bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Recent Progress and Challenges Regarding Magnetite-Based Nanoparticles for Targeted Drug Delivery
Authors: Kurczewska Joanna , Dobosz Bernadeta
Published: January 2024

Magnetite-based nanoparticles are of constant interest in the scientific community as potential systems for biomedical applications. Over the years, the ability to synthesize diverse systems based on iron (II, III) oxide nanoparticles has been mastered to maximize their potential effectiveness in the targeted delivery of active substances in cancer therapy. The present review explores recent literature findings that detail various magnetic nanosystems. These encompass straightforward designs featuring a polymer coating on the magnetic core and more intricate matrices for delivering chemotherapeutic drugs. This paper emphasizes novel synthetic approaches that impact the efficacy and progress of anticancer investigations, specifically targeting a particular cancer type. The research also delves into combinations with alternative treatment methods and diagnostic approaches. Additionally, it highlights a critical aspect—the interaction with cells—identifying it as the least developed aspect in current research on these systems.
A Numerical Analysis of the Influence of Oxygen and Glucose in Healthy and Tumour Cells
Authors: Barbosa Maria Inês , Belinha Jorge , Jorge Renato Natal , Carvalho Ana Xavier de
Published: January 2024

Cancer is widely regarded as a critical health issue in modern society. Tumour cells are usually associated with abnormal proliferation that disrupts the normal behaviour of the body. All cells depend on the availability of oxygen and nutrients present in the extracellular environment, which can enhance or decrease their ability to proliferate. Therefore, to comprehend the influence of these factors, it is helpful to understand the proliferation process of both healthy and tumour cells. Computational models are powerful tools used to study biomedical problems, and several models have been presented in the literature. Different numerical methods have been proposed to solve these models. Among them, meshless methods can be highlighted, as they are used to solve complex problems with accurate results. However, in the case of cell proliferation, this is still an area that has not yet been fully explored. The aim of this work is to implement and study the influence of oxygen and glucose during the proliferation of healthy and tumour cells using a novel algorithm. This is an iterative discrete algorithm that employs a meshless numerical and uses a new phenomenological law to describe cell growth. In the end, the algorithm was capable of generating satisfactory results, in accordance with the literature.
AR-Assisted Guidance for Assembly and Maintenance of Avionics Equipment
Authors: Xue Zhengjie , Yang Jun , Chen Ruchen , He Qiang , Li Qixiu , Mei Xuesong
Published: January 2024

The assembly and maintenance of products in the aviation industry constitute a crucial aspect of the product life cycle, with numerous tasks still reliant on manual operations. In order to solve the problem of narrow operation spaces and blind areas in the processes of manual assembly and maintenance, we proposed an augmented reality (AR) assistant guidance method specifically designed for such scenarios. By employing a multi-modality anti-occlusion tracking algorithm, pose data of assembly parts can be obtained, upon which AR guidance information is displayed. Additionally, we proposed an assembly step identification method to alleviate user interaction pressure. We developed an AR visualization assistant guidance system and designed and conducted a user evaluation experiment to measure the learnability, usability, and mental effort required. The results demonstrate that our method significantly enhances training efficiency by 128.77%, as well as improving assembly and maintenance efficiency by 29.53% and 27.27% compared with traditional methods. Moreover, it has significant advantages in learnability, usability, and mental effort, providing a feasible and effective resolution for addressing blind areas during assembly and maintenance within the aviation industry.
Radon Variability as a Result of Interaction with the Environment
Authors: Pulinets Sergey , Mironova Irina , Miklyaev Petr , Petrova Tatiana , Shitov Alexander , Karagodin Arseniy
Published: January 2024

Recent years have seen increased attention given to radon from two scientific directions. After neglecting radon as an earthquake precursor in the 1990s, it has become the subject of discussions in earthquake-forecast papers due to growing networks of radon monitoring in different countries, particularly the technologies of real-time radon measurements where gamma spectrometers are of great interest as sources of 222Rn identification. The second fast-developing direction involves radon in Lithosphere–Atmosphere–Ionosphere Coupling (LAIC) models as a source of boundary layer ionization. Here we address the second topic, which is not connected with the earthquake forecast problems, namely, the role of air ionization by radon as a source of the Global Electric Circuit (GEC) modification. In this publication, we try to unite all of these problems to present a more complex view of radon as an important element in our environment. Special attention is paid to the dependence of radon variability on environmental conditions.
Characteristics of Hourly Extreme Precipitation over the Eastern Extension of the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Yuan , Zhu Yang , Luo Wei , Duan Ting , Chen Quanliang
Published: January 2024

The eastern extension of the Tibetan Plateau (EETP) has complex terrain, unique climate characteristics, and significant regional differences. Based on the hourly precipitation data from 444 stations over the EETP, the characteristics of the extreme precipitation event (EPE) diurnal cycle over the EETP and their regional differences during the warm season (May–September) have been indicated and revealed in this study. The mean duration of EPEs at most stations over the EETP is over 6 h, except for some stations in the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau and Yunnan province. In addition to the Qinba Mountain area, EPEs developed rapidly in most stations. EPEs with long (short) durations usually start at night (afternoon). But in the southwestern part of the Sichuan Basin (eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau), long-duration EPEs and short-duration EPEs often start at night (afternoon to early night). Meanwhile, the long-duration EPEs lead to the nocturnal diurnal peaks and eastward propagating features of extreme precipitation amount (EPA) over the EETP. In the Sichuan Basin (the eastern part of the Tibetan Plateau), the onset and peak moments of total EPEs show a single diurnal peak and appear at midnight (late afternoon to early night). The onset and peak moments of EPEs in the Yunnan–Guizhou Plateau and the Qinba Mountain area exhibit two diurnal peaks, one at midnight and the other from afternoon to early night. Over the EETP, for the long-duration EPEs, the peak moments are often delayed by 2–3 h compared to the start moment, while for the short-duration EPEs, the peak moment and the start moment almost coincide.
Effect of Mn Substitution on GeFe2O4 as an Anode for Sodium Ion Batteries
Authors: Ambrosetti Marco , Rocchetta Walter , Quinzeni Irene , Milanese Chiara , Berbenni Vittorio , Bini Marcella
Published: January 2024

GeFe2O4 (GFO), with its intriguing intercalation mechanism based on alloying–conversion reactions, was recently proposed as an anode material for sodium ion batteries (SIBs). However, drawbacks related to excessive volume expansion during intercalation/deintercalation and poor electronic conductivity enormously hinder its practical application in batteries. In this regard, some experimental strategies such as cation substitutions and proper architectures/carbon coatings can be adopted. In this paper, pure and Mn-doped GFO samples were prepared by hydrothermal synthesis. The doped samples maintained the spinel cubic structure and the morphology of pure GFO. The electrochemical tests of the samples, performed after proper carbon coating, showed the expected redox processes involving both Ge and Fe ions. The Mn doping had a positive effect on the capacity values at a low current density (about 350 mAh/g at C/5 for the Mn 5% doping in comparison to 300 mAh/g for the pure sample). Concerning the cycling stability, the doped samples were able to provide 129 mAh/g (Mn 10%) and 150 mAh/g (Mn 5%) at C/10 after 60 cycles.
Soft Drink Addiction Scale: Reliability and Validity Analysis in Young Mexican People
Authors: Campos-Ramírez Cesar , Camacho-Calderon Nicolas , Villagran-Herrera Maria Elena , Aguilar-Galarza Adriana , Anaya-Loyola Miriam Aracely , Palacios-Delgado Jorge
Published: January 2024

It has been proposed that the consumption of foods high in sugar or fat may cause addictive behavior. The aim of this study was to adapt and validate a soft drink addiction scale that can be used in future studies and to strengthen the proposal of food addiction with the hypothesis that people with high consumption of soft drinks have similar characteristics to people who consume abuse drugs. A non-probabilistic convenience sample of 394 Mexican participants answered a soft drinks’ consumption frequency questionnaire, an addiction scale, and a self-efficacy scale for soft drinks’ consumption. Additionally, anthropometric measurements were taken. The addiction scale showed three factors with an adequate reliability (Cronbach’s alpha coefficient = 0.903), as well as construct validity and criterion validity with the self-efficacy scale and total body fat percentage on soft drinks, mainly those with substantial caloric content. Additionally, the results showed a predictive value for soft drink consumption, strengthening its validity. This scale is useful to identify and evaluate the characteristic patterns of a substance addiction. The total reliability indicates that the items as a whole are correlated with each other and that the scale is stable to be used over time. This is the first study that evaluates the addictive characteristics of soft drink consumption through a scale, and it represents an advance in the exploration of the behavioral sciences field and an important tool for the creation of public health policies, mainly in countries with a high consumption of these beverages.
Compensation Method for Missing and Misidentified Skeletons in Nursing Care Action Assessment by Improving Spatial Temporal Graph Convolutional Networks
Authors: Han Xin , Nishida Norihiro , Morita Minoru , Sakai Takashi , Jiang Zhongwei
Published: January 2024

With the increasing aging population, nursing care providers have been facing a substantial risk of work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs). Visual-based pose estimation methods, like OpenPose, are commonly used for ergonomic posture risk assessment. However, these methods face difficulty when identifying overlapping and interactive nursing tasks, resulting in missing and misidentified skeletons. To address this, we propose a skeleton compensation method using improved spatial temporal graph convolutional networks (ST-GCN), which integrates kinematic chain and action features to assess skeleton integrity and compensate for it. The results verified the effectiveness of our approach in optimizing skeletal loss and misidentification in nursing care tasks, leading to improved accuracy in calculating both skeleton joint angles and REBA scores. Moreover, comparative analysis against other skeleton compensation methods demonstrated the superior performance of our approach, achieving an 87.34% REBA accuracy score. Collectively, our method might hold promising potential for optimizing the skeleton loss and misidentification in nursing care tasks.
Uptake of 18F-AV45 in the Putamen Provides Additional Insights into Alzheimer’s Disease beyond the Cortex
Authors: Yang Zhengshi , Kinney Jefferson W. , Cordes Dietmar ,   The Alzheimer’s Disease Neuroimaging Initiative
Published: January 2024

Cortical uptake in brain amyloid positron emission tomography (PET) is increasingly used for the biological diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease (AD); however, the clinical and biological relevance of the striatum beyond the cortex in amyloid PET scans remains unclear. A total of 513 amyloid-positive participants having 18F-AV45 amyloid PET scans available were included in the analysis. The associations between cognitive scores and striatal uptake were analyzed. The participants were categorized into three groups based on the residual from the linear fitting between 18F-AV45 uptake in the putamen and the cortex in the order of HighP > MidP > LowP group. We then examined the differences between these three groups in terms of clinical diagnosis, APOE genotype, CSF phosphorylated tau (ptau) concentration, hippocampal volume, entorhinal thickness, and cognitive decline rate to evaluate the additional insights provided by the putamen beyond the cortex. The 18F-AV45 uptake in the putamen was more strongly associated with ADAS-cog13 and MoCA scores (p < 0.001) compared to the uptake in the caudate nucleus. Despite comparable cortical uptakes, the HighP group had a two-fold higher risk of being ε4-homozygous or diagnosed with AD dementia compared to the LowP group. These three groups had significantly different CSF ptau concentration, hippocampal volume, entorhinal thickness, and cognitive decline rate. These findings suggest that the assessment of 18F-AV45 uptake in the putamen is of unique value for evaluating disease severity and predicting disease progression.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of the Inflammatory Biomarkers in Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Authors: Mavroudis Ioannis , Ciobica Alin , Balmus Ioana Miruna , Burlui Vasile , Romila Laura , Iordache Alin
Published: January 2024

Mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) accounts for most TBI cases, the leading cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite its high incidence, mTBI pathophysiology remains largely unknown. Recent studies have shown that the inflammatory response is activated early after mTBI and can persist for several weeks or months. However, limited evidence on the utility of inflammatory biomarkers as predictors of clinical outcomes in mTBI has been previously provided. Thus, this systematic review and meta-analysis aims to provide an overview of the current knowledge on the role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of mTBI and the potential of some inflammatory biomolecules as biomarkers of mTBI. In this regard, eight studies comprising 1184 individuals were selected. Thus, it was shown that the increase in IL-6, TNF-α, and IL-1β plasma levels could be implicated in the development of early post-concussion symptoms. On the other hand, the persistence of the increased plasmatic concentrations of IL-10 and IL-8 for as long as six months following the brain injury event could suggest chronic inflammation leading to neuroinflammation and late or persistent symptoms. In this context, our findings showed that inflammatory biomarkers could be relevant in diagnosing or predicting recovery or long-term outcomes of mTBI.
Unraveling the Potential of ALK-Targeted Therapies in Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer: Comprehensive Insights and Future Directions
Authors: Parvaresh Hannaneh , Roozitalab Ghazaal , Golandam Fatemeh , Behzadi Payam , Jabbarzadeh Kaboli Parham
Published: January 2024

Background and Objective: This review comprehensively explores the intricate landscape of anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK), focusing specifically on its pivotal role in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Tracing ALK’s discovery, from its fusion with nucleolar phosphoprotein (NPM)-1 in anaplastic large cell non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (ALCL) in 1994, the review elucidates the subsequent impact of ALK gene alterations in various malignancies, including inflammatory myofibroblastoma and NSCLC. Approximately 3–5% of NSCLC patients exhibit complex ALK rearrangements, leading to the approval of six ALK-tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) by 2022, revolutionizing the treatment landscape for advanced metastatic ALK + NSCLC. Notably, second-generation TKIs such as alectinib, ceritinib, and brigatinib have emerged to address resistance issues initially associated with the pioneer ALK-TKI, crizotinib. Methods: To ensure comprehensiveness, we extensively reviewed clinical trials on ALK inhibitors for NSCLC by 2023. Additionally, we systematically searched PubMed, prioritizing studies where the terms “ALK” AND “non-small cell lung cancer” AND/OR “NSCLC” featured prominently in the titles. This approach aimed to encompass a spectrum of relevant research studies, ensuring our review incorporates the latest and most pertinent information on innovative and alternative therapeutics for ALK + NSCLC. Key Content and Findings: Beyond exploring the intricate details of ALK structure and signaling, the review explores the convergence of ALK-targeted therapy and immunotherapy, investigating the potential of immune checkpoint inhibitors in ALK-altered NSCLC tumors. Despite encouraging preclinical data, challenges observed in trials assessing combinations such as nivolumab-crizotinib, mainly due to severe hepatic toxicity, emphasize the necessity for cautious exploration of these novel approaches. Additionally, the review explores innovative directions such as ALK molecular diagnostics, ALK vaccines, and biosensors, shedding light on their promising potential within ALK-driven cancers. Conclusions: This comprehensive analysis covers molecular mechanisms, therapeutic strategies, and immune interactions associated with ALK-rearranged NSCLC. As a pivotal resource, the review guides future research and therapeutic interventions in ALK-targeted therapy for NSCLC.
Gut Fungal Microbiota Alterations in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertensive Rats
Authors: Chen Yihang , Meng Liukun , Yuan Wen , Gao Zehan , Zhang Xun , Xie Boqia , Song Jiawei , Li Jifeng , Zhong Jiuchang , Liu Xiaoyan
Published: January 2024

The gut microbiome’s imbalance has been implicated in the pathogenesis of pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH), yet the contribution of the gut mycobiome remains largely unclear. This study delineates the gut mycobiome profile in PAH and examines its interplay with the bacterial microbiome alterations. Fecal samples from monocrotaline-induced PAH rats and matched controls were subjected to internal transcribed spacer 1 (ITS1) sequencing for fungal community assessment and 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) gene sequencing for bacterial community characterization. Comparative analysis revealed no significant disparities in the overall mycobiome diversity between the PAH and control groups. However, taxonomic profiling identified differential mycobiome compositions, with the PAH group exhibiting a significant enrichment of genera such as Wallemia, unidentified_Branch02, Postia, Malassezia, Epicoccum, Cercospora, and Alternaria. Conversely, genera Xeromyces, unidentified_Plectosphaerellaceae, and Monilia were more abundant in the controls. Correlations of Malassezia and Wallemia abundance with hemodynamic parameters were observed. Indications of bidirectional fungal–bacterial community interactions were also noted. This investigation reveals distinct gut mycobiome alterations in PAH, which are intricately associated with concurrent bacterial microbiome changes, suggesting a possible contributory role of gut fungi in PAH pathophysiology. These findings underscore the potential for novel gut mycobiome-targeted therapeutic interventions in PAH management.
Plasma and Urinary Metabolomic Analysis of Gout and Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia and Profiling of Potential Biomarkers: A Pilot Study
Authors: Ohashi Yuki , Ooyama Hiroshi , Makinoshima Hideki , Takada Tappei , Matsuo Hirotaka , Ichida Kimiyoshi
Published: January 2024

Gout results from monosodium urate deposition caused by hyperuricemia, but most individuals with hyperuricemia remain asymptomatic. The pathogenesis of gout remains uncertain. To identify potential biomarkers distinguishing gout from asymptomatic hyperuricemia, we conducted a genetic analysis of urate transporters and metabolomic analysis as a proof-of-concept study, including 33 patients with gout and 9 individuals with asymptomatic hyperuricemia. The variant allele frequencies of rs72552713, rs2231142, and rs3733591, which are related to serum urate levels (SUA) and gout, did not differ between the gout and asymptomatic hyperuricemia groups. In metabolomic analysis, the levels of citrate cycle intermediates, especially 2-ketoglutarate, were higher in patients with gout than in those with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (fold difference = 1.415, p = 0.039). The impact on the TCA cycle was further emphasized in high-risk gout (SUA ≥ 9.0 mg/dL). Of note, urinary nicotinate was the most prominent biomarker differentiating high-risk gout from asymptomatic hyperuricemia (fold difference = 6.515, p = 0.020). Although urate transporters play critical roles in SUA elevation and promote hyperuricemia, this study suggests that the progression from asymptomatic hyperuricemia to gout might be closely related to other genetic and/or environmental factors affecting carbohydrate metabolism and urinary urate excretion.
Three-Dimensional Combined Atrioventricular Coupling Index—A Novel Prognostic Marker in Dilated Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Vîjîiac Aura , Scărlătescu Alina Ioana , Petre Ioana Gabriela , Vîjîiac Cristian , Vătășescu Radu Gabriel
Published: January 2024

Atrioventricular coupling has recently emerged as an outcome predictor. Our aim was to assess, through three-dimensional (3D) echocardiography, the role of the left atrioventricular coupling index (LACI), right atrioventricular coupling index (RACI) and a novel combined atrioventricular coupling index (CACI) in a cohort of patients with dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM). One hundred twenty-one consecutive patients with DCM underwent comprehensive 3D echocardiographic acquisitions. LACI was defined as the ratio between left atrial and left ventricular 3D end-diastolic volumes. RACI was defined as the ratio between right atrial and right ventricular 3D end-diastolic volumes. CACI was defined as the sum of LACI and RACI. Patients were prospectively followed for death, heart transplant, nonfatal cardiac arrest and hospitalization for heart failure. Fifty-five patients reached the endpoint. All three coupling indices were significantly more impaired in patients with events, with CACI showing the highest area under the curve (AUC = 0.66, p = 0.003). All three indices were independent outcome predictors when tested in multivariable Cox regression (HR = 2.62, p = 0.01 for LACI; HR = 2.58, p = 0.004 for RACI; HR = 2.37, p = 0.01 for CACI), but only CACI showed an incremental prognostic power over traditional risk factors such as age, left ventricular strain, right ventricular strain and mitral regurgitation severity (likelihood ratio χ2 test = 28.2, p = 0.03). CACI assessed through 3D echocardiography, reflecting both left and right atrioventricular coupling, is an independent predictor of adverse events in DCM, yielding an incremental prognostic power over traditional risk factors.
Cell States and Interactions of CD8 T Cells and Disease-Enriched Microglia in Human Brains with Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Yamakawa Mai , Rexach Jessica
Published: January 2024

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a multi-stage neurodegenerative disorder characterized by beta-amyloid accumulation, hyperphosphorylated Tau deposits, neurodegeneration, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment. Recent studies implicate CD8 T cells as neuroimmune responders to the accumulation of AD pathology in the brain and potential contributors to toxic neuroinflammation. However, more evidence is needed to understand lymphocytes in disease, including their functional states, molecular mediators, and interacting cell types in diseased brain tissue. The scarcity of lymphocytes in brain tissue samples has limited the unbiased profiling of disease-associated cell types, cell states, drug targets, and relationships to common AD genetic risk variants based on transcriptomic analyses. However, using recent large-scale, high-quality single-nuclear sequencing datasets from over 84 Alzheimer’s disease and control cases, we leverage single-nuclear RNAseq data from 800 lymphocytes collected from 70 individuals to complete unbiased molecular profiling. We demonstrate that effector memory CD8 T cells are the major lymphocyte subclass enriched in the brain tissues of individuals with AD dementia. We define disease-enriched interactions involving CD8 T cells and multiple brain cell subclasses including two distinct microglial disease states that correlate, respectively, to beta-amyloid and tau pathology. We find that beta-amyloid-associated microglia are a major hub of multicellular cross-talk gained in disease, including interactions involving both vulnerable neuronal subtypes and CD8 T cells. We reproduce prior reports that amyloid-response microglia are depleted in APOE4 carriers. Overall, these human-based studies provide additional support for the potential relevance of effector memory CD8 T cells as a lymphocyte population of interest in AD dementia and provide new candidate interacting partners and drug targets for further functional study.
The Relationship between Injury Characteristics and Post-Traumatic Recovery after Diffuse Axonal Injury
Authors: Vieira Rita de Cássia Almeida , Pipek Leonardo Zumerkorn , Oliveira Daniel Vieira de , Paiva Wellingson Silva , Sousa Regina Marcia Cardoso de
Published: January 2024

Background: The diagnosis and prognosis of diffuse axonal injury (DAI) remain challenging. This research aimed to analyze the impact on activities of daily living (ADL), functional outcomes, quality of life (QoL), and the association between lesion severity and DAI location identified through imaging exams. Methods: This prospective cohort study included 95 patients diagnosed with DAI. Data were collected at admission, three, six, and twelve months post-injury. The associations between variables were evaluated using a mixed-effects model. Results: Functional recovery and QoL improved between three and twelve months after DAI. An interaction was observed between independence in performing ADL and subarachnoid hemorrhage (p = 0.043) and intraventricular hemorrhage (p = 0.012). Additionally, an interaction over time was observed between the Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) and DAI severity (p < 0.001), brain lesions (p = 0.014), and the Disability Rating Scale (DRS) with injury in brain hemispheres (p = 0.026) and Adams classification (p = 0.013). Interaction effects over time were observed with the general health perceptions and energy/vitality domains with intraventricular hemorrhage, and the social functioning domain with the obliteration of basal cisterns and Gentry’s classification. Conclusion: The use of CT in the acute phase of DAI is important for predicting outcomes. The severity and location of DAI are associated with functional outcomes, ADL, and QoL.
Bilingual Spatial Cognition: Spatial Cue Use in Bilinguals and Monolinguals
Authors: Tyborowska Anna , Wegman Joost , Janzen Gabriele
Published: January 2024

Structural plasticity changes and functional differences in executive control tasks have been reported in bilinguals compared to monolinguals, supporting a proposed bilingual ‘advantage’ in executive control functions (e.g., task switching) due to continual usage of control mechanisms that inhibit one of the coexisting languages. However, it remains unknown whether these differences are also apparent in the spatial domain. The present fMRI study explores the use of spatial cues in 15 bilinguals and 14 monolinguals while navigating in an open-field virtual environment. In each trial, participants had to navigate towards a target object that was visible during encoding but hidden in retrieval. An extensive network was activated in bilinguals compared to monolinguals in the encoding and retrieval phase. During encoding, bilinguals activated the right temporal and left parietal regions (object trials) and left inferior frontal, precentral, and lingual regions more than monolinguals. During retrieval, the same contrasts activated the left caudate nucleus and the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC), the left parahippocampal gyrus, as well as caudate regions. These results suggest that bilinguals may recruit neural networks known to subserve not only executive control processes but also spatial strategies.
Social Cognition and Mild Cognitive Impairment in Mid-Stage Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Fernández-Fernández Roberto , Lahera Guillermo , Fernández-Rodríguez Beatriz , Guida Pasqualina , Trompeta Clara , Mata-Marín David , Gasca-Salas Carmen
Published: January 2024

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) is a relevant non-motor feature in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Social cognition (SC) is a cognitive domain that refers to the ability to decode others’ intentions and to guide behavior in social contexts. We aimed to compare SC performance in mid-stage PD patients compared to a healthy population and according to their cognitive state. Fifty-two PD patients were classified as being cognitively normal (PD-CN) or having mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) following the Movement Disorder Society (MDS) Level II criteria. SC assessment included facial emotion recognition (FER), affective and cognitive theory of mind (ToM), and self-monitoring (RSMS test). Twenty-seven age-matched healthy controls (HC) were enrolled. PD-MCI patients scored worse than HC on affective and cognitive ToM task scores. Only cognitive ToM scores were significantly lower when compared with the PD-MCI and PD-CN groups. We found no differences in FER or self-monitoring performance. There were significant correlations between cognitive ToM and executive functions, memory, language, and attention, whereas FER and affective ToM correlated with memory. Our findings indicates that SC is normal in cognitively unimpaired and non-depressed mid-stage PD patients, whereas a decline in affective and cognitive ToM is linked to the presence of MCI.
An Experimental Study on Heat Recovery Performances of Three-Dimensional Heat Pipes in Air-Conditioning Systems
Authors: Di Yanqiang , Di Haiyan , Zhao Chen , Lu Zichen , Li Xiaona , Leng Juan
Published: January 2024

The applications of conventional heat pipes have been hindered by a few weaknesses, such as the low heat recovery effectiveness, the cross-pollution of fresh and exhaust air, and the difficult switch modes between winter and summer working conditions. In order to find solutions for those problems, a three-dimensional heat pipe exchanger was developed, and an experimental platform was built to test the heat recovery effectiveness of this heat pipe exchanger under different working conditions. Moreover, the operating performances of the three-dimensional heat pipe exchanger unit were monitored throughout one year in a hospital located in the hot summer and cold winter region of China. The field measurement results indicated that the heat recovery effectiveness could be effectively improved by reducing the air volume and the up-wind speed, increasing the cold air and hot air inlet temperature, and increasing the rows of pipes. According to optimizing the structure and operation parameters, the heat recovery efficiencies of the three-dimensional heat pipe exchanger increased by 65~85%. The recommended operation parameters of the three-dimensional heat pipe exchanger in winter and summer for indoor exhaust air temperature were 20 ± 2 °C and 22 ± 2 °C, respectively. The heat recovery effectiveness could reach up to 66% and 64.5% when the indoor and outdoor air temperature differences were higher than 11 °C and 5 °C in winter and summer, respectively. This study provides effective, reliable, and easily implementable methods for the application of three-dimensional heat pipe heat recovery devices in building HVAC systems. It offers guidance for the future design of heat pipe heat recovery devices.
Flexural Performance of a Continuous Circular Tube Girder Bridge
Authors: Yun Hyojeong , Park Chunhong , Cho Sanghyeon , Chung Wonseok
Published: January 2024

This study introduces a continuous pedestrian-bridge design utilizing a circular tube girder and brackets for extended spans. The flexural performance evaluation in the negative moment region focuses on the support section of the continuous pedestrian bridge. In this regard, a full-scale test unit of the negative moment region was fabricated for a loading test. The test unit consists of a circular steel-tube girder, loading plates, vertical steel plates, and support. Subsequently, a finite element analysis (FEA) was employed to compare with the loading test results. The experimental and FEA results showed that the stresses in the members of the proposed pedestrian bridge are within the allowable stresses under service load. However, local buckling was observed in the circular steel-tube girder adjacent to the vertical steel plate under ultimate loading. To prevent the local buckling in the girder and improve the flexural performance of the negative moment region, a parametric study was performed by increasing the filling ratio of concrete inside the girder. The load–deflection relationship of the parametric study indicates that filling the negative moment region of a circular steel tube with concrete has a structural effect. Consequently, based on these results, an optimal filling ratio for the proposed bridge is suggested.
Evaluation of Workability and Mechanical Properties in Cement Mortar after Compounding Igneous Rock Powder and Silica Fume
Authors: Liu Bo , Zhao Xiaodong , Liu Xing , He Zhenqing , Cao Xuanhao , Guan Bowen
Published: January 2024

In order to investigate the influence of igneous rock powder and silica fume on the performance of cement mortar, facilitate the application of igneous rock powder in engineering, and promote the greening of the cement industry, this study examined the pozzolanic activity of three different types of igneous rock powders: granite, andesite, and tuff. It explored the workability and mechanical properties of both binary systems (igneous rock–cement) and ternary systems (igneous rock–silica fume–cement). Microscopic techniques including X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetric analysis–differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and nitrogen adsorption were used to investigate the mechanisms of how different types of igneous rock and silica fume affect the cementitious systems. The results showed that the pozzolanic activity of igneous rock powders was relatively weak, and their inclusion at levels below 20% had minimal impact on the flowability of cement mortar. In fact, within the 20% inclusion range, andesite powder even increased the flowability. Co-blending igneous rock powders with silica fume promoted the early hydration of cement, resulting in reduced calcium hydroxide (CH) content in the hydration products. The most significant increase in strength of the cement mortar system was observed when 5% to 10% (by mass) of igneous rock powder and 5% to 10% of silica fume were used as replacements for cement. The highest cement mortar strength was achieved when 10% andesite and 10% silica fume were used as replacements, resulting in a compressive strength of 52.2 MPa.
BIM- and GIS-Based Life-Cycle-Assessment Framework for Enhancing Eco Efficiency and Sustainability in the Construction Sector
Authors: Zubair Muhammad Umer , Ali Mubashir , Khan Muhammad Arsalan , Khan Adil , Hassan Muhammad Usman , Tanoli Waqas Arshad
Published: January 2024

The world is progressing towards sustainable, eco-friendly, recyclable materials to enhance the circular economy and mitigate the issues of carbon footprint, overburdened landfills, and waste of natural resources. As increasing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are a major contributor towards climate change and given that the construction industry is one of the major producers of GHG emissions, it is crucial to meticulously quantify and lower its emissions, especially in the context of developing countries. This research presents a novel framework by combining advanced tools i.e., building information modeling (BIM), life-cycle assessment (LCA), geographic information systems (GISs), and quantification of embodied emissions to optimize construction’s design, material-selection, operations, maintenance, and waste-management processes. The effectiveness of the proposed approach has been demonstrated with the help of a real-world case study in Islamabad, Pakistan. A building model has been generated using BIM, and a comprehensive LCA has been conducted. Additionally, GIS tools have been utilized to identify the locations and accessibility of available-waste-management facilities. Based on this data, embodied emissions related to handling and transportation of waste material to disposal facilities have been computed using mathematical analyses. Furthermore, targeted mitigation strategies have been proposed and an optimized route has been designed using GIS-based route-optimization tools along the suggested facility centers in the Islamabad region. The case study has been reassessed with alleviation strategies, and the results show that 29.35% of the materialization stage, 16.04% of the operational stage, and 21.14% of the end-of-life-phase GHG emissions can be effectively reduced. Hence, pre-evaluating the environmental degradation caused by construction projects throughout their life cycle might offer an opportunity to comprehend and reduce prospective environmental impacts.
Research on Laboratory Testing Method of Fatigue Performance of Semi-Rigid Base Considering Spatial Stress State
Authors: Wang Longfei , Zhao Zhizhong , Liang Hao , He Yilong , Kang Xianzhang , Xu Meng
Published: January 2024

In order to accurately assess the fatigue performance of semi-rigid base layers, this paper proposes a novel fatigue testing method for semi-rigid base layers that takes into account the spatial stress state. Based on this method, the fatigue performance of three types of reinforced semi-rigid base-layer materials (steel wire mesh, plastic geogrid, and fiberglass) was tested and compared with unreinforced materials. The fatigue strain evolution patterns of these materials were analyzed, and a fatigue strain characteristic value at the limit state was proposed as an evaluation index for the fatigue failure of base layer materials. The results showed that in terms of fatigue performance, plastic geogrid > steel wire mesh > fiberglass > unreinforced specimens. The development of tensile strain can be approximately classified into a three-stage growth pattern, consisting of “curve + straight line + curve”. For the unreinforced specimens, the three stages of bending strain accounted for 10%, 70%, and 20% of the total fatigue life, respectively. The fatigue failure stages of the three types of reinforced materials had similar proportional ranges, representing 5%, 75%, and 20% of the total fatigue life, respectively. The fatigue strain characteristic values for plastic geogrid, steel wire mesh, fiberglass, and unreinforced specimens were 371 με, 280 με, 280 με, and 195 με, respectively. In summary, the use of reinforced materials within semi-rigid base layers enhances their fatigue performance, providing new insights and methods for extending the service life of road surfaces and offering scientific guidance for the practical application of reinforced materials in semi-rigid base layer road surfaces’ fatigue performance.
Seismic Design of a Typical Mid-Rise Residential Building in Serbia Using Confined Masonry and Reinforced Concrete Frame Systems
Authors: Cvetković Radovan , Blagojević Predrag , Brzev Svetlana
Published: January 2024

Masonry has been widely used for the construction of residential buildings in Serbia and the majority of European countries. Confined masonry (CM) is a contemporary masonry technology that consists of load-bearing masonry walls enclosed in lightly reinforced horizontal and vertical reinforced concrete (RC) confining elements. CM has been widely used for the construction of low-rise and mid-rise residential buildings in Serbia and the region (Yugoslavia) since the 1960s. The design case study of a typical multi-family residential building located in Niš, Serbia (the third-largest urban center in the country), is discussed in this paper. This building was initially designed as a five-story CM structure in accordance with the 1981 Yugoslav seismic design code PTN-S, which was enforced in Serbia until 2019, when the Eurocode was adopted for official seismic design codes. Due to architectural constraints, the original design solution involving the CM system was not compliant with the code; hence, an alternative design using an RC-frame system with masonry infills was adopted. A comparison of two different design solutions provides insight into the different requirements of seismic design codes that have been used in the region. It is important to observe that seismic forces for RC structures determined in accordance with the PTN-S code are considerably lower compared to the ones determined according to EC 8-1, with the ratio ranging from 0.37 to 0.69. The seismic shear force according to Eurocode 8 is 1.46 times higher than the force that was used for seismic design according to the PTN-S code in the case of RC-frame structures. The results of an analysis of CM structures show that the seismic shear force in accordance with Eurocode 8 is almost 2.6 times higher than the force that was used for seismic design in accordance with the PTN-S code. The findings of this study are believed to be useful for understanding the difference in seismic design solutions for previous seismic design codes (which were used in the region for more than 40 years) and the present codes (Eurocodes).
Field-Effect Sensors Combined with the Scanned Light Pulse Technique: From Artificial Olfactory Images to Chemical Imaging Technologies
Authors: Yoshinobu Tatsuo , Miyamoto Ko-ichiro , Wagner Torsten , Schöning Michael J.
Published: January 2024

The artificial olfactory image was proposed by Lundström et al. in 1991 as a new strategy for an electronic nose system which generated a two-dimensional mapping to be interpreted as a fingerprint of the detected gas species. The potential distribution generated by the catalytic metals integrated into a semiconductor field-effect structure was read as a photocurrent signal generated by scanning light pulses. The impact of the proposed technology spread beyond gas sensing, inspiring the development of various imaging modalities based on the light addressing of field-effect structures to obtain spatial maps of pH distribution, ions, molecules, and impedance, and these modalities have been applied in both biological and non-biological systems. These light-addressing technologies have been further developed to realize the position control of a faradaic current on the electrode surface for localized electrochemical reactions and amperometric measurements, as well as the actuation of liquids in microfluidic devices.
Early Assessment of Efficacy and Safety of Biologics in Pediatric Allergic Diseases: Preliminary Results from a Prospective Real-World Study
Authors: Caminiti Lucia , Galletta Francesca , Foti Randazzese Simone , Barraco Paolo , Passanisi Stefano , Gambadauro Antonella , Crisafulli Giuseppe , Valenzise Mariella , Manti Sara
Published: January 2024

Background: Despite the increasing interest in biologics for the management of allergic diseases, sparse real-world data are still available in the pediatric population. This study aimed to evaluate the early real-life efficacy and safety of omalizumab for patients with moderate-to-severe asthma and chronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU), and Dupilumab for patients with moderate-to-severe atopic dermatitis (AD). Methods: A prospective study enrolling children aged 6–18 years was designed to assess the efficacy and safety of biologic drugs at 16 weeks of treatment (T1). The effectiveness was measured using validated questionnaires (ACQ-5 for asthma, UAS7 for CSU, and EASI score for AD). Secondary outcome measures included reductions in inhaled corticosteroid (ICS) dosages, asthma-related hospitalizations/exacerbations, and quality of life (QoL) indicators (iNRS, sNRS, DLQI/cDLQI) for CSU and AD. Safety was expressed according to the descriptions of adverse events provided by EMA and FDA. Results: The study cohort consisted of eighteen children (mean age 12.9 ± 3.4 years). The omalizumab treatment significantly reduced ACQ-5 and UAS7 scores (p = 0.002 and p < 0.001, respectively). In patients with asthma, decreased ICS dosage and hospitalization/exacerbation rates were observed. QoL parameters significantly improved in CSU and AD patients. No severe adverse events were reported for either treatment. Conclusions: Our findings validate omalizumab and dupilumab as effective and safe therapeutic options for managing moderate-to-severe allergic diseases in children and adolescents.
Land-Use Optimization and Allocation for Saltwater Intrusion Regions: A Case Study in Soc Trang Province, Vietnam
Authors: Truong Quang Chi , Nguyen Thao Hong , Pham Vu Thanh , Nguyen Trung Hieu
Published: January 2024

Land-use planning plays an important role in agricultural development. However, the tools used to support planners in proposing land-use planning solutions are lacking, especially when considering saltwater intrusion conditions in coastal regions. In this study, optimization is applied by analyzing land use in developing solutions for agricultural land-use planning, wherein a multi-objective optimization model is developed to optimize land-use area, including land-use allocation, and taking into account socioeconomic and environmental factors. The model was applied to three districts of Soc Trang province, Vietnam (Long Phu, My Xuyen, and Tran De), representing three ecological regions of salt water, brackish water, and fresh water in the Mekong Delta of Vietnam. The results are shown for the implementation of two multi-objective optimization scenarios (in terms of profit, labor, environment benefits, and risk reduction) as follows: (i) multi-objective optimization of agricultural land use until 2030 under normal conditions; (ii) optimizing agricultural land use until 2030 under climate change conditions similar to the 2016 drought and saltwater intrusion phenomenon in the Mekong Delta. The results demonstrate that the second scenario is the preferred option for implementing land-use planning thanks to the balance between good profits and minimizing economic and environmental risk. Land allocation was carried out by taking into account the factors of household economics, the influence of adjacent production types, local traffic, and canal systems to allocate areas toward ensuring optimal land use. This process, involving a combination of land-use optimization and spatial allocation, can help planners to improve the quality of agricultural land-use planning.