bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Advances in SARS-CoV-2 Main Protease Inhibitors: From Nirmatrelvir to Future Perspectives
Authors: Citarella Andrea , Dimasi Alessandro , Moi Davide , Passarella Daniele , Scala Angela , Piperno Anna , Micale Nicola
Published: September 2023

The main protease (Mpro) plays a pivotal role in the replication of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) and is considered a highly conserved viral target. Disruption of the catalytic activity of Mpro produces a detrimental effect on the course of the infection, making this target one of the most attractive for the treatment of COVID-19. The current success of the SARS-CoV-2 Mpro inhibitor Nirmatrelvir, the first oral drug for the treatment of severe forms of COVID-19, has further focused the attention of researchers on this important viral target, making the search for new Mpro inhibitors a thriving and exciting field for the development of antiviral drugs active against SARS-CoV-2 and related coronaviruses.
Pharmacological and Nutritional Modulation of Metabolome and Metagenome in Cardiometabolic Disorders
Authors: Witkowska Anna Maria , Salem Joe-Elie
Published: September 2023

Cardiometabolic disorders are major causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. A growing body of research indicates that the gut microbiota, whether it interacts favorably or not, plays an important role in host metabolism. Elucidating metabolic pathways may be crucial in preventing and treating cardiometabolic diseases, and omics methods are key to studying the interaction between the fecal microbiota and host metabolism. This review summarizes available studies that combine metabolomic and metagenomic approaches to describe the effects of drugs, diet, nutrients, and specific foods on cardiometabolic health and to identify potential targets for future research.
Role of Lipids and Divalent Cations in Membrane Fusion Mediated by the Heptad Repeat Domain 1 of Mitofusin
Authors: Vlieghe Anaïs , Niort Kristina , Fumat Hugo , Guigner Jean-Michel , Cohen Mickaël M. , Tareste David
Published: September 2023

Mitochondria are highly dynamic organelles that constantly undergo fusion and fission events to maintain their shape, distribution and cellular function. Mitofusin 1 and 2 proteins are two dynamin-like GTPases involved in the fusion of outer mitochondrial membranes (OMM). Mitofusins are anchored to the OMM through their transmembrane domain and possess two heptad repeat domains (HR1 and HR2) in addition to their N-terminal GTPase domain. The HR1 domain was found to induce fusion via its amphipathic helix, which interacts with the lipid bilayer structure. The lipid composition of mitochondrial membranes can also impact fusion. However, the precise mode of action of lipids in mitochondrial fusion is not fully understood. In this study, we examined the role of the mitochondrial lipids phosphatidylethanolamine (PE), cardiolipin (CL) and phosphatidic acid (PA) in membrane fusion induced by the HR1 domain, both in the presence and absence of divalent cations (Ca2+ or Mg2+). Our results showed that PE, as well as PA in the presence of Ca2+, effectively stimulated HR1-mediated fusion, while CL had a slight inhibitory effect. By considering the biophysical properties of these lipids in the absence or presence of divalent cations, we inferred that the interplay between divalent cations and specific cone-shaped lipids creates regions with packing defects in the membrane, which provides a favorable environment for the amphipathic helix of HR1 to bind to the membrane and initiate fusion.
Potential and Limitations of Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells-Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells in Musculoskeletal Disorders Treatment
Authors: Dias Isabelle Xavier , Cordeiro Aline , Guimarães João Antonio Matheus , Silva Karina Ribeiro
Published: September 2023

The burden of musculoskeletal disorders (MSK) is increasing worldwide. It affects millions of people worldwide, decreases their quality of life, and can cause mortality. The treatment of such conditions is challenging and often requires surgery. Thus, it is necessary to discuss new strategies. The therapeutic potential of mesenchymal stem cells (MSC) in several diseases has been investigated with relative success. However, this potential is hindered by their limited stemness and expansion ability in vitro and their high donor variability. MSC derived from induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSC) have emerged as an alternative treatment for MSK diseases. These cells present distinct features, such as a juvenile phenotype, in addition to higher stemness, proliferation, and differentiation potential than those of MSC. Here, we review the opportunities, challenges, and applications of iPSC as relevant clinical therapeutic cell sources for MSK disorders. We discuss iPSC sources from which to derive iMSC and the advantages and disadvantages of iMSC over MSC as a therapeutic approach. We further summarize the main preclinical and clinical studies exploring the therapeutic potential of iMSC in MSK disorders.
Employing Robotics for the Biomechanical Validation of a Prosthetic Flipper for Sea Turtles as a Substitute for Animal Clinical Trials
Authors: van der Geest Nick , Garcia Lorenzo
Published: September 2023

Sea turtles are a keystone species for the ocean’s ecosystem, with all species currently being listed as endangered. Such a threat is mainly due to human factors such as fishing net entanglement. This entanglement often comes at the expense of turtles losing a pectoral flipper. The reduction in a sea turtle’s survival odds upon losing a flipper is a significant concern. This issue extends beyond individual animals, as the potential extinction of sea turtles could have detrimental effects on ocean health and subsequently disrupt our lifestyles. In this work, with the help of robotics, we tested the suitability of a prosthetic flipper for sea turtles that have lost a flipper. Testing with our sea-turtle-inspired robot helped to demonstrate the prosthetic flipper’s performance without clinical trials in live animals. The robot showed that the prosthetic could closely mimic the sea turtle’s downstroke and upstroke, allowing the animal to regain control in roll, pitch, and yaw, despite the absence of anatomical joints and related muscles. Additionally, swim speed tests provided an average swim speed of 0.487 m/s while dragging 6 m of cable to give a calculated maximum swim speed of 0.618 m/s, coming close to the average swim speed of wild sea turtles of 0.6 m/s. Our aspiration is that the findings from this study will pave the way for an open-source implant design, empowering veterinary professionals globally to aid injured turtles. Furthermore, this research promises to inspire additional animal-based robotic designs, advancing technologies geared towards assisting other animals in distress.
Performance, Perceptual and Reaction Skills and Neuromuscular Control Indicators of High-Level Karate Athletes in the Execution of the Gyaku Tsuki Punch
Authors: Goethel Márcio Fagundes , Vilas-Boas João Paulo , Machado Leandro , Ervilha Ulysses Fernandes , Moreira Pedro Vieira Sarmet , Bendilatti Antonio Roberto , Hamill Joseph , Cardozo Adalgiso Coscrato , Gonçalves Mauro
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to investigate and compare the performance, perceptual and reaction skills and neuromuscular control indicators of sub-elite (SEG) and elite (EG) karate athletes during the execution of a Gyaku Tsuki punch. The study included 14 male athletes, equally divided into two subgroups according to their current competitive level. We analyzed the peak and mean linear velocity of the wrist, linear peak acceleration/deceleration of the wrist, braking time, pre-motor time, motor time, reaction time, movement time and co-contraction index between selected muscle groups. EG athletes presented higher values in almost all performance variables, with the exception of the mean linear velocity of the wrist, which was similar between the groups. In the perceptual and reaction skills, the EG athletes presented shorter time durations with the exception of the pre-motor time, which did not reveal significant differences. The only significant difference in the indicators of neuromuscular control were found during the deceleration phase, where the EG athletes presented a higher co-contraction index between the biceps brachii and the triceps brachii. In conclusion, the EG athletes, in addition to being faster to react, faster to accelerate the wrist, could perform the braking in less time than the SEG athletes, making the technique less perceptible to the opponent.
The Action Potential Clamp Technique as a Tool for Risk Stratification of Sinus Bradycardia Due to Loss-of-Function Mutations in HCN4: An In Silico Exploration Based on In Vitro and In Vivo Data
Authors: Verkerk Arie O. , Wilders Ronald
Published: September 2023

These days, in vitro functional analysis of gene variants is becoming increasingly important for risk stratification of cardiac ion channelopathies. So far, such risk stratification has been applied to SCN5A, KCNQ1, and KCNH2 gene variants associated with Brugada syndrome and long QT syndrome types 1 and 2, respectively, but risk stratification of HCN4 gene variants related to sick sinus syndrome has not yet been performed. HCN4 is the gene responsible for the hyperpolarization-activated ‘funny’ current If, which is an important modulator of the spontaneous diastolic depolarization underlying the sinus node pacemaker activity. In the present study, we carried out a risk classification assay on those loss-of-function mutations in HCN4 for which in vivo as well as in vitro data have been published. We used the in vitro data to compute the charge carried by If (Qf) during the diastolic depolarization phase of a prerecorded human sinus node action potential waveform and assessed the extent to which this Qf predicts (1) the beating rate of the comprehensive Fabbri–Severi model of a human sinus node cell with mutation-induced changes in If and (2) the heart rate observed in patients carrying the associated mutation in HCN4. The beating rate of the model cell showed a very strong correlation with Qf from the simulated action potential clamp experiments (R2 = 0.95 under vagal tone). The clinically observed minimum or resting heart rates showed a strong correlation with Qf (R2 = 0.73 and R2 = 0.71, respectively). While a translational perspective remains to be seen, we conclude that action potential clamp on transfected cells, without the need for further voltage clamp experiments and data analysis to determine individual biophysical parameters of If, is a promising tool for risk stratification of sinus bradycardia due to loss-of-function mutations in HCN4. In combination with an If blocker, this tool may also prove useful when applied to human-induced pluripotent stem cell-derived cardiomyocytes (hiPSC-CMs) obtained from mutation carriers and non-carriers.
Neuroprotective and Cardiometabolic Role of Vitamin E: Alleviating Neuroinflammation and Metabolic Disturbance Induced by AlCl3 in Rat Models
Authors: Jabeen Komal , Rehman Kanwal , Akash Muhammad Sajid Hamid , Nadeem Ahmed , Mir Tahir Maqbool
Published: September 2023

Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) and neurodegenerative disorders, such as diabetes mellitus and Alzheimer’s disease, share a common pathophysiological link involving insulin resistance (IR), inflammation, and hypertension. Aluminium chloride (AlCl3), a known neurotoxicant, has been associated with neurodegeneration, cognitive impairment, and various organ dysfunctions due to the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed to investigate the potential protective effects of metformin and vitamin E against AlCl3-induced neuroinflammation and cardiometabolic disturbances in rat models. Rats were divided into five groups: a normal control group, an AlCl3-treated diseased group without any treatment, and three groups exposed to AlCl3 and subsequently administered with metformin (100 mg/kg/day) alone, vitamin E (150 mg/kg/day) orally alone, or a combination of metformin (100 mg/kg/day) and vitamin E (150 mg/kg/day) for 45 days. We analyzed serum biomarkers and histopathological changes in brain, heart, and pancreatic tissues using H&E and Masson’s trichrome staining and immunohistochemistry (IHC). Electrocardiogram (ECG) patterns were observed for all groups. The AlCl3-treated group showed elevated levels of inflammatory biomarkers, MDA, and disturbances in glycemic and lipid profiles, along with reduced insulin levels. However, treatment with the combination of metformin and vitamin E resulted in significantly reduced glucose, cholesterol, LDL, and TG levels, accompanied by increased insulin and HDL levels compared to the individual treatment groups. Histopathological analyses revealed that combination therapy preserved neuronal structures, muscle cell nuclei, and normal morphology in the brain, heart, and pancreatic tissues. IHC demonstrated reduced amyloid plaques and neurofibrillary tangles in the combination-treated group compared to the AlCl3-treated group. Moreover, the combination group showed a normal ECG pattern, contrasting the altered pattern observed in the AlCl3-treated group. Overall, our findings suggest that metformin and vitamin E, in combination, possess neuroprotective and cardiometabolic effects, alleviating AlCl3-induced neuroinflammation and metabolic disturbances.
Chronic Wound Management: From Gauze to Homologous Cellular Matrix
Authors: Popescu Valentin , Cauni Victor , Petrutescu Marius Septimiu , Rustin Maria Madalina , Bocai Raluca , Turculet Cristina Rachila , Doran Horia , Patrascu Traian , Lazar Angela Madalina , Cretoiu Dragos , Varlas Valentin Nicolae , Mastalier Bogdan
Published: September 2023

Background: Chronic wounds are a significant health problem with devastating consequences for patients’ physical, social, and mental health, increasing healthcare systems’ costs. Their prolonged healing times, economic burden, diminished quality of life, increased infection risk, and impact on patients’ mobility and functionality make them a major concern for healthcare professionals. Purpose: This review offers a multi-perspective analysis of the medical literature focusing on chronic wound management. Methods used: We evaluated 48 articles from the last 21 years registered in the MEDLINE and Global Health databases. The articles included in our study had a minimum of 20 citations, patients > 18 years old, and focused on chronic, complex, and hard-to-heal wounds. Extracted data were summarized into a narrative synthesis using the same health-related quality of life instrument. Results: We evaluated the efficacy of existing wound care therapies from classical methods to modern concepts, and wound care products to regenerative medicine that uses a patient’s pluripotent stem cells and growth factors. Regenerative medicine and stem cell therapies, biologic dressings and scaffolds, negative pressure wound therapy (NPWT), electrical stimulation, topical growth factors and cytokines, hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT), advanced wound dressings, artificial intelligence (AI), and digital wound management are all part of the new arsenal of wound healing. Conclusion: Periodic medical evaluation and proper use of modern wound care therapies, including the use of plasma-derived products [such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) and platelet-rich fibrin (PRF)] combined with proper systemic support (adequate protein levels, blood sugar, vitamins involved in tissue regeneration, etc.) are the key to a faster wound healing, and, with the help of AI, can reach the fastest healing rate possible.
Hybrid Diagnostic Model for Improved COVID-19 Detection in Lung Radiographs Using Deep and Traditional Features
Authors: Choudhry Imran Arshad , Qureshi Adnan N. , Aurangzeb Khursheed , Iqbal Saeed , Alhussein Musaed
Published: September 2023

A recently discovered coronavirus (COVID-19) poses a major danger to human life and health across the planet. The most important step in managing and combating COVID-19 is to accurately screen and diagnose affected people. The imaging technology of lung X-ray is a useful imaging identification/detection approach among them. The help of such computer-aided machines and diagnoses to examine lung X-ray images of COVID-19 instances can give supplemental assessment ideas to specialists, easing their workload to some level. The novel concept of this study is a hybridized approach merging pertinent manual features with deep spatial features for the classification of COVID-19. Further, we employed traditional transfer learning techniques in this investigation, utilizing four different pre-trained CNN-based deep learning models, with the Inception model showing a reasonably accurate result and a diagnosis accuracy of 82.17%. We provide a successful diagnostic approach that blends deep characteristics with machine learning classification to further increase clinical performance. It employs a complete diagnostic model. Two datasets were used to test the suggested approach, and it did quite well on several of them. On 1102 lung X-ray scans, the model was originally evaluated. The results of the experiments indicate that the suggested SVM model has a diagnostic accuracy of 95.57%. When compared to the Xception model’s baseline, the diagnostic accuracy had risen by 17.58 percent. The sensitivity, specificity, and AUC of the proposed models were 95.37 percent, 95.39%, and 95.77%, respectively. To show the adaptability of our approach, we also verified our proposed model on other datasets. Finally, we arrived at results that were conclusive. When compared to research of a comparable kind, our suggested CNN model has a greater accuracy of classification and diagnostic effectiveness.
Development of Composite Sponge Scaffolds Based on Carrageenan (CRG) and Cerium Oxide Nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs) for Hemostatic Applications
Authors: Alizadeh Kimia , Dezvare Yasaman , Kamyab Shirin , Amirian Jhaleh , Brangule Agnese , Bandere Dace
Published: September 2023

In this study, a novel absorbable hemostatic agent was developed using carrageenan (CRG) as a natural polymer and cerium oxide nanoparticles (CeO2 NPs). CRG-CeO2-0.5 and CRG-CeO2-1 composites were prepared by compositing CeO2 to CRG + CeO2 at a weight ratio of 0.5:100 and 1:100, respectively. The physicochemical and structural properties of these compounds were studied and compared with pristine CRG. Upon incorporation of CeO2 nanoparticles into the CRG matrix, significant reductions in hydrogel degradation were observed. In addition, it was noted that CRG-CeO2 exhibited better antibacterial and hemostatic properties than CRG hydrogel without CeO2 NPs. The biocompatibility of the materials was tested using the NIH 3T3 cell line, and all samples were found to be nontoxic. Particularly, CRG-CeO2-1 demonstrated superior hemostatic effects, biocompatibility, and a lower degradation rate since more CeO2 NPs were present in the CRG matrix. Therefore, CRG-CeO2-1 has the potential to be used as a hemostatic agent and wound dressing.
A Novel Dual Bacteria-Imprinted Polymer Sensor for Highly Selective and Rapid Detection of Pathogenic Bacteria
Authors: Xu Xiaoli , Lin Xiaohui , Wang Lingling , Ma Yixin , Sun Tao , Bian Xiaojun
Published: September 2023

The rapid, sensitive, and selective detection of pathogenic bacteria is of utmost importance in ensuring food safety and preventing the spread of infectious diseases. Here, we present a novel, reusable, and cost-effective impedimetric sensor based on a dual bacteria-imprinted polymer (DBIP) for the specific detection of Escherichia coli O157:H7 and Staphylococcus aureus. The DBIP sensor stands out with its remarkably short fabrication time of just 20 min, achieved through the efficient electro-polymerization of o-phenylenediamine monomer in the presence of dual bacterial templates, followed by in-situ template removal. The key structural feature of the DBIP sensor lies in the cavity-free imprinting sites, indicative of a thin layer of bacterial surface imprinting. This facilitates rapid rebinding of the target bacteria within a mere 15 min, while the sensing interface regenerates in just 10 min, enhancing the sensor’s overall efficiency. A notable advantage of the DBIP sensor is its exceptional selectivity, capable of distinguishing the target bacteria from closely related bacterial strains, including different serotypes. Moreover, the sensor exhibits high sensitivity, showcasing a low detection limit of approximately 9 CFU mL−1. The sensor’s reusability further enhances its cost-effectiveness, reducing the need for frequent sensor replacements. The practicality of the DBIP sensor was demonstrated in the analysis of real apple juice samples, yielding good recoveries. The integration of quick fabrication, high selectivity, rapid response, sensitivity, and reusability makes the DBIP sensor a promising solution for monitoring pathogenic bacteria, playing a crucial role in ensuring food safety and safeguarding public health.
Irregular Antibody Screening Using a Microdroplet Platform
Authors: Chen Ding-Ping , Wu Pei-Yu , Lin Yen-Heng
Published: September 2023

The screening procedure for antibodies is considered the most tedious among the three pretransfusion operations, i.e., ABO and Rhesus (Rh) typing, irregular antibody screening/identification, and crossmatching tests. The commonly used screening method for irregular antibodies in clinics at present is a manual polybrene test (MP). The MP test involves numerous reagent replacement and centrifuge procedures, and the sample volume is expected to be relatively less. Herein, screening red blood cells (RBCs) and serum irregular antibodies are encapsulated in microdroplets with a diameter of ~300 μm for a hemagglutination reaction. Owing to the advantage of spatial limitation in microdroplets, screening RBCs and irregular antibodies can be directly agglutinated, thereby eliminating the need for centrifugation and the addition of reagents to promote agglutination, as required by the MP method. Furthermore, the results for a large number of repeated tests can be concurrently obtained, further simplifying the steps of irregular antibody screening and increasing accuracy. Eight irregular antibodies are screened using the proposed platform, and the results are consistent with the MP method. Moreover, the volume of blood samples and antibodies can be reduced to 10 μL and 5 μL, respectively, which is ten times less than that using the MP method.
Computer-Assisted Microcatheter Shaping for Intracranial Aneurysm Embolization
Authors: Yang Heng , Xu Liquan , Li Yanjiang , Jiang Hanqiang , Ni Wei , Gu Yuxiang
Published: September 2023

Background: This study investigates the accuracy, stability, and safety of computer-assisted microcatheter shaping for intracranial aneurysm coiling. Methods: Using the solid model, a microcatheter was shaped using computer-assisted techniques or manually to investigate the accuracy and delivery of microcatheter-shaping techniques in aneurysm embolization. Then, forty-eight patients were randomly assigned to the computer-assisted microcatheter-shaping (CAMS) group or the manual microcatheter-shaping (MMS) group, and the accuracy, stability, and safety of microcatheter in the patients were compared between the CAMS and MMS groups. Results: The speed of the successful microcatheter position was significantly faster in the CAMS group than in the MMS group (114.4 ± 23.99 s vs. 201.9 ± 24.54 s, p = 0.015) in vitro. In particular for inexperienced operators, the speed of the microcatheter position with the assistance of computer software is much faster than manual microcatheter shaping (93.6 ± 29.23 s vs. 228.9 ± 31.27 s, p = 0.005). In vivo, the time of the microcatheter position in the MMS group was significantly longer than that in the CAMS group (5.16 ± 0.46 min vs. 2.48 ± 0.32 min, p = 0.0001). However, the mRS score at discharge, the 6-month follow-up, and aneurysm regrowth at the 6-month follow-up were all similar between the groups. Conclusions: Computer-assisted microcatheter shaping is a novel and safe method for microcatheter shaping that introduces higher accuracy in microcatheter shaping during the treatment of intracranial aneurysms. Significant: Endovascular coiling of intracranial aneurysms can be truly revolutionized through computer assistance, which could improve the endovascular treatment of aneurysms.
Repetitive Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (rTMS) in Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder: Study Protocol of a Nationwide Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial of Neuro-Enhanced Psychotherapy “TraumaStim”
Authors: Ferreri Florian , Mouchabac Stephane , Sylvestre Vincent , Millet Bruno , El Hage Wissam , Adrien Vladimir , Bourla Alexis
Published: September 2023

The use of high-frequency Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation (HF-rTMS) of the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC) in treating Post-traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) is currently regarded as a level B intervention (probable effectiveness). HF-rTMS has attracted interest as a neuromodulation therapeutic method for PTSD. Prolonged exposure and reactivation therapy are also regarded as first-line treatments for PTSD. Randomized controlled clinical studies examining the effectiveness of several HF-rTMS sessions coupled with psychotherapy have not yet been completed. In total, 102 patients with refractory PTSD will be randomly assigned (1:1) to reactivation therapy, in addition to either active HF-rTMS (20 Hz) or sham HF-rTMS, for 12 sessions in a nationwide, multicenter, double-blind controlled trial. The impact on PTSD symptoms and neurocognitive functioning will be assessed. The primary outcome is the PTSD severity score measured based on the Clinician-Administered PTSD Scale (CAPS-5) at one month. If this additional therapy is successful, it may strengthen the case for regulatory authorities to approve this additional technique of treating PTSD. Additionally, it expands the field of neurostimulation-assisted psychotherapy.
Omega-3 Fatty Acids, Cognition, and Brain Volume in Older Adults
Authors: Loong Spencer , Barnes Samuel , Gatto Nicole M. , Chowdhury Shilpy , Lee Grace J.
Published: September 2023

The elderly population is growing at increased rates and is expected to double in size by 2050 in the United States and worldwide. The consumption of healthy foods and enriched diets have been associated with improved cognition and brain health. The key nutrients common to many healthy foods and diets are the omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (omega-3 FAs), such as eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA). We explored whether omega-3 FA levels are associated with brain volume and cognition. Forty healthy, cognitively normal, Seventh-day Adventist older adults (mean age 76.3 years at MRI scan, 22 females) completed neurocognitive testing, a blood draw, and structural neuroimaging from 2016 to 2018. EPA and an overall omega-3 index were associated with individual measures of delayed recall (RAVLT-DR) and processing speed (Stroop Color) as well as entorhinal cortex thickness. EPA, DHA, and the omega-3 index were significantly correlated with the total white matter volume. The entorhinal cortex, frontal pole, and total white matter were associated with higher scores on delayed memory recall. This exploratory study found that among healthy, cognitively older adults, increased levels of omega-3 FAs are associated with better memory, processing speed, and structural brain measures.
Effect of Different Timing of Local Brain Radiotherapy on Survival of EGFR-Mutated NSCLC Patients with Limited Brain Metastases
Authors: Wang Yu , Wu Shenghong , Li Jing , Liang Xiaohua , Zhou Xinli
Published: September 2023

(1) Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) have been the first line therapy for EGFR-mutant lung adenocarcinoma (LAC) patients with brain metastases (BMs). However, the role and the optimal time of brain radiotherapy remains controversial. We aimed to investigate the role of upfront brain stereotactic radiotherapy (SRS) and the impact of deferral radiotherapy on patients’ clinical outcomes. (2) Methods: We retrospectively studied 53 EGFR-mutant LAC patients with limited synchronous BMs between 2014 and 2020 at our institute. The limited BMs was defined with one to four BM lesions, with a maximal size of ≤4 cm. Patients were categorized into two groups: upfront brain SRS (upfront RT) and upfront TKIs. The intracranial progression-free survival (iPFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) between groups were analyzed. (3) Results: The median iPFS (21.0 vs. 12.0 months, p = 0.002) and PFS (20.0 vs. 11.0 months, p = 0.004) of the upfront RT group was longer than that of the upfront TKI group. There were no significant differences in median OS (30.0 vs. 26.0 months, p = 0.552) between the two groups. The upfront RT group is less likely to suffer from intracranial progression of the original sites than that of upfront TKIs during the disease course (36.1% vs. 0.0%, p = 0.025). Multivariate analysis showed that the Karnofsky Performance Scale and the presence of synchronous meningeal metastases were associated with overall survival. (4) Conclusions: Compared with upfront TKI, the combination of upfront SRS with TKIs can improve the iPFS and PFS in EGFR-mutant LAC with synchronous BMs. The addition of upfront brain SRS was useful for the original intracranial metastatic lesions.
Autism-Related Differences in Cortical Activation When Observing, Producing, and Imitating Communicative Gestures: An fNIRS Study
Authors: Su Wan-Chun , Culotta McKenzie , Mueller Jessica , Tsuzuki Daisuke , Bhat Anjana N.
Published: September 2023

Children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) have difficulties in gestural communication during social interactions. However, the neural mechanisms involved in naturalistic gestural communication remain poorly understood. In this study, cortical activation patterns associated with gestural communication were examined in thirty-two children with and without ASD (mean age: 11.0 years, SE: 0.6 years). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) was used to record cortical activation while children produced, observed, or imitated communicative gestures. Children with ASD demonstrated more spatial and temporal errors when performing and imitating communicative gestures. Although both typically developing (TD) children and children with ASD showed left-lateralized cortical activation during gesture production, children with ASD showed hyperactivation in the middle/inferior frontal gyrus (MIFG) during observation and imitation, and hypoactivation in the middle/superior temporal gyrus (MSTG) during gesture production compared to their TD peers. More importantly, children with ASD exhibited greater MSTG activation during imitation than during gesture production, suggesting that imitation could be an effective intervention strategy to engage cortical regions crucial for processing and producing gestures. Our study provides valuable insights into the neural mechanisms underlying gestural communication difficulties in ASD, while also identifying potential neurobiomarkers that could serve as objective measures for evaluating intervention effectiveness in children with ASD.
The Relationship between Principals’ Instructional Leadership and Teacher Retention in the Undeveloped Regions of Central and Western China: The Chain-Mediating Role of Role Stress and Affective Commitment
Authors: Zhan Qifang , Wang Xiaohan , Song Huan
Published: September 2023

Enhancing teacher retention in underdeveloped regions of Central and Western China is an important issue for high-quality education development. By investigating 1558 teachers from nine provinces and municipalities in these regions, this study uses quantitative research methods to analyze the relationship between principals’ instructional leadership and teacher retention and introduces a moderated chain-mediated model. The results show that principals’ instructional leadership and teacher retention are at a relatively moderate to high level in these regions. Principals’ instructional leadership not only has direct effect on teacher retention, but also has indirect effects by three paths: through the separate mediating role of role stress, the separate mediating role of affective commitment, and the chain-mediating role of role stress and affective commitment. Teacher gender negatively moderates the relationship between principal’s instructional leadership and teacher role stress. The sample need to be extended to developed areas to form a comparison. Underdeveloped regions of Central and Western China also need to take more action.
“Fill the World with Love”: Songs with Prosocial Lyrics Enhance Online Charitable Donations among Chinese Adults
Authors: Hong Mei , Liang Dapeng , Lu Teng
Published: September 2023

Research has shown that songs with prosocial lyrics can enhance individual prosociality. Building on the general learning model (GLM), this study demonstrated, through real-world charitable organizations, how songs with prosocial lyrics influence helping behavior that uses time as a currency. In Study 1, participants were randomly assigned to conditions of prosocial songs, prosocial lyrics, or neutral songs, and they were instructed to complete an online charity task. The results indicated that compared to the neutral songs, participants listening to prosocial songs and lyrics spent more time donating rice to the United Nations World Food Programme. This effect was replicated in Study 2, employing different media exposure from Study 1 (i.e., listening to background music). Furthermore, investigations into the underlying mechanisms revealed that this effect was mediated by interpersonal empathy. In summary, current findings suggest that songs with prosocial lyrics increase interpersonal empathy, subsequently influencing people’s online charitable donation behaviors in daily life.
An Approach to Predicting the Ballistic Limit of Thin Textile-Reinforced Concrete Plates Based on Experimental Results
Authors: Hering Marcus , Sievers Jürgen , Curbach Manfred , Beckmann Birgit
Published: September 2023

In this article, a partial selection of experiments on enhancing the impact resistance of structural components with non-metallic, textile-reinforced concrete is discussed. The focus is on the experimental investigations in which the impact resistance of thin, textile-reinforced concrete plates is characterized. The article discusses the materials, fabrics and test setup used. For the experimental work, a drop tower from the Otto Mohr Laboratory, which belongs to the Technische Universtät Dresden, was used. Furthermore, the experimental results are presented and evaluated using different methods. Based on the collected data, a suitable approach to determining the perforation velocity of an impactor through the investigated thin, textile-reinforced concrete plates is shown.
Energy Consumption Difference Found between Typical and Standard Occupancy in Residential Buildings in a Tropical Developing Country
Authors: González Jinela , Mora Dafni , Chen Austin Miguel
Published: September 2023

Buildings are highly demanding of global energy consumption. Their functions, design, location, and other parameters influence the magnitude of such consumption. However, a key factor that can significantly change energy demand is the occupant’s interaction with the environment. It is, therefore, prudent to integrate the occupant profile within the six determinants of energy use, as proposed by the International Energy Agency. International standards propose an occupancy profile that has been implemented for design and performance analysis. However, these do not reflect reality, have little precision in their results, and affect occupant comfort and energy consumption expectations. To mitigate this problem, the literature proposes various methodologies to establish a mainly stochastic analysis offering optimal results. Panama, a country in the process of improving its energy matrix, finds it convenient to apply studies on the occupants’ behavior (OB) and preferences to guarantee comfort and avoid energy losses, supporting the purposes established in the National Energy Plan of Panama 2015–2050, guiding energy policy. This research seeks to define a particular pattern in occupants’ behavior in Panama through the analysis of surveys, identify its impact on energy consumption through dynamic simulation, and compare it with energy consumption generated by international standards. Results showed great differences in the energy consumption estimated via typical OB-based surveys and OB from standards, where the consumption by the latter can increase above 50%, while with surveys, this differs from the reference by no more than 11%.
Finite Element Analysis of Curved Beam Elements Employing Trigonometric Displacement Distribution Patterns
Authors: Cao Hengtao , Chen Daihai , Zhang Yunsen , Wang Hexiang , Chen Huai
Published: September 2023

A finite element analysis (FEA) model was developed for Euler and Timoshenko curved beam elements by incorporating trigonometric displacement distribution patterns. Local polar coordinate stiffness matrices were derived based on force-displacement relations and static equilibrium conditions. By employing the kinetic energy theorem and triangular displacement functions, an expression for the consistent mass matrix of a curved beam element was obtained. A coordinate transformation matrix for the curved beam element was established by relating the local polar coordinate system to the global polar coordinate system. Calculation programs were implemented in the Fortran language to evaluate the static–dynamic performance and natural frequency characteristics of curved beam bridges. The obtained results were then compared with those obtained using ANSYS solid models and “replace curve with straight” beam element models. The comparison demonstrated a strong agreement between the results of the Euler and Timoshenko curved beam element models and those of the ANSYS solid models. However, discrepancies were observed when comparing with the results of the “replace curve with straight” beam element model, particularly in terms of lateral static displacement. This discrepancy suggests that the characteristic matrix derived in this study accurately represents the stiffness and mass distribution of the curved beam, making it suitable for mechanical performance analysis of curved beam bridges. It should be noted that the “replace curve with straight” method overlooks the initial curvature and the bending–torsion coupling effects of a curved beam, resulting in calculation deviations. On the other hand, the use of curved beam elements in numerical analysis provides a simple and practical approach, which facilitates further research in areas such as vehicle–bridge coupling vibrations and seismic analysis of curved beam bridges.
Study on Cyclic Shear Properties of Siliceous Sand–Steel Interface under Different Normal Loading Conditions
Authors: Ma Yongming , Guo Jukun , Wang Rui , Zhang Qingyao , Zhang Qingxin , Li Jin , Zuo Shen
Published: September 2023

It is of great significance to deeply understand the stress damage mechanism of the pile–soil interface under cyclic loading for the safety control of engineering entities. Large-scale self-developed shear equipment was used to conduct cyclic shear tests of the interface between steel and siliceous sand, and the macroscopic shear characteristics and particle crushing characteristics were analyzed. Finally, the interface micro characteristics were analyzed through numerical simulation. The results indicate that the interface peak shear stress under constant stress conditions mainly exhibits strengthening characteristics, while under constant stiffness conditions it exhibits weakening characteristics. The position of the relationship curve between shear stress and normal stress gradually moves towards the direction of low normal stress as the experiment progresses, and the distance between the curves gradually decreases. The degree of particle breakage increases with the number of cycles but is mainly concentrated in the first few cycles. The principal stress is proportional to the normal stress, and its rotation degree gradually weakens with the normal stress. The contact number of particles at any angle increases with the normal stress.
Exploring Cross-Section Risk Governance Mechanisms for Transportation and Energy Infrastructures in China
Authors: Wang Tong , Chen Linyan , Gao Xin , Gong Shitao
Published: September 2023

This study aims to examine the national risk governance mechanism of critical infrastructure in China from a cross-section perspective. The first research objective is to identify whether horizontal collaboration exists in the risk governance of critical infrastructure. Building on this, the second research objective is to investigate the extent of cross-section collaboration in the transportation and energy domains. The third research objective is to identify the pathways of horizontal collaboration at various levels. The data for this research consists of policy documents retrieved from the official websites of the Ministry of Transport of the People’s Republic of China, the National Energy Administration, and the Peking University Legal Information Website. A total of 127 documents were collected using specific search keywords. To analyze data, content analysis is adopted to generate a co-word matrix so that semantic network centrality can be explored. The result indicates that in the transportation domain “engineering” and “road” feature in the top 10 for both standardized degree and degree proportion, while “administration” ranks third highest in share proportion. In the energy infrastructure risk governance keyword network, the fourth highest closeness centrality value is 54.762, associated with keywords such as “administration” and “engineering”. These findings suggest that horizontal collaboration is evident at both institutional and personal levels. Moreover, the results imply that the inner collaboration within national risk governance is intricate and interdependent. The study reveals interconnections between different industries and administration levels, contributing a fresh perspective to urban risk governance theory exploration.
Research on the Investigation and Value Evaluation of Historic Building Resources in Xi’an City
Authors: Li Dengyue , Wang Jun , Shi Ke
Published: September 2023

In China, as statutory non-cultural relic buildings, the conservation and reuse of historic buildings have received increasing attention in recent years. Among them, the investigation and value evaluation of historic buildings are the basis and core of the conservation work, and many cities have explored related technologies and methods according to local conditions. This paper takes the historic building resources in Xi’an as the research object, with the core of historic building registration and the principles of scientificity and operability. It proposes the methods and basic processes for investigating historic building resources and constructs a step-by-step evaluation system for the historic buildings in Xi’an. This research first formulates a registration standard for the identification and evaluation of historic buildings, then applies the analytic hierarchy process, Delphi method, and fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to assess the comprehensive value of historic buildings. Finally, it was recognized that the historic building resources are primarily modern and contemporary buildings, playing a significant role in the cultural continuity of the ancient capital, Xi’an. In its value evaluation, emphasis should be placed on the environmental landscape value and socio-cultural value. At the same time, it is necessary to consider the comprehensive value and sub-indicators of historic buildings so that they can guide conservation and adaptation practices in a targeted manner.
Bias in the Estimation of Seismic Risk for Municipal Building Stocks Due to Limited Data
Authors: Babič Anže , Žižmond Jure , Dolšek Matjaž
Published: September 2023

This study investigated the effect of the building data knowledge level on seismic risk estimation for municipal building stocks, focusing on identifying the characteristics that influence loss estimation bias. Fifteen municipalities in two Slovenian regions were analysed using twelve building data knowledge levels, defined by combining different knowledge levels about building location and floor area. The knowledge levels ranged from those using data aggregated at the municipality level to those using building-specific data. The bias was quantified as the log residual between the expected annual losses estimated for the given knowledge level and the base-case level, characterised by building-specific data. The results indicate that loss estimation bias is affected by both the building location and floor-area knowledge levels. The data on building density distribution across the municipality and building-class-specific floor areas are sufficient for estimating loss with low bias with respect to the base-case level. The effect of potential data improvement on bias reduction can be assessed using building stock homogeneity and hazard variation indexes determined from readily available data. Further research is needed to explore loss estimation bias for building data knowledge levels not considered in this study and generalise the concepts to other regions and building classifications.
Experimental and Numerical Investigation of Construction Defects in Reinforced Concrete Corbels
Authors: Shabbir Faisal , Bahrami Alireza , Ahmad Ibrar , Shakouri Mahmoudabadi Nasim , Iqbal Muhammad , Ahmad Afaq , Özkılıç Yasin Onuralp
Published: September 2023

Reinforced concrete corbels were examined in this study for the cracking behavior and strength evaluation, focusing on defects typically found in these structures. A total of 11 corbel specimens were tested, including healthy specimens (HS), specimens with lower concrete strength (LC), specimens with less reinforcement ratio (LR), and specimens with more concrete cover than specifications (MC). The HS specimens were designed using the ACI conventional method. The specimens were tested under static loading conditions, and the actual strengths along with the crack patterns were determined. In the experimental tests, the shear capacity of the HS specimens was 28.18% and 57.95% higher than the LR and LC specimens, respectively. Similarly, the moment capacity of the HS specimens was 25% and 57.52% greater than the LR and LC specimens, respectively. However, in the case of the built-up sections, the shear capacity of the HS specimens was 9.91% and 37.51% higher than the LR and LC specimens, respectively. Likewise, the moment capacity of the HS specimens was 39.91% and 14.30% higher than the LR and LC specimens, respectively. Moreover, a detailed nonlinear finite element model (FEM) was developed using ABAQUS, and a more user-friendly strut and tie model (STM) was investigated toward its suitability to assess the strengths of the corbels with construction defects. The results from FEM and STM were compared. It was found that the FEM results were in close agreement with their experimental counterparts.