bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Grape Pomace as a Source of Phenolics for Inhibition of Starch Digestion Enzymes: Comparative Study and Standardization of the Efficacy
Authors: Lavelli Vera , Sri Harsha Pedapati S.C.
Published: November 2024

The increase in the incidence of hyperglycemia and diabetes poses the challenge to search cost-effective natural inhibitors of starch digestion enzymes. Among natural compounds, phenolics have been considered as promising candidates. The aims of this study were: a) to investigate if winemaking byproducts are effective as inhibitors of the intestinal brush border alpha-glucosidase and the pancreatic alpha-amylase in vitro; b) to calculate an efficacy index for their phenolic pool, despite their variability due to grape cultivar and winemaking process; c) to compare winemaking byproducts’ efficacy with those of other plants. Winemaking by-products were characterized for the contents of total phenolics, flavanols, flavonols and anthocyanins, as well as the inhibitory activity towards the intestinal brush border alpha-glucosidase and pancreatic alpha-amylase. The inhibition towards alpha-glucosidase resulted to be on average 2.29 and 4.89 µg acarbose equivalents/µg total phenolics (µg Ac eq/µg GAE) for white and red grape skins, respec-tively. The inhibition towards alpha-amylase was 0.5 and 1.6 µg Ac eq/µg GAE for white and red grape skins, respectively. The inhibitory activity of the phenolic pool of red grape skins was higher than those of isolated phenolic compounds, probably due to synergistic effects among compounds. Hence, bioactive phenolic fractions could be produced with the focus on functionality rather than purity, in line with the principles of sustainable processing. A correlation was observed between the total phenolic contents of red grape skins and their inhibitory effectiveness, which is useful to standardize the efficacy of phenolic extracts. Compared to other plants reported in the literature red grape skins resulted to be cost-effective sources of starch digestion enzyme inhibitors.
Prevalence, Molecular Epidemiology, and Clinical Characteristics of Human Bocavirus Among Patients with Acute Gastroenteritis in Northern Brazil During 2017–2022
Authors: Sousa Yasmim  Gabrielly Souza , Maneschy Carolina Alcântara , Monteiro Carolina Costa , Rodrigues João Victor Souza , Lobo Patrícia Santos , Teixeira Dielle Monteiro , Siqueira Jones Anderson Monteiro , Pinheiro Kenny Costa , Resque Hugo Reis , Silva Luciana Damascena , Guerra Sylvia Fátima Santos , Soares Luana Silva
Published: November 2024

Acute gastroenteritis (AG) is a major illness in early childhood. Recent studies suggest a potential association between Human Bocavirus (HBoV) and AG. HBoV, a non-enveloped virus with a single-strand DNA genome, belongs to the Parvoviridae family. This study aimed to describe the frequency of HBoV in Northern Brazil using samples from AG patients collected between 2017 and 2022. Fecal samples from the viral gastroenteritis surveillance network at the Evandro Chagas Institute (IEC) were analyzed. Fecal suspensions (20%) were prepared, and the viral genome was extracted. PCR and Nested-PCR were employed to detect HBoV, followed by nucleotide sequencing to identify viral types. Out of 692 samples, HBoV positivity was 9.2% (69/693). Genotypes HBoV-1, HBoV-2, HBoV-3, and HBoV-4 were found in 42.5% (17/40), 22.5% (9/40), 33.5% (13/40), and 2.5% (1/40) of the specimens, respectively. Co-infections with HBoV and other enteric viruses occurred in 48.43% (31/64) of cases, with RVA being the most frequent (72.41% or 21/29). The study concludes that HBoV circulates significantly in Northern Brazil and is associated with co-infections. Further research is needed to clarify HBoV role as a causative agent of AG in the region.
Molecular Targets of 20-Hydroxyecdysone in Mammals, Mechanism of Action – Is It a Calorie Restriction Mimetic and Antiaging Compound?
Authors: Zádor Ernő
Published: November 2024

The 20-hydroryecdysone (20E) has been used in traditional medicine for a long time and acquired attention in the last decade as a food supplement and stimulant in phys-ical activities. This polyhydroxylated cholesterol is found in the highest concentration in plants and it is one of the secondary plant products that has a real hormonal influ-ence in arthropods. Various beneficial effects have been reported in vivo and in vitro for 20E and its related compounds in mammals. Trials for safety of clinical application showed a remarkable high tolerance in human. This review aims to assess the latest development in the involvement of various pathways in tissues and organs and look if it is plausible to find a single primary target of this compound. The similarities with agens mimicking calorie restriction and anti-aging effects are also elucidated and discussed.
Comparative Analysis of Modified Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Network with Gradient Penalty for Synthesizing Agricultural Weed Images
Authors: Rana Shubham , Gerbino Salvatore , Carillo Petronia
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the application of modified Wasserstein Generative Adversarial Networks with Gradient Penalty (WGAN-GP) to generate synthetic RGB and infrared (IR) datasets for precision agriculture, particularly targeting the detection of Raphanus Raphanistrum (wild radish). Traditional WGAN models face challenges such as vanishing gradients and poor convergence, which hinder their effectiveness in generating high-quality synthetic data. To address these issues, this work proposes modifications that include replacing fully connected layers with convolutional and transposed convolutional layers, combined with batch normalization, to improve the fidelity of generated images and training stability. The experimental results demonstrate that the modified WGAN-GP produces superior synthetic images compared to other GAN variants, especially in maintaining structural similarity for RGB datasets. However, generating high-quality IR images remains challenging due to inherent spectral complexities, with consistently lower SSIM (Structural Similarity Index) scores across models. This study highlights the importance of architectural modifications and auxiliary learning strategies in enhancing GAN performance, especially for complex agricultural datasets. The findings suggest that future work should focus on integrating attention mechanisms and advanced loss functions to further improve model stability and the quality of generated synthetic data. These advancements are vital for the broader adoption of GANs in precision agriculture, enabling enhanced data augmentation for machine learning applications that support effective crop monitoring and management.
Machine Learning Algorithms Introduce Evoked Potentials as the Alternative Biomarkers for the Edss Prognosis of Ms Patients
Authors: Chsyranthakopoulou Dionysia , Koutsojannis Constantinos
Published: November 2024

Machine learning has witnessed a notable increase in significance within the medical field, primarily due to the increasing availability of health-related data and the progressive enhancements in machine learning algorithms. It can be utilized to formulate predictive models that aid in disease diagnosis, anticipate disease progression, tailor treatment to fulfill individual patient needs and improve the operational efficiency of healthcare systems. The strategic utilization of data can considerably elevate the quality of patient care, reduce healthcare costs, and promote the formulation of personalized and effective medical interventions. The healthcare industry reaps considerable benefits from the meticulous analysis of medical data, as it plays an integral role in promptly identifying diseases in patients. Timely detection of a disease can contribute to effective symptom management and guarantee that appropriate treatment is provided. The pronounced association between evoked potentials (EPs) and Expanded Disability Status Scale (EDSS) scores in individuals diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS) indicates that EPs may serve as dependable predictive markers for the progression of disability. Numerous studies have confirmed that variations in somatosensory evoked potentials (SEPs) demonstrate a relationship with EDSS scores, particularly during the early stages of the disease. The present study aims to apply artificial intelligence techniques to identify predictors linked to the progression of Multiple Sclerosis (MS) as assessed by the disability index (EDSS). It is essential to clarify the role of evoked potentials (EPs) in the prognostication of MS. We analyzed empirical data obtained from a medical database of 125 records. Our primary objective is to construct an expert Artificial Intelligence system capable of predicting the EDSS index by applying advanced knowledge-mining algorithms. We have developed intelligent systems that predict the progression of MS utilizing machine learning algorithms, specifically Decision Trees and Neural Networks. In our experimental evaluation, Decision Trees, Neural Networks, and Bayes for EPs achieved accuracies of 88.9%, 92.9%, and 88.2% respectively, which are comparable to MRI which obtained accuracies of 88.2%, 96.0%, and 85.0%. The EPs can be established as predictors of MS with efficacy analogous to that of MRI findings. Further investigation is necessary to validate EPs, which are significantly less expensive, portable, and simpler to administer than MRI, as equally effective as imaging or biochemical methods in functioning as biomarkers for MS.
U-Net Driven High-Resolution Complex Field Information Prediction in Single-Shot 4-Step Phase-Shifted Digital Holography using Polarization Camera
Authors: Mehdi Askari , Lim Yongjun , Oh Kwang-Jung , Park Jae-Hyeung
Published: November 2024

We present a novel high-resolution complex field extraction technique utilizing the U-Net-based architecture to effectively overcome the inherent resolution limitations of polarization camera with micro-polarized array. Our method extracts high-resolution complex field information, achieving a resolution comparable to that of the original polarization camera. Enabling the parallel phase-shifting digital holography technique, we extracted high-resolution complex field information from four high-resolution phase-shifted interference patterns predicted by our network directly at the hologram plane. Being independent of numerical propagation in dataset acquisition, our network reconstructs objects at various depths without DC and conjugate noise. By training the network with real-valued interference patterns and using only a single pair of low- and high-resolution input and ground truth interference patterns, we simplify computational complexity and improve efficiency. Our simulations demonstrate the network's robustness to variations in random phase distributions and transverse shifts in the input patterns. Validation results show that images have been successfully reconstructed with improved quality and enhanced spatial resolution.
Trigonometric Polynomial Points in the Plane of a Triangle
Authors: Kimberling Clark , Moses Peter J. C.
Published: November 2024

It is well known that the four ancient Greek triangle centers and others have homogeneous barycentric coordinates that are polynomials in the sidelengths a; b; c of a triangle ABC. For example, the circumcenter is represented by the polynomial a(b2 + c2 - a2). It is not so well known that triangle centers having barycentric coordinates such as tanA : tanB : tanC are also representable by polynomials, in this case, by p(a; b; c) : p(b; c; a) : p(c; a; b), where p(a; b; c) = a(a2 + b2 - c2)(a2 + c2 - b2). This paper presents and discusses polynomial representations of triangle centers that have barycentric coordinates of the form f(a; b; c) : f(b; c; a) : f(c; a; b), where f depends on one or more of the functions in the set fcos; sin; tan; sec; csc; cotg. The topics discussed include innite trigonometric orthopoints, the n-Euler line, and symbolic substitution.
Tilts of Atmospheric Radar-Scattering Structures Measured by Long-Term Windprofiler Radar Studies and Implications for Understanding Radar-Scattering Processes and the Structure of Atmospheric Turbulence
Authors: Attarzadeh Farnoush , Hocking Wayne Keith
Published: November 2024

Month-long and seasonally persistent apparent tilts in atmospheric radar scatterers have been measured with a network of 6 windprofiler radars over a periods of two and more years. The method used employs cross-correlations between vertical winds and horizontal winds measured with the radars. It is shown that large-scale apparent tilts which persisted for many weeks and months were not uncommon at many sites, with typical tilts varying from horizontal to 2o from horizontal. The azimuthal and zenithal alignment of the tilts depend on local orography as well as local seasonal atmospheric conditions. It is demonstrated that these apparent tilts are not true large-scale phenomena, but rather are a manifestation of coordinated motions within turbulent radar-scattering structures at scales of a few metres and tens of metres, with these structures themselves being defined by larger-scale and longer-term physical processes. Implications for interpretation of the nature of turbulent eddies, the accuracy of vertical wind measurements, and the nature of layering and scattering in the real atmosphere, are discussed. For the first time, a method which allows accurate measurement of the mean off-horizontal alignment of anisotropic turbulent eddies is introduced.
Detection of Resistant Genes to the Quinolone Antibiotics in Egyptian Hospitals
Authors: Kassab Mohammed Mahmoud Shawky
Published: November 2024

Background:
Fluoroquinolone antibiotics are important bactericidal drugs that combat the bacterial infections globally. The emergence of bacterial resistance to this antibiotic class is an overwhelming serious problem in Egypt.
Aim of the study:
To determine the bacterial genes responsible for the the occurrence resistance to fluoroquinolone antibiotics in different hospitals in Egypt.
Methodology:
Samples were withdrawn one hundred urinary tract infection (UTI) patients as well as on hundred lower respiratory infection (LRTI) patients in different hospitals in Egypt who were previously administrated different dosage regimens of fluoroquinolone antibiotics.
Using antibiotic susceptibility tests along with the bacterial growth spectrophotometric techniques at 600 nm wavelength, the leading bacterial resistant isolates were identified.
The major genes responsible for this pattern of resistance were determined exploiting the third generation high throughput sequencing technique using PacBio RS II sequencer with catalog number PacBio RS II manufactured in Pacific Bio-sciences company, USA.
Results:
The major bacterial isolates along with their fluoroquinolone resistant genes were detected to be Pseudomonas aeruginosa strain GPS containing GPS resistant gene encoding DNA gyrase subunit B, Serratia Marcescens strain GSM containing GSM resistant gene encoding DNA gyrase subunit B and Streptococcus pneumonae strain TAP comprising TAP resistant gene encoding DNA gyrase subunit A.
Conclusion:
The current study resulted in the discovery of novel fluoroquinolone antibiotic resistant genes in different hospital in Egypt.
Migrating from Developing Asynchronous Multi-threading Programs to Reactive Programs in Java
Authors: Zbarcea Andrei , Tudose Cătălin
Published: November 2024

Modern software application development imposes standards regarding high performance, scalability, and minimal system latency. Multi-threading asynchronous programming is one of the standard solutions proposed by the industry for achieving such objectives. However, the recent introduction of the reactive programming interface in Java presents a potential alterna-tive approach for addressing such challenges, promising performance improvements while minimizing resource utilization.
The research examines the migration process from the asynchronous paradigm to the reactive paradigm, highlighting the implications, benefits, and challenges resulting from this transition. To this end, the architecture, technologies, and design of a support application will be pre-sented, designed to outline the practical aspects of this experimental process while closely monitoring the phased migration. The results are examined in terms of functional equivalence, testing, and comparative analysis of response times and resource utilization, as well as the cases where the reactive paradigm proves to be a solution worth considering. Additionally, possible directions for further research and development are presented.
This paper not only investigates the design and implementation process but also sets a foundation for future research and innovation in dependable systems, collaborative technologies, sustainable solutions, and distributed system architecture.
IBEA Algorithm for Energy Optimization in Context-Aware Smart Cities
Authors: Jamil Muhammad Abid , Al Ghamdi Mohammed A. , AlMotiri Sultan H.
Published: November 2024

The widely adopted "smart city" model is portrayed by ubiquitous cyber capabilities for vital city infrastructures including healthcare, the environment, transportation, and utilities to be monitored and managed. Context-aware computing and fog computing must be used together to control the many services while maintaining the best Quality of Service requirements. The viability of intelligent sleep and waking cycles for energy reduction at the fog layer of the context-aware fog nodes is discussed in this work. This study uses context-aware computing to reduce the need for huge real-time data transfers across fog nodes. The fog nodes are controlled based on the availability of the required contexts in the fog node. It proposes an IBEA algorithm to assign service requests with the objective to minimize the number of active fogs with help of a virtual machine management technique. In our research we use the epsilon constraint method which entails optimizing the objectives while establishing thresholds (epsilon values) for one or more of them. This makes it possible to investigate the Pareto front, which represents optimal trade-offs between conflicting objectives.
Spiritual Dimensions of Migrant Integration in Lisbon: A Case Study within the Common Home Agenda and Polyhedron of Intelligibility Framework
Authors: Koncz Linda , Boas Alex Villas , Candiotto César
Published: November 2024

This article provides a comprehensive overview of the moral, political, and philosophical aspects of migrant integration, using Michel Foucault’s concept of subjectivation and Pope Francis’s Common Home Agenda as analytical frameworks. It dives deeper into the role of spirituality in the integration process, relating it to Foucault’s idea of a polyhedron of intelligibility. Later, it describes Portugal’s migration landscape and the research project, Researching Needs and Hope through Visual Storytelling, which aims to shed light on the local migrants’ subjective integration experiences. Based on the projects’ interview statements, the article then describes the different spiritual aspects of migrants’ integration into the Portuguese capital, Lisbon. Finally, it concludes with how spirituality includes many disciplines and ways of life choices and how the projects’ migrants interpret the concept of spiritual integration in a multifaced polyhedron manner. Creating strong ties to their homes, traditions, cultures, spirituality, sports, and culinary practices, as well as practicing, sharing, and teaching these practices, protects them from total subjectivation.
Potential Prognostic Role of Fibrosis-5 Index (FIB-5) in Heart Failure; a Narrative Review
Authors: Sotoudeheian Mohammadjavad
Published: November 2024

The Fibrosis-5 (FIB-5) index, a non-invasive marker of liver fibrosis, has emerged as a significant prognostic tool in heart failure (HF). Studies indicate that lower FIB-5 values are associated with worse outcomes, including major adverse cardiac and cerebral events (MACCEs), poor response to therapies like cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT), and increased mortality. The index’s ability to integrate hepatic and systemic dysfunction offers insights into the interplay between liver and heart health, particularly in advanced HF and acute decompensated HF. Combining FIB-5 with inflammatory markers like C-reactive protein improves risk stratification accuracy, suggesting a synergistic value in prognosis. Its predictive capacity for CRT response underscores its clinical relevance beyond hepatic assessment. However, questions remain about the incremental benefit of FIB-5 over established markers and its potential prognostic implications. Future research should focus on validating its utility in diverse HF populations and exploring its role in guiding strategies.
MSFF: A Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Convolutional Neural Network for Hyperspectral Image Classification
Authors: Gong Gu , Wang Xiaopeng , Zhang Jiahua , Shang Xiaodi , Pan Zhicheng , Li Zhiyuan , Zhang Junshi
Published: November 2024

In contrast to conventional remote sensing images, hyperspectral remote sensing images are characterized by a greater number of spectral bands and exceptionally high resolution. The richness of both spectral and spatial information facilitates the precise classification of various objects within the images, establishing hyperspectral imaging as indispensable for remote sensing applications. However, the labor-intensive and time-consuming process of labeling hyperspectral images results in limited labeled samples, while challenges like spectral similarity between different objects and spectral variation within the same object further complicate the development of classification algorithms. Therefore, efficiently exploiting the spatial and spectral information in hyperspectral images is crucial for accomplishing the classification task. To address these challenges, this paper presents a Multi-Scale Feature Fusion Convolutional Neural Network (MSFF). The network introduces a dual branch spectral and spatial feature extraction module utilizing 3D depthwise separable convolution for joint spectral and spatial feature extraction, further refined by an attention based on central pixels (ACP) mechanism. Additionally, the spectral-spatial joint attention module (SSJA) is designed to interactively explore latent dependency between spectral and spatial information through the use of multilayer perceptron and global pooling operations. Finally, a feature fusion module (FF) and an adaptive multi-scale feature extraction module (AMSFE) are incorporated to enable adaptive feature fusion and comprehensive mining of feature information. Experimental results demonstrate that the proposed method performs exceptionally well on the IP, PU, and YRE datasets, delivering superior classification results compared to other methods and underscoring the potential and advantages of MSFF in hyperspectral remote sensing classification
Study of the β- → ζ- → δ-Truxinate Isomerization Using Liquid-Assisted Grinding (Lag) Technique Employing Different Bases
Authors: Bahena-Martínez José Daniel , Barrón-Pérez Carelly Janeth , Ho Minnhuy , Escalante Jaime
Published: November 2024

In this article we describe the synthesis of a β-truxinate from the [2+2] dimerization of methyl 4-nitrocinnamate and its isomerization by different bases using liquid-assisted grinding (LAG) technique. With this methodology it is possible to obtain the corresponding ζ- and δ-truxinates in short reaction times and with only small amounts of solvent. Furthermore, it is possible to steer the process towards the preferential formation of ζ- or δ-truxinate depending on the base used.
Exploring the Effects of Preprocessing Techniques on Topic Modeling of an Arabic News Article DataSet
Authors: Alangari Haya , Algethami Nahlah
Published: November 2024

This research investigates the impacts of pre-processing techniques on the effectiveness of topic modeling algorithms for Arabic texts, focusing on a comparison between BERTopic, Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA), and Non-Negative Matrix Factorization (NMF). Using the Single-label Arabic News Article Data set (SANAD), which includes 195,174 Arabic news articles, this study explores pre-processing methods such as cleaning, stemming, normalization, and stop word removal, which are crucial processes given the complex morphology of Arabic. Additionally, the influence of six different embedding models on the topic modeling performance was assessed. The originality of this work lies in addressing the lack of previous studies that optimize BERTopic through adjusting the n-gram range parameter and combining it with different embedding models for effective Arabic topic modeling. Pre-processing techniques were fine-tuned to improve data quality before applying BERTopic, LDA, and NMF, and the performance was assessed using metrics such as topic coherence and diversity. Coherence was measured using Normalized Pointwise Mutual Information (NPMI). The results show that the Tashaphyne stemmer significantly enhanced the performance of LDA and NMF. BERTopic, optimized with pre-processing and bi-grams, outperformed LDA and NMF in both coherence and diversity. The CAMeL-Lab/bert-base-arabic-camelbert-da embedding yielded the best results, emphasizing the importance of pre-processing in Arabic topic modeling.
Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Mortality Due to Mechanical Complications of Implantable Cardiac Valves, Bioprosthesis, and Grafts
Authors: Kwon Ye In Christopher , Zhu David T , Lai Alan , Park Andrew Min-Gi , Chery Josue , Hashmi Zubair A
Published: November 2024

Background: The volume of cardiac valve and coronary artery revascularization procedures are rising in the United States. This cross-sectional study explores ethnic disparities in mortality cardiac surgery attributed to mechanical failures of implantable heart valves and coronary artery grafts. Methods: We used the CDC Wide-Ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research Multiple Causes of Death database to identify patients whose single cause of death was categorized by complications of cardiovascular prosthetic devices, implants, and grafts (ICD-10 code T82) between 1999 to 2020. Patterns in age-adjusted mortality (per 100,000) and respective 95% CIs were compared and stratified by sex, age (0-44, 44-64, 65 years or older), and US census regions between White, Black, Hispanic, non-Hispanic, American Indian, Alaskan Native, Asian American, and Pacific Islanders. Results: Age-adjusted mortality due to mechanical failures of cardiac implants and grafts declined across ethnicities from 2.21 (95% CI 2.16-2.27) in 1999 to 0.88 (95% CI 0.85-0.91) in 2020. Black populations (1.31 [95% CI 1.20-1.42]), both men (1.56 [95% CI 1.37-1.74]) and women (1.02 [95% CI 0.90-1.15]), experienced higher mortality in 2020 compared to all other ethnicities. This disparity was pronounced in younger groups (age 0-64), wherein age-adjusted mortality among Black populations (0.18 [95% CI 0.13-0.25]) more than doubled that of White populations (0.08 [95% CI 0.06-0.10]). Conclusions: Over the last two decades, age-adjusted mortality due to mechanical complications of cardiovascular implants have declined significantly. However, Black men and women, particularly younger patients, continue to experience higher death rates compared to other ethnicities.
Testing, Experimental Design and Numerical Analysis of Nano-Mechanical Properties in Epoxy Hybrid Systems Reinforced with Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanoparticles
Authors: Spinelli Giovanni , Guarini Rosella , Batakliev Todor , Guadagno Liberata , Raimondo Marialuigia
Published: November 2024

Hybrid nanocomposites incorporating multiple fillers are gaining significant attention due to their ability to enhance material performance, offering superior properties compared to traditional monophase systems. This study investigates hybrid epoxy-based nanocomposites reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and graphene nanosheets (GNs), introduced at two different weight concentrations of the mixed filler, i.e. 0.1 wt% and 0.5 wt%, which are, respectively, below and above the Electrical Percolation Threshold (EPT) for the two binary polymer composites that solely include one of the two nanofillers, with varying MWCNTs:GNs ratios. Mechanical properties, such as contact depth, hardness, and reduced modulus, were experimentally assessed via nanoindentation, while morphological analysis supported the mechanical results. A Design of Experiments (DoE) approach was utilized to evaluate the influence of filler concentrations on the composite's mechanical performance, and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) was applied to derive a mathematical model correlating the filler ratios with key mechanical properties. The best and worst-performing formulations, based on hardness and contact depth results, were further investigated through detailed numerical simulations using a multiphysics software. After validation considering experimental data, the simulations provided additional insights into the mechanical behavior of the hybrid composites. This work aims to contribute to the knowledge base on hybrid composites and promote the use of computational modeling techniques for optimizing the design and mechanical performance of advanced materials.
Circadian Influences on Brain Lipid Metabolism and Neurodegenerative Diseases
Authors: Hussain Yusuf , Dar Mohammad Irfan , Pan Xiaoyue
Published: November 2024

Circadian rhythms are intrinsic, 24-hour cycles that regulate key physiological, mental, and behavioral processes, including sleep-wake cycles, hormone secretion, and metabolism. These rhythms are controlled by the brain’s suprachiasmatic nucleus, which synchronizes with environmental signals, such as light and temperature, and consequently maintains alignment with the day-night cycle. Molecular feedback loops, driven by core circadian “clock genes,” such as Clock, Bmal1, Per, and Cry, are essential for rhythmic gene expression; disruptions in these feedback loops are associated with various health issues. Emerging evidence highlights critical roles of circadian rhythms in lipid metabolism, particularly within the brain, where lipid homeostasis is essential for neuronal membrane integrity, synaptic function, and myelination. Dysregulated lipid metabolism in the brain has been implicated in the pathogenesis of neurological disorders, by contributing to oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and synaptic dysfunction, as observed in conditions such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s diseases. Disruptions in circadian gene expression have been shown to perturb lipid regulatory mechanisms in the brain, thereby triggering neuroinflammatory responses and oxidative damage. This review synthesizes current insights into the interconnections between circadian rhythms and lipid metabolism, with a focus on their roles in neurological health and disease. It further examines how desynchronization of circadian genes affects lipid metabolism, and explores the potential mechanisms through which disrupted circadian signaling might contribute to the pathophysiology of neurodegenerative disorders.
Paneth Cells are a Constitutive Source of IL-10 in Mouse Small Intestinal Organoids
Authors: Nguyen Huong , Di Cara Francesca , Wang Jun , Stadnyk Andrew W.
Published: November 2024

The healthy gut masks a dynamic balance between pro- and anti-inflammatory activities, largely due to microbial factors in the lumen. IL-10 is vital among the anti-inflammatory mediators yet confirming constitutive versus stimulated secretion in any cell type is difficult due to the cellular complexity in the gut. Seeking to determine whether intestinal epithelial cells are programmed to constitutively make IL-10, we confirmed that IL-10 mRNA was present in enteroids from C57BL/6 mice and co-localized with a Paneth cell marker but not with markers for goblet or tuft cells. Paneth cells positive for IL-10 also possessed apical and basal IL-10RA while cells negative for IL-10 had only basal IL-10RA, suggesting a possible autocrine role for IL-10. Indeed, Paneth cells in IL-10 gene knockout (IL-10KO) enteroids possessed lower levels of anti-microbial protein mRNAs which could not be restored by adding IL-10. Enteroids passaged onto Transwell® filters to form monolayers were treated with IL-10 and STAT3 phosphorylation was measured. Apically applied IL-10 resulted in a stronger STAT3 signal than basally applied cytokine. Our results indicate that a subpopulation of Paneth cells constitutively secrete IL-10 apically, which binds apical IL-10RA, impacting the expression of anti-microbial proteins unique to Paneth cells.
Obsessive-Compulsive Symptoms in the General Population Under Stressful Conditions: Lessons Learned from the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Pellegrini Luca , Albert Umberto , Carmassi Claudia , Carrà Giuseppe , Cirulli Francesca , Dell'Osso Bernardo Maria , Di Vincenzo Matteo , Luciano Mario , Nanni Maria Giulia , Pompili Maurizio , Sani Gabriele , Tortorella Alfonso , Volpe Umberto , Fiorillo Andrea , Sampogna Gaia
Published: November 2024

Introduction COVID-19 pandemic had a negative impact on mental health in the general population. The fear, stress, and uncertainty surrounding that traumatic pe-riod could have contributed to the aggravation or possible new onset of obsessive-compulsive symptoms. Materials and Methods The COvid Mental hEalth Trial (COMET) is a nationwide project organized by the University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" designed as an observational investigation that aimed to gather data from a representative sample of the Italian general population. The current study is a report from the main project and it focuses on OC symptoms. Results A total sample of N=20,720 took part in the survey. N=2332 individuals had a total OCI-R score greater than or equal to 21 (11.3% of the entire sam-ple), indicating the presence of clinically relevant obsessive compulsive symptoms. By excluding patients with a history of previous mental disorders, we still obtained a high number of individuals with OCI-R greater than or equal to 21 (N=2024), representing 10.3% of the overall sample, possibly in-dicating a new incidence of OC symptoms during the pandemic. Discussion Our study highlights a substantial new incidence of obsessive compulsive symptoms in the general public. Some risk factors or red flags should be paid particular attention to in order to prevent development of OC symptoms during a critical and traumatic event such as the COVID-19 pandemic.
The Use and Impact of Virtual Reality Programs Supported by Aromatherapy for Older Adults: A Scoping Review
Authors: Hung Lillian , Wong Joey , Wong Karen Lok Yi , Son Rynnie Cin Ee , Van Mary , Mortenson W. Ben , Lim Angelica , Boger Jennifer , Wallsworth Christine , Zhao Yong
Published: November 2024

Both virtual reality (VR) and aromatherapy have shown significant potential in enhancing the health and well-being of older adults. Aromatherapy has been noted to improve the immersive quality of VR experiences. However, the combined use of these interventions for older adults has not been systematically explored. This scoping review aims to identify existing VR programs supported by aromatherapy and evaluate their outcomes on older adults' well-being. Following the Joanna Briggs Institute methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, the review included both published and unpublished studies. A search across ten databases yielded 901 publications, from which six studies were analyzed, involving 94 participants with a mean age of 70 to 83 years. Results revealed positive impacts on well-being, cognition, and social engagement. Outcome measures included physical, psychological, emotional, and cognitive aspects like special orientation, stress, happiness, memory, and social interaction. Benefits included enhanced spatial awareness, memory, happiness, and reduced stress. Multisensory VR environments also fostered socialization through shared experiences and nostalgia. However, the individual differences in VR experiences indicate a need for personalized content. Despite promising findings, limited evidence supports clinical application in nursing practice. Further research is required to validate the health benefits of combining VR with aromatherapy.
Placenta Praevia with Abnormal Adhesion – a Retrospective Study
Authors: ȘERBĂNESCU Lucian , Brezeanu Dragos , GRASA Cătălin Nicolae , MIREA Sebastian , IONESCU Paris , ROTAR Vadym , SURDU Traian Virgiliu , Costea Andreea Cristina
Published: November 2024

Background: Placenta accreta spectrum (PAS) refers to abnormal placental attachment, categorized into accreta, increta, and percreta, with varying severity. The incidence of PAS has risen alongside the increasing rate of cesarean sections. PAS is a significant cause of maternal and fetal complications, including bleeding, preterm birth, and intrauterine growth restriction. Early diagnosis is crucial for management and improving outcomes. Materials and Methods: This retrospective study, conducted at the County Emergency Clinical Hospital "Saint Andrew the Apostle" Constanța, analyzed cases of placenta praevia and PAS from 2018 to 2022. Data were collected from observation sheets and operative protocols, involving 13,841 patients. Placenta praevia and PAS were diagnosed using ultrasound, MRI, and histopathology. Results: Among the 13,841 deliveries, 25 cases of placenta praevia (0.82% incidence) and 17 cases of PAS (0.57% incidence) were identified. Ultrasound demonstrated 96% sensitivity and MRI 96% sensitivity for PAS detection. Of the 17 PAS cases, 3 were diagnosed as placenta increta, and 3 as percreta, with all percreta cases involving bladder invasion. Hysterectomy was the standard surgical treatment. Discussion: Risk factors for PAS included previous cesarean sections (94.1% of PAS cases), smoking, and advanced maternal age. The study confirmed the importance of early imaging and the involvement of a multidisciplinary team in managing PAS, particularly in complex cases involving bladder or rectal involvement. Cesarean section followed by hysterectomy was the preferred surgical approach, and uterine artery embolization (UAE) was considered for reducing hemorrhage risk. Conclusions: Smoking, uterine scars, and uterine fibroids are significant risk factors for placenta praevia with pathological adhesion. Ultrasound and MRI are highly accurate in diagnosing PAS, with histopathology providing definitive confirmation. Multidisciplinary care is essential in managing complex cases, ensuring optimal maternal and fetal outcomes. Surgical treatment involves cesarean section and hysterectomy, with additional interventions for bladder invasion in percreta cases.
Evaluating the Efficacy of Combined Intravaginal Estriol Therapy and Kegel Exercises in Managing Menopausal Atrophic Vulvovaginitis
Authors: Șerbănescu Lucian , Rotar Vadym , Brezeanu Dragoș , Mirea Sebastian , Ionescu Elena-Valentina , Ionescu Paris
Published: November 2024

Background: Atrophic vulvovaginitis (VVA), a prevalent condition resulting from estrogen deficiency after menopause, is characterized by symptoms such as vaginal dryness, itching, burning, dyspareunia, and urinary discomfort. Standard treatment involves systemic estrogen replacement therapy (HRT) and localized estrogen treatments, such as estriol. However, many women with moderate to severe VVA may not fully benefit from estrogen therapy alone. Non-hormonal adjunctive treatments, such as pelvic floor exercises (e.g., Kegel exercises), are being explored to enhance clinical outcomes. Objectives: This study investigates the combined effect of local estriol therapy and Kegel exercises in improving VVA symptoms in postmenopausal women. Methods: Fifty postmenopausal women diagnosed with VVA were enrolled and divided into three severity groups: mild, moderate, and severe. All participants received estriol therapy (0.5 mg vaginal tablets daily for 10 days each month) for the first three months. Following this, Kegel exercises were introduced for an additional three months, alongside continued estriol therapy. Symptom improvement was evaluated after six months, with outcomes categorized as complete remission, partial remission, or no remission. Results: Significant improvements in symptom remission were observed, particularly in the moderate and severe groups. In the mild VVA group, 81.82% achieved complete remission with the combined therapy, compared to 68.18% with estriol alone. In the severe group, complete remission was observed in 40% of patients receiving the combined therapy, compared to 20% with estriol therapy alone. These findings suggest that Kegel exercises enhance the effectiveness of estriol by improving local blood circulation, which facilitates better estrogen absorption and distribution. Conclusion: The addition of Kegel exercises to local estriol therapy significantly improves symptom remission rates, especially in moderate and severe VVA cases. This approach offers a promising strategy for managing postmenopausal VVA, particularly in cases that do not fully respond to estrogen therapy alone.
Evaluation of a Chronic Care Management Model for Improving Efficiency and Fiscal Sustainability
Authors: Kadree Margaret A. , Wiggins Patrick , Thompson Lura , Warriner Cynthia , White Michelle
Published: November 2024

Chronic care management is effective. Barriers to program durability include dependence on the provider–nurse duo to carry out labor-intensive services and the lack of a fiscally sustainable model. Between January and October 2022, an expanded chronic care management team—consisting of a provider, nurse, community health worker, and pharmacist—conducted a four-month intervention in an ambulatory setting. This intervention, using a convenience sample of 134 Medicare patients with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes or hypertension, demonstrated statistically significant improvements in controlling type 2 diabetes ( P < .01) and blood pressure ( P < .001). Direct provider workload decreased, and the Medicare reimbursement rate was 85.5%. ( Am J Public Health. 2025;115(2):133–137. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307886 )
Engineering With Nature : using nature-based solutions to support resilience at U.S. Navy and Marine Corps installations
Authors: King Jeffrey , Moynihan Emily , Zender Kira , Wylie Brett , Bird Jason , Lopezcalva Enrique , Schmidt Hollie Janson , Vann Cinamon , Rhea Karen
Published: November 2024

This book illustrates some of the current challenges and hazards experienced by military installations, and the content highlights activities at eight U.S. Navy and Marine Corps military installations to achieve increased resilience through natural infrastructure.
Professionalism - A Must for the Oil Patch
Authors: Brown Bob Diggs
Published: November 2024

In spite of the shortage of technical personnel, the petroleum industry has realized tremendous benefits from improved technology. It can be anticipated this industry will apply compatible exotic developments from the space and oceanography programs to accelerate its own field of endeavor.

Webster defines profession: "A calling requiring specialized knowledge and often long and intensive academic preparation." From this definition it is readily accepted those charged with the development of technology are professionals. Closer analysis of Webster’s definition will indicate the inclusion of those responsible for the application of technical developments.

The advent of automated drilling and production control, subsea completions, and the adaptation of nuclear energy for equipment, dictates "professionalism in the oil patch."

The rapidity of application of new technology in the "oil patch" indicates another area of professional man power shortage. The effectiveness of the technological adaptations to the petroleum industry is related to "professionalism in the oil patch."
Nanobubble Generation from Laser-Illuminated Gold Nanoparticles
Authors: Sharma Yatha , Ohl Claus-Dieter , Rosselló Juan Manuel
Published: November 2024

This study builds on a novel method pioneered by our group for on-demand nanobubble generation using a collimated laser beam, emphasizing how the controlled addition of gold nanoparticles enhances nanobubble generation efficiency in water at sub-threshold laser intensities. Specifically, we examined the influence of nanoparticles of three distinct sizes on the laser fluence threshold for bubble nucleation and the lifetime of the resultant nanobubbles. Our results indicate that nanoparticles with a diameter of 60 nm exhibit the greatest nucleation efficiency, achieving nearly 45 % at a fluence threshold of around 70 (± 11) mJ/cm2. Notably, the size of the nanoparticles tested does not influence the lifetime of the nanobubbles.
Effects of one promising nanoporous MCM41 insecticide formulation on Sitophilus oryzae (L.) at the higher physiological and molecular level
Authors: Bose Rahul , Sil Moumita , Ghosh Rakesh , Adhikary Archisman , Ray Mausumi , Ghosh Ankita , Adak Serene , Chatterjee Ishita , Goswami Arunava
Published: November 2024

Scientific progress and awareness about the environmental, veterinary, and human health hazards associated with the use of synthetic pesticides have given huge impetus for generation of eco-friendly pesticides without mammalian toxicity. Nanoporous MCM41 (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41) based pesticide possesses many of the desirable qualities of model pesticides. We earlier showed in this journal that 99.5% pure nanosilica act as effective insecticide in controlling stored grain pests like Sitophilus oryzae (L.) at lower relative humidity (r. h.) level, but fails to act in environments where r. h. is equal to or more than 70%. Nanoporous MCM41 have been shown to control stored grain pests like S. oryzae at higher r.h. (60–80% range). We earlier observed the action of nanoporous MCM41 formulations on different stored product insect pests causing mortality by contact toxicity. The primary action of nanoporous MCM41 is desiccation of insects by destruction of the epicuticle layers which function as `water barrier’. Concerning our previous findings that DE does not block the stigmata small particle may be able to enter the tracheae. Due to this we analyzed expression of regulator genes in the tracheae after one day and 7 day exposure of S. oryzae to 2 or 4 g per kg grain. Using immuno-cytochemistry, electron microscopy, and SQ RT-PCR, we followed the expression level of Jing, Ras1, Formin3, F-actin, Vilse, Robo, FGF, PAP-1, Met, Notch, and Dpp in S. oryzae. We showed that application of NANOPOROUS MCM41up regulates the expression of Jing, Formin3, F-actin, Robo, and Notch from the first day compared to 7 days after application. The expression of FGF, PAP-1, Dpp, and Met was down regulated after treatment and Ras-1 as well as Vilse remained unchanged. Therefore, the action of nanoporous MCM41 interferes with the equilibrium of expression of several instructional regulator genes of normal growth and development in S. oryzae tracheae and causes death.
WITHDRAWN: SMILE and ICL implantation on the ocular surface and meibomian glands in patients with postoperative myopia
Authors: Yao Juan , Feng Jianghong , Li Weijie , Liu Chang , Li Yanlei , Wang Xiaoying
Published: November 2024

The full text of this preprint has been withdrawn by the authors due to author disagreement with the posting of the preprint. Therefore, the authors do not wish this work to be cited as a reference. Questions should be directed to the corresponding author.