bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Efficacy and safety of sintilimab plus doxorubicin in advanced soft tissue sarcoma: A single-arm, phase II trial
Authors: Tian Zhichao , Dong Shuping , Zuo Wenli , Li Po , Zhang Fan , Gao Shilei , Yang Yonghao , Li Chao , Zhang Peng , Wang Xin , Wang Jiaqiang , Yao Weitao
Published: December 2022

Background: Chemoimmunotherapy is safe and efficacious in treating many types of malignant tumors. However, clinical data demonstrating the effect of this combination treatment in patients with metastatic soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are currently limited. This study evaluated the safety and efficacy of a programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) inhibitor plus doxorubicin in patients with advanced STS who failed previous systemic therapy.

Methods: This was a single-center, single-arm, open-label phase II trial. Patients with unresectable or metastatic STS who had previously failed systemic therapy were enrolled. Patients received up to six cycles of doxorubicin and sintilimab (a PD-1 inhibitor), while sintilimab treatment continued for up to 2 years. Primary outcomes were objective response rate (ORR) and safety. Univariate Cox proportional hazards model was used to analyze the relationship between clinicopathological parameters and progression-free survival (PFS).

Results: A total of 38 patients (20 men and 18 women) were enrolled in this study. The overall ORR was 39.5%, disease control rate was 71.1%, and the median PFS was 4.5 months [95% confidence interval (CI), 3.0–8.5 months]. The adverse events (AEs) associated with the combined treatment were mild, manageable, and well-tolerated. The most common grade 3 or higher AEs were hematologic, including leukopenia (21.1%), anemia (18.4%), and thrombocytopenia (18.4%). Patients with undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) or dedifferentiated liposarcoma had a significantly longer PFS than those with other pathological subtypes [hazard ratio (HR) = 0.42, 95% CI 0.21–0.83; p = 0.013]. There was no significant difference in the median PFS between patients who had previously received anthracycline-based chemotherapy and those who had not (HR = 0.74, 95% CI 0.34–1.58, p = 0.43).

Conclusion: Sintilimab plus doxorubicin is a safe and promising treatment for patients with advanced STS who have failed previous systemic therapy (including anthracycline-based chemotherapy). The efficacy of this combination therapy in UPS and dedifferentiated liposarcoma is superior to that in other sarcomas.

Clinical Trial Registration:https://www.chictr.org.cn, registration number: ChiCTR1900027009.
Impact of COVID-19 on lifestyle and financial behaviour: The implications to research in financial vulnerability
Authors: Ma Ning , Siu Yam Wing , Cheong Tsun Se , Tung Brian
Published: December 2022

The outbreak of coronavirus pandemic in late 2019 posted unprecedented social-economic challenges and disruptions to societies and individuals. The “new-normal” styles of living and working could intertwined with other determinants complicating the investigation of individual’s financial vulnerability. The purpose of this paper is to conduct literature survey to review and consolidate the recent scattered literatures to identify some possible factors to be considered in the research related to financial vulnerability, including pandemic’s impact of COVID-19 to different aspects of personal finance issues, pandemic-driven digitisation of the economy activities, changes in financial behaviour and addiction to digital technology.
Potential roles of the gut microbiota in the manifestations of drug use disorders
Authors: Wang Zhiyan , Hou Chengqian , Chen Lei , Zhang Mingming , Luo Wenbo
Published: December 2022

Drug use disorders (DUDs) not only cause serious harm to users but also cause huge economic, security, and public health burdens to families and society. Recently, several studies have shown that gut microbiota (GM) can affect the central nervous system and brain functions. In this review, we focus on the potential role of the GM in the different stages of DUDs. First, the GM may induce individuals to seek novel substances. Second, the gut microbiota is involved in the decomposition and absorption of drugs. Symptoms of individuals who suffer from DUDs are also related to intestinal microorganisms. Third, the effects of the GM and its metabolites on drug relapse are mainly reflected in the reward effect and drug memory. In conclusion, recent studies have preliminarily explored the relationship between GM and DUDs. This review deepens our understanding of the mechanisms of DUDs and provides important information for the future development of clinical treatment for DUDs.
Loss to follow-up associated factors in patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis and its impact on the disease prognosis
Authors: Li Shaoqiang , Li Ya , Li Zhengtu , Yang Xin , Zhan Yangqing , Li Weilong , Lin Ye , Ye Feng
Published: December 2022

Objective

Pulmonary aspergillosis is a rare but challenging pulmonary disease. The conditions of patients with chronic pulmonary aspergillosis (CPA) can be even more complicated. The mortality rate of CPA remains high, and the prognostic factors are not well established due to a high proportion of loss to follow-up. In this study, we aim to explore factors associated with loss to follow-up in CPA patients and their impact on the disease prognosis after withdrawing anti-fungal treatments.

Methods

Patients with confirmed CPA, who were admitted to the Department of Respiratory and Critical Care Medicine, the First Affiliated Hospital of Guangzhou Medical University from March 2017 to November 2019, were enrolled in this prospective study. The enrolled patients were followed up for 6 months after discharge. For loss to follow-up patients, the reasons for loss to follow-up and their prognosis after withdrawing anti-fungal treatments during loss to follow-up were recorded by telephone communication. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors associated with loss to follow-up.

Results

The 199 out of 298 screened patients were included in the study. Except for 67 cases with regular follow-up, the rest 132 cases were lost to follow-up. Factors, including age > 60 years (OR = 2.036, P = 0.03), monthly income ≤ $583 (OR = 5.568, P = 0.0001), education ≤ 6 years (OR = 7.474, P = 0.0001), and non-local residence (OR = 5.893, P = 0.0001) were associated with the loss to follow-up according to multivariate logistic regression analysis. The most common reasons for loss to follow-up were economic factors and clinic visit distance. The overall case fatality rate (CFR) within 180 days in patients with regular follow-up and patients who stopped anti-fungal treatment during the loss to follow-up was 0% and 19.65%, respectively.

Conclusion

The proportion of loss to follow-up in CPA patients remained high. Age (>60 years), poor financial status, low education, and non-local residence were the key factors associated with the loss to follow-up in this study. Our study reveals the need to optimize the follow-up procedures and improve the patients understanding about the benefits and limitations of follow-up to reduce the CFR.
The spatial pattern and influencing factors of tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia, China
Authors: Wang Yuewei , Wu Xinyang
Published: December 2022

Background

Tourism eco-efficiency is a performance basis for evaluating green total factor productivity and sustainable development.

Objective

The objective of this study was to measure tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia and explore its influencing factors. The aim was to provide an accurate reference for improving the quality and efficiency of tourism in Inner Mongolia and promoting the sustainable development of the regional economy and society.

Methods

Tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia from 2009 to 2019 was calculated using a super-slacks-based measure (SBM) model with an undesirable output. The spatial variation function was used to explore the spatial evolution pattern of tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia, and the influencing factors of the spatial evolution were analyzed by geographically weighted regression.

Results

Tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia is relatively low. Eco-efficiency values among cities in Inner Mongolia vary, and their distribution is not balanced. The structural eco-efficiency of tourism in Inner Mongolia has been consistent from 2009 to 2019. The degree of homogenization in the overall direction is relatively good. Furthermore, its spatial distribution form and internal structure evolution show a certain regularity and continuity. The pattern evolution of tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia is jointly driven by the economic level, environmental regulation, industrial structure, traffic conditions, resource endowment, and tourism reception facilities. These influencing factors show obvious spatial heterogeneity.

Conclusion

From the perspective of Inner Mongolia, the difference in the tourism eco-efficiency value from 2009 to 2019 was relatively large, but the number of effective areas in the efficiency frontier generally showed a fluctuating growth trend. The range parameters of tourism eco-efficiency showed a decreasing trend, and the spatial correlation effect of tourism eco-efficiency in Inner Mongolia showed a decreasing trend under the influence of structural and spatial differentiation.
Epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of staphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus from domestic animals and livestock in Africa: a systematic review
Authors: Ocloo Remous , Nyasinga Justin , Munshi Zubair , Hamdy Aisha , Marciniak Tessa , Soundararajan Manonmani , Newton-Foot Mae , Ziebuhr Wilma , Shittu Adebayo , Revathi Gunturu , Abouelfetouh Alaa , Whitelaw Andrew
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Staphylococci other than Staphylococcus aureus (SOSA) in animals are becoming more pathogenic and antibiotic resistant and can potentially disseminate to humans. However, there is little synthesized information regarding SOSA from animals in Africa. This systematic review provides a comprehensive overview of the epidemiology and antimicrobial resistance of SOSA in companion animals (pets) and livestock in Africa.

Method

This systematic review (PROSPERO-CRD42021252303) was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines, and 75 eligible studies from 13 countries were identified until August 2022. Three electronic databases (Pubmed, Scopus and Web of Science) were employed.

Results

The frequently isolated SOSA were S. epidermidis, S. intermedius, S. pseudintermedius, S. xylosus, S. chromogenes, S. hyicus, M. sciuri, S. hominis, and S. haemolyticus. Thirty (40%) studies performed antibiotic susceptibility testing (AST). Penicillin (58%) and tetracycline (28%) resistance were most common across all SOSA with high rates of resistance to aminoglycosides, fluoroquinolones, and macrolides in some species. Resistance to last-resort antibiotics such as linezolid and fusidic acid were also reported. Limited data on strain typing and molecular resistance mechanisms precluded analysis of the clonal diversity of SOSA on the continent.

Conclusion

The findings of this review indicate that research on livestock-associated SOSA in Africa is lacking in some regions such as Central and Western Africa, furthermore, research on companion animals and more advanced methods for identification and strain typing of SOSA need to be encouraged.

Systematic review registration

https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/, identifier: CRD42021252303.
Adversity in Infancy and Childhood Cognitive Development: Evidence From Four Developing Countries
Authors: Manalew W. Samuel , Tennekoon Vidhura S. , Lee Jusung , O’Connell Bethesda , Quinn Megan
Published: December 2022

Objectives: We investigated whether adverse experiences at age 1 (AE-1) affect the level of and change in cognition during childhood using harmonized data from four developing countries.

Methods: Data included children born in 2001/2002 and were followed longitudinally in 2006/2007 and in 2009/2010 by Young Lives study in Ethiopia, India, Peru, and Vietnam. Childhood cognition was measured using the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test (PPVT) at ages 5 (PPVT-5) and 8 (PPVT-8). We also examined the effect on a change in cognition between age 5–8 (PPVT-Change). The AE-1 scores were constructed using survey responses at age 1. The ordinary least squares regression was used for estimation.

Results: We found that children with higher adversities as infants had lower cognition scores at ages 5 and 8. The change in cognition between the two ages was also generally smaller for those with severe adversities at infancy. The negative association between adversities and childhood cognition was strongest for India.

Conclusion: The results provide policy relevant information for mitigation of undesirable consequences of early life adversities through timely interventions.
Frequency of Vitamin a Deficiency in Children Hospitalized for Pneumonia: An Integrative Review
Authors: Mendes Amanda De Conceição Leão , De Souza Ana Mayara Gomes , Nunes Aryelly Dayane Da Silva , Jerez-Roig Javier , Barbosa Isabelle Ribeiro
Published: December 2022

Objective: To identify the frequency of vitamin A deficiency in children aged 6 months to 5 years hospitalized for pneumonia.

Methods: An integrative literature review was carried out, where searches were made by two independent researchers, with no language limits or publication time in the databases PubMed, LILACS, Web of Science, Scopus and CINAHL, and in the gray literature—OpenGrey, Proquest and Google Scholar. In the eligibility phase, the screened studies were read in full and those that did not answer the research question were excluded. Methodological quality was assessed using the Downs & Black (1998) checklist.

Results: 1642 articles were identified, after all stages of screening and selection, 10 studies were included, of which 5 were longitudinal, 4 were intervention and 1 transversal. All studies identified subclinical vitamin A deficiency in children hospitalized with pneumonia; the highest frequency of subclinical vitamin A deficiency was 93.2%. All studies evaluated showed frequencies of subclinical vitamin A deficiency >20%.

Conclusion: There is a high frequency of subclinical vitamin A deficiency in children with pneumonia; these data need to be further explored in terms of their associations. For this reason, new studies that evaluate this topic are of fundamental importance.
An Overview of Pest and Disease Occurrence in Organic Pome Fruit Orchards in Europe and on the Implementation of Practices for Their Control
Authors: Furmanczyk Ewa M. , Parveaud Claude-Eric , Jacquot Maxime , Warlop François , Kienzle Jutta , Kelderer Markus , Vargas Alfredo Mora , Friedli Michael , Boutry Clémence , Tartanus Małgorzata , Brouwer Gerjan , Malusà Eligio
Published: December 2022

There is limited data regarding the specific problems faced by organic fruit growers when dealing with plant protection, particularly at a European Union level, though some general knowledge about pest and disease incidence can be found. Such information is crucial to improve the efficacy of a targeted knowledge transfer to organic fruit growers and advisors aiming at an increased adoption of innovative practices. A survey was thus carried out in seventeen European countries (16 EU member states and Switzerland), within the framework of the EU-funded project BIOFRUITNET, aiming at filling this knowledge gap also in terms of research needs. A questionnaire including a section about general aspects of orchard management (functional biodiversity, fertilization management, varietal/rootstock selection) and a section specifically dedicated to pest and disease occurrence and management in organic orchards was utilized to interview about 250 professionals (farmers and advisors), 155 of which were involved in pome fruits (including apple and pear) production. The analysis of the answers related to plant protection pointed out a varied situation about pest and disease occurrence in apple and pear orchards across Europe, though related to the zonal location of the respondent. However, more than 50% of respondents generally considered just few among the most damaging ones, normally co-occurring in the orchards. Interestingly, regardless of the respondents’ nationality or zonal location, more pests than diseases were indicated as relevant agents threatening organic pome fruits production. Nevertheless, only few measures promoting functional biodiversity in the orchards resulted in being broadly implemented in all regions. The analysis of the data underlines the strong demand for the development of a toolbox of measures that can be integrated successfully into the general orchard management strategy including the successful enhancement of functional or general biodiversity.
Rice Growth Stage Classification via RF-Based Machine Learning and Image Processing
Authors: Sheng Rodney Tai-Chu , Huang Yu-Hsiang , Chan Pin-Cheng , Bhat Showkat Ahmad , Wu Yi-Chien , Huang Nen-Fu
Published: December 2022

Rice is one of the most significant crops cultivated in Asian countries. In Taiwan, almost half of the arable land is used for growing rice. The life cycle of paddy rice can be divided into several stages: vegetative stage, reproductive stage, and ripening stage. These three main stages can be divided into more detailed stages. However, the transitions between stages are challenging to observe and determine, so experience is required. Thus, rice cultivation is challenging for inexperienced growers, even with the standard of procedure (SOP) provided. Additionally, aging and labor issues have had an impact on agriculture. Furthermore, smart farming has been growing rapidly in recent years and has improved agriculture in many ways. To lower the entry requirements and help novices better understand, we proposed a random forest (RF)-based machine learning (ML) classification model for rice growth stages. The experimental setup installed in the experiment fields consists of an HD smart camera (Speed-dome) to collect the image and video data, along with other internet of things (IoT) devices such as 7-in-1 soil sensors, a weather monitoring station, flow meter, and milometer connected with LoRa base station for numerical data. Then, different image processing techniques such as object detection, object classification, instance segmentation, excess green index (EGI), and modified excess green index (EGI) were used to calculate the paddy height and canopy cover (CC) or green coverage (GC). The proposed ML model uses these values as input. Furthermore, growth-related factors such as height, CC, accumulative temperature, and DAT are used to develop our model. An agronomist has been consulted to label the collected different stages of data. The developed optimal model has achieved an accuracy of 0.98772, and a macro F1-score of 0.98653. Thus, the developed model produces high-performance accuracy and can be employed in real-world scenarios.
Soil Physicochemical Changes as Modulated by Treated Wastewater after Medium-and Long-Term Irrigations: A Case Study from Tunisia
Authors: Bekir Sinda , Zoghlami Rahma Inès , Boudabbous Khaoula , Khelil Mohamed Naceur , Moussa Mohammed , Ghrib Rim , Nahdi Oumaima , Trabelsi Emna , Bousnina Habib
Published: December 2022

Treated wastewater (TWW) is considered as an alternative for agricultural irrigation. The aim of this study was to understand the medium- and long-term effects of TWW on soil physicochemical parameters. Two perimeters (P1 and P2)receiving TWW for 38 and 20 years, respectively, in Tunisiawere selected for study. In each perimeter, two water types were adopted: TWW and groundwater (GW). Soil physicochemical traits (pH, EC, and concentrations of Na+, K+, Ca2+, and Mg2+) were measured up to 100 cm, and three indexes were calculated: sodium adsorption ratio (SAR), cation ratio of structural stability (CROSS), and cation exchange capacity (CEC). Overall, all soil parameters were significantly affected in the irrigation area using GW. However, in the case of TWW, only the pH was found to be affected, increasing by 4.7% from P1 to P2. Moreover, compared to GW, TWW enhanced the soil salinity by 127%, particularly at deeper subsoils. More interestingly, the results revealed an accumulation of Mg2+, Ca2+, and K+ and a depletion of Na+ at the soil surface. Notably, TWW showed the lowest CROSS and SAR indexes, indicating the benefits of applying TWW even after long-term use in improving soil physicochemical parameters such as sodicity and structural stability. Our results provide valuable information for decision-makers to use wastewater in irrigated marginal soils.
Inter-Specific Hybridization in Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) for Crop Improvement
Authors: Anwar Muhammad , Iqbal Muhammad Zafar , Abro Aamir Ali , Memon Shabana , Bhutto Liaquat Ali , Memon Shamim Ara , Peng Yan
Published: December 2022

Interspecific hybridization has contributed significantly to land diversity, species evolution, and crops’ domestication, including upland cotton, the cultivated form of Gossypium hirsutum. Being the world’s most important fiber crop species, Gossypium hirsutum belongs to the allotetraploid Gossypium consisting of six additional tetraploid species. The lint fiber evolved once in diploid parent A-genome species in the Gossypium’s history and passed on during hybridization of the A-genome with the D-genome and was maintained in subsequent evolution. The domestication history of G. hirsutum involved the collection and use of lint fibers by indigenous people for the purpose of making strings and other textile products; hence, spinnable lint fibers were likely to have evolved under domestication. Crossing with G. barbadense has resulted in the development of multiple genetic lines in contemporary upland cotton. However, in later-generation hybrids between G. hirsutum and other polyploid species, reproductive barriers such as reduced fertility, segregation distortion, and hybrid breakdown are frequently observed, complicating the task of introgressing new, stably inherited allelic variation from inter-specific hybridization. Recent efforts in molecular genetics research have provided insights into the location and effects of QTLs from wild species that are associated with traits important to cotton production. These and future research efforts will undoubtedly provide the tools that can be utilized by plant breeders to access novel genes from wild and domesticated allotetraploid Gossypium for upland cotton improvement.
Salicornia ramosissima: A New Green Cosmetic Ingredient with Promising Skin Effects
Authors: Correia Ana , Silva Ana Margarida , Moreira Manuela M. , Salazar Miguel , Švarc-Gajić Jaroslava , Brezo-Borjan Tanja , Cádiz-Gurrea Maria de la Luz , Carretero Antonio Segura , Loschi Francesca , Dall’Acqua Stefano , Delerue-Matos Cristina , Rodrigues Francisca
Published: December 2022

This study aims to validate a new cosmetic ingredient from Salicornia ramosissima S J. Woods through in vitro and ex vivo assays. The halophyte extracts were obtained by subcritical water extraction (SWE) at different temperatures (110, 120, 140, 160 and 180 °C). The antioxidant/radical scavenging activities and the phenolic profile were screened for all extracts. The optimal extract was assessed in keratinocytes and fibroblasts, while permeation assays were performed in Franz cells. The inhibitory activity of hyaluronidase and elastase was also evaluated. The sample extracted at 180 °C presented the highest phenolic content (1739.28 mg/100 g of dry weight (dw)). Despite not being efficient in the sequestration of ABTS•+, this extract scavenged the DPPH• (IC50 = 824.57 µg/mL). The scavenging capacity of superoxide (O2•−) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl) was also considerable (respectively, IC50 = 158.87 µg/mL and IC50 = 5.80 µg/mL). The cell viability assays confirmed the absence of negative effects on keratinocytes, while the fibroblasts’ viability slightly decreased. The ex vivo permeation of rutin, quercetin and syringic acid after 24 h was, respectively, 11, 20 and 11%. Additionally, the extract showed a good elastase and hyaluronidase inhibitory activity. The results obtained support the S. ramosissima bioactivity as a cosmetic ingredient.
Leucine Contributes to Copper Stress Tolerance in Peach (Prunus persica) Seedlings by Enhancing Photosynthesis and the Antioxidant Defense System
Authors: Sun Maoxiang , Li Suhong , Gong Qingtao , Xiao Yuansong , Peng Futian
Published: December 2022

Heavy metal contamination has a severe impact on ecological health and plant growth and is becoming increasingly serious globally. Copper (Cu) is a heavy metal that is essential for the growth and development of plants, including peach (Prunus persica L. Batsch); however, an excess is toxic. In plants, amino acids are involved in responses to abiotic and biotic stresses, such as water deficit, extreme temperatures, high salinity, and heavy metal stress. However, the role of leucine in the regulation of heavy metal stress is currently unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effects of exogenous leucine on the growth of peach seedlings under Cu stress. Exogenous leucine improved the leaf ultrastructure and ionic balance and increased the chlorophyll content, the net photosynthetic rate, and the maximum photochemical efficiency. Furthermore, it attenuated Cu-stress-induced oxidative damage via a decrease in reactive oxygen species (ROS) and the regulation of the antioxidant and osmotic systems. These effects, in turn, ameliorated the reductions in cell viability, cellular activity, and biomass under Cu stress. Moreover, exogenous leucine increased the activities of nitrate reductase (NR), glutamine synthetase (GS), and glutamic acid synthetase (GOGAT) and thus improved the nitrogen metabolism efficiency of plants. In conclusion, leucine significantly improved the photosynthetic performance and antioxidant capacity, reduced Cu accumulation, and promoted nitrogen metabolism, which in turn improved the resistance of peach seedlings to Cu stress.
Analysis of Edge Method Accuracy and Practical Multidirectional Modulation Transfer Function Measurement
Authors: Wu Yongjie , Xu Wei , Piao Yongjie , Yue Wei
Published: December 2022

The modulation transfer function (MTF) is commonly used as an imaging quality criterion reflecting the spatial resolution capability of imaging systems. The modified edge methods based on ISO Standard 12233 are widely used in MTF measurement for various imaging fields with high confidence. However, there are two problems in the existing edge methods which limit the application in remote sensing (RS) field with complicated image quality and usually uncontrollable edge angle: a near-horizontal or near-vertical “small tilt angle straight (STAS)” edge is required, and the MTF measurement results show low robustness and non-uniqueness. In this study, the influence of edge angle, oversampling rate (OSR), region of interest (ROI), edge contrast, and random noise on the edge method accuracy is quantitatively analyzed, and a practical multidirectional MTF measurement edge method is proposed based on the above analysis results. The modified edge method adaptively determines the optimal OSR according to edge angle and combines multiple measurement states, such as multi-ROI extraction and multi-phase binning, to improve the robustness, accuracy, and practicality of the edge method.
Path Loss Models for Cellular Mobile Networks Using Artificial Intelligence Technologies in Different Environments
Authors: Alnatoor Moamen , Omari Mohammed , Kaddi Mohammed
Published: December 2022

One of the most critical problems in a communication system is losing information between the transmitter and the receiver. WiMAX (Worldwide Interoperability of Microwave Access) technology is gaining popularity and recognition as a Broadband Wireless Access (BWA) solution. At frequencies below 11 GHz, WiMAX can operate in line-of-sight (LOS) and non-line-of-sight (NLOS) scenarios. The implementation of WiMAX networks are rushed worldwide. Estimating path loss is crucial in the early stages of wireless network deployment and cell design. To anticipate propagation loss, several path loss models are available (e.g., Okumura Model Hata Model), but they are all bound by particular parameters. In this paper, we propose an MLP neural network-based path loss model with a well-structured implementation network design and grid search-based hyperparameter tuning. The proposed model optimally approximates mobile and base station path losses. Therefore, neurons number, learning rate, and hidden layers number are investigated to obtain the best model in terms of prediction accuracy. Path loss data is collected based on 14 networks in different microcellular settings. Simulations under Matlab environment showed that prediction errors were lower than standard log-distance-based path loss models.
An Investigation of the Influence of Temperature and Technical Condition on the Hydraulic Shock Absorber Characteristics
Authors: Hryciów Zdzisław
Published: December 2022

The paper presents issues related to the operation of hydraulic shock absorbers. The primary objective was to determine the influence of temperature and the technical condition on the damping properties of a twin-tube hydraulic shock absorber. Three units (one new and two used) of the same type of a shock absorber were used for testing. During the tests, the shock absorber was subjected to sinusoidal excitation at fixed values of frequency and displacement amplitudes. There are few low-temperature tests of shock absorbers available in the literature; thus, great emphasis was placed on this aspect of the study. The characteristics of the shock absorbers were determined from a temperature of −30 °C until a steady-state temperature was reached at a given excitation. The resistance force at this temperature is about 2.5 times higher than at 20 °C. The study shows that such high forces can lead to the failure of shock absorber components (especially the valves). The amount of energy dissipated in a single operating cycle of a shock absorber decreases non-linearly with the increase of the temperature. Understanding the temperature dependence of the shock absorber in combination with the cooling curve allows for the steady-state temperature to be estimated at a given excitation. The study also shows that the installation of used shock absorbers in vehicles is not acceptable. Although there are no external signs of wear, their characteristics can differ significantly from those of new shock absorbers.
A Comparison of Hip Muscle Mass, Muscle Power, and Clinical Outcomes with Long-Term Follow-Up in Patients with Metal-on-Metal Hip Arthroplasty Compared to Metal-on-Polyethylene Hip Arthroplasty
Authors: Hjorth Mette Holm , Mechlenburg Inger , Foldager Frederik Nicolai , Tjur Marianne , Stilling Maiken
Published: December 2022

(1) Background: Metal-on-metal (MoM) total hip arthroplasty (THA) and hip resurfacing arthroplasty (HRA) was presumed to provide superior functional outcomes compared to metal-on-polyethylene (MoP) THA. (2) Methods: We compared muscle mass, power, step test asymmetry, and patient-reported outcomes between MoM THA/HRA and MoP THA. A total of 51 MoM THA/HRAs and 23 MoP THAs participated in the cross-sectional study at a mean of 6.5 (2.4–12.5) years postoperatively. Muscle mass was measured by Dual energy X-ray Absorption (DXA) scans and muscle power in a Leg Extensor Power Rig. Step test asymmetry was obtained with an Inertial Measurement Unit (IMU). The patients completed the Harris Hip Score (HHS) and the Copenhagen Hip and Groin Outcome Score (HAGOS). (3) Results: The MoM THA/HRA group had a greater inter-limb difference in hip muscle mass compared to the MoP THA group (p = 0.02). Other inter-limb differences in muscle mass and power were similar (p > 0.05). Muscle mass of the thigh and calf area and muscle power in both legs were higher in MoM THA/HRA compared to MoP THA (p < 0.009). Step test time asymmetry when ascending was lower in MoM THA/HRA compared to MoP THA (p = 0.03). HHS and HAGOS scores were similar between groups (p > 0.05). (4) Conclusion: Overall, we could not verify the hypothesis that MoM THA/HRA contributes to superior functional outcomes compared to MoP THA.
Assessment of Indigenous Plants Knowledge among Traditional Healers in Eastern Morocco: Quali-Quantitative Approach (Part I)
Authors: Fakchich Jamila , Kharchoufa Loubna , Bencheikh Noureddine , Zerkani Hannou , Ouassou Hayat , Bouhrim Mohamed , Cordero Mary Anne W. , Alotaibi Amal , Elachouri Mostafa
Published: December 2022

Background: This is the first ethnobotanical study focused on medicinal plants traditionally recommended by traditional healers (THs) of Eastern Morocco. In this work, we documented the medicinal plants recommended by THs and highlighted the value and importance of medicinal plants recommended by specialist healers. Methods: A quali-quantitative ethnobotanical method has been performed, snowball sampling and structured interviews were used to evaluate the traditional plant knowledge by traditional healers in the study area. Species identification was performed and verified from the African Plant Database and Plant List. Two Relative Cultural Importance indices were used for this analysis “Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) and Frequency of Citation (FC)”. Results: A total of 135 plants were inventoried in our surveys. These species belong to 64 families and were reported to be used to treat 23 different categories of ailments. The botanical profile of the plants listed is dominated by LAMIACEAE’s Family with 12 species, followed by FABACEAE (11 species) and ASTERACEAE (10 species). In the category of the digestive system, nutrition problems and nervous system problems seem to be the predominant diseases treated. The Informant Consensus Factor (ICF) results indicated that cancer and gastrointestinal disorders had a higher concordance among informants (ICF = 0.60 and 0.58 respectively). Conclusion: Our results, showed that the Traditional healers, in Eastern Morocco, hold impressive knowledge related to the use of medicinal plants. This observation is reflected in the high number of medicinal plants recommended for the medication of the population. Furthermore, the consistency of healers in this area of study is justified by the ICF values.
Repair of Damaged Continuity Joints Using Ultra-High Performance, Fiber Reinforced Self-Consolidating, and Magnesium–Aluminum–Liquid–Phosphate Concretes
Authors: Looney Trevor , Mesigh Michael , Volz Jeffery , Floyd Royce
Published: December 2022

Bridge elements known to develop damage over time are individual continuity joints connecting girders. Replacing damaged joints is an expensive and invasive process and a need exists to design a less invasive repair method. This study focused on evaluating an encapsulation repair method for continuity joints that would not require extensive demolition of the bridge deck to implement and could potentially be constructed without bridge closure. Approximately half scale connected bridge girder specimens were constructed and purposely damaged to create similar crack patterns to those seen in bridges. Once damaged, a set of three specimens was repaired using the encapsulation method with three different high performance materials, ultra-high performance concrete (UHPC), fiber reinforced self-consolidating concrete (FRSCC), and magnesium–aluminum–liquid–phosphate (MALP) concrete. Of the three repaired specimens for each material, one was tested in positive moment bending and two in negative moment bending, similar to in situ conditions. The results appear to indicate that using each of the tested materials as an encapsulation repair for damaged continuity joints is viable to re-establish continuity and load capacity. However, the UHPC repairs’ resistance to cracking could indicate the best performance by further protecting the continuity joint reinforcing steel from water ingress.
Local and Systemic Injections of Human Cord Blood Myeloid-Derived Suppressor Cells to Prevent Graft Rejection in Corneal Transplantation
Authors: Lee Jae-young , Sohn Hyun-Jung , Kim Chang-Hyun , Kim Tai-Gyu , Lee Hyun Soo
Published: December 2022

Myeloid-derived suppressor cells (MDSCs) are therapeutic agents to prevent graft rejection in organ transplants by modulating inflammation. Herein, the immunosuppressive effect of human cord blood MDSCs on corneal allograft models was confirmed. CB-MDSCs were locally (subconjuctival, 5 × 105) or systemically (intravenous, 1 × 106) injected twice on days 0 and 7. A corneal transplantation model was established using C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, and corneal graft opacity was measured to evaluate graft rejection up to 6 weeks. Results showed that graft survival in the MDSCs groups increased compared to vehicle groups after 42 days. Systemic and local MDSC administration inhibited the maturation (MHC-IIhi CD11c+) of dendritic cells (DCs) and the differentiation of interferon γ+ CD4+ Th1 in draining lymph nodes (LNs). However, vehicle groups increased the infiltration of CD3+ T cells and F4/80+ macrophages and produced prominent neovascular and lymphatic vessels into the graft site with increased mRNA expression of VEGF-A/C and VEGFR-1/R-3. Local MDSCs administration showed prominent anti-angiogenic/anti-lymphangiogenic effects even at lower MDSCs doses. Thus, CB-MDSCs could relatively suppress the infiltration of pathological T cells/macrophages into the corneas and the migration of mature DCs into draining LNs Therefore, ocular and systemic MDSCs administration showed therapeutic potential for preventing corneal allograft rejection.
Relationship between Arterial Calcifications on Mammograms and Cardiovascular Events: A Twenty-Three Year Follow-Up Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Galiano Natalia González , Eiro Noemi , Martín Arancha , Fernández-Guinea Oscar , Martínez Covadonga del Blanco , Vizoso Francisco J.
Published: December 2022

Purpose: Breast arterial calcifications (BAC) have been associated with cardiovascular diseases. We aimed to examine whether the presence of BAC could predict the development of cardiovascular events in the very long term, as evidence has suggested. Patients and Methods: We conducted a 23-year follow-up retrospective cohort study considering women specifically studied for breast cancer. After reviewing the mammograms of 1759 women, we selected 128 patients with BAC and an equal number of women without BAC. Results: Women with BAC had higher relative risk (RR) for cardiovascular events, globally 1.66 (95% CI): 1.31–2.10 vs. 0.53 (0.39–0.72), and individually for ischemic heart disease 3.25 (1.53–6.90) vs. 0.85 (0.77–0.94), hypertensive heart disease 2.85 (1.59–5.09) vs. 0.79 (0.69–0.89), valvular heart disease 2.19 (1.28–3.75) vs. 0.83 (0.73–0.94), congestive heart failure 2.06 (1.19–3.56) vs. 0.85 (0.75–0.96), peripheral vascular disease 2.8 (1.42–5.52) vs. 0.85 (0.76–0.94), atrial fibrillation 1.83 (1.09–3.08) vs. 0.86 (0.76–0.98), and lacunar infarction 2.23 (1.21–4.09) vs. 0.86 (0.77–0.96). Cox’s multivariate analysis, also considering classical risk factors, indicated that this BAC was significantly and independently associated with survival (both cardiovascular event-free and specific survival; 1.94 (1.38–2.73) and 6.6 (2.4–18.4)). Conclusions: Our data confirm the strong association of BAC on mammograms and the development cardiovascular events, but also evidence the association of BAC with cardiovascular event-free and specific survival.
Opportunities and Challenges of Human IPSC Technology in Kidney Disease Research
Authors: Lee Jia-Jung , Lin Chuang-Yu , Chen Hung-Chun , Hsieh Patrick C. H. , Chiu Yi-Wen , Chang Jer-Ming
Published: December 2022

Human induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), since their discovery in 2007, open a broad array of opportunities for research and potential therapeutic uses. The substantial progress in iPSC reprogramming, maintenance, differentiation, and characterization technologies since then has supported their applications from disease modeling and preclinical experimental platforms to the initiation of cell therapies. In this review, we started with a background introduction about stem cells and the discovery of iPSCs, examined the developing technologies in reprogramming and characterization, and provided the updated list of stem cell biobanks. We highlighted several important iPSC-based research including that on autosomal dominant kidney disease and SARS-CoV-2 kidney involvement and discussed challenges and future perspectives.
Comparative Analysis of the Self-Propelled Locomotion of a Pitching Airfoil near the Flat and Wavy Ground
Authors: Xin Zhiqiang , Cai Zhiming , Ren Yiming , Liu Huachen
Published: December 2022

In this paper, a pitching airfoil near flat and wavy ground is studied by numerical simulations. The kinematic features of the airfoil and the flow field around it are analyzed to reveal unsteady vorticity dynamics of the self-propelled airfoil in ground effect. The optimal pitching periods at different initial heights above flat ground are obtained, which make the pitching airfoil achieve the maximum lift-to-drag ratio. Compared with flat ground, at the same initial height, the optimal pitching periods vary with the shape of ground. The structure and the strength of the wake vortices shedding from the airfoil are adjusted by the wavelength of ground. This leads to the changes of amplitude and occurrence times of the peak and valley of lift and drag force. The results obtained in this study can provide some inspiration for the design of underwater vehicles in the ground effect.
Research Progress in the Synthesis of Carbon Dots and Their Application in Food Analysis
Authors: Yu Yuan , Zhang Lili , Gao Xin , Feng Yuanmiao , Wang Hongyuan , Lei Caihong , Yan Yanhong , Liu Shuiping
Published: December 2022

Food safety is connected to public health, making it crucial to protecting people’s health. Food analysis and detection can assure food quality and effectively reduce the entry of harmful foods into the market. Carbon dots (CDs) are an excellent choice for food analysis and detection attributable to their advantages of good optical properties, water solubility, high chemical stability, easy functionalization, excellent bleaching resistance, low toxicity, and good biocompatibility. This paper focuses on the optical properties, synthesis methods, and applications of CDs in food analysis and detection, including the recent advances in food nutritional composition analysis and food quality detection, such as food additives, heavy metal ions, foodborne pathogens, harmful organic pollutants, and pH value. Moreover, this review also discusses the potentially toxic effects, current challenges, and prospects of CDs in basic research and applications. We hope that this review can provide valuable information to lay a foundation for subsequent research on CDs and promote the exploration of CDs-based sensing for future food detection.
A Compact Control System to Enable Automated Operation of Microfluidic Bioanalytical Assays
Authors: Gonzalez-Suarez Alan M. , Long Alexander , Huang XuHai , Revzin Alexander
Published: December 2022

We describe a control system for operating valve-enabled microfluidic devices and leverage this control system to carry out a complex workflow of plasma separation from 8 μL of whole blood followed by on-chip mixing of plasma with assay reagents for biomarker detection. The control system incorporates pumps, digital pressure sensors, a microcontroller, solenoid valves and off-the-shelf components to deliver high and low air pressure in the desired temporal sequence to meter fluid flow and actuate microvalves. Importantly, our control system is portable, which is suitable for operating the microvalve-enabled microfluidic devices in the point-of-care setting.
Ictal fMRI: Mapping Seizure Topography with Rhythmic BOLD Oscillations
Authors: Fischer David , Rapalino Otto , Fecchio Matteo , Edlow Brian L.
Published: December 2022

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) has shown elevations in the blood-oxygen-level-dependent (BOLD) signal associated with, but insensitive for, seizure. Rather than evaluating absolute BOLD signal elevations, assessing rhythmic oscillations in the BOLD signal with fMRI may improve the accuracy of seizure mapping. We report a case of a patient with non-convulsive, right hemispheric seizures who underwent fMRI. Unbiased processing methods revealed a map of rhythmically oscillating BOLD signal over the cortical region affected by seizure, and synchronous BOLD signal in the contralateral cerebellum. High-resolution fMRI may help identify the spatial topography of seizure and provide insights into seizure physiology.
Research on Environmental Suitability Evaluation of the Transfer Spaces in Urban Subway Stations
Authors: Wu Zihan , Ji Xiang , Zhou Xi , Tong Shuai
Published: December 2022

The transfer space realizes the connectivity of subway intersections. Passengers generally express that they have a poor experience in the use of this space, so improving the environmental suitability of transfer spaces at subway stations is a top priority. Based on a literature review and field research, this study established an environmental suitability evaluation system for transfer spaces and used the fuzzy comprehensive evaluation method to evaluate the environmental suitability of eight samples in Shanghai. The results showed that the evaluation results of the eight samples were ranked as follows: Hanzhong Road Station > People’s Square Station > East Nanjing Road Station > Century Avenue Station > Xujiahui Station > Laoximen Station > Jiangsu Road Station > Shanghai Railway Station. Through the analysis of the relationship between the indicators, it was found that the environmental suitability of a transfer space is greatly affected by safety and convenience, while practicality, comfort, and aesthetics were found to have a weak influence on the suitability of transfer spaces. These evaluation methods and results provide a reference for the improvement of the environmental quality of subway transfer spaces in other cities.
A New Nrf2 Inhibitor Enhances Chemotherapeutic Effects in Glioblastoma Cells Carrying p53 Mutations
Authors: Afjei Rayhaneh , Sadeghipour Negar , Kumar Sukumar Uday , Pandrala Mallesh , Kumar Vineet , Malhotra Sanjay V. , Massoud Tarik F. , Paulmurugan Ramasamy
Published: December 2022

TP53 tumor suppressor gene is a commonly mutated gene in cancer. p53 mediated senescence is critical in preventing oncogenesis in normal cells. Since p53 is a transcription factor, mutations in its DNA binding domain result in the functional loss of p53-mediated cellular pathways. Similarly, nuclear factor erythroid 2–related factor 2 (Nrf2) is another transcription factor that maintains cellular homeostasis by regulating redox and detoxification mechanisms. In glioblastoma (GBM), Nrf2-mediated antioxidant activity is upregulated while p53-mediated senescence is lost, both rendering GBM cells resistant to treatment. To address this, we identified novel Nrf2 inhibitors from bioactive compounds using a molecular imaging biosensor-based screening approach. We further evaluated the identified compounds for their in vitro and in vivo chemotherapy enhancement capabilities in GBM cells carrying different p53 mutations. We thus identified an Nrf2 inhibitor that is effective in GBM cells carrying the p53 (R175H) mutation, a frequent clinically observed hotspot structural mutation responsible for chemotherapeutic resistance in GBM. Combining this drug with low-dose chemotherapies can potentially reduce their toxicity and increase their efficacy by transiently suppressing Nrf2-mediated detoxification function in GBM cells carrying this important p53 missense mutation.