bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Application of a virtual reality-based cognitive-behavioural therapy of social phobia in the treatment of inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia and social anxiety – a feasibility study
Authors: Stefaniak Izabela , Aleksandrowicz Adrianna
Published: November 2024

The co-occurrence of social anxiety symptoms and schizophrenia is a significant clinical problem. So far, social anxiety symptoms have been treated as an integral symptom of schizophrenia, receiving little attention as a target of direct therapeutic interventions. However, some evidence indicates that a high level of social anxiety in this group of patients may be a barrier to the recovery process. This feasibility study evaluated the use of a standard protocol for cognitive-behavioural therapy in the treatment of social phobia, in which social exposure was implemented with the usage of virtual reality (CBT + VRET). The study was conducted in a group of inpatients in a clinical psychiatric unit. Twenty inpatients diagnosed with schizophrenia and comorbid social anxiety symptoms were examined. Eleven patients were assigned to 10 weekly individual CBT+VRET interventions and nine to the control condition. Baseline and post-treatment assessments of social anxiety, psychotic symptoms, stigma, self-esteem, and depressive symptoms were measured before and after intervention. There was a decrease in social anxiety in the CBT+VRET group, while no such decrease was noted in the control group. This study provides preliminary evidence that CBT+VRET is acceptable, safe, and initial data that bears on the question of effectiveness for treating social anxiety disorder in people with schizophrenia. Future research should investigate the efficacy of CBT+VRET for the treatment of social anxiety symptoms and co-morbid schizophrenia in a larger randomised controlled trial.
Mental health literacy and the public perception of persons with depression and schizophrenia in Vietnam
Authors: Mobashery Mahan , Ta Thi Minh Tam , Cao Duc Tien , Böge Kerem , Eilinghoff Luisa , Nguyen Van Phi , Mavituna Selin , Fuchs Lukas , Weyn-Banningh Sebastian , Kemna Solveig , Bajbouj Malek , Hahn Eric
Published: November 2024

Background

Vietnam’s mental health care system is undergoing significant changes since the government has initiated large-scale programs to reform and develop the mental health care infrastructure. Cultural belief systems on mental illnesses influence help-seeking behavior and compliance. This study investigates the belief systems about people with schizophrenia and depression among people living in the Hanoi area.

Method

1077 Vietnamese participants answered two open-ended questions after reading an unlabeled vignette describing a character with the symptoms of schizophrenia or depression. The answers were analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

Of all participants, 88,4% associated the presented cases with a mental illness, with 91,5% in the case of schizophrenia and 85,1% in the case of depression, so both disorders were conceptualized as mental illnesses. 18,6% mentioned depression when presented with the depression vignette, while only 3,6% recognized schizophrenia in the schizophrenia condition.

Conclusions

Almost 9 out of 10 participants considered the presented cases as an example of mental illness, suggesting a high mental health awareness among our participants. The majority did not identify the presented cases as examples of schizophrenia or depression, reflecting little familiarity with Western mental health concepts. It could be interpreted as a sign of relatively low mental health literacy among the study participants.
Prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and its associated factors among chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases patients at public hospitals of Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024: a facility-based cross-sectional study
Authors: Kasse Tsehaynew , Elias Amanuel , Lonsako Arega Abebe , Agegnehu Yalemzer
Published: November 2024

Background

Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a serious medical condition characterized by elevated pressure in the lung blood vessels, with chronic heart and lung diseases being the most common causes worldwide. However, there is a dearth of studies on the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and its associated factors among chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients in Ethiopia and the study area.

Objective

This study aimed to assess the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension and its associated factors among patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease at public hospitals in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2024.

Methods

A facility-based cross-sectional study involving 422 COPD patients charted in Addis Ababa town, Ethiopia from May – June 2024 was conducted. Respondents’ records were chosen using simple random numbers. Structured, and pretested questionnaires, were used to collect data. The data were coded and entered into EpiData 3.1 before being exported to SPSS version 25 for analysis. Logistic regression was employed to identify factors influencing the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension. Statistical significance was set at p < 0.05 with a 95% confidence interval.

Results

The study found the prevalence of pulmonary hypertension was 52% (95% CI: 49, 54.4%). Aged above 55 years [Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR): 2.45 (1.55–3.9), Being male (AOR): 2.5 (1.5–4.1)]. Furthermore, having a history of alcohol [(AOR): 5.5 (2.4–13)], a history of smoking [(AOR): 4.6 (2.7–7.8), and congestive heart failure (AOR): 2.65 (1.5–4.6)], all increase the likelihood of pulmonary hypertension.

Conclusion

The study revealed a higher prevalence of pulmonary hypertension among COPD patients. Significant associations were found with being male, belonging to an older age group, and having a history of alcohol use, smoking, and congestive heart disease. Implementing screening programs, smoking cessation programs, educational initiatives, and counseling patients on lifestyle modifications were recommended.
Occupation-related respiratory diseases among sanitary workers in the workplace: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Tolera Sina Temesgen , Alemu Bezatu , Mengistu Dechasa Adare , Deressa Alemayehu
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Emerging evidence from both developed and developing countries indicates that occupation-related respiratory diseases (ORRD) among sanitary workers constitute a significant public health challenge. These are because of the working environment, where employees are more likely to be at risk in an unsafe workplace, especially sanitary workers. Therefore, the purpose of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to estimate the prevalence of ORRD among sanitary workers.

Methods

The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) flow diagram was used, and the Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcomes, and Study (PICOS) framework was applied to structure the review questions. Studies published in English from 2000 to 2022 were searched in databases and through other methods. Boolean logic (AND, OR, NOT), Medical Subject Headings (MeSH), and keywords were used as follows: (Occupational “OR” Job “OR” Work) AND (Respiratory tract diseases “OR” Respiratory tract infections “OR” Respiratory tract symptoms “OR” Respiratory tract problems) AND (Solid waste collectors “OR” Sewage workers “OR” Street sweepers “OR” Waste treatment worker) AND Countries. Stata MP/17 software was used for data analysis. A random effects model and restricted maximum likelihood were applied. A generic precomputed effect size for the prevalence of ORRD was employed at a 95% confidence interval (CI:95%).

Results

A total of 23 studies were included, four from industrialized countries (n = 4) and seven from developing countries (n = 7), out of an initial 123 studies. Among the 4,521 sanitary workers, 1990 (44%), 1,651 (37%), and 880 (19%) were SS, SWCs, and STWs, respectively. Globally, the pooled prevalence of ORRD among all SWs was 32.56% (95%CI: 25.78, 39.34%). Among these, high-income and low-income countries had a prevalence of 20% (95%CI: 18.08%, 0.21.96%) and 35.17% (95%CI: 27.48, 42.76%), respectively. In the SS and SWC groups, the prevalence was 36.41% (95%CI: 26.69%) and 31.28% (95%CI, 18.64, 43.92%), respectively.

Conclusion

The current systematic review and meta-analysis found that ORRD were common among the SWs. Due to numerous risk factors, these illnesses are more prevalent in low-income countries than in industrialized ones. Therefore, to reduce these risks for these groups—especially for street sweepers in low-income countries—government policy changes and other preventive measures are required.
The clinical applications of drugs and their metabolites analysis in biological fluids and commonly used analytical techniques for bioanalysis: review
Authors: Mekonnen Biset Asrade , Yizengaw Muluabay Getie , Adugna Kebede Feyisa
Published: November 2024

Background

This study provides an overview of the clinical applications of drugs and their metabolites analysis in biological fluids and identifies commonly used analytical techniques for bioanalysis.

Methods

Original open-access articles published between 31 October 2005 and 31 October 2020 in Google Scholar, MEDLINE, PubMed, and Embase were reviewed, and pertinent findings of the individual studies were pooled and presented using tables. This review was reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA).

Results

Fifteen studies met the eligibility criteria and were included in the review. These studies show that qualitative identification and quantitative determination of drugs and their metabolites in biological fluids are important for therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM), pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, drug abuse control, and forensic and toxicological analyses. Spectroscopic, electrochemical, and hyphenated and nonhyphenated chromatographic techniques are used to analyse drugs and their metabolites in biological fluids. However, hyphenated techniques are the preferred analytical methods because of their sensitivity, selectivity, accuracy, reproducibility, efficiency, and rapid analysis.

Conclusion/Recommendations

Bioanalysis is important for pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic studies, therapeutic drug monitoring, forensic and toxicological analyses, and drug abuse control using different bioanalytical techniques. However, hyphenated techniques are the most commonly used bioanalytical techniques. Bioanalysis of drugs and their metabolites needs to be improved to provide good medical and pharmaceutical care to patients, to confirm forensic and toxicological cases, and to control drug abuse.
Changes in blood physiological and biochemical parameters and intestinal flora in newborn horses and mares with angular limb deformities
Authors: Ma Yuhui , Liu Yigang , Li Hai , Yang Kailun , Yao Gang
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Angular limb deformities (ALDs) are a common skeletal development disorder in newborn foals. This condition affects the growth and development of foals and severely impacts their future athletic performance and economic value, causing significant financial losses to the horse industry. Placentitis, metritis, and severe metabolic diseases during mare pregnancy are significant causes of ALDs in newborn foals. It has been established that intestinal flora disorders can easily lead to inflammatory and metabolic diseases in the host. However, the incidence of ALDs in foals in Zhaosu County, Xinjiang, a key production area of China's horse industry, remains unclear. Additionally, the relationship between functional changes in foals with ALDs and their mares and changes in their intestinal flora is not well-understood.

Methods

This study investigated the status of ALD in newborn foals through clinical observation and imaging examinations. In addition, molecular biological methods were applied to examine the effects of ALDs foals and their mares on physiological and biochemical markers and gut microbiota.

Results

The results showed that the incidence of ALD in Zhaosu area of China was 4.13%. In addition, by comparing and correlating the physiological and biochemical indicators and intestinal flora of foals and mares with ALD with those of healthy horses, it was found that foals and mares with ALD may promote the occurrence and development of the disease through the “blood marker changes-intestinal flora-ALDs” axis. In addition, by comparing the physiological and biochemical indicators and intestinal flora of foals and mares with ALD with the intestinal flora of healthy horses, it was found that the physiological and biochemical indicators and intestinal flora structure and metabolic pathways of foals and mares with ALD had significant changes.

Discussion

The diversity, species composition, and function of the intestinal flora of ALDs and their mares were significantly altered. These findings provide a scientific basis for understanding the etiology of ALDs in foals and offer new perspectives for diagnosing and treatment ALDs in newborn foals.
Soil Ecosystem Services in Urban Parks as a Basis for Better Urban Planning: The Case of Mexico City
Authors: Cotler Helena , Cram Silke , Prado Blanca , Peña Victor , Lucio Lilian
Published: November 2024

Until now, the contribution of soils in urban spaces has been underestimated and, as a result, the services they provide have been severely undervalued in urban planning. This article aims to address this issue through a study of Chapultepec Park in Mexico City. We provide two methodological proposals for the analysis of soil ecosystem services characterized by the interaction of natural and anthropic processes: the morpho-pedological landscapes (MpL), in which we quantify soil carbon sequestration (SOC Mg ha−1) and the comparison of two methods for the analysis of hydraulic conductivity: Pedotransfer functions (PTF) and direct measurement with a double ring infiltrometer. Among the 12 MpL, we found the highest SOC content in slopes with mixed tree vegetation and Phaeozem soils. However, SOC retention decreased by 40%–50% due to sealing surfaces. For infiltration measures, despite the diversity of soils and vegetation, direct measurements values are highly homogeneous, while values calculated using PTFs better reflect the morphopedological landscape heterogeneity. In all the MpLs, the hydraulic conductivity was higher than the maximum rainfall intensity report, indicating that the soils in Chapultepec Park, despite the differences in soils and intensity of use, provide the ecosystem service of infiltration. These results would allow the establishment of a baseline for monitoring these services and provide information to decision makers and urban planners seeking to reduce the construction of gray infrastructure that seals soils and reduces their capacity to provide these ecosystem services.
Application of Anomaly Detection to Identifying Aggressive Pig Behaviors Using Reconstruction Loss Inversion
Authors: Kim Hyun-Soo , Kim Yu Sung Edward , Devira Fania Ardelia , Yi Mun Yong
Published: November 2024

Increasing concerns of animal welfare in the commercial pig industry include aggression between pigs as it affects their health and growth. Early detection of aggressive behaviors is essential for optimizing their living environment. A major challenge for detection is that these behaviors are observed occasionally in normal conditions. Under this circumstance, a limited amount of aggressive behavior data will lead to class imbalance issue, making it difficult to develop an effective classification model for the detection of aggressive behaviors. In order to address this issue, this study has been designed with the aim of developing an anomaly detection model for identifying aggressive behaviors in pigs, enabling better management of the imbalanced class distribution and effective detection of infrequent aggressive episodes. The model consists of a convolutional neural network (CNN) and a variational long short-term memory (LSTM) autoencoder. Additionally, we adopted a training method similar to weakly supervised anomaly detection and included a few aggressive behavior data in the training set for prior learning. To effectively utilize the aggressive behavior data, we introduced Reconstruction Loss Inversion, a novel objective function, to train the autoencoder-based model, which increases the reconstruction error for aggressive behaviors by inverting the loss function. This approach has improved detection accuracy in both AUC-ROC and AUC-PR, demonstrating a significant enhancement in distinguishing aggressive episodes from normal behavior. As a result, it outperforms traditional classification-based methods, effectively identifying aggressive behaviors in a natural pig-farming environment. This method offers a robust solution for detecting aggressive animal behaviors and contributes to improving their welfare.
Diversity and Function Patterns of Soil Microbial Communities in Native and Invasive Plants Along an Altitudinal Gradient in the Qinling Mountains
Authors: Lyu Jinlin , Yue Ming , Xue Wenyan , Wang Yuchao , Li Yang , Wang Xue
Published: November 2024

Soil microbial communities are essential drivers of ecosystem functions, yet the factors shaping their structure and function, particularly at different altitudes and between invasive and native plants, remain insufficiently understood. Using high-throughput Illumina sequencing, we assessed the composition, diversity, impact factors, and functional potential of the microbial communities associated with Galinsoga quadriradiata (an invasive species) and Artemisia lavandulifolia (a native species) across an altitudinal gradient ranging from 896 m to 1889 m in the Qinling Mountains. The results revealed that both plant species and altitude significantly influenced soil bacterial diversity and community structure. Actinobacteriota, Proteobacteria, and Acidobacteriota accounted for higher proportions in the soils of G. quadriradiata and A. lavandulifolia. A linear discriminant analysis showed that the two species hosted distinct microbial communities, with variations driven by species-specific traits and environmental factors. Compared with plant parameters, environmental factors had a greater impact on plant soil bacterial abundance. Functional analysis indicated that A. lavandulifolia soils were more associated with nitrogen cycling processes, while G. quadriradiata soils contributed more to organic matter decomposition. Therefore, invasive and native plants harbored microbial flora with different nutritional preferences and metabolic characteristics. These findings advance our understanding of plant–microbe interactions along altitudinal gradients, and they have practical implications for managing invasive species and supporting ecosystem resilience.
Impacts of High Temperatures on the Growth and Development of Rice and Measures for Heat Tolerance Regulation: A Review
Authors: Yu Jianghui , Du Tianyu , Zhang Ping , Ma Zhongtao , Chen Xi , Cao Jiale , Li Hongjin , Li Tao , Zhu Ying , Xu Fangfu , Hu Qun , Liu Guodong , Li Guangyan , Wei Haiyan
Published: November 2024

As one of the world’s principal food crops, rice sustains over half of the global population. With global climate change intensifying, the frequency of extreme high temperatures is increasing, posing significant threats to the growth and development, yield, and quality of rice, thereby jeopardizing global food security. This study reviews the impacts of high temperatures on rice at different developmental stages and summarizes previous research on heat tolerance cultivation techniques for rice. Currently, to enhance heat tolerance in rice, the following strategies were primarily adopted: (1) the exploration of heat-tolerant genetic resources and breeding of heat-tolerant varieties; (2) cooling through canopy temperature management via enhanced transpiration regulated by water management; (3) the scientific application of fertilizers to promote the accumulation of assimilates in rice; (4) the application of exogenous regulators to bolster the antioxidant capacity of rice. The implementation of these strategies not only helps to ensure rice yield and quality but also provides robust support for addressing the challenges that global warming poses to agricultural production.
A Mathematical Model for Collective Behaviors and Emergent Patterns Driven by Multiple Distinct Stimuli Produced by Multiple Species
Authors: Fox Bradley Q. , May Spencer , Wallace Dorothy
Published: November 2024

Collective migration underlies key developmental and disease processes in vertebrates. Mathematical models describing collective migration can shed light on emergent patterns arising from simple mechanisms. In this paper, a mathematical model for collective migration is given for arbitrary numbers and types of individuals using principles outlined as a set of assumptions, such as the assumed preference for individuals to be “close but not too close" to others. The model is then specified to the case of two species with arbitrary numbers of individuals in each species. A particular form of signal response is used that may be parameterized based on experiments involving two or three agents. In its simplest form, the model describes two species of individuals that emit distinct signals, distinguishes between them, and exhibits responses unique to the type by moving according to signal gradients in various planar regions, a situation described as "mixotaxis". Beyond this simple form, initial conditions and boundary conditions are altered to simulate specific, additional in vitro as well as in vivo dynamics. The behaviors that were specifically accounted for include motility, directed migration, and a functional response to a signal. Ultimately, the paper’s results highlight the ability of a single framework for signal and response to account for patterns seen in multi-species systems, in particular the emergent self-organization seen in the embryonic development of placodal cells, which display chase-and-run behavior, flocking behavior, herding behavior, and the splitting of a herd, depending on initial conditions. Numerical experiments focus around the primary example of neural crest and placodal cell “chase-and-run” and “flocking” behaviors; the model reproduces the separation of placodal cells into distinct clumps, as described in the literature for neural crest and placodal cell development. This model was developed to describe a heterogeneous environment and can be expanded to capture other biological systems with one or more distinct species.
The Relevance and Implications of Monoclonal Antibody Therapies on Traumatic Brain Injury Pathologies
Authors: Wang Ping , Okada-Rising Starlyn , Scultetus Anke H. , Bailey Zachary S.
Published: November 2024

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is a global public health concern. It remains one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality. TBI pathology involves complex secondary injury cascades that are associated with cellular and molecular dysfunction, including oxidative stress, coagulopathy, neuroinflammation, neurodegeneration, neurotoxicity, and blood–brain barrier (BBB) dysfunction, among others. These pathological processes manifest as a diverse array of clinical impairments. They serve as targets for potential therapeutic intervention not only in TBI but also in other diseases. Monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) have been used as key therapeutic agents targeting these mechanisms for the treatment of diverse diseases, including neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease (AD). MAb therapies provide a tool to block disease pathways with target specificity that may be capable of mitigating the secondary injury cascades following TBI. This article reviews the pathophysiology of TBI and the molecular mechanisms of action of mAbs that target these shared pathological pathways in a wide range of diseases. Publicly available databases for various applications of mAb therapy were searched and further classified to assess relevance to TBI pathology and evaluate current stages of development. The authors intend for this review to highlight the potential impact of current mAb technology within pathological TBI processes.
A Retrospective Study Reviewing Timing to Onset of Habitual Psychogenic Non-Epileptic Seizures in a Home Video Telemetry Cohort
Authors: Cooper Jade , Chester Helen , Fozzato Arianna , Sokolov Elisaveta
Published: November 2024

Objectives: This study aimed to investigate the onset time to habitual psychogenic non-epileptic seizures (PNES) in adults referred to Guy’s and St Thomas’ Neurophysiology Department for home video telemetry (HVT) with a clinical question of PNES. The primary objective was to determine the optimal time window for HVT recording for patients with suspected PNES to try to improve the allocation of clinical resources. The secondary objective was to explore any potential association between time to habitual PN ES onset and demographic indexes and other clinical, neuro-radiological and semiological findings. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of our XLTEK database between 2019 and 2020. A multifactorial analysis of PNES semiologic subtypes, patient demographics, psychiatric comorbidities and neuroimaging was conducted to explore their impact on time to PNES within an HVT study. People who had at least one typical PNES during their recording were included. The exclusion criteria included people who had the test performed without video recording. The total number of participants was 37. The data were extracted from our local XLTEK database. Statistical analyses using Mann–Whitney U and Fischer exact tests were carried out. Results: The mean time to first habitual PNES onset was seven hours, with a mean recording duration of 46 h. The most commonly occurring event type was blank spells (12, 32%), with the least common presentation being déjà vu (1, 3%). There was a significant association between time to PNES onset and male sex (p = 0.04). There was a significant association between time to PNES onset and abnormal MRI findings (p = 0.02). Particular PNES semiologic subtypes were not significantly linked with PNES onset time. Conclusions: Our study highlights that on average, patients with PNES will rapidly have their first habitual event within an HVT study (mean time to event onset of seven hours), consistent with the current literature. This raises the question of whether HVT study duration could be reduced to release study resources and aid departmental efficiencies. We also observe the novel finding that men presented significantly earlier with their habitual PNES event than women, and that abnormal imaging findings were also significantly associated with an earlier time to event onset, although the reason for this association is yet to be determined.
The Association Between Traumatic Brain Injury and the Risk of Cognitive Decline: An Umbrella Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Mavroudis Ioannis , Kazis Dimitrios , Petridis Foivos Efstratios , Balmus Ioana-Miruna , Papaliagkas Vasileios , Ciobica Alin
Published: November 2024

Background: There is currently increasing interest in the implication of traumatic brain injury (TBI) as a potential risk factor for long-term neurodegenerative conditions, such as dementia and Alzheimer’s disease (AD). In this context, we performed a systematic review and meta-analysis to evaluate the association between TBI and the risk of dementia. Methods: A systematic search was performed across multiple electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane Library, to identify relevant meta-analyses and cohort studies. Studies were included if they reported effect sizes (odds ratios [ORs] or relative risks [RRs]) for the association between TBI, its severity, and the risk of dementia or AD. Meta-analyses were performed using random-effects models to account for heterogeneity, and sensitivity analyses were conducted. Results: A total of six studies were included in the analysis. The pooled results showed that TBI significantly increases the risk of dementia, with an overall odds ratio of 1.81 (95% CI: 1.53–2.14). Mild TBI was associated with a modest increase in dementia risk (OR = 1.96, 95% CI: 1.70–2.26), while moderate-to-severe TBI showed a stronger association (OR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.55–2.45). In contrast, the association between TBI and AD was less consistent, with the pooled OR for AD being 1.18 (at 95% CI: 1.11–1.25) for mild TBI; however, in several studies, no significant association was observed (OR = 1.02, 95% CI: 0.91–1.15). The results also indicated substantial heterogeneity across studies, particularly in relation to AD outcomes. Conclusions: The findings from this umbrella meta-analysis confirm that TBI is a significant risk factor for dementia, with more severe TBIs conferring a higher risk. While mild TBIs also increase the risk of dementia, the effect is more pronounced in moderate-to-severe injuries. The evidence linking TBI to AD is less robust, with inconsistent findings across studies. Clinicians should consider long-term cognitive screening and management for individuals with a history of TBI, particularly those with moderate-to-severe injuries.
Understanding the Patient Experience with Twice-Nightly Sodium Oxybate Therapy for Narcolepsy: A Social Listening Experiment
Authors: Picone Maria , Ascencion Frederik , Horsnell Matthew , Zhang Enming , Dougherty Lauren , DeFelice Christopher , Flurie Maurice , Cook Rachelle , Morse Anne Marie , Ortiz Luis E. , Wassman E. Robert , Gudeman Jennifer
Published: November 2024

Background/Objectives: Narcolepsy is a chronic neurologic disorder associated with substantial challenges that affect the social, emotional, and financial quality-of-life domains. A social listening analysis and structured survey were conducted to better understand the candid perspective of people with narcolepsy (PWN) and their experience with twice-nightly sodium oxybate (SXB). Methods: To characterize conversations and experiences in narcolepsy communities where SXB was mentioned, a social media analysis was conducted from August 2011 to October 2022. A structured survey was administered to PWN taking oxybate therapy from October 2022 to November 2022. Results: From the social media analysis, the largest topic was related to “cataplexy”, with 537 posts/comments. The most frequent term was “xyrem”, with 22,200 mentions. Of the 87 survey respondents, 85 respondents had narcolepsy, 75.3% (64/85) reported missing their second dose of immediate-release SXB or mixed-salt oxybates, and 58.8% (50/85) of respondents reported that they took their second dose of oxybate > 4 h after the first dose. Respondents reported poor sleep quality as the greatest effect or issue experienced after missing their second oxybate dose. When respondents were asked whether they had ever been injured after waking to take their second oxybate dose, 31.8% (27/85) of respondents reported an injury. Conclusions: PWN taking twice-nightly oxybates often report inconsistent adherence to the prescribed dosing, which results in negative consequences in their lives. This research provided an anonymized forum for PWN to voice challenges with middle-of-the-night awakenings that they may be reluctant to explain to their clinician.
Machine Perfusion as a Strategy to Decrease Ischemia-Reperfusion Injury and Lower Cancer Recurrence Following Liver Transplantation
Authors: Garcia Karla Bracho , Hussein Ahmed , Satish Sangeeta , Wehrle Chase J. , Karakaya Omer , Panconesi Rebecca , Sun Keyue , Jiao Chunbao , Fernandes Eduardo , Pinna Antonio , Hashimoto Koji , Miller Charles , Aucejo Federico , Schlegel Andrea
Published: November 2024

Liver transplantation (LT) is a key treatment for primary and secondary liver cancers, reducing tumor burden with concurrent improvement of liver function. While significant improvement in survival is noted with LT, cancer recurrence rates remain high. Mitochondrial dysfunction caused by ischemia-reperfusion injury (IRI) is known to drive tumor recurrence by creating a favorable microenvironment rich in pro-inflammatory and angiogenic factors. Therefore, strategies that decrease reperfusion injury and mitochondrial dysfunction may also decrease cancer recurrence following LT. Machine perfusion techniques are increasingly used in routine clinical practice of LT with improved post-transplant outcomes and increased use of marginal grafts. Normothermic (NMP) and hypothermic oxygenated machine perfusion (HOPE) provide oxygen to ischemic tissues, and impact IRI and potential cancer recurrence through different mechanisms. This article discussed the link between IRI-associated inflammation and tumor recurrence after LT. The current literature was screened for the role of machine perfusion as a strategy to mitigate the risk of cancer recurrence. Upfront NMP (“ischemia free organ transplantation”) and end-ischemic HOPE were shown to reduce hepatocellular carcinoma recurrence in retrospective studies. Three prospective randomized controlled trials are ongoing in Europe to provide robust evidence on the impact of HOPE on cancer recurrence in LT.
A Comprehensive Transcriptomic and Proteomics Analysis of Candidate Secretory Proteins in Rose Grain Aphid, Metopolophium dirhodum (Walker)
Authors: Gebrekidan Atsbha Gebreslasie , Zhang Yong , Chen Julian
Published: November 2024

The Rose grain aphid, a notable agricultural pest, releases saliva while feeding. Yet, there is a need for a comprehensive understanding of the specific identity and role of secretory proteins released during probing and feeding. Therefore, a combined transcriptomic and proteomic approach was employed in this study to identify putative secretory proteins. The transcriptomic sequencing result led to the assembly of 18,030 unigenes out of 31,344 transcripts. Among these, 705 potential secretory proteins were predicted and functionally annotated against publicly accessible protein databases. Notably, a substantial proportion of secretory genes (71.5%, 69.08%, and 60.85%) were predicted to encode known proteins in Nr, Pfam, and Swiss-Prot databases, respectively. Conversely, 27.37% and 0.99% of gene transcripts were predicted to encode known proteins with unspecified functions in the Nr and Swiss-Prot databases, respectively. Meanwhile, the proteomic analysis result identified, 15 salivary proteins. Interestingly, most salivary proteins (i.e., 60% of the proteins) showed close similarity to A. craccivora, while 46.67% showed close similarity to A. glycines, M. sacchari and S. flava. However, to verify the expression of these secretory genes and characterize the biological function of salivary proteins further investigation should be geared towards gene expression and functional analysis.
A Rotating Tidal Current Controller and Energy Router Siting and Capacitation Method Considering Spatio-Temporal Distribution
Authors: Jia Junqing , Zhou Jia , Gao Yuan , Shao Chen , Lu Junda , Jia Jiaoxin
Published: November 2024

As the proportion of new energy access increases year by year, the resulting energy imbalance and voltage/trend distribution complexity of the distribution network system in the spatio-temporal dimension become more and more prominent. The joint introduction of electromagnetic rotary power flow controller (RPFC) and energy router (ER) can improve the high proportion of new active distribution network (ADN) consumption and power supply reliability from both spatial and temporal dimensions. To this end, the paper proposes an ADN expansion planning method considering RPFC and ER access. A two-layer planning model for RPFC and ER based on spatio-temporal characteristics is established, with the upper model being the siting and capacity-setting layer, which takes the investment and construction cost of RPFC and ER as the optimization objective, and the lower model being the optimal operation layer, which takes the lowest operating cost of the distribution network as the objective. The planning model is solved by a hybrid optimization algorithm with improved particle swarm and second-order cone planning. The proposed planning model and solving algorithm are validated with the IEEE33 node example, and the results show that the joint access of RPFC and ER can effectively improve the spatial-temporal distribution of voltage in the distribution network and has the lowest equivalent annual value investment and operation cost.
Estimation and Control of WRRF Biogas Production
Authors: Komulainen Tiina M. , Jonassen Kjell Rune , Antonsen Simen Gjelseth
Published: November 2024

The development of resource-efficient digital technologies is a critical challenge in the wastewater sector. This industrial case study, conducted in collaboration with the Veas Water Resource Recovery Facility in Norway, focused on creating data pre-processing methods and resource-efficient control strategies. Using data from the Veas biogas plant, dynamic models were developed to compare control outcomes. The primary objective was to maximize biogas production and hot water usage while maintaining optimal temperature and hydraulic retention time by adjusting inlet sludge and hot water flow rates. Sequential operations were approximated as continuous operations using a 30-min moving minimum/maximum for bimodal data and a 2-h moving average for noisy data. The data-driven dynamic models achieved an accuracy of up to R2 of 0.85. The control strategy, which included one feedback controller, one ratio controller, and flow rate restrictions, was compared to real production data (baseline) and tested across six scenarios. The best improvement over the baseline scenario resulted in a 3% increase in total biogas production, a 6% increase in total organic loading, a 13% increase in hot water use, and a one-day reduction in hydraulic retention time. Future work should focus on control studies using extended datasets and nonlinear models.
Integrating Cold Thermal Energy Storage for Air Conditioning Demand in a CO2 Refrigeration System at a Supermarket
Authors: Tommasini Davide , Selvnes Håkon , Hafner Armin
Published: November 2024

A common configuration for transcritical CO2 booster systems in supermarkets involves air conditioning (AC) supplied by cooling a water-glycol circuit. The design capacity of the refrigeration unit must handle all refrigeration loads and the AC load during the hottest summer day, leading to overcapacity and part-load operation for most of the year. A proposed design for implementing cold thermal energy storage (CTES) dedicated to AC demand in a supermarket located in the Oslo region is modeled in the object-oriented language Modelica. Simulation results demonstrate an electricity peak power reduction of up to 32.33%. Even though energy savings are not the primary objective of this project, they are achieved by producing and storing energy when the outdoor temperature is lower, and the coefficient of performance (COP) of the system is higher. The energy savings can reach up to 11.8%. Finally, the economic benefits of the system are assessed under the spot pricing system, revealing potential electricity cost savings of up to 12.56%.
Study on Surfactants for the Removal of Water from Deliquification Natural Gas Wells to Enhance Production
Authors: Kluk Dorota , Steliga Teresa , Bęben Dariusz , Jakubowicz Piotr
Published: November 2024

A major problem in natural gas production is the waterlogging of gas wells. This problem occurs at the end of a well’s life when the reservoir pressure becomes low and the gas velocity in the well tubing is no longer sufficient to bring the gas-related fluids (water and gas condensate) up to the surface. This causes water to accumulate at the bottom of the gas well, which can seriously reduce or even stop gas production altogether. This paper presents a study of the foaming of reservoir water using foaming sticks with the trade names BioLight 30/380, BioCond 30, BioFoam 30, BioAcid 30/380, and BioCond Plus 30/380. The reservoir waters tested came from near-well separators located at three selected wells that had undergone waterlogging and experienced a decline in natural gas production. They were characterised by varying physical and chemical parameters, especially in terms of mineralisation and oil contaminant content. Laboratory studies on the effect of foaming agents on the effectiveness of foaming and lifting of reservoir water from the well were carried out on a laboratory bench, simulating a natural gas-producing column using surfactant doses in the range of 1.5–5.0 g/m3 and measuring the surface tension of the water, the volume of foam generated as a function of time and the foamed reservoir water. The performance criterion for the choice of surfactant for the test water was its effective lifting in a foam structure from an installation, simulating a waterlogged gas well and minimising the dose of foaming agent introduced into the water. The results obtained from the laboratory tests allowed the selection of effective surfactants in the context of foaming and uplift of reservoir water from wells, where a decline in natural gas production was observed as a result of their waterlogging. In the next stage, well tests were carried out based on laboratory studies to verify their effectiveness under conditions typical for the production site. Tests carried out at natural gas wells showed that the removal of water from the bottom of the well resulted in an increase in natural gas production, ranging from 56.3% to 79.6%. In practice, linking the results of laboratory tests for the type and dosage of foaming agents to the properties of reservoir water and gas production parameters made it possible to identify the types of surfactants and their dosages that improve the production of a given type of natural gas reservoir in an effective manner, resulting in an increase in the degree of depletion of hydrocarbon deposits.
Cost–Benefit Analysis of the China’s Household Coal-to-Electricity Transition: A Case Study on the Beijing Mentougou Area
Authors: Pan Yanran , Jiang Lei , Wang Hui
Published: November 2024

Since 2013, China has implemented clean heating projects such as the coal-to-electricity project to reduce emissions and improve air quality in northern China, but it still requires significant investment from governments, businesses, and households. However, the benefits of coal-to-electricity to improve the rural family environment have received less attention. In this study, we conducted a cost–benefit analysis of the coal-to-electricity transition in Beijing’s Mentougou District from 2013 to 2017, distinguishing private costs and benefits, government costs and public benefits, and social costs and benefits. The results show that for all coal-to-electricity households, the private benefits far outweigh the private costs, with a benefit–cost ratio of 15.9. The government costs outweigh the benefit of air pollutants and carbon dioxide emission reduction, with a benefit–cost ratio of 0.4. Overall, the social benefits outweigh the social costs: the benefit–cost ratio for society was 2.2. The environmental benefits of the coal-to-electricity policies did not offset the large amount of investment of the government, but society received a positive net benefit owing to the large benefits gained by rural households. This also proves that the investment by the government is efficient and verifies the government’s next step to continue to promote the coal-to-electricity transition.
Dimensionality Reduction and Clustering Strategies for Label Propagation in Partial Discharge Data Sets
Authors: Zampolo Ronaldo F. , Lopes Frederico H. R. , de Oliveira Rodrigo M. S. , Fernandes Martim F. , Dmitriev Victor
Published: November 2024

Deep learning approaches have been successfully applied to perform automatic classification of phase-resolved partial discharge (PRPD) diagrams. Under the supervised learning paradigm, however, the performance of classifiers strongly depends on the availability of large and previously labeled data sets. Labeling is an intensive and time-consuming labor, typically involving the manual annotation of a large number of data examples by an expert. In this work, we propose a label propagation algorithm applied to PRPD data sets, aiming to reduce the time necessary to manually label PRPDs. Our basic pipeline is composed of three phases: pre-processing, dimensionality reduction procedures, and clustering. Different configurations of the basic pipeline are tested by using PRPDs obtained from online measurements in hydrogenerators. The performance of each configuration is assessed by using the Silhouette, Caliński–Harabasz, and Davies–Bouldin scores. The clustering of the best three configurations is compared with annotated PRPDs by using the Fowlkes-Mallows index. Results suggest our strategy can substantially decrease the time for manual labeling.
The Role of Medium Polarity in the Efficiency of Albumin Binding with Hydrophobic Ligands: Experimental Studies and a Molecular Dynamics Investigation
Authors: Zazeri Gabriel , Povinelli Ana Paula Ribeiro , Bertozo Luiza de Carvalho , Jones Alan M. , Ximenes Valdecir Farias
Published: November 2024

This study evaluates how the polarity of the medium affects the binding efficiency of hydrophobic ligands with human serum albumin (HSA). The polarity of the aqueous medium was changed by adding 1,4-dioxane in concentrations of 0%, 10%, and 20% w/w, resulting in solvent mixtures with decreasing dielectric constants (ε = 80, 72, and 63). The addition of 1,4-dioxane did not affect the integrity of the protein, as confirmed by Far-UV-CD, Rayleigh scattering, and time-resolved fluorescence experiments. The impact of medium polarity on the binding constants was evaluated using 1,6-diphenyl-1,3,5-hexatriene (DPH), octyl gallate (OG), quercetin, and rutin as ligands. The association constants of DPH decreased as the medium hydrophobicity increased: at 0%, Ka = 19.8 × 105 M−1; at 10%, Ka = 5.3 × 105 M−1; and at 20%, Ka = 1.7 × 105 M−1. The decrease was still higher using OG: at 0%, Ka = 5.2 × 106 M−1; and at 20%, Ka = 2.2 × 105 M−1. The results in the same direction were obtained using quercetin and rutin as ligands. Molecular dynamics simulations illustrated the hydrophobic effect at the molecular level. The energy barrier for DPH to detach from the protein’s hydrophobic site and to move into the bulk solution was higher at 0% (9 kcal/mol) than at 20% 1,4-dioxane (7 kcal/mol). The difference was higher for OG, with 14 and 6 kcal/mol, respectively. Based on these findings, it was shown that the difference in hydrophobicity between the protein’s microenvironment and the surrounding solvent is an essential component for the effectiveness of the interaction. These results shed light on albumin–ligand complexation, a molecular interaction that has been extensively studied.