bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Screening of visuospatial abilities in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS): a pilot study using the Battery for Visuospatial Abilities (BVA)
Authors: Sharbafshaaer Minoo , Siciliano Mattia , Passaniti Carla , Sant'Elia Valeria , Silvestro Marcello , Russo Antonio , Esposito Sabrina , Tedeschi Gioacchino , Trojano Luigi , Trojsi Francesca
Published: December 2023

Background Cognitive deficits related to frontotemporal dysfunction are common in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS). Visuospatial deficits, related to posterior cerebral regions, are often underestimated in ALS, though they play a crucial role in attending daily living activities. Our pilot study aims at assessing visuospatial abilities using a domain-specific tool in ALS patients compared to healthy controls (HC).Methods Twenty-three patients with early ALS and 23 age- and education-matched HC underwent the Battery for Visuospatial Abilities (BVA), including visuo-perceptual and visuo-representational subtests.Results When compared to HC, ALS scored worse in 2 out of 4 visuo-perceptual subtests (i.e., Line Length Judgment and Line Orientation Judgment) and 1 out of 4 visuo-representational tasks (i.e., Hidden Figure Identification, HFI) (p < 0.01). No correlations arose between ALS clinical features and BVA performance. More than 80% of the ALS cohort obtained abnormal scores in the HFI subtest.Conclusions Our findings revealed that ALS scored worse (compared to HC) on selective tests tapping “perceptual” and “representational” visuospatial abilities, since the early stages of disease. In clinical practice, our findings highlight the need for multi-domain neuropsychological assessment, for monitoring disease courses and properly organizing care management of patients with ALS.
Vitamin B3 Rescues Mandibular Osteoporosis in Bmi-1–Deficient Mice by Regulating Autophagy
Authors: Liu Shuying , Chu Yiting , Yan Lixueer , Chen Hailong , Ge Jiaying , Cai Shuangyu , Wu Jun , Gong Aixiu
Published: December 2023

Background Mandible osteoporosis is gaining attention as it causes dental dysfunction and fragility; however, existing anti-osteoporosis therapies do not specifically target mandibular bone and may have negative side effects. Methods Osteoporosis mice were further treated with Vitamin B3(1mg ml-1), compared with a control set of osteoporosis without treatment and a set of wild-type group. Results Here, we demonstrated that Vitamin B3, the precursor of NAD+, significantly rescue osteoporosis inBmi-1deficient mice, a well-known premature induced osteoporosis animal modle. Our research found Vitamin B3 significantly enhanced the bone mineral density and bone volume inBmi-1deficient mice, promoted the osteogenic differentiation of both in human dental follicle precursor cells (DFPCs) andBmi-1deficient mice. Further analysis reveals the level of autophagy and mitophagy is also notably improved in mandible and cells, however the osteogenic effect of Vitamin B3 in hDFPCs was abolished when autophagy inhibition was added. Conclusion Herein, we suggest that Vitamin B3 alleviated the mandible osteoporosis ofBmi-1-deficient mice via enhancing autophagy level, paving the way for using as a potential therapy for aging osteoporosis.
Transesophageal Echocardiography Aids the Surgical Decision-Making and the Surgical Process in a Rare Case of Ascending Aorta Thrombus: A Case Report
Authors: Liu Yuchao , Zhu Bo , Miao Qi
Published: December 2023

Background Embolizing ascending aortic thrombus is a rarely reported condition. Treatment of aortic thrombus remains controversial. Transesophageal echocardiogram (TEE) is widely acknowledged as an excellent diagnostic tool in the evaluation of aortic mass.
Case Presentation We report a 61-year-old male patient presented to us with right-sided back pain accompanied with numbness in right arm for 12 hours and a history of poorly controlled hypertension and heavy smoking. Computed tomography angiography of the aorta showed filling defect in the ascending aorta. A heparin drip was initiated and emergency surgical removal was performed under cardiopulmonary bypass with the probable diagnosis of ascending aorta thrombus. TEE was performed upon general anesthesia, and confirmed irregular and mobile mass in the ascending aorta. In addition, TEE guided aortic cannulation and facilitated the surgical team to better understand the location of the thrombus. The thrombus was removed with a minimal incision. The recovery of this patient was complicated with thromboembolic events and he was finally discharged with satisfactory recovery after 56 days of hospital stay.
Conclusion Embolizing ascending aortic thrombus is a rare and dangerous condition. TEE as a real-time imaging tool helps understand the nature and the location of the embolizing entity during treatment plan making and during surgical process.
Multi-environment analysis of nutritional and grain quality traits in relation to grain yield under drought and terminal heat stress in wheat (Triticum aestivum L.)
Authors: KJ Yashavanthakumar , Navathe Sudhir , Krishnappa Gopalareddy , Ambati Divya , Baviskar Vijendra , Biradar Suma , Magar Nilesh , Mishra Chandra Nath , Mamrutha Harohalli Masthigowda , Govindan Velu , Singh Gyanendra Pratap , Singh Gyanendra
Published: December 2023

Heat and drought stress on wheat genotypes are examined in the study, emphasizing the need to improve grain yield, nutrition, and quality. Sixteen modern wheat cultivars were tested in nine environments, including normal, heat, and drought, in three peninsular Indian locations. Genotype performance in yield, nutrition, and quality parameters is assessed using multi-environment trials like AMMI and GGE Biplot. We discovered intriguing stress dynamics in Zn and Fe. Under heat stress, zinc yield increases but decreases under drought stress, while iron does the opposite. Selecting zinc, starch, and kernel weight under stress can boost yield. Protein content and yield are inversely related, making it difficult for breeders to optimize both traits. G x E interactions and stability indices have found genotypes like G12 (MP 1358) and G5 (HI 1544) with high grain yield and iron content, making them crop improvement sources. G12 (MP 1358) has high protein content. Also notable are zinc-rich G11 (MACS 4058) and G15 (WH 730). Genotype G12 (MP 1358) improved crop yield, nutritional quality, and stability "win-win". This study shows the complexity of nutrient metabolism under different stress conditions and suggests targeted breeding to improve wheat grain quality and micronutrient profiles without yield loss.
Evaluation of image quality on low contrast media with deep learning image reconstruction algorithm in prospective ECG-triggering coronary CT angiography
Authors: Yuan Dian , Wang Luotong , Lyu Peijie , Zhang Yonggao , Gao Jianbo , Liu Jie
Published: December 2023

Purpose To assess the impact of low-dose contrast medium (CM) injection protocol with deep learning image reconstruction (DLIR) algorithm on image quality in coronary CT angiography (CCTA). Methods and Materials 210 patients undergoing CCTA were prospectively and randomly assigned to three groups with different contrast volume protocols (at 320mgI/mL concentration and constant flow rate of 5ml/s): Group A, 0.7mL/kg (n = 70); Group B, 0.6mL/kg (n = 70); Group C, 0.5mL/kg (n = 70). All patients were examined via a prospective ECG-triggered scan protocol within one heartbeat. A high level DLIR (DLIR-H) algorithm was used for image reconstruction with a thickness and interval of 0.625mm. The CT values of ascending aorta (AA), descending aorta (DA), three main coronary arteries, pulmonary artery (PA), and superior vena cava (SVC) were measured and analyzed for objective assessment. Two radiologists assessed the image quality and diagnostic confidence using a 5-point Likert scale. Results The CM doses were 46.81 ± 6.41mL, 41.96 ± 7.51mL and 34.65 ± 5.38mL for Group A, B and C, respectively. The objective assessments on AA, DA and the three main coronary arteries and the overall subjective scoring showed no difference among the three groups (all p > 0.05). Group A had higher enhancements in PA and SVC than groups B and C (all p < 0.05). Conclusions CCTA reconstructed with DLIR could be realized with adequate enhancement in coronary arteries, excellent image quality and diagnostic confidence at low contrast dose of 0.5mL/kg. The use of lower tube voltages may further reduce the contrast dose requirement.
Self-supervised Pre-training for Joint Optic Disc and Cup Segmentation via Attention-Aware Network
Authors: Zhou Zhiwang , Zheng Yuanchang , Zhou Xiaoyu , Yu Jie , Rong Shangjie
Published: December 2023

Image segmentation is a fundamental task in deep learning, which is able to
analyse the essence of the images for further development. However, for the
supervised learning segmentation method, collecting pixel-level labels is very
time-consuming and labour-intensive. In the medical image processing area for
optic disc and cup segmentation, we consider there are two challenging problems
that remain unsolved. One is how to design an efficient network to capture the
global field of the medical image and execute fast in real applications. The other
is how to train the deep segmentation network using a few training data due to
some medical privacy issues. In this paper, to conquer such issues, we first design
a novel attention-aware segmentation model equipped with the multi-scale
attention module in the pyramid structure-like encoder-decoder network, which
can efficiently learn the global semantics and the long-range dependencies of the
input images. Furthermore, we also inject the prior knowledge that the optic cup
lies inside the optic disc by a novel loss function. Then, we propose a
self-supervised contrastive learning method for optic disc and cup segmentation.
The unsupervised feature representation is learned by matching an encoded query
to a dictionary of encoded keys using a contrastive technique. Finetuning the
pre-trained model using the proposed loss function can help achieve good
performance for the task. To validate the effectiveness of the proposed method,
extensive systemic evaluations on different public challenging optic disc and cup
benchmarks including DRISHTI-GS and REFUGE datasets demonstrate the
superiority of the proposed method, which can achieve new state-of-the-art
performance. The code will be made publicly available.
The ignition and evolution of a giant submarine gravity flow
Authors: Böttner Christoph , Stevenson Christopher , Englert Rebecca , Schӧnke Mischa , Geersen Jacob , Pandolpho Bruna , Feldens Peter , Krastel Sebastian
Published: December 2023

Submarine gravity flows are ubiquitous across the seafloor, occurring in all sizes and are the primary mechanism for transporting sediment from the shelf to the deep ocean. Giant flows are an enigmatic phenomenon because they often do not originate from an appropriately large landslide. Theoretical arguments propose that giant events can ignite from much smaller flows. However, quantifying how much a flow can enlarge is problematic due to their extreme size. Here, we reconstruct the properties and evolution of a giant gravity flow by mapping its traces from source to sink. The initial failure (~ 0.8 km3) entrained ~ 200 times its starting volume: catastrophically evolving into a giant flow with a total volume of ~ 162 km3 with estimated flow speeds between 15–30 m/s, and a run-out of ~ 2000 km. The entrainment of mud was the critical fuel for ignition, which promoted run-away flow growth and extreme levels of erosion.
One Case of Keratoconus with Two Consecutive re-emergences
Authors: Zhang Peicheng , Wu Yanchao , Ma Lixiao , Wang Dong
Published: December 2023

A healthy 21-year-old male presented with decreased vision in his left eye. He underwent deep anterior lamellar keratoplasty for keratoconus in his left eye in 2012 and experienced re-emergence 3 years later, followed by a second deep lamellar keratoplasty in the same year. In 2019, the patient experienced re-emergence of keratoconus and underwent a third deep lamellar keratoplasty in the same eye. Genetic testing was performed, and no abnormal genes were identified. Postoperative follow-up emphasized the management of CAC and the correction of eye-rubbing habits. To date, he has not experienced any further re-emergence.
Prognostic value of the platelet, neutrophil, monocyte, basophil, and eosinophil to lymphocyte ratios in patients with severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP)
Authors: Cui Xiao-Jiao , Xie Bo , Zhu Ke-Wei , Liao Qian-Qian , Zhou Jian-Cheng , Du Shan , Liu Xin-Xia , Chen Zhu-Jun , Yang Yong , Yi Xiaoqing
Published: December 2023

Severe community-acquired pneumonia (SCAP) is a serious respiratory inflammation disease with high morbidity and mortality. This study aimed to evaluate the prognostic value of the platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), monocyte-to-lymphocyte ratio (MLR), basophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (BLR) and eosinophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (ELR) in patients with SCAP. The study retrospectively included 554 patients with SCAP, and the clinical data were obtained from the electronic patient record (EMR) system. The primary outcome was in-hospital mortality, and the secondary outcomes included hospital length of stay (LOS), overall survival (OS), admission to ICU, ICU LOS, and ICU mortality. As a result, both increased NLR and BLR were significant but independent risk factors for in-hospital mortality; NLR was negatively correlated with hospital LOS while ELR was positively correlated with hospital LOS; both increased NLR and BLR were associated with reduced OS, while in-creased ELR was associated with improved OS; increased PLR, NLR, MLR, and BLR were all correlated with elevated ICU admission rates, while increased ELR was correlated with reduced ICU admission rates; ELR was positively correlated with ICU LOS; both higher NLR and BLR were associated with elevated ICU mortality. In summary, NLR and BLR were useful biomarkers for clinical outcomes in patients with SCAP.
Long-term fertilization and manuring effects on the nexus between sulphur distribution and SOC in an Inceptisol over five decades under a finger millet-maize cropping system
Authors: B Gokila , G Manimaran , D Jayanthi , K Sivakumar , G Sridevi , S Thenmozhi , M Elayarajan , A Renukadevi , R Sudha , P Balasubramanian
Published: December 2023

Our investigation revealed that alterations in sulphur (S) pools are predominantly governed by soil organic carbon (SOC), soil nitrogen (N), microbial biomass, and soil enzyme activities in sandy clay loam soil. We employed ten sets of nutrient management techniques, ranging from suboptimal (50% RDF) to super-optimal doses (150% RDF), including NPK + Zn, NP, N alone, S-free NPK fertilizers, NPK + FYM, and control treatments, to examine the interrelation of S with SOC characteristics. Fourier-transform infrared (FT-IR) spectroscopy was utilized to analyze the functional groups present in SOC characterization across four treatments: 100% NPK, 150% NPK, NPK + FYM, and control plots samples. Principal component analysis (PCA) was then applied to assess 29 minimal datasets, aiming to pinpoint specific soil characteristics influencing S transformation. In an Inceptisol, the application of fertilizers (100% RDF) in conjunction with 10 t ha− 1 of FYM resulted in an escalation of S pools from the surface to the subsurface stratum (OS > HSS > SO42−- S > WSS), along with an increase in soil N and SOC. FT-IR spectroscopy identified cellulose and thiocyanate functional groups in all four plots, with a pronounced presence of carbohydrate - protein polyphenol, sulfoxide (S = O), and nitrate groups specifically observed in the INM plot. The PCA findings indicated that the primary factors influencing soil quality and crop productivity (r2 of 0.69) are SOC, SMBC, SMBN, SMBS, and the enzyme activity of URE, DHA, and AS. According to the study, the combined application of fertilizer and FYM (10 t ha− 1) together exert a positive impact on sulfur transformation, SOC accumulation, and maize yield in sandy clay loam soil.
3D-DenseUNet: A New Model for BrainSegmentation in Magnetic Resonance Images
Authors: Khaled Afifa , Mubarak Ahmed , He Kun
Published: December 2023

Recent deep learning models have attracted substantial attention in infant brainanalysis. These models have performed state-of-the-art performance, such as semisupervised techniques (e.g., Temporal Ensembling, mean teacher). However, thesemodels depend on an encoder-decoder structure with stacked local operators togather long-range information, and the local operators limit the efficiency and effectiveness. Besides, the MRI data contain different tissue properties (T P s) suchas T1 and T2. One major limitation of these models is that they use both dataas inputs to the segment process, i.e., the models are trained on the dataset once,and it requires much computational and memory requirements during inference. In this work, we address the above limitations by designing a new deep-learningmodel, called 3D-DenseUNet, which works as adaptable global aggregation blocksin down-sampling to solve the issue of spatial information loss. The self-attentionmodule connects the down-sampling blocks to up-sampling blocks, and integrates the feature maps in three dimensions of spatial and channel, effectively improvingthe representation potential and discriminating ability of the model. Additionally,we propose a new method called Two Independent Teachers (2IT), that summarizes the model weights instead of label predictions. Each teacher model is trainedon different types of brain data, T1 and T2, respectively. Then, a fuse model isadded to improve test accuracy and enable training with fewer parameters andlabels compared to the Temporal Ensembling method without modifying the network architecture. Empirical results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposedmethod. The code is publicly available at: https://github.com/AfifaKhaled/Two-Independent-Teachers-are-Better-Role-Model
Analysis of cytokine profiles in pediatric fulminant myocarditis and acute myocarditis multicenter study
Authors: Nomura Yoji , Suzuki Takanori , Kunida Katsuyuki , Uchida Hidetoshi , Ito Ryoichi , Oshima Yasunori , Kito Machiko , Imai Yuki , Kawai Satoru , Kozawa Kei , Saito Kazuyoshi , Hata Tadayoshi , Yoshimoto Junichiro , Yoshikawa Tetsushi , Yasuda Kazushi
Published: December 2023

Introduction: Acute myocarditis (AM) is an inflammatory disease of the heart muscle that can progress to fulminant myocarditis (FM), a severe and life-threatening condition. The cytokine profile of myocarditis in children, especially in relation to fulminant myocarditis, is not well understood. This study aims to evaluate the cytokine profiles of acute and fulminant myocarditis in children.
Method: Pediatric patients diagnosed with myocarditis were included in the study. Cytokine levels were measured using a multiplexed fluorescent bead-based immunoassay. Statistical analysis was performed to compare patient characteristics and cytokine levels between FM, AM, and healthy control (HC) groups. Principal component analysis (PCA) was applied to cytokine groups that were independent among the FM, AM, and HC groups.
Result: The study included twenty-two patients with FM and fourteen with AM patients. We identified 4 cytokines that were significantly higher in the FM group compared to the AM group: IL1-RA (p=0.002), IL-8 (p=0.005), IL-10 (p=0.011), and IL-15 (p=0.005). IL-4 was significantly higher in the AM group compared to FM and HC groups (p=0.006, and 0.0015). PDGF-AA, and VEGF-A were significantly lower in the FM group than in the AM group (p=0.013, and <0.001). Similar results were obtained in PCA.
Conclusion: Cytokine profiles might be used to differentiate pediatric FM from AM, stratify severity, and predict prognosis. The targeted therapy that works individual cytokines might provide a potential treatment for reducing the onset of the FM and calming the condition, and further studies are needed.
Book merch in the social network TikTok
Authors: Podolyaka Nadia
Published: December 2023

Introduction. The article examines the practices of using the Tiktok social network to promote book merch and popularize books. An analysis of specialized pages offering merch and booktoker channels that cooperate with publishing houses in disseminating information about new products, as well as publishing house pages in tiktok, was carried out.
Relevance of research. The source base of the research was the websites of book publishers and pages of booktubers in the Tiktok social network. This made it possible to get an idea of how the social network is used in the book business and how much merch helps to develop reader tastes and preferences, create a better product, attract new users to buy books. It is argued that the topic is almost not developed in the scientific environment, a comprehensive study of the experience of using tiktok in the promotion of book products and merch products has not taken place, and therefore researchers have the opportunity to expand the boundaries of understanding the tools of the platform.
Methodology. Traditional methods of analysis, synthesis, generalization, induction and deduction are used. The descriptive method was used to interpret the researched phenomena in the book business. Among the specialized methods, we note the method of continuous sampling of accounts of the largest publishing houses of Ukraine, which have official pages on the platform, as well as accounts of top booktube pages that offer merch products.
The results. Unboxing videos of book boxes, which also include book merch, scented candle sets, bookmarks and art cards featuring the book’s main characters, bracelets and pendants, have proven to be the most popular online. Among the problematic issues, the fact that the vast majority of tiktokers pay attention to bright packaging, almost not focusing on the content of books, due to which the value of the book, its social significance, its educational and cognitive functions is lost. Instead, it promotes aesthetic pleasure and entertainment, which are embedded in the original design of the platform itself.
Conclusions. So, the scientific community has yet to evaluate the benefits or harms of the platform, but it already provides an opportunity to expand the circle of book and reading lovers, even at the expense of bright videos and attractive merch products.
The level of climate risk reporting performance and firm characteristics: Evidence from the Saudi Stock Exchange
Authors: Hodaed Alsheikh Awatif , Hodaed Alsheikh Warda
Published: December 2023

In recent decades, stakeholders have begun to place a greater emphasis on sustainability-related issues, including climate change. Furthermore, the implementation of climate change initiatives has prompted companies to disclose information regarding their evaluation and handling of climate-related risks and potential benefits. However, there is a lack of existing literature that investigates this issue in less developed markets, particularly in Saudi Arabia, where the capital market is rapidly developing. The objective of this study is to assess the degree of performance in reporting climate risk and investigate potential correlations between climate risk reporting performance and firm characteristics among non-financial firms in Saudi Arabia during the period from 2018 to 2021. To achieve the objectives of the study, a total of 515 firm-year observations were utilized, representing 140 non-financial firms in the context of Saudi Arabia. The study’s findings illustrate that the climate risk reporting performance level has steadily improved in Saudi companies over the years. In addition, the findings reveal that firm size and industry exhibit a positive correlation with climate risk reporting performance. Conversely, firm leverage and profitability do not demonstrate such associations. The results are in line with alternative measures of climate risk reporting performance, as well as when climate risk reporting performance is broken down into the four core elements. Policymakers and market regulators could use these results to promote awareness of the factors that influence climate risk reporting performance and to enhance sustainable practices.
Use of veno-venous extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for stabilization prior to redo sternotomy for aortic pseudoaneurysm repair
Authors: Lee Anson , Larson Emily , Chinedozi Ifeanyi , Lawton Jennifer , Aziz Hamza
Published: December 2023

Background: Aortic pseudoaneurysms are particularly dangerous because of the risk of rupture and compression of mediastinal structures, including the trachea, and resultant respiratory distress. If respiratory distress progresses to respiratory failure, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation may be used to provide oxygenation prior to or during pseudoaneurysm repair.
Case presentation: A 62-year-old male with a history of emergent aortic ascending and arch replacement for Stanford Type A dissection 10 months prior presented to his primary care physician with dyspnea. Chest radiography revealed a widened mediastinum, and subsequent computed tomography angiogram revealed a pseudoaneurysm at the distal suture line of the aortic arch replacement. Due to the location of the pseudoaneurysm, the patient’s trachea was compressed, and he was emergently placed on veno-venous (VV) extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) following unsuccessful intubation for respiratory distress. Two days later, the patient underwent a redo sternotomy and repair of a 2-3 mm defect in the anterior aspect of the distal suture line of the prior aortic arch replacement. The patient progressed well and was discharged on postoperative day 13.

What we learned: Using a combination of peripheral bypass, hypothermic circulatory arrest, delayed closure, and respiratory support, this case demonstrates how even complex patients can be successfully treated with multiple strategies.
Wastewater treatment using microalgal–bacterial consortia in the photo-activated sludge process
Authors: Rada-Ariza A. , Lopez-Vazquez C. , Van der Steen N. P. , Lens P. N. L.
Published: December 2023

Nitrogen-rich wastewaters (10–400 mg N/L) are produced by municipal, industrial and agricultural wastes, including effluents from anaerobic treatment processes. These represent a risk to the environment due to the high nutrient concentrations (nitrogen and phosphorous), which can cause eutrophication of water bodies, deteriorating the quality of the ecosystems. As a solution, the nitrogen removal capacity of a novel bio-treatment system, the photo-activated sludge (PAS), composed of microalgae and bacteria consortia can be applied. Photobioreactors used for the simultaneous cultivation of microalgae and bacteria under sequencing batch conditions showed that microalgal–bacterial consortia can remove ammonium 50% faster than solely microalgal consortia. The increase in ammonium removal rates is due to the action of nitrifying bacteria, supplied with oxygen produced by the algae. The microalgal–bacterial system offers the possibility of reducing the hydraulic retention time, which can decrease the large area requirements often demanded by algal systems. The SRT is the main parameter to control the efficiency of the technology. The control of the suspended solids concentration, by adjusting the SRT, influences the light penetration within the reactor, which can limit or enhance the oxygen production of the algae. The photo-activated sludge system using microalgal–bacterial consortia is a sustainable treatment option for ammonium-rich wastewaters, providing clean effluents and opening reuse options for the biomass.
Processes and biorefinery approach for enhanced algal bioproduct recovery in the form of lipid and UV protectant
Authors: Chandra Rashmi , Hooshmand Masoomeh
Published: December 2023

This chapter discusses various methodologies for lipid extraction, including solvent extraction, enzymatic treatment, ultrasonic aided extraction, and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction, underscoring the need for further research and optimization for large-scale applications. The chapter further explores the potential symbiotic relationship between algal fuel production and waste treatment. This strategy effectively utilizes microalgae's natural ability to thrive in adverse conditions and sequester CO2 and other pollutants. This approach can simultaneously reduce the environmental footprint while generating valuable biomass for biodiesel production. Another noteworthy point the chapter brings forward is the ability of microalgae to produce valuable compounds under environmental stress, particularly UV radiation. The UV-absorbing compounds such as mycosporine-like amino acids (MAAs) and scytonemin, present substantial potential for use in the cosmetic and pharmaceutical sectors due to their potent UV absorption and photoprotective properties.
Effectiveness of environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 as an early-warning system: Update of a systematic review during the second year of the pandemic
Authors: Baz Lomba Jose Antonio , Pires João , Myrmel Mette , Arnø Jorunn Karterud , Madslien Elisabeth Henie , Langlete Petter , Amato Ettore , Hyllestad Susanne
Published: December 2023

The aim of this updated systematic review was to offer an overview of the effectiveness of environmental surveillance (ES) of SARS-CoV-2 as a potential early-warning system (EWS) for COVID-19 and new variants of concerns (VOCs) during the second year of the pandemic. An updated literature search was conducted to evaluate the added value of ES of SARS-CoV-2 for public health decisions. The search for studies published between June 2021 and July 2022 resulted in 1,588 publications, identifying 331 articles for full-text screening. A total of 151 publications met our inclusion criteria for the assessment of the effectiveness of ES as an EWS and early detection of SARS-CoV-2 variants. We identified a further 30 publications among the grey literature. ES confirms its usefulness as an EWS for detecting new waves of SARS-CoV-2 infection with an average lead time of 1–2 weeks for most of the publication. ES could function as an EWS for new VOCs in areas with no registered cases or limited clinical capacity. Challenges in data harmonization and variant detection require standardized approaches and innovations for improved public health decision-making. ES confirms its potential to support public health decision-making and resource allocation in future outbreaks.
Integrating wastewater reuse into water management schemes of Caribbean SIDS: A Trinidad and Tobago case study
Authors: Roopnarine Ronald , Baird Kervelle , Hosein Mikella , Jackson Renee , Salim Shehnaaz , Cephas Anisha , Daley Oral , Gangapersad Samantha , Govia Sara-Jade , Cashman Adrian , Crichlow Akil , Pinongcos Federick
Published: December 2023

Integrating Wastewater Reuse (WWRU) into national Water Management Schemes (WMS) is crucial as Small Island Developing States (SIDS) attempt to cope with water resource constraints in a changing climate. In 2022, the Global Environment Facility Caribbean Regional Fund (GEF CReW+) on Wastewater Management, the Ministry of Public Utilities (MPU), Trinidad and Tobago and the Trinidad and Tobago Bureau of Standards (TTBS) spearheaded the development of a national voluntary standard for treated wastewater reuse focused on agricultural and landscaping uses. During the process, the MPU conducted a Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) and Willingness to Pay (WTP) assessment to inform the standard and subsequent implementation. Results indicated `good' knowledge on wastewater and WWRU (59.3%), however attitudes and practices were considered `poor'. Inferential Statistics performed on numerically coded survey response data revealed no statistically significant relation with the demographic factors assessed; 84.1% of respondents were willing to use treated wastewater with health concerns identified as the main barrier; 27.3% of respondents were willing to pay the same price as conventional water, while 31.2% were willing to pay 25 -50% less. This assessment can inform the implementation and pricing process and provide valuable insights to increase the uptake of WWRU in the region.
Countering Cyberattacks on the Energy Sector in the Russian Federation and the USA
Authors: Shestak V. , Tsyplakova A.
Published: December 2023

The USA leads the way in the Global Cybersecurity Index, in particular 1st place in 2015, 2020 and 2nd in 2017, 2018. Researchers are interested in examining their prevention of cyberattacks as one of the main cybersecurity threats, since Russia takes only 5th place since 2020. Provided the authors underline neglecting the principle of organized response to crime, the paper examines the pros and cons of countering cyberattacks in the U.S. energy sector and compares it with the Russian Federation. The researchers have found the American strategy is based on standardization and various platforms on the grounds of so-called security in depth, while Russian approach is wider, but demands for more details and miscellaneous mechanisms to share experience. Comparing the cybersecurity plans and strategies for U.S. energy facilities, the authors note that the U.S. specialists neglect physical safety in comparison to Russia. The diversity of bodies with vague powers is a con of the American system that the Russian Federation is trying to avoid, but the interaction between government and private representatives is stronger in the United States of America.
The COVID-19 Response of BRICS and Multilateral Development Banks
Authors: Silva R. L. , Almeida T. F.
Published: December 2023

This article conducts an analysis of the BRICS member countries in terms of their national and international institutions, with a special emphasis on how these institutions affect the stability of the global financial system and the promotion of development. To this end, the work was guided by the attributions of national central banks and the role played by the G20 in maintaining international financial stabilization. Additionally, the analysis examines the activities of national development banks and their institutions established within the BRICS nations, such as the Contingent Reserve Arrangement and the New Development Bank. The descriptive method was used to interpret the dynamics of international political and legal relations. The article concludes by recognizing the decreasing significance of multilateral solutions and highlighting the need for the national central and development banks of the BRICS countries to engage in communication with international organizations of financial cooperation.
Edible Oils and Development of New Products: Sensory, Microbiological, and
Cytotoxic Aspects
Authors: do Espírito Santo de Jesus Fabiane , de Jesus Freitas Tayane , Bispo Alana Moreira , de Matos Santos Lívia , Braga Alves Agnes Sophia , Aparecida Souza Machado Bruna , Ferreira Ribeiro Camila Duarte
Published: December 2023

Edible oils offer several health benefits. Their inclusion in food products can improve the nutritional
profile while reducing saturated and trans fats. This research aimed to evaluate the sensory, microbiological, and
cytotoxic characteristics of edible oils and analyze how these characteristics behave when oils are added to food
products. A comprehensive search of scientific articles was conducted in the databases and virtual libraries
DOAJ, IOP Science, MDPI, Scopus, SpringerLink, Taylor & Francis Online, and Wiley Online Library, using a
time frame from 2000 to 2023. Fish oils and oil blends were widely used in these studies. The analyzed studies
demonstrated satisfactory results regarding flavor, appearance, and overall acceptance of edible oils. Low microbial
growth was also found, and no toxicity was reported in the studies. Among the 70 studies reviewed, a
substantial majority (76%) introduced edible oils into food formulations, focusing on dairy, baked, and confectionery
products. Most of the studies that applied oils in foods showed no significant difference (p > 0.05) in
attributes such as color, texture, aroma, and overall acceptance compared to products without oil addition (control).
Encapsulation techniques for oils and the incorporation of flavorings were identified as effective strategies
for seamlessly integrating edible oils into food products. Considering the importance of the characteristics of
edible oils, this study can encourage, and support researchers interested in exploring this field and developing
innovative oil-based food products.
Therapeutic Potential of Targeting Transforming Growth Factor-beta
(TGF-β) and Programmed Death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) in Pancreatic Cancer
Authors: Pourali Ghazaleh , Zafari Nima , Velayati Mahla , Mehrabadi Shima , Maftooh Mina , Hassanian Seyed Mahdi , Ghayour Mobarhan Majid , Ferns Gordon A. , Avan Amir , Khazaei Majid
Published: December 2023

Pancreatic cancer (PC) is one the most lethal malignancies worldwide affecting around
half a million individuals each year. The treatment of PC is relatively difficult due to the difficulty
in making an early diagnosis. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-β) is a multifunctional factor
acting as both a tumor promoter in early cancer stages and a tumor suppressor in advanced disease.
Programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) is a ligand of programmed death-1 (PD-1), an immune
checkpoint receptor, allowing tumor cells to avoid elimination by immune cells. Recently, targeting
the TGF-β signaling and PD-L1 pathways has emerged as a strategy for cancer therapy. In this
review, we have summarized the current knowledge regarding these pathways and their contribution
to tumor development with a focus on PC. Moreover, we have reviewed the role of TGF-β
and PD-L1 blockade in the treatment of various cancer types, including PC, and discussed the clinical
trials evaluating TGF-β and PD-L1 antagonists in PC patients.
Recent Progress and Challenges in Clinical Translation of Nanomedicines
in Diagnosis and Treatment of Lung Cancer
Authors: Yadav Bhavna , Chauhan Mahima , Singh Rahul Pratap , Sonali  , Shekhar Saurabh
Published: December 2023

Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of death across the world. There are numerous
challenges in the early diagnosis and effective treatment of lung cancer, including developing multidrug
resistance. However, the diagnosis of lung cancer could be minimally invasive or non-invasive.
Nowadays, nanomedicines offer solutions to several emerging challenges in drug delivery research
areas. It has the potential to enhance the therapeutic efficacy of biologically and chemically
active agents at the site of action. This approach can also be employed in molecular and cellular
imaging, precise and early detection, screening, and targeting drugs for lung cancer treatment. A
proper understanding of the disease and timely diagnosis using strategically designed effective
nanocarriers can be a promising approach to effectively managing cancer. The present review explores
issues related to lung cancer chemotherapy and the promises and hurdles of newer approaches
like nanomedicine. The article also summarizes the preclinical studies on diagnosis and
treatment, pitfalls, and challenges in the clinical translation of nanomedicines for lung cancer therapy.
Development and Validation of an Analytical RP-HPLC Method for Simultaneous Estimation of Losartan and its Active Metabolite (EXP-3174) in Isolated Perfused Rat Liver
Authors: Toolabi Mahsa , Ramezankhani Reyhaneh , Rahbar Nadereh , Dibaei Maryam , Foroumadi Alireza , Lavasani Hoda , Kazemi Vida , Rouini Mohammadreza
Published: December 2023

Background:

The liver perfusion method is frequently used in drug pharmacokinetic
studies and the various effects of drugs on liver tissue. The aim of this study was to establish and
validate an analytical method using high-performance liquid chromatography to determine the simultaneous
concentration of losartan and its active metabolite, EXP-3174, in an isolated perfused rat
liver study.

Method:

An HPLC system with isocratic mode was used. Various chromatographic parameters
were adjusted to develop and validate a method for determination of losartan and its active metabolite
in liver perfusion media.

Results:

In this study, losartan and its active metabolite, EXP-3174, were separated using a C18 stationary
phase, a mobile phase consisting of acetonitrile: phosphate buffer at a flow rate of
1 mL.min-1, and UV detection at 254 nm. Retention times for losartan and the metabolite were 10
and 16 minutes, respectively. Linearity from 25-250 ng.ml-1 was validated with acceptable accuracy
and precision. The LOD and LOQ for losartan were 7.0 and 21.1 ng.ml-1, respectively. The LOD
and LOQ for metabolite were 7.4 and 22.4 ng.ml-1, respectively. ChromGate® software was used to
acquire and process the data.

Conclusions:

The optimized and validated technique was effectively used to analyze losartan and
its active metabolite in isolated perfused rat liver.
The Role of Polar Optical Modes in Wide Bandgap Semiconductor Quantum Structures
Authors: Stavrou V.N. , Tsoulos I.G. , Mastorakis N.E.
Published: December 2023

:

In this paper, the interface polariton (IP), the confined (CF) modes in nanostructures
made with wide bandgap semiconductors, as well as their contributions to the carrier scattering
mechanism have been investigated. An asymmetric quantum well (AQW) made with
ZnSe/CdSe/ZnS has been studied. More specifically, the dielectric continuum (DC) model has
been employed to describe both the IP and the CF modes. Additionally, the Fermi golden rule
has been used to estimate the electron transition rate within the asymmetric structure. Our numerical results show that the scattering rate for an electron which is localized at the bottom of
the first subband above the well and drops within the quantum well, is characterized by regular
peaks with an almost linear increase as the size of the QW increases. The emerge peaks are related to two different physical characteristics of the AQW system. These peaks are related to
electron resonances and the threshold phonon emission (both CF and IP) called phonon resonances. The scattering rate of an electron which is localized at the bottom of the second subband
above the well and makes transitions to all possible states within the quantum well gives only
rise to phonon resonances. The research highlights the importance of the CF and IP modes on
transition rates and their dependence on both the size of the quantum well and the asymmetry of
the barrier materials.

:

PACS: 68.65.Fg, 74.25.Kc, 63.22.−m, 63.22.+m
Optimized Hybrid Deep Learning for Real-Time Pandemic Data Forecasting: Long and Short-Term Perspectives
Authors: Dash Sujata , Giri Sourav Kumar , Pani Subhendu Kumar , Mallik Saurav , Wang Mingqiang , Qin Hong
Published: December 2023

Background:

With new variants of COVID-19 causing challenges, we need to focus on
integrating multiple deep-learning frameworks to develop intelligent healthcare systems for early detection
and diagnosis.

Objective:

This article suggests three hybrid deep learning models, namely CNN-LSTM, CNN-Bi-
LSTM, and CNN-GRU, to address the pressing need for an intelligent healthcare system. These
models are designed to capture spatial and temporal patterns in COVID-19 data, thereby improving
the accuracy and timeliness of predictions. An output forecasting framework integrates these models,
and an optimization algorithm automatically selects the hyperparameters for the 13 baselines and the
three proposed hybrid models.

Methods:

Real-time time series data from the five most affected countries were used to test the effectiveness
of the proposed models. Baseline models were compared, and optimization algorithms were
employed to improve forecasting capabilities.

Results:

CNN-GRU and CNN-LSTM are the top short- and long-term forecasting models. CNNGRU
had the best performance with the lowest SMAPE and MAPE values for long-term forecasting
in India at 3.07% and 3.17%, respectively, and impressive results for short-term forecasting with
SMAPE and MAPE values of 1.46% and 1.47%.

Conclusion:

Hybrid deep learning models, like CNN-GRU, can aid in early COVID-19 assessment
and diagnosis. They detect patterns in data for effective governmental strategies and forecasting. This
helps manage and mitigate the pandemic faster and more accurately.
Recent Patents on Block Particle Collision Performance Test Bench
Authors: Sun Bowen , Xing Bangsheng , Yang Daolong
Published: December 2023

Background:

China is rich in mineral resources with a complete range of types. Currently,
163 kinds of minerals have been found, and 149 kinds of minerals with Proven reserves,
including 7 kinds of energy minerals, 54 kinds of metal minerals, and 86 kinds of non-metallic
minerals. Ore particles can undergo various collisions during mining and transportation.

Objective:

Because particle collision behavior can greatly affect particle size and particle properties
during the final application, it can also lead to the generation of a large amount of dust during
processing and transportation, seriously affecting environmental quality. Therefore, exploring the
collision performance of particle collisions is very important.

Method:

This test bench can compensate for the shortcomings of existing particle collision measurement
technologies, by measuring the motion trajectory after collision between particles, as well
as the collision force between particles and metal plates, as well as the motion trajectory after collision.

Results:

The test bench has the advantages of a simple structure, a small footprint, diverse functions,
and stable operation.

Conclusion:

This test bench can be used for measuring the collision force and post-collision motion
trajectory of block particles and has broad practicality and strong innovation.
Deterministic Weight Modification-based Extreme Learning Machine for
Stock Price Prediction
Authors: Kalaiselvi K. , David Vasantha Kalyani
Published: December 2023

Background:

The prediction of the stock price is considered to be one of the most fascinating
and important research and patent topics in the financial sector.

Aims:

Making more accurate predictions is a difficult and significant task because the financial
industry supports investors and the national economy.

Objectives:

The DWM is used to adjust the connection weights and biases to enhance prediction
precision and convergence rate. DWM was proposed as a method to reduce system error by
changing the weights of various levels. The methods for predictable changes in weight were provided
together with the computational difficulty.

Methods:

An extreme learning machine (ELM) is a fast-learning method for training a singlehidden
layer neural network (SLFN). However, the model's learning process is ineffective or incomplete
due to the randomly chosen weights and biases of the input's hidden layers. Hence, this
article presents a deterministic weight modification (DWM) based ELM called DWM-ELM for
predicting the stock price.

Results:

The calculated results showed that DWM-ELM had the best predictive performance,
with RMSE (root mean square error) of 0.0096, MAE (mean absolute error) of 0.0563, 0.0428,
MAPE (mean absolute percentage error) of 1.7045, and DS (Directional Symmetry) of 89.34.

Conclusion:

The experimental results showed that, in comparison to other well-known prediction
algorithms, the suggested DWM+ELM prediction model offers better prediction performance.