bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Service Uptake Challenges Experienced by Pasifika Communities during COVID-19 Lockdowns in New Zealand
Authors: Nosa Vili , Sluyter John , Kiadarbandsari Atefeh , Ofanoa Malakai , Heather Maryann , Fa’alau Fuafiva , Reddy Ravi
Published: November 2023

Background: New Zealand was one of the first countries to adopt an elimination strategy based on a four-tier Alert Level system that included strict lockdowns at levels three and four. The lockdowns meant shutting out external social networks and being confining to individual household ‘bubbles’ only. This presented challenges for minority Pasifika communities in New Zealand as their cultural values are based on social bonding, interconnectedness, community engagement and caring for each other. The aim of this research was to conduct a small-scale pilot study to test and refine the study design and identify the major challenges faced by Pasifika communities in relation to accessing health, social and mental services while in lockdown. Methods: This exploratory study was designed using an online anonymous questionnaire survey targeting people who identified as Pasifika. A total of eighty-seven respondents were included in our analyses following the questionnaire survey. Results: Five main barriers to accessing health, social and mental health services during lockdowns were identified; (1) unavailability of or limited services; (2) fear of contracting the virus; (3) perception of high costs associated with seeking medical assistance; (4) transportation difficulties; and (5) lack of time. Almost a quarter of the respondents reported losing their jobs, 80% indicated a decline in their household income and more than half experienced some form of psychosocial distress while in lockdown. Conclusions: The findings of this research highlight existing challenges faced by Pasifika communities in adequately accessing essential services. Future research can focus on the key barriers to access identified in this research to gain a deeper understanding of services and its interaction with Pasifika communities during lockdowns.
Assessment of UTI Diagnostic Techniques Using the Fuzzy–PROMETHEE Model
Authors: Abobakr Mariam , Uzun Berna , Uzun Ozsahin Dilber , Sanlidag Tamer , Arikan Ayse
Published: November 2023

Accurate diagnosis of urinary tract infections (UTIs) is important as early diagnosis increases treatment rates, reduces the risk of infection and disease spread, and prevents deaths. This study aims to evaluate various parameters of existing and developing techniques for the diagnosis of UTIs, the majority of which are approved by the FDA, and rank them according to their performance levels. The study includes 16 UTI tests, and the fuzzy preference ranking organization method was used to analyze the parameters such as analytical efficiency, result time, specificity, sensitivity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. Our findings show that the biosensor test was the most indicative of expected test performance for UTIs, with a net flow of 0.0063. This was followed by real-time microscopy systems, catalase, and combined LE and nitrite, which were ranked second, third, and fourth with net flows of 0.003, 0.0026, and 0.0025, respectively. Sequence-based diagnostics was the least favourable alternative with a net flow of −0.0048. The F–PROMETHEE method can aid decision makers in making decisions on the most suitable UTI tests to support the outcomes of each country or patient based on specific conditions and priorities.
Endoscopy in IBD: When and How?
Authors: Daperno Marco
Published: November 2023

Endoscopy is an essential tool supporting inflammatory bowel disease diagnosis, and ileocolonoscopy is essential to the diagnostic process because it allows for histological sampling. A decent description of endoscopic lesions may lead to a correct final diagnosis up to 89% of the time. Moreover, endoscopy is key to evaluating endoscopic severity, which in both Crohn’s disease and ulcerative colitis is associated with worse disease outcomes (e.g., more frequent advanced therapy requirements or more frequent hospitalizations and surgeries). Endoscopic severity should be reported according to validated endoscopic scores, such as the Mayo endoscopic subscore (MES) or the ulcerative colitis endoscopic index of severity (UCEIS) for ulcerative colitis, the Rutgeerts score for postoperative Crohn’s recurrence, and the Crohn’s disease endoscopic index of severity (CDEIS) or the simplified endoscopic score for Crohn’s disease (SES-CD) for luminal Crohn’s disease activity. The measuring of endoscopic activity has become a regulatory agency requirement to increase the objective evaluation of disease activity and drug response. In recent years, the central reviewing of endoscopic videos has become a standard for clinical trials. However, the adjudication paradigm and the type of endoscopic reading may substantially affect trial outcomes, and the reproducibility of all endoscopic scores is not perfect as they require the interpretation of intrinsically subjective images. This paper reviews and discusses the available evidence on inflammatory bowel disease endoscopy.
A Multilevel Boost Converter with Reduced Inductor Current
Authors: Rosas-Caro Julio C. , Valdez-Resendiz Jesus E. , Escobar Gerardo , Beltran-Carbajal Francisco
Published: November 2023

DC–DC converters are gaining attention due to their importance in key applications like renewable energy generation. A desirable feature in new DC–DC converters is a reduction in the size, which can be achieved with a reduction in the energy stored in the inductors. This article introduces a new step-up DC–DC converter topology with the following advantages: (i) a larger relation of duty cycle vs. voltage gain compared with the classical boost topology and (ii) an inductor with smaller current and smaller inductance (for the same power conversion characteristics) compared to the traditional boost converter. The smaller inductor current is an advantage against many step-up topologies with the inductor in series with the input (and then the input and the inductor currents are equal). The necessary inductance to achieve a certain current ripple is also reduced compared to the classical boost topology. This results in an inductor with a smaller amount of stored energy, lower inductance, and lower current. The proposed topology can be scaled to have a full family of large-voltage-gain converters. This paper presents the mathematical analysis, simulations, and experiments to assess the benefits of the proposition.
A Bibliometrics Analysis of Medical Internet of Things for Modern Healthcare
Authors: Nguyen Hoang-Sy , Danh Huynh-Cong , Ma Quoc-Phu , Mesicek Jakub , Hajnys Jiri , Pagac Marek , Petru Jana
Published: November 2023

The integration of the Internet of Things (IoT) in healthcare has been a popular topic in recent years. This article provides a comprehensive review of the medical IoT for healthcare, emphasizing the state of the art, the enabling technologies to adopt virtuality and reality interaction, and human-centered communication for healthcare (the Metaverse, Extended Reality (XR), blockchain, Artificial Intelligence (AI), robotics). In particular, we assess the number of scientific articles and patents within the period 2015–2022. We then use the two-stage process following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) and screening techniques. From that, the relations among the published papers can be visualized. This study examines the insights by evaluating the weights and connections of the nodes in the bibliometric networks. The reviewed papers showcase the rapid growth of IoT-related studies and intellectual property developments, reflecting the burgeoning interest and investment in this domain. As this paper delves into the network of interconnections between these works, it fosters a deeper understanding of the current state of IoT applications in healthcare and uncovers potential research gaps and areas for future exploration. This paper also provides a brief view of the role of IoT in healthcare research and application in combination with emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain, the IoT-enabled Metaverse, robotics, and cloud computing. The article can serve as a guideline and inspiration for both researchers and practitioners in the smart health service sector.
A Virtual Synchronous Generator Secondary Frequency Modulation Control Method Based on Active Disturbance Rejection Controller
Authors: Chen Yizhi , Luo Jian , Zhang Xiaohu , Li Xingshuo , Wang Wei , Ding Shuye
Published: November 2023

In order to solve the frequency modulation (FM) problem caused by load in the virtual synchronous generator (VSG) system under an islanding state, this paper proposes a frequency modulation method based on active disturbance rejection control (ADRC). Firstly, design a nonlinear function using the design rules of nonlinear functions. Then, the extended state observer (ESO) and nonlinear feedback control law (NLSEF) of ADRC are designed based on the nonlinear function. By introducing ADRC into the power–frequency control loop of VSG, error-free frequency modulation of VSG is achieved. Finally, the superiority of the proposed method was verified through experimental comparison.
Energy Efficiency Optimization for a V2X Network with NOMA-CoMP Enabled
Authors: Xu Woping , Tian Junhui
Published: November 2023

With the increase in user density, it is a challenging problem to achieve higher energy efficiency in vehicle-to-everything (V2X) networks, where frequent handovers occur as users continuously pass through dense cell boundaries. In this paper, we investigate this energy efficiency problem in a highly dense V2X network. To alleviate inter-cell interference and reduce unnecessary handovers, we propose a user-centric network architecture and utilize the coordinated multiple point (CoMP) transmission scheme to enable multiple roadside access points (APs) simultaneously to service one mobile vehicle. Moreover, non-orthogonal multiple access (NOMA) is adopted to enable multiple users to multiplex within one sub-channel and improve system spectrum reuse. Accordingly, the energy efficiency optimization problem is formulated as system achievable rate per joule, with the constraints of the AP transmit power budget, vehicle minimum rate requirements, and the maximum number of CoMP APs serving each vehicle. To solve the optimization problem, a semi-dynamic CoMP AP clustering algorithm is proposed to select a group of CoMP APs to serve a vehicle user by considering the vehicle–AP channel coefficients and the vehicle user’s achievable energy efficiency. Then, with the selected CoMP AP clusters, a bidirectional selection algorithm is applied via NOMA to select multiple vehicle users multiplexing within one sub-channel and perform sub-channel power allocation. Numerical simulations are presented to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithms, and the results show the improvements offered by the proposed algorithms compared to current benchmarks.
Stereo Matching Algorithm of Multi-Feature Fusion Based on Improved Census Transform
Authors: Zhou Ziqi , Pang Mao
Published: November 2023

This article proposes an improved stereo matching algorithm in order to address the issue that the conventional Census transform is overly dependent on the center pixel of the window, which makes the algorithm susceptible to noise interference and results in low matching accuracy in regions with weak texture and complex texture. In the cost calculation stage, the noise threshold is set utilizing the absolute difference detection approach, and pixels that exceed the threshold are replaced with the mean gray values of the neighboring pixels in the 3 × 3 window. This stage also includes the introduction of the gradient cost, which is coupled with the edge and feature point information to provide the final matching cost. The cross approach is employed to build the adaptive support domain and aggregate the costs during the cost aggregation stage. The disparity is finally calculated using the WTA technique, and a multi-step refinement process is employed to produce the final disparity map. The experiments demonstrate that the proposed algorithm has good anti-noise performance. Compared with other improved algorithms or composite algorithms, the average matching rate of the four standard images on the Middlebury test platform is 5.53%, which is higher than the remaining algorithms, indicating that the matching accuracy is high. The proposed algorithm provides ideas for subsequent improved algorithms.
Maximizing Bioethanol Production from Eucalyptus globulus Using Steam Explosion Pretreatment: A Multifactorial Design and Fermenter Development for High Solid Loads
Authors: Troncoso-Ortega Eduardo , Valenzuela Roberto , Reyes-Contreras Pablo , Castaño-Rivera Patricia , Schiappacasse L-Nicolás , Parra Carolina
Published: November 2023

Steam explosion pretreatment is suitable for bioethanol production from Eucalyptus globulus wood. Multifactorial experiment designs were used to find the optimal temperature and residence time required to obtain the best glucose yield from the enzymatic hydrolysis of pretreated materials. The chemical composition, crystallinity index, morphology and polymerization degree of the pretreated materials were correlated with enzymatic accessibility. Simultaneous saccharification and fermentation (SSF) using a fed-batch strategy was applied to three different laboratory-scale fermenters. The optimization of the pretreatment was obtained at 208 °C and 11 min. However, the enzymatic hydrolysis performance did not show significant differences from the material obtained at 196 °C and 9.5 min, which was determined to be the real optimum, owing to its lower energy requirement. The vertical fermenter with type “G” blades and the horizontal fermenter with helical blades were both highly efficient for reaching ethanol yields close to 90% based on dry wood, and ethanol concentrations close to 9.0% v/v.
Relational Narratives of Food in Design and Architecture Exhibitions
Authors: Castellani Maddalena
Published: November 2023

This paper investigates the narratives involved in the becoming public of an ecological, relational, and culinary culture through artistic mediums. Specifically, the question posed is this: how do food and cooking feature in some selected design and architecture exhibitions? The argument is developed through a series of thematic case studies that aim to affirm the presence in contemporary design, architecture, and exhibition-making of an ecological paradigm. The examples blur the lines of food and art by being proposed as processes of collective authorship happening in atmospheres of conviviality and hospitality. I bring forth the argument that developing exhibitions through the lines of hospitality can improve the quality of public engagement, and amplify a relational model which calls for the collective and entangled nature of all things. Alongside the potential of the arts of sparking a cognitive restructuring and shift in perspective, some risks associated with the mainstream model of society are considered. The final aim is to affirm the importance of relationships to oppose the neoliberal geopolitics of power which foster object-oriented perspectives.
Knowledge, Attitude, and Perception of Health Care Providers Providing Medication Therapy Management (MTM) Services to Older Adults in Saudi Arabia
Authors: Alotaibi Fawaz M. , Bukhamsin Zainab M. , Alsharafaa Alanoud Nasser , Asiri Ibrahim M. , Kurdi Sawsan M. , Alshayban Dhafer M. , Alsultan Mohammed M. , Almalki Bassem A. , Alzlaiq Wafa Ali , Alotaibi Mansour M.
Published: November 2023

Introduction: Medication Therapy Management (MTM) is identified as a group of services provided to the patient in order to optimize the medication use in order to mitigate adverse drug reactions (ADRs), drug–drug interaction (DDI), and polypharmacy. Elderly populations above 60 years old are at high risk for Medication-related Problems (MRPs) due to several factors. Therefore, MTM programs showed good contributions globally regarding enhancing medication use in the elderly population. Thus, evident information regarding its implementation in Saudi Arabia is lacking in the literature. Objective: Our objective is to assess community pharmacists’ knowledge, attitude, and barriers to providing MTM services to the older adult population in Saudi Arabia. Methodology: A cross-sectional study has been conducted among community pharmacists across the Kingdom. It was survey-based research that was designed and conducted through (QuestionPro). The survey was distributed for the community pharmacists from Feb–May 2023 via (QuestionPro). Descriptive analysis was performed using SAS OnDemand to analyze the categorical variables and test it with the outcome of interest. Results: Out of the 528 participants who have viewed our questionnaire, 319 participants have completed the survey in 5 min average time. Most of our participants were male, holding a bachelor’s degree, and had an average working load of more than 40 h a week, respectively (84.95%, 92.48%, and 76.18%). In addition, the participants were from different regions of the Kingdom, which enhanced the generalizability of our findings. Moreover, 65.52% have reported a higher level of knowledge, while 34.48% have reported a moderate to low level of knowledge regarding MTM service. Most of those with a higher level of knowledge maintain a positive attitude regarding MTM service, its implementation, and dealing with older adult patients in the community pharmacy. In addition, lacking the time, training, and presence of a private consultation room were the top barriers to provide MTM services in the community pharmacy in Saudi Arabia. Conclusion: Educational sessions regarding MTM services among the older adult population are highly recommended for community pharmacists before its implementation.
A Case Control Study Evaluating the Relationship between Vitamin K2 Serum Level and Periodontitis
Authors: Olszewska-Czyz Iwona , Firkova Elena
Published: November 2023

Background and Aim: Vitamin K2 (VK2) is an essential co-factor for bone metabolism. There is still very little data regarding possible VK2 relation to periodontitis. This study aimed to investigate any potential link between VK2 serum level and the severity of periodontitis in comparison to a control group of healthy individuals. The trial was performed on 100 patients among whom 50 were diagnosed with periodontitis. The patients underwent full clinical periodontal and radiological examination. The VK2 serum level was assessed using the ELISA kit (Gla-type osteocalcin EIA Kit, Takara, Kusatsu). Patients with periodontitis had mean serum levels of VK2 significantly lower (0.27 ± 0.06 nmol/L; p < 0.001) than the control group (0.43 ± 0.09 nmol/L; p < 0.001) regardless of the patient’s age or sex. The VK2 serum level decreased with the severity of periodontitis with the lowest level in stage IV of the disease (0.19 ± 0.01 nmol/L; p < 0.001). Also, a significant drop was noticed between the grades of periodontitis. Individuals with localized forms of the disease had significantly lower VK2 levels (0.26 ± 0.006 nmol/L; p < 0.001) in comparison to subjects with generalized periodontitis (0.30 ± 0.01 nmol/L; p < 0.001). The VK2 serum levels were also associated with most of the clinical parameters such as bleeding on probing (−0.805, 95% CI: −0.894 to −0.654, p < 0.001), attachment loss (−0.752, 95% CI: −0.862 to −0.574, p < 0.001), and bone loss (−0.656, 95% CI: −0.801 to −0.439, p < 0.001). In the present study, the VK2 serum level was correlated to periodontitis, and its severity, complexity, extension, and grade. The range of VK2 was decreasing together with the worsening of all clinical parameters of periodontitis.
Random Forest Variable Importance Measures for Spatial Dynamics: Case Studies from Urban Demography
Authors: Georgati Marina , Hansen Henning Sten , Keßler Carsten
Published: November 2023

Population growth in urban centres and the intensification of segregation phenomena associated with international mobility require improved urban planning and decision-making. More effective planning in turn requires better analysis and geospatial modelling of residential locations, along with a deeper understanding of the factors that drive the spatial distribution of various migrant groups. This study examines the factors that influence the distribution of migrants at the local level and evaluates their importance using machine learning, specifically the variable importance measures produced by the random forest algorithm. It is conducted on high spatial resolution (100×100 grid cells) register data in Amsterdam and Copenhagen, using demographic, housing and neighbourhood attributes for 2018. The results distinguish the ethnic and demographic composition of a location as an important factor in the residential distribution of migrants in both cities. We also examine whether certain migrant groups pay higher prices in the most attractive areas, using spatial statistics and mapping for 2008 and 2018. We find evidence of segregation in both cities, with Western migrants having higher purchasing power than non-Western migrants in both years. The method sheds light on the determinants of migrant distribution in destination cities and advances our understanding of the application of geospatial artificial intelligence to urban dynamics and population movements.
N-Based Polydentate Ligands and Corresponding Zn(II) Complexes: A Structural and Spectroscopic Study
Authors: Volpi Giorgio , Zago Stefano , Rabezzana Roberto , Diana Eliano , Priola Emanuele , Garino Claudio , Gobetto Roberto
Published: November 2023

Herein, the structural and photophysical features of two N-based polydentate ligands and the corresponding Zn(II) complexes are investigated. The obtained compounds were characterized using different spectroscopic techniques and their optical properties are discussed in relation to their chemical structure, defined by single-crystal X-ray diffraction and mass spectrometry. The spontaneous and quantitative complexation, investigated by UV-Vis, fluorescence, NMR, IR spectroscopies and mass spectrometry, makes these N-based polydentate ligands interesting candidates for possible applications in chelation therapy and in Zn(II) sensors.
Power Bars: Mormon Crickets Get Immunity Boost from Eating Grasshoppers
Authors: Srygley Robert B. , Branson David H.
Published: November 2023

In addition to feeding on plants, Mormon crickets Anabrus simplex Haldeman, 1852 predate on invertebrates, including one another, which effectively drives their migration. Carnivory derives from lack of dietary protein, with Mormon crickets deprived of protein having less phenoloxidase (PO) available to combat foreign invaders, such as fungal pathogens. Because Mormon crickets commonly occur with grasshoppers that feed on the same plants, we investigated interactions between grasshoppers and Mormon crickets, and hypothesized that if Mormon crickets are predatory on grasshoppers, grasshopper abundance would influence the protein available to Mormon crickets and their immunity. In a field setting, we varied densities of Mormon crickets (0, 10, or 20 per cage) and grasshoppers Melanoplus borealis (0, 15, 30, or 45) in 68 1-m2 cages. After one month, we measured Mormon cricket dietary preferences and PO activity. As predicted, artificial diet consumption shifted away from protein as grasshopper density increased, and immunocompetence, as measured by PO activity, also increased with grasshopper availability. Although nitrogen availability in the vegetation decreased with increasing insect density, predation became an important source of protein for Mormon crickets that enhanced immunity. Grasshoppers can be an important source of dietary protein for Mormon crickets, with prey availability affecting Mormon cricket immunity to diseases.
Optimization of Autoclave Reactors to Improve Bearing Life Using the Taguchi Method and the Response Surface Methodology
Authors: Fariz Farghani , Patel Brijesh , Chiu Hsien-Cheng , Pan Shih-Jie , Chen Cheng-Liang , Lee Hao-Yeh , Lin Po Ting
Published: November 2023

Plastic pervasiveness in daily life has increased in tandem with population growth. Ethylene–vinyl acetate (EVA) is emerging as a popular compound for manufacturing plastic, which is obtained from ethylene and vinyl acetate synthesis. EVA is produced using autoclave reactors, which often encounter bearing damage under specific operating conditions. This research aims to optimize the parameters in autoclave reactors to enhance bearing life. The study focuses on two crucial factors: the number of impellers and the temperature, with bearing life as the response variable. Simulations using finite-element analysis were conducted to obtain the fatigue life of bearings and validated using real-time company data stating the damage of bearings within 80 days. The optimization process employed the Taguchi method (TM) and the response surface methodology (RSM). A comparison of these techniques revealed that temperature had the most significant influence on the response. Interestingly, both methods yielded the same optimal parameters: seven impellers and a temperature of 150 °C. The simulation results using these optimized parameters demonstrated a noteworthy 3.095% increase in bearing life compared to the initial design. The RSM outperformed the Taguchi method in accurately predicting response values with minimum prediction error under optimal conditions.
The Effect of Exercise on Pulsatility Index of Uterine Arteries and Pain in Primary Dysmenorrhea
Authors: Kovács Zoltán , Hegyi Gabriella , Szőke Henrik
Published: November 2023

Background: Primary dysmenorrhea (PD) is one of the most common diseases in women of reproductive age. Our aim was to examine whether a twice-weekly thirty-minute exercise intervention could result in a difference in the pulsatility index (PI) of the uterine arteries (UAs) and level of menstrual pain in patients with PD. Methods: In our prospective observational trial, the observation period included one spontaneous menstrual cycle and the consecutive time of the next menstruation of all participants, aged 18–44, with no extensive sports experience. In total, 73 volunteers were enrolled: 38 persons in the intervention group (IG) and 35 in the control group (CG). The intervention program was accompanied by music, performed in groups under the supervision of a qualified instructor in Hungary. The primary outcome was the difference between the IG and CG regarding the PI values of UAs at the 1st and the 2nd ultrasound (US) Doppler flowmetry. The secondary outcome was the difference between the IG and CG regarding the PI of UAs and menstrual pain measured by using the Numeric Rating Scale and adherence to the intervention. Statistical tests such as an independent-samples t-test, chi-square test, Mann–Whitney test and analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) were used during the analyses. Results: Examining the mean of the PI of UAs in the IG and the CG at the 1st and the 2nd US measurement, a significant difference was found in the change in the measured value (Z = −2.545; p = 0.011). The IG showed a significantly higher increase in the mean of the PI of UAs (Median = 0.825) than the CG (Median = 0.130). The difference in the PI of the UAs of the IG and the CG is not related to the level of pain in any group (p = 0.336) and not related to the whole sample (p = 0.354); furthermore, the level of pain did not significantly differ between the two groups. Conclusions: Our study is the first to document the significant effects of mild-to-moderate exercise training on the change in the PI of the UAs in individuals with PD. The IG had a reduced blood flow due to circulatory redistribution after exercise. The level of menstrual pain of primary dysmenorrhea patients is independent of the level of blood circulation regarding the PI of the UAs. Randomized controlled studies with more participants and a longer research period are needed to confirm our findings regarding the association between regular exercise and the PI of UAs. The study was registered at clinicaltrials.gov: NCT04618172.
Histocompatibility Leukocyte Antigen-A29-Associated Retinal Vasculitis without Choroidal Lesions: A Report of 4 Cases
Authors: Ramírez-Márquez Estefanía , Ayala Rodríguez Sofía C. , Santiago Alejandra , De Jesus Edgar , Requejo Figueroa Guillermo A. , Riskalla Mona M. , Ryan Meghan E. , Koozekanani Dara , Oliver Armando L.
Published: November 2023

This study describes a cohort of patients presenting with histocompatibility leukocyte antigen (HLA)-A29-associated retinal vasculitis without choroidal lesions that may share clinical features with birdshot retinochoroiditis. The methods include a retrospective chart review of patients presenting with HLA-A29-associated retinal vasculitis without choroidal lesions. The data on the patients were entered retrospectively into a new database and analyzed. Four patients who had HLA-A29-associated retinal vasculitis without choroidal lesions were identified. The median age at presentation was 40 years (range: 14–71); 75% were female. At presentation, all four patients had a visual acuity of 20/50 or better in both eyes. All the eyes had mild vitritis, three eyes (37.5%) had cystoid macular edema, and two eyes (25%) had optic disc edema. All the patients required treatment with systemic steroids and immunosuppressive therapy. HLA-A29-associated retinal vasculitis without choroidal lesions appears to share many clinical features with birdshot chorioretinitis, including the need for systemic immunosuppressive therapy. Whether this entity represents an early form of birdshot retinochoroiditis or a more localized variant of the disease is a topic for additional studies.
Uncovering the Prokaryotic Diversity of the Bathyal Waters above the Kuril–Kamchatka Trench
Authors: Gorrasi Susanna , Brandt Angelika , Pittino Francesca , Franzetti Andrea , Pasqualetti Marcella , Muñoz-Palazon Barbara , Novello Giorgia , Fenice Massimiliano
Published: November 2023

The Kuril–Kamchatka Trench (North-West Pacific Ocean) is included in the deepest trenches (>9000 m). This study is the first that aims at uncovering the bathyal prokaryotic diversity (1000–2000 m) of this fascinating extreme environment. The analysis of α-diversity revealed that bacterial communities showed greater diversity than archaeal communities and that both communities were characterized by poor evenness (indicative of the presence of few dominant OTUs). The metabarcoding analysis showed that Proteobacteria (65.5–90.7%), Bacteroidetes (2.4–10.7%), and Actinobacteria (2.5–9.6%) were the highly represented phyla of bacteria, with Acinetobacter (21.5–62.5%) as the most abundant genus. Moreover, the recently described Pseudofrancisella genus, which has been isolated from estuarine environments, has been found among the major bacterial taxa. This work represents the first report stating the presence of this genus in bathyal waters. The archaeal communities were dominated by the phylum Thaumarchaeota (53.6–94.0%), with Nitrosopumilus (53.6–94%) as its representative genus. The functional diversity analysis revealed that overall, the bacterial communities had a higher involvement in the carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles, with chemoheterotrophy (mostly aerobic), aromatic compound degradation, and nitrate reduction as the most represented functions. In the archaeal communities, the most represented ecological function was the aerobic oxidation of ammonia (first stage of nitrification), a functional feature characteristic of Nitrosopumilus.
Speaking of the “Devil”: Diagnostic Errors in Interstitial Lung Diseases
Authors: Arcana Raluca Ioana , Crișan-Dabija Radu Adrian , Caba Bogdan , Zamfir Alexandra-Simona , Cernomaz Tudor Andrei , Zabara-Antal Andreea , Zabara Mihai Lucian , Arcana Ștefăniță , Marcu Dragoș Traian , Trofor Antigona
Published: November 2023

Interstitial lung diseases are respiratory diseases, which affect the normal lung parenchyma and can lead to significant pulmonary fibrosis, chronic respiratory failure, pulmonary hypertension, and ultimately death. Reuniting more than 200 entities, interstitial lung diseases pose a significant challenge to the clinician, as they represent rare diseases with vague and insidious respiratory symptoms. As such, there are many diagnostic errors that can appear along the journey of the patient with ILD, which leads to significant delays with implications for the prognosis and the quality of life of the patient.
Systems Biology in Cancer Diagnosis Integrating Omics Technologies and Artificial Intelligence to Support Physician Decision Making
Authors: Fawaz Alaa , Ferraresi Alessandra , Isidoro Ciro
Published: November 2023

Cancer is the second major cause of disease-related death worldwide, and its accurate early diagnosis and therapeutic intervention are fundamental for saving the patient’s life. Cancer, as a complex and heterogeneous disorder, results from the disruption and alteration of a wide variety of biological entities, including genes, proteins, mRNAs, miRNAs, and metabolites, that eventually emerge as clinical symptoms. Traditionally, diagnosis is based on clinical examination, blood tests for biomarkers, the histopathology of a biopsy, and imaging (MRI, CT, PET, and US). Additionally, omics biotechnologies help to further characterize the genome, metabolome, microbiome traits of the patient that could have an impact on the prognosis and patient’s response to the therapy. The integration of all these data relies on gathering of several experts and may require considerable time, and, unfortunately, it is not without the risk of error in the interpretation and therefore in the decision. Systems biology algorithms exploit Artificial Intelligence (AI) combined with omics technologies to perform a rapid and accurate analysis and integration of patient’s big data, and support the physician in making diagnosis and tailoring the most appropriate therapeutic intervention. However, AI is not free from possible diagnostic and prognostic errors in the interpretation of images or biochemical–clinical data. Here, we first describe the methods used by systems biology for combining AI with omics and then discuss the potential, challenges, limitations, and critical issues in using AI in cancer research.
Understanding Cognitive Deficits in People with High Blood Pressure
Authors: Kang Weixi , Pineda Hernández Sònia
Published: November 2023

High blood pressure is associated with an elevated risk of dementia. However, much less is known about how high blood pressure is related to cognitive deficits in domains including episodic memory, semantic verbal fluency, fluid reasoning, and numerical ability. By analyzing data from 337 participants (57.39% female) with a history of clinical high blood pressure diagnosis with a mean age of 48.78 ± 17.06 years and 26,707 healthy controls (58.75% female) with a mean age of 45.30 ± 15.92 years using a predictive normative modeling approach and one-sample t-tests, the current study found that people with high blood pressure have impaired immediate (t(259) = −4.71, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = −0.08, 95% C.I. [−0.11, −0.05]) and delayed word recall (t(259) = −7.21, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = −0.11, 95% C.I. [−0.15, −0.08]) performance. Moreover, people with high blood pressure also exhibited impaired performance in the animal naming task (t(259) = −6.61, p < 0.0001, Cohen’s d = −0.11, 95% C.I. [−0.15, −0.08]), and number series (t(259) = −4.76, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = −0.08, 95% C.I. [−0.11, −0.05]) and numeracy tasks (t(259) = −4.16, p < 0.01, Cohen’s d = −0.06, 95% C.I. [−0.09, −0.03]) after controlling for demographic characteristics. Clinicians and health professionals should consider including these tasks as part of the neuropsychological assessment for people with high blood pressure, to detect their cognitive deficits. Moreover, they should also come up with ways to improve cognitive performance in people with high blood pressure.
CAR-T Cell Therapy in the Treatment of Pediatric Non-Hodgkin Lymphoma
Authors: Ostojska Magdalena , Nowak Emilia , Twardowska Julia , Lejman Monika , Zawitkowska Joanna
Published: November 2023

Non-Hodgkin lymphomas (NHL) are a group of cancers that originate in the lymphatic system, especially from progenitor or mature B-cells, T-cells, or natural killer (NK) cells. NHL is the most common hematological malignancy worldwide and also the fourth most frequent type of cancer among pediatric patients. This cancer can occur in children of any age, but it is quite rare under the age of 5 years. In recent decades, available medicines and therapies have significantly improved the prognosis of patients with this cancer. However, some cases of NHL are treatment resistant. For this reason, immunotherapy, as a more targeted and personalized treatment strategy, is becoming increasingly important in the treatment of NHL in pediatric patients. The objective of the following review is to gather the latest available research results, conducted among pediatric and/or adult patients with NHL, regarding one immunotherapy method, i.e., chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) T cell therapy. We focus on assessing the effectiveness of CAR-T cell therapy, which mainly targets B cell markers, CD19, CD20, and CD22, their connections with one another, sequential treatment, or connections with co-stimulatory molecules. In addition, we also evaluate the safety, aftermath (especially neurotoxicities) and limitations of CAR-T cell therapy.
pH-Dependence Cytotoxicity Evaluation of Artepillin C against Tumor Cells
Authors: Pazin Wallance M. , Miranda Renata R. , Toledo Karina A. , Kjeldsen Frank , Constantino Carlos J. L. , Brewer Jonathan R.
Published: November 2023

Brazilian green propolis is a well-known product that is consumed globally. Its major component, Artepillin C, showed potential as an antitumor product. This study explored the impact of Artepillin C on fibroblast and glioblastoma cell lines, used as healthy and very aggressive tumor cell lines, respectively. The focus of the study was to evaluate the pH-dependence of Artepillin C cytotoxicity, since tumor cells are known to have a more acidic extracellular microenvironment compared to healthy cells, and Artepillin C was shown to become more lipophilic at lower pH values. Investigations into the pH-dependency of Artepillin C (6.0–7.4), through viability assays and live cell imaging, revealed compelling insights. At pH 6.0, MTT assays showed the pronounced cytotoxic effects of Artepillin C, yielding a notable reduction in cell viability to less than 12% among glioblastoma cells following a 24 h exposure to 100 µM of Artepillin C. Concurrently, LDH assays indicated significant membrane damage, affecting approximately 50% of the total cells under the same conditions. Our Laurdan GP analysis suggests that Artepillin C induces autophagy, and notably, provokes a lipid membrane packing effect, contributing to cell death. These combined results affirm the selective cytotoxicity of Artepillin C within the acidic tumor microenvironment, emphasizing its potential as an effective antitumor agent. Furthermore, our findings suggest that Artepillin C holds promise for potential applications in the realm of anticancer therapies given its pH-dependence cytotoxicity.
Effect of Friction Reducers with Unreinforced PEEK and Steel Counterparts in Oil Lubrication
Authors: Massocchi Davide , Chatterton Steven , Lattuada Marco , Reddyhoff Thomas , Dini Daniele , Pennacchi Paolo
Published: November 2023

The increasing adoption of PEEK (polyetheretherketone) in many industrial applications has promoted intense research to optimize its lubrication along with the development of friction reducers (FRs), additives that help in reducing fuel consumption and, consequently, CO2 emissions. In this study, the effect of FRs in improving the lubrication of PEEK–steel couplings was evaluated and their mechanism studied using the Mini Traction Machine (MTM) tribometer. Different types of FRs (such as Molybdenum dithiocarbamate, glycerol monooleate, amine and polymeric derivatives) and coupling combinations (steel/steel, steel/PEEK and PEEK/steel) were considered. The oil samples were evaluated as fresh and after a rubbing time considering different operative conditions (from high to low T, fixed load and type of contact motion), and a measurement of the tribofilm was acquired. The experimental campaign showed a ranking among FRs friction-reducing behavior and, in some cases, a synergistic effect was noted between the tribofilm containing the friction modifier and the PEEK surface. Comparing the top performing FRs with reference oil showed a reduction in friction of 22%, 21% and 37%, respectively, in steel–steel, PEEK–steel and steel–PEEK couplings, while in the standard steel–steel coupling, two out of four FRs did not reduce the friction. After conditioning in the presence of PEEK, all friction-modifier additives reduced the friction effectively. This demonstrates the promising performance of PEEK, its compatibility with friction-reducing additives, and its applicability to sliding machine parts in order to improve efficiency and thus reduce CO2 emissions.
Ensemble Learning for Multi-Label Classification with Unbalanced Classes: A Case Study of a Curing Oven in Glass Wool Production
Authors: Ho Minh Hung , Ponchet Durupt Amélie , Vu Hai Canh , Boudaoud Nassim , Caracciolo Arnaud , Sieg-Zieba Sophie , Xu Yun , Leduc Patrick
Published: November 2023

The Industrial Internet of Things (IIoT), which integrates sensors into the manufacturing system, provides new paradigms and technologies to industry. The massive acquisition of data, in an industrial context, brings with it a number of challenges to guarantee its quality and reliability, and to ensure that the results of data analysis and modelling are accurate, reliable, and reflect the real phenomena being studied. Common problems encountered with real industrial databases are missing data, outliers, anomalies, unbalanced classes, and non-exhaustive historical data. Unlike papers present in the literature that respond to those problems in a dissociated way, the work performed in this article aims to address all these problems at once. A comprehensive framework for data flow encompassing data acquisition, preprocessing, and machine class classification is proposed. The challenges of missing data, outliers, and anomalies are addressed with critical and novel class outliers distinguished. The study also tackles unbalanced class classification and evaluates the impact of missing data on classification accuracy. Several machine learning models for the operating state classification are implemented. The study also compares the performance of the proposed framework with two existing methods: the Histogram Gradient Boosting Classifier and the Extreme Gradient Boosting classifier. It is shown that using “hard voting” ensemble learning methods to combine several classifiers makes the final classifier more robust to missing data. An application is carried out on data from a real industrial dataset. This research contributes to narrowing the theory–practice gap in leveraging IIoT technologies, offering practical insights into data analytics implementation in real industrial scenarios.
The Effect of Substituting FeO with CaO on the Rheological and Surface Properties of Silicate Melts
Authors: Zhang Rui , Min Yi , Liu Chengjun , Zhang Ting-An , Dou Zhihe
Published: November 2023

A comprehensive understanding of the structural impact of composition is crucial in designing converter slag to optimize its rheological and surface properties during the smelting process. In this study, glassy CaO-SiO2-FexO samples with varying CaO/FexO ratios were prepared to simulate the slag in the initial stage of converter melting. The viscosity and surface tension of the slag at 1300–1600 °C were measured, and the microscopic essence of physical properties was further analyzed using Raman spectroscopy technology. The findings reveal that as CaO replaces FeO, [SiO4]-tetrahedra gradually depolymerize from Q4(Si) to Q0(Si), while [FeO6]-octahedra gradually transform into [FeO4]-tetrahedra, resulting in a decrease in the degree of polymerization of the slag. The slag with a lower degree of polymerization exhibits reduced activation energy of viscous flow and increased surface tension. Therefore, it is of great significance to appropriately control the CaO/FexO ratio in the early stage of smelting to improve the rheological and surface properties of the slag.
Insight into the Properties of Novel Materials—Superalloys, Ferrous and Lightweight Alloys and Metal Matrix Composites
Authors: Sediako Dimitry , Stroh Joshua
Published: November 2023

Modern industries heavily rely on the advancement of novel materials to meet the demanding requirements of a wide range of applications [...]
Additive Technologies, Advanced Joining Technology and Study of Weld Joints
Authors: Chinakhov Dmitry A.
Published: November 2023

Since the beginning of the third millennium, welding has remained one of the leading technological processes for the creation of the material basis of modern civilization [...]
PPA1 Deficiency Causes a Deranged Galactose Metabolism Recognizable in Neonatal Screening
Authors: Achleitner Melanie T. , Jans Judith J. M. , Ebner Laura , Spenger Johannes , Konstantopoulou Vassiliki , Feichtinger René G. , Brugger Karin , Mayr Doris , Wevers Ron A. , Thiel Christian , Wortmann Saskia B. , Mayr Johannes A.
Published: November 2023

Two siblings showed increased galactose and galactose-related metabolites in neonatal screening. Diagnostic workup did not reveal abnormalities in any of the known disease-causing enzymes involved in galactose metabolism. Using whole-exome sequencing, we identified a homozygous missense variant in PPA1 encoding the cytosolic pyrophosphatase 1 (PPA1), c.557C>T (p.Thr186Ile). The enzyme activity of PPA1 was determined using a colorimetric assay, and the protein content was visualized via western blotting in skin fibroblasts from one of the affected individuals. The galactolytic activity of the affected fibroblasts was determined by measuring extracellular acidification with a Seahorse XFe96 analyzer. PPA1 activity decreased to 22% of that of controls in the cytosolic fraction of homogenates from patient fibroblasts. PPA1 protein content decreased by 50% according to western blot analysis, indicating a reduced stability of the variant protein. The extracellular acidification rate was reduced in patient fibroblasts when galactose was used as a substrate. Untargeted metabolomics of blood samples revealed an elevation of other metabolites related to pyrophosphate metabolism. Besides hyperbilirubinemia in the neonatal period in one child, both children were clinically unremarkable at the ages of 3 and 14 years, respectively. We hypothesize that the observed metabolic derangement is a possible mild manifestation of PPA1 deficiency. Unresolved abnormalities in galactosemia screening might result in the identification of more individuals with PPA1 deficiency, a newly discovered inborn metabolic disorder (IMD).