bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Hybrid Control-Based Closed-Loop Soft Start-Up Method for LLC Resonant Converters
Authors: Gao Tian , Wang Youzhi , Gao Yongming , Sun Gang , Wang Haoyue , Hou Jing
Published: November 2023

LLC resonant converters are prone to generating a large inrush current during the start-up process, which will cause damage to the resonant elements and threaten the safe operation of the circuit. In this study, we investigate the soft-start method to suppress the inrush current of an LLC resonant converter. Based on the traditional frequency-decreasing method, we integrate PWM control to broaden the output voltage gain range during the start-up. Additionally, to ensure the smooth establishment of the output voltage, the controller performs the closed-loop control of the duty cycle and frequency in sequence based on the rate of output voltage rise. A prototype experiment based on STM32F334C8T6 is established to experimentally validate the presented soft start-up method. The experiment results indicate that the soft start-up method improves the start-up performance, reduces the maximum inrush current by 47.5% compared with that of the frequency-decreasing method, and builds up the output voltage quickly. The start-up process is smooth, which improves the reliability of the LLC resonant converter.
A Survey on Recommendation Methods Based on Social Relationships
Authors: Chen Rui , Pang Kangning , Huang Min , Liang Hui , Zhang Shizheng , Zhang Lei , Li Pu , Xia Zhengwei , Zhang Jianwei , Kong Xiangjie
Published: November 2023

With the rapid development of online social networks recently, more and more online users have participated in social network activities and rich social relationships are formed accordingly. These social relationships provide a rich data source and research basis for in-depth study on recommender systems (RSs), while also promoting the development of RSs based on social networks. To solve the problems of cold start and sparsity in RSs, many recommendation algorithms are constantly being proposed. Motivated by the availability of rich social connections in today’s RSs, a large number of recommendation techniques based on social relationships have been proposed recently, achieving good recommendation results, and have become the mainstream research direction in the field of RSs, attracting more and more researchers to engage in this research. In this study, we mainly review and summarize the social relationship-based recommendation methods and techniques in RSs, and study some recent deep social relationship recommendation methods and techniques based on deep learning (DL), including the latest social matrix factorization (MF)-based recommendation methods and graph neural network (GNN)-based recommendation methods. Finally, we discuss the potential impact that may improve the RS and future direction. In this article, we aim to introduce the recent recommendation techniques integrating social relationships to solve data sparsity and cold start, and provide a new perspective for improving the performance of RSs, thereby providing useful resources in the state-of-the-art research results for future researchers.
The Effect of Organic Acid Dopants on the Specific Capacitance of Electrodeposited Polypyrrole-Carbon Nanotube/Polyimide Composite Electrodes
Authors: Gooneratne Ruchinda , Iroh Jude O.
Published: November 2023

Energy storage materials are constantly being improved and developed to cope with the ever-increasing demand of the electronic devices industry. Various synthetic approaches have been used to manufacture electrode materials. This paper is focused on the use of intrinsically conductive polymers such as polypyrrole (PPy) in the development of single-walled carbon nanotube-polyimide, SWCNT-PI, supercapacitor electrode materials. The polypyrrole used in the study is doped with different organic acid dopants of various sizes, including styrene sulfonic acid, SSA, toluene sulfonic acid, TSA, dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid, DBSA, naphthalene disulfonic acid, NDSA, and naphthalene trisulfonic acid, NTSA. The number of sulfonic acid functional group per dopant molecule varied from one to three, while the number of benzene rings in the aromatic unit varied from one to two. It is believed that, as the sulfonic acid to the dopant molecule ratio changes, the morphology and electrochemical properties of the doped PPy-coated electrode material will change accordingly. The change in the morphology of the doped PPy, due to the respective dopant, is correlated with the change in the electrochemical properties of the modified composite electrode. The naphthalene trisulfonic acid (NTSA) dopant was found to produce the highest specific capacitance of about 119 F/g at 5 mV/s. Furthermore, the NTSA-doped PPy electrode system showed the highest porosity and highest tan delta damping peak height for the a-transition. The styrene sulfonic acid-doped PPy/SWCNT-PI electrode material showed an impressive storage modulus of more than 2 GPa, but lower porosity. Styrene polymerization is believed to have occurred. The results obtained indicate that the porosity and electrochemical properties of the electrode materials are correlated.
Variability of CO2, CH4, and O2 Concentration in the Vicinity of a Closed Mining Shaft in the Light of Extreme Weather Events—Numerical Simulations
Authors: Wrona Paweł , Różański Zenon , Pach Grzegorz , Niewiadomski Adam P. , Markowska Małgorzata , Chmiela Andrzej , Foster Patrick J.
Published: November 2023

With climate change, more intense weather phenomena can be expected, including pressure drops related to the arrival of an atmospheric front. Such drops of pressure are the main reason for gas emissions from closed mines to the surface, and a closed, empty mine shaft is the most likely route of this emission. Among the gases emitted, the most important are carbon dioxide and methane, creating a twofold problem—greenhouse gas emissions and gas hazards. The work presented in this paper simulated the spread of the mentioned gases near such an abandoned shaft for four variants: model validation, the most dangerous situations found during measurements with or without wind, and a forecast variant for a possible future pressure drop. It was found that a momentary CO2 emission of 0.69 m3/s and a momentary CH4 emission of 0.29 m3/s are possible, which for one hour of the appropriate drop would give hypothetically 2484 m3 CO2 and 1044 m3 CH4. In terms of gas hazards, the area that should be monitored and protected may exceed 25 m from a closed shaft in the absence of wind influence. The wind spreads the emitted gases to distances exceeding 50 m but dilutes them significantly.
Metagenomics-Based Analysis of the Effect of Rice Straw Substitution for a Proportion of Whole-Plant Corn Silage on the Rumen Flora Structure and Carbohydrate-Active Enzymes (CAZymes)
Authors: Ma Yubin , Ye Wenxing , Cheng Yuchen , Ren Wenyi , Yang Shuangming , Zhang Lili , Xu Xiaofeng
Published: November 2023

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of replacing a portion of whole-plant corn silage with straw on the rumen microbial community structure and carbohydrate-active enzyme activity. The experiment employed a single-factor randomized trial design, with eight late-lactation Chinese Holstein dairy cows being randomly divided into two groups of four replicates each. The control group (CS group) was fed a diet consisting of alfalfa silage and a mixture of alfalfa and whole-plant corn silage, while the experimental group (RS group) received a diet in which one-third of the corn silage was replaced with straw while keeping the other components unchanged. The experiment lasted for a total of 21 days, with a pre-feeding period of 14 days and a formal period of 7 days. The rumen fluid collected on day 21 was used for the rumen fermentation parameters and metagenomic analysis. The concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, butyric acid, and total volatile fatty acids (TVFA) in the rumen of RS group cows were significantly lower than those in the CS group (p < 0.01). The ratio of acetic acid to propionic acid was significantly higher in the RS group compared to the CS group (p < 0.01). Metagenomic sequencing revealed that at the genus level, compared to the CS group, the abundance of unclassified bacteria, Bacteroides, Alistipes, Butyrivibrio, Chlamydia, Fibrobacter, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, and unclassified Bacteroidetes in the rumen of RS group cows increased, while the abundance of Eubacterium decreased ([LDA > 3.6], p < 0.05). Compared to the CS group, the enzymatic activities of α-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC3.2.1.55), β-xylosidase (EC3.2.1.37), β-glucosidase (EC3.2.1.21), β-glucosylceramidase (EC3.2.1.45), xylanase (EC3.2.1.8), and arabinanase (EC3.2.1.99) in the rumen of RS group cows increased (p < 0.05). According to the correlation analysis, Alistipes, Bacteroides, and Butyrivibrio showed a significant negative correlation with propionic acid (p < 0.05) and a significant positive correlation with the acetic acid-to-propionic acid ratio (p < 0.05). They also showed a significant positive correlation with GH2, GH3, GH20, GH29, GH43, GH78, GH92, CE1, GT4, β-glucosidase (EC3.2.1.21), α-L-arabinofuranosidase (EC 3.2.1.55), β-xylosidase (EC 3.2.1.37), β-glucosylceramidase (EC 3.2.1.45), xylanase (EC 3.2.1.8), and arabinanase (EC 3.2.1.99) (p < 0.05). In summary, straw can not only alter the composition and structure of the rumen microbiota in cows but also affect the relative abundance of CAZymes at different levels within the rumen. Cows may, thus, potentially improve the degradation efficiency of straw diets by increasing the abundance of certain rumen microbiota and enzymes.
The Sustainability of Seafood Products in the Opinions of Italian Consumers of Generation Z
Authors: Forleo Maria Bonaventura , Bredice Marilena
Published: November 2023

This study aims to explore whether members of Generation Z have sensitivity and awareness about environmental issues related to seafood production and consumption, their beliefs on how to make more sustainable the future provisioning of seafood, their consumption frequency, and, finally, whether different profiles and groups of people could be detected. A survey was implemented with 778 Italian students attending secondary schools. Descriptive statistics, testing, and cluster analyses were applied. Results provide the sustainability profile of five groups, of which three are aligned with SDGs 12 and 14, but the other groups, comprising almost half of the sample, are insensitive, unaware, or irresolute about the sustainability of seafood production and consumption. Overall, people’s environmental consciousness does not appear to be strongly related to the frequency of consumption of sustainable seafood species. Regarding the solutions for improving the sustainability of future seafood production, young respondents underlined the catching and raising of novel, discarded, not exploited, or marginally exploited seafood species. People declared a high knowledge of the nutritional and safety implications of seafood. This study is one of the few that explore issues specifically related to the profiles of Generation Z and young people’s approach toward sustainable seafood production and consumption.
Bioavailable Phenolic Compounds from Olive Pomace Present Anti-Neuroinflammatory Potential on Microglia Cells
Authors: Schmidt Luana , Vargas Bruna Krieger , Monteiro Camila Sant’Anna , Pappis Lauren , Mello Renius de Oliveira , Machado Alencar Kolinski , Emanuelli Tatiana , Ayub Marco Antônio Zachia , Moreira José Cláudio Fonseca , Augusti Paula Rossini
Published: November 2023

The neuroinflammatory process is considered one of the main characteristics of central nervous system diseases, where a pro-inflammatory response results in oxidative stress through the generation of reactive oxygen and nitrogen species (ROS and RNS). Olive (Olea europaea L.) pomace is a by-product of olive oil production that is rich in phenolic compounds (PCs), known for their antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. This work looked at the antioxidant and anti-neuroinflammatory effects of the bioavailable PC from olive pomace in cell-free models and microglia cells. The bioavailable PC of olive pomace was obtained through the process of in vitro gastrointestinal digestion of fractionated olive pomace (OPF, particles size < 2 mm) and micronized olive pomace (OPM, particles size < 20 µm). The profile of the PC that is present in the bioavailable fraction as well as its in vitro antioxidant capacity were determined. The anti-neuroinflammatory capacity of the bioavailable PC from olive pomace (0.03–3 mg L−1) was evaluated in BV-2 cells activated by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) for 24 h. The total bioavailable PC concentration and antioxidant activity against peroxyl radical were higher in the OPM than those observed in the OPF sample. The activation of BV-2 cells by LPS resulted in increased levels of ROS and nitric oxide (NO). The bioavailable PCs from both OPF and OPM, at their lowest concentrations, were able to reduce the ROS generation in activated BV-2 cells. In contrast, the highest PC concentration of OPF and OPM was able to reduce the NO levels in activated microglial cells. Our results demonstrate that bioavailable PCs from olive pomace can act as anti-neuroinflammatory agents in vitro, independent of particle size. Moreover, studies approaching ways to increase the bioavailability of PCs from olive pomace, as well as any possible toxic effects, are needed before a final statement on its nutritional use is made.
Comparative Study of Quercetin and Hyperoside: Antimicrobial Potential towards Food Spoilage Bacteria, Mode of Action and Molecular Docking
Authors: Tagrida Mohamed , Palamae Suriya , Saetang Jirakrit , Ma Lukai , Hong Hui , Benjakul Soottawat
Published: November 2023

The antibacterial activities of quercetin and hyperoside were evaluated towards two major spoilage bacteria in fish, Pseudomonas aeruginosa (PA) and Shewanella putrefaciens (SP). Hyperoside showed a lower minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC) towards both spoilage bacteria, PA and SP, than quercetin. Cell membrane morphology was affected when treated with hyperoside and quercetin. The release of content from the treated cells occurred, as ascertained by the release of potassium and magnesium ions and the increase in conductivity of the culture media. The morphology of cells was significantly changed, in which shrinkage and pores were obtained, when observed using SEM. Both compounds negatively affected the motility, both swimming and swarming, and the formation of extracellular polymeric substance (EPS), thus confirming antibiofilm activities. Agarose gel analysis revealed that both compounds could bind to or degrade the genomic DNA of both bacteria, thereby causing bacterial death. Molecular docking indicated that the compounds interacted with the minor groove of the DNA, favoring the adenine–thymine-rich regions. Thus, both quercetin and hyperoside could serve as potential antimicrobial agents to retard the spoilage of fish or perishable products.
Dietary Exposure and Risk Assessment of Beta-Agonist Residues in Commercial Beef and Pork in Taiwan
Authors: You Shu-Han , Lee Chieh-Ning
Published: November 2023

Beta-agonists (β-agonists) in meat products in one’s diet raise concerns about the possibility of foodborne illness. It may also lead to discomfort, such as headaches and occasional irregular heartbeats, which might be linked to a heightened concern for cardiovascular issues. Taiwan’s high demand for meat and reliance on imported meat products from certain countries where β-agonists are permitted has raised concerns. Recent import border checks and monitoring of meat products in the market have revealed the concentration of non-compliance with β-agonist residue regulations, which is ten ppb. This study aims to analyze the concentration of β-agonist residues in meat products sold in Taiwan and assess the current levels of exposure and dietary risk for consumers. The study analyzed 1415 samples of domestically produced and imported livestock products from supermarkets, traditional markets, and bulk stores in New Taipei City between 2019 and 2023. The samples were analyzed using the method for detecting 21 β-agonists based on the Taiwan Food and Drug Administration’s specifications. Estimated daily intake (EDI) of β-agonists for different age groups and the target hazard quotient (THQ) were used to assess dietary exposure and risk. The results showed that all 1415 samples were compliant with regulations. Among them, 43 beef samples showed residues of ractopamine originating from the United States, with residue concentrations ranging from 1 to 10 μg/kg and an average residue concentration of 3.3 ± 1.9 μg/kg. Under average consumption, the highest EDI for the exposed population was observed in the 6–12 age group, with values of 0.1469 μg/kg/day, 0.0734 μg/kg/day, and 0.0242 μg/kg/day for the three residue concentrations (maximum detected residue, maximum allowable residue, and average detected residue, respectively). The THQs for ractopamine in imported beef samples were all less than 1, indicating no health hazards at the current intake levels of each age group and the residue concentrations in commercially available beef. Despite the findings, traders need to acknowledge regulatory variations between Taiwan and exporting countries when importing meat products. Traders should provide inspection reports to monitor β-agonist residue levels in imports or explore sourcing beef from countries with β-agonist bans.
Unravelling the Proteomic Profiles of Bovine Colostrum and Mature Milk Derived from the First and Second Lactations
Authors: Feng Zhen , Shen Yan , Fan Gongjian , Li Tingting , Wu Caie , Ye Yuhui
Published: November 2023

Bovine colostrum (BC) and mature bovine milk are highly nutritious. In addition to being consumed by adults, these dairy products are also used as protein ingredients for infant formula. However, the differences in the nutritional composition of BC and mature milk, especially regarding proteins present in trace amounts, have not been comprehensively studied. Furthermore, the distinct proteomic profiles of mature milk derived from the first lactation (Milk-L1) and the second lactation (Milk-L2) are not fully understood. To address these gaps, this study aims to uncover the subtle differences in protein compositions of BC, Milk-L1, and Milk-L2 by proteomics. Compared with BC, anti-microbial proteins β-defensins and bovine hemoglobin subunit were up-regulated in Milk-L1, while Milk-L2 exhibited higher levels of enteric β-defensin, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1, sydecan-2, and cysteine-rich secretory protein 2. Additionally, immune proteins such as vacuolar protein sorting-associated protein 4B, polymeric immunoglobulin receptor (PIGR), and Ig-like domain-containing protein were found at higher levels in Milk-L1 compared with Milk-L2. The study provides a comprehensive understanding of the distinct proteomic profiles of BC, Milk-L1, and Milk-L2, which contributes to the development of protein ingredients for infant formula.
New Perspectives to Enhance Wastes and By-Products from Agro-Food Processing
Authors: Martuscelli Maria , Esposito Luigi , Restuccia Donatella , Guo Meijin , Mastrocola Dino
Published: November 2023

The exploitation of by-products and waste from the agri-food industry represents a sustainable approach within the frame of the circular economy, the basis of the European Green Deal and ecological transition [...]
Slip Activation Potential of Fractures in the Crystalline Basement Rocks of Kuujjuaq (Nunavik, Canada) to Assess Enhanced Geothermal Systems Development
Authors: Miranda Mafalda M. , Yaghoubi Ali , Raymond Jasmin , Wigston Andrew , Dusseault Maurice B.
Published: November 2023

This work presents an estimate of the slip activation potential of existing fractures in a remote northern community located on Canadian Shield rocks for geothermal purposes. To accomplish this objective, we analyzed outcrop analogues and recorded geometrical properties of fractures, namely the strike and dip. Then, we estimated the stress regime in the study area through an empirical approach and performed a probabilistic slip tendency analysis. This allowed us to determine the slip probability of the pre-existing fractures at the current state of stress, the orientation of fractures that are most likely to be activated and the fluid pressures needed for the slip activation of pre-existing fractures, which are key aspects for developing Enhanced Geothermal Systems. The results of this simple, yet effective, analysis suggest that at the current state of stress, the pre-existing natural fractures are relatively stable, and an injection pressure of about 12.5 MPa/km could be required to activate the most optimally oriented fractures to slip. An injection of water at this pressure gradient could open the optimally oriented pre-existing fractures and enhance the permeability of the reservoir for geothermal fluid extraction. The information described in this paper provides a significant contribution to the geothermal research underway in remote northern communities.
Diabetes Pay-for-Performance Program Participation and Dialysis Risk in Relation to Educational Attainment: A Retrospective Cohort Study
Authors: Tsai Yi-Shiun , Tsai Wen-Chen , Chiu Li-Ting , Kung Pei-Tseng
Published: November 2023

Pay-for-performance (P4P) programs for diabetes care enable the provision of comprehensive and continuous health care to diabetic patients. However, patient outcomes may be affected by the patient’s educational attainment. The present retrospective cohort study aimed to examine the effects of the educational attainment of diabetic patients on participation in a P4P program in Taiwan and the risk of dialysis. The data were obtained from the National Health Insurance Research Database of Taiwan. Patients newly diagnosed with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) aged 45 years from 2002 to 2015 were enrolled and observed until the end of 2017. The effects of their educational attainment on their participation in a P4P program were examined using the Cox proportional hazards model, while the impact on their risk for dialysis was investigated using the Cox proportional hazards model. The probability of participation in the P4P program was significantly higher in subjects with a junior high school education or above than in those who were illiterate or had only attained an elementary school education. Subjects with higher educational attainment exhibited a lower risk for dialysis. Different educational levels had similar effects on reducing dialysis risk among diabetic participants in the P4P program.
Short-Term Effects of Centralization of the Glenohumeral Joint and Dynamic Humeral Centering on Shoulder Pain, Disability, and Grip Strength in Patients with Secondary Subacromial Impingement Syndrome
Authors: Kim Yong-Hee , Cho Hwi-Young , Kim Sung-Hyeon
Published: November 2023

Subacromial impingement syndrome (SIS) is one of the most common causes of shoulder pain in adults and is caused by muscle imbalance around the shoulder joint, which is referred to as secondary SIS. Centralization of the glenohumeral joint (CGH), one of the intervention methods for this, targets strengthening the control ability of the rotator cuff. Dynamic humeral centering (DHC) targets the learning of selective contractile function of the pectoralis major and latissimus dorsi as depressors of the humeral head. This study aims to determine the short-term effects of CGH and DHC on pain, disability, and grip strength in patients with secondary SIS. Forty-eight patients with secondary SIS participated in the study and were randomly allocated into three groups (CGH group (n = 16), DHC group (n = 16), and simple exercise group (n = 16)) and received the intervention for 50 min. The Constant–Murley score was used to assess shoulder pain and disability (primary outcome), and a hand-held dynamometer was used to assess grip strength (secondary outcome). Measurements were performed before the intervention and one day after the intervention. The results showed that the Constant–Murley score improved in the CGH and DHC groups. In addition, pain and disability (range of motion scores) improved in both the CGH and DHC groups. Improvements in disability (shoulder strength) and grip strength were seen only in the CGH group. Both CGH and DHC can be used as methods for short-term pain release and disability recovery in secondary SIS. In particular, CGH appears to be more effective in the short-term improvement in shoulder strength and grip strength.
The Relationship between Health Insurance and Pharmaceutical Innovation: An Empirical Study Based on Meta-Analysis
Authors: Fan Chenchen , Song Xiaoting , Li Chunyan
Published: November 2023

The growing research interest in the relationship between health insurance and pharmaceutical innovation is driven by their significant impact on healthcare optimization and pharmaceutical development. The existing literature, however, lacks consensus on this relationship and provides no evidence of the magnitude of a correlation. In this context, this study employs meta-analysis to explore the extent to which health insurance affects pharmaceutical innovation. It analyzes 202 observations from 14 independent research samples, using the regression coefficient of health insurance on pharmaceutical innovation as the effect size. The results reveal that there is a strong positive correlation between health insurance and pharmaceutical innovation (r = 0.367, 95% CI = [0.294, 0.436]). Public health insurance exhibits a stronger promoting effect on pharmaceutical innovation than commercial health insurance. The relationship between health insurance and pharmaceutical innovation is moderated by the country of sample origin, data range, journal type, journal impact factor, type of health insurance, and research perspective. Our research findings further elucidate the relationship mechanism between health insurance and pharmaceutical innovation, providing a valuable reference for future explorations in pharmaceutical fields.
Co-Designing a Strategy for Implementing the SPARC Holistic Needs Assessment Tool in the Colombian Clinical Context
Authors: Mendieta Cindy V. , de Vries Esther , Calvache Jose Andrés , Ahmedzai Sam H. , Prue Gillian , McConnell Tracey , Reid Joanne
Published: November 2023

In Colombia, timely access to palliative care (PC) is hampered by difficulties in identifying and referring to necessary services. The SPARC (Sheffield Profile for Assessment and Referral for Care) instrument provides a holistic needs assessment to improve referrals for different forms of care. SPARC was recently validated in Colombian Spanish (SPARC-Sp) but has not yet been implemented in clinical practice. We undertook workshops that aimed to co-design an implementation strategy to inform a future trial testing SPARC-Sp in the Colombian healthcare system. Workshop attendees included patients, informal caregivers, healthcare professionals, volunteers, administrative staff and decision makers. Discussions within the workshops refined implementation and dissemination strategies for SPARC-Sp in practical scenarios. Results include the need for education, clarification and demystification of PC and the lack of time and skills of professionals to identify patients’ needs. Attendees recognized SPARC-Sp as a valuable tool for highlighting patients’ concerns, whose adaptations are needed in Colombia to address the low literacy of the population and specificities of the healthcare system. We proposed local adaptations to SPARC-Sp and produced five educational videos aimed at health professionals, patients and caregivers to strengthen understanding of holistic needs in PC while building a strategy for SPARC-Sp implementation in the Colombian context.
Women’s Narratives on Infertility as a Traumatic Event: An Exploration of Emotional Processing through the Referential Activity Linguistic Program
Authors: Renzi Alessia , Mariani Rachele , Fedele Fabiola , Maniaci Vito Giuseppe , Petrovska Elena , D’Amelio Renzo , Mazzoni Giuliana , Di Trani Michela
Published: November 2023

Background: the diagnosis of infertility and its related treatment can be traumatic, leading to profound psychological distress and a variety of psychopathological symptoms. The primary objective of this study is to contrast the linguistic features of narratives from women undergoing Assisted Reproductive Treatment with those of women not undergoing any fertility treatment. This study examines the speech of both groups of individuals as an indicator of their capacity to cope with current and past distressing experiences. Method: 44 women (mean age 36.05; SD = 4.66) enrolled in a fertility medical center in Rome, and 43 control women (mean age 36.07; SD = 3.47) completed a socio-demographic questionnaire and a semi-structured interview designed to collect their memories of a neutral, a positive, and a negative event. This interview also aimed to investigate: (a) (for women with fertility difficulties) how they realized they and their partner had fertility problems and a description of an event when they talked about these difficulties with their partner; and (b) (for control group participants) the most difficult moment of their pregnancy and an event when they talked about it with their partner. The interviews were audio recorded and transcribed, and the text was analyzed using the referential process (RP) linguistic measures software. Results: Mann–Whitney non-parametric U tests for the independent samples showed several significant differences regarding the linguistic measures applied to the narratives of neutral, positive, negative, and difficult experiences in the form of a linguistic style, with more intellectualization and defenses in all the narratives associated with the women with fertility problems compared to the women in the control group. Conclusions: the traumatic and painful experience of infertility and ART seems to characterize the whole mode of narrating life experiences. Present findings sustain the importance of helping women to elaborate on their experience and to understand and recognize the difficult feelings that are activated in relation to the difficulties of having a child.
Epidemiological Analysis of Global and Regional Lung Cancer Mortality: Based on 30-Year Data Analysis of Global Burden Disease Database
Authors: Ji Xiaoxia , Chen Jingxian , Ye Junjun , Xu Shuochun , Lin Benwei , Hou Kaijian
Published: November 2023

The objective of this study was to understand dynamic global and regional lung cancer fatality trends and provide a foundation for effective global lung cancer prevention and treatment strategies. Data from 1990 to 2019 were collected from the Global Burden Disease (GBD) database and statistical analysis was conducted using Excel 2010. Standardization was based on the GBD’s world population structure, and the Average Annual Percentage Change (AAPC) was calculated using Joinpoint 4.8.0.1 software. Bayesian age–period–cohort analysis (BAPC) predicted global lung cancer mortality from 2020 to 2030. In 2019, worldwide lung cancer deaths reached 2,042,600, a 91.75% increase from 1990 (1,065,100). The standardized age-specific death rate in 2019 was 25.18 per 100,000. Males had a rate of 37.38 while females had 14.99. Men saw a decreasing trend while women experienced an increase. High- and medium–high-SDI regions had declining rates (−0.3 and −0.8 AAPCs) whereas middle-, low-, and low–middle-SDI regions had increased mortality rates (AAPC = 0.1, AAPC = 0.37, AAPC = 0.13). Several regions, including Oceania, South Asia, East Asia, Western Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, and Eastern Sub-Saharan Africa, witnessed rising global lung cancer mortality rates (p < 0.01). The global standardized mortality rate for lung cancer is expected to decrease from 2020 to 2030, but predictions indicate increasing female mortality and decreasing male mortality. Despite overall declines, rising female mortality remains a concern. Effective measures are essential to reduce mortality rates and improve patients’ quality of life in the global fight against lung cancer.
Automatic Detection and Mapping of Dolines Using U-Net Model from Orthophoto Images
Authors: Polat Ali , Keskin İnan , Polat Özlem
Published: November 2023

A doline is a natural closed depression formed as a result of karstification, and it is the most common landform in karst areas. These depressions damage many living areas and various engineering structures, and this type of collapse event has created natural hazards in terms of human safety, agricultural activities, and the economy. Therefore, it is important to detect dolines and reveal their properties. In this study, a solution that automatically detects dolines is proposed. The proposed model was employed in a region where many dolines are found in the northwestern part of Sivas City, Turkey. A U-Net model with transfer learning techniques was applied for this task. DenseNet121 gave the best results for the segmentation of the dolines via ResNet34, and EfficientNetB3 and DenseNet121 were used with the U-Net model. The Intersection over Union (IoU) and F-score were used as model evaluation metrics. The IoU and F-score of the DenseNet121 model were calculated as 0.78 and 0.87 for the test data, respectively. Dolines were successfully predicted for the selected test area. The results were converted into a georeferenced vector file. The doline inventory maps can be easily and quickly created using this method. The results can be used in geomorphology, susceptibility, and site selection studies. In addition, this method can be used to segment other landforms in earth science studies.
The Role of BDNF, YBX1, CENPF, ZSCAN4, TEAD4, GLIS1 and USF1 in the Activation of the Embryonic Genome in Bovine Embryos
Authors: Liu Bingnan , Yan Jiaxin , Li Junjie , Xia Wei
Published: November 2023

Early embryonic development relies on the maternal RNAs and newly synthesized proteins during oogenesis. Zygotic transcription is an important event occurring at a specific time after fertilization. If no zygotic transcription occurs, the embryo will die because it is unable to meet the needs of the embryo and continue to grow. During the early stages of embryonic development, the correct transcription, translation, and expression of genes play a crucial role in blastocyst formation and differentiation of cell lineage species formation among mammalian species, and any variation may lead to developmental defects, arrest, or even death. Abnormal expression of some genes may lead to failure of the embryonic zygote genome before activation, such as BDNF and YBX1; Decreased expression of CENPF, ZSCAN4, TEAD4, GLIS1, and USF1 genes can lead to embryonic development failure. This article reviews the results of studies on the timing and mechanism of gene expression of these genes in bovine fertilized eggs/embryos.
Enhanced Intervertebral Disc Repair via Genetically Engineered Mesenchymal Stem Cells with Tetracycline Regulatory System
Authors: Kim Yeji , An Seong Bae , Lee Sang-Hyuk , Lee Jong Joo , Kim Sung Bum , Ahn Jae-Cheul , Hwang Dong-Youn , Han Inbo
Published: November 2023

The therapeutic potential of Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) for the treatment of Intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration can be enhanced by amplifying specific cytokines and proteins. This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic potential of tetracycline-off system-engineered tonsil-derived mesenchymal stem cells (ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFβ1-IGF1-BMP7) for treating intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. ToMSCs were isolated from a tonsillectomy patient and genetically modified with four distinct plasmids via CRISPR/Cas9-mediated knock-in gene editing. Transgene expression was confirmed through immunofluorescence, western blots, and an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay for transforming growth factor beta 1 (TGFβ1) protein secretion, and the effect of MSC-TetOff-TGFβ1-IGF1-BMP7 on disc injury was assessed in a rat model. The ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFβ1-IGF1-BMP7 treatment exhibited superior therapeutic effects compared to ToMSC-TGFβ1, and ToMSC-SDF1α implantation groups, stimulating the regeneration of nucleus pulposus (NP) cells crucial for IVD. The treatment showed potential to restore the structural integrity of the extracellular matrix (ECM) by upregulating key molecules such as aggrecan and type II collagen. It also exhibited anti-inflammatory properties and reduced pain-inducing neuropeptides. ToMSC-Tetoff-TGFβ1-IGF1-BMP7 holds promise as a novel treatment for IVD degeneration. It appears to promote NP cell regeneration, restore ECM structure, suppress inflammation, and reduce pain. However, more research and clinical trials are required to confirm its therapeutic potential.
Aqueous Extracts from Hemp Seeds as a New Weapon against Staphylococcus epidermidis Biofilms
Authors: Casillo Angela , D’Angelo Caterina , Imbimbo Paola , Monti Daria Maria , Parrilli Ermenegilda , Lanzetta Rosa , Gomez d’Ayala Giovanna , Mallardo Salvatore , Corsaro Maria Michela , Duraccio Donatella
Published: November 2023

This study investigated the antibiofilm activity of water-soluble extracts obtained under different pH conditions from Cannabis sativa seeds and from previously defatted seeds. The chemical composition of the extracts, determined through GC-MS and NMR, revealed complex mixtures of fatty acids, monosaccharides, amino acids and glycerol in ratios depending on extraction pH. In particular, the extract obtained at pH 7 from defatted seeds (Ex7d) contained a larger variety of sugars compared to the others. Saturated and unsaturated fatty acids were found in all of the analysed extracts, but linoleic acid (C18:2) was detected only in the extracts obtained at pH 7 and pH 10. The extracts did not show cytotoxicity to HaCaT cells and significantly inhibited the formation of Staphylococcus epidermidis biofilms. The exception was the extract obtained at pH 10, which appeared to be less active. Ex7d showed the highest antibiofilm activity, i.e., around 90%. Ex7d was further fractionated by HPLC, and the antibiofilm activity of all fractions was evaluated. The 2D-NMR analysis highlighted that the most active fraction was largely composed of glycerolipids. This evidence suggested that these molecules are probably responsible for the observed antibiofilm effect but does not exclude a possible synergistic contribution by the other components.
A Weakly Supervised Learning Method for Cell Detection and Tracking Using Incomplete Initial Annotations
Authors: Wu Hao , Niyogisubizo Jovial , Zhao Keliang , Meng Jintao , Xi Wenhui , Li Hongchang , Pan Yi , Wei Yanjie
Published: November 2023

The automatic detection of cells in microscopy image sequences is a significant task in biomedical research. However, routine microscopy images with cells, which are taken during the process whereby constant division and differentiation occur, are notoriously difficult to detect due to changes in their appearance and number. Recently, convolutional neural network (CNN)-based methods have made significant progress in cell detection and tracking. However, these approaches require many manually annotated data for fully supervised training, which is time-consuming and often requires professional researchers. To alleviate such tiresome and labor-intensive costs, we propose a novel weakly supervised learning cell detection and tracking framework that trains the deep neural network using incomplete initial labels. Our approach uses incomplete cell markers obtained from fluorescent images for initial training on the Induced Pluripotent Stem (iPS) cell dataset, which is rarely studied for cell detection and tracking. During training, the incomplete initial labels were updated iteratively by combining detection and tracking results to obtain a model with better robustness. Our method was evaluated using two fields of the iPS cell dataset, along with the cell detection accuracy (DET) evaluation metric from the Cell Tracking Challenge (CTC) initiative, and it achieved 0.862 and 0.924 DET, respectively. The transferability of the developed model was tested using the public dataset FluoN2DH-GOWT1, which was taken from CTC; this contains two datasets with reference annotations. We randomly removed parts of the annotations in each labeled data to simulate the initial annotations on the public dataset. After training the model on the two datasets, with labels that comprise 10% cell markers, the DET improved from 0.130 to 0.903 and 0.116 to 0.877. When trained with labels that comprise 60% cell markers, the performance was better than the model trained using the supervised learning method. This outcome indicates that the model’s performance improved as the quality of the labels used for training increased.
Assessing the Role of Post-Translational Modifications of Mitochondrial RNA Polymerase
Authors: Platz Karlie R. , Rudisel Emma J. , Paluch Katelynn V. , Laurin Taylor R. , Dittenhafer-Reed Kristin E.
Published: November 2023

The mitochondrial proteome is subject to abundant post-translational modifications, including lysine acetylation and phosphorylation of serine, threonine, and tyrosine. The biological function of the majority of these protein modifications is unknown. Proteins required for the transcription and translation of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) are subject to modification. This suggests that reversible post-translational modifications may serve as a regulatory mechanism for mitochondrial gene transcription, akin to mechanisms controlling nuclear gene expression. We set out to determine whether acetylation or phosphorylation controls the function of mitochondrial RNA polymerase (POLRMT). Mass spectrometry was used to identify post-translational modifications on POLRMT. We analyzed three POLRMT modification sites (lysine 402, threonine 315, threonine 993) found in distinct structural regions. Amino acid point mutants that mimic the modified and unmodified forms of POLRMT were employed to measure the effect of acetylation or phosphorylation on the promoter binding ability of POLRMT in vitro. We found a slight decrease in binding affinity for the phosphomimic at threonine 315. We did not identify large changes in viability, mtDNA content, or mitochondrial transcript level upon overexpression of POLRMT modification mimics in HeLa cells. Our results suggest minimal biological impact of the POLRMT post-translational modifications studied in our system.
New Challenges in Heart Failure with Reduced Ejection Fraction: Managing Worsening Events
Authors: Lavalle Carlo , Di Lullo Luca , Jabbour Jean Pierre , Palombi Marta , Trivigno Sara , Mariani Marco Valerio , Summaria Francesco , Severino Paolo , Badagliacca Roberto , Miraldi Fabio , Bellasi Antonio , Vizza Carmine Dario
Published: November 2023

Patients with an established diagnosis of heart failure (HF) with reduced ejection fraction (HFrEF) are prone to experience episodes of worsening symptoms and signs despite continued therapy, termed “worsening heart failure” (WHF). Despite guideline-directed medical therapy, worsening of chronic heart failure accounts for almost 50% of all hospital admissions for HF, and patients experiencing WHF carry a substantially higher risk of death and hospitalization than patients with “stable” HF. New drugs are emerging as arrows in the quiver for clinicians to address the residual risk of HF hospitalization and cardiovascular deaths in patients with WHF. This question-and-answer-based review will discuss the emerging definition of WHF in light of the recent clinical consensus released by the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC), the new therapeutic approaches to treat WHF and then move on to their timing and safety concerns (i.e., renal profile).
Endovascular Embolization for Epistaxis: A Single Center Experience and Meta-Analysis
Authors: El Naamani Kareem , Morse Charles , Ghanem Marc , Barbera Julie , Amllay Abdelaziz , Severance Grace , Ruiz Ramon , Sweid Ahmad , Gooch Michael R. , Herial Nabeel A. , Jabbour Pascal , Rosenwasser Robert H. , Nyquist Gurston G. , Tjoumakaris Stavropoula
Published: November 2023

The optimal treatment for intractable epistaxis is still controversial. Various studies have demonstrated high success rates and low complication rates for endovascular embolization. Herein, the authors report an institutional experience and meta-analysis in terms of efficacy and safety of endovascular embolization of intractable epistaxis. This was a retrospective observational study of 35 patients with epistaxis who underwent 40 embolization procedures between 2010 and 2023. The primary outcome was immediate success defined by immediate cessation of epistaxis at the end of the procedure. Immediate success was achieved in most of the procedures (39, 97.5%). During follow-up, three (7.5%) patients experienced a rebleed. Forty-one studies from 3595 articles were identified for inclusion in the meta-analysis and comprised 1632 patients. The mean pooled age was 57.5 years (95% CI: 57.2–57.8) and most patients were males (mean: 70.4, 95% CI: 69.8–71.0). Immediate success was achieved at a pooled mean of 90.9% (95% CI: 90.4–91.4) and rebleeding was observed at a pooled mean of 17% (95% CI: 16.5–17.5). In conclusion, endovascular embolization proved to be both safe and effective in treating intractable epistaxis carrying a low risk of post-operative stroke.
Effect of Segmented Optical Axial Length on the Performance of New-Generation Intraocular Lens Power Calculation Formulas in Extremely Long Eyes
Authors: Goto So , Maeda Naoyuki , Uehara Kota , Ogawa Keiko , Matsumaru Maki , Sugiyama Saori , Ohnuma Kazuhiko , Lawu Tjundewo , Noda Toru
Published: November 2023

Purpose: To evaluate the performance of traditional vergence formulas with segmented axial length (AL) compared to traditional composite AL in extremely long eyes, and to determine whether the segmented AL can be extended to the new-generation formulas, including the Barrett Universal II, Emmetropia Verifying Optical 2.0 (EVO2), Hill-RBF 3.0 (Hill3), Kane, and Ladas Super formula (LSF) formulas in extremely long eyes. Setting: National Hospital. Organization, Tokyo Medical Center, Japan. Design: Retrospective case series. Methods: Consecutive patients who underwent uncomplicated cataract surgery implanted with a three-piece intraocular lens between December 2015 and March 2021 were retrospectively reviewed. The composite AL was measured with a swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT) biometer using a mean refractive index. The segmented AL was calculated by summing the geometric lengths of the ocular segments (cornea, aqueous, lens, and vitreous) using multiple specific refractive indices based on the data obtained by the SS-OCT-based biometer. When refraction was measured at three months postoperatively, the median absolute errors (MedAEs) were calculated with two ALs for each formula. Results: The study included 31 eyes of 22 patients. The segmented AL (30.45 ± 1.23 mm) was significantly shorter than the composite AL (30.71 ± 1.28 mm, p < 0.001). The MedAEs were significantly reduced when using segmented AL for SRK/T, Haigis, Hill3, and LSF, compared to those obtained using composite AL (0.38 vs. 0.62, 0.48 vs. 0.79, 0.50 vs. 0.90, 0.34 vs. 0.61, p < 0.001 for all formulas, respectively). On the contrary, the MedAE obtained by Kane with segmented AL was significantly worse compared to the one with composite AL (0.35 vs. 0.27, p = 0.03). Conclusion: In extremely high myopic eyes, the segmented AL improves the performance of SRK/T, Haigis, Hill3, and LSF formulas compared to the composite AL, while the segmented AL worsens the prediction accuracy of the Kane formula.