bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A new approach to econometric modeling in digitized consumer behavior
Authors: Antohi Valentin Marian , Zlati Monica Laura , Ionescu Romeo Victor , Cristache Nicoleta
Published: November 2022

Given how identifying motivational factors of online purchasing is critical to the success of online retailers, research on the antecedents of online customer experience (cognitive and affective experiential states) has attracted widespread attention. In this study, we conducted an extensive survey to identify major behavioral changes in the online buyer, and based on the age of the respondents we synthesized the findings into an econometric model to explain the impact of cultural, social, personal, and psychological traits on online purchasing. Our survey identified a myriad of motivational factors that influence online buyers' psychological perceptions and the impact of those factors has been reported. The proposed econometric model would help online retailers to better understand the motivational factors behind online customers' purchasing decisions. It also serves to inform the academic community of recent trends in this stream of research and shed light on future research.
A model of abusive supervision, self-efficacy, and work engagement among Chinese registered nurses: The mediating role of self-efficacy
Authors: Sun Ning , Zheng Qiulan , Li Laiyou , Zhu Haibo , Liu Xiufen , Zhou Shuping , Han Huihui
Published: November 2022

Abusive supervision could negatively influence individual work attitudes, behaviors, and work outcomes. Self-efficacy and work engagement can help to increase nursing performance. But few studies have attempted to determine the specific mechanism between them in China. The objective is to analyze the levels of abusive supervision, self-efficacy, and work engagement, and to explore the relationship between these three variables among Chinese clinical registered nurses. A predictive, cross-sectional quantitative survey was performed in a convenience sample of 923 Chinese clinical nurses. The instruments included the Demographic Data Questionnaire, Abusive Supervision Scale, Self-efficacy Scale and Work Engagement Scale. A total of 702 valid questionnaires were returned, yielding a favorable response rate of 76.1%. The level of abusive supervision was at the mid-low level, with a mean of 1.55. The nurses presented a relative high level of self-efficacy (M = 4.97) and work engagement (M = 5.01). A statistically significant negative correlation between abusive supervision and self-efficacy (r = −0.21, p < 0.01). A statistically significant negative correlation between abusive supervision and work engagement (r = −0.32, p < 0.01), and a statistically significant positive correlation between self-efficacy and work engagement (r = 0.43, p < 0.01). Abusive supervision had a directly negative effect on self-efficacy (β = −0.23, p < 0.01) and work engagement (β = −0.24, p < 0.01). Self-efficacy positively predicted work engagement (β = 0.41, p < 0.01). The results indicated that abusive supervision could negatively predict nurses’ work engagement directly and that abusive supervision could also indirectly influence work engagement partly through the mediation of self-efficacy. Nursing managers should take effective measures to prevent and control the abusive management and leadership behavior of head nurses, and improve nurses’ self-efficacy, so that nurses can experience full respect, support, and self-confidence. They can devote themselves to work with the greatest enthusiasm.
Impact of vitamin D on cognitive functions in healthy individuals: A systematic review in randomized controlled clinical trials
Authors: Silva Ana Beatriz Januário da , Barros Waleska Maria Almeida , Silva Mayara Luclécia da , Silva José Maurício Lucas , Souza Ana Patrícia da Silva , Silva Karollainy Gomes da , de Sousa Fernandes Matheus Santos , Carneiro Antonietta Cláudia Barbosa da Fonseca , Toscano Ana Elisa , Lagranha Cláudia Jacques
Published: November 2022

Various functions in the central nervous system, such as growth, development, and cognition can be influenced by vitamins and minerals, which are capable of helping to maintain brain health and function throughout life. Cognition is understood as the aspects related to knowledge, learning, and understanding, as well as the ability to develop these functions. A possible association between low levels of vit D and deficit in the performance of cognitive functions in healthy humans or with some pathological condition is discussed. Because of this, the present systematic review analyzed only randomized clinical trials carried out in healthy non-athlete adults about intellectual and/or mental processes involving cognitive functions to identify whether these individuals with different levels of vit D are capable of interfering with the performance of the cognitive function. To do so, we adopted the PRISMA method criteria and registered it in the PROSPERO database. The search was performed in PubMed (MEDLINE), PsycINFO, Science Direct, Scopus, and Web of Science databases, 2,167 records were identified. The 5 most frequent cognitive domains in the selected studies were: processing speed, attention, verbal learning/memory, executive function, and general cognitive functions. We found that there are positive changes in the following domains: verbal memory and verbal working memory, learning memory, attention, executive function, and also cognitive function in general. We highlight the following suggestions for improvements that vitamin D supplementation may promote in the cognitive domains of healthy adults: a) low doses between 400 and 600 IU/d seem to be more effective when compared to doses between 2,400 and 5,000 IU/d and b) food fortification and enrichment with vit D, need further studies, as they seem to be more or as effective as synthetic supplementation. We evident that there is a need for trials that evaluate the control of vit D levels for healthy adult individuals is important, as they have the potential to minimize health problems, especially those involved in the reduction of cognitive abilities. Thus, the development of more clinical trials to obtain satisfactory answers on this topic needs to be encouraged.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO/, identifier: CRD42021262413.
Longitudinal relationship between body fat percentage and risk of type 2 diabetes in Chinese adults: Evidence from the China Health and Nutrition Survey
Authors: Zhang Siting , Jiang Hongru , Wang Liusen , Jia Xiaofang , Zhang Jiguo , Wang Huijun , Zhang Bing , Wang Zhihong , Ding Gangqiang
Published: November 2022

Objective

Body fat percentage (BF%) might be an alternative index of obesity which is the major risk factor for developing type 2 diabetes (T2D). We aim to longitudinally evaluated the relationship between BF% and risk of T2D.

Methods

A sample of 5,595 adults aged 18–65 who participated in two waves of China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS 2015 and 2018) was analyzed. Two level mixed-effects modified Poisson regression with robust estimation of variance stratified by sex was used to evaluate the risk ratios (RRs) for T2D according to quintiles of BF%, and the curves of receiver operating characteristic (ROC) were plotted to identify the optimal total and trunk BF% cut-off points for predicting an increased T2D risk.

Results

In males, compared with subjects in the first quintile of total BF%, those in the third (RR = 2.03, 95% CI 1.09–3.79), fourth (RR = 2.56, 95%CI 1.46–4.48), and fifth (RR = 2.16, 95%CI 1.22–3.82) quintile had higher risk of T2D after adjusting for all potential confounders (p-trend < 0.001). For females, the RR (95% CI) was 1.92 (1.14, 3.24) in the fifth quintile (p-trend = 0.014). Males and females with a trunk BF% >25.5 and 34.4% (≥ quintile 4), respectively, were at significantly increased risk of T2D (p-trend = 0.001). Besides, the optimal cut-off values of total and trunk BF% were 21.9 and 25.2% for males, and 36.7 and 30.3% for females, respectively.

Conclusions

The incident risk of T2D significantly increased over specific level of total and trunk BF% in both Chinese males and females, and the optimal BF% cut-off values were valuable for clinical application of BF% based on sex difference, which may be a cost-effective implementation for prevention and treatment of T2D in China.
Perception of men's need for preconception care—A qualitative exploration among health care providers and community members
Authors: Ojifinni Oludoyinmola O. , Ibisomi Latifat
Published: November 2022

Background

Several studies have shown that suboptimal health in men can result in poor reproductive health outcomes. The factors associated include lifestyle exposures and poor health-seeking behavior. The poor reproductive health outcomes can be mitigated through preconception care (PCC). PCC services for men are however rare. This qualitative study explored views about men's need for PCC in Nigeria.

Methods

This exploratory qualitative study was done in Ibadan North Local Government Area, Oyo State, Nigeria. Focus group discussions were held with 12 religious leaders, 22 men and 23 women of reproductive age at the community level. There were key informant interviews with two community leaders and 26 health workers including specialist physicians and nurses at the primary, secondary, and tertiary health care levels. Transcribed data were analyzed thematically using inductive coding on MAXQDA.

Results

The reasons participants proffered for men's health requiring attention included men's genetic contribution to pregnancy, treatment of low sperm count, and preventing transmission of infection to their partners. Participants stated however that men are often reluctant about accessing health services until complications arise. Opinions differed on men's need for PCC: while some believed that men need PCC, others expressed contrary views stating that men do not require PCC as the service is more appropriate for women.

Conclusion

Successful deployment and uptake of PCC services require the availability of the services and improved awareness about the need to optimize men's health along with that of their partners.
Facing the unknown COVID-19 pandemic: A qualitative study with nurses and nursing assistants in three European countries
Authors: Podgorica Nertila , Zenzmaier Christoph , Rungg Christine , Bertini Beatrice , Perkhofer Susanne
Published: November 2022

Background

The coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is now a worldwide public health emergency. As essential and central parts of the COVID-19 patient care team, nurses and nurse assistants are facing all kinds of challenges caused by the disease and the pandemic. Understanding these challenges and the way nurses and nurse assistants handle and cope with them provides important knowledge on how to improve management of future pandemics and endemic situations. Thus, the present study explored the challenges faced by nurses and nurse asssitants who cared for COVID-19 patients in hospitals and long term care facilities in Italy, Austria and Germany.

Methods

The study employed a qualitative design. Purposive sampling was used to select the participants consisting on nurses (n = 30), nurse coordinators (n = 6) and nurse assistants (n = 5) from hospitals (n = 32) and long-term care facilities (n = 9) in Austria, Germany, and Italy. Data were collected between August and December 2020 through semi-structured interviews. The collected data were analyzed using qualitative content analysis.

Results

The analysis of the data revealed three main themes with twelve sub-categories: (i) Knowledge, skills, and training (lack of knowledge; skills; organizational issues; training); (ii) resources and risk (lack of protective equipment; difficulties with protective equipment; risk and infection; feelings and isolation); (iii) coping strategies (humor; adaption; team effort; self-care; family and friends).

Conclusion

Nurses and nurse assistants who participated in this study faced many personal and professional challenges, and used different coping strategies to manage the situation. Some of these strategies can be applied to reduce these challenges and create better working conditions for nurses and nurse assistants in similar events. Further research, training of staff, and adaptation of institutional policies may help develop new strategies to face future pandemics successfully.
Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection and associated risk factors in cattle in Shanxi Province, north China
Authors: Cao Hui , Zheng Wen-Bin , Wang Yu , Gao Wen-Wei , Liu Qing , Zhu Xing-Quan , Lei Yu-Ping , Tumen Bayaer , Song Hong-Yu
Published: November 2022

Neospora caninum is an obligate intracellular parasitic protozoan that can cause abortions in cattle and pose considerable economic losses to the cattle industry. As a major livestock province, little is known of N. caninum infection in cattle in Shanxi Province, north China. In order to investigate the seroprevalence of N. caninum in cattle in Shanxi Province, 978 cattle serum samples were collected from 11 cities in three representative geographical locations in Shanxi Province, and the N. caninum-specific IgG antibodies were examined using an indirect enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) kit commercially available. The results showed that 133 of the 978 examined cattle serum samples (13.60%, 95% CI = 11.45–15.75) were positive for N. caninum antibodies, and the seroprevalence in different cities ranged from 0 to 78.89%. The geographical location and management mode were the risk factors associated with N. caninum infection in cattle herds in Shanxi Province. Cattle in Northern and Central Shanxi Province as well as cattle whose management mode is that of large-scale cattle farming companies are more susceptible to N. caninum infection. This was the first large-scale survey of N. caninum seroprevalence and assessment of associated risk factors in cattle in Shanxi Province, which provided baseline information for the prevention and control of N. caninum infection in cattle in Shanxi Province, north China.
A case report of leishmaniosis with primary oral manifestation in a cat
Authors: Mestrinho Lisa A. , Travancinha Joana , Sobral Cristina
Published: November 2022

A case of leishmaniosis with primary oral manifestations was reported in a 10-year-old neutered domestic shorthair cat. The primary lesion was a maxillary nodular lesion, painful with spontaneous bleeding associated with advanced periodontal disease, which did not resolve with tooth extraction or periodontal treatment. Biopsy revealed chronic neutrophilic and macrophagic infections and amastigote forms of Leishmania sp and molecular tests were able to identify Leishmania infantum. Oral signs resolved after the initiation of etiologic treatment with allopurinol. Distinguishing oral signs of leishmaniosis from other oral inflammatory diseases is important, especially in endemic areas, and co-infections must be considered with any oral manifestations of this disease.
A Model for Identifying Soybean Growth Periods Based on Multi-Source Sensors and Improved Convolutional Neural Network
Authors: Li Jinyang , Li Qingda , Yu Chuntao , He Yan , Qi Liqiang , Shi Wenqiang , Zhang Wei
Published: November 2022

The identification of soybean growth periods is the key to timely take field management measures, which plays an important role in improving yield. In order to realize the discrimination of soybean growth periods under complex environments in the field quickly and accurately, a model for identifying soybean growth periods based on multi-source sensors and improved convolutional neural network was proposed. The AlexNet structure was improved by adjusting the number of fully connected layer 1 and fully connected layer 2 neurons to 1024 and 256. The model was optimized through the hyperparameters combination experiment and the classification experiment of different types of image datasets. The discrimination of soybean emergence (VE), cotyledon (VC), and first node (V1) stages was achieved. The experimental results showed that after improving the fully connected layers, the average classification accuracy of the model was 99.58%, the average loss was 0.0132, and the running time was 0.41 s/step under the optimal combination of hyperparameters. At around 20 iterations, the performances began to converge and were all superior to the baseline model. Field validation trials were conducted applying the model, and the classification accuracy was 90.81% in VE, 91.82% in VC, and 92.56% in V1, with an average classification accuracy of 91.73%, and single image recognition time was about 21.9 ms. It can meet the demand for the identification of soybean growth periods based on smart phone and unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) remote sensing, and provide technical support for the identification of soybean growth periods with different resolutions from different sensors.
A Model for the Effect of Low Temperature and Poor Light on the Growth of Cucumbers in a Greenhouse
Authors: Zhang Fengyin , Luo Jing , Yuan Changhong , Li Chunying , Yang Zaiqiang
Published: November 2022

With the expansion of cucumber cultivation, many growers continue to experience extreme weather and environmental issues. This study aimed to examine and model the effects of low temperature (LT) and poor light (PL) stresses on cucumber growth. The experiment was designed as an orthogonal experiment that analyzed temperature, light, and duration. The daily maximum/minimum temperatures of the experiment were set as per the following four levels: 13 °C/3 °C, 16 °C/6 °C, 19 °C/9 °C, 22 °C/12 °C, and the control at 28 °C/18 °C. The light was divided into two levels: 200 μmol∙m−2∙s−1 and 400 μmol∙m−2∙s−1, with 800 μmol∙m−2∙s−1 as the control. Treatment duration was set at 2, 5, 8, and 11 days. Stress with different LT, PL, and duration was expressed using the stress effect (0–1), which decreased with an increase in stress level. Meanwhile, treatment with a temperature of 3 °C and light of 400 μmol∙m−2∙s−1 for 11 days had the smallest effect on stress, which was only 67% of that of the control following 50 days of recovery, and had the most severe effect on cucumber growth. The proportion of dry weight allocated to leaves and stems decreased with increasing low temperatures and poor light stress, but the proportion allocated to fruit increased. The highest percentage of fruit distribution was found in the treatment with temperature of 9 °C, light of 200μmol∙m−2∙s−1, and 11 days duration, being 3.57 times higher than the control. In order to better investigate the effects of LT and PL stress on cucumber growth, light and temperature effect (LTE), growing degree days (GDD), and product of thermal effectiveness and PAR (TEP) models were developed based on temperature and light. The root mean square error (RMSE) of the LTE model was found to be 4.214 g∙plant−1, 36.3% of that of the GDD model and 78.8% of that of the TEP model, better simulating the above-ground dry weight of cucumber plants.
Covalent Immobilisation of an Aspergillus niger Derived Endo-1,4-β-Mannanase, Man26A, on Glutaraldehyde-Activated Chitosan Nanoparticles for the Effective Production of Prebiotic MOS from Soybean Meal
Authors: Anderson Amy S. , Mkabayi Lithalethu , Malgas Samkelo , Kango Naveen , Pletschke Brett I.
Published: November 2022

An Aspergillus niger endo-1,4-β-mannanase, Man26A, was confirmed by FTIR and XRD to be immobilised on glutaraldehyde-activated chitosan nanoparticles via covalent bonding. The immobilisation (%) and activity yields (%) were 82.25% and 20.75%, respectively. The biochemical properties (pH, temperature optima, and stability) were then comparatively evaluated for both the free and immobilised Man26A. The optimal activity of Man26A shifted to a lower pH after immobilisation (pH 2.0–3.0, from pH 5 for the free enzyme), with the optimum temperature remaining unchanged (60 °C). The two enzymes exhibited identical thermal stability, maintaining 100% activity for the first 6 h at 55 °C. Substrate-specific kinetic analysis showed that the two enzymes had similar affinities towards locust bean gum (LBG) with varied Vmax values. In contrast, they showed various affinities towards soybean meal (SBM) and similar Vmax values. The immobilised enzyme was then employed in the enhancement of the functional feed/prebiotic properties of SBM from poultry feed, increasing mannooligosaccharides (MOS) quantities. The SBM main hydrolysis products were mannobiose (M2) and mannose (M1). The SBM-produced sugars could be utilised as a carbon source by probiotic bacteria; Streptococcus thermophilus, Bacillus subtilis, and Lactobacillus bulgaricus. The results indicate that the immobilised enzyme has the potential for use in the sustainable and cost-effective production of prebiotic MOS from agricultural biomass.
Photophysiological Mechanism of Dense Planting to Increase the Grain Yield of Intercropped Maize with Nitrogen-Reduction Application in Arid Conditions
Authors: Fan Hong , Yin Wen , Zhao Cai , Yu Aizhong , Fan Zhilong , Hu Falong , Zhang Jindan , Chai Qiang
Published: November 2022

Leaf photophysiological characteristics are the main indexes that determine crop yield formation. However, it remains unclear whether photosynthesis is systematically regulated via the cropping pattern and nitrogen supply when maize crops are planted with a high density. So, a field experiment that had a three-factor split-plot arrangement of treatments was conducted from 2020 to 2021. The main plot was two cropping patterns that included the sole cropping of maize and wheat–maize intercropping. The split plot had two nitrogen application rates: a traditional nitrogen application rate (N2, 360 kg ha−1) and one reduced by 25% (N1, 270 kg ha−1) for maize. The split–split plot had three planting densities: a traditional density (M1, 78,000 plant ha−1), a medium density (M2, 10,400 plant ha−1), and a high density (M3, 129,000 plant ha−1) for sole maize; the corresponding densities of intercropped maize were 45,000, 60,000, and 75,000 plant ha−1, respectively. The grain yield, the photosynthetic traits, and chlorophyll a fluorescence of the maize were assessed. The results showed that a 25% nitrogen reduction and dense planting had a negative impact on the individual maize’s photosynthesis. However, intercropping could alleviate these drawbacks. When the maize was grown in the intercropping system at a lower nitrogen level and a medium planting density (IN1M2), the photosynthetic traits were better or similar to those of the traditional treatment (SN2M1) at the reproductive growth stage. Moreover, IN1M2 improved the light energy distribution among photochemistry, photo-protective and heat dissipation process of maize compared with SN2M1. A grey relation analysis demonstrated that the Pn and Tr of the individual maize played the most significant role in the group’s productivity. Thus, the IN1M2 treatment achieved the highest grain yield and can be recommended as a feasible agronomic practice in oasis-irrigated regions.
The Effect of Argon Plasma Surface Treatment on Poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid)/Collagen-Based Biomaterials for Bone Tissue Engineering
Authors: Vu Phat T. , Conroy Jackson P. , Yousefi Amy M.
Published: November 2022

Nonunion bone fractures can impact the quality of life and represent a major economic burden. Scaffold-based tissue engineering has shown promise as an alternative to bone grafting. Achieving desirable bone reconstruction requires appropriate surface properties, together with optimizing the internal architecture of 3D scaffolds. This study presents the surface modification of poly(lactic-co-glycolic acid) (PLGA), collagen, and PLGA-collagen via an argon plasma treatment. Argon plasma can modify the surface chemistry and topography of biomaterials and improve in vivo integration. Solvent-cast films were prepared using 1,1,1,3,3,3-hexafluoro-2-propanol and characterized via differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, contact angle measurement, and critical surface tension analysis. For PLGA films, the water contact angle dropped from 70° to 42°, whereas the diiodomethane contact angle reduced from 53° to 32° after the plasma treatment. A set of PLGA-collagen formulations were loaded with nanohydroxyapatite (nHA) and polyethylene glycol (PEG) to enhance their osteoconductivity and hydrophilicity. Then, 3D scaffolds were fabricated using a 3D Bioplotter and characterized via Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy. A bicinchoninic acid assay (BCA) was used to compare the protein release from the untreated and plasma-treated scaffolds into phosphate-buffered saline (PBS). The plasma-treated scaffolds had a lower protein release, and the difference compared to the untreated scaffolds was statistically significant.
Evaluating the Alterations Induced by Virtual Reality in Cerebral Small-World Networks Using Graph Theory Analysis with Electroencephalography
Authors: Yang Shan , Hwang Hyeon-Sik , Zhu Bao-Hua , Chen Jian , Enkhzaya Ganbold , Wang Zhi-Ji , Kim Eun-Seong , Kim Nam-Young
Published: November 2022

Virtual reality (VR), a rapidly evolving technology that simulates three-dimensional virtual environments for users, has been proven to activate brain functions. However, the continuous alteration pattern of the functional small-world network in response to comprehensive three-dimensional stimulation rather than realistic two-dimensional media stimuli requires further exploration. Here, we aimed to validate the effect of VR on the pathways and network parameters of a small-world organization and interpret its mechanism of action. Fourteen healthy volunteers were selected to complete missions in an immersive VR game. The changes in the functional network in six different frequency categories were analyzed using graph theory with electroencephalography data measured during the pre-, VR, and post-VR stages. The mutual information matrix revealed that interactions between the frontal and posterior areas and those within the frontal and occipital lobes were strengthened. Subsequently, the betweenness centrality (BC) analysis indicated more robust and extensive pathways among hubs. Furthermore, a specific lateralized channel (O1 or O2) increment in the BC was observed. Moreover, the network parameters improved simultaneously in local segregation, global segregation, and global integration. The overall topological improvements of small-world organizations were in high-frequency bands and exhibited some degree of sustainability.
Flexural Behavior of Concrete Beams Reinforced with Recycled Plastic Mesh
Authors: Ghanem Hassan , Chahal Safwan , Khatib Jamal , Elkordi Adel
Published: November 2022

The production of plastic material continues to increase around the world. Consequently, large amount of waste plastic is generated. This will lead to environmental concern due to its disposal. In order to reduce the environment effects and cost, waste plastic can be recycled and utilized in other applications including construction. This paper investigated the flexural behavior of non-structural concrete beams containing waste plastic meshes as a replacement of traditional steel reinforcement. To achieve this objective, beams with steel reinforcing bars and waste plastic sheets with different effective widths and patterns were prepared. After 28 days of curing, the beams were subjected to an increasing load until failure and the central deflection was measured at each load increment. Furthermore, a numerical analysis was performed on the specimens using ABAQUS software. This will allow the comparison between the experimental and numerical results. The experimental data indicated that using plastic sheets improved the flexural toughness and ductility of concrete beams. Additionally, correlations were carried out between the ultimate capacity of the beams, the flexural toughness and the effective width of the plastic meshes. As the effective mesh width increased, the flexural toughness and ultimate capacity of the concrete beams increased. The results of this investigation will allow greater utilization of waste plastic in construction activities.
Using a Biomimicry Approach in the Design of a Kinetic Façade to Regulate the Amount of Daylight Entering a Working Space
Authors: Sankaewthong Sukhum , Horanont Teerayut , Miyata Kazunori , Karnjana Jessada , Busayarat Chawee , Xie Haoran
Published: November 2022

At present, buildings are increasingly being designed with transparent materials, with glass paneling being especially popular as an installation material due to its architectural allure. However, its major drawback is admitting impractical amounts of sunlight into interior spaces. Office buildings with excessive sunlight in indoor areas lead to worker inefficiency. This article studied kinetic façades as means to provide suitable sunlight for interior spaces, integrated with a triple-identity DNA structure, photosynthetic behavior, and the twist, which was divided into generation and evaluation. The generating phase first used an evolutionary engine to produce potential strip patterns. The kinetic façade was subsequently evaluated using the Climate Studio software to validate daylight admission in an indoor space with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) version 4.1 criteria. To analyze the kinetic façade system, the building envelope was divided into four types: glass panel, static façade, rotating façade (the kinetic façade, version 1); an existing kinetic façade that is commonly seen in the market, and twisting façade (the kinetic façade, version 2); the kinetic façade that uses the process to invent the new identity of the façade. In addition, for both the rotating façade and twisting façade, the degrees of simulation were 20, 50, 80, and 100 degrees, in order to ascertain the potential for both façades to the same degree. Comparing all façades receiving the daylight factor (DF) into the space with more or less sunlight resulted in a decreasing order of potential, as follows: entirely glass façade, twisting façade (the kinetic façade, version 2), rotating façade (the kinetic façade, version 1), and static façade. By receiving the daylight factor (DF), the façade moderately and beneficially filtered appropriate amounts of daylight into the working space. The daylight simulation results indicated that the newly designed kinetic façade (version 2) had more potential than other building envelope types in terms of filtering beneficial daylight in indoor areas. This article also experimented with the kinetic façade prototype in an actual situation to test conditional environmental potential. The twisting façade (the kinetic façade, version 2) was explored in the building envelope with varied adaptability to provide sunlight and for private-to-public, public-to-private, or semi-public working areas.
Radiotherapy with Helium Ions Has the Potential to Improve Both Endocrine and Neurocognitive Outcome in Pediatric Patients with Ependymoma
Authors: Wickert Ricarda , Tessonnier Thomas , Deng Maximilian , Adeberg Sebastian , Seidensaal Katharina , Hoeltgen Line , Debus Jürgen , Herfarth Klaus , Harrabi Semi B.
Published: November 2022

Ependymomas are the third most-frequent pediatric brain tumors. To prevent local recurrence, the resection site should be irradiated. Compared to photon radiation treatment, proton therapy often achieves even better results regarding target coverage and organ-sparing. Due to their physical properties, helium ions could further reduce side effects, providing better protection of healthy tissue despite similar target coverage. In our in silico study, 15 pediatric ependymoma patients were considered. All patients underwent adjuvant radiotherapeutic treatment with active-scanned protons at Heidelberg Ion Beam Therapy Center (HIT). Both helium ion and highly conformal IMRT plans were calculated to evaluate the potential dosimetric advantage of ion beam therapy compared to the current state-of-the-art photon-based treatments. To estimate the potential clinical benefit of helium ions, normal tissue complication probabilities (NTCP) were calculated. Target coverage was comparable in all three modalities. As expected, the integral dose absorbed by healthy brain tissue could be significantly reduced with protons by up to −48% vs. IMRT. Even compared to actively scanned protons, relative dose reductions for critical neuronal structures of up to another −39% were achieved when using helium ions. The dose distribution of helium ions is significantly superior when compared to proton therapy and IMRT due to the improved sparing of OAR. In fact, previous studies could clearly demonstrate that the dosimetric advantage of protons translates into a measurable clinical benefit for pediatric patients with brain tumors. Given the dose–response relationship of critical organs at risk combined with NTCP calculation, the results of our study provide a strong rationale that the use of helium ions has the potential to even further reduce the risk for treatment related sequelae.
Nectin-4 as Blood-Based Biomarker Enables Detection of Early Ovarian Cancer Stages
Authors: Rogmans Christoph , Feuerborn Julia , Treeck Leonie , Tribian Nils , Flörkemeier Inken , Arnold Norbert , Weimer Jörg Paul , Maass Nicolai , Jansen Peer , Lieb Wolfgang , Dempfle Astrid , Bauerschlag Dirk O. , Hedemann Nina
Published: November 2022

Ovarian cancer is the third most common gynecological malignancy and has the highest mortality rate. Owing to unspecific symptoms, ovarian cancer is not detected until an advanced stage in about two-thirds of cases. Therefore, it is crucial to establish reliable biomarkers for the early stages to improve the patients’ prognosis. The aim of this study is to investigate whether the ADAM17 substrates Nectin-4, Heparin-binding EGF-like growth factor (HB-EGF) and Amphiregulin (AREG) could function as potential tumor markers for ovarian cancer. In this study a set of 231 sera consisting of 131 ovarian cancer patients and 100 healthy age-matched controls were assembled. Nectin-4, HB-EGF and AREG levels of preoperatively collected sera were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Our analysis revealed that Nectin-4 and HB-EGF were significantly increased compared to the age-matched control group (p < 0.0001, p = 0.016). Strikingly, significantly higher Nectin-4 and HB-EGF levels were detected in early-stage FIGO I/II (p <0.001; p = 0.025) compared to healthy controls. Eighty-four percent (16/19) of patients with low Ca-125 levels showed increased Nectin-4 levels. Our study proposes Nectin-4 and HB-EGF as promising blood-based biomarkers for the detection of early stages of ovarian cancer patients that would not have been detected by Ca-125.
Assessment of Functional and Nutritional Status and Skeletal Muscle Mass for the Prognosis of Critically Ill Solid Cancer Patients
Authors: Vigneron Clara , Laousy Othmane , Chassagnon Guillaume , Vakalopoulou Maria , Charpentier Julien , Alexandre Jérôme , Jamme Matthieu , Pène Frédéric
Published: November 2022

Simple and accessible prognostic factors are paramount for solid cancer patients experiencing life-threatening complications. The aim of this study is to appraise the impact of functional and nutritional status and skeletal muscle mass in this population. We conducted a retrospective (2007–2020) single-center study by enrolling adult patients with solid cancers requiring unplanned ICU admission. Performance status, body weight, and albumin level were collected at ICU admission and over six months. Skeletal muscle mass was assessed at ICU admission by measuring muscle areas normalized by height (SMI). Four-hundred and sixty-two patients were analyzed, mainly with gastro-intestinal (34.8%) and lung (29.9%) neoplasms. Moreover, 92.8% of men and 67.3% of women were deemed cachectic. In the multivariate analysis, performance status at ICU admission (CSH 1.74 [1.27–2.39], p < 0.001) and the six month increase in albumin level (CSH 0.38 [0.16–0.87], p = 0.02) were independent predictors of ICU mortality. In the subgroup of mechanically ventilated patients, the psoas SMI was independently associated with ICU mortality (CSH 0.82 [0.67–0.98], p = 0.04). Among the 368 ICU-survivors, the performance status at ICU admission (CSH 1.34 [1.14–1.59], p < 0.001) and the six-month weight loss (CSH 1.33 [1.17–2.99], p = 0.01) were associated with a one-year mortality rate. Most cancer patients displayed cachexia at ICU admission. Time courses of nutritional parameters may aid the prediction of short- and long-term outcomes.
SAPAP Scaffold Proteins: From Synaptic Function to Neuropsychiatric Disorders
Authors: Bai Yunxia , Wang Huimin , Li Chunxia
Published: November 2022

Excitatory (glutamatergic) synaptic transmission underlies many aspects of brain activity and the genesis of normal human behavior. The postsynaptic scaffolding proteins SAP90/PSD-95-associated proteins (SAPAPs), which are abundant components of the postsynaptic density (PSD) at excitatory synapses, play critical roles in synaptic structure, formation, development, plasticity, and signaling. The convergence of human genetic data with recent in vitro and in vivo animal model data indicates that mutations in the genes encoding SAPAP1–4 are associated with neurological and psychiatric disorders, and that dysfunction of SAPAP scaffolding proteins may contribute to the pathogenesis of various neuropsychiatric disorders, such as schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, obsessive compulsive disorders, Alzheimer’s disease, and bipolar disorder. Here, we review recent major genetic, epigenetic, molecular, behavioral, electrophysiological, and circuitry studies that have advanced our knowledge by clarifying the roles of SAPAP proteins at the synapses, providing new insights into the mechanistic links to neurodevelopmental and neuropsychiatric disorders.
Gender and Renal Insufficiency: Opportunities for Their Therapeutic Management?
Authors: Ciarambino Tiziana , Crispino Pietro , Giordano Mauro
Published: November 2022

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a major clinical problem associated with increased morbidity and mortality. Despite intensive research, the clinical outcome remains poor, and apart from supportive therapy, no other specific therapy exists. Furthermore, acute kidney injury increases the risk of developing chronic kidney disease (CKD) and end-stage renal disease. Acute tubular injury accounts for the most common intrinsic cause of AKI. The main site of injury is the proximal tubule due to its high workload and energy demand. Upon injury, an intratubular subpopulation of proximal epithelial cells proliferates and restores the tubular integrity. Nevertheless, despite its strong regenerative capacity, the kidney does not always achieve its former integrity and function and incomplete recovery leads to persistent and progressive CKD. Clinical and experimental data demonstrate sexual differences in renal anatomy, physiology, and susceptibility to renal diseases including but not limited to ischemia-reperfusion injury. Some data suggest the protective role of female sex hormones, whereas others highlight the detrimental effect of male hormones in renal ischemia-reperfusion injury. Although the important role of sex hormones is evident, the exact underlying mechanisms remain to be elucidated. This review focuses on collecting the current knowledge about sexual dimorphism in renal injury and opportunities for therapeutic manipulation, with a focus on resident renal progenitor stem cells as potential novel therapeutic strategies.
A Single Chain Fragment Variant Binding Misfolded Alpha-Synuclein Exhibits Neuroprotective and Antigen-Specific Anti-Inflammatory Properties
Authors: Fassler Michael , Benaim Clara , George Jacob
Published: November 2022

Introduction. Alpha synuclein (αSyn) misfolding plays a requisite role in the pathogenesis of synucleinopathies. Direct toxicity to neurons, triggering neuroinflammation as well as the spreading and seeding of αSyn pathology are essential pathogenetic underlying mechanisms. Immunotherapy in experimental Parkinson’s disease (PD) has been shown to be consistently effective in preclinical models, yet the initial clinical trials with monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) yielded marginal results if any. Aiming to overcome some of the limitation of this approach, we aimed to select an αSyn binding scFv antibody format and test it in multiple experimental PD in vivo models. Methods. We cloned the lead αSyn scFv based on preselection of human phage display libraries of human Fab. The selected of scFv targeting both oligomers and pre-formed fibrils (PFF) of αSyn were tested for their ability to protect neurons from triggered toxicity, influence their uptake to microglia, and accelerate misfolded αSyn degradation. The lead scFv- sMB08, was also tested for its ability to impact αSyn aggregation as well as spreading and seeding. Results. sMB08 was shown to protect neurons from misfolded αSyn mediated toxicity, promote its intracellular degradation, and to reduce its uptake by microglia. sMB08 exhibited anti-inflammatory properties, including its ability to attenuate adaptive αSyn autoimmunity and ameliorate proinflammatory cytokine expression in brains of mice stereotactically injected with PFF. Employing three experimental models of PD, intranasal treatment with sMB08 attenuated motoric dysfunction and achieved acceptable brain levels by pharmacokinetic analysis, leading to significant preservation of dopaminergic n neurons. Conclusion: sMB08, a scFv targeting both αSyn oligomers and PFF, due to its small size facilitating paraneural brain penetration and avoidance of nonspecific inflammation, appears as an attractive approach to test in patients with PD by addressing the major mechanisms that mediate misfolded αSyn driven pathology.
About Gas Barrier Performance and Recyclability of Waterborne Coatings on Paperboard
Authors: Bakker Sterre , Kloos Joey , Metselaar Gerald A. , Esteves A. Catarina C. , Schenning Albert P. H. J.
Published: November 2022

For preserving food packed in environmentally friendly and recyclable paperboard packages, it is important to have sufficient gas barrier performance of the paperboard container. Paperboard has poor intrinsic barrier properties and to overcome this deficiency, so a barrier coating is needed that does not hinder the recycling of the paperboard substrate. However, the gas barrier properties and the recyclability of such coatings have been rarely studied. Here, both the gas barrier performance and the removal of an alkali-soluble resin (ASR)-stabilized waterborne barrier coatings from paperboard are investigated. For barriers for gases, such as nitrogen, carbon dioxide, and oxygen, defect-free coatings are needed which is achieved by applying three coating layers. The oxygen transmission rate (OTR) of the three-layered coating on paperboard was 920 cm3/(m2∙day). For water vapor barriers, two coating layers already show a strong improvement, as water follows a different penetration mechanism than the other tested gases. The water vapor transmission rate WVTR of double coated paperboard was 240 g/(m2∙day). Preliminary results show that the coating is removed by immersion of the coated paperboard in an aqueous alkaline solution at room temperature. This causes de-protonation of the carboxylic acids of the ASR and subsequent re-dispersion of the coating in water. Removing double-layer coatings from the paperboard is more challenging, possibly due to the coating/coating interface between the two coating layers and enhanced adhesion between coating and paperboard.
Enhancement of Optomechanical Squeezing of Light Using the Optical Coherent Feedback
Authors: Wu Zhenhua , Yi Zhen , Gu Wenju , Sun Lihui , Ficek Zbigniew
Published: November 2022

A coherent feedback scheme is used to enhance the degree of squeezing of the output field in a cavity optomechanical system. In the feedback loop, a beam splitter (BS) plays the roles of both a feedback controller and an input–output port. To realize effective enhancement, the output quadrature should take the same form as the input quadrature, and the system should operate at the deamplification situation in the meantime. This can be realized by choosing an appropriate frequency-dependent phase angle for the generalized quadrature. Additionally, both the transmissivity of the BS and the phase factor induced by time delays in the loop affect optical squeezing. For the fixed frequency, the optimal values of transmissivity and phase factor can be used to achieve the enhanced optical squeezing. The effect of optical losses on squeezing is also discussed. Optical squeezing is degraded by the introduced vacuum noise owing to the inefficient transmission in the loop. We show that the enhancement of squeezing is achievable with the parameters of the current experiments.
Estimation of Genetic Parameters and Optimum Breeding Programme Design in Korean Flatfish Breeding Population
Authors: Dinh Phuong Thanh N. , Park Jong-Won , Ekanayake Waruni , Kim Yeongkuk , Lee Dooho , Lee Dain , Jung Hyo Sun , Kim Julan , Yang Hye-Rim , Lee Heegun , Yoon Sangwon , Lee Jeong-Ho , Lee Seung Hwan
Published: November 2022

Olive flounder (Paralichthys olivaceus) is a vital aquaculture species in East Asia. However, few studies that estimate the genetic parameters of this species have been conducted. We estimated the genetic parameters of growth traits and designed an optimum breeding programme for this species. Heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations, and breeding values were estimated for growth traits: body weight (BW), total length (TL), and condition factor (CF). A linear mixed animal model using the restricted maximum likelihood (REML) algorithm was applied to the statistical analysis of 9 traits (BW, TL, and CF at 11, 18, and 22 months of age) for a total of 54,159 animals from 7 generations. Increases of 13%, 8%, and 6.5% in BW, TL, and CF at the harvest stage were observed, respectively, after 7 generations of selection. The heritabilities of all growth traits were moderate, ranging from 0.35 to 0.46. The phenotypic and genetic correlations between BW and TL were high and positive in all three stages (0.91 and 0.92, 0.91 and 0.93, and 0.88 and 0.91). The estimated breeding values of BW and TL increased over the generations; however, the estimated breeding value of CF fluctuated. The optimum progeny number within full-sib families for an accuracy of 0.632 is suggested to be between 10 and 25. Findings indicated that a considerable response to selection and single-trait selection based on BW would be effective in olive flounder.
Stomach Content Analysis for Juvenile Great Hammerhead Sharks Sphyrna mokarran (Rüppell, 1837) from the Arabian Gulf
Authors: Hsu Hua Hsun , Nazeer Zahid , Panickan Premlal , Lin Yu-Jia , Qasem Ali , Rabaoui Lotfi Jilani , Qurban Mohammad Ali
Published: November 2022

The stomach contents of 30 male and 43 female (age < 3 years; 74–236 cm total length) juvenile great hammerhead sharks (Sphyrna mokarran (Rüppell, 1837)) obtained from commercial fisheries operating in Saudi Arabian waters of the Arabian Gulf were analyzed for the first time. After exclusion of parasites and abiotics, a total of 31 prey items, including the remains of cephalopods, fish, crustaceans, and bivalve mollusks, were identified in the stomachs of 59 great hammerheads. Based on the index of relative importance, teleosts were their main prey, and Platycephalus indicus (Linnaeus, 1758) was the most important prey at the species level. Significant age-related dietary differences were noted (F = 1.57, p = 0.026), indicating that the prey of the hammerheads aged 0–3 years shifted from Platycephalidae to Myliobatidae. Levin’s niche overlap index was low (0.05–0.21), indicating that <3-year-old juvenile great hammerheads are specialized predators. The estimated trophic level was 4.40–5.01 (mean ± SD, 4.66 ± 0.45), indicating that the great hammerhead is a tertiary consumer.