bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Significant potential of melatonin therapy in Parkinson’s disease – a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Iftikhar Sadaf , Sameer Hafiz Muhammad , Zainab
Published: October 2023

Objective

Since its discovery as an antioxidant, melatonin has been increasingly recognized for its therapeutic potential beyond sleep disturbances in neurodegenerative disorders. This study aims to evaluate efficacy of various melatonin doses, treatment durations, and formulations, in alleviating motor symptoms and sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s disease, the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide.

Methods

PubMed, Cochrane Library, ClinicalTrials.gov and other databases were systematically searched to retrieve randomized controlled trials (RCTs) administrating melatonin to Parkinson’s disease patients until June 10th, 2023. Outcomes including Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS) scores and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores, were pooled and reported as mean differences (MD) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Meta-analysis was performed using an inverse variance random-effects model in Review Manager 5.4 software. Trial Sequential Analysis was performed to avoid false-positive results from random errors.

Results

Five RCTs with a total of 155 patients were included. Statistically significant reductions in UPDRS total scores were observed in groups receiving Melatonin ≥10 mg/day (MD = −11.35, 95% CI: −22.35 to −0.35, I2 = 0%, p = 0.04) and immediate release formulations (MD = −11.35, 95% CI: −22.35 to −0.35, I2 = 0%, p = 0.04). No significant effects on individual UPDRS II, III, and IV scores were observed, regardless of melatonin dosage and treatment duration. Moreover, significant improvements in PSQI scores were observed with only immediate-release melatonin formulations (MD = −2.86, 95% CI: −4.74 to −0.97, I2 = 0%, p = 0.003).

Conclusion

Melatonin ≥10 mg/day for a minimum duration of ≥12 weeks in immediate-release formulations consistently demonstrated significant therapeutic potential in improving motor symptom and sleep disturbances in Parkinson disease. However, further trials are warranted to investigate its impact when initiated early in the disease course to fully explore its true therapeutic potential.

Systematic review registration

Unique identifier: CRD42023427491 (PROSPERO).
Visual bibliometric analysis of electroacupuncture research in stroke treatment: a 20-year overview
Authors: Chun Hyonjun , Shin Woo-Chul , Kim Jong-min , Kim Hyungsuk , Cho Jae-Heung , Song Mi-Yeon , Chung Won-Seok
Published: October 2023

Background

Electroacupuncture has been used as a treatment; however, a visual bibliometric analysis has not yet been performed in this field. In this study, we aimed to suggest future research topics and directions related to the field by examining the last 20 years of research trends and hotspots of electroacupuncture in stroke.

Methods

We searched the Web of Science database on electroacupuncture as a treatment for stroke published from 2003 to 2022. We analyzed the papers by annual publication, research fields, nations, affiliations, authors, journals, and keywords. VOSviewer software was used to visualize the bibliometric analysis and results. A total of 440 papers were included in the analysis.

Results

The number of publications has gradually increased every year, and neuroscience has become the most actively studied field. Neural Regeneration Research journal and China had the most publications. Fujian University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as an affiliated institute, published the most articles. Chen Lidian and Tao Jing presented the largest number of papers, making them the leading contributors in this field. Four clusters were created by analyzing keywords, such as “neuroprotection,” “clinical rehabilitation,” “neuroplasticity,” and “pretreatment-induced tolerance”.

Conclusion

This study is the first to analyze the research trends in electroacupuncture as a treatment for stroke using the VOSviewer. It shows the current state of research in the field by visualizing research trends and hotspots. This will help offer reference data for future studies.
Grand challenges in marine governance for ocean sustainability in the twenty-first century
Authors: Ferse Sebastian C. A.
Published: October 2023

The twenty-first century is seeing multiple and accelerating anthropogenic threats to the Ocean which jeopardize the planetary system and human well-being. Given the urgency of this planetary emergency, ensuring Ocean sustainability and an equitable and just future for humanity and the planet requires unprecedented acceleration and innovation in the theory and practice of marine governance. This Perspective provides an overview of recent trends and emerging issues facing the Ocean. It outlines a number of Grand Challenges, or important areas to advance for scholars and practitioners of marine governance, namely the bridging of sectors and scales, connecting people and the seas, consideration of inclusivity, equity and justice, and innovating knowledge generation and the interface of science, society and policy. This will allow to address questions of how to achieve just, equitable and sustainable use of and interaction with the Ocean in the twenty-first century.
CritCom: assessment of quality of interdisciplinary communication around deterioration in pediatric oncologic patients
Authors: Rivera Jocelyn , Malone Sara , Puerto-Torres Maria , Prewitt Kim , Counts Lara , Wiphatphumiprates Parima , Sakaan Firas , Al Zebin Zebin , Arias Anita V. , Bhattacharyya Parthasarathi , Gunasekera Sanjeeva , Johnson Sherry , Kambugu Joyce , Kaye Erica C. , Mandrell Belinda , Mack Jennifer , McArthur Jennifer , Mendez Alejandra , Morrissey Lisa , Sharara-Chami Rana , Snaman Jennifer , Sniderman Elizabeth , Luke Douglas A. , Graetz Dylan E. , Agulnik Asya
Published: October 2023

Background

High-quality clinical care requires excellent interdisciplinary communication, especially during emergencies, and no tools exist to evaluate communication in critical care. We describe the development of a pragmatic tool focusing on interdisciplinary communication during patient deterioration (CritCom).

Methods

The preliminary CritCom tool was developed after a literature review and consultation with a multidisciplinary panel of global experts in communication, pediatric oncology, and critical care to review the domains and establish content validity iteratively. Face and linguistic validity were established through cognitive interviews, translation, and linguistic synthesis. We conducted a pilot study among an international group of clinicians to establish reliability and usability.

Results

After reviewing 105 potential survey items, we identified 52 items across seven domains. These were refined through cognitive interviews with 36 clinicians from 15 countries. CritCom was piloted with 433 clinicians (58% nurses, 36% physicians, and 6% other) from 42 hospitals in 22 countries. Psychometric testing guided the refinement of the items for the final tool. CritCom comprised six domains with five items each (30 total). The final tool has excellent reliability (Cronbach’s alpha 0.81-0.86), usability (93% agree or strongly agree that the tool is easy to use), and similar performance between English and Spanish tools. Confirmatory factor analysis was used to establish the final 6-domain structure.

Conclusions

CritCom is a reliable and pragmatic bilingual tool to assess the quality of interdisciplinary communication around patient deterioration for children in diverse resource levels globally. Critcom results can be used to design and evaluate interventions to improve team communication.
Case Report: Primary low-grade dedifferentiated liposarcoma of the urinary bladder with molecular confirmation
Authors: Cui Jian , Peng Ran , Zhang Yahan , Lu Yang , He Xin , Chen Min , Zhang Hongying
Published: October 2023

Liposarcomas originating in the urinary bladder are extremely rare. Only six cases of bladder liposarcoma have been reported, and all have been described as myxoid liposarcomas. Notably, none of the patients underwent molecular testing. Here, we report a dedifferentiated liposarcoma (DDL) that occurred in the urinary bladder, primarily in a 69-year-old Chinese woman, with infrequent low-grade dedifferentiation. Computed tomography (CT) revealed an ill-defined solid mass in the anterior bladder wall. The patient underwent a partial bladder resection. Histologically, the tumor cells with mild-to-moderate nuclear atypia were arranged in fascicular and storiform patterns, mimicking a low-grade fibroblastic tumor. In addition, scattered small foci of typical lipoma-like well-differentiated components were identified. Immunohistochemically, the tumor tested positivity for MDM2, CDK4, and p16. Fluorescence in situ hybridization revealed MDM2 gene amplification in the neoplastic cells. Whole-exome sequencing showed that this tumor also harbored CDK4, TSPAN31, and JUN amplification. At the latest follow-up (85 months after surgery), the patient was alive, with no evidence of disease. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first example of a molecularly confirmed primary bladder liposarcoma and the first case of DDL at this site.
Effect of Astragali radix extract on pharmacokinetic behavior of dapagliflozin in healthy and type 2 diabetic rats
Authors: Du Wandi , Hu Jiarong , Liang Jingru , Yang Xiaolei , Fang Boyu , Ma Guo
Published: October 2023

Objective: This study aimed to investigate effect of antidiabetic herb Astragali Radix (AR) on pharmacokinetic behavior of dapagliflozin (DAPA) in healthy rats and type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) rats.

Methods: The T2DM rats were induced by high-fat diet (HFD) and intraperitoneal injection of streptozotocin (STZ). Concentrations of DAPA in healthy and T2DM rat plasma were determined by UPLC-MS/MS method. Effect of AR extract (ARE) on pharmacokinetic behavior of DAPA in healthy and T2DM rats was evaluated, respectively.

Results: The diabetes status and co-administrated with ARE significantly affected pharmacokinetic behaviors of DAPA in the rats. Compared to that in healthy rats, tmax of DAPA significantly shortened, its Cmax significantly increased in T2DM rats, and its t1/2, V, AUC, CL and MRT kept unchanged. When ARE was co-administrated with DAPA, Cmax of DAPA significantly increased, its tmax and MRT significantly decreased, and its t1/2, V, AUC and CL kept unchanged in healthy rats. tmax and Cmax of DAPA significantly decreased, its t1/2 and V significantly increased, and its AUC, CL and MRT were unchanged in T2DM rats when ARE was co-administrated with DAPA. Co-administration of DAPA and ARE promoted absorptive rate of DAPA, increased its extravascular tissue distribution, and prolonged its duration of action. ARE did not cause accumulation of DAPA in vivo.

Conclusion: Both disease status of T2DM and co-administration of ARE affect pharmacokinetic behavior of DAPA in vivo. Potential pharmacokinetic interactions may occur in vivo when herbs and drugs are co-administrated, which may affect efficacy and safety of drugs.
A retrospective real-world study of early short-course remdesivir in non-hospitalized COVID-19 patients at high risk for progression: low rate of hospitalization or death, regardless of immunocompetence status
Authors: Ramos-Rincón José Manuel , Pinargote-Celorio Héctor , Llenas-García Jara , Moreno-Pérez Oscar , González-Cuello Inmaculada , Gonzalez-de-la-Aleja Pilar , Martínez-López Belén , Reus Sergio , García-López María , Rodríguez Juan Carlos , Boix Vicente , Merino Esperanza
Published: October 2023

Introduction: The evidence for remdesivir therapy in immunocompromised patients is scarce. To evaluate remdesivir (RDV) effectiveness and safety in COVID-19 outpatients at high risk for progression in a real-world setting, we compare the outcome in immunocompromised (IC) patients with that in non-immunocompromised patients.

Methods: Two hospitals conducted a retrospective study of all adult patients with mild-to-moderate SARS-CoV-2 infection at high risk for disease progression who were treated as outpatients with a 3-day course of RDV (1st January−30th September 2022). The primary effectiveness endpoint was a composite of any cause of hospitalization or death by day 30. A multiple logistic regression model was built to explore the association between immune status and clinical outcome, estimating adjusted odds ratios [aORs (95% CI)].

Results: We have included 211 patients, of which 57% were males, with a median age of 65 years (IQR 53–77), 70.1% were vaccinated (three or four doses), and 61.1% were IC. The median duration of symptoms before RDV treatment was 3 days (IQR 2–5). During follow-up, 14 (6.6%) patients were hospitalized, of which 6 (2.8%) were hospitalized for COVID-19 progression. No patient required mechanical ventilation, and two patients died (non-COVID-19-related). After accounting for potential confounders, only anti-CD20 treatment was associated with the composed outcome [aOR 5.35 (1.02–27.5, 95% CI)], whereas the immunocompetence status was not [aOR 1.94 (0.49–7.81, 95% CI)].

Conclusion: Early COVID-19 outpatient treatment with a 3-day course of remdesivir in vaccinated patients at high risk for disease progression during the Omicron surge had a good safety profile. It was associated with a low rate of all-cause hospitalization or death, regardless of immunocompetence status.
Antiosteoporosis medications and cardiovascular disease: a population-based nationwide nested case–control study
Authors: Tsai Wen-Hsuan , Sung Fung-Chang , Muo Chih-Hsin , Tsai Ming-Chieh , Wu Shu-I.
Published: October 2023

Purpose: Patients with osteoporosis are at an increased risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Several antiosteoporosis medications have been demonstrated with the benefit of preventing osteoporosis. Our aim is to assess the CVD risks associated with antiosteoporosis medications using the National Health Insurance Research Database in Taiwan between 2000 and 2016.

Methods: Among 41,102 patients of 40+ years old with newly diagnosed osteoporosis, 69.1% (N = 28,387) of patients were included in the user cohort of antiosteoporosis medicines, of whom 13, 472 developed CVD by the end of 2016, while 14,915 did not. Using the nested case–control analysis in the user cohort (88.0% women and 77.4% elderly), we applied conditional logistic regression to estimate odds ratios (ORs) of eight types of CVD for the users of denosumab, bisphosphonate, teriparatide, and hormone replacement therapy (HRT).

Results: The adjusted ORs of overall CVDs were 0.13 (95% CI: 0.12–0.15) for denosumab users, 0.52 (95% CI: 0.45–0.61) for teriparatide users, and 0.80 (95% CI: 0.76–0.85) for bisphosphonate users. The HRT users were at higher odds of coronary artery and peripheral artery diseases, heart failure, pulmonary embolism, and deep vein thrombosis.

Conclusion: Denosumab, teriparatide, and bisphosphonate may have more protective effects against CVD than hormone therapy. Physicians may take subsequent cardiovascular risks into account when choosing an adequate antiosteoporosis medication for patients with osteoporosis.
The influence of team motivational climate on employee creativity—mediating role of domain-relevant skills
Authors: Zhao Yanmei , Yu Ting , Zhang Zhengtang
Published: October 2023

Employee creativity drives enterprise development, and team motivational climate plays an important role in incubating employee creativity. Based on creativity component theory, this study explores the impact of team motivational climate (mastery climate and performance climate) on employee creativity and its mechanism. Through the paired data of supervisors and employees at three time points, the research shows that mastery climate positively affects employees’ domain-relevant skills and domain-relevant skills positively affect employee creativity. By controlling the mediating effect of intrinsic motivation and self-efficacy, domain-relevant skills mediate the impact of mastery climate on employee creativity; performance climate and mastery climate work together on domain-relevant skills. When both are high, domain-relevant skills are highest. Performance climate moderate the mediating effect of domain-relevant skills between mastery climate and employee creativity. When performance climate is high, the mediating effect of domain-relevant skills is stronger. Suggestions for practice and future research are provided.
A functionalist approach to online trolling
Authors: Nitschinsk Lewis , Tobin Stephanie J. , Vanman Eric J.
Published: October 2023

Online trolling is often linked to sadism and psychopathy. Yet, little research has assessed why people high in these traits seek online environments to achieve their nefarious goals. We employ a functionalist approach to examine whether people high in sadism and psychopathy are motivated to seek the affordances of online environments (e.g., anonymity) to reveal their malevolent self-aspects by engaging in trolling behavior. A sample of 515 university undergraduates (Mage = 20.47) read vignettes depicting trolling incidents and rated the acceptability of the perpetrators’ actions and whether they had ever written similar comments. Participants then completed measures of psychopathy, sadism, and toxic anonymous motivations. We find that toxic anonymous motivations partially mediate the relationship between psychopathy and sadism, and online trolling. Whereas trolling is often understood through its underlying personality traits, toxic motivations to seek anonymity may be a more proximal predictor of who is likely to troll online.
Perceptions of registered nurses on facilitators and barriers of implementing the AI-IoT-based healthcare pilot project for older adults during the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea
Authors: Boo Sunjoo , Oh Hyunjin
Published: October 2023

Objective

This study explored the perceptions of registered nurses on the facilitators and barriers to implementing an AI/IoT (Artificial Intelligence/Internet of Things)-based healthcare pilot project, designed to prevent frailty and improve health behaviors by providing Bluetooth-enabled smart devices (including blood pressure and blood glucose meters) for the older adults aged over 65 years and above in South Korea.

Methods

Using a qualitative descriptive methodology, interviews and qualitative surveys were conducted with 15 registered nurses from 11 public health centers. Data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The study found that the AI·IoT-based healthcare pilot project was well received by participants, leading to increased client satisfaction and improved health behaviors. Government support and funding were crucial facilitators of project implementation. However, technical challenges and disparities in digital literacy among older adults pose significant barriers.

Conclusion

The findings highlight the potential of AI·IoT technologies in improving the healthcare of older adults. Efforts to address technological challenges and enhance digital literacy among vulnerable populations are necessary for successfully implementing such interventions. Government support and ongoing training for healthcare professionals can help optimize the AI·IoT-based healthcare services for older adults.
China’s air quality improvement strategy may already be having a positive effect: evidence based on health risk assessment
Authors: Xu Xianmang , Zhang Wen , Shi Xiaofeng , Su Zhi , Cheng Wei , Wei Yinuo , Ma He , Li Tinglong , Wang Zhenhua
Published: October 2023

Aiming to investigate the health risk impact of PM2.5 pollution on a heavily populated province of China. The exposure response function was used to assess the health risk of PM2.5 pollution. Results shows that the total number of premature deaths and diseases related to PM2.5 pollution in Shandong might reach 159.8 thousand people based on the new WHO (2021) standards. The health effects of PM2.5 pollution were more severe in men than in women. Five of the 16 cities in Shandong had higher health risks caused by PM2.5 pollution, including LinYi, HeZe, JiNing, JiNan, and WeiFang. PM2.5 pollution resulted in nearly 7.4 billions dollars in healthy economic cost, which accounted for 0.57% of GDP in Shandong in 2021. HeZe, LiaoCheng, ZaoZhuang, and LinYi were the cities where the health economic loss was more than 1% of the local GDP, accounted for 1.30, 1.26, 1.08, and 1.04%. Although the more rigorous assessment criteria, the baseline concentration was lowered by 30 μg/m3 compared to our previous study, there was no significant increase in health risks and economic losses. China’s air quality improvement strategy may already be having a positive effect.
Investigation and Optimization of Energy Consumption for Hybrid Hydraulic Excavator with an Innovative Powertrain
Authors: Nguyen Van Hien , Do Tri Cuong , Ahn Kyoung Kwan
Published: October 2023

This paper presents an innovative powertrain design and an energy regeneration system for hybrid hydraulic excavators to reduce energy consumption and emissions. The proposed system is designed to maximize engine efficiency and make full use of the energy gained from boom and arm retraction. The powertrain features an innovative design that incorporates a continuously variable transmission (CVT), which drives the main pump. It enables precise control of both the engine’s speed and torque, ensuring that the engine operates within the high-efficiency range. The energy regeneration system is applied to regenerate the potential energy of the boom and arm, which can be used to either charge the battery or directly supply power to the main pump. Moreover, an energy management strategy based on an equivalent consumption minimization strategy is used to distribute the power while offering maximum engine efficiency. When compared with the existing hybrid system and conventional system, the simulation results indicated that the proposed approach achieves energy-saving efficiencies of 16.9% and 77.1%, respectively, at high velocities and 22.25% and 53.5%, respectively, at medium velocities. This research signifies a promising advancement for sustainable and efficient hydraulic excavator operations.
Novel Applications of Optical Sensors and Machine Learning in Agricultural Monitoring
Authors: Yue Jibo , Zhou Chengquan , Feng Haikuan , Yang Yanjun , Zhang Ning
Published: October 2023

The rapid development of intelligence and automated technologies has provided new management opportunities for agricultural production [...]
Analysis of Exogenous Factors to Thailand Coffee Price Volatility: Using Multiple Exogenous Bayesian GARCH-X Model
Authors: Chaovanapoonphol Yaovarate , Singvejsakul Jittima , Wiboonpongse Aree
Published: October 2023

Price volatility is a significant risk factor affecting the income of farmers in the agriculture sector, especially for international trade in products such as coffee in Thailand. This study proposes an alternative model to analyze the major factors in terms of internal and external factors, which are expected to affect price volatility simultaneously, by applying multiple exogenous Bayesian GARCH-X models. The empirical results of the comparison between the multiple exogenous Bayesian GARCH-X model and the standard Bayesian GARCH-X model, which estimated the impact of individual exogenous variables separately, show that the standard error of the first model is the smallest compared to the others, which means the multiple exogenous Bayesian GARCH-X model is more fitted to the data than the others. The results indicate that the increase in demand for manufactories for coffee beans in Thailand (TDD) and coffee bean export volume in Indonesia (INEX) leads to an increase in the volatility of raw coffee prices. On the other hand, if coffee bean export volume in Brazil (BEX) increases, this will cause a decrease in the volatility of raw coffee bean prices. Therefore, the Thai government should carefully consider the changes in the production and marketing policies of those countries in the formulation of the coffee policy. The appropriate policy on coffee price volatility in Thailand should not concern only reduce the uncertainty in the coffee bean market but also consider the impact on the long-term income and livelihoods of coffee growers. Therefore, external factors of the competing countries should be taken into account in the coffee production policy.
Genome-Wide Identification of WRKY Transcription Factor Family and Its Expression Patterns in Dalbergia odorifera T. Chen
Authors: Zhu Qing , Chen Feifei , Hu Xu , Zheng Haoyue , Liu Yi , Fu Chunchan , Xie Shangqian , Li Dunxi , Tang Minqiang
Published: October 2023

Dalbergia odorifera is a valuable material used in the crafting of luxury furniture, and the chemical constituents from heartwood possess significant medicinal value. The WRKY gene family, one of the most extensively studied gene families, plays an important role in plants. However, a comprehensive genome-wide identification of the WRKY gene family in D. odorifera has not been reported yet. In this study, a total of 99 WRKY genes were identified in D. odorifera. The DoWRKY genes were categorized into three primary groups with five subgroups. A collinearity analysis revealed 38 segmental duplications and 3 tandem duplications within the DoWRKY genes, indicating the pivotal role of segmental duplication in gene family expansion. Through the analysis of DoWRKY transcriptomic data across diverse tissues and under wounding stress, we found that only eight genes were universally expressed, while a subset displayed distinct tissue-specific patterns. Notably, DoWRKY41 was exclusively expressed in leaves; DoWRKY04 was solely in roots; and DoWRKY17, DoWRKY28, DoWRKY47, and DoWRKY67 were uniquely in flowers. Furthermore, we identified 24 WRKY proteins that tightly respond to wounding stress (20 upregulated; 4 downregulated). This comprehensive investigation offered valuable insights into the WRKY gene family of D. odorifera, serving as a foundational resource for forthcoming explorations into the functional roles of these genes amid wounding stress.
CRFB5a, a Subtype of Japanese Eel (Anguilla japonica) Type I IFN Receptor, Regulates Host Antiviral and Antimicrobial Functions through Activation of IRF3/IRF7 and LEAP2
Authors: Wang Tianyu , Lin Peng , Wang Yilei , Lai Xiaojian , Chen Pengyun , Li Fuyan , Feng Jianjun
Published: October 2023

IFNAR1, one of the type I IFN receptors, is crucial to mammalian host defense against viral invasion. However, largely unknown is the immunological role of the fish teleost protein IFNAR1, also known as CRFB5. We have successfully cloned the whole cDNA of the Japanese eel’s (Anguilla japonica) CRFB5a homolog, AjCRFB5a. The two fibronectin-3 domains and the transmembrane region (238–260 aa) of AjCRFB5a are normally present, and it shares a three-dimensional structure with zebrafish, Asian arowana, and humans. According to expression analyses, AjCRFB5a is highly expressed in all tissues found, particularly the liver and intestine. In vivo, Aeromonas hydrophila, LPS, and the viral mimic poly I:C all dramatically increased AjCRFB5a expression in the liver. Japanese eel liver cells were reported to express AjCRFB5a more strongly in vitro after being exposed to Aeromonas hydrophila or being stimulated with poly I: C. The membranes of Japanese eel liver cells contained EGFP-AjCRFB5a proteins, some of which were condensed, according to the results of fluorescence microscopy. Luciferase reporter assays showed that AjCRFB5a overexpression strongly increased the expression of immune-related genes in Japanese eel liver cells, such as IFN1, IFN2, IFN3, IFN4, IRF3, IRF5, and IRF7 of the type I IFN signaling pathway, as well as one of the essential antimicrobial peptides LEAP2, in addition to significantly inducing human IFN-promoter activities in HEK293 cells. Additionally, RNA interference (RNAi) data demonstrated that knocking down AjCRFB5a caused all eight of those genes to drastically lower their expression in Japanese eel liver cells, as well as to variable degrees in the kidney, spleen, liver, and intestine. Our findings together showed that AjCRFB5a participates in the host immune response to bacterial infection by inducing antimicrobial peptides mediated by LEAP2 and favorably modulates host antiviral immune responses by activating IRF3 and IRF7-driven type I IFN signaling pathways.
Genomic Characterization of Drug-Resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis L2/Beijing Isolates from Astana, Kazakhstan
Authors: Auganova Dana , Atavliyeva Sabina , Amirgazin Asylulan , Akisheva Akmaral , Tsepke Anna , Tarlykov Pavel
Published: October 2023

Kazakhstan ranks among the countries with the highest number of MDR-TB patients per 100,000 population worldwide. The successful transmission of local MDR strains of Mycobacterium tuberculosis (Mtb) poses a significant threat to disease control. In this study, we employed whole-genome sequencing to examine drug resistance, compensatory mutations, population structure, and transmission patterns in a sample of 24 clinical isolates of L2/Beijing Mtb collected in Astana, Kazakhstan between 2021 and 2022. The genotypic prediction of Mtb susceptibility to anti-TB agents was consistent with the phenotypic susceptibility, except for bedaquiline. An analysis of resistance-associated genes characterized most of the isolates as pre-extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis (pre-XDR-TB) (n = 15; 62.5%). The phylogenetic analysis grouped the isolates into four transmission clusters; the dominant cluster was assigned to the “aggressive” Central Asia outbreak (CAO) clade of L2/Beijing (n = 15; 62.5%). Thirteen mutations with putative compensatory effects were observed exclusively in Mtb isolates containing the rpoB S450L mutation. The putative compensatory mutations had a stabilizing effect on RpoABC protein stability and dynamics. The high prevalence of the CAO clade in the population structure of Mtb may explain the rapid spread of MDR-TB in Kazakhstan.
Prevalence of Colonization with Multidrug-Resistant Bacteria: Results of a 5-Year Active Surveillance in Patients Attending a Teaching Hospital
Authors: Quirino Angela , Cicino Claudia , Scarlata Giuseppe Guido Maria , Marascio Nadia , Di Gennaro Gianfranco , Matera Giovanni , Licata Francesca , Bianco Aida
Published: October 2023

Combating antimicrobial resistance (AMR) requires comprehensive efforts, such as screening to identify patients colonized by multidrug-resistant microorganisms (MDROs). The primary purpose of this study was to estimate the AMR pattern of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) isolated from nasal surveillance swabs and MDROs isolated from pharyngeal and rectal surveillance swabs in patients attending a teaching hospital. Data were sought retrospectively, from 1 January 2017 to 31 December 2021, from the records produced by the hospital microbiology laboratory. Duplicate isolates, defined as additional isolates of the same microorganism with identical antibiograms, were excluded. Among Staphylococcus aureus isolates from nasal swabs, 18.2% were oxacillin-resistant. Among Gram-negative bacteria, 39.8% of Klebsiella pneumoniae and 83.5% of Acinetobacter baumannii isolates were carbapenem-resistant. Resistance to three antibiotic categories was high among Acinetobacter baumannii (85.8%) and Klebsiella pneumoniae (42.4%). The present data highlight a high prevalence of MDRO colonization among patients admitted to the hospital and suggest that screening for MDROs could be an important tool for infection control purposes, especially in geographical areas where limiting the spread of MDROs is crucial. The results also underline the importance of active surveillance, especially for carbapenem-resistant, Gram-negative bacteria in reducing their transmission, especially in high-risk units.
Antioxidant Capacity of Carotenoid Extracts from the Haloarchaeon Halorhabdus utahensis
Authors: Serino Ismene , Squillaci Giuseppe , Errichiello Sara , Carbone Virginia , Baraldi Lidia , La Cara Francesco , Morana Alessandra
Published: October 2023

Herein, we report on the production, characterization, and antioxidant power assessment of carotenoids from the haloarchaeon Halorhabdus utahensis. It was grown at 37 °C and 180 rpm agitation in halobacteria medium supplemented with glucose, fructose, and xylose, each at concentrations of 0.2%, 1%, and 2%, and the carotenoid yield and composition were investigated. The microorganism produced the carotenoids under all the conditions tested, and their amount followed the order glucose < xylose < fructose. The highest yield was achieved in 2% fructose growth medium with 550.60 ± 7.91 μg/g dry cell and 2428.15 ± 49.33 μg/L. Separation and identification of the carotenoids were performed by RP-HPLC and HPLC/APCI-ITMSn. Bacterioruberin was the main carotenoid detected and accounted for 60.6%, 56.4%, and 58.9% in 2% glucose, 1% xylose, and 2% fructose extracts, respectively. Several geometric isomers of bacterioruberin were distinguished, and representatives of monoanhydrobacterioruberin, and bisanhydrobacterioruberin were also detected. The assignment to cis-isomers was attempted through analysis of the UV/Vis spectra, intensity of cis peaks, and spectral fine structures. The extracts exhibited superoxide scavenging activity higher than butylhydroxytoluene, ascorbic acid, and Trolox, selected as antioxidant references. The anti-hyaluronidase capacity was investigated, and the 2% fructose extract showed the highest activity reaching 90% enzyme inhibition with 1.5 μg. The overall data confirm that Hrd. utahensis can be regarded as an interesting source of antioxidants that can find applications in the food and cosmetic sectors.
Sargassum horneri Extract Attenuates Depressive-like Behaviors in Mice Treated with Stress Hormone
Authors: Park Inhye , Kim Jiwoo , Kim Minji , Lim Dong Wook , Jung Jonghoon , Kim Min Jung , Song Junho , Cho Suengmok , Um Min Young
Published: October 2023

Sargassum horneri, a brown seaweed, is known for its various health benefits; however, there are no reports on its effects on depression. This study aimed to investigate the antidepressant effects of S. horneri ethanol extract (SHE) in mice injected with corticosterone (CORT) and to elucidate the underlying molecular mechanisms. Behavioral tests were conducted, and corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH), adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH), and CORT levels were measured. A fluorometric monoamine oxidase (MAO) enzyme inhibition assay was performed. Neurotransmitters like serotonin, dopamine, and norepinephrine levels were determined. Moreover, the ERK-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus was evaluated. Behavioral tests revealed that SHE has antidepressant effects by reducing immobility time and increasing time spent in open arms. Serum CRH, ACTH, and CORT levels decreased in the mice treated with SHE, as did the glucocorticoid-receptor expression in their brain tissues. SHE inhibited MAO-A and MAO-B activities. In addition, SHE increased levels of neurotransmitters. Furthermore, SHE activated the ERK-CREB-BDNF pathway in the prefrontal cortex and hippocampus. These findings suggest that SHE has antidepressant effects in CORT-injected mice, via the regulation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and monoaminergic pathway, and through activation of the ERK-CREB-BDNF signaling pathway. Thus, our study suggests that SHE may act as a natural antidepressant.
Non-Excitatory Amino Acids, Melatonin, and Free Radicals: Examining the Role in Stroke and Aging
Authors: Carretero Victoria Jiménez , Ramos Eva , Segura-Chama Pedro , Hernández Adan , Baraibar Andrés M , Álvarez-Merz Iris , Muñoz Francisco López , Egea Javier , Solís José M. , Romero Alejandro , Hernández-Guijo Jesús M.
Published: October 2023

The aim of this review is to explore the relationship between melatonin, free radicals, and non-excitatory amino acids, and their role in stroke and aging. Melatonin has garnered significant attention in recent years due to its diverse physiological functions and potential therapeutic benefits by reducing oxidative stress, inflammation, and apoptosis. Melatonin has been found to mitigate ischemic brain damage caused by stroke. By scavenging free radicals and reducing oxidative damage, melatonin may help slow down the aging process and protect against age-related cognitive decline. Additionally, non-excitatory amino acids have been shown to possess neuroprotective properties, including antioxidant and anti-inflammatory in stroke and aging-related conditions. They can attenuate oxidative stress, modulate calcium homeostasis, and inhibit apoptosis, thereby safeguarding neurons against damage induced by stroke and aging processes. The intracellular accumulation of certain non-excitatory amino acids could promote harmful effects during hypoxia-ischemia episodes and thus, the blockade of the amino acid transporters involved in the process could be an alternative therapeutic strategy to reduce ischemic damage. On the other hand, the accumulation of free radicals, specifically mitochondrial reactive oxygen and nitrogen species, accelerates cellular senescence and contributes to age-related decline. Recent research suggests a complex interplay between melatonin, free radicals, and non-excitatory amino acids in stroke and aging. The neuroprotective actions of melatonin and non-excitatory amino acids converge on multiple pathways, including the regulation of calcium homeostasis, modulation of apoptosis, and reduction of inflammation. These mechanisms collectively contribute to the preservation of neuronal integrity and functions, making them promising targets for therapeutic interventions in stroke and age-related disorders.
Parametric Analysis for Hybrid–Electric Regional Aircraft Conceptual Design and Development
Authors: Palaia Giuseppe , Abu Salem Karim , Quarta Alessandro A.
Published: October 2023

This paper proposes a conceptual analysis of the limitations related to the development (and integration) of hybrid–electric propulsion on regional transport aircraft, with the aim to identify a feasibility space for this innovative aircraft concept. Hybrid–electric aircraft have attracted the interest of aeronautical research as these have the potential to reduce fuel consumption and, thus, the related greenhouse gas emissions. Nevertheless, considering the development of such an aircraft configuration while keeping the constraints deriving from technological and/or operating aspects loose could lead to the analysis of concepts that are unlikely to be realised. In this paper, specifically to outline the boundaries constraining the actual development of such aircraft, the influence on overall aircraft design and performance of the main technological, operating, and design factors characterising the development of such a configuration is analysed and discussed at a conceptual level. Specifically, the current achievable gravimetric battery energy density (BED) is identified as the main limiting factor for the development of regional hybrid–electric aircraft, and a sensitivity analysis shows the correlation of this important technological parameter with aircraft performance in terms of both fuel consumption and energy efficiency. In this context, minimum technological development thresholds are therefore identified to enable the effective development of this type of aircraft; namely, a minimum of BED = 500 Wh/kg at battery pack level is identified as necessary to provide tangible benefits. From an operating point of view, flight distance is the most limiting design requirement, and a proper assessment of the design range is necessary if a hybrid–electric aircraft is to be designed to achieve lower emissions than the state of the art; flight ranges equal to or lower than 600 nm are to be considered for this type of aircraft. As a bridging of both of the previous constraints, a change in the design paradigm with respect to established practices for state-of-the-art aircraft is necessary. More specifically, penalisations in maximum take-off weight and overall aircraft energy efficiency may be necessary if the aim is to reduce direct in-flight consumption by means of integration of hybrid–electric powertrains.
Rotating Target Detection Method of Concrete Bridge Crack Based on YOLO v5
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhou Tong , Xu Jingye , Hong Yu , Pu Qianhui , Wen Xuguang
Published: October 2023

Crack detection is a critical and essential aspect of concrete bridge maintenance and management. Manual inspection often falls short in meeting the demands of large-scale crack detection in terms of cost, efficiency, accuracy, and data management. To address the challenges faced by existing generic object detection algorithms in achieving high accuracy or efficiency when detecting cracks with large aspect ratios, overlapping structures, and clear directional characteristics, this paper presents improvements to the YOLO v5 model. These enhancements include the introduction of angle regression variables, the definition of a new loss function, the integration of PSA-Neck and ECA-Layer attention mechanism modules into the network architecture, consideration of the contribution of each node’s features to the network, and the addition of skip connections within the same feature scale. This results in a novel crack image rotation object detection algorithm named “R-YOLO v5”. After training the R-YOLO v5 model for 300 iterations on a dataset comprising 1628 crack images, the model achieved an mAP@0.5 of 94.03% on the test set, which is significantly higher than other rotation object detection algorithms such as SASM, S2A Net, Re Det, as well as the horizontal-box YOLO v5 model. Furthermore, R-YOLO v5 demonstrates clear advantages in terms of model size (4.17 MB) and detection speed (0.01 s per image). These results demonstrate that the designed model effectively detects cracks in concrete bridges and exhibits robustness, minimal memory usage, making it suitable for real-time crack detection on small devices like smartphones or drones. Additionally, the rotation object detection improvement strategy discussed in this study holds potential applicability for enhancing other object detection algorithms.
Stability Analysis and Safety Factors of the Excavation Face of a Pipe Screen Tunnel in a Soft Soil Area
Authors: Pan Weiqiang , Wang Zihe , Diao Yu , Zheng Gang , Zhou Haizuo , Zhang Tianqi
Published: October 2023

With the rapid development of urban rail transit and underground space construction, the advantages of the concealed excavation method are gradually highlighted in the urban center area affected by a complex engineering environment. At present, the pipe curtain method with a flexible section and wide application of the soil layer is being widely used in engineering, but the research on the stability of the excavation face during the construction of the pipe curtain method in soft soil areas still has not formed a complete system. Therefore, this paper analyzes the stability of the excavation face under different reinforcement conditions and the influence of different spacing, numbers, and strength of MJS (metro jet system) zones on the stability of the excavation face of the pipe curtain method based on the actual project of the Guiqiao Road Station of the Shanghai Metro, China, and gives a reference for the reinforcement of the palm face in the excavation process of the pipe curtain method in soft soil areas. The study shows that the safety coefficient of the excavation face decreases with the increase in the slope angle of the excavation face, with the increase in spacing of the MJS zone, and with the increase in height of the MJS zone arrangement, while the safety coefficient of the excavation face increases with the increase in strength of the MJS zones themselves and the increase in the strength of the soil between the MJS zones. Further, the machine learning model is applied to predict the stability of the excavation face under different cases, and the relevant fitting accuracy is above 0.9, which can predict the stability of the excavation better.
Prediction of Gasoline Orders at Gas Stations in South Korea Using VAE-Based Machine Learning Model to Address Data Asymmetry
Authors: Yoon Sungyeon , Park Minseo
Published: October 2023

South Korea has developed road-based transportation and uses a lot of gasoline. South Korea imports gasoline since it is not produced domestically. So, fluctuations in gasoline prices have a significant impact on the national economy. Currently, gasoline orders, which are based on gasoline consumption, are analyzed in relation to fluctuations in gasoline prices. However, gasoline orders can also change due to various non-price factors. Therefore, to understand the trend of gasoline orders, it is important to identify additional factors that gas stations consider when determining orders. We collected 180 monthly samples of data on 167 variables. Sudden international issues lead to rapid fluctuations in gasoline orders, which can lead to outliers. A class imbalance occurs because outliers are generally fewer in number than the normal data points. Therefore, to address the class imbalance, we proposed a method that grouped the data samples into 11 clusters using the K-means clustering algorithm and then augmented the data into 85 datasets in each cluster through the Variational Auto-Encoder. We evaluated the augmented datasets through the R-Squared, Root Mean Squared Errors, and accuracy of various regression models. Based on the experimental results, when predicting gasoline orders at gas stations in South Korea using augmented datasets, linear regression showed the best performance.
Interference Estimation Using a Recurrent Neural Network Equalizer for Holographic Data Storage Systems
Authors: Nguyen Thien An , Lee Jaejin
Published: October 2023

Holographic data storage (HDS) utilizes the unique properties of light for writing and reading two-dimensional (2D) data from holographic media, providing significantly higher densities and faster data transfer rates than traditional storage media for short-term dependencies. With its ability to store terabytes of data in a single crystal, HDS has garnered attention as a promising candidate for next-generation storage technologies. However, the 2D interference caused by hologram dispersion during the reading process poses a significant obstacle to achieving reliable and efficient HDS systems. This study proposes a method for enhancing the accuracy of estimating the 2D intersymbol interference (ISI) using a recurrent neural network (RNN) equalizer for HDS systems. The proposed method leverages the ability of RNNs to model complex and temporal dependencies in data and more accurately estimate the interference caused by ISI and interchannel interference (ICI) in HDS systems. In addition, to recreate the relationship between the samples in the training process, RNN is applied to fields such as computer vision, natural language process, speech recognition, and so on. We evaluated the performance of our proposed method on a simulation model of HDS system and compared it with the previous studies. In the simulations, the proposed method outperformed the previous schemes in terms of bit error rate, indicating its potential for improving the reliability and efficiency of HDS systems.