bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explainable Artificial Intelligence Method (ParaNet+) Localises Abnormal Parathyroid Glands in Scintigraphic Scans of Patients with Primary Hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Apostolopoulos Dimitris J. , Apostolopoulos Ioannis D. , Papathanasiou Nikolaos D. , Spyridonidis Trifon , Panayiotakis George S.
Published: September 2023

The pre-operative localisation of abnormal parathyroid glands (PG) in parathyroid scintigraphy is essential for suggesting treatment and assisting surgery. Human experts examine the scintigraphic image outputs. An assisting diagnostic framework for localisation reduces the workload of physicians and can serve educational purposes. Former studies from the authors suggested a successful deep learning model, but it produced many false positives. Between 2010 and 2020, 648 participants were enrolled in the Department of Nuclear Medicine of the University Hospital of Patras, Greece. An innovative modification of the well-known VGG19 network (ParaNet+) is proposed to classify scintigraphic images into normal and abnormal classes. The Grad-CAM++ algorithm is applied to localise the abnormal PGs. An external dataset of 100 patients imaged at the same department who underwent parathyroidectomy in 2021 and 2022 was used for evaluation. ParaNet+ agreed with the human readers, showing 0.9861 on a patient-level and 0.8831 on a PG-level basis under a 10-fold cross-validation on the training set of 648 participants. Regarding the external dataset, the experts identified 93 of 100 abnormal patient cases and 99 of 118 surgically excised abnormal PGs. The human-reader false-positive rate (FPR) was 10% on a PG basis. ParaNet+ identified 99/100 abnormal cases and 103/118 PGs, with an 11.2% FPR. The model achieved higher sensitivity on both patient and PG bases than the human reader (99.0% vs. 93% and 87.3% vs. 83.9%, respectively), with comparable FPRs. Deep learning can assist in detecting and localising abnormal PGs in scintigraphic scans of patients with primary hyperparathyroidism and can be adapted to the everyday routine.
A Multi-Objective Degree-Based Network Anonymization Method
Authors: Halawi Ola N. , Abu-Khzam Faisal N. , Thoumi Sergio
Published: September 2023

Enormous amounts of data collected from social networks or other online platforms are being published for the sake of statistics, marketing, and research, among other objectives. The consequent privacy and data security concerns have motivated the work on degree-based data anonymization. In this paper, we propose and study a new multi-objective anonymization approach that generalizes the known degree anonymization problem and attempts at improving it as a more realistic model for data security/privacy. Our suggested model guarantees a convenient privacy level, based on modifying the degrees in a way that respects some given local restrictions, per node, such that the total modifications at the global level (in the whole graph/network) are bounded by some given value. The corresponding multi-objective graph realization approach is formulated and solved using Integer Linear Programming to obtain an optimum solution. Our thorough experimental studies provide empirical evidence of the effectiveness of the new approach, by specifically showing that the introduced anonymization algorithm has a negligible effect on the way nodes are clustered, thereby preserving valuable network information while significantly improving data privacy.
Design of PIDDα Controller for Robust Performance of Process Plants
Authors: Fawwaz Muhammad Amir , Bingi Kishore , Ibrahim Rosdiazli , Devan P. Arun Mozhi , Prusty B. Rajanarayan
Published: September 2023

Managing industrial processes in real-time is challenging due to the nonlinearity and sensitivity of these processes. This unpredictability can cause delays in the regulation of these processes. The PID controller family is commonly used in these situations, but their performance is inadequate in systems and surroundings with varying set-points, longer dead times, external noises, and disturbances. Therefore, this research has developed a novel controller structure for PIDDα that incorporates the second derivative term from PIDD2 while exclusively using fractional order parameters for the second derivative term. The controllers’ robust performance has been evaluated on four simulation plants: first order, second order with time delay, third-order magnetic levitation systems, and fourth-order automatic voltage regulation systems. The controllers’ performance has also been evaluated on experimental models of pressure and flow processes. The proposed controller exhibits the least overshoot among all the systems tested. The overshoot for the first-order systems is 9.63%, for the third-order magnetic levitation system, it is 12.82%, and for the fourth-order automatic voltage regulation system, it is only 0.19%. In the pressure process plant, the overshoot is only 4.83%. All controllers for the second-order systems have a time delay, while the flow process plant has no overshoot. The proposed controller demonstrates superior settling times in various systems. For first-order systems, the settling time is 14.26 s, while in the pressure process plant, the settling time is 8.9543 s. Similarly, the proposed controllers for the second-order system with a time delay and the flow process plant have the same settling time of 46.0495 s. In addition, the proposed controller results in the lowest rise time for three different systems. The rise time is only 0.0075 s for the third-order magnetic levitation system, while the fourth-order automatic voltage regulation system has a rise time of 0.0232 s. Finally, for the flow process plant, the proposed controller has the least rise time of 25.7819 s. Thus, in all the cases, the proposed controller results in a more robust controller structure that provides the desired performance of a regular PIDD2 controller, offering better dynamic responses, shorter settling times, faster rise times, and reduced overshoot. Based on the analysis, it is evident that PIDDα outperforms both PID and FOPID control techniques due to its ability to produce a more robust control signal.
Exploring Attitudes towards Whistleblowing in Relation to Sustainable Municipalities
Authors: Cheliatsidou Anastasia , Sariannidis Nikolaos , Garefalakis Alexandros , Passas Ioannis , Spinthiropoulos Konstantinos
Published: September 2023

There is a consensus in the literature that whistleblowing can operate as an instrument for deterring wrongdoing and promoting transparency in organizations. As such, whistleblowing connects with sustainability, and in particular with the UN sustainable development goals (SDG 16, reducing corruption) for transparency and accountability in public sector entities. The purpose of this study is to explore the attitudes of public servants in Greek municipalities before and after the introduction of the “EU Directive on Whistleblowing”. In particular, we investigate how the political, legal, organizational, and cultural environment within which Greek municipalities operate shapes negative employee attitudes toward whistleblowing. Primary data was collected through in-depth interviews with municipal employees from 2020 to 2023 before and after the incorporation of the “EU Directive on Whistleblowing” into the Greek legal system. Our findings indicate that municipal employees are skeptical and have negative attitudes toward whistleblowing, even if they have witnessed wrongdoing, mainly due to: perceived low protection by the law; limited trust in authorities; absence of an ethical climate; inadequate whistleblowing education; fear of retaliation and social isolation; and concerns that reported crimes will remain unpunished. Important information is generated through this study that can inform practice in relation to political and sociocultural dynamics, and particularly key determinants that negatively influence and undermine the efficiency of the whistleblowing process in certain cultural and organizational contexts. The implications of our findings for regulators, researchers and government authorities are also presented. This study supports the position that whistleblowing is closely related to sustainability as a transparency-promoting mechanism, and should be integrated into strategies in the fight against misconduct, fraud and corruption in public sector entities.
Health Assessments of Koalas after Wildfire: A Temporal Comparison of Rehabilitated and Non-Rescued Resident Individuals
Authors: Lane Murraya R. , Lowe Arianne , Vukcevic Jelena , Clark Robert G. , Madani George , Higgins Damien P. , Silver Luke , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J. , Marsh Karen J.
Published: September 2023

Many koalas (Phascolarctos cinereus) required rehabilitation after the 2019/20 Australian megafires. Little is known about how the post-release health of rehabilitated koalas compares to non-rescued resident koalas. We evaluated health parameters in rehabilitated koalas and resident koalas in burnt and unburnt habitat in southern New South Wales, Australia. Health checks were undertaken within six weeks of fire (rehabilitated group), 5–9 months post-fire and 12–16 months post-fire. Body condition improved significantly over time in rehabilitated koalas, with similar condition between all groups at 12–16 months. Rehabilitated koalas therefore gained body condition at similar rates to koalas who remained and survived in the wild. The prevalence of Chlamydia pecorum was also similar between groups and timepoints, suggesting wildfire and rehabilitation did not exacerbate disease in this population. While there was some variation in measured serum biochemistry and haematology parameters between groups and timepoints, most were within normal reference ranges. Our findings show that koalas were generally healthy at the time of release and when recaptured nine months later. Landscapes in the Monaro region exhibiting a mosaic of burn severity can support koalas, and rehabilitated koala health is not compromised by returning them to burnt habitats 4–6 months post-fire.
Zinc Oxide Nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) Induce Cytotoxicity in the Zebrafish Olfactory Organs via Activating Oxidative Stress and Apoptosis at the Ultrastructure and Genetic Levels
Authors: Al-Zahaby Sheren A. , Farag Mayada R. , Alagawany Mahmoud , Taha Heba S. A. , Varoni Maria Vittoria , Crescenzo Giuseppe , Mawed Suzan Attia
Published: September 2023

Nanotechnology has gained tremendous attention because of its crucial characteristics and wide biomedical applications. Although zinc oxide nanoparticles (ZnO-NPs) are involved in many industrial applications, researchers pay more attention to their toxic effects on living organisms. Since the olfactory epithelium is exposed to the external environment, it is considered the first organ affected by ZnO-NPs. Herein, we demonstrated the cytotoxic effect of ZnO-NPs on the olfactory organ of adult zebrafish after 60 days post-treatment. We opted for this period when fishes stop eating their diet from the aquarium, appear feeble, and cannot swim freely. Our study demonstrated that ZnO-NPs induced significant malformations of the olfactory rosettes at histological, ultrastructural, and genetic levels. At the ultrastructure level, the olfactory lamellae appeared collapsed, malformed, and twisted with signs of degeneration and loss of intercellular connections. In addition, ZnO-NPs harmed sensory receptor and ciliated cells, microvilli, rodlet, crypt, and Kappe cells, with hyper-activity of mucous secretion from goblet cells. At the genetic level, ZnO-NPs could activate the reactive oxygen species (ROS) synthesis expected by the down-regulation of mRNA expression for the antioxidant-related genes and up-regulation of DNA damage, cell growth arrest, and apoptosis. Interestingly, ZnO-NPs affected the odor sensation at 60 days post-treatment (60-dpt) more than at 30-dpt, severely damaging the olfactory epithelium and irreparably affecting the cellular repairing mechanisms. This induced a dramatically adverse effect on the cellular endoplasmic reticulum (ER), revealed by higher CHOP protein expression, that suppresses the antioxidant effect of Nrf2 and is followed by the induction of apoptosis via the up-regulation of Bax expression and down-regulation of Bcl-2 protein.
Farmers’ Perspectives of the Benefits and Risks in Precision Livestock Farming in the EU Pig and Poultry Sectors
Authors: Kopler Idan , Marchaim Uri , Tikász Ildikó E. , Opaliński Sebastian , Kokin Eugen , Mallinger Kevin , Neubauer Thomas , Gunnarsson Stefan , Soerensen Claus , Phillips Clive J. C. , Banhazi Thomas
Published: September 2023

More efficient livestock production systems are necessary, considering that only 41% of global meat demand will be met by 2050. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic crisis has clearly illustrated the necessity of building sustainable and stable agri-food systems. Precision Livestock Farming (PLF) offers the continuous capacity of agriculture to contribute to overall human and animal welfare by providing sufficient goods and services through the application of technical innovations like digitalization. However, adopting new technologies is a challenging issue for farmers, extension services, agri-business and policymakers. We present a review of operational concepts and technological solutions in the pig and poultry sectors, as reflected in 41 and 16 European projects from the last decade, respectively. The European trend of increasing broiler-meat production, which is soon to outpace pork, stresses the need for more outstanding research efforts in the poultry industry. We further present a review of farmers’ attitudes and obstacles to the acceptance of technological solutions in the pig and poultry sectors using examples and lessons learned from recent European projects. Despite the low resonance at the research level, the investigation of farmers’ attitudes and concerns regarding the acceptance of technological solutions in the livestock sector should be incorporated into any technological development.
Examining the Veterinary Electronic Antimicrobial Prescriptions for Dogs and Cats in the Campania Region, Italy: Corrective Strategies Are Imperative
Authors: Foglia Manzillo Valentina , Peruzy Maria Francesca , Gizzarelli Manuela , Izzo Berardino , Sarnelli Paolo , Carrella Antonio , Vinciguerra Giuseppina , Chirollo Claudia , Ben Fayala Nour El Houda , Balestrino Ines , Oliva Gaetano
Published: September 2023

Companion animals are increasingly being recognised as important contributors to the spread of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria. The present work aimed to measure the antimicrobial drug prescribing in dogs and cats in the Campania Region, Italy by analysing the Veterinary Electronic Prescriptions (VEPs) between 2019 and 2020. The medical records associated with antimicrobial drug prescriptions were collected according to the drug administration (systemic or topical) and the rationale for the treatment chosen. In the period under investigation, 166,879 drugs were prescribed of which 129,116 (73.4%) were antimicrobial. A total of 83,965 (65%) antibiotics were prescribed to dogs, 40,477 (31.4%) to cats, and 4674 (3.6%) to other companion animals. In dogs, 90.5% of VEPs prescribed for systemic treatment included an antimicrobial Critically Important or Highly Important or Important for human medicine (WHO, 2018). The most widely prescribed class was fluoroquinolones. The antimicrobials prescribed were mainly metronidazole–spiramycin (29.7%), amoxicillin–clavulanic (19.6%), enrofloxacin and cephalexin in dogs (16.5%) and enrofloxacin (22.6%) and amoxicillin–clavulanic acid (21.4%) in cats. Based on the results, the widespread use of broad-spectrum antimicrobials and the use of molecules for which limitations should be observed according to the EMA guidelines has emerged.
Training and Adaptation of Beef Calves to Precision Supplementation Technology for Individual Supplementation in Grazing Systems
Authors: Jacobs Joshua L. , Hersom Matt J. , Andrae John G. , Duckett Susan K.
Published: September 2023

Supplementation of beef cattle can be used to meet both nutrient requirements and production goals; however, supplementation costs influence farm profitability. Common supplementation delivery strategies are generally designed to provide nutrients to the mean of the group instead of an individual. Precision individual supplementation technologies, such as the Super SmartFeed (SSF, C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA), are available but are generally cost prohibitive to producers. These systems require adaptation or training periods for cattle to utilize this technology. The objective of this research was to assess the training and adoption rates of three different groups of cattle (suckling calves, weaned steers, replacement heifers) to the SSF. Successful adaptation was determined if an individual’s supplement intake was above the group average of total allotted feed consumed throughout the training period. Suckling calves (n = 31) underwent a 12 d training period on pasture; 45% of suckling calves adapted to the SSF and average daily intake differed (p < 0.0001) by day of training. Weaned steers (n = 79) were trained in drylot for 13 d. Of the weaned steers, 62% were trained to the SSF, and average daily intake differed (p < 0.0001) by day of training. Replacement heifers (n = 63) grazed tall fescue pastures and had access to SSF for 22 d of training. The success rate of replacement heifers was 73%. For replacement heifers, the daily intake did not differ (p < 0.0001) by day of training. Results indicate production stage may influence cattle adaptation to precision technologies.
Sarcocystis spp. Macrocysts Infection in Wildfowl Species in Eastern Baltic Region: Trends in Prevalence in 2011–2022
Authors: Prakas Petras , Stankevičiūtė Jolanta , Švažas Saulius , Juozaitytė-Ngugu Evelina , Butkauskas Dalius , Vaitkevičiūtė-Balčė Rasa
Published: September 2023

Wildfowl meat infected with S. rileyi macrocysts is not suitable for human consumption. Ducks are among the main game birds in Europe, and S. rileyi infections cause significant economic losses. In 2011–2022, a total of 2649 anseriforms collected in Lithuania and 619 Mallards (Anas platyrhynchos) hunted in the Kaliningrad region of Russia, Belarus, and Latvia were tested for macrocysts. In Lithuania, macrocysts were detected in 206 of 2362 Mallards (8.7%) and in two of 88 (2.3%) Eurasian Teals (Anas crecca). The prevalence of macrocysts in the other three countries, Belarus (5.9%), Russia (5.0%), and Latvia (3.1%), was similar. For species identification, macrocysts isolated from 37 Mallards (21 from Lithuania, 8 from Russia, 6 from Belarus, and 2 from Latvia) were subjected to sequencing of the ITS1 region. Based on DNA analysis, S. rileyi was confirmed in all tested birds. By comparing the infection rates of macrocysts in Mallards in Lithuania, significant differences were observed in different years (p = 0.036), and a significantly higher prevalence of infection was established in November–December than in September–October (p = 0.028). Given the amount of data per decade on the prevalence of S. rileyi, awareness of infection needs to be increased.
Dietary Neutral Detergent Fiber Levels Impacting Dairy Cows’ Feeding Behavior, Rumen Fermentation, and Production Performance during the Period of Peak-Lactation
Authors: Shi Renhuang , Dong Shuangzhao , Mao Jiang , Wang Jingjun , Cao Zhijun , Wang Yajing , Li Shengli , Zhao Guoqi
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the impact of dietary neutral detergent fiber (NDF) levels (25.49%, 28.65%, 31.66%, and 34.65%, respectively) on the feeding behavior, rumen fermentation, cellulolytic bacteria, and production performance of dairy cows during peak lactation. A feeding experiment was conducted using four fistulated Holstein dairy cows (600 ± 25 kg) with days in milk (50 ± 15 days), employing a 4 × 4 Latin square design to assign the cows to four groups. The results demonstrated that increasing NDF levels in the diet had the following effects: (1) A linear decrease in dry matter intake (DMI), NDF intake, and physically effective NDF8.0 (peNDF8.0) intake; a linear increase in the average time spent eating and ruminating, as well as the time spent eating and ruminating per kilogram of dry matter (DM); a quadratic response in the time spent ruminating per kilogram of NDF and peNDF8.0. (2) A linear increase in average pH value, acetate concentration, and the proportions of Fibrobacter succinogenes and Ruminococcus flavefaciens among total bacteria; a linear decrease in ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) concentration, microbial crude protein (MCP), total volatile fatty acid (TVFA), propionate, butyrate, and lactate. (3) A linear decrease in milk yield, milk protein percentage, and nitrogen efficiency of dairy cows; a linear increase in milk fat percentage and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) concentration. Based on the combined results, it was found that diets with 25% and 34% NDF had detrimental effects on the feeding behavior, rumen fermentation, and production performance of dairy cows. However, the diet with 28% NDF showed superior outcomes in production performance compared to the one with 31% NDF. Therefore, it is strongly recommended to include a diet containing 28% NDF during the critical peak lactation period for dairy cows.
Behavior of Cows in the Lying Area When the Exit Gates in the Pens Are Opened: How Many Cows Are Forced to Get Up to Go to the Milking Parlor?
Authors: Gaworski Marek
Published: September 2023

Equipping a farm with a milking parlor requires moving groups of cows from their pens to the part of the barn where milking takes place. The task of moving cows, carried out two or three times each day, shows links to the lying area of the barn. When the cows are taken from the pen to the milking parlor, some of them may be lying down, and this lying down must be interrupted. The forced standing up of cows can be considered in terms of their welfare. The aim of the study was to examine the number of cows lying in the stalls at the time of opening the exit gates in the pens in order to take the cows to the milking parlor. The study covered four pens, each with 12 cows. The behavior of the cows in the pens before morning and afternoon milking was recorded over 26 days. In the analysis, the dependent variable was the number of lying cows, and the independent variables were the time of milking and the level of sand in the lying stalls. The results of the study showed the significance of differences in the number of lying cows for stalls with a low and high level of sand, both in the case of morning and afternoon milking. Differences in the number of lying cows were also found when comparing the time before morning and afternoon milking. To compare the tendency of individual cows to lie down before going to milking, an index of forced standing up was proposed. The research conducted showed differences in the behavior of cows before leaving the pen to the milking parlor. The stage to reduce the forced standing up of cows is to equip the farm with an automatic milking system (AMS) instead of using a milking parlor. In barns with AMS, cows have full freedom to get up and approach the milking stall. The results of the observations are thus an additional argument confirming the benefits of using an automatic milking system, considered in terms of the welfare of dairy cows, regarding their lying down and getting up.
Enrichment of a Plant Feedstuff Mixture’s Nutritional Value through Solid-State Fermentation
Authors: Filipe Diogo , Vieira Lúcia , Ferreira Marta , Oliva-Teles Aires , Salgado José , Belo Isabel , Peres Helena
Published: September 2023

Plant feedstuffs are the main ingredients of animal feed. Owing to food–feed competition, increasing the utilization efficiency of these feedstuffs is important for animal nutrition. This can be achieved via solid-state fermentation (SSF). SSF of a plant feedstuff mixture (PFM) (25% rapeseed meal, soybean meal, rice bran, and sunflower meal) by three fungi (Aspergillus ibericus MUM 03.29, Aspergillus niger CECT 2088, and Aspergillus niger CECT 2915) resulted in an increase in protein content by 5%, irrespective of fungi, a reduction in cellulose content by 9 to 11%, and of hemicellulose content by 21 to 34%, relative to unfermented PFM. Enzyme production was measured: the highest cellulase (123.7 U/g), xylanase (431.8 U/g), and beta-glucosidase (117.9 U/g) activity were achieved with A. niger CECT 2088. Principal component analysis showed a positive correlation between all fermented PFMs and enzyme production, protein content, digestibility, and fiber reduction. Bioprocessing of the PFM by SSF increased its nutritional value and digestibility, making it more appealing for animal feeds.
Effects of Salinity Stress on Histological Changes, Glucose Metabolism Index and Transcriptomic Profile in Freshwater Shrimp, Macrobrachium nipponense
Authors: Li Yiming , Ye Yucong , Li Wen , Liu Xingguo , Zhao Yunlong , Jiang Qichen , Che Xuan
Published: September 2023

Salinity is an important factor in the aquatic environment and affects the ion homeostasis and physiological activities of crustaceans. Macrobrachium nipponense is a shrimp that mainly lives in fresh and low-salt waters and plays a huge economic role in China’s shrimp market. Currently, there are only a few studies on the effects of salinity on M. nipponense. Therefore, it is of particular importance to study the molecular responses of M. nipponense to salinity fluctuations. In this study, M. nipponense was set at salinities of 0, 8, 14 and 22‰ for 6 weeks. The gills from the control (0‰) and isotonic groups (14‰) were used for RNA extraction and transcriptome analysis. In total, 593 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) were identified, of which 282 were up-regulated and 311 were down-regulated. The most abundant gill transcripts responding to different salinity levels based on GO classification were organelle membrane (cellular component), creatine transmembrane transporter activity (molecular function) and creatine transmembrane transport (biological function). KEGG analysis showed that the most enriched and significantly affected pathways included AMPK signaling, lysosome and cytochrome P450. In addition, 15 DEGs were selected for qRT-PCR verification, which were mainly related to ion homeostasis, glucose metabolism and lipid metabolism. The results showed that the expression patterns of these genes were similar to the high-throughput data. Compared with the control group, high salinity caused obvious injury to gill tissue, mainly manifested as contraction and relaxation of gill filament, cavity vacuolation and severe epithelial disintegration. Glucose-metabolism-related enzyme activities (e.g., pyruvate kinase, hexokinase, 6-phosphate fructose kinase) and related-gene expression (e.g., hexokinase, pyruvate kinase, 6-phosphate fructose kinase) in the gills were significantly higher at a salinity of 14‰. This study showed that salinity stress activated ion transport channels and promoted an up-regulated level of glucose metabolism. High salinity levels caused damage to the gill tissue of M. nipponense. Overall, these results improved our understanding of the salt tolerance mechanism of M. nipponense.
Feral Donkey Distribution and Ecological Impacts in a Hyper-Arid Region
Authors: Soultan Alaaeldin , Darwish Mohammed , Al-Johani Nawaf , Abdulkareem Ayman , Alfaifi Yousef , Assaeed Abdulaziz M. , El-Bana Magdy , Browne Stephen
Published: September 2023

The feral donkey (Equus asinus L.) is an invasive species in Saudi Arabia and can cause severe damage to natural and cultural heritage. Over the last 30 years, feral donkeys have become a serious problem, as their abundance and geographic distribution has increased drastically. The impacts of feral donkeys are not well documented, and information about their abundance and distribution is lacking, certainly in Saudi Arabia, which hampers the implementation of effective management plans. Accordingly, we used the minimum population number approach (MPN) to determine the number of feral donkeys in this part of northwest Saudi Arabia. A total of 1135 feral donkeys were encountered in the region. The area around Khaybar harbors ~25% (n = 338) of the feral donkey population, whereas Tayma and AlGhrameel nature reserves were the least-inhabited sites (almost absent). The average population density of feral donkeys was estimated as 1.03 (0.19 SE) donkey/km2. We documented the negative ecological impact of feral donkeys on natural resources, which constituted overgrazing that resulted in habitat fragmentation and competition for resources with native species. We propose urgent actions to control the presence of feral donkeys in the region and suggest humane eradication as the most efficient and applicable to significantly reduce the negative impacts of feral donkeys.
Human Activities Accelerated Increase in Vegetation in Northwest China over the Three Decades
Authors: Yang Liqin , Fu Hongyan , Zhong Chen , Zhou Jiankai , Ma Libang
Published: September 2023

Natural ecosystems are changing more quickly because of human activities, the type and intensity of which are directly correlated with vegetation greenness. To effectively determine how human activities affect trends in vegetation under climate change, we must differentiate between various types of human activities. The GTWR model can study the spatiotemporal non-stationary relationship between the NDVI trend and climate change. The GTWR model was incorporated into multiple climate variables and improved residual analysis to quantify the contributions of climate change and human activities on vegetation change trends in the Hexi region during different periods. This study divides human activities into four groups based on land use change: urbanization, agricultural expansion, desertification, and ecological restoration to further investigate their contribution to vegetation greenness change. The results showed that in 56.9% of the significant vegetation greening trends between 1982 and 2015, climate factors contributed only 7.4%, while human factors contributed a significant 22.7%. Since the ecological restoration project implemented in 2000, the expansion intensity of ecological restoration and urbanization increased significantly, followed by agricultural expansion and desertification. For the considerable greening trends in the Hexi region, the ecological restoration project contributed 26.7%, while agricultural expansion and urbanization contributed 17.5% and 4.6%, respectively. This study aims to provide new insights for more accurate simulation and evaluation of the interaction effects of climate change and human socio-economic development on vegetation growth.
Direct Estimation of Equivalent Bioelectric Sources Based on Huygens’ Principle
Authors: Theodosiadou Georgia , Arnaoutoglou Dimitrios , Nannis Ioannis , Katsimentes Sotirios , Sirakoulis Georgios , Kyriacou George
Published: September 2023

An estimation of the electric sources in the heart was conducted using a novel method, based on Huygens’ Principle, aiming at a direct estimation of equivalent bioelectric sources over the heart’s surface in real time. The main scope of this work was to establish a new, fast approach to the solution of the inverse electrocardiography problem. The study was based on recorded electrocardiograms (ECGs). Based on Huygens’ Principle, measurements obtained from the surfaceof a patient’s thorax were interpolated over the surface of the employed volume conductor model and considered as secondary Huygens’ sources. These sources, being non-zero only over the surface under study, were employed to determine the weighting factors of the eigenfunctions’ expansion, describing the generated voltage distribution over the whole conductor volume. With the availability of the potential distribution stemming from measurements, the electromagnetics reciprocity theorem is applied once again to yield the equivalent sources over the pericardium. The methodology is self-validated, since the surface potentials calculated from these equivalent sources are in very good agreement with ECG measurements. The ultimate aim of this effort is to create a tool providing the equivalent epicardial voltage or current sources in real time, i.e., during the ECG measurements with multiple electrodes.
Effects of Strategy-Based Memory Training for Older Adults: Do Booster Sessions Prompt Long-Term Benefits?
Authors: Borella Erika , Sella Enrico , Simonetto Anna , Bellorio Nicola , Lenti Graziana , Taconnat Laurence , Carbone Elena
Published: September 2023

This study examined the efficacy of a strategy-based memory training for older adults at short- and long-term with two (5- and 11 months) follow-ups. We also explored whether booster sessions (additional training before the first follow-up) facilitated the maintenance of benefits. Thirty-three older adults received a training based on the teaching of different effective memory strategies. One group completed three booster sessions before the 5 months follow-up. Training gains were examined using a word-list and a face–surname association recall tasks, and transfer effects with a grocery-word list (GL) recall task, a working memory (WM) measure, and a perceived memory functioning questionnaire. Training gains and transfer effects to the WM measure emerged and were maintained up to the second follow-up. No benefits for the GL and perceived memory functioning were found. The “boosted” group had only a slight advantage—in one of the transfer tasks—as shown by effect sizes. This pilot study confirms the efficacy of strategy-based memory training in supporting older adults’ memory performance up to 11 months since training completion. However, booster sessions seem not to make a clear difference in prompting long-lasting benefits. Training features capable of fostering generalized, prolonged effects are worth investigating.
Effects of Caffeine on Main Symptoms in Children with ADHD: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Trials
Authors: Perrotte Giuliana , Moreira Marina Maria Gonzaga , de Vargas Junior Amauri , Teixeira Filho Alvaro , Castaldelli-Maia João Mauricio
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is typically treated with stimulant medications, which may lead to several adverse effects. Recent animal studies have shown that caffeine can improve the symptoms of ADHD. This systematic review and meta-analysis sought to evaluate the effect of caffeine on ADHD symptoms in children. (2) Methods: PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane databases were searched for randomized controlled trials comparing caffeine with placebo in children, comparing overall symptoms of ADHD, inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity. (3) Results: We included seven RCTs in the systematic review for qualitative assessment, with 104 patients aged 5 to 15 years. Four of these studies (n = 76) were included in the meta-analysis. After qualitative analysis, four studies indicated no improvement in any of the ADHD symptoms compared with placebo. One study showed improvement in ADHD symptoms based on 1 of 5 scales applied. One study indicated significant improvement in general symptoms, inattention, and hyperactivity. One study indicated improvement in sustained attention but a worsening of impulsivity. In contrast, when using a quantitative analysis of the general symptoms of ADHD, the data showed no significant difference when comparing placebo with caffeine (standardized mean difference −0.12; 95% CI −0.44 to 0.20; p = 0.45; I2 = 0%). (4) Conclusion: overall, the totality of the evidence suggests no significant benefit of caffeine over placebo in the treatment of children with ADHD.
The Impact of Interpreting Training Experience on the Attentional Networks and Their Dynamics
Authors: Xing Shunjie , Yang Jing
Published: September 2023

Interpreting, a complicated and demanding bilingual task, depends heavily on attentional control. However, few studies have focused on the interpreters’ advantages in attention, and the findings so far have been inconsistent. Meanwhile, the connection between attentional networks and other cognitive abilities, such as working memory (WM), has rarely been explored in interpreters. The present study investigated whether interpreting experience (IE) contributed to the attentional networks of bilinguals and explored the link between interpreters’ attention and WM. Three groups of Chinese–English bilinguals, differing only in their duration of interpreting training (the More-IE group, the Less-IE group, and the No-IE group), completed the Attention Network Test (ANT). Results showed that only the alerting network was more efficient in the More-IE group than in the Less-IE and No-IE groups; moreover, the dynamics between the alerting and executive networks were significant only in the More-IE group. Furthermore, we found a negative correlation between the executive effect and the working memory capacity (WMC) in the More-IE group. Our study validated and provided empirical support for the Attentional Control Model, stimulating further research into neurocognitive mechanisms of advanced second language learning.
The Role of Ketone Bodies in Treatment Individualization of Glioblastoma Patients
Authors: Tamas Corina , Tamas Flaviu , Kovecsi Attila , Serban Georgiana , Boeriu Cristian , Balasa Adrian
Published: September 2023

Glioblastoma is the most common and aggressive primary brain tumor in adults. According to the 2021 WHO CNS, glioblastoma is assigned to the IDH wild-type classification, fulfilling the specific characteristic histopathology. We have conducted a prospective observational study to identify the glucose levels, ketone bodies, and the glucose-ketone index in three groups of subjects: two tumoral groups of patients with histopathological confirmation of glioblastoma (9 male patients, 7 female patients, mean age 55.6 years old) or grade 4 astrocytoma (4 male patients, 2 female patients, mean age 48.1 years old) and a control group (13 male patients, 9 female patients, mean age 53.9 years old) consisting of subjects with no personal pathological history. There were statistically significant differences between the mean values of glycemia (p value = 0.0003), ketones (p value = 0.0061), and glucose-ketone index (p value = 0.008) between the groups of patients. Mortality at 3 months in glioblastoma patients was 0% if the ketone levels were below 0.2 mM and 100% if ketones were over 0.5 mM. Patients with grade 4 astrocytoma and the control subjects all presented with ketone values of less than 0.2 mM and 0.0% mortality. In conclusion, highlighting new biomarkers which are more feasible to determine such as ketones or glucose-ketone index represents an essential step toward personalized medicine and survival prolongation in patients suffering from glioblastoma and grade 4 astrocytoma.
Analysis of Serum Markers of Perioperative Brain Injury and Inflammation Associated with Endovascular Treatment of Intracranial Aneurysms: A Preliminary Study
Authors: Zimny Mikołaj , Paździora Piotr , Kocur Damian , Błaszczyk Bartłomiej , Gendosz de Carrillo Daria , Baron Jan , Jędrzejowska-Szypułka Halina , Rudnik Adam
Published: September 2023

Embolization is the preferred method for treating intracranial aneurysms due to its less invasive nature. However, recent findings suggest that even uncomplicated embolization may cause structural damage to the brain through ischemic or inflammatory mechanisms. This study aimed to find possible biomarkers of brain injury and inflammation in patients suffering from intracranial aneurysms who underwent endovascular treatment by measuring serological markers indicating brain damage. The study involved 26 patients who underwent uncomplicated intravascular stenting for unruptured intracranial aneurysms between January 2020 and December 2021. Blood samples were collected before the procedure, at 6–12 h, and at 24 h after the procedure. The following protein biomarkers levels were tested with ELISA: S100B, hNSE, TNF, hsCRP, FABP7, NFL, and GP39. Statistical analysis of the results revealed significant increases in serum levels for the four biomarkers: FABP7—before 0.25 (ng/mL) vs. 6–12 h 0.26 (p = 0.012) and vs. 24 h 0.27 (p < 0.001); GP39—before 0.03 (pg/mL) vs. 6–12 h 0.64 (p = 0.011) and vs. 24 h 0.57 (p = 0.001); hsCRP—before 1.65 (μg/mL) vs. 24 h 4.17 (p = 0.037); NFL—before 0.01 (pg/mL) vs. 6–12 h 3.99 (p = 0.004) and vs. 24 h 1.86 (p = 0.033). These biomarkers are recognized as potential indicators of neurovascular damage and should be monitored in clinical settings. Consequently, serum levels of NFL, GP39, hsCRP, and FABP7 measured before and 24 h after endovascular procedures can serve as important markers for assessing brain damage and indicate avenues for further research on biomarkers of neurovascular injury.
The Effect of Continuous Theta Burst Stimulation over the Right Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex on Cognitive Function and Emotional Regulation in Patients with Cerebral Small Vessel Disease
Authors: Dai Pei , Wang Zhao-Xia , Yu Hui-Xian , Liu Chang-Bin , Liu Si-Hao , Zhang Hao
Published: September 2023

Objectives: Cognitive impairment in cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) is a common cause of vascular dementia and is often accompanied by mental disorders. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) over the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) on the cognitive function and Hamilton depression (HAMD) scores in patients with CSVD. Methods: A total of 30 CSVD patients who met the inclusion criteria were randomly assigned to either the sham or cTBS group. The patients in both groups received routine cognitive function training. All the patients were under treatment for 14 sessions, with one session per day (each cTBS conditioning session consisted of three-pulse bursts at 50 Hz repeated at 5 Hz, 80% MT, and 600 pulses). Before and after the treatment, the patients in both groups were evaluated using the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA), Stroop Color-Word Test (SCWT), Trail Marking Test (TMT), Digital Span Test (DST), and HAMD test. The time to complete the SCWT and TMT were recorded. The scores of the MoCA, DST and HAMD test were recorded. Results: The HAMD scores in the cTBS group decreased significantly compared to the control (p < 0.05). There were no significant differences in the MoCA (including the MoCA subitems) or DST scores or in the SCWT or TMT completion times between the two groups (p > 0.05). For the HAMD scores and the MoCA subitem visuospatial/executive scores, the SCWT-B and SCWT-C completion times in the two groups both improved significantly before and after treatment (p < 0.05). For the MoCA scores, the DST-backward scores and the TMT-B completion times in the cTBS group improved significantly before and after treatment (p < 0.05). There was no significant difference in the SCWT-A, TMT-A completion times and MoCA subitems naming, attention, language, abstraction, delayed recall, and orientation scores either before or after treatment in the two groups or between the two groups (p > 0.05). Conclusions: In this study, cTBS over the right DLPFC decreased the HAMD scores significantly in patients with CSVD but had no significant improvement or impairment effects on cognitive function. cTBS over the right DLPFC could be used to treat CSVD patients with depression symptoms.
Myeloid Cell Leukemia 1 Small Molecule Inhibitor S63845 Synergizes with Cisplatin in Triple-Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Acton Alexus , Placzek William J.
Published: September 2023

Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive cancer that lacks specific molecular targets that are often used for therapy. The refractory rate of TNBC to broad-spectrum chemotherapy remains high; however, the combination of newly developed treatments with the current standard of care has delivered promising anti-tumor effects. One mechanism employed by TNBC to avoid cell death is the increased expression of the anti-apoptotic protein, myeloid cell leukemia 1 (MCL1). Multiple studies have demonstrated that increased MCL1 expression enables resistance to platinum-based chemotherapy. In addition to suppressing apoptosis, we recently demonstrated that MCL1 also binds and negatively regulates the transcriptional activity of TP73. TP73 upregulation is a critical driver of cisplatin-induced DNA damage response, and ultimately, cell death. We therefore sought to determine if the coadministration of an MCL1-targeted inhibitor with cisplatin could produce a synergistic response in TNBC. This study demonstrates that the MCL1 inhibitor, S63845, combined with cisplatin synergizes by inducing apoptosis while also decreasing proliferation in a subset of TNBC cell lines. The use of combined MCL1 inhibitors with cisplatin in TNBC effectively initiates TAp73 anti-tumor effects on cell cycle arrest and apoptosis. This observation provides a molecular profile that can be exploited to identify sensitive TNBCs.
The Association between Immune Checkpoint Proteins and Therapy Outcomes in Acute Myeloid Leukaemia Patients
Authors: Bolkun Lukasz , Tynecka Marlena , Walewska Alicja , Bernatowicz Malgorzata , Piszcz Jaroslaw , Cichocka Edyta , Wandtke Tomasz , Czemerska Magdalena , Wierzbowska Agnieszka , Moniuszko Marcin , Grubczak Kamil , Eljaszewicz Andrzej
Published: September 2023

The development of novel drugs with different mechanisms of action has dramatically changed the treatment landscape of AML patients in recent years. Considering a significant dysregulation of the immune system, inhibitors of immune checkpoint (ICI) proteins provide a substantial therapeutic option for those subjects. However, use of ICI in haematological malignancies remains very limited, in contrast to their wide use in solid tumours. Here, we analysed expression patterns of the most promising selected checkpoint-based therapeutic targets in AML patients. Peripheral blood of 72 untreated AML patients was used for flow cytometric analysis. Expression of PD-1, PD-L1, CTLA-4, and B7-H3 was assessed within CD4+ (Th) lymphocytes and CD33+ blast cells. Patients were stratified based on therapy outcome and cytogenetic molecular risk. AML non-responders (NR) showed a higher frequency of PD-1 in Th cells compared to those with complete remission (CR). Reduced blast cell level of CTLA-4 was another factor differentiating CR from NR subjects. Elevated levels of PD-1 were associated with a trend for poorer patients’ survival. Additionally, prognosis for AML patients was worse in case of a higher frequency of B7-H3 in Th lymphocytes. In summary, we showed the significance of selected ICI as outcome predictors in AML management. Further, multicentre studies are required for validation of those data.