a new type of highly efficient and recyclable magnetic-fluorine-containing polyether composite demulsifier (Fe3O4@G-F) was synthesized by the solvothermal method to solve the demulsification problem of oil–water emulsion. Fe3O4@G-F was successfully prepared by grafting fluorinated polyether onto Fe3O4 and graphene-oxide composites. Fe3O4@G-F was characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). Taking the self-made crude-oil emulsion as the experimental object, the demulsification mechanism of the demulsifier and the influence of external factors, such as the temperature and pH value, on the demulsification performance of the demulsifier are discussed. The results show that the demulsification efficiency of the Fe3O4@G-F emulsion can reach 91.38% within 30 min at a demulsifier dosage of 750 mg/L, pH of 6, and a demulsification temperature of 60 °C. In neutral and acidic environments, the demulsification rate of the demulsifier is more than 90%. In addition, Fe3O4@G-F has been proven to have good magnetic effects. Under the action of an external magnetic field, Fe3O4@G-F can be recycled and reused in a two-phase system four times, and the demulsification efficiency is higher than 70%. This magnetic nanoparticle demulsifier has broad application prospects for various industrial and environmental processes in an energy-saving manner.