bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Characteristics of clinical trials of influenza and respiratory syncytial virus registered in ClinicalTrials.gov between 2014 and 2021
Authors: Lora David , García-Reyne Ana , Lalueza Antonio , Maestro de la Calle Guillermo , Ruíz-Ruigómez María , Calderón Enrique J. , Menéndez-Orenga Miguel
Published: September 2023

The randomized clinical trial (RCT) is the ideal and mandatory type of study to verify the effect and safety of a drug. Our aim is to examine the fundamental characteristics of interventional clinical trials on influenza and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). This is a cross-sectional study of RCTs on influenza and RSV in humans between 2014 and 2021 registered in ClinicalTrials.gov. A total of 516 studies were identified: 94 for RSV, 423 for influenza, and 1 for both viruses. There were 51 RCTs of RSV vaccines (54.3%) and 344 (81.3%) for influenza virus vaccines (p < 0.001). Twelve (12.8%) RCTs for RSV were conducted only with women, and 6 were conducted only with pregnant women; for RCTs for influenza, 4 (0.9%) and 3, respectively. For RSV, 29 (31%) of the RCTs were exclusive to people under 5 years of age, and 21 (5%) for influenza virus (p < 0.001). For RSV, there are no RCTs exclusively for people older than or equal to 65 years and no phase 4 trials. RCTs on influenza virus and RSV has focused on vaccines. For the influenza virus, research has been consolidated, and for RSV, research is still in the development phase and directed at children and pregnant women.
The promise of digital healthcare technologies
Authors: Yeung Andy Wai Kan , Torkamani Ali , Butte Atul J. , Glicksberg Benjamin S. , Schuller Björn , Rodriguez Blanca , Ting Daniel S. W. , Bates David , Schaden Eva , Peng Hanchuan , Willschke Harald , van der Laak Jeroen , Car Josip , Rahimi Kazem , Celi Leo Anthony , Banach Maciej , Kletecka-Pulker Maria , Kimberger Oliver , Eils Roland , Islam Sheikh Mohammed Shariful , Wong Stephen T. , Wong Tien Yin , Gao Wei , Brunak Søren , Atanasov Atanas G.
Published: September 2023

Digital health technologies have been in use for many years in a wide spectrum of healthcare scenarios. This narrative review outlines the current use and the future strategies and significance of digital health technologies in modern healthcare applications. It covers the current state of the scientific field (delineating major strengths, limitations, and applications) and envisions the future impact of relevant emerging key technologies. Furthermore, we attempt to provide recommendations for innovative approaches that would accelerate and benefit the research, translation and utilization of digital health technologies.
Effect of educational intervention in reducing exposure to second hand tobacco smoke among 12-year-old children as determined by their salivary cotinine levels and knowledge, attitude and behavior - a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Rao Ashwini , Rungta Nikita , Nandini M. , Unnikrishnan B. , Shenoy Ramya , Rao Arathi , Shetty Mranali K.
Published: September 2023

Background

Tobacco use is one of the most important public health concerns, with approximately 8.7 million tobacco-related deaths each year, primarily in low- and middle-income countries. Even more concerning is the fact that 1.3 million of these deaths are seen in nonsmokers, including babies and children. This study was performed to determine whether a school-based “tobacco-free” educational intervention program among 12-year-old children would be effective in reducing their exposure to second-hand tobacco smoke (SHS) by improving their knowledge, attitude and behavior post intervention and estimating salivary cotinine levels as markers of SHS exposure.

Materials and method

A randomized controlled trial was performed by a cluster random sampling technique, with 30 participants each in the experimental and control arms. A knowledge, attitude, avoidance behavior and self-efficacy of avoidance questionnaire was administered, followed by estimation of salivary cotinine levels. The experimental arm received the “tobacco-free” intervention, which comprised a 40-min health education session, with the first follow-up at 15 days and the second at 30 days after the intervention. After the intervention, the questionnaire was readministered, followed by re-estimation of salivary cotinine levels.

Results

One month after the intervention, the number of participants who had a smoker who lived with them and the number of people who smoked inside the house were reduced in the experimental group compared to the control group. In the knowledge domain and the attitude domain, 80% and 60% of the items showed a statistically significant improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group. In the avoidance behavior domain and the Self-Efficacy of Avoidance Domain, all the items showed improvement in the experimental group compared to the control group. When the mean salivary cotinine levels were compared pre- and postintervention, it was found that although the mean postintervention salivary cotinine levels increased in both the experimental and control groups, the increase was less in the experimental group than in the control group.

Conclusion

The present study has been shown to be effective in improving the knowledge, attitude and avoidance behavior of adolescents toward exposure to secondhand smoke.
Ageing, sport and physical activity participation in Scotland
Authors: Davison R. C. Richard , Cowan Daryl T.
Published: September 2023

Aim

As sport and physical activity are vital to support extended health spans, this study aimed to analyse the current trends in sports participation and physical activity rates among individuals aged 65 years and older in Scotland. Data were compared with the Chief Medical Officer (CMO) guidelines and analysed the influence of key factors on participation rates.

Methods

The study used data from the Scottish Health Survey and the Scottish Household Survey (2019) to investigate self-reported participation in physical activity and sports across different age groups. Descriptive statistics and cross-tabulations were used to analyse the relationships between participation rates and influencing factors. Participation data for Parkrun events in Scotland were also analysed for the years 2008–2018.

Results

The study found a clear decline in sports participation with age, with a steep decline after the age of 65, particularly in women. The majority of participation among individuals aged 65+ was in walking, with a sport participation rate of only 31.2% when walking was excluded. Physical activity and sport participation was lower in women across all age ranges but particularly so in the 75+ age group. The most popular sporting activities in the older age group were keep fit/aerobics, swimming and golf. Additionally, the study found that social deprivation had a major impact on sports participation rates, with the most deprived households exhibiting the lowest participation levels irrespective of age. The prevalence of loneliness was lower among individuals who participated in sports or adhered to the CMO guidelines for moderate/vigorous physical activity and strength-building exercises.

Discussion

The findings of this study have implications for promoting physical activity and sports participation among older adults, particularly in deprived communities. This study highlights the importance of balance exercises within sport and the need for more targeted efforts to increase participation rates among older adults. The study also emphasizes the positive impact of sports participation on reducing loneliness among older adults. Overall, the findings suggest the need for ongoing efforts to promote physical activity and sports participation among older adults to improve their overall health and well-being.
Association between systolic blood pressure variability and severity of cerebral amyloid angiopathy in incident intracerebral hemorrhage
Authors: Moullaali Tom J. , Walters Rachel , Rodrigues Mark , Samarasekera Neshika , Bernal Jose , Wang Xia , Humphreys Catherine , Wardlaw Joanna M. , Farrall Andrew , Smith Colin , Anderson Craig S. , Al-Shahi Salman Rustam , McKinstry Brian
Published: September 2023

Introduction

The role of systolic blood pressure (SBP) variability in the pathogenesis of cerebral amyloid angiopathy (CAA) as an underlying cause of intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) is unknown. We studied SBP variability before ICH according to CAA severity at autopsy.

Methods

We collected office (primary care or hospital clinic) BP readings during 10 years before first-ever ICH onset in adults who died and had brain research autopsy in the Lothian IntraCerebral Hemorrhage, Pathology, Imaging, and Neurological Outcome (LINCHPIN), prospective, population-based, inception cohort study. A neuropathologist assessed CAA severity using a histopathological rating scale, masked to BP readings. Functional principal component analysis was used to model SBP levels by time before ICH, and logistic regression models assessed associations of SBP variability indices with CAA severity (moderate-severe vs. absent-mild) adjusted for age, gender, and mean SBP.

Results

Among 72 adults (median age 81 [interquartile range 76–86], 56% female, median number of SBP readings 11 [3–19]), patients with moderate-severe CAA had similar mean SBP (143 vs. 145 mmHg, P = 0.588) but lower SBP variability (SBP standard deviation [SD] 14 vs. 17 mmHg, P = 0.033) compared with patients with absent-mild CAA, and their SBP trajectories seemed to differ over 10 years before ICH. The odds of moderate-severe CAA were higher with lower maximum SBP (adjusted OR per 10 mmHg lower: 1.53, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.09–2.15; P = 0.015) and lower SBP range (1.29 [1.03–1.61]; P = 0.028), but not SBP SD (1.95 [0.87–4.38]; P = 0.11).

Discussion

Compared with absent-mild autopsy-verified CAA, moderate-severe CAA is associated with lower maximum and range of pre-morbid SBP.
An early warning for better planning of agricultural expansion and biodiversity conservation in the Orinoco high plains of Colombia
Authors: González-Orozco Carlos E. , Diaz-Giraldo Raul Alejandro , Rodriguez-Castañeda Catalina
Published: September 2023

The eastern high plains of the Orinoco region in Colombia are known as ‘Altillanura’. They are considered the future agricultural frontier of Colombia. Unfortunately, an agricultural expansion without taking in consideration areas of high biodiversity and conservation of fragile ecosystems that are ecologically irreplaceable will likely fail in providing a sustainable grow. An orderly management planning of the territory based on scientific evidence is currently lacking for this region. Specifically, studies that combine biodiversity data and agricultural information are a major research gap. This study analyses the spatial patterns of species richness and endemism of flora and fauna at the site and subregional levels. We compared the spatial changes of biodiversity patterns with aspects related to the expansion of the agricultural frontier and its possible impacts. We found a west-to-east pattern; sites closer to the Andes were more exposed to ecological degradation than those in the east. Santa Rosalía and Puerto Lopez are the municipalities with the most remarkable species diversity. Conversely, La Primavera municipality has the most significant number of endemic species. Our spatial changes results raise the alarm showing that hotspots of diversity closer to the municipalities of Puerto Lopez and Puerto Gaitan are under more pressure than underdeveloped municipalities (La Primavera and Puerto Carreño). Our results could serve as a baseline to identify spatial changes of agrobiodiversity and a guideline for land-use planning, regional policies and local decision-makers to improve regional development in Colombia’s eastern plains region.
Can the Pfannenstiel skin incision length be adjusted according to the fetal head during elective cesarean delivery?
Authors: Kaya Baris , Ozay Ozlen Emekci , Ozay Ali Cenk , Tüten Abdullah
Published: September 2023

Objective

The study aims to determine whether the Pfannenstiel skin incision can be adjusted according to the fetal head's occipitofrontal diameter (OFD) during primary cesarean delivery.

Background

Eligible 114 nulliparous women delivered at term by cesarean section in which Pfannenstiel skin incision was performed according to the OFD of the fetal head between June 2017 and September 2021 were included. Excluded cases were non-vertex presentations, all emergency cesarean sections, severe preeclampsia, women in an active phase of the first stage of labor and second stage of labor, placenta previa and low-lying placenta, multiple pregnancies, and uncontrolled gestational diabetes mellitus.

Results

Among 114 eligible nulliparous women, the mean OFD was 116.1 ± 7.2 (99–138) mm, and the measurement of the Pfannenstiel skin incision length, which was performed according to the OFD was found to be 122.8 ± 9.2 (100–155) mm. The difference between OFD and Pfannenstiel incision kept remained within 10 mm in 90 (82.5.2%), 10–20 mm in 17 (15.5%), and more than 20 mm in two women (1.8%). This technique was successful in 109 (95.6%) out of 114 women without extending the skin incision. In five women, skin incision needed to be extended up to 38 mm. In 10 women (8.7%), the rectus abdominis muscle was cut partially to deliver the fetal head. The mean fetal umbilical artery pH was 7.33 ± 0.05. No neonatal hypoxia was encountered in the study.

Conclusion

Pfannenstiel skin incision can be adjusted according to the OFD with minimal margins of error. This technique may provide better cosmetic results by avoiding unnecessarily prolonged incisions with similar newborn outcomes.

Clinical Trial Registration

Clinicaltrials.gov, identifier [NCT05632796].
Metagenomic characterization of the cecal microbiota community and functions in finishing pigs fed fermented Boehmeria nivea
Authors: Liang Xiaoxiao , Zhai Zhenya , Ren Fengyun , Jie Yucheng , Kim Soo-Ki , Niu Kai-Min , Wu Xin
Published: September 2023

Ramie (Boehmeria nivea, BN) is used as livestock forage through suitable silage fermentation owing to its nutritional value. To date, relatively few studies have investigated the effects of dietary fermented BN (FBN) on gut health in finishing pigs. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary supplementation with 20% FBN on intestinal morphology, gene expression, and the functional response of the gut microbiota in finishing pigs. We found that FBN did not significantly affect serum antioxidant enzyme activities, ileal morphology, or the expression of genes encoding antioxidant enzymes, inflammatory cytokines, or tight junction proteins in the liver of the pigs. However, the gene expression levels of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AHR) and interleukin 6 (IL6) were significantly downregulated in the ileum. A metagenomic analysis demonstrated that, compared with that seen in the control group, the cecal microbiota of pigs in the FBN treatment group was more closely clustered and contained a greater number of unique microbes. Bacteria were the predominant kingdom in the cecal microbiota, while Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes, and Proteobacteria were the dominant phyla, and Streptococcus, Lactobacillus, and Prevotella were the dominant genera. Dietary FBN significantly increased the abundance of the probiotic bacterium Roseburia inulinivorans (p < 0.05). Functional analysis of the cecal microbiota showed that ABC transporter levels and glycolysis/gluconeogenesis-associated functions were diminished in FBN-fed pigs. Meanwhile, CAZyme analysis revealed that dietary FBN significantly downregulated the contents of carbohydrate-active enzymes, such as GT2, GH1, GH25, and GH13_31. In addition, cytochrome P450 analysis revealed that the abundance of CYP51 and CYP512 decreased with FBN treatment. An assessment of antibiotic resistance based on the Comprehensive Antibiotic Resistance Database (CARD) annotation indicated that the cecal microbes from pigs in the FBN treatment group had increased resistance to lincosamide, streptogramin, and chloramphenicol and reduced resistance to amikacin, isepamicin, neomycin, lividomycin, gentamicin, paromomycin, ribostamycin, and butirosin. Finally, virulence factor-related analysis showed that putative hemolysin-associated functions were decreased, whereas fibronectin-binding protein, flagella, and alginate-associated functions were increased. Taken together, our data showed that FBN supplementation exerted only minor effects on intestinal morphology and microbial community composition, suggesting that it is potentially safe for use as a supplement in the diets of finishing pigs. However, more studies are needed to validate its functionality.
Exploring Barriers to Vitamin A Supplementation Uptake and Program Implementation Among Children Aged 6–59 Months in Ethiopia: A Qualitative Approach
Authors: Mulaw Getahun Fentaw , Masresha Seteamlak Adane , Feleke Fentaw Wassie
Published: September 2023

Background: Children in Ethiopia do not receive the recommended dose of vitamin A supplementation (VAS).

Objective: This study aimed to explore the barriers to VAS uptake and program implementation among children aged 6–59 months in Ethiopia.

Methods: Data were collected qualitatively using focus group discussions and in-depth interviews. The data were audio-recorded, transcribed, and inductively coded. The results were displayed using thematic analysis and the well-spoken verbatim of the respondents.

Results: The barriers to VAS uptake were low parental awareness of the program and low interest or motivation, low promotion of the program among health professionals, an excessive workload for health extension workers, and low professional attention to VAS compared to other health services.

Conclusion: Both client-side and supply-side issues posed significant obstacles to the uptake of VAS. It is important to educate mothers about VAS. Health workers should receive refresher training to raise their level of concern about VAS’s importance and its schedule. It’s crucial to initiate outreach programs for remote communities. The departmentalization of health extension packages will improve service and access.
Facing the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Mixed-Method Analysis of Asylum Seekers’ Experiences and Worries in the Canton of Vaud, Switzerland
Authors: Morisod Kevin , Martin Tiffany , Rawlinson Cloé , Grazioli Véronique S. , von Plessen Christian , Durand Marie-Anne , Selby Kevin , Le Pogam Marie-Annick , Bühler Nolwenn , Bodenmann Patrick
Published: September 2023

Objectives: The clinical and social burden of the COVID-19 pandemic were high among asylum seekers (ASs). We aimed to understand better ASs’ experiences of the pandemic and their sources of worries.

Methods: Participants (n = 203) completed a survey about their worries, sleep disorders, and fear of dying. We also conducted semi-structured interviews with ASs living in a community center (n = 15), focusing on how social and living conditions affected their experiences and worries.

Results: ASs in community centers experienced more sleep disorders related to the COVID-19 pandemic than those living in private apartments (aOR 2.01, p = 0.045). Similarly, those with lower education had greater fear for their life due to the COVID-19 pandemic (aOR 2.31, p = 0.015). Qualitative findings showed that sharing living spaces was an important source of worries for ASs and that protective measures were perceived to increase social isolation.

Conclusion: Our study highlighted the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic for ASs and the importance of tailoring public health measures to their needs and living conditions.
Lipschitz Continuity Results for a Class of Parametric Variational Inequalities and Applications to Network Games
Authors: Passacantando Mauro , Raciti Fabio
Published: September 2023

We consider a class of finite-dimensional variational inequalities where both the operator and the constraint set can depend on a parameter. Under suitable assumptions, we provide new estimates for the Lipschitz constant of the solution, which considerably improve previous ones. We then consider the problem of computing the mean value of the solution with respect to the parameter and, to this end, adapt an algorithm devised to approximate a Lipschitz function whose analytic expression is unknown, but can be evaluated in arbitrarily chosen sample points. Finally, we apply our results to a class of Nash equilibrium problems, and generalized Nash equilibrium problems on networks.
Algorithm for Application of a Basic Model for the Data Envelopment Analysis Method in Technical Systems
Authors: Pokushko Mariia , Stupina Alena , Medina-Bulo Inmaculada , Ezhemanskaya Svetlana , Kuzmich Roman , Pokushko Roman
Published: September 2023

The aim of this study is to solve the problem of increasing the efficiency of fuel and energy complex enterprises. Because such enterprises are complex systems, it is difficult to optimize their work, taking into account all the technical indicators of such enterprises. This study proposes to solve this problem by defining an algorithm using the data envelopment analysis (DEA) method. In particular, the algorithm was applied in heating systems using the example of a combined heat and power plant, where the DEA method had not previously been used. Experiments were carried out to improve the efficiency of the combined heat and power plant. Efficiency indicators were calculated, changing inputs and outputs of the model according to the study case to achieve the maximum efficiency of the system. The Charnes; Cooper and Rhodes; and the Banker, Charnes, and Cooper models were tested with good results. The presented methodology and experimental results enabled the DEA method to be applied for the first time to improve the efficiency of fuel and energy companies.
Adaptive Super-Twisting Sliding Mode Control of Underwater Mechanical Leg with Extended State Observer
Authors: Liao Lihui , Gao Luping , Ngwa Mboulé , Zhang Dijia , Du Jingmin , Li Baoren
Published: September 2023

Underwater manipulation is one of the most significant functions of the deep-sea crawling and swimming robot (DCSR), which relies on the high-accuracy control of the body posture. As the actuator of body posture control, the position control performance of the underwater mechanical leg (UWML) thus determines the performance of the underwater manipulation. An adaptive super-twisting sliding mode control method based on the extended state observer (ASTSMC-ESO) is proposed to enhance the position control performance of the UWML by taking into account the system’s inherent nonlinear dynamics, uncertainties, and the external disturbances from hydrodynamics, dynamic seal resistance, and compensation oil viscous resistance. This newly designed controller incorporates sliding mode (SMC) feedback control with feedforward compensation of the system uncertainties estimated by the ESO, and the external disturbances of the hydrodynamics by fitting the parameters, the dynamic seal resistance, and the compensation oil viscous resistance to the tested results. Additionally, an adaptive super-twisting algorithm (AST) with integral action is introduced to eliminate the SMC’s chattering phenomenon and reduce the system’s steady-state error. The stability of the proposed controller is proved via the Lyapunov method, and the effectiveness is verified via simulation and comparative experimental studies with SMC and the adaptive fuzzy sliding mode control method (AFSMC).
Climate Change Impacts on Vegetable Crops: A Systematic Review
Authors: Dumitru Eduard Alexandru , Berevoianu Rozi Liliana , Tudor Valentina Constanta , Teodorescu Florina-Ruxandra , Stoica Dalila , Giucă Andreea , Ilie Diana , Sterie Cristina Maria
Published: September 2023

Agriculture is a fundamental aspect of our society, providing food and resources for a growing population. However, climate change is putting this sector at risk through rising temperatures, changing rainfall patterns and an increase in the frequency and intensity of extreme weather events. Our study highlights the need to address climate change in a differentiated way, taking into account the specificities of each agricultural sector, and therefore aims not only to organise and summarise current research but also to fill an important gap in the existing literature by focusing on the impact of climate change on vegetable crops. The topic was researched using the Web of Science and Scopus databases, where 219 publications were thoroughly reviewed and only those that fully addressed the impact of climate change on vegetable crops were selected. Of the 219 publications reviewed, only 53 focused exclusively on the effects of climate change on vegetable crops, indicating the need for more specialised research in this area, especially given the complex challenges that climate change poses not only in terms of yield but also non-trivial quality and food safety, and can be considered a future research prospect.
Performance of the Dual-Chamber Fungal Fuel Cell in Treating Tannery Wastewater
Authors: Mahmoud Mohamed S. , Wang Jian-Hui , Shen Yu , Guo Zhi-Wei , Yang Yan , Zhu Dao-Chen , Peters Robert W. , Mostafa Mohamed K. , Mahmoud Ahmed S.
Published: September 2023

Fungi are typically expressed as excellent microorganisms that produce extracellular enzymes used in the bioaccumulation phenomenon. In this study, laboratory-scale dual-chamber fungal fuel cells (FFCs) were applied as an alternate approach for the available degradation of complex organic pollutants represented in chemical oxygen demand (COD) and total nitrogen (TN), as well as inorganic pollutants represented as total chromium (Cr), and the generation of bioenergy represented in output voltages (V), power density (PD) and current density (CD), as applied to tannery effluent. Aspergillus niger strain, (A. niger), which makes up 40% of the fungal population in tannery effluent was examined in a training study for efficient hexavalent chromium bioaccumulation, especially in high concentrations. The trained A. niger showed a faster growth rate than the untrained one in broth media containing different loaded chromium concentrations. For an external resistance of 1000 Ω, two FFCs were utilized, one with electrolytic matrices including phosphate buffer solution (PBS) and bicarbonate buffer solution (BBS), and the other without electrolytic matrices, where the energy generation and treatment efficacy of the two dual-chamber FFCs were evaluated for a period of 165 h. At 15 h, the electrolytic FFCs showed a high voltage output of 0.814 V, a power density of 0.097 mW·m−2, and a current density of 0.119 mAm−2 compared to the non-electrolytic FFC. At 165 h, the electrolytic FFCs showed high removal efficiency percentages for COD, TN, and total Cr of up to 77.9%, 94.2%, and 73%, respectively, compared to the non-electrolytic FFC.
The Development of a Secure Internet Protocol (IP) Network Based on Asterisk Private Branch Exchange (PBX)
Authors: Yakubova Mubarak , Manankova Olga , Mukasheva Assel , Baikenov Alimzhan , Serikov Tansaule
Published: September 2023

The research problem described in this article is related to the security of an IP network that is set up between two cities using hosting. The network is used for transmitting telephone traffic between servers located in Germany and the Netherlands. The concern is that with the increasing adoption of IP telephony worldwide, the network might be vulnerable to hacking and unauthorized access, posing a threat to the privacy and security of the transmitted information. This article proposes a solution to address the security concerns of the IP network. After conducting an experiment and establishing a connection between the two servers using the WireShark sniffer, a dump of real traffic between the servers was obtained. Upon analysis, a vulnerability in the network was identified, which could potentially be exploited by malicious actors. To enhance the security of the network, this article suggests the implementation of the Transport Layer Security (TLS) protocol. TLS is a cryptographic protocol that provides secure communication over a computer network, ensuring data confidentiality and integrity during transmission. Integrating TLS into the network infrastructure, will protect the telephone traffic and prevent unauthorized access and eavesdropping.
A Clustering Visualization Method for Density Partitioning of Trajectory Big Data Based on Multi-Level Time Encoding
Authors: Wei Boan , Zhang Jianqin , Hu Chaonan , Wen Zheng
Published: September 2023

The proliferation of the Internet and the widespread adoption of mobile devices have given rise to an immense volume of real-time trajectory big data. However, a single computer and conventional databases with limited scalability struggle to manage this data effectively. During the process of visual rendering, issues such as page stuttering and subpar visual outcomes often arise. This paper, founded on a distributed architecture, introduces a multi-level time encoding method using “minutes”, “hours”, and “days” as fundamental units, achieving a storage model for trajectory data at multi-scale time. Furthermore, building upon an improved DBSCAN clustering algorithm and integrating it with the K-means clustering algorithm, a novel density-based partitioning clustering algorithm has been introduced, which incorporates road coefficients to circumvent architectural obstacles, successfully resolving page stuttering issues and significantly enhancing the quality of visualization. The results indicate the following: (1) when data is extracted using the units of “minutes”, “hours”, and “days”, the retrieval efficiency of this model is 6.206 times, 12.475 times, and 18.634 times higher, respectively, compared to the retrieval efficiency of the original storage model. As the volume of retrieved data increases, the retrieval efficiency of the proposed storage model becomes increasingly superior to that of the original storage model. Under identical experimental conditions, this model’s retrieval efficiency also outperforms the space–time-coded storage model; (2) Under a consistent rendering level, the clustered trajectory data, when compared to the unclustered raw data, has shown a 40% improvement in the loading speed of generating heat maps. There is an absence of page stuttering. Furthermore, the heat kernel phenomenon in the heat map was also resolved while enhancing the visualization rendering speed.
Enhancing Energy Efficiency by Improving Internet of Things Devices Security in Intelligent Buildings via Niche Genetic Algorithm-Based Control Technology
Authors: Liang Rui , Xing Yalong , Hu Linhui
Published: September 2023

The security measures of IoT devices used in intelligent buildings are one of the ways by which energy efficiency can be accomplished. IoT devices are very important for data collecting and monitoring in intelligent buildings, but a lack of security could result in errors in energy consumption decisions that result in energy waste. To ensure the success of the control systems used for energy optimization, it is necessary to address the security of IoT devices in order to avoid illegal access, data manipulation, and disruptions. This work proposes a research idea and scheme for energy-saving optimization of intelligent buildings by assuring the security of IoT devices used in intelligent buildings. First of all, we defined several parameters that are related to IoT devices’ security, energy consumption, and occupant comfort in the intelligent building environment. Secondly, we collected data for each of these parameters by utilizing IoT devices such as actuators, sensors, and other control systems. The niche genetic algorithm (NGA) refers to a particular class of genetic algorithms that is used to tackle problems involving many optimization objectives. We focused on optimizing both energy consumption and occupants’ comfort; therefore, we used an NGA for the preprocessed data with the goal of evaluating the data for the purpose of ensuring the comfort of occupants and protection of the security of IoT devices, which eventually leads to energy optimization. Finally, the results of the proposed approach are analyzed and carefully compared with earlier work, demonstrating that our proposed approach is significantly more effective and energy-optimized than earlier approaches. The results show that the total power consumption of the intelligent building system after using our proposed model is generally reduced by more than 18% compared with that before optimization, which shows that the intelligent building system-adaptive optimization control model can effectively optimize the operating parameters of the energy-saving system and achieve the security of IoT devices.
Evaluation of the Reproductive Performance of Females of Anguilla anguilla Characterized by Different Levels of Silvering
Authors: Mordenti Oliviero , Gentile Laura , Emmanuele Pietro , Hausz Bálint Lóránt , Brusa Riccardo , Casalini Antonio
Published: September 2023

The European eel, Anguilla anguilla (Linnaeus, 1758), is a species of high conservation and commercial value. Also, with a high aquacultural value, it was one of the most farmed species in Europe before its decline. Conservation measures for this species are currently being implemented, some of which are the release of adults to allow them to migrate to spawning grounds and artificial reproduction to minimise the impact of overfishing. Much progress has been made regarding the closing of the life cycle, but several problems remain to be solved, such as the weaning and growth of larvae. In this regard, the study of local populations and the identification of the best spawners could be a good way forward as it would help to identify spawners with high reproductive potential and good offspring quality. In this study, we compared the reproductive performance of female eels from migratory areas of the Northern Adriatic Sea at different maturation stages (10 pre-migrant stage; 10 migrant stage), treating both groups with the same hormonal protocol (weekly carp pituitary extract, injection of 17α,20β-Dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one at complete oocyte maturation). The research showed that eels at the beginning of metamorphosis (SI III), i.e., eels not yet ready to undertake migration, achieve reproductive performance equal to that of eels ready for migration (SI IV). Their performance was on par in both qualitative and quantitative terms. The optimal results in hatching (with values of 65.8 ± 3.2% for pre-migrant and 68.2 ± 4.1% for migrant) and survival rates (with value of 25.7 ± 5.4% pre-migrants; 27.2 ± 3.7% migrants), as well as the results about the time to reach full gonadal maturation, may have positive implications when considering release and restocking measures.
Automatic Essay Evaluation Technologies in Chinese Writing—A Systematic Literature Review
Authors: Yang Hongwu , He Yanshan , Bu Xiaolong , Xu Hongwen , Guo Weitong
Published: September 2023

Automatic essay evaluation, an essential application of natural language processing (NLP) technology in education, has been increasingly employed in writing instruction and language proficiency assessment. Because automatic Chinese Essay Evaluation (ACEE) has made some breakthroughs due to the rapid development of upstream Chinese NLP technology, many evaluation tools have been applied in teaching practice and high-risk evaluation processes. However, the development of ACEE is still in its early stages, with many technical bottlenecks and challenges. This paper systematically explores the current research status of corpus construction, feature engineering, and scoring models in ACEE through literature to provide a technical perspective for stakeholders in the ACEE research field. Literature research has shown that constructing the ACEE public corpus is insufficient and lacks an effective platform to promote the development of ACEE research. Various shallow and deep features can be extracted using statistical and NLP techniques in ACEE. However, there are still substantial limitations in extracting grammatical errors and features related to syntax and traditional Chinese Literary style. For the construction of scoring models, existing studies have shown that traditional machine learning and deep learning methods each have advantages in different corpora and feature selections. The deep learning model, which exhibits strong adaptability and multi-task joint learning potential, has broader development space regarding model scalability.
The Shortening of Leukocyte Telomere Length Contributes to Alzheimer’s Disease: Further Evidence from Late-Onset Familial and Sporadic Cases
Authors: Crocco Paolina , De Rango Francesco , Dato Serena , La Grotta Rossella , Maletta Raffaele , Bruni Amalia Cecilia , Passarino Giuseppe , Rose Giuseppina
Published: September 2023

Telomeres are structures at the ends of eukaryotic chromosomes that help maintain genomic stability. During aging, telomere length gradually shortens, producing short telomeres, which are markers of premature cellular senescence. This may contribute to age-related diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD), and based on this, several studies have hypothesized that telomere shortening may characterize AD. Current research, however, has been inconclusive regarding the direction of the association between leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and disease risk. We assessed the association between LTL and AD in a retrospective case–control study of a sample of 255 unrelated patients with late-onset AD (LOAD), including 120 sporadic cases and 135 with positive family history for LOAD, and a group of 279 cognitively healthy unrelated controls, who were all from Calabria, a southern Italian region. Following regression analysis, telomeres were found significantly shorter in LOAD cases than in controls (48% and 41% decrease for sporadic and familial cases, respectively; p < 0.001 for both). Interestingly, LTL was associated with disease risk independently of the presence of conventional risk factors (e.g., age, sex, MMSE scores, and the presence of the APOE-ε4 allele). Altogether, our findings lend support to the notion that LTL shortening may be an indicator of the pathogenesis of LOAD.
Quantitative Insights and Visualization of Antimicrobial Tolerance in Mixed-Species Biofilms
Authors: Dittmer Mandy , Brill Florian H. H. , Kampe Andreas , Geffken Maria , Rembe Julian-Dario , Moll Raphael , Alio Ifey , Streit Wolfgang R. , Debus Eike Sebastian , Smeets Ralf , Stuermer Ewa Klara
Published: September 2023

Biofilms are a major problem in hard-to-heal wounds. Moreover, they are composed of different species and are often tolerant to antimicrobial agents. At the same time, interspecific synergy and/or competition occurs when some bacterial species clash. For this reason, the tolerance of two dual-species wound biofilm models of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Staphylococcus aureus or Enterococcus faecium against antimicrobials and antimicrobial dressings were analyzed quantitatively and by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). The results were compared to findings with planktonic bacteria. Octenidine-dihydrochloride/phenoxyethanol and polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB) irrigation solutions showed a significant, albeit delayed reduction in biofilm bacteria, while the PHMB dressing was not able to induce this effect. However, the cadexomer-iodine dressing caused a sustained reduction in and killed almost all bacteria down to 102 cfu/mL within 6 days compared to the control (1010 cfu/mL). By means of CLSM in untreated human biofilm models, it became evident that P. aeruginosa dominates over E. faecium and S. aureus. Additionally, P. aeruginosa appeared as a vast layer at the bottom of the samples, while S. aureus formed grape-like clusters. In the second model, the distribution was even clearer. Only a few E. faecium were visible, in contrast to the vast layer of P. aeruginosa. It seems that the different species avoid each other and seek their respective niches. These mixed-species biofilm models showed that efficacy and tolerance to antimicrobial substances are nearly species-independent. Their frequent application appears to be important. The bacterial wound biofilm remains a challenge in treatment and requires new, combined therapy options.
Experimental and Design Parametric Study of a Novel Grouted Square Steel Tube Upper Chord–Concrete Composite Floor
Authors: Qi Jiarui , Yu Feifan , Wu Liwei , Xv Li
Published: September 2023

A novel composite floor consisting of an upper chord of a grouted square steel tube truss and a lower chord of a reinforced concrete slab is proposed to address existing problems with precast composite floors, such as a complex construction process, high cost, significant resource consumption, and severe environmental pollution. Sixteen-point loading tests were carried out on five simply supported one-way slabs to simulate the stress state of the floor under a uniform load and to investigate the stiffness, cracking moment, load-carrying capacity, and failure mode of the composite floor system. The results showed that the composite floor system exhibited ductile failure, with cracks uniformly distributed at the bottom of the slab; additionally, the grouted steel tube did not experience uplift or out-of-plane buckling, and the truss welds did not fracture, indicating that the composite floor system still had further deformation capacity and load-carrying capacity with satisfactory stress conditions. After unloading, the residual deformation of the composite floor accounted for 28% to 36% of the maximum deflection, demonstrating good deformation recovery ability. The bottom slab thickness and truss height are key parameters that influence the new composite floor, and increasing the two parameters enhances the cracking load, deformation resistance, and flexural capacity of the composite floor, with a significant improvement achieved by increasing the truss height. The floor slab should have a minimum thickness of 60 mm, as required by China’s Code for Design of Concrete Structures, and the truss height-to-span ratio should be 1:30, which meets the deformation and load-carrying requirements of the floor and conforms to the design concept of green buildings.
An Investigation of Outdoor Thermal Comfort Assessment for Elderly Individuals in a Field Study in Northeastern China
Authors: Wang Bo , Zhao Hongyu , Han Bingbing , Jiang Xue
Published: September 2023

The harsh climate and the aging of urban populations have negatively impacted the quality of life of the elderly in severely cold regions. As a result, there is an urgent need to improve environment quality and accurately evaluate outdoor thermal comfort. However, existing studies have paid little attention to older adults living in severely cold climates. This paper aims to fill this gap by studying the elderly population in severely cold cities with high aging rates in China. By combining on-site testing, questionnaire surveys, CFD modeling, parametric computing, and statistical analysis, the study presents an adapted UTCI for elderly people, as well as multi-seasonal prediction models. The results (1) show that the neutral ranges of the UTCI are significantly affected by both climate zones and age groups. Older people are more tolerant to heat but more sensitive to cold. (2) The results also reveal the importance of factors such as air temperature, wind speed, solar radiation temperature, wind direction, relative humidity, and cloud cover in evaluating outdoor thermal comfort. (3) Multi-seasonal thermal comfort models based on neural networks were developed, and empirical studies verified that the model had the highest accuracy in the transitional season and the lowest accuracy in the winter season.
An Improved Inspection Process and Machine-Learning-Assisted Bridge Condition Prediction Model
Authors: Fang Jingang , Hu Jun , Elzarka Hazem , Zhao Hongyu , Gao Ce
Published: September 2023

Bridges have a special place in transportation infrastructures and road networks due to their direct relationship with other places. These structures have the purpose of maintaining the traffic loads of the highway, crossing any obstacle, and performing effective communication between two destinations. Costs associated with bridge maintenance continue to be expensive due to their widespread use and stringent inspection requirements. Many researchers have been working on methods to use machine-learning (ML) techniques to forecast specific situations rather than physically checking bridges as part of the maintenance process in recent years. The practical value of the models has, however, been severely constrained by issues such relatively poor model evaluation results, unstable model performances, and the ambiguous application of established models in real-world scenarios. This work showed a thorough method of bridge condition prediction model building from feature engineering to model evaluation, along with a clear procedure of applying the produced model to actual usage, using data from the United States National Bridge Inventory (NBI) and the Adaboost algorithm. Multiple ML model assessment metrics’ findings revealed that the given model outperformed the majority of earlier studies in terms of values and stability. The case study demonstrated that there is a 30% reduction in the number of bridges that need to be inspected. This study serves as a crucial resource for the practical application of ML approaches in the forecast of the status of civil infrastructure. Additionally, it shows that boosted ML models may be a superior option as modeling algorithms advance. To explore the main influencing aspects of bridge conditions, a predictor importance analysis is also offered.
Expression and Activity of the NF-κB Subunits in Chronic Lymphocytic Leukaemia: A Role for RelB and Non-Canonical Signalling
Authors: Mulligan Evan A. , Tudhope Susan J. , Hunter Jill E. , Clift Arabella E. G. , Elliott Sarah L. , Summerfield Geoffrey P. , Wallis Jonathan , Pepper Chris J. , Durkacz Barabara , Veuger Stephany , Willmore Elaine
Published: September 2023

Background: Canonical NF-κB signalling by p65 (RelA) confers chemo-resistance and poor survival in chronic lymphocytic leukaemia (CLL). The role of non-canonical NF-κB signalling (leading to RelB and p52 subunit activation) in CLL is less understood, but given its importance in other B-cell tumour types, we theorised that RelB and p52 may also contribute to the pathology of CLL. Methods: DNA binding activity of all five NF-kB subunits, p65, p50, RelB, p52, and c-Rel, was quantified using ELISA and correlated to ex vivo chemoresistance, CD40L-stimulated signalling (to mimic the lymph node microenvironment), and clinical data. Results: Importantly, we show for the first time that high basal levels of RelB DNA binding correlate with nuclear RelB protein expression and are associated with del(11q), ATM dysfunction, unmutated IGHV genes, and shorter survival. High levels of nuclear p65 are prevalent in del(17p) cases (including treatment-naïve patients) and also correlate with the outcome. CD40L-stimulation resulted in rapid RelB activation, phosphorylation and processing of p100, and subsequent CLL cell proliferation. Conclusions: These data highlight a role for RelB in driving CLL cell tumour growth in a subset of patients and therefore strategies designed to inhibit non-canonical NF-κB signalling represent a novel approach that will have therapeutic benefit in CLL.