bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
In vitro and ex vivo antibacterial activity of levofloxacin against Pasteurella multocida and Escherichia coli isolated from rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) – A preliminary study
Authors: Sitovs Andrejs , Skadins Ingus , Purvina Santa , Bandere Dace
Published: April 2023

Levofloxacin veterinary formulations are available in Argentina, China and India for the use in dogs, cattle, pig and sheep, but not currently in the rabbit. Only the extra‐label use in rabbits is possible. Levofloxacin is not labelled for veterinary use in the EU or the USA. The activity of levofloxacin against rabbit pathogens Pasteurella multocida (P. multocida) and Escherichia coli (E. coli) was evaluated. Minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimal bactericidal concentration (MBC) were determined in broth and serum for 10 P. multocida isolates and 5 E. coli isolates from rabbits. One isolate of each bacterial species was used for the time‐killing curve study in vitro and ex vivo. In vitro AUC24/MIC ratios were used for building the inhibitory pharmacodynamic Imax model. The P. multocida MIC were 0.008–0.5 μg/mL, MBC – 0.015–0.5 μg/mL. Escherichia coli MIC was 0.008–0.03 μg/mL and MBC – 0.03–0.25 μg/mL. Bacterial counts were reduced to the limit of detection after 24 h with levofloxacin concentrations of 2 MIC and higher. All serum samples from rabbits treated with levofloxacin eliminated the bacteria within 24 h. AUC24/MIC ratios for bacteriostatic, bactericidal and bacterial elimination effects for P. multocida and E. coli isolates were 21, 29 and 75 h and 27, 32 and 60 h, respectively. Proposed daily doses against P. multocida (MIC = 0.015 μg/mL) and E. coli (MIC = 0.03 μg/mL) isolates were calculated as ≤0.91 and ≤1.43 mg/kg, respectively. Fluoroquinolones are categorized by WHO as ‘highest priority critically important antimicrobials’. Considering the increasing importance of antimicrobial stewardship, antimicrobials from a lower importance category that are active against the isolate of interest should be used in preference to fluoroquinolones. Fluoroquinolone use in veterinary medicine should be based on antimicrobial susceptibility testing in order to mitigate the risk to public health and prevent the spread of bacterial resistance.
Taxonomic and functional biogeographies of soil bacterial communities across the Tibet plateau are better explained by abiotic conditions than distance and plant community composition
Authors: Liang Qingqing , Mod Heidi K. , Luo Shuaiwei , Ma Beibei , Yang Kena , Chen Beibei , Qi Wei , Zhao Zhigang , Du Guozhen , Guisan Antoine , Ma Xiaojun , Le Roux Xavier
Published: April 2023

The processes governing soil bacteria biogeography are still not fully understood. It remains unknown how the importance of environmental filtering and dispersal differs between bacterial taxonomic and functional biogeography, and whether their importance is scale‐dependent. We sampled soils across the Tibet plateau, with distances among plots ranging from 20 m to 1550 km. Taxonomic composition of bacterial community was characterized by 16S amplicon sequencing and functional community composition by qPCR targeting 9 functional groups involved in N dynamics. Factors representing climate, soil and plant community were measured to assess different facets of environmental dissimilarity. Both bacterial taxonomic and functional dissimilarities were more related to abiotic dissimilarity than biotic (vegetation) dissimilarity or distance. Taxonomic dissimilarity was mostly explained by differences in soil pH and mean annual temperature (MAT), while functional dissimilarity was linked to differences in soil N and P availabilities and N:P ratio. Soil pH and MAT remained the main determinants of taxonomic dissimilarity across spatial scales. In contrast, the explanatory variables of N‐related functional dissimilarity varied across the scales, with soil moisture and organic matter having the highest role across short distances (<~330 km), and available P, N:P ratio and distance being important over long distances (>~660 km). Our results demonstrate how biodiversity dimension (taxonomic versus functional aspects) and spatial scale influence the factors driving soil bacterial biogeography.
Profiling the Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis secretome: The Pf2 transcription factor regulates the secretion of the effector proteins ToxA and ToxB
Authors: See Pao Theen , Moffat Caroline S.
Published: April 2023

The global wheat disease tan spot is caused by the necrotrophic fungal pathogen Pyrenophora tritici‐repentis (Ptr) which secretes necrotrophic effectors to facilitate host plant colonization. We previously reported a role of the Zn2Cys6 binuclear cluster transcription factor Pf2 in the regulation of the Ptr effector ToxA. Here, we show that Pf2 is also a positive regulator of ToxB, via targeted deletion of PtrPf2 which resulted in reduced ToxB expression and defects in conidiation and pathogenicity. To further investigate the function of Ptr Pf2 in regulating protein secretion, the secretome profiles of two Δptrpf2 mutants of two Ptr races (races 1 and 5) were evaluated using a SWATH‐mass spectrometry (MS) quantitative approach. Analysis of the secretomes of the Δptrpf2 mutants from in vitro culture filtrate identified more than 500 secreted proteins, with 25% unique to each race. Of the identified proteins, less than 6% were significantly differentially regulated by Ptr Pf2. Among the downregulated proteins were ToxA and ToxB, specific to race 1 and race 5 respectively, demonstrating the role of Ptr Pf2 as a positive regulator of both effectors. Significant motif sequences identified in both ToxA and ToxB putative promoter regions were further explored via GFP reporter assays.
Breeding site selection and co‐existing patterns of tropical mosquitoes
Authors: Chathuranga W. G. D. , Weeraratne T. C. , Abeysundara S. P. , Karunaratne S. H. P. P. , de Silva W. A. Priyanka P.
Published: April 2023

We investigated the physicochemical properties and the biotic interactions of breeding sites of tropical mosquito species. Field sampling was done in 12 study areas in Sri Lanka covering areas with secondary natural forests and human settlements. A total of 226 breeding sites were investigated to determine the biotic interactions and physiochemical properties of breeding water (pH, Conductivity, Dissolved Oxygen, Total Dissolved Solids and Temperature). A total of 80.5% of breeding sites from both habitats were positive for mosquito larvae of seven genera and 24 species.Orthopodomyia flavithorax(297) andAedes albopictus(295) were dominated in tree holes ofAlstonia macrophylla,Vateria copalliferaandArtocarpus nobilis. Diversity indices showed that the diversity of mosquitoes is high in wet zone habitats of Sri Lanka compared to dry and intermediate zone habitats.Aedes albopictuscoexisted with 11 different mosquito species while it avoided larvae ofCulex fuscanus,Cx. uniformisandTripteroides affinis.Strong positive associations were reported betweenAe. albopictusandAr. subalbatuswhile larvae ofOr. flavithoraxmosquitoes were not co‐occurred with the larvae ofAe. vittatus,Ae. aegypti,Cx. sitiens,Ar. subalbatus,Anophelesspp andTr. affinis.The findings identified the breeding adaptability and tolerance to a wide range of physiochemical properties of tropical mosquito communities.
Impact of opioids on esophageal motility
Authors: Snyder Diana L. , Vela Marcelo F.
Published: April 2023

Opioids are well known to cause adverse effects on the gastrointestinal tract including nausea, vomiting, and constipation. Data regarding how opioids affect the esophagus are more limited. Opioid‐induced esophageal dysfunction (OIED) is a clinical syndrome defined by chronic opioid use (≥3 months), esophageal symptoms (mainly dysphagia), and esophageal motility abnormalities diagnosed by manometry including achalasia type III, hypercontractile esophagus, distal esophageal spasm, and esophagogastric junction outflow obstruction. Up until now, the effect of opioids on esophageal motility assessed by the functional lumen imaging probe (FLIP) had not been described. In this issue of NGM, Patel et al. report that FLIP assessment in patients with esophageal symptoms showed that chronic opioid users have a significant increase in repetitive retrograde contractions, but no significant reduction in distensibility at the esophagogastric junction compared to non‐users. Additionally, perceptive symptoms were higher, and quality of life metrics were lower in the chronic opioid users. This review article will discuss our current understanding of OIED and provide context for this latest study in chronic opioid users. Further investigation with larger prospective studies is needed to understand the pathophysiology, diagnosis, and management of OIED.
Anticipating the unexpected
Authors: Chappell Joe
Published: April 2023

This article is a Commentary on Lacchini et al. (2023), 239: 705–719.
Psychometric properties of the German version of the multidimensional perceived social support scale
Authors: Boggatz Thomas
Published: April 2023

Background

Social support can help older persons to cope with stressful situations. Sheltered housing facilities in German speaking countries therefore aim to promote social support for their residents. The MSPSS is a brief instrument to measure perceived social support, but its psychometric properties have not yet been investigated in a sample of German speaking older persons.

Objectives

To determine the psychometric properties of the German version of the MSPSS for older persons

Methods

In a cross‐sectional study, residents of sheltered housing in Austria were asked to complete the MSPSS and to indicate the frequency of contacts to family and friends. Validity of the scale was investigated by exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis as well as by their correlations with frequency of contacts to family and friends. Reliability was determined by Cronbach's Alpha and intraclass correlations for repeated measurements.

Results

Exploratory factor analysis yielded a three‐factor solution for the MSPSS, which was, however, only partially supported by confirmatory factor analysis. Correlations with frequency of contact to family and friends partly confirmed the assumptions about the relationships between these factors and the corresponding groups of persons. Cronbach's Alpha was high, and intraclass correlations for most items ranged from fair to good.

Conclusions

The incomplete congruence between the theoretical assumptions regarding the scale and the results of the factor analysis is presumably due to overlapping content between the dimensions of the MSPSS, which can be remedied by reformulating some items.

Implications for Practice

A slightly modified version of the MSPSS should be used to assess social support in sheltered housing.
Motivation for learning statistics: An example from fishery and aquaculture science
Authors: Sønvisen Signe A.
Published: April 2023

Teaching statistics to generalist students oriented toward a profession, rather than academic merits, may be challenging. As statistics courses also tend to have a low student appeal, tailoring a course toward this type of audience is demanding. Framed within the theory of statistical thinking and literacy, this article shows how an investigative process, using domain data and real‐life examples, may facilitate meaningful learning and motivate students. Describing and reflecting upon the methods used, both in teaching and assessment, the article contributes to the practice of teaching statistics.
Seroprevalence of Leishmania infantum in outdoor workers from southern Italian endemic regions
Authors: Morea Anna , Stufano Angela , Sgroi Giovanni , De Benedictis Leonarda , Bezerra‐Santos Marcos Antonio , Mendoza‐Roldan Jairo Alfonso , Veneziano Vincenzo , Otranto Domenico , Lovreglio Piero , Iatta Roberta
Published: April 2023

Visceral leishmaniasis is a zoonotic vector‐borne disease caused by Leishmania infantum. The infection often remains asymptomatic, though clinical forms may occur in immunosuppressed individuals. Although data on leishmaniasis in humans are available worldwide, the exposure to L. infantum of workers conducting outdoor activities has been scantly investigated, and it is limited to military personnel operating in endemic regions. This study aimed to assess the seroprevalence of L. infantum in different groups of outdoor workers and the occupational risk factors. The cross‐sectional study was performed on 229 workers including forestry guards, farmers, veterinarians, geologists and agronomists from three regions of southern Italy (i.e., Apulia, Basilicata and Campania). All serum samples were screened for L. infantum‐specific IgG/IgM by using automated indirect chemiluminescent immunoassays. Overall, 5.7% (13/229) of workers was positive to anti‐L. infantum antibodies, with the highest seroprevalence in veterinarians (13.6%). An increased occupational health surveillance for L. infantum infection in outdoor workers is essential to better understand the risk of exposure in specific jobs. Furthermore, guidelines and education along with a One Health collaboration among veterinarians, physicians, parasitologists and occupational health care professionals are crucial for the prevention of this disease.
On locally finite‐dimensional traces
Authors: Amini Massoud , Moradi Mehdi
Published: April 2023

We partially resolve two open questions on approximation properties of traces on simple ‐algebras. We answer a question raised by Nate Brown by showing that locally finite‐dimensional (LFD) traces form a convex set for simple ‐algebras. We prove that all the traces on the reduced ‐algebra of a discrete amenable ICC group are LFD, and conclude that is strong‐NF in the sense of Blackadar–Kirchberg in this case. This partially answers another open question raised by Brown.
Evaluation of a deep learning‐enabled automated computational heart modelling workflow for personalized assessment of ventricular arrhythmias
Authors: Sung Eric , Kyranakis Stephen , Daimee Usama A. , Engels Marc , Prakosa Adityo , Zhou Shijie , Nazarian Saman , Zimmerman Stefan L. , Chrispin Jonathan , Trayanova Natalia A.
Published: April 2023

Personalized, image‐based computational heart modelling is a powerful technology that can be used to improve patient‐specific arrhythmia risk stratification and ventricular tachycardia (VT) ablation targeting. However, most state‐of‐the‐art methods still require manual interactions by expert users. The goal of this study is to evaluate the feasibility of an automated, deep learning‐based workflow for reconstructing personalized computational electrophysiological heart models to guide patient‐specific treatment of VT. Contrast‐enhanced computed tomography (CE‐CT) images with expert ventricular myocardium segmentations were acquired from 111 patients across five cohorts from three different institutions. A deep convolutional neural network (CNN) for segmenting left ventricular myocardium from CE‐CT was developed, trained and evaluated. From both CNN‐based and expert segmentations in a subset of patients, personalized electrophysiological heart models were reconstructed and rapid pacing was used to induce VTs. CNN‐based and expert segmentations were more concordant in the middle myocardium than in the heart's base or apex. Wavefront propagation during pacing was similar between CNN‐based and original heart models. Between most sets of heart models, VT inducibility was the same, the number of induced VTs was strongly correlated, and VT circuits co‐localized. Our results demonstrate that personalized computational heart models reconstructed from deep learning‐based segmentations even with a small training set size can predict similar VT inducibility and circuit locations as those from expertly‐derived heart models. Hence, a user‐independent, automated framework for simulating arrhythmias in personalized heart models could feasibly be used in clinical settings to aid VT risk stratification and guide VT ablation therapy.

image

Key points

Personalized electrophysiological heart modelling can aid in patient‐specific ventricular tachycardia (VT) risk stratification and VT ablation targeting.

Current state‐of‐the‐art, image‐based heart models for VT prediction require expert‐dependent, manual interactions that may not be accessible across clinical settings.

In this study, we develop an automated, deep learning‐based workflow for reconstructing personalized heart models capable of simulating arrhythmias and compare its predictions with that of expert‐generated heart models.

The number and location of VTs was similar between heart models generated from the deep learning‐based workflow and expert‐generated heart models.

These results demonstrate the feasibility of using an automated computational heart modelling workflow to aid in VT therapeutics and has implications for generalizing personalized computational heart technology to a broad range of clinical centres.
Relations for low-energy constants in baryon chiral perturbation theory with explicit $$\Delta (1232)$$ derived from the chiral quark model
Authors: Jiang Jun , Jiang Shao-Zhou , Li Shi-Yuan , Liu Yan-Rui , Si Zong-Guo , Wang Hong-Qian
Published: April 2023

We study the relations between low-energy constants in the chiral Lagrangians with$$\Delta (1232)$$Δ(1232)and those in the quark-level description model up to the third chiral order. Ten structure correspondences are involved in getting the relations. This situation is more complicated than the spin-1/2 baryon case. The obtained results may help to further investigations involving the$$\Delta (1232)$$Δ(1232)baryons.
Electronic Commerce Research during the COVID-19 Pandemic: A Bibliometric Analysis
Authors: Şimandan Radu
Published: April 2023

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in a significant shift towards electronic commerce (e-commerce), as people have turned to various methods of e-commerce to deal with imposed mobility restrictions. This paper provides a bibliometric analysis of the research conducted in the field of e-commerce, focusing on studies related to the COVID-19 pandemic. The study aims to identify the key features, most influential papers, prevalent themes and methodologies, and the relationship between the terms used in the relevant publications. The data for the analysis was obtained from the Scopus database and consisted of 629 English-language research papers, book chapters, and review papers published between August 2020 and December 2022. BibExcel and VOSviewer software tools were utilized to assist with the selection of relevant information, perform the bibliometric analysis, and generate graphical representations of the results. The analysis indicates that China was the most productive geographical region, with the United States and India following closely behind. Sustainability journal from Switzerland was found to be the most productive in the field, followed by Frontiers in Psychology and the Journal of Retailing and Consumer Services. Bina Nusantara University in Indonesia was identified as the most productive institution, with Bucharest University of Economic Studies in Romania and Zhejiang University in China following closely behind. The most influential paper was found to be by Kim (2020), followed by Dannenberg et al. (2020), and Tran (2021). To address the limitations in the current literature, future research can undertake a comparative study of the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the field of e-commerce over time, as well as analyze the dominant themes both prior to and post-pandemic. Investigating the correlation between disruptive events like the COVID-19 pandemic and the factors that drive e-commerce adoption constitutes a worthy and captivating field for future research.
The Impact of FDI and Financial Development on Entrepreneurship in ASEAN Countries: A Panel Analysis
Authors: AlOmari Abdallah M. H. , Ngo Trung Minh
Published: April 2023

Entrepreneurship plays an essential role in economic development and identifying factors that incentivise entrepreneurial activity is relevant for both academia and policy. This paper investigates the impact of Foreign Direct Investment inflow (iFDI) and financial development on entrepreneurship in member countries of ASEAN for the period 2006–2020. We use common panel analysis approaches including pooled OLS, fixed, and random effects regressions to inspect the data. To address endogeneity issues, we further employ GMM estimation. Our analysis reveals that iFDI has a significant positive effect on entrepreneurship in ASEAN countries where financial development is high. The direct relationship between entrepreneurship and financial development is not significant and warrants further investigation.
Test Beds, Tools and Instruments for Advanced SOFC Research and Development
Authors: Venkataraman Vikrant
Published: April 2023

Solid oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are going to play a key role in future energy systems and significant commitments, both financially and technically, have been made by both system OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers) and stack manufacturers alike. This gives confidence that this technology will be close to market commercialization in the next few years. Keeping abreast of the market developments and applications for SOFCs, AVL List GmbH is able to offer testing solutions right from the cell level all the way up to the system level, thus giving customers the complete range of possibilities when it comes to SOFC testing. Currently on a system level, three types of test beds – the ULD (Ultra-Light Duty), LD (Light Duty) and HD (Heavy Duty), with options for using 2 gaseous and 3 liquid fuels. These test beds will cater to the applications with different power levels in which SOFCs will be employed. The uniqueness of test beds and testing solutions offered by AVL lies in the fact that they are modular, can be used for both performance and environmental testing and are 100% reliable, thus giving the customer not only absolute confidence in carrying out the required tests but also the flexibility in expanding the testing regimes. With advanced testing and test equipment next generation products can be developed with shorter lead times, thus giving both the OEM and the stack manufacturer significant advantages.
Optimization of Distributed Energy Resources in Distribution Networks: Applications of Convex Optimal Power Flow Formulations in Distribution Networks
Authors: Mendoza Osorio Diego , Rosero Garcia Javier
Published: April 2023

The increasing penetration of distributed energy resources (DER) has imposed several challenges in the analysis and operation distribution networks. In the last decade, the implementation of battery energy storage systems (BESS) in electric networks has caught the interest in research since the results have shown multiple positive effects when deployed optimally. However, a complex formulation of the optimization problem regarding DER implementations can easly become nonconvex, thus limiting the scope of the results (quality) and affecting the computational efficiency. In this paper, convex formulations of the optimal power flow (OPF) problem for DER (PV and BESS) installations in San Andres distribution network were implemented to minimize power losses. Four main simulation cases were stablished covering convex power flow analysis, convex optimal power flow to locate and size dispatchable and nondispatchable DER (PV) with demand and irradiation profiles, and the inclusion of aggregated and distributed PV and BESS systems. The computational realization of those formulations was made with three different software packages: CVX in python, CPLEX, and MATLAB (MATPOWER/PSO). The results show that installing DER capacity (both PV and/or BESS) can substantially improve the power losses in distribution networks, especially if considered distributed instead of aggregated, achieving reductions up to 75% for power losses and up to 57% for conventional generation utilization. Besides power losses, it was observed that optimal DER (PV and BESS) implementations behaved similarly as demand response signals do, potentially increasing economic benefits for DISCOs. In terms of computational efficiency, convex formulations help substantially to reduce computation times, especially if scalability is to be considered when distributed DER installations were studied.
In Vitro Characterization of Motor Neurons and Purkinje Cells Differentiated from Induced Pluripotent Stem Cells Generated from Patients with Autosomal Recessive Spastic Ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay
Authors: Louit Aurélie , Beaudet Marie-Josée , Blais Mathieu , Gros-Louis François , Dupré Nicolas , Berthod François
Published: April 2023

Autosomal recessive spastic ataxia of Charlevoix-Saguenay (ARSACS) is an early-onset neurodegenerative disease mainly characterized by spasticity in the lower limbs and poor muscle control. The disease is caused by mutations in the SACS gene leading in most cases to a loss of function of the sacsin protein, which is highly expressed in motor neurons and Purkinje cells. To investigate the impact of the mutated sacsin protein in these cells in vitro, induced pluripotent stem cell- (iPSC-) derived motor neurons and iPSC-derived Purkinje cells were generated from three ARSACS patients. Both types of iPSC-derived neurons expressed the characteristic neuronal markers β3-tubulin, neurofilaments M and H, as well as specific markers like Islet-1 for motor neurons, and parvalbumin or calbindin for Purkinje cells. Compared to controls, iPSC-derived mutated SACS neurons expressed lower amounts of sacsin. In addition, characteristic neurofilament aggregates were detected along the neurites of both iPSC-derived neurons. These results indicate that it is possible to recapitulate in vitro, at least in part, the ARSACS pathological signature in vitro using patient-derived motor neurons and Purkinje cells differentiated from iPSCs. Such an in vitro personalized model of the disease could be useful for the screening of new drugs for the treatment of ARSACS.
Application of 5G Communication Technology Based on Intelligent Sensor Network in Coal Mining
Authors: Zhan Ping
Published: April 2023

Intelligent mining provides an indispensable, strong technical support for the construction of intelligent mines. Intelligent tunneling technology is an inevitable requirement for safe and efficient production of coal and a fundamental way to solve the imbalance of mining in order to improve the deficiency of data transmission in light of intelligent coal tunneling technology. Based on intelligent sensor and 5G technology, this paper puts forward a kind of intelligent tunneling support transportation integrated technology. According to the geological conditions of the surrounding rock in different coal seams, the anchor road header and 5G continuous intelligent tunneling mode are adopted. At the same time, the data communication network coverage suitable for underground unmanned driving is expounded, and the performance indexes that need to be met for accessing WLAN network are given based on the actual engineering experience. The breakthrough of underground unmanned driving application that 5G new communication network will bring is analyzed. And the construction mode of 5G platform of underground coal mine sensor network is given.
Statistical Model Identification and Variable Selection for Prediction of Heat Exchanger Fouling
Authors: Anitha Kumari S. , Vimala Starbino A. , Priya Esther B. , Stonier Albert Alexander
Published: April 2023

Fly ash generated during boiler combustion are carried away with hot flue gas and deposited over the heat exchanger surfaces. This study was motivated by the decline in the thermal efficiency of the heat exchangers in thermal power plants due to ash fouling. The paper discusses a new computational procedure that has been attempted to identify the best statistical model for predicting heat exchanger fouling and also to choose the most strongly linked covariates. In this context, three different statistical models including multiple linear regression, sliced inverse regression, and random forests regression are used to estimate the cleanliness factor of the heat exchanger. The variables and model are chosen solely on the basis of analytical procedures. Heat exchanger metal tube temperature that highly influences the cleanliness factor is selected using a measure of importance based on random perturbations. Metal temperature above a threshold is selected as a strongly linked covariate. The R package modevarsel is used here to perform the statistical analysis. The value of root mean square error for the cleanliness factor from sliced inverse regression and random forest is 0.0002, indicating that as more feasible in predicting ash fouling.
The Comparison of Platelet‐Rich Plasma Versus Injectable Platelet Rich Fibrin in Facial Skin Rejuvenation
Authors: Atsu Nilhan , Ekinci-Aslanoglu Cansu , Kantarci-Demirkiran Busra , Caf Nazli , Nuhoglu Fadime
Published: April 2023

Background/Objective. Platelet‐rich plasma (PRP) has a widespread use in various indications including dermatological conditions. Injectable platelet‐rich fibrin on the other hand is prepared without anticoagulants and seems to have a sustained action. This study aimed to compare PRP and PRF injection treatments for facial skin rejuvenation in terms of efficacy, patient satisfaction, and side effects. Patients and Methods. Patients who received facial intradermal injections of PRP or PRF for skin rejuvenation were included in this study. Patients received three injections one month apart and evaluated at follow‐up visits for cosmetic results using a high‐resolution UVA‐light video camera and a surface evaluation software at three regions (frontal, nasolabial, and canthal) as well as for patient satisfaction and side effects. Results. A significant marginal superiority of PRF over PRP was only evident for some canthal cosmetic parameters (canthal smoothness and wrinkles); however, the two groups did not differ in terms of other cosmetic regional parameters. For canthal smoothness, the difference was significant at three months. The two groups did not differ in terms of side effects, pain, and patient satisfaction. Conclusion. This study obtained slightly better outcomes with PRF injections when compared to PRP for facial rejuvenation only at canthal region and only at three months, which disappeared later during the treatment. PRF may represent a viable alternative to PRP for that indication owing to its easier preparation, absence of anticoagulants, and possibly its sustained effect. Further large studies are warranted.
Deception Attacks against Android-Based Smart Bracelets
Authors: Gao Weimin , Xie Jun , Li Xinlong
Published: April 2023

The rapid development of the intelligent equipment industry has promoted the emergence of a series of emerging industries, effectively improving the technical level of society and people’s quality of life. Due to the inherent characteristics of smart devices, smart devices face serious privacy disclosure risks. Therefore, we have studied the security problem of the widely used smart device smart bracelet in this paper. We have adopted the attack method from easy to difficult to obtain the reading and writing instructions and timing characteristics of the intelligent devices to attack and steal private information. Specifically, we first attack through the strategy of log analysis; if this method is unable to obtain effective information, then we further acquire sensitive information on the basis of hook technology; and if the method on the basis of hook technology is still unable to obtain relevant information, then we will further use reverse engineering to conduct reverse analysis on the app to obtain sensitive information. Second, we develop a fake app on the basis of sensitive information and use it as a bridge to attack intelligent devices. In order to verify the effectiveness of the method, we successfully attacked and stole information from three popular business intelligence bracelets of different brands on the basis of the proposed method. The first step is to develop a fake app on the basis of the identified vulnerabilities. This app can bypass the protection measures of confusion and forced pairing and resetting to cheat the smart bracelet and can successfully enable or disable the jitters function remotely to modify the time and to obtain the sensitive data of the smart bracelet owner. In our attack process, we do not need the cooperation of the owner of the smart bracelet, nor do we need the target smart bracelet to match with our app.
Carbon-Based Nanoadsorbents for the Removal of Emerging Pollutants
Authors: Ratnam M. Venkata , Akilamudhan P. , Kumar K. Senthil , Reddy S. Narasimha , Rao K. Nagamalleswara , Shaik Feroz , Prasad D. M. Reddy
Published: April 2023

Emerging contaminants (ECs) are substances that have been detected in water but have not been thoroughly tested or regulated. Pesticides, cosmetics, pharmaceuticals, and other medications are examples of compounds in this category. Even at low quantities, these pollutants can harm human health and the environment; therefore, avoiding them is critical. The consequences of EC pollution on the endocrine, hormonal, and genetic systems are causing significant concern. Even with current best practices and available technology, it is difficult to totally eliminate ECs from municipal and industrial wastewater treatment plants. Adsorption has been the method of choice for EC removal since it is less costly, more effective, and easier to use. To treat ECs, newer generation nanoadsorbents are employed. Adsorption was greatly enhanced by functional changes to the adsorbent surface. Carbon nanostructures are widely used as adsorbents because of their outstanding surface properties, adaptability, large surface area, adjustable structural changes, and high chemical stability. This review reviews and examines recent research on the production and use of carbon-based nanoadsorbents. The emphasis is on carbon nanotubes, graphene, and graphene-derived adsorbents. It is being investigated if these adsorbents can be used to extract hormone-disrupting chemicals and other emerging pollutants. The sources and classification of these pollutants, treatment knowledge gaps, and novel prospects for increasing carbonaceous nanoadsorbent utilization were all explored. The environmental and health problems associated with EC use are also studied.
Association of Obesity Indices with Diabetic Kidney Disease and Diabetic Retinopathy in Type 2 Diabetes: A Real-World Study
Authors: Shi Shaomin , Ni Lihua , Tian Yuan , Zhang Baifang , Xiao Jing , Xu Wan , Gao Ling , Wu Xiaoyan
Published: April 2023

Background. Diabetic microvascular complications mainly include diabetic kidney disease (DKD) and diabetic retinopathy (DR). Obesity was recognized as a risk factor for DKD, while the reported relationship between obesity and DR was inconsistent. Moreover, whether the associations can be attributed to C-peptide levels is unknown. Methods. Data from 1142 sequential inpatients with T2DM at Xiangyang Central Hospital between June 2019 and March 2022 were extracted retrospectively from the electronic medical record system. The associations between four obesity indices (body mass index (BMI), waist-hip circumference ratio (WHR), visceral fat tissue area (VFA), and subcutaneous fat tissue area (SFA)) and DKD and DR were evaluated. Whether the associations can be attributed to C-peptide levels was also explored. Results. Obesity was a risk factor for DKD after adjusting for sex, HbA1c, TG, TC, HDL, LDL, smoking history, education, duration of diabetes, and insulin use (obesity indices: BMI (OR 1.050: 95% CI: 1.008-1.094;

P
=
0.020

); WHR (OR 10.97; 95% CI: 1.250-92.267;

P
=
0.031

); VFA (OR 1.005; 95% CI: 1.001-1.008;

P
=
0.008

)), but it became insignificant after further adjusting for fasting C-peptide. The associations between BMI, WHR, VFA, and DKD might be U-shaped. Obesity and FCP tended to protect against DR; however, they became insignificant after adjusting for multiple potential confounders. C2/C0 (the ratio of the postprandial serum C-peptide to fasting C-peptide) was a protective factor for both DKD (OR 0.894, 95% CI: 0.833-0.959,

P
<
0.05

) and DR (OR 0.851, 95% CI: 0.787-0.919;

P
<
0.05

). Conclusions. Obesity was a risk factor for DKD, and the effect may be attributable to C-peptide, which represents insulin resistance. The protective effect of obesity or C-peptide on DR was not independent and could be confounded by multiple factors. Higher C2/C0 was associated with both decreased DKD and DR.
Bangladeshi Case Series of Bardet–Biedl Syndrome
Authors: Osman Fariah , Iqbal Md Iftekher , Islam M. Nazrul , Kabir Syed Jahangir
Published: April 2023

A rare multisystemic, ciliopathic autosomal recessive disorder called Bardet–Biedl syndrome (BBS) primarily affects children of consanguineous marriages. Both men and women are affected by it. It is characterized by some major and many minor features to aid in the clinical diagnosis and management. Here, we reported two Bangladeshi patients (a 9-year-old girl and 24-year-old male) who were presented with various major and minor features of BBS. Both patients came to us with the symptoms including excessive weight gain, poor vision, and learning disabilities with polydactyly. Our case 1 presented four primary features (retinal degenerations, polydactyly, obesity, and learning deficits) and six secondary features (behavioral abnormality, delayed development, diabetes mellitus, diabetes insipidus, brachydactyly, and LVH), whereas case 2 presented five major criteria (truncal obesity, polydactyly, retinal dystrophy, learning disabilities, and hypogonadism) and six minor criteria (strabismus and cataract, delay in speech, behavioral disorder, developmental delay, brachydactyly and syndactyly, and impaired glucose tolerance test). We diagnosed the cases as BBS. Because there is no specific treatment for BBS, we highlighted the importance of diagnosing it as early as possible so that comprehensive and multidisciplinary care can be offered to prevent avoidable morbidity and mortality.
Facile Fabrication of Polydopamine-Functionalized Titanium Dioxide Nano/Submicro-Particles on the NiTi Substrate for Highly Efficient Solid-Phase Microextraction of Benzotriazole Ultraviolet Filters from Environmental Water Samples
Authors: Wang Huiju , Wang Shoujia , Li Kang , Ma Yulong , Zhou Tianhong
Published: April 2023

A new polydopamine-functionalized titanium dioxide nano/submicro-particles (PDA@TiO2NPs) coating was successfully constructed on the surface of NiTi substrate as a solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fiber. To obtain a stable and uniform PDA@TiO2NPs coating, the NiTi fiber was hydrothermally treated for in situ growth of titanium/nickel oxide composite nanosheets (TiNiOCNSs). Subsequently, the titanium dioxide nano/submicro-particles (TiO2NPs) were electrophoretically deposited on the TiNiOCNSs coating. Finally, the polydopamine (PDA) coating was modified on the TiO2NPs coating by self-polymerization of dopamine (DA). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the new PDA@TiO2NPs@TiNiOCNSs@NiTi fiber showed a popcornlike nanostructure with a larger surface area and more adsorption sites. Benefitting from the abundant hydrogen bonding, rich π-electron system, and strong hydrophobicity, the functionalized PDA@TiO2NPs@TiNiOCNSs@NiTi fiber illustrated excellent extraction capability for benzotriazole ultraviolet filters (BUvFs) among typical aromatic compounds coupled to HPLC with UV detection. The main SPME conditions such as extraction and desorption time, extraction temperature, stirring rate, and ionic strength were examined and optimized one by one. Under the optimum conditions, the calibration curves presented good linearity for BUvFs in the ranges from 0.01 µg·L−1 to 300 µg·L−1, and the correlation coefficients (r) were above 0.9990. The limits of detection (LODs, S/N = 3) were between 0.005 µg·L−1 and 0.043 µg·L−1. RSD repeatability of intraday and interday for one fiber was less than 5.3% and 6.9%, respectively. Moreover enrichment factors (EFs) ranged from 63 to 218. The recommended method can completely extract and detect trace BUvFs in different environmental water samples. Furthermore, the new fiber shows good stability and high strength.
Tooth Loss and Associated Factors in Mexican Older Adults in Nursing Homes: A Multicenter Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Rocha-Ortiz Jesús Alberto , Tepox-Puga Sandra Manuela , Borges-Yañez S. Aída , Mendoza-Rodríguez Martha , Escoffié-Ramirez Mauricio , Minaya-Sánchez Mirna , Casanova-Rosado Juan Fernando , Casanova-Rosado Alejandro José , Pontigo-Loyola América Patrícia , Medina-Solis Carlo Eduardo
Published: April 2023

The objective of this study was to determine the experience of tooth loss and associated factors in older adults and elderly residing in nursing homes. A cross‐sectional study was conducted in Mexican older adults and elderly aged ≥60 years living in four nursing homes (two in Mexico City, Mexico: one in Cuernavaca, Morelos, and one in Oaxaca, Oaxaca). The data were collected at the facility (home nursing) by two dentists in 2019. To determine the number of tooth loss and DMFT, a clinical oral examination was performed. In addition, a questionnaire was applied to determine diverse independent variables (demographic, socioeconomic, and behavioral). The analysis was performed using nonparametric tests and negative binomial regression (p < 0.05). 257 subjects were included. The mean age was 81.25 ± 9.02 years, and 60.7% were women. The mean number of lost teeth was 18.78 ± 9.05 (women = 19.43 ± 8.59 and men = 17.77 ± 9.68; p > 0.05). In the multivariate negative binomial regression model, it was found that, for each one‐year increase in age, the mean tooth loss increased 0.92% (p < 0.05). In current smokers (p < 0.01) and in those who brush their teeth < 2 times a day (p < 0.01), the average of tooth loss increased 22.04% and 61.46%, respectively. The experience of tooth loss in Mexican older adults and elderly was high. Demographic (age) and habit of behavior (tobacco use and less frequent tooth brushing) were associated with increased tooth loss. It is important to promote oral health programs for institutionalized older adults.
Detection of Pseudorabies in Dogs in Slovenia between 2006 and 2020: From Clinical and Diagnostic Features to Molecular Epidemiology
Authors: Černe Danijela , Hostnik Peter , Toplak Ivan , Juntes Polona , Paller Tomislav , Kuhar Urška
Published: April 2023

Pseudorabies (PR) is one of the most economically important diseases in domestic pigs. Since 2010, Slovenia has been free of PR in the domestic pig population, but the disease is endemic in the wild boar population, which can pose a real threat to domestic pigs and other animal species, including dogs. Between 2006 and 2020, infections with the PR virus (PRV) were reported in two pets and three hunting dogs from Slovenia that were found to have a direct contact with the wild boar or raw wild boar or pork meat. Typical clinical signs of PRV infection, including characteristic facial itching, cytopathic effect in cell cultures, positive immunocytochemistry, and positive PCR results confirmed the presence of PRV in all five cases investigated. A phylogenetic comparison of the partial glycoprotein C (gC) genomic region revealed that the Slovenian PRV isolates belong to clade A, with 95.78–100% nucleotide identity with strains isolated from dogs, domestic pigs, and wild boars from Europe. Within phylogenetic comparison of the partial glycoprotein D (gD) and partial glycoprotein E (gE) genomic regions of Slovenian PRV isolates, 100% and 99.12%–100% nucleotide identities were detected, respectively, suggesting low diversity between the PRV strains identified in dogs in Slovenia. This study provides the first molecular characterization of PRV in dogs and suggests that similar PRV strains circulate in the wild boar populations in this geographic area.
An Improved Physics-Informed Neural Network Algorithm for Predicting the Phreatic Line of Seepage
Authors: Gao Yunpeng , Qian Li , Yao Tianzhi , Mo Zuguo , Zhang Jianhai , Zhang Ru , Liu Enlong , Li Yonghong
Published: April 2023

As new ways to solve partial differential equations (PDEs), physics-informed neural network (PINN) algorithms have received widespread attention and have been applied in many fields of study. However, the standard PINN framework lacks sufficient seepage head data, and the method is difficult to apply effectively in seepage analysis with complex boundary conditions. In addition, the differential type Neumann boundary makes the solution more difficult. This study proposed an improved prediction method based on a PINN with the aim of calculating PDEs with complex boundary conditions such as Neumann boundary conditions, in which the spatial distribution characteristic information is increased by a small amount of measured data and the loss equation is dynamically adjusted by loss weighting coefficients. The measured data are converted into a quadratic regular term and added to the loss function as feature data to guide the update process for the weight and bias coefficient of each neuron in the neural network. A typical geotechnical problem concerning seepage phreatic line determination in a rectangular dam is analyzed to demonstrate the efficiency of the improved method. Compared with the standard PINN algorithm, due to the addition of measurement data and dynamic loss weighting coefficients, the improved PINN algorithm has better convergence and can handle more complex boundary conditions. The results show that the improved method makes it convenient to predict the phreatic line in seepage analysis for geotechnical engineering projects with measured data.
Distributed Multi‐MMW Radar Fusion for Target Detection and Tracking in Highway Traffic Environment
Authors: Liu Yunpeng , Liu Kaifeng , Mi Jiang , Luo Mingbo
Published: April 2023

High‐resolution millimeter‐wave (MMW) radar is viewed as a low‐cost and highly reliable sensor compared to camera, lidar, etc., in moving scenarios and thus has been selected by highway stakeholders as an important roadside detector to detect the movement of traffic vehicles and monitor traffic flow in real time. However, the echo signal of MMW radar in complex highway environment contains not only the signal reflected by target but also spurious signals and other interference signals, which significantly affects the estimation of the target movement state. To solve this problem, an improved vehicle tracking method is designed to simultaneously estimate the polar angle and polar radius in coordinator of MMW radar. Moreover, considering the movement patterns of target vehicles in dynamic uncertain traffic situations, a set of state space models, such as CA, CV, and CT are combined to represent the vehicle movement. In addition, based on the enhanced detection performance of a single radar, the combination of multiple MMW radars’ information was performed to determine the sequential trajectory of the target vehicle on the continuous road sections; then, the historical trajectory of the target vehicle was correlated and fused. Real experiments in highway scenarios show that the method used in this study is effective in deriving the trajectory of the vehicle and improving the positioning accuracy and reliability when the vehicle performs heavy maneuvers.