bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Procalcitonin as an Endogenous Biomarker for Mastitis in Cows
Authors: Neumann Stephan , Siegert Stephan , Fischer Anneke
Published: July 2023

Mastitis is one of the most common diseases of dairy cows. Procalcitonin (PCT) has been described as an endogenous inflammatory biomarker for bacterial infections. The aim of this study was to find possible correlations between PCT concentrations in the serum and milk of cows with mastitis and their clinical signs and disease progression. In total, 88 dairy cows were examined, of which 30 animals were diagnosed with clinical mastitis, 30 had subclinical mastitis, and 28 were designated as a healthy control group. The diseased animals were re-examined after 12 days. All PCT levels in this study were determined by a species-specific ELISA. All three groups could be differentiated from each other based on serum and milk PCT levels. The animals with clinical mastitis showed the highest mean concentrations of PCT (serum: 2641 pg/mL; milk: 1326 pg/mL), and the lowest PCT concentrations were found in the healthy control group (serum: 1166 pg/mL; milk: 176 pg/m). Over the course of the disease, results from the kinetics study showed that PCT levels remained high for the entire observation period. The results from this study showed that the PCT concentration could be used to differentiate between clinical mastitis, subclinical mastitis, and healthy cows.
Association between Enzootic Pneumonia-like Lung Lesions and Carcass Quality and Meat pH Value in Slaughter Pigs
Authors: Przyborowska-Zhalniarovich Paulina , Maes Dominiek , Otrocka-Domagała Iwona , Paździor-Czapula Katarzyna , Wiszniewska-Łaszczych Agnieszka , Sołtysiuk Marta
Published: July 2023

Although the prevalence of respiratory diseases in slaughter pigs ranges from 19% to 74% and continues to be an important concern for swine herds worldwide, only a few studies have investigated the relationship between respiratory disease and pork quality. The general aim of this study was to investigate associations between the prevalence and severity of enzootic pneumonia-like lesions in Polish slaughter pigs on different carcass and meat-quality characteristics at the animal and herd levels. The average prevalence of bronchopneumonic lungs with different degrees of lesions was 94.57%. The majority of lesions indicated the acute stage of enzootic pneumonia. Our results indicate a statistically significant interaction between the mean weight of carcasses depending on the extent of the lesions (p = 0.04) at the animal level. The correlation between meatiness and severity of lung lesions was r = −0.25 (p = 0.00). The correlation between the extent of lung lesions and pH45 value was r = −0.17 (p = 0.005) on the animal level and r = −0.63 (p = 0.017) at the herd level. This implies that lung lesions in slaughter pigs negatively influence not only animal health and welfare, but also carcass quality.
Dairy Cow Mastitis Detection by Thermal Infrared Images Based on CLE-UNet
Authors: Zhang Qian , Yang Ying , Liu Gang , Ning Yuanlin , Li Jianquan
Published: July 2023

Thermal infrared technology is utilized for detecting mastitis in cows owing to its non-invasive and efficient characteristics. However, the presence of surrounding regions and obstacles can impede accurate temperature measurement, thereby compromising the effectiveness of dairy mastitis detection. To address these problems, we proposed the CLE-UNet (Centroid Loss Ellipticization UNet) semantic segmentation algorithm. The algorithm consists of three main parts. Firstly, we introduced the efficient channel attention (ECA) mechanism in the feature extraction layer of UNet to improve the segmentation accuracy by focusing on more useful channel features. Secondly, we proposed a new centroid loss function to facilitate the network’s output to be closer to the position of the real label during the training process. Finally, we used a cow’s eye ellipse fitting operation based on the similarity between the shape of the cow’s eye and the ellipse. The results indicated that the CLE-UNet model obtained a mean intersection over union (MIoU) of 89.32% and an average segmentation speed of 0.049 s per frame. Compared to somatic cell count (SCC), this method achieved an accuracy, sensitivity, and F1 value of 86.67%, 82.35%, and 87.5%, respectively, for detecting mastitis in dairy cows. In conclusion, the innovative use of the CLE-UNet algorithm has significantly improved the segmentation accuracy and has proven to be an effective tool for accurately detecting cow mastitis.
New Definition of Neoprotereunetes Fain et Camerik, Its Distribution and Description of the New Genus in Eupodidae (Acariformes: Prostigmata: Eupodoidea)
Authors: Laniecki Ronald , Magowski Wojciech
Published: July 2023

The genus Neoprotereunetes Fain et Camerik, 1994 is revised and its definition is extended in order to incorporate some species of the invalid genus Protereunetes Berlese, 1923. The former type species Neoprotereunetes—Ereunetes lapidarius Oudemans, 1906 is redescribed and transferred to Filieupodes Jesionowska, 2010 (Cocceupodidae); Proterunetes boerneri is redescribed and designated the new type species. Two species groups are proposed to embrace Arctic and Antarctic species, respectively. Protereunetes paulinae Gless, 1972 is redescribed, whereas Protereunetes maudae Strandtmann, 1967 is redescribed and designated the type species of the new genus Antarcteupodes gen. nov. A key to the species of Neopretereunetes is provided.
Canine Mesenchymal-Stem-Cell-Derived Extracellular Vesicles Attenuate Atopic Dermatitis
Authors: Cho Byong Seung , Kim Sung-Bae , Kim Sokho , Rhee Beomseok , Yoon Jungho , Lee Jae Won
Published: July 2023

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disease that is associated with systemic inflammation and immune modulation. Previously, we have shown that extracellular vesicles resulting from human adipose-tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ASC-EVs) attenuated AD-like symptoms by reducing the levels of multiple inflammatory cytokines. Here, we aimed to investigate the improvement of canine AD upon using canine ASC-exosomes in a Biostir-induced AD mouse model. Additionally, we conducted in vivo toxicity studies to determine whether they targeted organs and their potential toxicity. Firstly, we isolated canine ASCs (cASCs) from the adipose tissue of a canine and characterized the cASCs-EVs. Interestingly, we found that cASC-EVs improved AD-like dermatitis and markedly decreased the levels of serum IgE, ear thickness, inflammatory cytokines, and chemokines such as IL-4 and IFN-γ in a dose-dependent manner. Moreover, there was no systemic toxicity in single- or repeat-dose toxicity studies using ICR mice. In addition, we analyzed miRNA arrays from cASC-EVs using next-generation sequencing (NGS) to investigate the role of miRNAs in improving inflammatory responses. Collectively, our results suggest that cASC-EVs effectively attenuate AD by transporting anti-inflammatory miRNAs to atopic lesions alongside no toxicological findings, resulting in a promising cell-free therapeutic option for treating canine AD.
Sedum middendorffianum Maxim Induces Apoptosis and Inhibits the Invasion of Human Ovarian Cancer Cells via Oxidative Stress Regulation
Authors: Choi Ju-Yeon , Jeong Miran , Lee Kijun , Kim Jin-Ok , Lee Wan Hee , Park InWha , Kwon Hak Cheol , Choi Jung-Hye
Published: July 2023

Sedum middendorffianum Maxim (SMM) is a Korean endemic plant belonging to the Crassulaceae family. This study aimed to investigate the antitumor effects of the SMM extract on human ovarian cancer cells. Among five endemic plants grown in Korea, the SMM extract showed the most potent cytotoxicity in ovarian cancer cells and had little effect on normal ovarian surface epithelial cells. Furthermore, we revealed that the SMM extract dose-dependently induced apoptosis in human ovarian cancer A2780 and SKOV3 cells. The SMM extract markedly stimulated the activation of caspase-3/8, while the broad-spectrum caspase inhibitor and caspase-8 selective inhibitor significantly reversed SMM extract-induced apoptosis. In addition, the SMM extract significantly inhibited cell invasion and the expression levels of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 in ovarian cancer cells. Notably, the SMM extract increased the generation of intracellular ROS, and pretreatment with antioxidant N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC) significantly suppressed SMM-induced cytotoxicity and anti-invasive activity. Moreover, NAC treatment reversed the SMM-induced inhibition of MMP-2/9 expression. Taken together, these data suggest that the SMM extract induces caspase-dependent apoptotic cell death and inhibits MMP-dependent invasion via ROS regulation.
Low-Damage Friction Connections in Hybrid Joints of Frames of Reinforced-Concrete Buildings
Authors: Colajanni Piero , La Mendola Lidia , Monaco Alessia , Pagnotta Salvatore
Published: July 2023

Seismic-resilient buildings are increasingly designed following low-damage and free-from-damage design strategies that aim to protect the structure’s primary load-bearing systems under ultimate-level seismic loads. With this scope, damping devices are located in accessible and easy-to-inspect sites within the main structural frames where the damage concentrates, allowing the primary structure to remain mostly undamaged or easily repairable after a severe earthquake. This paper analyses the effects of friction-damping devices in structural joints of RC buildings endowed with hybrid steel-trussed concrete beams (HSTCBs) and standard RC columns. The study proposes innovative solutions to be adopted into RC moment-resisting frames (MRFs) at beam-to-column connections (BCCs) and column-base connections (CBCs). The cyclic behaviour of the joint is analysed through 3D finite element models, while pushover and non-linear time history analyses are performed on simple two-storey and two-span MRFs endowed with the proposed devices. The main results show that the BCC endowed with curved slotted holes and Perfobond connectors is the most effective in preventing the damage that might occur in beam, column, and joint, and it is adequate to guarantee good dissipative properties. For CBCs, the results showed that the re-centering system with friction pads is the most effective in containing the peak and residual drifts, preventing the plasticization of the column base.
Automated Bridgehead Settlement Detection on the Non-Staggered-Step Structures Based on Settlement Point Ratio Model
Authors: Lang Hong , Peng Yuan , Zou Zheng , Zhu Shengxue , Chen Zhen , Zhang Meng
Published: July 2023

The bridgehead settlement problem continues to be one of the most chronic issues affecting long-term bridge performance. In addition, the magnitude of non-staggered-step settlement across the bridge approach transition has not been quantified. Non-contact measurement is considered an alternative to manual inspection, enabling automated damage evaluation for structural maintenance. This paper proposes an inexpensive automatic system using an inertial navigation sensor and a line scanning camera to evaluate the non-staggered-step bridgehead settlement with acceptable accuracy. By analyzing road longitudinal slope data, driving distance, and pavement images, this paper established a calculation model and algorithm of non-staggered-step bridgehead settlement, in which case, a new calculation index named the settlement point ratio (SPR) was proposed. Moreover, the effect of the vehicular detection system and the distance gradient tested at three speeds were measured. The results illustrate that the system has a good performance in longitudinal slope data with an absolute error of less than 1.5%. In addition, 31 bridges in China, Ningbo city, were selected. Combined with the test data, 50 groups of SPR were output using the established model and algorithm. By validating the system’s output with the standard measurement method, correlation, and regression analysis were carried out in order to verify the SPR model’s reliability. The correlation coefficient is 0.934, and the determination coefficient of the regression model is 0.872, which confirms its capability for accurate data collection and settlement measurement. Therefore, the proposed method is scientific and reasonable for detecting and quantifying non-staggered-step bridgehead settlement, effectively completing the research blank of bridgehead settlement detection.
Detection of Reflected XSS Vulnerabilities Based on Paths-Attention Method
Authors: Tan Xiaobo , Xu Yingjie , Wu Tong , Li Bohan
Published: July 2023

Cross-site scripting vulnerability (XSS) is one of the most frequently exploited and harmful vulnerabilities among web vulnerabilities. In recent years, many researchers have used different machine learning methods to detect network attacks, but these methods have not achieved high accuracy and recall rates and cannot effectively combat XSS attacks. Designing a model that can achieve high accuracy and truly proactive defense against reflected XSS vulnerabilities has become a top priority for maintaining user network security at this stage. In this paper, we propose a detection model for reflected XSS vulnerabilities based on the paths-attention method (PATS model). Firstly, the model converts vulnerability data into an intermediate representation of abstract syntax trees, then traverses the abstract syntax tree to generate multiple sets of syntactic paths, and then converts them into vector representations through word embedding matrices. The model extracts semantic features using attention mechanisms to improve training effectiveness by assigning appropriate weights to different sets of syntactic paths as it learns with neural networks, which realizes the transformation from passive defense to active defense. Additionally, in the dataset processing section, we point out the shortcomings of current research datasets and construct a reliable dataset composed of 1000 malicious samples from NIST and 10,000 benign samples from GitHub for experimentation purposes. Experimental results show that compared with other machine learning models, the paths-attention method can achieve an accuracy rate of 90.25% and F1-score of 81.62%, while reducing the training time by half to 30 h.
Performance Analysis of P2P Networks with Light Communication Links: The Static Managed Case
Authors: Hernández-Oregón Gerardo , Rivero-Angeles Mario E. , Chimal-Eguía Juan C. , Coyac-Torres Jorge E.
Published: July 2023

Peer-to-Peer (P2P) networks have emerged as potential solutions to issues that cause inefficient download times in networks because they can use the resources in the entire network, allowing nodes to act both as servers and clients simultaneously. Commonly, P2P networks use radio frequency (RF) to communicate among nodes; however, light fidelity (LiFi) has been developed as an alternative to wireless fidelity (WiFi) systems due to some advantages such as great speed (up to 1 Tbps), a high level of security, and less saturated channels in unlicensed bandwidth, making it ideal for RF-sensitive environments and networks with static nodes, since LiFi systems require a high node alignment level to enable efficient communication. In this article, we develop a mathematical model that captures the dynamics of LiFi- and WiFi-based P2P networks in static environments to allow for adequate LiFi links in managed conditions where the content is distributed from a single source node to the rest of the peers through different architectures. For the services considered in our work, we compare the performance of P2P networks using WiFi 7 and LiFi 2.0 technologies to provide clear quantitative numerical results that allow for adequate selection between these systems. Also, we validate our mathematical results through extensive simulations.
Analysis of the Influence of Moisture Variation on the Behavior of Tropical Soils of Carajás Railway
Authors: Menezes Luisa Carla de Alencar , Guimarães Antonio Carlos Rodrigues , Marques Maria Esther Soares , Ribeiro Tales Santos , do Nascimento Filipe Almeida Corrêa
Published: July 2023

The criteria for selecting materials for railway pavement (particle size distribution, California Support Index, and physical indexes) are not suitable for evaluating the hydraulic behavior of tropical soils under unsaturated conditions, often resulting in the rejection of soils with good mechanical and hydraulic performance. The railway trackbed is exposed to precipitation, allowing water infiltration into the pavement layers and consequently leading to moisture variation. Therefore, the present study aims to assess the moisture variation over time in the railway trackbed when subjected to the action of rainfall. For this purpose, five soils were analyzed as constituent materials of the subballast, with the infrastructure of the Carajás Railway in Brazil being used as a reference. Water retention curves and conductivity tests were conducted using the HYPROP (Hydraulic Property Analyzer) and WP4-C (Water Potential Four) equipment, and numerical modeling was developed using the IVFlow software. The numerical modeling revealed that sample 1 (lateritic sand) performed better compared to the other analyzed soils, as it exhibited lower moisture variation (3.25% above the optimum content) under the influence of rainfall and it also had low permeability.
Prevalence of Infectious Agents Causing Abortion in Pregnant Women Using Serological Tests and Histopathological Analysis
Authors: Mahmoud Ahmed M. , Hagag Howaida Mahmoud , Ismail Khadiga Ahmed , Alharthi Abeer Muslih , Altalhi Amal Amer , Jaafer Najwa F. , Alharthi Hassna H. , Elwethenani Ahmed A. , Khan Khadiga H. , Al-ajmani Seham Hazza , Altalhi Alaa Khader , Al-Ghamdi Abdullah S. , Althobaiti Naïf Saad , Ramadan Reem Amr , Khalifa Osama M.
Published: July 2023

Background: Abortion is a spontaneous loss of pregnancy before 20 weeks. Approximately 42 million pregnancies end in abortion. The maternal infections that are transmissible from mother to fetus are caused by many pathogens, of which the TORCH complex contributes majorly to neonatal and infant deaths globally. The aim of this study is to detect the prevalence and types of infectious causes of abortion. One hundred aborted women admitted to King Faisal Medical Complex Maternity Hospital in Taif City between the period of 2018 and 2020 were enrolled in this study. The serological test reports (TORCH panel), as well as reports of hematological (CBC) and chemical parameters, were obtained from laboratory management system databases, reviewed, and then analyzed. The H&E-stained microscopic slides of their product of conception (POC) were examined under a microscope and compared with histopathological reports. The prevalence of TORCH infections was 8% in aborted women. Hepatitis B virus (HBV) and mixed TORCH infections constituted the highest percentage of TORCH pathogens in aborted women, constituting 6%. The most detected histopathological finding in seropositive cases (50%) was POC, with mixed inflammatory infiltrates and chronic endometritis, while in seronegative aborted women, POC was normal (64.1%). There is a statistically significant increase in the mean count of white blood cells in seropositive women. Therefore, it is important to provide health campaigns to bring awareness to the population about the risk factors of infectious agents to be avoided, especially during pregnancy.
Numerical and Experimental Analysis of an Earth–Air Heat Exchanger
Authors: Diedrich Carlos Henrique , Santos Gerson Henrique dos , Carraro Gustavo Chaves , Dimbarre Victor Vaurek , Alves Thiago Antonini
Published: July 2023

Buildings are responsible for a large part of energy demand worldwide. To collaborate to reduce this demand, this paper aims to present a computational model to analyze the performance of an earth–air heat exchanger (EAHE) based on computational fluid dynamics using the ANSYS/Fluent® software in the simulations. This passive air conditioning system uses the soil as a heat exchanger, taking advantage of the fact that the temperature of the soil at a certain depth remains relatively constant, regardless of the weather conditions above the surface, promoting heating, cooling, or ventilation for buildings. The air temperature values obtained were compared with experimental data from sensors installed in an EAHE at the Federal University of Technology—Parana, Ponta Grossa/Brazil (25.1° South, 50.16° West) to validate the computational model. A high computational effort would be demanded to perform these simulations involving the whole soil domain and the climatic boundary conditions. In order to optimize the numerical analysis of EAHE, two reduced models for the soil and heat exchanger domains were verified. First, a constant temperature of 23.7 °C was imposed on the surface of the exchanger tube, corresponding to the average soil temperature at a depth of 1.5 m. Afterward, a reduced soil domain extending 0.5 m in all directions from the heat exchanger serpentine was considered. Likewise, constant temperatures were imposed on the upper and lower surfaces of the soil domain, also obtained experimentally. In both cases, the temperature values obtained through the fast simulations showed good agreement compared to the experimental values. Barely explored in the literature, the thermal behavior of the two identical indoor environments at the university was also compared, in which the climatized environment, with the EAHE working in a closed loop, obtained milder and smaller amplitude air temperatures.
Dry Deposition of Hydrophilic Black Carbon Aerosols in China
Authors: Zhang Xiaolin , Mohammed Awad Hussien Ahmed , Zhou Yu , Mao Mao
Published: July 2023

Atmospheric dry deposition of black carbon (BC) is a significant but poorly understood and inadequately described process in aerosol-climate models. The 40-year detailed dry deposition velocities of hydrophilic BC over China from 1981 to 2020 were systematically studied based on the MERRA-2 reanalysis data, which hopefully will be beneficial for its applications in atmospheric systems for climate and air quality. The average dry deposition flux of hydrophilic BC over China was 0.00059 ± 0.00014 μg m−2 s−1, while its dry deposition velocity was estimated to be 0.00051 ± 0.00004 m s−1. The monthly mean dry deposition fluxes of hydrophilic BC varied nearly 1.5 fold, ranging from the lowest 0.00046 ± 0.00011 μg m−2 s−1 in August to the highest 0.00068 ± 0.00019 μg m−2 s−1 in January. The spring season had the highest mean dry deposition flux of hydrophilic BC, followed by summer and winter, whereas autumn showed relatively weaker dry deposition flux. The mean dry deposition velocities of hydrophilic BC over the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, Yangtze River Delta, Pearl River Delta and Tibet Plateau were estimated to be 0.00042 ± 0.00004, 0.00042 ± 0.00004, 0.00051 ± 0.00006 and 0.00078 ± 0.00005 m s−1, respectively. The monthly and seasonal patterns of dry deposition velocities of hydrophilic BC differed from each other in different regions, and high air temperature or surface wind speed seemed to fortify dry deposition velocities of hydrophilic BC. Our study pointed to high dry deposition flux of hydrophilic BC in the northern China Plain and Sichuan Basin but large dry deposition velocities in the Tibet Plateau region.
A Discrete Characterization of the Solvability of Equilibrium Problems and Its Application to Game Theory
Authors: Berenguer Maria Isabel , Gámez Domingo , Garralda-Guillem Ana Isabel , Ruiz Galán Manuel
Published: July 2023

We state a characterization of the existence of equilibrium in terms of certain finite subsets under compactness and transfer upper semicontinuity conditions. In order to derive some consequences on game theory—Nash equilibrium and minimax inequalities—we introduce a weak convexity concept.
Plant Fibers as Composite Reinforcements for Biomedical Applications
Authors: Zamora-Mendoza Lizbeth , Gushque Fernando , Yanez Sabrina , Jara Nicole , Álvarez-Barreto José F. , Zamora-Ledezma Camilo , Dahoumane Si Amar , Alexis Frank
Published: July 2023

Plant fibers possess high strength, high fracture toughness and elasticity, and have proven useful because of their diversity, versatility, renewability, and sustainability. For biomedical applications, these natural fibers have been used as reinforcement for biocomposites to infer these hybrid biomaterials mechanical characteristics, such as stiffness, strength, and durability. The reinforced hybrid composites have been tested in structural and semi-structural biodevices for potential applications in orthopedics, prosthesis, tissue engineering, and wound dressings. This review introduces plant fibers, their properties and factors impacting them, in addition to their applications. Then, it discusses different methodologies used to prepare hybrid composites based on these widespread, renewable fibers and the unique properties that the obtained biomaterials possess. It also examines several examples of hybrid composites and their biomedical applications. Finally, the findings are summed up and some thoughts for future developments are provided. Overall, the focus of the present review lies in analyzing the design, requirements, and performance, and future developments of hybrid composites based on plant fibers.
GIT-Net: An Ensemble Deep Learning-Based GI Tract Classification of Endoscopic Images
Authors: Gunasekaran Hemalatha , Ramalakshmi Krishnamoorthi , Swaminathan Deepa Kanmani , J Andrew , Mazzara Manuel
Published: July 2023

This paper presents an ensemble of pre-trained models for the accurate classification of endoscopic images associated with Gastrointestinal (GI) diseases and illnesses. In this paper, we propose a weighted average ensemble model called GIT-NET to classify GI-tract diseases. We evaluated the model on a KVASIR v2 dataset with eight classes. When individual models are used for classification, they are often prone to misclassification since they may not be able to learn the characteristics of all the classes adequately. This is due to the fact that each model may learn the characteristics of specific classes more efficiently than the other classes. We propose an ensemble model that leverages the predictions of three pre-trained models, DenseNet201, InceptionV3, and ResNet50 with accuracies of 94.54%, 88.38%, and 90.58%, respectively. The predictions of the base learners are combined using two methods: model averaging and weighted averaging. The performances of the models are evaluated, and the model averaging ensemble has an accuracy of 92.96% whereas the weighted average ensemble has an accuracy of 95.00%. The weighted average ensemble outperforms the model average ensemble and all individual models. The results from the evaluation demonstrate that utilizing an ensemble of base learners can successfully classify features that were incorrectly learned by individual base learners.
Effect of Head-Up/-Down Tilt on ECG Segments and Myocardial Temporal Dispersion in Healthy Subjects
Authors: Piccirillo Gianfranco , Moscucci Federica , Di Diego Ilaria , Mezzadri Martina , Caltabiano Cristina , Carnovale Myriam , Corrao Andrea , Lospinuso Ilaria , Stefano Sara , Scinicariello Claudia , Giuffrè Marco , De Santis Valerio , Sciomer Susanna , Rossi Pietro , Fiori Emiliano , Magrì Damiano
Published: July 2023

The head-up/-down tilt test acutely modifies the autonomic nervous system balance throughout a deactivation of the cardiopulmonary reflexes. The present study examines the influence of head-up/-down tilt on a number of ECG segments. A total of 20 healthy subjects underwent a 5 min ECG and noninvasive hemodynamic bio-impedance recording, during free and controlled breathing, lying at (a) 0°; (b) −45°, tilting up at 45°, and tilting up at 90°. Heart rate variability power spectral analysis was obtained throughout some ECG intervals: P-P (P), P-Q (PQ), PeQ (from the end of P to Q wave), Q-R peak (QR intervals), Q-R-S (QRS), Q-T peak (QTp), Q-T end (QTe), STp, STe, T peak-T end (Te), and, eventually, the TeP segments (from the end of T to the next P waves). Results: In all study conditions, the Low Frequency/High FrequencyPP and LFPP normalized units (nu) were significantly lower than the LF/HFRR and LFRRnu, respectively. Conversely, the HFPP and HFPPnu were significantly higher in all study conditions. STe, QTp, and QTe were significantly related to the PP and RR intervals, whereas the T wave amplitude was inversely related to the standard deviations of all the myocardial repolarization variables and to the left ventricular end-systolic volume (LVEDV). The T wave amplitude diminished during head-up tilt and significantly correlated with the LVEDV.
Sensitive Quantitative In Vivo Assay for Evaluating the Effects of Biomolecules on Hair Growth and Coloring Using Direct Microinjections into Mouse Whisker Follicles
Authors: Gao Lipeng , Zhang He-Li , Tan Xiao-Yang , Wang Yan-Ge , Song Hongzhi , Yuan Vicky Lan , Liao Xin-Hua
Published: July 2023

Many people suffer from hair loss and abnormal skin pigmentation, highlighting the need for simple assays to support drug discovery research. Current assays have various limitations, such as being in vitro only, not sensitive enough, or unquantifiable. We took advantage of the bilateral symmetry and large size of mouse whisker follicles to develop a novel in vivo assay called “whisker follicle microinjection assay”. In this assay, we plucked mouse whiskers and then injected molecules directly into one side of the whisker follicles using microneedles that were a similar size to the whiskers, and we injected solvent on the other side as a control. Once the whiskers grew out again, we quantitatively measured their length and color intensity to evaluate the effects of the molecules on hair growth and coloring. Several chemicals and proteins were used to test this assay. The chemicals minoxidil and ruxolitinib, as well as the protein RSPO1, promoted hair growth. The effect of the clinical drug minoxidil could be detected at a concentration as low as 0.001%. The chemical deoxyarbutin inhibited melanin production. The protein Nbl1 was identified as a novel hair-growth inhibitor. In conclusion, we successfully established a sensitive and quantitative in vivo assay to evaluate the effects of chemicals and proteins on hair growth and coloring and identified a novel regulator by using this assay. This whisker follicle microinjection assay will be useful when investigating protein functions and when developing drugs to treat hair loss and abnormal skin pigmentation.
Production of Solid Recovered Fuel from the Rejected Fraction of Recyclable Materials from Waste Picker Cooperatives: A Case Study in Brazil
Authors: Piaia Eduarda , Cavali Matheus , Nadaleti Willian Cézar , Matias Marcelo Seleme , Russo Mário Augusto Tavares , de Castilhos Junior Armando Borges
Published: July 2023

This study evaluated the feasibility of producing solid recovered fuel (SRF) from rejected waste from waste picker cooperatives (WPC). Three scenarios using different SRF and petroleum coke proportions in cement kilns were assessed. The samples of rejected waste from WPC were obtained in the city of Florianópolis, Brazil, and their physical and chemical characteristics were determined. Furthermore, the avoided atmospheric emissions by replacing conventional cement fuel with SRF and the costs to implement a SRF facility were estimated. According to the results, 60.29% of the waste from WPC could be used for energy recovery. Out of the materials eligible to produce SRF, 75.26% are made up of plastic packaging and paper. Concerning atmospheric emissions, replacing petroleum coke with SRF for direct feeding into the clinker kiln contributed to a reduction of 4.83%, 14.73%, and 13.37% in the atmospheric emissions for Scenario 1, Scenario 2, and Scenario 3, respectively. Furthermore, considering two hypothetical SRF industrial plants with capacities of 522 and 720 t/day, each ton of SRF produced would cost about USD 6.00, representing a decrease of 35 times in the costs when compared to petroleum coke. Therefore, SRF from the rejected fraction of WPC could be an alternative waste-to-energy approach.
Improvement in Disease Diagnosis in Computed Tomography Images by Correlating Organ Volumes with Disease Occurrences in Humans
Authors: van Meegdenburg Timo , Kleesiek Jens , Egger Jan , Perrey Sören
Published: July 2023

Some diseases are known to cause or coincide with volume changes of certain structures in the body. Since these changes can be used to identify diseases, in this paper, we aimed to discover such new correlations. To this end, we trained a machine learning model based on the TotalSegmentator model on computed tomography (CT) image data, to segment 104 anatomical structures, while trying to improve the accuracy of the model. We then used the model to segment CT scans of decedents who had at least one of 18 diseases. After correlating the structure volumes with disease occurrences, a possible new correlation between chronic artery failure and iliac artery volume was found and others were confirmed. However, due to the limitations of the model and the underlying data, further research is required.
Electrochemiluminescence of Semiconductor Quantum Dots and Its Biosensing Applications: A Comprehensive Review
Authors: Sun Hui , Zhou Ping , Su Bin
Published: July 2023

Electrochemiluminescence (ECL) is the chemiluminescence triggered by electrochemical reactions. Due to the unique excitation mode and inherent low background, ECL has been a powerful analytical technique to be widely used in biosensing and imaging. As an emerging ECL luminophore, semiconductor quantum dots (QDs) have apparent advantages over traditional molecular luminophores in terms of luminescence efficiency and signal modulation ability. Therefore, the development of an efficient ECL system with QDs as luminophores is of great significance to improve the sensitivity and detection flux of ECL biosensors. In this review, we give a comprehensive summary of recent advances in ECL using semiconductor QDs as luminophores. The luminescence process and ECL mechanism of semiconductor QDs with various coreactants are discussed first. Specifically, the influence of surface defects on ECL performance of semiconductor QDs is emphasized and several typical ECL enhancement strategies are summarized. Then, the applications of semiconductor QDs in ECL biosensing are overviewed, including immunoassay, nucleic acid analysis and the detection of small molecules. Finally, the challenges and prospects of semiconductor QDs as ECL luminophores in biosensing are featured.
Regulatory Clearance and Approval of Therapeutic Protocols of Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation for Psychiatric Disorders
Authors: Cotovio Gonçalo , Ventura Fabiana , Rodrigues da Silva Daniel , Pereira Patrícia , Oliveira-Maia Albino J.
Published: July 2023

Non-invasive brain stimulation techniques (NIBS) have been widely used in both clinical and research contexts in neuropsychiatry. They are safe and well-tolerated, making NIBS an interesting option for application in different settings. Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) is one of these strategies. It uses electromagnetic pulses for focal modulate ion of neuronal activity in brain cortical regions. When pulses are applied repeatedly (repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation—rTMS), they are thought to induce long-lasting neuroplastic effects, proposed to be a therapeutic mechanism for rTMS, with efficacy and safety initially demonstrated for treatment-resistant depression (TRD). Since then, many rTMS treatment protocols emerged for other difficult to treat psychiatric conditions. Moreover, multiple clinical studies, including large multi-center trials and several meta-analyses, have confirmed its clinical efficacy in different neuropsychiatric disorders, resulting in evidence-based guidelines and recommendations. Currently, rTMS is cleared by multiple regulatory agencies for the treatment of TRD, depression with comorbid anxiety disorders, obsessive compulsive disorder, and substance use disorders, such as smoking cessation. Importantly, current research supports the potential future use of rTMS for other psychiatric syndromes, including the negative symptoms of schizophrenia and post-traumatic stress disorder. More precise knowledge of formal indications for rTMS therapeutic use in psychiatry is critical to enhance clinical decision making in this area.
Neuro-Ophthalmologic Variability in Presentation of Genetically Confirmed Wolfram Syndrome: A Case Series and Review
Authors: Jauregui Ruben , Abreu Nicolas J. , Golan Shani , Panarelli Joseph F. , Sigireddi Meenakshi , Nayak Gopi K. , Gold Doria M. , Rucker Janet C. , Galetta Steven L. , Grossman Scott N.
Published: July 2023

Wolfram syndrome is a neurodegenerative disorder caused by pathogenic variants in the genes WFS1 or CISD2. Clinically, the classic phenotype is composed of optic atrophy, diabetes mellitus type 1, diabetes insipidus, and deafness. Wolfram syndrome, however, is phenotypically heterogenous with variable clinical manifestations and age of onset. We describe four cases of genetically confirmed Wolfram syndrome with variable presentations, including acute-on-chronic vision loss, dyschromatopsia, and tonic pupils. All patients had optic atrophy, only three had diabetes, and none exhibited the classic Wolfram phenotype. MRI revealed a varying degree of the classical features associated with the syndrome, including optic nerve, cerebellar, and brainstem atrophy. The cohort’s genotype and presentation supported the reported phenotype–genotype correlations for Wolfram, where missense variants lead to milder, later-onset presentation of the Wolfram syndrome spectrum. When early onset optic atrophy and/or diabetes mellitus are present in a patient, a diagnosis of Wolfram syndrome should be considered, as early diagnosis is crucial for the appropriate referrals and management of the associated conditions. Nevertheless, the condition should also be considered in otherwise unexplained, later-onset optic atrophy, given the phenotypic spectrum.
The Relationship between Job Demands and Turnover Intention among Chinese Prison Officers during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Moderated Mediation Model
Authors: Zeng Yuze , Zhang Qingqi , Xiao Junze , Qi Ke , Ma Ai , Liu Xiaoqian
Published: July 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought enormous challenges to both employees and organizations all over the world. Previous studies have found high turnover rates among prison officers since the outbreak of COVID-19. This cross-sectional study aimed to investigate the mediating role of job burnout between job demands and turnover intention, as well as the moderating role of the perceived efficacy in overcoming COVID-19 in Chinese prison officers. In total, 1316 prison officers were recruited to complete an online questionnaire between May 2022 and June 2022 (during the COVID-19 pandemic). The bootstrapping approach was used to assess the moderated mediation model in this study. The results showed that prison officers’ job demands were positively associated with their turnover intention. Job burnout mediated the relationship between job demands and turnover intention. Perceived efficacy in overcoming COVID-19 moderated the effect of job burnout on turnover intention. Based on these results, suggestions were provided to reduce the high turnover rate of prison officers in public health events like the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Effect of Deviant Workplace Behavior on Job Performance: The Mediating Role of Organizational Shame and Moderating Role of Perceived Organizational Support
Authors: Tian Xin , Guo Ying
Published: July 2023

It is not uncommon for employees to engage in deviant workplace behavior. Several studies have been conducted on its antecedent variables and negative effects on the organization and its members. However, the effects on employees’ emotions and behavior have been ignored. According to the affective events theory and framework of organizational shame, this study examined how deviant workplace behavior affects employee performance, explored how organizational shame mediates, and investigated the role of perceived organizational support moderators. This study was completed by 435 Chinese employees in total. The results showed the following. (1) Deviant workplace behavior significantly positively predicted organizational shame and negatively predicted job performance. Organizational shame positively predicted job performance. (2) Organizational shame mediated the relationship between deviant workplace behavior and job performance, and there were gender differences in this mediating role. (3) Perceived organizational support weakened the negative effect of deviant workplace behavior on job performance. As a result, this study proves the applicability of the framework of organizational shame in a Chinese context and provides support for the affective events theory, from the perspective of actors. Furthermore, this study offers insight into how to ameliorate the negative effects of deviant workplace behavior.
Research on the Non-Planar Deformation Behavior of Reinforced Concrete Components Based on Size Effect
Authors: Peng Zhihan , Xie Binglei , Feng Yongqian , Teng Jun , Li Zuohua
Published: July 2023

The section deformation distribution of reinforced concrete components is nonlinear due to the size effect. Existing analysis models such as the plastic hinge and the truss element are based on the plane cross-section assumption. The nonlinear deformation distribution of the section cannot be accurately simulated. Therefore, in this paper, non-planar strain distribution functions of sections are established. The law of the influence of geometrical characteristics and load characteristics on the nonlinear deformation distributions of the sections of the beam ends is analyzed. The quantitative method is established between the section size, position, and shear span ratio, and the nonlinear deformation distributions of sections. The finite element simulation and test results show that the non-planar strain distribution shape functions of sections given in this paper can accurately describe the axial strain distributions of different sections along the height and width of the sections. The non-planar deformation behaviors and mechanical properties of the components can be simulated. The interface connection accuracy is improved in the structural multiscale simulation.
Factors Affecting the Formation the Carbon Structure of Coke and the Method of Stabilizing Its Physical and Mechanical Properties
Authors: Miroshnichenko Denis , Shmeltser Kateryna , Kormer Maryna
Published: July 2023

The raw materials (coals different stages of metamorphism) and technological factors (period and temperature) of the coke-making that determine the carbon structure of blast furnace coke, and its physical and mechanical properties are analyzed. The change granulometric composition of the coke as a function of the coal batch properties is described in detail. The installation determines the possibility of influencing the carbon structure of coke, its granulometric composition in its production in order to increase the yields of the most valuable fractions, and improving its quality characteristics to achieve high-performance blast furnaces. Analysis of the results indicates that, with no changes in the coking conditions, the granulometric composition depends significantly on the ash content and packing density of the coal batch. Research has shown that the petrographic composition of the coal batch also affects the structure and size of the coke. The closest relationship is established between the magnitude of the fusinized components ΣFC and the output of the coke fractions 80–60 mm, 40–25 mm, and <25 mm. The method of mechanical treatment and stabilizing of blast furnace coke is proposed, which includes the improvement of the initial indexes of its quality M25, M10, and class >80 mm in continuous or periodically working open or closed industrial cylindrical oblique stabilizer drum.
The Risk of Ischemic and Hemorrhagic Stroke in Head and Neck Cancer: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Kim Chulho , Yu Hyunjae , Kim Dong-Kyu
Published: July 2023

Several studies have shown that head and neck cancer is associated with an increased risk of stroke incidence. However, investigations of the association between the two diseases based on a matching cohort dataset are still limited. Therefore, we identified the incidence and risk of stroke in patients with head and neck cancer using a nationwide population-based cohort dataset. A total of 5248 individuals without cancer and 1312 with cancer were enrolled from the dataset after a 4:1 propensity score matching. We found that the incidence of overall stroke (per 1000 person years) was 19.29 for those with head and neck cancer, consisting of 17.32 as ischemic type and 2.74 as hemorrhagic type. Additionally, patients with head and neck cancer had a significantly increased risk of overall and ischemic stroke development but not hemorrhagic stroke. Moreover, the risk of stroke development over time was relatively high within the first year after the diagnosis of head and neck cancer. However, in the subgroup analysis, oral cavity cancer survivors showed an increased risk of both ischemic and hemorrhagic strokes. Therefore, our nationwide population-based cohort study suggests that clinicians should closely monitor patients with head and neck cancers for the early detection of stroke.
Increasing Patient Safety and Treatment Quality by Using Intraoperative MRI for Organ-Preserving Tumor Resection and High-Dose Rate Brachytherapy in Children with Bladder/Prostate and Perianal Rhabdomyosarcoma
Authors: Schmidt Andreas , Roder Constantin , Eckert Franziska , Baumann David , Niyazi Maximilian , Fideler Frank , Ernemann Ulrike , Tatagiba Marcos , Schäfer Jürgen , Urla Cristian , Scherer Simon , Fuchs Jörg , Paulsen Frank , Bender Benjamin
Published: July 2023

In children with bladder/prostate (BP) and perianal rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS), we use a hybrid treatment concept for those suitable, combining organ-preserving tumor resection and high-dose rate brachytherapy (HDR-BT). This treatment concept has been shown to improve outcomes. However, it is associated with specific challenges for the clinicians. The exact position of the tubes for BT is a prerequisite for precise radiotherapy. It can finally be determined only with an MRI or CT scan. We evaluated the use of an intraoperative MRI (iMRI) to control the position of the BT tubes and for radiotherapy planning in all patients with BP and perianal RMS who received the above-mentioned combination therapy in our department since January 2021. iMRI was used in 12 children. All tubes were clearly localized. No adverse events occurred. In all 12 children, radiotherapy could be started on time. In a historical cohort without iMRI, this was not possible in 3 out of 20 children. The use of iMRI in children with BP and perianal RMS improved patient safety and treatment quality. This technology has proven to be successful for the patient population we have defined and has become a standard procedure in our institution.