bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Study of the Correlation between the Urban Wind–Heat Environment and Urban Development Elements in High-Density Urban Areas: A Case Study of Central Shanghai
Authors: Li Jiaxuan , Yang Zhen , Zhao Xu , Li Yu , Huang Xiaowen , Chen Yihan , Shi Fangzhou
Published: January 2024

To prevent damage to human life and health caused by high temperatures and extreme weather and to promote sustainable urban development, it is necessary to optimize the layout of urban development elements to improve the urban wind–heat environment. Taking the high-density urban area of Shanghai as an example, this study used wavelet analysis to investigate the cyclic changes of the average annual temperature of Shanghai from 1950 to 2022 and the average annual wind speed of Shanghai from 2000 to 2020. The correlation between the urban heat environment and the urban development elements was analyzed using geographically weighted regression. The correlation was then examined using BP neural network, and finally, the impacts of different urban spatial patterns on the wind environment were analyzed using CFD numerical simulation. The results show that the average annual temperature of Shanghai city has an overall upward trend, with significant cycles of 44 and 32 years that are shortening over time. The average annual wind speed has a downward trend, with a significant main cycle of 22 years. Greening and water coverage, as well as the floor area ratio, have a significant reducing effect on surface temperature, whereas building density is positively correlated with surface temperature. Building density has a significant reducing effect on wind speed, whereas the effect of floor area ratio is not significant. The effect of building density on wind speed is significantly weakened, whereas the effect of the floor area ratio is not significant. This study provides valuable references for Shanghai and other high-density cities to optimize urban spatial patterns in order to improve the safety and comfort of the urban wind–heat environments. This study is of significant importance and value in promoting sustainable urban development, protecting the health of urban residents, and advancing spatial justice and equal well-being.
Soluble Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme 2 Protein Improves Survival and Lowers Viral Titers in Lethal Mouse Model of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 Infection with the Delta Variant
Authors: Cianfarini Cosimo , Hassler Luise , Wysocki Jan , Hassan Abdelsabour , Nicolaescu Vlad , Elli Derek , Gula Haley , Ibrahim Amany M. , Randall Glenn , Henkin Jack , Batlle Daniel
Published: January 2024

Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) utilizes angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) as its main receptor for cell entry. We bioengineered a soluble ACE2 protein termed ACE2 618-DDC-ABD that has increased binding to SARS-CoV-2 and prolonged duration of action. Here, we investigated the protective effect of this protein when administered intranasally to k18-hACE2 mice infected with the aggressive SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant. k18-hACE2 mice were infected with the SARS-CoV-2 Delta variant by inoculation of a lethal dose (2 × 104 PFU). ACE2 618-DDC-ABD (10 mg/kg) or PBS was administered intranasally six hours prior and 24 and 48 h post-viral inoculation. All animals in the PBS control group succumbed to the disease on day seven post-infection (0% survival), whereas, in contrast, there was only one casualty in the group that received ACE2 618-DDC-ABD (90% survival). Mice in the ACE2 618-DDC-ABD group had minimal disease as assessed using a clinical score and stable weight, and both brain and lung viral titers were markedly reduced. These findings demonstrate the efficacy of a bioengineered soluble ACE2 decoy with an extended duration of action in protecting against the aggressive Delta SARS-CoV-2 variant. Together with previous work, these findings underline the universal protective potential against current and future emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants.
The COVID-19 Pandemic Increased the Incidence of New-Onset Type One Diabetes in Children
Authors: Blumenfeld Orit , Rozenshmidt Mikhail , Eini Idan , Laron Zvi
Published: January 2024

Background: The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incidence rate of childhood type 1 diabetes (T1D) is controversial. Our aim was to analyze the incidence of new-onset T1D among children aged 0–17 before and during the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Methods: Data obtained from the national T1D registry for children aged 0–17 were analyzed for the pre-pandemic (1997–2019) and pandemic (2020–2022) periods. In the pre-pandemic period, 7246 children with newly diagnosed T1D were compared with 1490 children diagnosed during the pandemic period. Results: T1D incidence significantly increased in the 0–17 age group from a mean of 12.9/105 (pre-pandemic) to 17.7/105 and 16.7/105 during the first two years of the pandemic (2020 and 2021, respectively) (p = 0.0001). Stratifying by age group (0–4, 5–9, 10–14, and 15–17) revealed a significant increase in the 5–9, 10–14, and 15–17 groups, both in 2020 (p = 0.0001) and in 2021 (p = 0.0001). The incidence rate in the 0–4 age group showed no change in the first year of the pandemic (2020) (p = 0.4). However, in the second year of the pandemic (2021), there was a significant increase from 6.3/105 in the pre-pandemic period to 9.1/105 (p = 0.001). Anti-COVID-19 vaccination in 2022 led to a significant decrease in the incidence rates in the 10–14 and 15–17 age groups (p = 0.03 and p = 0.02, respectively). Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic was associated with a significant increase in the incidence of new-onset T1D in prepubertal and pubertal children. Anti-COVID-19 vaccination decreased the incidence rate significantly only in pubertal children.
Phytotherapy Might Have a Role in Reducing Unnecessary Prostate Biopsies: Results from an Exploratory, Randomized Controlled Trial of Two Different Phytotherapeutic Agents
Authors: Cai Tommaso , Tamanini Irene , Puglisi Marco , Bizzotto Leonardo , Rizzo Michele , Liguori Giovanni , Gallelli Luca , Palmieri Alessandro , Bjerklund Johansen Truls E.
Published: January 2024

Background: We aimed to evaluate the impact of two different phytotherapeutic agents on decision making regarding prostate biopsy for patients with higher-than-normal prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels. Methods: From June 2022 to May 2023, all patients attending two urological institutions due to higher-than-normal PSA levels were randomized to receive either oral capsules of Curcuma Longa, Boswellia, Pinus pinaster and Urtica dioica (Group A) or Serenoa Repens 320 mg (Group B) for 3 months. At the follow-up visit after 3 months, all patients underwent PSA tests and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI). Results: In the per-protocol analysis, data from 66 patients in Group A and 76 in Group B were analyzed. Fifty patients in Group A (75.7%) showed a significant reduction in total PSA compared to forty-nine in Group B (64.4%) (p < 0.001). Twenty-eight patients had PI-RADS III or higher in mpMRI: twelve in Group A and fourteen in Group B. Twenty-three patients (34.8%) in Group A and fifty-nine (77.6%) in Group B (p < 0.001) underwent prostate biopsy based on the mpMRI findings and PSA values. Three patients in Group A showed a significant reduction in total PSA values while having positive mpMRI findings (6%) compared with nine in Group B (19.5%) (p < 0.001). On the contrary, 7 patients in Group A did not show significant reduction in total PSA values and had negative mpMRI findings (43%) compared to 22 in Group B (81.4%) (p < 0.001). Conclusions: In conclusion, a three-month course of a combination of Curcuma Longa, Boswellia, Pinus pinaster and Urtica dioica seems to be an interesting tool to avoid unnecessary prostate biopsies among men with higher-than-normal PSA levels.
Correction: Liang et al. Study on the Rapid Degradation Performance of Salix/Wheat Straw Fiber Degradable Film. Coatings 2023, 13, 1803
Authors: Liang Yuehui , Zhang Qian , Wang Bo , Liang Zhanpeng , Wang Xin
Published: January 2024

In the original publication [...]
Correlates of Bird Collection Compositions in Thai Zoos: Implications for Conservation and Management
Authors: Fourage Anna , Nekaris K.A.I. , Shepherd Chris R. , Nijman Vincent
Published: January 2024

Zoo collection management is increasingly driven by meeting global conservation needs. Many avian species have experienced population declines throughout Southeast Asia, underscoring the importance of ex situ conservation in these countries. We focus on Thailand, a bird diversity hotspot with a long tradition of keeping birds in captive settings. We aimed to understand what drives species acquisition and maintenance in Thai zoos. To that end, we surveyed 55 zoos, making a complete inventory of reptiles, birds, and mammals on display. We recorded 249 bird species, of which 149 are not native to Thailand. Bird species diversity was positively correlated with mammal species diversity but not with the entry ticket price, the Gross Domestic Product of the province in which the zoo was based, or the size of the zoo. Diversity did differ significantly between zoo types (accredited, government and private zoos). There was a clear difference in the proportion of native and non-native species between zoos, with private zoos containing the highest number of non-native species, which may be related to the licensing status of these zoos. The composition of bird species in Thai zoos appears to be largely driven by their availability, the legal status for keeping them and serendipity. The conservation status seems to be of minor importance, contradicting the typical role of a zoo. To be considered global conservation players, zoos in countries of high species diversity, such as Thailand, have the unique opportunity to provide breeding programmes for some of the rarest species, yet they must improve their collection management plans to focus on such aims.
Impact of COVID-19 on ‘Start Smart, Then Focus’ Antimicrobial Stewardship at One NHS Foundation Trust in England Prior to and during the Pandemic
Authors: Abdelsalam Elshenawy Rasha , Umaru Nkiruka , Aslanpour Zoe
Published: January 2024

Background: Antimicrobial resistance (AMR), a major global public health threat that has caused 1.2 million deaths, calls for immediate action. Antimicrobial stewardship (AMS) promotes judicious antibiotic use, but the COVID-19 pandemic increased AMR by 15%. Although there are paramount data on the impact of COVID-19 on AMS, empirical data on AMS implementation during the pandemic are lacking. This study aimed to investigate antibiotic prescribing and AMS implementation prior to the pandemic (PP) in 2019 and during the pandemic (DP) in 2020 at one NHS Foundation Trust in England. Method: This cross-sectional study involved adult patients admitted to one NHS Foundation Trust in England, focusing on those prescribed antibiotics for respiratory tract infections (RTIs). This included cases of pneumonia in both years under study and COVID-19 cases in 2020. Data were retrospectively extracted from medical records using a validated data extraction tool, which was developed based on the ‘Start Smart, Then Focus’ (SSTF) approach of the AMS Toolkit. Results: This study included 640 patients. The largest age group in the study was 66–85 years, comprising 156 individuals (48.8%) PP in 2019 and 148 (46.3%) DP in 2020. CAP was the predominant diagnosis, affecting approximately 126 (39.4%) PP and 136 (42.5%) DP patients. Regarding the timing of antibiotic review post-admission, reviews were typically conducted within 48–72 h, with no significant difference between 2019 and 2020, with an odds ratio of 1.02 (95% CI 0.97 to 1.08, p-Value = 0.461). During the pandemic, there was a significant difference in both AMS interventions, ‘Continue Antibiotics’ and ‘De-escalation’, with odds ratios of 3.36 (95% CI 1.30–9.25, p = 0.015) and 2.77 (95% CI 1.37–5.70, p = 0.005), respectively. Conclusion: This study emphasises the need for robust AMS to ensure adherence to guidelines. It acknowledges the impact of comorbidities and advocates for sustained stewardship efforts to combat resistance both during and after the pandemic era.
Haematological Profile and ACE2 Levels of COVID-19 Patients in a Metropolis in Ghana
Authors: Ackah Ezekiel B. , Owusu Michael , Sackey Benedict , Boamah Justice K. , Kamasah Japhet S. , Aduboffour Albert A. , Akortia Debora , Nkrumah Gifty , Amaniampong Andrews , Klevor Nicholas , Agyemang Lawrence D. , Ayisi-Boateng Nana K. , Sylverken Augustina , Phillips Richard O. , Owusu-Dabo Ellis
Published: January 2024

Background: Several studies have linked coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) risk to age and ABO blood groups. Variations in plasma angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) levels and blood counts have been reported, suggesting an association between disease severity and low lymphocyte levels. Aim: this study aimed to understand how these factors relate to COVID-19 in Ghanaian patients, considering geographical and demographic differences. Methods: Participants were recruited from six hospitals in Kumasi, Ghana, between June 2020 and July 2021. Nasopharyngeal swabs were taken to test for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), and blood samples were collected for complete blood count testing, ABO/Rhesus typing, and assessment of plasma ACE2 levels. Demographic and COVID-19 severity data were gathered, and IBM SPSS version 25.0 was used for analysis. Results: Overall, 515 patients were enrolled, out of which 55.9% (n = 288/515) were males and 50.3% (n = 259/515) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2. The median age was 37 years (IQR = 26–53). Age was significantly associated with SARS-CoV-2 infection (p = 0.002). The severe COVID-19 group was the oldest (70 years, IQR = 35–80) and presented with anaemia (haemoglobin, g/dL: 9.55, IQR = 7.85–11.93), leukocytosis (WBC × 103/μL: 15.87, IQR = 6.68–19.80), neutrophilia (NEUT × 106/μL: 14.69, IQR = 5.70–18.96) and lymphocytopenia (LYMPH × 106/μL: 0.47, IQR = 0.22–0.66). No association was found between SARS-CoV-2 positivity and ABO (p = 0.711) or Rh (p = 0.805) blood groups; no association was also found between plasma ACE2 levels and SARS-CoV-2 status (p = 0.079). However, among COVID-19 participants, plasma ACE2 levels were significantly reduced in the moderate illness group (40.68 ng/mL, IQR = 34.09–48.10) compared with the asymptomatic group (50.61 ng/mL, IQR = 43.90–58.61, p = 0.015). Conclusions: While there may be no real association between the ABO blood group, as well as plasma ACE2 levels, and SARS-CoV-2 infection in Ghanaian patients, older individuals are at a higher risk of severe disease. Anaemia, and leukocytosis with lymphocytopenia may be indicators of poor disease progression.
The Formation of Supramolecular Chiral Materials from Achiral Molecules Using a Liquid-Crystallin System: Symmetry Breaking, Amplification, and Transfer
Authors: Yoshizawa Atsushi
Published: January 2024

Recently, the formation of chiral materials by the self-organization of achiral small molecules has attracted much attention. How can we obtain chirality without a chiral source? Interesting approaches, such as mechanical rotation, circularly polarized light, and asymmetric reaction fields, have been used. We describe recent research developments in supramolecular chirality in liquid crystals, focusing primarily on our group’s experimental results. We present the following concepts in this review. Spontaneous mirror symmetry breaking in self-assembled achiral trimers induces supramolecular chirality in the soft crystalline phase. Two kinds of domains with opposite handedness exist in non-equal populations. The dominant domain is amplified to produce a homochiral state. Chirality is transferred to a polymer film during the polymerization of achiral monomers by using the homochiral state as a template. Finally, we discuss how the concepts obtained from this liquid crystal research relate to the origin of homochirality in life.
Synthesis and Crystal Structure Analysis of Some Aromatic Imines of Syringaldehyde
Authors: Hamaker Christopher G. , Germann Stephan M.
Published: January 2024

A series of syringaldehyde imines with para-substituted anilines have been synthesized in a good yield, and their crystal structures have been analyzed. The orientation of the syringaldehyde hydroxyl group plays in important role in the intermolecular hydrogen-bonding pattern of the molecules. The O–H…N hydrogen bonding interactions primarily determine the three-dimensional packing of the molecules, even though they make up a relatively small percentage of intermolecular interactions in the molecules. The three structures with the p-hydroxy group cis to the imine group give hydrogen-bonded zigzag chains in the monoclinic crystals, while the structure with a trans hydroxy group crystallize in a hexagonal space group (R3¯) and form hydrogen-bonded hexamers. The hexagonal structure also displays Br…Br interactions, forming additional hexameric clusters. The analysis of published p-hydroxyphenyl imine crystal structures from the Cambridge Crystallographic Database revealed patterns in the length of the hydrogen bonding interactions based on steric congestion around the hydroxyl group.
Modeling Misinformation Spread in a Bounded Confidence Model: A Simulation Study
Authors: Wu Yujia , Guo Peng
Published: January 2024

Misinformation has posed significant threats to all aspects of people’s lives. One of the most active areas of research in misinformation examines how individuals are misinformed. In this paper, we study how and to what extent agents are misinformed in an extended bounded confidence model, which consists of three parts: (i) online selective neighbors whose opinions differ from their own but not by more than a certain confidence level; (ii) offline neighbors, in a Watts–Strogatz small-world network, whom an agent has to communicate with even though their opinions are far different from their own; and (iii) a Bayesian analysis. Furthermore, we introduce two types of epistemically irresponsible agents: agents who hide their honest opinions and focus on disseminating misinformation and agents who ignore the messages received and follow the crowd mindlessly. Simulations show that, in an environment with only online selective neighbors, the misinforming is more successful with broader confidence intervals. Having offline neighbors contributes to being cautious of misinformation, while employing a Bayesian analysis helps in discovering the truth. Moreover, the agents who are only willing to listen to the majority, regardless of the truth, unwittingly help to bring about the success of misinformation attempts, and they themselves are, of course, misled to a greater extent.
Transitioning to Success: The Link between E-CTE and College Preparation for Students with Learning Disabilities in the United States
Authors: Plasman Jay S. , Oskay Filiz , Gottfried Michael
Published: January 2024

In recent years, there has been a specific call to not only increase the number of engineering-trained individuals but also to address the lack of diversity in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, including individuals with disabilities. In particular, students with learning disabilities (SWLDs) make up a large portion of all students and are, therefore, a crucial population on which to focus educational and career progression efforts. One potential means of promoting persistence along the STEM pipeline—engineering specifically—is through engineering career and technical education (E-CTE) coursework in high school. Using a nationally representative dataset, we explore how E-CTE participation links to college preparation and transition activities for SWLDs, including math SAT performance, dual credit course participation, college application, and FAFSA completion. Under our more rigorous school fixed-effects models, we find that E-CTE participation is associated with beneficial results across each of our outcomes. The implications are discussed.
Visual Analysis Method for Traffic Trajectory with Dynamic Topic Movement Patterns Based on the Improved Markov Decision Process
Authors: Chen Huarong , Wu Yadong , Tang Huaquan , Lei Jing , Wang Guijuan , Zhao Weixin , Liao Jing , Wang Fupan , Wang Zhong
Published: January 2024

The visual analysis of trajectory topics is helpful for mining potential trajectory patterns, but the traditional visual analysis method ignores the evolution of the temporal coherence of the topic. In this paper, a novel visual analysis method for dynamic topic analysis of traffic trajectory is proposed, which is used to explore and analyze the traffic trajectory topic and evolution. Firstly, the spatial information is integrated into trajectory words, calculating the dynamic trajectory topic model based on dynamic analysis modeling and, consequently, correlating the evolution of the trajectory topic between adjacent time slices. Secondly, in the trajectory topic, a representative trajectory sequence is generated to overcome the problem of the trajectory topic model not considering the word order, based on the improved Markov Decision Process. Subsequently, a set of meaningful visual codes is designed to analyze the trajectory topic and its evolution through the parallel window visual model from a spatial-temporal perspective. Finally, a case evaluation shows that the proposed method is effective in analyzing potential trajectory movement patterns.
Modulatory Effects of Ethinyl Estradiol Plus Drospirenone Contraceptive Pill on Spontaneous and GnRH-Induced LH Secretion
Authors: Genazzani Alessandro D. , Sponzilli Alessandra , Mantovani Marcello , Fusilli Emma , Ricciardiello Francesco , Semprini Elisa , Simoncini Tommaso , Battipaglia Christian
Published: January 2024

Background: Combined oral contraceptives (COCs) work mostly by preventing the pre-ovulatory gonadotropin surge, but the action of COCs on spontaneous episodic and GnRH (gonadotropin-releasing hormone)-induced LH (luteinizing hormone) release has been poorly evaluated. Oral contraceptives are known to act on the spontaneous hypothalamic–pituitary functions reducing both GnRH and gonadotropin release and blocking ovulation. Aim: To evaluate spontaneous and GnRH-induced LH release during both phases of the menstrual cycle or under the use of the contraceptive pill. Methods: A group of 12 women, subdivided into two groups, volunteered for the study. Group A (n = 6, controls) received no treatments, while Group B (n = 6) received a 21 + 7 combination of ethinyl-estradiol (EE) 30 µg + drospirenone (DRSP) 3 mg. Both groups were evaluated twice: Group A during follicular and luteal phases, Group B during pill assumption and during the suspension interval, performing a pulsatility test, GnRH stimulation test, and hormonal parameters evaluation. Spontaneous and GnRH-induced secretory pulses were evaluated, as well as the instantaneous secretory rate (ISR). Results: COC treatment lowered LH and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone) levels significantly if compared to the follicular phase of spontaneous cycles. During the suspension interval, hormone levels rapidly rose and became comparable to those of the follicular phase of the control group. The LH pulse frequency under COC administration during the suspension interval was similar to that observed during the follicular phase (2.6 ± 0.3 pulses/180 min and 2.3 ± 0.2 pulses/180 min, respectively). The GnRH-induced LH peaks were greater in amplitude and duration than those observed after ISR computation in both groups. The GnRH-induced LH release during the luteal phase of the control subjects was higher than in the follicular phase (51.2 ± 12.3 mIU/mL and 14.9 ± 1.8 mIU/mL, respectively). Conversely, subjects under COC showed a GnRH-induced LH response similar during COC and during the suspension interval. Conclusions: Our data support that the EE + DRSP preparation acts on both spontaneous pulsatile release and GnRH-induced LH release during the withdrawal period of the treatment, and that after 5–7 days from the treatment suspension, steroidal secretion from the ovary is resumed, such as that of androgens. This suggests that in hyperandrogenic patients, a suspension interval as short as 4 days might be clinically better.
Editorial to the Special Issue “Plant Extracts: From Extract Technology to Health Benefits”
Authors: Crescente Giuseppina , Moccia Stefania
Published: January 2024

The valorization of food industry waste is essential to the sustainable development of the agro-food industry, starting from the extraction of plant special metabolites, a challenge that still exists today [...]
Comparison of the Antioxidant and Sensorial Properties of Kvass Produced from Mountain Rye Bread with the Addition of Selected Plant Raw Materials
Authors: Kaszuba Joanna , Jańczak-Pieniążek Marta , Migut Dagmara , Kapusta Ireneusz , Buczek Jan
Published: January 2024

Consumers’ growing awareness of healthy nutrition results in an increase in demand for the production of beverages with health-promoting properties. An example of such a product is kvass produced in the fermentation process. This research aimed to determine the impact of plant additives on the antioxidant and sensorial properties of kvass made from bread based on mountain rye flour. The bread extract was fermented at different temperatures (28 and 34 °C). Additives of 3, 5, and 10% were used in the tests, which included black chokeberry juice and infusion, sea buckthorn fruit juice and infusion, and peppermint leaf infusion. A higher fermentation temperature in the production process resulted in an improvement in the organoleptic and antioxidant properties of the tested kvasses. The highest antioxidant activity was demonstrated by kvass with the addition of 10% black chokeberry juice (0.734 µmol Trolox g−1 (ABTS), 4.90 µmol of Trolox g−1 (DPPH)), and a peppermint leaf infusion (0.773 µmol Trolox g−1 (ABTS), 4.71 µmol Trolox g−1 (DPPH)). The conditions of kvass production and the type and amount of the additive influenced the selected physicochemical parameters of the obtained kvasses. The chromatographic analysis confirmed the content of 13 phenolic compounds in kvass with the addition of black chokeberry juice, which was 1.68–1.73 mg/100 mL of the finished product with a 10% share of the additive. The 11 phenolic compounds in kvass with the addition of peppermint infusion were confirmed for 7.65–6.86 mg/100 mL of the finished product with 10% of the additive. Kvass enriched with additives from black chokeberry fruit and peppermint leaves may be a promising new category of functional beverages with health-promoting properties resulting from the content of polyphenol compounds. It could be a better base for enrichment with raw materials that are richer in these compounds than pasteurized products.
1H-NMR Approach for the Discrimination of PDO Grana Padano Cheese from Non-PDO Cheeses
Authors: Maestrello Valentina , Solovyev Pavel , Franceschi Pietro , Stroppa Angelo , Bontempo Luana
Published: January 2024

Protected Designation of Origin cheeses are products with high-quality standards that can claim higher prices on the market. For this reason, non-PDO cheeses with lower quality can be mislabeled as PDO or mixed with it for economic gain especially when the product is in a shredded form. Luckily, the production of PDO cheese is subjected to strict procedural specification rules that result in a product with a defined profile of its metabolites, which can be used for authentication purposes. In this study, an NMR metabolomic approach combined with multivariate analysis was implemented to build a classification model able to discriminate PDO Grana Padano cheese from a large dataset of competitors. The great advantage of the proposed approach is a simple sample preparation, obtaining a holistic overview of the analyzed samples. The untargeted approach highlighted a “typical profile” of Grana Padano samples, which could be used for protection purposes. In parallel, the targeted results allowed us to identify potential chemicals, such as lactate, some amino acids and lipids. These initial results could open the road to a potential new additional tool to check the authenticity of PDO cheeses in the future.
The Biochemical Composition and Quality of Adult Chinese Mitten Crab Eriocheir sinensis Reared in Carbonate-Alkalinity Water
Authors: Wang Shihui , Luo Liang , Zhang Rui , Guo Kun , Zhao Zhigang
Published: January 2024

Saline–alkaline aquaculture has become an important breakthrough in expanding the space available for aquaculture in China. However, the biochemical composition and quality of Eriocheir sinensis reared in carbonate alkalinity water are still unclear. Therefore, this study investigated the edible yield, coloration, and nutritional and flavor quality of Eriocheir sinensis. A significantly lower gonadosomatic index (GSI), meat yield (MY), and total edible yield (TEY) were detected in intensive pond (IP) samples than those in semi-intensive reed wetland (SIWR) (p < 0.05). Six color parameters in the hepatopancreas (p < 0.05) differed between IP and SIRW. The contents of crude protein and fat in the female hepatopancreas of IP were significantly higher than those in SIRW (p < 0.05). The concentrations of total monounsaturated fatty acids (∑MUFA), total essential fatty acids (∑EFA), and hypocholesterolaemic/hypercholesterolaemic ratio (h/H) in the female edible tissues checked were higher in IP than those in SIRW, with significant differences including ∑MUFA in the hepatopancreas and ovary, ∑EFA in the muscle, and h/H in the ovary (p < 0.05). Higher total free amino acid (∑FAA) contents of muscle were detected in SIRW than that in IP samples. Significantly higher K, Ca, Mg, Fe, and Zn contents in the ovary were detected in SIRW samples compared to IP (p < 0.05). Overall, Eriocheir sinensis reared in carbonate-alkalinity water is an important source of nutrients.
Instrumenting OpenCTI with a Capability for Attack Attribution Support
Authors: Ruohonen Sami , Kirichenko Alexey , Komashinskiy Dmitriy , Pogosova Mariam
Published: January 2024

In addition to identifying and prosecuting cyber attackers, attack attribution activities can provide valuable information for guiding defenders’ security procedures and supporting incident response and remediation. However, the technical analysis involved in cyberattack attribution requires skills, experience, access to up-to-date Cyber Threat Intelligence, and significant investigator effort. Attribution results are not always reliable, and skillful attackers often work hard to hide or remove the traces of their operations and to mislead or confuse investigators. In this article, we translate the technical attack attribution problem to the supervised machine learning domain and present a tool designed to support technical attack attribution, implemented as a machine learning model extending the OpenCTI platform. We also discuss the tool’s performance in the investigation of recent cyberattacks, which shows its potential in increasing the effectiveness and efficiency of attribution operations.
Nurses’ Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Suicidal Patients: A Quasi-Experimental Study of Depression Management Training
Authors: Sela Yael , Levi-Belz Yossi
Published: January 2024

Suicide prevention is a priority globally. Community nurses are on the frontline of healthcare, and thus well placed to identify those at risk of suicide and act to prevent it. However, they are often ill-equipped to do so. This study examines whether depression management training for nurses may also help them manage suicide-risk patients. Method: This quasi-experimental study used a questionnaire that included a randomly assigned textual case vignette, measures related to patient descriptions portrayed in the vignette, and demographic and clinical/training information. The participants were 139 Israeli nurses who were mostly Jewish, Israeli-born, and married women working as community nurses. Almost half had completed depression management training (DMT) in their routine work. Results: Nurses who completed depression management training were more likely than non-trainees to query the patient regarding mental status and suicide plans and were more likely to refer them to appropriate further treatment. The graduate nurses also reported higher self-competence and more positive attitudes regarding their ability to assess depression and suicide risk than nurses who had not received depression management training. Discussion: The results highlight the importance of depression management training, as suicide assessment and referral are among the major steps to suicide prevention.
Nursing Students’ Perceptions of Factors Influencing Nursing Intentions toward COVID-19 Patients
Authors: Lee Nari , Kim Hae Ran
Published: January 2024

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is a pandemic to which nursing students are particularly susceptible. This study aims to comprehensively examine nursing students’ knowledge, attitudes, risk perceptions, preventive behaviors related to COVID-19, and nursing intentions toward patients with the virus. A questionnaire was administered to 149 nursing students from two universities. Data on the respondents’ general characteristics, knowledge levels, attitudes, perceived risk, preventive behaviors toward COVID-19, and nursing intentions toward COVID-19 patients were collected. The collected data were statistically analyzed using SPSS software (version 26.0). This involved descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, one-way ANOVA, Pearson’s correlation coefficient, and stepwise multiple regression analyses. The analyses of the factors affecting nursing students’ nursing intentions for COVID-19 patients showed that the most predictive factor was perceived risk (β = −0.38, p < 0.001), followed by attitudes (β = 0.29, p < 0.001) and preventive behaviors (β = 0.17, p = 0.017), which explained 26% of the variance in nursing intentions. Lowering the perceived risk of infectious diseases and cultivating positive attitudes and preventive behaviors can increase nursing students’ intentions toward COVID-19 patients. Finally, infection management education programs and research on interventions for nursing students are necessary to enhance the quality of nursing care provided to patients with novel infectious diseases.
Initial Physiological, Biochemical and Elemental Garlic (Allium sativum L.) Clove Responses to T. vulgaris and S. aromaticum Extract Application
Authors: Dėnė Lina , Laužikė Kristina , Juškevičienė Danguolė , Valiuškaitė Alma , Karklelienė Rasa
Published: January 2024

Plant extracts are getting attention for their sterilizing, growth-promoting properties in the agricultural field. No exception exists when it comes to the treatment of propagating material with these natural components. Plant extracts may have complex compositions which affect plants or seeds in a positive way. However, they could also cause negative effects, like decreased germination, secondary metabolite contents or biomass gain. As the agricultural field requires sustainable techniques for plant growth and quality assurance in production, it is important to evaluate the potential effects of every alternative natural compound that shows promise for future plant treatment. Garlic (Allium sativum L.) is a popular spice crop grown in various regions of the world. Therefore, our study focused on an investigation of the early physiological and biochemical changes in garlic cloves (cv. ‘Jarus’ and ‘Vasariai’) treated with Thymus vulgaris essential oil and Syzygium aromaticum extract. Experiments were carried out in controlled climate conditions, in which the treated cloves were kept for four weeks. Results show that S. aromaticum extract increased germination in cv. ‘Jarus’ compared to untreated garlic cloves. Meanwhile, T. vulgaris caused lower germination of both cultivars compared to untreated cloves. None of the extracts increased biomass gain in garlic cloves. ABTS antioxidant activity was decreased by both extracts in cv. ‘Jarus’ (~7–47%) and ‘Vasariai’ (~22–32%) compared to untreated garlic cloves. Antioxidant DPPH and FRAP activities were ~6–11% and ~14–15% higher after ‘Vasariai’ treatment with extracts. Meanwhile, in ‘Jarus’ only, S. aromaticum extract caused an increase in DPPH and FRAP antioxidant activities. The elemental content was the highest in garlic cloves treated with T. vulgaris essential oil. Total phenolic compounds (TPC) and flavonoids (TF) were 1.2 times higher after S. aromaticum treatment of ‘Jarus’ compared to untreated cloves, while slightly increased TPC and two times higher TF values were found after treatment with T. vulgaris. Around 10% higher TPC and 1.5–3 times lower TF values were observed after the plant extract treatment of ‘Vasariai’ garlic cloves. Our study demonstrates initial changes in garlic cloves dependent on the plant extract treatment and cultivar. This provides important information for the future utilization of such technology, either alone or in combination with others.
Special Issue “Phytohormones: Important Participators in Plant Growth and Development”
Authors: Kudoyarova Guzel
Published: January 2024

The articles published in the IJMS Special Issue “Phytohormones” are devoted to various aspects of hormonal control of plant growth and development promoting adaptation to normal and stress conditions [...]
Experimental Botany: Anatomical and Morphological Approaches for Biotechnology and Nature Protection
Authors: Baranova Ekaterina N.
Published: January 2024

As photosynthetic systems, plants are fundamental elements of the Earth’s biosphere, playing key roles in providing energy and resources [...]
Multiple Foliar Fungal Disease Management in Tomatoes: A Comprehensive Approach
Authors: Panthee Dilip R. , Pandey Anju , Paudel Rajan
Published: January 2024

Foliar diseases are the significant production constraints in tomatoes. Among them, foliar fungal diseases in tomatoes, such as early blight (Alternaria linaria), Septoria leaf spot (Septoria lycopersici), and late blight (Phytophthora infestans), which is oomycetes, have higher economic significance. This paper will discuss the etiology, host range, distribution, symptoms, and disease cycle to help us understand the biology, followed by management approaches emphasizing the resistance breeding approach for these diseases. We provide an analytical review of crop improvement efforts, including conventional and molecular methods for improving these diseases’ resistance. We discuss the importance of modern breeding tools, including genomics, genetic transformation, and genome editing, to improve the resistance to these diseases in the future.
Performance of 4 Pre-Trained Sentence Transformer Models in the Semantic Query of a Systematic Review Dataset on Peri-Implantitis
Authors: Galli Carlo , Donos Nikolaos , Calciolari Elena
Published: January 2024

Systematic reviews are cumbersome yet essential to the epistemic process of medical science. Finding significant reports, however, is a daunting task because the sheer volume of published literature makes the manual screening of databases time-consuming. The use of Artificial Intelligence could make literature processing faster and more efficient. Sentence transformers are groundbreaking algorithms that can generate rich semantic representations of text documents and allow for semantic queries. In the present report, we compared four freely available sentence transformer pre-trained models (all-MiniLM-L6-v2, all-MiniLM-L12-v2, all-mpnet-base-v2, and All-distilroberta-v1) on a convenience sample of 6110 articles from a published systematic review. The authors of this review manually screened the dataset and identified 24 target articles that addressed the Focused Questions (FQ) of the review. We applied the four sentence transformers to the dataset and, using the FQ as a query, performed a semantic similarity search on the dataset. The models identified similarities between the FQ and the target articles to a varying degree, and, sorting the dataset by semantic similarities using the best-performing model (all-mpnet-base-v2), the target articles could be found in the top 700 papers out of the 6110 dataset. Our data indicate that the choice of an appropriate pre-trained model could remarkably reduce the number of articles to screen and the time to completion for systematic reviews.
Comparative Study of Potential Habitats for Simulium qinghaiense (Diptera: Simuliidae) in the Huangshui River Basin, Qinghai–Tibet Plateau: An Analysis Using Four Ecological Niche Models and Optimized Approaches
Authors: Liu Yunxiang , Li Chuanji , Shao Hainan
Published: January 2024

The Huangshui River, a vital tributary in the upper reaches of the Yellow River within the eastern Qinghai–Tibet Plateau, is home to the endemic black fly species S. qinghaiense. In this study, we conducted a systematic survey of the distribution of the species in the Huangshui River basin, revealing its predominant presence along the river’s main stem. Based on four ecological niche models—MaxEnt with parameter optimization; GARP; BIOCLIM; and DOMAIN—we conduct a comparative analysis; evaluating the accuracy of AUC and Kappa values. Our findings indicate that optimizing parameters significantly improves the MaxEnt model’s predictive accuracy by reducing complexity and overfitting. Furthermore, all four models exhibit higher accuracy compared to a random model, with MaxEnt demonstrating the highest AUC and Kappa values (0.9756 and 0.8118, respectively), showcasing significant superiority over the other models (p < 0.05). Evaluation of predictions from the four models elucidates that potential areas of S. qinghaiense in the Huangshui River basin are primarily concentrated in the central and southern areas, with precipitation exerting a predominant influence. Building upon these results, we utilized the MaxEnt model to forecast changes in suitable areas and distribution centers during the Last Interglacial (LIG), Mid-Holocene (MH), and future periods under three climate scenarios. The results indicate significantly smaller suitable areas during LIG and MH compared to the present, with the center of distribution shifting southeastward from the Qilian Mountains to the central part of the basin. In the future, suitable areas under different climate scenarios are expected to contract, with the center of distribution shifting southeastward. These findings provide important theoretical references for monitoring, early warning, and control measures for S. qinghaiense in the region, contributing to ecological health assessment.
Investigation of Maximum Monosyllabic Word Recognition as a Predictor of Speech Understanding with Cochlear Implant
Authors: Czurda Ronja , Wesarg Thomas , Aschendorff Antje , Beck Rainer Linus , Hocke Thomas , Ketterer Manuel Christoph , Arndt Susan
Published: January 2024

Background: The cochlear implant (CI) is an established treatment option for patients with inadequate speech understanding and insufficient aided scores. Nevertheless, reliable predictive models and specific therapy goals regarding achievable speech understanding are still lacking. Method: In this retrospective study, 601 cases of CI fittings between 2005 and 2021 at the University Medical Center Freiburg were analyzed. We investigated the preoperative unaided maximum word recognition score (mWRS) as a minimum predictor for post-interventional scores at 65 dB SPL, WRS65(CI). The WRS65(CI) was compared with the preoperative-aided WRS, and a previously published prediction model for the WRS65(CI) was reviewed. Furthermore, the effect of duration of hearing loss, duration of HA fitting, and etiology on WRS65(CI) were investigated. Results: In 95.5% of the cases, a significant improvement in word recognition was observed after CI. WRS65(CI) achieved or exceeded mWRS in 97% of cases. Etiology had a significant impact on WRS65(CI). The predicted score was missed by more than 20 percentage points in 12.8% of cases. Discussion: Our results confirmed the minimum prediction via mWRS. A more precise prediction of the expected WRS65(CI) is possible. The etiology of hearing loss should be considered in the indication and postoperative care to achieve optimal results.
Visuo-Cognitive Phenotypes in Early Multiple Sclerosis: A Multisystem Model of Visual Processing
Authors: Vagias Hariklia , Byrne Michelle L. , Millist Lyn , White Owen , Clough Meaghan , Fielding Joanne
Published: January 2024

Background: Cognitive impairment can emerge in the earliest stages of multiple sclerosis (MS), with heterogeneity in cognitive deficits often hindering symptom identification and management. Sensory–motor dysfunction, such as visual processing impairment, is also common in early disease and can impact neuropsychological task performance in MS. However, cognitive phenotype research in MS does not currently consider the relationship between early cognitive changes and visual processing impairment. Objectives: This study explored the relationship between cognition and visual processing in early MS by adopting a three-system model of afferent sensory, central cognitive and efferent ocular motor visual processing to identify distinct visuo-cognitive phenotypes. Methods: Patients with clinically isolated syndrome and relapsing–remitting MS underwent neuro-ophthalmic, ocular motor and neuropsychological evaluation to assess each visual processing system. The factor structure of ocular motor variables was examined using exploratory factor analysis, and phenotypes were identified using latent profile analysis. Results: Analyses revealed three ocular-motor constructs (cognitive control, cognitive processing speed and basic visual processing) and four visuo-cognitive phenotypes (early visual changes, efferent-cognitive, cognitive control and afferent-processing speed). While the efferent-cognitive phenotype was present in significantly older patients than was the early visual changes phenotype, there were no other demographic differences between phenotypes. The efferent-cognitive and cognitive control phenotypes had poorer performance on the Symbol Digit Modalities Test compared to that of other phenotypes; however, no other differences in performance were detected. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that distinct visual processing deficits in early MS may differentially impact cognition, which is not captured using standard neuropsychological evaluation. Further research may facilitate improved symptom identification and intervention in early disease.
Corrected QT Interval and Outcomes of Dialysis Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Artery Disease: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Lin Shuang-Chin , Chou Hsin-Hua , Lin Ting-Yun , Huang Hsuan-Li
Published: January 2024

Background: Peripheral artery disease (PAD) is common and associated with a higher risk of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in dialysis patients. A longer corrected QT (QTc) interval has been associated with adverse cardiovascular events and mortality in the general population and patients with end-stage kidney disease. However, little evidence is available on the predictive value of QTc in dialysis patients with PAD. Methods: We conducted a prospective cohort study of 356 dialysis patients with symptomatic PAD undergoing endovascular therapy. We performed the resting 12-lead electrocardiogram (ECG) at baseline. Cox regression analyses were used to assess the association of QTc with all-cause mortality and major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs), defined as non-fatal myocardial infarction, non-fatal stroke, and cardiovascular death. Results: The mean age was 67.3 ± 11.5 years; 41.6% of participants were women. The median QTc was 471 (interquartile ranges 448–491) milliseconds (ms). During a median follow-up of 2.2 years, 188 (52.8%) patients died, and MACEs occurred in 119 (33.4%) patients. In multivariable-adjusted models, patients in tertile 3 of QTc levels had a significantly greater risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 2.41, 95% confidence intervals [CI] 1.58–3.69) and MACEs (HR 1.90, 95% CI 1.15–3.13) than those in tertile 1. Similarly, each 10-ms increase in the baseline QTc predicted a higher risk of all-cause death (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.09–1.21) and MACEs (HR 1.15, 95% CI 1.07–1.23). Conclusions: QTc prolongation was independently associated with adverse outcomes among dialysis patients with symptomatic PAD.